Working with companies and brands always makes me feel like such a big girl blogger (cheesy but it’s like a dream come true and literally so much fun). Finding companies that support beliefs that encourage young girls is one of my favorite online shopping habits and is becoming more and more common these days #girlpower.

212 West is absolutely no exception. After reading their “story” page on their website, I was beyond sold. Not that the gorgeous jewels didn’t already have me dying to work with them. Basically in short, they stand for expression and helping people make a statement. uh, cool as heck! Another AWESOME aspect of 212 West (https://212west.com) is that every patriotic necklace sold sends a portion of proceeds to Operation Freedom, that helps with dogs of troops. Two big paws up from me! You can read more about it here! You can read more about it here! They are a provider of necklaces and charms for women that come with “bars” each holding a term/word and therefore meaning. There are preselected word combos ranging from patriotic slogans to runner slang, or you can create your own like I chose to! They’re each a little different which makes them all the more special. So onto the meaning for my choices.

Lucky. Love. Live. 

Three words that can be interpreted thousands of millions of ways, but to me, it’s that we are all lucky to live a life we love. (The love and life are switched but just work with me here pals). Onto a preachy blog post, in 3…2…1….ACTION!

Let me set things straight: your life, is YOUR life. You get to do whatever the heck you want. Which, in turn, means you get do DO whatever the heck you want. That being said, you’re also control of you own happiness. Everything that you choose to do is allowed to make you happy if you let it…so do things you love.

These can be big outward things: hang out with your best friends, volunteer at your church or school, go shopping for a new pair of shoes (because cmon…you KNOW it makes you giddy), go out to catch a movie or grab a bite to each with your friends, or literally climb a mountain if that’s what floats your boat!

(Actually don’t float a boat on a mountain but you catch my drift…haha actually hope the boat catches my drift then you’ll really be settin sail!) (<–I’m sorry) 

ORRRR do things that inwardly and quietly make you happy such as: taking a walk at golden hour (sunset or early mornings are as gold as they get), taking an extra long bath, going to sleep an hour early, making yourself a yummy breakfast just because, telling yourself that YOU love YOU.

From the chances and opportunities we are given, to the friends and role models we encounter..we are just straight up #lucky. Never think anything in your life was put there on accident, it’s luck, a blessing, if you will. Use these lucky signs to really, TRULY, love every second of the life you’re given. I promise, happiness will come your way if you do things that make you happy…sounds simple enough right?

moral of the story: I’m in love with this necklace and am hoping to snatch one for my mom before i leave for college (don’t read this mom thank you) and think they are the perfect gift for someone in your life who has a thing for words…sounds a little like myself. The gold/bronze/silver options you’re given make it easy as pie to match your necklace to literally any outfit given, but ripped boyfriend jeans and white shirts have been my ISH this summer. They’re two staples that are SO easy to work with once you find the perfect pair of jeans and comfiest shirt, plus you kinda automatically look like you’re a celeb who is out on a grocery run! or maybe that’s just the scenario I imagine myself as…either way…it’s my favorite outfit literally ever.

IF YOU WANT TO PURCHASE FROM 212:

https://212west.com

if you want to read about their stellar cool story and meaning behind the bars:

https://212west.com/pages/about-us

check yo girl out at this year’s election where I can now legally vote. that’s right, 18 years old, here i am. it seems absolutely crazy that i am headed to college this fall and am trying to spend every moment i have back home to the best i can. my birthday was absolutely no exception. my little sister shan decided to surprise me at 6 am (you couldn’t have given me like…10 more minutes of birthday rest?) for a quick morning breakfast. we headed to a park nearby for some funfetti pancakes (because sprinkles for breakfast are a necessity) and yummy coffee & berries. so much love for that little one.

then it was onto tea party preparation. i’ve wanted to hold a tea party with some pals for the longest time and this one was too much fun and i cannot wait to maybe hold another just for kicks before i head off to college.

thank you so much to everyone that made my birthday so special, 18 is about to be fantastic and filled with adventures and new dreams.

until next time, xoxo, Ally

The month of June has been absolutely a blast and has FLOWN by. My birthday is the 25th and so this whole month is usually just one big party countdown for me. I have been busy nannying during the weekdays and luckily the weather has blessed us with plenty of pool days to throw in the mix! Here is what i have been crushing on the majority of the month:

Alex&Ani // basically this is the only thing on my birthday wishlist. I seriously am obsessed with stalking all of the different bracelets and combos I’ve seen stylists put together and it’s seriously like grown-up trading cards to me and I am for sure sold.

Me Before You // so quick and tiny book nerd horendous confession, I saw the movie mid-way through finishing the book but in my defense I saw the ending coming anyways. However I still adored the movie and the book is absolutely beautiful as well. Seriously Jojo Moyes can do no wrong, I’ve read a few of her other writings and am head over heels. A fab poolside read that I have been stashing in my bag whenever we hit the pool!

Kendra Scott // okay so I last minute made Andie run back into Kenda back when we went to KC for the weekend because I absolutely couldn’t leave the city without purchasing these because I had peeked at them the day before and was in love. I solidified my purchasing promising myself that they would go with everything, which they do. Therefore I wear them, with literally everything. They seriously have done me nothing but fabulous things and get compliments literally every time. Now I’m addicted and want one of the brighter colors or maybe my college colors for game day….it’s dangerous at this point I think.

Wow Cookies // okay guys. hear me out. you need these. they are gluten free cookies from Target that are literally the best things I’ve ever put in my mouth. My mom brought home the chocolate chip ones one evening after a grocery run and they were pretty good…however the next time we were at target I spotted this “Key Lime White Chocolate” flavor on sale and was intrigued. oh. my. goodness. you guys. they’re so good. like. SO good. I am linking their website here because you need to check them out ASAP. I am so obsessed and don’t even mind snacking on them during mu Young&Hungry Netflix marathons because they’re gf!!!!! score. such a huge score.

what gf find have you scored on?
until next time, xoxo, Ally