blossom & grow GIVEAWAY *closed*

living in dc has been quite a few things these past two weeks: long, tiring, hot, busy, and blooming! the cherry blossoms have finally spouted and they have looked so beautiful! The heat was definitely worth the hike to the monuments, it was pack and i mean like packed with tourists & slow walkers.  *picture here - picture there* *moving onward* for my photography class we had to go and venture out to the cherry blossom festival. there i captured some of the prettiest pictures a memory card could hold! i really suggest people come down next year to see them, it should be one of the seven wonders of the world. there one week, the next gone. it is so relaxing and peaceful to sit on the grass and just look around. it is truly washington dc's hidden gem. 

another hidden gem that you will find on blonde&brunette (but only until saturday) is our spring giveaway!! this month we are doing a cherry blossom giveaway.  this giveaway ends on saturday april 20th so enter asap!!  in order to enter, like us on facebook  **in the giveaway**  a monogram camelback, in the color raspberry, essie's go ginza and (one of my favs) pretty little screts its only one click away

derby days with KTΓ

let me start off by apologizing to you all. last week was the most hectic week i have ever endured in well my life! i have some exciting news for you all!! *drum roll please* this past weekend i became a KTΓ sister, and i am both jovial and grateful. i am so in love with my sisters and therefor i am dedicating this post to you all!! On Sunday, we had our annual Alumni Tea and it was so much fun! we all got dolled up and put on our derby hats and were off to the races (but not actually lol) i wore a jcrew dress that i got years ago, but trust me it is still in style and fit like a glove! for my hat i purchased a sun hat from payless for $15 and my wedges were only $12 from payless, quite a steal!! it was a ton of fun, memories were made that i shall never forget. i look forward to entering a benevolent sisterhood of girls, making friendship with a noble tie that binds, each sisters heart and mine, what can i say other than thats a great big sisterhood of girls.
xs sister posh

always making sure your bow is on your good side 
-TSM.

meet the girls who made this adventure one i will never forget. 

margot : lexie : soraya : lindsey : caitlin

we could have never made it through this journey without you maddie! love you

double trouble 

 ali : soraya : lindsey : stefana

my beautiful family on the left: 

anna (grand big) : lindsey (little #2) : breanna (big) 

*missing* anj (little #1)

bigs&littles :

soraya & maggie : audrey & lexie

best friends for life :

kelly & emma

put a ring on it

no need for any single ladies, beyonce!!! just a need to announce that my High School just had their annual ring day!! this had to of been the best day, beside graduation, of my high school career. today was all about the juniors. when i first saw them i was so taken back because i missed it, i missed my high school; not that, it was rare for me to say that!! i had the honor of ringing one of my closest friends, lauren. i can not believe that you are all grown up! my little bus buddy almost is ready to depart, but not yet!! one more year, but please please enjoy it. i wish i could go back for one day and see all my classmates together and just sit down and smile. congrats to the junior class, enjoy today!!! 

morning and evening skincare routine

ever since i was a little girl, my grandma has alway told me that i have the most beautiful skin, and that i needed to take care of it, in order for it to keep its beauty and purity. now, many years later, i still, if i dont mind saying, have beautiful and clear skin. I have never delt with any forms of acne, a few pimples here and there, but nevertheless my skin has maintained its purity. 

****

another bonus that has benefitted my skin was that i drink so much water. at college i go through a pack of water in under a week. to my parents that is insane, but i love it so much!! 

*****

i was inspired by many of my favorite beauty guru's on youtube to post this today. enjoy and love your skin and take care of it, its the only thing you've got. 

every morning when i wake up i use most of these, i call them my morning basics. 

pictured: 

neutrogena makeup remover wipes ; benefit total moisturizer ; lovely jubilees ; breath of fresh air ; 

johnsons baby lotion

you must be thinking, well the night time looks very similar to the morning routine, and truth is it is! i love using the same products, especially if they benefit my skin and help me maintain its health. 

pictured: 

neutrogena makeup remover wipes ; biore pore strips ; anti-stress mask - dead sea minerals ; philosophy jar of hope ; breath of fresh air ; johnsons baby lotion

Hey, Macklemore! Can we go thrift shopping?

Joking or not, Macklemore was kind of right...thrift shopping is pretty awesome! A friend and I made a spontaneous visit to a thrift store this past weekend and it was one of the most successful shopping trips I have had in a long time! 

Purchases:

- Trotters Leather Loafers ($8.00)

- J. Crew Cashmere Button-Up Sweater ( $10.00)

- Hunter Rain Boots ($34.00)

Total = $52.00

And of course, curious me looked up the original prices of all these items to really see how much I saved. 

- Trotters Leather Loafers ($85.00)

- J. Crew Cashmere Button-Up Sweater ( $98.00)

- Hunter Rain Boots ($125.00)

Savings = $256.00

Now if you are still unsure about thrift shopping after seeing those savings, then you must be crazy!

Kidding aside, I understand that some people are unsure about thrift shops and worry if they are clean or reliable. So here are some tips to makes sure it is a good thrift shop!

1) Ask Around: Talk to friends and people from the area, and see if they have been there/their opinion of it.

2) Go There Yourself: Check out the place! If it looks clean, well kept, and apparel is organized nicely, then it is most likely a good and reliable thrift shop to go to.

3) See What They Have: When in the store, look at the labels. If you see labels of nice companies or designers, then this is most likely a higher end thrift shop. Higher end thrift shops usually only take practically new items and have them cleaned before sale.

Now take these tips and go have yourself a thrift shopping adventure!

Always, Miss C

a work of art

during easter break, me and my friend laura went home with brittany for the weekend. that meant a two way ticket to new jersey! the second day we were there, we went over to the magic garden in philly. it was the most wonderful place i have ever been to, it was so beautiful and if you are ever in philly, you need to go see this!! we spent the day taking 100000 pictures, but they were all worth it. 

out of all my friends don at school, there is never a dull outfit, if it is coming from laura's closet! she has the most interesting fashion style ever, it reminds me a lot of my friend alanna. 

she took her outfit to the next level, she put a pair of black sheer tights with high rise shorts. she flaunted her steve madden boots and her sheer white top. on top she put on an oversized jacket and carried along her michael kors square bag. in lalalove