Christmas Tree Hunting

Peacoat // Thrifted (Similar), Sweater // LL Bean, Jeans // American Eagle

Christmas is in full swing now! This past week has been a hectic mess of being sick and trying to do my gift shopping. 

Today, my family, my boyfriend, and I went searching for the perfect Christmas tree. Usually, we try 100 different grocery store tree lots, but this year, we decided to cut our own and it was fantastic.

In other news, the pacific northwest has been unbearably cold (for someone who isn't used to snow). Mittens, cocoa, and tons of layers made the trip to the tree farm a little better.

ALSO. I had a job interview at J.Crew over the weekend! Fingers crossed!

Can't wait to see what your trees look like this year!

Holiday Gift Guide - Under $20!

Coffee tumbler // Essie set // Minimergency Kit // 

Winter market tote bag // Body Cream // Monogrammed mug

I love reading everyone's gift guides and they've given me so many great ideas, but sometimes the gifts can be a little over budget for me.

Here are some gift ideas for those friends that you love, but don't want to spend an entire paycheck on. These gifts are perfect for everyone on your list, from friendly coworkers to college roommates.

Everything on here is under $20 and would make a super adorable, practical gift for anyone on your list!

What are your favorite small buys?

(PS. A Thousand Wishes is the perfect holiday scent! Champagne and peonies. To die for!)

Rainy Day Link Up (a little late)

Hello everyone! One of my favorite bloggers (who is also from the Pacific Northwest), Constance at Prep Northwest and Michaela from The Monogrammed Midwesterner were hosting a Rainy Day link-up + a giveaway earlier this week. I'm a little late to the party, because i've been so busy this week with midterms, but here's my go-to rainy day outfit!

Jacket: North Face // Jeans: AE // Shirt: H&M // Scarf: Similar // Boots: Hunter

Franklin D Roosevelt, the cat, wanted to be a part of this outfit post... 

What’s your favorite way to keep warm on a rainy day?

Scarfs on scarfs on scarfs.

Are you a hood, umbrella, or both kind of girl?

Umbrellas do not exist in Washington. Hood or nothing ;)

What is your best hair tip for a rainy day?

If it's windy and rainy, a bun is the way to go. I really dislike trying to keep my hood on over a ponytail, so I usually wear it down.

What's your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

Spending the whole afternoon catching up over coffee at one of Bellingham's cozy coffee shops

Also! Who takes the photos for your blogs? I did some self-timer shots on my balcony, but I have no one to take pictures of me out and about. Do you just ask random people? help! 

Ornamental Displays

With Thanksgiving comes another one of my favorite holiday traditions: decorating the tree! There's something about gathering around the tree, drinking hot cocoa, and hanging all the prettiest ornaments that makes me feel warm and cozy inside.

Every year, I like to pick out a new ornament for myself and now that I live on my own, I get to decorate my own tree. I'm super excited to get some more ornaments and to start my own holiday traditions. Here are some of my favorite picks for this year!

Camp Oar Ornament Set // If you make something in the shape of an oar, there's at least a 90% chance i'll buy it. I think this would be the perfect rustic-chic addition to a tree

Vintage Car Ornament // This ornament reminds me of the cutest Tommy Hilfiger ad of all time. Or KJP's instagram feed. Same thing.

Lilly Glass Ornament // For those days when you're missing warm, sunny afternoons in pretty dresses.

Pineapple Ornament // My favorite summer accessory, back again with a holiday twist!

How do you decorate your tree?

What's a coxswain?

Varsity 4+ keeping things serious on our home course

Nationals in Atlanta, Georgia with the Varsity 8+

Me and my fav coxswain, sharing some pre-regatta gossip as usual.

In rowing, a coxswain, pronounced "cox-in," or "cox" for short, is the person in charge of a boat. Typically, coxswains are short and at, or under, 125 lbs.

As a coxswain on my university's rowing team, my job has been to steer, lead, motivate, and correct the men in my boat. This position pushes me to take leadership of my boat, because as the cox, I am in charge of the lives of 8 men and a $60,000 boat the size of a semi truck.

Here are some frequently asked questions I get:

What are you supposed to say? 

In practice, a lot of what I do is focused around correcting and adjusting the technique of the rowers in my boat. During races, I say whatever will motivate and push my boat into first place.

Are all coxswains power hungry and bossy?

Absolutely not! There is definitely a line between being authoritative and being a huge jerk. Rowers will not respect someone who is overly aggressive. It's important to earn their respect first.

What's the benefit? 

I've gotten jobs solely from my experience coxing. It has taught me to adapt to change quickly, and how to take control in a situation. I believe my experiences on the team have helped me in life just as much as my college curriculum.

and last, but not least,

Is it hard being the only girl with eight muscle-y men?

Umm, no. Sure, they can be cute from far away, but once you get to know them, a strong brotherly bond starts to grow. Also, as much as I love them, seeing men vomit all over themselves after a strenuous workout doesn't exactly get me going haha.

If any of you have any questions about coxing, please do not hesitate to ask! I'm always happy to give advice :)

Are we out of the woods yet?

Sweater: J.Crew, Skirt: J.Crew Thrifted (Similar here), Boots: Hunter Tour, Nails: Essie After Schoolboy Blazer

(Awful quality photo, oops!)

On our last day in New York City, we did the 9/11 memorial, Central Park, the American Museum of Natural History, and shopped around on 5th ave. The J.Crew store by Rockefeller is to die for. Unfortunately, since it was only November 10th, not many Christmas decorations were out, so we made up for it by eating candy canes all day.

I think I might try for a summer internship in New York this year, because:

1. I miss living in the same state as my best friend, and
2. There are so many opportunities for a job in public relations! 

But we'll see.

Fall, in love

Scarf: handmade, Sweater: GAP (same sweater, different colors), Leggings: JL (a rower's main wardrobe and SO warm), Boots: Hunter Tour Packable Rainboots, Earrings: Fred Meyer Jewelers 

Fall is not yet over! Over the weekend, my friend and I decided to take an last-minute trip to New York City to visit my best friend. Lucky for us, the weather was beautiful and the fall foliage was absolutely breathtaking.

Living on the West coast, I never really get a chance to try Dunkin' Doughnuts, so  I went all out with the Sugar Cookie Latte. I'd recommend it if you're not planning on having any other sweets for the day, because it's as sweet as it is tasty!

What's your go-to at Dunkin'?

Welcome!

I've been following blogs for multiple years not, and I figured I might as well start one too.

Here's a little about me!

• I am a junior at my university, and I am currently studying public relations and business administration
• I am a coxswain on our men's rowing team
• I live in the pacific northwest and I love it so very much
• Christmas is my favorite holiday, and it begins November 1st and runs through January 1st.
• My favorite TV shows are Parks and Rec and Gossip Girl

Here's to my new future as a blogger. I hope I can share my college experiences, outfits, and other positive thoughts with you.

Best regards,

Genevieve