Songs You Need to Hear! Summer 2020 Playlist

Songs You Need to Hear! Summer 2020 Playlist

I decided to compile some songs I've been loving recently and share them with you! Hopefully you enjoy these songs, they're great for the summertime and are great as songs to get you through quarantine!

How To Style Biker Shorts | 10 Biker Shorts Outfits for Summer 2020 | emsessentials

How To Style Biker Shorts | 10 Biker Shorts Outfits for Summer 2020 | emsessentials

I recently decided to come up with some ideas for how to wear biker shorts and I hope that you enjoy the 10 biker shorts outfit ideas that I show below!

How to Style T-Shirts - Styling Tourist T-Shirts and 4 Outfit Ideas for Summer 2020

How to Style T-Shirts - Styling Tourist T-Shirts and 4 Outfit Ideas for Summer 2020 by emsessentials

Hi everyone, hope you're doing well! I recently made a video showing how to style tourist t-shirts and I thought I would expand on it here in this blog post! The ideas can be applied to how to style  t-shirts summer 2020 edition and hopefully this gives you some general cute and casual summer outfit ideas as well!

Boston Night Market & Happy Place Boston

I wasn't sure if I was going to make this into a post or not but I decided that I might as well! Last month I attended these 2 events so read on for a Boston Night Market review, a Happy Place Boston review, plenty of pictures, and I included a weekend in my life vlog because these events happened within the span of 2 days and I wanted to document the memories!

Summer 2018 Trends

As with every season there are new styles that become popular. Summer trends are especially very big and many people like to try them out! So I wanted to do a roundup of the biggest trends I saw this summer. There are a couple trends of the moment that I've really been liking and I think are worth mentioning! I hope to provide you with some inspiration!

Summer 2018 Bucket List: Things To Do In The Summer!

Hi everyone! The weather in Massachusetts has been fluctuating so much recently but we've had some really hot days lately. I'm so happy that it's summer and there's a lot of things that I still want to do in the next month or so! If you are in need of ideas for what to do this summer I've got you covered! Here are some suggestions for what to do in the summer! Including day trips, food recommendations, and other outdoor activities! (Also, as the summer goes on and I check off things from this list I will link any related blog posts with more info!)

So without further ado and in no particular order, what I want to do this summer includes the following activities and I hope they give you some ideas for what to do to have fun during the summer!

General Ideas: 

Go mini golfing
Berry picking- strawberry and/or blueberry picking
Take a spin class
Spend more time outside
Go kayaking/canoeing
Go to the beach
Be a tourist in your own city
Try out new food and new restaurants
Go to a farmer's market
Go thrifting
Do some crafts
Go to an amusement park
Attend a few concerts
See some new movies
Go to the drive in
Go to or have a paint night
Have a game night
Visit a vineyard
Have a staycation
Visit some neighboring state
Go to at least one state park or national park
Try rolled ice cream
Go bowling
Go white water rafting
Go horseback riding
Have a picnic in a park
Ride a bike more often

New England specific:

Visit Cape Cod
Visit Cape Ann
Go to P Town
Go to Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard (but ideally both)
Go to Maine: Kennebunkport and York
Go to Newport Rhode Island

Thank you for reading my summer bucket list! I'd love to know what you want to do this summer so feel free to let me know in the comments!

via GIPHY

Other Places You Can Find Me:

Instagram    Pinterest  Bloglovin'

June 2018 Favorites

Hi everyone!

As June recently came to an end I thought I'd share some things that I've been loving including products, food, movies, and music!


 
But first off - wow how is June over already! We're halfway through 2018 which is hard to fathom! May was a pretty big month for me as I graduated college!  June went by so fast and right now it just feels like I finished another regular year of school and that I'll be going back to my college in the fall though but I won't be 😱. Congratulations to all of you Class of 2018 graduates!

via GIPHY

As I should theoretically have more free time now I hope to post more frequently on this blog, so fingers crossed that happens lol. I tried to organize this post into categories but there were some miscellaneous items so I thought I'd start with those first.

Miscellaneous:

Almost Adulting by Arden Rose

I had been wanting to read Almost Adulting: All You Need to Know to Get It Together (Sort Of) for so long (I guess since it came out). While I was in school though I did not have much time to read books of my own choosing rather than what I was required to read for classes so this book was definitely on my list for the summer! I usually always rent books from the library as my local library is part of a network that lets us borrow books from other towns. It turns out though that my mom got the book at a book sale without even knowing that I had been wanting to read it. It was a nice coincidence when I saw it on a bookshelf in our house! (In general my mom has good taste in books and usually picks/recommends good ones for my sister and/or I to read).

On to the book itself- Almost Adulting is a very fitting name for the book and for the point of my life that I am currently at. In the book one of the themes that Arden discusses is how most people who are perceived to be full adults and have it all together may very well be "struggling" just like the rest of us no matter what age they are. She also talks about the concept of adulthood in general and how it is arbitrary and can mean different things to different people. Arden's writing style is very enjoyable to read, I like her voice and the humor that she inflicts into the book. The book covers many topics and has a nice balance of funny, uplifting, and serious sections. I really recommend this book to any young adult! It is reassuring to know that there are others who are in the same boat! I liked getting to know more about Arden's life as well, for those of you who may not know, Arden is among other things, a YouTuber, actress and in her words "person of the internet" I have been subscribed to her for a while and enjoy watching her videos so it was nice to get to see another side to her and her thoughts.

( I also wanted to comment on how cute the jacket of the book is and I like the fact that there are little doodles scattered throughout the chapters of the book as well!)

Converse All Stars

Next I wanted to give a shout out to my new Converse sneakers. My Converse are a staple in my wardrobe and I have loved Chucks  for so many years. As I wear mine so often they go through a lot and so I've gone through quite a few pairs of them. I got a new pair for Christmas but only recently started wearing them as I did not want to ruin them. Now it's the perfect time of the year for them. Converse are so comfortable and versatile and are one of my go-to pairs of shoes. I like sticking to neutral colors as I feel I can wear them with anything but they do come in so many colors and can be personalized as well!

Products:

OPI Nail Polish in Schnapps Out of It

I believe that the OPI Schnapps Out of It nail polish was part of OPI's German collection. It is not a recent purchase but I've recently started using it more! Even though the color is not a typical summer color as it's more muted than vibrant and seems like more of a fall color I like that it is versatile! Depending on what you are wearing it can make your nails standout or be more understated. I also think that it is more of a mature color and now that I am a "real adult" it helps me feel more put together and "professional" lol (do you feel that way about certain shades of nail polish too or is it just me? 😂 )

The exact shade of nail polish is no longer available but I found some similar shades/shades in the same color family!

Ole Henriksen C- Rush Brightening Gel Creme

I started trying out the Ole Henriksen C- Rush Brightening Gel Creme about a month or so ago as I received it complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes and I have been really happy with this moisturizer! I have been using it twice a day after washing my face in the morning and at night and my skin feels great! The moisturizer is lightweight and has a nice consistency. I don't like lotions that feel super heavy or greasy and so I'm so glad that this one is not like that. It absorbs nicely into my skin and a little product goes a long way. I do feel like my skin seems brighter and more awake which is why I love applying it in the morning. I feel like it just smooths my skin so well and keeps it hydrated. This is part of Ole Henriksen's Truth Line and contains vitamin C, and Rose of Winter which is rich in antioxidants and is free from parabens and sulfates. This is a great ingredient for brightening and the creme also has a citrus scent. It reminds me of an orange creamsicle! It smells so good but the scent is not overpowering or too strong!

Music:

I am so excited that so many artists that I really enjoy have been releasing music recently!

via GIPHY

(this clip is actually from the BBC show Sherlock which is a show that I really like!) 

So first up, I love Shawn Mendes' new album! I feel like with each album we get to see him grow and try out different things. I think that In My Blood is probably my current favorite song from the album. It's very powerful- lyric wise and sound wise.

Also I started listening to BTS last year and so their most recent album was the first one that came out since I've been into them which I was so excited for! It's called Love Yourself: Tear and follows their previous Love Yourself: Her album. My favorite songs off of the new album would have to be Fake Love and Airplane Part 2 (which is connected to a song from one of the member's mixtapes, hence the part 2). The album has a huge variety of songs from really upbeat to more emotional. BTS also has worked with UNICEF on an anti violence campaign called Love Myself.

And last but not least for music favorites is 5SOS's new album Youngblood! This album has been a long time coming but I'm glad that the band took the time that they needed in order to make something they feel accurately reflects them and is something they are proud of. It was definitely worth the wait for new music. My favorite songs from the album are the title track Youngblood and Valentine! They also have a nice diversity in the songs on the album as well.

Movies:

I had wanted to see The Greatest Showman ever since I saw previews for it but was never able to get to a movie theater to see it while it was playing. I recently was finally able to see the movie and it lived up to, well I guess surpassed my expectations for it! The soundtrack is hands down amazing and the choreography was so good too! I really like musicals and am glad that so many people enjoy seeing them too, especially one that has such a great story and message! The story in the movie is so moving and a roller coaster of emotions, I teared up a bit several times actually. The cast is so talented and I think that everyone fit their roles so well.

I also recently watched The Maze Runner Trilogy! I wanted to read the books but haven't yet. I usually prefer reading the books before seeing a movies of the story but oh well lol. I like action movies and typical young adult dystopian movies and books and I think that The Maze Runner has great characters and that they and the story/plot developed very well over the course of the trilogy. I definitely got invested in the story and was intrigued! It did remind me a bit of The Hunger Games and Divergent but that is not a bad thing and is to be expected as they are all the same genre. I'm really glad I finally watched the movies as my mom and sister had told me how good they were! 

Food:

As it is summertime that means that so many more types of fruit are in season! I have been loving blueberries lately ( I used to not like them), they're great on their own as a snack or perfect in oatmeal for breakfast! Other snacks I really like are sea salt almonds, specifically the Blue Diamond ones, they're so tasty and good for you too! And the final snack I'll mention is wheat thins, they have great taste and are a decent "healthy snack" option!

Thanks for reading! What are some of your recent favorites?

Other Places You Can Find Me:

Instagram    Pinterest  Bloglovin'

Summer Fashion Essentials

Summer 2017 trends: I have actually really been liking a lot of the trends I've been seeing this summer! I usually keep up on trends but that does not mean that I always like them or follow them. But the trends of summer 2017 were right up my alley and I wanted to talk about them!



It feels like the summer has just flown by, I can't believe that I'll be back at school in such a short amount of time! As I mentioned, I usually keep an eye on the trends of each season but I wouldn't label myself exclusively as a trend follower. Since I am a fashion merchandising major it is important that I know what is popular and trending but that does not always means that I will like the trends or incorporate them into my wardrobe. I wear things that fit my own style and I won't wear something I don't like just because it is "on trend". What I think is great about fashion is that everyone has their own unique style and fashion is a great way to express your personality. Even if you are wearing something that is trendy you can still put your own spin on it!

Below are what I consider to be the biggest trends of summer 2017 and the fashion essentials of the season! 

Summer 2017 Fashion Essentials by emsessentials

First I thought that I would start off by talking about some of the summer's key colors and prints and then move on to specific items and silhouettes!

Blue & White

This color combination had a major moment! Blue and white are both such classic colors that pair well with a lot of things and they look so great together too! Vertical stripes of blue and white were one of the main ways I saw this combo on shirts, dresses, and even on pants too. It makes pieces have such a timeless look and white and a lighter blue has such a fun and festive feeling too it while white and a darker blue such as navy is perfect for the office or a moral formal event, it makes you look very put together.

Millenial Pink

This tone of muted pink has been everywhere. It is very versatile and looks great on everyone. Sometimes pink can be very bold, loud, and look juvenile but a shade such as millenial pink does not look juvenile because it is so soft and toned down. It is an easy color to wear and works as wonderfully in a causal outfit as it does for a more dressed up occasion.

Pale Yellow

This sunny color has gotten more attention recently too. Yellow was my all time favorite color when I was younger but I prefer pastel yellow over highlighter yellow and so I was very glad that pale yellow was the shade whose popularity increased. As with millenial pink it is a soft tone and tranquil which makes it easier to add to your wardrobe and style.

Gingham 

Gingham was all over everything this summer. I found that a bit surprising at first because to me it is more of a retro motif and reminds me of fashion in the 1950s and 60s. I personally like the fashion of those decades and think that it's great that we can see the inspiration from them in fashion today. It is a very classic print which definitely has a summer vibe to it, when I think of gingham I think of the 50s, 60s, Jackie Kennedy, picnics/BBQs and just summer celebrations in general I guess.

Palm Print

Palm print has really gained popularity and it is perfect for summer time as palm trees and plants thrive during this season. There's just something about plants and plant motifs that is so refreshing and energizing. The palm  print is so cute and fun too! Also Pantone's color of the year for 2017 is Greenery which is very, very, fitting and shows how accurate they are with forecasting.
https://www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year-2017

 

Image via Pinterest

Off the Shoulder

Off the shoulder was definitely one of the most popular styles of clothing I saw this summer. Flowy tops and dresses were very in and since they are  so comfortable it made the off the shoulder look even better! Having your shoulders exposed can help keep you a bit cooler during the summer months and it looks cute too which is probably why so many people wore off the shoulder items and is why it became a trend. Also, it is such a different silhouette than what has been in style and so a change is always exciting!

Fun Sandals

Wearing sandals that are not only comfortable but those that are very fun as well was a huge trend this summer. Sandals with various types of tying or various lace up styles were the most common footwear this summer. Sandals that had fun tassels or laced up were still very popular and so were back less sandals. We also saw that carry into other shoes such as mules.
  
Block Heels

Block heels was another style that was everywhere this summer. It was a simple and cute summer style that could be worn in a casual or more dressed up manner. Since it was so versatile and the fact that they're more comfortable than other types of heels makes the style such a winner.

Fun Accessories 

Tassels were a big detail this summer, as I mentioned they were used on sandals and tassel earrings were also trending and very prevalent. Pom poms were another decorative element I saw a lot on sandals this summer too. Another fun accessory was wide brimmed hats that had cute puns or sayings on them. Such as "Follow the Sun"


I hope that you enjoyed reading this summer trends recap! Did you have a favorite trend from this summer? Feel free to let me know in the comments!

Shop Below

Thanks for reading!

Other Places You Can Find Me:

Instagram: http://instagram.com/emsessentials

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/emsessentials/

Bloglovin': https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/emsessentials-14361729

How to Have a Productive Summer

Almost everyone looks forward to summer break, trips to the beach, ice cream, no homework (unless like me you're taking a summer course lol), there are so many reasons why summer is great, outdoor movies- I mean the list goes on and on! Although it is extremely important to have fun and be a bit carefree during the summer it is also important to not let it go by in the blink of an eye. It's not a great feeling when the summer seems to suddenly come to an end and you have no idea where it all went or what you even did with those three months! That's where having a productive summer comes in. As I mentioned, fun should be a priority during the summer but you also want to accomplish something so that when it does come to an end you feel like you put the time to good use and that it didn't sweep past you.

I put together a list with some tips for how you can make the most of your summer! (These will definitely come in handy for keeping myself on track too!)

Set Goals

Near the beginning of the summer it is helpful to think about what you want to do in the next few months. Knowing what you want to accomplish is very important and having the goals in mind ahead of time will make it much easier for you to reach them. Setting you goals lets you know exactly what you want to do and should serve as a guide to what you want your summer to consist of. And once the summer comes to an end you can look back at everything you've done!

Plan 

Planning out your summer at least a little bit is very beneficial because it allows you to get a big picture idea of the upcoming months. Even having a very basic plan of a couple things that you want to do or accomplish each month will make it so much easier to achieve them. Either writing it in a planner or putting things in a calendar app will help you keep track of everything and let you get everything done.
 
I personally love writing things down so I don't forget them and I like to be able to look ahead and know what I'm doing the next week. Especially if you want to go on any weekend trips or anything it is so crucial to organize those in advance at least a little bit to get the best deals on hotels, most convenient flight times, etc. Planning will also allow you to make sure that you have the time to do what you want to in general and will prevent you from having conflicting events or commitments.

Inspiration

Knowing what inspires you can a have a large impact on what you get done. Inspiration can provide great motivation and lets you see what you're working towards. It can be a nice reminder of what can be and to not give up. If you don't have a good reason for doing something you definitely won't get as much done as you would if you clearly know why you are working towards the goals you are. (Whether or not a reason is "good" is subjective but by "good reason" I personally mean something reasonable and positive).

For example if one of the goals you are working towards is a fitness one then following personal trainers or others on a fitness journey can provide great inspiration (as long as you try not to compare yourself and remember that everyone is at different levels and stages). Comparison can be an enemy to progress.

Establish a Routine

Having a routine can be a great way to ensure that you reach your goals. Knowing what you have to do and when lets you stay on track and make steady progress. If you establish a routine it'll become easier to do what you need to as you'll get used to it and form habits. Sticking with the fitness example, maybe you decide to start doing certain stretches or moves everyone morning after you've woken up, over time you'll end up automatically doing them and will build strength or flexibility (depending on what you do) and you'll start getting results!

Stay Realistic

It is crucial to be realistic with what you want to achieve and what you expect to accomplish though. You do not want to set yourself up to fail. You need to be aware of what you are capable of. As someone who isn't much of a runner it would not be realistic for me to have the goal of competing in and finishing a marathon that is taking place next month-that isn't realistic and there is no way I'd be able to achieve that. However, I am not saying to not challenge yourself. It is important to make sure that your goals aren't all so easy that you can basically already achieve them, you do need something to work towards. It should just be something that will be possible once you do put in the time and effort.

Balance

This is another significant concept. Although being productive and working on getting to your goals is very important, it is summer so you need to have some free time. Now I don't just mean doing nothing (although there is nothing wrong having some time for that), free time means that you don't have things scheduled so you can determine what you want to do with the time. Balancing the time you spend working on things and the time you take just to relax and have fun is vital to being productive and staying happy. If you are overworked you will not be as content or productive. I find that I work much better and enjoy it more when I'm in a good mood!

I hope that you found this helpful and that we all can have productive summers! Do you have any tips for being productive? Leave them in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

Other Places You Can Find Me:

Instagram: http://instagram.com/emsessentials

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/emsessentials/

Bloglovin': https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/emsessentials-14361729

Castle Island Adventure

Hi guys, I hope you are having a great summer!

      I finally made it to the beach! My mom recently mentioned that she had wanted to visit Castle Island which is located in South Boston. None of us had ever been there before so we were excited to go. There is a fort, Fort Independence, a restaurant known for its sea food of course, a couple beaches, a playground and walking trails. 
     We took the T and a bus and arrived at one of the beaches. My mom and I went in the water a little as we walked along from one end of the island to get to the restaurant located on the other end. As we were walking we saw some shells, sea glass, and horse shoe prints. The latter was definitely a surprise. I guess that the rangers patrol on horses, a not so nice surprise was that we passed some other evidence left by the horses which we made sure to avoid getting too close to.  

Pic of my mom and sister featuring a plane

       On the walk over to the restaurant we saw a lot of low flying planes and assumed we were close to the airport. We also saw some large machines that my sister was very intrigued by and wanted to know what they were. As we got closer and closer to the restaurant we also got closer and closer to the machines and were able to determine that they were for taking large cargo containers off of ships and putting them on the land. We finally made it to Sullivan's to have lunch. It is similar to Kelly's if you are familiar with the MA area. We got fish and chips and it was really good. My mom, sister, and I split two meals between the three of us, it was very filling.       

The little building in the back there is Sullivan's

     Since we were so full and wanted to walk it off we made our way past another beach, the playground, saw some statues and made it to the fort. Only to the find out that visitors can only enter on Saturdays and Sundays and it was a Friday (probably one of the only times I will be annoyed that it was a Friday lol). We couldn't complain too much though because we still had a beautiful view of Boston and the harbor, were surround by the ocean, and had great weather. Oh and don't forget, we figured out what those machines were for! So it was still a successful journey.

The boardwalk

Hope you enjoyed reading!
-Emily  

p.s. I think I took a picture of those random machines that my sister was fascinated by, I'll try to find one and update the post when I do!

Other Places You Can Find Me:

Instagram: http://instagram.com/emsessentials

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/emsessentials/

Bloglovin': https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/emsessentials-14361729

A Day at the MFA

Hi everyone!

        My mom, sister, and  I have been attempting to be tourists in our own city this summer! There are so many things to do and see in and around the Boston area and New England in general. It is a place filled with so much history and culture. So many things have happened here and it is still an area so bustling and full of life. Although Boston can be an expensive city (it is listed in the top 10 of many travel websites as being one of the most expensive in the U.S.) there are a good amount of cheap or even free things to do though so don't worry! Many museums are free at certain times on specific days. There is also a program called Free Fridays which lists when many venues in the city and other parts of Massachusetts have no cost admission.

Here is a link to the site: 
 http://highlandstreet.org/programs/free-fun-fridays

       My mom, sister and I went to the MFA (Museum of Fine Arts)  this past Friday. It is one of my all time
favorite museums. I love that is has such a diverse collection and I love wandering through the exhibit halls and coming across new pieces and paintings. They have things from ancient Egypt and China, pieces from Europe dating back to the Middle Ages, Rembrandt masterpieces, paintings by Monet, contemporary art, and everything in between. They also always have really great feature exhibits such as the recent #techstyle one I was very excited about seeing.

       This exhibit was all about the relationship between fashion and technology. There were some really great concepts behind the pieces and showed a lot of ingenuity. There were 3D printed shoes, a Ralph Lauren purse with a built in charger for electronic devices, a few garments showing off their laser cut details. A jacket with solar panels, a dress from a Victor & Rolf collection that had a frame and could be hung up on the wall as a legitimate piece of art when not being worn, as well as countless other fascinating pieces utilizing technology in new ways.

The dress on the right is the Victor & Rolf one I mentioned

This designer made pieces that could fold up flat. The square on the left unfolds into a dress like the one on the right

This dress was made out of plastic and based off of a slow motion picture of water

There were 1000s of LED lights sewn into this dress which can light up different colors and make different shapes and patterns

       We also visited other galleries. Here are a few pieces I thought were cool, I didn't get to take too many pictures but I thought I'd show you some that I did get to take.

     We spent a good number of hours explore and there's so much more we didn't even get to see. I'm sure I'll be back again. I highly recommend visiting this museum if you have the chance. It is also very easy to get to and has its own stop on the Green Line.

Thanks for reading!
-Emily

Other Places You Can Find Me:

Instagram: http://instagram.com/emsessentials

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/emsessentials/

Bloglovin': https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/emsessentials-14361729