Today I wanted to share with you some of the photos that I have taken while I have been here in Ireland and also while I did some traveling outside of the country as well. I have always loved photography, but in the fall I had to take a Film Photography class for my major, and I ended up falling in love with it more and more throughout the entire semester. I'm taking another photography class in the fall, and I am super excited for it. I really can't wait. I've gotten to take some amazing shots while I have been here, and I am super grateful for my family friend who let me borrow her DSLR camera for this trip. Here we go: 

 This was taken in Dublin, Ireland.

 This was taken in Cork, Ireland.

 This is the Blarney Castle, in Ireland.

 Blarney Castle.

 Blarney Castle.

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

 PARIS, FRANCE

 More of my photography can be seen at my Facebook Page. Please like it and share photos that you really enjoy!

{Home} Office Inspiration #1

Office Inspiration #1 by hellosimpleme1 featuring a white desk

Modern lamp, €105 / SANDERSON wool area rug, €1.060 / West Elm black wall art, €140 / Office accessory, €3,12 / Kate Spade office accessory, €32 / Dempsey & Carroll Handsome Note Card, €49 / Ladurée laduree box, €17 / Ladurée office accessory, €13 / Pink eraser, €1,78 / Word wall art, €17 / Tom Dixon office accessory, €58 / White desk, €265 / PBteen white desk, €750

As I announced earlier this week, I am starting a 'Home Inspiration' series, in preparation for decorating my apartment that I will be moving into this summer.  I am very excited. Today's inspirational post, is for my office/closet space. I already know that I will be painting the furniture that I have white (bookcase, dresser), as well as the desk that my parents might give me I will be painting white as well. I have a lavender rug that I will have on the floor (although that Poppy one above is gorgeous), and I have one of the 6 cube storage units from Target that I will definitely be getting a second one of for both sides of my desk, for my planner supplies, art supplies, jewelry, shoes, all that good stuff. I have a couple of gorgeous prints and canvases I got for my birthday last year and Christmas that I will be putting in there as well, probably setting them on top of the Target shelves. And of course, my desk wouldn't be complete without super cute office supplies. Once it is set up, I will be sure to give a tour. I want to be able to film planner videos in a couple months once I get my DSLR camera and a tripod. So keep an eye out for that coming by the end of summer. 

{Home} Apartment Inspiration #1

Apartment Inspiration #1 by hellosimpleme1 featuring beige rugs

Safavieh beige rug, €325 / Soma quilted coverlet, €305 / Blissliving Home queen quilt set, €80 / Kate Spade bed accessory, €53 / Royal Doulton polka dot plate, €36 / Travel coffee cup, €18 / Coffee mug, €13 / Bone china, €5,50 / Pavilion broadway, €6,93 / Wall bookshelf, €280 / Multi color throw pillow, €145 / Framed wall art, €125 / PBteen flower wall art, €36 / Surya pink throw pillow, €51 / Surya pink throw pillow, €39 / PBteen colorful throw pillow, €35 / Ameriwood black sofa, €150

I'm so excited to announce that I am going to be starting a "Home" series of inspirational posts from Polyvore. My boyfriend and I are moving in together starting in May (right when I get back from Ireland we will have the apartment -eeeep!!) and I am super excited to be able to get creative in our space. I'll still be living at home for this summer, due to working full time near my hometown, but I will cleaning out my room and gradually taking things to our apartment. It is exciting and scary to be moving out from my childhood home, but I am looking forward to it! This will be the source of lots of DIY's this summer, budgeting/finance posts, "home" inspiration and vision boards, and I am really excited. 

My boyfriend has given me permission to decorate how I like, and I can't wait. We will have two bedrooms, and we have agreed that I can have the second smaller one as an office space/closet (YES!).  Then the typical living room, dining area, kitchen and bathroom, pretty standard. 

We will be doing LOTS of DIY-ing, his sister is giving us a dining room table that I am going to be painting and also tons of kitchen supplies, his dad is giving us the leather couch that was in his old apartment, my parents might be giving me the desk from in the dining room. So I have a general idea of what I want the space to look like. Outside of my office area, the whole apartment will be fairly neutral in colors and style. I am going to enjoy being able to decorate but I also don't want it to be "too girly" for him. My office on the other hand ;) will be pinks and golds and light colors. 

So, we will be getting (& he agreed to) a white comforter on our bed. And I'll be buying, or making, some bright pillows to put on it. I have a lavender rug that I will be putting in my office, but I'm thinking a more neutral one with a pattern, like the grey one above for in the living room. 

I'm super excited for this series and I hope you are too! 

XOXO, 

Kelsey  

{Fashion} April Wishlist

April Wishlist by hellosimpleme1 featuring ripped jeans

Sans Souci crop tank top, €19 / Sleeveless blouse, €7,40 / Sans Souci ripped jeans, €87 / White Hollow Out Flower Lace Tank Top, €23 / Nike activewear, €20 / Bead necklace, €13

APRIL WISHLIST 

Today I bring you my April Wishlist, it's fairly late in April to be putting this up, but a post that I am working on isn't ready yet so I decided to do this for today. 

1) White Tank Tops - I've been obsessed with white tank tops, I really want to get more white into my wardrobe. And some white tank tops would be a perfect edition. Especially with the summer time soon upon us. Another reason is that I am excited to show off my tattoo, and I have to make sure I cover it with sunscreen this summer. 

2) Birkins - I really would like to get a pair of these. I've read that they are super comfortable and I find them very cute. 

3) Gym Shorts - I've been working out everyday for the past few weeks, and I want to get a few new pair of gym shorts and work out leggings. I have been doing so well with going to the gym everyday and I think that investing in some new workout gear will keep me motivated. I have been enjoying my daily workouts, and feel great!  

4) Coco Mademoiselle Perfume - I've been wanting this for sometime now, and I'm not sure if I will be getting it or not, but it is on my list. 

5) Tassel Necklace - I think these are so gorgeous, especially for spring and summer, and against those white tank tops, how cute would that be?! 

6) Light Wash Ripped Jeans - I've ripped two pairs of my jeans on this trip (ugh), and I am hoping to get a couple pairs to replace them when I come back to the States. 

XOXO, 

Kelsey  

{Fashion} Weekend Capsule Wardrobe

Weekend Capsule Wardrobe by hellosimpleme1 featuring low cut shoes

Something that I have really discovered my love for while being abroad is packing for a weekend trip. And, packing for a weekend is so much easier with a capsule wardrobe. I will most definitely be doing more posts about capsule wardrobes in the future, because they are an incredible time saver and really streamline your wardrobe. They are actually really popular right now with bloggers such as Unfancy, and Project 333. The whole idea behind capsule wardrobes are doing more, with less. Having a wardrobe that is cohesive, mixes and matches to perfection, and makes it easier in the morning to get dressed. Which, is very true. I created a capsule wardrobe in the fall of 2015, it began with searching for hours on Pinterest about what to pack to travel abroad, and I fell in love. I redid my whole wardrobe, with what I had. I did buy a few things. Like a striped button down, and 4 tees from H&M (white, grey, olive, and wine). But I went through my clothes, picked my favorite tops and realized that there was a theme, and I ran with it. Flash forward to here in Ireland, and the capsule wardrobe makes it a breeze to pack. The items above are some that I have in my closet (might not be same brand), and I will be packing for this weekend. **Sorry everyone, this post went up a day late**

1) white tee shirt - a true classic piece and essential to any women's wardrobe. Can go with anything. 

2) Grey tee shirt - like the white tee. it is a classic essential for any women's wardrobe. 

3) Graphic tee - I chose the Carpe Diem one because I do have one similar with "Carpe Diem" written on it, except it is black, but either color would go with this weekend capsule. 

4) Red cardigan - I have one from Charlotte Russe, and I wear it all the time. It is lightweight, and looks really good on. 

5) Cheetah print scarf - Another essential.

6) Sneakers - When running around Ireland, comfy shoes are essential. Just a couple of options. 

7) Jeans - two options. I have black jeans and lighter jeans with me here and I will probably just take one pair, but no one is going to notice that I've worn them for the whole weekend. Jeans are something that can be worn a few times before needing to be washed. 

Let's put it together. All these pieces can be worn mixed and matched together and look chic. That is the magic behind it. The white tee can be worn with the scarf or the cardigan, or with both. As well as the other tee shirts. Light or dark jeans could be matched with all the outfits, and the grey or white sneakers would also work with any of those combinations. I actually really like grey sneakers. I need to get a pair (mine are white). Another thing I wanted to quickly mention were the color swatches. Choosing colors that go well together and compliment each other make creating the wardrobe, and choosing items for the weekend a lot easier. 

Let me know if anyone wants to see more of these types of capsule wardrobe posts! Or if you have any questions, feel free to ask :) 

XOXO, 

Kelsey 

{Fashion} Faux Fur Keychain

I joined the club. I decided, on a whim, to purchase one of these adorable faux fur keychains. They are on trend right now and I've been seeing them everywhere in tons of colors. It adds a great pop of color, texture, and just an extra something to your bag. So, I thought this neutral one would be adorable with my purse so I had to get it.  And I was right!

It is so fluffy and I keep playing with it. I also have seen people hook them in the top ring of their Filofaxes and Kikki-k planners, and I tried it. And, it looks so darn cute. 

XOXO, 

Kelsey 

{Makeup} What's in my Makeup Bag?

 

Today I have a fun, makeup related post for you. Since I am living abroad, my makeup choices are a lot more limited, since I only brought a few things with me. So I wanted to show you what is in my makeup bag. This traveled with me to Amsterdam and Paris, and also around Ireland as well. 

The essentials. My Urban Decay Naked Palette that I was given for Christmas from Jordan's family. And my makeup bag, it is from Clinique and had some goodies inside, it was from my Aunt for my birthday.                                                                    

                                                                                    

 First we have my eyeshadow palette. I pretty much wear the same eyeshadows everyday. Naked, on my eyelid, and Virgin, on my brow bone.

 

The other eyeshadow I brought with me, that I got in Paris in 2014. MAC's, All That Glitters.

The makeup brushes that I brought with me. The three with the wooden handle were in a set from my sister for this past christmas. I think they are from amazon. The purple handle brush is from Real Techniques. And the black handled brush, I'm not sure where it is from, I got it for my birthday when I was in 9th grade.

The Eyeliners that I have with me. Two from Physicians Formula, the grey one came with the Clinique bag, the Maybelline one I LOVE and need to review on here and buy a new one of. Then there is one from Rimmel London, and then one from Essence, which I think is an Irish brand. 

Three lipsticks. Two from Rimmel London, they are the 16 HR Proactive ones and they really do stay for a long time. I need to do a review. 

The Lipstick is Rimmel London, 128- StarryEyed

Starry Eyed

Red

Nude 

Two mascaras. The Clinique one came with the makeup bag. 

Two blushes. I actually had the one on the left included in a post a while back. The other one is from the Clinique bag. They both look similar but have a very slight color difference. 

Two Favorites. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Treatment Creme, and the Maybelline BB 5 in 1 Beauty Balm.

Eyelash curler from Dollar Tree.

Perfume roller ball from a store here in Ireland, called New Look. 

Tweezers from a pharmacy here in Ireland. 

What is a makeup bag without a few of these?! 

Hope you enjoyed, 

XOXO

Kelsey