This post is going in-depth on all the aspects of my bridal shower. It was such a fun day and I hope to share some tips here that you can use to make your bridal shower a fun day too!

My sweet parents hosted the bridal shower at their home, and the event took place in the backyard. My dad prepared most of the food, along with my best friend and her mother helping out. My mom decorated the patio beautifully and did so much to make sure the party went smoothly.
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​I love lavender and sage green so that's the theme I went for at the party. We stuck to this color palette for the invitations, signage, goodie bags, and decor.

Emili picked out the games and the prizes that the winners received, and they were all a huge hit! She went with the circle game (click here), he said she said (click here), and a word scramble (click here). She put the prizes in adorable bags from hobby lobby (click here).

My mother-in-law also gave me these cute cards to hand out to everyone so they could write their favorite memory of me on it (click here). I 10/10 recommend doing this and then reading all of the cute memories your friends and family write down! 

Food choice is so important at parties because you never want your guests to leave feeling hungry! We went with a menu of fan-favorites, including: barbecue meatballs, sandwiches on hawaiian roles, deviled eggs, pasta salad, fruit, veggies, chips, and mixed nuts.

The biggest hit was the mimosa bar where everyone could pour their own juice and champagne to make their desired beverage! We had orange juice and pineapple juice so there was a variety of flavors available. We also provided lemonade and water for those who didn't drink alcohol.

For dessert we decided to go with cookies instead of a messy cake or cupcakes. We got them from Cheryl's cookies because they are by far the best! If there isn't a location near you, you can order the exact ones I had through their website (click here).

Just like the actual wedding day, nothing will ever go completely to plan. Things like weather, people getting sick, or anything else can slightly change your vision for a party, but ultimately you just have to let it be and still enjoy the day. This day is all about you, so have fun and try not to stress!

In the end, my biggest piece of advice is to take a lot of pictures! Snap a picture with everyone as they arrive, so you don't forget before they leave. I only got a few pictures of that day and I wish I had gotten more.

Finally getting around to writing this blog post! I asked 4 of my girls back in August and added my last friend in December. In this post I will be sharing pictures with all of my bridesmaids and briefly talking about why I love and chose each of them to be in my bridal party!

As a senior in college, I am always looking for ways to be comfortable while studying--especially since some of us might not be going back to campus anytime soon and need to get used to schooling from home. I am excited to announce that I am partnering with The Home Depot to redecorate my outdoor living space! I chose the following three items to add to the existing aesthetic of my patio: set of three potted faux plants, set of three ceramic vases, and a knitted pouf. Follow @HomeDepot on Instagram, or head to thehomedepot.com/backtoclass to see more decorating inspiration! 

As a disclaimer, none of these items are intended for outdoor use. I use these outdoors at my own discretion and assume full responsibility for any damage caused by undesignated use.

If you know me, you know I am obsessed with faux plants! They are the perfect decor piece to help fill a space, and they don't require watering or care like live plants do. They also look great year-round and don't need to be purchased new each year! The set of three faux plants are perfect on this end table. Before I found these plants I had been looking at live ones for this space, but these are even better!
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This set is $30.92​ and currently in stock online. Click here to shop this item.

These vases are absolutely stunning and I love that they come in a set of three! It can be so hard to find items that look this good together if you have to purchase them separately, so it is wonderfully convenient that they are sold as a set. These vases are timeless and elegant; I see myself using them in various ways for years to come.
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This set of vases is $35.35 for the set of three in the white color. These vases come in a beautiful blue color as well ($40.94 for the set of three). They are currently stocked in both colors and available for purchase here.

This knitted pouf is the perfect addition to any boho-styled living space. It pairs perfectly with the other furniture on my patio and it was something I had been on the hunt for, for a while! The Home Depot just happened to have the perfect one for my space, so I had to pick it up. If you have a similar decorating style to mine I would definitely recommend checking out this product for your home! The most accurate color is shown in the first image. Disclaimer: The pouf is not made for outdoor use. Use outdoors at your own discretion.
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This pouf is $49.98 and is available for purchase here.

I wanted to add that I found all of these fun, tropical plants at The Home Depot as well! They are my go-to place to shop for live plants. I cannot link these online obviously, but head to your local store to check out their seasonal plant selection!

#HomeDepotDecor #HomeDepotPartner #InfluenceHerCollective

Hi everyone! Today's blog post is going to be a gift guide on all things your mom might love for Mother's Day. Before I get into it I want to first say that I know how hard this day will be for those who are quarantined away from their mom during this time. All options I share below are able to be shipped to your mom wherever she is, so you won't have to worry about her feeling any less loved on that day! Also, for anyone who has lost their mother and usually does not look forward to this day each year, scroll to the bottom of this post for a section of gift ideas for the alternative guardian in your life: dads, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. 
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If your mom does the cooking of the household, these would be great options to consider:

If your mom works from home or just loves comfy, home items, these would be great options:​

If your mom loves fashion, these accessories would be great options to consider:

If your mom is constantly on the go and needs a well-deserved break, consider these gift ideas:

If your mother unfortunately isn't with you anymore and you spend this day celebrating with other family members, here are some great gift options to consider:

Below I linked all the major retailers that are running sales this weekend:

Most of us aren't in the financial situation to splurge on new or possibly passing trends, but we still want to try them out and look stylish even if we are on a budget. Even those who do have the cash to spare are opting to shop at places that are more budget-friendly to avoid wasting the extra money. There are some questions you should ask yourself before buying something that may be slightly out of your comfortable price range:



Do I have anything similar in my closet?
Having multiple pieces of a similar style in your closet will often lead to one getting much more use than the other. Say you already have a pair of white jeans from last year but you would like to get a more updated pair, go ahead and buy it and just sell or donate the old pair. If you want a new pink bag even though you already have two similar ones that you carry often, chances are you don't need to buy another one.

How often will I wear it?
To get your money's worth out of an item, you have to wear it often enough and the quality of it must withstand the length of time it should for the price you paid. While everyone needs a few formal occasion pieces that are only worn a few times a year, your closet can't be filled with these if you want to satisfy your budget. When buying an item, make sure it's something you see yourself wearing a least once about every two weeks so it remains in your frequently worn rotation.

Can I live without this item?
Of course in reality the answer to this question is always yes, but if you find yourself longing for a piece even after you've left the store or website, reevaluate and decide if the item is worth the dent in your bank account. There are some pieces we just can't let go, whether they be staples or statement pieces. It's okay to buy these as long as you know the difference between something your wardrobe needs and something you just want right now.

Shopping tips for budgeting:

1. Always watch out for sales/discounts. I know none of us like getting 10 emails a day per brand we're on the emailing list for, but this truly is the best way to know when your favorite brands are running sales. When sifting through emails looking for sales, search keywords like flash sale, % off, and BOGO.
2. Thrift shop. Not only is second-hand shopping so much cheaper, but you're helping reduce the amount of fast fashion items being produced every time you choose used instead. Some of my favorite places to shop pre-owned are: Plato's Closet, Clothes Mentor, Goodwill, Salvation Army and specialty consignment shops. I also like ThredUp and Depop as online options for second-hand shopping.
3. Shop outlet stores. If you're specifically looking for designer brands at a lower price, outlet and factory stores are the best place to look. These stores sell the items that the regular stores didn't sell within an allotted time frame, so you're getting the same items and quality, just at a fraction of the price.

The white shoes trend is going crazy this season and I love it! Another trend rolling into this season is mules and that's why the Sam Edelman woven mules are all the rage. While I love the style of these, they're not necessarily budget friendly and that's why I picked up these affordable Apt. 9 alternatives from Kohl's. They have memory foam soles and are so comfortable for all-day wear. If you're worried about having to clean them often (as we all dread our white shoes getting dirty quickly) they are made of a faux leather material that wipes clean and is easy to maintain. They are currently on sale for only $29.99 (down from $49.99) so snag them while they're still in stock!
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Some of my other favorite white shoes this season are the Steve Madden Greece Sandals (perfect for everyday, casual wear) and the Alfani Babbsy Sling-Back Kitten Heels (perfect for going from day to evening; a comfortable heel that can be dressed up or down).