lifestyle – The Courtney Diaries

Valentina Bracelets | Jewelry for a Cause

February 17, 2016

I love jewelry, as I’m sure most of y’all do as well. The fact that you can change the look of an entire outfit based on whether you choose to wear a statement necklace or even stud earrings just makes getting dressed (even if it’s just for work) so much fun in the morning. And because of that I’m always on the lookout for new beautiful pieces to add to my jewelry box, whether that be online or rummaging through vintage shops.

Which is why Valentina is one of my favorite new brands that I’ve come across lately. Not only are their bracelets absolutely gorgeous and crafted individually by hand, but you can also know that you’re making a change with every order you place. Following the belief that jewelry should not only look amazing but should stand for a cause, Valentina donates 10% of all proceeds to various charities. Just in the past year, Valentine has partnered with five charities and the proceeds from each bracelet goes towards one of these specific cause.

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Eat & Drink

Healthy Snacking with Nākd Bars

February 15, 2016

I feel like even with all of the trips I’ve been taking lately, I’ve actually stuck with my new year’s resolutions much more successfully than I have in the past. I’ve been going to the gym 3+ times a week, eating more vegetables and protein (this salmon recipe is amazing!), and, other than all of the Bloody Marias I drank to keep warm in NYC this weekend, I really haven’t been overindulging in alcohol.

But where I have the hardest time keeping myself on the healthy track is when it comes to snacking. If you were to put a family size bag of Smartfood popcorn in front of me, there’s a good chance that I could get through an impressive amount while watching The Bachelor. And I’ve found that even some of my favorite breakfast bars have an impressive amount of preservatives and other ingredients that I don’t believe to be healthy for the body in the long run. Luckily for me, our friends at Natural Balance Foods have just the solution for us—Nākd Bars.

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Fashion & Beauty

Date Night | #UltimateVegasOutfit

November 6, 2015

Whenever I travel with my boyfriend, one of the things that I look forward to the most is going out to dinner. We’re both fairly casual when it comes to our style, so I love when we both get the opportunity to dress up to the nines and walk hand-in-hand for a date. Plus I’ll take any excuse that I can get to wear red lipstick!

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College Life Lately

Graduation, featuring the incredibly hilarious Stephen Colbert

June 12, 2015

Scrolling through my instagram posts, it’s crazy to think that it’s already been three weeks since I graduated. While that might not sound like a long time, I spent the majority of my years at Wake ignoring the possibility that I’d have to graduate and leave at some point. Funnily enough, looking over these pictures don’t make me sad. Don’t get me wrong–I miss all of my friends and the life we built together but now looking over these pictures all I can do is smile and be thankful for everything (and everyone) I’ve encountered.

Graduation weekend started out with the Baccalaureate ceremony. I wasn’t expecting much (mostly because I’m not super religious) but Jonathan Walton, who is a professor in the divinity school at Harvard, made an incredibly inspiring speech that honestly made me want to be a better person… Which I think i really saying something considering that he only spoke for 20 minutes max!

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Life Lately

Netflix Shows That You Should Be Watching

June 8, 2015

My love for Netflix is no secret. In fact, I watched 12 seasons of Law & Order: SVU in one semester my freshman year… Which my mom told me isn’t something to brag about but honestly I’m still pretty impressed with my dedication even 3 years later. One of my favorite aspects of Netflix is that it now hosts its own original series, which tend to be out-of-this-world-so-epically-amazing that it’s hard not to get sucked into the story lines.

^^A typical weekday night/date night in my old apartment.

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College Life Lately

Up in Wait Chapel

June 4, 2015

You really can’t argue against the fact that the most recognizable landmark on the Wake Forest campus is Wait Chapel, which is located almost smack dab in the middle of all student activity. I’ve spent countless hours studying, napping, throwing frisbees, and just hanging out with my friends out on the green throughout the past 4 years. One of my favorite Wake Forest traditions, and one that I’ve been waiting to participate in since my first year, occurs a few weeks before graduation when graduating seniors are given the opportunity to climb up to the top of the chapel’s bell tower. So obviously when I got the email about dates and times, I quickly jotted down a reminder in my planner.

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