Happy weekend! I hope your Saturday is off to a great start. I love the weekend because it’s the best time for running errands and self care! Does anyone else LOVE running errands or is it just me?
While running errands, I always end up finding some great products that I have to try out! Recently, I’ve picked up six products that I know you also NEED!
If you follow me on Instagram (@Danieminor13 ;)), you saw that I spent my Valentine’s Day at Paper Source in Annapolis. They hosted a Galentine’s Day Mixer, which was a blast! I learned a few new crafting tricks- hello heat embossing?! How have I never learned about you before?
While I had a blast last night, I learned something more than that. If you’ve followed Defining Danie for a while, you may know that I struggle with anxiety. But, something you may not know, because I haven’t talked about it is that I have been struggling with the job hunt. Recently, because of the job search, I have felt extremely anxious and have had a few panic attacks because of it. Continue reading
When I moved home in May, I felt like my room was not actually “my room.” When I originally went to college, my mom got rid of my furniture because it was so old, and honestly, it needed to go. When I would come home from breaks from college, I would stay in our guest room or our extremely comfy couch in the living room.
I felt out of place and really wanted a place of my own because I knew I would be at home for at least another year.
I didn’t know what I wanted to do with the guest room, but I knew to keep costs down, I would have to keep the bedroom furniture, but could add fun pieces to make it feel like my own space!
After looking at various Instagram pages, talking with my best friend Erin (a TON) about styles we liked and seeing one of my favorite YouTuber, Sarah Belle’s new room…I decided the Boho Chic style was the way I wanted to go!
Similarly to Sarah, I LOVE color and texture! I knew I wanted to do warmer tones, such as, corals, yellows and pinks (which are also my favorite colors). I LOVE pillows, and am not lying when I tell you I bought 20 pillows before finding the five I wanted to keep!
The decoration of my room didn’t happen over one night- it’s been four months of finding various pieces that I just wanted needed for my room! During the beginning when I was figuring out what Boho Chic meant for me, and I knew it had to include a macrame wall hanging, so that’s where I began! My friend Erin happened to be designing her room at her new townhouse, and was in HomeGoods one day and saw the most magical one for me!
Literally knew I had to have this! Especially because it was only $24! It’s from HomeGoods, so I wasn’t able to find the exact one, but I found ones with similar colors that you might like: here, here, here and here. Continue reading
Hi! I hope everyone is having a great start to their new year so far. I really feel like 2018 is going to be a great year for all of us, I can just feel it!
For it to be a great year, it has to include having great hair. So, today, I am going to share some advice with you on how to have great hair, even during these dry winter months!
With the holidays in full swing now, we are all a little stressed! Even under all of this stress, we still want to have a good time though, right, ladies?!
A few weeks ago, I decided I wanted to host my first Friendsgiving! I knew what I needed was cute plates, utensils, etc., but I needed to figure out an easy way to get all of my friends here without just a basic text message.
I decided I would use Paperless Post! Paperless Post is a beautiful electronic customizable invitation. The reason I admire Paperless Post is because they actually send an email that looks like an actual card that you would receive in the mail! It was so easy to use and let me keep track of my friends who were able to attend and those who were not all in one place!
I cannot get over how CUTE the invitation was! There were so many options for which card to use, but here is the one I ended up choosing:
Now, that I sent my invites, I had to plan the meal! We decided that my mom would get the turkey for me, I would make the sweet potato casserole and the green beans and my friends would bring their favorite side dishes!
After the planning, I made sure to pick up the cutest plates and gold plasticware from Target (because where else would I go!?).
Although Friendsgiving time is over, we still have so many holidays coming up! Make your life easier by using Paperless Post. I swear it will save you so much time, and it is so much more personal than a Facebook invite or a basic text.
My friends and I have our annual Wine and Onesie party coming up, and I already know that I will be using Paperless Post to coordinate! I hope you enjoy this picture from a few years ago!
Let me know if you’ve used Paperless Post before and if you like it! To find the best invitation for your holiday party, click here!
You know where you can find me- @Danieminor13!
Can we talk about the great sales that hit stores this weekend? One store in particular had the best sales in my opinion… One of my favorites had daily sales leading up to Black Friday, and then the whole store was 50 percent off on Black Friday!
Do you know what store I’m talking about?
For the past three years, my mom and I always make sure to hit Old navy on Black Friday and for the past two years, we’ve gone after Thanksgiving dinner- it has become one of my favorite traditions!
I also purchased some online that I have not received yet, but I will post screen shots below of the items! I purchased everything in an XXL in store.
Here’s what I got (make sure you check them out on Cyber Monday too, because I know they are continuing to do 40 percent off.).
Dress (I am wearing as a shirt)
Because I did this photoshoot in the middle of D.C., I could not change into this beautiful jumpsuit I got, but here is a photo from Old Navy’s website:
I purchased this in an XXL, and it fits me PERFECTLY! It actually is a little longer on me than on the model because I have short legs!
What I purchased online and still waiting to receive:
I got bottoms to a swim suit because I started aqua classes and only have boring black ones! 
My mom got me this scarf in store, but it’s for Hannukah 😉
I know everyone is asking, how much was all of that?! After adding up everything and I got everything for LESS than $200!! I got it for $199.20 😉
I am so happy with all of my purchases! I hope you love everything too and check out Old Navy’s Cyber Monday deals.
I know we all know those moments where we get nervous and uneasy when it comes to a new situation or place. No one likes that feeling of your heart racing so fast, you can see it pumping outside of your chest, so I wanted to share some tips for how to go about staying cool outside of your comfort zone!
It’s so important to get out of your comfort zone, especially during this time of our lives– we get invited to parties where we might only know the hosts, are on the job hunt or maybe might move to a new city where we might not know anyone!
Getting out of your comfort zone is so important because if we don’t do it now, we may never do it!
I wanted to see what my friends had to say about this because I know I am not the only one who has advice on this. It’s also helpful to surround yourself with people and brands that embody the same mission and goals as you. Companies like Tommy John, who promote wellness, balance, support and comfort are great ways to align what’s important and deserves focus in your life. To learn more about Tommy John, be sure to check out their popular men’s underwear selection here.
Our tips:
1. Always do your research
It helps to know what you might be getting yourself into, so knowing what you are getting yourself into can help calm those nerves! This can come in handy when you are moving, going on an interview or even are going to an event.
2. Mentally prepare ahead of time
The way you mentally prepare is going to be different for everyone, but mentally preparing can be done by also doing your research! My friend Megan says this is what she does before a job interview. Thinking of the questions that she might be asked is what helps her not be as nervous when they start asking her questions about her experiences and what she knows about the company!
3. Bring a friend with you, if possible!
So, when I asked my friends what they do when they are going into a new situation, a few of them said this!
I am a huge extrovert, but still get nervous sometimes at networking events, so I like bringing a friend to an event like that. I like to bring someone who knows a lot about the work I’ve done and vice versa, so we can vouch for each other when networking with someone we might not know!
Of course you cannot bring your friend or mom with you to a job interview, no matter how much we want to, but if it’s a Friendsgiving where you only know the host, but still want to join in on the fun, ask if you can bring a friend!
4. Knowing you have nothing to lose when trying something new!
This was the advice from my friend, Brenna! I love this advice. She recently moved to D.C. from Ohio and started a new job at a really cool campaign, and is living her best life right now, so I would listen to her!
If you are thinking of trying something new, moving to a new city or thinking about asking that guy out that you’ve been crushing on, Brenna and I agree- JUST DO IT! You’ve got nothing to lose!
5. Remind yourself WHY you wanted to do a particular thing in the first place as your motivation!
I LOVE THIS ADVICE!
This can be applied to so many aspects of your life, not only if you are getting out of your comfort zone! I can definitely apply this to my life right now- I recently joined a new gym and instead of thinking that people would judge me because I am out of shape, I thought about it as I am doing this for ME and so I can better my health!
6. Act with confidence
This is combining two of my friends advice! Even if you are nervous, pretend you are not! My friend Mara says that even if she is really nervous about going into a social situation where she can’t bring a friend, she says she “channels” the energy of the bravest person she knows and does what she thinks they would do in that situation!
I have actually done this before! I often think “what would my mom do right now”? My mom never is afraid to speak her mind or go up to someone and start chatting with them- so this is what I do if I am ever nervous at one of the networking events I was speaking about earlier!
7. Remind yourself that good will come from trying new things!
Even though it might be scary in the moment, it will all be worth it! You never know, walking up to someone you don’t know at a networking event or even a Friendsgiving could bring a whole new experience into your life!
I hope these tips help! Remember, you can always reach out to me for advice on social media @Danieminor13!
Little do most of us know, but we are seriously hurting our eyes with our technology. Recently, I was told about the effects that artificial Blue Light has on our eyes. I knew I needed to do something about it and needed to help all of you as well! Combat this Blue Light with special glasses- they are cute, trendy and will save your eyes!
I did a little research so I could learn more…
What is Blue Light?
According to Bluelightexposed.com, Blue Light is everywhere we turn, but it is the artificial blue light that is hurting us. This is coming from our devices, specifically the devices that use an LED back-light.
Think about how many devices that is that we use! That’s our tablets, laptop screens, computer and iPhones.
So what is the Blue Light doing to you?
If you experience eyestrain, headaches, physical or mental fatigue, it could be from these Blue Light.
How can I combat this?
Blue light glasses! Do not worry, they are cute! Let me show you the two pairs that I bought.
I bought one pair from Felix Gray and the other from Eye Buy Direct! I wanted to test two brands that are from two different price points to see which I liked better.
I bought the Jemison style, which was best for larger faces. I bought them in the Whiskey Tortoise! They were $95 because I did not need any magnification added to my lenses.
Eye Buy Direct:
I like this pair a lot, but I think I would have liked this brand more if I purchased a more square pair. I think the roundness of the glasses do not do anything for my extremely round face, but for around the house, this pair is amazing, especially for the price!
The pair I bought are called Thrill, and they are created for larger faces too, but they were a little tight on my face. After adding the special protection for the Blue Light, these came to about $45, which is basically half the cost of my Felix Gray pair!
I love both pairs, but I would definitely say the quality of the pair from Felix Gray is higher. They were more expensive, but I can see why in the material they used. The pair from Eye Buy Direct is still great and gets the job done, but I could see myself breaking these accidentally because I am a klutz.
I think both pairs fit my face shape nicely and they are both really comfortable! I do not even really feel like I am wearing glasses. I wear these when I am doing any kind of work on the computer, writing blog posts and I know I will definitely bring these with me when I start a full-time job because I will be on a computer a ton!
I suggest buying from either brand! If you have any questions, please reach out to me on social! I am happy to answer anything!
Recently, I was sent two great shirts to try from Agnes and Dora, a company that is based on comfortability and confidence. With an array of sizes, prints and styles, this clothing company is made to fit into anyone’s lifestyle. This brand intends to make women feel good about themselves!
Today, I am reviewing the Frill Sleeve Top Black Whispers top and the Essential Tank Navy Preppy Floral top:
I decided to try the shirts with a few different pants options to show they can be dressed up and dressed down. These shirts are perfect for anyone, because they are so comfortable and versatile. I could definitely see these being great for class, brunch or even work!
I think pairing this shirt with jeans and little block heels makes this the perfect outfit for dinner with friends or a casual date night!
By switching into this skirt and putting on this grey floppy hat, this outfit was totally transformed! I definitely suggest this shirt because of the pop of color that it can add to any outfit- it also looks GREAT in these pictures, so get ready for some Insta-ready pics. I felt great in this shirt because it was so soft and breathable. I also loved that the sleeves have frills on the sides, so it adds a little extra!
This is the Essential Tank in Navy Preppy Floral. This paired perfectly with white jeans and my block heels. I also felt so comfortable in this shirt as well. The colors in this shirt are also so beautiful. When taking these pictures, I got a ton of compliments and women were asking me where I got it, and I was excited to tell them about this new fun company !
I really enjoyed working with Nikki and Emilia who are two local representatives of Agnes and Dora. If you want to shop with them to see what fun clothing you can find, you can find their page here! I like that Agnes and Dora allows you to shop online unlike a lot of clothing brands that go through representatives. If you are wondering what items to try first, Nikki’s go-to piece is the Capri and Love Tunic and Emilia’s is the Ball Skirt!
Thank you to my friend Amanda who is a wonderful photographer for these fun photos! Here are a few of my other favorites from this shoot:
This post is sponsored by Agnes and Dora Representatives, Nikki and Emilia. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Defining Danie possible!
If you don’t have Warby Parker on your list of businesses you purchase from, you are not living life right! Warby Parker is a one-for-one prescription eyewear and designer sunglasses company that gives you stylish glasses and gives back to the community, what more could we want? #AmIrightladies?
I heard about their new free Home Try-On and wanted to see if there were any sunglasses that I liked so I could try this out to share with all of you! They have a quiz on their website to help you find which glasses you like, but if you go under their sunglasses category, you can find the Home Try-On buttons underneath each pair!
With Warby Parker’s Home Try-On, you can choose five pairs of glasses you like and then you receive them at home to see which pair you like the best! So, I chose pairs that were good for wide faces and had tortoise shell and I found this pair below! I am obsessed with this pair. I really love the blonde tortoise, and I have never seen other brands with this blonde tortoise, so I became really obsessed with these!
After looking through the pictures I took, I realized I did not take any pictures of the glasses actually on myself, but I can tell you the pair that actually suited me well were the pair that I loved, the Reilly! (What’s funny is my middle name is Rylee, so it must be a coincidence? 😉 )
You can see the other pairs I tried on here:
Griffin / Sheridan / Banks / Reilly / The Ellison are no longer available, but here is a similar pair!
After having a few days to try them on, you ship them back, Warby Parker sends you an email with each pair that you tried and then you can purchase the ones you loved the most! They really make it super simple for you.
In addition to already having amazing products, the company just came out with its new collection called the Sculpted Series where all of the glasses are handmade in Italy! Each pair of glasses are all various rich and stone-inspired hued colors, which are beautiful! My favorite pair from this collection is the Stella, because they are huge and rose-colored! 
Hope everyone loves these glasses as much as I do!
If you already have your favorite pair of Warby Parker sunglasses, share them with me on social @Danieminor13!