FarmBorough Festival 2015

This weekend was the best weekend of my life (not even trying to be dramatic here) I had SO much fun at the inaugural FarmBorough Country Music Festival in NYC! The first country music festival to come to the city, as soon as I heard about it I knew I had to go. With Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley, and Luke Bryan as headliners I couldn't wait for this weekend to get here.  My Big Sister Laura and I went all 3 days and had a blast singing and dancing the weekend away (special thanks to her for the picture above!) It was raining all day Saturday but that didn't stop us from enjoying the music, we spent most of the day under the side tent listening to up and coming acts like Dallas Smith and Striking Matches (they wrote some songs for the TV show Nashville and are really great!) I fell in love every time another cute country guy started singing on stage, Dustin Lynch - marry me please. The weekend was incredible and I am so sad it had to come to an end. Y'all better believe I am getting tickets for next year as soon as they go on sale! Check out the full lineup from this year here 

{Dierks Bentley performing on Friday night}

{Luke Bryan brought a truck on stage for his finale!}

♥ Caro

Tips and Tricks: Moving

As you know from the previous post, I recently moved which makes me an ~expert~ on the topic! *kidding, but I did learn some do's and don'ts through trial and error!* Moving in New York City is difficult since you sometimes can't legally park in front of buildings. Because of this, you have to be prepared to load and unload very quickly. This takes several people, we had 4 people total and I don't think we could have done it without everyone.  Since you're in the city and moving on busy streets and sidewalks, it's handy to have someone watch your stuff as you take each load inside the building.

Packing 

Ziploc plastic storage bags totally saved my life. They are heavier than trash bags (which I found would rip under the weight of some of my things.) It was raining on the day we moved but I wasn't worried since the bags seal shut! I used them for clothes, bedding, pillows, and towels. The extra large bags will fit a foam mattress topper and are also perfect for pillows! 

Furniture 

My roommates and I have been scouring the city for cheap, cute furniture to outfit our apartment.  We found a great kitchen table at Housing Works Thrift Store.  Our coffee table and sofa were found through a Facebook "Free and For Sale" page for our college. Social media is a great way to find cheap furniture, especially when you're in school! If you're moving in the spring, chances are there are a lot of seniors leaving that are looking to get rid of furniture any way they can. We got some great items that retail for much more than we paid, they are in good condition and look so nice in the rooms. 

Transportation 

If you don't have a car and you're in an area like New York City where it's hard to get one, is 100% worth it to hire a service.  We were just going to take a few Uber cars but after packing and seeing how much we had we decided to pay for a service to drive us back and forth for a few hours. Since we didn't have furniture or a ton of heavy lifting, we didn't need movers, just a car to get us from Point A to Point B. It was so helpful to have the car and we were able to get most of our things over in just a few hours which was great - and encouraging for the rest of the move! 

Moving is stressful but also very exciting. Ask some friends to help and treat them to brunch afterwards as a thank you! Make sure you have your things in order and packed up the night before so you aren't rushing to throw clothes in bags before the movers get there.  Most importantly, remember that moving marks the exciting beginning of a new chapter! As hectic as it is, take time to celebrate that you're embarking on a new adventure! Plus you get a chance to decorate a new place which, if you're like me and love interiors, is reason enough to move! 

♥ Caro

MOVING!

Over the weekend I moved out of my dorm and into an apartment!! I am so excited to be staying in the city this summer and living with 3 of my amazing friends. We were able to find an apartment in the city fairly easily and jumped on the opportunity.  We are lucky it's in a great location relative to where we work. There is a good amount of storage and the living room is HUGE which will be perfect for having friends over this summer!! This is my first "big girl" apartment and my first time living outside of the dorms in NYC.  This past weekend and the last few days have been insane - I had no idea how much stuff I had.  Moving was hard work and we didn't even have furniture yet! The last time my family moved I was very young so I didn't remember how much went into moving into a new place.  Since coming to college I have had many "adult" moments but moving definitely tops the list. Being so far from home, I did everything myself. This was both empowering and stressful.  In the end, I am glad I was forced to figure things out for myself because the next time I move I will know exactly what needs to be done.  

I am writing this as the cable guy installs my tv and internet [#adulthood] I was so used to wifi I didn't realize how crippling it is to be without it!  The apartment is definitely a work in progress, everything is here but everything is also EVERYWHERE. Boxes and trash bags full of clothes and shoes are taking over the entire apartment and we are all anxious to have the furniture arrive so we can start organizing.  It's a work in progress but I am really excited to see everything come together! I was lucky enough to find some great deals on furniture online and at thrift stores in the area.    I can't wait for things to be in place, I will be writing a post about how we decorate once we can get everything put away! Thanks for being patient throughout this semester, it has been a roller coster and I am excited to have some free time this summer to write posts more frequently and continue to improve Handbags & Heartbeats! :) 

♥ Caro

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

Last week I had the opportunity to go see Beautiful: The Carole King Musical on Broadway.  I was excited about the last minute plan and couldn't wait to see the show after hearing wonderful things about it.  I love Carole King's music and knew that it would be a fun show if nothing else.  I was blown away by the performance.  Not only was it entertaining and funny, it was also so much fun and a great way to relax after a hectic day.  

The show reminded me a lot of Jersey Boys, following Carole King's journey as a singer/songwriter.  You get to see her big break and go through her career, hearing about songs she wrote you would have never guessed (like "The Locamotion" among others!) The play chronicles, not only her career, but also her personal life and relationships.  Detailing her early marriage to Gerry Goffin and her friendships with Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, Carole is portrayed as a compelling and fascinating woman. Someone so normal and down to earth, I immediately wanted to be her friend. I left the theater with an enormous amount of adoration and respect for her.  Chilina Kennedy is currently playing Carole on Broadway and her performance was incredible.  She looked so much like Carole King and was a phenomenal singer and actress.  

Beautiful is an excellent option if you're in the market for a fun, feel-good Broadway show! It has heart, it has humor, and most importantly, great music! At the end I was out of my seat and clapping along as the cast belted out "I Feel the Earth Move." The show is great for all ages, I can't wait to take my mom when she comes to visit soon! 

♥ Caro

Rebecca Minkoff Sample Sale

Tuesday (4/21) - Friday (2/24) 

10 am - 8 pm 

Saturday (4/25) 

10 am - 5 pm 

Today during my lunch break I went over to 260 Fifth Avenue to check out the Rebecca Minkoff sample sale.  I've been eyeing a Mac Clutch for a while now so I went with the hopes I could find one on sale! There were 6 or 8 tables full of handbags, most of them were still around $100. For every price range there was a discounted price and posters were put up around the room detailing how much each bag would be once marked down. The clothing was along one side wall, dresses, shorts and skirts were $100, while tops were $75 and t-shirts were $25.  The clothing was very cute and well made, they seemed to have a decent array of sizes as well, with multiples of each item, ranging in sizes from 0-6 with a few size 8.  Shoes were in the back and wallets were over along another wall in plastic containers.  They also had a large table to the side with briefcases and large leather bags. 

I made my way over to the $50 sample table beside the registers, a girl was putting samples out onto a table, she would pull out a few every couple of minutes and the frenzy would begin.  People were snatching bags from other people and going crazy when she would bring out new styles.  (It was honestly such a rush!) I got my hands on the brown Mac Clutch pictured above! Retailing for $295 I was able to snag it for $50 and I am so excited about it.  It's slightly bigger than most of the cross body bags I have and after wanting one for so long I am so glad I decided to go check out the sale! 

The sale is also happening online at rebeccaminkoff.com if you aren't able to go to the store in the city!  I would assume prices in the sample store will probably be going down throughout the week as they try to get rid of more merchandise.  If you're in the market for a new bag, I highly suggest checking it out! They had some good deals and when I was there the tables were filled with every color and style you could imagine! It was a great selection of items and worth the trip if you're in the city.  Happy shopping!! 

♥ Caro

Lilly For Target Pop-Up Shop

I have been looking forward to the Lilly for Target collection since it was announced. As a big fan of both brands, I was thrilled to hear about this collaboration. I know it was met with some criticism but I think it is a great idea for Lilly to release a line of super affordable clothing, accessories, and home wares.  The exclusive Target prints are so pretty and, as a college student, I am totally in favor of $24 bathing suits and $38 shift dresses! 

I had the opportunity to stop by the Lilly for Target Pop-Up Shop in Bryant Park today after class. Unfortunately, a 9 am class meant I couldn't get there until 1:00 but when I arrived I was in a preppy paradise! They set up the chairs, umbrellas, and hammocks from the collection around the park so people could sit and enjoy the beautiful (warm!) weather today.  A juice stand was providing samples, and the fountain water was pink! There were models throughout the park wearing the collection and Lilly print designers were stationed throughout as well painting various prints. 

I only had to wait in line to get into the store for about 30 minutes, once inside, there were about 5 racks of clothing and several shelving units holding the homewares and bright beach towels. Since it had been open since 8 am, the clothing was very picked over. They had a lot of plus sized clothing left and several racks of children's clothes.  They had sold out of several items so I wasn't able to see every piece that will be offered, but from what I saw the quality seems great.  My one concern with the line was that the clothing would feel cheap, but the shift dresses, jumpsuits, and shorts I saw were all well made and a comfortable fabric.  The nail polish and lipstick colors are vibrant and great for summer, and the phone cases come in several cute patterns for $15, they are much thinner than the ones they sell at the Lilly store, and not as protective. I only bought one item and decided to hold off on buying more until Sunday when there are more options available.  I went ahead and got the set of 3 votive candles I had my eye on since the look book came out! I am dying for the set of 4 mugs as well but it looks like I'll have to wait until Sunday for those! I am very glad I went today, even if I didn't do much damage ;) it was great to see the collection and experience the pop-up store. 

{Lilly for Target - Glass Votive Candle Holders, Set of 3}

♥ Caro 

Mint Madness

For Easter, my mom sent me the sweetest care package full of snacks and surprises.  One of the items she included was this gorgeous Mint Crossbody bag from Target.  The color is more vibrant in real life, and I wish it came across as minty in the picture above! I saw it when I was home for spring break and hinted (not so subtly) that I was obsessed with it.  I have always loved the color (as you can probably tell from the current blog background!) and I knew the bag would be perfect for spring and summer.  I often find I can't actually wear clothing this color, with my fair skin the cool color tends to wash me out, so I gravitate towards more vibrant hues.  Because of this, I am always looking for fun accessories in order to get a splash of mint in my life.  I can't wait to pair this bag with any and everything.  It has 2 compartments and is larger than most of my cross-body bags which will be good when I am on the go this summer.  

The Turquoise Cutout Necklace pictured is from J. Crew Factory and I am in love with it.  I've worn it almost everyday since I got it.  I wear so much black, especially on nights out, and this turquoise adds the perfect pop of color to any outfit.  It looks great with a little black dress - the geometric shapes look so cool.  It goes well with anything and I can't wait to pair it with hot pink or white this summer! 

♥ Caro

Easter Essentials

Easter has always been one of my favorite holidays! I have so many fond memories with my family.  After church we would have brunch at a local country club that brought in petting zoo animals, so after eating you could go on the patio and play with cute bunny rabbits and baby sheep.  It was a tradition and after moving to the city last year, Easter is just not quite the same.  Not only for the lack of petting zoos in the area, but also because I am so far from my family and don't get time off to travel home.  Luckily I have a few beauty essentials to help get me in the Spring mood. They are perfect for an Easter brunch with friends! 

Topshop Lipstick - To be honest, I bought this lipstick because of the cute packaging.  But I also love the vibrant pink color, y'all know I can't resist a bold lip! The lipstick is actually great quality and I've found that the color lasts for a decent amount of time.  It goes on a bit matte so I typically put a little clear gloss over it.  Pictured is the color "Brighton Rock" which doesn't seem to be available anymore - but the link goes to a similar hot pink shade, "Lips in Legend" that is very close to mine! 

Essie Nail Polish - "Bikini So Teeny" is one of my all time favorite Essie colors! The pretty light blue color instantly lets me know it's Spring! And it has just the right amount of shimmer to it. This is a color I can rock now and all through summer!

Batiste Dry Shampoo - I looooove dry shampoo! Batiste is one of my favorites, I like the original scent but they have several other options! It's perfect for days you need to add a little oomph to your 'do or for lazy Sunday mornings.  I've also found it really helps make my curls last throughout the day! 

Roses de Chloe Perfume - I got this perfume for Christmas and it is one of my new favorites! The light scent smells like a beautiful bouquet of roses and easy to transition from day to night.  With notes of fresh cut roses, magnolia, and amber, it's the perfect Spring scent - everyone will be asking what you're wearing! 

♥ Caro