i want brandy

Brandy Melville. The “It Girl” of young adult clothing stores. Being from Chicago, Brandy Melville was something I had never even heard about until I got to college. Suddenly all I was hearing was, “OMG, is that shirt from Brandy?” and “I have that shirt in gray! From Brandy, right?”

What on Earth was this “Brandy” they kept referring to? Going to a college that Jappy girls flock to, it wasn’t hard to find out. "Brandy" was a store. But not just any store. Brandy Melville has one-size fits all clothing like graphic tees, high waisted shorts, printed dresses, cute crop tops & trendy jewelry. With U.S. locations in only Boston, New York, California and Hawaii, Brandy was a hot commodity.

When my mom went to New York earlier in the summer she came back with a tank top and adorable long-sleeved shirt from the Brandy store there. I was in heaven. I had felt like such an outsider when my friends from California and New York sported their Brandy Melville clothes and I was left wearing unexciting Urban Outfitters. I envied them. So far in my life, Brandy had only been an online experience because they didn’t have a location near me. But now I was the proud owner of two pieces of Brandy clothing thanks to my mom.

But what’s the overwhelming appeal of Brandy that made their website shut down on the day of their biggest sale due to too many visitors on their site? What's so special about their trendy merchandise compared to other stores? I think it’s the basicness of their clothing that still allows girls to feel fashionable. It’s apart of the “casual cute” look that so many of us aim for. We don’t want to look like we’re trying too hard, but we still want to look cute enough so that we feel attractive and presentable in public. Brandy Melville offers this. Their clothes aren't too tight, they're comfortable, they're are fashionable and their clothes are “in”. And it doesn't hurt that the prices are very reasonable!

Bettina Hoodie

So moms, dads, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents & friends... listen up! Here’s some advice from me to you: If you want to make any young adult female in your life happy, get her the ‘Bettina Hoodie’ from Brandy. I guarantee she’ll be thanking you later! 

Jada Dress

Carolina Stay Weird Top

          
  

dogs, not diamonds, are a girls best friend

If you know anything about me, it's that I love dogs. Specifically my dog Blue. I’m almost positive I talk to him more than anyone else in my family.  He’s a cockapoo (half cocker spaniel, half poodle) and is the apple of my eye. I love the way he looks like he’s smiling after a walk when he sticks his tongue out and perks up his ears. I love how he curls up at my feet when I’m sitting at the kitchen table. I love how he jumps on the couch to cuddle with me when I’m catching up on my recorded shows.

Besides his obnoxious barking as I put his food in his bowl for dinner and the way he scratches at the door only to decide he doesn’t want to get up the second I get up to let him out, I think Blue is the best dog. Much better than all my friends who claim their dog is the best. But then again, everyone thinks that his or her dog is the cutest, smartest, most wonderful animal. I have friends who (no offense to them) have dogs that just aren’t that cute. I’m not trying to be mean, but I really don’t think that a bulldog is cute. That’s just my personal opinion, though.

My dad always claims that we’re not getting a new dog once Blue passes away. I’d like to believe that Blue is going to live forever, but hypothetically speaking, if he were to pass away, I’m sure my dad will break down and get another dog at my mom’s insistence. Whenever I see a cute dog, whether at my brother’s baseball game or when I’m out on a walk with friends, I always ask the owner what breed the dog is. I’ve started a master list of breeds of dogs I want to have when I’m older. Screw being a cat lady; I’m going to be a dog lady (but with a husband and family).

Here’s the list so far:

Corgi
Why I Love Them: Their faces make them look like they’d be a medium sized dog, but in fact their bodies are stout and long. Sort of like a weiner dog you could say. Their mismatching face and body make them too cute to resist.

Golden Doodle

Why I Love Them: That face. To me the Golden Doodle looks like a stuffed animal that I just want to cuddle with when I go to sleep. I’m a sucker for fluffy dogs and these little pups are no exception.

Schnoodle
Why I Love Them: The pointy folded ears of a Schnauzer mixed with the curls and fluff of a Poodle are a perfect combination. These dogs don’t look at “girly” as my other favorite breeds and look a little tougher.

Am I missing out on any adorable breeds? Let me know!