London Study Abroad: hats, broken hands, and boyfriends.

XOXO, 

Dylan McCann

My Future Wedding Dress... in white

I'm loving the sweetheart neckline and the fitted bodice.  It gives that "tinsy tiny waist" look.  I also like that the bodice is still so eye-catching without being beaded or lace. The sheen and texture of it totally pull me in.  Imagine this dress in a bright, pearl-white. 

XOXO,

Dylan

Dylan's Airport Observations & Tips

I'm sitting at the airport, and, boy, do I see some sights.  Right across from me is a burnt orange Snooki look-alike.  Her upper lip is so orange with self-tanner that it looks like she has been chugging orange soda all day.

Tip: NEVER saturate your upper lip with self-tanner.  Since your upper lip is naturally drier than the rest of your face, tanning chemicals will absorb into that skin WAY more. 

Oh, yep, there went the girl gang of lil kim-wannabes. It's 7:16 pm, and they are wearing sunglasses.... inside... as they order fast food from the airport's Chickfila.  It seems fitting that they are also in Juicy Couture sweatsuits that are one size too small.  One of the girls has a "Babygirl" plastered across her arse in rhinestones. Get the picture?

Tip: Don't wear sunglasses at night to "make a statement."  The only statement that you're making is that you might be confused, either about the time of day or about how you're not the celebrity you think you are.

Across the concourse I saw a girl walking in a skirt and boots.  Cute, right?  Not when you are also wearing a backpack that pulls your skirt up with each step you take.  She does have cute panties on.  I'll give her that.  

Tip: Never wear a backpack with a skirt.  It's going to pull the skirt up, and you probably won't notice that your giving everybody a free "backstage pass" until it's too late.  You know what I mean?

This last observation is the final straw.  There is a lady breast-feeding her 3-year old as she walks down the concourse.  Yes, I said "breastfeeding" and "3-year old" in the same sentence.  The kids legs are dangling all the way to the lady's knees. From what I can tell, it's her son.  But I cannot quite tell because the kids head is stuffed under her shirt.

Tip: Many psychologists agree that a child's personality is molded from age 0-5.  Basically, you need to nip this habit in the butt, or should I say the nipple. 

If only I had the guts to take pictures.  

God Bless America,

Dylan

"Burlesque" Inspired Sexy-Tossled-Hair.

Christina Aguilera in "Burlesque" was fantastic.  Here's my favorite track from it- "Express."  This song makes me wanna let down my long curly locks, put on a tiny sequin dress, and shake what my mama gave me.  The hair inspired by this movie is very natural and sexy.  I plan on rocking this look in London next semester since my flat iron probably will not fit into their outlets.

XOXO, Dyl

Bubble Shirts, Banded Tunics, or Omg-There-Is-An-Inner-Tube-Around-Your-Waist Shirts

Meet the "bubble shirt" aka the "banded tunic"aka the "omg-there-is-an-inner-tube-around-your-waist-shirt."  Honestly, we need to stop pretending these tops are cute.  Face it, these shirts won't even flatter the Olson twins or an 85 lb teeny bopper.... same thing.  Anyways, take a look.

She could probably float with all of the air in that shirt, not to mention, the buoys on top.

Pregnant?...Or not?  Pregnant?....Or not?  You never want to be the butt of that question.

No matter how smokin' your body is, never put a band around your widest part. 

You want an "Apple bottom"?  This looks more like a "Saggy bottom."

In the words of my boyfriend, "This shirt looks like a deflated circus tent."

Here's a toast to trashing these tops.

XOXO, Dyl Maureen

17 Winter Romance Tips

1. Light candles, always.  Even if you're both writing papers, eating dinner, or playing Snake on facebook.

2. Have a friend take Christmas pictures of you two together.

3. Rent snowmobiles for a day.  General Rule: Your man will feel like a man if you give him a powerful machine.

4. Look through old photos of when you first started dating.  Remember why you're together.

5. When it's snowing outside, text: "Let me come hold you."

6. Buy matching flannel pajamas, and wear them together around the house. 

7. Start gymin' it together.  He can lift while you do cardio... then come together for some 1-on-1 basketball and an ab workout at the end. Sweaty = Sexy. Right?

8. Go bowling on the bowling alley's discount night. 

9. Make your sweetie a snuggly pancake breakfast.  Eat while watching cartoons and looking out the window at the pretty snow falling.  Extra points for heart-shaped pancakes.

10. Wear mittens and hold hands.  It's a surprisingly intimate experience. 

11. Go to church together. Hold hands during the service.

12. Take your man to a hockey game. 

13. Go people-watching at the mall a few days before Christmas.  It's fun to see the frantic last-minute shoppers, especially the husbands who have NO idea what they are doing.

14. Find a local skating rink.  Pretend you are a professional pairs couple. 

15. Slow dance to Frank Sinatra. Candles all around. 

16. Spend an afternoon making Christmas cookies/bonbons together to package up to give to your friends.  It's very couple-y.  Two easy recipes: Oreo Truffles and Buckeye Candy.  Put in mini-muffin wrappers (at all grocery stores), package in Christmas tins from the Dollar Store.  

17. If you really need more excitement in your relationship, go driving in a snowstorm.  It's all about doing things that are memorable. 

I can already feel the love tonight. Can you?

Dylan

Winter Nail Trend: Fading Fingertips

I just LOVE this look for wintertime.  I think it would also be really pretty with blues (baby-blue faded to navy blue tips) and pinks (baby pink faded to red or hot magenta tips).  What do you think?

XOXO,

Dyl Maureen

Puppies and Cupcakes, and Yes, I'm Procrastinating

It's finals time.  I'm currently cozy on my bed studying Information Technology while my "Homemade Cookies" candle burns beside me.  Sounds great, right?  Not when you have been doing this for the past 3 days.  What's a better pick me up than puppies and cupcakes and pretty pink things?  Probably nothing. Hope this makes your life a little more cute and a little less stressful :)

Looking at these make me feel so happy. Which picture makes you happiest?

XOXO,

A Snowball of Academia- Me. 

Advice from a College Guy: Dan the Man

Meet Dan.  He's a senior at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minneapolis, MN.  If you're looking for a tall, athletic, Christian, Conservative guy, Dan is your man.  Did I mention he was a lifeguard? Here is Dan's advice to the ladies:
"It's OK for girls to make the first move. Some guys may be too shy, or they might have no idea you are even interested. If things are moving too slow, go for it. Guys are attracted to self confidence just as much as girls are."
Leave a comment if you're interested, or check him out on Facebook here. 

XOXO, 

Miss Dylan 

The Perfect Little Gifty: The Travelo

The Travalo.  When traveling, you don't want to carry a huge glass bottle of perfume.  You're basically asking to drop it on the floor and spill $75 worth of fragrance.  Not to mention, a big bottle weighs you down, takes up way too much space, and always gets scratched while rolling around the bottom of your purse.  This little gadget is about the size of your pointer finger and extracts your favorite fragrance from the big bottle- MESS FREE! Check out the video. Oh, and it comes in many colors, even black and silver a.k.a. man colors.

XOXO, Dylan

21 Ways to Get Into the Christmas Spirit

1. Tie a Christmas Tree to the top of your car, and drive with it there for the entire month.

2. Buy Christmas Tree Zebra Cakes. 

3. Sit on Santa's lap at the mall and tell him you want an Easy Bake Oven or a Doodle Bear. 

4. ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas.  Enough said.

5. Watch these movies: The Santa Claus, Miracle on 34th Street, and of course, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
6. Go to the library and check out The Polar Express.  
7. Sift through the Toys R Us ad and circle things you like.  It will bring back childhood memories.
8.  Smell the holiday scents at Bath and Body Works.  I'm loving their Twisted Peppermint lip products.  Perfect for under the mistletoe.
9. Give to an Angel Tree.
10. Turn off the heat in your house.  It will instantly feel more wintery.
11. Go to Church! It will remind your heart of the real reason we celebrate.
12. Make tie-blankets with your friends.
13.  Check out a Christmas concert or a play at the local community center or church.
14.  Drive around and look at decorated houses in fancy neighborhoods.  Pick your favorites.
15. Make small talk with stressed out, overworked cashiers.
16. Do sweet gestures... like shoveling your neighbor's sidewalk.
17. Send out Christmas cards... at least to your grandparents and your boyfriend's family.  It will make you seem like you've got your life together.
18. Get an Advent calendar with chocolates inside for each day.
19. Buy a wreath from a cute Boy Scout.
20.  Go ice-skating with your sweetie, and pretend it's your first date.
21. Wear a fugly Christmas sweater.... every day.

Happy December!

XOXO, Dylan