31 Days of SCG: Day 7 - USC vs. UGA

Apologies for the short post but I wanted to get up something this weekend to encapsulate how great this weekend was! 

Source: scores.espn.go.com via Natalie on Pinterest

My now #3 Gamecocks DOMINATED the Georgia Bulldogs in what was the most attended and loudest game at Williams-Brice!!

As much as I loved the entire game, the most special moment of the night happened before kickoff. I dare you to watch this video and not cry. 

Saturday Night Thoughts

There is no rhyme or reason to this post tonight. Just some random thoughts and happenings going on I wanted to jot down. Sometimes these are my favorite posts to read so I hope you enjoy! 

• This is the first Gamecock football season in 5 years where I'm not going to every home game. Not only am I not going I've actually been at work when the games have been going on. So needless to say the fact that I'll actually get to watch the Kentucky game next week AND I'm going to the Georgia game the week after makes me a happy fan!

• Today was an overwhelming day at my new job. We offer what are called 'express services' which can be anything from a foundation match to an eyeshadow look. I was only zoned in 'color' for an hour but during that hour I had 3 people ask for a concealer match and another wanted basically an eyeshadow 101 lesson. So I have to tell the customers that I will be more than happy to find someone to help them out, but I hate not being able to help them myself! My managers (who I love and are very supportive) and I discussed this and they wholeheartedly agreed that next time I work I'm gonna be paired up with a buddy to watch some services so I can get more comfortable. My main manager also told me tonight that she was proud of how I was coming along, which is SUCH a huge thing to hear when you only had a so-so day!

• I have the day off tomorrow and I am SO. EXCITED. Since starting my second job I've told them everyday I had off from CVS I would work. So naturally that equals no days off for this girl! AND I have Wednesday off too! I'm not gonna know what to do with myself! 

look at all that space!! 

• Fall TV comes back this week!!! As busy as I am I have no idea how I'm going to keep up with my shows, but two of my all time faves are coming back, Castle and SVU!! If I only watch 2 shows this fall these will be it. I may be a tad obsessed.

Happy Saturday everyone!! Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!! 

Sunday Social Week 9

Once again linking up with Neely and Ashley for Sunday Social! Can't believe it's week 9 already. Even though I haven't participated every week this may be my most consistent link up! #progress
Here are this week's questions: 
1. What is your favorite Fall activity? College football (this will be a recurring theme in this post!), specifically SEC football

Source: collegefootballstore.com via Natalie on Pinterest

I enjoy everything about football, from the early morning tailgates to the night games under the lights of Williams-Brice, there is nothing like the atmosphere inside your home stadium. 

2. Do you follow a football team? If so which one and why? In case you are a VERY new reader, I will introduce myself: Hi my name is Natalie and I am a DIE HARD University of South Carolina Gamecock fan!

Source: Uploaded by user via Natalie on Pinterest

In South Carolina before you can even say your first words you are crowned either a Gamecock or a *dreaded* Clemson Tiger. The rivalry runs deep, you don't have to necessarily graduate from USC, but if you do that devotion to the garnet and black runs even stronger. I was a casual fan before I went to college, but being able to go to the football games every single weekend and sit in the student section made me just a tad obsessed with this team (I'm talking turning off Real Housewives and watching Sportscenter!).   3. What is something fun about Fall in your area? Growing up in SC the first 2 weeks in October always mean the SC State Fair is coming to town! The fair is full of things to do and see, from simply people watching to riding rides and eating crazy fried food (fried Pepsi with a side of fried Snickers anyone?!?), there is something for everyone at the fair!
4. Fave Fall outfit staples? Here are a couple looks I will be *attempting to* sport this fall

Source: homestoriesatoz.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: celebritystyleguide.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Natalie on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Natalie on Pinterest

5. Thing you are looking forward to most about the coming Fall season? So much anticipation this fall! Gamecock football, my 23rd birthday, starting my master's program, hopefully starting a new job, and fall tv!!
6. Favorite Fall holiday? Traditions? Probably Thanksgiving. It's a pretty low key holiday for my family because my entire family gets together for Christmas, so we all go separate ways to the "other sides" of our families. So it's usually just our family of 4 at my parent's house eating your traditional Thanksgiving meal. Some years we head down to Myrtle Beach the day after Thanksgiving for some Black Friday shopping at the outlets...it depends on whether or not I have tickets to the Carolina-Clemson game, which is ALWAYS Thanksgiving weekend ;)
Hope everyone has a great start to their week!! What is your favorite thing about fall??

Friday's Letters

I'm linking up with Ashley for the first time this week for Friday's Letters! Let me know if you link up too!!
Dear weekend. O how happy I am to see you! I can't wait to get settled back into my apartment, do some (minor) damage at the Devine Street sidewalk sale, help celebrate a co-worker's daughter's 21st birthday, and go with the family to help little brother find an apartment for when he moves to Summerville for school. 
Dear apartment. I have missed you! Since vacation I've been staying at the parental's house due to work, etc and I have missed my own space and ME time! Considering I haven't unpacked from said vacation yet, I have a feeling we are going to quickly get re-acquainted as I get this place organized.
Dear Olympics. Thank you for guaranteeing me something to watch every single night on tv. On the flipside, you have also caused me to fall WAYYY behind on my summer tv shows (Big Brother, Bachelor Pad, Real Housewives...). Nevertheless I will be sad to see you go at the end of next week! 

Dear Carolina Football. THANK GOODNESS you are less than a month away! There are so many expectations for this season I can hardly stand it. This season will be a tad weird for me as it will be the first one in 5 years that I won't be sitting in the best student section in the nation. But never fear I'm determined to get myself in to Williams-Brice for at least a couple games!

*how can you watch this and NOT get chills!!*
Dear job market. Thank you for showing me how when one door closes, another one opens. It certainly has been a learning experience and shown me that I ultimately know what's best for me and to always go with my gut feeling.
Dear blog/twitter friends. Thank you so much for your support and advice as I go through this crazy, uncertain time in my life! I am so grateful to have met a wonderful group of girls and be a part of this wonderful community!!
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!! 

Hey I Just Met You...

Happy Wednesday! Becky at From Mrs. to Momma had a link-up last week with a series of questions all designed to get to know some bloggers better. While I missed the opportunity to link up, I thought the idea was such a great one I just had to borrow it! I think the last '411' type post I did was when I first started my blog so things certainly have changed! Let me know if you decide to answer the questions as well...I would love to get to know some of my readers better!


1. How long have you been blogging
I started this blog (originally named Carolina Prep) in April of 2007 right before I graduated high school. Posting has been sporadic throughout the years but I am glad I did stop by every now and then to document my college years!


2. Did you go to college? If so where, and what did you study?
I graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor's Degree in Biology. DEFINITELY not the degree I thought I was going to end up with, but I survived and made it out into the "real world" (which is overrated btw)

3. Where have you traveled?
The only place I've traveled internationally has been London (recap posts coming soon!). In the US, I've been to North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, New York (specifically NYC...favorite vacation!), Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada (Las Vegas), and California. 


4. If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would buy?
As much as I love my car and have NO reason to purchase a new one (I haven't even hit 60,000 miles yet), I would love to buy a Land Rover of some sort. 

5. What are your 3 biggest pet peeves?

• Poor customer service
• Bad drivers
• Flakey people

6. What is your favorite movie?
Week 2 of Sunday Social talked all about movies so I'll put a link to that here, so to keep it short and sweet here one of my favorite movies is The Wedding Date. 

7. What is your drink of choice: wine, beer, or liquor? Or water, soda, or tea?
Between the alcoholic beverages, I usually order a beer (Michelob Ultra). Non-alcoholic as of right now is Diet Coke, which I rediscovered while we were in London. I'm trying to get back into drink water (with Crystal Lite added of course).


8. What is something you enjoy to do when you have me time?
SLEEP! When I actually wake up, I've been enjoying going to Target by myself and just wandering around. This usually wastes about 1-2 hours and anywhere from $20-100, but I find it very relaxing! 


9. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, which store would it be?
Nordstrom. They have both affordable and more high end items as well as workout wear (norts!) and cosmetics! 


10. Share with us an embarrassing moment of your past? Or present.
Not going into details, but there were some moments during my friend's bachelorette party last month that I would like to take back. Unlimited drinks are NOT your friends girls!! 


11. What day would you love to relive again?
I haven't had any true 'milestone' days in my life that I would go back and relive, so I'm going to have to say October 9, 2010. It was two days before my 21st birthday. Why that day? 

October 9, 2010 was the day that the Gamecocks beat the #1 Alabama Crimson Tide at Williams Brice. The day started VERY early on the Horseshoe on USC's campus for ESPN's College Gameday, then we were bused over to the stadium where we ran inside to get the best seats possible to see if we could beat the 'unbeatable' team. AND WE DID! I've been to some pretty insane football games over my college career, but I think this one is the top. As a fan you want to win every game, but I think this was one we were all surprised and ecstatic to win! It snapped Alabama's 20+ game winning streak and gave their quarterback his first loss since high school. GREAT early birthday present! 


12. If your life was turned into a movie, what actor would play you?
Hmm...I guess I would say Nina Dobrev. 

I'm going to be honest, I wasn't too familiar with her until people starting talking about her in regards to playing Anastasia in Fifty Shades of Grey (which I support!). We're around the same age and I think she is just a natural beauty. And I would die for her hair! 


13. What are the jobs you had in high school/college/the early years?
My senior year of high school I got a job with my best friend at Build a Bear. It was a great first job and retail experience, but would I work there now? NO! After that I got a job at CVS as a pharmacy technician since I thought I wanted to go to pharmacy school, but as you read above that obviously didn't work out. I'm still working there but I am trying to switch gears and get a job in the cosmetic industry since I've decided to get my Masters in Cosmetic Science. 

14. Show us a picture from high school or college.

This is the group of us that went down to watch the Gamecocks go down to Atlanta to play in the SEC Championship for the first time EVER!! While the game didn't have the outcome we had hoped (damn you Auburn!), it was still an electrifying atmosphere and an experience I wont forget. Hopefully we will be making a return trip to Atlanta this season!


15. If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?
Australia! HOWEVER, since this is all expenses paid I will be traveling via a lush private jet. I learned from my flights to and from London that I can NOT sleep on planes! Since the flight to Australia takes a full day, I'm going to need my space and some luxurious sleeping arrangements if I'm going to make it down under in one piece! 


16. Show us the most current picture of you, your family, or anything of meaning to you.

The parentals and I at Wimbledon tennis championships in London.

17. Where do you see your life 5 years from now?
I got asked this question in a job interview recently and had to pause and think! I definitely hope to be either working at my dream job or at least have figured out what it is and going after it. I would like to be in the process of settling down and thinking about having kids, although I have the feeling I'm going to be someone who does her settling down closer to 30 than 25, which I'm ok with! 5 years ago I was getting ready to start college and had my next couple years somewhat mapped out. I honestly have NO CLUE what the next 5 years hold, which is both a thrilling and scary feeling!!


Hope you guys enjoyed this little Q&A session and learned something new whether you're a long-time reader or a new follower! If there's something else you would like to know, feel free to comment or email me. 

Sunday Social Link-Up!

I know I know...where the h*** have I been?!?! I have no excuses, only that I have missed this little blog and am hoping to get back into a writing routine. Especially since I have a couple of big events coming up in the next couple weeks, from my college roommate getting married to family vacation in London! So to kick things off....

I saw this link-up mentioned by one of my new favorite bloggers Meghan @ Shine On...tales of a twenty-something and thought it would be a great way to dive back into things (even though I am a day late!)



The Sunday Social linkup is hosted by Ashley and Neely, and each Sunday they are going to post a set of questions with a central theme with the main goal being so that you can link up on their blogs and get to know some new bloggers! I wasn't a reader of either blog before tonight, but I am definitely a follower now! With this being the first week of the link-up, the questions had a "get to know you theme"
How did you come up with your blog name? Originally, I named my blog carolina prep (see URL since I've never changed it), but about 2 years ago I realized I wasn't so much a fan of that name and decided to switch over the Sweet Carolina Girl. I think it's much more a representation of what my blog is about, as well as matches my twitter name (@swtcarolinagrl5) and other social media sites. If anyone has an idea how to switch over my URL lemme know! 
What is your favorite thing about blogging? Hands down all the friends and people I have met. This is also largely in part to Twitter, but I would have never met any of the fabulous people I now talk to on a daily basis if it wasn't for the blogging world. I also love that even though we all live our crazy hectic lives, most of the time you're able to find someone who is going through similar situations you are and you know you aren't alone. I've said it multiple times but I so wish I lived closer to some of these wonderful ladies!
What is the one thing you have discovered because of blogging and now can't live without? O my goodness, there are so many things. Erin Condren life planners (SOO excited about the new planners coming out!), Etsy, flash sale websites, new makeup products, the list goes on and on and on!! 

Facebook or Twitter? and why? TWITTER!! Even though I haven't written on this blog in almost 4 months, I am on twitter constantly. The obsession only grew when I got my iPhone and literally had it all day everyday with me in the palm of my hand. I think twitter is a great way to develop the relationships you have made with the people you met while blogging. It also often acts as a source of news (it's where I first heard about Osama Bin Laden's death) and always keeps my updated on my SVU scoop! 
If one celeb read your blog who would you want it to be? The woman is way too busy, but my fave Mariska Hargitay. The woman can do no wrong! 
What is something you want people to know about your blog? I may not post all that frequently, but what I post is 100% me. I am a twenty-something recent college grad trying to find my dream job in this crazy place they call the "real world." I'm obsessed with all things beauty-related, will watch Law and Order:SVU all day everyday, and will be a Carolina Gamecock fan until the day I die!!

Hope everyone has a great start to their week. If you have any kind of blog post you would like to see, please let me know! I'm hoping to put up a couple mail-order beauty box reviews and some favorite products soon! Love yall!!
xoxoNatalie

Top 5 Tuesday: Jewelry Loves!

Happy 2012 everyone! Hope the first couple days of the new year have treated you well. I've spent the last couple days finishing up dog sitting for my aunt and DEEP cleaning my apartment, which has been WAYYYY overdue!! My baby cousin is moving in for the semester so I needed to get all of my things out of her room and closet as well as clean out my closet and throw away all the things that had piled up throughout the semester! Now that almost all the laundry is done and trash thrown away, now comes the more fun stuff....buying new organization things! Once I have everything situated how I want it I'm hoping to do an apartment tour post that has been overdue for about 3 years!! I'm also hoping to put together my first ever blog sale!

Once again I am linking up with Rachel @ Just Peachy for Top 5 Tuesday and this week's topic is jewelry! So here are some of my favorite pieces...

1. Michael Kors Multifunction Bracelet Watch in Tortoise - My parents got me this watch for Christmas last year and it hasn't left my arm since!! I absolutely love it and would be lost without it!

2. Sapphire Ring - This was a gift for my 22nd birthday and like my watch it has become an everyday staple! Sapphires aren't that delicate of stones (compared to pearls for example) so I feel safe wearing it. I usually don't go for this style of ring (more old-fashioned) but you all know since Kate Middleton came on the scene with Princess Diana's engagement ring that this ring has been popping up everywhere. I remember looking through all the jewelry stores' flyers and every single one had a similar ring.

3. David Yurman inspired chain necklace - I bought this necklace two years ago at Columbia's Junior League Holiday market and it immediately became a regular in my jewelry wardrobe. A lot of my friends have mistaken it for a DY piece and while the quality is not exactly DY, it's still a good substitution until I can afford the real thing!

4. Tiffany & Co. Return to Tiffany Heart Ring - I got this on my 17th birthday and it was my first piece of really nice jewelry. I wore it daily on my pinky finger and eventually the band molded to how it sat on my finger because I wore it so much! I thought I had lost this after I couldn't find it for over year but during this deep cleaning I found it my old Vera Bradley tote! 

5. Mabe Pearl Earrings - I think pearls of any kind are timeless, so when my parents gave me these for my high school graduation I was SO excited! These are my daily go-to earrings and I always feel more put together when I wear them. These also started the tradition of my parents giving me pearls for a milestone event (necklace on my 21st birthday, bracelet for college graduation). 

What are some of your favorite jewelry pieces?

xoxo

Natalie

Life via iPhone

On December 15th, a very important event occured...I FINALLY got the iPhone 4s! To say I'm a tad obsessed with it may be an understatement! I've had an iPod touch for a couple years so I already had some favorite apps, but have definitely discovered some new favorites these past couple weeks! If you have any apps you just can't live without, lemme know!

I know I have been slacking on the blogging lately, so I thought I would share some photos I've taken with my new toy!

I became a college graduate on December 12th!! It was very much touch and go for a while there but I made it! I decided months ago I wanted to bedazzle my graduation cap and I am SOO happy with how it turned out!  

This was the extent of my Christmas decorations. After finishing up finals, I ended up staying at my parent's house for about a week before heading over to my aunt's house to dog sit for 2 weeks. So there really was no time to bring out my tree :( But I absolutely love my Christmas wreath so I had to put it out, and it'll probably stay up until Valentine's day (it's pink and red...it works!!)

Couple graduation presents from my aunt...in case anyone was unsure what college I graduated from ;)

I told my mom I was so excited to start reading again. Since starting college I couldn't tell you the last book I actually read. I got this book for Christmas LAST year and could never find time to read it. I'm hoping in the new year I will be able to read at least one book a month!

Lusted just a tad over a pink mixer!

Admired my parent's Christmas tree

iPhone game obsession #1

New favorite earrings I ordered from piperlime

tracked Santa on Christmas eve!

Hung out with my favorite fur baby!!

Was spoiled on Christmas morning

Probably got most excited about this gift! Mom swore up and down she wasn't buying anything online, yet somehow this showed up under the tree ;)

Hit 50,000 miles on my car...meaning I'm no longer under warranty (much to my father sadness!)

iPhone game obsession #2

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and is looking forward to a fabulous new year!! 2011 was somewhat of a blah year so I am very much looking forward to 2012!

xoxo

Natalie

Top 5 Tuesday: October Favorites

I'm linking up with Rachel @ Just Peachy again for Top 5 Tuesday, and this week's theme is Top 5 October favorites. Let me know if you link up because I would LOVE to read!

1. Bath and Body Works Paris Amour Triple Moisture Body Cream

I started using this before October, but I used up this last little bit of it this month and have had to resist buying more! I'm only resisting because I have SO many different body lotions and creams that I need to use up others, but I swear none of them moisturize like this body cream, even B&BW's lotion isn't as good. And  if I can remember correctly, this is the first Bath and Body Works product I have finished COMPLETELY!!

2. Davines Love Lovely Curl Enhancing Shampoo & Conditioner

I will admit that I was having a total fan-girl moment when I purchased these 2 products. The guy who does Mariska Harigtay's hair on SVU is on twitter and was getting so many questions about what they were doing to her hair this season and what products they were using, and he mentioned that this was the shampoo/conditioner pair they were using. I had never heard of Davines before, and it's a little more pricey than what I usually pay, but thanks to eBay I got the 2 for a decent price. 

I've only been able to use these a couple times since I got them in mid-October, but each time I've used them I have LOVED the results! I can't tell you how many products I have (shampoos, conditioners, styling products etc) that I used to attempt the "tousled, effortless" waves/curls with no luck. I use these at night and stick my wet hair up in a bun while I sleep and when I wake up, I have the tousled look!! 

3. Dr. Pepper 10

I may have found a new soft drink fave! I had a coupon for a free 2-liter of the new Dr. Pepper 10 and when I got it home I almost drank the whole thing in one night! It's much sweeter than Diet Dr. Pepper without all the calories of regular Dr. Pepper. Don't listen to the advertising campaign ladies, this drink is NOT just for men!

4. Gamecock Football

College football is one of my favorite things about fall in general, but October is when things really start to get interesting. At this point all the games are important, tough games that have the "we have to win" mentality. And for the most part the Gamecocks have done their job! It hasn't been pretty, and we've definitely had our struggles (our QB suddenly being dismissed, star RB getting injured and being out for the season, etc) but the important this is that we're 7-1!! Here's hoping the month of November is kind to the Gamecocks as well!

5. Fall TV

Just like football, fall television gets into full swing during the month of October. It's when you can see what new shows are actually going to make it and you need to keep in your schedule and which ones you need toss aside (and you hope the network feels the same)! I'm hoping to have a post up soon about my new fall TV faves and my tv 'schedule', but until then...

Fave returning show: Law and Order SVU (duh!)

Fave new show: Revenge (SOO good!)

BONUS: Birthday month

October will always and forever be my favorite month since it is my birthday month!! I just couldn't write a post about October without mentioning it haha. I had a fabulous birthday and can't wait to see what the rest of the year has in store!

xoxo

Natalie