Summer Reads

I use to be a huge bookworm and now that college is over and I have a lot more free time than I normally would, I really want to get back into it. I love me time--just sitting at Starbucks and reading a good book is a good time for me. So, I decided to round up some of my favorite books to share with you all!


1. Girl Boss by Sophia Amoruso

I LOVED this book, I actually just finished it earlier this week. Basically this book is about how Sophia got to where she is today and how Nasty Gal got started. She shares her tips on a bunch of different things involving your career and just life in general. It's definitely the perfect book for someone who is in need of some major motivation/inspiration to become a girl boss. Also, if you didn't already know, Girl Boss is now a series on Netflix and I'm super stoked to watch it! 


2. She Means Business by Carrie Green

I didn't actually read this book yet, but I sat down at Barnes & Noble one day, grabbed a bunch of books and skimmed through them. This book stood out to me for so many reasons. I'm trying to see if I can make A Small Town Fashionista a thing, so reading up on books that inspire me to continue working hard are my favorite. I love reading different stories that include both the successes and the struggles and I feel like this book is going to be absolutely perfect. I'm actually bringing it with as my travel book for Europe, so I'll let you guys know what I thought about it.


3. The Harry Potter series

Do I really even need to explain this one? Lol. The Harry Potter series was my favorite. If you're looking for something new to read I highly recommend it. It's one of those books that once you start reading you can't put down. 

Once I start branching out and reading new books I'll definitely do an updated post for you all, but for now I just wanted to share a few of my favorites! 

Thanks for reading! Xo

The Perfect T-Shirt Dress


I've been really good lately with saving money and only purchasing clothes for my Europe trip, but when I saw this dress I had to get it! I love how simple it is, but at the same time you can style it so many ways. I took the casual approach (what else is new?) and styled it with my favorite sneakers to add some color. It was hard accessorizing this dress, I felt like you had to keep the accessories very minimal and add color with your shoes or handbag. You'll probably be seeing this dress a lot on the blog, just a warning. 

Dress (only $20!) || Adidas 
My crossbody is Nine West, I got it from T.J. Maxx. If you're interested I did see it floating around eBay in both black and white :)

Thanks for reading! Xo

5 Apps I Use Everyday


Whether we care to admit it or not, we're on our phones all the time--especially if you're a blogger. You're always editing photos for Instagram, planning out posts, connecting with other bloggers, etc. So I wanted to share five of my favorite iPhone apps that I use everyday. 

1. Planoly
I love this app. I actually became introduced to it through one of my internships and I'm so glad I did. Planoly lets you plan out your photos to see if they go with your theme and also schedule photos. It's so convenient because it allows me to maintain a posting schedule without forgetting! There is a free version that allows you a specific amount of uploads per month, but if you want unlimited it's $8.99/month.


2. Preview
This is another app that involves Instagram and planning out posts. I actually just started editing my Instagram photos with Preview. I wanted to start maintaining a theme and I loved the filter options Preview had to offer. Another thing I like about this app is that it shows you your Instagram feed, so before you finalize a picture you're able to see if it works with your theme. Preview also gives you the ability to schedule posts, however I've never used that feature.


3. Sudoku
Ok, I love Sudoku lol. When I'm just sitting around I'll pull out my phone and play a game or two of Sudoku. It's just one of those things that gets your brain going and you can't stop.


4. InstaReport
I don't use this technically everyday, but I like to check up on it weekly. As someone who is trying to grow their blog it's important to see who's coming and going and this app lets you do literally just that. You can see who unfollows you, who isn't following you back, who views your page the most, etc.


5. Apple Watch Activity
Obviously this is only an app for Apple Watch users but I check this everyday. My watch tracks my daily steps, exercise, and how many hours I'm standing so it's just something I like to keep track off on a daily basis.


* Shop the sunnies in this photo through this link to receive $10 off!

Thanks for reading! Xo

Bright Colors


You know it's starting to become summer when all of your bright colored clothes start making an appearance. When I originally put this look together I was in a rush and usually when I'm in a rush my outfit is no where near blog worthy. There's a first time for everything tho, right? This is probably one of my top five favorite outfits. First off, I love rompers--they're so easy to style and this kimono just went perfectly with it. 10/10 for color scheme. I chose to finish the look off with my favorite pair of embellished sandals and go for minimal accessories, per usual. 

I recently talked about DIFF Eyewear in Monday's post where I styled a pink pair of aviators. However in this post I'm showing off the grey lenses and gold frames. If you haven't already, I highly recommend checking out the gorgeous DIFF sunnies to find yourself the perfect pair for this summer! And for being super awesome you can shop through this link and get $10 off your first purchase!

Thanks for reading! Xo

Kimono - $40
Romper - $60
Crossbody - Not same one I'm using but similar and under $20
Sunglasses - Only $75 & get $10 off by shopping through my link above!
* I got my sandals a few years back when Piperlime was getting ready to shut down and I wish I could find them to link for you guys!!

Statement Necklace


I've never been one for the choker trend. I thought it was ugly and I would never be able to pull it off, until I discovered Mirina Collection. I'm seriously obsessed with this choker for so many reasons. 1. It's the perfect necklace to spruce up any look. I didn't have to add any other jewelry items to this look because the choker spoke for itself. And 2. You can adjust the length to wear it anyway you'd like. I went for the half choker/half necklace style, if that makes any sense. 

This look is perfect for a day in the city or a girls night out. This leather skirt is my favorite, it pairs so well with just about anything. I never thought about combining this skirt with booties but to my surprise I ended up loving the way it looked. The floppy hat created the perfect boho look!

Also, for all of my followers.. use code 'MirinaGirls' at checkout to receive 20% off your Mirina Collections purchase!


* A lot of the items I'm wearing are old so they weren't found online--linked similar/favorite items.

Thanks for reading! Xo

Summer Sun(nies)


I think I can speak for everyone when I say an adorable pair of sunglasses are number one on a summer must have list. I recently became introduced to a sunglass company that I am obsessing over. Their sunnies are under $100 and for every pair they sell, one pair of reading glasses is donated. How awesome is that?! I think I'll just give DIFF Eyewear all my money this summer.

The style I'm wearing in this photo are Cruz and they are the rose gold frames with pink lenses. They are however sold out, but watch out for some restocking soon. 

Shop through this link and receive $10 off your first order!

Thanks for reading! Xo

How To Shop: Petites

If you're petite, shopping can more often than not be a pain. Pants and maxi dresses drag on the floor, specific items don't give you that perfect fit you're looking for, or you just feel like clothes overwhelm your figure. I totally get it, I go through this all the time but I've also figured out a few tricks for making shopping a bit easier. I also did a post awhile back talking about my favorite places to shop for petite clothing--Express has also started selling petite sizes so you can include that to the list!

1. Shop around at a few places and purchase items in petite
Every stores petite sizes vary, so it's good to try out a pair of pants and a shirt and see how the fit is on you. I've tried petite in a lot of stores, but in the end I've found that my go-to store is Old Navy. Usually at Old Navy I don't need a petite size in their tops because I've never had an issue with the fit--their pants (and sometimes dresses) however, I will always purchase in petite.


These jeans are from Old Navy, size petite of course, and I adore them. I always struggled with finding denim that stop at my ankles until I purchased these and since than I've only ever purchased jeans from Old Navy. 

DIY Tip: If you're like me and prefer your jeans to stop at your ankles but just can't find the right pair, cut the bottoms. 

2. Don't confuse prints for making you look childish
I hear a lot of people say that they feel like they look like a kid when they wear prints because they're petite, which is not true. You have to feel comfortable and confident in the items you're wearing. Just don't go for prints that overpower your frame and know what looks good on you. 

3. The children's section could be your best friend
You probably think this one is a joke, but I can assure you it's not. They make some cute clothes for kids, so if you can fit into them than why not? I recently just started purchasing workout leggings for kids from Old Navy and they're like half the price of the adult pairs.. SCORE. 



Keep trying out new items and figure out what styles work best for your figure and don't be afraid to go for prints or mix things up. If you have a dress that's too loose, style it with a belt or if you have a T-shirt that's baggy tie a knot in the front. Get creative! 

Thanks for reading! Xo

Pretty Florals


I purchased this dress last summer and this past Sunday was the first time I ever wore it.  I don't even know why I never reached for this dress though because it's beautiful!! I love everything from the floral print and colors down to the ruffles at the top. My favorite thing about maxi dresses is they're perfect for any occasion and the only thing you have to worry about is what accessories you want to pair with it. I decided to style this maxi dress with a blush pink cross body and gold accessories. I wanted to keep it simple so the dress could be the main focal point because I'll say it again, it's beautiful. 

Since I purchased this dress last year it's no longer available so I'm share a couple of my current favs!

Crossbody Bag ($300) || TopShop Crossbody ($48)
Drop Earrings (mine aren't sold online, linked a favorite)

Thanks for reading! Xo

Interview Etiquette


In light of college graduation passing by and some of us entering the real-world work force, I thought it'd be a good time for a post about interview etiquette. I won't lie, I've only ever been on one serious interview and it was for an internship a few years ago. But, I've read up on Lauren Conrad's interview etiquette and have been given some advice along the way so i'm basically an expert, right? 

But on a serious note, I feel like I have the interview dress code down so I'll share some of my tips with you. It doesn't matter what job I'm interviewing for, I will dress to impress. My junior year of college I interviewed for a job at Applebees and still showed up in one of my nicest dresses and a pair of heels. I'm a strong believer in the things you wear making the biggest impression on a person. You look good, you feel good, and it shows that you care. One of the main reasons I'm so into fashion is because your outfits tell who you are before you even say one word. 

So you've just landed an interview with your dream job and are staring into your closet thinking what the hell am I going to wear? 

Here are the items NOT to go for:
1. Bright colors 
2. Obnoxious prints
3. Over-the-shoulder tops
4. Open toed shoes


The items you will go for will depend on a few things..

1. Environment of the office
If you don't already know this, do some research to see what you can find out about the environment of the office and their dress code. If they fall under casual/business casual you have a variety of options to choose from in terms of color. I would still aim more towards pastel shades though because they're fun yet professional. Just don't go overboard and make sure you look pretty and polished. If they fall under a formal dress code this could get a little tricky. Even though you're not employed with the company yet, you should still follow their dress code. Stick with a pretty blouse and dress paints (or even a nice pencil skirt). Include your own personal touches with accessories, but keep it light avoiding flashy things.

2. What will the interview consist of? Being on your feet or sitting down?
The last thing you want is to go on an interview in heels where you'll be standing the whole time leaving yourself extremely uncomfortable, so don't wear them just because you think you have to. Heels are not a requirement for interviews, so if they aren't your thing that's ok. Purchase a nice pair of flats/loafers in nude or black and they'll make the perfect interview accessory! 

If you have a big interview coming up I hope these style tips were helpful. Just remember, look clean and polished. Good luck!

Thanks for reading! Xo