Wanna be Type A

Hi my name's Riya and I am a wanna be Type A!

I really want to be a Type A personality person, all the people I look up to in my life are pretty much Type A and I am so envious of that. They always have their lives together or so it appears and they are so organized and I have tried so hard to be that person but here I am as the year is winding down and realizing that even though it was  great aspiration to become like them I just simply can not do it and it's not the person I am.

I do have to say luckily there are some habits that I have kinda, sorta taken on to help me deal but they are not things that I could do religiously. For example. I love my planner because it is beautiful but I do not use it everyday I will track some things so that I can look back and remember them at a later date but other than that I just put things in my phone if I need to. Otherwise if I forget to do something it's really not the end of the world.

Lets talk about lists and deadlines. I am not about them, I have a current to-do list on my night stand that was all supposed to be completed on Sunday. Guess what it's Wednesday now and I still haven't finished them (#sorrynotsorry). I think it's a great concept to get your ideas down but I am just to much of a take things as they come person that I can not keep up with them.

I also do not need to be doing something all the time. I LOVE NOT DOING ANYTHING. Call my lazy (it's okay my mom does). There are few things that I enjoy more than sitting in bed in my pajamas and watching Netflix for days and I mean days. I am probably the most notorious binge watcher I know, because other people will try to function and watch shows. I on the other hand will avoid going out with my friends so I can finish watching something. (you could say that I'm a completionist in that sense)

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I can't really think of anything else at the moment, but I wish I was a Type A but as of right now I'm just  Type RPO1

XOXO 

Holiday Gift Guide: for her

Gift Guide: Riya Party of One by riyapartyofone featuring soy candle

The holiday season is upon us and you know what that means; it's time for gifts! Even though the holidays should not be all about gift giving and receiving, it does make up a large part of it. I wanted to share with you some of my top picks for the holiday season!. Some of these items I own already and absolutely love, while others I am currently coveting.

one| Jewelery is always a great gift. Not only is it something that the recipient will remember you for every time they wear it, but it can also be something that they may not have picked out for themselves that will add a little pop to their everyday selection of accessories.

two| A candle is a great gift to evoke emotions, the scent of something familiar around the holidays can always bring a smile to someones face. They are also great to have around just in case. They make great hostess gifts when you are invited to a last minute holiday soiree.

three| I am now a self proclaimed nail person now! I love having my nails painted and I think it is the perfect way to bring your whole look together. My favorite nail polish that I have used was NARS. I like the application and the the brush handle fits in your hand. It may be a little more pricey than other polishes but it is a little luxury that I think is very appropriate for the holidays.

four| A treat from one of my favorite Etsy shops; BowtiqueByAlexa. She has just debuted these fabulous gloves and I literally can not wait to get my hands in them. Gloves are a winter necessity and this is the perfect way to add a touch of charm to your winter wardrobe, also they keep your hands from freezing which is exactly what you need when you live in the Northeast! (use coupon code SMALLBIZ at checkout for 10% off until 12/2/14)

 five| Winter footwear can be challenging because you don't want to always be in gigantic boots all the time. Moccasins are good for casual days just running errands or they can be used for indoor slippers. Either way you can't go wrong. I'm loving the blue I just don't know if I can make the jump, I normally opt for a tan but this may be the year where I step out in some color.

six| Every girl needs a monogram quarter zip! I have had mine since last year and it is one of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe. I love the cut because not only it is fabulously warm but its very flattering on a feminine figure which is so hard to find when looking for a sweatshirt. Literally all of my friends has one and if you don't you are totally missing out! So word to the wise put it on your list, as it will for sure be a hit! (use coupon code SIRIUSBLACKFRIDAY for 10% off until 12/2)

seven| A phone case is the perfect gift for any one. Everyone needs one and they are not hard to come by. I like this one by Kate spade as I have a couple Kate Spade cases already but there are hundreds of other options online and millions of ways to personalize them for everyone on your list.

eight| I love my weekender set! I would not trade it for anything and use it every chance I get. The monogram detail is one sure way your luggage will never get mixed up with someone else. It is incredible sturdy and the quality can not be beat. I also this would be the perfect gift to surprise someone with if you are going away for the holidays, you could use some fabulous luggage. (use coupon code SIRIUSBLACKFRIDAY for 10% off until 12/2)

nine| A watch is a must have in every woman's wardrobe. There is nothing that says style and sophistication like a watch. There are so many different options as well as different price points. This nautical one is fun and perfect for summers by the shore. #dreaming


I hope this post helps with some of the holiday shopping headaches many of up endure!

What are some of your holiday gift ideas?

Happy Shopping!

XOXO-RPO1

Fabulous Fashion Friday!

The cold weather is upon us and it's time to bundle up and accessorize for it! My favorite thing about the weather change is all the fashion possibilities that open in with the new season. In my opinion the best accessory for this is a statement scarf! I have been a fan of scarves for a while now and I continue to grow my collection every season, but there is no better feeling than a soft scarf that keeps you warm and bundled up. Today's post is featuring my newest addition from MarleyLilly.

 

The red monogram is the perfect festive touch!

If there is one thing I love more than all others it is a monogram. I think that you can never have too many monograms and having one on your scarf is the perfect touch of personalization. I've been using this cashmere feel scarf practically everyday since I received it, and it has really held up in all conditions. I like that it is perfect for casual wear or can help to dress up any outfit. 

Causal and Cute

I'm a really big fan of this color combination as well because I was able to mix it with a more neutral pallet like this, for when you are just running out the door. Or if you want to add a pop of color to an

outfit you really can't go wrong.

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Fierce and Festive

Overall I think the scarf is a welcome addition to any wardrobe and I can't wait to see what other ways I can style it. Plus I know it will definitely be under the tree for a few of my friends!

P.S. Head over to MarleyLilly right now for their Black Friday Preview sale for amazing deals on their personalized gifts, this fabulous scarf is even on sale!

Happy Shopping!

XOXO-RPO1

*Product provided gratis, all opinions are my own and are in no way influenced by a third party

Disconnect To Reconnect

 

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With the holidays coming up it's going to be a time where we all find ourselves spending more time with family and friends which is always interesting and exciting. However it seems as if all this quality time flies by so quickly that we don't even remember all the funny moments that are happening all around us. Do you know the reason for this? We all are all glued to our cell phones, tablets, laptops, and TVs! Don't get me wrong I love my tech as much as the next person but there are a few rules that I apply in my everyday life more so than before because I realize that I am not going to ever get this time back. I can mindlessly troll the Internet on my own time when I should be more productive and doing other things, but I have made the active choice to disconnect from any kind of technology when I am with a friend or family member I may even extend this to random strangers as well because I notice how much people are using their cell phones as crutches and it is really getting to me.

Here are my 3 rules to disconnecting;

1.) If you are out to a meal with anyone; significant other, friends, family, or business associate. DO NOT TAKE YOUR PHONE OUT AT THE TABLE! I can not explain what a pet peeve of mine it is to be sitting at a table to only be ignored by the company. If you are out spending your time with someone then they should be the most important person in that moment not the random you are texting. If talking to that person on the other end of your phone is more important than you should be spending time with them not the person who is sitting across the table from you. Not to mention it is also rude to the server, because they are not there to wait around for you to figure out what you want after having sat there for 30 minutes scrolling your Instagram feed or group texting. You are not the only person they are helping and you are also occupying a table for much longer than necessary. SO PLEASE PUT THE PHONE DOWN!

2.) Don't let your phone become your new best friend, don't let it be the first thing you look at when you wake up in the morning or the last thing you look at before you go to sleep. In my opinion I think it's important for you to distance yourself from your phone because how many times have you got out of bed and the first thing you reach for was your phone? I know I do it all the time but my with my new mantra I find that it is important to begin my morning routine without my phone in my hand. This is the time of day I find is best to collect my thoughts and get ready for what is to come. It shouldn't be when you are clouding your thoughts with the latest celebrity gossip but rather focus on yourself! Every night before I go to be I plug my phone in the charge away from my bed and turn it on do not disturb so that way I can fall into a better more restless sleep.

 

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3.) Be in the moment take in experiences with your senses not your screen. How many times have you taken pictures of things and never did anything with them only to delete them a few months later. I could not tell you how many pictures of fireworks I had or pictures of food that I never posted to Instagram. I have come to realize now though that I don't want to be looking at the world through a screen. I make it my mission to see, hear, smell, and feel all the things around me. That is how I believe true memories are made.

When was the last time you disconnected to reconnect? 

XOXO-RPO1

Wendy Williams Weekend!

This I would have to say was one of the best Weekends of my life! I met my idol Wendy Williams! I have been obsessed with her since my sophomore year in college when I would watch her show on midnight on BET and use it as an escape from the reality that was my first 2 very difficult years of college where I was anything but happy. I loved and still do love watching her show she is totally a friend in my head and whenever I get the chance to see her doing anything I am all about it! Luckily she lives in the tri-state area so most of her events are local enough. I went to a tapping of her show about 3 years ago and it was so much fun! If you ever have the chance to go I would highly suggest it because there is not better way to start off a party the Wendy way ;) this is also why I make sure I watch her show everyday because I feel like I'm just listening to chatter from one of my girlfriends and I love getting input from her about all different topics. Last summer which I can not believe was actually that long ago I went to see her in CHICAGO the musical on Broadway which was my first time seeing a Broadway show and I loved it number one and number 2 of course I was going to love it because my girl Wendy was there! She did a great job in my opinion. I also watch her after show segments that she does on YouTube so I feel as though I really get to know another side of her aside from what you see on day time TV. She gives great advice and is really a girls girl and I can not confirm it any better than by the fact that I actually had the honor of meeting her this past weekend! It was amazing but the way that I came about to getting to meet her proves how obsessed I was with seeing her. She was asked to do a Comedy Show in Las Vegas over the summer and was asked back for Halloween weekend and I was so close to booking a ticket and making my way to Vegas but logistically it would not have been possible. The saving grace of this all however was when she mentioned in her After Show that she would be hosting a Comedy show in New Jersey Saturday November 15th. I was literally freaking out I went to purchase the tickets and the prices were a little steep for the orchestra and I wanted to be as close to the stage as possible but when I saw the little note at the bottom that mentioned there would be a meet and greet I bought the tickets in an instant and told BB to deal with the date because I was going and this was a thing that was happening. I am not usually a person who makes hasty decisions but I was so excited that I could not wait this was a chance of a lifetime where I was finally going to meet this Woman who I very much look up to and I could not be more excited.

#howyoulaughin?

It was fabulous! The comedians in the show that opened for her was all hilarious, literally my face started hurting from laughing so much that by the end of the show I was too exhausted for facial expressions. There was music and the crowd was so lively that it really brought the whole experience the another level.

Wendy looked amazing in her romper!

(p.s) she is literally a twig in person
Lastly I finally got to meet her and I could not contain my excitement, even though the wait took a little while I didn't mind.

I literally had no words! All I kept saying was Thank you!

 
When I finally got up to meet her I said hello and of course "HOW YOU DOIN'?" she told me I had beautiful hair and I nearly lost my mind and she was just the most pleasant woman, she smelled so nice and was so beautiful in person and I think all her fabulousity really gets lost through the TV screen so meeting her really was the most amazing thing ever!


I will never forget all the fun I had in New Jersey this weekend meeting the Wonderful Wendy Williams!

How was your weekend? Have you ever met anyone famous?

XOXO-RPO1 

Fabulous FRENCH Friday!

So I have recently become obsessed with french things and going to Paris! Which I have put on my must travel to list which I will share with you later!

A couple of weeks ago BB and I ventured out to a french restaurant in town called Mon Petit Bistro and it was really small and quaint. There were some down sides but it was a big step for me to get out of my comfort zone and try something new but I have has escargot before!

  #adventurous

While we were out for dinner we tried the MOULES  À LA MARINIÈRE which were fabulous! (I love muscles) and then as entrees we ate the FILET DE POULET Á LA NORMANDE (bland) and STEAK AU POIVRE (way too peppery!) so overall it wasn't that great of a meal because not only was the service really slow but because it was next to the cinema every time the door would open it would smell like buttered popcorn. The plus side was the interior decor it was all posters of old french movies and different locals all over France like Cannes and Nice. très chic!

Although I did not enjoy the restaurant that much I am looking forward to visiting another french restaurant and won't let this experience ruin it for me :)

Going back to what really got me interested in France and Paris specifically is this beautiful Eiffel tower candle holder I saw at home goods and it was just so beautiful that I became obsessed with it and for a moment I was considering redoing my room in a Parisian style but I refrained because that would have just been too much.  But I have been inspired and I can not wait to visit the city of lights one day and bring back all my fabulous finds!

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I will post all about my weekend adventures from this month on Monday! There is one more weekend left this month so make the most out of it!

Have a great weekend!

XOXO-RPO1

Hello Fall!

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Today was a such a beautiful day! I feel like we are being eased into Autumn and I could not be happier. I have said it before that I was counting down the days until summer was over and it was time for all the fall fun!

I would definitely say that Autumn is my favorite season and I think the fact that I live in New England plays a major part of that because no matter how beautiful a sunny summer day is it can not beat the true beauty of fall foliage on a crisp October day!

I can not wait until its officially jeans, boots and sweater weather! With the current unpredictable temperatures it makes it difficult to plan out an appropriate outfit! Although this is not the worlds biggest burden to wear but I am overly excited for my new wardrobe so the weather needs to flip fast! I also love the rain as I posted about here! On top of how cool and calming the rain is, I love wearing my rain boots and rain coat and fashion always makes a rainy day a little bit brighter!

On top up all the beautiful scenery that is soon to come I have so many fun fall activities planned and I can not wait to share them all with you!

 First up this weekend is the Big E! Which is a New England tradition in my opinion and it is something I so look forward to every year for all the food, fun, and attractions! Pictures to follow of course!

What are you favorite fall traditions? 

XOXO- RPO1

Fabulous Finds Friday!

Welcome to the end of another wonderful week! Although I love bringing you all the fabulous finds that I have found in fashion as well as other areas of life sometimes it is important to just sit back relax and take some time for yourself! The most important thing in your life should always be yourself because if you can't take care of you then you will not be able to give the best of yourself to others. Along with many things that you can do to make you feel better and happier about yourself and life I would like to share with you the 3 things that I am obsessed with this week and how they really help me, be the best me!

First off I have a confession to make I am the worst, worst, worst person when it comes to hydrating and I feel like I have gone days without drinking water! I know this is literally the worst thing ever but I promise that I have gotten a million times better at that and I think that it greatly because of my CamelBak! I love drinking out of straw and because drinking out of this is more fun than a regular water bottle I am more likely to use it because I don't have to worry about it leaking all over the place or getting all busted. I love it and as per the usual I can not wait to add my monogram on it ;)

 

The best drinking accessory

 

Second thing that I like to do to help my feel refreshed and like I am giving my best face to the world ;) is to use Herbalism. Not only do I love using Lush products because I have very sensitive skin and it does not irritate it but I also like that they are hand made products that are not shipped out to any big box store so I know if I have questions there will be someone there who can answer them for me or if I have an issue there is always someone there to assist. I also like that the product is 100% natural!

Lastly the best way to relax is with some aromatherapy. I am literally OBSESSED with this Eucalyptus Spearmint scent. I have it in a lotion, shower gel, hand cream, and a pocket sized hand sanitizer! (like I said obsessed) It has the most amazing smell and it's kind of refreshing as well like the label says apply and take a deep breath!

I hope you enjoyed all my fabulous finds and I also hope some of these products help you relax and make the most out of your holiday weekend!

XOXO- RPO1

Back to school means back to PLANNING!

I have an obsession with planners otherwise know as academic agendas. I think they are the best tool to keep your self organized and a little bit more sophisticated than just putting everything into your phones calendar. A lady does not pull out her phone every other moment to check to see where she is going with her life.

Although I am not going back to school this fall I am still fully utilizing my planner that I purchased last winter and it goes until December of 2014!

Behold my Erin Condren Planner

 

The only life planner that you will ever need!

What I love about my planner is that is shows you the whole month at a glance at first and then when you turn the page it has the days of the week separated by morning, day, and night. This is super helpful for anyone because it does not mean that you need to separate everything by class or just the day of the week! 

The planner is a little pricey as it ends up being over $50 once you are done customizing it and adding on some of the cute things that the website offers but I have to say that it is all worth it in the end and if you think about it, that is only about $4 a month!

If you are looking to spend a little less money to spend to help you get organized for this school year I suggest going to Barnes & Noble they have a lot of cute options at very affordable prices! Like this super cute Elephant one 

So cute and fashionable!

I hope this post has made you a little more excited to go back to school! If you have any of your favorite planners you want to share leave me a comment below!

Planning and Posting one day at a time! 

XOXO- RPO1

Minding your money: financially fit

 

I want to share with you something that I feel is super important but not a lot of people are talking about and that is money! First of all let me start off by saying that I am no financial guru and am just a struggling post grad like most people! The only reason I have this on my mind though is because one of my New Years resolution for this year was to become financially fit, and with only roughly four months left in the year the pressure to keep the promise to myself is becoming unreal.

All of my anxieties aside I hope this blog post can help you get on a strong financial path for your fiscal future!

My first tip is to get all of your accounts into one place and you can do that a couple of ways but one of the tools that I use and absolutely love is Mint is it a free website/app that can help you set budgets as well as give you a grand scope of all the money you have accessible as well as the debt that you have.

• Budgeting: it's a great tool to use because this way you can see how much money you have and then divide it up amongst your different categories like shopping, gas, coffee shops, as well as groceries and you can even create your own categories; for example I had a category for my sorority so that I could track and see how much money I was spending on all the little things and in the end they were really adding up. 

Next tip is to get all of your financial information as well because you can be fiscally fabulous if you don't have all the facts. The best way to do this is to get a copy of your CREDIT REPORT! You as a consumer are entitled to have access to your credit report from all three of the major credit unions once a year. The best way to take advantage of this is by to get one from each bureau every 3 months! 

• Make sure that the first time you are hit with your credit report is not when you are getting denied for a credit card, trying to purchase a car, or when you are applying for a mortgage. There should be no surprises to you and if there is anything that is questionable make sure that you contact the bureau and get more information. I had a discrepancy on one of my reports and I contacted the bureau and they removed it and it was as simple as picking up the phone and the result was a positive impact on my credit!

• Please note; this is not a site that will give you your credit score! It just gives you all the information like the accounts you have open as well as the money you owe and payment history!

 The next thing that I have done to help get myself on the financially fit path is to get all of my past credit card statements so that I can put into perspective all the places that my money has gone. I am a visual person who needs to make sure that I can see exactly where all my money has gone and with that requesting previous statements from credit card companies dated back five years has really helped me. 

• Tip: Financial institutions are required to keep your financial records for the past 7 years so you can get your statements as far back as that!

Lastly, I am now trying so hard to budget my money so that I can enjoy the fruits of my labor but it is hard. I have come out of all of this with a little more piece of mind in that I know what I can and can not spend and I know how to spend responsibly or at least I hope so!

I hope this has helped you and has inspired you to become financially fit as well! If you have any questions or tips of your own I would love to hear them! 

XOXO- RPO1

*I am by no means a financial expert and have only shared my personal experience and tips. There was no compensation given for the links shared in this post, or opinions stated.

Fabulous Finds Friday!

Happy Weekend! I know I haven't posted a lot this week but I have been busy tying up some lose ends and looking into how to make some changes on the blog as well as how to make it a more enjoyable experience for you the reader! During my free time though I did have a few minutes to obsess over some things this week so I could share them with you for Fabulous Finds Friday!

First off I just purchased this book How To Live Like A Lady and I have so enjoyed reading it. I felt like I needed to pick up a good book to read for the summer and I think this is the perfect way to ease me back into reading for enjoyment! I love learning new things about manners and just social etiquette because I think these are valuable lessons and I can't wait to share some in future posts!

What a cute cover!

Next up is the Sock Bun! I know it's been around for a while but I feel like I needed one in my life so bad! I just think it is so cute and classy, plus I got really tired of having my hair up in a hot mess express bun and now I can look more put together! 

Hot mess express hair no more!

And this week I have been on a fall fashion kick and I'm thinking of all the things I want to add to my wardrobe and what's the top of my list is riding boots of course! So If you have any suggestions of your favorite riding boots please share because literally all of my recent browsing history has to do with boots and there are so many temptations!

Books or Boots Suggestions? Leave a comment! 

Have a great weekend!

XOXO- RPO1

Monogram Monday!

I LOVE MONOGRAMS! Literally there is nothing more perfect than owning something with your initials on it, in my opinion. It it because of my some what new found love of monograms that I have decided to dedicate a post to all things that I own with my monogram and am currently dying to have! I wish a gift giving holiday was coming up so I would have a reason to receive all of them :(. Until then here are all my favorite things!

First of all lets talk about the most perfect graduation gift from BB! I literally died when I got these and I could not have been happier! 

Everybody needs weekend luggage so get to it people! 

 

Not only do I love to carry my monogram around I love to wear it! This is a fabulous navy long sleeve that I bought in march so I really haven't been able to enjoy it to it's full potential but I can not wait until fall! I will be wearing it everyday #sorrynotsorry

Before all the navy and white it was all about the Purple Monogram and I have no regrets! These will forever be my favorites <3

 Last but not least my graduation cap! I loved how it looked so simple and classic and it was such a nice touch to help make graduation a little more special. 

Now for my favorite part all the things that I NEED IN MY LIFE!

These hats are just too fresh

 

 

For all the exciting summer adventures

  No outfit is finished without the perfect sunnies! 

 A monogrammed clutch bag is a must have for fall and I will not rest until I have one!

Lastly this is the perfect everyday accessory and I the one item I am coveting the most!

What's your favorite wardrobe item? Are you a lover of monograms like I am? Leave your comments below!

XOXO- RPO1

 

 

Fabulous Finds Friday!

This week I was all about expanding my wardrobe and taking some risks as far as my everyday fashion goes and I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised. The first item that I decided to invest in were some bright pink ankle pants and they were a
hit! I was a little apprehensive at first but I think that my wardrobe was really in need of a pop of color. I also want to mention that these pants compliment my 100 navy tops perfectly so it was a win win all around, plus I got them on clearance so that made the purchase even more justified!






My other favorite purchase this week were my navy blue flats with the pointy toes! I don't have any pointed shoes so this was a really daring move for me but now that I have a pair I think I am a fan! They are so cute and versatile, you can dress them up for a night out of keep it cute and casual at the office or out running errands! As I mentioned before about my 100 navy tops I now have shoes to match them which makes me happy beyond belief! I also bought some skinny khaki pants for work which I love because number one they are so comfortable and number two khaki is the perfect compliment to navy I'm obsessed ! Lastly, I thought it was time to dress up my nails a little bit so I finally broke out Mint Candy Apple by Essie, which I have been dying to use and I think it is the perfect hue to start the send off of summer!

 

One last thing! I got all these items on sale! So make sure you go check out all the fabulous finds this weekend!

What's your favorite late summer purchase? 

Happy August! XOXO-RPO1

Throwback Thursday: Graduation

Graduating college is a pretty big deal and I feel like I never got to share it with you! My plan was to start the blog immediately after graduation but there were so many other things that were going on that I wanted to share with you! I'm also feeling very reflective today because as August is about to start tomorrow it brings up all the memories of getting ready for a new school year and doing one of my favorite things which is buying new school supplies! Although it is not necessary for me to buy some school supplies I don't know if I will be able to keep myself away from an office supply store. So in honor of throwback Thursday here are some pictures from my graduation! Enjoy!

So Collegiate

 Gurdeep and Kulwant were loving it!

 What is a graduation cap with letters and your monogram

White Dress = Classic graduation pic

Totally not a staged photo ;)

Westconn is Bestconn! Thanks for the memories!

Share your favorite throwback Thursday memories! 

XOXO- RPO1