Fall Purchases + My New Favorites

Hey hey hey!
I've been shopping a litttttle too frequently lately and have been acquiring a lot of new pieces for the fall. I thought I'd share what I've gotten lately - let me know on my twitter (@collegehockeygf) if you've purchased any clothes for fall too! I can't be the only one who becomes fall obsessed in the middle of July ;)

I'll start with my Nordstrom anniversary sale purchases! I ended up grabbing this sweater in salmon pink. I ordered it a size up (size small) so it would be a little big on me, perfect for a chilly hockey rink! The sweater has a V back which I think is such a cute little twist on a comfy sweater. 

I also purchased these Articles of Society jeans in black from Nordstrom. 

I'm obsessed with them and am counting down the days until I can pair them with my new favorite booties. Which brings me to my next purchase… these booties. I've been on the hunt for an inexpensive pair of booties that I can wear to the bars and hockey house parties andddd I'm in love.

Moving on! I recently purchased this necklace from BaubleBar and I haven't taken it off since. I highly recommend BaubleBar - the packaging for the necklace was too cute.

Next up is a bit of a surprising pick but I've already worn it twice since receiving it in the mail five days ago. This dress from A&F of all places and it's my new favorite. Super comfy and made of a really soft material, I'm sold. It's taken major restraint for me to not order it in orange too. Tip: make a side knot at the bottom of the dress to avoid looking shapeless. 

I also purchased this T-shirt dress from Urban Outfitters. Can you tell I've been loving t-shirt dresses lately?? So comfy. Warning - runs a little big! Since they only had size small left at my local Urban I'll be tying a side knot so it doesn't look like I'm swimming in a tee! 

Lastly I purchased this long sleeve dress from Forever 21. I think it will be perfect for fall and I can't wait to wear it! It comes in three different colors and is made of a super soft material. The dress is an absolute STEAL for only $14.90

That's all I have for now! Thanks for reading:) look out for a post about my Fall wish list soon! The shopping never ends.

xoxo

CHGF

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Favorites

Hello hello hello! It's only been about a million years since I've made a blog post, so what better way to resurrect this blog than by talking about my favorite place in the entire world?? Oh yes, I'm going into detail about my favorites from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. The Anniversary Sale is the BEST sale of the year because it features their fall must have pieces and other coveted pieces all on sale for a limited time! 

The sale officially begins in three short days buuut if you have a Nordstrom card you can begin shopping during the early access sale. I've collected a few favorites that I've been obsessing over since the early access sale began. Goooodbye paycheck, and hello fall clothing/accessories obsession.

I have just about a million favorites but I'll start off with accessories and make my way to the clothes after.

First off I'm absolutely in love with this Tory Burch 'Plaque' Zip Continental Wallet. I've been on the hunt for a nice tan/brown/whatever color 'bark' is for a few months now. What better way to begin my JUNIOR year of college than with a new Tory Burch wallet? 

Next up is this Kendra Scott necklace. For Christmas my favorite boy bought me Kendra Scott 'Danielle' earrings and I've been dying to add to my collection ever since. The 'Dylan' stone pendant necklace is the perfect addition for layering necklaces this summer and fall.

My last accessory pick is probably my favorite. I love a good bootie and these are my absolute favorite. They come in a variety of colors but I think I'll probably end up snatching these beauties. Perfect for fall and for hockey season as well!

Time to move on to my favorite paycheck ruiner: clothes clothes clothes.

I am loving trendy little pieces lately. I'm finally straying from my preppy roots and have been gravitating towards more flowy, trendy pieces and I don't really mind at all. 

This Leith Crepe Trapeze Dress in 'Burgundy Stem' is to die for. Perfect for warm fall days and day drinks ;) 

I've been loving Topshop lately. Slowly but surely becoming one of my favorite brands. Seriously who am I and where did my preppy ways go?? College hockey girlfriend is growing up, folks. These jeans need to be in closet asap. 

You can also shop specific outfits during the Anniversary Sale. I'm thinking this entire outfit needs to be mine sooner rather than later.

Hope you all enjoyed my favorite picks!! Let me know what you guys will be purchasing, I love a good sale!

xoxo

CHGF

Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale Tips

It's the most wonderful time of the year!! Twice a year Lilly Pulitzer, one of my favorite brands, has a huge blowout sale. This year the After Party Sale, previously referred to as the New Year Cheer sale, will be held January 5th (aka TOMORROW) at 8 AM and ends on Tuesday January 6th at midnight. 

These sales have huge deals and only occur twice a year - and the deals simply cannot be beaten! Here are some tips that I have learned over the years: 

1. Make an account: This is SO important. The website will ultimately crash (it happens every year) and if you make an account you can get in and buy your new favorite summertime outfits as quickly as possible! 

2. Set an alarm: Although the sale goes on for two days I would advise that you actually wake up for the beginning of the sale at 8 AM. The best deals sell out fast. You don't want to miss out!

3. Shop often: Lilly Pulitzer offers free shipping and since items sell out so quickly it's in your best interest to finalize your order asap instead of keeping items in your cart and shopping around. In my experience I've had things in my cart disappear because they have sold out before I had the chance to purchase! 

4. Know what you want: It's easy to get lost in the pages upon pages of sale items. Before the sale go through your closet and see what you want need to add to your wardrobe. Although Lilly does not tell customers what will be featured on the sale in advance, it's a good idea to look around on their website beforehand. 

** I randomly looked at the Lilly Pulitzer Pinterest account and realized it features all of their items from Spring and Summer 14, which are bound to be included in the sale.**

Lastly, as if you needed another reason to participate in the sale… Lilly included a few fun tips here. 

Have fun!!
xoxo,
CHGF

LDR Tips

At an age where things in our lives are constantly changing it can be difficult to plan things in advance. Which can be a problem for Type A people (like myself) who feel the need to plan everything out for weeks and months in advance. So you can imagine the complete meltdown that occurred when my boyfriend announced last minute that he would be committing to a school six hours away from home. Realizing that my whole life was about to change was not something I had been anticipating after seeing each other at least three times a week for majority of our relationship.

Fast forward to nine months later and I can proudly say that we're managing just fine with the distance. Dare I say it has even strengthened our relationship?? With that being said, here are some tips that I have learned over our first semester of distance.

1. Plan visits in advance: This seems like a no brainer for my fellow planning obsessed followers. There is nothing better than having something to look forward to, especially when you're looking forward to seeing your favorite person. Speaking of visits...

2. Plan something special to do when you're together: If you have enough time between hockey games/practices/team events plan something special for you two to do together. That way you have something to look back on and remember once your trip is over and you get to spend quality time alone together for awhile. 

3. Stay connected: Texting, calling, Skype, FaceTime anything that will keep you two connected when you're apart will help. My boyfriend and I try to Skype each other once a week and we always text (when we can) throughout the day and night. Plan Skype/facetime dates or create a regular phone call schedule so you aren't feeling out of sync with one another.

4. Trust and Communication: Trust and communication are imperative for an LDR to thrive. If you're upset about something then you need to be vocal about it otherwise the problems will just build up. Communication is key. With that being said, it's just as important to trust your significant other. We all know puck sluts are the worst creatures to roam the earth, but you shouldn't be concerned about them because your boyfriend probably hates them just as much as you do. 

5. Positivity: Lastly, being optimistic and positive about your LDR is the best piece of advice I could offer. It's so easy to get upset about how far apart you are, or how much you miss him, but remember that LDRs will not last forever. The distance is merely an obstacle for you to get through, and you will get through it. 

And remember… "Distance gives us a reason to love harder"

xoxo,
CHGF

Summertime Sales

Eeeeek I am way too excited about this post!! I've been slowly making lists of what clothes I need/want for this upcoming school year, and right now is a really good time to buy your necessities because there are a ton of sales going on!! Some of these items have me still in a summer state of mind but I definitely have a few fall items that I'm currently coveting. 

Jcrew is offering 40% off of final sale items with code TREAT. Absolutely loving this seersucker eyelet shift dress! 

Jcrew Factory has finally restocked their extremely popular quilted puffer vests!!! I bought one in a light tan color but I've fallen in love with this maroon color as well! How many puffer vests are too many? Asking for a friend ;)

Patagonia has a great sale going on as well. Most of their spring/summer color items are 40% off!! I may be a little biased but I think that fall in New England is the greatest time of year. Obviously I'm already itching to break out my bean boots and cute jackets. My favorite boy bought me  the "Better Sweater" pullover in gray this past Christmas and I'm absolutely obsessed with it. Now that they have such a good sale going on I'm coveting the "Re-Tool Snap-T" pullover in the color pearl! 

Lilly Pulitzer just started up their Midsummer Madness sale in my neck of the woods today! If I'm not mistaken I think that the sale might have gone on down south last week but if you're from the New England area theres a great sale going on until Sunday! I picked up this skirt today and I'm in love! It's actually a skort (skirt with shorts underneath) which is great for golfing with my favorite boy! 

Nordstrom is currently holding their Anniversary Sale which never disappoints with amazing deals from countless brands and designers! The sale goes on until August 4th and the best deals go by fast so you better hurry!

Happy shopping!!

Xoxo,

 College hockey girlfriend

The Life of a Junior Hockey Girlfriend

As many of you know, before I switched my name to CHGF I was Junior Hockey Girlfriend. My boyfriend played only one year of juniors this past season, as he will be 21 this fall and is ineligible to play more than one year. In this post I will be discussing my experience as a junior hockey girlfriend. Whether your boyfriend is entering his first week of training camp with his juniors team of choice, finishing up tryouts, or relaxing before the start of the season.. Everyone can benefit from some insight and girlfriend tips!

1. The Boys
I'm just gonna go ahead and say that junior hockey boys are like a whole different hockey boy breed. In my experience I think that junior hockey players are a lot less team orientated and a lot more concerned with how they perform individually. I noticed that most of the boys didn't really care how the team did- win or lose, they were only concerned with which scouts were watching the game. Outside of the rink they drink like fishes, spend the majority of their days surrounded by hockey, and they raise hell wherever they go. Beer, puck sluts, and hockey. That's about it. 

Which brings me to my next point…

2. The Girls
I'm sure that any hockey girlfriend could tell you a story about a puck slut or two. I realized that with age the girls get sluttier and grosser, so I obviously can't wait until college hockey starts!! I swear if I see one more girl with the twitter bio "puck bunny" I'm going to lose my mind. But seriously, as long as your boy is trustworthy you shouldn't have a problem with puck sluts. I might dedicate a post solely about puck bunnies.. To be continued. 

3. College Recruiters 
Obviously the reason why your boy is playing juniors is to have a chance at playing college hockey. When college recruiters start talking to your boyfriend and he feels totally overwhelmed/doesn't know where he wants to go.. Just try your hardest to be there for him. If your boyfriend is anything like mine (aka only eligible for 1 year of juniors) it can be really stressful trying to make a college decision in such a short amount of time. 

Tips/Advice
1. Be supportive.Try to get to as many games as you can, if possible. Even when you'd much rather curl up in bed and binge watch netflix - show up and be supportive. Let your boyfriend vent to you if his coach is being a jerk or his teammates have suddenly forgotten how to pass the puck. You're probably the only person he can really open up to about it.
2. Let your boy enjoy the lifestyle.  I know I said earlier that junior hockey players can be a bit selfish on ice - but off ice they are all tons of fun to hangout with. My boyfriend made some truly special friendships this year all thanks to junior hockey. So even when you cringe thinking about all the trouble your boy and his teammates are getting into, let him have his fun. The season passes by faster than you'd think.
3. Learn the language. Hockey boys definitely have a unique vocabulary but learning the language will seriously help when you're trying to listen to a story and can't help but ask "wait, what does that mean?" a million times. 
4. Embrace the flow. I have never been one to obsess over hockey flow buuuut my boyfriend grew his hair out this past season and let's just say I'm never letting him cut it again. 
5. Make friends with other hockey girlfriends. You'll always have someone to travel with for away games, and no one really understands your problems more than a fellow hockey girlfriend. 

And don't forget… Fall is coming.

Xoxo,
College hockey girlfriend

Curent Obsessions III

Hello Hello!

It's time for a current obsessions part III. Still not over the fact that a million months have passed since I wrote my last one sooo let's get into it.

Now that it's June (one of my favorite months) it's officially summer hockey season. Although I did appreciate the break after playoffs, I'm definitely ready to start watching my favorite boy play again before we both go off to college.

 Although June is my favorite month, it also is the month where the hot hot hot New England heat and humidity comes out of nowhere after a seemingly endless winter. What is spring in New England??? Weather complaints aside, once the warm weather begins I tend to simplify my outfits because I'm too hot/busy to care. I've been loving this layered necklace look as a cute touch to an otherwise simple outfit. 

 If anyone follows my twitter account @collegehockeygf (which you probably should) you would know that I recently tweeted about a Facebook group called Re-Lilly Group. The concept is basically like Ebay where you sell your old clothes that you no longer want or no longer fit into, except everything being sold is from the brand Lilly Pulitzer. I personally have bought a dress off of the group and I have nothing but good things to say about the exchange!! I strongly advise any Lilly lover to check it out, the prices just cannot be beat. 

This is kind of a weird one but I have been on a SERIOUS burger bender lately. I honestly can't think of a time when I'm not craving a cheeseburger and fries. Shake Shack has my heart but I'm open to new burger spots if anyone from MA has burger suggestions! 

Lastly, my favorite song so far this summer has definitely been Get Me Some Of That by Thomas Rhett. I think the music video is beyond adorable (mainly because of Thomas Rhett's dance moves) and I could listen to the song all day long and not get tired of it. 

That's all I have so far this month!! I hope you guys enjoy :)

XOXO,

College Hockey Girlfriend