target – The Sol Compass

My New Favorite Dress Line

Happy Monday my loves! Back in the fall, B and I had a vow renewal ceremony to go to, and I really struggled with finding the right dress to wear. I happened upon one at Target (seen in this post) and it was absolutely perfect. Five months later, it’s still one of my favorite dresses. So when I had a work trip come up that took me to Southern California in January, I knew just where to go.

The Who What Wear line is filled with fun patterns and rich colors in event appropriate hemlines. I love the materials they use, and the silhouettes are super flattering (but prepare to size down a size or two!) Best of all: at these prices, you can fill your closet up with new dresses and not feel guilty about it one bit.

Thanks so much for stopping by – hope you have a great week!

xo, C

Pool Party

Hello everyone, welcome back! This year for her birthday, Michaela wanted to take things back to our childhood and have a pool party for her friends at our parents’ pool, and everyone was so excited when we first told them about it! We didn’t want to spend too much money, so our first step was to hit up Target for inspiration!

Michaela is a bonafide hospitality nerd, and she loves its symbol (the pineapple), so we decided to have a pineapple/flamingo themed soiree; filled with bright colors.

We picked up most of this table in the dollar section (though realistically it’s $1-$5 section).

We put Starbucks Iced Passion Tea in this big dispenser so everyone could stay hydrated using these adorable pineapple and palm tree cups Michaela ordered online!

B served as the grill master, and whipped up some food while everyone was taking boomerangs on the floats!

Always playing the good hostess, Michaela put out a bucket of sunscreen and sunglasses in case anyone forgot!

All in all, the party was definitely a success without putting too much time or money into it. The floats are always the biggest expense, but worth it to see how much fun people have on them!

xo, C

Hair Care

Welcome back everyone. Today I’m going to be sharing my all-time favorite hair care products. A few weeks ago I shared my favorite Verb products in this post, but I have so many others I like that I felt I should dedicate a post to the rest of them. I tend to gravitate towards drugstore products, since I have a lot of very long and thick hair, and using high end products can get really expensive really quickly. I do have a few high end products I know I love, but I wanted to dedicate this post to the products I use on a regular basis.

Conair is my go to brand for hair tools. I have three of these gel grip paddle brushes (because I walk around and leave them in places they don’t belong and inevitably can’t find them at 5 am when I need them) and they are the bomb.com. I also love this classic comb, and I have been trying to get better at using it over my brush, since I’ve heard it’s kinder on your hair.

Pantene is to shampoo as Conair is to brushes in my book. For the price you absolutely cannot beat their products. I personally like to use the smooth & sleek line with argan oil, but it’s all dependent on your hair and preference. I always use this shampoo and conditioner not only because I love the way they smell (seriously I am ALWAYS smelling my own hair, to the point of it being kind of weird), but also because they are amazing at keeping my hair soft and smooth, even during the dry winter months.

Pantene 3 Minute Miracle Smooth & Sleek Deep Conditioner. This stuff is the real deal – it’s unbelievably effective and only $5 a bottle! When I was down visiting my family in New York over the summer we were talking about dried out hair from the salt water and chlorine, and I was raving about this so much I practically ran down to the store and grabbed a bottle for my aunt and grandmother to assure them of how much I love it. Plus, who really wants to spend more than three minutes deep conditioning their hair, amiright?

Pantene Pro-V Repair and Protect Overnight Miracle Repair Serum. This little bottle is a miracle worker. If you want your hair to be healthier and shinier, this is all you need. It’s also great if you have a lot of heat damage!

L’Oreal recently launched two different clay based product lines; the Pure Clay Masks, and the Extraordinary Clay hair products. I was so beyond excited about being able to find great clay benefits in the drugstore at a great price point, I picked up two of each (mask review coming soon). The Extraordinary Clay hair products are intended for oily roots, which I don’t tend usually have, but every once in a while I find they need a little more attention. I love the idea of this pre-shampoo mask. It soaks up all the oils in your scalp and then you can wash it out with your shampoo! The dry shampoo has a similar concept (ridding your scalp of unwanted oils) but with the added benefit of not requiring a shower and shampoo after!

Kristin Ess Weightless Shine Leave In Conditioner. I was so excited when Kristin Ess launched her full haircare line at Target a month ago, I wanted to buy every single thing. Unfortunately without an unlimited budget, I told myself to just try one thing at a time, so I decided to go with this Leave In Conditioner. I love that you just spray it on your wet hair after the shower, so it makes a great alternative when I don’t want to use a leave in conditioner that has to be rinsed out. My hair no longer has to suffer on mornings that I’m tight on time. Of all the extra hair products I’ve been using, the functionality of this one is by far the best for a girl on the go.

The Tangle Teezer is 100% worth the hype. I bought mine a while back at Sephora, but Target even carries them now. I will not go to the beach without throwing this rockstar in my bag. They are so amazing for detangling your hair, especially when wet, without ripping or tearing. They’re also cute and fun to hold so… Win/win.

My cousin recommended this Moroccanoil hair treatment to us years ago when she was in cosmetology school and we have used it nonstop ever since. There is really nothing that competes. It tames your fly aways, smooths your hair, and keeps it healthy and shiny. If you have dry hair like I do, you will not regret buying this. It’s definitely the most pricy item I use, but is 100% worth it and since it’s a treatment you shouldn’t use it every day and it won’t burn a hole in your wallet too quickly. Oh, and did I mention it smells amazing?

What are your favorite hair care products? Leave your recommendations of things to try in the comment section!

xo, C

2017

Hey everyone, welcome back! I hope you all had a great holiday season and that your year is off to an excellent start. 2016 was a great year for me. I traveled to a few new and a few old places, ate lots of tacos, and continued to fall more in love with this great big beautiful world around me. I’m so excited to write 2017 with even more love and tacos.

While I’m kicking off this year with an outfit post, I would love to hear what you guys want to see more of on the blog. I have a few Disney posts to share with you about outfits and meals, plus I’m starting Whole30 on Sunday to reset after the gluttonous holiday season and vacation. If you guys have any interest in following along as I do it (or if there’s anything else you want to see more of) let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

xo, C

Best Desk Forward

Most of us spend a valuable third of our days at our desks. Whether it’s in a cubicle, the coveted corner office, or the comfort of your own home; you always want to be getting your best work done while you’re there. For some people, this means having a workspace that is totally free of clutter. For others, it might be a bright white space that serves as a clean canvas. For me, I just like it to be as bright and fun as possible to inspire creativity while maintaining a bit of professionalism. I have a theme of gold that runs consistently throughout, which I love, and as many colors as possible to brighten up my work zone.

Scissors: Nate Berkus | Pens: Yoobi | Planner: Sugar Paper

I’m not sure it’s possible to be in love with a pair of scissors, but these gold shears totally captured my heart. Nate Berkus and Threshold (in the office section of Target) have the most beautiful gold office supplies. Over months of browsing the aisles and picking up piece by piece, they have finally come together to create a sleek look!

Coasters: Indego Africa | Sticky Note Dispenser: Yoobi | Paperclips: Yoobi (purple, blue) | Mugs: Starbucks

I am always enamored with Starbucks’ mugs, especially when they come out by the dozens during the Holiday Season! These two fit in with my gold accent theme perfectly, which makes for a perfect caffeine hit and a paper clip holder! I also have another Starbucks mug filled with pens at my home desk!

My laptop is my portable blog office. I take it pretty much everywhere with me in my Street Level tote, since I never know when I’ll have an open lunch or unexpected downtime to chug away at some emails or posts. I love this gold pencil pouch from Poppin (which perfectly coordinates with my stapler!) to tote around my favorite Yoobi pens!

Stapler: poppin | Pencil Pouch: poppin

This school house lamp and gorgeous filing system add some of my favorite flair to the office!

Lamp: Threshold | Tabletop File: Nate Berkus | Hanging File Folders: Threshold

These beautiful Indego Africa coasters were a J.Crew find a while ago. They are all handmade in Africa by women striving to lift themselves and their families out of poverty and become empowered businesswomen.

I usually have my iPad handy while I’m working, even when it’s on a laptop or a desktop. It’s great to have another machine handy to play Spotify on when I have several different apps open on my computer, or to have another screen to keep reference with. This Dabney Lee case my sister got me is awesome because it comes with a built in stand which is perfect for multitasking.

Where are your favorite places to shop for office supplies? Let me know if there are any places I should check out for future additions!

Have a wonderful weekend!

xo, C

Moisturize

Winter is always impossibly hard on our skin, and I’ve been noticing the palpable dryness more than ever in the past week. Obviously, the first solution for this should be to drink more water, a habit I am constantly trying to pick up (I fill up my S’well bottle all day long), but the right products can make a world of difference.

I’ve never been one to use a separate night cream, but when I was experimenting with various Yes To products last winter for this post, I tried the calming cucumber night cream, and was amazed at the results I saw after the very first night. My skin had never felt so soft, hydrated, and calm during the middle of winter, and I was instantly hooked.

I’ve used all sorts of lotions, from Bath and Body Works, to Aveeno, to the LaMer samples from Sephora (you guys rock xo)- and this L’Occitane shea butter body lotion is by far the best for its price. I use it for everything, and it does a fantastic job moisturizing without an overpowering scent.

For specific body lotions, Burt’s Bees does not disappoint (as usual). I love this coconut foot creme and the almond milk beeswax hand creme. They are both stronger than a regular body lotion, and do wonders for renewing and moisturizing those extra dry parts. The best part: you can find both of them at Target for under $10- which is a dealmaker if you go through lotions as fast as I do!

This Rosebud Salve is the greatest and most hydrating lip balm ever. Hands down. You all know how much I love my Burt’s Bees lip balm, but this gives a bit extra kick and is extra soothing. I usually only keep them at my desk, since it’s not always appropriate to apply a lip balm with your finger, but it’s always a relief when I get to apply the soothing balm on my chapped winter lips.

What are your favorite hydrating products to use during the winter? I’m always looking to try new ones, so sound off in the comments below!

xo, C

Sonia Kashuk

As I mentioned in a recent post, Target is my ultimate weakness. I love that I can find clothing, groceries, food, and office supplies all in the same place. I’ve recently begun to find more and more products in the beauty department that I love as well- and many of them work just as well (if not better) than their expensive counterparts.

My introduction to Sonia Kashuk’s affordable beauty line began last Christmas when my sister gave me this dreamy Gatsby-inspired brush set. I totally fell in love with it, not only because it’s visually appealing, but also because the brushes are so soft and effective. This particular one is sold out, but I love this year’s gold holiday set, the Istanbul-inspired Grand Bazaar set and this travel brush set. You can also shop all the Sonia Kashuk brushes a la carte here– I love the black and white ones!

After having so much success with the brush set, I started to experiment with more of Sonia Kashuk’s tools. As a sucker for pretty packaging, I love the pretty pink detail of the Breast Cancer eyelash kit I bought. Sadly it has since become unavailable online, but the good news is that the world class eyelash curler and tweezers are still available!

I love the quality of all my Sonia Kashuk tools, and the best part is that none of them break the bank, while feeling like a total indulgence. True to the brand’s motto, luxury doesn’t have to be a guilty pleasure!

These beautifully attentive and detailed brush sets make a perfect gift for yourself or any beauty lover this holiday season- and there really is a set for everyone! The gold ones are festive and glamorous year round, plaid makes a perfect preppy present, pink is always a feminine favorite, and the ombré is totally on trend for your favorite fashionista!

What are your favorite makeup brushes? Have you ever tried any of Sonia Kashuk’s before? Sound off in the comments below!

xo, Caitlin

Shearling

Bad things happen when I walk into Target. I go in for toothpaste and walk out at least fifty dollars poorer practically every time. When I went to get these darling Adam Lippes for Target pumps I walked by this vest and instantly grabbed it off of the shelf. It’s perfectly on trend for fall, incredibly cozy, and only $35. Sold? Yeah, so was I.

In other fun news, today is my last day being 23! It still feels sort of surreal. 24 is pretty much full-fledged mid-twenties, so I feel like I can no longer use the ‘well, I’m 23’ excuse for everything like I have been. I definitely thought I would have my life a little more together by 24, but I never knew I would have found a hobby that I love as much as I love blogging. So whether this is your first visit to The Sol Compass or you’ve been reading for the past year since I started, I want to thank you all from the very bottom of my heart for making this blog a possibility and a very real ray of sunshine into my every day life!

Thanks for reading! I hope you all have a great weekend!
xo, Caitlin

Splash of Orange

Spring weather keeps making cameo appearances around Boston, and I could not be any more excited about it! Warmer weather for me always means exploring new cities and rediscovering my own. For these exciting spring days, a fun yet functional bag and cute but comfortable walking shoes are musts! I love the bright smoothie orange of this backpack and Sperry makes my absolute favorite walking shoes! They’re super cute but can last all day long while exploring a city.

xo, Caitlin

Target Style

I love when someone asks where I got something and I can blurt out “Target!” with enthusiasm, as if I’ve been holding it in all day. I go to Target for pretty much everything (including fun), so I love when I can get some clothing shopping done there as well!

Faribault Woolen Mill Company (like Target, an amazing company originated in Minnesota) has an amazing collaboration with Target going on right now that you absolutely must check out! They have scarves, bags, throws, and more! Since Target is awesome, they are offering free shipping through the holidays! Happy Shopping!