Dear Diary,

Once, when I was small, I used to write in you a lot. You were tiny, perfect for my kindergarten fingers, pink and yellow and with a key necklace that I could lock my thoughts away to you. I wrote about my friends and my crushes and playing on the playground. But then I lost you, first diary, and replaced you with a cooler blue journal, filled with pictures and friendship and fun. That too, was left by the wayside as I grew older. You were then both replaced by a frilly, romantic journal that locked and was embossed with quotes of love and passion and other things I didn't understand but wished for. And now, diary, you stay locked away in my computer, a harsh black-and-white essay, of thoughts I think and want to think about.

I'm considering changing you back to paper again, diary, holding a pen or pencil and writing things down on a blank page. There are so many possibilities -- pocket-size, girly, utilitarian -- but here are a couple of my favorites from around the internet:

Recycle Bin Rescue Chutes and Ladders Mini Journal sold by goodbyecitylife, Etsy, $10

Handmade Journal sold by EarthDesignsIndia, Etsy, $20

Happy writing. Find a notebook or journal that inspires you.

Springtime (at least in this very warm winter weather) is coming, and with it, some serious rain showers. Be prepared with some super cute rain boots! Just because it's raining doesn't mean your outfit has to stay soggy. My philosophy is the brighter and crazier, the better (with a balance, of course!).

Starting from the ground up, I'd recommend Hunter Rain boots, but there are plenty of great brands out there. Solid colors, prints, patterns...it doesn't matter, as long as you make it yours.

Hunter Original Gloss in Red, nordstrom.com, $125; Sperry Pelican Tall Boot, zappos.com, $70

With the perfect boots, of course, comes the rest of the outfit. There are a bunch of options out there when it comes to fighting away the rain:

1. The Trench: This cute piece from Boden USA is bright, fun, and a great pop of color on those blah rainy days. Great paired with Option #3.

Rainy Day Mac, BodenUSA, $178

2. The Sporty Shell: Definitely the most outdoorsy and practical of the three options, this shell will not only keep you warm, but dry too. Perfect for more aggressive rain and/or people like myself who refuse to stay inside during a monsoon.

North Face Bourndary Triclimate Jacket, altrec.com, $160

3. The Classic Umbrella: As long as it isn't too windy, the umbrella is a great statement. Don't be another black umbrella rushing along the street! It's time to brighten someone's day. Well, it doesn't have to be anthropomorphic, but definitely a bright color is essential when it comes to picking the perfect umbrella.

Courtesy: unknown

Stay dry!

Allie: Why didn't you write me? Why? I waited for you for seven years!

Noah: I wrote you 365 letters. I wrote you every day for one year.

Allie: You wrote me?

Noah: It's not over, it still isn't over.

The Notebook: A perennial classic for lovesick girls everywhere, the film (and the book) goes perfectly with a pint of ice cream from Ben and Jerry's. What this film also does, however, is take a snapshot of 1940s fashion. These retro looks rarely go out of style, so here are some of my favorite outfits from the film:

1. Allie's Bathing Beauty Look: With an eye towards spring break, here's your next addition to your swimsuit: a headband. Matching perfectly with her suit, this red-hot number contrasts perfectly with the blue background, drawing all eyes on Allie.

Try this headband from Etsy with your own cute suit:

Red Heart Headband Bow Valentine's Day sold by Plushable, Etsy, $10

2. The "It's Not Over" Dress: This dress is simple and beautiful, a bright blue that matches her eyes. Flattering cuts like this one, with subtle buttons all the way down the dress, make for a stylish and sophisticated, yet still casual, look. The pearls are optional, of course, though extra classy.

The updated version of this look? The light blue shirtdress with a skinny belt. It evokes class and sophistication while bringing the vibe into today:

Pins and Needles Shirt Dress, Urban Outfitters, $58

3. Leaving Town: Evoking the beauty of Old Hollywood, this ensemble reinforces the need to accessorize. With a wide brim hat and bold rose earrings, Allie frames her face perfectly and matches her lipstick to her outfit.

For me, the best red lip is from Bare Minerals. Goes on smooth and stays on, and (for someone who is very fair) isn't too overwhelming.

bareMinerals 100% Natural Lipcolor in Cherries on Top, ulta.com, $15

January is over, and that means semi-formal season is just beginning. I absolutely love the semi-formal dress. Not too formal, but not too shabby either, a short but classy dress is the perfect way to look great and rock the dance floor. The beautiful thing about semi-formal attire is that it ranges from a summery, light dress to a more formal cocktail dress, and it's hard to go wrong. Here are my do's for a great semi-formal night:

DO: Wear something comfortable and not too tight. Tight dresses may look great for a normal night out, but if you want to be able to move and want to maintain your dignity, it's best to go for something slightly looser, something that can move as you move.

Georgia Peach Dress, Francesca's Collections, $44

DO: Heels for pictures, flats for the dance. Heels are super cute and I love wearing them as much as the next girl, but icy sidewalks and a general lack of coordination pretty much seal the deal for me in terms of adding height for the dance. Plus flats keep my feet comfortable and let me really bring out all the moves!

Amery Brushed Satin Flats, Rocket Dog, $49.95

DO: Stand out from the crowd of LBD's. Yes, the Little Black Dress is a great tool in any closet for the semi-formal, but if every girl is rocking her LBD, how will you stand out in the crowd? I prefer an unexpected pop of color or a print to get noticed.

Special Some-one Shoulder Dress, Modcloth, $59.99

DO: Wear straps. Strapless dresses look great on a lot of different types of people, and though I am not one of those body types that can handle a strapless dress, a dance is not the kind of situation conducive to the strapless dress. I've seen plenty of wardrobe malfunctions from strapless dresses. Stop the madness! You can look super cute in a dress with a surprising open back, or classic spaghetti straps. Not too tight but still sexy, and no chance of a wardrobe malfunction here:

Pipster Dress, Lily Pulitzer, $198

Let's face it, January is cold, especially in Maine. Day-to-day it's difficult even to want to put on a real pair of pants, let alone put on makeup. I know, terrible. Yet us Mainers face it every day and still manage to look chic, put-together, and stay warm, all with the help of my favorite performance wear. Winter weather is all about layering. Mixing and matching athletic apparel is critical, otherwise you look like any other girl just coming from the gym.

First step: the leggings. Preferably black and designed for cold weather, such as these leggings from Underarmour, leggings should be all about warmth, particularly if your coat doesn't reach past your waist:

Underarmour Compression-Fit Leggings, underarmour.com, $39.99

The next step is the baselayer, some sort of athletic top, long sleeves but light for when classrooms and libraries seem to have the heat turned up to a sauna-like level. I prefer the Capilene Mid-Weight top from Patagonia:

Patagonia Capilene 3 Midweight Zip-Neck Top, backcountry.com, $41.30 (sale)

Over this, of course, comes the critical top layer: the sweater. Usually I go for a second Patagonia layer, or something equally cute, like this top from Athleta:

Athleta Sweater, athleta.com, $98

Notice the multiple quarter zips? This way a scarf doesn't get in your way and you can keep layering and layering as it gets colder!