SOCIAL MEDIA

3.30.2016

Spring Florals

Dress: Hinge, Bag: Rebecca Minkoff, Booties: BP
Happy Wednesday lovelies! I apologize in advance for this short post--we have interviews going on all day at work today so I'm scrambling to get this up before we go into the first one at 8:30.

If you're looking for the ultimate comfortable spring dress, look no further. This dress from Hinge is SO incredibly comfortable and effortless. I absolutely love the print and how flirty and flowy it is. The last few years I've been way more into cute tanks and shorts for the summertime but I can tell you right now that this year it is going to be ALL about dresses.

Hope y'all have a wonderful day today!
3.28.2016

Blush Lace & Onecklace

Top: Wayf (similar here and here), Jeans: Joe's, Necklace: Onecklace (c/o), Shoes: Vince Camuto
Happy Monday loves! Hope you had a wonderful weekend and Easter celebrating with your loved ones. Linking up with Biana from B Loved Boston for today's post! Saturday was my birthday so Steven and I spent such a fun day together and with friends. Sunday, we spent the day with my family and ate some YUMMY food. Like everyone else, I am totally hopping on the Whole 30 bandwagon starting today because I have been eating like crap lately! My skin has also been having some weird reactions so I'm hoping by doing the Whole 30 and eliminating gluten and dairy I may see improvements. Let me know in the comments if y'all have tried it or are trying it! I would love to hear how it went for you.

I ordered this Wayf blouse towards the end of last year mainly because I think I want to wear it in our engagement pictures. I mean c'mon, it's blush and lace and just so me! Unfortunately I can't find it on Nordstom's site anymore but I linked to some similar.

Also, last month Onecklace reached out to me about featuring one of their pieces on my blog. I  have been wanting an oversized monogram necklace for a while and this one is incredible quality. It's absolutely gorgeous and I have already worn it a ton! The necklace I'm featuring here is the 24K Gold Plated Curly Split Chain Monogram Necklace in XXL. If y'all love personalized jewelry as much as I do, I definitely recommend checking them out!
3.25.2016

Styling My Lob

1,2,3,4,5,6

Happy Friday loves! Hope you all had a great week and have some fun weekend plans ahead. I'm just going to jump right in to today's post! Later last year I chopped my hair a little shorter than last weekend went even shorter. Right away I sort of had an idea of how I wanted to style my new lob haircut and these products make it so easy!


Here is a photo my salon posted right after my cut. She styled my hair exactly how I typically do at home which was awesome. You know sometimes when you leave the salon and they style your hair totally different than you're used to? Sometimes it's good but other times I go straight home and completely re-do it. That wasn't the case this time!

Step 1-After I get out of the shower, the first thing I do is apply a heat protectant. Not only is this Caviar CC Cream a heat protectant but since it's a 10 in 1 it also smooths, detangles and so much more! I have tried several versions of this product--the Bumble & Bumble Repair Blow Dry and also the It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In. I don't really like the scent of the Bumble & Bumble product and even though I LOVE the It's a 10, I prefer a mousse formula versus a spray.
Step 2-Once I apply the CC Cream, I go in with my Hot Tools blowdryer and use a big round brush to blow out my hair. I really just try to get a ton of volume! One tip is if you have the time, try to let your hair air dry as long as possible before going in with the blowdryer. It has really helped my hair to use less heat!
Step 3-After my hair is dry, I go right in with the NuMe Curling Wand. This is the 25 mm wand. These are sort of pricey BUT they always have promo codes. This one is originally close to $100 and I got it for $30. I personally find wands easier than curling irons just because I feel like I have more control of the curl. Plus, it pretty much always achieves the look I'm going for. When I curl my hair I always point the wand downwards and for the most part I curl away from my face. I only wrap my hair around the barrel twice--I don't curl close to the root or the very ends of my hair. When I'm doing my top layer of hair I start to alternate between curling away from my face and curling towards it. This gives my hair a lot of texture. The strands closest to your face I recommend curling away!
Step 4-After my hair is totally curled, I spritz this Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray all throughout and pretty close to the root. Once it's sprayed throughout, I sort of massage it in. It gives your hair a ton of texture and that beachy grit! It also smells AMAZING. This is one of my favorite products!
Step 5-Once I massage the Surf Spray in with my fingers, I go through gently with the Tangle Teezer and brush out my curls a bit. I'm careful when doing this because I don't want the curls to fall, I just want them to appear more wavy versus curly.
Step 6-After the Tangle Teezer, I go through again and sort of fluff everything up with my hands to make it look a little more messy and voluminous. Then, I spray all over with this Bumble and Bumble hairspray. I like this one because it's a "touchable hold." I hate the feeling of crunchy hairspray and this one isn't like that at all! Your hair still has a ton of movement but it really holds the style.

I hope y'all enjoyed this post! Even if you don't have short hair, I pretty much used this exact method when I had more medium-length hair and always loved how it turned out. The other awesome thing is this curling iron is so powerful that the curls last me through the next day and sometimes even a third day if you're like me and only wash your hair 2 or 3 times a week. I tell myself it's to keep my hair from drying out/getting damaged but it's also just because I'm lazy!

Have a wonderful Easter weekend loves!

[Btw, if you make a $75 purchase via bluemercury.com you can receive 4 Travel Size Samples from Bumble and bumble, Molton Brown, Revive, and Clinique. Use Code: VACATION]
3.23.2016

My Go-To Casual Look

Jacket: J. Crew, Scarf: Hinge, Tee: BP, Jeans: Zara, Bag: Tory Burch, Shoes: BP
Happy Wednesday y'all! Glad this week is nearing an end because it's getting closer and closer to my birthday:) So far we don't have any huge plans for my birthday except touring some houses in the morning (exciting I know!) and maybe at night we'll do dinner and a movie. Sunday we'll probably combine my birthday and Easter celebrations with the family!

I hate to admit it but I have been a serious outfit repeater lately! This outfit has been my go-to for any day that I'm just running errands or on the go. I have swapped out the booties for my chucks a couple of times for added comfort! I got this jean jacket from J. Crew last month and have been LOVING it. I really wanted to find a good, jean jacket that was a lighter wash and a good length. The denim on this jacket is really soft but it's still sturdy! I feel like this is one of those pieces that will only get better with more wear!

Linking up with Pumps and Push Ups, Twenties Girl Style, and Thursday Style Finds!
3.21.2016

Floral Boho

Top: Zara, Jeans: Articles of Society, Shoes: Sam Edelman, Hat: Rhythm (sold out, similar here)
Happy Monday lovelies! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Linking up with Biana from B Loved BostonStart the Week Stylish, and Style Perspectives for today's post! Our weekend was pretty busy--I spent most of the day in the salon on Saturday and am so thrilled with how my hair turned out! I absolutely LOVE the length and the color. It's so easy to style too! I was thinking Friday I might do a post on everything I use to style my shorter hair since some of you mentioned you were considering going short too! On Sunday, Steven and I went to a couple open houses but unfortunately we weren't really thrilled with anything we saw. We have plenty of time before our lease is up though!

This top from Zara is one of my absolute favorite recent purchases. I love the little bell sleeves and the floral print! Also, I talked about these shoes on Friday but I can tell you right now that they will be featured on the blog a lot through spring and summer. They go with absolutely everything and are perfect for dressing up any outfit!
3.18.2016

Birthday/Easter Outfit

Dress: Wayf, Lipstick: Mac "All Fired Up", Earrings: Baublebar, Bag: Rebecca Minkoff, Shoes: Sam Edelman
Happy Friday loves! Hope you had an awesome week and have some fun weekend plans ahead. On Saturday, I'm having my hair done in the morning and going a little blonder and shorter! Can't wait to see how it turns out. I have been craving a short haircut for the last few months and now I think I'm finally ready to do it! Sunday we are actually going to a couple of open houses to check out townhomes near us. We're thinking about moving into a townhouse when our lease is up! I can't wait to have more space and hopefully have a little bit of a yard for Toby.

Next Saturday is my birthday and this Wayf dress is just screaming my name! I love the floral print and the gorgeous colors. I also think it would be super cute for Easter or one of the many weddings we'll be attending this summer. Also, I purchased these Sam Edelman sandals a couple weeks ago and I'm obsessed. I'm sure y'all have seen some other bloggers wearing them--they're just super versatile for spring and summer!

Do you guys have any fun weekend plans?
3.16.2016

Styling a Utility Jacket

Jacket: Banana Republic, Shirt: Silence + Noise, Scarf: J. Crew, Jeans: Topshop, Shoes: BP
Happy Hump Day! So far the week has been pretty nasty and rainy here in the DC area but today it's absolutely gorgeous. I'm hoping this weekend it's sunny too BUT I looked at my weather app and there is randomly a snowflake for Sunday! How strange--it's been all 60-70 degree weather then out of no where it's going to snow on Sunday? Sometimes I hate spring in this area. So unpredictable!

There are a couple of specific clothing items that I consider to be "wardrobe staples" and a military/utility jacket is one of them! I really LOVE this one from Banana Republic because it's very lightweight and the material is super soft. The material is thin enough that if you want to throw on a heavier jacket over top, you're able to do that without it looking bulky. I actually think this jacket would look super cute during the summer too over a pair of high-waisted shorts!

Linking up with #WIWT!
3.14.2016

Stripes & Neutrals

Sweater: Cotton On, Shirt: H&M (old. similar here), Jeans: Articles of Society, Booties: J. Crew (Old, similar here), Hat: Nordstrom, Bag: Rebecca Minkoff, Necklace: Kendra Scott
Happy Monday loves! Hope y'all had a great weekend. Linking up with Biana from B Loved Boston and Style Elixir for today's post! On Saturday, I went bridesmaid dress shopping with my mom and cousin then spent that night playing board games with Steven and the family. Wild Saturday night I know! We actually had some luck on the bridesmaid dress front--I found something totally different than I was expecting (seems to be the trend so far)! Sunday was just a day of relaxing and errands. I also got my nails done for the first time in forever! I usually do my nails at home every weekend but lately can't really bothered. I LOVE the way my nails look when I have the gel done--I can feel myself getting hooked again!

This outfit is basically my early spring uniform! Long sweaters, stripes, and white jeans are always a good choice. Also--can I just say that this floppy hat from Nordstrom was one of the best investments? I'm sure you guys are tired of seeing it because I wear it all the time!
3.11.2016

Birthday Wish List

Rebecca Minkoff Sandals, Tory Burch Bag, Panacea Necklace, Ivanka Trump Heels, Sunnies (only $15!!), Becca Swimsuit, Nars Palette, Day Designer, Baublebar Bracelets
Woohoo we made it through the week! This weekend will be strictly family time which I'm very excited about. When Steven and I talk about possibly moving after he's done with school next year, I love the idea of starting somewhere completely new but I also LOVE being so close to my family. We're only about an hour away from my parents and only about 25 minutes away from my aunt, uncle and cousins! It's so nice to know they're nearby if we ever need anything. I guess we'll see what opportunities arise for Steven post-grad!

My birthday is coming up in a couple weeks and I have had my eye on...well...LOTS of stuff! I'm trying to be good and start saving more money for the wedding but any of you that are as addicted to shopping as I am know the struggle. I love everything on this list but the Panacea Necklace, the Rebecca Minkoff sandals and the Day Designer are highest on my list. The Day Designer is only available on pre-order but it ships in April. How stinkin' cute is it?! I am OBSESSED with agendas and stationery and definitely don't need any more but that pattern is just calling to me!

Hope y'all have a lovely weekend! Would love to hear if you have any fun plans!
3.09.2016

Casual in Chambray

Shirt: J. Crew, Jeans: Topshop, Sneakers: Kenneth Cole (similar here), Bag: Tory Burch, Choker: J. Crew (old, similar here and here)
Happy Wednesday loves--we're halfway there! Linking up with Mix & Match Fashion for today's post! This week has been a little calmer than the last few which is such a relief. I have also been really focusing on working out and eating healthy this week so I think that is helping with my stress levels!

This weekend we are going to look at bridesmaid dresses which I'm excited about--BUT, this honestly has been the hardest part for me. Settling on a color scheme and picking the bridesmaid dresses is such a huge decision. I have gone back and forth so many times but originally I think I was trying to please everyone as far as color, price, style, etc. At the end of the day, I just need to pick what makes me happy (of course being mindful of cost). I'm leaning towards blush for the bridesmaids (shocker) but who knows--that may change once I see everything in person!

I have been loving chambray lately especially going into spring! This outfit is definitely one of my go-to looks for just a casual day on the go. These slip-ons are so comfortable and y'all know I'm leopard obsessed!
3.07.2016

Turquoise & Camel

Sweater: Lost Ink via Asos, Necklace: Panacea, Jeans: Topshop, Shoes: Vince Camuto, Lips: Colourpop "I Heart This"
Happy Monday loves! Hope you had a fun and relaxing weekend. Linking up with Biana from B Loved Boston and Style Elixir for today's post! First off--I just wanted to thank y'all for all the supportive words on my last post. I was feeling so overwhelmed last week and you guys were so encouraging and uplifting! After a crazy hard week at work, coming back and reading your comments or reading your blog posts is so fun for me. Taking Friday off was much needed so I could really clear my head and focus on planning quality and creative posts this weekend.

This necklace really is a statement right?! The first time I wore it I sent Snapchat pictures to my friends with the caption "Yes--I'm wearing rocks." It's SO heavy but also SO high quality and I love the pop of color it adds to a neutral outfit like this. I can't wait to style this necklace all spring and summer long! Also--this sweater from Asos is gorgeous. I really wanted to pair it with some flared jeans but unfortunately the flares I ordered from J. Crew a couple weeks ago are way too long and I haven't had time to get them hemmed. This sweater will also get a ton of use as a transition piece into Spring!
3.02.2016

Spring Outfit Ideas [Throwbacks]

Happy Wednesday lovelies! Is it just me or is this week zooming by?! I wanted to preface this by apologizing for missing one of my new outfit posts this week! I try to stick to a schedule of 2 new outfit posts (M,W) and on Friday it's usually sort of random (monthly favorites, wish lists, fitness, wedding updates, etc.) Without getting into detail these last few weeks at work have been totally consuming and busy. All of my energy is being poured into my work right now and as much as I wish it wasn't taking away from the blog, it definitely has been! I'm so busy during the week that my weekends are just jam packed and it's hard to fit in multiple outfit shoots. I also just started studying for the PMP exam so that has also been taking up a lot of my time.

With that being said, I am going to take Friday off from posting because typically it's the busiest day at work. I don't want to do a post that I didn't put much effort into just for the sake of sticking to my schedule. This weekend we don't have anything scheduled so I am going to focus on planning a bunch of upcoming posts and hopefully getting a good amount of outfit shots done!

Because I was only able to get one outfit shoot done for Monday's post, I thought today it would be fun to share a couple of last year's spring/transitional outfits as the weather is starting to warm up. If you're a new reader of my blog, then these will all be new for you anyway! Hope this gives you some warm weather outfit inspo!

[Also--if you're getting ready for Spring weather and trying to stock up on your wardrobe, Shopbop is having their FABULOUS Spring sale! You get 15% off orders over $250, 20% off orders over $500, and 25% off orders over $1,000 if you use the code BIGEVENT16 at checkout. Here are a couple items on my wish list [1,2,3,4]. Oh--and this moto jacket from this post is back in stock!]