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Fall Fashion
9 Budget-Friendly Boots Under $100 + A Personal Note
November 26, 2017
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like using cold weather as an excuse to look drab. If anything, I think that men and women who step out on the town looking stylish in cold weather are rockstars. And guess what, we are rockstars too. So when the temperatures drop, I take it as a challenge to step up my shoe game (unless it’s snowing.. then all bets are off) to help me feel cheery during the brutal weather.
I’ve rounded up 9 budget-friendly boots and booties that will keep you warm and looking like a chic badass through the end of fall and into winter. Whether you’re prepping for a fun night out, running errands, heading to a holiday party or want to look cute while hunting for the perfect gifts, these shoes will add to your fabulous adventures without overdrafting your bank account. Let me know what shoe is your favorite. Want to step it up a notch? DM me (via Instagram) photos of how you style shoes inspired by this post! I’d love to see how you guys pair them with winter and late-fall outfits! Oh, and the next section contains affiliate links. Feel free to shop or not shop! As long as you find some inspiration from the round-up, I've done my job!
Oh, and to keep this post from being super shallow, I wanted to share a video created by Youtuber Isabel Palacious. This video focuses on how you can value yourself instead of letting other people define your value. I think this is something all humans struggle with, whether we are aware of it or not.
When I watched this video this morning, Isabel linked burnout to being emotionally bankrupt but still pushing ourselves to do more than we should. And I was like damn... I've been doing this my entire freaking life. I've shoved my emotions aside and told myself if I just push myself to the extreme, I'll be successful and too busy to think about the things that are bothering me. Then those problems will just disappear because I've accomplished my goals. LOL; I was so wrong.
We all know by now the importance of facing our issues. But mentally preparing ourselves to deal with the pain isn't so easy. I have made a conscious effort for most of 2017 to embrace my struggles and focus on helping others (one key way to feel more fulfilled and connected to the world), but too often, I still run the other way when emotional baggage pops up. But hey, progress is all about baby steps! So if you've been running on empty for a while or feel emotionally drained, take one baby step today and watch this super relatable video.
If you're ready to go deep in self-development; I've linked two of my favorite videos by my favorite gurus Gaby Bernstein, Tony Robbins They help millions of people create the lives of their dreams. P.S. These leaders are endorsed by Oprah, so you know they are top notch. I hope these videos help you find a little bit of peace and strength today. Feel free to email or DM anything that's on your mind! Let me know what's up! And until next time, stay fabulous!
Tony Robbins: Creating an Extraordinary Quality of Life | SuperSoul Sessions | Oprah Winfrey Network
3 Chic Last Minute Thanksgiving Outfits
November 19, 2017
So… Thanksgiving is next week. This holiday season snuck up on me, and if you’re anything like me, you haven’t had the time or the energy to put thought into your Thanksgiving outfit. Lucky for us, we live in the 21st century, and it doesn’t matter if we put shopping off until the last minute (thanks Amazon Prime and 2-day express shipping). So I’ve rounded up three outfit ideas for this Thanksgiving that range between glam and casual. Either way, you’re sure to look cute this year, even if you’re on a budget. Plus, I bet you can find similar items right in your closet. Happy Turkey Day!
Shop the Look: This section includes affiliate links.
I randomly found all of these items while thrift shopping or during sales, so I encourage you to go scavenger hunting this weekend. But if you don't have time to shop IRL, here are some similar pieces you can buy on the world wide web.
I wanted to share another more personal post today, but I also wanted to share a cute look. So I’m doing both in this post, frankly because I feel like it. So whether you relate to this post, find inspiration in the outfit, or get a laugh because you think I’m a sad little peasant, I hope you walk away feeling a little bit better today. :)
*Oh, and there is some cursing in this post, so if you're offended by foul language, this isn't the post for you.
I’m proud to admit that I’ve always been pretty ambitious, and I’ve been blessed enough to be surrounded by hard-working, ambitious, talented people who inspired me and cheered for my success. Now that I’m 1.5 years out of college, my ambition is still there, but my strong sense of confidence and self esteem is not. What can I say? I’m not strong 100% of the time like most of my friends think.
I went from having a large community of cheerleaders physically around me 24/7 to just having myself as a cheerleader. Anyone who moves to a new city alone after college goes through the same thing. It’s a brave and exciting adventure, but it’s also terrifying to no longer be in your tight-knit community. In the real world, you’re thoughts of self-doubt are louder than ever before.
And let me tell you, I can say some pretty nasty things to myself. If anything, my inner voice is like a cheerleader from hell straight out of a 90's movie who’s sole purpose is to try to destroy my self worth and convince me that I’ll never have what I want, so...why bother.
But then I have to take a step back and remind myself that:
A) Telling myself these negative, false beliefs in a FUCKING WASTE OF TIME! I’m literally wasting precious energy on thoughts that don’t serve me or move me towards my goals. That’s not ok because (here comes the cliche but damn true saying) where intention goes, energy flows! Asnd here’s the real key. Are you ready? That nasty voice will always be there in the back of our heads telling us to give up. Telling us to play it safe. Telling us we can’t accomplish this goal. We have to accept that the voice will never go away, but we don’t have to listen to it. I named my mean girl voice Regina, and I tell her to shut up when she starts trying to break me down.
B) Instead of shutting down and cocooning myself in bed (which I admit I’ve been doing a lot lately) I should grab a pen and paper and figure out why I feel so overwhelmed. Even if you’re not a writer, I seriously advise doing this. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Purging the stress out is the best way to work through it. Want to avoid a hand cramp? Record yourself talking through it. I know there’s a lot of controversy around Joel olsteen, but homeboy gives some great advice. He once said that the same problems will keep showing up in your life until you confront and overcome them. Once those problems are literally staring you in the face, written in your journal, you’re more inclined to make those problems your little bitch.
C.) If I want to cultivate confidence and self-esteem, I have to take action! I’m not just going to wake up one day and feel like I’m killing the game if I don’t take small actions that will get me closer to the life I want to live. And please notice that I said SMALL. Sometimes I get a little bit list-happy and write down every single thing I need to do to accomplish a goal. I did that for my blogging/digital content creator career and you know what happened/still happens from time to time? I looked at that multiple-page list, and I shut the fuck down because it’s so overwhelming. Isn’t that ironic that how making lists in one aspect can free me and in another aspect, it makes me feel hopeless? After learning this lesson time and time again (aka me curled up in bed, ugly crying and too overwhelmed to get out of bed to even eat, let alone leave the house that day) I realized that I need to limit myself to setting small goals each day, regardless of how much I want to create an elaborate action plan.
D) And finally, I remind myself to ask for help! I reach out to my best friends who remind me that, number one, I can have everything I want if I get out of my own damn way. And number two, no matter what I accomplish, they will still love and cherish me. I have nothing to prove. And neither do you. I went to the amazing Girl Boss Rally this weekend, and one of my favorite speakers pointed out that we are already enough. We don’t have to prove anything to the world, and we have a purpose just by existing. What a lovely reminder that you’re already a rockstar and should chill when it comes to beating yourself up, right?
Confidence isn’t built in a day; it’s an ongoing project. I hope that this post encourages you to love yourself a little bit more and forgive yourself for not being perfect. Coming from a recovering perfectionist, it’s a good thing that we aren’t perfect. Perfect is fucking boring! I still struggle with trying to be perfect, but I’m getting better at letting go of the “perfect me, perfect life” mentality that I've held on to since elementary school. You will too if you take the time out each week to remind yourself that you’re a badass for going after what you want, no matter what it is. The struggles are just part of the process, honey.
Need more words of encouragement? I’ve linked some of my favorite self-esteem boosters below.
- Affirmations - This might feel weird but affirmations are a great way to feel confident if you embrace them.
- Impact Theory episode
- The Oprah Magazine Instagram account - it's full of so many amazing quotes
November Luxe List
November 10, 2017
If there's one thing I've learned from working hard, it's that you need to reward yourself for reaching those insane goals. Whether you're on a new journey to get fit, are trying to pass all your finals, want to get that promotion or have a passion project that you want to turn into full-time career, selecting rewards for yourself can add a serious level of motivation and new-found energy to your grind. As I mentioned before, I'm working on a few goals right now, and all of them require so much freaking energy, so I create wish lists for myself each month.
These are a few things I've been craving, and I'm going to treat myself. Maybe not all at once, but slowly and surely, I'll get my hands on this mix of luxury and budget-friendly gifts for myself. I hope you find a reason to celebrate and treat yourself too. Oh, and the links below are #affiliated, so if you shop from here, I get a small commission. Thanks for reading, and if you decide to, thanks for shopping and supporting my blog!! Now I want to hear from you! What's on your 'treat yo self' list this month? Leave a comment below!
Until next time my loves!
Instagram Roundup - Budget Friendly Fall Outfits
October 24, 2017
I'm a huge believer that having great style has absolutely nothing to do with how how much you spend on your wardrobe. I really started to develop and understand my personal style in college... the years when I had the least amount of money. And although I graduated almost a year and a half ago from undergrad, those bargain hunting skills I mastered during college are still (and will always be) ingrained in me. I have noticed that I'm starting to drift more towards quality clothing, but I rarely pay full price for high-quality items, and neither should you! 99% of the time, I search for the best compared price, store sales, coupons or a previously-owned piece to maximize my savings. Forever 21 and H&M still have a pretty large place in my life, but I'm starting to realize that I can have high quality items too and not drain my bank account to get them. I've rounded up a few of my recent Instagram posts so you can shop my budget-friendly and quality pieces. Don't forget to take a picture and tag me or DM me so I can see how you style any of these pieces (or similar pieces)! I'm excited to see what you guys put together. I love how easy it is to share fashion and connect through it. So seriously, feel free to share!
Oh, and disclaimer, this post contains affiliate links. So... if you do decide to shop from it, I'll love you forever for supporting my blog. If you don't shop from it, I'll still love you just for reading my post.
Oh, and disclaimer, this post contains affiliate links. So... if you do decide to shop from it, I'll love you forever for supporting my blog. If you don't shop from it, I'll still love you just for reading my post.
I can't believe I'm admitting this, but I've been finding a lot of cute, affordable items at Abercrombie and Fitch. This satin lace-trimmed cami is from there... and it was on sale for $12. I have a feeling it's going back on sale very soon. I grabbed this trendy lace-up black denim skirt on sale at Forever 21.
This mesh shop is a dream, and it was only $6. My favorite way to style mesh, see-through items is with a lacy item underneath. My favorite thing about this top is the pop of red; I typically see mesh tops in black. Throwing on a mesh top in an unexpected color is an easy way to add a twist to a basic nighttime outfit. I got these beautiful shoes on sale for $20 dollars at express! They pretty much always have sales, so check out your local store on the reg. Plus these shoes have a chunky heel and and a closed toe, meaning you have extra support and can tape your toes to minimize pain. 
I’ve been obsessed with graphic tees lately and really wanted a simple one with a French saying... but I wasn’t willing to pay a crap ton for one. Then, I found this baby on Boohoo, and it was only $17. Jesus clearly wanted me to be happy that day. I love this tee so much and it’s pretty opaque so your bra doesn't show through too much. And of course, to make this look less basic, I paired it with my favorite pleather mini skirt from Guess. I randomly found this skirt at Macy’s, and it was on sale for about $50!!! I’ve worn this to happy hours, nights out, dates, random daytime activities and even in the office (perks of working in fashion). I honestly would pay 3xs the price for a skirt like this. It’s a staple in my wardrobe. Now these earrings were on the pricier side for what I usually buy, but I’m focusing on transitioning my jewelry collection to a more sophisticated style. That means investing in quality pieces. These are from bauble bar and I love them, so I don’t care that they were over $30. You can also get a percent off your first bauble bar purchase! Just look in the top right-hand corner of the site and enter your email to receive your discount.
My shoes are by Chinese Landry. I was watching a YouTube clothing haul a year ago and they were featured in someone’s video. I fell in love with them and bought them 3 days later. I paid about $80 for them, but I like investing in my shoes and these have held up pretty well. Plus, I found a discount code for them, which made the hit to my wallet hurt a lot less.
This adorable bell-sleeve, off the shoulder red top is from Forever 21. I got it during a holiday sale so it was under $20. It’s really thick and is pretty decent quality. I am obsessed with it. If you can’t tell, I have a thing for red. It’s a universally flattering color, so if you want to add some color to your wardrobe, try on a few different shades of red until you find one that flatters your skin tone.
I paired this top with a basic dark wash denim skirt and my favorite embroidered mules by Kenneth Cole. These shoes were a gift from my boss because she’s amazing and super generous, but this outfit will look great with any type of shoe. This would be a really cute outfit to wear with white sneakers. Wearing a skirt with trainers is my go-to uniform when I want to look cute but plan on walking a lot.
So those are some of my recent finds. I've been wearing the items above on repeat. Let me know what items you've been wearing non stop this month, and thanks for reading and supporting my blog! Lots of love!!!
October Mood Board
October 13, 2017
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Want more October inspiration? Check out my Pinterest October Mood Board!
P.S. This post contains affiliate links. That means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting my blog!
Fashion Month Part 1: 2 Ways to Wear Spring 2018 Trends this Fall
September 27, 2017
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| Photo by Kris Atomic |
Fashion month is such an exciting time. It's like the fashion world's Christmas that comes twice a year. Although it's an exhausting and demanding time of year ( I barely slept when I worked 5 shows... during the blizzard in February 2017), you can't help but be consumed by inspiration once you watch a runway show. A lot of people underestimate the power of fashion. For me, it really does help me express myself. And when I'm wearing an outfit I feel confident in, I feel powerful.
This season, I sat New York Fashion Week out, and although part of me was sad not to see a few amazing collections in person; I was also relieved to not have to deal with the complete insanity that comes with being on the PR side of NYFW. From running the shows, mapping out the perfect seating chart, handling pre-show, during-show and post-show press interviews and pitches, being the point person for celebrities, media, bloggers and influencers at the show, coordinating check-in, meeting the designer's demands and catering to anything and everything that can and will go wrong, the PR side of Fashion Week is not a joke. That's why I was ok with sitting on the sidelines this season and watching livestreams of some of my favorite designers. So today, I'm sharing 2 inspired fall looks from 2 Spring 2018 collections shown during NYFW and LFW (London Fashion Week), because we shouldn't have to wait until March to start rocking some of these beautiful Trends.
New York Fashion Week
Alice and Olivia: Be Bold
If there's one word that came to mind when I saw this collection; it's boldness. I loved the loud colors and mixed prints throughout the preview! My favorite piece in the collection is this beautiful snake-skin print jacket! I'm already imagining the beautiful ways I could wear a jacket like this in the spring and fall! Dear lord, I think I need it now. But, in an effort to be responsible, if you’re going to invest in a trend, you should get the most use out of the items. A snake skin print jacket is a very loud statement piece, but snake skin print booties… well those go with everything and are the perfect addition to any bland outfit. Are you in a rush but want to look cute with very little effort? Throw on a pair of these beautiful booties with a skirt and top, any simple dress or leggings and a comfy top. You look chic while staying comfortable and getting out the door in no time. Below are a few booties I have my eye on. I recently picked up a pair of dark snake skin print booties, but I have a feeling I’ll end up getting one of the lighter pairs below as well.
1. Old Navy 2. Steven by Steve Madden (#affiliatelink) 3. Sam Edelman (#affiliatelink) 4. Lulus
London Fashion Week
Fendi: School Girl Plaid
One day I know I'll get to attend LFW, but until then, I'll just be here stalking the shows on Fashionista.com and WWD.com. The Fendi collection really stood out to me. There were a lot of stripes and plaid. And. I. Loved. It! Honestly, I can never get enough plaid, and this fall, I really just want to look like I belong in the movie Clueless. Judge me if you want, but the 90s revival is still in full swing. Over the summer, I purchased a cute plaid, tweed mini skirt from Zara. I've been waiting for it to actually feel like fall so I can finally wear the skirt, but after finding the skirts below, there's a 99.9% chance I'll be adding them to my closet. My wise friend Georgia once told me "don't underestimate the power of a classic plaid skirt." I could not agree with her more.
*This section contains affiliate links. That means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting my blog!
What's your favorite show/collection from NYFW and LFW? How are you going to wear snake skin print or plaid this season? Leave a comment below letting me know! I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading!
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