I’ve been digging Top Shop’s trends lately and when I saw THIS thick threaded tribal skirt, I knew it was right up my alley. It’s comfortable and fits like a glove. Also, since it’s a thicker material I can wear it with a tank top in the summertime and a long sleeve in the winter. A perfect addition to a capsule closet.
I add my fringe heels here and call it a day. They are super comfortable as well and go with pretty much everything.
You’ve probably already watched this video, but if you haven’t I would encourage you to take a peek. Em Ford is a YouTube personality who specializes in her makeup tutorials. When I came across this video months ago, I was moved and disheartened by the kinds of things that strangers say to one another. She has brought to light the kinds of hurtful comments that she comes across on a daily basis and I think the video is a great way to show people that beauty comes from the inside but if you choose to wear makeup it is a way to express yourself! Makeup is a lot of fun and while I don’t experiment too much with my makeup, I have recently gotten into watching these tutorials and learning more about the exciting ways to update my look!
(My mom got me this eyeshadow kit for Christmas and I have been learning more about how to use all of these colors with my green eyes. Now that I know a bit more about the smokey eye, I am LOVING this palette. Isn’t the packaging amazing?)
(While I was watching tutorials, I came across this video that creates a cat eye look with dots of various summer colors. This is the kind of stuff I would never think to do on my own but it is so creative!)
Do you experiment with your makeup? If so, what inspires you?
You may have gathered that I am on a quest to invest in quality pieces that be paired in various ways to create new outfits. This shirt was one that I recently picked up and found versatile enough to wear with jeans and skirts in any season. The last few days have been fairly cool which is the perfect time to pull out a shirt like this and make the outfit pop with a burst of color from my purse! Have I told you how much I LOVE this purse? I hope so, because I love it.
(Shirt- sold out but similar here)
(Purse- Kate Spade, sold out but similar here)
Weekend wear should be easy so I almost always wear these Franco Sarto shoes. They are easy to slip on and go with most everything.
This outfit would be nothing without this purse, have I told you how much I love it yet? I do!
Nick and I recently honeymooned in Europe and spent the majority of our vacation in Iceland. My favorite thing that we did was explore an ice cave that was dug into one of their largest glaciers. It was as cold as you would expect but I loved the way that they would incorporate LED lights into the ice to create a glowing effect. It was definitely an experience I would recommend to any visiting the area!
(The entrance of the cave was this massive tunnel- it was a little scary at first but they had twinkle lights set up to guide us in)
(It was kind of like being in a gigantic igloo.)
(The light would illuminate one portion of the cave and keep the rest in the dark. It was so beautiful)
(The had their own chapel where couples could get married in if they wished. Say goodbye to the dress, you would freeze!)
(There were a couple of forks that would take you into different tunnels, we made sure to stick with the group so that we didn’t get lost!)
(When I saw this, I got a little spooked. Part of the cave was melting and creating this gorgeous view, the ice looked like crystal. But it got me thinking…the glacier was melting. Unfortunately, this ice cave probably won’t be here in the next 5 years.)
Here is the view from the glacier. Something I loved about Iceland was that at one moment you were soaking up the sun and the next you were standing on snow. From waterfalls to geysers, Iceland is a pretty magnificent place!
The average woman has over 120 items in her closet and that doesn’t include shoes, purses, and undergarments. Getting ready in the morning can be a little overwhelming and that is why concepts like the Capsule Closet and the KonMari method have taken over the internet as of late. I’ve tried everything to pare down my closet to basics that can be mixed and matched to create many different outfits. Let’s be brutally honest, it is hard to get rid of clothing that you want to hold on to for rare occasions or holidays and even pieces that you hardly ever wear but still hold sentimental value. We recently came across a company called MakeSpace that helps you hold on to your stuff and free up your closet with the seasonal pieces that you are actually going to wear! They have an app which sends a representative to you to pick up your stuff on demand, and they’ll put it in safekeeping for you until you need it back. It really solves for a problem most of us have- we just have too much stuff! A few of my friends swear by this concept because it allows them to keep all of their seasonal pieces and donate anything that they end up not wanting to store! I’m willing to try it if it means not having to part with the winter coats I love but get minimal use!
Shoes are the items in my closet that I can’t seem to get under control. I have boots upon boots but never wear them in the summer! With t-shirts and long sleeves this isn’t a huge problem because they don’t take up a ton of space but boots seem to get thrown on top of each other and clutter my entire closet. I would sort through all of my shoes first when filling up my first MakeSpace box, it would give me a better idea of any excess and help me focus on seasonality.
(Doesn’t this image inspire you? I really love sorting through my clothes- it makes me eager to update my wardrobe, reminds me of my clothes that get lost in the clutter, and organize the things that I love so that I can get to them more easily!)
If we are talking about a dream closet, mine would be insanely organized. I love going into stores like IKEA and the Container Store and admiring how they organize their closets. Shoes are categorized by heel size, purses are displayed like art, and jewelry is tucked away in velvet lined drawers. I want this look, it would make getting ready so much easier!
And in honor of these summer sales happening around us, here is a outfit that would be perfect for any closet! It has staple and quality pieces that could be mixed and matched easily (from day to night) and remain classic enough to be worn for years to come. I recently purchased these shoes and they have been my favorite purchase of the year. They go with everything and are extremely comfortable to wear! Score!
Don’t you feel inspired to organize now? If you’re like me and have too much stuff to wrap your head around, start with piles of what you want to keep or donate. Then sort by season. If you want to give MakeSpace a try, check if they are in your city! 🙂
A little black dress is a great investment because you will have so many purposes for this one piece of clothing. Whenever I’m stumped over what to wear that is dressy enough but not too much, I throw on this dress from Top Shop (sold out but similar here).
I add this Madewell gold necklace to add some flare to the high neckline.
These fringe heels are the perfect way to add some fun to a simple black dress.
The back also has a long slit that I liven up by wearing a bright neon soft bra. This way you can still wear a bra but have it be fun that it’s showing.
Voila! This is my way of dressing subtle but adding my own style.
My lovely co-worker Bonni gave me a gift certificate to a store in San Francisco called Credo as a bridal gift. Credo’s creed is all about putting the best and healthiest products on your face and body. It is amazing how many harsh and cancer causing chemicals are in everything from your face lotion to your mascara. I have recently become much more cautious about the brands that I purchase and one that I discovered on my mission is Herbivore. Herbivore makes healthy beauty products that are not only packaged in a beautiful and clean way, they smell and feel so good on your skin. I cant get enough of Herbivore because they have products that make you look and feel beautiful in a natural way.
(I use this brightening mask once per week. It leaves my skin feeling tighter and less red. I can feel it working when I have it on my face and it smells AMAZING)
(My new obsession is rose scented water spray. I spritz some on 3 times per day. Once before I put on my moisturizer, once after I put on my makeup to help it set, and then lastly once before I go to sleep with a clean face because it smells like magic)
(We will actually show you how to make a scrub at home but this one is wonderful if you aren’t into making things yourself. It leaves your skin feeling polished and smooth which is important in the summer!)
(Lastly, this is on my wish list. This color would look so natural on everyone and I am sure based on all of their other products, I would carry this with me everywhere)
All images courtesy of Herbivore. This is not a sponsored post, we truly do love this brand and would only recommend products to you that we actually use and adore!
You guys know what time of year it is- wedding season! Now, I love a wedding as much as the next person but I have nine this year (including my own). This means I needed to shuffle through mu closet and make sure I have what it takes to be a stylish and appropriate guest to all of these parties. Luckily, I wore a wedding dress to my own in May so that was easy to prepare for and I am in my friend Tasha’s wedding at the end of the month so I just have that one taken care of too! Anthropologie just had their major summer sale and I scored big on some dresses that I knew would be perfect for a few particular weddings, plus I had been eyeing these dresses all spring long! Patience does pay off sometimes 😉
(The entire dress is embroidered which is one of my favorite things in the world)
(This collar is magic)
Unfortunately Anthropologie is sold out of this dress but you can still catch the end of the sale now!
Have you been to or plan to attend any wedding this summer? Tell us about you plan to wear or any other special details- we would love to hear about them!
I came across this quote recently and it made me pause for a moment. It’s seemingly ironic timing with my turning of 30 years old today but more than that, this is a question that seems to rear its head so often to my generation. There’s always this yin and yang of either being too static or being the bravest version of yourself. What if you could find a solid but brave place? In a life full of choices, how have you chosen to live your life? I don’t have all the answers but I have learned a lot in the past three decades. Here’s some open thoughts to myself full of advice and learnings.
If you want something, make a plan and don’t wait for anyone else to help you get there. Put it out there in the universe and start brainstorming. No idea is a crazy idea but a crazy idea is an idea without a plan.
TRUTH: I wanted to start rock climbing outdoors and think maybe I was waiting for someone to invite me to start going. But that didn’t really happen. So I started going to the climbing gym more frequently to try to meet people to climb with. Then I started taking courses to get better at climbing. I actually set a goal of one big outdoor climb by the time I turned 30 a few months ago. Well, today I turned 30 and not only have I done one big outdoor climb but I’ve done multiple climbs across 5 state parks. I’ve accomplished a hard rating route (to me), done two multi-pitch climbs, and learned to set anchors and rappel, all outdoors. Thanks to the help of many along the way who I cherish and continue to climb with.
South Lake Tahoe
Six degrees of separation is a real thing and it’s pretty awesome to encounter when you least expect it. Also, like people find each other so most people that you gravitate towards are probably for some similar awesome traits that you haven’t yet discovered about yourself 🙂
Always be kind. You hear it all the time but you really don’t know what someone is going through and when that person is you, remember to also still be kind.
You’re not always wrong. People will try to convince you of this but the important thing to take away is a lot of times this really translates to a disagreement. Don’t mistake this for being wrong for feeling a certain way.
Embrace the unforeseeable future but know that every experience you’ve had along the way has helped groom that path. It’s very rare you will be steered in an unfavorable direction so embrace the adventure!
Time is the most valuable gift to give so nourish the worthy relationships in your life, they will bring you the most joy. Also, let go of the ones that you know you should even if it’s hard.
The hobbies I enjoyed the most as a kid, I enjoy the most as an adult. Think about what made you happy when you were younger and try it out at a later stage in life if you’ve let it go. It feels good to remember the good, innocent fun.
Laugh inappropriately at appropriate times or just whenever you want to but not at other people’s expense.
Try to keep cash on you, always. You never know when you are going to need it and so many times, I’ve failed to have it when I needed it.
I’ve loved all the learnings I’ve been able to gather from my friends and family. Like this article a friend of mine wrote. Or my mom’s children’s book that just won an award! Everyone has their talents and it’s awesome to watch them flourish and learn from them.
If you don’t ask, no one will read your mind. Flip the situation in your mind of what would think or how would you feel if this person approached me about this. It often softens the blow of what you need to say.
When given the chance to jump in or stay dry, always jump.
And when someone spontaneously invites you to have the next best day of your life, fucking YOLO.
These are all things that have stuck with me along the way and I’m sure there will be many more to add but as I pass over the threshold of 30, I know that I can live to 70+ years as a lion. 🙂
The gold details help liven up the simple outfit.
This is the most comfortable outfit you can throw on for work or social settings. This is my go-to BBQ outfit because it’s layered and comfortable. What’s your go-to BBQ outfit?
iflunch.com 