My Journey to Blogging

I’ve been asked a lot recently to tell my blogging story – the why, the when, and all the reasons I added this crazy world of daily Instagram posting and writing to my life. As we enter a new year, and I have my feet under me a little… I want to start writing about more personal things so you can get to know me better, in addition to the fashion and beauty posts.

Well let’s start at the beginning. I didn’t really know blogging was a “thing” until a few years ago. I stumbled upon a couple bloggers named Alyson Hayley and Lauren Kay Sims… and through following them, I was opened up into the world of fashion and the LIKEtoKNOW.it app – and the way I shopped for clothes and beauty products completely changed. I waited for their posts daily and was not only getting advice on how to style clothes, I could shop the things I loved right off their Instagram posts. As soon as I liked the photo (now you have to screenshot), an email was sent to me with links to everything she was wearing. I found myself buying smarter pieces that I could style different ways, and also got new ideas on how to mix color and pattern, or use the clothes I already had to create a look Alyson and Lauren were wearing. So easy and helpful.

I’ve always loved style and fashion, but this blogger world was inspiring to me. These girls were making a living on their own by supporting brands they love and giving other women advice on how to dress for their body type, what skincare to use, workout tips, meal recipes, posting daily on what stores had the best sales… they literally were doing the work for me. I was buying everything! For the next year or two I followed probably 50+ bloggers who’s styles I loved and continued to shop and admire their photos. Mostly I admired how honestly convincing they were, and how someone I didn’t even know had such an impact on me and my purchasing decisions. I loved how I could watch in their stories how a product worked, or the fit of a top, or ask what size they were wearing for a reference – and they would answer! They gave honest opinions – good or bad – on products so we as an audience could make our own decision through their influence.

I started my blog in May of 2018… I wish I had started it earlier, however I wasn’t in a good headspace at the time. It may come as a shock to you but I don’t love taking photos of myself. Occasionally I see one of me and I think “oh I look really cute” but usually I would just look at a photo and dismiss everything I see. As women, I feel that is something we all do on a daily basis. I saw these bloggers as inspiring – but would also envy how beautiful they were, or their toned abs, or their gorgeous homes and think – OK I can’t do this till I start working out, or get a better apartment. They were posting twice a day sometimes three… and I could never fit that into my life with a full time job AND bar tending on the weekends. There’s also so many girls already doing this, so why would anyone want to follow me? Every excuse I could think of I threw at myself as a reason I wouldn’t be successful if I tried.

I also had a string of not so great relationships.. and when I say string I mean about 6 years of trying to make it work with not the right people. Not bad people per say, just a lot of time spent an energy exhausted where it shouldn’t have gone. Pair that with jobs that I was either struggling in, or felt like I didn’t quite fit. This all added up to a not so happy Kelly. I was anxious, I was reacting to situations in ways I shouldn’t have, and was holding onto a lot of anger. I started seeing a therapist, and after a lot of hard work week after week… I was starting to feel like my old happy self again. Not every day… but a vast improvement from where I was.

In January, I had a major hip surgery. I trained the entire 2017 for triathlons and torn the labrum in my right hip. Also had some bone damage due to that protective cartilage wall being broken through. I had this repaired, and had 8 weeks of downtime in a massive brace that didn’t allow me much freedom. If you all know me… downtime is not my jam, ha! I work full time, bar tend on the weekends, and bake cakes! Free time is not something I’m used to. I was kinda like, OK… now what? I watched way too much TV for a couple weeks and decided that… I’m gonna start a blog! I’ve never built a website… how hard can it be right? Turns out not super hard… but not super easy either. Now that I know what I’m doing it’s a breeze, but I’m glad I used those 6 weeks to build up my site, write some post, fill up the site with some photos… so I was ready to launch on May 1st.

I knew before the surgery that this was the year I was going to put all my energy into myself. Something I hadn’t done in a long time. I spent months researching blogging, reached out to TONS of bloggers I had been following forever, and waited for responses. Some answered, some didn’t, but overall I was able to gather up enough info to really figure out what I wanted to do, how I was going to accomplish this on my own, and work this into my already insane schedule. My bonus hit in March, I loaded up my closet, and started taking pictures with my mom, some friends, and eventually just started attacking the photo game on my own.

GIRL get yourself a tripod and remote blue tooth clicker! GAME CHANGER! Did you know I take all of my photos myself? YUP! You can’t tell (most of the time) but I’m holding a remote in every photo. It’s super small and I can hide it in my hand that holds my purse, behind a prop, in my hair…wherever and stand in front of my camera and click away. You can lower the tripod, raise it up, walk in front of it for an action shot, sit down in front of it… once you have no shame that someone passing by may think you’re a creep, just gets easier and easier! You’ll know the best ways to stand, how to tilt your head, what smile to use for each photo etc. I don’t have time to schedule big shoots with friends anymore. I’m also terrible at asking for help and don’t like to bother my friends… so this is just the best option for me. So I pack up one or two looks every couple days and head out on my lunch break, change in my car, and shot some looks in under half an hour in back alleys where I can find cool walls. In the summer I go after work since it’s still light out. Sometimes I snap a pic BEFORE work if I’m running early… just so much easier to squeeze it in on my own time and not worry about who can help me. Sunny days are the WORST for photos, while cloudy days are the best – no shadows! I’ve never watched the weather so much in my life!

I will tell you… this is NOT an easy thing to do. People may look at your photos daily and think “oh cute”, or that the outfit in the picture IS exactly what I’m wearing that day – yeah, not so much. I take anywhere from 2-8 looks at a time and they’re all different depending on what collabs I have coming up or sales I know are on the horizon. You have to keep up with sales, watch the clothes you’ve already got for when they get marked down, hope that what you bought doesn’t sell out by the time you can take a photo and post it. You have to make sure when you throw up a photo you have some way for followers to shop your look – whether that’s a blog post or LIKEtoKNOW.it app, or ShopStyle! Oh, and you don’t make money in the beginning! HOORAY all this work for no mula… ha. It takes a couple months of photos to be able to even to apply to RewardStyle or ShopStyle… and I think this is where most people give up. It’s not worth it. This is too hard. Why am I doing this?

Trust me… this isn’t the easiest and can be stressful… however, all that being said – oh how rewarding this whole experience is! The girls…omg they’re the best and so supportive. If you ever want to feel great or be uplifted… throw up a post and watch the comments flow in on how much they “love your look, THOSE SHOES GF, Omg you’re the cutest EVER, I love your style” it is literally blogger fuel that keeps you going. I’ve connected with some many amazing people who uplift me everyday and encourage me to keep going. You’ll get your first collaboration with a brand and it’s like THE BEST feeling. As you grow you can start charging for posts, you’ll make money when people shop your looks, and things just start to feel really positive. Maybe that takes a few months, maybe a year, maybe two years but you just have to keep going for YOU!

I picked affordable and versatile style because that’s what I buy on a regular basis. Classic and fun pieces that can be worn to work and out, and in multiple ways. I don’t make superstar money (yet) and need to stretch my budget as much as possible. I think other women have that same issue. We all stare at our closets and were like OMG I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR! Um yes you do girlfriend… you’re just defaulting to always pairing the same thing together every time. Rock that t-shirt dress with some booties and a denim jacket, tie a flannel around it with some sneakers and a ball cap, wear a chunky long sweater over it with knee high boots in the winter… these are all things I wanted to help others do, with clothes they already have, or show them… hey this dress is $50 but you can wear it all year round and to multiple occasions, and this is how. See below!

I stayed in this niche… and posted daily about sales, style this three ways, remember this top from last month? It’s now on sale… and I kept pushing this. Eventually I broke into some skincare… haircare… and some apartment decor. I think that’s what helped me do well. I didn’t take on too much in the beginning. I didn’t want people to be confused on why they were following me and drop off. You get enough drop off in this world as it is… so less confusion was better for me. Maybe you all want to see more? Ha, IDK?!?!

Growth is a journey in any business, and in this one… it can take off, it can be slow, it can go backwards and forwards at the same time. You wake up with 30 new followers and somehow your number stayed the same… DAMMMNIT people stop following, ha! One post gets 1000+ likes and the next one gets 258, ugh WUT? How is this happening? Instagram changes its algorithm all the time and makes it hard for us blogger babes to grow and be seen unless we spend 10 hours a day on the app. With two jobs I just don’t have that luxury, so I do the best I can. I go all in with anything I take on. Take pictures at 7 am, take photos on lunch, film stories at night that I wont be posting for a couple days out, plan my photos for the week on Sunday and get the lined up, take small breaks at work throughout the day to engage like crazy, make sure everything is linked in LIKEtoKNOW.it before so I’m ready to fire off looks whenever I need to, go to events to meet other bloggers, learn from their experiences, I still reach out and ask for help, and research every way possible to keep this journey going strong!

This year is a whole new year and I’m going to put a lot more on the table. Fashion, Hair, Beauty, Skincare, Fitness… and more personal posts like this one. I am going to try and bring you into my life a little bit more with stories – however I am kinda boring so don’t get too excited haha! This is something that makes me so happy. And if you’re thinking about doing this, and you’re not sure if you can, or if people will follow you or support you, or you are afraid of putting yourself out there… know that all of us feel that same way at times. I’m just now starting to feel comfortable in front of the camera and while it makes it easier, it still makes me nervous ever time I post.

While I want to paint a real picture for you, I also want you to know that if you’re a mom with kids, or work two jobs like I do, or just work one job, or volunteer, or you don’t have a ton of money, or you have a crap load of money but maybe are super self conscious… if this is something you think about, or want to do… DO IT! Nothing can stop you. Look at me… I’M NUTS! Haha literally everyday I’m tired and think “what did I get myself into?” but its like a high for me at the same time. Man do I love the pressure of being out of photos and wanting to post the next morning at 8 AM! Oh, it’s pouring? SHIIITTTT…. get that photo in the car, whip out a flatlay, or find somewhere inside that’s fun…. YOU CAN DO THIS! If I can you can… and I hope this gave you a little insight to what I do on a daily basis! Thank you for following and liking and commenting and keeping this dream alive – you ALL are the reason I keep going!

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#Nsale Picks 2019

Below is a huge round up of all my favorites – plus most of what I took home is below! I had so much fun shopping in store yesterday – never thought I would say that, but the early access for Ambassador and Icon card holders was amazing! Dressing rooms weren’t crowded and I had my own personal attendant that got me everything I was looking for an in the right sizes!

I was able to stay on budget this year and grabbed all my essentials rather than going crazy and getting EVERYTHING like I did last year. A lot of my favorite things from last year were back this year -which was so exciting because you know it’s that good! Madewell cardigans and jeans, tons of AG Jeans, Paige Jeans, the Spanx faux leather leggings, Leith cardigans, Halogen cardigans, TONS of booties and shoes… so good!

I’ve grouped everything below for you with the sizing on everything that I was wearing! Hover over each photo to see the price and start shopping, or making your wish lists! Some of the items pricing doesn’t reflect the sale price – but once you head to the site at 11:30 CST today it will show you the sale price vs the regular pricing. SO let’s start shopping…

All the shoes and booties!

Most of these run TTS… however def recommend going a half size down in the Treasure & Bond leopard flat (first photo, farthest to the right).

My favorite part of the sale… Sweaters!

Below are some of my favorites from my try on! I’ve linked a bunch of similar options below as well. The cardigans were similar to a lot they had last year – so I got a few staple colors and a some fun stripes and called it a day! Sizing info below!

Be still my heart! This is the same sweater just in two different prints. I’m wearing the small! Comes in about 8 colors, solids too, and is sooo SOFT!

These cardigans are my favorite and great prices! I’m wearing a small petite in the pink, x-small in the top two on the left (Leith Oatmeal & Madewell Grey/Navy), and a small in the Grey Bp Pocket sweater!

This first cozy blazer is only $38! The marbled sweater in the middle was one of my favorites! Super cozy and has so many fun colors in the stitching! The Jacket on the right will be linked in the jacket section of this post… but sooo cozy and cute and only $58 on the sale!

Tanks, tops, tees, and more…

So many great basics this year – and you know I’m gonna snag the new free people thermal! This one is SOOOO GOOOD! Comes in tons of colors. There’s tons of cami’s that are a great price that are the best layering piece not only for summer, but to layer under all those sweaters! Here are my favorites below! I wear an XS in all of the tops in the photo – except the yellow thermal is a Small… wanted you to see the size difference from the white to the yellow!

Jeans, pants, leggings…

Some of the best leggings are on sale again this year – including the Zella everyday leggings in different colors, as well as the Spanx faux leather leggings… they’re down to $68 from $100!!! Def grab those if you don’t have a pair yet! I also rounded up my favorite jeans! All of them run TTS – but I always go up one size in Frame jeans, they tend to run slightly small. I was not great at shooting pictures of just the jeans – but head to my stories you can see a few more pairs!

These Paige jeans came home withe me. I’ve been looking for a good black pair that’s SUPER dark and wont fade – and these are them! They have the perfect amount of distressing at the knee, and sit higher on the waist. Absolutely love them and they were a huge markdown! Wearing a 26 – my normal size.

These were one of the AG pairs I tried on… and I loved them. Decided on another pair, but these were a skinny – with a little more room at the bottom of the leg. Super soft and more of a relaxed skinny fit. Fit was more of a mid rise but held everything in! My smile says it all.

Not the best picture of these, you get a much better view in my stories on Instagram – but these were Frame and so dang cute! Distressing on one knee and a little up by the pocket on the right hip. It’s covered by my tank but they’re really comfy! Super soft and stretchy and great fit. Go up one size from your normal!

Jackets!

So many good ones and such great pricing too! I am still debating on the Northface jacket for winter because it was ridiculously soft! But I did get the little sherpa lined fleece jacket – $58! Comes in pink too but I just love the mushroom color for fall. See below! Also the first cozy long blazer is only $38 – def took that one home too. So cute for work and a perfect light layering piece for fall!

Dresses, skirts, bags and more…

Didn’t get any bags this year, but there are definitely some great totes and other backpacks that will be great for fall. The sole society weekender bag is also part of the sale and comes in a few colors! Wasn’t in love with the dresses this year but there are a couple classic ones I added below for you! Skirts though – ahhh so many cute ones.

Beauty, skincare, makeup…

Always a sucker for a good eyeshadow pallet and this year they’re so many good ones!

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All Things Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019

It’s the best time of year… the Nordstrom Anniversary sale! There is so much hype around this sale and for GOOD REASON! The #Nsale includes hundreds of brand new pieces for women, men, beauty, and home! There’s definitely A LOT to navigate – so let me be your guide this year so the stress is on me… not you! This will be my second year shopping the #Nsale this year as a blogger and I’m sharing all the secrets, tips & tricks, and things I will avoid this year that I didn’t last year!

When can you shop the sale?

I’ll be traveling on Friday afternoon – but don’t worry… I’ll be up super early at 2am when the sale goes live on the 12th, and getting to work for you. The KEY to this sale is definitely having the Nordstrom Card. Early access means you get to shop and entire week before the public. Last year a lot of the most popular items went fast… and there were not a lot of restocks. Does that mean you wont get anything good if you don’t have the card? Absolutely not… however it’s great to have for the sale so you can shop 1 whole week before everyone else! Click here to apply and get approved so you’re ready to shop! It’s simple to pay off – they have a credit card for store only, or through VISA. Right now you can get a $60 bonus for signing up through July 10th that you can use to shop the sale – hooray ! You also earn rewards and use your double points day during the sale!

Best Way to Shop the Sale?

I’m an online girl FOR SURE! Last year I grabbed my top items right away online, and also went in store to try on some other things I was unsure on for sizing! There are definitely items online that you won’t find in every store as well – and Nordstrom has free shipping and things usually come quickly. The stores can also get REALLY crowded and busy – and with everyone trying things on – items are not always put back in the right spot, making it difficult to track down the items you need. If you love trying things on in store – there’s always the option to buy online and pick up in store! This way all your items will be there for you ready to take home, but you can utilize this option to try on in the store while you’re there, and return or swap out what you don’t love!

What’s Included in the #NSale?

What’s not included is the question! Things are marked down up to 70% off with top brands such as Madewell, AG Jeans, Citizens of Humanity, Marc Fisher, Sam Edelman, Leith, Tory Burch, Topshop, Paige, Caslon, MAC Costmetics, Kiehls, and many more. There are all brands I love and no other store will price match or give these prices on brand new items. They’re also typically on the pricier side so when you can get most of your favorite jeans, sweaters, booties, and beauty items almost 50% off – you take advantage! Make sure to use your Nordstrom Card and double points days on all these items to earn rewards and more savings to shop the sale through August 4th!

Tips for Shopping the #NSale!

  1. Set a budget for yourself. Oh lordy this sale can make your wallet cry, ha! Don’t worry so much about buying EVERYTHING just because it’s discounted. I usually set aside more than my monthly budget for shopping for this sale – but it’s for good reason. These pieces will last into fall and winter and buying them now at a discount means I wont need to buy them later at full price.
  2. Prioritize your wish list. This is key and something I learned quickly last year! Boots, jeans, and cardigans are my first three items that I grab fast – because they sell out quick during early access. AG is one of my favorite brands and most of their items are less than $150 when they’re normally $225. That’s a HUGE savings. Shoes and booties you will wear all fall and winter are also key. I’m usually good with a neutral bone color bootie, a fun print, and a pair with a slight heel. This pretty much covers me for the entire cold season in Chicago! Cardigans and sweaters are my always at the top of my list. They’re such an essential layering piece for colder months and can easily transition from summer to fall to winter. Layer over tanks and tees and you’re good to go.
  3. Focus on the best deals. This is something I didn’t do so well with last year. I get so excited that everything is on sale – that I just grabbed it all without a thought process. As I mentioned above, my favorite jeans are discounted by $75… where as a few of the tops I loved were only marked down about $10. If the full price version was not going to break my bank – I’m personally going to move onto a better deal! Stretch that budget and get those big ticket items. A plain sweater or top is just what it is – and if its something you can find on amazon or a similar site for less, I personally won’t be worrying about $10 off. That’s not to say this should be your method – if you’re looking for more basic pieces and tops are at the top of your list, then go for it. This year I’m going to focus on my priority items and narrowing down the best deals for me with the biggest reward!
  4. Let me guide you. Yes, yes… let me help you! You all know I’m an affordable fasion/style blogger that loves a good deal and splurge here and there. This sale gets overwhelming fast – so I will sort through it all, and post all my favorites by category on Friday for you – pants, tops, sweaters, shoes, jackets, and beauty. Umm yeah… you’re welcome 🙂 All you have to do is click on my links and add to cart! I love doing this for you guys and brings me so much joy when you use my links to shop. The small commissions I make of your purchases help support me and my little business that I hope to make my full time career soon. Thank you for all the love and support and I cannot wait for this year’s #Nsale!

Just three more days… are you ready to shop till you drop?

Some of my favorite items from last year are below! Hoping the sale is even better this year!

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Amazon: Under $25!

Amazon has some great fashion finds lately… and most everything is really affordable. I haven’t really spent more than $25 on any of the items below and all have been great quality. There’s nothing better than finding something cute at the last minute, being able to ship it quickly, and trust the fit and quality.

Let’s start with dresses! Not only can you find name brand dresses, amazon has a lot of smaller boutiques that sell clothing on their site for really good prices. This blue dress below was only $16 on prime and is so versatile! Take off the straps and wear it as a tube, dress is up with heels, dress is down with a jean jacket and sandals… options are endless! The straps also come off so you can wear it as a tube! I’m wearing a small and I love the bold cobalt blue color!

This next dress I got in a teal and white! It’s that good. This is really similar to the Leith dress from Nordstrom… but only $22 and comes in tons of colors with short sleeve or tank options. The length is perfect and it’s honestly the most flattering dress on any body type. I’ve dressed it up, and also worn it to work with a little jacket or cardigan over it. I love the wrap front detail and the cinching at the waist. It’s actually double lined – so the white is not see-through at all! Wearing a small in both colors.

This dress I’m sure you’ve seen on every blogger! It’s also only $17 and comes in TONS of colors. It’s such a loose and casual fit, and is also super flattering. Round hem in front and back, cinched waist, and has a tiered layer at the top. I have black – and debate getting a second color all the time. It fits so well and for the price you just really can’t go wrong. Also has a little drawstring at the waist with a tie. Just honestly love this dress! Wearing a small.

Next up – this orange skirt! This also comes in a few shades and its such a great flowy fit. I love the slit up the front – gives you lots of movement when you’re walking and allows your shoes to really pop! This is also under $20. I’m wearing a small and I love the fit. It’s so cute with a T-shirt, a crop top, lounge sweater, body suit… can be dressed up or down! Just love how versatile it is! This top is from Urban Outfitters and currently on sale for $19.99!

Next up in this adorable cotton jumpsuit. Comfy is an understatement! I love that you can wear it as a boat neck, or off the shoulder. This also comes in tons of colors and the fit is fantastic. You can scrunch up the legs if you want to make them crop, or where them as a pant. I love the drawstring waistline too. I’m wearing a small – and debating a second color! Only $22.

These shorts are also a favorite! Under $20 and they feel like pajamas. They’re a great length and sit higher on your waist. As I get older – I just have a hard time with low cut shorts and pants. These are great and the olive color goes with black, white, denim, and lots of other colors. Easy to layer up and wear different ways! Wearing a small in these as well.

This little top is also so cute and under $16! It’s perfect for the summer. Love the white and blue stripes and the off shoulder cut. It has a cute tie in the front as well. Reminds me of being on a boat! Wearing a small and so cute to style multiple ways.

This cardigan is also such a great spring and summer find. I love the colors and the bold stripe pattern. This is so easy to layer over a little dress, shorts, jeans, or a skirt. It comes in a few other colors as well – more for fall! This was $27 when I bought it, but the price can fluctuate a little here and there. Wearing a small in this as well!

Another awesome find was this kimono! It’s full length and works over a tank and jeans – or over a dress and even a cover-up! It’s full of color and very lightweight. There are a TON of prints online and it was also under$ 25! I’ve worn this over a white dress, bathing suit, and with jeans like i did here in the photo. Very versatile and so cute!

Next up – pajamas. Who doesn’t love a cute set? These two are part of the same brand and I just love them. Very soft material and didn’t shrink in the dryer. I have both in a size small – coffee set and the just peachy set! Both adorable and comfy for around the house. Shorts are a great length too, not super short and sit at the waist line!

Last up is all my favorite accessories and fun items to get on Amazon! Earrings, hats, fun cups, beach towels, and hair pins! All linked below for you!

Happy Shopping!

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Summer Sandals

Many of you asked for a summer sandals post focusing on flat heels and soles. So I’ve rounded up some of my favorites for you at all different price points! Most of these are flat sandals, however I did include my favorite wedges as well. They’re all comfortable and easy to walk in! I love wedges for summer because they’re a heel, but they’re easier to walk in compared to a stiletto or a block heel.

Below are all the best – and most of them fall into the neutral family so you can wear them with any look! Going to start with the cute and very affordable under $25! Target is def my go to for knock off sandals and affordable options for great dupes. There are some sandals that you really just don’t need to pay full price for if you can find an almost identical pair at a much lower price point! Also – most of these posted below have many other color/print options in each shoe. If you like the shoe make sure to click on the link and you will be able to see all the color options on the actual site!

Next up is some more great options in the $25-$50 range. A lot of these options are from DSW – and are currently on sale depending on the amount you spend! Use code GOODVIBES at checkout. The more you buy the more you save! Again – so many great options for summer without breaking the bank!

These next sandals are the $50-$100 range. Sometimes splurging on a good shoe is worth it with brands like Marc Fisher, Sam Edelman, Steve Madden and others that you just can’t beat the quality and design. For me, I will splurge on a good sandal if I can wear them all the time, and with multiple looks! If you buy classic sandals that brands bring back year after year – you wont be buying them as often because they’re “in season” every year!

Last but not least – these are some great wedge options! most of them are under $100! Very fun for spring and summer! They go with shorts, jeans, dresses, and skirts – and are perfect for any occasion. You can dress them up or down depending on your look! Click on the photos to shop!

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Transition (Thurs)day: Stripe Long Cardigan

Delayed two days on this – weather and shipping complications! However, I’m so excited to share this week’s post with you! This cardigan has been a staple in my closet for over a year! It’s lightweight, hangs perfectly, and can be worn so many different ways. Sometimes I feel when I buy a patterned cardigan or sweater that it’s hard to wear it a lot, because everyone will remember it… we’ll I’m here to help change your mind about that! Here are FIVE ways – to rock this cardigan (or any cardigan you already own) with different pieces of clothing.

Ok first lets talk about this cardigan. It comes in this white with black stripes, and the reverse – black with white stripes which is currently on sale, as well as about 10 other solid colors! It does run true to size – however I got a Small Petite. I did order the XS first – and it seemed very long to me. The petite worked better for the length, otherwise order your normal size! Cardigan is linked below!

There are two bonus ways below NOT included in the original photo! Ok let’s go…


I went pretty much all casual looks for this round! Let’s face it – thats where I live and feel most comfortable! First up is leggings and a tunic tank. Is there anything better and more comfortable to wear? My fav leggings- seriously these are the best! Keep you sucked in and toned looking without cutting off your circulation! They are a bit of a splurge, but totally worth every penny. They have a few different styles so I linked a couple for you! I’m wearing a small! My tank is a tunic tank from Shop Red Dress! It’s so affordable and so soft! I love the length and the button detail. Will be wearing this all summer long! Also comes in white if that is better for you, and I am in a size small. Throw the cardigan over both these great pieces, rock your fav leopard sneaks, and you have an easy chic casual look perfect for everyday!

Leggings – Spanx $98, Tank- Shop Red Dress $22 , Cardi – Nordstrom $68, Sneakers- Steve Madden $49.99, and my Backpack- Calpack $78 linked similar ones too!

I love these army green loose fitting shorts! So cute with just a tank or tee tucked into them- and with this cute cardigan layered over them! I’ve paired them here that exact way! They’re so comfortable, great price, and have pockets! I’m wearing a size 2 for reference and they run TTS! They’re from amazon and available with prime ship! I wore my woven flats for a chic summer look, and my straw bag! Such a cute look that is easy to repeat with any cute cardigan! This tank is on sale this weekend 40% off and it’s the perfect layering cami!

Tank- Expresss $22 – 40% off today, Shorts- Amazon $23 prime ship, Cardi- $68 Nordstrom, comes in 8+colors, Flats- Target $24 and my Bag- Shop red dress $34!

This next look is another casual style- shocker! I default to casual over fancy any day. It’s where I’m most comfortable and feel my best! These jeans are a new fav! I love any jeans with a button fly! Just enough detail and distressing on these. I love the big cuffs on the bottom too! Size down one in these. Paired them with my favorite Madewell tank top! These are on sale right now with code SPRINGFLING 30% off! Making it $12! I’m wearing an XS, as this brand runs a little large. Just rocking my fav studded sandals to give this look a little bling! I’ve linked similar ones as these are from last season, and the new version!

Sandals- Steve Madden, linked similar ones – Tank- Madewell $12, linked others too, and my Jeans- Shop Red dress,$44

BONUS LOOK #1: grab your favorite pair of white jeans and a chambray top and your casual look is ready for a perfect sunny day! I love this look, and it just screams summer. I always need sleeves! Seriously always cold even when its 100 degrees outside, ha! I love that a cardigan can be a jacket – and this on is perfect because it’s so lightweight. The pop of blue adds the perfect amount of color to this mostly white look!

BONUS LOOK #2: rock this cardigan over a dress! The perfect alternative to a coat and also perfect to wear in the office! Maybe not this exactly slinky denim dress to work – but any tee dress or office type dress would work too! I just love this look – and wear this cardigan over my denim dresses, white, grey, red, pink, black… really any color looks great under this cardigan! I paired with with a pair of ankle strap espadrilles which are so fun for summer. Linked a bunch of similar pairs below!

You can get any of these looks by clicking on the photos! Happy Shopping!

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Transition Tuesday: Ruched Dress!

We’re back with round two… and this time I’m coming at ya with a little ruched dress! You would NEVER think buying something this unique that you could create this many different looks, but you can! I’m obsessed with this dress. The fit is so stinking cute and I’m just loving the check print. The top is really loose and has some room due to the scrunching of the fabric, so whether you’re more flat chested or bigger busted – it will look flattering on anyone! The bodice has some lime green stitching on it which gives it some extra POP! I just love the ruffle at the bottom and you wont have to worry about this dress moving around on you – this baby stays in place!

My first look is just pairing it with a flat sandal and tossing on your fav jean jacket. So easy and so chic with any dress. Run errands, go to lunch, meet up with your girls… it’s a no hassle easy look that you cannot mess up! My sandals are a much more affordable version of the Tory Burch $200 sandals – they come in four colors and are only about $20 – they’re sold out on amazon but they will come back in stock! They run TTS and are really comfortable.

My second look is so fun and creative! I actually folded the bodice in half and made it into a tank top. Left the ruffle hanging out at the bottom and now your dress it a shirt and so cute! Not all dresses will do this obviously, but if the body is tight enough you can, or try tucking it into your jeans! I’ve been able to do this with a few dresses and it just gives you more options for when you’re styling your closet! Paired it with a pair of gladiator sandals and you don’t need much else to be a standout!

Third look is just wearing the dress as is with your favorite pair of heels. Clearly I would add a little clutch to this look, but for these photos I left the bag out! This dress just hugs in all the right places and is so cute on it’s own. I love the check print, and the little bit of green gives it some color up close! I’m wearing a small in the dress, probably could have gone up to a medium for a not so snug fit, but it works!

Last look is so fun! Take your favorite sweatshirt and just throw it over the dress. So great if you’re sitting on a patio, or having drinks in your neighbor’s backyard! Pair with some sandals or your favorite sneakers and your dress now looks like a skirt and no one would know the difference if you didn’t tell them! So this dress is a dress, a top, and a skirt all in one. For $59 – that’s money well spent! Shop this entire look by clicking on the photos below!

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Transition Tuesday – One Tee Four Ways!

So excited to be doing these posts again! The month of April I’ll be styling a piece of clothing three or more ways on the blog. This is one of my favorite things to do – and it got away from me when it was super cold outside – but I love showing you how to style one item of clothing multiple ways! This helps give you ideas, shows you how to stretch your budget a little, and carry clothes into multiple seasons.

To start, I’m showing you how to wear a fun graphic tee four different ways! I love a good graphic tee – adds a pop of flare to your look and you can find any quote you want! This tee says good vibes which I love, in bright orange and yellow! It’s from Red Dress Boutique and I’m wearing a small. If they’re out of your size, it will restock – so just ask for an email alert!

First look is just a simple with some dark jeans. I added some fun earrings and knotted it in the front. This is a much more fun way to wear a tee, and gives you a waist and a little shape. I paired it with my favorite platform wedge to dress it up a little. You could easily wear any shoe with this look to dress it up or down!

My next look is this adorable skirt combo! This is also from Red Dress Boutique and under $50! it’s so cute and actually comes with a matching crop top if you want the full set! I’m wearing a small in the skirt – its a little big on me, but still works it just sits a little lower which is fine. I tucked my skirt in and wore the same wedges that I wore with the jeans. You could also toss on a cute jacket over this! These bold stripes are so fun and match the text on the tee!

This next look is jeans again – but this time white! I love white on white. Very bright and crisp for spring and summer. I threw on my light denim jacket and some funky sandals to complete this look. These white jeans are also from the same boutique and they are so comfy and soft. I’ve washed them and dried them and they are holding their shape. They’re also really high waisted and the button fly detail makes them perfect for any top! I’m obsessed! I’m wearing a size 1 – I went down a size due to how high they sit. This is my favorite look of all three because I just love a good denim jacket!

The last way I styled this tee is with shorts and a long red cardigan. Since this shirt is so bright – it’s fun to add a little color to is that is in the same family! I love this red cardigan – I have it in white and black stripes, and also a beige. It’s a perfect fit and length. I wear a small petite. I typically don’t wear petite in anything, but the length was better for me and the sleeves are still long enough! Otherwise I would get your normal size! These shorts are my favorite and are such a classic cut with a little distressing! They run TTS. You can shop all these looks by clicking on the photos!

I’ll be back next Tuesday with another fun transitional post!

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5 Ways to Better Manage Your Time & Maximize the Day!

For anyone who knows me, they know I can pack a million things into my day/week and still make time for all the things I love to do, and see the people I want to see. Some weeks I do sacrifice a social life, but I try to maximize my time as much as possible to make room for friends, family, and me time. I work full time and bartend on the weekends. Every Sunday I wake up early and go help out my bar with accounting work for two hours. In between those two jobs, I usually bake on average two cakes a month, and somewhere on top of that I added blogging to my schedule – which means writing and photo taking on the weekends. I cook almost every single day for myself, and work out three times a week currently. On Monday night I see my therapist – much needed as I need time to vent and mentally be in a healthy place so I can stay on top of my goals.

My advice to anyone feeling like they cant get it all done is to stay on schedule and be creative with your day to get in the things you love to do! I try and pack most of my to-do things into my mornings and lunch breaks, and use home delivery services for groceries and shopping to save time running around to stores for errands. Everyone’s jobs are different, and thankfully I do not take my day job home with me very often, so this allows me to pack my day accordingly. How do I fit it all in? Well here are my five ways to help manage your time and make sure you get it all done!

  1. On Sunday – plan out your weekly schedule and meal prep!  I am a list queen! I seriously write everything down and own about three journals and two calendars just for this purpose. Writing it down does two things for me – sets a schedule to keep me on track, and helps keep it fresh in my head. This is the day I map out my week in terms of work schedule, meetings, photo/collaboration posting, fitness schedule, meal prepping, errands, photo taking, and everything else in between. This way I know what’s coming and can be prepared. I map out a daily schedule and force myself to stick to it. Meal prep!!! This is seriously such a time and life saver for me. You can make 5 meals in under thirty minutes and have your lunches for the week ready to go. I usually make 4-5 chicken breasts, and bake 4-5 different cut up vegetables and potatoes in the oven all on one big sheet pan. Cook up some rice, dice up some fruit, and you can pack your chicken, rice, veggie sides, and a cup of fruit for lunch daily. Diced fruit is also so handy to have for smoothies on the run. Milk of your choice, ice, fruit, spinach, and some protein powder in the morning make for an awesome breakfast on the go, and having this all diced and ready saves so much time! Also helps you save money during the week because you wont be eating out as much. WINNING!
  2. Be creative with your work schedule. You never know if you don’t ask, but talk to your boss about a flexible work schedule. Most will not mind you adjusting a half hour here or there to get in a workout on your lunch break! I used to come in half hour early to take an hour and a half lunch three times a week. This allowed me to get to the gym, work out for around 50-60 minutes, rinse off and get back to work in under 90 minutes. Also- lunch workouts are the bomb! You are forced to power through a great workout in little time, do not have as much time to rest in between, play around on your phone, or get distracted by anything because you’re on a major time crunch! Such an energy boost in the middle of your day too. If you meal prep – this also makes it easy to eat at your desk after you return from your workout. Let’s be honest there are so many days I work through my lunch anyways, so eating and powering through emails at the same time does not bother me. You can also run errands on your lunch break, and some days I also take photos! Bring an outfit or two in my car and use that time to shoot a couple looks! I personally want to have most of my nights free to relax, make dinner, and work on my blog – so lunch breaks rarely mean lunch for me, but I love it that way.
  3. Be able to adjust if something throws off your schedule. AHHHH the worst right? Nothing like a meeting being tossed into your schedule last minute when you’re planning on working out, running errands, or trying to get a quick mani on your lunch break. HUGE bummer. No fear, go back to your weekly plan and see where you can adjust to make sure the YOU things are not skipped. This is so important to me. I try to NEVER skip anything that I know makes me a better person and levels me. Working out, therapy, personal indulgences, dinners with friends… I will do whatever I can to not cancel them, and move my day around accordingly. If I wanted to run on my lunch break for 45 minutes, I simply run as soon as I get home or move it to the next morning before work. Having my nights free is my end goal, but I’m not gonna cry if I have to spend a small amount of time getting something done after work.  This also works if something fun pops up! Nice weather – girls want to get together last minute for a fun after work dinner… move that run to the AM and get some quality time in with your peeps! No excuses… get it done if it’s part of your daily plan.
  4. Amazon prime and grocery delivery services are your new best friends. If you are not using Amazon prime in your regular routine – you’re not doing life right! This is huge if you live in a big city – or anywhere really. Pricing for prime members is amazing, and most of your everyday products for laundry, cleaning, grocery, household items, makeup, skincare, even clothing/shoes, you name it they have it… all ships in 1-2 days for free. AMEN. This removes shopping from my busy schedule and for a few dollars, I can pay extra for next day delivery. When you live in the city, parking comes at a cost, and most pricing is marked up at places like Walgreens and CVS because of convenience. My mascara is $6 on Amazon vs $12.99 in the store! That mark up adds up after a while! I do love grocery shopping when I have time – but recently discovered Peapod and Instacart and LOVE it. I typically get the same things, and can just reorder my cart and have it delivered next day! Wohoo! Instacart allows you to pick different stores for select items, and someone shops for you and can have it to you in an hour! WHAAA??? I know – awesomeness. Grub hub, door dash, post mates – lots of amazing apps for grocery and food delivery. Again, for a small fee, anything you want is delivered at the speed of light and saves major time. AHHH-mazing.
  5. Set reminders in your calendar. Let’s be real for a moment – I can write lists all day but for the big stuff… put it in your calendar and set a reminder alarm for the day before, and then a second for the day of (30 min to hour before). I can remember most things on my own… but I’m getting old and less talented at staying COMPLETELY organized, and there are days where my brain is complete mush! I need that phone to go off reminding me that something is there that may not be “routine” – like a hair appointment, dr. appointment, dinner with friends, brunch with Mom, siblings are in town, time shop for that cake you’re making next weekend… etc. Use a calendar that syncs to all devices. I have Apple everything, so this works well to just use the app that comes on the phone – and it loads to all my devices. Hooooray!

Those are my best tips ! In general – the only other thing I will say is to just be organized and tidy as much as possible. Sounds so simple, but the busier we get, sometimes we let things go in terms of cleanliness of living space. Water bottles everywhere, laundry piles all over – dirty or clean, things out where they shouldn’t be, three weeks of mail stacked on the kitchen table, piles of dishes… etc. Sometimes I just sleep on my couch because I’m too tired to put my clean sheets on my bed, haha so ridiculous but hey that’s life! When you’re juggling busy days end on end, coming home to a clean and clutter free space will help keep you calm and will reduce anxiety and stress. When I have a hard day – packed with work and everything else – and maybe something happened to make me a little emotional, or sad, or agitated… coming home to an apt that looks like a bomb went off just irritates me that much more.

So on top of my five tips… little things make the biggest difference. Do your dishes as soon as you’re done eating, hang up your coat when you get home, put away your shoes, fold your laundry immediately and put it away, keep your jewelry and accessories neat and organized daily… vacuum when you have a few extra minutes and wipe down your bathroom counter tops. All these things will help keep you tidy so that when you are in a hurry – the things you need are all where they’re supposed to be! These couple extra minutes a day will save you an entire day on the weekend of cleaning! BOOOOORING… it’s spring time and no one wants to be inside doing a three hour deep scrub when it’s nice and sunny outside!

How do you master time management? Comment below!! I’d love to hear your tips and tricks!

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Weekly Roundup: Transitional Looks

Happy Monday! Today I’m rounding up my looks from the last week and a half! As it’s getting closer to spring, it’s getting harder to dress! We’re in that weird transition time where some days its 45, and the next day is back into the teens! Retailers are putting up new swimwear, tanks, white denim, summer dresses, and cute tanks and tees… sooo how can we transition?

Layers! I just love layers. Whether it’s a cami with a cardigan, a bralette under a tee, or rocking a denim jacket over your favorite top… there a lot of ways to make your winter wear lighter!

White Jeans, Black Cami, Black Bralette, Denim Jacket, & Booties.

The perfect look for this transition season. White denim can be worn before Memorial day! Rocking darker colors on the top, and pairing them with booties is the perfect way to transition them into Spring! Once it gets warmer, ditch the jacket and rock some sandals or mules instead.

These jeans are from Shop Red Dress and they’re identical to the Madewell pair, for a lot less. Under $50 and the material is so soft. Little distressing at the bottom gives them a little edge. The button fly is a great detail and they suck everything in. Wearing a size 1. I’d go down a size if you’re unsure! I’ve paired it with my favorite cami! This comes in a bunch of colors, and some with a lace trim. I chose the plain detail on the neckline – and wore my Free People bralette underneath to give a little texture. Wearing an XS in the tank and a Small in the bralette. This bralette comes in over 10 colors and goes with everything!


Stripe Sweater, AG Jeans, Booties, & Bag.

Another way to bring in the Spring, but still dress for the weather is finding bright and fun pieces that you can transition into Spring and Summer looks easily. This sweater is the perfect example. Lightweight, breathable, can be worn OTS or as a soft V neck, and it’s bold bright colors will look great with white denim, shorts, and swapping out shoes for sandals! Wearing a size small and this is a great price! It also looks so cute with a white bralette underneath.

Jeans, Free People Top, Free People Bralette, & Booties.

This is such a cute crop top. It’s perfect with high waisted jeans and a bralette. It’s flowy and can be worn off the shoulder, or as a regular top. I love the color and it can be easily transitioned into spring to wear with white denim, shorts, or a skirt! Wearing an XS in the shirt.

Dress & Boots!

I just love this dress! If you don’t have one yet I highly suggest investing. This dress is so flattering on any body type – and what’s best is its been around forever and comes back every year. Also, you can wear it every season! Throw on a sweater and tall boots like I’m wearing here, or rock some sneakers with a jean jacket, or throw on some sandals in the summer! It’s literally so versatile and can be worn all year round. I’m wearing a small and it’s perfect!

Levi’s Tee, Button Fly Jeans, Converse sneakers & sweater!

If I could wear a version of this outfit daily I would! Another easy transition look into different seasons too! This tee you car wear alone or under a jacket or cardigan like I did here! You can also wear it with shorts or a cute denim skirt as it warms up. This sweater is also lightweight so would go over shorts or a skirt easily! Layers are definitely the way to go right now as the weather is being super weird! Wearing an XS in the Levi’s tee, and a small in the sweater! Shoes and jeans run TTS.

This top I just love and is also another great transition piece! It’s very lightweight and the back is a silk floral print that has a nice flow to it. It dips lower in the back and looks so different from the front to the back! This will be so cute in the summer with shorts or white denim, as it’s light weight enough to wear on cooler summer days. The floral patter is very spring like, and swap your booties for sandals and you’re good to go! Wearing a small in the top! They have a couple different colors and prints, as well as short sleeve options. Linked them below for you!

Today’s look! Classic black high waisted jeans, the best peplum t-shirt ever made, and a cozy stripe hooded cardigan! Another outfit that can be broken down and worn so many ways! This cardigan is legit amazing. Lightweight and has a hood. Perfect length for legging, jeans, dresses… skirts, you get the picture. Wearing a XS in the cardigan and a small in the t-shirt. Everything else runs TTS.

Will be doing more “styled three ways” posts coming up! Stayed tuned for Transition Tuesdays starting next week!

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Valentine’s Gifts: For Him + Her

Valentine’s is such a fun holiday – I used to dread it being single, but the holiday itself is about spreading love and kindness to your favorite people – not just the significant other. I find so much joy in gifting little baked treats, small items, and fun beauty finds to my girls. Brightens up their day and puts a smile on their face.

These are some of my favorite things right now, and would make amazing gifts for him or for her! Men – look no further, just pick off this list and you’ll be good! Also – don’t forget chocolates and flowers for added bonus points!

I think Valentine’s day should be fun and playful – and not about spending tons of money. It’s one little holiday – no need to go crazy, but you do want to help people feel special. These gifts are perfect for friends, coworkers, family and anyone else! Click on the images below to shop!

For Him:

For Her:

Also – these tops are so cute for Valentines Day! If you still need something fun to wear to work that day, or out on a date! These are all great options!

Also rounded up all my favorite pajamas for you below! I personally LOOOOVE pajamas and they’re so fun to wear all year round. A few of these are from my try on session!

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