Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Fauxs and Flares











so obviously i have been living in this braid lately.  my bad. 

 it's like when you discover you have a hidden talent and you want to show anyone who will sit still for 2 minutes.  i just discovered how to do this braid and i want to show it off...

i also couldn't wait to show off this faux leather-front shirt from White Plum.  The chic front faux-leather panel adds effortless style to both denim & workwear.  this gem also comes in a white & grey version and is surprisingly warm for a thinner sweater!

i am teaming up with White Plum next monday (24th) to bring you a holiday giveaway & some exclusive discount codes.  make sure to check back in to enter and grab the savings!  White Plum is one of my favorite boutiques!  i find something new that i have to have every time i visit the site!


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linking up with:  lindsey ; alison

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Bliss











bliss is finally being able to wear sweaters!

while i'm not jealous of the snow my parents received in ohio yesterday, it is nice to finally have a chill in the air!  and this snuggly-soft oversized loose sweater from Catch Bliss Boutique is the perfect piece to bundle-up in.  i love the baggy fit and slight cowl neck, and the color is so on point for this season.  and don't get me started on a sweater with pockets.  fun & functional!

i paired this amazing sweater with a flirty flare skirt & black boots for something a little more chic, but it was also made for some skinnies and riding boots!  and i am head-over-heels for my new Stacy Brown Designs hand-painted plaid monogrammed bangle !!!  not only is it plaid and monogrammed, it comes with a little secret....a leopard print interior!  yep.  a little print-mixing surprise!


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linking up with:  laura

Monday, November 17, 2014

Style Your Hair with Conair Curl Secret


This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone


happy monday, friends!  i wanted to start the week with a fun post showing some super easy hair styles that i have been keeping in rotation lately.  these are styles that are great for work days when you missed a wash or even for a night out.  and with the holidays quickly approaching, i always get more inspired to get creative with my locks.  the Conair Curl Secret gives me great hair everyday!  my hair is much more manageable when it's curled and has a little texture to it.  using the Infinit Pro by Conair Curl Secret lets me get through the curling step quickly & easily and leaves me with perfect, healthy curls. (and i apologize in advance for the length of this post.  i got REAlly excited using my new tools)



most of you know by now that i love my Rock Your Locks clip-in extensions.  they give my hair such amazing volume & length, making hair styles so much easier!  the left picture is my natural hair, freshly washed and dried....and straight as a board... the middle picture shows my natural locks + the help of my extensions.  and the right picture is the amazing outcome of 10 minutes with the Curl Secret.  amazing, right?!?  i could never get those curls with a curling iron!

here's how i prepped my hair to get stylin'....


to say the Infiniti Pro by Conair 3Q Brushless Motor Dryer is a lifesaver might be an understatement.  this hair dryer is definitely an investment piece, but you guys - it's worth every penny!  i can dry my hair in half the time of my old dryer.  and since i'm using less drying-time and lower heat, i can minimize the damage to my locks.  plus, the brushless motor has 10x the lifespan of a regular hair dryer! (more info here - Infiniti Pro by Conair 3Q dryer )


the Infiniti Pro by Conair Curl Secret is so so so so SO easy to use! (and perfectly safe to use with extensions!)  i gave up my hot rollers a year ago and switched over to a basic curling iron.  we have good days & bad days together.  but with the Curl Secret, all of my hair days can be good.  every curl comes out perfect.  every one.  and they are tighter and shinier curls that what i can create myself.


both of these fun tools can be found at your local Walmart.  mine were on the Hair Care aisle.  and again, they are both splurges.  BUT, your hair will thank you every day by looking amazing.  feeling reluctant to spend that much on yourself?  both the Pro 3Q and Curl Secret would make excellent Christmas presents!


The Dutch Side-Braid has become one of my favorite hair styles as of late!  once i concentrated for more than 3 seconds, i figured out how easy this style is ..even though it looks intricate. simply start a dutch braid (Dutch means braiding under the strands instead of over) on one side of your part and continue down the length of your hair, incorporating new sections in as you go.  i like to keep pulling pieces from my hair into the braid to keep it flush with my hair the whole way down.  i tucked in a few stray hairs with my Conair curved bobby pins & secured with a clear elastic.  the curls i created with the Curl Secret make the ends of the braid gorgeous!



i am a massive fan of the Half-Up Hairstyle.  if i don't keep my hair out of my face at work, i end up touching it all day and making it oily.  just keeping the top section of my face makes a huge difference!  this simple style looks so much more amazing with the pile of curls at the back.  and while i usually clip it up with a claw-clip for work, on the weekends or for special occasions i secure the style with only bobby pins for a more fluid look.  simply pull back the top section of hair (i do this part facing the mirror so the front looks good) and secure with as many bobby pins as necessary.  insider tip:  spray your bobby pins with hairspray before using them for a better hold!


the Double Ponytail is such an easy hair trick to use for work or play.  it's hard to see in these photos, but i actually have two ponytails.  one is where my left hand is on the bottom and the other is the top one being held up by my right hand.  leaving another section of hair lower than the other actually makes your hair & ponytail look longer and sleeker.  and if you have thick hair like i do, it divides the weight of a normal ponytail.  simply take the top half of your hair and secure in a ponytail.  once you have that in place, wrap the bottom half into a separate ponytail under the first.  boom, done.  for extra chic points, hide the top rubber band by wrapping a thin section of hair around it and pin the ends in place.  


the final look i wanted to share with you is an Easy Messy Bun that i actually found on pinterest.  i find that when i try the hardest to create a messy bun, it always comes out looking way too sleek & structured.  one thing does curb this is having your hair curled prior to styling.  it provides texture and shape that is easier to work with.   for this style, separate your hair directly in half vertically.  i like to do this step facing the mirror so i am happy with how the front looks.  (if you are not very handsy, you can use bands to secure both sections of hair)  then tie your hair in a knot.  yep, a knot.  just like if you were tying your shoes.  then repeat that knot again, and again...until the remaining hair is too short.  take the ends that aren't knotted up and pin them around the bun you have created.  the result is so effortless and you can tailor the messy bun by rearranging the pinned ends.



again, sorry for the lengthy post.  i hope you discovered at least one new everyday hairstyle to try today!  and don't forget - all of these styles started with my Conair 3Q dryer and Curl Secret!  I included a mash-up below of these hairstyles styled in blog posts.  #HeartMyHair #CollectiveBias




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Sunday, November 16, 2014

Shopbop Gift Guide




happy sunday, guys!

while i am snuggled in on the couch watching last night's episode of SNL (because most weekends i fall asleep before it airs.. sad but true) i am giving some serious thought to holiday shopping for everyone on my list.  Shopbop has the best collection of unique holiday gifts for the special people in your life.  honestly, i am kicking myself for not knowing about these ideas last year.  they are going to make shopping a breeze...a breeze from the comfort of my own couch. 





the older i get, the more i realize that people (myself included) generally love odds and ends for the house.  it's something that reminds them of you and your friendship either throughout the year or at the holiday season when they pull it out to display.  Shopbop has something for every friend from the wine lover to the fashionista.  don't know what to get someone?  a coffee table book can be a wonderful idea!  you can custom it to their interests and it is both fun to read and beautiful to display. 

  




i never understand why the guys in our life say "women are so hard to shop for."  so not true.  we love everything.  everything.  and don't worry guys - if you haven't been paying attention this year to the little things she has mentioned & showed you 500 times, or to the trendy items that she is secretly coveting, Shopbop has you covered.  there is an excellent range of girly goodies to fit every budget and every "relationship stage."  and don't underestimate a generic gift like pajamas.  it's something cute and practical that we generally don't like spending the money on ourselves.  (and it doesn't hurt to think of you when we put them on to go to bed at night... just saying.) 







so the real story - GUYS are the hard ones to buy for.  most of them don't want much, and what they do want/like, they just buy for themselves.  and as much as we love seeing them in the ties, shirts, scarves, hats we pick out, the thrill for them ends there.  East Dane (the brother site to Shopbop) has some absolutely amazing gift ideas for your man no matter what he is into these days.  There are affordable gifts for the fitness guru, the travel guy, the wallstreet man, the photographer and the "i think i'm a dj mix-master."  i even love the idea of something simple, like a stylish notebook to give him a space to record all of his hopes, dreams and brilliant thoughts.... or, just a page to jot down the grocery list....




i hope this has given you a little holiday inspiration!  
i am teaming up with Conair for a fun hair post tomorrow!  make sure to check back!


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Friday, November 14, 2014

Cozy Gifts for Her






1. Morse Code Bracelet | 2. bow gloves | 3. Chanel CoCo | 4. 360 stud gift set

5. faux fur pom beanie | 6. Tweet a friend coffee

7. plaid scarf | 8. oversized plaid shirt | 9. casual booties | 10. lip gloss



as much as i don't want to let go of fall, bare legs and pumpkin spice everything, it's definitely time to start thinking Christmas.  which means Christmas shopping.

these are some of my favorite cozy items that i would love to see wrapped up under the tree or peeking out of a stocking.  plaid, baubles, faux fur & bows... what else could you need?!


i hope everyone has a great weekend!  come back monday for a special hair post !!

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