Having a Moment: Off the Shoulder

Off the shoulder tees & dresses are definitely in the spotlight right now.

I love that they can be dressed up or down with a simple switch off accessories and shoes! And I especially love this chambray one that Kendi wore on her blog!

via

Top 4 - June 9th

cute take on cut-offs I'll be trying out this week:

tutorial here

book I've added to my list to read this summer:

CDs on repeat:

The Wonderlands: Sunlight ~ Jon Foreman

Seriously, this is Jon Foreman at his finest! I love the variety and the lyrics and... ok, I love it all.

Download now: The Mountain & Patron Saint of Rock and Roll

beautifully done up quote:

via

Summer Must Haves

Here's a list of my must have products and things for the summer!

1. Pillow Soft Curls

Perfect for a lazy summer day. It smells great and definitely works!

2. Love Does by Bob Goff

This book is seriously amazing. It's funny, thoughtful and has tons of powerful truths! And that's just with me being half way through!

 3. A beautiful one-piece swimsuit 

I think that two-pieces have their place, but nothing can beat a great one-piece! 

This one is especially fantastic!

4. Verge by Owl City ft. Aloe Blacc

Perfect for graduations! This upbeat song is totally Owl City with a little bit of a twist!

5. A Comfy but Cute Dress

Summer outfits need to be easy to put together and comfy but cute. This dress is an adorable option!

via

6. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies

To. Die. For. Recipe here

7. Bananagrams

This game is perfect to play out on the patio as the sun goes down! And it's for all ages!

Buy it here

8. French Bread Pizzas

I haven't tried these yet but they look easy to whip up and delicious - so they're definitely going to be perfect for summer munching! Recipe from here

9. Caroline by Jon Foreman

As the lead singer of Switchfoot, it's pretty much a guarantee that anything this guy touches will turn to gold. This song is only available on Spotify at the moment but it's making the anticipation for his new albums (4 with a total of 24 songs coming out this year!) even greater! It's a beautiful background song for the summer.

Top 4

Quote:

"We get so worried about being pretty. Let's be pretty kind. Pretty funny. Pretty smart. Pretty strong."

- Anon.

Song {something a bit different than usual}:

"Silhouettes" - Swimming with Dolphins

Fashion:

These have been on my feet constantly since I bought them last week!

  

Book:

Can't wait to read this over the summer!

 

Top 4

Book I've Been Reading:

Find it here

 Song on Repeat:

Over and Over Again - Lauren Daigle

Quote:

"Happiness, not in another place but in this place... not for another hour, but this hour."

- Walt Whitman

Fashion Item:

Donate to an autism charity and look cute (via Sevenly)

 

Top 4

Song  on repeat:

 

Vapor - The Liturgists

 Quote:

"If nothing else the Christian faith is one masterful story of life emerging from the grave. We are resurrection people who audaciously believe that the ultimate end of our story is life not death."

Jenny Simmons

On my closet's wishlist:

via

 

 

 

 

 

Perfect re-read for the post-Easter season:

synopsis here

  

Top 4

The 2nd installment of this series.

Check out my top 4 picks from this week:

Book I'm Reading:

Buy it here

Outfit:

via Kendi Everyday

Quote:

via unknown

Song:

THE RUINS by Jonathan Thulin (w/Moriah Peters)

[I can't get a good video sorry!]

Top 4

Since I've found myself posting mostly music stuff lately, I thought I'd attempt to do a post every week that hit all the different things that I've highlighted on this blog in the past, to cover all my bases. So, you'll find my "top 4" of the week here - song, quote, book I want to read, fashion trend/item!

Song:

Holy (Wedding Day) - The City Harmonic

Quote:

Book:

Buy it here

 

Fashion Item:

Buy it here

 

 

Having a Moment: Stripes + Plaid and Sevenly

At this current point in the winter season, layering is definitely key! I am loving the stripe and plaid combinations that keep popping up on pinterest! Here's two of my favorites:

via. Twenties Girl Style

via. unknown

Can I also just take another moment here to highlight some of my absolute favorite t-shirts (that I'm dreaming about wearing with cuffed jeans and cute flats when the weather gets warmer)? If you haven't heard of Sevenly you are seriously missing out! Cute limited-edition t-shirts that help support amazing organizations? A total win-win in my books! Here are two of my favorites (the bottom one is no longer available [sorry!] but it does showcase their amazing artistry and thoughtfulness as they put together designs!):

direct link to product: here

Look of the Day: Grey Tee

I don't know what it is about grey t-shirts these days, but they seem to be what I have constantly been reaching for in my closet. Maybe it's the slightly-thicker-than-a-normal-tee fabric or the slightly faded graphic design advertising my favorite soccer team but ever since I got this bad boy for Christmas it's been my go-to for a lounging around day. And what do you know, I picked up another softer-than-air grey tee at a concert I was at this weekend. So now my challenge has become: what do I pair them with?

If you haven't noticed, grey is an unusual "colour". It's a neutral, but it's not as 'out there' as white or black or even brown. My grey tee outfits have constantly consisted of dark jeans and a blue zip sweater/black cardigan, and I'm ready for a change. Here are three different ways that I'm going to style my new wardrobe staples this spring - one for work, church and the weekend...

Work:

 A soft, casual gray tee gets a more polished look with a crisp white blazer, dark wash jeans (or dark blue dress pants if your work is more formal) and chunky gold jewelry.













Church:

Megan styles her grey shirt perfectly for a more formal/churchy outfit. Pair it with a flowy midi skirt and add a pop of pattern with a cute clutch or bag. I would not have thought to pair grey with this colour of peach, but it works beautifully.


























Weekend:

 This outfit is a more put-together look than my usual grey tee outfit. Keeping the colours all in neutral, but mixing within neutrals with a bit of black and brown, with a bit of colour in the scarf, makes this one a go-to for sure. Perfect for a spring day out, even if you have to shed the outer layer as the sun warms up!

Winter Blues

Blue has been showing up a lot in the fashion blogosphere. Here are some of my favorite winter blues looks! 

Click on the pictures to go through to the original post!

Two Trends, One Outfit

Two Winter Trends
1. Winter Lace - - pair a summery lace dress or tunic with thick grey tights, boots, and a colourful cardigan to keep it in season.
2. Equestrian Boots - - these type of boots are popping up everywhere. Try them out with a pair of dark wash jeans and a bright winter sweater for a pulled together but cozy look.

One Winter Outfit
This season its all about juxtaposition (also known as pairing two things together than don't normally go). Like lace and winter, girly and tough, sparkles and tweed. Here's an example of a girly and tough outfit. A rockin' leather jacket can take you far, especially when paired with a cute skirt and a kicking pair of leopard flats.

Transitions.

I love summer. Actually I think that I like all seasons (winter with it's snow is definitely my favorite though). But fall is kinda iffy for me. It brings colder weather, kinda in between hot and cold, and lots of rain where I'm from, which I don't always enjoy. Here are some pieces that will be helping me transition into the autumn season, and hopefully they'll help you out too!

1. Denim Jackets - a perfect layering piece to add a little warmth to your favorite summer dress!
2. Khakis - I've got a cute pair of these in purple and I love that they are light enough to be worn in the warmth, but they're pants so they transition right into fall.
3. Midi-Skirts - these skirts are all the rage right now, and they add a little swing to an autumn step. They might even be able to replace your summer dresses? (ok, that might be asking it to do too much, but still - they can be cute)
4. Bright Rain Jacket - well, if you can't beat it, join it. Try out a fun rain jacket in a bright hue or pattern to liven up a drizzly day.
5. Sheer Tops - these give the allusion of long sleeves but not the warmth of a sweater or a true t-shirt. They are also extremely on-trend right now.

Animal Crossing

Not a fan of animal print? Why not try fabrics printed with animals? 

This trend has been popping up all over the place. It's whimsical and fun, and on a dress or a skirt it's perfect for summer!

I love how Kendi styled this adorable bear (or are those cows?) dress. 

Ok. So.

Well, my July 1st goal didn't happen... but I'm back! And with a new schedule. A more relaxed schedule. I will still be around every Monday with a post but the rest of the week will be a bit more relaxed. Look, Song and Quote of the Day won't be scheduled but will arrive on the blog throughout the week! I might go back to a more scheduled schedule in the fall but we'll have to see! So... without further ado...

Easing You Into 2 Summer Trends
Here are two ways that I am easing into two of the hottest trends this summer: peplums and matching sets! Both of those things usually make me cringe, so I devised a way to sport both of these styles without going all out.

1. Pretty, Flowing Peplum
Wary of peplums? Try out a loose, flowing peplum instead of the stiff ones that you see everywhere. It still adds definition to the waist and a fun, flirty look to an outfit, but it's not stuffy and over-the-top trendy.

2. Matching Sets?
Matching tops and bottoms are definitely something that I'm not game to try, but matching big, bold patterns in the same colour palate is something that I can do! Go big and bold with your mismatched prints and ground the outfit with some neutral accessories. 

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Trending - Black & White

It's "Look of the Day" time again and this time it's black and white outfit time! One of the hottest spring trends is also the easiest to pull off. Try pairing a shirt with horizontal and vertical black and white stripes with classic staples - white shorts and black sandals. Or go for all white with only a few touches of black in the accessories. It's easy; pretty much everything works together with this trend and you can use pieces that you already have in your closet! What are you waiting for? Try it out!

Look of the Day - May Days

I've been seeing neon pop up all over the fashion blogger world lately and another trend is lace skirts, so why not combine them both in one item? Add a cute, patterned blouse on top and keep your accessories to the basics - neutral sunglasses and neutral sandals - so that your shirt and skirt are the stars. Maybe even add a cute french manicure with a pop of colour instead of the traditional white tip for a fun twist on a classic! 

As we breeze through May don't be afraid to play with bright colours and fun patterns. You'll get even more wear out of your favorite pieces and maybe even come up with a few new favorite outfit combinations!

Spring Trends 2013

Here are four trends that I keep spotting at the beginning of the beautiful Spring 2013 season!

They're things that can be easily integrated into any outfit and are pretty versatile as trends go!

1. Peplum Tops - If I'm being honest peplums are probably one of my least favorite things fashion wise. Nevertheless, they have been popping up time and time again in the blogs that I follow and on my pinterest pages, so some people must love 'em. And as long as you're going peplum, why not try a super cute striped one (this one's from Target)? Pair it with your favorite pair of jeans and sandals for a casual outfit, or with a straight skirt and a pair heels for a fancier version.

2. Blazers - These have been everywhere for the past year or so. For a spring version, why not try a blazer with a pop of colour like this lovely blue one? Pair it with a pair of jean capris, a white shirt and sandals for a school day, or try it over your LBD with some sparkly heels for a date night!

3. Cambray Shirts - I have never owned one of these little beauties but, again, this is a trend that has popped up everywhere. Layered under this and pair with that... Jessica of What I Wore loves to wear cambray and has some great outfits that are easy to replicate using it! I would try pairing it with a cute skirt and floral flats for a night on the town, and with a pair of white jeans and sneakers for a casual outfit.

4. Nude Shoes - Versatility is a key word when you're talking about nude shoes. They go with pretty much everything and they even elongate your legs! Pair them with a striped shirt and a pair of rolled up jeans for a school-appropriate outfit, or try them with a floral dress for a church-ready outfit.

Spring Has Sprung

Spring is almost here and I don't know about you but I'm ready pull some of my favorite warmer weather pieces out of the closet! The only problem is... it's still cold! Here are some tips to add some spring into your outfit while you wait for the warmer weather!

1) Layer up with Pastels!
Layering is key when transitioning into and out of winter but put a warm weather twist on things and pair pastels together. My favorite pairing is my blush leather jacket, a short sleeve green cardi and a black and white stripped shirt. Here's another version of my favorite:

2) Roll It Up!
Pair your favorite cozy sweater with a pair of rolled up jeans and a pair of flats or nude heels. Adding cuffs to your jeans helps you show a little skin  and adding a pair of nude heels can make your legs seem suuuuper long.


3) Color on Color on Color
Jessica on What I Wore has featured two outfits in the past few days where she has worn color on color on color (coral pictured here, find a purple outfit on her blog). Her tip for this is to ground it with a basic like dark wash jeans. Wearing a bunch of the same color is a great way to let everyone know that you're reading for spring! Try an outfit like the one pictured here - a cardigan, shirt and necklace - in your favorite color with your favorite pair of jeans!

Lavender Jeans - 3 Ways

I recently bought my first pair of colored pants... yes, I'm a little behind with the times... and I was lost at how to style them at first! Here are three ways to style this pair of lavender pants (which is the pair I have). One way is girly, one is colorful and preppy, and the other is a bit more relaxed!