The Perfect Watch For Back To School & Beyond

July 22, 2016

I found my all-time favorite accessory - the Cora watch in Purpleheart and Mother of Pearl, by JORD! I know I have blogged about these beautiful watches before (here and here), but I recently received a new, smaller style and love it SO very much!

The reddish, darker color of the Purpleheart wood is absolutely stunning, and is going to be great for back to school, fall, the end of summer, and beyond. I also love the unexpected sparkle of the jewels in the watch face. The other little nod to extreme attention to detail is the fact that the back of the watch face is made of glass, so you can see the inner workings of the watch! I cannot believe how nice these watches are, they're so well-made.

"Savoring something, however small, is why your style will always be revered, and rarely replicated. You'll love how the Purpleheart wood pairs with opaline Mother of Pearl to showcase the luxe nature of natural materials. Crafted to be adored, our Cora was created for you."

Enter to win a $75 gift card - click here to learn more and to apply!

And, just for fun, enter to win $75 towards your very own Wood Watch! That is a GOOD DEAL!!!

This Cora Watch matches the boho styles so well! Whether you're pairing a cute button up 3/4 sleeve shirt with dark cropped skinnies, or wearing a cute dress, the watch will never look unflattering because its design is so streamlined. This watch is very comfortable, and really makes me smile when I wear it!

sapphire crystal glass

deployment buckle with push button

swarovski crystal markers

screw-down crown

case width: 37mm

case thickness: 12mm

lug ends: 38mm

band thickness: 18mm - 22mm

band length: 211mm (they send extra links)

These watches make amazing gifts, too! My sister is already eyeing this one :) They are such good quality watches, that whoever is lucky enough to receive one will have it for a very long time. And, like I mentioned before, JORD wood watches come with extra links, just in case. There are SO many colors of these watches, so go ahead and check out the whole collection, here.

I had so much fun styling this watch for JORD. Check out all that JORD has to offer here!

Mayil Scarves & Which Queen Are You?

June 30, 2016

Mayil reached out to me and asked for a bit of help photographing her products. The products she offers are stunning, and I had a great time capturing the beauty of these scarves, bracelets, and pendant necklaces she sent me.

Mayil Scarves are absolutely gorgeous, and you must check them out!!! Check her out on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and her website!

View All Bracelets, Here

View All Embroidered Scarves, Here

Which Queen Are You? Take the quiz, here , to find out!

Embroidered & Sequined Scarf - Denim Blue

Trail To Tavern - San Diego & Escondido // Breweries & Bottleshops (And What To Wear To A Brewery)

June 30, 2016

I know I am only scratching the surface of where to drink in and around the San Diego area, but we found some pretty incredible breweries, bottle shops, and other places that I am so excited to share with you! And, since Toad&Co. was kind enough to inspire me to write this post, I wanted to do a brewery + outfit pairing! Check out my absolute favorite Toad&Co. suggestions, below.

We drove to California this past March, during our month in Arizona. We decided to visit my friends at HelloSociety Santa Monica, and then head to the San Diego/Escondido area. We only had about 5-6 days in California, but definitely made the most of it!

We knew there was a plethora of good beer in the San Diego area, so we decided to stay as close as we could, which would up being the Best Western in Escondido, CA. March Madness completely filled all of the hotels in the San Diego area, so Escondido was the closest and coolest place we could find at short notice. Funny enough, any time you mention "Escondido" to anyone in the area, they say, "You're going to visit Stone Brewing, right?".

Below, you will learn about the 4 breweries we visited, Stone Brewing, Toolbox Brewing, Modern Times, and Council Brewing.

At Stone Brewing, we were astounded by the immense scale of the tap room. The ceiling must go 2-3 stories up, and there are live plants and water features throughout the building. There is also a lovely outdoor area, where you can grab a drink and food with friends, or even let your kids run around in the gardens.

This pace was almost hard to find, because it's in a business park area, around nothing but office buildings. Also, the sign is rather small, so park near the hiking trail, and follow the intoxicating scent of hops through the bamboo garden walkway into either the store, brewery, or tap room(s).

And, if you don't wind up eating at Stone Brewing, we also ate at this incredibly wonderful restaurant called Spices Thai Cafe!

Since I promised you a list of Bottle Shops to visit (a.k.a. places to get insanely good, rare, and unique beer), here they are!

- Bottlecraft, Servall Liquors, Best Damn Beer Shop, Bine & Vine, Chip's Liquor, Holiday Wine & Spirits, Clemm's Bottle Shop, Fletcher Bottle Shop, Oak & Craft, and SO MANY MORE!!!

Toolbox Brewing Company is one of the most unique and special breweries we have ever visited. Their tap handles were made of tools (reminiscent of the San Diego Skyline), and the overall design of the place reminded me of an extremely clean mechanic's shop with lots of great merchandise to bring home with you. We had such a nice conversation with the brewery owner/founder, and learned so much about the local beer scene. They are making an effort to use their own experimental recipes, and I loved the Bog Sauce! Definitely stop by and take a look at all of those beautiful barrels!

At Modern Times Flavordome, located at 3000 Upas St. in San Diego, you will find some absolutely incredible beer and coffee! There is a second location as well. Their beer is superior to so many others, so if you are anywhere near this bar, please, please visit! If beer isn't your thing, you can always order a cold brew coffee, in a stemmed glass, like the one above, poured over ice.

Lamp shades hang from the ceiling of the tap room.

If you order a flight here, they serve it to you in the top of a wooden cigar box.

The best thing about Toad&Co clothing, is that it all looks incredibly polished, but is very, very comfortable! That is the exact sort of outfit I would recommend wearing to a brewery when it's nice and warm outside. Dresses are so versatile, and make sure you wear semi comfy shoes, because you never know where the day may take you when you're hunting for breweries to visit in the San Diego area!

Cold Brew Coffee, below, available if you don't want to get a beer - so smart!

Their tap list - I'm sure they've switched a few things up by this point :)

Mouth Watering Taps!

Several of the walls were completely covered in floppy discs! I guess their other location has a giant sticky note mural that features Michael Jackson + Bubbles.

Their bar was made of stacks and stacks of VHS tapes! So freaking cool! Definitely check out Modern Times if you get a chance, it's such a fun place.

Council Brewing greeted us with a gigantic wall of barrels - a very good sign, meaning they take lots of time to age their beers, as well as make lots of sour beers (yum)!!

The bartender was super nice and helpful, and did a great job managing the requests of everyone in the space. This brewery provides wide open space, ample seating, and a very relaxed environment. We tried several sour fruit beers, under their Beatitude line, and loved absolutely everything we had. I wish we could find their beer in Illinois.

A brighter dress is also a great option for a brewery visit in California! I would also recommend bringing a sweater or denim jacket as well, because so many of these breweries had their doors open at night, letting fresh air into the space - such a wonderful thing!

Such good beer! I love their fruit-based beers best.

Two of their special edition beers.

A flight of as many beers as you want! I think their glasses are adorable.

Where the magic happens...

Note** More photos will be added very soon! Stay Tuned :)

Yandy Summer Arrivals

June 22, 2016

I had such a great time photographing these summer bras, underwear, and swimsuits for Yandy.com. This time, I wanted to elevate the products even more, so I used fresh flowers, brighter backgrounds, and soft lighting.

Each time I receive anything from Yandy, I am thrilled to see how beautiful their items are. Everything I have in this blog post is generally under $15-20! I added a link and item name below each image, so you can shop for these featured items! Hope you enjoy your summer!

**Ready Or Not in Pink Lace & Matching Panty**

Top: Nothing To It Black Lace Bralette / Bottom: Just In Lace Black Bralette

**The Fabulace Floral Bra & Bikini Panty.**

**Tropical Paradise Bright Bra & Matching Panty**

**Mint Tie Dye Print Bra + Matching Panty (LOVE these!!!)**

If you love what you see here, check out Yandy.com for TONS of bathing suits, bras, underwear, bridal, lingerie, and more!

DIY Summer Clutch Purse - 20 Minutes Or Less "Give Extra, Get Extra"

June 20, 2016

I have an absolutely incredible DIY project for you today! Here is a fun way to spruce up your summer wardrobe. This shop has been compensated by CollectiveBias, Inc. on behalf of its advertiser. All opinions and ideas are my own. #GIVEEXTRAGETEXTRA #Walgreens #CollectiveBias

I always have this problem - I have a great outfit picked out to wear to visit friends or family, and am happy with my jewelry, then I have NO purse to match my outfit! Sure, I have my every day purse, that would work, but I always want something a bit more suited for the occasion.

It's always a good idea to bring along a pack of gum with you for a night out, so your breath is fresh! Fun Fact - these new Extra® 35-stick packs have lots of gum to supply your friends as well. You never know what conversation or new friend you could make by sharing a stick of gum with someone!! By simply giving Extra, you may get Extra!

So, here is one way to solve the problem. Sew yourself a quick and easy clutch purse, that takes less than 20 minutes! If you have never, ever sewn before, it could of course take you a tiny bit longer. But, I am very happy with how quickly this project came together!

The Flavors Featured In This Post Include:

Extra® Gum Spearmint

Extra® Gum Polar Ice®

MATERIALS:

- 1/3 yard of vinyl (found in the home decor area of the JoAnn's)

- 1/3 yard of flannel or felt

- Scissors

- 2 small binder clips

- Sewing Machine with Needle and Thread

- Glue Stick

- Hand Sewing Needle and Thread

- Button For Closure

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.) Cut 1 piece of vinyl and 1 piece of flannel.

* Each piece should be roughly 12" across, and 30" tall.

* To round the top pieces, I folded them each in half lengthwise, and created a rounded edge.

2.) Using a glue stick, carefully glue both pieces together so they line up as well as possible.

3.) Measure roughly 10" from the straight edge of the pieces, and sew a straight line across, to create a crease, where the bottom of the clutch will fold up.

4.) Fold up the flat edge to create an envelope shape, and sew all the way around the outside edges of the materials. I keep the edge of the presser foot right against the right edge of the fabrics. Double stitch where the pieces meet, see below.

5.) Sew along the open edge of the clutch to add yet another crease, on the flap part of the material.

6.) To mark where your button should go, place it onto the flap, and push sewing pins through the layers. This will transfer 4 dots to the layer beneath, which will tell you where to sew your button. Mark the 4 holes with a permanent marker, and sew the button onto the purse.

7.) Sew on your button very securely!

8.) Make your button hole. Here's a tip - fold the flap over the button you just sewed on. Mark how long the button is, and then clip a hole the proper length. Test this out, to make sure the button fits through the button hole without any resistance, but is not too large where it won't hold.

* Sew around the button hole a couple of times, and snip any loose threads.

9.) That's it! Get ready to fill your new clutch purse with some essentials like gum, lipstick, lotion, and other goodies, and you're ready to go!

To learn more, and to see what other people created, check out the Social Hub Here. Visit the Wrigley Extra® Gum Page, Here.

Extra® Gum 35-stick packages at Walgreens have more gum than you may be used to seeing! The case is super durable, and can actually be reused or recycled after you are done with the gum (see the image below). These larger stick packages ensure that you will run out of gum less often, and there is more gum to go around!

Summer Wardrobe Wish List

June 6, 2016

For some reason, this summer has inspired me to want lots and lots of new things :) Since we don't have very good shopping here in southern IL, I have to make my wish lists online, which I am totally fine with.

Below, you can shop the individual items, featured in this post! Click the images to shop.

Treat Yourself To Something Nice - Yandy.com

May 10, 2016

It's time to treat yourself to something wonderful! Whether you are the only one who sees them or not, it always feels so wonderful to get new undergarments! I especially love bright, bold colors of the newest items from yandy.com. The materials they use are soft and stretchy, and everything looks super well-made.

Their prices are also out of this world! Thongs and underwear are 5 for $20 (I've seen more expensive ones that are not nearly as well-made!!), and their bras are $15.95 each, or 3 for $33. Pretty sweet deals, so you can try a few colors of each piece!

ITEMS FEATURED IN THIS POST:

Black Floral (Hidden Agenda Bra + Thong)

Bright Pink / Fuchsia Bra + Thong + Panties

Mint (Romantic Sketched BlueRacer Back Bra + Thong)

Light Pink (Link Coming Soon)

Boho Wonders by Free People

May 1, 2016

Free People is offering up some beautifully styled eye candy. Check out these amazing Boho looks that I wish I could pull off. What are your thoughts?

Love the dress + the sandals so much in this look! And, that hat is the only accessory she really needs.

I really love this style of dress for chilling at home when it's warm out. Nothing as good as this!

An amazing hat will make summer more memorable, seriously!

Chocolate + Cashmere - Santa Fe, NM

April 21, 2016

I was so impressed by Chocolate + Cashmere in Santa Fe. The store was a breath of fresh air, and I literally never wanted to leave :) The sign itself drew me into this boutique during my final hour of shopping time in Santa Fe, on the last day we were there. They were one of the last shops open this night, so I was very fortunate to be able to stop in, take some photos, and grab a few chocolates. Chocolate + Cashmere is located at: 109 East Palace, Santa Fe, NM 87501. They also have a location in Taos, NM.

Chocolate + Cashmere proudly offers Golightly Cashmere (learn more here).

Local Santa Fe chocolates available, in so many amazing flavors.

I absolutely loved the necklaces. They were a bit out of my price range, at about $300 each, but they were locally handmade, and stunning!

Chocolate + Cashmere displays all of the available colors of cashmere on a wall display (below).

And, the chocolate again!

Isn't this store just beautiful!

Show Me Your Mumu

April 10, 2016

I have been following the brand, Show Me Your Mumu for a while now. I just love their aesthetic, and the overall boho vibe I get from their line of clothing. Check out Mumu on Pinterest!

They feature lots of these beautiful Tunic Tops, one of which I wanted to share with you today!!! I got SO many compliments on this top. The Peta Tunic In Popsicle Python will definitely be my summer go-to, worn over a black tank top and cropped leggings, over a bathing suit, on a road trip, or at a music festival!

Shown in this post, is the Peta Tunic, The Mumu Gold Bull Ring, and The Mucho Love Medium Notebook. This notebook has to be seen in person to understand just how detailed and beautiful it is. It looks completely hand painted, with lots of texture and even a bit of gold glitter paint mixed it.

We shot these photos in Cave Creek, AZ, and also in Sedona, AZ. This tunic top is also great for warm weather, because it's breathable and lightweight, but not see-through. It does not wrinkle either!

A very special thanks to Show Me Your Mumu for sending these products to me so I could share them with the world!

This notebook is absolutely incredible! It would make an incredible gift for someone who loves to journal, or is an infinite list-maker :)

Blue Life / Planet Blue Swimwear

March 11, 2016

I have had massive amount of traffic since I last posted some wonderful swimsuits from Blue Life / Planet Blue Swimwear. I love the materials they use, and the incredible variation of tie dyed fabrics. They really make my eyes look like hearts :) Below, you will find some of my new favorites from Blue Life Swim!

A one piece swimsuit, perfect for vacation!

DAILYLOOK - Your New Personal Stylist

March 4, 2016

I am super excited to share some wonderful fashion goodness with you! DailyLook is an amazing source for clothing for just about any style. I have loved their company for many years. With DailyLook Elite, you can have the help of a personal stylist, and look like a million bucks for only a teeny fraction of that!

In fact, you only keep the items you absolutely love, and send back the rest. I just love trying clothes on at home rather than in-store, you always get a way more realistic look at the clothes that way. In your natural environment, real-life lighting, and when you're comfortable!

Check out these wonderful outfits they can send you. Each box, filled with 7-11 items each, is sent to your door each month. This is going to be a great way to try outfits and silhouettes that you may have never even dreamed of, and find out that they become your new personal style. So great!

In addition to being a wonderful shopping destination, they have something amazing to offer you. You can fill out your style profile, and they will send you outfits based on a few fun and easy questions, that helps them get a closer look at your personal style.

CREATE YOUR STYLE PROFILE

Just tell them your size, body type, and preferred fit of each clothing item. My favorite part of this survey is where you choose your personal style, based on the outfits below. I love how visual this part is, and it even gives me so many outfit ideas!

After you choose your favorite silhouettes, you can answer a few more questions about your lifestyle, and which types of outfits and clothing you feel most comfortable in. You can even create a Pinterest board that reflects your personal style, and I am sure that would help your new stylist quite a bit!

DailyLook will help you look your best and costs way less than an average trip to the mall, or even just one piece of clothing! Learn more here, and here's to a new and elevated personal style and confidence boost!

What To Wear On A Road Trip

February 9, 2016

It's so important to stay comfortable yet chic while traveling. I am not the type to throw on some loose fitting sweats and head out in public. I understand how comfy it would be, but there are also lots of items you can wear that look more pulled-together but feel amazingly comfy still! Here are a few ideas for you, that can span across multiple climates and beyond!

COMFY SHOES

I like to at least have a cute pair of sneakers, and I could not live without my Birkenstocks for any trip I ever take. I often like to have a pair of waterproof and lightweight flip flops, because they don't take up much room, and are worth the tiny space they take up!

LOOSE FITTING TOPS

I tend to like to mix longer shirts with my comfy leggings, so here are a couple of ideas for you! And, they really don't look like they would wrinkle at all.

A COMFY YET STRUCTURED JACKET

While some denim jackets can be kind of constricting, if you find one that is lighter materials, or just worn in really well, put this great piece on over just about anything, and you will look like hot sh*t :) I always love a great jacket. I have also seen some great stretchy blazer style jackets that could also work pretty well here.

LOVE YOUR LEGGINGS

Of course, a couple of high quality pair of leggings will be your go-to pair of pants for every day you're in the car. Of course, please feel free to style them with boots and booties, sneakers, flats, sandals, and even a wedge heel!

A LARGE PURSE & A SMALLER ONE

I always try to bring one large purse, so I can stuff my life's essentials into one place in the car. I love this leather bag, below, because it is well made and very roomy. I have made the mistake of bringing cheaper purses in the $20-30 range on road trips, and the lining always tears out, I am heartbroken, and have to toss the purse along the way! Good luck finding a cute purse in the middle of nowhere.

A Large Purse is important. And, make sure it's nicer, maybe made of leather...

A Smaller Purse can be taken into a shop or a restaurant much easier than a larger purse.

That's all for now! Are you heading anywhere soon? Let me know in the comments, below.

Trend Watch - Boho Bikinis

February 4, 2016

n order to deal with these freezing cold temps, I have decided to think warm, and share some super cute boho-approved bathing suits! These would make for the perfect festival base layer as well. Click the images to shop, and keep thinking warm thoughts! Are you headed anywhere warm soon?

Find out more about this beach day here.

Shop this bikini here. — S hop this bikini here.

Get Cozy! Fashions To Keep You Warm This Winter

January 24, 2016

It's THAT time of year again, when it's more fun to stay inside than to go outside! Let's spend our extra time inside just being comfy and cuddling puppies :)

Ready For Winter! Patagonia Synchilla Fleece (Similar Here)

I'm Heading To Create + Cultivate!

January 24, 2016

Create + Cultivate is less than a week away and I am so excited! This will be my second conference, and I have been following their social accounts religiously. I am always so concerned with what to wear to events like this, so I got myself a couple of new dresses and cannot wait to get packed for Dallas!

Short Sleeve Stretchy Patterned Dress - Found Here

These are the two dresses I got, one for the Friday night happy hour, and one for the event on Saturday. I love that these dresses won't wrinkle in my suitcase, too. I will be looking for some cute heeled booties to go with both of them! I also need to find myself an adorable new notebook, spiral preferably, and a new purse! Since I work from home, I do not traditionally wear office attire on a daily basis, so I always have to get something new when I am attending anything dressy. Totally fine with that, though :)

I also got myself some new business cards from moo.com! They are triple thick, with a neon pink layer in the middle. They are so great! Last time I got a simple black layer inside, but the pink is even more eye catching in s fun and unique way. Click To Get 10% Off Your First Purchase!

My New Business Cards! Find Me On Instagram Here.

Can't wait to share some pictures of the event soon!

Fashion & Beauty Finds For Valentine's Day

January 18, 2016

Whether you are wanting to get all cute and festive for Valentine's Day, or just want to give your sister, mom, or friend something cute for Valentine's Day, here are some awesome finds! Click the items to shop!

Help your girl keep her nails looking good!

And make sure she has the reddest lips of anyone in the room

help her keep her paycheck safe in a new wallet

make sure her hands aren't freezing this winter

Check Out My DIY Page!

January 2, 2016

I just created a new page that helps you find all of my DIY projects in one place. I had so much fun going back through all of the fun projects I had created in 2015, and thinking about all of the great things I want to make, design, and share in 2016. If you have any requests, or ideas for me, just comment below! Happy Crafting!!

Clementine Surfwear - Tie Dyes + Home Goods

December 16, 2015

Tie Dye is something that has always caught my eye. I love the intricacies in the colors fading into one another, and I love the amazing patterns that can be created by simply tying and folding fabric in certain ways. And, generally no two tie dyed pieces will ever be alike, just like a snowflake! A few years ago, I tried my hand at Tie Dying and it went well, but it takes a ton of hard work. My favorite part was always unwrapping my creations after they had been sitting overnight, and seeing what amazing things happened.

So, when Carol contacted me to see if I could help her capture the beauty of her creations, I jumped at the chance to see her work in person and show you just how wonderful her work is!

Lily The Wandering Gypsy + Clementine Surfwear

Clementine Surfwear is based in Los Angeles, and I am sure you will see that warm weather vibe in all of her work. She creates some gorgeous tie dyed clothing perfect for layering up, lounging around, heading to yoga class, or grooving at a local concert or a festival!

Tie Dye isn't just for summer! Check out these cool weather options, and layer them up with some cute socks, boots, and a scarf! Above, the tie dyed hoodie, leggings, and beanie.

HOODIES - LEGGINGS - B EANIE CAP - DISH TOWELS

Above, you can see a pink long sleeve v-neck, beanie cap, two sets of leggings, and fingerless gloves! Everything is incredibly soft, and made from super nice materials. I have a feeling I will be sporting these garments for a long time!

Another one of Carol's more recent creations are these adorable dish towels and tote bags. They say, Kiss The Cook, Drink The Wine, Kiss The Cook! These would make adorable housewarming or holiday gifts. So, check out her screen printed goods here.

And, make sure to check out Clementine Surfwear on Instagram!

Party Dresses + Shoes

December 5, 2015

Of course, it's that time of year, when there are so many special occasions and excuses to dress up! I found a few ideas from ModCloth, that I hope will inspire you to sparkle a little brighter this year! And, since it is chilly out, I added a few warmer options for you, some adorable jackets!