A Transitional Floral Dress

Cardigan top / H M moto jacket / J Crew blue jean jacket / Mossimo Supply Co. roman sandals / BP black flat / Style & Co. zipper boots / Mossimo strappy sandals / MK satchel handbag / MK crossbody purse / ALDO clutch

Spring is finally here! I'm so happy to be done with the cold weather and all the layering. I'm ready for warm sunny days with a light crisp breeze. Isn't it interesting how the weather has a big effect on our mood? I always feel a lot more energized and happier during the spring/summer months. 

One of my favorite items to add to my closet during this time are dresses! It's one of the easiest things to throw on and get out the door feeling completely put together. And a dress like this one from Target is a must have for me. I can easily transition it from spring to summer and from day to night with just a few additional items. 

I've really been wanting to add an affordable, yet good quality faux leather jacket to my closet and this H&M version fit the bill when it was recently on sale. I really like how it completely changes the look of the dress for a night out. Another great option instead of black is this brown Suede version. I'm totally in love with it, but I'm not sure I could justify the cost per wear for myself. 

I recently wore the first outfit to work this week and got tons of compliments. The material is easy to take care of and the floral print is very well balanced. I would have typically paired the dress with a black or neutral cardigan for work, but adding the yellow really brightened up the entire look. We are required to wear closed toed shoes for work, so I paired it with some simple ballet flats. However, I have been eyeing these sandals from Nordstrom for a while and Target has a very similar pair for less. Unfortunately, I took the photograph late in the day and the lighting wasn't very good. 

If you've been on a look out for a great floral dress that is also very versatile, I would highly recommend this one.

Side note: I also picked up this off-the shoulder chambray that is really on trend and would look great with these BP sandals or these affordable Target version too. Whenever I'm a little nervous to try new trends, like the off-the shoulder trend, I can always depend on Target for some good affordable options. 

What's your spring/summer staple item?

The Perfect Spring Sweater

H M long sleeve sweater / H&M activewear pants / Old Navy white jeans / J Crew petite skirt / J Crew flared skirt / Hollister Co. high waisted denim shorts / BP. open toe shoes / NIKE low top / Mossimo sandals / BP. flat shoes / Sam & Libby sam libby shoes / Rebecca Minkoff crossbody handbag / Stella Dot feather necklace / Kendra scott necklace / Leopard scarve / Old navy scarve / J Crew straw hat/ BP. mirrored aviator sunglasses

I hadn't really been interested in shopping after delivering my daughter last June. Although I knew I needed to give myself time to get back into shape, I still struggled with feeling a little depressed and worried about what I saw in the mirror. Over the past month and a half I've been making it a daily goal to take better care of myself (post coming soon). 

I'm already seeing a small difference in the way I look and an even bigger difference in the way I feel. So, I recently treated myself to a small online shopping spree. This sweater was just one of the many amazing finds I picked up from H&M. 

I'm always a bit skeptical about purchasing anything from H&M without trying it on in store. I was already all over the place in their sizing and fit before pregnancy... so you can imagine my current hesitation in purchasing anything online. However, on a the very rare occasion that I do make it out to the mall these days I typically just end up frustrated and find absolutely nothing that inspires me to try the item on. So, when I saw that H&M now offers free in-store returns, plus I had a code for free shipping and a 30% discount, I said... why not?! 

I love putting together outfit options with my recent purchases because it helps me to better understand if the item will bring me joy and add value to my closet. The color of this sweater is a perfect neutral beige. I'm very pleased with the quality and it's a perfect sweater to be worn as is or layered. When I first placed it into my online shopping cart, I imagined that it would make a nice outfit with jeans for a casual day and on skinny trousers for work. And after playing around with other outfit ideas I'm convinced that this is my new favorite sweater and a perfect transition item going into the spring months. 

I know it might be a little too early to be thinking of spring around some neck of the woods, but here in Texas the weather has been in the 70s and with my allergies acting up... spring is definitely in the air! I'm very excited to try out all these looks in the coming months. Majority of all the completer pieces are either already in my closet or I have something very similar. So, this also helps me to visualize outfits that I can keep a mental note for when I'm in a hurry to get dressed for an event. Another reason I love doing these outfit posts is because it gives me an idea of how much I might actually wear a particular item on my wish list. For example, this pegasus necklace from Stella Dot has been on my wish list for over a year, but I have yet to justify the price for the amount of times I think I would actually wear it. I've been on a hunt for something similar, but a bit more affordable. I think it goes perfectly with outfit #3, but I'm not convinced to pull the trigger on it. Come to think of it... my birthday is right around the corner! ;)

To my delight I'm happy with all the items from my recent H&M purchase and I'm most excited about this sweater and the joggers in the first outfit.



Which look is your favorite?

Recent Purchases | Nursing Purchases

White shirt / LOFT vintage t shirt / LOFT petite top / LOFT lace top / Red top / LOFT legging pants / Women's Nursing Full Coverage Bra Black Lace / Old Navy drawstring pants / Cotton camisole / credit card holder

I thought maternity shopping was difficult, but nursing shopping is sometimes even harder. At least when I was maternity shopping, I could usually just buy a few sizes up and I would be able to cover my growing belly. But nursing clothes are a slightly different story. 

During the first month or so when I was hardly ever leaving the house, the Gillian O'Malley nursing cami really came in handy. They are pretty comfortable and I bought these in every color. I would typically wear them with loose drawstring pants like the ones from Old Navy. They are currently only $11 bucks!  Both these items are super easy to wash and wear. If I wanted to run out the door or was expecting some company to stop by to visit Riya, I would  just throw on an old button down shirt or a cardigan on for a bit more coverage. 

I'm headed back to work soon and although I won't be taking Riya along with me to breastfeed daily (I wish!)... I still needed tops that would give me easy access for pumping. The Express portofino shirts are by far my favorite. I wore them a ton pre-pregnancy as well and I just sized up while I'm trying to get back in shape. I'm loving the stripped one I recently purchased during the 40% off sale.. I also liked their long sleeve front zip blouse. I haven't had a chance to wear it, so I can't comment on how well the zip up really works for breastfeeding or pumping. 

I picked up a few tops from Loft as well. I've already worn the mixed ivy lace bib shell and it looks great with some work appropriate pants and a contrasting cardigan. The fabric is easy wash and wear so I bought them in two different prints. The olive jeggings were an impulse buy since I was getting quiet frustrated trying to fit into my old jeans again. I know it's a little too soon for that so I thought these pants would be perfect for the upcoming fall/winter season. Before heading out the door, I also grabbed a couple of their soft vintage tees in a size up. Although these don't provide full access, they are great to layer on top of the nursing camis. 

The last two purchases are both a necessity in my book. A nursing bra of course! This one from Target is super inexpensive and is functional as well as pretty. I have them in both nude and black. And the skinny credit card holder was a last minute purchase from Express. With having to take a diaper bag with me everywhere I go now, I needed to have a skinny wallet that I could easily throw in the bag. I brought it in this bright red color so it's easy to see and grab. 

These are all my purchases thus far. I think I'll make it through fall alright, but I'm struggling to find some nursing friendly sweaters for the winter. If any of you seasoned mamas have any advice, please do share below! 

What have you been purchasing recently?

Second Trimester Capsule Wardrobe

Lush maxi dress / Gap long dress / Mossimo t shirt / Splendid vintage t shirt / Mossimo top / Merona top / Merona cardigan / Gap white t shirt / Tory Burch cardigan / Gap long cardigan / J Crew blue jacket / PinkBlush Maternity PinkBlush White Floral Chiffon Bottom Maternity... / Luxe Essentials Secret Fit Belly Maternity Leggings / Motherhood Maternity Ruched Polka-Dot Top / Sperry top-sider shoes, $85 / BP black flat / Sam & Libby sam libby shoes / BP pendant necklace / Asprey diamond jewelry / Kendra Scott long necklace / J Crew leather belt / Tory Burch leather belt / Women's Striped Drapey Tee White And Black Stripe - Mossimo Supply... / Flirty Ruffle Valentine Dress | Jane

As mentioned in my previous post, I'm now into my second trimester of pregnancy. Although looking cute and fashionable during pregnancy should really be the least of my worries... I'll admit that it's still pretty important to me. Somehow all the little discomforts and pains seem a bit more bareable when I feel and look good on the outside. 

I was able to get through my first trimester in most of my regular clothes. A few first trimester essentials for me were my Luxe Essentials Maternity Leggings and a slightly thicker, more expensive version by Pea in the Pod for the cooler days. I also found myself reaching for this Beband from Target for those days when my precious leggings were in the wash and I literally had nothing in my closet that fit me. I would wear it over my dress pants for work or jeans on my days off. The Beband was a perfect solution during that in between phase before I really showing versus looking like I just had a big fat meal.  Besides that I probably only bought 2-3 tunic style maternity sweaters on sale to help me get through the cooler months. 

Second trimester has been a bit different. I have definitely popped and squeezing into my regular clothes has become quite a challenge. I'm still trying my best to stretch my current wardrobe as much as I possibly can before spending money on maternity clothes. My job allows me to be fairly casual. So, my go to items have been pre-pregnancy loose fitting tee-shirts and stretchy tanks which layer well under cardigans. Maxi dresses have also been a great versatile item in my closet. I can wear them on their own, with completer pieces (cardigans, jean jacket, or vest), or as skirts with a tee and a belt! 

Prior to getting pregnant I was really trying to invest in a few key pieces a month in an effort to minimize my wardrobe to only those items I truly loved. Although it's harder to do so now that I'm pregnant, I'm still trying to keep a few principles in mind when building my second trimester wardrobe.

1. Items must be stretchable and last throughout the majority of my pregnancy - I'm sure this is going to get extremely tricky towards the end
2. Items must be versatile - work and play appropriate
3. Items must be reasonably priced - you will not believe how expensive maternity clothes can get!
4. Invest in completer pieces and accessories - these can be used post-pregnancy and keep me from getting bored with the basics
5. Don't be boring - add some color!

I'm always intrigued by capsule wardrobe posts by other bloggers. Editing a wardrobe down to 30 something pieces and mixing them so effortlessly is a skill I'm constantly trying to master. Although I love a great basic capsule wardrobe, I also crave color and personality. So I definitely think it's important to have a few pieces with some great color, a versatile pattern, or just a basic item with some unexpected interest. A few of my favorite items is my polka-dot maternity top, the simple blue maxi dress, and a recent addition - my lace-up flats.

One tip I also recently learned from the Mademoiselle blog was to leave a little room for growth in your capsule wardrobe. Instead of selecting all 30 something pieces at the beginning, select only about 15-20 items upfront. Then add additional pieces as you slowly progress through your capsule and figure out what works and doesn't. I think this is also great way to help me shop for only those few specific pieces I might have had my eye, instead of everything and anything currently on sale. Plus, this tip is especially helpful if you're pregnant, as you always need a little extra room to "grow" - quiet literally. 

I plan on doing a separate post to show the outfits I've been creating with my current capsule. Although it can be challenging at times, I've had fun working with these pieces. Whether you're pregnant or not, I hope this post will be helpful if you're looking to try a capsule wardrobe this season! 


What are some of your essential capsule wardrobe items?

Packing Post: Fall Edition

This weekend we are off to Tennessee to spend some time with the in-laws. In addition to spending with the family, I'm also looking forward to enjoying the beautiful Fall weather and the colorful scenery of the Tennessee mountains.

I'm headed off for a total of six days. Packing for this trip has been especially challenging because the weather in Texas is quiet different. Here I'm still able to get away with a light cardigan on most days and haven't had to reach for a sweater quiet yet. However, the temperature in TN is going to in highs of 60s and the lows in the 40s.

So in packing for this trip my formula was quiet simple - leggings or jeans, a sweater, and a vest or jean jacket. I really wanted to pack as light as possible. Since we don't have any major plans or parties to attend (that's a first!), I was able to get away with just a single pair of shoes for my entire trip. Now, that's a first too! I also packed a basic long sleeve swing dress which is also going to be quiet versatile for a relaxing day at home or a night out with friends.

As I've mentioned before, taking outfit pictures as I pack my bag as been super helpful to me. It helps me remember any accessories or completer pieces I might be forgetting. Plus laying everything out together also helps me sees how all the pieces in my capsule wardrobe for the trip will easily go together. I'm learning that sticking to a color palette is key to minimizing the overall number of items packed.

                 

Express Dress | Style & Co. Booties | Jean Jacket from Khol's | F21 Necklace

I just purchased this Express dress last week and I can already tell it's going to be one of my favorites.  It's really comfy and flattering. Plus, it's a plain canvas that you can totally dress up or down with different accessories.

              

Left: Gap sweater | BP necklace | J.Crew Vest | Lou & Grey leggings | Style & Co. booties          

Right: Oversized sweater | Lou & Grey leggings | Style & Co. booties

These Lou & Grey leggings are so comfortable! I've gone through several different pair of black leggings and these are by far my favorite. They are thick enough to keep me warm and I never have to worry about any sheerness. They also wash and wear really well - an added bonus! 

This J.Crew vest was also a good purchase from last year. It can be layered on any of these outfits for little extra warmth. I considered more affordable options before pulling the trigger on this one, but for me the pattern of stitching on this version is much more flattering without adding too much bulk.

J. Crew Factory shirt | Scarf | Lou & Grey leggings | Style & Co. booties

I wore this chambray shirt a lot last year. It's great to layer under sweaters, over dresses, or just with by itself. However, looks like I've gained a little weight since last year and it wasn't as loose over the leggings as I wanted. So in the end, I didn't pack it simply because I knew I wouldn't wear it. 

          

Left: Old Navy Sweater | Loft skinny jeans | Style & Co. booties      

Right: BR sweater |  Lou & Grey leggings | Style & Co. booties

TN tee | Jean Jacket from Khol's | Loft skinny jeans | Style & Co. booties

This last outfit is what I wore on the flight there. I was really proud of myself for managing to take only one pair of shoes to go coordinate with almost a week's worth of outfits. I purchased these booties last year and they are my favorite! I'm sorry that the exposure in some of these pictures isn't very good, but the first picture with the black dress shows the exact color of these booties. This color is no longer available, but I'm thinking of purchasing them in black as well because the heel height is perfect and they are super comfortable. 

This is everything I took with me in my carry-on bag. I love my packing cubes and I don't know how I ever packed with out them. The only item not pictured is a compact blow-dryer. As you can see I also opted not to take brown my cross-body bag.  Instead, this black one was big enough for to carry my small make-up bag without being oversized. I also decided to leave my sunglasses at home and opted to take an umbrella instead since rain was in the forecast. I wore my jean jacket and jeans on the flight and packed my vest instead.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with everything I packed. I've come a long way from overpacking, being frustrated and unhappy once I've reached my destination. The only thing I plan to improve on next time is the amount of items I took in my toiletries bag. I guess it's like the saying goes, there is always room for improvement.  

What are you packing for your upcoming holiday?

Rainy Day Flats

J Crew vneck top / Vince white long sleeve sweater / Red v neck sweater / Banana Republic belted coat / St John s Bay long sleeve jacket / J Crew long pleated skirt / J Crew long rayon skirt / Banana Republic black stretchy pants / Dot shoes / Ann taylor tote / MICHAEL Michael Kors brown satchel handbag / MICHAEL Michael Kors bracelet wrist watch  Leighton wooden umbrella

I know booties are what's on everyone's mind this time of the year, but before it gets freezing cold... it typically starts to rain here in Texas.

I have a good 5-10 minute walk to my work from where I park my car. On rainy days those 10 minutes walking can be quiet dreadful. I've had a handful of miserable rainy days where I've stepped into a puddle of water and had to walk around in wet ballet flats all day. I've been the lookout for cute rain shoes for sometime now.  Although I love the look of Hunter boots, its not quiet practical for me to wear them at my place of work, neither am I willing to carry an extra pair of shoes with me to switch into once I get to work. So, when I saw these Chooka Rain Flats on sale, I thought that they would be a perfect option for me.

I really liked that these flats are neutral enough to go with most work outfits, yet still fun with the polkadots. The shoes seemed to be really great quality, but unfortunately I sized up and so  the ones I ordered were a little big for me. By the time I went to exchange them my size was sold out, but I found them online for full price at Zappos and other on-line retailers. I'm keeping these on my radar and hoping that they will on sale again soon (fingers crossed). If you're on a lookout for some rain flats these are a great option.


What are your go-to shoes on rainy day?

The Floral Skirt

Striped sweatshirt / 3 1 phillip lim blouse/ MANGO blue green top, $30 / J Crew petite long skirt / Vince Camuto ankle cuff sandals / Mossimo kohl shoes / BP. ankle tie sandals / Forever 21 pointed ballet flat / Oasis pink clutch/ ALDO metal clutch / Kendra Scott blue turquoise jewelry / Mossimo Supply Co. Boyfriend V-Neck Tee

When I saw this floral skirt, I knew that I was attracted to the print right away. It has some of my favorite colors. When I started to play with how I would pair this skirt, I'm drawn to it even more! However, I have few reservations: the cost (although it's 50% off currently), the fit (cotton + spandex, doesn't always work well for my figure), and the shipping/returning. The closest J.Crew Factory store a little out of the way for me and I don't make it there quiet often. 

Although I haven't made up my mind about this skirt completely, I thought I'd still share some of the outfit ideas I came up with. I'm glad I experimented with tops that were anything but bright pink, which is what I would have gone to first. I love how all three looks turned out. The stripped sweater top is way outside of my comfort zone and inspired by this dress worn by Cassie. Ironically, it's also my favorite look. 

I hope I get a chance to try this skirt out in person. If you've been on a hunt for a floral skirt, I think this might be a great one to try, especially with the current sale. Happy (early) Labor Day! :)

LinkUp: #HowISummer


What are you eyeing this Labor Day?

Inspired Style on a Budget: June-August

Raviya cover up / Mossimo pants / Sam Edelman red pumps / ALDO clutch / ALDO clutch / Kendra Scott long necklace

Last three months have been quiet slow in the shopping department for me... and my wallet definitely doesn't seem to be complaining! I have mainly only shopped on three different occasions: right before the  Jamaica trip,  online for the Nordstrom anniversary sale, and a short recent mall trip.

For the Jamaica trip, I added three new items to my closet. I've talked about all three of them in my packing post. This yellow top has become one of my favorites and it goes really well with the turquoise necklace. I've been eyeing this necklace for some time now and love the color. It's a great statement necklace without being too flashy. It was gifted to me by my aunt last month. As for the cover-ups, I think these two will last me for many summers to come. 

I was very disappointed that the Trove leather jacket from my Nordstrom Anniversary sale post didn't work out for me.   The quality of the leather was incredibly soft and buttery, but unfortunately they did not have the camel color in my size. Considering the cost of the jacket, I was not ready to compromise on the fit or color. And so, the search for the perfect leather jacket shall continue. As for the rest of my anniversary sale picks: the leather pants didn't fit as well as I'd hope and were a tad too long and the puffer jacket was also a bit too long on me. I have kept the cardigan for now. After wearing my gray one last winter, I thought about sizing down, but I actually need a size bigger. I'm hoping to be able to exchange it soon and will add it to my next budget post if I'm able to get the correct size. As for these red shoes... well I'm in love! I'm planning on doing a style post with them soon and I think I'll be able to get good use out of them during Christmas time. 

I have been eyeing the  comfy jogger trend for a while now. Recently, on my quick Target run (no such thing in my dictionary), I grabbed these joggers.  I'm not sure that the link for these are the exact ones I bought because mine have a mesh material that gives them some textural interest. I think they will be perfect for a causal weekend look or while traveling. 

As for the clutches, they are a bit more expensive than what I would normally spend on a clutch. However, both of them are great quality and I believe I will get great use out of them both. The silver clutch has great sparkle on one side and the reverse side is a bit of a subdue shimmer material so it's like a 2-in-1 look. I got tons of compliments when I wore it for a party recently. Plus, I'm always reaching for a silver with most of my Indian outfits. I have only had one  silver clutch for the past 4-5 years and wasn't very happy with it. So I'm excited to add this one to my closet. I'm also ready to retire my old F21 black clutch that has severed me very well over the years. This black clutch from Aldo will be super versatile since it's a good size and has some nice textural detail on the flap. Both of these clutches come with detachable straps which are always a must for me. 

Accessories are generally an after thought for me and I never really spend too much money on them. I'm starting to change this as I'm learning more about my own sense of style. A great clutch or a bold pair of earrings can really elevate the look of that simple black dress. I think a few dependable, good quality accessories are a must-have in any closet. 

Regrets & Returns 

Update from my previous budget post. I ended up returning the lace crochet shorts and the white lace skirt. I just decided that I wasn't too happy with the quality or the fit of either of these items. The Sam & Libby sandals are good quality of the price, however the detailed gold rim is already peeling after 4 months of wear. Although the rest of the sandal is in great shape, it's a shame that these sandals probably won't last until next season. 

Link Up: Franish

What's your favorite closet addition or regret recently?

An Incredible Production

On Friday, Chirag and I went to support an incredible group of women who make up the Indique Dance Company. Their latest production is "Yatra: Discovery Through Journey". 

The weather has been bright and sunny this week with temperatures averaging around 104 degrees! So I decided to pull out this super old skirt and pair it with a light cami to wear to the show. Dallas is a city of extremes. I'm not a huge fan of cold weather and bundling up with a big coat. So, as unbearable as this heat has been lately, I have to remind myself to enjoy these bright sunny days while they last because soon it'll be freezing cold!

Link-Up: PinkSole: #HowISummer

Indique always does such an amazing job of blending the art of Indian classical dance with contemporary story-telling themes. "Yatra" was no different. My dear friend, Kurti's piece was about her journey as a teenager struggling to fit in and still be true to herself and her Indian roots. It was something I could definitely relate to. There were several pieces in the production which were also very interesting and beautiful depicted through their dance. I have seen three of Indique's productions so far and each time these women leave me feeling so inspired and in awe of their grace and talent.

via

If you are in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area I highly encourage you to go see their latest production. I promise, you will not be disappointed!

Have you seen an interesting production lately?

The Pink Shift Dress

During the Spring/Summer my perfect go to outfit almost always consists of a shift dress! A nice bright color makes me smile and an easy to care for fabric makes me pretty darn happy on laundry day! This dress is just that my friends. 

Leith pink dress / J Crew denim jacket/ Steve Madden ankle strap shoes / Sam & Libby sandals / Mossimo gladiator sandals shoes / Kate spade handbag / BP white purse / H M light blue purse, $6.19 / Stella Dot layered necklace / FOSSIL stainless steel bracelet/ Kendra Scott necklace / Merona black hat

If you follow me on instagram then you may have already seen that I wore this dress to brunch a couple of weeks ago. I originally saw this dress on Cassie  from Hi Sugarplum! and knew that it was right up my alley. I really like Cassie's philosophy of buying super versatile clothes instead of having tons of clothes in your closet that you barely wear once. I was a little hesitant to fork up the cash for this simple shift dress at first, but Cassie had me convinced with a ton of different ways she wore this dress. I'm loving her idea of pairing it with a leopard or a floral heel! I've worn this dress to brunch, on a date night, to work with a nice cardigan, and simply running errands around town. Given it's versatility and quality of fabric, I think this dress is totally worth the money.

Besides being super versatile for the warmer weather, I also think this dress would easily transition into Fall/Winter with some booties and a warm cardigan. The fabric is super easy to care for... I just throw is in the delicate cycle and hang it up to dry. No last minute runs to the dry cleaners for me! 

So, here are three ways I plan on wearing this dress. The first and second look are totally my style and I've actually worn the dress both ways already with similar pieces in my closet.... well, except my I traded the floppy hat for my fedora instead. I'm still on the hunt for a perfect floppy hat that will fit my small head. Maybe, I should try the kid's section?! However, the second look I totally copied from Cassie. I would have never thought of pairing it with floral heels, but I absolutely love this look! I wore this look with nude heels (minus the floral version) for date night. But I'm totally crushing on the floral heels! I plan on playing with a few more looks with the floral heels before jumping on adding them to my closet. Strategic versus impulse purchases is the key to building a closet that I'll love long after my crush over.

I love getting inspiration from fellow bloggers and building on it to better understand my own sense of style. It's always nice to be inspired to think outside the box as well (i.e. floral heels). I'm also tempted to purchase this dress in green because I think it would be perfect with fall colors... I'm thinking a mustard cardigan and brown boots. But for now... I'm enjoying the cheerful pink! :)

Link-Up: PinkSole: #HowISummer


What is your Spring/Summer go to outfit?

My Online Shopping Spree

Just a quick post to share my crazy shopping spree this morning with the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! I have had several items on my wish list since Fall/Winter of last year. The prices are really unbeatable and several of the colors sell out fast. It's really hard to me to get to the mall these days with my crazy work schedule. So, shopping online is just the quickest and stress free way for me to shop. I've decided to keep my fingers crossed and invest in some key pieces I know I'll be wearing a lot this Fall/Winter. 

Bobeau petite cardigan / DKNY coat / Trouvé real leather jacket / BLANKNYC 5 pocket pants / Sam Edelman d'orsay pumps

• The perfect cardigan.  Jean has me sold on this cardigan. This color was sold out last year, so I bought the grey and wore it all of Fall/Winter. I think the mink is going to be perfect with my camel colored booties.
• A great puffer coat. For the past two years I've been on the look out for the perfect puffer coat. They are so warm and ideal for commuting. I think the stitching of this coat will be quiet flattering on my body and minimize the chance of looking like a big marshmallow. 
• The leather jacket. This jacket looks like perfection! Unfortunately, the camel color has been sold out everywhere. So I bought the black color for now to check out the fit.  Hopefully if this is the one, I can hunt for the camel color in the after sale returns. 
• A great pair of leather pants. I've been looking for these for quiet some time. I see myself wearing these for a night out on the town with a neutral top, some statement pumps, and a cute clutch. 
• The red pumps. Speaking of some statement pumps, do you remember the red pumps from my previous post? These are slightly higher, although I really like the Sole Society ones they are sold out in my size. I'm going to give these a shot. A red pair of pumps are also perfect to dress up the LBD for a holiday parties. 

I think I've pretty much blown my July and August budget out of the water. I have high hopes for these items, but I'll keep you posted with my next budget post. 

Are you shopping the Nordstrom anniversary sale?

Packing Post: Into the Water

Packing for the beach always gets me a little nervous more than excited. Yes, I love the sunny weather, diving into the water, and relaxing on the beach... but what I don't love so much is feeling self-conscious about my own body.

Prior to a beach vacation with my now-hubby five years ago, I had never even tried on a bikini let alone strut my stuff out in public. I've never been incredibly overweight, but just like most people I've always thought I'd look better if  I could lose an extra few pounds (or 10), maybe tone up my arms or abs, etc. One thing that I really love about my husband is that he really and truly loves me for who I am. He is always giving me confidence to be more comfortable in my own skin. I can't say that I've become so confident with my body now to where I see myself frolicking around the pool with in my tiny bikini by any means. Yet, I've definitely learned to make peace with how my body looks and still strive to be fit and improve my health with a positive frame of mind.

view from our balcony

Last week when I was starting to think about what I would be taking with me on our upcoming trip, I had those same negative thoughts going through my head again. Instead of focusing on being happy about being on the beach/pool and enjoying the vacation, I was more focused on worrying about how I would look in my bathing suit. I really envy people who don't have those perfect bodies, yet are still so confident in their own skin. Sometimes, it's just having that internal confidence that makes them look so beautiful on the outside.

Somewhere along the way as I started to pack and realized that I probably should have been working out a lot harder several months in advance, I finally just threw my hands up and went... "It is what it is... I deserve this trip and I'm going to make the most of it!" I didn't look all that bad in the mirror. Maybe if I found a cute cover-up and started thinking a little more positively, my confidence would disguise my imperfect curves and I'd just have more fun on the trip.

I started with my full coverage bathing suits. All my suits are fairly old because as you can imagine I truly dislike shopping for this category of items. This one piece is in my favorite colors - yellow. The cover-up was a last minute deal from Macy's. They only had one size left and it was pretty pricey when I first picked up. I hesitated to bring it to the cash register, but I got super lucky and it rang up for just $23 bucks (down from almost $50) score! I can't believe that it's still available online. I love the color contrast and I think blue and yellow go well together. I was thinking of buying a straw beach bag and I looked high and low for a one that I really loved, but came up empty handed. I wanted to stick with my new rules of shopping and didn't want to compromise if I really didn't like the item. Then I remembered getting this free tote with my last Victoria Secret order. I was worried about wearing black on the beach... but the little colored tassels and small pink bag made it work for me! It was big enough and it served it's purpose. The shades were a gift from Chirag. As much as I wanted the pricier Ray Ban version, I was very happy that I could be more carefree with these on the water. I loved them and wore them basically everyday too!

You may recall this next suit from my April Budget Post. It was definitely a another great deal at only $10 bucks. I was a little worried about the print & cut, but it was actually very slimming. The tank is also from Old Navy and I really liked the fun pineapple print.

Oh, the bikini! In my mind I still wasn't sure if I'd even wear it on our trip... but I remembered to stay positive. This colorful cover-up from H&M made me super happy! It was slightly pricer than the other one, but it looked super cute on and I needed something to boost my confidence! I actually ended up wearing this outfit on our very first day there. I guess I was ready to be brave and just dive right in! ;)

Cover-up with black bikini

And below is my last ensemble. I think if you are like me and tend be a little self-conscious when it comes to swim suits then a great cover-up is totally worth the money. Although once it was time to jump in the pool I had to take it off... I could hide under the water and quickly slip on my cover-up when I was ready to sit by the pool side to read my book. 

For this trip, I tried to keep the hair, makeup, and toiletries to a minimum and used up some samples I had laying around. The resort provided us with SPF 50 sunscreen for the beach/pool, which was great so that we didn't have to check in a bag for a huge bottle of sunscreen. A couple of my favorites on this trip was the Nars The Multiple Stick and the Smashbox CC cream. I wore these two products pretty much every single day.

Makeup

Hair/Face/Body

As for the evening dinner dates and walks on the beach I choose the following dresses with minimal jewelry and accessories. All the dresses and the jumpsuit were light weight and very easy to pack. I'm enjoying doing these packing pictures because laying it all out made me realize that one item I need to add to my shopping list is a nice black clutch. Since we were mainly staying in the resort I could do without it for now. 

I'm really starting to enjoy doing my packing this way. With my type A personality seeing everything laid out helped me remember the little things might forget. For example, in addition to my toothbrush and razor, I remembered to throw in some hair ties, bobby-pins, and a hair clip after laying out my toiletries. I also added an outfit with some sparkly shorts for a night of dancing. For the plane ride I grabbed my trusty jean jacket and a warm scarf. Everything was neatly packed away in my handy packing cubes and off we went! 

via my Instagram

Link-Up: PinkSole: #HowISummer

What are you packing for your beach vacation this summer?