Orange, White, & Layers.

I don't know what the weather is like where you live, but we have been baking here in Michigan the last couple of weeks.
I know, I know... "Michigan hot" is NOT the same as "LA hot"; but throw me a bone here. ;)
Given our heat-wave, dressing in layers has been a top priority. Because even though it's hot outside, it always seems to be freezing cold inside, especially on the days when I forget to bring a jacket!

Orange top- Forever 21 | Similar here, here, here | Love this one here (but it's almost sold out!)
White jeans- Marshalls | Similar here, here, and here | Great plus version here | Obsessed with this flared pair here
Striped blazer- H&M | LOVE these here and here | Another cute one here
Flats- Target | Almost exact | Other faves here and here 
Cuff c/o Erika Lehman for Stella & Dot | Similar here
Watch c/o Wristology (exact) | Use code GORGEOUS20 for 20% off
Necklace c/o Blossom Jewelry Design

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How To Cuff Shirt Sleeves.

Hey guys!  
This past week I received a couple of questions on how I cuff the sleeves on my button-up shirts, as seen on my last post. So instead of trying to explain it in writing, I thought I'd show you in a quick how-to video! 
I hope it helps! :)

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The BEST Button-Up Shirt.

I mentioned a few posts ago that one of my favorite things about this blog is the excitement that comes with finding something really great and getting to share that with you guys. Well let me tell you, I am REALLY EXCITED about this one.

Just ask the cute sales associate who rang me up at The Limited counter this past weekend. I think I repeatedly said "I am SO happy that I found these shirts! I can't believe I didn't know about them before!!"

Meet my new favorite button-up shirt: The Essential Shirt from The Limited.

It's everything that I've always wanted in a shirt: great quality, structure, and fit. It's not too thick and it's not flimsy; the collar stays upright and it just feels great on. Like Goldilocks would say, this one is juuust right. I can't exaggerate the perfection that is shirt. And if you've ever hunted for the perfect basic button-up, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Anyway, less talking, more showing: the exact Essential Shirt that I'm wearing below is in seersucker (here), but they have them in white and black too. I ended up buying the white one also, but skipped the black because I didn't need it. 

As always, the full outfit details are below.

Happy shopping, friends!

Seersucker button-up-The Limited (exact) | Other options here, here, & here
Navy A-Line dress | Similar here, here, here, & here
Red flats- Target | LOVE these bow ones | Great color block pair | Almost exact versions here and here
Necklace c/o Blossom Jewelry Design 

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Flirting with Pink.

As with other fashion trends, I found my way to flirty off-the-shoulder tops much later than most.
But you know what they say... Better late than never!
The first time I laid eyes on this gorgeous fuchsia off-the-shoulder top, I knew I had to have it. It looked so fun and happy; great for a mood pick-me-up. Also great for those days when you want to look cute and sassy, but you could use some room in the tummy area. Hey, we've all been there. I'm currently feeling that way after some weekend fun. 

I was a little nervous about how the elastic would "sit" on the body of a normal non-model gal, but my worries were for naught as I found that it looked and felt great. No pinching or squeezing. I wore it to a barbeque and was comfortable all day. And it turns out that my sister-in-law was just as in love with this top as I was. Instead of welcoming me with "Hi!", she exclaimed "CUTE top!" 
Love it. :)

Shop this darling top on Catch Bliss's website here.

Pink Off-The Shoulder Top c/o Catch Bliss Boutique (exact here)
Black camisole- The Limited (exact here)
Dark wash skinny jeans- Forever 21 | Almost exact here | Similar here and here
Tory Burch inspired sandals | The real deal here and here | Love these versions here, here, and here    
Clover necklace c/o Regina Pierallini (no longer available) | Super cute look-a-like here
Pyramid cuff c/o Erika Lehman for Stella & Dot | Adore these similar ones here and here

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Yellow Blazer and More Stripes.

Although some of my outfits are planned beforehand, most of the time I grab-and-go pieces in the morning and hope they look good when I put them together. Because I know my closet like the back of my hand, this usually works out pretty well.
The only catch is that I tend to get in "moods" and wear similar-looking outfits all week. I think part of it is that my brain isn't functioning at 100% when I choose my outfits in the A.M. So I try to quickly style a version of something that I know worked earlier in the week.
All-in-all, it's not a bad rule of thumb to keep in your back pocket.
When in a rush, just wear you know works, or at least a similar version of it.
Easy outfit planning in a jiff!




Navy striped dress- Forever21 | Very similar black, blue | Great navy versions 1, 2, 3 | Great black versions 1, 2, 3 (Plus!)
Yellow blazer c/o Teodora B | Similar 1, 2
Navy bow flats- DSW (Aldo brand) | Cute versions 1, 2 | My personal fave!
Gold belt- Forever21 | Similar 1, 2, 3 | Love this Kate Spade one
Necklace c/o Blossom Jewelry Design on Etsy
"Olivia" rose gold/white watch c/o Wristology (exact) | Use code GORGEOUS20 for 20% off!
Pyramid cuff c/o Erika Lehman for Stella & Dot | Super cute look-a-like

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The Perfect Summer Cardi.

The outfit below was brought to you by a 20 degree drop in temperature overnight.

One second it was 80 degrees and the next it was 60. I realized that I needed to dress accordingly if I had any hope of being comfortable all day.

Adding this cute plaid Catch Bliss cardi to my outfit totally did the trick. It's amazingly soft, the print is chic, and it's lightweight-- the perfect spring/summer cardigan to have on hand! And I have to give it bonus points for the compliments it received from my co-workers. :)

Beige top- Forever 21 | Similar 1, 2, 3
Cami- The Limited (exact) <-my all-time favorite cami!
Lightweight plaid "Katelyn" cardi c/o Catch Bliss Boutique (exact)
Pants- NY& CO | Similar 1, 2, 3
Belt- Forever21 | Similar 1, 2, 3
Watch- Anne Klein | Almost exact  | Similar | Love this version
Pyramid cuff c/o Erika Lehman for Stella & Dot | Super cute look-a-like
Pearl Necklace c/o Blossom Jewelry Design on Etsy
Pumps- Target | Similar 1, 2, 3

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A Striped top, Green skirt, and Some Soul-Baring.

As a perpetual over-thinker, I've spent the past week wondering how to appropriately address my decision to return to blogging. A million questions have been spinning around my head. 

Should I make a blog post about my reasons for coming back?
Should I explain what I missed about the blog and feeling connected?

Should I just get back to blogging as if nothing happened? 

Should I be embarrassed that I looked indecisive? Am I being judged for it?
Was the blog ruined? Could I even go back?

And as with a lot of things in life, I have come to a very prolific conclusion...I don't know the answer to all of those questions. But I will try to explain a little bit about what I did realize:

After agonizing for months and then finally making the decision to stop blogging, it felt like a huge weight was taken off my shoulders. Not having the blog to work on, I had free time again. I began reading for fun. I watched an entire Spanish telenovela on Netflix and my Spanish improved somewhat (Gran Hotel, for anyone interested). I stayed off social media on some days and it felt great. I didn't take photos of myself and my outfits and it was freeing. I didn't care as much about what I wore and what I looked like and I felt empowered. 

But then something unexpected happened: the novelty of all of the above eventually wore off. I couldn't believe it. I was so sure that I had made the right decision, and now my favorite hobby and something that had helped define me was gone, of my own doing.
I missed spending time planning outfits, styling, and thinking of designs, patterns, and fit. I missed connecting on social media. I missed discussing great finds. But most of all, I realized that much of the time I thought I was going to save NOT blogging was being spent wishing that I had the blog up and running again... because I missed you, I missed feeling connected, sharing, and poignantly, I missed having fashion and style in my life.
So once again the soul-searching commenced.
Clearly, I do a lot of soul-searching, you guys. ;)

And what I found after Soul Searching Round Two is that yes, I have changed. But my blog is still a part of who I am and what I want to continue doing. I will say, however, that my gut instinct was correct in that I needed change. Maybe I just needed a break. Maybe the blog didn't feel like me because I didn't post much about anything except outfit photos. Maybe I needed to use my own voice a bit more (like I do on Instagram). Maybe I could give the blog a small facelift. Maybe I could expand my posts to include Q&A sessions and other types of posts.
The point is, there are so many possibilities!

I hope you continue to join me in my journey, friends.
And if you're just here for the outfit pics, that's okay too. :)

Striped top- gifted | Similar 1, 2, 3 | My fave
Green pencil skirt- The Limited | Similar 1, 2 (Plus!) | Love this one
White blazer- H&M | Similar 1, 2, 3, 4
Black flats with gold chain- Target | Nearly identical | Love these gold-accented ones 1, 2, 3
Pearl necklace c/o Blossom Jewelry Design
White & rose gold watch c/o Wristology (exact) | Use code GORGEOUS20 for 20% off
Pyramid Cuff c/o Erika Lehman for Stella & Dot | Similar



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:)

Nearly three months have passed--

and I still think about you guys and the blog every.single.day.

I've given myself room to breath and spent time soul searching and exploring; 

yet the truth remains that I miss it, I miss YOU. 

For those following me on Instagram, this is not new news, as I announced it last week. 

But I figured I should make an official blog post about it too. :)

Stay tuned, beautiful friends!

Sending you so much love and light. <3

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