SHEIN Haul and Review

Holy wow….it has been MONTHS since I last wrote. I can’t believe I let myself go this long because I’ve missed writing tremendously. However, with quarantine being all I’ve known for the past couple months, I haven’t really been out doing things that I normally do, giving me absolutely nothing to write about. That is, until the boredom got the better of me and the deals on SHEIN stole all of my attention! I maybe kinda sorta went all out and gave myself quite the update for my spring wardrobe, all for under $150! To top that off, the free shipping I received only took 7 days to get delivered!

Below I have brief descriptions on each style, and am going to show some at home photo shoot pictures with honest reviews and links to each product! If you have any further questions about fit/style/quality, feel free to leave a comment below!

Accessories

Aztec Inspired Fringe Earrings

I have been on the hunt for a pair of cute silver fringe earrings for as long as fringe earrings have been on the trend scene. This adorable pair is finally the answer I’ve been looking for! They are a dangle style pull through, with a silver medallion and white fringe. They aren’t as heavy as they look, super comfortable, only con was they did not come with any backing. I have spare plastic backings so it was no issue for me to figure out, but thought it was worthy enough a note to share! 9/10

https://us.shein.com/1pair-Tassel-Decor-Drop-Earrings-p-1069803-cat-1757.html?scici=navbar_2~~tab01navbar08menu09dir02~~8_9_2~~real_1757~~SPcCccWomenCategory_default~~0~~0

Colorful Acrylic Earrings

These bad boys almost look like a defense weapon than earrings, but they are so so fun. They have the feel of a hoop, but definitely give a different overall look. Very light weight, and have a moving post that clicks into place for the piercing itself. 10/10 love these guys.

https://us.shein.com/Triangle-Shaped-Hoop-Earrings-p-1129376-cat-1757.html?scici=navbar_2~~tab01navbar08menu09dir02~~8_9_2~~real_1757~~SPcCccWomenCategory_default~~0~~0

Strappy Mules

I’ve been looking for a new pair of heeled mules for a while now, but sometimes shoe shopping with strappy styles is difficult to do online, without trying them on for the true fit. I looked at the reviews of this shoe, and everyone called out they are true to size and surprisingly comfortable, so I pulled the trigger and hoped for the best on these ones! Thankfully, they fit great, the straps are just stiff enough to keep the foot in place, and the chunky heel make them extremely easy to walk in. I feel slightly awkward in heels due to not wearing any in so long, but these are definitely going to be my new going out shoes once the world is back in order! 8/10

https://us.shein.com/Leopard-Peep-Toe-Twin-Band-Block-Heel-Mules-p-976550-cat-1751.html?scici=Search~~EditSearch~~1~~swshoes15191219385~~~~0~~0

 

Dresses

Black Embroidered Skater Dress

This dress just looked so cutesy online that I had to get it. I was very pleasantly surprised to open this one up and feel the thick quality of the fabric, and see that the design on the bodice of the dress is truly embroidered in, not just printed on. It fits great, super comfortable, and exactly like what I saw online! 10/10

https://us.shein.com/Embroidery-Detail-Ruffle-Cuff-Smock-Dress-p-1009787-cat-1727.html?scici=Search~~EditSearch~~1~~swdress07200115080~~~~0~~0

Red Ruffle Dress

This little number is so fun and flirty, I’m happy I went with the red instead of the dark navy or black. I don’t usually lean towards too much color, but the style of this one in this red was just too perfect to pass up. I was surprised on the material of this one, it feels like an athletic cool to the touch woven material, when I was expecting a soft knit. And the tie under the bust is faux, it doesn’t actually cinch anything in, but besides these couple of things I love the way this one looks! Really comfortable, and a good length for me. Comes in a whole variety of colors too! 8/10

https://us.shein.com/Allover-Plants-Print-Flutter-Sleeve-Frill-Trim-Tiered-Dress-p-713415-cat-1727.html?scici=Search~~EditSearch~~1~~swdress07190408674~~~~0~~0

 

Smocked Chambray Stripe Dress

I feel like a 50s housewife in this, and yes I know this is not what 50s housewives wore, but for some reason that’s the only way I can explain how I felt putting this one on! The stretchy smocked bodice is so comfortable, and the flutter sleeves add a girly touch to the stiff looking top. The skirt is midi length, and hits me about half calf, so I’m happy on the length here. There’s a slight square neckline at the top, which is super trendy right now. All in all, pretty content with this one, but it does need some stylistic touches like adding a belt, or maybe finding a good necklace to dress it up. 7/10

https://us.shein.com/Striped-Shirred-Butterfly-Sleeve-Dress-p-719697-cat-1727.html?scici=Search~~EditSearch~~1~~swdress03190417260~~~~0~~0

Slit Midi Dress

I LOVE THIS DRESS SO MUCH. Now this one I think I can get away with relating it to the 40s or 50s, but as a   s u l t r y  housewife instead. This kind of neckline with puffy sleeves is all the rage right now, and I have completely fallen victim to it myself. I cannot wait to wear this one on a hot date night, because it is so FUN. It has a center back zip, and is a thinner woven material. However with being a black print I have no concern about this one being see-through. 10/10

https://us.shein.com/Sweetheart-Neck-Puff-Sleeve-Split-Hem-Milkmaid-Dress-p-1021315-cat-1727.html?scici=Search~~EditSearch~~1~~swdress07200221010~~~~0~~0

Tops

Lemon Body Suit

This body suit is surprisingly comfortable, the bodice is double layered so the white knit fabric isn’t see-through to the skin, and the neckline is so so so fun to me. Gives me the same vibes as the black and white dress, but the dressed down version. This will be a great go to for summer cook out plans and adventures! 9/10

https://us.shein.com/Lemon-and-Dot-Print-Wrap-Sweetheart-Bodysuit-p-727538-cat-1882.html?scici=Search~~EditSearch~~1~~swbodysui07190425262~~~~0~~0

Lace Sleeve Blouse

This style is unfortunately extremely see-through. Something I need to add into my wardrobe is a plain white/nude tank or bodysuit to wear underneath tops like this. I thought it would be a cute little office top that could go with jeans or tailored work pants, and although those outfit ideas are still viable, I just need to get that tank to feel comfortable wearing this one in the work place. There is a center back zip just at the nape of the neck to get this one on, and the sleeves are all mesh with a crochet lace detail at the opening. Still cute, I will make this one work, just not the best in this haul. 6/10

https://us.shein.com/Solid-Embroidered-Mesh-Sleeve-Zip-Back-Blouse-p-740982-cat-1733.html?scici=Search~~EditSearch~~1~~swblouse04190514401~~~~0~~0

Back Wrap Top

This was the style I was most excited about in this haul, and I was not disappointed! It is the perfect cropped length for being a little heavier set in the mid-section, and pairs so great with some high-waisted denim. It’s super girly and frilly, which typically isn’t my style, but I love how this one looks and fits. The back detail of the wrap tie is also so fun, and I think I can make this one work with shorts too! 10/10

https://us.shein.com/V-neck-Ruffle-Cuff-Floral-Chiffon-Top-p-1003484-cat-1733.html?scici=Search~~EditSearch~~1~~swblouse07200108183~~~~0~~0

Pants

Pleated Gauchos

I love me a good pair of stretchy pants that look nice as well as trendy. I’ve been into pink more than ever lately, and figured these would be great to add into the wardrobe as a good transitional piece for both spring and fall. I realized while taking photos that I matched my pillow, so of course I had to document that. But anyway, these guys fit great, are super flowy, and can be easily paired with a basic tee or dressed up for a night out! Only downside is that the elastic is not sewn into the waistband, so it does flop around a bit and will need adjusting with each wear. 8/10

https://us.shein.com/Elastic-Waist-Pleated-Wide-Leg-Pants-p-1080896-cat-1740.html?scici=Search~~EditSearch~~1~~swpants01200330798~~~~0~~0

So that’s the haul! There’s a lot of talk out there in the online world of SHEIN not having quality garments, and being shipped things that aren’t the same. However, each experience I’ve have with this site has been positive. You get what you pay for, this is definitely deal shopping so keep that in mind, but everything I’ve received matches what I saw online.

Anyway, hoping to have more posts coming your way here soon. As things open back up and the weather gets nicer, I’m bound to find a couple more things to write about (: Thanks for tuning in, see you next time!

Zaful Bikini Haul & Review

As most of you already know, I’ve recently just came back from a wonderful cruise vacation with family and friends. We visited the Bahamas, Mexico, Honduras, and Belize. In knowing that these destinations would be significantly warmer than the cold Ohio I was experiencing, I knew I needed to get a plethora of swimsuit options ready for the trip. I tried on some old suits and although they all still fit (surprising to me in that moment) I realized I was wishing they didn’t, so I’d have an excuse to buy some new ones. I was simply bored with what I had, and thus the search for new swimwear begun. I tried scavenging through sale sections both in stores and online but came up short every time.

Finally, I looked to Zaful just before Christmas, hoping to find some discounted deals. And let me tell ya, the discounts were REAL. I’ve never, EVER, received 3 full bikinis + shipping for $42. Never. I was nervous the deal I got was way to good to be true but all of my items came in about 4 business days. I was extremely impressed with the quick shipping since the site is UK based, and even more impressed with the quality of the suits I received.

Now I’ve heard of Zaful and their swimwear before, but never gave it a try. I thought it was another one of those scammy websites that sell pictures of other garments and send you something entirely different from what you ordered, but boy was I wrong. I deep-dived into reviews on the site and saw all the picture testimonials proving the suits pictured are what you receive, and for $42 I couldn’t pass up trying. Anyway, long story short, I don’t think I’ll ever buy a suit online from anywhere else again. I am officially a Zaful Fan.

Suit #1 Marble Bandeau High Waisted Bikini

This suit is so stinking cute. At the time I ordered, it was offered in both black and white, but my pastey self could never rock an all-white suit so I went with the black combo. There is padding in the cups and the fabric is double lined and super smooth. There are no detachable straps, it’s just the tube bandeau so if you like the choice of straps, maybe skip this one. The bottoms are the perfect amount of high-waisted, but they are a bit cheeky. This suit was great for laying out on the boat, trying to get my tan on (even though all I do is burn).

Link: https://www.zaful.com/marbling-print-high-waisted-bandeau-bikini-set-p_524395.html

Suit #2 Scallop High Waisted Bikini

This one is SUPER comfortable, the fabric is textured and extremely lightweight, which felt really comfortable on the skin. The top has padding in the cups, and the back is a lace up design, so you are able to alter the fit to your needs. The bottoms fit similarly to suit #1, but the fabric was different so they started to ride up a bit awkwardly when sitting down. Multiple colors in this suit were available, but the baby blue was different from what existed in my collection already!

Link: https://www.zaful.com/zaful-scalloped-textured-high-waisted-bikini-set-p_675727.html

Suit #3 50s Inspired High Waisted Stripe Suit

I LOVE THIS ONE. Okay, so this suit is the same typical swim fabric you’d expect a suit to be, and is double lined as well. The top has detachable straps, padding in the cups, and a cute little tie front bow detail. The bottoms are more full coverage, but fit comfortably high-waisted. I really love how cute and fun and simple this one is, this has a few color combos too!

Link: https://www.zaful.com/zaful-striped-tied-keyhole-tankini-swimsuit-p_749559.html

As you can tell, I like high-waisted swimwear. I’m a girl who enjoys her food and drinking too, so being able to feel tucked in yet cute at the same time is my main priority when it comes to swimsuit shopping. I got all suits in a size large and they all fit perfectly. From reviews too, I feel like Zaful is pretty true to size. As spring break is upon us, I hope you consider checking out Zaful for all your bikini needs! Next, I’ll check out their actual clothing pieces and see if they compare to the same quality and fit of the swimwear!

Thanks for tuning in (:

Whitening Sensitive Teeth at Home

Teeth Whitening, My Story and Yours

I’ll make this intro short and sweet…WOW am I excited to share with you my story of using the Smile Brilliant at-home teeth whitening kit. The results at the end are so worth it.

Now for the long version:

My relationship with my smile is a long one; from six years in braces, multiple dental removals/surgeries, and having a larger set of chompers in general. As a kid I was made fun of for having buck teeth, then I got braces on extremely young to correct that flaw and I got made fun of even worse for being a metal mouth. When I finally got my braces off as a freshman in high-school, I discovered a lot of discoloration in my front two teeth in the result of a swimming accident where I chipped the two teeth. Like come on, after YEARS of struggling to love my smile, I was so excited to get those things off but only to reveal a new problem. It was really hard, to have something you were always insecure about never getting better no matter what effort was put in.

All through high-school and college I went back and forth between different whitening toothpastes, whitening strips, home-made concoctions of lemon juice and baking soda, the list goes on. But I never had true success with correcting the discoloration and drastic yellowing of my front teeth. It was always such a drag to have to think about how to smile for school pictures, dances, going out with friends and family. That’s when I started researching new more intensive teeth whitening products, but honestly, it just made me feel more hopeless about it. All I could imagine in my head while reading about those light activated kits for example, was how I could keep that in my mouth for an extended period of time. What if my boyfriend was home and I wanted to talk with him? What if my mom called? They seemed like so much work to me that there came a time where I just gave up on everything to do with at-home whitening, thinking maybe one day I could save up and get it done professionally. Let’s just say, I was really grateful to stumble across Smile Brilliant when I did.

I truly couldn’t be happier with my results. The kit is SO easy to use, there’s an option for sensitivity issues, and the process didn’t disrupt my day to day life at all. My night routine was already on a schedule of being done eating by 9pm, even though I would stay awake until about 11pm-midnight. Adding the “extra step” of whitening into that routine really didn’t change a thing for me and that was SO IMPORTANT because I didn’t want to lose any more time in my day. This is the one kit that just let me keep on living life while improving an insecurity I thought I’d always have.

Anyway, if you keep reading from here, I’m about to go through and explain all the steps and how I went about doing them. If you’d rather just skip to the end to see the before and after shots all the details of the amazing giveaway attached to this post, well I guess I can’t stop you!!!

First, you’ll get a personalized kit with modeling clay to set impressions of your smile so an exact match set of trays will fit you perfectly. I know of some other companies that just send standard trays with no personalization, so this was a huge winning factor for me with Smile Brilliant. They give really easy to read instructions with detailed pictures so there’s no chance of messing up when making your molds. However, if you do manage to mis-read the directions, they do give an extra round of modeling clay just in case(:

 

After you send your molds in, your personalized trays will be shipped back to you within the week. I believe I sent my molds in on a Tuesday and received them by that Friday. It was super fast and efficient and I really appreciated that. The trays are extremely flexible and comfortable too! Once you have your trays, you are ready to start whitening! They give individually packaged vials of whitening paste and desensitizing gel.

 

It’s very important to follow the steps in order of how to use the different appllications to get the best results. I’ll list them quickly below:

1. Brush teeth with water only; to get rid of any residual food from the day. DO NOT USE TOOTHPASTE YET
2. Apply whitening gel in an even layer in both trays. Press trays firmly into mouth, and make sure the product is evenly distributed over your teeth. Leave on for anywhere between 45 minutes – 3 hours
3. Once your desired time is up, remove trays and rinse with water. NOW is when you are free to use toothpaste while brushing away excess product
4. Dry trays and apply desensitizing gel in an even layer in both trays. Leave on for anywhere between 15 minutes and an hour. This gel helps with any sensitivity experienced with the gel (which mind you, the sensitivity is very minimal as it is with any whitening product, but I can appreciate the extra step Smile Brilliant is taking here to keep your smile happy and healthy!)
5. Once your desired time is up, remove trays and rinse with water again before storing your trays in their case. You don’t have to brush off this product, it’s perfectly safe to leave within the mouth/on the gums for extra sensitivity help, but I do find myself spitting out some of the excess.
6. Go to bed (: it’s best to do this process at night, so it can have hours to fully set in without being disrupted by food or beverage. But whatever time of day you find is best for you, is just fine too!

This product has been so easy to use and to have my night go on without skipping a beat. Like I mentioned before, I lived a long wonderful life of dental problems, so talking with these trays in just feel like having retainers in. They really didn’t complicate much of anything for me at all! I was even able to take this kit with me while I traveled for work in September and it felt just as easy to manage within a hotel room as it did at home which was a HUGE win.

Before I keep deep diving into the history-present of my smile, let’s just enjoy these before and after pictures instead!

I seriously couldn’t be more thrilled about my results. I know I will always have that pesky discoloration in my front teeth thanks to my childhood, but I feel like it has evened out so much already in such a short amount of time.

GUESS WHAT !!! GIVEAWAY TIME !!! Smile Brilliant has been so amazing, and to celebrate that, we are hosting a giveaway for your very own kit free of charge, equivalent to $149! All you have to do is enter in your email to the link below and viola!

Giveaway link: www.smilebrilliant.com/g/lifeofaburntfish

Now we can’t all be winners, so also linked below is a discount code! Just enter it in during check out and your at-home kit will be 15% off!

15% off store wide code: lifeofaburntfish15

Tooth Whitening Gel

 

New York City Style

This girl has finally made her way to the Big Apple, and it was such a blast. I am so lucky to be able to travel for work doing the things I’ve always dreamed of doing, since I was a little girl. See, I’ve never been to New York before, so I really wanted to soak in every moment, capture every picture, and look as good as I possibly could while doing it. I mean come on, it’s New York…everyone looks good all the time and I wanted to have some fun with my outfits while there, even though the focus was on work itself.

So in today’s blog, I’m going to give a run down of my favorite New York City looks that were comfortable for walking, fashionable enough to blend in, and sleek enough to pack up in just a carry – on. Everything I can find will be listed out and linked below if interested!

Outfit 1: High-Waisted Denim, Stripe Tee, Neck Scarf

This was worn on a day full of concept shopping all over the city. We ended up walking a total of 13 miles, so I knew I had to be comfortable. On top of that, I knew I was meeting up with a friend later that night and I’d have to be picture ready no matter how long of a day I had before. In this outfit, I was conscious of comfort while being inspired by one of my all-time favorite TV characters, Serena Van Der Woodsen from Gossip Girl. My lovely friend Nadine was too kind in helping me recreate the opening scene of the whole series! In this look I paired my favorite Charlotte Russe super high-waisted black jeans with a black and white stripe scoop neck tee, a little neck scarf from Zara, and a button front trench. To finish the look, I wore a pair of classic Adidas sneakers.

Outfit 2: High-Waisted Denim, Woven Stripe Tie Top

The next look re-uses the same pair of jeans with a tie top from Zara and a pair of platform sandals from Steve Madden. We didn’t walk as much this day, but still enough where comfortable shoes were a must! These Kimmie Espadrilles are so supportive of the arch of the foot, and the straps are all elastic. They stretch as you move and kept me comfortable all day long. This outfit kept me comfy even on the plane ride home!

Outfit 3: Bell Sleeve Shift Dress

This dress from H&M is so light weight and comfortable; it was perfect for a day of jumping from meeting to meeting. I paired this dress with a pair of pointed toe flats from A.N.A., and a Gucci waist belt. Yes, I maybe bought myself a luxury item while in NY. Sue me.

Outfit 4: Pleated Skirt and Stripe Top

Both of these pieces are also from H&M, and I love how they work together. The top is a super soft stretchy knit with puffy sleeves, and the skirt is a full elastic waist band pressed pleat midi. I wore the top tucked in high-waisted, and I paired this with the same pointy toe flats.

Outfit 5: Animal Print Top and Satin Finish Skirt

This outfit was also a plane outfit, also an H&M outfit, and ALSO surprisingly more comfortable than you’d think. The skirt is a woven rayon but finished with a satin hand feel. What this means is that it feels cool and silky to the touch, which kept me cool and comfortable even though we were racing through an airport while I was wearing it. The top was on a clearance rack, however it was very similar to a lot of other styles out on the floor. The drop V-neckline is what made me pick this over other options, and to my surprise it happened to be on sale too! I paired this outfit with a pair of faux suede open toe booties that I bought at JC Penneys on Broadway for 13.99 !!!!! What a steal (:

So that’s it! This is how I styled myself in the most stylish place of all, New York City. I felt like I blended right in, was on trend, and was completely comfortable each day. I’m so thankful I had this experience to travel to the city and live in the garment district for a few days, but I was glad to get home to Cleveland where 2-mile Ubers don’t cost $40.

Links

Jeans: https://charlotterusse.com/collections/jeans-by-fit_high-waisted-jeans/products/0711-60340332-high-rise-super-skinny-jean?variant=28699271725140

Kimmie Espadrille by Steve Madden: https://www.stevemadden.com/products/kimmie-black

Shift Dress: https://www2.hm.com/en_us/productpage.0816923001.html

Pointed Toe Flats: https://www.jcpenney.com/p/ana-womens-darell-ballet-flats-buckle-closed-toe/ppr5007860928?pTmplType=regular&deptId=dept20000018&catId=cat100250188&urlState=%2Fg%2Fshoes%2Fwomens-flats%3Fid%3Dcat100250188&productGridView=medium&badge=onlyatjcp

Gucci Belt: https://www.gucci.com/uk/en_gb/pr/women/womens-accessories/belts-for-women/leather-belt-with-double-g-buckle-p-409417CVE0T2535?position=56&listName=ProductGrid&categoryPath=Women/Womens-Accessories/Belts-for-Women

Crepe Puff Sleeve Top: https://www2.hm.com/en_us/productpage.0664074001.html

Pleated Skirt: https://www2.hm.com/en_us/productpage.0652731003.html

Denver, CO

As I’m sure many of you are aware, I just had quite the weekend in Denver, Colorado. I got to visit one of my very best friends Shelby, and another long-time friend, Connor. These two moved out there last year, and although I was happy for new places and adventures, I was also so sad to have one of my closest friends move halfway across the country. Even with a random visit halfway through this past year, it was simply not enough time to catch up! So, Michael and I booked our flights out to see them.  Here’s a little recap of all the fun we packed into three short days…

Our First Day: Red Rocks Amphitheate

So technically, we flew in on Wednesday night and larnded at 11:30pm. We grabbed a quick bite at a 24/7 taco place on our way back to their apartment, and it was incredible! We fell asleep as soon as we got back to get ready for the next day ahead. When we woke up, we all took part in making some breakfast to start the day off right. Eventually we got around to driving up to the Red Rocks Park and grabbed some food at a roof top tavern right before the entrance. Then we found ourselves some parking and people were already in the lots tailgating before the concert at the amphitheater that night! It reminded me of Blossom concerts, arriving early to pre-party before heading in for the music. It was awesome, but before we took part in the parking lot fun, we decided to hike around first! We only walked around for about an hour, but we we’re able to take in the sites, enjoy the wildlife around us, and of course get some good pictures in.

Once we headed back to the parking lot, we drank a few white claws, duh, and started to make the trek into the music venue itself. We weren’t exactly clear on seating arrangements and we thought we were so smart and grabbed the greatest seats. But after the opener, Caroline Rose, we quickly found out we were in someone’s paid for assigned seats. We ended up having to move to the very top of the venue, but as it turns out, the views were even greater the higher we were. We didn’t mind making the switch at all! The sun set as Dr. Dog and Shakey Graves played, the stars came out, and it was honestly such a beautiful night. I fell asleep on the drive home and we all went to bed pretty quickly once we got back.

Day Two: A Day in the City

We woke up pretty early to get out to brunch, and even still, the wait for Snooze Café was almost an hour. But Shelby swore by it, and honestly it was a pretty amazing breakfast spot. They had so many fun breakfast cocktails, all kinds of different foods, and a fun retro vibe throughout the whole restaurant.

After brunch, we headed to the Denver Botanic Gardens and just walked around aimlessly for just over an hour. Our uber on the way there was actually a tour guide for the city and he gave us so many fun facts on our ride. Once we got to the gardens, he mentioned the “corpse plant” and laughed saying it didn’t smell that good. It was kind of an odd ending to a really informative and fun uber. Oh well! Obviously, we got some pictures in here as well!!!

After the gardens we headed into the city. Originally, we had planned on going to an outdoor beer garden, but it was booked for a private party. So, we adventured around and ended up finding ourselves in a very popular little square with a bunch of food and bars on either side of the street. We ended up grabbing a drink at a champagne bar, Corridor 44. They had so many fun champagne mixed drinks and it was happy hour, so they were all $4!!! After that, we headed to a roof top bar, but it was packed so we decided to rent some scooters and head over to our dinner spot for the night. We went to El Five, which was a rooftop restaurant itself, so we still got the same killer views we thought we missed out on by skipping the bar. It was a Mediterranean tapas restaurant, and it was DELICIOUS. We ate so so so much here, but it was so worth it.

After all the booze and food, we went to Golden, Denver which is an old miners’ town. During the gold rush, this was a massive city to be in. Now it’s a quaint little town with old western vibes. Here we grabbed a drink at the Miner’s Saloon, and after we played an escape room at Golden Puzzle Escapes! It was, of course, miner themed! And guess what? We actually made it out alive in the end and struck the vein of gold of victory. Cheesy, I know, but fun all the same (: We headed back after this and went straight to bed! We knew we had a long day of hiking ahead of us.

Day Three: Rocky Mountain National Park

We woke up rather early this day, made some breakfast, and got on our way to the Rockies. Just the views driving into the park were incredible and seemed almost as if it was all a green screen in the distance and not actually real. Once we made it to the entrance of the trail we wanted to take, we set off on the original plan of a 10-mile hike! We passed through Alberta Falls, stopped and enjoyed the view, then continued on our way to Mirror Pond. However, as luck would have us, a massive hailstorm came through the mountains and pelted us with nickel sized pellets of AGONY. Okay, I’m being dramatic, but it was freezing and hard and painful! We tried to just hide under some trees and wait it out, but when we saw a very clearly experienced hiking family running for their lives in the distance, we figured it would be best to follow them. As soon as we made it back down about a mile, the sun was out and shining once again. We experienced 90 degree weather, 70 degree weather, and 40 degree weather all in about a two hour time frame. It was craziness. After we realized we were no longer on the right path for the 10 mile hike, we detoured to see Bear Lake, and headed back to the car. We only walked about four miles this day, but boy did I feel sore when I woke up. I guess it was a blessing in disguise that we got hailed on.

 

After our hiking adventure, we went to a brewery in Estes, and got ourselves some bison burgers. We were told it was a must while in Colorado so we gave in! It was actually a pretty good time, and the beer there was good too! Then we headed over to the Stanley Hotel, the infamous hotel from The Shining, and got ourselves a drink just because! I got the Redrum Punch! From there we headed home, changed, and went to a nice steakhouse for our last meal out in Denver. We all chowed down on some amazing food, deserts, and wine!

Looking back on this trip, I’m truly proud of how much we were able to fit into such a short amount of time. Although I’m exhausted still from all the running around we did, I wouldn’t change a thing. Not only did I get to add to the travel memories I have with Michael, I got to have some genuine catch up time with one of my favorite people on this planet. So thank you Denver, for the little get away that meant so much more than I thought it would!

Quick Weekend Trip Packing Hacks

Recently I’ve been going on a lot of quick weekend overnight trips and I’ve had to be pretty creative with packing. Not to dog on myself, but I know I’m the type of girl who over packs for every vacation and plans outfits according to picture opportunities more than what’s actually planned for the day. Because of this, I have had to learn how to pack a whole lot into very little baggage. Honestly, I’d say it’s quite a skill of mine. For real, I just had a weekend in Chicago in just a backpack. I’ve packed for my boyfriend, friends, and family. SO if you’ve asked for help before and you’re reading this now, I hope this adds to all the tips you’ve learned so far! I’m going to list some of my favorite packing strategies below, as I begin to pack myself for a quick little four-day trip to Denver!

This weekend we will be flying and I only have the luxury of 1 carry on bag and 1 personal item. I’m planning on bringing my massive human sized Bellfield Tote from the one and only FOUNT. It’s the perfect bag to pack all of my easy access needs and shove to the top full of snacks, a sweater, and a packable pillow! Besides the FOUNT shout out, let’s get into some tips!

1. Utilize Compartments (bags within bags within bags)

I think something that sounds so simple, is so overlooked. I feel like I get looked at like a crazy bag lady when I land at my vacation destination and unpack all the mini bags I have within my main bag. LOL, but in reality, it’s how I stay organized and fit everything I need within one small space. Let’s just look at the logistics here. If you have one large bag, and know the shape and size of multiple small bags, you know exactly how many small bags can fit in your one large bag. Stay with me here, okay? It makes sense I promise. Use each small bag for something different. Dedicate one to cosmetics, one to toiletries, one to jewelry, and one to electronics. I love using my leftover Ipsy bags for this part of packing. After all of those are packed away and stacked to the bottom of your big bag, you now have all the rest of the room to roll up your clothes for the weekend! This tactic keeps me packed small with so much leftover room for all my outfit options all weekend long!

2. Roll, Don’t Fold

Speaking of rolling up your clothes, hey, roll up your clothes! Now, the caveat here is that this method is prone to wrinkled results. You just need to be smart on what kinds of styles you are choosing to pack and choosing to roll. Stay away from things like rayon and 100% cotton. This small factor aside, rolling clothes saves so much space. Especially if you learn to roll certain types of clothing together. There are a lot of great tutorials on YouTube if you’re curious! Here is a quick one to get you started: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em4lbLf09M0

3. Another Folding Space Saver

BUY RE-USABLE VACUUM SEAL BAGS. Sorry for the caps there, but this is a massive, MASSIVE help. You can buy a variety pack of sizes on Amazon. I’ll link it below, don’t worry! These things are seriously such a life saver, and if you’ve ever been waiting for a sign that these babies are worth it, here you go! These ones are awesome because all you have to do is stuff and roll.

https://www.amazon.com/Premium-Vacuum-Storage-Medium-Leading/dp/B01HWY12BM/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=1ZU2PDEH9N15B&keywords=roll+up+vacuum+travel+bags&qid=1565663995&s=gateway&sprefix=roll+up+vacuu%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExRjFDM01YNjZWU05VJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDY1NDMwM0s2WjdCWVlMOUdTQiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMTE3NTE4MlpHOFZWQVRKTUVISCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

4. Pack Smart

I have two simple outfit choices to make a weekend full of different looks without packing much at all. First and foremost, bring one pair of go-to jeans that can be styled in various ways. For example, a pair of high-waisted jeans can be tucked in with a slinky little top for a night out on the town, and worn with either a tunic length top or kimono the next day and the whole look changes with only one pair of bottoms. Another trick is packing a one piece outfit. Packing a dress or a romper is a whole day worth of looks without taking up too much space. Great space saver and let’s be real…Any time you wear a dress, people will compliment on how put together you look when in all reality, you only had to think about putting on one thing that morning! Personally, my favorite part of wearing dresses and rompers is that I can drink beer and eat good food all day long without annoying pants digging into my tummy.

5. Use your Shoes

You’re packing shoes no matter what, right? And I know a lot of my shoes are pretty stiff and maintain their shape no matter how jam packed in a bag they may be. So if this is the case, that the shape of the shoe remains anyway, you might as well use the space! Stuff your shoes with socks and underwear, and it saves space in the rest of your bag!

6. “I’m Holding This for My Wife/Girlfriend/Sister” Trick

This is a plan that I’m planning on enacting this Wednesday night on our flight to Denver. It’s a sneaky trick, but one that works. Basically, you bring an extra purse. That’s the whole plot. That’s all there is to it. Then conveniently as you start to board the flight, your significant other/brother heads to the front of the line while you head to the back. As he’s walking on board and scans his ticket, he casually mentions how he’s holding this bag for the lady in the restroom, ugh women and their small bladders am I right? Then about 40 people later, you walk on with your own carry on and personal item, carefree knowing you’ve already got half your belongings into the plane! It may be a little bit on the sneaky side, and if that’s not your style then feel free to skip this step. But honestly, it’s one of my favorites!

Anyway, here are my 6 quick tips on how I’ve been packing so light lately! Off to my next adventure (: and when I return, a fun little recap of all the action-packed plans we fit into such a short time! Thanks for tuning in!

Charlotte Russe Denim Haul

I don’t know about you, but shopping for denim is one of the most challenging feats to face as a woman. Not only is sizing a guess from store to store but you could find a style labeled as “skinny” in one place and it could fit like a “straight leg” somewhere else. It’s an absolute time to find what you like in a size that truly fits. Being in the field I’m in, I know why and how this happens, yet I still find myself shocked and annoyed every time I go out shopping. The issue is that America doesn’t have as strict of laws on sizing tolerances. This means when an apparel item is in production at a factory, if it measures outside a certain level of specifications, it can still be deemed as OK and salable. This is honestly an unfortunate lapse in legal restriction in the States, but unfortunately, I don’t foresee that changing anytime soon.

Anyway, this post is in two parts. One, how to style some denim in different ways, and two, a review of the newly re-introduced Charlotte Russe. Anyone who knows me knows that this IS MY PLACE. I love this store. I’ve missed Shoesday Tuesday specials. I’ve missed their competitively priced yet stylish apparel. Tragically, there are no stores open in Ohio yet, but fingers are crossed that they will be coming back soon. However, online they have been pushing very heavy promotions and deals to reel their consumer base back in. That is me, I am the consumer base that they reeled in real quick!

I’ve been wanting to add to my denim collection and get more high-waisted style jeans. A beautiful thing about adulting is the lack of time I have to workout, so recently I’ve been needing some more pants to tuck in the belly a little a bit. But hey, it happens! So seeing all these promotional emails from Charlotte Russe’s re-opening made me think “now is the time.” I scored 3 pairs of jeans and a pair of shorts for $67.89. Yes you read that right. I LOVE CHARLOTTE RUSSE. Anyway, I’ve been having a lot of fun styling these pieces lately, and couldn’t wait to get typing about my favorite place to shop. One thing I will say before diving into the outfits is that during this re-vamp of theirs, their sizing changed. It was once women’s sizing of even numbers going from 0-16. Now it is junior sizing of odd numbers going from 1-13. The exception here is within their “Refuge” brand denim. This brand was just recently re-released, so none of the pieces I selected below are a part of the “Refuge” line.

1. Highwaisted Skinny Jegging

This first style I chose to buy is called the “Madrid” on their site. It’s a super high-waisted denim jegging that has a skinny leg opening and fit. I was skeptical to try all these bad boys on once I received, since I had to guess at my new size. But boy did I guess right because these pants are SO comfortable. I got two washes in this style, a light and a darkish/medium. I love wearing this style of denim with flowy tops since the pant itself is so skin tight. However, one night I went to a lovely establishment called “Tequila Cowboy” and had some fun with being skin tight both on bottom and on top! My shirt tucked in really nicely and the denim didn’t bubble up at all where my shirt was layered underneath. Honestly, these have been my new go-to jeans when I’m in need.

https://charlotterusse.com/products/0756-34913022-high-rise-medium-wash-jegging?_pos=1&_sid=8880fd328&_ss=r

2. Mom Jeans

This next style is called the “Mom Jean.” These pants are so perfectly baggy in all the right places are super high-waisted as well. Again, lately I’ve been enjoying pants that go above the belly button, but thankfully this is more than just a comfortable pair of jeans for me, it truly is a trend in denim right now. WOO! Anyway, this kind of denim is perfect for tucking in body suits, tees, or pairing with loose crops. Here you can see I styled these pants with two different looks. I played the shirt tuck game as well as with a nice cropped collared shirt. Honestly, I’m debating on if I want to cut holes in these bad boys, so stay tuned!

https://charlotterusse.com/products/0756-17921273-ultra-high-rise-medium-wash-mom-jean?_pos=1&_sid=b4ac37312&_ss=r

3. Distressed Shorts

Okay so let’s be real, not only is shopping for jeans a pain, but specifically jean shorts. They just never fit right for me and I have a feeling this isn’t just a me problem. Anyway, this style here is called the “Miami.” These babies are absolutely perfect. Genuinely, I think I’ve found the perfect short. They fit me nicely in the hips, are long enough for me to feel covered from the back, but not too long that I feel like a child in bermudas. They have a great level of distressing in all the right spots AND they are once again, super high-waisted. I really don’t have a single complaint about these babies. I’ve worn these a few times and have noticed no sense of stretching out or give. Pictured below is what I wore on the 4th of July, and I truly felt confident in a crop top actually showing my tummy, which is something I haven’t been able to do in a while. Praise these shorts.

https://charlotterusse.com/products/0720-17925250-miami-high-rise-distressed-denim-short?variant=28350215553108

All in all, I rank my first Charlotte Russe haul since their re-opening a 10/10. I’m so happy to have this store back again, and I’m even happier to have added all these pieces into my collection. I’ve linked everything above so feel free to go check them out! And I’m sure I’ll be doing another Charlotte Russe themed post here very soon!

DOs and DON’Ts of Music Festivals

Surprise! I’m back in action with some great writing ideas coming together for the next few months so I don’t go MIA again for multiple weeks at a time. With that being said, what else would make sense for me to write about in my comeback than music festivals? Nothing? Well you’re right! So let’s dive in. I’m going to talk about my short list of dos and don’ts of making the most out of your experience at music festivals.

Just this past week I returned home from my fifth music festival and it got me to thinking about a few things. Full disclosure: I rank this most recent experience at the lowest of the lot due to various different reasons. We felt like there were simply too many people and not enough facilities to support the mass amount of people we were surrounded by. Literally our camping grounds within the festival had 4 porta-pots shared between about 2,000 people. That’s no bueno. It was too hot to sleep in past 8 a.m. and the music we wanted to see didn’t really start until 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. so it was a lot of long days waiting in the sun. It drained us all pretty quickly and that made it even more difficult to enjoy our time in the festival itself once we finally made it in. Now I don’t want to seem too negative here. The music was amazing, having time off was a blessing, and making memories with Michael is unbeatable. We’ve simply experienced better in our past and unfortunately expectations weren’t met here.

Which brings me to DO #1:

DO: Have The Right Mindset

You have to go into each experience expecting something different. It’s impossible to enjoy it if you’re taking every moment to compare and judge. Having the right mindset before you even enter into the grounds will hopefully save you from being as disappointed as we were.

DON’T: Expect Others to Share the Same Experiences

People love, I mean LOVE the festival we just went to. They call themselves a damn family. A couple even got married there that I witnessed myself, let alone any other proposals/marriages/relationships that happened while we were there. It’s still a magical place, and it’s okay that we didn’t enjoy it just as it’s okay that people swear by it.

DO: Pack Sunscreen

Okay seriously, to enter these types of events you have to be an adult (or accompanied by one at least). So be your smart adult-y self and WEAR SUNSCREEN. Protect yourself. The sun is not your friend no matter how nice it feels to be outside. The quickest way to ruin your experience is by getting fried on day #1 and being so miserable you can’t enjoy the rest of the festival.

DON’T: Focus on the Alcohol

Adult-y step #2 ready? DRINK WATER. Don’t be dumb. Don’t think you’re invincible. Don’t think your tolerance is better than mine. I’m telling you, drink water. Dehydration and overheating out in the sun are the worst possible mix. You’ll find yourself in the medical tent listening to the rumbling crowd in the distance if you don’t pace yourself and stay hydrated. These days aren’t meant to be about blacking out. That would defeat the whole purpose of your being there AKA to make memories you actually remember and to listen to some tunes.

DO: Pack Filling Snacks

This is huge if you’re camping on site or nearby. If festivals you’re thinking about are in major cities and you’re able to grab a cheap bite to eat on your way home to the hotel, this doesn’t totally apply to you. When camping on the grounds, your only options for food are the options they have within the festival and what you bring. If you only bring things like chips or pretzels, you’ll find yourself buying late night meals and racking up an unnecessary expense if you could’ve just brought something a little more sustainable. We always look to bring sandwich stuff like PB&J and if you have a cooler, lunch meats and cheeses. Sounds silly, but with all you’ll be spending already, saving on just late-night foods has kept me from losing about $150. (pls enjoy image of Michael nommin’ a sammy)

DON’T: Be a Dick

Alright hear me out here…. you are standing in a crowd of about 50,000 people, and you’re about halfway through it. There’s no seats here or arena type elevation, just 50,000 standing heads all around you. Your favorite song by an artist you never thought you’d see live is about to play. Then BOOM, elbow straight in the side and your feet are stepped on. Tragic right? And because these people pushed passed you successfully, a whole line of people behind them forms thinking this is a path. It’s never ending. Your side instantly bruises. And suddenly, this song you’ve been dying to hear is already over and you missed it due to the distraction of absolute dick heads. Don’t be these people. Festival sets are so so so so short. Anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour. That’s it. When you’re trying to fight your way to the front of the stage, you are not only ruining the show for everyone you shove through, but frankly you’re ruining it for yourself too. Logistically there’s no way you can fight your way through that many people in less than a half hour. So let go of the notion of needing to be close to be able to enjoy the show. Just post up, find a good space, dance with your crew, and enjoy what’s around you. It will make it better for everyone.

DO: Wear Whatever You Want

I don’t know about all of you, but festival fashion is amazing to me. You can be risky and show skin and feel sexy yet feel 100% safe at the same damn time. I love the sense of freedom and creativity and individuality that comes out of all the different outfits I see at these things. Walking around in what you feel the most confident in with no risk of being shamed or gawked at is truly a beautiful thing. The whole place will be filled with people with their booties out, so if you join in on that fun, you blend in more than you stand out. It’s honestly a beautiful thing to be worry free when exploring such a risqué type of fashion. It’s fun. Do it. Wear what you want. Or what you don’t ;D

6 Steps For An Easier Move

As many of you may already know, recently I moved from a studio apartment by myself to a 2 bedroom with my boyfriend Michael! Luckily for me, we moved within the same building I was already in, just down a few floors. Although this was quite a simple move for me in comparison to all my moves in the past 5 years between college dorms, sorority houses, Italian flats, and my very first big girl apartment, I still took some steps to assist with the process. Because of this, I figured I’d share the tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way when it comes to moving!

1. Patience

I feel like this goes without saying but moving is a P.R.O.C.E.S.S. it takes time and errors will happen, mistakes will be made, attitudes will be had, but the end goal always ends up being the same. Wouldn’t you much rather get to that end feeling happy and excited and ready to pop a bottle in celebration? You can’t get to that end if you let patience go to the way side in the (wait for it) process! Things might break, things might not end up in the cupboard you expected, things might all come tumbling down in a broken shopping cart you found in the stairwell of your complex. You never know! So go into moving embracing that and in knowing its going to happen so you’re able to laugh it off in the process.

Fortunately, Michael and I make a good team and we were able to agree on a lot before going into it. I mean let’s face it, going from a studio apartment on my own to a shared space with limited storage? Big change! We had to talk a lot out first and make a game plan before the day of the move. That made the whole process so much simpler in real time as we actually were bringing our stuff into our new place! Long story short, be patient my friends(:

2. Measure Everything

Any piece of furniture you are planning on taking from the old place to the new, measure! I measured length, width, and depth. I also looked at everything we planned on buying and checked out the dimensions first before deciding on what to buy, for example things like dressers and book shelves. I would sit in the empty floor and decide on which dressers would fit best before I hit purchase. It worked out so well because now we have a whole wall full of drawers AND IT IS THE BEST THING EVER! It’s so much easier to map things out in advanced when you know the actual measurements, and to not just eyeball it and hope everything will fit. Which leads me to my next tip!

3. Masking Tape

My favorite tip of all tips that I’ve used for all my more recent moves, is the power of masking tape. Once you’ve measured everything out, and have the notes ready on your phone or scrap piece of paper, use the masking tape to map out a room before moving the furniture in! It’s not sticky enough to do any damage to the walls or floors. It’s easy to move around and place over and over again, giving you the ability to really see how a room could be laid out before exerting all your energy with moving the heavy furniture itself! Huge time saver and back saver. We’re getting old people, we can’t be lifting things unnecessarily anymore!!! For real though, try this out next time and see how much of a help this could be!

4. Move In While You Move In!

What do I mean by this you ask? Instead of focusing on getting all the furniture and boxes in at once, unpack as you go. This might seem like it’s taking up valuable time, but I feel that if you try this in the future, you’ll realize it’s quite the opposite. Get the big furniture in first, so you have the space to place all of your clothing, trinkets, pictures, kitchen supplies, shoes, and everything else. Then, a box at a time, or in my case a grocery cart full at a time, actually put your things away as you go. I feel like on paper this makes sense but in the moment you can get caught up and frustrated and just want to get everything inside. But let me tell you why this doesn’t work…Imagine a small dorm room shared with another, or a small studio apartment. If you bring everything up by the box full, soon the space is full with no room to move around and try to get organized. You can forget trying to rearrange furniture or figuring out where you want things to go when all you can see is boxes and clutter around you. This is what leads to the classic scene of boxes strewn about months after the move. The easiest way to get it done and feel settled is to move in while you move in!

5. Find A Buddy With A Truck (and buy them a case of beer!)

Moving is an expensive ass experience. With buying new to refresh your new space and making it feel like home, security deposits, and first months rent, the last thing your wallet needs to worry about is renting a moving van. I know there are some pretty inexpensive budget rentals out there, but I can promise you it is so much cheaper to reach out to a buddy or family member and make a day out of truck trips. Of course the best way to thank this vehicle lender is by replenishing the gas tank and buying a case of their favorite brew!

6. Deal With A Double Month of Rent (if you can)

Having the gift of time is essential in the hopes for a stress-free move. If you are capable of affording a month of double rent just to give yourself the time of moving when you can on YOUR time can seriously be an absolute blessing. That way you have more than enough time to get your new space exactly how you want it, as well as get the old place as clean as possible to earn that security deposit back! This was huge for me to know I had the time to make this the best move it could be, because boy oh boy it is the best to be living with Michael.

Anyway, I hope these are things you remember when future you moves on to the next place. They may sound silly or may be things you are already doing, but I figured it was worth sharing! As always, thank you for reading my random rambles(: hoping to be writing more soon! Until next time.

How To: Make Freebies Fashionable (Part 2)

Back at it again with a haul of goodies that I grabbed from work!

I’ll keep the intro short and sweet this time around since I explained my fun with freebies in the first post on this series. Basically, as we buy concept samples to inspire us for planning the next season, and as we receive our quality assurance samples, we have to make room for the newbies by getting rid of the oldies. When we get rid of these oldies, we get to put together some giveaway racks for the company to look through before we donate the rest! I have been making some major scores lately on a variety of brands like Zara, Calvin Klein, H&M, Forever 21, and more, all from the concept shopping pieces that we need to cycle through. I finally have gotten enough photos in these pieces to make a whole post worthwhile, but if we’re being completely honest, I haven’t even worn half of my goodies yet. I legitimately brought home a massive box’s worth of clothing this last time around and a lot of the dresses I grabbed just aren’t in season yet. Fingers crossed that spring and summer are finally on their way in and winter is officially on its way out!!!!

Dress #1

This little cutie I just adore, it’s a size or two bigger than what I normally wear but the wide width tie attached at the waist gives me the choice on how loose/tight I would like the dress to fit. The ties are also attached at the side seam, so it can easily be tied either in front or in the back of the dress depending on the look you’re going for! I went with in the front because it added more to the overall style for me, vs. in the back which gave the front view of the dress more of a simple sheath look. I paired this one with some brown chunky sandals to add some contrast to the black ground of the dress.

Dress #2

I got quite a few maxi dresses this time around, with this being one of them. I have yet to find the occasion to wear all my finds, but this one I rocked at my birthday dinner at Pier W. in Lakewood. The skirt has a mermaid feel to it, being tighter at the hip with some movement at the bottom. The lace up halter-esque top is rather different than styles I typically wear but was pleasantly surprised on how this framed my figure. I paired this with some heeled sandals to elevate the look!

Dress #3

This faux suede paneled dress is so simple in its cut and shape but can easily be dressed up for any occasion. I really liked the tone of this neutral brown color, and it paired with my skin tone nicely. Albeit on the larger side, this dress is so comfortable and flattering. I paired it with a long statement necklace to add some edge and a level of sophistication. Threw on a pair of pointed black ankle booties and boom! Outfit complete!

Top #1

This top I was rather excited about once I tried it on. It was one of those things where on the hanger it looked mediocre, but once on, I fell in love! This shirt has a self-tie belt attached, and at first I was concerned over the placement of it but again, once I tried it on, I had a whole new opinion! Really glad I decided to pick this guy up. It’s perfect to wear to work for me because it dresses up a pair of black denim with ease and pairs with my pixie pants just as well! Here, I am wearing my black ankle length pixie pants and some tan suede booties.

Top #2

This velvet top is E V E R Y T H I N G ! I’m in love with the length of it, it’s on the shorter side but not exactly cropped, it has flared sleeves, a tie back detail, and is extremely soft and smooth on the skin! I’ve worn this a variety of ways so far, with black high waisted denim, over high waisted leggings and a denim jacket, and now with a pink tulle skirt and tan ankle booties. Sooooo over the moon with this piece!

Top #3

It’s no strange thing for me to be a fan of black and white windowpane, so when I noticed this top with our giveaways, I had to give it a try. It’s a tunic length so definitely not the trendiest of stylings, but the theme of all this is finding ways to make the freebies work! I’ve paired this over jeans with some sneakers, as well as pictured here over leggings with over-the-knee boots. Although being in leggings, I felt much more put together in this overall look than I did when pairing this top with denim. Also! The keyhole detailing at the neck I thought was super cute. Happy to have this in the collection!

Pant #1

These wide leg navy and white stripe pants are so easy to grab and go. They have a full elastic waistband so I’ve had to be creative in how I tuck in different tops with them, as to not show this “comfort” feature and keep them looking stylish and on trend. Here in this look I’ve paired them with a thin long sleeve sweater that had enough bulk for it to blouson over top of the waistband after half tucking it in. Added a pair of tan booties and a statement necklace to complete the look!

Super excited to continue to have this to look forward to at my job. Giveaway days always seem to land during a stressful week, so it’s fun to have a little moment of stress relief. What could be better than retail therapy than FREE retail therapy?!?! Anyway, as I keep finding new ways to wear all these freebies, I will keep adding to this series! Thanks for stopping by(: