Thursday, October 31, 2013

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!


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Happy Halloween! I hope you are having a fantastic (and candy filled) holiday! I'm usually not one who likes to wear costumes during the day, but I still love to be festive. So to compromise I wear all orange and black to get in the festive mood! What do you think of the orange and black Halloween look? 

Have a great Halloween night :)

Katie 


Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Currently Craving

Currently Craving: Gold Accessories

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I'm craving gold accessories these days. I love dainty gold jewelry and I think it really dresses up casual outfits. I have the Michael Kors chain link watch and I wear it all-the-time. It's probably one of my favorite accessories. I also love my renegade bracelet from Stella and Dot. I wear them both together like stack bracelets and they pair really well. You can see them both together in this post when I went to the boat show! I think my next purchase is going to be that bow ring from Kate Spade. I love the simplicity of the ring and think it would look great with the other rings I wear. What are you currently craving? 




Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Colder Weather

Yesterday I posted an inspiration board and said I would hunt for some similar styles...with lower prices. Today I'm back and I've found some pieces that I think fit the bill! I'm also going to try to recreate this look this weekend so you can see how it turns out in real life :)                                                                                  Enjoy!


Jeans   

Jeans: These jeans are from J. Crew. They are a little on the expensive side, but I think it's so important to invest in a pair of jeans you love. I have a pair from J. Crew that I throw on ALL the time - they are comfortable and look good. Jeans are supposed to make you feel good when you put them on...so try to find a pair that does! These are $125, but there is a 25% off promo code at J. Crew if you spend $150 :)

Boot  

Booties: These are my all time FAVORITE boots. I have them in black and brown - and I'm going this weekend to get them in burgundy. They seriously are the most comfortable boot (with a heel) I've ever worn. I'm a teacher so whenever I can stand in a boot with a heel all day I know they are good shoes. These boots are $99 and run a bit small, so get a size up. 

Top   

Shirt: This sweater is from Nordstrom and only $34...what a steal! It's textured which gives it a different look than just a plain sweater. I've also found some really great stuff at Marshalls and TJMaxx by Cynthia Rowley. Every time I go into either of those stores I end up leaving with something from her collection. She hits it out of the park with her everyday shirts and sweaters. I suggest splurging at Marshalls for some Cynthia Rowley (and most shirts run about $16...you cannot beat it!)


Essie nail polish

I love this burgundy Essie color. It's called "Poor Little Rich Girl". I posted about this color in my post here about fall nail polish colors. I love the deep red color and how it fits in so perfectly with this colder weather!
Hat 

I originally posted a black wide brimmed fedora, but let's face it. This burgundy one from Forever 21 is way better. Can you tell I am slightly obsessed with this color for fall? This hat is $16 from Forever and a no brainer for me! I never like to buy expensive hats because they are constantly changing with the trends. 

NARS Satin Lip Pencil
NARS 

As I said before, I don't know what I would do without this little pencil here. They are my favorite lipsticks and they are ridiculously easy to use. I prefer the matte ones to the glossy - the glossy can sometimes run - but the matte pencils are AMAZING! I have four of them and switch it up all the time. This color is a favorite for fall. It's a blend of plum and red. These run about $26 at Sephora. Go check them out and try some on :)

What are you loving during this fall weather? 
Keep warm :)

Katie 


Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Inspiration

Inspiration


Top: H M  Jeans: DVb jeans Boots: Acne Studios Hat: Yves Saint Laurent hat  Lipstick: Nars Polish: Essie

It's finally starting to get a bit chilly here in the DC area. I've been spending my days in jeans, booties, and comfy shirts. I love this look because it gives an ordinary outfit a polished look. I created this look on Polyvore.com, but I am going to put one together tomorrow featuring items that are much more reasonably priced. For now, it's just inspiration!

Oh! - I swear by those NARS lip pencils! They are my go to for an instant pop of color on my lips and they stay on for hours....they are on my list of favorite products! 

Happy fall! 

Katie



Wednesday, October 16, 2013

10 days and 10 ways

To be honest, I normally do not do anything to my hair. I'm a teacher and wake up at an ungodly hour to get to work. The last thing I want to do in the morning is...my hair. I usually wash my hair at night and then sleep on it wet. It either dries wavy or straight. During school my hair either gets pulled back with a clip or put up into a pony tail or bun. Very. Boring.

So I'm making a change and going to try out these new styles. I'm going to challenge myself to do 10 different hairstyles in 10 days. I can wake up 10 minutes earlier right? It doesn't make that much of a difference...




1. This one is particularly easy and seems doable. I love the classic braid to pull back the hair. It's a version of how I wear my hair nowadays, but seems so much more "done". I think I can handle doing this one!



2. This would require me to curl my hair, but I love the french braid on the side. I think I could even curl my hair before bed to give it a less 'curled' look in the AM. 



3. For this look I would use hot rollers or sleep with my hair in a bun. I love the effortlessness about this look. Seems so simple, yet practical.  



4. This seems easy enough! Curl my hair, put it in a high pony, and tie a bow around it! Surely I can pull this one off ;)



5. I love, love the look of a classic curl with a curling iron. I'm looking to buy the 1 and 1/4 curling iron from hot tools to do this look. 



6. Ok, this one reminds me of being in 4th grade. I'm pretty sure I should be able to put my hair in a low pony and twist it under. I love the messiness of the look too...we'll see how my hair looks after a full day of teaching!



7. This style has a twist AND a bun. I'll have to see how she was able to get her side twist to stay put...mine always seem to fall out!





8. I think the swiss maid style is really cute. I also love the inside out braid Julia, from Gal Meets Glam, did. I need to teach myself how to do that! It looks much more interesting than the regular french braid way.



9. For this style, you put your hair in a pony tail and leave a small piece out. Then, wrap it around the hair tie and secure with a bobby pin. It gives the up-do a more polished look. 



10. This is a variation of a look my mother LOVES. She always wants me to pull the front pieces up and use bobby pins to hold them in place. She says it's her favorite look of mine. For this, instead of bobby pins I would use a small bow or ribbon. I think it adds some girly-ness to the look :)


10 styles in 10 days...I'll let you know how it goes....goodbye extra 10 minutes of sleep...

Thanks for reading!

-Katie

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Fall Polish

Hi everyone! I hope you had a great three day weekend...I know I did! I spent the weekend at my friend's lakehouse in upstate NY. We had a blast relaxing and soaking up the warm sun. Over the weekend we went to a wine tasting and were able to sample some delicious wines...and fall treats too! It was so much fun hanging out together and being up north. It is stunning up there. You know when you have a place where you're just completely happy? It's up there...my heart is just happy in north country!

I thought I'd share some of my favorite fall nail trends. I love getting my nails done, but to be honest it doesn't happen as often as I would like. I always find myself painting my nails at home, which is totally doable. Here are a few colors I'm loving from Essie for fall.

I tend to stick with Essie nail polishes because I think they have the best colors, selection, and they always paint so nicely. I don't think I even own another brand!




I love the color burgundy for fall. It takes a classic red and gives it a deeper look. I am on the hunt for this exact color!





This sea green color would be perfect for fall. I like color in the fall, but tend to stay away from brights. This one is still colorful, but understated. It's called, "Go Overboard".




I love this gray called, "Fall Cashmere Bathrobe". It's a gray with a hint of sparkle. I love gray nails, but this one brightens it up a bit :)




How amazing is this color? The sea foam green with a hint of gray? Amazing.
"Vested Interest"




I know black is a popular color for fall and winter, but this chocolate is something new. I think it adds some depth to just plain black. This one is called, "Lady Godiva"




This is another gray/nude color, but there is something different about it. It adds a bit of shimmer to a dull color. Definitely painting my nails this color!




I love a simple nude. It matches with everything and is a simple look. This one is called "Sand Tropez"




A deep blue - green. It reminds me of the color of pine trees. I can see this color blending well from fall to winter - especially the holiday season!
  

What are some fall nail trends you might try?

-Katie

Friday, October 11, 2013

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday! Another week has flown by and I am so excited for the weekend...particularly because it's a three day weekend. Thanks, Christopher Columbus! This weekend I am heading to north country to go to my friend's lake house. I've always gone during the summer months, and I've never been in the fall. I'm excited to see the trees, leaves, and cozy up with some hot cocoa and a good book!

I love this idea of putting makeup brushes in candles. It makes the brushes stand out, but not in an overstated way.


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How delicious do these cookie dough ice cream sandwiches look? Cookie dough ice cream in between cookies? Genius.
Cookie dough ice cream sandwiches.
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I love pairing a simple statement necklace with black and white stripes. It gives the t-shirt something extra and updates the look. I also love how this statement necklace falls a little bit longer on the neckline.
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 This is quickly becoming one of my favorite fall pictures. I love the teal vintage truck with the orange pumpkins in the bed. This is getting me excited to go pumpkin picking :)

pumpkins! 
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As someone who doesn't do a whole lot with her hair I am obsessed with this braid. I love that it starts higher up and how chunky it is. I'm thinking I'm going to have to give this look a try this weekend at the lake!

Southern Charm Evalita hair.

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Hope you have a wonderful and relaxing Columbus Day! 

-Katie 

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Skin Care Routine

I do not have the best skin. Never have, probably never will. I do, however, stick to my skin care routine religiously. Skin care is so important! Here are some of my current favorite products:




I use Perricone MD Gentle Cleanser as my daily face wash. I have really sensitive skin so I try to stick to gentle cleansers that won't irritate or dry out my skin. I wholeheartedly recommend this product. I've been using it for about a month and love it. It is kind of expensive, but lasts a really long time...totally worth it.




I am a huge moisturizer! I dislike dry skin and hate when my skin is tight and not moisturized. I use Perricone MD Nourishing Moisture both morning and night...it's light and goes on really easily. I put a dime size amount on my finger and then add a few drops of this product...





I combine Josie Maran Argan Oil with my moisturizer. I like to use them together because it makes the moisturizer last longer as well as makes it easier to absorb into my skin. Together they give my skin double the moisture. It's such a light oil and never makes my face feel greasy....such a plus! I've found it gentle on acne and it actually helps with acne scars. You can also use this product on nails, split ends, and rough areas of skin. It is definitely a moisturizing lifesaver! It's almost like a skin reviver!





I love Sephora's Caudalie Beauty Elixir. It so refreshing and makes my face feel extra moisturized. I put it on before my moisturizer and when I feel, well, gross. It instantly refreshes my skin, smooths, tightens my pores, and has such an amazing smell. I would definitely recommend this product as an instant pick up for skin :)

I am still working on getting the perfect, dewy, beautiful skin...but in the meantime these work for me! I definitely recommend all of these products. What are some of you favorite skin care products?

-Katie






Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Boat Show

This past weekend I went to the Annapolis Boat Show. I went with my mom and grandma - and we had so much fun. We toured over 20 boats and stayed to watch the boat show be taken apart.














For the boat show it was over 90 degrees. Hot. With a capital H. Very unreasonable for October in Washington, DC. I decided to wear a white dress and break the "no white after labor day rule". I've always disliked that rule. Who cares if you wear white after labor day? Judge all you want, I love the color white. Especially white lace dresses...when it's 90 degrees.




























 Dress: Free People (last summer), Jacket: J. Crew, Bag: Marc Jacobs Crossbody, 
Watch: Michael Kors, Bracelet: Stella and Dot, Boots: Steve Madden, Sunnies: Ray Ban


 This weekend was perfect and I couldn't have picked a more perfect dress. I cannot wait for the boat show next year! Anyone in the Maryland, DC, Virginia area: the Sailboat Show is in Annapolis this weekend! Get some tickets and go...you won't be disappointed :)

-Katie





Thursday, October 3, 2013

Friday Favorites

It's Friday!! I don't know about you, but I am particularly happy Friday is here. This week has been long and stressful, so I am looking forward to some rest and relaxation. Today, I'd like to share a few of my favorite things that have helped get me through this tough week!

1. Tomorrow I am going to the Boat Show in Annapolis, Maryland. It is my favorite time of the year there. The whole harbor is filled with boats, on boats, on boats! You get to walk around, look at some really amazing boats, and of course tour any you want! It's fun pretending to live a life of luxury for the day!






These are some pictures I took via instagram last year...more to come next week!


2. I am going to Rome, Germany, and Amsterdam over Thanksgiving break and seeing these pictures got me even more excited to go! If you have any recommendations of where to go in any of those three places, I'd love to know!


Rome
Amsterdam




Stuttgart, Germany: I'll be there during the Christmas festival just like the one above :)


3. I love this idea for a cozy balcony. The rug and the L shaped couch give the balcony a cozy feel without over- crowding it. I have a small, and very concrete, balcony at my new apartment and I feel like I would actually enjoy sitting outside on my balcony if it looked like this!






4. I am loving these decorative sticks with lights on them to brighten up living areas. You can put them in a metal container like the one in the picture below, or put them in a clear glass one. Either way, I am on the hunt for some of these for my apartment!







5. Chalkboard painted pumpkins. I don't know why I have never thought of this idea before! I see this as a DYI project soon...
Chalkboard pumpkins

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!



-Katie




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