Friday, June 27, 2014

Sunshine and Ponytails

 



Jacket: AG Jeans; dress: Rebecca Taylor; bag: Longchamp; shoes: Tory burch; sunglasses: Karen Walker 

This was seriously my uniform last summer. This dress from Rebecca Taylor is so comfy (god bless stretch ponte knit!) and I love how the zipper detail in the front gives a kind of edgy vibe to an otherwise basic sundress. Living on the coast = I always have to bring a jacket with me, so my jean jacket basically never leaves my side, plus I think it looks great with sundresses like this one! 

Until next time,
xo
T



Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Better together: pink and navy





Shirt and scarf: Lilly Pulitzer; jeans: J Brand; bag: Rebecca Minkoff; sunglasses: Karen Walker; shoes: Dolce Vita 

I wore this outfit to church last weekend, but I've been wearing this scarf mom stop since I bought it! It goes perfectly with my navy Houston top from lilly, which is honestly one of the most perfect basics a closet could have. I've been mixing up the top and scarf with shorts and skinnies, too, but I love wide leg jeans so much! Paired with wedges they make me feel like I have super model legs :)

Until next time,
xo
T







Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Tone It Up!


As I've mentioned before on this blog, I've been on a mission for the past few months.  I realized after I moved in with Matt, my boyfriend, almost a year ago that I had gained about 20 pounds.  20 pounds! As you can probably imagine, it was a bit of a shocker for the girl who never really had to worry about her figure before.  I realized that it was a combination of a slowing metabolism (I'm not 18 anymore!), as well as a shift in lifestyle: I wasn't nearly as active and I definitely wasn't eating as healthily anymore, either.  Instead of riding my bike to yoga and then coming home to a grilled turkey burger patty and veggies, I was sitting at a desk all day and then drinking beer and eating out. 

I had known about Tone It Up for about 6 months prior to moving in with Matt, and I had started to tentatively follow their fitness plan, but once I moved I completely fell off the wagon.  But, since he deployed a few months ago I've gotten my groove back, and have been following the Tone It Up plan more closely. 

What I love most about it is that it actually teaches you about your body and nutrition.  Instead of just thinking that all carbs are bad and you should never have fat, the Tone It Up girls actually explain how all of the different food groups work in your body, how your metabolism works, and what you need to be the healthiest version of yourself.  Also, the recipes and workouts that they provide are amazing. 

In short, Karena and Katrina (the founders of Tone It Up) are just regular southern california girls like me who love being active and eating healthy, and who want everyone else to get as much enjoyment out of it as they do. And, instead of focusing on being super skinny, they focus on being healthy , which is such a refreshing attitude. It has definitely helped me get back on track with my health, and focused on taking minutes off of my mile and making sure that I get my daily fruits and veggies more than the number on the scale. 

Until next time, 
xo 
T

Monday, June 23, 2014

First Day of Summer




Dress: Lilly Pulitzer; earrings: Kendra Scott; sunglasses: Karen Walker; shoes:
Tory burch 

This past Saturday was the official first day of summer, and it was absolutely gorgeous here in the Pacific Northwest!
As it was also National Wear Lilly Day, obviously I had to break out this super comfortable and adorable Lilly Pulitzer dress. I love the print, since it combines animal print and pink! And the silhouette is great for summer days (at least where I live!) since the dolman sleeves and blouson cut make it light and airy. Plus, it looks great with my new Kendra Scott earrings! 

Until next time,
xo
T



Friday, June 20, 2014

Denim Vest Obsessed




Vest: Hinge via Nordstrom; dress: Joie; necklace: Moon and Lola; shoes: Tory Burch; bag: Kate Spade

So I have been on a mission to find the perfect denim vest for a while now. It's bordered on obsession. Which is odd because it's not really something that I would normally think of for myself! It's kind of a hipster item, but given my love of denim (shirts, jackets, jeans... I have a problem), I guess it really only made sense! And it's kind of the perfect summer layering piece, especially up here in the northwest where a high is 70! 

Until next time,
xo
T




Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Inspo of the Week: Miranda Lambert



Hot damn, Miranda Lambert is looking good lately. I noticed at the last round of awards shows that she looked particularly great, and then she was on the cover of the most recent issue of Women's Health magazine.  When it came in the mail a few weeks back, I immediately devoured the entire article, since I'm kind of Miranda-obsessed. Even if you're not a country fan, I think her music is the perfect kick-butt girl rock that every girl can love.  You can tell through her music that she has such a cool attitude in general, and that extended to her approach to weight loss.


At 5'4", she realized that as her 30th birthday grew closer, she wasn't feeling as great as she had in her early 20s, and she wanted to make a change. In her words, her body transformation wasn't about becoming skinnier, but about being the best and healthiest version of herself. If that isn't the most inspiring approach to weight loss, I'm not sure what is!


She lost about 25 pounds by making healthier food choices (swapping out chicken for steak; getting her veggies by juicing; eating smaller portions, etc) and being more active (taking the stairs, going horseback riding, etc). Most importantly, though, she did it over months, focusing not on an intense crash diet but on making healthy decisions and embracing a healthier lifestyle.  And she looks great! Miranda doesn't look stick thin, but she looks like the best, healthiest version of herself.  And it's amazing!


I found myself in a similar position recently, as after I moved in with Matt about a year ago I gained about 20 pounds. And I had no idea how.  I had always been the girl who didn't really have to work out, etc., but I slowly realized that that was because I had always had a fairly healthy lifestyle and routine.  Moving to a different state and moving in with a boyfriend for the first time definitely threw a wrench in that routine.  I wasn't riding my bike as much, didn't have a yoga studio or barre class to go to, didn't know where to go for runs.  And, on top of that, I was living with a boy who eats pizza and wings and drinks beer and whiskey (all my favorites!) with no repercussions because it's basically his job to work out every morning with the army. I have about 10 pounds left on my own journey, and it's so refreshing to read about a celebrity who I already love going through the same thing. Go Miranda!

Until next time,
xo
T

Monday, June 16, 2014

Random Acts of Kindness


So I had a terrible week last week. I had friend-in-a-warzone drama (a friend who is my boyfriend's best friend, and my best friend's husband), and then girl drama thrown on top for good measure. Normally when I'm having a bad day or week I'll head to the mall for some good retail therapy.  But last week I realized that I needed something a little more than a new pair of Tory Burch Reva flats while I was sniffling into my ice cream over mean girls who never got the memo that we are out of high school.


Then, when I was at church this past weekend, my pastor was talking about remembering how small we are in comparison with the world around us, and it got me thinking about this event we used to have at my elementary school when I was a little kid.  It was called Random Acts of Kindness Day, and it was a day that you devoted to doing something special and kind for a stranger.  It's a lesson that's really stayed with me as an adult, and whether I'm paying for the coffee for the person behind me in line at Starbucks, or buying the homeless man outside my office a sandwich, or raking an elderly neighbors leaves off of their lawn, it's amazing how much a small act can improve not only someone else's day, but also your own.


In light of that, I spent last night on a ninja mission of kindness.  I went around my neighborhood with a box of chalk, and wrote kind messages and inspirational quotes on the sidewalks.  I thought that maybe it would brighten at least one person's day to walk outside their door and see that someone was thinking of them, just like it would've brightened my day last week.  And, you know, I think it made me happier than any pint of ice cream, glass of wine, or new pair of shoes ever would :)

Until next time,
xo
T

Friday, June 13, 2014

Navy or Nothing






Dress, jacket: Kate Spade; boots: Hunter; bag: Kate Spade

I made the mistake of packing away my rain boots a month or so ago... But I feel like Julia Roberts is yelling, "Big mistake!" At me like in the movie Pretty Woman. it's my first spring in the Northwest and it's definitely soggy! But, hey, at least I get some extra time with my favorite rain boots! 

Until next time,
xo
T





Thursday, June 12, 2014

Bare Minerals Bare Skin Review


So about a week ago I purchased the Bare Minerals Bare Skin Foundation. I have been a longtime fan of Bare Minerals Powder, however, since I moved to the Northwest, my skin has gotten drier and powder just seems to exacerbate that. So I switched to liquid foundation.  I experimented with several different types, but had yet to find one that gave my skin the natural finish that I wanted. Then I started seeing ads for this new Bare Minerals liquid foundation, and I gotta tell ya, it felt like the best of both worlds.

However, I wanted to wait and see reviews and that sort of thing before I jumped in with both feet. I have fairly sensitive skin, and most anything that I put on it will make me breakout.  So I have to be careful about putting just anything on my face.

After reading up on it online and in magazines like InStyle, I found out some great information.  For starters, like all Bare Minerals makeup, the Bare Skin foundation is formulated without oil, paragons, silicone, or fragrance; and is dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic and therefore great for all skin types and tones. Also, I kept seeing all of this jazz about the foundation being a "serum," which I thought sounded kind of gimmicky. However, I read up about it on sephora.com and found out that the brightening skincare serum infused in the foundation is actually the real deal. Bare Minerals extracts stem cells from Lilac plants, which are known for their healing abilities and powerful antioxidant protection, and fortifies their mineral complex with it.  This in turn helps defend against environment stressors.


In terms of the chemical makeup it seemed like a good fit, however I didn't want to end up with a bottle of something that I used once and then hated.  So my friend Amy and I decided to get our makeup done one day when we were passing by the Bare Minerals store at the mall near her house and try it out, as we had both been dying to. And, needless to say, I loved it.  What I think is great about it is that it is fairly thin and sheer, so depending on how much coverage you need you can build on what you've applied to take care of problem areas. It's also much like the Bare Minerals powder in that your natural skin still shows through, so you don't feel like you're wearing a mask - instead it's your skin, only better and more even toned.  I constantly battle with dark spots that are left over from even the tiniest zit (I'm only a number three in the foundation, and that's me with a tan!  Gosh I'm so pale...), and this gives amazing coverage.  I don't even need concealer most days, which is something that I never thought I would say, with hereditary dark under eye circles and dark spots galore.

When I was talking with the girl who applied my makeup (shout out to the Green Hills Bare Minerals!), she told me that while it's great for most normal skin types, she herself can't use it because her skin is too dry and it kind of just sits on top of her dry spots. So, if you have problems with extremely oily or dry skin, this product is probably not for you. If that's not the case, though, I would definitely try it out! Head to your local Bare Minerals store, Sephora, or Ulta and pick it up :)

Until next time,
xo
T

PS: Here's my video (my first ever!) of my application process so you can see the before and after of my skin.  Just don't judge my paleness, please!




Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Feeling like Spring





Top: Duke and Winston via Tuckernuck; pants: JBrand; shoes: Sam Edleman; hat: Eugenia Kim via Anthropologie; necklace and ring: Jennifer Zeuner; sunglasses: Ray Ban; bag: Dogeared 

Yay for the weekend! I spent my Saturday tearing up my front yard with my mom... You can see our handiwork behind me! But when we finished we showered up and decided to walk down to my local brewery which is right on the water in tacoma, and it's so gorgeous! Since I was tired from a day of yard work, I just slipped on some white jeans, an oversized graphic tee, and put my hair in a braid with a Panama hat on top. Easy! And comfy. And perfect for a relaxing Saturday night :) 

Until next time,
xo
T  




Tuesday, June 10, 2014

OMG: Pretty Little Liars comes back tonight!


Ok, I admit, I am addicted to Pretty Little Liars. It is 100% my guilty pleasure.  Well, that and Real Housewives of Orange County. And the Kardashians. But I digress. The point is, Pretty Little Liars starts its 5th season tonight on ABC Family, and I am stoked. "A" might finally be revealed (and by finally I mean about the fourth iteration of A reveals), hopefully there will be some new boy candy, and probably lots of creepiness peppered throughout for good measure. 

But lets get to the real reason why I watch this show: the clothes. Yes, I am obsessed with mysteries and suspense and can't get enough of Forensic Files and the like, but this show puts Forensic Files and Gossip Girl together to make a very well dressed and accessorized murder mystery. So color me obsessed. Mostly I can't wait to see what Hanna Marin (Ashley Benson's character) is wearing.  She is the closest to my personal style, and girl can rock a good color blocked outfit and a well collared shirt with the best of them. 

Anyway, I'm so excited I might even skip yoga tonight so that I don't miss a minute. My glutes might not like it, but that's the way it is. 

Until next time, 
xo 
T

Monday, June 9, 2014

Flower Power




Sweater: JCrew; top: Yumi Kim; jeans: JBrand; shoes: Tory Burch; sunglasses: Karen Walker; bag: Dogeared 

So I have to say that I absolutely love the color pink. It's been my favorite color since I was little (except for a few years here and there when I didn't think it was "cool" enough), but the great thing about getting older is that you start to realize how awesome it is being you, and embracing all of the little things that make you you! Even if that is your love of the color pink :)

Until next time,
xo
T



Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Oh happy day!



Top: Joie; skirt: Lilly Pulitzer; necklaces: Jennifer Zeuner, Kendra Scott; shoes: Tory Burch

I received some sad news this past weekend, and so I thought this outfit would be an appropriate post to work on cheering myself up. I wore it shopping with my best friend Amy, we had a great day, and this lilly skirt is just so happy! Between a good lilly print, some fresh flowers and a much needed Mexican food outing, I think I might be putting bad news out of my head :) 

Until next time,
xo
T