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

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

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

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

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

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

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