Happy Thursday Babes ♥ Spring means it is time to add a P O P of Color to your wardrobe (heck, you know me…I add color year round hehe :p). Color was in full force when shooting this look since I shot it at the ever so colorful Saguaro Palm Springs (ICYMI it is one of the most colorful hotels in Palm Springs that pretty much every blogger takes pictures at).
All a gal like me needs is a cute outfit, some great lighting + the perfect backdrop (luckily Palm Springs is the ideal place for all three!) This blue crochet dress from Target was an end of the season sale buy back in the fall for last summer but I held onto it tight till spring hit. Luckily Target has a few similar styles currently in stock which I link to below 🙂
I am always one for a comfy yet stylish dress and for some reason I am loving bell sleeves + crochet this season, so I linked to a few similar styles below.
A summer shoe staple are tan sandal wedges like these beauties from Tory Burch (my summer staple purchase last year) but there are some similar styles available below 🙂
One of my favorite bag brands to rock year round is GiGi NY. From clutches to totes to satchels + more, GiGi NY (made in my hometown on Long Island) are great quality leather and always on trend!
Happy Wednesday ♥Here’s to sunny days ahead + a bright outlook!ICYMI, I have been in a bit of a funk lately…I haven’t really been feeling like myself + that has made me a little unmotivated when it comes to blogging (as well as a bunch of other things). In the spirit of trying to use my site as a creative outlet + get more personal in hopes of helping others, I decided to get real with this post.
Over the past few months I began feeling like I was loosing myself, like I was doing the same thing day in + day out without any happiness or excitement. It is definitely an icky feeling, so in trying to get back to myself again, I went to the doctor to seek some professional advice on whether this was a normal funk, a quarter of a life crisis perhaps? (haha I hear that’s a real thing) or something else all together. Well it turns out I have been feeling off because I am experiencing depression. It’s hard to describe because I think people envision depression as wanting to be in bed all day, hiding under the covers + crying (which trust me…some days I definitely feel like doing), however there is ‘high functioning depression‘ where you go ahead + try to kick a** everyday but still feel sad, anxious + hopeless inside…so that is the current boat I am in (sorry this isn’t more ‘upbeat’ but I think maybe some people can relate to this + if this can help one other person not feel like they are battling similar issues alone, that makes me feel better to be there to say ‘it’s ok’).
Going through this has been literally one of the most difficult challenges of my life. Picking up my life, moving cross country, leaving my family + loosing that safety net of stability has been tough…along with some other ups + downs along the way, all together these bumps in the road have been weighing on me. So now I am in this difficult place where I feel like I am stuck in this negative rut but also trying to find a way out of it + feel better. Of course there are many options out there to cure such feelings but figuring out what is best for you + your well being is the challenge…Stay tuned for this, I am currently researching some options + want to be able to kind of track my progress throughout my posts till I hopefully feel like myself again 🙂 Maybe this is a growing pain I am supposed to share…or at least that’s how I am looking at it!
If you are going through this struggle or have overcome it, I would LOVE to hear your stories + experiences 🙂
Feel free to commentbelow or e-mail me (since it is a bit personal + sometimes speaking about it is therapeutic ♥)
Since I am trying to regain my happiness + find a ‘brighter‘ outlook on life, I felt it was only suiting to do a post rounding up some of my favorite sunnies that have been trending this fall!
I discovered ILY Mix through instagram (you know, where everyone finds their new favorite places to shop haha) + then went over to their site + became OBSESSED with their selection of fabulous sunnies ♥
Two pairs I am loving (both shown in this post hehe :p) are available on ILYMix.com + retail for under $20 a pair! What a steal!
The first pair is the Double Crossbar Metal Aviator Sunglasses (pictured below) – they are chic, a perfect go-to for daily wear + they remind me of a similar style from Dior (except for a fraction of the price).
The other style I am loving from ILY Mix is the Flat Front Metal Sunglasses. This has been such a popular style over the past couple of months + I was looking for a pair with a pink mirrored hue, so these ones are perfect! (pictured below)
Happy Tuesday Loves! ♥ Sorry I’ve been MIA recently…between work + trying to get back my pep in my step from a little funk I’ve been in, I needed some time to myself and that meant a little break from blogging. Sometimes checking out + taking a little time to re-evaluate and compose yourself is totally necessary. Now I feel refreshed + better than ever! I am in the process of teaching myself how to use all of the amazing features Lightroom has to offer (this is definitely an on-going project…there is simply so much to learn) plus testing out some fun presets from Dreamy Presets (I mean how could they not be awesome when they were created by a blogger?!).
Anyways…now that I am feeling like myself again, time to break down this great fall look that I have already been living in this season. Ever since moving to LA, I have begun a love affair with Uniqlo. It’s my current go-to for simple pieces that can be dressed up or down AND the best part is that they are great quality but for an affordable price…that is my absolute FAVORITE!
One of my favorite pieces from them is this chiffon bell sleeve blouse (I love it so much I got it in multiple colors, no joke…when you find something you love…buy it in bulk…that’s my new motto haha :p)
I paired it with a great pair of medium wash skinny jeans from Target. They have really been stepping up their denim game + their styles fit me perfectly! The best part? Target.com often times has online exclusive promos for clothing + accessories…meaning you will rarelypay full price for them 😉
My newest fall shoe + accessory obsessions are right here! I have always loved bags from GiGi NY, so when they let me pick a piece from their fall line to style for the season, I got so excited! What I love about GiGi NY (other than their amazing bags) is the fact that they are headquartered + manufactured on my hometown on Long Island! Every time I wear one of their bags it reminds me of home 🙂 Sounds corny, but I love supporting brands originating from where I am from + the fact that they support me + my dreams! GiGi NY’s team always makes me smile ♥
In addition to finding the perfect fall bag, I found a great pair of shoes that I have been styling with jeans, dresses + beyond. I love a good peep toe shoe, and these tan booties are comfortable enough to wear to the office then out to happy hour without a simple complaint!
Happy Tuesday Babes ♥ We made it! (Through Monday that is haha :p) I had a crazy busy Monday…I started doing some exciting work over in Beverly Hills which means naturally, I will be wanting to shop on Rodeo during my lunch hour…#Oops 😉 Anyways…with hot temps still in LA, I had to start dressing for fall, but also staying cool + comfortable like how I do during the summer (seriously it’s been like 90 degrees lately…no joke). Since I have been crushing on Olive Green I figured styling a skater dress that can be worn year round was perfect for an autumn ensemble!
I found these floral printed pumps in the back of my closet + figured why the hell not…fall florals are in right? Let’s (in the famous words of Tim Gunn) ‘Make It Work‘ 😉 haha! These are similar styles and they each retail under $75 ::
My other accessories are helping me get over my Tuesday blues (you know, because the weekend can’t come soon enough, right?). I always love to wear my blue mirrored RayBans, I just feel they really pull a look together! I being a true ‘matchy matchy‘ person, decided to also wear my blue face Michael Kors watch – I seriously love this watch! It’s the perfect way to incorporate a ‘Pop Of Color‘ into your outfit everyday. My necklace is from BaubleBar + there is pretty much no explanation needed…who doesn’t love a nice monogram necklace! Hint, Hint – this would also make a great GIFT for the Holiday Season (just thinking ahead for ya :p).
Happy Friday Babes! Guess what…It’s OFFICIALLY FALL! Yesterday was the first day of fall so that means it’s time to start styling some great fall ensembles that are stylish yet warm and cozy at the same time (although in LA I don’t really need to be ‘warm and cozy’ hehe :p). Since LA is actually experiencing 90 degree temps at the moment (no joke haha) I decided to mix some fall pieces with some summer ones! I teamed up with three brands that are on my ‘Must Shop List‘ of the moment…Tart Collections, GiGi NY + Restricted Shoes!
I have a bit of a love obsession with faux fur vests (honestly I can figure out a way to style them year round haha :p), so when Tart Collections sent me their Gabriel Vest I instantly fell in L O V E (plus if you use code –FALLMELISSA15 for 15% off) ♥ So despite the warm LA weather, I decided to pair this chic vest over a simple sweater (I love the length and the shaggy design since it is flattering and not puffy which can sometimes make you look a little bigger). My lightweight pullover sweater is from Target + it is only $6!! No joke, $6 — making it the perfect sweater for early autumn layering!
Since it is warm out, I tied in a little summer style by pairing the sweater + vest with a comfy white skater skirt 🙂 I love skater skirts since they are such an easy pick to style!
Now time for fall accessories! My new chunky heels (perfectly on trend for fall 2016) are from Restricted Shoes. They are called the ‘Gossip’ heel + here is the gossip 😉 They are comfortable, stylish + are great for work or play…I am able to wear them all day without experiencing any pain or discomfort (yasss) AND they are simple to be styled with dresses, skirts, jeans + more!
My new fall clutch is from my fav handbag brand straight from my hometown on Long Island (#represent haha), GiGi NY! This is their new Stella Fold-over Clutch in gray. It comes with a removable crossbody strap if you choose not to wear it as a clutch and it has room for all of your essentials (making it ideal for weekend adventures or even a Girl’s Night Out)!
The pair of shoes below are similar, but you can shop my exact pair from Restricted Shoes HERE AND you can use code – MISSY25 for 25% off site wide!
