Five things on a Friday

So pretty much every Friday I have this nerdy Friday song that I sing (don't worry, I don't actually sing a real music note) and a corresponding dance I do (oh you're right, it's not cute at all) because let's be honest, Fridays are the BEST y'all! Aside from the fact that they are the start of the weekend, I feel like the human population as a whole is in a better mood, which makes life fun. Also, you girls probably count down the minutes till you get (hopefully!) a post from me about some of my favorite things for the week! Let's jump right in! 

1. Simply Smooth Hair Treatment- A friend of mine gave me this after she purchased it at a salon and noticed that one of the main ingredients was wheat protein. She has a severe gluten allergy that's nothin to mess with. I totally would have paid her for it, but she wouldn't let me. So aside from the fact that this stuff was free, I'm totally loving it!! You just spritz it on after you wash your hair, and it helps detangle, smooth, and I think it just adds some great overall shine! I love it. And I'm always tryin a new hair product so it's usually pretty hard to convince me! 

2. Henri Bendel bracelet- Ok so this is something very near and dear to my heart. I don't really do souvenirs so on our trip to NYC last year, I picked up this bracelet as my own sort of memento of the trip. It's from Henri Bendel on 5th Avenue, which is a fabulous store and if you haven't heard of it, check out the website. It was definitely more than I would usually spend on something like this, but hey it was NYC and the husband approved! I absolutely adore it and wear it with practically everything. It's the perfect bit of over the top sparkle that I think basically every outfit needs. More is more girls!

3. Chip Skip by OPI- As you all know, I'm obsessed with a fan of doing my nails. The only thing I hate though, is nails that chip after like a day or two! It's the worst! All that hard work and sitting around waiting for them to dry just goes down the tubes! Anyways, this stuff by OPI has totally been a lifesaver! Its basically a base coat before your base coat. And it dries out your nail bed from any excess oil or moisture. This helps the nail polish to adhere better to your nail. It's pretty stinky but I swear it works. This, along with my beloved base coat and a few other tricks I've learned (don't worry, I'll share those later!) has been getting me an average of 6-7 days per polish! It's great! 

4. Chance Eau Frache by Chanel- Chanel makes the best perfume. I know smell is super personal and really varies from person to person so if you go to the mall and smell this one this weekend and hate it, it won't hurt my feelings. But also, please don't tell me because this is my very favorite perfume and it's the one I wore when I met and married (2 of the best days ever!) the man of my dreams. So besides the sentimental value this perfume has to me, I just adore it because I think it smells amazing! It's pricey so I only save it for special occasions but it's the best y'all and I just couldn't get through another 5 things post and not make mention of it. side note: yes, my bottle is almost empty so if you so happen to know my husband, please tell him I'd like some more for my birthday in August! 

5. Denim vest by xhiliration- Yes I did it. I went and bought something so 90s it's fabulous. Guess where I got it?! Target! I know, my shopping there really is becoming a problem. Anyways, I totally love this vest y'all! It's so 90s and bohemian and maybe even a bit edgy all at the same time. I fully plan on living in it all summer and throwing it over any old dress I can! I'm thinking it will be a nice update to that denim shirt I've been wearing the heck out of all season! I know some of you may be skeptical and maybe even a little traumatized by the ones from the 90s that everyone wore with those awful sunflower dresses and hats, but trust me y'all, this vest is so not that! And just to prove it to you, I'll leave you with a picture of me wearing it and two of my dearest friends who are some of my favorite people in the world! 

Have a fabulous weekend y'all! 

xo

Victoria

5 Things on a Friday

So I'm going to be doing these Friday posts a little bit differently than in the past. I know I have kind of used them as an outlet for my randomness once a week, but from now on I'm going to start featuring 5 things I'm currently crushing on. Sometimes these will be fashion or beauty related, and sometimes they won't be, but I hope you enjoy! 

So this week is a pretty eccentric mix of things but y'all should know that I'm also mildly obsessed with everything in the picture above! I mean these fabulous little finds made the first cut, right?! Lets jump right in! 

{starting from the far left side of the picture}

1. Volumizing Lash Powder by Essence- Ok so I told y'all I have an obsession with eyelashes right? I wasn't joking. A friend of mine told me about this "volumizing powder" and I'm pretty sure I brushed her off at first and thought to myself, "she's out of her mind." Sorry friend. BUT thankfully she convinced me let me try it! So here's how it works, its basically a little baby jar of white cotton like fibers that comes with a mascara wand. All you do is put on a thin coat of mascara, then use the wand (not the one from your mascara silly!) to apply some of this powder to your lashes while your mascara is still wet. Then give it a sec and apply mascara again. (side note: it's white so you'll look a little weird but trust me.) Then poof! Your lashes will seriously look fake. No joke! It's the weirdest thing. And the best thing is that this little jar of fabulous only costs $3 at Ulta so you have no excuse not to try it! My asthetician told me that other, more premium brands make something similar and they are upwards of $30!! So yay for this $3 find! 

2. Almond Hand and Nail Butter by The Body Shop- I'm from Texas, where winter (real winter!) doesn't exist. So things like cracking hands, etc aren't really an issue if you use lotion with any sort of regularity. Well things changed for me when I moved up North because let me tell you, extreme cold, washing hands, and then constantly living in super dry, heated environments does a number on your skin. It really does! Mine were cracking, bleeding, and just hurting and looking pretty gross. I found this stuff a couple years back at the Denver airport, and it seriously is the only thing that really works and heals my hands when they're dry! It's super smooth, really thick, and seriously buttery, and it doesn't wear off after just one hand washing! It's a bit pricey (about $20 for the smallest jar-- which is the size I have) but the jars last a good while and it really really works y'all. My mom always said that your hand's will betray your age before your face so I always try to take care of mine, and this stuff has been a life saver!

3. Chobani Vanilla Greek Yogurt- Ok I know this is random but seriously I have almost finished that huge jar you see there in less than a week. I eat it for breakfast, snacks, and even sometimes dessert! It's a bit more tart than traditional vanilla yogurt but it has less fat and sugar, and wayyy more protien! I just add some granola for crunch and yum!! I'm so hooked. Try it! 

4. High Brow Glow by Benefit- Ok so this is fabulous y'all! It's a chubby little pencil, kinda like an eyeliner that is a gorgeous little champagne/ platinum color used for brow highlighting! What is brow highlighting you say? Well basically it's an old makeup artist trick where you apply white or pearl eye shadow under the arches of your brows to make them appear higher. With the pencil, all you do is apply it directly under the arches of your brows (and then smear it a bit with your fingers) for an instant brow lift! It's great in this super cute, super convenient pencil format! I love it for when I'm doing my makeup on the go... oh wait, I'm always on the go since I'm chronically running late. sshhh! I think I paid maybe $16 or $18 for it and it was totes worth it! 

5. Jesus Calling Daily Devotional by Sarah Young- This is probably the best thing on this list because it has helped me get to a whole new level in my walk with the Lord and my alone time with him. Each day has a "message" of sorts from the Lord. All are based in scripture but they are written in a format where it's more like a letter or love note, instead of your more traditional "thou art..." scripture. Each day is about a paragraph or 3 long and has all the scriptures referenced listed at the end. The main focus of the book is for the reader to learn to live or be challenged to choose to live in a constant state of fellowship with the Lord, which I love because I truly believe that our goals should be more about doing this and not so much about how good we can be. This book is at once encouraging and challenging and if you are looking for a little somethin to suppliment your devotional time or are just looking to get started in the morning prayer department, this is your book. I picked up my copy at Target and it has been something I really look forward to each morning. Time with the Lord in the morning is seriously the only thing that gets me through the day. I'm a total wreck without it.

Well y'all, that's my list! Hope you'll try one (or all!) of these little treasures! Do you have any current crushes to share? I'd love to hear them! 

 I also hope you all have a fabulous, and restful weekend! I will be at the counter all weekend so stop by and see me if you can! 

xo
Victoria

Winter Wonderful

I know, I know, it sounds crazy to say the words winter and wonderful in the same sentence doesn't it?! But give me a second here, I'm trying! As you all know, I am most certainly a Texas girl (to the bone!) that is currently calling Northern New York her home. These two places could not be more different! Snow in April anyone?! Anyways, I have come to very much adore my home. No really! It's quite charming... adorable in the summer and serene (and snow covered!) in the winter! As you can probably guess, learning to dress for the winter has been quite the challenge! But I'm learning y'all and having so much fun! 

"I refuse to look frumpy because it's cold!" 

That's honestly been my mantra here. So in the spirit of all things fabulous, let's talk about some ways you can jazz up your winter outfits and add a bit of Winter Wonderful to your life! 

(Note: please excuse the quality of these photos. I wanted to use my own images but photography isn't my forte!)

1. Invest in a good pair of boots. This does not mean they have to be $400 Frye boots (Although I wish mine were), but get yourself a good pair! And for goodness sake, we are not in 2004 and you are not 12 so please don't even look at those Uggs! A good pair of boots can elevate an outfit, take you from day to night, or add an edge to your "girl next door" dress. You'll want a flat boot if you live in a snowy area and if you add a little waterproofing treatment to the leather, you're set! 

These are Steve Madden and I adore them. They go with everything. Also, if you have a caramel color (like these), try mixing them with a black outfit! So chic! 

2. Accessorize with color. I know you usually think of a bold bag as something you only do in the summer but do yourself a favor and try one this winter. I promise it will be totally refreshing to see some color with all that black I know you're wearing! ;)

This one is the gorgeous Michael Kors that my husband gave me for Christmas (and this picture was taken right after I opened it, which explains my goofy grin!). I adore the fact that it's red! It just makes me smile when I throw it over my shoulder in my black parka! 

3. Last but not least, grab yourself some colored jeans and wear the heck out of them! Seriously, colored pants are so of the moment right now and winter is the perfect time to take advantage. They're a great twist on that standard jeans and a sweater uniform I know we are all wearing lately! Also, pair them with not only neutral tops but complimentary colored ones too! Yes girls, get those color wheels out and have fun!! 

These are some oxblood jeggings I picked up at H&M for about $10. They're the perfect compliment to that denim button up I can't get enough of and as you can see here, a nice pop of color against my black parka and black snow boots! (side note: this was the first time seeing this crazy amount of snow fall at once so that's why I'm freaking out in this picture!)

We've got a couple more months of winter left, so I hope you'll use these little tips to help you add some wonderful to your winter! Do you have any others? I'd love to hear them! 

Stay warm! 

xo

Victoria

Tartan

In the spirit of the Holidays, lets talk about a wardrobe trend that's totally happening lately: Tartan. You're probably wondering what the heck it is. Let me enlighten you. 




It's a European looking plaid and it's literally everywhere lately! I think it's totally becoming a thing! 



As you can see, even two of my favorites, Princess Kate and Rhianna are rocking it! It doesn't necessarily have to be red, but since that's my favorite color and its almost Christmas (!!!) let's look at a few of my favorite red versions! 

Back in February during Fall 2012 Fashion week, Michael Kors sent a show down the runway that had a warm and cozy fall feel and... you guessed it, lots of Tartan!

    

Fabulous right?! It makes me want to grab some hot chocolate and head to the ski resort! Anyways, I've been thinking about ways I (we!) could rock this trend and I got so excited because there are so many ways! Here are my 3 favorite! 

1. Scarves are the obvious option. I have seen so many red tartan ones around New York (they're a classic y'all), it's not even funny. And now that they're in, it's the perfect time to snatch one up! Mix it with something funky like leopard print or stripes! Print mixing is totally a thing too ya know! ;)

2. A skirt with a cozy sweater is another option. Michael Kors had tons of those. Just make sure it's not pleated so you don't end up looking like you're wearing a kilt! I like a pencil skirt balanced out with some tights and tough looking ankle booties instead of pumps.

3. Plaid flannel shirts have been a go to for a while now and finding one in this totally of the moment print is another great option that I highly recommend! Pair it with leggings or skiny jeans and some knee high boots and you're set! 

Like I said, there's lots of ways to incorporate this trend into your wardrobe so be creative and try something new! I saw a messenger bag with this print the other day that was adorable and perfect for spicing up a drab winter outfit! :) 

What do you think? Will you be incorporating this trend into your wardrobe? What ideas do you have for wearing it?

xo

Victoria

 

Target/ Neiman Marcus

Have you made plans for Saturday already? Well perfect, I'll help you make some! 



Yes, you have to get your fabulous little self to Target! For REAL! I'll tell you why. 

Target is doing another fabulous collaboration that I can't wait to get my hands on again! You're gonna love it too, promise! The last one was with Italian designer Missoni and it was great. I got some adorable suede stacked heels with a cute chevron print on the toe and some textured black tights. LOVE them both! This time, Target is collaborating with Neiman Marcus which means a good sized group of some amazing designers like Marc Jacobs and Tory Birch! squee!

You can check out the collection here. And in the mean time, let's make our shopping lists, shall we? :) 

- Brian Atwood studded leather gloves. SO beyond chic, and perfect for the cold weather. 

-This Marc Jacobs pouch almost brings me to tears. My FAVORITE accessories designer at one of my favorite stores for under $100? YES PLEASE.

-There's also this Marc Jacobs Scarf that would go with....everything.

-I need a new lunch box for work and This Tory Birch would be so chic. 

-You can never have too many totes, especially when they are Oscar dela Renta.

This is totally just a starting place. But I mean please do yourself a favor and grab a coffee and hit those isles with one of those blessed red carts! I know I plan on doing so! 

So tell me girls, what do you think? will you be making the trip out to Target this weekend to snag one of these items? If so, which one?

Love y'all! 

xo

Victoria

Pre Thanksgiving Outfit Ideas

In case you've been living under a rock or don't own a calendar, I'd like to inform you that tomorrow is Thanksgiving! If you're none of those things, you already know and probably have plans to make the rounds at a family Thanksgiving dinner or two. We are going over to dinner at some friends of ours' house. Both of us have demanding work schedules this year so we aren't able to get home. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to tomorrow and the chance to spend it with some amazing friends who are like family!

I've been totally racking my brain about what to wear tomorrow! I mean I want to look cute BUT I'm not trying to have something so tight on that will show the food baby we all know I'll have! I did a bit of browsing on pinterest (best site EVER) and came up with some ideas so I wanted to share! :)

If your gathering is casual, a nice loose tunic sweater would be great! And make sure the jeans are stretchy or trade them for jeggings! 

A wispy, romantic dress with a cardigan and tights would be adorable! Something like this would work great with either round toe heels or flat boots! 

Embellished collars are huge this season and lucky for us, the silhouette they're usually paired with is pretty loose on top.  I got a couple of tops like this last week and I love them! Oh, and can we all say thank you JESUS for jeggings/ leggings?! They're totally the comfy way to wear extra skinny looking jeans and still be comfy.I would do this outfit with heels or some cute ballet flats. Hair down or a topknot work too! 

And last but not least, sweater dresses are appropriate for every occasion and a loose one is perfect for this holiday! I love how throwing on a dress and a necklace automatically makes you look so put together with minimal effort! :) I'd add tights and boots to this outfit and call it a day! :)

 I'm not 100% sure which outfit I'm going to wear, but hopefully this helped you ladies with some ideas for yours. Where are you spending the holiday? Will you be using any of these outfit ideas?

I hope you all have a happy and fabulous Thanksgiving with the ones you love! 

xo

Victoria

What I Wore

I promised y'all we'd have an outfit post coming didn't I? A proper southern belle never goes back on a promise! 

So when we went to NYC/ Long Island, we basically had one day in the city. We spent the rest of our time in Long Island. Since it was my first trip to the City, I knew it'd be a long and crazy day, with no time for wardrobe changes (gasp!) so whatever I was wearing had to work for daytime tourism, a concert we made plans to go to, and a late night drink. I also wanted to make sure I wasn't carrying around a bulky jacket all day, especially in any stores. Y'all know I went shopping! ;) The temps were in the 50s which was actually pretty nice for this time of year up here but also not warm. Yes I know I sound like a crazy lady to all you Texans!

Let's take a look. Sorry if the pictures are blurry. These are from my phone so they're not the highest resolution. Anyways, There's lots going on here:

Hair: topknot to keep it out of my face. Also, my hair can be kind of wild and crazy and just wander around without adult supervision so I wanted a hairstyle that would keep it under control. 
White tank with white longsleeve v-neck: you can't really see that I'm wearing these, but they are there. Mostly for warmth. Ever since I moved to NY, I've learned to layer like a pro!
Chambray button up: These little denim tops are so versatile it's crazy. I'm literally that person who would wear this shirt 3 times a week if I could. 
Fur vest: So fun! So warm! And way cuter than a hoodie and not as bulky as a jacket
Courduroy-ish leggings: These are the MOST comfortable things ever. And they're warm too! 
Black motorcycle boots: flat for comfort and tough enough to offset the soft vest. I wear these things all the time!
Black hobo bag: literally one of the biggest purses I have. Everything but the kitchen sink y'all!

I also threw on a long silver necklace with a locket and a shorter one with a diamond pendant. I really love the look of layering necklaces that are different lengths.

I felt like this was the perfect outfit for the day. The vest kept it interesting so I didn't feel under dressed at the concert or even while shopping. It was warm too, so it actually did have function!! And overall, the outfit was comfy, so I wasn't dying to peel myself out of it in like 2 hours! I totally hate that feeling!

I really feel like each piece of this outfit is super versatile and you could wear them a million other ways. My mom always told me not to buy a clothing item unless you can think of at least 3 different ways to wear it. Pretty good advice if you ask me!

White ribbed tank: Hollister

White ribbed v-neck: Abercrombie & Fitch

Chambray Button up: Forever 21

Fur vest: Nordstrom

Silver necklace with locket: Forever 21

Corduroy Leggings: Hue at Macys

Motorcycle Boots: MIA

Black hobo bag: Aldo

 I hope this outfit gives you some ideas for your next outing! Don't be afraid to try something new! 

Have a fabulous week and show me some of your outfits! 

xo 

Victoria

A Man Named Marc

I got married on September 22. It was the most perfect day of my life. My husband is the most perfect man to ever walk the earth. But I have a secret.....

I'm in love with another man. His name is Marc Jacobs.

Image via Nordstrom

The man can make a handbag. 

 

Image via Nordstrom

Image via Nordstrom

I mean seriously.

He's got a really amazing line of bags and accessories that are just the right mix of trendy and edgy. All the leather is always as soft as butter and they come in "of the moment" colors each season. Ohmygosh I sound like a sales person. He's my favorite designer though and if I could have a new bag of his every week, that still wouldn't be enough! These bags just give me butterflies girls! It's total infatuation!

They can be a bit pricey but I totally think they're worth it if you think of them as investment pieces. I have a Marc Jacobs bag I got about 3 years ago. It's still in great shape. The leather is still soft and looks new. Oh and more importantly, it doesn't have all these logos plastered everywhere! :) So if you're on the market for a new bag (Personally, I always am) you should totally check em out! Or even just browse em and take notes and create "the look for less!" That's what I've been doing as of late. Student loans are NO JOKE.

Well now you girls got me lusting over another bag or three... Maybe my husband will read this post before Christmas! ;)

xo

Victoria

Oxblood

That's the name of the color that is "the new black" this fall. Can we all just agree that those people who pick names for these sorts of things could have picked a better name for this color? I mean isn't it supposed to appeal to women?! Anyways, take a peek! 


Photo via Google

Pretty fab isn't it?! I mean its not like I've never seen this color before but I love how refreshingly different it is for this year. It's totally a thing this season and I really think it actually works for all skin tones. (side note: I'm obsessed with a fan of all things Will and Kate so I love that she's rocking this color too!) 

So I've been trying to come up with little ways to incorporate this color into my wardrobe without totally splurging (a girl's gotta save money!). I mean a top in this color is a no brainer, but sometimes it's a little more fun to add a color to your outfit in a more unexpected way like a scarf or some shoes or even a bag! If that's even too much for you, maybe just look for tops or dresses that have a print with this color. 

I love this little palate below because it gives you kind of a starting place for what you can pair this color with. Don't be afraid to try really opposite colors with it like the Cornflower or navy. I personally think animal print goes really well with just about anything so it totally makes sense that it's at the top of the list. ;)



Photo via Google

So let's chat! Are you planning on incorporating this color into your wardrobe for fall? If so, how? 

Have a fabulous week!! 

xo

Victoria