Hello and welcome to what I hope will be a fun post, reviewing some of the looks from the Golden Globes! 

I always enjoy watching the Golden Globes, The Oscars, Emmys... you name it! I love seeing everyone all glammed up! The fashion is my favorite part typically. I like the performances as well usually! But I do love seeing what everyone wears. I have noticed that the men's styles have been changing up a bit over the years, that has been very fun to watch! 

For today's post, I am giving my personal opinion on how some different looks from the night. Let me know what you think, if you agree/disagree and why! 

Jamie Lee Curtis in Safiyaa

LOVE this! Is it just me or does Jamie Lee Curtis seem to get even better with age? This black jumpsuit is slenderizing and flattering, while the printed cape brings the drama without being over the top. 

​

​Jenna Ortega in Gucci

This is such a dreamy gown! And it fits her just right! The flowing fabrics, the cutouts, even her layered necklaces and haircut/color just work perfectly together! 

​Niecy Nash in Dolce and Gabbana


I love me some Niecy Nash! And I don't dislike this look necessarily -I think it looks great on her! And I love the royal purple color! I just wish the dress was either solid purple or all the print. I think both plus the dramatic ruffled cape/train is borderline overdoing it. 

That said, I do not hate this look at all! Far from it! I think she wears it well and she looks fabulous in it! 

​Tyler James Williams in Amiri 

This is what I mean when I said that men's fashion has come a long way. Gone are the days of the plain tuxedo, now we get to enjoy looks like this one! 

I think that it fits him well and it stands out a bit. Everything matches nicely! 

Letitia Wright in Prada 

I LOVE, LOVE this dress! Everything about it! The simplicity of it, the colors, the fit, her orange heels that match it perfectly! I think it looks stunning against her skin tone. She just looks so regal and stunning! I had to include her in my favorites! 

These are a few I did not like as much...

​Sigourney Weaver in Saint Laurent -I don't like to be mean when I review people's clothing choices because we all have different styles and preferences, but there is nothing flattering about this dress. It completely erases her figure/waistline. I'm not crazy about the neckline, it doesn't look to me like her breasts are all that supported, and the huge pendant in the center.... I just... have no words. I kind of feel like I kind of see what kind of look she was going for but man, did she miss that mark. 

Clair Danes in Giambattista Valli Haute Couture - This look is not terrible! I just wish the bow at the top was not there. That is the main thing ruining this look for me. Otherwise, I kind of like this look a lot! 

Sebastian Stan in Larivin -I'm having a hard time putting my finger on what is off about this look. I feel like the jacket is too big maybe? Maybe it is the angle of the picture? I don't know, but something is throwing me off with this particular look. Am I the only one?

​

Seth Rogen in Dior 

Seth Rogan has surprised me lately with some of his unique and actually quite stylish choices! This is not bad, although I would have gone with a darker shade of pink or red. Maybe even maroon (meet in the middle!)

My biggest gripe with Seth Rogan's style choices is his shoes! Guys! If you're going to wear lighter colored suits, do not wear black shoes! It ruins the look! Wear lighter colored shoes as well! 

​Evan Peters in ALDO


Okay, lets end on a high note!
​
So, I know I said all that about men's styles coming a long way. And I meant it! But there is nothing wrong with the classic tux!

Evan Peters pulls it off perfectly! 

Hello and Happy Friday!

There is something about late afternoon in the winter that just hits differently to me. I cannot exactly explain why but it is one of my favorite times of day. (Although, trying to get pictures in at this time of day can be tricky with the lighting. But I will still take it!)

This particular park is one of my favorite places! It is so scenic and gorgeous! It has a calming energy as well. I take walks here a lot especially in the spring/fall -when it is not ridiculously hot or cold. 

For the last month this area has been rented out and closed off for holiday parties and events, so I was thrilled when I came to shoot this look and was finally able to use it again! 

This look is a great winter/fall look that came together so easily! Although it is a little hard to tell a lot about the skirt -as I said this time of day can be tricky with the lighting- I think you can get a good sense of it. It was part of a small Christmas present from myself to myself. It was four pieces from Loft. The black turtleneck and this velvet, floral print, ruffled skirt are both very lovely pieces. 

The turtleneck is a pretty classic staple. You cannot go wrong with a black turtleneck. It is perfect for layering, lightweight, versatile, and timeless. Of course, it and the skirt went together perfectly for a very cozy and elevated look. The skirt has hints of deep purple and burnt orange in it and so the peacoat was another piece that just made sense. It all flowed together effortlessly, for a classy look! 

I hope you all had a great weekend! Thanks for reading! Have a great week!



Turtleneck: Loft
Skirt: Loft
Booties: Target

Hello and Happy Friday! 

It has been a hell of a week! It felt like a lot was going on, and for me it was an emotionally heavy week and a bit draining to be honest. I found myself pretty productive to be honest, that is the good news! 

This look I came across on accident and I instantly fell in love with it! I was just playing around with different styles and looks, prepping for future posts, when on a whim I decided to pair this sweater and blazer together. (Fun fact! I am actually wearing this sweater backwards! It is an Instagram hack, I saw, tried, and it actually worked pretty well!)

​These colors together give off such a strong, feminine energy. I must have subconsciously thought so because even the location I am at gives off strong energy! 

The large, concrete pillars. The fountain behind me. There were several iron-rod gates that I also shot in front of and passed while shooting here. It all gives off such a powerful allure. 

Funny enough, I did not plan it that way! 

I styled the outfit just liking how it looked all together, I picked the location because it was somewhere different (and admittedly I had errands to run close by after I was done with shooting!) 

It was not until editing the pictures and writing this now that I realize how truly well this all came together! 

Additionally, I played around a little with these pictures. I tried shooting at different heights and angles, and over all I am pretty pleased with how they came out -though it is definitely something I need to continue working on. But all and all I'm pretty pleased. I'm pretty proud of myself. That's something I have not been able to say in a while, but I really am proud of my progress! I feel like I have challenged myself more as a blogger and it is paying off! 

Thank you all so much for reading and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend ahead! =)


Blazer: Apricot Lane
Sweater: Target
Shorts: Target
​Shoes: Target

Hello and Happy Wednesday! 

And before you say anything, I know! I know! I am sharing a Christmas-y post on day 4 of the new year -what am I doing!?

Well, it was a last Christmas=y hooray for me. You probably noticed I got really into the Christmas spirit this year. I really enjoyed taking in all of the lights, decorations, and even some of the music (I can only handle so many Christmas carols lol). One thing I kept hearing about and wanting to see was the NC Holiday Light Spectacular in Ballantyne. I heard about it mid-December and by then the holiday was quickly approaching and I was running out of time. I accepted that I had probably missed it for this year. 

Then New Year's Eve rolls around, and I was in kind of a somber mood. Not really feeling celebratory, and kind of on a whim, I looked up the light spectacular and to my surprise it was still up! 

So, I set out for my own little adventure! And it was even better than I thought it would be! 

There were lights EVERYWHERE! There were lights wrapped around trees that lined the sidewalk, there were huge snow globes -one had a talking Christmas tree that welcomed you to the event! 

I walked through a lit-up tunnel to where on the other side, nutcrackers stood at alert.

​I felt like I was in ELF walking past this candy cane forest! Which was arguably one of my favorite parts of the display!

There was a field of snowmen! More giant snow globes, ballet dancers, swans, a gingerbread house, and Santa and his reindeer!

There was what looked to be a field of lights that hosted several lit-up reindeer -that was stunning!

All the while, Christmas music played softly as you wondered about. 

It felt so magical! 

That was how I rang in the new year! 

It was quiet but it was perfect to me! I am so grateful to have been able to make it! It was everything I needed that night. I left with a smile on my face and hope in my heart. 

Yes, I know how cheesy that sounds. But its' true all the same! 

Thanks for reading! And I hope you enjoy this as much as I did! Happy New Year and I promise this will be it for the Christmas posts! ;) 

See you Friday! 

Hello! And welcome to the first post of the new year! 

What all did you guys do to ring in the new year? I did something pretty low key, but it was still fun. I'll be sharing about it a little later on. It was still a nice way to bring in the new year. 

With the new year comes a fresh new start and numerous opportunities, and my main resolution this year is to take these opportunities and indulge in new experiences. I have a few things that I will be working on this year, and I will keep you posted as they come! Stay tuned! 

On to today's look! 

These wide-legged, floral printed pants were a sort-of Christmas gift I got for myself. I got them at Loft and was immediately drawn to the colors. The black floral print against the bright blue I find to be so beautiful! 

I found them online, and I was expecting them to be made of material that was a bit thicker -velvet is what I initially thought. But the material is pretty light, so I can wear them in the spring/summer as well! (And I already have at least one idea for a summer style lined up!)

I felt like this was just a classy holiday look -even though I know we are now past the holidays. But it works well for work, nice dinners, or date nights. A crisp, black peacoat would really dress up the look! 

​Thank you for reading today! I hope you liked this post! And if you make resolutions, feel free to let me know what some of yours are for this year! I would love to hear them! 

Have a great week and tune in Wednesday to hear about how I rang in the new year! 


Shirt: Loft
Pants: Loft
Shoes: Target
Jacket: Target

Hello and Happy Friday! 

I can hardly believe that this will be the last post of the year! I always usually love the start of a new year because it is like a chance to begin again. To start over fresh. I also love to pause and reflect on the year. This year was a year of tremendous growth for me. While it was not always the easiest of years -in fact in ways it was far from it- I'm sitting here writing this feeling honestly very at peace with the year and with myself. This is post is a look back at the ups and downs from the year and a look ahead at what I'm working on in the New Year. Enjoy! 

Santi, my love and my friend. Had I known that talking with you on January 3rd would have been the last time I would have said so much more. I miss you so much. So, many things happened this year that I wanted to tell you about, that I wanted to hear your thoughts on, where I could have used one of your 'Family Guy' impressions to make me laugh. I will always cherish our friendship. I thank you for always believing in and encouraging me, your words are constantly in my mind and will always be there. I have been a bit anxious for this year to end because I feel like time will just continue and I will have to let go and move on. But I'm slowly learning how to move forward and bring you with me through memories, through other friendships, through pictures, tv shows we used to watch, inside jokes, and by continuing to push myself out of my comfort zone with this blog. I know you would be so proud of me. Thank you for being the best friend a girl could ask for! I love you so much. This post is for you! 

Breaking My Arm!

Kicking things off with a bang, in early February I fractured my elbow! My first time ever that I have done that! I fell and of course it hurt when it happened, and I expected it to be swollen and sore perhaps the next day. 

What I did not expect was throbbing pain all night long. Or not being able to lift my arm above my chest without extreme pain. Or being able to get dressed. Or finding out that it was, in fact, fractured and having to wear a splint/sling for several weeks. But all's well that ends well, it healed nicely, and is now as good as new! 

This by far is one of two things that I am most proud of myself for this year! I had been wanting and itching to go different places and shoot for the blog for a long time! But the thought of going to these places on my own, setting up my camera and taking pictures of myself in public seemed so daunting and out of reach for me. That is why you almost always saw me in front of my car or around my house -I tried to switch things up even then. But then one day I got a dress in the mail. It was a billow-y summer dress, and I had this vision of posing underneath this enormous tree that I pass nearly every day. I decided to do it and it was such an invigorating experience! A little awkward at first, but I gradually got more comfortable with it. I loved how the pictures turned out, I loved the different backgrounds, I loved the way I felt posting, I loved everything! 

And just like that, I was not afraid anymore! In fact, it really reignited my love for blogging. There is something about bringing a vision to life that is just such a surreal, validating, satisfying feeling! That is the best way to explain it for me. 

The top three pictures are from early this year while I was blogging at and around my house, the bottom three are once I started going different places. The difference in quality is also notable! 

Went to see Lizzo! 

So... I have not been to a concert in years! And I mean even before Covid hit, I had not been to one in a while! When my Aunt -who LOVES Lizzo- sent us (me, my sis, and my cousin) a group text about Lizzo coming to Charlotte in October, I do not think she expected us to all want to go. Truth be told, I was a bit surprised I wanted to go as much as I did. Up to that point I had no real feelings towards Lizzo either way. But the price was not bad, I enjoyed most of the songs that I knew, and I was up for the experience! And what a GREAT experience it was! We had such a great time! We danced and sang our hearts out! Now I am a huge Lizzo fan! I just cannot get enough! 

Charlotte Fashion Week 2022
I was able to attend the full week of Charlotte Fashion Week this year! I have not been able to do that since Covid! It was such a blast! Four nights of friends (both old and new), fun, and fashion! I met some really interesting and creative people like emerging designers, models, and these two lovely ladies who were there because their daughter was in the show. They were so kind and hilarious! I got to hang out with my good friend Vikee (aka Designer Diva!) Some fun collabs came out of it too! For example....


BellaFior Collab
In November I collaborated with BellaFior Jewelry for a post showcasing several of designer, Millie Simmon's pieces. This kind of goes back to what I was talking about when I mentioned bringing visions to life. I had seen her jewelry prior to collaborating and shooting with her, and after a phone conversation where I got an idea of what kind of aesthetic she was going for, I was able to envision and create a great look for the shoot. I scouted out a location -a gorgeous park and three or four spots within the park to shoot at, I brought the burnt-orange scarf so that her jewelry would pop. Even the leaves in the shoot were strategically placed there for a fall-like aesthetic. We spent the afternoon shooting, filming, and gathering great content! This was definitely one that I enjoyed! 

This is starting to get very lengthy, so I am going to wrap it up! The only other notable thing that happened, which was kind of a bummer, was that I came down with Covid not long ago. It was not too bad and I recovered quickly and for that I am very grateful! 

It has been a year for sure! Sometimes great and other times dark. The thing I am full of this year though is gratitude! Just all around! Grateful for my family, my friends, my life, my health (mental and physical), for the opportunities, the moments, the new friendships, all of it! I'm grateful for this blog and I am looking forward to the new year. I am planning to continue to get out of my comfort zone more and more. Stay tuned to see what lies ahead! For now, I will just thank you so much for reading and being on this journey with me! I love you and I will see you next year! 

Be safe! Enjoy! And Happy New Year! 

Hello and Happy Monday!

Is everyone starting to thaw out a bit from the weekend!? 

Last week was ROUGH for shooting! It was just SO cold! I know, I know cue the small, sad violin playing for me -lol! 

It has been rough for everyone I pray everyone was able to stay safe and warm inside! 

I took these last Thursday, and the bitter cold was setting in, so it really took everything in me to force myself out of the house to get pictures. My mood was not 100%, it was cloudy, it was getting late, it was crowded, it just seemed like the odds were a little bit against me. (I guess we better keep that small violin nearby!) 

That said, I'm really happy with how everything came out! 

​I really love that the colors of this look pop against the grey skies. It adds a bit of its own warmth to the pictures. 

This outfit kept me very warm while I was out and about that afternoon! The peacoat has been a staple in my closet for a while now, and it really came through with this look. 

The sweater is a newer piece, from Loft. I just could not resist it. The colors are neutral so it will go with everything, it is warm, soft, and versatile! What is not to love? 

In the end, I think we can put that violin away. I am done feeling sorry for myself! I pushed through the challenges of the day and came out better for it! I am going to work towards really maintaining that mentality going forward. Thank you for listening! xD 

I hope you enjoyed this post and had a Merry Christmas! 

Hope you have a great week! 


Sweater: Loft (this is as close as I could find on the site)

Hello and Merry Christmas! 

I hope you guys are having a great week and are ready for the holiday! 

I am! I'm fully and wholly ready. 

I am ready and excited to spend time with my family and my work family, I'm ready for good food, I am ready for the laughs we will have. 

I'm not sure I'm ready for how cold it is about to get though! D:

This was another look that I froze while shooting! In fact, it began to sleet towards the end of this shoot! 

I could not have asked for a better background for this look! I was driving home from running an errand when I passed the pocket park -remember it from this post!?- and saw how cute it had been decorated! 

So, I hurried home, changed, and headed back for pictures. On the way, I saw the huge tree in the middle of the shopping center and of course I couldn't resist! It matched the look so perfectly! 

The look itself is simple: the focal point was the velour jumpsuit, which already has a very dressy feel to it. But adding small gold and red accents really enhanced the look. It makes it really feel special and Christmas-y! 

Thank you all so much for reading! I really hope you all have a great holiday! Indulge in the good food! Make a lot of special moments and reminisce on old memories! Stay warm and stay safe! 

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! 



Jumpsuit: Target
Belt: Versona Boutique
Shoes: Versona Boutique
​Bag: Goodwill

Hello and Happy Wednesday! 

I wanted to share another post of three of my favorite places! Today it is my three recommendations for where to get a great cup of coffee! Ironically enough, I am not really much of a coffee drinker typically! But about this time of year when it gets cold and I'm in the holiday spirit, it seems like a good idea. So, while I have been out shopping, shooting, and freezing, I kept an eye out for some coffee shops that looked interesting to try out! And this is what I found! 

Dilworth Coffee

This was my first stop! And it is a place I have passed every day for years! But this was my first time stopping in! 

But it will not be my last!

It was so warm and inviting! The staff was very friendly and suggested their seasonal peppermint mocha latte -which I got and was very tasty! Their other seasonal drink is a gingerbread latte, which I'm sure is goad but gingerbread is not really for me. 

Dilworth Coffee offers almost any latte you can imagine! Turmeric Ginger latte, Snickerdoodle latte, Spiced Chai latte, and Heavenly Bliss latte just to name a few. 

Not a coffee fan? No problem! They offer hot chocolate and hot tea options as well! 

And for those with certain dietary restrictions, there are also several different milk and/or milk substitute options. 

In addition to coffee, they offer iced coffees, smoothies, drinks for kids, baked goods, and sandwiches! 

It is definitely worth stopping by! 

Brakemans Coffee and Supply  

​Brakemans is another coffee shop that I have driven by several thousand times I'm sure and did not realize it was there! It is a hidden gem in downtown Matthews and now that I have found it, I will definitely be back! 

I actually got hot chocolate here, but it did that trick when I got it! It was delish and warmed me up! Not to mention got me caffeinated through the afternoon when I tend to get groggy. But they offer a variety of coffees, lattes, espressos and hot tea some of these are their own signature drinks. 

In the summertime, you can order shakes and ice cream as well! 

For me it is the aesthetic of Brakeman's that really draws me in! This place is so cozy! It has so many homey nooks to plug up a laptop and get work done or curl up in a chair and read a book while sipping your drink. Catching up with a friend? They have hole in the wall rooms for more privacy. And there is also a really cute sunroom and outdoor sitting area for those summer evenings! It really welcomes you in and invites you stay for a while. 

I'm so glad I stopped in! 

Matcha Cafe Maiko 

​I am fairly certain I have not driven past this gem thousands of times, maybe just a few dozen! It is another place though, that I am so glad I tried! 

Much like Dilworth, Matcha Cafe Maiko was offering a seasonal peppermint and gingerbread latte, guess which one I got?!

Yep, another peppermint mocha latte for the win! 

It was delicious as well and they formed a design in the steamed milk! I was not expecting it and was so giddy about it! It is almost too pretty to drink! ALMOST! ;)

​Matcha Cafe offers a wide variety of teas, frappes, shaved ice, parfaits, gelatins, and floats along with their hot drinks. Their menu is extensive and impressive! I am already looking forward to going back in the summer to try some of those colder options because they look and sound fantastic! 

When I do, I may have to do a whole post on the cafe, because there is so much more to talk about, but I feel like this post is already getting pretty lengthy! So stay tuned for that! =)

From the delicious drinks to the inviting atmosphere, to the warm staff members and the care that goes into preparing each drink, these are three coffee shops that I would highly recommend trying out sometime! You will be glad you did! Check them out and let me know what you think! 

Thanks for reading and I will see you on Friday! 

Hello and Happy Monday! 

I told you that you'd be seeing this blazer a lot! I did not really mean for it to be this soon after my last post using it, but here we are! 

I wanted to style it with skinny jeans to see how I liked it. Spoiler alert: I loved it! 

I knew I wanted to pair the blazer and loafers together again, because they proved to be a killer pair!

My original plan was to style a striped turtleneck shirt with the jeans and the blazer, which still may happen in a future post. But as I mentioned in my last post, it's been so bitterly cold lately that I needed a little extra warmth.

Cue this chunky, knit sweater! 

I have had this for a few years now and it has definitely been kept in constant rotation the last few winters! 

I dressed everything up with this epic statement necklace! I think I got this necklace during a collaboration a site called Newchic.com. It has been years ago, but I still love this necklace! 

We are getting down to the wire now with holiday shopping! How is everyone doing? I'm SO close to being done! I'm almost there! The holiday is almost upon us, and I am excited!

​In the midst of all of this holiday joy though, there may be people who are having a hard time. Maybe they are lonely, maybe this is their first holiday without a loved one. Check in on your friends, families, and coworkers and make sure they are alright. Maybe even give them a hug or baked goodie -something to brighten their day a little! 

Anyway! Thanks for reading! Have a great weekend! 


Blazer: Apricot Lane Boutique
Loafers: Apricot Lane Boutique
Necklace: Newchic.com