Saying Goodbye To 2013

Wow, what an incredible year it has been!  Looking back to 3 years ago, I was at the lowest point in my life.  It's been so crazy for me to see how far I have come in so many aspects since then.  So much has changed.  I have changed.  And for the first time in a long time, I can honestly say that I had a fantastic year... probably my best year yet.  2013 was filled with many amazing opportunities and experiences that I am very grateful for and will always remember.  It was also filled with some lows and personal struggles as well, but all things that I have learned from and have made me stronger.  I thank God  and my family for always being on my side.  I look at every new year as a new beginning to start fresh.  For me, it's all about evolving and striving to be better.  It's about letting go of disappointments and moving forward to new opportunities. 

For my last post of 2013, I just wanted to take a look back and share some of my favorite outfits and highlights from this past year.

Outfits 

As I look back on all of my outfits from when I first started blogging till now, I see how much I have grown.   My style continues to evolve while still remaining true to myself and that's what it's all about. I've definitely had my "Why did I wear that?" and "What was I thinking?" moments lol but that's also part of it too!  We live, we learn, we experiment, we make mistakes.  I'm so thankful for my supportive mother who continues to take all of my photos.  She really is the best!  I love being a mother/daughter team.  It makes my blog that much more special.  It was hard to narrow down a year's worth of outfits, but these were some of my favorites :) 

Highlights 

These are some of my highlights from this year.  In the beginning of 2013, I promised myself to step out of my comfort zone and to push through my fears.  I used to be so nervous and scared of everything that it would prevent me from taking advantage of opportunities.  I realized that I was missing out on so much.  I am really proud of myself for doing things this year even when it made me nervous.  They say "the magic happens at the end of your comfort zone" and I couldn't agree more!  Don't be afraid to take some risks and don't let nervousness or fear hold you back from the things you want the most.  The only way to get what you want out of life is to go at it full force.  

I celebrated a birthday milestone as well as my 2 year blogging anniversary this year.  I met so many wonderful people, some of who I look up to and admire for both their styles and success.  For the first time, I got to publicly speak at an event about my personal story and the loss of my father, and it was an incredible experience that I will never forget.  All I have ever wanted in life is to just do what I love.  And finally, I am... and I hope you are too.  I think it's so important to look back on all of our accomplishments and be proud of ourselves.  Don't let them get to your head, but truly be thankful for them. To be completely honest, I am my own worst critic.  All of the people who are close to me in my life know how hard I am on myself.  This is something that I want to change in the new year.  There is still so much more that I want to accomplish and I have so many ideas for new projects that I hope to work on including a new layout that is long overdue.  I look forward to many more new beginnings and hopefully a year filled with travel... and love.

 I put together this 15 second video compilation of photos for instagram and just wanted to share it on here too :) 

And last but not least, THANK YOU to all of you for reading my blog.  Your support means everything to me and I love that you share the same love for fashion as I do.  I know I have only met a few of you, but it feels like you are all my friends in someway and I have a lot of love for you all.  I hope that 2014 will be an incredible year for all of us.  Let it be a fresh start!  

Here's to an amazing & stylish year ahead. 

CHEERS! 

XO

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NYE Inspired: LBD

I hope you're all enjoying the last few days of 2013 and are getting ready for a fun and stylish night tomorrow!  I still don't know exactly what I am going to be wearing, but this look was definitely an option.

Dress: Furor Moda (here) c/o / Shoes: Aldo (here) 

Bag: (old) Aldo (also love) / Bracelet: Oia Jules
Lipstick: Urban Decay Venom 

I've worn black dresses so many times, but there are always different ways to style them.  My favorite part about this dress in particular is it's unique design and one sleeve.  It's sexy but still classy and makes for a great NYE dress if you add a little sparkle.  It's really thin and unlined, so a slip has to worn underneath.  I wore my Victoria's Secret one again and thankfully the bra part came with removable straps.  Since I usually go for the black & gold combo, I wanted to switch it up with silver.  Fun sparkly shoes are always a great statement piece to add to an outfit along with jewelry. Instead of going with my typical red lip, I went with this purple shade to give it more of a "vamp" look.  Low side curls are becoming a new favorite hair style for me.  I usually do this when my hair is not cooperating :) 

It's so crazy that another year is coming to a close.  I'm planning to do a 2013 flashback post tomorrow to celebrate this past year one last time.  Thank you all so much for everything.  I love you guys <3

XO

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Weekend Wear

I typically don't post on the weekends, but I've been feeling so behind with only a few days left before the new year.  Since most of my outfits lately have been dressy and holiday inspired, I was in the mood to do something a little more casual and edgy for the weekend! 

Jacket: Aeropostale (here) c/o /  Jeans: Dittos
Top: Dynamite/ Boots: Forever21(also love)
Scarf: Charlotte Russe/ Lipstick: Urban Decay Catfight 


Distressed denim, comfy boots, and a moto jacket make a great weekend uniform.  Since the weather lately has been going from freezing to surprisingly warm for winter, I've been taking advantage and wearing things like this when I can.  These were the boots that I mentioned in my Christmas In The City post that my lovely mother got for me.  I've been searching for a pair that would be perfect for every day wear and they really don't come any better than these.  I still can't believe how comfortable they are to walk around in all day.  I recently got this faux leather panel jacket and I love the white and black combo.  It's super edgy and great for casual looks.  To add a little bit of a girly touch, I paired this polka dot scarf with the outfit.  I also added a little pop of color with pink lips.

Tonight I am going to watch Anchorman 2 and I am so excited haha Everyone who knows me knows that Anchorman is one of my favorite movies everrrr.  I love Ron Burgundy!
I am going to try and get another NYE inspired look up on the blog within the next day or 2 since time is running out!  Hope that you all have a lovely weekend.
XOXO

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All That Glitters

Happy Friday! This is what I wore on Christmas Day to celebrate with my family :)

Leggings: Hue c/o / Blouse: Forever21 (here)

Shoes: Forever21 (also love)/ Clutch: Dynamite (here) c/o

Bracelet: (gifted) Alex & Ani/ Earrings: OASAP

Lipstick: Urban Decay Anarchy 

I got these pants a few days before Christmas and knew that they would be perfect.  I've always been a fan of gold during the holiday season and I love how these pop.  They're such a great statement piece.  How fab are they?!  They are more like a legging pant with amazing stretch and are super comfortable to wear.  They were also the perfect choice because it was freezing!  I tried taking photos outside but couldn't do it.

I actually got this blouse last year as a Christmas present from my mom and only wore it once.  I love the studded details across the top and thought that they would be a great accent to the pants.  Taking the whole gold theme one step further, I used this glittery studded clutch that I am now obsessed with.  It also comes with a chain inside to use it over the shoulder if need be.  My sister got me this lovely N initial bracelet from Alex & Ani as one of my gifts this year.  I was recently introduced to this brand and love how their bracelets are meant to give positive energy.  Going into the new year, I really just want to continue to have a positive mind as much as possible.

As for my makeup, I also got the Naked3 palette from my sister this Christmas!  I really love all the pink tones and couldn't wait to start using them.  Since I typically wear browns and neutrals, the pink shades are a nice change for me.  They're still perfect for every day wear.  I also tried out this new lipstick shade for the first time.  It's super pink and a nice substitute for red :) I've made some fashion & beauty resolutions for 2014 and I just want to keep expanding and getting out of my "normal" routines to keep changing things up in every aspect.  

Happy Weekend!
<3

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Christmas In The City

I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas!  The holidays are always bittersweet for me without my dad, but I am so thankful for my mom, sister and the rest of my family.  We always manage to still make it special for one another.  For the past two years, my sister and I have taken my mom into NYC to see the tree and have dinner.  My mom never goes into the city unless we take her, so she definitely acts like a tourist every time we go haha.  I had so much fun taking photos of everything and just wanted to share it with all of you.  New York during the holiday season is truly amazing. This was from Christmas Eve, and tomorrow I'll be sharing what I wore on Christmas Day :)

It was so cold so I tried my best to keep warm in this printed LuLu's coat and these extremely comfortable boots that I got as a Christmas gift from my mom.  After walking around the city for awhile, not once did I complain that my feet hurt :) I hope you liked the photos loves!  It was definitely a memorable and fun night.  My family is everything to me.  As I've gotten older, I have definitely realized what matters most and they will always be number one on my list. 

Have a great day.

<3

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Christmas Eve: Red & Silver

Merry Christmas Eve!  I can't even believe that it's already here.  I'll be heading into the city with my mom and sister to see the tree and have dinner.  I think it's becoming our Christmas tradition now.  I plan on taking lots of photos like last year so I can share my family time festivities on the blog :) 

Dress: OASAP (here) c/o / Shoes: Aldo (here on sale)

Clutch: (old) Mandee/ Rings: Fredia Rothman (gifted)

Thigh Highs: Victoria's Secret (here)/ Lipstick: MAC Russian Red 

Red dress, red lips, red nails... might be a little much for some but since it's the holidays, why not go all out?!  I promise to start switching up my lipstick shades again, I have just been having a moment with red this time of year :) My favorite part about this dress is the silver detailing on the neckline.  It basically serves as a necklace which is great.  It didn't really pick up in photos but there is such a pretty floral jacquard print on the dress.  It's super girly and perfect for Christmas festivities.  

I've been searching for a pair of silver pumps for what seems like forever.  I originally saw these online on cyber Monday and was very tempted to make a purchase, but I decided not to get them.  While I was doing some last minute shopping over the weekend I decided to try them on and fell in love.  I fell in love even more when I found out that they were on sale for $38.  These are the same shoes as the black ones I posted yesterday.  I basically got both pairs for less than the cost of one pair!  Now that's my kind of deal. This is my only silver clutch as of now so I decided to use it again for this look.  I really like the red and silver combo for the holiday season. And aren't these stackable rings beautiful?  My friend recently started working for Freida Rothman and they sent these over as a holiday gift.  Thank you Jaclynn! 

Wishing all of you and your families a very Merry Christmas!  I hope that you all enjoy this special day with your loved ones and get everything that you wanted.  Sending lots of love your way.

<3

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