In a haze...

I am basically sleep walking through my days lately. I gave up coffee—above is my new favorite, chai tea—due to bad sleep and anxiety. The time change has not been an easy adjustment for this sleepy girl (perfect time to give up the coffee, eh?). And as school stress mounts (5-weeks until I am done with my B.A.!!) my focus seems to be everywhere and no where all at the same time.

So here are some things that have been saving my tired-life as of late.

Minimal makeup. Some days, weeks, or months I find little to no desire to spend any amount of time doing my makeup. On such occasions, I grab for my foundation (currently using the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Foundation), a touch of Benefit's Dallas blush, couple of coats of mascara, and and my Anastasia brow duo. I finish it off with a lip stain—in this picture, I used Revlon's Kissable Balm Stain in "Honey." Too easy.

No-fuss footwear. I have had these Converse sneakers for aeon's, but they are always a classic and fun staple. Comfortable. Pair with nearly everything. And better with age. If you don't own a pair, I certainly recommend buying some. This color would be so great for fall!

Easy-peasy dinners. My mom gave Dan and I a magazine of nothing but soups recipes. Heaven. The Cheesy Potato Soup from above has only seven ingredients in it, plus, there were leftovers! We cut calories by using low-fat cheese and milk and it was still delicious.

Call me crazy, but sometimes the idea of an hour plus gym workout sounds less than appealing. So lately I have been alternating workouts with the "Bum Bum Rapido" workout from the Brazil Butt Lift series. It's an intense 10-minute workout that always leaves me a little sore the next day. I actually look forward to doing this workout because I know it is effective and it's over before it starts! Best of both worlds.

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That about sums up my guide to easy living. I think this time of year brings out the sleepy person in all of us, so I figure why not just go with it!

Til next time. 

An Underwear Story...

I’m confused about underwear. Victoria Secret and Agent Provocateur make beautiful undergarments, but often forget about utility and functionality. Jockey and Hanes make some pretty comfortable undies, but they aren’t always the prettiest things. And possibly the biggest issue is that few brands make underwear that stand the test of washing and drying many times over again. What is a lady who wants comfort, cuteness, and longevity to do? Knock Out! Panties might just be the answer. 

Knock Out! kindly sent me a pair of panties of my choice several weeks ago. I am going to say this up front—had they not been offered to me for free, the price would have scared me a bit. I’m the girl that fishes for underwear out of the 4 pairs for $20 bin, so $34 was kinda hard to swallow. I’ll admit, I did very little research on the brand before my pair arrived (saving the element of surprise!) but I would soon discover the reason behind the price and the joys of a great pair of undies.

After some deliberation, I went with the Lacy Panty, which is their “Signature Knock Out! Style,” in the color Lilac. Upon receiving them, I did a bit of reading, a bit of research, and discovered that these are no ordinary drawers. These underwear do triple duty by having a breathable cotton fabric, moisture wicking fibers, and odor absorbing molecules. They call these three actions “No Trace Technology,” which is a technology that Knock Out! has patented. I can confirm that I experienced the no trace, even after 45 minutes of serious cardio exercise!

Here are the things I love about Knock Out! Panties: They’re comfortable (sooo comfortable), they offer just enough coverage, they wash and dry perfectly while maintaining their shape, and they are very pretty (the Lilac lace is so gorgeous).

Here are the things I’m not so hot about: They show lines through thin-fabric bottoms, and of course, the price. The price is the real bone of contention here. But, I think with the amount of things that these knickers have going on, you have to expect a high price, and for some, they are completely worth it.

Who would I recommend these to: Everybody! But specifically, people who work out heavily, people who sweat quite a bit, and possibly, women looking for good maternity undies. I told a friend of mine (who just had a baby) that I think these would be excellent for pregnant or postpartum women who want something more supportive and comfortable, but still something that retains a “cute factor.”

Overall, I think Knock Out! is great. Their customer service is excellent, their site is adorable, and their products are darn cute while still being durable. Did I mention that Oprah likes Knock Out!? Well, she does, and that’s good enough for me. 

Til next time. 

Matrimonial Monday!

Photograph Taken by Marcy Silveira

Not much to report by the way of my wedding this week. Above is a picture of a venue that I visited. The absolutely gorgeous Annadel Estate Winery. It's definitely a contender.

In the meantime, there have been a few things that have been inspiring or exciting me for my own wedding. Thought I'd share some of them.

Photo Courtesy of Style Me Pretty

I love the idea of having throw blankets as wedding favors. In your wedding colors, they can make a festive and practical gift.

Photo Courtesy of intimateweddings.com

Having one or two signature cocktails has become very popular and I can see why. It's a money saver compared to having an open, full bar, and the cocktail can be an expression of the couple. My cocktail would probably be fresh and fruity, but not too sweet. And it would have gin...

Photo Courtesy of Here

I have always known that candlelight would play a big part in my wedding. I love the idea from the picture above of using old wine bottles as candle holders. (Mr. Kate has a great blog post about how to do this yourself!) It's simple and inventive, chic and rustic. It's just lovely. 

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There are so many fun and beautiful ideas to put to use when planning a wedding. However, maintaining simplicity is hugely important to me, so I want to choose carefully. 

Are there any trends or wedding ideas that you are loving right now? I'm always looking for more ideas, so tell me about them!

Til next time. 

Painted Faces

I love makeup. Not just pretty, high fashion, or wearable makeup—all makeup. This includes strange, weird, and creepy makeup that one would don on, oh I don't know, Halloween?

Here are some face I have painted over the last few years. Enjoy!

The fellas above are Dan's band mates. They dressed up as dead Rastas.

 Dan battered and shot.

My mother...she's a trooper!

Starting and finishing this post with Dan as a sugar skull, Dia de los Muertos...person?

Sadly, another Halloween has come and gone. I never feel like I have gotten my fix of this holiday. The upside of this is now I have 364 days to plan for the next Halloween!

How was your Halloween? Any awesome costumes? I'd love to know!

Til next time.

Pumpkins & Stripes

If I had to create a list of my favorite things, pumpkins and stripes would be somewhere near the top.

Stripe shirts, while not always the most flattering choice, represent so many good things in my eyes. Childhood. Nautical vibes. Americana style. And always, comfortable-chic.

(Wearing Denim & Supply by Ralph Lauren skinny jeans, Gap blue & white striped tee, Giani Bernini booties, Moa Moa faux leather jacket, No-name scallop leather bag, Forever21 bib necklace, and a Macy's gold chain-link bracelet)

Pumpkins on the other hand are representative of my favorite holiday. I love horror movies, fall weather, fall smells—holiday candles, fall food favorites, first rains—and hanging out by the fire. My favorite days and nights are those surrounding Halloween, spent with Dan in our living room, watching Michael Myers going at it again. Doesn't that sound nice? Haha!

So, I hope everyone is enjoying some of their favorite things as of late. I think it is always important to add a little bit of what you love into everyday.

Dan's "Smokin'" Pumpkin, And My Cat

Til next time.

Matrimonial Monday!

Image Courtesy of herecomestheguide.com

As we exist in the digital age, (hey, you are on the computer right now!) it only makes sense that when planning your wedding you have some excellent web-resources. I have a small handful of sites that I turn to for inspiration and information, so I thought I'd share them with you.

The Knot is a site that I think nearly every bride is familiar with. It houses almost everything one needs to plan their perfect, customized wedding. Need a dress and a veil? Need the best florist in Napa? Need a DJ who plays lots of '80s music? The Knot has all of that, plus much more. It's a one stop site for everything wedding, and an excellent resource for all.

Here Comes the Guide is similar to The Knot, but its real purpose is to hone in on finding all of your local vendors, services, and venues. This site deals less with inspiration and design, and more with locating the key components of your wedding day. It's less about frills on HCTG, but it is a wealth of information, so definitely take a visit!

Best for last? In this case, yes! Green Wedding Shoes has been one of my favorite websites to dream and drool *gross* over since I got engaged. The site is filled with gorgeous photos that inspire every type of bride. Jen and Jason, the creators and editors of the site, spare no effort to bringing you the best in weddings. If you visit this site, I guarantee you will have nothing but whimsical day dreams about your big day all the way through "I do."

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So there you have it. A few of my favorites. I'd love to know what wedding sites you love! 

Til next time. 

mad about plaid

I am loving plaid lately. I have always loved it on Dan, and men in general, but I have recently really been digging the whole "lumberjack chic" vibe that plaid lends. 

Plaid is a versatile pattern, plus, a plaid shirt is one of the most effortless pieces to style. 

In this picture I am wearing this H&M plaid shirt, Gap skinny jeans, a faux leather jacket by Moa Moa, these Giani Bernini booties (my absolute favorites!), a no-name leather scalloped fringe bag, and an oxblood/maroon knit beenie from H&M. 

And because I still love, and find it totally acceptable, to wear white jeans after labor day and in the fall, I paired my plaid with white skinnies from American Eagle. 

Plaid is one of those things that just feels so right for this time of year. Cozy and comfy, but it still imparts pattern and color. 

How do you wear your plaid? I'd love to know! 

Til next time.