Thank you to WHOWHATWEAR for posting this simple and concise slide show of the 7 Key Pieces
http://www.whowhatwear.com/essentials-new-year-key-pieces-investment-2014
Check this out for a complete wardrobe makeover with only 7 ideas.
My thoughts:
1. Love a navy blazer. Mine is from H&M and was fairly reasonable in price (50.00 range). It's such a versatile piece that can be worn in the office or on the street. Some of my favorite looks are navy blazer with a great dress or with a cute blouse and skirt for work. Pair it with a great button down blouse and dark wash jeans and heels for cocktail hour. Or pair it with boots or flats, jeans and a great tartan flannel and scarf for the ultimate casual look.
2. Jeans: a staple in any closet. Male or female. Dark wash is classic and transitions well from day to night. However light denim has been showing it's face around the scene a lot more lately. And I'm loving it! Chunky knit, layered with a white collared button down, statement necklace, light denim and heels. SMASH HIT! Roll your jeans at the ankle for a casual and cute effect with heels, flats or sandals!!
3. Lips On: Once a teacher of mine (JJ) swore by this one little item. Putting your lips on can complete a look. I find it best with simple eyes for a less dramatic effect. A simple, fresh, daytime look with a splash of color. And be sure to ask at the counter to get the perfect orange hue for your skin tone!
4. Bags: I'm a bag fanatic! And I am really loving a soundly structured bag. Shoulder bag or hand bag doesn't matter much. But finding a classy and fun print is going to be very exciting this season. Be sure not to underestimate stores like Aldo, H&M and Forever 21. Depending on your needs these stores can provide you with a decent bag for girls on a budget.
5. The Mule: I'm not necessarily a fan, and you can definitely count me out of this trend. I will not be owning a pair. However, I stand by my motto "you can rock anything with the right pairings to make an outfit". So for those of you who are in to this trend. You can try them with all sorts of styles. Go casual with a boot cut jean and a blouse for a lunch date. Pair them with a pencil skirt and ruffled button down. Many options for those of you loving the mule!
6. Earring Jacket: had to google this one myself. So for those of you who are thinking "earring jacket?" don't be embarrassed. So essentially this is for the Stud earring lovers of the world, like myself. Take a perfectly simple pair of studs and add a jacket. What this does is fancies up a basic earring. See the link below for some really pretty jackets. I'm a fan of the stud. The thing is, they can often be too casual for a fancy party, big event, or even a night out. When you want a little bling in your (ear)ring you can add an earring jacket! Kind of a neat idea, I think.
www.earring-jackets.com
7. Underpinnings: I for one have become extremely keen on the idea of a matching panties and bra set. In my younger days I was all about being a hot mess under my clothes. Animal print on top, stripes or dots on the bottom half. But as I age and getting more in touch with me I'm really digging the matching sets. It's sexy. It's sophisticated. It's put together. And I feel that it adds a touch of confidence when you're being undressed ;)
Just a little food for thought. Loving this article. Keeping a wardrobe makeover really simple.
Adding a few pieces can make you feel refreshed without breaking the bank. And keeping an eye out for the perfect items this Spring will be very exciting I'd say!!
xo
L.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Sunny Southern Living
Let's begin here:
I couldn't be happier and it's the perfect week to kick my butt in to gear with the gym and eating better than I have been lately. Before I know it I'm going to be forced in to shorts and tanks and sleeveless clothing because the weather gets hotter than hell down here.
I lunched with a new friend on campus who I met at the UT Marketplace at the Community College a few weeks back. She moved here with her husband and kids last August from LA. And we have a lot in common as newcomers to Austin, Texas and the campus too! She's a blast and super hilarious. Going to make a habit of having lunch together and hopefully one day we can be out of work friends too!
We had planned to go hiking in the caverns this weekend but the weather didn't cooperate and the town of Burnet had tornado warnings! So we decided safety first. We can always go hiking another time :). We ended up getting pedi's, doing groceries, hitting the gym and hanging out at home instead. That's all just fine by me!
Facetimed with two of my favorite people last Sunday Miss Kerri Stocks and Miss Hailley MacDonald. Gave the grand tour of the apartment and caught up on life and everything that has been going on with all of us. This Sunday I Facetimed with two more of my favorite ladies in the world the gorgeous Sarah Thornley and my lovely Miss Mia (no last name required ;) haha). So happy to hear from everyone and glad that although you're in the frigid North everything is still on the up and up for everyone. Love you all! Each of you are truly amazing friends. Couldn't ask for more! MUAAAHHHH XO
This coming weekend we are getting waxed. I'm due and this is something I work hard to never let get out of control. Especially since my life is now 9 months of bikini season... EEEKKK.
Girls gotta maiiiiiiintaaaaaiiiin.
So after our wax we meet with our volunteer coordinator to discuss explore options for the PLANCTX organization for mental health. Britt and I have decided we'd like to get involved. What better way to get involved, than jumping in to something you're passionate about and helping others?? And a great way to meet new people. After our lunch we will be wandering around downtown to explore more of our fabulous new city!
Random Sidenote: I'm a snacker. I love to snack on anything. So I've decided why deny myself any longer. Forget big meals. I'm going to cater to my snacky needs. By this I mean, throughout the day I'm going to bring several small things to fill my stomach during the work day. It's that entire "several small meals" to keep your metabolism up. Well I'm going to satisfy myself with the several small meals to keep the junk food at bay. If my metabolism stays up in the process, that's bonus points ;)
Update again soon!
XO
L.
It's the third week of march and we have Spring here in Austin, TX.
I couldn't be happier and it's the perfect week to kick my butt in to gear with the gym and eating better than I have been lately. Before I know it I'm going to be forced in to shorts and tanks and sleeveless clothing because the weather gets hotter than hell down here.
Over the past week we haven't been up to too much that's very exciting but a few things that are noteworthy:
Saturday March 8 we had our very first ever Rodeo experience! It was so much fun. Despite the weather that day we made the very most of our time at the #Austin Rodeo. The event started promptly at 7pm...they don't mess around in Texas. So we found our seats just as the announcers were welcoming everyone. In proper patriotic respect for the riders, animals and spectators we sang the Star Spangled Banner and took our seat. With a series of interesting events including Saddle Bronc riding, Barrel racing, Steer roping, Bull riding, and even kids riding sheep!
The rodeo clown was hilarious and to finish off the entire event we watched a bull rider get stomped on because he couldn't get his hand loose. Being animal lover from the North, we were cheering when the steers got away from the cowboys and we were horrified to watch this poor man be stomped on by a massive bull. But I guess these are things we will get used to...? Despite those few minor details we had so much fun watching the clock and scores and laughed so hard all night long; and especially at the little cowboys/girls in training riding their sheep bareback!
Since it was Spring Break the University campus was really quiet and slow moving. There wasn't even a coffee shop on campus open. Thankfully I have access to a private staff lounge that serves fresh coffee from Starbucks (7:30am-3:30pm). I took a nice lunch outside on Tuesday and read in the sunshine. I ended up getting a little sunburned on my chest. I guess SPF is needed at all times with my pale complexion these days. My skin isn't used to seeing the sun. Wednesday and Friday I worked from home. Which was nice because I was able to clean and play with Cokes while still checking my emails. Thursday I had a follow up appointment with the Doctor I saw a week or so ago, he was running behind so I had to leave before I saw him. We rescheduled my appointment for this week. But on one of my besties recommendations I'm looking in to natural remedies to heal my problems before I consider anything extreme like surgery...which is what the Doctor suggests of course. Because that means money in his pocket. Well I'm not making a donation just yet Dr.K.I lunched with a new friend on campus who I met at the UT Marketplace at the Community College a few weeks back. She moved here with her husband and kids last August from LA. And we have a lot in common as newcomers to Austin, Texas and the campus too! She's a blast and super hilarious. Going to make a habit of having lunch together and hopefully one day we can be out of work friends too!
We had planned to go hiking in the caverns this weekend but the weather didn't cooperate and the town of Burnet had tornado warnings! So we decided safety first. We can always go hiking another time :). We ended up getting pedi's, doing groceries, hitting the gym and hanging out at home instead. That's all just fine by me!
Facetimed with two of my favorite people last Sunday Miss Kerri Stocks and Miss Hailley MacDonald. Gave the grand tour of the apartment and caught up on life and everything that has been going on with all of us. This Sunday I Facetimed with two more of my favorite ladies in the world the gorgeous Sarah Thornley and my lovely Miss Mia (no last name required ;) haha). So happy to hear from everyone and glad that although you're in the frigid North everything is still on the up and up for everyone. Love you all! Each of you are truly amazing friends. Couldn't ask for more! MUAAAHHHH XO
This coming weekend we are getting waxed. I'm due and this is something I work hard to never let get out of control. Especially since my life is now 9 months of bikini season... EEEKKK.
Girls gotta maiiiiiiintaaaaaiiiin.
So after our wax we meet with our volunteer coordinator to discuss explore options for the PLANCTX organization for mental health. Britt and I have decided we'd like to get involved. What better way to get involved, than jumping in to something you're passionate about and helping others?? And a great way to meet new people. After our lunch we will be wandering around downtown to explore more of our fabulous new city!
Random Sidenote: I'm a snacker. I love to snack on anything. So I've decided why deny myself any longer. Forget big meals. I'm going to cater to my snacky needs. By this I mean, throughout the day I'm going to bring several small things to fill my stomach during the work day. It's that entire "several small meals" to keep your metabolism up. Well I'm going to satisfy myself with the several small meals to keep the junk food at bay. If my metabolism stays up in the process, that's bonus points ;)
Update again soon!
XO
L.
Monday, March 3, 2014
March Madness, and all the rest
Hi Y'all
Let me start off by saying that today's weather in Austin, Texas is far less than ideal. It's 24 degrees Fahrenheit (32 is 0 degrees C, for those of you who don't convert mentally) and with the windchill it feels like 4 degrees F. That is a frigid -16 degrees C. And I know all you Canadians are dealing with much worse, and snow too! But I'm just mentioning that I moved to almost the furthest point south while still remaining on the continent of North America, and I'm NOT okay with this.
On to the fun stuff!!
Last Thursday I attended the ACC Marketplace, which opens up the Community College to UT employees to set up and ACC students come through to ask questions and get information about UT programs. I was able to talk to a few students, but a lot of academic advisers about the Business Foundations Program at UT and they were eager for pamphlets and other hand outs because they all seemed to think they'd have a lot of interest. I hope they're right! I spent the day with a new friend Katie and we got to know each other a little better on the car ride to and from, as well as over lunch. She introduced me to a 24hr diner style restaurant called Kerby Lane. There are a few locations in Austin, but the restaurant is specific to Austin. She raved about the Queso so we had to have some! It was just as good as she made it sound. They serve breakfast all day so I had the loaded potato omelette and she had a pear and brie grilled cheese sandwich. She's is in the final semester of her PhD and she mentioned how she has no social life. But we have made plans to go for drinks after she defends in April. She'll be working for the Summer program this year, so we'll be seeing a lot more of each other. So that will be great, because she's loads of fun.
This past Saturday (March 1) UT opened it's campus to the community for a fun filled day of activities. I worked, along with a few of the students who work in our department. We had a morning shift and an afternoon shift. McCombs (the college within UT that I work for) provided lunch of sandwiches and chips. And we ran out of sand for our sand art activity so we ended up calling it a day around 3pm instead of 5pm. When I got home Britt and I had our first "cookout" steaks and baked potatoes. I made homemade Tomatilla salsa that we paired with Texas State shaped nacho chips. DEELISH.
This Saturday March 8 we are headed to the Rodeo! This will be our first rodeo and then I can start using the phrase "this ain't my first rodeo"! HAHA
The Josh Abbot Band is playing after the actual rodeo events. We are going to hit up the fairgrounds ahead of time and wander around the petting zoo and see what the food trucks have to offer for dinner.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yapf2QvFHfw
I tried to get some volunteer shifts with SXSW this year, but unfortunately my timing was terrible and nothing has come of it. There is an event that Rachel Ray sponsors, because her husband has a tie to Austin, and she gets alcohol sponsors and caters the event. It's FREEEEE! So we are going to try and get in line for that early in the morning and it's all you can eat and drink until you pass out...which is not my plan. But apparently last year she had a Tequila sponsor, and vodka and Blue Moon beer. So that doesnt' sound all that bad!
April 10 the Campus is having the Civil Rights Summit at LBJ Library and Barack and Michelle Obama are coming to the campus. I've put my name on the list for tickets but I have no idea what will come of that. Apparently it's quite exclusive, and not many people end up with tickets. But I would just LOVE to go and see The Obama's speak. I think they're incredible.
http://www.civilrightssummit.org/
If you don't already follow me on Instagram you may feel free Lianalove86 ;), lotsa pics posted from my daily adventures in TX.
Let me start off by saying that today's weather in Austin, Texas is far less than ideal. It's 24 degrees Fahrenheit (32 is 0 degrees C, for those of you who don't convert mentally) and with the windchill it feels like 4 degrees F. That is a frigid -16 degrees C. And I know all you Canadians are dealing with much worse, and snow too! But I'm just mentioning that I moved to almost the furthest point south while still remaining on the continent of North America, and I'm NOT okay with this.
On to the fun stuff!!
Last Thursday I attended the ACC Marketplace, which opens up the Community College to UT employees to set up and ACC students come through to ask questions and get information about UT programs. I was able to talk to a few students, but a lot of academic advisers about the Business Foundations Program at UT and they were eager for pamphlets and other hand outs because they all seemed to think they'd have a lot of interest. I hope they're right! I spent the day with a new friend Katie and we got to know each other a little better on the car ride to and from, as well as over lunch. She introduced me to a 24hr diner style restaurant called Kerby Lane. There are a few locations in Austin, but the restaurant is specific to Austin. She raved about the Queso so we had to have some! It was just as good as she made it sound. They serve breakfast all day so I had the loaded potato omelette and she had a pear and brie grilled cheese sandwich. She's is in the final semester of her PhD and she mentioned how she has no social life. But we have made plans to go for drinks after she defends in April. She'll be working for the Summer program this year, so we'll be seeing a lot more of each other. So that will be great, because she's loads of fun.
This past Saturday (March 1) UT opened it's campus to the community for a fun filled day of activities. I worked, along with a few of the students who work in our department. We had a morning shift and an afternoon shift. McCombs (the college within UT that I work for) provided lunch of sandwiches and chips. And we ran out of sand for our sand art activity so we ended up calling it a day around 3pm instead of 5pm. When I got home Britt and I had our first "cookout" steaks and baked potatoes. I made homemade Tomatilla salsa that we paired with Texas State shaped nacho chips. DEELISH.
The Josh Abbot Band is playing after the actual rodeo events. We are going to hit up the fairgrounds ahead of time and wander around the petting zoo and see what the food trucks have to offer for dinner.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yapf2QvFHfw
I tried to get some volunteer shifts with SXSW this year, but unfortunately my timing was terrible and nothing has come of it. There is an event that Rachel Ray sponsors, because her husband has a tie to Austin, and she gets alcohol sponsors and caters the event. It's FREEEEE! So we are going to try and get in line for that early in the morning and it's all you can eat and drink until you pass out...which is not my plan. But apparently last year she had a Tequila sponsor, and vodka and Blue Moon beer. So that doesnt' sound all that bad!
April 10 the Campus is having the Civil Rights Summit at LBJ Library and Barack and Michelle Obama are coming to the campus. I've put my name on the list for tickets but I have no idea what will come of that. Apparently it's quite exclusive, and not many people end up with tickets. But I would just LOVE to go and see The Obama's speak. I think they're incredible.
If you don't already follow me on Instagram you may feel free Lianalove86 ;), lotsa pics posted from my daily adventures in TX.
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