Forget about being fashionably late – there’s something to be said about being early. You hear it all the time, but it turns out there really some truth in the saying, the early bird gets the worm. There are a whole slew of benefits to being early – in LA, it means less traffic. On vacation, it means less people at tourist attractions. If I’m being honest, for me it means fewer people in my photos. There’s a reason why early mornings are some of the best times to shoot! At a sample sale, you get first pick on items. At networking events, you’re among the first people to make a stronger impression. I could go on and on, but you get the idea. So why is it we have such a difficult time being on time, much less early?
I may not have the answer, but one thing I will say is being on time takes a level of effort and discipline. I have so much respect for the people in my life that are not only on time, but always early!
Being early applies to more than just showing up to your hair appointment on time. Think about trendsetters, innovators, and entrepreneurs that were the first to have a particular good idea. Not only did they have the idea at the right time, they were also able to quickly bring their ideas to life. I’m far from being the first blogger, but I have so much respect for the trailblazers that paved the way.
When it comes to personal style, I don’t claim to be a trendsetter. My style isn’t super high fashion or complicated. It’s much more comfortable, relaxed, and attainable. At the end of the day I still work a corporate job and have to dress appropriately for the office! This particular look combines some of my favorite trends at the moment – white boots and accessories with a newsboy cap, and one of my favorite pieces from last year – a mesh turtleneck! As much as I love fun prints, colors, and statement pieces, I’ve found that as I’ve gotten older, I tend to gravitate more towards neutrals and pieces I can wear over and over again. Mixing up higher quality basics with more fun, on-trend pieces allows me to keep my wardrobe fresh and interesting.
On an unrelated note – I had my aura read for the first time tonight, and it was so fun and enlightening. If you’ve never done it before, I highly recommend the experience! You can learn more about it here and here.
Even though I’m an introvert at heart, I love a good party every now and then. I mean, who doesn’t? December is my favorite time of year – I love the holiday season and all of the festivities that come with it. Not to mention, December happens to be my birth month! Naturally, this means lots of holiday parties, events, indulgent dinners, and nights out. As much as I try to maintain a healthy routine, it can be almost impossible to stay entirely on track this time of year.
Determined to do it all, I’ve been trying my best to be a healthier party goer. The goal is to be social and not miss out (even though there’s nothing I love more than staying in), while sticking to some semblance of a health and wellness routine. The key is always balance, and with a little effort and a few tricks up your sleeve, you can manage your social calendar without gaining a pound. Who says you have to sacrifice your waistline for a social life?
Tips for being a healthier party goer
+ Checks and balances
Life would be oh so great if we could just eat whatever you want, drink as much as we want, never workout, and not gain a pound. Unfortunately for most of us, that’s just not the reality of life. When it comes to going out, the biggest thing is making sure everything balances out. Meaning, if you indulge more in one area, you have to tighten up in another. Some examples: if you’re planning on drinking more than normal, maybe skip the dessert one night. If you want seconds of your favorite holiday dish, keep the portion size small. Of course, you know your body best, and if you rarely indulge, there’s no need to be so strict either! If your routine is usually pretty light and healthy, you have to trust your body to be able to handle a few extra cocktails and a slice of pie.
+ Make healthy choices
Most parties will have healthier options. Stick to veggies and proteins. If you’re worried about the options that will be available, consider bringing a healthier dish as a contribution. There’s also no shame in bringing your own healthy snack! In college, I would pack wheat PB&J sandwiches in my purse if I knew there was late night pizza in my future and I wanted to avoid it. A little discipline goes a long way! When it comes to alcohol, stick to clear spirits (tequila, vodka) with sparkling water and extra lemon/lime.
If you’re really craving a cocktail, have just one – craft cocktails are FILLED with sugar and one will usually do the trick. Switch to cleaner drinks after if you want to continue drinking. If you’re not into vodka sodas, sip some bubbly!! A glass of champagne is less than 100 calories, and you’re much less likely to chug a glass of champagne because of the bubbles. If you’re worried about standing around without an alcoholic beverage, grab a glass of sparkling water and lime. You’ll save yourself from tons of calories, unnecessary sugar, and a nasty hangover the next day.
+ Eat before parties and enough
I hear so many girls say they won’t eat before events or will skip meals – I’m guilty of this too – but the reality is your body needs fuel! When you don’t eat, your body essentially goes into “starvation mode” and begins to hold onto extra calories, effectively slowing your metabolism. Some of the best advice I’ve gotten is to always have a small snack before going out – an apple, a little bit of protein (turkey slices, hard boiled egg), a handful of nuts – it’ll settle your stomach and prevent you from gorging at the actual event. If you’re on a stricter diet, make sure to eat in advance if you aren’t sure what will be available to eat at a party. The last thing you want is to show up starving and have no healthy options available.
+ Drink water
Especially if you’re drinking. The age old advice to alternate an alcoholic beverage with a glass of water is tried and trued. Staying hydrated will stave off hunger and hangovers – such a no brainer!
+ Up the workouts
Squeeze in a workout whenever you have an extra moment. If your schedule is extra busy, try incorporating HIIT or treadmill intervals into your routine – these quick, high intensity workouts are super effective at torching calories on the fly. Schedule your workouts into your calendar or sign up for a workout class with a friend – that way you can be accountable! Making time to take care of yourself and your health and wellness is ALWAYS worth it.
Of course, you want to look appropriately festive for all of your holiday events! If you’re looking for a holiday party outfit that will take you from office to night, this duster jacket has been one of my favorite pieces. I can’t get enough of all things metallic right now – festive without being over the top! I’ve linked my entire outfit below, as well as some of my other favorite metallic holiday pieces.
Happy Holidays, everyone!! How do you stay healthy during this time of year? xx
It’s never too early to get a start on holiday shopping! I’ll be doing curated gift guides over the next few weeks, but I wanted to start with a more general gift guide for her. I love giving gifts, more so than receiving them, but sometimes finding the perfect gift can be hard. These are some of my favorite products that I love to gift my family and friends – seriously real crowd pleasers! You can’t go wrong with anything on this list and you’ll be sure to find something for the girls in your life. These gifts are perfect for your mom, sister, girlfriend, best friend… happy shopping babes!
Holiday Gift Guide for Her
Under $50
Glossier Phase 1 Set:for $40 you get some of my favorite Glossier products – the Milky Jelly Cleanser, Priming Moisturizer, and Balm Dotcom. You can’t go wrong with gifting one of their sets (Phase 1 or Phase 2) to any beauty lover.
Elizabeth Stone Jewelry:Elizabeth’s gold + colorful stone pieces are always a crowd-pleaser. Jewelry style can vary from person to person, but you can never go wrong with simple pieces such as delicate rings, chokers, or hoops – all of which are made with a fun twist (druzy, opal, moonstone, etc.).
Metallic Lacquer Tray: these trays are perfect for adding a small decorative touch to any room. I have these on my dresser, on my coffee table, in the bathroom – and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors so you’re bound to find one for everyone.
Swell Water Bottle: not only are you gifting something environmentally friendly, Swell bottles also happen to be really, really cute. You can never have too many reusable water bottles either – these make great gifts and stock stuffers!
Planner: because new year, new you – and what better way than to help your girlfriend get organized for 2018?
Spiralizer: even if you aren’t the biggest cook, I cannot rave enough about how wonderful spiralizers are (and they’re very inexpensive!) – gift this to your health nut/foodie friend and she will adore you (and invite you over to eat zucchini noodles for dinner).
Under $100
Faux Fur Throw: cozy, soft, and neutral so it won’t clash with her decor, a comfortable throw blanket is a must for any home!
Fenty Beauty Set: for your beauty loving friends – Rihanna’s new Fenty Beauty line is (not so) surprisingly incredible. The packaging is minimal but the products pack a punch. Gift this highlighting set for an easy gift for the beauty guru in your life.
Becca Cosmetics Palette: I love Becca Highlighters (Champagne Pop for life!) but there’s something about gifting a palette that just feels more substantial and wow-worthy. This palette is absolutely GORGEOUS and is sure to be used, not returned.
Diptyque Candle: because who doesn’t love a good bougie candle? You can’t go wrong with Diptyque.
Oribe Travel Set: travel sized goodies of some of the best hair products on the market for your jetsetting friend, because she deserves it.
Under $250
Eberjey Pajama Set: these pajamas are so cozy, not to mention there’s something very adult about having matching pajamas!
UGG Slippers: warm and comfortable, perfect for running a quick errand or just lounging around the house. A luxe gift she probably wouldn’t think to get for herself.
T3 Curling Wand: love this convertible wand and all of the different barrel options you can purchase to customize your curls. The rose gold is pretty too ; ).
APL Sneakers: wear these to workout, or not. They look just as good on the street as they do in the gym, and happen to be comfortable and work hard in almost every type of training. Love the variety of colors they come in as well.
Le Labo Perfume: unique, intoxicating scents – Santal 33 is a classic, but the other scents in the line are worth trying as well.
Splurge
Gucci Card Case: so much more convenient than a large, clunky wallet. A card case is ideal for everyday use and for carrying just the essentials. One from Gucci is chic enough to carry on its own.
Dyson Hair Dryer: the nicest hair dryer you will ever use. Definitely a splurge, but so, so worth it if you blow dry your hair every day.
Gray Malin Prints: Gray’s prints are showstoppers – they brighten up any room and take you someplace far, far away. You’ll be ready for your next vacation instantly.
Stuart Weitzman OTK Boots: classic, high-quality boots that are worth the price and will last you for years and years to come. An investment, but unlike a pair of heels, you’ll wear them all the time.
Sticks + Stones Backpack: one of my favorite bags of the year – it’s unique, beautiful, and holds up incredibly well. Not to mention it’s perfect for traveling, being on the go, or just carrying around day to day.
Happy (Cyber) Monday!! Did you do any shopping / score any great deals? After a fun little event a couple weeks ago celebrating the launch of Cotton Citizen & Pepsi’s latest collaboration, I’m writing this as I lay in the coziest lounge wear ever. When I’m at home there’s nothing I love more than a comfy pair of sweats. Dressing up and looking nice and great and all, but have you tried being comfortable? In all seriousness, that was one of the main deterrents to actually leaving my house to go shopping in stores.
I’ve seen so many Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Holiday Gift Guide posts going up over the weekend (which reminds me, I should probably get a head start on my holiday gifts!). I thought instead of adding another Cyber Monday Shopping Guide post to your feed, I’d share some thoughts around well… blogging.
I hear a lot of people say they don’t read blogs anymore or that blogs are obsolete. Everything you want to see can be found on Instagram or YouTube, and video is the future of influencer content. While there are some truth and validity to these arguments, I personally still love blogs and blogging. I read several on a daily basis and really believe in the power of a well-curated, well-written blog.
Today, many bloggers rarely actually post their blogs. Some don’t even have one. Everyone’s brand and objectives are different – some people choose to focus on one platform over another because that is what works best for their brand. Lately, I see a lot of bloggers posting almost exclusively on Instagram. This allows them to focus on one platform and really put all of their energy into growing their audience in one space. However, Instagram isn’t for everyone. Especially with all of the recent algorithm changes that have made growing your page a headache for many microinfluencers.
With that said, here’s why I still post on my blog, even in an age when blogging doesn’t seem to matter as much anymore.
+ I love it. I enjoy writing and putting posts together. When I shoot content, I typically do it with my blog in mind. As someone who grew up with blogs and not Instagram, I relate to long-form content. This is tough to do on Instagram when snappy captions are often the key to growing and building an audience. While you can do a lot with a single Instagram post, I find blog posts to be a better forum for providing in-depth information and giving more value.
+ I own my blog. In addition to your blog serving as a digital portfolio or resume, at the end of the day, you control your blog and its performance. Yes, Google + SEO plays a role in your blog’s success, but this is arguably much easier to work with than Facebook/Instagram/YouTube’s pesky algorithms. Not to mention, what would happen if Instagram became obsolete overnight? Or if some new, jazzy app comes along and replaces it? I find a lot of comfort in knowing that regardless of what happens to a social media app’s popularity, my blog is something that is fully mine.
Which brings me to my next point…
+ I control my blog. When you have your own blog, you can control what goes into it creatively and decide what kind of content you post, what articles you write, what brands you work with. You really do have full creative and editorial control.
For many content creators, a lot of time and energy goes into shooting content. Many of us work with professional photographers and entire styling/makeup teams. A blog is a great place to showcase your work! You can combine your photos with any kind of writing your heart desires.
If you’re ever thinking, well these photos don’t really make sense with the written content – then I say, that’s the beauty of having your own blog! You have complete control over what is posted and how. For me, I try to avoid too many posts where I only describe my outfit, so I try to incorporate some interesting discussions I’ve had with friends lately or something I read that really piqued my interest.
All right, I’m off to sweat off all of the turkey, stuffing, and pie from last week! This week will be filled with high-intensity workouts and a few sauna sessions in between holiday shopping. Have a great week everyone! xx
Now that we’re done eating, let’s talk shopping. Because after Thanksgiving comes Black Friday… and Cyber Monday. Meaning SALES, SALES, SALES. There are so many sales going on it can be tough to sift through all the noise… so I thought I’d share all the Black Friday sales I’m shopping.
I for one am a huge fan of ONLINE SHOPPING. There is nothing better than browsing sites from the comfort of home, glass of wine in hand, stretchy pants on. Let’s face it, braving the crowds in an actual store after stuffing my face sounds like the last thing I want to do. And with all of the free shipping and return promotions that go on over the holiday season, online shopping is my preferred method of shopping for myself and others.
Soooo! I’ve rounded up my personal favorite Black Friday sales (the ones I’m actually browsing and shopping!) below.
[ Little tip – some the best sales of the year actually happen after CHRISTMAS. That is when stores do major markdowns on fall/winter inventory to make way for spring/summer arrivals. That’s why you start seeing swimsuits in stores in January ; ) but if there’s something you see now that you have to have, you may want to pick it up before it sells out. ]
