Hii! How was everyone’s weekend?! Sorry for the silence over the past few days… there were some site updates that had to be made and I was also out of town/somewhat off the grid in Wyoming. But I’m back and have a ton of posts planned for the upcoming weeks! Trying to catch up on some sleep tonight and get back into the swing of things after a quick getaway. Here’s a quick and easy look I shot a couple weeks ago. I am loving the embroidery trend at the moment, so when I saw this Forever 21 faux leather jacket I knew I had to have it.
Best Affordable Leather Jackets
We’re always talking about closet staples and justifying our purchases with the explanation that they’re “classic” and we’ll “wear them forever” (sometimes true, often not). While trends are of course cyclical (hellooo Gucci revival!), there are certain pieces that you will almost always have on rotation in your closet – a leather jacket being one of them. As much as I adore Vince and Iro (<<you will actually wear this one every single day) leather jackets, they’re not exactly the most affordable options.
Luckily there are so many brands that make wonderful faux leather jackets at a great price point and you can find real leather designer pieces on sale at the end of the season or on flash sale sites. Whether you’re looking for a classic black or an on-trend leather piece, you can find something that works with your budget.I did a quick round-up of the best affordable leather jackets (faux) on the web – all under $100 – so check them out below!
If you’re on the hunt for more affordable items, you can also check out this post on my favorite affordable shoe brands.
Sounds silly, I know. BUT. Hear me out. In case you didn’t already know, sleep is V IMPORTANT. I know I sound like a snooze (ha, ha) but the older I get, the more I have come to appreciate sleep and everything it does for your body, mind, and soul. In college and my early 20’s I would stay up late, wake up early, pull all-nighters, and do all sorts of other things that completely wrecked my sleeping schedule. I figured: you sleep enough when you’re dead. I knew sleep was good for you, but I never fully processed how vital it is to performance and basically every human function you do.
[ If you’re one of those superhumans that can function off of 4 hours of sleep a night, no need to continue reading. I am officially very jealous of you. ]
The Importance of Sleep
Why sleep is important
+ Improves learning and brain function
When we sleep, our brains go to work. Sleep allows our brains to store memories and learn through memory consolidation. So the smart thing to do in school would be to study consistently and get enough sleep the night before an exam, not stay up all night. Noted.
+ It keeps you healthy
When you don’t get enough sleep, your immune system suffers. I don’t know about you, but I’ve found that I am so much more likely to catch a cold when I’m sleep deprived. And when I am under the weather, getting some extra hours of sleep do the most for my recovery.
+ It’s good for your appearance
It’s not called beauty sleep for no reason. Turns out getting enough sleep has been shown to improve skin texture, blood flow, and overall appearance.
+ It helps your body recover
If you’re working out on the reg, chances are getting enough sleep is helping your muscles recover and grow! And if you’re not getting enough, just know that sleep deprivation has been linked to weight gain due to increased levels of cortisol, which increases your appetite – eek!
Even though at times it seems like being sleep deprived is worn as a badge of honor and a reflection of how hard we work, sometimes the hardest thing to do is simply disconnecting and shutting down. It’s not always easy, but I feel a noticeable difference in my mood and energy when I get at 7 or 8 hours of sleep, not to mention how much clearer my skin is. Fortunately, even our technology seems to agree.
Tips for getting more sleep
+ Utilize the night shift and bedtime settings on your phone.
I have an iPhone, and I LOVE the “night shift” setting (mine is set from 9pm to 7am). This setting shifts the color settings on your phone to minimize the bright blue light that your smartphone emits, making it easier for you to fall asleep at night. You can also set alerts on your phone to remind you when it’s almost time for bed.
+ Disconnect completely.
30 minutes to an hour before bed, put away all electronics. I’ve been trying to read more before bed and honestly, this has been the best thing to help me fall asleep (ha!).
+ Create a sleep schedule.
This one is hard. It’s best to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, but it doesn’t always happen. I’m working on this one, but it’s easy to get off track, especially during the weekends.
+ Drink tea.
I don’t do this every night, but when I remember I like to drink something warm before I go to sleep. Did your mom ever tell you to drink warm milk before bedtime? It’s kind of like that. I especially like Calm and Sleepytime Tea with honey.
In the spirit of getting enough zzz’s, I’m taking the pajama very seriously and literally in this set by L’academie. Full disclosure: I don’t actually wear this to sleep although I’m sure you could, as it was intended for that use. I usually like to mix and match them as separates rather than as a set – I think you could get away with the blouse at work (the ribbon tied around the waist doubles as a scarf) with a skirt or jeans, and I really love the return of the track pant. You’ll definitely get some looks when you wear both at the same time. But hey comfort is key, and who cares what other people think?
Bonus: this set is on sale now! (End of winter sales in January are always SO. GOOD. No better time to stock up on all those cold weather essentials).
Happy Monday! How was everyone’s weekend? My mom was in town visiting, so I went slightly off the grid digitally – it was so nice to go for a long hike, cook, and chat for hours with her. Being away from family is by far the biggest downside to living in California. It’s also been raining almost nonstop, but luckily Saturday was absolutely beautiful outside!
Saturday also marked the Women’s March on Washington, which turned out to be a worldwide event that brought together millions of people, men and women, around the world. I was completely blown away by the size and strength of such a unified community.
It was beyond inspiring to see, and got me thinking about how each and every one of us has a voice, and should be free to use it and express our thoughts and beliefs.
A lot of people comment or lament on how oversaturated the blogging space has become. The same thing could be said for other forms of digital expression – vlogs, podcasts, etc.
You Have A Voice, Your Voice Matters
My two cents: 1. everyone has different reasons for blogging and sharing their opinions and parts of their lives, and they should feel entitled to do so. It’s your decision whether to engage and comment. And 2. I think it’s great. Who cares how many blogs there are out there? I think it’s remarkable that we live in a world that has become so digitally connected that we can communicate seamlessly with people across the world in a way that was never before possible. The combination of self-expression and connectivity has created an opportunity for anyone to have access to a platform to speak their minds.
What the weekend reminded me was that you have a voice. And you have the option to choose to use it because your voice matters. We’re lucky to live in a place that allows you to express yourself without repercussion. It’s your choice what to say, where to speak, and who to communicate to. You can and should speak up for what you believe in!
I know the term “influencer” is a buzzword right now, but we’re all influencers in our own right. We have the ability to use our voice to influence those around us positively, beyond material possessions, which is really, really cool.
Winter months call for cozy sweaters. Specifically, cashmere. It’s all I want to bundle up in right now. When you find a cashmere sweater with the perfect fit, in all the right colors, and at a jaw-dropping (in a good way) price, you stock up. If you remember, I’m a huge fan of Grana’s silk basics – and now I’ve added new pieces from their Mongolian Cashmerecollection to my closet. I love companies that just get it, and Grana is one of them.
Grana Cashmere
Think an Everlane-esque business model: high-quality pieces at affordable prices. By eliminating the middle man and going direct-to-consumer, they’re able to offer the same high-quality pieces you see from high-end brands at a fraction of the cost. If you’re wondering what I wear on a regular basis to work, look no further. Grana cashmere has fit in seamlessly into my workday and weekend attire for when I’m feeling casual. What I love most is that the clothing not only feels good when you’re wearing it, you feel good about buying it. I love the story behind Grana and their mission.
I chose the oversized cashmere boyfriend v-neck in heather blush as a neutral basic to add to my closet. Although the “boyfriend” style automatically implies a looser, oversized fit, I went up a size anyway because I prefer an even more oversized fit for my sweaters. I wish I could do a better job of describing the material but you really do have to feel/wear it to believe it – so soft and luxe. You can immediately tell the sweater is well made and of high quality material, and you wouldn’t guess the sweater was only $99. Seriously.
New year, new Realisation Par dress. I loved the Diane dress so much, I couldn’t help but get the Goldie to add to my closet as well. My love for stars is boundless, and when you know you’re going to commit to a piece and wear it over and over, it makes it easier to bite the bullet and pay for international shipping. What can I say, I just want to be a star girl ; ). If you’re considering buying the Realisation Par Goldie Dress, read on for everything you need to know.
Why I Love the Realisation Par Goldie Dress
If you already own an item from Realisation Par, you’re probably familiar with the material and the quality. The Goldie dress is very similar to many of their other dresses. It is made of a very thin and delicate silk crepe material which I LOVE. It’s so perfect even in the summer. In fact, I think Realisation Par pieces speak for themselves – the cut and fit is always simple yet flattering. I fell in love with the larger stars and open back (total sucker for an open back 100% of the time) and fluttery skirt. Paired here with my favorite Steve Madden blue velvet booties which can be found here and here.
Sizing can be tricky since the pieces are exclusively sold on their website. For this dress, I went with an XS and probably could have gone up another size if I wanted the dress to be a little bit longer. I’m totally guilty of repeating outfits, so you’ll probably see me wearing this all year long.
