Hiiii friends! I’m currently on my way home back to Los Angeles – long travel days are never fun, but this trip was one for the books. I can’t wait to share more photos and a full trip recap! But a sneak peek – Italy is one of my favorite places I’ve ever visited, the Amalfi Coast is absolutely breathtaking, and don’t even get me started on the FOOD and WINE. I am still dreaming of some of the meals I ate in Italy!
If you’re thinking about visiting – RUN, don’t walk, because I guarantee the beach towns of the Amalfi Coast will be swarming next summer! A full recap will be up soon, so keep your eyes out for that!
In the meantime, how have you been? Not sure if it sounds weird to say, but I missed you guys! It feels so good to be coming home. I can’t wait to catch up this week at all hours of the day while I fight jetlag. Speaking of jetlag… what are the best tips to beat it ASAP? Is that even possible? I’m honestly dying to know, because jetlag is the worst. So if you have any secrets, PLEASE SPILL!
Blue Dress From Vici
These photos are from earlier in the month, but I wanted to share because HOW CUTE is this dress from Vici? Now that we’re almost in October I promise I will get fall fashion posts up ASAP ; ). As much fun as Europe was, I’ve been dying to get back into my routine in LA, back to blogging (+ work), and back to the beach! Even though the post-vacation blues are real, coming home to LA is as close a vacation as you can get! You’re always an hour or so from the beach (sometimes even less!) so if you ever need an escape… Malibu is the perfect place for that.
Ciao from Italy! We’ve been in this beautiful country for almost a week and are currently wrapping up our stay in Positano – seriously one of the most stunning places I have ever visited in my life. Every corner is picturesque beyond words and all the photographs you’ve seen simply do not do these views justice! It’s amazing and a much-needed getaway, but at the same time I’ve found myself thinking about home and all the things I need to get done when I get back. BUT – I am trying really, really hard to live more in the now and be present in the moment.
Being Present in the Moment
Being present is something I have always tried to be mindful of, and a huge part of what led me to begin practicing yoga 5 years ago (something I really need to get back into). It makes sense – research has shown that dwelling on the past and negative makes us more likely to be depressed. Waiting for the future to be happy also leads us to be unable to enjoy the present. Whether you’re always dwelling on the past or looking to the future, the problem is that you aren’t living in the now. Of course, we are ALL guilty of doing both, myself included!
For me, I find myself often looking to and planning for the future – great for preparation, but not great for living in the moment. It is also hard to be present when our attention is split between several different tasks at once! A huge part of being present has been putting away the phone for me. I’ve noticed myself and others being on our phones constantly when in the presence of friends. Such a terrible habit that has become so socially common/accepted! I am really trying to make a point to put my phone down when I around the people I am with and give them my full attention.
Social media is also related to this.
I’ve talked about social media not being real life in the past and I stand by this. Real life is ALWAYS > Instagram. Being present and in the moment and not constantly staring at your screen looking at other people’s lives is something I want to practice more over the rest of the year. In fact, if we are hanging out and you see me on my phone, PLEASE call me out on it! My goal is to be able to focus on what is in front of me in that moment, and nothing else.
As cheesy as it sounds, I felt much more grounded and present when I was practicing yoga regularly – which is why I’m considering picking it up again. I have yet to find a yoga studio I absolutely love and adore in LA, so if you have any favorites, please send them my way!! Meditation/Buddhist podcasts are also a helpful tool – I listen to them during my commute to and from work. My favorites are episodes of Audio Dharma led by Buddhist teacher Gil Fronsdal (I’m not Buddhist, I just love his talks and the messages he delivers).
In a perfect world, we would all be able to buy whatever we want, whenever we want. However in this world (or at least the one I live in), a girl’s gotta stick to a budget. My goal, always, is to be relatable and show style that is attainable for every girl.
However, I do appreciate investment pieces that can be worn and kept for years and years. Jackets, jewelry, shoes, and bags normally make the best “investment” pieces. Personally, I love love LOVE shoes. I tend to save my splurges for pairs I cannot resist. However, figuring out how to save for investment pieces is VERY important.
How to Save for Investment Pieces
I use the term “investment piece” loosely. At the end of the day, they’re clothes/things you wear and not an actual investment that will give you a real return (unless you’re going for Chanel or Hermes… then yes, it could actually be considered an investment.) Designer clothing and accessories don’t always equal better quality, but often it does! Having a couple nice pieces in your closet can really transform your entire wardrobe.
Now that it’s September, everyone’s talking boots. Particularly, OTK boots. I think OTK boots have moved past being a trend – they’re a definite staple in my closet and I constantly try to think of ways to wear them, even in the summer.
Stuart Weitzman shoes are some of my favorite.
The 5050 boots were the first nice shoes I ever bought for myself and thanks to an amazing cobbler (if you’re in LA and want a good rec, lmk!) they’re still kicking today. My current favorites are the Highlands (pictured here) and Lowlands (need to acquire every color… stat). I love suede shoes and the adjustable tie in the back helps ensure the perfect fit!
I’ve honestly tried on so many pairs of OTK boots and have a really hard time finding ones that actually stay up. These fit perfectly to your legs for that skin-tight look, even if you have thinner legs. If you’re going to splurge on shoes and looking at OTK boots, I would recommend this pair.
I’ve been working for years and make a point to be save money and be smart about the purchases I make. When it comes to big-ticket purchases such as vacations or nice shoes, I find it easier to set money aside over time rather than come up with it all at once.
The way I look at shopping (“wants”) vs. the essentials in life (“needs” – rent, bills, etc.) is that shopping comes second. Every paycheck I make sure to pay off my bills and set aside a certain amount of money for actual savings (like, see you in 30 years kind of savings) – the rest is mine to spend.
In my experience, money out of sight is money out of mind.
That’s why I really like automatic transfers – you can set this up in any checking account to transfer money on a set frequency from one account to another. Or you can use an app to help you save money – I’ve really been using and loving Digit, which tracks the money in your bank account and automatically withdraws amounts into a separate account.
Because the app is tracking your spending habits, it makes sure to only take an amount of money that you won’t even notice is gone. Over time, you’ll realize you’ve saved a ton of money without even thinking about it! This is great to 1. transfer into actual investments or 2. use on something for yourself – like a pair of shoes. I was able to save a lot of money for upcoming trips by using Digit. Full disclosure – I’m not being paid or anything by Digit, I just really love the app!
I’d love to hear how you approach setting budgets and buying investment pieces – any tips or tricks to share? Lmk!
For the longest time, I struggled with jewelry. I’ve never been much of a jewelry wearer – I tend to gravitate towards minimal jewelry that can be worn every day. The occasional statement piece can be worked in, but I prefer smaller pieces that I almost forget I’m wearing. I HATE heavy bangles and necklaces that weigh me down. The great thing about minimal pieces is that when you’re looking to make more of a statement, all you have to do is quickly layer several pieces together. I especially love gold rings and necklaces I can stack.
Minimal Jewelry
Lately, I’ve been venturing into jewelry more and starting to embrace it in my own way. The choker trend has been going strong for some time and doesn’t appear to be letting down. I admit I’m guilty myself of wearing chokers maybe too often. I can’t help it – I’m a 90’s baby for life. However, rather than one choker, try layering several dainty pieces together to create the ultimate necklace stack.
Hey babes! I’m off to Italy with the boyfriend today and will be back in a week and a half. We’ve been dying to visit the Amalfi Coast for years and are so excited the day has finally come where we will be crossing it off our travel bucket list. Stay tuned for lots of posts to come! But before I go, I just wanted to quickly share what has become one of my favorite online shopping sites – Vici!
Vici Online Shopping
I’ve been loving this California based site’s wide selection of cute clothes and accessories. Check out their selection of on trend and affordable pieces (my jam!). I’ve especially been loving their maxi dresses, but they have some super cute knits and jackets for fall as well! Almost everything on the site is under $100 and new items are added daily. I’ve been loving every piece I’ve received from them : ).
I’ll still be posting regularly while I’m away, so be sure to check out the blog for new posts! And follow along on Instagram/stories and Snapchat to see more of my trip! Thanks for reading babes, enjoy your hump day!
