A Valentine's Day Look

Here it is, the obligatory Valentine's day look. I'm a week early, but I wanted to get this out there in case anyone needs an outfit idea. The great thing about this one though is that it can be worn year-round. It's only a slight nod to the holiday. In the past I've gone all out with the pink and red, but now that I'm getting older, I think subtlety is better, don't you? Instead of bright red, how about burgundy? And in place of a vibrant pink, how about lilac or blush?

Wearing //

Loft blouse, similar

Express skirt, cute option here & here

Banana Republic bag, similar

Asos pumps, love these

Kendra Scott necklace

Stella & Dot ring, love this

Beauty //

Too Faced Melted Matte lips in "Queen B"

I am incredibly lucky to have so much love in my life. Not because they love me, but because I love them. On days where I feel like I'm spinning out, I try to pause and remember something about each of the special people I know. It could be a song that reminds me of that person, or a memory we created together. I've never been afraid of telling people how much they mean to me. Life is too short for that! So whether you're celebrating V-Day with your significant other, friends, or even alone, don't forget to reflect on the good in your life.

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Three Years Married

Last Wednesday marked my three year wedding anniversary. Whenever I think about it, I can't help but go back to the days leading up to our ceremony and how nervous I was. I remember feeling sick to my stomach, all tied in knots,  and I wanted to call the whole thing off and elope. Or do it in a courthouse with nobody watching. Or maybe fly to Mars where I'm assuming you don't need a marriage license. I was never one of those little girls that dreamed about her wedding day. I wanted a family of course, but I never really gave much thought into what that would entail. When you grow up seeing your parents arguing non-stop, it doesn't exactly give you the warm and fuzzies that marriage can actually work. So while most girls imagined a fairy tale, all I really wanted was just a companion and a friend. I wanted security, and I don't mean monetarily. I wanted someone to share my thoughts and feelings without judgement. Someone to laugh at my stupid jokes, someone who understood that I'm timid and I always need a push to try new things.

We have been together for over ten years now and I don't remember much about love before him. I can't even fathom what dating would be like today. I'm pretty sure I would just give up and get a house full of dogs, maybe a pet pig. I think reality t.v. has ruined relationships. People seem to care more about looks than actually having a partner you could grow old with, someone who won't run if you get hit by a car and end up in a wheelchair. This is going to sound over the top but stay with me here... I like my husband because I know he will be there for me when I'm old, senile, can hardly walk, and need him to wipe my ass for me. I would do the same for him. Now that's love.

So it isn't always pretty. We fight and get angry and bored with each other like all couples inevitably do. But he's my friend, and we chose each other to ride through this messy life. I wouldn't have it any other way...that's the truly romantic part about marriage and monogamy, the part that Hollywood often forgets to tell you in movies. The truth? With all of our shortcomings as human beings, with all of our flaws, we still choose each other every single day.

Wearing //

Kate Spade licorice pumps, exact & similar for less

Loeffler Randall bag, similar for less

Kendra Scott bracelet

Lush dress, great option

I would also be remiss if I didn't mention Carylee in this post because she was the one that convinced me to buy my very first pair of Kate Spade Licorice pumps at a steal! Thank you for being a part of my anniversary Caryl! The shoes were a hit, and I felt like I did leave a little sparkle wherever I went that evening :)

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A Little Life Update

I've been putting off writing this for a few weeks. Number one because I like to keep this space fun and light, with little pressure to pull out the thesaurus and try to remember my college English courses. And number two, I don't think it's necessary to reveal much on a blog designed around fashion and beauty. Personal style is one thing - it's pretty harmless, and the worst somebody can tell me is that I look ridiculous in an outfit or have bad taste in hair. But writing about my life in a more meaningful way is terrifying. Why would anyone care anyway?

That being said, I sometimes get bored of just sharing outfit photos and reviewing beauty products. After all, how many lipsticks does one girl need? How many dresses for that matter? Wait, don't answer that. However, I would like to use this post to do a brain dump if you will. If this doesn't sound remotely interesting, then come back on Monday for more clothes (it'll also be my birthday too)!

I'm not sure if I have ever done a life update, but I love reading them on other blogs. I guess it humanizes the person you admire on the other side of the computer screen. So much of social media now is curated. I can't even stand that word anymore. Curated. Yes, let's live a curated life where our Instagram accounts all look shiny and bright. Most of the time I have makeup stains on my vanity table where I take pictures, or Nettie grabs a hold of my poster board that's used for flatlays so it's got puppy drool and paw marks all over it. Is there a my-life-is perfect filter? Others seem to have it!

All of this searching for perfectionism started to get to me awhile ago, coupled with the cold hard fact that my life felt like it was on auto-pilot and I was just going through the motions. I was tired of my job, burned out like all of my Psych professors warned us about. Those scary non-profit organizations! I promised myself when I first got hired working with at-risk youth that it would only be for a year or two, or until I had gained enough experience to move forward. I promised myself I would go back to school. That didn't happen the way I planned though, and almost six years later I had a nervous breakdown and Nate, my mom, and my therapist told me I was losing it and needed to find my happiness again. I didn't listen until I read this book and then it just clicked. This thought kept sticking out every morning: How can I best serve the families I am supposed to be helping if I can't even help myself? How can I fake enthusiasm when these kids have developed a keen sense of spotting a phony? But I felt like leaving my job meant leaving the kids that I had grown to love. I was tangled up in their traumas, poor choices, and often gut-wrenching stories and I needed to untangle myself before everything turned into a big knotted mess. Before I did. So at the beginning of August, I left my job.

Before I go any further, I want to make clear that I didn't quit to blog full-time. There's no way I would feel fulfilled doing this for a living. That's my own take of course, and I can completely understand how someone else would love the chance to turn their hobby into a full fledged career. I know a few full-time bloggers who do it so well, and I still get a sense that they love most aspects of it. For me, I think it would go to my head a bit. I remember the irony of this when I was going to a crisis call for one of my kids. Not more than an hour prior, I had posted a pretty outfit photo of myself, all smiles and directing people to my website. And then I was snapped back to reality and I was comforting a crying child who believed ending their pain was better than being in a foster home. I felt like I was living a double life or something, and I can't even explain why to this day.

I don't regret my decision to leave, but I also say in earnest that life lately is a little strange. I am still a stylist for Stella & Dot, I begin school in two weeks for a certificate program, and I'm currently reading a ton of self-improvement books. That's about all I can really say, except that I know things will look up eventually. In The Book, it quotes an unknown source: "We tiptoe through life hoping to safely make it to death". Well I refuse to tiptoe safely anymore. For what it's worth, I hope nobody reading this does either.

And if I can leave you with another piece of advice, especially to my fellow bloggers: Go outside of yourself and if possible, donate some of your time to helping others. It's easy to get caught up in the blogger bubble of sponsorships, free stuff, and attending glam events. But there's nothing more rewarding than helping others who are in need of someone to just listen to them. Even though I don't work at a non-profit anymore, I think the lessons it taught are invaluable, and it will always remind me that being of service is one of the greatest (and most important) parts of life.

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Guest Post: Fit to be Twinned

 Nicole has been a dear friend of mine since high school. We have been there to witness each other's ups and downs, happy times and bad. When I asked her to guest post for me while I'm on vacation, she immediately said yes and I'm so excited to have her here. Please show my "red" some love!

~ Noelle

Hello Noelle’s beautiful readers!
What a fun thing it is for me to be able to write a guest post on beautygirl24. A little about myself, I am the daughter of my heavenly father, I am the wife of almost 6 years to an amazing man, momma to twin three year old boys and a newish blogger. I’ve had my blog (fittobetwinned) for a few years actually and before this one, I had another one. It wasn’t until recently I really decided that I wanted to write more, share more (but hopefully not too much) and have something to call mine. I’m a stay at home momma and that transition from Bachelors degree working woman, to stay at home mom was a tough one for me, but having this little space helps me feel like I’m doing something. My hope is that people can relate to my stories, learn something, laugh, or just feel like someone else in the world gets whatever it is you're going though. That’s why we all like to follow blogs, right?


When Noelle approached me to write a guest post I was so excited! My mind started reeling with what I could write. She left it wide open, and even though we shop at the same places and I love all of her pieces, my concept of getting dressed up is skinny jeans, a black top and a nice necklace, which is few and far between these days. However, in thinking of what I wanted to write my sister came up with an awesome idea. She suggested I talk about why it’s important for me to get ready every day.


Before I was a stay at home mom, my vision of a stay at home mom was that of non stop fun, sleeping in with snuggly babies, staying in yoga pants all day long, no schedule, the list goes on…well, let me tell you…sleeping in with snuggly babies is nearly impossibly when a small child (who is no longer a baby) sneaks into your bed in the wee hours of the morning and spends the next 2 hours kicking you in the back! Staying in yoga pants happens on some days but makes me feel lazy. That whole "no schedule" thing is a laugh because your entire life is a schedule with small children. Last but not least we do have a lot of fun but it’s equally as much work to do anything fun at all.

I decided early on that I had to do one thing for me to just help me feel productive and if that’s putting on makeup and doing my hair so I can just make meals all day, break up fights and love on my sweet boys, then that’s what I’ll do. When they were small this was really hard and I totally understood how someone could go a day or days without showering or getting ready. I struggled with PPD, although not officially diagnosed, I know what I felt wasn’t normal after having a baby or two! I felt secluded, anxious, and like my life was never going to feel normal again, I felt like I was never going to feel like myself again. Yes, I did change, I became a mom but that didn’t mean I had to give up all things that make me happy. One of those big things was just waking up, taking a shower, getting in clothes other than yoga pants, doing my hair, and putting on makeup. When I started that routine, it just helped. It might sound funny, but fighting for that part of me and having me time was so important. Do I still have my days of workout clothes, messy hair and not showering until after 1pm? Absolutely! Life happens and I have twins! But just having that little bit of time to get ready helps me face the day ahead.


So ladies or even men, if you have kids, want kids or are waiting for your special gift from above, just know that yes your life will change, but you don’t have to give up everything about yourself. When you become a parent, your life is that baby. It is so easy to get wrapped up about caring for them and your spouse but don’t forget about you along the way. It’s not selfish, you’re not a bad parent, but you will not be happy unless there is a bit of yourself for just you!


Take Care Everyone,

Nicole



Nicole's blog can be found here: http://fittobetwinned.blogspot.com/

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Summer Nights

Wearing //

Express cami

Old Navy skirt (old)

J.Crew pumps

Halogen clutch via Nordstrom, check stores or similar

Kendra Scott necklace

HRH collection bracelet

Beauty //

Nails in O.P.I. "Funny Bunny"

Aside from lazy days spent by the pool or on the beach, my favorite part of Summer are the warm balmy nights. They are the perfect reprieve from the intense heat we get here during the day, and there's nothing like that feeling you get during a Summer night. It will always bring back happy memories from my childhood, no matter how old I get. Nate and I take advantage as often as we can, and this turned into one of those nights where we went out and enjoyed reminiscing about the past. I know, we are hopeless dreamers.

I hope you had a great fourth of July! We certainly did. Summer is now officially in full swing.

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Bits & Pieces

Today, I thought I'd share some bits and pieces of what I've been loving lately. Odds and ends if you will. Sometimes it's easier to lump things into one post than do them separately. Let me know if you enjoy this! I always love feedback from you guys, good and bad.

First up, wedding season: It has been in full-swing for me this year. Four of our close friends got married, one couple in April and the other last weekend. It's been a whirlwind for sure, but I've had the best time. If I could attend one wedding per month, or become a wedding crasher perhaps, I would be one happy lady.

These photos are from Saturday. Nate was once again in the wedding, while I looked on like a giddy schoolgirl. By chance, I wore a MAC lipstick by the same name.

I also wore a ten year old Express dress. Yup! After all the stressing about "what am I gonna wear", it turned out that the answer was already in my closet. Well, my mother's closet but that's another story. I love the neckline, and the jersey type fabric was very cooling in the hot sun. Take note of Nate's converse sneakers. He looked like a skater kid. Loved it!

The grounds were beautiful, a veritable garden with lush flowers, greenery, and a pond. My brother-in-law and soon to be sister-in-law are getting married at the same venue next year. Oh, and I'm actually a bridesmaid in that one ;)

Their color scheme was grey and mustard, the bride's favorite colors. The decor had a very rustic feel, and it was gorgeous once the sun went down and all the little tea lights glimmered in the background. 

The newlyweds 

I'm sad that our wedding attendance is done for the year. Maybe some baby showers are next?

Another thing I'm loving - neutrals: They just feel fresh this Summer. I can't stop gravitating towards white and nude. 

Wearing //

Nordstrom jacket (old) but similar here

Express knot tee (underneath)

Loft jeans

Asos pumps

Halogen bag

Beauty //

Nails Inc. polish in "bamboo white"

Stand-Out Products: 

I wasn't crazy about this mascara by Maybelline, so I asked my best girl what she recommended for ultra voluminous lashes and she suggested one I've heard great things about. Better Than Sex by Too Faced may very well live up to its name. The brush is nice and substantial, and the bristles coat every lash.  Only con - It is really difficult to take off. You need a ton of wipes and a good cleanser! But the ultimate payoff is worth the extra hassle at the end of the day. 

I'm also pretty addicted to this NARS blush duo in Craving. One side is the perfect shade of bronze, and the other is a light champagne. I swirl my blush into both and slap it on my cheeks. This stuff is amazing. I'm very tempted to try another duo, but I love this one so much that I don't need more. 

What are you loving lately?

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Vintage, Coral, & Spicy Red

Wearing //

Charlotte Russe lace top (old) but similar here

Old Navy skirt, similar

Sole Society "Jenn" pumps, love stripes too!

Rebecca Minkoff bag

Baublebar earrings, pretty option

Gorjana cuff

Beauty//

Essie nails in "bump up the pumps"

Valentine's day is one of my favorite holidays of the year. Can it even be classified as a holiday? I know it's usually difficult for those who don't have a significant other, and I can completely understand that. I was a total nerd growing up, so I never even imagined that I would find someone to love when I got older. My parents didn't have a good relationship, so I didn't see that positive model much when I was a kid. But then I met my friend, who just so happened to know this guy named Nate. Nate...huh...um, okay sure. Why not? We went on a blind date over Valentine's day week when I was eighteen, and the rest is history. Well, there's a lot more to the story than that but I'll keep it a secret! Most of it is tedious anyway. You know how young loves goes. Lots of tears, questions, and what ifs.

It may not be our wedding anniversary, but meeting the person you're eventually going to share your life with is a big deal and we always treat V-day as such because it's when we first met. It's a fun excuse for me to get dolled up, and a sweet way for him to show off how romantic and cheesy he can really be all wrapped up into one. This year, he's taking me somewhere by the water but that's all he'll say. You can see my last Valentine's day look here in case you want a more traditional look! I actually don't plan on wearing this outfit on Saturday, as I have something else in mind. Don't worry, you girls will see it next week.


Linking up with Gina and Carylee today! Oh, but more on Gina later ;)

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Early Autumn Updates

Happy October everyone! This is probably everybody's favorite month. Am I right? At least that's what I keep seeing on Pinterest and Instagram. I am in complete agreement. The promise of cooler weather is always a welcomed one!

Here are some random odds and ends on my beginning to Fall so far...


1. Shoes. I've gone a little crazy with them! I keep adding more to my closet, and I keep wanting more. Case in point:

J.Crew metallic valentina pumps

Steve Madden Flats

These two are next on my list, but I can't decide which I like better. Thoughts?

2. Wearing basic items again and again. I'm sure you ladies have noticed these! As hard as I try to rotate all of the pieces in my wardrobe, I can't help but come back to what's easy, flattering, and obviously that I love.

White Topshop skirt, Blue bag, Metallic pumps. 

I can't stop, and probably won't stop wearing them through Fall. 

Express Barcelona camisoles in white and black. 

Great basic! They are made Fall-worthy by wearing a blazer or jacket on top. I can't recommend them enough. 

3. I wanted to report back on some recent beauty purchases, as seen here:

* The Maybelline palette is good, but I wouldn't say it's anything too special. The colors are neutral, which makes them extremely easy to work with. The color payoff on most of them is decent, with the exception of the lighter shades. They come across as a bit chalky. Overall, if you already own plenty of similar shades from other brands, you don't need this. Common sense alerted me to that before buying it, but I wanted to try it for myself.

* The NARS dual intensity eyeshadow in Dione is gorgeous! I'm very happy with it and have been wearing it on the weekends. It glimmers and shines like no other. I like it so much that I want more, which is always a good sign (or bad for my wallet).

* The NARS illuminator is also really beautiful. I've been mixing it with my lotion on rubbing it on my arms and legs for a subtle sheen. I also dab a tiny bit on my cheekbones, then top with a powder highlight to set it. Again, a stunning product that's definitely worth treating yourself.


4. Nettie is keeping me on my toes, but I love her so much!

How has the beginning of Fall been for you? 

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Party Goer

Wearing //

Forever 21 sheer top and camisole (old), similar

Topshop skirt

Aldo clutch (old), similar here and here

J.Crew Factory sandals

Anthropologie pearl necklace

Stella & Dot engraveable bar necklace

Gorjana bracelet

Beauty //

Benefit PosieBalm Lip Tint

Zoya nail polish in "LC" (can't find a link but I've seen it at Ulta)

I had an entirely different outfit in mind for my friend's 30th birthday party on Saturday. I really wanted to wear this Asos dress, seeing as it's elegant enough for a party yet still extremely comfortable to dance in. I wanted a timeless look because lord only knows that when we are 65 and looking through old photos of the "glory days", I don't want to think "what the heck was I wearing?"
I often dress with that scenario in mind, and I'm not sure if this is normal. Anyway, it was over 100 degrees that day and it wasn't going to cool down much at night so I decided to nix the black, elegant dress in favor of something a little more appropriate for the heat. I know you guys are probably tired of seeing this white Topshop skirt but I reach for it all the time. I love the way it swishes as I walk, and it has pockets that I can stick my hands in when I'm feeling a little nervous (which I proceeded to do all night). I threw in a little happy colored clutch for good measure and away I went! Her backyard party was perfect. The same DJ that played during my wedding reception was there. I felt very nostalgic about that, as well as realizing that my friends and I are bidding adieu to our twenties. So far, it's been my favorite night of the year :)

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Beach Day

Loving this canvas tote by the SF-based company, Amour Vert. Is that not the perfect little saying? I may be a little biased though since Paris is on my bucket list and I love being a Cali girl! I think the tote might be currently sold-out but I'll bet they'll get more in if you're interested. 

Steve Madden "Bride" sandals, old. Color Club nail polish in "Modern Pink"

Maxi dress by Loft (in petite), last worn below. 

It was so windy that we couldn't get one good single shot from this beach day. Below I'm more dressed up but that's the only difference. 

By now, you all know I'm a self-proclaimed beach bum. If I could live there, or even remotely close by, I would do so in a heartbeat. I'd even live in a shack, cuz that's about all we can afford! Unfortunately, I'm about 45 minutes away from the coastline and that often means road trips on the weekends. Even after Summer is long gone, my husband and I will bring blankets, sweaters, and usually a bottle of wine to share on the beach while the sun goes down (we have to be discreet about the wine because you aren't supposed to drink on the beach here in SoCal. Correct me if I'm wrong fellow Californians!) Any chance we get, we head for the ocean. They say that saltwater is the cure for just about any ailment, and I strongly believe that. It centers me, and allows me to feel present in my life. Most of the time I don't feel balanced, as I'm a chronic worrier and my anxiety gets the better of me. But hearing the waves and seeing how infinite the ocean is reminds me that I am here. And that I shouldn't take any minute of my life for granted.

By the way, Happy Friday! I'll make it to the coast at some point this weekend :)

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Watercolor

Wearing: Express dress, old (loving this and this for Spring)

Olivia Moon blazer, similar

Zara pumps

Kate Spade bag, similar here and here

Anthropologie necklace, similar here and here

Fossil watch, here in rose gold!

Just another date night look for you girls! Lately instead of going out on Friday, the hubs and I like to delegate Thursday nights for doing something special together. And by special, I mean stuffing our faces with delicious food and having a couple beverages of the adult kind. We recently started doing this because by the time Thursday rolled around, we were both so tired and mentally depleted by work that we just couldn't wait until Friday. On this particular evening, my sister-in-law worked her magic on my hair and it was another good excuse to go out. I never waste a good hair moment, no matter what day of the week it is ;)

How was your weekend?!

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