How I’m Wearing Ankle Boots This Season

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It’s currently raining while I sit in my office planning content for this month so it must mean that it’s officially boots season! We have had some weather that teased us of an endless summer the last few weeks which have been making my daily walks very enjoyable. At times I’ve wished for a breeze or two when I actually dressed for fall weather and not for the warmer days it has been recently. I’m excited to start wearing my boots again because they are such a closet staple in the colder months. They are just so comfy and are fun to wear. I remember when I first started buying them a few years ago and there weren’t that many options, classic leather or suede and usually in conservative designs and colors. Nowadays, there are so many different designs and looks you can put together with booties. Right now I have my eyes on black booties with pearl details which is a genius way to switch things up with the classic black boot and make it more feminine. I put together some boots I have my eyes on this season and I hope it inspires you to add some new boots with embellishments and fun new details to your closet this year.

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  1. CLASSIC BLACK SUEDE

I have a pair of black suede booties that I call my comfortable but fashionable commuting shoe for work. Obviously I’m not commuting to an office these days, but at one time they were once my favorite shoe to slip on and chase after the train. I love a suede boot for everyday wear and the scallop details on these add a nice feminine detail to them.

2. UPDATED WESTERN

When I went to Nashville a few years ago I looked at the traditional western cowboy boots and walked out of the store when I saw the price of a boot I would wear once. That is why I love these updated western style because they are cute as well as practical for an everyday style. Pair with a dress or skirt with black tights for a more comfortable option than heels for a dressed up look.

3. CLASSIC LEATHER

Over time I have accumulated a few pairs of leather Cole Haan boots because the quality is amazing and they will last for a long time. I’m a big fan of this style because they are great for weather (rain and snow) and only improve over time as they get worn in. I’ll be grabbing these a lot as my go-to daily shoe to run errands or a daily walk.

4. MODERN STYLE

I love this chic boot because it’s versatile and really can go with any outfit. The sleek and pointed toe make any outfit sexy and dress up a look without much effort. Wear with black tights for a polished sleek look or tuck in your pants to show off the structure of the boot.

5. PATENT

No doubt this style turns heads with it’s shine and sleek silhouette. I’m loving this new take on this modern style boot because it can be worn with light denim during the day or dresses at night. I hope this trendy style stays for a while because it’s such a fresh take on the classic black boot.

6. ANIMAL PRINT

For those who have enough black boots in their closet and are looking for something new, I love this splash of animal print. When you need a break from the usual black boots, the animal print add some fun to any outfit without overly committing to the animal print look.

7. EMBELLISHMENTS

This year is all about the embellishments on boots and I am loving every style I see. I like this style specifically because it’s fun while still being conservative with the crystal balls on the heels. At first glance it’s a great leather boot and the embellishments add some fun to any outfit. The embellishments can help elevate any look and allows you to have add some sparkle to an all black outfit.

8. PEARLS

How did I go this long without boots that have pearls on them?! I first saw this style trending a few weeks ago and it immediately made me stop scrolling to stare at them. These are perfect for those who are looking for a more feminine boot style. Pair with a pink coat or preppy black and white outfit to take chic to a whole new level. Never in a million years would I pair pearls with combat boots or think to wear combat boots with a preppy outfit until now.

Styling a Faux Leather Skirt for Date Night

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Are you still working from home or back to the office? We are doing a bit of half and half in our house with Jake working a week of 12 hour days and then working from home for two weeks before he goes back to the office as he alternates with other team members. It’s always nice to have something fun to look forward to at the end of the week so we scheduled a fancy date night last Friday at Parc in Rittenhouse. For years, I’ve wanted to go because it’s a one of a kind experience in Philadelphia. If anything, 2020 has taught us that we really need to slow down and experience the opportunities around us. Right now you need to make a reservation a week in advance and they don’t stay open for long. Luckily, Jake was waking up at 5am for work that week so he was the first person to make a reservation when the slots opened up for the week. For my Philly friends, we chose to eat indoors because while there is outdoor dining it just wouldn’t be the same experience and it was our first time there. The restaurant is doing an amazing job at separating tables and doing temperature checks before you go inside. It felt like a private dinner because we had a whole section to ourselves and the wait staff was very friendly as we enjoyed a four course meal without feeling rushed.

As much fun as it was to go out to dinner, I also had so much fun picking out an outfit after weeks of wearing jeans and a t shirt. I was excited to finally wear this brown faux leather skirt that has been collecting dust in my closet since I purchased it. It may have been technically fall but it was pretty warm that day and we planned to walk to the restaurant so I wanted to dress appropriately. I found this short sleeve Max Mara sweater that I completely forgot that I even had in storage which kept me cool on our way to dinner and kept me warm on our walk back when the temperatures dipped below 60 degrees.

I’ve noticed that since we rarely leave the house these days and when we do, I get so excited to put together an outfit and pick out accessories. I’m excited to see that faux leather skirts are still in style this season because it’s such an easy way to get dressed up without much effort. My skirt is from Loft last year so I’ll link this similar skirt from Express and skirt from Abercrombie. My sweater was a consignment store find but I love this J Crew short sleeve sweater just as much!

Bye Bye Breakouts with Dermalogica Clear Start!

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Dermalogica Clear Start Flashfoliant Foaming Exfoliator

The secret to clear skin is being consistent with a skincare routine and using the right products that work for your skin. I’m excited to work with Dermalogica to share a new product that I’ve been using to keep my skin clear from breakouts. Flip the bottle, squeeze for foam and go! The FlashFoliant Exfoliating Foam is a fast acting chemical exfoliant that brightens, smooths and helps prevent and clear breakouts. Perfect for a quick and easy morning skincare routine, just apply the foam and go and no rinse is required! The chemical exfoliant gently removes dead skin cells and oil leaving your skin feeling refreshed and the foam quickly dissolves so you don’t have sticky skin.

This multi-tasker cleanser gives me super glowy skin. This fast-acting chemical exfoliant brightens, smooths and helps to prevent and clear breakouts. I used this every day in the summer which was great because I wanted an easy skincare routine that worked hard to prevent breakouts from sweat and from being outdoors. The formula gently remove dead skin cells and oil, leaving you with a brighter complexion. Apply the foam and go – no rinse required! How can you not love an amazing product like this ?

Products were received complimentary and as always, all opinions are my own.

Dreaming of Paris

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fine knit sweater // sweater with collar // skirt // faux fur jacket // pleated blouse // grey collared sweater // pleated skirt dress // pearl headband // blue headband // ribbed mock-turtleneck // puff sleeve blouse // scallop edge blouse // ballet flats // houndstooth knit cardigan // double breasted blazer // houndstooth dress //

I’ve been playing French music on our Alexa’s around the house as a way to drop subtle hints to Jake that I really want to go to Paris once it’s safe to travel. So far I think it’s working because I keep hearing him from the other room saying “we will go when it’s safe!” I blame this recent Paris obsession after binge watching Emily in Paris in a weekend. I loved how Emily mixed patterns and had fun with her outfits while walking around Paris. It’s a city that encourages you to branch out from safe outfits and wear timeless chic pieces. Since we can’t travel to Paris anytime soon, I put together some chic pieces that I would love to pack in a suitcase and jet off to Paris in. For now I’ll just throw on a chic sweater and a beret as I walk to a bakery down the street to get a croissant.

Cozy Fall Cardigan

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Fall is here and my closet is happy! Today I’m sharing an easy fall outfit that I wore recently to run errands. Not only is my cardigan very affordable, it looks very similar to the Madewell cardigan that was very popular last year but was a bit out of my budget. This cardigan is lightweight and very cozy making it perfect for early warm fall days into the chilly winter. My goal is to get dressed every day and this cardigan has been an easy way to make an effort and look put together without much effort. I love throwing on some jeans, a t shirt and this cardigan in the morning because it’s an easy and fun outfit! I’m sure I’ll be adding some more cardigans into my closet this fall because it’s the perfect cozy outfit for this fall!

shoes // cardigan

It’s Time for a Reset

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It was a fun summer in North Carolina and now we are back to Philadelphia full time! The long vacation was nice but now it’s back to the routines at home. While I am unpacking and getting settled back into the house, I realized quickly that I need to do a reset. It’s been a long time since I have been home and want to get settled into the house and my routines. I have a post it in my planner that I move to the first of each month that is a list of things I need to do that month. It helps keep me on track and organized for the month to come.

What did I like and dislike about last month?
Waking up early or hitting the snooze button too much, slacking on working out or kudos for daily walks. This helps me reflect and make the next month better.

What do I want to do this month?
I have a ridiculously long to do list that I use every day that has a list of things I want to do and then I write a daily to do list of things that I can do that day. From home projects, errands to a book I want to read, I like creating plans that are feasible and then picking from a list everyday.

Finance Check
I’ve talked about this before on the blog and I do this every month. Know where your money goes!

Make plans with friends.
Instead of making last minute plans, reach out to friends in the beginning of the month to make tentative plans.

Make note of upcoming birthdays and get cards ready.
I used to be the worst but now I have a list of birthdays in my planner that I can quickly see who to get cards for.

Organize your digital photos.
I save everything on Google Photos and then put those photos in albums on Google Photos and my photos app before I delete clutter on my camera photo roll.

Read your emails and then delete or file away.
I try to keep up with my emails every day but I spend more time at the end of the month to clear my inbox as much as I can.

Make a note of work and home projects.
I have a list of projects to do around the house and projects coming up for work. Change of decor, closet change and any big cleaning projects are written down in my planner.

Deep clean fridge and pantry.
I clean my fridge whenever we do a grocery run but I take everything out to deep clean my fridge and pantry every month. I have a magnetic notebook on my fridge to keep track of what we need to get.

Schedule fun date night ideas.
Instead of doing the same things or staying in because it’s too much energy to make plans, we are sitting down to schedule date night plans in advance. I’ve been making plans in my Google Calendar and inviting Jake so we both can make time for just us to spend intentional time together. We have a list of restaurants to try and things we can do together so we can pick an activity and a day we are free.

Start a new hobby.
Being at home so much put me into a slump so now I want to work on a new hobby every month. I’m not sure what I’m going to do the next few months but I’ve committed to reading every day, crafting, gardening and weeding the backyard.