"Green With"…Grace

Literally it was summer yesterday and it is certainly feeling a lot more brisk these days. Despite that, I still was in the mood to rock a simple sandal. I don’t really have a “simple” sandal, (although I have my eye on a particular pair that I will discuss in another post) so I opted for a pair of Justfab sandals that I purchased last year.

The style is simple enough.  I love the lady like detail of the bow. There is one major detail that I must include in this post. The comfort of this shoe is absolutely awful. I walked around in these for about 30 minutes before I was ready to throw on some flats. The toe strap is very narrow. It makes the sandal extremely uncomfortable to wear. The absence of a platform is never a problem for me so I do not mind the single sole of a shoe. I wouldn’t advise making a purchase on this shoe. Buy at your own risk.

My dress is a Forever 21 purchase. It was the last dress on the rack but because I loved the color (Kelly Green) I grabbed it anyway. It is a bit too big (even though you can’t tell under my coat) which is okay because the dress was comfortable. The material is rather thin so I would not wear this without a coat in this brisk weather. The next time I wear this dress more than likely would be in the spring or summer. We are officially saying “farewell” to this dress for now. My trench coat is one that I purchased from Loehmann’s year ago but I love it because it is classic and stylish no matter the trends going on at that moment.

My accessories only consist of a clutch that I received as a gift from Julep. My “arrow” design choker necklace is from a chic company online by the name of Neon Wild. I love this choker, very simple and chic. The belt that I am wearing hails from Forever 21. This is an oldie that I purchased (it’s safe to say) about a decade ago. I didn’t wear any earrings as usually my hair covers my ears. This time, my ears are a bit exposed because I pulled my hair behind them due to the excessive wind blowing. Go figure! Lol.

I titled this post “Green With”…Grace because envy is not a word that I fancy. It does not reach for the positive in anyone’s heart and is the thief of joy. I chose the word grace because grace is “simple elegance..” according to Oxford’s Dictionary. My look is simple but is meant to exude some everyday elegance instead of the common trend of always showing every part of the body. You can be “green” and be a lady instead of being envious. Right? Anyhoo, tell me what you think of my look!! I will see you all you lovely people  right back here on Friday for another ootd!

Ciao Cupcakes!!

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Peace and Tranquility (OOTD)

This world can truly get the best of us if we allow it. The traffic, tall buildings, large crowds and daily pressures can all be too much. We can all find ourselves needing to unplug and get away. Sometimes I take a few days from social media to unwind and to find my calm. Being a mom and a wife are not easy and sometimes, the world seems to loom over my shoulders. As a blogger, I know how dedicated one has to be to be growing and successful. You can’t just throw things together because others can detect that. I am very thoughtful when it comes to my blog and I am sincere in every post.

Some may view bloggers, vloggers and Youtube personality as above human but this is hardly the case. In fact, I think as a blogger, being exposed to much criticism can hurt sometimes. We have to be creative and always present original and personalized content. Our goal is to always capture and grab the audience. With all that being said, I needed a moment to refocus and get motivated again. I had been feeling so drab and drowned by other things that I had lost joy…and a some of my determination to keep going on my blog. I took a few days and got inspired by the things around me and to just take in nature. I captured my outfit one of those days and decided to put it into this OOTD with no makeup. Please share how you unwind and what keeps you motivated (besides money and notoriety). Also, let me know what you think about my outfit. A girl still has to be fashionable while relaxing right?! Lol. 

Until tomorrow for a beauty post and Wednesday for a fab ootd

Bye Cupcakes,

Candy.

 

Early Fall OOTD 

Finally fall weather has crept in…along with the early darkness of nightfall. I wanted a cozy outfit to wear to run errands in and if the opportunity arose, to also grab a bite. Although, the latter didn’t happen, I loved this outfit. Originally I had planned to wear a different hat but with curly hair, hats don’t generally “cooperate”. That hat would not stay on my head so I had to opt for my old faithful although you will soon see even “old faithful” gave me grief lol. My skirt is a lovely green skater that I purchased from H&M a few years back. I chose to pair the skirt with a bodysuit from Forever 21 that I also purchased a few years back. My belt is vintage. I absolutely love the large statement buckle on this belt. The neutral color of it is right on trend. My tights! I love them so much! They are very sexy but not tacky. My accessories are simple and my shoes are cute little wedge booties I purchased from Justfab a few years back. Of course I had to pop on a fall lip. My lip color is “Heathers” by Anastasia Beverly Hills. As usual, let me know what you think…like really, tell me guys! Lol! See you guys back here same time Friday!

Bye Cupcakes! 💋

My hat just wouldn’t cooperate! Lol.

 

 

Casual Friday

Warning: short post!

Brisk air, wind strong enough to mock Chicago’s windy days and not much sun called for the appropriate: a blazer. I bought this blazer a couple years back at a thrift store. It’s so great for the trends this fall and the color screams fall! My jeans are from H&M ($9.99) and my statement necklace & shoes, eBay. The shoes aren’t my favorite, the quality is well…I paid only $14.99 for them so they look and feel like the price. Ugh. Lesson learned. My crop tee is a Forever 21 purchase and the clutch, American Apparel. Let me know what you think! Pics to follow, talk to you Monday cupcakes!!

 

 

 

The Femininity of Plaid

So although summer is still hanging around, fall trends are upon us and we can all love on one of those trends: plaid. However, plaid is often thought of as masculine and some may not find a way to incorporate it into their wardrobe without the feeling like a…well, lumber jack lol. That’s understandable but making plaid feminine is actually possible.

The first thing that you can do is find feminine colors that compliment your skin color in this print. I personally chose the colors of pink, purple and turquoise. These colors create the most feminine but not too girly of a look if that makes any sense. The turquoise adds a nice balance. Next, decide what item of clothing you will choose in this print. I chose a button up shirt. The shirt itself is pretty masculine and continues to balance the feminine colors of the shirt. I decided on a solid color ankle pant that allows for my shoes to show. The solid color allows the shirt to take the shine and still compliment the entire outfit with another balance of color. Since my pants are ankle length, the nude color sandals that I am wearing (that match my skin tone) are able to show but the nude doesn’t detract from the “structure” of the entire look. I decided against a necklace. Side note: At first, I was going to go with a white chandelier necklace but I am going to save that accent for a future outfit with plaid. The bag is also seemingly masculine but is very appropriate for this look. Overall, the point is that small details can pull together a look. The plaid piece is what made this look more “feminine”. Let me know what you think of this look and stay “tuned” for another look Friday!

shirt & pants: thrifted. sandals: Steve Madden. bag: JustFab

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Simplicity & Sequins

Lately, not only have I been purging but I have also been simplifying my life. In harmomy with that mood, I’ve also been dressing the part which has made my style become more apparent (to myself). Fall is finally here…sort of, and I am excited to wear more clothes and create more looks. Skater skirts and dresses are fabulous on hourglass and pear shapes so I particularly love them as a basis for a great outfit. I paired this slate gray skater dress with tan belt for a contrast and my booties and necklace add more contrast as well as color. For a touch of glamour, I finished the fit with a sequined clutch I got as a gift from Julep. By the way, I’m loving this darker hair color! Let me know what you think of this look and see you back here Wednesday for another look!

{dress: Forever 21. watch: eBay. open toe booties: Urban Og. clutch: Julep. belt: thrifted}


Weekend Girl…

Impromptu Post…

We love Monday mornings….SIIIIIKKKKKEEEE! Ha! I love them because that means we are alive and up to live our dreams. Anyhoo, what gets me through some Mondays is reflecting on the fun and/or relaxation of the past weekend. I had an interesting and very difficult one but friends that are family to me helped me through it. Check out my pics from one of my outfits this past weekend. Aye! One time for the weekend! Lol. (sigh) Forget crying over Mondays, summer is almost over so I’m trying to soak up the heat wave we got coming! <insert cheers here>

*cardigan: meijer. dress: old. shoes: Forever 21.*

  

Lazy Days…

“Hot fun in the summer time”…

I love that song! It described my weekend. Hubby, kids and I wanted to spend some quality time together so we decided to go to the river walk for a little fun in the sun. I knew I would be doing some activities with the kiddies and relaxing so I didn’t really feel like getting dressed up but I still wanted to be stylish. I opted for this Calvin Klein maxi dress. I absolutely love the fit and comfort of this dress. Since it was over 90 degrees and humid, my hair was not cooperating. I wore a leopard print scarf tied for my coiffure. My sunnies are simple yet stylish. I wore simple wedge sandals (that you won’t be able to see in this post) that I can walk in sand and water without the worry of destroying them. My earrings are hoops that I purchased from the local beauty supply store. Finally, I needed a large bag to throw all of our things in, towels, toys, water, snacks and etc. This bag from Justfab was perfect! Let me know what you think of my look! As always, thanks for checking out my blog! By the way, are you following me on Instagram? Find me here.

*dress: Calvin Klein. scarf: Forever 21. sunglasses: eBay. hoops: Local BSS. bag: Justfab*

Wardrobe Staples: Nudes-Part One

I am forever evolving and changing in my style. Quite frankly, I’ll be most stylish when I’m most comfortable in my skin. That will likely be when I get to my goal weight and body. That being said, I am in the process of again revamping my wardrobe. I am in the mood for nudes, light pinks, white, beige and light gray colors. I’m getting tired of much color and my particular fancy of the grunge look. I’m enjoying softer colors and silhouettes in clothing. Spring is the season to get rid of clothing rarely worn and to also grab new staple items to build a wardrobe on. I’m enjoying simplicity in my styling lately. I compiled some of my fave staple pieces below that I am lusting after. I will be doing a fashion haul very soon! What are you favorite fashion picks at the moment? 

  

  

  

  

    

Overalls, Bodysuits & Rainy Days

I LOVE rainy days. Movies, snuggling, sitting in a comfy chair while looking out at the rain are all great variables for a great time at home on a rainy day. Days like this, I enjoy being at the movies. My outfit is comfy for relaxing in those big chairs but still fashionable enough for a “stylinista” like myself. Most days, I’m too lazy or I’m at the gym so I don’t dress up that often (although it doesn’t seem that way). Anyhoo, this crazy weather has confused my emotions about what I want to wear. Today was cold, warm, balmy, foggy, windy,  threatened by a tornado and rainy with late evening-like skies all day long. Smh. Crazy right?! Well, I dressed for it. I opted for an umbrella instead of a handbag due to this crazy spring weather and strappy wedges for comfort. The shirt around my waist is strategically placed just in case I got cold (I got warmer lol) and hardly any accessories except for my name necklace against my trendy overalls. Check out the pics below…

Necklace: (gifted)

Wedges: Aldo

Overalls: Forever 21

Bodysuit: H&M

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