"Thirty Something" Confidence

Warning: long post but hopefully encouraging! 

So I’ve been told that I look really youthful for my age, even being mistaken for a teen. I am just now appreciating that, a few years into my thirties. When you’re an adult but look like a teen the aspect of respect can be an issue especially since I’m a parent. That’s definitely a different story for another day lol.  Anyhoo, I’ve learned to not only love things about myself that I hadn’t before but to also celebrate them. 

Being a blogger is not always easy…you may encounter negative comments, other bloggers that are not so nice, the popularity “issues” and/or lastly you may go through a period of second guessing yourself of whether you are good enough. Everyone goes through that stage in life. Fortunately, life has somehow forced me to learn that self confidence comes from within. My youthful look was just an example of something that made me feel self conscious. When I was younger, I was told that I would get into my thirties and gain confidence that no person or thing can shake. My personal view is no matter the age, everyone is self conscious about something. After all, we’re human. We have imperfections and from time to time those imperfections can make us feel less than. Shake it right off! Remember, we ALL have something to offer. I still tell myself that very thing all the time. I force myself to be my own cheerleader. Let self confidence come from how you view yourself, not how others view you. The truth of the matter is, sometimes this world is not so nice. Being confident will keep your “faith-in-you” strong, even when others are not supportive, encouraging or positive. It’s a struggle to keep our heads up but a teacher once told me “you can’t go far with your head down”.  I promise that didn’t rhyme on purpose lol. 

Anyhoo, I decided to talk about confidence because it’s come in handy with this blogging “thing”.  This has been on my mind for months but I decided to not put it off any further and speak about the importance of confidence. From day to day, the way we feel about ourselves can change. The goal is to always believe though that individually, we are special. Despite what others think, I won’t change what I think of me. I will always strive to be a better me than yesterday. Thinking back on when I turned 30, confidence didn’t (*poof*) magically become part of my personality. It takes time, perhaps years of self encouragement to feel comfortable with who you are.  Years of being told I wasn’t good enough, I’m ugly, too this, too that  and being compared to others has led me to realize that I HAVE to just love me. After all, not everybody likes roses right? Guess what? They still bloom every spring! 

I decided that I wanted to display my “defiant” self confidence in this post through my outfit. I needed to keep a little mystery but still show personality in my look so I knew I would be wearing a hat. This hat has been in my closet for years. I purchased it from a store (now closed) called Gadzooks. This is actually my first time wearing it and I love it! The handbag I chose to wear is from Forever 21 and I’ve had this bag for years. There are now similar styles in stores now that I’m sure you guys can find. I wore my Justfab wedge boots, they are a fave of mine. My clothing pieces are my own closet finds. Both were purchased from Forever 21 years ago. My skirt is tweed and my top is lace/solid sleeveless for a balanced look. I chose not to wear a necklace because the lace in the top is decorative enough. My trench coat has been discussed before and is a favorite of mine. I popped a dark plum lip on for a bold, sultry lip. (I will talk about my glow in another blog. I’m in love with the highlighter I used!) This outfit exudes confidence and I love it! Tell me what you think! Do you have a fave outfit that makes you feel confident? Share….

I hope you leave feeling encouraged and I will see you back here tomorrow for a review!

Bye cupcakes! 

 

 

 

 

Casual Friday: In Real Time OOTD/N

So…I know this outfit of the day is a little later than I normally do but I have a good reason. I planned this outfit a week ago for today (10/23/15) but I didn’t want to record it until today…in real time. I’m a mommy so most of my free time is dedicated to my family. However, after great planning, I am finally having date night with my hubby. I couldn’t be more thrilled!!!

Let’s talk fashion and style, shall we?

My outfit, although casual, is sexy yet modest. Side note: Can modesty please come back in style? Anyway, for the sake of the night out I chose a sequin tank that I’ve had in my closet for years. It is made of ribbed material for a more casual effect. My jeans are American Apparel easy jeans. These are high waisted and completely comfortable. They feel like leggings. I searched high and low for the faux leather biker jacket I’m wearing. Honestly, the prices of faux (or vegan, whichever the fashion world chooses to call it) leather anything is quite alarming. I was on the hunt for a nice decent quality jacket and found myself staring at $100 price tags in sheer amazement!! Over 40 bucks for a faux leather jacket is outrageous to me! Fortunately I found mine at Forever 21 for only 23 bucks. That is an awesome price point!! The jacket is rocker chic with an edge but the asymmetrical design of the zipper adds a feminine touch.

The accessories are really simple for this look. My boots are genuine suede boots I purchased about 3 years ago from Justfab. They were apart of the genuine leather and suede line (that is no longer on the site). I wish they were over the knee boots but I’m not complaining and I love them anyway! I chose to wear metal jewelry in silver and gunmetal. My necklace adds a masculine touch to balance the femininity of the sequin tank. I’m wearing knuckle rings and my earrings are a stud/ear cuff set. My hair is a messy ponytail for a sassy bad girl edge and I decided on neutral makeup. All in all, I love how everything in my fit came together. What do think? I’m headed out for drinks so I’ll see you all back here Monday!!

Bye Cupcakes!! đź’‹

*Update: I changed my shirt. I decided to wear a slit-arm long sleeve black top. It’s more comfortable and fits my style more than the sequin shirt. That’s why I wanted to do a “real time” blog post. I wanted you to see that you can love something and it can “balance” a look but you also need to love the look. It needs to be your style. I think I look much better with the black shirt. That is my style. Nothing wrong with making changes to your look, that’s what styling is truly about: tweaking a look to fit you honestly and perfectly!!! 

 

Not the Average Tulle Skirt…

This past weekend I attended a very special event. Months before I was on the hunt for the perfect pieces to complete a look I’d crafted in my mind. I wanted to have a classic look yet still have that little extra flair.

I saw a skirt online that I instantly fell in love with! This skirt can be classified as a tulle skirt as it is made from tulle material but it has netting material as well. The netting material lays as the outermost layer of the skirt and looks just like fishnet (material). The skirt is detailed and accented with a bold red embroidery of flowers to add a feminine touch. Despite all of the detail, the skirt maintains a classic look and  is in no way overwhelming. Since the skirt is still modest, I paired it with a belt that is also simple yet stands out to create another “layer” to this look.

My shirt added a tricky “issue” to this outfit. Initially, I happened to be looking for a turtleneck in the stripe pattern that I am actually wearing with this look but I couldn’t find one. Meanwhile, I had a particular tee in my arsenal for a while. The only issue: I’ve been losing weight and this shirt used to fit snug on me and is now loose. The solution: I had to wear the tee anyway because I could not find the turtleneck that I was looking for and there was no sense in buying another shirt in the same pattern when I have this tee that fits the bill. When styling, the whole point is sometimes you have to improvise and use what you have. Always maximize the use of your closet. This “issue” is the main reason that I say having staple pieces in your closet can solve styling issues down the road.

To accessorize my outfit, I chose to wear black fishnet tights, they further complimented the detail of the tulle skirt. My shoes are patent leather to add a “layer” of shine to the look. My clutch is muted so as not to take attention from the rest of the outfit. I chose a gaudy yet elegant all black statement necklace and a quaint pair of black stud earrings. The necklace sort of balances out the top with the bottom half of my look. I chose no further jewelry because the look has enough detail. I love how every piece came together and made the classic look that I was going for. Now that you know the concept behind my look, let me know what you think!

…Til Friday Cupcakes!

Skirt: SheIn, Shirt: Thrifted, Shoes: Shiekh Shoes, Necklace: eBay.

Review: "Layered Chains" (Updated)

Disclaimer: I purchased the items mentioned in this review with my own money.

I am a person that loves to try new things so when I came across a company on Instagram, I was eager to check them out. The thing about the company that I loved was that it boasted lovely and semi-dainty jewelry for very reasonable prices. The items that I saw did not look like “every other” jewelry company on Instagram. The company has not only trendy pieces, but they have timeless style pieces that are versatile to go with any outfit. I love that they have sales on a certain piece on Fridays and the sales are phenomenal. Usually the sale price is about $5!! That is definitely within anyone’s budget, especially those trying to save money and not spend a lot on staple pieces.

I ordered my jewelry on a Friday as I couldn’t refuse the sale on the gorgeous studs I spotted on Instagram. Honestly going on the site specifically purchase the earrings, I got sucked in by all the beautiful pieces that I saw. I ended up buying a gold bangle along with my earrings. Believe me when I say it’s truly hard to choose just one item lol. After placing my order, I immediately received an email confirming my purchase with the order detail. The following Monday was a ‘holiday’ so the package took about 4 business days to get to me. Since the shipping is inexpensive, I was very pleased with the shipping time. The owner is really sweet and promptly answers any questions or concerns you may have.

When I received my items, they were carefully packaged and wrapped along with a handwritten thank you card. Each piece comes in its own satchel that has gold “writing” of the company’s name. I opened both satchels to be pleasantly surprised because the pieces I ordered looked even better in person than online. The gold bangle is absolutely stunning with diamond cuts that allow light to dance off of it to make a beautiful sparkle. The knot adds perfect detail to ‘beef up’ the daintiness of the piece. I can’t wait to wear it! The earrings are a GREAT deal for just 5 bucks! Seriously! I’ve been looking for a nice pair of studs that can be worn for both casual and classy occasions and these definitely fit the bill. The quality is excellent!

All in all, I am very happy with my experience & purchase and would urge you to check out Layered Chains if you haven’t already. The price point is great. I’m a girl on a budget so I love a place where I can purchase an item that looks more expensive than the actual price. The customer service is great and the shipping is prompt. If you don’t know what to purchase, follow them on Instagram and check out the sales they have on Fridays. If you would like to purchase, I have a personal coupon code below. You can use it until December 31, 2015. I promise you will LOVE what you get! Check out the pics and let me know what you think!

Until tomorrow…

Ciao Cupcakes!

Coupon Code: thestylecake

Review: "Layered Chains" (Updated)

Disclaimer: I purchased the items mentioned in this review with my own money.

I am a person that loves to try new things so when I came across a company on Instagram, I was eager to check them out. The thing about the company that I loved was that it boasted lovely and semi-dainty jewelry for very reasonable prices. The items that I saw did not look like “every other” jewelry company on Instagram. The company has not only trendy pieces, but they have timeless style pieces that are versatile to go with any outfit. I love that they have sales on a certain piece on Fridays and the sales are phenomenal. Usually the sale price is about $5!! That is definitely within anyone’s budget, especially those trying to save money and not spend a lot on staple pieces.

I ordered my jewelry on a Friday as I couldn’t refuse the sale on the gorgeous studs I spotted on Instagram. Honestly going on the site specifically purchase the earrings, I got sucked in by all the beautiful pieces that I saw. I ended up buying a gold bangle along with my earrings. Believe me when I say it’s truly hard to choose just one item lol. After placing my order, I immediately received an email confirming my purchase with the order detail. The following Monday was a ‘holiday’ so the package took about 4 business days to get to me. Since the shipping is inexpensive, I was very pleased with the shipping time. The owner is really sweet and promptly answers any questions or concerns you may have.

When I received my items, they were carefully packaged and wrapped along with a handwritten thank you card. Each piece comes in its own satchel that has gold “writing” of the company’s name. I opened both satchels to be pleasantly surprised because the pieces I ordered looked even better in person than online. The gold bangle is absolutely stunning with diamond cuts that allow light to dance off of it to make a beautiful sparkle. The knot adds perfect detail to ‘beef up’ the daintiness of the piece. I can’t wait to wear it! The earrings are a GREAT deal for just 5 bucks! Seriously! I’ve been looking for a nice pair of studs that can be worn for both casual and classy occasions and these definitely fit the bill. The quality is excellent!

All in all, I am very happy with my experience & purchase and would urge you to check out Layered Chains if you haven’t already. The price point is great. I’m a girl on a budget so I love a place where I can purchase an item that looks more expensive than the actual price. The customer service is great and the shipping is prompt. If you don’t know what to purchase, follow them on Instagram and check out the sales they have on Fridays. If you would like to purchase, I have a personal coupon code below. You can use it until December 31, 2015. I promise you will LOVE what you get! Check out the pics and let me know what you think!

Until tomorrow…

Ciao Cupcakes!

Coupon Code: thestylecake

Fit for A Hayride…

This fall I had every intent on going to the cider mill, the apple orchard or to a pumpkin patch but things have not worked out. Something always seems to come up and get in the way. That’s life right? Well, the weather has gotten increasingly colder and the wind is full on brisk. I love to dress for the weather getting colder. I get to put together layers and play with different and contrasting textures and prints.

Anyhow, I was gong to be exposed to the elements so I wanted to be warm and comfy. I chose a sweatshirt, perfect for a brisk day and leggings for a 90s feel. My leggings, although warm, were not warm enough to combat the brisk air so I opted for my thigh thigh high flat boots from JustFab for more warmth. I tied a hoodie around my waist. It’s a deconstructed hoodie that adds a bit of ruggedness to the outfit. The sweater is the highlight of the entire outfit. I purchased this sweatshirt from H&M this past summer for only 10 bucks!! I bought mine larger than normal so that it fit oversized. Lastly, I had no bag (as I wouldn’t on a real hayride) and I wore some simple hoop earrings to complete this look.

You don’t have to be “glam” all the time in order to be stylish. Picking pieces and putting them together, even if casual can stylish as long as you are expressing YOUR personal input on fashion. So, share your feedback below and don’t forget to check out my Instagram where I may post looks that I don’t blog about and also where I may show things that I pick up from a shopping trip. Til Wednesday for another ootd…

Ciao Cupcakes!

Casual Friday: Denim, Studs & Scarves

The fringe craze is seriously upon the fashion world. I initially wanted to wear a pair of boots that I just had to have. They boast fringe decoration along the back of the and the boot (which is faux suede) is thigh high with an open toe. Instead, I changed my mind and decided to wear studded block gladiator heels from Shoedazzle for this look. It gives the look a bit more edge.

Sidenote: The shoes were only $12!!

I’m a lover of contrast so my outfit although almost completely denim, had to have not only different washes of denim but differing colors. My shirt is dark blue vintage washed and the pants are washed gray denim. The jeans are skinny, reminiscent of American Apparel but they are from Forever 21. Way cheaper in price and maybe a little better in quality.  I decided on no jewelry and instead wore this scarf that I bought a little while ago. (I plan my outfits almost a month in advance most times). It kept me warm without the need of a jacket or coat. I love the dual sidedness of the scarf and it sasses up the outfit. My clutch is American Apparel (which yo probably know by now lol).  My fall lip is MAC Riri “Talk That Talk”.

Oh, and lastly, I finally straightened my hair. I had to cut a few bad inches off but it’s okay. Anyhoo, share your thoughts below and I will see you back here Monday for another ootd!

Bye Cupcakes! đź’‹

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"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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"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.