Style Blogger Love

Today I've decided to do a little something different. One aspect of blogging that I really miss is the opportunity to have more interactions with ladies whom I admire. I used to participate in a monthly collaboration with a few fellow bloggers, and although it wasn't that long ago, it feels like ages. It was quite popular, and some of those "monthly must-reads" remain my most viewed to this very day. Honestly, the internet can be a lonely place. Anyone can start a blog, but I've always felt that there's something vacant about it all unless you're really connecting. So, in an effort to showcase more of that in my own little corner of this community, I've decided to share with you some of my favorite style bloggers. Two I've met in person, and three I would desperately love to! All five of these beautiful women have greatly inspired my personal style, especially over the last year or so. When I'm having a rough day or feeling particularly annoyed with my body and my clothing, I look to them for a pick-me-up. They've all been very kind and supportive of me on their blogs, so now it's my chance to return the favor.



First up is my friend from Canada. We go back a long way, as hers was one of the first blogs I can remember reading and genuinely loving.

Ella Pretty Blog

I absolutely love her style, and we have deemed each other "style twins" because we have similar taste in clothing, makeup, and especially handbags. In fact, Zeba has quite a collection of bags that I am completely envious of. She always looks wonderfully put-together, but in a very easy and effortless manner. She never comes across as uncomfortable or stuffy. Her style is attainable, and that is something we can all appreciate. 

Next up is a gal I met recently over the Holidays when she was in town visiting family. I loved getting to know her a little bit more, and we are planning on making that little get-together annual.

More Pieces of Me

Carylee is so skilled in remixing her wardrobe. In fact, she is currently doing a wardrobe challenge on her blog called RemixFix2015, where she uses different staples in her closet to create different looks instead of going out and spending money on more clothes. This idea is great for those of us who want to cultivate a more functional and practical way of looking at our closets. She loves the same stores that I do (Express and Nordstrom) come to mind. She's also my height, so I can always get a good sense of how something she wears may look on my frame as well. 

Skylette is another blogger that I feel a kindred spirit with. We both started our blogs roughly around the same time, and I've enjoyed her signature style ever since. Not only is she physically stunning (look at that gorgeous long hair and beautiful eyes), but she also comes across as a very sweet and down-to-earth person who loves her family as much as she loves fashion. 

Sequins & Stilettos

She wears a lot of very feminine and classic pieces, but with a modern and sexy twist! Her J.Crew shoe collection usually has me dreaming of my next pair, and she's actually the person that inspired  my first set of their pumps. 

It was actually Sky's birthday recently, and I encourage everyone to read this post that her husband wrote about his wife. 

What can I say about my witty, sassy friend Gina? I first was introduced to her while on my honeymoon! I was walking in the parking lot of our hotel in Maui when I looked down at my phone and saw I had an email from a reader who kindly asked if she could use one of my images on her blog. I was so flattered that she took the time to do that, and I have been a loyal reader ever since. When I met her over the Summer and discovered that she lives in San Diego, I was thrilled! She is as sweet and genuine as she is smart and beautiful. 

On The Daily Express

What I love about Gina is that there isn't anything pretentious about her OR her style. She of course loves Express, and given that half of my wardrobe is from our favorite store, we definitely have that in common. She looks to celebrities and Pinterest quite a bit to gather style inspiration, and she recreates those looks so perfectly. I like that she gravitates towards clean, simple lines. Her collection of blouses, little jackets, tailored jeans and pants, and fun shoes really reflect our southern California lifestyle. Polished, but casual. 

Last but certainly not least is a blogger that I only discovered a few months ago. How did I not know about Amy Ann?! Such a travesty! 

The Real Arnolds

Amy Ann's style is one I can imagine myself working towards. She wears pieces that I'm not sure I could entirely pull off (like her beautiful hats and over the knee boots) but I sure would love to! She exudes a confidence on her blog that I struggle with myself, but that is so inspiring to me. Her photographs are high quality, and many of them look like they belong in a magazine. In fact, she has been featured in People StyleWatch! I always look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. 

I hope you enjoyed this! I encourage you all to check out these ladies if you haven't already. I think I would like to make this a bi-monthly feature, so hopefully I can find other bloggers to participate. There are so many of you that I love. And thank you to all five of my beauties for allowing me to show you off :)

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Favorite Wardrobe Pieces

Because I've been feeling so uninspired with my clothing this season, I got to thinking about how fortunate I am that I've finally curated a few pieces in my wardrobe that I absolutely love! As a girl who has always been interested in fashion, I've had my mishaps over the years. I've worn some God awful looks, and I've spent money on things that didn't last longer than a few washes. Now that I'm more focused on my own personal style rather than trends, I feel like I don't need to buy as much when I venture out to shop. Don't get me wrong, I blog about clothing so therefore I am in constant fear of temptation. Not to mention I'm also an avid blog reader, so whenever I see you girls looking fabulous in something, I immediately want to run out the door to buy it. I just can't afford to do that anymore, so instead I've decided to focus on wearing the things I already own and love. These pieces work for me, and they never let me down. Like a loyal best friend, I can count on them to make me feel happy and confident.

Favorite maxi skirt, also in my absolute favorite color.

Favorite coat and leggings

Favorite feminine skirt and bag

Favorite lady-like dress

Favorite jeans

Favorite little jacket, cami, and skirt. 

Essentially my favorite outfit!

Favorite pumps

Favorite Express portofino

Favorite (Dream) bag

And of course...

Favorite dress I've ever worn, and probably ever will

***I'm not sure if these items are still available, but if you would like a link or at least more information about any specific piece, please let me know in the comments. This post was not meant for monetization***

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My Style, Beauty, & Blog Resolutions

I'm not one to set resolutions each year. I used to buy into the notion when I was younger, but I have had such struggles with maintaining them that I like to stick to writing down my "goals" rather than coming up with some grandiose plans to change my life every new year that passes. I think resolutions can often set people up for failure because some just have way too many expectations. I do like the feeling of beginning fresh each January. I often do feel revitalized after the new year, but I also know that past behavior is likely an indicator of what's to come, so I set small goals for myself and go about them in steps.

When it comes to this blog, I feel much more relaxed stating my style and beauty goals. Let's not kid ourselves. Shopping itself isn't exactly a deep hobby that involves too much critical thought. It's fun, and it should remain as lighthearted as possible. I always say, if you aren't saving a life...it isn't that important. With that in mind, I do have some thoughts on how I want to approach my personal style and beauty habits in 2015.



1. Pay more attention to details

I've noticed that as drawn as I may be to accessories, I don't really wear many of them as often as I should. Over break, I cleaned out my closet and purged old scarves, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets that don't work for me anymore. In hindsight, were they ever really my style? It's easy to get caught up in trends. Companies like Baublebar are so popular because they sell pretty pieces at affordable prices, but I think for awhile there, I was getting caught up in their coupon codes and promotions. I'd look on Instagram and see a blogger wearing a necklace that I felt compelled to own myself, most likely because of the way it was styled. I ended up with way too much, and with way too many random things that didn't make sense in my wardrobe. Now I want to focus on wearing accessories that tie my outfit together and that can be mixed and matched together. A statement piece to dress up an otherwise casual look, or layered delicate accessories that make my outfit more unique and personal. Lately I've neglected much of my jewelry altogether which is such a shame. I need to pay more attention to the details.

2. Don't "Protect" or save designer goods for the shelves

I finally wore my Chanel flats over Winter break when I had time off from work. I was terrified because I haven't used a protector on them and I fear that they will get dirty and show wear way too quickly. I baby my designer items (which really only consists of two). They are such classics that I want to have them forever, and it isn't every day that they come into my life. My husband and I aren't made of money, and I still feel strange even owning anything "high-end". But what's the point of having them if I don't use them? Yes they look pretty sitting in my closet but aren't they meant to be enjoyed? I want to get rid of that fear and wear all of my things. 

3. Switch up my beauty routine so I don't get stuck in a rut

I started this blog to talk about beauty. I know, shocking. I think I've diverged from that because I didn't feel like I was changing my routine too often, and I was tired of keeping up with the collections and constant buying. I'm happy that my blog went in a somewhat different direction because I feel more comfortable in the space that I'm in. But I do miss the beauty blog aspect of Beautygirl24. I think writing and reviewing less products has caused me to save more money, but the downside is that I have become so boring with my makeup. I used to do smokey eyes, nude lips, baby pink lips, a pop of color on the eyes. Now I do very simple makeup. I have some beautiful products that I've neglected and I don't want to get stuck in a rut. 

4. Keep blogging for the right reasons

I've had this one on my mind for months, and I've debated on whether to throw it out there into the universe or keep quiet. I've been blogging since late 2009. Since then, so much has changed. I think girls started a blog because they genuinely loved discussing their particular hobby. Beauty lovers wanted to share their tips and tricks, so they blogged about those. Girls who had a passion for fashion put on their best clothes and blogged about their latest finds. Real people writing and sharing about what they loved. Now people blog for a living. Like, it's their sole income. People have quit jobs that they spent years in college working towards. Everything is monetized and while I can't outwardly blame them for making money on the things they would buy and recommend anyway, I do have a slight problem with those that push a sale at any cost. What happened to just doing it because you love it? What happened to interacting with other bloggers because you wanted to really connect, and not solely for networking purposes to get ahead? I do use RewardStyle links and I do make some commission from this blog but I haven't forgotten why I started it in the first place. I only work with companies that I like and would buy from myself. I hope I don't offend anyone for this slight rant, but it just needed to be said because it's been weighing on my mind. I guess everyone should do what feels right for them. For me, I just want to continue to produce content that you guys enjoy seeing and reading. If I fail at that, or am failing, please let me know and I will change what I can.

This was a long one. Thank you for reading :)

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2014 in Outfits

Good morning and happy Monday! I just wanted to share some of my favorite outfits and details from over the past year today. 2014 has been an interesting one, and as far as my style went, I think I stayed true to what I like - feminine shapes and silhouettes, but with a casual California feel. I did glean inspiration from you of course! I'm hoping next year features more of the same, but maybe with a little risk taking. Style is personal, and I hope some of these looks have inspired yours in some small way. 

Linking up with Gina and Caryl today. 

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Things I'm Loving: Decor, Jewelry, & Choosing Wisely

These "current favorites" posts are always the most enjoyable for me to write. I'm constantly obsessing over certain things, and I love sharing them with you. This month has so far been all about sticking to my resolutions and getting back on track after a lazy December, but I'm also still loving decor and, of course, jewelry!

New mirror, purchased from HomeGoods with a gift card from Christmas. I love the bronze/brown tile frame. Our living room wall is quite large, and this is the perfect piece to fill it. 

The crystal sconce is also a HomeGoods find. It hangs next to our kitchen. The swirl design is a lovely accent to our neutral palette. Lately, my mom has been bringing me fresh flowers from her garden, and I love decorating with them to add more color and vibrancy to our little space.

This tray from Target sits on the ledge between the kitchen and living room, and it's great for candles, pictures, and other pretty treasures I want to display. The great thing about having a large decorative tray is that you can switch out the decor frequently to add a different look. Before the wedding picture, I had a glittery tree for Christmas. 

While browsing Instagram the other night, I came across this jewelry line found on Etsy: Amarilo specializes in dainty, handmade pieces. I especially love her rings! I want to order this lovely oversized heart.


Lastly, I stumbled upon this quote and it's my style resolution for the year:

It's so easy to get caught up in the trends these days. One of the most unsatisfying feelings is having a closet full of clothes, but nothing to wear. How many boyfriends and husbands have heard us say that?! I think I do pretty well to make sure I don't buy impulsively, but once in awhile, it happens. I'd like to curtail this altogether, and simply focus on buying pieces I know I will love and wear to death. Even if something costs a bit more than I'd like to spend, as long as it's classic and well made, I think it'll be worth it in the long-run.

What are you loving this month? Have you made any style resolutions for the year?

Happy Weekend!

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What I've Been Reading {October 2013}

Happy Friday friends! I'm sorry this post is so late, but instead of making excuses, I'll just go ahead with it :) I haven't participated in a question of the month collaboration since July! Now that's awful, and I hope to stay on track with these because I love doing them and I adore the ladies I do them with. So here goes: The question for October is actually a tag, and a series of questions about my favorite subject - shopping!

1. Would you consider yourself a shopaholic?
Yes I would! Not in the sense that I blindly purchase things and certainly not to the point where it's out of control. I make sure to stick to my budget, and I usually muddle over a big purchase for awhile before going ahead with it. But I do love shopping. I even have a fashion and beauty blog to prove it :)

2. How would you classify your style?
I love classic pieces, things that I can wear over and over again and that will hopefully look timeless. Coats are probably my favorite, which is unfortunate given where I live! I love feminine details and shapes - lace, a smattering of sequins, stripes, polka dots, sparkly jewels. I do follow trends, but I choose wisely. I splurge on classic pieces, and save on trendy items. Oh, and I live in skinny jeans.

3. What store can you not leave without buying at least one thing? 
This is tricky! My initial thought was Forever 21, but I would say Nordstrom in reality. I honestly can't set foot in there without at least getting a pair of studs from the BP section, or a MAC lipstick. Nordstrom can be pricey, but it also has a ton of really affordable finds.

4. Where do you find the best deals?
Loft, Express, and Old Navy! All three stores are comprised of clothes that appeal to my style, and they all offer coupons that make shopping there really easy. I rarely buy anything full-price at these little gems, and you shouldn't either! Join their email list so you can keep up with all of their sales and promotions. They have them constantly.

5. What designer are you willing to splurge for?
Um, Chanel? I wish! I would say any designer that makes a fabulous handbag. Hey, some ladies love shoes, I love bags.

6. Do you have a go-to shopping outfit?
Definitely! Comfort is key. I don't want to be struggling with crazy layers, buttons, or massive amounts of jewelry when I am trying things on in a dressing room. I like to wear a sweater or top that I can easily get in and out of, minimal jewelry, comfy jeans, and flats. Still put-together, but also practical.

7. What is your guilty pleasure?
Jewelry. I am such an addict. I am especially drawn to necklaces. I am currently trying to down-size my collection, mainly because I don't have room for it. But I have several baubles on my wish list as we speak, so I feel very guilty about that :)

8. What is one staple clothing piece you cannot live without?
Skinny jeans. How would I function without them? I wear them almost every day to work, and now that it's Fall, I wear them a lot on weekends too. Plus, husband loves them.

9. What is a trend you hope never goes out of style? 
Um, skinny jeans. Are they a trend anymore? I thought they were at one point, but I think they are here to stay. Oh, and can I just be controversial for once on my blog and say that one trend I do want to quickly go away are wedge sneakers. I just can't get behind them. Yes, they may be comfy but how about just wearing regular classic sneakers instead? Converse, vans...wedge sneakers, go away.

10. What trend did you love that passed too quickly?
I've been racking my brain for minutes staring at this question, and I still have no answer. I'm not sure!

11. Who is your fashion icon?
My best friend and husband will roll their eyes but my fashion icon is Lauren Conrad. California beach girl meets classy sophisticate. Casual glam at its best.

Here are a couple looks from previous posts that really show my style:

{Seen Here}

{Here}

{Most Recent}

   

• Alison*Elle - Alison has busted out all of her Fall staples in honour of her favourite season... plaid, faux fur, ankle booties, and more!
• Beautygirl24 - Noelle shared photos of her honeymoon in paradise!
• Ella Pretty - Check out Ella's fall clothing haul: Camo Jeans, Sparkly Sweaters & Wrap Dresses
• Love, Lipstick & Pearls - Kristen is slowly transitioning into fall with some sparkly sweaters.
• Schnelle Couture -  Danielle took the leap.
• Sequins and Stilettos - Skylette went for a fall stroll in her new Tory Burch Boots! 
• The Currently Obsessed - MEHREEN shared her lipstick collection with us this month !

Have a wonderful weekend!

♥ Noelle

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More Fall Cravings

Fall Cravings by beautygirl24 featuring leather pendants

Before I left for my honeymoon, I showed you a few things I've picked up in anticipation of Fall. Shopping during the months of September, October, and November are my personal favorite because I just love all of the beautiful jewel tones and textures that are displayed in store windows. I collect things little by little, and instead of buying a whole new wardrobe every season, I instead get a handful of key pieces that will maximize my wardrobe and update it just so to make it feel fresh.

This year is no different than last Fall. Jewel tones, dark neutrals, leopard, and lots of texture are what I gravitate towards. Here's a closer look at what I'm still craving.

Coach Mini Tanner in Deep Port

Tom Ford

House of Harlow 1960

J Crew

Loft

Oh you know, an LV Neverfull would be nice as well :)

 Have a great weekend!

♥ Noelle

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