The Monthly Edit // January

"Style should be seasonless"

I've decided to begin a new monthly blog series where I share my favorite beauty, fashion, or lifestyle picks for that specific month - anything that stands out! This month I've focused more on beauty treatments, and I freshened up my hair color as well. I know I have zero room to complain about the weather, but it's been one of the coldest Winters I can remember here and getting dressed every morning has been challenging. Not because "I don't have a thing to wear" but because my only objective at the moment is keeping warm. True style should be seasonless, but that's easier said than done! 

The January Edit:

L'Oreal Rouge Signature Lasting Matte Liquid Lipsticks in "I Rule" and "I Create." I was sent these courtesy of Influenster and I can't get enough of these two shades. I Rule is the perfect dark nude that doesn't wash my pale skin out. I Create is my comfort zone shade, a beautiful rosy mauve. Both apply like a stain and last for hours. I just add a lip balm on top for moisture and the combination is perfect for Winter. 

My hair stylist (whom I adore and consider a friend) brightened up my balayage and I just love the outcome. She understands what I want - low maintenance, shiny, and natural looking color.

Things I loved in January: 
I started following this funny animal account on Twitter.
Began planning our road trip to Wyoming in the Summer.
Got together with my blogging bestie for her birthday.
I wore these white slingbacks almost daily. 

Things I didn't love in January:
Nettie got surgery on her left hind leg. She's fine but the whole process is exhausting.
I didn't want to get dressed this month. My daily look consisted of denim and a pullover sweater or cardigan.
All kinds of crazy clickbait, whether it was a blogger's post that had nothing to do with the title, or headlines that were inaccurate.

So tell me, what would your January edit look like? Any major highs or lows?

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Belted Cardigan

If there's one item that I've been absolutely living in lately, it's this plush-knit cardigan. I've had it for awhile, and even wore it on the blog over my favorite fitted dress. Now that it's Winter and layering is a must, I reach for it weekly. What I love about cardigans is that they are universally flattering on every body type, they can be worn both to the office or while lounging, and they are just so simple to style. I personally favor longer, open cardigans with a looser fit but...these can also drown out my figure i.e. my waist. This is where a belt comes in.

Wearing// Exact cardigan, Exact jeans, Exact belt, Exact necklace

I had completely forgotten what a great styling tool a belt can be, particularly if you have a curvy lower body. In order to accentuate those curves I added a wrap-style leather belt, and cinched it in at the smallest part of my natural waist. Styling note: I think in order for this to work best, an oversized cardigan is key. It gives my denim outfit some dimension and interest, and the effect makes me feel so feminine. Do you ladies wear belts frequently? I hope I've convinced you to give this style strategy a try!


Just a quick life update: our dog went into surgery on Monday and although she's uncomfortable and in some pain, she's recovering just fine. It's her second ACL surgery and I'm amazed by her toughness and strength. I could learn from that.

Monday also happened to be my friend Gina's birthday, and I had such a great time celebrating her over the weekend along with our husbands. We always have fun on our date nights. Gina and I blab about clothes and blogging, while the guys blab about pretty much everything else!

Linking up with Gina & Amy Ann  & The Blended Blog

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A New Year

At the start of each new year, I sit down and write a list of things I want to accomplish, bad habits I'd like to break, areas I wish to improve. I imagine a utopian version of my life. "If I change ____, then I'll be happy!"

 I've said this a hundred times and it's worth repeating - I love the feeling each January of having a seemingly blank slate with the hope of making "this year the best year of my life!" There's always a small part of me that doesn't really believe that, but I'm always extremely hopeful. The possibility of something truly amazing happening fills me with excitement.

Now that we are well into 2019 and I've read countless blog posts (all of them excellent by the way) about others' hopes and dreams for the year, I've come to the conclusion that I don't have much to resolve this time around. Usually I'm in such a rush to put plans into motion - not this time. This time, I really just want to focus on allowing myself grace.

Grace to go at my own pace, grace to be my imperfect self, grace to try again after I make mistakes. If 2018 was my year of inconsistency, 2019 will be my year of being kinder to myself.

I'm a Virgo, so by definition I'm my own worst enemy. I'm forever waiting for something to go wrong, as if worrying enough will somehow prevent it.

This year, I want to just be. I suppose that's a cop-out but it's all I want.

As for the blog, I'd really like to focus on two things: Writing more extensively about different subjects that interest me, and connecting more with you guys. I'll admit that part of the reason I don't blog quite as often is because I'm not always in the mood. I want my posts to have value, but the pressure I put on myself has been stifling. The last year has made me second guess every sentence I write, every photo I take. With so many great blogs out there, sometimes I just feel like I'm not adding anything. But is that really true? I started this blog ten years ago! Of course I've changed, as I hope many of you have as well. I'd like to explore those changes without fear.

If there's anything you would like to see more or less of, please don't hesitate to reach out! Have you made any plans for the year, or are you taking it slow as well?

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Looking Back on 2018

Happy New Year! I'm not sure why it's taken me so long to write my first post of 2019 but I'm back today with a little reflection on the year that was. I almost jumped right into discussing my intentions for 2019, but I always like to wrap up the last year here so I can get some closure and move forward.

2018 was actually a good year for me. I was able to curtail my spending, I enjoyed more time outdoors, I made my health a priority, and I took a fun trip to Mexico with my best friend. But in the interest of being completely honest and transparent with you guys, it was also very inconsistent. Meaning, I was very inconsistent. I think I made some headway in managing my anxiety and depression, but it was more of me just pasting a smile on my face and trying to will myself into contentment. In reality, I spent a lot of time ruminating and I went back and forth from being social and having a full calendar to feeling utterly alone and isolated. As usual, I did it to myself. I'd have weeks where I felt great, and then my mood would completely shift and I'd have weeks where I wouldn't even want to leave the house. I would tackle a goal, but then retreat and feel like a total failure. I did this in so many areas of my life. Exercise, school, even blogging.

 If I could sum up 2018 in one word (as is the popular thing to do right now), inconsistent would be my word...

Sometimes, positive thinking can actually do more harm than good if you're not addressing an issue. Because although my attitude in general was much more positive in 2018, there were still negative thoughts brewing underneath the happy platitudes, and really I just tried to conceal them rather than overcome them. Fake it til you make it! It sounds great and all, but after awhile I just felt like I was faking everything. It became exhausting at times, and that's when I would withdraw. There were events I missed, appointments I canceled. I blogged less and tried my best to disconnect from social media. I sometimes wondered if I should stop blogging altogether, but I've always enjoyed it and I think I'd feel a void if I quit. So I'm still here! 

Wearing // Spanx faux leather leggings, Similar cardigan, Steve Madden shoes on sale, Gorjana necklace and rings

I'll discuss my outlook on 2019 in my next post, but I don't have ANY expectations as of now. The best parts of last year came from unexpected plans, spontaneous little adventures, and spending quality time with the people (and four-legged friends) that I love and I just want to continue to do more of that. 

Charnele, Caryl, Gina, Rachelle

Seeing these beautiful ladies over the holidays was most definitely a highlight of 2018. I wish we all lived closer so we could get together more often! We all met for dinner at Rustic Root in downtown San Diego and then went to a bar across the street. How fabulous do they look?!

So tell me, if you could sum up your 2018 in a word or phrase...what would yours be?

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