Here's what I've got, babe...

I love, love, LOVE a good romper. My Spring & Summer wardrobes contain quite the collection of rompers—so much so that their designated section {are you surprised that I have "designated sections" in my closet? I didn't think so.} takes up nearly a 1/4 of my closet from April to October. With this devoted love of rompers I can't possibly go without them from November to March, but the freezing temps in the DMV don't really lend to a romper's functionality—ie itty bitty shorts. When the temps tease of crisp Spring air, the romper-lover in me starts to itch for that comfortable yet fashionable one-piece. But alas, my closet still wreaks of my Fall & Winter wardrobes, aka, heavy, cozy, frigid-fighting layers. When it's not quite time to dip into the Spring totes, but you just M U S T romp-it-out tonight, put together this transitional getup that fulfills all needs {and romper dreams}. Dip into your Fall/Winter wardrobe & channel Blair Waldorf's love of tights, boots that serve as fashionable ankle-warmers {and gracefully hide the warm fuzzy socks beneath} and a cozy vest that doubles as a warming layer & an understated "coat." You're fulfilling your hankering for rompers, keeping your current wardrobe in-tact & leaving the option to shed that outer layer in the case that Spring teases with that random day of warmth in March. It's a fashion win-win-win. This boho-meets-vintage look screamed for a hippy-meets-Brigitte Bardot 'do {say that five time fast}. Half crown braid + center part = the perfect modern-Bardot baby. Romper: Langford Market {no longer available} Similar & Similarly WANT // Vest: Wet Seal {an A N C I E N T find & one of my most prized bargain buys at $7!!} Similar {& MAJ sale} & Similar // Tights: Target {the B E S T—soft, stretchy & perfect thickness. I only have them in about 12 colors...} // Boots: Kohl's {oldies} Similar & Ca-UTE // Watch: Amazon, Similar & Yesss {all things elephant} // Rings: H&M, Forever21, gifted {random oldies} Similar {& p e r f e c t for this modern Bardot look—because Nicole Richie really is a modern Bardot.} & Similar // Necklace: Forever21 {no longer available} Super Similar {and a two-for-one!} #fashion #beauty #shopping #accessories #style

Floppy hats—are they practical? Sure. They shield from the sun, they guard celebs from the paps, and they do a K I L L E R job of hiding roots. But do we really wear them for that reason? #letsbereal No. We wear them because they are flippy, floppy & fabulous. Because they take any outfit from, "cute", to "hello, lover" <3 Brown, black, beige—I own them all, I flop them all. On another note—don't let your eyes deceive you - this incredible location is not an enchanting forest, although it does transform into one through the lens. Believe it or not, this is where I grew up. Not directly living except for a blip during my 20s, but I grew up going to every event, occasion & festivity under the sun at this land of enchantment. Though, then, it was just, "the farm." Nothing enchanting, magical or soul-wrenching about it. Then, a friendor {Misa*Me Photography} asked for location ideas—somewhere with open space, fields galore and glamorous outdoor charm {there is such a thing}, and I flippantly said, "well, my family has this land..." Being the fabulous photog she is, she saw something I never saw—the enchantment. So she gathered a team of the most beautiful, kind & glamorously enchanting people & props and turn "the farm" into "the enchanted forest." Now, it's the same ol' place...I just have a different perspective <3 {P.S. Photo cred to my raggamuffin-of-a-sister—who knew she was a closet bloggographer?!} Coat: JollyChic {the w a r m e s t thing you ever did bundle in} // Cardigan: JollyChic {if you haven't already noticed, this site is a shopaholic's k r y p to n i t e!} Also love this geometric style & asymmetric neon style. See—addiction! // Pants: J.Crew Factory {oldies} Similar & similar with bonus leather striping // Hat: Forever21 {gifted}, Similar in brown & black // Shoes: Kiki La'Rue {a FAV & a must!} // Necklace: Nordstrom Rack {in-store sale, no longer available}, Similar & Hello baby blue L O V E R {Wishlist} // Rings: Tribal Stackables - Forever21 {oldies}, Similar & MAJ{Wishlist}; Grey Chalcedony ring - H&M {no longer available}, Similar & ROCKS my world {pun-intended} {Wishlist} // Bracelet: DC Eastern Market {gifted}, Similar & Chevron-twist! // Lip Cocktail: Kat Von D in Rosary {hard to track down! May be able to scour Amazon} topped with Covergirl Lipstick Embrace 335 {also found at Target} #fashion #style #accessories #beauty #shopping

I don't mean to toot my own horn or anything, but I'm kind of known as the party-planner-extraordinaire around here. There isn't an occasion, a theme, or an event that I've encountered that I didn't embrace with open planning arms. A simple cookout turns into a full on feast, a baby sprinkle turns to a full fledged down-pour, and don't even get me started on a trifecta-party... I am nothing if not detail-oriented and theme-sessed. SO, how do you throw a party for the party planner?! When my hubs, sis, mom & besties said they had it in the bag, I was skeptical - and of course, I took to Pinterest to "slyly" do some pinning as a little ::hint hint nudge nudge:: When I walked in this fete, this F E A S T, this festivity of all festivities, it was clear that my pinning was not needed. They had out-planned the planner. I am so not worthy. ::Insert Wayne's World bowing:: Every detail—down to the spray-painted glasses—was incredible. And the FOOD, oh the food. I almost crunched the details of the grub at the end of this post when I realized that it would be doing it a grave injustice. The food needs its own post - it d e s e r v e s its own post! What was I thinking? Stand by for a rundown of the fanciest of finger foods, fit for a healthy gal's party... In the meantime, if you're planning a 30th birthday party like mine (or any aged party for that matter), a dinner party, a baby shower, or even a wedding rehearsal dinner (actually, let's be real - even a wedding itself), I hope you find some tidbits of party-inspo in this glittering, glamorous, pink & gold celebration! Photo cred: Renee Hollingshead Photography Photobooth cred: Built by the hubs <3 Photos by Erin Michelle Photography Decor: My insanely detailed-oriented and fabulous sis, hubs, mom & besties. MAJOR thanks to these crazy kids for the best. party. ever! #hostessinspo

Ninety-nine percent of fitness & nutrition enthusiasts will tell you, "it's 20% fitness & 80% food," and while I completely agree that nutrition is a huge part of a healthy lifestyle {as I detail in 10 Health Hacks for changing my life & body}, for me, a much larger part of my health journey {and challenge} came from fitness over food. Around the time I was 20 years old I decided that I wanted to get in shape for my 21st birthday. Why then? I have no idea. Other than the fact that we were having a huge party with all of our friends, and maybe for once I wanted to feel comfortable in my own skin. I used to look at outfits and say, "I wish I could wear that—I'm totally a skinny girl trapped in a fat girl's body." But it never actually dawned on me that I could be fit {I now H A T E referring to myself, or anyone, as "skinny"—fit is the new skinny}, that I could actually wear those outfits. Where the heck does one even start!? I didn't set out on some major fitness journey—I never really had a fitness goal in mind, EXCEPT - I really, really, wanted to be able to run one whole mile straight, without stopping, and certainly without dying. One measly mile—THAT was considered a feat to me, my biggest challenge. Looking back, I chuckle at that challenge. But to that girl—to the out-of-shape and uncomfortable girl—one mile was a big damn deal. So for all of you out there thinking you'll never be able to run a mile, or do five push-ups, or hold a one minute plank, to you I say: you've got to start somewhere. And the first place to start is with a commitment. Commit to Fit Fitness should be just as much a part of your day as brushing your teeth—it should be an instantaneous action. There should be no debate in your head—don't even entertain the idea of talking yourself out of it! Would you talk yourself out of brushing your teeth, taking a shower, or getting dressed? Okay, fine, some days, but you'd better be really dang sick! Same goes for fitness—unless you're on your death bed, NO EXCUSES. Here are my commitments to fitness that keep me on track: 1.) Create a calendar: Not only do I create a workout inspo calendar every year to keep track of my workouts {you don't have anyone to beat but yourself—keep track so you can d e m o l i s h that last PR!}, I also plan out my entire workout schedule the week before. Some people plan their meals—I plan my workouts. When I'm following a program like PiYo {we'll get there later} or Hal Higdon for running it's easy because the schedules are made for me. But when I'm freestylin', I have to set them ahead of time, otherwise I'll hem and haw on which one to do until I end up doing nothing at all. Once you know what you're doing for the day, you can build yourself up for it! Or, you may dread it—but just like work, the dentist, and sitting in traffic, you're going to have to do it anyway, so suck it up buttercup! 2.) Get dressed ASAP: As soon as I walk in the door from work I walk right upstairs and change. You know how they say that once you put on the workout clothes you'll be more likely to actually workout? SO true. Try sitting around in workout clothes all night with the guilt of not putting them to use! If I sit, game over. Change, hydrate, power up the DVD player, press play. No going back now! 3.) Sweat in style: Speaking of workout clothes - invest in some CUTE ones. You know how when you go out on the town and you're in a super cute new outfit {you know what I'm sayin', guys!} and you feel that much more amazing?! Same goes for working out. If you're dressed frumpy & dumpy, you'll have a frumpy & dumpy workout. If you're cute & colorful you'll have a bright & intense workout! One of my go-to tricks is to wear a fairly tight tank because it makes me more aware of my core when I'm working out, which makes me suck it in more and e n g a g e those abs. Wearing a tank is a workout in itself! My fav sports bras are from Victoria's Secret; I've gotten some great yoga pants from Target; and Old Navy's workout tanks always motivate me to get my sweat on. 4.) Think about what you gave up: Did you get up super early for this? Did you already expend some of your day's calories on a little pre-workout fuel {a little PB, some GU Chomps, a little protein shake}? Did you already tell a friend {or Facebook} that you were "totally going to get your sweat on"? You've already lost your sleep and some of the day's calories—don't lose your dignity by NOT actually working out when you said you did! Sleep is valuable—I would be so mad at myself for wasting a morning of sleeping an extra hour and then not even working out. What was the point of getting up before the sun!? Don't make it pointless—make it worth it. 5.) Treat yourself RIGHT: I used to look at working out as punishment. What was I punishing? Myself, for being unhealthy, of course. Ate a poptart? That's 100 crunches. Had a swirly drink? That's 2 miles. Did some late-night pantry snacking? That's an early morning make-up session. No, no, no! You're not in "trouble" for allowing yourself to indulge. But you SHOULD treat your body with the love & respect that you would treat someone else. Stop torturing yourself—you deserve a treat every now and then. It doesn't make you a horrible person, or weak, or a failure. Instead of punishing yourself through a workout after indulging, why not "treat" your body the same way you just treated your taste buds? If I treat myself to a frozen margarita {did someone say margarita?!}, then I should also treat my body to a good HIIT. Don't be mad at yourself and take it out on your body—love yourself and show your body some fitness-sugar. Because there is nothing—n o t h i n g like the euphoria you experience when you finish a workout {exceptttt maybe a marg...kidding, I'm totally kidding}. You deserve that euphoric feeling—treat yourself to THAT. 6.) Remember WHY you're doing this: In one of Jillian Michaels' Body Revolution videos, when you're almost at your breaking point, she challenges you to "remember your why—WHY are you doing this!? Don't say to get fit. What does that MEAN?!" Why did you start this, why are you doing this video, or going to the gym, or squattin' it like it's hot? There's a reason at the end of that sweat-dripping workout. What is it?? Is it because you want to look amazing at your 21st birthday, or you want to walk into your high school reunion and put everyone to shame, or wear a bikini on your 20th wedding anniversary, or to prove to yourself that you can do it!? Whatever your 'why', whatever you're end game, focus on that and run, squat, burpee - S W E A T your way towards it. 7.) Sentencing to Fitness = Life: The most important thing to understand when you're making a commitment to fitness is that it's not a quick fix—it doesn't happen overnight, and once it doeshappen, it doesn't stay that way forever. Not without a lot of continued work. I used to think I would hit my goal and then ween back a little, or maybe even a lot. But every time I hit a goal, I found a new one—a new event to work towards, a new plateau's ass to kick, a new program to try. It sounds daunting, having to workout for-ev-Ver {make sure to pop your bottom lip on the "Ver" - Sandlot style}, right? Well sure, if you haven't started yet. But trust me, once you start and you see how great it feels, you'll never want to stop. Going a few days without working out I can instantly tell the difference - and it's not just about my body, it's about my energy, my mind, my whole outlook - everything is blah-zay. The second I start working out again I feel amazing—so amazing that I want to feel like this forever. Make a commitment to fitness. Start small—buy some cute workout clothes {that's the easy - and FUN - part!}, pick a workout program to try {recommendations coming soon!}, set a date & just go for it! You may have to do push-ups on your knees, or only squat down halfway, or only run a quarter mile, but I promise you, I PROMISE you will get there. I couldn't run a mile, ya'll. And in 2012 I finished a half marathon. I know, I know, it sounds like every other cliche fitness story—but it's real, and it was HARD, and a lot of the times I hated the whole dang process—but I did it, and I can honestly say that my weight journey is my most proud achievement to date. College graduation was cool, promotions are awesome, and launching a blog makes me giddy, but losing 80 pounds, crossing the finish line of a half-marathon, and looking at before & after pictures? That's the bee's-freakin-knees, ya'll. Commit, and feel it. Share how you commit to being fit in the comments, below!! What gets you going, what keeps you engaged—what is your WHY?! P.S. Did you ever notice how much I mention Jillian Michaels anytime I'm talking about a pain-inducing workout?! My full list of "personal" electronic trainers & my favorite {most hated} workouts coming soon! #fitness #health #workout

It's a hot Summer day, you hear a lawn mower in the distance, you smell a grill firing up, your mouth starts salivating, and all you can think is... B E E R. But not just any beer—a light, crisp, refreshing, citrus Summer beer. I remember the first time I tasted Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy. My senses were tuned in to all of the above, I took a sip out of this brightly colored can, and suddenly - Summer was literally dancing in my mouth. It sounds gross—it's not—it's delicious. But, sometimes you don't feel like drinking a beer {I know, the S H A M E, the horror! But it happens.}, yet you still want that citrus-shandy taste. That's when these cupcakes were born. And while I was making them, they just kept evolving. "Aha! I'll use lemon cake mix." "What if—what IF—I put a lemon Oreo on the bottom?!" And thus, in a beautifully 350 degree ceremony, lemon Oreos married Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy, and this beautiful baby was born. First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. While you're preheating, drop a lemon Oreo into each cupcake liner. {Let's talk about liners for a quick second. Did you know that you're supposed to remove the white liner inside of the Reynold's Foil cupcake liners? They are only placed there during manufacturing to ensure the foil doesn't stick, but they should be removed before baking. A little naive baking tip for you ::naive, party of one::} Second, douse your lemon Oreos with the Summer Shandy-induced lemon cake batter until they fill 2/3 of the cupcake liner. Third, bake those babies for about 18-20 minutes, until their tops are golden brown. Fourth, once cooled, glaze your cuppycakes to perfection. Seeing as how this glaze is a bit thinner and messy {thanks a lot Summer Shandy! I'm just kidding—please never leave me.} it would be quite difficult to pipe, so I just flip my cake upside and d u n k - just like a true Oreo should be dealt. The best part about glazed cupcakes? The drippage. "Oh, let me get that for you..." Baby got back. Or bottom, whatever—she's got it. I now pronounce you Oreo & Shandy—you may gobble the cupcake. Summer Shandy Lemon Oreo Cupcakes Makes 18-24 cupcakes Total Time: Approximately 30 minutes Ingredients 1 Box of Betty Crocker Lemon Cake {or any lemon cake mix. I don't discriminate against cake mixes - I'm not that sophisticated of a baker...} 1 Package Lemon Oreos 1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil 3 Eggs 1 Cup + 2 Tbl of Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy {you're welcome to use any citrus Summer beer... but I DO discriminate with my Summer Shandy. Sorry, Sam Adams.} 1 Tub of Cream Cheese Icing Instructions Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 12-cup muffin pans - I like to use a sturdy liner like Reynold's Foil Cupcake Liners, because this cupcake is no joke. Plop a lemon Oreo into each cupcake liner. In a large mixing bowl, mix the lemon cake mix, 1/2 cup of vegetable oil and 3 eggs. Then slowlyyy pour in the Summer Shandy. Yes, it will fizz and bubble like you just sloshed around a bottle of beer—no worries, just let it settle. Then slowly fold it into the mixture until smooth. Fill your cupcake liners about 2/3 of the way, pouring the cake mixture over your Oreos. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. While your cakes cool on a wire wrack, whip up your icing. Combine the tub of cream cheese and two tablespoons of Summer Shandy in a bowl and then pop in the freezer to harden a bit. When your cakes are completely cooled, dunk them cake-side down into the Summer Shandy cream cheese glaze. Flip upright and let settle—I suggest placing them upright onto some parchment paper to catch drippage. Or place it in your hand to catch drippage, but that might make it difficult to continue dunking. Your call! Take a bite and TELL me that doesn't taste like a Summer Shandy! {Best kept in the fridge, like the real beer, duh.} #recipe

It's about to be the biggest day of your {hair's} life! It will likely be the most photographed, most gawked at, most coveted day of its existence since birth—when, let's face it, your "hair" was more of a peach fuzz. So, before your hair makes the biggest entrance of its life and walks down that aisle {where e v e r y o n e will be staring at the back of your style}, do yourself a favor and get a trial! I teamed up with {aka, gossiped with} some of my favorite stylists to bring you our inner-stylist thoughts about your trial—the good, bad, and just. DON'T. Even. If you still have questions about your trial {whether I'm your chosen wedding day stylist, or not!}, add them in the comments and I'll steer your hair in the right direction. DO Stalk your stylist's work. With social media access these days, it's near impossible not to catch a glimpse of some of your stylist's previous work. Make sure their style is your style. If you're looking for a soft, romantic, Taylor-Swift induced style and there's nothing even remotely in the realm of soft and romantic on your stylist's page, chances are that's not their style! DO Your prep work! Send your stylist pictures ahead of time with notes as to what you like. That way, at the time of the trial the stylist will be fully prepped and able to consult with you over the direction of your wedding hair. Typical trials include one, maybe two takes on a style - not ten. So make sure you have a pretty good idea of the direction you'd like to go. Which brings to me... DON'T Have the trial so far in advance of the big day that you a.) find another style on Pinterest that you'd rather try on your actual wedding day, b.) forget what you did/didn't like about the trial that you'd like to alter for the big day, or c.) didn't have your hair piece/veil in yet so you couldn't see how that would be incorporated into your 'do. The trial should be a part of the festivities leading up to your big day—I suggest having it done 3-6 weeks before the wedding so it's final, fresh in your mind, and lends to the festivities! DO Arrive with completely dry hair. Unless your wedding day hair will be a fancy blowout {which is usually reserved for the mother-of-the-bride & grams}, you should have pre-blown tresses when you walk in for your trial. Now, this isn't to say that you have to come pre-styled—we can work with just about anything, as long as it's not wet {get the point?} or stick straight. Curls are a plus! Anything that has a little built up grit {products, previously styled, a little dirty} is a bonus because it will help the style mold & hold. Trust me when I tell you that we'll have much more detailed hair-prep instructions for the big day, but for the trial, we can fly with dry! DON'T Show up with your entire bridal party, immediate family, second cousins, neighbors, Kindergarten BFF and grandma. This is your trial. While we do encourage you to bring your mom ormaid-of-honor or a chosen person {or persons - two is fine!} whose opinion you value greatly, we try to discourage from an entire peanut gallery. Sure, it gets crowded and we get a little overwhelmed, but this suggestion is really for your sanity. Your entire crew is not going to agree on a style, which will sway your feelings about your wedding 'do and ultimately lead to indecisiveness. Stand your ground! You want it down, not up. You want it curly, not straight. You have a very different style than grandma, so don't feel the pressure to beehive-it-out {though, I'm totally up for that}. This is your hair, your decision, your trial. DO Be open to suggestions. I know, I know - I just told you to freeze out the peanut gallery - but when it comes to your chosen group of trial attenders, and when it comes to your stylist, they may be seeing something you're not. Getting married in the thick of Summer with the DMV's humidity level? It may be time to consider an alternative to a completely down 'do. Will the back of your wedding gown be intricately designed? Time to ditch the lifelong dream of a half updo and let that dress shine with an updo that doesn't block the view! A stylist will ask you questions about your look for the entire day and you two will work together to come up with a style that compliments your look—and doesn't deter from it. Or, at least, that's what a stylist is supposed to do... DO Speak up! The whole point of a trial is to see what works—and what may not work so well. If you're particular about your swoop, let the stylist know. If you're afraid of being too Snookie-ish, speak now or forever sport your poof. Stylists have very thick skins—we have been beaten and bred and prepped for situations just like these. Your quirks about your hair are not insults to us—we want you to be completely in love with the look you wear on your big day! However, that's doesn't mean you can nitpick to death... DON'T Be a prickly picker. That flyaway piece, that droopy bobby pin and that curl out of place that you keep eying in the mirror—those aren't going to be there when you say 'I do'. The trial is to create the concept of the look, discuss the outcome, make tweaks and notes about how to edit it next time around, and then wait to see the 'do of your dreams come to fruition on the big day! Yes, I see that piece - no, it's not going to be like that on your wedding day. Duly noted. You picked us, now trust us, because we know how important your hair is for the biggest day of its life. Alright ladies, don't be shy - anything else you were wondering about the anxiety of a bridal trial?? Ask away! Psst... How about a little bridal trial inspo? 2015 Wedding Hair: Halftime Favorites #Hair #weddinghair #style

Let's flashback a bit, shall we? Childhood—I played soccer, softball, volleyball and basketball year-round, with a passion...and with as little running as possible. The name of my game was defense, aka, hang back and let the opponent come to me. Teenage years—I failed my ROTC physical training test because I couldn't run the course fast enough {or finish at all...}. I quit almost all sports that required a timed-run as part of the tryout. And I sure as heck was not running for "fun." {I also didn't understand this relation of "running" and "fun"—whose idea of "fun" was that?!} Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman {your first taste of my Britney-obsession—don't even try to knock it}—"Fun Runs", aka, 5K's, were becoming all the rage. I joined my first ever gym and stepped onto my first treadmill. The longest I could run at a 5mph+ speed was maybe—M A Y B E—three minutes. Three minutes, ya'll! The thought of running nonstop for 10 minutes or *gasp* 3.2 miles was laughable. I laugh in the face of 5K's! {insert evil laugh} Catch up to today and I am a {self-proclaimed} bonafide runner. I have completed a countless number of those daunting 5K's, crossed the finish-line of my first half-marathon two years ago, knock out at least nine miles on the weekly, and I'm currently training for a 10-miler (that's 15K!) in April. And I did it all while nonstop running. That's over 2 1/2 hours of straight running—if you're counting. So, from a barely three minute jog, to a 13+ mile trot, I am proof that anyone, at any size, any age {yes, any age}, and with any level of determination can build their stamina and L O V E for running. It's actually—dare I say—FUN!! Now that you know you CAN run, let's add in the r e a l fun part! Running on a straight & narrow road, or especially on the never-ending tread, can be total boresville—even with the jammiest of jams {like Brit-Brit}. My go-to running technique not only keeps me super distracted, but also constantly confuses my body & muscles to keep my cardio routines super-fresh! And my surefire way not to tire of the same ol' HIITs over and over again? I compete with myself! "How far did I run last time with 'HIIT-tastic'? Oh, is that so? Well, I see your three miles and I raise you .2 miles! What now!?" {You do all have pep-talks with yourself before a workout, right?!} My love of HIITs {High Intensity Interval Training} has manifested over time, and while I have countless HIITs pinned, I have started to create my own to mix it up even more and evolve with my level of running! From beginner to speedy-Gonzalez, I'll sporadically be bringing you HIITs to add to your routine. Let's get HIIT-tastic, ya'll! #fitness #health

Let's be real, it should really be called "Skin City," as it is one of the most fashionable cities in the US...with the least amount of clothing. From bikinis, to brunch, to bars—there's little left to the imagination. I for one like to keep it a little more "conservative"—well, conservative compared to Vegas standards. A peek here, a peek there, all while leaving a little to the imagination. I'm nothing if not a lady {don't tell my pool-cabana-behaving-self that}... This is what a girl in her element looks like... Scoured the stores for this hat prior to Vegas and finally gave up the day before we left. Two hours into being in Vegas, this hat found its way on to the top of my head. Don't you love when that happens!? Stop looking—it'll find you. When you're "posing" and the hubs makes a funny... Skirt: Marshalls {lucky sifter sale find!} Similar Michael Kors, Similar plain black {a steal!} // Crop top: Forever21 & Another super cute pattern // Sandals: TOMS {style no longer available}, Similar thong style, Similar cross-over style, Similar wedge style{someone get me off this site! TOMS are the b e s t} // Top hat: H&M & Love this two-tone // Bracelet: Kiki La'Rue {no longer available}, Super similar from JCrew & Similar // Ring: Oldie {somewhere in my shopping adventures...}, Similar // Earrings: American Eagle {no longer available}, Similar & Double-sided {SO cool!} // Purse {that you can't really make out, but I promise is cute...}: TJMaxx {oldie}, Similar from TJMaxx & Adorable bucket style from Forever21 While flats & top hats will suffice for the sunny daylight hours, a presto-chango is needed for the evening hours. Especially when there are mini replicas of the Eiffel Tower involved and celebrations to be had. {Peep the cut-out—see, skin city.} Dress: Charlotte Russe & so many more white-hot options, it's not even funny. Some more favs: all lace with tummy cut-out, two-piece crop top & midi skirt, mesh & lace long-sleeves & this floral lace open-back number // Shoes: BCBG {no longer available}, Similar from Nordstrom Rack & Similar from Lord & Taylor // Earrings: Francesca's {no longer available}, Similar & Similar My reason for celebrating, in case you were wondering <3 #fashion #accessories #style #beauty #shopping

You know that, "I woke up like 'dis", curl? Well, that coveted undone curl is referred to as the "S-curl." Why? Because it makes a perfect 'S' {duh}. It has been, in my opinion, most precisely & perfectly rocked by none other than Khloe Kardashian. I can't tell you the hours I've spent studying this sassy curl. {Head cocked, full-squint on, lips pursed to the side} "I don't get it—is it a curl come undone? Is it a flat ironing gone crinkle in the night? Is it a magical set of rollers? How, Khloe, HOW!?" Maybe the 'S' stands for sexy, but for many of us it stands for, 'Seriously, HOW do I get those curls?!' Trust me, I know the feeling. You, the curling iron, a few burnt finger tips & a plethora of cuss words spent the better half of Friday evening in the bathroom attempting to come out all Kardashian-like. Instead, you succumb to your failure {mostly because the hubs is standing in the bathroom doorway tapping his foot & pointing at his invisible watch}, go for the usual mess of curls, & then wake-up the next morning all, "Oh hell no! We're going to brunch—this curl deserves a public showing." Don't settle for the usual mess, get that sexy 'S'! ...the first time around. {Just call me Rhyme Master Nyx} Step 1: One day I won't even have to explain this because it will be engrained in your brain {seriously, I'm on a roll!}. PREP FROM BIRTH. Say it with me now! {PREP. FROM. BIRTH.} Naturally flowing freshly washed hair may be pretty for you to run your fingers through—but that's about it. It won't hold, it won't style, & it will actually get greasier faster with no grit to soak it up. So, lather-up that puppy, lightly condition, rinse & then prep with some grit-inducing products {my favs are Kenra's root lifter & mousse}. Step 2: I like to futz around while my hair airdries a bit—less heat damage, & really, when can you NOT find something to futz with? Then, fire up that blowdryer, toss your head over, & dry! No rhyme, no reason, no round brush. Just dry upside down. This will give you a good bit of volume to start with—in my case, aka, a big frazzled mess! Isn't is purdy!? Step 3: Chi time! Or, for all of you non-Chi users {I assume such users exist?}, flat iron time! Pick your part & smooth those strands by taking LARGE sections and running them once or twice through the flat iron. We're not going for Cher-hair here, just a quick smoothing—you don't want to make it soooo flat that it won't then hold that 'S'! Step 4: Using a 1 1/4 inch barrel iron, curl two-inch sections of your hair, keeping the iron vertical at all times! This may be a dance to accomplish, but you're getting ready for a night on the town, so a little warm-up dance won't hurt! Step 5: I know, I know, you want to touch them. You want to touch them & tousle them & run your fingers through their bouncy goodness. Don't do ittt. Ah-ah, N O. Hands DOWN. Breathe, it's going to be okay. We are going to get through this. For now, they must rest. Rest and set. Go get your fab little outfit on, finish your make-up, & keep your dang hands out of your hair! Step 6: N O W. Now you can touch them. Using a teensy weensy bit of serum {I like Paul Mitchell's Skinny Serum}, run your hands over large chunks of your curls so they meld together in one large 'S' pattern. Some may brush, some may run full fingers through—you know your hair and whether it will bounce back up or not, so ween in lightly & play with it, but don't play TOO hard. After your 'S' is perfectly coiffed, spritz with hairspray {Kenra Number 25, for me} & confidently bounce out of that bathroom like you are Kardashian Sister #6 {or, #7, if you count Kris}. You're S'welcome :-) #hair #hairstyle #hairtutorial #hairhowto

It's been a long year of ombre, balayage, blondes, blondors & yes, BLEACH. In 2014 almost every brunette dipped a toe in the blonde pool, and the usual-blondies dove face-framers-first into the platinum end. With the combo of the freezing Winter air here on the east coast, paired with the over-processed {or, more processed than usual} tresses of 2014, heads-of-hair up & down the coast are in dire need of a clean slate! Whether it be deepening the base & toning your balayage-lites to give a dimensional yet seamlessly natural highlight, or completely saturating your strands with a hi-gloss all-over stunner-color, my clients are giving their 2014 locks a 2015 refresh! Note: I am all in favor of a Winter blonde—but even bright blondes need a hi-gloss refresh every now & then. Even a clear gloss can rehydrate your hair follicles and help your blondie-blonde pop! Here are a few of my F A V transitions so far: {The epitome of rich chocolate tresses. That sheen!} {Usual blondes need not to fret—deepening does not always mean DARK, it just means richer, saturated & refreshing. Taking it back to the roots! But keeping dimension, and yes, flecks of blonde.} {Iced Brunette.} {Attention!: A clean slate doesn't always have to take it back to the roots. Since you're already pre-lightened from your 2014 locks, take the chance to take the plunge into a vibrant color that you've been lusting after on Pinterest. DO IT! It's just hair, afterall.} {Blonde goes bronde, with dimension.} {Fun fact: professional {keyword: professional} color actually saturates, hydrates & volumizes strands to give them more shine, silk & B O U N C E!} {Going from lighter-locks to a rich red makes your new color P O P!} {Case in point. Again!} New year, new hair. Let's do it! Who's with me!? #hair #hairstyle #beauty

Despite what anyone tries to tell you, turning thirty is N O T scary. It feels peculiarly like turning 29, and 28, and even 27. But not 26, because 26 year-olds are young, ya'll. Like babies. Sike, we all know a number doesn't define you anymore. Or so I've been telling myself since I turned 30... #foreveryoung Sure, there's that momentary ping of, "Holy cow, where did my 20's go!? Did I do them justice?? Did I get all of my 20-something acts of stupidity out of my system??"—but that's a fleeting flood of thoughts. It's quickly followed up with the much calmer affirmation of, "your 30s are the best years of your life"—as you've heard all throughout your 20's from much wiser, experienced, ::ahem:: older individuals. So far, they're right. Sure, it's been all of a week—but I can f e e l it. The security in yourself, the way you can shrug judgement off your shoulders, the way compliments roll off your tongue, the strength you feel in your bones {I hear that doesn't start to go until your 40s...} and the calm you feel in your heart. Regardless of where you thought you'd be in life when you reached 30, you're here, and that's an achievement in itself. So put on a gold sequined romper and show your 30s what it's ALL about, baby! {I apologize ahead of time for the flood of pictures... Who am I kidding?! No I don't! This sunset shoot was all made possible in a mere 20 minutes with the photog-tastic Renee Hollingshead Photography, who JUST launched the most incredible new venture—photography meets travel meets frame meets your wall. You can now live vicariously through Renee's travel by hanging her lovely little prints on your wall. And if you're lucky enough, you can have her as your 20-minute photog, too <3 THANK YOU, RENEE!!} My usual wedding creator-in-crime finally got a chance to turn her tools on me & created the make-up look of my d r e a m s. I wanted eyes that popped, lashes that yelled B A M & lips that said, "pshhh, 30 ain't got nuthin' on me." She delivered & then some. {THANK YOU, SARA-BEARA!!} Romper: Lulu's {no longer available at Lulu's} Same elsewhere, Short Sleeves & A D O R E // Earrings, Rings & Bracelets: Francesca's // Shoes: Oldies {so much so that I can't recall where they're from!} Similar {and Steve Maddens - score!} & Similar {great price at Forever21!} {As the sun set, we got in a few more snaps with Ms. Paris—and of course, some kisses <3} But wait, you don't think I got all dolled up for a 20-minute photoshoot, do you?! As fabulous as that sounds, what's even m o r e fabulous is the glitz & glam Hollywood-themed party that my hubs, sis, mom & besties threw me. Coming from the party-planner extraordinaire—they threw the party of my L I F E. Blowing any of my themed-out, foodie-approved, detail-oriented parties of the past out of the w a t e r. Stay tuned for a full recap & peek into my gold, pink & F A B U L O U S 30th birthday party!!... Photographer: Renee Hollingshead Photography Make-up Artist: Sara Kauffman with Imperishable Beauty Make-up Artistry Location: Private Balloons: Amazon {ribbons & flair added myself} #fashion #style #beauty #hair #shopping

Hi, my name is Nikki, and I'm a certified shopaholic. I was born with this disease, and it has only grown with age & experience. I have so many clothes in my closet that I dread putting freshly washed clothes away because I know it will be a serious maneuver & workout mission to get one more piece of clothing to fit. Yet, I continue to shop—I just can't help myself. But how, HOW do I shop so much and leave no debt in my trail? It's not because I'm a millionaire, because I am certainly not. It's because I am a sifter. Sifting is my t h e r a p y—I could sift for hours on end, Starbucks in hand, without a care in the world. And where do I do said sifting? {So many questions about this disease...} The Maxx. TJMaxx, to be exact. Sure, I sift other places, too, but the Maxx was one of my first sifting-grounds, and it's still my go-to place for bargain-meets-trends pieces. Need a special occasion dress for a date night in 4 hours? To the Maxx. Need a "this says business-but-fun" outfit for a conference? Maxx. Need Coachella-inspired beachwear, new wedges, a rug for the entryway, a long necklace to go with your Coachella-wear, and a gift for Mom—but you only have time to go one place? Good thing the Maxx has it ALL. If you have never been to TJMaxx—go, now. If you don't live near a Maxx—move, like, yesterday. Oh, but wait, did I mention that the Maxx is now ONLINE? You can thank me any time—and also, apologize to your husband for me. It's not my fault—it's the disease. {Hi, Mom! Having my mom shoot this Maxx-style was quite befitting—considering I got the disease from her. It's hereditary, don't you know?} Dress: TJMaxx {in-store} Another floral flouncy option online, a solid flirty option, a super fun cut-out option & just a patterned little shift that I adore! // Black Bandeau: AE at TJmaxx {in-store} A bright option online, a graphic patterned crop, an a w e s o m e structured bodice crop & hellooo stunning animal print! // Shoes: TOMS Shoes {no longer available} Similar & NEW bright beauties // Jewelry: A mix from the Maxx {in store} & elsewhere—Necklace: Similar & Similar; Bracelets: Similar & Gorgeously unique square rose gold {wish list!}; Earrings: Similar // Sunglasses: TJMaxx {in store} Similar Balmain {!!!} & Similar House of Harlow Happy Maxx'ing! #glasses #accessories #shopping #style #fashion