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Everyday Style & Recipes. Est. 2010

OOTD

Winter Botanicals

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It has warmed up quite a lot here and it’s starting to feel a little like Spring! Which is crazy to say in February but I guess Colorado has a different idea of what Winter is.  It’s still pretty likely we will get a ton of snow in March, so you never know what the mountains have in store!  For those who read this blog you probably know that I love vintage botanical prints.  I was recently gifted this lovely botanical print tee made by an Etsy shop.  I love supporting small sellers on Etsy, plus they make some pretty awesome stuff!  This tee features a Xeranthemum Annuum, also known as the Annual Everlasting or Immortelle flower.  Pretty cool right?  I love the Spring vibes and the vintage feel of the print.

I wanted to feature a cozy layering outfit perfect for in-between seasons (or if your climate is just confused right now).  This cardigan from American Eagle is a great convertible piece because it’s half-cardigan, half top.  You can button this up and tie it at the waist, or you can wear it as a regular cardigan.  Gotta love those versatile pieces!  I’m pretty in love with the rosy berry color combined with the neutral greys and tans.  These grey corduroy pants from Adriano Goldschmied are great for Spring or Fall, and they go great with so many outfits.  Plus they’re perfect for work or for an everyday casual look too!

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Tee: Botany Press, Cardigan Top: American Eagle, Pants: Adriano Goldschmied, Chukka Desert Boots: Lucky Brand, Scarf: Amazon

January Blues

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January is one of my least favorite months–something about the holidays being over, a new year and lets be honest, January has the worst weather.  Even if you live in a place like California with perfect weather year round, rainy and relatively cold weather usually sets in.  Here in Colorado, January was welcomed by negative temperatures and freezing rain, but no snow!   If it’s gonna be freezing cold, I want there to at least be a pretty snowfall but nope, no snow this month so far.

That said, drinking hot tea and hibernating is the cure for January blues.  I have been keeping warm in cozy knit sweaters and binging on netflix!  This sweater from H&M and these ultra soft leggings from Felina have been the perfect pair on cold January days.  Another recent favorite has been these Anthropologie ankle boots found on Poshmark.  I love the details and the quality of the leather! And for a girl who isn’t super down with heels, these block heels add a little height without hurting your feet.  Plus they are perfect for a dressed down casual look or for a night out, so it’s a win-win!

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Sweater: H&M, Leggings: Felina, Boots: Anthropologie (found on Poshmark), Charm Necklace: Etsy

Winter Green

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Happy New Year everyone!  Winter has officially hit on the Front Range in Colorado, and I was looking to find a warm and cozy outfit for the colder days.   That’s why I love American Eagle sweaters so much, since they provide looks that provide comfy and stylish options that are great for everyday wear.  This sweater is so great as a warm pullover I have been wearing it non-stop!  It’s so comfy and warm–this Striped Crew Neck sweater is a perfect casual look that is great for winter weather layering.

In other news, I was recently gifted this minimalist leather lunch bag handmade by Homestead Leather on Etsy.  It was a perfect addition to my lunchtime routine!  I used to bring my lunch in plastic bags, but nooo more.  It’s a great environmentally friendly option for those who don’t want a big, bulky lunch bag. It also avoids bringing your lunch in wasteful plastic bags (yep, that was me) so in my opinion it’s a win-win!  Another brand I’ve been crazy about this past year has been The Frye Company and their fantastic boots.  I wore these leather “Celia” shearling-lined boots outside in sub-20 degree weather, and my feet were as warm as can be.  I recommend wearing these without socks, which sounds weird but they actually keep your feet roomier and warmer.  My feet get cold really easily, so I can’t recommend these enough.  Another recent gift was this extra cozy cable-knit scarf from Amazon.  It goes great with so many outfits that I have to hold off wearing it sometimes–it’s kind of ridic!

Outfit Details: Sweater: American Eagle, Leggings: Felina, Boots: Frye Company, Bag: Homestead Leather, Scarf: Amazon

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Wolf Tee & Coated Denim

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When I was a kid in the 90’s, I was pretty much obsessed with wolves.  I had wolves on everything, including my clothes.  As soon as I saw this graphic tee from Urban Outfitters I was instantly nostalgic for 80’s/90’s printed tees.  I gotta say, not much has changed! Still love fun, vintage-style wolf tees–sorry, not sorry.

Recently I came across faux leather denim, which is not exactly something that has been in my wheelhouse in the past. Leatherette jeans? No thanks, I am not an extra in Coyote Ugly (remember that movie, ya’ll?)  These coated jeans from AG are way, way different than what you’re probably thinking.   These are not anywhere near leatherette material–they are still like regular denim fabric, but they have a coated feel that gives an appearance of leather.  The thing that sold me on them was their very natural finish–they aren’t plasticy or shiny, but they still have an appearance of matte leather.  Plus, they are flexible and don’t feel painted on–it’s a win-win!  While these run on the pricey side, they’re worth it.  A side note about AG Jeans–they are by far my favorite denim brand.  Their sateen jegging is pretty much the softest material ever.  Below I’ve taken a few pics of their recent offerings–I am absolutely in love with their colorways!  If you want to know which styles and color varieties are in these photos, leave a comment or send me a DM on Instagram, and I would be happy to help you find the color you want.

I’ve also had a bit of an obsession with Frye boots lately.  It’s probably because winter is officially something to contend with, after having lived in California for years.  You need quality boots in Colorado that are built to last!  These Fryes are such an amazing color, aren’t they? I was instantly in love with that dark cherry finish!  I’ve never seen leather boots in such a beautiful color.  And they are super comfortable too, so you can’t get any better than that!


Outfit Details: Tee: Urban Outfitters, Cardigan: American Eagle, Jeans: Adriano Goldschmied, Boots: Frye Company

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Snow & Roses

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As the days get colder, my focus has turned to high quality boots and cozy knits.  This cardigan from Forever 21 has become one of my favorite over-sized pullovers in the closet.  The knit material is surprisingly good quality, and I love it in this “rose” color.  At first I thought it was more brown than rose when I first unwrapped, but in different lights the rosey tones come out.  I love in-between colors like that!

Something I’ve learned about Colorado winters: snow doesn’t stick around like Minnesota winters, and they come earlier too.  It’s already snowed twice here and it’s only mid-November! As I’m writing this, the snow from this shoot is all gone and the grass on neighborhood lawns is still mostly green.  It’s kind of weird, even after living in California for almost ten years, I still expect snow to hang around longer as a holdover from growing up in Minnesota, but I digress.

Another thing I have been loving are Frye boots–I mean who doesn’t love Frye?   I recently picked up these Frye Lindsay Ankle boots and I love how versatile and durable they are.  Comfortable, great quality and stylish–can’t ask for more than that!  They come “distressed” which everyone knows about with jeans, but I definitely haven’t heard of that with shoes.  Turns out I like the roughed up look, and it just gives the boots more character!

Outfit Details: Cardigan: Forever 21, Tee: Urban Outfitters, Skirt: Vintage/thrifted, Tights: Target,  Boots: Frye, Scarf: Forever 21 (old)

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For Warmer Fall Days: Floral Midi Skirt & Layers

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Last weekend was incredibly nice: the leaves on the aspens were transitioning from yellow to brown, it was in the upper 60’s, with a mild breeze–you couldn’t ask for a better Fall day!  That said, I wanted to show what you can do on days like these in terms of what you can get away with wearing.  You never know with Colorado where the weather changes at the drop of a hat, but some days are just consistently perfect!

This skirt from Zara is great for this kind of weather since it’s a little bit heavier and longer than a typical midi skirt.  Plus it has some great Fall vibes.  I love this vintage floral pattern and the color!  The pattern really pops against neutral tones, so I chose a cozy, dark (taupe-ish?) Cardigan from American Eagle to complete this look.  This cardigan is super comfy, and goes great with skirts.  Whenever shirts or cardigans err on the longer and bulkier side (like this one), I like to just front tie to make them less bulky and more versatile.  For added layers, I like to throw on a loop scarf like this comfy olive toned one as well.


Outfit Set:Outfit Details: Cardigan: American Eagle, Skirt: Zara, Shoes: Free People, Scarf: Amazon

Cozy Grey Pullover & Denim

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Good cozy pullover sweaters and jeans have been my jam this Fall.  They make for a great everyday minimal look without much effort. I recently picked up this oversized knit sweater from Zaful in a heather grey color, and it’s a perfect sweater for this time of year.  I love the open neck, where you can make it as drapey as you’d like and it goes well with scarves, leggings and boots.  And anything from Zaful is super affordable so if you’re looking for affordable knits, check them out!

So, I kind of have an obsession with this AG Adriano Goldschmied Jeans, and I plan on making a post featuring my collection of their colorful range of pants and jeans.  These distressed boyfriend cut jeans from AG are so ridiculously comfortable!  The denim is soft and flexible, which is important to me in a pair of jeans.  I really don’t like stiff denim, and I like when they feel “broken in” right away!  I normally don’t go for distressed but with the boyfriend style cuts it fits well.  The distressed parts are in the places that make sense and isn’t “over done.”  I don’t know about you but I really don’t like distressed jeans that look like you’ve been attacked by a tiger.  Also featured in this post are a few charms from one of my fav Etsy stores–love the silver leaf and pine tree!  I went with different chain lengths to create a more layering effect, and you can also buy them with chain or just the charm only.

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Sweater: Zaful, Jeans: AG Jeans, Shoes: Marc Fisher, Necklaces: Etsy

Fall Neutrals

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Some Fall days are warm enough for short sleeves, others not so much.  This post is about those warmer Fall days, where you want to wear Autumnal colors, but you can’t justify the layers.  I recently came across this great 70’s inspired button up top from Urban Outfitters and fell immediately in love with the color and pattern.  Really digging that retro menswear vibe–and it’s comfy AF too!  I went with my classic Joe’s skinny jeans because they look great as part of a neutral toned look.

Another recent shoe find I’m currently in love with: the Destino Flat from Free People. While I don’t typically go for black sandals, these were too perfect to pass up.  They come in a variety of colors besides black–all of which are equally tempting.  I especially loved the black for some reason which is totally not like me! These go so well with jeans and skirts alike, and the leather and overall construction seem to be of good quality.  I always need to remind myself to go against first inclination and try to branch out from what I’d normally gravitate towards.  It’s nice to do that, otherwise everything you buy winds up looking the same!  While they do run a bit pricey, you can find them on sale on eBay, Zappos, etc.

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Top: Urban Outfitters, Jeans: Joe’s, Shoes: Free People, Necklace: Etsy

Red Floral Dress & Fall Pullover

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The weather seems to be fighting onto Summer as long as it can, which is why this outfit has one foot in Fall and one in Summer.  The temperature difference between night and day has been pretty extreme too!  I’ve always liked pullover sweaters over dresses and this weather pretty much fits that game plan perfectly!  This floral wrap dress from Zaful is great for hot days and this chunky knit pullover is warm enough for cooler September nights.  This sweater has been much needed lately since it’s been in the upper 80s and then dips down to low 50s at night.  I guess this is life in a high desert/arid environment aye?  That was something that surprised me a lot when I first moved to Colorado; I really wasn’t expecting how dry it was.

Another thing I’ve been playing around with are layering necklaces.  I found this great store on Etsy that sells pretty gold and sterling silver charms.  You can buy them with the chain or individually.  I opted for individual charms and found the necklace chains for cheap on eBay! Plus it’s fun to mix and match chain lengths depending on what I’m in the mood for.  The one I’m highlighting in this outfit is the compass charm and the triangle choker is from Forever 21.

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Dress: Zaful, Sweater: Zaful, Shoes: Steve Madden, Layering Necklaces: Etsy and Forever 21

September Blues & Fall Matte Lip Swatch Review

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Happy post Labor Day weekend! Now that we are officially in September, I am super excited for the upcoming season and can’t wait to get started on more Fall related looks.  The nights and mornings have been getting cooler BUT the days have still been in the mid to upper 80s, so dress season is still a thing! Which is a good thing because this blue floral dress from Zaful has been one of my favorite recent additions.  I really don’t have a lot of anything in powder blue and it’s nice to branch out occasionally with something a little different. Its a color that I just don’t really gravitate towards for some reason, but I really love the color and pattern of this one!  As has been the case recently, this woven bag has made another appearance.  It seems to go super well with so many dresses so it’s hard not to include it in a bunch of looks!

Now to change gears a bit–over the years, I have tried a bunch of different matte lip colors and I wanted to showcase which ones have become my regular favorites.  Many of these I use daily, especially the ones with more of a nudey mauve tone that look great for casual everyday looks.  As a certified pale person, I can also vouch that all of these colors look great with fair skin. This post might get long and it’s all about makeup so just a warning!  If you’re a fellow pale person looking for the best lip colors for you, keep on reading! I would rate these lip colors on three different scales: affordability (1-5, 5 being most affordable), color tone (1-5, 5 being best color tone) and durability (1-5, 5 for most durable/longest lasting).  Scroll down for a full review!

Outfit Set:Outfit Details: Dress: Zaful, Bag: eBay, hat: eBay, shoes: Free People

NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams

I wear these ALL the time.  Zurich and Stockholm are similar, however Stockholm has a bit of an orangier tone.  Cannes has been one of my go-to dusty rose colors and is nearly a perfect dupe for the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita. Rome on the far right is a bit of a darker berry color so I wear it more for nights and going out.  It looks darker on lips than on the swatch. Rome has a more vintage 90s look if you’re looking for that too.  As you can see in the final photo, these wash off the most easily but because they are so affordable and the colors are great I can let that one go.

Affordability: 5, Color: 5, Durability: 1

Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink

This one gets high marks because of it’s affordability, durability, and the color Poet is a perfect nude that isn’t super washed out.  I tend to like more pinky nudes and this one fits the bill.  The more beige it is, the more washed out I tend to look so this one is a great nude for pale folks.  It goes on a bit wet but dries fairly quickly.  It’s also one of the most durable and longest lasting ones that I’ve found.

Affordability: 5, Color: 5, Durability: 5

ColourPop Ultra Matte *WINNER*

This one is really impressive in terms of durability and just overall value.  Platform goes on fairly light but somehow turns into a darker dusty pink.  It’s probably the MOST matte above all of the others and is by far the most durable.  I can wear this all day, drink coffee, water, you name it.  It does not come off! The application is lightweight and dries the fastest.  As you can see in the below photo, this one outperformed the others after washing with soap and water.  It’s also one of the most affordable so this one is the winner in my book!

Affordability: 5, Color: 5, Durability: 5

MAC Liptensity

This color is absolutely gorgeous for Fall.  Smoked almond is a gorgeous deeper rust red that is slightly less matte than the others.  It goes on like a more traditional lipstick but you still get that overall matte look.  Since it’s MAC, affordability isn’t great and I was surprised by how much it washed off in my soap and water test.  However, it’s a beautiful, rich color so it gets an overall good rating from me!

Affordability: 2, Color: 5, Durability: 3

ColourPop Metallics

This one isn’t a true matte but it’s not really glossy as advertised.  It goes on very dry and has a matte feel, even though it does have a bit of shimmer.  Growing up in the early 2000s I think I’ve been traumatized by wet lip gloss so I really like this one being dry, while at the same time offering a little shine and shimmer.  Tight Fit is a beautiful metallic with slight orangey pink tones.  It reminds me a little bit of a pink grapefruit skin and looks beautiful on! Slightly less bold of a pigment but that’s okay for me. One of the top performers in durability and affordability.

Affordability: 5, Color: 5, Durability: 4.5

Sephora Luster Matte Lip Color

For all that rich pigment, it sure isn’t durable which is kind of surprising.  I would have thought it would have some staying power.  I wouldn’t call this an every day color for me, but it is beautiful.  It’s a very rich, pigmented orangey red, and looks great if you want a bold look for the evening.  I would call this a semi-matte since it’s not as quick drying as the others.  It is not long lasting at all and tends to smear so I’m careful not to use too much of it at once.  While it’s nice for specific looks, I probably wouldn’t purchase this one again.

Affordability: 3, Color: 4, Durability: 1

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

I really like this pencil.  It’s a true matte and goes on very smooth and dry.  The color Dolce Vita is fantastic and is a rich dusty rose, but if you’re looking for a cheaper option, try NYX’s lip cream in Cannes.  As you can see in the swatches, these colors are nearly identical.  However, it’s not very long lasting and its affordability is so so.

Affordability: 1, Color: 5, Durability: 1