summer kick off GIVEAWAY.

let's kick off summer with a giveaway!

with all the fun you'll be having this summer hanging out with friends and family, the last thing you want to worry about is your bag. of course, we still need the essentials close by, and what better way than this cute messenger-style, crossbody satchel courtesy of Libi & Lola? sport this summery bag with a white tee, denim cut-offs, and a fedora, and you'll have your hands free for more important things...like shopping bags and cocktails.

milena messenger bag

vegan blue leather, fully lined

10" x 10"

buy it here

or

enter to win one using the rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ray-bans + chai tea.

the best part of a shopping trip?

chai tea and a moment of respite.

stay tuned for a giveaway coming up in a few hours.

(ray-ban arista in green/gold (buy); erica anenburg ring (similar))

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Girls' Night In

for a little shopping of your own,

here's this week's JustFab promotion.

30% off styles from may's trends

code: GNIMAY30

5/31 (10:00am PST) - 6/1 (11:59pm PST)

*while supplies last, discount eligible on multiple purchases

summer peach + randomness.

my recent week of stripes showed that much of my stripes are black and white, so these stripes in summery peach are a refreshing addition. i've worn it with more stripes here and look

forward to pairing it with white denim.

random bits:

- after two weeks, the birds finally came

to dine at mini-he's birdhouse.

- tried the premium mcwrap...it's huge!

guess we are used to the snack wrap. it's good.

- we just planted an apple tree in our yard.

- summer giveaways coming soon (hint: check back tomorrow!)

looking forward to many outdoor meals this summer on our new picnic table. it's since been painted green.

(f21 shirt; ae jeans; old navy vest; justfab hudson bag c/o)

mirrored aviators + juice cleanse.

the downside to photographing mirrored sunglasses?

your photographer [and whatever it is they are doing] is visible in your pictures. at one point i told mini-she that the camera needed to be lower, so she widened her stance. lower, i said.

so, with her legs still in a wide stance, she sunk down

into an awkward squat, took a few photos and said:

"you know i can see me, right?"

huh?

"you know you can see me, right?"

what?

"in your glasses! you can see me in your glasses!"

oh! then i guess you shouldn't squat like that!

and since mini-she loves to get herself in the pictures, it takes some strategy on my part, like looking down or slightly off to the side, to keep her silly poses out of my glasses.

i'm interested in a juice cleanse for me and mini-she. looking around at whole foods, i was surprised to find that they are $10 a pop...and how many do you have to drink a day? guess that's what you pay for convenience. what are your thoughts on a juice cleanse? have you tried it before? any recommendations?

chicken quesadilla with guac and sour cream + chips and salsa.

(JustFab bag and shoes c/o; old navy pants; top, local boutique; sunglasses, amazon (buy))

try these:

scarf print.

one mini down, one mini left to finish school...

then it will officially be summer!

we enjoyed a sunshiny memorial day weekend bbq-ing and soaking up the sun while sipping on adult beverages. and i may or may not have dozed off once or twice.

moving on, scarf prints also remind me of summer with their fun patterns and bright colors. normally, i'd pair scarf prints with white, but since this top has a neutral base, i thought a

bright pant would help it pop.

what's your take on scarf prints? yay? or keep 'em as scarves?

(justfab boa heels c/o; ray-ban arista sunglasses (buy); top, local store)

a week of work wardrobe basics. archives.

this week was all about work wardrobe basics. build your wardrobe around these key pieces, and there will be endless re-mixing possibilities. as always, take the time to find pieces that fit you well so that you feel comfortable and confident when wearing them. i highlighted a few items throughout the week; here's the full list and some ways i've put them together in the past.

1) black pants

2) pencil skirt

3) jersey dress

4) dark denim

5) button-down blouses

6) black pumps

7) crisp white shirt

8) blazer

9) tees in neutral colors (white, black, gray)

10) black long-sleeved shirt (turtleneck or cowl neck)

11) cardigan

12) utility jacket

dark denim / button down

jersey dress

pencil skirt / cardigan

button down blouse / black pants

pencil skirt

 

black pumps / button down shirt

blazer / pencil skirt / white tee

crisp white shirt / black pumps

black tee / pencil skirt / black punps

button down / pencil skirt 

button down shirt / utility jacket / dark denim

black tee / pencil skirt 

hope you enjoyed this week of work wardrobe basics.

are there any basics on your list that's not on mine?

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in case you missed it:

monday's black pants

tuesday's pencil skirt

wednesday's jersey dress

thursday's dark denim

a week of work wardrobe basics: dark denim.

another must-have in your work wardrobe is a pair of dark denim jeans. it's acceptable in most offices and looks polished and professional compared to lighter washes. invest in a good pair, and you will always have something to wear. this has been the go-to item in my closet because of its versatility. i'm wearing it here with a crisp, white shirt (also on my list) for a simple and classic outfit. a bold necklace and fun bag keep it from looking too much like a uniform.

two things to consider:

fit and style: a trouser style or boot cut works well. it should be fitted through the leg with a flare that allows the jean to fall nicely over your shoes without bunching. a skinny jean works, too, as long as it isn't too tight at the ankles. opt for one with a mid to high rise waist, and it should be fitted, not tight.

design: none! plain, non-descript, dark denim is best. the more embellishments it has, the less versatile (and office appropriate) it becomes.

i've had this pair for the life of this blog! here's the proof in one of my first posts! it's finally starting to fade...time to start looking for a replacement.

(express denim; gilly hicks shirt; jessica simpson shoes)

you might like these:

in case you missed it:

monday's black pants

tuesday's pencil skirt

wednesday's jersey dress

a week of work wardrobe basics: jersey dress.

continuing on with this week of work wardrobe basics, it's essential to have one good dress. for mornings when you don't have a lot of time, a dress is an instant outfit. i couldn't decide between an LBD, a wrap dress, or a jersey dress since they all weigh equally, in my opinion, but i figured an LBD and wrap dress could both be found in jersey material, so jersey dress

made the list.

the idea behind the jersey dress is that it's a comfortable fabric that doesn't wrinkle easily. with heels and a blazer it's appropriate for that boardroom meeting, but it also works with flats and a cardigan for casual fridays.

two things to consider:

style: choose one with sleeves or at least two-inch straps, but no spaghetti straps. ideally, the dress should be office appropriate as is, otherwise it defeats the purpose of being an instant outfit. a wrap style is always flattering, and the length should fall at or just above the knee.

color and print: a dark solid color is a safe bet for a basic, although any color works. solids have endless re-mixing possibilities. print is more of a concern as it should be subtle and small. a dress with huge skulls all over it, for example, is recognizeable, and you wouldn't be able to get away with wearing it twice in a week if you had to.

(miss tina dress via qvc; justfab uptown tote c/o; victoria's secret shoes)

you might like these:

  in case you missed it: monday's black pants tuesday's pencil skirt

eFoxCity. high fashion low prices.

everyone loves fashion, but not necessarily the high price tags that go along with it. thanks to companies like eFoxCity.com, we can purchase online clothes cheap because of their ability to manufacture clothing in bulk. but there's nothing cheap about the clothes. you'll find the same high-fashion items you see in stores at a fraction of the price. i've picked out a few items that i can see myself wearing, and most of these are under $15.

a bright blazer + summery white top

cute printed romper + oversized sweater

crisp white blazer + maxi skirt

check out their womens clothing sale page to see the rest.

eFoxCity also showcases beautiful wedding and cocktail dresses, men's pants and jackets, and jewelry.

have you shopped at eFoxCity.com?

if so, tell me about your experience.

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a week of work wardrobe basics will continue shortly.