On The Prowl

Happy Monday loves.  I just wanted to start off by saying thank you so much to those that commented on yesterday's post.  Your kind words truly meant so much to me and I really appreciate it.  I am trying to get back on track for this week, so let's get started with a new outfit post. 

Dress: C/O Indulgera/ Shoes: Love Culture (similar)/ Bag: C/O olivia + joy

Necklaces: C/O Max & Chloe & Love Always 

Sunglasses: Forever21


This dress gives animal print a whole new meaning with actual cheetahs printed on it.   I thought it was really cute and great for wearing during these last few weeks of summer. (sad face) I love that it's loose and somewhat flowy, making it really comfortable to wear.  As soon as I saw it I instantly knew how I wanted to style it: layered necklaces and a pop of color.  This bag has been great for color blocking and brightening up my outfits.  I especially like using it with neutral pieces like this dress.  The weather was perfect when I took these photos.  It wasn't too hot and there was a nice cool breeze.  I wish it could stay that way every day!

I'm excited that I will be attending New York Fashion Week in September!  This is my first time going to cover shows for my blog so I can't wait to share it with all of you.  I am also hosting an event on September 5th at the Carlton Hotel at 9pm.  If you live in the area come by!  It's an accessory showcase featuring about 10 different designers. You can shop at the event too.  Hope to see you there!

Have a lovely day
<3

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Sunday Inspiration: My Father's 3 Year Anniversary

So much of who I am is because of what I lost.  3 years ago today, my father passed away from colon cancer and it still feels like he was just here yesterday.  No matter how much time goes by, it's a wound that will never completely heal.  Every day I keep myself occupied and although he is always on my mind and in my heart, I force myself not to think about it all.  But every anniversary, it's something that I know I have to relive and deal with all over again.  And as difficult as it can be, I think it's necessary for me. I have debated a lot on writing this post because it's extremely personal, but  it's also what has pushed me forward in life these past 3 years.  Sometimes talking about it and writing about it is a release that I need.

Every one deals with loss in their own way.  I was in denial for a really long time because I truly believed that somehow he was going to be ok.  From the time of his diagnosis to the last few days of his life, I had watched him deteriorate.  It was like looking at a completely different person and I just couldn't believe what the cancer was doing to him.  My father had rarely been sick a day in his life.  He always took care of himself.  I think that's why it was so shocking to us all when we found out about his diagnosis.  I relive that day over and over in my mind.  I tried to be so strong for him but my entire world was falling apart.

When we are younger we think that our parents are invincible.  We don't think that anything can ever happen to them.  And I am so grateful that I had him while I was growing up.  He was there for some really big moments in my life.  But then I think of all the moments that he is missing now and the ones he will miss in the future and I am filled with a deep sadness that I can't put into words.  This anniversary has been really hard on me and I think it's because I am finally at a good place in my life and he's not here physically.  

The last week of his life was spent in the hospital and so many of us were with him.  I talked my father through his death.  He kept holding on for me and my sister but I had to let him know that we would be ok.  It was one of the hardest things that I've ever had to do.  I watched my father take his last breath and I felt his last heart beat.  I held on to one of his hands and had my other hand on his heart.  It's a memory that will live with me forever.  In his last few seconds he smiled twice and I knew that he went peacefully.  That image will never leave my mind.  It stays with me always. I am thankful that I was there with him in the room when it happened because I think it would have been worse for me if I hadn't been able to say goodbye.

My father was a principle and I was blown away at the amount of people that attended his wake. I met so many teachers that he had worked with as well as his students and they all said the same thing about him.  They told me that he was such an inspiration and that he had inspired them in so many ways.  That really stuck with me.  He left behind such an amazing legacy and being an inspiration is something that people will always remember him for.  He inspired me in so many ways and he taught me so much about life and myself.  He always pushed me to be a better person. I realized in that moment that I wanted to continue that for him.  He is the reason I got my inspire tattoo.  I wanted a word that represented my father and something that would keep me motivated every single day.  This is why I always say that I want to inspire and why it's so important to me.  If I ever have children it's something that I want to instill in them as well.

If you have never lost a loved one, it's difficult to understand how it truly changes you completely.  I am not the same person I was 3 years ago.  I look at my life then and I look at it now and I am really proud of myself for finally going after what I want.  I am more motivated and determined than ever.  I am filled with so much positivity.  I am no longer afraid of uncertainty.  My father was the strongest person that I have ever known and watching him fight for his life the way he did made me realize that I can do anything in life.  I am me because of him.

My angel got his wings on 8.25.10

I know that he is watching over me and continues to protect and guide me in life. 

Missing and loving you always papa bear.

"I carry your heart.  I carry it in my heart."

<3

Fall Colors

I wore this yesterday to a couple of events in the city including Old Navy's Holiday collection preview and a huge campaign party for BEBE.  I am loving burgundy so much at the moment and this color scheme definitely has me anticipating fall.  

Skirt: C/O H&M (here)/ Top: C/O H&M (here)

Shoes: Forever21/ Bag: C/O Charlotte Russe (similar)/ Necklace: Happy Wrist

 Lipstick: Shame Urban Decay 

I fell in love with this skirt because of it's unique design and color combo.  I also love the faux leather trimming.  One of my favorite things about wearing prints is having different colors to play around with.  I knew instantly that I wanted to bring out the burgundy. I got lucky by finding this loose fitted tank that matched perfectly.  Its actually a little see through so I am wearing a basic tank in the same color underneath.  I didn't want to do any black, so I went with nude pumps and this little creme bag that surprisingly fit a ton of stuff inside.  I now call it my Mary Poppins bag :)

I've got a new post up on Fearless Fashionista today and it's all about statement necklaces.  You can see new posts every Tuesday and Thursday! 

Have a great day

<3

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Lipstick Lover: Urban Decay

With the fall season approaching, one of the things that I love to do is wear bolder/darker shades of lipstick.  You may have noticed that lately I have been wearing a different shade in almost every post.  Since I received the fall collection of Urban Decay's Revolution lipsticks, I wanted to start trying them out as soon as possible.  Here are 4 shades that I am absolutely loving at the moment for fall! 

Top Left: SHAME 

This one is a deep berry with subtle hints of brown shimmer.  Even though it's dark, it goes on lighter than what you would expect.  I absolutely love the color, but when putting it on I did notice that it was a little streaky.  It seemed as though I had to apply a little more than normal to make sure that it looked even.  However, I didn't have any issues after wearing it and I think I am putting it on again today!

Top Right: VENOM 

This is a bright plum with a violet and fuchsia shimmer.  It has more of a purple tint than Shame.  I had it on for several hours and it left a stain so I didn't have to keep applying.  As much as I love my reds, I really loved wearing this purple shade with my all black outfit.  Purple just might be the new red next season when it comes to lipstick, at least for me.  

Bottom Left: F-BOMB

This is a classic shade of red that has replaced my previous favorites, MAC Russian Red & Ruby Woo. I can't even believe I am saying that because I have been obsessed with those 2 shades for the longest time, but it's the truth.  I wore this all day and not once did it smear or come off.  Even at the end of the day my lips were still stained with red which proves how intense the pigmentation is in this entire collection.  Wearing a bold red like this tends to scare off some girls because they don't want it to get messy during the day while they're out eating/drinking etc.  But you don't have to worry about that with this one! 

Bottom Right: 69

This is a bright red but it has a pink undertone so it's not as bold/deep as F-Bomb.  It has a creamy finish which I loved because it gives it that "glossy" look.  It lasted for hours and also left a stain behind.  I didn't have any issues with eating or drinking while wearing it.  I think it's a great shade when you want to wear red but don't want something that's too dark or bold.  

Which one is your favorite? 

XO

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Contrast

This is my 3rd look for H&M's 50 States Of Fashion Campaign!  I hope that you have all been entering your photos in the contest for a chance to win an amazing prize: a $1000 shopping spree to H&M and a trip to NYFW.  Tomorrow 8/21 is the last day to enter so don't forget! 

Blazer: C/O H&M (here) 

Shorts (old): H&M (love these)/ Tank: Target/ Shoes: Forever21(here)/ Bag: OASAP (also love )

Sunglasses: Charlotte Russe/ Lipstick: 69 Urban Decay 

If I had to choose one item in my closet that I could not live without I would probably pick my blazers. Even though I wear them all year round, I mostly associate them with the fall season.  I really believe that a woman can never have too many of them!  My collection continues to grow with this new addition from H&M.  The majority of my blazers are H&M mostly because they're really affordable and the fit is always amazing.  They also always have a great variety of colors and styles.
 I wanted to keep it all dark up top but then brighten it up a bit at the bottom with my nude shoes.  I like the contrast.  I also added a red lip too for a hint of color. Tomorrow I will be talking about 4 of the lipstick shades that I have recently worn so stay tuned!  

On a side note, I have been getting a lot of questions about my hair lately.  I really don't use any products besides TRESemme hydrating serum (highly recommend).  It's great for adding a silky smoothness and controlling frizzies.  I honestly don't know how my hair grows so fast, it's just always been that way.  I've been trying to hold out on getting a trim because I am just a few snips away from getting rid of my ombre completely :( but I definitely need one soon! 

Once again make sure to tag your personal style photos to instagram between today and tomorrow!  Mine will be #HmShopOnlineNJ.  Good luck to all who entered and I can't wait to see who wins the contest!  You can follow H&M on instagram @HM, twitter @HMUSA, and facebook.com/HM.

Have a lovely day
<3

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White Out

Happy Monday!
One of my favorite trends is all white.  I've done white on white before but never entirely from head to toe so I wanted to give it a try while putting my own little spin on it!

Blazer: Forever21 (similar)/ Shirt: H&M (similar)/ Pants: Love Culture (also love)

 Shoes: Bakers(also love)/ Bag: C/O olivia + joy/ Sunglasses & Necklace: C/O Charlotte Russe

Watch: Target (similar)

Expect to see lots of white looks this upcoming fall season.  So pay no mind to that old rule "no white after Labor Day."  The fall 2013 runways were trending with winter whites once again and I am all for it!  There are many ways to wear this trend and the key is to try and incorporate different shades of white into your looks like ivory, bone and cream.  You can also play around with textures too which will add some dimension to your outfit.  I created the illusion of a white suit and went with a simple tee and heeled sandals.  I wanted to incorporate a little bit of color so I decided on my yellow bag. I think that all white looks are very fresh and classic!  I will be going into more detail about this trend in an upcoming post on Fearless Fashionista, so stay tuned!

My weekends have been a little hectic lately so I haven't been able to do the Sunday Inspiration post for the past 2 weeks.  So I have decided to do those once or twice a month. I am trying to prep myself for September which will probably be my busiest month yet! I hope you all have a great day and thanks so much for stopping by :)

XO

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SHOP THE LOOK

Menswear Inspired

I am a huge fan of menswear inspired pieces and I have mentioned that on here so many times.  I wanted to try something a little bit different than my usual looks so I incorporated two menswear style pieces together, boyfriend jeans and a button up, while of course still adding my personal feminine touch.

Shirt: C/O Aeropostale (here)/ Boyfriend Jeans: C/O Aeropostale (here)

Shoes: Mandee (similar)/ Bag(old): C/O PLNDR/ Sunglasses: Charlotte Russe (similar)
Lipstick: F-Bomb Urban Decay

I really love these boyfriend jeans from Aeropostale.  They were a new addition to their fall collection so when I tried them on at their event, I knew I had to take them home.  I always go up a size than what I typically wear when it comes to this style, mainly so that it has more of a relaxed fit.  Since I've worn my other pairs of BF jeans a few times on the blog, I was trying to think of something different.  It's been so long since I styled a button up so I decided to pair them with this tiny floral print one.  What I really liked about it is that it brings more of a femininity to this look. To bring out the red in the print, I went with a bold lip and clutch to match.  I chose my nude sandals to tone things down a little as well.  I think that BF jeans are the new "skinny" jeans!  Lately, I am seeing them everywhere and they will continue to be a trend going into the fall season.  How do you style yours?

On another note,  I just recently realized I've hit over 1,000 followers on my blog so thank you all so much!  I don't think I can ever put into words how much your support means to me <3

Happy Friday beauties!
XO

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