With the sun streaming down on us in these beautiful summer days, there is one thing that I need with me at all times, the perfect pair of sunnies. Sunglasses aren’t only a practical way to keep yourself protected from the sun’s harmful rays, they are also an addition to every outfit. For me, although I know some of you may have your own lovely collection of sunglasses, I tend to buy dresses and shoes more than I put sunglasses as a priority on my list of must-haves. Then, however, when these bright days come my way I am suddenly in need of good quality sunglasses that can get the job done and bring character to my outfit that day.
That’s why I have chosen to show you guys this darling pair that have been traveling everywhere with me lately. They are from an online store called GlassesShop in the style Lauren Square. It’s hard to find eyeglasses online that you can trust, but I had an excellent experience with them. Not to mention they even retail prescription sunglasses- no more choosing between protection or running into things!
The ones I decided to go for are called the Lauren Square in Multicolor. I saw these and fell in love with their unique balance of colors, and how they still maintain the classic shape that never goes out of style. They are a classic tortoise shell, but incorporate hues of blue, lavender and golden browns. They are fun yet wearable which is definitely why I was drawn to them. If you’re like me and don’t always venture out with accessories, a pair of glasses like these might be a good step for you to take.
The fact that the glasses have a classic shape make them an everyday staple, and the extra cut at the cat eye angle brings yet again a freshness to the style. They are very durable (as they would have to be with me carting them around) and fit so comfortably to the face that I can wear them for hours outside and not get those uncomfortable pains by my ears or on my nose… no one wants to look like they’ve been wearing lab goggles after you take your sunglasses off.
For how high quality these are, I was shocked by the price. Normally, cheap glasses feel shoddy and loose while on- but these give the opposite effect. They work discreetly protecting me from the sun while making a complimentary statement about my wardrobe. Thanks to the generosity from everyone at GlassesShop, I can also offer a discount code for 50% off on eyeglasses or sunglasses including free lenses! Just enter in the coupon code GSHOT50 at checkout for the discount. If you guys are in need of some shade this summer, I hope you can take advantage of their awesome online inventory plus 50% off!
Hello you lovely bunch! I am so happy to be writing right now, I feel like I haven’t been blogging near as much as I would like to! The last couple of weeks have been a little different for me, I got my tonsils out almost 2 weeks ago- so it was couch, movies and nothing but mushy foods for me. I have to say, being on a restricted diet of ice cream, popsicles, mashed potatoes, and soup isn’t something I’ll complain about- however it was definitely different from my routine so I am excited to dive back in to my regular diet.
The clouds are starting to part, jackets are making their way into the back of the wardrobe and outdoor activities are becoming natural due to this fabulous weather. My skin has been in semi hibernation, and through this last month or so my arms and legs are starting to get their healthy doses of vitamin D. Okay, so I have definitely noticed my new love of crop tops! I know I have said this before, but I am so used to having to tuck all of my tops (which I do like the look of) that it is refreshing to gain some items that are a little less maintenance.
This Striped top from Urban Outfitters is right up my alley; blue and white are my guilty pleasures when it comes to fashion and I have to say I always adore a nautical vibe. Simple, cute, and unique tops like this are exactly the kind of item I look for in spring/summer because you can fashion them any way- and layer over the top to completely change the look. I wear this with a skirt or lighter bottoms on days where I want to dress up a little bit, and even times where I need to get ready in a pinch, I go for this on top of some jeans in order to bring a summery, delicate aspect to my outfit. Plus, I love the tie detail at the décolletage to add a youthful effortless statement.
This lovely white maxi skirt is a definite staple for me. I love the way it brings texture and flow to an outfit while still maintaining a simple and elegant look. Plus, it obviously brightens up any outfit! I’ve also been loving these Topshop sandals that add a charming feminine touch, yet they are extremely wearable and comfy!
I hope you all are enjoying your spring styles, I hope this could help give you some inspiration :) Let me know what you guys have been loving this season in the comments!
XOXO Hailey
OUTFIT:
Top: Urban Outfitters
Skirt: ASOS Pleated Maxi Skirt (similar)
Shoes: Warehouse Criss Cross Flat Sandal (similar)
Ah, the glorious vitamin D… lowered risk of diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, arthritis; need I go on? Something that is so beneficial, and also so enjoyable to take in. Spring is here, and the unthawing of our outside world is making for some wonderful days spent outside. I am so excited for these warmer days and enjoyable evenings where my coat isn’t always taking first priority. Plus, an outdoor market is an inexpensive way to brighten up your afternoon.
With the occasional sunshine poking its way through now that spring time has arrived, I have been spending some much needed time walking through the city, parks, and garden centers. Even though I enjoy my normal shirt/jeans combination- I like to find pieces that fit this category but can add something special. A wrap top is perfect for this job.
I’m seeing this design more and more, and each one has something new to offer; spicing up the original tee. So easily transformed, this blouse would look great with shorts, a skirt, or even baggier pants. But for a day out where I want a level of comfort, it was the perfect choice.
Especially now that the flowers and trees are starting to bloom, I see myself gravitating towards a slightly more feminine look in my wardrobe. The cropped aspect of the shirt brings a little edge, while the wrap around tie with a bow adds a delicate touch. Adding a piece like a lacey bralette underneath can help to accentuate the delicacy of the top.
When the trend first started, I have to say I was never really a fan of bottoms with a high-waisted fit. Recently, however, I decided to go for it and purchase a pair of high-waisted denim and I have to say I was surprised as to how they can change the look of a top piece; and they allow for less reveling crop tops. Being petite- they definitely help elongate my bottom half… who doesn’t want some extra length? When the rise comes up higher, it really brings out the natural curves that we all possess at our hips and waistline.
xx Hailey
OUTFIT:
Wrap Top: Kimchi Blue Crush Wrap Top
Bralette: Out From Under Allover Scallop Lace Racerback Bralette
Jeans: BDG Twig High-Rise Skinny Jean
Boots: Janet Colorblock Boot
As we all know, the beach is a place to relax and renew. I am someone who likes to stay busy and really embrace culture when I’m vacationing; but just lying on the beach gives me a feeling that I can’t find anywhere else. Because we were staying on such a gorgeous beach, I had a tough time pulling myself away from it. Every day the simple pleasure of waking up and knowing there was a beautiful day ahead of me was thrilling. Going down, walking on the beach and feeling the sand on my feet was so enjoyable; I had a hard time even leaving to grab lunch.
I would normally describe myself as a winter lover, which I am, but the beach converts me to a religious dedication of sunshine and warmth. Being in Maui and taking life at a slower pace helped remind me to enjoy the simple things. Feeling the warm trade winds on my skin, or lying on a pool chair and watching the palm trees sway overhead were the moments that stuck with me.
I used to always try to have my hair perfect, clothes unwrinkled, etc. Now, I’ve started a new style for myself where I actually prefer to look a little more undone. Kind of that raw, natural look. I’m not sure how well I pull it off- but I enjoy myself so much more. Not afraid of a breeze to blow my hair in the wrong direction, or the humidity to bring back the natural curl. Instead of focusing on everything staying right in place, I can focus on and enjoy my surroundings and not be afraid to get a little messy.
Even when I’m not on the beach I revert back to this style. I love the look when your outfit is on point, and your makeup and hair is a little understated and disheveled. To me it gives off the impression of someone who is effortless and comfortable in their own skin. Knowing that your natural beauty is enough helps improve our confidence, and of course, saves a lot of time in the morning!
This simple, white dress is perfect for the days when I want my outfit to look like I put in some effort, but I want comfort and practicality. White is the color I always go for when I want to emphasize a tan- and I love the pop of color on the neckline to really add that tropical touch. For me, shape and length are key in order to find my go-to dresses. I always love a flattering v neck, and because I’m petite I like to go for a length a few inches above my knee in order to help give me the illusion of some height.
Even though it can be easier to enjoy the simple things in paradise, every place has an authenticity that can’t be recreated… and a beauty that we shouldn’t take for granted. Every morning holds new possibilities and new pleasures; they just need captured.
xx Hailey
OUTFIT:
Dress: ASOS Skater Dress with Embroidered Tape Detail
Valentine’s Day is a time to cherish our loved ones. To me, there is no better way to show you care than to have fun baking, decorating and sharing some delicious treats! Even though this day generally caters towards couples, it’s nice to make the holiday about showing some love to family and friends, too. That’s why I personally love these baking ideas- it’s such a fun get together or party idea. You don’t have to be a master baker or decorator to make these cookies and cakes look amazing and original. Plus, they are delicious.
Let's get real, not all of us have a romantic him or her, but we can definitely still enjoy this day. I decided to think of ways to make V-Day a fun experience for you and friends, family, and maybe that special someone. Some of my favorite memories from holidays, and Valentine’s Day in particular, are baking cute cookies with my family so that I could give them out at school the next day as a show-stopping gift. Everyone who I give these cookies to are guaranteed to say it looks like a professional made them, when in reality anyone can do these techniques- they are so insanely simple!
This, along with a lot of my fun holiday treats, tend to be semi-homemade; decorating tends to be the most time-consuming part for me and I like the baked good to stay somewhat simple. But if you have some recipes that you would love to make from scratch, the sky is your limit!
INGREDIENTS USED:
Sugar cookie mix or from scratch recipe here
Royal icing recipe here
Food coloring gel in your preferred colors
Vodka, or other clear alcohol (for painting the cookies)
Pound Cake mix
White chocolate ganache recipe here
Raspberry buttercream recipe here
Flowers for decoration
For the cakes:
I used a store bought pound cake mix to make the cakes because I wanted to bake them in sheets, but didn’t want to messy a lot of dishes by making it from scratch. I used a glass baking sheet so that I could spread out the cake batter and it would be easy to cut out little hearts and stack them together. After the allotted baking time, let cool for a few minutes and then flip them onto a cookie sheet and cut out your hearts.
I then made a simple raspberry buttercream to put in between the layers and frost the cake. Also, side-note for the buttercream: instead of using all powdered sugar you can substitute in some corn starch in order to thicken the mixture without continuing to add sweetness. Especially if you have really juicy raspberries and you want a thicker consistency for your frosting.
For these cakes, I used a little white chocolate ganache to crumb coat the cakes and make them sturdier and less crumbly. After I filled the middle with buttercream I stacked the cakes together, and spread on a thin layer of ganache over the cakes to fill in any holes and the excess space between the pieces of cake. It would work best if the ganache had more chocolate than whipping cream in order to make it sturdier for the crumb coat, or just put it in the fridge for about half an hour or so to set-up.
When frosting these cakes, I used a small cranked palette knife and tried not to get it looking perfect. I think they have a little more character with that home-made icing look. Just put some excess buttercream on the cakes and run your knife back and forth to create little waves in the buttercream until you’ve reached the look you’re happy with.
For the cookies:
I used a premade sugar cookie mix, added the needed ingredients, chilled it, rolled it out and then cut it to my desired shape! And of course if you would like to use from-scratch recipes please, go ahead- I have one listed in the ingredients section. Like I said before, this was a matter of convenience for me, and these recipes are so versatile you can mix and match steps to your preference. I used royal icing for the cookies, in order to give them a smooth, professional finish. To make it thinner and flood the cookies, I just added more water until I reached the easiest consistency for me to work with.
Decorating:
I made 3 separate colors of royal icing to help me decorate, and kept some of the white free from dye. I spread it out on my cookies and kept the consistency very thin so it would dry without any bumps or lumps. To add more decoration with royal icing, simply pipe on some dots of another color while the base layer is still wet. They will mold together and dry flat. If you want to make the little hearts, use the same technique and before they set, take a toothpick and run it down to dot to form a heart.
I decided to also leave some cookies with plain white icing, and paint them after they were done. I saw this idea on Pinterest and thought it was so adorable, and would be such a good idea for a having fun with friends or family. Each person can personalize their cookies, and it’s kind of a fool proof way to have them come out looking cute every time. Just mix some gel food coloring with clear alcohol, or a clear extract (you only need a tiny bit) and then you’re good to go! I just painted whatever I felt like, and they all turned out so festive! You could just do some straight lines and it would be adorable.
I hope your Valentine's Day is filled with love, fun, and amazing memories.
XOXO Hailey
There is something lovely to be found in each season; summer makes me want to go out and enjoy the sunshine in any way I can, fall is an exciting transition where all I want to think about are the holidays, winter is a good time to cozy up; but now that we are starting to peek into spring, I am wishing it was fully here. I am loving sun, warmth and am very much anticipating cheerier weather. This transitional time of year can be challenging, and that is why my family always tries to plan a vacation for the end of January- it gives us that exciting piece that may normally be missing from this time of year.
We stayed in Maui, Hawaii, and I am so thankful that I was able to go and experience such a beautiful place. I have to say that I absolutely love flight and travel (apart from the whole occasional turbulence thing…) but other than that I am in complete heaven whilst traveling to an exotic and fun place. I will do a separate post on the trip, but for right now I will just say that the location was insanely gorgeous and we were definitely blessed with consistently spectacular weather- thank you mother nature.
I have been to Maui several times and each time have never been brave enough to go snorkeling or truly swimming in the ocean. This time, however, I was able to step out of my comfort zone and give myself a pat on the back. Even though travel has always been huge to me, in the last few years I’ve realized how much I really want to enjoy the culture and take the most from each location I am able to visit. I believe I stand with the majority when I say that I find the ocean a bit scary and intimidating. Being suddenly submerged in the unknown, I find myself in a state of ambivalence because on one hand anything daunting can be beneath you and the intimidation can make the shore sound very inviting- on the other hand, beauty and adventure can be at your fingertips and sometimes it just takes a leap of faith to explore.
I will say that if the ocean does not strike your fancy, of course you shouldn’t feel obligated to dive in. For me it was always something that I didn’t do purely because I was scared. When I can look at a situation and determine that the fear is the component stopping me- that’s when I like to see what I’m made of (within reason, of course). This was a time for change. I grabbed a boogie board and just went for it. It helped that to my left I could see 10 year old children swimming about… that’s when I realized it probably wasn’t as big of a deal as I felt it was. But anyway, I faced my fear and swam out. I can’t say I saw anything too groundbreaking, after all it was more just floating around out there keeping an eye on the waves than an actual sight-seeing excursion.
It was a lot of fun though, and I’m really glad I took the plunge. Attempting to ride in the waves was hilarious. I in no way looked like a professional, there was not much technique that I displayed- it was more just hugging the board and squeezing my eyes tight for the anticipated action. I now have my fair share of entertaining videos! But for this day, I enjoyed playing in the surf, relaxing in the sand, enjoying the ocean breezes and taking in some much needed vitamin D.
For these days, the perfect swimsuit is definitely needed. I love this baby blue one piece that brought color in a subtle way. I have to say however, when I ordered it, it didn’t look quite so low cut and I was debating not wearing it… but I loved it, and I think it’s a beautiful piece. I normally just go with a simple two piece, but this time I decided to stick with my vacation theme and step out of my comfort zone. I must say, it put a different spin on the ‘typical shoot”. I certainly had a ton of fun playing around on the beach this day, but it’s always important to choose swimwear that is comfortable and makes you feel confident.
Through experiencing new waters, I learned that I can do things I didn’t think would ever be for me. I suppose trying new things really can pay off- after all, I did have a lot of fun pretending I was a mermaid. And as the wise quote says, “life begins at the end of your comfort zone” and that is something I am trying to remind myself daily.
xx Hailey
OUTFIT:
SWIMSUIT: Out From Under Plunging V Printed One-Piece Swimsuit