April 2015 archive
New Looks: Style Clothes You Already Have
I put this outfit together while getting ready for a Game of Thrones season 5 party. I have the innate ability to turn any party into a theme party and milk that theme for all it’s worth (check out my edible dragon eggs on Instagram for proof). So naturally I thought the occasion called for a makeshift themed ensemble. The best starting place is to style clothes you already have, so I settled for a bell-sleeve a-line dress, vaguely medieval side braid, Dauphines of NY headband (which you can win for yourself on yesterday’s post!), sage green crochet tights, and the moccasins I wear constantly.
Style clothes you already have
I realized that everything in my outfit I had owned for over a year, except for the headband. Sometimes I forget that new isn’t always better. “Old but good” pieces shouldn’t be ignored. It’s a reminder that you can shop in your own closet instead of being pressured to always buy new. Putting older pieces together in unexpected ways can really work. Adding a new accessory like a headband helps pull it together with a “new” feel.
Here’s an example: for weeks I shopped for a new tote bag, enlisting the help of my expert shopper friends. I had a big seminar a couple weeks ago and I wanted a neutral colored bag big enough for snacks, pens and a notebook, a DSLR, and more. I ended up deciding to wait on buying one (my top choices are all on my sidebar widget right now if you’re curious) so I had to turn to what I already had in my closet-and it worked out fine! This tote garnered plenty of compliments, and I was happy to tell people who liked it that it is now only $42 now from Vera Bradley. I will invest in a neutral tote bag eventually, but realizing I can make do with still-usable items took the pressure of a quick purchase off!
Outfit details
Dress – Similar at Forever 21 or Similar at Nordstrom / Tights / Moccasins – Minnetonka / Purse – Mandy in Baroque from Vera Bradley
How do you style clothes you already have? Have fun finding new ways to mix and match existing clothes this season!
Enter the giveaway:
Styling Headbands – Giveaway
Styling Headbands for Summer
I know what you need-a stylish accessory to freshen your look for summer! Slim elastic headbands, perfect for festival season, are the wonderfully updated style of the moment. And I’ve partnered with Dauphines of New York to showcase exactly that in today’s style post and giveaway.
I love styling headbands to go with outfits as much as any Blair Waldorf fan, but I don’t wear them often. Mostly this is because many of them are just so uncomfortably tight. I was excited to find that Dauphines headbands are adjustable, which means no more relying on one-size-fits-all styles. Make them as comfortably loose or securely tight as you wish. This feature also makes styling headbands easy. You can wear them low on the forehead or high above the hairline as you choose on any given day. Thank you, Dauphines, for making a comfortable headband that I can wear for more than a couple hours!
Dauphines of New York Headband Giveaway
Dauphines of New York headbands come in adorable packaging and are conveniently available at Sephora stores.
The winner of my giveaway will receive this same headband style that I was sent. The three strands in the headband are faux leather, rhinestone and metal chain. It goes with anything! Here is how I styled mine.
Make sure to enter the giveaway below for a chance to win it for yourself!
This giveaway is open internationally, so everyone can enter! Good luck!
Argan Oil Hair Treatment Tricks
Argan oil comes from Morocco and is the latest craze in the beauty industry-it’s in a bunch of high end haircare products and also available by itself. Here are my tips and tricks for adding argan oil hair treatment techniques into your beauty routine.
Argan Oil Hair Treatment Tricks
Here are a few ways to try incorporating argan oil into your haircare. The ones that work for you will depend on your hair type-feel free to experiment! You can always shampoo it out if it’s too heavy for your hair.
- Put a few teaspoons of pure argan oil in your favorite conditioner for extra moisturizing effect (normal hair)
- Use a tiny bit to tame frizz and flyaway hairs when needed (dry and/or coarse hair)
- Distribute a palm full of the oil through the ends of your still-wet hair if you don’t use conditioner (all hair types)
- Use as a pre-shampoo treatment. Massage a generous amount into scalp and hair, leave in for at least 20 minutes and then shampoo out (all hair types).
Argan Oil Hair Treatment Review: Pura d’or
Here’s what I liked about this argan oil compared to others I have tried. First, argan oil hair treatment regimens can get expensive, and I think this one is a good deal for your money. Much smaller bottles are sold for close to this price-around $25 or 4 ounces. The oil has a very mild smell. All argan oils should have a natural, oily fragrance because a lack of fragrance means it might be over processed. But this one doesn’t smell unpleasant in any way which I can’t say about all argan oils. Last but not least, it’s 100% pure, cold-pressed, organic oil which you can feel good about using.
Pura D’or gave me a sample of their pure and organic argan oil to review through Brandbacker, and as always the opinions in this post are 100% mine.
Other Argan Oil Uses
This Moroccan oil is not only good for hair, it can be used on skin and nails too the way you would use other beauty oils such emu and abyssinian oil. If you use oils in your beauty routine, leave your best tip below!
Photo courtesy of https://www.purador.com
Lilly for Target Preview Wishlist
Lilly for Target Preview Wishlist
The day is almost here! When I first wrote about the Lilly for Target controversy back in January, the Lilly for Target launch seemed far into the future. But now spring is here and so is the Lilly for Target preview look book.
Napkins
At only $10 for a set of four, you can see why these top my list. The Vera Bradley napkins I bought years ago have been a bright and fun addition to the table, so I’m looking forward to scoring some Lilly print napkins too. One set contains four different patterns, making it easy to tell napkins apart at the dining table.
Shorts
Pom pom trim shorts top my summer apparel wishlist, and the ones on the Lilly for Target preview page look like they are worth checking out.
Shift Dress
I’m guessing that the fit for the Lilly for Target shift dresses might be slightly different than the regular Lilly Pulitzer shifts. It’ll be interesting to see how this line differs in color, fabric, fit and construction. The line does include Plus sized clothing but it’s only going to be available online.
Ceramic Mugs
Four printed ceramic mugs in their own stacking holder-too cute! A lack of counter space and knowing these might break easily is holding me back from putting these at the top of my wishlist, but I’m definitely going to check them out.
Beach Towel
Lilly belongs at the beach! This is on my list because it’s fun, practical and perfect for summer.
Makeup Bag
The toiletry and makeup bags on the Lilly for Target preview page include some that look nicely partitioned. Since makeup bags with sections can be hard to come by, this collection is worth taking a look at for that reason alone.
Check out the Lilly for Target preview look book and let me know what’s on the top of your wish list!
All images courtesy of Pressroom.Target.com
Organic Dandelion Root Tea Time
If you think dandelions are obnoxious weeds that grow in your yard, think again. They’re actually edible and incredibly nutritious. The leaves, although bitter, can be harvested and used as salad greens. The roots make a delicious tea, either roasted for a richer flavor or unroasted for a lighter herbal steep.
I love an excuse to use my elephant tea pot and my antique tea cup collection. The tea cups were gifts from people who knew me well (oh yeah, I have a Tea Time board on Pinterest). Can you believe the tea pot is only 12.99? You can also get the whole tea set in purple.
Organic Dandelion Root Tea Review
Kiss Me Organics sent me their organic dandelion root tea to review through Brandbacker. It has only three ingredients and no added natural flavors-just organic dandelion root tea with cinnamon and hibiscus.
This is not a roasted dandelion tea, so for those seeking a richer, deeper steep look for a roasted tea instead. This is perfect for those who love light herbal teas like chamomile. I found it to be sweet, light and delicious. I got second opinions of the tea when I served it to guests and everyone liked it. It’s not bitter at all and doesn’t taste anything like dandelions, so it’s pleasing to most palettes.
In addition to being organic, it is also non-GMO and vegan for those who have concerns about that.
Organic Dandelion Root Tea Time giveaway
I’m looking forward to reading your comments! What do you think of dandelion root tea? If you haven’t tried it yet, which other tea is your favorite?
