Styling Booties

It's what to wear Wednesday.  I got some great feedback from my post on winter business casual outfits, so I thought I would share another styling post with you! Today I'm collaborating with Brooke over at Live the Prep Life. 

Ankle boots seem to be all the rage this winter.  You can dress them up or down, which probably contributes to their popularity.  I got a pair for Christmas and absolutely love them (check them out here)! They are comfortable and easy to throw on with just about any outfit. Recently, I went through my closet and picked out a few outfits that they would look cute with. You can check them out below.

If you know me, then you know how much I love stripes.  These booties pair nicely with darker denim and a striped top.

A cute but comfortable outfit for a nicer dinner or a night out.  Pair your booties with an off the shoulder velvet top, gigi pants from JCrew, and throw some curls in your hair.

Pair them with some leggings, a boyfriend sweater, a light chambray shirt, and toss your hair up in a ponytail with a little plaid bow.

Don't have much time to get ready? These booties pretty much are my go to with a pair of jeans and a cozy sweater. It's a cute and easy outfit to throw together when you don't have much time to get ready.

Then there's the perfect outfit to wear to a sporting event. A pair of jeans, your team's spirit wear shirt, and a comfy sweater.

Wondering how you can pair these to make the perfect business casual look? Check out my post from last month here.

I hope this post gave you some style inspiration!

XOXO

Plaid To Meet you

This winter my go to print has definitely been plaid.  I love mixing and matching it with herringbone and polka dots. It's a fun pattern that can be worn so many different ways.  You can dress it down in the form of a flannel and a pair of leggings. You can even dress it up with a pretty plaid top and an a-line skirt.  Lately my plaids have been layered with warm sweaters thanks to the cold front. My closet seems to be filled with plaids in the form of dresses, flannels, shoes, scarves, blouses, pajamas, pants, and even hair bows.

 Speaking of using plaid to stay warm. One of my absolute favorite ways to wear plaid in the winter is with a blanket scarf.  I have quite the collection in a variety of colors.  They are warm and can be worn so many ways.  They match great with my black parka and navy peacoat. 

What's been your go to print this season?

XOXO

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

The winter weather has definitely arrived. Within the past month our weather has been up and down from the mid fifties all the way down to the teens. Needless to say I've needed a variety of winter shoes. I haven't needed to dress in business casual lately, so my outfits have all been on the more casual side of the spectrum.  While I'm home I like to wear slippers because our puppies are constantly getting water all over the floor, so these keep my feet warm and dry. 

Something that makes the cold more bearable is having warm feet.  My solution for this are my bean boots. They are fashionable and practical for the chilly weather too.  They are adorable when paired with jeans, dresses, skirts, athleisure, and leggings. The versatility is what makes them one of my go to shoes during the winter. 

Hunter boots are an essential year round in my wardrobe. As long as you wear warm socks, they keep your feet pretty dry and warm. I've heard that adding the liners makes a big difference too.  I wear these when it is raining outside and they definitely don't disappoint. I chose to get mine in a color because on dreary days we all need a little pick me up, and surprisingly my pair of red hunters seem to match with quite a lot. Lately, these have been my shoes to take the puppies out too.  

Riding boots are another staple on my winter shoes rack. They make a casual outfit look a little cuter and are comfortable.  I love pairing them with a pair of black leggings, oversized sweater, and blanket scarf.  This light brown pair and black pair are two of my favorites. 

On warmer days I opt for a lower cut boot, otherwise known as a bootie.  My parents bought me these for Christmas, and I have been loving them! So far my outfits have been pairing them with cuffed jeans, cute tops, and cardigans.  It's been a little chilly, even on warmer days, so I have also been pairing them with fun printed socks. 

What are your go to shoes in the winter?

XOXO

Winter Workouts

Working out in the winter can be quite difficult. It's cold out and bing watching a series on Netflix, in your warm home, just sounds much more appealing than venturing out to the gym. The motivation piece is minimal, which makes a huge difference in the likelihood that you'll get a workout in. Additionally, your preferred workout method might be stopped thanks to the weather. If you're a runner, then you definitely know what I'm talking about. I like to run, but not when the temperature ventures down past the forties and it's raining or snowing.  

I think everyone has hit this winter slump before, but no need to worry. Today I'm here to provide you with a little inspiration and options for winter workouts!

Option 1:

Head over to the app store on your phone or iPad and download some fitness apps. These will allow you to workout from the comfort of your home.  

Sworkit

This is my go to app for when I'm home or in a place where I don't have gym access.  You can choose the type of workout and length.  The app shows you how to do each body weight exercise and times out the length you should complete the exercise for.  These workouts require zero resources, which makes them great when you are traveling or don't have any workout equipment at home. 

Keelo-HIIT

This is another great app.  These workouts are all considered to be high intensity interval training workouts.  This app is similar to Sworkit, but it provides you with different series of exercises. 

YogaGlo

This is a free app that provides you with yoga classes at home.  I've never used this app personally, but I've read great reviews on it. There are over 3,500 classes in various styles and levels available for you to try. 

Option 2:

Try a new workout video.  This requires very little equipment and allows you to stay home in the warmth.  There are so many great workout videos to try that are free, thanks to YouTube. 

30 minute cardio and scupting terabit

40 minute full body workout

3 move circuit for tight and toned arms

Upper back exercises

Legs and Booty

Partner workout

15 minute total body tone up 

Burped Party

Yoga moves for runners

Power yoga for tight core and butt

Vinyasa flow workout 

15 minute slow flow yoga

15 minute yoga for PMS

Option 3:

Need some inspiration for the gym? Switch up your workout and head to a class. January is the perfect time to try a class.  It's the beginning of the year and lots of resolutioners (who are new to the gym) are filling up the classes. This means you won't be the only newbie in the class.  Most instructors give you the free pass to leave mid way through the class if you don't like it! 

Some classes to consider taking:

-Yoga

-Spin/Cycle

-Pilates

-Body Pump

-Insanity    

-Kick Boxing

-Barre

I started going to spin class and absolutely love it. It's a fun way to workout plus it's almost a full body workout. The only thing that would make it better would be if it incorporated more arms and core work.  The upbeat music and the ability to workout at your own pace are the two aspects I truly enjoy. I've also tried yoga and pilates classes. Both of them are great, but you need the right instructor to really like it. 

What's your go to workout during the cold winter months?
XOXO

It's the Vest Season of All

November is gone and December has arrived! I cannot believe that we have entered the last month of 2016.  The year 2016 is one that has been on my radar for many years because I always knew it was the year I would graduate college.  It is crazy to believe that this month I finish my career as an undergraduate student.  I have a feeling this month will fly by with the end of college, graduation festivities, and the hoopla that comes with the holidays each year. 

December reminds me of cold weather.  As the colder weather gradually arrives, I have been noticing my wardrobe going through a gradual change too. 

 The colder the weather the more layers I seem to wear.  

One of my favorite pieces to layer are vests.  They can make a boring outfit fun and add a little warmth to my daily getup. I got my first vest for my 19th birthday, and ever since then my collection has continued to grow. My first vest was a navy monogrammed one from Land's End.  It's great to wear with more casual outfits or for a run on a chilly day.  J.Crew's Puffer Vests are definitely my favorite. I have the same vest in three different colors. They fit nicely (not too big and not too small), and they seem to match with just about every outfit I wear from athleisure to business casual. I also adore my Plush Fleece Excursion Vest.  This piece is fabulous for extremely cold days.  This is tan fur is great to mix and match with plaids. 

What's your go to winter weather item?

XOXO

5 Pasta recipes

For those of you who know me well, you know that I absolutely love pasta.  Yes it's filled with carbs and definitely isn't the healthiest choice, but for some reason I have a hard time resisting it.  Pasta recipes are probably my favorite thing to make in the kitchen and my go to when I don't know what to eat.  Pasta is 100% a comfort food for me. When I've had a bad day I love a bowl of plain noodles with butter and salt. 

Anyways, the colder seasons of the year are definitely a great time to incorporate some pasta recipes into your weekly meal plans.  Today I'm sharing some recipes that look like good options to try this winter! 

One: Butternut Squash Penne with Chicken

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Butternut Squash has lots of health benefits. It's low in fat and incredibly high in fiber, which makes it a great addition to any meal. 

Two: Shrimp Scampi

Shrimp and pasta- such a great combination 

Three: Winter Vegetable Pasta with White Wine and Parmesan 

The perfect winter feel good meal!

Four: Pasta Carbonara

Giada's pasta carbonara is hands down my favorite. 

Five: Pasta with Roasted Butternut Squash, Sausage, and Kale

This recipe not only looks pretty, but sounds like it would taste amazing too! This seems like it would be an easy weeknight meal-perfect for November or December.  I've never roasted butternut squash, but it doesn't sound like too daunting of a task.  

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Bon Apetit!

XOXO