The Yin Yang Look

Hi ladies!

Happy New Year!

Have you ever been in a mood where you picked your lipstick shade before deciding what to wear?? This is totally opposite for me! I'm usually the girl who goes for shoes first before picking any look. Today I went straight for my red lipstick before anything!

The first step to wearing red lips is choosing the correct shade. It will definitely take trial and error, but please don't come out your house looking like you belong in the circus. There are plenty of cosmetic counters willing to assist you with finding the right shade for you! Ladies, I also cannot stress how important it is to keep a mirror with you while wearing red lips. Please don't be the girl with red lipstick on her teeth while showing all 32!

When in doubt, wear black and white with it! Since red lips are classy, bold and sophisticated, it's only right that you go for a yin and yang look; two opposing forces that are complementary. I'm seriously obsessed with red lips, a black and white outfit and silver accessories.

Just like this outfit, you must take the good with the bad in life. Soak up all the good and throw the bad away!

"In the black, there is some white.

In the wrong, there is some right. 

In the dark, there is some light. 

In the blind, there is some sight."

~Abhimyana

What I Wore:

Vest Bebe | Top It's Fashion | Bottoms BCBG | Shoes Aldo

Xoxo, 

Courtney 

Fur Sweater

Hi Ladies!

It's been SO long since I've blogged! Sometimes you have to reboot and adjust your goals. Your 20's are definitely a learning/growing experience. I've just been enjoying the ride.

However, I'm back and focused like never before!

The place that I've enjoyed going lately has been church. On those days, I'm always sure to look my absolute best! Over the weekend I went for the most comfortable look that I could find!

The shoes were so comfy that I didn't have to bring an extra pair! (Rare occasion for me).

Let's not even get into how obsessed I've been with this sweater!!! I need a moment of silence for this sweater....This sweater is honestly the reason why I got my groove back as far as posting blogs again. OMG when I saw it, I COULD NOT leave the mall without it.

Since the sweater was kind of big, I opted for a curve-hugging skirt.

"Your 20's are your 'selfish' years. It's a decade to immerse yourself in every single thing possible. Be selfish with your time, and all the aspects of you. Tinker, travel, explore, love a lot, love a little, and never touch the ground." 

~Kyoko Escamilla

What I Wore: 

Top H&M | Skirt Kohl's | Shoes Aldo 

XOXO, 

Courtney :)

True Beauty

Hi loves!

I know I'm super late, but Happy New Year! Everyone always has this "New Year, New Me" thing going, but this year I chose to do away with it. I felt like we are always making goals that we NEVER achieve. (This is true for me anyway because I've had the same goal of losing weight for about 2 years now. lol) I couldn't understand why I couldn't achieve my goal of simply losing weight and getting a little healthier.

I thought losing weight would help me become a little more happier. Boy was a I wrong! I'm the happiest I've ever been and I haven't even lost a pound! lol

This goal taught me a lot. I was so focused on the outside beauty that I wasn't paying attention to my inner beauty.

I learned to understand where true beauty comes from. True beauty comes from within. (see 1 Peter 3:3-4). I saw how society altered where most of us thought true beauty came from. Many of us thought it came from things or even people.

Last year, I can remember spending my last after all my bills were paid to make sure I had the latest everything just to feel a certain way. I partied ALL THE TIME, I drank socially ALL THE TIME and spent money ALL THE TIME.

So far this year I learned to focus on the things that really mattered and things weren't it. I focused a little more on my relationship with God which helped me find the peaceful, beautiful state of mind that I'm in now. And guess what...I lost 7lbs! :)

If the inside, doesn't match your outside appearance, it's false advertisement! Your main focus should be on achieving lasting beauty. Your outside appearance is temporary, but your inner beauty is everlasting! :) (see Psalms 139:13-16).

I started embracing my natural beauty all the way around. Natural hair (hardest thing EVER), natural nails and embracing my curves. For example, today I wore a bun and a printed pencil skirt.

Since the skirt was already printed, I added a black and white printed bracelets to compliment the pattern. (Follow @EurphoricTreasuresCouture on IG to get cute customized bracelets)

It's always ok to go nude when embracing natural! :) jkI love adding nudes to every outfit! They go with everything! 

   

I'm super obsessed with prints! This skirt was only $25 so I had to get it!

What I wore: 

Necklace Thrifted | Top Kohls | Skirt Target | Shoes Lolashoetique 

What have your goals taught you so far??

Xoxo,

Courtney :)

Black, White & Cheetah

Hi loves,

 

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVEEEE a sexy, sophisticated look. A white blouse under a sweater screams sophistication to me! (I cheated, mine is really one shirt!) Combined with animal print is definitely a match made in heaven!

 

Animal print is one of my absolute favorite classic styles! (Especially anything with a cheetah print). Animal print always adds a sexy touch to any outfit.

 

When wearing animal print, there a few rules you must follow:

1. You must wear a solid/simple look to allow it  to stand out. Usually best to wear as an accessory.
2. You must keep your jewelry simple to make sure your animal print is not overpowered.
3. Add a neutral color to bring out the print, similar to how the animal usually blends well with nature.

See below for how I followed these few simple rules to get the perfect sophisticated, sexy look.



 



 

What I Wore:

Hat Zara | Coat Asos | Necklace Macy's | Top New York & Co | Pants White House, Black Market | Shoes Jessica Simpson | Bag Tory Burch

 

How do you rock animal print??

 

Xoxo,

 

Courtney



Simplicity ~ Less is more

Happy Friday,

 

I've been on a really positive journey lately. I wake up with a happiness that I can't explain. I just wish that everyone could feel the way I feel about myself and my life lately. There are many  life lessons that I went through that helped me reach this level of peace. One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that in life, "less is more."

 

I'm still learning that it's the little things that actually make life big. I laugh at the fact that I originally caked make-up on too early for self esteem issues. I wore make-up (like a lot) to cover acne. I was working so hard to cover it that I made it look even more noticeable! All that hard work for absolutely nothing. Now, I'm the total opposite; only on special occasions! I want people to know the REAL me, not my facade that I put on. Something so small was HUGE to me. I realize that my big heart, strong mind and huge personality will take me further than a cake face anyday!

 

When I was younger, I thought MORE meant better. More friends, more drinks, more partying, more E V E R Y T H I N G. Quality is far more valuable than quantity. Now I have less friends, but the ones I have mean the world to me; I'm drinking and partying less to get the old me back (including size). I work less. At one point I literally had NO life! I worked so much that I didn't see my gram!

 

I  started carrying that "less is more" thinking into all aspects of my life including my closet. My closet diet consisted of decluttering shoes, jewelry and other accessories. It's so much easier to buy simple pieces and put them together well.

 

Below, I wore a simple outfit. I just made sure my shoes were cute. To add the icing on the cake for this look, I wore a fun, red lip (OMG it looks so good with black hair!)

"Simplicity is the key note of all true elegance."

 

~ Coco Chanel

 

 

For this outfit, I tried to wear less accessories. The shoes and purse did enough! I usually wear the same gold accesories now. A watch and a few Alex and Ani bracelets makes a simple, yet cute arm candy look.

 

What I Wore:

Top Nordstrom | Pants Burlington Coat Factory | Shoes Jessica Simpson | Bag Tory Burch

When we look at the things that really mean the most to us, we truly grow. "A tree is big, but when we look back, it actually started from a seed."

Try following these to carry out "less is more" in your life:

Xoxo,

Courtney =)

Style Crush: Kim K - Red Pencil Skirt

Hi loves,

 

Of course I had to borrow another simple outfit from my style crush, Kim K.

 

She never fails to slay a sexy, yet simple look. When you see someone wearing something red or a pencil skirt, it justs screams sexy! It's hard for most women in this generation to show their curvy silhouette, without showing skin, but Kim made it look easy.

 

Kim paired a grey bodysuit with a red pencil skirt (over $300!) and Christian Louboutin pumps ($795).

What Kim Wore:

Skirt Alexander Wang ($317) | Shoes Christian Louboutin Bis Un Bout

 

I, on the other hand, opted for something similar and MUCH cheaper. I chose a taupe-color shirt because this color is very similar to grey. Taupe is a brownish-grey color. Not only was this color similar to Kim's grey top, but it was on sale for only $6! (winning!)

 

I paired the taupe top with a red pencil skirt and red strappy, cap toe heels similar to Kim's for only $28!

What I Wore:

Shirt GoJane.com | Skirt Express | Shoes LolaShoetique

Don't forget ladies, "When life gives you curves, flaunt them!"

XOXO,

Courtney :)

Wear it, Style it, Repeat: Grey is the New Black

Hi ladies :)

In case you haven't noticed, I'm a HUGE fan of neutral/soft tones right now, especially grey! I feel like I've been having a love affair with my love for colors or black.

If I could wear some form of grey every S I N G L E day, I soooooo would! Instead of reaching in my closet for something black, I'm usally grabbing something grey! I'm currently obsessing over this trend, especially because most of my grey pieces were $6-$15! (can you say winning!)

I can't lie, I wear this grey t-shirt literally as soon as it comes out of the dryer! I promise you'll catch me wearing it once a week.

My favorite way happens to be all grey. Something about monochrome grey that I just can't resist!

Below you will find my favorite outfit from my favorite store, Target! I paired a grey t-shirt with grey leggings. I literally wear this outfit like once a week but in a different way.

Look #1: Grey and Black

What I Wore:

Shoes LolaShoetique | Bag Michael Khors | Hat Aldo

Look #2: Grey and Red

What I Wore:

Shoes LolaShoetique | Hat American Apparel

Look #3: Grey and Camel

What I Wore:

Shoes Christian Louboutin | Bag Thrifted | Jacket ASOS

Look #4: Grey and Olive

 

What I Wore:

Shoes Jessica Simpson | Bag Louis Vuitton | Necklace Macy's | Jacket Macy's 

Wear it, Style it, Repeat: Superwoman

Hi loves,

 

On the journey of self-growth, I find reflecting and being 100% real with myself in order to mature to the next level. The more we lie to ourselves, the more we become stuck in that place.

 

Recently, I've put my super powers to rest in order to readjust them. At one point I did so much for EVERYONE else to the point that I didn't have enough energy to take care of myself. I would clean, take this person here, do this, do that, drive 1-2 hours to work, do homework, help others with homework, and then repeat the cycle of no sleep. I wasn't able to take care of me! I was late to work, gained weight, went broke, kept my room C R A Z Y, the list goes on! Superwoman can't properly use her powers if she isn't in good standings herself!

 

The only peace I found came from taking mini vacations. On my last flight, I traveled alone which allowed me to really pay attention with no distractions. After boarding the flight, I heard the flight attendants begin discussing emergency procedures for anyone traveling with a lap child. She said, "if you have a child on your lap, remember to put the oxygen on yourself, THEN the child." A little light went off in my head "ahhhhhhhhhh, makes sense! A lap child won't be able to save two people, while the adult can!" Like the adult, I felt like the only way I could utilize those superpowers to the fullest potential was to take care of ME first, then others!

 

To me, superwoman is constantly evolving, to be the best she can be for herself and others. She knows who she is and the things she's capable of. She makes mistakes, but she learns from them, as they are part of her growth. She thinks like a queen, never afraid to fail. Failure is just a steppingstone to her greatness.

 

I wear this shirt as a reminder...

 

Look 1:

 

 

 

What I wore:

Sunnies F21 | Shirt H&M | Sweats Target | Shoes Converses

 

Look 2:

 

 

*** I cut the slits in my jeans myself***

 

What I Wore:

Shirt H&M | Jeggings Express | Heels Zara

 

Look 3:

 

 

What I Wore:

Shirt H&M | Shorts F21 | Heels Target

 

XOXO,

 

Courtney <3