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 =)

Wear it, Style it, Repeat it: Orange and Cream

I'm Hi Loves, 

Lately, I've been practicing maximizing my work wardrobe, with hopes of saving a little extra cash. Since most of my funds are hanging in my closet, I began wearing, styling and repeating items in a unique way each time. 

If you are in need of inspiration of getting more wear out of your clothes, you've come to the right place! Nothing like a good ole closet diet!

Whenever I wear this orange and cream colorblocked dress, I tend to take long getting dressed....only because so many ideas come to mind for shoes and accessories.

Today I have provided the same outfit, but 3 different ways! For these outfits, the shoes and accessories had to be a "Match-Made-In-Heaven!" I started with the dress, then added shoes, a blazer, and of course, the finishing touches, the accessories.

Look 1:

What I Wore:

Dress Express | Necklace Thrift Store | Shoes Lola Shoetique

 

Look 2:

What I Wore:

Dress Express | Blazer F21| Necklace F21| Belt (came with dress)| Shoes Lola Shoetique

 



 

Look 3:

 



 

What I Wore:

Dress: Express | Blazer F21| Necklace F21| Shoes Zara

How do you closet diet??

xoxo,

Courtney <3

Style Crush: Emily B - Print Shirt & Blue Skirt

Hi Ladies!

Thanks to Emily B, after 3 years, I'm still rocking my favorite outfit inspired by her to work!


 

 What Emily Wore:

Top Printed wrap shirt | Bottom Waistband pencil skirt | Shoes Christian Louboutin Duvette Pumps

 

Emily B, like myself is very curvy, which is why we tend to go for form-fitting clothing. Sometimes, when you have a curvy body, certain fits make us appear larger than we actually are. This blue skirt is perfect for our curves!

Like Emily B, I have a thing for shoes! She loves them so much that she recently became a shoe designer (How cool is that!). When you love shoes, you know that the perfect pair will embellish your look!

 

 

To separate the printed top from the bright, solid bottom, I added a belt that I got from Express (on an old dress).

 

 

Emily chose Christian Louboutin Duvette Pumps, while I stayed with my budget with my favorite Steven Madden beauties! 

 

What I Wore:

Top Ann Taylor | Bottom Bebe | Shoes Steve Madden

 

Xoxo,

 

Courtney 

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



Hourglass

Hi loves, 

How would you like to get the appearance of a smaller waist or create the illusion of a curvy figure, no matter what size or shape you are?????  Most curvy girls wouldn't mind perfecting their hourglass figures; While most slim girls wouldn't mind embracing the illusion of an hourglass figure for a day! Whether you're slim or curvy, there's one trend that adds the icing on the cake for any figure.

I fell in love with the peplum style trend! As a curvy girl they save my life in multiple ways. Not only does it accentuate my curves, but they also minimizes my (not so flattering) midsection.

I will admit, that I am guilty of abusing this trend for work. How can one resist a match-made-in-heaven outfit? The perfect look with this trend includes a great peplum top with a pencil skirt. Since I'm a huge fan of bold colors and prints/patterns, it's only right that I wear a peplum look the right way (Bold peplum top with a printed pencil skirt!)

"All woman have an hourglass figure. It's just that we tote around different amounts of sand."

 

 

What I Wore:

Top Asos | Necklace Macy's | Bottom Target | Shoes Target

 

Xoxo,

 

Courtney :)

Expensive Taste

Hi ladies!

 

As a child, many of us were completely clueless. Some of us believed that "money grew on trees!" I just knew that when I grew up, I could just go swipe a card or write a check for whatever shoes, clothes, or purses I wanted!

 

Boyyyyyyyy was I wrong! Reality soon kicked in a few years ago for me, when my parents began handing me bills! The day that I began spending my own money, I learned that I had "Champagne taste on a beer budget" (Sad day!). I've always been taught to adapt to my environment and accept things for what they are.

 

Sooooooo... I learned how to shop on a budget!(after bills---hate them!) The sale rack doesn't look so bad after all! 

 

 I got this shirt for a steal deal! Only $9.50!!! I dressed it up a little more by tying it in a knot.

 

 I paired the shirt with an assymetrical skirt and fringe sandals!

 

The most expensive thing I'm wearing for this look was the sandals that I found on sale for $20!

What I Wore:

Hat F21 | Top F21 | Skirt GoJane.com | Bangles F21 | Shoes Buckle

 

What shopping lessons have you learned after spending on your own????

 

 

Xoxo,

 

Courtney :)

Living on the edge

Hi loves,

Last night I did something I don't normally do...I didn't plan my night! For me, that is something that I never do! Sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zone and release some of our fears to take adventures and learn new things.

I must admit that was one of the best nights I've had in a while. That taught me a great lesson: let go of fear! It showed me that when I let go of fear, a new happiness and adventure was right on the other side.

If I was going to "Live life on the edge," why not add edgy pieces to my outfit! My go-to looks are usually sexy and chic. This time I added bold red lips and black high waisted shorts, something I don't usually wear.

Edgy accessories were a must! The leather spiked purse and an edgy ring completed that look.



These trendy target heels also added a part of my go-to style with the edgy look.

What I wore:

Top-Target

Shorts-F21

Ring-Jolie Bijoux

Bag-Aldo

Shoes-Target

Take more adventures, let go of fear, think outside of the box and stop caring what other people think! P.S. take your friends with you on those adventures!

How do you live life on the edge?



Xoxo,

Courtney <3

Just in Case- Gray X Plaid

Hello ladies,

I'm usually having such a hard time separating the work life from home life. I often times find myself dragging my work laptops home (just in case) on a Friday night.

If it's after 5pm, it can wait until the next business day. Sometimes we just need to let it go although we are so use to having control. That work life controls me so much that I'm usually sleep before my gram on a Friday night!

Last Friday, I put that separation anxiety to rest! I called everyone that usually calls me to hang out, but to no avail no one was available :( I decided to throw on something quick (just in case)!

My quick go-to styles lately have been midi dresses. I found one of my favorites at Target!

Took me 15 mins to brush my hair, dress up this dress and find cute shoes! 

The cute shoes were a must since we all know good shoes take us great places! 

And 5 mins later, someone was down to go out. Turns out, those Just in Case outfits come in handy!

 

 

What I wore:

Dress-Target

Shirt-Target

Bag-Target

Shoes-Zara

 

xoxo,

Courtney