Joggers, sweat pants, Adidas pants, the list goes on and on as the athleisure has been expanding as a fashion trend. I was inspired for this look by a mannequin at Target dressed by the Who What Wear brand. The outfit was more of a literal track suit, but it had a cute top and a purse along with it. I wanted to recreate this look with items that I already had at home. Because the athletic pants were kind of dull, I decided to incorporate a pop of yellow in both my heels and jacket. Overall the look was somewhat of a foreign concept to me because I have never once worn sweatpants to class amongst my college career. It brings a cool new casual yet fashionable aesthetic to my wardrobe. Staying comfortable while looking the part is very much a win-win situation. Celebrities have been taking on this look left and right. You can find any of the Kardashians rocking this. As well as Selena Gomez, and Rihanna (with her Puma shoe line of course). Looking put together yet “I just rolled out of bed” is what I was getting from their looks. But of course we know most celebs take full advantage of their glam teams before stepping out into the public. Full face of makeup or not, this look is the perfect combination for a saturday out running errands, or a coffee date downtown. My Look: Pants: Charlotte Russe (clearance rack at $5.00 #amazing) Jacket: Von Maur Heels: Amazon Fashion -- there are actually so many brands and merchandise assortments on Amazon, I would highly recommend check it out
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We all have those times when you go 2-3 days (sometimes even 4 if you’re lucky) without washing your hair. When you're in college and are constantly running from class to meetings, cramming for an exam, or frantically trying to finish an essay, the need to get your work done sometimes outweighs the appearance of your hair. Recently I’ve been using the L’Oreal Paris Extraordinary Clay hair care line when I finally have time to actually wash my dirty hair during the week. The Extraordinary Clay line claims to diminish the oil in the roots and hydrate the ends of your hair. In this post, I’m going to give you my thoughts and opinions on this line of hair care. Extraordinary Clay Pre-Shampoo Hair Mask Most hair masks are meant to moisturize the ends of your hair, but this one is different and that’s why I was so intrigued to try it. This product you apply to your roots before you shampoo and it absorbs the oil in your roots. This is definitely one of my favorite products from the line, because it actually works! I notice a difference after I’m done with my shower and my hair is finally dry. It’s as if the oil, dirt, and grime from the past few days is completely gone from the roots of my hair. Extraordinary Clay Rebalancing Shampoo To be honest, I don’t have a select shampoo that I repurchase over and over again. As soon as I run out of one, I go out and buy and different one. This rebalancing shampoo from the Extraordinary Clay was surprisingly good. It really foams up and seems to clean away any residual oils. It works the best in combination with the pre-shampoo clay mask. Extraordinary Clay Rebalancing Conditioner This is the one product from the line that I’m not super excited about. It’s a nice conditioner, but to me it is nothing special. I think it’s mainly because it might not suit my hair type. I have dry and color-treated hair, which requires a conditioner that really hydrates the ends of my hair. While this product is good, and I will use it up until I finish it, I don’t think it’s a must have from this hair care line. Extraordinary Clay Dry Shampoo The Extraordinary Clay dry shampoo is your best friend if you are running late to class in the morning. I’ve been spraying this in my roots when my hair is greasy in the morning and I don’t have time to wash it. This product is literally my new favorite dry shampoo ever. I know that’s such a big statement, but it is really true. Not only does it smell great, it helps absorb the oil in my roots and it doesn’t leave a white powder in my hair! Overall, I’d say the stand out products of this line are the Pre-Shampoo Clay Mask and the Dry Shampoo. I will definitely buy these again once I run out of product. With finals rapidly approaching, I know these will be my life saver during the end of the semester. Hope you all have a great day! Ciao!
Xo, Abby Warmer weather, longer days and springy pieces that are ready to wear! I don’t know about you, but this lovely weather has got me in the best of moods as I’ve finally begun tucking away my bulky winter sweaters and started taking out my first few favorite pieces for the warmer seasons. Included in that are two staples that I absolutely adore; off the shoulder tops + button up denim. These denim skirts were a craze last season and we’re already seeing them re-appear this spring, since after all, they’re so cute!…. So hooray to that! Easily mixed and matched with casual tops or dressy tanks, you really can’t wear these skirts wrong. My favorite way to wear this skirt, however, is paired with this ivory off the shoulder top for a casual look that’s just right for a morning coffee chat or a little window shopping downtown. Worn alone, this top also pairs amazingly with frayed denim ankle jeans and bold shoes or crisp clean white jeans, gold + beige accessories and nude wedges for a nautical & natural look. While summer may be my favorite season of them all, I sometimes find it hardest to dress for the transitional weather. I’m a big fan of layering in the cooler months so when it comes to spring & summer, these first few months feel like a wardrobe malfunction! Finding those perfect pieces, such as this white top, that work well for 3 our of the 4 seasons are items I tend to look for when seeking to expand my transitional summer/spring wardrobe. This season, I am still all about these off the shoulder tops and more recently, cold shoulder pieces as well. I’ve got my eyes on a cute little polka dot cold shoulder dress over at Urban Violet… stay tuned, it might be appearing here soon!
Happy spring & happy shopping! This week I decided to write about a recent weekend trip I took to the Copper Mountain Resort in Colorado. I had the great opportunity to travel as my brother was competing in the USASA National Snowboarding Competition. Not only did they have lots of amenities for snowboarders and skiers, but they had tons of comfort food! These included a grilled cheese shop, and a donut shop located just steps from each other in the Center Village.
I decided to venture into Sugar Lips, where I was welcomed by the pleasant aroma of fresh mini donuts. There were toppings galore, I chose to go with the classic Oreo and Vanilla. I can't say I've ever had a better donut, these literally melted in my mouth. Probably not the healthiest choice I could've made, but it was definitely the correct choice for a foodie. So if you ever take a ski trip to Copper Mountain make sure to stop at Sugar Lips, you'll smell it before you see it! Spring is in the air!!!! Yay. I am so ready for warm weather and flip-flops. Spring is my favorite season because everything feels so fresh. One of my favorite things to do when the weather warms up is to visit the infamous Stone Arch Bridge. It is always booming with people, which make it even more fun. Another fave- the Minneapolis Farmers Market. They have an awesome selection of fresh fruit, veggies, and my favorite, flowers. Be sure to check it out. These are just a few of the things I’m looking forward to as Spring continues!
Xo, Sydnee Floral, it’s one of those prints that we either love or we hate as there is really no in between, yet, a lot of the time when I go to ask someone whether or not floral is part of their wardrobe they hesitate to answer as if it’s somehow bad to be wearing the print. Truth be told, floral is in, and it has been for a while. More often than not it’s over looked as either too flashy, obnoxiously bright or has the appearance as though it was made out of some tacky old wall paper print. But this season, that’s not the case. I will admit that I own quite a bit of different floral pieces and as someone who likes to stick to basics could argue that the prints can be tricky to wear, although once you figure out those staple pieces to pair along with your prints, you’ll be styled to perfection. Depending on the color hue within the florals, my go to piece for adding some edge to the feminine pattern is by adding a leather jacket or a statement shoe such as the knee high boots. Consider it - had I worn this top with something simpler, such as nude flats, this look would not only be less modern but also so boring. Styling is fun, and so are florals! Floral gets a bad rep, but I encourage you to give it a chance not only because it is so simple to find adorable pieces in the print but also because it’s so easy to style and be done right. What drew me to this featured top was initially the color scheme as it could essentially be worn throughout the year just depending on how you wear it. Here, I styled it for a fall/winter look as it could be worn for either season. Even though spring is arriving in a few months (… maybe a few more for us Minnesotan’s) I have no doubt that I will not be retiring this piece for the season as I plan to adjust the look with white skinnies, fun wedges, and light neutral accessories. So I’ll say it again, floral is fab - don’t let it scare you away! It’s a fun flirty print that can be styled in countless ways to spruce up your daily basics. Invest in a piece, I swear you won’t regret it.
I’ll admit that while I do love to wear a full face of makeup, there are days when I just don’t have the time to apply all of it. If I’m running late and I don’t have enough time, this is my fast and easy bare necessities look. I only use 5 products and it takes about a maximum of 10 minutes! So for all of you that are scrambling to get out the door, this post is going to be your guide. Natural Finish Foundation When my skin is going through a texture or acne phase, I use foundation all the time. I try very hard to get a foundation that matches the color and undertone of my skin, but I also try to find one that gives me the finish that I want. I have a more normal-dry skin type, but I don’t like completely matte or dewy foundations. I like something in the middle, so that’s why Too Faced Born This Way Foundation has been a constant repurchase in my makeup collection. There are so many shades to choose from and it works with either a beauty blender or a brush. Brows If you read one of my previous posts, then you’ll remember that I mentioned the Benefit Cosmetics Goof-Proof Eyebrow Pencil. I’m not going to go into too much detail since I’ve already written about it, but it is my holy grail eyebrow pencil. Water Resistant Mascara If you don’t already have this in your makeup bag, then you should probably run to your nearest drugstore, because water resistant mascara is such a lifesaver. Mascara formulas that are made to resist the effects of water hold the curl in your eyelashes the longest and they are less likely to smudge throughout the day when you’re running around from place to place. I’ve been using the Pacifica Aquarian Gaze Water Resistant Mascara and it has not smudged on me at all since I started using it. Rosy Pink Blush I’m not going to lie, I feel like I can look a bit ghost-like if I don’t have some color in my cheeks. Benefit Cosmetics Rockateur Blush has been my all time fave for almost two years and I’m surprised that I haven’t gone through this whole box (I do not like the tacky packaging but the blush color is so beautiful that I deal with it). It’s a soft rosy pink with a slight bit of shimmer to give your skin a healthy glow. Everyday Lipcolor While Marilyn Monroe once said, “give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world,” I also believe this can apply to someone’s lipcolor of choice. I hardly ever stray from my natural nudes and pinks for the color of my lips, but lately I’ve been loving Maybelline Color Jolt in Stripped Down. It is a much darker color than I am used to, but I’m really enjoying this product for a simple makeup look. I hope all of you have a great rest of your week and enjoy the weather because it is finally springtime! Ciao! Xo, Abby
For this weeks post I wanted to show everyone one of the new salads I've started to eat on a weekly basis. It's super easy to make, and most importantly it works for a college students' budget.
Here's what you'll need, Salad Mix (I chose spinach and fresh spring mix for texture preference) Lemon Dressing Zucchini Parmesan Cheese Olive Oil Lemon Juice Pepper (to taste) I started out by chopping my zucchini into round slices and cooking it in a pan with olive oil and lemon juice on medium heat. Once the zucchini darkened a little and became visibly softer on one side I would flip it to the other. Meanwhile, I was preparing the rest of the salad by getting my greens into a bowl. Once the zucchini were cooked I combined them with the salad mix and added the lemon dressing. Last but not least, I sprinkled on the parmesan cheese and pepper to taste. You can make this salad your new spring go-to, enjoy! As the semester is a little over halfway complete, I think it is time to share a little motivation to keep you grooving during the last stretch!
1. Keep your eye on the prize- Remember all those New Year resolutions? Maybe lose 10lbs, make the dean's list? Now is the time to restore those resolutions and put all your energy into them. If you've fallen off the wagon, don't worry- it is never too late to keep trying! 2. Plan something special- After the long semester you're bound to want to treat yourself, right? Right. Now's the time to book that vacation you've been dreaming of, or make that appointment for a massage. By the end of the semester you know you're going to wish you had! 3. Practice patience and kindness- The end of the semester is a crazy time for everyone: your roommates, professors, even your landlord! With this in mind, remember to be patient with those around you as we are all experiencing the same thing in different ways. Hopefully these three tips will keep you motivated through the end of the school year! Good luck! xo, sydnee I think we can all agree that ice cream is a very important part of a healthy lifestyle, right? ;) We all love it, but sometimes our waistlines don't, or maybe our digestive system doesn't. Introducing....Halo Top. The low calorie low sugar, high protein ice cream alternative! This delicious treat ranges from 250-360 calories a pint, that's right- a pint! You can indulge without the guilt. So far I've tried birthday cake and chocolate chip cookie dough, both of which I recommend. We all know the stress of finals is real- so why not treat yourself?
xo, Sydnee When I picture Juicy Couture, it brings me back to the early high school days when everyone had to have the velour and terrycloth matching tracksuits. Juicy was obnoxious to say the least with large velour bags that said “Juicy” across them, or even sayings such as “I like Things.” (My Mother was so confused as to why I needed things with Juicy plastered all over them, but hey she went with it). The one thing I will never forget were the ginormous charm bracelets. I mean these things were so chunky there is no way someone could ever argue that they were practicalo when it came to having to write all day in class. But when a trend is a trend, you pick which pieces go along with your own personal aesthetic. JuicyCouture&UrbanOutfitters: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/category.jsp?id=JUICY#/ Juicy Couture & Vetements: http://vetementswebsite.com/ Juicy Couture itself: http://www.juicycouture.com/women-dresses-jumpsuits/l/102 Juicy & Kohl’s: https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-2849811/womens-juicy-couture-embellished-velour-hoodie-jacket.jsp?ci_mcc=ci&utm_campaign=JUICY%20COUTURE&utm_medium=CSE&utm_source=google&utm_product=61939318&CID=shopping15&gclid=CLuo59Xv9tICFcm4wAodj10NrQ&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CIa0_dXv9tICFVNOAQodXtQO-g We all know what Urban Outfitters is, but what is Vetements? Vetements is European, Parisian to be exact. Vetements is also basically a design collective to sum it up. The leader of this is named Demna Gvasalia, who previously worked for Balenciaga. Fun fact: Vetements translates to “clothes” and is pronounced “Vet-MAHN” But, don’t go racing to add these items to your cart as they aren’t exactly part of the college budget as you need to drop at least a grand to buy something. What I Do Not Understand: How can Juicy be priced at $129.00 for a hoodie at Urban Outfitters, and then $29.99 on sale at Kohl’s when they look EXACTLY THE SAME… Typically when brands do the whole off-price sector of their brand, you can easily tell the difference just by looking at it. But I must say, Urban does have some more streetwear oriented pieces vs. Kohl’s. I remember the days when I would save up $78.00 at Bergdorfs to get one short sleeved juicy jacket. But, now they are more affordable and reasonable as some hoodies are down to $54.00 at Urban. What Brittany is wearing: She is bringing out street style at it’s finest pairing this red Juicy Couture X Urban Outfitters hoodie dress with some tights. I absolutely love these tights which are also from UO, as they also make you do a double take looking like tall socks as well. The mix of the sexier tights with the more rugged hoodie is the perfect combo. The pop of red also goes perfectly with these Gucci sneakers that she finished the look with. (These she got studying abroad at a Gucci outlet). Overall I give this look an A as Juicy has toned down their look. The “Los Angeles” in the front discreetly is so much better than having JUICY across the chest. It’s no secret that I’m a highlighter queen (I actually counted how many I have, including palettes, and the number is quite extravagant). While I do love a glow that astronauts can see from outer space, there are days when I want something more subtle for a softer and natural look for everyday. If I’m going to an important meeting or interview, I do want to have a soft and healthy glow but I don’t want it to blind someone. Recently I ordered the Smashbox Spotlight Palette in Pearl from Sephora.com, and I can safely say that this product has been living in my makeup bag for the past two weeks. Upon opening up the compact, I thought to myself that this product didn’t appear that special. I was wrong. Once I actually applied these illuminating powders to my cheekbones, I realized how incredible it was. What I love most about these powders is that you can get a soft and ethereal glow or you can intensify it even more for that wow factor highlight. Also for those that have textured skin, this is such an amazing product for you because it won’t emphasize any bumps or uneven skin surface! This product comes in two shades, Pearl (for fair to light skin tones) and Gold (for medium to deep skin tones) and is retailed at Sephora, Ulta, and Smashbox.com for $35.00. Hope all of you beautiful babes are having an awesome day. Someone please drink some Starbucks for me because I’m going through withdrawal by cutting down my caffeine intake! Ciao!
Xo, Abby It's no surprise that Tim Hortons has made it's debut in Dinkytown some including myself never thought the day would come. This Canadian based chain made its way across the border to flourish on our beautiful Minneapolis campus. Thank you Canada. We can thank you for the affordable priced coffee, donuts, bakery goods, and the rest of your food! If it weren't your biggest American competitor Dunkin' Donuts, I'm glad it's you.
Nevertheless today I embarked on a mini Sunday brunching that comprised of me ordering a 10 pack of their famous Tidbits. Needless to say these exceeded my expectations. These little bit sized donuts come in a variety of flavors including apple fritter, honey dip, old fashion plain, old fashion glazed, chocolate glazed, sour cream glazed, blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, lemon and many more. I got many different flavors including a seasonal fan favorite (birthday cake) that even had colorful sprinkles. The best part was 10 of these little guys only cost me $2, it was truly the sweetest steal. Lemon is a natural energizer known for hydrating and oxygenating the body so that you feel revitalized and refreshed.
"When life gives you lemons, make lemon water."2. Increases mood 3. Full of Vitamin C 4. Beautifies skin 5. Detoxifies system 6. Aids in digestion 7. Speeds up metabolism I highly recommend the water bottles with the separate compartment for the lemon . . . I bought mine at Target! Denim has been huge lately, along with adding in fishnets for some added detail. Keshuana took a spin on this trending idea with adding normal black tights instead of fishnets. The abundance of laces makes up for the lack of detail and pattern in the tights. She has paired the bottom of the look with a tucked in black tank and black leather jacket. The leather jacket has diamond detailing along with arms helping to differentiate it from the main bodice of the jacket. The subtle tones of the brown and gold jewelry flow cohesively with the rest of the look. Her nails are a beautiful coffin shape in a robins egg blue. You can never have too many rips in your jeans: These jeans from A&F are great for so many different seasons. If it is a warmer day, the large holes throughout the fabric can cool you down. As for a colder day, the tights add a little extra layer of warmth. The great thing about this is that you can add your own flair. Whether you want to add some color under the rips or some patterned tights, your legs are your canvas. You can also cover up the tears or show them off with sandals or heels. The best part of these jeans, is that you can turn an old or used pair into these! Start ripping away. The only incentive to buying jeans this ripped is to have that great added fringe at the edge of each fabric line. Do not be afraid to try something new! Try out some tights, and or ripped denim this spring. |