Dressing for Fall with Tobi Part 2!

Okay, so funny story...I knew that I loved plaid, but I didn't realize that it was taking over my wardrobe until I looked at these photos collectively. I hope you guys are ready for this because I've managed to accessorize all 3 outfits in today's post with plaid hahaha :)

I love this first dress so much. I knew it was going to be a versatile piece when I chose it and it has proven that to be true. I wore it a few weeks ago when it was still hot outside styled more for summer and it was great, it's got the 3/4 sleeves so it's appropriate for fall and stripes are "in" all year so it's incredibly easy to make it work with anything, anytime. I decided to pair it with *the* blanket scarf for some pattern mixing and to give it more fall vibes on a day that ended up warming up a bit, with some flats and it was just perfect.

Partner in Crime Striped Dress 

We ended up going to a local farm and picked apples for the first time last weekend so I was so excited to do that! We got up extra early so it was nice and chilly outside so I decided to wear this fleece shirt with the cut out shoulders. Let me tell you guys...this shirt is WARM! I know the shoulders are cut out, but it's really cozy. Again, I decided to tie a plaid shirt around my waist for some color and to feel more "fall". I'm sorry, I know I need to bust out a thesaurus because I keep saying it, but I just loved this top and this outfit.

Georgia Cold Shoulder Fleece Sweater

The last outfit I have not had a chance to wear yet but I can't wait to! It's this chic black dress with a scalloped hemline. For fall, I will have to pair it with my favorite booties and this plaid cape I got last year. The cape comes down to the perfect place on the dress so that the scalloped hemline still pokes through at the bottom. I couldn't resist the scallops, I mean, come on...

Wonder Why Scallop Shift Dress


So that's it for this Tobi collab! It was so fun for me and I'm so pleased with the pieces that I chose. Overall, I'm super impressed with the items and the quality and I would 100% recommend that you guys check them out on their website http://www.tobi.com/!

What was your favorite outfit??

Dressing for Fall with Tobi!

YOU GUYS. 

I'm actually obsessed with everything you're going to be seeing in today's post and my next post. The lovely people at Tobi (http://www.tobi.com/) were kind enough to send me some items for fall and I couldn't be happier with my selections.

First up is this cowl neck sweater dress. This dress is SO soft for starters. The back is completely open which I was unsure about but I just loved the front so much that I knew I could work with it. Now that I have it, I actually love the open back because it's a great way to showcase an interesting top like I did here with stripes, but you could also leave it open or just wear something plain underneath. I want to try it with a camouflage top underneath, I think that would be a fun contrast! I just want to cuddle up and do festive fall things when I'm wearing this one :) 

Ayda Cowl Neck Sweater Dress// Thrifted turquoise ring// Pandora ring// Boots

The second dress for today I love so much because of the color and the waffle knit. Also, it's a shift dress, which is my favorite, and it has pockets! Basically I just love everything about this dress #sorrynotsorry.

I'm a big fan of booties and dresses for this transitional time of year so that's how I decided to pair these pieces.

Corlette Pocket Shift Dress// Cardigan// Booties// Forever 21 Necklace-Old// Steve Madden Bag- Old

What are some of your go-to pieces for fall? And stay tuned for my next post with more fall outfit ideas!

First Pumpkin Spice Latte of the Season

A few weekends ago I woke up and it was slightly chilly outside and Pumpkin Spice Lattes had just come back out. Being the pumpkin lover that I am, I got up, got ready and was off to get my first one of the season! Not that this post is necessarily about the drink, but I did opt for the iced version because as you can see, it was still warm enough for shorts and sandals.
It was such a gorgeous day outside so we decided to go for a stroll around the lake and sip on our yummy fall drinks.
I actually quite liked this outfit despite how simple and kind of boring it was. I was just wearing my J Crew black shorts, a plain black tank and this really cute oatmeal colored cardigan that I got from...Costco! Sometimes you can find some really nice gems at good ol' Costco. Fun fact: this was the first time I wore black on black in literally years. I used to wear black on black everyday because I got into the habit when I worked at Ulta and I loved it so much for a period of time even my professors (in large lectures, at that) would comment on how much I must love wearing black!
What is your go-to comfy outfit on these days transitioning from one season to another?

Snow Day OOTD

A couple of weeks ago I was one of the lucky people whose area got about 30 inches of snow dumped on them in a couple of days! I love to watch snow fall because where I'm from originally it didn't snow very often so it was always a treat to get to see it. It's just so peaceful and pretty. Also, I don't know about your neighborhoods, but in mine no one really talks to each other too much, just friendly waves here and there. However, when it snows it's almost like a bonding activity that takes place while everyone shovels themselves out- kind of funny! :)
The only think I don't love about snow is that for a couple of days it's usually too dangerous to drive anywhere so you start to get a little cabin fever. It's really just that feeling of knowing you can't leave that makes it so much worse! So, to try to combat that a little, we got bundled up and took a little walk in our neighborhood to at least get out of the house for a few minutes.
I got these awesome fleece-lined leggings that are made for winter sports off of Amazon and I put a pair of stretchy black pants over the top for even more warmth. I wore my longer puffy coat over top, which I love because it helps keep my legs warmer too. Also, by the way my coat is from Costco, just like my boots that I got there last year! And yes, I had to buy THE blanket scarf that is a pre-rec. for every fashion blogger (or pretend fashion blogger in my case) to own. Surprisingly, I have only worn it maybe twice? Not sure I'm a fan of how large it is!
We're supposed to get a little more snow tomorrow! Have you gotten any where you live so far this year?

Pumpkins & Plaid OOTD

Plaid Shirt: Costco (by Jach's Girlfriend), Black Skinnies: Belk (by Love Fire),  Flats: Steve Madden, Bag: Tory Burch, Sunglasses: Rayban, Bracelet: Alex and Ani Dove of Peace

This outfit is basically my fall uniform. I love these black skinnies that are basically like leggings because they're super comfortable and they go with everything. I was also really excited to find the plaid shirt I'm wearing at Costco because it's actually a plaid color combination that I like, is soft, thick AND it has snap buttons. Oh, AND it has cool cuffs. 

I love to wear flats on days that it starts out a little chilly and ends up in the low 70's and this pair is my go-to (and actually needs replacing soon!)

We haven't been to a proper pumpkin patch or fall festival yet, but I do like going to this local nursery during the fall to see what goodies they have out! I ended up getting a few small pumpkins to put around the house :)

What staples are your go-to for fall?

One-piece Swimsuits

Scalloped/Patterned/Crochet/High-waisted

It's almost officially summer (although the temperatures are already saying summer!) so it's that time of year that everyone's vacationing and relaxing by some form of water. Whether you're going to a beach, pool, waterpark or what have you, you've probably eyed this year's swimsuits and the style I've been drawn to is the one-piece!

They're good for so many reasons...hiding areas you're not comfortable with, showing off areas you are comfortable with, if you're a little modest or just want to try something different! I think one-piece swim suits can be really chic, especially paired with accessories (if you're into that) and/or a high bun and that's why that's what I'm  into for this year!

I didn't choose all Target swimsuits for any reason, I just happened to like these the best. Let me know what you think!

Alex and Ani Bracelets First Impressions

If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen that I started my Alex and Ani bracelet collection on the 16th. I've been wanting to start a little collection for months now and I decided that I was just going to do it!

There are a few things that I want to make sure I cover when I talk about these so I'm going to divide my "review" into categories so here goes!

The Packaging: I bought my bracelets from Reed's Jewelers so I'm not 100% sure if they're packaged the same everywhere, but I would assume so. Mine came in a little black box with "Alex and Ani" written in a gold metallic and on the front of the box where you pull it up to open it, it has a gold foil American flag in the shape of a heart. Not that it's the most important part, but the packaging gets a thumbs up from me, I think it's classy, cute and on trend.

Each bracelet that you get has a meaning behind the charm and comes with a card for each individual one explaining the traits of the charm. There is also a nice write up on the back going into more detail which I think is a really nice touch and something that I'll keep.

The Design: What I really like about the design of their bracelets is that they are easy to take on and off. You don't have to mess around with trying to close a clasp or a lobster claw, you don't have to ask a family member or someone at work to help you- you just adjust the size and slip them on. I definitely appreciate the simplicity of getting them on and off because I'm the type of person that won't bother with jewelry if I'm going to struggle with it.

Some of their bracelets are leather, some are beaded, some have just their classic charm. They have a lot of finish options, from the Rafaelian gold and silver that I got to shiny silver, shiny gold, gold/silver plated, gold filled, rose gold, etc. so there is something for everyone.

Also, a lot of the bracelets come with 3-4 small charms in addition to your main charm that say "made in USA", "infused with + energy", the recycle symbol because they're recycled material and if you got a special bracelet for a charity or something along those lines a charm will tell you that too. I just like them because I feel like they're neat little extras that are included.

Just in general, I think that they are simple, pretty and easy to stack together and with other pieces.

The Concept: The overall concept is sustainability, economic growth, being made in America and utilizing positive energy. Each symbol has a special meaning and is "intended to empower the wearer." I highly recommend you read their "About" page to learn more in depth about their process.

Overall: Their bracelets range in price from $25-$300 with a majority of them being around the $28 mark. I feel like the price is reasonable for a nice quality piece that's made in America. Also, I do like that they make higher quality pieces like sterling silver, 14k gold filled, etc. and of course that they help remind me to think positively. 

If you're interested in their bracelets I would recommend you go to a store before you buy online just so you can try them on and get a feel for them first. Even though my Reed's Jewelers experience was just fine, I would also recommend you try to go to an actual Alex and Ani store because Reed's doesn't have a huge selection and at mine things get sold out quickly. 

What I'm interested to see is how they are over time and whether or not they tarnish because there are a lot of restrictions with these which does make me nervous. As of right now, though, I'm pretty happy!

Let me know if you have any of these and your experience with them!