Looking Back at 2016

2016 will always be a favorite...

It started off a little rocky but everything just fell into place. Between landing my dream job in my hometown to getting engaged (eeeek!!) this has been the best year ever! Greg and I often talk about how much we miss California, but quickly remember how much we love living back home and closer to our families and friends. Being a part of my nieces and nephews lives the last year was absolutely priceless.

2016 has some big shoes to fill but I have a feeling 2017 is going to be even better! I'm really looking forward to my golden birthday, finally sticking to my (third-annual) New Year's resolution to floss more and, of course, our WEDDING!

I also wanted to thank you for reading! This blog has been my creative outlet for the last 6+ years and it would be nothing but a digital diary without you, so thank you for following along with the outfits, recipes and big life moments in between! Wishing you all a very happy New Year!

Pencil Skirt

Pencil skirts aren't only for the office - I love to dress them up for date night.  For this outfit, I paired my black and cream knit pencil skirt with a body suit & leopard clutch. Finish it off with a dainty choker and red lip for a subtly festive party look. 

Hope you all have a safe & happy holiday with your loved ones! I'll be back next week sharing all of my favorite posts from 2016!

{outfit details}

Body Suit - Forever 21 (last worn here) || Pencil Skirt - Zara || Clutch - Clare V. c/o Shopbop (seen here & here) || Heels - Zara || Choker - Shore || Lipstick - NARS "cruella" || Nail Polish - Essie "a list"

White Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels

Looking for a holiday dessert that doesn't require baking? These pretzels could not be easier to make and are the perfect festive treat for anyone who loves salty & sweet! I'll be adding these to my annual Christmas cookie plates this year!

ingredients

1 bag of white chocolate chips (I like Ghiradelli)

4-8 candy canes, depending on how many pretzels you make

1 bag of rod-style pretzels

directions

Put candy canes in a ziplock bag and crush into pieces with a mallet or similar tool. In a microwave safe bowl, melt white chocolate chips according to package. Dip each pretzel into the melted chocolate and coat 3/4 of the way up, then immediately sprinkle with candy cane pieces. Place on a parchment paper covered baking sheet and chill in refrigerator for about an hour. Share & Enjoy!

Lipstick Tips

Talking about my favorite beauty product again - lipstick! I'm a huge fan of matte formulas, but that often comes with the unfortunate side effect of dry lips. I combat this by following 3 easy steps before applying lipstick.

{1}

b r u s h

The last thing I do in the morning when I'm getting ready for work is brush my teeth. When I'm done, I rinse the brush and gently brush my lips in a circular motion. This gets all the dry skin off and leaves my lips feeling soft and smooth.

{2}

b a l m

Next, I apply the tiniest bit of lip balm to seal in moisture - I like both EOS and Aquaphor. Be sure to only use a small amount since you don't want the shine to show through the lipstick, especially if it's matte. If you do add a little too much, lightly blot the excessive on a tissue.

{3}

l i n e

I don't reserve lip liner for only the outside edge of my lips. Starting at the center of the bow on my top lip I trace the outside edge all the way around, then lightly fill in the middle. I love MAC lip liner in "subculture" - it matches the natural color of my lips almost exactly so the shade of my lipstick is not comprised. This method also extends the lasting power of my lipstick - win win!

Uniform Remix

Not holding my breath any longer waiting for cooler temps and wearing some winter favorites, despite the current 75 degree weather. I've given my summer uniform an update - kept the cut-offs but replaced my go-to v-neck tee & gladiator sandals with a slouchy off-the-shoulder sweater and studded ankle booties. Perfect for these warm and windy days. I'm really looking forward to the weekend (as usual) - hopefully it turns out to be half productive and half relaxing. Wishing you guys a great one!

{outfit details}
Sweater - c/o Choies || Shorts - Levi's c/o Shopbop (also worn here) || Bag - Zara || Booties - Gianni Bini (last seen) || Sunglasses - Ray-Ban || Lipstick - Maybelline "burgundy blush" || Nail Polish - Vinylux "gilded pleasure"

Wedding Dress Shopping

Last Saturday I said yes to the dress! It was such a special day spent with my mom, my sister Whitney, my Aunt Patty & my cousin Nikki (and mimosas of course!) I had two appointments at different boutiques and tried on about 40 dresses. As soon as I came out of the dressing room wearing "the one," Nikki started tearing up and then we all started getting a little emotional. It was so surreal to see myself in a wedding gown - I really feel like a bride now! I'm keeping the details of my dress a secret since I want the big reveal moment with Greg but I can't wait to share it with you all after the wedding!