Showing posts with label Fashion. Show all posts

Festival Style


I don't go to as many concerts and festivals as I used to in the past but last night I booked flights, along with some friends, to Denver to see one of our favorite bands perform at the Red Rocks Amphitheater. It couldn't be more of a dream come true. K and I visited Denver last year but didn't make it out to Red Rocks which was high up on my list of things to do so this year I'm making it happen.

Friday Faves


Happy Friday lovely friends!

I'm relieved the weekend is here to relax a little but also entertain my in-laws as this is the first time they're visiting our new home. I had a late start at putting this post together so I'll keep it short and sweet just like I hope today plays out in anticipation of the weekend.

Friday Faves


As always I'm relieved it's Friday! I can't even complain that I had a crazy week or anything because it was quite stress-free for a change. I'm just looking forward to a fairly quiet weekend with no big plans or traveling so I can enjoy some downtime at home.

Off The Shoulder Swing Dress


Beach Please


I mentioned earlier this week that we decided to do something different this weekend instead of hosting our usual Easter dinner for friends. It didn't take a lot of convincing to get K to agree to a beach getaway, especially since he had enough hotel points to cover our accommodations. As much as we love enjoying the company of friends, I think we're both a little exhausted from our work schedules and really need a break to relax.

I think everyone knows I'm a beach baby at heart and love all the beach fashion, accessories, and the essentials for a beach trip.


Bikinis
Of course bikinis are one of my favorite things to shop for and Target has been bringing out some impressively cute styles for an affordable price.

one / two / three / four / five / six

Beach Coverups
Most of these coverups are from Kohl's and I've noticed they've also recently stepped up their game in the swimwear and beachwear department.
one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine


 Other Beach Essentials



Happy Easter weekend everyone!

We're on our way to enjoy some sweet sunshine and much needed R&R.

Spring Casual



Fashion inspiration has started to hit home as the warmer days are settling in. As casual and pretty basic this outfit is for a sunny Spring day, it's my definition of comfortable weekend attire.




The Accessories

Lauren Conrad Rose Gold Sandals  *  Kendra Scott Danielle Earrings
Michael Kors Chelsea AviatorsFossil Rose Gold Watch






The Outfit

Fashion Faves & Looks from the Past


Happy Friday!

It's evident I'm not much of a fashion blogger but I do love shopping and fashion in general so every now and again I find some inspiration. My outfits range from beachy to sporty casual and, on very rare occasions, dressy/elegant.

The weather this week almost hit the 90's during the day which has me dreaming of laying by the pool this weekend. I'm in desperate need of some Vitamin D, of course with lots of SPF. 

Kimonos, coverups, mirrored sunglasses, and all the cute things in between for Spring (which is like Summer in Florida) are on my mind. The evenings can still be chilly enough for jeans and a jacket.


Looks from the Past
 

A mix of casual, beachy, and dressy. Can you tell I'm a huge fan of crossbody purses?

Fun with Friends
 

Recent Casual
 




Enter our fashion giveaway!

Favorite Products & Purchases


After a super busy work week, I could definitely use a little downtime so my brain and body can relax.

The flowers in the photo above are from Valentine's day. I've said it before, I'm not a huge sucker for flowers but if you really want to give me flowers, carnations are my absolute favorite. They last long and are inexpensive. It's been almost two weeks and they look just as vibrant as in the photo.

On to some fashion, beauty, and home decor favorites...

The President's Day sales last weekend had me browsing and shopping around for good deals. I wasn't really in the market for new clothes but I picked up a few pieces for work and play at Kohl's.
one  /  two  /  three  / four

I was on the hunt for a cute yet smallish backpack for traveling and finally chose this one. Earlier this week I shared all the fun adult backpacks that Target has on the shelves (or online) so it was a tough decision choosing the right one.

I compare Formula 10.0.6 skincare products to the NYX brand in terms of great value for price. I've been using the skin toner for a couple years now and it's my absolute favorite...with a $6 price tag.
 The mattifying moisturizer works wonders with oil-control in the Florida heat/humidity (the only thing is it doesn't contain SPF.)
The newest product to me is the 3-in-1 Wash + Scrub + Mask which exfoliates and fights blackheads. I tried this mask for first time over the weekend and my face felt silky soft and so clean afterwards.

Happy Friday and I hope you have the best weekend!

Fun Adult Backpacks

I recently decided I needed a small backpack not only for traveling but also for the theme parks so I can fit a sweater, snacks, a water bottle and so on in there. Target came to the rescue! When I saw all the cute styles they had on the shelves I didn't know where to begin. It was tough choosing just one but I summed it down to three favorites based on the durability of the material and of course cuteness.

My favorite three are in the top row below but I wanted to share all the other backpack styles I was tossing up between. I eventually decided on "the one" and purchased it for 25% off during the President's Day sales over the week.


one  /  two  /  three
four  /  five  /  six
seven  /  eight  /  nine


Which one is your favorite?

Nice to See You Friday


I've been spotty with getting a post ready in time for Friday with my work schedule and other life events but today I have some fun things to share.

Boots, Books, Beauty, Baking & Bands.

All B's...somehow it worked out that way so I'm rolling with it!

Boots
I've bought 3 pairs of boots in the last couple weeks. All black. Maybe a little over the top but after moving and digging through my stuff, I remembered many of my black boots were given to Goodwill since they all had a good amount of miles on them so I'm starting fresh this "winter".
 one / two / three

Books
I'm wayyy late to the game on this but I've been "audio-reading" Eat, Pray, Love this week on my commute. Last week I finished reading The Couple Next Door which was a crazy, mind-boggling suspense book (that I thoroughly enjoyed) but it was time to change the pace and I feel this soul-searching book was the right decision.

image via

Beauty: Hair Products
My hairdresser convinced me a while ago that sulfate-free hair products are the way to go for my color-treated hair in terms of moisture retention and keeping my blonde looking vibrant.

shampoo / conditioner / 10-in-1 Elixir

I was pleasantly surprised when Influenster sent me these three L'Oreal EverPure hair products complimentary for testing purposes because they contain some main ingredients that I look for that are gentle on your hair and are 100% sulfate-free. I've washed my hair a handful of times now using all 3 products and my hair has been silky smooth since. I have to the say Elixir is one of my favorite products for detangling and using as a heat protector since I blow-dry my hair quite often.

Beauty: Lip Products
The Murad Age Reform Soothing Lip Care is quite possibly the most amazing thing that ever touched my lips. My Ethestician introduced me to it last weekend when I went for a facial and I hesitated to purchase the $22 product but I went home I found it for a more affordable price on Amazon.


Baking
I'm always on the hunt for new recipes since we tend to have the same rotation of meals for dinner during the week. K has mastered the art of cooking Chicken Cordon Bleu which is one of my favorite dishes so I was immediately intrigued by this Sundried Tomato and Cheese Stuffed Chicken recipe from SkinnyTaste. I can't wait to try it!


Bands
This one has me the most excited because I don't go to concerts often enough. We have tickets to see Florida Georgia Line this weekend so you already know I'm ready to get the weekend started!


All favorites aside, didn't we just ring in the new year and it's already the last weekend in January?

I hope you enjoy a weekend full of your own favorites.

Friday Favorites

With Monday being a work holiday, this week seemed to just fly by which is always a great feeling! After the busyness of the holidays, I'm welcoming a fairly relaxing weekend which is perfect since the weather forecast isn't looking good!

 
On Fridays I usually post about some favorites from the week. Today I wanted to change it up and share favorites that are relevant to the theme of my blog (all listed in my navigation bar above).

Martinis & Bikinis is a Lifestyle Blog so I talk about a hodge podge of things which inherently means these are the things I love and enjoy doing.

Orlando Living

I talk about my weekend whereabouts and all the things I love about my city including my favorite sushi restaurants, happy hour hot spots...and other fun things to do.


Travel
I have a huge passion for traveling so this comes in 2 parts...

Travel Planning
The only trip I have signed and sealed for 2017 is Boston in the Spring and I'm super excited about planning out the details of that trip!

I'm sure there will be other travel adventures throughout the year once we figure out our work schedules.

 via

Travel Recaps
A recent one was our company Cruise to the Bahamas last month and how much fun we had exploring Nassau.

That's me learning how to use a selfie stick. Still don't own one.

Style & Fashion

I'm a shopper at heart but I like to find the best deals and stock up when things are on sale. I mainly share fashion and beauty products that are very affordable, not that $3000 purse that nobody can afford. 


Recipes

I love cooking and sharing new recipes. Sundays are usually when I have time to try a new recipe and share the details on the blog. My recipe posts have slowed down recently but I do plan to share some healthy new recipes for 2017 such as this Jalapeno & Swiss Stuffed Chicken dish.

My Life: Family & Friends

With all of the fun things aside, I don't share too much details of my family life to keep a level of privacy from the internet creepers.


What I can tell you is....
- K and I have parents that are still married (40+ years)
- We both have one sibling - both sisters
- Our extended family is huge on both sides & very close knit
- We have no kids but Lola is the love of our life (and a handful enough)
- We have a great group of friends in Orlando 
- Both of our best friends are from childhood days

Happy (almost) weekend and I hope the weather treats you better wherever you are!

Swimsuits: Cute with Coverage


My company booked a 3-day cruise to the Bahamas this weekend for employees to relax and vacation after our huge annual seminar last week which tends to get stressful for us organizing the details during crunch time. While I love all my bikinis and even some of the "itsy" bottoms from Victoria's Secret, I went shopping for some swimsuits that had a little more coverage for this company vacation. I haven't worn a one-piece swimsuit since childhood but, with all the cute styles out there now, I'm ready to give it a go again! 

Strappy Back One Piece  //  Strappy Back Macrame Monokini

Target seriously came good this year with their fashionable tankinis and one-piece swimsuits (which are mostly all on clearance right now) and Express surprisingly also had some really cute styles that offered coverage.

With Hurricane Matthew now on the radar for this week, I'm not sure if we will even be going on the cruise but I presume it will be rescheduled for another weekend. At this point, I'm more concerned about the Hurricane and what it may bring our way and to everyone in it's path. The swimsuits I bought will be inevitably worn at some point.

Prayers!

21 Gifts for Fashion Forward Ladies

Shopping has been on the back burner for me the past few months other than for the essentials and random things from Amazon. It's the pretty things I've been avoiding by not clicking on that email from my favorite shop offering BOGO on jeans or some other irresistible sale. Online browsing leads to online purchasing, well it does in my case, so I've done a decent job at avoiding it.  Until recently.

It just so happens the majority of ladies in my life (my sister, mom, favorite cousin, and a ton of girl friends) have birthdays towards the end of the year, and with 2016 technically being half way through, browsing happened over the weekend.

Building a wishlist has to start somewhere so these are some of my favorite finds:

I'm clearly adoring all the soft colors for clothing yet shiny and glittery for accessories. And those coasters are my favorite for the home!
 

Faux Fashion

When it comes to faux fashion I automatically think of faux leather or fur vests but there are so many other cute styles out there that are worth taking for a spin in the dressing room. I've always loved faux leather tights but they are not flattering on my body type yet I do love how they look on women in general. The relaxed fit of faux suede has been on my radar along with some other faux pretties under $50:
one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine / ten / eleven / twelve


I've only just begun dipping my toes into faux fashion but I hope to add some of these cute and affordable pieces to my closet when the prolonged shopping freeze comes to an end.


Do you have any faux favorites?

Lace Looks


Lace is one of those fabrics that automatically adds a feminine touch to any outfit. I have a handful of lace-detailed dresses that I bring out for special occasion but I've been browsing some more casual looks for the summer. There are so many affordable and cute options out there from lace-back tops to shorts with a subtle lace trimming as well as rompers and even swimsuits. These are some of my top picks:
one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eightnine / ten / eleven / twelve


Do you have any favorite lace pieces in your wardrobe?

Satin Sleepwear


I was browsing through Victoria's Secret in the mall over the weekend and remembering how much I love soft and silky sleepwear yet I only own one satin robe. I've always wanted silk or satin sheets for the pure comfort factor but have never managed to find the right set. When it comes to pajamas and sleepwear they have so many cute options out there. Here's a few I found:
one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight
And some cute sleep masks could never hurt to make sure you get a good night of sleep.

What's your sleepwear essentials or favorites?

Crochet Dresses under $50

Crochet clothing has been on my mind lately. I recently bought a pair of crochet shorts and ended up going back to buy the same pair in a few more colors because of how comfortable and cute they are from Spring/Summer. I have a couple tops with crochet detailing but one thing I don't own is a pretty crochet dress so I was browsing around and found some pretty styles with reasonable price tags.


one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight


I apologize for the radio silence the past few days. I hope to be back in action tomorrow to get caught up on your posts and responding to emails.

XOXO

Loving Lately: Fashion

 
Spring is a tricky season to dress for here in Florida because it can surprise you with 80-degree weather one day followed by a random cold front bringing in 50-degree temps. Typically the days are warm and the nights can be chilly so you need to have to be prepared with a good mix of Spring and Summer outfits.

Over the last couple of years, Express has been my go-to store for good quality work and weekend clothing (other than my occasional bargain shopping at Marshall's or T.J. Maxx). I was recently searching for some outfits with cute patterns and pops of color that are comfortable and versatile for this time of year.


Elastic Waist Caftan  *  Deep V-Neck Bikini Bodysuit  *  Floral Sundress

My motto when it comes to clothing and shoes has always been comfort is key so that's what I was going for here. I know that anyone residing up north will probably classify these outfits as summer wear so I'm not trying to skip the seasons with these fashion finds. You can definitely be thankful you don't have to deal with the sweltering heat of Summers in Florida.

There's always that silver lining, right?

Rocksbox Finale



I sadly just cancelled my Rocksbox subscription after receiving my final box of goodies. I absolutely loved all the sparkly statement jewelry I received during the holidays and since then I've toned it down to more delicate/subtle pieces (mainly from Kendra Scott).

The truth is summer is coming up, life is slowing down (in the fancy department), and I simply don't have enough events to wear a bunch of jewelry to. The cool thing is you can take "breaks" and restart your subscription at any point if you want/need more pretty jewelry in your life for weddings or any other events.
 

If you're not familiar with how Rocksbox works, you can get unlimited designer jewelry for $19/month. You can borrow 3 pieces at a time (approximate value $200) and return the set at any point for a new set. The subscription includes free, prepaid shipping both ways (which saves a ton) and you can also purchase any pieces you love for a discounted rate.

Rocksbox Set #9
 
Kendra Scott
Jamie Silver Bracelet in Platinum Drusy


This bracelet is gorgeous and went so well with my watch so of course I decided to purchase it. Kendra Scott's platinum drusy stone is so shimmery and one of my favorites since I prefer to wear silver toned jewelry.
 



This Kendra Scott iridescent drusy necklace was very pretty too because once again I love sparkly stones. I wore it quite often for a few weeks but decided not to purchase because I prefer the platinum drusy stone as mentioned above.



This ring was very pretty but not really my style so I think I wore it once for novelty. It was a definite return but at least they got the silver and dainty aspect covered.


What I loved the most about my Rocksbox subscription was all the beautiful Kendra Scott pieces I received over the past few months (of course, I ended up purchasing 90% of those pieces). Once you're a Rocksbox member you can create a wishlist of items which your stylist will make sure to include in your upcoming boxes. This is key to receiving pieces that fit your style and are from designers that you love the most.


Here are some my previous Rocksbox sets and purchases:
one  /  two  /  three  /  four  /  five  /  six