One Fine Day

Every year in spring I search for dresses on Free People, because without fail they have the cutest ones. They're a little more expensive than I'd typically spend, but I think it's worth it to have at least one or two for the warmer weather. These are all of my favorite new arrivals! (The numbers correspond with the graphic above ❤️)

1. Surf City Smocked Mini Slip

2. One Fine Day Mini Dress (clearly this is one is a no brainer for me! 😉)

3. Retro Kitty Dress

4. Electric Daisy Set

5. Talk To Me Trapeze Slip

6. Sadie Tunic (only $68!)

7. 100 Degree Mini Dress

8. Extratropical Shiny Dress

9. Run Away With Me Embroidered Midi Dress

The colors of the last three are dreamy! I can't choose a favorite out of all of these, though....I want every one of them haha. #3 (the Retro Kitty Dress) is actually baby blue & white, but you can't really tell. I am a total sucker for that combo.

Tomorrow is Friday, friends! xoxo

We took a day trip to Carlsbad on Monday to see the glorious blossoms at the Flower Fields, and it was one of the best things I have ever experienced! It's a garden that has 50 sprawling acres of ranunculus in full bloom. The colors are so brilliant, you can't help but stare (and take LOTS of photos 😉).

When you first walk in, you'll immediately notice the delicate landscaping around the entrance. There are some caged birds and other scenic flowers, but you'll notice off to the left is an explosion of color!! You can take a tractor ride around the whole place, but we opted to explore on foot to see everything up close.








I had wanted to visit the fields for the past couple of years, but never made it due to the distance and the short duration the blooms are available. The flowers are strategically planted to bloom all together between March 1st and May 10, yielding just 10 weeks to observe the extraordinary scene. I also live about two hours away, so I had to really make a point of setting aside time to make it there within the allotted time frame.

Admission is $18 for adults, although, if you have a military member (active or veteran) in your party they admit everyone for the military price of $16. Parking is free and relatively easy to find, granted we were there on a Monday. There's a strawberry stand near the entrance, and the berries are the most delicious ones I've ever tried!! Make sure to get some while you're there. While we're on the subject, do not fall for the lemonade stand, I repeat, no lemonade! It's a cup with filtered water and a slice of lemon...and $7. Haha it didn't even taste that great! All in all, it was SO SO worth it to make the drive and spend the money - there is something so cheerful and uplifting about being surrounded by the blooms.

My dress is from a brand called Aqua that is sold exclusively by Bloomingdales, but it's from last summer. I found one this year from Red Dress Boutique that looks so similar to it, though! PS - details on my stripe sweater outfit will be coming to the blog shortly. I linked all the items in the widget below for now ☺️ xoxo

Hey, y'all! I am more than acquainted with that phrase now that I've been to Texas ;) I must admit, one of my favorite things about the people there is how they constantly refer to you as "y'all", hahah! Anyway, onto this romper.....yessss it really is less than $20 and so comfy! My mom actually got the exact same one, and she loves hers too. I think I'm going to order the white & black striped one next (it comes in 18 colors). My only complaint is the torso part of it is VERY long, but I was able to fold over the elastic in a way that made it fit me just right (I am 5"4.5 for reference).

I wore this with these wedges for a good part of the day, but my Adidas Superstars were much more ideal for climbing up and down stairs, waiting in line, and wandering around town. The sandals are definitely comfortable, but I can maneuver much more easily in flat shoes. Oh! And you HAVE to snag one of these jean jackets for $29.99. It is the perfect fit...not cropped/short, not oversized, and it runs TTS. Last thing - you can't miss these geometric hoop earrings. They're $8.99! I have been wearing them nonstop! Very lightweight + go with every outfit.





The Alamo was a pretty cool experience! We had to wait in line for about 20 mins, but admission is free. There isn't too much to see....it's basically empty inside, but the grounds are nice as well. More from my trip coming to the blog soon! xoxo

Seasonal staples are something I try to stick by - I love finding a few pieces that you can use over and over again to make multiple outfits! For this spring, I rounded up some things I think every girl needs in her closet for transitioning into warmer weather. Here they are!

1. Jeans 
I listed these as #1 because you'll probably have them in your closet for other seasons, too - no-brainer! For spring, I specifically like to have a good pair of white jeans on hand because they're so versatile. I just ordered these - they are around $30 + ship for free! I love adding bright colored tops/sweaters, neutrals, or jean jackets with them. I also keep a pair of medium wash, dark wash, and black jeans on hand - they all work for spring!

Current Favorites:
1. Levi's 721 Indigo Wash
2. Levi's 721 Rugged Indigo
3. Madewell Skinny Crop Jeans (size down)
4. Madewell High-Waist Skinny Jeans - Black Wash

2. Cardigans
Cardigans are a must for me in spring, because we have weather that is all over the place. It might be super chilly in the morning, but really warm (if not hot) by lunch time. I love navy blue, camel, or gray cardigans because they go with lots of different outfits. Another thing I love about them is they look cute with jeans and shorts!

Current Favorites:
1. Treasure & Bond Loose Stitch Cardigan in "Ivory"
2. BP. Ribbed Throw On Cardigan in "Grey"
3. A&F Open Front Cardigan
4. A&F Fuzzy Open Front Cardigan

3. Sandals
I have to have good sandals for spring!! There are so many cute styles available, and you can take them right into summer. Flats and wedges are my favorite things to wear with both jeans, shorts, and dresses. It's important to invest a little more in quality sandals - I've tried to buy cheaper ones in the past, and they don't last as long and really hurt your feet!

Current Favorites:
1. Sam Edelman 'Maura' Espadrille Wedge
2. Steve Madden Embellished Slide Sandal
3. Kaanas Knotted Slide Sandal
4. March Fisher 'Alida' Espadrille Platform Wedge
5. Leith Stunner Embellished Strappy Slide Sandal
6. Treasure & Bond Platform Wedge Sandal, under $35 dupe here

4. T-Shirt Dresses
Speaking of dresses, I love having a few in my closet for warmer days. I think the best dress you could have for this season is a t-shirt dress - you can add to it in so many ways! Add a denim jacket, a chambray shirt, a flannel shirt, sandals, sneakers....the list goes on and on.

1. A&F Pocket Tee Dress
2. Madewell Striped Retreat Dress
3. Old Navy Ruffle Sleeve Tee Dress
4. Amazon T-Shirt Dress



5. Denim Jacket
I've mentioned a couple of times in this post that some items are great paired with a jean jacket. Jean jackets are another thing that are great to have in your closet, especially since they are so cute with spring & summer outfits. I found a very affordable one this year that I loooove, so if you're in the market for one definitely check it out! (It's listed as #1 below)

Current Favorites:
1. Universal Thread Denim Jacket (under $30)
2. Madewell Denim Jacket
3. A&F Denim Jacket
4. BP. Denim Jacket

6. Round Rattan Bag
These bags were all the rage last year, and they're back again this year. They're hands-down my favorite bags to carry throughout spring and summer. They can be so inexpensive, too! They go with almost every outfit. PS - I love adding scarves or purse accessories to the handles.

Current Favorites:
1. Amazon Round Rattan Bag
2. Urban Outfitters Rattan Mini Circle Bag
3. Brixton Straw Circle Bag
4. A&F Wicker Crossbody Bag

There are sooo many other things I love for spring - I didn't include shorts, but I definitely will for the summer edition of this post! Anyway, I can't believe this weekend is St. Patrick's Day already. January took forever to get through, but March is FLYING by! I always get a green bagel on St. Paddy's Day. Western Bagel, only the best bagel place ever, sells them every March 17th. Can't wait!! xoxoxo

Just stopping by here for a quick post today to share how I styled one of the pieces I ordered from Red Dress Boutique! I did a mini try-on last week on my story, and this aquamarine top was part of it - I seriously love it!! It's right around $30, it super lightweight, and looks just like Free People. The cardigan is part of an additional 40% off sale,  and it is SO good. It's got thick, soft material and would look adorable with shorts. I didn't really make a photo op out of this outfit, so I only have two pics for ya :(

Soooo, Instagram's been down for 2 days (for me at least). It is actually quite nice to have a break from it if I'm being honest haha! I am addicted to that thing. Anyway, we headed to Santa Monica this morning to spend time at Third Street. It was a totally perfect day there....sun shining, perfect weather, and also tons of butterflies since they're migrating through CA. I kept meaning to take photos near the boardwalk because it was so gorgeous out, but it slipped my mind. I know, what kind of blogger am I?! Lol also I got these new jeans today that have a funny story behind them. I had them in my cart last night on Nordstrom since they're 30% off on there. I forgot to place the order, and my sister found the exact pair in my size (and it was the only pair left!) on clearance at Bloomingdales for $29! I was like !??! and got them right away! Ok maybe it's not that funny....but I do love my deals!

Okay, first things first - these are my favorite shoes for the upcoming season!! If you like the Chloe Glyn espadrilles, you will LOVE these dupes at less than 50% of the designer price tag. You're gonna be seeing this shoe everywhere - that I can guarantee. I was kinda busy when I first saw them, and when I went back to order them (only 1 hour later) they were sold out in every size and color on 5 different websites. I highly suggest getting them if they're in stock! (PS - I linked them to multiple websites in the widget at the end of this post in case some places are sold out)

Anyway, today is my one year anniversary of blogging!! AHH I can't believe I've been doing this for a whole year! I distinctly remember the day I decided to officially create my own website, and after I did it I ran to my room and hid from my laptop & phone, hahah! Needless to say, I was super shy about it, felt kinda silly, and was afraid of the response I would receive. Read below to hear more about my journey :)

I had followed other blogs for about a couple of years and always wished I could have one too. I never thought I had the courage, confidence, or "what it took" to be a blogger - I was so intimidated by it and completely underestimated myself. Looking back to my senior year of college, I remember telling friends and family I had no clue what I wanted to do career wise. Now, months later, I realize I did know all along...I just didn't think "blogger" was a possibility. I didn't know how to build a website, how to grow a presence online, or even just be consistent with posting. Before my blog, I only posted on IG every couple of weeks! With all these doubts swirling around in my head, I didn't even consider it. I've learned that blogging is where my passions truly lie, and it's something I would love to turn into a full-time career.

I've celebrated several blog-related milestones in the past year, including:
- Reaching my goal of 1,000 followers on Instagram
- Doing my first paid campaign
- Collaborating with local clothing boutiques
- Getting invited to join the rewardStyle team

Joining rewardStyle is my proudest achievement thus far. It's an invitation-only influencer program, and through it I earn a small commission each time someone buys something I post either in the LIKEtoKNOW.it app or on my blog. Monetizing my material was a HUGE step for me, as I put countless unpaid hours into my content before then - I had been working towards getting accepted with LTK.it for a long time!! When I got an email inviting me to apply, I was absolutely shocked - I didn't think they even knew my page existed!

Although it may not seem like it, blogging requires many hours of work each week...20, 30, 40+ hours. Planning posts, writing posts, proofreading, shopping online, linking shop-able items, taking photos, editing photos, planning photo locations and what to wear in those photos, and being active on multiple platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, etc).....all of that takes a LOT of time and creativity. So finally earning some money off of my hard work made me feel much more validated, not to mention motivated. It's not to say that I don't have doubts and feel like giving up at times, because I definitely struggle with questions like, "Why am I doing this?" or, "Am I totally wasting my time?" But creating posts and interacting with people constantly encourages me to continue to pursue blogging.

With all of this said, I am extremely grateful to be able to work at building my own brand - if it wasn't for my family, I would not be in a position to put so much effort into it. And I want to thank all of you who continually read my posts & support me online - it truly means the world! I wouldn't be able to do any of this without a following. Especially after having several "friends" unfollow me, it makes my day to have loyal readers on my team. I don't know where this blog is going or if it will ever be a success, but I am so appreciative of the opportunities I've been given up to this point.

Love you all! Here's to another year of blogging ❤️ xoxo

Hey guys! In case you couldn't tell from my past few posts, I love mixing affordable fashion with more expensive pieces. This top I'm wearing is $5 (yes, five!), but my shoes & jeans are both around $75. I have been finding a ton of cute tops from Shein - I like everything I've ordered so far. Their straw bags are a hit too - really affordable! I styled two different ones here. Also, these Sam Edelman platforms are from last year, and I'm so happy they're back this year! They're surprisingly easy to walk in and quite comfortable...I think the platform helps with balance (sounds funny hah). PS - I found them on clearance for $39 in a blush color here!

We have another storm going here, hence the cloudiness in these photos. I planned on going somewhere to shoot this outfit, but it started lightly raining right as I finished getting ready to leave the house. I ended up just snapping some pics in front of the garage - they sort of worked out! BTW - I did a mini try-on (3 items) with Red Dress Boutique over on my Instagram stories....shared three pieces that I ended up loving, check it out if you can!

Anyway, I'm going to be rounding up some shoes for a Spring Shoe Review coming up in the next few posts...so excited for that!! xoxo