It's that time of year again when I bust out the ankle boots...sort of. Southern California weather probably never truly calls for boots, but we make do for the sake of style. My tried and true Blondo waterproof boots have seen better days, so this year, I thought I'd opt for a similar style by one of my favorite ethical brands. These Classic Chelsea boots check all of my boot requirement boxes- ankle height: check, low heel: check, classic pointed toe: check! I was so delighted when Nisolo agreed to send them to me and partner with me on this post.

The Classic Chelsea boots come in four neutral colorways, are beautifully crafted with a water-resistant leather upper, and fit true to size. However, the website does recommend ordering a half-size up if you plan to wear them with thick socks. I'd about have a heat stroke if I wore these with thick socks, so my normal size works perfectly for me.

Considering there is no zipper opening, they slide on my feet quite easily, and are also extremely comfortable. I have fairly narrow feet, so the toe point fits me well, but I could see it being a bit on the tighter side for wider feet.

Between quarantine and a new baby, I have very little reason to dress up. However, I have taken every opportunity to wear these beauties when I do happen to venture outside.

Nisolo is currently offering 15% off your total order with code: GOODTIDINGS, so if there was something you had your eye on for the holidays, now might be a good time to order.

*Thank you to Nisolo for partnering with me on this post!

Happy New Year! I hope you had a restful and enjoyable holiday season and that you were able to spend quality time with loved ones. I went back to work last Thursday and we took down all of our Christmas decor on Sunday, so I'm feeling a little melancholy, as is often the case for me during the month of January. However, I am determined to not let the Winter Blues get me down too much because I just know it's going to be a great year!

Today, I have a really exciting post to share with you, as it features this beautiful Clyde Jacket from inimitable designer extraordinaire, Elizabeth Suzann. When I reached out to the ES team towards the end of 2019 about a potential collaboration, I was floored and beyond delighted that they agreed to gift me this work of sartorial art, and boy oh boy, it did not disappoint. Every time I wear it, I feel like I'm living out my fantasy of being a hip artist who lives in a third-floor walk-up in Williamsburg, works as a barista at a nearby coffee shop during the day, and whose entire apartment is littered with oil paints and drying canvases. You laugh, but you know exactly what I mean.

So let's talk about the details of this jacket. I selected the midweight linen in the color flax because I just love the natural look of it. The one problem with linen is that it obviously wrinkles very easily, so having a steamer on-hand is very helpful. And while linen does not provide a lot of warmth, I think it's a great option for people who live in climates that don't get too cold or as a transitional piece between Winter and Spring.

I ordered a size large based on the height and measurements of model, Nyamuoch, in the website photos. While the overall fit and cut is meant to be somewhat boxy and oversized, I was admittedly a little nervous, since I have a very long torso. However, I found both the trunk and sleeve lengths to work quite well for me, and I like the loose drape, as I'm able to layer heftier sweaters underneath.

Let's talk about the price because I know it may cause sticker shock for some. The linen Clyde jacket sells for $245, but let's talk about why. I'm still fairly new to the world of ethical and sustainable fashion, so it's been an adjustment to shift my mindset and shopping habits from spending less money for multiple (most likely low quality) items to spending more money for a single well-made garment, but I'm also learning that I'm not only paying for an item that will be part of my wardrobe for years to come, but also for employees to be paid fairly, for sustainable fabrics and packaging, and for small businesses to thrive.

In summary, the Clyde jacket is a dream come true and every bit as lovely as I knew it would be. I see a long and fruitful relationship in our future.

Hey, friends! Coming at you with some hot off the presses blog content today! I've been getting lots of requests for a curated post of my favorite pieces from the brand, Everlane. Well, folks, ask and you shall receive.

If you've been following my blog and/or Instagram, you know that my love for Everlane runs deep and wide and has spanned across the past four years. That's like a solid committed relationship. Everlane may as well leave a toothbrush at my place because things are serious.

1. The Form Mini Bag: This has been my go-to bag literally everyday since I ordered it. It's the perfect size to carry everything I need, i.e. phone, wallet, sunglasses, keys, chapstick, but not over-stuff it and give myself neck and shoulder problems. The magnetic closure is handy for someone like me who cannot be bothered to zip up a bag every time it's opened, but also doesn't want things falling out of it willy nilly. I also love how the canvas strap contrasts with the leather body to give it more of a casual feel.

2. The Easy Raglan Tee: I wish I had known about this tee sooner. Quite frankly, I wish I had known what "raglan" meant sooner. For anyone who doesn't know, it just means the torso and sleeves of the shirt are all one piece, instead of how traditional shirts have separate sleeves sewn on. For this very reason, this shirt just works for me! I love the relaxed fit and it has the perfect amount of slouch, without making me feel like I'm wearing one of my dad's undershirts. I also thoroughly appreciate that it's completely opaque. Can I get an, "amen!"?

3. The Cheeky Straight Jean: The first pair of Everlane jeans I ever tried on gave me the impression that I did not, in fact, like Everlane jeans. They ended up being too tight, and we all know how that can sometimes chip away at our self-confidence. Well, last month when we were in New York, I decided to give them another try, albeit, in a different fit. I give you the Cheeky Straight Jeans: the perfect cool girl denim you've always wanted. The best part is, they only cost $78.

4. The Cotton Turtleneck: Last Fall and Winter, I went all in on turtlenecks. I ended up spending a bunch of money on sweaters from a variety of stores like Aritzia, H&M, and Madewell, but none of them seemed to fit the bill. I'm still convinced that one particular sweater had it out for me and attempted to murder my via asphyxiation every time I tried to put it on. Before long, I discovered the Cotton Turtleneck from Everlane. From the moment I put it on, it was as if all of my previous turtleneck woes were washed away on a river of itchy fabrics and broken dreams.

5. The Glove Boot ReKnit: These sleek babies were gifted to me by the lovely people at Everlane. I had serious reservations about them because one- I don't have the slimmest of calves and I was worried they'd hug mine too tightly, and two- I was not convinced that they'd be very comfortable. Well, I'm here to tell you that my voluptuous calves do, in fact, fit perfectly fine, and that I can wear them for hours without any issues. They also come in some really great colors!

6. The Texture Cotton Crop Cardigan: I love how versatile this little cardigan is. Sometimes I layer it over another top and sometimes, I wear it all on its own because I'm scandalous like that. It's the perfect length for the cool-girl front tuck, but also looks great untucked. The one thing I would say about this sweater is that I did size down one size from my normal based on the sizing the models were wearing, and I feel like that was the right decision.

7. The Corduroy Chore Jacket: This jacket was something I tried on (in the middle of the store, no less) on a whim while visiting the new Williamsburg location last month. Truth be told, I thought it looked kind of weird on the hanger. The second I put it on however, I actually said out loud, "Oh, wait...this is actually really nice." I feel like corduroy is such a timeless fabric and a chore jacket never goes out of style, so I know I will be wearing this for years to come.

8. The Silky Cotton Lantern Top; I love how this top deviates ever so slightly from a traditional button-down. I think the v-neck and the puffed sleeves add a feminine touch to an otherwise simple top. I would also like to point out that as someone who is 5'10, I really appreciate that Everlane button-down shirts are long enough for my torso that I can fully tuck them in, which is obviously a must, since I typically wear them to work.

That about rounds up my top 8 Everlane picks! I'll be honest, it was a challenge to narrow down my list to only 8 items. I tried to choose things that were easy to wear in a variety of settings and a variety of different outfit combinations. I would say that I also selected things that I know won't go out of style, but one of the many things I love about Everlane is that they make quality basics that stand the test of time. Let me know in the comments if you would wear any of these items and/or what your favorite Everlane pieces are!

This is my first blog post in over a year. I would say I'm sorry to have stepped away from this space for so long, but in all honestly I think I needed that time away for several reasons. One: I had reached a point where posting here felt more like a chore than a passion, two: I was struggling with some pretty severe depression that I was doing my best to ignore, quite unsuccessfully, I might add, and three: I felt uninspired and lacking in creativity.

Am back because I feel 100%? No, but I have missed it. I've missed getting to write down my thoughts and share with all of you. I've missed the process of brainstorming ideas and putting together posts. I've missed hearing from you guys.

So here were are again, but a little it different. I've decided to establish some healthy ground rules for myself; for my mental health, for my wallet, to create margin in my life.

1. For the time being, I will not have a formal posting "schedule." I plan to post when I feel inspired and have the drive to create something or I have something important to say.
2. I will only post content that interests me, and not simply things I assume others want to see. While I hope that this is a space for you to enjoy, it is first and foremost mine. For example, that means scaling back big time of buying into clothing trends. I've never considered my style "trendy," but when I first started blogging, I felt an overwhelming pressure to "keep up" with the latest styles and trends. Most of the time, they were not reflective of me at all, and ended up being pieces I would wear one time for a shoot and then never touch again, ultimately being donated somewhere down the road.
3. I will take photos primarily using my iPhone. Taking photos with my DSLR was time-consuming and draining. I spent forever editing and was still 100% never happy with how they turned out. Moving forward, you can expect to see a lot more casual, less stylized, everyday photos because guess what? That's what my life actually looks like!

If you're into these things, then I'm so happy to have you along for the ride. If not, I completely understand.

Hope ya'll have a great day!

This post contains affiliate links.

As if you haven't seen enough of these posts, amirite? Nevertheless, I thought I'd chime in with some of my favorites. Keeping things simple, classic, and cool this year.

Tops

Jeans

Dresses

Sweaters

Jackets & Coats

Shoes

What were your favorite picks? Let me know in the comments down below!

Hello, all! I've been taking a deliberate and much-needed pause from all things blog- and social media-related these past few weeks, but I wanted to hop on here briefly to share some snapshots of our new home with you.

We've put a TON of work into it already, including painting the entire interior, replacing old lighting, ripping out the existing counter, as well as a small pony wall in the kitchen (s/o to David's dad for championing ALL of these efforts!), and this weekend, putting up the subway tile backsplash.

We also have furniture in every room, so that's a win! All in all, things are coming together quite nicely. It's true what they say though: once you're a homeowner, the list of projects in neverending!

LOOK ONE OUTFIT DETAILS
Top: UNIQLO
Pants: Zara (old; similar style HERE)
Blazer: Target (old; similar style HERE
Sandals: Target (old; similar styles HERE & HERE)
Bag: ELIZABETH AND JAMES

LOOK TWO OUTFIT DETAILS
Top: UNIQLO
Pants: Zara (old; similar style HERE)
Jacket: Levi's (old; similar style HERE)
Hat: J. CREW
Sandals: UNIVERSAL THREAD
Bag: ELIZABETH AND JAMES

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through one of my links, I make a small commission.

Believe it or not, I'm a relatively lazy person when it comes to fashion, so any time an outfit can serve dual purposes with just a few tweaks, I'm onboard.

I wore the first look in the above photos to work last week and when I got home, I wasn't quite ready to throw on pajamas, since we had errands to run, but wanted something a little bit more laid back. Nothing says laid back more than a jean jacket and some easy slides.

Hope you have a nice day and as always, thanks so much for stopping by.

OUTFIT DETAILS
Top: UNIVERSAL THREAD
Jeans: PAIGE
Bag: WORLD MARKET
Sandals: UNIVERSAL THREAD

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through one of my links, I make a small commission.

While we may be experiencing a bit of May Grey here in Southern California, the theory with Summer is that the weather will eventually warm up a bit. With that in mind, it's time to start breaking out the Summer sandals. Side note: even the tops of your feet need SPF, so don't forget the sunscreen!

Whether you're going out to dinner on Saturday night, to church on Sunday, or anything in between, I've got you covered below. My current favorites, are these super comfy black slides from the Universal Thread line at Target. I especially love the tiny stud detailing around the sole.

Which sandals are your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!

Hope you're having a great day and as always, thanks so much for stopping by.

OUTFIT DETAILS
Shirt: UNIQLO
Jumpsuit: Leith (old; similar styles below)
Jacket: Levi's (old; similar style HERE)
Sunglasses: RAY-BAN
Necklace: Natalie Borton (exact style currently unavailable; similar style HERE
Shoes: UNIVERSAL THREAD

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through one of my links, I make a small commission.

The transition from Spring to Summer is the time when I want to bust out all the linen pieces. This jumpsuit, for instance, was the perfect thing to wear on a day that is not quite warm, but not quite cold.

I also love how there are endless ways to style a jumpsuit. I dressed this one up for the holidays here, but definitely kept things a little bit easier/breezier for Spring this week.

On a completely unrelated note, can we all take a moment to appreciate my dramatic hair growth between December and May??? It's like it's sprouted wings of its very own!

Anyway, hope you have a great day and as always, thanks for much for stopping by.

OUTFIT DETAILS
Shirt: UNIQLO
Jacket: Levi's (old; TONS of similar styles down below!)
Pants: Loft (old; similar styles HERE, HERE, HERE, & HERE)
Neck Scarf: Zara (old; Similar styles HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, & HERE)
Shoes: TARGET'S UNIVERSAL THREAD (similar styles HERE, HERE, & HERE)

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through one of my links, I make a small commission.

While I'm a Fall and Winter girl through and through, I've been having fun pulling out some of my more Springy and Summery pieces these past few weeks. For me, this essentially means wearing exactly the same thing as usual, but throwing on a floral neck scarf and some brightly colored shoes.

I'm also warming (literally!) up to the idea of wearing shorts soon, mainly because I know it will eventually get hot enoughh that I won't have any other options. Henceforth, I'm currently on the search for the perfect pair of jean shorts that check off all of my boxes: 1. high waisted, 2. not too tight in the thighs, and 3. not too short. If you have any recommendations for me, leave them in a comment down below.

Hope you have a great day and as always, thanks so much for stopping by.

OUTFIT DETAILS
Top: Nordstrom Rack (old; similar styles HERE, HERE, HERE, & HERE)
Skirt: Loft (old; similar styles HERE, HERE, HERE, & HERE)
Blazer: Thrifted (similar styles HERE, HERE, HERE, & HERE)
Shoes: SUSINA (similar stlyes HERE, HERE, & HERE)
Bag: ELIZABETH AND JAMES (more affordable options HERE, HERE, & HERE)

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through one of my links, I make a small commission.

You know Spring is around the corner when I bust out these gams, pale though they may be. In the past year or so, I haven't really been into wearing dresses or shorts or anything that exposes my legs, but I have to say, when denim skirts came back a couple years ago, I was like, "Yes to that!" so here we are. This one is ecpesically great because it can be dressed up for the office.

What item of clothing are you looking forward to wearing as the temperatures begin to rise? Let me know in the comments below!

Hope you have a great day and as always, thanks so much for stopping by.

While the weather may be warming up quite nicely down here in San Diego, I know there are still plenty of places in the U.S. experiencing colder temperatures. It can be difficult to balance the desire to step into Spring apparel with the practical need to keep warm throughout the day.

My best recommendation in these instances is to add a pop of Spring color to your cold-weather wear. This is actually quite useful for those of us in warmer climates too because it still cools down a bit in the evening. Furthermore, if your office is anything like mine, you need some sort of outerwear on at all times anyway!

I've loved with lilac-colored sweater from Madewell for years. This exact one is no longer available, but I've linked a bunch of other great options that are perfect for Spring.

Hope you have a great day and as always, thanks so much for stopping by.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through one of my links, I make a small commission.

There has been so much going on lately, that I don't think I ever formally announced that David and I bought a house, but...we did...haha! We close escrow next week and I've been having a lot of fun mentally decorating all of the different rooms.

I don't normally share a bunch of home stuff on here, primarily because we've only ever rented tiny one-bedroom apartments or condos, and there's really just nothing too exciting going on there, but like many a creative millenial, I love a good design process. It seems only fitting then that I should start sharing a little bit of our own personal design process, as it relates to our new home.

So like any responsible Instagrammer, I immediately hopped on the social networking platform to come up with a good hashtag that has not yet been used. Thus, #thriveabode. I'll be posting a lot of things to Instagram in the coming weeks/months, probably mostly to stories, so make sure to follow along there for the best updates.

In today's blog post, I'm sharing my design board for our living room. I've been trying to figure out how to categorize my design taste, and I think I've come up with Mid-Century Modern Meets Scandinavian Minimalism with a Touch of Bohemia. Would you say that seems accurate?

Thanks for stopping by and as always, hope you have a great day.

OUTFIT DETAILS
Shirt: Stitchfix (similar styles HERE, HERE, HERE, & HERE)
Pants: Zara (similar styles HERE, HERE, HERE, & HERE)
Shoes: Target (old; similar styles HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE)
Sunglasses: RAY-BAN
Bag: MADEWELL

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through one of my links, I make a small commission.

It's been one hell of a week. I honestly can't believe I've been able to pluck up the strength to take photos and write posts. I think it's mainly been about distracting myself with enough things, so that I'm not sitting alone with my sadness for too long.

I met with my therapist last night and she asked me if I was remembering to take care of myself. "Water, food, sleep. It gets real basic at this level," she told me, and truthfully, I haven't been taking the best care of myself. I've felt an intense need to constantly be busy, so I don't think I've taken any real time to rest and tend to my physical, emotional, or spiritual needs.

She said my homework was to set aside one or two nights every week where I carve out time and space to literally do nothing. She told me I needed to think of it as having plans, so that I wouldn't try to do other stuff. "I don't mean you need to just sit in it. Put on your coziest sweat pants and watch Netflix, but you need to completely veg out."

Normally, I'm all about that sweatpants and How I Met Your Mother life, but this week in particular, it has proven to be quite the challenge. I've used the new house as an excuse to be doing a million things at once. I've also fully convinced myself that I can DIY like half of our new furniture and various home projects. Not sure where or when I got the idea that I'm a contractor, but it's meant hours wandering through the lumber aisles at The Home Depot and mass quantities of hairpin table leg purchases.

But tonight, I'm going to do my best to slow down and take care of myself, listen to my body's needs, and try to honor them. My only plan is making a simple dinner and sitting on the couch with the TV on for the rest of the night. I even showered and washed my hair this morning in preparation for the evening's festivites.

Thank you again for all of your prayers and kind words. They mean so much to me and are helping me get through this very difficult time.

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