Fashion Friday: Cara Delevingne Inspired Look

Cara Delevingne by haleympettit featuring blue jeans

Cara Delevingne is one of biggest names in fashion right now. She somehow fuses proper British staples with playful street style to create a look that is all her own. One of the things I love most about Cara is that she isn't afraid of fashion - she embraces prints and accessories, and she is a master of layering.

For a Cara Delevingne inspired look, I think it's essential to start with a pair of great jeans. Luckily, denim is having a major fashion moment, so it's not to hard to find great jeans that make a statement - either through patchwork or appliqué.

To make a unique pair of jeans more wearable, go with a no-fail white button-down blouse. I also think a fun color-blocked sweater is a great piece for layering on top of a collared shirt.

No Cara Delevingne look would be complete without her signature stylish backpack (Mulberry's Cara Delevingne Bag) and a pair of black of boots. I love these chunky-heeled Hunter boots.

For accessories, go with a statement ear cuff or earrings, and pile on delicate rings. And of course, for makeup, you must go for a fierce brow and black eyeliner. Cara wouldn't have it any other way.

The absolutely essential ingredients to a Cara Delevingne inspired look? A hint of mischief in the eyes and confidence in your step.

Do you love Cara as much as I do? What other celebrities are inspiring your fashion choices at the moment?

XOXO

July 2015 Favorites

This July has been a busy but fun month. From family birthdays and parties, to a concert, to cleaning out closets and job searching, July has been a good balance of lazy days and productive days. 

Here are some of my favorite products and bright things from this past month: 

Makeup: Most days I'm either make-up free or wearing minimal coverage. I love Maybelline's Age Rewind Eraser Eye (in Fair) for light concealing under the eye and a little on some redness around my nose. This concealer is very light feeling on the skin, perfect for warm days. 

Skin Care: I've been using Vaseline on my lips day and night to keep them moisturized. The Rosy Lips shade is great smelling and does add a slight pink tint. 

Scent: When it's hot outside, I'm hesitant to wear heavy scents or lotions that are sticky feeling. The Bath and Body Works Fragrance Mists are the perfect solution: each one is a subtle scent and the mist is refreshing and not too heavy. I've been enjoying the Sun scent in particular, but I think the product itself is great no matter which scent you buy. 

TV/Movies: This month I've been watching Friends and Felicity - they both make me want to move to New York and wear oversized khakis! If, like me, you love late 90s/early 2000s fashion and romantic shows, you'd probably love both of these shows. 

Music: Train's new album Bulletproof Picasso was on repeat in my house all this month. I went to their concert this past weekend with family and it was so fun to see them perform live. Train's music is so upbeat and summery - perfect for the outdoor venue we went to, listening under the stars in the summer breeze. 

Food: Tillamook Malted Moo Shake Ice Cream. It's delicious. If you like Whoppers you've got to try this ice cream. 

Event: I can't help it - I love following what's up with my favorite royal families. From Princess Charlotte's christening to the marriage of Pierre Casiraghi to Beatrice Borromeo there was a good deal of royal fashion and fun to keep up with this month. 

What were your favorite things this July? The summer months seem to fly by, so it's fun to look back over the bright things. 

XOXO

20 Creative Ways to Stay Inspired, Motivated, and Productive

Whether you're facing a full week of days in the office, an at-home organization project, or errands that you've been putting off, here are twenty creative ways to stay inspired, motivated, and productive:

1. Go on Pinterest. If you don't have an account, you're missing out. Pinterest is a gold mine of DIY projects, recipes, inspirational images, and generally cute stuff.
2. Read. Taking a break from your project will clear your head and allow you to approach it with a fresh mindset. You might also be inspired by an image or quote you find in the text.
3. Create an energetic playlist and do a little dance. Find your "happy songs" and put them all in one place.
4. Stare out the window or go for a walk. Nature and people watching are sure to give you some great ideas for your project, and the fresh air will help you de-stress.
5. Pull out all those old magazines. Trends may change and things may look outdated, but you might find some inspiration in the pages of months past.
6. Get organized. Sometimes, you need to add an extra step in before you tackle a project. Listing out all the tasks that you need to accomplish will help you feel like the project is more manageable. Plus, there is no greater feeling than checking off check boxes. 
7. Take a bath. There's something about warm water and bubbles that allows you to focus more intently on your thoughts and ideas. Bring in a notebook for when inspiration strikes.
8. Light a candle. It's crazy how something so small can make such a big difference, but the simple act of lighting a candle signifies that you will stay in one place until the project gets done. Plus, delicious smells. 
9. Dress up. I don't mean a dress and heels. When you're stuck at home working on a project, it can feel good to spend sometime making yourself feel ready for the day by showing, dressing, and getting your hair out of your face. 
10. Take time to organize your space. A cluttered workspace can be distracting and overwhelming. Spend a few minutes tidying up to keep focused on the task at hand.
11. Eat. Drink. Snack. For difficult projects, treat yourself to your favorite drinks and snacks. Anything to keep yourself on track!
12. Turn off your phone and computer until you need it. Sometimes pen and paper is the best way to get all your thoughts out. Plus, you can easily organize your ideas visually.
13. Exercise. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but giving a workout your all can make you feel like you can accomplish anything.
14. Chat with a friend and share what you're struggling with. Maybe all you need is to explain why you're uninspired or unmotivated, and you'll find it.
15. Take a minute to reevaluate. Remind yourself why you're doing the project in the first place.
16. Find a new scene. Try working at the library, a coffeeshop, or a park. 
17. Try to find something exciting about the project. Whether it's an opportunity to use those colored pens you love, or to make a cute bookmark, or to learn something new, there's always a more positive way you can frame it.
18. Write out your feelings. Maybe there's an underlying issue or something else that's distracting you.
19. Search for quotes about motivation and success and write them on sticky notes. Place them where you'll see them.
20. Remind yourself that you can do it. Because you can!

How do you stay inspired, motivated, and productive?

XOXO