Do you have a love-hate relationship with your "gift giver" friends? You know, the ones who know exactly what you want for your birthday or Christmas or a Valentine's Day present without you having to tell them. I have friends who can walk into a store and see an item and say "____ would love that!" They always give you the best gifts, but then you are left feeling like your present of money or a store gift card was probably not as special as you thought it was going to be.
I can say, with full sincerity, that I am not one of those people. I always have trouble knowing what people like and I am usually the person who gives money because then I will know that they enjoy whatever they buy with it.
Although I don't have a significant other to celebrate with this Valentine's Day, I wanted to be able to suggest a present that would be perfect for all my readers - mom or dad, your friends, your family or bae.
If you're looking for an item that is beautiful yet functional, timeless but trendy, or tough yet delicate, look no further than a JORD wooden watch.
Not only are JORD wooden watches like a piece of jewelry, but they also have purpose. Whether you're looking at classic pieces like the Cassia or Meridian styles, or you want to up the look of your Apple technology with a wooden wristband, there are unique wooden timepieces for BOTH men and women.
Beyond their beautiful aesthetics, JORD watches also are built to last. I live in Minnesota, where we have been experiencing record lows this year. The watch not only worked after sitting outside in the freezing temps for a few hours (yay for daytime FedEx deliveries), but it also is waterproof, so it won't get ruined when your brushing snow off of your windshield.
If I haven't already convinced you that a JORD watch is the best present you can give, I will now:
I am teaming up with JORD watches for a giveaway!!!
Follow this link, enter your name, your email, and which watch you would like. For a bonus point, enter in your Instagram handle at the end! Please see giveaway details and shopping information below.
Happy Valentine's Day, my loves! I hope that it is filled with precious moments spent with your nearest and dearest.
Thank you, JORD watches, for teaming up with me on this post!
*The giveaway will end February 11th, 2018 at 11:59pm CST. Both the $100 giveaway winner code as well as the 10% off codes will expire on February 25th, 2018.
To buy my watch, click here
A big thank you to Ashley Durry for doing these beautiful photos! You can view her Instagram page by clicking here.
Watch Gift Ideas
A big thank you to Ashley Durry for doing these beautiful photos! You can view her Instagram page by clicking here.
Watch Gift Ideas
As a curvy girl, I tend to shy away from unstructured pieces. I like to chose items that define my waist and don't overwhelm me.
When I first saw this Karma trench coat, I was worried it wouldn't compliment my body shape. I thought I would be swimming in it. Once I put it on, I realized that I was completely wrong!
Not only does it look good worn traditionally on my shoulders and zipped all the way up, but it also looks fantastic unzipped and off the shoulder! What makes this trench work is the high low cascade from front to back. The higher hem on the front emphasizes the waist and creates a natural slope for the eye to follow. Trench tops are also wonderful because you can wear them as indoor or outer wear.
For this look, I paired the trench with a pair of high waisted skinny jeans that hugged my curves just right. They also don't gap open when you sit down, which is a huge bonus.
For the accessories I chose bright pops of color and floral details to bring a spring flair to this otherwise neutral palette.
Finally, for the shoes, I wanted a pair that would compliment and fit into the colorful and neutral categories, so I went with these olive tassel zipper booties.
Thank you, Karma Boutique, for working with me on this blog post. You can visit their website here to learn more about this unique twin-cities shop!
If you love the items that you've seen in this blog post, then listen up! Karma Boutique and I have paired up and you can get 20% off your purchase if you mention my blog post to them!
All images taken by the incredibly talented Angi Klepnev.
If you're looking for a photographer for your blog shoots, senior pictures, family pictures or wedding, I would highly recommend her. She is very detail oriented and can always find breathtaking locations.
Let's be honest, we would all love to wear stretchy pants and a sweatshirt 24/7 if we could. Unfortunately, many of us have jobs that require us to look professional and, often times, business wear does not equal comfort.
Restricting skirts and stiff blazers repeatedly end up being thrown on in an effort to satisfy the boss, while spending the day re-tucking our shirts and rubbing our sore feet becomes the bane of our existence.
While at Arcs Value Village last month preparing for my Thrift Stylist Instagram Takeover (you can see my takeover posts on Michelle's page here), I found all of these pieces and constructed a look that I believe would satisfy both the need to be business casual while also remaining comfortable.
I compensated for the ankle length, tie waist, unstructured pants by dressing up the other pieces in the outfit. My pink jacket provides structure to the look while the faux velvet loafers add an element of class to this ensemble that it would not have had otherwise. For a finishing touch, I tucked the turtle neck into the pants for a tailored fit.
I compensated for the ankle length, tie waist, unstructured pants by dressing up the other pieces in the outfit. My pink jacket provides structure to the look while the faux velvet loafers add an element of class to this ensemble that it would not have had otherwise. For a finishing touch, I tucked the turtle neck into the pants for a tailored fit.
For warmer times, you could also do a dressy sleeveless top instead of the turtleneck or do ballet flats and have your jewelry be the main attraction.
How would you create an office appropriate look with lounge wear? Comment below!
All images taken by the incredibly talented Angi Klepnev.
If you're looking for a photographer for your blog shoots, senior pictures, family pictures or wedding, I would highly recommend her. She is very detail oriented and can always find breathtaking locations.
Some days I wake up and I do not feel like doing anything. Sometimes this comes from a place of laziness, but most often it comes from a lack of motivation or inspiration. There are just times where we can feel stuck in a rut and do not know how to get out of it and get motivated. That's why I am sharing a few tricks I've learned for increasing productivity and spiking your motivation:
1. Get physical.
This could mean a multitude of things, but for the purposes of keeping this blog PG, I am talking about physically moving. You can walk, play an instrument, dance, etc. When you are mentally stuck on something or when you don't feel inspired, moving often helps me spark new ideas.
2. Do a Brain Teaser.
This could be playing Sudoku or knitting or solving a puzzle or just doing something that challenges you. When we put our mental energy into something other than what we're stuck on, it allows our brain to refocus. Then when you come back to what challenged you in the beginning, your ideas will be fresh and your brain will be powered up and ready to go.
3. Take time to recharge.
Often when I feel under productive, it is because I have not let myself relax or recharge in a while. Stress can squelch any inspiration you have. If you are an extrovert, go grab coffee with a friend and just chat for an hour. If you're an introvert, take some time by yourself and refresh.
4. Push through.
When nothing else on this list works for me, which is rare but does happen, I have to give myself a tough love pep talk and push through. Emotions can be a wonderful thing, but if we allow our feelings to guide us 24/7, then we may never get anything done. Even if you cannot put 100% of yourself into something, the fact that you've pushed yourself through it and began to tackle that hurdle is progress you should be proud of!
I hope that these tips and tricks will be helpful to you. I know January has been a particularly challenging month for me. It has been so cold in Minnesota and all I want to do is stay in my bed all day in relax. But we're girl bosses (and guy bosses), so we need to get s**t done!
My tank top and jacket are from Arc's Value Vllage, a big thank you to Michelle for allowing me to do an Instagram takeover on her page. To see my photos, go to the Thrift Stylist Instagram page here.
Thank you to Kelly Kwong from Sweet Petite Photography for these beautiful photos. Kelly is an absolute joy to work with and she always has ways of making photo shoots fun!
***ED WARNING: I recognize that some of my beautiful readers may struggle with eating disorders or body dysmorphia. Since many people decide to make resolutions about weight loss, conversation about that and dieting are included within this post. I try to write about it in a way that is health focused, not number or size focused.***
I know what you're thinking: "Kaylie, it's only a week into 2018, why are you writing a post about keeping our new years resolutions?"
To be blunt, because most of us have already ditched our intended efforts for the year.
It's hard to make changes in your life, even if you know they will be for the better. In an effort to encourage you (and myself), I give you three ways to make sure that you keep your goals for 2018:
1. Start Small and Focus on Current Goals.
I think it can be attractive to make big goals for ourselves because we desire to see big change in our lives. Try not to do this though, because it will be discouraging. Try to take it week by week. For example: Instead of saying "this year I will loose 100 pounds," make the goal "this week I will loose 2 pounds." In the end you will have the same result, but you will have a greater chance of being encouraged by your goal. In the same way, try not to focus on what life will be like when you are at your goal weight or have blemish free skin or when your life is "perfect" in your mind because it will get you down now. Instead of focusing on the goal before you this week, you will end up focusing on where you feel you are deficient.
2. Switch from Goal-Setting to Habit Forming.
Some of this comes naturally (like your body getting used to a new way of eating or getting used to a workout regimen you've been doing for a few weeks), but other parts of this point have to be intentional. You may have a goal of only being on Netflix for one hour a day, but if you don't put in the effort to turn off the TV, or if you don't make a list of other things you can do with that time instead, you may find yourself binge watching for hours. In the same way, if your resolution is to put 15 minutes a day away for a quiet time, and then don't actively put time aside and fill up all of your time, you'll never meet your goal. Be intentional and switch from thinking about how great it would be to reach you goal, to actually doing it.
3. Don't Forget to Reflect.
There's this cultural idea that the end of December is the only time we can reflect on our resolutions, but this is only 1/365 of your year. Every week you should reflect on what you did, where you could improve and what you will do to better yourself for the next week. This will help you to refocus and will (hopefully) encourage you for the upcoming week.
I hope that this blog post is helpful! Remember that change takes time and that every journey to self-betterment is different. Don't compare your goals or achievements to anyone else's.
Thank you Anna T Photography for these amazing photos!
Since my Best Blogger Advice post was so popular, I decided to make it into a mini-series.
Now that you know what goes into blogging, let's up your Instagram game. Now I'm not saying I've cracked Instagram's algorithm or that I can get you a million followers, but I can give you little bits of advice that will help your blog look more professional in the long run.
Tip #1: Find The Right Background.
Many of my photos have a cityscape background to them. I like how tall buildings and busy streets blend into a blur in the background. If you're a workout blogger, most likely you'll like a gym or dance studio. If your style is more bohemian, then fields and mountains may be your background of choice. Travel bloggers often use the markets or tourist attractions in the area they're visiting. Figure out what you like and what attracts your audience.
Tip #2: Lighting.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make sure that you have good lighting and that your photos are in focus! If you aren't a Kardashian, then you cannot get away with showing a picture of your unfocused, shadowed face and still get loyal followers. Clean, simple, bright photos are what is eye catching, so make sure you go the extra mile to find some good lighting.
Tip #3: Use Accessories!
Accessories not only complete a look, but they are also everyday tools you can use to liven up your photos. I find that if I do not have a hat or a purse or sunglasses or jewelry, I have no clue what to do with my hands. They're just there looking awkward. You can put your sunglasses on your face (mine are from Poppy Smooches Fall 2017 collection, but you can see similar ones here and here), put them on your head to keep your hair back, hold them like I did in the photo above or hang them from your neck like I did in the photo below. Same with purses. Crossbody, over the shoulder or handbags can all be used to your advantage. And jewelry shots are my favorites because the details of jewelry are so beautiful!
Tip #4: Posing.
Try different poses and see what is most comfortable for you. Do you like the look of walking the city or striking a power pose? Do you prefer to sit? Do you like portrait shots? Depending on what kind of blog you have will also determine how you pose.
Tip #5: Theme.
Although having an Instagram theme is not required, I would recommend it. Imagine if you came to a website and none of the fonts were the same or if the website sometimes used a simple sans serif typeface and other times it used word art, wouldn't that look weird to you? In the same way, visual people do not like going to an Instagram feed that does not have a theme or rhyme or reason to it's set up. If you like wearing neutrals, make sure that a majority of your photos feature a white background or a neutral outfit. If you like bright, colorful makeup, then post multiple photos that incorporate different, colorful looks. For my feed, I try to stick to warm tones and neutrals.
Final thoughts:
Take time to figure out what you like and what your audience wants.
Construct a list of hashtags that have brought in more likes and views to your photos.
Talk to your family and friends about what they are interested in reading. Most likely, you'll get inspired by their thoughts or they may even see a niche in the market that you can fill.
To finish, be yourself and your content will be original. Readers can detect when you are not passionate about what you're writing on or if you do not like the clothing you're wearing.
Hopefully this blog post was helpful! If you have any questions about how to start blogging, or just want more tips and tricks, feel free to DM me on Instagram.
Thank you Kelly Kwong for these gorgeous photos! Kelly was very easy to work with and came prepared with cool ideas for our shoot. I would recommend her for your wedding, graduation or family photos!
