Lace Duster

 I try to include some of these kind of photos every so often so you know I don't take this modeling business too seriously. :P This ^^^ comes much more naturally to me than all those serious faces. 

Lace Duster: Marshall's, almost exact here (they have it in wine and black too!), also love these here and here; Top: TJ Maxx, similar here; Shorts: Old Navy, similar here; Boots: Target; similar here and here

Happy first day of Fall from ever sunny Southern California! I'm still waiting on that bite in the air to tell me it's fall which also means I'm still wearing my summer clothes! It's good to find a piece that can add a touch of the new season to your outfit but that is still light and wearable in the heat. This lace duster does just that! I love the dimension it adds when wearing it with a shorter piece. Also if you still haven't tried the half top knot you should. Even if you feel a little weird, I promise you it looks good! I used to stare at myself and think it looked weird but then I saw it in photos and realized it doesn't! For this one I pulled my hair into a half pony and then braided it and pinned it into a bun!

If you didn't see already on Instagram, we went camping over the weekend, and it couldn't have been more perfect. We went with two of my best friends (and former roomies) and their men and a few other people! It was so nice to get away in nature and sit around the campfire and be with friends. I have been up to Lake Arrowhead lots of times but never camped there, and it was so much fun. My friend knew of all of these fun spots to go to there with water and rocks to jump off of. So much fun. I should have a fun little post up later this week with some photos from our weekend. 

I'm off for a run and then a massage! Ahhhhh. I can't wait. I haven't had one in so long because I always hate spending the money but my shoulder has been tight and bothering me so my hubby told me I HAVE to go. Ain't gonna say no to that. 

Thanks for reading!

xoxox,
Christine

La Nouvelle Belle

^^^ This necklace is reversible! Purple now!

Top: H and M (sold out); similar here

Skirt: Nordstrom Rack; similar here

Necklace: Premier Designs Jewelry (email me to be connected to a rep!)

Flats: Forever 21 here

Bag: Susie's Deals; simliar here

Lips: NYX Indie Flick (FAVORITE!)

HEYYYYY, Ladies! I'm back from vacation to SLC, and I'm currently still sitting in bed at 10am sipping coffee. The best. We had the most amazing time with my brother, his wife and their three girls. The girls are insanely fun, asking a million questions and going non-stop. I loved it. And Utah is so beautiful! I see now why all my fave bloggers live there. :P We did two different hikes to waterfalls, and even on an afternoon run around the neighborhood with my brother, the scenery was amazing. So much fresh air and open space! 

I got this skirt a few seasons back for a steal at Nordstrom Rack. It was originally $100, and I got it for $25. It's the BEST quality. The best I've ever had for a fitted midi skirt! And I snagged this crop at the H and M sale recently. I tried to find it for you online but I couldn't! :( I'm also seriously loving this necklace! I have seen similar styles all over Insta but what's unique about this one is if you flip it, you get a different color! So you can pick what you're feeling and go with it. And the best part is both of the colors compliment a lot of outfits so the options are endless! I got mine through a rep for Premier Designs Jewelry so if you are interested, please contact me, and I will be more than happy to connect you with her! 

Oh, and in case you've missed it in a previous post, you can find my favorite top knot tutorial here. Best on dirty hair, of course!

P.S. This Friday, August 29th, I'm hosting an end of summer shopping event with fellow blogger Aly of Living In Style OC. All the details can be found here. Hope to see you there!

xoxoxo,

Christine

All Black and A Little on Loving Yourself

Sooo I had something on my heart this past weekend, and I'm not even sure where to start or how to say everything I'm thinking so I hope it all makes sense! I went to a play this weekend on the book "Cold Tangerines:Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Ordinary Life" (you can buy it here), and several times it talks about women and their struggles with insecurities and body issues, and it really got me thinking about all that this weekend. I am thankful to say that by the grace of God, while I still have my bad days, I have come to embrace and love the body that God gave me and take pride in my care and presentation of it. And it literally breaks my heart when I hear girls who say they feel fat or ugly or make comments like who would love me. I can't even describe it. It just makes me want to fix it all, and I try to be encouraging, but at the end of the day I know, while my words may help, it's something much deeper. We spend our days comparing ourselves to people in photographs and walking down the street and wishing we had a better ____ (fill in the blank). There's a God who literally MADE you EXACTLY who you are. He looks at you and says, "It is GOOD." And with the way we treat ourselves, we are basically telling him that it's not. Would you ever say that the mountains or the oceans or flowers aren't GOOD? I could literally stare at the ocean forever. It leaves me in awe every time whether it's the beach in Hawaii or Cancun or near my home in Newport. If I can look at the ocean and know that what God made is good, how much more is that true of YOU?! I want every girl everywhere to truly feel deep down in their very soul that they are beautiful. We have to stop looking to people and things to tell us who we are and if we are beautiful. Maybe we've been criticized a lot or haven't had a loving family to help us to believe the truth about ourselves. That sucks. But guess what? God still says you're beautiful. He still calls you good. And if I'm going to believe anyone, it's going to be Him. It's not easy to learn to believe it but I promise that if you just start by praying every time you find yourself start comparing yourself to someone, I promise that it will start to change. Stop saying mean things to yourself and your body, and start loving it. You deserve it. 

Sorry for the rant! Just had to share! Now on to the outfit. An all black look can still be done in the summer! Just keep it light with your fabrics. I paired a flowy tank with my distressed black jeans and my birks. I added a red lip and my camel bag for some color! Hope you have the best week!

xoxoxo, Christine

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Top: Marshall's; similar here and here

Denim: H and M (distressed by moi!); similar here and here

Purse: H and M; similar here

Necklace: Forever 21 here

Shoes: Target here

Hearts and Stripes

Good morning! I just woke up from a great night of sleep, and I'm heating water for coffee so it's a good day.(Be better if the coffee was already in my hand, but then I guess I couldn't type.) Hope you all have been having a good week! I've worked and hung out with friends and got my hurr did and spent time with the hubs so it's been a good week so far. I'm actually not looking forward to the weekend because Ben leaves for two weeks for his annual Marine Reserves training. :( Lame. (#butistillloveamerica)

I just got these shorts the other day at Plato's Closet for $6! If you don't know what that store is, it's kind of like a thrift store but they only sell stuff that is currently in style, and you actually get paid a small percentage for taking your clothes in there. Check to see if there's one in your area because it's super cool! Anyways, I paired them with this black crop top and threw my hair up in a top knot. You can get this top knot look by watching my favorite top knot tutorial here!

Happy Thursday!

xoxo, Christine

                          

Crop: TJ Maxx; similar here

Shorts: Plato's Closet; similar here

Shoes: Ross; similar here

Purse: Forever 21; similar here