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    Tag: summer looks

    Three Changes I Made This Summer

    Life, Self Care by louise

    There is always so much change each season that sometimes it warrants a need to make adjustments to what is important to us and our life. This past summer has been amazing, beautiful, and chaotic all at once.

    Working mom: You have got to have a partnership in your careers

    I have learned to embrace the challenges that come with being career-driven and a mom of two. You can definitely do it but it takes a lot of intentional planning and coordination. Beyond planning, just simply being there for my kids has been important so I am not apologizing for not being involved in their lives.

    Life: Taking things a day at a time

    Many times we get so caught up in the little things that can cause stress and see us running a million miles an hour.  I am still learning with this one but I have made a mental and conscious effort to just take things easy.  Life will always be hectic and chaotic and crazy but your outlook on how you choose to feel about the situation and turn it into a unique experience is your choice. I like to think of it as juggling multiple baskets — now if they are colorful, isn’t that just beautiful imagery?

    Healthy: Making Healthier Choices

    I love food and I love the freedom that comes the many choices you can have when it comes to food.  Having a family, I have always been conscious about what we eat. Even when my kids were babies, I never bought the organic foods in a bottle. I would rather spend my evenings making my own using fresh fruits and vegetables and freezing. This past year, I got a little side tracked with some of our food choices. I guess too much happening all at once but c’est la vie (that’s life)! I am and always have been a firm believer that we are what we eat so the past couple weeks, we started making a couple adjustments and getting back into our old routine.  I can’t tell you enough how great it feels, even with something as little as incorporating smoothies or more vegetables into a diet. We made asparagus soup the other day and it took all but 20 mins and was so delicious that I will have to share that recipe and a couple more on the blog in the next few weeks. All it takes is a little prep and planning.

    What lessons or changes did you learn this season? I would love to hear all about it in the comments below.

    How to Brighten Up Your Summer Look For Fourth of July

    Fashion, Style by louise

    Summer and Fourth of July Festivities

    The Fourth of July is all about celebrating independence day in the United States! Whether it is inviting your friends and family over for an epic Fourth of July BBQ bash, or spending time by the pool, or enjoying the fireworks, you would still need to keep in mind comfort and a fashion theme that matches the occasion.

    Fourth of July has become one of my favorite holidays! I love watching the fireworks and seeing the excitement in my children eyes. Most importantly we get to gather around with friends and family to enjoy food and good company.  On this day we plan on visiting friends, having the grandparents over, and then ending the evening by watching fireworks at our neighborhood park. For my friends who are not familiar with this holiday, it is the United States federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Okay, I know you are more interested in the outfit, so without further ado, let me talk about how I plan to brighten up my look for the summer but also for Fourth of July.

    “Fashion is not necessarily about labels. It’s not about brands. It’s about something else that comes from within you.” – Ralph Lauren

    The Outfit

    So I decided to keep my outfit bright and fun this summer. The colors are also the perfect choice for Fourth of July sticking with the red, blue, and white theme. I recently picked this cute top from ASOS because it just matches well with the theme. The top has this knot in the front that makes it quite different from a regular t-shirt look and allow extra room for all the outdoor food and desserts! I could have gone with shorts but decided to stick with jeans. What I love about jeans is how versatile it is.  For me, it is all about comfort as I sit on a blanket at our neighborhood park later that evening to watch the Fourth of July fireworks.

    I decided to pair the outfit with a few favorites. The Fossil Morgan Traveler Leather Crossbody bag is an old timer and a classic.  It is so easy to match with most of my things, so every now and then I pull it out of my wardrobe. Isn’t the bright red color just gorgeous? The size also allows me to carry a few essentials, like my camera, makeup, phone, and hand sanitizer. For the shoes I wore this adorable Marc Fisher LTD shoes. They add a touch to the outfit and easy to slip on and off.

    An interesting fact, when I had long hair, I hardly wore a lot of earrings.  Now that my hair is a lot shorter, I have been enjoying playing with different size earrings as you can see here. These earrings are from ModCloth and my watch is Michele. If you are outdoors, then you should know that sunglasses are a must-have in the summer sun because they are functional. Everything goes so well together. What are your plans for the fourth?

    Credits: Photography by Mallory Kee

    Summer Outfits You Can Wear for a Night Out

    Fashion, Style by louise

    Summer

    There is something about the Summer months and how good the sun feels on your skin that makes you think of spending most of the day at the pool or beach, and also throwing caution to the wind when it comes to how your hair or makeup looks, or what it’s like attending events. It’s some sort of freedom I would say, because all you can think about is how good it is to just enjoy time away from busy schedules.

    For me, I’ve always been someone who find ways of working the key trends for the season into my existing wardrobe. While I try to stay ahead of the trends, I also keep in mind the appropriate dress for the weather too.  Now you may probably be thinking if this outfit is practical, but aside from it being simply a favorite of mine, it is the perfect Summer outfit for a night out or to an outfit to wear to a summer wedding.  The skirt is light and free flowing and the sheer mesh floral blouse allows your skin to breathe in warmer temperatures.

    A sheer blouse has the power to totally transform an outfit. For casual outings, I pair with jeans, or to dress it up with a pair of trousers or skirt, as I have done here. It works exceptionally well with this maxi tulle skirt.

    There’s often talk about how you “should” dress for certain occasions; nights out, events and functions, work meetings, the list goes on. I find that curating my Summer wardrobe this season has been much easier and I’ve felt like I’ve found a good rhythm. I usually tend to dance to the beat of my own drum but balance is everything.

    About The Look

    There are many other ways to inject some key pieces into your wardrobe. This pink tulle skirt caught my eye because of the playfulness of it, reminds me of something a Disney Princess would wear. I thought the mesh floral blouse is the perfect summer outfit, one that is wearable and will be great for various different occasions. The bell sleeves are simply gorgeous and not too obvious.

    For my feet, I opted for nude sandals to keep the look elegant. My earrings are from the baublebar and I totally love the design because it matches perfectly with my floral blouse. It is also transparent and enhances the blouse even further. My makeup was kept to a minimum. I usually think less is more and in the summer heat, the last thing you want is too much makeup on your face. You can still look beautiful with the bare minimum.

    As you can see, the skirt was the central piece that tied the entire look together. I wore this to a dinner function paired with the velvet clutch. Sometimes a low maintenance look can be eye catching. What are your favourite ways to wear long flowing skirts this summer?

    @LOUISEMILLEN