How to Beat The Winter Blues

Holy moly, it's cold out. The past few weeks have been just extreme. I know it's winter and I live in Canada, but wow. Doesn't it just make you want to curl up in a ball and do absolutely nothing? It does to me... But that is so not productive, and it can make you feel extremely isolated and down! So I am not about that. I may have given in for a day or so but I am vowing to not let it continue! There is still life to live and stuff to get done. I know it can be tough but here are some tips on getting out of that winter funk and embracing winter:

Blue and Yellow

Who would have thought I'd wear yellow and blue... together! When I first saw this skirt I loved the pleats and the way they separated at the bottom. But would I ever wear it? After all it's yellow. I took it home anyways (because the price couldn't be beat) and I can report that I can't stop wearing it! Pink on top, blue on top, paired with black and white stripes, it's becoming an addiction. I love how the colour has an effect to instantly make any outfit fall appropriate. I wore this outfit to an evening of back to back events last week and I'm so excited to keep transitioning it for fall. Burgundy and plum here I come!

Blue Off The Shoulder

I'm still not over the off-the-shoulder look yet. How about you? I love how simple and effortless they are, especially this dress. Throw it on, grab a pair of sunnies, and instantly you feel put together, no makeup or hair-do necessary! Speaking of hair... my new do is making its first appearance on the blog! I chopped it off! What do you think?! I think we all go through those moments where you need to do something totally different. Usually, it happens with new seasons, but this time around I was just feeling it.  Since I don't dye my hair, a good chop was in order so I just went for it. It gives you such a refreshing sense of renewal. All I've been doing is spritzing some of my favourite sea salt spray into it and heading out the door, which makes getting ready to go out so easy!

Have you made any drastic changes lately? Do you regret them? So far I have zero regrets. Except there are those one-off moments when I see long hair and want it back... That's how it always goes, right? By the way-- I've linked tons of similar dress styles below for all your off-the-shoulder needs!

W H A T  I ' M  W E A R I N G :
dress via Winners (similar, similar), Rebecca Minkoff bag (similar), Old Navy sandals (similar)

S H O P  T H E  P O S T :

Mixing Jewel Tones & Making the Most Out of Your Closet

I'm all about making the most out of the pieces I have in my closet. The top portion of this ensemble is actually a dress, and one that I've had in lingering in my closet since second year of university. It's a beautiful satin shift dress that I thought was a major splurge piece at the time. I bought it at Urban Outfitters for a wedding in Mexico and sometimes it makes its way to the semi-front of my closet in the summertime. When I did my spring purge this year the dress almost made it's way into the give-away pile, that was until my eyes turned to this magenta skirt and - lightbulb moment- the outfit just clicked. 

Do you ever have moments like that? Where you put together an outfit in your head, immediately fall in love, and just hope it looks as good as you imagine it will? Royal blue and magenta are so strikingly different, but look so bold and fun paired with one another. The comment of the day was definitely "I would have never put those two colours together". Don't get me wrong... the skirt looks great with a black cami, and the dress is fabulous on it's own, but together they make a fun statement and had me twirling the day away (even in the rain)! 

So how to make the most of what you have?

1. Don't get set on the conventional mode: Tuck a dress into your skirt, wear culottes over a romper and let your imagination run free. Not every piece has to be one dimensional, just use your creativity and pair unexpected colours and items together. You'll be surprised what works! Mixing these unexpected colour combinations and items together will make you feel as though you have an entirely new wardrobe. 

2. Rid your wardrobe of the noise: Minimize and purge the junky pieces. This will allow you to follow through with step 1 and make room for step 3. You'll be able to see the pieces come together (literally), as the inspiration will be right in front of you. 

3. Invest in quality pieces: Remember, less is more, and don't shop the trendier pieces just for the buy. Focus on the classics that will last and you'll want to wear those quality pieces time and time again. This doesn't mean buy everything black, white and basic. A royal blue, satin shift dress certainly isn't a little black dress, but in this case the quality has lasted me years. Work with what you have in your closet and formulate new ways to wear things.

What I'm Wearing

Urban Outfitters dress (similar, similar)

The Store on Queen skirt (similar, similar) 

Rebecca Minkoff Micro Lexi Bucket bag

Old Navy sandals (similar)

Now you tell me… how do you make the most out of your closet?

Like Blue Blazes

If you can't beat them, join them...right? Instead of fighting the January blues I have been embracing them. It's been a while since I wore this fuzzy blue coat and I love how fresh I felt pairing it with all blue-- crisp blue jeans, a chambray top, and my classic mint bag. This may not come as a surprise, but the coat is super cozy, and just perfect to fight this January chill. This was so necessary this past Sunday since I spent it running around finishing errands for my upcoming trip. By the way, I'm headed to Mexico tomorrow with my best friend! Woohoo!  I am beyond excited for a girl's trip!  Can you tell? It is way, way overdo. Be sure to follow along on all our shenanigans (@gabpacifico), and sorry in advance snap chat friends!

{Miu Miu sunglasses, Tommy Hilfiger shirt and belt, Old Navy coat (similar), J Brand jeans, Coach bag (similar), Sam Edelman boots}

Blue Valentine

The typical Valentine's Day colours may be pink and red, but that doesn't mean that getting all fancied up for love day in any other colour can't be just as romantic. Blue is dreamy, peaceful and signifies trust and intelligence, and I'm all for celebrating those qualities, too! Even though I'll most likely be parading around in my beloved blush pink on love day I couldn't resist getting all dressed up for an outing this past weekend in a serious VDay outfit contender.  So flowy, so fun and so girly! Even though we were facing some super wind (which made for some blurry shots), sometimes you have to just do a little twirl and embrace the wind in your hair (or up your midi).

What do you think? Will you be switching up the colour pallet this February 14th, or are you sticking to the classic colours?

{J Crew Chambray top, American Apparel skirt (similar),  Kate Spade clutch, Sam Edelman Pumps} 

DIY Headboard

A while back I re-decorated my bedroom, but felt as though it was impossible to find a headboard that I loved enough to justify spending the crazy amount of cash. With the help of the best boyfriend ever, I decided to make a headboard that would be personalized to my liking. Really this project can be completed in a weekend, as long as you already have all the materials. Unfortunately, if  you are as picky as me, it will take months to find a fabric with the right texture and colour. However! A few weeks back the project finally came together and I couldn't be more excited! I'm obsessed with the colour and how soft the fabric is. Not to mention that it feels like a big pillow when I prop up against the headboard! My room is finally complete (yay!… for now), and I feel like I'm sleeping in a bed fit for a queen!

Instead of confusing you with instructions I'll let you read here, or watch this video, and you can get a solid explanation of the process. There are so many tutorials out there, just google it! And, I know it may seem like a daunting task but the hardest part really is getting all the materials together. I promise! If you have any questions feel free to ask away! And let me know what you think of it!

Being Productive At Home

Over the past few years I've caught myself in too many scenarios of procrastination that I would like to admit, obviously all occurring around the dreaded exam season. However, these instances have also made me realize when it's time to stop binge watching a new series on Netflix, and get things done. I have somewhat developed a system in order to stay productive at home and I wanted to share my tips in case you find yourself unmotivated to do anything that isn't Holiday related this exam season.

*Personally, I am more productive in the AM, so in order to benefit the most from these hours, I set my alarm early and get straight out of bed. I then follow my usual routine of washing my face, brushing my teeth and making coffee.

*I always make sure to change out of pyjamas, even if it's just to get into comfy pants, a sweater and fuzzy socks. This will help you to re-focus and make you feel more energetic. 

*My desk is in my room, which can sometimes be a bit distracting. To ensure I don't hop back into my inviting, unmade bed, I allot some time for cleaning and declutteing. Having a clean, organized work space gives a fresh attitude and a clear mind to complete tasks. Natural light gives off a much more positive vibe so I also like to open all curtains and blinds.

*Reward yourself with breaks, but be sure to measure when to take them by material, not by time. Let me explain: if I know my break is in 10 minutes I am more likely to be thinking about all the things to do on that break instead of actually focusing on what I'm studying.  Tell yourself you can have a break when you finish a certain chapter or get to a certain page. 

*Do not get back into bed thinking you will just do a little reading lying down. Speaking from experience, this effects all productivity levels and may or may not result in a 2 hour nap.

*And if nothing seems to be motivating, I switch up my workspace. Take over the kitchen table, or head to the nearest library or Starbucks and regroup. 

This morning marked the end of another semester for me! I am jumping back into bed to rest my pounding head and wrap myself in my waterfall duvet- but first to catch up on some missed episodes of Homeland! 

Modern Monochrome

If monochrome consists of varying tones of only one colour, why does the term evoke bold coloured suits and teased hair that was so prevalent in the 90's (think Saved by the Bell). I love the idea of wearing various shades of one colour! You can customize the hues to your liking, and it provides a fresh look. It's no surprise that blue is my go-to, so I paired my favourite mint bag with lighter jeans and a deeper coloured peplum top. For a pop of colour, and to keep the outfit from looking too put together, I threw on a pink statement necklace and some favoured bracelets. I think it's safe to say that going monochrome can be an exciting way to make a professional, crisp statement, while moving away from the all black or all white ensembles. 

{Top- Smart Set, Jeans- Material Girl, Purse- Coach, Necklace- Forever 21}