If you are a student, person on the go, or just an all around snack lover like myself, Graze is about to become your new best friend.
Living a healthy lifestyle is so incredibly important to me and keeping up with it while going from class to class tends to be a struggle that I’ve been working to fix. Not to mention, snacking can become quite dangerous if you’re not reaching for the right ones.
Not only are these snacks portion controlled so you can’t over indulge like most of us do on a roll of Oreos, but the options are endless. When I say endless I mean over 100 snacks to choose from aka regardless if you have a sweet tooth or a salty tooth, you’re set.
I was sent a box of amazing snacks from Graze to try, and spent this week doing just that! Let’s take a look:)
ON TO THE SNACKS:
1. Kettle Corn Kern Pops 2. Protein Cashew Kick 3. Zesty Lime & Red Pepper Salsa with Pita Chips 4. Cocoa & Vanilla Protein Flapjack
HOW good do these snacks look!? Like I said, this last week I spent time trying out these snacks for myself. So here are some of my favorites ↓
Cocoa & Vanilla Flapjack– SO good. The perfect pre workout snack and reminded me of cocoa krispies from my childhood days *sigh*
Protein Cashew Kick- If you like yourself a nice trail mix, you will definitely enjoy this one. The dried chickpeas were my favorite part not to mention it has got quite a kick to it if you like spicy food!
Kettle Corn Kern Pop– Need I say more?
Strawberries & Cream Protein Granola Topper- Great for on top of some yogurt, or by itself as a snack!
Those were just a few of my favorites out of this Graze box. Who doesn’t love snacking? Be sure to check out Graze and try out a box of your own!!
It has been way too long since I’ve talked about my current favorites. So what better day than today!? I feel like I’ve dabbled quite a bit with some cool items and have accumulated a few new favs from fashion, to beauty to music that I would love to share! (Warning: these are incredibly random).
Sidenote: You know it’s been a successful month when you discover a new podcast (In the Dark) and finally pick up a book after way too much time using Netflix as a time passer (this is what happens when you break the sound on your computer and have no other choice).
What are your current favs? Let a girl know! Also- on the search for my next book and podcast so if you have any suggestions I would love to hear it.
*EXTRA FAVORITE*
This amazing little post from celebrity journalist Keltie Knight, on an article I had written for my internship with The Odyssey that is now posted on The Ladygang website:) High key one of the best moments ever. Check it out! ↓
Somehow almost a month ago I turned 21. What? How and why is time moving so quickly?! My birthday was nothing shy of amazing, however adjusting to the lifestyle of a 21 year old is definitely something my body has to work on.
On this day that is August 18th, I also received the most amazing gift. It’s simply beautiful, breathtaking, amazing, perfectly cognac, and my new child. Yes, I am referring to a pocketbook.
I cannot BEGIN to explain the emotions that came over me when I opened this gift. It is THE most perfect pocketbook that I have ever laid my eyes on, and took me 3 weeks to build up the courage to take out of the box and into the real world. (No, I am not stable).Everything about this Saint Laurent bag screams classic, everlasting, and transitional.
One of the biggest trends that has been lingering for years now, and will remain for many more years to come, is fringe. I absolutely love the look of fringe and was so excited to see the fringe detail on either side of the bag. I decided to take it for a walk on the streets and take some pictures and I have to say, it looks just as beautiful behind a camera.
One of my favorite parts of this bag is the fact it came with a crossbody strap. I LIVE for a crossbody bag and not having to carry the weight on my arm is something I am always on the hunt for.
If you are in the market for a new bag, I highly recommend experimenting with fringe. It’s fun and adds some flare while still remaining sophisticated and simple. It’s the perfect enhancement on a bag without being too in your face.
I found some amazing fringe bags that incorporate the fringe look for those gals out there looking for a new fall pocketbook. Take a look!
I think we can all agree that if anything has come back in style.. its chokers. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE and I love them. I’ve been finding that if my outfit is lacking in something, I can throw on a choker and it tops it off perfectly.
Being that they are literally everywhere, it has become quite easy to find a million different styles that can accommodate any look. My collection has been growing slowly but surely and as it does I have been working to incorporate different versions of the classic choker look.
Fortunately for fast fashion and our wallets, finding affordable chokers is so easy to do right now. You can go to Nordstrom and spend a pretty penny, or you can go the inexpensive route and buy a plethora. Which c’mon… who wouldn’t.
I have gathered a list of my top 5 favorite chokers. Although I couldn’t find my exact ones, I have found similar and affordable versions that do the trick. In doing so, I may or may not have blacked out and purchased a few more. The world may never know.
1. Classic Velour Choker – A classic simple choker can take you a very very long way my friend. There are so many colors to chose from which is so fun, and they are so simple and easy to throw on with a busy outfit. Not to mention this one is under 5 dollars? Whattttt.
2. Self Tie Velvet Choker – I’ve been seeing these everywhere, and love the way they look. It almost reminds me of a blouse that ties in the front. There is something so simple about this choker but it still adds a statement. Throw on a vneck tee with some ripped up jeans and you’ve got yourself a look girl.
3. Dainty Gold Choker – I LOVE layering necklaces, and there is nothing better than dainty chokers. I have quite a few of these and I am always layering them on top of one another. This one in particular is so dang cute and would be perfect layered with some other simple gold chains.
4.Wide Jersey Choker– I just added the cutest red velour thick choker to my collection (thank you Tali) and I have worn it non stop. It definitely finishes off a look and creates a statement which is why I love it. I threw it on last night with a simple black tank and jeans and was the perfect accessory!
5.Rhinestone Choker– In addition to the dainty gold pieces, I love chokers with dangling charms. It adds a little spiciness to your look without much effort. Also- quick shout out to the fact that it is under 4 dollars.
If you are questioning whether or not you should venture out and purchase a choker, I highly recommend it. I know they aren’t everyone’s taste, but for a few dollars you might as well try it out and see how you like it. In the meantime, thank you for reading & more posts to come so stay tuned folks.
Tell me something more important than finding the perfect pair of snakeskin booties. I have really tried to ponder this yet nothing seems to come to mind.
My fellow fashion loving friend Nicole, and myself (check out her blog) have been on the search for some snakeskin booties. However, not breaking the bank was also a goal of ours. Who comes to the rescue of course?! Free People.
I know what you’re thinking. How can not breaking the bank and Free People be in the same sentence? Sales, sales, sales. A few weeks back Free People was having an extra 50% off of their sale section, and I picked up snakeskin booties, a fringe bag, and an awesome belt for SO CHEAP. I was living. Check it √
Beautiful right!? This sparked such inspiration within me and I just knew what had to be done. A back to school lookbook that is! I am slightly broken hearted to even mutter the words back to school, but that time is among us we need to face it head on!
Every outfit was focused around these snakeskin booties and I LOVE the way these looks came out. The amazing James Conley took these photos and I highly recommend checking out his website as well as his Instagram for more great stuff —> philatawgrapher.
Let us get into the lookbook shall we!
Look 1:
Clearly all about those neutrals. For both of our looks, we kept it simple with black jeans with rips at the knees. Nicole is sporting a throwback Harley Davidson off the shoulder crop top with AMAZING Free People sunnies that I need in my life despite my oddly shaped head. To finish it off, of course the bejeweled belt and snakeskin booties.
For myself, I wore my new favorite LF inspired tee with the ties going all the way down the front. Its super long so I tucked it into the front of the jeans so that the belt would still be visible. I wore my black Topshop choker as well as my metallic sunglasses from Forever 21.
Photo By: James ConleyPhoto By: James ConleyPhoto By: James ConleyPhoto By: James ConleyPhoto By: James ConleyPhoto By: James ConleyPhoto By: James ConleyPhoto By: James Conley
THESE DETAIL SHOTS THOUGH!
Look 2:
Still keeping things quite neutral. For this look, Nicole and I still decided to let the shoes do the talking, I mean.. look at em. Nicole paired a black see through chiffon top with the same pants and belt, while I threw on my classic Urban Outfitters tee that is so slouchy and comfortable.
Photo By: James ConleyPhoto By: James ConleyPhoto By: James ConleyPhoto By: James ConleyPhoto By: James Conley
Look 3:
My personal favorite look. Yes it is a bit more on the wild side, but sometimes you just have to step out of the box even if it is for a school day.. (coming from the girl who wears workout clothes everyday, woops). For this look I paired my new Forever 21 red slightly bell sleeved top with the classic black jeans.
As you can see, every look changes one item, which is the top. You can completely transform an outfit by simply changing one item and not breaking the bank. A pair of black jeans can go a really long way! The choker, belt, shoes and sunglasses remained the same:)
Photo By: James ConleyPhoto By: James ConleyPhoto By: James ConleyPhoto By: James ConleyPhoto By: James Conley
Bonus Look 4: !!TREND ALERT!!
More of the lady in red. After laying all of my outfits out I realized I had beige and red in front of me. I’m not exactly sure how that happened but hey let’s go with it. I found this amazing blazer vest just a few days ago on sale at Lord and Taylor. I’ve seen these vests everywhere and absolutely love the way I’ve seen them styled. I may or may not have also purchased it in white…
I threw on a black tight tank with the vest right on top. Not only does this give off a sophisticated feel, but it was very lightweight and comfortable. Not to mention it can be styled so many ways and bring you well into the colder seasons.
Photo By: James Conley
Photo By: James ConleyPhoto By: James Conley
Ending it off with my favorite photo with this beauty! So excited about this collab blog post with Nicole. Be sure to check out her blog post coming very soon including more pics from this fabulous, yet 1000 degree day.
Ah, glorious summer. The most convenient season of the year, where limited clothing is always better and rompers are a girls very best friend. I cherish a good romper when I find one, and love having plenty to chose from at my fingertips. My latest shopping sprees have been based around this wonderful piece of clothing, and I have successfully found a few that I love!
Today however, I am going to be talking about one in particular. I found it for under 20 dollars at Forever 21, (YES, Forever 21!!). It is possible to find some good pieces there, despite my streak of bad luck.
This romper caught my eye because of the blue and white color scheme which has always been so appealing to me. The colors together are so clean and beautiful. Secondly, the cut of the romper. It did a nice job hugging my waist while the shorts remained flowy and comfortable. What is the best part you ask? You can’t forget about that plunging neckline! This adds such a nice touch of skin and makes it a little more risque.
Take a look!
For this look, I kept my hair out of my face by having Tali (thank you) put my hair in a bun with some nice braids. Paired with my mirrored sunglasses and glowy makeup, this was a perfect summer outfit. I added my jeweled hamsa choker which added the perfect amount of pazzaz.
Now onto Talis look!
Sticking to the blue and white theme of course (yes this was July 4th) Tali incorporated the same color scheme but in a very different way.
Tali sported another Forever 21 piece, this time it being a dress. Paired with a cream lace bralette, and red lips, it was the perfect look. For accessories, the mirrored sunglasses were a staple of course, as well as the head chain with the french braids which added a very unique and unexpected little twist (you go gurl I miss you).
Summer is the perfect time to be carefree with your outfit choices, so why not do just that!?
Bonus outfit?! Heck yes. Took some pics of this look so thought I would include just a few. Here, I am wearing a flower embroidered mesh bikini top with my new favorite pants. These pants are suppppper flowy and comfy. Not to mention the beautiful tie dye which never fails to appear in my closet each Summer. The bathing suit top is from Target, and the pants are from a local boutique. If you’re headed out, throwing on a white tee would make for the perfect look, unless you are hanging around poolside of course… a bathing suit top will do:)
More posts are on their way.. from skincare, to fitness, to more fashion! I hope you enjoyed.
On a scale of one to important skincare is WAY UP there. Over the past few years I have dabbled quite a bit into the skincare world and experimented with countless products. As someone who used to struggle with acne, and still deals with having sensitive skin, I know how important it is to find products that WORK to incorporate into your skincare routine.
When talking about skincare, knowing the basics of how to care for your skin is step 1. Despite the natural course our skin takes as we age, there are definitely some tips and tricks you can incorporate into your daily life to ensure healthy looking skin! Take a look.
1. Taking off your makeup every night
(I know I know so cliche, but I promise you taking the extra step to take your makeup off makes the biggest difference. Do you really want all of your makeup, grime, grease and dirt to sink into your pores while you’re sleeping!?
2. Skincare
Make sure you are using something suited to your skin type (oily,dry, combination) Also, do not be afraid to spend a little extra money on skincare, it is an investment that will be well worth it.
Helps to make sure you removed all of the makeup and dirt off after you washed it. You’d be surprised at how much makeup is left on your face!
4. Drinks lots and lots of water
I cannot stress how important water is, not only for skincare but for your entire body and will make a huge difference in the clarity of your skin.
5. Using a soothing/calming face mask one to two times a week
A few times a week I make sure to apply a soothing face mask which definitely helps to keep it clear and smooth!
6. Exfoliating
If you have sensitive skin like myself, make sure you don’t exfoliate more than once or twice a week because it will irritate your skin!
7. Changing your pillowcase
Every few weeks changing your pillowcase that you sleep with is a great trick to ensure clear skin!
8. Cleaning up your diet
The food you feed your body affects you in more ways than one. Chances are if your diet consists of lots and lots of junk food and non nutritious food, your skin reflects that. Cleaning up your diet will make a massive difference and clear up those breakouts.
9. SPF
This is me telling myself to take my own advice. I have to say, with this one I don’t practice what I preach but that will change! SPF is essential especially if you are spending your days in the brutal sun. Whether it be a sunscreen, or foundation, having some SPF in there does wonders for the skin.
10. Cleaning your face immediately after working out
A staple in my gym bag are my facial wipes. Immediately after finishing my workout I do a quick cleanse in case I can’t make it home to shower after working out. That way, the sweat isn’t clogging up your pores.
Now for my skincare routine 🙂
A little back story… My skin type is combination, however definitely leaning more towards oily. When I was 16 I went to the dermatologist for the first time and was prescribed two medications to help clear up my skin which worked great! However, when you use a product for a long period of time your skin starts to get used to it and in turn, stops combating the problem, which resulted in another trip to the dermatologist. This time, with different topicals that did the trick yet again. My skin is very clear 95% of the time except for the occasional breakout which is totally normal.
After a lot of research, and reading of reviews I have been using the products below for months now and absolutely love them. If you are in the market for new skincare I would definitely recommend you stop by your local Sephora for a try! Links to everything are below, so you can read about these products for yourself, read reviews and maybe even purchase a few.
Altering your routine in the slightest way for the better can make such a drastic difference. Skin is so important and deserves the best care! I hope you have enjoyed.
Summer is the ultimate time to break out those white kicks. White shoes are all the rage right now and I can’t say that I haven’t purchased a few myself. These two pairs in particular are the best options for the summertime and can be paired with absolutely everything! Take a look.
White Nike Roshes– I have been lusting over all white roshes for the longest time and finally decided to grab them! I love how fresh and clean they are not to mention they are so comfortable. They go with everything and are the perfect pair of sneakers to throw on with a casual outfit, or even to catch your workout in.
2. White Birkenstocks– Saw that these “beach” birkenstocks were being released while scrolling through social media and then found them at Nordstrom. They have a variety of colors like red, blue, black etc. However I fell in love with the white. I have been wearing these nonstop and they are so comfortable. Not to mention they are a fraction of the price of normal birkenstocks. Got these bad boys for 35 dollars!!!
There is a really good chance i’ll be living in these two pairs of shoes all summer long. What shoes are you living in this summer!?
I can’t quite express my love for simplicity enough. I have a knack for buying an abundance of clothes I don’t need and then wearing the same few pieces over and over again. Why? Because it’s easy, simple, comfortable, and I have a severe shopping problem which in turn means I’m spending money I don’t have on a daily basis.
In addition to simplicity, I love the look of streetwear. When I’m not in workout clothes, you will see me in leggings and a graphic tee with some sneakers.What better way to pass along some inspo than with some sick pics taken in an abandoned factory, right?
Yes, I did just say abandoned factory and yes, it was as cool as it sounds. Take a look!
Photo by Matt Iwasko
What was left of the walls were COVERED in graffiti, and the non existent floors made for some really sweet spaces for a few photos.
On this day, I decided to keep my look super simple. I am wearing a pair of black ripped jeans that you can literally find anywhere, and a Norton graphic tee which I believe was purchased from either Bloomingdales or Nordstrom. I finished it off with some black converse, and lightly curled hair.
Photo by Gina SouthPhoto by Matt IwaskoPhoto by Matt IwaskoPhoto by Gina South
Meet Nicole » My insanely stylish, talented and cool friend who also has an amazing blog that you MUST check out over on Wanderess World, as well as on Instagram (nicole_currier). Nicole wore a stylin outfit that I just love love love. She paired some denim shorts with a pair of black tights, knee high socks and white high top converse. On top, she wore an amazing Rolling Stones vintage tee with a light washed denim jacket thrown on top. Not to mention Nicole’s silver coin necklace that topped off the look perfectly.
Photo by Gina SouthPhoto by Gina SouthPhoto by Matt IwaskoPhoto by Matt IwaskoPhoto by Matt Iwasko
Keeping your look simple is always a safe bet when you are not sure what to throw on. More times than not I resort to my basic ways because I know it just works for me. The amount of graphic and vintage shirts that are at our fingertips nowadays is unreal, and can make for some amazing looks.
Has anyone else noticed the comeback that fringe has made!? Whether it is on a bag, jacket, or vest I swear it is EVERYWHERE, and I am so not mad about it.
I did some shopping about a month ago at Lord & Taylor and copped this amazing fringe leather jacket for SUCH a great deal (I believe it is no longer available after doing some research). I absolutely love this piece and the variety it can easily bring to one’s wardrobe.
LOOK NUMBER ONE:
Need I say more!?!? This jacket speaks for itself. For this outfit, I chose to keep my entire outfit black and white themed because let’s be real, do I ever wear anything else? I paired my classic Adidas logo tee with a simple pair of black Lululemon Align Pants (CHANGED MY LIFE), and simple white Converse. Not to mention, I topped it off with my favorite pair of Ray Bans that never fail to make me feel as hipster as they come. For both of these looks, any graphic tee would do the job. You can incorporate as much or as little color into these looks depending on your personal style. I did some research and found some really cool graphic tees on Colabination. Not to mention, FREE SHIPPING! What what!
LOOK NUMBER TWO:
In case you are a bit on the wild side unlike me on most days, you may incorporate some color into your life. That was my goal when helping Tali put together her ever so cute outfit. Tali is sporting some burnt orange colored jeans from Pacsun, paired with a graphic bullhorn tank from Nordstrom. (Plenty more graphic tees over on Colabination). Over the tank we threw on the black fringe jacket of course, and paired it with some simple white chucks for the shoes. I personally love how stark and bold the jacket looks with the neutral warm tones that the pants and top provide. I think it calls for a really unexpected and western feel to an otherwise simple outfit.
Although the winter months have just come to an end, don’t be afraid to challenge yourself when it comes to textures, fringe, color palettes etc. You never know the type of outfit that can come out of a little experimentation.
Anyways, feel free to check out my Instagram @slsandler in case you are interested in seeing some more pics there, as well as Tali’s of course @talitangir.
s e e i t w i t h s a m i 