Sunday, March 29, 2015

Mom's health bars

Hello loves! Sorry it's been so long, in the past two weeks I've gone through finals week and 80 hours of working, but now I'm back to it, I promise! With two weeks of working, I finally got a weekend to go home and see my family, which means lots of love and delicious food. My parents always make the best meals and spoil me with bags of stuff to take back home to Seattle. This time, my mom shared this awesome recipe she found on Popsugar Fitness through Pinterest, and I'm addicted (which means Jason is too). They were a little too healthy for our taste though, so her and I added some chocolate chips!

What you'll need:

1 cup almond butter
2 cups rolled oats
3 oz. vanilla or chocolate protein powder (it's great with both)
1/2 cup pure maple syrup*
2 large eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)

*This is the pure maple syrup (Grade B) my mom uses, it is delicious, not too expensive, and much healthier than regular syrup, find it at Trader Joe's!


Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly spray a 9x11 glass baking pan.

2. Grab a small mixing bowl and a mixer, mix together the almond butter, protein powder, and syrup. It should look something like this...

The consistency will be a little chunky.

3. Mix in the eggs. The batter should look something like this...

The batter will become much creamier.

4. Gather rolled oats, coconut, baking soda, and add them to your mixture. We folded these in with a plastic flexible spatula because the mixture became so sticky from the syrup. 


5. Fold in your mini chocolate chips (the batter will not be easy to deal with at this point, it'll take some patience!)

6. Press the batter into the baking pan.


7. Place in the oven for approximately 12 minutes. They're so good fresh out of the oven with the perfectly melted chocolate chips! They're also delicious (and healthier, of course), without the chocolate chips. Enjoy!


For a perfect snack size, cut into 18 pieces.

Are you guys going to give this healthy cookie snack a try? Do you have any yummy healthy recipes you've come across? Thanks for the recipe, mom! xoxo

Monday, March 16, 2015

The perfect getaway

There's something perfect about finding a small cafe on the corner of an avenue looking out on the street with your fingers intertwined around a mug of coffee. Whether you're blogging, people watching, or listening to music, there's a certain peace about it. Getting out of the house to find somewhere quiet with beautiful music, even if its just a few steps outside your front door, is sometimes exactly what we need. I've found a few great cafes for studying, relaxing, and getting away for an hour, to separate myself from what seems like such a crazy stressful life sometimes. They aren't in order of favorites, because they all rock in very different ways, and I hope if you guys are local or find yourselves in Seattle sometime soon, that you'll give them a try, they're all worth it!

1. Cafe Solstice - 4116 University Ave NE

I stopped by this place with a friend of mine to study for just a few hours and fell in love with the atmosphere. BUT, it is not a good place to study if you're someone that needs peace and quiet, like I am. When I walked in the door, the music alone made me fall head over heels for this place. It was 80's music all night long! If you're planning on meeting a friend to chat, or just want a place to hang out, this is definitely a cafe that's worth checking out.

2. Cafe on the Ave - 4201 University Ave NE

The food here is to die for, everything on the menu is downright amazing, and their coffee is super delicious, with free refills on drip coffee, so if you have an all day study day planned...coffee ALL DAY LONG. If you want a quiet and chill experience, go in the early AM when they open, anywhere from 7am-9am is when I love to go. Their breakfasts are addicting; my personal favorite is the breakfast burrito, but all their scrambles are super tasty too. The only downfall is that it seems like this is where every student in university district goes to study, so starting pretty early afternoon it gets really busy and really loud. But the 8am you get Frank Sinatra, endless cups of coffee, and breakfast all to yourself; it is totally worth the early wake-up call.



3. Voxx Coffee - 2245 Eastlake Ave E

This is my new personal favorite, I've spent so many days here in the past couple weeks. I've never had a problem finding a seat, even though it's a pretty small cafe. They have great music that they don't play it too loudly, so it is the perfect studying environment. Their food and coffee is really good, although there isn't a ton of variety (the turkey sandwich is THE BOMB). The tables are pretty tiny, so plan to pack minimally if you're bringing study materials. The people there are super cool and the cafe is only a five minute bus ride from University District.




4. Storyville Coffee - 94 Pike St #34

A little tricky to find, but totally worth the hassle. This is hands-down the coolest cafe I've ever been to. The place looks amazing from the art to the lighting, to the espresso bar setup. And, they give out free cake sometimes...yeah, no joke, free chocolate cake, that's like my three favorite things: free, chocolate, and cake...put them together and I'm sold. The baristas there are the best and the look of the place alone was enough for me to want to visit again. It is the most hipster cafe I've been to, which is also awesome. There is a beautiful fireplace, funky spiral lights, and even the carpet is retro and cool. If you're going to visit any of these cafes, this would be the one I'd suggest first.




Sometimes, we need something other than the regular ol' Starbucks. These are just a few of the little places I've been to and fallen in love with over the past quarter. Are you guys going to give any of these cute cafes a try? Are there any you love? I'd love to find more to explore! xoxo

Sunday, March 15, 2015

DIY cutout tank

I don't usually like to wear or make things that are this dark...but there was something about this one, I was just drawn to it. I never wear skulls, skeletons, or anything of the sort. I do like edgy styles, crafty projects, and destroying old things to make new ones, and maybe those are all the elements that had me drooling over the idea of this project. I originally saw it on Pinterest awhile back, thought about giving it a try, and figured maybe I was just going through a weird phase, and I skipped it. I just saw it again recently and still loved it, so I decided to go for it, with a few modifications, as always...

Here is the photo that had me gawking on Pinterest. Edgy and kind of creepy...but with a pair of springy colored pants or shorts and some texturized and purposefully messy hair, I love it. There were only a few changes I had in mind: a tank top (muscle tank style), a higher design so you can't see pants or bra strap through the cuts, and a little skull smirk instead of the boxy teeth in this photo. Want to give it a try? Let's have at it!

What you'll need:

A scrap shirt (I picked up a black Russell tee for $5, I like muscle tees to have a higher neck and that is the style of these t-shirts)
Scissors
Colored pencil or fabric pencil that you'll be able to see on your fabric
Some items to make a good drawing surface (like a couple books or magazines)
A washcloth (to scrub off your pencil at the end)

Directions:

1. Lay your t-shirt out on a flat surface. I put mine out on my ottoman so my sleeves could drape over on the sides (since I'll be cutting those off next).


2. Mark with colored pencil or fabric pencil where you want to cut off the sleeves of the shirt. I used a white colored pencil for mine.


3. Cut your sleeves off, and slip the shirt on real quick to make sure it looks how you want it to. While you have it on, make a mark where the shirt hits the middle of your lower back, right where your pants start. I did this so that when I cut the skull teeth, they show only my back, and not my pants too! You can see my white mark in the photo below. If you want your shirt to look like the Pinterest photo, then skip this step.


4. Find a good stencil or photo of a skull, and practice drawing on printer paper a few times first, until you feel like you have the design on lockdown. I searched google images and found this skull photo to be a good guideline...


5. When you're confident, place two magazines - or anything that will give you a stable drawing surface - in your shirt. This will separate the back of the shirt that you're drawing on from the front, which you want to keep clean and hole-free. 


6. Take your time and start drawing your skull. Mine took me a solid thirty minutes (I'm a huge perfectionist), and it turned out like this...

I made sure that the teeth stayed a few inches from my pant line that I drew earlier, and that they upturned into a skull smirk.

7. Time to get out those scissors! Be careful and go slowly, you'll need to be careful in between the eye and nose halves, and especially between the teeth. This part is the most tedious of the project, but it's worth it! Just make sure you have a decent pair of scissors, and some patience. You'll definitely want to keep the magazines in between your shirt for this part, so that you don't cut through to the front of your tee.

8. Dampen a washcloth with cold water and scrub out all the little lines of colored pencil or fabric pen that you have leftover. Now slip on your shirt and show off your back! I wouldn't suggest wearing this if you're out tanning...



How do you guys feel about this creepy cutout tank? Are you going to give it a go? If you have any fun DIY clothing tips you can share with me, I'd love to hear them below or see them in my inbox! xoxo

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Banana breakfast cookies

Cookies, of any shape or kind, are tempting. There's something about that rounded, freshly cooked piece of dough just calling your name from the kitchen counter. So, for those cookie cravings, I threw together some healthy ingredients, actually...all healthy ingredients! No butter, sugar, nothing unhealthy at all! It takes about 5 mins of prep (pretty much deciding what you want to throw in your mix), and 15 minutes to cook a batch, and you'll have a few days of delicious breakfast cookies!

What you'll need:

2 RIPE bananas (working with even a slightly unripened banana for this is a nightmare)
1 cup of oatmeal
Anything else you want to add to your mix! The above two are the only essentials.

Extras I added:
1/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/4-1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp roasted flax seed
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 heaping tbsp creamy peanut butter

Directions:

1. Mash the bananas. If you have a masher, use this, but I'm not that fancy so I used my hands, messy, but it works!

2. Mix in the oatmeal, and whatever other ingredients you choose to use. In my case, I mixed in the coconut, coconut oil, cinnamon, flax seed, and peanut butter.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, put a heaping spoonful of dough for each cookie, I did 6 cookies on my first sheet, and 3 cookies on my second sheet. Bake for 14-15 minutes per baking sheet. The cookies will be a little browned around the edges, but delicious and squishy on the inside! The banana won't last super long, so refrigerate for a longer life.



Serve with a cup of tea for the perfect relaxing morning breakfast!

Do you have any healthy recipes you love right now? I'd love to see them in the comments below! Are you going to give these healthy banana breakfast cookies a try? What are you going to put in them? xoxo

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Mornin' mug of matcha

As I mentioned in my Trader Joe's post from yesterday, Matcha has some incredible benefits, but it can be hard for some people to swallow (literally). It has a bit of a 'grassy' flavor, and it is a pretty grainy mixture too, so if you don't use the perfect amount, it might not go down quite right. Despite all this, Matcha is one of my favorite drinks! It's a little harder to find, you can buy the latte mix at Trader Joe's (this is what I do) for $3.99, or you can find it in bigger quantities online (it's really expensive this way). It's definitely not something every grocery store carries. You can also order a few different varieties of Matcha drinks at Starbucks too ($$$$). For those of you that are feeling adventurous and want to give it a try, or those of you who just want to try Matcha in a different form, I'm excited to share my new favorite drink: Matcha Coconut Latte. It's easy as pie, and delicious.

What you'll need:

A mug (duh)
1 1/2 tsp Matcha powder
1 tbsp HOT water
3/4 cup warmed milk*
A few drops of honey (optional, for sweetness)

*Guess what makes this a coconut latte? Coconut milk! I used TJ's 'Coconut Beverage' in vanilla flavor, it looks like this...and it is so yummy, especially by itself cold! You can of course use any type of milk from almond milk to regular milk for this latte.


Directions:

1. Heat the 1 tbsp of water.

2. Stir in Matcha until smooth.

3. Whisk in warmed milk and add honey for sweetness if you wish.

4. Voila! You have the perfect mixture in your morning mug!

Primo consistency, a little coconut-y flavor, and no grainy Matcha leftovers, just perfection.

Are you going to try this Matcha mix morning wake-up? Tell me what you think! Do you have any fun morning drink recipes you can share with me? xoxo

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

All things Trader Joe's

It's no secret, Trader Joe's is like my soul mate of the grocery world. They have delicious stuff you can't find other places for good prices, and they have the basics for a way cheaper price than big grocery chains like QFC and Safeway.

Being in college and following a college budget with groceries (especially groceries for two) sometimes feels impossible. It's not, I promise. It's all about price shopping.

When we first moved to Seattle, I did what was convenient, shopping in walking distance and grabbing what I needed. Then, one day, I looked at the shelf tags for the stuff I was buying and couldn't believe how expensive it was! So, I shopped around from QFC to different locations of Safeway to Target, and then...Trader Joe's. I don't buy everything at Trader Joe's, there are departments I avoid because of how expensive certain things can get. But for certain things, it's the perfect shopping trip, especially if you're trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle because it gives so many creative food options and the prices they have for organic foods are really impressive.

Most college students come packed with boxes and boxes of Top Ramen, thinking they can't afford to shop healthy, but let's just ignore that myth. Shopping healthy just takes some time and price shopping, but it's worth it! Look at shelf tags, explore your options, compare prices of things you need at different places. I know it's easy to go to QFC and do a "one-stop-shop", but it could be stripping your wallet bare, that's what it did to me. Even though TJ's is about 13 blocks from my house, and walking is my only option, it is 100% worth the time and effort. A bag of mini potatoes, 1 lb, at QFC is $5.99, and at Trader Joe's, the same kind of potatoes in a 1 lb bag is $1.99! At QFC. a bag of mandarin oranges usually runs from $5.99 to $7.99, and the ones at Trader Joe's of the same size are $2.99. And this is why I mainly go to TJ's, the produce! Their produce prices are awesome, and they sell some great household products like soaps and supplements for good prices too. So, let's go through some of my TJ's faves!



This is one of my favorite salad dressings, it's good on salads, tacos, enchiladas, burritos, pretty much anything! It's around $3.49 a bottle and super delicious.

Another favorite dressing of mine. It has the perfect amount of kick to it, and makes the best dinner if you put it on top of jasmine rice, steamed broccoli, and chicken. 

Matcha Green Tea Latte, $3.99. One serving of Matcha is equivalent to 10+ cups of green tea! This stuff is awesome and a great healthy alternative to coffee in the morning. Here are some of it's amazing benefits! Matcha can be a little bit grainy and grassy tasting for some, so tomorrow I'm going to share a matcha coconut latte recipe!

This was my cleanse go-to. Soy and dairy-free, packed with Vitamin A, D, B12, healthy fatty acids, calcium, and magnesium, it is a great alternative to milk! I get the vanilla flavor to put in smoothies and to drink straight, it tastes amazing! The half gallon is $2.99.

Flax seed is amazing for your health, and usually super expensive, but Trader Joe's sells it at a really reasonable price, and the roasted flax seed adds really good flavor to lots of recipes. This is what I put in my energy bar recipe that you guys might have seen in February.

One of my least favorite breakfast foods is oatmeal. The texture and plain taste of the unflavored stuff freaks me out (yeah, I know it's weird). But, I could eat this stuff every meal of the day. It has berry chunks in it, as well as flax and chia seeds. Chia and flax seeds in bulk are really expensive, so it's nice to see something at a reasonable price that gives you the perfect serving you need for the day! This box has 8 packets and it is $3.99.

Quinoa is delicious and great for your health, but it is really expensive most places. At QFC, small bags of quinoa are never less than $7.99, but Trader Joe's sells it for $3.49! Here is a short article they wrote on the product. Note: you can look up most of these products on their article website, and they give a little history and last updated prices on the products.

Organic coconut oil at TJ's is only $5.99! At QFC the organic stuff in an even smaller container runs $8.99+. I've shopped around for coconut oil for a long time and have never found one I like better, or a better price. I swear by coconut oil, you can substitute it for butter in cookies, mix it in your coffee in the mornings, or melt it on top of your natural popcorn as a healthy alternative to butter. Here are some organic facts about how incredible it is! 

Cranberries aren't usually my favorite, but the coconut in this granola makes it BOMB. Mix in with some vanilla yogurt for a delicious and healthy breakfast! It's only $2.49 and is packed with rolled oats, sesame seeds, coconut oil, sunflower seeds, and a little agave syrup for sweetness.

Trader Giotto's Pomodoro Pasta Sauce makes the best chicken parm and parm pasta, I could honestly eat it with a spoon. $2.99 for the big jar! I love putting it with the Trader Joe's whole wheat fusilli noodles and topping with parmesan cheese (this may be overkill, but I LOVE cheese). 

Finding a delicious fruit/veggie juice that is cheap is really hard! At QFC every juice from orange to grape that is fresh and chilled runs upwards of $3.99, and that's when they're on sale! This one is (don't quote me on this one) $2.99 and worth it. Jason and I are addicts! It is the perfect balance of flavors. It's also strong enough that it is a great flavor cover-up for powders like whey protein powder, creatine, and other fitness supplements.

I am a salsa addict. If I could try every salsa on the shelf of every store and get paid to taste test, I would do it in a heartbeat (I'd probably do it for free too). Green salsa has always been my favorite, and this one flies off the shelves. $1.99! Of course, it doesn't last me long. My only criticism would be that there is really no kick to it, and I'm a girl who loves her spicy food, but the flavor is so good that I'm still an addict!

Finally, a good, cheap, healthy snack! Dried fruits and vegetables are so expensive, but these are only $1.49 (you'll eat the whole package in one sitting I can guarantee it). Everyone I've begged to try these has cringed at the idea, and then completely changed their minds after a bite. Warning: they are addicting, to an extent you won't understand till you take a bite. If you live with other people, HIDE THEM. They are crunchy and snacky, and have the perfect amount of saltiness to cure the cravings for potato chips and other unhealthy snack foods.

Dried fruit is usually priced high, and when you look at the sugar content, you realize that they've completely ruined your healthy snack (this is how I feel about my dried mango addiction at Costco). These are super healthy and $2.99 for the package. They're a really good snack for on-the-go mixed with other dried fruits like strawberries and bananas!

Who isn't obsessed with Odwalla? I can't afford to be obsessed with it. Their 'superfood green juice' big boy size is $7.99! I'd like to see the day I spend that on a bottle of JUICE. Goodness gracious! TJ's sells something really similar for only $3.99, it's great by itself or in vegetable smoothies! I have always been skeptical about green juice (I mean, come on, it looks downright nasty), but this one changed my mind completely!

The pesto at QFC comes in a 6oz. package for $5.99. No way I'm spending that! TJ's has regular pesto too, but this one is my alltime fave. It's a mix of pesto and quinoa, great with baked chicken, or on sandwiches. I will admit to taking a spoonful at least once a day (it disappears so fast at my house). I love to use it on my turkey sandwiches instead of fattening mayo when I'm on a health kick! $2.99!

Even the health guru's have their sweet tooth cravings! Getting a mocha or a foofy coffee drink nowadays (at Starbucks especially) is just a rip-off! TJ's sells this Mocha Cappuccino mix for $3.99, and it has 30 servings in the tub. It cures a sweet tooth (I guarantee it has enough sugar in it, don't look at the label, eek)! It is my current guilty pleasure, very very guilty.

What I do shop at TJ's: Produce, organic, frozen meals, supplements. They're cheap, healthy, and creative!

What I don't shop at TJ's: Meat. Their meats are delicious and organic, but I just can't afford the prices, maybe one day!

I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my faves! If you give any of them a try I would love to hear your feedback! Do you shop at TJ's too? What are your faves? xoxo

Monday, March 2, 2015

Summer inspirations

Seattle is teasing with bits of sunshine every few days, which is making me crave summer more than ever. I'm picturing swimsuits, iced drinks, sunshine, tanning lotion, and fashion. Just because I can't shop doesn't mean I can't dream about shopping. But after the 'freshman fifteen' (if you don't think this is a real thing, you're lying to yourself), I'm going to have to gather a whole new wardrobe before this summer. The best part about summer fashion is that you can update and DIY a ton of old fall fashions to create your own summer wardrobe. All you need is a pair of scissors, maybe some sewing materials, potentially some dye, and some old clothes. With these you can make jean shorts, distressed shorts, crop tops, cutoff shirts, backless shirts, bright bags, and tie dye. And it is likely you already have jeans, plain shirts, purses, hats, and sunglasses at home.

After a whole fall and winter of wearing the same clothes, which just end up getting covered by a jacket to stay warm anyways, I've been thinking about what I want my summer style to look like, since my style has been so dynamic lately. Pinterest has been my best friend. I've gathered a ton of images of what I want my summer closet to look like, and I've put a few outfits together in collages, but I also want to share so individual pieces that are my current favorites!

I put this collage of Pinterest images together with edgy inspirations. One of my favorite trends right now is the sneaker slip-on, and I love the statement that these Sam Edelman ones give! I know guys have millions of internet posts about what a shame high-waisted shorts are and how they ruin a great butt. Well, guess what? They're super comfy, and a good butt is a good butt no matter what's covering it. And summer is a great time to show off your beautiful buns. Crop tops are really in right now, and I like that your favorite graphics are a good way to express yourself! After putting these pieces together, nothing was a huge statement, so I thought a deep red look would add to the edge, and who doesn't love a good lipstick? A pair of stylish sunglasses, a little texturing spray on your roots with a little tease for a messy, beachy vibe, and you look stunning.

I put this collage together picturing a walk on a boardwalk or being near the water where you want to be stylish, but comfortable and relaxed. Maxi skirts are like the yoga pants of the skirt world. They're comfortable, cute, and you can wear them with just about anything. Another great thing about maxi skirts is that you can do so many things with them! If you want a DIY you can cut a slit up to your thigh, or you can knot your skirt around your knees to show a little leg like I chose for this look. I like to wear my skirts a little higher up (just below the belly button) with a cropped tank. I love this tank because it has the crochet detail so you can see a little skin, but nothing too revealing. Halters are back too! If you're near the water or walking, you're going to want a sandal that is comfortable, but cute. These ones stood out to me because of their bohemian vibe/ The nice thing about having such a simple outfit is that you can add one statement piece and you'll be the one every turns to look at when you're strolling the beach. With a tank like the one I chose, that has so much pretty detail, I wanted a statement piece with color, but simple enough that it didn't distract from the tank, so I thought a Burberry clutch, in a bright color like pink, cobalt, red, jade, or yellow. A neutral/simple lip color would look great with this outfit, so I chose a mauve shade by MAC (because I'm obsessed with everything MAC). Lastly, to finish off the beachy vibe, a messy bun. They're effortlessly chic.

Right now, I love the look of everything flowy from tanks to rompers to boxy t-shirt dresses, so I wanted to start this look with a simple, cream romper. Another one of my favorite looks right now are booties, especially funky ones like those with cutouts, buckles, studs, anything out of the norm! I fell in love with these Steve Madden cutout booties from Nordstrom. To add a little bling, I chose a collar necklace from Baublebar, which looks great with the high neckline of the romper. A coral shade of MAC lipstick ups the femininity of the look! A little curl, some texturizing spray, a little tease for some volume, a black fedora to protect your from the sun and to make you look fabulous, and you're set for date night!

I love the sneaker slip-on style, but paired with one of my favorite colors (mint), and with some really funky texture, these are a win in my book. Plus, they're Dolce Vita which is one of my favorites, and you can find them on Amazon in different summery colors for around $30! They make a casual and simple outfit less boring.

I've been in love with the Chanel Espadrilles for awhile now, but no matter how much I make in the future, I can almost guarantee I'll never be able to fathom spending this much on a pair of shoes. But luckily, my favorite blogger has our backs with a DIY: http://www.dreamcreate.ca/diy-chanel-espadrilles/

Everyone in Seattle owns a pair of white converse, or white vans, and I'm getting sick of the fact that I am wearing the same thing as every girl on campus. But I love the look of a simple and casual laced shoe. I saw these on Pinterest and my jaw dropped. First of all, if you haven't owned a pair of Sperry's before, they're so comfortable. I love the laces on these, and they're an affordable sneaker, under $60 at Nordstrom, and I promise Sperry is worth that for the comfort alone, but these are also adorable, and come in a few different colors!


My current swimsuit obsession. I don't fit in any of my swimsuits anymore, so this is number one on my list when summer comes around: the wrap around bikini top. Paired with a patterned bottom, the simple top with a little design is perfection.

Bralettes are feminine, sexy, and easy to DIY. All you need is some elastic, scissors, scalloped lace, and sewing materials. They're great to put under a flowy tank or to wear with high-waisted shorts/skirts. And if you want some padding, you can easily sew in some bra cups or swimsuit padding! Here is an easy DIY from one of my favorite blogs: http://apairandasparediy.com/2015/02/diy-lace-bralette.html

1. COBALT. 2. TOTE BAG. What could be better? You can fit in your towel and beach necessities, or if you're headed to the theater it's a great hamburger smuggling mechanism (yes I actually do this, I bought a tote specifically for Five Guys pre-theater). No one will question you with this style, unless they're asking how much cash you'll take for your bag. 

Jade is probably my favorite color for summer currently. It looks good on everyone. I also have an obsession with crossbody bags because I hate having to carry bags (I'm lazy, okay?). This one is only $30 online at Target!

Simple flowy tanks are the best because you can do basically anything with them. The layering on this one gives it some character, and pairing it with a bold colored short will make your whole outfit effortlessly cute.

I love scalloped and detailed tanks, especially in that easy breezy chiffon fabric, because it can make a casual outfit way dressier, or you can wear it with some ripped denim and it'll still work!

Backless dresses, backless tanks, backless rompers, I want them all. A tanned, bare back is so sexy, show it off! And you can DIY a back strap for your strapless bra to add a cool design. Here is a very simple DIY example I came across on Pinterest: http://emmelbiyd.blogspot.com/2012/11/diy-3-strap-bra-for-backless-tops-and.html
I want to do one of these soon! Would you guys want me to do a tutorial on this?

Booties make me crazy. Any season, any outfit, any color, any texture, just...yes. The ones I've been in love with for months are the Sam Edelman Petty, which are far out of my price range ($130), but, a girl can dream. The suede is flexible because it doesn't have a ton of structure, and your foot isn't summer sweating in leather. They look great with any outfit!

Headwraps and turban-style headbands are great for the summer to keep your hair out of your face, and they're easy to make or cheap to buy! You can buy scrap fabric for a few dollars and just tie it from the base of your neck to the top of your head, you can go a little further and sew one with design/structure, or you can pick one up at almost any fashion store for between $5-$30. 

These are just a few of my summer obsessions, and the sunshine and warmth can't come quick enough. I hope you guys enjoyed seeing some of my personal favorites and dreaming about summer with me. Do you guys have any trends you're loving right now? I'd love to see or hear about them, a girl can never spend too much time dreaming about the wardrobe they wish they had! xoxo