The Joy of Juice

Steve and I recently watched the documentary "Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead" – the remarkable story of Joe, who overcame obesity and disease by drinking nothin' but green juice for 60 days!

Ever since – or maybe I'm just more aware of it now – it seems every other person is trying a juice cleanse. Seeing as Steve and I aren't the healthiest eaters, and definitely need to introduce more fruits and veggies into our diets, we decided to try it. We bought a juicer and did a little detox for a few days. We weren't in it for weight loss or anything, just to reboot our systems ... and I must say I felt wonderful! Plus the added bonus of glowing skin and a lighter feeling (no pizza and booze weighing us down).

It's was a nice little break from our typical diet of french cheese, or spicy sloppy Joes, (or my fave meal of Snickers and Reese's), but just a few days did the trick – no serious commitment here.

Juicing your own is pretty fun (especially playing around with yummy recipes!), but there are a number of great looking offers for 3, 5, and 8 days of juice shipped straight to your door, like those from Suja, Cooler Cleanse, and Blueprint. Also, I'd love to try some of these delicious looking recipes next time.  

Have you tried a juice detox? Turns out it's not as scary as it sounds!

Photo from Pinterest

Weekend Homework: Load up on Lace

On the couture runways this week, big wigs like Chanel, Valentino, and Elie Saab showed pieces constructed of dreamy delicate lace. This feminine fabric adds intricate detail to simple silhouettes or additional complexity to sophisticated designs. 

Lace adds elegance to every occasion, so let's daydream about spring this weekend and let these woven works of art above inspire some more attainable ensembles below ...

Lovely Lacy Pieces ...
1. gray lace sweater - $19.99
2. ladylike lace dress - $27.80
3. lace shift dress - $118
4. lace bolero - $60
5. silk and lace blouse - $79.90
6. lace shorts - $120
7. lace dress - $39.99
8. lace mini skirt - $22.80
9. lace combo dress - $69.90

Have a fantastic weekend!

photos at top from Elie Saab, Chanel, Alexis Mabille, Valentino

Structured and Sleek

The goods:
• dress and jacket from Forever21
• boots by Ellen Tracy
• necklaces from Stitch

It's just so easy to grab black from my closet – it's simple, always in style, and goes with everything. No matter what I'm wearing, be it a flowy printed dress or a jeans and t-shirt, the black jacket is the easiest, sleek structured piece to top off an outfit. Even better, this knit and faux leather piece was a steal at Forever21.

Other cheap and chic finds are this zipper, pointed hem jacket and this faux leather trimmed moto jacket.

Le Fragrance Français

If there's one thing I cannot get enough of (you know, besides shoes, sweets, shopping ...) it's anything lavender. I love the lotions, the candles, and the plant itself. I've already shared by love for this candle and this perfect lavender-scented hand sanitizer, so below are a few more fantastically French lavender finds (at a slightly friendlier price point than Diptyque). 

Clockwise from top:
• L'Occitane lavender hand cream, $22 
• lavender syrup (perfect for making this cocktail), $14
• dried lavender wreath (to make your home smell like Provence), $20
• lavender detangling spray (to make your tresses smooth and subtly scented), $10
• lavender essential oil, $6
• Williams Sonoma French lavender candle, $19.95

Emerald City

The goods:
• sweater from Urban Outfitters
• star-print jeans from Gap
• pumps from Aldo
• vintage silver necklace and bangle

I love small accents of color, but sometimes these dreary winter days call for more pop. One of my favorite colors this season is bold emerald green, and I must say, this sweater definitely brightens my day. I paired it with these silver star jeans from Gap for a little extra sparkle.

Pumped Up Kicks

I love a shiny new pair of pumps as much as the next girl, but lately I've been admiring these snazzy sneakers popping up everywhere. A much more casual and comfortable option, but still adds the height of a pump with the wedge heel. I love the added metallic and stud details on some sneakers, who says gym shoes can't be stylish?

 

Below are some cool kicks. Pair them with your favorite skinny black pants or a ladylike skirt and tights combo for a comfortable but chic look ...

1. Ash "Bea" wedge sneaker - $250
2. Steve Madden "Hilight" wedge sneaker - $150
3. Zara wedge sneaker - $99.90
4. Express wedge sneaker - $88
5. Michael Kors Glam studded high top - $195
6. Zara studded sneaker - $99.90
7. Xhilaration wedge sneaker - $34.99
8. Steve Madden "Hamlit" sneaker - $129.95

Happy shopping and enjoy your holiday!

Have a Sweet Weekend!

I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend, catching up on sleep, with friends, and my KitchenAid. Steve and I are terrible at making the time for home cooked meals, but I love the therapeutic act of baking on the weekends. I cannot wait to try this recipe for lavender "cheesecake" (anything in this floral flavor is fantastic in my book, but this decadent dish sounds extra amazing (plus It's made from all raw ingredients!)

Also ...
It's supposed to be a cold one here in Chicago so dress warmly - preferably in a cozy cashmere piece like this lovely winter white number from Theory (on sale!)

I don't know about you, but my skin has been taking a beating with this dry winter weather. This mask packs a moisturizing punch! Plus the black tea scent is heavenly and it goes on like silk (it's expensive, so ask a Sephora employee for a sample – it lasts two applications!).

I rediscovered the joy of brunch last weekend (after snagging the perfect fireside seat at RL). Next up, I'd love to try the newly opened Little Goat (sister restaurant to Girl & the Goat, located just across the street). Breakfast is served all day and I definitely want to see what "smoked fries" are all about!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Photo from Roost Blog

Effortless Ensemble

The goods:
• tshirt from Gap
• tunic tank from Martin + Osa
• pants and shoes from Forever21
• gifted gold disc earrings 
• green bangle from C.Wonder

Sometimes the most clean, classic silhouettes make for the most comfortable outfits. I'm clearly a big fan of skinny black pants – I mean, they go with literally everything, and are the next best thing to my weekend black leggings. I like to balance out these fitted bottoms with more voluminous tops, like this a-line tunic. A totally lounge-worthy ensemble, but add some accessories and throw on some heels and and a blazer and I'm ready for work.

Ruby Slippers

Nothing brightens a dreary winter day like a bright pop of color ... and what better color that classic red? Bright red pumps elevate any ensemble from simple to sexy and sophisticated. From patent to suede, embellished to cut out, this sultry hue puts a spring in your step – even in the dead of winter. 

Below are some fantastic fire-red finds ...

Clockwise from top:
• mesh scallop heel, $150 – available on pinkmascara.com
• patent stiletto, $625 – available at Christian Louboutin
• suede cutout pump, $245 – available on Piperlime
• spiked pump, $175 – available on Piperlime
• studded heel pumps, $50 – available at Zara

Briliant Border

The goods:
• chambray shirt from Banana Republic
• black sleeveless top from Club Monaco
• chain-trim cardigan, belt, and jeans from Forever21
• pumps from Zara

I'm all for piling on the necklaces and lining my arms in bangles, but not all accessories come in the form of bracelets and baubles. This sweater comes complete with a gold chain trim, and paired with a gold buckle belt, are all the accessories I need for a clean and classic look. Bonus points for being a warm layering piece without creating a bulky, winter silhouette.