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December 2016

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I can hardly believe that this will be my final blog post of 2016. That said, of course I had to bring a bit of glitz as we quickly approach one of the biggest party night’s of the year. From the moment I saw this cold-shoulder embellished knit I knew it was definitely worthy of a photo shoot, however, I was a bit stumped with the direction I wanted to go in for this look. Because of the top’s neutral color, I had no problem finding other pieces to pair it with; it was just a matter of whether I wanted to dress it up or dress it down. After searching through the archives of my previous looks, I decided to go with something a bit more formal. Metallic pleated midi skirts have literally been EVERYWHERE this season, and though I was hesitant to jump on the trend for that reason, there was something about this skirt in particular that I couldn’t resist. For me, I think it was the fact that the material was similar to a soft suede instead of the typical rigid, foiled texture. Also, though it may be hard to see, I liked the uniqueness of the metallic accents and how they were scattered across the skirt with a marbled effect, rather than the usual opaque coated style. Overall, I loved how these 2 pieces complimented each other and to keep them as the focal point, I chose black accessories to let them shine. I am super excited to see what 2017 has in store and can’t wait to show you guys some of the ideas I’ve been working on. I hope everyone has a fun and safe NYE. See you next year! 🙂

Outfit Details & Links:

Sweater- Topshop

Skirt- Zara

Heels- Zara

Bag- Forever 21

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Typically when thinking of the holiday season and all of its festivities, we prepare to bring out our most eye-catching pieces containing sequins, fur, and bold statement jewelry. While I fully enjoy and can appreciate partaking in the glitz and glam, I wanted to style a look for the more subdued, non-nonchalant chick who chooses to take more of an understated approach. In my opinion, holidays or not, you can never go wrong with an all black ensemble. Because of my dark color palette however, I definitely wanted to add dimension by mixing up the textures. As soon as I saw the top and its gorgeous lace detail, I knew it would make the perfect piece for this time of year while still being versatile enough to blend with the more casual pieces in my wardrobe. The tailored culottes helped to maintain a “smart” vibe that kept the look relaxed yet formal, and I couldn’t help but add my cropped leather jacket for an extra bit of edge. In order to maintain the “holiday feels,” I accessorized with my iridescent heeled sandals and diamond hoops for a bit of sparkle. Lastly, to complete the look, I grabbed my chain link leather purse and was good to go! A lot of times, I find myself guilty of wanting to throw on my entire closet due to the holiday excitement, but this look has shown me that less can definitely be more. So if you’re struggling to find a look or simply just feel like toning it down for your 5th party of the season, try something like this out and enjoy yourself! Until next time, & happy holidays!

Outfit Details & Links:

Jacket- Urban Outfitters

Top- Zara

Trousers- Zara

Heels- Zara

Bag- Zara

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With Christmas only 3 days away, I wanted to share the items that were on my personal wishlist. I try not to get too overwhelmed with whether or not I actually get what I “wished” for, and rather focus on the giving season while looking forward to the element of surprise. Either way, it’s always fun to write Santa a little list and feel like a kid again. Check out my picks below and I hope you get everything on your list as well! Don’t forget to click the images to shop the items below. Happy Holidays!!!

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Being a former braces wearer, the appearance and overall health of my teeth have always been important to me. Coincidentally, at the time that I was contacted by the lovely sponsors at Smile Brilliant, I was currently in the process of researching teeth whitening options. While I tend to not smile frequently in my blog photos, I am a regular coffee, tea, (and red wine 😉 ) drinker; all beverages that are known for staining teeth. When I agreed to this collaboration and received my kit, I was very impressed by the overall packaging and professionalism behind this product.

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The kit came with 3 sets of catalyst and base paste that were to be mixed in order to create the impressions in the trays provided. For me, this was the most nerve racking part as there were time limits on how long it would take to mix the putty before it began to harden. Truth be told, I messed up on the first try and was grateful that an extra set was included for that very reason. After successfully making my impressions and allowing them to set for 30 minutes, I shipped them off and anxiously awaited the arrival of my teeth whitening trays.

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Now the fun begins! My trays came in a sleek retainer-like case along with instructions on how to properly apply the whitening and desensitizing gels. The whitening gel had a time limit of 45 minutes- 3 hours of use, however, I decided to leave it on for an hour and a half each session as I was cautious of the possible effects it could have on my enamel. It was suggested that this process is best done before bed and I found that to be quite true as well as being the most convenient option for my schedule. While I didn’t experience much sensitivity (which was a definite plus), I’m sure using the desensitizing gel for 15-20 minutes post whitening helped combat any possible discomfort. I used this product for about two weeks and was pleasantly surprised to notice a slight difference in the color of my teeth. In all fairness, I didn’t really cut out my teeth-staining beverages so I’m positive my results would have been more drastic if I had. Overall, I can honestly say that using this teeth whitening kit was a great experience and I encourage you to try it, especially if you are looking for an efficient product that actually works! The Smile Brilliant team have also graciously offered to sponsor a giveaway so that one of my subscribers can win one of these kits and hopefully share the experience that I had. Click the link below to enter to win or use the coupon code: astyledmind for 5% off of the entire site! Remember, the new year is coming and we should approach it looking our best. Until next time, and happy holidays!

Giveaway URL: www.smilebrilliant.com/g/astyledmind

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Tooth Whitening Gel

With the holidays quickly approaching, there are only 2 outfits that I am actually planning for: New Year’s Eve and Christmas Day. While for NYE I put a lot of thought into the statement I want my ensemble to make as I bring in the upcoming year, Christmas Day is a totally different story. I am concerned with one thing, and one thing only…COMFORT. For me, Christmas is probably the most relaxing day of the year. I get up, put on my “outfit” for the day, and literally stay in it ALL day. The past few years I’ve been a proud member of the onesie club, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other options. Check out a few of the items I’ve highlighted below for optimal comfort and don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks! Until next time & happy holidays!

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I was absolutely honored to have been selected by Coach to collaborate and feature a piece from their new Rexy holiday collection. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little skeptical about whether or not I could pull off one of these unique items, but I was determined to take on the challenge! Of the choices that were available, I decided to go with the black wristlet as it was the most versatile and in my opinion emphasized the contrast of the vibrant dinosaur the best. While I wanted to keep my new accessory as the focal point of the look, I made sure to style it with eye-catching garments that were minimal yet complimentary to the bag. Since the wristlet had a few bright colors already, I kept the rest of the look fairly neutral. However, I still managed to tie the ensemble together with my new navy pea-coat which beautifully highlighted the outline of the prehistoric creature. This piece is great because when worn, it instantly provides an element of playfulness and edge to any look. I chose to wear a light grey Victorian-style sweater dress to break up the darkness of the coat and boots. I absolutely loved the chic, vintage detail it added with the frilled accents on the neck and sleeves. Overall, I absolutely loved this look and am so happy that I was able to incorporate a piece from such a classic, luxury brand. Coach is currently celebrating their 75th anniversary, so make sure to check out their new capsule collection and grab one of these iconic pieces for yourself! Until next time!

Outfit Details & Links:

Dress- Zara

Boots- Aldo

Coat- H&M

Wristlet- Coach

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For my second gift guide, I couldn’t forget about the boys! In my opinion men, can either be extremely easy or incredibly difficult to shop for. If they have clear cut interests it’s usually a no-brainer, but I decided to pull together some options for those who aren’t exactly sure. Personally, I love getting gifts for people that they may never think to buy themselves– NEEDS rather than wants. Guys have a habit of wearing out their daily items until they literally fall apart, so why not treat them to a personal grooming kit, piece of luggage, or super convenient wallet-charger combo? Don’t forget to the click the images to shop these items. Happy holidays!

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I’ve stated time and time again that I am not your typical “accessories girl.”  I love creating looks with garments that make their own statement and don’t necessarily need a bunch of bells and whistles to come alive. With that being said, when I do come across an accessory piece that I feel would be a nice addition to my wardrobe I look for two key factors, uniqueness and versatility. When I was contacted by the lovely sponsors at Jord to showcase one of their timepieces, I took one glance at the website and knew instantly it would be something I could incorporate into my style. In the past, ironically, I spent a decent chunk of my retail career working for a watch company and not once have I ever come across one made almost entirely of wood. What I like about that feature, aside from the fact that the wood provides an earthy-rustic vibe to any look, is that it’s also surprisingly lightweight and extremely comfortable on the wrist. Another bonus is the neutral brown tone of the band which allows it to be worn with just about anything and perfectly compliments the warm, seasonal Fall colors that we all love! With a wide selection to choose from, I decided to go with a gorgeous mid-toned zebrawood watch with a champagne colored face. I love its over-sized yet sleek, classic appearance that is simple enough to be worn by both women and men. With the holidays quickly approaching and the spirit of giving in our hearts, Jord has taken their generosity to the next level and provided a contest link for all of my readers and subscribers! ALL entrants will receive a $25 coupon code that will be available for redemption until 12/18/16 and will expire 2/28/17. If you’re running out of gift ideas, or simply want to treat yourself, I highly encourage taking advantage of this contest and checking out one of these timeless Jord watches; what do you have to lose? Until next time!

Contest link: https://www.woodwatches.com/g/astyledmind

Outfit Details & Links:

Sweater- H&M

Jeans- Zara

Heels- Express

Watch- Jord

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***This post was sponsored by JORD Wood Watches***
Wooden Wristwatch

With plenty of gift giving holidays right around the corner, I decided to pull together some cute ideas for the ladies in your life. I tried to think of items that were not too age restricting and varied in price range. Let’s be honest, I can’t think of one woman who doesn’t like looking good, smelling nice, and capturing the moment! I would be thrilled to receive any of these items and hope that they provided helpful hints.  Don’t forget to click the images for direct links to the products. Happy holidays!

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