This is 35

Swimsuit: Old (Similar Here and Here) //Visor: H&M//Earrings: Banana Republic

Every year I have mixed emotions about my birthday.  On one hand I'm super excited to celebrate the day I came into the world. On the other hand I am feeling indifferent about getting older.

We all think about where we expect our lives to be when we get a certain age. I expected myself to be married with one or two children and fully imersed in my career. I am 100% dedicated to my career as well as my blog, but I'm nowhere near married with children. Not even close!

One of the things I've had to come to terms with as I get older is that everybody's journey is different. Growing up we find a set of friends and our lives align while we're in school. Once were done with high school and college we all go on and create different paths. I created a path for myself that was dedicated to building a career. Again, I'm 100% happy with where I am professionally, however sometimes I think that if I would have made different choices my life with align closer to the ladies who I call my close friends.

The world we live in today is much different then those that came before us. With social media we live in a constant world of comparison. We show others images of our lives that only represent 10% of reality. I post pictures of outfit ideas, double tap pictures for inspiration, post about my favorite beauty products, and the vacations I take. What you don't see is how hard I work in my 9 to 5 career and how late I stay up working on posts for my readers.

This past year has been a real reality check for me. I definitely thought by 35 I would be a lot further in my personal life and potentially even further in my professional career. But I'm not. I am learning to be OK with that. That's the truth. It's very easy to say I'm happy all the time but that's not true. The truth is I am on a journey just like everyone else. I have good days, bad days, and just OK days. I'm learning to come to terms with my journey being different than those around me. I'm learning not to compare my life, my success, and my reality to those in my circle and those in a circle I wish to be a part of. Which is honestly and everyday struggle.

Each week at church I pray that I learn to accept my journey. I know accepting that my journey is different than my peers is the first step to finding mental peace. We are conditioned to torture ourselves with asking the question, "Why?" and "Why not?" I'm learning not to ask myself those questions. Instead I ask myself "What do I need to do differently?"

For some reason 35 has been a turning point for me. I don't know why. It's not a major milestone like 21, 30, 40 or 50, but for some reason 35 is resonating with me. Ideally this year will bring growth. And I know that it's all dependent on me. With the growth I plan to make in my 35th year, 36 should be a breeze.

Perfect for Church

 Cardigan: c/o JustFab//Ponte Pants: Old Navy//Bodysuit: ASOS

Booties: c/o JustFab//Sunglasses: Le Specs//Watch: Michael Kors

Earrings: Banana Republic//Hand Bag: JustFab

Am I the only one that struggles with what to wear to church on Sunday? Every Sunday I wake up and think to myself, "What am I going to wear?"

The church I attend doesn't have a strict dress code so I could pretty much wear anything. Because the rules are so relaxed, I feel completely trapped by choosing what to wear! I always have to think about what the rest of my day is going to be like. Am I going to meet someone for lunch afterwards? Am I going to go to the grocery store? Am I going to come straight home? What my plan is for the day is always a deciding factor on what I am going to wear.

I always feel like I should be covered as well. Not because I feel the need to be modest but because it's always so cold! Growing up I remember going to church and it was always so hot. My mother and every lady around us was fanning themselves with one of those cardboard sheets with a popsicle stick glued to the back. Nowadays, churches have amazing air conditioning because I freeze every Sunday.

Here's the outfit I wore to church this past Sunday. It was perfect for the auditorium, however when I got outside I was a little warm. When I say that I'm ready for sweater weather I mean I am ABSOLUTELY READY for the weather to change. This cardigan worked out perfectly because it gave me just enough coverage and I didn't  freeze!

Museum Sweater

Sweater: c/o JustFab//Jeans: Old Navy//Sandals: II Sandolo Caprese 

Earrings: Loren Hope//Watch: Michael Kors

This past weekend a friend and I went to the Getty Center to go see at the fashion photography exhibit they had. It was absolutely stunning and the way it was displayed was perfect. They showed fashion photography over 100 years with everything from Christian Dior and Chanel to Issey Miyake and Alexander McQueen. You would walk through the exhibit and each room displayed 10 years of photographs that made an impact within that specific decade. It was so cool to see. One of my favorites was the 1950s room. There were a lot of photographs from Christian Dior who is one of my favorite designers. Also the 1970s section. There was a picture on the wall of Beverly Johnson on the cover of Vogue magazine in August of 1974.  Although she wasn't the first black woman on the cover of Vogue magazine, she was the first black woman in the U.S. to be on the cover of American Vogue magazine. This was such a huge impact. It changed the face of fashion in the U.S. I for sure wouldn't be writing this blog if it wasn't for women like Beverly Johnson, Cynthia Bailey, and Tyra Banks paving the way and making their mark on the fashion industry.

The museum is up on a hill so there was a nice cool breeze while we were there. I was definitely expecting it to be hot so wearing a sweater was a bold move. Museums are notoriously cold so having a sweater on wasn't too bad. I've been wearing a lot of yellow or mustard tones lately so I figured I'd keep it going with this sweater from JustFab. Plus, I really like the wrap front because it feels very feminine. Who knows...maybe if I keep wearing sweaters the universe will hear my cries for cooler weather. FINGERS CROSSED!

If you ever get a chance to visit Los Angeles do your best to make your way to the Getty Center or the Getty Villa. The Getty Center is up on the hill with an amazing view of Los Angeles. Admission is free because you pay for parking which is only $15...I say only because this is LA...LOL!  The good news is that you are not required to walk up the hill! There's a super easy tram you can take which departs about every 5 minutes. You don't have to walk down either! There is one coming and one going!

Vest Dressed

Vest: c/o: West47th//Booties: Old//Ponte Pants: Old Navy//Bodysuit: ASOS

Sunnies: Free People//Watch: Michael Kors// Earrings: Banana Republic

How do you take a basic all black outfit to the next level? Easy! Find a piece that stands out against the rest. Look for pieces that are classic and can be worn in a variety of different pieces.

Let's talk about this vest. This is the perfect vest for all seasons. Not only can we dress it up, we can always dress it down. I paired it with a basic all black outfit because I knew black would really make the color pop. Another great thing about this vest is that it is a great transition piece. It will be "summer" here in Southern California for quite some time, so this is the perfect piece to start wearing when the weather cools down. Not to mention it is chic AF!! I've already planned on wearing it to work and out on the weekends...on the weekends I think I'll pair it with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt or a tank top.

Sometimes just by adding one simple piece to a basic outfit changes the entire feel and look you're going for. Don't be afraid to try something new or something that's slightly different than what you normally wear to change things up. 

Fall Transition Dress

Dress: c/o West47th (Use Code Glamazon10 for 10% off) // Sandals: Sam Edelman//

Watch: Michael Kors//Earrings: Banana Republic//Bracelets: Old

If you live anywhere on the west coast you are probably thinking the same thing I'm thinking, "When will this heat wave be over?!" Personally, I'm waiting for this heatwave to be over so I can pull out all of my fall clothes. I am so ready to cozy up in my apartment with a blanket. I am completely over walking in, turning on the AC or sitting in front of a fan. I'll be honest and say Los Angeles doesn't really have a fall season let alone any other season besides hot and hotter but I would like to think that I could change my wardrobe to a different set of colors...at least. For fall I like to pull clothes that have darker more muted colors. Although the weather may still be warm I'd at least like to feel like I am in the fall season just by changing my color scheme a little bit.

So let's take this dress for example. It's perfect for fall season because the color scheme is right on point! It's perfect for Los Angeles fall season because its off the shoulder! It's perfect for me because the dress is completely fun and flirty!

If I'm not able to fully transition into fall season by wearing sweaters and long jackets, then I will definitely be looking for pieces that fit into my idea of what the fall color palette should be. I found my first front runner! 

Re-Purposed in Red

Dress: c/o Nina Cheyenne//Visor: H&M//Sneakers: Old (similar here and here) 

What do you do when you have a dress that's perfect for going out but you want to wear it for something else?

This is often a problem I run into! I have plenty of dresses in my wardrobe, for work and for going out but not very many casual dresses. So I need to find a way to re-purpose my dressier dresses and the dresses that are more suited for the club. You know, what we call the "Freak Em' Dress" or what my neighbor calls the "Go Get Em' Dress"!

So take this stress from Nina Cheyenne, it's perfect for going out for a night on the town with the girls. It's been so hot lately in L.A. so I'm usually at home in the evening sitting underneath a fan or in front of the air condition. Going out just hasn't been top priority. I still want to look cute when I go out during the day, or meet my friends for lunch, so in this instance I traded a pair of heels for a pair of slide on sneakers and put a visor on. That simple! I still feel sexy and chic but without all of the effort of getting super dressed up to go out on the town. Plus, it was super easy to throw on. Nothing beats pulling on a dress over your head, sliding on shoes, and running out the door! 

I definitely plan on re-purposing this dress for a night on the town but for now this is going to be my new day time weekend dress!

Classic Luxury

Dress: Old (Similar HERE) //Scarf: Versace//Sandals: Report// Earrings: Forever21 

Sunglasses: LeSpecs

So there has always been some controversy around having luxury items. I use the term controversy because some people love it and some people are not interested at all. I happen to love it! However, I like to have luxury items within reason. I don't need every single designer bag or the hottest pair of shoes, but I do appreciate having a few classic pieces in my wardrobe that can be paired with anything and will stand the test of time.

Take this scarf for example. It is a classic Versace scarf that can be paired with anything. Which is why I love it. This dress was less than $30 from Target and I've had it for years! So when I paired it with this designer scarf the outfit completely changed. Honestly, the real reason I wore the scarf with this dress was because I was going into the Duomo in Milan and had to have my shoulders covered! They really make you follow the rules in Italy! 

Here's are some tips when buying luxury items: 

1) Look for pieces that are classic and will always be in style. Although trends are great for the time being, having pieces that are truly classic will make your purchase worth it. I have two aunts who have designer bags from 1983 that they still carry today! Specifically, one has the classic Louis Vuitton Speedy 25 and the other has a classic Gucci Boston Bag that everybody is fighting to get their hands today. When both of them made the purchases it was still considered a luxury purchase, but $500 in 1983 is a lot better then the $1700 or more today. But you get my point right? Buy a luxury item you can keep forever.

2) If you ever have the chance to travel internationally take advantage of the currency exchange. All of my luxury pieces I've bought internationally. Sometimes the cost of purchasing the item outside of the U.S. is totally worth the money you save. Plus you get a vacation out of it and your taxes back at customs! Do your research before you go and calculate the cost of your item. I have saved so much money over the years by purchasing internationally. 

3) Don't be afraid to buy something  pre-loved. There are a lot of  sellers who have items that may peak your interest. Always look for a good condition pre-loved item if you can. A lot of times the item will be listed much cheaper than you planned to spend. There are many ways to save money when purchasing luxury items so look for things that have been pre-loved to save some coins! 

Buying luxury items will always be a thing. So, look for ways to make classic purchases on items you will have forever.

Summertime Sweater

Shorts: Old Navy//Sweater: BP. Nordstrom//Sandals: //Sunnies: Le Specs//Bag: Jackie Robbins Leather + Jewelry // Earrings: BaubleBar

Even though it's almost 100 degrees outside I still decided to put on a sweater today. I knew I would be up early going to church, then  to brunch with my girlfriends, and ending the day at the Skirball Center for the Jim Henson exhibit.

Since museums and churches are always cold I knew a sweater would be a good choice. I bought this sweater from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I purposely bought it two sizes too big. In Southern California it's always hot and rarely necessary to wear sweaters, so I figured having a sweater that was off the shoulder would be the most effective. I mean a sweater in LA is purely for style and not function. 

I decided to pair it with an old pair of shorts from Old Navy, a pair of fabulous statement earrings from BaubleBar, and my new sunnies from Le Specs, which I also bought at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.

Here's the thing about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. A lot of people think they're getting regular items on sale, but in reality what you're getting the upcoming fall season at a 30%- 40% discount. Ideally this would be perfect for fall but we all know that Southern California doesn't have a true fall season. We have not so hot, kind of hot, and super hot!

I also purchased the same sweater in a really pretty yellow, and I'm hoping I get to wear them both throughout summer and into fall. If I decide to not wear them off-the-shoulder then I can easily put a lace camisole underneath.  Plus, I don't need everybody see my bra!