**photos by the amazing Sarah Chacos**

Let's be honest.

We've all had those days. You walk in the door after a mind-numbing day at school/work & all you want to do is change into those yoga pants sitting sloppily in the corner of your room, make a massive bowl of cartoon mac&cheese and let your tears fall during yet another marathon of Grey's Anatomy.

*raises hand* Been there, done that.

Bad days happen. But it's important to not let these moments turn into a habit of self-woeing and sadness. After a pretty difficult year, I can honestly say I've had to adjust how I combat these everyday feelings of blues into something productive. Here are some ways I've found beneficial in transforming these awful days into something awesome.

1. Run It #ChrisBrownStyle

I've mentioned before how I recently joined TIU to change my lifestyle of eating and exercise. And I can honestly say, it's been such an improvement on my life! I've noticed I have a lot more energy throughout the day, my mind feels clear and I wake up eager to tackle everyday head-on. If you live in a snowy tundra like us brave Minnesotans, consider investing in yourself with a gym membership. Now, I look forward to jumping on that treadmill after work and pounding out my frustration for a couple of miles. And those tasty protein smoothies? Hits the spot. Ev-er-y time.

2. Hobby Lobby

Whether it's blogging, kickboxing, scrapbooking, shopping.. ;) Anything to take your mind off the present and get lost in your interests. I think it's very important to keep ourselves invested in our passions, even if only for a few hours a week. It also reminds you of who YOU are as an individual and what unique gifts you have to offer. Discover what brings you joy and pull a Nike to JUST DO IT.

3. Plan for the Future

My day seems to go by a lot easier knowing I have a date with my hunky hubby that evening ;) It's important to stay connected with our loved ones, despite the week's usual craziness. I find it pretty difficult to have a bad day knowing I have a fun night planned ahead of me. Whether that's getting together with friends to watch The Bachelor or going for a fro-yo run with the hubby and pup, I'm all about planning these special moments in the daily routine.

4. Go Ahead, Take a Hike

Or get in the car and just DRIVE. I find the commute to and from work much more enjoyable with my Spotify playlist and coffee in hand. I relish this everyday me-time just to clear my head before going into work or coming home. That person you see belting out to the radio and playing air-drums on their steering wheel? Yea, don't be afraid to be that person. Let it all out and sing that Ed Sheeran song at the top of your lungs. Guarantee, you'll feel like rockstar at the end of it.

5. Quiet Time and Iced Coffee

The recipe for an uplifting morning. I love to start my day off by spending some quiet time after breakfast with my devotional and Bible. It keeps my mind focused on the day ahead and re-alighing my priorities. A little perspective to keep my thoughts focused beyond myself and what I'm so worried about. Recently, I've picked up this study and am love the focus on what to do while waiting. I am constantly thinking what more I could be doing to better my life and those around me and honestly? I'm exhausted. The key to joy is to live in the present and learning to preserve in the wait. On the good days and the bad, I want to live my life to fullest by seeking JOY. 

So, bye-bye Netflix pity-parties; your days are numbered.

hat//target

shawl//target

denim button down//target

jeans//aeropostale (old)

booties//target

This exceptional denim button-down is probably the most essential piece in my wardrobe to date (...which is why I have about 8 different ones hanging in my closet...) I love pairing a chambray with a great statement necklace for a classic, professional look or wearing it with a pair of ripped-up jeans to run a few Saturday errands. 

#HelloCanadianUniform 

Either way, this Merona button-down is perfect for day-to-night events. It's SO COMFORTABLE and looks rockin' with either a dark or light colored wash jean. Granted, remember to take it out promptly out of the dryer or else you'll have some fabulous wrinkles down the front like moi.

But if you're going for that took-an-accidental-nap-for-five-hours-and-now-i-have-a-wrinkle-down-my-face-and-shirt look, then power to you girl.

PS Shoutout to Sarah Chacos Photography for taking these awesome blog pictures for me on a freezing cold February morning. Sarah is AMAZING to work with and kills it both in front of & behind the lens. She's also responsible for setting Tom and I up in high school, so we are pretty dang lucky to have her in our lives ;) So Sarah, thanks for dragging my butt to the gym to prep for lacrosse with the mystery trainer "Tom". You da best, girl <3

Anyone else obsessed with getting mail? I don't know how the mailbox has this trance on me, but everyday I come home from work, it's the first thing I check. Tom always laughs at me since it's mostly bills and student loans (like 98%) of the time.
But then...you get a beauty {box} like this one  <3

I was gifted a subscription to Birchbox back in college and it was AMAZING! I loved trying out new beauty samples each month and found some of my favorite facial products through it (my personal fave? Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting Liquid Exfoliant #gamechanger)
I recently was gifted (from myself...to myself ;)) another subscription and I'm falling in love all over again. This month's theme was all about Valentine's Day - while it was a week late, this girl ain't complaining cause it was so worth the wait.

1. Amika Dry Shampoo I'm always on the lookout for a good dry shampoo. My hair relies on this stuff to get through the week, so I was ecstatic to try this brand out. The smell is AMAZING (Buckthorn Berry) and has such a powerful sprayer to get deep in those roots. Definitely a staple for my poor poor tresses.

2.  Dr Brandt Skin Exfoliate Like I said before, I'm a pretty die-hard fan of Paula's Choice. While I haven't gotten around to trying this exfoliant yet, I am a little excited to try this baby out. It has a minty scent, so I can already hear my skin singing its praises. It's also age-defying, so I'm curious to see how my skin works with this exfoliant. You'll definitely hear back if all goes well.

3. Dr. Lipp Miracle Balm My eyes did a double take when I saw the amount in the sample size: 0.1 fl oz. Didn't seem like a whole lot to give this product a fair trial. However, from the amount I did try, I love the natural exfoliant on my lips. It can also be used for sunburns, taming eyebrow hairs and dry cuticles. I'm impressed, Dr. Lipp. You do your thang.

4. Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre Hmmm already sounds fancy. Curently, I just use a matte makeup finisher to keep my foundation lasting throughout the day. So I'm excited to double my makeup's life expectancy with this bad boy. It also helps with dry skin, which is desperately needed during these long, winter months. Thank you, Mr. Blizzard-on-Friday-This-Week. Not amused one bit.

5. Manna Kadar Lip Locked Stain - Rosette Birchbox promised at least one lip product this month for the big love day (or everyday for the matter ;)) And boy, did they deliver! This color is BEAUTIFUL! I like that this stain also has a little shine to it, making my lips look moisturzied throughout the day. Poor Houston, all the other dogs make fun of him with the kiss marks on his face now ;)

Until next month, Birchbox! Until then, I will be waiting by the mailbox for you.
#notevenkidding #outsidenow #sendmeallthethings

 

 

 

shirt//Target

cardigan//Khols

jeans//American Eagle

booties//Target

necklace//Target

earrnings//Target

Happy (belated) Valentine's Day, friends!

I feel like I am one of the few individuals who actually enjoys this cheesy holiday. Single, dating or (now) married, I've always loved this day as a great excuse to consume a boatload of chocolate and re-watch some of my favorite chick flicks. Bride Wars will never get old. This year, Tom and I were both fortunate to have the day off of work, so we decided to make a day of it!

We slept in, made some delicious protein pancakes, and ran some errands in the morning. After getting ready for the day, I surprised Tom with a trip to the Mall of America to take a ride on Fly Over America. If you live in the Twin Cities area, I HIGHLY recommend this attraction. It's basically a huge Imax theater with moveable seats that takes you up-close-and-personal of the entire United States. It's only 10 minutes long, but so worth it. There were only a few other couples on the ride, but we had so much fun! The guy sitting next to us had a minor panic attack as we took off...

"OHMYLORD JESUS! MY LORD! I COULD NEVER BE SUPERMAN!"

...But he was fine by the end ;)

Then we got ready for dinner at one of our favorite spots, Doolittles. We stuffed ourselves with steak, salad and the best goat cheese bake we've ever had. But we managed to make a little extra room for movie theater treats for a late showing of "Lego Batman" movie. Overall, we're just a bunch of kids on Valentine's Day<3

This casual outfit was perfect for a long day of activities, but still kept a nod to the love-filled holiday. Both my necklace and earrings are from the latest jewelry line at Target, Sugarfix by BaubleBar. I've been such a big fan of BaubleBar for so long, but not always a fan of the prices. One of the best parts about Sugarfix is that NOTHING is over $25. So, these items went straight into my red basket, no hesitation.

Make sure you check out this beautiful bling on your next trip to Target!

In lieu of WW today (feeling a little under the weather and homegirl didn't want to shower today), here is a list of some of my favorite style icons that I use as inspiration for my everyday style.
Overall, I would use the three C's to describe my overall look: Cute, Classy, and Comfortable. I usually use this C Critera before introducing a new piece to my closet. That way I know I will wear something over and over again, saving me time in the morning and moola in my pocket.

Below are my top three #womencrushes and why each of their looks are timeless. Let me know who are your style icons!

Lauren Conrad

When "The Hills" was on  MTV, I remember counting down the hours each week until my sisters and I could watch the newest episode. I was there through all of the Heidi-Spencer drama, the career promotions, Justin-Bobby, and the one date where we were all convinced she was gonna get back together with Stephen *sigh*

But through each season, the only thing that stayed the same was LC's impeccable style. Yes, it evolved through the early 2000's, but she always stayed true to her chic look. She is also a great girl-boss, who isn't afraid to go after what she wants. In true LC fashion, the best thing for your wardrobe is working what you got and utilizing ten timeless essentials to build off of your wardrobe. Plus, she speaks my fashion-sense language.

"I love wearing designer pieces with something I found at Target."

#YASSSSS

Joanna Gaines
While "Fixer Upper" has taken the world by storm with its beautiful, ship-lapped, rusticness wonder, Joanna Gaines has also inspired us with her cute and comfortable style. Whether it's rounding up her adorable kids, planning out perfectly designed houses or knocking down walls like styrfoam, Joanna always looks put-together. I also believe we are kindred spirits since we both like rocking the denim-on-denim combinations.  I look forward to all the seasons ahead of beautiful homes and taking notes on JoJo's flawless fashion sense.

Kate Middleton
Last, but certainly not least, is the Highness herself. After watching the royals' love story on the "Hallmark Channel", I have been channeling Kate's posh style. She makes me want to rock the fitted button-down and blazer on a daily basis (but then again..yoga pants). I love how she isn't afraid to change it up a bit with bold prints and colors and working them elegantly.
So, Long Live the Queen and Long Live Kate Middleton's Stylish Collection.

**Obvi, all of these images are not my own. I did not follow these celebs like some creepy paparazzi. Plus, I live in MN. #landlocked**

sweatshirt//Saks Fifth Avenue Off Fifth

yoga pants//lulu

tennis shoes//Target

backpack//Target

99.89% of the time, I am wearing yoga pants.

Going grocery shopping? Yoga pants.

To the gym? Yoga pants.

Going to an outdoor, fall wedding? Yoga pants.

 *Under a maxi skirt. Seriously though. It was freezing.*

But really, there isn't anything better than a cute/comfy ensemble to wear while running Saturday errands or lounging around the house. I found this sweatshirt at Saks Off Fifth and it practically crawled it's way into my arms. (insert creepy image here). It's comfortable to throw on in the morrning on the way to the gym, but still cute enough to run into Target afterwards. I am also a huge fan of the print on these C9 tennis shoes. They have foam cushioning on the bottom, which has my feet singing praises everytime I take a step. Lastly, I got this bag on sale in the clearance aisle at Target and I am in LOVE. There are so many pockets on this thing, so I actually have a spot for all my random purse knick-knacks (the stuggle of every girl...)

Why do I have a random half-eaten granola bar in here? And where is that receipt I had from three weeks ago at that restaurant I liked?

Also, here is a random picture of Houston, who so desperately wanted to be a part of the photoshoot as well. Such a proud dog mom <3