my workday routine made easier

happy thursday, everyone!

i hope you had a great week--the weather has

been seemingly perfect in seattle (70+ degree

temperatures), and i cannot help but want to spend

as much time as possible outdoors.

you may or may not know this, but

blogging is a hobby for me. i have a full-time

job in finance, working in our operations department

(specifically, in client information).

i have been with my current company for

almost two years, and despite my utter lack of

experience in the field, i have come to love

my position. i enjoy the challenge of learning

something new (and learning on the job

is prominent in our industry as we adjust to ever-

evolving regulations). i am proud of how much
i have learned in the past two years,
and i have to admit, i have been blessed
with some pretty amazing (and very patient)
coworkers.

disclosure: a special thank you to panera bread for providing
me with a credit to purchase the food items in this post. (they were
delicious.) as per usual, all opinions are my own!

between working full-time, babysitting,
blogging, and staying on top of my freelance projects
(while also completing a certificate program), meal
planning has taken a backseat. well--to be honest--
meal prep has never been a big priority
for me. i'm a grab-and-go kind of girl, which is
not typically healthy or affordable.

working in the heart of downtown, seattle,
is also less than ideal if you're trying to
conserve money, as the coffee and food options
are seemingly endless! tacos? pizza? soup?
sandwiches? thai food? we have it all and then some.

when i learned panera bread was planning to offer

delivery at select locations, i had to give

it a try! (you can see if a panera near you delivers

here.) i am fortunate to work within their delivery radius,

and i had a salad, soup, chips, and of course, a

chocolate chip cookie, delivered to my office

in 40 minutes. i was then able to fully enjoy my

lunch break while eating outdoors.

my office is located near several amazon-

owned buildings, so navigating nearby restaurants 

during the lunch hour can be tricky. many delivery 

services charge a ridiculous amount in fees, but

not, panera bread!

^^^ watch out for that wind ^^^

i ordered the seasonal greens salad and

added chicken for a small up-charge. i must confess,

i ordered from panera bread twice within the

same week, and for my second order, i opted

to try the green passion smoothie. ordering a 

smoothie to be delivered may sound risky, but my

smoothie arrived still frozen, and it was 

refreshing to enjoy with my salad!

photos by sarah wolfe photography

blouse: topshop, pants: zara, clutch: aldo,

shoes: qupid, bracelets: something silver

overall, i was incredibly impressed with panera

bread's delivery service, and i look forward to placing

future orders. anything to cut down on stress (who has

time for that?!) and provide a convenient,

healthy lunch. thank you again, panera bread!

xoxo.

dressing for spring in the pacific northwest

spring has finally arrived in seattle.

while summer is my favorite season (i love,

love the sunshine), spring is a close second.

the blooming flowers, increasingly long days,

and warming temperatures, i can't help but feel excited.

i also enjoy seeing fellow seattleites exploring

our city!

the key to surviving spring in the pacific

northwest, however? dressing in layers! keep

that sweater, sweatshirt, and/or rain jacket

close at hand because the weather can (and will) 

change quickly. if you're like me, you may

conveniently forget said sweater or jacket and find

yourself caught in an epic spring storm.

^^^ quick aside--i recently had my eyebrows microbladed,

and these were the first photos taken after my session

with amanda at eastside microblading. i have my touch-up

session later this weekend and cannot wait to see her again! ^^^

one of the ways in which i add versatility to my

wardrobe, while dressing appropriately for spring, is

to throw on a crew-neck sweater over a dress. 

don't get me wrong, a cardigan over a dress or a skirt +

sweater combination is just as fun, but there is something

to be said about a this crew-neck sweater and dress. perhaps 

it makes me look (or feel) taller? i have been on a 

sweater kick as of late, and this fuzzy cream sweater

is one of my favorites!

i also love pairing my booties with skirts, dresses, 

and denim come spring. hello, bare legs.

this pair of dolce vita pointed-toe boots is perfect

in the pacific northwest. whether rain or shine,

my feet are dry and look stylish. i can't wait to pair

these booties with cropped and/or white denim!

layers are seemingly essential in the

pacific northwest. regardless of the season, 

be sure to wear (or pack) layers. i am 

almost always cold, so having a sweater

or jacket nearby is very important. in warmer

climates, a light scarf or sweater can also be helpful.

buying neutral colors, such as this sweater 

and bag can also extend the wear of your spring

wardrobe. both of these items can be styled

in a variety of ways. i wore this crew-neck

sweater with ripped jeans and converse last weekend.

cream and white are classics for spring, and 

they can be dressed up with accessories

or dressed down when unadorned.

light-weight fabrics are your friend.

unlike years past, this spring has felt

particularly humid in seattle. i am chilly

in the morning, yet sweating when racing to

catch my bus after work. fabrics such as

cotton, linen, chiffon, and hemp are

breathable when humidity is high.

photos by sarah wolfe photography

dress: lush clothing, sweater: nordstrom rack,

booties: dolce vita, purse: zara, rings: target

how do you dress appropriately for spring?

any tips for dressing in layers? if so, please

send them my way!

xoxo.

pacific northwest ballet :: emergence

two weeks ago, my boyfriend greg and i had the
pleasure of attending pacific northwest ballet's
performance, emergence! i haven't been to the ballet in several
years, and it was an incredible experience--from the beautiful

sets, live orchestra, and awe-inspiring dancing, it
was a performance i will never forget. 

disclosure: a special thank you to karya schanilec and

pacific northwest ballet (pnb) for providing greg and i complimentary

tickets to this performance. we had a wonderful time! 

as per usual, all opinions are my own.

although i grew up dancing ballet, as an adult, 

i have come to appreciate the immense talent required to put 

on a performance like emergence. the talent possessed by 

those dancers? oh my!

emergence is broken up into three performances: 

alejandro cerrudo's little mortal jump, yuri possokhav's

raku, and crystal pite's emergence. the trio is equally

amazing, but my favorite was yuri passokhav's raku!

based on true events, the story is contemporary 

and passionate, yet violent. to see this story choreographed

in a ballet was inspirational (and somewhat
indescribable). 

'the central theme of his score [...] is burning.

the burning of desire, of passion, of loyalty; the burn

of suffering, of jealousy; finally the burning of death--

emotions that are so strong that they overcome the

discipline of a zen monk and overcome the loyalties 

of a samurai.'

--cheryl a. ossola

i think greg was unsure of what to expect

when i mentioned attending the ballet, but he greatly 

enjoyed the performance (his favorite was also raku)!

greg and i went to dinner in seattle before heading

to mccaw hall. once there, we ordered drinks and found

our seats; we were fortunate to sit close to the stage

and popped by to see the orchestra during intermission.

 as an aspiring fashionista, what to wear

to the ballet was an important part of the night :)

i opted for a spring dress, patent boots, and a blush pink

crossbody bag. i love any excuse to dress up and the

ballet was no exception!

photos by karya schanilec photography

dress: parker (thrifted via seattle goodwill),

boots: zara, purse: nine west, rings: forever 21

thank you again, karya, for providing us tickets

to the ballet. we had a wonderful time, and i look forward

to attending future pacific northwest ballet (pnb) 

performances! 

you can watch the trailer for emergence here 

and see upcoming performances for the 2017-2018 

season by pnb here.

xoxo.

dressing comfortably while looking stylish!

...it's chilly, but not quite cold enough for a jacket...

...i want to wear leggings as pants, but need to cover my bum...

...i can't wear a sweatshirt to work...

...i want to try this fashion trend...

...it's seemingly comparable to wearing a blanket, but a fashionable blanket...

...i need a layering piece...

...seattle weather is very unpredictable. you never know 

when you'll need a hood...

...i ate too many cookies after dinner last night (post dinner food baby)...

...it's terribly picturesque... 

just a few reasons you need this poncho in your closet to wear

at the most opportune time (like today when you need to hide the fact that you had 

one too many slices of birthday cake over the weekend... or was that just me?). 

other peoples polyester (OPP), founded and designed by malia peoples, 

is a local and handmade clothing line featuring ponchos, cardigans and soft accessories.

malia was born in hawaii and raised right here, in the pacific northwest. 

her line is inspired by vintage silhouettes and eclectic patterns, japanese street fashion, 

and the comfortable (and practical) style of a seattle fashionista. 

i kept my outfit relatively simple today, as i wanted

the poncho to be my statement piece. i love these distressed skinny

jeans, as they're incredibly stretchy. because they're such a dark grey color (seemingly black), 

they can be paired with almost any blouse or top. my cowl neck tee is 

also from sassafras. with summer just around the corner, it was time to dig out all my favorite

open toed shoes and sandals for the season. i bought these dolce vita studded 

sandals several years ago and am eager to pair them with my shorts and dresses. 

hair & makeup by sharell katelynn; photos by jenna lynn photography

poncho: other peoples polyester (borrowed from sassafras), jeans: american eagle,

top, rings & earrings: borrowed from sassafras,

sandals: dolce vita (old), bracelets: urban outfitters & forever 21

other peoples polyester is available at sassafras, located in belltown.

sassafras is one of my favorite boutiques for unique, handmade pieces.

the clothing and accessories are absolutely beautiful, and several of the designers

are based in the store (crafting their gorgeous items in belltown!). 

in case you missed it, be sure to check out my other collaboration

with sassafras (and designer, boho republic) here!

xoxo.

**this is a sponsored post. all opinions are my own! 

let's talk seattle fashion

what defines seattle style? 

grunge? hipster? casual? chic? flannel? rain jackets (year-round!)?

seattle style is eclectic. it's evolving; it's unique!

one of the things i love most about being a seattle-based fashion

blogger, is that regardless of what i wear (ripped jeans, a dress, flannel,

or my beloved raincoat), i rarely feel out of place. 

i can wear a floral dress one day and my distressed denim the next, 

and people don't question my outfit choices. 

my style has evolved over the years (with some fashion mishaps and faux-pas' along the way), 

and it seemingly changes from one day to the next.

i love mixing up what i wear, as it keeps things exciting. 

this outfit, styled by and borrowed from my dear friend, sharell, is a bit 

different from my everyday look. at preschool, i live in leggings, tunics, and all 

things comfortable. on weekends, i strive to be comfortable, but also take advantage

of the skirts, blouses and dresses that are neglected during the week.

however, i also want to have fun with what i'm wearing!

hair & makeup by sharell katelynn; photos by jenna lynn photography

tee: h&m (similar here), jeans: h&m (exact here), flannel: kohls.

hat: h&m, boots: aldo, ring: old navy, purse: nordstrom (similar here)

a cropped top and distressed, boyfriend jeans? i'll try it! 

and you know what? although it is a bit different, i don't feel as though i am misrepresenting 

my style, mimicking a current trend, or copying my best friend's outfit. 

i feel bold. and inspired. i want to experiment with different looks more often.

seattle fashion, i like you!

xoxo.

holiday date ideas

photo by victoria west photography

the holiday season is such a busy time! 

for the past week, i've been running around like a maniac; 

trying to get from one store to the next, or to a particular brunch

or party or get-together, while fitting in appointments - and there's 

always more i could be doing in my classroom.

it's easy to get bogged down with to-do lists, shopping

and other details. we lose sight of what the holidays are truly about:

spending time with the people who matter most! 

as a way of staying connected, and out of the holiday shopping frenzy,

will and i are trying to dedicate more time to one another.

we're both incredibly busy, so it's not always realistic to set aside an entire day

together. however, we love taking time to do something here 

and there, while cherishing the larger chunks of time we have together! 

i've compiled a list of our favorite holiday traditions, as well 

as other events and places we hope to visit this christmas season!

1) ride the carousal in westlake center, followed by hot chocolate (of course!).

2) attend wild lights at the woodland park zoo. admire the beautiful displays 

of animal shaped lights. don't forget to visit santa and his reindeer, too!

3) stop by gingerbread lane at the sheraton hotel in seattle. 

with the upcoming release of star wars, the theme of the houses is

'may the holidays be with you.'

4) enjoy the holiday music, such as 'home for the holidays' 

by the seattle men's chorus at benaroya hall.

5) the holidays wouldn't be complete without a red and green sprinkle

donut from top pot. they're our favorite! or maybe my favorite. 

willie doesn't usually object to donuts (thankfully!). 

6) bundle up and take a walk together. admire the christmas 

lights and other holiday displays! 

7) love holiday movie classics? watch 'it's a wonderful life'

at the grand illusion cinema.

8) the annual christmas ships parade takes place in 

december. you can sign up to ride onboard with the choir on lake washington, 

or watch the decorated ships from afar! 

9) the nutcracker is new this year! george balanchine

has created an incredible performance at mccaw hall. tickets can 

be purchased from december 16-28th.

10) visit the festival of trees at the fairmont olympic hotel.

each tree has a unique theme and is beautifully decorated! 

proceeds from the event are donated to the seattle children's autism 

center and uncompensated care at seattle children's hospital. 

11) enjoy snow showers inside the atrium of pacific place

while completing your holiday shopping! there

is also live music from 12:00-2:00 and 5:00-7:00 on weekends.

12) snuggle up, turn on the hallmark channel, 

grab your popcorn and eggnog, and enjoy a christmas movie together! 

happy holidays, everyone!

xoxo.

holiday gift guide for her (part ii)

i shared the first part of my holiday gift guide, 

featuring seattle goods and services, here.

i have a few additional ideas for the women in your life;

happy shopping!

photos found here

you know i am completely addicted to false lashes! i apply 

drugstore brand lash-strips most days. i've come to feel naked 

without them (whoops!). the solution? 

a visit to noir lash lounge, located in bellevue.

schedule an appointment at their boutique before attending 

your holiday parties! you're sure to look and feel glamorous

with a gorgeous set of lashes. to learn more about 

noir lash lounge, visit their website here.

cap sleeve top // ankle leggings // camisole classic

are you familiar with mere basics? 

this local brand features luxurious layering pieces that are 100% cashmere! 

each item is incredibly soft with feminine details. 

the tanks, tops, and leggings are sleek and lightweight enough 

that they can be worn year-round. be sure to check out mere basics

when completing your holiday shopping here.

photo found here

is there a fashionista in your family?

look no further than lika love! the former mobile boutique 

has grown into two, full-line stores in the seattle area.

malika and her team will help you find the perfect 

gifted item - whether a holiday dress, cozy sweater,

comfortable jacket, or accessories to wear with all the above!

learn more about lika love and check out her lookbook here.

despite completing two holiday shopping gift guides, 

i have yet to start actually shopping! here's to hoping

the sales continue, the shopping isn't too tedious,

and i can find the perfect gift for everyone on my list.

xoxo. 

embracing my sweet tooth with a cookie date

^^^ i opted for the cow chip cookie! ^^^

there's no denying, i have quite the sweet tooth!

bring on the cookies, ice cream and anything chocolate for this girl.

the upcoming holiday season proves difficult

(for my gym membership, aspirations to be healthy, etc.) with all the delicious treats! 

will's brother and sister-in-law were in town this past weekend, 

so of course, we had to take them to some of our favorite, local spots!

at the top of the list was cow chip cookies, located in pioneer square. 

we braved the monsoon and trekked to cow chips for dessert.

i went for the extra large, extra chocolate-y cookie, while will 

choose a (much smaller) peanut butter treat. 

his family enjoyed the cookies very much!

have you visited cow chips? 

which cookie is your favorite? these photos sure 

are making me hungry!

xoxo.