hello there!

hello again! remember me?

the girl who (in my most recent post)

promised to blog more consistently and

allegedly had a new website in the works?

i am still here! 

work, class, babysitting,

and a nasty cold have taken over (thank

goodness it wasn't the flu--many

of my friends and coworkers were

diagnosed with the flu. i feel so badly

for them, as this bout is seemingly terrible!).

unfortunately, blog posts and social media

have taken a backseat. as i get back in

my rhythm, i am eager to share new

content and eventually, my new website!

 

jacket envy; it is a real thing.

 i follow numerous fashion bloggers

on social media (both local and non-locals), and i

cannot help but feel envious towards all

the adorable fuzzy jackets. a teddy coat is still

on my wish list, and there are several other

winter styles i am lusting after. one of the trends

i had to partake in this season, however, is the 

velvet puffer. 

earlier this year, i saw my friend and 

fellow blogger, lisa, from story of my dress, 

wearing a purple velvet jacket. i was immediately

smitten! i have since seen many other stylish 

women wearing puffy velvet jackets with

skirts and denim, or styled over dresses. the 

options are seemingly endless.

for such a trendy item (that may or may

not be in style next season), i didn't want to 

spend a fortune. instead, i patiently waited for

cold weather pieces to go on sale. i found this navy 

 velvet puffer online at nordstrom rack for less

than $30! the dark color is versatile, and the 

coat is incredibly soft and warm.

whether paired with a graphic t-shirt or

more feminine top or blouse, this jacket will

be on major repeat in the coming weeks.

photos by karya schanilec photography

jeans: american eagle, t-shirt: old navy,

 shoes: vince (thrifted via seattle goodwill),

jacket: nordstrom rack (similar here and here;

velvet puffer vest version here), fringe purse: h&m,

rings: forever 21

do you have a velvet puffer in your closet?

what other winter styles are you eager

to try? my online shopping cart (aka wish list)

is ever-growing!

xoxo.

a more confident smile with smile brilliant!

** disclosure: this is a sponsored post. smile brilliant

graciously provided me with my own customized

teeth whitening trays and gels. as per usual, all opinions are my own!

i have to admit, between working full-time, 

babysitting former preschool students of mine, and blogging

in much of my free time, self-care sometimes goes out the window.

don't get me wrong, i enjoy keeping busy! 

in fact, i prefer a week and/or weekend filled with 

blog events, appointments, brunch dates, trips to visit my family, etc. 

but what does this all mean? i end up drinking far too much coffee

to keep me active and energized (!!!).

my drink of choice is a dark roast drip coffee or americano; 

though delicious, the one or two cups i drink each day

inevitably stains my teeth. i've tried numerous products and brands 

of whitening toothpastes, gels, strips, and rinses - to no avail.

my teeth continue to look somewhat yellow, and after using 

these harsh whitening products, i notice a heightened sensitivity to cold

drinks and acidic foods. this is less than ideal for a girl 

who not only loves coffee, but also ice cream!

when smile brilliant reached out to me and offered to let

me try their customized teeth whitening trays, i couldn't wait to get started!

the first step was to create impressions of my teeth. 

smile brilliant provided the supplies (including extra putty 

in case i made a mistake), detailed instructions, 

and a pre-paid mailing envelope to send off the molds of me teeth

before receiving my custom-fit trays. after letting the

molds dry, i sent them off and waited less than a week before

receiving my trays (pictured above)!

inside my kit, i also received three syringes of the teeth whitening

gel, as well as three syringes of the desensitizing gel. 

to apply, simply squeeze a thin layer (in the center of the tray that will touch

your teeth) of the whitening gel on both the top and bottom tray. 

then, place the trays in your mouth and voila! the whitening process begins.

one thing i quickly noticed when using the smile brilliant 

whitening trays, is that i could easily multi-task (including talking on the 

phone) while wearing the trays. in the past, when i've used whitening strips,

i feel as though the strips are falling off or falling out of my mouth;

i constantly slurp and need to re-adhere the strips to my teeth.

i end up feeling annoyed and skeptical of other 'miracle' health and beauty 

products, as i seldom notice a difference. 

this at home teeth whitening system was truly a different experience 

altogether. i felt that i could whiten while relaxing in my room or on-the-go;

the whitening trays are safe to stay in your mouth for periods as

 long as one to three hours! when you're done whitening, just rinse 

the tray with cool water. then, similar to the whitening gel, apply 

the desensitizing gel to the trays and wear for another

 15-20 minutes. the desensitizing gel protects your enamel and helps 

prevent future stains.

there is enough gel in the whitening and desensitizing

syringes for three uses (and possibly more, depending on the amount

you place in your customized tray). 

i wore the trays over the holidays every-other night for just under four

 weeks. i cannot tell you what a difference i have noticed in my smile!

the results are comparable to those you would receive when 

visiting your dentist for whitening services.

^^^ before & after! ^^^

#smilefearlessly

photos by elizabeth kathryn photography

before using whitening products, i am always

weary of damaging my enamel and increased teeth

sensitivity. after reading this article, my mind was at ease. 

to learn more about smile brilliant, you can  read these customer 

reviews and watch this video tutorial.

are you ready for a noticeably whiter smile?! smile brilliant has 

graciously offered a 5% off coupon code for diary of this girl readers - 

simply enter 'diaryofthisgirl5' when checking out. 

additionally, one lucky reader will receive a $75 e-card towards your order

by entering my givaway here. good luck!

xoxo.

Whitening Teeth At Home

floral prints all day, every day

my fashion crime: i am notorious for being a  'repeat offender!'

when i find a specific trend, pattern or print, or an accessory i love,

 i can't help but restyle the item, or wear some variation of the outfit

again and again. 

my outfit today is almost identical to what i recently wore in this 

post - whoops! but, when you know what you love, why not wear it often?

florals are a favorite of mine - whether printed on blouses, 

dresses and skirts, bags or shoes, i can't seem to get enough.

i picked up this floral print midi dress at the recent zara sale,

and shortly thereafter went back for printed midi dress i'm wearing in my

previous post. zara knows how to have a good sale!

call it repetitive, call it obsessed, but i believe florals 

are the perfect transitional piece as we say goodbye to 

winter (thank goodness!) in anticipation of welcoming spring.

i cannot tell you how eager i am to pack up my scarves

and jackets, but unfortunately, it's not quite time.

i'll settle for the reprieve from the rain we've been having as of late, 

and instead find new ways to style some of my sweaters, hats, and other warm 

clothing. i typically layer my floral skirts and dresses with comfortable, 

over-sized sweaters. it adds a feminine touch to 

what can otherwise be a more basic/simple outfit when we're stuck 

dealing with dark, chilly days.

photos by jenn from hello rigby

dress: zara (similar here and here - both on sale!), purse: urban outfitters, 

jacket: zara (exact here), boots: c/o zaful (similar here), 

ring and bracelets: old navy

these suede-like ankle boots are a new addition to my closet!

i've seen several bloggers and fashionistas wearing

maroon footwear, and i have lusting after a pair of my own.

i found these boots on zaful a few weeks ago. unfortunately, they're

now sold out, but i linked a similar pair above (i also love these!).

what are some trends or items you can't help but wear

again and again?

let me know in the comments!

xoxo.

**this is a sponsored post. zaful graciously

provided me with the boots pictured in this post.

all opinions are my own!

weekend vibes

weekends are for ripped jeans and cozy sweaters, am i right?

though busy, this past weekend was a blast!

i took some outfit photos for my blog, drank way too much coffee,

met up with my girlfriend, maggie, her husband and 

their adorable baby girl (!!!), 

visited the new goodwill in redmond,

and played catch up on some of my favorite tv shows. 

ripped jeans have quickly become my weekend uniform. 

while i don't mind dressing up for work, 

there is something about distressed denim, with a top tucked

in, or paired with a sweater and blouse that feels seemingly

effortless and chic.

the dark wash of these jeans make them incredibly versatile - 

they match the majority of my shirts and sweaters, which means

i wear them more often than i'd like to admit!

i purchased the pair i'm wearing at nordstrom rack just 

before the holidays, but i found similar pairs for you 

here, here and here (all under $100!). 

photos c/o karya schanilec photography

blouse: loft (exact here), sweater/coat: zara (exact here - on clearance!),

jeans: joe's jeans via nordstrom rack (similar here), purse: steve madden,  

shoes: thrifted via goodwill, choker: urban outfitters, bracelet cuff: forever 21

how was your weekend?

it's warming up here in seattle, and i am keeping

my fingers crossed that winter is (about) over; i want to 

dig out my florals and lighter jackets. i have a feeling our

reprieve from the cold, however, is temporary - i suppose i'll 

just have to continue wearing all my thick, cozy sweaters.

i hope you have a wonderful week!

xoxo.

how to stay warm while looking stylish with zaful

and my love for faux fur continues! 

i recently styled this vest and this jacket on my blog,

and today i'm wearing a fun (and very cozy) jacket from zaful.

with temperatures in the low to mid 20s, staying warm

while looking fashionable has proved challenging. 

when getting dressed each morning, i ask myself 'how can 

i sneak in a few extra layers? two pairs of tights? 

thick socks under my boots?' it's my daily morning dilemma! 

zaful graciously sent me the floral, drop-waist dress and jacket 

i'm wearing in today's post! the dress is on sale (and available in two colors!).

this keyhole dress and these black zipper booties are currently sitting

in my online shopping cart. and because they're less than $40 each, 

the 'submit order' button looks far too appealing!

photos by jenn from hello rigby

dress: c/o zaful (exact here), jacket: c/o zaful (similar here), tights: bartell drugs,

booties: dsw (same style, different color here), purse: nordstrom,

bracelet: c/o uncommon goods, rings: forever 21

i sometimes question whether floral prints are acceptable to wear

in the fall and winter months - i think the blue flowers and burnt

orange in this dress make it winter-appropriate. 

i paired the dress with sheer black tights (from my local bartell drugs), 

black booties and a neutral cross-body bag.

i have to admit, jenn and i were freezing when taking these photos together!

in between outfits, we blasted the heat in my car

and chugged hot coffee. i suppose that goes with the territory - 

fashion bloggers need outfit photos (regardless of the weather).

is anyone else ready for spring?!

xoxo.

**this is a sponsored post. zaful provided me

with the jacket and dress pictured in this post.

all opinions are my own! 

cozy sweaters & floppy hats

winter has arrived with a vengence in seattle - we had snow flurries

and several 30 degree-temperature-days last week, and this girl

is ready for some sunshine! i've kept warm by layering cozy sweaters

and scarves, and of course, sipping on a cup of coffee

or tea throughout the day. 

i don't know about you, but i find it hard to stay motivated during 

the winter months - it's dark when i arrive at work and dark when i leave

the office. i feel sleepy all the time, and with the holidays approaching,

my couch and christmas movie marathons sound far too appealing!  

and speaking of the holidays - have you finished your shopping?

i was terrible this year and have procrastinated to the bitter end

(which means a few of the items i ordered online won't be here in time!). 

my goal for next year: shop early. and avoid the mall.

thankfully the majority of my shopping is done. 

the gift wrapping, however? it will happen at some point... 

photos by jenn from hello rigby

sweater: urban outfitters (exact here - on sale, too!), jeans: zara (similar here), 

booties: thrifted (via indie frock),

purse: fred meyer, hat: target (similar here), rings: forever 21

i picked up this sweater on the sale rack at urban outfitters

and have been wearing it on repeat (i linked it above, and it's been marked down further!). 

paired with my leggings or pajamas while at home and 

skinny jeans for a coffee date and running errands on the weekend -

it's comfortable and versatile.

it's hard to believe there are just three days left until christmas! 

i'll be over here singing christmas carols to myself and eating

far too much chocolate while i procrastinate further on my gift wrapping

(and somehow try to remain focused during the work-day).

happy holidays, everyone!

xoxo.

2013 autumn & winter trend report // guest post

The sun may have only just arrived in the UK but we take a look at some emerging trends to keep an eye out for fall.

It may be a little premature thinking ahead to next season, especially as in 
England we’ve only seen about seven consecutive days of sunshine (that’s British summertime folks!). But regardless of the weather there is something inside me that can’t help myself daydreaming about what’s in store for my winter wardrobe.

I find that I can while away hours scouring Pinterest and Tumblr for winter coat inspiration, after-all the perfect winter coat is absolutely the key piece for the long cold months.

So as I sit here in shorts and a T-shirt I’m mentally putting together my amazing autumn, winter wardrobe for the season. My mum always told me that it never 
hurts to be prepared so we’ve put together a little guide of some of what we think 
will be the biggest trends so that you can be prepared to dazzle next season.

With everything from this season’s biggest shapes and colours to classic trends
 and those unexpected styles we take you through what you’ll be wearing in
 the coming months, no need to thank us.

We might have mentioned this before but we really can’t stress it enough, the perfect coat is the most important element to your winter wardrobe as you will literally wear it all season. Cocoon coats are set to be huge (excuse the pun) next season and we’re 
super excited. There is nothing more fashion forward and flattering than a luxurious oversized coat, wrap a long knitted scarf around your neck and you’re 
all set for the colder months.

1.    Zoe Jordan – Tweed Cocoon Coat - £275 – Add a touch of heritage into your 
winter wardrobe with this brightly coloured tweed offering from Zoe Jordan, 
wear with a pair of leather trousers and a cool 
wide brimmed hat to finish.

2.    Carven – Double Breasted Cocoon Coat - £880 –Royal blue is a brilliant 
colour for the colder months; really stand out from the crowd in this 
Carven coat and pair with clashing orange detailing.

3.    MSGM – Floral Damask Coat - £402 – Don’t steer clear of florals just 
because it’s winter, this MSGM coat is the perfect combination of
 fashion forward style and feminine luxe.

It’s nothing new; leather for winter isn’t a revolutionary idea but next season see’s leather incorporated in innovative ways into your wardrobe, think leather
 detailing, leather pants and leather tops. Whether you opt for buttery soft leather or high shine you simply can’t interpret this trend wrongly, so dig out all your leather and if you don’t have any then now is the time to invest!

1.    Alexander Wang – Layered Motorcycle Jacket - £1,140 – Any fashion savvy girl understands the importance of investing in the perfect leather 
jacket like this Alexander Wang style. Don’t scrimp on this one as it
 will literally never go out of style and can be worn with almost anything!

2.    Drome – Leather Dress - £1,213 – If you’re feeling bold this season then 
a leather dress from Drome is the perfect option for you, tone it down with minimal 
accessories and understated shoes to avoid looking over the top.

3.    3.1 Phillip Lim - Quilted Leather T-shirt - £1,225 – This 3.1 Phillip Lim
tee is the epitome of casual cool, it’s on the pricey side but you can easily
 find more budget friendly styles on the high street.

If you think that floral print is just for spring, summer then you’re sorely mistaken, at least when it comes to this season you are! Florals are set to be huge this season which is great because floral looks are always fun and flirty. Work some winter florals into your ensembles with printed trousers, dresses and bags.

1.    Paul Smith – Photocopy Floral Print Sweatshirt - £165 – This Paul Smith 
jumper is the perfect winter warmer, wear with a super long tailored coat and a 
pair of your skinniest jeans for maximum impact.

2.    Sophie Hulme – Floral Mini Envelope Bag - £360 – Carry florals with you 
wherever you are with this pretty Sophie Hulme envelope bag, the perfect accessory to add the trend in to any look.

3.    Marni – Floral Printed Cotton Trousers - £285 – These Marni trousers
 have been the top of our wish list since we first laid eyes on them, the perfect work-wear staple!

Prints are always big whatever the season and it seems that we’ve had so many to choose from that it spawned its own trend; print clash. Animal print is one of the biggest trends we’ve spotted for the impending season and especially leopard print, we love it because it can take a classic elegant look and give it a wild sartorial twist.

1.    Zara – Printed Short Coat - £52 – Zara are always a safe bet for fantastic 
winter coats and this amazing printed style is no exception, wear with an all-black 
ensemble for a full impact monochrome look.

2.    Topshop – Structured Animal Print Tee - £38 – Add a touch of the wild
 side to your repertoire with this cool Topshop tee, pair back the rest of your outfit for a high fashion finish.

3.    Kenzo – Animal Print Skirt - £230 – Kenzo have been, without doubt,
 our favourite designer of the season and this amazing animal print skirt is a prime 
example of why. The perfect touch of urban cool, we want it in our wardrobes now!

Written by Lucinda Bounsall from farfetch

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thank you, lucinda for reaching out to me and for this amazing post.

i don't know about you, but i am ready to start

shopping for fall and winter attire.

not ready to give up my sunshine,

but craving some bright floral prints, leather, and animal print tops and skirts.

xoxo.