Veronika's Blushing

Weekend Shopping: 20% off at Ulta & Chanel Sunglasses

2012-01-28T15:14:00.001-06:00

Thank goodness it's Saturday! Today H and I ventured out to my optometrist's office because my Chanel sunglasses came in (style # 5171 in tortoise---they are the ones with the bows on the sides) and I went in to try them on to make sure I liked the style/fit. I'll have them next week when my prescription lenses are ready :)

I picked up some items at Ulta this weekend for 20% off. Here's what I got:

L'Oreal Magic Lumi concealer/corrector
L'Oreal Balm in Pink Satin (#118)
OPI nail polish in "Mod About You"
Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion fr cystic acne
Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Power Foam Wash
Salon Graffix invisible dry shampoo
Batiste Original Dry Shampoo
Redken GUTS 10 volumizing foam spray

If you have the time, you can view my video here:

Have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo,

Veronika.

A Whole Lotta Heart- Catbird NYC Rose Gold Heart Ring

2012-01-27T18:13:00.000-06:00

My friend Brianne (during a 3-hour long FaceTime chat) told me about New York boutique catbird and it was love at first site visit. I showed my H some of the lovely pieces on the site---I was most enamoured with the rose gold heart ring. It was dainty and perfect.

H told me not to buy it because it leaves him nothing to get me for special occassions. Last night, this showed up on my dresser. Thank you, lovely husband. It made my week.

I'm a lucky gal. Here are some other pieces I love from the site:

Alphabet Rings
Ampersand Ring
Dainty Heart Bracelet

Classic Heart Studs- Rose Gold

Wishing everyone the happiest weekend!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Keeping it Simple

2012-01-26T21:10:00.000-06:00

Do you ever have days at work where you know you don't have any meetings and won't be leaving the office? Today, that was my day---a true blessing because I got to get a lot of work done by being glued to my desk. Speaking of being glued to your desk, here's a list of compelling reasons you should totally NOT do it.

In other news, I think I finally figured out why my photos weren't working---it was the chandelier light. I shot today with hardly any light and the photos turned out way better than when I turn on my chandelier. Noted.

I dressed more casually today but kept it simple---a black cotton dress paired with a blazer.

Blazer- Express
Dress- Target
Necklace- Stella & Dot, c/o Katie
Belt- J.Crew
Boots- Nine West

Tights- Target

xoxo,

Veronika.

Review: Suave Professionals’ NEW Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo

2012-01-25T18:53:00.003-06:00

I felt like a pretty lucky gal when Suave contacted me about a new product line they were launching. They said they had read my rave review about their dry shampoo (the one that smells like lemony-goodness) and they wanted to send me a product from their new line that they think I'd love.

A few weeks later, I came home to find a special shiny surprise on my doorstep. I opened a box full of metallic gold strips and inside of that box was a bottle of Suave's new keratin dry shampoo (I love pretty packaging, it always makes everything feel more special!)

I was intrigued. Was it different than the lemon-scented one I already use (and love)? I waited a few days to try it out so that I could use it on hair that really needed dry shampoo.

At first, I was surprised by the scent. It was not at all like the lemony scent of the original---but it grew on me and now I quite enjoy it. It is fresh smelling and not at all overwhelming. I also noticed that it does not deposit white residue onto your roots (which can be rubbed out of course, but for ladies with super dark hair this is a great benefit).

Overall, I am happy with this dry shampoo and have been putting it into the rotation. Here is what Suave says about the dry shampoo:
This refreshing dry shampoo formulated with KERALOCK^™ TECHNOLOGY contains keratin and absorbs oils to help clean your hair so it's refreshed, smooth and manageable between regular washes.
Contains keratin & absorbs oils to:

Refresh hair
Extend your blowout
Revive volume

I have not tried other products from Suave’s keratin line, but I am curious about Color Care Lower Sulfate Shampoo and Conditioner.

This dry shampoo and other products from the line should be available in stores now. Part of the reason I waited to post my review is so that if you wanted to try it, you wouldn’t have to wait months to do so.

Have you tried any products from Suave’s keratin line or do you plan to? Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo,

Veronika.

FTC Disclaimer: Suave sent me this product for consideration. I was not compensated to write this review and all opinions are based on my own experience using the product.

Veronika's Blushing---on Facebook!

2012-01-22T19:28:00.000-06:00

After reading a post on J's Everyday Fashion, I decided it was time to make a Facebook page for my blog to connect more with you all.

You can "like" my Facebook page here (only if you want to, of course!) and...if you're feeling mighty, let me know if you have any advice about what you'd like to see on my Facebook page.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Weekend Shopping...

2012-01-21T21:05:00.001-06:00

Have you ever had something on your wish list for years? For me, it was the Tory Burch "Reva" flats. For some reason, I could never bring myself to get them because of the cost (about $200). Oddly, it never bothered me to spend $200 on a few items during a shopping trip, but I could never push myself to get the flats even though I had coveted them for a long time.

I finally bit the bullet this weekend and I'm so happy to finally own them! Check out the video below for the flats and a few other purchases:

xoxo,

Veronika.

Pretty Paisley

2012-01-20T17:36:00.000-06:00

If you watched last week's haul video on my YouTube channel, you'll remember the paisley tunic I scored at Zara for $29.99. I absolutely love this piece---it is SO comfortable and perfect for a laid-back Friday at work. This tunic could work as a dress on someone much shorter than I am!

Here's how I styled it:

and without the infinity scarf...

Tunic- Zara
Jeans- GAP "Always Skinny"
Flats- J.Crew
Scarf- Forever 21
Bag- Asos.com

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend! No big plans for me, just going to relax and get some much-needed sleep!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Stella & Dot Giveaway Winners!

2012-01-19T20:53:00.003-06:00

I know I always say this---but thank you so much for your patience if you entered my Stella & Dot giveaway. I have been really busy at work lately so I've just now had a chance to sit down and finish counting all of the entries.

This giveaway has been my most popular giveaway ever---with 387 entries total! WOW! I am so glad you all loved ths giveaway and big thanks to Katie who is generously sending out all of these fabulous prizes!

Here is how I picked the winners:

Counted all entries (you could enter up to three different ways)
Eliminated entires that did not have an email address and/or were just normal comments and not contest entries
Used random.org to generate four winning comments

I'm going to list the prizes now and list the winner for each prize. I drew for the prizes in the order they were posted in the original post.

Here are the winners and prizes they won:

A Stella & Dot Key Pouch OR Jewelry Roll

winner- comment # 40

MrsDevilGuy
Jan 8, 2012 03:27 PM

I like Katie's Facebook page and followed her on Twitter. My favorite piece I saw on her website is the Claire necklace. My email is Kelly dot Zastocki at gmail dot com

A Stella & Dot Metallic Clutch OR Jewelry Roll

winner- comment # 89

MarsJan 8, 2012 05:57 PM

I followed Katie on Twitter, I checked her website and I love so many things...the eternity band rings, stackable rings, luna wrap barclet and foundation bracelet. My email is marsnkev@gmail.com that would make 3 entries total. Thnks for doing this giveaway!!

A Stella & Dot Selection from the Existing Line

winner- comment # 10

Anonymous Jan 8, 2012 02:17 PM

I followed Katie on twitter and on facebook. I checked out the website and I'm in love with the signature clover necklace. It would be great to wear dressed up and day to day. Thank you for the chance to win.
email: g_kardon@yahoo.com
I follow you on yt, twitter, and facebook!

A Stella & Dot Selection from the New Line

winner- comment # 48

TinaVJan 8, 2012 03:47 PM

I followed Katie on Twitter, I checked out her website and my favorite piece is the "Olivia Pearl and Ribbon Neclace" necklace and I also liked her Facebook page (3 entries total). My email address is tina_venerus@hotmail.com

I am going to email all of the winners and connect you with Katie to claim your prizes. Major thanks to everyone who entered. I am going to be doing more giveaways soon---I may even do one on my YouTube channel to thank all of my new subscribers...stay tuned!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Mixing Business with Watercolor

2012-01-18T19:28:00.002-06:00

I had an event at work today so I wanted to look professional and not too trendy. I chose my beloved J. Crew No. 2 pencil skirt and paired it with an item in my closet that has been ignored for the past year: my black blazer.

I don't know why I don't wear it more often because it really is a lovely piece. After wearing it today, I'm convinced more blazers are in my future.

I also added a new top I got at Zara that reminds me of a beautiful watercolor painting. It has 3/4 sleeves which you can't see in these photos---but here is the top in a fitting room photo I took this weekend:

...and here it is with today's outfit:

Skirt- J.Crew; Top- Zara; Blazer- Express; Shoes- Kate Spade

xoxo,

Veronika.

How I Edit My Blog Photos: Windows Live Gallery Rave!

2012-01-15T17:55:00.001-06:00

It used to take me forever to edit my blog photos. Not because I was editing out blemishes or slimming my hips (sadly, my skills are not even remotely advanced enough for that)...but because I was spending time loading photos into Photoshop and then cropping and color correcting them all manually.

Funny side note:When I first started my blog, I was "accused" of editing my photos (like changing my skin texture, etc) and I was actually flattered that someone thought I had the skills to do that. Thank you for believing in me!

I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but editing my photos was a huge time-suck for me. I think Photoshop is great for people who do more extensive editing or use it professionally, but for me, time saving is key since I work full time in addition to blogging.

I became part of the Windows Champions program last year and as part of that program I am testing out their Windows 7 software. The program I have been the most impressed with is Windows Live Photo Gallery. I am literally obsessed with it and use it exclusively to edit my photos. It's fast, easy to use and the results are awesome.

Windows Live Gallery has pre-set options for color correction and exposure and you can instantly transform your images to different tones of black and white or sepia simply by rolling your mouse over that option.

The other thing I love about the program is that all I have to do is open it and my entire "My Pictures" folder is already there and accessible, with all of my photos in chronological order. I simply select a file from that gallery to work on it.

I took some screen shots to illustrate just how easy it is to make adjustments to an image. The pre-set options make it simple to choose which ones make the photo look best. I also like that you get a preview of the exposure or color selection just by scrolling over the options and you never have to commit---you can just roll over another selection if you don't like the one you chose.

Here's what your Windows Live Gallery looks like when you open the program. It shows all of your photos according to date and you just select the one you want to work on.

Once I've selected my photo, I'll adjust the exposure first. I usually need to brighten them up because of the lighting I have to work with when I take my outfit photos in the morning isn't always ideal (the picture below is an old fitting room photo, taken on an iPhone in poor fitting room lighting).

After I adjust my exposure, I'll usually crop my photo (though, you can really either start by cropping r crop at the very end). When you select crop, a box/grid will show up over your photo and you just drag it to where you want your photo cropped.

Then, I adjust the color, using the pre-set options in my toolbar.

You can also use the tools on the right to make a photo black and white or sepia.

So basically, what this post is saying is that I am in love. With Windows Live Gallery. It makes my life easier and I actually find myself looking forward to blogging more often because as I mentioned before, it's a huge time-saver. I also love that it makes my photos look more dramatic and overall more polished.

Some of the options even allow your photos to have a little bit of a vintage vibe to them---like these:

I use a lot of photography apps like CrossProcess, Instagram, etc and I love that I can get a similar look using Windows Live Gallery when I edit photos taken with my Canon Rebel T2i.

What program do you use to edit your photos? Have you ever used Live Gallery? Let me know in the comments below!
xoxo,

Veronika.

FTC Disclaimer: I am part of the Windows Champions program. As part of this program I was provided with a laptop and Windows 7 software for my personal use. I'm writing about this particular program because it's awesome and has changed the way I edit my photos. As always, my opinions are honest and based on my experiences with a product. I am not being compensated to write this.

Casual Cool

2012-01-14T10:53:00.000-06:00

I get a lot of requests to share my more casual outfits---outfits I wear to shop, run errands or on casual Friday.

I wore this outfit on Friday. Very simple and oh-so-comfortable. I was thrilled to wear my cognac boots for the second time this winter. It just hasn't been cold enough here to wear them more often. I do recommend investing in a pair if you don't already own any. Cognac-colored boots are incredibly versatile and are a staple in any wardrobe.

Jacket- Lululemon
Jeans- GAP "Always Skinny"
Infinity Scarf- Forever 21
Boots- Nine West

xoxo,

Veronika.

Curls, Without the Heat.

2012-01-12T20:55:00.002-06:00

Last week, I showed you how to revive second, third (or fourth!) day curls using Bumble & Bumble's Texture lotion. This week, I'm taking it to a whole new level and sharing with you the growingly popular "heat free" way to curl your hair.

I haven't had my hair curled with rags since I was a kid, but one of my internet friends, Kathy, was kind enough to share her method with me---and I'll include a few other methods I plan to try below as well!

Here's Kathy's Step-by-Step How-To on "Rag Curls"

Step 1:Cut up an old t-shirt into 1-2inch wide strips. They don't have to be even, but they should be all about the same size. Make the strips as long as you can. If they're too short (you run out while you're twisting them up) you can tie two together.

Step 2:The hair should be nearly dry. It can't be completely dry, nor should it be too damp. Take a section of hair. For this tutorial I did my whole head in 4 sections for somewhat loose curls, other nights I have done 6 sections. Remember: the larger the section, the more straight hair you'll have at the top of each curl, so if you want curls to start at your scalp, make more sections---and if your hair is a little too wet, larger sections won't dry completely overnight, so go small.

Step 3:

Smooth out the section of hair and wrap it tightly around the rag. I hold the other end of the rag in my teeth to keep it from pulling out. Then, wrap the rag back up the hair in the same direction that you wrapped the hair. (If you go the opposite way, it untwists the hair, so you'll know if you're doing it wrong.)

Step 4:When you get to the top, take the other end of the rag out of your mouth and tie the two ends together in a knot.

Step 5:Start the next section. Twist it in the same direction as the first (i.e. all counter clockwise or all clockwise.) Continue all over your head. When you get done, it will look like this.

I usually do this right before bed and sleep on it. But it will make your hair at least wavy within a couple hours.

Step 6:
In the morning, begin by undoing the last knot that you tied. Take the rags out in the opposite order that you put them in. Unravel the rag, then gently pull the rag straight down. The ringlet will loosen and release the rag.

Step 7:

Separate a small section of hair from the ringlet and twist it around your finger to shape a curl. Repeat for the entire ringlet. Continue to undo the ringlets and shape curls. Finger comb curls to relax and separate them. Style as desired.

The final result: pretty curls without the heat and damage!

Thank you Kathy for sharing this great tutorial! Here are my other favorite no-heat methods to achieve curls:

You can also read Andi's blog post about no-heat curls here.

xoxo,

Veronika.

CultureMap's Fashion On Sale Winner!

2012-01-12T09:41:00.000-06:00

Using random.org, the winning comment was comment #3:

Jan 9, 2012 07:30 PM

iyah_dmd at yahoo.com

Congratulations! You have won two tickets to the event! I have emailed the winner and when she sends me her information she will be put on the list to attend CultureMap's Fashion on Sale event.

Please email me ASAP to claim the tickets!

Thank you to everyone who entered!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Going Faux (Fur)

2012-01-11T20:30:00.000-06:00

Today was a more casual day where I knew I wouldn't be leaving the office so I tried to be a little more relaxed by wearing a simple cotton henley and a vest with faux fur...and I threw in a polka-dot skirt into the mix...you know, just for fun!

I wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who left comments and tips about my new lens---I'm going to watch the DVD I bought when I first got it to learn how to change the settings. Obviously my goal is to have the best photos I can for you all!

Top- Target; Vest- Charlotte Russe; Skirt- Forever 21; Shoes- Kate Spade; Tights- Target; Initial Necklace- overstock.com

Don't forget to enter my Stella & Dot Giveaway and if you're in Houston my "Fashion On Sale" tickets giveaway!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Out of Focus

2012-01-10T19:46:00.000-06:00

I took these photos with my new "nifty fifty" lens and I am very displeased with how they turned out as I am obviously doing something wrong...but I thought what the heck and I'm sharing today's outfit anyway...

See how fuzzy they are? The color had to be significantly adjusted too! If you have this lens and have any tips, please leave them in the comments below!

Blouse & Cardigan- Express; Skirt & Belt- J.Crew; Tights- Target;
Shoes- Kate Spade; Necklace- Regina Pierallani; Watch- Michael Kors

Wishing everyone a wonderful rest of your week!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Houston Fashionistas- Giveaway for Tickets to Fashion On Sale! (This Weekend!)

2012-01-09T21:05:00.001-06:00

Calling all Houston fashionistas---you won't want to miss out on this! CultureMap Houston is hosting a fabulous event called "CultureMap Fashion on Sale." It's a weekend-long event set to be the city's largest collection of local boutique retailers under one roof offering end-of-season steals and deals on clothes and accessories (and you KNOW how I love a sale!)Here are some highlights happening at Fashion on Sale:

Tootsie's will have over 2,000 items on sale and even will bring in lots of merchandise from Dallas
David Peck will custom design a piece specifically for the sale
Azur Salon will demo new hair extensions that literally take no longer than 10 minutes to put in
Edward Sanchez, Houston's make up maven will be demonstrating his new line of cosmetics
The overall boutique retailer count for this event is almost 50 now! You can view the full list of retailers here: http://houston.culturemap.com/fashion-on-sale

I feel like a lucky gal because CultureMap has inivited me to host a giveaway for 2 general admission tickets ($20 value, each) to this fashion extravaganza! It's taking place at West Ave in River Oaks and you would be able to attend either on Saturday or Sunday. This contest will end at 8 p.m. CST this Wednesday, January 11th (so I have time to notify CultureMap & the winners).

All you have to do to enter to win a free ticket to the show is to leave me a comment with your email address so I can contact you if you win. I will be using random.org to generate the winner.

Good luck---and if you win, try to play nice while you're eyeing all of those designer goods...and if there's only one item left in your size, pounce on it like a ravenous cat who hasn't eaten in a week...just sayin'...after all, all's fair in love and war, right?!
xoxo,

Veronika.

PS- Not in Houston? You can still read my latest CultureMap article: Make it a beautiful year: Top five beauty resolutions for a more gorgeous you.

PSS- I finally made a Facebook Page for my blog---did you ever think it would happen?! After reading J's article, I realized I was missing out by not offering my readers a chance to connect on Facebook. Hope you'll join me there! Click here to go to my page.

Stella & Dot Giveaway!

2012-01-08T15:46:00.000-06:00

Ladies, I am SO excited about this giveaway. Every since Katie sent me all of those gorgeous Stella & Dot pieces, I've been wanting to give some of my readers the opportunity to experience the line (you can read my reviews in this post).

Katie generously offered to host a giveaway where we will have FOUR winners! How amazing is that!?

The prizes up for grabs include the following:

A Stella & Dot Key Pouch OR Jewelry Roll (I have this and absolutely love it!)

A Stella & Dot Metallic Clutch OR Jewelry Roll

A Stella & Dot Selection from the Existing Line

A Stella & Dot Selection from the New Line

Here are a few photos of some of the new pieces as well as the clutch and jewelry roll:

Even more exciting? Stella & Dot's new line will officially launched on their website tonight at 10 p.m. and the Stella & Dot Fan Page on Facebook will steam the entire fashion show TONIGHT, Sunday January 8 at 4:30 p.m. PST/6:30 p.m. PST and 7:30 p,.m. EST. If you can't catch it live, no worries, it will be available on the page for 24 hours.

GIVEAWAY RULES & HOW TO ENTER:

There are THREE ways you can enter this giveaway. The giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only. Please make sure you leave a VALID EMAIL ADDRESS in your comment/entry so I can contact you if you win. Unfortunately, all comments without a valid email address will be disqualified.

Here are the 3 entry methods:
1. Watch the fashion show on the official Stella & Dot Facebook and tell me what pieces you love best and why in your comment: https://www.facebook.com/stelladot?ref=ts&sk=app_114978158593661#!/stelladot?sk=app_142371818162

OR
Visit Katie's Stella & Dot website, check out the line and tell me about your favorite piece(s) in your comment: www.stelladot.com/sites/katiemcmasterkiner

2. "Like" Katie's Stella & Dot Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/katiemcmasterkiner (she is also hving a sample sale there where items are up to 50% off!)

3. Follow Katie on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/KinerKatie

You can enter one way, or you can enter all 4 ways to increase your chances to win. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU TELL ME HOW MANY TIMES YOU ENTERED IN YOUR COMMENT.

Here is an example of an entry:

I followed Katie on Twitter, I checked out her website and my favorite piece is the "ever after" necklace and I also liked her Facebook page (3 entries total). My email address is veronabrit at gmail dot com.
I will leave this giveaway open for one week, until Saturday, January 14th at midnight CST. I will use random.org to select 4 winners and each winner will be assigned a prize in the order that the winners are picked. I will notify winners via the email address left in their comment.

Thank you so much for entering and I wish everyone the best of luck. Major thanks to Katie who is generously hosting this giveaway to celebrate the new year!
xoxo,

Veronika.

FTC Disclaimer: Katie sent me some Stella & Dot pieces for consideration and I reviewed those items on my blog. I am not being compensated to host this giveaway.

Home Reveal: Kitchen Island Chandelier

2012-01-07T15:30:00.000-06:00

You know that expression "everything happens for a reason?" A couple of weeks ago I was driving back to work after grabbing some lunch and as I was waiting at a red light I noticed a truck in front of me that had an 800 number for a home handyman. Thinking this was "a sign" I quickly grabbed my iPhone and snapped a shot of the number so I could call later on.

I had stored the chandelier we purchased from Overstock.com (it's the Maria Theresa 6-light chandelier, but I can't find it online anymore) for a couple of months before we actually assembled it and I knew we would have to eventually install it...and uh, yeah, I wasn't about to attempt it myself.

I wanted to hire a professional and so I took a chance by calling a random business I found by being at a stoplight.

I hired Kyle Pentecost from One Call Home Handyman do the job and I'm glad I did. I like to work with people who are really responsive, and Kyle fit the ticket and was helpful throughout the entire process. My emails were always returned within a few hours and he guided us on what materials we would need. He also covered our island's counter top so it wouldn't get dirty when he came to our home, which I appreciated.

Because we have recessed lights throughout our entire home, Kyle had us purchase a product called The Can Converter, which converts a recessed light can to accommodate a chandelier or ceiling fan.

We also purchased extra chain, a 50lb hook and some light bulbs for the chandelier.

Here are some photos from the install process:

Because our recessed light can wasn't centered over the island, Kyle installed it and then swaggered the chain and added a hook in the ceiling so that it would be centered.

Here's the beautiful finished product:

You may have also noticed something else about these photos---I got a new lens for my Canon Rebel T2i! I got the "nifty fifty" lends (50mm 1.8). It's supposed to be one of the best for the money and great for portraits (I mainly got it for my outfit photos). It doesn't zoom in or out like my other lens, so you have to stand quite far from the subject you're photographing to get everything in frame---which is actually perfect since I used a tripod for my outfit photos.

I am so pleased we decided to put a chandelier in our kitchen. It adds some elegance to the space and just sparkles and shines beautifully.

If you are in the Houston area, I highly recommend Kyle's services for any kind of handyman work from painting to electric to plumbing (and much more!). The rates (in my opinion) are very reasonable at $65/hr. You can reach Kyle via email at sales@onecallhomehandyman.com or by phone at (832) 800-4441. You can also visit his website www.onecallhomehandyman.com.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend! I was going to try and film today but I may have to put if off until tomorrow because I am not feeling well at all.

xoxo,

Veronika.

FTC Disclaimer: I paid for Kyle's handyman services with my own money and this is an honest review about my experience with our chandelier install.

Black & White Gingham

2012-01-06T17:37:00.000-06:00

J. Crew's Perfect Shirt in gingham is becoming one of my favorite items in my closet. For starters, it's incredibly versatile and the fit is flattering (I ordered a 2 tall to get the extra length and I'm so pleased with how it's tailored).

But, before I get ahead of myself, I just had to share my latest aquisition. This pretty, ballet slipper pink quilted purse from Asos.com. This is the first item I've ever ordered from the site and I'm pleased with the quality for the price.

Pretty, right!? (buy it here---it says the color is "nude" online but it's pink as can be!)

Here's how I wore it with today's outfit:

My gorgeous new Regina Pierallini cross necklace in rose gold
from my beautiful friend Jamie (thank you!)

Trench- Banana Republic
Jeans- 7FAMK Dojos
Shirt- J.Crew Perfect Shirt Gingham
Shoes- Ivanka Trump
Purse- ASOS.com (buy it here)

I am so excited for Saturday to come because we are having our chandelier installed over our kitchen island!

xoxo,

Veronika.

How to Get Perfect Loose Curls with One Product! Bumble & Bumble Texture Creme Rave!

2012-01-05T18:40:00.003-06:00

I don't want the title of this post to be deceiving, so here is the disclaimer: this is a post about how to get loose curls on hair that has been styled and slept on.

I made this discovery by accident over the weekend. I woke up Sunday morning with some fourth day hair and I didn't want to do anything to it. No styling, no heat. I had curled my hair the day before, so my hair still held some of that curl but it didn't look as good an defined after being slept on.

So I sprayed dry shampoo on my roots (I used both Serge Normant Meta Revive and Suave) and I also used a tiny bit of baby powder). Once the dry shampoos set, I brushed out my hair with a paddle brush. This takes out some of the waves, but here's where the miracle product comes in.

Yes, my friends, it's the Bumble & Bumble's Texture Creme that has been hanging out in my hair product drawer for the last few months. I have finally found the optimal use for it, by accident.

After brushing out my hair, I put a little bit of the Bumble & Bumble Texture Creme in my palm and then I rub the product between my hands. Then, I apply it all over my hair, focusing on the hair from the nape of my neck down to my ends. I apply it normally, just going from the top to the bottom of the hair shaft (kind of "dragging" the product through my hair, but gently).

Then (and this is KEY) I scrunch my hair. Like old-school-style scrunching. The Bumble & Bumble Texture Creme somehow revived my slept-on and messy waves, even after they had been been brushed out (you need to brush your hair if you want a smoother "blown out" look...you can skip brushing if you want a beachier look, but I still recommend using dry shampoo on the roots). The texture creme also defines waves beautifully.

I tried it again this morning on third day hair, and once again, this method worked like a charm and I actually snapped photos this time. I am so glad my weekend encounter with this product will turn into a long-term relationship.

The only part I very quickly re-curled this morning are the two very front pieces. I am so glad to have found this method because this means two less days of heat on my hair a week! I never imagined my hair could look so styled with such little effort!

If you have some natural wave or curl, this method could also work for you to achieve a similar look, as long as you use it on dry hair (and ideally, second or third day hair).

I hope this tip helps anyone who is a few times a week hair washer like me! There are many ways to use this product and Bumble and Bumble has a ton of helpful tutorials on their YouTube Channel.

I definitely recommend this product and I'm glad it comes in such a big tube because I will be using it a lot more from now on!

xoxo,

Veronika.

PS- AWESOME APP ALERT! My friend Stephanie over at Graded on a Curve told me about this awesome iPhone app called "CrossProcess." It color processes your photos and I used it for the photos in this post to show you all. Definitely worth the $1.99 and it saves all of your photos to your camera roll! Learn more here.

Scalloped Edges

2012-01-04T18:31:00.004-06:00

I bought this top months ago and haven't worn it until now. It's actually a pretty long tunic, but on me, way too short to be a dress. I loved the cutouts on this top---but what sold me were its scalloped edges.

I typically wear what I buy immediately (within a week or so) but for some reason, this top rested in my closet for quite some time. Maybe I thought it was too fancy...but I think this outfit shows it can work perfectly for the office.

I was trying to do a jump for the photo, because, you know,
sometimes it gets boring doing the same ol' poses...
as you can see, it was a major fail but it was too funny not to share!
Love the piece of hair on my lipgloss!

Top- Forever21
Belt- J.Crew

Skirt- J.Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt
Shoes- Kate Spade
Bag- Tory Burch

Tights- HUE

Two more days until the weekend! What do you have planned?

xoxo,

Veronika.

Blushing Lace

2012-01-03T20:22:00.001-06:00

This weekend, Candice and I had a belated Christmas gift exchange and one of the gifts she gave me this gorgeous soft pink lacey top from Aritzia (the brand is Talula). She got it when she was visiting her family in Canada (that's definitely one store I miss!)

I paired it with my new J.Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt that I got on mega-sale in black, thanks to one of my wonderful blogging friends who informed me it was on sale in her local store. So FYI ladies, if you can't find an item at your store, J.Crew's customer service goes above and beyond to find the item for you. I couldn't believe how incredible the service was!

Top- Artizia
Skirt- J.Crew
Tights- HUE
Shoes- Kate Spade
Belt- J.Crew
Cardigan- Zara
Jacket- Banana Republic

Wishing everyone a wonderful week! Only a few more days left!

xoxo,

Veronika

2012 Resolutions

2012-01-01T13:56:00.001-06:00

I've been looking forward to writing this post because it's always motivational to see your goals and remind yourself about what you hope to accomplish in the coming year.

I had originally planned to take a look back at my 2011 goals, but I think it's best to start fresh and with a positive outlook instead of focusing on what wasn't accomplished.

Here are my top goals/resolutions for 2012!

Eat at home more often--- When we were buying our new home, one of the huge selling points was the open kitchen with lots of storage space (cabinetry) and a huge island. I promised I would cook more when we were moved-in, but that hasn't really happened. My H cooks more than I do, but we cook the same things over and over. Wanting to start the new year off right, we challenged ourselves to stay in and cook a meal together instead of going out. H found a healthy chicken parmesan recipe online, we went grocery shopping together to get everything we needed and we cooked a lovely meal together.

I don't want to set unrealistic goals, so H and I made a deal that we would alternate weeks and try to cook one new meal every week. I figure once we learn to cook some meals, it will be much easier to motivate ourselves to cook more often.

Eat healthier--- This one is a spinoff from the first, but we would both like to committ to eating healthier. I'm pretty good during the day but after work is usually when I vere off course. I still eat too many processed foods and not enough vegetables. I want to make sure I focus on eating more real foods this year. One thing I do have to commend myself for is portion sizes. Last year I really focused on listening to my body and eating until I was satisfied and not until I felt my stomach was about to burst.

I also really need to work on my sugar intake. My beloved Sour Patch Kids need to go. Not only do they tend to make me feel sick after I eat ~~an insane amount~~ them, they are also probably horrible for me. I'll never go cold turkey because you only live once and I love sweets, but I need to stop eating so much sugar and candy and control portions better when it comes to the sugary stuff.

Continue working out--- 2011 was a fantastic year for me fitness-wise. I was working out on average 4-5 days a week up until when we moved. Moving and settling into our new home was stressful and totally threw our schedules out of whack. We continued to work out, but usually only 2 days a week. We would both like to get back to working out at least 4 days a week and 5 if we can.

My goal was to be in the best shape of my life before we have a child. I have heard being fit makes pregnancy easier (and sometimes even the delivery) and also keeps up your energy levels and helps you get your body back after baby. Working out makes me feel so good and I'm looking forward to continuing my progress in 2012.

Oh, and while we're on the topic of working out, this happened on New Years Eve. I love her. So yeah, that was pretty amazing.

Read more---I think this one migrated over from last year's list. I read maybe 2 or 3 books this year. Awful, I know. I order all of these books on Amazon and then never make the time to read them. I'd like to read a book every 2 months or so because I love reading. Maybe I should join a book club!

Worry less--- A lot of you already know I struggle with anxiety and ocassional panic attacks. It's very difficult to admit that it has gotten worse over the years, not better. I always feel incredibly guilty for my anxiety because I am so lucky. I am 100% aware of the fact that I lead a very blessed life and I am incredibly fortunate to have a great husband and family and a beautiful home and a job...but for some reason my anxiety still gets to me at times. On one hand, I'm thankful that my anxiety and worrying doesn't cripple me (prevent me from living my life) and on the other hand I wish I didn't worry and stress so much. I did buy some books about overcoming anxious feelings but, as you probably can already gather, I haven't read them yet.

Keep it clean--- I'm a neat freak. I love to clean like it's my calling in life. I enjoy the process of cleaning and love to throw on some tunes and just clean the day away. However, what I'm not great at is keeping things neat and clean in between my deeper cleans. Our bedroom and bathroom are particularly bad victims of this. I hardly ever make the bed (I leave last so it should be me doing it), I sometimes leaves clothes on the floor instead of putting them away, I leave my hairdryer and hairbrush out. Basically, I'd like to be neater on a daily basis. I can make a room look perfect, but keeping it that way is a challenge for me. I'd like to make my bed everyday and put my stuff away before I leave for work so I can come home to a neat room.

Travel--- I've still got the travel bug in me. H and I may go to London again this summer. Not 100% sure it will happen, but it would be lovely if we could take another trip like that this year.

Stop picking--- My cuticles, that is. I am always picking at the dry skin and hangnails and it's awful. Need to stop this ASAP. I also need to stop picking at my split ends and just cut them off when I see one.
Style evolution--- While looking back at old posts, I've seen just how much my style has evolved and I'd like for that to continue. I loved adding more brights and colors to my wardrobe and my plan for 2012 is to continue to step out of my comfort zone, while still being true to clothing and styles I love.

Blogging--- I love blogging. I love how many amazing women I've "met" through blogging and I love being part of this community. I want to make my blog better each year and write content that people enjoy reading. I want better photos and better quality everything. I think I'm starting off the year right by having switched to tripod photos and I want that to trickle into all aspects of my blog. I'm even planning a 2012 re-design which I'm so excited about. I value each and every person who reads my blog and makes it so meaninful for me with your sweet comments, emails and overall support. If I don't say it enough---THANK YOU!!!

Be Grateful--- This year, during one of the few times we attended church services, the sermon really inspired me to think differently about the way I pray. Instead of asking God for what I want and what I hope for, I've started off my prayers telling God what I'm thankful for and thanking Him for bestowing so many blessings upon my life. I think oftentimes in life we are so overwhelmed with all we have going on that we sometimes forget to thank God for how incredible our lives are and instead we focus on what we feel we are missing. Of course you should always ask God to help you through your struggles and we should all pray for those facing difficult times, but I always try to tell God a few things I am thankful about first because I think it's important to acknowledge those blessings.

On New Years Eve, H and I decided to take it easy and stay in and cook our own dinner. We went grocery shopping to get what we needed and prepared a yummy chicken parmesan dish.

Then, this morning, we decided to continue our cooking streak by making pancakes with fresh blueberries (they were amazing!)

I hope everyone had an incredible New Year and I hope you'll share with me below your number one resolution for 2012!

xoxo,

Veronika.

PS- I filmed a video about my 2012 resolutions as well. See it below or on my YouTube channel.

Dressing in Dots

2011-12-29T17:55:00.000-06:00

In my last haul video, I talked about a silk dress I scored at J.Crew for $53 (it was originally $168). Pleased with my incredible savings, I finally wore it today.

Dress- J.Crew
Cardigan- Express
Scarf- Forever21
Tights- Target
Boots- Jessica Simpson
Jacket- BR
Bag- Tory Burch Reva Clutch

Polka-dots again? Well color me surprised!

xoxo,

Veronika.

PS- I will share my New Years resolutions soon---and hope you'll share yours with me as well!

In the Navy

2011-12-28T20:15:00.000-06:00

I was all excited this morning to wear my new bird-print top. I had the perfect outfit planned and paired it with navy diamond-patterened tights and my navy blue lace skirt from Zara.

Later this afternoon, in a meeting room full of delightfully flourescent lights, I noticed that my lovely bird blouse was not in fact navy, but black.

Though my eyes failed me, I still like this outfit.

Top & Tank- Forever 21
Skirt- Zara
Tights- Forever 21
Shoes- Kate Spade
Trench- Banana Republic
Necklace- Stella & Dot "Ever After" (buy it here)

I have to say that the "ever after" necklace is quickly becoming one of my favorite pieces. It's so dainty and feminine. I just love the length too---it sits so perfectly on your collarbone area. Here is a closer-up shot I took earlier today:

...and another shot of how I switched up this outfit for a casual dinner with my in-laws:

Have a great week everyone!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Christmas Haul

2011-12-26T18:13:00.000-06:00

I hope you all enjoy my Christmas haul. It includes items from J.Crew, Banana Republic, Sigma Makeup & More! Hope everyone had a very happy holiday!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Merry Christmas, from Our Family, to Yours!

2011-12-25T12:08:00.000-06:00

Wishing all of my lovely readers the merriest Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

xoxo,

Veronika.

I Am Slowly Going Gray-z

2011-12-24T10:30:00.000-06:00

Yes, gray-z. Not crazy, but gray-z. That's because we've got a whopping 16 paint swatches on our kitchen walls that we're testing to find "the one." Now, keep in mind, these colors may not be showing up on your monitor exactly as they look in real life, but it's probably pretty darn close.

Here's what you're looking at:

colors on the left (from top to bottom; left to right; all Sherwin Williams)
1. Amazing Gray (a favorite)
2. Essential Gray
3. Proper Gray
4. Requisite Gray
5. Repose Gray
6. Mindful Gray (we like this one)
7. Pussywillow (this one's nice too)

colors on the right (from top to bottom; left to right; all Benjamin Moore)
1. Cement Gray (too blue)
2. Gray Owl (too blue)
3. Cliffside Gray (too blue/green)
4. San Antonio Gray
5. Coventry Gray (too blue)
6. Stone Harbor
7. Silver Fox (like this one too)
8. Revere Pewter (a favorite so far)

9. Chelsea gray (we like this for the guest bedroom)

Benajmin Moore Colors:

Sherwin Williams Colors:

The challenge we face with painting this new home is that the entire second floor is so open-concept that we want to find a gray that's fresh and that we can use on all of the walls and the stairways.

I liked the accent walls in our last home, but for some reason I'm dead-set on one color this time around. Our new home was a model home, so it already had accent walls painted, and I just wasn't feeling it for this home.

The look we are going for is fresh, crisp and airy. We are leaning towards the light grays---we are really loving Benjamin Moore's "revere pewter" which is incredibly subtle and light. We also really like Sherwin William's "amazing gray." As you can see, we tried a lot of grays in the blue family and it just isn't for us. The colors look almost pastel-blue in natural light---not the look we are going for.

We are finding ourselves attracted to the grays that are warmer and have more of a brown to them---in fact, I was warned online that BM's "revere pewter" looks beige on the paint chip---but on walls, it transforms into a beautiful, true light gray. Here are some images of the color I found on Pinterest, for reference:

I see these photos and I think I've made a decision, but then I go back on Pinterest and design blogs and see more amazing gray walls and I feel like I HAVE TO try other colors. Like these:

Restoration Hardware "Slate"

BEHR "Fashion Gray"

At this point, I am feeling very frustrated because I cannot make a decision and all I want to do is buy more and more paint samples. At least by now I have learned to stop buying any gray samples that have lots of blue or green in them...but that still leaves me stuck.

The next step is to probably get some BEHR samples and then get it down to a few colors we love and paint larger portions of the wall with them---and then decide which colors will go in each room. Although an open floorplan is awesome, it can also be frustrating because as I mentioned earlier in this post, we basically have to use the same color up the stairs from the first floor to the second and the second to the third since you can see both stairways from the second floor.

We have such dark hardwoods, cabinets and furniture that I thought a really light color would do the trick---but then I see some more saturated grays that really pop against white trim and I wonder if that's the direction we should go in?

If you have a gray wallcolor you love or have any other comments, please leave them below! Let's cross our fingers that I can make a decision in 2012!

xoxo,

Veronika.

OOTD: Singin' in the Rain

2011-12-23T16:17:00.000-06:00

Ever since I got my Hunter rainboots for our trip to Paris/London last Christmas, I've been itching for a chance to wear them again back home, in the land of summer droughts.

When I heard that Thursday's forecast called for rain, I didn't think twice before slipping on the glossy black boots I longed for:

Jacket- Forever21
Scarf- Forever21
Jeans- GAP "Always Skinny"
Tank- Lululemon
Shirt- Gilly Hicks
Boots- Hunter Wellies (buy them here)

xoxo,

Veronika.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-21T19:19:00.000-06:00

xoxo,

Veronika.

Black, White & Gold Part Deux

2011-12-20T18:34:00.000-06:00

Sometimes, one outfit can inspire another. That was the case with today's outfit, a fraternal twin to yesterday's ensemble. I even opted to wear the same skirt (gasp!) two days in a row (which made me realize I need to shop for another black pencil skirt that's made of a heavier fabric).

Here's black, white and gold, part deux:

Top- J.Crew perfect gingham shirt
Skirt- Ann Taylor
Shoes- Kate Spade
Belt- J.Crew
Necklaces- Stella & Dot (buy them here and here)

xoxo,

Veronika.

OOTD: Black, White & Gold

2011-12-19T18:49:00.001-06:00

It's the Monday before Christmas and going to work is admittedly not so fun with the impending holiday on my mind. In my attempt to remedy this, I've tried to start this week right by dressing nicely and adding fun accessories to my outfits.

Though I wore this top in a post last week, I decided to opt for a black and white ensemble this time, with touches of gold.

What do you think?

Top- LOFT
Skirt- Ann Taylor
Tights- Target
Shoes- Kate Spade
Belt- J. Crew
Necklace- Stella & Dot (buy it here)

Bracelet- Banana Republic
Watch- Michael Kors

Wishing everyone a wonderful week---I'm trying to catch up on blogging over the holidays to bring you all lots of new posts in 2012!

xoxo,

Veronika.

*My photos were edited using Windows Live Gallery. Love love love this program!

Saadia Organics 100% Argan Oil Gift Basket Giveaway WINNER!

2011-12-18T18:38:00.000-06:00

I am so excited to annouce the winner of the Saadia Organics gift basket! Here's how I picked the winner:

Counted all entries to come to the final number of 246 (took me a good hour, LOL!)
Eliminated all invalid entries in the process of counting (unfortunately, if your entry did not have an email address, it was disqualified)
Used random.org to generate a number between 1 and 246

The winning number was comment 161

Laura---congratulations! I will email you at the email you left right now!

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Stella & Dot Jewels & My Jewelry Collection

2011-12-18T16:19:00.006-06:00

I sure felt like the luckiest gal in all the land this week when I recieved a lovely package from Katie, a Stella & Dot stylist.

I had never purchased Stella & Dot jewelry before but I had always thought it was super cute. I just never bit the bullet because I wasn't sure about the quality---but now that I have some pieces, I am confident that I will order many more because I am so impressed with the overall style, look and quality of the pieces.

First of all, HOW CUTE is the packaging? That alone made me feel pretty darn happy.

And here are some of the lovely pieces Katie sent to me:

Gold la coco chain necklace

Ever after (heart) necklace

La coco gold pearl strand

Rose gold eternity band

(I wear this everyday now!)

Stella & Dot jewelry roll

I also filmed a jewelry collection video this weekend that you can view here. It includes these pretty Stella & Dot pieces and some of my other favorite jewels.

You can visit Katie's Stella & Dot Shop to check out all of these gorgeus pieces---and many more! Katie has also been generous enough to work with me on a Stella & Dot giveaway---so please look out for that soon!

Do you own Stella & Dot jewelry? Let me know what your favorite pieces are in the comments below. Can't wait to style these with some of my daily outfits!
xoxo,

Veronika.

PS- I used Windows Live Photo Gallery to edit these photos which is why they look so awesome (believe me it's not my photography skills!) The software has the capability to edit the color and exposure of your photos with the click of your mouse. I am part of the Windows Champion program where I'm testing out the Windows 7 software and I can't rave enough about the awesomeness of this program!

FTC disclaimer: The Stella & Dot jewelry was sent to me for consideration. I absolutely love it and these are my honest opinions about the pieces. The rest of the jewlery shown (in my YouTube video and some of the photos in this post) was purchased with my own money or given to me as a gift from my husband and/or family members, as indicated in this video.

OOTD: Festive in Hot Pink

2011-12-14T20:46:00.000-06:00

I wanted to be a bit festive today because I had a post-work holiday bash with my boot camp friends...and really, what's more festive than hot pink?

Top- Club Monaco (old)
Skirt- J.Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt
Tights- Target
Scarf- Forever21
Shoes- Kate Spade
Belt- J.Crew (old)

Wishing everyone a happy Wednesday...doesn't it feel like these last weeks before Christmas have just blown by?

xoxo,

Veronika.

OOTD: Dots & Lines

2011-12-13T19:12:00.001-06:00

Did y'all ever think it would happen? Outfit photos! With a tripod! and a remote! My lovely husband purchased a tripod for me for Christmas and I started using it this week.

Two years into blogging and I'm finally getting "advanced." For those wondering, I am using my Canon Rebel T2i on a 7ft tripod using a Canon RC-6 Wireless Remote.

Things I learned:

You have to actually clean before taking photos so your Christmas presents and husband's running shoes aren't in the photo.
If you don't have natural sunlight streaming in at 8 o'clock in the morning, you'll be spending a good 30 minutes lightening your photos.

Here is today's outfit. I'm pairing my new LOFT striped shirt with my beloved J.Crew No.2 Pencil Skirt.

Top- LOFT (Petite Stripe Boatneck Tee)
Skirt- J. Crew
Belt- J.Crew (NLA)
Necklace (reginapierallini.com)
Shoes- Kate Spade
Tights- Walmart
Bag- Tory Burch Reva clutch

xoxo,

Veronika.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas (Or Not So Much)

2011-12-12T20:29:00.000-06:00

This holiday season started off with the best of intentions, it really did. I was so excited to put up our tree and marvel at its Christmas awesomeness. Unfortunately, life got so busy that I just didn’t have the energy this year. It feels like a huge fail, but not putting up my tree didn’t keep me from adding little holiday touches to our home.

You may have seen my last post where I shared some holiday décor updates---and here I’ll share a few more (and some other random photos).

Pretty Snowglobe from West Elm on our kitchen island

Gift tags from West Elm used to decorate our wine rack
(which is empty, because below it is a wine fridge, which is much better than a holder)

Pretty red metallic wrapping paper with black glittery Christmas trees (from Target)

Our living room at night

Prints by Jen Ramos (madebygirl.com) that I finally framed.
I am ordering way more of these. Love love love them!

We also have some lights out on our balcony but we accidentally got "yellow white" lights and "blue white" lights so they are all intermingled in an odd fashion.

I also mentioned this in my last video---but look what's all set up and ready to go?

Major apologies to all of my readers for the lack of posts lately. I am trying to ramp them up, but some evenings it's hard because we have our workout until 7:30 and then by the time we get home and eat, there's not much time left in my evening (I like to be in bed by 10 p.m. at the latest).

Here's to more blogging in the new year!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Haul: Lululemon, West Elm, VS Makeup, Sephora, MadeByGirl.com, etc

2011-12-11T16:55:00.002-06:00

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! I was so productive on Saturday. I woke up and spent the entire morning cleaning like crazy.

I reorganized my closet, did five loads of laundry, dusted and cleaned our hardwoods and cleaned all of our cabinets (H helped too, which was awesome.)

Then,we went to finish some Christmas shopping and I came home and wrapped some of our gifts. We've decided not to go too crazy this year because we both would like to take a trip to London this summer, so that is going to be our big present to eachother. I think it's fun to make that a Christmas gift because it's something to look forward to!

Here is the video that shows the items I got and I've also included product links below!

LINK TO VIDEO

LULULEMON:Lululemon cool racerback (gray and black stripes)Lululemon cross my heart bra (in "Paris Pink")

MADE BY GIRL:

Made by Girl calling cards (pink chevron print)

Made by Girl posters
Jen Ramos Blog: http://madebygirl.blogspot.com/

WEST ELM:

stripe shower curtain

chevron bath mat

VS MAKEUP:

Luminous mineral blush duo (in the color "surrender")Erin Heatherton VS Makeup video

LOFT:

Petite Stripe Boatneck Tee

TAZORAC:

Tazorac Topical Cream
(*please see your dermatologist as this is a prescription---

and to see if thi product is right for YOU and your skin)
***You should NOT use Tazorac if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant***

TWEEZERMAN: Slant Tweezers

xoxo,

Veronika.

PS: Here is a list of some of the videos I'd like to film soon! Please leave your suggestions in the comments below:

Products I regret buying
How to organize your closet/closet tour
How to organize your jewelry/jewelry collection
Skin update/skin conditions & how I deal with them
How to apply concealer/powder (my routine)
Fashion book reviews
My favorite gadgets
Favorite hair products/hair routine video

How I Organize & Store My Makeup

2011-12-08T20:49:00.000-06:00

I filmed this video over the weekend and I realized I never posted it on my blog and since not everyone subscribes to my YouTube channel, I thought I'd post the link here.

These are the trays I use to organize my makeup drawer. They are from The Container Store and they're fairly inexpensive.

I feel fortunate to have a big drawer like this in our new home because in our last home, I had so little space (two really skinny drawers). However, these come in all sizes so no matter what size your drawers are, these can work. They also sell deeper ones that are ideal for cabinets and great to hold makeup brushes.

And here is my video where you can see exactly how my makeup is organized and each storage container separately.

LINK TO VIDEO- CLICK HERE

How do you organize YOUR makeup? leave me a comment below! Share your tips in the comments below!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Christmas Decor So Far...

2011-12-05T18:09:00.001-06:00

I had some time this past weekend to start my Christmas decorating. I am still not 100% sure if I'm going to put up my tree this year. I have no idea where half of my decorations are after the move. I may do a mini tree. Until then, I'm perfectly happy to just have some holiday-themed decor in the house.

Here are some snapshots of my holiday decor so far:

Holiday Wreath (on our front door)

I added white peonies to my coffee table hydrangea arrangement

Glass canister from Crate & Barrel with silver pine cones, faux snow and glitter feather

Shimmery star on my half bath door knob

Christmas tree ornaments and sparkly stars in my Crate & Barrel cake holder

Silver pine cones on my dining table

Satin ribbon tied in a bow with an ornament on our dining chairs

How are you decorating for the holidays this year?

xoxo,

Veronika.

PS- DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY SAADIA ORGANICS ARGAN OIL GIVEAWAY HERE!

Giveaway: Saadia Organics 100% Argan Oil

2011-12-04T21:06:00.001-06:00

In the spirit of the holidays, I have a wonderful giveaway today from Saadia Organics. I was contacted by the lovely Joèl (who, by the way, is awesome) and she introduced me to their 100% Argan oil product by sending me a bottle to try.

The only other Argan oil product I've ever used is the Moroccanoil, but that's only for your hair so I was intrigued to try a pure Argan oil product that could be used on your hair and your skin.

I asked Joèl what kinds of ways you could use the Argan oil and she basically said for anything and everywhere. I have found this to be very true! It's like in the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding where the dad uses Windex to treat every ailment (not recommended, btw.)

Though I was weary of using the Argan oil on my skin because it's so sensitive, I've never had any issues with breakouts on my skin. In fact, it has helped speed the healing of a pimple once it dried out!

So far my favorite ways to use it are as a deep conditioning treatment on my hair (I apply it to my ends every Sunday and it stays in all night), on my fine lines on my forehead and I also use it to treat flaky areas on my skin. I've also applied it to my cuticles overnight :) It's truly an all-purpose oil and it's super-concentrated so you just have to use a tiny bit (especially for dry areas on your face and body).

Something that's really unique about this product is that it's pure Argan oil. That's why is has its natural nutty smell. Joèl told me that companies can say the product has Argan oil even if there's just a teeny tiny percentage of it in the product. I like that the Saadia Organics product is all Argan oil with no fillers. That means less risk that your skin will be irritated and more benefit because the product is so concentrated, as I previously mentioned.

I'm enjoying the Saadia Organics Argan oil so much and I am delighted to share with you this giveaway for a basket full of awesome Saadia products! Thank you to Saadia Organics for this incredibly generous giveaway!

Here are the contents of the giveaway basket:

50 ml bottle of Saadia Organics 100% Argan Oil (for whatever one's heart desires, www.saadiaorganics.com has lots of suggestions)
1 kessa (for exfoliating)
1 packet of beldi/savon noir marocain/black Moroccan soap (again, for exfoliating)
2 Moroccan tea glasses (so pretty!)
A box of Moroccan mint tea (add 1 pound of sugar to each pot for the most authentic experience ;)

FIVE WAYS TO WIN:

Here are all of the ways you can enter. Please let me know all of the ways you've entered so that I can count each entry (for example if you entered 3 times say "I likes Saadia on Facebook, followed on Twitter and followed the Saadia blog") then I can count that as three entries. PLEASE REMEMBER TO LEAVE A VALID EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR ENTRY SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN (entries without a valid email address will be disqualified from the giveaway).

Entry Option 1:Follow Saadia Organics on Twitter
@saadia_organics
@SaadiaOrganics

Entry Option 2: "Like" Saddia Organics on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/SaadiaOrganics

Entry Option 3: Follow/Subscribe the Saadia Organics blogs
http://www.saadiaorganics.com/feed/
http://saadiaorganics.blogspot.com/

With all of these options, you may enter up to five times (please put all of your entries into ONE comment.)

Wishing everyone the best of luck! I will keep this contest open until Sunday, December 11th! I will announce the winner using random.org.

xoxo,

Veronika.

Black Friday Haul 2011

2011-12-03T12:58:00.001-06:00

I was so excited to finally film my Black Friday haul video! Hope you enjoy my finds :) I included links to some of the items I purchased in the downbar of the YouTube video.

Black Friday Haul 2011

Thanks for watching!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Five Tips on How to Look Polished/Put Together (90% of the Time)

2011-11-30T20:34:00.002-06:00

Recently, I got a formspring question from one of my readers:

How do you have the energy to get yourself ready and dressed everyday so nicely? I want to be that girl that always looks put together but then I get lazy or I think eh I'm not seeing anyone important today I'll look generic. Any tips?

I thought this question would be a good one to lead into a post about simple things you can do to make looking polished easy peasy (or doable, at least).

First things first--- I spend the time to get ready for the day because it makes me feel good. It's amazing what a little makeup, styled hair and a nice outfit can do for your self confidence. I believe you can be a better wife, friend, co-worker, employee, etc. when you feel your absolute best. Looks are just a small part of this, of course---but when you invest in yourself, my belief is that you can never lose. Of course, confidence doesn't just come because of what's on the outside---but how you look on the outside can impact how you feel on the inside.

I like to look polished for my work week and on weekends, I tend to run all over town doing errands so I like to look put-together then, too.

Don't get me wrong---there are times where I leave the house sans-makeup (morning workouts, Starbucks runs, etc) or if I know I'll be cleaning the house all day or doing something else labor-intensive like painting---then, I don't even bother. But most of the time, I do make the effort because for me, it's worth it to feel good about myself.

Here are my tips on how to look put together/polished---and more importantly, how to create a routine that is doable for you and that you enjoy---it will motivate you want to spend time "getting ready."

Make your closet a functional space---seriously---you need to clean your closet like an episode of Hoarders. That denim mini skirt you wore in college (you know which one I'm talking about!) donate it! That too-short dress you'll never wear again---give it to your friend's younger sister.

(a work in progress)

Listen, I get it, we are all attached to our stuff---but believe it or not---getting rid of it will set you free! How can you possibly put outfits together when you have all this stuff all up in your space. Think of it as valuable real estate---does an item really deserve to take up space in your closet if you never wear it? Or if it reminds you that you'll never be that size again (ie: refer to the denim mini skirt from college).

Kendi from Kendi Everyday has a great closet purge post so I'll send you over there to read it (it's a several part series---a total must-read!)

After you've purged, organize your closet. I like to put similar items together and group them by color from light to dark---so all of my sleeveless tops go in a row---from white to black. That way, when I pick the skirt I'm wearing I can immediately check out all the tops I have that may work with it and I also can find a specific color very easily.

I have to admit I'm not a huge fan of drawers. I don't think they allow you to see what you have. I put socks, workout clothes, bathing suits and underwear in my dresser, but everything else is hung or folded in my closet. Allow yourself to really see the "big picture" of your wardrobe.

Look to blogs for inspiration---don't know what you like? Can't figure out what to wear? Don't know how to pair items together? Look no further than fashion bloggers. There are so many stylish gals out there who can lead you in the right direction. I keep an entire folder on my computer of outfits I love that other bloggers have worn. There are too many to name, but some of my favorites include The Chloe Conspiracy, The Blonde Salad, Anna Saccone, Running on Happiness, Kendi Everyday, 9 to 5 Chic, The Daybook, Saltwater Dreams, Saucy Glossie, Nicole's Guide to Style, Cupcakes and Cashmere, Mariannan, Atlantic-Pacific and A Co. Est. 1984 (and many many many more).

When I see a beautifully styled outfit on a blog---it inspires me to try a new trend, add to my closet or to try and create a similar look with pieces I own. There is nothing shameful about trying to replicate a look someone else has styled---it's the biggest form of flattery! I think a lot of bloggers give their readers the opportunity to test out looks they never thought they'd have the confidence to pull off.

Atlantic-Pacific

The Daybook

Kendi Everyday

Make it routine---How do I make the time to style my hair and do my makeup everyday? Because I have a very simple and (believe it or not) quick routine. I can be showered, have my hair styled, my makeup done and get dressed in an hour to an hour and 15 minutes. On days I wash my hair (Mondays and Thursdays---read more about my hair washing routine here) I wake up at 6:47 (don't ask) and I'm out of the house by 8 or 8:10 a.m. On days I don't wash my hair I wake up at 7:11 (again, don't ask, I have this "prime numbers" OCD) and I am out of the house by 8 or 8:10.

(some good ol' second-day hair!)

I do my makeup the exact same way every day. Because of this, I have it all down to a very easy and non time consuming routine. I recommend that every woman experiment with different looks---then, decide which one you like best and is the most doable for day-to-day and do that look 90% of the time. Some people may find that boring---I think it saves time and I love the idea of having a signature look. It's kind of like Kate Middleton---sure, she may change out her eyeliner color and blush every once in awhile---but she knows what works for her and she looks classic and polished because she sticks with what works. I like to experiment more with makeup looks for the evening---but for daytime---stick with a routine (watch my daily eye makeup routine and bronzer and blush application videos here.)

The same goes with my hair---I have a washing and styling routine. On days I wash my hair, I blow it out and set it in Velcro rollers. The next 2 days, I'll curl it. Then, I wash it again and it starts all over. Establish a routine and set yourself free from figuring out how you want your makeup and hair to look. This doesn't mean you can't ever stray from your routine---of course you can---but sticking to your routine 90% of the time will save you the frustration.

Don't put too much pressure on yourself---we all have days where we want to throw on black dress pants and a cardigan and that's 100% fine. You don't have to look like you stepped out of a J.Crew catalog 5 days a week. I too save my best outfits for days I know I have meetings or a special event. Getting dressed is supposed to be a somewhat fun and creative process---putting pressure on yourself to be stylish 24/7 makes the process lose its fun. On days where I'm feeling tired or don't have the desire to be creative, I go to my classic pieces that always make me feel good. This includes items that don't need a lot of styling or accessories (like the striped Forever21 dress I wore recently or my black, full-skirted Club Monaco dress).

Be aware of the pieces you have in your closet that always make you feel good and go to them when you aren't in the mood to layer and mix and match items. I also tend to wear a lot of black when I'm not feeling particularly inspired. Black is classic and when items fit well, you can't go wrong.

Think about how your efforts will make YOU feel---this goes back to my original point about confidence. I know this sounds completely cheesy, but when I have a great hair day or I've spent the time to paint my nails or apply self tanner---the little things---I feel good about myself. Don't think about how tedious these rituals seem or feel that you HAVE TO do them. You'll never enjoy a makeup routine or hair styling regimen that you have to force yourself through everyday. It's like doing a workout you hate because you think you have to. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do. You have to create a routine that works for your lifestyle and that makes you feel good. If you feel like spending 15 minutes on your makeup is a waste of time---practice a routine you can do in five. When I spend the time, it makes me feel good and in turn, I feel I have a better day because of it. Remind yourself how your efforts make you feel---after all, you'd never continue a hobby or participate in a workout class you felt gave you nothing back, right?

I hope this post was helpful and I would love to read your comments about your routines and how they make you feel! Post below if you have additional tips on how to simplify the process of being "put together."

xoxo,

Veronika.

OOTD: Neon Azalea & Polka Dots!

2011-11-29T21:04:00.000-06:00

OMG! It's an outfit of the day post! These are rare these days, because, let's be honest, I've been re-wearing like five outfits over and over.

I finally got back into the excitement of daily dressing and was delighted to style my new J.Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt (in the color "Neon Azalea")

I paired it with one of my Black Friday finds (haul video to be posted this weekend). It's a nude blouse with white polka dots from Express. I have to say, I've gone polka-dot crazy this season. Like completely sucked in by anything with polka dots. Love this trend!

Top- Express (buy it here)
Skirt- J.Crew (buy it here)

Belt- J.Crew (NLA)
Tights- Merona @ Target
Shoes- Kate Spade

xoxo,

Veronika.

PS- watching the VS fashion show as I click publish on this post! Who's watching with me!?

How to Shop (For Less!)

2011-11-27T11:52:00.002-06:00

When I get home from a shopping trip, I often quip to my husband "look how much money I saved!" while excitedly flapping my shopping bags in the air.

It's usually met with an eye roll, but the hubs does oftentimes congratulate me on my shopping prowess. He even saves coupons for me when he sees them in the mail! True love!

Obviously, I love to shop, that's a total given. But what I love just as much is getting a great deal---in fact, it makes shopping even more fun for me.

Here are my best tips and tricks for saving while you shop:

Coupons are a gal's best friend. If you're ever making a purchase in a store and they ask you to enter your email address and phone number into their system, do it! Not only will they send you coupons, but the more you shop, the more they send. I constantly get "$10 off a bra" and "free panty" coupons from Victoria's Secret. I don't remember the last time I paid full price for a bra there. Express also has a ton of coupons like "Take $25 off a $75 purchase." I keep all of my coupons in my purse at all times so that there's no excuse not to use them.

Check your inbox. Visit your favorite retailer's websites and sign up for their e-newsletters. Yes, you'll get a lot of emails, but it's worth it for the savings. I delete 80% of the ones I get, but the other 20% often have printable coupons, updates about new items that have been added to the sale section and special promotions. Remember that some coupons don't need to be printed out and can be shown at the register on your mobile device to get your discount---read the fine print to be sure. Another thing to look out for---a lot of stores seem to be following the trend of hosting "happy hour" sales. Basically it's a post-work event where they offer a great discount until the store closes on either all or select merchandise. Worth it if you've had your eye on something and don't have post-work plans.

It's all about timing. I like to shop for deals on holiday weekends. Why? Because a lot of stores (including outlets) will have mega sales (like 40-50% off the entire store). The crowds may be larger and the lines may be longer, but the savings can't be beat. A ton of stores have these kinds of sales on random weekends too (think Ann Taylor, LOFT, Banana Republic, Gilly Hicks, GAP etc). Keep up with your emails and you will know when these sales are taking place and can plan your shopping trips accordingly. I've noticed that if Banana Republic runs a sale one weekend offering 30% off the entire store, in the next couple of weeks they will offer 40% off so I usually wait for the 40% sale because I know it's coming.

Google for promo codes. I never (repeat, never) buy anything online before Googling "name of retailer + promo code." I often use the website retailmenot.com to find codes for anything I am buying online. I have scored 20% off codes, free shipping codes, etc all just because I used Google prior to clicking the "process order" button. Never ever buy anything online before first checking for promo codes. You never know how much you'll save.

Bookmark this site. Many of you gals already know her---Chloe from the blog The Chloe Conspiracy also has a blog called "See Chloe Shop" where she lists the daily deals from all of the popular retailers. Bookmark or follow her blog now and check daily for retailers who are running promotions. The best part? Not only does Chloe list the sales---she also provides links to her favorite items on the site---like getting advice from a professional stylist! It's a must read!

It's all about friends and family (as in, sales). Sephora has a "Friends & Family" sale once a year (usually October/November) which offers 20% off of everything in the store. Sephora never has sales so this is the one time a year where you can really score. Saks Fifth Avenue and other higher-end retailers also hold these sales once yearly so it's worth it to keep these sales on your calendar to save, big time. Ulta also runs a F&F sale around the same time Sephora does---but watch out because it doesn't include fragrance whereas Sephora's sale does. Do your research and check for exclusions so you know which retailer to order which products from.

Monitor for sales. Recently I learned of a website called salemarked.com. How did I not know about this sooner? It's like the Priceline of online shopping and oh-so-simple to use. While you're shopping online, you just click the Salemarked bookmarklet OR copy and paste the product URL into your Salemarked dashboard and then enter how much you'd pay for said product. Salemarked will track the price, and when it drops to or below your desired price, it will immediately email you. How amazing is that?

Designer for less. I am a member on designer discount sites like RueLaLa, MyHabit, OneKingsLane, Ideeli, GiltGroup, etc. These sites offer designer goods at 50-90% off retail. I have purchased a Cynthia Vincent dress that was selling on other sites for $350 for $75. I have to admit that I don't often find things I want to purchase on these sites, but it's worthwhile to at least look at what's available because you may find something really incredible.

Wait it out. If I find something cute at a pricier store like J. Crew, I'll often wait a couple of weeks for the item to go on sale or for them to run a promo codes (they'll often do a 25% off of a $150 purchase code). The exception to this is if I feel something will sell out or if it's the last item available in my size. Sometimes, good things are worth the wait!

Check Amazon. Amazon has lower prices on a lot of items, especially books! I order 90% of my books on amazon because the prices can't be beat. Amazon is also great for hard to find products (like my La Roche Posay skincare faves).

Do you have any other tips or shopping secrets? Post them in the comments below! Thank you for reading :)

xoxo,

Veronika.

PS---another tip I thought of after I posted this: KEEP TAGS ON YOUR CLOTHES. I don't take the tag off until I wear something I purchased. This makes it easier to return things (I also keep all of my receipts). Part of shopping smarter is acknowledging when you purchased something that you didn't really love or that doesn't work with the rest of your clothes. Make sure to know the store's return policies so you can take back items that just didn't work for you. I have done it many times and don't feel any regret at all. I'd rather have items in my closet that get a lot of wear than items that sit there with tags on.

Holiday Shopping: Gifts for Men!

2011-11-26T17:03:00.003-06:00

Alright, I'll admit it. I am the worst at picking out gifts for men. The main reason is that my H never really wants things. He likes to get gadgets, like any dude (big flat screen TVs, iPad, etc) but as far as other things...he could go a year without buying new clothes and be perfectly happy (not that I'd allow that!)

I'm trying to fulfill a promise here that I'd post a men's gift guide so I asked my H's stylish friend Jeff if he would help me out and tell me what the cool gifts are these days.

Check out his picks below! I(I've also added some of my favorite stores for men at the bottom of this post!)

H&M Mouton Collar Jacket

Würkin Stiffs Power Stays™ (3-Pack)

Dabo Washed Leather Wingtips

Levi's Tailored Vest

Levi's Rock and Roll Leather Jacket

Levi's Motto Wallet

GAP Modern Puffer Vest

Carrera Eyewear 'Gipsy' Aviator Sunglasses

Longboard-Skateboard with Land Paddle

Fly Fishing Rod

Chor Faux Leather Jacket with Knit Hood

Hope this post gives you some ideas! Other stores I LOVE for men's shopping are:

Club Monaco
Express (for dress shirts)
Nordstrom- my H loves getting his TOMS there (they have great shirts and ties too!)
Lacoste
Apple (iPads, etc!)
J.Crew
The Nike Store
Lululemon (H loves their men's lounge pants!)
Diesel (H loves their denim)

xoxo,

Veronika.

OOTD: That Striped Dress

2011-11-21T20:35:00.000-06:00

I never thought I'd say this (ever) but I wish it was cold. I mean not "snowstorm minus 30 with a windchill making it feel like minus 40 cold, but cold.)

I want to wear tights, boots, leg warmers, coats, hats and mittens. I'm still going to the office bare-legged, only dreaming of the days I can break out my tights and layer more. The last two weekends were so warm I wore shorts out to do errands. Yes, shorts.

My outfit shots are really crappy today, but I wanted to share them anyway since I haven't been posting them a lot as of late and because I'm wearing the new dress that I got at Forever21 over the weekend (you can see it in my latest haul video)

Dress- Forever21
Belt- J. Crew
Pumps- Kate Spade
Necklace- Overstock.com

I also want to give a quick hair update. I had it colored and cut the weekend before last and it was just a little to light for my liking so I went back in and had more low lights put in. This was the first time I've ever gone for an adjustment with my current stylist so it was no biggie.

Here's what it looks like now
(it actually looks a lot lighter in this pic than IRL---
and it looks darker in my outfit photos than IRL)

A lot of people ask me to see a picture of the BACK of my hair---
this is the back, in horrible lighting that made it look a lot lighter than it was---
this was from before I had the low lights added:

I promise it's my horrible bathroom lighting, it was not THAT blonde.
I just wanted to share this so you could see how my layers are cut.

Here it is how I usually have it colored:

A little bit darker. I think I just had some highlight overload at my last appointment and I like it much better now that there are more low lights. I'll try to take some updated photos of the color over the holidays so you can see a truer-to-life photo. I also plan to get rid of some of the highlights at the top of my hair the next time I go in.

And before I go...I just had to share this:

My snugglebugs.

xoxo,

Veronika.

Weekend Shopping: Sephora, J. Crew, Forever 21

2011-11-20T13:18:00.001-06:00

Happy Sunday everyone! I did a little shopping this week and wanted to share my purchases:

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(Link to video)

I couldn't find a lot of the things I bought online, but here are the links to the ones I could find:

Serge Normant Dry Shampoo

Philosophy Gingerbread Man Scrub

J.Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt

xoxo,

Veronika.

Wish List & Holiday Gift Ideas

2011-11-19T23:23:00.000-06:00

OMG y'all, I think this post took me like an hour and a half to compile! I had several requests to create a holiday wish list/shopping ideas post! It was really fun to put this together. These could be items to add to your own list or something you might purchase for a friend or family member.

Let's get started:

Echo Design Super Chunky Neck Ring ($49.50)

Kate Spade Swiss Dot Tights ($28.00)

J. Crew Hearthstone snood ($48.00)

Lululemon Wunder Under Crop ($78---love them in the
herringbone but can't find it online)

Lululemon Cool Racerback Tank ($42.00----love this in heathered smoky rose)

Madewell Flowerlace Top ($98.00)

Madewell striped v-neck pocket tee ($28.00---love this in mulberry!)

J. Crew Blythe blouse in silk ($98.00---such gorgeous colors!)

J. Crew Heart me sweater ($88.00---love all three colors!)

TOMS Pink Pop Herringbone ($54.00)

Victoria's Secret Modal Kimono Robe ($48.00)

Paintings by Jen Ramos at Made by Girl (dying for one of these!

photo from: alwaysswell.blogspot.com)

Victoria's Secret the Dreamer Flannel Pijama ($49.50)

Victoria's Secret PINK Thermal PJ set ($49.50 I love leggings for sleeping!)

Gilly Hicks Violet Hill sleep pants ($34.50---I already have a pair and love them so much I want more! perfect for around the house and sleeping)

Gilly Hicks Patonga Tee (on sale for $17.15---love the wide stripes on this!)

Gilly Hicks Marine Parade Tank (on sale for $20.65---love this in dark gray and navy!)

SMASHBOX Snap You're Fab Lip Gloss Set ($30.00---great color variety and a lovely price!)

Sephora by OPI Glimmer Wonderland Eighteen Piece Mini Nail Colour Set ($48.00)

Stila Lip Glaze Set ($25---considering just one is about $22, this is a huge steal!)

West Elm Alphabet Mug (on sale for $4.00! spell out "LOVE"

or give someone their monogram initals in mugs!)

Voluspa Candle ($16.00---one word- YUM!)

West Elm Monogram Shop (prices vary---I love the idea of having something

especially monogramed as a gift!)

Sonicare Toothbrush (prices vary depending on model---

y'all these are WAY worth it and make such a great gift---

brushing will never feel the same!)

Gift Card Ideas:- Favorite stores

- Favorite restaurants

- iTunes/books

-Spa services

-Movie theater

What's on YOUR holiday wish list? Leave me a comment below!
xoxo,

Veronika.

Knowing What to Ignore

2011-11-16T20:44:00.001-06:00

Do you spend your life worrying what people think about you and dwelling on negative comments you've received?

I have been wanting to write this post for a very long time and have just now had a chance to sit down and do it. About six months ago, I was having a tough time with many aspects of my life and after a particularly grueling vent session with my friend, she gave me something that changed my life and how I think about negativity and criticism.

She gave me a CD, with a sermon by Joel Osteen called "Know What to Ignore." I remember putting it on in my car the moment she handed it to me and crying all the way home as I listened to it. Then I listened to it again...and again and again. It's amazing how a close friend sometimes knows exactly what you need to hear. That sermon changed me and I want to share it with you because it impacted my life so greatly.

I know some people aren't religious so I'm taking out most of the biblical/scripture references from this sermon and extracting the amazing advice from it in hopes that it will help you too.

(this post is a little serious, so I thought this was a nice contrast)

Here are my favorite messages and quotes that I took from the sermon (I had to pause it like 100 times to write all of these down!) I tried to directly quote but in some cases I've paraphrased. Basically, the point of the sermon is to learn what to ignore so that you can live your life to the fullest and not waste your valuable time engaging in battles that don't matter or trying to win people over who will never be for you.

On fighting battles that don't matter:

If you get in there and fight that battle---all you're doing is wasting your valuable time and energy that you should be using to pursue your dreams
You can let [people's comments or actions] upset you or you can dismiss it and say "I don't have to have their approval, I have almighty God's approval"
It's very freeing when you realize you don't have to fight every battle, pay every person back or win over all of your critics---you can ignore it and live life happy---we could enjoy life more if we could learn what to ignore.

On dealing with critics:

I've learned this principle--I don't waste my time engaging in battles that don't matter---I've learned the critics can't keep you from your destiny---what they say about you doesn't define who you are---what someone does or doesn't give you doesn't determine your value.
Don't waste your valuable time trying to win over your critics---you have to accept the fact that some people are never going to celebrate you or be for you. But don't worry----God has already lined up the right people that will celebrate you, cheer you on and help you fulfill your destiny.
Some people, no matter what you do, are never going to be for you. Even if you changed and met all their demands and did everything they asked they would still find something that you're doing wrong. You could go buy them a brand new Cadillac and hand them the car keys and they'll say they wanted a Lexus. They'll overlook the good and find some kind of fault.
If someone tries to make you look bad---stay on the high road---the more they talk, the more God will bless you.
When people belittle you, they are being little--- small minded people won't celebrate you---small minded people will be jealous and gossip and try to make you look bad---don't ever fight battles with small minded people.
You have to know that not everyone is not going to be for you, but you shouldn't waste your time trying to convince them
There is an anointing on your life to be YOU---when you allow people to squeeze you into their mold and you bow down to their pressures and you try to please all of your critics, it takes away your power, it takes away your uniqueness and it lessens God's favor on your life.
If you're' going to do anything great in life, there will be critics, there will be opposition and people that judge you---I've heard it said "if you get kicked in the rear, it's because you're out at front."
Tell yourself: "I will not give up because someone's talking about me. I will not get discouraged if people don't celebrate me."
Life is too short to be upset because someone's talking about you.
We don't have time to sit around and think about all of the people that don't like us---everyday is a gift---our time is much too valuable to try to figure out how we can please everybody or pay someone back. Go out during the day, be your best and let the chips fall where they may.
Quit dwelling on the negative things people have said about you---all that's going to do is poison you and you'll become defensive. You have to be so secure in who God made you to be that those comments bounce off of you like water on a duck's back.
Jesus didn't respond to his critics---he paid them no word. He didn't try to explain himself, he just stayed focused and ran his race.

On Distractions:

The whole key is to not get distracted---it's easy to try to fight every battle or pay every person back---you have to ask yourself, if you get involved and you do win the battle---what is the prize? Is it going to advance you further? Or is it just a distraction that is going to steal your time and energy. The energy we spend fighting battles that don't matter is energy we don't have to pursue or God-given dreams and goals.
When someone is pestering you---don't be a crow---be an eagle, rise above it, don't let it bother you---rise higher.
The more success you have, the more opportunities there will be for distraction---here's why the higher you go, the more haters will come out---if you stretch beyond the norm, the naysayers and critics will come out of the woodwork and judge you and make negative comments. Say "I will not be distracted, I will not be drawn into a battle that doesn't matter, I will not let the poison of the critics get on the inside."
Ignore their comments, ignore their critical spirits, ignore the naysayers, they don't control your destiny, God does---they are distractions to try and keep you from God's best.

On getting your focus back:

People tell me "well Joel if he just would stop talking about me I wouldn't be so stressed!" Can I give you a news flash? If he stops talking, someone else will start talking---someone's always talking about us, we just don't realize it----don't let it bother you---after all God knows what they're saying.
Spend your energy being the best that you can be and God will send the right people down your path that do celebrate you
If you stay focused on what they're saying about you---before long that poison will get on the inside and you'll end up fighting a battle you were never supposed to fight.
Some of you need to break free---you're not anointed to keep everyone happy, you're anointed to run your race.

On Joel's personal experiences:

My personality type is to want everyone to like me---I used to do everything I could to convince people that I really am nice and that you really should be my friend...but one day I realized that was keeping me from rising higher---I spent all of my time and energy trying to win people over---some of them which were never going to be for me. I had to accept the fact that not everyone is going to like me and not everyone is going to understand me.
I'm all for treating every person with respect and being kind and considerate but don't waste your time and energy trying to win people over that will never be for you--- don't waste one ounce of your valuable energy trying to convince them to like you.
I just ran my race with focus, with purpose, with integrity and I saw more of God's favor on my life

I know this post is very long but I wanted to post these words of encouragement because they have helped me so tremendously. Obviously the sermon is much more powerful if you actually listen to it, but this is a basic outline of it. There's a lot of repetition here---but sometimes, you need to hear something more than once for it to really resonate.

I must admit, I did used to get upset about negative comments and when people would criticize me online. I used to feel like I had to fight that battle "they don't know me! "I'm a good person!" "I wish they could meet me and then they'd see I was a nice person!" Not caring about those negative comments anymore set me free. I was able to come to a point where I could ignore or laugh at a mean comment---and sometimes, I am truly saddened by them. I feel sad sometimes at how unfulfilled someone's life must be if they spend their time and energy trolling online just to post something negative.

A lot of people have been surprised at how well I deal with criticism. I can truthfully say that this sermon is what changed everything for me. I realized it wasn't worth spending my time and emotional energy on battles that were NOT worth my time. It wasn't worth fueling the fire and responding to my critics. I accepted that not everyone will be for me and that that was OKAY. No matter how good of a person I try to be, not everyone has to like me. A year ago, I couldn't think that way. Now, I just delete rude comments without a second thought (unless they're funny, then I'll laugh before deleting it.)

I'm not saying I'm never hurt by anything anyone says about me. Sure, it's disheartening to read something online that is a lie or when someone tells me I sound like a "mindless drone" in my videos and that "I should stop making them" (true story!)...but what I'm saying is that I no longer let it affect me for more than a second. I take it in and it goes in one ear and out the other. I don't dwell on it. I don't try to change myself to make others happy. I am true to who I am and someone can either like me or not.

Thank you for reading.

xoxo,

Veronika.

PS--- what words of encouragement or quotes have inspired your life? Let me know in the comments below!

Major thanks to one of my readers who found the video of the sermon on YouTube for anyone who would like to hear the full sermon:

Disclaimer: I occasionally attend services at Lakewood Church. I am not trying to promote any religion or impose religion onto anyone. I'm simply sharing some messages that I found to be inspirational.

How to Get the Hair You Want!

2011-11-15T09:13:00.000-06:00

Have you ever left the salon with a haircut you hate or chunky highlights you don't remember asking for? Then this post is for you.

A lot of women find it difficult to communicate with their stylist. They don't know how to convey what they want or they feel their concerns aren't being listened to. They feel nervous and afraid to say anything if their hair doesn't turn out.

I made a quick video to discuss how to communicate with your stylist to get the hair you want. It's five simple steps to hair awesomeness. Hope you enjoy!

Lulu also makes his video debut in this one, so naturally, it's a must-watch!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Home Updates (or Lack Thereof)

2011-11-14T20:02:00.000-06:00

I haven't written about our new home in a long time because our house is in shambles. I went on one of my manic cleaning sprees and threw away a ton of stuff and we bought these vacuum seal bags to store things we never use like older bed sheets and pillows, etc. Basically, our house looked better the day after we moved in than it does now.

We've been so busy that we haven't had a chance to do much with the house. Our new chandelier sits in the box it came in, unassembled.

I'm hoping that the holidays will inspire me to get into the spirit of working on the house again. Here's what's on my priorities list:

Assemble and install kitchen chandelier

(buy it on Overstock!)

Buy a new coffee table (we are thinking of getting the same IKEA one we already have---but in WHITE---thoughts?) The rest of our furniture is so dark and I thought a pop of white next to the gray couch would be nice?

(this is the current coffee table and rug)

IKEA Lack Coffee Table ($39.99)

Hang the pretty mirror we got at Lowes

Figure out what I want to do with the guest room. I'm at a complete loss on this one. I need to go through my library of inspiration photos and see what direction I'd like to go in. I think it would be fun to do something bold in there, but I also love my neutrals so we'll have to see.

(current guest room)

Here are some colors/ideas/inspirations I am liking right now for a guest room:

Get a new rug for under our coffee table---we threw our old one away because it kept shedding and getting crusty white stuff on our floors. Ew. I'd like a similar off-white shag rug again because I thought it worked well with our couches.

(the rug that is gone now)

Paint our master bedroom. The dark brown accent walls are fun and all...but they're not a color I would have picked. I think I'm going to go for a light gray shade. Love the way it looks with bright white trim. I have no idea when this will happen, but I'm in no rush because I don't hate the dark brown.

What's on your home to-do list? If you have any ideas about some of my rooms, let me know in the comments below!

xoxo,

Veronika.

New Hair & Weekend Shopping: Gilly Hicks & Lululemon

2011-11-12T20:27:00.000-06:00

Today I went and had my hair cut and colored at my salon. I am so happy with the way it turned out! It feels softer and light as air!

Usually, I only get partial highlights over my natural color, but today, my stylist added lowlights into the mix because if you keep doing blonde highlights over and over without ever breaking it up, you're going to end up with blonde hair, which is no beuno for me (not going back to those days again!)

Here is how it turned out:

I also filmed a haul video today which I'll post below. I didn't get to film until 5:30 so I didn't have enough sunlight to not use artificial lighting which made all of these weird shadows! I held off on filming my other planned videos until tomorrow so I'd have better lighting.

I shopped at Gilly Hicks and Lululemon. Don't forget that through this weekend, VS PINK and VS Cotton undies are 7/$26 and Gilly Hicks undies are 7/$25.50. I was going to get some from both stores, but I honestly liked the colors/patterns at Gilly Hicks more so I just got some there. I may go back to VS and get some...we'll see!

Items Featured in my Video:

Lululemon jacket
Gilly Hicks Leggings

Gilly Hicks Sleep Shorts

xoxo,

Veronika.

PS---I tried this printed tunic/dress on at Zara and didn't get it. I thought it might look cute with tights and boots...do you like it or would you have passed too?

OOTD: Friday Plaid

2011-11-11T18:06:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday everyone! I wanted to post a quick outfit of the day before the hubs and I head out for dinner. Today was casual Friday so I paired plaid with denim.

What do you think?

Top- J. Crew
Jacket- Banana Republic
Jeans- 7FAMK "Dojo"
Shoes- Ivanka Trump
Necklace- NYLightMetals on Etsy.com

More posts to come this weekend!

xoxo,

Veronika.