New Habits.

August 18, 2014

Disney Concert Hall

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Do you find yourself ordering the same dish every time you return back to the same restaurant with the same group of friends in the same part of town?  Do you frequent your favorite vacation spots year after year, stick to similar workout regimens, and diversify your grocery list only when you need to grab ingredients for your go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe?  If the answer is yes to some or all of the above, then it’s pretty safe to say, that like me, and most of the planet, you are a creature of habit. 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with finding peace in a ritualistic behavior that provides repetitive comfort.  It’s a great feeling to know what you are getting yourself into, especially if it is something you’ve enjoyed in the past.   However, it can also be great to change up your routine from time to time because quite frankly, if you continue to see the world through one very limited lens, there’s a good chance you might miss out on all the things that are to become your new favorite habits.

Since I often stick to local eateries and similar weekend activities on my side of town, I have decided to make it a goal to explore different parts of the city.  This weekend I met up with some friends downtown (a part of LA I usually reserve only for making trips to serve jury duty).  We tried out a delicious new Italian spot called Drago Centro, but before that, we made a stop at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. 

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Home to the LA Philharmonic, this architectural masterpiece sits in the heart of the city and though I have driven past it before, I had never ventured inside.  Tall and sail-like, the structure is designed to help to block out the noise of the surrounding city, creating a peaceful oasis that overlooks nearby skyscrapers and traffic lights.  Spending most of our visit relaxing in the pristine community garden, which is open to the public, it was a simple outing made to be more exciting through my new visiting eyes.

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For my night out downtown, I wore a vintage inspired tea dress from Forever21.  The pleated skirt is girly, flattering and makes popping around the city even more enjoyable.  Sometimes I think that my wardrobe is made up of 90% dresses because they are just so hard to resist!  With the right dress, you can get away with minimal accessories and jewelry, while still managing to look complete.  I paired my everyday silver studs with a handmade red sailor knot necklace from 9th & Elm, which was just enough.  I love 9th & Elm because everything is handmade by independent designers, making them one of a kind. Oh and what’s even better? Everything is always on sale!   

So go ahead eat more greens, take a different route to work, or simply explore a new part of your city, but make a habit of changing up your routine because you never know what you’ll discover. 

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Dress: Forever21

Necklace: c/o 9th & Elm

Wedges: NineWest

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Shop this Look!

Photos taken by: Art Voskonian

Weekend Wear.

August 15, 2014.

Los Angeles, CA.

Whether your weekend plans are nonexistent, you have a list of errands that is now so long you’re beginning to think it deserves its own file cabinet, or you’ve got nothing but friends to catch up with and adventures to take part in, it’s important to break free from the confines of your typical workweek getup and treat yourself to a casual dress-down day because let’s face it, heels just don’t make sense all the time!

 Casual does not necessarily mean frumpy.   There are plenty of ways to dress up an otherwise basic look.  In college, I made the mistake of confusing the two.  I’d pair a baseball cap with an oversized tee and sweatpants and call that “casual”.  It got so bad that my best friend used to say, “Oh god you’re wearing a hat, I better watch out!” Now, as funny as it was to see me brave the outdoors dressed for bed, I have since discovered that there are wonderful ways to make this look more polished, public-worthy, and heck even cute!

This is definitely my weekend casual outfit! I paired a comfy striped Joan Vass long sleeve tee from Marshalls with a pair of my favorite denim shorts and Oxfords.  The colors balance well with the simple jewelry I’ve added and I covered my messy hair with my favorite Red Sox hat.  What does your weekend wear consist of?

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Happy weekending everyone!

 

Joan Vass Striped Long Sleeve Tee: c/o Marshalls

Dark Wash Denim Shorts: Urban Outfitters (Similar)

Oxfords: Macy's

Purse: Kate Spade

Pink & Navy Anchor Bracelet: Keil James Patrick

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Photos taken by: Courtney Locks

Just Peachy.

August 14, 2014.

West Hollywood, CA.

For the home stretch of summer, I am breaking out some of my sunniest paisley and floral printed shorts.  August is so wonderful because it’s the month that opens the door for us to begin to play with fall fashion trends, but it still encourages the wearing of the whites and brights that summer calls for.  Choosing a vibrant print, similar to the ones I have on here, as the focal point of the outfit, is easy this season because the options are endless: florals, abstract graphics, tropical, polka-dot-you name it it’s out there!

I paired these silky Forever21shorts with a woven peach tank, also from Forever21.  It adds just the right amount of texture to the outfit and I kept my accessories simple.  If you’re looking to snag some last minute steals, I have picked out some more of my favorite printed shorts below- all for under $50!

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Kelly's Under $100 Look:

Shorts: $14.80 Forever21

Tank: $17.80 Forever21

Wedges: $34.99 via Marshalls/ Steve Madden

TOTAL: $67.59

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Shop My Favorite Shorts Under $50!

Photos By: Courtney Locks