Casual Oversized Blazer

Tank Top: Aeropostale | Blazer: LOFT (similar) | Jeans: Hollister | Boots: Target (similar)

Hi, everyone! I hope you all are enjoying your week so far. I’m in love with this casual oversized blazer. I love blazers but sometimes I find it hard to style them. I don’t want to look like I just stepped out of the office. Blazers, I feel, automatically give off an air of professionalism, however I find that you can change how that comes across with the fit you pick and the way you style them. This blazer is very classy looking while remaining casual and laid back. I’m a huge fan of neutrals particularly gray. If I can buy it in gray there’s a good chance I’m getting it.

I wanted to keep the rest of this look pretty simple as usual. My lace tank top is the perfect touch of a pattern for me. It adds another dimension to the outfit without adding color. If you’ve read my blog for a while you will know my love for these riding boots. In the winter here you can only pick from a very short list of sensible shoes while still looking cute. Riding boots are my go-to shoes for winter. For accessories I just added a simple gold initial pendant. I used to love to accessorize absolutely everything I could. However lately I like to keep it minimal with only a necklace and some earrings.

I hope you all have a lovely week and found this casual oversized blazer look helpful. If you missed my last post I will have it linked here. These photos were taken a few weeks ago and sadly since then all the snow has melted. I don’t know about you but I would rather have snow on the ground if it’s going to be cold out. If you aren’t following my social medias yet head over and give them a follow. They’re linked in the sidebar and down below.

x. Cattleya

Valentines Day is coming up soon. Do you have any fun plans with your significant other or friends? Leave it in the comments below. I love hearing from you.

My Skin Care Routine

Hi, everyone! Today I wanted to share with you my skin care routine. I started using the Pur-lisse line a few months ago and fell in love with it. My skin hasn’t always behaved very well for me. Over the years I’ve tried just about everything. After years of using harsh products on my skin to try to combat breakouts and oiliness, I’ve discovered that my skin reacts better to gentler products. This is what my daily skin care routine looks like:

In the evening, if I have worn makeup that day, I remove it with the Neutrogena makeup wipes. For my eye makeup, I remove it with the Neutrogena oil free eye makeup remover.

I first start out by cleansing my skin with the ‘Blue Lotus Cleansing Milk‘. This cleanse is super gentle on my skin, it leaves it feeling moisturized but still clean. I use this cleanser with my Clarisonic Mia 2. I’ve had the Mia 2 for years now. I’m so in love with it. It’s an essential in my skin care routine now. I use the acne cleansing brush head.

After I finish cleansing my face, I use Witch Hazel for a toner.  I’ve tried other toners before but I like using witch hazel as it naturally helps with oily skin, acne, and prevents redness.

I have started using the ‘Blue Lotus Brightening Serum‘ and I’ve seen improvements in my skin. The Brightening Serum brightens and evens the skin tone. I find my skin is more even in color and my dark spots are lighter.

To finish everything off I use the ‘Blue Lotus Essential Daily Moisturizer‘. This has SPF 30 in it which I love. I am very fair so a sunscreen is a must, even in the winter time. This moisturizer is what completes my skin care routine. After I finish this routine my skin is so smooth and soft.

At night I will also use ‘Mario Badescu Drying Lotion‘ on any problematic spots.

I hope you all have a wonderful week. If you missed my last blog post I will have it linked here.

x. Cattleya

What are some of your favorite skin care products? Leave it in a comment down below.

Disclaimer: Some of these items have been sent to me for free. All opinions are my own. 

Gray Peplum Sleeve Knitted Dress

Dress: Sammy Dress

Hi, everyone! Today I’m sharing you this gorgeous gray peplum sleeve knitted dress from Sammy Dress. This would be perfect for Valentine’s Day. I love the lace beading detail on the top.  Most of the time I stay away from knit dresses because I’ve never found one that looks right on me. I’ve found that I can pull this dress off. It’s not your normal knit dress. The peplum sleeves are just gorgeous.

If you’ve read my blog for a while you will know that I like to keep my accessories minimal for the most part. Today’s post is no different. I added one of my favorite pairs of nude ballet flats. I don’t think you can ever go wrong with them. I love to wear my hair like this. It’s so cute, takes me less than 5 minutes to do, and goes with so many looks. If you would like to learn how I did this, I have written a blog post showing you how. I will have it linked here.

I hope you liked this gray peplum sleeve knitted dress as much as I do. I’ve been on bit of a hiatus with the blog lately and I would like to try to get back on my normal blogging schedule. Life has just been very crazy lately and I haven’t always been able to sit down and write. If you missed my last post I will have it linked here. Follow me on my social media. They’re linked in the sidebar and down below. I hope you all have a great week.

x. Cattleya

What have you all been up to lately? Leave it below in the comments. I always love reading them!

Disclaimer: Some of these items have been sent to me for free to review. All opinions are my own.

Abstract Dress

Dress: Target | Cardigan: Target | Shoes: Payless

Hi everyone! I’m in love with this abstract dress. I got it for my 18th birthday a few years ago. This isn’t something I would normally think of wearing but I love it. The colors are gorgeous. I love the fit and flare style of it. It’s very flattering.  Normally I can’t wear a lot of patterns but I can pull this off.

This abstract dress is sleeveless, so to wear it in the winter time I like to pair it with this black cardigan. If you have followed my blog for a while you will have seen this cardigan a lot. Cardigans are a great staple piece especially for the colder weather. However, I wear them all year around. Nude ballet flats are another staple piece. They also go with basically everything. Because there is a lot going on with the abstract dress, I wanted to keep the other pieces of clothing minimal. That way all the focus be on the dress.

I hope you all are having a great week. If you missed my last post I will have it linked here. Follow me on my social media, they are linked in the sidebar and down below. This abstract dress was a little out of my box when I first purchased it. It’s quickly become one of my favorites though. I encourage you to try something that’s a little outside of you box. It may surprise you.

x. Cattleya

What’s one thing that you have purchased that was outside of your box that you ended up loving? Leave it in the comments below.

2016 Blog Post Round-up

Hi, everyone! I can’t believe it’s already 2017! Today I wanted to go back and do a 2016 blog post round-up. I want to share some of my favorite blog posts I did this year. Looking back I think my blogging style has changed a bit as well as the quality of the blog posts. This was super fun to do. I put them in order of when I posted them. If you would like to read any of the original posts I will have them all linked in pink.

Pretty in Lace

This is one of the first blog posts I did in 2016. I love the gorgeous lace crop top. I’m still in love with this post.

Wide Brim Red Hat

 

I had a thing for hats this year as you will see in later posts. I loved this post. I like the simplicity of the shirt with this beautiful red hat. The snow didn’t hurt the pictures either.

Braids on Braids

I love how this hairstyle turned out! I’ve actually gone back to this blog post a few times for reference when doing this.

Black and White Tribal Print Shorts

This outfit turned out so cute! I’ll definitely be wearing it again when the weather warms up.

Light and Airy Tank Top

I kind of felt like a hippie wearing this with the glasses. I’m still so in love with this look though.

Hats and Crochet Tops

This was a really fun day. I enjoyed writing this blog post. Also, this hat was just so cute!

South Carolina 2016

This could be one of my most favorite blog posts I’ve written to date. It’s quite lengthy but I’m in love with it. The pictures are gorgeous. I love looking back and reminiscing.

Charleston

Everything about this post I’m in love with. The dress. The city. I’m still so in love with it.

A Red Dress and A Floppy Hat

I had picked up this dress on that trip to Charleston that you saw above. I love the color and style of it. The hat goes with the look perfectly.

A Weekend Getaway

This was another fun trip that I had the opportunity to go on this year. I’m not sure why but travel/trip posts are my favorites to write.

Collaborating with The Daily Delicacy

This year I had the opportunity to make some new friends via the blogging community. One of which was Hannah from ‘The Daily Delicacy‘. I loved doing this post with her!

An Autumn Outfit

And finally we have an autumn outfit. I wore this look when I went on that weekend getaway and absolutely loved it.

I hope you all enjoyed my 2016 blog post round-up. If you missed my last post I will have it linked here.

x. Cattleya

What was your favorite blog post that you have read/written in 2016? Leave it in the comments down below.

 

Black Mesh Sweatshirt

Sweatshirt: SheIn | Jeans: Hollister | Boots: Target (similar) | Necklace: (similar)

Hi, everyone. I’m in love with this black mesh sweatshirt. I think it’s so unique but still casual. It gives a cute flare to your normal sweatshirt. I love the mesh top. The black mesh sweatshirt is from SheIn. If you would like to check them out I will have them linked here. They have cute clothing for affordable prices.

If you’ve read my blog for a while you will know that these riding boots are one of my favorites. I like how the jeans lighter jeans look with the contrast of the two blacks. Longer necklaces go well with simple tops in my opinion. They give the top something a little extra without being over the top.

You may have noticed I took a bit of an unplanned break over the holiday season. As I’m sure all of you know life can get pretty hectic during that time and I had to put blogging on the back burner for a bit. I’m happy to say that I’m back at it again. Posts should resume the normal schedule of Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I’m making this a New Years resolution to be more consistent with blogging, although not promising it will always happen.

I hope you all had a lovely holiday season. I can’t believe it’s already 2017!  May this new year be your best year yet. If you missed my last post I will have it linked here. All of the snow melted since my last post which is very upsetting. I thought for sure we would get a white Christmas this year :(. Follow me on my social medias for more. They are linked in the sidebar or down below.

x. Cattleya

Do you have any New Years resolutions? If so let me know in the comments below. 

Disclaimer: Some of these items have been sent to me for free to review. All opinions are my own.

Black Tulle Dress

Dress: Local Boutique (similar) | Cardigan: Target

Hi, everyone! I love this black tulle dress. This is great for the holiday season. I wear it all year around but I think it lends itself well to Christmastime. We finally had our first real snow here. While I have enjoyed the gorgeous, fresh, powder the weather hasn’t been as enjoyable. It’s been a crazy week here, I’m hoping things will slow down a little after the new year.

I got this dress a while ago from a local boutique. I’ve been in love with ever since I picked it up. Like I said earlier, I wear this dress year-around. This is actually a short sleeve dress, I love to throw a cardigan on it and wear it in the winter though. I’m a tulle lover. I love the skirt on this, I think that’s what sold me on this black tulle dress. There’s something about tulle and the holidays that just go together. I wanted to keep the rest of the look pretty simple. I feel like you can get away with wearing all black more at Christmastime (although it doesn’t stop me the rest of the year).

I hope you all enjoyed this post. If you missed my last post I will have it linked here. Also, if you want to find more outfits with tulle, I did one earlier this year that I think will go perfectly for the holidays. I will have it linked here. I can’t believe that it’s already December and Christmas is a week away. I’m so excited. The next few weeks are looking to be quite full but very fun. I hope you all have a lovely week.

What are you getting up to this week? What are you most excited about for the holidays? Let me know in a comment down below. I always love reading them.

Happy Holidays!

x. Cattleya

Gift Guide for Anyone

Gift Guide for Anyone

Hi everyone! Today I’m sharing a holiday gift guide for anyone. I think these are the perfect gifts for family members or friends.

One: Cable Knit Blanket Throw

In my opinion, I don’t think you can ever have enough blankets. I love to snuggle up on the couch with one. This cable knit throw is so cute. I think it would be a great gift along a with a book for someone.

Two: Portable Charger

I’m not sure how I ever survived without one. These are so useful, especially if you’re going to be out all day without access to an outlet. Perfect for a tech person, or just someone who’s phone always dies.

Three: Macarons

If you don’t know what a macaron is or haven’t tried one, you’re missing out. These little french cookies are heavenly. They have a slight crunch on the outside but chewy on the inside and always have a filling in between. Where I live you can only get them around the holidays so they’re always a treat.

Four: Beanie

If you live somewhere cold I don’t think you can go wrong with a beanie. They’re kind of a necessity when it gets colder. Plus they are so cute! Even if you live somewhere warmer I think beanies are just a cute accessory for the winter time.

Five: Portable Speaker

If you or someone you know likes music portable, bluetooth speakers are perfect! I love blasting music while I’m doing things. It’s just so much fun.

Six: Corkcicle Canteen

I got one of these over the summer and I love it! It will keep your water cold for days. I bring it when I workout, it’s the best. I won’t use anything else now. They come in a bunch of colors, too!

Seven: Polaroid Camera

I’ve always seen these and thought they were really cute. I love the vintage type photos you get with them. This would be perfect for someone who is into photography.

Eight: Monogram Mug

I’m  huge mug lover. I have so many. I drink coffee a few times a day and it’s always fun to have a cute mug for it. These monogram ones are gorgeous.

Nine: Planner

If you read my October Favorites, you will know that I have a planner. I can be kind of obsessed with it at times. It keeps me organized and on track. This is the perfect gift for someone who either always has a busy schedule or just likes to keep organized. I like plum paper planners. You can customize them by picking your cover, monogram them, and adding extras to it. Also, if you know someone who is crafty they can add planner stickers to it. Either functional or for decoration. If you would like to check planner stickers out more, my sister has an etsy shop where she sells printable planner kits.

Ten: Phone Case

I don’t normally buy phone cases for myself unless it breaks, so I always love receiving them as gifts. I think they’re perfect for teenagers.

I hope you got some inspiration from the gift guide for anyone. If you missed my last post I will have it linked here.

x. Cattleya

Christmas Traditions

Hi, everyone. For today’s post I wanted to share some of my Christmas traditions with you. I love this time of year, it’s always so special. In my family we are a big fan of traditions, it’s always fun to look forward to doing some of these things. It puts me in the festive spirit.

When I was little my mom used to put up the Christmas one of the first days in November. As we got older, times got busier and that just wasn’t doable anymore. For the last few years, we’ve started a new tradition of putting up the Christmas tree on Thanksgiving. I love doing this. It makes the day extra special. We put Christmas music on and all help decorate the tree.

I’ve always enjoyed looking at Christmas lights. It makes the cold winter nights a little brighter. Every year the week of Christmas my whole family goes out, we drive around and look at lights. It can be super relaxing to do. Some of the houses around us go all out for Christmas. I’ve seen the houses that sync their lights with music, ones that are completely covered in lights, that make scenes, and houses that put TV’s in their window to make it look like Santa is peaking. I love this Christmas tradition.

I am one of the biggest fans of sugar. I’m not a huge fan of junk food and soda doesn’t really appeal to me that much. But if you put a cookie in front of me, I have to eat it. Every year my mom, sister, and I make a few dozen cookies and a gingerbread house. When we were younger we used to put a ton of candy on the gingerbread house, nowadays we just do it for it for decoration. We make a gingerbread house from scratch, bake it, and buy all the candy from the store. I’ve never actually made one of those store-bought gingerbread houses before.

Another thing we used to do almost every week when we were younger was watch Christmas movies. Every Friday my mom would buy popcorn, soda, and those boxed candies like you would get at the theater, and we would watch Christmas movies. This is another one of those traditions as we’ve gotten older we haven’t been able to do as much. We always get to do it at least once though.

I love wrapping presents, I know some people hate it, but I love it. I consider myself a pro. Every year I take a day just to wrap presents. Normally I blast Christmas music or throw on a movie. I love decorating them and making them look all pretty. It’s just a fun time for me.

I hope you all enjoyed my Christmas traditions. If you missed my last blog post I will have it linked here. What’s your Christmas traditions? Leave it in the comments below. I would love to read them.

x. Cattleya

Black and White Skirt

Black and White Skirt

Black and White Skirt

Black and White Skirt

Black and White Skirt

Black and White Skirt

Black and White Skirt

Black and White Skirt

Black and White Skirt

Black and White SkirtTop | Skirt (similar) | Necklace (similar)

Hi, everyone! How pretty is this black and white skirt? I’m in love with it, it’s perfect for the holiday season. I love the look of the stripes. Black and white are a classic color combination that I don’t think can be topped. It’s timeless. I always feel a little like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s when I’m in black and white.

A-line skirts are one of the most flattering cuts in my opinion. It cinches in the smallest part of you and then flares out a bit, concealing anything you don’t want to be shown. I am a huge fan of t-shirt, I have a whole drawer in my dresser dedicated to them. Long, three-quarter and short sleeve, I have them all. I love to buy a bunch of neutral t-shirts in various lengths and fits. You can pair them with so much and dress them up or down. I love how this long sleeve tee looks with the black and white skirt.

For accessories I kept it pretty minimal with only a necklace. I love long necklaces when you’re keeping the outfit simple. I find that it adds just the right amount of color and sparkle. I love this silver one, I think it adds the right amount of sparkle for the holidays. You’ve probably seen these booties before, if you have followed my blog. I love the gold buttons, I fell in love with them when I saw them a few years back. The hidden platform makes them easier to walk in.

I hope you got some inspiration from this black and white skirt. If you missed my last post I will have it linked here. Follow me on my social media, they’re linked in the side bar or down below. I always love connecting with you. Enjoy the rest of your week!

x. Cattleya