Carrie Bradshaw Lied

Plant-Based Diet Meal Plan: Week One

A few weeks ago I was considering doing Whole30 again this month (you can see all my posts on Whole30 here). After watching What the Health, I decided to challenge myself to eat plant-based for a month instead (this means eliminating meat and dairy from my diet)! When I shared this on Instagram, you guys said you’d be interested in weekly check-ins, recipes, etc., so here we are.

I’ve been buying only organic, free range/cage free meat and dairy products since I watched Food Inc. many years ago. It changed the way I grocery shop. I’ve said it before, but one of the most impactful parts of the film was when the narrator said “every time an item goes across the grocery scanner, you’re voting.” That means I’m voting for the treatment of animals, the handling of my produce, the employees who work at these farms, etc.

First thing first, I do feel the need to share that I don’t have a problem with people eating meat, and my father-in-law even owns a cattle farm. I just want the animals to roam around on grass, live normal lives and be treated kindly while they’re living. I would happily eat any dairy from my father-in-law’s farm if they were dairy cows!

Food is a touchy subject for many, so I just wanted to be honest that I am doing my best to eat plant-based, but I’m not going to beat myself up if I find out a product has a non-dairy ingredient I missed. This isn’t an allergy, therefore it’s not an emergency. Everyone makes the choice that is right for their bodies, and I completely support that. I’m doing my best to read ingredient lists and use helpful sites like this one that list all the vegan foods at Trader Joe’s (this Instagram account is great too).

I will be sharing any inches or weight loss at the end of the month (note: I’ve already seen the numbers go down which is kind of crazy). That being said, weight loss is not the reason I decided to do this… but it’s a welcomed result, let’s be real. I’ve chosen to adjust my diet for a month to see how it makes me feel, to help me recognize where my food comes from, and to push me to explore more vegetarian recipes.

So basically, I am a full Californian now (said in this accent).

Some great vegan food blogs I’ve been stalking:

Faring Well (located here in Orange County!)

Last week’s recipes:

Mexican Rice – I used half of this in the recipe above!

Veggie Fajitas

Vegan Parmesan Cheese

Sun-dried Tomato Pesto Pasta

Veggie Burgers – used soy cheddar cheese and a vegan egg

Veggie Burrito Bowls – This is what’s featured in this post! I used Trader Joe’s soy shredded cheddar cheese and it tasted great. I also added onions, cilantro, hot sauce, etc. You can totally use this recipe as a base and make it your own!

Brussels Sprouts Salad (with no cheese or bacon)

Kale Salad (without cheese)

When I’m doing a specific food “challenge,” I’ve found it’s vital that I make a loose weekly meal plan. Life is busy and when you’re hungry, you’re hungry, so looking at a piece of paper to remember some of your options is mega helpful!

Once a week I pull up several recipes I want to try, I write down the ingredients I’ll need for the grocery and I sketch out a little meal plan (you can see a picture of this above). I’m only going to be sharing what I actually ended up eating because I thought it would be more realistic for what a week attempting plant-based looks like.

Dining out:

Eating out has been NO big deal which is huge for me. I love to have lunch with the ladies and eat out on the weekends with Christian (I’m a new mega fan of Loving Hut). While I was on Whole30, eating out felt overwhelming and honestly, a little sad. Grocery shopping has also been really simple and I found everything I needed in one stop. AND my grocery bills have been less expensive that my usual runs – even with loads of avocados, nuts, vegetables, etc.

How I’m feeling:

I feel great. I am having no trouble waking up in the morning or concentrating during the day. I’ve have zero stomach aches and my body is functioning extremely regular and consistent.

I’ve had a few people ask if I’m tired without eating meat, and contrary to what many assume, it’s actually really easy for vegans to meet dietary protein recommendations. Almost all vegetables, beans, grains, nuts and seeds contain protein, and I’m eating these daily.

photos by Christian Barnes

Let me know if you have any questions or if you’d like to see anything specific in next week’s update! Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –

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Friday’s Five

– the most gorgeous flowers from my friends at Nespresso –

– C obliging in my Christmas wish of matching jammies and slippers every year (a belated photo!) –

– and spending a long weekend with these munchkins (another belated photo!) –

– the most captivating sunset –

– the cutest personalized zipper pouch from Stoney Clover Lane that I can’t wait to travel with –

Happy Friday! You guys, we survived the first week of a new year – here’s to us! I love the start of a new year, it’s like buying new pens for school year (reminds me of this movie scene). Exciting!

Christian has been home for dinner every single day this week which is definitely a highlight for us. I’ve loved cooking plant-based meals for him, and I’m excited to share the recipes we’ve been whipping up in next week! I’m really looking forward to sharing this eating journey this month with you guys – hopefully we can all learn from each other (which is one of my absolute favorite thing about blogging).

This weekend we’re taking it easy and hanging around here. I can’t even remember the last time we both had a weekend off together, so it will be really nice. There’s actually nothing I’d rather do. What are your plans this weekend? Are the decorations down or will you be tackling that? Gimme the scoop!

Last but not least, I wanted to share a few sales happening over the weekend:

Ann Taylor | extra 50% off select items with code REFRESH

Coach | extra 50% off sale items

Express | up to 70% off select items

J. Crew | 40% off select items with code NEWYEAR

Intermix | extra 30% off select items

Macy’s | extra 20% off with code WKND

Pottery Barn | 40% off select items + free shipping with code FREESHIP

Tory Burch | extra 30% off with code EXTRA30

Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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15 Best Buys of 2017

1 (sold out, similar styles here, here and here) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15

Last year I shared 13 of my favorite closet additions of 2016, and this year I was excited to compile a similar list. It’s interesting to look back and think of the items that you reached for most, whether they were $10 or $1,000.

I’m diving deeper into each item and why below – and of course, I’d love to hear what some of your most useful purchases this year were!

1. Velvet Handbag

Literally yesterday in this post I was saying how much I’ve been digging the return of velvet. So when I started seeing it on handbags this year, my eyebrows definitely raised. I wanted to wait until I found the perfect beauty, so when I spotted this gal on sale on Cyber Monday I didn’t think twice (sorry Christian). She has since sold out but I linked some similar styles I also love above!

2. Chanel Ballet Flats

I shared the story behind these flats here. I am definitely more of a heel gal, but I am trying to challenge myself to wear them as much as possible so I can break them in! You can find a similar style for less here.

3. iPhone X

Christian wanted to buy the new iPhone for me when it came out, but being slow to adapt to change I was hesitant. I still really enjoyed my 7+ and didn’t feel the need to upgrade. But then two months later I went for it when we realized C’s phone was having issues, so I’ve handed my 7+ down to him and am getting used to this Meet the Jetsons lady.

4. Burberry Cashmere Poncho

Y’all have seen me style this poncho here and here, but it continues to be one of my favorite cold weather accessories. It looks great worn as a poncho or velvet scarf, and it feels so good.

5. Burberry Liquid Lip Velvet

I don’t even know where to start with this product. It feels incredibly silky and smooth on your lips and the color is a gorgeous matte. I find myself reaching for Fawn over and over again, and when my sister-in-law borrowed it in NY over the holidays, she instantly was like, “what is this, I need it.” Trust me, it’s good!

6. YSL Clutch

Another Cyber Monday win. I have been wanting to invest in a nice, roomy black clutch for the past year or two and was just waiting to find the right one. This one is a great size and I am always a fan of caviar leather.

7. Cashmere Joggers

I have three pairs of gray joggers. This is not a joke. I have three pairs and I wear them at least 2-3x a week. I try to pair them with cropped tees or fitted hoodies to make them look more polished, but they’re perfect for sitting cross-legged at my desk. If you’re a jogger or sweatpants lover, a cashmere pair is your best friend. Trust me on this.

8. Yeti Tumbler

I received a Yeti Tumbler as a gift from friends at Bumble, and I’ve been surprised to find that I use it every single day. Christian has had one for quite some time and uses his frequently, but I never really tried it. I’m hooked.

9. Noise Cancelling Headphones

I feel like I’ve told y’all around 20x how obsessed with these headphones I am. Before owning them, I felt like everyone talked about them but I thought, “they’re just headphones… they can’t be that great.”

Oh how wrong I was. These have CHANGED my life when it comes to traveling. Screaming baby behind me? Mr. Sniffy Nose next to me? The snorer on the row over? No longer a problem. They really have made my frequent air travel so much better and for that, I would pay any price.

10. Capri Blue Candles

I light a candle or use my essential oil diffuser every day. These have become some of my favorite candles because the burn so well and the scent is so pleasant. They’re fantastic candles.

11. Gigi New York Pens

This may sound crazy, but I live for a great pen. What’s more awful than reaching for a pen and it not working that great? A real pet peeve of mine. These are my FAVORITE pens. They are so beautiful, have a great weight to them and write so smoothly. I’m a believer.

12. Amazon Fire Stick

The tool I didn’t even know I wanted. C surprised myself with this for Christmas and we hooked it up to the bedroom TV. I LOVE IT. I love it so much that I returned the cable box we had in there. So much that we’ve even considered getting rid of our cable altogether.

13. Amazon Echo

Another Christmas gift from C, and I’ve loved it so much! She controls the lights in our house now (thanks to these light bulbs), and I really love using the Echo to play different genres of music while cooking, seamlessly play my podcasts without having to use my hands (those of you who cook get why this is so nice), or tell me snippets of the day’s news. It’s been pretty fun.

14. Garlic Press

This may sound super lame, but I asked for a garlic press for my birthday. I’m literally laughing as I type this because it’s really so lame. BUT, I am part Lebanese which means I put garlic in everything. Once I got a garlic press I was like, “WHY THE H*#$L HAVE I BEEN CHOPPING GARLIC ALL THESE YEARS!?”

15. Burlap Grocery Bags

I love these bags so much I have three. I know they seem pricey for reusable bags, but let me tell you why they’re worth every penny.

Because they’re 100x better than any grocery bag you’ve ever used in your life. And I say that with confidence. They are so roomy, which means that usually I only need two to hold groceries for two people for an entire week. Every time I’m checking out the cashier asks me about them because they’re amazed at how strong and roomy they are, and they’re also super cute. So yes, they’re totally worth it!

Ok the novel is over, but I couldn’t share my 15 favorite buys of 2017 without some explanation! Now that I’m done yapping your ear off, tell me some of your favorite purchases. No seriously, tell me because I might need to buy them. Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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Styling a Velvet Blazer

Who isn’t loving velvet right now!? I love the nod to the 90’s and let’s tell the truth, it’s crazy soft and comfortable. I actually have joggers that match this gorgeous blazer and plan on styling a head-to-toe look for you guys soon so you can see a dressier velvet look!

For this time around, I wanted to show how wearing velvet doesn’t have to be super dressy. You can literally pair it with a tee and jeans. Have fun with mixing textures and colors. That’s another great thing about velvet – the rich, vibrant color. Y’all might remember I splurged on this bag on Cyber Monday and I’m already in love!

photos by Jason Huang

Have you splurged on something velvet this season? Or are you lucky enough to have held onto something from the 90’s that you can pull back out (the BEST)! Thanks so much for reading! XO –

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My 2018 Goals

Aaahhh, resolutions. Some love ’em, some hate ’em – and truthfully, I see both sides. BUT I do love Queen Oprah’s manifestation/”secret” mentality, so I like to set realistic, achievable goals every year. Plus, it’s always interesting to look back and see what was a hit and miss in the previous year!

I thought I could show you guys how I do that –

First I like to dive back into the previous year’s goals. Mine are here. I try to evaluate what I achieved, what I didn’t and why. I think I really tried to tap into each resolution except one: weekly date nights with Christian.

Excuses, excuses, I know… but my travel schedule and Christian’s work schedule don’t make it easy. He became one of the chief residents this year, which added responsibility and hours to his weekly workload. SO, my attempt to work-around this is just to try harder. Maybe I need to wake up super early to cook breakfast for us sometimes when the nights are too hectic. It’s still a goal, and I’m not going to give up!

With that evaluation behind me, let’s set some new goals shall we?

Eat your greens. I’ve shared on Insta-Story, but I’m eating plant-based in January. This means I’m going to be eliminating animal products (meat and dairy) for a month. I recently watched What the Health on Netflix and a short educational video on YouTube (I’ll share in the comments if any of you want to watch it but warning: it made me sob) that inspired me to try this and see how it goes! I plan to share weekly pros and cons along with my meal plan/eating journal each week on CBL, so stay tuned if you’re interested!

I’ve done Whole30 a few times and you can find all those posts here.

Create video content. This is has been on my “to do” list for many, many months but I know it’s a lot of work and definitely has learning curve so I keep putting it on the back-burner. I’ve recently expanded the CBL team which has allowed more open time in my calendar to take on new projects… and also means no excuses!

Weekly date nights. Still a priority, and as shared above, I plan to get creative to find ways to make it happen more consistently.

Think positive. I learned a lot about myself when watching this documentary. I think I’ve gotten a lot better over the years, but looking at things in a positive light, seeing the lesson or light in frustrating situations is something I’m always trying to do more of.

Be more spontaneous. I am 100% Type A – always have been. This means I can be selfish with my time and (happily) live by my agenda. LIVE BY IT. Christian is totally not this way and he is always so wonderful at getting me to dip my toe into spontaneity on occasion. He knows I need a little pep talk and I’m like, “Kathleen! You don’t even have kids, GO! Do whatever!”

I’d love to hear how you guys tackle resolutions, reviewing your previous year’s goals. Can you tell I’m Type A just by this post!? #geez

Thank you so much for reading, sharing and being a part of this blog with me. Really, you guys don’t know what it means to my life and our little family. You’ve given me my dream job. XOXO –

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End of 2017 SALES

1 – under $30, also have and love these | 2 | 3 – 40% off in 3 colors | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 – 40% off in 4 colors | 9 – major designer bag sale here, more of my picks below! | 10 – under $60 in 2 colors | 11, styled here

ASOS | up to 50% off select items

BaubleBar | up to 60% off select items, including my all-time favorite tassel earrings!

Bloomingdale’s | up to 75% off select items through 1/1, MAJOR discounts on Nespresso, including my favorite machine!

Express | up to 60% off select items

Horchow | 20% off + free shipping with code NEWYEAR through 1/3

Intermix | 40% off flashsale – crazy amazing deals on luxe items!

Madewell | extra 30% off sale items with code YESPLEASE

Net-A-Porter | up to 70% off select items

Nordstrom | save up to 50% through 1/2, some of my favorite picks:

Pottery Barn | up to 30% off with code CHEERS

Revolve | up to 65% off sale items

Shopbop | take an extra 25% off sale items with code JOY25

Splendid | up to 30% off select items

SSENSE | major designer markdowns – I scored a discounted YSL clutch on Cyber Monday! Some of my favorites here:

Steve Madden | extra 40% off sale items with code CHEERS

Stuart Weitzman | up to 50% off select items, love these and these (so fun!). Also the boots I wore here are now 40% off!

T3 | save up to 50% through 1/7 – I have and use this blowdryer and this curling wand trio

Urban Outfitters | up to 30% off sale

Wayfair | up to 70% off select items

West Elm | extra 20% off select items with code BYE2017

Raising my glass to 2017, bring it on 2018! Thanks so much for your support and encouragement over the past year. Each of you have been a part of this journey, and I can’t thank you enough for taking the time out of your lives to check in here. Means more to me than I can even put into words.

Hope you guys have a FUN and safe weekend! XO –

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Favorite Podcasts of 2017

I am a HUGE podcast-lover, and I get so many questions from you guys about my favorites that last year I shared this post rounding up some of CBL’s fave listens of 2016.

Since then, I’ve discovered even more gems! So I wanted to round up another post including new finds. I still love the original ones I shared last year, these are just some new additions worth sharing.

COMEDY:

Watch What Happens Live – Obviously, when this became a podcast it was like the best thing that ever happened to me. I no longer watch the show as much and just listen while I’m cooking, driving or cleaning.

Watch What Crappens – The parody podcast that reenacts and makes fun of all things Bravo! related. Ben and Ronnie are a RIOT. Christian can’t handle it though – he’s like, “first you watch these women fight on TV and then you listen to these two guys mimic their fight!? I can’t listen to this.” But it’s like liquid gold in my ears. No shame.

PaleOMG Uncensored – I think Julie is hysterical and I was honored to actually be on her podcast earlier this year (you can listen here)! She is totally raw, honest and unfiltered, and I love listening to her discuss her dog, hilarious neighborhood situations and overall stories.

TRUE CRIME:

Casefile – I love these because they’re quick bites of true crime stories that usually have full circle endings.

Cold Case Files – Addicting with new stories for every episode. This is A&E’s podcast, so you know it’s going to be good.

True Crime Garage – Love these guys and how they have a beer of the week, discuss different popular true crime stories and always honor the victim.

Up & Vanished – I’ve never listened to a podcast like this before. It starts off sharing the story of missing woman in Georgia and then by the end of the podcast someone is arrested and charged with her murder. INSANITY, but also kind of amazing that by bringing up an old case and digging into it, it actually helped solve a murder mystery and give the victim and her family justice.

Dirty John: Mind-blowing that this entire story took place about 20 minutes from me in Orange County. A captivating story about a real relationship built on a nightmare.

S-Town: The sister podcast to Serial. Binged it when I was traveling and kept calling my sister because I couldn’t believe this story was less than an hour from where she lives in Alabama. Bananas!

PERSONAL and/or BUSINESS:

Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations – Obsessed. Oprah is my Queen, and I love everything she does. Now that I can listen to her interview all kinds of people on my phone!? It’s like winning the lottery.

Dear Sugars – I heard about this podcast from Oprah’s podcast, and it’s amazing. It’s almost like a more polished Dear Abby, produced by the New York Times. One of the hosts is the author of the book Wild (you might remember the movie with Reese Witherspoon), and both hosts are incredibly wise with their thought-provoking replies to readers letters.

The Skinny Confidential: Him & Her Podcast – I love listening to Lauryn and Michael share their opinions on relationships and business. It’s always interesting hearing both a female and male perspective on marketing, branding and marriage.

Where Should We Begin – I recently started listening to this podcast when I heard it mentioned on another podcast. It’s almost like eavesdropping on a couples therapy session… except they know they’re being anonymously recorded for a podcast so you don’t have to feel guilty about it. Fascinating!

Women of the Hour – I love pretty much love everything Lena Dunham creates, so when I heard she had a podcast I was all in. She treats it almost like a show with seasons, but it’s a great listen.

Did I miss anything that you love? Tell me your favorite podcasts! And don’t forget to check out last year’s favorites here. Thank you so much for reading! XO –

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Layering Sweaters Over Dresses

I’ve been wanting to share a post about styling slip dresses in the winter. So today I’m excited to share one of my favorite ways to make one of my favorite dress trends a year-round must have!

Y’all know I love a slip dress. I’ve styled them on CBL here, here, here and here, and one of the reasons I love them so much is that they are sleek and sophisticated while still leaving tons of options for layering. This allows you to create so many looks from one slip dress (and you guys know I’m all about some versatility).

When layering sweaters over dresses, where the sweater hits is really important. I like to either layer a cropped sweater or one that hits right around the top of my legs. You can drape it off one shoulder like I have in some of these photos or even belt it at the waist if you want to create more of an hourglass shape.

You can also layer a longer, boyfriend fit cardigan sweater with a slip dress and and heels.

photos by Jason Huang

Nordstrom has a great selection of slip dresses and sweaters, and I’ve shared some of my favorites above! What a lot of people may not know is that Nordstrom offers tons of services that are super helpful – buy online and pick up in-store, curbside pickup, reserve online and try on in store, gift cards and so on. They also have stylist services for everything from weddings to beauty, fashion and alterations.

So not only do they have a huge selection, but also a lot of handy tools to make your life a little easier. And that’s something I can always get onboard with.

Thanks so much for reading, and I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend! XO –

Brought to you by Nordstrom

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Merry Christmas

flocked tree c/o King of Christmas

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem
Come, and behold Him, born the King of angels!

O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!

Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exultation;
sing, all ye citizens of heaven above
Glory to God, all glory in the highest!

O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory given
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing

O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!

Merry Christmas Eve to you and yours! And thank you so much for giving me the best gift – your continued encouragement and support over the past year. I hope you are having a beautiful holiday weekend with the ones you love most. XOXO –

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Friday’s Five

– a classic black clutch I scored on sale on Cyber Monday –

– a few of my favorite new ornament additions on the tree –

– the most gorgeous everyday bag from Poléne –

– the holiday item from Trader Joe’s I cannot resist (and I’m not even a sweets person!) –

– new lippies from Drew Barrymore’s Flower Beauty that I can’t wait to start wearing –

Last Friday before Christmas – can’t believe we’re already here! It’s been so nice to be home this week, enjoying our tree, letting Lula sit in my lap to keep me warm and cooking crockpot meals. I’ve spent the last two weeks traveling so I have really soaked up sleeping (and working from) my own bed. I think because I decorated our bedroom this year (post here), I’ve been lingering in the mornings because it’s so cozy!

We are heading to the mountains again for the holiday weekend this year, and I’ll be bringing some ski gear with in hopes of some good snow. Last year we got several feet! I don’t know that we’ll be that lucky this year, but I’m trying to stay positive and manifest another white Christmas. We’ll see!

I also wanted to share some sales happening over the weekend in case you have some lingering sweatpants/sofa time and are looking for some deals:

Bloomingdale’s | extra 15% off through 12/24

Coach | extra 50% off sale through 12/25

Equipment | extra 25% off sale with code EXTRA25 through 1/4

Farfetch | up to 60% off select items

Joie | extra 25% off with code EXTRA25 through 1/4

Kate Spade | up to 30% off select items with code EXTRATREAT through 1/3

LOFT | extra 50% off with code WRAPITUP, ends today

Lulu & Georgia | up to 20% off select items with code GIFTYOSELF, ends today

Madewell | extra 30% off with code LATEBIRD through 12/24

Pottery Barn | up to 70% off

Net-A-Porter | up to 70% off

West Elm | extra 60% off

Williams Sonoma | up to 75% off select items

What are your holiday plans? Are you done shopping? Are you in charge of cooking? Gimme the scoop. And if you’re looking for some holiday movies to watch with the fam, I shared some of my favorites in this post! Hope all of you have a beautiful weekend – full of hot chocolate (fave recipe here), cozy fires and fuzzy slippers! Thanks so much for reading a sharing a little bit of your day each day with me. Truly means so much – XO –

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15 NYE Outfit Ideas | 2017

full post here

I can barely wrap my mind around the fact that Christmas is only a few days away, BUT so is New Year’s Eve! I wanted to share 15 looks from this past year that I thought could totally work for a NYE party.

These are a little more appropriate for a night on the town or party with friends, but head to toe sweats and a bowl of popcorn is perfectly acceptable in my book. You do you!

full post here

Christian has worked every New Year’s Eve during his residency, so we usually take it easy. Last year I did convince him to stay up until midnight to watch Mariah Carey’s epic performance which did not disappoint. I’m 100% sure I was smiling ear to ear the entire time.

Here’s to hoping for something equally amazing this year! I want to hear your plans and traditions. Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –

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Holiday Party Outfit… with a Twist

We all have holiday parties, weddings and festivities this time of year. It’s easy to pull out something red or a classic LBD (like this one). But sometimes, if you feel like getting a little creative, there are ways to amp up your holiday look to create something that is fun and unique!

I talked about how fun this sheer bodysuit is in this post, but I wanted to try to style it in other ways. I’ve seen some girls wear tees under spaghetti strap dresses, but why not a bodysuit? I thought some sheer sleeves and booties were a fun way to take this classic lace dress to something a little more “styled.”

Of course it would also look fabulous on its own with simple strappy heels. But when you can maximize the pieces you have and try to challenge yourself to wear them different ways, you can really get so much more out of your purchase!