Disney Darling

After learning that LeBron James is leaving Cleveland to play for the Lakers, the one thing that would cheer me up most would be another trip to Disneyland. However, I can’t be too upset because LeBron delivered his promise, he still loves his city, he still plans to continue his fundraising foundation, and he will eventually come back for good someday, whether as a returning or retiring player. He is still the king of Cleveland no matter where he goes! But I still want to go back to Disneyland to cheer myself up.

Speaking of Disneyland, I have a new outfit to share with ya ... my Disneyland outfit!

This red polka dot romper from Francesca’s was a gift from my parents for my 22nd birthday. I had already planned my outfit for our trip to Disney prior to May 20th (my birthday), but then I totally changed my mind when I received the romper. It’s so adorable, so fun, and its red and white polka dot design resembles something that Minnie Mouse would totally wear! It made perfect sense.

I finished the look with my super comfortable red sneakers from Vionic Shoes (I highly recommend wearing this brand for long days consisting of walking and standing in lines nonstop!), a gold layered choker necklace from Francesca’s, my sunglasses from Ray-Ban, and, of course, my darling Minnie Mouse ears headband.

I’m most definitely a full on Disney darling!

It was a perfect, thrilling, and enchanting day. I felt like a princess! Of course, until the stroke of midnight when I turned back into a peasant college student ...

SHOP THE LOOK

California Dreamin'

Excuse me, the back of yo dress is RIDICULOUS!

I’m sorry, but I had to say that. I mean, it’s pretty relevant for this dress which I got from XOmandysue. It’s also a coincidence that I’m wearing it at Newport Beach, considering it’s the exact location where the brand is held!

I absolutely love this bodycon LBD. I’ve never really had backless outfit, definitely not one like this to say the least. The other ones show a little bit of skin, this one shows a lot of skin. I really like the backless design, as well as the cutout parts on the hips. It makes the dress looks very sexy but with still modest at the same time. I imagine that this is the dress I will wear on my next first day, I’m hoping with the one! But I’m in no rush, right now I’m wearing this dress for myself. When the time is right and when I meet the one who treats me right, then I’ll surprise him with this daring and elegant look.

Be sure to go to XOmandysue to see more of their flawless California styled looks, and use my discount code “CAROLINE35” to get 35% off of your first purchase!

Dress: XOmandysue

Shoes: Nine West

Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

It's-A Me, Caroline!

If you're an early or late 90s baby like me, you probably understand the reference to the title of this post. And if you're wondering how exactly I came up with that title, it's because this new outfit from Urban Outfitters totally makes me feel like Super Mario! I mean it's pretty obvious, all you need is a red top and denim overalls (and a mustache and red baseball cap with a "M" on it, which unfortunately I have neither). I'm almost all set for Halloween now!

I really feel like I jumped back into my childhood, around the late 90s and early 2000s. Super Mario and those other Nintendo games were the shit back then!

This is definitely one of my new favorite spring/summer outfits. It's so cute, fun, and allows me to embrace the child that is still within me! Just because you grow up and become more responsible and independent doesn't mean that you lose the kid at heart, or at least if you don't want to. In fact, being a kid at heart makes life so much more positive and upbeat. It's also helps to be nostalgic for your happiness. This outfit reminds me of when I would go to my grandparents' house in Lima as kid and play Super Mario 64 nonstop (mainly because I would try to make it up the never ending stairs, if you know what I'm referring to), that was definitely one of my favorite moments from my childhood. I love being nostalgic and remembering the good times!

Don't be afraid to let out your inner child, whether through fashion, personality or both. Whatever generation you come from, embrace it and let out your energetic mini you heart! 

"Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional." - Walt Disney

Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta go hit the playground! Whoops, I mean gym ... the gym ...

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Catch Ya on the Flippity Flop

Happy Saturday! 

The title of this post is so relevant because I'm sharing a new pair of flip flops from Vionic by Lucky Shoes! Online dictionaries define the term "flippity flop" as "with a flip and a flop", such as tumbling down the stairs. For this case; however, I'm referring to my new chic shoes!

I collaborated with Vionic back in February for their "Discover The Secret" campaign, and I'm happy to announce that I'm collaborating with them again this June! I'll give you more details and insight about it later on in the post, but first I'm gonna tell you about my new bad boys (shoes). 

I absolutely adore these sandals. They are by Vionic Shoes and are called Farra sandals. I love the red shiny material, but the best and most unique feature is the disc-ornamented gold. I feel like Cleopatra! Not only are the shoes super comfortable but every strap is adjustable with hook-and-loop closures, including the back strap! And even better yet, they match perfect with the shirt and shorts I'm wearing (both from J. Crew). That's always a nice perk. 

And since I got the shoes and took these pictures on National Wine Day, a glass (or three) of oaky 2016 Resolute Chardonnay was a necessary treat! 

Now coming back to the collaboration announcement. I have some exciting news for you shoe lovers ... Vionic by Lucky Shoes has opened their second store in the USA at Crocker Park in Westlake, OH! The first store opened in 2017 at Fairlawn. They're also hosting a special opening for their flip flop collection, "Vionic Flip-Flop Day", on June 16th, and I'm one of the local Cleveland fashion bloggers that gets to attend the big event!

I'm super thrilled to be a part of this, especially since I love Vionic and their products. The event is going to be spectacular and filled with tons of excitement. Liam Bourke, the on-air personality for Vionic, will be in attendance for an exclusive meet and greet. Guests will also receive a premium gift with any Vionic shoe purchase, while supplies last. Overall, it's going to be an amazing experience and I hope anyone who will be in the Cleveland area at the time will show up. It'll be a blast, and you can never say no to comfortable stylish shoes! Style doesn't have to hurt!

Farra Sandals: Vionic Shoes

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Summertime Funk

This is my favorite time of the year right now, other than Christmas. It’s the time of year between spring and summer. The heat is not super dreadful (although after a long ass winter, it doesn’t really matter), the flowers are still blooming, and the sun is always shining. It’s also nice during this time with no classes and work if you have a summer internship that doesn’t start right after you get out. I’m still busy as a bee when it comes to blogging and preparing for my summer internship. But while I still have some time off, I’m trying to soak in everything as much as I can. 

You wanna know what I'm enjoying especially these days besides the weather? This super funky new outfit from ZAFUL! It's a two piece pants set with orange, white, blue and navy stripes. The top is very bikini-like with a long soft belt that you can tie into a bow. And of course, we have the long hippy pants to create a summertime funk!

I like the idea of "summertime funk". It's a great time of year to go all out and be unique for fun times such as outdoor festivals, Fourth of July parties, pool parties, and so much more. Even though there are not as many clothing options with the hot weather, there are still plenty of ways to style yourself. And if you're going to do something fun and memorable, you might as well go looking bold and funky! Show off your summertime funk! #YOLO

What's your idea of summertime funk? Comment below and share your thoughts!

Two Piece Pants Set: ZAFUL

Shoes: Target

Cheers to Summer

August is upon us, which means we aren't too far away from fall now. The end of summer is always unblissful, especially when you're in college like me and have to start classes again soon. I know there's a full month left of summer fun, but it's going to fly by! 

I was going to write this blog post about these swimsuits sooner in June, but I just never found the time with work and other blog posts getting in the way. So I managed to finally find time to write about them now that summer is coming to an end, which is actually a little better because they're going to be on sale soon anyway, so best to get them at the cheapest prices. Now I can share you two of my favorite swimsuits that can help you get ideas for next summer or for the remaining days of this summer! 

Swimsuit 1 - Sheer Mesh One Piece  

This first bathing suit probably is the top of my favorite swimsuit list of the summer. It's a strapless sheer mesh one piece (it does come with straps in a mini bag if you would rather wear straps) and cost about $20-$30 dollars at Target. I think you can get it for a cheaper price now that summer is almost over. 

My mom was a little skeptical when I bought this and is still is. It definitely is a swimsuit that you probably shouldn't wear to a family gathering at the lake, beach, or pool. To be honest; however, I have bikinis that reveal more than this swimsuit!   

My favorite design of the swimsuit is on the back where the sheer mesh shows more clear lower back, as well as the open upper back.  

The reason I love this swimsuit the most is that I feel so sexy and confident in it, and who wouldn't?! Any girl with any body can rock this fierce piece with style! 

Swimsuit 2: Retro One Piece  

As you can tell by now, one pieces are one of my few obsessions for this summer. They're definitely back in season and look more stylish than ever. I hated wearing one piece bathing suits as a kid, and now I love them! 

Please don't mind my goofy dad photobombing behind me 😂

I bought this swimsuit at Target for the same price as the sheer mesh one piece. Although this one is no longer in stock, you can find many similar ones for great prices almost anywhere (click the Walmart link down below if you're interested in one).

 I love the 50s retro vibe it gives me. It's definitely not as sketchy as the first on piece, although there is a tiny cutout on the chest that makes it a bit sexy. The majority of the look; however, is beyond classy which I love. 

Since we're on the topic of retro, I thought a black and white filter for this last picture would fit well with the theme of the suit!   

Swimsuit 1: Target

Swimsuit 2: Target - similar swimsuit

Glasses: The LOFT - similar glasses

Wine and Dine

Stop your "wining" and pour yourself a glass!  

I said it once and I'll say it again, I love Napa. It's not even just because of all the kinds of wine that are made there, it was the scenery that absolutely blew me away. My favorite day during my time there was when we took a wine trolley tour through the valley for exploring and wine tastings. I wanted to look nice for the tour, but at the same time I wanted to be comfortable for six hours straight. So as a fashion maven, I thought this coral off the shoulder dress from Anthropologie was a perfect choice. 

Like red, the color coral brings out the bold in me. It's also a beachy kind of color, which goes very well with my summer/California style. Although this makes me feel more sweet and classy rather than sexy, I still have so much confidence when wearing it, especially with the off the shoulder portion of the dress. A little wine also adds some confidence as well! 

If you know me well, you know that I can't resist a dress with pockets, and thankfully this dress has them! One of the ladies we became friends with on the tour gave me the nickname "Pockets", which I don't even mind one bit. I hope it catches on! 

I'm obsessed with my cat eye sunglasses from The LOFT. I love the shape and the fact that you can wear them with anything. They make me feel like a movie star! 

Cheers to a wonderful time in Napa Valley and to Anthropologie for always bringing summer in style! 

Dress: Anthropologie

Sunglasses: The LOFT - similar glasses

Shoes: Sperry - similar shoes

Summer in Style (San Fran Edition)

When vacationing, the one thing I have to focus on when packing (which I'm lousy at) are the outfits I'm going to be wearing and potentially blogging about later on. I'm one of those girls who feels like I should pack thirty outfits for a six day trip, which is definitely over the limits. Luckily, I managed to pick some perfect outfits that I do not regret packing and wearing. 

San Francisco is a little more chilly in the summertime compared to other cities in Caifornia, so shorts and crop tops weren't a very proper option. They're were a few times when it was actually pretty warm, of course that's not so great when you have to walk up the extremely steep streets in the city. What matters more; however? The one popular outfit that I wore made me look and feel good! 

I'm loving this new sweaterknit tank top from Anthropologie, which is also where my favorite boyfriends jeans that I'm wearing are from. The two go perfect together, along with my ballerina sandals designed by Merona and cat eye sunglasses from The LOFT. 

I'm obsessed with my black lace bralette from Kohl's for my birthday. I was kind of surprised about how well it went with my top, I was worried about it being too see-through. I like how visible the straps are as well as part of the bra in the open sleeves, very trendy and chic!

What made me so happy was that the sky wasn't too foggy for the pictures that we took that day, and it was a little warmer with a slight breeze. It was as if God knew I was going to be writing a blog post later on! 

I'm surprised that my sandals didn't make my feet ache a lot. The only moment I can recall being desperate to take them off was when we were walking up and down the super steep street hills, which is likely to happen no matter kind of shoes you choose to wear. 

I totally felt like preppy tourist, and I think it's safe to say that I played the role very well!

Shirt: Anthropologie

Pants: Anthropologie - similar pants

Shoes: Target - similar shoes

Bra: Kohl's

Sunglasses: The LOFT - similar glasses

The Girl With The Black Dress

Originally I wanted the title for this blog to be "One Last Drop of Summer", but I then I thought "The Girl With The Black Dress" sounded more mysterious. Not in like a creepy or scandalous way, a fashionable and magical way! Even though the dress really is pitch black. 

I am a little gloomy that summer is fading away, especially now that I have one thousand assignments and exams due by December! I would much rather be relaxing in my inflatable donut float in the pool rather than writing a 500-word reading response ... 

But on the other hand, I really am looking forward to fall. I love when the leaves turn into beautiful red colors, pumpkins going into season, Starbucks serving their special salted caramel hot chocolate (try it, it's so delicious!), and even Halloween is kind of exciting (if it's not too scary). It's still pretty humid outside though, the sun hasn't really decided to decrease the heat quite yet. I feel like this look I'm about to present to you is a mixture of summer and fall, an outfit which you could wear for both seasons! 

I absolutely love this new black turtleneck dress from Francesca's. It's wide enough to be comfortable in and still look super chic, plus black is a color that makes me a little skinnier! It's perfect for summer with sandals, snazzy jewelry, and a sporty hairstyle like these French braided pigtails. And for the fall, the dress would look great with a nice jacket, boots, and a pair of tights with a natural, let loose hairstyle. 

Some people have a hard time trying to decide when to wear silver jewelry or gold jewelry. Why not combine them together? I love how my Fossil watch is a combination of both colors, and some small diamonds to add more glitz! A few gold Mantrabands from MantraBand, a long gold necklace, tiny gold earrings, and gold and silver silver rings bring a little glamour to this sporty look! 

I highly recommend the Mantrabands by the way, they are so elegant and sophisticated. They come into different delicate polishes and have uplifting quotes about optimism, positivity, inspiration, and mindfulness. All filled with love. 

French braided pigtails have been so popular lately, so I thought I try it out myself! I love the way they look with the dress, jewelry and shoes. It adds a sporty chic touch but still looks very sophisticated. I kind of feel like Princess Anna! 

Also winged eyeliner and rose-colored lips look great with the dark shade of the dress, as do most funky and bright beauty looks. I love my lip stainer from Smashbox, which I shared on my latest Beauty Haul  blog with my first YouTube video. I highly recommend it for anyone who is looking for a lipstick that will last for the entire day! 

"Big Splender" (rose) lip stainer from Smashbox.

It's going to be hard to say goodbye to these beautiful Egyptian-looking snake sandals from Dillard's. Well on the bright side, only nine more months till I can feel like Cleopatra again! 

They just opened a new Francesca's boutique in Hudson close to where I live, so I'm very thrilled about it. I literally bought the black dress from this one specifically, so it was a necessary requirement to pose next to it for the blog! 

This, my friend, is advertising. My marketing major is already coming into good hands! 

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And to top off a good photoshoot day, a delicious chocolate-covered Oreo from Cold Stone Creamery! 

Shout out to my awesome sister Lauren for taking these pictures in the beautiful city of Hudson and letting me buy a yummy treat! Also shout out to the new Francesca's boutique for having this dress on the racks just in time for the end of summer and beginning of fall! 

Dress: Francesca's 

Watch: Macy's

Shoes: Dillard's - similar shoes

Bracelets: MantraBand

Lip Stainer: Smashbox