striped shirt- three ways

It's amazing how many people I've met since I've started blogging! Whether it be through my blog or my instagram, I love meeting all these new people who love fashion as much as I do! I happened to comment on Kortney's  picture when I realized we have the same J.Crew shirt, which led to her, Amanda and I all realizing we had it! So of course, we decided we had to do a post styling the shirt in our own ways!

Kortney's look

Amanda's look (love the dog photobomb!)

shirt: J.Crew Factory (sold out) // shorts: Delia's (loving these!) // necklace: Charming Charlie // shoes: Target

This was so much fun! How would you style the shirt?

-Kylie

weekly roundup

one: I have always wanted to take a Disney cruise (any cruise really, but especially Disney!). And now they're coming out with new locations! A cruise where I can go to the place that inspired Frozen? Sign me up! And for that Mediterranean one too!

two: 34 simple ideas to make your home more efficient! I love looking at articles like this, and some if these ideas are really cool!

three: I just watched the documentary Fame High on netflix, and I loved it! It's essentially the movie Fame in real life, and I found it so interesting! I also highly recommend First Position, which follows different ballerinas as they compete in a national competition.

four: My heart has melted! A mom and her two kids got stuck in an elevator, and in an effort to calm the little girl down, the firefighters sang Let It Go to her! So adorable!

five: Another heart melter. Duncan Lou Who is a two legged boxer, and the video is his first trip to the beach! He's so excited!

Have a fantastic week!

-Kylie

anthropologie owls

This shirt is probably one of my favorites. I got it for my birthday two years ago (thanks Dad!) and it's definitely one of my most worn. Thankfully, we had warmer temperatures yesterday, so I could throw on a cardigan and ditch a jacket! 

shirt: Anthropologie (similar) // sweater: Nordstom (similar) // jeans: Francesca's (similar) // watch: Tag // bracelet: Piace (similar) // shoes: Steve Madden // purse: gift (similar) 

(Also, so sick of taking mirror pictures! Anyone have any tips on how to do this better without someone taking pictures of me? Or anyone wanting to volunteer to do it? ;))

-Kylie

perfume picks

Oh, how I love good perfume. Who doesn't? A pretty bottle with a pretty scent. Doesn't get too much better! Like everyone, I definitely have my go to scents. DKNY Be Delicious is my absolute favorite (actually need to be getting a new bottle of this one), and I also love Taylor Swift Wonderstruck. I love branching out with perfumes though, and of course always sample new ones anytime I'm near a perfume counter. Here are some ones I'm interested in, because I've tested them before, or I just love the bottle ;)

Tory Burch: I've actually tested this one at Sephora and immediately fell in love! Used the tester rollerball right then and there! Plus, the bottle is clean cut and very classy.

Chloe: I've heard a lot of great things about all the Chloe perfumes, so I'm very inclined to try it! Plus, look how pretty the bottle is.

Viva La Juicy Noir: I used to wear Viva La Juicy all the time (I still have a bottle, and wear it sometimes. I think I just got burnt out!). But I'm always down to try variations of perfumes I love. IT's like a whole new perfume, but with a tone you already like!

What are your favorite perfumes? Any suggestions for me?

-Kylie

spring nail colors

I absolutely love having my nails painted. I am just not very diligent with it, and always end up picking at the polish once it grows out a little. (I know, terrible habit.) But I actually made it one of my new year's resolutions to be better about my nails, and so far I've been doing well! (Insert confetti emoji!) Now that it's officially spring, I just want everything in spring colors. Which, of course, includes nail polish colors. Here are some of my favorite picks for spring!

 

Essie Resort Fling // Essie Fashion Playground

 

Butter Fruit Machine // Butter Poole

 

Ciate Members Only // Deborah Lippmann Spring Buds

What are your favorite nail colors for spring?

-Kylie

spring clothes in winter weather

WHY SNOW WHY? It's the end of March, and we had snow yesterday. Thankfully, it didn't stick, but now it's cold again. I just want spring temperatures! (What am I going to whine about when it gets warm? Humidity?) So I stuck to spring colors, but in the warmest way possible. 

sweater: BCBG // scarf: Urban Outfitters // jeans: Lucky (they always photograph much darker than they are!) // boots: Ugg // ring: gift (similar)

I obviously jinxed the weather by pulling out my spring clothes. Sorry guys! ;)

-Kylie

manly style

My Dad suggested I do a post about guy style (I probably would've done it eventually, but lets give him the credit ;)), so here we go!
Personally, I think a guy having style is quite important. Unfortunately, I'm surrounded by college guys who think a tshirt, sweatpants and slip on sandals is good enough. (Unless I walk by the business school. Boys in khakis and ironed button downs!) I thought maybe it was just something that bothered me, but a lot of girls I know feel the same way. A couple that I babysit for even brought it up after coming home from a date and a night of people watching, making sure to tell me never to date a guy who doesn't wear a nice outfit on a date! 
I have a men's style board on pinterest, so here are some of my favorite from there. Plus, check out one of the most fashionable guys out there, KJP. And of course my dad, who can rock bright shirts and crazy socks, and make it look awesome!

What's your favorite look to see on a guy?

-Kylie

s'mores cupcakes

If you follow me on instagram, then you saw my first experience using my kitchen torch. IT WAS AWESOME! I want to make everything that requires torching!! 
When my friend Cher was here, we knew we wanted to bake something together. And after I found this s'more cupcake recipe, there was no question about it! They turned out pretty amazing, if I do say so myself, and using the torch on the meringue frosting made my kitchen smell like toasted marshmallows!

S'mores Cupcakes (recipe from Bakerella)

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Crust

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 20 squares)
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 9 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• Chocolate Cupcakes

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2/3 cup boiling water
• Meringue Frosting
• 6 egg whites

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 
  

Instructions

Make the crust first:
In a medium bow, mix together crumbs and sugar. Add melted butter until well blended and no dry crumbs remain.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line two 12-cup muffin pans with cupcake liners.

Place 1 tablespoon of the mixture into each liner. Press the crumbs flat into the liner using the bottom of a small glass. Sprinkle about 2 teaspoons of chocolate over each crust. (Reserve remaining graham cracker crumbs and chopped chocolate to top the cupcakes before baking.)

Bake crusts for 8 minutes. Remove the pans and let crusts cool for at least 5 minutes before adding cupcake batter.

For the cupcakes:

After crusts are prepared, increase oven temperature to 350 degrees F.In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

Then combine eggs, milk, oil and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add sugar and mix until combined. Then add flour mixture. Blend at low and then increase to medium. Beat for 2 minutes until blended and smooth. 

Remove bowl from stand and add boiling water. Gently stir with a wooden spoon until smooth. Batter will be thin. Then let batter rest for 15 minutes and stir again gently before using. 

Fill liners with prepared crusts three-quarters full with batter. Sprinkle with reserved chocolate and graham cracker mixture. Bake about 16-20 minutes until done. Cool in pan for 5 minutes and then remove to a rack to cool completely.

Make the meringue frosting:

Combine egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar in the heatproof bowl of a stand mixer. Set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water without letting the bottom of the bowl touch the water in the saucepan. 

Hold the handle of the bowl with an oven mitt while whisking the egg white mixture until the sugar is dissolved and the whites are hot to the touch… about 4 minutes. Then transfer bowl to the stand mixer. 

Using the whisk attachment, beat the mixture, starting on low and increasing to high speed. Beat until stiff, glossy peaks form and the meringue has cooled, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the vanilla and whisk just to combine. Use frosting immediately.

Place the frosting in a pastry bag fitted with a tip of your choosing. (Or a ziplock bag, with the tip cut off.) Pipe high swirls on the cupcakes and brown the meringue using a kitchen torch and serve immediately.

Who's gonna go make this amazing cupcakes now?

-Kylie

weekly roundup

Lots to share this week! (Thanks to my sister for sending me most of these!)

one: I am never going to get tired of Let It Go covers. Especially when it's being sung it the voices of multiple Disney characters! This is definitely one of the best covers out there.

two: Wow. I had actual goosebumps on my arms after watching this. Carly, a 17 year old living with non-verbal autism, made this video with the help of her dad, to show people just what it's like to live with autism. It's an incredibly powerful video, and really makes you think. 

three: And back to frozen. Pretty sure we took a time jump, and this is actually me when I'm married and have a kid. These parents are completely awesome, and lip sync along perfectly!

four: Disney princess movies get a bad rep sometimes because they give us "unrealistic expectations". (Like perfect, awesome hair.) But it's also important to remember the love lessons they teach us. "Love is appreciating people for who they are inside."

five: And to round it out, an AMAZING video put out by my old high school. It really needs no description other than, BE BRAVE!

Here's to a great week!

-Kylie

pink and white

It's officially spring, and I am so done with dark colors! I'm ready for all spring colors, and spring weather. On Sunday, Cher and I ventured to Oliver Winery to do a wine tasting ($5 to taste 8 wines, amazing!) and we braved the cold weather to take pictures.

Also, please enjoy some attempts of me trying to take a cool jumping picture. It obviously failed in a major way. 

sweater: OldNavy (similar) // vest: Abercrombie (similar) // jeans: Anthropologie (similar) // boots: Frye (thanks for the hand me down, mom!)

-Kylie

lip scrubs

This weather is really doing nothing for my lips. I use chapstick constantly (this is my go to) but if I forget to put it on even once, I feel my lips are just instantly chapped and peeling! Painful and gross. I tried a lip exfoliator from the makeup brand ELF (which I had actually heard good things about, and it was only $1), but I didn't have good results at all. It just hurt my lips, everything got stuck on the stick and it actually broke off! So now I'm looking into other lip scrubs, and definitely reading reviews before I buy!

 

Lip Scuff // BubbleGum Lip Scrub

 

Sugar Lip Polish // Fabulips

Have any of you had any success with lip scrubs? Which are your favorites?

-Kylie