Your Weekly Style Shopper: Leather can be Sophisticated this Fall

Hi sweeties,

I can not get enough of leather or well imitation leather which ever one you prefer. I for one am clearly fine with either. I look the toughness and roughness leather brings when you incorporate it in your outfit but this fall what I am personally trying to attain is a more put together, sophisticated classy leather look. Something more feminine. And I have been obsessed with Leather paneled leggings ever since they debuted recently. I thought what better way to maintain your sophistication by wearing them with a fitted cardigan or cardigan style top. If that is paneled? EVEN BETTER! Ofcourse we can never have enough burgundy in our closets during the Fall season so I wanted to immediately pair my black leather pants/leggings with some burgundy colored accessories. The chain link on the shoes bring somewhat of tie in between the leather and the charm of a cardigan and then we add the matchstick necklace to tie that in  further. I could have opted for some boots but then ofcourse throws us over to the roughness again that we see in moves, magazines and on the street with leather clad ladies everywhere. You can even add some lace to the combo (not pictured here) but that would make this some more feminine.

Let me know what you think and how are you pulling off your leather this Fall?

Cardigan: H&M $24.95

Leather Paneled Leggings: Forever 21 $15.80

Necklace: Forever 21 $6.80

Sandals: Shiekh Shoes $36.99

Outfit Post: Monochromatic British Love

Hi All,

The fall is coming and stores are currently laden with monochromatic black, white and neutral goodies! Which seems to be working out perfectly for me as I was a big black clothing lover pre blog days. I was very keen to wear a black wedding dress to which my mother’s response was always “It is supposed to be a wedding not a funeral”. And in the end I wore white for my hubby and red (the traditional dress for my culture) for my family.

I have also been frolicking around the world due to my Dad’s job and England was one of my most favorite places in the whole wide world. Hence when we spotted these leggings both Hubby and I knew it belonged in my closet. I have never been a fan of wearing leggings without a longer top but these leggings seem to have the right cut and pattern to help you not feel super conscious having your derriere hanging out.

I am also taking advantage of whats left of somewhat warmish of a weather to get some crop top time in without a blazer or jacket because there is noway we on the east coast are going to be able to rock our crop tops without covering up real good in heavy jackets. Lucky Cali and Florida folks can live it up for me once it gets cold here 🙂

I had chosen this outfit for  a day trip to the mall and then later lunch with the hubby. I think every girl wants to be a little rough and tough every now and then and it was that kind of a day for me 🙂

P.S I am putting in a picture of my beloved camera man in this post too for those of you who have always wondered who the man behind the camera is and what sense of style does he own 🙂

Bracelets : Forever 21 and H&M

Crop Top: H&M

Leather Jacket: H&M

Legging: H&M

Shoes: Brash

Weekly Style Shopper: Olive is your friend this fall

Hi lovelies,

This outfit came to life when I first walked into H&M about a little over a week ago to check out what I wanted to score from Giselle for H&M Fall collection. I bought three things from the line the two jackets and these imitation leather pants.  I wore the craziness out of my black pleather pants last Fall and winter and thought immediately since Olive and Army green is sucha huge thing this Fall and winter this cheap yet highly quality pants would fit right into my wardrobe. These are also going to be warmer then any other leggings you own because they have somewhat of a warm material on the inside which almost feels like very very thin fleece. These also give the appearance of a legging but they are actually pants with zips on the side of your waist.

I am still not over peplum tops and I saw some really good ones at Express. They are made of the perfect stretchy material to give you the oomph where you need it and hide the problem spots if you have any. I also loved the two toned color block concept on the front of the top and the two toned pipping and  zip on the back. This gives your outfit a whole new meaning. The front is different then the back so people might just have to double take once they pass you and blink their eyes to get it all right. I think the best way to wear this outfit will be with some cute classy booties to add some edge but you can always put some heels on if you want a more chic look.

Let me know if you are looking forward to everything Olive this fall and winter?

 

 

Booties: Payless $39.99

Necklace: Forever 21 $6.80

Pants: H&M $9.95

Top: Express $29.90

Outfit Special: Working your Outfit at Work

Hi Sweeties,

As much as I like yo show you guys my fun and carefree side in my regular outfit posts, I realized a whole aspect of work outfits that I put on is missing. Most of the time it happens due to lack of time to take pictures and I am also not a big believer in wearing make up everyday of my life. It is only a weekend thing for me or when I go out to get togethers or special occasions.

My fave work attire consists of Pencil Skirts and my newfound love for blazers is still going strong from last year. I think I currently own about 6 blazers and I might just be adding a few here and there if I find the right fit and colors :). Anyway this was worn for a work event and I wanted to look a bit more polished hence the statement necklace and makeup. We took atleast a 100 pictures but I was squinting in every single one. My camera man husband loves natural light which means he expects to stare directly into the sun haha. Hence I only was able to find a few decent pictures.

Now with being able to wear dress shoes again the world of possibilities is endless this fall. What will I wear to work? Leggings? Tights? More pencil skirts? Skinny pants or dress pants? hmm why don’t you subscribe and find out.

PS: I am currently working on keep it classy at work so when I mentioned tights and leggings haha I mean to find appropriate ways of wearing them 🙂

Blazer: H&M

Cuff: Nordstrom

Necklace: H&M (currently in store)

Skirt: H&M

Top: Express the last Hurrah

Shoes: Payless

Outfit Post: Cropping it up through a sea of blue mini skirt

Hi lovelies,

I have been saving up all my crop tops for when I get back in shape and I think I am slowly getting there. I had envisioned wearing crop tops with a high waisted skirt. That sounded like the most ideal way for me to wear it since I love pencil or skin tight skirts. I still haven’t had a chance to wear it with a blazer as the weather hasn’t been cold enough yet. But I am planning to do alot of that this fall and winter.

On this particular day Hubby and I decided to go out and about for coffee and then some dinner. It is kind of a risque style for where I live because this outfit more particularly fit better in Cali, NYC or Europe. But that didn’t stop me from wearing it. My hubby always says that my style doesnt belong in the state we reside in and I guess that is what I have inherited living in 3 different continents and 4 different countries all through my life growing up.  Atleast I didn’t get any angry or upset look so I would chalk it up as maybe more people will start trying out this trend here or just might be more accepting of the trend.

Crop top: H&M

Bracelets: H&M and Forever21

Skirt: H&M

Necklace: A belt worn as a necklace from H&M

Shoes: Payless

Midseason Haul: Extreme Bargain buys :)

Hi sweeties,

Finally got a chance to edit and upload this video. Checkout the haul video for some amazing bargain things that I found. Especially if you live anywhere near Florida, New York, Philly and Delware then you are in perfect luck cause you have the bargain store at a close distance to you.

Weekly Style Shopper: Rock your Denim trend the Feminine way

Hi sweeties,

If you have been to the mall recently you will see most stores are putting up tons and tons of denim in their windows, on their front tables by the entrance. And its not just denim trousers or pants. We are talking about denim tops, dresses and jackets. I know some people have a hard time figuring out how to wear denim from head to toe or just plain dont feel comfortable doing it. Well let me show you a way where you can rock the denim trend and still feel super girly and chic. Just because you are wearing denim doesnt mean you are dressed casual. You can dress your denim up with LACE! and statement necklaces.

I actually just recently bought a denim shirt and to be honest.I think it is the shirt that I used in the photograph here. Dont be surprised if you see me rocking this outfit in the next couple of days as an outfit post because my heart is set on it. My only little issue : THOSE CUTE DENIM SHOES! Unfortunately there is no Shiekh store in my state so I can’t put my hands on those cutesy denim shoes and some of you are aware I wear othrotics so who knows if they will fit in those shoes or not. I am going to go on a look out for a similar pair of shoes. The price on the shoes is pretty amazing too 12 bucks? Ah….I WANT THEM SOOO BAD.

Onto our statement necklace. As good as they look on a solid round neck shirt. You will be surprised to find out they also look pretty gorgeous with a button up shirt if you button it up all the way and then plop on the statement necklace on top of the shirt. Go on try it infront of your mirror with pieces you already own- you are going to fall in love with this trend 🙂

Lace skirts are the epitome of femininity and they can make anything look super girly hence pairing the denim shirt with a lace skirt is the most ideal way of getting a super girly outfit and still rocking the denim trend.

Lace Skirt: Forever 21- $24.80

Necklace: Forever 21- $7.80

Shoes: Shiekh Faddy – $12.99

Top: H&M – $24.95

Ropa Vieja with Avocado Cilantro Sauce – My Spicy Take on a traditional cuban dish

Hi lovelies,

I have been cooking alot lately. I have diligently taking pictures of everything too in hopes that I will get some time to share those recipes with you. I am alittle too excited to share this recipe with you only because it turned out exactly how I imagined.  Ropa Vieja is a traditional cuban dish made out of slow cooked shredded beef. I first came across this dish 6 hours away from where I live on a trip to the beach. It was one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten. Ofcourse now I cant drive 6 hours on the whim to go eat there every month so I decided to wing it on my own. I looked up several recipes but when it came down to making it, I decided I am going to make it spicy. Make it like how a south asian will cook beef lol. Here is my take on the dish. Let me know what you think 🙂

I also recently invested in a giant slow cooker so there is alot of slow cooking going on in my house.

Ingredients:
1.5 pound Flank Steak

1/2 can tomato paste (3oz)

1 Chopped onion

3 largely chopped garlic cloves

1/4 cup Red wine vinegar

Salt as per taste

2 tsp White pepper

2 tsp Turmeric

4 tsp Cumin

4 tsp crushed red pepper

4 tsp paprika

4 tsp cayenne pepper

 

Ingredients for Sauce:

1 Avacado

1 clove garlic

3 tsp Lemon juice

3 tablespoon Ranch

1/4 cup milk

Handful of Cliantro

Salt as per your taste

 

Instructions:

1- Marinate the meat with salt, cumin, turmeric, white pepper, red crushed pepper, paprika and cayenne and refrigerate for atleast 2 hours to overnight

2- Place the chopped onions and garlic at the bottom of the slow cooker.

3- Place the meat on top of the onions and garlic

4- Pour Red wine vinegar and Tomato paste over the meat.

5- Close the lid and cook on low for about 5 to 6 hours. Add water as needed to keep the meat moist.

6- Once the meat is cooked and cooled off take it out and shred it before plating.

 

Instruction to make the Sauce:

1- Blend all the ingredients together in the blender.

2- Pour over the meat and rice and serve.

 

 

 

 

Motivation 101: You decide who and what you want to be!

Hi lovelies,

Lets get some motivation going. Positive thoughts and positive energy…let’s spread it around.  Are you tired of feeling like someone who doesn’t fit in? someone who always feels like the odd ball? Someone who people constantly seem to not understand where you are coming from? Someone who struggles to explain yourself all the time even knowing you have nothing but the best of intentions? Well if you answered yes to all or atleast a few of these questions then worry not my friend, you and I have alot in common and I might just have found a way to resolve our mutual problem.

Most of my solutions come out in forms of sayings! For those of you who have been reading my motivation posts regularly might just have caught onto that by now. So this weeks saying that lead me to a solution is: “You can feel that you stick out like a sore thumb or you can feel that you were born to stand out”

Now lets play a scenario here. You are hanging out with a group of people who surprisingly seem to mesh pretty well. They think you are cool and all but everytime an idea or concept comes up you seem to be the one who doesnt agree with the rest of the group. You tend to start noticing a pattern. You just aren’t like the rest of them. Now let’s multiply this one group into several groups. This happens to you alot. And people just seem to turn their head sideways and look at you all weird. My next question will be ask yourself if your difference of opinion going to harm someone? is it going to cause any trouble? is it going to offend anyone? is it racist? is it illegal? If you answered no to all these question then why should you be ashamed of your decision? If you have good intention and your idea is just as good as theirs or well opinion (hahaha okay it might just be a tad bit better than theirs but we wont tell them that sshh) then there is no reason for you to feel like you have to agree with them. Speak your mind and speak it out loud and proud.

Now here is a mistake we all make. We tend to freak out at our difference of opinion. Some of us either nod and say oh well nah you all are right or others just drop the topic feeling meek and alone. But you know what? why should you do that? The first step to being the strong YOU is to state your opinion out loud. Don’t feel bad. Isnt that what everyone else just did, in the group? They all spoke their mind. Well lucky for them that there is more of them in one place. Now think what if there was only one of them and more people like you in that group? ROLE REVERSAL. They will feel like the odd ball and guess what? EVERYONE GOES THROUGH THAT! Everyone is an odd ball somewhere in their life and that is what makes us human and different from each other.  Yes some people might snicker or laugh about it but then guess what? They are immature and do you really want to take immature people’s opinion seriously? If you are willing to see difference of opinion as a normal thing and they don’t, then it’s their problem and not yours. They need to grow up and learn the world was built for all of us be like robots built in a factory.

You don’t want to be like everyone else. You want to stand out. And as I said it is you who decides who and what you want to be… You could make it painful and feel like you stick out like a sore thumb or stand out as someone confident who has their own set of opinions and wont sway just because everyone blindly or not so blindly agrees with a certain topic.

My Big Secret Reveal and Labor Day Weekend Outfit Post

Hi sweeties!

I haven’t had a chance to put up any outfit posts for a while. It was due to lack of time and also my tendonitis making me live in my sneakers so most of my outfits comprised of shorts and rolled up skinny jeans. Anyhow so what is the big secret reveal today?

For those of you who have been following me loyally have caught on that I had a foot ailment which made me live in ugly doctor prescribed shoes! Well well well what do we have here in this outfit post? A NEW PAIR OF SHOES! I finally was able to find the perfect pair of custom made shoe insert that will let me wear flat shoes like normal human beings! I have been wearing them the entire last week and most people noticed an immediate change in my sense of style. Granted I always put an effort into my clothes but now its a piece of cake. The idea of putting outfits together doesnt bog me down anymore from time to time due to my lack of shoe choices. Anyway I am proud owner of three new flat shoes 🙂 And will be adding to my collection overtime. Maybe just maybe one day I can start wearing heels again. If any of you out there are having foot issues feel free to talk to me over here or on my FB page. I would like to help people attain the same freedom I finally achieved.

Anyway back to Labor Day weekend. It was a fun weekend filled with just Hubby and me. Him and I did alot of fun things well things that I mostly enjoy with him. We went out on the town on Saturday and Sunday.  I danced the night away trust me when I said I danced…I DANCED for 5 hours straight with no foot pain which made me feel normal again. That also helped burn tons of calories lol. I had already swam and worked out that morning so all of a sudden everything is feeling more snitched up. We were up late at night so I was too tired to go to my coworkers cookout for labor day but I somehow dragged myself to get some errands done as well as grab some Ritas! Oh not to forget my aunt brought my kiddos (lil cousins) to our pool and it was fun swimming with them. It was awkward being around my family in a swim suit but thankfully I wasn’t wearing a two piece.

How was everyone else’s Labor Day?

Belt: H&M

Bracelets: Forever 21 and H&M

Dress: H&M

Necklace: H&M

Shoes: Brash