Author: chelseawp

The Grown-up Backpack

If you haven’t noticed, backpacks aren’t just for school buses anymore! They are not only the trendy new carryall, but also a practical accessory. I forgot how great backpacks were until I bought one to tote around this summer- they are great for day trips to the park, commuting to work or weekend trips! And don’t worry; there are more options than princesses and ninja turtles. Backpacks are now the chic accessory, coming in leather, studded and fringed! Below are a ton of trendy options that can take you from work to weekend!

Topshop Pink Backpack ($68) / BCBG Black & White Backpack ($78) / Dailylook Studded Tassel Backpack ($49.99) / Vince Camuto Blue Backpack ($178) / Betsey Johnson Leopard Backpack ($59.95) / Appaman Kids Straw Backpack ($34.99) / Madewell Leather Backpack ($228) / Marc by Marc Jacobs Printed Backpack (On Sale for $158.40) / ASOS Black Formal Backpack ($38.09) / ASOS Colorblock Backpack ($66.69) / Forever 21 Faux Leather Backpack ($32.80) / Urban Outfitters Grey Tassel Backpack ($59) / Steve Madden Leopard Backpack ($128) / Steve Madden Camel Backpack ($98) / Forever 21 Striped Backpack ($19.80) / Forever 21 Faux Leather Backpack ($32.80) / Herschel Pink Backpack ($55) / Deux Lux Karma Backpack ($130)

Leopard and Leather

As I referenced in my Black & White post last week, I love the clean and simple combination of black and white this season. Instead of opting for my typical take on this trend of colorblock or stripes, I decided to translate it into a print- more specifically a leopard print!

I love keeping this trend monochromatic, but sometimes the occasion calls for a pop of color! For a little whimsy, I paired this rocker look with some fun mint accessories. It’s a great way to keep studded, faux-leather pieces from looking too biker. This look is perfect for any night out; it’s the ideal mix of dressing up and dressing down, both casual and chic!

Forever 21 Faux-Leather Vest- similar Sanctuary Moto Vest ($139) and Jennifer Lopez Moto Vest (On Sale for $48) / Express Black Racerback Tank (On Sale for $10) / Nordstrom Leopard Print Mini- similar Tibi Leopard Mini ($97.59) and Forever 21 Bodycon Skirt ($13.99) / Kohl’s Metallic Crossbody- similar Ivanka Trump Crossbody ($161.99) and Forever 21 Crossbody ($19.80) / Payless Black Shooties ($24.99) / francesca’s Statement Necklace ($38) / Anne Klein Watch ($95) / Forever 21 Stacked Rings and Cuff / Forever 21 Sunglasses- similar kate spade new york ‘shawna’ sunglasses ($145) and Modcloth Sunnies ($11.99)

Shoes and Bags and Bargains, Oh My!

To continue the trend of affordability from yesterday’s Forever Blue post, today’s focus is Looks for Less! See below for inexpensive alternatives to some of the hottest accessories out there right now!

Mansur Gavriel Bucket Bag ($495)- These handbags are hard to get your hands on! This particular style below is sold out until December! I not only LOVE this camello option below, but also the pink colorway here. You can also have fun and customize your Mansur Gavriel bag by mixing up the pop of color on the inside, how awesome is that?

Look for Less– Mango Contrast Bucket Bag (On Sale for $44.99) This bucket bag is a great way to get the look of the Mansur Gavriel Bucket Bag for one tenth of the cost! It has the same gathered drawstring and similar structured shape. It’s a great bag to take you from summer into fall!

Stuart Weitzman Nudist Sandals ($398)- These are offered in a variety of colors, I love both the black and red! They are both sexy and simple, pair them with a boyfriend jean and it’s perfection!

Look for Less– The below styles are steals! On the left is the Steve Madden Stacey Ankle-Strap Heel ($79). For an even deeper discount, I also included these Kohl’s Candie’s High Heels on the right (On Sale for only $27.97!).

Valentino Rockstud Tote ($2,145)- Valentino’s Rockstud shoes and bags have ALWAYS enticed me, but the price is a little out of my budget (for the whole year)! That’s why I was so excited when I found a great look for less of this tote below.

Look for Less– Jaden Studded Tote Bag (On Sale for $55) This tote below gives the same rockstar, studded vibe of the Valentino option above, but in faux-leather. It’s a great way to save some money if you are looking for a new trendy bag for the season!

Forever Blue

For a while now, I’ve been lusting over this ASOS trapeze dress, but haven’t been able to justify buying it. It’s not necessarily expensive ($50), but it’s a little impractical for San Francisco. Then I found this similar style at Forever 21 for just $22. Just like the ASOS style, it has a caged neckline and is a fabulous bright blue color. Who cares if it’s practical if it’s only $22?

Since I can’t leave my apartment without at least one layer, I sported this amazing floral bomber from Forever 21. Notice a theme here? With this whole outfit being bought from Forever 21 and the shoes from Payless, it can all be purchased for under $70! See below for links.

Forever 21 Chiffon Maxi ($22.80) / Forever 21 Floral Bomber- sold out- similar here ($18.99) / Payless Black Shooties ($24.99)

Black & White- the perfect pair

Black & White- it’s simple, chic and everywhere this season! This color combo is both classic and trendy at the same time. Wanna know the best part? I’m sure you can find this trend hiding in your closet already!

There are tons of ways to interpret this trend, colorblocking, graphic prints, solids, stripes, etc., each looking just as stylish as the last one. I think my favorite part of this trend is the individuality it offers. I know that seems counterintuitive since it follows pretty strict color code, but you can still put your own spin on it! It’s easy to infuse it into your office wear, lounge gear or date night outfits. Dress it up or down. Wear prints or solids. Whatever you do, have fun with it! Check out my favorite lifestyle looks below.

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Jeffrey Campbell for FP Heels- glamourita.com

Modcloth Colorblock Dress- glamourita.com

Nordstrom Isaac Mizrahi Wedge- glamourita.com

Jeffrey Campbell for Free People (On Sale for $99.95) / ModCloth Paneled Dress (On Sale for $39.99) / Urban Originals Tote ($89.95) / Target Moto Jacket (On Sale for $21) / Isaac Mizrahi Wedges ($139.95) / ModCloth Cut Out Dress ($59.99)

SPORTY:

Adidas Original Tee ($30) / Topshop Tika Slip Ons ($35) / ASOS Cropped Tee ($47.64) / H&M Soft Pants ($24.95) / Topshop Backpack ($68)

GRAPHIC PRINTS:

Modcloth Squiggles Dress- glamourita.com

ASOS Check Pencil Skirt ($34.30) / Sol Sana Leather Sandal (On Sale for $50.22) / Nastygal Waves Skater Dress ($58) / Nordstrom Polka Dot Skirt ($28) / ModCloth Squiggles Dress (On Sale for $49.99)

STRIPES:

Target Striped Maxi Dress- glamourita.com

Target Merona Colorblock Pants- glamourita.com

Nordstrom Sol Sana Sandal- glamourita.com

Target Striped Maxi (On Sale for $18) / ASOS Striped Dress ($85.74) / kate spade crossbody (On Sale for $131.90) / Target Tuxedo Stripe Pant (On Sale for $9.98) / Sol Sana Leather Sandal (On Sale $53.57)

Renegade Craft Fair- San Francisco

renegadecraft.com

This past weekend, the Renegade Craft Fair passed through San Francisco and for those of you who don’t know, the Renegade Craft Fair is a network of events throughout the year that cater to the DIY & craft community. The RCF travels throughout the country (and to the UK) to 14 annual events in Chicago, New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, Portland, and London. The businesses that fill the aisles of the fair are all creative and inspiring; they range from home décor and stationary, all the way to stuffed animal taxidermy. You could spend hours (and a lot of money!) shopping all the different vendors.

Some of our favorite items were the creative posters and prints. Below is a sampling of some of the posters we ran across. The cocktail prints on the left were especially fun! They give a visual makeup of the ingredients of different cocktails, these would look great above a bar cart or in a kitchen.

Pictured below was one of the stores we really loved, Alibi Interiors. This shop had a rustic charm and each piece really felt unique since they were made with reclaimed wood. I have been thinking about creating a gallery wall in our living room, so I have had my eye out for small unique frames and décor. This shop had just that! Some pieces were all natural and others were painted colors, including metallic gold! They had a good mix of frames in all sizes, making it a breeze to find what we needed. (check out the bookshelf of frames!)

We loved this shop so much, we ended up leaving with the frames and chalkboard below. We also snagged this adorable bear plank sign from JunkArtGypsyz. They had some awesome pieces, including marquee letters and wooden cut-outs. With these finds from the fair, we now have a solid start on our gallery wall. I can’t wait to share how it turns out!

The Renegade Craft Fair will be in Los Angeles, CA next weekend, see the full schedule below. If it’s stopping by your town, I recommend you attend… and bring your wallet! 🙂

renegadecraft.com

Tory Burch + Fitbit

Walking around San Francisco these days it’s hard to spot a wrist that doesn’t have a fitness tracker on it. A fitness tracker was one of the few things that were actually on my birthday wish list this year, but I have had trouble deciding which brand I want. I think there are pros and cons to all the models out there, but one of the biggest deciding factors for me is the aesthetic and versatility of the band.

I prefer the look of Jawbone’s slimmer, subtler design, but unfortunately I am not a huge fan of the color options the newest UP24 models come in. Fitbit Flex on the other hand, comes in a wide range of colors, including a trendy mint option, but would I really want to wear this mint fitbit when I’m dressing up for a date night with my husband or giving a presentation at work? That’s where fitbit’s collaboration with Tory Burch comes in!

Tory Burch for fitbit

As I mentioned in my Ringly post, I love the idea of wearable technology being fashionable and blending with my everyday wardrobe. And I’m happy to say that Tory Burch is here to fill that void in fitness trackers! You no longer have to where the huge rubber band on your wrist to see how many steps you’ve taken or calories you’ve burned. Tory Burch has created two fun printed options, but also a gold hinged bracelet and a pendant necklace that are much more sophisticated than anything else on the market right now. Check out the different designs below.

TORY BURCH FOR FITBIT SILICONE PRINTED BRACELET $38

TORY BURCH FOR FITBIT METAL HINGED BRACELET $195

TORY BURCH FOR FITBIT FRET PENDANT NECKLACE $175

Seems awesome right? So here’s the catch… none on these styles actually come with the fitbit tracker. The idea is you buy a fitbit flex separately ($99.95) and then purchase these as accessories from Tory Burch. The two printed silicon options are a reasonable $38 each. The gold-hinged bracelet and pendant are more expensive at $195 and $175, respectively. The idea with the gold options would be to have a fitbit flex that you could work out and sweat in and then pop your tracker into these nicer accessories when you are dressing up. It’s a great option for us who want to camouflage our fitbits.

I think it’s fabulous Tory Burch and fitbit have teamed up to bring us this flexible, fashionable fix for wearable technology. Interested? This line is available for pre-order now on toryburch.com. My only question is when will other brands jump on board?

Chiffon & Chambray

I’ve been living in maxi skirts/dresses this season. They are so versatile and can easily take you from daytime into night with a change of an accessory or two. I recently bought this chiffon maxi skirt from Forever 21 for only $12.80! I absolutely love the light pink color and how it catches in the wind! To keep this look from going too rustic, I paired it back to my favorite blinged-out accessories, creating a shabby chic vibe!

To keep this skirt looking casual and cool in the daytime, I wore this adorable horseshoe printed chambray button up from Banana Republic. Instead of my usual half-tuck, I knotted it at the waistline to keep it tailored and girly.

Banana Republic Chambray Button Up- similar here ($69.50) / Forever 21 Sheer Maxi Skirt ($12.80) / Cleopatra Bianca Purse (Hautelook)- similar Steve Madden Chain Clutch ($68) and ASOS Shoulder Bag ($24.75) / GC Shoes Rhinestone Sandals- similar Rock and Candy Sandal ($49.94) and Montego Bay Club Sandals($20.99) / Fossil Leather Watch ($115) / Simply Vera Vera Wang Aviators ($19.99)

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!

That’s right, it’s the most wonderful time of the year, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!

It’s Nordstrom’s best sale of the year and it only runs for a limited time! Nordstrom Reward Members get early access July 10th – July 17th, after that the sale opens up to everyone. Being a Rewards Member, I have been shopping the sale for a few days (not to mention I am well stocked in Nordstrom gift cards from my birthday last week- thanks everyone!!). And I’ve found there are a ton of great deals to be had out there. Below, I listed some of my favorite products and best buys from the sale, but hurry! Prices go back up August 4th!!

BEAUTY EXCLUSIVES

1- Clarisonic– a must have in your beauty regimen (I’m obsessed with mine!!). I already have the Mia 2 and my skin has never felt softer! This cleansing system pack is on sale for just $149 ($221 value!).

2- Voluspa Candles– these candles are beautiful and smell amazing. I currently have these candles scattered about my apartment. This 3-pack is on sale for $29.50 ($48 value).

3- Clinique ‘Dramatically Different’ Moisturizing Lotion– A staple in my makeup bag. I have been using this lotion for years. It’s the perfect moisturizer and leaves my skin feeling great. This is a great price, it’s a set of a deluxe size and a travel size for only $38 ($52.50 Value).

SHOES

1- Steve Madden ‘Ecntrc-c’ Snake-Embossed Slip-Ons and ‘Buhba’ Leopard Slip-Ons– If you read my blog, you know I’m a huge fan of slip-ons and I happen to love animal print too. This combination explains my love of both of these styles below. My eye has been on these Steve Madden slip-ons for awhile and this sale makes them irresistible! Hover the images below to see the sale prices.

$59.90 ($89.95 After Sale)

$69.90 ($99.95 After Sale)

2- Halogen Calf Hair Pumps– I am always looking for a deal on basic pumps. They are a classic shoe that every girl needs in her closet. This calf hair style is gorgeous and on sale for $59.90! ($89.95 After Sale). Can you guess my favorite colors? Surprise, surprise! The answer is black and leopard… I think I need both pairs!

$59.90 ($89.95 After Sale)

3- Halogen and Steve Madden Peep Toe Booties– Booties are my go-to shoe for fall. They are so versatile and can dress up any outfit. In my opinion, every girl should have a black and a camel pair. Below are my two favorites! Hover for sale prices.

Halogen Bootie $66.90 ($99.95 After Sale)

Steve Madden Bootie $106.90 ($159.95 After Sale)

4- Lastly, a girl needs some Nikes! My current tennies have been put through a lot lately on these northern California trails and I’ve been shopping around for a replacement pair. Lucky for me, Nordstrom has some great deals on Nikes! I love this running pair below, on sale for $54.90 ($80 After Sale).

ACCESSORIES

1- Personalized Pendant Necklace– Doesn’t everyone love a personalized touch? These necklaces give you just that! These dainty gold necklaces can be personalized with any word you want! I love bar pendant necklace in the middle. They make great gifts too; the modern day take on the friendship necklace. (BFF’s forever!) $44.90 ($68 After Sale)

2- Baublebar Drop Earrings– I have a flair for drama. I still love statement jewelry and these drop earrings are no exception! I love the color and bling they bring to an outfit. It makes dressing up basics and adding personality to an outfit a breeze! These earrings can’t be beat, on sale for $24.90 ($38 After Sale).

3- Ted Baker Bow Clutch– How adorable is this pink clutch? I am obsessed! Pink and bows, what more could a girl ask for?! This clutch will definitely add a fun pop of color to any outfit and on sale for $79.90 ($120), you can’t afford to pass it up!

4- kate spade Crossbody– kate spade is always a favorite designer of mine. I think the brand is fun, simple and has a sense of humor. I love this simple black and white crossbody below. I think it’s super versatile and could see myself wearing it everywhere! It’s on sale for $131.90 ($198 After Sale).

That wraps it up for my favorites! Are you planning on shopping this amazing sale? What will you be buying? Share your #nsale purchases below in the comments!

Turkey Burger Lettuce Wraps

Nothing feels more summer than a backyard barbecue. I love being outside, playing yard games and grilling out with friends. But what usually comes with a barbecue is unhealthy foods- like burgers, ribs and hotdogs. Don’t freak out! I’m not suggesting to get rid of burgers, (I love burgers as much as the next girl) I’m just offering a healthy alternative- Turkey Burger Lettuce Wraps!

With some easy substitutions, burgers become a healthy option you can feel good about eating. Just look how fresh and delicious they look!

First, you need to make your “bun”. To help keep these burgers healthy we ditched the bread. We love veggies, so swapping out the bun for a lettuce wrap was a no-brainer! These large romaine hearts work great for this. Make sure to cut up several leaves and layer them to give you the added crunch and to hold the burger together.

Next calorie-saving substitution- choose turkey over beef burgers. They are much leaner and still taste great! We love the Jennie-O turkey patties. These patties are already molded, you just have to throw them on the grill!

Now you have a bun and a burger, time to add your toppings. Get creative! We stayed classic for this one with pepperjack, ketchup, mustard and pickles. But other great options include a slice of turkey bacon, barbecue sauce, tortilla strips, etc.

We finished this meal with a side of fresh strawberries. Although chips are an easy side for a burger, fresh fruit is a much better option. You save calories and get WAY more nutrients. And summer is a great time to take advantage of all the delicious fruits that are in season.

With all the calories I saved on swapping out an ordinary burger for this turkey burger lettuce wrap, I think I earned myself a beer!

Now this is my ideal summer meal:

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GRAPHIC PRINTS:

STRIPES:

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BEAUTY EXCLUSIVES

SHOES

ACCESSORIES

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