Monday, October 26, 2015

Classy Houndstooth Poncho...



Poncho: Forever 21 | Sweater: Forever 21 | Denim: 7FAM | Booties: old, similar | Bag: Tory Burch | Sunnies: Ray-Ban | Necklace: J.Crew Factory | Watch: Michael Kors | Lipstick: Bobbi Brown - Soft Rose

When I was a young girl, my mom bought me a beautiful houndstooth coat to wear to nice functions. It was a gorgeous coat, and as a rambunctious pony-tailed girl who only wanted to play soccer, I think it was my first, undeserved taste of classic style (the amount of ranch dressing that was spilled on that coat was pitiful). Although I was the opposite of a budding micro-fashionista, I did develop a love for houndstooth. 

Fast forward 15 years...

Ok so I still want to dress in soccer shorts 80% of the time, however this poncho feels so much like a blanket, it's that comfortable (and flattering!).  It's perfect for those days where you just want to curl up in a blanket, but this poncho lets you do that without having to play hooky! I love that the print isn't too tight, so the pattern isn't harsh looking. I wore this to work the other day with a black long sleeve tee, ponte pants and these bow flats, and it was a comfy but classy work look.  


On another note - it's become clear to me that I need a black handbag. Seriously, how have I gone this long without one?? If you have any handbags that you love and want to share, please let me know! I'm thinking slightly smaller in size than my Tory Burch tote. 

Have a great day! xoxo

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Over-the-knee...


Cardigan: old, very similar & love this under $50 option  | Denim: PaigeBoots: Franco Sarto (under $100!!!!!!) | Bag: Tory Burch | Sunnies: Nasty Gal (sold out), exact version for $22 here | Watch: JORD c/o | Bracelet: Alex & Ani | Lipstick: MAC - Up the Amp

I could list a thousand different things I love about over-the-knee (OTK) boots. Seriously you guys, wearing OTK boots is such an easy way to add a bold statement to your look. First off, lazy girl fashion tip: when all your leggings are in the hamper, put on your favorite workout crops with some OTK boots and BAM! You have yourself some long and lean legs thanks to your sexy boots, and no one will even know you're wearing workout crops. Speaking of sexy, OTK boots will add just the right amount of spice to your Friday night outfit! I love wearing mine with leggings and jeans, and they can even look great with flirty skirts if done right (not going to lie, still trying to achieve that look "done right" :/). These boots from Franco Sarto are from last season, but I found them at Nordstrom Rack for under $100 - that's the cheapest, cute option I've found in stores this season!

Also, I'm loving this marled sweater - it's so lightweight and adds just the right amount of sophistication. I love how it drapes in front and isn't too slouchy. It would be adorable with a button down shirt or nice silk cami at the office! Mine is super old, but I found two very similar options and one is under$50!

Hope you're all having a great day! My mom came into town last night, so we had a fun night catching up and eating pasta! So worth the necessary spin class tomorrow morning! :)


Monday, October 19, 2015

Dressed Up Flannel...




Dress: TJ Maxx, similar here & here (love this option!) | Pumps: BCBGeneration (on sale!) | Bag: vintage Marc Jacobs, similar under $60 | Sunnies: Ray-Ban | Earrings: Chloe + Isabel c/o | Watch: Michael Kors | Lips: Liner - MAC Cherry, Lipstick - MAC Rebel

When Monday morning rolls around, all I want to do is wake up, go to spin, come back home and crawl back into my flannel pjs... can we all relate? There's something about Mondays that make me instantly tired no matter how lazy I was watching Netflix and eating popcorn in bed the day before. Sometimes I wish I could just wear my PJs to work and somehow that would make my Monday's 20 times more bearable...

Insert flannel shirt dress here.

When I'm working, I need to feel comfortable but also put together so that I don't feel like a total slob-kabob while running to meetings! That's why I'm a little obsessed with flannel shirt dresses as of late. First of all - they are the most mindless things to style! I swear all you have to do is add your favorite pumps or leather riding boots and some statement earrings and voila! A chic fall outfit that took you three minutes to throw together. Secondly, they're pretty darn warm when running from the office to happy hour. Now that it's getting frigid again in Iowa, I'm loving this comfy & cozy piece that transitions perfectly into different occasions. 

So basically, the flannel shirt dress has now made it semi-acceptable to wear pjs to work. 
I'm not mad about it.

Have a great Monday! xo!

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

My Daily Routine...


As a blogger, I'm often asked how much time I spend on the blog each day/week. Being that I work in creative fields, my days vary all the time! It's hard to be able to say exactly how much time each day I spend on the blog and other projects, however I know a lot of people who have just started blogging or are thinking about starting one often ask this question. Although blogging may seem lucrative and fun on social media, there's a lot more hard work, time and dedication that one might expect in order to maintain a consistent following. Scheduling out the time to blog is so important in order to be successful, so here's a peek into what a typical day might look like for me!

5:00am: Wake up and get dressed for spin class
My days usually start at 5am so I can have enough time to wake up and be ready for 5:45am spin class at my local YMCA. This doesn't happen every day or as often as I'd like, but it does help me start the day on a positive note.

5:45am: Spin class
Since I put this on here, I now HAVE to go to spin class tomorrow, right? HA!

7:00am: Shower, get ready, have breakfast and coffee, check blog post and analytics
 After spin (and a shower - no one looks or smells cute after spin!), I like to take a couple minutes to sip my coffee/green smoothie, watch the Today show and check on my blog post to make sure everything is working properly. This time of the day might be my favorite; I love seeing other blogger's posts in the mornings and finding really inspiring content!

8:30am: Drive to work
I live about a half hour from where I work, so I have to be on the road 30 minutes before work in order to get to the office on time! I don't mind the drive because it allows me to switch my focus from blog/personal to work.

9:00am: Open up the office & check emails
9am is when my "professional" life starts, and one of the first things I do is check my emails that came in during the night. I try not to respond to every email that comes in during the night, however if things are really important I always make myself available.

9:30am: Daily Staff Meeting
We have a 5 minute staff meeting everyday, and that helps me and our team stay focused on what we need to accomplish for the day. After this meeting, I'm usually off to meetings, writing press releases, or putting together some sort of details for an event.


Noon: Quick lunch and blog/Instagram check
I don't usually take a lunch, so instead I'll take 5-10 minutes to eat quickly and check out the blog and  Instagram! Around lunch time is usually when I will post an #ootd Instagram picture or a shot from that day's blog post. I also love to comment on other people's Instagram pictures when I love their pics!

Noon - 4:30/5pm: Off to meetings & finishing up professional work for the day
It's not everyday that I get off work at 5pm! I work in Events and Marketing for an economic development organization, so it's common for me to be out and about after 6!

5:30pm: Shooting pictures for blog
My mom takes most of my pictures, so when she's in town we'll try to schedule an hour after I'm done with work to take a few pictures of my outfit. This usually happens 2x/week and the rest of the photos are taken on the weekend. During the winter, all of my photos are taken during the weekend because it's dark outside by the time I get home from work. As you can imagine, during the winter my weekends are busy with blog work!

6:30pm: Dinner 
I do a lot of meal prep on the weekends, so usually when I get home all I have to do is take something out of the crock pot or throw chicken in the oven for 20 minutes to make a yummy dinner via Pinterest

[Pinterest]

7:00pm: Drinks with friends
I have a pretty close group of friends in Okoboji, and we love getting together at least once a week to have drinks or see some live entertainment. They keep me sane!

9:00pm: Blog post writing & relaxation time
Late at night is when I have the most time to write my posts for the next day. Sometime I have to triple check my grammar because I'm pretty tired at this point in the day, but it's not common I have to change wording after the post is live! For each post, I download the pictures from my camera, do some light editing if needed, adjust the sizing, upload selected pictures to the blog, find all the clothing that I'm wearing via Shopstyle and link them to my post, and write the content. To do all of that, it usually takes 2 hours to create one blog post. I always schedule out my posts for the same time each day - 5:00am CST. That way my readers can expect when to see new content and I don't have to wake up before 5am to maintain consistency. 

10:30/11pm: Make a cup of tea and go to bed!
I'm currently obsessed with Detox Yogi Tea, so I'll make a small cup of that (it's caffeine free!), light a candle and crawl in bed for a few minutes of solitude before falling asleep.

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Sorry for the novel! Have a great Tuesday!

Monday, October 12, 2015

Fine China...







Vest: J.Crew (color no longer available) | Blouse: H&M | Denim: Paige | Pumps: J.Crew Factory | Bag: Tory Burch | Sunnies: Nasty Gal - only $20! | Watch: Michael Kors | Bracelets: J.Crew Factory, Alex & Ani | Lipstick: Bobbi Brown - Pale Mauve 

I love the look of blue and white china. When I was growing up, my grandparents' kitchen was decorated in blue and white tiles that looked exactly like the fine china you see in department stores, so every time I see a blue and white print is brings me back in time! This top from H&M definitely gives off that vibe and is an easy shirt to wear either at work with a pencil skirt or with jeans on the weekend. I think I like this look even better without the pink vest, but I had to include those pictures because I love the vest by itself! I got the vest in the pink color a few years back, however J.Crew has a ton of other fun colors. I love the olive green color for fall!

Hope you all had a great weekend! I was celebrating a wedding on Saturday and slept in on Sunday/worked on projects. After a week-long break from work, I think I'm ready to get back to the office and to my normal routine (including 5:45am spin...never thought I'd see the day!)

xoxo

Friday, October 9, 2015

Instagram Updates | @libby_glaser

 I haven't done an Instagram update in awhile so I thought I'd share all that's been happening over here! As you all know I'm on the last day of my "stay-cation" before the weekend starts, and let me tell you, this week has been kinda amazing! I've never drank so many lattes, taken so many drives around the lake, and worked so hard on my editorial calendar for new blog posts! 
Yesterday's outfit [see post here]
 Still obsessed with the Tory Burch Robinson Double Zip...
 So I tried the Toasted Graham Latte from Starbucks on Monday... and I was pleasantly surprised! Not nearly as sugary as the #psl, which personally I like. The only negative is that it was way over $5 for a grande, so not an everyday purchase in my opinion.
 A new outfit coming to the blog next week! I'm obsessed with this flannel plaid shirtdress.
 Some of my favorite versatile pieces [see post here]
 I'm currently working on a gallery wall for my apartment, so a Hobby Lobby trip was a must! They have some of the cutest wall art and frames and their prices are waaaaaay cheaper than all the online warehouse stores!
 On Wednesday night I went to a local brewery with friends and they had - wait for it - a PUMPKIN PIE ALE. [#basic] Not going to lie, it was delicious and after a #psl that afternoon I basically ODed on pumpkin but it was the tastiest brew I've ever had!
From earlier this week [see post here]
Another look from one of my favorite outfits on Stylin' Iowan + tips to make your legs look long and lean! [see post here]

Have a great weekend! See you all on Monday :)

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Friday Night Inspo...

 
Vest: Forever 21 | Shirt: old, similar HERE, HERE & HERE | Pants: Nordstrom (no longer available), very similar | Heels: Banana Republic (obsessed!) | Clutch: Betsey Johnson | Earrings: Nordstrom | Watch: Michael Kors | Bracelets: J.Crew Factory, Alex & Ani | Lipstick: Bobbi Brown - Soft Rose 

My Friday and Saturday nights usually consist of two things: good friends and drinks downtown. Hanging out with friends is always a fun time, however I hate how hot I get in the bars! That's why I LOVE faux fur vests - they're easy to throw on over a blouse or lightweight sweater but they're not too bulky or hot when you're stuck in a corner booth. Plus they're so chic for the colder months! I bought mine from Forever 21 I think a year ago,  but I'm obsessing over a lot of their faux fur vests from this season too. I really like this shorter version too - it's on my wish list for Christmas! Yes I've already made my wish list... 

On another note, I'm now on day 4 of my "stay-cation" and I've actually been quite productive! My mom was in town most of the week, so we spent a lot of time shooting blog posts and running errands for our weekend plans. I'm a personal attendant in a wedding this weekend so I've been prepping for that! Woohoo for, yet again, another wedding! I think this is my last one until next spring... but we'll see!

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Favorite Versatile Pieces...

If you're a longtime follower of this blog, you've probably noticed that I like to rotate items in my closet every season. Like every 23 year old, I live on a budget, so it's important for me to invest in pieces that I can re-wear in different ways! Today I'm excited to share 8 different ways I re-wear some of my most favorite, versatile pieces in my closet!
   ^^^sneak peak of next week's outfit!  
Item #1: Quality Denim 
Every girl NEEDS a pair of quality denim jeans because it's a sure thing that you'll wear them over and over again. Jeans are so versatile to wear; they can be dressed down to run errands or they can be dressed up with a blazer for the office (like above!). I'm a firm believer that if you invest in one nice pair of flattering jeans, you'll find that's the only pair you'll need. I love this pair that I bought during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale because they fit true to size and they hug my figure without losing shape like a "jegging" would. They are a true denim pant in every aspect. 
Favorite denim brands: Paige, 7FAM, J Brand

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Item #2: Floppy Hat
Floppy hats are my new favorite piece for fall - they add an instant chic-factor to almost any outfit! I love wearing mine while wrapped up in slouchy sweaters and turtlenecks. They definitely give off a 70's vibe that's very "in" this season! What's even better is the price point for my hat - $28! There are a ton of hat options at affordable price points, and they are easy to find at your local department store. 
Favorite fall hats: HERE, HERE & HERE

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Item #3: Investment Bag
So I went back and forth for 2 years before I decided to pull the trigger on this bag. I do not regret this purchase one bit! This bag is so superior to all the other bags I've ever owned. The leather is so soft and it's roomy enough for a wallet, laptop, cell phone, coin purse, etc. It was definitely an investment that I saved up for, but I know it's something that I will carry for years to come. If it's been on your wish lists for months (or in my case, years) and you can swing it, you will not regret investing in one of these bags!
Favorite designer bag brands: Tory Burch, Kate Spade, Michael Kors

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Item #4: Animal Print Pumps 
You'd be surprised, but I wear these pumps more often than not! To me, animal print pieces can be considered a neutral in your closet, so I tend to wear these pumps with solid color dresses for special occasions, black ponte pants for at work and with my favorite jeans for a fun night out with friends. They are seriously beautiful and not to mention versatile!
Favorite animal print pumps: HERE, HERE & HERE

Thanks so much for reading! xoxo

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

3 Tips to Make Your Legs Look Long and Lean...

Sweater: Brooks Brother (similar), similar herehere & here (under $80!) | Pants: Nordstrom | Boots: Forever 21 | Bag: Tory Burch | Hat: Nordstrom | Sunnies: Nasty Gal (look exactly like Prada's but only $20!) | Watch: JORD c/o | Bracelets: J.Crew Factory, Alex & Ani | Lips: Liner - MAC Cherry, Lipstick - MAC Rebel

I'm always looking for ways to make my legs look longer! I'm just under 5'6" so I'm not really short or tall, but I do think my legs are probably one of my favorite thing to accentuate! Over the years I've discovered a few tricks to help me achieve a long and lean look, so today I'm sharing with you a few tips that I think you will enjoy:

1. Matching your shoes to your pants can definitely create a streamlined look! This works especially well when you're wearing black pants and black boots/heels like I did in today's outfit. Additionally when you're wearing skirts or dresses sans tights, it's important to wear nude pumps or sandals to not create a break in your legs! This will help make them look super long and lean.

2. Anytime you add heeled pumps or boots will give you more length, but the pumps/boots you're wearing should definitely have a round or pointed toe! The pointed toe will give the appearance of more length and will also draw the eye upward!

3. Your shoes and pants aren't the only pieces that can match - try wearing a monochrome look! Wearing only one color from head to toe will help make your entire body look more lean and long. 

On another note, I'm a little obsessed with this sweater poncho! I love how soft it is and there are so many ponchos out in stores/online at almost any price point. I've found some amazing options for fall and winter in the widget below! Have a great day! Thanks for reading.