You can never go wrong with a tweed jacket. I have always dreamt about owning a Chanel tweed. It's one of those iconic pieces that will never go out of style. While a Chanel doesn't fit into my pocketbook at this stage in my life, a Banana Republic one does. I was so excited to find this scallop tweed and additional 60% off the clearance price. I am the type of gal who always reaches for a great jacket when I don't know what to wear (see this post and this post), and this one is no exception. I was going for more of 'feminine meets masculine' and I paired it with bow heels and boyfriend jeans.
One goal of mine is to refine my style this year. I have found that quality over quantity is way more important and I would rather by staple and iconic pieces then to just fill my closet. Investing in beautiful jackets, quality sweaters, leather loafers and durable jeans will make your wardrobe much more wearable. A few of my favorite places to find quality pieces include: Banana Republic, J.Crew, Ann Taylor, Nordstrom Rack, The Loft, Gap, J.Crew Factory and Nine West (for shoes!).

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If life were roses and rainbows then a cute backless dress with heels would be exceptional for Valentines Day but - here in the Midwest our looks must be "winter-approved." This was my Valentine's Day look last year and all of these piece are classic and easily recreatable. I generally shy away from black - but black and pink look so sophisticated and chic together, I can't help myself!

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I wanted to start a new series each week that digs deeper into "life." Some of my most viewed posts are those that are raw and real (like this and this). I don't have all the answers, if any, but I have been through enough in my lifetime to provide some advice and knowledge that I believe is worthy of sharing.
To kick off the series, I wanted to talk about building confidence. This is something that hits close to home because I have struggled with confidence my entire life - I think everyone has. The key is to get to a point in your life where you stop caring so much about what everyone around you is saying and just love yourself.
You can bet I have been beaten down by words - I'm not good enough, I don't deserve happiness, I don't deserve a promotion, I'm big boned and broad, my face is ugly, I'm too sensitive.... You get the picture. We all know people are mean and will say hurtful things, my problem is that I care WAY too much about what people say and I let it effect all aspects of my life...including my confidence. I know I am not the only one who struggles in this area, and while it's something I still struggle with, I am getting to a point where I love myself more and more each day.

1. Surround yourself with positive people and remove those that add toxicity. It's amazing how much better you feel when you have support from those around you - and finding friends that treat you as though you deserve to be treated and vice versa. I may not have hundreds of friends but the ones I do have are those that build me up - not tear me down.

2. Live a healthier lifestyle. This year I started a great workout program and started eating cleaner. I cannot describe how much better I feel about myself. Not only is my mood uplifted but my body feels great from the food I am feeding it. In no way am I trying to lose 20 pounds but I want to be stronger, more toned, and lean. I'm not working out for anyone but myself - that's the key to this lifestyle. You can't live a healthier lifestyle unless YOU want it. I make healthier decisions, I workout with my good friends, and I push myself because I know I will feel great. Not only that but working out produces endorphins, endorphins make you happy (the words from Legally Blonde) and Whether it's starting small and trying a new workout 2-3x a week or trying a new healthy recipe once a week - each step you take will help you become the best you.

3. Don't depend on others for your happiness. If you are dependent on another person to make you happy - chances are, you won't be happy. Confidence stems from happiness. Sure, there are a handful of things in my life that don't make me happy but there are also a handful of things that do - such as great friends, working out, blogging, my new pup, and living on my own! My relationship fell apart last year because we became so dependent on each other to satisfy and make one another happy (among other things of course), the result ended in bitterness and toxicity. I have come to realize you have to find something worth living for - and whatever makes you happy - DO THAT.
4. Tell yourself (and treat yourself) that you are worthy. You are worthy of more than an abusive relationship, you are worthy of more than a job that takes advantage of you, and you are worthy of more than friends that tear you down. When you come to realize that you deserve the best and you are the best you, you can be - that is confidence. I have flaws and there are characteristics of myself that I don't love - but at this point in my life I am working to be the best version of myself I can be, and I love that. There is no greater feeling than feeling good about yourself and knowing your worth. Keep reminding yourself and treating yourself as you deserve to be treated.

If you have any other tips on building confidence please share below!

I don't think I have ever been more excited than I am for my trip to Paris. After 10+ years of dreaming of this faraway, beautiful place, I'm finally going! While my trip isn't until May I wanted to start putting together an itinerary now - that way I can add and change things as I learn more. Note: If you have ever been to Paris - please share all your travel tips and tricks below!

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While most of what I am listing are very common tourist attractions, I'm dying to stray off the beaten path and uncover the hidden gems of Paris (walking shoes are at the top of my list). Uncovering little cafés, vintage shops, beautiful architecture, and people watching are just a few of things I cannot wait to do!
1 // Eiffel Tower - This iconic tourist spot is at the top of my list. It's not every day that I will get to enjoy the beauty of Paris; it's my goal to take as many pictures as possible!
2 // Arc de Triomphe - Another beautiful spot that I think is sometimes overshadowed by the Eiffel Tower. I would love to go to the top and get a better view of the city.
3 // Louvre - It's not a trip to Paris without seeing the Mona Lisa.
4 // Versailles
5 // Jardin des Luxembourg - I am smitten for gardens and this one will be no exception. I foresee the weather in May being beautiful, making it perfect for a picnic in the park
6 // Tuileries 
7 // Square Louise Michel 
8 // Valois Vintage Paris - If you know of any fun vintage shopping in Paris, comment below! I would love to visit small boutiques and shops.

While I love dressing up, on the weekends you will generally find me in fairly casual attire. Whether I'm running errands, outside with the pup, or working at a coffee shop, I love being comfy! This Patagonia quilted pullover is hands down my favorite item in my closet, I'm thinking of getting the blue color.  

It never ceases to amaze me how often I dream of far away French and Parisian places. I am so excited for my first trip to Paris this summer - I've already started learning the colors in French (thanks J.Crew). I'm putting together a list of must-see's, must-do's, and must-eats that I will share n the blog but if you have ever been, please share your favorite places below!

Call me crazy; this weekend I decided to get a puppy. This has been an on-going "want" for about six months and I finally decided to go for it when this cute little pup kept showing up as available. Although I have raised a puppy before, I think I filed the sleepless nights, every two hour pee trips, leash training, crate training, and chewing on everything under things NOT to remember. I may come to work looking disheveled but she is so worth it.

When I was in MO for the holidays, the weather was so nice! Although the temperatures have dropped here, I love this bright sweater - it's perfect for layering and can easily be worn to work or on the weekends. If you aren't prepared for the cold weather temps - see this post I wrote last week - all items are on sale!

Reading has always been one of my favorite pastimes, although I don't have as much time these days I got a few new books for Christmas and I'm so excited! One of my favorites is Kayla Itsines' new 28-Day Healthy Eating & Lifestyle Guide - there are over 200 recipes (ranked easy to difficult) of healthy food options. A lot of the recipes require more preparation than normal but it's nice to have something else for dinner other than veggie pasta spaghetti. Another one of my favorites that I've started is Lauren Graham's book "Talking As Fast As I Can." If you are a Gilmore Girls fan then this is a must-read!

I've been adding more travel books to my collection as well. If I haven't shared already - I'm going to Paris and Belgium this year (hopefully more)! I love bookmarking must-see sites, places to eat, and views to see. One item on my bucket list is to travel to Europe, this will be my first time so I figured I should be prepared.

In the past, I have shared great coffee table books and a few of my all time favorites, and books for the dreamer and fashionista - take a look at these too if you are looking for more options! Also, share below some of your favorites from last year and what's on your reading list this year so I can put them on my list as well.

This is generally about the time when the winter season really kicks in. December has always been a fairly mild month here in Iowa, come January and February we will see a lot more snow and colder temperatures - thus, sweater season! In my opinion, you can't have too many sweaters. When it's -10 with a windchill you are going to wish you want a thick wool sweater! By now, most stores have their sweaters on sale so I tend to wait until the new year to purchase most of them. This fair isle sweater is one of my favorites. I sized up one because I wanted that "oversized" look. I have rounded up more sweaters on sale, see below!