massmusings

Thanksgiving and Hanukkah are just days away and if you're anything like me, you're being indecisive about what to wear. You probably also forgot to get the host a gift (hint: this is necessary especially if you are going to a non-family members home for the holidays). Have no fear my friends! I am here with a quick tutorial on how to throw together a last minute outfit/gift combo.

When in doubt, grab a dress and tights. I chose a festive red plaid and some embellished tights to add a little sparkle. Throw on some classic pumps and simple gold jewelry and you're good to go. Bonus points for a sequined clutch that carries all of your essentials. 

A gift for the host/hostess should be something simple and relatively small. If you are really in a pinch, opt for a nice arrangement of flowers from a local florist. Other ideas include a holiday themed ornament (make sure you check religious preferences before if you are going that route), well packaged bath soaps or unique candles, and of course any little nicknacks that speak to the personality or tastes of the host. 

I hope this helps and enjoy a full and fun week of eating and festivities!

Hey everyone! So it's Monday, and I don't know about you but I am struggling especially hard today at the office. I feel like everything is going wrong and it's just one of those days you know? So instead of giving you an earth-shattering fashion post, I'm going to post some of the things that I found while trolling the internet that made me laugh. Enjoy! We'll all get through this together... right? RIGHT?!

 First up is this video of the adorable Corgi twerking to Bubble Butt. So cute and way better at booty shaking than Miley.

Next is a series of incredibly sexual pictures of Heath Ledger. He may be gone from us but his legacy of good looks and phenomenal acting will always live on... at least for me. How did I come across these pictures? I googled him... I told you it's that kind of day. You're welcome. 

This addition was just found by my lovely co-worker Jenna. I mean really Police? How does this even happen?

Lastly, here is the HILARIOUS spoof of Kanye's terrible new music video. If this doesn't make you pee your pants, then I don't know what will. 

I'll admit, I jumped on the leather pants train pretty early. I think they are sleek, stylish, and can dress up an outfit with the perfect amount of edge. The splurge this week is PREEN Leather Front Ted Slim Pants. I love that they have a little bunching to create a more casual, slouchy look. Pair these bad boys with a baseball T and some chunk jewelry and you have yourself a unique take on the boy trend. The Save is Juicy Couture Faux Leather Jeans. This particular pair has a normal cut of a jean with the pockets, belt holes, and buttons to boot. If you are going for a more classic look, these are your pair. The Steal is the H&M Imitation leather trousers. As you know, H&M is my go to for on-trend styles at a lower price point. If you're looking to ease into the leather pants fad, this is your way. They're comfortable, fun, stylish, and perfect for a new twist on your going out ensemble. Enjoy!

Hi everyone! Today I did a guest post for A Daily Dose of Vitamin D! I was featured discussing versatile holiday attire for the upcoming weeks! Thanks to Dariel and I hope you enjoy it :) With the holidays quickly approaching I've gotten many questions regarding proper attire for such events. Have no fear, I'm here with outfits that you can use for multiple occasions! 

I know that Thanksgiving is falling right around High School Reunion time. You want to look nice and presentable for your family, but of course you need to look like a million bucks for all of those people you haven't (or have...) seen in years. These two outfits examples are perfect for either occasion. Both ensembles include leather which immediately dresses up an outfit. I love the subtle edginess of leather but I also love that it can look ultra feminine when paired with softer fabrics. The Madewell peplum shit with those emerald pants are to die for! I chose to go with pants because I'm from Maine, and it's wicked cold up there. While you could most definitely decide to wear black tights and a festive skirt, I think pants are best as they are easy to transition from day tonight, and can be more easily dressed down after a family party. 

While these outfits are just examples of what you could wear, I have created some guidelines for your holiday planning:

 1) Leather is always a great choice. 

2) Try to incorporate red and green in a non-cheesy way. It's easiest to do this by choosing a pattern or unique jewelry. 

3) The shoes make it! Go for something flirty and heeled: heels are appropriate for both a family party and a get together of friends.

 4)Timeless jewelry adds just the right amount of sparkle 

5) Make sure you have a solid clutch or bag that's big enough to hold all of your essentials. Not fun getting caught in inclement weather without gloves and chap-stick!

 I hope you have enjoyed my post and I would love to see your pictures on instagram of your holiday outfits! I'll be following the hashtag #massmusings all winter, so make sure you capture your creative brilliance! Thanks again Dariel and Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving and Hanukkah are quickly approaching with Christmas and New Years not far behind. Naturally, I've been spending my time scouring websites and stores, and obsessing over holiday patterns. When I saw this skirt from Topshop, I immediately knew that I wanted to pair it with a chunky knit sweater. I think that this J.Crew turtleneck is the perfect contrast to the skirt and creates a cozy aesthetic. Pair them with dark tights, some solid booties, and a pop of color in your bag and you're good to go! (Try a winged eye and red lip for extra holiday pizazz.)

I added a little something extra too, in case you didn't notice haha. We all know about my literal obsession with J.Crew, so of course I had to throw in the Schoolboy Blazer. 

Look out for more of the SSS segment next Friday on the blog. Until then, have a great weekend and Happy Shopping!

As some of you may have noticed, I now have a new layout! I'm still in the process of tweaking, but thanks to Chris, the awesome guy behind Hubby Jack's Blog Attack, I am on the road to an infinitely better layout than before. Stay tuned but in the mean time, please enjoy this super awesome vine compilation that has been cracking me up all day. 

 

A few weeks ago, my friend Katie texted me in a panic. She had just gotten hired at a new company that required a more corporate dress, much different than her teaching job with AmeriCorps. Knowing that feeling all too well, I decided the best thing to do was make her a series of outfits so that she could have guidelines while she shopped. This is one of the outfits I came up with. 

I chose to pair a larger scale plaid with a sleek, neutral pencil skirt. Pairing a top that is a little more casual with a structured, stereotypical corporate skirt keeps the outfit professional, but allows for comfort and movement. I kept the jewelry simple but couldn't resist these adorable blue platform pumps. I may have to snag a pair myself!

If you're like Katie and in need of some office inspiration, please email me at mass.musings@gmail.com. I would love to help you out and style some outfits as examples! 

 Hi everyone, It's finally here... Over the next few weeks, I will be revealing my new apartment! I have decided to do it room by room. Why? Because I'm a perfectionist and it will give me more time to make any changes I feel like making. Also, that way I can give you all more detail about what went into each room and where I found everything. I'm super excited to kick this off and I can't wait to hear what you all think of it! 

xoxo

This week's SSS features the classic black pump but in suede. I am a firm believer that every woman needs a solid pair of black heels. They go with everything, are neutral, and look sleek and professional. The Splurge is Christian Louboutin So Kate 120 suede pumps. There's not really much to say about them because Louboutins, in my opinion, are pretty much perfect. The Save is Stuart Weitzman for Scoop Suede Point Toe Pump. This pair has a sturdier heel and a slightly more rounded toe. The Steal is Zara Suede Leather High Heel Court Shoe With A Pointed Toe. Zara is my go-to for fashion at a lower cost. The quality is still good and you can pair these shoes with everything and let's be honest, this pair is the quintessential black heel. You can't go wrong.

Look out for more of the SSS segment next Friday on the blog. Until then, have a great weekend and Happy Shopping!

xoxo

Several weeks ago, I received my acceptance email from Lucky FABB and literally shrieked with joy! I was so excited to travel to NYC for the conference and for the opportunity to meet other bloggers and network. The conference was held on October 24th and 25th at the Times Center and Conde Nast building respectively. Unfortunately, I was only able to attend Day One of the conference due to conflicts with work but let me tell you, it was a blast!

The event included various panel discussions, brand experiences and a cocktail hour where we were all able to mingle with the editors of Lucky Magazine and discuss the events of the day. Below are my pictures from the event and from the great days in the city spent with my friend and fellow blogger Kelsey!

Community ROI: Turning Your Readers Into Your Advocates: (below)

A Style Conversation with Eva Chen (editor of Lucky) and Eva Mendes (below)

She was just as amazing as you would expect her to be. Add her to my girl crush list!

She even taught us how to style a fabulous head scarf.

A conversation with the fabulous and hysterical Bryanboy! (below)

Five Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make (below)

•  Hayley Phelan, Fashion News Editor, Lucky
• Lindsey Calla, Fashion Blogger and Stylist, Saucy Glossie
• Amber Venz, Blogger and Founder, RewardStyle
• Mattias Swenson, CEO, Bloglovin'

 

Can't get enough of her, she's such an inspiration and a sweetheart!

John is seriously my new favorite person. I could not stop laughing at his sarcastic sense of humor the entire time he was on stage. May or may not have creepily tweeted at him too...

A Style Conversation with Kate Bosworth (below)

She was incredibly well spoken and captivating. The style that she emanates is perfect and it was such a treat to hear her speak about her wedding, personal style, and of course her new collection at Topshop!

Please can we also appreciate how phenomenal her shoes are??

I feel like this picture is the perfect way to sum up my trip to NYC- it was such an exciting blur! Kelsey and I capped off Thursday with dinner in Times Square followed by cocktails at Wined Up where my friend works. It was so fun and I feel so blessed and lucky (pun intended) to have experienced all of it. Thanks for reading!

xoxo

Today I am sharing with you my first blog post ever. It's that time of year where I'm in desperate need of some skin hydration so I wanted to post this again, since let's be honest, probably no one even read it the first time because I had just started haha. Here it is:

I don’t know about you guys but I have a lot of random junk that has been piling up over the years. Among this junk is a lot of miscellaneous beauty products. Some of them are useful, some of them are for decoration (who doesn’t like pretty packaging), and some are just hidden behind the things that I actually rotate into my daily routine. 

While most of these products only stay around in hopes that one day I might actually use them, there are a few standouts that eventually earn their keep. My most recent finding is the Udderly Smooth cream that I purchased at a dollar store. At first I didn’t really see a need to switch lotions but I had heard random reviews about Udderly Smooth so, I decided to buy it (after all, it was only a dollar). 

This morning, while rummaging through my travel bag, I noticed the unassuming jar somewhere in the depths. Desperate for some skin hydration, I used it on my arms and hands. I must say, the fresh scent and serious ability to fight dry skin was enough to get me hooked. Now my arms and hands feel baby’s butt soft and I can go about my work not worrying about ashy arms.

xoxo

Thanks to Christine (far right) for entering this weeks challenge! I follow her on instagram (@seakay_photo) and she has absolutely gorgeous pictures that I like every single time. Do yourself a favor and follow her, you will not be disappointed. Congrats Christine! 

xoxo