Marika Activewear for Everyday Life

Happy Wednesday ya'll! We are back to our weekly posts! Yay! Marika recently sent me some of their amazing active-wear, truly I love this brand so much! They are my favorite active-wear brand and I love that they support women of all shapes and sizes and make super comfortable and cute active-wear that can take you from gym to out and about!

If you've followed me for awhile you know that I love this brand and love having pieces in my wardrobe that can be used at any point in any situation! Marika have super fun prints and styles that keep your active-wear fun and fashionable, perfect for everyday!

We are heading on a trip later this week and you better believe I'm wearing some Marika on the plane, keeping it comfortable and practical for the flight. You can take this outfit from gym to Target or out for a quick bite, their pieces are perfect for the woman on the go that want to be comfortable and stylish! 

Make sure to check out my look below and check out Marika HERE

Custom Made Business Cards with Basic Invite

Business cards are a must no matter what profession you're in and Basic Invite makes it really easy to create fun custom business cards. I recently teamed up with Basic Invite to create my own custom made business cards for my blog and love the result. It's super easy and they have tons of options for every element of the business card.  Check out my design below!

I'm excited to create other fun products with Basic Invite! They also has several other paper products including invitations for absolutely everything, photo christmas cards, stationary, and fancy business cards to name a few. There are also several things that make Basic Invite different from other paper printed products including:

Almost Unlimited Colors 

Basic Invite is one of the few websites that allows customers almost unlimited color options with instant previews online. Once you select a design you can change the color of each element on the card to over 180 different color options so you can make sure the card is exactly how you want it down to the littlest detail. This is what we feel sets us apart from almost any other online stationery company and is what we feel is our biggest draw.

Custom Samples 

Basic Invite is one of the few websites that allows customers the ability to order a printed sample of their actual invitation so they can see exactly how it will print as well as the paper quality before they ever have to place their final order.

Over 40 Different Colors of Envelopes 

Basic Invite is just as colorful with our envelopes as we are with our invitations. Customers can choose from over 40 different colors when it comes to their envelopes so that they can make their invitation stand out even before it is opened. All of our envelopes are peel and seal so the envelopes can be quickly and securely closed.

Address Capturing Service 

Basic Invite offers an address capturing service that allows customers to simply share a link on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other form of social media to request their friends and family’s addresses which will be stored in the customer’s account and can then be selected during the design process. Basic Invite offers recipient address printing at no cost on all Christmas card orders.

Foil 

Foil cards are available in gold, silver, and rose gold. Customers can choose flat or raised foil on all of Basic Invite’s foil designs.

Below you can find some other examples of their fun products! 

Make sure to check out https://www.basicinvite.com/

Sponsored by Basic Invite, all opinions are my own.

Healthy Lifestyle Gains

Here's to another Wednesday! I'm changing it up a bit and sharing some active wear with you all. The gym and I have a different relationship. I grew up ballroom dancing and do still dance but definitely not as much as I did growing up. Of course once I graduated college and started my full time career me and the gym grew even further apart. My first job out of school was on the opposite end of town and I drove an hour to and from work everyday so needless to say when I got home the last thing I wanted to do was workout or eat well. I still battle with this issue, 3 years later, different commute, different job, but a different outlook.

I for the last few months have been focused on the exercise of course but mostly focus on the food. I cut WAY back on soda, sugar, and fast food and sway more towards water, lean protein, fruits, and veggies. Working a desk job I clearly don't move much throughout the day so I make sure to take the stairs and walk when I have a free minute and tend to concentrate on step count on the day to day (of course I still try to hit the gym a few times a weeks also). Between the conscious effort on eating better and moving I can already see a difference and so can others. It amazing that a little goes a long way. 

Anyways on the subject of active wear, this set is from Ellie the subscription box service y'all have heard me talk about several times. I love the sets they send each month and how cute the pieces are, it's motivation to get your butt in gear! Make sure to check them out!

I would love to hear your fitness journey! Comment below! :)

Photos: Lacey Irving Lifestyle

May Favorites

Happy June Everyone! How is it already the middle of the year?! Like are you kidding!? Anyway's it's time for a monthly favorites since I haven't done one in awhile. Here are some things that have been my favorites for months now and these are definitely all perfect things for summer!

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To start off I have a few pieces that have been my go to's lately that you can tell from my previous posts are basically what I live in during the summer time. Especially with super high temps already in the sunshine state you can find me living in shorts, t-shirts, and rompers! My go to places to find these pieces are Old Navy and Loft my favorite places to get clothing at a steal! Everything it linked for ya'll as well so just click on the photo and it will take you to the site!

Next up are my favorite summer accessories! My favorite sandals are again from Old Navy and I have been living in these! I have them in two colors and am planning to snag a few more colors because I can't imagine life without these sandals, seriously the best! Next up this pineapple clutch is great for running around town or even a lunch date, nothing to serious just super fun and gives a little something extra to your outfit! Lastly this LC by Lauren Conrad hat is my ride or die whether the beach or the pool or lounging outside you can find me in this hat! It's the perfect floppy hat to protect you from the sun and I adore the embroidery detail on the back, a must have!

Last but not least I wanted to share a few beauty favorites that are essentials to my everyday routine, especially the primer and the spray. I'm obsessed with Pixi sprays, ALL OF THEM! They are amazing and each of them are so essential to me! The Origins primer is everything! This primer has changed my makeup forever, everything applies better and lasts longer and doesn't suffocate your pores, it's amazing! Finally this lip color from Colourpop and Kathleen Lights is super perfect for Summer and is the perfect orangy red and can be worn with everything! 

Hope you all enjoy this post and let me know what your monthly favorites were below!

Top 7 Travel Essentials

Happy Thursday everyone! I wanted to sit down and talk travel essentials for a few minutes. I have several trips planned for this year and am working on booking more trips and have quickly learned that we all have our basic things we bring on every trip. That being said I have 7 travel essentials besides basic necessities that I take with me on every trip I go on and they really have come in handy recently with all our traveling. Check out my top 7 travel essentials below and let me know your must haves when traveling!  

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1. Of course first things first is my suitcase. I recently invested in a hard shell suitcase from iFLY that is super cute but also heavy duty. I love how easy it is to pack and how much it holds. I only travel with a carry on suitcase as it saves time and money when traveling as well! I've linked my suitcase below as well as a few others I love!

2. Next thing is a toiletry bag. I'm obsessed with my Genoa Voyager Toiletry Bag from Hudson + Bleeker. This bag is perfect for traveling whether just escaping for the weekend or leaving on a 2 week excursion you will want this bag with you. I'm nortorious for packing several different bags for different things and this keeps it simple. I pack this bag for toiletries and another for makeup that's it. Find my bag linked below along with a few others that I adore!

3. Makeup is my kryptonite and I can't travel without it, needless to say I need a bag that can take it. My friend Mer got me my current makeup bag that I adore for traveling as it has a seperate area for brushes and is durable and easy to clean. It's the perfect size and highly recommend having a makeup bag like it that can withstand the travel. Again I've linked my bag below along with other recommendations. 

4. Of course you need your travel sized toiletries for your trip. I always have my shampoo, conditioner, face wash, perfume, and micellar water. I pick up all my travel sized toiletries at Ulta and Target. Below are some of my favorites that I take everywhere with me.

5. Every time I travel I always make sure to have a sweater, doesn't matter if I'm going to the hottest destination or not I always have a sweater for the plane or if you happen to get chilly out to dinner or something. My must have cardigan is from White House Black Market, below are some other favorites too.

6. Up next I always travel with flats, or whatever is your most comfortable walking shoe because let's be honest you don't want to be stuck without comfy shoes. Never travel without shoes that you can live in because when you travel you never know what you'll be doing. Again some favorites linked below.

7. Final must have for travel besides the absolute necessities is a basic T-shirt and some jeans because you can't go wrong with that outfit. Casual and comfortable is the absolute way to travel. My go to as you all know is Old Navy and Loft for my casual looks check out some must haves below.

Hope you all enjoyed this post, please let me know your travel must haves in the comments below!

Top 10 Moments of 2017

This year has been one for the books! Truely blessed for all the amazing memories made this year and can't wait for an AMAZING new year with several fun trips and things booked! For now I'm sharing my top 10 moments from 2017! Hope you all enjoy and have an amazing new year!

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January:

Started 2017 with a a few collabs with Glo Skin Beauty for both New Year's and Valentines Day! This brand is amazing and I love working with them and am obsessed with their products!

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February:

I attended Taco Talk in February and am so grateful for all the amazing bloggers/creatives I met and the relationships I have built with some of them!

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March:

I started the T-Shirt Shop Series which became one of the most popular topics on my blog! It will be making a come back in 2018 for the summer time!

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May:

We started summer with hitting St.Pete for Cinco de Mayo! Not only did the weather hold up for us but everything was amazing! 

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On May 20th I got engaged to my best friend! I will be sharing our engagement story soon once we actually take enagement photos! I'm so excited and was super shocked! Love you babe!

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June:

One of my favorite memories from 2017 was our Daytona Beach trip with Mer and Chris! This trip was the most amazing time and can't wait to make our way back there in the new year!

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I had the honor of working with Marika Active-wear on the #MarikaCurves campaign! It was such a pleasure shooting their amazing brand and standing for such an amazing movement! 

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July:

We had a blast on our trip to Miami to see the Dodgers play and hit the beach! I can't forget the food and hope to make it back next year to visit The Museum of Ice Cream!

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August:

Went back to SRQ to write a special guest post about Sarasota and what better way to do that than to hit the beach and showcase the true beauty of my favorite city!

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December:

I finished the year by visiting family up north in the freezing cold and celebrating Christmas and my birthday! Probably some of my favorite moments, visiting family and having everyone I love together! I turned 26 and can't be more excited for this fabulous new year! And to top it off LC by Lauren Conrad posted on their social media handles about a recent look on the blog! **OMG MAJOR HEART EYES** so thankful!

I hope you all have a safe New Year's Eve and Happy New Year! I can't wait for all the fun things to come in 2018! 

Black Friday Haul

Even though it is officially December and only 20 days until Christmas several of you asked for my Black Friday Haul! I shopped all the sales from Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday and can say I'm done shopping and even scored some amazing deals for myself! 

My go to stores are always the following:

For clothes: I always hit Old Navy for clothing for everyone. Whether you are looking for your mom, your sister, your boyfriend, you can always find amazing deals at Old Navy, especially on Black Friday! (other favorites for clothing includes Loft, Banana Republic, and Kohl's)

For electronics, movies, & music: Target is a must for anything on Black Friday and Cyber Monday but especially for steals on electronics, movies and music! Movies and TV shows start around $4 and max at $10 and music starts somewhere around $6. If your anything like me this is when I stock up on new music and movies!

For paper products & planners: Rifle Paper Co. is one of my favorite stores ever! I always plan on buying my new years calendar and planner on Black Friday from Rifle! They always have a great discount at this time and I also grab a few Christmas cards and stocking stuffers while I'm at it!

For cosmetics: Colourpop is my go to regardless because you can't beat the prices but for Black Friday they pulled out all the stops and had sales and specials galore! Needless to say I stocked up for myself and my friends! (other favorites include Ulta and Sephora)

For jewelry: I said it last year but Dillard's always kills it with the fashion jewelry being an extra half off and the selection is beyond! Also BaubleBar had an amazing sale for the holiday so I grabbed a few things for myself!

Below I've linked several things I purchased myself as well as things that are on my wishlist still, hope you all enjoy this Black Friday Haul!!! 

Fall Collab with KRZA by Krystle Dawn

If you have been with me since the beginning of my blog you have definitely seen KRZA around! I'm so excited to be collaborating with Krystle from KRZA by Krystle Dawn! She gave me one of my first brand rep opportunities and it meant the world to me when I was first starting out that someone would take me on as a brand rep! After being a brand rep for several seasons I'm so excited that we are finally collaborating on Lifestyle with Laramie! Below you will find a Q & A with Krystle on being a business owner and girl boss extraordinaire! She's such a sweet person and I hope you all love learning more about her, as well as check out some of her current pieces! Keep scrolling there might be a surprise for you towards the end!

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What made you want to make headbands?

When I was in my last semester of design school I would take scraps of fabric and my instructor said I looked great in what I was creating and that I should sell headbands. I started my business about a month later and never looked back.

How do you balance your business and personal life?

I don't think I've found the answer to this question yet. I think my idea of balance wouldn't really work for anyone else. I feel the most balanced when I'm creating or at my sewing machine. So I guess my personal life is my business. Of course I love a good comedy show every now and then. And I take Sunday's off for football. That's my balance lol!

How do you go about choosing the colors and prints for your pieces?

I create about 90% of my prints. I found an artist who speaks to my brand. When I have a print idea I text her and we work on the prints until it's what I envisioned and then I have it printed for my shop. As far as colors I took color theory and textiles in college so I get to put all of that knowledge to use every season when choosing solids.

What advice would you give fellow girl bosses and creatives?

Work hard. Don't compare yourself to anyone else. Always just focus on your shop and you'll come out on top. I'm not suggesting to be mean or selfish, but sometimes there's a lot of drama in the small shop community and some people can let it bring them down and nothing good can come of that.

What is your favorite style and print personally?

I wear the faux turban the most. I have a big head so it really narrows my head. My favorite print ever is my Quartz print. I'm really into crystals, the moon, and space so I went to my artist and asked if she could paint me some crystals and she did such an amazing job. I don't think I'll ever not carry the Quartz print. My logo is also a crystal which is a play on my name. So it fits my shop perfectly.

What is the most rewarding part of your business?

Meeting awesome customers. Being a small shop owner is stressful. You're usually doing everything alone. So sometimes it can feel like you're not doing enough or you are failing, but then you get a message from a customer saying your item made their day or they feel confident wearing it and it really is the best feeling in the world.

What is the meaning behind your brand name?

KRZA doesn't stand for anything. It's not an acronym. It's actually my nickname from when I was younger. I love hip hop and Wu-Tang so my cousin nick named me KRZA since there were cousins in the group named RZA and GZA. My shop name is so close to my heart and it helps me stand behind every item I create. It's a piece of me.

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Below you will find some new looks from KRZA! 

Want to shop KRZA by Krystle Dawn? Click HERE 

10/2 until 10/5 use code LWL20 to get 20% off your purchase!

Featured below is the

"Skinny Turban" in Rising Tide & "The Halo" in Rosebud Velvet

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3 Inexpensive Ways to Redecorate

Do you ever get bored with your decor? I am always looking for easy and inexpensive ways to change up the look of my apartment without breaking the bank! I'm giving you my three go to's when it comes to changing up the look of my home.

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First way to change up your space is with new artwork! This is super easy as there are tons of sites now that offer inexpensive art prints and posters that you can frame with different and unique frames to give the look dimension. Other fun things can be used to display such as maps of cities you love or even your own photography printed in a fun way! These things will make your space different and unique and how easy is it to just change out photos and prints?! Some of my favorite sites are Society6 for artprints, Modern Map Art for maps, and Parabo Press & Nations Photo Lab for prints of your own work!

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Another great way to change up your surroundings is by changing your throw pillows, whether it be on your bed or on the couch, changing the pillows can make a big difference. Changing out your throw pillows doesn't have to cost you much either. Several places including Target and Ikea offer inexpensive pillow covers, making it easy to change out your look by simply changing out the pillow cover, without buying tons of different pillows. 

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One more thing to change your space is change your accessories. This could be putting a cute  stack of books on the coffee table our a cute vase of flowers on the kitchen table. Something simple can make all the difference, making your space different and inviting. Add fun touches that speak to your personality! I love tropical prints and pineapples right now so I might add elements like that in my home. Express your personality with this one! I love going to TJ Maxx, Home Goods, and Marshall's for things like this! 

Let me know your favorite ways to change up the look of your home in the comments below!

Curvy Girl Campaign #MarikaCurves

Marika Clothing recently approached me about their new curvy girl campaign and I couldn't be more excited for this opportunity! I'm a curvier girl but still very into health and fitness! I love that the brand is focusing more on real, curvy women! How inspiring is that?! Over the last 4 months I have been focusing more on my health and wellness really trying to focus on a healthier lifestyle. I have been hitting the gym 3-4 times a week and being more cautious of what I'm eating, guys it really makes a difference! I've lost almost 10 lbs and just keep feeling better about myself! For all these reasons and more I couldn't be more exited to team up with Marika for the curvy girl campaign! I hope to inspire other young women to love their bodies, whatever their shape and size! Below you will find some new pieces from Marika's new shape wear line! Make sure to check out Marika and all there pieces on their site HERE!

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Featured pieces:

Seamless sports bra 

Butt Booster Capri Legging 

Ultimate Slimming Capri Legging

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Tropical Inspired Bar Cart

Summer is upon us, especially here in Florida! I've been loving the tropical theme lately that seems to be taking place right now and I used this as inspiration for my bar cart! So I grabbed a few key things to take my bar cart from classic to tropical! 

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Let me talk about these pineapple mason jar glasses...obsessed. These are from Sur La Table and they are super inexpensive. They are super cute for a beach getaway or poolside with a pina colada! These mason jars are currently on sale for half off which is a steal, highly recommend! I also had a great experience with their customer service and would highly recommend shopping with them. 

The flamingo margarita glasses are also perfect in keeping with the tropical theme and could they be any cuter? These are from Kohl's and are currently on sale for half off! Again I always enjoy shopping with them and always get a great deal! 

Behind the glasses you will see 2 cute carafes, these are from Target! I love these for water or juice on the cart and think they are so adorbale, target gets me everytime! My mom actually bought me the pineaplle one!

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The super chic bar napkins are also from my parents, they gave me these on Easter. How cute are they?! These I believe are from Sur La Table as well! The details on these are super sweet! The trim is adorabale and each napkin has something tropical on it; a flower, a flamingo, a palm tree, and a pineapple! Too cute!

My mom also got me the cute pineapple lights that are hanging on the vision board above the bar cart as well as the pineapple decoration next to the napkins! My mom is the sweetest! 

The rest of the bar cart is just the basics. In the four squares of the bar cart I just keep steamwear and cocktail glasses as well has two gold storage bins that keep extra napkins and appetizer plates for small bites with drinks. The bins are from TJ Maxx and are perfect stoarage solutions for anything! 

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Below is the final outcome of these trocial things on the bar cart! Hope you all enjoyed this post and have a wonderful summer season! 

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Below are the exact or similar items for you to click on!

New Beauty Products & What I Think!

I have been trying out a lot of new beauty products lately and wanted to give you all the low down on all these fun new things! I am always shopping around for new skincare, haircare, and cosmetics and love to share when I find things I really love! Here are just two of the brands I've been loving recently!  

Formula 10.0.6

I have to start with Formula 10.0.6. This brand has really blown me out of the water with their products. The quality is amazing and the products do exactly what they say! You can shop these products online as well as find them in local retail stores, such as Ulta and Old Navy. I also really appreciate that the brand uses fresh, natural ingredients specifically formulated to promote clear and healthy skin, isn't that what we all strive for?! Formula 10.0.6 graciously sent me these products to try and I can honestly tell you I am really impressed with this brand! The masks especially have to be my favorites! I've been using these products for about a month and love what they have done for my skin!

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J'aime My...

Next up is The brand J'aime My... this is a new hair line that is carried exclusively at Ulta and was created by Franck Provost, one of the top hair stylists in the world. First I die for the packaging, I love the foiled look, I also love the shape of the bottle, guaranteed you will not waste any product! I've been using these products for a few weeks and love how my hair feels and the scent is like I just left the salon! These products are great and perfect for all hair types! Thank you also to J'aime for sending me some products!

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You can find the products discussed here:

Formula 10.0.6

J'aime My...