Three Braided Buns

Today's post is a hair tutorial inspired by this look, found here. I wore it for an awards ceremony for an essay contest about women in science. It was very warm that day, so it was important for me to keep my hair up and out of the way. My hair right now is the perfect medium length to try all sorts of hairstyles - one of my favorite styles for camp has been a braided side bun (tutorial coming soon!). 

Here's a photo of the hairstyle. I like how all the braids played up the texture of my hair nicely! Having hair that is all the same color, it can sometimes be hard to achieve dimension. Braiding is one of my favorite techniques to create more texture. 

And here's the photo of me at the awards ceremony.

Outfit details: Dress: Lush via Nordstrom / Wedges: Franco Sarto via T. J. Maxx / Earrings: Urban Outfitters 

I went with a summery look with the cream lace dress (one of my favorite dresses - it's so versatile!), nude wedges. I accessorized the otherwise neutral-toned outfit with gold and jade earrings. 

A heat wave is hitting my town right now, making it very warm - wherever you are, please stay cool! Have a fantastic day. 

I Love Spring Tag - Michelle's Turn!

As soon as I saw Xuewei's post, I wanted to write my own! That's why I was delighted to see that she had tagged me. Here's my responses :) I'll have to admit, there's a reason why Xuewei is the makeup guru of this blog...

1. Favorite spring nail polish?

Image from product-girl.com

I actually don't wear a lot of nail polish (I'm not so good at applying it), but my favorite color is aqua and my favorite nail polish color is aqua as well. I love this one, Butter London slapper. It's bright and fun! 

2. What is your must-have lip color this spring?
My go-to lip color is usually Classic Chapstick (I said Xuewei, not I, was the makeup guru!) but if I were to choose a color that I like, it would be Fresh Rosé Lip Balm. I got this in a Sephora sampler and I love it. It's moisturizing and adds just the slightest hint of color.

Image from fresh.com

3. Show us your favorite spring dress!

I have so many dresses, it's actually really hard to choose! I'm liking the longer lengths this season, and I think this one will be my go-to dress this spring. I got it in the fall but I think the lace and neutral color will make it a wonderful layer. I wore it here: 

4. What's your favorite flower?

Hmm, this is a good question. I love flowers, and nature in general, but I've always loved the variety and color of tulips. They come in so many colors and their shape is just beautiful.

Image from theflowersavenue.com

5. Favorite spring scarf/accessory?

I think we all know what the answer to this question will be! My scarf, gifted from my grandmother, which you can see here, here, and here. 

6. What spring trend(s) are you most excited about this year? (Makeup, fashion or both!)
I am loving the intricate braids for spring and summer. As someone who loves to wear her hair long, sometimes it can be tough to keep it out of my face. Braiding it (and finding braid inspiration on Pinterest) is super fun. Here's my Hair and Makeup Pinterest board, where I'm constantly pinning my favorite looks. 

7. Favorite spring candle?
I'm usually not a candle user, but I really like this candle that we have at home. After reading what Xuewei had to say about the relaxing abilities of scents, I think I might give it a try! 

Image from pcfallon.com

8. Favorite body spray/perfume for spring?
My flute teacher recently gifted me Viva La Juicy, and I love how it's got a little hint of floral. It's not too overwhelming, and it's youthful. Although I don't usually wear perfume, I might use this more in the spring. Spring is always a great time for change! 

Image from juicycouture.com

9. What is spring like where you live?
Spring is like a refreshing breath of air after a long day. Although I like the winter, I find spring to be a pleasant change. However, my allergies have made it difficult for me to enjoy the start of spring. I hope this year I'll be able to enjoy it more! 

10. What's your favorite thing about spring?
I love how the weather gets better and warmer, but there are no pesky mosquitoes that plague me every summer! 

11. Are you a spring cleaner?
I don't mind organizing and I find myself doing it all the time, but there is something satisfying about cleaning in the springtime. In short, yes, I am a spring cleaner. A clean, neat and sunny room - that's what I love to see coming home from school.

12. Any plans for spring break or an upcoming vacation?

I had spring break a few weeks ago and I spent most of my time at home getting some well-deserved relaxation. 

I think this post was fun to write (thanks for the tag, Xuewei!) and I'm looking forward to the rest of the season :) 

Spring Green

By now, you've probably noticed that I like the color green...

Green is one of my favorite colors, as this cardigan can attest! My outfit matched the wreath on my door. Very springy and lovely! I chose this lace dress and green cardigan because the weather was so fantastic, and added the leather belt to pull it all together. The necklace was a mini DIY project - I took a LOFT hair tie that had a cute turquoise and gold embellishment and cut it to remove the embellishment. I never used that hair tie, but I thought the charm would make a great pendant necklace. Then I attached it onto a long chain from another necklace and created my one-of-a-kind necklace.

Outfit details: Dress: Lush via Nordstrom / Cardigan: Abercrombie and Fitch / Necklace: DIY / Belt: Vintage / Shoes: Sperry / Sunglasses: Google / Earrings: Urban Outfitters / Purse: Secondhand Vera Bradley

A closer look at the necklace...

I had this bag on but I took it off when the photos were being taken by my friend Liana! 

Photo from Wanelo.com

It was hard to see my earrings but I found this photo of them online. I like how dainty they are - I'm all about the little details! 

Hope you're having a lovely day. 

Western Chic

Shirt: Delia's, Skirt: Forever21, Shoes: From somewhere in China?

 Although I didn't notice when I first planned it out, the outfit reminds me of a Western-style cowboy with the chambray shirt and the brown belt. The black lace skirt adds a finishing girly touch to keep the outfit from becoming too cowboy-esque. The shoes probably could have matched better, but these are actually my only pair of sandals (I have to go shopping again!)

Bracelets: Forever21

I topped the Western Chic outfit off with some glam: metallic, studded bracelets.

Spring Staples

Lately when I've been planning my outfits, I find myself gravitating toward the same pieces, so I wanted to share those pieces with you. I consider these my Spring staples for this season, but they are all timeless items I am sure I will continue to turn to season after season. 

Floral Blazer
This staple is so easy to work into my wardrobe. Although many of my clothes are in the cool spectrum (blues, greens, and purples) I've found that this blazer pulls together my outfits that are in the warm spectrum (creams, pinks) and adds something special to black pants and dresses. As you can see in the following picture, the multicolored blazer pairs well with light blue. It's the perfect light layer to add to my Spring outfits on those cooler mornings that transform into sunny, warm afternoons. 

Seen on me:

Find it here: Save, Spend or I love this kimono style blazer, Splurge

Boat Shoes
Seen on me: 

Although they have a masculine silhouette, these shoes are surprisingly feminine when paired with classics. Now I've been wearing them with my denim and colored jeans, but I imagine wearing them with cuffed shorts and floral skirts when the weather gets nicer. An added benefit? They're waterproof, so I don't need to worry about getting them wet! They're super comfortable, and I can imagine exploring new places and going on bike rides and picnics wearing them all Spring and Summer. They come in all different colors and styles. I like how mine match almost everything in my closet - the plaid adds a bit of surprise and contrast. 

Find it here: Save, Spend, Splurge

Lace or Crochet Skirt
I bought one of these a few weeks ago at Forever 21 but I haven't gotten to wear it yet since it's still been chilly out, but I can tell that it is going to match so many of my tops. A cream crochet skirt is a great way to dress up T-shirts or dress down a button-up. It's right in between casual and fancy and therefore could go either way. When I wear mine, I'm going to make sure to keep the rest of my outfit simple, so that the skirt and its detailing can take center stage. Any color skirt could work, but I think cream is the most versatile since it can be paired with both cool and warm tones. 

Find it here: Save, Spend (on sale!), Splurge

What about you? What are your favorite Spring staples? Do you find that you keep reaching for the same pieces, or do you change up your wardrobe every day? 

Have a fantastic day! 

Love this!