Plaid You’re Here??

With fall comes plaid.  Of all the prints synonymous with fall this graphic pattern is as fresh and chic as ever. It is timeless, versatile, and available in a myriad of flattering color palettes.

Getting my fall look in check(s) in this pair of plaid trousers. It is the most accessible way to tap into the plaid trend and get it right. Straight legs are great with a pair of ankle boot or try wide-leg pants with all-white sneakers for a super cool look. Pair with a cozy turtle neck sweater and you are good to go.

Scroll down for more plaid looks to get you inspired.

Doc Marten Boots | Pants | Turtleneck Sweater | Plaid Blazer | Plaid Shirt

Fall Boots to Wear Now??

Footwear really sets the tone for an outfit, and it’s a great way to transition a look with the change of seasons. I’ve been anxiously waiting to wear my new boots from Shoe Dazzle.  However, with the warmer weather we’re having boot weather isn’t quite in full swing yet.  So, I decided to pair some of my favorite summer dresses from my closet with my new fall boots. Going tights-less while the weather allows?

Love these western-inspired Talah ankle bootie featuring a block heel, pointed toe, and side zipper closure.
I loved pairing my romantic summer dress with these Annabeth Quilted Flat over-the-knee boots featuring a quilted front panel, stretchy neoprene back and buckle detail.
This chic Equestrian-Inspired look has to be one of my favorites. Will probably be adding a blazer next week. You never know what this New England weather will surprise you with ?

Which are your favorite boots to wear right now? Ankle boots or Over the Knee Boots?

*Sponsored by Shoe Dazzle

Photo Credit: Andrew Swaine

Find Your Perfect Fit with Eshakti

Easy to wear and effortlessly feminine, nothing spells out chic like a perfectly tailored jumpsuit.  We know that purchasing a jumpsuit that fits your body perfectly is key to looking polished and put together.  But shopping for jumpsuits can sometimes be a little intimidating especially if you’re shopping on-line.  You don’t want to end up with a jumpsuit that makes you look shorter or wider than you are.

That’s when made-to-measure eShakti comes in.  eShakti tailors each individual garment to the customer’s size, body type and in some cases style preference. Buyers can get the kind of neckline, sleeve and length they require. Customers also have the option of changing some details to the garment, too, like a straighter silhouette or longer length.

 

This is my first garment from eShakti and I am so impressed with the quality and service I’ve received. I feel spoilt with the personalized touches and the fit is perfection. Have you tried eShakti? What was your experience? If you have not, you need to check them out.

 

It’s an incredible time right now where there’s a tremendous push for personalization in categories like food, jewelry and furniture so why not clothing. Every girl deserves the option of pockets at no cost? Have a wonderful week ahead Lovelies ?

*Sponsored by eShakti

Photo Credit: Andrew Swaine

Teddy Blake Handbag Labor Day Sale is on!!!

Hope you all are enjoying the last sun-soaked long weekend of summer. I know it is sad to put away those bathing suits. But we can all agree nothing cures the end of the summer blues like the standout Labor Day deals.  So, dry your tears on the nearest beach towel because Teddy Blake has up to 60% off on luxury handbags.  Yes, you heard right!  These deals are just way too good to pass up. 

The eye candy on the Teddy Blake website is plentiful, but what caught my eye immediately was the “Kim Stampatto” collection.  This collection comes in two sizes and various colors.

Fall has me clamoring for rich textures and deeper colors so naturally the 11” Kim Stampatto Red bag made my heart skip a beat.  This structured design has all the elegance and pose to take any look from day to evening with ease. The gold hardware against the soft pebbled Italian leather pairs beautifully and gives this bag a very elevated final aesthetic.



The chic Kim Stampatto bag comes with a top handle as well as a longer strap option, which allows for the bag to be worn cross-body resulting in maximum functionality.

Whether you’re shopping for an updated everyday bag or a new silhouette to freshen up your evening assortment then the Kim Stampatto is for you. We are making our way right on into the new season and its time to treat yourself to a new handbag! ?

*Sponsored by Teddy Blake

Photo Credit: Andrew Swaine

MultiMasking! Maskup & Be Safe

Since April when the CDC released a statement that all Americans wear a face mask in public, reusable masks have evolved from being a niche product to being an everyday essential. Although any mask is better than no mask to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, we have grown savvier about shopping for masks with protective layers.  

Remember:

1. The best mask is one that fits you properly. It should be comfortable and cover the nose and chin without slipping.

2. A cloth mask should be washed and dried after each use. Because the virus cannot live for more than a week on cloth surfaces, an alternative is to make or buy seven masks — one for each day of the week.

Here are some of my favorite masks from Etsy:

Etsy: Besitoz
Etsy: NoireLane

Visibility matters. We need to see more people wearing them, both online and real life, so it becomes the norm.

Stay safe and Be Well.

Listening, Learning But Not Silent

I put off starting an Instagram account for the longest time.  When I finally did I was thrilled because it is so fun and lighthearted. It gives me the opportunity to meet some incredible, creative and diverse groups of supportive people. Over the last few weeks Instagram was sadly not a fun escape. The video of George Floyd’s murder as well as the horrific murders of so many black lives was and still is devastating. 

Many used their voices and social media platforms to show support for black lives. People were sharing, reading, posting, reflecting, listening and donating. Some struggled and were not sure what to say or what to do while others had tough conversations with friends and families about racism, prejudice, injustice and discrimination against black Americans.

We all are not perfect and sometimes we may fail to be the perfect ally to black communities or people of color but we can’t let our fear of failure stop us from continuing this lifelong commitment to dismantle systematic racism.  As a South African Indian who grew up and lived through Apartheid, I am determined to never allow myself to forget, to speak up, show up and continue the work to do better and be a better human. 

I have learned so much over the last few weeks and will continue to do. I am appreciative of my Blogger / Instagram family for educating me and keeping me informed on not only the fun stuff but also serious life changing things too. Thank you. I leave you with these powerful poems and quotes. ❤️❤️❤️✊?✊?✊?✊?  

6 Reasons to Switch from Plastic to Glass Food Storage Containers

With all the cooking and baking Andy and I have been doing, we needed to find an organized way to store all of our leftovers safely.  We both were spending way too much time rummaging through the refrigerator looking for something to eat or ingredients to cook.  So, we decided to ditch our plastic containers for glass.  I am so glad we did because there is no better feeling in the world than looking inside a clean and organized fridge.

Here are our 6 reasons to switch from plastic to glass food storage containers. 

  1. One of the things we loved right away is the ability to place hot food directly in the glass container. No more waiting around for food to cool first before transferring.
  2. It is better for the environment.  It is challenging eliminating plastic completely from our lives but it is possible to reduce the amount of plastic we use.
  3. Using glass containers is better for your health.  Glass unlike plastic does not contain chemicals like BPA (bisphenol A) and PVC (phthalates) that can contaminate your food.
  4. Easier to clean. Glass food containers can be safely washed at high temperatures in your dishwasher.
  5. Glass is transparent making it easier to see what you got in your refrigerator.
  6. Glass food containers are microwave safe. We can microwave and eat food from the same glass container, which means less dirty dishes.

Do you have these containers? Any other glass food storage containers you recommend?

Links: IKEA SAM’S CLUB TARGET

Earth Day: 6 must watch Environmental Docs on Netflix

April 22 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.  Documentaries have always helped us understand what it means to live on earth and contribute to an ecologically sustainable planet. So what better way to celebrate Earth Day while sheltering in place than watching inspiring and educational environmental documentaries. Grab your favorite snacks and get comfy because here are my top 6 picks currently available on Netflix:

  1. National Parks Adventure: Narrated by Robert Redford, National Parks Adventure is a cozy nature doc that shares the incredible splendor of US national parks. Traveling around the country to some of the nation’s most stunning natural landmarks, National Parks Adventures highlights both the beauty of these protected areas and the importance of keeping them intact and protected. Connect with nature and discover what these great expanses of land have meant historically for the nation’s first people, or simply sit back and enjoy the beautiful broad-sweeping views of these incredible landscapes.

2. Our Planet: Experience Our Planet’s natural beauty and examine how climate change impacts all living creatures in this ambitious documentary of spectacular scope. Travel from the African planes and antelope to frozen mountains and Siberian tigers and experience the incredible diversity our planet has to offer. Narrated by everyone’s favorite voice of nature, David Attenborough.

3. A Plastic Ocean: A Plastic Ocean is a documentary uncovering the nasty truth about our disposable lifestyle. Single-use plastic and similar products are overrunning our oceans and waterways, wreaking havoc on the natural ecosystems and marine life therein. A Plastic Ocean explores the deep blue depths while showing the shocking quantity of plastic pollution present in our oceans. This documentary will help you feel more hopeful for the possibility of a greener planet.

4. Night on Earth: Night on Earth features never-before-seen behavior from animals all around the world. Discover the secret world of bats, see big cats hunting at night, and see how wildlife has adapted to live in cities and towns, even late at night. An inspiring documentary chock-full of stunning night-time images, Night on Earth is sure to leave you in awe of the many nighttime habits you never knew about. Narrated by award-winning actress Samira Wiley of Orange is the New Black.

5. Chasing Coral: Pollution is on the rise, and among the many ecosystems being negatively impacted by wasteful practices are coral reefs. Coral is now disappearing at an unprecedented rate, one not seen before in recorded human history. Chasing Coral is the exciting, and sometimes dangerous, journey of a number of marine researchers hunting down the last remaining patches of coral. . Chasing Coral is all about educating the public and making it known that it isn’t too late.

6. Sustainable: A seventh-generation family farmer works toward building a movement of his own in the city of Chicago, outlining not only small changes we can all make in our consumption choices, but also the negative effects of the major food industries. Sustainable covers the economic and environmental impacts of our current agricultural practices.

Have you watched any of these documentaries? Do you have other environmental documentary recommendations? ?

DIY No Sew Cloth Face Mask

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain example grocery stores and pharmacies. CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.

I fashioned this face mask using a scarf / bandana. Hope you find this tutorial useful during this chaotic time.

Stay safe. Stay healthy. ????

Quarantine Life Update

Hello Lovelies?  It’s been a while since my last post. I just wanted to reach out and let you know that I am thinking of you all and hope you are doing well during this challenging time. 

Like everyone I am learning to find ways to fill my days and make the best of this unexpected time at home. The last two weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions but I feel blessed to have my husband Andrew by my side. This is what I have been up to for the last 2 week.

Some days have been productive and I am able to successfully check off things on my to do list.  On other days I struggle with not having something to do with my day.  I am learning how to exist without having to constantly do something tangible. I have to remind myself that it is okay to just curl up in bed and take a nap or just sit still and meditate for 20 minutes. 

As you know Andy and I love to cook. Jamming out and dancing around the kitchen with Andy while cooking or baking always brings me joy.  It’s the perfect way to turn your brain off.  So we have been doing a lot of cooking and baking. ? What are some of the things you’re doing to keep busy?

Thanks to technology we have been able to face time and keep in touch with loved ones.  My first work video conference call was quiet the experience.  Here is actual footage of the video meeting. 

As we try to navigate our way through this time we all have to remember to be gentle with ourselves and try to start each day in a positive way. I love this poem by Be Inspired to Be.

Thinking of my brother who is on the front lines and saying a prayer everyday for all our families who may have first responders or essential personnel serving our communities. Wishing for your safety and health.

And lastly, remember to wash your hands. Take care of yourself and each other. Be well. ❤️