Who I'm Following: Round Two

About a year ago I wrote a post dedicated to my biggest blog crushes at the moment and I am pretty sure it has been my most popular post to date, so I thought it was high time I write up an updated version! So here we go, my favorite blogs as of April 2014:

Beauty

Vivianna Does Makeup 

Lily Pebbles

I am going to lump my two beauty favorites together because I love them equally and for very similar reasons. The two lovely girls behind them, Lily and Anna, are both UK based beauty/fashion/lifestyle bloggers and vloggers with pretty massive followings. More than any of the other beauty blogs that I follow I know I can trust these two to constantly be on top of every single new trend or release that has come out in the beauty world, and because of how incredibly down-to-earth they both are I trust their recommendations completely. It probably doesn’t help that everything they feature is lit and photographed beautifully and that they are both able to churn out at least one new blog post every.single.day (it’s insane!). I would also highly recommend checking out their beauty videos, which are often linked in posts in their blogs, for more in-depth reviews, hauls, tutorials, and everything else - but beware, one can very easily fall down the rabbit hole and end up spending an entire friday night watching every single one of their videos. I can also vouch that these two are just as lovely in person as are they are online as I happened to run into them at a restaurant in London just a few weeks ago, let’s just say I was quite starstruck. 

Fashion

Kendi Everyday

One of my most recent follows is Kendi Everyday, which features the ever chic. modern, and just really cool Kendi. She is the queen of pattern mixing, loves a nude heal, and has seriously drool worthy hair - making her posts the ones I am most excited to read when scrolling through my bloglovin’ feed every morning. Ever since is starting following her I notice myself being drawn towards clean cut silhouettes, fresh ways of wearing bright colors, and an overall more effortless esthetic whenever I wander through the shops. Maybe someday I’ll be able to rock a pair of floral pants as well as she can….

Food

Hummingbird High

A baking blog….written by a Portlander…..inspired by a bakery in London that is just down my street? This blog is truly the best of every single world put together. The recipes are creative, beautifully photographed, and easy to follow - so pretty much perfect. On the top of my list of “Things I Am Going To Bake When I Don’t Share A Kitchen With 15 People” are the Dark Chocolate and Earl Grey Cookies, the Lemon Blackberry Tart, and the Wild Berry Cheesecake Bar - they all look so mouthwatering!! One of the things I love most about this blog is that the author, Michelle, writes in her own personal tips for each individual recipe which I think is just such a nice little personal touch and definitely makes tackling some of these seem a lot more doable. 

A Beautiful Mess

This is the blog than needs no introducing, the blog of all blogs that inspires everyone to blog. Seeing as I’m not the most crafty person (although I’m trying more and more to be) my favorite part is the food and drink section of A Beautiful Mess. This semester has been my first time cooking for myself 100% of the time so I do a lot of looking up easy, healthy, quick, and cheap recipes that I can make in the hopes of not eating frozen pizza every night. That is exactly where A Beautiful Mess comes in. Their posts include really great variety of food recipes and amazing looking drink ideas (I am getting excited to be 21 this fall so I can try out some of these cocktails!) that are all relatively easy to recreate and edit/make your own - all that I’ve tried have turned out wonderfully as well! 

And that wraps it up for this installment of my blog crushes, hopefully you got some inspiration and can come join the fan clubs with me! Who are your favorite bloggers at the moment?

Thank’s for stopping by!

- Eva

OOTD: Tweed-ily Dee

What I Wore: [Sweater: Forever 21, Skirt: Nordstrom, Fleece Tights: Nordstrom Rack, Necklace: Forever 21, Booties: Sam Edelman]

I snagged this amazing, slightly sparkly, tweed skirt a few weeks ago during Nordstrom’s half-yearly sale, and I am so glad I did! The length is perfect, the shape is flattering and comfortable, and because of the colors in the weave it literally goes with ANYTHING. This skirt is going to be the first thing I pack to take with me to London because I know I will be getting so much use out it. I am equally as obsessed with else little booties. The color and height is perfect and I’ve been loving pairing them with just about everything this fall. Plus, the little rose gold zippers on the back are just the perfect finishing touch. Overall, this outfit made me very happy when wearing it and I thought I would share a happy thing with you all. 

Enjoy your day!

-Eva

OOTD: Thanksgiving In The City

What I Wore: [Coat: Calvin Klein (old), Top: Gap, Skirt: Tory Burch by way of Buffalo Exchange, Necklace: Nordstrom Rack, Shoes: Born, Hair: Curled with a 1 inch curling iron]

I wasn’t able to go back to Minnesota for Thanksgiving this year so instead my sister came out to visit me in Portland for the weekend. She had never been before so it was a great chance to get a to be a tourist around the city and show her some of my favorite restaurants and shops, along with seeing lots of new places. Whenever people come to visit me it just reminds me of how much there is still to see in Portland! 

I ended up being really pleased with how this outfit turned out, it’s a combination of some of my favorite pieces and worked out really well for everything we did on Thanksgiving day (aka walking around, movie watching, eating eating and more eating).

Not being at home for Thanksgiving this year felt a bit strange, having turkey and pumpkin pie in a restaurant filled with people you don’t know is definitely not the same as sitting at a long table with family and friends on either side of you. That being said, I am so incredibly thankful to have had the weekend that I did. I had an amazing time with my sister, I got time to relax, explore, eat, and shop, what more can you ask for? I feel very fortunate, plus I’ll be seeing the rest of my family in only 18 days!

Now, time to tackle my huge mountain of homework, good luck to everyone with finals!

-Eva

OOTD: If It's Not Baroque Don't Fix It

What I Wore: [Sweater: J. Crew, Pants: Seven, Shoes: Born, Lips: Revlon “Raspberry Bite”]

My mom came to visit me in Portland this weekend and I was able to rope her into taking a few quick shots of the outfit I wore for our day of shopping. This ensemble features a few of my favorite things (bright lipstick and bows) but mainly, these pants! They were found on one of my therapeutic trips to TJ Maxx last year and I get so many compliments on them every time I pull them out. Personally, I find patterned pants quite difficult to wear, but these are immensely flattering and super comfortable, so they get an A+ in my book.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend, happy Monday!

-Eva

OOTD: Florescent Adolescent

What I Wore [Top: J. Crew, Skirt: American Apparel, Flats: Lucky Brand, Necklace: ASOS, Lips: Clinique “Curviest Caramel”]

These last few days the weather in Portland has been unbelievably beautiful every single day so I’ve had to put off wearing many of my sweaters and jackets and instead come up with some new combos for my warmer weather clothes. I love the mix of color and texture in this outfit, it gives lots of visual interest without being overbearing. I know I’ll be wearing this skirt for months to come seeing as I can pair it with just about anything. Hoping you’re all having a beautiful Saturday!

Until next time

-Eva 

Had to include these photos (only 2 of many) because staying serious when your best friend is taking your photo is hard! 

Quick Combo: On Wednesdays We Wear.....Mauve?

What I Wore [Button Up: this J. Crew x Liberty shirt, Cardigan: Urban Outfitters, old, similar, Pants: J. Crew Pixi Pant, Nails: OPI “You Don’t Know Jaques”]

Because who doesn’t love a bit of lovely floral print mixed with the perfect button up? Pair it with a cardigan, comfy black skinny pants, and some ankle booties and you’ve got the perfect outfit for class! 

How To: Look Put Together Fast

I feel most confident when I feel put together, everything I try to do just usually goes a little bit better when I’ve got some lipstick and a cute dress on. And although I generally don’t mind getting up early in the morning so that I can take my time to prepare for the day, sometimes hitting the snooze button happens and before I know it there are only 20 minutes before class starts! Here are three tips that help me (and could help you) get the best result with the least amount of work on those rushed mornings.

1. Wear red lipstick and little else
People always assume that if you are wearing lipstick you must have taken a long time to get ready, when in reality putting on lipstick takes about the same amount of time as putting on Chapstick does. In fives minutes you can throw on some concealer in the necessary places, quickly set it all with a powder foundation, lightly fill in your eyebrows to frame your face, put on a quick swipe of mascara to open your eyes, and slap on some lipstick. It’s fresh, it’s simple, and it’s fast! 

2. Have a “go-to” outfit 

Among the many things I love about dresses are their simplicity. It’s one piece that covers the top and bottom bases of an outfit and you never have to worry about matching things or tucking things in or anything like that, you just zip it up and you are good. My go-to outfit on many mornings is a dress, a belt, and some flats (or boots with tights if it’s colder out!). I especially like this combination for a rushed morning because the belt and shoes eliminate the need to add any jewelry or accessories to the outfit. It already looks and feels complete because has a good amount of visual interest in the detail on the shoes, the buckle of the belt, and the (not pictured) low back of the dress. 

3. Skip the shower, embrace the dry shampooBack when I used to have long hair I was notorious for constantly just throwing it up in a topknot at any point of any given day, but now, since my hair is short and I can’t do anything with it anymore I have learned to love bed head and dry shampoo. Since wearing a dress and red lipstick already has me looking pretty sophisticated, I like to tell myself that messier hair is acceptable. So in those last few minutes before I have to dash off to class I use an ample amount of dry shampoo, tousle my hair around, put on some super strength deodorant, spritz myself with some perfume, and voilà, I am now the only person who knows I woke up late! 

The Complete Look:

I hope that these few simple tips can help you to save a bit of time when rushing out the door in the morning or at least can help motivate the lazy girl that lives inside us all at 7 am.

Until next time,

-Eva

OOTN: My Favorite Dress

What I Wore: [Dress: Vintage, Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Belt: Forever 21, Bag: Dooney & Bourke, Lips: M.A.C lipglass “Just Add Colour”]

You know that piece of clothing you have that just instantly makes you feel like a superstar whenever you put it on? It fits perfectly, encapsulates your personal style, and gives you the confidence to take on just about any situation? Well, this is that dress for me. I found this piece hanging on a rack in the most fabulous vintage store in San Francisco’s Haight a few summers ago when I was visiting my brother and sister-in-law. Right away I knew that if this dress fit than I would pay whatever it cost, a big statement for a bargain hunter like myself, to have it in my wardrobe. Luckily for me, it fits like a glove and since it’s induction into my closet has become somewhat of a signature piece for me. I know I will be wearing this dress for years to come because of it’s classic cut, pattern, and color scheme that makes it timeless and able to be paired with just about any bag, shoe, or other accessory. 

Hope you all are enjoying your last few weeks/days of summer, I know I can’t wait to break out my sweaters, boots, and tights for the soon approaching fall weather! 

Until next time,

-Eva

OOTD: Orange Is The New Black

What I Wore: [Dress: Gap Outlet, Shirt: H&M, Earrings: Betsey Johnson, Shoes: DSW]

Orange is quickly becoming my new favorite color to wear, it seems as though almost half of my new back to school wardrobe is some shade of it! I’ve had this little mod-inspired dress for a while now but with my new fondness for it’s vibrant hue I’ve been trying to find new ways to wear it more often. My favorite combinations have been wearing any kind of button up blouse underneath or pairing it with some kind of nautical striped top or cardigan and I’m sure I will be working both of those looks into my daily school outfits this fall!

Until next time,

-Eva 

OOTD: Chambray Everyday

What I wore [Top: Gap, Skirt: J Crew, Bag: Target, Shoes: Target, Necklace: vintage, Nails: Essie’s “Coat Azure”]

Long time no post! My family has recently gotten a new puppy so I have been a bit preoccupied for the past few weeks (and have not been wearing anything cute or notable). Recently though I did get the chance to get a bit more dressed up than usual and go out to eat and be with the real world again. One of my go to outfits, aside from a dress and tights, is to pair my beloved chambray shirt with some kind of colored or patterned bottoms. Since it is July and it is warm out I chose this obnoxious orange skirt, which in my opinion is a good representation of the “right” kind of neon (leave it to J Crew to do everything perfectly). Anyway, all I did to complete the outfit was to put on some metallic sandals and an interesting necklace and I was quickly out the door!

I’m heading to Chicago next this weekend for a short little vacation, so look out for some up coming outfit posts from there, you can also see more of my everyday life updates via my Instagram (@evagoellner). Thank you all for reading, and have a beautiful Monday!

- Eva

"You Look Like Liberace!"

What I Wore: [Jacket: Duro Olowu for JCPenny, Top: Mango, Skirt: Forever 21, Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Lips: Mac “Vegas Volt”]

So when I was shopping the other day and just wandering around JC Penny, not expecting to purchase anything, I saw a glimmer of gold and turquoise….and being the magpie that I am I ran over and fell instantly in love with this ridiculous jacket. The jacket was on sale for less than half the original price and even though it’s not practical in the slightest way I somehow justified buying it. Why be subtle, right? 

I paired the jacket with a simple outfit underneath, a pleated skirt and dressier sleeveless top and then kept my shoes nice and classic by opting for a patent black slingback. Hopefully, I’ll find more opportunities to wear this in the future because there is nothing like metallic gold to make one feel ultimately fabulous :)

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

-Eva

OOTD: Boyfriend Jeans + Stripes

What I Wore: [Top: Forever 21, Sweater: Banana Republic, Jeans: LC Lauren Conrad, Shoes: White Mountain]

Today’s outfit was incredibly simplistic and comfortable, yet I feel like it was more stylish than most lazy day outfits. I’ve been trying to breakaway from my habit of only wearing dark-wash skinny jeans and have always liked the look over boyfriend jeans with wedges or heels, so here we are. Although I will still always prefer a skirt or dress any day of the week, sometimes a girl just has to wear pants and this pair is remarkably comfortable. 

Until next time,

-Eva

OOTN: Lady Like

What I Wore [Top: H&M, Belt: Betsey Johnson, Skirt: Vintage, Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Bag: Michael Kors, Lipstick: Revlon “Really Red”, Nails: OPI “Colour So Hot It Berns”]

On Saturday night I went to go see one of my most favorite bands, Blind Pilot, play downtown in Portland. The venue was a bit fancier than most concert venues so I took the opportunity to dress up (but then again when don’t I take the chance to dress up). I love everything about this outfit, flattering, comfortable, and classic while still modern.

Also, a quick apology for the lack of posts these last few weeks! I’m closing in on finals week so there is done to be done in terms of school  along with making time to enjoy my last few weeks with all my friends before I head back home for the summer. Thanks for sticking with me!

-Eva