Legally Charming Style

Photography: Jade Nikkole Photography | Instagram

The babes: (from left in last photo)

 Taliah of Fashion Was Here | Instagram #1, Instagram #2

Anna of Lifestyle by Anna Elizabeth | Instagram

AliceJoy of Always AliceJoy | Instagram

Taylor of Stylishly Taylored | Instagram

I am so excited to fiiiiiiiinalllyyyyyyyy share these photos!!!

About two months ago now, my friend/blogger babe Anna reached out to a group of us and asked if we'd be interested in doing a shoot with her photographer/total boss babe/awesome friend Jade of Jade Nikkole Photography. She described wanting to do a "Sex and the City" style shoot with a bunch of amazing boss blogger babes here in Baltimore. I was 100000% down (and I may not have been great at hiding my enthusiasm/impatience), so we all set a date and met in Mount Vernon to take these beautiful photos. 

I think we can all agree that my friends are beautiful and that these photos turned out perfectly. But what has mattered to me so profoundly, and what these photos symbolize to me, is the amazing community I am privileged to be a part of here in Baltimore. Four years ago, I moved to this city knowing exactly two people. I'd never lived here. I was in the closet. I only knew myself well enough to know that moving to Baltimore was exactly what I needed, but that was about it. I was scared, I was lonely, and I didn't know if I'd make it all on my own.

Then I started this blog. And at first, I continued to be a lonely little vessel taking terrible photos and knowing exactly zero bloggers. 

Then one day, about a year ago, it all began to change. I met my friend Taliah, a fellow blogger. We lived a block from each other in Bolton Hill and we started meeting up to photograph each other. Then I met another blogger. And another. And another. And before I knew it, I'd become a part of a community of strong, badass, amazing women who are their own bosses and work so hard at their craft. I began to realize that not only were these women great at blogging, but they were (and are) wonderful people, and wonderful friends. I have learned so much from all of them. 

Taliah has taught me about the joys of laughter and friendship. Taliah is ALWAYS true to herself, and constantly works hard to be better at all things in her life. Her determination amazes me. Taliah is a true friend. I have her back and I know that she has mine. Her strength and courage have helped me to be a better, stronger, more true version of myself. 

Anna has taught me that kindness never goes out of style, and I'm amazed every day at how hard she works at everything in her life-her relationship with her boyfriend, Sam; her blog; her health; her job-EVERYTHING. She commits her heart and soul to everything, full-stop. She is truly, genuinely nice, and that's a rare find these days. 

Alice has taught me about the beauty in seeing the beautiful things in life. Her calm presence is soothing, and her laughter is joyous. She is fierce and strong while being sweet and vulnerable. She's shown me that it's okay to be daring in your fashion and do things I might never do. She has a quiet drive that's unrivaled and I always want to know more about her. 

Taylor has taught me that it's okay to show off the fact that you have brains AND beauty (seriously, the girl does biomedical research-how cool is that?). She does it all, but she also has an incredible sense of self that I find inspiring. She is funny, authentic, and kind, and every time I hang out with Taylor, I come to appreciate more and more about her. 

And Jade, our photographer? I have met Jade once, but I have long been an admirer of her talent. There is so much depth and emotion in her work, and she captured all of us and our essences perfectly within minutes of meeting us. She is her own boss and does it all-I'm beyond inspired and I look forward to working with her again. 

Let's face it, guys-I've been blessed to meet so many amazing women, and these five are the prime example of the quality of the people who surround me. I hope to know them for many years to come and continue to learn and grow from them.

Boss babes-may we both know them and be them. 

xoxo

Carisa 

Top: Doubledutch Boutique (similar here-on sale!) | Skirt: Shop the Pink Boutique (gorgeous splurge here-local Bmore brand!) | Shoes: Topshop (similar here) | Necklace: Charm City Mobile Boutique (kind of #obsessed with this one)

THREE. YEARS.

Three years ago, I posted two photos from my iPhone taken by one of my best friends, Laurie. I had my folded umbrella under my arm. I deliberated even starting it in the first place, since at the time I had yet ANOTHER abandoned blog I'd posted online. 

And yet here I am, three years later, still doing this. It's hard to believe I made it this long due to my penchant to find projects, try them for a bit, and then move on to something else. I'll be honest, guys-I didn't think then that I'd be here now. 

But I am!

The last three years have taught me so damn much about fashion, friendship, photography...and myself. Holy crap, have I learned a lot about myself through this blog. I learned my personal style, I learned my own stamina. I've learned how to keep being myself and stick to my guns, even in a weirdly high-pressure world of fashion blogging. There have been times I thought about giving up because I wasn't a "traditional" fashion blogger. But I've persisted, because I love it, and I love sharing it with all of you. 

I'm still learning to this day. I first tried to shoot this on Saturday with my friend Taliah. But something felt wrong (and def no fault of hers). Everything wasn't what I wanted it to be. And maybe that's because I was trying, again, to be something that I wasn't. 

The truth is, I'm rainbows and tulle skirts and cartoons and sarcasm and ice cream. I like red lipstick and eating too much pizza and making my friends laugh with puns. I also like social justice and working hard and being authentic and sharing my knowledge with others. And it's okay to be all of that, all at once! And those are the things I want to carry forward into the blog.

So here's my mission for the coming year(s):

1. Create more content.

2. Share more knowledge (budgeting, fitness, life stuff).

3. Keep working on my photography/editing craft. 

4. Keep on pushing myself to be authentic. 

So tell me-what things do you want to see here? What do you want to know/learn/find out? How can I help you be YOUR most authentic self? Tell me more below!

Thank you for being here, and being a part of the journey so far. Here's to another three years (at least!)

xoxo

Carisa 

Helloooooo and happy Wednesday!

I am totally bugging' that it's June (and now I totally want to watch Clueless!). How are we halfway through 2017 already??? Someone explain!

May was a weird but wonderful month for me, and in case you missed it, I'm here to recap just what happened. So come along and I'll share my month with you!

1. I HAD PINK HAIR (for a day).

I went to my amazing stylist Nicole at Crafted Hair Studio and she gave me (as always) an AMAZING cut and color. We were about halfway through and she asked me if I wanted to have pink hair. Ummmm....yes! Of course, the downer is that I have a professional job and I can't have pink hair forever. But she used this amazing temporary pink spray and I got to have pink hair from Saturday afternoon until Sunday night (when I had to wash it out, and it took me five minutes to will myself to do it). Pictures can't do it justice and I can't wait to have funds to buy the spray, since I found it on Amazon, and give myself pink hair whenever I want (like every weekend always). 

2. I got to feel like a glamorous supermodel.

Images: Jade Nikkole Photography | Instagram: @jadenikkolephoto

My dress: Ann Taylor (on sale!)

My friend Anna of Lifestyle by Anna Elizabeth put together a city photoshoot with a bunch of our other friends/blogger gal pals in Mount Vernon with Jade of Jade Nikkole Photography-and it was amazing!!! These are the only images I have so far, but y'all. Y'all. Aren't they amazing??? I felt like a total goddess/supermodel, particularly because this dress from Ann Taylor makes me feel like an even glammer Belle, which is only my dream come true. Plus my hair was still pink and my friends are so pretty and smart and amazing. LIFE MADE. 

3. I ate. A LOT.

Birthday parties, dinners with blogger friends, being home with my parents (more on that later)-I probably ate my way to China (or at least as much as the Caterpillar in The Very Hungry Caterpillar).  I ate scallops and donuts and pasta and burgers...y'all, I'm super full just thinking about it. Probably why I put on a pound or two in May (OMG)! 

4. I cruised with my gal pals. 

One Sunday in late May, I was invited to my friend Elise of Caturday Style's floral cruise and had an amazing time!! I went all out on the floral theme, pineapple mimosas, and the ridiculously good buffet. We had an amazing few hours on the water and it was awesome catching up with my gal pals. For more on that, check out my post about it here. 

5. I headed South for the weekend.