Legally Charming Style

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. 

Jacket: JC Penney (similar here-on sale!) | Dress: TEN (love this one!) | Purse: c/o  Coach (budget option here) | Necklace: handmade gift (similar here) | Shoes: Target (similar here)

Happy Workwear Wednesday, guys!! 

I figured it was high time I revived these workwear posts since summer is coming and that's like literally the WORST time to try and get dressed for work in a conservative office. The worst. It's hot and miserable outside but it's cold inside and there's too much happening.

But I'm here to help!

I think one of the easiest ruts to fall into when you work in a conservative office is wearing black. All the time. Like all.the.time. I'm constantly guilty of wearing a black dress, a black suit, black shoes, ALL THE BLACK ALL THE TIME. Because it matches, and it's easy, and no one questions it. 

So I decided last week I was going to challenge myself to put together a workwear look without wearing a single shred of black anywhere on my body. 

And guys, it was damn hard. But I did it!

I picked up this soft jersey dress at the TEN Shopping Event a few weekends ago and the second I put it on I felt like a powerful boss babe! Bonus-it's jersey. Super bonus-it has POCKETS. Yes, I found the golden ticket of work dresses here, folks. It's awesome. 

I paired it with this jacquard olive blazer I picked up on clearance while shopping with my sister for new professional clothes. This blazer looks pulled together without being too stuffy. It has a closure at the front but I think it looks really great open! It's almost like a cool moto jacket your boss doesn't say a single word about. ;) 

For the finishing touches, I threw on a long silver necklace, added a pop of color with my bordeaux Coach purse, and finished it off with cognac pumps. Yes, there are technically about four different colors going on here, but they pull together in such a way that looks coordinated and professional without being stuffy. 

What kind of work looks would you like to see here on the blog? Tell me about it below!

xoxo

Carisa