Just a Walk in the Park

Top: CAbi Ochre Burn Out; Undershirt: CAbi-vintage (this one would look great, too!); Bottoms: Buckle skinnies; Shoes: Toms Wedges; Bag: Louis Vuitton; Sunglasses: Target; Necklace: Lia Sophia Full Bloom ; Cuff: vintage Silpada (similar here); Bracelet: past-season American Eagle (check this new one out!!); Nails: Revlon Cherries in the Snow; Photography: Debbie Hill

Who says color can't work for fall??! A few things that inspire me are flowers and colorful brights. These things always give my mood a boost. With this outfit, I coordinated a rainbow-rhinestone bracelet, a beautiful "artsy" necklace by Lia Sophia, and some spring-y wedges that I felt mixed well with the whole ensemble. This mustard CAbi burn out sweater ties the outfit together and mimicks the shades of autumn sunlight, yellow gourds, and golden sunflowers. I really love layering another standout hue as an undertone, so I chose a vintage raspberry CAbi cami to make the sweater really pop.

Friday was an exciting night for Alex. He was chosen by his department head to attend a black-tie gala at Opryland Hotel in Nashville! I was excited too because it was the first time I have ever seen him wear a bow tie--sooo cute :-) Anyways, one of my best friends, Kayla, and her fiance, met us and we had a great dinner together. Opryland was beautiful and is always so much fun to visit. 

Can you believe it's almost November?! Looking forward to Thanksgiving with family :-) Thanks for reading!

Go with the Faux!

                                     

Top: CAbi Fleather Shell; Skirt: Vintage (love this one from Missguided!); Shoes: Guess (similar here); Bag: Michael Kors; Sunglasses: Coach past-season (very close); Earrings: Stella and Dot Allegra; Bracelets: Bebe-vintage (but love these too); Rings: Aldo (similar); Nails: Revlon Cherries in the Snow; Photography: Debbie Hill

You may notice that once I find a pattern I love, I gotta have it everywhere! Making another appearance here again is the leopard print :-) To me, this print feels sassy and fun, yet can still be very professional if paired with just the right items. The fleather shell top in this outfit is extremely versatile, but I wanted to get one good warm-weather outfit with it before I kiss these mild days good-bye! Because it's sleeveless, you can wear this shirt alone in the fall, spring, and summer months. In the winter, I'll be layering a preppy blazer on top. The lining of this shell has a flannel-like feel to it so I even got a little warm wearing it on this beautiful fall day. OMG these bracelets were a gift from my mom (who is also my photog) that she bought from BeBe on THE Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills! I wear these bangles with everything. They are a reminder that a place as distant and dreamy as Beverly Hills is not untouchable...and I hope that one day I'll be able to see it in person as well!

Tonight I am excited to relax with my hubby and enjoy an episode of American Horror Story while we delight in some delicious oatmeal cake and warm coffee :-) It's kind of a nighttime ritual we like to partake in....good shows, warm beverages, and baked goods that remind me of home. I am so thankful for the little things that make my life wonderful. Thanks for reading!

                                                 

If You Love Jewel Tones...

 Top: Gap; Bottoms: CAbi Gold Ruby Jean; Scarf: Target last-season (I like this one too); Leopard-Print Belt: Target; Leopard-Print Clutch: Target; Shoes: last-season (love these!); Sunglasses: Ray Ban; Earrings: Target; Watch: Relic; Bangles: Lia Sophia For You Bracelets; Photography: Debbie Hill

I've been waiting and waiting for fall weather to get here, but I just couldn't wait any longer to bring out my autumn jewel tones! These colors have always called my name-the richness and boldness of the hues stand out like fiery red leaves against a seemingly painted orange sunset. These CAbi jeans are a must-have for my fall wardrobe collection--so many of my tops will go great with the gold glow of these skinnies.  Also a favorite is mixing fun patterns into my outfits. Leopard print is one of my choice animal prints that usually goes great with anything :-) I actually had to look up the difference between cheetah print and leopard print because they are so alike in comparison--cheetah print is usually solid black spots while leopard print is more like a ring of black with smaller brown spots in the middle. I think I've been messing this up for awhile. Oh well, you learn something new every day!

This morning I woke up craving Dunkin Donuts. The maple glazed are phenomenal with a hot cup of hazelnut coffee! I snuck out of the apartment early to grab a box to surprise Alex :-) He lovvveeesss Dunkin Donuts! I feel extremely blessed to be able to indulge a little and I'm so happy I have an amazing best friend to enjoy the little things with :-)

Thank you for reading!

Going Green

 Top: CAbi Envy Top, Bottoms: CAbi-old (similar here), Shoes: Lauren Conrad (old), Bag: Michael Kors, Sunglasses: Ray-Ban, Bib Necklace: Kohl's-old (similar here), Earrings: Kohl's-old (find similar here),

Cuff Bracelet: Kohl's, Nails: Revlon Cherries in the Snow, Photography: Debbie Hill

One of my absolute favorite clothing lines is CAbi. Their new fall line is out and they never seem to miss a beat. You can mix and match almost everything that they offer, and the clothes are perfect for all ages, from teens all the way up! The CAbi brand is all about empowering women and their main focus is creating lifetime friendships, which is why I am a CAbi fan 100%! A huge chunk of my wardrobe revolves around these clothes! If you get a chance, look up the catalog for Fall 2013--the quality of these clothes alone make them worth the price.

This happy green shirt was the first thing that stood out to me. I love the fun emerald hue and the type of fabric makes this blouse compatible with jeans or dressier pants. It also looks great with a blazer on top for the cooler fall weather.

I hope everyone's having a great week so far :-) Thanks for reading!

Floss, Floss, Floss!

                                                  

Being a hygienist, it just wouldn't be right if I didn't feel the need to share some important oral hygiene tips :-) Flossing is one of the most important daily rituals that everyone should perform! I know it seems like it doesn't accomplish anything, probably because you can't see results quickly, but flossing makes your gums SO much healthier. Has anyone EVER noticed blood after spitting in the sink from brushing or flossing? Well.....bleeding is a sign of disease in your mouth! Most people would freak out if their eyeballs started bleeding, but for some reason, bleeding gums usually gets shrugged off as being normal. This is not the case! Bleeding means that there is infection in that area of your gums from bacterial plaque buildup. This is your mouth telling you there is something wrong! Anytime you notice red, swollen, tender, or bleeding gums, the dental name for those signs and symptoms is gingivitis. It can be reversed by making sure to brush your gums when you brush your teeth (at least twice a day), and flossing daily. Here are the simple steps to floss correctly, and with enough practice, you can floss your teeth in less than a minute!

I have tried almost every type of floss out there, but my #1 choice was the Reach Clean Paste floss. This wouldn't work for some people who have very tight teeth because it is unwaxed, but for my dentition, this is the kind I prefer. It is stretchy like panty-hose and is coated with a minty paste for a fresher taste. The texture of this floss is similar to yarn and I feel that it really grabs a hold of sticky plaque very well. Sadly, I just discovered that the Clean Paste floss has been discontinued, but the Reach Total Care floss is a close match. I do believe you can still find some online, though.

1. Take a piece of floss, about 18" long, and hold the ends between your thumb and middle finger. (Below)

2. Twist both ends of floss around your middle fingers. This allows you to use your thumbs and pointer fingers to guide the floss where you need it to go. (Below)

3.  Gently saw the floss back and forth down between the teeth. Try not to pop the floss down because that can cut your gums if you're not careful. Take the floss all the way to the base of the gums, until you feel like you're hitting a rubberband. Wrap the floss into a "C" shape around each individual tooth on both sides and scrape up and down to mechanically remove the sticky plaque.

It is normal for flossing to be uncomfortable and to make your gums sore the first few times you do this correctly. Just think of your gums like muscles in your body. If you never work out, and then one day you decide to go to the gym, your muscles are very sore. But, if you keep working out regularly, your muscles become tougher, you become stronger, and the soreness subsides. Same thing with flossing! Your gums will become cleaner, pinker, tougher, and much healthier because you are cleaning them! 

Periodontitis, a disease of the gums and bone that support your teeth, usually starts in between the teeth from not regularly removing bacterial plaque. Also, this bacteria can easily enter your blood stream through your gums since the blood vessels are so close to the surface (this is why gums are pink/red!) This makes flossing extremely important for people who have heart problems and/or diabetes. 

If anyone has any questions about this, please feel free to leave me a message! And just because YOU can't tell a difference doesn't mean you're not benefiting---so please keep it clean in between... :-) 

Thanks for reading! Hope it helps!

Photography by Debbie Hill

Colorful Cutouts and Cobalt, Oh My!

 Dress: Francesca's, Shoes: Aldo  Bag: Michael Kors, Necklace/Bracelet: Target-similar, Watch: Fossil, Nails: Revlon's Cherries in the Snow, Lips: Loreal Raspberry Rush

Alex has a great eye for fashion! He is the one who found this amazing dress in Francesca's on our honeymoon. The pop of color immediately grabbed my attention and I love the uniqueness of the side and back cutouts-it bears just enough skin to be fun. Those hot heels are my mom's-she picks out some fabulous shoes and I raid her closet every time I go to visit. This look is a favorite of mine...you will soon see that I am drawn to bright pops of color in my wardrobe--I love to be "merry and bright" and I want the clothes I wear to express what I'm feeling!

My wonderful photographer for the evening was Alex. These pics were from Friday night-date night!  We try to eat in for every other meal of the week to save some money (one income + grad school = careful budgeting!) I believe going out together at least once a week definitely helps keep the romance alive and spices up our otherwise hum-drum daily schedule of working/studying/housework. It gives us a night both of us look forward to :-) Since both of us were pooped after a very busy week, we didn't feel like going too far for dinner, so we ate at Olive Garden. They have the best salad and breadsticks! My peach bellini was very delightful as well, if I do say so :-) I hope everyone has a great week, and thank you for reading!

Autumn is in the Air!

Like so many people, fall is my favorite time of the year. When I walk outside and smell earthy amber leaves and there's that warmth but briskness in the air, I become so exhilarated. Maybe that is the reason I become excited about the clothes, decor, tastes, and definitely smells that reflect the changes of fall. It just seems natural to want to transform my lifestyle along with the outdoors! This is Alex's favorite time of the year too, although he is not as gung-ho as me about venturing out to Kirkland's just to buy new pumpkin-scented candles for each room of our apartment or dealing with my need to splurge on one amazing leather THARP  handbag from Aldo because it matches my seasonal camel-colored equestrian Coach boots to perfection! No, he's definitely more about Notre Dame football. And that's fine with me, because if not, I'd be worried.

Meet one of my favorite people in the world, my little sister, Lindsey! We are three years apart but look and act like we're twins! This girl is my best friend and partner in crime. She is the smartest, funniest, most hard-working yet fun person you could ever meet. And she's so real. She keeps me on track and I joke with her about how she has to protect me :-) I trust Lindsey with everything, and I love her to pieces! I hope everyone has a person in their life like that. I have to brag on her because she was accepted into optometry school a whole year early for being so darn smart! I couldn't be more proud of her, but it is definitely sad not having her around all the time. She moved to Birmingham, AL this summer and I can't help but feel a little empty without her. Another reason fall is my favorite time of year is because I know how close the holidays are, which means I will be able to spend time with my BF! (Look at her cute little style in the above pic--work it girl :-))

My older sister, Jessica, is my other favorite person of all time! Isn't she gorg? Man, my family's 

B-E-A-utiful! :-) When I was younger, I only wished I could be as "cool" as her! She's seven years older, so back in the day, we didn't exactly "mesh." Now, though, we hang out all the time and we're sooo alike! I used to secretly go shopping in her closet when she wasn't at home and would read her hidden Cosmos that she kept in a tote under her bed. She was pretty savvy though, and I always got caught :-( I'm pretty sure my love of fashion and style came from watching this girl. She was voted "Best Dressed" in high school for goodness' sakes! I admire her so much and I still think she's the coolest sister/mom/housewife there is. 

This photo was taken the evening before I was married. The wedding plans changed from being close to home to a destination wedding in Destin, Fl. about four weeks before the big day! I was sooo thrilled Jessica and Linds could make it on such short notice--it means so much to me that they were there. On a different note, I particularly love this dress I'm wearing in the pic! It's a 20's style fringe dress that I scooped up at a hot little boutique, Sister Kate's (one of my best friends, Kayla Hargrove, turned me on to this place---she has an awesome new blog, btw!) This dress has been on repeat the past few months. It hangs so loosely above the knee and the fabric is super soft. Not sure if they still have this in stock, their inventory is forever changing (like the seasons!), which is exciting. I urge you to go check them out if you're in the Columbia, TN area.

I hope everyone has a great first week of fall :) Thanks for reading, and Go Irish!

Let Me Introduce Myself...

After two years of practicing as a dental hygienist, I realized I had a deep-seeded passion for fashion. Wearing the same drab blue scrubs day in and day out made me realize how much style and accessories matter to my personality!

Hi. My name is Steffi. And, why yes, those are ruby red slippers. For a little girl who used to tell people her name was really Dorothy, I HAD to wear these shoes under my wedding dress! I recently married my high school sweetheart on August 10, 2013 after eight amazing years of dating. He is truly my best friend and supports my dreams :-)

This stud muffin is my husband (I love saying that), Alex. He is currently in the Master's program studying public administration with a concentration in health administration and planning. I'm SO proud of him----and isn't he so cute?!

While scaling heavy ledges of calculus off of peoples' lower incisors and polishing away plaque and stain definitely fulfill my OCD behaviors, my definite love is fashion, design, beauty tips, and all things girly. I have a major obsession with old Hollywood glamour, and with as much E! network as I watch, I guess you can say I am fascinated with new Hollywood glamour as well. This blog is something completely new and adventurous for me, and will hopefully satisfy my hunger for creativity. I decided this would be the perfect time to start since Alex is busy working and studying. I am so excited to start blogging now-thank you so much for reading!!!