I’ve talked to a lot of people lately about starting blogs and I wanted to bring it up  because this is the first week that I have posted something every work day. It’s a small, but important, success that reminded of how hard it was to start Style and Cheek. Like many people I had a lot of apprehension about blogging –  it seemed like a good idea in theory but I felt as if I didn’t have anything to offer, even though people were always asking me when I was going to start one.

For years when I would express my interest in fashion writing I would automatically be asked, “Do you have a blog?” Over and over this happened. Last fall Dan and I went to California and had breakfast with my uncle Matthew and his dear friend who works at FIDM. Naturally she asked “What’s your blog?” as if to be allowed into the industry you must have first joined the blogging world. Even jobs would ask for a link to my blog. I didn’t have one!

So I forced myself to start a blog. I was still apprehensive but I knew that I could count on the strong support of friends and family to keep me positive. Even if it didn’t work out at least I was throwing my ideas out there and forcing myself to write. And that’s what it’s about. Every person has a unique life experience that sets them apart. The goal is to find any little thing you’ve encountered that other people could learn something from. You don’t have to become the next up and coming blogger overnight. Quitting your job because you can do this full-time is not the only measure of success. If that’s your goal then go for it one step at a time, but remember not trying at all gains you nothing! It is scary throwing yourself out there but any step forward is a step in the right direction.

Blogging 101: Strategically changing your outfit in public.

My current day-to-day makeup was inspired by a makeup tutorial I found on Pinterest. It’s a Mila Kunis inspired makeup look done by Pixiwoo, which is run by sisters Samantha and Nicola. I don’t follow it completely, but I really like the colors and find it easy to do. Click the photo link below to get to the tutorial and be sure to check out Pixiwoo for some other cool tutorials…like the Adele Grammys Makeup tutorial which is beautiful.

Because my skin is so much lighter than Nicola’s this exact tutorial looks a lot different on me. It’s less about doing exactly what she does step by step, and more about using their technique and adjusting the color combo to work for my skin tone and style. The result is a pretty look I can wear anytime and takes little time to do. If you want something similar to this but know the colors won’t exactly work with your skin tone, ask for help the next time you’re at the makeup counter. Those ladies have a lot of color knowledge and will find colors that compliment you. Even go so far as asking to try out the product before you buy it. I’ve spent way too much money on makeup to not try it out on my face before purchasing.

This is the list of products I use daily for a similar look:

MAC Cosmetics Paint Pot in Painterly as the base
MAC Eyeshadow in Omega all over the lid
MAC Select Cover-Up in NW20
MAC Fluidline Gel Liner in Dipdown on both top and bottom line
MAC Fluidline Gel Liner in Blacktrack just on the top line for more definition
NARS Blush in Orgasm for apples of the cheeks
MAC Blush in Harmony for definition
Maybelline Collosal Mascara in Glam Brown
MAC Eyeshadow in Wedge under bottom lashes
MAC Prep + Prime Skin Refined Zone blended into the T-zone
MAC Lipstick in Desire

I do not in any way think this makes me look like Mila Kunis. She is a total babe. Check out her amazing olive skin and fiery attitude in Friends With Benefits, it’s a cute movie. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s now on DVD.

I’m wearing a Calvin Klein Jeans shirt (I bought it years ago and it’s comfy but not too casual), Express cashmere blend cardigan, my Citizens of Humanity Ava Straight Leg jeans which I need to get hemmed about 1/4 of an inch more and Attilio Giusti Leoumbruni flats.

The two items I think are most important to invest in are nice jeans and good shoes. If you wear jeans all the time you should have them hemmed for the shoes you wear them most in. Investing in shoes that are well made is important for your feet. Cheap shoes will not make your feet happy even if they look good. Another must-have staple is a nice cardigan, a throw-in-your-purse-can-wear-with-anything-cardigan. The black one I am wearing is a great every day cardigan but also can be worn over nicer clothing. It’s not super expensive because I know I will end up stuffing it somewhere if I don’t need to wear it but want to have it close at hand.

Ok, it was freezing and we’d been outside long enough for my hands to become numb. The only decent pictures that came out are of me looking like my hands were glued together when really I was just trying to warm the darn things. I’m so excited for spring.

As a reward to ourselves for battling the elements my photographer and I went to a French bakery, Le Rendez-Vous, for pastry and a sandwich. Dan pounded a hot chocolate in about 30 seconds (which was too sweet for me) and was halfway into this cheese danish before I saved it for a quick picture. I got the Lyonnais sandwich which is salami and butter on a baguette. So good! I would eat it every day. I’ve had their duck rillette and pickle sandwich which is delicious. Just thinking about it is making me drool. I still need to try their brie and butter sandwich.

The photos aren’t as good as we’d like. We do not have iPhones, sorry people.

They were crazy busy when we got there and there was live music (of which i don’t know the name of) but as soon as we sat down we were served a plate of hot beignets covered in powdered sugar. I was craving a bloody mary so I was happy they had one on the menu, it was very tasty but Dan’s hurricane was just as good. It would be hard to choose between the two in the future.

We were lucky to get such a big table because we used quite a bit of it. Along with our drinks we got coffee which was strong and tasty. We ordered the large fruit plate and I think we would have done fine with the small plate. It had pineapple, mango, strawberries, cantaloupe, grapes, kiwi and banana. All of this came with condensed milk which only really tasted good with the strawberries. Normally in winter you ask for a fruit plate and get melon and grapes so I was so happy to see this variety. 

The benedicts! I don’t think either one of us wanted to leave anything on our plates because it all tasted so good. I ordered the crab benedict which had NOM pieces of Dungeness crab and Dan ordered the ham benedict with a veal shallot pan sauce which was seriously decadent and I don’t know how he finished it all. But the potatoes! I love breakfast potatoes and these were cooked perfectly, not too soggy or hard, I could eat these all the time.

I’m sure it’s obvious but I really loved the birthday brunch – I don’t think it could have been better.

This card is perfect. Thank you Dan.

Dan gave me this necklace for Valentine’s day and I absolutely love it. When I pinned this Belle Noel Rams head monocle necklace from shopbop I had no idea who was behind the Belle Noel name, I just loved that it was unique. It wasn’t until before writing this entry that I realized that Belle Noel is Kim Kardashian’s jewelry line. I’d like to say that I wouldn’t be influenced by this but, if I had known Belle Noel was her line I may have looked at the necklace differently. But I’m obsessed with the design and I want to wear it every day.

Jewelry needs to have meaning behind it for me to wear it. I rarely buy myself jewelry but adore pieces that I have received as gifts. My favorite necklace is an owl with blue eyes that my Aunt Nancy got in Greece. The blue eyes ward off evil and the owl represents wisdom and the goddess Athena. When I wear jewelry with symbols I feel empowered by that symbol. I know it’s silly but this ram head kinda makes me feel like I can take on anything.

On any given day I usually know what clothes I want to wear, and it is always a sad realization that they don’t exist in my closet (yet). Obviously I can’t go out and buy everything I want. Instead I pick up a few pieces here and there, and dream about stuff I find on Pinterest. If you do either of the following you may be a semi-neurotic shopper like me -

You spend 4+ hours trying on clothes with the help of a very enthusiastic Nordstrom employee who you feel like you’ve disappointed because you’ve come out with only one (or none!) item you actually like.

You pin outfits to Pinterest all day, imagining what they would be like to wear (you’d rock them all) but until you start looking for them in your closest you forget that you don’t actually own them.

This is what I do to cope with having an “in-progress” closet. I fantasize and I window-shop, but at least I know what I want. Here are seven outfits that would help my wardrobe match what I imagine myself dressing like day-to-day.

Classic style

Girl crush! Brights, neutrals and a girly dress

Pencil skirts - A wardrobe staple

Over the knee boots can be pretty (not just sexy) if done right

I love the equestrian look. See also: Betty Draper

Kate Beckinsale is gorgeous and I gravitate toward her style

Again, Blake Lively - Leather jacket with a pretty dress

I’ve always been a fan of this day. It’s an excuse to splurge on food, chocolate, and the boyfriend. It’s also two days before my birthday and that turns the whole week into a party.

This year I am celebrating my first Valentine’s Day with Dan. Since we’re going out to celebrate my birthday later in the week we decided to stay in and have a romantic dinner…of what? We don’t know yet but I’ve been craving some cured meat and a few different types of cheese. Or maybe we’ll go back to our old staple of skirt steak salad with blue cheese, white wine, and crusty bread.

We do know what is for dessert though. On our first few stay-at-home-let-Dan-cook date nights, after filling up on dinner, we’d pop a bottle of prosecco (we love La Marca) and combo it with strawberries dipped in nutella. It’s delicious.

Then we’d relax and watch old movies like The Philadelphia Story or Bringing Up Baby. I think this sounds like a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, even though Dan has a crush on Katherine Hepburn… and Cary Grant. I guess I have competition? Ha.

Only in old movies

If I didn’t already have plans to chill in one of Dan’s Hanes white cotton t-shirts, my inner sexy lady (does she only exist in my head?) would want to wear some saucy lingerie. Lingerie can be sexy and fun, but only if you’re comfortable. Nothing is more unsexy than parading around half-naked worrying that whoever is watching would prefer you fully clothed. Being comfortable will help make you feel confident, and confidence is sexy. Here are a few of my lingerie choices from Anthropologie…for my secret sexy self.

Because in my mind I can pull off see-thru lace bra tops...

If you possess a big booty the lace will make it all the sexier

The quicker he takes off the corset top the sexier he becomes. Double points for one-handed.