Being Fashion Forward in a Small Town 5.11.2018

I'll be the first to admit that being super into fashion and living in a small Midwest town are not exactly a match made in heaven. Photo locations can be hard to come by, I get all kinds of looks and comments, and shopping isn't readily available. 

But I'm a definite believer in blooming where you are planted! Since living here I've been determined to not let my location dampen my style and what I'm inspired by. As my confidence grows, fitting in becomes less important to me, and being true to myself and my style become increasingly important and empowering!

How I deal with the looks and comments...

Honestly, I've just gotten used to them and grown to care less and less over time. I internally roll my eyes at the "wow, those are some shoes!" types of comments. Or the misogynistic, "you need to ask Trey to buy you some jeans without holes in them!" Gag. I've been known to flip off the creeps who harass me as I'm trying to take photos of my outfits (I'm sassier than you might think haha). And now I find the mystified looks to be pretty amusing! To me, it means I'm doing my own thing and owning my style!  

How I shop...

ONLINE! As I'm sure you've noticed, online shopping is kind of a big deal these days 😉It's definitely made it easier to adapt to a town where we don't even have a Target or a Chipotle, and helps to put me on a more level playing field with other bloggers. That being said, it would be really nice to run to Nordstrom or Sephora here and there haha. Fortunately, we do have an awesome boutique here called June and Beyond that gives me a great local shopping option! 

Why I refuse to conform to where I live...

To me that would be giving up and just blending in. I've loved fashion and been super inspired by the industry since I was 14 years old, and I'm not giving up on that anytime soon. I have a feeling I'll love it my entire life. I started my blog years ago because I felt like I had a unique perspective and style, so it would be a shame to drown that out just because we ended up in a smaller town for the time being. Here's what I think: Don't let where you live define you. Dress how you want to dress, believe what you want to believe, and live your life how you want to live it!   

How it's built my confidence...

I think in a way I've been forced to become more confident by living here. I stand out at times, and I've had to become more comfortable with that! I no longer feel embarrassed about my style and personality, and feel empowered to be uniquely me! 

dress (c/o - use code LOVELENORE20 for 20% off your Maude orders!)

shoes  |  sunglasses (c/o)  |  similar bag  |  similar bandana  |  hoops

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The Trend I'm Obsessed With Right Now 4.16.2018

I'm not sure what's gotten into me, but I can't get enough of breezy wide-leg pants and jumpsuits these days! When I saw this matching set I knew I had to have it. I love the button details and the tie in the back of the pants!

Maude Boutique has been one of my favorite places to online shop for unique finds this spring, and they were kind enough to give me a discount code for you guys! Use code LOVELENORE20 for 20% off your orders! Here are some more items I'm obsessed with from Maude: these gingham shorts, this wide-leg jumpsuit (looks so comfy!), these floral wide-leg pants, this round straw tote, and this one-piece swimsuit.   

set (c/o Maude)  |  sunglasses ($10!)  |  sandals (c/o)  |  earrings  |  |  similar bag

On another note, spring weather has not been easy to come by in the Midwest this year! Looking at last year's photos, things were green and blooming by, but aside from the trees I found for these photos, everything is still pretty dead looking around here and it was frigid here this weekend. This week is looking a little bit warmer though, so fingers crossed!

Since it was quite wintery this weekend, all three of my photo sessions got rescheduled, which left us with a free weekend to be home (my favorite)! On Saturday I stayed in my PJs all day and did virtually nothing. I felt super lazy, but sometimes you just need a day like that to let your body rest! Yesterday I started Kayla Itsines' Bikini Body Guide, we each went through a bunch of clothes and gathered quite a few bags of donations, we completed our taxes, and celebrated our nephew's birthday. So all in all, it was a good weekend with a balance of relaxation and productivity! Now, to get through a long Monday...    

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Fall Athleisure 11.02.2017

In stark contrast to yesterday's blog post, I bring you a comfy-cute athleisure outfit that I am allll about lately. It's so funny because some days I'm super extra with outfits, and others I want nothing more than to be comfy.

To be honest, athleisure outfits don't come the most naturally to me, but I always love them on other people! Maybe it's because I'm not super athletic, but sometimes I feel awkard looking in workout and athleisure clothes. That being said... I do think I'm getting better at athleisure, and I think a big key is still having a couple of details that pop and/or make your outfit interesting! In this look I have a mixture of textures with both faux leather and suede, the 'love wins' embroidery on the sweatshirt, and the pop of color and print in my backpack. 

I was sold on this sweatshirt as soon as I saw the 'love wins' embroidery. Loving others is a message that can't be shared enough in my opinion, and I wish there was a lot more love and compassion in our country and around the world. It's easy to get bogged down in the negativity of the world, but it takes strength to keep spreading love and positivity, even in hard times. Every little reminder or piece of positivity can help!

Love [always] wins.  

Sweatshirt (the softest, comfiest sweatshirt ever! c/o Maude)  |  Faux Leather Leggings  |  Backpack  |  Similar Hat  |  Sneakers

Picking out this sweatshirt is one of the better decisions I've made in the past month. Not only do I love the positive message, but it's also the softest, comfiest sweatshirt I've ever owned! No joke, I wore it every evening for a week after I got it. Sorry, not sorry if that's gross. I just didn't want to wear anything else once I got home at night! 

I was also so excited to style my new backpack! I'm loving a pop of red right now, so this floral was a must for me. It's the perfect medium size, too!

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A Rare Pop of Color 10.24.2017

I don't know what's happened to me, but I'm loving color lately! This pink top is giving me liiiffffeee and I love it with all sorts of denim. 

Top (c/o)  |  Jeans (lots more cropped options here) |  Similar Boots  |  Belt  |  Earrings (c/o)

On a completely different note, I've been putting off buying a backpack and a weekender-style bag for such a long time, despite being things I legit need. However, I finally pulled the trigger on one of each this week and wanted to share! I've wanted a cute backpack for literally years, and finally ordered one of these Rebecca Minkoff backpacks (which you'll see on here soon!). I also finally updated my weekender bag to something a bit more chic (versus the lavender floral I've been sporting the past few years). I ended up getting the weekender bag by new-to-me brand Deux Lux and am really happy with the quality for the price. I also loved several bags by Hershel Supply Co. if you're in the market.  

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I'm Back! 9.06.2017

Hey hey! It's been a minute since I posted. I gave a little update on my Instagram story last week about what transpired with my father-in-law, but if you missed it here's a quick scoop without going into too much detail. Friday before last we found out he was being airlifted to a hospital about an hour from us (from Arkansas where he lives) with serious bleeding related to his cancer & treatments. After rushing to the hospital, we found things to be much much worse than we expected/knew and Friday night to Saturday morning was undoubtedly the scariest night of our lives. We are incredibly grateful that his surgeons/doctors and nurses did an amazing job, and that his mental strength and any remaining physical strength pulled him through that night and the remaining weekend. Over the course of last week he recovered and made gains at a rather miraculous pace (he was very popular at the hospital!), and we got to bring him home on Wednesday. Trey and I came home to work Friday, then headed back down to Arkansas over the weekend to visit, keep him company, and help with his care. 

We are just so grateful that he's okay and that his cancer outlook is now looking really positive. We were not ready to lose him, and knew he wasn't done fighting. We look forward to our kids knowing both of their incredible grandpas! 

Needless to say there was no time over the past week and a half for photoshoots, dressing up, or even giving a thought to Instagram and blogging. However, it's great to be back in a routine, and back to both blogging and work!  

Top (c/o)  |  Similar Jeans here & here  |  Ankle Boots  |  Similar Hat  |  Lipstick ("loved")

So, this outfit is definitely a more experimental look for me, but this fall and winter I really want to push myself out of my comfort zone with my styling combinations and purchases. I was honestly getting a bit bored, so want to take some style risks! 

Cropped, relaxed jeans paired with tall ankle boots are definitely a look that's new to me, but I'm diggin' it right now and want to play around with the pairing more in the future. This super oversized tee from Maude Boutique is so comfortable and versatile. I love that I can style it as a cute lounge look around the house, or dress it up a bit with denim to head out the door. See another way I styled it here.  

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How I Unwind at Home (with Capri Blue) 8.18.2017

As someone who works full time beyond blogging (and has another side hustle too), I am always looking for ways to de-stress and to make my home as relaxing and homey as possible. As a homebody that doesn't get to be home as much as I'd like, I really cherish my time at home and appreciate all the little things that make it better! Today I'm collaborating with a brand I absolutely love, Capri Blue, to share some ways I make my home (and my routine) that relaxing oasis that I definitely need in my life! 

With two indoor dogs (that are sometimes a little stinky), I really rely on products that help make our home smell good 24/7. Their reed diffusers are so effective, and look beautiful too! I don't have a good sense of smell, so sometimes I can be a bit "nose blind" and worry that our house smells like doggies, but a friend came over the other night and commented on how good our house smelled, and I knew it was because of this reed diffuser!

To be honest, I used to dread cooking, but over the last year or so I've come to really enjoy it. This is partly because I love learning about nutrition and now really look forward to making nutritious meals, but also because I've learned to turn it into a relaxing, enjoyable experience for myself. What used to stress me out after work is now something I look forward to so that I can unwind a bit in the evenings. I like to listen to music or one of my favorite podcasts while I cook, and also love to light a candle in the kitchen or dining room. I find the smell to be so relaxing, and that the candlelight helps create that positive and peaceful energy I want in our home.

I've found that Capri Blue candles have a much stronger aroma than other brands, and last longer too. Since I don't have a great sense of smell, I love that I can actually smell their candles throughout the entire house when they're burning!

Home decor is also huge for me because it's something I really enjoy, and because it really sets the mood and energy of your home. I love walking into our house when it's clean and when the decor is giving off the vibes I want. Something I love about Capri Blue candles is that they're so pretty! The aesthetic is seriously on point and fits right in with my home decor. I've always loved using candles as decorative accents, and theirs are simply the best for that.

 My nightly skincare routine is also something I look forward to doing to unwind each evening. As I get into bed I set my phone aside for the night and put on my hand cream. I've always had dry hands, but this hand cream is a dream for moisturizing, and it smells absolutely heavenly!

What are some little things you have in your home or do on a nightly basis that help you create a relaxing environment and routine? I am always looking for new things to try!

Thank you for reading this post and for supporting brands I love and get to partner with! I already had Capri Blue products around my home before partnering with them, so I was really excited to work with them to bring you this post!

Products in this post:

stripe tee (c/o) |  similar jeans
white candle (my favorite Capri Blue scent!)  |  rose gold candle  |  reed diffuser  |  hand cream
bookcase  |  marble tray  |  dried eucalyptus  |  similar wood tray  |  wood sculpture     

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Hey Baby 7.05.2017

I hope you all had a happy 4th! We didn't do anything too exciting - just hung out with different groups of family and friends throughout the day!

 Tee (c/o | runs small!)  |  Shorts  |  Similar Sneakers here, here & here

I'm obsessed with the vintage vibes of this little baby tee! How cute is the rainbow?? It does run pretty small, so I would just go up a size! 

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5 Instagram Accounts I'm Loving This Summer 6.27.2017

While I have a love-hate relationship with Instagram (the damn algorithm will be the death of my patience), I get so so much inspiration from the many beautiful accounts on there. I looooove the new collections feature where I can make as many mood boards as my little ocd heart desires. Can you believe how much everyone has stepped up their Insta game in the last couple of years? Throwback to the old days when you didn't worry about your theme or layout or what time of day to post haha (miss it).

Anyways, I thought I would share some love for 5 Insta accounts I can't get enough of for that perfect summer inspo!

1 | @sivanayla

I'm actually obsessed with her. She's a total effortless babe, queen of IG stories, has the most flawless skin I've ever laid eyes on, and loves rosé more than anyone. Also lives in the perfect LA home. #goals

2 | @ashbegash

Ashley has been a long-time blogging pal, but her Instagram is the cutest thing ever! The last few weeks she's been on a perfect Italian adventure and I can't get enough of her photos!

3 |  @damselindior

Nothing new here bc I've been obsessed with her for years and her feed is always on freaking point (++ Jacy/Jacey is obviously a fantastic name), but she is really killing it with her summer 'grams. So. Much. Inspiration.

4 | @taylorsterling

Taylor, the Glitter Guide founder, shares so much lifestyle inspo, and has the perfect millenial pink feed👌

5 | @lauracipp

She is a new follow for me, but I've been loving her summer style! I also don't hate seeing little glimpses of LA life... 🌞

Top (c/o)  |  Similar Jeans here & here  |  Hat  |  Heels  |  Chokers

Now onto the outfit... This cropped off-the-shoulder top would be absolutely perfect for the 4th! I think it would be so cute with a pair of overall shorts or a denim mini skirt (as well as with cutoff shorts). I love ordering from Maude Boutique because they have unique pieces that I don't see on every other retailer + they have fast & free shipping!

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