KICKSTART A HEALTHY FALL: FIVE SELF-CARE TIPS

Happy almost Fall! This Friday kicks off the first day of Autumn and I could not be more excited for all things focused on this season including but not limited to chillier sweater weather, all the pumpkin spice flavored things (you know you love it), Halloween (one of my favorite holidays), and all the amazing Fall fashion (moody colors, scarves, hats, and leggings speak to me). 

I'm not going to lie, I definitely indulged and treated myself one too many times this past Summer (I blame celebrating my birthday for an entire month - whoops), and definitely feel like I need to get my ass into gear before the holidays and all the yummy holiday food and drinks that come with it sneak up on us. I feel like the beginning of Fall is the perfect time to kickstart some healthy habits to carry on throughout the year and am going to commit to doing these easy things in my day to day. Scroll down for my top five self-care tips to kickstart a healthy Fall (or reverse all that rosé you drank this summer).

1. Make easy, low-carb meals: I love love love carbs, but they do not love me. As much as I love pasta, I'm going to hold it as a special dish to treat myself with. Luckily there are so many low-carb options that are just as good! Here's my shopping list to stick to low-carb:

- Trader Joe's Riced Cauliflower (Sautée with olive oil, chicken, garlic, your fav veggies - I use broccoli, shredded carrots, peas and zucchini, and then toss in scrambled egg and top with low-sodium soy sauce for a cauliflower "fried rice").

- Trader Joe's Frozen Cauliflower Pizza Crust (Bake and add pizza sauce, your fav toppings and a bit of low-fat mozzarella for guilt-free pizza).

- Trader Joe's Frozen Zucchini Spirals (Cook ground turkey with your favorite seasonings and add a marinara sauce - let this simmer and warm these zucchini noodles on the stove at the same time. Combine together for a pasta-free "spaghetti" dish. I like to add a sprinkle of parmesan and red chili flakes on top!)

- Trader Joe's Red Lentil Noodles (These noodles still contain carbs, but due to their high fiber content won't make you crash like white pasta and are protein-packed so this is a go-to for me post-workout. You can add ground turkey and your favorite sauce or toss with olive oil, salt and pepper).

2. Drink your collagen: Collagen supplements are so great for not only your hair, nails, skin but to restore your muscles post workout. I love this one from Vital Proteins - it's flavorless, blends well and I don't even notice it when I'm drinking it! I mix it in with my morning coffee or add it to my green smoothie after I get back from the gym.

3. Schedule your workouts: I hate working out sometimes but will admit I feel a million times better once I get it over with. I've noticed I tend to get off track with going to the gym when I don't have it scheduled out to go after the office. I always use the excuse that I don't have my workout attire with me! A helpful tip is to pack your gym bag and keep it in your car - I like to alternate going every other day to keep in a routine but not burn myself out.

4. Swap out the high-cal drinks: I'm a huge craft beer fan (give me all the IPA's), love a good fruity (and sugar-y) cocktail, and white wine is my jam BUT these are all so high in calories that a night out can set you back big time in terms of staying on track with being healthy. If you're going out - a vodka, soda water and lemon is a good low-cal option. If you are craving that high-cal beer or wine, have one glass as a treat instead of over-indulging or pick a night where you have this as your "cheat day" treat.

5. Take care of your skin: I've been trying to develop a good skin-care routine, and it's crazy how far a good toner or facemask can go in making your skin feel healthy and look glowing. Here are my fav skincare items at the moment:

- Peach Slices Face Masks: the 'brighten', 'calm', and 'firm' sheet masks are my go-to's and my skin feels amazing after - you can also find these at CVS (where I get mine)

- Murad hydrating toner: I use this as a daily toner first thing when I wake up, and last thing before I go to bed after washing my face. It makes my skin feel fresh and clean!

- Shiseido Power Infusing Concentrate: It's pricy but I feel like this stuff actually works - my skin will look awful at night, I'll put it on before bed and it looks like my skin got a facial when I wake up. Worth it.

I feel like these are all pretty easy tips to implement in your day to day - I've felt my absolute best incorporating these into my life in the past and that's why I'm all for getting back on track with this routine again. Take caring of myself to feel better is my goal this Fall! What about you guys?

XO, 

Jasmin

P.S. This dress is on sale (YES!)

SELF-CONFIDENCE: WHAT IT MEANS TO ME

Today was the solar eclipse and it was something pretty cool to witness. Being in Southern California, we couldn't see it in totality but seeing even just a part of the moon pass over the sun was something special to witness. A bunch of people were gathered on top of the roof of my office building's parking garage, sharing the protective lenses and partaking in the experience together which made for an all around fun escape from the office (even if it was just for 30 minutes).

All this eclipse madness also brought on special horoscopes for everyone. It seemed like every blog or website had their take on what the eclipse meant for your astrological sign. I take horoscopes with a grain of salt, but I still like to believe a shift in the cosmos can somehow affect my mood or what's going on in my life. I'm a cancer baby and ruled by the moon, so I figured it's worth seeing what my horoscope would be (even if it's just for sh*ts and giggles).

So for me, apparently the moon acting up during the eclipse is my time to shine and step into a time of self-actualization. It's a time to realize what situations are bad for me, to shut down anything negative in my life that doesn't live up to my true worth, and basically live more happily and confidently. Ok, so I loved this horoscope. Even if it's not all 100% true, even if it's all just a bunch of crap - I thought to myself why shouldn't I be realizing my true worth and living confidently everyday; regardless of an eclipse or not.

(con't. below.)

I think as busy twenty-something who's trying to navigate work, blogging, relationships, and just life in general without having some kind of quarter-life, what the eff am I doing with my life kind of crisis, it can be very easy to lose your sense of self-confidence. I don't mean this in the sense that I get down on myself - but it's hard to simply not compare yourself or your life to anyone else's. As a blogger, I'm comparing photos of myself to other bloggers. As a single girl, I'm comparing myself to other girls in the dating world. At my job, I'm comparing my caliber of work to the person next to me. It's all very overwhelming at times. Which is why this particular week's horoscope about living more confidently than ever really struck a chord with me.

Being confident to me means to sometimes not care what people think, to take pride in your work, and to realize your self worth. If someone doesn't like my blog, that's OK - as long as I feel good about the content I'm putting out there. If someone is excelling at work next to me, that doesn't mean I can't excel alongside them and show off my own strengths. If someone doesn't want to go out on a date with me, that's fine because I would never want to be with someone who doesn't treat me well anyways. 

At the end of the day, self-confidence to me means to be unapologetically yourself. I'm not sure if I needed the moon crossing the path of the sun to remind me of that, but I'm glad it did anyways.

What are some mantras of self-confidence you guys live by? Let me know in the comments below!

XO,

Jasmin

P.S. This dress is sold out :( but I've linked three very similar and cute styles below!

STYLES THAT ARE BACK IN: DENIM SKIRTS

One thing that I love about fashion is how styles are constantly changing and evolving, but then at the end of the day - you see most things make a come back. I love how a few years back the hippie/boho styles from the late 60's and early 70's made a comeback. Jumpsuits, bell sleeved tops, funky prints, lot of florals and oversized round sunnies just to name a few (and I'm so happy they did because these are all staples of my style I love to wear to this day).

Another recent trend I've seen everywhere this Summer is the distressed denim skirt. I remember my middle school and high school days in the 2000's when these were all the rage to wear (you, everyone you knew and their mother had one of these denim skirts from Abercrombie). It seemed like people slowly stopped wearing them though and the craze for denim mini skirts was dead for good after 2008/2009. 

I personally always loved wearing them as an alternative to shorts on hot days (which is like 85% of the year living in Southern California), so you can imagine my delight when I saw them slowly being incorporated in stores and worn by influencers this past Spring and Summer. They're easy to throw on, perfect for a casual weekend outfit, and they make you look cute. Win win in my book. Scroll down to see my top 5 fave denim skirts to shop right now.

1. This Lulu's Denim Skirt: This is a great, basic denim mini to pair with everything and anything. It even comes in a lighter wash and other colors!

2. This Express Beaded Denim Skirt: The beaded detailing on this one combined with the distressed look is so cute! Great way to dress up a basic black or white button tee.

3. This Urban Outfitters Button-Front Skirt: I love the button front details on this one and the fact that it's high waisted. Pair it with a cute crop top and you're weekend ready.

4. This Zara Embroidered Denim Skirt: I love floral and embroidered EVERYTHING. Paired on this denim mini makes it even better. I would style this with a navy and white or black and white striped tee.

5. This H&M Denim Skirt with Lacing: I love the lacing detail throughout this mini that gives it somewhat of an edge. This would be great with a tucked in tee, or a black mock-neck crop for a night out.

What are some of your guys' favorite trends that have made a comeback lately?

XO,

Jasmin

FAVORITE SUMMER TREND TO WEAR INTO FALL: ONE SHOULDER TOPS

I can't believe it's already the second week of August! This summer seems like it's flown by and pretty soon it'll be Fall and we'll all be waiting in line at Starbucks to order our beloved Pumpkin Spice Lattes.

Reflecting on this summer's fashion, one of my favorite pieces has been the one-shoulder top. It's cute, great for warmer weather, and adds some detail and that something extra you want to pull your outfit together.

Below I've rounded up my favorite one-shoulder tops, and ideas for how to wear them into the Fall season that's inevitably upon us. The only thing you need to find now is the right strapless bra (LOL). Scroll down to see the links!

1. This J. Crew Stripe Cotton One-Shoulder Bow Top: I'm obsessed with the bow detail on this one-shoulder top. This would be great with high-waisted denim, menswear-inspired loafers, and a cognac cross-body.

2. This H&M White One-Shoulder Blouse: This is your basic white blouse taken and dressed up with a fun ruffle detail and I'm so into it. The long sleeves make it perfect to transition from Summer to Fall. Pair it with a high waisted black skirt and tights with some suede black booties for a more polished look that doesn't look too stuffy. 

3. This Lulus Cute Mauve Top: I'm obsessed with this neutral, mauve color for Fall (kind of like that dusty pink color I've been seeing everywhere lately), so this is a perfect Summer to Fall transitional top. This satin texture is also perfect if you want something a little more dressed up. Pair with black skinny jeans and some strappy sandals for the perfect date night outfit.

4. This MICHAEL Michael Kors Pleated One Shoulder Ruffle Top: The pleated and lace details on this one-shoulder are so beautiful. I love darker colors with feminine details like lace for Fall, and bonus: this top's on sale! Pair it with dark denim, and suede grey over-the-knee boots.

5. This Petersen Bradford Blouse: I'm obsessed with this top. It has a lot of great Fall trends incorporated in one (darker colors, plaid pattern, flared long sleeve, and cute tie at the waist), without completely looking like you're dressed for cold weather as it's still a one-shoulder top! Love this one paired with ripped boyfriend jeans, booties, and a felt black fedora.

I've also included links for the look I'm wearing below. Almost the entire outfit is on sale too!

XO,

Jasmin