Back on the [Green] Scene (Feat. FashionMia + Phipps Conservatory)

Hello, everyone! It sure has been awhile hasn't it? Though I had yet another unplanned hiatus (I don't know why but they always seem to happen in early spring, what's up with that?), however, I'm thrilled to say that this most recent 2018 hiatus was for a much brighter reason than last years. This time, and there will be more on this below, my hiatus had a HUGE focus on self-care and as a result has left me feeling happier, healthier, and more motivated than ever to get back on to the blogging scene!

And of course, aside from being happy to be back to writing and styling (which are just a few of my favorite things), I am also thrilled to be back because I also have some very exciting collaborations coming up this summer and will also be working with some really awesome people. But most of all, I am excited to be back because I have missed all of you, which as always I am forever appreciative of all of your on going support! Now, let's get to the good stuff, plus my brand new #OOTD.

Life/Blog Updates + What I've Been Up To

So, I am sure many of you are wondering why I have been away (especially without warning) for so long. The short answer to this is back in late February, I unfortunately caught that nasty flu and bronchitis that had been going around this year, and was in and out of the hospital for weeks. That in itself was rough, however, what made it worse was due to being ill I fell behind in my classes at Point Park University. The latter was originally the main reason for my hiatus because I take my schooling very seriously (good news is, though I'm not thrilled my GPA didn't stay at a 4.0, I did come out of this semester with a 3.6 all things considered), I also started focusing on getting healthier and taking better care of myself.

In order to do this, I began making time to do things that I enjoy again. These activities include yoga, running, ballet, singing, and of course photography. I also made strides in my personal health by making sure I made time for myself (because like many of us do, I occasionally forget that I am in fact important too) to relax and do things that I love, in order to keep my mental health in tip-top shape. I also have been eating better and have been sure to avoid pulling all-nighters at all costs, considering I know my sleep habits were an issue.

As for updates on the blog front, for one, my blogiversary was back on March 20, 2018, and Stark Raving Chic turned three years old! And though I didn’t get a proper post done about it, I’m still so happy to have had this success over three years. I was also thrilled to find that I haven't only not lost any followers, but I gained a significant amount, and actually hit 25K on Instagram! So along with some more exciting interviews (similar to the kick-ass one with Terra McBride back in February), as well as awesome upcoming collaborations with a few major companies, I will also be hosting a 25K giveaway sometime this summer, so be sure to stay tuned!

New Photography Work

As mentioned above, along with practicing self-care through being sure to make time for myself, I also really got back to my artistic roots and began photographing nature again. Though my focus was in photojournalism, and I love fashion photography, another thing I always loved focusing my lens on was nature, and honestly hadn't shot anything new until recently. However, it was so uplifting and I am so excited about the photos that I have decided I might have found a new passion in nature macro photography. If you head to my "Portfolio, Nature: 2018" section you can see all the photos I've been working on, but I picked a few of my favorites to show here (also note, all photographs can be printed and framed for purchase, pricing is available upon request via email):

Gorgeous Greenery 

Last but not least, though this portion won't be as extensive as my other "Outfit of the Day" posts, I did want to share one of my new favorite early spring dresses from my affiliate and sponsor, FashionMia, along with some gorgeous jewelry from my favorite South Side boutique, Terry Jolo.

The reason I love this dress is due to its lush green color, which in my opinion, is absolutely gorgeous for spring. It reflects the new greenery we get this time of year as well as everything coming into bloom. I also like this dress’ flowy, a-line, cut, which gives this dress a soft and feminine appearance—adding to the soft look, and touch, of the velvet. 

To style this look, I chose to keep it classic with some gorgeous gold jewelry from Terry Jolo. The reason this necklace and earring (see below) duo work so well for this look is due to the fact that they make a a statement without overwhelming the dress. 

Lastly, to complete this soft and feminine look, I chose to keep it simple with my makeup and opted for bareMinerals BarePro in Aspen, Maybelline’s Bronze Rooftops City Minis pallet for my eyes, Dior’s My Rose Blush, and Kat Von D’s Studded Kiss lipstick in Lovecraft. 

One Last Look

What have you been up too for the past three months, and what are some of your favorite ways to practice self-care? Let’s chat about them in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have any fabulous photography or spring looks that you have just been dying to show off? I’d love to see them, so feel free to tag me in you Instagram Story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Psssst! just in case you haven't heard, I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!

#OOTD: Tantalizing In Tan (Feat. Fashion Mia + Kat Von D Beauty Compliments of Influenster)

Whew, what a weekend! Though I was sick all of last week with the flu, I was overjoyed that I finally began to feel better by Saturday and was absolutely thrilled to get back to work, though I must admit I'm not thrilled with the overwhelming amount of make-up homework I have to do after missing a week of school. But nonetheless, I am happy to be back to my normal, healthy self and to be out of the hospital, now lets keep our fingers crossed that I won't get sick again for a good long while!

Considering I was laid up in my house or the hospital all last week, needless to say by this weekend I was more than ready to get out of the house and actually spend time around other people. (Though Oliver and Lola are great company and expert snugglers, neither of them are conversationalists.) So, to celebrate my newly reclaimed health, I decided to get out and explore my own city for the day, and took to downtown Sewickley for a day of shopping at local boutiques and eating some delicious food. And of course after living in nothing but pajamas for a week, I was also more than ready to style an outfit, so I chose to wear this adorable, casual dress from my newest sponsor, FashionMia.

FashionMia: A Quick Overview

As I stated above, FashionMia is a new sponsor that I began working with this year. So, much like any other time when I bring on a new sponsor and introduce their products to my readers, I like to give you all a quick rundown about the brand and their products. 

Firstly, FashionMia is an online clothing site that specializes in modern fashion trends and sells these hot items at irresistibly low prices. This is great because when shopping with FashionMia you'll be sure to get the cutest looks without breaking the bank. What's better than stylish and affordable clothing? 

Another thing that I love about FashionMia is that they have a huge variety of clothing to choose from. These options include but are not limited to, evening gowns, casual dresses, business attire, outerwear, and accessories. Another service that FashionMia offers that is unique from other online shops in this niche, is that FashionMia also has an entire section for men's wear, which is great for  all the fashionistos out there. Lastly, the only issue I see with this company is considering they are based in China, there is no possibility for rush delivery, so after ordering your products they may take two to three weeks to get to you, however after receiving my products compliments of them for this partnership, I promise you that it's well worth the wait. 

Black & Tan 

To style for my day of shopping in the beautiful town of Sewickley, I decided that this adorable casual dress would be a perfect fit for the all day affair. The reason why I chose this dress to stroll around town is due to the fact it is super comfortable and great for all day wear. The other great thing about this dress is due to its long sleeves its actually very warm, and because of its casual nature, this dress is a great piece to layer with to add some extra warmth. Which, I did just that by pairing it with my fleece lined leggings. 

Before I get into the complete review of this dress, if you follow me on Twitter and/or Instagram, and simply by looking over this post, I am sure you have noticed that I no longer have my signature blonde locks and have traded them in for something a little more natural! Though I am not a full blown red head like I am now, my natural hair color is actually more of a dirty, reddish blonde. So, to cut back on having to get my hair highlighted every month, I have opted to go red, which will make it way less noticeable when my roots inevitably grow in. And I have to say, I'm loving the cheaper price of getting my hair done now and just adore how great this color looks. I'm definitely looking forward to styling so many outfits with my new fiery 'do.  

Now, let's get to the reason I'm sure most of you are here and that would be to hear about this fabulous dress from FashionMia. First I have to say that this dress is probably the most comfortable piece of clothing that I own right now. It is made of a thick, soft, polyester material which makes this piece hug your curves in all the right places. I also love the fact that this dress is versatile and can be paired with a variety of different accessories which allow it to be worn in multiple ways. The final two things I adore about this piece is that its drop waist adds a cool casual touch and that it also has pockets which is a major win for me! Lastly, this dress fits true to size and it is also very well made. It came in perfect condition and there is not a stitch out of place.

To style this piece for my Saturday of shopping, I chose to pair it with some black fleece lined leggings to add some extra warmth, along with my favorite Micheal Kors boots. Aside from these pairings being practical for the weather conditions, they also double as a super stylish look. This is because the black of the boots and leggings add a great contrast to the tan dress, which makes this look visually pleasing. 

To add to this contrast, I then chose to further accessorize this look with this gorgeous Faye bag by Chloe. The reason why I chose this purse is because aside from it staying within the black and tan theme, its gold accents complement the gold accents on my boots, which really ties this look together. I also just adore this purse for every day wear, the reason this is is because it adds a cool and relaxed look to any outfit due to its chic bohemian vibe. 

The final touch I added to my casual weekend look is my frequently styled Kendra Scott Rayne pendant. As I've mentioned in countless past posts, this necklace is my go to for adding some shine to any outfit. This versatile necklace can dress up a simple blouse, or add a charmingly boho vibe to a basic outfit. In this case, this bold necklace adds a fun pop of color to my laid back Saturday look. 

Lovely “Lovecraft” 

The last portion of this post I would like to talk about yet another campaign I am working on and that would be the Kat Von D Beauty campaign through Influenster, featuring the new Kat Von D, Creme Lipstick. I received this product complimentary to try through Influenster, for those of you who have never heard of Influenster, you can learn more here! The color I received from Kat Von D's new line though is called "Lovecraft". And aside from it being named after one of my favorite writers, I also absolutely adore the color! 

As you can see, the color is a nice, matte, pink, which adds a cute and girly touch to this make up look. The lipstick is also very easy to apply an literally just glided on to my lips, which is something I am not used to with some of my other matte lippies. I also love this color because though it is light, the pigment is so lush and rich, surely making your pout stand out in a crowd. To accompany this lipstick, I paired it with my bareMinerals BarePro liquid foundation, Dior's Exalt eye shadow palette, and NARS Lovejoy Blush. The reason why I chose these colors is because I wanted to keep a fresh and natural look to keep true to this outfits casual vibe.

One Last Look

What are some of your favorite casual weekend outfits? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have a darling casual dress you just need to show off? I'd love to see it so feel free to tag me in your Instagram Story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Psssssst! If you love the jewelry I styled in this post as much as I do, you can try Rocksbox for a whole month 100% FREE when you sign up using my promo code "starkravingchicxoxo". Don't know what Rocksbox is or how it works? You can learn more here!

Also, I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!