2 Simple Athleisure-Wear Outfit Ideas! (simple, comfortable, & affordable)

It's all about being comfortable! Athletic comfort wear is a rising trend right not and I hope you all can get at least a little inspiration from the two sporty yet casual outfits I've put together.
                            
This outfit really captures and 80's vibe while staying comfortable and modern. With a classic look like this on a more casual day, you really can't go wrong!

solid black Nike legging- link

loose grey layering tee- link

similar styled sweatshirt- link

glasses- link

Kate Spade bag- link

Nike roshe shoes- link

                              

                              
In this look I went for an edgier look by styling the black on black and adding the cropped sweatshirt. Depending on the weather you could always switch out this sweatshirt for a longer one or keep the jacket half zipped. Overall this is a very versatile look that so many people could rock!

•  Adidas Superstar sneakers- link
• similar black jeans- link
• Calvin Klein hoodie- link
• black bomber jacket- link

If you're all interested, I have some more athleisure style outfits that will be coming soon so make sure to check back for new posts twice a week               -xoxo, LilyVera

Holiday Gift Guides: 15 gifts for the women in your life! (under $30)

      
With Christmas and the holiday season fast approaching, I've found 15 simple gift ideas that won't break the bank! I hope this helps all of you with your holiday shopping or at least gives some inspiration.

1. The Perfect Bite Set- ($25) at a $59 dollar value, With four full size lipsticks including a beautiful berry shade and a nude, this set is a steal.
2. Michel Design Works Candle- ($17) I have a few of these & my absolute favorite is the peony candle. This would make such a nice gift for anyone on your list! 
3. Portable wireless speakers- ($19.99) This isn't just a gift for woman but for anyone, Speakers are practical and at this price, they'd make such a lovely gift.
4. 32 piece makeup brush set- ($13) great gift for anyone just starting out in makeup who would like a variety of brushes to learn with.
5. EOS holiday set- ($8.99) Would be great as a simple gift and even more perfect as a stocking stuffer!
6. Marc Jacobs Fragrance set-($18) Awesome gift for someone who isn't as interested in makeup, this is a great way to test out a new fragrance too. 
7. Lash to go- ($28) Mascara sampler!!! Awesome gift for any girl who's into trying out new products.
8. Pretty Plaid Scarf - ($9.90) scarfs are an awesome gift for a friend who's into fashion, It's a fun accessory and one size can actually fit all. 
9. Urban Decay electric palette- ($24) Fun and wild colors, good gift for someone who likes to do creative makeup and doesn't just stick to neutrals.
10. Structured cross-body handbag- ($22) gorgeous cross body at a lower price, the real question is who wouldn't love it!  
11. Bohemian tapestry- ($11.69) styling wall art is really popular at the moment so for the friend who wants to customize her space, a pretty tapestry is a great idea.
12. Plush trow-($16.99) everyone loves a warm blanket, even though its simple, this is a gift you can't go wrong with.
13. Philosophy handbook-($20) cute set with three different philosophy lotions, Such a good  brand of product at a low price!
14. Sunglasses- ($7.99) cute and practical gift, everyone loves a classic pair of sunglasses.
15. Becca glow on the go set- ($20) with highlighter being all the rage this little set is the cutest! Anyone who enjoys makeup would love this gift.

Hope you all picked up some inspiration! -LilyVera

DIY Hair Mask: How to repair damaged hair and restore volume & shine

 Hello lovelies! As it begins to get colder out, my skin and hair has been drying out like crazy and considering I'm not overly oily to being with, I like to what I can to keep some moisture. Also I do color treat my hair regularly with bleach leaving it with quite a bit of damage if I don't get regular trims.  After looking into it, a lot of the top brand hair masks and deep conditioners are $40+ and for the price, they primarily just coat hair with a thin layer of silicone which causes breakage later on.  I'm personally not into spending a fortune on something I could do for free, so after some research and long Pinterest trial and error, I've found a great way to give your hair back for healthy volume while staying nice and smooth.  For this hair mask all you're gonna need is 1-2 eggs, 1 tbsp of olive-oil, 2 caplets of vitamin E (optional), and then 2 big tablespoons of coconut oil.

Directions:

• heat up the 2 tbsp of coconut oil in the microwave before adding in
• Combine the 4 ingredients together and then whisk till there is no clumps and the mixture is smooth
• apply mask starting at the ends of your hair and working upward, I applied using the same kind of brush used for hair coloring, you can find them at Sally's beauty supply for under $8
• After application, pull hair into a loose bun on top of your head and cover with shower cap
• let sit for up to 2 hours; In this time I also applied my favorite mud face mask and caught up with an episode of friends on netflix!
• When done rinse outwith water thoroughly and then shampoo and condition as normal

In the photo above, I also applied a small touch of styling balm and then blow-dried my hair hair on light. Hope you all enjoy this simple DIY and check back soon for new updates twice a week     -XOXO, LilyVera

Fall Favorites 2016: My go-to fashion pieces this season!

 Hello lovelies! This fall season, I've really gotten into styling outfits with the right amount of quality classic pieces that will never go out of style and then adding just a couple trendy items here and there to jazz up any look. With winter just around the corner here in Ohio, I've pulled together my 5 must have transition clothing items for this fall.


This fall, will all trends focused primarily on neutrals, the colors I've been styling the most are deffinatly  blacks and cremes but a touch of burgundy and olive green have also been a major part of a lot of my recent outfits. Starting off with the new love of bomber jackets, of the three I picked up, this copper red toned one from Boohoo has been my most worn and most complimented! I'm absolutely in love with the zipper detailing and even though it can be layered, the material isn't too heavy for a slightly warmer fall day. Along with my love for red comes an awesome pair of faux suede booties, I originally picked them up from Amazon but Steve Madden carries a similar pair. Suede is so fashion-forward at the moment so having a colored suede shoe is a perfect accent to so so many simple autumn outfits. As for handbags, despite my love for my new Louis Vuitton speedy30, the Mansur Gavriel bucket bag can literally pull together any look under the sun. I have been carrying this bag almost everywhere! The leather makes it chic and durable and for me, the classic red interior is the cherry on top; Although it can be kinda pricey, this bag is gonna last you forever! Getting back to the classics, I've been loving the creme cable knit sweater I had gotten at Macy's (If I can't find the exact one I'll link one that's similar) that literally goes with anything. When I purchased it,  I did decide to get a size up because I personally like my sweaters oversized so that the neck line is a bit slouchier.  To top it all off, my current favorite accessories have been these fitted bangle style bracelets that are impressions of the Cartier love bracelet. I found these in rose gold on Amazon for a steel! they are so simple but i love how edgy they look with simpler outfits even if you aren't wearing other jewelry. As always links will be below, hope you enjoyed and check back for new posts twice a week.                           -LilyVera

• Bomber jacket - link
• red suede booties- link
• Cartier impression bracelet- link
• Mansur Gavriel bucket bag- link
• similar bucket bag-link
• creme sweater- link

How to Make the Most of your Wardrobe: Polyvore Reveiw!

I don't know about you, but with the transition to fall/ winter clothes, I realized I was really letting so much of my clothing go to waste. In the mornings while planning outfits, I was only inclined to reach for my few favorite pieces and completely ignore anything that wasn't new or wasn't one of my favorite basics. I recently downloaded the app Polyvore and it has taken sooo much stress out of my morning routine.  I've never been one to take the time to get up and lay out clothes for the next day and now I really just don't have to; With the Polyvore app you have the ability to lay out your outfits before wearing by just looking up the the specific piece you own ( or one that's similar) and arranging it however you want like the photos above. It's also great if your deciding on whether to buy something like a new bag or pair of shoes because you can line them up with your already created outfits. Overall this app is a lifesaver, 10/10 recommend, and I thought some of you might enjoy. If your interested in following my account for a look into my closet, my username is lilypfl and I believe the app is available for both ios and android. Check back for more content soon!             -LilyVera

12 Tips to Healthier Blemish-Free Skin!

        
Like many, I've gone through a few years in my life where my skin was far from clear. Recently, by just picking up some better habits, my skin has made a major improvement and despite a random blemish here or there, I don't have to consistently worry about acne. Some people claim they've already tried it all, but hopefully these tips can help them too!

1. To start off, I can't stress enough how important it is to thoroughly remove your makeup at the end of the day.  Using a makeup wipe before washing your face can really improve the overall cleanliness of your pores; My current favorite makeup wipes are the Yes to Clear Skin wipes by the same company who makes the Yes to Cucumber wipes. 
2. Find a face wash that's meant for your skin type! washing your face with a drying wash when you aren't prone to oily skin is just going to make your skin over-produce oil and breakout. If you don't know your exact skin type you can always reach for a gentle wash for variety skin.
3. One of the biggest improvements I made by far was  cutting coffee out of my diet. The caffeine in coffee acts as a stressor  on your body and doesn't have a good effect on your skin.
4. Use sunscreen!!! I hope this is self explanatory, but if not just know you don't want wrinkles in the future.
5. Try and drink 3-4 glasses of water a day. Staying hydrated is great for flushing toxins and for maintaining healthy skin.
6. Make sure to moisturize every single night. If your skin already has that moisture, it won't keep producing the oil that clogs your pores. My all time favorite facial moisterizer is the Cereve PM, but for something a bit lighter you can try 100% pure aloe on your skin and just wash it off in the morning
7. If you can, try to consume less fat filled dairy products
8. Always use a toner after you get out of a steamy shower so that your pores don't clog. If you don't wanna use anything harsh, you can just use apple-cider viniger.
9. Wash your before and after going to the gym. Even though exercising is good for you, the increased sweat isn't if you let it stay on your skin. 
10. Do not forget to wash your makeup brushes on a regular basis, especially if you use the same brushes every day.  Even without brush cleanser, Johnson's baby shampoo makes a great substitute.
11. It never hurts to get a little extra sleep at night
12. last but not least, try and keep your hands off your face. This is one I struggle with, but not having the extra oils and dirt from your hands can make a world of difference.