Outfit of the Day: JB Concert

Would you ever have guessed that I'd be going to a Justin Bieber concert? I honestly wouldn't have! I'm not exactly his biggest fan, I've never really listened to any of his songs (except "Baby" and "As Long As You Love Me" of course), but I just thought it would be fun to go out and see him. I'm going with my best friends, so it should be loads of fun!

:: Blouse :: Clutch :: Jeggings :: Watch :: Shoes :: Earrings ::

This is actually the exact outfit I'll be wearing tomorrow (at the concert) - the brands, the styles, everything is exactly what I'll wear. I won't talk a ton about this outfit, simply because I'm kind of in a hurry, but I feel like I need to explain some things. Maybe not. Whatever, who cares, I'm gonna explain them anyways. 

The concert is in a stadium indoors, so I don't really need to wear anything warm (believe it or not, it's still super cold here) or weather-smart, necessarily. We didn't want to be in the fanzone, because who wants to be squished inbetween 200 screaming 10-year olds? For that (and some other reasons) we got sitting tickets, but if I'm completely honest with you, we'll most likely end up spending 99% of our time on our feet.

I am a strong (and I mean strong) believer in expensive, comfortable shoes as opposed to cheaper ones. But for this concert I made an exception. These loafers are from TopShop, so they aren't exactly the most expensive/nice shoes that I own, but they're pretty comfortable (and cute!) if you ask me. I'm pretty sure they'll get all ruined after the concert, but I won't really feel bad if they do, to be honest. I didn't spend a fortune on them, after all!

I feel like this outfit could pretty much be worn anywhere, which is the exact look I was going for. I didn't want to look like a die-hard fan (because I'm not), but I didn't want to look like I absolutely don't care either. I'm looking forward to having an amazing time with my friends and I hope you all have a good week!

xoxo,

Liz

Daisy Buchanan-inspired Outfit

Everyone (especially this girl right here) is super excited for the release of "The Great Gatsby" movie that will be in theaters on May 10. And what better way to celebrate an amazing movie, music, book, actors, and fashion than with an outfit inspired by one of the main characters of the book?

:: Dress :: Lipstick :: Heels ::

This outfit is perfect for any season and any occasion (read: any dressy occasion) for many reasons. The dress is a classic and versatile color, the heel adds some vavoom and makes your legs look longer... And do I even need to talk about the lipstick?! 

This outfit was, as mentioned before, is loosely inspired by Daisy Buchanan and one of the outfits she wore that you can see in the movie trailer. In one of the party scenes she wears a nude flapper dress with silver sequins, so when I saw this dress I instantly thought of her! Please do keep in mind that I tried to make this outfit more suitable for teenagers and the decade that we currently live in. I mean, if you wore a flapper dress out (unless it's halloween) I'm pretty sure you'd be getting some looks...

If you haven't read the book, the movie (or the trailer) will probably make no sense to you, so I'd suggest reading the book first. You will not regret reading it, believe me! It's a must-read anyway, so it's good to have your opinion on it.

Are you going to see "The Great Gatsby"? Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo,
Liz

Pick One: Michael Kors Watches

It would be an understatement to say that I absolutely adore my Michael Kors "Jet Set" tortoise watch. I have worn it every single day (not even kidding) since I got it for Christmas. It goes with anything and everything, plus it matches my glasses! 

If you're not familiar with my "Pick One" posts - here's a little explanation to avoid confusion or misunderstanding. In these posts I search a certain brand or website and look at the things that have caught my eye or that I've wanted for a while already, but that are pretty price-y (I know it's a relative term, but just stick with me on this one). What I mean by "price-y", is that I'm pretty sure no one will just go out to Michael Kors and buy 5 watches in one go. Am I right or am I right? So in this series I show you the 5 things that I am obsessed with and would love to buy all of them at once, but I just can't...so (drumroll) I have to pick one of them.

:: MK5801 :: MK5039 :: MK4270 :: MK5556 :: MK5055 ::

I am absolutely obsessed with all of these, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to get myself the first (and the cheapest) one - it looks like a Rolex so much! Oh, and in case you were wondering, the watch that I own is the second one from the left, except tortoise.

Which one(s) is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo,

Liz

J.Crew Essentials

Hi, my name is Liz and I am a J.Crew-aholic. 

But seriously, I cannot even explain how much I love this store. The quality of clothing is amazing, the styles are to die for! But, as with anything else in life, J.Crew has a catch - and the catch is the price. I know for a fact that not everyone can go out and spend $300 on a blazer or a cashmere sweater, so you need to be a very smart shopper while shopping at J.Crew. They just had a swim, tee, and shorts sale and I picked up some things from there - so I'd recommend singing up for their newsletter to save some bucks, but get the same quality.

As you've probably guessed or already know by now, not everyone can just go and buy 20 things from J.Crew in one go. This is why I put together a little list of what I think are essential items from this store. I really enjoyed doing this, so I might do posts like this one for other stores.

:: Rugby-stripe dress :: Collection cashmere crewneck cardigan :: Pavé link bracelet :: 3" chino short :: Pixie pant :: Vintage pajama set ::

Let me know if you'd enjoy more posts like these in the comments below!

xoxo,

Liz

I ♥ Spring Tag

This will sound so pathetic, since it's the middle of April...but spring has finally spring where I live. Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and the snow is 90% gone. Oh, how I longed for this exact moment. Finally. FINALLY.

I am very unusually excited for spring - if you know me well, you probably know that spring isn't exactly my favorite season. But I've just gotten sick of winter for 5 months - it's about time it got warmer!

Anyways, I'm going to be doing the I *heart* Spring Tag that missglamorazzi on YouTube came up with. Well, without further unneeded explanation, I guess I'll just jump right in!

What's your favorite spring nail polish? :: I absolutely love Essie's "Turquoise and Caicos" - it's a gorgeous mint color that looks amazing on the nails! Everyone loves mint for the spring and summer time, and what better way to wear a trend than on your nails, right?

Show us your favorite spring dress! :: This dress...is true perfection. It's like Hermés meets Versace - I love it! Shift dresses are a must for me for any season, and the colors are absolutely gorgeous for the spring time! I actually got this dress from RueLaLa (the designer is Julie Brown, I think) and I can't wait to start wearing it.

What's your must-have lip color this spring? :: Before I start, can we just take a minute to admire the  absolutely gorgeous packaging that Dior provided us with?! Talk about luxury. I know a red lip color might seem a little...odd for the spring, but there's more to this lip gloss than it seems. It's pretty sheer, and - at least on me - it comes out to be a gorgeous cherry color! This is the Dior Addict lip gloss in 063 Fascinante, by the way :P

What's your favorite flower? :: I'm not a huge fan of flowers - they're pretty and all, but I just don't feel any...great love for them, I guess. I do love me some peonies, though. I hate the way they look on the bush, but I love some fresh-cut ones in my room!

Favorite spring scarf/accessory? :: Do shoes count as accessories? Because I don't really have any other favorite accessories... Oh well. Anyways, I just ordered these platinum Jack Rogers about a month ago, and even though I haven't gotten to wear them yet, but I already love them! Great quality, the fit is amazing - there's nothing not to love about these.

What spring trends are you most excited about this year? (Makeup, fashion, or both!) :: I don't exactly follow trends, and since I have a school uniform at school I rarely actually wear normal clothes, so I don't really have a trend in mind that I'm excited for. I do love bright eyeliner or lips though! Because that's really the only colorful thing I can wear to school (shame on you school uniform)...

Favorite spring candle? :: I feel horrible about this situation, because I actually don't actually have a favorite spring candle...yet. I'm planning on going to Bath and Body Works in a week or so, so I'll stock up on some candles then. My favorite one last spring, though, was Market Peach by BBW - they still have it this year, so you better go get one!

Favorite body spray/perfume for the spring? :: I absolutely love the Miss Dior Cherie perfume for the spring time! It's literally, the ultimate spring scent! It is a little more night time-y, but still appropriate for the day time.

What is spring like where you live? :: Well, as you can probably tell, spring comes around April - it starts to get a little warmer day by day and the snow starts to melt, which - of course - results in huge gross puddles and disgustingly slushy streets. Around May it gets warmer - around 60-70 degrees and less windy.

What's your favorite thing about spring? :: I don't exactly like spring, but I love the weather in May in Moscow. I take walks around the city all the time - the weather is just perfect! Not too hot, but not too cold, not windy, and just gorgeous! Moscow is nasty in the winter time, but is one heck of a city in the spring and summer.

Are you a spring cleaner? :: I don't really know how to answer this question, because I'm an all-the-time cleaner. I clean my room every weekend (I just don't have enough time on weekdays) and have a major clean-up once a month. So, I'd say I am (question mark voice) a spring cleaner.

Any plans for spring break or an upcoming vacation? :: Well...I'm going to Norway for a couple of days for a school trip this Thursday, but that's pretty much it until the summer time! 2 months left, 2 months.

xoxo,
Liz

Pick One: Big Brown Book Bags

I don't know if I've ever said this before but I am a huge sucker for brown leather accessories (shoes or bags, that is). I have had my brown Longchamp Le Pliage for about a year now - and I won't lie, it's getting really worn out. I don't know if it's the weight I've been carrying or the way I've been treating it, because I really thought it would last longer! I mean, I'll still use it...I'm just in the market for something new. 

I'm looking for something big, brown, and that can carry tons of weight. I go to school, so I need to carry my MacBookPro (super heavy), some books, my agenda (also pretty heavy), and tons of other crap that girls carry around in their bags. The last couple of weeks I've been looking and looking everywhere for the perfect bag. I've narrowed my search down to these four - I think the Rebecca Minkoff one is my favorite though!  

Oh, another thing. I do believe in splurging for bags and shoes - the quality really shows and they won't just last a month or two. Besides, quality over quantity, right?

:: Rachel Zoe Charlie Large Tote :: Tory Burch Stacked T Book Bag :: Tory Burch 797 Large Top Zip Satchel :: Rebecca Minkoff MAB Tote ::

Which one is your favorite? Tell me in the comments below! 

xoxo,
Liz

Motivation: My Favorite Health and Fitness tumblrs

If you've been reading my blog for long enough, you most likely know that I am an absolute health freak. I workout all the time, eat healthy like no other, and just love anything fitness-related. You probably also know that I love tumblr. Honestly, I spend more time on tumblr than on YouTube now (this is a big thing, if you know how much time I used to spend on YouTube)!

But it's not all bad, actually. We all have those days when we just feel disgusting and gross and ugly, and have absolutely no motivation to workout or eat healthy, am I right? It's on those days that I find tumblr especially helpful. There are so many inspirational and tumblrs full of motivation that will get you pumped and ready to workout and get back into it!

Today I decided to share some of my favorite fitness/health tumblrs with you all, so we can all look back on this list when we feel unmotivated :)

• Essena O'Neill
• Fit Personality
• Strive Strong
• Inspire Fitness
• Pieces In Progress
• Health In The Moment
• 125 to 110 lbs
• Just Keep Running
• Steph's Getting Smaller
• Doowops and Workouts
• 1 Pound a Week
• Run To Fitness
• Fitastic

What are some of your favorite tumblrs? Oh, and if you have any requests for upcoming posts - let me know!

xoxo,

Liz

My Personal Goals

I just got a request from one of my readers (I assume) to share my personal goals with you. I made a whole blog post about goal setting and how important it is to set goals for yourself, and asked if any of you wanted me to share my personal goals with you.

These are some goals I've set for myself a month or two ago - they aren't long-term, but nevertheless, I still work towards them. Because, as I've said before, in the long run - they will lead to long-term effects (a healthy body, knowledge of classic books, and killer guitar skills).

Have a blogpost up every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I have been doing really well with this one actually! After my horrible sickness which resulted in a couple of weeks without blogposts - I decided to instead start scheduling up posts so they won't get in the way of my social or academic life. I've been typing up posts on weekends and scheduling them to come out on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!

Workout six times a week I am an extremely healthy person and I love working out, but sometimes the laziness just gets to me! I try to workout 5-6 times a week, but make sure to give myself a rest day or two. So far, so good with this one!

Start playing guitar again I used to play guitar every single day last year and the year before, but this year...I've just been really slacking on my practice. Seriously, I don't think I've even touched my guitar since last summer! I recently gave it to a friend, so she could play a little, and I should get it back soon. Needless to say, I'm super excited to start playing again.

Save money For the past couple of weeks all I've been doing is online shopping. I don't think there's been one week since February when I haven't ordered something online. Good for my wardrobe, but sadly, not for my wallet. I'm really trying to cut down on my spendings and increase my savings.

Read more classic books I could not be more excited for the premier of "The Great Gatsby" this May, and - sadly - that is pretty much the only book I've been reading and re-reading for the past couple of weeks. My Kindle actually just broke (insert hysterically crying emoji here), so I've been using that as my main excuse not to read anything else. I even made a list of classics to read to motivate myself! Hopefully, I can get myself out of this rut sooner or later, and start reading classics...instead of, well, a classic. 

Thanks so much for the request! I'd be glad to read your personal goals in the comments below!

xoxo,

Liz

Goal Setting

In school, they often make us do different "goal-setting" activities that everyone absolutely hates. But - confession - I love them! I think that goal setting is a very important thing in life - you have to be able to prioritize and know what you want.

A goal is something that you may not even realize you have set for yourself, but you are working towards it - without even realizing! It can be something small, like not spending that paycheck as soon as you get it - but you're working towards a bigger goal without even realizing it (like saving up money for the future). 

If you don't know your goals/ you don't have any goals - you are most likely going to fail. Because who wants to live for nothing? Who wants their life to be a torturous, pointless journey instead of a fun and challenging one? Exactly.

This is why I believe that goal setting is very important to think about and put some thought and effort into. That feeling of accomplishment when you finally reach a goal - totally worth all of the troubles you went through. 

I don't know why, but I just wanted to remind all of you about the importance of goals and why you should always have them - no matter how big or small. Oh, by the way, the goals in the picture above are just random ones that I thought of - but I can always share my goals with you if you want me to!

xoxo,

Liz

How To: Improve Yourself

I believe that one of the most important things in life is having a good attitude towards anything and everything. You should try to be the best representation of yourself every hour of every single day, even if you can't always do that.

This post pretty much sums up my life philosophy - it explains what I believe is right and what you need to do to become a better you. 

1. Be nice to everyone And I mean everyone. Even those who you hate or who hates you - just be nice. Honestly, I've found that it makes everything so much easier to handle. And who doesn't like a nice person?! 

2. Help Help in every aspect. Donate to charity, adopt a dog from the shelter instead of buying one, or simply give some advice to your friend - no matter how big and important or small and minor the subject may be, just take a minute to make someone's day (or maybe even life!) better. You won't regret it - you just can't.

3. Know what you want And then decide how you're going to get it. I will type up a goal setting post later this week, so look forward to that because it'll basically be a more in-depth explanation of this. If you know what you want in life and are willing to work for it - you will get it. It might take days, months, or years, but as long as you stay motivated - you'll eventually get what you want and need. It's so simple, yet it will make your life so much better.

4. Smile I live in Moscow, and smiling at random people around here is taken as...well, creepy. Or mental. But I still smile, even if I'm in a horrible mood. Why, you ask? Because it improves your mood. It makes you happier. You know how you will sometimes drink decaf coffee to trick your body into thinking it's real coffee (or is that just me?) - this is the same thing! When your sad - smile, because it actually tricks your body into thinking that you're happy! And besides, a smile brightens everyone's day  ;)

Hope you all enjoyed! What are some things that help you improve yourself and your attitude? Let me know in the comments below! 

xoxo,

Liz