What I Bought This Month

As I mentioned earlier in a past blog post, I want to go through my closet and do some Spring cleaning to get rid of the old clothes I no longer wear, and really update my closet with a few basics and some nicer pieces that are fit well. Now that I am getting a little older, I have found what styles of clothing and fabrics look best on my body type. I think it's important to dress for you and your style, while keeping your body type in mind. In magazine you see articles that tell you what to wear if you have an athletic shape, curvy, short, etc. but I never fit any of the categories. So after a little reading, looking back on pictures, and some serious trial and error, I have found that more structured pieces like blazers and jackets and button down tops are most flattering on me. That doesn't mean I don't wear anything else except blazers, but I think it's always important to have some go-items that you know look good.

 As I shop online and stroll through stores I see tons of cute things, but rarely do I actually buy them. I always feel like I have to have an event coming up in order to buy a new outfit. I don't even like to buy plain tees when I find a good fitting brand because I would rather have a cute nice top. Of course I always want to kick myself the next time I'm searching my closet for my lone black tee (that is in the laundry basket). We all know the importance of a few good tees in black, white and gray...you see why I need to do some Spring cleaning now?! 

Anyway, I did a little shopping throughout February and here is what I found:

I apologize for the bad quality, I should think about investing in a better camera besides my iPhone!

The flats are from JCPenny and were only $16! I had been looking for a neutral pair of flats for  Spring and happened to walk by these and thought they were adorable and too hard to pass up. They are a light pink with a camel colored bow (I will remove the jewel from the center of the bow). 

The camel colored faux leather jacket is from Target. Jackets are nice to throw on in the Spring, and I always love a nice leather jacket. 

The tan jacket to the right from Love Culture (reminds me of Forever 21) does not look half as good as it does in person. The color looks really off here. The sleeves and body of the jacket are almost a chiffon material and the collar and shoulders are a faux leather. What do you think, are the studs on the shoulders a bit much? The jacket looks so good in person and has a great fit, so I thought it was a good addition to my closet. It is the same concept of a blazer, with a little bit of an edge.

Next is a faux leather (what can I say, I'm digging leather lately) black flouncy skirt from Love Culture. The material is really thin so it has a lot of movement which I like. I think the flounce down plays the toughness of the leather which makes it work. 

The cream chiffon button up blouse is from Love Culture. I have a few other similar tops like this and I always find myself grabbing for them in my closet. 

The gold chain necklace is from Charming Charlie. 

The tank top is from Target and is a good alternative to a solid color tank top. 

Last but not least is the Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo foundation. I have been using Revlon ColorStay foundation for a few years, but I wanted to try something different to help minimize the creasing around my mouth (you know, the smile lines). I have used it a couple times and I'm really liking it. The formula seems to holds up well throughout the day. 

What styles look best on you? Do you have a go-to item in your closet that is a never fail? 

A Little Shabby + A Lot Of Chic

Now that I have my apartment picked out and and the lease signed beginning in August, I can't help but start coming up with ideas for decor and picking out furniture and other decorating pieces. Yes, I am fully aware that move in day is 6 months away. It's never too early is it? I have most everything for my bedroom and bathroom already, but after that I have nothing for the living room, kitchen, etc!

I like to look at tons of pictures on blogs and Pinterest for inspiration, but I always try and turn my ideas into projects I can do myself and save a little money. Part of the fun of decorating is coming across some awesome pieces and designers you never knew about before. One of which is number nine below. That lovely watercolor print by Jessica Durrant is only one of  her many beautiful prints. Seriously, I love every single one of them! Number two with the antler lamp? Throw a sheepskin rug underneath the desk and it fits me to a T.

 My interior design style is a little bit of shabby, a lot of chic, with a few natural elements. I like a light color palette that mainly consists of whites and pastels. It really makes the room feel clean simple, and open -- just the way I like it.

one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight // nine // ten // eleven // twelve // thirteen

How would you describe your design style? 

Spot On: Midi Rings

I love jewelry. It is one thing that can totally transform the look and feel of an outfit just by adding a statement necklace or some dramatic chandelier earrings. My jewelry wearing has definitely evolved over the years. I go in spurts and sometimes change my earrings every day to match my outfit, and then sometimes I leave the same studs in for a couple weeks. Whatever my mood, I always reach for earrings, bracelets, necklaces...and always my watch. Never rings. That's why I find it funny that my new obsession are midi rings. You know, the ones that sit on the upper half of your finger? I think they are so fun and add a little personality to something as simple as jeans and a plain tee. My favorite is pairing a couple on a single finger.


I am always looking for new, unique jewelry designers. Recently I have come across some really good ones on Instagram such as Kendra Scott and Alimonada (each purchase at Alimonada supports a shelter for kids in Brazil!). By looking under Following in the Instagram app, you can see the photos that people you follow like.This is how I found some really great accounts such as the jewelry designers, stylists, and bloggers that interest me. I probably follow about 5 new accounts a day because there are so many great photos out there with awesome stuff I can't resist! Here are a few of my favorite midi rings. And the best part? They are all under $30!

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seven

one // two // three // four // five // six // seven

What do you think of midi rings? Do you have any favorite jewelry designers? Please let me know in the comments below!

A Cool Little Find - Poshmark

A few days ago, I came across a cool app that lets you buy and sell items right from the app that I wanted to share with you guys. It's called Poshmark. You download it from the app store and then create an account. From there you follow other users and your feed is filled with items those members have listed as selling. There is everything from accessories, clothes, shoes, and sunglasses, ranging from Charlotte Russe to designer. 

Here is an example of what a post for sale looks like.  

You can leave comments to ask the seller questions about the item. You can also refine your search by size, category, etc. which is helpful. Although, I still find items that were not marked in the filter so there will still be pages and pages to sift through. I find it most helpful to just follow users that wear your size or have brand names that you are interested in. 

There are also different parties which contain only items in a specific category or brand. This makes shopping easier if you are only looking for items from Tory Burch, for example.  Once you find an item you decide to buy, just click the buy now button and then fill out the information. They ask that you do not use Paypal or any other outside form of payment, since the app is already set up for safe buying. 

I have yet to buy or sell anything using Poshmark, but I think it can be a handy little app when looking for a lower price on a specific item in mind I want to buy. Otherwise, you could spend hours on there just looking through the pages and pages of items.  Be sure to follow me at amandarisius, I may post a few items to sell eventually! 

Enjoy the little bit of weekend that is left! 

Wednesday's Words {Start Doing}

Ever since I started college 2.5 years ago, I really started thinking about what my future held. I am a planner. I like knowing exactly what to expect, what I will be doing, what I will wear...Deciding my own future seemed so hard. I hate the unknown and thought having a plan laid out for me to follow along sounded much easier (thankfully that's not how life works). Throughout college I had a tough time deciding what decisions to make, which ones not. I wondered how I would know what to go for and if it would be best for me or not. What if I decide I don't like my decision then what will I do? What career path should I take? What if I'm not good at it? I spent so much time just thinking about what I should do rather than doing. I had no idea what direction I wanted to go, and so I kind of just sat around and waited. 

This year, something clicked. The light bulb finally started to flicker a little bit inside. I am in my junior year of school, and I do not have a lot of time to waste. Seriously, the years have flown by! I don't know what hit me, but these last few months I have started going for the things that I always just thought about doing in my head. And you know what? Things have turned out okay. Imagine that! All of the time I wasted worrying about what if I made the wrong decision was useless. I believe everything happens for a reason; I have no regrets. There is no magic book full of the answers, I just started going for the things I like and want to do. It's amazing what happens when you make a decision and just stick to it...everything starts falling into place. I feel so much better about myself because I am not spending my time worrying about about what people will think, or whether everything will turn out. I have so much more time to focus on what is ahead of me, what I can control. I have finally started living life the way I thought about for so long in my head. I no longer worry about how I will be perceived by others. 

I started an internship this January and that meant moving away from friends, school, and my home for the last 2.5 years. However, I spent weeks deciding whether or not to accept the internship. I have the rest of my life to work, why rush into it now? Then the other part of me thought this could lead into a job offer and be a great start for me and my career. I finally decided to accept the internship and just go for it (my light bulb was flickering at this point!) Turns out, after a month and a half at my internship, it is  not for me. Don't get me wrong, it is a great learning experience, but it is not something I want to continue in the future. Not the career path I want to take. With that said, i still do not regret my decision of accepting the internship.  Had I not, I might not have been as driven, set goals for myself, and this blog probably would not have happened! 

What I'm trying to say is stop thinking about it and start doing! You will make mistakes along the way, but that is part of the learning process right? Making a decision and just going with it is how crazy things happen like starting a blog! It's what brings you to new opportunities. You will never know unless you try. If you aren't going for anything, what are you doing? 

Studio ten 25 Blog
Just wait until you see the before pictures! Click on the link above to view them.

I love this office. Everything about it. The colors, pretty flowers, pillows, the brightness in the room, and of course the chandelier. A room of my own that feels like this is on my "Do" project list.  

Gluten Free Eating and a Little Inspiration

Hey friends, I hope you enjoyed your weekend! Last night my boyfriend, some friends, and I went to a fish fry. It is basically a get together where they cook a bunch of fish they caught ice fishing over the past few weeks. Good thing I allow myself one day out of the week for unhealthy eating! 

Speaking of, I spent some time yesterday afternoon searching the Internet for gluten free recipes. There are tons of blogs out there with all kinds of different recipes for main dishes, desserts, and anything else you can imagine. I found 5 recipes I wanted to try for dinner this week, Monday through Friday, as I start my gluten free week. For me, cooking is not favorite thing, especially if I'm only cooking for one half of the time (my boyfriend, Jordon is on the fire department so his schedule is 24 hours on, then 24 hours off.) If a recipe has more than 5 ingredients and takes over an hour to prepare, I'm not interested! You can find the recipes I chose on my Pinterest account, so be sure to check them out under the board Recipes. 

I haven't quite decided if I want to do a whole blog post on the recipe each day or do a mini session on my Instagram account. Be sure to look at both accounts for updates! 

I still have a lingering head cold, so I think I will spend the rest of the night reading blogs and watching the Grammys :) 



Here is a little bit of weekend wear inspiration. 

Ebay

Wednesday's Wish List

I thought it would be fun to show you guys what I've been loving and shopping for lately. As you know, I online shop quite a bit (but I have cut back tremendously since I set goals in my previous blog post!) so I always seem to have a running list of things I need, want, or like. Most of the time I end up filling my online shopping cart and never returning to checkout. I do this because, 1) I like to think a few days about most purchases I make so I can decide if it's what I really want or need; 2) decide if it is worth the money; or 3) search for a better deal. If I instantly bought everything I saw and liked I would not have any money left! Here are a few items on my current wish list...

 I recently purchased a new purse I love, but I downsized a little from my previous one I used regularly. Now my wallet no longer fits very well in my new purse, so I want to find a wallet that is a little smaller but still has compartments for cards and cash. Kate Spade has some cute options, but the wallets that have multiple compartments are over $100. So...being the bargain shopper that I am, I looked around until I came across this one (shown below) on Ebay. It has a zipper closure, a few different slots for keeping cash and cards separate, and the pink color matches the inside of my purse. Perfect! 

Kate Spade Mini Neda Wallet.
Ebay.com

How pretty is this robe! Need I say more? 

Knee Length Kimono Robe $65
plumprettysugar.com

I heard about these fabulous robes from the lovely Rhiannon on her blog Hey Gorg Events. I encourage you to go check out her blog--everything she does is awesome, just likes these robes!

I really love the print shown, Beckoning Creatures, and Pink Love Poppy. The photo does not do it justice, so go online and check out the pretty prints for yourself. :)

In Iowa, Winter is the longest season. Walking to class is bad enough, and when the temperature is freezing it's even worse! Boots are the only thing that keep my feet warm this time of year, so I consider them a must in my closet. I have been wanting a pair of Frye boots for a while now, but the price tag is holding me back. With Fall and Winter combined I can wear them for at least 5 months, so they are a good investment, right? 

Check out these beauties. 

Jane Tall Cuff Boots 
Zappos.com

I may have struck a deal on a pair of these (fingers crossed) that are slightly used, but in good condition and 1/3 of the retail price. I will let you know if the deal works out by tomorrow hopefully! 

Lately, I am obsessed with anything sheer or floral print. This top looks so pretty and easy to wear. I would wear it with my faux leather black skinny pants to toughen up the look a little bit, or with dark wash flare pants, a blazer, and wedges for a Springy look.

Pins and Needles Blouse $49
Urban Outfitters

As Spring gets closer and closer, I am excited for some closet cleaning and updating! Stay tuned for more. 

*Also, don't forget to follow me on Twitter at AmandaRisius and on Instagram at amandarisius. I post different things than on my blog, so don't miss it! 

Hello February!

Is it just me or did January fly by? Every New Years I try to be better, healthier and more productive, but I never come up with actual, specific goals. I have never been a big goal person, but I do have expectations for myself. This year after a month has gone by, I am JUST starting to take initiative and make things happen. Apparently time flies by, so I need to be a little more aware so I can be sure I am accomplishing everything. At work there is a program called the 60 Day Challenge that is open to employees and it consists of daily challenges that help build a healthier you. Today the first challenge is write down goals for yourself. So I thought I would give goals a shot and come up with a few specific ones. 

Have a Purpose
When I get home from work around 5pm the first thing I want to do is sit down and turn on the TV. It's not unusual for me to spend the rest of the night watching TV and browsing the Internet. I love my TV shows Keeping up with the Kardashians, The Bachelor, Pretty Little Liars...I could go on forever! Instead of spending countless hours with my face glued to the TV or computer screen, I could be using that time to be productive. Don't get me wrong, there is no problem with a little Kardashians and some online shopping, however I think I take it a little too far. I want to instead use that time to spend quality time with my boyfriend and some good conversation, catching up with friends since I'm no longer in College Town, and working on projects (perhaps for my new blog!). From now on I will limit my TV and computer time to just an hour or two when I get home from work. 

A Healthier Lifestyle
I eat pretty healthy already, but I want to be more strict with what I'm eating. Right now I eat a lot of soup for lunch because it's easy to bring to the office, quinoa casseroles, oatmeal, and steamed veggies. I try to eat as few carbs as I can and I have recently been cutting out dairy. Pretty boring, huh? But....I also have a big sweet tooth. If I had to choose between a big piece of cake or a steak I would definitely go for the cake. I love ice cream especially, but any cakes, brownies, muffins, you name it and I can't resist. I have been getting better about not eating as many sweets, but I want to be even better.

You probably have heard about the recent fad of eating gluten free. It is not just a fad for everyone because there are actually people that have to eat gluten free or they will get sick. Gluten is found in things that contain, wheat, rye, barely  etc. With the recent fad there are a lot more gluten free options in the grocery store lately. One thing I want to try and do is eat gluten free for a week and see how it goes. Eating gluten free is not only healthy because it eliminates breads, but it can also help you shed the last few stubborn pounds. Now I am not trying to lose a bunch of weight or anything, but I think it's important to always try eating a little healthier! Keep watching for updates when I start my gluten free week so you can follow along! 

Along with eating healthier I want to start working out more regularly. Right now I work out only about a couple times a week. I would like to start working out 4 times a week at least. I always feel better about myself when I work out more regularly. I feel leaner, more toned, and just overall better.

Workout clothes get me a little more excited about going to the gym.  

So there you have it, my goals for 2013. I started small and as I go on I will add more things and be more ambitious. Once you accomplish your first goal then it is much easier I think to go on and continue, rather than being discouraged and quit. 

I hope you are enjoying February so far! What goals have you set for yourself this year? 

Oh, and go 49ers!