Dressed.

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It’s on record that I was a bit of a late bloomer when it came to embracing dresses. I fondly recall wearing them as a six-year-old, but as I moved toward adolescence – I stopped wearing them pretty much altogether unless it was for a very rare special occasion. I went through a lengthy period where I just felt more comfortable in jeans (read: covering my legs). In fact, it wasn’t until just a few years ago that I actually even started buying dresses again. (If I met me 10 years ago, I wouldn’t even know me!)

However, as I’ve gotten old older, I find myself accepting my femininity much more than I ever have. I’m not at all saying that being in a dress over a pair of jeans epitomizes femininity by any means, because it doesn’t; but because of my resistance to them – I’m attributing this recent development to finally giving in to the fact that I’m becoming more comfortable in my own skin.

I still don’t own as many dresses as a typical woman might at my age, but as I’ve hit a recent new chapter in my life, I’ve felt a sudden shift in my relationship to them. I appreciate the different shapes of a dress, the movement, the ease; and yes, even the new-found comfort that I get in exchange. While part of me will always be a jeans girl at heart, it’s nice to not have the waistband digging into your stomach (because you’ve had one cupcake too many) or experience the constraint that you just deal with while wearing a pair of cute skinnies in the name of fashion! Even better, I’ve come to love how a simple change in styling/accessorizing can take a dress from weekend casual to office chic (by easily adding a blazer). There’s an incredible versatility when you have a good dress in your closet.

And thus, I’ve been coveting a new dress (showing my legs and all) lately. Go figure!

In an ideal world, they’d all be in my closet ready to greet the sun and celebrate the warm days ahead. In reality, a post dedicated to getting “dressed” will simply have to do. Here are 15 of my absolute favorites, at a variety of price points – because let’s be real – who in the world can actually afford a $400 dress most of the time (and I hate when bloggers only showcase high-end designers).

Perhaps a splurge on at least one is in order in the very near future. From Forever 21 to Shopbop….here’s to getting dressed. xx

Sources/Links

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|| What I’m Lovin’ Right Now ||

Blend

This quote from Lao Tzu speaks to me because I am the first person to admit that I have a hard time being present. The good news is that I’m very aware of this complication in my personality, the bad news is that I still struggle with it…often. My mind frequently wanders throughout the day to the next thing. It’s always about what I have to do next, where I have to go next, and when I have to get it done by. The trouble is, this usually happens while I’m dead in the middle of doing something that should already require my full attention.

Essentially, I’m almost always in a state of forward thinking, forward planning; forgetting to just stop, breathe and just enjoy what is. The important part to note is that during all this forward thinking, day-dreaming, and yes, even backwards reflection (but that’s another post for another time) – is I’ve somehow trained myself not only to not be 100% in the moment a large chunk of the time, but that I can somehow continue this train of thought AND get whatever needs my immediate attention in the present done in a manner that still suits my perfectionism. I call this unique ability “multitasking.” You might call it, crazy.

Needless to say, I realize there are times that I am missing out on the simple joys in life because my thoughts are elsewhere. Don’t get me wrong, I’m much better at this than I used to be. Yoga has been a great outlet for me (but I admit that have been known to mentally make my Trader Joe’s grocery list while in downward dog). Getting older (and ideally wiser) has helped. Blogging is one of things that forces me to be present (though you’d still be amazed at what I can do at the same time I’m writing). And I think I’ve picked up some of my boyfriend’s completely relaxed energy (where he annoyingly has absolutely no problem being totally and completely present almost all of the time – while I’m still festering over something that happened 2 days ago :)). 

So this little gem of a quote I stumbled across this week was a concept that instantly hit home for me and I’m sure many of you. We live in a time where GO, GO, GO – DO, DO, DO – BE, BE, BE inundates us from the time we wake up forcing us to always be thinking ahead – because if you don’t, you’re not in the game, right? I’m not so sure about this anymore.

As with everything in life, there is a journey. Perhaps mastering this is part of mine.

What’s yours?

I hope you’re lovin’ this quote as much as I am and it gets you to think about your own journey… and making sure you’re present enough to enjoy every single step.

love & light,

Candice


here’s what i’m lovin’ right now


|| Tbags Los Angeles’s Layers Mini Dress from Shopbop.||

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||Light and airy bathrooms with stand-alone tubs. Insert me with a book here like ASAP.|| b63139a7ea6ab584bf59c36f6d6c7957


34dc0394e2c18432185fc19379c3edcb || Alternating nail polish. The perfect solution when you can’t decide between two colors! ||


||Sweet Potato Veggies Burgers with Avocado. // Recipe here.||

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||The perfect office space.||aa593be3650d3a3d8878efa0b628d712


47791ad6e8f10cd9c7595097e4d2457c|| The NEW “happily ever after.” ||


||Spice racks as office supply storage. Genius.||304634fa079182c6ba308d5389322727


||The video causing an internet sensation. Ladies, it’s time to Lean In.||



*click photos for image sources.

The Maxi

The weather hovered above a high of 80 degrees much of the weekend and happily found me getting my vitamin D fix at Elysian Park one day for a birthday together and at the beach the next. As I took in the sunshine-filled weekend, I noticed a popular trend among us ladies and found myself fondly smiling at the return of the maxi dress. Stylish, comfortable, and available at any price point; long airy dresses are perfection to have in your collection as the temperature rises. It’s also a very versatile piece. Grab an over-sized handbag and your favorite sunnies during the day; and throw on a jean jacket or sweater for chillier evenings. If you’re on the shorter side you might need wedges to give you a boost in height (so you’re not tripping over the dress), but if you’re tall like me – I’m a huge fan of show-stopping flat sandals (and a fresh pedicure).

Suffice to say, I was so inspired by the return of the maxi this weekend, that Sunday found me at Diane’s in Manhattan Beach, taking home 2 new dresses, and even better, they were on sale!

In salute to the maxi, here are a few closet cravings to feast your eyes on. I added #1 to my closet this weekend!

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1. Diane’s Beachwear // Halter Maxi Wrap Dress // $28.00

2. JCPenny // Print Maxi Dress // $40.00

3. Macy’s // INC International Concepts Dress, Halter Paisley-Print Maxi // $99.50

4. ShopBop // Monrow Granite Jersey Maxi Dress // $68.60 (on sale!)