Hey everyone! Sorry about the lack of content- December is usually pretty busy for me and this past December has been the busiest yet- but in a good way. Lots of exciting things and JOMO going on tbh. Don't worry- I did not forget about you though!

It's been quite a year for me. Already a quarter of a century old, I've accomplished so much in the past 365 days. I've accomplished many goals, such as securing financial stability and traveling outside of the country for the first time. I've also received many blessings, such as getting to marry the love of my life, surviving a potentially deadly car accident, and making and developing friendships. Of course, I've eaten a lot of great food in 2018 as well! There are so many photos from my camera roll that I could share, but I don't even think that Air Drop could really capture the joy experienced in each memory. I just want you all to remember that life isn't meant to be lived through photos on social media- enjoy every moment that you can without fearing not being able to capture it. As long as it's captured in your memories, that's all that really matters. That being said, I just wanted to share some of my favorite snapshots from 2018.

Tee, Camisole, Handbag / Vintage Jeans / Parker Smith Shoes / UGG Australia / Similar Here

I finally managed to convince my husband to cross the Martin County line this weekend and venture to Miami for some Art Basel Events. We were very lucky to get free tickets to the Red Dot show from one of his client's. I was especially happy because the event was held in Wynwood, which is my favorite neighborhood in Miami. If you are not familiar, Wynwood is a revitalized neighborhood south of Little Haiti- it has become an epicenter for arts, food, culture, and shopping. The area is famous for its graffiti walls, which cover almost every structure in the neighborhood. During Art Basel especially, you can see artists working on some of these walls.

Art Basel is also a place for people to step up their fashion game - many celebrities make an appearance wearing some of the hottest designer clothing. (PS we totally saw Johnny Depp!!) When I go to an event like this, I always want to be sure that I am being true to myself as well as being put together. I thought that a combination tee shirt and camisole would add a little extra sophistication to a jeans-and-tee shirt look. My Calf-Hair smoking shoes that I have had for ages (and should probably get re-soled) make the look super chic, and are perfectly balanced with my cropped Parker Smith jeans. I scored these on consignment for $30- I have to say, I really love the fit and plan to check out more from the brand! I also have this cute woven Nine West bag that I thrifted, and it fit all of my trinkets and belongings perfectly. I was hands-free all night!

Details

Red Dot was held at Mana Wynwood and had a lot of really cool pieces! We saw some original Roy Lichtenstein and Keith Haring paintings, as well as some very interesting woodwork pieces from a French artist named Daniel Rene. My husband and I are not wealthy or big art collectors, but it was interesting to see all different kinds of art and design, and watch other people's reactions to them. I also enjoyed a lot of the 3D art and installations. I did not take photos of art to respect the integrity of the artist, but I did snap photos where allowed.

by Andres Celis

by Fernando Guardazzi

Wynwood

Hive Wynwood

Spectrum Miami - Mana Wynwood

Plant The Future Installation

Refreshment :)

Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Co.

Sweater, Dress, Bag / Vintage Peacoat / Old Navy / Similar Here Boots / Sam Edelman / Similar Here

I swore that I when I moved to Florida, I would never spend another winter up north. While my husband and I have held true to this, I do get homesick during the holidays. There is something about the chill in the air and cozy layers than bring out the holiday spirit. Even though I had a hard time getting my suitcase to close, I packed my favorite chunky sweaters as well as some of my favorite jeans and dresses/skirts to pair them with. I'm the type of person who is always cold even in the summer, so I had to make sure that I had lots of options to choose from when layering, depending on the weather.


When it comes to layering, especially in the winter, I love mixing textures and patterns but in a strategic way. I like to take a heavy, luxurious knit and pair it with softer patterns such as florals or silk. Luckily, the temperature was mild for most of the Black Friday weekend (well, not counting the snow storm that hit on Sunday night...) so I was able to get away with layering this gorgeous tan cable knit sweater with my favorite vintage cotton dress.  I picked up this black Peacoat from Old Navy in desperation for a business trip to New York this past January- even though it is a bit large, it has a chic, oversized fit that looks intentional. It also keeps my pretty warm, so I can't complain. My boots are one of my favorite pairs in my closet. They have the perfect pointed toe and ankle height that just seem to go with everything- jeans, skirts, dresses, etc. Sam Edelman never ceases to disappoint when it comes to reasonably priced, quality shoes. To complete the look, I added my go-to bag of the moment for some more pattern and texture mixing. The chain and sheen of the leather offset the soft, feminine silhouette of the dress and physical fabrication of the sweater.

This look was perfect for picking out the family Christmas tree and later, hanging out at some of our favorite old spots in Chicago with my husband and our friends. It is chic without being overdone, and extremely comfortable in the right weather. If it were a bit colder, some black opaque tights could be added for an extra layer of warmth.