Blue Knit Dress: A Classic Holiday Party Dress…
How To Wear The Headband Trend
The Minimalist Style… Brown & Black Outfit
The Minimalist Style is always having a moment… and there is nothing more minimal than wearing just one color palette, and one color only. During fall & winter I love wearing monochromatic outfits, like this one: I paired a brown knit skirt with a brown turtleneck (in a larger size so that it would fit loosely). This outfit is uncomplicated, effortless and chic. For those of you that like to put simplicity first, this post is for you. All my favorites are linked below! Check them out!
New York City – Life Update!
GET KNIT SWEATER!
NEW YORK CITY
My First Two Months In NYC
I can’t believe that I have been living in New York City for two months now. Some days it seems like this is just another short vacation in the city, and that I will be returning to Florida in a matter of days.
Moving to a cosmopolitan city like NYC was not in my bucket list. After spending a few years living in Paris & Barcelona, I returned to Florida and told myself that I was done living anywhere other than Miami. While I enjoyed my time in Europe, I was happy living right on the beach, and one block from my parent’s home. Life on the ocean is peaceful, especially when you love a slow pace of life, and enjoy walking the dogs by the ocean as much as I do.
A Sweet Surprise…
Until … life surprises you! … and introduces you to a person from up north who accepted a temporary job in South Florida so that we could meet! Just kidding 🙂 But really, how else would we have met!?? Prior to meeting him, I had only visited NYC three times, and as for him, he had never been to Miami.
We dated throughout his time in Florida, did a beautiful scenic road-trip together across the east-coast, and then endured a long distance relationship for a long time. I knew very early on that he was the person that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. That is why I was okay with doing long distance with him. Fast forward to a few months ago, and he received a job offer in NYC that he did not want to pass up!
New City, New Life
So that is how our search for an apartment in New York City got started, and it was not an easy one! I remember that during one of my trips to visit him, we spent 10+ hours on a Saturday looking at units all over the city. Because I was so unfamiliar with this city, I felt that at a minimum I needed to explore the neighborhoods that we considered moving into. For the next three months I spent countless hours researching areas, studying floor plans, and imagining what my life in NYC would be like!
After spending the last 9 years living with so much warmth & comfort in Miami Beach, I was nervous about moving to a large city with such long winters. I am also very close with my family, and was used to seeing them every week. That is why my heart aches a bit when I think of family that is now so far away. Has anyone recently moved and feel the same??
Useful Winter Gear
Many of my girlfriends in Miami have been asking whether I have found a big coat yet, and the answer is yes! A few weeks ago, I purchased this faux fur trimmed parka coat (see it in other colors here), these waterproof boots (see it in other colors here and here) and these fleece ear warmers. My coat truly saved me this past week when we had several days with just 26-36 degrees. What I appreciate the most about this parka is that it has five pockets, as well as interior thumb hole cuffs. With regards to the boots, I have yet to wear them, and the ear warmers have been fantastic. Also, this fleece sweater that I purchased over a year ago is my favorite… I wear it almost every day.
For my dogs I bought these super useful yellow raincoats. I absolutely love that they protect their neck/body, and I prefer them wearing a raincoat than getting wet (see image at bottom of this post!). I also got them these awesome dog parka (available in all sizes) for a fantastic price. They are warm, have a water-resistant exterior, a detachable hood (I keep it on for warmth around the neck area), and the parka is very easy to remove as soon as we return home. They wear these almost daily. Now I want to buy each of them a cozy cave bed!!! If any of you have pets at home, I’d love to hear how you help them keep their paws warm during the winter. I linked everything at the bottom of this post for those of you looking for ideas. Click on any item to check it out.
Wishing you a great new week… Talk soon! <3
SHOP WINTER GEAR:
Get the dog raincoat, by clicking here. With regards to sizes, I purchased an XL, and a L, but I wish I had purchased two XL. Just measure your dog’s back length, and then size up. These raincoats & the snoods are hands down the best items to keep a dog as dry/warm as possible during rainy/cold days. I bought the snoods in size XXL. Feel free to reach out if you have questions! 🙂
Winter Coats Under $200
Today’s Guest Post: “Rescue In Style” + What Products I Love for My Dogs
I am happy to introduce to you Christine Nendick, the creative editor of “Rescue In Style,” a blog dedicated to making a fashion statement for adoptable pets.
While spreading awareness of animals looking for their forever homes, as well as featuring dogs/cats in urgent need of adoption, she also shares trendy outfits, information on local adoption events, behind-the-scenes videos, and hundreds of tips so that you, too, can foster, adopt, or rescue cats and dogs.
Christine has the cutest cats, Roni and Cheese, a dog named Rawlings, and often fosters up to seven kittens at a time.
I love meeting people who welcome rescued dogs or cats into their homes. I have two at home that you can read about after Christine’s interview below.
Interview with Christine Nendick:
Q: When did you start Rescue in Style?
I came up with the idea in December 2016, but officially launched the blog in February 2017. It’s just been a little over two years now!
Q: How did you come up with the idea?
I was scrolling through Instagram late at night and came across a fashion blogger sharing a picture of her dog. Unfortunately, the dog was not a rescue dog. She had so many followers that I thought it would have been an incredible platform to spread awareness of all the dogs (and cats!) in need of homes. The idea of being a fashion blogger who showed off adorable pets struck me as a way to market so many animals. After searching online, I couldn’t find anyone who was doing what I was picturing so I decided to do it myself.
Q: Why was it important to incorporate fashion into your efforts?
There are a lot of awesome accounts on Instagram devoted to rescue organizations, but I wanted to target an audience that might want to follow all of them. Fashion is my way of welcoming a new demographic into the rescue world. I hope that by showcasing some fun fashion, I can cater to a group that hadn’t previously been aware of all the animals in need of homes. They might come to my page because of the style, but hopefully, they’ll stick around because they enjoy learning about all things rescue.
Q: What do you hope people learn from your blog/Instagram?
I hope people will learn that there are so many wonderful pets looking for homes. Sadly, 1.5 million animals are euthanized each year simply because there isn’t enough space for them at our shelters. I hope to encourage people to pursue adoption when adding a furry family member to their home!
Q: How can people get involved?
There are so many ways to help. You can find the perfect way to support your local rescue! Whether you want to walk dogs, socialize cats, help with social media, or fundraise, your skills are needed. I would recommend looking at their website, there is usually a tab for volunteering. If there isn’t reach out through email or call them.
Also, fostering is the most instrumental way you can help save lives. If you can temporarily bring a dog into your home, you will save two lives: the dog in foster care and the one that gets to take its place in the shelter. It’s also the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in rescue.
Q: Do you have any favorite dogs/cats?
Besides my own Greyhound (a Florida native!) and two cats?! Absolutely! There have been so many wonderful animals that have caught hold of my heart. One of the first dogs I ever met was named Lady. She was a pittie who was used for breeding. The poor thing was so young but had had so many litters. Lady was the sweetest and wanted just to lay her head in your lap and snuggle with her stuffed animals. She spent a few weeks at the shelter before someone scooped her up and took her home and spoiled her!
I’ve also become more involved with my city municipal shelter, Chicago Animal Care and Control. It’s where people surrender their pets and where we house strays. Generally, it’s mostly pit bull type dogs. Landlords here aren’t very friendly with “bully breeds,” so they populate our city shelter. My favorite dog there for a while was Lucy. She gave me the best hugs and would sprint over for belly rubs. She was taken by a local rescue and she’s now awaiting her forever home!
Q: What’s next for Rescue in Style?
I recently launched my very own merchandise! My next big task is creating a few more items to add to the collection. I’m also always looking to work with new rescues in the area and, hopefully, across the US!
To visit Christine’s blog click here!
To adopt a pet in need of a warm home, visit AdoptAPet and PetFinder!
How I Ended Up with Two Dogs
Let me share a little bit about my dogs. Mia turned 7 years old in October, weighs 60+ pounds, and is 100% blind. Anastasia weighs 50+ pounds, and I found her on June 26, 2015, when she was living on the street. That day, I picked up her collapsing body and rushed her to the only animal hospital that was open late on a Friday night.
Anastasia showed up in my life while I was temporarily staying at my parents (who live in a condo that only allows dogs under 20 pounds), I was searching for a new apartment, Mia was being cared for by a dog sitter that I had hired, the relationship that I was in for 4+ years had just ended, and I was working 70+ hours per week.
Almost every building turned me down due to my dogs. I searched for three months for a building that welcomed dogs of all sizes, and in August 2015, I moved to a pet-friendly apartment with both dogs. Everything was wonderful until Mia started to disapprove of the new dog, and while many suggested that I re-home the new dog or put her up for adoption, I instead decided to figure it out and make it work.
It took 11+ months of separating the dogs by wooden barriers in my living room, group classes at PetSmart, one-on-one training, and lots of patience until they learned to co-exist in harmony under the same roof.
Looking back, not giving up on Anastasia was one of the best decisions I’ve made! When I rescued her in 2015, Mia had eyesight in only one eye. In January 2018, when that eye lost all its vision and her eye pressure could no longer be controlled, her ophthalmologist in Florida, Dr. Dylan Buss, performed CBA (ciliary body ablation – the least invasive treatment for glaucoma) on her eye. While I have been diligent in putting about 6-7 different eye drops, twice a day, on her eyes since 2014, Anastasia’s tenderness towards Mia has helped immensely as well.
Both Christine and I agree that it is important to invest our time in training dogs. I love ‘group classes’ because dogs learn in a controlled environment where they have to practice self-control while being surrounded by multiple dogs and their humans. Mia completed all levels of training at PetSmart (beginner, intermediate, advanced). She failed each of the final exams, but PetSmart allows dogs to retake the course… so we did every course twice! Ha! In all seriousness, the effort that I put into taking her to 30+ classes has paid off. With Anastasia, I completed the beginner course, which she passed, and I hope to take her to more soon.
A final note:
I started training with each dog when they were adults, despite many telling me you can only begin training dogs when they are puppies. Well, that is not always true. My experience with training an older dog was excellent.
What about you?! Have you adopted or rescued a dog/cat before?!
If so, I’d love to hear your pet’s name and story!!!
My Favorite Products for Pets!
Here is a round-up of my favorites. These are all amazing products for dogs!
- Furbo Dog Camera (A gift from my sister that I can’t live without. We travel with it too)
- HDP Big Dog Harness (I have 2 of these for my blind girl)
- Dog Alaska Fleece Snood (Fantastic during NYC winters! I bought 3 in XL)
- Dog Toothpaste (I brush their teeth daily)
- Adjustable Dog Raincoat (Incredibly useful! They are machine washable)
- PET GATE (I can’t live without this. We travel with ours & block hotel doors, etc.)
- Auto Close Safety Baby Gate (I bought mine in 2015, and I use it in the kitchen)
- Memory Foam Dog Bed (The older my dogs get, the better the bed I buy them)
- PAWZ Dog Boots (Love these for rainy/snow days. I buy the purple size L & the blue size M)
A final note!
After volunteering for two years at one of the largest animal shelters in the country, I learned that homeless and shelter dogs don’t need much other than love, a warm place to sleep, and a responsible owner who will feed them on time and help them with their basic necessities.
If you currently live in a small apartment, without a yard, you can still adopt/rescue a dog. The lack of a yard will be the perfect excuse to take the dog for walks (beneficial to you and the dog). That is how I handle the lack of a patio or backyard.
READ NEXT:
We bring our dogs everywhere we go. As they started getting older, I stopped leaving them with dog sitters. Here is an article I wrote listing the hotels around the United States that we have stayed at with our dogs! Perhaps the article will encourage you to take your dogs on vacation 🙂
Classic Plaid Sweaters To Wear This Season
My Favorite Skincare Products
My Must-Have Skincare Products!
Clinique’s liquid facial soap is so useful! Not all facial soaps clean as thoroughly as this one does, which is why I have been using it for years. I also like that it rinses away easily. My skin feels very fresh afterward!
Taking care of the eye is important! I really like Liz Earle’s Superskin Eye Cream. It is pricey, but it lasts a really long time. After I wash my face, I put a tiny amount of it on my finger and then around each eye. Another eye cream that I have used is this one (recommended by my cousin, who is a dermatologist).
Using a daily facial moisturizer is a must! There are many brands out there that I love. For the past year, I have been loving Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream. It has an ultra-lightweight texture, and is great for sensitive skin! One of my family members gave me this one for Christmas, and I have been hooked since then.
Verso Hydration Serum is an exquisite product that I use every other day on my face (immediately after I wash it). It is a light gel serum that contains niacinamide so it is great for reducing fine lines and improving the appearance of enlarged pores. It is not greasy and applies smoothly.
I like to use Londontown’s illuminating nail concealer on my nails because it covers discoloration and dullness. It also leaves a beautiful sheer iridescent veil on my nails. I usually put it on my nails on Sundays, so that my nails look neat all week. I wish I had found this one sooner! My favorite color from their collection is Jane Austen, a pink-toned lavender, so pretty to wear all year round!
HAIR CARE:
The word that best describes Ouai’s hair oil is: delicious. If you read the reviews online, they say that this product smells “absolutely divine” haha. The fragrance has notes of violet, gardenia, ylang-ylang, and white must. It is light, and a little goes a long way. This oil fights frizz and will give your hair a super smooth finish.
GET THE PRODUCTS
How to Style Faux Leather Pants for Fall
The Dress I Can’t Stop Wearing
Happy first day of Fall loves! From birthdays to brunches, to dinners on a rooftop overlooking the East River, here is a favorite Fall find I can’t stop wearing! This comfortable and flattering Floral Smocked Flare Dress is the easiest item to style as well. Check out the shoes, bags, and accessories that you will love wearing this easy-to-throw-on dress with. I cannot wait to continue wearing this throughout the fall. How would you wear it!??
Feliz primer día de otoño! Hoy les comparto un Vestido Floreado que en menos de un mes me he puesto para ir a un cumpleaños, a un almuerzo, y a una hermosa cena con vista al East River. Me encanta usarlo porque es cómodo y muy fácil a la hora de combinarlo. Vean los zapatos, las carteras y los accesorios que pueden ponerse con este vestido precioso!! Ustedes con que se lo pondrían!??
BAGS TO WEAR IT WITH:
SHOES TO WEAR IT WITH:
ACCESSORIES TO WEAR IT WITH:
GET THE LOOK!
OUTFIT DETAILS
Floral Dress c/o (0 Petite)
*This dress is available in regular, tall & petite.
Soho, New York City | Wrap Skirt & Black Top
Hello loves! In my previous post, I talked about the short visit to Washington D.C. that I did recently. When we left D.C., we continued north to New York.
The weather has been incredible, mostly in the 70s! We have enjoyed bike rides in Central Park, rooftop barbecues, and strolls with my pups.
We also drove to Warwick, NY, to an apple orchard, where we got a bag filled with red and green apples, haha. That was my first time picking out apples, who else has done this? It was truly so much fun, and the pups came with us! (*)
Today I wanted to share an outfit that I am wearing a lot these days, a basic off-the-shoulder top with a wrap skirt. Easy, comfortable, and super feminine. A black top is so versatile, you will love this one, and want to wear it all year long with jeans, skirt, shorts, or dressy pants. When the weather cools down I will style this wrap skirt with black over-the-knee boots like these ones! Check it out below!
GET THE LOOK!
**Note: The apple orchard that we visited in Warwick, NY, is called Dave’s Apple Orchard. We found it online and decided to go because they said our pups would be welcomed. We loved that the property is large, with 10+ types of apples. We also purchased their delicious donuts, apple cider, and apricot preserves (we loved it all!).
RELATED ARTICLES:
- 6 Iconic Central Park Photo Spots & How to Find Them
- Where to Stay in Georgetown in Washington D.C.
- 5 Amazing Apple Orchards Near New York City
