Are you ready for something totally new! A fashion post! I know you're not used to seeing fashion posts on the blog, but I'm so excited to share this post with you! Valerie blogs over at Maple Leopard and you must go check her out! If you want more, check her out on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook! 


Everyone's different tastes will dictate what wardrobe pieces are essential for your leadership style. There is no right or wrong list, but thought I would share my favorite go to pieces that keep me feeling confident as a woman who wants to lead and inspire.

1) Black blazer                                                                                       
2) Black pumps 3) Trench coat in neutral color 4) A pair of jeans 5) Pencil Skirt 6) Casual/dress black pants 7) White button down shirt in cotton with long sleeve 8) Black dress

Every lady's wardrobe contents are different.  Each one tells a story of who you are and is an expression of personal style.  However when it comes to expressing yourself as a polished leader, there are certain staple pieces that should be taking up residence in your most adored room: your closet. (It's definitely mine anyway!)

There used to be a time when professionals were expected to put on a suit or very dressy attire for each day.  Everything has changed, today there are so many different perceptions of formal and business casual.  Tuning into the environment you are dressing for is crucial, otherwise you might appear underdressed, sloppy, or overdressed.

Many business professionals travel frequently, so having the right wardrobe choices available takes away some of the stress involved with getting from A to B.  When on travel, choose one dominant color.  To add a little pizazz and personality to your business dress, you can accessorize with brighter hues.  A statement necklace, scarf, and the right makeup can also liven up your look without looking too out of place.

Of course always being neat and presentable goes a long way. One of my favorite style experts, Lawrence Zarian quotes in his book 10 Commandments For the Perfect Wardrobe -"Wrinkled clothes portray the image of "I don't care or I don't know what I'm doing. It's dressing and acting like every day is a gift, that will make you stand out as a strong leader."    

This recipe was inspired from Lexi's Clean Kitchen (are you surprised?). Her recipe is in black and my additions are in red! Adam and I made this for dinner one night and it was SO delicious and very filling, the perfect dinner after a long day and a big workout.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground turkey - Bison
• 1 cup salsa of choice
• 6 eggs
• Half of an onion, diced
• 1 jalapeno, diced 
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder 

How to Make: 

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees
2. Place turkey in skillet 
3. Cook until turkey browns
4. Add in salsa and mix to combine. 
5. Make little divots with a spoon, crack in eggs
6. Put entire pan in oven and cook for 15 minutes or until eggs are desired yolkiness 

...because Monday's are hard sometimes. Even though my Monday this week isn't... I'm currently en route to Grand Cayman for my honeymoon with my HUSBAND (I promise I'll stop capitalizing that sometime...)!! But for those of you back to the daily grind, I feel ya. Here's some motivation to get you through because sometimes ya need the perfect quote! Happy Monday Everyone! 

Today is dedicated to my gorgeous, amazing, wonderful mom. She's my best friend and the most selfless woman I know. She takes care of everyone around her always and is the perfect host. She's better than Martha Stewart and has a green-thumb better than anyone I know. She's the woman I aspire to be everyday, but especially today. She's the best mom in the world and deserves to have every day dedicated to her. I'm so glad I get to spend today with her!

I've dreamed about this day for over 4 years now. I knew when I first met Adam that he was "the one" and now here we are! It's our wedding day! This quote is from my favorite show ever and I just love how it applies to us. It's May 9, 2015, I've been waiting for this day and this man, forever.

Remember tonight, for it is the beginning of always. A promise. Like a reward for persisting through life so long alone. A belief in each other and the possibility of love. A decision to ignore, simply rise above the pain of the past. A covenant, which at once binds two souls and yet severs prior ties. A celebration of the chance taken and the challenge that lies ahead. For two will always be stronger than one, like a team braced against the tempest civil world. And love will always be the guiding force in our lives. For tonight is mere formality. Only an announcement to the world of feelings long held. Promises made long ago. In the sacred spaces of our hearts.
-One Tree Hill

PS this is purely a picture post. If you're not interested in the musings of a 10 twenty-soemthing-year olds cruising vegas, you might wanna move along.... Some pics from my bachelorette party in vegas, because I could reminisce about it forever and because today is my Rehearsal Dinner and anything involving my bridesmaids is good for my soul!

So, if you're new around here or haven't been following me on instagram or twitter, then you might not know, but I'm getting married in 2 days! 2 days. Yes, that number still shocks me, but I am SO excited to marry Adam. It's what this whole process is about and it's finally here, 4 and a half years later built up to this day and it cannot come soon enough.

Over the last 11 months I've gotten my fair share of advice, most wanted and needed, some not so much. I thought since my wedding planning process is almost over, I'd share the best pieces of wedding advice I've learned and maybe things I wish I would have known! P.S. Helene from Helene in Between just celebrated her 4-year wedding anniversary and shared some of her marriage tips, go check them out!

• The best piece of advice I received was from my wedding planner, "Remember at the end of the day, you're marrying your best friend and starting your forever, all this other stuff is just secondary. You'll be married for the rest of you life and the wedding is just the beginning." My wedding planner told me this at one of our first meetings and it set the tone for the whole planning process. I felt calm and at peace because I knew, and she reminded me that this process was temporary but our marriage will be forever. 
• Even though you will, don't over-stress the small details. They're important but so is your sanity. 
• You can't please everyone. 
• Have good music. I prefer a live band, but make sure whatever you pick, it's good. People love to dance at weddings. 
• When you're opening gifts at a shower, make sure you smile, even if you're not sure what it is when you open it. 
• Pick your invitations far in advance. I did my kind of last minute and it was so stressful. 
• Bridesmaids dresses, good luck. 
• Take lots of pictures along the way, hopefully this is a one-time experience, you'll want to remember it. 
• Long dresses hide knee braces, a tip for wedding and a tip for life. 
• When you plan your engagement party, get chicken wings, because the groomsman will probably stay up until 4am with your dad and eat the entire tray.
• When you're planning, drink champagne, it makes it so much more fun! 
• Pick a wedding planner that gets you, your vision and your style. I'm so OCD so I knew I needed a planner that understood that and knew how to handle that. With my planner, I had a planner, mentor and friend, the perfect combo for planning your dream day. 
• Don't forgot to include your fiancé, if he wants to be! Adam couldn't care less about color of flowers, but seating chart, he had an opinion, and remember it's his wedding too! 
• Stand strong on the things you really want, but give a little on the things you don't, it will make this whole thing easier. 
• Remember your mom has been planning her little girls wedding forever too. Sharing this with my mom, even when we disagreed on stuff, has made this process everything. I couldn't have done it without her, nor would I want too. 
• Remember to eat before your dress fitting, or else you get hot and faint. Trust me, it happens. 
• When you get a spray tan, make sure your nephew doesn't pee on you. 
• Have fun! You're planning your wedding! Enjoy it.

Happy Monday everyone! Quotes are my thing and I find my motivation in the powerful words of others. The last couple months, I've thrown myself some various pity parties, one & two. I've realized it's SO much easier to feel bad for yourself then to figure out how to make things better or move towards a new goal. There's something selfishly gratifying to pour yourself a glass of wine and mope. But, life doesn't move forward that way, it doesn't get better and in the end that glass of wine is empty and that's no good for anyone.

I'm super lucky to have this amazing circle of friends and family who are always there to listen to me and push me forward even when my feet are stuck in the sand. This is one of my favorites. I hope wherever you are in life; at the job you love, at the job you hate, at the place in your life where you're content, I hope you find inspiration in this quote. Happy Monday everyone, let's make it a good one! 

Be ready to put in some late hours and learn from every menial task, even if you think you're better than that. People will respect hard work and your effort to take a task to the next level. - Jin Kim, Founder and Owner of Common Thread, a community-based sewing studio in Pasadena, California.