Layers & Studs

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Workout Wednesday: Review of Class Pass

Today I wanted to share with you something that I recently started to try, and that is Class Pass. Incase you haven't heard Class Pass is a fitness membership that is located in over 40 cities, and is increasing in popularity all over the US as a way to work out. 

Recently I've been wanting to find a good yoga studio to attend after doing long runs, and figured that Class Pass would be an awesome way for me to sample different studios to find the one I like best. Class Pass is so much more than yoga, and offers tons of different studio work outs. With boutique workouts still being the latest craze Class Pass offers you a wide variety of fitness classes such as barre, pilates, spin, gym time, HIIT, strength training, martial arts, rowing, dance, boxing, yoga, and many more. 

How Class Pass Works

To get started with Class Pass you pay for how many classes you want to attend for the month coming in either as a 3 pack for $35, 5 pack fro $55, and a 10 pack for $105. Buying classes through CP is cheaper than buying single classes at each studio, which is a huge benefit for when you are trying to find a class you like. Note that when you make your first purchase of classes this puts you into an auto renewal where CP will charge you for the same amount of classes you initially purchased each month. Even though you are put into an auto renewal you can cancel or pause your membership at any time. 

Once you purchase your classes then you can download the app on your phone to schedule your classes. I really like the app because it shows you all the classes that are available by time, and you are just a click away from booking your class. Make sure that if you are attending a class at a studio for this first time that you arrive 15-20 minutes early so that you can fill out a waiver, and for the instructor to set you up for class. 

Benefits of Class Pass

One thing that I really like about CP is that when I travel home to Utah for Christmas for 5 days that I can still workout at studios since your membership transfers between cities. This is such a money saver because I used to pay for day memberships everyday I was home at 24 hour fitness costing me almost $100+ each trip home. 

If you ever find yourself in a fitness rut where you don't love what you are currently doing then CP is an awesome way for find something you love. Statistically when you find a workout regimen that feels like play vs work, then you are more likely to stick to a workout consistently.

Your body benefits from mixing up your routine. When do different workouts then you are constantly challenging different muscles, and avoid plateauing with your body. 

Cons of Class Pass

If you are a fitness junkie like me who works out 6x a week, CP would be an expensive way to workout because you would use up all your classes fast. Another con about CP is that you can only visit the same studio only a limited amount of times that month depending on your city. If you find yourself liking a specific studio then at that point it becomes beneficial for you to sign up for a unlimited membership/ or a pack of classes at that specific studio. 

With being a Pure Barre instructor at a boutique studio I have learned that creating a community within the workout is so beneficial to the client as well as the business. Being apart of the community is driven a lot by clients consistently coming, and getting to know one another as well as the staff. When you are on CP it's hard to be consistently present at the studio since you are limited to how many classes you can take.  

Spoiled

Photography: Ella B Photo
Top: Lush / Jacket: Chicwish c/o / Scarf: Express (ON SALE 50% OFF) / Earrings: Baublebar c/o / Jeans: AG / Boots: Frye (old similar here and here) / Bag: Rebecca Minkoff (old similar here) / Lips: Pucker & Pout - 2x Roseberry 1x Plum

The last few days have been absolute perfection since Todd had four days off!!! I seriously can't believe that he had so much time off, and we spent every minute of it together. Sunday was absolute perfection because we went to the Nutcracker over at Winspear Opera house. Between my new computer that Todd surprised me with mixed in with tickets to the Nutcracker has made me feel extra spoiled lately. 

I love that the Nutcracker has become a new tradition for us, and love that we have now seen it in three cities: Salt Lake City, Phoenix, and now Dallas. 

Do you make seeing the Nutcracker a tradition?

Dressing For Holiday Parties with White House Black Market

Outfit 1:
Jacket: WHMB c/o / Blouse: WHBM c/o / Pants: WHBM c/o / Earrings: WHBM c/o / Shoes: WHBM c/o / Bag: WHBM c/o / Lips: Pucker and Pout - 1x apple cider 1x fire opal 1x kiss me katie

Outfit 2:
Dress: WHBM c/o / Coat: WHBM c/o / Bag: WHBM c/o / Earrings: WHBM c/o / Shoes: WHBM c/o / Lips: Pucker and Pout - 1x apple cider 1x fire opal 1x kiss me katie

Now that Thanksgiving is done it's time to start getting ready for Christmas! Can you believe that Christmas is just around the corner?!!!

If you have been following my blog for a while then you know that I LOVE getting dressed up for the holidays. I'll attend any holiday party as an excuse to get all dressed up. One of my favorite holiday trends this season is velvet!!! I will be the first one to admit that I actually HATED this trend a while ago because something about velvet gives me the goosebumps. Please tell me there's someone out there that feels the same way ;) It wasn't until this year that I actually fell in love with the trend, and for some random reason the feeling of velvet doesn't creep me out. Weird I know...

When I saw that White House Black Market had so many gorgeous pieces in velvet for the holiday season my heart did a little happy dance. WHBM has every piece that every woman needs to get ready for a holiday party whether it be for the office or at a cocktail gathering. 

I have already gotten a million compliments on this velvet blazer, and you can easily throw it over slacks or jeans to elevate your holiday look. I decided to pair it with velvet black slacks, and pops of silver from my earrings, handbag, and shoes. Those silver shoes though..... swoon! This outfit is the perfect look for any holiday party at the office, and each piece can be mixed in so many ways to maximize your dressing options. 

When I saw this dress with the velvet embroidery I knew it had to be mine. Something about this dress screams luxury, and is the perfect piece for any formal occasion. I love mixing textures together in an outfit, and the mixture of the bag, dress, and coat pair beautifully together. I wish you could see, but the shoes are actually velvet as well. 

While all these pieces are amazing for the holidays one of the best things about WHBM is that they carry a petite line, that fits me perfectly! For all my petite sisters out WHBM is the answer to your holiday wear prayers. 

Check WHBM today for some killer Black Friday deals!

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Aching for Utah.....

Photography: Ella B Photo
Top: Lush (comes in 3 colors and on SALE!) / Cardigan: Hinge (comes in 3 colors) / Jeans: Rag and Bone (old similar here) / Boots: HM (old similar here) / Necklace: Baublebar c/o / Bag: Vici (similar here, here, here) / Watch: Michael Kors (40% OFF!) / Lips: Pucker & Pout - Roseberry

I can't believe that Thanksgiving week is here, and that Todd and I aren't going to be able to go home. Since we moved away from Utah 5 years ago we have always made it home for the holiday even though it might have not been on the exact day. The fact that we aren't going home at all crushes my heart, and I have missed AZ/UT like crazy over the past 5 months. 

My experience in Dallas has definitely challenged me in ways I didn't know were possible, and being further away from friends and family is one of them. Last night I told Todd that I want to go home for Christmas to see my friends and family because I desperately miss them. My family doesn't get together a ton, and Christmas has become one of the only times that everyone comes together. The thought of missing that family get together coupled with Todd working Christmas Eve isn't something I want to go through. Call me selfish, but going home is something I need to do. My heart aches for Utah....

 Spending a couple hundred dollars on anything is kind of a sore spot in our house since we are shoving out money for Oral Surgery interviews, but I told Todd that it's worth it to me to spend the money I've been saving for a new lens to go home. 

Many sacrifices have been made by moving to Dallas, and not going home for Christmas isn't something I'm ready to give up quite yet.

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A Night at the Nutcracker

Photography: Ella B Photo
Dress: Amanda Uprichard c/o / Earrings: Baublebar c/o / Rings: Baublebar c/o / Bracelet: Baublebar c/o / Bag: Bebe (old similar here) / Shoes: Badgley Micshka / / Lips: Pucker & Pout - 2x Roseberry 1x Fly Girl

 Last Friday I was talking to Todd on the phone while he was waiting to get on a flight to Pennsylvania (2x last week for another oral surgery interview) he surprised me by saying that this Saturday we are going to see the Nutcracker at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas. I was absolutely over the moon when he told me this because I LOVE the nutcracker! 

While I get giddy about anticipating a night full of ballet I'm also excited to ditch the 9-5 leggings for something a bit more glam. I'm going for a classic look of black and winter white with a bold red lip. Very Marilyn if you ask me. 

This dress is apart of the Amanda Uprichard bridal collection, and it's a perfect contender for a night at the Nutcracker. You guys know how I love me some bridal shoots, and was so excited when this beauty was sent to me as part of their bridesmaid collection. The year before Todd and I got married I was apart of 6 weddings within one season, and that meant lots of money spent on bridesmaid dresses. I'm sure we can all agree that there's nothing worst than spending so much money on a bridesmaids dress, and never wearing it again. I'm sorry wallet.... 

What I love about the Amanda Uprichard bridal collection is that all their pieces are beautiful, and simple enough that it's easy get to additional uses out of it. This dress is perfect for whether you are a bridesmaid, attending a holiday party, or even going to the Nutcracker :)

This post was sponsored by Amanda Uprichard. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Holiday Sequins

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Workout Wednesday: High Shine Leggings - My Newest Obsession

Jacket: Zara (last year but super similar at Chicwish) / Sweater: Alo Yoga / Leggings: DYI / Beanie: Nordstrom (under $20!) / Bag: Pure Barre / Sunnies: Quay / Lips: Pucker & Pout - 1x plum 1x glam doll 1x plum

A few Wednesday's ago I posted a liquid legging outfit inspiration, and ever since then I couldn't stop thinking about getting myself some liquid leggings! I was super hesitant about jumping on this athleisure trend, afraid that it would draw attention to my legs in a bad way.

Oh how wrong I was!

These DYI leggings (I always call the brand DIY on accident) have been sitting at Pure Barre for a couple weeks staring at me, begging me to buy them, and demanding that I try them on. When I finally decided to give these leggings a touch I wasn't in love with how thin the thigh felt thinking that it would make every bump and dimple show. Oh how wrong was I.....

After two weeks of convincing myself that I wasn't going to buy these leggings I finally caved, and tried them on. Once I put them on I was surprised that the waist fit for an xs (not many leggings don't fit my waist.... these run small so up a size!). When I took a look at myself in the mirror I couldn't believe how flattering the high shine is to the legs. I fell so in love with these purple ones that I had to buy another pair in an olive green. #consumerproblems

What do you think of the liquid leggings trend?

Interviews Continue

Photography: Ella B Photo
Top: Shop Stevie (similar here, here, here, here) / Jeans: AG (seriously are my favorite) / Choker: Baublebar StitchFix c/o / Watch: Michael Kors / Bracelet: Stella Dot c/o + Cents of Style c/o (old similar here) / Hat: F21 (old similar here) / Shoes: old (similar here) / Bag: Vici / Lips: Pucker & Pout - Sassy Z

Let the traveling begin! Not for me.... for Todd. Yesterday I woke up at 4 am to drive Todd to the airport for him to travel to Pennsylvania for his first Oral Surgery resident interview of this year. I'm excited/anxious for another year of interviews for Todd. Last year I felt like Todd was gone all fall and winter traveling for interviews, and I was left at home missing him. It will be all worth it in the end. Any guesses to where we will be moving in June?

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Messy Pony Tail Tutorial with T3

With scarf weather officially here one of my favorite ways to wear a scarf is to have my hair is a voluminous pony tail. On day 2-3 of post "wash hair day" throwing my hair in a curly pony is a) easy to do and b) cute for any outfit! When T3 sent me some new products to try out I knew that the defined curls 1' barrel would be perfect for this look! The reason why I have fallen in love with T3 is because their products don't damage my extensions, and that you can buy multiple barrels to go with the adapter. 

I first start off by brushing my hair so that it's clear of any knots . On the days where I have fresh hair I blow out my hair first with the T3 blow dryer, and then curl after my blow out. Their blow dryer is MY FAVORITE!!! On the days where my hair isn't clean I'll use the Pureology Fresh Approach Dry Shampoo to give me roots an extra boost of life. (Notice Django doing his photobomb, by getting into my gym bag lol).

I divide my hair into three sections, and start from the bottom to the top. When I curl my hair I curl away from from face, and loosen up the barrel grip when I know the curl is close to being done (4 seconds). Once the curl is done I unclamp the barrel, and pull the barrel down allowing the curl to fall down. Since I have beaded extensions I don't curl too high so I don't interfere with the bead bond. 

Once I curled my whole head I'll then finger comb the curls to loosen them up. 

To give some volume at the crown I'll then tease my hair with a brush. 

I'll take my hair and loosely pull it behind my head, and take a hair tie to tie it in place. I'm all about things not looking perfect, and keeping it a little messy looking. 

I will then loosen up the hair around the crown to give it some volume by holding onto the back of my head, and using the pressure of my thumbs to push up the hair. For a little bit more volume I'll keep doing that around the hair tie. 

   

To hide the hair tie I'll take a strand of hair, and wrap it around the hair tie. I'll then secure the hair by taking a bobby pin underneath the hair tie. 

T3 products c/o / Shirt: Halogen / Jeans: AG / Lips: Pucker & Pout - 1x Plum 1x Glam Doll 1x Plum

This hair style is seriously so easy, and such a fun way to show off a fall scarf or some bold earrings!

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