TEST Lifestyledbyerica

Valentine's Day Looks in 1, 2, 3

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Hi loves! I am really excited about Valentine's Day this year and it isn't clear to me why, cause Ive never really been big on this holiday. Let me think this through. Valentine's Day is a day we celebrate love, and not just love in a romantic relationship, although that is the Hallmark emphasis, its love shared in all relationships under the sun. The relationships we share with others is part of what makes us human. We are social beings and sharing our time and love with others is the foundation of our happiness.

In celebrating that love I am sharing three looks with you today.

Look #1: Fun night with the ladies.

Sort of inspired by Lady Gaga and her Superbowl halftime show oh and the fact that Ive been burning Paparazzi for two weeks! I pulled this look together. A pleated skirt is such a great investment piece, I know they are really trendy right now but Ive had this AnnTaylor skirt for years and it is so versatile. You can dress it up or dress it down, it works with pumps, sneakers, booties the options are endless! For this look I paired it with a graphic sweatshirt I picked up from Forever21 (sorry its no longer available, but I linked a similar option below) and a distressed denim jacket that I borrowed from my son (yes my son!), a pair of leather booties, sunnies and you are ready for the evening. Such a fun and comfy look.

Similar Denim Jacket

Similar Pleated Skirt

Look #2: Dinner in the City

I put this look together with a dinner date in a fancy downtown restaurant in mind. Valentines Day is on in the middle of the workweek (bah humbug) this look transitions from the office to a dinner date with really no effort at all. You know me, I LOVE white! Its so chic, throw on a pale pink camisole under and you've got a soft romantic look your honey is going to love!

Look #3: Out for Drinks

Ok, so last but certainly not least, this look is fun, edgy and sexy. Rompers are so fun and easy to wear so when I caught this baby on sale on H&M's website (AKA my second home) from $50 to just $18, I clicked buy faster then you can say lifestyledbyerica! Now the only thing I must say about rompers is they can be tricky and unforgiving so the proper supportive underwear is key (spanx, ladies, Im talking about spanx!). l

Short Jumpsuit

Similar Moto Jacket

Whatever your status, whatever your plans and whatever you wear, remember this simple truth. Love should be shared and cherished everyday, we don't need a holiday to remind us to tell someone how special they are and how much joy and happiness they bring us. The love you share with your children, your spouse, your siblings, your parents, friends and coworkers should be cherished everyday. There is love in your life in every relationship you have, each brings you a special lesson and adds dimension and meaning to your life. Enjoy it!

Thanks for reading. The hubby and I still don't have plans, got any suggestions? 😛

by LifeStyledbyErica ❤️

Thred-Up - A Love Story

Friday, February 3, 2017

I have GOT to let you in on a secret I've been keeping for three months! It's thredUp. It has quickly become my go-to online site when I am looking to add a new piece to my wardrobe. So their mantra is #secondhandfirst and what that means is they buy and sell gently used, name-brand clothes for women and children at a STEEP discount. Their site also includes accessories, bags, shoes, coats...pretty much everything you need to pull a look together. I have purchased several items since November and I have loved EVERY. SINGLE. PIECE. Some of the pieces include a leather Kate Spade shoulder bag, Kenneth Cole pumps and a "rockstar" floor length animal print top coat (I scored for $18!!!) from H&M, all pictured below. Thinking second hand first not only provides some extra dollars in the bank BUT it is also environmentally friendly. We have become such a "throw-away" society, we might not think about it since who doesn't love affordable but there is a larger price we pay. The site provides great photos of the pieces and descriptions of the condition the pieces are in, best part? thredUp offers easy and free returns within 14 days of receiving your package. Seriously guys you won't regret taking a (very tiny) risk! I was skeptical at first but I am here to say Ive blazed the path and I am reporting back..it is safe and smart to proceed. Use this code here for $10 off your first purchase, full disclosure, I will get $10 applied to my account when you use this code.

Thanks for reading my loves! Don't forget to hit follow so you can receive emails whenever I post! Oh and check out my Instagram for some looks I don't blog about. XOXO

by LifeStyledbyErica 💋

My $0.02 on Personal Style.

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Hello loves! January flew by really quickly, didn't it? I've had something to do every single weekend this month and that means my home has suffered, my blog has suffered and my energy has suffered. To top all of that off, college applications and all of the little pieces that come with it are due on February 1st and my son and I are 97% done! Seriously can't wait for February 1st to come and go.

So back to this post. I am very active on Instagram and I give the blogger community a lot of love, cause women should support each other but I am very selective with who I follow and here is why. Some of the posts I see are very heavy on trends and I don't know if it is the companies pushing their clothes and sending bloggers the same freebies to style and post but when you are as active as I am its becomes quite repetitive and uninspiring. I don't really see the bloggers personal style shinning through on those paid for/sponsored ads. Here is my point. Fashion is what you buy, style is what you do with it, personal style lives outside of trends, at least mine does. I fancy myself a "classics" girl, if you follow me on Instagram you would see why. When I first started this blog a million years ago or (really) 3 months ago, I thought I would have to buy new outfits to post every week and at first I did. But then I realized that was going to be expensive, lol, and not what I really set out to do. Understanding where it all began helps to keep you on task. I started out wanting to share my style, not the trends and hope to inspire you to pull some things you already own in your closet and rock it like a boss. 😎 I want to promote self acceptance and self love, not emptiness, insecurity and consumerism. Yes, you need to invest in some pieces but buying endless amounts of trendy clothes will never create your unique personal style. You don't have to have a lot of money to have personal style, you can start with a great pair of jeans, a well fit blazer, a sweater, a button down shirt, a "go-with-everything" dress and some heels and create effortless, interesting looks that reflect what you are feeling that day.

So this outfit is a perfect example, all items Ive had in my closet for over a year, I paired a pair of Old Navy boot cut jeans with my grey Asos sweater over a white button down shirt, boots, black coat, fedora and clutch and out the door to shoot! Wanna be let in on a secret? Throw on a pair of big hollywood style sunnies, instant DRAMA! It is my go-to and I got these pair of sunnies for $15!

Similar Old Navy Jeans

Similar Crew Neck Sweater

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to comment below on what your personal style is and hit follow so you get updates on all the fun things I have planned for this blog.

XOXO

by LifeStyledbyErica 💋

Fashion

Multiply Like Rabbits (jewelry review + promo code)

Monday, January 23, 2017

Ok you guys, I have been teasing this beautiful bracelet on Instagram for weeks now and now what you have all been waiting for..my review! Ok so Multiply Like Rabbits is a precious "Alice in Wonderland" themed jewelry line designed by Artur Dabrowski, a New York based architect! What makes this line stand out from anything else out there is the attention to detail, each piece is so special and whimsical in its design. It really captures the eye and every time I have worn this piece Ive been asked, where did I get it from, it got so bad I started carrying the business cards! You should definitely check out the website, no detail has been spared, down to the precious packaging. Pieces include rings, bracelets, necklaces and suit wear (ladies for the man in your life) and they come in bronze, brass and silver finishes. Pictured below is the "Chasing Rabbits Cuff" in the brass finish. This piece is made to order and there are instructions on the website on how to measure your wrist, it's fool proof, trust me! You can tell with the attention to detail, this is a labor of love for Artur. Over the weekend he announced new pieces were added to his collection including a "staircase" ring and stacking rings. Check them out here and here.

Follow Multiply Like Rabbits on Instagram, like on Facebook and check out their website Mutliply Like Rabbits. It is a perfect gift for an upcoming birthday or special celebration for the special lady or man in your life or a treat for yourself, why not, you deserve it! I promise you won't regret it! BONUS?!?!? Enter promo code "thankyou" for an extra 25% off at checkout!

Tell me what you think down below. And don't forget to hit "follow" so you can stay in the know. :)

XOXO

By LifeStyledbyErica 💋

Life-Tips

Get to Know Me - 9 Questions

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Hello world! So my blog is 3 months old next week and I thought I might commemorate the special occasion by sharing some fun facts about the woman behind lifestyledbyerica! I pieced together these questions from several sites when I googled "getting to know someone" questions. I have to say I really had to think about some of these questions, they are tough but I learned a few things about my self in the process. I would love for you to pick a question to answer..share your response, if you dare, in the comments below. Its fun! Here we go.

1.What was your upbringing like?

I grew up in the Bronx with my mother, father and older sister. My father worked for the Sanitation Department and my mom stayed home with us and worked part time while we were in school. We had a strict, Catholic upbringing complete with private school and church on Sundays.

2. If you had to describe yourself in five words, what would they be?

Sensitive, strong, ambitious, headstrong and loyal.

3. What accomplishment are you most proud of and why?
Personal accomplishment, completing my Masters Degree last summer, in spite of the many times I felt like giving up.

4. What makes you wildly happy?

This feels like a loaded question..there are so many things that make me happy, my husband, our family, our pup Timmy, the work I do, girl time, this blog, reading, yoga, working out, vacationing, so many things that make me happy, how could I choose one? ❤️

5. Which of your parents are you most like and why?

Hmm this is a tough one, I've always been told (by my mother mostly) that I am JUST like my father. It is true, I give her that. I am deeply sensitive and I protect that sensitive core with a sometimes impenetrable wall and a surrounding moat, just like my dad. I also take the lead when there is a crisis, I can jump right in and be the voice of reason and then secretly fall apart later in the shower, lol. But more and more I see a thin veiled version of my mother living within me. I will worry myself about things that are not in my control, I will choose to yell when I feel overwhelmed and then feel terrible about it after. I also smile at strangers, much like my mother did when I was a child, she always had a way of engaging strangers with a smile, a kind word. I do that sometimes and it reminds me of when I was a child looking up at my mother share her smile with the lady on line at the supermarket.

6. What are your top five favorite books of all time?

Sheesh, only 5?!?!?!? That isn't nearly enough.

She Came to Stay by Simone de Beauvoir

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

The Power Broker by Robert Carr (in progress)

The History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

7. How would you describe unconditional love?

Unconditional love is when someone else's happiness is your happiness even if it is opposition with what you want.

8. What are your top five personal values?

Honesty, Loyalty, Drive, Accountability and humility.

9. How do you handle anger?

Not well, if I am my better self in that moment, a bit*ch fest rant with my hubby accompanied by a glass of wine, online shopping, and a brand new outlet...blogging!

Thanks for reading loves! 💋

Dont forget to pick a question and answer below, if you please. 😘

by LifeStyledbyErica

Fashion Featured

New Yawk Black w/ Pops of Burgundy

Saturday, January 14, 2017

Hello loves! Ok so straight to this look, the hubby and I shot this look on one of this beautiful weekends we had before the snow last weekend. Although the weather was warm, the wind was wicked! Behind the scenes the wind knocked my hat off and forced me to eat my hair, the big ole bully. 😇 It was pretty funny and I can be a good sport (most times). So this look, I went REAL New Yawk on this one with the all black uniform but spiced it up with a burgundy felt hat (thanks mom and dad-in law for my christmas gift and support) and my Tahari loafers. PS this flounce sweater is so forgiving especially when you've been stuffing your face with christmas cookies and chocolate like you are going to the electric chair. Hey, don't judge me, Im pretty disciplined most of the year and go buck wild crazy the week between christmas and new year. Im like a cute little gremlin. I promise, just pass me the cookies and nobody gets hurt! Confession, I picked up this jacket a few years ago from Ann Taylor in one of their online clearance sales so it is no longer available BUT I did link two similar jackets below, a high end and a more affordable version.

Thanks for reading! How are you doing with your eating habits after the holidays? Back to some sort of disciplined eating? Comment below with how you cut the cravings and get back into healthy eating, Im getting there but some tips never hurt anybody. So share with me! ❤️

by LifeStyledbyErica xoxo

Fashion

O-LIVE You Faux Real

Hello loves! I am more than a little behind schedule with my posts, the truth is I have had a lot going on. Professionally and personally. Dun, dun, dun. No guys, its all good stuff! I am up for an important promotion at work (cross your fingers) AND I am married to a HUGE football fan who dragged me to Pittsburgh last weekend to see the Dolphins play the Steelers in the playoffs. We drove out of New York in the middle of a snow storm, a challenge to say the least and spent our Sunday freezing our tushes off in the Heinz Stadium with temperatures in the teens but windchill making it feel like 2! The hubby and I layered up but nothing could have prepared us for an open stadium by the water. It was an experience, definitely a bucket list check off! In addition to all of that good stuff, my social calendar has been on fire lately. My weekends have been booked with catch up dates with friends, I feel so popular these days. I love girl time, there is really nothing like it. Don't get me wrong, I love my family, my boys and my doggy Timmy but girl time is just good for the soul. Ive been blessed to have crossed paths with some wonderfully, smart, loving and funny women and feel very lucky they count me as a friend.

Back to this look. So I have featured this on Instagram at least twice and once to say that this gorgeous olive colored Forever21 military styled jacket is on sale for $29.99!! CARAZY right?!?!!? I love the color and fit and who can beat the price? A great addition to my growing coat collection. I paired it with this faux fur scarf Ive had for years. Faux fur glams any look, definitely my go-to when the rest of my look is more simple and casual. Scroll for links below.