All-Time Favorite Interiors

I've been in a bit of a decorating slump lately.  Sometimes I feel like the more exposure we have to design, via Pinterest, blogs, magazines, and more, the more our own personal style gets diluted, because we start mimicking what we see online rather than establishing our own personal 'voice' or design point of view. 

To that end, I decided to peruse my Pinterest boards for the images that I love the most and that most represent a home in which I would like to live. Here goes: 

Entryways: 

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via (I think it's originally from Lonny or Domino? shot by Melanie Acevedo)

via (shot by Teri Lyn Fisher)

original source unknown, anyone?

Kitchen/Dining Room/Pantry:

via

via

via 

via

via

(original source unknown, anyone?)

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Living Room: 

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via

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Bedroom:

via

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Bathroom:

via

(original source unknown, anyone?)

Pulling all these images together really helped me reinforce my true personal style. For example, I love a lot of color in other people's homes, but this little exercise has shown me that maybe I don't want to live with it myself. I also like modern and funky homes when I see them in magazines, but for me I like a more rustic, industrial, masculine space with feminine touches. Pattern mixing features largely in many of these images, as does high contrast (charcoal juxtaposed against light cream, for example). I also noticed that vary rarely do I like the purest versions of color--meaning, I rarely pick out pure black or straight white tones, but rather prefer a dustier dark grey or off-white. 

Solidifying my viewpoint will make it much easier to pull together my own home, I think. Check back soon for some inspiration on how to pull all of these images into one cohesive look!

Weekly Wishlist: Black, Gold, and Blush

Fall has rolled around and inevitably so has my penchant for black clothing. Add in a few gold and blush accents, and I'm sold.

Weekly Wishlist by mjchirpich-1 featuring taper candles

Particularly I'm in love with the striped sweatshirt from Old Navy and the black maxi dress from Lulu's. And would you have guessed that lamp is $40 from Ikea??

Packing a Week's Worth of Business Casual in a Carryon

I thought I'd change things up a bit and post What I'm Wearing Weekly at the start of the week!

Today I'm in Anaheim, CA for a couple of back-to-back work conferences. I absolutely hate checking luggage, so I had to pack smart to fit everything for a week's worth of business-casual in a carryon. It's all about bringing easily-mixable clothing! Here's what I brought:

Packing for a Week-long Work Conference by mjchirpich-1 featuring t shirts

And here's how I'll wear it!

A Week's Worth of Business Casual Conference Wear by mjchirpich-1 featuring knee high stretch boots

Hopefully I'll have time to sneak in some extra-curricular activities, so I had to plan outfits for such adventures as well:

Extracurricular Activies by mjchirpich-1 featuring Merona

Some travel tips I've picked up along the way:

• When you're trying to pack everything in a carryon, pick a baseline color and stick to it. Here, most of my basics (boots, pants, etc) are all black, so they all mix well with the colorful items I brought. If you're more of a brown/tan basics girl, that works well too! Just make sure your big-ticket items all work together.
• Stripes go with virtually anything. They pair well with patterns, like the floral-print scarf shown, and can be easily dressed up or down. 
• Dresses are an all-in-one outfit option. You just have to add jewelry and shoes!
• Wear your bulkiest items on the plane--in my case, my denim jacket and black boots. 
• Conversely, pack your slimmest items. My silky pink pants pack down tiny and make a major style statement--same goes for silk or chiffon shirts, which can get wrinkly but hotels will have irons :)
• If you pack mostly basics, pack fun statement necklaces and other jewelry. Scarves pack down tiny too, and packing scarves with lots of colors provides more outfit options.

For other editions of WIWW, please click here,  here,  here,  here, here,  here,  here, here, here, here, here,  here, here,  here,  here, here, here and here :)

Truth in blogging: In these boards I try to use the exact items I own, but if those items aren't available online I've replaced them with visually similar items. This week, I actually own: Travel Day's shirt, bag, and scarf, Monday's dress, necklace, and shoes,  Wednesday's scarf, Thursday's pants, necklace, and shoes, Friday's top and shoes, and Last/Travel day's dress, scarf, and bag. I also own Leisure's 2 shirts, Sightseeing's scarf, Dinner's dress, necklace, and shoes, and Bar's top and shoes.

What I'm Wearing Weekly: September 30-October 4th

Phew, this week just fleeeeeeewwwwwww by! I have a series of work conferences all next week so I'm trying to get ahead on paperwork...seems like I bury my head in papers and computer screens all day and don't take a breath until it's time to leave!

The weather locally definitely took a turn into 'Fall' this week, and the leaves are starting to turn as well! So lovely :)

Here's what I wore this week. For other editions of WIWW, please click here,  here,  here, here,  here,  here, here, here, here, here,  here, here,  here,  here, here, here and here :)

What I'm Wearing Weekly: Sept 30-Oct 4 by mjchirpich-1 featuring cone heel pumps

Anyone else overjoyed to be eating pumpkin-flavored everything and sipping chai lattes without overheating??

Truth in blogging: In these boards I try to use the exact items I own, but if those items aren't available online I've replaced them with visually similar items. This week, I actually own: Monday's dress and shoes, Tuesday's dress, shoes, and necklace (from an Etsy shop though), Wednesday's shoes and skirt, Thursday's pants (thrifted) and shoes (thrifted), and Friday's pants (thrifted) and shoes.

Spice up your workout wardrobe!

Hey friends, I've missed you! Work is crazy right now and I've had to put blogging on the backburner. Today I'm happy to be back with a roundup of workout gear that's currently on my wishlist.

I'm pretty sure it's mathematically proven that the better you look, the better you feel.  The better you feel, the more self-confidence you have, and the more self-confidence you have, the more comfortable you will feel at the gym, in a yoga studio, or out on a long run. Thus, cute clothes = better workout. Ahhhhh, the power of the transitive property....

With that in mind, I've been on the hunt for cute workout capris. It's surprisingly hard to find workout tights that aren't boring black, grey, or see-through. Although I've never seen most of these in person, I'm currently pondering the purchase of the following items:

Spice up your workouts! by mjchirpich-1 featuring NIKE activewear pants

Seems I've stumbled upon a color theme here....anyway, anybody have experience with any of the leggings shown? What is your favorite workout gear?

One Item Four Ways: Tie Dye Maxi Dress

Last night I was de-stressing after a long day at work by online shopping for things I'll never actually buy (please tell me I'm not the only one to use this as a coping mechanism??!). I came across this beautiful tie dye maxi (also available in coral and white for only $45!) and had to just show how I'd love to style it if I were to buy it:

Tie Dye Dress 4 ways by mjchirpich-1 featuring a wide bow belt

I can see this dress transitioning well to fall/winter by adding tights and boots/booties as well.

EDIT: I bought this during a Black Friday sale and really like it. It's a flowy jersey, so it clings a bit to the booty, but it's still flattering. The band around the waist is very comfortable, and the band around the boobs actually holds the dress in place! (unlike many strapless dresses I've tried). I will say that I thought it was more of a midi dress looking at the pictures, but it's definitely a maxi. I'm 5'4" and it's a biiiiit long on me--I either need to wear shoes with a bit of heel or I may get it hemmed a bit (maybe even to midi length, so I can show off cute shoes better!). All in all it's a great, versatile piece that I can't wait to wear year-round!

How would you wear it?

Visa Card Vanquishment and Weekly Wishlist: Workout Wear

Lately I've been incorporating two kinds of workouts into my life: physical exercise, and swiping my Visa. Let's review, shall we?

Visa Card Vanquishment

Visa Card Vanquishment by mjchirpich-1 featuring slim fit t shirts

I finally bought my favorite Gap workout shirts in the short-sleeve and long-sleeve versions and cannot wait for them to arrive!! Seriously, those tanks are a workout lifesaver!

I also bought this acrylic tray as part of my office update (pics coming soon!), and I was pleasantly surprised by the high quality--it's all cut from one piece of acrylic, not smaller pieces all joined at the seams. It works perfectly on my desk to corral my office odds and ends, including my new tape dispenser. This gorgeous stapler is still on my lust list!

I did buy the Halogen purse that I talked about last week, and I love it! It's on sale right now too, so Nordstrom kindly gave me a price match for the lower price--score!

Now that I don't need to bring a massive purse to work every day, I decided it was high time I got a nice laptop bag (usually I just stash it in my giant work bag, but that bag doesn't have any padding). I'm excited to receive my Timbuk2 bag--seems like a perfectly minimalist yet functional bag for my Macbook Air.

Weekly Wishlist: Workout Wear

I recently started attending yoga classes again, and I've found out that I love heated yoga! This type of workout does obviously get you schweaty sweaty, so I've been on the hunt for sweat-wicking, no-sweat-showing, non-see-through gear to get me through classes and afterwards. I've continued to run and rock climb a lot since my half marathon, so I'm trying to find gear that multitasks.

I noticed in my online shopping that virtually everyone does basic black tights and capris, but hardly anyone does unique, eye-catching gear! So here's a roundup of some fun and functional gear that is currently on my wishlist until my bank account recovers :)

Weekly Wishlist: Workout Wear by mjchirpich-1 featuring a yoga activewear

Starting top center, clockwise:
1. I'm in love with this post-workout (or during savasana!) long-sleeve ikat wrap, and I can see it transitioning easily over a LBD at the office! It's on sale and available in all-black as well, but it's discontinued so snap it up quick!
EDIT: I tried this top on today and hated it. The print looks really cheap, and the fabric feels cheap as well. Bummer!

2. Slouchy sweaters are my fave, epecially once you get out of the shower post-workout.

3. I'm in the market for a bra that doesn't give me uni-boob, and this one is so fun and bright!

4. I'm obsessed with the paisley print on these grey leggings--I want to wear them to yoga with that bright bra, then (wash them!) wear them to work with a cozy knit sweater and a tunic that covers my bum!

5. These bright capris will help me wake up for that 6am class!

6. I'm obsessed with these ikat print leggings--they also come in grey, which are a little more subtle. These are not only on my weekly wishlist but actually my more practical, I'm-really-planning-to-buy-these list.

EDIT: I also tried these on, in both colors, and they were extremely thin, the print looked cheap, and they were semi-see through. I don't recommend these, unfortunately!

7. I think these olive green leggings are such an unexpected color--I'd pair them with pastels like lavender or pink, or toughen them up with black!

8. I tried on these Moving Comfort leggings at REI the other day and I'm in love. The print is much more subtle once on, and the print is even flattering for us ladies with athletic thighs! Make sure to size up one size if you buy them--they run a bit small.

9. I go back and forth whether shorts are a good idea for hot yoga, or if the greater skin exposure would just lead to more sweat and slippery poses? If I were to get shorts, these are the ones I'd go with since they're a bit longer than your average yoga shorts and reviews say they stay put!

EDIT: I bought these and really liked them, but I did find that I get so sweaty in heated yoga that my arms slip off my legs in certain poses when I'm wearing shorts. I need longer leggings to provide a little 'grip' for different poses. I ended up returning these (Athleta has an excellent return policy, even if you've used the gear!) but I think they'd be great for regular yoga or maybe even running. They did stay put pretty well and are long enough that I didn't feel like my cheeks were hanging out or self-conscious--I have a big booty so that's saying something! ;)

10. These Lole leggings look so fun and comfortable and even wearable outside the gym. I'm a little wary of lighter colors, but these may be worth the risk :)




What gear keeps you moving and motivated? Do you prefer shorts or leggings for hot yoga?