Saturday, November 30, 2013

2 weeks...

I can't believe the time is almost here for me to head back to the west coast. Or as some might say-- the best coast. I definitely am in need of a touch base, and as the days near my flight departure I realize more desperately so.

So, what's the line up? In the first three days I'll be attending a concert with my sister, the nutcracker and a Christmas party with dré. Whew! It's gonna be a jet set weekend! What's this mean? I need to have outfits that are both fun and easy. Here are a few options that I'm using for inspiration-- what do you think?

Leather
Oversize Collar Shearling Jacket
leather cuff from Lilac Bijoux

Sparkle
code name: drédin
code name: drédin

Tulle
Monique Lhuillier
Free People Raw Tulle skirt

See you [west coast friends] in two weeks!

xo | din


photos | shopstyle.com

Friday, November 29, 2013

Fabulous Fashionistas

#fabfashionistas
(l-r): Sue, Daphne, Baroness Trumpington, Jean, Gillian, Bridget

Recently dré and I watched a documentary online about fashion, style, and loving life. Only it wasn't headlined by the per usj supermodel, or rail thin beauty who had captivating bone structure. Instead, it featured the six stylish women above. Each with their own style. No botox. No surgery. Just the love of life and the freedom to express it.

 "I love life...I love everything about it." 
- Jillian

As hair and wardrobe stylists, dré and I are always taking in life for inspiration. It's the art in life that brings out our wardrobe creativity. Sue, far left, laughed when she said she didn't want to be over the top. That's because she is, in fact, over the top when it comes to her style. She doesn't leave the house without having her artwork draped around her like a coat of armour. We can relate to that, too. Have you seen our shoes?! The higher the heel, the closer to heaven!

"I don't give a damn what people think of me or the way I dress. I dress for myself because I love style and design and color."
- Bridget

"I put it on for me.
- Jean on wearing her favorite pieces multiple times per week.

Just like these fab 6, our styles are not identical. Where dré may choose to go bold with an edge, I may choose to go more 30s whimsical. Or, where I might don the black moto leather trend, dré may flaunt a tutu. Regardless, the ability to be expressive through style is a necessary form of communication.

"Style as one gets older is more noticeable."
- Bridget

The median age of these women is 80. They look fabulous, they live fabulous, and we totally relate to them! (Gillian loves mini skirts, too!) I've got a bday coming up, and dré's will fall shortly behind mine. Although we know we've still got youth on our side, it's more apparent than ever that style is what lasts forever. So, like them, we, too, want to be able to prolong the opportunity to maintain such expression. As you know, we're underway on a 30 Day Challenge; and in addition to that we love to laugh with friends, dance, and be adventurous.

"The minute you give an inch, life or stillness will take a mile."
- Gillian

The question remains: Is fashion, style, and the quest to look one's best a concept of vanity?

"I love dressing up anyway so it wouldn't matter if nobody said anything."
- Bridget

I can't say either way as I am sure it varies from person to person. What I do know is we love fashion and we love pushing our creativity to the next level. Take Daphne for instance. She is the go-to model in England for her age (or anyone above the age of 50, let's say). From this documentary, I do not believe anyone would mistake her as vain! She's a humble woman who just so happens to love good style.

Seeing all of these commonalities between these women and ourselves, we can only grow more confident that our individual style and love for fashion will never fade. We've got street style, as Jean references, and that'll carry on to the end of our earthly days. Lady T was correct when she said that "the moment you start letting everything, sort of, go is the moment when you're old." We'll have none of that, thank you!

xoxo | drédin


There's several inspiring messages that we can take away from this, and if you want to live long enough to experience them all, then take it from Sue: Don't wear beige, it might kill you.

Jean on life and loss: "If you don't make the move to go on, you'll only remember the sad parts, and I don't think you progress."
Baroness Trumpington on when to use your fabulous (over the top) new purchase: "Everyday!"
Gillian on retirement: "It's all about having a purpose and that's why I think to retire is dangerous."


photo | the guardian/channel 4
ages | (l-r) 73, 85, 91, 75, 87, 75
director | Sue Bourne 

Friday, November 22, 2013

Fresh

This morning was rough. I literally had to peel myself out of bed. I'm not gonna lie. It's been a tough week. I've been failing miserably on our 30 day challenge, and then I've had my own personal stuff to go along with it all.

As I put my feet on the floor, I recollected my phone call with din the night before. I had to keep going. So I got up, and put on the first clothes I could find. My hair went in a top knot, and a bit of makeup to go over what was left from the day before. 

After I met a friend for a much needed coffee date, I stepped outside to see the sun shining so bright, I knew it had to get better.








Blazer | H&M 
Top | Lily White
Jeans | Mossimo Supply Co.
Boots | Report

XOXO dré 

Thursday, November 21, 2013

30 Day Challenge: Recipe Motivation


When we first started the 30 Day Challenge, we promised to share some tasty recipes to encourage your transformation. Take a look at the deliciousness that is above, and check out the recipe below! Not a fan of brussels?! Try a different recipe from Rachel Schultz.

*You can substitute the olive oil with coconut oil.
recipe & image by rachelschultz.com


After my run in with a chocolate lava cake last Sunday, I decided to give up dessert completely for the remainder of the 30 Day Challenge. I'm allowing two exceptions, though: Thanksgiving and my birthday. I don't want quitting cold-turkey to scare you away from the Challenge as a whole, so I'm sharing this recipe from my "i could eat." Pinterest board. 

I'd say this is an acceptable way to get your chocolate fix, wouldn't you agree?

recipe & image by skinnyms.com
 
Bon appétite!

 xo | din

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Passionately

I'm obsessed with changing my look! You only get one life to live, so why not make it an exciting and thrilling one?! I personally can't understand why a girl would never want more than a "trim", or never change her color. That is the opposite of me!

At the start of the year I had a purple ombré. It was definitely a fun look, but as usual, I became bored, and decided I needed to be blonde. Well, my blonde had run its course, and I was ready to deepen my color once again. I took a brief pit stop at pink because of my charitable spirit, but I had my heart set on one particular shade. Red violet. It is the only color I have not tried ( besides, green or yellow...but let's not get crazy! ).

I'm absolutely loving this new hue on me! I feel like a new woman. More daring. More passionate.








Top | H&M 
Vest | Forever 21
Leggings | Zara
Boots | Bronx
Snake ring | Mudd

Hair color by Sharon Gause, Sharon's Hair Studio
Photos by Kiya

XOXO dré 

Monday, November 18, 2013

Foiled


Have you ever set a goal only to watch it foil right before your eyes?

If you're human, it's inevitable. Take for instance my experience yesterday with Sunday football. While I watched the Saints and the Seahawks win, in front of me sat a huge plate of nachos... alas, my Sunday effort toward the 30 Day Challenge foiled! [ And I'm not going to mention the funfetti cookies dré made... ]

My nachos may have slowed me down, but they're not going to keep me down! I've still got my eyes on the prize! Sometimes, all it takes is a little glitter to re-focus...

I chose a silver-foil color that's loaded with glittery goodness to uplift my spirits. And, if you're feeling that the work towards your own goal is frustrating or difficult, you should try it, too! Just grab your fav glitter polish and hit the reset button. Besides, it's Monday, and everything starts over on Monday! (;

nail polish | How's It Snowin'? by OPI

xo | din

Sunday, November 17, 2013

It's Been Fun....

My days rocking pink hair are reaching their end. Though it didn't last long, it's been sweet, wild, and glam all the way!

Enjoy one final look at my bubble gum locks! I chose a royal blue dress; its color is not only hot this season, but I found it to contrast beautifully against my hair. Though the under layer of the dress is blue opposed to nude, both the color and the lace overlay, remind me of the Goldie dress I wore during Vancouver Fashion Week. My knee high boots wrap it together perfectly, for an ideal fall look.








Can you guess what color my hair will be next??

Lace dress | H&M 
Boots | BP Nordstrom 

XOXO dré 

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Vintage Glamour

Sometimes I wish I could travel back in time, where pin curls, pearls, and fabulousness was part of every day life, for every woman. Since I can't, I thought it fun to bring the era to me! Enjoy!





hair by Sharon Gause, Sharon's Hair Studio
photos by Sharon Gause

XOXO dré 

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

30 Day Challenge: Day 3 Motivation

In regards to our 30 Day Challenge, there's two things I know:

- It's not going to be easy.
- It's so worth it.

I'm already struggling with the water part (ermagherd I'm drowning!), the getting to bed by 11 (dern you, Pinterest!), but this tightness in my abs and legs feels pretty good! It takes hard work, discipline, and integrity to complete this challenge. Good thing is, I'm not punishing myself for struggling. If I feel like I'm going to fall short, I acknowledge it, and recommit myself. As we said before, it's building good habits that will affect positive change beyond these 30 days to a lifetime.

In the meantime, a little motivation never hurt...


For more inspiration, follow my Pinterest board, Temple Inspiration. I'm constantly updating it with inspirational photos, quotes, and workouts! 

xo | din

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Pink Panther

Okay! As promised, here is another creative shoot

I have a bit of a knack for sleuthing and de[CODE]ing, so I thought it suitable to bring out my inner P.I.! I'm really digging the pink 'fro look, and it was fun to wear out later for a sensible dinner ;)







hair by Sharon Gause, Sharon's Hair Studio
photos by Sharon Gause

XOXO dré 

Monday, November 11, 2013

[ Health & Fitness ] 30 Day Challenge


We think that getting ready for the day should always be fun. Mostly, we find this to be true when we've said no to that extra bowl scoop of ice cream, and especially so when we forgo devouring dré's slap-yo-mama cookies!

Now, however, as we're thinking about the upcoming soirée season, and what to wear for our events, we've decided it was time to make a pact! Behold, our 30 Day Challenge! Here, we'll share with you what we're doing, and hopefully it'll inspire you to do the same. After all, it's about building good habits. Here we go! Get ready...Get set...Get fit!

Drink More Water!
Drink at LEAST half your body weight in ounces. For us, we're aiming for a gallon per day!


[ Tips ]
*Fill an empty gallon jug daily. Be sure you've drank all the water before your head hits the pillow!

*To encourage drinking, add lemon! It'll not only offset the taste of this bland substance, but it will help to give you that glowing skin you've been yearning for.

*Don't do it alone-- we're not! Grab an accountability partner. Everyone will benefit from this even if they're not taking part in the fitness challenge. Motivate each other by sending a text on your progress.

**din personally drinks through a straw, otherwise she wouldn't consume but a glass! It also encourages calm and stress-relief. However, there's a possibility it promotes bloating. Weigh your options, it's up to you!

Eat Clean!
Say goodbye to fast food! Put down that cake! You can't pronounce the words on that label, so don't eat it! Load up on fruits, veggies, nuts, unprocessed meats, and limit your dairy intake.

[ Tips ]
*Mix it up! din eats salad daily and shares a quick and easy salad that'll leave you full, but not heavy.

Mix the following: (quantity depends on person, or size of personal salad bowl)
Mixed greens
Spinach
Sweet corn (din prefers Hanover's frozen sweet corn, de-thawed over low-medium heat, strained)
1/2 of an orange bell pepper, chopped
1/2 of a Fuji apple, chopped
Mixed nuts and dried fruit (din uses Salad Fixins' from Whole Foods. It has pepitas, raw sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, slivered almonds, and sesame sticks)
Virgin olive oil & apple cider vinegar (blend to taste for a light dressing)

Optional: Instead of chopped apple, add a can of tuna and sprinkle black pepper or a dash of Mrs. Dash's Original Seasoning.

**We'll post more healthy recipes during our 30 Day Challenge, so be sure to check back!

Exercise!
Do something! ANYTHING! We recommend at the very least 30 minutes of exercise. It's your body and it's worth it! Still, if that is a major jump for you, start small. Do 10-20 push-ups when you wake up, or before you go to bed. Once that becomes second nature, you can elevate your routine by adding lunges, squats, or burpees.

Ready for a challenge, try the at-home fitness routine below:


Just remember, the key is to start somewhere!

Clear Skin is In!


With our different wardrobe looks comes make-up inspiration. So, whether it's a smokey eye, red lips, or a fresh face, we want clear skin! There's natural ways to achieve this (we share them below), and it may just be the remedy you were looking for. If not, don't be afraid to go see a dermatologist. There are different types of skin ailments, and a dermatologist, more so than a general physician, can help decipher and get you on a plan that will work for you.

[ Tips ]
*Hands off! Seriously, your hands are greasy and have been touching everything under the sun. Keep that grime away from your poor pores!

*Apple cider vinegar to the rescue! This is a fix it for everything! As a toner, mix equal parts of apple cider vinegar to water and apply to clean skin with cotton ball. As a toxin flush, mix 1 tbs apple cider vinegar to 8 oz of water and drink. Do this 1 to 2 times per day. We use Bragg's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.
 
*Balance pH levels with baking soda. Mix 1 tbs of baking soda to every 8 oz of water, and drink twice a week. (Just be sure you don't exceed 3 glasses in a week or you could over alkalize your system!) You'll see results in clearer skin (acne). You can also use this to create a paste and apply to your face as a mask. Just reduce the water to a few drops. The same mixture can be used as an exfoliant. Be sure to use a natural variety from your health food section at the store, rather than Arm & Hammer which has been processed.

*Coconut oil! Eating a few tablespoons of organic extra virgin coconut oil a day will help your metabolism. You can also use it in place of a nightly moisturizer. It contains anti-bacterial properties to help kill acne, and because it's so moisturizing it improves the texture of your skin. Also, it's been shown to fade brown spots and regulate oily skin (yes, even though it's an oil itself). Prior to using it, dré had oily skin, and now has no problem with excess oil.

Think Positive!
Our minds can literally destroy us! Strive to stay positive, and reinforce difficult situations with encouraging words and self-promotion. The road to fitness is not an easy one, but you have the tools to achieve your goals!

"When you realize the power of your words, you'll watch your mouth." 
- a wise person

Need some help in this area? Send us an email, or a message on Facebook, and let us know what's up! We will give you advice and help you stay on track.

Slumber Party!
We go to bed way too late it's ridiculous! Night owls, unite! We're flipping the script and getting to bed no later than 11P. That means getting our chores done in a timely fashion, not watching just. one. more. episode of Scandal, and flat getting off of the phone! Sleep is what keeps the body functioning, de-stressed, skin rejuvenated, and metabolism working, so at least 8 hours is a must!


Truth be told, we're nervous! 
We love sweets and treats, and consume them like Armageddon's on the horizon!  
Take the 30 Day Challenge with us and we can support each other.
Are you in? Take a snap shot of yourself today, so you can see how far you've come in 30 days.

See ya 'round, gorgeous!

xoxo drédin

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