Thirty

Happy Birthday to... me! Today is my 30th birthday and I'm excited! Nope; I am definitely not one of those women who like to conceal their age. After all, with age comes wisdom and I'm all about that!

In fact, this morning after a beautiful rendition of "Happy Birthday" from my dad (get this man a record deal!), I wisely decided to enjoy Nutella on my toast. Truth be told, it's not the first time I've made a wise decision to have Nutella, so this just shows that I'm retaining knowledge.

Yesterday, however, might have been a more well rounded course as I enjoyed brunch with a few friends at Lavagna in Capitol Hill. The menu is farm to table and delicious. I had Eggs Florentine (their take on Eggs Benedict) with a side of bacon (not my fav in the way it was prepared) and two Americanos (necessary!). To top it off, my friends sang Happy Birthday to me before I blew out a candle on a melt-in-your-mouth delicious Tiramisu cake!

Brunch was perfect because I was surrounded by great company to fellowship, delicious food to eat, and this fabulous blanket poncho to keep me warm. This poncho was made especially for me by my best friend, dré. About a month ago dré confirmed with me which fabric I would like, then she spent an afternoon creating the garment. Upon arriving home on Saturday from Indianapolis, I saw the package at my doorstep. I had already planned to wear it for my brunch, so the timing was perfect. Thank you, dré, for such a thoughtful gift! The time and detail that went into it has not gone unnoticed! (Really, though, I've received so many compliments!) Thanks, boo!

Today is also our blogiversary! Check out our official launch here. Then, visit our Facebook page for more birthday celebration updates!

What do you think of my blanket poncho?

xo | din

blanket poncho | dré
necklace | H&M
leather cuff | MetroPark
leggings | H&M
shoes | Jessica Simpson

photos | Maci P

Blankets For Everyone

This just might be my favorite fashion staple of all time. The blanket. When the winter sets in, there's nothing more cozy then being under a pile of blankets.  

So when I came across this link on Twitter from Harper's Bazaar, I was ecstatic to see just how easy it was to make my own. There are two styles to choose from, and they are both fab. I'm obsessed with mine and planning on making more!  

To make your own go here.

xo | dré 

blanket poncho | dré 

leggings | Etiquette 

heels | Nine West  

Birthday Dinner

March has been a crazy month! Not only did I get recently get back from the Caribbean, but I also just came back from fashion week last weekend! My birthday happened while I was away, and my good friend had her dirty thirty last week. My crew isn't one to overlook our big days, so tonight it's girls night out. I can't wait for a tasty dinner and hysterical convo! I decided to be fancy ;)

xo | dré 

striped blazer | H&M 

cropped top | Forever 21

tutu | DIY

heels | BCBG 

turquoise cuff | gift

skull bracelet | Vancouver flea market

cupcake charm bracelet | Alex and Ani ( bday gift from din! )

rings | gifts

polish | OPI Don't Touch My Tutu ( fitting, no? )

Check out my beauty essentials for the night! 

Pureology Color Fanatic ~ to protect and tame my hair during heat styling.

Bead Head Totally Baked ~ to give my hair a little bit of texture and body.

Sebastian Shaper ~ to keep all my strands in place.

Tan Towels ~ to give my skin a golden glow! Hey, I realize that I just got back from the Caribbean, but it's always nice to amp it up a little bit! ( thx din! )

Pink Sugar ~ because my sweet tooth goes beyond my appetite ;)

Hair Rx

Want bangs, but don't have the guts to cut them, or the patience to grow them back out? Dr. dré has got you covered! Watch the step by step tutorial below, and find out how you can give yourself faux bangs, for those days where you just need a change!

xo | dré 

DIY Facial Scrub

I have discovered a DIY facial scrub that will leave your skin feeling like a baby's butt! It claims to be a blackhead removing scrub. Although I don't have a blackhead problem, my pores definitely get clogged at times.  After one try, I was hooked! 

What you'll need:

1/2 Tbs | honey

1/2 tsp. | baking soda

1/2 tsp. | salt

Mix all three ingredients together in a small bowl. Apply to clean damp skin. Massage in a circular motion to exfoliate skin and then let it sit on your face as a mask for 5 min. When the time is up, dampen your hands with warm water, and lightly massage again as you rinse it off. Pat skin dry, and apply organic extra virgin coconut oil as a moisturizer. 

Voilà! You're on your way to silky smooth skin!

xo | dré

My Vignette

I've had a stir in me lately, to let my creativity and art flow. I wanted to capture a vintage feeling in the photos I took. Notice, the headpiece that is worn in some of the photos, is the same one that I made for the Black Swan photo shoot I did. Please enjoy my 1920's inspired shoot!

xo | dré 

model | Sharon Gause

hair, makeup, styling, and photos | dré 

beige dress | vintage 

necklace | Lia Sophia

black top with tulle | Forever 21

headpiece | dré  

Hot Or Hot Mess??

Christmas is just around the corner, and I can hardly wait! In addition to the spirit of giving, and the miracle of the season, I adore a good holiday party!  Not only do I have a company Christmas party and a Nutcracker performance to attend ( my baby girls are staring in btw! ), but din is arriving in just over a week! All of this means I need to be fab! 

I, however, have 2 problems.

1. I have had zero success finding anything I like in the stores.

2. I have a limited budget.

Cross your fingers for me! I don't know how to sew, but I'm giving it a go! Stay posted for pics of me (hopefully) looking hot for whatever party comes my way! 

XOXO dré 

Hair Rx

The braid I rocked in my post yesterday caused quite a stir! I had numerous people stopping me to tell me, "I love your braid!", and "How did you do that?!". Rest assured! I got your back! Click the link below for my step by step demo of how you can recreate the look at home, and see the image below for the finished look.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnaqPtnA8ao&feature=youtu.be

XOXO dré 

U-Pick

I. Love. Peaches. It's true! So, when I found out last October that there was a U-Pick for peaches in my area, I've literally been waiting since then ( rather impatiently ), for peach picking season to come around again!

Of course I wanted to be gussied up for the occasion, because is there any reason not to be?! I even brought some boots along so I could get down and dirty ; )

Top | Victoria's Secret 

Skirt | Victoria's Secret

Heels | MIA

Boots | Nine West

Necklace | Lia Sophia

Cuff | DIY here

XOXO dré

My First Crush

When I think of a man who has knocked fatherhood out of the park, I don't have to look far for the answer.

A man of God, he is courageous.

Both a leader and a friend, he is present.

A guiding hand and a soft heart, he is nourishing.

Selfless and humble, he is a protector.

Forever grateful to always be his "baby."

Although I wear this sweatshirt less for warmth and more for mixing up my fashion looks, it never ceases to remind me of how grateful I am for a father who has been selfless with not only me, but to countless others as he served for this country.

My father was my first crush. I remember one evening distinctly telling my mom that he was my boyfriend. She of course countered that "no, he's my boyfriend." We went back and forth for awhile, and eventually she won that conversation. Looking back, I don't blame my younger self-- my dad's a looker, y'all! He's a catch in general-- looks, book and street smarts, strong faith, exceptional steward (of everything!), grill king, and a DIYer.

He is the one who taught me how to ride a bike, and later how to drive (on a manual vehicle because "if you can drive a manual, you can drive anything."). He taught me how to shoot and dribble the basketball using both hands which gave me an edge as a point guard. He also is the one that chased me around with the spider I asked him to catch, but I still love him.

I love you, Dad, for being present in our lives and standing for your family when life strapped us on a roller-coaster ride we didn't ask to take a part of. For showing me what an exceptional man looks like day after day. I am extremely proud of you and continuously in awe and inspired by who you have been throughout your life regardless of circumstance.

Happy Father's Day. I am immensely grateful for...everything.














My very first date I ever went on was to see Peter Pan on the big screen. I was 5, and my date was my dad. My dad was always Mr. Fun, and when my mom wasn't around, we had party time! But of all the things I have to cherish that my dad gave to me, I have to share the top 8 qualities that have enabled me to be the best fashionista I can be.

1. I loved having my nails polished when I was little. Not only would my dad polish them for me, but he bought me my first bottle of purple nail polish ( which was so much more exciting than pink! ). The rest is history!

2. My dad ALWAYS smells good! And not just from cologne! He's not a sweaty man and I inherited that "no sweat" gene! It's always a bonus to smell fab when you look fab right?!

3. My dad has this amazing tan complexion! So with exception of the winter months, I get to have a healthy glow.

4. Happy is an understatement of my dad's personality. Like him, I tend to be pretty cheery, and laugh my way through life. They say a smile is your best accessory!

5. Women around the world would die for my dad's hair, and although I didn't get his exact mane, I have him to credit for the natural beach waves I got!

6. I got my long legs from my dad, and even though he's not a fan, they serve me well in my short skirts;)

7. My dad used to work in the shoe department at the Bon Marché back in the day, and he was always so proud of his taste in shoes! Ha! I guess that's where my shoe craze came from!

8. My dad is really creative! He is the king of DIY! From gardening to cooking to fixing a car, he's the guy for the job! I'm not much of a mechanic or a green thumb, BUT I LOVE art and it's what makes me function!

I love you, Dad! Happy Father's Day!

xoxo drédin

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

I know that you're dying to know how I got this fabulous newsprint on my nails! Well I have great news! This is a DIY project that is SO easy!

1. Polish your nails with a light color of nail polish. ( I used OPI's Don't Touch My Tutu )

2. Allow the polish to dry completely.

3. Clip up pieces of newspaper, large enough to cover your entire nail.

4. Place one piece of newspaper per nail and then using a cotton ball saturated with rubbing alcohol, place it on top of the newspaper, making sure the alcohol completely seeps through. Once it's completely wet, peel the paper off.

5. Finish your manicure off with a top coat to seal everything in and give it a beautiful shine!

*Tip* if the newsprint transfers onto your skin, which it most likely will....once you have finished, take a Qtip, wet it with some water, and then carefully rub around your nail. It comes right off!

WARNING!! This manicure is sure to draw attention! Do not proceed unless your goal is to turn heads!


XOXO Dré