Thursday, March 31, 2016

Olive & June

I'm going to have a more in depth post about my (almost!) 24 hours with Sammy last week, but I was dying to share all my pictures from Olive and June first. See that post (with a major photo overload) early next week! 

For the two years I've visited Sammy, I've loved having her surprise me with a sort of itinerary for our time together. She comes up with the most fun things to do and places to go (she is the LA expert after all) and is seriously the best adventure buddy. One place I've been really wanting to go to but totally forgot about is Olive and June - the cutest nail salon with locations in LA, Pasadena and Santa Monica. We went to the Pasadena one and I can't even tell you how much I loved it! The exterior and surrounding area is so stunning (next door to a Lemonade and Soul Cycle... what more could a girl ever want). As you enter the most charming entry way, you are greeted by friendly ladies and hundreds of pretty hues of polish. As you can see from the pictures, the whole interior is absolutely adorable with the most perfect pink, orange and floral touches everywhere. If I could decorate my future home just like the nail salon, I definitely would! Sammy and I decided to get matching half moon manicures in white and pink and I think I can speak on behalf of both of us when I say they turned out too darling. Our manicurists were so sweet, and overall the whole experience was incredible. 


Have you ever been to Olive and June?
I highly recommend going if you're ever in town!
xoxo

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

4 Healthy + Easy Dinners to Try

Do you ever get in a funk where you are just tired of trying to come up with something for dinner? Lately, my mom and I agree that we feel like we eat the same thing all the time and are in need of some new recipes to spice things up. I scoured Pinterest (follow my food board here!) and found 5 yummy, healthy and easy recipes that are perfect for dinners, especially during the school week. I've been really into cooking lately so I have been trying a bunch of these out and I must say, they are both fun to make and super delicious! They also don't take a lot of time to prepare because let's be real, spending an hour or more making dinner every night is not very realistic!


Spinach + Parmesan Pasta
This pasta looks absolutely amazing and only calls for 5 ingredients, aka the perfect school night recipe. A lot of the ingredients are things you most likely have on hand as well, so you might not even have to run to the grocery store and buy anything extra. If you use whole wheat pasta, it's even better for you! 

Grilled chicken is one of the basic foods I eat a lot, but change it up a bit by making kabobs, rice and a cucumber salad to go with it! This recipe has tzatiziki as well and while I'm not a huge fan of it you could easily make this dinner without and still have tons of flavor. 

Another great chicken dish, this recipe looks so flavorful and nutritious with the variety of veggies. If you're looking to mix up your usual chicken for dinner, this one looks amazing! 


I made cauliflower fried rice a while ago and surprisingly loved it. This recipe looks a bit more like a Chinese food dupe than mine was and I'm dying to try it! It literally takes 15 minutes to make and is so much healthier than picking up a box of actual fried rice from a Chinese restaurant. 

Which one looks most delicious to you? 
I'm in the mood to change up my usual chicken and try one of these now! 
xoxo

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Outfit: Tassels at the Pink Wall



No trip to Los Angeles is complete without a quick stop at the infamous pink wall, aka the Paul Smith store on Melrose. Sammy and I always have a blast shooting pictures in front of the gorgeous hue of pink, and even enjoyed a little people watching too. It seems to have become a pretty popular photo shoot destination - we saw everything from girls in Free People to some sort of trendy shoot to even a male model! 

Now, onto my outfit! I've been waiting forever to finally break out these awesome lace up sandals and love them even more than I thought I would. They're definitely different than something I would normally go for, but I really like wearing something a little out of my comfort zone. Another thing I'm clearly loving is this whole tassel trend that is everywhere at the moment. From my crossbody to my tee to my little pink bracelet, I can't get enough of this fun element! Tassels add the perfect texture to any look whether they're in a bold color or a more neutral shade like in my outfit. 

Are you loving tassels as much as I am right now?
Check out Sammy's post for all of her outfit details!
xoxo

Monday, March 28, 2016

What's In My Carry On Bag

One of my favorite categories of posts to write is organization because a) I am such an organizational freak so it comes really naturally to me and b) these type of posts are super fun to shoot. When it comes to traveling, I'm really picky about what and how I pack, and one aspect in particular is my carry on bag. The worst thing in the world is lugging around a heavy, uncomfortable bag through the airport (especially painful when you have a layover and are running to catch your plane), so I always make sure to keep it as light as possible. I pack all of the essentials that I would need for the flight, but at the same time, make sure it is light enough to the point where it isn't uncomfortable to carry. See what I bring in my carry on bag below!


+ Laptop
I don't need my laptop for all trips, but if I'm going for more than a few days and need to get some work done, it's a must. On the plane, I'll often put together product collages (because they don't require wifi #blessed) or clear up some storage by deleting old photos.

+ Reading Material 
I try to stick to only one thing to read, usually a new book or magazine. This adds a lot of bulk to my bag so I always get a paperback book if possible. I rarely have time to read, so starting a new book on the flight is perfect!

+ Cosmetic Bag
I always bring my favorite "I'm Only Pretending to Be Organized" pouch with me that holds all the essentials from lip balm to mascara to lotion to spare hair ties. This is probably the most important part of my carry on and takes up the least amount of room.

+ Electronics Pouch
Aside from my electronics, I bring along a zippered pouch to store chargers for my laptop and phone. This also holds my portable charger and ear buds. It's convenient to have it all in one spot so I can easily access it!

+ Wallet
For obvious reasons, I always have to have my wallet with my drivers license and debit card in the front so I can grab them quickly.

+ Sunglasses
9 times out of 10 the place I'm going to is much sunnier than Wisconsin, so I always make sure to bring my sunglasses in my carry on tote. I had a bad experience getting my favorite pair of sunnies smashed in my checked suitcase, so needless to say, they now come with me on the plane!


That's really it! I never check my big DSLR camera so in addition to my carry on tote I bring along my small camera bag, which can be kind of a hassle but I like knowing it's safe. Below are a few totes I would recommend to use as carry ons - size and durability are the two most important things I look at. I use the Longchamp Large Le Pilage tote and highly recommend it!





What do you pack in your carry on bag?
xoxo

Friday, March 25, 2016

Friday Fours

I'm going to keep today's post short and sweet to ensure I soak up every minute in the LA sun, but as per usual here are a few snaps from my week! Please tell me I don't have to really leave tomorrow :( 

::one::
The weather in California is so incredible that I can't really believe it's real. There is no humidity so it's always beautifully warm, sunny and comfortable to be outside. How gorgeous are these palm trees?!

::two::
No trip to LA is complete without a stop at the pink wall (aka the Paul Smith store on Melrose). I may or may not have bought this orange juice to snap a photo in front :)

 ::three::
This is just one of the many adventures during my day with Sammy, but don't worry because I will have an entire post showing everything we did together! Having a blogger bestie (who lives in my version of heaven, nonetheless) is too fun and I'm so grateful for having been able to spend almost 24 hours with her!

 ::four::
The most AMAZING sandals. Seriously. I bought these on a whim thinking they were kind of fun, but I've completely fallen in love with them and 10/10 would recommend. Did I mention they're under $40?? Almost too good to be true. Buy them here before they sell out again!

Be sure to follow along on Instagram (@citrusandstyle) and add me on Snapchat (citrusandstyle) to see my adventures as I head to Florida next! 
Have a great weekend!
xoxo

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Spring Bucket List

one / two / three 


Since the first day of Spring was last Monday (and also my brother's sweet sixteen!), I'm in a total Spring mindset and am so ready to transition into my favorite time of year. There's something about this fresh time of year that makes you want to clean out your home and adapt to some new healthy habits, and I for one am a huge enthusiast of this idea. Since I absolutely love bucket lists or to do lists in general, I created a Spring Bucket List of a few happy little things I want to accomplish during this time of year. I'm feeling so productive and am determined to make this a memorable time of year before summer and I head off to college! 

Do you love the Spring time as well?
What's on your bucket list?
xoxo

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

10 Things to Do Before Bed (Instead of Netflix!)

During the school week, I've gotten in a really bad habit of starting my homework way too late at night and then not getting to bed until 12 or 12:30. I'm someone who needs a lot of sleep in order to function, and this bad habit of mine is really starting to drag me down! After Spring Break, I'm really going to work on getting my work done earlier in the night so that I have more time to relax before bed. However, that also leads me to the problem of Netflix (aka the infamous time sucker). Rather than binging on New Girl into the wee hours of the morning, I've come up with 10 things to do before bed to ensure that you will actually get to bed at a reasonable time. These things don't involve any electronics, so your body won't be distracted by the blue light. Basically, they're productive, fun and will tire you out so you have an easier time falling asleep!



+ Color in an Adult Coloring Book
I have been dying to get my hands on an adult coloring book ever since they became popular - they look like such a fun way to get a little creative and zone out. I really want to buy this garden one or this pattern one.

+ Pick Up a Good Book
To unwind, there's nothing better than curling up with a book you love. I received the new Kate Hudson book for my birthday and it's my favorite thing to page through before I fall asleep. For my trip, I picked up Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld and am loving it so far!

+ Do a Yoga Sequence
Stretching out your body before you fall asleep is really important. This sequence of poses is perfect to do before you hop into bed.

+ Make a To-Do List for the Next Day
I always feel 100x better when I go to bed knowing that I have a list of things I need to accomplish the next day. The worst feeling is having a lot of things on your mind that you're scared you'll forget to do, so write it all down and you'll fall asleep much more easily.

+ Set Out Your Outfit for the Next Day
A great time saver for the morning, setting out your outfit for the next day will relieve you of the stress of deciding what to wear in advance. I rarely go to bed without choosing my outfit now - it makes a much bigger difference than you think!

+ Write in a Journal
Whether you write down all your thoughts, goals or ideas, journaling a bit is a really therapeutic way to clear your head. I've been making monthly lists of my goals and set them next to my bed to look over and add to the list when I think of it.

+ Take a Warm Bubble Bath or Shower
One of my personal favorites, taking a bubble bath or shower right before bed is so amazing, especially if you get really cold at night like I do. Add your favorite scented bubble bath, light a few candles and relax for a few minutes to calm you down for the night.

+ Organize Something
If you're someone who likes to clean at night (like me), pick a part of your room and organize it before you go to sleep. I can never go to bed without picking up any clothes on my floor, and have gotten in the habit of cleaning off my desk before bed as well. This way, you go to bed feeling really accomplished and ready to take on the next day.

+ Play Sudoku
A fun game that is available in books or on your phone, Sudoku always tires out my brain but is still fun to play. It gets you thinking but is also sort of a peaceful way to end your night.

+ Prep Your Breakfast for Tomorrow
Before you fall asleep, plan out what you're going to eat for breakfast the next morning. You could prepare all of your contents for a smoothie, set out a granola bar or take out your favorite box of cereal to make your morning go more smoothly.

Please tell me I'm not the only one trying to steer away from Netflix before bed!
xoxo

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Shifting Into Spring: Scarf Collab


gray sweatshirt dress (similar) / jean jacket / tassel crossbody bag / booties (similar) / floral scarf (similar) / earrings

Fran and I went to our friend's birthday brunch on Sunday, and both showed up in dresses and bright, vibrant scarves (can't say I'm surprised really :). As you can see from my past 2 outfits I've posted, I've really been feeling scarves lately. If you want a bold addition to an otherwise neutral outfit, they're the perfect way to add a bit of color and interest! In this awkward time where it's spring but also too cold to bring out shorts and more summery colors, throwing a pretty scarf on is my favorite way to "spring up" a look. I've acquired quite the plethora of different scarves from Lilly Pulitzer ones to infinity ones to tasseled ones... you can really never have too many! Plus, they make a great blanket on a plane if you're traveling any time soon. 

Below I've rounded up a few I'm loving at the moment. 



Be sure to check out Fran's post showing her outfit as well! 
Do you love wearing scarves in spring too? They feel just right during this time of year!
xoxo

Monday, March 21, 2016

Draper James

I had heard about a line called Draper James that Reese Witherspoon launched a while ago, but didn't look it up until recently. Oh-my-goodness. It is so darn cute that I can't even express in words how much it makes me wish I lived in the South! It sort of resembles a more southern Tory Burch or Kate Spade! From the bright sky blue and white accents to the fun fonts and witty sayings, the site design is absolute perfection. It really compliments the crisp photography and adorable products so perfectly. The origins of the company are Reese's grandparents who constantly inspire her to live a life of hospitality, good style and grace, which definitely shines through. (You can read more about the history here.)


And because I can't get enough of the pretty products, I rounded up a bunch of my favorites so you become as obsessed as I am :)



Which pieces are your favorites? 
Please tell me I'm not the only one who wants to move to the South ASAP!
xoxo

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