Off The Shoulder Beach Dress

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DETAILS: BLUE OFF-THE-SHOULDER DRESS (SIMILAR HERE UNDER $50 – LOVE THIS ONE UNDER| LACE-UP SANDALS (SIMILAR UNDER $100 HERE) | AVIATORS | WHITE WATCH | LOUIS VUITTON CROSSBODY

Happy Friday guys! Who else is excited for the weekend?!? This was one of my favorite dresses from our trip to Hawaii – it’s such a cute beach dress! You can wear it as a swimsuit cover-up roaming the beach or dress it up with heeled sandals to wear it to dinner. This dress is a great similar style under $50 and below are a few more fun off-the-shoulder dresses!

Have a great weekend!

XX, Christine

xo, Christine

5 Casual Valentine’s Looks

be me ily couture

DETAILS: BE MINE TEE (15% OFF WITH CODE: SURPRISE) | WHITE FRINGE DENIM (UNDER $100 – 15% OFF WITH CODE: SURPRISE) | NUDE ILLUSION HEELS | NUDE CROSSBODY  (SIMILAR HERE) | AVIATORS (15% OFF WITH CODE: SURPRISE) | WHITE STRAP WATCH (15% OFF WITH CODE: SURPRISE)

valentine's day style

DETAILS: BE MINE TEE (15% OFF WITH CODE: SURPRISE) | WHITE FRINGE DENIM (UNDER $100-(15% OFF WITH CODE: SURPRISE) | WHITE STRAP WATCH | WHITE SNEAKERS

I love the white and red color combo this time of year – it’s so feminine and fresh. Also obsessed with these fringe jeans (under $100)!

casual valentine's look

embroidered valentine's day tee ily couture

embroidered gucci sneakers

DETAILS: EMBROIDERED KISS TEE (15% OFF WITH CODE: SURPRISE) | DISTRESSED DENIM (UNDER $100 – 15% OFF WITH CODE: SURPRISE) | EMBROIDERED SNEAKERS (SIMILAR HERE) | AVIATORS (15% OFF WITH CODE: SURPRISE) | WHITE STRAP WATCH (15% OFF WITH CODE: SURPRISE)

One of our embroidered pieces from the ILY Valentine’s collection! This fitted tee is perfect for a polished Valentine’s look or with embroidered sneakers for a twist on a basic, casual look.

heart on sleeve sweatshirt

Obsessed with the sleeve detail (SWEATSHIRT UNDER $100)

valentine's sweatshirts

DETAILS: HEART ON SLEEVE SWEATSHIRT (15% OFF WITH CODE: SURPRISE) | BE MINE TEE (15% OFF WITH CODE: SURPRISE) | JE T’ADORE EMBROIDERED SWEATSHIRT (15% OFF WITH CODE: SURPRISE) | BLACK SNEAKERS | SUNGLASSES (15% OFF WITH CODE: SURPRISE)

Every sweatshirt collection needs some graphics! This heart-on-sleeve sweatshirt has always been one of my favorites – it’s such a subtle detail that goes a long way.

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neutral layers hello fashion

DETAILS: WHITE WRAP JACKET (UNDER $100 -15% OFF WITH CODE: SURPRISE) | DISTRESSED DENIM (UNDER $100 – 15% OFF WITH CODE: SURPRISE) | GREY OVER-THE-KNEE BOOTS | SILVER AVIATORS (15% OFF WITH CODE: SURPRISE)

Waterfall pieces have been one of my favorite layers forever. They add so much dimension and texture to your look. I love the zip detail look on this one (under $100).

embroidered sweatshirt

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DETAILS: EMBROIDERED SWEATSHIRT (15% OFF WITH CODE: SURPRISE) | DISTRESSED DENIM (UNDER $100 – 15% OFF WITH CODE: SURPRISE)

Starting to think all sweatshirts should be embroidered! Especially love the sleeve detail.

Hey guys! We are offering 15% off site-wide at ILY today through Thursday with code: SURPRISE. It even includes our new arrivals, like this dress you saw yesterday and a few other new pink additions – I’m obsessed with this lace long-sleeve top and this one is the perfect shade of blush that would be perfect to transition from the office to date night. I also love the patch detailing on this denim jacket.

Our Valentine’s graphic collection is flying fast so I wanted to share a few more of my favorites while they are still in stock. I’ve been in love with all the embroidered pieces we’ve been introducing like this grey “Je t’adore” sweatshirt and this “kiss kiss” tee. You can shop more of my sale favorites below.


XX, Christine

 

xo, Christine

Blush Off The Shoulder Dress Under $100

blush beach dress

hello fashion hawaii

what to wear in hawaii

hawaii style

off the shoulder blush dress ily couture

blush off the shoulder

DETAILS: BLUSH OFF-THE-SHOULDER DRESS (SIMILAR HERE UNDER $30!) | NUDE MULES (SIMILAR HERE – ALSO LOVE THIS PAIR) | STRAW TOTE | TORTOISE SUNGLASSES | WHITE STRAP WATCH (UNDE $50)

Happy Monday guys! We just got back from Hawaii and are playing catch up right now so today is just a quick post. I know a lot of you guys have been asking about this dress (UNDER $100) from my Instagram – I wore it to dinner and a couple other days while we were in Hawaii and it’s seriously so cute. I love it because it can work as a casual beach cover-up or you can wear it with cute mules or heels for a night out for dinner. It has a tie that can either wrap around the front with a bow or tied in the back for a little back detail.

pinkdress

I’m currently working on a big Hawaii travel diary and travel guide so that will be on the blog this week! Sorry this is such a quick post but I hope you guys have a great weekend and look forward to sharing more this week!

XX, Christine

xo, Christine

My Secret to Looking Like I Got Ready Without Makeup

the no-makeup trick for looking like you got ready

the trick to looking like you got ready without makeup

heart sweatshirt ily couture

christine andrew winter

ily couture heart sweatshirt

cozy street style

heart sweatshirt

valentine's apparel

DETAILS: HEART SWEATSHIRT (WEARING SIZE LARGE) | GREY JOGGERS (WEARING SIZE SMALL) | SNEAKERS | SUNGLASSES | GREY TOTE (SIMILAR HERE) | WHITE WATCH

Happy weekend guys! The other day some sweet girl commented on one of my pics asking how I stay put together all the time. Can I tell you I 100% am not!! And honestly I don’t want it to come across that way. That’s not real life and I never want our lives to come across as super put together or perfect because NO ONE is. Probably about 50% of the time, especially in the winter I don’t get ready. I love sporty comfortable style. And want to know the biggest secret, a lot of times I wear sunglasses because I’m not wearing makeup 🙂 It’s my easy trick for not getting ready! I feel like the eyes are the big giveaway if you got ready for the day or not. So now you know my dirty little secret!

Valentine’s day is coming up! I’ve been living in this cozy heart sweatshirt (wearing size large for oversized fit) from my clothing line ILY. If you missed it, you can also see a few more of our Valentine’s collection here – including matching pieces for kiddos! We also just got these frayed jeans (under $100) in and they are so so cute!! I have been obsessed with this style and was so excited to find them in white – the fringe is the best detail to mix up textures with your winter whites this season.

Below are few more great cozy sweatshirts for the season!


XX, Christine
xo, Christine

5 Healthy Swaps For Your Favorite Treats

Happy Sunday from Hawaii guys! We are having such a great time in Hawaii with the family, I am going to have a really hard time leaving the beach to come back to cold Utah! Hawaii is one of my favorite destinations and such a family friendly place for traveling! 🙂 Focusing on time with family and enjoying the journey was one of my resolutions this year so I’m really focusing on disconnecting while we are here (although I’m still snapping so follow along at @hellofashblog!)  Speaking of resolutions, I think we are all trying to eat a little healthier this year, so I have been digging up all kinds of healthy alternatives to my favorite treats on pinterest! Below are five that I cant wait to try:

carrot-pistachio-pomegranite-loaf-juniper-cakery-1

recipe via pinterest

CARROTT, PISTACHIO, AND POMEGRANATE LOAF RECIPE

| Makes: 8 Servings |

Ingredients:

  • 7/8 cup of self-raising flour
  • 7/8 cup of  golden caster sugar
  • 5/8 cup of  butter or margarine
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon baking powder
  • 3 large eggs
  • 6 tablespoons milk (you can use normal, semi or fully skimmed milk)
  • 1/2 cup of grated carrot
  • 1/3 cup of roughly chopped pistachios (plus extra to decorate)
  • 1 pomegranate
  • sieved icing sugar

See directions with photos .

junipercakery.co

recipe via pinterest

BLUEBERRY AND COCONUT POPSICLES

| Makes: 8 Servings |

Ingredients:

  •  1½ cups coconut milk
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup or agave nectar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Instructionss:

  1. Mix the coconut milk, maple syrup and vanilla in a blender until smooth.
  2. Add the blueberries and pulse until they’ve’ been “smashed” but not completely blended.
  3. Pour the mixture into popsicle molds and freeze for at least 5 hours or overnight.

wallflowerkitchen.com

sweetfries

recipe via pinterest

EXTRA CRISPY BAKED SWEET POTATO FRIES

| Makes: 3 Servings |

Ingredients:

  • 3 whole Sweet Potatoes, Peeled And Cut Into 1/4-inch wide Thin Sticks
  • 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup ghee (or olive oil)
  • 1 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon Seasoned Salt (or Plain Salt)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Chili Powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper

See full instructions here.

layersofhappiness.com

Sweet-Potato-Pizza-Crust-5-600x900

recipe via pinterest

SWEET POTATO PIZZA

| Makes: 2 Servings |

Ingredients:

  • 1 medium size sweet potato, peeled
  • cup rolled oats
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • a pinch of garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Detailed instructions here.

pinchofyum.com

Double-Chocolate-Banana-Cake-3

recipe via pinterest

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BANANA CAKE

| Makes: 9 Servings |

Ingredients:

  • 3 medium ripe bananas (about 1 cup)
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup applesauce
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup flour
  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 Tbsp mini chocolate chips for topping – optional

Instructions:

  1. In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix the bananas and brown sugar until the bananas are mashed and the sugar is dissolved.
  2. Add the applesauce, vanilla, and egg. Mix together.
  3. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until incorporated.
  4. Fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips. Pour batter into a greased 8×8-inch baking dish. Sprinkle the top with mini chocolate chips.
  5. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 35 minutes. Check the center with a toothpick to determine doneness. Best eaten warm.

dessertnowdinnerlater.com

PIN NOW – SAVE FOR LATER:

5healthyswaps

XX, Christine

xo, Christine

3 Destinations On My Bucket List and 3 to Add to Yours

leather luggage hello fashion

I love finding pretty luggage! I’ve kind of started collecting because I like different pieces for different occasions or destinations.  I’m the worst at condensing everything into a carry-on (although I’ve been making a little progress with Cody’s help lol) so especially when it comes to family trips we end up needing a lot of suitcases. We’ve also been traveling so much lately that a lot of the time I still have a partially unpacked suitcase on our bedroom floor while I’m packing for the next trip, so having a few luggage options has been a lifesaver, haha.

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joy mangano leather suitcase

The inside of the suitcase has drawer-like sections (like a dresser) which make it really convenient for packing, especially if it’s for the kids. I can use one section for each kid.

steve madden velvet sneakers

hello fashion travel style

hello fashion travel luggage

fashion blogger luggage

Seriously is there any better feeling than matching luggage? I’ve been looking for a cognac leather style for forever so when I found this one I had to get the matching weekender from Joy Mangano. A classic leather is such a pretty neutral and it’s timeless you can use it forever.

leather luggage

DETAILS: CREAM KNIT SWEATER (OBSESSED WITH THIS ONE UNDER $100 – WEARING SIZE SMALL) | PINK HENLEY  (ON SALE – UNDER $50 – WEARING SIZE LARGE) | DISTRESSED DENIM | VELVET SNEAKERS (UNDER $100)

LUGGAGE: LEATHER CHRISTIE SATCHEL FROM MACY’S | LEATHER CHRISTIE SUITCASE FROM MACY’S

Hey guys! One of my main goals from last year was to travel more and it’s something I want to focus on this year too. I moved around a lot as a kid and I really think it helped shape me as a person and drove my love for travel as an adult! Some of my favorite memories with my family were on trips and I hope our kids feel the same! I feel like there’s so much to learn from seeing new places and interacting with different people around the world. I know there’s still so much world to see and you could spend a lifetime seeing it all, but below are three destinations that are on my bucket list:

1.  Bora Bora – A little cliche. I feel like everyone has this on their list, but I really want to go anywhere with huts over the ocean! Maldives, Bora Bora, Fiji, it looks like the ultimate tropical paradise!

2. Iceland – I actually hate the cold, Cody and I are both big cold wimps, but I’m throwing that all out the window because everything about Iceland looks AMAZING. The warm lagoons, the Northern Lights, the ice glaciers! I’m really dying to go!

3. Italian Coast – I lived in Florence, Italy for 6 months during college, doing a study abroad, and I was so bummed I didn’t get down the Southern part of Italy and see the coast! I really want to take Cody and the kids back to where I lived and then go spend a week along the coast!

I also wanted to share 3 of my favorite places I’ve been that you guys should add to your bucket list! Ok so Paris is probably one of my favorite cities in the world, but I think that might be everyone’s so outside of that obvious one:

1.  Dubai – travel guide coming soon!! But Dubai was so much different than I anticipated. The architecture, attention to detail, the beaches, everything was so beautiful!

2.  Hawaii – this has become a family favorite for us, we are making it an annual tradition to go here. Everywhere we go nothing compares to Hawaii’s beaches and the it’s in the US, so it’s usually the quickest and least expensive to get to as well.

3. Mykonos – So when we did our big Europe trip last summer, Santorini, was at the top of my bucket list and I actually liked Mykonos a lot better! Don’t get me wrong, both were beautiful, but something about Mykonos I liked more. The town felt a little younger, and the main city area is so cute! They have beautiful beaches and really good pastries!

What are some of your suggestions for destinations I should add to my list?

Below are some more great luggage options for wherever your bucket list takes you.

XX, Christine

*In collaboration with Macy’s and ShopStyle.

xo, Christine

11 Daily Routines To Live A Happy Healthy Life

hello fashion life hacks

hello fashion at home

hello fashion life hacks for a happy life

So obsessed with this sweatshirt!!

life hacks from hello fashion

DETAILS:  BLACK ANKLE LEGGINGS (WEARING SIZE SMALL) | STAR SWEATSHIRT (UNDER $100 – WEARING SIZE SMALL) | ADIDAS SNEAKERS (JUST GOT THESE)

PRODUCTS: LA MER TINTED MOISTURIZER (SWEAR BY THIS! IT’S SO HYRDATING) | EYE RECOVERY MASK

I think it’s safe to say we all want to feel happy. At least I hope everyone does 🙂 I think one of the biggest things I’ve learned in life is that happiness is a choice. You can feel happy and healthy regardless of what’s going on in your life. It starts with little choices we make each day that help shape our attitude, and overall feeling of well being.

Here’s the quick hack to 11 Daily Routines to Live a Healthy, Happy Life:

Life Audit: This may seem so basic but it’s important! Think about the things in your life that bring you happiness, the people you hang out with that make you laugh, the things you do that bring you joy, etc and do more of that! Also think about the people who are negative, constantly complaining and hard to be around, or the things that bring you stress, and start cutting those out and replacing them with people and activities that bring you happiness.

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Read: You learn so much just from reading! I always get so inspired by the books. Even if it’s just a few minutes when you wake up in the morning or before you go to sleep, start or end your day with something positive.

Stay hydrated: Drinking water is soooo good for you – for your skin, your health, it even gives you more energy! You should be drinking at least half a gallon every day, which my sound like a lot but it’s surprising how much water you can drink throughout the day once you get in the habit of it. Keep your water bottle full and nearby during the day as a reminder to stay hydrated.

Make the trade: Everyone has different definitions of eating healthy, whether it’s cutting out sugar, carbs, or just getting rid of that one guilty indulgence you know it’s time to kick. Processed foods actually eat away your energy. It’s something I’m trying to be better at! Find a good substitute for the foods you are trying to cut out, and stock up on it so it’s easy and accessible when you are at home. I’m a huge fry junky so we have started slicing up sweet potatoes and cooking them with olive oil and seasoning to taste. It’s a healthy swap for french fries but also satisfies my craving.

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(swear by this tinted moisturizer it’s seriously so hydrating!)

Take a second for yourself: You don’t have to go all out when it comes to getting ready – a little bit goes a long way and less is always more. Even with just a tinted moisturizer (which is important to do anyway because you should always use a sunscreen) and a quick swipe of mascara, you can feel a million times better. Just started using this tinted moisturizer so obsessed!

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Get your greens:  Even if veggies aren’t your thing, you have to find a way to get them into your diet. I’m really excited to try these that I just ordered – they are all your servings in just one tablet and they have gotten amazing reviews. Can’t wait to try them!

Make to-do lists: Between the blog, ILY, family and everything else going on, I have things flying around my head about a million miles a minute most days and sometimes feel so scattered and disorganized unless I sit down and write it all out. To-do lists have become one of my best friends! There’s no better feeling than crossing everything off it as you go.

Get all eight: I am such a grump when I don’t get good sleep!! 8 hours of sleep is ideal, but let’s be honest, we can’t get our 8 hours of sleep every single night. These under-eye masks are a great fix for those tired eye bags and under-eye wrinkles for those sleepless nights, but make a point of going to bed early enough to get 8 hours if you can! It will always pay off.

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Smile: Even if you don’t feel like it, smile! It sounds cliche but it’s one of the best ways to turn around any attitude. If your having a bad day, think about 3 things your grateful for to try and change your attitude and bring a smile to your face.

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Spend more time with loved ones: Because isn’t that what life is all about?

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Get some fresh air: The best results of being active and getting some fresh are just as much mental and emotional as they are physical. No matter how busy your schedule is, anyone can find 5 or 10 minutes during their day to get outside and get some fresh air.

What else should I add to my list? Comment below with some of your favorite small changes that make a big difference!

XX,

Christine

*In collaboration with Neiman Marcus and ShopStyle.

 

xo, Christine

5 Things to Pack for Every Beach Vacation

5 things to pack for every beach vacation

DETAILS: 1. CROCHET LINEN MAXI DRESS | 2. SUNGLASSES | 3. COLORBLOCKED SWIMSUIT | 4. RUFFLED POM-POM TOP (UNDER $100) | 5. WHITE CROCHET BEACH BAG | 6. STRIPED OFF-THE-SHOULDER | 7. BLUSH RUFFLED SWIMSUIT | 8. BLUE ANKLE-WRAP SANDALS (UNDER $100) | 9. STRAW BEACH TOTE | 10. LACE-UP PRINT DRESS | 11. EMBROIDERED SUN HAT | 12. BLUSH PRINT ROMPER | 13. NUDE GLADIATOR SANDALS (UNDER $100) | 14. BLUE OFF-THE-SHOULDER DRESS

I always get that itch mid-January to get out of dodge and find a warm, sunny beach! I’ve found a lot of great pieces while shopping for our upcoming family trip (stay tuned on Snapchat @hellofashblog and Instagram @hellofashionblog to see where we end up!) and wanted to share some of my finds and must-haves with you guys! Below are 5 things to pack for every beach vacation.

1. A good read! I’ve talked a lot about my new book for the new year and I’ve gotten so many questions so I wanted to share! It’s called The Happiness Equation. There’s nothing better than having a good read while you are lounging at the beach – this has been such a good one so far! I definitely recommend it.

2. A new swimsuit: No matter how many swimsuits you might own, nothing puts a beach vacation over the top like a new swimsuit. There’s nothing better than feeling confident at the beach, and you can’t help but feel confident in a great swimsuit. I’m obsessed with this nude lace-up one and this ruffled bikini. I also just ordered a couple new ones that I’m so excited to share over the next week!

3. A beach bag: A good bag for the beach isn’t just a plus, it’s a must. There are so many beach necessities for a day on the sand that you can’t go without a bag and bringing your leather or suede bags it just asking for heartbreak haha. I love this crochet bag and this straw option!

4. A good sun hat: Ok you guys I have been crushing on these embroidered hats for yeaaaars! They are so stunning and 100% Instagram-worthy. Also love this option under $50.

5. A fresh mani/pedi: If there were ever a time for a fresh mani/pedi, it’s right before a trip to the beach. I’ve been obsessed with nude nail polishes recently – they are so sophisticated and match with everything so you don’t have to worry about your nails clashing with everything you packed. This set has so many perfect nude tones!

Below are a few more great beach pieces I’m obsessed with!

 

Also congrats to Hannah Shanae on winning the Louboutins giveaway! Send me an email so we can get you your prize! And thanks so much to everyone who entered!

XX, Christine

xo, Christine

Be Mine

mom and son valentine's

kid's valentine's apparel

Valentine Tee

Be Mine Tee ILY COUTURE

ily couture valentine's line

DETAILS: BE MINE TEE (WEARING SIZE SMALL) | DISTRESSED DENIM | RED BOOTS (OLD – SIMILAR HERE) | AVIATORS

BECKAM: BE MINE TEERED RAIN BOOTS

My little mini Valentine! I live in cozy tees and sweatshirts – I think that’s one reason I always get so excited for our seasonal pieces!  All our ILY Valentine graphics are up! We brought back some of our favorites from last year and some newbies like This Be Mine tee which comes in a matching tee for your minis.

valentine's apparel ily couture

kid's heartbreaker sweatshirt

DETAILS:  RED HEART SWEATSHIRT (WEARING SIZE LARGE) | DISTRESSED DENIM | RED BOOTS (OLD – SIMILAR HERE) | AVIATORS

BECKAM: HEARTBREAKER SWEATSHIRT | RED RAIN BOOTS

I got a lot of questions asking for details on this Heartbreaker sweatshirt that Beckam was wearing this weekend on my snapchat. You guys all got the sneak peak before it launched 🙂 But how cute does he look! I’m dying!

casual valentine's look

DETAILS: BE MINE TEE | DISTRESSED DENIM | WHITE NIKE SNEAKERS | RED HEART SWEATSHIRT | WHITE CROSSBODY TOTE |

We brought back a few of last year’s designs like this heart sweatshirt (also launched a kid’s coordinating design here that I’m so excited about!) This heart on sleeves sweatshirt is another one of my favorites and off course you can’t go wrong with this pizza sweatshirt (although I think we should celebrate our love of pizza all year long…) We are also introducing some new embroidered designs which are becoming fast favorites, like this je t’adore sweatshirt and this kiss kiss tee.

matching mom and son valentine's look

DETAILS: BE MINE TEE | DISTRESSED DENIM | ADIDAS SNEAKERS

KIDS:BE MINE TEESNEAKERS

Of course I designed some matching mommy and mini pieces! They are my favorite. It’s so funny that now that I’m a mom, I get even more excited about Beckam’s wardrobe options than mine. I love getting inspired and getting ideas for pieces and then getting to see it come to life. And what mom doesn’t love matching her little minis?

Below are more great red options to get ready for this Valentine’s day:

XX, Christine

xo, Christine

Hey 2017! 5 Goals For the New Year

hello fashion new years resolutions

couples activewear

marks and spencer activewear Obsessed with these colorblocked blue pants (UNDER $100)! I like that they are high-waisted!

men's workout style

Cody has a hard time finding sweatpants for the gym that aren’t too hot. He loved this pair from Marks & Spencer – they are fitted and still stretchy and lightweight.

couples who work out together

christine andrew workout style

Brrrr. It’s been dumping so much snow in Utah lately! I just got a bunch of new workout stuff (all under $60). Love this vest for a versatile athleisure layer.

couples goals

hello fashion gym style

christine and cody andrew

DETAILS: GREY AND BLACK VEST (UNDER $100 -WEARING SIZE 8 ) | BLACK SPORTS BRA (UNDER $50) | BLUE COLORBLOCKED LEGGINGS (UNDER $50  – WEARING SIZE 6 | ALSO GOT THESE) | MORE GREAT WORKOUT OPTIONS HERE

CODY: GREY HENLEY SWEATSHIRT (UNDER $50) | GREY JOGGER SWEATS (UNDER $100) | MORE GREAT WORKOUT OPTIONS HERE

It’s officially 2017! The new year came so fast! New Year’s always leaves me really really excited! A chance for a new start, new goals, and time to reflect on what I’m thankful for from the previous year and what I want to improve moving forward. 2016 was probably one of my most exciting years yet! Cody and I set BIG goals starting last year, personal goals, travel goals, goals to grow the blog and ILY and almost every goal we set we hit. We worked our asses off, but at the end of the year honestly I felt so emotionally exhausted. We were putting in long hours, many all nighters, and at the end of the day it felt like I didn’t get to enjoy the journey because I was pushing so hard to hit those goals.

Reflecting back on last year, I’ve realized that a lot of times when you feel like you are overwhelmed, so much of it is mental – it all starts with a mindset. I let myself get overwhelmed with that feeling of being “so busy” that I didn’t just sit down and enjoy moments. A lot of times even when I was home my mind was constantly running and I was never able to shut anything off. I realized that if you are working hard and not balancing the rest of your life, life just becomes work and there’s no point to working hard when you aren’t taking time to enjoy it.

With that said, below are a couple of my New Year’s goals for this year. We are taking a different approach to things and working more on improving the little day to day things that affect everything else we do.

  1. READ MORE. One of my big goals for this year is to read more. I’ve realized it’s easy for me to get distracted and overwhelmed mentally so I’ve been reading positive and inspiring books even just for 15 minutes a day to keep me on track. I just got a book that talks about being effective with your time and I’ve already taken so many parts to heart.
  2. RELAX. Last year even when I would be relaxing, taking a bath at night, I’d be in the tub with my phone responding to emails, getting posts ready, etc. The book I’ve been reading talks about deliberately setting aside that time to relax, otherwise you never get a chance to recharge. So I’ve literally been turning my phone to silent and putting it in another room so I don’t get distracted and actually relax. Not only does learning to relax help you recharge but allows you to be more present in the moment.
  3. BE PRESENT. I really debated sharing this, because it was probably one of my lowest “mom moments”, but I always strive to be honest with you guys, even in the hard times because life isn’t perfect. A few weeks ago I was on my phone finishing a deadline and B kept asking me to play tennis with him, I kept telling him to hold on I was almost done. After about 5 minutes of not being done, he started a major melt down crying, telling me to put my phone down, that I don’t pay attention to him. It was such a hard mom moment! It literally broke my heart. I threw my phone down and in tears gave him the biggest hug and just put everything else aside to be with him that afternoon. Sometime’s I forget how much they are really watching our every move. It is one of the hard parts of working from home, is that the kids see me working more but I realized this goes back to time blocking. Being effective with my time so when I am with them it’s quality time. I know I wasn’t present in many areas this last year, with my family, Cody, friends, etc. I don’t say that for you guys to build me up, I say that because I see it almost everywhere I go. We are all glued to our phones and it’s kind of sad in reality. I love what I do and am so grateful to be able to make a career out of something I’m passionate about, but no career is worth those bad mom moments so I’m making this year all about being more present.
  4. TIME BLOCKING. This was actually something we started last month we are bringing into this year. It is crazy how fast the day flies by and how easy it is to get distracted. We all get a million notifications on our phone from emails, social media, texts, calls, etc. I’ll be the first to admit I am easily distracted haha. So Cody and I both have started blocking out our days to effectively get things done. Certain times for certain projects.Whatever doesn’t get done, we have to wake up early the next day and finish. We have carried it over to our employees as well and it’s crazy how much more effective you are if you just set a timer to get something done.
  5. BEING ACTIVE. This is like a month to month thing for me, some months I’m really good at it and others I’m so bad. This book I’m reading cited all sorts of studies that show that even just 30 minutes of activity, 3 days a week positively affects almost every aspect of your life: health, happiness, love life – everything! It’s so easy to stay cuddled up inside, especially in the dead of winter, but with your New Year’s goals just getting started it’s the best time to start those habits and carve out at least 30 minutes 3 times a week to be active, whether it’s going to the gym, walking, or trying yoga or spin class.

Ok, sorry for the novel! I’ve spent so much time reflecting on last year and what I want for this year and it’s so helpful to put it into words – I swear writing it out makes it seem that much more attainable. What are some of your goals for the year?

XX, Christine

*In collaboration with Marks and Spencer and Shopping Links.

xo, Christine

The Varsity Look Under $100

varsity jacket ily

hello fashion winter layers

perfect varsity jacket
hello fashion winter style

DETAILS: RED BASEBALL TEE (UNDER $50) | DISTRESSED DENIM (UNDER $100) | GRAPHIC VARSITY JACKET (UNDER $100)| BLACK ANKLE BOOTS (OLD – SIMILAR HERE) | BLACK LEATHER BACKPACKAVIATORS | PLUSH KNIT BEANIE

I love the varsity trend we are seeing everywhere! The patches meets graphics vibe is the perfect casual and colorful touch to any look. It’s amazing how adding just a good jacket to your look and totally transform even the simplest outfit! We just added this one to ILY under $100 and I love how playful it is with the patches. It’s a great detailed piece that you can wear with anything.

We are are also just launched a MAJOR clearance sale! Extra 15% off (CODE: NEWYEAR) already marked down items, so basically up to 75% off! This cozy tassel scarf is one of my favorite pieces and comes in multiple colors. You can shop the full sale here.

XX, Christine

xo, Christine

Shopping Room Diaries: Neutrals Under $100

shopping room diaries

tips for layering hello fashion

Love this cropped tan sweater – Amazing budget find under $40!

long striped top

neutral winter layers

DETAILS: TAN PULLOVER SWEATER (UNDER $40 – WEARING SIZE XS) | NUDE BASEBALL CAP (ON SALE UNDER $10) | TAN STRIPED TOP TUNIC (UNDER $70 – WEARING SIZE XS) | DISTRESSED DENM | BLACK BOOTIES

Since having kids, I do the majority of my shopping online (by a landslide) so going in store and getting the full dressing room experience still has that little spark of magic haha. I found some amazing neutrals I wanted to share, all of which are under $100. This tan pullover sweater (UNDER $40)  is perfect for layering and I’m obsessed with this tan striped tunic (UNDER $75). I got both in a size xs because that is all they had left in store, I actually probably would have gone with a small for the tan sweater if they had more sizes in store. I also love this tan baseball cap (UNDER $10) – it’s such a pretty neutral that works with any color combo.

cozy winter style

nude sweatshirt hello fashion

DETAILS: NUDE SWEATSHIRT (UNDER $50 – WEARING SIZE SMALL – ALSO LOVE THIS VELVET ONE!)

There is this perfect mix of blush and nude that is everywhere right now and I can’t get enough of it! This sweatshirt (under $50) is one piece I’ve scooped up in the shade. It’s perfect for layering under denim or leather jackets and it’s soooo comfy!

hello fashion fall style

NUDE BASEBALL CAP (ON SALE UNDER $10) | GREY BACKLESS SWEATER (UNDER $75 – WEARING SIZE SMALL – ALSO BOUGHT PINK TOO) | DISTRESSED DENM | BLACK BOOTIES

With winter officially in full swing (and sooooo much snow!) there is no end in sight for sweater season. I just got this backless one in both grey and pink. The backless/off-the-shoulder detail make it feel unique which is a must to get me through  these next 4 months haha.

pink leather jacket

DETAILS: GREY BACKLESS SWEATER (ALSO BOUGHT IT IN PINK) | BLUSH FAUX LEATHER JACKET (UNDER $100)

How good is this pink jacket (UNDER $100)?! It comes in 4 different colors and a total steal under $100.

Below are some more great neutrals under $100:

Hope you guys are having a good week!

XX, Christine

xo, Christine