My Braces Story

 

     
      I had braces put on the day before Thanksgiving two years ago. It wasn't the best time of year to make that choice, but I did it anyway. I decided to go with clear braces on top and regular silver braces on the bottom, since they don't normally suggest clear braces on the bottom. 

     I also suggest to ask for the pearl bands if you don't want colored bands. The pearl bands don't stain as much as the clear ones. I drink a lot of coffee, so I also recommend whitening once your braces are off. Some whiten before the braces are put on, which I didn't do out of error. 

     I have less than two weeks left until my braces come off. It's like a late Christmas present. I'm not going to say it was easy or pain-free, but it was worth it because I paid for them myself. I wanted a straight smile because I didn't like the way my teeth looked in pictures. I have a great smile, and I want my teeth to shine. 

     If you have any questions about how I dealt with the pain or what I used to floss those hard to reach areas, please feel free to ask. Also, feel free to share any advice you might have. I waited a long time to get braces for personal reasons, and I did decide to get them because I had a tooth that crossed in front of the other teeth around it, and it could have caused issues as I age, but it was mostly for purely cosmetic reasons. I think everyone looks better with a straight and white smile. It's my turn to experience that.

     I want to thank Alexander Orthodontics in Gunnison and Montrose, Colorado, and in Dallas, Texas for all of their help in giving me my gorgeous new smile. They are some of the kindest people I have ever met, and highly recommend their services. You will not go wrong with them. 

     -xoxo-

           Stephanie

Errands Outfit and NYE

     Hey y'all! Happy New Year's Eve! 

     In the outfit above I am wearing the tall, camel colored Ugg boots with black leggings from Victoria's Secret. I am wearing a gray T-shirt and jean jacket from Forever 21. My leopard scarf is from Francesca's. Overall, this outfit is fairly inexpensive and super comfy.

     I am still feeling a bit under the weather, so I will likely take it easy all day today. I enjoy a mellow NYE to bring in the new year, anyway. So many wonderful things to plan and look forward to. I hope your futures are all pleasant and prosperous.

     -xoxo-

         Stephanie

Christmas Outfit and Events

      

     On Christmas morning, the boyfriend woke me early just like a little kid on Christmas. He turned on Christmas music nice and loud on Youtube. I baked blueberry muffins, and then we went to the boyfriend's mom's house to open presents. I really enjoyed the time we spent.

     After all of the presents were open, we separated for a bit, and I made the Pioneer Woman's recipe for balsamic and cranberry brussel sprouts, along with a Marie Callander's Razzle Berry Pie. I also wrapped the last of our presents, and chose the outfit above. We were a little late, but we didn't miss the blessing this time. 

     I chose to wear the houndstooth skirt I found a consignment store, along with a black, long sleeve top, tights and a belt for Christmas. I thought it would look nice with my new double pearl choker from Purple Peridot. I also wore sandals, because I am limited on black shoes right now. The leopard scarf was a gift from the boyfriend's mom. My purse is a vintage Chanel purse my boyfriend found thrifting. 

     We all ate ham and then played the white elephant game. This year Carter and I participated in the presents, since that is usually done by one person as her gift to the family. We wanted to give back and put some Dollar Tree treasures in the game. I love playing together as a family, and this year Carter stole some spa booties back for me, and I stole a Starbuck's giftcard for him (even though he spent it on coffee runs for me). 

     I was really excited for Christmas this year, and really enjoyed myself. My new phone is amazing, and I received many other special blessings. I was so worked up for Christmas this year that when it was all over, I felt exhausted. The next day I felt lethargic and ill, which went on throughout the weekend. I'm feeling slightly better, but I hope this will be the last time I have to plan around a semester of classes, if all goes as planned. I hope you all had a blessed time on Christmas. 

     -xoxo-

         Stephanie

NYE 2015 Outfits

     I came up with a few outfits using sleeveless dresses to wear on New Year's Eve. Both of these outfits were inspired with items I found at second hand stores. I love going around the city and searching for unique, vintage pieces. 

     The first outfit is an ivory, sleeveless dress with a black, faux fur jacket. I would wear black tights with this outfit. You could also add gold heels, or some other color, to make this outfit pop. 

     The second outfit is a color block, sleeveless dress with a cropped, hot pink, faux fur jacket. I would also add black tights with this outfit. I added black and silver sparkly heels with this outfit. 

     I don't have plans as of yet for NYE, but I look forward to a whole new year of adventure. I cannot wait to share my journey, and I hope you continue to join me. Hope these outfits inspire you!

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Chanel Purse & Jacket

     

   

 

     I received this vintage purple, Chanel-like jacket from my boyfriend's grandmother. She is so sweet to always think of me, and I'm lucky we are the same size. This jacket looks so cute in the middle of a dreary winter. 

     I wore a silky, flowy, ivory top from Forever 21 tucked into olive pants, also from Forever 21. My booties are from eBay, and are leopard print with a black heel. My Chanel purse is vintage, and the boyfriend found it while out thrifting. I'm so happy he let me keep it, since he was meant to sell it on eBay.

     I hope you loved this outfit, and were inspired by the color combination. It's another chilly day in Dallas, and I plan on catching up with blog posts. Stay tuned...

     -xoxo-

         Stephanie 

How to Patriotic Nails

     
     Last night I was watching Team America when I happened to create this design. I was trying to come up with a New Year's Eve nail design, but it came out more patriotic than anything. Then when I woke up this morning, I realized I was wearing these leggings from Victoria's Secret. So I guess there were subliminal messages or something. Lol! 

     I started this nail design with a coat of clear polish. Then I applied two coats of sparkly burgundy. The next coat is silver, and I made a shape similar to my nail only smaller. I did the same with the next coat, which is a navy blue. Finally, apply a quick dry top coat. All polishes are from Julep's monthly maven subscription boxes. 

     You can do this design with any combination. If you have any designs you would like to see, please let me know. Also, show me your NYE nail designs on Instagram to @dressdynamicdallas. 

     -xoxo-

         Stephanie

Laptop Crash & Update

     I apologize for the delay, folks. My computer started acting up a few days ago, and has not loaded anything since. I am trying to update from my phone, which is rather difficult. I should have a new laptop in a day or two. Please check into my Instagram in the meantime for updates.

Making My Own White Christmas

     I was randomly inspired yesterday to decorate my house with paper snowflakes, since we don't have any snow yet in Dallas. I'm not exactly complaining, but I like the clean, whiteness of snow. Last year I didn't do as much festive decorating, so this year I'm stepping it up. 

     My first inspiration was to make these 3-D paper snowflakes in the photo above. When I searched for a tutorial in Google, I wasn't very impressed with the first few tutorials, and really struggled with my first few attempts to make a snowflake. I finally found a tutorial on Youtube taught by these two cute little girls who made the craft as simple as I could ask for. I ended up being so pleased with the final result that I made three total snowflakes, and I added two more today. They take a little time, but I think they look so gorgeous. 

     When I made these snowflakes, I had to make a perfect square out of our white printer paper here at home. With the leftover pieces of paper, I created garland snowflakes. You can also make garland gingerbread men, girls, bears, or whatever your heart desires. I'm thinking of making icicles, also. I also made snowflakes the old-fashioned way, where you fold up a square of paper, and then cut little designs, so that when it unfolds, it reveals a magical snowflake. It's looking very festive around here. I hope everyone else is feeling the holiday cheer. 

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Tuesday's Outfit Idea

     I was planning on running around and finishing errands today, but since I tend to procrastinate, I will be spending my Christmas Eve buying last minute tidbits. As I'm sure I won't be the only one, I'm expecting a crazy day tomorrow. Not to mention, I go to church at 2 PM, and then head to a family dinner later in the evening. I'm looking forward to a busy day, since I'm usually at home or work most other days. Last night, and this evening, I have been making snowflakes and decorating around our presents, since we don't have any snow yet this year in Dallas. I'm making it our very own white Christmas. 

     Today I chose an outfit that started with a pair of black, skinny pants from Nordstrom's. My knee-high boots are from Forever 21. My blue cardigan is from Stein Mart. You can't see, but I wore a grey, v-neck, t-shirt under the cardigan from Forever 21. My co-worker gave me the scarf last Christmas. My belt came off of a skirt I bought from Body Central. I've been seeing this style with the scarf under the belt, and I love it. 

     My new phone arrived last night as expected. It is marvelous. I'm told it's called a, "fablet," in the world of critics. I love it! It's twice as large as my last phone, but everything about it is better. The camera is better. All of the images are larger, since I need to watch my poor vision. I have access to any of the latest things an Android phone can do. I'm very pleased with it. I already had to nerd out with it and play some Sims, and other fun games. 

     Anyway, happy Christmas Eve eve!

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Dot-Themed Christmas Tree Nails

     I finally tried my own manicure art again. It's been about two weeks, but that seems far too long, because I love trying new things. This design was inspired by some one of the dot-themed Christmas tree nails I saw on Instagram. I wish I could remember the person so I could credit them.

     The first thing I did was apply two coats of white satin finish nail polish from Julep. I applied a coat of fast dry, but it didn't dry as quickly as I hoped. Then I made little lime green dots of Julep nail polish with my dotter I purchased at Urban Outfitters online last Christmas. I then made dark green dots from another Julep nail polish. The red dots were last, and you might want to wait for the greens to dry for a few minutes, or else your red will smear with the green. The star is made with a gold color I used from a Forever 21 polish I bought earlier this year. The base of the tree is a dark brown or black color from Julep. It's hard to tell which color it is. Lastly, apply a coat of fast dry.

     These nails were so fun and easy to do. Making little dots is so easy, and if you make a mistake, it's hard to tell. Let me know what you think about this manicure, and if you have any manicure design suggestions for the future.

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Monday Outfit & New Phone

     Happy Monday before Christmas! Dallas is crazy today, and I spent a majority of it at the vet because my sweet Border Collie, Odessa, decided to chew apart a battery while I was in the shower. She's alright, but we had X-rays done on her, and they found a teensy piece of metal in her stomach. We are just supposed to bulk her up with some pumpkin and move it out. Everything else looked fine, and she seems more than pleased with the extra yummy in her dog bowl.

     Today I am wearing a burgundy/wine, pencil skirt from Nordstrom's. It's super comfy because it's a sweater type material, and it just slips right on and off. I love how classy it looks. My tights are from Forever 21. The booties are from Marshall's. I found them for $15. My blazer is also from Nordstrom's. I bought the blazer and the skirt together. It's very appropriate for the office. I'm also wearing a detailed black crop tank my boyfriend's Grammie gave me. It's so perfect with the skirt, I cannot wait to wear it this summer.

     My Christmas present came early this year. I really wanted a new phone, and since iPhones are so pricy, and I don't use a contract plan, I asked for something just as nice. So my boyfriend found a phone called the ZTE ZMAX. I have never heard of it, but apparently it is very popular this year. He reserved one online the other day, and they sold out before they called him to get it. He ran to five different Wal-Marts, and researched where else it might be, but ended up ordering it. We're setting it up now, and I'm excited to make my first phone call. Let's just say I won't be getting much sleep tonight. 

     I hope y'all had a splendid Monday, and you get just what you asked for this Christmas. 

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Leopard Skirt & Last Minute Xmas

     Just a few more days until Christmas. Do you have all of your shopping done yet? I don't. Amazon Prime has saved me this year because I have been able to purchase many things last minute without needing to go into any crowded stores. My Prime membership has more than paid off.

     My leopard-print skirt is from Body Central. The belt came with the skirt. My sister introduced me to the store, and I instantly fell in love with it. The black tights are from Forever 21. They have the best prices for stockings. My shoes are from H&M. I'm about to let them go because they are getting beat up. Boo! My top is also from Forever 21. It's a black, scoop-neck, long-sleeve top. My boyfriend's Grammie gave me the vest. It's a crocheted, flowy vest, and I do not know where she purchased it. 

     I have a few more gifts to buy, but I know exactly what I am getting. If you're struggling with last minute gift ideas, I recommend a cute monogram mug from Anthropologie; flash tattoos for the golden girl; dip clips for the foodie; a cool pillow for the sleepless; key and wallet finder; a breakfast tray; simple earphones; incense, and yummy, classic bubble bath. Of course, I could list ideas all day, but these are some of the things I am gifting this year. Feel free to share some of the items you are giving away this year. God bless!

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

      

Thursday Outfit & Xmas Shopping

     This morning I had an appointment at the orthodontist, and I found out I will get my braces off in four weeks. Thanksgiving was my two years mark, and the orthodontist had it right when he said it would be a late Christmas present, because that is how it feels. I'm so relieved it is almost over. I am going to miss talking to the assistants about my Jo Malone perfume. 

     It was another morning of rushing out the door, and I chose a brown/green pair of skinny pants from Forever 21. I love how unique the color is in different lighting. You can find these pants for around $13 at different times of the year. 

     I'm wearing Uggs with this outfit. I asked for these last Christmas, so they are pretty new. These are the tall boots, and I love rolling them up and down so the fur shows in different bits. I'm crossing my fingers for a pair of slippers in the future. 

     My top is a Woolrich men's, button-up flannel my boyfriend found while thrifting. I love how warm it is, and who doesn't love an over-sized, boyfriend shirt? This was a very slouchy outfit, and looked cute peeking out from under my light pink, double-breasted coat. 

     I worked on Christmas cards and shopping today. I have almost all of my shopping done. This is the last weekend before Christmas, so everyone hurry up! I was going to get my Christmas present early today, but the stores sold out at all five Wal-Marts. My boyfriend tried hard to get the present, but it worked out better because now it will be here on Christmas instead of early. I can't wait to share what I gave away and what I got for Christmas. Until tomorrow...

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Wednesday's Outfit

     

     So it's humpday. There are two weeks left in the year, and I am excited for what the next year has to offer. I don't always make resolutions, but I like to think of it as a new beginning. A new year of fresh things and ideas. 

     Today I tried something I have never done before. I saw an outfit on Pinterest that inspired me to put this together. Every time I use Pinterest for fashion, I get so inspired. 

     My top is a black, scoop-neck, crop top from Nordstroms. I bought it last summer to wear with a high-waisted, pencil skirt. I love how this crop top fits, but I don't think to wear it very often because I am shy to show my mid-region. I have on a white, long sleeve, button up shirt from Forever 21. It puffed out at the waist and sleeves, but I liked how it looked. I wish I would have ironed my shirt, but it always gets wrinkled from sitting in an office chair all day.

     I wore blue, pinstripe pants from Stein Mart. I wear these a lot because they fit great, and I like how they look for the office. I also bought a light blue pair, but they don't fit the same even though they are the same size and brand. 

     I wore these shoes last week, but I bought them from H&M last Christmas-time. This will only be the third or fourth time I've worn them. I lost them for awhile in my suitcase. Don't ask me how I missed them, but my suitcase has a lot of compartments. 

     Anyway, I enjoyed sharing today's outfit. When I wake up every morning, I look forward to what outfit I feel like wearing and sharing it with everyone. I've been wanting to do this for a very long time, so I hope my excitement and passion shows. 

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Tuesday's Outfit & Xmas Shopping

     Happy Tuesday y'all! 

     I chose another outfit I couldn't capture every detail of in one picture, so I added a few to this post today. My shoes are the center of attention, again, today. I bought these from Ruche, and wore them last week to the Christmas party. I haven't worn these shoes many times, but the first time I did, I was traveling on a flight from Gunnison, Colorado to Dallas, Texas on Christmas, and they had a beating. Now I try to think of them in outfits like this.

     My pants are gray, pleated, slouchy pants from Forever 21. I bought them online, and they are a bit long (I'm petite), but fit perfectly everywhere else. They have enough room that when it gets cold enough, I can wear another layer underneath.

     My cardigan is from a small retailer online. I cannot remember the name of the company, but my top was about $15. I love it because of the lace detail, and you can easily pair it with a skirt or shorts. I'm also a huge fan of mint, so I had to have this cardigan.

      I'm still working on my Christmas shopping. I would like to plan ahead better next year, and get more shopping done earlier, but sometimes I just love waiting for the sales around Christmas. I don't always have the extra money, but this year I did start a gift box where I gathered little presents throughout the year to hand out at birthdays or Christmas. A few gifts came in yesterday and today from Amazon, which amazed me with their super quick Prime shipping. I love it! It was so hard not giving my boyfriend his presents, but they are now wrapped and sitting under the tree where I will do my best not to think of them for the next week. In the meantime, I'm still looking for the best practical gifts I can. Until tomorrow...

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Monday's Outfit & Update

     I hope everyone had a wonderful Monday. I'm officially finished with school! It is such a relief to spend a Monday worrying about cleaning up after my house full of creatures, and focusing on my fashion. 

     I slept in a little later than I meant to this morning, so I threw on something quickly before heading into work. Today I went for comfort. My sweater was passed down from my mother. I'm not sure on the exact age of this sweater, but I know it is fairly old. It shouldn't be too difficult finding a chunky, cable-knit, turtleneck sweater in stores. It is so comfy, and worth the buy. Similar and slouchier here.

     I wore my Ruche oxford heels with this outfit. I also wore Forever 21 wide legs jeans. The whole outfit was a bit slouchy today, but I thought the oxfords and jewels added an elegant touch. I was warm and comfortable all day.

     This weekend I was busy with a critter problem, so I never made it in for my manicure. I plan on fixing my nails tonight or tomorrow, and then soon enough heading over to Pampered Soles for my manicure. Sometimes I have to make sacrifices for these animals, but I love them nonetheless. Until tomorrow...

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

     

Friday's Outfit

     I had a pretty hectic Friday, cleaning up a little mess my prissy cats created, and a bit of a pest problem with my dogs. Needless to say, TGIF! I threw together a little something for y'all on this festive second to last Friday before Christmas. 

     I was inspired by a candy-cane striped, button-up blouse my boyfriend gave me. The top is from Ann Taylor Loft, but my boyfriend found it while thrifting. I think it makes a great holiday shirt. On top of that, I wore a red, button-up, double-pocket cardigan from Forever 21. For the final touch, I wore a silver statement necklace because I am really into the metallics this winter.

     At first I was going to wear a skirt or pants with this outfit, but in the end I decided I liked the black tights and shorts best. My tights are from Forever 21, and my shorts are Express Stretch. Similar here. I also wore my black H&M pointed stiletto booties. The weather was mild, so I could get away with an outfit like this in Dallas.

     I finished my third final exam today. My last one is due on Sunday. My doggies get groomed in the morning, and I'm heading to Pampered Soles to get some of my own pampering, then lunch. Photos to follow. Be sure to check my Instagram account @dressdynamicdallas. Have a great weekend!

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Frozen Inspired Manicure Tutorial

     Last night before I rushed out the door to the Christmas party, I quickly gave myself the manicure above. I saw another manicure with a similar concept, only my blue is a little darker than the one I saw. These are inspired by the movie Frozen. I've had the glitter for about two years now, and this was the first time I actually felt inspired to use it. I literally did this manicure in about 15 minutes.

     The first thing I did was choose a blue nail polish with a metallic tint. I like how it goes well with the silver glitter. In this manicure I only put on one coat of polish. The blue is so vivid, you really only need one coat.

     After allowing the blue polish to dry, I then applied clear top coat polish. Right after applying the polish, I dipped my middle finger into the silver glitter and dabbed it onto my finger. I then dabbed my finger nail at the tips and then slightly spread it half way on my nails. It takes a few dabs of glitter sometimes, but it turns out wonderfully. You only want to tap the nails with the glitter and not so much smear it. The glitter is from Julep, and the nail polish was a gift. 

     Once the glitter is set for a few minutes, I then applied another coat of the clear polish to quickly dry the manicure. The nice thing about this manicure is that the glitter is so distracting, it is difficult to notice any errors in the manicure. I actually managed to keep from smudging the whole night. 

     I hope you enjoyed this Frozen inspired manicure tutorial. 

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Christmas Party Outfit

     I was invited to a Christmas Party this evening, and am so excited to share what I wore. This isn't the first time I have wore this outfit, but I did change it up with different jewelry and hairstyle, plus I never wore it in front of so many people before, nor shared it online. 

     Everything in the photo was purchased at Ruche about two years ago. I saw the outfit in their lookbook, and basically copied it. It is so adorable. 

     The shoes are green and purple. I wouldn't think to match all of these pieces, but I love how it looks, and I have been given so many compliments on the combination. They are wedge heels, which is also one of my other favorite things to wear. These are so great because they look vintage. 

     My skirt is also the perfect respectable length for gatherings with all age groups. I love the pattern, and how the ivory looks lacy on top of the red. The waist is what is best about this skirt because it has a thick elastic band that doesn't fit too tight, but it feels great compared to some zipper waist skirts. I feel like I could wear it all day. 

     The top is really the center of attention of this outfit, and I am so sad I did not include a photo, but I might wear it again this year. My top has black lace sleeves, and a lace open back with black bows that go up the spine. The black lace material has a gold shimmer thread woven throughout it, which is so pretty in the light. Since I'm taking all of my own fashion photos at this time, it can be difficult with the phone I own to take full outfit shots. In the future I hope to include more angles of my outfits.

     This is my second year attending this particular Christmas party at my boyfriend's mother's home. She has such a gorgeous and inviting home. I love being at her house, especially around Christmas time because she goes all out. This year there were three Christmas trees! I didn't stay as long as last year, but the house was buzzing when I left. She is such a wonderful hostess! I forgot her gift at home, but I will be surprising her with it on Christmas.

     I wore my hair in a slightly messy bun with one of those fun donut hair pieces. I also wore these huge, vintage, gaudy, fake diamond and pearl earrings. I'm about to post a picture of them on Instagram. They were purchased to use in my jewelry designs, but I couldn't bear to take them apart. My make-up was done with white eyeshadow on my water-line and in the corners of my eyes. On my lips I wore a berry lipstick from Forever 21 from my Ipsy bag. 

      I'm going to be stepping it up with blog posts from here until at least January 20th when school starts back up again. I will do my best to keep posting every week, but make sure to follow my Instagram (@dressdynamicdallas), since I do most of my posting there. Anywho, tata for now.

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Thursday's Outfit

     I hope everyone is having a lovely week. I'm so excited this is OFFICIALLY the last week of school. One more semester, and this girl will finally be finished with her first bachelor degree. Go me!

     Today's outfit was so much fun. I don't wear these shoes very often because they make such a statement, I like to chose the right moments. I didn't wear them to the Christmas Party like I originally planned, but they were great to wear to work for some festive fun. I bought these shoes last year from H&M. They were on sale, so they were a steal. I saw them in one of the ladies fashion magazines, and I was so happy to score them. 

     I bought my leggings at Marshall's a few months ago. I bought them specifically for Christmas time, so I have been waiting to wear them. I love how warm they are, and they have an adorable print, if you can't really make it out in the photo. And to be honest, I think they were like $10 or $15, so it was meant to be.

     I was also wearing a long sleeve, white, slightly sheer, button-up blouse. I was having a hard time deciding whether to wear it partially tucked in or not. I bought the top from Forever 21. 

     In my next post I will describe the outfit I wore to the Christmas Party. It was so fun! I wish I had a full image of what I wore, but there were so many details. It kept morphing before I walked out the door, so I would have probably needed a photographer following me around. Until then...

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie 

Wednesday's Outfit and Week Update

     I am feeling so inspired because of Christmas coming up. It's so inspirational! I just love this time of year!

     I bought my pants at Tommy Hilfiger earlier this year on my trip to New York. It was such an exciting experience! I am obsessed with Gossip Girl, and at the time I started reading the books, so I was having even more fun. I went to many of the places I saw in the show, such as the Russian Tea Room from when Georgina meets up with the crook Poppy Lipton, and the men's Ralph Lauren store from the episode where Nate is sleeping with Duchess and she buys him something spiffy. Oh I do love New York!

     My shoes are from Ruche. I am obsessed with the vintage-classic look of all of their clothing. These shoes were a spontaneous purchase because as soon as I saw them, I purchased them no matter the cost. They were actually purchased together with the plaid skirt I wore a few days ago. I love oxfords, especially these because they have a heel. I'm short, so I typically go for heels.

     The shirt I purchased at Forever 21. I have been trying to purchase tops that are versatile, as opposed to in the past where I would purchase a top because it's lovely and bold, and then I have limited outfits to wear it with. This shirt is so billowy and silky. I love the button detail in the front. 

     My pearls are also not real. They are play jewels, but they look cute. I love layering them alone or with other jewels. 

     If you liked this outfit, or you want to know more, leave a comment below. I'd love to have feedback. I'm so excited to be sharing all of my outfits. It's something I have been longing to do, and I have a passion for it. Please enjoy my fashion expressions.

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Tuesday's Outfit

     I had a bit of a hectic week so far, so I am posting two outfits today. The outfit above has a boho, streetstyle feel to it. My job allows what I call "cowboy casual," so I can get away with outfits like this.  
     
     I wear the fringe shirt all year long, and my mother bought it for me last year at Body Central. They have a lot of inexpensive items, so I really enjoy shopping there. Shoes and jewelry are especially a bargain.

     The booties I also bought on a trip home to see my family. I can't remember what the name of the shoe store was called, but it was basically like a DSW store. The booties are just basic tan and zip up on the side.  

     I bought the tank top at Ruche. It has such beautiful embroidery, and I like the way it hangs in the front. I like to purchase items from the sale section at Ruche. Every now and again you can find some steals.

     I also found my pants at Forever 21. They are a greenish brown color. I happen to purchase a lot of Forever 21 pants. I like the price, but I often have issues with the length since I'm short. They are worth it when you get a pair for $12, though. 

     Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this outfit. If you have any questions or requests, feel free to leave a comment below. I also love suggestions. Have a blessed day!

     -xoxo-

         Stephanie

Clamp Ons or Glamp Ons?

   

     There is nothing worse than stepping out of a vehicle or a building, and falling on your rump because it is slippery. Winter has its perks, but ice and snow can be dangerous. When I was going through my email the other day, I read an article from Fashionista discussing whether grips could replace snow boots, and I could argue yes and no because these ones from Minxx are adorable. For $38 they are also even more appealing. I have never actually tried these on, so I am not sure how these would be with snow and ice on the ground. They look sturdy and cover most of the foot. I'd give 'em a go. 

     You can purchase these Minxx grips in several different colors, including, tan, brown, and black. There is replaceable hardware, so you know they aren't just any pair of flats. I'm not so confident how warm these babies will be, but sometimes you have to make sacrifices for fashion. At least with these you won't fall flat on your face. If I saw these on sale, I would definitely purchase them.

     Let me know what you think. Would you purchase these? Have you tried these? Leave your comments below or tag me on your Instagram account @dressdynamicdallas.

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie 

Monday's Outfit & Christmas

     My Monday was a nice mellow day like I like em. I put on this adorable outfit I love to wear all year round (w/ shorts in the summer and boots), and I stopped into Top Pot Doughnuts to pick up some treats for everyone in the office. I ordered the peppermint chocolate donut, which I found interesting yet tasty. The coffee is also DELISH! 

     The sweater wrap I bought at Tobi a few years ago, and it ties around the waist, but I like to tie it behind my back. It looks cuter. Similar here. My sweet boyfriend also let me use his gift card a few years ago to Marshall's where I scored these adorable booties. Similar here. You can see a bit of my purple socks peeking out, but that wasn't intended. My pants are from Nordstrom's. I also wore a black t-shirt under the sweater wrap.

     I snapped the picture above quickly out on a walk with my dogs, Tiki and Odessa. I just love these shoes, and I never think to take pictures when I'm out walking my dogs. I'm sure I look funny, but it kills two bird with one stone, as they say. You can see the booties are a little beat up since I wear them so much in the fall. They are very comfortable. 

     This week is off to a wonderful start. I began my Christmas card adventure tonight. It's not something I remember to do every year, but this year I want to remember everyone. I also put my first Christmas present under our cute little tree. There is a Christmas party on Thursday I am invited to attend, so I was excited when the package arrived today with the hostess's gift. She will be so pleased! I hope everyone else had a wonderful Monday, and I look forward to what the rest of the week has to bring. 

     -xoxo-

         Stephanie

Glittery Christmas Inspired Nails

     This nail design was inspired by those glittery Christmas ball ornaments with two colors. I chose a light gray and a deep forest green from Julep. The top coat is also a super sparkly gold glitter polish from Julep. 

     I applied the deep forest green nail polish first and allow to dry for a few minutes. I then randomly applied pieces of scotch tape to each nail, and painted two coats of the gray on top. Lastly, I applied two coats of the glitter polish. Make sure to wait for the gray nail polish to dry for a minute or two before removing the tape, and be sure to pull the tape away from your body. 

     I had a lot of fun with this nail design because each of the nails can be made to look just a little different. I'd recommend using a fast dry top coat, but don't plan on doing much with your nails for a few hours. Also, get the tape ready before you start painting each nail. 

     Have fun with these!

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

Thirty One Gifts for Christmas

     Two Christmases ago I received this lovely tri-fold bag from Thirty One Gifts from my boyfriend's mother for organizing my jewelry and jewelry supplies. I love the pattern, and the font and color is very nice with the pattern. I'm able to fit a lot of stuff inside of the pouches, and it has versatile storage. You can also change the handles, but I haven't tried to yet. 

     Thirty One Gifts has so many other cute patterns and bags of various sizes for so many uses, along with other items such as thermals and wallets. I think these items make wonderful gifts, especially when you can personalize it. I also love how the patterns change each season. (The new snowman pattern is especially cute!)

     I would think a good selling point for these items is for mothers and organizers. My aunt has a few bags she uses for diaper bags, or other travel needs. These bags would also look cute in a little girl's room or a college girls bathroom. Think of also organizing a pantry with these cuties!

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie

   

Sunday Fall Fashion

 

     I wore this outfit last year on Thanksgiving with green tights, and I think it is such a classic outfit. The skirt and shoes are from Ruche, and here I am wearing black tights from Forever 21.I'm struggling with wear I purchased the top, but I believe that, too, is from Ruche. I just fell in love with the outfit, and the skirt included the belt (score!). 

     My Sundays are usually spent in comfy clothing, so today was a fun change. I am again back in comfies, and working on my next outfit ideas and blogging (...and starting Game of Thrones finally). You also cannot miss the lovely cat in the background of the photo above. That's a vintage decoupage cat doorstop given to me last summer. I absolutely love it! (And it keeps the kitties out of my kitchen.)

     I was a little eager in some of my earlier posts and misjudged how soon my semester in school was over. My last day is not actually until this Sunday. I was able to take it a little easy over this weekend and focus on fashion. Two of my courses are complete, but I have two more left. Just two more finals! I'm so excited to have more time to focus on other things. In the meantime, I hope everyone has a peaceful Sunday afternoon, and a Monday filled with coffee (or tea).

     -xoxo-

        Stephanie 

          

Men's Cologne Gift Ideas

Men's Cologne Gift Ideas by dressdynamic featuring a spray perfume

I Dream of Sleep Masks

I Dream of Sleep Masks by dressdynamic featuring Wildfox

DIY Gifts That Never Get Old

   

Via here

     I said I was going to write a blog post about DIY gifts, and I got so excited that I started writing it right away. Since I'm so strapped for cash all of the time, I love making things to give as gifts. I love the reaction I get, and they really mean a lot more than just purchasing something. Although, I do argue that it's always the thought that counts. 

      This year I made a photo book for someone's birthday of all of the things we did together as a family, and other special moments in our relationship. There were many hours dedicated to things like colors, fonts, and photo placement, but it was worth the effort. I used a Groupon code to purchase an inexpensive photo book from an online photo ordering website. Although my book was more expensive than I planned, I also learned there are other photo websites with legitimate savings. So don't back out! You can also go to any photo editing software or Powerpoint, and create a slide show with music. I made one of these slide shows for my mother on Mother's day, and she definitely enjoyed it so much she cried. 

     In my last post I wrote about a pressed flower iPhone case I am working on. I also make jewelry with a similar concept, where I take pre-cut shapes of glass, and glue to the back pictures I trim from magazines. I've given away many necklaces and earrings with this design, and received many compliments. Check out my Etsy shop for an example of what the jewelry will look like. You can also use larger pieces of glass and create paper weights or bookends. 

     There are so many DIY ideas online, I could really talk all day about it. I'm also obsessing over homemade advent calenders and 12-days-of-Christmas idea. Check out this Pinterest board for some advent calender ideas. Also, check out this Popsugar post about the best DIY gifts. Let me know if you have any suggestions for DIY gifts. 

     -xoxo-
    
        Stephanie