Transition Your Summer Wardrobe to the Autumnal Season

A few years back, I firmly believed that one must have distinct clothes for each of the four seasons and that wearing one season's clothes during the next season was against the rules. I now really wonder, where the heck did I get this "rule" from and what in the world I was thinking? As a young adult who now understands the value of money, I quickly realized that this was the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard and that it is so incredibly important to have pieces in your wardrobe that can be transitioned into the changing seasons.

In today's post, I want to share with you guys different pieces of clothing that can be styled from the summer to autumn season and how you can make the most of your wardrobe.

SHORTS:

Depending on where you live, the months of September and October can still bring some warmer temperatures. That being said, I still think you can get away with wearing shorts in the early autumn season. Here, I am wearing these super comfortable (yet classy!) silky shorts that I got quite a while ago from T.J. Maxx. I love the pleating on these shorts and the clever belt that you can tie into a bow. (Here are a similar pair I found for a great price!) Worst case scenario, you can always pop a pair of tights underneath to keep warm while still getting more use out of your summer shorts.

 

THIN CROPPED SWEATERS:

I am a massive fan of cropped sweaters and I'm not exactly sure why I am so obsessed with them. Nevertheless, if you've got yourself a quite thin cropped sweater, you can totally transition it into the autumn season. Throw over top a leather jacket or thin cardigan and you've got yourself a perfect autumnal outfit while getting the most out of your summer wardrobe. (Link to a similar cropped sweater to mine can be found here.)

 

DRESSES:

Who says you can't wear dresses even once the temperature drops? To style dress in the autumn, here are my top tips:

1.Tights- Like I mentioned before about pairing tights underneath shorts, this is also a great idea when trying to make the most of those cute summer dresses hanging in your closet.

2. Knee High Boots-Pairing knee high boots with a dress provides more skin coverage to shield you from the cooler temperatures. (Plus, wearing tall boots with a shorter dress creates the illusion of longer legs!)

Though I haven't styled a summer dress for the autumn season in this post, I can definitely do that if you guys want me to (leave a comment below or tweet me @gabbyautumnx).

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed this type of how-to post rather than me just rambling about stuff! How do you transition your summer wardrobe to the autumnal season?

Thanks for reading!

Much love,

Gabriella xx

 

Link to my necklace (USE CODE GABI20 FOR 20% OFF!): http://www.mirinacollections.com/collections/all-famous-necklaces/products/erin

 

Why You Need to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

 

 

In today's post, I really wanted to talk about a topic that I feel is extremely important in today's world with social media.  This topic is something that I have (and still do) struggle with and that I am sure a lot of you reading this struggle with, too. And that is comparison. Now, I think a little bit of comparison in certain situations is totally harmless. For example, comparing your favorite films and television shows with your best friend is obviously completely normal. However, when we start comparing things like our bodies, our choices, and our lives to others (especially those on social media), things can start taking a turn for the worse.

 

 

 

When we compare ourselves to other people, it is basically the same thing as comparing an apple to a zucchini. This is because an apple is a fruit and a zucchini is a vegetable (in case you didn't know this already...jokes!). But what I mean by this is that comparing an apple to a zucchini is meaningless because they are so extremely different. And the same goes for you and the popular girl at school or the girl with hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers.

 

 

 

That girl you follow on Instagram with her seemingly perfect body, hair, makeup, boyfriend and life is only showing you a snapshot of time. That picture took literally half a second to take and does not fully reflect her life or daily situation. She most likely doesn't walk around with her makeup and hair done to perfection and her and her boyfriend have probably had as many arguments in the past year as you do fingers on your hand.  And that girl showing off her washboard abs does not walk around with those all 24 hours of the day. She is most definitely flexing in the best lighting possible to make her abs look like that.

 

 

 

My point here is that when you begin to compare yourself with the people you see on social media or really anywhere, you begin to feel more crap about yourself.  You start to believe that just because you don't have a bangin' body or perfect eyebrows that you are any less of a person. You start to believe that because they look like what society deems "perfect" (newsflash, this does not exist!) and you don't that people will care about you less and love you less.

 

 

 

But I promise you that they won't. And do you want to know why? Because you are not her (or him). You are you. You were not put on this Earth to look and act like someone you are not. You were not put on this Earth for the sole reason to have a perfect body, makeup, and life. The next time you scroll through your Instagram feed, tap through Snapchat Stories, or watch YouTube videos and you come across someone you wish you looked like, I want you to stop yourself. Instead of comparing yourself to that person and wishing that you could look or be like them, I want you to look in the mirror and name ten things you love about yourself or your life. Instead of comparing, contrast. Say, "While she has a nice body, I have a pretty damn good sense of humor." Or, "While she has a really hot Instagram boyfriend, I have an amazing group of supportive friends." Do you see the difference? Rather than putting yourself down because of your differences, make an effort to appreciate the differences. Stop putting yourself down. Stop critiquing every little minuscule imperfection. No one is perfect, no matter how much they make it seem. Perfect is boring. Be quirky.  Be weird. Be yourself. And for goodness sake, love yourself no matter what you look like.  

 

Thanks for reading and I hope this post inspired you to start loving yourself for who you truly are.

 

Much love,

Gabriella xx

 

Links:

Jacket: http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?br=F21&category=outerwear_coats-and-jackets&productid=2000201948

Jeans (similar): http://www.charlotterusse.com/refuge-%22hi-waist-super-skinny%22-dark-wash-jeans/301859873.html?rrec=true

Sneakers (similar): http://www.yoins.com/White-Casual-Leather-Look-Perforated-Thick-Platform-Sneakers-p-1045863.html?currency=USD

Bag (similar): http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?br=F21&category=ACC&productid=1000231536

Sunglasses (similar):  http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?br=F21&category=ACC&productid=1000220135

 

 

 

Making a Comeback

 

Hmm...where do I start? Well, first I think I should clear the air by saying that I am back to blogging baby. For good. Pinky promise. I know that I said this in my last blog post (about 2 months ago...yikes!) and I really don't have a valid excuse. Besides the fact that my life plans have changed in that I have decided that college is on the horizon and how I am still struggling with the whole weight and insecurity issues, these things should not have thrown my passion, blogging, to the curb. 

 

 

During the months of my time off, blogging was always in the back of my mind. Whenever I scrolled through my Instagram feed, a feeling of guilt and sadness flooded my body because seeing pictures of other bloggers made me feel like I was missing out. Here were my fellow bloggers doing what they loved most and I wasn't. Something that made me so happy and full of life was put on a long hold all because of some roadblocks in the way.

 

 

 

The silver lining? I realized during my time away that blogging is something I truly, truly love doing. I love photography and I love writing. My blog is a place, my place, where I can express myself and be creative. The feeling I get when publishing a new blog post is the same feeling my dad gets when his favorite football team wins a game. Just pure, utter happiness.

 

 

 

But that's enough of the sappy talk for now. Onto other news, can you guys believe that 2016 is nearly over already? I don't know about you, but I am overwhelmingly excited for the fall/autumn season to come. Cozy sweaters and sweatshirts, boots, changing leaves, and fall sports are what I love most about this time of year. Of course, I can't forget about the fact that it means Halloween and Christmas are coming soon! But seriously, where does time go? All I can say is that I hope 2017 brings more laughter, happiness, and memories (because you can never have too much of that).

 

 

Now that I am back for good, I want to know what type of posts you want to see from me! Do you want more beauty, fitness, advice, or random, chatty types of posts? Let me know in the comments! Oh, I'm also looking into purchasing a new camera...preferably the oh-so-famous Olympus Pen E-PL7. If you have any input or opinions on the camera, be sure to let me know as well!

 

It truly feels so amazing to be writing again and I can't wait to continue on. Be sure to leave your links below to your blogs and Instagram's so I can give you a follow and stalk your blog :) Thanks for reading!

 

Much love,

 

Gabriella xx

 

 

Links:
Shirt (similar): http://www.yoins.com/White-Off-The-Shoulder-Lace-Splice-Blouse-p-987131.html?currency=USD&from_google_feed=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_content=anny&utm_campaign=US-pc-tp-summer
Jeans (thrifted, but here's a cheap alternative): http://www.charlotterusse.com/refuge-%22hi-waist-super-skinny%22-dark-wash-jeans/301859873.html?rrec=true
Boots (similar and ON SALE): http://www.charlotterusse.com/square-toe-over-the-knee-boots/302200838.html?dwvar_302200838_color=001&cgid=over-the-knee-boots#start=16
Bag (similar from eBay for a great price): http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/131888290040?lpid=82&chn=ps&var=431232881884&ul_noapp=true
Watch: http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?br=F21&category=ACC_Jewelry&productid=1000219856

Making Changes

 

 

Change is a part of life. Whether good or bad, they happen for reason. I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason. If it is meant to happen, it will; and we need to accept those changes and embrace them. Take advantage of them. Experience them. Learn from them.

 

 

Take my move to PA, for example.  This move was a huge change for me. A new state, new people, and a new way of life. I was actually really excited for this new move in the beginning. I would have the chance to make new friends and live in a new home. I had really high expectations about this new move that I would make a whole load of new friends and finally get my social life back. However, as time went on, I realized that these expectations were far beyond what reality was turning out to be. Sure, I had made some new friends, but my dream of having a close group of friends like the ones I left behind in NJ didn't quite fall into place like I had expected them to. Nearly a year after the move, I still find myself struggling to find my people, as in the people who share my same interests, dream, and mentality.

 

 

But what can I do about it? I can't just pack up my things and tell my family, "Sorry, I don't really fit in with these people. I'm gonna move back to our old town. See ya!" No, I can't do that. But what I can do is accept this massive change and reflect on all the positive things that have happened since moving here. My new blog, my new mentality, my new change at heart in not going to college and pursuing my passion. Who knows, had I stayed in my old town, these things may never have happened. I could still be forcing myself to maintain straight A's at school while my mental health plummeted down the drain from stress. I could still be trying to convince myself that I have to go to college in order to be successful. I never would have realized that pursing your passion is more important than doing something you don't truly love. I wouldn't be graduating high school a year early.  And I can't tell you how grateful I am that these changes have occurred.

 

What I am trying to say here is that when something unexpected happens or a change in your life occurs that didn't pan out the way you wanted it to, don't crumble and fall. Don't remorse about how much you hate this new change and make yourself miserable. Stay positive and reflect on the good things that have happened since that change. And if you can't find something good, dig deeper. That change happened for a reason.

 

 

As I continue on with my blog and Instagram, I want you to be aware of a change that will be happening regarding my content. Because my dream is to be a Personal Trainer and hopefully create my own workout and lifestyle guide, there will be a massive increase in fitness related posts on my Instagram and blog. Don't get my wrong, I still love fashion and I still will be posting and blogging about it, but expect sweaty workout selfies, workout videos, meals, and other fitness related jazz on my Instagram. As for my blog, expect workouts, recipes, and health/fitness product reviews. I am not trying to portray a girl who has her entire life together with the cutest outfits and a perfect Instagram feed. I am trying to be me. And I am a girl who loves fitness but also loves fashion as well and sometimes has a really damn hard time motivating herself to workout and eat healthy.

 

 

I want to be able to connect with other fitness enthusiasts through my Instagram from all over the world and be able to inspire and motivate them to live a healthier, balanced lifestyle. I also want to be able to show them that life is not just about fitness and you can take your hair out of your ponytail, put on some makeup and a cute outfit and go have fun and explore. Those people are my people.

And those are the people I want to be around. "Your vibe attracts your tribe." And I am surely not attracting my tribe if I only post perfectly edited photos on my Instagram. I want people who genuinely want to follow my Instagram; not just follow me to get a follow back on their account. I hope you guys understand where I am coming from when implementing this change. If you don't care about health and fitness, I will not be upset if you choose to unfollow me and forgo reading my blog. But this is a change I want to make. And I am willing to accept the negatives that come with it.

Sorry for this ramble and if you read this entire post, cheers to you. Thank you for reading!

Much love,

Gabriella xx 

Coachella Dreamin'

 

Whoops, did I say Coachella? I think I meant to say "couch-ella". Get it? Alright, I'll be quiet now.

 

 

Let's be honest...the majority of us wish we went to Coachella. The music, the clothes, the people, and the general positive vibes would all do us some good. So while I was scrolling through Instagram liking all the photos of people at Coachella, (and trying not to shed a tear...talk about major FOMO!) I thought it would bring us dreamers some peace if I created my own version of a perfect Coachella outfit...for under $60!

 

 

If you don't already know, my fashion posts are all about affordability without sacrificing quality or style. This is why I choose to shop at the stores that I do. Stores like Forever 21, H&M, Old Navy, and Charlotte Russe all provide insanely cute clothes for a reasonable price. However, there is one type of store that I am forgetting about that tops off the list... thrift stores.

 

 

Now, I know some people refrain from even stepping foot into a thrift store because they fear that the clothes are dirty and aren't their style. But for the majority of thrift stores out there, this is not the case; you just have to find the right one. One of my favorite thrift stores here in PA is called Plato's Closet. Oh my goodness you guys, this place is insane. They literally have everything from active wear to regular clothes to shoes, you name it. And all for an incredible price!

 

 

For example, you see that purse that I am carrying? I originally saw it in Target a few months ago retailing for $30. Guess how much I paid for it at my thrift store? Four dollars. And yes, I typed that correctly. Four dollars for a purse in perfect condition and with the money I saved, I was able to buy this romper from Forever 21 retailing for $26.

 

 

It's wouldn't be Coachella without bohemian statement necklaces, right? When I saw this gold fringe bib necklace from Forever 21 for only $8, I pretty much flipped. As for my shoes, I'm sure you've see them before on my blog because I am in love with them. However, Forever 21 doesn't keep items on their website for longer than a few weeks, so I couldn't find you the exact link. Nevertheless, I did manage to find a very similar pair for the same price of only $17! I managed to pick up these sunglasses from Forever 21 for only $5. This entire outfit, from head to toe, cost me only $55. At some shops, you can hardly buy a dress for this price, let alone an entire outfit!

 

 

And there you have it! A Coachella inspired outfit for a fraction of what people usually pay. While I won't be attending Coachella, I at least have a bad*ss outfit, and that's good enough for me!

 

Thanks for reading and let me know below what you would wear to Coachella!

 

Much love,

Gabriella xx

Links:

Romper: http://www.forever21.com/UK/Product/Product.aspx?BR=F21&Category=Jumpsuit_Romper&ProductID=2000185358&VariantID=

Necklace: http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=acc_jewelry-necklace-fringe-tassels&ProductID=1000205393&VariantID=

Shoes (similar): https://www.google.com/shopping/product/6130846340005290895?q=tan+ankle+boots+with+heel&ved=0ahUKEwiSsPaTgajMAhUKbD4KHaJQCngQhC0ICSgB&ei=fR4dV9L9GorY-QGioanABw

Babydoll Dress and Knee High Boots

 

Hey all! I'm back today with another outfit post. I wasn't lying when I said that I have practically run out of outfits to shoot (I really need to have a shopping trip). However, I found this little number hidden behind my purses in my closet. It must have fallen off the hanger and gotten covered with my numerous handbags. Nevertheless, I was so happy to have found it because that meant I could shoot one more outfit post before I have to drag myself to the mall to pick up some new outfits. But let's be real, that won't be too hard for a shopping addict like myself!

 

 

I was originally going to pair this dress with my chunky tan boots that I've featured in multiple outfits. But when I tried this dress on and found that it was quite short on my growing frame, I thought it would be best to balance out the shorter dress with knee high boots. I'm not going to lie, I felt like a Bratz doll wearing this outfit...Is that weird?

 

 

This cute little number is from Forever 21 and is the perfect dress for a warm spring day. I especially love the crochet detailing and tassels on the neckline as it gives the look a bohemian vibe, which I love during this time of year. Speaking of, is anyone going to Coachella this year? If you are,  am extremely jealous and if you happen to have an extra ticket, you know where to find me!

 

 

I already counting down the days until school is over and summer is here. I don't think I've mentioned it on my blog yet, but I'm actually graduating high school a year early! I've nearly got enough credits to graduate, so I'll just be taking two online classes to finish up my credits to graduate. I'm incredibly excited to just be done with school and move on to more exciting things. I will be doing another blog post talking about my future plans, so look out for that coming soon. I have different dreams and aspirations than most kids my age, so my future plans are quite different than the stereotype for our generation, but I'll go into that more in that blog post.

 

 

Thanks for reading! If you have any suggestions for blog post, whether that'd be fitness, recipes, or beauty, be sure to let me know!

 

Much love,

Gabriella

 

Links:

Dress (similar): http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=dress_mini&ProductID=2000184530&VariantID=

Boots (similar): http://us.asos.com/ASOS-KICK-IT-OFF-Over-The-Knee-Boots/17v1dv/?iid=5726725&affid=14174&channelref=google+shopping&mk=abc&currencyid=2&gclid=CjwKEAjw_oK4BRDym-SDq-aczicSJAC7UVRtzOR8CS-hDaQ4vLoy0XHZvEQVk4XPyW1iYeSyS519-xoCP47w_wcB&mporgp=L0FTT1MvQVNPUy1LSUNLLUlULU9GRi1PdmVyLVRoZS1LbmVlLUJvb3RzL1Byb2Qv

 

 

 

Prints and Boots

 

 

Hey there! Long time no outfit post! We've finally had decent enough whether here in PA for me to shoot an outfit post. Usually, if there's a decent whether day, it's on a weekday when I'm at school and don't have time to shoot (plus when I get home, I'm usually passed out on the couch within minutes). The weekends have either been too cold, too windy, or to rainy. Who else is ready for summer?!

 

 

I will definitely be needing to do a major shop for a summer wardrobe as I  have hardly any decent summer clothes. That being said, would you guys like me to do a Summer Wardrobe Wishlist and/or a Summer Clothing Haul blog post? Be sure to let me know in the comments as that is definitely something I would love to do!

 

 

When I opened my closets and sifted through my clothes to see what I could shoot for a blog post, I cam across these unique printed pants and thought, "Okay, I need to create an outfit with these!" I could hardly believe that I hadn't shot an outfit with these pants but I was glad I didn't because like I said before, I've run out of clothes to shoot a.k.a a fashion blogger's nightmare.

 

 

Being the print on these pants are so busy, I wanted to keep the rest of the outfit very simple. I chose the only plain black, long sleeve shirt I own (how sad is that?!), my go-to tan ankle boots, and my all-time favorite handbag. As for accessories, I also wanted to keep it quite simply so I went for this chunky gold chained necklace.

 

 

 

 

One of my goals for my new wardrobe is to add variety. And the reason I say this is because...and don't hate me...but this entire outfit is from Forever 21. Yes, the whole thing. From top to bottom, even my socks! Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore Forever 21 (as if you couldn't tell already). However, I think it is important for me, as a fashion blogger, to expand my horizons and spend my money in a variety of stores. This isn't to say that I will be shopping at high end stores, frankly because my wallet doesn't allow it, but there are so many stores that I just need to explore a little and I'm positive I will love as much as I do Forever 21. That being said, comment below (or tweet me @gababoutlife) your favorite online or in-store clothing stores!

 

 

Thanks so much for reading! I can assure you that as soon as the weather breaks and my school schedule isn't so hectic, there will be more blog posts to come including more fitness posts because I've been wanting to do those for such a long time! Talk soon!

 

Much love,

Gabriella xx

 

Links:

Pants (similar): http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=bottoms_pants&ProductID=2000052374&VariantID=

Top: http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?br=F21&category=top&productid=2000172527

Boots (similar): http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=shoes_boots&ProductID=2000162174&VariantID=

Bag (similar): http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=acc_handbags-crossbody-bag&ProductID=1000170263&VariantID=

Necklace: http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?br=F21&category=ACC&productid=1000203815

 

 

Hey Spring, We've Been Waiting For You

Nothing makes me happier than warm weather and sunshine. This past week has been absolutely beautiful. Blue skies and warm temperatures, I felt like nothing could bring me down. There's just something about this type of weather that puts the biggest smile on my face and makes me feel like I can conquer the world.

 

 

In addition to the positive psychological effects that this weather has on me, it also means it's time to break out the dresses, skirts, and t-shirts. Long gone are the days of having to bundle up in layers upon layers of clothes to stay warm. No more shivering and no more Rudolph noses. Spring is here, baby!

 

 

Nevertheless, it can still be a bit chilly in the mornings where I live, so I can't necessarily forgo the occasional jacket. That being said, one of my favorite pieces for this transitional season are sweater dresses. They add the perfect amount of warmth without completely covering you're entire body. I always like to pair a sweater dress with some type of boot as I feel that if you paired it with a sandal it looks a bit odd because sandals are more summer-y while sweater dresses are more of a cooler season piece.

 

 

I love the color combination of deep, emerald green and tan, so I paired my sweater dress with my favorite faux-leather chunky ankle boots. Seriously guys, you need a pair of boots like this in your life. They do wonders for your legs!

 

 

The spring season also means that I actually put more effort into what jewelry I'm wearing. (I told you the dark winter days suck the motivation out of me!) To accent the gold zipper on my boots, I went with my favorite gold chain statement necklace and a gold cuff bracelet. I think both if these accessories add the perfect touch to the outfit.

As you can see, I am totally loving this weather in this picture! Blue skies, happy lives!

 



I hope you enjoyed my first spring season post! There will be plenty more to come (once I go shopping that is!). Also, how would you feel about me posting more fitness posts on here? It could be anything from workouts, recipes, tips, and fitness clothes! Let me know in the comments because this is something I would really enjoy doing! Thanks for reading! Make sure to tag me on Instagram (@gababoutlife), tweet me a picture (@gababoutlife) or Snap me (gabby_autumn) your favorite Spring outfit! I would love to see what you are all rocking as the weather breaks!

 

Links:

Dress: ON SALE! http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?br=F21&category=dress&productid=2000157344

Shoes: (similar) http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=shoes_boots&ProductID=2000156928&VariantID

Necklace: (similar) http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?br=F21&category=ACC&productid=1000170467

Bracelet: (similar) http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?br=F21&category=ACC&productid=1000168787