From Dressy to Casual OOTD

Watch "From Dressy to Casual" on YouTube

All women struggle with going from dressy to casual in a matter of minutes. Let me tell y'all something. IT'S ALL IN THE SHOES. Women are constantly busy. We don't have time to go all the way home and then make it to where we are supposed to be. Having a pair of casual shoes that go with the outfit your wearing is key. Just stash them in your car till you need them and you are good to go!

Bad Hair Day?

If you're like me, bad hair days are a day ruiner. If all else fails, I do a bun. Those are REALLY coming back in style.

However, that's not exactly an option for those of you with shorter hair. You folks with shorter hair, I advise you to do a half-up-half-down style.

For you all with thin hair, instead of just a normal bun, you'll need a little more volume than that, so do the braided bun. (Just a normal braid, twisted into a coil type bun.)

Also, when I have a bad hair day, I make sure my makeup looks extra good. That way it isn't so noticeable I'm having a bad hair day.

Business Chic in the day... to Classy Night in the evening... OOTD

Transition from Business Chic in the day to Classy night in the evening by using soft lipstick during the work day and then using red for the night time. Also, take your hair down and either leave it as is, or do a half-up, half-down style! Please watch the video below!

Business Chic to Classy Night OOTD

Fall Fashion OOTD video! (This is one of my favorites)

I LOVE this OOTD. My favorite part is how everything was bought at different stores, yet it goes so well together.

In case you're wondering, the yellow shirt and blue pants wouldn't have gone near as well together without the scarf. The scarf has both colors, therefore, blends both the yellow and blue to make them into an outfit.

The scarf has a touch of red in it, and I thought a red lipstick would be perfect (which it was :). The earrings are a golden yellow just like the shirt, so they went fabulous together also.

Hope you enjoy the video!

The link is posted below:
Fall Fashion OOTD video

CLASSIC FRENCH BRAID!!

It's the one you have all been waiting for... check out my French Braid Tutorial by clicking the link below! :)

French Braid Tutorial

Cute Fall Transition OOTD video

Here's the link to my newest OOTD video!

Cute Fall Transition OOTD video

My shoes are from Off Broadway
My jeans are from Old Navy
My cardigan is from Old Navy
My blouse is from Forever 21
My earrings are from Forever 21
My watch is from JCPenny's or Belk's, I'm not sure which...
My Promise Ring is from Kohl's

This outfit is a perfect transition from summer to fall. A light cardigan, blouse, and jeans is an option that's perfect for any occasion.

Something that I neglected to mention in the video, is that I didn't accessorize as much with this outfit, and I did that for a reason. The shirt has so many beads on it, that it ends up being the vocal point. Of course, that's what you want. If you add so many pieces of jewelry, the whole outfit gets overwhelming and no one will know where to look. Therefore, be careful with your accessory choices. If you ever have any questions, just leave a comment and I will answer you!

-Callie B.

Irregular Braid Tutorial

Here is the link to my Irregular Braid Tutorial! I hope this is helpful and that you like it as much as I do :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oI4L_VYAwk

On the Go/ Errands OOTD

I am so sorry I haven't gotten anything up here recently! However, I have TWO things for you today. I upload my new hair tutorial on the Irregular braid (that I am sporting in these photos) just a few minutes ago.

This is my Outfit on the Go that I think is really adorable. We've got a nice natural waist short put with a light green blouse. A cute pair of silver "boat shoes" with an abstract pair of earrings and gold watch make for a casual yet feminine outfit.

The shirt is from Ann Taylor

The plaid shorts are from Ann Taylor

The shoes are from Bass

The watch is from Just Jewelry

The earrings are from Claire's (or they could be from Rue 21, I can't remember)

 

Classy Clearance!

When you go shopping, you most likely want to get as many clothes as possible within your budget. Correct? Well, I'm gonna tell you a little story, okay?

Once upon a time...

A girl named Callie goes into her favorite store (Ann Taylor). This store just happens to be a little expensive- but great quality. Of course, Callie goes straight to the clearance racks. Keep in mind, at Ann Taylor, a nice sweater might cost from $50-$75. She's just a lookin' from rack to rack, and she comes across a navy sweater...

Pause the story! Right now, I want you to take a guess at how much that sweater costs on the clearance rack. You got your guess? Okay, continue with the story.

... Callie looks at the tag and she gets all excited, because the sweater really is beautiful. She goes and tries it on, and it fits perfectly! Oh my gosh! This is awesome!

Do you want to know how much Callie payed for that sweater? Huh? Huh? Well, FYI, she payed about $5 for it. In addition to that sweater, she got a nice long sleeve shirt and a gorgeous blouse for about $4 a piece. Ladies, this goes to show that if you just look at the clearance racks you can find amazing deals. At some stores, I don't even bother looking at the regular priced things. I head straight to clearance.

Just because the price got marked down doesn't mean it's useless-far from it, actually! In my family, when we go shopping, our goal is to find the deal of the day... those purchases were most definitely a deal!

The "Polo Post" for Guys

Here is the finale to the three part selection for "Guy Fashion."

Guys, you are SO lucky. To dress up all you have to do is iron a polo and some khaki shorts or jeans and hit the road. I mean, how much easier could it get? You just have to know how to wear it. For a more casual look do khaki shorts and flip flops or Sperry's. To make it more dressy wear khaki pants or jeans with the shirt tucked in and a belt. Pretty simple right? Here's the pictures of my brother modeling the more casual look.

Casual Outfit for Guys

Okay, here is my second "Guy Fashion" post. I really hope this is useful and I'll put some advice below!

• First, jeans go with anything and everything. Use that.
• T-shirts are basic and comfy. They are great for every day wear!
• Tennis shoes are fine. HOWEVER, make sure they are clean. Dirty shoes are just gross.

Color Blocking OOTD

Hey girls! I recently went shopping and I have fell in love with Color Blocking. It's really in right now and I think that if you do it correctly, it can be adorable. Below I'll post some tips...

• Get creative. Use colors in the same family like light blue and navy or hot pink and fuchsia.
• You can also use contrasting colors. In this outfit I wore coral and teal. Coral can compliment a lot of colors and is a really helpful element to an outfit.
• I like to have some sort of neutral color in the outfit so it's not overdone. As you can see, in this OOTD I chose the gold cardigan and accessories to tone down this particular look.

I got the tank top and shorts from Gap
The cardigan is from Old Navy
The shoes are from Bass
The earrings are from Chico's
I borrowed the gold necklace from my mom
The watch is from Jule's
The bracelet is from Gap
 

The "Last Resort" Outfit

Can't find anything to wear today? Yeah, I couldn't either. I think I spent an hour trying to find something this morning. Haha, we all have those days. I've found that when I can't find something to wear, I stick with the, "Less is More" motto. Here's the recipe for the Last Resort Outfit...

Ingredients:

• 1 pair of your favorite jeans
• 1 plain long sleeve shirt (any color)
• 1 cami that goes with the long sleeve
• 1 scarf to add a little "flare"
• 1 pair of flats to wear with the jeans
• 1 ADORABLE hairstyle...

Directions: Slip on the jeans, tuck in the cami, pull on the long-sleeve shirt. Now, I know that your thinking, "Omg, it's the hottest season of the year and she wants me to wear long sleeves?! Shew, that child is crazy!" Actually, I never wear long sleeves, I wear "3/4 length" sleeves ;) Roll up the sleeves of the shirt and tie the scarf around your neck in whatever way you think looks best.

Now as for the whole adorable hairstyle ordeal, I say you should go with a side braid of some sort. Whether it be the fishtail, regular braid, four strand braid, or five strand braid. Don't know how to do those? I have the four strand braid instructions already uploaded on here, but other than that, I'm still trying to get the other braid videos ready for y'all. A great hairstyle for this outfit would definitely be the Bohemian French Braid. Check out that video here on my blog!

Side note: When I wear my jeans, depending on how hot it is outside, I usually roll them up a tad. Not much, but just to give the look of wearing capris. Also, if you want to, tucking in the long sleeve and adding a belt would be an awesome addition to the outfit.

EXPERIMENT!

Handsome Dressy/Casual Outfit for Guys

Okay guys, this one is for you! Usually I focus mostly on girls fashion, but the other day someone I know requested some tips for guys as well. My brother Clay has graciously said he would model the three different outfits I've picked out for y'all to see as examples.

Before I show the pictures, I want to say a few things. Below, I will give you some tips to some of the keys of style for men.

• Please, iron your clothes. Wrinkled clothing just screams lazy, and I don't know a single person that wants to come across that way, so I doubt you do either.
• Rolling up your sleeves when wearing a button down is something I think a lot of girls find attractive and fashionable.
• Sperry's look really great with some jeans and a nice dress shirt.
•  In my opinion, good hygiene has a LOT to do with style. Wear some deodorant and a tiny bit of cologne, and you'll be good to go!

Here's the pictures of my brother styling the outfit I picked out:

Peanut Butter Protein Shake

This is above all the best protein shake ever! It doesn't involve any protein powders or anything like that. Peanut Butter is high in protein, milk is high in calcium and has protein also. Banana's are high in potassium. All of these vital nutrients are in this one beverage! Last year, this was my breakfast. This kept me full all the way until lunch; it tastes way better than cereal, in my opinion.

Peanut Butter Protein Shake Recipe:

1 cup of milk
5 ice cubes
1-2 Tablespoons of Peanut Butter
1 Small Banana (If you need to, just use half of a large banana)
1 TBS 100% Organic Flax Oil (Optional)
2 dashes of cinnamon (Optional)

Put all of the above ingredients into the blender, and blend until smooth. You can add more peanut butter if you like, or the banana. I myself prefer adding more peanut butter because it tastes just like a peanut butter milk shake :)

Makes 1 Serving.

Enjoy!

Bohemian French Braid Tutorial

This is so cute! Here's the link to my video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfYi5XgGgOI

I hope you like it!

"It Doesn't Have to Match, it GOES..."

"It doesn't have to match, it goes..." is a quote from one of my favorite TV shoes, What Not To Wear. Picture this: White blouse, white pants. Now, you need a belt that you can wear with this outfit... do you pick white or coral? Naturally, someone might tell you to go with the white because it "matches." But does that look better than the coral one? No! Coral brings out a nice pop of color in your new outfit. You could also wear that with a nice set of gold hoop earrings and a necklace with another dash of coral at the shoes.

Ladies, when you're wearing your clothes, think of Complimentary Colors in the Color Wheel. They are called that for a reason. Each one compliments the others. The other day, for example, I wore a nice blue sweater with an aqua scarf. Yes the blues went together, but do you know what color sunglasses I chose? PINK. It ended up going beautifully. Y'all have to experiment with your clothing. I am telling you it helps in the biggest way.

Knowing that you tried something new really helps boost your confidence level. I am living proof of that. The next time you go shopping, look at the mannequin. What does it have on? Pay attention to the colors and accessories it's wearing. Check out my OOTW's that I post. In my Outfit Of The Week who knows what color scheme I'm going to choose. You have to step out of that comfortable bubble we all live in and try something new. Experiment! Have fun with it! Fashion isn't supposed to be tiresome. It's supposed to express who you are as a person.

Always remember... "It doesn't have to match, it GOES..."

Follow me on Instagram!

I have just got an instagram for my blog so please follow me! @callie_fashion :)

Hydration Sensation

Let's get right to the point. How many of you actually drink 8 cups of water per day? About a month ago I read somewhere online that water helps with: clearer skin, hydrated skin, and most of all it helps clear out the waste and toxins in your body.

When I heard that it got all the gross stuff out of your body I slowly got into drinking more water. I mean really, who wants all that bad stuff in their system?! Since it clears out your system, it also allows you to lose weight easier and faster.

I used to have extremely dry skin. I started drinking water and doing that baking soda and water acne treatment I told y'all about and my skin is healthier than it's been in a LONG time.

I know that it will probably be hard to get into drinking water on a regular basis if you don't already do so. With that being said...

• Start your day with water, if you drink water before you eat breakfast you won't be as hungry. That way you only eat the necessary amount for your body.
• When you go out to eat, instead of getting soda or some kind of caffeinated beverage, get water. 
• Question your decisions. If you reach in the fridge for some pop, freeze, and get water instead.
• RECYCLE. Getting a reusable water bottle at the store is WAAAY cheaper than buying pre-bottled water. Plus, it's cuter too.
• If you think the taste of water is too plain, buy some drink mixes at the store! (However, make sure they don't have caffeine. Caffeine drains water out of your body.)
• I like adding lemon to my water, it adds a refreshing change to the somewhat bland flavor.
• I know that your going to have to go to the bathroom a lot when you first start drinking more water, but that is normal! In fact, it's better for you! Don't try to hold it. That is very unhealthy. When you need to go... GO!
• When you have dinner with your family, and everyone else is drinking soda, be proud of your decision to have water! It's good for ya!
• If you're a caffeine addict, make sure you pace yourself. If you have a Coke or Pepsi that day, make sure you drink an extra bottle of water than you usually would.
• My final tip is this: Don't give in to temptation. Ask someone else to start drinking more water with you. That way you have someone to work with and they will help remind you of your beverage choices and vise versa. 

I hope you got something out of this post, and I want you ladies to know that I'm rooting for you!

-Callie B.

Cool Florals OOTW

Hey Ladies! I was absolutely thrilled with this Outfit Of The Week! I have had this skirt for about a year now and have never worn it. I recently went shopping, and the icy blue shirt matches the skirt perfectly! I loved the brown belt with it because it really seems to tone the outfit down a bit. Ya know what I mean? I kept the jewelry silver because of the necklace, and the earrings have an icy blue stone in it that really brings the outfit together.

I put my hair in a fishtail braid and loosened it up a lot. I wanted it really big and "voluminous" so that's what I got! If you would like to see a tutorial on this please comment and tell me so I can make one! I hope you like it! Please comment and tell me what ya think! Thanks!

-Callie B.
      
       P.S.

• The earrings were from Christopher and Banks
• The necklace was from Chico's
• The shirt was from Forever 21
• I borrowed the belt from my mom
• The skirt was from Aeropostale

2 Minute Chocolate Cake Recipe

Yes, you read the title correctly... this chocolate cake only bakes for two minutes! I know, I was shocked too! It took me a couple of times for me to get this recipe perfect because apparently the bowl I used was too small and the full two minutes burnt the middle of it, so if I were you, I would try a 1 minute and 30 seconds first before doing the full 2 minutes.

Here's the link to the recipe from Food Network!


http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/instant-chocolate-cake-recipe/index.html

If you are not able to open the link for some unknown reason, I want it to be right here for you as well, so I will post it below:

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup flour
• 5 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• dash of vanilla extract
• dash of salt

Directions:

Whisk all of the ingredients above in a large mug until smooth. Microwave until it's puffed on top for about 2 minutes.

Allergy Note: In case there is a dairy allergy in your family as there is in mine, I bake this with either coconut milk, almond milk, or rice milk. I'm sure soy milk would work fine also, but someone in my family is allergic to soy as well as dairy.

In the picture with the icing on top, I would've preferred to have put on whipped cream instead, but my brother can't have whipped cream so I put the homemade icing on it.

ENJOY! :D

-Callie B.

Comments

Hey y'all! Thanks to a friend of mine, I am now aware that to post comments you all have to be members. HOWEVER, I have just changed the setting so that anyone can comment. Please feel free to do so :) I'd truly appreciate it!

-Callie B.

Presenting... Plaid!

Okay so I could not sleep at all last night, and I was bored so I dug into my closet to see what outfits I could come up with. Well, let me just tell ya, I am forever trying to find something cute to wear with plaid!

When I was little, I was in the frame of mind that to wear plaid you had to have your shirt tucked in, a big belt buckle, and two french braids.

I have some pictures here of this look that I created this morning, I hope that this will be helpful to inspire you in "Presenting...Plaid" :D

-Callie B.

P.S. The shirt was from Rue 21
The jeans were from Old Navy
The scarf was from JCPenny's
The shoes were from Rue 21
My earrings were from Belk's
My watch was from JCPenny's
My ring was from Kohl's
And believe it or not the purse I got for $2 at Rue 21.

Side French Braid Hair Tutorial

.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1A2CmAujVU&feature=youtu.be

Above is the Side French Braid Hair Tutorial link, please bear with me while I try to figure out my whole video camera ordeal I've been having. It's not wanting to upload and edit for me so I'm trying to work on it the best I can. To be honest, I'm just glad I got a tutorial on here! I hope y'all like it...

This is seriously my new favorite hairstyle! I got the idea from one of letsmakeitup1's tutorials on youtube. However, I did not do the same thing she did. She did a dutch braid on the side near the back of her head. This is a french braid close to the front of the head.

I feel like the girls who don't know how to french braid but are anxious to know how, will truly enjoy this hairstyle. It's sooo easy and cute, it can be dressed up or down, plus it's fashionable! Comment below and tell me what ya think! Thanks so much!

-Callie B

Inexpensive Make-up Brush Holder

I had a glass bottle from Starbucks and turned it into a make-up brush holder.

All I did was...

Take off the labels
Wash it in warm water till you get the sticky stuff off
Add a cute bow around the top, and your done!

This doesn't have to be a bottle from Starbucks of course, it can be any glass bottle you like! It doesn't have to be used for make-up brushes either. It can be used for anything! It was basically free too because we were going to throw away the bottle and we had the ribbon at the house already :)

Four Strand Braid

To hold you girls over until I  get my video tutorials worked out, I'm going to type up the instructions for a four strand braid. This braid is probably my favorite because it's not the ordinary braid, but it's also incredibly easy and unique. I'd say the best way to describe it would be 3-D. Here we go!

1. Split your hair into four sections.
2. Take the outermost strand on the right and tuck it under the strand to its left.
3. Take the strand you crossed under and put it over the next strand to the left. Twist them around each other one time.
4. Next, take the outermost strand on the left and bring it under the strand to the right of it.
5. Then, with that strand you brought under, wrap it over the next strand to the right and twist the two strands around each other one time.
6. Repeat these steps till you go all the way down your hair.

Today, I had on a baseball cap with my hair brought through the back in a ponytail. I wanted to add a little something else so I did a four strand braid down the ponytail. It turned out cuter than I expected, which goes to say, don't be afraid to try something new. Just go with it!

-Callie B.

P.S. If you have any questions about this in case the instructions were hard to follow, please do not hesitate to leave me a comment. I apologize for not having video tutorials up yet, but I'm doing my best to work on them. Thanks!