How To Transition Your Summer Dresses Into Fall

I’m always excited to pile on the layers and bring back my jackets and chunky knit sweaters as the cooler weather rolls in, but putting away my summer dresses is a little upsetting. This Fall cleaning ritual gave me an idea – let’s transition some of our favourite pieces to be a little less season specific! Here’s my take on Summer dresses, for Fall.This lightweight denim Urban Outfitters dress is such an easy piece to throw on before heading out to enjoy the warm weather. The bare legs, sunglasses, bright bags and open-toe wedges just scream Summer!

Add a pair of tights, closed-toe booties, a scarf and military jacket and can instantly turn this teeny dress into a cozy Fall outfit. Add MediaDress: Urban Outfitters / Boots: Jeffrey Campbell / Jacket: Artizia (similar) / Scarf: Michael Kors Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

When transitioning pieces between seasons, try to play with current trends. My focus with this outfit was to subtly mix patterns while paying homage to the military inspired look. Remember to layer, not only for style, but also to stay warm in the morning and cool off around noon, Fall weather is so unpredictable!

Today I’m linking up with Toronto Shopaholic for her The Way We Wear series. The theme this week is transition season style, as you might have guessed, if you are looking for Fall fashion inspiration from real ladies, I highly recommend checking it out or searching #TheWayWeWear on social media.

Have a lovely Fall day friends!

xo Lauren

High Five For Friday: A Week In Review

1. Spending some quality time with local bloggers at the Rideau Centre Project Preview Reception! Obviously a selfie with the queen of selfies (ML of Twenty York Street) was necessary.
2. Hockey is back! To start the (pre) season off right, Neil and I headed to a 67s game which got us in the spirit!
3. Decked out in head to toe Banana Republic, I had the opportunity to model fall coats on Daytime Ottawa. It was such a fun experience and my outfits were absolutely amazing.
4. Last night Neil and I celebrated four years of being together. After running around town on a scavenger hunt, he finally found me waiting at Murray Street for drinks and dinner. I highly recommend visiting this spot if you’re looking for a delicious meal.
5. Finishing my second half marathon with my dad by my side – I couldn’t have asked for a better running partner!

If you want to link up your post of Friday reflections, head over to TheLaurenElizabeth.com.

Have a great weekend!

xo Lauren

Manicure Monday: Galaxy Nails

Inspired by outer space, these dark but shimmery nails have been making quite a splash in the blog world. After watching a couple tutorials, like these (one and two), I couldn’t wait another day to try them out myself. I’m a huge fan of manicures that look complicated and unique but are easy to achieve – this is one of them. For this manicure you’ll need quite a few different polishes: a black for the base, then you’ll apply a dark blue, followed by purple, followed by white – using a sponge to dab the colours on. Once those layers have dried, you’ll need a translucent and sparkly polish to layer on each nail, followed by a polish with large silver glitter pieces. I highly recommend watching one the tutorials above to see how this manicure is achieved before ruling it out for its complexity.

If you’re rocking a fabulous manicure today, send some pictures my way. Tag me in your nail pics on Instagram or Twitter.

xo Lauren

It’s The Weekend!

After a terrible and fatal tragedy this week, I think it is safe to say that this week was a particularly tough one for the residents of Ottawa. Horrific events like the one that occurred on Wednesday remind us how important it is to cherish every moment, from the smallest things to the biggest accomplishments – I plan to take this as a reminder to love unconditionally and be kind. Life is precious and you only get one chance to live it, so smile and make the most of every day. Here is just a tiny snapshot of some things I am appreciating this week:1.  It is rare that Neil will participate in a race without me, but over the past week he did – and on top of that, he finished with one of the best times of the entire group! I am a very proud girlfriend.
2. This weekend my partying brought me back to the good ol’ university days – who brings a flask with them anymore? Wait – I do.
3. I used to be one of those people who wakes up at the very last moment and runs out the door. Over the past four years, Neil has taught me the importance of relaxing in the morning. Now I can’t imagine going back to whirlwind mornings – spending those 45 minutes drinking coffee and hanging out is one of my favourite parts of the day.
4. Pumpkin = Fall. Sure, but what about apple season! In my mind, apple picking trumps the pumpkin patch – unless I am carving them for Halloween. Speaking of apples, I have an amazing quinoa/oat/apple/cinnamon muffin recipe to share with you soon, if you’re interested.
5. Sunday is my second half marathon. I am so honoured to be running along side with the men and women who risk their lives for our beautiful country. The Canada Army Run is the fastest growing run in the nation over the past five years and I can’t wait to be a part of it! If you’re in Ottawa – take a look at the route and come out and cheer on the runners.

Thank to Lauren for hosting High Five For Friday.

Have a wonderful weekend friends!

xo Lauren

Fashion Is In The Air: A Fall Outfit Post

I know, I know, we are still technically five days away from Fall – but the cooler weather has swept the city with a vengeance. I’m okay with this – I am ready to pull out my chunky sweaters and boots and layer until I can’t layer any more. Vest: Levis / Sweater: Club Monaco / Scarf: Artizia / Jeans: Citizens of Humanity / Booties: Hibou / Sunglasses: Ray-Ban / Purse: Rebecca MinkoffDo you have any pieces that you are dying to pull out of storage as the seasons change?

xo Lauren

Manicure Monday: Leopard Print Double Accents

After two weeks of black and white manicures, I figured it was time to move onto to something a little more interesting. Using OPI French Quarter For Your Thoughts and You’re Such A Budapest, I created a double accent leopard print mani. The leopard print design looks intricate and complicated, but it is arguably one of the easiest to complete with just a few pointers. First, paint your nail a solid base colour. Once this is completely dry, paint random, uneven dots all over nail. Using a third colour – I used the Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen, draw “c” and “u” shapes around the dots you painted before. Fill in any blank spaces with dots and lines in the third colour. If you look closely you can see what I mean!

If you’re rocking a fabulous manicure today, send some pictures my way. Tag me in your mani pics on Instagram or Twitter.

xo Lauren

What’s Great This Week?

Happy Friday the 13th! Bring on the black cats and broken mirrors… just kidding. What I am not kidding about is how awesome this past week has been. Here’s why:

1. Healthy baking creations that are absolutely delicious! I’ll share this recipe next week.
2. Taking part in the Electro Dash with Sarah of My Mostly Healthy Life. She is such a doll – and funny. I can’t wait until we get to hang out again!
3. Date nights with Neezie in Toronto. Nothing beats a night out with someone you love – and good cocktails.
4. Tacos on lettuce wraps – best dinner ever. Seriously, the best.
5. Dating a genius. As much as I complain about participating in his studies – it is really interesting, and even a little fun – but don’t tell him I said that ;).

Thanks as always to Lauren for hosting this bloggy link up!
Have a wonderful day and a great weekend!

xo Lauren

A Day In Valentino

Sometimes an outfit just makes you feel great – this RED Valentino dress does exactly that. It is the little black dress that is work appropriate but still fun and so versatile. It will wear beautifully in the summer with bare legs and through the winter with thick black tights. Dress: RED Valentino / Pumps: ValentinoTreat yourself – life is short!

xo Lauren

Fall Favourites: Beauty and Fashion

It’s time to pack up the shorts, sandals and summer beauty faves – fall is here and bringing deeper, richer hues along with it. A great jacket will keep you warm and dry through the damp, chilly days. This RED Valentino Bow Detailed Parka is subtle in colour but packs a real punch in the details. Keeping things classic and simple will make you feel stylish and confident this Fall.

Simple black and white fashion is trending for Fall. To keep your look fun and unique, wear a long lasting red lip to give off a sexy and polished vibe. This YSL Beauty Rouge Pur Couture glossy stain applies flawlessly and has some serious staying power. My go to colour is Rouge Laque – but head over to your local Sephora to test out a few different shades to see what suits you best. If $34 is a little steep for your budget, L’Oreal Paris Colour Caresse is a pretty awesome dupe, however, the colour selection is not as broad.

No matter the season, flawless skin is always in style. La Roche Posay offers a wide range of skincare products to help correct any imperfections that ail you.

With cool weather on the horizon, it is better to prevent chapped lips before they occur. Using a scrub a couple times a week will keep your lips looking soft and supple, not to mention the great canvas they will make for your deep red polish! This fresh Sugar Lip Polish is gentle and natural and does wonders for dry skin.

Gone are the days of bright nails, but that doesn’t mean you have to have boring nails. Pair this Chanel Vertigo polish with almost any other colour and create fabulous Fall friendly designs. The dark grey cream almost appears black in some light, but it is the shine and easy application that cannot be beat.

Now it is your turn to share your Fall fashion and beauty faves!

xo Lauren

Manicure Monday: Black and White French Tips

Sticking with the black and white theme this week – this manicure is a cross between elegant and trendy. To create this looks, start with a white base, I used essie marshmallow, and then paint the tips with a steady hand using an opaque black.

As always, if you’re wearing a fabulous manicure – send some pictures my way. I’d love to see how your rocking some of the new fall nail trends! Tag me in your mani pics on Instagram or Twitter.

xo Lauren