Blazer & Shorts

 

        There's nothing like classy summer blazers and shorts. I have been beyond obsessed with this outfit combo! Sometime last week, I posted a pic on Instagram showing off the look. With that post being such a big hit, I decided to do a full outfit post of my favorite summer blazer and my flirty short-shorts. The blue, pin-striped blazer seems to have a real sailor-type look to it. I wore a white sheer top to give my outfit a more polished clean look. When it comes to an outfit, knowing when and where to keep it simple goes a long way. The shorts are solid navy-blue, adorned with patterns. Of course, an outfit is never complete without a dash of bling, so I added a statement necklace and bracelet that both had dusted-gold undertones. My shoes, which were a steal by the way, were from Rue21. At only $10, I couldn't walk away! I've worn these shoes to the tee, and they still look brand new. My current summer purse obsession is my white Kenneth Cole handbag, which was just the right finishing touch on my look. This outfit is perfect for the cooler summer days and evenings, especially when going out for a date or an event.     

 

Outfit Essentials:    Blazer: J Crew Top: New York & Comp. Shorts: Old Navy  Heels: Rue21  Jewelry: Charming Charlie Purse: Kenneth Cole Outlet     

July Favorites

I seriously cannot believe that July is over! Add to that the fact that my summer is almost over... Eek! This will be the first of a new segment on Catoura, which will consist of my favorites for a particular month. The following items were my ultimate must-haves for the month of July. What were your monthly favorites?
             

Weekending

This past weekend was filled with fun times shopping, attending events, and relaxing! I hope y'all had a wonderful weekend, and have a fantastic week ahead :) Now, off to my weekend recap!   Ended my Friday night with a scoop of gelato. Thanks bestie for recommending this place :) Oh, how I miss you pistachio gelato! 

Can I just say I am obessed with my toe nail color! It's called "Love's a Beach" by China Glaze. Looks like I'll be wearing this polish for the rest of summer... <3

I don't always drink, but when I do, I prefer a mango mojito. Definitely my new favorite summer drink! 

I really don't need another purse, but come on... Look at this beauty I found at Marshalls! It's a $500 purse marked down to $300! Great discount, but still a hefty price tag :( Ugh, maybe one day... The purse is by Zac Posen; never heard of him, but he makes great purses, lol!

  OMG! So, my favortie Asian bakery is coming to Midtown Atlanta! I seriously can't wait for some jasmine milk tea with boba!!!

Discovered orzo salad for the first time thanks to my man! It's soooo good! 

Hello media pass! I got the chance to attend the Dream Atlanta Project fashion show with my lovely girlfriends. Blog post coming soon :)  

   Happy Fathers Day Dad!   

I truly loved my blonde hair, but it had to go after noticing some major damage. Fragile ends? No thank you! Back to my natural hair color; what do you think? :D

 

 

 

The Weekend

Let me just say that I had one of the best weekends I've had in a long time! To update, I've been extremely busy with work and studying for my exam; so much so that I just needed a break from social media and the blog. With that said, I have some exciting news to share with y'all: this girl finally purchased a DSLR camera!!! It's been too long, but it was so worth waiting for. Anyhow, here is my weekend recap: 

 Poolside bound for the majority of my weekend! Finally got a nice tan :)  

Headed to Atlanta for the Virgina Highlands Summerfest... Ended up in Midtown instead. Mainly due to the rain, but overall it was a fun afternoon come rain or shine!

 Really wanted some authentic Hawaiian food, so we headed Waikiki Hawaiian Restaurant. This place is a must visit if you're in the Atlanta area. It really felt like I was in Hawaii... Maybe one day! I ordered the Pineapple Katsu Chicken; the pineapples on top added a tropical flavor that just melted in my mouth.

 On Sunday, Brian and I woke up extra early to go for a jog in the park before the day got too hot. It really is nice having someone to workout with, especially out jogging. It helps keep me motivated.

I've been eating really clean the past couple of weeks, but the key to my "eating clean" diet is that I allot myself a cheat day twice a week. So, Brian took me to the cutest cupcake cafe located in the heart of Cabbage Town: Sweet Cheats! Looks like I know where to go to on my cheat days from now on ;) Their slogan was right! The cupcake I had was so delicious, and it was totally worth it... No shame!

 Hope y'all are having a wonderful week!

Benefit Foundation & Urban Decay Brush Review

      It's that time of year again! The time when I like to change up my foundation. I've been getting a little sun-kissed lately, causing my skin tone to change slightly. Looks like I'm putting that pale, winter face aside and jumping onto the summer band wagon. It was  about time to change up my makeup too. This past weekend, I headed to Sephora in search of the perfect shade of foundation. I ended up purchasing an item from the "Hello Flawless" collection by Benefit. 

 

TBT Edition: First Spring OOTD from 2013

Can't believe my favorite season of the year is coming soon! I dedicate this TBT (Throw-Back-Thursday) to my first spring outfit from 2013. I still have the top and I plan to wear it again this year. Once I'm done with my spring cleaning I might even find some other tops (stored away for a whole year). Hope y'all are having a wonderful Thursday!

 

   

Drawing from the Heart

    A year ago, in an art class, I met my friend Tammy. We immediately bonded as we laughed at each others corny jokes, and took tons of coffee breaks during our early 8am class... That lasted 3 hours!!! Our professor even enjoyed our company because we always had something to say; we were rarely the quite ones in class. When spring semester ended, Tammy and I still kept in touch. After more meetups, we soon realized we had so much more in common than we already thought. When people meet us they will often think we're sisters. She is not only an amazing friend, but also an extraordinary artist. Her designs are inspired by the art of Hena drawings. I absolutely love her work, and am sure so many others will as well! I'm also very proud of her as she reached recently reached 1,000 followers on Instagram (@paisleycraze). Y'all should definitely follow! Here are some of her pieces that I truly love:

 

 

New Ways To Wear A Scarf

The other day, I Instagramed a photo of myself wearing one of my many scarves (I have a slight addiction that starts up every fall). I wanted to try something a little different to add some flair to the typical scarf look, so I searched on Pinterest for different ways to tie a one. There are literally hundreds of ways you tie a simple scarf! My favorite style (as seen in my Instagram picture) is what I call the "infinity knot." The directions on how to get this beautiful look are shown below, along with a couple of other options. Thank you Pinterest! Happy Tuesday everyone, and I hope you enjoy some new ways to rock those scarves while the weather cools down!!!

I Met Elle and Blair Fowler!!!

 OMG! I can't tell y'all how excited I was to finally meet my all time favorite Youtube Gurus, Elle and Blair. These two pretty ladies are actually from Georgia, so when Macy's told me they were going to be in town I had to stop by to say hi! Not only did I get the chance to meet these fellow vloggers, but I also got to see the fashion show they were putting on. The event showcased some of their favorite pieces for the coming fall season. Overall, I absolutely adored the entire spectacle. I have to say, there's not a better way for a fashion blogger to start her weekend!