September is Self Improvement Month!

Did you know that September is Self Improvement Month? What a perfect little push to set and achieve some great goals for yourself this month. I just hopped off an online conference call with my Chloe + Isabel peeps, where we talked all about ways to make our business extraordinary for the month of September!

Here are some of my tips for setting goals:

- Write them down! According to some statistics, people who write down their goals are 30% more likely to achieve them.
- Set small monthly goals for yourself to put yourself closer to a bigger goal. For example, if you want to lose 50 pounds. Set a goal to lose 10, then 10 more, and so on. Some say that this isn't the best way to reach a goal, but I find that it works for me!
- Make sure your goals are realistic! It's important to push yourself, but if you set unrealistic goals, you'll only end up disappointing yourself and losing focus.

What are your goals for the month?
XO, Lizzie

Hello September!

Hello September!

Even though the weather has it feeling like the dead of summer here in Florida, my favorite time of year is finally upon us! It won't be long before crisper air, fall decorations, pumpkin spice lattes, and cozy sweaters. Don't get me wrong, I love summer, but something about fall is just so wonderful!

With the start of my new semester, I'm really excited to make some changes and introduce some new things into my life, including my more consistent blog and the YouTube channel I'll be starting! 

Have a happy September!

XO, Lizzie 

MTV Movie Awards 2014 Favorites

The 2014 MTV Movie Awards were Sunday night and I know I'm a few days late, but I have decided to round up some of my favorite stars, looks, and hilarious moments of the night...

Favorite Dress:

Easter Sunday Outfit Ideas

Hello, ma peeps! How is you doing? Can you believe that Easter is next Sunday? That means April is always gone and the semester is almost finished! Where does the time go? Anyyywho...I put together a few Easter outfit ideas to kind of help get the wheels turning and provide inspiration when you put together your outfits!

ACM Awards 2014 Fashion

Last night was the 2014 ACM Awards hosted by my boys Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton. I figured I need to be a typical "fashion blogger" and make a post talking about my favorite (and also least-favorite) looks of the night! Shall we start with the best?

Nail of the Day: Color Club Reign In Spain

I may have found my go-to nail polish for the summer. I know, I know, spring has only just begun, but when I was switching out my polish, I decided to opt for one I hadn't used yet. My eye landed on this.

Color Club Reign In Spain is a varnish I received in a Birchbox back in June. If I'm not mistaken, it's a Birchbox exclusive shade. I adored the color when I got it, but for whatever reason, I got put into my collection and then didn't see the light of day...until today. The website describes Reign In Spain as "a fiery coral that evokes summer days under the Mediterranean sun." I couldn't have said it better myself! The neon aspect of the polish brings out the oh-so-subtle tan I am hardly sporting right now, so in the dead of summer, it'll look even better after I've been basking in our Florida sunshine!

My only complaint is that Reign In Spain it a little bit sticky - that also might be because it's sat untouched for almost a year - but it wasn't so sticky that I couldn't work with it.

Reign In Spain is available on the Birchbox wesbite in a 4-piece "Wanderlust" collection alongside London Calling, a sunny mint green; Pardon My French, a candied lavender; and Mod In Manhattan, a brilliant off-white...all four are perfect for summer, whether you're lucky enough to travel to the cities, or just day dreaming about it like me! 

Where are YOU dying to travel this summer??

XO, Lizzie

Greetings from Tresco Isle!

I am super excited to share the new Chloe + Isabel Spring 2014 Capsule Collection, which was just launched last night! The 12-piece limited edition collection titled Tresco Isle is inspired by the tropical florals and gardens of Tresco, off the coast of England.   

The first 8 pieces features glorious color-splashed cabochons, clear crystals, and semi-precious howlite navettes. They are absolutely perfect for spring and summer because the bright colors make a statement with any outfit. I’m obsessed with those coral post drop earrings! We’re also excited to launch our first ever stud duos; 2 pairs of stud earrings for only $28!

If you asked me what my all-time favorite piece from Chloe + Isabel was, it would hands-down be our multi wrap bracelets. So when I saw that we were coming out with two new ones, I about lost it! I’m literally so obsessed with the bright multi-colored one, I HAVE to get my hands on it. The rhinestone bracelets are equally amazing…and I’m not just biased by the fact that I’m a huge bracelet girl! Now that I’ve raved enough, let me tell you some cool stuff about them. Woven in the beads and chains is stunning exclusive prints from London’s famous Liberty Arts Fabrics. So it’s like limited edition within limited edition!!

Check out the collection (and the rest of our springtime must-haves) on my boutique!

Which piece is your fave??

XO, Lizzie

March Madness + Life Update

Happy April! I am so thrilled to be starting a new month. The title of this post is March Madness: not because of basketball, but because my March was madness. Not only was I bogged down with schoolwork, but I also quit my job of 2 ½ years. It was an extremely stressful job and quitting was something I should have done a long time ago. Although things ended in not the best way, I honestly felt a huge wave of relief.

March wasn’t all bad! I got a new job that I can do from home, opening me up to focus on school like I need to and have a more flexible schedule. Also, spring break was this past week! I was lucky enough to spend it with my good friend Valerie, Jordan, and Jill at Playlist Live in Orlando. I hadn’t seen them in over a year so it was really special to be able to spend my vacation with them. However, the last few days of break, I got hit with a cuh-razy stomach virus that I'm still attempting to recover from. I finally feel better, but it'll be a few more days 'til I regain my strength.

So now that my schedule is freed up a little, I am determined to make this blog amazing and finally start my YouTube channel! Keep an eye out fot it!

How are you going to make April amazing?!

XO, Lizzie

OPI You're Such A Budapest

Since Spring is just about here, it's time to break out the pastel polishes and I decided to start springtime off with my all-time favorite pastel -- OPI You're Such A Budapest. The polish is described as a creamy periwinkle purple that is absolutely perfect for spring. It also has very, very slight shimmer that really can only be seen in sunlight. The only downside to You're Such a Budapest is that it is a little bit sheer, so it requires two coats for complete opacity. But the color is so beautiful that is it well worth it. It's also a perk that it happens to match my brand new ring!

What's your favorite Spring polish?

XO, Lizzie

Resolution Update | 1 Month Later

Hey! So, I decided to revisit my 10 New Years Resolutions post to see how I have been doing so far and see what areas still need improvement. So here is a one month later update on my resolutions…

Fresh Mani Friday | OPI Bright Lights, Big Color

Since all the cold weather we've had here in SoFlo has taken quite a toll on my hands, I decided to treat myself to a much overdue manicure this afternoon. (Plus, I've been keeping up my resolutions for 3 weeks now so I figure I deserve it, haha). OPI Bright Lights, Big Color is a gorgeous bright orange-y coral with tiny gold shimmers running through it. I love the way it looks when the sunlight catches it because it really glows! It also was opaque in 2 coats. This polish definitely something I would normally reserve for summer, but I didn't have the best morning today so I figured I needed something to brighten up my day a little!

You can see a little bit of the gold shimmer in this picture! What's on your nails this weekend?

XO, Lizzie

Miami Beach Photo Diary

Miami | Art Deco Weekend 2014

This past weekend, my momma and I took a trip down to Miami Beach for the 37th Annual Art Deco Weekend and had absolute blast!

Chloe + Isabel Spring 2014 | Morningtide Sets Sail!

Yesterday was a big day for Chloe + Isabel because the first pieces of our long-awaited Morningtide Spring 2014 Collection launched and are some of the most gorgeous pieces ever! The 14-pieces collection is all inspired by "a sunrise walk along a pebbly shore" and feature all sorts of nautical-inspired elements in their intricate designs. The color palette of the collection is elements of light pink, navy, and grey, making all of the pieces perfect must-haves for transitioning your style into spring!

I ordered a few pieces to add to my sample shop and they'll be arriving tomorrow! I just can't wait to see them in person and start styling them! ❤ What are some of your favorites? Let me know! 

XO, Lizzie
Check out the new collection + the rest of our gorgeous line at Chloe + Isabel by Lizzie!

DIY Necklace + Earring Board

I recently made myself a new jewelry display piece. Okaaaaaaay, so I got some help from my momma and dad too. Gotta give them credit! I wish I’d made a video or taken pictures of the process, but I didn’t think of that ‘til after the fact. Ooooops! So hopefully these steps and photos will make sense. Steps after the jump!

Step 1: Find a frame. It can be any size, any color, whatever you wish. I found mine from a thrift store, so it was super affordable. Take out all the components so that all you have is the frame.

Step 2: Get a piece of pegboard and cut it (or have your dad do it, like I did! Haha!) to fit inside the frame.

Step 3: Go to the craft store and find some burlap, and wrap the front of the pegboard with it.

Step 4: If you want this to be only for necklaces, then skip this step. I was lucky enough to find a filigree wreath hanger that I cut, bent, and distorted for my earring section, but other options could be a strip of lace, a wire, or even some ribbon.

Step 5: After placing the wire/ribbon/etc, attach the burlap pegboard inside the frame using glue. 

Step 6: This is the fun part! Pick out knobs! Make them all different, get all the same, get different knobs shapes and sizes in all one color, do whatever you want! Then using thumbtacks, figure out where you want all of your knobs to be.

Step 7: Once you’re satisfied with the placement, poke a hole in the burlap through the peg where you want each knob, and push the knob through the burlap. Screw the nut back onto the back of the knob and tighten all the way. Continue ‘til all the knobs are secure.

Step 8: Now, you need to cut down the back of the knobs so that the board will lay flat against the wall. My dad used a dremal to do this. 

Step 9: Hang it on the wall.

Step 10: Add your jewels and enjoy!!

Without a video or step by step pictures, it makes it a little complicated to follow along, so please feel free to reach out to me with questions!

XO, Lizzie

NYE Nails: OPI Suzi & The 7 Düsseldorfs + OPI It’s My Year

When it comes to New Year’s Eve, sparkles and shimmery are a must! This NYE my original plans to ring in 2014 in Miami fell through, which was a disappointment (at least, there’s always next year!), so we ended up having a small get-together at our house, which ended up being a blast! Because we were at home, I didn’t get super dolled up and opted to keep things casual, but that didn’t stop me from indulging in shimmery nails!

My 10 New Year's Resolutions

Can you believe 2014 is in less than 24 hours!? I've been compiling myself a list of resolutions for the new year like most people do, and these are the top 10 things I would like to improve on and acomplish in the coming year!

1. Exercise more

This one is a given. Nearly every person makes this a resolution after stuffing up on holiday goodies. I make this a resolution every single year and never have followed through. But this year, I'm going to get into an exercise routine, eat cleaner, and establish a healthier lifestyle overall so that I can reap the benefits now and for years to come. Doesn't mean I'm not going to indulge every once in a while, but I want to get to a point where when I do treat myself, I don't feel like crap after.

2. Take my makeup off every night

I have been really, really, really, really bad about this lately. It's surprising my skin is as good as it is, considering how often I sleep with day-old makeup still caked on my face. I want to make sure to start taking better care of my skin in general too, like daily moisturizing and always applying an eye cream.

3. Relax more

I would love to take the time to relax more often. Now, I’m not saying I never relax. I do all the time. But, I’m talking real secluded relaxation and time to myself. Like turning off my phone and computer so I can take a nice, long bubble bath or curl up with a good book. I think it would be really great for my mental health overall. 

4. DIY projects galore!

Like most girls, I'm a Pinterest crazy person! I pin sooo many awesome DIY projects that I would love to try and then never make time for myself to actually do them. So as a resolution, I would like to start planning some time for me to actually make things and get creative.

5. Wear clothes

I’m not saying that I’ve been naked for the past 21 years! But I have tons of really cute clothes that tend to go unloved, so one of my resolutions is to scour my closet and break out those pieces that haven’t seen the light of day in a while. I want to experiment with different outfit ideas that I just may not have thought of just yet! And the ones that don't get worn, will get donated to people who will use them more!

6. Try new makeup + hair styles

Similar to #5, I want to start experimenting with my makeup and hair a little more in order to break out of my straight hair, neutral eye shadow rut. So time to break out the purple eyeliner and curling wand and have a little fun! I’m going to make a point of trying something new at least once at week.

7. Indulge in more hobbies

Photography, crafts, precision shooting, fishing…I have a wide variety of hobbies that I love or new ones that I would like to try, so I’d like to take more time to do all of the things I love. One thing I have especially been dying to do is take my Nikon one day and explore my town, taking pictures of everything I see.

8. Soak up the sun

I am someone who is very fortunate to live less than 15 minutes from the beach. I am also someone who never takes advantage of this fact, which really is a shame. So I want to start spending some of my days off soaking up the sunrays and work on my tan. (With a little SPF, of course!) This could also be a great opportunity to partake in resolution #7!

9. Connect with old friends

In high school, I had a great little group of friends, but since college, we have all grown apart a little. It's really a shame because I don't live that far from any of them. So I want to make it a point to reconnect with them and spend time with them on weekends I have off.

10. Be happy

This is vague and frankly, I don't know how to explain it really. I think I just want to stop beating myself up about things I can't control, not let the little things get to me, and just enjoy this beautiful life that has been given to me.

Bonus #11: BLOG CONSISTENTLY! ;)

I hope you have a happy and prosperous new year!

XO, Lizzie

Holiday Gift Guide: What To Buy HER

I'm about to go Christmas gift shopping with my best friend, who just got home from school for winter break! I was brainstorming some gift ideas ahead of time, so I thought I'd do a little research and post a few ideas here, so maybe someone else can find a little inspiration. I think I might do a gift guide for guys too :) Anyway...here are some of my favorite gift options!

Anybody who ever asks me about what the best makeup palette to give as a gift, my answer is always Urban Decay Naked or Naked2 palette. For myself, I prefer the Naked2 palette because it has cooler colors that tend to look better with my skin tone and eye color, while the original Naked has warmer, golden colors. But I own both and adore both, so it depends on personal preference and what you think the gift recipient would get more use out of. I haven't even seen Naked3 yet!

I'm a merchandiser for an amazing jewelry company called Chloe + Isabel. All of our pieces are handcrafted, hypoallergenic, lead and nickel free, and come with a lifetime replacement warranty. Our Pearl + Crystal Spike Drop Earrings are a great gift idea for friends with any style and taste because the pearl gives them a classic feels while the black diamond crystal spike bring them to a little bit of an edgier look, so they have a very balanced style. Also they are very lightweight and can dress up an outfit in a flash!  

A set of nail polish is another really great gift because pretty much every girl loves nail polish! There are always sooo many to choose from around holiday time and you can always find some that fit your budget, as well as, the recipient's style.

The Bead + Chain Multi Wrap Bracelet from Chloe + Isabel is an amazing gift idea because it is such a versatile piece. Not only can it be worn as a multi-wrapped bracelet, but it can also be a necklace, a headband, and sometimes even a belt. You can dress it up with an LBD and it also looks amazing with jeans and a plain white shirt. It comes in the evergreen color, as well as, bright blue and hot pink. We also have two new Vintage Casting Multi Wrap Bracelets that feature a beautiful vintage casting piece that is gorgeous to wear for holiday parties!

LUSH Gift Packages are perfect gift ideas for just about everyone simply because there are sooo many to chose from. You can get $15 sets which are perfect for co-workers,  nieces, Secret Santa gifts or you can spend $100 and get an amazing pampering set for your momma. They also all contain different things so they really could be for men too. Pre-wrapped and perfectly adorable for quick and easy gift-giving.

Slatkin & Co candles form Bath & Body Works are amazing and are also another great gift option for the girls in your life! There are so many to choose from and they're such amazing quality. The best part is B&BW usually offers them 2 for $22 so you can knock out two gifts for the price of one!

Another great option from Chloe + Isabel is one of our sterling silver pendants. My particular favorite is the "Straight Shooter" because it represents shooting to reach your goals. Each one comes wrapped with a little message in a bottle and will be something the recipient can keep in their jewelry wardrobe for years and years, always thinking of you when they wear it.

(Photo from ShopColies.com)

With holiday parties in full swing, and New Year's Eve parties on their way, why not treat your BFF (or even yourself, like I did) to an adorable, affordable sequined clutch. I found these babies at ShopColies.com and just snagged myself a gold one and a silver one. Chances are, I'll be back for the red and green very soon!

Welcome to "Manicures + Margaritas!"

Helllllllo Internet! My name is Lizzie. I'm a 21 year old college student living in the sand and sun of good ol' South Florida. Besides being a student, I also work in a local clothing boutique and am an aspiring actor. I love all things fashion, beauty, DIY, and basically anything and everything involving creativity and expression, like many other girls. I also enjoy trying new things and exploring the world around me.

The other day, I was sitting in class (daydreaming, no doubt) and it dawned on me: I should start a blog! Even if not a soul reads it, it would provide an outlet for all of the creative and inspiring thoughts that run rampant in this lil' noggin of mine. So basically, this blog is going to be my new baby! I will nurture and care for it, and I look forward to seeing where it will take me and welcome you aboard! Enjoy!

XO -- Lizzie

PS - The layout is VERY temporary, until I design something cooler.