Insta-Life [photos]

October has been so amazing! There's a reason this is my favorite time of the year. The crisp air. The temperature cool down. Football. The fair. Halloween! Eeeeek! But that also means it's been a crazy packed month. I decided to do a little round up of a few outfits that don't always get to make it on the blog... Here's a peek into my instagram diary for April. 

polka dot sweater and shorts for a warm fall breakfast

Nothing better than a good ol' plaid blanket scarf, right?

Don't save those sequin pieces just for fancy occasions! I wore mine to church with a chunky sweater and ankle booties

How cute is this Adam Levine Collection dress? It's on sale and oh-so-cute! 

I'm all about suede and corduroy this fall season. LOVE it! 

Don't forget to follow me on instagram [@NRich14] for more behind the scenes fashion and life snaps! Happy Thursday! xo

Insta-Life [photos]

April has been one of those amazingly crazy months where it seemed that every event was happening all at once. It was a really fun last 29 days.. But I'm so thankful that it's almost over! Here's a peek into my instagram diary for April. 

The first of 12 (yes count them, TWELVE) April work events started off with a bang. And a delicious cold Hell or High Watermelon brew. 

A few days before Gisele's retirement, I decided to take my next career move 😂. Just kidding. But I did have fun walking in Parlor Dry Bar's spring fashion show for The Impeccable Pig.

I just had to have this amazing multi-color cork clutch that I found at Moon & Lola's new Cameron Village store. Isn't the gold tassel just the icing on the cake?

We had our Southern Blog Society NC Meet Up this month at the Kendra Scott Southpoint store in Durham. More on that to come!

Aren't these Kendra Scott earrings from the new Via Maya collection just fantastic? 

Shop them here: Ear Cuffs || Studs

Sometimes we just need a Monday reminder to keep the Good Vibes coming. Thanks Happy + Hale.

Going for the gold on my desk! Notebook || Stapler || Business Card Holder || Sharpie

Had an absolute blast hosting The Impeccable Pig's birthday party! Here's a sneak peek of my outfit.

Don't forget to follow me on instagram [@NRich14] for more behind the scenes fashion and life snaps! Happy Wednesday! xo

5 Tips and Secrets to Feel Your Best

We've all been there.. going through that slump, having down days (or weeks) or you just can't seem to pull yourself out of that funk. At least I know I have! Life is full of ebbs and flows. So I thought why not share with you some favorite things I do to help me feel my best, boost my confidence and be the best "Me" that I can be!

Workout / Exercise:

Okay now before you roll your eyes hear me out. It's a scientific fact that exercise betters your life. Have you ever noticed just how good you sleep when you're working out or how much easier it is to get through the day (hello energy!) There's something to be said for that. So why not get off the couch and move around! Find what inspires you to stay fit whether it's a dance class, yoga group, cross fit or just a brisk walk around the park outside! The point here is to be healthy, but also to [somewhat] enjoy what you're doing. Liking the activity will make it so much easier to stick with it.

My secret to getting through my workouts? Neon Workout Wear!

Exercise Your Brain i.e. Read!

Guess what: working out your brain is just as important as exercising your body. Reading keeps your mind sharp, vocabulary count up and can be a fabulous mind escape. Think about what interests you and then look for some great books on that topic. I've dubbed myself an omni-reader meaning I read anything from biographies to girly books to health books (like this Cameron Diaz one) to magazines and newspapers. My husband, who wasn't always a for-fun reader, often reaches for business-minded books. There is no one right answer to "What Should I Read?" Just go exploring and discover what you enjoy!

My secret to reading on a budget? Visit the library... hello it's FREE!

INDULGE!

Okay so I know I talk a lot about healthy habits which include eating. I pride myself on being very aware of what I put into my body. However everybody needs a little moderation here and there. There's no way I'm turning down a beignet in New Orleans or depriving myself of 1 beer while at my favorite band's concert (Dave Matthews). One thing Billy and I can't say no to? Burgers! Though I usually prefer turkey, we try to eat burgers & fries at least once a month. Why? Because if we didn't we'd go insane!! The key here is moderation and learning not to over indulge. 

My secret to indulgence? Take your splurge during the week so you don't always feel the need to go buck wild every weekend and spoil your hard work during the week!

Look Up, Down, All Around!

Okay so as cheesy as that may have sounded.. it's so true! Sometimes we forget the gorgeousness that is Mother Nature! Sure a few of these photos were taken on vacations/getaways (Turks & Caicos!) But some were taken off our balcony, at a friends house, even outside a restaurant while we were waiting for dinner! Sometimes we get so bogged down in our schedules we forget to just take a moment and breathe the earth in

My secret to capturing amazing moments? Try to catch the sun rising or setting - the sky can sometimes surprise you by just how beautiful it is!

Volunteer / Give Back to the Community:

I must admit this is one that I don't do as often as I should. But once every couple of months I volunteer with Urban Ministries of Wake County. They often have events or opportunities to me give several hours or days of my time. It's true what they say about giving back - it really does make a difference with you. You recognize how you can really help someone and make an impact in their lives. And by volunteering your own time, you really learn to appreciate all you have in your life 

My secret to keeping up with volunteering? Go through your calendar for the year and ever 2 months write: Find an Organization to Volunteer at. That way when you come around to that month you'll already have your reminder set up!

So there are my 5 tips that help keep me in my best frame of mind. What do you do that makes you feel your best??

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2013 Outfits in Review

 

One || Two || Three || Four

Five || Six || Seven || Eight

Nine|| Ten || Eleven || Twelve

Thirteen || Fourteen || Fifteen || Sixteen

 

I kind of gotta be honest.. I'm not sad to see 2013 go. Although it was a big year for BAD and for myself.. it was definitely one of my most challenging years yet. We had a major cross country move and that just kind of shook up a lot of emotions in me.

 

Thankfully, it was a good year for outfits! I've rounded up a few of my favorites and looking back at them is kind of inspiring for 2014! I'm REALLY excited for this year and all it is going to bring. Let's do this 2-0-1-4!

A Little Holiday Unplug...

image via

I'm going to take a bit of a break on the blog over the next few weeks. I want to focus on the holidays with my family and re-vamp some stuff for BAD. You can still find me on Instagram & Twitter while I'm unplugging from the blog but my Facebook page might be a little radio silent. 

Don't worry I will be back - I promise! 2014 is already looking very bright! :) xoxo

Saying Goodbye

 

I apologize for my absence on the blog the past few days.. We said goodbye to a wonderful woman last week and even though we were expecting to, it still didn't hurt any less when we did.

 

Thankfully our family rallied around each other and we had a true celebration of the 98 years that God gave us our MeeMa. This independent, bold and incredibly smart woman taught our family more than we will ever truly know. She was more than influential on my mother and later on myself. I hope that I can someday be 1/10th of the woman she was! We love you MeeMa!!

To The Beach ---->

 

I swear I had every intention of blogging on my vacation.. outfits lined up.. wish lists to be posted.. comments to respond to....

 

But after taking 1 look at our "backyard" for 8 days (above) I knew all those good intentions had completely floated away. I promise I'll be back on Monday with new posts. Until then I'll be drinking Coronas and playing in the sea!

 

P.S. ILY Couture picked a winner for my Retail Therapy sweatshirt giveaway.. congratulations to Melissa from Melissa's Sweet Style! :)

 

Headed East/Update

As I write this post from my cell phone, traveling through Arizona, our entire lives packed in 2 pods & our 4Runner, I am a mixed ball of emotions. It's really happening. We're leaving sunny gorgeous LA to head back home to NC. Bill's got a great gig lined up and (praise the Lord) we'll be closer to family. But I can't help feeling super sad. So many amazing memories in this crazy-but-fabulous town. (the smell of the ocean from my front door and 75 degree winter days are 2 favs I will not forget) but what's probably the hardest thing is leaving behind our SoCal friends who really turned into our family over these past few years. They're all very special people. But I'm really trying to remind myself to look to the future during this transition and what that means for us.

So as we travel cross country and start to get settled into our new lives I'll be posting a bit less frequently. But just bear with me. I promise I'll be back real soon! In the mean time, follow me on Instagram & Twitter for our road trip adventure!

And if we met at LuckyFABB, I can't wait to share this next new step with you too!! xoxo

Five Things

As of late this is me:

 

image via

 

I just realized that LuckyFABB is literally in 2 days.. our apartment is a wreck with clothes and boxes strewn everywhere.. and I just can't seem to put 1 foot in front of the other lately without taking 3 steps back. I have a feeling that the above photo will continue to represent Bill & I for the next few weeks or months...

 

So I wanted to have a bit of fun with this next post. A few weeks ago while in Hawaii I was tagged by the lovely Danielle from Lou What Wear to reveal 5 things about myself that people may or may not know. (You've probably seen these posts going around the blogsphere) I've racked my brain and even though these are mostly (or probably) super well know - it's still fun to share a little something!

 

1. I'm a closet beauty junkie

On a normal day to day basis I hardly wear makeup. I'm a firm believer that a bit of bronzer and a swipe of lipstick can go a long way. Yet I'm obsessed with makeup and beauty products. I have tons of eye shadows, blushes, lip pencils, hair care.. the list goes on and on. And I love experimenting with new looks or of-the-moment trends (like right now I'm obsessed with smokey blue eyes). I should really try to wear them on the reg!

 

2. I'm addicted to candy

This isn't really too much of a secret since it's a habit I try to break and continue to fail. In our house I'm always stockpiling bags of sour patch kids, starbursts and twizzlers. I prefer anything sour over chocolate but I'm an equal opportunist (meaning I don't mind reaching for a handful of Reese's Pieces every now and then) One thing's for sure - I can credit my sugar binges for that extra layer of skin around my stomach ;)

 

3. I'm a total bookworm

I'm that kid who read every book the summer reading list plus 5 more. When I was 6 I used to hid a flashlight and a pile of books under my sheets so I could secretly read after lights out. I love everything from biographies to teen novels to romance to thrillers. I don't think I'll ever get used to these e-readers. There's nothing better than the smell of a great book - especially when it's passed on from a good friend.

 

4. I'm obsessed with commercials

Sometimes, when I'm watching a DVR'ed show I forget to fast forward because I'm so interested in the commercials! My parents said when I was little I used to run into the room when commercials came on and run back out when the show started again. Right now my favorites are the AT&T kids commercials - so hilarious!

 

5. I'm a hoarder

It really is a good thing I married such an OCD clean freak because I might be in trouble... I'm nowhere near those crazies on that TLC show, but I definitely have an issue letting go of stuff. I hold on to movie tickets, clothing tags, business cards, receipts, the list really goes on. I'm really excited about the possibility of moving into a bigger space so that I can try and work on staying organized!

 

So there they are! Some fun facts about me.. now I'm tagging some of my fav ladies to see what they have to say!

 

Ashley

Sara

Ashley

Chelsea

Laura

The Beginning of the End [photos]

So before we move back east, Bill and I decided that we wanted to visit our favorite places here and around in L.A. We started last week by visiting Disneyland, Santa Anita & Las Vegas. Here's just a few of our photos from those adventures! Oh & make sure you're following me on instagram or Facebook to keep up with our favorite spots!

 

 

I had to get a pretzel at Disneyland - especially when I saw it was shaped like Mickey's face!

 

Visiting Santa Anita with our good friend Amy

 

My best equestrian look for a day at the races

 

Night 1 in Vegas - Black & White

 

We splurged and ending up seeing the Beatles Love Cirque du Soleil show. 1 word - Amazeballs.

 

Me & Bill at Beatles Love - I promise he owns more than 2 red plaid shirts ;)

 

Headed to the Eiffel Tower restaurant at Paris - notice what's on my feet?! Yes sir! I found these babies! ahhhhhh!

 

Next up is Hawaii! We've never been and I am so freaking excited!! If anyone has any suggestions about what to do - please send them to us! We're visiting Kaua'i and I think we've already got a helicopter tour planned... Eeeeek! Happy weekend everyone!! xo

Some MAJOR news....

Remember the big announcement I told you guys about... well it's finally time to reveal it! We are....... moving!

 

our actual road trip route on our way back East!

4 years ago, we started planning our big move to the West Coast. We road tripped it across the country (one of the most fun things we've ever experienced together) and landed in Los Angeles. Now, 4 years later (almost exactly to the day) we're doing the exact same thing, but we're headed back East.

 

Yes, we are (very sadly) leaving LA and (very excitedly) heading home to North Carolina. We've been talking about it for a while, but talking isn't doing. And after Thanksgiving, we finally decided to see what doors would open if we started looking. It's actually kind of crazy what happened.. you know in that totally-cheesy-meant-to-be kind of way. Bill found an absolutely fantastic opportunity in my hometown of Raleigh and we're leaving California April 9th!

 

We'll eventually end up about 20 minutes away from my parents and I think that's probably my favorite part about this move. I'm also really excited about moving BAD to Raleigh. I think there will be some great opportunities to grow there. And I'm super pumped about finding new southern bloggers to have dates with! If you're a NC based blogger - I want to connect with you!!

 

I'm so incredibly bummed to be leaving this gorgeous city (it's going to be 80+ degrees today) but I'm so incredibly thankful for the past 4 years here. We've made so many wonderful friends, lived by the beach and truly enjoyed our time in Southern California. The good news? - we have many reasons to come back and visit.

 

So over the next 6 weeks come along for the ride as we say Goodbye to Los Angeles. We've got lots of trips planned, restaurants to visit and events to attend. You'll want to keep up with me on instagram, Facebook & Twitter for all the deets.  I can't wait to share the end of this journey and the beginning of our next with you. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!! xo

 

original map image via

2013 Goals {and celebrating 2012}

2012 was pretty fabulous. It was challenging, exciting, exhausting & life changing. I never thought I'd be where I am right now but the last 12 months have taught me a lot. I'm hoping for 2013 to be another year of change.

 

 Before I list my 2013 goals below, I just wanted to say a BIG thank you to all my readers our there! You truly pushed me to step up my blogging game and for that I am forever grateful! I still feel like BAD has a long road ahead to get it where I want it to be.. but I feel like it's headed in the direction I need it to be. And without you, that wouldn't be possible!

 

I met a few of last year's goals (seen here) but this year I want to get a bit more specific.. and I figure what better way to stay accountable than listing them here.. (You'll remember I don't really believe in resolutions but working towards a finish line)

 

1. Continue my workout & diet 4 - 6 days a week.

Okay this was on last year's list but I really do love my workout program and I stayed on track for a good part of last year. But after LuckyFABB I kind of fell off the wagon.. so it's time to get back on the wagon and drive full speed ahead

 

2. Post at least 2 outfit posts a week

I vowed to do more outfit posts in 2012 and I did! But now I'm ready to get even more serious. The last few weeks I haven't felt motivated to shoot anything so I thought setting a specific goal would get me moving.

 

3. Make at least 1 - 2 phone calls to family & friends per week (and get over my fear of Skype)

Being so far away from everyone who is important to me has made it tough on a few of my relationships. I'm thankful that we can connect through texts & emails but sometimes face-to-face or voice-to-voice contact is so important. And even though the time change is a hurdle, sometimes I am super lazy and rely on that excuse too much. Oh also, I have a weird Skype phobia - it totally creeps me out. I know, I know, it's completely strange/weird but I hope 2013 can kick that fear.

 

4. Find a new to charity to connect with and volunteer my time/gifts with them

I found a few fun organizations that I got involved with last year but I know I can always give more. I'd really like to find a non-profit that I can have a more permanent schedule with i.e. come in once a month on a regular basis.

 

5. Do at least 1 DIY project a month

This is probably my most challenging goal.. haha as silly as that sounds. I am terrible with DIYs but I always want to do them! I think it would be so much fun to turn it into a girls night in. Have some apps, drink some wine & tackle a project together.

 

So what are some of your 2013 goals? Anything that you're really hoping to accomplish? I'm challenging you guys to hold me to my goals!! Happy Wednesday loves!

A Dose of Honesty

Hello!! I am back :) Thanks for letting me take a little time off.. I needed to step back and think about a few things.. And I decided I wanted to share a little bit right now.. A few weeks ago I read this amazing post by Whitley from Queen City Style. We met through blogging - but finally had some face-to-face time during my New York trip last year. I really admired her openness and honesty - and it prompted me to re-think and re-evaluate this blog. I want to make sure I am putting my best work forward. And I realized.. that until I was honest with myself, I couldn't really be honest with my readers.

So I decided it was time to take a bit of break. And I did. No real blogging. No checking my stats or obsessing over my followers. I holed up in my apartment with a marathon of Law & Order: SVU (no like an actual marathon on USA.. okay if we're being honest it was a 3 day marathon) and just reflected. For me, I fall into the trap of "The Blogging is Always Greener on the Other Side" It's so easy to view other women's blogs and think "She has the perfect life" or "I wish I had her clothes" I often find myself wondering "Maybe if I had enough money I could look like that" or "Wow! She's gorgeous - What the heck do I think I'm doing?" I know that I can't be alone in these thoughts yet I don't want to feel this way. I want to feel inspired and challenged. Not envy and jealousy.

Blogging can be such an amazing creative outlet. But it can also be a farce. A false sense of what's really going on. I don't like to post on here to be showy or self-absorbed. But sometimes, I wonder if it comes off that way. Because that's not my true intention. And as much as I pride myself on "keeping it real" on BAD, I'm worried that I have only shown a certain side of myself. One that I want people to believe I have.

But here are the truths: I have insecurities just like everyone else. I fight with my husband and get homesick for my family. I get utterly consumed with questions like am I pretty enough, thin enough, nice enough, tough enough... (this list can go on and on) I miss my close friends - you know the ones who have seen you at your deepest and darkest - red-faced and runny nosed while you hysterically let out your feelings. And while I have enjoyed the last 4 years in LA, I have a serious love-hate relationship with it. It's not necessarily NYC-kick-your-ass tough, but it's a hard city to live in sometimes. It truly is the "Land of the Pretty People" & can spotlight your insecurities in an instant. It's also "Land of the Fake People" which can in turn make you feel alone. Insecure & alone? Not exactly the best combination.

My point being this, I want to be sure I am "keeping it real" on here. I want to be honest and truthful with you guys. I want to truly be the transparent gal I claim to be. So yes, this blog will continue to stay Fashion-Focused. And no, I promise not to turn it into a day-by-day diary of feelings. But every now and then, I may insert a few thoughts here and there about me. How I'm feeling, what I'm thinking or what I'm experiencing. And I hope that's okay with you :) Thanks for listening! :) xo

image via Instagram

A Day At The Races: Santa Anita Park

 

Just a short, quick post today! Lots coming up this week :)

 

Yesterday, we took advantage of LA's fall heat wave and headed up to the Santa Anita Track for the last races of the season. For my husband, originally from Kentucky, the racetrack is a small taste of home. Plus he was excited that it was "Fan Appreciation Day" which didn't mean much to me except popcorn & pink lemonade only cost 50 cents (I'm not telling you how many I had of each.. let's just say I got my money's worth)

P.S. Is that not the cutest little Jack Russell you've ever seen? Her name is Izzy and I wanted to take her home with us! After all.. I think it's time for The Jacky to have a little sister! :)

Video: Celebrating 4 Years...

Today, Billy and I are celebrating our 4th anniversary. Not exactly a "milestone" in terms of 5,10,15 etc.... but it's been an extremely exciting year for us. We've accomplished a lot of goals we set out to meet when when said "I Do" I couldn't more proud of where we're at right now.

Marriage is never easy and we've certainly learned a lot about each other and ourselves over the past 6 years together. But knowing that I get share my ups and downs with him is a comfort and joy that I can't explain.

Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of our photos digitally, so I thought I would share one of our videos with you readers. Our videographer was so amazing and clever, creating "Trailers" and "Music Videos" with scenes from our big day. Here's one that's so cute!

I Might Be A Zombie....

I had every intention of today's post being filled with fun photos from our week long vacation. Really, I did. Alas, Delta Airlines and JFK airport had a different plan for us.....
 

After being delayed for more than 3 hours we finally arrived at our apartment last night at 3:30 AM (p.s. this is pacific time. Our bodies were still running on Eastern time.... uh yeah) Exhausted we climbed into bed to sleep for a measly 3.5 hours before getting up to start our day....
 

So to keep from being such a grouch, I'll stop this post now and try again tomorrow!

Before the craziness of delayed departures and turbulent weather... all smiles and tanness!

Palm Springs Bound

{Some shots from past Palm Springs Trips}

Happy Friday! I don't know about you but I am super excited that the weekend is here - we are headed to our home away from home, Palm Springs! Ready for 3 days of margaritas, pool time, tans and music! What are you doing this weekend?! Happy early Cinco de Mayo! xoxoxo

P.S. don't forget to enter my giveaway - it ends on Tuesday!!