Venus black and white dress (similar)

Aldo heels (similar)

Michael Kors watch

The best way to cover up a Sunday feast, aka bloated tummy, is definitely with a black and white pattern dress. I particularly love this one, since it is also quite stretchy and falls fairly nicely. Although it is currently out of stock, I have linked a similar style below.

Onto talking about the weekend, I wish that yours was much more exciting than mine. I must admit though, that my weekend was quite relaxing. I found myself cooking a lot - which is something I rarely do, but is something that I enjoy. My husband and I have committed to a new way of eating that does require eating A LOT of food (more on this in the next few days). 

I'd love to hear about your weekend!

Asos bow bardot dress

Asos heels

Boohoo pink dress

Prada Wallet on a Chain

Michael Kors gold watch

I had the best time judging the Miss World Canada pageant this week in Toronto. Throughout the week I judged 57 contestants in the categories of interview, evening gown, talent, and beauty with a cause. I also had the opportunity to judge the final show, where we got to crown the winner.

Listed above are two of the dresses I wore throughout the week. I loved the way each one fit and most importantly they were comfy, all the while being cute. For size reference, I am wearing a medium in both dresses.

What do you think of these looks?

Joe Fresh tank

Kate Spade pencilcase 

It's been a little while now since I've graduated from University, and have grown into my "adult life". That being said, the further behind my college years become, the more I pick up bits of knowledge that I had wish I had known while I was still in school. Today, I thought I'd share 5 things that I wish I could have told myself prior to beginning my post-secondary education, which aligns well with Earnest's mission. Enjoy!

1. Your best years won't necessarily be the ones you spend in school

I feel as though there exists a lot of pressure on young adults to pack as much as possible into their college years, out of fear that life becomes incredibly dull after school ends. What I've learned however, is that your college years might not necessarily be your best ones. Make sure to enjoy every moment, but don't feel overwhelmed if you can't "do it all".

2. Your school friends will probably remain your best ones

You will surely make new friends as you expand your professional and social circle throughout the years after school, however there is something special about the friends you make while pulling all-nigters and laughing over the memories you made in your second-year French class.

3. Now is the time to develop healthy habits

Learn to cook, exercise and establish a good skincare routine. You won't have the time or money to be perfect when it comes to this, but baby-steps in the right direction will lead to habits that will last a lifetime.

4. You will learn "higher-knowledge", but it might not be what you expected

I was a science major in my undergraduate degree. While I expected that the knowledge I would carry into my adult life would be scientific, this could not be further from the truth. What I learned most from my education was more so the ability to think critically and to understand that things are not always as they appear.

5. Creating a financial plan is critical - finding a financial team like Earnest helps

This one appears obvious at first, the plan is logically to get a job after graduation. However, there is so much more that goes into making smart financial decisions than the career you stumble into. A financial plan can include making a budget while you're in school and altering it when you're newly graduated. It can also mean consolidating and refinancing your student loans, so that you can gain better insight into managing your money and so that you are paying the best interest rate possible. Companies such as Earnest, can help you do just that. Their expert team can consolidate your debt and find better rates, all the while helping you customize your budget. You can check out more about how they can help you here.

What do you wish you'd known while in school?

Tulia white skirt (similar)

Club Monaco silk top (similar)

American Eagle white flats (similar)

Happy Wednesday everyone! Today I thought I'd blog about the necessity of a white skirt for summer. As someone who isn't big on wearing shorts, skirts are a staple in my wardrobe. White is also one of those colors that is perfect for summer. Not only can it pair well with many tops, but it's one of the best pieces you can purchase for your capsule wardrobe. 

I paired this skirt with a silk top from Club Monaco, and I must point out that they do silk the best. I've owned several silk tops from them and they have lasted such a long time. I also chose to wear my favorite white ballet flats from American Eagle, which gave the entire outfit a slight Parisian vibe.

What do you think of this outfit?

Banana Republic dress (similar)

Liz Claiborne heels

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had the best weekend. This week I am traveling to the Toronto area to visit with my aunt, and to also be a part of fun/glamorous event happening later in the week (check-out my Instagram for the details).

Onto the outfit, the most exciting part is not the heels (which you have seen a bunch of times already), but definitely the dress. I couldn't help but to share, since I honestly find that Banana Republic makes the BEST workwear. I don't know how they do it, but all of their clothing looks professional and is so comfy at the same time. This dress has the perfect amount of stretch for a long workday or simply a busy Sunday, such as in my case. I wore it to church, brunch, and then hopped into my favorite flip-flops from Target before heading out to the mall. I'm all about minimizing outfit changes throughout the day, and so I definitely feel like I've hit the jackpot when it comes to this dress! 

I've linked some comfy and stylish workwear dresses from Banana Republic, below. 

What do you think of this Sunday look?

Top from Winners (similar)

The Hudson Bay pearl earrings (similar)

Revlon love lipstick

It's been a few months now since I began blogging consistently and I have a few thoughts to spew out as I trek along this journey. Let me begin with stating that when I started blogging (December 2015), I dreamt of this place being an outlet where I could share my insight with the world - a place where my knowledge (although still a work-in-progress) could inspire others. As the blogging industry evolved however, I found that I regressed in posting content simply because I felt as though I couldn't keep up with top influencers. As a result of school, work and a maturing adult relationship (aka marrying my husband), I wasn't exactly certain where blogging fit into my life. Since I started my blog out of a desire to over-share, I would still frequently think of blog post ideas, although none of these would come to fruition simply because I felt as though I never had the right equipment, the right setting or the right popularity. 

It took me a while to regain my courage to dive-in and work on my blog relatively full-time (I now put in half of my day blogging and on social media). In the midst of this, I've sincerely come to terms with the fact that I will never be a perfect blogger. As the saying goes in-real-life: "someone will always be better than you". As a result, I've had a sort of epiphany moment with regards to my vision for this blog. I've realized that what I really want for this blog, is for you as readers to feel as though you are truly walking into both my journal and my closet. I want you to feel as though you know me. 

For these reasons, in an effort to show you more of my "real-life", all the while sharing my fashion, beauty and lifestyle tips, I've decided to create more content that showcases the "real-life" aspects of my days and thoughts. In these posts, I will be chatting about life, and perhaps delving into some personal topics that can make things appear a little bit less than perfect. I hope that these posts will go over well with you guys! I'd also love to get to know my readers, since I want to build a strong community here on cynthialoewenblog.com. So please don't hesitate to comment on this post and/or on my social media accounts (Instagram is my personal fave - I'm a visual person).

What do you think of this new series?

Forever 21 skirt (similar)

Zara tank top

Liz Claiborne heels

Styling a tropical pattern is so tricky. I find that it either looks fabulous or completely tacky. For this reason, this skirt is something that has been sitting in my closet for quite some time. Having played around with a few different combinations, I've compiled a few tips when it comes to styling this pattern: keep the piece your main focus, play-it-up with simple-colored accessories, and wear neutral to help make it "pop".

How do you style loud prints?

Who What Wear dress

Louis Vuitton Speedy 30

Happy Monday everyone! This Sunday's look is a bit different since I spent my evening meeting with some other Windsor Bloggers. 

I decided to wear this dress since it is so comfortable yet gives off a dressed-up vibe. I usually try to steer clear of wearing black in the Summer, however the fact that this dress incorporates a beige trim makes it perfectly appropriate for the season. I paired it with my Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 and some black sandals, and it made for an effortless put-together look. 

Now to get into the details of the blogger meet-up. I had such a fun time getting to know some amazing Windsor bloggers. We met at a place called F&B, a restaurant in Walkerville that serves small gourmet plates. The concept of this restaurant is similar to that of which you will find in larger cities, such as Montreal. The quality of the dishes are definitely amazing and the cocktails are just as good. I would highly recommend checking it out!

I've linked the blogs of those who had the chance to be there yesterday. There were a few bloggers that you may have heard of in the region that unfortunately couldn't make it, however will hopefully be able to make the next meet-up! 

The Petite Philosopher

Oh So Mona

The Pawsh Diaries

Toonny Vision

The Leslie Style

Do you follow these YQG bloggers? If not, you should!

Shade & Shore swimsuit top and bottom

Henri Bendel bikini pouch

Joie beach bag (same brand)

Sam & Libby flip flops

Jacob's Creek Moscato Rose

Believe it or not, choosing the right swimsuit is such a challenge for me. I have a pear-shaped body, and so I always have to buy the pieces individually. I also have a long torso, and so I am pretty much also confined to choosing a bikini over a one-piece. This swimsuit I picked up from Target is however perfect for this predicament, since I could choose the top based on bra size and the bottom separately. It also comes in several pretty cute colors!

Listed above are a few of my favorite summer pool day necessities. These includes my comfiest flip-flops, the cutest Henri Bendel "wet bikini" pouch, and some delicious wine. My beach bag in this particular color is out of stock, however I highly recommend any of the beach bags from Joie since they are very durable!

What do you think of this pool day look?

Joe Fresh peplum top

Joe Fresh scallop hem shorts

Unknown red bracelet (similar)

If you're American, happy Independence Day! If you're not (such as myself), you will probably enjoy this look regardless. Whether or not we like to admit it, red, white and blue (and in this case navy), is a great color combo. 

Sometimes I feel like a spokesperson for Joe Fresh since all of my items are from them, however I just find that their clothing fits so nicely that I can't resist but to purchase! These shorts are super comfy and this top is definitely flattering. For reference, I wear a medium in shorts from Joe Fresh and a small in all of their tops. My bracelet was a gift so I'm not exactly sure where it is from, however you can find a similar one here. 

I hope that everyone from both Canada and the USA had a great and safe holiday weekend!

What do you think of this color combo?

Vintage red dress (similar splurge, save)

ASOS pumps

Unknown gold bracelet (similar)

I love this red dress so much. I think it is the perfect length, color, and is so versatile. Paired with my ASOS pumps and a gold bracelet, I receive compliments on this dress all the time! 

If you've followed me for a while, you'll know I wore this dress for my university graduation. This week, I decided to wear it for Sunday activities. Unfortunately I have no idea who makes this dress since I purchased it from a vintage clothing store. However, I found a few very similar ones online and have featured them below.

What did you think of this Sunday look?