A Lemony Twist

 Dress: Topshop    Shoes: LC Lauren Conrad    Jacket: Old Navy   Bag: 88 ℅    Bracelet: Kristine Lily ℅    Ring: Kristine Lily ℅     

Fun prints are a huge part of my style.  This lemon printed dress has been sitting in the back of my closet going for almost a year and a half, and when I dug it out during spring cleaning I remembered how much I loved the green and yellow pattern and the fun cut.  

I've also been loving my denim jacket (which I've probably been wearing way too often on the blog as of late...) so I threw it on over the dress.  Strapless dresses don't have to be relegated to party-wear only- with a nice jacket, cardigan, or a button down shirt tied over it, they can seamlessly transition to daywear.  

How Going Vegan Has Changed My Fitness + My Favorite Exercises

Since going vegan, I've noticed an incredible shift in how I feel, especially during exercise.  I used to dread workouts, I couldn't run more than a mile or so without needing a walking break, and I was never motivated to do a spontaneous workout.  But since transitioning to a vegan lifestyle, I've seen a few major results in my fitness.

I can run now!  I mean, I could 'run' before, but it's now an actual enjoyable experience.  Before my first run after my vegan transition, I planned out designated walking breaks throughout the run, and I was shocked when I didn't need any of them.  That was the first time I'd finished a run without stopping, and I felt great!  Less tired, less short of breath, and like I could keep on going if I wanted to.  

I've also felt so much more motivated- I don't think I ever used to randomly go out for a jog because I felt like it.  Now I'm having fun exploring the hiking trails near my home and more often than not, I feel up to some activity.  

Some of my favorite workouts are:

Running-  This is a newfound love!  I honestly used to complain that I hated running, but it's fun for me now!  I love the rush of endorphins afterwards, and my new stamina has really been a huge factor in my new hobby.

Dance-  I'm a horrible dancer.  But my favorite stress release is locking myself in a room, putting on some great music (currently that's Lemonade), and dancing like no one is watching, because no one is watching.  And make sure it's a room without mirrors, because I've caught a glimpse of myself dancing in the mirror and it kind of kills the mood.  

Pilates-  Every day, without fail, I will do my pilates circuit and my long (usually 4 mins) plank.  It's great to keep a strong core, and all you need is a floor- no exercise clothes needed.  I do this in my pajamas before bed sometimes.

Yoga-  I used to do yoga daily, and to be honest, I've fallen out of that routine.  Now I just do a few poses before bed to help me relax and relieve some tension. 

Hope this post was helpful!

Sunflower Sunshine

 Sweater: Milly    Top: ASOS     Jeans: 7 for All Mankind    Shoes: J. Crew Factory (similar)    Bag: 88 ℅   Sunglasses: Stella McCartney

It was my birthday two Sundays ago, and on that lovely afternoon I was so happy and surprised to see my dad presenting me with this beautiful bouquet of sunflowers.  He knows that they've always been one of my favorite flowers, and when he handed them to me, he said one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard.

Sunflowers have a beautiful face, but a strong stem.  Other flowers have a weak stem, and they easily bend and break.  But the sunflower is unapologetically bold.  They stand tall, bright, grand, and unyielding.

My dad calls me his "sunflower", and for some reason that has always stuck with me when I needed it most.  The color yellow has always symbolized life to me.  I don't have nearly enough of it in my closet, but I always feel happier when I see it.  I love layering this blouse for a pop of sunny yellow under my sailor stitch sweater, and I added on some classic yet neutral extras like these vegan patent flats with a tortoiseshell bow.

I made some subtle changes to my blog's design on Sunday!  They're not super noticeable, but I think they streamline the site and make it look much more clean!  I moved the tabs to the top of the blog, and also revised my about me to include my vegan story!

White Lace + LB Vegan Fest 2016

Dress: Maison Jules    Sunglasses: Stella McCartney     Shoes: BP    Bag: 88 ℅      Bracelet: Kristine Lily ℅    Ring: Kristine Lily ℅     Hat: Farmer's market find (similar)

This weekend, I was so happy to attend the Long Beach Vegan Festival.  I was invited by one of my favorite vegan fashion companies, 88 Vegan Handbags, to come visit their booth and explore the festivities.  The festival included tons of booths for food and drinks, fashion, beauty products, healthy, wellness, and more.  So many amazing companies were there and I really enjoyed the event!

88 Vegan Handbags

My first stop of course was the 88 Vegan Handbags booth, where I met the founder.  The team was so kind and they had such a great setup with gorgeous bags, including the new summer collection!  I was carrying my Zoe bag that day, and I got so many compliments from other festival-goers! 

In the middle of it all!

Happy Cow

I couldn't resist posing with Happy Cow- the mascot of HappyCow Restaurant Guide.  Happy Cow is a website where you can search for vegan or vegan-friendly restaurants and stores in you area by typing in your city.  I always use it when traveling!

@vegetaryn

I stopped by Vegetaryn's booth and bought a super cute tank top from her collection.  Mine reads "#VeganAF", and honestly, I don't think that could describe me more ;-)   I also got a picture with Taryn herself, who is SO sweet and gorgeous in person.  Her vegan story was one that inspired me a lot in my transition, and I was really excited to get the chance to meet her.

Happy Healthy Vegan

I also got to meet one of my favorite YouTuber couples, Anji and Ryan of Happy Healthy Vegan. Their channel was one that helped educate me on veganism and make the switch this spring, and I was really happy to meet them in person!  They were selling their vegan shirts and accessories, and I got the "Keep it carbed, baby!" tee.  

I'll definitely be going to next year's LB Vegan Fest as well as LA VegFest, which I had to miss this year.  It's so fun to be around likeminded people and be introduced to awesome brands and companies.  Oh, and THE FOOD.  I found myself at the Sambazon Acai and EatPops booths multiple times, and I also loved sampling some vegan food products that aren't on the market yet!  It was such a great experience and I can't wait to attend next year's festival.

Pop-Art Rosebuds

 Skirt:  Kate Spade (women's)    Top: Ted Baker (similar)   Sweater: J. Crew    Heels: Wills London ℅   Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim x Target    Wallet: Deux Lux    

When I started on my vegan journey, I thought that I wouldn't be able to shop at all the places I used to love, but that couldn't be less true.  It think it's broadened my perspective, in the sense that I have able to find amazing cruelty-free pieces at my old favorite stores and be introduced to great ethical lines as well.  For example, Kate Spade and Ted Baker actually have a lot more vegan-friendly clothes than I was anticipating.  This rose print pleated skirt is so light and airy- I'm wearing the girls size for a more petite fit, but I also linked the women's midi version.  Another one of my favorites is J. Crew, and they make a lot of wool-free sweaters.  Their cotton Jackie cardigan is a staple, and I have at least 5 different colors. 

Even big designers occasionally release vegan pieces, since veganism is on the rise and they love tapping into the market (for example, Givenchy released a vegan Antigona bag that sold out almost immediately.)  I love Phillip Lim's designs, but most of his bags are leather.  The 3.1 Phillip Lim x Target collab yielded some amazing Pashli bags made from polyurethane, and I was lucky enough to snag mine on Poshmark.  

Of course, I love supporting all-vegan companies as well!  These shoes are from one of my favorite companies, Wills London, a certified vegan footwear brand with ethical practices all-around (read more here.)  These are the new block heels, which also come in blue/black.  They are super high quality vegan leather and are the perfect height to be comfortable and chic- basically my dream heels.  Deux Lux is another favorite, and this wallet is the first piece I ever bought from them.

Ethical fashion is so easy to find, and introducing more of it into your life doesn't have to mean giving up anything.   If anything, it has introduced me to a whole new world of style!