Top 13 Outfits of 2013

The year is ending, so I thought I would do a bit of a countdown of my favorite looks from 2013. When looking back through my outfits, I've definitely seen my style change over the course of the year. It's more sophisticated now and I certainly know my body better now. I still have my personal style, but after being photographed in my clothes for a year now, I know what shapes make me look good. 

I didn't want to narrow it down to ten looks, so I thought - 13! It's 2013! So here are my top 13 looks of the year.

New Year's Eve Makeup

I thought that for my last tutorial of 2013, I'd do a New Year's Eve makeup look, without glitter. I've seen so many tutorials going around this week packed with glitter. I like a little glitter once in awhile, but some people just don't do glitter. They can still do a show-stopping eye look - with duochrome!

NEW IN: L'Occitane Almond Skin Oil

When I got a $20 off a $50 purchase from Sephora, I knew I had to take advantage of the coupon. The problem was, I didn't know what I wanted to buy, besides a new mascara from Tarte (which I'm in love with, btw). I thought at first I could buy two mascaras, but that wouldn't even equal $50. 

What I Got For Christmas

Here are some of the goodies that I got for Christmas from my family. For the whole haul of it, check out my video below.

Vinyl

I'm writing this post from the Cupcake Royale off California Ave in West Seattle, and I'm literally the only person sitting at these tables. It's weird. It's a Saturday night at a quarter to six. Then again it is the last Saturday before Christmas, so shopping is in overdrive. 

That was gratuitous, but I wanted to write this little post about the start of my record collection. I went to a show a few weeks ago where Arkomo and Silver Torches played at the Tractor Tavern. It was a good time, seeing a bunch of people I knew and hadn't seen in awhile. And while I was there, I picked up the Arkomo record. Arkomo is local musician Sam Anderson's solo project - Sam usually played cello with Hey Marseilles, so obviously I was going to go.

Sikkim Girls: The Classy Seductress

I'm here with yet another product from Lush's holiday collection - Sikkim Girls lotion. If you remember last summer when we came out with all the new perfumes in the pretty little apothecary bottles? Sikkim Girls was one of those perfumes, and Lush decided to turn that scent into a lotion, and oh baby is it lovely.

Ledges

I've been wanting to do a denim on denim look for awhile, and I think I pull it off, to be honest. Canadian tuxedo, anyone?

Recipe: The Ultimate Breakfast Sandwich

I came up with the best breakfast sandwich the other day. It was so delicious that I had to make it again and share the "recipe" with you. I put air quotes around "recipe" because calling a sandwich formula a recipe is kind of ridiculous.

What you will need:

• Bacon
• Egg
• Cheese
• Maple syrup (Aunt Jemima or the real stuff)
• Waffles

You could also substitute sausage for bacon and choose any kind of cheese. I went with havarti, because it's what I had in my fridge. I also used gluten-free waffles from Van's, which were surprisingly light and crispy, which is ideal for this kind of sandwich. No one wants to eat two dense waffles at once. 

I saw Pearl Jam last week. And it was amazing.

That's right. I got to see Pearl Jam at the Key Arena last week for the last date of their tour, and it was one of the greatest shows of my life. I feel blessed to have been there, even though I wasn't the one shooting the concert for the blog I write for. 

In case you didn't know, I write and shoot for a local music blog called Back Beat Seattle. I have been for about two years, and I absolutely love it.

To see the photos my colleague Kirk Stauffer got at the show, you can head over to the post on Back Beat, but I thought I would re-post my review here, just because it's something I'm incredibly proud of. I ripped my heart out and it turned into these words, so read on please.

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35mm

I just got back from Target where I had to print out almost 200 prints for my aunts and uncles of my grandmother's old photographs. My mother has been hoarding the slides of these guys for years, and she finally went out to Costco the other day to put them on a disc. I wasn't looking forward to waiting for all of these to print while I waited, but as they spit out of the machine one by one, I couldn't help but notice how beautiful they were.

White Winter Hymnal

I promise I didn't do this post just as an excuse to use a Fleet Foxes song. I swear.

Rock Star Style: Brandon & Alex

I may be writing this post just as an excuse to look at photos of Alex Turner and Brandon Flowers. But there's an actual purpose behind it! I've recently been super inspired by androgyny, specifically male rock stars.

Butter London Yummy Mummy

Look! Nudes! 

I couldn't pass up that joke. 

DREAM Gift Wish List

I've put together an unrealistic Christmas list for you today, because I felt like online window shopping, and a girl can dream right?

I literally found the most extravagant items to put on this list, in case you needed some ideas for your sister, daughter, mother (those Frye boots are classic for any age), girlfriend, "girl" friend, and I wanted to include a wide variety. That way, you've got fashion, beauty, and techie ideas.*

1. Frye Riding Boots - These things look damn indestructible, and for the price they better be. I love me some ankle boots, but my knee high boots I found at the Goodwill three years ago for $11 have finally run their course.  Pair these with jeans or a dress and they make the outfit. 

2. Topshop Velvet Kimono - Why I'm suddenly obsessed with velvet, I don't even know. Maybe it's my inner 90s kid coming out, but I saw this shawl kimono thing at Nordstrom the other day and it spoke to me. A white lace top and leather shorts with tights - hello sexy New Years outfit!

3. Oversized Suede Clutch - I like the purses that I have, but they're purses that I carry around every day, not as interesting pieces I include in my wardrobe. I have a couple of bags I "accessorize" with, but this one is just too fabulous to pass up. The juxtaposition of the bright teal with the soft suede is so modern and pretty that it would spice up any LBD (or that sexy NYE outfit I just made up).

4. Sikkim Girls Perfume - This scent is so exotic and classic and haunting that it's perfect for any classy lady. Think of Shanghai Express in black and white, and you've got Sikkim Girls. Lush also has this scent in a lotion for their holiday collection, so you can snatch up both.

5. Beats Solo by Dr. Dre - I use up headphones like other people use up bobby pins. I sleep with earphones in every night, and I can't tell you how many times my dog has decided to chew up my buds or my cord. I've been wanting a nice pair of headphones for years, and these might just be the ones. They're small enough to carry about in a bag, but big enough to still look damn cool. I'm a bit of an audiophile, and sometimes ear buds just don't do it for me.

6. Stag Pendant - Another piece from Moorea Seal (as well as the clutch), this necklace is super simple but super cool. I like necklaces, but not a lot of loud flashy ones. This stag pendant is understated, but still has interest. Plus, it's only $24. Not bad for a boutique price.

7. Fig + Yarrow Bath and Body Oil - I've heard wonderful things about Fig + Yarrow in the past from Estee, and I've been wanting to try out bath oils for awhile now. I love me some bath bombs, but sometimes I just want the oil benefits without the fizz (and sometimes I don't want to have a $6 bath). I've seen a couple other bath and body oils from other brands like L'Occitane and Aesop, but Fig + Yarrow is handmade, and I'm all about supporting "small businesses."

What's on your Christmas list? Did this give you any ideas? Let me know in the comments!

*Honorable mention goes to a record player because I'm collecting records now.