Six years ago, on January 20th, 2012, I sat down at one of the computers in the basement lab of Loyola Academy (my high school) and published the first blog post to ever go live on Bowtiful Life. It was a very brief and simple introduction, just a few seemingly insignificant paragraphs. I had no idea as I pressed "publish" on that very first post that I'd be sitting here, 6 years later, still writing and creating content for Bowtiful Life. What a wild ride it has been!!! …
OOTD
Pearl-fect Accents for a Little Black Dress
When it comes to jewelry and accessories, I LOVE pearl accents! There's something so delicate and feminine about them while also having a clean and chic look. This ring and these earrings were the perfect pairing for this little black dress! …
Why White is My Favorite Neutral
There's a cleanliness to white, a freshness, an ethereal quality. As artist Pierre Auguste-Renoir once said, "White does not exist in nature." (For those of you who never took Art History in high school or college, Renoir was a French artist during the Impressionist period, which is the period that many of my favorite pieces of art come from!) Although there's truly no such thing as a 100% pure white in nature, white is a color (or lack thereof) that remains a constant in fashion. …
My 2018 Mantras & NYE Outfit Inspo
I hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing Christmas Eve and Day surrounded by your friends, families, loved ones, and lots of yummy food! After a few days off for the holidays, I'm back to share some of the mantras I'm keeping in mind for 2018 as well as some New Year's Eve outfit inspiration! …
Lilly Athleisure at Lake Louise
The time has finally come to share the last of my photos from the incredible trip I went on to Banff this year. Banff was by far one of the most breathtaking places I've ever visited in my life! Mother Nature is so incredible and this trip gave me an even deeper appreciation for the stunning sights you can find in nature and around every bend you may come across in the road. From the sudden snowfalls to the avalanches we would hear in the mountains to the glass-like surface of Lake Louise, this …
Comfy & Colorblocked
In Chicago, winter weather is pretty much all over the place. One day it's 40 degrees, the next day it's below zero. You never really know what's coming next! With these crazy, ever-changing temps, one of my go-to outfits in the fall and winter is a big, comfy sweater, jeans, and boots or booties. You can make it cozier by adding a big scarf and hat, or you can prep for warmer weather by wearing a shirt sleeved tee under your sweater for if you get too toasty. I like sweaters that have some more …
Cozy Circle Cardigan at Lake Louise
If you know me, this comes as no surprise, but I'm a huge cardigan girl! I have so many different colors and styles that they make up pretty much half of my closet... This cardigan is one of my absolute faves. Not only is it a gorgeous color, but it has pockets! …
Shearling & Sunnies at Bow Lake
Today's post features on of the most underrated views we came across while in Banff. Welcome to Bow Lake! Naturally, I was already a sucker for the name, but on top of that, the view was to die for! We just drove pass this overlook while trying to make our way to Peyto Lake (which ended up not happening due to an out of the blue blizzard). We decided we had to stop and snap some photos on our way back and I'm so glad that we did! …
Bean Boots & Flannel at Lake Minnewanka
I'm so excited to share the next in my series of Banff blog posts with all of you today! These pictures are some of my favorite from the trip because they're a bit different from my usual outfits. They're much more casual and the focus for me was much more on the setting vs. the outfit that I was wearing. As I mentioned in a recent Instagram, I'm not someone who's out "roughing it" in nature very often, but I love being surrounded by the beauty of nature. Flannel, in my opinion, is one of those …
Cranberry Hues & Gratitude
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that you're all enjoying your day and spending time with those you love most, while stuffing your stomachs with plenty of yummy food! I, for one, am so glad that we have a day focused on gratitude and giving thanks during the crazy busy holiday season! With all of the commercial holidays taking over earlier and earlier each year, it's nice to have a reason to stop and focus on all that we already have. In our crazy world, we take so much for granted and Thanksgiving …