Confidence Boosting Tips for Women: Feel like a Warrior Today! #IndependentU

Life is full of overcoming obstacles, for all of us... Whether I'm battling mosquitoes while working on a DIY project in my backyard or fighting for what I believe in by obtaining my college degree in public policy; I'm always choosing to fight the fight and persevering through the struggles. Some days my struggles are serious and other days I struggle to choose my wardrobe, it's all balance and learning how to deal with life, one day at a time while still looking at the big picture.

We all are fighting our own battles within ourselves and against the world, there should be no reason to fight being a woman during that time of the month while also dealing with the day-to-day "battles". That's why I grab U by Kotex products when I'm at Walmart. I rely on their products to help me feel more comfortable and protected when I'm out choosing which battles are worth fighting. Plus, I'm in love with the adorable additions in their bonus packs (stocked full of extra product as well), who doesn't love a "little happy" included with a brand they already love? Talk about an instant confidence booster!

Big Thanks to The Acorn Influence Team & U by Kotex for sponsoring today's discussion.

I have a few other confidence boosting tips that I think could really help the other woman-warriors out there, but beware: you'll be ready to take anything on with these tips!

The first thing I suggest: Prep for the battle, the conversation, the meeting, the photoshoot, or whatever event it is you aren't exactly the most comfortable with by jamming out to your favorite song. You know the song, the one that you can't help but sing along to, the one that makes you dance in your seat while you are driving. Put that song on repeat while driving to the destination, maybe even have it playing in a pair of headphones as you walk into your meeting; you'll love the feeling your favorite song can give you, especially when your nerves are shot... it's like an instant boost of confidence to dance and sing along with your jam.

If you have more time than a few minutes before the occasion, I suggest you meditate! You should start the week before, but even if it's just the day before or the day of it wouldn't hurt to meditate a bit. I know some of you may think meditation is kooky, but it's grounding and helps to center your mind and your body; allowing you to be you without your nerves and anxiety getting involved. Meditate on a phrase that brings you confidence like "I am capable and confident" or just allow your thoughts to be completely blank and focus on the calm; regardless of how you meditate, the quiet time alone will surely help you feel better about the upcoming situation.

Another great way to be sure you are ready for the big day, is to buy something new! Buying a new blouse, dress, or a fancy pair of flats could help boost your confidence a bit, we all love knowing we look good and when you have something adorable and fancy that you just bought, you know you feel awesome! I love shopping a clearance rack for a new dress before I head out of town, there's just something about a new piece of clothing and receiving a compliment the first time you wear something... It's not that you should gain self-worth from products, but sometimes it feels nice to add something beautiful to our wardrobe!

Lastly, be true to you and embrace who you are. I know this one should be the only confidence boosting tip, but the other few I shared are good reminders and helpful ways to remember that you are awesome! Know that you are so unbelievably, awesomely, amazingly you and as long as you love who you are, then confidence will just naturally exude from you. Learning to love yourself is the true way to feel confident everyday, but learning to love yourself is a process so take these tips I've shared and get started!

Also, I'd love to hear if you have any self confidence boosting tips in the comments below!

I'm Addicted After Just One Fix: My First Stitch Fix

I was not compensated by Stitch Fix to talk about my experience, although you should be advised: if you order a box with one of the links in my post below you may or may not be contributing to my future Stitch Fix habits.

I did it, I finally trusted my instinct and took the plunge, I signed up for my first fix and I'm addicted. I'm officially part of the Stitch Fix family and I'm in love with everything I received in my first box. So in love, I'm contemplating keeping every single piece - especially because I'll get a discount if I buy all 5.

So let's start with why I decided to sign up... This may be surprising, but I hardly ever get dressed to go to "work". I lounge around in my pajamas a majority of the time since my work commute constitutes a long walk from my bed to my office chair and well, I'm done with that behavior starting this month. I'm committing to exercising my wardrobe for the rest of the year, I've let too many beautiful pieces of clothing sit in my closet while I rock yoga pants all day long; I'm protesting my own fashion sense and I've decided this has to stop!

I don't know about you, but a really fabulous outfit can make me feel more confident. I usually dress up or buy something new when we have some place to go but now I want to commit to getting gussied up every day, because I want to feel great for no reason sometimes too.

The way I think about it is, even if I'm just lounging and typing a post up, I might as well feel fabulous while doing it. I've been stocking up my wardrobe for a while now, it's about time I wear some of these pieces... But as I was going to get dressed, I noticed I've blossomed some, I think my fashion sense has grown and I really want pieces that will tie together my wardrobe now. I am seeking pieces that make me feel current and cute and that show off my body in a flattering way. Luckily, my fix was full of 5 pieces of wardrobe-building heaven and that's why I'm sharing my experience here with you today, you need this little slice of heaven to arrive at your doorstep (SCHEDULE YOUR 1st FIX, you won't regret it).

Alright, here's the good stuff... I was sent 4 clothing items and 1 accessory. 1 dress, 2 tops, 1 pair of jeans, and 1 necklace; it's all beautiful.

The Sonja Boyfriend Jeans were the first item I tried on and they are so comfy, but I'll be honest and share that they were a bit snug on me. On average I'm a size 6, most of the time, but these size 29 (which is basically an 8) seemed a bit too tight for my liking. Other than the fact that they made me feel a bit chunky, I am bloated so it could just be the wrong timing for jeans... I even contemplated keeping them so I can have "goal" jeans for the fall but I decided to hold out for another pair of awesome pants in my next fix, hopefully anyways... :)

The next item I tried on was the grey and black Corinna Striped Dolman Top. It's pretty much the most comfortable item I (now) own, offering the soft comfort of pajamas but a cute and chic look - I'm totally a fan! I paired this with some leggings and heels just to try it on but I plan to rock in a number of different ways.

The Colibri Solid Tab Sleeve Blouse was my least favorite thing when I peeked into the box. I was actually a little disappointed in the color but when I put it on, I was so mistaken. THIS shirt is proof that I should have a stylist like mine to help me find my fashion sense again. I would have thought this color would clash with my skin tone and my hair but it made me feel so gorgeous.

I even told my husband I felt like I look pretty in this. I'm still debating on whether or not I want to keep it though, simply because I'm not so sure about the cut of the shirt still, the neckline isn't my favorite because I've been told it makes me appear like I have no neck; regardless of the cut of the shirt, the color is a new favorite that I would not have tried without this Fix! What do you think? I have a day to decide whether this top should be mine or not!

The Winona Crystal Medallion Necklace is the beautiful piece of gold jewelry I'm rocking with the Colibiri blouse and the dress below. It's a gorgeous sunburst statement necklace and something I'm debating with myself about keeping. It's such a gorgeous design but I feel like I have too many statement necklaces and not enough statements to make, know what I mean? What is your opinion on the necklace how does it look?

Lastly, the Florence Colorblocked Dress is something I definitely would pick for myself... I actually own something similar in pink, white, and navy so when I saw this... I knew I wanted to keep it. I love the way the dress hugs my curves in the right places and paired with an awesome, funky pair of wedges, I feel like I'm a goddess in this flowy number. Again, since I own something similar in another color, what are your opinions on this dress? I'd love to hear what you think!

So, my first was addicting and I'm officially a fan of Stitch Fix. Want to join me on this shopping with a stylist journey? Sign up for your first fix! But before you go sign up, help me decide... In your opinion, which pieces are the most flattering? I'd love to hear what you would keep and what you would send back in the comments below!

The Perfect Wedding Party Wardrobe Solution: Custom Bridesmaid Dresses from K Couture

Summer is wedding season so I'm always shopping for cute new dresses, especially this time of year!  I'm the type of girl that needs a dress fit just for me when I go to a big event. I recently found K Couture and I'm so happy I did, they hooked me up with a beautiful dress for a recent event and I love it.

Some that I adore about K Couture is the fact that they offer the ability to design your own custom bridesmaid dress with their "Design a Dress" tool and the different designs you can create are all so beautiful! Whether you want a long, dreamy gown or a cute mid-length sweetheart neckline frock, K Couture is the perfect place to shop for bridesmaids of any size or shape!

I'm a bit of a pinterest junkie and hope to eventually renew my vows with my hubs so you could say that I'm already contemplating what my besties will be wearing when I walk down the aisle to the man of my dreams (again). I can picture the girls all in champagne dresses with different styles of sash for each of their different personalities or all white dresses with a POP of color by adding a bright sash... That's what's so fun about getting to design the dresses, you can go traditional or quirky with K Couture!

As a bride, a service like this is invaluable! I can only imagine how awesome each of the custom bridesmaid dresses will turn out in all of the gorgeous shades they offer and then allowing each girl to add their own quirky touches by adding on their favorite accessories like the style of the sash or their own choice of sash color, the possibilities for dresses are almost limitless!

Plus, any bride that chooses to shop at K Couture can rest easy and not worry about the small stuff! Sound too good to be true? It's not! You won't even believe it but they offer free styling services to all customers so you don't have to worry about a thing, just ask for some advice and you shall receive!

Another added bonus with K Couture is that they specifically name their colors and they'll send over some free swatches in the colors you have your eye on, so now there are no worries about having all the girls get the right shade of turquoise (or whichever wonderful shade you choose to incorporate into your wedding colors)!

For my most recent event I went with the champagne color and a champagne sash and it turned out beautifully; paired with my purple hair and my nude heels, I was getting compliments all night!

The best part about K Couture though, is that you can turn it into a one stop shop for your wedding party! The men in the wedding party can match the bridesmaids to a tee without even having to shop around and hold up swatches to a thousand different tuxes! K Couture offers ties, bow ties, vests, and cummerbunds, in all the same fabulous colors they offer their beautiful dresses in. Combine these gorgeous accessories with their high-quality tux and shirt packages and your men may give the women in the wedding party some competition for "best dressed".

Are you planning a wedding quickly? I planned mine in just a few months so I know how much of a struggle it can be to find pretty dresses, that can be customized, that aren't shipped from overseas and that don't cost an arm & a leg to be shipped to you in time. Luckily, K Couture designs and creates their own dresses in house at their 22,000 square foot headquarters in Tempe, Arizona. This helps them provide inexpensive, yet super high quality dresses in a hurry!

But that's not where they stop with all of the beautiful fashion, K Couture also offers jewelry, robes, buckles, embellishments, sashes, flowers, brooches and more; all at an affordable price! Plus, they decided they love us so much, they are offering all of my readers 10% off with the coupon code KDress10! So head on over to K Couture and let me know, whether you are planning a wedding or not, which dress is perfect for your bridesmaids?

Thank you K Couture for sponsoring this conversation.

Choose Your Karma & Head Back to School with Sakroots Flap Backpack

I can't believe it; it just can't be true. Summer is almost over and it's actually that time of the year again. We are all counting down the last days of summer and getting things organized; soon school will be in session yet again.

Don't hate me for saying this, but I'm almost excited to go back to school this year; partially because I'm rocking an awesome back to school look and because I'm getting closer and closer to finally graduating (3 semesters left after this one, but no one's counting or anything). My back to school look this year is totally different than the past, I feel like I've finally "found myself" as far as fashion is concerned and that's a pretty exciting feeling.

I can't wait to share the outfit I'm going to wear for the first day of school, but for now I'll share what I wore when I attended an orientation earlier this week. I'm in love with this simple outfit and it's the perfect summertime get up, for everything from a BBQ to a quick back-to-school meeting.

On the afternoon of my orientation, I was walking into the building where the orientation was held with plenty of time to spare, but for some reason I decided to cut through the grass to get there quicker. That was a huge mistake, since it's been raining non-stop lately... Not only is the grass muddy, it's down right swampy. I managed to get mud all the way up the back of my legs, all over my nude colored sandals, and literally in between each and every one of my toes.

I was a hot mess, but luckily I was able to scrounge together a few tissues from my car to wipe off most of the mud and ended up attending my orientation barefoot... talk about making interesting first impressions with future classmates and professors.

Regardless of how silly I looked walking around campus barefoot, I'm obsessed with bright colors this season and loved my look with or without shoes. The fading, yet still bright purple hair, my neon yellow shorts, the cobalt blue tank top, and my brand new, gorgeous, bold printed backpack and planner from Sakroots; I'm obsessed with it all.

The best part of my outfit, is that all of my clothing came from a second hand store. Plus, my Sakroots accessories allow me to give back to a good cause. That means this outfit is a double whammy as far as "Karma" and giving back to my community are concerned. I love that you can stand out from the crowd while carrying a Sakroots bag (or rocking any of their fun accessories) and you can give back to a good cause on the same dime!

During check out you'll have the chance to donate to a charity, simply by supporting whichever one of the beautiful patterns you prefer. These patterns designed by artists (like myself) really make me so very happy and inspired every time I look at them and since they all help their own good cause, I think they are all just the bee's knees!

Do you realize this means that you can rock a new pair of rain boots, buy an adorable planer that you write all your assignments in, or even upgrade to a new, cooler backpack and just simply buying these products can change the world for the better? That's pretty cool, huh? Plus, Sakroots matches the amount you donate! So cool!

Want to hear something else really cool? Sakroots is looking for on-campus ambassadors! These lucky Sakroots reps will host sponsored events, have access to exclusive promo codes for friends, and educate everyone on their campus about the Sakroots story. Through this program students have the opportunity to earn college credit, obtain NYC based internships, and receive free swag! Interested in becoming a Campus Circle Ambassador? Click the Campus Circle Ambassador link at the bottom of the Sakroots page to find out more.

Want to learn more about Sakroots and the adorable products they offer? It's time for you to choose your karma (and earn 15%), all you have to do is visit Sakroots.com! I dare you to check out their campus collection and treat yourself to something gorgeous!

After you spoil yourself, definitely come back and let me know which laid back, trendy print you decided on! Do you know the perfect college student to rep Sakroots? Let me know in a comment below which look you love the most and who in your life do you think will make the perfect ambassador?

My New Favorite Accessory from GiGi Couture!

Thanks to GiGi Couture for providing me with this gorgeous necklace to facilitate this review!

I'm a bit of an accessory hoarder, the perfect necklace really completes an outfit in my mind and a pair of earrings that are cute but not TOO matchy-matchy are the perfect addition to ANY outfit, ever. I've found most of my fun, playful jewelry at local boutiques, the flea market, and even the clearance section of some of my favorite stores. I love wearing a simple pendant, a semi-bold statement necklace, or layering some of my classic pieces for a more "me" look.

So you better believe when my friend Ghiovanna asked me to share my secret to my most gorgeous jewelry pieces, I almost hesitated because I don't want to lose out on all the cuteness... but lucky for you, I'm feeling generous and I'm sharing GiGi Couture with you today.

GiGi Couture is Ghiovanna's Chloe + Isabel online boutique and I have found a handful of pieces that are on my must-have list for this summer. Have you seen all of the latest trends? I'm obsessed!

My most recent piece from GiGi Couture is the Medina Convertible Pendant Necklace. It's seriously so perfect for any outfit and since it's "convertible" I can wear it as I like. Some days I wear just the delicate crystal pavé bar, other days I rock the faceted smooth bezel-set turquoise, and when I'm feeling awesome I wear all three necklaces together to really show off. Each piece feels weightless around my neck and hasn't shown any signs of wear even though I've worn at least one of the necklaces every day since I received it weeks ago!

I know my next purchase will probably include the gorgeous purple ameythyst earrings that match the Medina necklace, they are just the right mixture of earthy and edgy and I can wear them anytime... Another reason to love GiGi Couture, the jewelry is so diverse!

So now that I've shared one of my fashion secrets, I have to know... Have you checked out GiGi Couture yet? What's your favorite piece in the collection?

Good Times and Tan Lines - Beach #OOTD + A Thug Life Shirts Coupon

I love a little bit of wit and humor, especially when it comes to my clothing so when I found Thug Life Shirts, I kind of fell head-over-heels with all of their awesome tees! With everything from baseball style tees to potterhead t-shirts to tanktops that contain the most off-the-wall stuff, they have a shirt that everyone will love.

After almost 2 hours of weighing my options and having about 50 tabs open, I finally decided I had to have the "Good Times and Tan Lines" tank top to wear all the time this summer.

It's fit is perfect, the material is so comfy and since it's a little long, it makes the PERFECT beach cover up. I may pair it with some yoga shorts if we are running errands but I felt perfectly comfortable sans pants... because uhm, these shirts are all so incredibly me (and I'm adding all of them to my Thug Life cart right this second):

Whether you are looking for a cute new shirt for yourself, your best friend, or your boyfriend, Thug Life has some of the best (and most unique) gift ideas I've ever seen! Have you shopped Thug Life Shirts before? If not, you should right this second ---- I'm excited to share that you can score 10% off with the code "LAUREN10"!

I'd love to hear, which Thug Life Shirt is your favorite? Have a clever t-shirt slogan idea? Tell me what you want to see!