It's that time of the year again! 

This year has gone by so quickly, and to be honest 2016 kind of snuck up on me. Even still, I'm so excited to put 2015 in the past and to start fresh with a clean slate! 

This NYE I'll be partying it up in Portland with family and friends, and it being my first NYE of legal drinking age, I wanted to go all out. Here are several NYE outfit ideas no matter what your plans are! Whether you're heading out for a night on the town, going on a romantic dinner date with your SO, or simply staying in with your girlfriends, NYE is all about being confident and starting the new year off on good terms.

I'm a big fan of sequins this time of year, and this year's big OOTN is no exception {be sure to follow me on Insta and Snapchat (laravlw) to follow along!}. If you're not a sequin girl, or maybe you're looking for something a little more low-key tonight, you're in luck since velvet is back in full-force. Throw on a faux fur coat to stay warm between bar hopping, and be sure to pack an extra pair of shoes if you intend on dancing the night away! 

The one year anniversary of SF+D is coming up, and I couldn't be more grateful for those of you who have been following along. Stay tuned for a new year of even bigger and better content, giveaways, and more!

​Have an incredibly fun and safe NYE -- I'll catch you all on the other side! 

xoxo,
​Lara

The holidays are some of my favorite days to dress up, but living in the Pacific Northwest it can be difficult to find a practical mix of comfort and style when it comes to dressing up in the winter. Thanks to my friends at NoNonsense, I can easily wear my favorite styles all year long without worrying too much about the temperature! With their incredibly cute and cozy tights, leggings, and boot socks I can keep my favorite skirts, dresses, and heels on rotation for all of my holiday soirees and beyond!

I absolutely adore the look of sheer black tights in the winter, especially when mixed with sequins! Comfy boot socks keep my look festive and my toes warm while walking around outside and gazing at all of the pretty lights around town. No matter what your personal style is, NoNonsense has tons of statement socks, tights, and leggings for you to add to your collection!

Whoever tells you that leggings aren't pants is a liar. These zipper-detailed beauties from NoNonsense are super thick and comfy, so they keep you covered and warm while dancing the night away. I styled them up with a flowy chiffon top and a blanket scarf to make my look comfy and classy, and since my legs are fully covered I was able to wear a nice open heel without being too cold.

Here's a sneak peek of what I'll be wearing over the next few days in collaboration with NoNonsense! Have a fantastic holiday!

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

It's officially one of my favorite times of the year -- Christmas time!

It has been SO nice having days off from school for the latter part of this month, although I feel like it has been going by way too fast. Even though I still have a store to manage this winter break, I'm enjoying not stressing out about school and having time to hang out with my family and friends (and my cat, of course! ;) ).

One of my favorite parts about the holidays is getting to dress up and party the days away with the people I care about most. Working at a resale shop definitely has its perks in terms of finding the cutest outfits on the cheap! All of the items above embody my perfect holiday party vibes this December, and I've included some quick links underneath for you to easily shop the looks from home as well!

Velvet is one of the top fabrics of the season, and when paired with burgundy (definitely the "it" color right now), it's a match made in heaven. I love velvet garments that are loose and flouncy because they keep  your look from becoming too sophisticated.

As far as outwear goes, oversized camel coats are EVERYTHING. I've been rocking one from Forever21 that I can't get enough of. They are the perfect neutral that they can be dressed up or down and that can go with absolutely anything, from cocktail dresses to athliesure wear.

Similarly, oversized chunky sweaters and boyfriend flannels are also fall/winter closet staples. These pieces can easily transition from day to night depending on how you style them, allowing you to stay comfy and warm without sacrificing style on girls' night out. This Christmas season try some in holiday shades and winter neutrals that are festive and fun!

Even in the winter, I still love rocking my crop tops. Keep it family-friendly by pairing your favorite party top with some sleek high-waisted skinnies to add some edge to your look while staying warm. Add some glam silver heels to dress your look up -- preferably with a low heel that is made for long hours of standing, eating and dancing!

I can't wait to show you all what I'll be wearing to my upcoming holiday soirees, so be sure to keep an eye on my Instagram! What are you most excited for this season? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo,
Lara

Something changed me this past school term, and not in a good way.

Between taking full-time classes, diving head first into a new role at work, and trying to juggle more than a handful of extracurricular activities, I began to find myself in a tough spot mentally. Between the late nights, incredible amounts of stress, and heaps of uncertainty, I began to lose sight of the things that really matter in life. The one true thing that I strive to achieve in my purposefully busy life seemed impossible to grasp -- true happiness.

With some much-needed personal time and reflection, I have been able to slowly work my way back to my old self. Even though I hate saying "no" to things and am constantly looking for more things to add to my schedule (I'm the type who loves being busy -- my planner is defs my BFF!), I've realized that cutting some things out and taking some time off is essential to healthy, happy living.

Although I'll still be working almost every day this winter break, I still want to make sure I take care of myself and squeeze in as much fun as possible while I have some free time! And although I'm trying to stay as far away from a set schedule this month as possible, it doesn't hurt to map out the fun stuff I want to enjoy this winter ;).

• Redecorate my room. I recently found some MAJOR Pinterest inspiration, so I'm enjoying having some time to DIY a room that is the perfect relaxing sanctuary for homework, studying, napping, sleeping, and free time!
• Go to the beach. This may seem like a strange one given that I live in Oregon (and given that it has been absolutely FLOODING lately), but I absolutely LOVE the beach during the colder months. It's so quiet and peaceful and refreshing walking along the shoreline all bundled up, admiring the hectic waves rocking along the coast. Pure bliss.
• Go to Zoo Lights. If you're not from around here, Zoo Lights is this incredible lights display that takes place at the Oregon Zoo every year! It's so fun and romantic walking along the zoo at night or riding the train through the park while munching on an elephant ear.
• Enjoy the holidays with friends and family.
• Have a killer New Years Eve. This is the first NYE since I turned 21, so I'm looking forward to ringing in the new year in Downtown Portland with friends! In lots and lots of sequins, of course!
• Work out. Maybe I'll save this one for the new year... ;)
• Go ice skating. Does this count as working out?
• Get lost in Downtown Portland. I miss my hometown, so I'm looking forward to going back for a few days to revisit my old fave hangouts and to discover new ones.
• Redesign my blog. I've actually already completed this one for the most part -- what do you guys think?! I had actually considered a HUGE overhaul, including changing hosts and even the name of my brand, but as of right now I think I'm pretty happy with it. SF+D has certainly come a long way since I launched this baby almost 1 year ago! P.S. Maybe a giveaway is coming up to celebrate... Stay tuned;)
  

I'm sure I'll keep adding to this list, but all-in-all I just want to make sure I'm having fun and being as happy as possible. Good vibes only going into the new year.

xoxo,
Lara

Between classes, extracurriculars, working on two magazines, and keeping track of Runway basically full-time, I've had my share of busy mornings and late nights this year. As crazy and hectic as running out the door every morning may be, there's always one thing that is a crystal clear go-to in my daily routine -- grabbing and filling up my amazing TeaTank!

The TeaTank is great because it's double-walled, meaning your drinks stay hot or cold for hours on end. What's more, it even comes with it's own removable tea infuser that doubles as a guard against any fruit or ice hitting you in the face while taking a drink. The modern wood cap seals tightly to prevent leakage, and the double-walled glass keeps the outside of the TeaTank dry so condensation doesn't get all over your paperwork while hustling the day away. Whether you're enjoying some nice hot tea or some fruit-infused ice water, the TeaTank is the perfect tool for everyday use.

I've been obsessed with my TeaTank since day one, and I know you all will be too! It's the perfect gift for anyone in your life (like, literally everyone), AND it's on sale right now, so you can check even more people off of your holiday shopping list! You can also get an additional 10% off using code LARA10 at checkout!

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

I'm deep in the midst of dead week at school right now, but winter break is definitely in sight. I'm already dreaming of spending the upcoming crisp winter days inside all bundled up, with my Christmas lights glowing and hot chocolate in hand.

Whenever I'm not working this break, I plan on doing a lot of crafting for the holidays -- and what better way to do that than by catching up on my favorite shows at the same time? There will be a LOT of binge watching happening in my house over the next month or so. Possibly (and hopefully) more than I care to admit.

I didn't buy a new cable subscription when I moved away for college, but that doesn't mean I can't watch the TV I want when I want it. NBC TVEverywhere allows me to watch all of my favorite shows, from The Voice to The Blacklist, whenever and wherever I want straight from my laptop - from the comfort of my own bed or when I'm procrastinating in the library! The best part about it is that it allows you to watch TV on your own time, without having to worry about setting the recorder. It's perfect for all of you boss-lades on the go out there who are constantly hustling like me.

What TV show are you most excited to catch up on this Winter Break? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to check out NBC TVEverywhere for all of your binge-watching needs. Click the links above to start watching now!