 Happy Weekend, everyone! Temps are cooling off across most of the U.S., but that doesn't mean you have to put away all of your pineapples and bright colors! Tami and I are happy to announce that we've partnered with Pura Vida Bracelets to show you how we style some of our favorite pieces day to day... all the way from Portland to New York! Add some sunshine to your life no matter the weather with handmade, tropical-inspired jewelry from Costa Rica-based Pura Vida. From hailing a cab to morning coffee with a view, our Pura Vida bracelets and necklaces are the perfect accessories for not only looking good, but feeling good, too. Give back this holiday season by purchasing items from the Pura Vida Charity Collection, where a portion of the proceeds from each sale is given to a variety of charitable organizations. Thus far, Pura Vida has partnered with over 190 charities and has donated more than $1,000,000 to worthwhile causes, while giving back to the community with full-time jobs and support for 100+ artisans in Costa Rica!   Where will you take your Pura Vida -- or better yet, where will your Pura Vida take you? Whether you're wanderlust-ing across the globe or just looking for the perfect accessories to brighten a rainy Monday at the office, Pura Vida is your one-stop shop for everything happy.
Shop our favorite looks below, and check out all of the other amazing items they have to offer! If you're a first-time customer, be sure to sign up for their mailing list to receive exclusive coupons while you're there. Featured Pieces:
Be sure to follow us on Instagram (@tami.cheri & @laravlw) to stay up-to-date with all of our upcoming travels and adventures, and for more Pura Vida styling tips! Until next time, xoxo, L + T This post is sponsored by Pura Vida Bracelets. All opinions are our own. Thank you for supporting all of the brands that make Coffee to Cosmos possible!
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Hey guys! I'm sure you've seen more than your fair share of NYFW-related content across social media lately (and my pages were certainly no exception!) but I thought I would recap everything I loved here! I will also be dumping in all of my extra photos from the past week in order to spare your Instagram feeds -- there were so many inspiring designers and collections and I am so honored to have been able to attend so many shows and parties. And that's a wrap! Click through the slideshow above to check out all of my favorite looks, events, and OOTD's from this year's NYFW, and stay tuned for even more fashion week magic this coming February!
Thank you to all of the designers and brands who had me at their events this year! xoxo, Lara 
Hello, loves!
Happy Friday! It's officially the weekend, and there's a lot to celebrate, but I'll tell you all more about that later! For now, it's time to dress up and get down -- in style, of course! One major trend I've been coveting this season is the slip dress. It can be hard to pull off such a sensual style during the day, but it is possible! Cover up by layering your slip dress over a crisp white tee shirt, and toss on your fave sneakers for a comfortable look for running errands around the city. Fill a chic and lightweight canvas tote bag with your daily essentials, throw on some killer shades, and you're out the door in no time! Shop the look using the widget above. 
Whether you're heading out for date night or a night on the town with your girls, this silky LBD is ready for anything. Show some skin by removing your white tee, and trade out your sneakers for some statement heels and you're ready to dance the night away! Add a choker necklace for some added appeal, and toss your phone, keys, and wallet into a clutch in the hottest shade of the season to stand out all night long. Once again, I've linked identical and similar items above for you to shop these trends for yourself!
What are you up to tonight? Let me know in the comments below, and I'll see you next time! xoxo, Lara Affiliate links are used in this post. All opinions are my own.  Hey everyone! If your Instagram feeds look anything like mine, you've probably seen these adorable boho wall hangings pretty much everyday. You can find them at places like Urban Outfitters or West Elm, but they can cost several hundreds of dollars -- so I decided to make my own! The whole process took a few hours, but I was also distracted by Gossip Girl so I went at a leisurely pace ;). It was a lot of fun and I LOVE the way it turned out in my room, so I'm excited to make more (and potentially sell some as well??). Here's everything you need to know:  Supplies:
I got everything from my local Michaels for around $8! You can also use a ruler or piece of cardboard to measure out and cut even pieces of yarn, but I just eyeballed it since I went for a more relaxed look.  Start out by cutting 8 strips of yarn in your desired length. How many clumps you need will depend on your desired look and the length of your dowel, but I spread 13 sets of 8 out evenly across mine.  Fold your yarn in half and place the loop over your dowel. Pass the ends of the yard around the dowel and through the loop to create the simple knot shown above. Repeat this until your dowel is covered!  The process isn't hard but can take some time, so settle down and get comfortable with your favorite Netflix series! When you've used all of your yarn, spread out the knots as desired and then use your scissors to even out the ends of the strands. The possibilities here are endless -- I went for a messy look, but you can also cut the ends straight across or cut them into a simple shape such as a chevron.
If you try out this DIY project, be sure to tag me and let me know! And if you'd be interested in having me make you one for cheap, hit me up because I may be adding some to the shop soon :). Until next time, xoxo! Lara  Hey all! Things have been super crazy lately, including apartment hunting in NYC (!!!), but I'm super excited to continue sharing my journey with y'all! Although I've since taken these bad boys out, I still wanted to blog a little bit about my experience with having box braids this summer. Being half African American and living in Brooklyn, I really wanted to get back to my native roots and partake in the local culture while trying to keep cool this summer. And boy has it been a hot one in the city!  Box braids are by no means a new trend, but it was fun for me to be able to try something new with my hair. They are traditionally used as a protective style during the warmer months, and it was so amazing not having to deal with my hair in the humidity and having it instantly styled when I woke up each day. I also had lots of fun experimenting with different styles, wearing it up and down (and even braiding it some more!) as I went from work to the beach to drinks and beyond. It only took two hours from start to finish to have my hair braided at a local salon, which was a lot less than I was expecting.  Overall I was only able to keep my braids in for two weeks due to some important events, but they would have lasted much, much longer, and I would definitely get them again. If you're considering having them done just know that you can't (and don't need to!) wash your hair very often while they're in, but that's part of the magic of it! I washed my braids once a week and used dry shampoo and styling cream throughout the days that followed to keep them looking neat. However, everyone's hair type is different and it's important to keep in mind whether you'll be using only your real hair like I did, or whether you'll be adding in extensions.
Have you tried box braids, or are you thinking of getting them done? Let me know in the comments below and tell me what ya think! xoxo, Lara Thank you Her Campus, Amtrak, Juicy Couture, and Ulta Beauty for sponsoring this post and for making this amazing possible. All opinions are my own! Wow -- what a weekend! As I'm sure you've seen from my abundance of social posts over the past few days, I was fortunate enough to attend and cover Her Campus' Her Conference in New York City this weekend. If you haven't heard of it, it's basically one amazing weekend of networking and gathering information and resources to help lead you to a better life! Having started the Her Campus chapter at my alma mater, HC will always mean a lot to me, and I was honored to be amongst so many powerful individuals who share passions and dreams similar to mine.   The weekend kicked off with an incredible party with Rebecca Minkoff herself at her flagship store in SoHo. There's nothing quite like sipping champagne with friends while shopping Rebecca's gorgeous designer collection at steep discounts. It was so amazing getting to meet and talk to her and even have her sign my handbag!   After an inspiring first day chock full of keynotes and panels by industry icons like Joyce Chang (EIC of SELF Magazine) and Rebecca Minkoff, it was such a treat hanging out at Juicy Couture's #TRACKISBACK party. Popsicles & Prosecco, inflatable flamingos, and cozy velour tracksuits (thanks for the hookups, Juicy!) are a few of my favorite things, and I'm looking forward to bundling up in style all fall and winter long. Bring on the cold weather and hot cocoa!   We got to hear from some pretty inspirational women during the conference -- ranging from a former Bachelor and Bachelorette star to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations -- but I think these two stood out to me the most. Hearing Joyce speak about her rise to leadership at Condé Nast and the fact that she knows she could have gotten there without earning a masters degree gave me major goosebumps and hope, and having witnessed the ups and downs of Nastia Liukin's amazing career during my childhood made it even more incredible and inspirational to hear things from her perspective.  Meeting the founders of Her Campus was definitely one of the highlights of my weekend. I loved being able to introduce myself to Co-Founder and President Windsor Western as it truly brought my journey of founding a college chapter full circle. Here are some other glimpses into my incredibly busy but unforgettable weekend!  Throughout the weekend, we learned how to... Innovate like Rebecca. Lead like Joyce. Persevere like Andi. Win Like Nastia. Empower like Vanessa. (P.S. This charging phone case by Rebecca Minkoff is seriously a journalist's best friend).   Tinder had the CUTEST activation at the conference, bringing in the perfect selfie wall made up of thousands of roses!   Thank you Ulta Beauty for keeping us looking gorgeous all weekend long, even though we're all busy af! (mug will be available from the Her Campus Shop soon!)  Did you miss the conference this year? Don't worry! Her Conference will be back even stronger in 2017, so stay tuned for event date and ticket announcements. It'll definitely be something you don't wanna miss.
I hope you all enjoyed following along with me this weekend, and I can't wait to bring you even more events and experiences as I continue to explore NYC! Until next time, xoxo, Lara This post is sponsored by Ulta, Juicy Couture, Amtrak, Vera Bradley, and Her Campus Media. All opinions are my own!  Hey all! Remember when I said there were some exciting things coming up for y'all on SF + D?! I'm thrilled to announce that I was recently selected to be a correspondent for this year's Her Conference in New York City! I couldn't be more excited for an action-packed weekend full of networking opportunities with industry icons, inspirational speakers, amazing goody bags, and much, much more. If you've been following along with me over the past few years, you know how much Her Campus means to me. Starting up the Her Campus chapter at my alma mater (how am I old enough to be calling it that right now?!) seriously changed my life for the better, and it allowed me to share my passions for the editorial industry with a wonderful group of girls itching for a creative outlet. Behind everything Her Campus does is a passion for empowering college women to conquer everything in their lives with confidence, and what's not to love about that?  There's a lot to love about New York City, especially when it comes to the fashion and editorial industries. The City That Never Sleeps is definitely the perfect backdrop for a conference such as Her Conference, and I can't wait to experience my first one! This year's conference includes presentations and workshops from amazing women such as the Editor-in-Chief of SELF Magazine, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and even the likes of Nastia Liukin and Rebecca Minkoff! And with sponsors like Ulta, Amtrak, Vera Bradley, and Juicy Couture, it's sure to be a weekend to remember. The fun all starts this Friday with an exclusive Rebecca Minkoff Meet & Greet Party in SoHo, so be sure to follow me on Instagram and Snapchat (@laravlw) to keep up with all of the fun! The full agenda for the weekend can be found here. Worried about the #FOMO? Click here to snatch tickets to the conference before it's too late! See you in the city! xoxo, Lara   Hey guys! As you know, I was recently able to hang out with a few other bloggers who are interning in the city this summer. As a result, of course we had to stop for a photo-op during our adventures around Manhattan! So, I thought I would drop by with a little outfit post to show off my OOTD from that day. Summers in the city are very hot and humid, but it can definitely get way too cold indoors sometimes. I decided to pair this cute sheer, flowy long-sleeved top with my fave lace-up denim skirt, along with my lace-up suede heels that I have literally been wearing e v e r y w h e r e. Add on this cute suede clutch and crossbody combo and some stellar sunnies, and I was ready for a day of sight-seeing and shopping in the city! I love love love how 70's trends ranging from lots of denim to bell sleeves and deep suede have been coming back lately, and although most of what I wear is pretty modern, I've definitely had fun playing around with more vintage looks as of late. What's your favorite comeback trend this summer? Let me know in the comments, and shop my look using the links provided below!  Shoppable Links:
Top: Forever 21 (similar) Skirt: Hot Kiss Clothing (similar) Purse: Forever 21 Sunglasses: Steve Madden That's it for now! There are lots of amazing things to come from SF+D, so stay tuned for some major announcements coming soon. xoxo, Lara This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Photos by Morgan Timm! 
ICYMI: I moved to NYC!
Moving to the city has opened me up to a world of possibilities, both within the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle blogosphere and outside of it! I can't wait to start blogging more now that I'm done with school, and I can't wait to take you all on the fabulous ride that my life has been as of late. It has seriously been everything I dreamed of and more, and it's only just the beginning. This past week I was able to meet up with some fellow bloggers in SoHo for dinner, and of course the idea for a blog collaboration was born over drinks and bottomless guac. We decided to meet up at the Birchbox SoHo store to create our own beauty boxes at their DIY counter, which was seriously way too much fun and I can't wait to go back and do it again soon. 
Morgan, Danie and I all met up with the goal of creating a Birchbox unique to our own beauty needs and desires, and we all found the perfect samples to try out for our varying skin and hair types. There were soooo many options to choose from that it was hard to walk away with only 5 items! Here's what I finally settled on:
Briogeo Curl Charisma: This curl defining cream was just what I needed to combat NYC's humid air -- I'm SO happy that I was able to test it out in my Birchbox! It's packed full of yummy things like amino acids and avocado, and it doesn't weigh my hair down at all. It's the perfect finishing touch after washing my hair for perfectly bouncy curls all day long. Supergoop! Defense Refresh Setting Mist: This product is probably my fave from all of the items I picked out, and I'm DEFINITELY going to pick up the full size. It's a three-in-one mist that sets makeup with a beautiful matte finish, controls oil, and protects your skin from the sun! This is a must for my commute to and from work on the subway. Model Co Party Proof Matte Lipstick: This lipstick is PERFECT for easy summer beauty looks. I picked a full-sized tube of their "Get Naked" shade and I absolutely love it. It's the perfect neutral tone and dries to a sleek matte finish without getting cakey or too dry. Coola Sport Classic Sunscreen: Summer is here and I am SO bad about using sunscreen. I hardly ever burn since I'm part African American, but sometimes I spend a little toooo much time outside and I regret everything. This fresh mango scented lotion is perfect for protecting my face at the beach, and the tropical scent actually makes me want to use it! Atelier Cologne Rose Anonyme: I'm all about floral scents for spring and summer, and this light scent gives me the perfect flirty undertones without being too girly. It only takes a small amount to wake me up and bring me back to my A game. 
Be sure to head to Morgan and Danie's blogs to see what they picked out for themselves, and comment below with what you're most excited to try!
If you're located in the NYC area, be sure to stop by the SoHo store to create your very own Birchbox! If not, enter our giveaway below to win their most popular set that comes with all of the amazing items pictured below -- the box itself is valued at $26, but the individual products are worth a lot more than that on their own! 
Be sure to enter this week!
xoxo, Lara |
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