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Monday, September 19, 2016

Go Big or Go Home | Jenny Bird Collar Necklace



After my obsession with shoes, accessories comes in as a close second. I couldn't have asked for a better situation than Rocksbox. I get three pieces delivered to my door that I can buy or exchange for new pieces as little or as often as I want. 

Rocksbox recently changed the way they do things and everyone has been assigned their own personal stylist, instead of jumping back and forth to a bunch of different stylists that don't really know your style. 

I love letting my stylist know what I'm really into, what I'd rather stay away from, and any upcoming events I've got going on that she can style me for. Rocksbox even styled me for my wedding!

One of my most recent boxes contained this Jenny Bird Collar that I absolutely fell in love with. Was it something I'd see in a store and immediately say,"I've GOT to buy this!" No. But I love trying new trends and designers and stepping out of my comfort zone when it comes to clothes and accessories. 

I purchased a similar yet understated necklace from Jenny Bird a while ago that I wear all the time.

I highly recommend giving Rocksbox a try and you can do just that, on me. Use my code TORILESIKARXOXO when you checkout for a free month! Don't worry, it's super easy to cancel and you can always backout if you're not super happy or decide that you don't want to continue the service. However, I've been using Rocksbox for over a year now (I pay for my subscription...this is not a sponsored post or an ad!) and I always look forward to getting my next box in the mail.


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Monday, July 11, 2016

Trunk Bay, U.S. Virgin Islands | Becca Swim




Becca by Rebecca Virtue Swimsuit TOP and BOTTOM // Miu Miu Sunglasses

Get your own FREE month of DITTO designer sunglasses when you use the code TORILESIKARXO at checkout ;)





We finally made it to St. John! Coming from Oregon was a real trek, but I'm so glad we're here. Island time is no joke :) Yesterday, Ryan and I went to Trunk Bay, one of the top beaches in the WORLD. Can't say I disagree one bit. Did you know that most of the beaches here are a part of the National Parks Service? That means that all the land is protected and pristine, and like no other beach you'll find stateside. 

I could not wait to hop in the crystal clear water with my new Becca suit (we don't get warm water days in Oregon!). I love the braided details that add a super fun touch.

The best part? USVI parks have bars and restaurants! We all know there's nothing better than sitting on a beach sipping a rum drink...and you can totally do that here. You don't have to be at a fancy resort to fully enjoy the island life. The food isn't what you'd expect either. I'm pretty sure I had the best grilled chicken I've ever eaten at Cinnamon Bay the day before.

 


Pro tip: DO NOT have open food on these beaches! I had a seagull dive-bomb me from behind and fly away with my chicken salad. You literally have to make a tent out of your beach towel to eat you food out in the open. These birds know what they're doing and they have not a care in the world!




Sunday, July 3, 2016

4th of July | JORD Giveaway!







Yay 4th of July and a long weekend! I love dressing in red, white and blue and celebrating with friends. Nothing beats grilling out, watching fireworks and making s'mores on a day when you'd normally have to be sitting at your desk working. 

Growing up, my dad would always get sparklers for us and I was ALWAYS afraid of them. My little brother was more of the adventurous type when it came to messing around with fireworks, but I wanted nothing to do with them. However, for the photo above, I ventured out of my comfort zone ;)

Surprise, surprise... SOREL just launched their new Fall 16 collection and we've got RED Out N About Boots this season! The Out N About is one of the most popular styles and sells out SO fast so be sure you grab your pair before they're all gone! 



Also, I'm all about my new wooden watch from JORD. I've never really owned any accessories made from wood, but I love how light it is and I've gotten so many compliments. The best part? JORD watches are made from wood, which is sustainable! 

The even better part? You can win $75 toward your own! 


Contest ends 7/24/16 and everyone who enters will automatically get $20 toward a JORD watch of your own. 

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Rainbows in British Columbia : Wreck Beach






Ryan and I knew that we wanted to catch the sunset at the beach near where we stayed at UBC. However... :) Wreck Beach is not only a fully nude beach, you've got to walk up and down 5 million stairs to get there and back. Little did we know that once our feet touched the sand, we were in for a naked surprise. Not that there is anything wrong with being nude, it's just not the place you'd envision when you're going to shoot photos for an outfit post.

All that aside, Wreck Beach was beautiful and we got lucky with this rainbow the entire time!

Monday, June 27, 2016

Stripes on Granville Island






I love me some t-shirt dresses! There is nothing more versatile than a piece of clothing that can be worn as a dress AND a shirt. I also love tops that cover your rump :) Summer makes me so happy because I get to bring out the bright colors and funky patterns. I paired this orange stripe t-shirt dress with rose gold accessories for a subtle touch of sparkle and shine. Even the details on my Westward Leaning sunglasses are rose gold!

Speaking of these sunglasses, they're the perfect size for smaller faced ladies, like myself. I find that a lot of the more stylish sunglasses out there are SO freaking big that I: 1. Look like a fool wearing them or 2. Can't keep them on my face to save my life. I love this pair because they fit snug and frame my face nicely. The best part? They have mirrored lenses, which are perfect for people watching!


Saturday, June 25, 2016

Canada: Vancouver

Last week Ryan and I took a long 4-day weekend and drove up to Canada. I'd honestly never been out of the country except to Mexico, and that's not really "out of the country" when you grow up in Texas. Let me tell you-- I love Canada!

 Alex Fraser Bridge Crossing into Vancouver

Vancouver is SO clean and gorgeous. We hit it on a nice-weather weekend and it was amazing. Even though we went for Ryan to throw in the Harry Jerome track meet, we were able to do a little exploring in between.

Because Ryan was sponsored for this meet we stayed at the University of British Columbia. Don't get me wrong, this was not your average dorm! Travel tip: If you want to save money on your trip, check out the local university to see if they offer housing options for cheaper than staying in a hotel. UBC starts at $129 per night...does it get any better than that when you're traveling internationally and want to be comfortable?


Images c/o UBC

Not only can you stay at UBC, it is such a gorgeous campus. I've never been on a campus that was so visually colorful and interesting. There are great markets and cafes that are open year round in case you need a late night snack or want to grab an artisan pizza at Mercante.

Where we stayed at UBC

Not only is UBC a beautiful campus, it's a short walk to the beach where you can catch an amazing West Coast sunset. (Another post to come!)



Sweater // Abercrombie Leggings // SOREL Addington Chelsea Boots 

There are so many amazing coffee shops around Vancouver. You bet that was the first thing I wanted to do when I woke up on our first morning there...find coffee! I Yelped Rocanini which was on the way to the Harry Jerome and it was amazing! It's always nice to have a break from the usual grab-and-go quick Starbucks that I usually get in Portland. 


After coffee we headed down to Granville Island to walk around the markets and grab a bite to eat. It was a hard decision, but we landed at Off The Tracks which is a little bistro that offers, breakfast, coffee, sandwiches, small bites and beer and wine. I couldn't help but gravitate toward their amazing almond milk matcha latte :)

Off The Tracks Bistro

Rowing dock on Granville Island

One of the reasons I love Vancouver so much is because it reminds me of San Francisco!

Metro rail lines 




Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Backpack's Back, Alright


Madewell Necklace // Westward Leaning Sunglasses // SOREL sandals




I spend a lot of time on weekends at track meets supporting Ryan during javelin season (we're headed to Canada this weekend!). It's super important that I have all my essentials in one place so I don't have to hike back and forth to the car throughout the day. I know I've talked about this Cueropapel&tijera backpack before, but it's a lifesaver. This past weekend I threw in:

+ a book to read
+ sunscreen
+ bottle of water
+ snacks
+ sunglasses
+ and other small essentials

I can't say enough how much I love it, not to mention that it pretty much goes with EVERYTHING! The best part? It's got tassels!

Monday, June 6, 2016

Heatwave


 SOREL Torpeda Lace Sandals // Westward Leaning Voyager Sunglasses





Y'all we've had a massive heatwave hit Portland the past few days! I'm talking 102° all weekend and into this week. I wasn't quite ready to break out the shorts, but was glad I snagged this summery pair from work. They're the perfect length and I love the colors. They're also super soft and comfortable. I'm also loving this Kendra Scott Layden Necklace that's made out of crushed abalone. It adds just the right amount of sparkle to any outfit.

Like my Westward Leaning sunglasses? Don't forget that you can get your own for FREE from DITTO.com and use the code TORILESIKAR when you register!

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Breaking the Spring/Summer Rules


                                Plaid Sleeveless Dress // R13 Black Bomber // Illesteva Sunglasses 
SOREL Joanie Mesh Wedges




Like I've said before, until I moved to Portland I didn't own but maybe one plaid item. I've since changed and adopted this Portland staple and I've even been wearing it this spring. Who says you have to put away the plaid when the days start heating up? Not me! This day it was a little chilly so I opted to add a bomber. These SOREL Joanie Mesh wedges are also up for all day wear and are SO comfortable!

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Hiatus For Work

I'm all about the work/life balance, and sometimes you just need to stop and focus on work. April and most of May have been so incredibly busy! Here's what I've been up to in photos:

Austin, Texas Court House

In April we traveled to Austin, TX (home!) to shoot our S/S17 line. I'm so lucky to work for a company that lets me travel home for work. This was an amazing trip!

5th Street, Austin

Juan Pelota Coffee

Royal Blue Grocery

The amazing Alexandra Valenti, shooting for SOREL

My parents came down from Dallas and stayed in Austin for a night, once we were done shooting. I was so happy to get to spend a full day in Austin, going back to all of my favorite restaurants and shops. 

Alea, our producer at Torchy's Tacos on South Congress.

I could've eaten here every.single.day.

Shops on South Congress.



After hanging out in Austin, I headed to Dallas with my mom and dad for the rest of the weekend.

Exploring Bishop Arts District in Dallas.



Had to grab an authentic Italian style coffee at the Farmer's Market in downtown.

I wanted to scoop up every plant at the Farmer's Market and take them home with me!

I'd seen lots of bloggers photograph in front of this wall during the RewardStyle Conference, so I had to bookmark and add to my list of must-hit spots.

This art piece is literally to the right of the wall above! So cool!

More Deep Ellum walls.

After returning home, you've got to spend hours downloading, organizing, and editing photos you took for use in future seasons. Eventually work took over and blogging took a backseat to all the laydowns and shoefies I like to produce for the SOREL social media channels. (Totally not complaining--it takes over because my job hardly ever feels like work to me!)





I hope you enjoyed catching up via photos! Work has finally mellowed out a tiny bit so I will get back to my regular posting schedule. If you want to keep up with the day-to-day, make sure to follow me to Snapchat!