Freshly Squeezed's 2015 Holiday Gift Guide!

It's that time of year again! 

The holidays are upon us, which mean we're working on those naughty and nice lists (hopefully leaning more on the nice side)! Nothing beats shopping for those you love- but it's also important to treat yourself to something extra special. For this year's list, I've rounded up my 10 favorite things I'm hoping Santa can fit in his sack. 

Clos du Bois Fete In A Box- Who doesn't love a little wine and games during the holidays? This 'party in a box' gift set from Clos du Bois designed by wine ambassador and event planner, Jung Lee. Gift box includes everything from cocktail napkins to thank you cards! Order online $89 

Jo Malone London Cologne Gift Set- Jo Malone knows the way to a girl's heart! They've rounded up their five most popular scents in this one-of-a-kind holiday gift set. Mix and match the scents or wear them individually. But you'll be guaranteed to be smelling good through the holidays! Available at Bloomingdales. $115

Swarovski Callie Bag Charm- Purse charms are all the rage this season and Swarovski's got you covered with these stylish critter key chains! Made of leather and accessorized with Swarovski crystals, they take cute to another level! $89

  

Unicorn Book Ends- Here's an easy way to make reading even more magical! Guaranteed to make a great gift for any bookworm, these bookworms make a great addition to any home. Who doesn't love a mystical unicorn, anyways? Available at CB2. $24.95

Vince Camuto 'Aleni' Clutch- The mirror has many faces with this killer 3D geometric mirrored clutch from Vince Camuto. It's a showstopper and the only party favor you'll need for your next holiday shindig! $178

Fedora- Hat's Off to this season of giving! And at the top of my list is a new hat, like the Lady Roulette from Goorin Bros. This wide brim fedora is perfect with either a ladylike look (think blouses, bows, and full skirts) or a neo-nostalgic #OOTD (floral maxi dresses and rock n' roll tees). The cream-colored hue makes it a hat for all seasons. $160

MAC Cosmetics Holiday Collection- MAC's Holiday Gift sets are a fail-proof gift for all the makeup junkies in your life. From lip glosses to pigments, there's something for everyone. Their sleek packaging and versatile colors are a win-win in the stocking stuffer department. The Irresistibly Charming Lip Gloss Mini Kit in Nude is my ultimate obsession. $35

Pajama Onesies- It's time to cozy up by the tree, or under the covers, and take all those Instagram-worthy pajama pictures with cute coffee mugs, wearing a new set of yummy pajamas. And the best part? They're onesies! Hello, adult baby. Marshalls is your go-to store to keep you cool(and kid-like)  this winter. $24.99 

Woven bracelets from Albadora Jewelry- There's always room for one more bracelet on my arm candy! I am currently loving these dusty blue woven and jeweled ones from Albacore jewelry. You can easily take them from day to night with your outfit of choice! Sack them up or wear them as stand alone pieces. Email albadorajewelry@gmail.com for pricing. 

Adele's 25- Because everyone needs this album in their life. Period. $11.99

In Style, 

Kat 

A 70's inspired morning on the Boardwalk with Marimekko

Hello Squeezers! I'm starting this post with a peppy greeting to you all! Hop you're feeling fresh, feeling happy, and if you're in those cold climate states, I hope you're feeling the first flutters of spring, even if it comes in 40-50 degree weather. If that doesn't have you looking forward to warmer temperatures, I'm sure this Marimekko dress will! 

For my latest brand collab, I teamed up with Finnish brand, Marimekko, popularly known for their bold and iconic prints and they never disappoint! Whether you fall into a classic category like black and white or maybe you like channeling that 60's mod girl with geometric patterns, Marimekko covers the spectrum of innovative designs and pops of color.  

So when Marimekko sent me this psychedelic shift dress, splashed with shades of black, white, sky blue, and pale pink, I felt like I jumped into a time machine back to the 70's.This dress is vintage magic! And how perfect does it look photographed on the Miami Beach boardwalk?! The color palette of the dress makes me think of seascapes and coastal town postcards (deep thoughts). 

My photographer, Raquel and I (www.raquelzaldivarphotography.com) took advantage of the beautiful, sunny day and headed to the boardwalk to give this dress the tropical razzle dazzle it deserved. I mean, the ocean is literally sparkling. It's not even photoshopped. If it's one thing New York doesn't have that Miami does is gorgeous beaches. Hands down. 

To keep with the 70's trend, I kept my hair sleek and as straight as I possibly could considering the Miami humidity. I added these nude Forever 21 sunnies and bright purple lips to contrast with the black and white of the dress. 

I took a different style approach when it came to the shoes. I love these metallic Steve Madden slip-ons because they're cool, sporty, and effortlessly chic and I love how they look paired with the Marimekko dress. I love meshing different styles and seeing how they work together. Add some socks and boom! I just added my own freshly squeezed touch. 

And I haven't even mentioned the best part of this dress- POCKETS! Yes, pockets. 

I know. I'm just as psyched.  

So as we change out our wardrobes to make room for some new, fun, summer looks, make sure to invest in one or two key pieces that you'll wear more than a handful of times- think a great pair of white jeans, a killer pair of nude wedges, and oh, this kick ass Marimekko dress that will take you through all the seasons. 

Side note:  it's less than $200! 

On Me: 

Dress- Marimekko dress
Slip ons- Steve Madden 
Sunnies- Forever 21 


In Style, 

Kat

Miami Style Map: Into the (Miami Beach) Woods!

One of my favorite things about getting to work on this blog, is discovering and exploring city attractions that might be common knowledge to many, but still very new to me. One of these spots is the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, tucked away behind the Convention Center and blocks from the highly-trafficked Lincoln Road. 

These lush and tranquil grounds are a zen reprieve from the busy and on-the-go city life. The gardens were built in early 1957 along the historic Collins Canal, which were used to transport avocado and mango directly to the Port of Miami. And through the years, after economic recessions, hurricanes, and World Wars, the gardens deterioriated due to lack of funds and attention. But leave it to the people to bring the gardens back to life, and in 1996 that's what happened. The garden has been restored and is often enjoyed by tourists and locals alike. And the best part? It's free. (Learn more about the MBBG www.mbgarden.org) 

This was my first visit and it was absolutely lovely! (Raquel, my photographer, got some pretty amazing shots! www.raquelzaldivarphotography.com) And the perfect location to take this 'For Love and Lemons' dress (via Trend Rush boutique) and my Worth and Worth hat out for a spin! Fits in seamlessly with all the ferns and trees! The floral details on the black and dress number are minimal yet standout without being ostentatious and I absolutely love the low neckline! I added one of my chokers and kept the rest of the jewelry on the simple side. 

I'm so obsessed with my wine-colored Worth and Worth hat. It's such a classic touch and it works so well with any kind of outfit, particularly in this rustic landscape. 

It wouldn't be a freshly squeezed outfit without the a) hat and b) socks and booties! These Steve Madden booties haven't failed me or any outfit in my closet. They've become my go-to-shoe! They go well with everything from skinny jeans to flirty silhouette dresses! 

And say hello to my kitty kat! How cute is this Betsey Johnson clutch!? Especially the gold nose/clasp detail! 

On Me: 

Dress- For Love and Lemons Dress (Via Trend-Rush)

Hat- Worth and Worth Hat 

Booties- Steve Madden 

Clutch- Betsey Johnson 

In Style, 

Kat 

Let's Celebrate Miami's Sweater Weather!

 

For the last few weeks, we've been enjoying some cool, crisp weather in usually sweltering Miami and no one is happier than this girl right here! I get to dust off some of my favorite sweaters and parade them around town with a big, fat smile on my face. 

One of my favorite combinations is pairing culottes with sweaters. It's the perfect mix of street and chic. And for my latest blog post, I teamed up with Natalie of www.sunaphotography.com   to bring you some photo magic from the heart of Coconut Grove.

  
I love the gold studded details on this leopard print sweater- and while it's not your traditional animal print, it's still cool and modern with an eye-popping pairing of black and yellow. I love how it pairs with the leather culottes and the thick strapped heels, because even though it's sweater weather in Miami, you can still show a little ankle cleavage!

 Here's a closer look at some of the outfit details, including my winged earrings which are a personal favorite because of their unique design! 

If you're in Miami, there's probably only a few days left of this fake winter so make sure you take full advantage of this 60-70 degree weather and bust out that sweater that's been crying for some attention. It'll thank you later!

On Me: 

Sweater- Forever 21

Culottes- Zara 

Heels- Jessica Simpson

Earrings- Forever 21 

In Style, 

Kat

Miami Style Map: Singing the Blues in Surfside

My friends say I need a little push to walk on the 'wild side' from time to time. And this is most likely true. I can be a real square on occasion. Living on the 'wild side' doesn't really appetize me. I like to follow rules, not break them. And if I do, there's got to be some good logic behind it. I was that girl who never went to the principal's office, always followed directions, and brought home kick ass report cards. And damn proud of it. 

So imagine my trepidation when Lizzie, my photographer from www.ra-haus.com, suggested we lay claim on this retro bungalow in Surfside. Our shooting location, she tells me. "But Liz, SOMEONE lives here. It's trespassing." And out comes that good girl I was telling you all about and here's how it went inside my head for twenty seconds, "we can't shoot here, it's not our house! do you know the people that live here? can we get arrested? what if they shoot us? what if the neighbors say something?" Neurotisicm at it's finest. 

Finally after several nudges, pushes, and a even a "get over it," she started clicking away. And sometimes, that little push is all you need in order to get some magical results like these! 

There is so much character to be found in one single shoot, starting with the standout aqua color of this sweet adobe! It's sensational- there's no better way to describe it. Two things came to mind when I first saw this house- 1) how much it reminded me of that infamous W Mag spread with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie during the 'breakup heard round the world." And 2) If Norman Rockwell decided to use Miami Beach in his 1950's All-American family portraits, this would probably be the kind of house he would feature. 

With that being said, it's no surprise that this Miami-modern casita was the other leading lady during our session, and we definitely took advantage of the all that it's exterior had to offer. 

I love the contrast of the dressed up look against the distressed and aged appearance of the home. I also love this full print black and white skirt not only because it has a slight touch of 1950's modernism, but because it has POCKETS! I'm pocket-crazy! 

The versatility and print of the skirt makes it a classic staple that can be worn many different ways. I paired mine with a cut off jeweled crop top in another classic color- grey. This look leans toward the modern, and yet it still works with my everyday style. 

I accessorized this look with these beautiful earrings courtesy of Rocksbox, my Rebecca Minkoff red cross body, and my electric blue Louboutins for some pop of color, and my vintage Pixie Market frames. Also, can you spot my 'Tale of Two cities' bracelet? I'm obsessed. 

And there you have it, folks! This is what happens when you step out of your comfort zone a tad- a unique photo session that will definitely have the squeezers talking! And special thanks to Lizzie for giving me that extra push I needed! 

On Me: 

Top: Bloomingdales
Skirt: Bloomingdales
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff
Heels: Louboutins 
Sunnies: Pixie Market 


In Style, 

Kat 

The Writings on the Wall

 

One thing I'm really good at is disconnecting. My husband says it takes seconds for me to get into 'vacation mode' while it takes him a few days. He's rather envious, actually.  I know that comes off as a bit stand-offish, so let me explain. I've had practice in self-nurturing from a young age, and know really well when it's time to disconnect, to cut myself off from the world in order to put my needs and well-being first. It's important for me to shut down the engines so I can reconnect with myself, with my family, and with my sanity. And I make no apologies for it.  It's what keeps me healthy, happy, and sane.

This photo shoot marked one of those 'that's it for me' times. My photographer, Raquel and I, met at one of my favorite Wynwood walls after a whirlwind few weeks of Art Basel and deadlines. I was mentally exhausted. The thought of piling assignments and looming deadlines would give me mild anxiety. I was looking forward to some time off with my little girl and frankly, some time to myself idling with mindless trivia like bad TV and fashion magazines. And that's exactly what I did. 

Once I turned in my last assignment, I let out a big, obnoxious sigh (and maybe did a little dance too), and closed down shop. I disconnected. I put myself on vacation. It was 'me' time. No work. No deadlines. 

And then I did this photo shoot.

I call this urban modern.  It's a more streamlined look, a little different than what I usually gravitate to and I'm really digging it- starting with the booties. I love these Steve Madden booties. I love the almond-toe cut, which can easily be worn with a skinny jean, a dress, or in this case, my waffle-print ivory skirt.

 

The piece de resistance of this outfit is the Style Mafia Jacket. It's channeling old school letterman/bomber only way more fierce. Yes, that's part in thanks to the tigers because tigers just make everything magical, but I also love the cut and the fit. I styled it over a black long sleeved crop top, but you can throw this over any tee or tank, even a turtleneck (I did) for an effortless, retro look.

This photo shoot was the perfect way to disconnect and have a little fun! So now I turn the tables on you- how do you disconnect? 

 

On Me: 

Jacket- Style Mafia 

Skirt- H&M 

Handbag- H&M

Crop top- Forever 21 

Boots- Steve Madden 

In Style, 

Kat 

Welcome to the Dollhouse

 Some time in 2014, at the suggestion of my BFF and occasional inside voice, I steered clear of floral prints because according to him, I was single-handedly keeping the trend alive based on the ridiculous amounts of floral pieces I owned. I tried to deny it, "me?! obsessed with florals? You got the wrong girl." But after a routine closet cleaning with said best friend, I came face to face with my floral demons and moved on to the acceptance phase. 

Hi my is Kathy, and I'm a recovering floral-holic. Yes, my closet was in full bloom and I needed a cleanse. I purged my wardrobe of floral pieces that basically looked exactly the same in print and color. Now I have a healthy dose of florals and all in different palettes. 

Recovery is slow. I still walk into a store and I automatically gravitate towards anything that has flowers splashed on it; therefore, I have to make a conscious effort to stop and listen to that inside voice that tells me, "Step away from the florals." Truth be told, sometimes I can't stand that inside voice. That's not to say I won't be wearing florals again. Au contraire. It just means I'll be more selective and may need a BFF approval whenever I'm obsessing over a floral piece- like this floral number from Romwe! 

My photographer and friend extraordinaire, Liz from Ra-haus Fotografie (www.ra-haus.com) and I took to the streets of Lincoln Road to capture the floral magic of this dress because it organically blends with the lush surroundings. The green is the one color that stands out most about this number and when photographed against the tropical vegetation and grey colored stone sidewalks, it pops even more. 

The dress's details like the peter pan collar, the slightly flared skirt, and the dress's black floral print background, gives this look a darkly feminine twist- an almost doll-like vibe. 

I played up the mood a little more with the dark lip (MAC Cyber- my current obsession) and my two-toned Sam Edelman loafers (a menswear touch) via Zappos.com (www.zappos.com). 

It's amazing how much character a pair of sunnies can add to a look! These Pixie Market ones, with its tinted brownish lenses, go perfectly with the dress's color scheme. 

So what did we learn today, squeezers? It's okay to love a trend just as long as there is variety to that trend. Try to purchase/invest in pieces that are far from similar. The floral selections are seasonally endless so no need for five red floral tops or three floral pink dresses. Don't let yourself drown in a sea of bland continuity.

 Branch out! 

On Me:

Dress- Romwe

Loafers- Sam Edelman from Zappos.com

Glasses- Pixie Market 

In Style, 

Kat