Match Made in Running Heaven

One of my favorite holiday traditions is going for a run with my family on Thanksgiving morning. Not only does the act of running jump-start the metabolism, but it serves as a great reminder to give thanks for all the things that enable you to get out of bed and cross the finish line. Something about giving thanks makes me hyper aware of other's misfortunes which is why I love hitting the pavement at the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot. 

At this year's Silicon Valley Turkey Trot, twenty-five thousand people came together to run and raise proceeds benefiting local Second Harvest Food Banks, the Housing Trust and the Healthier Kids Foundation. 

I wore a pair of shoes I am breaking in - my Nike Lunar Glide 5s - which are animal print and reflective for  optimal day to night use. After logging 20+ miles in these stylish kicks, I cannot recommend them enough. 

They are lightweight, supportive (I use these in lieu of formal stability shoes) and generally cool as F.

A Day in the Life of Caity Shreve

Hi all! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. This week's 'Day in the Life' feature is someone I am thankful to have met. She is a talented personal stylist, Compliance Officer at an SF-based hedge fund and the red-haired firecracker behind Moi Contre Le Vie. Her blog's name may mean 'me versus life' but there is really no competition. After you take a look at her typical day, I think you'll totally agree.

5am: Wake-up & get ready - Given the early hour I’ve perfected my regime so it’s quick & efficient, here are a few of my tips & Must Haves:

• I lay out my clothes & accessories the night before
• A multitasker for your skin is a must – I love Tarte’s Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizer which has an SPF of 20 {Note: Whenever possible I try to use natural, organic & eco-friendly make-up & skincare products}
• I usually layer BB Cream/Tinted Moisturizer over a moisturizer with sunscreen like Jurlique’s Sun-Defying Moisturizer or L’Oreal’s Youth Code
• I like to mix up my eye creams and right now I’m loving Yes To Grapefruit – It’s light and deliciously scented
• Nothing is better for dry skin or hair than Josie Maran’s Organic Argan Oil so when I’m in need of hydration that’s my go-to

My make-up routine is similarly pared down, but I would never leave the house without:

1. Under Eye Concealer – I’ve used Laura Mercier’s Under Cover Pot for years but recently tried Tarte’s Creaseless Concealer which is great
2. Blush – Currently obsessed with Josie Mara’s Argan Color Stick in Peach Coral
3. Mascara – The mascaras currently in rotation are Benefit’s They’re Real, Maybelline’s Great Lash (LOVE the new redesigned brush), and Josie Maran’s Natural Volume With Argan Oil
4. Eyeliner – BareMinerals Round-The-Clock in Deep Navy

5:20am: Walk to work – I try to log 2-5 miles of walking each day, it’s great for your health and the perfect way to keep your cortisol levels low.

5:30am: Work day begins. Once I get through my inbox & deal with time sensitive issues my morning routine includes lots of liquids: Detox drink, green tea and room temperature water. While I’m sipping on my morning tea I’ll do a little email & social media catch-up and set up my posts/social media updates for the day - Facebook lets you schedule posts & I love Hoot Suite so you don’t have to interrupt your day.

10am: Mid-morning gym trip – A metabolism boosting morning workout is the perfect pick-me-up after a few hours of staring at a computer screen. I’m recovering from a spinal injury so my fitness routine currently includes Physical Therapy, core workouts, walking, and supplementary classes like pilates, yoga & martial arts.

11am: Breakfast – I traditionally break my fast after my morning workout with something high in protein like a green smoothie.

1pm: Snack/Mini Lunch – After years of office living I’ve learned that a big lunch is a no-go for me, it decreases my energy & concentration, and sends me straight into a food coma. Some standard snacks include: Smoothies {Yes - Sometimes I’ll have more than one in a day!}, Green juice, Peanut butter chia seed pudding, Raw veggies w/ high protein hummus, Raw organic almonds, and/or Fruit. If I know it’ll be a long day I’ll bring in roasted veggies with quinoa or order a salad that can be split into two and eaten throughout the day.

4pm-5pm: Walk home.

5pm-8pm: I have three standard after-work routines:

1. Writing, blogging, styling, updating social media, answering emails, catching up on my Twitter feed, and losing myself on Pinterest.
2. Walk to the event, meeting, photo shoot, or social engagement. Sometimes I attend a few engagements in a single evening.
3. I’ll save one or two afternoons a week to dedicate purely to personal styling video chats & follow-up work for Ajent. Those days can have up to 4 hours of video chats plus research & follow-up for the clients. Luckily I have complete control of my schedule so if it’s been a busy, hectic week I’ll limit the number of styling clients I have.

8pm-9pm: I like to do some stretching and/or yoga moves to relax my muscles at night. I’m also a big fan of baths so after a stress-filled day you can usually find me soaking with peppermint scented candles & the latest issue of Harper’s Bazaar.

How to Safely Conquer Black Friday (and Cyber Monday)

In an effort to maximize your bonding time with loved ones, I've created a list of the best Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales so you can get in, get out and get on with drinking boozy egg nog with relatives. 

• Nordstrom: Scoop up handbags like this one for your favorite bag snobs. Looking for the BEST skin care products? Look no further than Nordstrom's Best of Kiehl's: $33 doorbuster deal. I swear by their Midnight Recovery Eye Concentrate. 
• DVF: Get 30% their Fall 2013 collection through Dec 2nd. Use code DVFINSIDER to save $50 on orders over $200.
• Gap: Fall in to the Gap if you have a human on your list. Get 50% off on Nov. 29, and score 40% off storewide from Nov. 30 through Dec. 2. I'm digging this.
• BaubleBar: Get them ALL something sparkly. The more you spend, the more you save! Get15% off two items with code FRIDAY15, 25% off three items with code FRIDAY25, and 35% off four items or more with code FRIDAY35 on 11/29.
• Planet Blue: 20% off at Planet Blue when you use code GOODIES until 11/27. 
• Shopbop and East Dane: Save 15% when you spend $250. Save 20% when you spend $500 and 25% when you spend $1,000 from this Tuesday through Cyber Monday. I'm loving this these and this  for gals, this for him and this for holiday party hosts. 
• Topshop: Arrive early and receive gift cards with mystery amounts! Every $75 you spend will earn YOU a gift. That might make the Black Friday craziness worth it! Ask yourself who wouldn't want this chunky sweater? 
• Hudson: Get 25% off on Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Their Nico Mid-Rise Super Skinny is one of the most comfortable pairs of jeans on earth
• Ann Taylor: Receive 50 percent off cashmere sweaters in stores and online on Black Friday. Receive 40% off all other purchases with code TAKE40. 
• Club Monaco: Get 30% off new markdowns now through Black Friday! I'm gaga for these gloves and this cozy hat.

Tip: One of my favorite things about Black Friday is battling with company! I used to go with my mom and now I drag the Banker's mom with me because two hands are never enough! 

Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving! 

Serving Platter Styling for Fall

West Elm serving tray 

West Elm vase  

Diptyque Candle  

Kate Spade Vase 

Tom Ford Nail Polish in 'Bitter Bitch' and 'Bordeux Lust'

 Dior Nail Polish in 'Purple Revolution' 

L'Occitane Hand Cream 

BaubleBar bangle personalized with 'Harlowe' 

 Necklace was my great-grandma's

The Banker and I both love hosting. Who doesn't love making dinner, playing games and drinking too much with loved ones. I really love when guests stay over so that I can enjoy them more the next day. Unfortunately, our two-bedroom apartment means the living room is also the guest room. So, this Thanksgiving we'll be turning down the sheets in the guest room when the Grand Wags* come to visit for the holidays.

 I wanted our bedroom to be warm and inviting for them while The Banker and I spend next week staying up late and watching movies in our living room. I added some fall accoutrements to the tray featured in this post in an effort to both organize and decorate our bedroom. 

 *'Grand Wags' are my in-laws, but I hate the word 'in-laws'. I call my husband 'Wags' because I dig creepy pet names; ergo, my parents-in-law are Grand Wags.

Let's be friends:

Facebook / Twitter / Google+ / YouTube / Pinterest / Instagram / Bloglovin'

Studded Flannel

Hat via Poshmark / Forever21 plaid shirt / Gap Boyfriend Jeans / Zara scarf / Shutz shoes (on sale!) / Tory Burch bag / Celine Sunnies / MAC Snob lipstick

I've noticed an inverse correlation between the amount of money I spend on a clothing item and how often I wear it. This top, for example, was about $20 and is a dollar or two per wear after a few months. I've brought this up with several friends and their behavior is not unlike mine. 

I got these Valentino Rock Stud reminiscent heels in hopes that I wear them more than my behavior tells me I'd wear the real-deal. 

Do you leave your splurges tucked away in the closet or are they for the world to see? 

Follow along for more BethAnimal:

Facebook / Twitter / Google+ / YouTube / Pinterest / Instagram / Bloglovin'

A Day in the Life of Brittany Curran of Work it Berk

When this cheeky cyclist isn't working at Google Play, she can be found prowling the Berkeley Flea Market and Gourmet Ghetto in search of bold street fashion and tempting cuisine to shoot for her blog.

I caught Brittany at the right place (email) at the right time (after work) and asked her to dish the details on her daily life. *Spoiler alert: She's hilarious and shares my love for Hart of Dixie.

9:00 AM: The alarm on my phone goes off. I’m confused, slightly hungry, but mostly happy that I got so much sleep.

9:15 AM: I scarf down a quick breakfast as I get ready for my yoga class.

9:30 AM: I ride over to yoga in downtown Berkeley.

10:00 AM: I take off my shoes and outerwear. I place my belongings in the shared cubbies. I drop a couple bucks in the donation box for a mat.

10:01 AM: I find an open spot for my mat and get into child’s pose. (Heck yeah, child’s pose!)

10:10 AM: Being the yoga newb that I am, I follow the teacher’s instruction as best as I can.

10:30 AM: Planks. Why?

10:35 AM: Warrior pose two. Okay, I got this…

10:35 AM: ...Maybe not. Shouldn’t’ve skipped class last week.

11:00 AM: Yoga’s over. I survived. And feel damn good.

11:10 AM: I head over to the Berkeley Farmers’ Market to find potential street style subjects.

11:15 AM: That girl’s dress is cute. Oh, I like. Maybe I’ll ask to take her picture...

11:15 AM: ...Damnit, she’s not wearing shoes. She’s not even holding a pair. Nope, none in sight. You’re killing me, Berkeley!

11:20 AM: Oh, I got one. Stripes, huge scarf, great play on volume. Subject spotted.

11:20 AM: I ask her if I can take a photo of her outfit. Click, click, click. Hand her a card for my blog, showing her I’m not a creep. Mission accomplished.

11:25 AM: I make a couple more loops around the farmers’ market.

11:45 AM: I head over to Tilden Park to take a relaxing hike.

12:10 PM: Ugh, hills.

12:45 PM: I’m a bit hungry so I order poached eggs at a favorite brunch spot of mine. Of course, I take a few photos of my meal and anyone’s within my vicinity.

2:00 PM: I head home and upload my photos to see how they turned out.

2:05 PM: Oh, man. These eggs look delicious. Look at the dripping yolk pool around the English muffin.

2:10 PM: I adjust the photos’ exposure and crop them as necessary.

2:30 PM: I upload the photos to Flickr and start working on the posts.

2:45 PM: I’ve finished the street style post for Monday. I work on the restaurant review a little longer. I try to find better ways to describe food than with “solid,” “delicious,” and “great.” I fail and hope my huge photos make up for it. Fingers crossed.

3:30 PM: Tuesday’s post is done. I tease the posts on social media. I share an outtake from my meal.

3:35 PM: The bait has worked. The hearts, thumbs-ups, and replies come in. I guess I am getting better at this.

3:45 PM: I catch up on my internet nonsense and celebrity news.

4:10 PM: I’m on Oh No They Didn’t. GOOP is selling what for that much?! Oh, Gwyneth. Stay in London, boo. We don’t need you stateside.

4:30 PM: ...Still on ONTD.

4:45 PM: I catch up on episodes of Hart of Dixie, New Girl, or Revenge.

6:00 PM: I put some kind of meal together, preferably with peas and carbs. It’s Saturday. I’ll have pasta with veggies.

All photos from Work it Berk. Originals are here here and here.

7:00 PM: I share some photos of dinners I’ve had at Berkeley restaurants on Instagram. The people salivate. It’s working.

8:00 PM: I call my parents and see what they’ve been up to and how much warmer it is down there.

9:00 PM: I eat banana ice cream from Berkeley Bowl while watching a movie.

11:30 PM: I start getting ready for sleep.

12:15 PM: Hopefully, I’m asleep.

Subscribe and Follow BethAnimalPrint:

Bloglovin' / Facebook / Twitter / Google+ / YouTube / Pinterest / Instagram

Throwback

On me: shirt, leggings, cuff via Stitch Fix / Cole Haan shoes (similar) / My great-grandma's earrings 

On Kaare: Jeremy Argyle shirt / Bonobos pants

On Harlowe: H&M Dress / Pediped shoes

I struggle to believe these photos were taken a year ago. My dear friend Christa Scott snapped them near her home in Arizona. She's come up on the blog before through her photography and this probably wont be the last time. I love what she does behind the lens! 

Fast forward to this year, Harlowe knows at least 100 new words. (Good news, the 'S word' is one of them). Kaare no longer has this shirt because I ruined it. Oops! My bob has grown out and my personal style has evolved.

I am wearing pieces selected for me by Stitch Fix (sign up here)! Stitch Fix totally supplemented my wardrobe while I figured out what worked during this period of significant life changes (new job, new baby, new-ish city to call home). Now I have a better idea of which pieces will be magic and which to leave in the past, but I still get my 'Fix' on. In fact, I have one coming next month and I am looking forward to seeing what comes! 

Stay tuned for contents from my next Fix and updated Wagner family photos!

Lookbook: ShopStyle by PopSugar - We Shop Style

Winter is on its way and that means it's almost time for cardigans, wool hats and bronzer. I've teamed up with ShopStyle by PopSugar to bring you today's 'laydown' and the low-down on how I plan to cozy up this winter.

My winter necessities from left to right:

Polka Dot Button Down - Splendid

Leopard Pumps - Nine West

Cardigan - Acrobat

Boots - Tory Burch

We Shop Style Shirt - c/o ShopStyle

Necklace -  my great-grandma's

Striped Sweater - Madewell

Leopard Scarf - Zara

Jeans - Rag and Bone

Leggings - Rag and Bone

Bronzer - Benefit

Lipstick - YSL

Shop the lookbook below:

Check out part of their new ad campaign below, people:

Holiday Gift Guide - Girls

They say you can't spoil a newborn. I say you can't spoil anyone under 4 feet tall. Seriously, have you ever thought, "damn, my childhood was way too plush?" In terms of spoiling our offspring, The Banker and I prefer to deliver rich experiences and time, but I can't pretend it's not fun to occasionally splurge on tiny clothes...especially when they are gifts for friend's kids. (I'm looking at you 'baby E' and 'G'.)

Gap Coat

I love the preppy pattern and toggle closure. The inside is lined with ridiculously soft faux-lambs wool to keep little ones warm. 

Janie & Jack dalmatian-chic shirt & hat

These classic pieces have just the right amount of animal print detail. 

Janie & Jack velveteen mini

Adorable bow detail and festive red color make for the most charming winter wardrobe staple. Pair with these plaid tights to keep tiny legs warm.  

Dr. Martens boots

These cushioned soles are perfect for new walkers and experienced playground strutters alike. Plus, a major style influencer and Jessica Alba's mini-me, Honor wears them!

Burberry dress

How does looking at this tiny Burberry shift not make you squeal? Perhaps thinking about all of the juice that will inevitable be spilled on it makes you panic. I'm digging this budget-friendly version too.

3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli Mini bag

What's better than everyone's favorite high-end satchel? That satchel in miniature. With this, your favorite mini-fashionistas can carry their juice and pull-ups in style. This cross-body bag does the trick too and is less than $20.

Nike Frees

Miniature Frees feature no-tie laces and Velcro straps. Read: smooth on/off experience. Psst...these ones are 20% off.

Ugg boots

A cold weather staple with a modern twist. The impeccable studded heart detail is a guaranteed gifting triumph for the little rock-star on your list.

Holiday Gift Guide for Men

Believe it or not, the holidays are just around the corner. It's not too early to begin checking things off of your figurative list. Today also happens to be our wedding anniversary, so it is only fitting that I share a gift guide that is man-centric. 

Herschel Supply Co. duffle bag

Finally a bag he won't be ashamed to lug around the office. Not only is it sleek and totally stylish; this bag also has a side compartment for shoes. 

VitaMan Face & Body Cleanser

Kill two birds with one stone with this face and body cleanser. It smells so good, it's a gift for both of you. The Banker usually smells like hot garbage after a workout, so VitaMan is a life saver.  

Evening out to Sushi

Treat him to an unexpected date night at your favorite sushi joint. Of course sushi wouldn't be complete without sake. Sake is considered a 'healthy' alcohol because it is heavily filtered and therefore has less impurities than other alcoholic beverages. Bring on the sake!  

Art of Shaving travel kit

This kit is travel sized so he can be smooth no matter where he goes. Also, Art of Shaving released various scented shaving creams (I love the lemon!). 

Wurkin Stiffs collar stays

These stays are crafted from airport-friendly alloy and have magnetic 'buttons' to better tame his collar. The Banker and his friends all swear by these.  

Brooklyn Brew Shop Beer Making Kit

Bring artisan brews to your home with with this reusable kit. Its compact design makes it perfect for the space-strapped beer brewer.  

Teroforma tumblers and whiskey cubes

Using cubes instead of ice will keep his whiskey safe from dreaded H20 dilution.

Yurbuds ear buds

These triathlete-endorsed headphones lock into the ear comfortably resulting in no movement and exceptional sound delivery.  (Note: I own these and swear by them. They're comfortable and will not move even if you're running from Amanda Bynes.)

Richer Poorer socks

These eye-catching socks come in every imaginable patterns and textures. 

Nike Free running shoes

Athletes and weekend-warriors alike adore the tried and true Nike Free because of its natural sock-like fit and the array of colors to choose from.

Come back tomorrow for my toddler gift guide. It will be perfect for the fierce little girl in your life!

A Day in the Life of Sazan Barzani

Model, hostess, blogger Sazan Barzani is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. (She's from Texas, obvi.) If you are one of the 60k people following her on Instagram, you know she is always up to something fabulous. Her days consist of 'red carpet' moments and fashion videos, but she always seems to make time return to the Lone Star state to visit her family.

The big-haired, blogger behind SpazMag, is one seriously busy (and stylish) woman. How does she do it? 

This Kurdish-American fashionista was gracious enough to fill me in on how her typical day plays out.

A Day in the Life of Sazan Barzani

photos from SpazMag.com

9:00 AM:  The alarm on my cell phone chimes and I ease my way out of bed.

9:15 AM:  I wash up and head to the kitchen to make a bowl of cereal or green smoothie.

9:30 AM: Enjoy my breakfast on the patio while reading my daily devotional or catch up on some tv shows.

10:00 AM: Time to fire up the laptop and check emails, research, edit my calendar schedule, write out the day’s to-do list.

10:30 AM:  Start drafting the day’s blog post.

11:15 AM: Blog post is LIVE. Time to feature on all social media platforms, email brands PR..

11:30 AM: Time to get ready. Hop in the shower and start the fierce process!

12:30 PM: Out the door! Usually this is the time to run all my errands, grab lunch, head to meetings or auditions, showroom visits and/or working a side project.

3:15 PM: Finally home! I usually come back to 5-6 boxes in front of my door-step from brands wanting to collaborate with the blog. This distracts  me. I start opening every single one like it’s Christmas!

3:30 PM: Styling/prepping outfits that I’m about to go shoot for my blog with my photographer.

4:15 PM: Out the door to misc location to shoot 4-5 outfits in less than an hour!

5:30 PM: That’s a wrap! Now rushing back home to change outfits for an event or dinner date.

6:00 PM: Home! Relaxing a bit. Checking blog post stats for that day and responding to any important marked emails from the day and prepping for tomorrow’s to-do list.

7:00 PM: Time to change purses. Grab my clutch bag (can’t forget the business cards) and find the energy to head out to a fashion event or extravaganza. Usually I’ll be giving myself a pep talk on the drive there reminding myself that networking is a part of the job!  

10:00 PM: Home and exhausted. Quickly washing up and getting into my PJ’s.

10:30 PM: Cozy up in front of the TV to a movie or my Real Housewives shows.

11:30 PM: GOOD NIGHT.

Be sure to check out her blog and YouTube channel for affordable personal style and beauty tips that are totally spaz-worthy and tell me all about your favorite looks!