my life lately+ ootd

Wow talk about not posting for a long time. It has really been way to long since I have posted on my blog. But don't worry I have an explanation for all of you. I have honestly been insanely busy, school has been super busy, along with dance. I have dance nearly everyday until super late at night, which doesn't work very well for a blogger needing to take outfit pictures. I also recently made my high school drill team which has already been super busy. I honestly have missed blogging so much, it is something I love to do, and it is so much fun for me. I am so excited to get back into blogging and be a lot more consistent. As summer is getting closer dance is coming to an end I am going to start having a lot more time for blogging. I am so excited to be back and start posting again.

Top{here} Pants{here} Sandals{here} Necklace{here} Sunnies{similar here} Hat{here}

I'm loving the simplicity of this outfit. It is such and easy outfit to wear and it is super comfy. Striped shirts are something I love, and they have been on repeat a lot lately. Black and white stripes paired with olive green is something I have been really loving lately. I am also obsessing with the rock/geode jewelery trend, I got this necklace a few weeks ago at the bijou market and I am loving it. The fun aqua color can be paired with anything, and is super unique.

I am honestly so happy to be blogging again and I can't wait for some fun upcoming posts. You can be looking forward to some guest posts, and some features. Thank you so much for sticking with me while I take a little break.

xoxo Annie 

Beating the Monday Blues|| Treat your Self

We all have those (Mon)days (weeks) where we are feeling uninspired and just bored. There are so many things that we can do to help beat these blues.

1. Take a hot LONG bath

This seems so simple but it really can make you feel so much better. This is really my go-to when I am feeling a little down. You can light some candles, grab your favorite bath products (I love lush Bath Bombs, and Bubble Bars) grab an ice water, and really just soak and spend a little bit of 'me time'

2. Paint your nails

Having painted nails is an INSTANT confidence boost for me. I know some people hate painting there nails but I totally love it and it is really so fun for me. When you're feeling down go for a bright pink or red color to instantly feel better.

3. Journal

Writing in a journal always makes me feel better when I am done. I literally just get all feelings and stress out on the pages and I feel so amazing after. I also love using my journal to doodle, my doodles are always really whimsical so doodling always puts me in a good mood. Writing in a journal is something that I feel like we all need to do at least every once in a while.

4. Call/Talk to your best friend

When I am just not feeling all that great my best friends are always there for me. After having a good conversation (usually includes a few giggles and tears) with my best friend, or mom (moms are always there to talk and you can always trust them) I feel 10x better. My best friend is always there to talk and make me feel better!!

5. Read

I used to not really like reading but as I've gotten older I have grown to love it! When I find a book I like I usually cannot put it down until I finish it. When I am feeling uninspired reading really helps me. Reading doesn't necessarily have to be a book, it could be your favorite blogs, or a magazine. Reading can really help turn my day in the right direction.

xoxox Annie Merrill

Liebster Award|| Q&A

Recently I was nominated by my good blogger friend Whytli for a blogger award called the Liebster award. I had never heard of this reward until seeing it on her blog. I did a little research to find out more about the reward and came to the conclusion that that it is not necessarily a reward but more of a Q&A tag that has gone around between a lot of bloggers. I was so excited when I figured this out because I think it is so great for you guys to know a little bit more about me.

Q:|| How did you decide on the name for your blog?
A:|| I obviously wanted it to have to do with fashion because I am total lover of fashion and I wanted the main focus of my blog to be on fashion. I decided on 'My Fashion Folders' because I wanted this blog to be a place where I can keep all my fashion inspiration and outfits.

Q:|| What inspired you to start your blog?
A:|| I have always loved fashion since I was young and I have also loved writing. I was really inspired by other bloggers, which had a big influence on me when I started my blog. I am also very tech savvy (I've had a personal blog since age 7 and edited my own HTML) which made starting my blog a smooth process. I also love inspiring people through my clothing and promoting trendy modesty which is a big part of my blog.

Q:|| Where is your favorite place to shop?
A:|| It's no surprise that I love shopping and could literally spend hours in stores. My favorite place to shop would probably be Madewell, I love the minimalist look of their clothing but it also has such a timeless vibe. I also really love Nordstrom because they have so many different brands with in their store which leaves you so much diversity.

Q:|| If you could travel any where in the world where would it be, why?
A:|| I've always wanted to visit Paris and other cities in Europe since I was a young child. (I dream of the Eiffel Tower) I want to go to Paris for all the fashion, obviously, and the amazing food and pastries. I always really want to go to a 3rd world country. I have heard stories from people who have been to a 3rd world country and I have only heard about how amazing it is there. I would want to go on a humanitarian trip. I have want to go on a humanitarian trip for so long, I am hoping to go on one before High School is over. I know an experience like this would completely humble me and help to appreciate the basic things that I have.

Q:|| What is one piece of advice you would give to new bloggers?
A:|| Speaking to a new blogger I would tell them to remember to stay true to themselves and write about what they love and NEVER try to be like someone else. I would also tell them to stay consistent this is really what can make or break a blogger, this is also one of the hardest parts of blogging.

Q:|| Where do you see your blog going in the next year?
A:|| Hopefully no where but up! The last year has been so great for me as a blogger from being invited to blogger events and store openings to getting collaboration offers. Stay tuned for some exciting things happening.

I hope you all really liked this post and liked learning a little bit more about me. Happy FEBRUARY AKA Love Month

xoxo Annie

Eshakti ||Little Black Dress

A few weeks ago Eshakti contacted me wanting to do a collaboration for my blog. I was very excited because I love working with different companies, I was especially excited for this collaboration because I had never heard of their company before. Eshakti has amazing clothes that are amazing quality. One thing that stood out for me about Eshakti was that they can customize the clothing to fit you or your personal preference on style. When I am shopping I always run into the problem of wishing the sleeves were longer, the neck line was different, or just wishing it fit me perfectly.

The process of placing my order was super simple and went very smooth. I chose this gorgeous little black dress, I loved the dress so much but I wanted to customize it a little bit. The dress was originally a capped sleeve but I wanted to do something a little different, with their easy customization process I chose a short sleeve, the dress was also originally above the knee (their mini length) but I wanted to go for the knee length style because I am totally loving that look right now. You can also customize your piece to your measurements which I love because at times dresses can be way to long on me and I feel like it makes me look shorter than I am.

 

Dress: Eshakti c/o Earrings; Icing Shoes: Steve Madden via Nordstroms Watch: Anna Klein via Nordstroms Bracelets: Jcrew

Wearing this dress totally makes me feel like Audrey Hepburn, and I absolutely love it! This dress is so comfortable which I love, but it is also really dressy and can totally be worn to an event or to church. I love the leather detailing on the bodice because it adds a slight edge to this ever so girly dress. My favorite part of the entire dress may just be the pockets, I (as are most girls) am a sucker for any dress that has pockets! When accessorizing this gorgeous piece I didn't want to add a necklace because I didn't want to distract from the gorgeous top on this dress, I did go with some fun gold stud earrings, and some of my favorite layering bracelets.

Overall I am very impressed with my dress from Eshakti. My dress fits perfectly and is amazing quality! I can tell this is going to be a staple piece in my closet.

Eshakti was so kind and they are giving all my readers 10% off their Eshakti purchase! All you have to do is type the code 'myfashionfolder' into the promotional code box. I hope you all take advantage of this offer because there are so many things from Eshakti that I loved. Happy Shopping!

You can follow Eshakti on Facebook|| Pinterest|| Instagram||

I hope you all have an amazing Sunday!

xoxo Annie 

Big Pink Sweater

Sweater//Skirt//Tights//Socks//Shoes//Necklace; wishbone//Necklace; arrow

Today I went with a very feminine girly look. I am absolutely loving this skirt that I got for Christmas! I love the the girly details such as the ruffles, I also really like the grey color because it can really go with anything. I love the color in this sweater because it really just adds an extra bit of femininity to the look. These boots were also a Christmas gift and I have honestly worn them so much! As many of you know leopard is probably my most favorite print, so its perfect that these boots were in this print. These boots are actually short rain boots which make them 10x cuter, I am a sucker for rain boots.

I hope you have been enjoying your weekend and are having a good Sunday!

xoxo Annie 

Reads Lately:

Lately I have been super into reading magazines and inspirational books. There is something about relaxing and reading a great book or magazine, I have been loving books that make me feel happy, inspired, and good about myself. As I have gotten older I have found that we really need to spend time just calm and alone, for me I love to read during this time. Whether it is a great book or a fun magazine, I love to just relax and read. Some people might find this crazy to believe but it is true :').

Magazines I have loved:

Be Wise Magazine//

I found this magazine via Tarryn Lynn on instagram and I am loving it. This magazine has all things girly, but also has some amazing messages. After reading this magazine I felt happy and good about myself, this is one thing that is hard to find in traditional magazines we find on store shelves.

Celestial Shine Magazine//

A couple weeks ago my dad shared this online magazine with me and I have been so excited to share it with all of you guys. As many of you know I am LDS and sometimes it is hard to find things in magazines that are modest and adhere to my standards. Celestial Shine Magazine is absolutely what I have been looking for. The magazine features articles on fashion, dating, and beauty. The magazine is so amazing and I can't wait to one day have a printed copy. Celestial Shine Magazine is something you all should go check out, I have been loving it.

Books I have loved:

Lauren Conrad Beauty//

I received this book as a Christmas gift this year and I am just loving it. Looking through this book makes me happy and makes me inspired. This year I want to live my life inspired and this book really does that for me. In this book you will find tips on everything beauty related. I love that the book also focuses on inner beauty. I recommend this book 100% I absolutely love it.

I hope you guys have found some good reads, and are living your life inspired.

Annie xoxo

2015// New Year New ME

2015 is going to be an amazing year, I can already tell. This year I want to actually stick to my goals and accomplish something. Every year I think we all set goals and resolutions but w never actually stick to them. I think a big contributor to this is the fact that we are setting goals that really aren't attainable. I had a teacher once that told us our goals need to be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. I absolutely love this because when we do these things we will really work towards them. Along with these things we also need to have goals that are simple. A new year is a time when we can start fresh and really try to become a better person.

GOALS

1. Get outside of my comfort zone

2. Be more organized

3. Blog more

4. Get more sleep at night

5. Laugh more

This year I am taking a picture every day of something that I did that day, or something that will remind of that day. At the end of the year I am going to making the pictures into a video and a book. I have seen similar things like this but they videoed for one second every day, I really wanted to do the video but this is a lot more realistic for me, and to be honest I do not know how to edit videos at all.

I hope you all have an amazing New Year and set some good goals to help you have an amazing year!

I would also like to thank you guys so much for your support over the years, and for helping me get to where I am today.

xoxo Annie 

Rebekah Katherine Collab

Today I am so excited to bring you two outfits styling Rebekah Katherines t-shirts. These shirts are made out of the softest material and are so comfortable. The shirts are so versatile and can really be styled anyway. I love dressing up a simple graphic tee, or wearing it in a super comfy casual way.

This look is one that I really love. I went with this gorgeous plaid skirt, that has fun zippers that add a little bit of edge. This shirt from Rebekah Katherine is so fun with the playful 'Dance it Out' design. To keep warm I added my favorite leather jacket, this jacket has some zipper detail that is just so edgy. I love adding edgy pieces when I'm wearing a dressier outfit.

This look is definitely an edgier look. I went with an all black look, and a red flannel tied around my waist. The all black look is such an edgy trend that I just love. This 'Be Lovely' shirt is so girly so I wanted to go with some edgier styling.

Look #1

Top: Rebekah Katherine c/o// Skirt: GAP// Jacket: Forever 21// Necklace: Dainty Pear c/o

Look #2

Top: Rebekah Katherine c/o// Jeans: American Eagle// Flannel: Called to Surf// Necklace; Dainty Pear c/o

These shirts are so cute and I am so obsessed with mine. Rebekah was kind enough to offer my readers 30%  off  their purchase, to get this deal you need to use the code SAVE30. These shirts would be an amazing Christmas gift for anyone and with this code you can get them for such an amazing price! I hope you guys take advantage of this deal because these are the best shirts.

xoxo Annie 

Getting in the Christmas Spirit

Today I was really in the Christmas/holiday spirit. Every year my family gets a real Christmas tree, and today was the day we went and got it. After getting the tree we went to the cutest garden store that always has the cutest decor for the holidays. Today when I went I brought my camera and found the cutest places to take pictures around the store.

Top: Called to Surf// Cardigan: GAP// Jeans: Nordtroms// Boots: Forever Young Shoes (similar here)

This look today may be one of my favorite subtle Christmas outfits. I love this sweater that I got at GAP on Black Friday. (the whole store was 50% off!!) The cardigan has a hot pink color in the knitting that is not a Christmas color but the pattern of the sweater makes it look a bit more Christmasy. (is that a word?) When I was picking out a top to go with this gorgeous cardigan I chose this pale pink shirt that is ever so comfy. I really liked the way the light pink looked with the brighter pink, it gave the look a bit of a monochromatic feel. I wanted to keep my pants simple for this look so I went with my favorite pair of Paige Denim jeans. For shoes I chose my favorite pair of moccasins that can truly go with anything.

I hope you all are having a good December and are having a good time preparing for the upcoming holidays and parties.

xoxo Annie 

November Favorites 14'

1//2//3//4//5

This month I have been loving simple and sleek updos. These hairstyles are perfect for when you are in a rush but want to still look put together.

I absolutely love the way this outfit looks. I adore the simplicity that it has, and how it is so sleek. I am really loving black pieces lately and this skirt is a perfect example of a classic black piece.

A big trend lately has been these Nike Roshe Run shoes. I love the sporty vibe they give off, and they are also super practical. I do not personally own a pair but they are definitely on my list.

I found this image on one of my favorite blogs and it is a perfect guide to transitioning into the winter months and battling that cold weather. 

For this months blogger feature I have chosen Emma Felin from The Sassy Street blog. Emma lives in the UK and has a very classy style that I just adore. She has been of my favorite bloggers for such a long time (and still is). I always love when she has new posts because they are all so creative. You can find her at www.sassystreet.com. 

Tartan and Dots

 the sun was in my eyes so bad in all these pictures, but you do what you gotta do for a blog post ;)

Top: Called to Surf// Skirt: Gap// Tights: Target// Jacket: Justice :)// Boots: Hunter via Nordstroms// Necklace: Jcrew

I hope you've all had an amazing Thanksgiving break, let me just tell you I sure did, it was definitely over due. We had thanksgiving dinner at my grandparents house and then jet up to city creek later that evening. Every Thanksgiving weekend we go and stay up in Salt Lake and it has become one of my favorite family traditions. Thanksgiving weekend really kicks off the Christmas season for with the start to Christmas Shopping and the gorgeous lights that get turned on at Temple Square. One of my many great finds this weekend included this gorgeous tartan (plaid) skirt, I've wanted one similar for so long from made well but I just haven't splurged on it yet. This skirt immediately caught my eye and I was already imagining how I was going to style it. I went with a simpler top but then added this gorgeous statement necklace for a little sparkle. I love pairing my Hunter rainboots with any outfit in the winter because it keeps my feet dry and they are just so dang cute. I wanted to dress this outfit down a bit because it definitely was on the dressier side so I went ahead and threw on my favorite army style jacket which instantly made it a little more everyday wearable. I hope you guys again had an amazing holiday.

xoxo Annie