SHOP THE LOOK

St. Patrick’s weekend in Chicago is pretty wild and this is the first year we aren’t in the middle of downtown for it. While everyone else is decked out in green, including the Chicago River, I’ll be wearing my new hot pink off the shoulder sweater from Shein. I paired it with a black lace bralette and my go-to black jeans. Were starting off the weekend with some champs, breakfast and then watching Kentucky basketball later today! Go cats!

The sweater is a bit cropped so I sized up one size. The color is so vibrant and pretty in person and is the perfect pop of color to a neutral look. The best part? It’s only $15! Always be sure to check the measurements on Shein’s site before ordering since there sizing isn’t always true to American sizing. I typically size up to a medium in tops and always check the reviews when purchasing bottoms or a shirt that has a different fabric or something that could look lower quality in person. At those price points, it can be hit or miss with quality, but I’ve always had good luck with sweaters, jackets and jeans!

 You can get this sweater and everything else in your order for an additional 15% off using code: Q1thecreativebriefblog15 - happy shopping y’all!

Hope everyone has an amazing and safe weekend!

In 2018, I partnered with Smile Brilliant to whiten my smile prior to the wedding and loved my results! As Kollin was seeing the results and how great their products were, he wanted to join in on the fun. I’m partnering with Smile Brilliant again to bring y’all a glimpse into their newest product, The cariPRO Ultrasonic Electric Toothbrush. They were so kind to send us a couples package so Kollin could get wedding ready too!

Both of us have always used a standard toothbrush and were so excited to see the difference. With a bunch of different options out there and how costly they can be, we never investigated the electric toothbrushes. When Smile Brilliant reached out, I was really impressed with what they had to offer, especially since the whitening line was so great. When the brushes arrived, we couldn’t wait to use them!

The gray sleek design was sophisticated and light, unlike other electric toothbrushes I’ve seen. While it is larger than a regular toothbrush, what it does makes it worth the bit of extra space! With 5 settings, clean, white, massage, gum care and sensitive, there is a setting for anyone with specific needs. I personally like the clean and white settings, while Kollin prefers the sensitive setting. He grinds his teeth and sleeps with a mouth guard and the sensitive setting doesn’t irritate his teeth or gums. We have both seen cleaner, fresher and whiter smiles and love how quickly results happened.

Within the first use you can tell how much more this toothbrush is doing for you - it’s doing all the work! The package also comes with replacement heads when you’re ready for a new brush head. The toothbrush is rechargeable and holds a 30 day charge when fully charged. Ours arrived charged and we haven’t needed to charge them since they arrived in the middle of January!

While electric toothbrushes are more expensive than standard ones, the investment is worth it in my opinion. Rather than using a brush that is not unique to your oral health needs and a standard approach, the The cariPRO Ultrasonic Electric Toothbrush provides you with the opportunity to take control of your oral health and will last longer, give you better results and a confident smile. The best part? Smile Brilliant offers a 60 day trial to use their products and the option to return within that time, as well as a 2-year warranty. You can review more of their FAQ here and learn more about the brand as a whole!

I’m so excited to be offering you a chance to win a The cariPRO Ultrasonic Electric Toothbrush of your own! You can enter here for the giveaway! Smile Brilliant was also kind enough to allow Creative Brief readers a 20% off code on the cariPRO Ultrasonic Electric Toothbrushes: thecreativebrieftb20

electric toothbrush reviews

Thank you so much for reading and good luck in the giveaway!  

Thank you to Smile Brilliant for sponsoring this post. It’s brands like yours that make The Creative Brief possible! All opinions are my own. 

SHOP THE LOOK

When it comes to planning outfits for the week and trying to look cute for the office or whatever I have going on that night there is always one thing I’m  wearing - black! It’s such a staple in my closet and usually the first thing I reach for when I get into the habit of “I have nothing to wear".”

This drop shoulder sweater is the perfect mix of cozy and chic! With a longer length and a larger knit, it adds the simple, yet sophisticated silhouette for any look. I paired it with black jeans and my favorite Sam Edelman snake booties, similar ones here. It had a great amount of versatility to it that I wore it to work last week and then met Kollin for dinner right after. You could jazz it up with a fun lipstick color and maybe a leather jacket for a more nighttime look.

SHOP THE LOOK

Happy Saturday, loves! When it comes to fashion looks I love most, a clean, crisp white look is it! Adding a touch of white to your look whether that be shoes, a bag or pant, instantly adds glamour to an ensemble. Spring is a rare season in Chicago, hence the snow on the ground in the picture above, but if it’s above freezing I’ll take it!

We headed out this morning to try on suits for the wedding for Kollin and stumbled upon the cutest stores. One of the stores was completely devoted to ties and Kollin was in heaven. Drawers and drawers of bow ties, pocket squares, and cuff links. You’d think Kollin was born in the wrong decade. He loves classic men’s looks and dressing up, which is rare in today’s age. He wears a suit to work everyday so I think we can blame him being a lawyer for a little bit of it, but I’m not complaining because the man looks good! 😍

Given that it is still a little cold out, I opted for this Lantern Sleeve Sweater and my new favorite loafers! I paired them both with a light wash jean and was hoping my lighter outfit would bring some warmth to the cold, cloudy weather! The look was the perfect amount of cozy yet chic. The lantern sleeve also adds a unique touch to the silhouette of your outfit while still being feminine. You could also pair it with a white pant or skirt for a monochromatic look with a great pump or sandal. Wishful thinking for warmer weather? Maybe! haha

I hope everyone has an amazing weekend! You can grab my sweater and any other Shein purchase for an extra 15% off using code: Q1thecreativebriefblog15. I’ve also added some of my favorite more Spring appropriate white pieces below! xx

Thank you to Shein for the sweater. It’s brands like yours that make The Creative Brief possible.
All opinions are my own.

Happy Valentine’s Day, y’all! We’re keeping it casual this year with a living room picnic and champagne. Valentine’s Day hasn’t really ever been a holiday we celebrate thoroughly, but we definitely take some time to show each other some extra love! Mine comes in the form of Ben and Jerry’s Half Baked and champagne and Kollin’s includes gummies from Dylan’s Candy Bar and a bourbon lemonade cocktail. We’re snuggling up with Wrigley for a cozy night in and this Shein leopard print top is the perfect mix of cozy and fierce! Add a touch of red to your look - I opted for black jeans and booties to keep it simple, but you could wear this under a leather jacket or blazer for another option or simply pair with your favorite pair of joggers for a comfy night in!

Shein is running a Valentine’s Day sale, #SHEIN4Love, with up to 60% off and you can get an additional 15% off with coupon code SH4307! You can grab this top and some of my other favorites for a night out below! I would size up in all of these styles below since they run a bit smaller. I’m usually a small and ordered mediums! Thanks so much for reading! I hope everyone’s day is filled with love and new goodies! xx

SHOP MY PICKS

Happy Sunday, y’all! I’m so excited to share a friend’s business, Jesus Cotton! For the last few years I personally have been in a weird spot with my faith and trying to discover what worked for me. Growing up catholic, I always believed in God, appreciated religion and always kind of craved a deeper relationship with God, but it was difficult for me to dive deeper and truly live in that space.  

I’ve gone through phases of being disinterested, daily devotionals, attending mass and everything in between, but nothing seemed to stick even though I wanted it to. In 2018, my New Year’s resolution was to rediscover that relationship and in 2019 to deepen it. As I was journaling and writing about my goals I received a text from Amber. 

I met Amber at UK and she went to design school with my best friend Lindsey. It was impeccable timing because she wanted to get my feedback on her new business, Jesus Cotton. But then again, He works in mysterious ways and knows exactly what you need when you need it even if it feels a little uncomfortable. If you had asked me 4 years ago when I started this blog if I’d ever be writing a post about my faith, I’d say probably not. Insert Amber’s text!  

She shared with me her new apparel company and it’s simple message of spreading His word, a positive outlook and just cute designs! Amber sent me a shirt and I couldn’t wait to write about it for y’all! The shirt is so soft, fits perfectly and is a great reminder of your faith whenever you wear it. With great pricing, unique and fun designs and a girl like Amber running everything behind it, I knew this was a brand I had to share! I’ve added a couple of my favorite designs she’s made below, check out the site and her account on Instagram (@jesuscotton)! 

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I’m excited to wear this shirt and remind myself the importance of faith, spreading positivity and living in the light. I hope y’all enjoyed learning about Amber and her message or at least got a feel good feeling from her mission! Let me know if this is something that you’d like to hear more about and I can incorporate my journey a bit more into the blog if it’s of interest. Thanks so much for reading! xx  

Happy Saturday, y’all! We woke up to snow this morning and I couldn’t help but go out and play in it it for a second! The “feels like 13 degrees” really gets to you after a good 7 seconds. 

I love the weekend for the sole fact of recharging, taking a slow second to rethink some things or even just do absolutely nothing. With the start of the new year I’ve been really trying to look within on things I want to better, develop or stop this year. There can be a lot of pressure behind this from society, your inner goals and fears and just the thought that January 1st means your life has to change in some way. One of the things I discovered as I was reflecting was that I wanted to rediscover my creativity. If you know me then you know that I work in a creative field, paint on the side and typically like to express myself in various ways. However, the last year or so I’ve been finding that side of myself fade and I wanted to get back in touch. As life gets in the way, your schedule gets crazy and curveballs find their way into the lineup, it can begin to be tough to truly know where you’re at. I’ve been feeling this way and knew that my creativity was a place I needed to find again.  I found a book called The Artist’s Way and it walks you through a 12 week process of recovering your inner creative. Through writing exercises, readings and challenges of your inner fears, this book gives you the tools to break down the creative walls and just let it all go.

Immediately intrigued, but hesitant to start, I finally put pen to paper today and did my first assignment. It was enlightening and felt great, but since it’s day one I’m sure there’s more to come. One of the assignments is to schedule a weekly artist date. This means scheduling time do something creative or that inspires you. As a way to break from the stress of life and just get out and do something, Kollin and I went to see Bohemian Rhapsody tonight. It. Was. Amazing. 

I completely recommend if you haven’t already seen it! Full of Queen’s fantastic music, comedy and true heartfelt emotion, it was an extension on tapping into the creativity I’ve been craving lately.  

While getting ready I reached for this Shein  Bubble Sleeve Sweater and my new favorite snake skin booties, a gift from Kollin’s mom that I can’t take off! We parked the car and as we were walking to the elevator got this overwhelming feeling of having to walk in snow that hadn’t been touched yet and voilá Kollin captured the moment. 

This sweater is soft, perfectly oversized and goes with just about anything. You can shop it with an extra 15% off using code “Q1thecreativebriefblog15” at checkout! I paired it with some black skinny jeans and booties and my new favorite Chloé dupe handbag. It’s on amazon for less than $60 🙃

I hope everyone’s weekend is a wonderful one and thank you so much for reading! xx  

It was above 40 degrees today in Chicago, which means I could put the puffer coat back in the closet! It’s funny how going on our fourth year living in #chiberia we think 40+ degrees is warm 😂 but it was a gorgeous day and we were so excited to spend some time in the city! 

We met our friends for a surprise birthday brunch for my good friend Chelsea and this was the perfect cozy, but chic look! I’ve been on the lookout for teddy coat for a while that didn’t break the bank and this one is a great color, super soft and basically is like having a blanket around at all times! 

I paired it with my favorite boyfriend jeans, a cream sweater and casual black booties for an oversized, but still sophisticated look. This coat comes in five colors and is only $33! Use my discount code “4creativebriefblog20” for 20% off and it’s only $26! I’m wearing a small here and it still has an oversized fit so I think it would be true to size for most people, but definitely check the sizing guide if you’re unsure! You can always size up if you want to layer underneath with sweaters or scarves. Happy weekend loves! xx