Boho vibes in Vegas

This look is the one and only outfit that I got blog photos of when I recently took a trip to Las Vegas. Hopefully, next time I'll do better. I got this gorgeous long cream skirt last year at Target. It was just too pretty to pass up. I didn't even buy it on sale, but it was still a good deal ringing in at just over $20. Even though the skirt is beautiful, it definitely isn't a wardrobe staple. The skirt hung in my closet unworn for months, but I knew Vegas was the perfect place to finally wear the skirt. You stay cool in the skirt because the top layer of the skirt is all lace and the liner is a thin solid cream that is only the length of a short skirt. It is quite delicate--I did snag the lace in a taxi. However, it could easily be fixed with a needle and thread as my friend pointed out and I had trouble even finding the tear when I looked for it later. The cream cardigan is a Forever 21 find that I got a while back and just happened to coordinate with the skirt. The liquid lipstick is narcissist from Cailyn cosmetics. A liquid lipstick is a great product to use while traveling because you can put it on at the beginning of the day and you won't need touch up much during the day. It's very long lasting, but can be somewhat drying. The long wear is worth a little dryness for me. Narcissist, in particular, is a great nude pink with plenty of color.

The background mural is outside the Neon Museum near old town Vegas. We planned to do the tour, but they actually were sold out of tickets. We didn't think that would be an issue on a weekday, so if you want to visit the Neon Museum, be sure to get your tickets in advance. I've heard it's amazing, so hopefully I'll make it to see all the old signs on a future trip. Thanks to Janell for taking the photos.

• Cream cardigan - Forever 21
• Green cami - Forever 21
• Lace skirt - Target

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Five Joys

I got this idea from another blogger Life by Lee. She reflects on little things that have brought her joy recently. I love this idea--what a great way to take some time to reflect in gratitude about all the good things. There are wonderful things in our lives, but it's too easy to focus on the problems or negatives. So here's my first Five Joys post. I hope that you have many joyful moments this week.

New sandals that sparkle

Flowers in bloom

Dining adventures with friends

Colorful makeup and lipstick that glows

Pink glitter nails that sparkle

What brought you joy recently?

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Black, White, Barbie sparkles and Birthday dresses

This outfit is pretty special because it's my birthday party look. I fell in love with this dress in St. Louis. My college pal got married in St. Louis last year and while I was visiting I had time to hit up the most amazing Dillard's. They had a huge plus size section--bigger than I've ever seen. Honestly, it was so good I think it would be a worth a trip just to go shopping. So if anyone is ever up for that... The dress is from Eliza J. It's a new brand for me and the cut is so flattering. It's a fit and flare dress where you feel beautiful the minute you put it on. It's hits in the right places and skims over the others. I love the 3/4 length sleeves also. I wouldn't have minded a slightly lower neckline, but the higher neckline makes a nice base for the real star of the show--a statement necklace. I had my eye on this Barbie collection Tarina Tarantino necklace for quite a while. It finally went on sale and my birthday was the perfect excuse to finally take the plunge. I saved the necklace for my birthday party and then wore it three days straight. I just love it! It's sparkly and over-the-top, but still so comfortable to wear all day long. It's perfect for the Barbie collector or lover. I paired the dress with black tights and my black Ziera boots. A Kate Spade bow purse and "lovely" hair pin completed the look.

For my manicure, I planned to do a black nail with white flowers and a matte top coat, but I found a super dark blue with a slight shimmer that I couldn't resist. I still added a couple flowers because it was my birthday after all. I got my roots touched up and tried a shine treatment for the first time. The shine treatment is essentially a clear gloss. It helps repair your hair (much needed in my case) and makes your strands smooth and shiny. It's supposed to last up to six weeks. The shine treatment definitely gave my hair a boost of shine. You can also do a gloss treatment at home. And since it's clear, I'm guessing it's not as messy as coloring your hair at home. I had to give up at home colorings--it's just too messy for me. I was getting dark brown hair dye all over the place, no bueno.

I completely support birthday traditions that involve new dresses, fun accessories and parties. Do you have any birthday traditions? Also, don't forget the cake!

• Black and White dress - Eliza J
• Black tights - Assets
• Boots - Ziera
• Purse - Kate Spade
• Barbie necklace - Tarina Tarantino

Photos by Sarah

John Frieda Liquid Shine Clear Hair Glaze, 6.5 Fluid Ounce Buy on Amazon

Snow days and faux fur

These photos do not do this amazing faux fur jacket justice. It is so cozy, lovely and fashionable. The jacket is jet black with a chevron stripe pattern. I purchased it at Macy's on a good sale, but it's not still available online. If you can find it in a store, it's a ridiculous bargain now. A faux fur jacket is an easy way to dress up any look this winter. You'll feel super glamorous, trust me! While it's not right for outdoor sports, the faux fur does keep you decently warm too. Perfect for a night out or stroll in the snow. The lipstick I'm wearing is NYX Butter lipstick in Pops BLS17. It's a hydrating, smooth and very affordable lipstick with a pretty pink color. For more makeup details, please follow me on instagram @melissamchee.

Have you had a snow day yet? How did you spend it?

• Faux fur jacket - Jou Jou
• Pleated Crepe Skirt - Torrid
• Cable Knit Over-the-Knee Tights - Spanx
• Boots - Ziera

NYX Cosmetics Butter Lipstick Pops

$6.50

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Bauman's Harvest Festival

A big thanks to The Wolf for tickets to Bauman's Harvest Festival. This place is AMAZING. I had no idea. Giant pumpkins dropping from cranes, the biggest pumpkins in Oregon, corn mazes galore, sweet treats and cider...AND it's all just a short drive from Portland, OR. I would highly recommend going to the Pumpkin Weigh Off. It already happened for 2015 on Oct. 3, but make plans for next year. I got to see the new record holder for Oregon, honestly--it was so fascinating. I could definitely become a giant pumpkin groupie.  Someone even grew one in their backyard! And you can still see some giant pumpkins, at least a few will be on display at Bauman's. And we're talking BIG pumpkins weighing more than 1,000 pounds. Plus, Bauman's has plenty of other activities: petting zoo, hayride, apple tasting, farm store and more. Plan to spend all day or at least half a day. Let me know if you visit Bauman's and how you like it!

Now for the outfit, my favorite item is the pleated crepe skirt from Torrid. It's already sold out online, but I would check for the skirt at your local Torrid. It's incredibly flattering. It's a fun full skirt that is still slimming. The back is a little bit longer than the front. It's simply awesome! Go try it on. I also love the fun Halloween theme gloves, an easy way to add a bit of festivity. They were on sale for $1.49 at Fred Meyer. For makeup closeups and details, visit me on instagram @melissamchee. Also, photo credit to Warren, check out his blog.

• Top - Miss Tina (past season)
• Pleated Crepe Skirt - Torrid
• Cable Knit Over-the-Knee Tights - Spanx
• Boots - Ziera
• 'Riley' Quilted Leather Tote - Vince Camuto 
• Kitty Halloween Gloves - Fred Meyer

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