the hoodie sweater dress

hello, spring!

SPRING HAS SPRUNG! whooo here we are.. hopefully on the other side of TX winter stormsā€¦ but now worrying about hurricane season. itā€™s always something! iā€™m a little late on this post but i thought it would be fun to style a hoodie dress! i've always like the look of a hoodie under a blazer combo so when i saw this sweater dress i thought itā€™d be fun to style it under a coat for a dressy outing but ALSO, it can be styled casually like sporty spice!

to style this sweater hoodie dress casually, pair it with some white sneakers and a belt bag to make it fun. this one adds additional texture with the sherpa! for hair, iā€™d put it up in a high ponytail and aviator sunglasses. to style it for a night out, trade out the sneakers for some knee high suede boots (again, more texture adds dimension!) and layer it under a jacket with hoodie out! also trade out the belt bag for something more elevated like a leather bag.

i have always wanted photos infront of ā€œAustinā€ and lucky me, @janeyunphoto agreed and made it happen (sheā€™s great!) despite all the construction going around there with the Blanton Museum.

option 1 // casual style/sporty spice with white sneaks & sherpa belt bag for added texture!

side ramblings: UM, so much. first, i think the universe nudged me pretty hard to stop talking about launching my styling business and to actually do it. the time is now, right?! thanks universe! haha. i turned in a couple of ā€œdeliverablesā€ over to my first two clients and itā€™s been a process. coming up with tools and workflow processes (while over-thinking it all, the INFJ in me). nonetheless, i found myself looking forward to it ā€” iā€™ve missed it. second, home improvement projects have commenced (iā€™m telling you, itā€™s something to do with spring that makes you want to get back to work!). team daddy & i changed out the dining room light and in the process of replacing hallway and bedroom lights to recessed lighting! lastly, some #hellyes collaborations opened up with

  • @SĆ©zane ā€” french clothing brand, i LOVE everything and choosing an item made me miss paris so much! i picked out the Asianne dress! itā€™s a pretty blue floral dress and looking forward to styling it two ways. iā€™m all about the versatility!

  • @DavinesNorthAmerica ā€” hair product company known for sustainability. they sent me one of the biggest PR packages iā€™ve received in a while!! here are a couple of hair care products they sent me to try (the whole box smells so divine!):

currently on my playlist: all for nothing (iā€™m so in love) by Lauv

currently reading: the unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren! i also finished black cake by Charmaine Wilkerson since the last blog post and it was so good. reminded me of real hardships our parents faced back then. in my 30ā€™s i have an even greater appreciation for what my parents went through. itā€™s funny i planned on documenting their life story and this book was yet another gentle nudge by the universe to DO IT!

option 2 // date night. styled under a coat (hoodie out), knee high suede boots and a leather bag (so much textured goodness!!)

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option 1 // sporty spice

dress | Amazon ribbed and hooded sweater dress in light brown (wearing size S)
bag | lululemon everywhere belt bag in light ivory ā€” great amazon dupe for $23 // non-sherpa amazon dupe for $15
shoes | Keds ace sneakers in white leather ā€” also eyeing the Veja // target ones with a little platform for $35!

option 2 // date night

dress | Amazon ribbed and hooded sweater dress in light brown (wearing size S)
bag | Red Dress Boutique polished and poised bag in black ā€” similar on amazon in a more classic leather pattern
shoes | Sam Edelman uma knee high boot in black suede (i also loved them so much i got them in the bootie version) ā€” similar in the Ursula on Zappos // similar in the Ursula on Sam Edelman

thanks for stopping by!,
JD


photo credit: @janeyunphoto

march favorites

a look back at march faves!

i canā€™t believe weā€™re in mid-April already! a quarter of 2022 gone. this is my second post of this new series, see first one here. there are some good gems explained in detail so donā€™t wait another second on clicking the read more button below!

side ramblings: the JD x @J.Crew Spring Styling Event was a success in my books! if you dropped by, thank you! itā€™s still crazy that i was given this opportunity. i am so grateful - itā€™s the little victory i needed to keep going. because sometimes, in this arena, itā€™s easy to get lost and feel as though your content or words arenā€™t making a difference, or going as far as you want them to, or itā€™s getting lost in the algorithm. but it just takes that ONE person to see your worth & what you bring to the table. and that ONE person can change the game for you. sounds a lot like relationships and job interviews too! so keep your head up, keep going, keep working, and keep doing you! on another note, hereā€™s my latest contribution to @thesavvylife.co on onigiri!

noteable sales: not sure if this is going to be a permanent section on the blog, but @abercrombie is having a 25% off sale, use code : AFLTK at checkout until 04/12. if you follow me, iā€™ve been wearing a lot of their clothes!!! here are some summer tops (& others) to get us ready for that 100F weather šŸ˜ but A&F has really stepped up their game the past couple of years. i find myself browsing their site frequently and they have sizing for petites and tall so far! here are some tops i purchased and/or eyeing:

currently on my playlist: every second by Mina Okabe

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01 | Paddywax candle in palo santo suede

this. smells. so. good!!! i purchased this at Austin Gift Co. (BTW, if you havenā€™t been here it is a mecca! a great place when youā€™re looking for a gift for someone. they also feature a lot of local small businesses!). it smells so good that i havenā€™t burned it. i know itā€™s crazy but everytime i smell it, it makes me so happy. top notes include: african ginger, lemon zest, bergamont, crushed red pepper; base notes: cedar, sandalwood, dark teakwood. there used to be a @paddywax here but unfortunately it closed during the pandemic. i loved the make your own candle class so much! but at least you can still purchase them online.

also avail on amazon // re-packaged in yin & yang // and blue glass // this one looks interesting by Target

02 | lululemon everywhere belt bag in pale blue

soā€¦ i actually have two of these now. only when something is really good do i purchase another in a different color. this bag went viral on tiktok so i had to see the hype. during the holidays i was able to snag the sherpa one and i ended up loving it more than i thought i would. it fits my mini wallet, puracy hand sanitizer, keys, and thereā€™s a back zipper pocket that fits my iPhone 12 perfectly for easy access. i usually wear it as a sling bag but it goes great with athleisure and the hands-free is SO NICE.

03 | Peace Out retinol eye stick

i looked at a photo the other day and the lines are becoming more prominent around the eye area. so i took immediate action with this retinol stick. i use an eye treatment twice a day but this one has retinol to target the eye wrinkles and the application is interesting being a stick. i warm is up on my ring finger and then slide it across my lower eyes, then iā€™ll rub what on my ring finger into the same area. i use retinol moisturizers but i think there needs to be one that can help those areas closer to the eye. this is just for that! so far no breakouts or irritation!

04 | Natrium the glow getter multi-oil body wash

itā€™s crazy to think how much oils are in my routine. after testing out the Le Labo mandarin shower oil, i was on the hunt for something more budget friendly. i found this brand that iā€™ve heard good things about in regards to the cleansing balm, but i noticed they had a shower oil && they sell it at target!!! itā€™s not as thick of an oil as the Le Labo but it will do. iā€™m not super crazy about the smell, it smells like peaches? but it dissipates quickly and seems to leave my skin more moisturized. i can see it coming super handy in the winter.

05 c/o | True Botanicals renew nourishing cleanser

iā€™ve been using this for a couple of weeks as a morning cleanser and like it! True Botanicals has very relaxing smells to their all-natural products and this one is no exception. itā€™s the perfect relaxing way to start the day IMO. it has a milky consistency that feels very hydrating on the skin. again, i love the amber glass packaging ā€” so luxe on the vanity!

until next time!,
JD

fun & flirty athleisure

athleisure. but make it fun & flirty šŸ˜‰

what the heck is fun & flirty athleisure? lemme tell you. itā€™s basically workout wear thatā€™s not super-functional. or itā€™s cute work out attire that you can wear as regular clothing during the summer heat wave in TX but you donā€™t actually plan on working out in it. makes sense right? haha, thatā€™s fashion for ya! even though itā€™s almost fall, by golly it is still so hot here in TX. i tend to hibernate during the summer and when i can talk myself into leaving the house, itā€™s always about wearing the least amount of clothing while still looking like a decently dressed 30+ yo.

this tennis skirt i kept for years! when i moved back to ATX, i thought iā€™d pick up tennis. so i did what any normal person would do ā€” buy the attire for it! unfortunately (or fortunately for this post) i found out it wasnā€™t for me. almost twisted my ankle wayyy too many times and decided that my old bones werenā€™t fit for this. ainā€™t nobody got time for a twisted ankle. well, i kept the skirt. not sure whyā€¦ but iā€™m glad i did. sometimes, when you keep something long enough it comes back in style. itā€™s true, think of biker shorts, chunky white tennis shoes, flared jeans, etc.. lately, iā€™ve been seeing a lot of tennis skirts and thought iā€™m going to style this as a regular outfit with a longline sports bra to cover the mid-drift. itā€™s age appropriate, fun, flirty.

side ramblings: itā€™s been a while. i think inspiration is lacking these days and with the face of IG changing, it leaves me a little behind. while video is great, i still love the photo aspect so much more. call me old school that way. but times are changing and i feel like a dino about to be extinct! yā€™all know me. i tend to do my thing ā€” regardless of trends and what experts say. i just like to do my thing in my own little slice of the internet. but with fall around the cornerā€¦. maybe it will change things because iā€™m a fall gal at heart. the fall -food, -feels, -weather, and -fashion. the photo taken below was reminiscent of old times, when you start doing your IG photo thing (PS itā€™s very embarrassing if youā€™re wondering) and a man (in a suit, always in a suit) comes out and says nope. :D haha, (but this guy was actually pretty nice this time)! i do miss those days and hoping to find that inspiration soon! until then, xx.

currently on my playlist: odds by Mat Kearney

@intelligentsia road runner (cold coffee + agave + grapefruit juice + splash of tonic ) in hand so life.is.good.

@intelligentsia road runner (cold coffee + agave + grapefruit juice + splash of tonic ) in hand so life.is.good.

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top | Athleta conscious crop longline sports bra in navy (wearing size XS for reference)
bottom | lululemon high waisted tennis skirt (ancient) ā€” similar 15.5ā€ by Athleta and in 14ā€ // cute one from A&F and in a pleated design
sunglasses | Ray-Ban original 58mm aviator sunglasses in gold/dark green
necklace | Amanda Deer coin toggle necklace (sold out) ā€” similar // similar by gorjana

i also wanted to share some athletic dresses iā€™ve been into!! again, for show. not for function. Outdoor Voices one shoulder dress // Zella live-in cutout rib tank dress // A&F travelerā€™s dress (features built in shorts!) // Zella studio lite active raceback dress

until next time,
JD

photo credit: lil cousin tiff

athleisure in my favorite workout pants

athleisure all day evrrrdayyy.

let's face it, we all LOVE athleisure (even men). sometimes it's all about comfort for the to-and-from, ya know?! athleisure is a common term these days, even my brother-in-law knows what it is! living in a city that is considered pretty fit, it's no surprise that this is what you'll find me in on the weekends. actually, if i could just wear this every day i'd be one happy gal! #littlethingsinlife. here's the only thing you need to know about this post: these pants are my FAVE. the compression, the high-rise (insert all the yasssss), the not-so thick, not too thin material, buttery soft (i didn't think i'd ever describe a pair of pants this way), moisture wicking, super soft, the only thing missing is some side pockets, but they just came out with a new pair with pockets and you know i'm gonna get me one! trust me, i won't steer you wrong. 

side ramblings: i wasn't sure of what kind of response i would receive (if any), from my last post on dating tips/tidbits, but WOW. i was blown away from all the comments, texts, messages, and shout outs. thank you so much, it means more than you know. sitting behind a screen writing posts on fashion sometimes i wonder if i'm making that much of an impact when it comes to inspiring women to dress and feel their best to exude all that confidence, but when i can write something that is immediately relate-able and resonates with others, i feel like i've hit gold. because in the end that's all we really want right? just to make a tiny difference in this big world. see y'all. xx

currently on my playlist: sweet dreams by Andra & Mara

laughing at myself & looking the other way because people were laughing at me. what's new?!

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when steven makes you climb some rusted stairs and sit on it... :D

top | Shein space dye flounce tee with peplum hem light in apricot (avail in four colors, wearing size small) -- similar but striped
vest | lululemon fluff off vest (old) -- similar
bottoms | Athleta salutation 7/8 tight in black (wearing size xs regular, fits as a full length tight on a 5'2" person without hemming) -- same but a full length tight // same but capri length // same with pockets (need these!) // same with mesh details
shoes | Nike flyknit unisex racers in oreo (wearing men's) -- similar in women's
bag | Louis Vuitton pouchette metis in damier canvas -- similar by Rebecca Minkoff
sunglasses | Celine caty sunglasses in black -- similar
earrings c/o | BaubleBar mini criselda ball drop earrings in pink (currently on sale for $22) -- same but full-size
necklace | etsy monogram necklace in dearest daddy initials (1.25" and 20" chain) -- similar by BaubleBar // similar in acrylic
rings | Gorjana amara ring set // Amanda Deer c/o CZ solitaire ring // Amanda Deer c/o CZ accents midi ring

rock all the athleisure,
JD

photo credit: Steven Gunter

for the guys -- athletic gear

so here it is, my second post #fortheguys

long ago, i did a post for the guys on the pocket square. this is actually one of the top posts on this site. i. have. no. idea why. but i've had requests from guy friends to do another post. so here we go, talking about #athleticgeargame. this is a real thing. trust me. if you're a guy, i hope you read this, if you're a woman trying to help your man with his game, this post is for you. i've reached out to two of my MOST FIT guys (who can literally pass for being body guards) to bring you the best of the best. details after the jump!

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01 | Nike flyknit racer in black and white -- apparently, these shoes were all the rage upon the first release, after seeing them i went and bought myself a pair (ever try to order in men's sizes? the conversion is whack!). these are really comfortable, extremely lightweight to-and-from shoes. not to mention they look pretty dang sleek. they are made for running but i prefer my Mizunos for that. they have been restocked in this color and i am fairly certain they will be sold out soon! 
02 | adidas adipower weightlifting shoes -- these are great shoes for squatting in terms of support and stability. the heel lift angles you in a way that will help you achieve lower squat depth. and we're all about that #squatlife.
03 | INZER forever lever belt -- forget the belt they offer you at the gym. not to mention gross! the best thing about this sturdy belt is the lever mechanism which is easily tightened and loosened. 
04 | Bower and Wilkins C5 S2 in-ear headphones -- great in ear headphones for the gym for moving around and achieving good quality audio at the same time. anything is a step-up from the standard Apple earphones. 
05 | Versa Gripps PRO -- these are a lot pricier than your typical lifting straps. but they are really convenient to use because it eliminates the need to wrap straps around any kind of bar. it allows to you to have a better "grip strength" so that you are able to lift more weight. 
06 | Nike tech fleece pants -- a good pair of slim fitting sweatpants are a must for the winter, not only for the gym, but also for lounging/errand running! #doubleduty. these have a drawstring waistband, cuffed bottoms, and a long zipper pocket on one side to secure your belongings (with another pocket inside!). in addition, the knees are reinforced if you decide to squat in them. or whatever else it is you do. they also come in a ton of color options. 
07 | SynTrax nectar whey protein isolate -- this powder mixes easily with water and tastes pretty good for a protein powder. it also has zero carbs, zero fat, and 23 grams of protein per scoop. 
08 | lululemon metal vent tech short sleeve 2.0 -- this is lululemon's best selling item. it's super soft, sweat wicking, and has anti-stink technology to it, seamless construction to prevent chafing, did i mention how soft it is?! downside, snags pretty easily. guys are usually apprehensive to wearing lululemon. but ALL guys who are are this way haven't tried their clothes. i've convinced these two guys to try out their clothes, and they are hooked. it's about performance wear. if there is a first item to buy from lululemon or introduce your man to, this is it. also comes in a long sleeve. 
09 | Scivation XTEND intra-workout catalyst -- i actually use this myself for the intense workouts that take more time to recover from. it mixes easily with water and comes in a variety of flavors (i have watermelon). it also contains ingredients to give you energy and keep you going through your workout, and helps with the post-recovery.

my fitness journey

with the new year in front of us, i thought it would be the perfect time to share my fitness journey with you.

in the past, working out was never a priority to me. it was probably because i was younger and was given a good metabolism from my parents. every time that i did try to work out, it was painful--both physically and mentally. i tried the elliptical, other machines, and it always felt so mind-numbing, like a hamster running on a wheel... afterwards even if it was a short work out (uh... 20 minutes?!) i would feel like i got run over by a truck the next day. i was so out of shape, of course i didn't realize this until later.

for the past two years, i have done pilates religiously. my sister (who is insanely fit and always trying new types of work outs) introduced it to me. i remember my first class, i did not think i would survive, i kept thinking what is this?, you want me to do what?, and when is this going to end? the next day... wow. it hurt to talk, move, breathe. (ok, maybe a little exaggeration). but i kept going. i wanted to get better and i loved the idea of group classes, the music, the energy, and more importantly the amazing instructor. i believe that a great experience always begins with someone who is extremely passionate in what they do. that was the case here. pilates changed my life for the better. i look forward to every single class, it's the best part of my day. i can't imagine my future without it. no matter what i'm feeling, i can always count on a pilates class to lift my mood. it's my happy place that no one can ever take away from me, and it'll never let me down. i go to it three or four times a week to stay sane. it has become my way of life. even though i have been doing this for more than two years, i am no expert. there are still advanced moves i cannot do in full, but when i look back, i've come such a long way. on days when i'm hard on myself, my sister always reminds me, "remember when you first started going and you couldn't even touch your toes?!" we laugh. 

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so what is pilates? it was invented by Joseph Pilates. it focuses on building your powerhouse (aka your core). without it we wouldn't be able to do a lot of things so it is extremely important to have a strong core (front and back). it has helped me tremendously with my horrible posture. a lot of people also turn to pilates to alleviate back pain since back pain usually stems from not having a strong enough core. 

i love pilates mat so much that i supplement it with pilates reformer. reformer is hard-core, because... it will give you just that.. a hard-core (haha, i couldn't resist). it is pilates on a machine that uses resistance to give you a full body work out. it is such a huge challenge for me, i'm always completely beat afterwards but with the most amazing feeling. call me crazy. but i'm addicted. my goal one day is to teach pilates reformer on the weekends for FUN. it's a stretch, but one day... i'll get there. i am so passionate about it and that is half the battle!

it would also be remiss if i did not mention Cassey Ho of Blogilates in this post. i had the pleasure of meeting her this past December and wow... what an amazing, kind-hearted, and inspiring individual. she is a YouTube sensation, designs her own active wear line anddd.... is launching her own brand of pilates across the nation at 24hr fitness, known as POPpilates! i love her. she constantly provides the most positive energy and motivation--it's infectious. check out her website. she also has monthly meal plans and work out schedules! the woman is a machine. i don't know how she does it!

find out what works for you. try different work outs, studios, and instructors. i've tried different studios and classes. i've found that i can't do a class without some heart pumping music. once, i attended a pilates mat class that was done with only the instructors voice, that was the longest 60 minutes of my life. i do have a favorite instructor that i see on a regular basis, but sometimes it doesn't work with my schedule, so i see others. it is a hit or miss but you have to give other instructors a try. from this i've learned to appreciate the different personalities and styles of teaching. even when i go out of town, i find a pilates studio to go to. i'm that crazy. 

it's a journey, so be patient with yourself. try not to compare yourself to others and remember that change does not happen overnight. the point of my story it to encourage you to find the work out that makes you happy. the one that makes you leave feeling that you can't wait to come back and do it all over again. only then will it feel like you're not just fulfilling a new year's resolution, and it won't feel like work to get to the finish line or lose xx amount of pounds. do it because you love it and how it makes you feel afterwards. work hard, set goals, always challenge yourself, and never give up. 

#strongerthanyesterday
#cantstopwontstop,
JD

lululemon coral & petal camo print

howdy! i thought i would switch it up and do an athletic wear post. because let's face it, if i could wear this all day everyday, i WOULD. 

i love me some lululemon. yes, it is an insane amount to pay for clothes that you are going to sweat in... (insert long pause). but hey, think of it as motivation. if you're going to spend that much on athletic wear you BETTER put them to use. again, we're all about quality over quantity here at JDC (jannadoan.com)! let's just call it #athleticweargame 

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for FUNZIES. yes, i said it!

pictured above are some lululemon items that i wear constantly:

top | lululemon stuff your bra (seasonal, hopefully it will be back this summer) / lululemon 105 f singlet
pants | lululemon speed tights in petal camo with reflective prints on the sides (sold out in this print)
jacket | lululemon define jacket in black
shoes | Mizuno wave inspire 9 (old version) -- newest model is the wave inspire 11
sunglasses | Ray-Ban RB3025 (55mm) original aviator in gold/green
earrings | BaubleBar triangle ear cuff from the play by ear set (gifted from the bestie!)
necklace | hanger pendant necklace (gifted from the bestie!)
rings | etsy stacking rings / gorgana mae shimmer midi ring in gold and the vesta cuff ring in gold

details on the lululemon items above:

  • lululemon stuff your bra -- this one of the most comfortable sports bras from lulu, in my opinion. it even has openings in front where you can put your chapstick etc.. i never use this function but its nice for those who run and need a chapstick pick me up. i only have two of these and wished i had picked up more when they were available. hopefully they make a come back again later this year. 
  • lululemon 105 f singlet -- great tank for the days when you want to wear a longer, loose fitting top. the material is very lightweight and comes in almost any color you can think of. 
  • lululemon speed tights -- these are my go to tights in the winter, they are warm yet moisture wicking. i really like the side pockets, including the zippered pocket on the waistband in the back. 
  • lululemon define jacket -- this jacket was discontinued from lululemon for some time. it made a come back this year and this was my first time getting to try it. i like the thumbholes, the cuffins (think of built in mitts!), and the zippered side pockets. great jacket for the to-and-from. it can also be worn casually as well (double duty!). 

rock the lulu,
JD