What to Wear for Valentine's Day ♡

I love my husband dearly but getting him to compliment me on an outfit I'm wearing is basically impossible. I dream of one day coming down the staircase ready for a date, my husband waiting for me at the bottom with a huge grin of approval on his face and flowers in his hand (or maybe sitting on a lawn mower). Yes my fantasies come straight out of a cheesy 80's movie…yes I'm a nerd and that is A-okay! Don't get me wrong, the look he gave me when I walked down the aisle will last me a lifetime, but I'm sure we all feel this way at some point in our lives. What I took away from this was to dress for myself. Getting dressed up and looking snazzy is not something I do often (I'd rather stay home and read a book) but when I do, I want to feel confident and comfortable in what I'm wearing. Valentine's Day is coming up and I thought what better way to grab his attention than with an outfit catered to his liking. So with that said, I raided my closet and I'm ready to strut my stuff! 

 

Black Bootie Heels: $10.00 WetSeal 

Black Flower Tights: $4.99 Rue21

Black Tub Top: $6.50 WetSeal

Shades of Night Clutch: $50 Winky Designs

Open Heart Key Necklace: $100 Kay Jewelers 

Red Velvet Wrap Watch: $120 Winky Designs 

Maroon Knit Skirt By Growze: $78 Boutiqueaholics

White Sweater With Black Lace By Take Out: $27.99 Kohl's 

Top 5 Reasons Why You Still Need a Watch in Your Life

1. Your watch can be as unique as you are!

Are you a trendsetting fashionista? Vintage vixen? Goth girl obsessed with Hello Kitty? Whatever your style, I guarantee you there’s a watch out there to fit your style. It’s no surprise self-expression is commonly reflected in how we dress ourselves so why not include it in the accessories we wear? That’s why we at Winky Designs got in the watch designing biz; we wanted quality watches that expressed our unique style without breaking our piggy bank.

2. While it might be rude to break out your phone in a meeting or during a date, an indiscreet turn of your wrist never hurt nobody!

 

“Hey hey, put your phone away!” Don’t be impolite and check your phone when the situation dictates you pay attention. Yes, even when you’re counting the minutes until you can get the heck outta there. A watch allows you to follow the rules of politeness and still be aware of the seconds ticking by (sometimes super slowly if you happen to be in a boring class or meeting…ugh)

3. Sometimes you just need a break from your cellphone…

 

Facebook updates, calls from your parents asking where you are, work emails- can’t a girl get a little peace and quiet around here?! Sometimes we just need to unplug from the world for a moment and break up with our phones for a few hours. Go for a peaceful hike or read a great book in the small café around the corner, but know what time you need to get plugged back in with a wristwatch. Cause ya know, ignoring all those work updates for too long might get you fired!

 

4. Because you grew up wearing one so why stop now?

It’s a nostalgia thing. As kids we grew up wearing cute Pokemon or My Little Pony watches (some still might..I don’t judge) and it kinda became a part of us. Sometimes I talk to friends about why they still wear watches (yes, I’m a nerd) and they’d simply respond that they would feel incomplete without one. Plus, what if the hot guy passing you by on the street wants to hit on you by asking the time and you just oh so happened to forget your phone at home or your phone died, then what do you do? WHAT DO YOU DO?! …a watch would definitely help.

 

5. You can’t go swimming or take a shower with your phone now can you?

…but you can with our fun and unique slap watches! Our Winky slap watches are water resistant up to about 98 feet so that means you can go frolic on the beach and swim with the dolphins. Afterwards, go rinse off the sand from your body all while never taking off your cute watch! Too cool, right? I suggest you be prepared to get a lot of eyes on you because people are gonna want to know where you got your watch from (and also because you’re so hot in your cute new bikini).

 

Fashion for Nerds 101!

Everyone has an inner nerd somewhere inside of them, we know we do! The team here at Winky Designs loves to embrace our inner geekiness any chance we get no matter how silly we look. It makes the atmosphere at work more fun and hopefully shows our fans we have a major sense of humor!

While it was a dress up day for us girls, Ray dresses like that on a daily basis...

If you are a nerd-at-heart like us and want to become an intellectual trendsetter, here are some helpful tips. Remember to wear things with confidence and that flatter the body. Absolutely embrace your style! 

Where to Find

Be goofy, be yourself, and do silly things! 

Take some advice from hottie Zac Effron. Zac says he wore goofy hats to school and did musical theater. People may have thought that he was a geek, but he had a sense of humor about it so no one could bring him down. He owned it and look at him now... he's such a heartthrob!

Where to Find

Geek Chic Glasses are cool!

Wearing "nerd glasses" was once an insult on the playground. Nowadays, it would be a compliment of having a trendy look.  Blogger m0j0asmin says, "They've been featured in movies, on runways, and even in magazines as a way to get a more intellectual look without sacrificing style."

Where to Find

Bow ties are for bold play!

Wear a bow tie to complete the "power of impact" look. If you're feeling creative, knit it yourself to give a geeky story behind it. Remember, knitting does not make you "old" it makes you crafty!

Where to Find

Snap into fashion!

Want to wear your pants up to your chest? Do it in style with a pair of wild suspenders that make a statement. Whether you prefer to be quirky, cool, or a complete dork, suspenders worn the correct way will make a fearless statement!  

Where to Find

Don't forget your pens!

Hide those pens that you're itching to carry. Marc Jacobs carries fashion lipstick pens to disguise your inner dweeb. I won't tell if you won't!

Where to Find

5 Ways to Look Good While Being Lazy

Let me start by saying that if I didn't need to get up and look decent this morning I wouldn't have. With Bruno Mars's Lazy Song in my head and a reluctant pep-in-my-step, I mustered up the strength to get ready. So here is my 5 step guide to getting ready…The Lazy Way !

Step 1: Your makeup should be clean and minimilistic. Start with your base (foundation and concealer). For my eyes, I did a simple cat eye but started mid lid and swept it out. Lightly pencil in your eyebrows and finish your look with a neutral blush and powder. Adding a brightly colored lipstick will complete your look and give the illusion of effort.

Step 2: Obviously you have infinite ideas for your hair, but put all those aside and think about this: What goes with everything, is easy, and won't drive you nuts all day? My go-to hair style is what I call the "Cinnamon Twist". It's easy, takes me no more then a few minutes, and can be worn a multitude of ways. A few bobby pins, tease, a twist, a few more pins, and I'm ready to dress!

Step 3: To complete the look-unfortunately the pajamas have to go. Don't skimp on the comfort, you can still look cute and be snug as a bug! Grab your favorite comfy pair of straight legged jeans (not too tight but not baggy) and a cute sweater. I chose my halfsie sweater, put a simple black tank under, and tucked it in.

Step 4: This will be your most important step to complete the look. I like to call this my junk jewelry swap. That doesn't mean it isn't quality, it's just not real gold or silver and won't cost an arm and a leg. Wearing watches help me avoid putting on bracelets that i'll magically sling off my wrist when I am talking with my hands throughout the day (Italian's smh), so watch it is! Pairing your earrings with your lipstick also adds a contrast of color so your outfit isn't a snore. Last but not least comes the necklace. Because of my short sweater, I grabbed a long hanging necklace to draw the eye.

 

Step 5: I have what I like to call "crack paranoia". If I look in the mirror and bend over and there is even a possibility of something showing, the belt goes on. It's lazy day so sneakers are the obvious choice.

Voilà, those are the steps to a lazy outfit. If any of that takes you more then minutes, give up and go back to bed ;P.  

Emypre Halfsie sweater: $19.95 Zumiez

Forever 21 Jeans: $10.80 Forever 21

BlackBerry Galette: $100.00 Winky Designs
White Classic Belt: $25.00 Winky Designs

Heart earrings: $4.80 Forever 21

Necklace: $5.95  Teenz & 20's

To All the Men Out There, These Dates Are What Your Girl REALLY Wants This Valentine's Day!

What’s a better day to express your feelings with a loved one than Valentine’s Day? This Valentine’s Day, show the person you love that you really adore them by sharing special moments. To parade the wonderful feeling of love and display your style of emotion, we’ve come up with romantic dates ideas that your darling will cherish forever.  Make your honey smile and brighten her day by choosing one of our thoughtful suggestions that fits the personality of your girl.  Ladies, don't be afraid to pass these cute date ideas to your men!

The Foodie:

http://www.ourvanity.com/health/diet-nutrition/how-to-tame-sweet-tooth/

• Educate your wine palate by attending a wine festival or tasting at your local winery. In addition to wine tastings, chefs and gourmet-food vendors will be on hand to hand out samples of their goods and educate foodies.  Nothing like a good glass of wine to spice things up!
• Have a candlelit dinner for yours truly.  To make a special concept, recreate your first dinner together followed by her favorite desert. YUM!  Don’t forget to set the mood with flowers, candles and her favorite music in the background.
• Take a cooking class.  No matter where you are, restaurants and local schools offer cooking classes that are informative and fun!  Find one that suits your woman whether it be Italian, Japanese, or vegetarian classes. You guys will cover everything from ingredients to prep work, and most importantly of the night, you will be savoring every last bite with your lovely lady.

The Artsy:

http://stay-golden-ponyboy.blogspot.com/

• Take the day to explore your local art museum.  To make it interesting, plan a day ahead and make a scavenger hunt out of it with a special gift waiting for her at the end.
• Go to an art festival. To surprise her, let her pick out something that she loves.
• Accompany each other to a night at the local pottery studio. There are many that offer date nights filled with wine and appetizers while you create your artwork.

The Adventurous:

http://very-relaxing.blogspot.com/

• Plan a short romantic retreat to go skiing at a lodge nearest you.  If you can’t make it out of town or don’t have the funds, go sledding and be sure to cozy up and share the sled together. After freezing your buns off, be sure to spend the rest of the night near a roaring fire getting nice and toasty.
• Head to your nearest nature park for a romantic hike in the woods just before sunrise or sunset to savor those first or last rays of sunshine with your honey. Don’t forget to bring a picnic blanket, snacks, and a bottle of bubbly to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery together.
• Ice skating is a great date with your loved one. You can be affectionate, hold hands, and have a conversation while still being active and silly. After you’re all skated out, cuddle up next to a fire with a yummy cup of hot chocolate to warm up.

The Homebody:

http://pensanoamor.blogspot.com/2012/09/y-love-you-9.html

• There’s no need to leave home when the stars are in your own backyard.  Have dinner and fun drinks under the nighttime sky in the comfort of your jammies.  There is no denying romance when snuggling under a blanket and wishing on a star!
• Surprise her with an unexpected feast on the rooftop.  Grab a ladder, find a stable surface, and set up a charming dinner for two that will certainly be unforgettable.
• Personalize a cuddle kit.  Display your admiration for the night with a fun filled basket of her favorite snacks, a cozy throw, candles, a chick flick or whatever inspires your love for one another to make for a night to remember.  

Catching Up With Style Blogger Esmirna Tapia of Platforms for Breakfast

Last year we found and fell in love with Platforms for Breakfast because of Esmirna's sincere writing and bilingual approach, which coupled with her beautiful style pics, makes for a winning combo. We give this budding fashionista-force-to-be-reckoned-with a round of applause as she conquers 2014 as one of the rising stars in the blogging world. We recently caught up with the “San Diego beach babe living in the deserts of Arizona” for a candid talk about her personal style and personal aspirations.

Winky Designs: How would you describe your style?

Esmirna Tapia: I would describe my style as always changing. I'm not one to follow trends, so one day I can be completely boho chic, and the next very edgy with a pair of combat boots! My outfits show the world my personality without having to say one word, and that's what I love about fashion- you can be unpredictable and have fun with it! 

W.D.:  Do you see a difference in your style now in Arizona as compared to when you lived in Cali?

E.T.: There is such a different vibe in the desert versus being near the beach, and everyone's style here reflects it. People in Arizona walk around in shorts and tank tops almost year round, while in San Diego, you still have that humidity and cloudy days where you can wear skinny jeans and sweaters. When I first moved here 3 years ago, I came with oversized coats and beanies. Now, half of my closet is flowy cardigans and dresses. I've learned to style pieces together that I would have never thought looked good together because I have such variety in my wardrobe now. I know more about what looks better on my body type, along with many other tips and tricks that help me get dressed quicker every morning! 

W.D.: Who/what is your biggest style influence?
E.T.: My biggest style influences are the Olsen twins and fashion magazines. I feel like I can relate to Mary-Kate and Ashley more because they are petite and wear similar items as I do; they too love the oversized feel of certain clothing pieces, and style high-end items with cheaper ones. Magazines let me know what trends are out there; they inspire me to put together outfits that also show off my personal style. 

W.D.: What is your favorite Winky Designs product and how would/did you rock it?
E.T.: My favorite Winky Designs product was the True Teal Sequin Clutch because besides being gorgeous, it has tons of room for all of your necessities for a night (or day!) out! I paired it with my favorite holiday dress and simple black heels for a stylish touch to an evening of family fun!

(You can check out the blog post featuring our sequin clutch here)

W.D.: We here at Winky Designs are all about inspiring self-expression through our joyful designs and helping other achieve their dreams. What is your resolution for 2014?

E.T.: While I have not always been good about keeping my resolutions, this year has been much more different. I want to learn how to LOVE myself and those who surround me more, I want to keep writing about my life through my blog, make a name for myself, and I want to have faith in things I never really believed in before. I have many hopes and dreams that I want to fulfill, and I know I will because I am just getting started!

We wish you all the luck in this upcoming year Esmirna as you dare to dream and achieve your goals! Hopefully we see you at Magic Feb. ’14 in Vegas blogging about all the hottest up and coming brands!



Follow Platforms for Breakfast: FB: @platformsforbreakfast Twitter: @esmirna_tapia  Pinterest: @esmirna_tapia

With All This Talk About New Year's Resolutions....

It’s almost the end of the first month of 2014 (the year is flying by!) and everyone is already hard at work trying to enact their resolutions for the New Year. This means all that weight we gained during the holidays are quickly being burned off at the gym (at least for the first few weeks of January), we are desperately trying to fight the urge to smoke whenever we get stressed out (or have a really filling dinner! Dang, there goes resolution #1…), and avoid the mall and all the pretty clothes like the plague (gotta save that dinero and pay off these student loans). The team here at Winky Designs compiled our own list of the good, bad, and the ugly that we hope to change and accomplish in the NEW YEAR! Drum roll please...

Winky: In 2014, I HOPE to start a family and triple the growth of Winky Designs!

(Not her baby, she probably stole him lol)

Ray: In 2014, I HOPE to be healthy and stay in shape while eating my face off with foods from all around the world.

 Vanessa: In 2014, I HOPE to make it through my classes alive and with all A’s! I’m comin for ya Valedictorian status!

 
Robyn: In 2014, I HOPE to lose weight to feel great (more so to fit into my old clothes), be more organized, swear less, SMILE MORE, continue my spiritual walk, read more to keep my mind sharp.  

Silvya: In 2014, I HOPE for great health, focus on myself, gain self-control and to not worry as much. Live one day at a time!

Alexa: In 2014, I HOPE for good health.



  Lauren: In 2014, I HOPE for an engagement ring and to accomplish success in my new career path.

Lisette: In 2014, I have FAITH that after I graduate I will find a career where I not only love what I do, but will allow me to travel all over the world. 

 

Jesus: In 2014, I HOPE I accomplish all of my business goals and end the year with total success.

Gedalya: In 2014, I HOPE to take control and make it the year I always dreamed of. Every year I always say that "this year is a step in the right direction". I want to let go a little and prove to myself that I can just put trust in new decisions and take some risks. I want this year to be one I look back at and say 2014 was my first stress free year where all I did was grow and accomplish greatness. And I really do believe this is "that" year.

Gummy: In 2014, I HOPE to eat more chicken!

Opie: In 2014, I HOPE to help my mommy and daddy by becoming the best special needs dog out there!