All That Glitters

long sleeves, tights, and 100 degree temps

2011-07-22T11:57:00.004-05:00

Even with temperatures being hot as crap (the scientific term, of course), I find myself planning for fall outfits lately. Not that I would wear any of these outfits in the current 100+ temps, I'm just SO OVER this hot weather. Here's some inspiration for ya.

oh, baby

2011-07-07T10:27:00.003-05:00

{inspiration for the baby shower I am currently planning}

((sugar & spice & everything nice))

jailbird.

2011-06-30T12:57:00.002-05:00

i finally gave in to my striped skirt obsession & purchased This one from Windsor Store (pictured below). While many associate horizontal stripes with prison inmate status, i ADORE the trend and wouldn't mind one in every color! Reminds me of a candy store, and in case you didn't know, candy is a wonderful inspiration for getting dressed!

Katie from Running on Happiness in the same skirt! {LOVE this blog!}

bye bye miss american pie

2011-06-28T13:42:00.006-05:00

(a little Independence Day Inspiration)

{thank you for serving our country}

{layer cake. how metophorical}

{freedom of expression}

{land of diversity. plus this is hilarious...}

{whats more american than apple pie (pops?)}

{star spangled}

{sparklas'}

{the right to wear cute shoes}

{freedommmm}

Dots & Stripes & Florals, Oh my

2011-06-27T13:34:00.008-05:00

I'm drawn to many things in fashion & I can be fickle day to day as to what catches my eye but three things that ALWAYS seem to draw me in are Stripes, Polka Dots, and florals. Especially together!

fruit striped gum by LaurenLaye featuring iron fist shoes

do the polkaaaaa by LaurenLaye featuring polka dot jewelry

pocket full of posies by LaurenLaye featuring oxford flats

all together now by LaurenLaye featuring a floral tube dress

fancy struck.

2011-06-24T13:09:00.003-05:00

Just some home decor pictures that struck my fancy. mostly from pinterest & theLennoxx , a fabulous home decor blog. Maybe your fancy will be struck too!

Happy Friday! :)

Sharing is Caring ♥

2011-06-23T12:56:00.003-05:00

Feast your eyes on these delectable little booties :) Best part? $27. And because I'm so nice & I appreciate financial limitations, I'm gonna share a new (to me) website, MakeMeChic.com. It's full of lots of cute & CHEAP shoes, Plus free shipping when you spend $50! Best part is, you could easily get two or three pairs of shoes for 50. I know, I know, you're welcome :)

Note: I think they are running a 35% off sale from now until the 26th of June. Sad day for me, because I can't shop anymore this month due to the too much fun I had at H&M on vacation but lucky day for you!

Frugal (er) fruit!

2011-06-22T15:16:00.004-05:00

Remember those lovely fruit shoes I posted with the not so lovely price tag? Well VOILA! I found some more affordable ones! They are now on the wishlist! :) Maybe I can get them before they go out of season.

Jeffrey Campbell 'Fruitbowl' Platforms.

Fabulous New Book from my fave blogger!

2011-06-21T15:47:00.004-05:00

What I Wore Book Giveaway!

WhatIWore: With just two weeks until the What I Wore book hits shelves, I’m reaching out to you to help me spread the word.

She's giving away 10 signed copies of What I Wore: Four Seasons, One Closet, Endless Recipes for Personal Style plus a personalized illustration (of you!) to one extra special reader!

My favorite blogger, Jessica Quirk has her own book coming out about how to work and style your closet! I cant wait to get a copy! More info here!

30 for 30 Remix?

2011-06-21T09:26:00.006-05:00

With this small Alabama town not exactly being a thriving fashion metropolis, I often look to other fashion blogs for inspiration. Kendi from Kendi Everyday started this thing called 30 for 30 Remix & it fascinated me just enough that I think I will try it. Heck, it's not like there is anything else to do & maybe it will keep me from shopping for a while :)

The key to the remix is to choose 30 items from your closet that you can mix and match for 30 days to make 30 different outfits. And I'm sure besides saving money you also learn to be creative and thankful for your closet. Don't be one of those "I have nothing to wear as I'm staring into a massive, color coordinated closet" girls... :)

Below are Kendi's choices for this remix. (Just to get an idea of what I'm puttin' down)

I'll let ya know how it goes or if I give in to the shopping disease and fail, miserably!

Obsession #2: Dia Frampton

2011-06-20T14:47:00.002-05:00

If you haven't been watching NBC's "The Voice", that means you're missing out on the amazing & super talented Dia Frampton. If you don't love her, then I don't love you. (haha, ok not really, but check her out because you'll probably love her!)

Obsession #1: Pink & Red (together!). Gasp!

2011-06-20T14:35:00.006-05:00

I'm pretty sure these are two colors I would have put together as 3 year old learning to dress myself & my mom would have said, "Those colors CLASH!" Well, these images look like valentines day threw up all over the place and I am in LOVE. :)

{go ahead, get inspired}

{photos c/o Pinterest}

yummy things stuffed with other yummy things. brilliant.

2011-06-17T14:45:00.006-05:00

Whats better than something yummy? Something yummy stuffed with something else yummy. I never blog about food because I'm not real suave in the kitchen but had to post these easy and divine looking recipe ideas...

(inside out carrot cake)

(stuffed zucchini cups)

(mac&cheese grill sandwich)

((tutti fruity))

2011-06-07T15:38:00.008-05:00

.happy fruit.

what IS my obsession with fruit themed shoes? i dont know, probably some subliminal thing from my childhood. Come on, you all know you had one of those seersucker dresses with the watermelon bib collar!

"Tutti Fruity" Heels by Charlotte Olympia

And flats for the more 'conservative' girl. Although if you're that conservative, I doubt you're gonna be wearing bananas on your feet...

((Oh, and dont worry about wear to buy or prices, they are like $1000 and $800 respectively..sad day.))

Can't get you outta my head*

2011-06-06T15:19:00.013-05:00

Do things you see ever get stuck in your head like a catchy song? For this peculiarity, I have discovered Pinterst.com. So now i can just 'pin' all those crazy head jumbling things on my 'boards'. If you haven't discovered Pinterest yet, go there. You will love me for it :)

{love}

{little birdy land}

{confetti falling down all night. thinking of using this idea in my new closet :) }

{for me? why thank you :) }

{capri sun & fruit popsicles. who would have thought?}

{watermelon vans. dont like watermelons and dont like vans but these? yes.}

{oreo cupcakes via catesworldkitchen.com, coming soon to my kitchen!}

Random Inspiration

2011-06-02T13:54:00.007-05:00

To Me the Perfect House is one that looks like you live in a candy store... :)

ShopRuche.com & you won't be disappointed.

2011-05-24T09:21:00.011-05:00

Currently in my cart at Ruche. My daydreaming cart...

"Touring London" Dress- $38.99

"Sunset Daydreaming" Skirt -$38.99

"Pursuing Pleats" Skirt- $45.99

"Nautical Love Story" Dress- $41.99

"Lorenza Cafe" Oxfords -$32.99

"Happy Together" Cardigan-$36.99

"Daydreaming About You" Wedges -$39.99

"Leave a note for me" Top- $32.99

"Celebrate our Love" Dress- $37.99

I don't ask for much...

2011-05-23T14:04:00.007-05:00

..Just a place to hang out, relax, read, get dressed, and just BE. That's why I want a closet. And not just any closet but a room that allows me to do all of the aformentioned. A "girl cave" of sorts...And (FINGERS CROSSED), I have been promised one for Christmas. Here are a few rough Ideas I'm thinking. Not necessarily an exact, just, mabye a combination of these ideas? :)

Fun House

2011-05-20T09:10:00.008-05:00

Get your weekend started with some crazy home furnishings sure to make your house the funnest (well aware that's not really a word) house on the block :)

Artfulhome.com $3885.00

a sure way to trip people out. LED Faucet Light- Opulentitems.com, $15.00

Never had the urge to own a fish...until now. Ridiculously cute fish bowl. Madeindesign.co.uk, $237.00

Actually pretty obsessed with this. trying to convince the husband he could "easily" conjure one of these up with his mad carpentry skills. Opulentitems.com $7500.00

a throne fit for any crazy queen. and this crazy queen would be sitting in it ALL the time. And hey, it's only $11,855.00, so no big deal... (hivemodern.com)

Let's not forget the little ones (which I dont have, but if I did, they would have one of these). Heck, I would probably hang out in this too. All.The.Time. (Poshtots.com)

{Fancy Shorts}

2011-05-19T15:06:00.003-05:00

((From Left to Right: Coral Tie Shorts-Misselfridge.com- 34 GBP, Pleated Khaki Shorts- Shopruche.com-$35, Mint Paperbag Shorts-Shopruche.com-$39, Floral High Waisted Shorts- Shopruche.com- $37, Drapey Navy Shorts- AE.com- $25, Melon Scalloped Shorts- topshop.com- 30GBP))

Currently In love with the fancy shorts out this season. Not only do they make a statement but they actually COVER your behind. :) Who would have thought?

Etsy Addict

2011-05-18T09:53:00.015-05:00

As if I'm not already addicted to enough expensive habits, Etsy and I have found each other, for better or worse (I think better, my husband..worse). Etsy is a neverending story of all things handmade and vintage. I have honestly found myself browsing for hours at a time, thinking of one thing to search, which usually brings up something else that I never thought of, hints the never ending part...

Here are a few of my favorite shops:

Am ula Designs

Completely in love with this necklace.

Posh Patina

All of her jewelry is bright, summery, & all around $10 or less!

Snap Vintage

Amazing Vintage finds. Great Stuff, Great Prices.

The Church of Vintage

The new addition to my wardrobe. Adorable & in perfect vintage condition!

i want theseeeee

2011-03-16T19:24:00.007-05:00

I need these shoes PRONTO. i just need them to be a tad bit cheaper since i'm on (ahem..) a budget. (icky, i know.)

rare birds.

2011-03-07T18:51:00.007-06:00

So I'm reading through my March InStyle & come across the most beautifully artistic editorial called "Rare Birds." It's filled with the most fabulous shoes made of various materials but what made it so amazing was the styling done for each shoe. Had to share.

{dries van noten}

{prada}

{alexander mcQueen}

{nicholas kirkwood for Rodarte}

{fendi}

best & worst. but mostly best.

2011-03-02T20:24:00.009-06:00

So, not a big Oscars fan but definitely a big fashion fan so I just watch the red carpet and skip the rest of the hoopla. I pretty much just wanted to post my faves but I made sure to include my most un-fave. I've looked around other blogs/fashion websites and some dont agree with my choices but thats okay, because its MY blog :)

Cate Blanchett in Givenchy Couture

Halle Berry in Marchesa

Jennifer Hudson in Atelier Versace

Gwyneth Paltrow in Calvin Klein

Mandy Moore (why was she there again?) in Monique Lhuillier

Hillary Swank in Gucci Premiere

Nicole Kidman in Dior Couture

maybe it's because i never like her but this dress is TERRIBLE. looks like a runner up in the 1994 miss america pagent.

keep dreaming.

2011-02-27T13:12:00.006-06:00

((this photo c/o "What I Wore" blog--from NYFW--she actually WENT))

So when I saw the pictures from Kate Spade's line from this Spring's New York Fashion Week, I was immediately in love with the 60's inspired Jackie O meets Twiggy vibe. But above all, that coat is just plain and simply the most fabulous coat to date. Lord knows I have plenty of coats in my closet but none whose beauty surpass this. Too bad the price tag on this coat will probably be a little (a LOT) out of my league & the odds of finding a classy knock off, well-- I'll just keep dreaming...

More photos courtesey of What I Wore:

currently on repeat.

2011-02-26T11:26:00.000-06:00

I stumbled upon this amazing artist a few years back in the 'myspace' days & her beautiful, completely unique voice totally had me smitten--or my ears, anyway. :)

Tuesday, Adele's sophomore cd '21' was released as a follow up to her first, '19' and it did not disappoint. It's perfect and lovely and you should definitely go buy it. Now.

Unicorn Shoes.

2011-02-23T19:19:00.005-06:00

"Michelle" by Jeffrey Campbell. Retails for $119

So I spotted these shoes by Jeffrey Campbell about a year ago and fell in love. I referred to them as "the unicorn shoes" because of the heel, and apparently so does everyone else because I googled 'unicorn shoe' and they popped right up! Well, the other night I found some fabbbb knock-offs at Burlington Coat Factory (i'm serious.) for, Wait for it, $14.99! Pure.Bliss.Moment.

My Shoes: Suede, not patent leather. But I like them better. Especially at $14.99. :)

oh, Judith

2011-02-22T19:07:00.008-06:00

Judith March: A design favorite among girls in the south & known for beautiful mixtures of varsity color combinations perfect for any SEC gameday. I lean toward the orange & blue, obviously, but she even makes the houndstooth stuff look good.

Upside: fabulously cute dresses, unique fabrics, rosettes/bows/flowers (need I say more?) Downside: You can't order online (boo!) So, you have to go out and find a boutique that carries them. (This is yet another reason why I need to open a boutique in this shopping-forsaken town!)

Founder and designer, Stephanie Nichols is from Alabama and is now based out of North Florida. The dresses sell at her own boutique (Deja Vu) & other boutiques.

I adore each and every dress and would love to own them all :)

Please, go see for yourself. you will fall in love too.

I'm back. And so is LC ♥

2011-02-21T10:31:00.008-06:00

So I kind of realize I am re-appearing from out of nowhere but life has been crazy hectic since we bought our house, changed careers, and well, changed careers again. But I am back & am going to try and post at least once or twice a week, if for no other reason but to have a creative outlet :)

Moving right along, I have lots of current obsessions but we'll start with the new Lauren C0nrad for Kohls line. Lots of bloggers & readers are calling her line boring, predictable, etc etc. "Didn't last years line look just like this with all of the florals, pastels, maxi dresses, and blazers?" Well of course it did, she's LC and she's safe and predictable! Safe, predictable, and FABULOUS. Runway fashion & couture is great but it's not realistic and Lauren's line is both realistic AND completely affordable.

I'll be back

2010-05-16T15:51:00.002-05:00

Due to the fact that i havent had my computer (lightning thing), the home remodeling project, and starting a new job (one of those little lovelies where all good sites are blocked from access), I have severely slacked on blogging. BUT. I WILL BE BACK. I promise. So hang with me & I'll get back to posting soon. (Note: I havent even SHOPPED lately (online or in person), so you KNOWWWWW something is up!)

Casa Nueva (ya know, in honor of cinco de mayo.)

2010-05-05T10:16:00.005-05:00

There will be more to come but for now, here is a sneak peak of the outside of our new *first* home! Oh. and thought you might like the cheesy little one of us posed in front, which my mom was dying to take! :) I will post the room pictures as we finish them. That way I can do a 'bef0re' & 'after' in the same post!

Life under the sea is better than anything they got up there...

2010-05-04T13:43:00.020-05:00

Little mermaid was definitely one of my favorite childhood movies. Top 5, for sure. I think that's why I'm so drawn to the jewelry below. I am obsessing over the beautiful coral/gold/turquoise combinations and the fabulous sea-life charms. While the Target pieces are pretty affordable, I'm still going to be on the lookout for a cheaper version of this trend. We all know Forever21 will come out with an imposter soon and we will all jump at it's less-than-$10-price tag!

{Details}

The first two necklaces, two earring sets, & octopus ring are by Betsey Johnson. The 2nd two necklaces are from Target. The coral reef bangle is BCBG.

Spectrum of Sundresses

2010-05-03T14:16:00.006-05:00

{the details}

I am definitely a "colors" kind of girl & I am lovingggg all the vibrant colors out this season. I say 'yes' to them all (okay, except the pale yellow but that's just because it and my skin/hair don't mesh well). I'm also a sucker for an aesthetically pleasing presentation & I find anything put into color spectrum form even more appealing (i.e. my closet!) Best part? All of these dresses are under $50!

alice + olivia for payless. Yummy.

2010-04-28T15:31:00.005-05:00

New Alice + Olivia's for payless= to. die. for. I am always drooling over a+o stuff anyway, but I always seem to miss the boat when it comes to their 'for payless' line. Like, by the time I hear about it, they are sold out. But noooo, not this time! the black & white ones...they're MINE! :) Hurry, before they run out and you have to swoon over them via those losers on eBay who are trying to charge $99 for a pair of shoes that were originally $40. Horrid, Horrid People...

Heavy on the accents

2010-04-27T08:57:00.011-05:00

These are just some ideas I have come across through all of my searching for home decor inspiration! Since I'm using gray as the primary color in several of my rooms, colorful accents are key to making a room pop!

{As you can see, I'm obsessed with the idea of grouping multipe vases in different sizes/shapes/colors}

{I L-O-V-E this dresser. I can't decide if it's the fabulous purple color (probably) or the dresser, itself}

{really creative + chic way of storing/displaying jewelry. I would probably replace the antler-looking things with some type of hooks though.}

{On the lookout for a thrifted or cheap mirror I can use to re-create this amazing flower mirror.}

Lightning Crashes...

2010-04-26T14:16:00.004-05:00

So I've been working my butt off like my butt's never been worked off before this past week, since closing. We have been busy bees, re-sanding floors, ripping up tile, re-building the bathroom floor, sanding walls, etc etc. My body aches & so does my mind. I've got lots of "before" pictures to post on here but see, this beyond crappy thing happened this past weekend, which has prevented these pictures from making their debut on here...

{Lightning}

Saturday, while we were at the house working like mad men, storms rolled through & lightning struck & fried all of our electronics. Two TVs, the computer & printer, the Wii, & the stereo system--GONE. Sad, Sad day. Seriously. However, we have plent of blessings to count, seeing as 12+ people lost their lives in Mississippi from these same storms, and all we lost was a few possessions. SO, when we settle with insurance & I can replace my computer, I will upload photos. Until then, imaginations will have to be put to work, concerning the progress of out little fixer-upper. :)

eDdicted to eBay...

2010-04-22T14:01:00.011-05:00

{It started out innocent enough...}

{One thing led to another...}

{This is totally me at work, waiting on my packages...haha}

I'm going to go out on a limb here and rank eBay in the top 5 most useful tools of our generation. It's like bargain shopping, but with your shoes kicked off. Not to mention, it cures a number of ailments, including, but not limited to: boredom, shopping withdrawals, finding hard-to-find-items, & did I mention, boredom?

Lately I have found all kinds of little goodies & most of the time, I end up paying more for shipping than I did the item itself. I've become quite the eBay-aholic & I find myself getting terribly irritated when I receive a notification on my phone that says I've been outbid. (Yes, I said notification on my phone---do you think there is a 12-step program out there for this?) But hey, at least I'm not spending that much!

Some of my sweet finds lately:

{Old Navy Shoes-approx $12...including shipping}

{Floral Ballet flats-$8...including shipping}

{fabbbb Green sateen jacket-$10...including shipping}

{black bow belt- $2...free shipping!}

{floral stained glass earrings- $.99..free shipping}

((addicted to ebay Barbie photos courtesy of www.dancetc.com))

To Do: Adorable DIY Skirt

2010-04-20T09:58:00.005-05:00

On one of the blogs I read, Freshly Picked , I came accross the most adorable & easy DIY elastic waist skirt & am very much looking foward to getting started! Because my hips are so big, I have the hardest time finding this style of skirts that I can wear. Once you throw that elastic on, it automatically finds its way to my natural waist line, which then decreases the skirts length by about 3-5 inches. Boo! But now, I can pick the material AND the length! YAY! You should definitely check out This Project & this fabulous blog!

Oh, and when I do finally get around to this project (amidst all the house renovating...), I will proudly post pictures!

It's CLOSING DAY!!!

2010-04-20T08:53:00.003-05:00

{Note: these people are not us...haha}

Today is Closing Day (Finally!) & we are so excited! Once the keys are placed in our hands, we will promptly be taking "before" photos so that we can document our 'fixer upper-ing' adventures! Stay Tuned!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2010-04-16T11:42:00.006-05:00

To most, the title of "the most wonderful time of the year" is usually reserved for Christmas or maybe even the first day of summer. To me, it refers to one thing: college football season. And while it's not here yet, the next best thing is upon us, and that is A Day (or media day). This is when the football team (both returning players & new signees) all come together for their final spring scrimmage & give the media and fans a little preview of what's to come (hints the most wonderful time 0f the year part). Most every year, my dad & I go to this together & this year is no exception. So tomorrow, we will make the trek to Mecca (aka Auburn) for this pre-season treat of a little orange on blue action. Ahhh, I just love my Auburn Tigers. And although this post is not fashion or home decor related, it is a huge part of who I am and what makes me happy :) So, I promise, next week, I will get back to posting that fashion stuff we all love, but for now....

Spirit, one of the mascot's in his pre-game ritual of flying around the stadium. Goosebumps.

Phillip & I at a game last year. Happiest place on earth.

{Photo of eagle courtesy of Flickr}

Owls. Cute or Creepy?

2010-04-15T09:58:00.010-05:00

I don't know if you all have noticed how big the 'owl trend' has gotten lately, but it seems like the cute little birds are popping up everywhere! --Everything from jewlery to pillows, shirts and even this quite hilarious dress (posted below). While I find them adorable (in most cases), it dawned on me last night, when I showed Phillip my new, cute little (big) owl necklace, and he laughed hysterically, that maybe everbody doesnt find them as cute as I do. I guess they could get a little eery-looking if used too much (ie- like those freaky porcelain dolls people like to place all around a room). So what do you think? Whimsical owl details, cute or creepy?

This is what the necklace I got looks like. See, cute right? :)

{Details}

Owl Tee, ModCloth- $28

Owl Charm Necklace, ModCloth- $15

Multi Owl Pendant, ASOS- $14

Plastic Owl ring, UO- $10

BKE Owl Ring, Buckle- $8

Owl T ote, Loungefly.com- $35

Owl Journal, Paper-Source.com- $18

Owl Lamp, Thefrogandtheprincess.com- $120

Owl decorative pillow, Target- $18

Now this is just RIDICULOUS!

Derby Worthy

2010-04-14T14:54:00.006-05:00

The Kentucky Derby is almost here and I, for one, cannot wait! I went last year & had oh-so-much fun! Even if you're not a 'horse racing' person, the Derby is an experience that I recommend everyone attend at least once! From the sound of the bugle player announcing the next race to the beautifully colored silks on the Jockeys backs, the Kentucky Derby is a fabulous extravaganza of luxury, excitement, and tradition. All you need is a cute little dress, a big fancy hat, and a few dollars to throw on whichever horse strikes your fancy :)

Everyone from Celebrities, to Regular People, and even the Queen, herself, loves the Derby!

Here are a few Derby worth dresses (all under $50)

{Details}

Floral strappy dress, Delias- $50

Peplum Dress (goddiva.co.uk)- $25

Flutter sleeve dress, Forever21- $25

Teal Prairie dress, Shopruche.com- $47

Floral Stripe Dress, Missselfridge.com- $49

Crimson pleat dress, FredFlare.com- $50

Plum Perfect!

2010-04-13T14:23:00.003-05:00

Here's the new duvet I ordered today! Yay! My vision is coming along quite nicely :) (see vision below)

Two of my favorite words-- "For Target"

2010-04-13T08:48:00.013-05:00

It's that time again...when another amazing designer makes their creations available to we commoners. As if Liberty of London weren't enough for one season, now Cynthia Vincent is bringing her fabulous shoe line to target! And all for under $30. Hallelujaaahhhh :)

Best part? Most of the styles she's doing for Target look verrry similar to her true label stuff.

<--- $350 @ Bloomingdales

$29.99 for Target --->

<--- $195 @ Bloomingdales

Under $30 for Target --->

<--- $29.99 for Target

*Cynthia Vincent for Target will be available in stores & online, April 18th. {Mark Your Calenders}

I Dream of Sofas

2010-04-12T10:59:00.009-05:00

After months (& months & months) of looking for a new sofa that is modern/contemporary/fun but not equal in cost to the down payment of a house, I finally stumbled upon the coolest thing since sliced bread. CUSTOMIZABLE sofas! and they are OH-SO-AFFORDABLE! I'm freaking out right now.

Home Reserve

P.S.---these prices are so amazing, I'm probably gonna be throwing in a few chairs too!

Irregular Choice

2010-04-09T11:46:00.007-05:00

I recently stumbled upon a (new to me) brand of shoes that are to. die. for. The brand is called Irregular Choice & from what I've gathered, they are a U.K.-based brand. They are a little out of my daily price range, but are not out of the question, for a splurge type purchase :) You can find them on Mod Cloth, Polyvore, and of course, their own website.

Here are a few of the ones that caught my eye. It's like a party, except it's a shoe!

i'll get you my pretty :)

2010-04-08T16:19:00.003-05:00

My next buy will be this beauty. Some may find it gaudy or over-the-top but I think it's lovely and would make some beautiful room even more beautiful :)

Oh, Mr. Adler...You know me better than I know myself

2010-04-08T11:23:00.009-05:00

The creative ~~stylings~~ GENIUS of Jonathan Adler. If only I could afford his services on our new house...

JonathanAdler.com

Summer Time Essentials

2010-04-07T09:25:00.006-05:00

Just a few must-have summer wardrobe essential ideas...all for $50 or less!

A Cute Little Top

{Details}

Arden B Floral Chiffon top $49

Forever21 Polka Dot top $18

Old Navy Plaid Gauzy Plaid top $20

Shannon Floral Tank, Delias $40

Delias Embroidered tank $40

Forever21 dressy top $23

Arden B Tuxedo Ruffle top in green $39

Basic Shorts

{Details}

Aeropostale Boyfriend shorts $25
Forever21 rope belted shorts $21
Delias Jungle green shorts $30
Old Navy Pleated Cuff Shorts $22
Old Navy 'The Perfect' Khaki Shorts $20
Old Navy distressed boyfriend shorts $25

Embellished Sandals

{Details}

Abercrombie embellished leather flip flops $29

Not Rated 'Jessies Girl' Sandal- ShopRuche.com $35

Madden Girl 'Bianca', The Buckle $50

Deena & Ozzy Lace up sandal, Urban Outfitters $35

Black ankle cuff sandal- Tillys.com $40

Delias Rebel Haram Sandal $36

Forever21 lace up sandals $23

What if I told you...

2010-04-06T13:38:00.005-05:00

...that you could be invited to designer sample sales every day? Well, you can be! Through sites like Gilt, Rue LaLa, Ideeli, and more, you can have all the big designer labels and still afford to pay the rent.

How it works: Click on my personal invite links & register (quick and painless). Then check back every day for new sales. New sales start each day at 11 AM, central time, and are open for 48 hours. They have Amazingggg brands each day like Marc Jacobs, Tahari, Vera Wang, Kate Spade, McQueen, etc. So get to clicking & buying!

Gilt Groupe

Rue LaLa

ideeli

Haute Look

You're a single lady, ok?

2010-04-05T13:47:00.002-05:00

In case you need a good laugh today, this video just gets me everytime. Bless his heart...he just wanted to be a single lady :(

Things I would be buying...if I were allowed to shop

2010-04-05T09:57:00.008-05:00

Along with the excitement of buying a new house comes a few sacrifices. And by sacrifices, I mean painful sacrifices. That's right. Phillip has put a ban on my shopping habit for a while. (GASP!)

I mean, I completely understand why, I do. But it doesn't make it any easier and it sure does cut down on the fun I could be having on my lunch breaks every day! But don't think for one minute that this 'ban' has cut down on my browsing. :) There are still plenty of things out there I want (and will eventually have, probably). They are just gonna have to wait. And on the bright side, maybe by the time I am allowed to shop again, they will be on sale & even cheaper than they already are! :)

{Details}

Old Navy Ruffled Tankini Tops $20

Old Navy Ruffled swim bottoms $17

WetSeal turquoise bangle set $13

Forever21 turquoise peeptoe flats $23
H&M Flower Peeptoes, Clipped by Cebiie (in stores only)

Forever21 Canvas Tote $26

Old Navy linen blend skirt $25

Nautical Necklace (Target) $50

Cinderella is proof that a pair of shoes can change your life...

2010-04-01T14:37:00.015-05:00

As little girls we are told stories of wonderful places, beautiful princess, wicked witches, and magical shoes. So is it any wonder that we grow up to pour over fashion magazines for the latest foot candy or contemplate spending our income tax returns on a $600 pair of Louboutins? Our husbands and boyfriends may never understand our obsession but just ask Dorothy or Cinderella....they know exactly what I'm talking about.

Other Shoes that would probably change your life:

Vintage Salvatore Ferragamos

From the American Institute of Flower Desgin Show

The 'Marie Antoinette' by Mr. Louboutin, himself. Sigh.

More Louboutins. Can you tell he's my favorite?

Jill Sanders- Spring 2010

Miu Miu- Spring 2010

These would definitely change your life. Just not sure if it would be for the better... :)

Ahoy Matey!

2010-04-01T08:32:00.005-05:00

So about three months ago, Elle Magazine forecasted one of my faveeeeee trends to be big this spring & that is....THE NAUTICAL LOOK! Yay! While some may find this look a little too halloween-y, I find it to be fresh & fabulous! Not only did Elle brighten my day with thoughts of navy striped tops, big gold buttons, and anchor earrings, but they also lured me in with these beauties, which for once (as far as Elle goes...) were in my price range!

Ok, now for the sad part of the story. Supposedly, these are from the Jessica Simpson line, and only $59. So three months later, it is March and I have one question: WHERE THE CRAP ARE THEY?! Hello! Spring is almost over (as far as the fashion world goes) and there is still no sign of these lovelies in stores or on her website! Jessica, you are such a tease.

So instead of dwelling on the MIA status of the shoes, I put together a spread of cute but affordable nautical wear for this spring! Oh, and if these shoes ever DO come out, rest assured you will see me towering above the crowds with a big smile on my face!

{The Details}

Nautical Anchor Tee- Delias $27, Nautical Straw tote- Forever21 $13, Nautical tunic- Forever21 $25, Rope Belt Shorts- Forever21 $21, Striped Bow Dress- ModCloth.com $50, Anchor Necklace- Forever21 $5.80, Commodore Skirt- ModCloth.com $58, Canvas Peep toe wedge- GoJane.com $19, Red Patent belt- ModCloth.com $18

Coming Attractions

2010-03-31T13:36:00.000-05:00

So as you can imagine, as soon as I found out our offer had been accepted on the house, I began scouring the internet for inspiration to accompany each room. I compiled all these images into a power point & excitedly presented it to Phillip, whose response was, "Hmm, Nice, Looks expensive..." Sheesh. Men.

Anyway---here are a few photos, just to give you an idea of the thoughts floating around in my busy brain! (BTW--I do not take credit for any of these lovely images. I found them mainly via google image search!)

Mucho Fabuloso Red & Black Kitchen. And Yes. we ARE painting the cabinets red. <3>

Turquoise, Black, & Grey Dining Room. Not sure exactly what's gonna happen in this room. All I know is, it's HUGE & they are leaving the beautiful vintage chandeleir. SCORE!

Guest Bedroom. Makes you wanna come visit, eh? :)

Green bathroom. This is actually the same exact flooring we have picked out at Lowes :)

Dark Purple & Grey Master bedroom. Fit for a Queen...oh, and King :)

Isn't this turquoise door uhhh-mazingggg?!

Cobalt Blue Living room, will be similar to our living room now, just better, of course

Everybody's Doing it

2010-03-31T12:42:00.000-05:00

So after my unhealthy obsession with reading fashion/home decor blogs, I thought to myself, I should definitely blog. I have interesting thoughts, right? Well, interesting to me, at least, so who knows? Maybe someone else will find them interesting too. If nothing else, it will be a place that I can use to collect all my thoughts, pictures, ideas, and adventures!

I got married last July, and since then, many exciting, new things have been going on! We recently bought a house & it's quite the adorable little fixer upper, so you can be pretty sure that it will be the focus of many blog entries in the next few months! I'm quite sure I will also blog quite frequently on my other love (besides Phillip & FeeBee Kate), and that is...shopping. I'll go into my profound thoughts on the scientifically proven advantages of retail therapy at a later date, but for now, trust that I will be blogging about all my cheap finds & amazing steals & all the other things in life that make me happy. But for now, I had to start somewhere & that is explaining why I am starting this blog. Oh, and because everybodyyyyy's doing it :)