Eclectic loveliness

My favorite and my best introduced me today to April’s issue of Elle Decor.

These rooms are totally my style and they get me all hopped up on decorating my own home one day. When will that day be? I love the idea of having books and photographs on display, of making a space look lived in but not cluttered. gagnere-interior-decorating-ideas-ED0410-02.jpggagnere-interior-decorating-ideas-ED0410-03.jpgInterior-Decorating-ideas-ED0310_Rakieten_06.jpgInterior-Decorating-ideas-ED0310_Rakieten_12.jpgInterior-Decorating-ideas-ED0310_Rakieten_14.jpgThis closet? duh.Interior-Decorating-ideas-ED0310_Rakieten_13.jpgInterior-Decorating-ideas-ED0310_Rakieten_11.jpg

I was also introduced to zinio, where one can peruse magazines digitally.

While we’re on the subject. I’ve always and forever wanted a claw-foot bathtub. I’m a bath snob. I love them but I want them to be perfect, I want just the right tub, bubble bath, temperature, mood music etc. or I’ll just shower. Thanks to The (lovely) City Sage , I found these bathtubs. I would most certainly bathe in these.090202_lrb_6733MainvMainFavorite: Main-1Main-3

Favorites

These are my favorite shoes. They’re Gianni Bini croc booties with a peep toe.  I bought them in December 2008 @ Dillards and have been obessed with them ever since. A pair of animal skin booties can transition you from fall to winter to spring to summer. You can seriously wear them with dresses of any solid color, jeans, skirts, black cropped pants…EVERY SINGLE time I wear them I get compliments ;)

Not the most clear photo but a perfect example of their versatility

I seriously can’t find any like this but here are some that would have a similar effect from Forever21


These are two of my favorite songs right now. L.E.S. Artists by Santigold

and When did your heart go missing by Rooney


This is my favorite blog right now. I love the way Emily photographs her outfits and shares them with her fans. She has a great take on fashion.

http://cupcakesandcashmere.com


There are FIVE outerwear essentials (in my humble opinion) that you need for transitional pieces from Winter into Spring (thank god!) When the forecast calls for weather above 45degrees, put your heavy coats away and welcome spring!

A neck warmer, a bomber jacket, a white blazer, rain boots & a classic trench.

A neck warmer.

Here’s an infinity scarf from f21:

Mine is from New York & Co (ps: underrated store that carries so many wardrobe staples & their sales are unreal). I love it with a white jacket/blazer. My jacket in the below photo is also NY&C and bracelet length (love!)


A bomber jacket. Mine is from Target and I’m obsessed with it.

Here’s a cropped jacket from F21

A cute lighter version from NY&C

Faux Leather Bomber Jacket

Here is a quasi-good pic of me in my Target jacket.



And one that’s still available at target.com

Product Image Womens Faux Crinkled Leather with Diagonal Pockets Moto Jacket - Black


A white/cream blazer

Here are a few great ones from (where else?) Forever21

Mine is from Banana Republic but I purchased it at my favorite thrift store in Fayetteville, Cheap Thrills



Here’s a cute one from Target

Product Image Mossimo® Black: Sateen Boyfriend Blazer - White

And of course BR


Rain boots. You can throw them on if it’s chillier or wet with your jeans, dress or skirt. I got mine at Target in the gardening section so they’re blue and mid-calf (and meant for gardening but whatevs). I used to have the best black rain  boots from home depot of all places!

From Target

Product Image Women's Zetta Tall Rain Boots - BlackProduct Image Women's Merona® Zasha Bias Plaid Rain Boots - MulticolorProduct Image Women's Zetta Tall Rain Boots - Red


A classic trench. I have one that I got during the middle of summer last year at TJ Maxx. I adore it but I’m not sure I have any photos in it.

From BR

From Target

Product Image Merona® Long Trench Coat - Fresh WhiteProduct Image Coffee Shop Twill Double Breasted Long Trench Coat - Khaki

From Forever21

Enjoy!

Self Control

Ok. I realized today that I am going to be physically on the beach in six weeks and two days. I do not feel nor feel that I look fat. With that said, I know I’d look better -5, -10, even -15lbs. I know I’d feel better, I know my clothes would fit better, I know my boyfriend (who lovingly tells me I look amazing) would agree once it was off.

My mom and I are going to Charleston, SC (one of my fave places) to visit my brother who is in college there. I want to get a tan and get lots of cute pictures and wear my cutest summer items while there, not to mention my mom is looking better than ever above age 55. NOT FAIR. If she asks to borrow my swimsuit, I know that will send me spiraling into anorexia but I’m just not sure I want to wait for that.

Here we all are. I think I’m hiding it pretty well but SUMMER IS COMING!

What can I do in 6ish weeks to lose 10lbs? I know it can be done. Question is…am I willing to do it and what is it that I should do.

Goal:

Will also take:

These jeans were loose and are now quite tight. Too tight to wear.

Wish me luck. I NEED IT.

Happy Friday! (Flashback)

My office is having the annual recognition event tonight. We throw a big party and it’s always themed, there is food, open bar and even a few sporadic performances. This year it’s all about the 80’s.

My team (the beauty team) is performing excerpts from the Thriller and Beat it dances.

I didn’t realize until I started looking for an 80’s outfit that it is back in full force. Just go into Forever21 y’all! That’s basically all there is to choose from! You can fight it or you can go with it. Tonight, I’m in.

My hair was ALWAYS in a side pony with a gigantic bow when I was little, so I’m planning on bringing that back tonight.  I’m going to go for something like this

Image via Style Redux

Here are some 80s inspired dresses from Forever21. THERE WERE GOBS!

Accessories, you ask? Oh…

Is it just me or does it seem ALL 80s everywhere?

So much 80’s stuff that I’m not even sure if it’s 80’s anymore, maybe it’s just now?

Enjoy your weekend!

In her shoes

Recently began looking at The Cut dailyish, and it’s become addictive. Today I saw an article about Kathryn Amberleigh, a recent F.I.T. grad whose “shoes have graced the pages of Lucky, NYLON, Vice Magazine, WWD Accessories, and even had a twirl on Gossip Girl. And the most impressive part? Most of the handcrafted designs — which come in everything from a simple flat to a neon-pink spike-heel platform — hover around the $250 range. Kathryn’s next goal? A retail location in London. Global recession be damned.” (Natalie Hormilla)

These shoes are G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S-!

Here’s a peek


Read more: Kathryn Amberleigh Defies the Recession — The Cut http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/03/talent_scout_6.html##ixzz0hEjAeazw

Dear Spring & Summer

I’ve happened upon a blog called my favorite and my best the author, Jenny is so straightforward and has amazing taste. She wrote an “open letter” to spring and summer, imploring them to come visit us soon. These photos are from her blog but you really must visit her post to get the full effect, you can do that here.

March 14th is daylight savings time. The beginning of Spring (according to me).

Fuzzies

Do you remember fuzzies? My brothers and I all had them as children and we loved them so much that our mother had to physically remove them when the “time” came. Look at this one from Ikea…I literally want to curl up on it. I am very much looking forward to having my own place to sprawl out  and decorate.

10 HOT Spring dresses under $50

Refinery29 inspired me this morning with their post about 20 spring dresses under $100. I thought if they can find 20 under $100, surely I can find 10 under $50! And so the search began…

Two-tone convertible halter dress

$39 Newport News

Belted Short Sleeve Tunic Dress

$14.99 NY&Co

$49.99 Banana Republic

Silence & Noise Multi Chard Print Dress

$48 Urban Outfitters

Urban Renewal Crisscross Minidress

$48 Urban Outfitters

$34.80 Forever21

$22.80 Forever21

ASOS Washed Printed Smock Dress

$47.86 Asos

ASOS Frill Front Strappy Dress

$30.77 Asos

I have a feeling I will update this again soon. So excited for spring/spring dressing!

One of “those” days

Do you ever have one of those days where nothing can pull you out of a strange funk? It’s like nothing is really going wrong but nothing’s really going right either. Even though you have things to look forward to, you can’t see them clearly in your mind. It’s like one of those cheesy Claritin clear commercials where the person can’t see for their allergies? Except it’s not allergies, it’s just the “can’t help it’s” as my mom used to call it.

Today is Tuesday. My office has tinting on the windows, so that people outside can’t see in. You’re supposed to be able to see out, but the tint is so extreme that everything ALWAYS looks gray unless the sun is so bright you’d be blinded if you were out of doors. Some days it bothers me more than others, today is one of those.

So…let’s see, what should I be happy about today? For one, it’s March. March can honestly be as dreadful as February but it’s at least nearing spring. Daylight savings is coming up. That’s always lovely. It feels gorgeous to be sitting outside at 8:30pm and still feel the sun shining on you.

I am looking forward to that and to sundresses. Hope you get out of your funk today. Music always helps.