Scatter brained boring color wearer

Aloha mamacitas! Did you all have a magical Wednesday, unicorns and flying ponies included? Oh sheesh, I really must remember not to blog after 11, especially during particularly tired weeks because my loco side is really all you get. And yet I continue to type. C'est la vie! I am pretty sure my body is running solely on endorphins right now, since sleep has been sorely lacking from my life. But I'm enjoying my life, so what can I say! 

I feel like I owe you all a bit of an explanation for my rather scattered posting of late. I promise, I'm not losing my love of blogging or anything serious like that. I have just been very busy and by the time I get home from work I am usually frumpled and all I want to do is go for my run to work off the stress, and then crawl into bed. I don't talk often about what my job is, but it is kind of necessary to explain everything. For the past year I have been participating in a fellowship with USA Today. It has been wonderful, and amazing and every other over used adjective under the sun. Seriously, I mean it. You can tell by my italics. And no, I'm not just saying that because my coworkers might read this- I really and truly have learned more in a year than I even thought possible. Sadly, the position was only for a year and my year expires July 1. Aka I am about to be unemployed. Unless one of the hundreds (ok, I exaggerate. More like dozen) of people who has my resume magically calls me within 2 weeks and tells me I am hired. Needless to say, I have been stressing quite a bit about "what's next" and where I'm going and such. Whenever I'm not working, I am scouring job sites and hoping that my dream job will jump out of my computer screen and bite me on the nose. No such luck yet. I definitely have a couple things in the hopper that are exciting, but nothing is nailed down yet and if there is one thing I really, really dislike it is uncertainty. Basically, this is all just a long way of saying pretty please bare with me if my posts/comments are less frequent right now as I try and manage this transition. Oh and cross your fingers that this "unemployment" is more along the lines of a short vacation, rather than anything prolonged. Because I will go stir crazy.

I have been in a major color rut lately. Yesterday (which I guess didn't happen in blog language since you didn't see it) I wore more shades of brown than anyone has a right to. And here I am today in black and white. Although let's be real: My white is really more of an eggshell/cream than pure white so maybe that means I am not as color-boring as I thought. Hmm something to ponder. Try not to lose too much sleep over it.

Dress: BCBG, via Hautelook, Belt: From another dress, Wedges: White House Black Market, Necklace/Earrings: Gifted, Watch: Michael Kors, Headband: H&M, Purse: Kohl's

Is it just me or do my legs look progressively less tan the further past my knee you go...?

I love how my hair has looked really good the last two days, and then one day I finally have time/energy to take photos after work, it looks like this. Boooo.

So this is not the belt that came with this dress. That belt appears to have gone into hiding. Along with one of my favorite skirts. Hmm maybe they are canoodling somewhere? Buuut I think this belt worked well as a substitute, and it gave an under-appreciated accessory a day out of the closet.

I'm not sure I am quite ready for purse with outfit shots yet. Maybe that is a level above me. It just seemed to get in my way.

Ok so it's not a perfect match to the Foley and Corinna Jet Set, but when I saw it this weekend my heart skipped a beat. I have been drooling over the Jet Set for months now but it is definitely not in the budget for me right now. But a $35 pretty-darn-close-looking bone colored over-sized tote, and a 30% off coupon? Poke me with a fork, I'm done!

Oh, I almost forgot to say a big congrats to Kimmie for being the winner of the Towne and Reese giveaway! Kimmie, I hope you will enjoy your beautiful necklace, and thank you for participating. And of course, a HUGE thank you to Towne and Reese for making the giveaway possible! Keeping on making rocking jewelry Christi and Jessica!

 Bisous!

And the award goes to...

Hi friends! Happy Oscars night! This may be the one night of the year that makes me wish we had a working TV. C'est la vie. I did follow many of the twitter updates though, to keep up with the big wins, and the fashion of the evening. I have still only seen a handful of gowns, but I think Sandra Bullock rocked the red, and Hailee Steinfeld looked cute as a button. Personally, I love that she dressed so age appropriately and doesn't seem to be trying so hard to rush her youth.

I'd like to announce another winner tonight, as well! Though it may not be a televised event where we all dress up in fabulous gowns, dripping with carats, I am very happy to announce that the incredibly sweet Courtney of Sartorial Sidelines is the winner of the $40 CSN gift code! Courtney, congratulations and I will send you your winning email in the morning! Thanks to all of you lovely readers who joined the fun and of course thank you to CSN for making the fun possible!

And to keep right on in the spirit of awards and celebration, even though I am un peu late to the party of posting my FBFF blog award nominees, I decided to go ahead and post them anyways because these blogs are so important to me. I want to show some blog appreciation to the ladies who inspire me on a daily basis, and some who even inspired me to join this amazing little community in the first place! They are my must-reads, they make me laugh, they make me smile, they are people that I would love to have as friends in my everyday life, and most of all they are women that I think have an amazing talent and their passion shines brilliantly on their blogs. Check them out and I know you won't be disappointed.

1. Creative Juices - most creative

Gabby

This blog was the very first one I ever bookmarked and to this day it is one of the very first reads of my day. Her life is thrilling and I love catching up on whatever adventure she is tackling next! Gabby is also one of the most talented photographers I have ever come across, and I love when she shares her personal work because it takes my breath away. I am always inspired to chase my passions after reading her blog and that is invaluable Thanks Gabby and I can't wait to keep following your journeys! 

2. The Real Deal - authenticity

Hannah

 Oh man this is a hard one to write, because of how much I adore her. Hannah is someone I consider a real friend, even though I have never met her and she is hands down the most genuine person I have connected with in the blogosphere. I get so excited when I see she has a new post, because each one only seems to be more amazing than the last. Oh and did I mention this incredibly talented woman is only 17?? I seriously can't even begin to imagine what she will accomplish! I have no doubt that we will one day see her name on the masthead of the glossy pages we love to lust over month in and month out and I hope I get to keep getting to know her!

3. Spark Notes - most helpful

 Katy

 Katy could be nominated for sooo many of these awards (and has been!) as she is the genius behind FBFF and a blogger who is definitely making a huge impact in the community, bringing us all together and uniting us in our shared passions. Even though I am sure she is majorly busy and slammed with emails, anytime I have ever reached out to her for help, she has kindly and helpfully responded to my inquiry, no matter how small. I sincerely appreciate her guidance as a new(ish) blogger and value her not only as a stylish maven, but a wonderful resource as well.

4. Newbie - best blogger less than a year old

 Linley

Another very new blog discovery for me, but even after only reading for a few weeks I can tell that Linley is going to be huge in the blogosphere! She has it all: style, grace, class, wit, and quality photos to boot! Not only will you leave her blog coveting her hair, you will have gotten to read a very genuine entry and probably been completely inspired to test out a new look. Plus, she is one of the most down to earth and relatable girls you will encounter on a blog!

5. Can You Hear Me Now - most connected

 Collette

 Another very popular nominee would have to be the ever wonderful, supportive, motivational, down to hearth sweetie that is Collette! I think her readers all think of her as a close friend, because she makes everyone feel important and special. She truly is everywhere, doing it all and still making time for any reader who wants to connect with her! And she is one of the most caring people I have been fortunate to have "met" on this adventure. She deserves a medal, and perhaps a day of rest!

6. If I had a Hammer - best DIY

 Natasha 

 This blog is a very new find for me, and oh boy am I ever glad to have discovered it! Not only has chica got an amazing sense of style (I mean hello, look at that fantastic outfit above!) but she is one wizard in the crafts department as well! I love her embellished scarf and DEFINITELY want to try out the faux fur boot cuff before next year! If you want to be seriously inspired, I suggest you check Natasha out asap!

7. Tribe Leader - blogger who leads others and brings bloggers

together

 Kileen 

I started reading this incredible blog a few months ago and let me tell you I am hooked! I relate to her style because she is always donning incredibly chic office wear and always pushing herself to be bold with color! She is now the fearless leader of 40 some bloggers (and growing like wild fire every week) who also want to experiment with color palettes! Her Color Brigade has led me to many new amazing blog friends, and she really encourages us all to be social and get to know one another. She is definitely doing great things in our community and I am so glad to "get to know her" a little more each day through her blog.

8. Practically Perfect - most fashionable

 Sydney

 No surprise here that this babe got hoardes of nominations and is now in the top three for this category, and two others. She wears some of the most amazing combination I have ever seen, and helps me to push my own style boundaries just by sharing her daily outfits with us. Plus, I love that she is wearing pieces that the rest of us can afford. Her blog is the first thing I check out every morning because I literally can't wait to see what stylish garments she is sporting and funny tale she is telling. Her outfits attracted me to the blog originally, but her writing is what caught me hook, line and sinker for good. I always giggle reading her posts and still want more when I'm done. Not to mention, she and her hubby may be the world's most in love couple ever. I kind of secretly not so secretly hope to meet her one day because I would just bet that her positive energy is contagious! 

9. Paint by Numbers - best beauty blogger

 Katie

I don't know if you can technically classify Katie as a beauty blogger, because her blog is chock full of other fabulous posts on fashion. music, decorating you name it, but to me she is the go to gal for makeup info. She always knows the latest product, gives very informative and helpful reviews that you know are her honest opinion and makes you feel like she is talking to you as a girlfriend. Plus, she has a really cute little pup who often makes an appearance!

10. Renaissance Woman - best all around blogger, fashion, beauty,

lifestyle

 Kendi 

I'm not even sure there is much explanation needed here! She is fabulous, we all love her, we all want to be her best friend and her entries will always bring a smile to my face. I kind of think she is the fashion blogging world's superwoman. 

I truly can't say enough wonderful things about these women. Each and everyone one of them has impacted me in a way that I never imagined would happen by reading a blog, and I am thankful that they share piece of their world with me each day. 

Check out Modly Chic for the official voting of these awards, and to see all the incredible nominees! 

 (All photos belong to the individual bloggers they represent)

Bisous!

Resolution Sunday

'Ello poppets! Yep, tonight you are getting a pretty cray-cray version of me! Too much fun+lack of sleep= une femme de folle! I hope you all had amazing weekends! I certainly enjoyed my reunion with school friends. I admit, it is always so hard to leave them behind each time though. 

First things first, I want to congratulate Erika of Cafe Fashionista on winning my Elle for a Year giveaway! I hope you will enjoy every page turn. I'll send you an email very soon girl with details :) Thanks to all who joined in the fun and stay on the lookout for more fun giveaways to come! 

To continue with the theme of ringing in the new year and introducing changes to the blog, I wanted to kick off my first Resolution Sunday! Mara introduced the idea of setting smaller, more attainable weekly goals rather than year long goals that are often forgotten about within a few weeks. I loved the idea and decided to jump on board, but slightly late seeing as I missed the first Resolution Sunday. I decided to start off on a very practical foot, so this week's resolution is to complete a major closet cleanse! It has become so time consuming to sift through the multiple items that I never wear every morning to try and find the wearable clothes. Some are outdated, some just don't fit and others were merely bad purchasing decisions. Any way you look at it, these sad neglected items just don't have a place in my closet anymore. It is time to sort, organize and cleanse. Not only will I be able to create a much more workable closet, I will also help myself to become a much more practical shopper as I will now be able to clearly see what purchases are necessary, and which would be just impulse buys with no real justification. All in all, I think this is the perfect jumping off point for my weekly resolutions and year of change. And seeing how it goes, maybe you will get a peek into said closet to see the finished result!

So ladies, anyone else participating in Mara's little challenge? Making any smaller resolutions on your own? Any advice on a closet cleanse??

I'd love to have a pretty little closet haven like this! Something to hope for :) 

Bisous! 

Holiday twinkle and a winner!

Hi lovelies! I hope your weekend was très fabuleux! Mine felt like a scene out of a Christmas movie; Absolute perfection. The brother was home (and with him his new DOG!!), the best friend was visiting from NYC, late night back-to-back showings of Home Alone and Elf, many cups of cocoa and SNOW! And this week is basically a continuation of goodness with a shortened work week, 2 parties and less than a week until Christmas. I love this time of year! 

And before I go much further, I want to give a big winners shout-out to Lacey of mille baisers as she is the winner of my CSN giveaway!! I will send you a detailed email with your code asap! Congrats sweet girl and a big thank you to the wonderful team at CSN for hosting this opportunity. And a million thanks to all my wonderful readers who participated. I appreciate you all so much. Stay tuned for another exciting giveaway coming soon! 

We went to this cute little town to do some Christmas shopping and had to stop at this beautiful tree to take some photos.  

Matt with his ladies :) I really love my family. We had such a nice day spending time together. 

One of my favorite bloggers, Hannah of Mademoiselle Hannah, recently posted about the 5 winter essentials and it got me thinking about what I live in during the winter. I realized that Hannah, as usual, was spot on! Comfy sweaters/tunics, skinny jeans or leggings, boots, a peacoat and scarves basically comprise my winter uniform. Since my outfit posts are usually done during the week after work, I thought I would try and show you some of my more casual winter outfits. I know when Jack Frost comes nipping at your nose, it may be tempting to crawl inside those baggy sweatpants and hoodies and hibernate but don't give in! With the myriad of winter wear options these days you truly don't need to sacrifice style for warmth. Pulling a chic sweater on over your favorite pair of leggings or jeans is just as easy as slipping into those sweatpants. So take the winter wear challenge and stay classy girls!

Coat: Boutique in Paris, Sweater: gift from mom, Belt: Paris boutique, Leggings: Paris boutique, Boots: Steve Madden, Necklace: Forever 21, Ring, Charlotte Russe, Ring: Vintage grandmother's, Watch: Michael Kors, Purse: Coach 

My brother was not thrilled about being my photographer for the day, and he was complaining so much that I just kept laughing. I think he caught me mid laugh here :)

This is pretty much the look I live in on weekends. Nothing fancy, always comfortable. 

My poor boots are not made for snow, and they had to deal with a lot of winter weather this weekend. 

This sweater is one of my favorites because of how many colors mix in and the little details that make it unique. My mom has good taste :)

My leggings look black in all these photos, but i swear they really are brown!

You can't really see the nails here, but I am so happy with them right now!  They are Essie limited addiction with gold glitter on top. Very holiday, very festive, very fun!

So ladies, what winter items make your must-have list? Do you choose comfort over style, or do you try and find ways to achieve both? Let me hear from you darlings and don't forget to check out part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4 of the fashionable giving series! Tune in Tuesday for part 5!

Bisous!

Glitter, sequins and lace, oh my!

Hello dolls! I hope you had a terrific Thursday! I have arrived in sunny Florida and am loving it already! Yes, my flight mess got all worked out and I made my way to the Sunshine state tonight!! I had forgotten how much I loved this place. While I am obviously thrilled to get a little beach time in this weekend, I am even more excited about seeing family I haven't seen in far too long. This will be my first visit with my grandmother, cousin and my godson in 4 years!! Way too long. I still can't believe my little Jonah is 8 years old now. I hope I still recognize him! 

To begin, I would like to say congratulations to the fabulous Jessica from Style Obsession for being the winner of the In Fashion giveaway!! I hope she will enjoy the book as much as I have so far! Thank you to everyone who participated. I appreciate all of you SO much. Stay tuned for more fun giveaways to come!

Well my loves, the season of twinkle and shine is fast approaching once again, and you know what that means? Holiday dress shopping time! With the abundance of party invitations sure to be flooding your mailboxes in the coming days, you will inevitably find yourself in a very familiar position: standing in front of your closet frantically searching for the perfect party dress with that certain je ne sais quo that will impress that cutie from HR, or turn your slightly snobby cousin green with envy.  Rather than stressing yourself out playing the classic game of "I have nothing to wear", why not start planning a magnifique wardrobe selection now, in order to ensure your spot at the top of this year's "best dressed" list! Holiday parties of any kind are the perfect excuse to go wild with metallics and sparkle to make yourself even more of a knockout than you already are on a daily basis.So eschew simplicity and minimalism for a night and bedeck yourselves in shimmer kittens!

For a family gathering, sophisticated comfort is essential. Try pairing a cowl neck sweater dress or tunic in a rich purple or plum color (one of the fall's hottest colors) with a pretty pair of lace tights and classic flats. Add in a playful waist-cinching belt to define your shape,a gold satiny clutch and some fun metallic earrings and rings to really shine. Loose curls half up, half down would be the perfect finishing touch to this glam/casual look. Your family will think you are the definition of chic, which of course you are! This is a great way to try the metallic trend in a small dosage, if you aren't quite sure you are ready for the more daring full-on frock of shimmer. 

In the working world the holiday season brings with it a myriad of pseudo mandatory (if you know what's good for ya) work soirees. These get-togethers could potentially be the most difficult to dress for, as you try to achieve a standout look, while remaining professionally appropriate. A silver hue dress is an on-trend selection, as we saw many gracing the runways as part of designers modern metallic designs. This divine DVF wrap dress perfectly balances sexy with coverage, making it a great choice for any holiday work function, if you can swing the price tag. I am actually dying to own it myself!! Accessorize with your favorite pair of black strappy heels, evening clutch, cocktail rings and dangly earrings (essential if you style your up like the model) for an effortlessly coiffed look. I personally would go with a shorter, statement necklace with this dress (rather than the longer version pictured on model), but I certainly don't doubt the styling team at DVF, so go with your personal preference there. Show up to any work party this season in a similar ensemble and you will no doubt make a top-notch impression!

Cocktail parties with friends are simply a given this time of year, and for this occasion I don't think you can ever go wrong with a LBD! These days there are so many styles to choose from in order to make your LBD reflect your shining personality, but one of my personal favorite party options is a one shouldered LBD. They are utterly sexy and chic all at the same time! And when discussing glitter and sparkle, I couldn't miss an opportunity to once again drool over one of my current shoe cravings: the phenomenal Steve Madden Caryssa gold glitter pumps! I die :) The beauty of working with a LBD is the freedom you have when it comes to your accessories! Just have fun with metallic jewelry here! I threw in a lace clutch to incorporate another great holiday season trend, but you really can go a lot of ways with this one! When mixing with tes amis, anything goes  really so don't fret over too many "rules" for friend-hosted cocktail parties!

*Sorry about the distortion on this dress. I had to import it to polyvore* I would be totally remiss if I didn't present an ensemble for the mecca of all holiday parties: New Years Eve! I have to say, it is one of my all time favorite nights to get dressed for! I am actually showing you the dress that I am planning to wear this year, but I bought it online so we will have to see how it fits and all. But I think it encompasses a lot of what a great NYE dress should be: sexy, sparkly and slightly embellished. To achieve the embellished look, you can also choose a dress with a statement bow. I would personally recommend going all out on the shine for this particular occasion, whether it be with a sequined number or just a shimmery frock like this. You can go for metallics here or one of the season's hot colors, like purple. I actually like that the model here kept her hair fairly low maintenance, because I think the attention should be on your dress and not your hair. Play up the shine of your dress with sparkly shoes, and then keep the rest of your accessories rather muted. I really like the pearl theme here, but you certainly don't have to go that classic. Just make sure your accessories aren't so wild that they are competing with your dress for attention.

 Darlings, what are your holiday party plans so far? Have any outfits lined up yet? Do you enjoy playing with glitter, sequins and lace this time of year??

Bisous!

Sugar coma and warm fuzzies

Hello loves! Happy belated Halloween!! I hope you all indulged in a little sugar-induced bliss this weekend. I know I certainly did :). Can't wait to see pictures of what everyone dressed as this year!

First things first, I want to announce my first giveaway winner! Congratulations to Diana Mieczan of exPress-o for winning a $25 H&M gift card! I can't wait to see what fabulous fall items you will choose to add to your wardrobe! Thank you to all who participated and who became followers. Stay tuned for another fun giveaway at the end of the week!!

My weekend is definitely one that will be remembered for years to come, mainly because of the 1,000+ photos that were taken! Yes, I am not even joking. From Friday-Sunday my camera took more than 1,000 pictures. My poor little Nikon wants a break! Though the majority of the pictures were the result of a very, very fun Halloween, I also got to play the role of official photographer twice this weekend. I am super excited about how both sessions turned out, and can't wait to share the results with the participants! And don't worry, I have sneak peaks for you lovely ladies!

On Friday I ventured up to Philadelphia to meet the newest member of our family, little Stella Marie! My wonderful big cousin and his wife had their first baby on October 20th, and I am totally in love with this little girl already!! I have never seen a baby this young before, so I was completely not prepared for how tiny she would be and holding her in my arms was just the most amazing thing ever. She is perfect and I can say that her daddy is in for a load of trouble when his little girl grows up. She will be a knockout! No surprise there, considering her beautiful fashionista mommy! I had the privilege of taking their first family photos and it was so fun! They live on an incredible street in old Philly, where the roads are still cobblestone and too narrow to even drive on, which made for a lovely background for the pictures. The wind didn't really want to cooperate with us, but I think we got some nice shots anyway! I have to warn my readers now that you will likely see a lot of pictures of this little beauty in posts to come because I am just so smitten! 

I adore this family, and can't wait to buy pretty little things for this pretty little lady!

Don't you just love her little bow??

My new love of life!! She is such a precious peanut. 

The weather on Saturday was exactly what I had hoped for since I was taking engagement photos for my dear friends Chrissy and Aaron who will be getting married next October! To keep with the fall theme of their coming nuptials, we wanted to capture a few shots of the happy couple while we were still having this amazing fall weather. Well, a few shots turned into 550! What can I say, the camera loved them!

For a girl who doesn't like leaves, she sure looks good in them!

That night, my friend Sam from NY and I got all dressed up and ventured into Georgetown for an evening out on the town. Unfortunately, we spent so much time perfecting our costumes that we got into the city a little too late and every good place to go had already stopped letting people in. But we had fun seeing all the crazy costumes and just walking around the city anyways. Plus, once we got home we started a mini photo shoot with my darling cousin. And when I say "mini" I actually mean 600+ photos! We were just having way too much together :)

Can you guess who I am??? The best part was I found this dress at the very last minute, on sale for only $30!! And I will totally wear it again! Dress: TJ Max; Shoes: BCBG Paris, Gloves and Tiara: Party City; Pearls and earrings: Borrowed. 

Trying to recreate the classic shot

Like I said, we had a lot of fun!

Ok dolls, enough about me. I want to hear all about your Halloween adventures! Did you dress up? Did you enjoy a night on the town, or a quiet evening in? What were your favorite costumes that you saw this year? I think mine had to be the two-year-old fox that showed up at our door early last night. Precious!!

Bisous!