A fond farewell to animal print

Evening loverlies! I hope you all had wonderful weekends and indulged your heart's desires while you were out. My weekend involved time with this cutie, so you can be assured that I was in heaven :)  

What do I call snuggling this little princess for awhile? Winning.

As you can tell from her poor red nose, there was absolutely no evidence that spring has arrived, considering I spent the majority of the time wrapped up in blankets, willing my toes to get warm and sipping copious amounts of the chocolatiest hot chocolate ever! Ok, so the last part of that wasn't too hard to take at all. And that little pink bundle of joy on my lap made everything seem sunshiney and warm, so really I guess I can't complain.  

If you follow me on twitter, you have heard me taking a lot about Vista Print business cards, and I can't seem to stop! I recently ordered blog business cards from them and I had such a good experience (received shipment within 3 days without having to pay for express shipping, and adore the way the cards turned out) that I felt the need to share the wealth with you! If anyone is looking for memorable business cards, I highly recommend Vista Print. And with incredible deals like these offered to their twitter followers, you can't go wrong. Oh, and did I mention you should stay tuned for a giveaway coming soon :)

I felt like this design had been made just for me!

I don't know about you gals, but to me animal print is a distinctly fall/winter appropriate pattern. I can't say for sure why I don't care for the print in the warmer months but it just isn't for me. Therefore, I knew this skirt was going to be getting shoved to the back of the closet very soon so I decided to give it one last spin around town before the only light it sees for months is my closet light in the mornings. This skirt was my first (and only) animal print item, and she was very good to me this fall/winter. So here is her farewell party. Wish her well for the next few months and remember to reassure her that you will meet again. She is sensitive.

Blouse/tank: White House Black Market, Skirt: Michael Kors via Rue La La, Shoes: Off Fifth Avenue, Necklace/earrings/rings/bracelet: gifted/ borrowed from mom, Watch: Michael Kors, Headband: H&M

I felt like this outfit was just screaming for some color, but I decided that sometimes you need a little black, brown and cream day.

Headless shots are becoming a regular feature over here! I apologize, and will work diligently with my face to help it learn how to stop looking quite so "special" in at least one photo every day. Gosh face, try harder!

 Ok, time to tell me about you my dears! What did you do this weekend? Did your weather necessitate bundling or are you going to make me very jealous by telling me you frolicked around in shorts and sandals having a jolly good time? Choose wisely, oh smart ones.

Bisous!

I sleep through break-ins

Happy Thursday beautifuls! You know what means. It is time to gather round to hear my tales of awkward and awesome-ness. Oh but before we go there, I have a very serious announcement to make. Friends, I am officially henceforth decreeing (see the use of big words to let you know I mean business?) today to be "wear all your jewelry from ex-boyfriends day." Yep, that's right. Bring it on out from the dark corners where you buried it in hopes of forgetting he ever existed chicas. Ok, well those of you with husbands/boyfriends who may be easily offended perhaps you should refrain from participating. But all the single ladies (he he I'm a regular Beyonce) join me in bedazzling yourself with the jewels of ex's past! I've only ever been given two pieces of jewelry from my past lovahs but they are both pieces that I lub-a-dub-dub oh so much. And yet I banned myself from wearing them a long time ago, lest I should recall the times when we were happy and immediately be sad. But today when I happened to spy both these little beauties looking at me from my jewelry box with sad puppy dog eyes begging to be given their day in the sun, I caved in. When I thought about it on the drive to work (clearly I have too much time on my hands if this is the biggest debacle in my little head) I felt fully justified. I mean 1. It was years ago and all parties involved have long since moved on. 2. I don't have a current man in my life who could take this as a sign that I am still into said ex and 3. Most importantly, the jewelry is so purdy!! Ok, did I convince you? Because I convinced myself. So I think we are all set here.

Dress (as a shirt): Charlotte Russe, Skirt: LOFT, Shoes: Jessica Simpson, Tights: Kohl's, Jewelry: c/o my ex boyfriends. Thanks for leaving me with a something pretty to look at before you broke my heart!!

Awkward:

1. Telling your family a story at dinner and your dad staring intently at you and you think he is just totally fascinated by your story and being a really good listener. Then you finish said story and he immediately says, "You really need to spend some time in the sun. You need color." Thanks person who is supposed to think I am gorgeous no matter what!!
2. Roommate and I both thinking that all the mysterious "redecorating" occurring in our bathroom was done by the other one and not saying anything until finally she confronted me about why her razor was now in the living room and I stared at her with a blank, very confused look on my face because I had certainly not put any razor in the living room. Then, after being confused awhile longer we wander into the bathroom and realize that the walls look remarkably whiter than before, and oh wow the crack in our ceiling we inquired to our landlord about is no longer there AND the fire alarm is not hanging from the ceiling anymore. FINALLY it dawned on us that maintenance must have been in our apartment that morning... while I was sleeping. I didn't even know. What if I had walked out naked or something??? Not cool maintenance man.
3. Running low on awkward stories tonight so roommate is here to guest-share her awk moment of the day! And no, it is not the fact that her roommate just said awk, so hush up! "Hi everyone, Sam here! So my awkward story for you is that I was at my (new) job today and the mail lady walked past my office. I smiled, she smiled. All normal. Then she stops, comes in my office and says 'You're up to tricks again!' I do the polite nervous laughter and say 'Yep. You know me.' And then she walks away. I've never met that woman in my life, nor seen her for that matter. Alrighty..." And Sam out. Thanks Sam!

So I have really been wanting to rock a chambray shirt and lace skirt, lately. Only one problem: I don't (yet) own a chambray shirt. Buuut I do own a chambray dress that I lived in this fall. Which I realized last night after I was almost asleep. But of course I just had to hop on up and try it out.

Awesome:
1. Snuggling with my cat. Yes, that's right my cat. Not a kitten, not a dog. But a CAT! As someone who wants a puppy sooooo darn bad, it really helps that my princess is a little cuddle bug. And when I say snuggling, I mean she was curled up in the crook of my arm all night making the cutest little snores. Don't try and tell me cats don't like people, or don't have personalities. You clearly haven't met mine.
2. Scaring the hiccups out of my roommate! Literally. I've always wanted to do that to someone, but I've never succeeded. Now I know it is all about timing. Well, timing and yelling really loudly in their ear just as they are turning around to speak to you. Do it sometime. I double dog dare you.
3.Stepping on the scale this morning with my eyes all squinty and half shut ready to do my typical "hop off the scale so fast that I pretend I never saw those mean red numbers" dance as usual. But instead finding that I quite liked the red numbers this morning and instantly shouting "HA! Victory!!!" without even thinking about how my window was open for all the neighbors to hear and then proceeding to kiss the little scale for bringing me such joyous news. Ok, I kid about the kissing. I mean my feet had just touched it for goodness sakes. But, the rest of this is pure truth. 

For those of you worrying about my sanity wearing these clunkers to work, fear not. I didn't. I wore boots, but this is how I conceptualized the outfit in the middle of the night so this is how I photographed it. Don't like that? Tough noogies for you!

Now it is your turn to share your awkward and awesome moments, dolls. Don't leave my awkward self hanging out all awkwardly alone here. Please, oh please!

Bisous!

It ain't your birthday no more

Hello lassies! It pains me to say it, but alas, my post title is true. Birthday came. Birthday went. And you know what I learned? Adult birthdays are not nearly as awesome as kid birthdays. Sure I can now enjoy March 21st with a fun cocktail should I choose to do so, but you know how else I now get to enjoy March 21st? By working an 11 hour day. Womp, womp and Happy Birthday to me! Thank goodness for my amazing friends who already celebrated with me on Saturday and made me feel so loved, and for my ridiculously sweet parents who drove all the way into DC to go out to dinner with the roommate and me! I am a very blessed girl!

My parents and roommate made my post-work birthday just lovely! Thank you guys and love you! Oh and I don't usually wear such BRIGHT statement shoes to work, but I decided if I have to work on my birthday I am at least going to rock the shoes I want to rock.

All I can about this collage is "nom, nom,nom, nom!!" Ok, sorry inside joke. But no joke, last night's food was AH-MAZING! My family took me to this wonderful restaurant in Georgetown called Peacock Cafe and the food was SO good! I'm not usually one to take food photos, but when you are eating food this pretty, a picture is merited. Mom enjoyed a lovely leg of lamb and mashed potatoes, roommate (and my dad) dined on salmon, asparagus and sweet potatoes and I devoured a filet of fresh Mahi-Mahi on top of a bed of mashed potatoes. And of course I shared my incredibly birthday apple tarte with everyone. Well, not mom, but only because she doesn't eat dessert. How she manages to live without dessert is beyond me.

Ok, I promise birthday celebration photos/chatter are officially over. No more self-absord-ed-ness. Now back to regularly scheduled posts complete with photos of, oh wait, still me. I guess you're stuck. :) Well now that Spring is finally here, I am all about color, stripes, airy tops and billowy silhouette skirts with non-tight clad legs! And to honor Spring's official March 21st arrival (and don't even bother trying to convince me it is the 20th because you won't be able to! I was born on the first day of Spring ok??) I threw all these things together in one outfit and called it a party. I worried that could go horribly awry, but since I was in a rush already I was determined to make it work. I am happy to report that I, surprisingly, loved it instantly. The skirt was the piece de la resistance that the outfit was built around, and I absolutely adored everything about my new skirt. The length makes me feel incredibly old school feminine (which I love), the high-waisted fit is flattering on me if I do say so myself and the pleats added an on-trend touch. And since I am so into black and blue lately, this airy striped tee was a natural fit. Plus, it was just the right combination of form fitting enough to balance out the flowy skirt, without being glued to my body and uncomfortable. The pink cardigan was another easy choice to add in color, and lastly the nude heels were a necessity to pull together an outfit with various shades of colors going on and to ensure that the length of the skirt didn't make my 5'3 frame appear even lower to the ground than it is. Remember that below-average height ladies: you can still wear calf-grazing skirts without looking stumpy as long as you don't let your feetsies stay flat on the floor and you give them lift with heels or wedges.

Cardi/Tee: Loft, Skirt: White House Black Market (bday gift!)

Belt/Shoes: Kohl's, Jewelry: Forever 21 or gifted

So I FINALLY made it home before it was completely dark (I know it doesn't look like it in these pictures, but there really was a little daylight left) so roommate agreed to do a longer photo shoot, than we have been doing. One of my goals really is to start doing more outside shots, and daylight savings time is going to help tremendously with that goal! And then when I was just going to be content to take them in the non-attractive mini patch of grass behind our apt. parking lot, roommate goes and has the bloody brilliant idea to run over to the really cool castle looking building that we have no idea what it actually is and snap some photos. THAT is why I keep her around. Well, that and she makes quiches, and is really funny and basically an all around amazing roommate. Oh, and sorry about the headless shot, but the upwards angle is never flattering on me :)

Have you ever put on an outfit and it was insta love?   Well I did today. New favorite skirt!

There is nothing I like more than sitting on stairs in a flouncy skirt. I felt like a princess waiting for my prince.

I love this time of year when everything is just starting to bloom. It is so fantastic. So almost all of my outfit came from birthday gifts. Although, the cardigan and tee were bought by me as a present to me, which I am totally counting. Don't judge. But that little skirt diddy is all thanks to mumsicle and her amazing taste!

And this is when I get silly :) I think we all know by now it happens every time. I felt like every car driving by watching me do this was probably judging me. I guess that is the life of a fashion blogger who dares to venture outside the comforts of her own home. Oh by the way, what do you think of the ballerina bun? I admit, I didn't spend a lot of time perfecting it, so I'm sure it could be a lot better but I thought it was a nice change from my typical straight and down look, or pushed back by a headband when I am too lazy to dry it, which incidentally is what happened again today that led to the new look.

And just to show you the heights I will go to for you, my loves :)

Ok well I hope you enjoyed seeing outdoor Laura. I sincerely hope you will be making her acquaintance much more often these days, but I also hope you will forgive her if she takes a night off and lets indoor apartment Laura do her thang sometimes, too.

Bisous! 

It's my party and I'll... be super happy if I wanna!

Hi lovers! So it is t-minus 2 hours until birthday time! Although 23 is not all that cool of a birthday, so I don't know why I am all that excited. But I really do love birthdays. Not just mine, all birthdays. I love to make them a huge deal. I love to use them as an excuse to decorate, pamper people and throw ridiculously fun parties. Like the year that I decorated my college roommate's side of the room (including her bed) while she was in the room asleep. I was pretty proud of that handiwork. Or the time that I begged my mom to let me throw a huge bash for my dad's 50th, and I promised I'd take care of everything. In reality, I had great "ideas" that never manifested and she ended up planning 90% of the party, paying for it all, and letting me take credit when the time came. Isn't she the best. Yes, yes she is.

My lovely friends who joined me for birthday celebration part uno! Thank you all for making the night wonderful! Oh and please pretend like you don't see the hideous orange/floral couch. I promise it is going to be changed soon!

So, birthday celebration fun is well under way already chicas. I have to say, I may be the luckiest girl in the world. I am so blessed to have an amazing family, and to be surrounded by the best friends a girl could ask for! I don't know how I got this fortunate, but I thank each and every one of the incredible people who have already made this year's birthday celebrating tons of fun! After spending a very relaxing morning at the spa with my mom followed by a sushi (my favorite) lunch on Friday, I then got to hang out with great friends in Georgetown last night! It was a mixed group of highschool, college and along-the-way friends who seriously made the night very entertaining. We ate at a lovely Italian restaurant that was new to me, and then came back to the apartment to hang out and ended up playing Mad Gab. Friends, let me tell you now that if you ever have to be on my team for Mad Gab I apologize now. Yes, it really was that bad and no, I am not exaggerating. There may or may not be video proof at the end of this post to back me up. Thank goodness my poor teammates found my lack of skills amusing and not highly annoying.

Dress: Belk, Cardigan: Roomie's, Shoes: BCBG, Bracelet: Juicy Couture, Necklace/Earrings: Gifted

Ok so, these photos are not my favorite pictures I've ever seen of myself, but there were a lot of people in my apartment watching this little photo session happening and I got a bit shy. That's my story and I'm sticking with it.

I think this is my "Are we done yet?" face! Poor roommate has to put up with me being such a diva :)

My wonderful friends! Pseudo brother, hawt "prom date", roommate! and the bestie with her hubs. Love you all!

Do you all have any favorite birthday traditions, or things that make your day special? How did you celebrate your last birthday? I want to know!! Oh, and now a video just for your viewing pleasure. Promise not to judge my intelligence from this though, please. It is not an accurate depiction!!

Bisous!

Feeling like a million bucks

Hello gorgeous ladies! Happy St. Patrick's Day! How did you celebrate today? Did you wear some green?? I did!

Tank: White House Black Market, Cardigan: Roomie's

Skirt: Anne Taylor, Tights: Accessorize, Shoes: BCBG

Sometimes I just like to hang out in windows

And sometimes I like to contort myself in them!

My roommate had the brilliant idea to paint our nails a pretty shade of green and we both got tons of compliments!

Awkward: 

1. Being the only one in my department participating in today's festivities, and when I noticed a certain cute someone at work not wearing any green I had a sudden desire to just pinch him right up! Thank goodness I have a good awkward-filter and know when to ignore the awkwardness in my life :)
2. How badly you can tell my hair needs highlight touch ups in that second photo. Ah, if only I had the time/money to do highlights properly!
3. Roommate taking my outfit pictures today and checking one out and starting to laugh A LOT! You know that is never good. Then you whips out the big guns on me: "You look like a two year old who is about to kill someone... maybe her brother." Oh, ouch, burn roommate!
4. Ha! "Watching" a movie with roommate while doing this post. I use watching loosely because she is watching it through closed eyes, and I am distractedly watching and trying to blog, too. But she just woke up (possibly because I sort of howled with laughter) and gave me major stink eye! It took me quite by surprise!

Awesome:

1. Having a roommate who is basically the same size as me and has some very cute clothes that get me lots of compliments at the office! Example, the above green cardigan. I had like nothing green to wear this morning, but she gallantly rode in on her white horse and saved me from pinches galore by lending me a little luck o' the Irish green!
2. Birthday-celebration-filled weekend, starting tomorrow! Mom and I will be indulging in hot stone massages and facials in the morning and I think I will be shopping in the afternoon for something to wear to my birthday dinner Saturday night!
3. Winning the lottery. No, I am not being metaphorical and implying that something so wonderful has happened that I feel like I won the lottery. I actually won the lottery. $10,000 to be exact. Ok, some explanation is probably needed now. Well you see, I had never ever played the lottery, or bought a scratch ticket or anything. But when I started my job in June I learned that they all chipped in a buck and would buy 11 tickets a couple times a year. This week was one of those times. Annnd I guess luck was in our favor because we won! We were one number away from winning the big one, but we aren't focusing on that. We are just so happy we won!!!
4. The incredible, wonderful support the blogging community is giving to Japan right now! I already knew I was in the company of amazing women, but to see the solidarity of the community right now is just so humbling.

Loves, I will be participating in the Bloggers day of silence tomorrow to pay respect to the pain the Japanese are experiencing. It is an important time to do whatever we can to help out right now, and this is just a small thing I need to do. So, have a lovely Friday and I will see you all on Sunday!

Bisous!

Pink penguins, dancing kittens

Salut mes amis! I hope you all had a lovely hump day and will be able to make it through until the weekend! I don't know about you but I am particularly excited about this weekend because it is going to be birthday-celebration filled!! Yes, I am secretly 5 and still adore making a big deal about my birthday. And no, I don't plan on ever growing out of it. Thanks for asking though. Friday will kick off the weekend on a very high note, as I get to spend the afternoon with mother dearest having a mother/daughter spa day. I am kind of ridiculously excited a. because I lub-a-dub-dub (it is a make up words kind of night) my mumsicle and spending time with her and b. because I've never really had a massage (minus a bad experience in China that I will have to share sometime) and I am excited-like a little girl getting ready for her first pony ride excited. We will continue the fun Saturday as I celebrate with friends by enjoying some Italian cuisine and late night dancing with the best pals a girl could ask for. Sunday will probably be like all other Sundays- sleep in, make a fun breakfast and commence movie day. Heaven, right? And even though Monday isn't technically part of the weekend, that is my actual birthday so I will have to keep right on celebrating. It is mandatory, of course.

So it has been an awful long while since I shared some of my favorite things of the moment with yall, and since we could probably all use une petite break from photos of me, me, me today seemed like the perfect day to share. That is what you were hoping for when you hopped over here tonight? Bueno. :)

1. Man oh man, when I get into something, I really get into it and I just can't get enough! Cue the 80s movie domination occurring in our Netflix cue right now.And let me tell you, I am L-O-VING it! I can't even believe that I haven't seen these phenomenal films before. I was missing out. Breakfast Club is by far my favorite that I have seen so far, but Pretty in Pink was a close second, probably because of the sincere appreciation for pink and her fantastic sense of style.

2. St. Patrick's Day and all related things! Remember that whole thing about making a big deal about my birthday? Yeah, that really goes for any holiday. I love them. Any reason to celebrate a random week day is totally A-Ok in my book! And one where I get to run around pinching unsuspecting victims for not wearing the right color on the 17th of March is even more A-Ok! How will you be spreading the holiday cheer tomorrow, and even more importantly what will you be wearing while doing it? I may or may not be sporting some emerald green and slightly bedazzled fingernails. You will just have to check back to find out :)

3. Blazers!! I can't even say enough good things about this fabulous little article of clothing. They are all powerful. They can be masculine-chic or further accentuate all your feminine wiles. They can dress up your favorite casual lounge day outfit, or they can easily transform most any outfit into a work-appropriate ensemble. I only own one little beauty but I will continue to lust over others, such as the fabulous collection Zara is offering. This particular tan darling is enhanced by the leopard print cuffs. I want it, I need it, I covet it. Too much? Never.

4.Give me a pair of sky high wedges with a bit of cork and I will be yours forever. Of course this Miu Miu pair isn't really realistic, but boy they sure are drool-worthy.

5. I am desperately ready for spring weather so that I can finally start sporting some majorly bright garments and try out the whole color-blocking trend! I have been pushing myself this winter to try my hand at mixing prints and now it is time to move on to mixing multiple brights in one outfit. I love using one bold splash of color, but I haven't experimented much yet with combining the brights. Can't wait to try it out!

So, loves, what are your loves lately? C'mon spill, I really want to know or the suspense might kill me :)

Bisous!

P.S Wondering where the h-e-double-hockey-sticks this post title came from?? Any guesses? None? So simple, really. All of those things make me extra happy and this is a post all about inducing happiness, right? Et voila!



P.P.S If you were to win $1,000 in the lottery, how would you spend it? I would love to hear your answers! And don't worry, I promise there's a rhyme to my reason! Or wait, is that reason to my rhyme... Don't know!

 

The long overdue finale

Bonsoir bellas! La fin. El final. La fine. Das Ende. O fim. Το τέλος. Конец. Koniec. Het einde. The end. 

That's all folks!!! 

Yes, it has come. The long, way-too-drawn-out overdue finale of the 30 for 30 remix challenge has been put to bed! We greeted fondly and then I tucked her in and said goodbye, not goodnight. I don't hope we will meet again anytime soon. Ok, so I'm being dramatic. We all know that isn't a first for me. But in all fairness, I am very glad I participated in this challenge and I learned a TON about myself, my wardrobe, my creativity and my priorities:

1. Before this challenge I thought I could never repeat an item previously seen on this blog (at least not until I had been blogging a long time) because that would mean I am not creative and wear the same thing all the time. Now, it is a personal goal of mine to see how many ways I can wear the same thing. That is real creativity.
2. Going shopping shouldn't be a weekly thing (at least not for me personally and where I am in life), but rather an every once and a while fun outing as a reward or on a needs basis. And no, dying to have a third floral dress does not qualify as a need in my life.
3. Surprisingly, the hardest thing about this challenge was not remixing outfits or cutting out shopping, but actually finding the time to take outfit photos and blog every (or semi-every) day. It consumes several hours and that meant managing my time much more closely.
4. That being said, I also relaxed a LOT as this challenge continued and realized that if I didn't get day 12's outfit posted on day 12, the world would not end and my readers would not throw stones. (Psst, thanks for sparing me the stones, guys!) I was able to let loose a bit and have some serious fun with this thing! I mean c'mon- remember day 14 and 15? Enough said.
5. My boyfriend blazer is even better than a real boyfriend. Ok, I kid. But seriously, he can tone down stripe/lace overload, make combining prints less scary, be the perfect top layer and hide unflattering parts of blouses! I want to rename him superman blazer!
6. I really wanted to end on five. It would have seemed much more "wrapped up". But five wasn't enough so c'est la vie. Last but not certainly not least, I am coming out of this challenge with the reinforced knowledge that I truly do have a passion for clothes, and there is nothing wrong with that. Enjoying fashion does not make me frivolous or superficial and I am not going to worry (ok, at least worry as much) about what people will think of me when they discover this little passion of mine.

And now, let's commence with the pictures!

Blouse: WHBM, Sweater: Kohl's

Skirt: MK, Boots: Steve Madden

Oh hello, miss Sassy pants (er skirt)

Top: Forever 21, Jeans: Levi's

Flats: American Eagle

Top-last item needing to be worn

Hallelujah, thank some Angels I am done! If you all were here, I would throw a biiig partay to celebrate. Maybe you should come on down (or up!) this way... :)

Like I said, I really had some F-U-N fun with this thing. And day 30 was no exception.

Jumping for joy!

Getting down with my bad self.

This was supossed to be happy dance, but it looks more like spirit fingers to me! Either way, the message is the same: I AM DONE!

Bisous!

 
Oh, you thought I was gone? Not quite! I had to stay one more minute to show you the jumping pic outakes!

Would you look at that face! You're welcome...

Look ma, no strings! I can float, I can float.