Basic Blazers

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I'm guest posting today over at Jeans and a Teacup. Stop on by to see the rest of this post. Happy Tuesday!

Date Night

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My husband just got back from a two-week trip to Germany. While he was gone, I kept both kids and in that time I got sick, my youngest son woke up multiple times a night, my oldest son woke up early one morning and threw up, a tornado hit our neighborhood, and four days later we had another threat of severe weather so I took my boys and jumped in the car and drove south. So, needless to say, I would like a nice date night with my husband. Here are two looks that I think would be perfect for a three-hour dinner.

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I don't typically go for an all over floral (or rain forest) print but there is something eye-catching about this dress. A busy dress like this one doesn't need a bunch of accessories that will compete with it. Keep it simple with minimal jewelry and a sleek clutch.

What are your ideal date night looks?

* Don't forget to enter my giveaway here. You could win a piece of jewelry of your choosing! Have a great day!

Sophisticated Fringe

Francesca's blouse and clutch, Mossimo chambray shirt, Zara blazer, skirt and heels, Old Navy glasses, gifted earrings

Well, if you haven't tired of me wearing this fringe skirt already, here is another post. When I bought this skirt, I only envisioned it with a white blouse. Thanks to blogging, I've gotten a little better about stretching my wardrobe and coming up with more creative combinations. I *think* I might have reached the limit for this skirt but I could be wrong...

If you are new to the blog, there is proof here, here, and here that I am a bit obsessed with this skirt.

Don't forget to enter the $50 Sephora giveaway here. Also, don't forget about the Top Three link-up happening this Friday. Create a post with your top three looks from March and join the link-up party! You can see how one works here. Have a great day!

* I'm still planning on the regular casual Wednesday link-up for tomorrow. Can't wait to see what you come up with!

New Year, New You

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I love starting a new year. I feel like I suddenly have time to try new things. Of course I want to become a more patient person, play with my kids more, work on my spiritual life, and so on. This post, however, is focused on the fun, fashionable ways to change this year.

Having a blog is a great way to really see what other people see (on the surface, that is). I've noticed a lack of color in my handbags, and a serious lack of bold jewelry. Both are things that I love but when it comes to shopping for these items, I tend to shy away. This year, I am going to add a few pieces from this category to my wardrobe. Any of the pieces above make a statement and would be great pieces to own.

I definitely want to try a few new beauty trends. I have loved the double cat eye for quite a while now. Of course, a regular cat eye where I live is probably 'out there' so I haven't attempted the double. I think it would look great for a night out. It might take some practice, but I hope to master the look!

I've done a smoky eye every now and then when I've gone out to dinner with my husband. There are several ways to create the smoky eye and I am always on the lookout for a new method. If you want to try it, I found a step-by-step method here and a video tutorial here.

I don't have any nude lipsticks and I will be hunting for the perfect shade soon. I love the look of a dramatic eye done with nude lips.

False lashes are great when you want to add a little more 'oomph' to your make-up. I have used the strip lashes before (for dance performances) but I think the individual lashes look a little more natural and give a subtle hint of drama to your look. I am going to start using these more for date nights.

This new year is a great time to try new trends in beauty and fashion. Have you thought about things you want to try?

Have a great day!

Expect the Unexpected

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When it comes to certain articles of clothing, jewelry, or shoes, I tend to stick to complimentary accessories. For example, the gold sequined blouse pictured above would look so cute with a black pencil skirt and black pointed pumps. I typically pair similar items together. However, switching it up a bit and mixing unlikely pieces together can be just as fun. Pairing a studded thick-heeled boot with a girly sequin blouse can be the perfect match.

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When it comes to nautical-inspired clothing, I tend to stick to red or yellow pieces. To me, that just says "nautical." However, I think it is fun to mix prints such as the animal print shoe above, or maybe a floral handbag instead.

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I like the idea of mixing an edgy (or maybe more than one) piece with a feminine look. While I am the girliest, prissiest girl that I know, I love edgy pieces as well. 

What about you? Are you one who chooses the "expected" option? Or are you "unexpected" in your fashion choices? I'd love to know!

Get The Look

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I have always admired Olivia Palermo's style. She exudes a classic air but looks stylish all the same. This is a cute look that she wore during Fashion Week just a few days ago. I picked a few pieces to emulate the look she portrays.

For fun, I decided to use the animal print shorts and build two different outfits around them. Of course I love both looks but always tend to lean toward the edgier style. Which style do you like best?

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Have a great day!

Basic Black

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I'm on the hunt for the perfect, basic black skirt. Fall is just around the corner and I am starting to plan my wardrobe. The above outfits are perfect examples of how a basic black skirt can go from summer to fall. Do you have a simple black skirt? How do you style it to take it from summer into fall?

Simple Sweaters

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There is nothing better than taking a comfortable, slouchy sweater and creating several looks around it. I realize that sweaters in the summer are quite impractical (at least where I live) but cooler temperatures will be here before we know it. 

I like both versions that I created but I think the dressed down version is my favorite. Which do you prefer?

I hope you guys have a great day!

Peplum & Product Review

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I loved this little peplum t-shirt as soon as I saw it. It is a reasonable (only $20) way to jump into the peplum trend if you haven't yet done so. Sometimes I am hesitant to spend a lot of money on something trendy that won't be in style for a long time. This top won't break the bank, which I love. I also love that it can go from casual with a pair of shorts and sandals, to dressed up with a sequined skirt and heels. I may just have to order this top before they are all gone!

                                                    * Product Review *

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Have you heard of the new Covergirl & Olay Tone Rehab 2-in-1 foundation? It is a foundation and serum that 'hydrates to improve skin tone and covers discolorations.' (Info according to Covergirl website.) I don't have any skin discolorations but I can tell you that I love this foundation! I haven't used a liquid foundation in years so I was hesitant to purchase this. (I have been using a mineral powder for my foundation because I was tired of heavy liquid foundations.) This foundation surprised me. It is not heavy or greasy or anything terrible associated with liquid foundations. I don't know if I have paid attention to its moisturizing properties but I still love this foundation. It goes on smoothly and gives my skin a nice even finish. It doesn't smell all that bad either!

I recently got a sample of Chanel foundation in the mail and I was so excited to try it. I figured if it was Chanel then it would feel like liquid gold going on my skin. And of course I would look fabulous beyond belief. I tried it and hated it. It was heavy and the smell was horrible! I washed my face and pulled out my trusty little tube of Covergirl. 

If you are looking for a new foundation, try this one. Drugstore cosmetics have come a long way y'all!

Summer Destination: NYC

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Kira over at Rain or Shine is going to be traveling to New York this summer for a wedding. What a cool place to get married! I can only imagine how beautiful the wedding will be and how much fun she will have as she tours the city.

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I know if I was going to New York, I would be hitting the pavement HARD. Flats are a must when you are playing the part of a tourist. Just make sure you break in your shoes before you go. 

Have a fabulous weekend everyone, and have a blast in NYC Kira!

Zara lookbook June 2012

Some looks from Zara's June lookbook. I LOVE Zara - It's my favorite highstreet store. Of these looks I especially love the blue blazer in the first pic - it looks amazing. Any favorites?

One Item, Two Looks

Y'all have probably realized by now that I like to take a single item and create multiple looks around it. This time I picked a pair of mint shorts and created two looks. Since I am not quite tired of the pastel trend yet, I went in that direction for both looks. 

The first look is casual but still slightly dressier than its counterpart. The lace collar and high heel give this would-be casual look a bit of elegance. Since color blocking is not limited to bright or primary colors, I decided to use a pink clutch in the first look.

The second look is a bit more casual and has an 'edgy' vibe to it. The spike earrings and studded clutch give this look a slightly harder feel. (Which I think looks cool against a soft color palette.) Even the shoes have embellishment around the ankle straps to give this look more texture.

Of course I would wear both of these looks. Which is your favorite?

                                                    * Product Review *

I love to change my beauty products every now and then. For the longest time I was using an eyeshadow primer by Mary Kay. It was fine but when I ran out, I went to Ulta to find something else. As you know, there are tons of primers out there but I picked up  Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion.

Unlike my last primer, this primer is actually flesh colored. I squeeze out a tiny amount (a little bit goes a long way) and dab over my entire lid. I like to wait a minute or two to let it dry before I apply my shadow.

I really love this primer. I've noticed that when I use it, my shadow seems to look vibrant and it really pops. Using this primer also helps to keep my shadow in place all day. The other day I put my make-up on around 6:30 in the morning, worked out (yes, I wear make-up to work out), and by 8:00 that night it was still vibrant looking.

I wish I could tell you how long I have had it. I want to say that I have had it for at least a year. (It could actually be longer but I'm just not sure.) Let's just say that it lasts a long time and I think it is completely worth your money.

Stripes on parade - OOTD

This was the look of yesterday. I got this dress at H&M. It's the kind that is shorter in the front than in the back. It's my first dress with this cut. I think I'll go for a skirt like this too. I also wore a blazer that I bought from Kim Kardashian's ebay auction a couple of years ago. -It's by Bebe. It's one of my favorite pieces in my closet. Jewelry is from River Island and sandals from Zara. 

Get the Look

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Did you know that super model Miranda Kerr was born in 1983? When I read that, I was very surprised. Not that she looks old by any means! I just can't believe that she is the same age as my baby sister. I don't know what it is, but the older I get, the more I deny that it is happening. When I was a kid, I wished that I would hurry and grow up, get married, etc. Now suddenly I am grown up and I wonder, "When did that happen?"

This post is really about Miranda Kerr's cool take on a t-shirt and jeans combo...not my coming to terms with aging. Perhaps it is her super long limbs that makes this simple outfit look so chic. Perhaps it is the combination of her sleek ballerina bun and bright red pumps that takes this outfit from basic to chic. Either way, she looks great and I thought I would put together an outfit that you can easily copy.

The first look (left) is the copy cat version of her look. The second look is inspired by her look but is color blocked and more appropriate for summer. Which look do you like? 

Color Blocking

Since color has been so popular lately, I thought that I would put together two color blocked looks: one with just a few pops of color and then one with multiple colors.

The first look incorporates just a few touches of pink for those of you who don't want to look like Rainbow Brite. If the pink sandals are a bit much, then you can always add a nude wedge to tone down the look. 

The second look is a bit more bold yet still perfect for summer. I added three colors to this look to make it a bit more exciting. I kept the bag and the shoes in the same color family because I need a little consistency in my looks.

I love these looks and would wear both of them for sure. Which look is more your style?

Have a great day and don't forget to like my facebook page!

Your Look: Dinner Date

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It's finally Friday and I can't think of anything better than going on a date with my husband. Of course our date isn't until tomorrow, but that didn't stop me from putting together a date night look that I adore. The more I look at it, the more I want all of the pieces. I suppose that is the life of a fashion blogger!

As I have mentioned before, I tend to be a minimalist when it comes to accessories. (This has only been a recent revelation of mine.) I loved this Zara clutch with an attached bracelet and thought it was brilliant to combine the two. Of course the worrier in me would be paranoid the whole evening about being mugged.  I can imagine some thug dragging me down the street by my clutch. Chances are that won't happen though...

I hope you guys have a great weekend! I plan on doing some reading, a couple of DIY projects (they will show up as posts if they turn out cute), and of course my date night tomorrow. Don't forget to like my facebook page!

Flowers Everywhere

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Floral prints are so very fresh, feminine, of-the-moment, and I simply cannot get enough of them. When I saw these two prints, I just knew that I had to create outfits around them.

I think that the first look would be very appropriate for the day. This is a great casual but stylish outfit that you could wear to lunch, shopping, or just running errands. 

The maxi dress is something that can be dressed up or down. I chose to dress it up slightly, making it appropriate for a summer dinner date. In the past a clutch has usually been thought of as evening appropriate only. Although clutches are making their presence known as 'day' wear, I still like the idea of one to take to dinner. Since the jewelry is simple (but still elegant), I decided to use a shoe with a bit of excitement. The stones on the heels of these sandals add a bit of elegance.

When wanting to dress this maxi down, I would put on a pair of flats, cinch the waist with a skinny leather belt, add a bright blue cardigan, and finally, a leather crossbody bag.

I hope you guys have a fantastic Friday and weekend!

Two Trends, One Look

As you know (especially if you have been reading my blog), the floral trend as well as the color trend have both been pretty popular for quite some time. I decided to put together an easy-to-wear look that subtly incorporates both trends. 

Since I am pretty much obsessed with blazers at the moment, I decided to start with a bright red one. If you don't own a blazer, it is a must (in my opinion) for your closet. You can get navy, black or camel as a basic (you will wear it forever), but then getting one or two blazers in bright colors will bring a little excitement to your wardrobe. Forever 21 has some great blazers here and here if you want some inexpensive options.

The little floral top works perfectly under the red blazer. I liked the idea of using two bright colors (the blazer and the sandal) to keep the look springy. Of course I had to throw in some distressed jeans to keep the look from becoming too formal. 

I hope you guys have a great day! Don't forget to like my facebook page!

Tough and Sweet

I seem to have a thing for mixing tough and girly items together. Instead of dressing from head to toe in frills and ruffles, I like to add a bit of edge to balance it out. Or I will add a sweet, girly element to balance out a hard, edgy look. Balance is always key!

Since I paired a biker jacket with this high-low skirt, I decided to add a tall heel to complete the ensemble. Wearing flats with this skirt and jacket would seem too frumpy (in my opinion). I don't know about you, but some outfits of mine can feel too heavy and make me look dumpy until I add a heel for height.

And as for the delayed post... My son kept me up from 4:30-6:30 this morning. So needless to say I was a bit tired this morning. I am writing this post and drinking my coffee until my little boys start demanding my attention. Which is now. The toddler just shut his finger in the door.

Don't forget to like my facebook page if you haven't done it already! Have a great weekend y'all!

Lace Shorts

I've created two looks around a single pair of lace shorts (I'm obsessed with lace shorts right now) for two different moods. Do you ever let your mood in the morning determine what you will wear? Sometimes I want to look romantic and feminine, while other times I want to look cool and edgy. It just depends on how I feel.

I love both of these looks! But since I woke up today feeling funky then I think the second look will have to be my favorite.

I just created a facebook page for my blog (you can see it in the sidebar) so make sure you go and 'like' my page. Have a fabulous Tuesday!