A Little Bit of Edge

Clothes have been on my mind lately. I plan on doing a bit of shopping these next few weekends so I’ve been brainstorming outfits and ensembles that I could wear to work/everyday. New church clothes need to be purchased as well but, perhaps that’s a different post for a different day. So, today I put together an outfit that’s “me” and I’m linking up with {av} for Friday’s Fancies!

Some days I like a little bit of “edge” in my outfits, without being over-the-top-total-biker-chick. Because, well… that’s NOT me.

 

I have a love for bomber/moto jackets {faux leather} similar to the one I’ve used in the outfit above. I adore that burnt orange color!
I paired it with some destroyed denim jeans and mustard, leopard print heels to add some additional “pop” and “spunk.” I like my spunk!
To continue with the edgy theme, I chose some garnished, dirty gold jewelry with a lot of fun texture.
I added the deep brown clutch as a finishing touch!

 

As some of you may know, I’m an accessory girl. I often plan my outfit around which necklace or bracelets I want to wear. I definitely believe in accessorizing and you’ll hardly ever find me “keeping it simple.” :) Big jewelry is the way I like to go! You might also be noticing my color schemes that I often like to wear! I’m pretty picky.

This is an outfit I’d see myself getting a lot of wear out of. Everything can be mixed and matched and worn with difference pieces which is always good.

 

So, who knows… maybe I’ll find similar heels this weekend? Who wants to bet I end up buying jewelry? Just sayin’… :) Have an amazing weekend, friends!!

 

Inspi{red}

I couldn’t pass up Friday’s Fancies today because of the cause. Yesterday was World AIDS Day and in honor of it, today’s outfit is dedicated to RED! Before I get into the outfit, I just want to take a moment to talk about AIDS. I get a little choked up every time I think about it. I personally get so saddened by people’s ignorant comments and jokes about the virus. We are talking about something that terribly claims the lives of millions of people every year not only in Africa but in communities where you and I both live. If we all come together, one day {hopefully in the next few years} we will finally see the beginning of the end of AIDS.

As far as the outfit goes, this is a common casual look for me. I love the long, fitted cardigans with a dark pair of skinnies and some boots :) Add a big statement necklace and some earrings to dress it up a bit, and an animal print purse {because animal print always goes with red!} and you’re set!

In other news, I’ve been thinking lately about how much I love non-chain restaurants. I love places that have their own character, or specials that they’re known for. I love the stories they have about how the restaurant has been passed down in the family for generations or the two old men who come in every morning for their cup of coffee. Whitney and I found a new Salvadoran restaurant last night and we’ll definitely be going back again.

 

The food was tasty {I tried papusas for the first time!}, the service was awesome, and the atmosphere was super laid back. Oh, and the prices were better than what you’d find at any ole Chevy’s or Chipotle. Great success! DC people, if you want some Salvadoran food, hop on over to La Union in Arlington. Yum. I really ought to write reviews on Yelp again.

That’s all for this week! I hope everyone has a great first weekend of the last month of 2011! Remember, let’s raise AIDS awareness, not just this week, but every week and start to really bring upon the change that this WORLD of ours needs.

Golden Girl

First of all, Happy 11.11.11! Crazy! I wish I had somewhere super fancy to wear this outfit this weekend. Who knows? Maybe something shall come up? I couldn’t pass up Friday’s Fancies this week when {av} over at {long distance loving} announced the golden theme! Gold is DEFINTELY one of my favorite colors! :) In fact, I’m a huge metallic girl – gold, bronze, copper – YES! Like, if you ever looked at my jewelry collection, you might be blown away.

I figured since it’s gold, you either have to go big or go home. So, you guessed it, I went BIG! Lots of golden sparkle and glitter all over with some big, flashy jewelry. Nothing but gold, my friends! I was originally going to go with some nude pumps but, nah! Glitter it is! :)

So, if I find my lucky pot o’gold soon, I just might be wearing this outfit to a Holiday Party or perhaps even for New Year’s!

In other news, I recently mentioned how my dear friend Robyn from the 90’s pop music days is BACK! Well, I cannot stop listening to a few of her songs. Does anyone else just listen to the same song or two on repeat for days weeks on end? I can’t help it. So, for those of you who can listen right now, I’m leaving you with one of my favorite new songs by her called “Hang with Me.” It’s got a fun, light-hearted feel and I guarantee you I will be jamming out to it ALL weekend! You can listen to it here.

After watching the video and piecing together this outfit, I’ve realized a few things:

1. I wish I had an endless closet full of everything in my size that looked good on me. Too much to ask?
2. Music makes everything better.
3. How amazing would it be to be standing on stage, dancing around to your own song, looking out at an audience where everyone is singing the lyrics?
4. Dancing like no one is watching really is one of the most liberating things to do :)
5. I love city life.
6. I would give a lot to be thirteen and only a few rows back at one of *NSync’s first concerts again.

That’s all. I hope your weekends are marvelous :)

A Fancy Halloween

It’s Halloweekend, all! Again, I’m blaming all my acting/theatre/drama days for my love of Halloween and dressing up. Okay, so I played dress-up pretty much every day of my life until I was thirteen ten years old. And when I wasn’t playing dress-up, I was in a dance competition or play in some elaborate costume. True story. So, you must understand that walking around in non-costume clothing is just too boring for this lass. I promise I’m normal.

ANYWAY.

{av} over at {long distance loving} has given us the chance to design the costume we’d wear if we could wear ANYTHING at all. So, of course I assumed I’d have a never-ending budget and be going to some fancy-schmancy NYC costume event. I’ve always wanted to go to a masquerade ball. There’s something about the mystery and intrigue of those masks and the glamour of the dresses. {Clearly this didn’t work out for Jeff in The Bachelorette, eh?}

But, it would work for me. Or so I’d like to imagine :)

 

I wish I could be a masquerading princess everyday of my life, wearing glorious whites and golds like above. However, I’m sure I’d get a few odd glares.

 

So, because my budget is NOT limitless, I stepped my real-life costume down a notch or two or ten.
I’ll give you a hint…
This guy may or may not be my “boyfriend”

 

{via}

I can’t believe how little I had to spend on my homemade costume! The Bargain Blonde would be proud ;)

 

I’ll be back in DC on Saturday to go with my baby niece to the Air and Scare event at the Air and Space Museum. Gosh, I hope none of those ghouls sneak up on me. I know they can smell my fear. They always do. I have stories. Keep your fingers crossed for me, will ya?

 

What are YOUR Halloweekend plans?

Fashionable Fall Foliage

Fall fashion is, by far, my favorite out of all the seasons. Winter is fun for the first little bit, but, if you live in Utah {like I did for the past Winter and a half} you can only walk around in non-snow boots for so long. Spring is fun too but I don’t feel like I can get super creative with my wardrobe. Summer is obviously nice with sundresses and sandals but, other than that, I feel like a lot of Summer clothes can be unflattering, for me, at least. Fall is just the all-around perfect fashion season. Especially if you’re like me and love to layer :)

The color palette suits me and my skin tone fairly well also so, that never hurts. Speaking of color palettes, I’m linking up with {av} over at {long distance loving} to show you an outfit in some of my favorite Fall colors! Fashionable Fall Foliage for Friday’s Fancies! What do ya say, friends? :)

I saw the casual cotton dress and thought it’d pair perfectly which a nice, rich, heeled boot. It’d work without tights for now since the temps are still pretty mild, but once it’s chillier, I think some warm tights and a nice jacket would look great! I loved the scarf because it reminds me of the beautiful Fall foliage we get here in the DC area! The bracelets are also full of lots of burnt orange and burgundy colors. For the earrings, I had to go with leaves :) Lastly, I ADORE this Michael Kors handbag not only for its shape and texture, but for its beautiful mustard yellow color as well!

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I’m also linking up with Lauren from The Little Things We Do to fill in some blanks!

 

1.   The most selfless thing I've ever done was     drive up and down the canyon from Salt Lake to Park City and back twice a day for a week to foster Kip. I didn’t care how much gas those mountains burned, I wanted Kip to have a safe and warm place to cuddle up at night. I haven’t given birth to a child, so I can’t say that. The only part of my body I’ve donated is blood, so I didn’t want to say that. {Eh, that sounds weird} But, I would have done anything for the animals I fostered :) {Read about them here and here!!}

 

2.   When it comes to working out    I’m now obsessed. Ever since I started going to my Gold’s Gym here in Virginia, I’ve been in love. The equipment is all brand new {I adore the built-in fans} the people who work there are super nice, and the other gym-goers are cool too! I’ve been going 5 days a week and might start making it 6 :)

 

3.  A woman should always   stand up for herself. Whether she’s standing up to another woman, a man, or even herself, a woman should always remember her worth, and do so with poise.

 

4. I wish I could   stop talking myself out of my dreams  and then I’d  never have to wonder “what if” again!

 

5.  A best friend is   the person you’re on a different level with. You connect with them in a way you don’t connect with anyone else. You may not see each other often or talk everyday, but that bond is always there. They’re your rock.

 

6.  I can't get enough of   jewelry. A lot of girls go to the mall and walk out with bags of clothes. Me? I walk out with jewelry. Bracelets and watches are my current obsession.

 

7.  This weekend I am   meeting up with the lovely Raquel in DC for my first-ever BLATE!!! The story {and hopefully pictures} to come next week :)

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What are your plans? I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! :)

Blazers and Blanks

Happy Friday! I’m excited for this weekend but, more on that later. First, I have to talk to you about my absolute love for BLAZERS! Boyfriend blazers to be exact. If you’ve been following my blog, you know I love the color brown for wardrobe items and I also adore bomber/moto jackets. Well, add blazers to my list of fashion loves. I have been searching everywhere for the perfect brown/khaki/camel colored blazer. Black, navy, grey? Sure, no problem. But, brown? Nowhere. If you know the secret, please, hook a sista up!

Now, thanks to {av} over at {long distance loving} I am able to share with you what my outfit WILL look like when I DO find that brown blazer. You’re probably wondering why I won’t buy this one. Uh, it’s over $100 and I’m a frugal little lass. Without further ado, here’s my fashion masterpiece:

Yes, the mustard top is $400. Don’t worry, I would NEVER spend that much on one little item unless perhaps it was a new camera lens, a plane ticket, or a gift for my one true love, Ryan Gosling. Speaking of Ryan, his new movie opens today :) No big deal, just his THIRD movie currently playing in theatres.

So, aside from that, I will FINALLY be making that trip to the National Zoo this weekend. You better believe I am excited to not only a) Spend time in the city I love most and b) Spend time with my favorite one-year-old but also c) See my beloved cheetahs. Perhaps I’ll even tweet about it?

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Also, it’s been a while since I’ve linked up with Lauren from The Little Things We Do to fill in some blanks! :)

1.  Something popular that I can't stand/just don't "get" is      why Facebook is still cool. I can no longer stand it/use it.

2.  Something unpopular that I secretly love is    writing everything by hand.

3.  When I've had a bad day I   listen to “Southtown” by P.O.D. super loud in my car and probably treat myself to a candy bar :)

4.  I'd prefer a peppermint mocha    to  a PSL    any day. Ahh, the truth is out. Don’t hate me, PSL lovers!

5.  Something that makes me nervous is    driving on the DC Beltway right where Maryland turns into Virginia. Plain and simple. Nothing but white knuckles and wishing you could simultaneously be looking at your side/rearview mirrors/the road.

6.  Something worth fighting for is     your family.

7.  When people think of me, I hope they think    "she is a spunky, passionate, and funny girl who never stops dreaming & always tries to do what is right.”

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Maybe you just learned something new about me? I hope you have a lovely weekend and maybe, like me, you’ll be soaking up these last days of warmer temps before Fall is here for good :)

Friday’s Fancies | Tennessee Style

I’ve been pretty silent in the blog world about my love for the TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS!!!!!!! I’ve had a long-time love affair with that school and TENNESSEE FOOTBALL! Am I from Tennessee? No. Did I go to school at Tennessee? No. Did my family? No. So, why am I such a Vols-fanatic? It’s a long story. And please, just know that it has nothing to do with Peyton Manning.

BUT…

I’ve been a fan for about thirteen or so years now and that will never change!

I said it’s GREAT to be a TENNESSEE VOL!

Here’s a fun tid-bit about me -- I was actually moments away from transferring to Tennessee in college. I had my transcripts turned in and everything but decided to play it safe and stay at my in-state school.

That said, today I’m showing my school spirit while I link up for Friday’s Fancies over at {long distance loving}

 

 

Victoria s Secret v neck tee, $30
Seven for all mankind jeans, $189
Giuseppe Zanotti patent leather high heels, $300
Yves Saint Laurent zipper bag, $1,495
Marni plastic bangle, $98
Monique Pean geometric earrings, $1,110

 

Since I can’t magically appear at Neyland Stadium, I’ll most likely be watching the game at a restaurant or in front of my big screen. So, the UT-shirt and cropped jeans are PERFECT! I threw in the nude heels because they’re classy and add a little feminine touch to the rest of the outfit while not going over the top. Tennessee Orange accessories are a must, duh :) Oh, and don’t worry… I won’t be wearing the helmet. Or will I??

In case you can’t already tell, I don’t mess around when it comes to team colors. Go big or go home, friends!!

Fingers crossed that the Vols can beat the Gators this weekend for the first time since 2004! Eek! Tune in to CBS to find out!

What college team is your favorite? Any fellow Rocky Top fans out there?? :)

Friday’s Fancies and Some Blanks

What a great way to end a horribly rainy and soggy week here in the DC area! I mean, really… it’s bad. Water rescues going on up the street from my house last night and everything. I’m linking up with {av} over at {long distance loving} for a Fashion Forward outfit this week. I came up with probably one of my favorite outfits thus far. It’s the outfit I’ve been wanting to wear for quite some time now, I just need somewhere to wear it to!

 

Comptoir Des Cotonniers blouse, $175
Miss Selfridge short mini skirt, $30
Lauren by Ralph Lauren sheer stocking, $18
Stiletto pumps
Marc jacobs bag, $1,670
Mixit pearl bangle, $16
Michael Kors Watches oversized watch, $320
18k jewelry, $45
Vanessa Mooney layered chain necklace, $135

I am currently in love with neutrals and taupe just seemed like a perfect match with that crisp, burnt orange color. Perfect for Fall? I vote “yes!” If I were rich and could afford this outfit {ahem, the Marc Jacobs bag alone is $1,670!} I’d probably have to get it in multiple color ensembles. And yes, I do wear two nail colors at once occasionally. I’d paint most nails in the orangey “Alligator Purse” shade and then save the taupe “Chinchilly” for my ring fingers. It’d look rad. Trust me. The gold splashes of accessories just add a whole lot of fun and richness to the outfit. Also, tights with “mini-ish” skirts are all the rage this Fall and I can’t WAIT to start sporting the look!

I’m also linking up with Lauren over at The Little Things We Do for Fill in the Blank Friday! It’s been three weeks since I’ve taken part and I’ve missed it!

1.  Somewhere someone is      thinking of me, duh :)

2.   Pinterest      is/are my muse. I know I’m not alone on this one!

3.  It would suck if      listening to CD’s in the car   was no more, because     I don’t know what I’d do without my mix CD’s. iPod playlists just aren’t the same!

4.  Going down to Richmond this afternoon to spend the weekend with two of my best friends     is/are my favorite thing about today. It’s been TWO YEARS since I’ve had a girls’ weekend!

5.  Life is kind of like    a sunset. Each day is different, each moment passes by faster than we even realize but we still have that beauty in front of us and the hope for tomorrow.

6.  If I could have anything I wanted I would want     true happiness and the promise of a bright and successful future.

7.  A funny thing happened the other day...     Okay, so this didn’t actually HAPPEN the other day {it happened about two years ago} but my friend Jenna & I were reminiscing crying-laughing about it yesterday. I was in Richmond visiting and we were getting ready to go out that night when POP POP POP rings out in the air. I literally dove onto the floor, covering my head, warning everyone to take cover because of the “gunshots.” Jenna, to this day, says they were just fireworks. Mmmhmm suuuure :)

True Life: I’m Afraid of Loud Noises. That’s a post for a different day. Please notice the drink still in hand.

Well, my loves. That’s all for this week! I hope for safe travels this weekend and my prayers go out to everyone affected by this flooding as well as the fires in TX. I’m praying for a very, very peaceful weekend for this country.

Friday’s Fancies | Labor Day

I can’t believe Labor Day Weekend is already upon us. If I was still in school as a little kiddie, this would be our last weekend of freedom before the school days started yet again. In college, it pretty much would have been just like any other weekend, but in college, who can complain? And now… it’s uh, just Labor Day. An excuse for one more time at the pool, to have a BBQ with friends and family, or to get out on the boat one last time. My Labor Days are usually pretty relaxed.

So, this week as I link up with {av} over at {long distance loving} I’ll be showing you an outfit that would be perfect for my holiday weekend!

Emanuel Ungaro yellow top
Superdry hot denim shorts, $46
Woven shoes, $11
Proenza Schouler teal leather handbag, $1,595
Geometric jewelry, $28
H m jewelry, $11
Pyramid jewelry, $78
Jane Norman twist jewelry, $5.87

I had originally picked a little floral dress but later decided that I wanted something a bit more casual. This outfit is perfect for a backyard BBQ or an evening at a sidewalk cafe. I’ve yet to personally wear this look {as far as the blouse and denim shorts go} but I think it’s great while the weather is still warm-ish. I’ve chosen lots of color in this outfit since I don’t know what I’d do without colors! Chunky, bold jewelry is kind of my thing right now so obviously I had to go that route :) I also tried to incorporate some fun, geometric shapes!

What are your plans for Labor Day this year? Do you choose the more casual fashion approach or do you tend to dress it up a bit?

Friday's Fancies | Back to School

Since the Spring of 2008, the closest thing I've had to a "Back to School Outfit" is a "First Day of New Job" outfit. Not quite as exhilarating. So, I was pretty pumped when {av} over at {long distance loving} chose Back to School for this week's Friday's Fancies theme.

I decided this would be my "22-year-old going into senior year" outfit for Fall Semester. While my style has changed slightly, I tried to think back to what I would have chosen during those college days while keeping up with today's trends.

My guidelines for First Day of School fashion:

Something fun and cute but simple

For the outfit, I went with solids. I found the caramel brown skirt first and LOVED it. I love that it's flowy and playful and pairs perfectly with a brightly colored tank. If you went to college where I did, it's still sweltering hot and humid on the first day of classes. While I would freeze to death in class thanks to the A/C being on full-blast, tanks and shorts/skirts were necessary while walking across campus and/or socializing with friends that I hadn't seen all Summer.

Since I chose solids, I wanted to pick a flashy statement necklace and some other fun accessories. {Okay, so maybe that's just my philosophy on accessories in general.} Sandals are a given on campus in the warmer months and these match almost perfectly with the skirt! And the aviators... oh, the aviators! I'm aviator-obsessed to the point where I finally made myself start buying other styles of sunglasses because I had so many aviators. I miss them. They remind me of my college days...

The saddlebag is PERFECT for back to school AND for this outfit! I mean, really. What would we do without our big bags?! Throw your notebooks, pens, overpriced textbooks, and Vera Bradley planner in here and you're good to go! And since it's still hot, you'd find me with a drink in hand such as a lemonade or a fun Starbucks smoothie like this one. Again, that would not help once I'm in class sitting at my ice-cold desk. Eh.

Okay, now I miss college even more. Even the cold desk part. Oh, CNU... do I need to write a post about all the things I miss about you? It's hard to believe this time of year 4 years ago I was getting ready to start my senior year. To all of you still in college, treasure these days. You'll never have anything like them again.