a fall must-have outfit

I came across this pin on pinterest and am just obsessed with this outfit for fall!

via

Doesn't it look like the perfect cozy weekend outfit? Maybe for apple picking? I'm loving it, and must find the pieces! I have tall boots that I bought last year and adore, but I don't have a loosey-goosey sweater like this, and am pretty sure that I need one for happiness.

The search starts now!

I'm not the only one anxious for cool weather, am I?!?!

how to shoe it?

I recently ordered this dress from eshakti, and it should arrive any day now! I love it. Not sure why it's a bit blurry here though. 

Current dilemma? What shoes would you wear with it? White sandals seems too obvious and matchy-matchy...what color, for a good pop of fun? A fun style too? 

I'm a Julep Maven!

Have you heard about Julep yet? It's a monthly service along the lines of Birchbox, but it is all nail polish! Upon joining, you take a quiz to determine which type of maven you are, and then each month, you get a box of nail polishes perfect for you! 

After taking the quiz, it was determined that I am Classic with a Twist, which describes me pretty well, I'd say. My intro box was wrapped so nicely! 

Two colors, a cuticle cream, and some fun little pots of nail sparkle, for fun nights out!

Then my January box arrived, and I received three more colors (on the right), a spectacular hand and cuticle stick, and some fun hair bands. 

On the left are two other polishes, I bought them to send to my sister. 

I haven't mailed them yet...hope she isn't reading this right now  ;) 

This color is called Jodie. 

They're all girls names...I'm just waiting for them to have one called Lexi  ;)

I love this hand creme, it is just fabulous. It has a wonderful light scent, and is not thick and sticky, like some hand cremes can be. I keep it next to my bed, as part of my nightly routine! 

If you're a nail polish fan, I suggest you consider joining Julep and becoming a maven! I just got an email saying that my February box has shipped, so I can't wait to see what they have in store for me this month! They do all sorts of specials, sales and such. Another friend who has been a maven for several months mentioned that sometimes they have little packages where you can buy a necklace and a polish together, something like that! So, so fun.  

So, join! You'll love it!

Are you a fan of painting your nails?

(almost) Wordless Wednesday: Pearls, Baubles, Knit

This is just gorgeous. I simply must re-create this look. 

via pinterest

LOVE IT.

OBSESSED. 

Stella & Dot party!

 

 

I held a Stella and Dot party over the weekend! I kept hearing about their jewelry all over twitter/facebook/blogs, and I decided that I wanted to see for myself what it was all about! I looked at the site, fell in love with almost everything on it, and promptly requested that a nearby stylist contact me, so that we could arrange a party!

 

 

When Kelly arrived, she had so many gorgeous pieces with her. I want about everything, really. Really! She set everything up and I arranged a few snacks. Nothing crazy- she said to keep it simple. I set out some cheese and crackers, and then I made the pumpkin dip that is all over pinterest. Also, Perrier in lemon and lime (Heidi is pregnant!), and then some wine.

 

 

 

 

 

Perfect!

 

 

Stella and Dot has some really lovely jewelry. Look at these charms!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bracelet stacking! I've been so into bracelets lately, and had so much fun playing with them all. Here, I am wearing (from left to right), the Clover Double Wrap Leather bracelet, the Chimera bangle, the Renegade Cluster bracelet in gold, and then the Lindsay Bangle in turquoise.  I know that the Lindsay bangle doesn't really "go" with the others, but I just love that one so much, so added it for the photo!

That one also comes in white, though I didn't see that one.

 

This is my most favorite necklace, the Isadora Pearl Bib necklace.

 

 

I LOVE IT!!! It's just so gorgeous.

I also really want this bracelet, the Lakra Bangle. 

 

 

These are all self-taken, hence the odd angles on the photo! Ha!

 

The Medina Bib Necklace. So pretty.

 

 

The Indira Necklace. Not something I'd normally go for it, but I felt fierce wearing it  ;)

 

The Geneve Lace Pendant necklace. 

 

Close up of the pumpkin dip! So easy. Mix together a can of pumpkin pie filling, a block of cream cheese, 1/2 cup sour cream, two cups of confectioners sugar. Mix well, sprinkle with cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice. I also added in a few swirls of caramel! I served mine with 'Nilla Wafers, which I love, but so rarely buy. They bring me back to childhood!

 

 

Everyone loved it. 



 

 

 

Stella and Dot has some really marvelous pieces. I wish I could buy it all...but of course, cannot just yet ;)  Maybe I should become a consultant, so that I can have one of each piece, and wear them whenever I want to?! That might be fun! Ha!

 

 

They have several new items for the holidays, along with items for breast cancer awareness month, where the proceeds go to research. Love that. If you're interested, and want to buy anything, feel free to shop my party- it's open for another week, and I'd love it!

 

 

Have you ever had a Stella and Dot party? What are your favorite pieces?

 

 

 

 

 

 

oh that dress, that store! can't stay away.

My knack for finding and falling in love with a dress or two from Anthropologie is well documented, and I know that nearly every girl swoons whenever stepping foot inside the store, and I am hardly an exception to that! I recently saw this dress, the Primary Blooms Dress, and as always, it was love at first sight. LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!

I have a wedding this Friday for a very dear friend from high school, and I knew that this would be the perfect dress for the occasion. I wanted this dress like crazy.

Also, recently, Steve had surprised me with a gift card to Anthro, to buy myself a pretty frock.

 Love him!

The problem was that I saw it online. I couldn't find it in any of the three DC stores. Of course. It was also sold out in my size online. So, I forgot about it, and tried to move on. A few weeks later (this past Friday), I was in Chinatown, and popped into the Anthro there, just to see if they had it. They didn't. The sales girl told me that they could order it for me, but could not guarantee that I'd have it in time for this coming weekend, for the wedding. Since the wedding is Friday, we are leaving Thursday right after work, as the wedding is just outside of Philadelphia, and just a few hour drive from here.

Again, I decided to forget about it. I went home empty-handed. When I got home, I decided to look on their website, to see if they had anything else that I liked. Low and behold, it had been restocked!

They had ALL sizes, including mine! HURRAH!!!!!!!!

Also, it was on sale!!!!

HURRAH!!!!!

It was marked down to just $89.99, and I decided it was worth it to pay for overnight shipping, to ensure that I had it for the weekend. It arrived today, and I LOVE it! It fits just perfectly! I will admit, I was a bit nervous, as some of the reviews indicated that the fit was a bit funny sometimes, as it was a bit high-waisted, but it wasn't on me! Perhaps because I'm tall? Either way, it's perfect and I love it, and am so, so pleased. I'll be the second prettiest girl at the wedding....after the bride, of course ;)

I noticed just now, when I went to include the link to the dress, that it's marked down on sale even more! Of course, now I am mad that I paid $40 more than its current price, but oh well. This means that you should go grab the dress now too, and we can be twinsies  ;)

Any bargains for you lately???

black tie affair?

I have a wedding to attend in July, and it's black tie. Not black tie optional, but black tie. In Georgetown, the swankiest part of DC, at a fancy-pants hotel, at the end of July. I've never been to a black tie wedding! I was under the impression that black tie means long gown, but to me, most long gowns look like bridesmaid dresses. I don't want to clash with them (I should find out what color their dresses are, eh?) and I am just not sure what to wear! I love dressing up, but am paranoid that I will somehow dress wrong!

I saw this dress on Nordstrom's website and am really liking it. The price isn't so bad either! It comes in navy or gunmetal. I am liking the gunmetal, actually, and also, my sister's bridesmaid dresses are navy, and I probably don't need two long navy gowns....

What do you think? Could I wear this dress to the wedding? Have you been to a black tie wedding?

 What did you wear to it?

do you Wu?

Have you heard of the new line of clothing and some accessories, Jason Wu for Target? I will admit that I was way out of this loop- I've heard of him, but that's about it! I didn't know about this line for Target until the morning of the release when it was all over twitter! Apparently people were lining up hours before the stores opened, and then it was a madhouse when you got inside! Shoving people aside and ripping clothing from them. Then I read about people selling things on ebay for many times more than it cost. Oy.

I looked online, and many of them items were really cute, things I would wear. I didn't love everything, but that's to be expected, of course! I figured I'd see the collection eventually, so I wasn't too concerned about it, ha. Over the weekend, I had to go to Target to return something, and caught sight of a few of the items! They didn't have too much left, but I saw this dress in my size, and grabbed it! It's really quite cute, and will look great with red shoes, natch ;)

What about you? Did you know about the Jason Wu for Target collection and did you find any pieces to add to your closet? Would you line up hours before the store opening?

in my closet please

I've stated my obsession with pinterest before, and I just adore it, like most of you, I think! I've found all sorts of clever ideas, things that seem so simple, but I wouldn't have thought of on my own! I'm not always the most creative, but I've found many things and then put my own spin on them, in order to make them my own.

I love some of the clothing things I've seen, and outfits that people put together. I am far from the most fashionable out there...I am quite certain that I need help in that department! Again, I'm just not the most creative when it comes to my wardrobe and wouldn't think to pair some things. Does someone want to come over and play in my closet with me? Or sign me up for What Not to Wear? Stacy and Clinton are just too funny, I think!

I saw this outfit this morning, and pinned it, and then realized that I actually have most of the pieces. Not the exact items, of course, but very similar. I have a similar styled dress, though with white polka dots. It has a wide red belt attached. I bought it at HM last year, but have never worn it, as it makes my shoulders look like a linebackers. I have a goldenrod colored cardigan very much like the one in the photo, and similar tall brown boots.

So my question- how would I wear this? Would I just remove and ignore the red belt? Or would I belt over the sweater? Even though it's red? Button the sweater? Unbuttoned? What color tights would I wear? Brown? Navy? How would you make it yours? How can I make it mine?

suit up?

would you wear this dress, with a buttoned up thin black wool cardigan, black hose, and reddish heels, with pearls, to an interview? straight hair, not curly....

or do you always wear a suit?

the dress! the dress!

Remember this post, where I mentioned my love for this dress?

The dress is now mine!!! One of my best friends from high school was visiting this weekend and we met in Georgetown for dinner. Of course, there was time to pop into Anthropologie! This amazing dress has long been sold out on the website. It was originally $168, then marked down to $80, but Saturday night? It was marked to $39.99!!!!!

So, what shoes would you wear with it???

bouquet toss dress!

How adorable and lovely is this dress, called the bouquet toss dress, from Anthropologie (of course!)?

I am in love. Serious love.

I left work early on Friday and popped over to Georgetown for some birthday gift shopping, and found myself in Anthro (shocker!) and saw this dress. Yes, I was shopping for Steve's birthday (not at anthro...maybe taking a break in there!) and saw this dress and of course, texted him a photo of it, saying how much I need it. Ha!

Question- what shoes would you wear with it???

shoes and blues

If you had this dress from Old Navy, what shoes would you wear with it?

Something fun, I think, but I want to wear it to work, so they can't be too fun ;)

gap attack

I was just looking at Gap's website when I came across these---

Stirrup leggings.

Ov vey!

I do remember when these were cool, and yes, I wore them...in sixth grade! That was what, 1992? Somewhere around there? I had this fabulous pair (so I thought!) from Limited Too. They were bright pinks, blues, oranges, purples, PAISLEY! With them, I wore an oversized silk button-down mens-style shirt. I thought I was SO cool.

I'm pretty sure I wasn't.

(I wonder if there is a photo of me somewhere, in this outfit...I should look for one!)

Anyway, I am not sure how I feel about stirrups making a comeback.

What do you think? Would you wear these?

PS. Speaking of the Gap, one of my favorite girls, Heidi, is giving away a pair of Gap jeans, and no, not these leggings :) Head over and check it out, and tell her that I sent you! Also, stick around and read her blog. She's fabulous, and I wish she'd move back to DC ;)

hair today....

Has anyone tried a Brazilian Keratin treatment for their hair? I've been reading a bit about them and am intrigued. I think it could work well with my hair, but the price makes me hesitate a bit. There is a place in DC that does them and I read the reviews on yelp, and every single review was amazing and got five stars. Still, I'd love more opinions, if possible!


Also, I just made the amazing discovery that there is a Serendipity 3 in DC! Apparently it is in Georgetown, and opened in May! I have no idea how I missed this news! I must go, and soon!


Oh, and remember my giveaway? VA Girl, you're the winner! Please email me (find my email on my profile page) and I will put you in touch with Eileen, in order to claim your prize!


PS. Have you voted for LiLu yet? GO DO IT!!!!

essie!

Look at this!

Essie has a nail polish color called Tea and Crumpets! Fate!

I SO need this, wouldn't you say?

They call it a subtle and frosted beige.

Sounds good to me.

My half birthday is coming up...anyone want to buy it for me? :)

madras love

If you were going to wear this madras dress from LL Bean, what shoes/sandals would you wear with it? It is on sale for $36, and I think it is adorable, but am not sure about the right footwear, and of course, you can't see the model's feet :)

(I might be a little obsessed with madras lately)

dresses on the brain!

I swear, I'm not really a shopaholic, despite what you may think, based on recent posts about dresses :)

Last night, I decided to walk home (or most of the way anyway!), from my office in Foggy Bottom to Chinatown. It is a very pleasant walk; it takes me past DAR Constitution Hall and the Red Cross building, then by the White House (where I kindly snapped a picture of a tourist family- karma!) (also unlocked the historian badge on foursquare! obsessed with 4sq...). I walked through Metro Center and stopped at H&M and found this gem of a dress---




It was $35. What do you think?

It isn't as short as it may appear- it is just above the knees, but totally work appropriate. My mother asked me how short it was when I texted her the picture, haha.

Do we like the belt? Do I keep the silver buckle to the side? Or move it to the middle?

Not sure what shoes I will wear with it- likely red, and likely heels, but maybe flats. Unsure.

Keep or return?

dressy dressy dressy

I just discovered something fun. Kyla has a new project called Six Months and Six Dresses, which I find to be such a lovely idea! Funny, because I've recently been thinking about how I lack dresses in my life. I love them, but don't know why I seem to have so few! I wear them more in the summer, of course, but should expand them into my winter wardrobe as well.

Her challenge is to buy or thrift one new dress each month, throughout the summertime. I'm not much of a thrifter (though I'd like to be- one day!), so I think I am going to challenge myself to buy one new dress a month. At the same time, part of my personal challenge could be to have at least one of the dresses be thrifted, but for some reason, I find most thrift shops a bit intimidating. Anyone in DC have a shop they love and think I should visit?





Caveat- the dress cannot cost more than $50! As much as I'd love to, I cannot rush out and spend my dress budget at anthropologie, despite my current lust for this lovely (and many others!). So pretty. Also, as you know, I have a few weddings to attend, so if I found cute dresses to wear to weddings, that would work. Bonus if I can wear them to work (with a cardigan or something!)

I won't begin until next month, since this month is half over, but I will post pictures of my dresses, I think!

So dress lovers, who wants to play?

and another dress

What do you think of this dress?

I think it is fun, and a little different from what I usually wear. I was thinking I could wear it to the Iowa wedding next month...maybe with silver strappy sandals? I'm not wild about the shoes in the picture, but silver would be fun!

It also comes in red, but I am liking the purple. It's from Target, and a total steal at $39.99!

PS. Why is the model's face cut off halfway?!