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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Metallic jacquard skirt




Express ruffle front cardi
Mynamenecklace.com monogram necklace
Tinley Road jacquard circle skirt
Stuart Weitzman "Slingin" pump (Cheaper option)
Anne Klein charm bracelet
Express silver multi-bangle cuff (similar)
Chanel medium flap

Is anyone else crazy excited to be wearing open toed shoes again?! I finally got to wear these Stuart Weitzman pumps that had been anxiously wearing their maiden voyage since Valentine's Day. I knew I wanted to wear this skirt. I am such a big big fan of jacquard. There's something so luxe about it that gives me a happy. When I stumbled across it for $20 on Piperlime, it was pretty hard to pass it up. Plus it has pockets! I never put anything in my pockets, except for my cell phone maybe, but I always get so excited to see dresses and skirts with pockets! Anyhoo, I hope warm weather is making it your way!

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Shoesday: Michael by Michael Kors "Becca" pump

31 weeks ago, I pinned these shoes. Someone must have randomly came across them and repinned them a couple of weeks ago because all of a sudden, my Pinterest notifications have been crazy because of all the repinning and liking going on. And after 211 repins and 61 likes, I figured it was a sign that I needed to feature these in this week's Shoesday post. It's as if my Shoesday was chosen for me. So if you hate these, you can thank your fellow peers on Pinterest :)

Source


 JCrew Factory Chambray Shirt
Target Skirt and Necklace
Express bracelet 
Michael by Michael Kors "Becca" pump

This skirt is probably my most favorite clothing purchase ever from Target. And it was so random. It was the only one like it on the rack, so I don't know if it was an online return, or truly the last one left. Regardless, I saw it, and had to make it mine. I chose to wear it today because I was going to be sitting on a plane all day and wanted something that would not wrinkle. This chambray goes with everything, so it was a no brainer. While I admit to wearing nude flats at the airport, I brought these shoes along in my carry on to wear at my meeting tonight. It's kind of a happy coincidence because the buckles on these shoes make them feel a bit "safari," which then falls perfectly in theme with the chambray. The print skirt is a bit of a surprise, but the colors tie everything together. So in love with this.

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Sunday, April 28, 2013

Pinspiration weekend: Taylor Swift Part II

Literally just got back from Lexington. I have only been home long enough to eat a late dinner and get comfy in my favorite recliner so I can recap the weekend. It was uh-mazing. Seriously amazing. She puts on such an awesome show; you can't help but dance and scream sing with her. I'm a bit disappointed that I still have a voice today because I thought for sure I would not.

But anyway, a quick recap. I had an outfit to wear to the concert, but I was still open to alternatives. We went shopping in the afternoon, and I had brought this outfit as my part 2 of my Taylor pinspiration. It ended up being the perfect casual shopping outfit. (In case you missed it, Part 1 is here.)

Gap striped sweater (similar)
Forever 21 skinnies
TOMS "University" red rope sole classics (Taylor Swift's RED Keds here)

So, what about my concert look?? I didn't find anything at the mall that I liked better, so I ended up wearing what I packed. I struggled with this outfit. As the sister in law said, we're not 13, so a floral dress and cowboy boots didn't really feel appropriate. I knew I was going to be on my feet a lot (dancing and jumping around) so comfy shoes was a must. And since spring refuses to make an appearance, I needed to be somewhat warm (i.e. no bare legs, and closed toe shoes.)

Limited Sequin jacket (optionoption)
Marshall's ruffle tank
Vince Camuto "Tipper" booties
Michael Kors perforated leather "Jet Set" clutch
Kate Spade watch
Gifted bracelet
MAC lipglass in Russian Red

I did buy the clutch during the mall visit that afternoon. It was 25% off for Macy's friends and family sale, although I'm not locating on Macy's site right now. The pink was so bright and saturated, I fell in love instantly. I went ahead and used it for the concert since its hardware was gold to go along with the gold accents in my outfit.

As far as the concert itself - holy crazy whoa awesome!! Taylor is a great entertainer, and she does such an awesome job of being playful with the audience, talking to us as if we're truly the only city she is performing the show for, and putting herself out there so that at some point in the concert, everyone in the arena has a good view of her regardless of where you are sitting.




I didn't bring my regular camera, so the pictures and videos I have don't really do our seats justice. But, I will go ahead and leave you with this pic from her finale - this is the end of "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together."


And lyrics from a song that is quickly becoming one of my faves of hers after seeing her perform it, "Stay, Stay, Stay":

You took the time to memorize me:
my fears, my hopes, and dreams.
I just like hangin' out with you, all the time.
All those times that you didn't leave;
It's been occurring to me I'd like to hang out with you, for my whole life.

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Saturday, April 27, 2013

Pinspiration weekend: Taylor Swift Part I

Yep, you're reading that right. I meant to say "weekend" vs. "of the week" and I meant to say Taylor Swift. As I type this, I am sitting at the gate in the airport waiting to board my flight back to Lexington, KY. I bought the sister in law tickets to see Taylor Swift, which really was a present for me, too, because that means I get to come with! The concert is tomorrow, and as I was trying to pull outfits together last night to pack, I decided to make a weekend themed pinspiration with Tay Tay as my focus. Yes, I just said Tay Tay. Here is my work to airport to cocktails outfit:


Sadly, it turned a bit cold again this week so I had to do flat booties instead of flats, but that's ok, I love these boots so I don't mind.



Gifted necklace and bracelet
JCrew sequin dot top (similar no sequins here)
Kate Spade watch
Express skinnies (love these)
Vince Camuto "Tipper" booties (if money were no object version here - swoon)

I shall leave you with Tswift lyrics:
"We're happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time
It's miserable and magical, oh, yeah
Tonight's the night when we forget about the deadlines
It's time"
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Thursday, April 25, 2013

360 View






Express tunic worn as a shirt (similar)
BCBG Necklace (option)
Earrings (old) (option)
Kate Spade "Dominick" skirt (similar)
Forever 21 cocktail ring (option)
Tahari pumps from Marshall's (similar)

Do you have those outfits that you automatically feel good in the second you put them on? That's how I felt about this one. From top to bottom, front to back, side to side, I loved the entire 360 view of the collective pieces, bun included.

We had all day meetings again today, starting at 8am. Given my 45 minute commute, this means I needed to be out the door by 7am to give myself some comfortable breathing room. This also means being in the shower by 6am, but honestly, even that is pushing it once you factor in picture time. So, I compromised on getting ready a bit by opting for the bun. In the end, I loved the bun with this outfit because you could appreciate things better like my earrings and my necklace, and the little bow at the back of the skirt. Plus, the fitted top/fuller bottom silhouette is really perfect for the structured up do. Everything about this look made me feel like a lady. I'd say that's a success.

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And, in case you missed it, Ada was sweet enough to mention me in her Sunday feature! Check it out, here.
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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Boot ban

I woke up this morning and it was fuh-reezing outside. How is this right for almost the end of April?! I moved here from Michigan because of this very reason. Because I didn't want to still be struggling with cold come May. It was windy and in the 40s this morning and as I tried to pick out an outfit, I really wanted to wear a dress, but  I refused. And I mean refused. To wear tights and boots. So, what does one do? I grabbed this shirt because the dots and orange give me a big happy. I truly didn't feel like wearing jeans, and not that leggings are really that much of an improvement, I hadn't worn these scuba front leggings yet, so I chose these. The hardest part was choosing shoes. I wanted to reach for my Report Marks booties, but I go to those a lot, and again, I'm on a boot ban! These Coach sandals are the next best thing because they almost look like a peep toe bootie, but not. We had all day department meetings today followed by a group dinner and trivia, so I figured this would be a good day to night outfit. I suck at trivia by the way. Although I did correctly guess "Snow" as the artist who sang "Informer."





Frenchi cropped blazer (similar)
Francesca hi-lo dot top
Stella & Dot necklace (option)
Express Bracelet and Ring
Coach sandals (option)

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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Bridges and cars





Express Vest (old)
Monogram necklace
James Avery charm bracelet
Ring from Mexico
Express skinnies
Steven by Steve Madden espadrilles
Chanel medium flap bag
Oakley sunglasses

These espadrilles get a lot of action in the warmer months. I bought them on clearance a couple of  summers ago at Bloomies, so I'm a little surprised to see they're still available here. It warmed up a bit this weekend, so I made it a point to dress around them. I decided to do a little bit of pattern mixing with this argyle vest I haven't worn in forever and my recently purchased gingham top. Gray and pink work so naturally together.

I had been wanting to take photos at this bridge. The last time I tried it was for St. Patty's Day and the wind was blowing 2949938 miles an hour, so the photos were terrible. This is a bike trail not too far from the house where I'm starting my half marathon training (13 weeks away and counting, eeeek.)

While we were out, I decided to let our infamous Camaro make its debut appearance on my blog. Sadly, I'm pretty sure this car has gotten more views than my blog has, but no, I'm not bitter. It's a 2012 super charged Camaro ZL1. This is one of only 4 here in the metro area.


OK, OK. Here's a meaner pic of the car without me and my pink girlifying it. Yeah. Can you imagine me driving this? Because it happens. And I'm sure I look completely out of context stepping out of this.


People always say how nice the husband is for allowing me to have a closet room and feed my shopping habit. But then they see that his hobby is car related, and it all evens out. One super charged Camaro = a lot of shoes.

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Monday, April 22, 2013

Shoesday: How do you walk in those?

Clockwise from top left: 

Yes, every Shoesday I showcase a pair from my collection, and to date, it's been a pair of heels. Even my hidden wedge sneakers give me lift. I'm a firm believer that you carry yourself differently in heels. That's not to say you can't look amazing in flats, but heels are my personal preference; what I always turn to - I love the way they look, the way they make me feel, and the way they make me the height of a normal sized human. :) 

But with the heels comes the infamous question, "How do you walk in those?" Or the statement versions, "I don't know how you walk in those things" and "I would twist my ankle if I wore those." For this week's Shoesday, I decided to address this issue!

First of all, you must always test drive your heels. Don't just walk around on carpet. Check them out on hard surface flooring, too. Walk fast, walk slow, make sure you can not only walk in them but that you walk naturally in them. They shouldn't slip off your heel. They shouldn't make you flinch with every step. I wish I could say that all my heels are comfortable right out of the box, but that's not always the case. Everyone has different feet, so it's ok to make tweaks to your pair to make them work for you. Obviously, if a shoe doesn't work, it doesn't work, but these are the products that I keep "in stock" in my closet room at all times that consistently make big differences.

How do you walk in those?
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10


1. Dr. Scholls For Her Rub Strips: I will never ever wear a new pair of shoes without having this in my purse; I get anxious if I've forgotten it at home. There are times when the shoes feel great when you try them out on the showroom floor, but it's not until you actually wear them in real life when the discomfort presents itself. These rub strips are my holy grail. They're basically a reverse bandaid, as I like to describe them, because they actually adhere to the inside of your shoe vs. on your foot, and it's foam, so it provides a bit of shock resistance, so to speak, whereas a bandaid would not. The best part is that there is no set size to the strips - you have the option of two different widths, and then the length gets trimmed to fit based on your specific need at the time. If you feel your shoe rubbing you wrong on the top of your middle toe, the inside of your arch, the back of your heel - wherever - just cut the size you need, stick it on the problem area of your shoe, and voila! Instant relief. The foam strips stick very well, so they'll stay in place ready for you the next time you wear the shoes again! No need to reapply. The only thing cooky about this is the dispenser. The trim function of the dispenser isn't really effective, so I always just end up using scissors. Otherwise, this thing is genius and a must have.

2. Dr. Scholls For Her Rub Relief Stick: I actually just recently discovered this through friends. I tend to use this more for flats than I do with heels, but definitely thought it was worth mentioning regardless. This is the same principal as the rub strips, just without the tape. You simply use the roll on applicator (much like a deodorant stick) on the area of your foot experiencing the rubbing, and it provides a friction barrier from your shoe. I've found that you do have to reapply this every 3-4 hours or so. It's definitely a temporary fix, so why would I use this in place of the rub strips? It tides you over until you are able to break in the shoes after the first couple of wears. Or, the shoes feel fine at the start of the day, but after being on your feet for so long, start to rub. This stick buys you some time to get you through the rest of your day. And really, it's a great backup if I suddenly run out of the strips.

3. Foot Petals "Tip Toes": This is probably my most used product. This works well for heels that have absolutely no padding at the ball of your feet. I love that it provides cushion for your foot, but doesn't add bulk like the gel inserts do. These don't make your shoes feel smaller at all. Sometimes I will add these to shoes that are already pretty comfortable just to make my feet last that much longer, especially if I know I'm going to be doing a lot of walking or standing - like at a wedding reception or at the airport. And finally, these work great at preventing "toe-verhang" with your sandals. Your foot naturally falls forward when you walk, that's not a secret. With sandals in particular, you have an open toe, so nothing is "catching" your foot. Your bare foot can slip forward as you walk causing your toes to overhang the edge of your sandal. Not sexy. These ball of foot pads keep your foot in place, saving you from the dreaded toe-verhang and providing you with added comfort all at the same time.

4. Foot Petals "Killer Kushionz": Same concept as Tip Toes, but with full coverage. Because they are full coverage, they do affect the fit of your shoe a bit, which is why I tend to use these most with boots or booties that I may only wear with tights or with bare feet, but no socks. Most of the time I will use these Kushionz without exposing the adhesive backing so they are not permanently applied, and I can remove them when I decide to wear the boots with socks, or if I need to reuse them in another pair later. Because they're full coverage, I won't normally wear these with sandals or other open sided shoes because they aren't the most discrete.

5. Dr. Scholls For Her gel insole for heels: The only difference with these and the Killer Kushionz is that these definitely make your shoe feel a half size smaller. If you  pair these with the heel grips below, it could make your shoe feel almost a full size smaller. When I've liked a pair of shoes that they didn't have in my size and had to purchase them larger, I use these insoles to purposely try and size them down. The gel is not as comfortable to me as the Tip Toes or Kushionz, so again, if I'm using these, it's purely a sizing issue.

6. Dr. Scholls for Her Heel Grips: Like I said, gel is always a bit bulkier than the foam pads, but for heel grips, I have more success with gel than I do with the pads. There is nothing worse than walking and almost stumbling to the ground because your shoe is falling off your heel. It's not graceful at all, and it's dangerous! I've learned that if you're experiencing heel slippage, it's better to use these gel heel grips than to size down in your shoe.

7. Dr. Scholls For Her Fast Flats: I don't care what shoe comfort supplements you use, even the most comfortable of heels will hurt your feet after a full night of wearing them - I'm talking about being on your feet from 6pm to 3am. These flats are not meant to be substitutes for real shoes. Think of these as the spare tire of flats. They'll get you home, but you shouldn't drive over 45 miles per hour with these on. Basically, they save you from having to walk around barefoot. They keep your feet clean while you relieve your pressure points from your heels. They do come with their own carrying case, or you can easily roll them up and keep them directly in your clutch just in case. There are a ton of other types of these flats available, this is really just the basics of basic. 

8. Foot Petals "Sole Stopperz": Remember how I said you should test drive your heels on hard surfaces? Well, by doing so, you may find they're slippery. Leather or lacquer soles tend to be the worst culprits. These Sole Stopperz stick to the sole of your shoe and provide you with non-skid protection so you can walk in confidence. I've also custom cut these before and applied them directly to the heel of shoes, as plastic or wooden heel tips can also feel slippery and unstable. I love that it comes in clear so you can apply them to any color sole without them being noticeable as you're walking.

9. Flex-Tastic toe stretchers: I'm not going to lie, yes, there is a price to pay for wearing heels. Sometimes my feet just feel tired and achy, so I try and make it a habit of using these regularly. I like to think of this as yoga for my toes. My feet feel just like my body does after a yoga class - refreshed, relaxed, de-stressed. Yes, they're ridiculous looking, but they really do help.

10. Foot alignment socks: Speaking of ridiculous looking... I've never ordered anything from Skymall before, but when I saw these, I wanted them immediately, and finally took the plunge and ordered them. They're just as awesome as the Flex-Tastic stretchers, except I can actually walk around in these, and sleep with them on and not worry about them falling off in the middle of the night. Yoga while you sleep!

So there you have it. All my secrets for you to enjoy. Another long post from me, but I truly hope it was helpful. I have a lot of heels, so I'd like to think I'm somewhat reliable when it comes to tips on shoe comfort. If you have any other suggestions or tips on how you keep your shoes comfy, I'd love to hear them!

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Sunday, April 21, 2013

Goodbye, Daisy Mae

Taking a day off from a fashion related post to pay tribute to our sweet Basset Hound, Daisy, that we had to let go tonight. We knew she was struggling with arthritis in her back legs, but after two days of not eating (and she was a big fan of eating), we knew something more was wrong. It turns out she had cancer. She had masses in her chest, abdomen, and spine. It then caused pancreatitis and she also showed signs of having major infections. Despite all of this, she didn't show any signs of distress other than not having an appetite. She was such a strong willed dog.

She was 12 years old and lived a full life. Probably one of the most laziest dogs you will ever meet, but she was so sweet and quirky. And her lil sis adored her and will be lost without her because Daisy was her security blanket. We were by her side when she took her last breaths, and while it was the saddest of sadness I have ever felt, I am glad she was not alone. We will always love you, Daisy Mae, and are relieved that you are no longer suffering.

Hold your animals close today and always.

Daisy Mae
September 26, 2000 - April 21, 2013
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Craving distressed jeans








Express moto jacket (similar, plain black or grey here)
Express dot top (similar, larger dots)
BCBG necklace (option)
Forever 21 faux suede embellished cuff (option)
Premiere Jewelry beaded bracelet (option)
American Eagle distressed jeans
Michael by Michael Kors sandals (option)
Chanel bag

I'm not sure what it is about me liking tough pieces this year, but I was craving some distressed jeans. This was the exact wash I was looking for and the perfect amount of distressing. I picked these to wear for dinner and cocktails with a high school friend that was in town for work. We went to this amazing specialty burger place downtown and afterwards walked to a sports bar with a live band covering 90's music. I decided to pair these jeans with my dot blouse (which I have a feeling will make many appearances on this blog) and a cotton moto jacket because it was windy and in the 50's last night. Distressed jeans and a moto jacket naturally need some hard hitting shoes. These black suede platform sandals with infinite buckles were the piece de resistance! This Chanel is the most prized item in my closet room. I'm trying to take her out more and not wait for special occasions. 

I felt great - I really loved this outfit a lot. Nothing super special, but the combination of all pieces was just right. And for the record, I literally walked a whole mile in these shoes and my feet didn't hurt one bit! I love that!

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Screen Shot 2013-02-24 at 7.10.22 PM"
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