What I'm Loving Right Now - YouTube Channels

Do you watch any YouTube channels?  Is that only for teens and preteens (feels like it, right)?  Am I late to the game because I'm over 40?  So many questions.  Well, since we cut the cable cord and only do Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, I've discovered this whole new world of YouTube.  I became familiar with YouTube and the idea of content creation via my 8 year old who loves watching the people who open and review toys.  But I really had no idea about just how many people were creating content that would be interesting to me in any way.  And I had no idea about vlogs, I mean, I knew about them, but didn't think they would be interesting at all.  I was wrong, I'm addicted to them at the moment.  So here are the channels/people that I'm loving now.

Kristina Braly (formerly Pretty Shiny Sparkly) - she was my gateway YouTuber, she lead me down the rabbit hole and she doesn't even know it.  She's beauty, luxury, etc and I love her vlogs.




Lydia Elise Millen - I LOVE HER!  There I said it.  She's just so real and beautiful and lovely and sweet.  She's my #1 favorite right now, she covers beauty, luxury and her vlogs are so fun.  Her fiance is great too, love his channel as well.




The Gold Project - Nothing slick and chic here, just useful information about organizing, packing, planning and other "boring" stuff.  And honestly, the boring stuff is the stuff that can make your life easy or hard. So I'm always looking for ideas to make that stuff a lot easier.  Kristin is like a really good friend.  I totally have copied some of her photo organizing ideas.  And she's planning a gluten free series starting soon (her gluten free video is worth watching if interested).




How Jen Does It - So many good cleaning and meal tips on this channel.  She may have the cleanest house in the USA, seriously.  She's a wealth of information.  Her recipes and meal hauls/planning are great.




Allana Davison - She's adorable, funny and I love her makeup tutorials.  Follow her on Snapchat, she's hilarious, I mean THE best!




TJ's Ways - TJ is so darn real and I love that and I love her spirit.  Follow along with the KonMari method of decluttering her whole house.  No joke, she did it from top to bottom and talks through it.  She's so positive and inspiring in those videos, it's worth the journey.  She's slowed down posting a bit but her channel is worth keeping an eye on.




Iam CHOUQUETTE - Claire is a newish YouTuber and one of Lydia's friends.  She's all about luxury, beauty and just life stuff.  She's funny and honest.  I like how she's kind of scattered and rambles.




And last but not least, Nicole Guerriero - I mean I think everyone knows her beauty tutorials, etc.  But her vlogs are my favorite part of her channel. She's funny and I love her cats.




Do you follow any of these ladies?  Do you have any "must watch" YouTubers?  If so let me know, I'm always looking for more channels.  Have a great week!

Lush Henna Hair Dye Review and Q&A

Two months ago I decided to try Lush's Henna Hair Dye in Caca Rouge.  Way back when I started dying my hair red, I used the packets of henna you can get at places like Sally's Beauty Supply.  But I decided to try the Lush version because it has extra ingredients to help condition the hair.  As you can see it arrives in a bar that you have to break up.

Once you break it up, you then pour hot water over it and start mixing it.  This takes a while and you have to keep the mixture warm all the while, until it's the consistency of brownie batter.  Since I had super long hair at the time (more on that later), I used all the bricks and it made A LOT of dye (I ended up using about 90% of it)!  Next, I started putting it on my hair - and it was MESSY!  OMG, so messy.  Once you get it on your hair, you have to wrap your head up in plastic and then wait for about 3 hours.

Nice, right?

Then you rinse it out.  And this is even messier than the application, good grief, it took forever to get that stuff out of my hair and my shower looked like I had potted plants in it all day long.  But once I got it all out, my hair felt great and I got a nice red out of it.

Here's the color and my new hair cut.  As you can see I did a big chop.  I got so tired of having all that hair and decided to cut off enough to donate to Locks of Love.  I'm loving the new 'do and haven't missed my long hair for a second!

So what are my conclusions about Lush's henna?  I would say, if you want a natural, not stinky alternative to other at home color, then go for it. Just know it takes a while to develop and can get messy.  I wasn't 100% satisfied with my results (mostly meaning that I need a bit of a brighter red, it looks a little brighter in the photos than it actually was).  And I felt like it faded a little quicker than I remember my henna fading in the past.  Would I buy again, probably not, I don't feel it was $26 worth the effort.

Now on to the Q & A!

I was recently tagged by one of my bloggy besties Sheryl over at How to Make a Life for a little Q & A! Here we go... 1. What is your favorite season and why?  I have a tie and it's Spring and Fall, I love them because of their transitional nature. In Spring the days get brighter and nature starts "waking up".  In Fall I can't help but love that crispness that is in the air.
2. If money were not an object, where would you travel?  I would do a complete around the world trip, there are so many places I want to go and things I want to see.  I would start in Iceland and go from there!
3. What is your favorite Television series?  I recently finished binge watching "Breaking Bad" and it was insanely good, so well acted and crafted, it was sort of TV perfection.  As for my all time favorite show, I have to say "The Andy Griffith Show" it set the bar very high for all the sitcoms that came after - funny with heart.
4. Coffee or Tea?  Tea - iced!
5. What makes you happiest? Being around my friends and family (especially at the beach)!
6. What are three things you can't leave the house without?  Phone, sunglasses and lip balm.
7. What is your favorite topic to blog about?  Fashion shows, the trends, my favorite looks, all that stuff!
8. If you could be any animal, what would that be?  I honestly have no idea.  Maybe Karl Lagerfeld's cat - talk about a pampered pet, she's got a maid!
9. What is your favorite music to listen to?  Pop - Top 40
10. What is your favorite procrastination activity?  TV and Internet.  Pinterest probably is my biggest time suck...

A Quick Announcement!

Just wanted to pop in and let you all know that I'm now a contributor over at the SeeItFit blog!  If you aren't familiar with See It Fit, it's a site where you can upload a picture of yourself and virtually "try on" clothes from a bunch of major retailers.  It's really cool and very useful for creating outfits without stepping into a store.  I don't know about you, but I like to have a game plan for my shopping and this helps narrow down options.  Plus it's super fun, sign up and play around!  Check out my first post here!

2K CELEBRATORY $100 PAYPAL CASH GIVEAWAY

Hi!  Just popping in to let you all know that I'm participating in Lena B Actually's 2000 follower $100 Paypal cash giveaway!  Lena is one of the sweetest bloggers out there and I love her style!    Hop on over and enter!

Monochromatic Monday - Blue

1.  Merona pants - $28

2.  Old Navy top - $16.50

3.  House of Harlow 1960 necklace - $75

4.  Gap leopard slip-on sneakers - $59.95

5.  Pim + Larkin beaded bracelet - $22.99

6.  ASOS top - $15.19

7.  J.Crew Minnie pants - $49.99

8.  Gap shoes - $44.95

Make sure you head over to Lena B. Actually where I'm co-hosting a giveaway for a $30 gift card to ModCloth!

Linking up with MomTrends today for the Monday Mingle!

Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links

Liebster Award

I have been nominated for the Liebster Award 

by Melinda over at C'est ma vie!  (hop over and check out her gorgeous photos)

This award is given to bloggers with less than 200 followers by other bloggers.  It’s a way to publicize and promote your blog,  gain more activity on your site, and acknowledge your fellow bloggers’ awesomeness, despite the lower numbers of readers. Thank you, Melinda for the honor!

Here are the rules:

• Acknowledge the blog that nominated you in a post.

• Share 11 facts about yourself.

• Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger (Melinda) created

• Nominate 11 bloggers who deserve recognition 

• Post 11 new questions for them to answer

11 Facts About Me:

1.  I'm turning 40 this year (and I don't feel like a soon-to-be 40-year-old)!

2.  I'm obsessed with hotels, love them, love a good one. I obsess over the design of them, the little freebies, the bedding - yeah, it's nuts. The nicest one I've stayed at would have to be the Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens, wow! I one day want to stay in The Library in NYC - it was located right around the corner from my old office, every room has a theme - I'm getting goose bumps. 

3. I have a foul mouth and need to work on that - yeah... 

4. I adore doing laundry, it's my stress relief. 

5. I've been on the roof of the Sears Tower - way back in the summer of '92 when I was working there - it was so surreal (and scary with the wind - eek). 

6. If my feet wouldn't kill me, I would wear heels every day, I love a high heel - I spent a lot of my 20's tottering around on them, like during shows and stuff (running around High Point during Furniture Market and Showtime in heels, I'm amazed my feet are normal). 

7. I love organizing closets and clothes, I could spend hours doing that. When I saw Rachel Zoe's show on Bravo and saw her workspace - I mean they would get shipments of clothes from allover and would organize them for her to pull for clients, well I almost passed out, I would do that job for free! 

9. I watch too much TV - there I said it. Mostly crappy reality TV. Don't judge, you know you love it too ;o)

10. I believe that cars and clothes can be considered works of art. 

11. I believe in ghosts. Boo! 

My Answers to Melinda's Questions:

1.  What inspires you?  Magazines, blogs, nature.

2.  What frustrates you?  Not being able to do what I want to do when I want to do it.

3.  What's in your bag?  Too much stuff!  But usually wallet, phone, makeup bag, coupon file, gum and tissues.

4.  Home is:  Where my family is!

5.  Most beautiful sight:  My daughter sleeping.

6.  Favorite sound:  A cat purring.  A football bouncing off of a goal post is a close second (it's such a satisfying "bonk" sound).

7.  Favorite scent:  Coffee

8.  Favorite book:  So hard to pick a favorite, but Cold Sassy Tree is always a book I reach for again and again.

9.  Favorite film:  Caddyshack followed closely by Anchorman

10.  Dream destination:  Hawaii, I love Hawaii!  I would love to visit Iceland, that's next on my travel wishlist.

11.  Best advice you've received:  Don't judge your insides by someone else's outsides. 

Now I'm supposed to nominate some blogs, but what I would like to do is throw these questions out to anyone who wants to participate!  If you do it, put the link to your post in the comments so we can check them out!

Here are my questions:

1. Favorite TV show

2. Favorite beverage

3. Favorite food

4. One blog you "must read" every day

5. Favorite vacation spot

6. One beauty product you can't live without

7.  What book is next on your "to read" list

8. A trend you would like to try out

9.  What is an item on your fashion wishlist

10.  Describe your ideal day

11.  Favorite snack food

Thanks again, Melinda!

I'm Back!

Is it already 2013?  Good grief, I feel like I've been on a treadmill for the past month with the holidays and a big work project.  Maybe things will calm down so don't feel like I'm treading water all the time.  Hopefully.  First of all I want to let you know that Laugh with Ash is having a really fab giveaway with lots of great prizes (including a $10 Starbucks gift card from yours truly), make sure you head over and check it out!

So while I'm trying to get back in the swing of things, here are a few things that happened while I was on my bloggy break.  First of all I won some awesome giveaways:

Top - I won a giveaway hosted by Peacoats and Plaid for the cutest/most awesome cape from Neverland Nook for my girl.  Sabrina at Neverland Nook was so sweet and she got the cape to me super fast.  If you are in need of a super cool, totally custom gift for the kiddo in your life then run to Neverland Nook and get a cape (she has even done capes for some famous kids)!  My girl was over the moon when she tried it on!

 

Bottom - I won a group giveaway over at Delightful Deets with some fab prizes.  One of which was a custom burlap banner from Tausha  at Oopsie Daisy Décor.  Look how cute it is.  I got my girl's name on it and she totally customized it with sparkly pink polka dots.  Love it!

We headed to Nashville for the Music City Bowl (our NCSU Wolfpack lost to Vanderbilt, but we still had fun)!

We spent New Year's Eve there and it was crazy!  On an unrelated note, does anyone watch the show "Nashville"?  I love it!

 

I also did some reading and have updated the "Books I've Read" tab.  Head over and check it out (the book I'm reading now is pretty intense)...

Happy Weekend and a Thank You!

Sorry I've been M.I.A most of the week, I've been holed up in manufacturing facilities handling a project.  As a follow up to last Friday's post, I did end up checking out the Target + Neiman Marcus collaboration, well let me say I was disappointed.  The price points didn't match what I saw at all.  Just too much money for the quality, I was expecting a bit more polish for the price and it just wasn't there for me, so I walked out empty handed.  I mean the Oscar de la Renta tote that I wanted was $60, which in reality was a basic natural canvas tote with a print on it - NOT worth $60.  So thanks, but no thanks.  I'll wait for the clearance prices.  And I don't know about your Target, but nothing has sold at my Target - the shelves are overflowing with this stuff.  Enough of my rant, on to better shopping news...

A couple of weeks ago I won a sweet $200 gift card giveaway for MaxStudio over at Sandy a la Mode!  I mean, wow, right?!?  I wasted no time picking out some goodies, check 'em out:

 

Here they are in full (except the green/black check top - which I couldn't find online anymore)

 Scarf Print Tunic

Ballet Flat 

 

I love everything I picked out, just perfect!  So, a HUGE thank you to Sandy for hosting such an amazing giveaway!  She has a great blog so make sure you stop by and check it out!

 

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Sunday Social

I'm linking up with Neely at A Complete Waste of Makeup for Sunday Social!

This week's questions:

1.  Name 4 jobs you have had in your life:
     1- Jacquard Design Specialist
     2- Styling Manager
     3- Freelance Textile Designer
     4- Residential Dobby Designer
(All of which are variations on the same thing)

2.  Name 4 movies you would watch over and over:
     1- Caddyshack
     2- Star Wars
     3- Anchorman
     4- The Proposal

3.  Name 4 Places you have lived:
     1- Larchmont, NY
     2- Cumberland, MD
     3- Chattanooga, TN
     4- Griffin, GA

4.  Name 4 of your favorite foods:
     1- Pizza
     2- Banana pudding
     3- Reese's peanut butter cups
     4- Greek salad

5.  Name 4 things you always carry with you:
     1- Personal phone
     2- Work phone
     3- Lip balm
     4- Wallet

6. Name 4 places you've been on vacation:
    1- Athens, Greece
    2- Honolulu, Hawaii
    3- Paris, France
    4- Ennis, Ireland

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!  Unfortunately I was sick as a dog, but I am feeling better today.  Now I just have to play catch up today :o)

A Few Thank You's

I must take a minute to say a few thank you's for some awesome recent giveaway wins and to all my new followers!  So exciting!

First of all thanks again to Jessica over at Bedknobs & Baubles for the $100 Shopbop giveaway from a few weeks ago - so awesome!  (she's got another one going on right now so hop on over and enter)!

I won Oh To Be A Muse's first prize in the Falling for Goodies giveaway and wow, did I get a ton of amazing items.  check 'em out:

Awesome, right?

I also won the fabulous October Sponsors giveaway over at Glossy Blonde and boy I got a bunch of goodies!  And the best part was I discovered some pretty cool blogs (and super nice bloggers) along the way!  Feel free to check them out!
Jessica Who?
The Wright Stuff
Art By Jacy
LIZstyling
Love, Laughter and Lipstick
Of Thoughts and Things
Hi!  It's Jilly
Life Unsweetened
Boys will be Boys
Life as Mrs

And last, but not least, I won a $100 Mimi Boutique credit and a shawl from Shawl Dawls from ModlyChic!  I haven't gotten them yet, but you can be sure I'll share what I get when I get it!

Also thank you so much to all of my new followers, I'm so happy to have you.  I'm so dangerously close to 100 followers I don't know what to do with myself.  Thanks again!

What I'm Loving!

Here are a few things that I'm loving right now:

 

First up is Glade's Cashmere Woods scent.  Oh man, this is such a perfect fragrance for this time of year (as a matter of fact, about a year ago I posted a "What I'm Loving" list that included this too).  It's not sweet or spicy, it's more of a smoky/warm scent that is positively amazing.  I mean it takes me to the perfect, crisp Fall day (even when it's 80 degrees out)!  I invested in the Sense and Spray version this year, perfect!

 

Next up are my new Minnetonka Kiltie Moccasins in wine - purchased via a Shopbop giftcard giveaway win from the lovely Jessica over at Bedknobs & Baubles - a great blog check it out!

They are so comfy and go great with everything! They do run large so if you decide to get some then order a 1/2 size down.

 

Just a couple of things I'm into right now.

 

I also noticed that I'm painfully close to 100 followers!  That's a big thing, so thanks to all the new followers!  And if you aren't already following, what are you waiting for?  Ha!  I remember when I first started blogging I sat on 14 followers for months and months.  I'm slow to grow that's for sure.  Have a great Tuesday!

 

Images via Glade and Shopbop.com

 

Capture The Color!

I was so excited when Melinda over at C'est ma vie! nominated me to participate in Travel Supermarket's Capture the Color contest.  The challenge is to post five photos, each featuring one of the following colors: blue, green, yellow, white, red.  Each photo should include a caption featuring sensory memories.  Unfortunately, I'm a little late with my post (shocker) and the contest is over now, but I still wanted to share my pictures.  Color is one of my passions, I love studying it, how colors interact and what feelings certain colors can bring.  Here are my pictures!

 

Green!  This is a Ginkgo tree at Augusta State University.  We were out for a family walk on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon.  The campus was quiet and my girl was having a great time!

Yellow!  (and orange) This is one of my girl's infamous self portraits via the iPad or iPod Touch.  She loves doing these and they are always hilarious - basically I find these when I pick up the device later and find all these pictures of her that she's snapped.  I love how her red hair really does look like fire in this shot.

Red!  This is from the Ralph Rucci exhibit I visited  over the Summer.  I love this dress, it's so structured and not the least bit stuffy or stiff.  The gallery was so quiet and peaceful.

White!  This is the stunning view from my best friend's back deck in the mountains of NC.  I love how the clouds were  just rolling across the sky.  Fluffy and flat all at the same time!

 

 

Blue!  Though it looks more blue/green here.  This was the pool at the condo we were staying at on our vacation to Hilton Head, SC.  It was so hot the afternoon I took this picture.

 

Thanks again to Melinda for the nomination!   Head over and check out her post with her stunning photos!

 

 

 

Friend Friday - Blogging Community

I'm joining up with Katy over at Modly Chic for another FBFF linkup.  Today's questions are all about Blogging Communities, so let's get going!

Source: theglamourai.com via Jenny on Pinterest

1.  What blogging communities do you belong to?

Let's see I'm a member of Bloglovin', IFB, the FBFF group (duh) and I'm a Rosebud.  I think those are considered "blogging communities".  I'm interested to see what everyone else says.  I'm sure I'm missing some.

2.  What do you think the roll of community is in blogging?

I think it's there for information, support, sharing and interaction.  This blogging thing can make you feel like a lone wolf in the woods sometimes (or is that just me?).  It's not like everyone you meet knows and can chat about blogging.  It's nice to have places you can go and get advice and ask questions.

3.  Blog comments, twitter interactions and meaningful Facebook threads have decreased in the last several months.  What are your thoughts on why that is?

I'm not sure what the cause of this is.  Maybe it's Pinterest?  Maybe it's just too much information/too many blogs?  I know I've been struggling with information overload and just wanting to unplug more.  I also get tired of the endless stream of seemingly perfect images and lives that bloggers put out there (myself included).  I really loved the "Things I'm Afraid To Tell You" movement that popped up a few weeks ago from Jess  then Ez really got the ball rolling.  That was refreshing (but I didn't do my own, maybe I should?)

4.  How do you cultivate community around your blog?

I'm not sure I do.  Maybe I need to work on that.  I always wanted to do a series with guest bloggers, maybe that should be on my "to do" list.  I do know that I'm endlessly grateful for all my regular readers/commenters.  They really make my day.  I'm a small blog, but I have a great bunch of followers!  You know who you are xoxo

5.  If you could make one resolution to be a better community member what would it be?

To interact more.  To ask questions, visit more blogs, comment more. 


Make sure you pop over to Modly Chic and see what everyone else has to say!

Have a great weekend!

Weekend Recap!

I'm tired.  Super tired after this past weekend of cleaning.  And to top it off my girl got bitten by some sort of creepy crawly on the top of the foot Monday and it swelled up big time.  I kept her home from preschool yesterday so needless to say I got nothing accomplished.  We ran to the doctor just to make sure it wasn't something worse than it was and she asked the doctor for a cast.  That's how she rolls - dramatic to say the least. ;o)

Since I headed out early Friday I didn't have a chance to mention that I shared my favorite Children's clothing tip over on 11 Gray last Friday!  11 Gray is Jessica's (formerly of Lavender and Lilies) great new blog covering all things design, baby, cooking, etc.  Make sure you stop by and say hello!

Back to this past weekend at my Mom's.  We cleaned and sorted and donated and still there's so much more to do. But we got a great start and I found some pretty cool things that I thought I would share (if you're following me on Instagram @Spryonthewall then you've seen a couple of these already).  Check out the treasures:

Vintage Playboy Club ashtray in orange.

A handmade quilt from the '70s that my Great-Aunt made me.  You can't totally tell from the picture but that green is neon and so pretty.  The darn thing looks brand new!  Score!  My daughter has already claimed it as her own.

Vintage Liberty of London silk scarf - I've hung it up to help the wrinkles fall out and to air it out (garage storage = funky smell)

Pretty cool, right?  Have a great Wednesday!

Happy Weekend!

Can I just tell you all how freaking happy I am today is Friday?  This week stunk up the place.  I mean the weather has been gloomy, I've been feeling low and I'm having tech issues - fun.  Here's hoping for a relaxing, fun (we may be going strawberry picking - weather permitting), recharging weekend!  The one bright part of this week was that I won a $100 Shopbop gift card from the lovely Maria Fe over at Layers of Meaning!  Totally awesome!  After much deliberation I decided on the following items:

Bop Basics Thick Knit Cable Infinity Scarf

American Vintage Noil Silk Knit Top

As usual, the items arrived super quick (I swear Shopbop is so great at shipping) and I LOVED each one.  The top is a bit more boxy than it appears, but it's a great look and will be perfect to throw on over a tank.  The scarf is so soft and chunky, I can't wait to wear it this fall with my new blue coat.

Thanks Maria Fe for hosting such a great giveaway!

Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Love This! - Dannijo Umbilical Bracelet

I'm in love with these bracelets, which are a collaboration between blogger Leandra Medine (Manrepeller.com) and designers Danielle and Jodie Snyder of Dannijo.  How fun are these?

$98 available here

Images via Dannijo.com

New Look and a Thank You!

If you haven't popped over to the ol' blog lately then take a minute to do so.  The blog has a brand new look and I'm thrilled!

A few weeks ago I won a giveaway over at Makeunder My Life for a credit towards design services from Lisa at Elembee Creative.  I knew immediately that I would love to have a new blog header and some social media buttons.  I gave Lisa some information about what I was looking for, and she came back with the awesome new header and buttons.  Needless to say I think she did a fantastic job!  She was so nice and worked so quickly.  So if you are looking for any graphic and/or web design services then keep Lisa in mind.  She's awesome! 

I've also added a new page listing the books I've read along with what I thought of them.  So if  you are looking for some books to read check it out.  Also don't forget that I feature a new-to-me recipe of the week over at my Facebook page so check that out too.  Have a great Thursday!

Friend Friday - Blogging Tools

I'm joining up with Katy over at Modly Chic for this month's FBFF.  This month's questions have to do with what tools we use for blogging. 

Source: flickr.com via Jenny on Pinterest

1.  What are the tools you use to blog?

I swear I'm the most low tech blogger out there (see that's me above, ha!).  I used to use our old Dell laptop - painfully slow, but we just got a pretty sweet Samsung desktop that I'm using now.  The main tool is Blogger, it's so easy to use.  I read and comment on blogs on my iPad.  I don't have an iPhone and my Blackberry is ancient so no on-the-go blogging/posting.  I have a Sony point and shoot digital camera that is a pain to use (that's why my outfit posts are few and far between).  Pinterest is a great tool as is Picnik - though since it's shutting down, I'm investigating the photo editing alternatives.

2.  What technology item is on your wish list?

#1 - iPhone and #2 - a better camera.  I also would like to have Photoshop.  I wish I could figure out how to post on my iPad - I just can't get it to work from there at all.  Anyone figure out how to do it that uses Blogger?

3. Through the barrage of posts, tweets, pics, poses, messages, etc...how do you avoid becoming a slave to the constant infiltration of information?

This is tough, it can become consuming if you let it.  Getting the iPad has helped tremendously, I literally could not keep up without that gadget (I'm sure an iPhone or any smartphone is the same way).  It has eased all my social media stress.  I also have my posts automatically posted on my personal and blog's Facebook pages, haven't figured out how to do that with Twitter though.  I focus on just a few of the social media tools and I use them regularly - Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.  I would rather do just a few well so I don't spread myself too thin.

Make sure you head over to Modly Chic to check out what everyone else's answers are!

Friend Friday - Blogging and Fashion

I'm joining up with Katy of Modly Chic again for FBFF!  This week is all about how being a fashion blogger has or hasn't changed and/or influenced us. 

Source: luxeislife.blogspot.com via Jenny on Pinterest

1. Since you began blogging do you notice a change in the types of things you gravitate towards while shopping?
Totally, I'm more about accessories now and mixing patterns and colors.  It's nice to see different clothing combinations/options on real people and not models in magazines.  It makes a difference in what I can picture myself wearing.

2. Do you find, as a fashion blogger, that you dress differently from your family and friends? Do they comment on that?
Not really, I've never been that cutting edge, the only thing that people generally comment on, in regards to what I'm wearing, are my shoes.  I love unique and colorful shoes!

3. What’s the weirdest fashion that you secretly like, even if you aren’t bold enough to wear it?
I really like people who go totally theatrical with their clothing (like Daphne Guinness and Anna Della Russo) but I just don't think I have the personality to pull it off.

4. Looking at current trends – what would you like to try but need to build up the courage to do?
Well, it's not super current but I would love to wear some short shorts with high heels.  And I would love to try some mega-tall platforms but am so afraid that I would fall flat on my face (I'm not the most coordinated person on Earth - lol)

5. Toot someone’s horn – what fashion blogger out there inspires you with her bold fashion choices?
This one is hard and it's a tie.  I adore Shannan from Merci Blah Blah's vintage finds and accessorizing and I love Oomph's mixing, matching and manicures. 

Source: merciblahblah.blogspot.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Source: rockoomph.blogspot.com via Jenny on Pinterest

See what I mean?  They both rock some seriously awesome shoes and they make it look so easy. Either one of them can come and style me up anytime :o)

Check out what everyone else had to say here.  Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Happy Weekend - A Couple of Outfits and an award!

I promised a couple of more outfits this week so away we go!  It was very much a "run errands, clean house and do laundry" sort of week - so these are a bit boring.  But I wore them and am trying to keep it real up in here.  I also am on a spending freeze (save for the Toms silver glitter shoes I ordered with a gift card that needed to be used), so that means absolutely no new non-essential purchases for the foreseeable future.  It's going to be hard, but it's a challenge I'm willing to take!  Here's what I wore:

How do you like that sweet bruise on my arm, which I just noticed?  It looks nasty, but I honestly can't for the life of me remember how I got it.  Such a delicate flower I am - ha!

Top - Target

Pants - J.Crew

Shoes - Payless

Necklace and Earrings - made by my Mom

Get out your sunnies people, I've got some seriously white legs.  And the sad part is, they don't get much tanner than this.  I've got MAC's light affair on my toes - but you can't tell.  I need to put a bolder color on the tootsies ASAP!

Top - J.Crew

Skirt - Original Penguin

Shoes - Cynthia Vincent for Target

Earrings - made by Mom

Necklace - Vintage/thrifted

Bracelet - purchased from a random store in Seattle

Here's a close up of the pattern on the skirt, which I love!

 Now on to the award (I love getting an award!).  The amazingly stylish and totally inspiring Oomph gave me the Kreative Blogger Award. 

If you aren't reading Oomph then start now! Not only can she throw on some amazing outfits but she has the best manicures in blogland - did I mention she lives in Hawaii? Yeah, so jealous! The rules are, I'm supposed to list 10 facts/quirks about myself - so here goes:

1. I've never been stung by a bee.
2. I hate to have any unread or read messages in my inbox - I have to read, file and/or deal with them almost immediately.  If they sit around too long then it bothers me.  Same with my Google reader.
3. I have to have a clean kitchen before I go to bed, I don't want to wake up and deal with breakfast with last night's crap still staring at me.
4. I have designed fabric for every market in the book (including cars), I have been to more interior trade shows than I can count, have had access to some of the most amazing furniture manufacturers out there and have been an active member of Color Marketing Group - but I cannot, no matter how hard I try, decorate my house.  I have no knack for it at all.
5. I have a Diet Coke problem I'm trying to kick.
6. I don't really drink alcohol except on rare occasions.
7. I love eating salads but HATE making them.
8. I've never sent a text message.
9. I talk to my Mom pretty much everyday (this baffles my husband - lol!)
10. I'm a total "to do" list-a-holic.  Right now I have 3 separate ones going:  Blog, Household/Personal, and Job Hunt.  I try to cross one thing off each list everyday.

Now I'm supposed to pass it along to other bloggers (always such a tough choice) - here you go!

Adella Avenue

Cheap But Chic: Jess' Clothing Picks of the Week

Dumbwit Tellher

My Convertible Life

Merci Blah Blah

Sogni e Sorrisi

A Townhouselady's Life

Have a great weekend!