Fashion Friday- Celeb Cocktail Dresses

While there's nothing like the drama of a show stopping gown, the fun and flirty cocktail dress definitely knows how create a moment all its own.

All different shapes, colors, patterns, prints...Knee length gowns are a subtle force to be reckoned with.

Pretty and Effortless

Bringing the glitz and glam

Loving these stripes

Tan with black lace accents: What's not to like?

Hot pink with black accessories never gets old in my book

Such a pretty color!

Classic shift in a not-so-classic print

Lace, ruffles, and killer bangs

Have a good weekend, everyone!

OOTD- Desert Boots

Remember these boots? They have quickly become my go to pair. They are surprisingly neutral and oh so comfy. Plus they put a smile on my face all day long. Literally! I'm thinking about wearing them with some ankle socks. Is that too 80's / little girl? I'm gonna find a way to make that work.

I can't believe it's Thursday already ( It will be Friday in 15 mins!). Where does the time go? I've been busier than I thought this week. Every Monday I look ahead for the week and think- Wow, it's kind of nice I don't have anything going on this week. By Tuesday, every day night of my week/ weekend has filled up with something. It's like I blinked and it's Monday again! I guess that's life!

Tank: old navy
Skirt: Loft
Awesomest boots ever: Target
Cardi: Gap (also worn here)

1. When I was a kid I wanted to be a secretary when I grew up. I'm not kidding. Way to dream big!

2. As an adult, my dream job would be to own an art gallery or to work in a museum .

3. W hen I was younger I wanted to be just like Levar Burton.

5. My favorite childhood toy was my baby doll. I had professional photos taken with it. And a parasol.

6. The time I got into the biggest amount of trouble when I was a kid was when I changed all the clocks to make it an hour later than it really was. Chaos ensued. I made my little brother help me!

7. I get daily inspiration from beautiful photographs and nature .

OOTD- Playing with Fire

Hi, everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend.
It has taken me until now to be able to sit down and post. Things are getting cray-cray up in here!
Today was the first day we had a fire in our home!
I probably could have been ok with a blanket, although it was definitely chilly outside.
I have gotten pretty good at toughing it out and bundling up.
Correction: I am tough when I'm the one that has to make the fire.
I will avoid it at pretty much all cost, unless I can see my breath inside.

When hubby's around though- it's a different story. Today he came home from work and immediately starting making a fire and I did not complain! You go right ahead, honey! Even though it wasn't completely necessary, it was divine. He makes THE best fires! They never go out, they always start right away, and the warm the house up instantly.
Mine take many attempts, constant attention and about three hours to actually make any difference in the temperature. I'm just not good at getting them going. I am proud of myself though, because a year ago I couldn't even make one. Last winter I learned how and made quite a few, but I never really caught onto the trick all guys seem to know about how to be good at creating the nice rip roaring ones.

I also forgot that this is the time of year for naps! As soon as the house heats up, I am out. This is not good because I fall asleep after dinner for a few hours and then am up all night. I recall getting into the same pattern last fall/ winter. It feels so good at the time but not a nice habit to get into... I can't help it though- just hearing the crackling of newspaper makes me instantly yawn. What to do, what to do?

Onto my OOTD:
This is the Gap cardigan I got for $15 bucks at the outlet store. I got so sick of all my black button ups last winter I am trying to incorporate some color along with warmth.
So yes, I am finally breaking out my sweaters. I haven't got to boots yet though. My legs are still tight free for now. I checked the 10 day forecast and it said sunny sunny sunny so I am putting that off as long as possible. I love all my tights, but there is time enough for that to come.

My skirt is from Ann Taylor Loft and my shoes are Steve Madden

I am obsessed with these pretties! You ever get that feeling when you see a pair of shoes and you just KNOW? That's what happened here, folks... Love at first sight. True Love.

These blue hoop earrings were given to me by my sis-in-law's mom. Thanks, Carol! Also wearing Sally Hansen Midnight in NY nail polish. It's black with multi color glitter mixed in. Very subtle- you can only see it really up close.
Cluster of leaves silver necklace

This is my natural hair. I was way too lazy today to do anything with it. I usually will do something- even if I don't straighten it all the way I do the front pieces or the top, but this was purely washed, air dryed, and styled with a little bit of smoothing serum. I don't prefer it this way, but didn't feel like doing anything to it so, VOILA. Think I can pass it off as that sexy bed head look? Me either.

Fashion Friday- SJP edition

Here are some recent looks from Sarah Jessica Parker making the red carpet rounds to promote her new movie. Love her or hate her, she is not afraid to take a risk.
That is the sort of thing I find most inspiring about celebrity fashion.
Why not push the envelope and have a little fun?
She always seems like she's having a grand old time.
Look at that smile!

Above: Fun in Floral
Below: Modern Riding Hood

Making a statement with colorblocking

Hints of red to keep things interesting

Stripes

Simple and Pretty- love her hair here!

See you tomorrow!

OOTD- Anthropologie Ajisai Dress

I love this dress! I was so happy I snagged it up in the sale a few weeks ago. I debated about keeping it, as I usually do with anything I buy from there.
I ask myself ~Do I really need it: NO.
Is it worth the $: Sometimes. Will I wish I had kept it if I send it back: Oh yeah.
So this one stayed with me as I loved the print and comfort. I had a couple of things coming up I could wear it to also, so that helped make my decision.

My shoes are from Gap Outlet. I hate it when I'm in an outlet store and some things ( mainly the only things I decide to buy) are not marked down at all! These still had the original price of $5o bucks on them! I couldn't believe it when I went to pay. I should have paid more attention but in my defense there was a HUGE $19.99 sign right above them that I later found out applied only to handbags on the same display. I know, rookie mistake. What can I say? I was outlet shopping. The excitement made me sloppy.
I sadly sad goodbye to these beauties since I refused to pay full price for them. Isn't it an outlet store? Aren't things supposed to be cheaper/discounted/free? Ok, maybe not free, but you know what I mean.

Side Note: I managed to walk out with a cardi and skirt for $30 though, so it was still a good trip.

A few weeks later I unexpectedly found myself back out the same Gap Outlet with half an hour to spare. I almost didn't even go in, since I had just been, but I decided to take a chance and check. (There was also a beautiful dress I had my eye on that was also full price and thereby REJECTED.) Wouldn't you know it, most of the shoes were gone, but there was this pair in my size left! And reduced! I was so glad I waited. The dress however, was no where to be found. But I was still super stoked. The dress actually looked a little like this one. I must have had it in my head to go with these shoes.

It's Friday! Well, close enough!
Time for...

1. Nothing says fall like that smell in the air that is so unique. And pumpkin everything!

2. My favorite autumnal tradition is making the rounds of my friends and family to see how many turkey dinners I can enjoy without actually having to cook anything!

3. My favorite fall treat is pumpkin pie, pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, and stuffing!

4. Fall makes me think of winter because it is right around the corner. It's hard to enjoy the short time of fall when I know 3-4 feet of snow awaits me.

5. Autumn free form word association, go! Hot cocoa, fire, cozy, slippers

6. My go-to outfit in the fall is a beanie! Ok, that's not exactly an outfit but I do plan what I'm wearing around my favorite hats. Hats and hoodies or beanies and cardis sum it up pretty well. Add tights and boots and done!

7. My favorite fall holiday is (Halloween or Thanksgiving) I don't celebrate either one, but I do enjoy the half price leftover candy!

OOTD- Take a Pleat

I love the way the pleats of this skirt fall. Pretty from any angle.
Anthropologie "Visionary" skirt

Reflection in my car

Easy breezy

Please ignore the weird shape my hand is making

Top from Target

Perfect autumn colors

Confession: This is not what I wore today. Believe me, you would not want to see what I wore today. It was one of those days. Not particularly good, not particularly bad. Just blah. I find myself having that unexplainable restless feeling more and more lately. I think restlessness is the most unsettling feeling. It usually doesn't go away unless I do something drastic. Many trips, hair cuts, and hair colors are the result of this exact feeling I'm experiencing right now.
(And a lot of packages arriving in the mail.) Any suggestions for better ways to deal?

I think part of it too is my whole family is scattered around the globe right now. My sister who lives in Scotland is currently relaxing on a Greek island. My parents and oldest brother are road tripping to Yosemite. My other older brother is somewhere in Wyoming or North Dakota. And I'm here. Crawling out of my skin. I think a closet purge might help. I need to do something productive instead of ordering more shoes online. My closet is kind of a mess right now, so I think tackling that will help a little. Is it just that time of year? Preparing to be a total shut in for the next few months on account of the weather, or is just me being neurotic and high maintenance?
I think it's just fundamentally who I am: an antsy, anxious, bundle of nerves.
I'll work on that.
Although, drinking ten cups of coffee can't help.
(I'm kidding. Kind of.)

Anyway, this is what I wore a few days ago and the temperature was perfect. I am OBSESSED with mustard yellow right now. I can't get enough. Yellow is my favorite color anyway, but I'm finding this dark gold is a totally unexpected neutral- it goes with pretty much everything.
I am building up my goldenrod collection.
Heels: check. Cardi: check. Jewelry: check.
On the hunt for a skirt this color and huge yellow flower to wear in my hair.

Could probably wear these every day. Comfy too!

New nail color: Sally Hansen Time to Shine
Looks even better painted than in the bottle. Turns out this is the PERFECT nail color for fall. In person it looks like someone dipped my finger tips in liquid copper.

As Ms. O'Hara would say- Tomorrow is another day. I'm going to try my hardest to make it a great one! :-)

OOTD- In The Navy

I love dark blue. I was cleaning my room and closet over the weekend (never-ending sorting, rummaging, folding, hanging...) and realized how much navy I have. I think I might have more blue than black in my wardrobe.
It's great because it goes with everything and every color.
Definitely one of my wardrobe staples.

I also love bows! They're just so darn cute!

Dress: Anthropologie "In the City" dress

Cardi: Gap
Shoes: Steve Madden

The Deets: