denim & plaid

Plaid Shirt - AE

Sweater - Forever 21

Jeans and Earrings - Express

Bracelets - Loft and street vendor

Watch - Michael Kors

Boots - DSW

stripes, denim and dots

An easy peasy outfit I wore last week for running errands and working at home. This would also be a perfect travel outfit. Hmm....

Happy Monday!

Tunic Top - Necessary Clothing

Leggings - Express

Jacket - Gap

Scarf - Homespun Treasures (local store)

Earrings - AE

Boots - Cole Haan

my "leather" pants

I have always wanted a pair of leather pants but since I don't want to spend that kind of money I chose a pair of faux leather pants. 

And here is my review on those  "leather" pants. I tried to pick a pair that looks like real leather. However, when I wear them they certainly don't feel real! There is very little stretch in them; therefore every time I sit down or bend over the waistband slides right down over my tush and I end up with the crotch halfway to my knee. I know, great visual, right. So I end up pulling up my pants the entire night. 

I have worn them a few times and try to wear them with a longer shirt so you can't see the minute they slide down. Is it worth it? Still trying to decide.

So here is my idea...If you want leather looking pants try a pair of coated jeans such as these or these. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a super weekend!

Tee and Handbag - Express

Pants - Zara

Cardigan - Village Gift Barn (local store)

Necklace - Rig & Co.

Bracelets - street vendor

Boots - Marshall's

spots, color and re-invention

A knit dress I have had in my closet for about 3 years. I loved the dress but didn't wear it much due to it having a lot of sequins and trim on the shoulders, making it "fancier" and harder to wear with a cardigan or jacket.

So the other week I pulled out a seam ripper and scissors and in about half an hour I had a new black, less fancy, knit dress that I will wear all the time.

Have you eve re-invented an article of clothing by making simple changes?

Dress, Leggings and Earrings - Express

Scarf - Charming Charlie

Cardigan - Necessary Clothing

Bracelets - Loft and street vendor

Boots - Aldo

Lips - Color Stick for Lips in Carousel

stripes and stripes

A waist defining knit dress paired with a jacket that feels like a sweatshirt is a great outfit for an all day shopping trip. 

This dress fits my curves perfectly and will be in my closet for a very long time. Expect to see it a lot more. I hope your day is fabulous.

Dress - Madewell

Jacket - Forever 21

Necklace and Rings - Limited

Earrings - Express

Watch - Michael Kors

Bracelets - street vendor

Boots - Aldo

Handbag - Dooney & Bourke

dots in the snow

Tee - Gap

Cardigan and Earrings - Express

Jeans and Bracelet - Loft

Scarf - Charming Charlie

Shoes - Vince Camuto from Macy's

5 day trip with a carry-on only

How is it possible to pack for a 5 day trip with a carry-on only you ask.

Ever since the airlines started making you pay to check a bag I have gotten very creative and a minimalist when traveling. You can look fantastic without taking everything but the kitchen sink. 

Ok, here are my tips...

#1 Check the weather for your destination (obviously) and then start by picking outfits that will mix and match. I take snapshots with my phone as this helps me visualize where I'm at and how much I am using each piece. (examples below) It's also great when you arrive at your destination and are trying to remember why you packed what you did.

#2 Roll every single piece of clothing and pack into Space To Go bags, quite possibly one of the best inventions ever. This will give you about a third more space in your suitcase. It will also keep everything dry in case of a spill. This gives you plenty of room for everything and still leaves room for a little shopping.

I pack the same way if I'm packing a larger suitcase to check in.

 I always carry my liquids in my large handbag so I don't have to open my suitcase when going through security.

Here are the outfits I packed...

Travel Day...

I most always pick leggings or stretchy jeans when traveling in the winter since it's like wearing pj's but still stylish. I'm very minimal on accessorizing when traveling and pick one cross body bag that will go with everything and tuck it into my large bag.

Top - Loft

Cardigan - Gap

Leggings and Scarf - Express

Handbag - street vendor

Boots - Keen c/o Swiss Village Bulk

Day 2...

I love packing knits as this requires no ironing upon arrival.

Dress and Scarf - Express

Cardigan - Village Gift Barn (local store)

Necklace - vintage 

Tights - Hue

Boots - Guess from Macy's

Handbag - Zara

Day 3...

Dress - H&M

Jacket - Forever 21

Scarf - street vendor

Leggings - Express

Boots - Guess from Macy's

Day 4...

Sweater - Forever 21

Scarf - Charming Charlie

Jeans - Limited

Boots - Guess from Macy's

Handbag - Zara

Return Travel Day...

Long Sleeve Tee and Jeans - Limited (re-using jeans from day 4)

Cardigan - Gap (re-using from travel day 1)

Scarf and Handbag - street vendor (re-using scarf from day 3)

Boots - Guess from Macy's (were my everyday boots)

The extra outfit I never wore...

I always pack an extra outfit just in case. To create this extra outfit all I packed was a denim skirt and a striped long sleeve tee as I already had all the other pieces in my suitcase.

Long Sleeve Tee - Limited

Skirt and Leggings - Express (re-using leggings from travel day 1)

Cardigan - Village Gift Barn (local store) (re-using from day 2)

Scarf - street vendor

Handbag - Zara (was my everyday bag)

Boots - Keen c/o Swiss Village Bulk (re-using from travel day 1)

For my return trip...

I bought a few dress and boots and ended up rolling pieces and tucking them inside the boots (worked just like the space bags) and ended up with just enough room.

I hope this helps when packing for your next trip! Happy traveling!

running errands...

My day can consist of anything from working in my home office to laundry to running errands to working with a client... you get the picture. 

An outfit like this makes it easy as I simply do the dress and leggings when at home and then add the jacket, boots and accessories when I leave the house. It appears like I spent a lot of time on my outfit when I'm really just wearing 3 pieces plus accessories. 

Dress - Necessary Clothing

Jacket - Zara

Belt and Earrings - AE

Bracelets - Homespun Treasures (local store)

Scarf - local dollar store

Leggings - Express

Boots - Zigi Soho from DSW

feeling smurfy...

Nothing like a bold pattern and blue smurf legs to brighten my day... I hope your day is marvelous, whatever you are wearing.

Dress - Necessary Clothing

Vest, Leggings and Earrings - Express

Necklace - Limited

Bracelets - Loft and street vendor

Handbag - Gianni Bini from Dillards

Boots - DSW

Happy New Year!

I hope the new year brings you great blessings and joy beyond measure.

I am certainly looking forward to 2013 and all that God has in store for me, my family and business. 

I do not typically make New Year's resolutions (since I only keep them for about 1 week anyway). I simply strive to be a better person than I was in the previous year.

Look for some new changes on this blog and our website.

Happy New Year!!!

Still loving these "fancy" pants, so expect to see them a whole lot more. Isn't it funny how sometimes you hesitate to buy something and then it becomes one of your favorite things to wear. Well that's what happened with these pants. 

Shirt and Earrings - Express

Pants - Forever 21

Leather Jacket - VS (mine was from last year)

Rings - Limted

Necklace - Lane Bryant

Shoes - Aldo