Pinteresting. {A short story.}

I love the coral, white, and slate combination. Very fresh.

Blazers with shorts. I love it.

No words needed. Pink. Comfort.

Ease.

Classic.

It’s become summer around these parts. {Well, not today.} And it has got me thinking about shorts and how to update my closet with what I have. I have several pairs of shorts – I just never think about wearing them with anything other than a tank or easy tshirt. I LOVEE these looks with shorts.

What’s your favorite thing to wear with shorts?

Don’t forget to pop over to Beth’s blog and see what she’s pinning these days!

Happy Tuesday!

Do you thrift?

{The pink blazer is thrifted.}

Thrifting has become a way of life for some people…it satisfies that shopping need without breaking the bank. I, however, have a love/hate relationship with thrifting. I love it when I’m in the mood to dig for things – but if I’m not in that exact mood – forget it. I don’t want to have to work for my clothes. You have to be ready to think outside the box when you step inside a thrift store. Yes, some pieces you will find won’t need any creative thought process – but a lot of pieces that I find – I know would look better if it were hemmed, the sleeves altered, the shoulder pads cut out, a belt added…

Are you a thrifter? Do you have a system when you are looking for items?

Or are you intimidated by the idea of thrifting? Scared of the funky smell of those stores?

These are the tips and tricks I use when I’m in the mood for the hunt…

• Wear leggings and layers when you go thrifting – sometimes you need to try something on but there isn’t a fitting room or they may be disgusting… find an area, and try things on. You won’t get in trouble, I do it all the time.
• Take a friend. It’s easy to bounce ideas off of them {Do you think this could work if…}
• Always keep your closet in the back of your mind – you want pieces that will help update your wardrobe not just pieces that look like a good deal.
• Don’t just buy something because it has a great name on the tag – if you aren’t going to wear it. Don’t buy it. Just because you could score a J.Crew dress for $2… doesn’t mean you should.
• Before you walk into the store decide what your main focus is… dresses? tops? home decor? This gives you a place to begin that way the initial entrance isn’t completely overwhelming. {This doesn’t mean you can’t look at everything else – it just gives you a solid starting point.}
• When you find an item – look it over thoroughly. Look for stains, tears, ripped hems, broken straps, pilling… you don’t want to purchase something {even for $2} that looks like someone else has worn it their entire life.
• Be VERY picky about shoes. Some people find great shoes while thrifting… but I have a VERY hard time buying shoes someone else has worn. Grosses me out. But, if they look new and are something I will get a lot of use out of, I’ll purchase them.
• Once you get your items home – Wash them.
• Remember, shoulder pads are removable. I have found several great items that just needed them cut out and voila! they were updated.
• Hand sanitizer is your friend.
• If you are a crafty minded person – bed linens work wonders as fabric for just about anything… Scarves, pillow cases, quilts, skirts… Always think outside the box.
• Don’t ignore the home decor sections – old vases, frames, books, glasses – all can be transformed. So much of my decor in my apartment is thrifted. It makes it easy to update from season to season or just when you get bored because you aren’t putting a lot of money into the items.
• And have fun… I think that’s the most important part… enjoy what you are finding. Enjoy thinking outside the box.

This necklace, dress, and belt were also thrifted. I ended up deciding against the dress after wearing it a couple times. Just wasn't my favorite. But the belt and necklace are classic pieces. Some of my favorite finds.

Fur vest - thrifted. I like this fur vest but it's a tad big and boxier than I would like. But it works.

You can see more of what I’ve purchased while thrifting here, here, and here.

What are your tips and tricks to finding that perfect thrift store piece?

Happy Wednesday, dolls!

Pinteresting. {Sewing.}

Vintage sewing machines make my heart go pitter-patter. If my place was bigger I'd own several... but alas, it's not. So until then I'll oogle over them on Pinterest.

This is on the top of my "to-sew" list. Just trying to find what fabric I want to use.

And this clutch... yes, please. It'd be the perfect thing to just throw in my bag and go. This is next on the "to-sew" list... maybe first... just as a quick little project.

This could be good for a shorty like me who can never find maxi skirts in the right lengh.

How cute would this be?? Plus, Caroline is like a little sewing genius.

Moral of the story… I have this serious itch to sew and I plan of scratching it over the course of the next couple weeks. Sewing is one of the best stress relievers and one of my very favorite things to do. I’m finding my inspiration again… thank goodness. One of these days Jess and I are going to have a sewing day… and I can’t wait! She and I tweet to each other almost daily about all the things we want to make. #sewingbuddies

Don’t forget to pop over to my dear friend, Beth‘s bloggity blog and see what she’s pinning these days!

Happy Tuesday chicadees and chicadudes!

p.s. if you click on any of the pictures it’ll take you to the tutorials instead of pinterest.

What I’m wearing. {neutrals.}

And like all good things – the warm weather was just a fake out. It’s back to chilly again today. It’s rumored that tomorrow it’s supposed to warm again… let’s hope so.

I should really stop taking these pictures with my phone. Maybe my lil point and shoot would make prettier ones. Ohhh well.

Turq necklace: JcPenney forever ago. I wear this necklace all the time! Khaki trapeze jacket: Walmart, forever ago. White long sleeve: Hollister. Denim jeggings: American Eagle. Gold sparkly flats: Target.

What I’m wearing. {Pink. Black. Neon.}

This picture is terrible {I took it SUPER quick as I was leaving this morning} – but maybe if you’re lucky I’ll manage a better one eventually.

I’m actually rocking the curly hair today, I think my hair is rejoicing. This is no lie people – I swear I heard it singing Hallelujah last night when I didn’t blow dry it.

I found pink skinnies. I. Am. In. Love. I want to wear them everyday – that might be weird, huh?

Black top – Gabe’s {Missy bought it on a trip home – that store ROCKS! So cheap!}

Black tank – Target.

Pink Skinnies – XXI

Leopard flats – Target {little girls section }

Notice my neon nails? They’re fun – I think it’s some cheapy polish from XXI – it won’t last, but it’s MUCH better than my chipping dark brown that I had yesterday. Ugh.

Have y’all tried colored skinnies? Will you? Love them? Hate them??

The round-up. {Oscar Fashion}

I really wanted to do my round up of best dressed for the Oscars last night – but guys, I was beyond tired. So, alas… it didn’t happen. I went to bed at 10:30 – and not just to bed – actually fell asleep. *gasp* Who does that?!

This girl.

Back to the Oscars – did y’all watch them? I kind of watched the red carpet and kept up on People so I knew who was wearing what but I didn’t last once the show actually began. I endured the beginning little song/dance number with Billy Crystal – but they lost me there. I turned it off and went to bed. I then proceeded to dream about beautiful gowns – but, what self proclaimed fashion lover, doesn’t???

There were some beautiful dresses last night, some absolutely awful ones, and some that I really had to look at several times to decide how I felt. {I think this is why I couldn’t post this last night – I was undecided} However, I’ve made my decisions… here are my Top 10… {in no particular order}

Maria Menounos nails it. Every. Single. Time. I think she has been in my top for every award show. The color, fit, everything… perfection.

Nina Garcia looks so elegant. She knows fashion. This dress is timeless.

Gwyneth Paltrow. This is one of the dresses I was undecided about. Why? Because I LOVE how it fits her. I love the white. But I DON’T like the cape. I don’t care who you are or what you say, I just don’t. It looks too super hero-esque. Lose the cape, I’d adore this dress.

Rose Byrne looks perfect. I love the sequins, the one shoulder, her hair.

Michelle Williams. I was shocked that she made my top 10, I’m never a huge fan of anything she wears but this, I loved. It worked for her. She did the peplum trend well and the bright youthful color is perfect.

Glenn Close looks fantastic. This dress fits like a glove and is so very age appropriate.

Octavia Spencer looks stunning. This is such a flattering dress on her. The color, the sparkle, the cut, it just works.

Kristen Wiig looks stunning in this vintage inspired dress. I love a good nude dress.

Natalie Portman looks perfect. I LOVE this dress. It’s vintage couture and I simply adore this dress, I was undecided on it to begin with because I didn’t know if it was Oscar appropriate or not, but the more I saw this dress the more I love it. I want it.

Rachel Smith. The color is amazing, the fit is perfection, her hair and accessories are spot on. I love this.

Who did you love on the red carpet? Who did you hate???

Happy Monday, lovers!

Flashback Friday: What I wore.

So it’s flashback friday – two outfits that I’ve worn that I’ve loved!

I have no idea where I was going – work I assume.

Scarf: Walmart.

Sweater: Old Navy

Dress: Target {stolen from Amy}

Boots: Target {little girls – having small feet is the best!}

New Years Eve.

Scarf: One of those scarf kiosks in the mall

Leopard sweater: Old Navy

Skirt: XXI

Boots: Ebay. Best vintage score EVER!

Happy Friday, kittens!

Friday Style. {Sophia Bush}

Sophia Bush at the "This Means War" Premiere.

Art of Elysium Gala.

Golden Globe Event.

An Evening with One Tree Hill.

Yesterday marked the beginning of New York Fashion Week – Fall ’12… and because it has just began and my inbox and twitter feed is literally flooded with fashion shows and reviews of what has already hit the runway… I haven’t quite caught up yet. But, I will. This is one of my favorite weeks of the year {aside from my birthday week, duh!}. I love viewing the slideshows for each and every fashion show. I also like to imagine I’m there, dressed immaculately in designer duds and a perfect manicure, sitting in the front row, rubbing elbows with my favorite stylish celebs, and sipping on champagne at the after parties…. oh, a girl can dream… {one day… oneeee dayyyy…}.

Anyways… I will be updating with my ultimate favorites and my thoughts of certain shows throughout the week. I wish I could talk about every show… but seriously, who has the time?! I can’t spend my entire day watching fashion shows – boss lady might not like that {she’d probably be jealous we weren’t watching them on her big screen and critiquing them together, let’s be serious. }

In loo of fashion week I thought I’d begin it with a few shots of one of my favorite stylista’s {like fashionista, but better}, Sophia Bush. Yes, I have been a huge fan of her on-screen since the pilot of One Tree Hill, 8 years ago… but I have become an even bigger fan of her off-screen style as of recently. Her style is fresh and unique with a play on very classic silhouettes. And c’mon, she’s gorgeous.

Are you keeping up with NYFW??

Have a wonderful weekend, love-bugs!

What’s in there??

One of my must read blogs is Curating Style. It’s a fabulous lifestyle blog written by a fellow Cbusr. Last week on her blog she did an Inside My Bag post where she shows you exactly that…

And I decided I wanted to play along. Mind you, this little bag that I carry is carried inside my GIANT, plaid, Jessica Simpson, laptop bag. But I wasn’t about to show you the guts of that thing just yet.

The contents... Ibuprofen, Victoria's Secret mini Bombshell, lipglosses {victoria's secret, philosophy, and chapstick}, blonde bobbie pins, my business cards, a movie stub, Kodak point and shoot, gum, earrings, and my wallet.

Turquoise cross body bag. I love this bag, I picked it up at Marshall's last spring and it's the perfect bag when you don't want to lug a giant tote around.

What’s in your bag??

Have a good hump day, kids!

Red Carpet Review {Screen Actors Guild Awards}

In my opinion this red carpet was much more impressive than the last. I loved all the vintage inspired gowns, the colors, the out of the box shapes. Of course there were plenty that I wasn’t so fond of… but …