Happy New Year!

I'm not the get-all-gussied-up and go-out-and-party-all-night-long type, but if I were, I'd like to think I'd wear my hair, makeup and wardrobe just like this girl.  Instead, I'll be downing a mini bottle of Martinelli's Sparkling Cider and curling up under my bed's covers probably well before midnight, dreaming of all the fantastical things that could (and hopefully will) happen for me as 2010 becomes 2011.

Photo Source: knight cat

Resolution

With the new year comes the uncomfortableness of pretending  resolving to change your ways in some big ol' form for some new-ish and better outcome.  Like the breaking of old habits or the setting of a totally unreachable goal just so when someone asks you what yours is, you at least have something to answer and impress with. 

Well, I'm not gonna to do it this year because I am happy and content to stay right where and as I am, inside my own little magic thinking box, where I can blog and post about all the things that make me, well ... me. 

So I guess my resolution for this year is to not have any kind of a grandiose resolution.  Except maybe to collect every single piece from this gal's portfolio.  Seriously cool stuff that's right up my art-lovin' alley; and I'll go ahead and be open to welcoming all 'outside of the box' whatevers and whomevers that come my way as long as I get to invite them into my box too ...

Photo Source: JenniPenni 

Lip Service

Isn't that just the prettiest lip shade you ever did see?  I immediately had to run out and try to find and imitate that exact coral-y, orange-y goodness in the picture as soon as I stopped reading its post.  I found a pretty close substitute in L'Oreal's Colour Riche #410 aptly-named shade, Volcanic, and wore it all Christmas. 

Quick little sidenote: Ever since I started wearing lipstick(s), I've always thought a super duper dream job would be to be the namer of all the lipsticks in a brand and maybe even get to wear a different shade you named for every day of the week.  Wouldn't that be just wondermous?

Photo Source: WishWishWish 

I'll Have The Mousse, Please

I've found some pretty magical matte makeup that'll do me and my face just fine while we endure this wintery Utah weather.  In sunnier months, I'm all about the dew, but when temperatures drop, I want a soft but strong(er) coverage and I get all that (and more) thanks to Maybelline and their mousse-y foundation who most definitely have got me completely and oh-so-beautifully covered.

Photo Source: Maybelline

Shopper's Delight

I decided to go out and see just what kind of 'after Christmas' deals I could get my bargain-y hands on, and I must say, I lived up to my name, I did.  So did one of the first purchases I made (after seeing them dazzle on Conan, I had to have it) that I also just happen to be listening to as I type this post: Beach House's Teen Dream.  Dreamy indeed.  And I'm anxious to give a listen to my other music must-have: Bruno Mars' Doowops & Hooligans.  Not only for his smooth-as-silk voice, but maybe the clever title has a little (okay, a lot) to do with it too. 

Don't worry, I also majorly scored on the sartorial side of things with a pair of cozy sweaters and a piece I am most crushing on - somewhere between this and this lookswise - a black super tough-looking, silver zipper-lined motorcycle jacket that hangs on me just big enough to look like it was borrowed from my non-existent boyfriend's closet.  All (buys) for under 90 smackers.  Yeah.  So I think it's safe to say I shopped 'til I literally (almost) dropped and what I can call a complete and total shopping success.  Anybody else score some sweet deals?

Photo Source: Etsy

Santa Sympathy Pains

Sheesh.  Do I have a lot to do come tomorrow with all its tinseled-filled festivities.  I'm beginning to understand what it must feel like to be that jolly, multi-tasking saint of a man in his big red suit as he puts piles upon piles of presents under all those different (but oh-so-lovely) trees.

I mean ... I've got to fill my ears with nothing but the angelic sounds of Florence + The Machine, consume my body weight in frosting by devouring these sweet treats (I pity all of you non-Utahns since you can't taste the utter goodness that is Mrs. Backers Bakery) as well as drink and down all beverages of the wassail, sparkling cider & caramel-y varieties all while wearing these in hopes of distracting with all things shiny long enough to steal a few kisses and squeezes from my littlies (it's a hard job, but this auntie's just gotta do it) and finally, last but not least (if I have any energy left, that is) I'll have to take just one teeny-tiny moment to look around and realize that I already have the best gift of all in just how lucky I am to love and be loved in return by those in the room with me.  Phew.

Santa, baby, how do you do it?! *wink wink* 

Photo Source: SeeSaw Designs

P.S. Merry Christmas and the hap-hap-happiest of holidays to you all!

What Once Was Old Is New Again

I'm obsessed with this girl and her buyable vintage-y wears.  Obsessed.  From her I've-been-looking-everywhere-for-these high-waisted pants to her collection of hats where you could literally wear one for every day of the week.  Oh me, Oma.  Seriously.  So super fantastic.  All of it.  Makes me want to not only be, but look and dress just like her too when I grow up.  And then some.

Photo Source: Oma Vintage

Someday My Prince Will Come ... Maybe

I was having a conversation with my sister the other day and reminiscing on how I used to be such a fairytale romantic/optimist when I was younger; then my love life spiraled right on down and hit me pretty darn hard (right in the proverbial gut, I tell ya) and I completely skipped right over the realist stage and fell straight into being quite the sarcastic - and single - little pessimist.  But when I just happened upon the beautiful engagement ring all centered and lovely in the post here, all of the sudden, and just for the teeny-tiniest second, my glass (slipper) was half full again.

See the rest of the no-boring-ol'-traditional-diamond-rings here.

Photo Source: snippet & ink

Put A Sock In It

Would it be too wacky-weird of me to only ask Santa for as many pairs of flowery socks that he can possibly fit into my stocking this year?  Because this sock + high-heeled shoe trend isn't gettin' old for me or my tootsies anytime soon ...

Photo Source: Bleubird Vintage

Livin' The Dream

It has been an ongoing dream between my best girlfriends and I to one day own and run our own little slice of heaven (ie: a vintage-y, thrift store/boutique filled with dresses and home goodies galore) and I have found the ultimate inspiration in two sisters dear, Elsie and Emma, and their bestest friend, Rachel who did - and do - just that over at Red Velvet.  There's even a bakery inside (!) where Emma reigns supreme over each sweet little treat.  Can you imagine?  Waking up every morning and being surrounded with pretty pretty things AND cupcakes?!  The kind of stuff dreams are made of.  My dreams, at least.  And with inspiration like these gorgeous girlies three ... it almost makes me think that maybe one day my dress-filled dreams will come true too.

Photo Source: A Beautiful Mess

Getting An Earful

I rarely wear earrings.  I'm talkin' only for what I deem a special occasion (you know, one where I actually do my hair and put on a swipe of lipstick) so when I order or buy a pair, they've got to be something special.  And that's just what happened when I saw these shiners from Banana Republic.  I like 'em so much, I may even deem going to the grocery store special enough to wear them to ...

Photo Source: Banana Republic

Plastic Is Fantastic

Remember jelly shoes?  I wore those suckers out, man ... OUT.  So much so that there would be splits and rips where my pinky toes would be sticking out and I. Didn't. Care.  Not even a little bit.  They were that cool to me.  But, as I got older, my memories faded ... as did my love for plastic peep toes.  Until I saw a black, bow-adorned and heeled pair on le blog de Sushi.  Suddenly, all the memories came rushing, flooding back.  The whimsy, the smile-inducing playfulness ... and all the style and color choices?!  What's a grown-up girl to do?  Immediately put them back on their plastic-y pedestal and on my personal Christmas wishlist in a bright, Santa-suit-matchin' red, that's what. 

Photo Source: Karma Loop 

Lacey Little Lovelies

I giddily got my hands on my Free People Holiday/Winter Catalog this weekend as I trudged out in my burnt orange sweatpants and big brown ugg-ish boots to open my mailbox.  And as soon as I made my way back inside, and through the slushy grey stuff that once resembled snow, I opened it to find these laced lovelies (prettily peeking out from under a striped sweater) staring back at me; visions of me dancing in them soon started swirling in my head.  No sugarplums though.  Just pretty little lacey numbers for me, thank you very much.

Photo Source: Free People

Repeat Performance

Don't you just love it when you can't get enough of something?  Not only was I totally enamored with the adorableness that is No144's shoe clips (seriously wouldn't mind having one in every color for every pair of heels sitting in my closet) but now I can't think of wanting to wear anything else but this too darn cute ode-to-menswear-trend-that-is-so-hot-right-now bow tie for my family's Christmas festivities with the glitterama eye makeup I mentioned last week.  And all for a little under twenty buckaroos.  Goodness me. I do love me a fancy schmancy, won't-break-my-piggy-bank kind of a holiday bargain, don't you?

Photo Source: No144

A Short Story

Ahh, the short and sweet 'do.  Been there, done that.  And I think I'll leave it up to Ms. Watson to sport around town for a while since, just the other day, when I was blog-browsing in front of my computer screen and found myself needing to turn rather quickly to look at something ... I felt my hair brush the very tippy-top of my shoulders (and for anyone out there who has done the laboriously forever long task of growing out their hair, you know exactly how intensely gratifying that moment feels) so I can't go back now.  I've gone too far and too long (pun totally intended) to even think about cutting it now.  Besides, I don't think it's possible for anyone to look cuter in a pixie than Emma anyway.

Photo Source: Moon Face

Eyeing A Change

Ever since seeing this smudge-y, smoked-out look, I've tried to muster up the courage (and think about just where in the world I would be going that would warrant such an eye full o' glitter) to wear it at least once during the holidays; I'm just so used to sportin' all the drama on my lips (red lipstick and I are pretty tight these days) but I'm thinking maybe it's time to let my eyes do the talkin' for a change ... what do you think?

Photo Source: The Lil Bee

All That Glitters Is Not Gold

Gold is most certainly having its moment in the sun.  Especially with the holidays just around the corner ... when you want to sparkle, gold is as good as it gets ... usually.  But me?  I may don a golden-y piece from time to time, but I always go (and come) back to my tried-and-true hue: Silver.  And when I saw the sparkly slip-ons that the Gap was showing, I just had to snatch them up.  Had to.  So I guess it's no surprise what I'll be wearing on my feet come Christmas ...

Photo Source: Gap

Making A Spectacle Of Myself

I've decided my whole fascination with all things eyeglasses (examples here and here) must stem from some weird youngest baby sister syndrome of always wanting to fit in and have everything that my other siblings get to have too.  See ... I'm one of the only ones left that doesn't need to wear specs.  Like an actual prescription, etc.  But I've always wanted them.  Always.  And I think I've always wanted them because I don't have to have them, but my sibs do.  The law of Even Stevens, you know? And as long as there are glasses in the world like the pair above, I'm going to continue to happily suffer from this spec sickness ... and look dang good doing it too.

Photo Source: Nasty Gal 

Bathing Beauty

It's cold outside.  Like 33 degrees cold, yet all I can seem to think about are the art-y Black Milk one-piece bathing suits I saw over on the Ringo, Have A Banana blog.  Bigger bodies of water and I aren't the greatest of friends (and, yes, to a non-water lover, a pool is in that biggish body category) which means I'm also not what you would call the greatest swimmer in the world either.  In fact, I'm a lifelong wader and pool chair sitter.  So I never really figured I'd ever want to show off my style in the form of a swimsuit (and a two-piece is out of the question - way too self-conscious for that)  but then I saw Bert and Ernie in the Pulp Sesame suit and was sold.  It's Bert and Ernie dressed as Sam Jackson and John Travolta, people.  You don't get any cooler (or more clever) than that.  You just don't.  So.  In the end, I think it's safe to say I've been cured of my poolside suit-wearing phobia and come summer, you may just see me sitting poolside enjoying a royale with cheese with my boys, Bert and Ernie.

Photo Source:  Black Milk

Proud Blogger Here

I've never met a community quite like this blogging one.  Truly.  Honestly.  It continues to genuinely surprise me with the kindnesses it has given me.  And never did I think that by leaving a simple little comment about a pretty red coat on a giveaway post that, just a few weeks later, I would be reaping the rewards that followed.

It was this particular picture that started it all.  The post prompted you to write which item you would most want from the fashion site hosting the giveaway, if you should be so lucky as to win.  As soon as I saw the entire plaid tie-dye-tastic outfit, it was a no brainer.  I. needed. that. coat.  So I left a silly (albeit wordy) comment and went on my merry way.

Fast forward about a week ... and imagine me sitting at my computer as I check my e-mail (as I do every morning) and see a message from the team at APART.  Curious, I clicked it open, and that's when my jaw literally hit the floor.  It said that the company decided to gift each person that commented their item of choice (!)  No joke.  Seriously. 

Friday, there was a doorbell ding dong and a quick knock at my door from my favorite UPS man, and sure enough ... there was a brown box with my name on it begging to be opened to see my ruby red coat just sitting there waiting for me.  Merry Christmas to me, right?!  And last, but certainly not least, I must give the biggest, most heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Melisa of The Lil Bee for showcasing the giveaway on her beautiful blog and, of course, to APART for the coat of what-I-thought-could-only-be-in-my-dreams.

Photo Source(s): Me and my self-timerin' camera/companion

One Day

I know I've said it here before, but the day will come when I walk into a tattoo shop and get inked.  So help me.  And I've really, truly given it a lot of thought (since I tend to change my mind a lot more often than not on certain things ... well ... on everything) but I now know what my first one will be.  I've even oh-so-cleverly 'pointed' it out to you in the picture above.  It's simple and small (best for a first-timer like me, no?) and conveys my love for all things fashion through its intertwining hangers, but in a discreetly feminine and stylish way, don't you think?

Photo Source: Vanessa Jackman

P.S.  And I'm hoping when that one day comes, that after that tat, I'll want another (and another and another after that) because I'll become so addicted; and if I ever get super brave, I'd love to get this particular one right in the center of my chest (the heart has a very special and personal, almost double meaning to me) that would serve as a constant reminder that I'm still beating for a reason.

Pocket Change

Gah!  Is this not the most perfect, effortlessly thrown-together and chicest-of-all-chic outfits you've ever seen?!  Hang on.  I need a moment.  Woo.  Ok.  I'm back.  And if it means that I may have even the slightest chance of looking even a little like the style maven that is Karla, then by golly, I'm going to walk - no, run - to my nearest American Apparel and snatch up every single pocket tee in every color imaginable so I can at least start to try and mimic her amazing, totally-worth-every-pretty-penny-spent style.

Photo(s) Source: Karla's Closet

Hat Hair

Now that I have definitely decided to grow out my hair - which at times was brutal, agonizing even - I've come to realize my love for hats has come back with a vengeance.  Not wearing them with my previous pixie cut, fearing I looked a tad too boyish for my liking, has now been quelled with this furry friend (good golly, with the entire ASOS line, really) and I'm all too excited to don as many different styles as possible this season.

Photo Source: ASOS