Spring Tops

It has always been hard for me to start shopping for spring clothing when it is cold. Now that I'm living in Park City it's even harder since there is going to be snow on the ground for a long time. I guess I'm going to be purchasing bright, spring colors in long sleeves and knit sweaters. 

This Theory shirt caught my eye a while back when I first saw it in yellow. A local boutique has it in the coral color, which is perfect for spring. How cute are the zippers?

The mint and blue combination of this Plenty by Tracy Reese blouse is my favorite part about it. I think it would be adorable with colored skinnies in either color.

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The color of this Joie top is called Fiery Red, but I think it looks a bit more coral. Either way, I would love it with a pair of white jeans. 

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Aztec is still popular this spring, and this mosaic blouse by Shoshanna is right on trend. I'm smitten with the ruffled neckline. Wear it now or wear it in the summer with denim shorts and sandals.

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Equipment makes some of the best silk shirts that I own. The mint of this makes me think of mint chocolate chip ice cream. Hum...I think I want some now.

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I think I must really be into Moroccan, Aztec, and mosaic type prints. This shirt is another one of my favorite picks of the moment.

 

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This Tibi sweater had me at "Hello". Come one, it's one of my favorite colors and my favorite brand. It would be perfect for cool spring nights.

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I also like this knit sweater by Michael Stars. We have it at the boutique where I work in a sweater and tank. 

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Which do you like best? Have you been spring shopping? What are your must-haves right now?

Getting Cozy {and Warm}

The weather here has been absolutely beautiful this week. It has been in the upper 50's, which has made it perfect for daily hikes. My schedule has switched around for the next couple of weeks at work--I am working just the weekends, which gives me lots of free time during the weekdays. A friend and I have been hiking and exploring new trails in the area. This is what we found after turning a corner and continuing up a slope.

 

 

Our weather is supposed to take a turn tomorrow, drop down into the 20's and 30's during the day, teens and 20's at night, and dump up to three feet of snow in some places over the weekend. When it gets like that I'm sure all I will want to do is sit by the fire and sip hot tea. I am slowly building a true winter wardrobe, something I haven't had to own in the past. This North Face Tadasana Tunic seems like it would be perfect to slip on each morning. I think I would wear the heck out of it.

 

 

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Snow boots did not get ordered before our first snow of the season a couple of weeks ago, but they are on their way now. I'm crossing my fingers that they will get here before this weekend, but I think it is going to be Monday. I had a hard time choosing what I really wanted, but I ended up getting Sorel's Cate the Great.

 

 

 

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When it comes to fleeces, I admit that I own a number of them. By far and away my Mountain Hardwear Monkey Jacket blows them all out of the water. If you want warmth and something that will block the wind, this one is the way to go.

 

 

 

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Smartwool makes the best socks for the cold weather. My favorite pair I own are grey with pink, blue and green skulls on them {maybe a little weird}. My feet are never cold wearing them around on the hardwood or tile with nothing else covering them. They always have cute patterns, too.

 

 

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Thro by Marlo Lorenz are the best blankets to curl up with on the couch. They are plush, soft, and very warm. I keep them in the living room and the bedrooms. You can frequently find them on One King's Lane, Joss and Main and even TJMaxx.

 

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Today I am off to the store to pick up more hot cocoa and tea for my pantry. Celestial Seasonings makes a Fruit Tea Sampler, which has all of my favorite flavors of theirs. I like to keep this one stocked in because it is caffeine free and I can drink it at night.

 

 

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Ok, so maybe I'm ready....or at least getting there....

 

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Leopard Booties

You know how I adore leopard, so when I saw people sporting leopard booties they instantly went on my wish list. My closet already has a variety of leopard shoes--satin wedges, sky high heels and comfy flip-flops--leopard booties are not among them.

 

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Lately all I've been wearing are skinny jeans, which leaves all of my boot cut jeans lying folded in my closet and not getting worn. On one of my new favorite blogs, Emily Jackson shows the perfect way to wear booties with boot cut jeans. The can be so versatile and worn with skinnies or wider-legged jeans.

 

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If you Google or type "leopard booties" into Pinterest you will get a million different options. I think my personal favorites are the flatter booties or the ones with a slight wedge, which makes them much easier to wear all day long. Here are a few of my top picks at different price ranges.

 

 

 

Handbags

I want a new purse. There, I said it plain and simple. Recently I have been thinking that I should probably get something that will be able to brave the ice and snow that will soon be coming in by the bucket load, because I really don't want to ruin anything nice. But then there's the problem of me liking nice handbags...hum. I was a little bit shocked when Bryan mentioned the other day that I needed to consider something else to carry. He opened that can of worms, thus he got drug all through Nordstrom while I pointed to and touched all of the different purses he could surprise me with as a gift. Since I am allowed to dream, I dream big.
 

 

Yves Saint Laurent Muse
Must I say more? It is a classic in this rich buttery leather.

Kate Spade Nylon Leslie
It might boil down to this bag being my winter weather bag pick. It is fun and classy, zips up and has a beautiful interior. I like that it is nylon, which means it doesn't have any leather to ruin in the winter weather.

Prada Saffiano
I have been dying to get my hands on this bag. It is everything in person that it is in pictures. Top.Of.My.List.

Tory Burch Robinson
This baby has been on my radar ever since it first was released.

Longchamp Le Pliage
Very practical for hauling my shoes and other goods back and forth to work. It can get tossed around and I'm not going to think twice about using the heck out of it.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Tate
This tote would also be practical to use in the winter months while facing the weather. (Em, do you already have this?)

These are a few that I am lusting over considering. I would love feedback from you. If you have seen anything else that I might like to use in the snow, please share.

 

Store Picks

I haven't shared this yet, but I recently started working at a local boutique. A girl we almost rented a condo from told me about it before Bryan and I even moved to town. One evening after dinner, while we were walking Ivy, I popped in to see everything it carried, and lo and behold they were looking for someone to hire. This is my second week working and it is exactly what I've wanted to do for a while now. It is a little bit slow since it is not tourist season, but I'm having fun learning the ropes of the retail business. Friends and family have been asking about what all the store carries, so I thought I would put a collage together with a few of my fall favorites.

{Let me know if you are interested in anything, we ship everywhere!}



Come On Fall

This hot, southern summer is no bueno. There was a small break in the dying heat for a week because of rain, but now it's right back up to the 100s. Don't bother eating a popsicle or ice cream outside, because it will be melted by the time you take your second bite. Although the thought of putting on sweltering layers right now makes me immediately start sweating, I'm ready for the cool air that comes with the fall. And boots. I'm ready to be wearing boots.

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Last year I would have said, "no way," but now I'm all about some booties. You know this camel/whiskey color is my favorite color for boots, and I am on the search for the perfect ones in ankle boots for this fall. Call me crazy {I don't know who I am becoming}, but I think I just might really like these Boutique 9 Elijah boots.

Yesterday I went ahead and ordered these little babies. They are Report "Marks" in sand. I found them on sale in my size on 6pm.com, and I knew that I would later regret not ordering them since they were the last in my size. I think they'll be cute with shorts, leggings, jeans and dresses.

I debated between the sand and the cognac--tough decision. 

What do you think? Bryan is a huge fan of this look, which makes it completely ok for me to have to spend a little extra cash to pull it off, right? ;) Have a great Wednesday!

Copy Cat

If I were a designer I don't know if I would be flattered or outraged when someone copied one of my designs and re-made it. I know there have to be some sort of copyright laws, but I don't know them. We see things on the runway and then all sorts of versions of them later in boutiques or department stores. Later they trickle down into outlets and discount stores. I am not one to always notice these things, but on a recent shopping trip I spotted a copy cat. In the mornings I like to visit Target very early, right after it opens. I had about 15 minutes to kill before TJMaxx opened, so I went into Kohl's to kill some time. Bam, there was the copy cat.

Let's be honest, it's a cute dress. Enter the original dress:

This one is the exact same dress, except that it is a different color and doesn't have a belt. {And it cost an arm and a leg in NYC last spring.}

If you want a Tibi look-alike, head to Kohl's and pick up LC's version. It's great for the summer and cost a whole lot less. {Just don't judge me when you still see me wearing mine in a few years since I'll still be wearing it to get my money's worth.}



Trendy Tuesday: Tortoise Necklaces

With my kind of coloring, tortoise has always been one of my favorite designs {colors} when choosing sunglasses. In fact, I think just about everyone looks good in tortoise. Lately I have been seeing a lot of tortoise necklaces and I think I need one of them in every shape and size that they come in right now. I just cannot get enough of these eye-catching gems. I think they are very versatile and go with many different outfits and colors.

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My current favorite style is the tortoise resin links. This one is currently at J.Crew and has some bling mixed in with it.

This necklace is on their weekly outlet sale, and I actually think that I like it better for wearing every day.

 And of course there is the knock-off on eBay, which is pretty cute, too.

The best part about this trend to me is that tortoise is such a classic look. Dress it up, dress it down, it is going to look great any way you style it. Here are a few of my other tortoise necklace picks.

Lust List

1. Bobbi Brown Ultra Nude Eye Palette

2. Danielle Stevens Monogram Bracelet

3. AG Polka Dot Skinnies

4. Gucci Marrakech Tote

5. Anthropologie Measuring Cups

Hello Shorty

Other than the rain the past 24 hours, our weather has been unseasonably warm. I feel like that has already been said a zillion times lately, but it's the truth. I've been wearing shorts and tank tops, sitting by the pool, and swatting mosquitoes. Shouldn't a girl be posting about cute jeans right now? I wore jeans on Monday and nearly died because of the 86* heat. So, let's talk shorts.

It all started with this shirt.

And then there was this dress.

{I think Blair at Atlantic-Pacific is a fashion genius. via.}

Both of these led me to these Zara shorts. Which I couldn't resist.

Aren't they lovely? I've seen a lot of clothes coming in a scarf pattern this spring. It was slightly difficult to find shorts right now made in various scarf patters being sold in the US. They are all over UK websites, though. Here are a few that I found. Some I'm not so crazy about, but I love the bottom left pair and the romper. What do you think about this fashion wave?

Dress Options

Bryan's brother is getting married in June, thus the search for a dress for me to wear to the wedding has begun. While I was talking to my mother-in-law last night, she asked me what I planned on wearing. Can you believe that I haven't actually given it any thought? My mind has been going a million miles in a completely different direction while I've been brainstorming with her over rehearsal dinner ideas and decor.

Here are a few of the details to keep in mind. The wedding will be at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. I am not in the wedding party, but Bryan is the best man; he will be wearing a tan suit. The bridesmaids' dresses are a crinkle chiffon fuchsia-watermelon-pink color, with straps and ruffles around the neckline and a short a-line skirt. Since it is an early afternoon wedding, it is not necessary to be extremely dressy, but I feel as I should be since I am family. I want to go for a stylish, yet classic look since the pictures will be around forever.

Of course I had to start the hunt online this morning since I haven't even begun to look for a dress and the days are drawing closer. I am a huge planner and this sort of thing needs to be taken care of and hung in my closet. This dress is my first option. I love, love, love it. The best part is that I found it on huge clearance! Everything about it is exactly what I want, except that it is pink. I'm really wondering if it is too close to the color of the bridesmaids' dresses. The last thing I want to do is step on anyone's toes over the issue, though I am sure nobody would think twice about it. Thoughts? Please give me some feedback.

My only other option right now is this Tibi dress. The color is perfect and I love the style. I think the shoes only add more to the outfit. What's the problem? I will not be splurging on both.

The search has only just begun, but I do want to hear some of your opinions on these dresses or other possibilities. Thanks, ladies!



Friday's Fancies: Oscar Outfit

This week has flown by for me. Being gone last Thursday through this past Tuesday makes the week short with only three days at home. Today we are off to Kentucky. It should be an interesting trip with a few stories to come back and tell. Hopefully we will be back in time to watch the 84th Academy Awards show on Sunday night. I always like getting to see who who takes a little man home to put on a shelf.

Friday's Fancies is all about Hollywood Glam today. What fun to pick out an outfit for the Oscars! Be sure to check some of the amazing blogs that link up with Alison at Long Distance Loving.

When it comes to being in the spotlight, I think some of the best dressed women are the ones who have a classically regal Hollywood look.

Dress: The one and only Oscar de la Renta. The one-shoulder is sexy, yet modest and the color brings out the green in my eyes.

Shoes: Miu Miu gold heels are not shockingly bold, but add a bit of fun to the outfit with their glitter.

Clutch: Not wanting to take a way from the dress or shoes, the Anya Hindmarch glitter clutch matches the shimmer in the shoes.  

Jewelry: I chose gold elegant gold jewelry and earrings with a pop of pink in them. The bracelet with the fringe drapes around the wrist, so I'm not sure what both together would actually look like.  

Hair: The hair needs to be pulled back and in a bun. This one is a little bit more modern, with a fun twist.

Makeup: A pretty pop of pink on the lips with the eyes being the focal point add the nice finishing touch to the whole look.

What do you think? I'm not one to make any bold or daring moves on the red carpet. Throughout the years, Catherine Zeta-Jones has been one of my favorites when it comes to glamming it up. I think she is a true beauty. That's all I've got for you today, lovelies. Have a great weekend!

Pretty Pastels

Did you know that it is not officially spring until March 20th? (Em, I think this means that you are technically a winter baby.) Oh my goodness, but this past winter has been so warm that I am already spoiled by the warm weather we have been having...all.winter.long. Seriously, I think we have had only two really cold spells. Last week one day there was snow on the ground, and two days later I was outside running in shorts. Insane.

 

Yes, I posted yesterday about all of the brightly colored jeans that we are seeing everywhere. As popular as brights are, pastels are equally as popular. As long as you're seeing color, it's definitely "in" right now. I have not participated in Semi-Wordless Wednesday in a while, thus I'm posting lovely pictures today.

Everything about this outfit makes me giddy with delight anticipating the upcoming season. Come on, spring!

All images via.