It's raining, it's pouring...

Yes, I am totally and utterly aware that it is the first day of December. Yes, I know that the holidays are mere weeks away. Don't get me wrong, I am unreasonably excited for Christmas.

I am beyond thrilled to see the Nutcracker with my one of my nearest and dearest; I am excited to go tree shopping; I am ecstatic about Starbucks heavenly peppermint hot chocolate & the parades & mailing cards & all of those things... but when Lilly sends me an e-mail like this one... I just begin to imagine myself on the deck of a cruise ship... tanning, reading & sipping a mojito. If I could also borrow this young woman's bone structure, my mental imagery would be about as close to Heaven as it gets.

Seriously, though... anyone up for a trip to Mexico?

Yes, I know I wouldn't look like this, but a girl can dream, can't she?

This might be a better choice for me.

...and I'll take one of these, please.

I promise next time I'll attempt to be more seasonally appropriate...

Freaky Friday!

I occasionally get the sense that in the time it took me to blink one single, solitary blink, a whole slew of days flew by. This is what the last week has felt like to me. For one thing, I went on an adventure to the Midwest! It was, without a doubt, one of the most fun weekends I've had all summer. I was certainly in good company, but I think one of the main reasons the trip was so enjoyable was that the people of Indiana and Illinois exhibited a kindness and an air of contentment that simply doesn't exist on a grand scale on the East Coast. It's too bad because it made even tiny exchanges at the corner store seem like a celebration of living.

Of course, I'm also in wonderful spirits because one of my most favorite seasons is swinging into action-- autumn, naturally! I love the crispness in the air... the pumpkin spice lattes... the sweaters! AH! It's all too much... and the fashion. Heaven help us, the fashion.

Speaking of clothing, there seems to be no dearth of occasions for dressing up in the next few months-- everything from a wedding to a christening to an incredible anniversary celebration of one of the non-profits I work with. With that being said, it seems almost unnatural to consider attending all of these events without even ONE new dress. ;)

How do you feel about this one?

YourNextShoes.com

If your shoe collection numbers in the triple digits and you truly believe that flats are for quitters, then do I have a website for you.

I have fallen head over heels in love with Your Next Shoes. As if I needed any help eliminating my measly paycheck every other week, I now have a virtual assistant to help make the job a little easier. It primarily serves as a blog, but also includes recommendations, a style guide, and coupon codes. Not to mention, what seems like an enless collection of photos to sift through and drool over. It's like a haven from the real world for shoe lovers everywhere... and what more could a girl ask for?!

How to Be Devilishly Good Looking

Color me a big, fat dork, but I have been a huge Disney fan since birth. I am also a huge fan of MAC make-up. Can you guess where this is going?

If you hadn't put it all together, this fall, Disney and MAC have partnered to create the "Venomous Villians" collection, inspired by none other than the most infamous Disney criminals around. I have to admit, based on the photos, it looks like their typical fare with Disney stickers placed on the front. Will this stop me from making such a ridiculous purchase? Of course not! I will, however, be interested to see this in person once it appears on shelves on September 30.

To check it out from the LA Times, click here.

Lucky Magazine: August 2010

Isn't she beautiful? Well, yes, the girl-- but I'm talking about that bag!

I love Lucky Magazine. I've been pouring over her every word for nearly a decade now--I think it's getting serious. The interesting thing is... my personal style isn't always represented in Lucky. Some issues it seems as if every single piece of clothing, every lip color, every shoe, was chosen specifically with me in mind. Other times, I can't even imagine taking a second look at a single solitary item. Regardless, I love it and I look forward to its appearance in my mailbox each month.

Now...So, I mentioned (see: the cake) that my manfriend and I attended an engagement party last weekend. While we were sitting and chatting, a friend of the bride-to-be walked over to say her farewells... I was stopped mid-sentence by the incredible bag she was carrying. It was a small, ivory, almost-messenger back with these adorable and oh-so-preppy tassels. To. Die. For. Upon closer inspection, it looked as if it were pretty clearly a knock-off of a more expensive bag. I'm not what you'd call a label snob, but I do want things that are well-made. This had rings attaching the straps to the base of the bag that didn't close entirely, and hardware that looked as if it had been spray-painted. Up close, it was slightly disappointing, by I decided then and there to figure out who made the original and if I could ever, in my wildest dreams, afford it.

Lo and behold, I am flipping through Lucky Magazine and BAM! There it is. Designed by Coach (according to the photo). By this I gather that it is expensive, but not "keep dreaming, you-sorry-Chanel-wannabe" expensive. I am overjoyed.

That was four days ago. Here I am, a week after the original sighting, and I've spent nearly 48 hours trying to locate a retailer online who carries this unbelievable bag. Would you believe I can't find it anywhere? Not even the Coach website! I've googled, I've shopstyled, I even went directly to the Lucky website. Nadda.

I'm slightly heartsick. (In the way you can only be over a handbag, not a legitimately heartbreaking occurrence, of course.) Do you think I could place one of those "missed opportunity" ads on craigslist?

Guilty Little Pleasures: Pretty Little Liars

I'll admit it: I am a cheesy television addict. Right alongside a serious passion for cupcakes and celebrity "rag mags," terrible TV is one of my favorite guilty pleasures.

Lately, I've been obsessed with the new ABC Family series, "Pretty Little Liars."  It's such fun! ...and don't get me started on the clothing. I don't know anyone who wore Givenchy earrings to their high school homecoming dance, and if you did (or do), don't tell me about it. It will hurt too much to know.

Back to the matter at hand... THIS DRESS IS TO DIE FOR. I absolutely love it. Of course, it is custom, but I just had to share it with you. How unbelievable is this?!

This is the description provided courtesy of ABCFamily.com:

Credits:
Dress: BeBe
Shoes: Michael Kors
Earrings: Givenchy
Belt: Vintage

Costume Designer Notes: from Mandi Line:
We used a matte black sequin dress from Bebe as a base. Then added beaded epaulets that were removed from a t-shirt from H&M and put on the shoulders. Added a feather closure on back of dress. We used a vintage belt with added beading from ISW and crinoline skirt to give it a carnival feel and used vintage stretch lace fabric that was made into a cropped glove for one hand.

Check out the style slideshow from the Homecoming episode here... and definitely watch PLL!

New Shoe Debut: Aldo Starace

Totally felt like the epitome of trendy (in a good way) rocking these about town last night... and now they're on sale! Run! Go get yourself a pair!

Making Sense of Style.

From the time I was a little girl, I've always had a very distinct sense of style. I see pieces that make my heart melt and I'm drawn to them like bees to honey. I've developed a pretty impressive wardrobe for a girl my age-- I am very blessed in that my shape hasn't changed too, too much and neither has my taste. Sometimes though, I'm disappointed in my ability to "put things together." By this I mean, there are a number of headbands with bows, chunky necklaces, chandelier earrings-- all really beautiful pieces-- that I can never figure out how to properly incorporate into an outfit. Part of the problem is that I am, by nature, a pretty casual gal. Don't get me wrong, I love getting dressed up for special events and the like, but on a day to day basis, you're probably going to find me in a cardigan, jeans, and a cute pair of flats or sneakers.

The same can be said for my taste in interior design. I know what I like, I buy what I like-- but how can I take these unique, individual pieces and make them gel in a setting that is cohesive and tasteful? I'm hoping that with a little more distance from my college experience (i.e. gradually detoxing on ramen and paper towels functioning as plates), that I'll gain a better sense of what does and doesn't work in a more mature, sophisticated living space. In the mean time, however, I'll just sit and drool over the apartments and homes of people who have gotten it down to a science.



I really love pink peonies and any flower that even resembles a pink peony-- just call me Blair Waldorf, please!






I have no idea where I found these photos-- they are just a couple of the hundreds that have accumulated in a file on my desktop named "pretty." If you can help me identify and give credit where credit is due, I'd greatly appreciate it!