Have a B R I G H T and M E R R Y Christmas!

 

 

 

 

Tis' the Season for sequins!  I can't get enough.  Between Christmas and New Year's I want nothing more than to shine bright like a diamond! How perfect is this emerald green sequins dress?  I need something with long sleeves to live in Ohio; However, it's not a white Christmas this year, just a rainy one. 

 

The red peacoat paired with the green dress is the perfect palette for Christmas.  I wanted to keep the hat and shoes neutral in color but still stand out!  I don't think you can go wrong with bows and more sequins. With the plunging neckline of the dress, I felt like I was missing something not having a necklace.  When in doubt, you guessed it, add something shiny. The gallery pave link necklace from Ann Taylor was the perfect addition.

 

How are you spending Christmas?  Hopefully with those that you love the most!  I am back to work the day after Christmas (TGIF) so I'll try not to get into any spiked egg nog ;)

 

Merry Christmas to all!

 

 

 

Dress - Urban Outfitters (old)

Necklace - Ann Taylor

Hat - DSW

Shoes - DSW

Bye, Buddy! Hope You Find Your Dad

 

 

This year I started my Christmas shopping in November!  Between my company's sample sale, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, in store deals, and the new Green Monday, I had my shopping finished by early December!  I love wrapping gifts - I don't care how much I spend in paper, ribbons, bows, and gift tags - I need the presentation to be as nice as the gifts! 

 

I love everything about Christmas - the cookies, egg nog, decorating, lights, sequins, and MOVIES!  I don't have cable, but I do have Netflix and Hulu.  Every night, you can pretty much count on me tucking myself into bed with a holiday movie.  Abercrombie kids released a few shirts from Charlie Brown Christmas, Home Alone, Christmas Vacation, and Elf - the classics!  I was able to squeeze myself into a child's XL and I do not regret my purchase.  This is my absolute favorite line in the movie!!!

 

In order to dress up my casual tee, I did the only thing I know how - add sequins!! These sequins joggers are a comfy fit! I like the elastic waistband - perfect for holiday gatherings.  The blazer adds sophistication and the statement necklace adds some more glam.  On my feel I am wearing black booties with a small touch of leopard print - because leopards a neutral - and it ties in the black blazer.

 

What are your favorite holiday movies to watch??

 

 

Tee - Abercrombie kids - 50% off entire site + $5 shipping

Pants - NY and Company

Necklace - DSW

Booties - DSW



A Pop of Red....it's the holiday season!

 

I love this scarf!!!  It's sold out almost everywhere so most sellers raised the prices to something astronomical.  I came close to opening my wallet and punching in my credit card number....or even worse, signing into pay pal - one click and that scarf would be mine, all mine!  After clearing my head, I signed into eBay and purchased it for the very affordable price of $12.99 - then waited almost two months for it to ship from China, ha!

 

I'm still learning how to wear it around without it feeling like a neck brace.  Does anyone else feel a little restricted with their head movements?  It's especially difficult to drive in - When I need to merge right, I try to turn my head, but my whole body moves instead, which also pulls my car to the right - watch out on those Columbus highways, people! Sooo, that's dangerous...

 

Moving on..... Being the holiday season, I wanted to keep it neutral but play on the red in the scarf.  I wore this cream sweater and paired it with olive jeans which also match the scarf.  Add my favorite brown booties with the glitz and the glam on the heel and a red winter headband and red lips to complete the look!

 

 

 

Scarf - eBay
Sweater - H&M
Pants - Marshall's
Booties - DSW
Headband - Forever 21

Faux Fur + Floppy Fedora = Bohemian-Chic

This fall has been all about faux fur and it's a great transition into winter, as well!  I've always like fur, but it hasn't always been in style.  About three years ago, I purchased a black fur vest from New York and Company, wore it for a season and then BAM - fur is out.  This is why I'm a clothes hoarder - trends come and go too quickly.  I still have my black vest and now, I've added this brown vest from Forever 21 to my wardrobe, too!

I scored this floppy felt hat at the DSW sample sale - $1 - HOLLA!  It was probably my favorite find from this year.  It's the cherry on top to the outfit, if you will.

The horizontal strips on my top paired nicely with the horizontal stripes on my vest.  I completed my look with a statement necklace, jeggings and over the knee boots for extra warmth (You can still see snow in the background. I mean, it's Ohio, so it was warm this day, but not THAT warm..).


What are some of your favorite bohemian looks?

Hat - DSW
Faux fur vest - Forever 21
Striped shirt - Zara
Necklace - Francesca's
Jogging - NY and Company
Boots - DSW
Watch - Michael Kors

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

There is so much to give thanks for this year!  Not to start off on the dark side, but I've always been thankful for having all 4 of my grandparents until I was 24.  I have a special bond with all of them.  This year, I'm thankful for the times I get to spend with my Grandpa, esp after my grandmother passed.  He lives in Virginia Beach.  Ever since I was younger, I started calling him Bumpy and called my grandma, Bada.  The start of Bada of Bumpy began - and the nicknames stuck with everyone! 

When I picked him up from the airport, I brought him to my neck of the woods - Short North - and we hit up The Pearl's happy hour - beers and oysters. SO DELICIOUS!

I even sweet talked my Bumpy into taking my blog pictures for me.  He's really into photography - normally birds - so I think taking photos of an actual human was a new experience for him.

As I picked out my Thanksgiving attire - comfort was my number one goal.  This oversized varsity sweater has been my go to this fall.  I first fell in love with it when it was the cover photo on Cosmo's Sept edition. When I found it a few weeks later on Francesca's website, I scooped it up.  I paired it with a Chambray shirt for extra warmth (the sweater is more thin than I would have wanted).  These camo pants were a no brainer because who isn't thankful for the brave men defending our company.  I am very thankful to live in America.  Land of the great!  I kept it basic with these cognac flats.

My family has all of the food covered this year, so I was in charge of table decorations.  I used a lot of leaves, candles, mesh, pumpkins, and GLITTER.  I also took to pinterest to learn about napkin folding.  I've impressed myself. 

What are you most thankful for this year?


Varsity sweater - Francesca's
Denim shirt - Abercrombie & Fitch
Camp pants - NY & Co
Chevron necklace - NY&Co
Pointed toe flats - DSW Audrey Brooke

City Mouse Goes Country

If you know me, I think you'd find it hard to believe that I grew up on a farm.  It's true.  My dad raised chickens, pheasants, guineas, and goats (I had a goat named Tabitha).  I wasn't active in 4-H like most of my classmates,  and the most I did on the farm was help collect chicken eggs - and sold them to my teachers.  Once I left for college, I stayed in the city... for good!  They say Home is where the Heart is, and I think that will always be true.  Home is my place of escape.  Home is where I feel loved, relaxed, peace, and content.  Basically put, It's where my heart is.  My parents moved from our farmhouse while I was in college, but we're still surrounded by cornfields, farm land, and cow crossing signs.  No matter which house they live in, "Home is where the heart is".

Chambray top - Abercrombie and Fitch
Midi skirt - EBAY
Necklace - Bauble Bar
Snakeskin Shoes - Target
Watch - Michael Koru

Chains so Big, I Can't Pop My Collar

In preparation for my last post - National Shoe Lover Day - my employer sent out an email for a "casting call", if you will for a video that would be used in social media.  Instructions? A killer pair of shoes and your smile.  I had no idea what to expect, but my goal was simple: get selected for this video! 

Every girl knows the camera adds ten pounds, so choosing a black ensemble was a no brainer.  I promised my roommate I would give her closet credit for the black top with ruffle sleeves I paired with my faux leather leggings.  Because leopard print is a neutral, I added my new wedge booties for a print.  Finally, I gave my outfit the Midas touch with my chain bib I purchased over the summer. It's certainly becoming a fall staple in my wardrobe!

After it was all said and done, I didn't make the video.  But a couple of my friends did.  It's a super fun video! Check it out here!



Top - Express
Leggings - Forever 21
Necklace - Bauble Bar
Shoes - DSW (Exact here)

It's here - National Shoe Lover Day!!!

Did you know today is a holiday??? Cancel your plans because today you are going shoe shopping!!!!


Here is a blog post from DSW's "Do You Speak Shoe Lover" blog:

HAPPY NATIONAL SHOE LOVER DAY!

October 25, 2014

It’s alllll happening! National Shoe Lover Day has officially arrived, and we are celebrating like mad. And what exactly are we doing, you ask? Here’s the rundown:

• In each store we’ve got FREE t-shirts for the first 100 in line, a great party atmosphere, and other surprises you’ve got to check out for yourself! 
• 1 in every 25 Shoe Lovers win FREE shoes with their in-store or online purchase! So your chances of scoring a pair? Good—like, reallllly good.
• And get this…everyone’s got another chance at FREE shoes! In a store? Find our fun floor graphics, snap a pic, and post with hashtags #ShoeLoverSelfie #Ad. Can’t get to a store? Just download this, print it out, and follow the same steps as above. Then, cross your fingers and hope you’re a FREE shoes winner! (Get even more details on the contest here.)
• We’re rockin’ out to Abby’s playlist like all day—because good jams are essential for an unforgettable party!

Okay, what are you waiting for?  Hop online now www.DSW.com or get to your nearest DSW store for a chance to win cool things!!!!

My Best Bargain Yet!

Would you believe me if I told you my dress cost less than these shoes??!  Well, that's a fact, believe it or not!

Thanks to Francesca's and their amazing FLASH SALE, I scored this dress for only $29.99! I couldn't wait to receive it in the mail, and it came just in time to wear to a friend's wedding.  It was an outdoor wedding, but the dress was a little heavier so I wasn't cold like I anticipated - oh, listen to me, "Cold" in August?? I know it's 93 degrees this weekend, but a few weekends ago, it was down in the 50's.... are other states feeling these temps??

Moving on.....

I loved the fit and flare of this dress! Not to mention, it was easy to dance in - I was the one who requested B.Spears ten times, you're welcome, wedding guests!  Because of the floral texture and the beaded waistband, jewelry wasn't really an option with this.  Sometimes, less is more and that was the case for this dress.  If I wore silver jewelry, I would have paired it he dress with some silver bracelets for some extra Bling!  But these BCBG suede dorry heels took care of that extra Bling for me!  Talk about "W-O-W" Best part is they were soft suede so I was actually comfortable all night for my first time wearing them.

DId I mention the best part?! Francesca's is having 30% off right now on dresses.  Score this Jun and Ivy Embellished Floral dress for 30% off (Regular $118).  I have to say that buying this dress during their flash sale was one of my best bargains yet..... Ain't that the truth!!!

Dress - Francesca's