Black pants Friday

I'm not one to fight crowds for a Black Friday bargain... I do pretty well with my sales on all the other major shopping days of the year, and I'd much rather sleep in and maybe (probably) do some online shopping.

But if I were going out, I'd probably throw on these black pants from the Gap, a.k.a. my new favorite pants. I'm not sure how I never realized that black pants are like jeans. They go with everything, only they can also be worn to the office on the other four days of the week. These have a two way stretch so they are perfect for sitting in, as well as running around in. Gap is always having a sale and I got them for a mere $25. I only wish they came in more colors.

The Rundown
Striped Shirt Gap similar
Black Pants Gap
Quilted Leather Vest Thrifted similar
Shoes Adrienne Vittadini via TJMaxx similar
Willis Bag Coach Thrifted
Floral Stud Earrings c/o Berricle
Rhinestone Necklaces The Cavernous Jewelry Box similar
"White Bean" Necklace Thrifted similar
Signature Spade Ring Kate Spade
Nail Color Essie All Tied Up

Be thankful for what you've got

Today marks our yearly reminder to take a moment and be thankful for all the wonderful things of life, both large and small.

Though one day really isn't enough. Often we fail to appreciate things before they are gone, and it is a proven fact that people who recount the things they are grateful for every single day live happier lives.

Why not resolve to make Thanksgiving every day of the year?

To start, today I am grateful for:
My loving, supportive family.
This blog, the doors it has opened, and the wonderful people who I've met because of it.
My mind, which I need to stop underestimating.
My dog, PITA that she is.
Coffee, chocolate, and pasta. Would life be possible without them?

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Rundown
Gingham Button Down J.Crew similar
Chambray Blazer J.Crew similar
Yellow Pencil Skirt JCP similar
Toe Cap Pumps Me Too via TJMaxx similar
Red Willis Bag Vintage Coach via ebay
Fatima Bracelet c/o Gorjana & Griffin
Lantern Bracelets Jenny Bird c/o Linger Rose
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Sweet Olive Jewelry
Sunglasses Ray-Ban Meteor c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color Cover Girl Wine Stain
Dog Chloe

What time is it?

I admit there was a time when I was very anti-watch, however after acquiring my first fashionable time piece a year ago, I have come to realize that not only does it make a great addition to my accessory collection, I love being able to look at my wrist to check the time, rather than pulling out my phone for the umpteenth time. What a novel concept!

Set One
I see no reason not to mix rose gold with yellow gold, and I imagine the leather strap on this Calvin Klein watch ($410) from Watch Warehouse is really soft and comfortable. I love the elegance of the thin strap and simple face. The crystal and spike bracelets from Bauble Bar ($28) and Blu Bijoux ($18) mix tough with elegant, and the Chic Couture chain bracelet ($27) rounds it out.

Set Two
Tortoise print only keeps getting more popular, so this watch from Fossil ($105) was an easy choice. Brown and turquoise is a favorite pairing of mine with this stretch bracelet from Blu Bjioux ($26) and aren't these Bauble Bar elephants ($34) so sweet? More tortoise ($32) and this really cool evil eye ($34) from C.Wonder for good measure.

Set Three
Kate Spade always delights, and this fun Explicatives watch ($175) might somehow make you feel less bad about running late. Play up the classic KS elements with a bargain bow bracelet ($6) from Forever 21, a pop of neon pink ($72) from LydellNYC and a swishy little tassel ($58) from C.Wonder.

This is a PR collaboration, my views and opinions are my own.

Distant memory

Was this really last week? Presently temperatures are barely hovering above freezing, yet, for a couple blissful days last week it was mid 60s, sunny and amazing. Like the kind of fall weather that could make you love fall. Much unlike when its 22° in the sun and I don't even bother leaving my house all day, I wanted to be out enjoying the weather. I walked the dog, I walked to the post office (in my heels no less) I took my time taking my photos... it was lovely, but now it feels like some distant memory, and not a week ago.

Taking advantage of any bare-leg opportunity I can get, I put together a look which was actually inspired by this outfit I spotted in the Victoria's Secret catalog, however my favorite part of the look is my new Linea Pelle Astor messenger bag, generously gifted to my by Linger Rose.

The Rundown
New York Tee Old Navy
Striped Skirt NY&Co. similar
Leather Motojacket Express similar
Shoes Adrienne Vittadini via TJMaxx similar
Bag Linea Pelle "Astor" c/o Linger Rose
Shine Necklace Ily Couture similar
Stud Bracelet Kohls similar
Thin Gold Rings Etsy via Sweet Olive Jewelry
Sunglasses Ray-Ban Meteor c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color Cover Girl Wine Stain

Plaid girl

New favorite shirt?
I think so. I've at least got to work on getting my money's worth so I won't feel too guilty if it ends up on the blog weekly.

I had really fun weekend; Meg invited Christine and I to be her 'dates' on one of her Marshalls Project Fab challenges. We got treated to dinner, and like all our dinner dates, also went shopping at Marshalls. I was good and mostly just did Christmas shopping.

On Saturday during the day, I went to several Christmas Fairs with my Mom, and bought three pairs of vintage earrings, including a pair of itty-bitty hexagon studs.

On Friday evening I went to the open house at Taken for Granite, a local gift shop where a friend works. I got to sip champaign and nibble on homemade cookies while I perused all the glitzy gifts and baubles.

The Christmas season has officially begun.

The Rundown

Plaid Button Down J.Crew Factory similar

Leather Pencil Skirt Lord & Taylor thrifted similar

Shoes Adrienne Vittadini via TJMaxx similar
Willis Bag Coach Thrifted

Rhinestone Necklace The Cavernous Jewelry Box similar
"White Bean" Necklace Thrifted similar

Bracelets Thrifted
Thin Gold Rings Etsy via Sweet Olive Jewelry

Sunglasses Ray-Ban Meteor c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color Essie All Tied Up

Instant Crush: Hexagons

No one ever asks you what your favorite shape is over the age of six, but I do still have one, and it is the hexagon.

Simple, elegant, gold of course, these would be wonderful additions to anyones collection (especially my own).

What's your favorite shape?

Clockwise from left:

Stackable Rings, $33 at By Boe
Sam Edelman Pave Stud Earrings, $35 at Lord and Taylor
Hexagon Necklace, $15 at Karma Loop
Giles and Brother Georgian Hexagon Link Necklace, $250 at ScoopNYC
Rebecca Minkoff Stackable Rings, $35 at Singer22
MOCIUN Hexagon Ring, $357 at La Garconne
Hexagon Link Bracelet, $524 at Anjolee
Honeycomb Bracelet, $45 at Gorjana Griffin
Labradorite Hexagon Ring, $309 at The Black Bow
Open Hexagon Earrings, $25 at JCP

Preppy kind of fall

I decided to participate in some ankle freezing the other day and wore my oft ignored cutout oxfords.

Oxfords are an awkward shoe. I love the idea of them, I love to look at them off my feet, with their edgy cutouts and studs, they seem like the kind of shoe that just wants to have a good time. I've pinned tons of inspiration photos of people wearing oxfords with cuffed jeans and they all look cute, yet I don't like how they look on me.

Do you wear oxfords? What do you wear them with?!

The Rundown
White Button Down Loft similar
Camel Sweater Thrifted similar
Boyfriend Jeans Old Navy similar
Red Pea Coat Nine West via TJMaxx similar
Cutout Oxfords G by Guess similar
Willis Bag Coach Thrifted
Anchor Bracelet Knotical Knovelites
Gold Circle Bracelet St. Thomas c/o TJMaxx similar
Blue Ring c/o TJMaxx similar
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Sweet Olive Jewelry
Midi Ring Urban Outfitters

Sunglasses Ray-Ban Meteor c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color Essie All Tied Up

Print in a monochrome

Cold weather often causes me to slip into my monochromatic dressing ways, though I always try to keep plenty of visual interest with details like textured bags, glitter booties, and printed scarfs.

This semi-metallic zebra print scarf from Fraas plays well with my neutral pallet while still livening things up a bit, and of course, keeps me warm!

The fleece dress I simply had to have finally arrived, and while it's very fleecy and cozy on the inside, it does have a completely unnecessary exposed zipper in the back, which is not covered on the inside, so it's cold on your skin - a definite drawback to what is otherwise a comfortable dress.

The Rundown
Grey Sweatshirt Dress Gap
Leather Motojacket Express similar
Black Glitter Booties Union Bay via TJMaxx
Zebra Scarf c/o FRAAS
Tote London Fog c/o Linger Rose
Hexagon Earrings Thrifted similar
Signature Spade Ring Kate Spade
Sunglasses Ray-Ban Meteor c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color Cover Girl Wine Stain

You can find this FRAAS scarf and others at specialty stores or you can call to order them from the company at 212-575-0191.

Scarf was provided by Lipton Publicity.
My views and opinions are my own.

Hello red Willis

I've added another vintage Coach bag to my collection. After seeing Willis in red over the summer, I could not stop thinking about it. So I created an ebay saved search, waited, watched, and finally bid! She became mine for just over $70.

I contemplated calling this post "ode to ebay mobile", as that app has totally changed ebay for me. We had an on again - off again relationship for years, because having to be at my computer for the end of an auction could be problematic.

Enter the iPhone app; no longer does it matter where I am or what I'm doing - I get a push notification 15 minutes before an auction I'm watching is ending, and bidding is super fast and easy. I have no issues with getting in my bid during the final 10 seconds of the auction.

I love getting push notifications for all my saved searches too, even listing items is fast and simple right from the phone. I never visit the ebay website anymore, I love the mobile app so much.

Also new in this post, the perfect plaid shirt from J.Crew factory (40% off) and brown booties to replace the ones I purged. I literally tried on every pair of booties at DSW and bought these, the very first pair I saw when I walked in the door. Figures.

The Rundown
Plaid Button Down J.Crew Factory
Red Pencil Skirt Express similar
Fur Vest American Eagle similar
Brown Booties Crown Vintage via DSW
Red Willis Bag Vintage Coach via ebay
Lantern Bracelet Jenny Bird c/o Linger Rose
Pave Link Bracelet c/o LydellNYC
Chain Bracelet, Rhinestone Bracelet The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Antique Rings The Cavernous Jewelry Box
Sunglasses Ray-Ban Meteor c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color Cover Girl Wine Stain

Somethings... different

Different is good. I went about exacting one, very small change in my life; I updated the look of this blog. It has been the same for years, and while it's not the most drastic of overhauls, I think it's just a bit fresher and cleaner.

I'm not a web designer, nor a graphic designer and I don't have photoshop. Here are a few links to the resources I used to get the look I wanted.

Social Media Icons - Designed by Carrie Loves, in an array of colors (glitter too) and completely free!
Hover Navbar - find simple instructions at BTemplates blog.
Hover Pin Buttons - Pinterest has code available, super easy to install, and if your blog header gets a pin button too, find code to fix it at Code it Pretty.
Welcome Image - Free online photo editor Pixlr is easy enough to work with, and lets you save transparent images.
Font for Welcome Image - Dawning of a New Day, free download and check out that 'L' - it is exactly how I write my 'L's in real life.

That's it!
What do you think?

The Rundown

Sweater TJMaxx similar

Jeans Kohls similar

Cognac Quilted Leather Moto Jacket Gap

Boots Chinese Laundry similar
Leopard Clutch Gap similar, similar

Scallop Brim Hat TJMaxx similar

Necklace Thrifted similar

Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Sweet Olive Jewelry

Ring Lucky Brand Gifted
Sunglasses c/o Hobie Harper