Victory!

(and thus ends my Entourage moment)


But, if you remember back here I posted about NEEDING a particular cardigan from Anthropologie:

Well let me tell you a funny little story about this cardigan. Shortly after creating that post, I wandered around the city on my lunch break...not too out of the ordinary for me when the weather is nice--however, this day I was feeling gross, and bloated, my hair was doing whatever-the-hell-it-wanted despite my best efforts, and I was just feeling down and out. So I took a break to walk and clear my head. I stopped by Starbucks, got an iced drink of some sorts (this was a while ago and my memory isn't the best with the wee little details, but the drink is enough detail for where this story goes). Anyway, I'm wandering around, just trying to enjoy the weather, get my vitamin D for the day and perk up...and I all of a sudden realize that I was near Anthropologie. Retail therapy will cheer me up!

Or so I thought....I rushed in through the doors--a girl on a mission. I grabbed this lovely cardigan and made a dash for the fitting room, fat day and all, I mean I wasn't trying to squeeze into pants. While trying to hunt down someone to let me in a room (why are they never there when I need one?!) it hit me--mybladder was full. So now, I'm a disaster wind blown, messy hair, fat day, bloated gross, omg is that a pimple coming through?!, already down-in-the-dumps girl trying on a cardigan for weather it is not yet appropriate for, and oh yeah, it's my lunch hour and I will have to wander back to work shortly, waiting to try on one. little. cardigan. STRESS!!!!

I get into the fitting room and pull the cardigan on and....

...disappointment.

I HATED IT! Couldn't take it off fast enough. It was unflattering, and made my gut look big(ger at the moment) and man there was something just off (no, it couldn't possibly be my self defeating attitude at that moment).

Discouraged, I left Anthro with nothing but a full bladder and rushed back to work.

So, this past weekend when I figured it was time to put away the flip flops, strappy sandals and open toe anything and purchase those sweaters I needed. It was off to the mall for me!

I was in a much better frame of mind. I knew what I needed and I was a girl on a mission! I went into Anthro and knew exactly what I was looking for...and no, it was NOT the Frilled and Thrilled cardigan.

But wouldn't you know...we crossed paths again! There was 3 hanging on a sales rack, I looked and wouldn't you know, there was ONE in my size! This is a sign for me. I'm a stalker shopper and when something I want is in my size and on sale it NEEDS to come home with me. But, I remembered our previous nightmare of an encounter. However, I remembered my down-and-out day, and figured trying it on in a better state of mind couldn't hurt me...

I. LOVE. IT.

I didn't try on the one in the colors pictured, but rather its bordeaux/chartreuse partner, it's a lovely combination and I'm glad to have found it, and this time it did come home with me.

Let this be a lesson (to me, but feel free to listen, too) that shopping with a negative mindset can have a negative impact on my wardrobe!

Mixed metals

So you saw my polyvore inspiration I used for my mixed metal designs. I figured now would be a good time to follow up and show you what my pieces turned out like.

The bracelet is a 3 strand one and I love the contrasting colors. I wasn't sure how the solid, all one color strands would look, and I think I might recreate this with just a random mixing of all colors on all 3 strands and compare the two.

It was the hoop earrings that really got me to thinking that it might look amazing to do it this way.

I actually love how these hoop earrings turned out and I am definitely going to order more of these beads so that I can create a necklace (I'm thinking long, maybe wire linked, a few strands) for myself with the mixed colors. I'd also probably go larger in size to make construction a bit easier for myself (especially if I'm going to be wire wrapping each one).

So what do you think? I'm loving mixed metals, and I couldn't be more pleased with how these turned out.

What happened to Lloyd?

Alright, so anyone who knows me, knows that I love Lloyd Dobler. I mean, I love John Cusack and he's one of my fake boyfriends, but really I cannot resist Lloyd Dobler.

John Cusack as Ed in Identity, I still see him as Lloyd Dobler. How about as sweet Eddie in America's Sweethearts...still Lloyd.

So when I see John Cusack is in an Action/Drama movie (2012) I have a hard time picturing him as the bad ass he could be.

I'm sure he's got his John Cusack touch to it, it could even be somewhat of a comedic role to break up the stress of the plot...I mean, it is the end of the world, even I would crack a joke or two to break up the tension. But really, he'll always be Lloyd Dobler.

Inspiration

Behold my design board (a la polyvore) for my mixed metal bracelet. I'm hoping that this weekend (if the sun ever shines) to take pictures and have the bracelet listed in my etsy shop next week sometime.

Polyvore is great for putting together outfits, but I often find myself saving things that color-wise inspire me, or I like for no other reason that "boy, that's pretty!". It is super helpful in many ways, and I see myself using it more often than I originally thought I would.

Hello Lover...

I'd like to introduce you to the newest addition to my family:

(Blowfish Fantum Boots)

These bad daddies are the newest to my shoe collection. I love the look of fold over boots, but felt I needed something a bit more practical. Sure, the bad ass motorcycle style they play off of might not be the most practical, but I'm a shoe fiend, I NEEDED these the minute I saw them. I had been searching for black, flat boots and these fit the bill (they ARE black, and flat after all). I just figured in the harsh New England winters, I might need something to wear out to meet friends, date with Dan, anywhere that my fuggs can't be worn (that's faux uggs to those who may not know). These indeed will keep me warm, grounded (or rather, not falling to the ground when walking over ice) and stylin.

Of course, since they're new I need the perfect first outfit to wear with them. I'm thinking my skinny jeans but the top half is where I freeze. I like the first time I wear anything new to be a "wow" moment, to display whatever item it is that's new, but without being boring...and this is where it gets complicated. I don't want to be all blah blah boring until you hit the boots. I do tend to use accessories more as my statements than my clothes, but just what is a girl to do?

Stay tuned. I'll have an outfit at some point, I'm just not sure what yet.

Rekindling an old flame

The other day I was putting away all my summer/spring bags in my closet when I stumbled across an old love of mine:
C.O. Bigelow's Mentha lip shine. I love this stuff. I forget that I love it though. How is that you ask? Well, anyone who knows me knows that I am a Burt's Bee's girl. I have tubes of Burt everywhere. One in my desk, in my purse, in my living room, next to my bed (for those late night chapped lip emergencies!). I mean, I even gave everyone in my bridal party a tube of Burt, but I digress...

Bigelow's Mentha Lip shine is great though. Gives the same mentha tingle you get from Bert, but with an AMAZING sheen and without the goop that most lip gloss has. Another benefit? It also freshens your breath! Score!

I also have the C.O Bigelow Mentha Body Wash, which I also enjoy. It's really invigorating for those groggy mornings.

I highly recommend these products. You can get them from Bath & Body stores as well as online and at C.O. Bigelow stores.




oh, and if you're looking for the upside-down apple cake...I can't post it (the pictures are killing blogger) but you can find the recipe here or at marthastewart.com

Apple picking adventures.

So, the other weekend Dan and I went apple picking. We went to Honey Pot Hill Orchards in Stow, MA. It's a good sized orchard and it's always busy! The leaves were just starting to change, so we got to take in some of that while we walked around filling our bag.

(goat!)

Stay tuned for some delicious apple baking to come later!

sometimes you've got to sparkle.

My latest Etsy addition. Swarovski crystal sparkle earrings. ($17)

I'm a slacker!

Whoops! So, I have been very bad at staying on with the blog!

Operation Accessorize was a success and I had many comments on my necklace:

(aren't we the cutest?)

It's hard to see it (I will take a more closer picture later)...but it's got cobalt, pale turquoise and clear glass beads that come together and is finished with chain.

It's now fall in New England. While I am not a fan of the cooling temperatures, there's so much about fall that I do love...apples, pumpkin flavored anything, the changing leaves... I have many fall traditions. One of them is apple picking which Dan and I did just last weekend. Stay tuned for pictures from that adventure as well as my baking adventures that followed!

We're having a heat wave!

Well, it's not really an official heatwave since it's ONLY 89* (but feels like 101*) here today, but it's a span of days like this that make me want to be here:

Good ol' White Island Pond...my family has a cottage here, it's been in our family for at least 60 years. It started off as a one room fishing shack and has developed into a VERY rustic cottage on the lake. (It's a lake, I swear...it has to do with depth of sun penetration, size, etc. but they can't just up and change the name).

Anywho, I LOVE this place. It's my spot where I go to clear my head, relax, and just beat the summer heat (it's usually about 10 degrees cooler here than back home). The one thing missing from this picture is the boat, which I call my perch. I will sit/lay out on the back of it, rocking out to my ipod and flipping through magazines, and oftentimes catching a quick nap. What can I say, the waves are soothing.

Operation Accessorize

Okay, so you may or may not be aware that I make and sell jewelry. So, whenever an occasion should come up that requires special dress, I make something. In a short 2 weeks Dan and I will be heading to Seattle for his brother's wedding. Of course I see this as an opportunity to not only buy a new outfit, but also make something JUST FOR ME! I often get so caught up in gifts, bridal orders, and keeping petal & pink stocked that I don't create anything for myself. So now I get the chance!

Enter the outfit.

the dress

the shoes.

So the dress is from the Gap. I bought it back in June when Dan was away camping. What can I say, he goes away and the only thing to fill that void is some shopping! The shoes are Nine West. They're adorable Spring/Summer shoes, and I don't get many chances to wear them.

So now my challenge is to tie the shoes and the dress together. They already share a cobalt blue color together so the rest should be easy! I'll be sure to share my creation, and I promise pictures will improve. I'm getting my fancy DSLR tonight!

I don't want you. I NEED you!

Hello, lover.
So, I know I need a lot of things but this Frilled and Thrilled cardigan from Anthropologie is on the top of my must have list for the fall. I'm a big fan of everything uber girly, and ruffles are certainly that! I must admit, I have visions of walking around wearing this, a lacy cami (probably one of the few dozen I own from American Eagle) with jeans and my oh deer! sequin flats. Oh the times we'd all have together...(yes, dear reader, I refer to my clothing, and especially my shoes as if they were living, walking creatures...they have soles you know! ha! Bad play on words? Yeah, I thought so too. Sorry about that.)

Anyway, when I really get into my fall shopping I will let you know when this is mine (oh yes, it will be mine...) with a full review. Don't expect it soon though. Fall shopping means that I'm admitting to the end of the summer, and since it's started so late here in Boston I will most likely refuse to admit fall until late October, and who knows maybe by then this beauty will be on sale.

New stuff coming soon!

If you ever read this, you'll notice *gasp* all my posts are...gone! Well I'm sure my first postings on Etsy and my "just cake" cake tastings weren't very exciting anyway. Coming (hopefully tomorrow) I'll have a REAL blog post and hope that this turns into a REAL blog.