Holiday Time

It's crunch time. Last night, I was running all over creation at 8:00 at night getting the last (or so I think) of my holiday shopping done. Now, I need to find the time to wrap everything, aka scream at the crappy wrapping paper that I always seem to get as it rips and tears all over the place. Anyway, here are some outfit and design tips for the big day this weekend:

Helloooo everyone knows the best present you can give someone is yourself! I love the large bow on this dress, especially how it's off to the side and allows the dress to drape with it. Also, love the pretty shade of gold.

I'm quite obesssed with this full shaped skirt. How festive would this be for the holidays, especially with the cute goldy metallic stripes running through?? Too bad I have no idea where it's from. I love street style, but this is what happens when you actually want to purchase something someone is wearing.

Fabulous dress, and again, who knows where it's from. I actually have a dress like this that I could easily throw a little silk pleated skirt on over top. Maybe that's what she did? I love when pieces prove to be double-duty.

And if you're hosting the holidays at your house, here's some great inspiration for your tablescape or sideboard:

Also, I'll randomly throw today's outfit in the mix. I'm having a love affair with this leather shirt from Ann Taylor. It's short sleeved and the sleeves are a heavy weight cotton fabric for contrast. My husband called me Matrix the first time he saw me wearing it. I don't really care what he has to say...

I'm also very into the holiday season with my glitter red manicure:

Any fun outfit/tablescape ideas you have for this weekend?

Leopard and Stripes

I just recently blogged about leopard prints and florals, but here I am again, this time with leopard print and stripes! I'm really bringing home the fact the leopards are a neutral.

Wasn't this the cutest pregnant woman you had ever seen?? I say was and had because she's since had her baby. It's the author of the lovely blog, The DayBook.

I caved in and bought the uber-trendy leopard loafers. My friend and I pounced on them together at Marshalls for only $49.99! And they're Steve Madden. At first, we didn't succumb to the pressure of them, but then they haunted me all night so I had to go back and get them. Which, by the way, I highly recommend doing when you're unsure of a purchase. Go home and if it's still on your mind, you know you really want it. Unless of course it's like Prada heels 50% off or something. That's just crazy to need to think about that, plus they fo sho won't be there the next day...

P.S. If you're still contemplating the loafer trend, here's some very chic ladies who convinced me. I'm sorry though, I still will not be on board with the ones that look like slippers. What the hell is the fashion world thinking??? What's next, bath robes as cardigans?? Which, actually, I could get on board with some mornings at the office...

P.P.S. And you know leopards and stripes look good in the interior design world, too:

Bahamas Style

The hubs and I have a business trip to Orlando in February, so we're going to play hooky for a couple of days afterwards and head to the Bahamas! I'm a tad bit freaked out since we have to fly into Nassau first and then take a charter flight to this teeny tiny island. They needed to know our weights. Freaking out...

Anyway, here's the little house we rented:

And obviously, I'm already thinking about what I need to pack:

I'm planning on catching up on lots of reading. I'm super into herbal medicine and natural style foods, etc. lately, which explains the herbal kitchen book. I'll keep ya posted on what I learn ;)

The interior of the beach house looks cute, but oh boy, if it was mine in the Bahamas with its notorious bright saturated colors, I'd go nuts.

And I'd totally be scootin around the island in this bad boy:

Black on Black

Black is one of my favorite colors. You just seriously cannot go wrong with this color. The key making it work is by varying the textures/materials.

Hope you had a nice weekend! I had my huz snap a pic of my weekend outfit yesterday. I'm loving wearing my long skirts from summer with big wooly sweaters!

A Little Bit of Gray

Have a great weekend!

Merry Christmas to Me

Last night, I took a trip into Neiman Marcus since they've been bombarding me with flyers and emails about this insanely amazing sale they are having. I was strolling through the store, when what to my wondering eyes should appear, but the exact same shoes I was obsessing about yesterday on the SALE RACK!!! Needless to say, Merry Christmas to me... (and Happy Birthday, and Happy Anniversary, and probably Merry Christmas again)

Atlantic Pacific Jealousy

Today's post is basically to express my extreme jealousy of Atlantic-Pacific's shoes. First, she gets a Celine bag and now the Valentino studded heels I'm obsessed with????

L-O-V-E!

Also comes in flats!

I'll have to bite the bullet on these bad boys in the Spring. I'd be too sad to buy them now and only look at them all through winter. What I love most is the femininity of a classic pump contrasted with the edgyness of a stud. Just like in the below room, which I cannot get over. I feel like I may have posted if before, but who cares, it's gorg. Studded walls?? Insane!

I love how upholstery tacks can be used in areas other than upholstery to get a studded look:

Click here for a how-to on adding tacks to your cheap doors. Looks so oolala!

Also love this glam factor in a kitchen:

Monday Madness

Well, it's another Monday somehow. How was your weekend? Mine was filled with holiday cheer, including a breakfast with Santa, a visit to Hershey Park, and a shopping trip to Terrain at Styers. I'm a huge dork when it comes to the holidays and love anything that has to do with December 25th. Unfortunately, it's back to the work grind today...

I'm super obsessed with these pants right now. I love the gold zippers and how they lend an edgyness to basic black pants. They're from Zara, btw. And here's some pics from Terrain:

I also popped in at J.Crew and as I was leaving heard a woman asking the cashier what shirt she should pair with this skirt she wanted. Not being able to keep my nose out of a fashion dilemma, I volunteered my opinion. It was the below skirt. I suggested she pair it with a purple sweater, because how fun and unexpected is purple and red??

Red is a perfect match for purple if you ask me: