sweatshirt lux - 2 ways to wear!

We've been seeing them all over the past few months.   Chic, adorable, and cozy sweatshirts.  How do you wear a sweatshirt, though, without looking like you're going camping?  With the new styles that are out, it's pretty simple!
Balance out your looks; if it's a baggy sweatshirt, keep other pieces streamlined and chic.
If a more fitted sweatshirt is your style, feel free to play around with baggy, slouchy pieces to ground your look.

I've rounded up two styles below;
Edgy Fem - for our fierce ladies who love comfort and commanding the attention of a room.
Prepster Chic - for our more casual ladies.  Adding the boyfriend fit jean and pointy flat make this look perfect for weekend errands or lunch with your gal pals.

Which look is your favorite?

Don't forget to enter the $75 Anthro giveaway HERE 

navy, green and Sira & Mara

Being a little bit new to this over accessorized world I look for reasonable, quality pieces that are versatile and trendy at the same time.  I stumbled upon Sira & Mara and purchased a few items.  I wear them all the time.  I mean, seriously, ALL THE TIME.   Not to mention the owner, Sandy, is a total rock star.   She runs (like me) is totally into fashion (like me!) and love instagramming, der (like me!).  

This acrylic turquiose/blue necklace is so versatile, chic, and trendy I can't wait to style it again and again and again; much like the other pieces. 

Hop on over to Sira & Mara and check out her shop! 

Details:

Tee - Target

Pants - Gap

Shoes - Gap 

Necklace - c/o Sira & Mara

Don't forget to enter the $75 Anthro giveaway HERE

group giveaway - $75 to Anthro!

I've teamed up with a few amazing blogs today to give away a $75 eCard to Athropologie!!  Use the rafflecopter entry below and don't forget to check out some lovely ladies!

Simply Just Lovely / After the 40 Bar Finish / Living in Color / Ladies in Navy

The Fat and Skinny on Fashion / Naturally Nancy / Boho Bunnie

a Rafflecopter giveaway

tuesday trend | powder pink

I absolutely love when a pastel color stays true through fall and winter.   I'm loving all the peachy powder pink wear out there right now.  It's a great way to transition into fall and winter without looking drab, which is so easy to do!   

I've rounded up a few of my favorites in this luxurious hue from around the web below. My favorites are the vest, oxford and striped top.  

Pair these with the colors shown or oxblood (another hot color this coming season), navy, or rich chestnut brown to pull your look into fall.  

Which piece is your favorite and how would you wear it?

grateful

I write this as I sit, delayed, in Cleveland airport.  This morning we went to leave our beachy North Carolina vacation and was in a pretty bad accident which we all walked away from.  All it takes is one person not paying attention or checking blind spots and boom - there you are stranded on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere and a state you're unfamiliar with.  

Let's back up a few days, though.  We arrived at Carolina Beach Wednesday afternoon and the weather was gorgeous.  We dropped our things in the beach house and headed straight for the beach.   The ocean was so warm but I am not really a boogie boarder so I just enjoyed the view and snapped some pics.   We went out for seafood for dinner!  YUM!

We woke up Thursday morning, got ourselves some breakfast and did a round of golf.  Only 9 holes since, of course, we wanted to get to the beach!  Once we got to the beach a huge storm rolled.  So we quickly packed up our things and scurried back to the beach house.  Seafood dinner again! 

Friday we went to South Port for lunch and some shopping.  There were a TON of beautiful little boutiques.  I didn't end up buying anything.  Guess what we had for lunch?  Yep! Seafood. 

Saturday was our last Carolina Beach day.  We ate breakfast at Kate's (not seafood, although they did have crab eggs benedict on the menu which I found intriguing) and headed to the beach for the day.  I have a wicked tan/burn going on the front of my body.  Clearly I didn't thinking of flipping on my stomach all day.  It's actually quite funny. 

Guess what we ate for dinner - SEAFOOD.  My friend and I split the seafood boil platter - crab legs, clams, muscles, shrimp, oysters, corn on the cob, cole slaw and garlic mashed potatoes.  If you follow on Instagram you know that I gorged myself in that and a HUGE pina colada.  When in Rome, right? 

All in all a pretty good time!  

After the accident this sweet southern woman offered me a ride to the Raleigh airport which I was able to adjust my flight to take me out of.   I am so grateful for her, for my wonderful time in Carolina Beach and that Katie, Mike and myself are OK and mostly non injured.   

Sorry I don't have any outfits for you - I didn't really dress cute all week which was some what relaxing.  Back to the regularly scheduled program tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping by!  I missed ya!

self made

"Never by the book, always underestimated

It's hard to believe the life that you've created

Self made

The impossible endeavor, never would you trade

It's a legacy that you take to the grave

Self made

Self made

Live and die by the chance we're taking

Money don't buy the life that we're making"

- Self Made || Little Big Town

I was listening to this song last night.  I just felt like it described me and my life so far.  I've worked so hard to be where I am.  My family just told me how proud they are of me last night and then hearing the song it really hit me.  I've taken a dream and created a reality getting my T.C.R.G. certification.  I started my job as the receptionist and some how made it into a career!  I've taken a blog vision and created something cool.   I'm not perfect but I make it work.

This week I'm unplugging, well blog wise.  I'll still be on twitter and instagram documenting my North Carolina trip.  But, I've decided to take a whole 7 days off of blogging and all that encompasses.

I feel as though I deserve and need a break so, I'll be back in a few!  Enjoy your week!


Details:
Shirt - H&M, similar
Jeans - Old Navy
Shoes - Target
Bracelet - Sira&Mara

FAB FIND

 See, I've been absolutely oozing over the Madewell Leopard Skimmers.   I am still a pretty budget savvy shopper, though, and although I do feel that quality is worth the cost I was wincing at the thought of spending over $100 on a pair of shoes!   A co-worker said "surely you can find a copy less expensive" and I looked at her and said that I've tried but have not succeeded....
Until yesterday, when I was browsing the Gap's website and I found their pointy printed flat.  Bless my soul!!!!  I've found you!!
Still made with real calf hair, however, sans the leather insole yet HALF the cost.  I'm sold.  They'll be on their way to me August 25th.


I would love to do more of these features as I find them, so look for more FAB FINDS in the future!

weekend workout & workout wear || 22

When I'm working out I don't want to have to think about how many each individual move is supposed to be done.  I like to create these "mean 15's" and DIRTY 30 so that you can easily know that each move is either 30 seconds or you do 30 of them.   This workout should sufficiently kick your booty and sculpt your arms :)
I know I'm ready for a butt whooping.  Today I'll be taking a trial yoga class and then running, so I won't be doing this dirty 30 but, maybe tomorrow or Monday morning!

I do know however, that it doesn't matter what you do with your body if you aren't putting the proper food in, you'll never truly feel good.  A blogger friend and I have been emailing back and forth about the Paleo diet.  She knows that I do it a fair amount of time (excuse the occasional slice of Za!), and was curious on more info so she could too try it.   I was so happy that someone actually wanted to hear about it and wasn't turned off immediately by what you have to eliminate.   If you're interested in Paleo, I'm certainly not an expert, but I do try to do it to the best of my ability 85-90% of the time and am willing to answer any questions.
Looking and feeling good comes from the inside out!

Enjoy your weekend!