What I Want: kate spade

Happy Tuesday!
This weekend went by too quickly if you ask me.  One of the highlights was breakfast with the family (hello, Mimosas!).
I'm not sure what the deal is, but somehow Netflix and the universe are conspiring against me and keeping from watching Gilmore Girls.  Yes, I know it is campy, and Lorelai Gilmore is kind of a selfish brat, but I never did finish the series, and I aim to do just that.  If Netflix will let me, :/
Anyway.  I'm sure you know about the Kate Spade surprise sale going on.

kate spade purse / handbag

If I had my way (and a couple hundred extra dollars to spend), these would be on their way to my house right now. I hope your week is going well so far! ~Lori

A Beautiful Way to Blow Your Tax Return

So tax time has come and gone, and that means tax returns are being deposited into checking accounts all across America. I know a lot of people find tax time stressful, but then you start to hear stories about little splurges that area being made thanks to said tax returns.  I must admit that I splurged on a new purse (I went ahead and bought this Dooney & Bourke), and I've been spending a little more while shopping than I normally would.  Considering I want to replace the  flooring in my house this summer, I had better put the big spending on the back burner.
But if you've finally found yourself with a little extra cash in your account, why not treat yourself?  Go on.  Just please make sure to come back here and tell me about it, so that I can live vicariously through you!

Michael Kors floral pleated dress / Michael Kors sweater / Michael Kors sweater / Burberry coat / Donna Karan nightgown / Barbara Casasola black straight skirt / Burberry stripe pencil skirt / Dolce Gabbana cami / Michael kors shorts / Dolce Gabbana panty / Kate spade handbag / Kate Spade studded handbag / Burberry black shawl

I hope that you are having a fantastic Monday!

The Portable Dorothy Parker

If you like sarcasm and wit and clever (well-known) one liners, then you've got to get  the book The Portable Dorothy Parker.  You can carry it around and spew one liners all day.

available here

Or you could get this truly portable Dorothy Parker, and let it do the talking for you.

kate spade

It also comes in a little change purse, which I think is maybe a little more fun, since it's a little more subtle.  And bonus- both bags are on sale. There are a plethora of other bags, clothes, and accessories that are featured in the surprise sale through the 13th at 11:59, so hurry on over before all the goods are gone!
 

The Kate Spade Conspiracy

Okay, guys, don't be alarmed, but I am pretty sure there has been some kind of new technology that has been created that allows for thoughts to be read or dreams to be infiltrated.  How else could kate spade have come up with a wardrobe for spring that so closely resembles so many of my dream outfits?  I mean, come on!  Seriously, they have so many gorgeous pieces that I adore.

kate spade

Ummm, case in point- exhibit A.  This is ridiculously good.  And straight out of my dreams.

image via denim jeans observer

image via Style

I just can't get over the perfection that is that first outfit.  Really, it is like it was ripped from my brain.  Perfection.

So, what do you think?  Does kate spade have some secret designer weapon that allows them to access their customer's innermost thoughts and desires?  

I mean, I guess it could just be that the designers over at kate spade know what they are doing and are good at their jobs.  I guess that could be it.

Fall Wish List

Well, it's here- Friday. Thank God; this week it couldn't seem to come soon enough. This weekend we are heading down to the beach; this will be the first time all summer that we've gone. This is a far cry from our usual summers, where we have always spent at least a week at the beach on vacation. In fact, I think this is the first time ever that a summer vacation went by without a single trip to the ocean. But we will fix that tomorrow. Then Sunday we are heading to the local movie theater for a showing of To Kill a Mockingbird.  I am really looking forward to this, as the Cat has never seen this movie nor has she read the book.  I love Atticus Finch. (I love Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch.  Hell, I love Gregory Peck!)
In honor of the fact that I needed a light cardigan to throw over my sleeveless dress yesterday morning as I headed over to work, I thought I'd share with you some of the items on my fall wish list.  (The word WISH is heavy in play here, as some of these pieces are way out of my price range.  But hey, that's what stores like Zara and F21 are for, right?!)

Fall Wish List

Hive & Honey beige sweater / Dorothy Perkins loose shirt / Loose shirt / 3.1 Phillip Lim line leather jacket / Orla Kiely coat, $740 / J.Crew military field jacket / Tory Burch plaid skirt / Cole Haan buckle strap boots / Kate Spade pull on shoes / Old Navy round cap / Coach purple purse / MICHAEL Michael Kors purse / Giles & Brother hinged cuff bracelet / Humble Chic moonstone necklace / Hive & Honey wide bangle / Hive Honey bracelet / Hive & Honey chain jewelry / Tory Burch tech accessory


Okay, I left one piece off of this list that I have not been able to get out of my mind ever since I saw it over on A House in the Hills.  I am in love, in serious, serious love, with this dress.

One by Marna Ro 

                                                                    black cocktail dress/

It is perfection, is it not? And sadly, it is sold out. Anway, I hope you have a fantastic weekend! Any plans?

Running Errands

Running Errands by desertgirls featuring ralph lauren

GUESS blue jeans / UGG Australia slipper / Tory Burch handbag / Kate Spade glasses / Ralph Lauren /

Today I am linking up with Long Distance Loving for Friday's Fancies, and the subject is weekend wear. More specifically, we were tasked with creating an outfit for running errands. Lately, this kind of outfit has been my uniform outside of work. I love my lightly distressed skinny jeans, a split tab collared top. (See the one below? I bought one just like it, in black, at TJ Maxx a while back. And then when I found them at Marshall's, I got one in blue. And green. Oh, and white, like the one in the picture).

buy it here

Anyhoo.  I wore my white one to work yesterday, and then went home and changed into my black one after I somehow managed to get a spot on the pocket right before the Cat and I had to leave to go to a seminar.  I'm thinking the green one might be feeling left out; I'd better be sure to wear it this weekend while I do my running around.  If I ever make it out of bed, that is.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

What I'm Wanting: Turquoise

Happy Sunday, all.  We are wrapping up our vacation here in Wyoming with a little bit of country music, riding, and rodeos.  Hanging around real cowboys and cowgirls has made me crave some turquoise jewelry (when I was a kid, that was always my favorite), so I thought I'd share some pieces I wouldn't mind adding to my collection.

by Milk Handmade

This is a very simple take on turquoise, and I love that it is paired with gold since you almost always see this stone set in silver.

Ruche

With this Fauna Butterfly necklace, you can inexpensively jump into the bug trend that is popular in jewelry right now.

Max and Chloe

I love this necklace. It is so simple, but it is so pretty. And I just realized after making the statement about normally only seeing silver with turquoise, the three things I've posted so far have all been set with gold. I guess that is a more modern, less country take on this stone.
Okay, here is one more necklace.  This is the style that I was wishing I had last night when we went to the rodeo and a country music concert after.

kate spade

It would have gone perfectly with my white button up blouse and blue jeans (that's about as country as I could get while here; I don't have any cowgirl clothes).
I would also LOVE to have this one:

Charm & Chain

Hope you enjoy the rest of your Sunday; tomorrow evening the Cat and I (along with my Mom) will be flying back home to California.  Before we jump on that plane, we will be doing a little shopping in Denver and then hitting up Cracker Barrel one more time.  Hey, a girl's got to have priorities, right?!

In the Summertime

Happy Friday, all! Today I am linking up with Long Distance Loving to bring you some of the things on my summer wish list. My summer essentials, if you will. (And if you won't.) On top of my list for this summer is the good old maxi dress. I love a good maxi dress. Don't want to bother putting a lot of effort in to your look because you stayed up until 3 a.m. the night before finishing out the Pretty Little Liars episodes available on Netflix? No problem! (Well, I guess some might consider it a problem that I am watching Pretty Little Liars in marathon mode this summer. But I can't help it. It is vacation, right? I'm allowed my guilty little pleasures.) 
The weather has bean really weird at home lately.  Usually by this time we are sitting in triple digit weather wondering how long it will be before our faces melt off our heads.  But not this summer.  At least, not so far.  So enter the maxi dress, which allows the perfect amount of coverage, whether it is windy or not.
Another summer essential- you've gotta get new shades for the summer!  I love both the pairs I've featured here, and bonus- one of them is on sale.
New bathing suits are in order this summer.  I've had my current suits for longer than I'd care to admit.  Along with new suits, I am loving this cover up in navy blue.
Let's see- I am also loving that charm bracelet.  I think it is so light and airy; perfect for the summer!
And new sandals are in order... and that purse is gorgeous.  Round it out with a beach bag and you're good to go.
I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

In the Summertime by desertgirls featuring vix

T-Bags Los Angeles maxi dress / Tory Burch / Vix / Vix / Vix swimwear / Vix / Steve Madden steve-madden shoes / Tory Burch / Lesportsac medium travel tote / Kate Spade / Sunglasses

Ready for the Weekend

Ready for the Weekend

Navy striped dress / Sugarhill Boutique / Sleeveless blouse / Cotton t shirt / Madewell / Weekend Max Mara , $215 / Madewell sandals / Pumps / Kate Spade

Today I am linking up with Alison of Long Distance Loving for Friday's Fancies. This week's theme is "Weekend Wear." I love me a good chambray shirt, some black cigarette pants, and a leopard heel. It is such an easy weekend outfit, but looks pulled together. I usually pair it with a tank, printed or solid, underneath the chambray and just leave it unbuttoned. The kitten heel pumps featured are shoes I actually own and finally, recently, got around to wearing. I love them. I had debated over whether I should take them back, but I am glad I kept them.
On to the other pieces that I don't actually own...  I love that flamingo top; I want to sport that little balancing bird (any of you Love Actually fans out there think I should re-word that?!) Anyhow. I hope you have a fantastic Friday. Right after work I am heading down to Ikea to check out (and hopefully purchase! a butcher block counter top for my island. Fingers crossed!) Cheers to the weekend.

April Showers

image via Mothic Flights and Flutterings

image via

image via fashionblog.am

You know what they say... April showers bring May flowers.  I'm loving these vintage umbrella pics (especially the first one, with Audrey, of course).

I was on my way home last night and the sky was dark and cloudy and tut, tut, it looked like rain.  I doubt we will actually get any rain (the wind is doing a fine job of blowing all those clouds away), but it still reminded me of wet weather that is sure to come.

I mean wet as in those spring showers, not windy, cold, snowy weather like some of you are still having.

Miss Me floral dress / J.Crew ballerina shoes / Kate Spade kates spade / Kate spade / Lulu Guinness umbrella / J.Crew - Search

So, do you plan on partaking in the floral trend for spring?  If I had my way, that kate spade purse (or any of the others with that pattern) would already be in my closet.  And while I love the J.Crew shorts shown above, the pair I really love are at ZARA.  In the kids' section.  I want them.  I have bought shirts from the kids' section of Zara, but I would definitely need to try on a pair of kid shorts before I tried buying them.  Maybe I'll buy them for the Cat and just live vicariously through her.
Don't forget about the book swap we are co-hosting; my thoughts behind it are
1) I love to read and discover new books,
2) I LOVE getting mail (good mail, that is!), and
3) I would love to connect with some of you out there in blogger land!
I do hope you'll consider joining us!


 And I would like to say that our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by the bombings in Boston. xoxo

Friday's Fancies: Shoes

Hello, friends! Happy Friday! Today I thought I would link up with Long Distance Loving for Friday's Fancies.

kate spade

The mission for today was shoes, which is perfect, because I love shoes. I love these shoes. Look at that bow! How sweet is that? This is the second post this week I have done about sandals... does that tell you something?! I am ready for warmer weather!

So this weekend is the Relay for Life, which my daughter and I participate in every year. We all have people in our lives who have been affected by cancer in one way or another; I love seeing how communities come out together to fight this terrible disease. I have always signed up on behalf of my school's team, but this year, I signed up on my friend's team in honor of her husband Kenny, who lost his battle with cancer just last year. I just wanted to pay a small tribute to him here, to honor his memory.

So with that, I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing weekend with your friends and family!

Happy Monday; b&w

b&w by desertgirls featuring patent shoes

Orla Kiely dress, $510 / Kate Spade patent shoes / Orla Kiely leather shoulder bag, $555 / kate spade new york 'grace avenue' bud vase / Ben's Garden 'The Best is Yet' Trinket Tray

Sweet Spot Sunday: kate spade

How sweet are these dishes from kate spade?!

Larabee Road Tidbit Plates, $50

Larabee Road Black Accent Plate,
$35

They have the whole set, with the main pieces in platinum and more of the accent pieces in black.  I am more drawn to the black polka dots.  These dishes sure would make eating more fun!

~Lori

Outfit of the Day: Pencil Skirt

This has become one of my favorite outfits.  It looks pretty pulled-together, but also pretty casual.

 

A good pencil skirt can define your waist.  If you  feel like you don't have a waist,I'm here to tell you that you do.  And-- you can fake it with a belt.

Trust me on this: 9 times out of 10, your shirt looks better tucked in.  Not always- some looks don't need that polish to them; some looks scream for untucked.  Even

if you are not comfortable with your midsection, tucking in your shirt causes you to 

look more polished and complete, and a wide belt can accent what you have (or don't have).

A lot of the time, women (at least women I've known) feel the impulse to leave their shirt or blouse untucked in an effort to conceal a tummy they are not happy with.  What they end up doing is drawing more attention to it by creating another problem: a frumpy, boxy silhouette.  You don't want to look frumpy!  I don't want to look frumpy, though there are days where I may feel it.  Rebecca and I worked with a girl who wasn't happy with her current weight, and to compensate, she wore loose, baggy clothes.   She thought she would be uncomfortable in anything that showed off her curves.  Once we finally convinced her to add a belt to the smallest part of her waist to accent it, she quickly started to realize that you don't have to be a skinny little twig to show off your waist.  It is all a matter of proportion and confidence!  So tuck in that blouse, ladies!  Try adding a belt if you need to.  Show off your curves!  

skirt: thrifted (there are a lot of similar options on etsy)

shirt: Banana Republic, similar here

shoes: Coach, similar here

jewelry: thrifted/vintage

purse: kate spade

~Lori