Beautiful Goodbye

Hi friends... Wanna hear something exciting? Dark and early tomorrow morning, my sweet momma and I will be catching a flight across country! I'm headed to Portland and this time I'm dragging my best friend with me. Technically I'm going for "work," if you can even call the CAbi Scoop work. We lucked out & scored a guest ticket to the fashion show and I'm so thrilled to share this experience with my mom! I swear I'm already dreaming of the Fall 13 collection, I cannot wait to see the new line, and I'm so looking forward to some girl time with some of my favorite ladies. Besides all the fashion, we plan to drink fabulous wine and eat delicious food, hike off some of the extra calories, and do some general exploring. If you have any recommendations for things to do in the Portland area, please share!

In the mean time, it's all packing... and I'd say this Maroon 5 song is the most perfect packing music!

Canary

Instead of a regular post today, I wanted to send you darlings over to the CAbi Canary. Not only is it one of my most favorite blogs, but you just might see a familiar face making an appearance in that corner of the web today... Eek!

A big thank you to CAbi for including me... it's such an honor! 

p.s. be sure to check out some of the other bloggers featured... good reads! xoxo

shoe game

I'm a shoe girl. I could live in gorgeous wedges and strappy espadrilles. Sky-high heels? Bring it on. From riding boots to rain boots... I love them all. During the summer months, with tanned legs and perfectly-pedicured toes, gold sandals tend to reign supreme. But lately I've had my eye on something a little different...

There's something so laid-back and effortlessly cool about these ladies and their fresh kicks. I'm loving the "off-duty model" vibe... the question is can I pull this look off? So tell me, what are your thoughts on taking sneakers beyond the gym?

[all via Pinterest]

boudoir, bandeau

To say that my bedroom is girly would be an understatement. It is clean, romantic, and feminine... creamy peachy hues, glittering gold, and a boatload of candles. It's more than a bedroom, it's my boudoir. It makes me feel like a fabulous French woman as I'm getting ready. I find myself traipsing around in my silk robe, swiping on a little lipstick and twirling through an extra spritz of perfume. Another girly touch? Lacy bandeaus. 

I've been wearing them under pretty much everything, but I'm especially fond of the look under sheer blouses. The lace peeks out a slight bit, and when the light hits just right you can see the faint outline. Sexy in a subtle sort of way...

[the only problem with my girly room? it's almost too conducive for playing dress-up... my sister came over & we ended up with the entire contents of my closet on my bed.]

I find they work well under camisoles too, sparing you the trouble of an unintentionally exposed bra...

p.s. similarly, my rules for exposed bras here...

[all tops: CAbi, pink shorts: forever 21, all bandeaus: american eagle]

Now & Later

I'll admit to having shopaholic tendencies, but I must say I'm very practical about it. I tend to stay away from pieces that are overly trendy and items them I can't wear a a few different ways. On second thought... that's not entirely true. I shop for bargains on pieces like this. I'm always willing to spend a little more on the things I know I can wear year-round though, like this fabulous scarf top from the current CAbi collection. I wore it all February with rockin' red pants and ankle boots. 

[Top: CAbi Pants: J. Crew Boots: Target (I know, right?!)]

Now that the weather has warmed up, I'm channeling more of a boho beach babe vibe. Did I mention that the front of this shirt is the most creamy, delicious silk? Yeah. To die.

[Top: CAbi Shorts: Forever 21 Shoes: Zigi Soho]

How are you transitioning some of your favorite pieces into the warmer months?

What I'm loving, right now.

Five things that are making me deliriously happy, right now. Because hey, it's Thursday, and don't we all deserve to be a little happy?

1. Trapp No. 64 White Lotus & Lychee

Nothing compares to the intensely fragrant Trapp Candles. "White Lotus & Lychee" is the perfect balance of warm and clean.

2. My new computer.

My sweet cousin sold me his iMac and it was iLove at first sight. I'm a total desktop junkie, and this is my first Mac. I couldn't be happier.

3. Maxi Dresses

[anthropologie]

Disclaimer: I do this every year. When the weather warms up during the day and the evenings remain chilly, maxi dresses reign supreme. I love them for travel, enabling you to go straight from the car/plane to dinner looking fabulous. They're also the perfect option on summer nights when the tender skin behind your knees has gotten a little too much sun. I love playing up the boho vibe with wavy hair and stacks of mismatched bracelets, but they can be polished and pretty too (just add a crisp oxford tied at the natural waist.) I know one gorgeous little lady who will be wearing this fabulous dress to prom... she's sure to be the belle of the ball... (and I'm certainly going to be borrowing the dress this summer...)

4. I have a fur niece!! My brother's precious puppy...

I haven't met her yet, but does it get any cuter than this?! I don't think so. 

5. "Split Screen Sadness" by John Mayer

I've been playing this song on repeat for a few days now. It's kind of embarrassing. When most people say, "on repeat" they don't literally mean restarting the song before it even has time to end, but this girl does. It's crazy to me that this song is 10 years old... still perfection. John Mayer is a lyrical genius... I love the imagery.

So tell me, what's making your day?

Craven

Peplum can be tricky. I was watching an episide of Kourtney & Kim take Miami last night, and in one particularly unfortunate scene both were shown traipsing around in the worst kind of peplum (proof.) The thing about peplum is all too often it draws attention to the widest part of a woman's body. It's like "hiii, as if your hips weren't wide enough, here's an extra ruffle..." hmmnothanks. I love my Texture Cami by CAbi because the peplum is at the natural waist (aka the narrowest part of the torso, helloooo skinny minnie)  so it creates a flattering, feminine silhouette without adding extra bulk. 

I wore this to dinner in New Bern at 247 Craven (delicious, btw) & I topped off the look with my Chic Jacket (cannot get enough of the gauzy, sheer sleeves on this little gem)

[Texture Cami- CAbi Chic Jacket- CAbi Ponte Leggings- CAbi Fall 12 Shoes- Madden Girl Necklaces- J. Crew, gifted Watch- Michael Kors Nail Polish- Essie Turquoise and Caicos]

hair did, nails did, erythang did

My sweet momma and I went for mani/pedis yesterday. Never mind the fact that it's still 50 degrees outside, with Easter being this weekend, it seemed like a necessity. I knew I wanted something springy, not too milky-pastel but not overly bright. More like if a jelly bean and a marshmallow had a baby. Make sense? Good. I picked..

essie "Turquoise and Caicos" for my hands

and OPI "If You Moust You Moust" on my toes.

I was so happy with my choices, but I had to laugh when I realized how perfectly these hues match the CAbi spring collection... I must have really been channeling Thin Mint and Power Pink...

thin mint jegging

power pink blazer

What can I say? It's official, y'all. I'm a CAbi girl through and through (and wouldn't have it any other way...)

p.s. Kendi did a post on hot pink blazers! I love our design team... so on trend! Our version has pretty princess seaming and the sliiightest peplum, so it's insanely flattering and feminine. j'adore. 

p.p.s. remember my first attempt at seafoam green nails?

her feet killin her, i call it shoe-icide

While on my self-inflicted shopping diet/spending freeze/clothes-hoarding hiatus, I quickly found an alternative to my apparent apparel addiction... shoes. Lots and lots of fabulous shoes. Here's the rationale (from someone who clearly doesn't think rationally...) It's my job to wear (and sell) gorgeous clothes. And great shoes only serve to complete the package. If you were displaying an exquisite painting, you wouldn't put it in a cheap frame. So, the shoes are the frame.

So, call me crazy, but I absolutely adore my Fergie "Indie"espadrilles, (yeah, Stacy Ann Ferguson, peed in her pants on stage, spells tasty with an e, Fergie.) I can tromp around in the 5 inch heel for hours, they're stupid comfortable. I have them in black, but I would give my firstborn to get my hands on this nude pair in a 6.5. The rope sole is so on trend for spring, and wedges will always be my first love. 

When wearing heels isn't an option, I'm liking a bold, patterned flat, like these babies from J. Crew...

Aaaand if we want to get really comfortable with it, Bensimon sneakers à la French girls (or a cheap alternative, as first mentioned here)

What shoes are you rocking this spring? 

And, as a courtesy, the song inspiration for the post title...

and just in case I got "Fergalicious" Stuck in your head...

you know you love me.

just throw it in the bag...

Ok, so I told you I'm a hot shot fashion consultant now, right? Well, while I was in San Diego for training, I asked some of the veterans for their advice. One resounding theme: don't over do it on the clothes. A common "rookie mistake" is to fall in l-o-v-e with the collection (which I did) and overspend on personal purchases, rationalizing that it's a "business investment." So, I made a rule for myself: No personal purchases until after I had completed my first month. And dang if it wasn't tough! It challenged me to wear my samples in creative ways (I don't get to pick my sample sizes!) and it gave me time to figure out my absolute favorite pieces. Here's what I'm loving from CAbi... (and promptly purchasing this afternoon...)

Texture Camisole and Texture Slouch Pant with Chic Jacket
This was my abs fave look as soon as it came out on the runway. And now, a month later, I'm still nuts over it. I love the idea of wearing the two pieces together like a jumpsuit. It's got that "model off duty" vibe, especially when paired with pretty espadrilles (more on that later) and loads of gold jewelry. This drapey, lightweight material will be perfect for when things get steamy this summer (gotta love that southern humidity.) It's a great alternative to the overdone sundress. Way edgier & totally sophisticated. The Chic Jacket is perfection because it has the polished look & the masculine cut of a traditional blazer, but the sheer sleeves add a subtle, sexy appeal. 

Feather Tunic 
This piece didn't really stand out to me in the beginning, but as the season has progressed I'm really digging it. It's 100% silk (so dreamy) and the gold buttons are bonkers. Love it paired with these...

Thin Mint Jegging
I kind of cheated here... I convinced my mom to buy them and I've been wearing them. I just couldn't wait a whole month! Love the color (mint is so hot for spring) and the fit makes your legs look miles long. 
Scarf Top (image above)
And one sample that I have been wearing the heck out of... The adorable scarf top. Love that it has 3 different patterns. And it seriously works for all ages & body types. Proof: my sweet grandmother ordered this top. Love the thought that she & I miiight show up wearing the same shirt and both look fabulous. 

Have you checked out the CAbi Spring 2013 collection? I'd love to know what you think! xo

Emerald City

I tend to gravitate toward warmer colors, and the deep hues of fall are some of my favorites. My skin tone has some hints of olive (I've been asked on numerous occasions what nationality I am...) and shades of green typically accentuate that olive shade in the worst way, meaning I start looking like I skipped the Dramamine and decided to take a scenic drive off the side of cliff. Lately though, a shade of emerald has caught my eye, and, almost magically, I don't look the least bit nauseated when I wear it. 

It all started when I wore this dress in Miami & the rave reviews from my faithful Facebook friends (which really just means a few select members of my immediate family... thanks mom) made me feel like a Kardashian... In a good way (if that's possible)

Spotted on Pinterest, and loved. 

And liking the idea of pants...

I usually play it safe with olive skinnies, but a pop of this amped up hue could be just the thing to beat the winter blues...

And if there's ever any doubt, Emily from Cupcakes & Cashmere... perfection.

Oddly enough, a recent J. Crew catalog included a 6 page spread on the color... J. Crew, I'm onto you...