get wild

adding some animal print to your wardrobe is a must this season! i have always been somewhat skeptical about animal print, leopard in particular, but here are some examples of animal print presented tastefully. the key is not going overboard with this graphic. only wear one piece at a time for a sophisticated look.


torn by ronny kobo, print gabby top-$139
the shoulders definietly add some flare to this top.

patterson j. kincaid-$54.60

this see through top is an understanded option for the leopard look.

marc by marc jacobs key pouch-$98

limited, skinny belt-$24.50
wrap around a bright colored sweater

tory burch, cheetah small cosmetic bag-$55

lauren ralph lauren, kristi ballet flat-$89

would look super cute with cigarette pants or with a short, full black mini skirt

just add ruffles

adding a little ruffle to any outfit is a sure way to spice things up. ruffles keep coming back season after season and i am loving them! they are great by themselves as well as layering pieces. it was easy for me to find some pieces that i love because they are available everywhere. i highly encourage everyone to invest in at least one great ruffled blouse this season!



j.crew, kelsey ruffle blouse-$88
great by itself or layering underneath a sweater.



bellatrix, ruched ruffled silk blouse-$51.90

filtre, rosette trim top-$58

a cotton blend top for a more causal look

max and cleo, ruffle front dot dress-$58.90

this is on sale from summer. although this is a brighter summer color, you could put a jean/bomber jacket on top, tights and boots and take this look into fall/winter.

robert rodriguez, ruffled racerback tank-$87.90

mike and chris, august ruffled fleece hoody-$185

great jacket to save for a casual, but not expected outfit.

rip it up

i have had some requests about doing a posting about jeans. you asked, i'm delivering! i am totally loving the rough, ripped, messy look lately so this post is dedicated to this trend. this is a look you can pull off without looking homeless by pairing with a great top and shoes. a little ironic that the most expensive jeans are the ones with holes all over them. although all of these jeans featured are a little pricey, they are great brands with fits that are sure to please. i tried finding a little variety with the different washes, fits and brands. if your pocket book can't handle the price tag right now, take a razor blade to an old pair of jeans and create your own look!



rock and republic, kasandra boot cut-$198
my favorite brand because these are always super long for my extra long legs.

rich and skinny-$191

a great skinny pair of jeans with my favorite wash.

joes jeans, honey boot cut jeans-$178

a great darker wash in a classic cut.

madewell, bootlegger worn and torn-$95

j brand, pencil ripped jeans-$187

7 for all mankind, a pocket jeans-$171.50

it's a wrap

whether it is spring, summer, fall or winter, scarves are becoming a year round accessory. unfortunately, living in florida limits my usage of this fab accessory. because it is getting to be really cold here (in the high 70's) i am in full scarf mood. sweating or not, i am determined to get as much use out of my scarves this winter in florida! here are some of my recent fav finds.


burberry, giant check snood-$295
ok, not the most affordable option. but its so fabulous, i had to add to my list.


limited, chunky infinity scarf-$39.50
looks super comfy and i am in love with this color.

shopbop, think knot eternity scarf-$68

a classic knit blend for a very neutral, understated look.

gap, blanket scarf-$24.50

super affordable, available in more color combinations.

anthropologie, grignolino scarf-$28

a very unique look, is great to spruce up a basic outfit.

weekly budget finds!

so this week i found a variety of different items all for under $100. if anyone has suggestions for specific budget finds they want me to look for, let me know!
banana republic, cut out necklace-$39.50
love, love, love. will probably be purchasing this today!



naughty monkey, hands down-$44.99
a twist on the classic work shoe. i am loving the hardware on this shoe which spices it up a little.




mink pink, good girl gone bad-$56
for some reason, this shirt made me think of the holidays and new years which is right around the corner. pair with some black skinny pants and ankle boots.

gap, brown check shirt-$34.99

classic, easy look

gap, new shadow vest-$49.99

i love the color and fabric of this vest. this is a great layering piece to have for seasons to come.

dkny, twill trench-$89

also comes in black and khaki. a great jacket to liven up any wardrobe, especially in this bright red color.

here's the skinny

if you do not own a pair of skinny pants yet, well, i don't blame you. although these pants are everywhere, in all different fabrics, it can be a hard trend to pull off. the most important thing to remember with anything you are wearing is confidence. it doesn't matter if your significant other or friends like you in a particular outfit. what matters is how you feel and how well you pull it off! with all tight pants, i recommend a longer shirt or tunic style top. throw on a long tank, big comfy sweater or bomber jacket and you got an awesome outfit. here are some of my favorites that i have found.


limited, drew super skinny ankle pant-$69.50
i really love the skinny ankle pant. it looks great with high heels or flats.

forever 21, slim stretch trouser pant-$17.80

wow, could the price be any better? if you aren't sure if you would get much wear out of this look, opt for a less expensive pair to take on a test run.

diane von furstenberg, cuffed jersey pants-$170.90

i love this slimmer pant with the cuffed bottom. it's a twist on the expected.

banana republic, martin skinny pant -$90

also comes in black. great fit, great fabric, great buy.

ann taylor, modern knit slim pants-$70

these are more structured like a pair of jeans but with a knit fabric.

my makeup essentials

lord only knows how much money i have spent in search of the perfect makeup essentials. i have tried everything from the aisles of cvs to the expensive lines department stores carry. unfortunately, for my wallets sake, the more expensive lines won in all areas.



nars blush, orgasm-$25
this is the perfect shade with a hint of color and a dash of sheen mixed in. if you are looking for fresh, dewy, sun-kissed cheeks, this is a winner!

chanel, inimitable noir obscure-$30

i was extremely skeptical of switching from my $5 maybelline mascara to a $30 tube, but it was worth it to say the least. i already have long eye lashes, but this accentuates every lash and makes them appear even longer.

m.a.c., greasepaint stick-$17.50

up until a couple of years ago, i was really against eyeliner. i never really knew how to put it on and was never able to find the perfect applicator to do so. this eyeliner is amazing and goes on smoothly and effortlessly.

chanel, aqualumiere gloss-$27

beware. think about this purchase carefully before buying. it is addictive. every person i have suggested this gloss to has bought about 4-5 tubes in all different colors. chanel makes a few different glosses but this is by far the best one. it is the least tacky and the color stays put for a good while.

happy shopping!