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!

bobbi, i love you

i decided to dedicate my post today to my obsession with bobbi brown. everyone is always asking me what skincare line i use so i decided to share the products i use on a daily basis. i started using bobbi brown a little over a year ago and it pretty much changed my life. since then, i have gotten a handful of friends hooked and i think its pretty safe to say, bobbi changed their life also. although i do not use bobbi brown products for all of my makeup needs, here are some of the essentials that i can no longer live without.

soothing face tonic-$26
after washing my face (usually with a neutrogena face wash) i put this on a round cotton pad and rub all over my face. this is my favorite bb product, it smells heavenly.

hydrating eye cream-$45
yes, for some this is an indulgence to spend on eye cream. but, it is super moisturizing and because you need so little, it lasts forever. i only use once a day, if that, in the a.m or p.m.

vitamin enriched face base-$50
this is a new product that i just bought and i love it. smells delicious and feels like velvet on your skin. the only problem is that it does not have an spf in it so you have to make sure and use a foundation that does.





protective face lotion spf 15-$45
for days that i know i will be in the sun all day, i use this instead of the face base. if you are going to use bb makeup, i highly recommend splurging on the moisturizes. the makeup really does go on better.



skin foundation spf 15-$45
this is light, makes skin appear flawless and does not clog pores.



corrector-$22
i have the worst circles under my eyes at all times and out of the 100 eye correctors i have purchased in the past, this one definitely wins to cover circles the best. this is to be used under the product listed below.


creamy concealer-$22

use over the corrector. i also use this to cover any blemishes.

bronzing powder-$33

i love this bronzer out of all the other brands i have tried because it goes on evenly and does not look brown and appear fake.

check back tomorrow...i will be posting the rest of my makeup regimen that i use!

size matters

adding a fabulous clutch to your outfit can make a look complete. sometimes, a big bag can be too fussy and downsizing to a clutch for the day or night can make your life a lot more simple. i know personally, the majority of "stuff" in my everyday bag is not of necessity. if you invest in a clutch, get one that is large enough for the essentials. for me, that list includes keys, cell phone, compartment for credit cards/money and a tube of lip gloss. here are a few clutches that could help rev up any look.

topshop, triangle lock clutch bag-$65
a pop of color that will spice up any outfit.

lela rose for payless, ruffle clutch-$29.99
a dressier look, keep it simple with a white tank and pencil jeans.

helena de natalio, leather fold over clutch-$135.99

available in coral. simple look, can be paired with lots of colors. think of pairing with a grey sweater dress and brown boots.

coach, new darcy-$298

available in more colors. this is a gorgeous bag that you will have f.o.r.e.v.e.r.

bcbg, ava clutch-$148

available in more colors. i love this coral shade because it pops against so many colors. think of pairing with a green dress or a white shirt, black riding pants, boots and a statement necklace.

ann taylor, perfect leather clutch-$95

i love this metallic color because i think it goes with everything. its hard to find this color without it looking plastic or cheap. this is a great price and can be worn with a causal or dressy look.