Shoe of the Week

So these are the questions I always ask in my head when I find or hear about a hot pair of shoes...

What: Katariina Wedge

Leather 4.5" stacked wedge with a 1.5" platform

Where: Anthropologie

By Who: Leifsdottir

How much: $298.00 USD

I am at a loss for words about how amazing these shoes are. I mean... look at them! 

I found them on anthropologie.com and my jaw dropped. All of it is amazing except for the price. Just about 300 bucks?! Waaayyyy out of my price range, but I guess awesomeness just costs a little more. 

For now I will just stare at the pretty pictures and drool. 

all images via Anthropologie.com

Blue Jean Baby

This heat wave has to stop! It is just unacceptable for it to be this hot--- my car actually read 89 degrees when I got in it yesterday at 6:20 in the morning. Are you kidding me?! I am ready to move to Alaska. 

I am in no mood to get dressed today let alone leave the apartment to do some errands so this outfit was from a while ago. I have so many photos of outfits on my computer that I never posted for whatever reason. Since my outfit today is still my pj's (a ratty old pair of shorts and a tank) I thought I'd rather post something slightly more interesting. 

This sweater is really lightweight and drapes beautifully. It was a Target clearance rack find a few years back. I guess more people were turned off by the strange shape. But you know me... a funk cardigan and especially one in a beautiful blue color and ON SALE... and it was in my card immediately. 

The jeans were also a really old clearance find from American Eagle. Most of my jeans at AE jeans because they fit by big hips well and most come in "short". There were a pair I hunted down all season until they finally dropped too low in price to pass up. 

Even the shoes were a sale/clearance buy. Steve Madden and super cheap..I wanna say under 20 dollars.   I fell in love with that vibrant blue. I actually wore them this past week with a completely different look that I never got a chance to photograph because of this stupid heat. 

Alright, well I am off to stick my head in the freezer for a while and dream of winter. 

Jeans: American Eagle, Shoes: Steve Madden,
T-Shirt: J-Crew, Cardigan: Target
(all from years ago)

Sister Sister

So it is no lie when I say that I have the best big sister. 

She made me the maid of honor in her wedding... 

She let me live with her for months when I had nowhere else to go...

She took me along with her to India and made it a stress free trip...

And all that is just within the last few years. 

The list could go on and on.

She is super awesome and everyone should be jealous that she isn't their big sis. 

Simple as that. 

Well today is her Birthday.... and everyone should help celebrate!

Happy Birthday Kate! Love you!

Shoe of the Week

Oh how quickly it is Thursday again. These weeks are flying by... here comes the weekend!! :)

This week I have been thinking more and more about boots and shoes for the fall. It has been at least 100 degrees everyday this week. Today I actually got into my car and it read 107 degrees. Can you believe that?!? I melt!

So obviously when it is hot I dream of the days when it will be cold enough to wear cute boots again.  And it doesn't help that all the stores are having "back to school sales" or "pre-fall sales" or "whatever you wanna call it but things are all half off sales". So everywhere I look there are cutes shoes and I am a girl with nothing in her wallet. 

So this week's shoe is a pair I already own... but in black. And I will dream of a day that I will own them in tan. I just need to bargain hunt for now and watch for a good sale. The hunt is really the most fun part. 

Brand: Minnetonka 

Three tier suede fringe boots. They come in tan, black and grey. 

all photos via zappos.com

Speaking from experience -- they are super comfortable, really fun and funky and make an amazing swooshing sound as you walk. What can be better than that?! 

Shoe of the Week

I know I am a little late for my Thursday Shoe of the Week but I think I have a good excuse.... does an awesome U2 concert count as a good enough excuse? :) I'd say so.

So I have my shoe obsession ready for today... better late than never. 

It is an amazing unique boot for fall from the brand Matisse.

I found it on freepeople.com where they call it the "Hysteria Boot."  

It caught my attention immediately, I loved the pattern and the unique shape - three inch wedge with an elongated  pointed toe. I am a sucker for any kind of funky boot for fall and winter. I love being able to wear a simple outfit like black skinny jeans with a tunic and being able to spice it up with funky shoes.

I am not hard to please... just give me a pair of shoes that is unlike anything in my closet and I am sold. 

all photos via freepeople.com

Summer Vacation

What I did over my summer vacation...

To sum up my past week off work --- I really did nothing and it was amazing. 

Went home and spent time with my family for the 4th of July.

 Ate way too much amazing food...

 saw some of my best girlfriends...

got my hair cut and colored....

went out to lunch with my dad...

shopped and shopped... but didn't buy...

got my computer fixed by the amazing Apple geniuses...

slept in late...

 and wore not much other than comfy jeans and t-shirts all week.    

It was heaven.

Made cupcakes with my mom.... and then ate at least 4.

Kate showing off her OPI Crackle Nail Polish...
is so fun- I highly recommend. 

Some of the best girls in the world.
We never get enough time to see each other, but I enjoy ever moment that we do.
I need to go home more. 

This is Bobbins--- he loves his Daddy.

Play time. 

 

Buttons passed out on my lap.

But the highlight of the week off was adopting two amazing little kittens from the shelter. We named them Buttons and Bobbins --- (had plans to name my future cats that long before this blog was named in case you were wondering.) Even with the names in mind we thought of some back-ups just in case like Bonnie and Clyde, Dee and Dennis, Luke and Leia.... and more. But when it came time to name them we just knew we had to stick with the original... it is so perfect. My little Butt and Bob. ;) They are a little over 2 months old and are little troublemakers who love to play.

Going back to work stinks... I would love more than one week off... although my "stay-cation" was amazing and relaxing, I keep seeing photos on Facebook of my friend Steph's adventures to Hawaii and I can't help but be jealous and dream of going with her next time. A girl can dream... and why not dream big?!

kitties!

Introducing our two newest family members... Kitty Boy and Kitty Girl. 

(We have yet to pick their names.) ... picking between Buttons and Bobbins, Bonnie and Clyde and Luke and Leia. :) Tuff call. 

Brian and I went and picked them out last Friday and tonight we get to go pick them up.  We have toys and food and a litter box and we hope they feel at home. I can not wait to be a kitty mommy! 

I am sure more photos are to come. Ok, now I am back to cleaning up and Kitty Proofing my apartment. Time to hide all the sewing needles and pins. 

A Pretty Little Shoe

 

all images via nordstom.com

This week's shoe obsession comes from a designer that I have never heard of... Mea Shadow. 

Unfamiliar with the brand I had to search and discovered the line for sale at Nordstrom, Piperlime, Endless.com, zappos.com, and Amazon.  

But...How did I find these shoes for this week's obsession if I had never heard of the brand?!

It is no secret that I am addicted to watching Pretty Little Liars, the ABC Family drama about a group of girlfriends who are solving the mystery of their friend's death.  I watch it for the slightly bad acting, the over the top drama and the amazing fashion!! I find it to be amazing inspiration. I first saw these shoes in the 30 second clip for the "in next week's episode."  They literally showed the shoes for 2 seconds but I was hooked and spent the whole next week hunting them down. Thanks to the amazing website called coolspotters.com the hunt was over. 

image via coolspotters.com

I love the architectural style of these shoes - the unique shape and style makes them a shoe that is unlike anything in my closet. They are also the type of shoe I could wear with a multitude of different outfits. I have to try them on!!! 

Style Inspiration

Even after going to school for fashion design I never really developed a favorite fashion designer. Most of my classmates found one designer that inspired them and helped shape their own collectoins. I however, could spend hours and hours on style.com searching the runway shows and finding inspiration for all designers but never claiming one as my favorite. I just love how they each with their own idea of what is going to be the next great thing and I love watching how they interpret the trends each season. I love couture lines for their theatrical styles, but my favorite is to always watch the Ready to Wear lines. I find it easiest to find inspiration from the ready to wear lines in order to shape an outfit that I could create from my own closet. 

Even 3 years out of college I still search style.com for inspiration. Today I find myself inspired by the Fall RTW collection from Alice + Olivia. I instantly fell in love with the colors, the textures, the mix of fabrics and the silhouettes.  

Enjoy...

This dress would even make a beautiful wedding dress. 

The texture of this dress makes me wish I could reach thru my
computer screen. 

This dress belongs in my closet. I love that sparkle!

Black and white... perfection!

All photos via style.com