the 29th

Happy 29th of February!!! 

Hope everyone had a happy leap day and spent it wisely... won't get another chance for 4 years.  

I spent my extra day leaping thru the air with the greatest of ease... kinda. 

Flying scary monkey!

Jeans: BDG for Urban Outfitters

Socks: Target

Shirt: I<3 Ronson from JCPenny

Jacket: Brooklyn Industries

Sometimes it is fun where I work... it was decided that for Leap Day we would all dress in green to represent little frogs that leap... some girls didn't get the memo and instead became leaping bunnies. Still fits! 

Steal or Splurge

I am a bargain huntress.

 When I find a pair of shoes that I love I will hunt and hunt until I find the best deal. But recently I ran into a new problem.  What if the best deal comes from a copy or a knockoff of the original design? That is when the real debate begins. 

Over a month ago I had fallen in love with a pair of Steve Madden boots that I saw on display at Nordstrom. The style and the design were exactly what I was looking for, but then it happened.  As I was walking around Target I spotted boots that were almost identical to my Madden crushes.

Trust me when I say that I am horrible at making decisions and this was a big one.... at least in terms of shoe shopping. 

target

 Keava Boot by Mossimo Supply Co. 

34.99

vs.

Banddit Boot by Steve Madden

$169.99

endless

The decisions was made up almost immediately when I saw that price. You are telling me that I could save over a hundred dollars and still have the style?! Sign me up! My mind started to race thru how many more shoes I could end up buying with all that left over money!! 

However upon closer inspection the Target boots were not real leather, the sole seemed slippery, and they simply were not as comfortable. So which is more important? Comfort, money or buying a shoe that lasts?

In the end it was a really tough decision, but I ended up buying the Steve Maddens (on sale and with a gift card- don't forget that I am a bargain huntress!)  I decided that it is more important for me to invest in a pair of shoes that are well constructed and will last many many seasons.

So what would you do? Go for the steal or the splurge? 

My Week...My Photos

Thanks to my camera phone I have been snapping photos throughout the week of the things around me that make me happy or bring me inspiration. Which brings me to my new weekly post idea... A recap of the week thru photos. Simple as that. 

As time goes I will post more and in a more creative way, but here is a good start. 

A heart straw in my DC for Valentine's Day. 

What I wish I was doing constantly. Oh Buttons, you are so cute when you sleep. 

Brian surprised me with a heart shaped pizza for V-Day.
Just like our first Valentine's Day together.  Awwww....

My survival guide.... a good book, Diet Coke and Wheat Thins!!!

A Shoe A Day

UGGS::: Timberland 'Ruston' Boots::: Steve Madden 'Pembrook'::: Nick and Nora footsie pj's 

(Yes, I did wear shoes everyday and I remember taking photos everyday yet somehow I only ended up with 4 photos...interesting)

Butterfly Wings

On my one day off this week did I do a bunch of cleaning? No. Running around? No. Laundry? Not exactly. Instead I slept in late, silenced my phone and plopped myself down on the couch in front of the t.v. where I watched a marathon on The Office. 

Yippee for a lazy Sunday. 

As you can imagine since I did not leave the apartment all day, I also did not get dressed. I was still wearing my old sweats until 30 minutes ago when I finally showered. I also did not wash my face or comb my hair in case you were wondering. TMI?! 

Instead of offering you yet another day without an outfit post, here is an outfit I wore a few weeks ago. 

This kimono was an impulse buy around Christmas from H&M.  It spoke to me 1) because it was only 7 dollars on the clearance rack and 2) because it is so cozy it is like wearing pj's all day and 3) because I love the print which looks like tiny butterfly wings or feathers. It all added up to one of those moments where I say "self, if you don't buy this now you will regret it later!" I pulled out my debit card and bought it 5 minutes later and then ran out of the store before I bought anything else. H&M can be a dangerous place!!!

I am not ready for another week to start. I feel so worn down and exhausted from all the overtime. I added it up and if i subtract all the work hours, travel hours and sleep time I am left with only 50 hours of free time a week. 

Still I have no regrets that I spent all of my free time today on the couch with Brian. Watching television with my man is time well spent! And now I feel well rested to start the week ... another plus. 

Jeans and Flats: American Eagle

Kimono: H&M

Scarf: Bought in India

T-Shirt: Target

Glasses: Warby Parker

Grammy Awards Part 2

A week late, but still on my mind. Here are the final three looks that caught my eyes at the Grammy Awards last Sunday. 

image via google search

Taylor Swift worn my favorite outfit of the evening. I immediately thought that it would make a stunning wedding dress for a non-traditional woman, or maybe that is just me talking crazy. That detail and beading made my jaw drop to the floor and the simple styling helped the dress speak for itself! 

image via PerezHilton

Jessie J wore another dress that made me sit up and listen. The texture is insane. Wish I could get an up close look at that fabric! From far away it looks like a million tiny mirrors sewn to a perfectly draped and tailored dress.

image via PerezHilton

This final outfit is not my favorite, but it did catch my attention.

 It should be said that while I do love the color and style of that dress and I give her props for not wearing a sexy revealing dress, overall I thought this whole style was a fail. I personally think it would have looked stunning on an older actress such as Helen Mirren or even Kate Winslet at the Oscars, but I thought it aged the young Ms Katy Perry and that hair... what?!? Stick to your gorgeous natural color sweetie. No one else had hair to match their dress!

Ok, that about wraps it up until the Oscars... can't wait for more red carpet style! 

Grammy Awards 2012

I am obsessed with award shows. I love watching the red carpet presentations and I am a sucker for watching Joan Rivers pick people apart in the days that follow. 

Here are a few looks that caught my eye.... 

Adele...The style is so classic and beautiful. I love the sparkle and her red lips are a great touch. 

Bruno Mars always looks so put together. A sharp dressed man.

This dress is stunning and those shoes are insane! I also wish I had hair like hers!

Fergie looks sexy in this orange dress. I love the lace and the fact that it is see thru, but if I were her stylist I would have put her in nude undergarments to add to that sexiness. 

all images via google search

Mumford and Sons.... they are my current favorite band. Their music is amazing and their fashion is so unique that I can't help but love it! They are all dressed in their own way but it all seems to mash together perfectly. Yummy goodness! 

OK... more to come.... I am off to watch the awards. 

A Shoe a Day 2

The weather was all over the place this past week. Sunny and warm one day and then snowing the next. It has been a strange winter here in PA. 

I have been really loving this boot weather. I have been rotating thru my supply of boots and winter shoes and dreading the warmer weather which will be here in no time. 

Outfit updates to follow...

Rachel Comey for Urban Outfitters/ Steve Madden "Pembrook"/ Zigi Soho/ Target fuzzy slippers/ Urban Outfitters boots from 5 years ago/ Dolce Vita for Target

A Shoe a Day....

Due to my current crazy work schedule I sadly don't get a chance to take outfit photos everyday. To make up for the lack of photos to post I have decided to at least document my daily shoes. Which, let's be honest, they are honestly my favorite part of any outfit anyway.

So here, in no particular order are my Monday-Friday shoes. 

1: American Eagle / 2: Sam Edelman "Adena"/ 3: Blowfish / 4: Puma / 5: Minnetonka

Shoe of the Week

Is anyone else super excited for the new TOMS Ballet Flats? 

I have been counting down to their debut. My alarm went off this morning... feet of floor, fed kittens, opened laptop and started shoe shopping! Was picking out my favorite at 5:30 this morning... that is not obsessed right? Just prepared!

Oh TOMS... you have done it again!!!

images via TOMS

This is the pair that I have picked to have a future home in my closet...

What: TOMS "Alessandra" Ballet Flat

Where: toms.com immediately or Nordstrom.com on wait-list

How much: $79 

(In case you were wondering... yes I do think that they are insanely overpriced - but  if they are as comfortable as they look, it would be well worth the money. Plus they are cute!!)

images via Nordstrom