true to style

As much as I would like to think I would be satisfied with an all black-and-white-and-denim wardrobe, wearing simply jeans and a tee everyday, I am all too often reminded of how impractical that is.  Then I come across some gorgeous piece like this maxi dress, and I am grateful I didn't chuck all the pretty pieces I own! 

Like any chick, I get in these crazy moods, but in my {oh-so-mature, ha!} adult years I have learned some discipline when it comes to acting impulsively. One thing I do, when I think I am over an article of clothing in my wardrobe, is take it out of my main closet and hang it in my spare closet.  Usually I forget about it after a while, which is good, because when I come across it, I can more objectively evaluate whether or not I love it enough to keep it. I often throw clothing I'm on the fence about in a giant bag in my spare closet, and sometimes even sift through it looking for something to wear.  I guess to give it one more go...which is how a certain sherbet orange-and-magenta peasant skirt keeps making its way back in to my main closet.

Back to the gorgeous maxi.  When I spotted it this morning on ModCloth, a super cute site that features a whole host of new items every day, I quickly dreamed up this ensemble:

Day or night. Spring, summer, or autumn.  This outfit rocks!  I already own the shades, sandals, fragrance, and hair luckily, and I've got similar jewelry that will suffice, but I still need the dress and the jacket to pull off this entire look.  My tortoise shell shades are from anthropologie but look very similar to the Vans pair pictured.  I own the exact sandals pictured from J.Crew, and although I have some vintage jewelry with the essence of these pieces pictured, I am totally digging that bracelet {"oh pear bracelet" from ModCloth}, so I might have to add that to my shopping cart along with the dress...

A worn denim jacket has been on my list for some time now, but I just can't find one with the right fit yet.  The ones I have tried make me feel so butch...not a very sexy feeling.  I threw in the Marc Jacobs Daisy fragrance because it is my favorite accessory.  Not only is the bottle so beautiful perched on my vanity, but it smells divine.  Abby turned me on to it, then I turned little sister on to it. 

Full disclosure: knowing me, I would take that bracelet off and throw my hair up in a ponytail halfway through the day, but at least I could spend part of the day looking all put-together.  ;)  Now I just have to learn how to do that fishtail braid to my hair...

{photo sources: hair, jacket, shades, necklace, dress, fragrance, sandals, bracelet}

anthropologie holiday contest

Modern Elegance with Whimsy Flare! by CassiMO featuring 3/4 sleeve tops

Dazzler Top
$158 - anthropologie.com
3/4 sleeve tops »

Alice in Autumn Sweatercoat
$80 - anthropologie.com
Anthropologie coats »

Shimmering Streets Shorts
$98 - anthropologie.com
Anthropologie shorts »

Basketweave Tights
$18 - anthropologie.com
Opaque hosiery »

Final Flourish Heels
$178 - anthropologie.com
Anthropologie pumps »

Coin Dusted Clutch
$58 - anthropologie.com
Pouch handbag »

Blake Basin Artifact Bracelet
$48 - anthropologie.com
Bracelets »

Labrador Lode Necklace
$80 - anthropologie.com
Necklaces »

That was fun!!

Anthropologie posted a contest on facebook encouraging fans to use Polyvore to create and enter a day or evening holiday look.  How could I pass that up?  The answer is I couldn't.  In fact, it is so addicting, you may see several more of my creations that I will surely post on my blog.  Be warned. Or be excited! ;)

Has anyone else participated?  Please let me know because I would love to see your masterpieces!

P.S. I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to get rid of the excess around each item when arranging the pieces, so that explains the ugly pixelated gray areas. Meh.

Would you? Have you?

I'm not sure about these boots, but something about them keeps catching my attention. Maybe because they're glossy? Or maybe just because they are rain boots, which I have natural fondness for...

 

 Vivienne Westwood for Anthropologie, $148.00

Vivienne Westwood for asos, $151.65

I have come across these boots twice in the last day and a half, not even shopping for shoes, so part of me wants to think it is a sign, but the other part of me can't get over how silly they look.  I've got two pairs of galoshes, one from early on in high school before they were fashionable, and one I wear at work if need be.  So, I am not looking to add another pair. 

What do you think?  Would you rock these, or have you already?

next weekend, i will have a new SIL ... {WEDding WEDnesday}

That's right, my little brother is getting married.  To my best friend from high school.
Life is funny, and rewarding, that way.  Their relationship is young, but their chemistry is undeniable, and I could not be happier with whom my little bro chose to spend {and make us spend} the rest of his life.  And if he thinks she and I are crazy when we're together now...just wait til we're related.

Anyhow, Sarah, my brother's bride, actually inspired today's WEDding WEDnesday post.  She left me a voice mail the other day asking what I used for the money dance at our reception, in terms of a pouch or bag.  First, let me say that I was not always on board for having a money dance, but our DJ eventually convinced us to go for it and call it a honeymoon dance.  That tasted better going down.  Mom was thrilled we were having one, and in the end Gabe and I were too.  Not only did it allow us a chance to dance with several of our guests with whom we would normally not get the opportunity to dance, but we made a healthy chunk of moola!  I won't divulge the dollar amount, but in case you are curious, let's just say we could have bought this, this, these, this {in both colors}, and these, and still had change leftover for a couple of coffees.  So, having the lovely experience that we did, I reassured Sarah of the benefits of having a money honeymoon dance.

{that's little, well, bigger, but younger brother}

{and yes I realized my lipstick desperately needed re-freshening, but no time}

While the pouch definitely came in handy, keep in mind not everyone will want to follow suit, and you'll have bills sticking out of your cleavage throughout the dance...good times.

And Sarah, if you are reading this, I used an Anthropologie muslin drawstring bag.  You know, the one in which the sales associates roll up and stuff your receipt?  Yeah, that one.  Free & effective.  Simple as that. I could make you a custom pouch, lickity-split!  You just say the word and I will bust out the ol' sewing machine.  :)

 

 {full pouch!}

{anthro pouch photo source: juliebidwell}

Adoption @ Anthropologie

Anthro stores around the country will host pet adoption events and/or pet supply drives throughout the next few weeks.  Check your local store to see if anything is scheduled.

Locals:  our Roseville Anthro is hosting a dog adoption on 9/26 from 11a-2p!

I am not sure if Bowie is going to let me go yet, but we'll see.

What's a BEFORE without an AFTER

Do you recall me asking you to give me a week or so to provide decent 'after' photos of our guest-room-turned-master-bedroom?  Well, I meant six weeks.  Procrastinator Virgo, remember?  And although I can't honestly call these 'after' photos, as I change things so frequently, I shall call them 'afterish'--how's that?
First, here's one {or three} before photos: 

  
:::drumroll:::  And here are the afterish photos:

A few notes about the room:

• We painted the walls a peachy hue which is very complementary to our skin tones, we've noticed ;)
• We replaced the outdated fan/light fixture with the same one we put in the old master bedroom
• I majorly paired down the wardrobe in order to fit everything in the {much smaller} closet
• I swapped out the drapery, replacing the IKEA curtains with scarves that I got from Target and H&M
• Other than the wall paint, we didn't spend a dime on this room; everything in it was taken from other rooms in our home. I love free!
• The wooden box in the last photo was already being used as a doorstop, and just so happened to fit all of my flip flops perfectly in it. Score! The rest of my shoes are hiding behind the bedroom door.

Things still to be done:

• Hang the dressing mirror on the wall
• Patch the hole in the wall where the previous owners had {I'm guessing} intentions of installing an outlet
• Hang art on the walls!  I mean, the headboard looks nice and all, but it's the only thing on any of the walls.  That just won't do.
• Get curtain for closing off closet, even though my stuff looks so pretty and organized... ;)
• Someday get bed linens that actually match.  Maybe.

That headboard and I have a love-hate relationship.  I made it out of plywood, muslin, and batting when I moved in to my first place 5+ years ago--back when I was on a staple-gun-craft-rampage--and have considered chucking it many-a-time.  I think, 'I would rather have a nice sturdy modern graphic headboard from like West Elm or somewhere,' but when it comes down to it, I can't part with my labor of love.  So, to give it new life, I drape a piece of fabric over it to make it work with the space.  Thank you, domino.

Hubby loves the new room.  Dogs seem content there.  All is well.  Don't be surprised to see more {completely different} afterish photos of this room in the future, though.  It's just what I do.

Doing my part ... with an added bonus!

I meant to share this with you many moons ago, so I am doing so now while I am thinking about it.  I've been participating in a program called Recycle Caps with Aveda for several months now, and I feel really really good.

In short, Aveda collects plastic threaded caps--like the ones from water bottles, many pantry items, and beauty products--and recycles them properly, something many cities' recycling programs surprisingly do not do.  Check your city's recycling guidelines.  I bet the majority of them say to remove the caps and lids from their containers before tossing them in to the recycling bin.  

What I've done is place a big bright tub on my front porch and encouraged my friends and family to drop off their caps at my house, once they've collected a decent amount either at their workplace or homes.  I promote the program through bulletins on facebook, e-mails, and word-of-mouth.  The reason for creating a hub at my house is:  the nearest Aveda store is 26 miles one-way, on a very congested freeway.  I knew more people would get involved if I made it as easy as possible to participate.  I even tell people they can drop off dirty caps, and I will clean and sift through them before taking them to the store.

On average, I've been making about 1-2 trips per month, which means I also get to sneak in a trip to Anthropologie across the street...And, bonus!  The crew at Aveda are all so sweet, they shower me with free samples when I drop by.  I have yet to use any of the 20 product samples, but the hubs tried their hair gel and gives it two thumbs up!

The details of the ramifications of trashing lids and caps are gory, so I won't go into them here.  The website (linked above) gives you a good idea, and hopefully will make you want to get involved in your area.  Several schools across the nation have partnered with Aveda to promote the program, which is awesome!  Perhaps if you are a teacher, or know someone who is in the education field, you can discuss the possibility of implementing this program with your superiors.  Let's spread the word...

...and save the cute ducks.

Welcome to WEDding WEDnesdays!

I'm keeping the momentum going with an ambitious undertaking:  posting photos + projects + montages from our wedding (and the year and a half planning beforehand) every Wednesday, until forever--there is that much goodness to share.  I'll even share some ideas and projects that didn't make the cut, but deserve honorable mention.

Our wedding, which took place on October 3, 2009 in Sacramento, was very much representative of our daily life: chock-full of DIY projects, recycled goods, hand-me-downs, and personal touches.  All while staying within a four figure budget.

To start, I'll share a cheap and easy DIY project I did for my bridesmaids.  I knew I wanted them to wear dark chocolate and raspberry hues, and a touch of whimsy to pop against their somewhat simple dresses.  I found their dresses at J. Crew (the "Audrey embossed cotton beach dress" in chocolate) on sale for under $70, and their shoes at Payless for under $15 (not including my AAA discount and the BOGO sale going on at the time).

The shoes I had initially found as a model for a more realistic pair were the Bettye Muller wedges shown below from anthropologie for $368.    

Gorgeous, but yikes!  One pair cost more than all four girls' outfits combined--including dress, shoes, and accessories.  Determined to find a similar shoe, I looked for months.  Nothing.  So, I snapped out of it and realized I could recreate this look on my own--for cheap.  And I did!  I found a comparable shoe at Payless--my MOH 'V' tried on, strutted, and approved--bought a box of metal safety pins, and two bunches of faux flowers at The Dollar Store, and created this:

Pretty good for an under $20 project, huh?  Then, I went back and forth over whether or not to take it to the next level and add some greenery from the flower bunch... I ultimately went with 'more is more' in this case, and the girls were given these to wear:

I decided to share this particular project first after seeing V wear them (sans flora) to my house last night for a much-needed visit.  I was tickled.  I've also learned that all my bridesmaids have worn their dresses at least once since the wedding, which is really spectacular to hear.  V actually asked my permission to wear her's to church a couple of weeks before the wedding, which I didn't mind one bit.  :)  

My hopes are that these posts will inspire you to take on your own wedding projects, not only to give you something to be proud to showcase on what may be the most important day of your life, but also to have enough $$ for life after the honeymoon.  It's no secret weddings have morphed into out-of-control-crazy-expensive-events, but there are ways to keep yourself from falling victim to overspending.  You certainly don't want to experience buyers' remorse about something as wonderful as your wedding, now do you?  That was a rhetorical question. 

One last tip:  stay far far away from wedding magazines.  I didn't buy a single one, and I am glad I stuck to my guns.  Their voodoo will have you convinced you need to hit every Bridal Expo in a 50-mile radius to find and book your vendors.  Lemme tell ya, it's bull.   A better idea would be to check out some fantastic wedding-focused blogs to get ideas from other real couples whose agenda does not include profiting from your event.  Some truly amazing blogs in this arena are: The Green Bride Guide, The Bride's Cafe, 100 Layer Cake, snippet & ink, and I have to stop there or I'll be here all day...

...Stay tuned for more wedding goodness. delivered to you. every Wednesday.

Anthropologie sale goodies!

Not that you'd be able to tell by looking at my outfit here, but I actually have a pretty well-stocked wardrobe.  If I were to organize my clothes in a pie chart by store, it would look something like this:

Pie.  Now I'm really hungry.  Anyway, while making my monthly trip to the Aveda salon in the Roseville Galleria (the reason?--that's another post), I realized I still had a gift card to Anthropologie from Christmas! that was now burning a hole in my wallet.  When I crossed over to the Fountains shopping center, it was packed with people--thanks to the much-missed beautiful weather and a giant water fountain for kids to play in--but was flagged down by a nice man who was letting me know he was leaving and I could have his [very-conveniently-located-across-from-anthro] parking space.  The day was going very well.  Then, as I approached the store, I was greeted by giant SALE banners, and a store full of sale racks.  It was like Heaven.  I spent a good hour+  browsing the entire store, only making two dressing room rounds.  I scored some delightful goods and got out of there as cheap as I ever have, amazing.  Here's what I bought (all on sale!):

The Crossroads Tee fits snugly as a tee or a sweater.  I'm actually wearing it today over a purple tank and bright orange and fuchsia paisley crinkle skirt.  It fit so comfortably, and was such a great price, I bought the same in beige.  It would be perfect paired with bright and/or neon accents.

I also snagged an adorable hat--I'm a huge fan of being too lazy to style my hair hats!  The colors are more vibrant in person.  I wore it yesterday to a Memorial Day BBQ at  my parents' and received many compliments.

This dress has to be the coziest dress I have ever tried on, truly.

I plan on wearing a brightly colored ruffle top underneath to my cousin's wedding in August.  And a belt, since the corsage is stitched above and below the seam at the waist, making a perfect belt loop.  I'll post a photo of the winning combo after the wedding. :)  The skirt  looks long in the photo, but it hits above the knee (I'm only 5'5.5"), and has a beautiful drape and overall fit.

I also found some really super cool biodegradable/compostable drinking straws with a cute circus stripe pattern, on sale.  I bought the lot.   They aren't available on the website, but I will post a photo later today if I remember.

Check your local Anthropologie to see if they're putting on a major sale event;  you'll thank me.

Update: I remembered!  Here are the straws.