Welcome to Fashion Court...The Verdict Is In.

first voxbox from influenster review

2011-12-28T21:55:00.005-05:00

even though i haven't been posting on here, i still try to keep up with new things. i read about influenster on one of my FAAAAAAVORITE blogger's websites... kimberlee! she reviewed a box a while back and i was intrigued enough to sign up for influenster myself.

with influenster, you fill out surveys and earn "badges" (for example, you can earn a badge for having a smart phone). as you earn the badges, you can qualify to get a "voxbox" ... which is a box of complimentary goodies to try out. it's really a simple concept ... plus, i love getting boxes in the mail :p

i love trying new stuff, especially samples. but they actually send you full sized products which is pretty cool. i qualified for the holiday voxbox (i kinda adore the little santa hat on the card that came in the box, seen at the top of this post).

i earned enough badges to qualify for the bonus product. i received the "x out wash-in" treatment (from the makers of proactiv). i have to admit, i did not try this yet..but i read the bottle and the concept is pretty cool. you can use it three different ways and it kills bacteria. the most attractive way to me was as a spot treatment because thankfully my skin is pretty good (and has been pretty good which is why i haven't tried it yet). i did have a family member be my giunea pig over the holidays and it worked great for them!

as for the products that everyone received...here's what i thought of everything:

impress press-on manicure by broadway nails: i'll admit...i still haven't tried these. i have never used fake nails in my life so i'm kinda hesitant. my nails are fragile as it is. however, there's always a first time for everything..so i miiiiight just try them out for new year's eve. i really like the patterns that they have for these and i have to admit that i was tempted to buy another pattern at the store before i received these. i have been seeing the commercials for this product a lot lately. i think it will probably take off for people who do already use fake nails. the concept seems really simple (even for beginners) - peel the plastic off of the back of the nail and press on. also, was a bit disappointed because the box came damaged :(

softsoap coconut scrub body bar: omg. this smells AMAZING. like absolutely amazing. it lathers well...and smells amazing. yeah, that's all i really need. i still wouldn't completely get rid of my normal body wash (neutrogena rainbath which i've been using for years)...but this might become a new must-have in my shower. my skin is really sensitive and this didn't irritate me at all.

montagne jeunesse face mask: i don't think i really even need to post a review for this! i always got these as stocking stuffers. always has been a great product for me. i received "dead sea" and it left my skin very soft (as these products always do) and refreshed.

new york color liquid lip shine: i received the shade "new york nude" which is a really pretty nude (well, durf tee). but i like it a lot. it smells like a vanilla cupcake and looks super pretty. i LOVE new york color products and always buy their lip glosses. love that it has vitamin e in it!

mentos pure fresh gum: okay...i have a confession. i have the worst gum habit ever. like, a pack a day of orbit kind of habit. i only two types of gum. orbit wintermint and this. i've used this before i received it in the box and i'll continue using it. i like that it has a minty center. i'm not a fan of the container though.

larabar - OMG. hands down my favorite item in the box. is that bad? of course, it's a food item. the flavor that i received was coconut cream pie. i'm absolutely buying some more of these. i'd say it's a great snack or breakfast on the run. soooooo good. i thought i tasted a fig taste (the package says dates. i always confuse the two. or are they the same thing? i have no idea, but it was still yummy).

i have to say, i was impressed with this voxbox! i hope that i qualify for more in the future and i'd definitely recommend any blogger (or girl ,for that matter) to sign up for one of these boxes.

ARE YOU A MEMBER OF INFLUENSTER? DO YOU BELONG OR SUBSCRIBE TO ANY OF THESE TYPES OF SITES?

believe it or not...

2011-12-14T12:46:00.001-05:00

i haven't totally disappeared...and i will be blogging again soon. honestly, life just got in the way of everything. i use my blog as my creative outlet and i really miss it. i'm finishing up my undergrad right now and i will have more time to dedicate to zee bloggy. see ya around soon! ;)

eshakti experience

2011-10-10T21:23:00.000-04:00

i was contacted by a representative from eshakti earlier this year and they asked if i'd like to sample one of their items. i really appreciate when companies reach out to me and i had heard of the brand before (with mixed reviews), so i figured why not?

plus, i can never turn down a great dress :p

mrs. draper's day dress, img&link info found here

above is NOT a picture of the dress that i received. i'm posting a current item because they were kind enough to send it a while ago and i have not had time to post a review.

i chose a dress that had a cardigan over it, it was like a two-in-one style dress. it had a gray cardigan with a red dress. great color pairing! i chose it because i do not have anything like it.

the thing that i liked about this brand was it does custom sizing. if you're anything like me - petite - you know this is definitely a good thing! especially when it comes to items like jackets, which they also have. sleeve lengths can be such a pain in regular sizing.

they do offer some incentives like signing up for their emails and currently have a free shipping promo, but they are a bit on the pricier side. not THAT pricey though, considering if you opt for something custom. i was a bit disappointed because i thought the two in one dress had a detachable cardigan (it was probably something i looked over in the details), but it did not. it was all one dress. other than that, i was very pleased.

i also really appreciated that the representative and company were both VERY patient with me. i received this sample a few months ago and i had so many things going on in my personal life, but i wasn't ever pressured to post a review right away. i like dealing with companies like that.

HAVE YOU HAD AN EXPERIENCE WITH ESHAKTI? DO YOU EVER BUY "CUSTOM" CLOTHES ONLINE?

ftc: i was sent a dress to give my honest opinion about.

how not to treat customers - a memo to target.

2011-09-27T14:22:00.003-04:00

Dear Target,

Let’s talk! I’ll do it on my blog since I keep getting disconnected whenever I call customer service for assistance.

I know the Missoni line has major hype and is in major demand. I check my local stores nearly every day for MY SIZE. Not to resell, not to make a profit, but for me – someone who has been buying Target collaborations since the days you’ve started. I still have Paul & Joe for Target items in my closet. It’s serious.

I understand it’s impossible to get whatever you want with this collection. I still can’t find the expresso cups. I understand you get shipments daily and can’t guarantee any item to anyone, because quite frankly you don’t know what each store is getting in.

But to have an item on the fitting room racks and have it there FOR SALE, then to deny someone the right to purchase that item?

Completely disgraceful and horrible store policy.

I’m sorry, but if items are not to be sold, regardless of the situation, they should be checked before they are put out on the racks. I literally had the item snatched out of my hands at checkout and the store associate was rude. When I inquired more, she basically just kept repeating herself that it was an online item. The managers at the store weren’t helpful either. They said if I found the DPIC for the item, they would sell it to me. I couldn’t find it so I called Target.com. I got disconnected multiple times by the automated service. Finally, when I got through, they couldn’t even help me.

The manager offered me “apology coupons.” Are you kidding me? I want to purchase the item that I found on the shelf. I want not to be treated in a rude manner. I want to buy the item that was for sale.

Until then, I’m done with Target. And I mean it. This is not how a customer deserves to be treated.

edit: was able to buy the item after speaking with customer service on the phone. still annoyed at tarjay.

so guess who's back? (for real this time)

2011-05-21T15:50:00.001-04:00

it even feels weird logging into blogger to post something, but i'm finally back. i know i've said it in the past, but this time i'm really back. i feel my writer's block diminishing more and more every day. i've just actually wanted to write - which is a good feeling. i have a ton of emails to go through and a ton of blogs to catch up on.

my summer started a week ago. i'm off (well, if you don't count working over the summer and studying for LSATs) until early september, so i'm going to have some free time on my hands. i have some ideas in the back of my mind for some posts as well as a baseball post i've had sitting in my drafts since last may (omg).

if you follow me on twitter, you probably know by now that i got a cake pop machine...that i'm obsessed with...

red velvet cake pops...AREN'T THEY PRETTY?!!?!?!?!

you also probably know that i cook and/or bake pretty much every night. i'm apparently very domestic, hahaha. but i've been asked a few times to start a food blog...which miiiight be coming. might be. because i don't take artsy photos of food and i'm not sure if it would look super appetizing or not lol. but we'll see :p

and ending off with this post, i had to share rocco's easter picture. his first birthday is on monday :)

i'm glad to be back :)

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ON THE BLOG THIS SUMMER? :)

get snooki'fied.

2011-01-28T13:43:00.001-05:00

okay, okay...i know what you're thinking - this jersey girl has lost her mind. she's finally given in to the fake tanning, the guidos, and the leopard print.

well, i mean i love me some leopard...but...nope. i'm a HUGE (understatement) fan of jersey shore. when i heard that snooki was coming out with her own jewelry line...i was kinda excited. i actually kind of ADORE snooki (and jwoww. sammi can leave, now. thanks!).

i wasn't sure what to expect though. i mean, would it be cute? was it going to be like a 100 piece line of cheaply made items? then i saw that the first item was available on the diamond shark website.

the snooki party ball pendant

found here

adorable! pink! sparkly! i knew that i HAD to have it! still, i wasn't expecting too much.

i have to admit, i was beyond surprised with my order. the pendant was made pretty nicely and i love how the pink just sparkles. it's definitely an attention grabber. above and below are pictures that i took with my blackberry.

in case you're interested in a full view of how it looks on...

i have is i wish the chain was a little bit longer because i'm horrible at snapping clasps! lol. but that's kind of just a personal preference. i really don't have any complaints with my order, besides that i wish it came a little bit faster. her necklace was apparently in high demand and there was a two week wait, but the company warned me of this before i placed my order which i thought was considerate. the only complaint that i have is i didn't get the certificate of authenticity that they said would come with it.

i heard a rumor that snooki is releasing a piece a month. i'm not sure if it's true, but i really like this idea. sometimes i feel when collections are released, it's a bit overwhelming. at least with one piece a month, you can treat yourself if you like the item that month. i felt the price range was fair too. this particular necklace was $49 with free shipping.

final verdict: i'd definitely purchase from diamond shark again and i can't wait to see what else snooki releases! i'd be first in line to buy some more bling :p

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF SNOOKI'S JEWELRY DESIGNS? ARE YOU A FAN OF JERSEY SHORE?

If I Had A Black Card...by Audrey

2011-01-28T10:29:00.000-05:00

If money wasn't an option, it would be difficult deciding whether or not to spend it on gorgeous shoes, stunning dresses, cute accessories, or makeup - the list is endless. However, when Tiffany asked me to make a luxury wishlist, the first thought that popped into my mind were handbags. I am such a sucker for handbags, totes, and clutches. Most of what I picked out below were ones that were practical enough for work but are also usable for everyday use.

The one that's on top of my list is the YSL Large MuseTwo in light gray leather and denim. You can tell it's already expensive if they don't list the price on their website, haha.

Speaking of YSL, the Medium Easy in Fuschia Patent Leather is such a great pop of color.

Sort of similar to the first YSL bag, is this Fendi Peek-A-Boo Top Handle Bag, with a price of $2550.

Next on my list is the Salvatore Ferragamo Leather Top Handle Bag, with a price of $1, 490.

A couple of cute clutches are the Diane von Furstenberg Maribelle Studded Shoulder Bag/Clutch at $550 and the Jimmy Choo Teri Patent Leather Clutch at $950.

Lastly, I like the Kooba Monroe. It's the least expensive out of all my picks here at a price of $545; It's simple but I like the detail on the bottom.

Only if I could really afford to splurge on some of these!

Thanks to Audrey from Audrey Allure for today's post!

decor, decor.

2011-01-27T16:44:00.001-05:00

i've blogged about CSN in the past and was extremely happy with my purchase from them in the past. so when i heard from CSN that they had having modern dining room furniture available on their website, i was pretty interested to see what they had.

i have a little ball of fluff that i absolutely LOVE but he has been kind of tearing apart the kitchen lately ... which is totally an excuse for me to browse for new chairs, right? :p

one of items that caught my eye was the TAG dylan chair in black, pictured above. i wish it came in beige! i like that it's a simple design and would match with a lot of tables.

HAVE YOU BROWSED CSN LATELY?

guess what's back?!

2011-01-24T10:25:00.000-05:00

michael michael kors nadia thongs

img via here

found here, here, here and here

after a .. um... bigger hiatus than i ever had anticipated for this feature... shoes to beat the monday blues is BAAAAAACK! yay! what else could be better than some pretty shoes on a (usually pretty damn cruel) monday morning?!

we all know that i'm obsessed with michael kors. maaaaybe a little bit too much, considering that i'm on a first name basis with the store's employees. yeah. but in my eyes, michael can do NO wrong. he can't. and these sandals are totally adorable (i can never resist bows) and perfect for summer. i'm sick of this winter - i want warm weather and pretty shoes!

WOULD YOU ROCK THESE SHOES?

If I Had a Black Card... By Couture Carrie

2011-01-21T14:28:00.000-05:00

Darlings, CC was so excited when Tiffany asked her to participate in this delightfully decadent series!

Here are CC's top 10 splurge-worthy selections...

Louisa Settee, at anthropologie.com.

Sullivan leather ottoman, at potterybarn.com.

Audi R8.

Apple iPad.

Globe-Trotter Centenary suitcase at jcrew.com.

Cartier Small Roadster Diamond Watch, at bergdorfgoodman.com.

Sachin + Babi Cortona necklace, at shopbop.com.

Alexander McQueen silk-satin draped gown, at theOutnet.com.

Juliett Jake crocodile wrap clutch, at intermixonline.com.

Charlotte Olympia Paloma satin platform pumps, at net-a-porter.com.

What would you buy if you had a Black Card?

xoxox,

Thanks to Carrie from the fabulous Couture Carrie for today's post!

what's your fashion resolution? (giveaway)

2011-01-18T18:37:00.004-05:00

I’m extremely excited to announce a $50 Macy’s giftcard giveaway!

Macy’s is currently hosting a contest called the “Million Dollar Makeover” with Clinton Kelly (FROM ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS EVER!...can you tell I’m excited?). Eight people will be selected for a makeover by him.

For more details about the contest, watch the video below...

If any of you enter (you can enter here btw)…please let me know! I’d love to hear about it! :)

I’m going to keep this contest relatively simple. If you want to enter, leave a comment with your email or another way of contacting you.

For additional entries...

1. Tell me what YOUR resolution is for 2011 (1 entry)

2. Tell me what you'd buy with the gift card (1 entry)
3. Blog about it (1 entry)

4. Tweet about it! You MUST include my twitter username @fashionxcourt and you MUST paste the link here. (1 entry PER day...yep ;])

IMPORTANT: For each additional entry, you must leave a separate comment. If you put everything all in one comment, I will only count your entry ONCE. Also, you must live in the US and be over age 18.

The entry date begins today, January 18^th and will be open until next Wednesday, January 26^th.

Winner will be posted on my blog on Thursday, January 27^th and will also be contacted via email. If winner does not respond within 48 hours, I will reselect a new winner.

Sounds easy, right? GOOD LUCK!

Hey FTC – Macy’s is providing me with this gift card for a lucky reader :)

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

if i had a black card...

2011-01-14T00:56:00.001-05:00

i always *think* that i have a ton of luxe, designer items on my wishlist right on the tip of my tongue. however, when it came time to make this list, i actually had a bit of difficulty...but as you can see, i managed to find a ton of fabulous things! besides the obvious amazing vacation and probably a fabulous car, here are some of the items that i'd pick out with my black card...

first, i'd buy season legends tickets to see the new york yankees play ... they're my favorite sports team!

season tickets found here/img via here

i'd buy some fabulous outerwear...

Michael Kors long leather trench found here

really, can you ever go wrong with some MK?!

next i'd start off with one of my obsessions...i'd buy some fabulous dresses!

Chloé silk-satin ruffle skirt dress found here

how cute is this twist on the classic LBD?!

Hervé Léger cutout bandage dress found here

this dress would highlight every curve and my kardashian-esque booty :p

Stella McCartney sequin-embellished cotton-blend dress found here

i LOVE this dress - simple yet in a sexy color! i'd happily take those shoes as well!

Temperley London Camilla silk-crepe dress found here

in my perfect world, kate middleton would be my bff. i could totally wear this shopping with her!

Alexander McQueen strapless silk-chiffon gown found here

i normally shy away from longer dresses being a shorty, but i absolutely ADORE this stunning gown

i'd move on to some shoes...

Christian Louboutin Futura nappa leather peep-toe boots found here

can you ever go wrong with Louboutins? they'd just join my million other pairs that i'd had already charged!

Burberry studded Wellies found here

these are some killer wellies!

then i'd buy a few handbags....

Michael Kors Tonne Gathered Tote found here

in my perfect world, michael kors would adopt me (and rachel!). seriously. i'd own everything from his lines. hahaha :p

Christian Louboutin Morrigan Large Capra Tote found here

perfect to match with all of my Louboutins! can you ever go wrong with a classic black bag?!

Alexander Wang Rocco bag found here

i mean, my pup's name is rocco and i love studs...makes sense right?!

i'd polish it all off with some serious bling...

Tiffany Tesoro watch found here

i love gold. this watch is so chic! ...although i'd still keep a stash of my MK watches!

Tiffany Fancy Deep Pink diamond ring found here

tiffany and co or the answer is no! dianna and i were just discussing this haha :p ...i'd always say yes to this ring.. just sayin ;)

and i'd make sure that my desk was always stocked with some tiffany pens...

Tiffany "Blue" pen found here

i mean it IS my name after all ... my parents should have known i'd be trouble with a credit card ;)

and i may have just splurged on one of the items that was on my wishlist for a looong time now, thanks to some "research" for this post...whoops. lmao.

i guess i'm not hard to please after all. some fabulous dresses, shoes, handbags and bling - and i'm set :p

WHAT ITEM WOULD YOU WANT TO SPLURGE ON RIGHT NOW?

golden.

2011-01-10T14:01:00.000-05:00

waaaaaay back in may, nina shoes offered to send me a pair of shoes of my choice. OF COURSE, i could not pass it up! i chose the gorgeous cortney wedges in platino (which is a gold). as most of you know, my dad was very sick since may so i did not have time to post a review sooner. i have to say - nina was SO cooperative and understanding of this. the representative that i always spoke with, matt, always asked how my dad was...and you know what? he actually cared. i must admit, nina has FABULOUS customer service and even before everything happened, if i ever had a question they got back to me quickly and thoroughly. they are on twitter and are extremely helpful on there as well :)

these wedges are pure perfection - i'm a sucker for anything gold and i also ADORE wedges so this was the perfect combo!

i LOVE the detailing!

and the quality/construction of these shoes is very impressive! i normally wear anywhere from a 6-7. i ordered these wedges in a 6.5 (i usually take 7's in target wedges) and they fit perfectly. and they're actually comfy!

unfortunately since my review is delayed, the shoes are unavailable on the website :(

ps: they come with a pink dust bag ... how awesome is that?!

pps: and to be honest, i prefer them over these similiar MK wedges that i ordered (and returned). i know, OVER MY BELOVED MK!

ftc disclosure: these wedges were sent to me from nina shoes for review purposes. my opinion about these fabulous wedges are all my own :)

announcement: if i had a black card (the series)

2011-01-07T19:37:00.001-05:00

img via here

so my beautiful and darling readers, i've been wanting to start up a new series for a while now. i finalized the name of the series a few weeks ago and i've reached out to some of you to participate. it is going to be called "if i had a black card"

as most of us know, the black card is a major status symbol. if you have a black card, you can basically buy anything that your little heart desires. and um, black never goes out of style! seriously, how chic is that card above?!

like i said, i have reached out to some of you but if i haven't and you would like to participate just shoot me an email at fashionxcourt@gmail.com (or just leave a comment with your email and i'll contact you, whichever you prefer) i'd be more than happy for you to participate!

i'm going to start off this series with a post by ME next friday and (hopefully) every friday there will be a new guest post!

so i'll leave this little announcement off with a question...

IF YOU COULD PURCHASE ONE SPLURGE ITEM RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

botkier obsession.

2010-12-29T22:52:00.001-05:00

confession time. i always have admired botkier from afar. i've always loved their designs. i even tried to get a botkier x target bag a few years ago - but the quality was truly (and unfortunately) disappointing.

this summer, i was admittedly going through a lot (sleeping at the hospital every night with my dad being sick and unfortunately passing away...aka the nightmare summer).i turned to shopping to make myself feel better (temporarily at least). i updated my designer handbag collection with four new bags from botkier.

the thing i love about the botkier website is the fact that they do list some amazing sales every so often. if you're dying for botkier like i was dying for it - keep your eyes on that section. i really got more for my money and added some beautifully crafted handbags to my collection!

i DID get all of these bags on sale, which is the reason why i was able to buy them all. at the time, they were having an amazing sale and i had some $ saved up. so it was well worth it for me - especially when you're talking about amazing, buttery italian lambskin. i don't need to brag about the quality of botkier - it speaks for itself.

harper hobo in naked

i was on the hunt for a bag that fell into the nude trend of last summer. i LOVE this shade of nude/pink. it's so versatile and classic.

harper large satchel in teal

i fell in love with this bag and literally stalked it. i was so afraid that it would sell out at the awesome sale price that it was listed at. i don't own any bags that are this color so i figured it was a cool addition to my collection. i wore it almost all summer and it was the perfect bag for the summer! i LOVE that you can wear it crossbody too.

dion large hobo in expresso

i originally ordered this as a laptop bag for my mac book, but decided that it was TOO nice to keep it just for a laptop bag. i LOVE LOVE LOVE the shape of this bag and i can fit my life into it. i've actually seen this particular bag on gilt groupe recently.

bond st. small hobo in gold

i LOVE gold. and i can never have enough of it! :p i adored the mesh detailing on this bag.

the only thing that kinda bugged me was that i had to pay for shipping on each order. we all know i'm kinda allergic to paying for shipping, but at the prices that i got the bags at, i really can't complain! also - just a heads up, all sale items are final sale. so if you do order a sale item, keep this in mind.

i can honestly say that i don't own any bags that are in any way similar to my botkier bags. they're all really distinct (in a good way!) i always like, stalk, their shoe section. hopefully i can add a pair of botkier shoes (and more bags, of course! :p) to my collection in the future!

DO YOU LOVE BOTKIER? WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE DESIGNER FOR HANDBAGS?

dear gap.

2010-12-18T23:16:00.003-05:00

hi there!

i haven't had a chance to write any letters in a while, nor have i felt compelled to do so...so feel special gap.

unfortunately, it's not a happy one. last night, i had date night with my mom. i went to nordstrom cafe (had delicious shrimp and asparagus risotto, omg) and saw how do you know (highly recommend!). on the way walking to the movies, i spotted a beaaaaautiful cardigan on display in the window at gap.

img via gap

it was seriously calling my name.

but i was running late for the movies, so i (sadly) had to walk away.

the movie was over around 10 and the mall was still open due to special holiday hours. on the way walking back to where we parked, i saw the cardigan on display in yet another window.

obviously, i took this as a sign that i needed it. the shopping gods were calling...duh.

so, i walk in and i ask where i could find it because it was literally nowhere to be found. one of the sales associates checked around and then went to his manager. his manager then rudely said that there were none left. when i mentioned the POSSIBILITY of taking it off of the display, the manager looked at me like i literally just murdered someone with a scarf like, on the salesfloor.

a. i have never been in a circumstance where they would not sell me the item off of a display model. ms. rude manager, you could have been nicer.

b. really, corporate WOULDN'T want you to make a sale?

c. um, i wanted the cardigan. I BATTED MY EYELASHES AT YOU DUDE.

d. i was tempted to take it off the mannequin myself.

(and it was destiny because the mannequin size WAS MY SIZE)

e. CHEER UP, IT'S THE HOLIDAY SEASON, DUDE.

have to say, i have no interest in going back for the cardigan. or ever shopping at gap again. i'm super disappointed.

negative xoxo's,

fashion court

it's beginning to look a lot like...

2010-12-14T23:04:00.002-05:00

christmas!

and i'm returning to the blog, FOR REAL this time. i was a bit busy with the end of the semester and also suffering from severe writer's block. i don't know what it was, but with the semester coming to a close and having some more free time on my hands...i feel the desire to blog again.

i used to get a lot of requests for outfit posts. while i'd LOVE to do so daily, i just don't have the patience or the proper photographer :p however i do have a little bit of a surprise for you all, which is a picture of the outfit i wore to a christmas party :)

doki geki blazer (found here, but sold out unfortunately. highly recommend this brand for blazers!), rodarte x target dress, black leggings, tiffany and company little blue bag necklace (found here, i have the longer chain which is 18 inches), kate spade bow ring (found here, here and here), michael kors watch (found here and here) and high heel booties that i've literally had forever - i believe they're isaac mizrahi x target!

every year it seems like i turn to my hayden panettiere for dooney and bourke clutch (pictured above). i was literally obsessed with the design when it came out a few years ago and just had to have it. $295 definitely was NOT cheap for a clutch (and honestly, i don't know how i stomached paying that for a CLUTCH!) but i'm glad i did. the design proves to be timeless, chic and definitely goes with basically everything.

another holiday obsession? dressing up this cutie pie...

it's good to be back. i'll be posting some reviews later this week. talk to you all soon! :D

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO? ARE YOU ENJOYING THE HOLIDAY SEASON?

ps: my good friend kimberlee started up her own blog! check her out here (and follow her on twitter!) :)

happy birthday to....

2010-11-16T00:25:00.000-05:00

happy birthday to me :)

i hope my 20s are absolutely fabulous!

ps: i will be blogging once again after this week. started to finally catch up on some things. thanks for sticking by!

img via here

i can't help but imagine.

2010-11-14T22:55:00.002-05:00

my birthday is on tuesday. i'm excited, as birthdays are a BIG deal for me. and i mean BIG deal. like...i celebrate the weekend before, the week of, and the weekend after my birthday. and i truly am excited.

but i just can't avoid the gaping hole of the person i want here. my dad.

i have been coping alright. the best i can. but i have my really, really emotional periods. where i can't sleep. don't want to eat. and just can't stop thinking about the day before he died or the morning that we were called. and seeing him like that. and tonight is one of those nights.

i would give anything to have one more birthday with him. words can't describe it, so i won't even bother to try.

sometimes it sucks to realize who is there for you and who is not. who cares more about their "problems" and who can give a crap less about you. but when it is all said and done, the people who care about you are the ones that actually matter.

i reunited with a handful of close friends who were there for me since the day of my dad's passing. and there is no doubt in my mind that he brought them to me.

i guess i just have to pick my demons.

your gentle face and patient smile

with sadness we recall

you had a kindly word for each

and died beloved by all

the voice is mute and stilled the heart,

that loved us well and true

ah, bitter was the trial to part

from one so good as you

you are not forgotten loved one

nor will you ever be

as long as life and memory last

we will remember thee

we miss you now, our hearts are sore

as time goes by we miss you more

you loving smile, your gentle face

no one can fill your vacant place

-author unknown, from my dad's prayer card.

and whenever i get sad, i look at rocco. because i know my dad wanted him for me. and i just feel so appreciative and loved that despite his mental state, he still thought of me. and that's what gets me through the rough times.

/i don't want a ton of "i'm sorrys"...that's not why i posted this. i needed to use my blog as an emotional outlet. if you don't feel comfortable responding, do not feel obligated to.

wish i could shut my playboy mouth...

2010-10-23T01:15:00.000-04:00

so....guess what?

I'M GOING TO THE GAGA CONCERT!

i. am. so. excited.

and even though it is 6 months away (wahhhh!), i'm already planning what to wear with my best friend! we know that the signature gaga sunglasses are a must. with halloween right around the corner, i feel it is best to start getting some inspiration now.

so far i'm leaning towards replicating the above look from her just dance video. i already have a white v-neck (which will be getting chopped up accordingly) and i'll opt for a short, curve hugging black mini skirt that i have instead of shorts. i'm also paying attention to the little details, like the peace sign tattoo on her wrist which i'll give myself for the night. now all i need is a sequined bra hahahaha.

WHAT WOULD YOU WEAR TO THE GAGA CONCERT?

remember me?!

2010-08-19T00:33:00.000-04:00

HEY EVERYONE!

remember me?

like, when i used to actually update? haha.

this summer has been a roller coaster for me. very high highs and very low lows and really nothing else in between. in the process the blog has been SUPER neglected, which i need to change because i miss it a lot. i need to make a bit of time for it. i know i can.

so, expect to see some updates in the near future (hopefully this week!) and an exciting announcement about the new addition to my life...if you follow me on twitter , you already know what i'm talking about! ;p miss everyone!

in the meantime...

what have YOU been up to?!

maybe it's me.

2010-07-23T12:36:00.000-04:00

i love to read magazines. i'm subscribed to way too many...the list includes glamour (MY FAVORITE), lucky, cosmo, teen vogue, food network (ahahaha i know), real simple (my other absolute favorite), seventeen, marie claire and some others. yeah, i know.

i feel like some i outgrew a LONG time ago (read: seventeen, teen vogue)...but for some reason, i never cancelled my subscriptions. i guess it's because every so often i come across SOMETHING i like in them...and as much as i love the internet, i love having something in print to read. plus, seventeen has freebies every so often ;o)

but... some of this month's magazines covers just didn't do it for me. i don't know if it's because i'm particularly picky for some reason, or it's just my taste. some of you may have loved these covers and i totally understand. if you loved them, voice your opinion. i can handle it - it's not like i'm on any of the covers! ahaha. let's respect each other's opinions though, mmmmkay? kay.

img via here

i'm too old for the disney channel. and she's clearly trying to prove the same thing. it's not that i don't like her - honestly, i don't know any of her movies, shows, etc - but i just don't get this spread at all. the fake cat ears? cats on the cover? that..uh..shirt? like...come on. if you want to revamp your image, there's a ton of other ways to do it. and look a lot better. you're a pretty girl, vanessa! i want to know you for something other than dating zac efron! i have faith in her. do! better! next! time! lol

img via here

confession time. when i took the cover out of my mailbox, i honestly did not who was on the cover. my mind immediately thought whoever that was KINDA looked like justin bieber. i'm not feeling this look for dakota. also, a minor complaint...i KNOW she's another one trying to show how grown up she is (shhh, dakota! you make me feel old!) but there's other ways to do that (i sound like a broken record). she's still relatively young - SHE belongs on the cover of seventeen. i doubt readers of marie claire are some of her biggest fans OR can relate to her. i DO like dakota..but not on this cover. and i also do like her blazer.

img via here

who doesn't love britney?! come on. ...but uh..you guys. that photoshopped mess? that's not britney. a cardboard cutout of britney, perhaps...but that is not britney. seriously...that's...a mess.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THESE RECENT COVERS? WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MAGAZINES?

swoon.

2010-07-12T08:28:00.000-04:00

case of the mondays? hope these shoes brighten your day!

DVF opal wedges
image via shopbop

found here, here, here, here, and here

you are all probably like...the shoe feature is back..and surprise, surprise...she picked a pair of wedges. haha. sometimes i can be a biiiit predictable on the types of shoes i fall for :P. i originally saw these beautiful DVF opal wedges in the style section of the newspaper, of all places. i LOVE how the wedge looks like different stacked layers...and i honestly can't make up my mind if i prefer the gorgeous brown or classic black. plus, they'd make me a staggering (for me) 5'7. AND from some reviews online, rumor has it that they're actually COMFORTABLE! i know, i know...as if i needed another excuse to buy them.

WOULD YOU ROCK THESE SHOES?

sweet.

2010-07-10T15:21:00.000-04:00

soooo...i'm back! or at least i think. lol. things have been preeeetty crazy but i figured what other way to come back than by sharing a super simple recipe that i came across?!

i'm kiiiiiiind of a sucker for TLC. okay, i'm a huge one. i watch cake boss (fellow jerseyans, you guys are SO much better than ace of cakes), hours and hours of say yes to the dress (i kind of LOVE randy...rachel agrees! hahaha), what not to wear, toddlers & tiaras (okay, i know but i'm a sucker for train wrecks), and NOW...inedible to incredible.

like...you KNOW i'm going to watch a show about cooking. lol. whenever i don't know what to watch, 9 times out of 10 i have food network on. and basically, that means i have it on ALL WEEKEND..unless there's a yankees game on haha

this cake recipe is insanely simple. i haven't had time to cook/bake as much as i'd like to, but i was able to fit this into my busy schedule. instead of the fruit compote recommended, i did something a little different (explained below) because i didn't want to actually put the fruit on the entire cake. i wouldn't recommend doing that unless you want to make like a centerpiece out of it, because if you don't eat the entire cake (and oh, it is preeeetty easy to polish it off because it's kinda light and airy and delicious) it's going to wind up being soggy and gross. i just put the fruit on the cake as i served it. in my opinion, this cake is a cross between a pound cake and an angel food cake...but better. haha

cream cake

adapted from inedible to incredible

cake ingredients

- 4 eggs, separated

- 1 cup of sugar

- 1 cup of flour

- 2 teaspoons of baking powder

the recipe says to use a springform pan. i didn't... i just used a regular bundt type of pan. so it's really up to you. make sure the pan is greased with butter (recipe recommends a teaspoon) and coat it with a biiiit of flour too.

1. preheat over to 350 degrees.

2. beat the egg whites until peaks form. this takes a while... i'm really impatient though haha. try your best not to be like me and make sure you really have stiff peaks forming.

3. in a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks and sugar together. at first, i thought i was doing something wrong..but expect this to be pretty thick.

4. i never sift when it says sift...haha. but if you'd like, sift the flour and baking powder. then beat it into the egg yolk mixture.

5. fold in the egg whites into the egg yolk mixture. the recipe says to do this as gently as possible, but i felt that i kind of had to work it a bit. you're going to have a few little clumps..but make sure there aren't huge clumps. it won't be perfectly smooth.

6. bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. let it rest for 10 minutes before you remove it from the pan and let cool completely.

instead of the fruit compote that came along with the original recipe, i tossed some cut up strawberries and blueberries with a little bit of sugar and vanilla extract. SO simple, yet SO good.

enjoy! if you try it, let me know if you like it!

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE GO TO/EASY RECIPES?

love.

2010-07-03T01:35:00.002-04:00

seriously, i love you guys.

i honestly never planned to get THAT open about things on my blog. like i said, i try to keep some positivity going on around here (lol).

i appreciate every single one of your comments more than you can ever imagine.

i have so many people to get back to, so many emails to catch up on, and i plan to *hopefully* get that done by this weekend.

but i couldn't just leave that type of post and not post anything to let you know i'm still here. and to thank all of you.

they don't know me,

2010-06-29T04:05:00.001-04:00

they don't know more than i show.

i'm listening to that song.

it's 4am.

and i can't sleep, as usual.

my body is tired, but my mind is not, as usual.

i'm worrying about things that i cannot control, as usual.

i am completely crashing.

and aching for what feels normal.

i am worried.

i feel that things will never be the same.

i'm worried for my family.

i'm worried for my heart.

i'm worried for everything important in my life.

and i feel like it's falling apart.

and things aren't improving.

and i'm worried about THE STUPIDEST STUFF IN THE WORLD.

stuff that can't even compare to the REAL crap i'm going through.

like aching to be away from here.

aching to be in dc.

accepting that i likely won't be going to yankee stadium this year.

even something as simple as watching my beloved yankees - i don't even have the time allotted for that anymore.

needing a hair cut. desperately. but just not having the time to myself.

wanting to cook a home cooked meal and dessert...and stop living off not eating or having to get stuff from out.

wanting to stop pushing everyone away.

just. wanting. normalcy.

i typically don't get personal on here.

but i'm learning that instead of hiding it...

sometimes it's okay

to admit that you're not okay.

and i'll probably delete this when i wake up.

because i don't want a mess of comments saying "i'm sorry"

i just want a little good news.

scents.

2010-06-24T12:09:00.000-04:00

one of the things that i get told a lot is "you smell REALLY good!" .. which to me, is almost if not a better compliment than telling me i have nice shoes, my hair looks cute, etc etc. you can be the most attractive, well dressed person..but if you don't smell nice..well. i think we all know where i'm going lol.

i looked at all of the perfume bottles that i have and felt kind of inspired to do a post about what i used to like and what i currently adore. i'll link them all back to sephora since it's probably the easiest place to find fragrances (and i think they have some sort of shipping deal going on!)

ralph by ralph lauren

found here

this was one of the first perfumes that i picked out by myself. haha. funny how scents always bring back memories, huh? it's that perfect, beachy summer scent. i'm pretty sure i went through five bottles of this in my early teens. i think it'll always be a classic scent, which is probably why it's been around for so long.

aquolina pink sugar

found here

i don't think i've ever met someone who DIDN'T like this scent. to me, it always smells like cotton candy. the only downside is it can be a bit sickeningly sweet, a little too young and it wears off pretty quickly. i remember wearing it to the mall and my friends and i would go back to sephora and spray it on again. i was totally a mall rat - at least a good smelling one though, haha.

harajuku lovers

found here, here, here, here and here

honestly, i bought the entire set of these because i love gwen stefani, i loved the whimsical packaging and they were buy one get one free at nordstrom (i know, right?!). each bottle is super cute (or should i say kawaii?). "g" smells like coconut. i usually don't even like coconut but for some reason i really liked this scent. probably because it had a bit of magnolia undertones. i like the other four scents as well. they wear pretty well but i don't find myself using them a lot. i guess they're more of a decoration for me.

juicy couture viva la juicy

found here

i'll be honest, i did not like the first scent by juicy at all. it totally wasn't my taste. when this came out, i was instantly attracted to the packaging (i! can't! resist! bows!). it became my favorite and signature scent last summer. it's fruity and floral without being too much and it lasts the entire day. my co-worker (who is considerably older) would compliment me every day whenever i wore it. she was at the point where she wanted to buy a bottle for herself ... and called it 'juicy juice' ... lol. it's still one of my favorite scents but i don't wear it as often because of my new favorite.

michael kors very hollywood

found here

this is my absolute favorite scent ever. i know i've fallen in love with different perfumes in the past (as you can obviously tell) but this is the first scent that i've come across that is completely "me". i've talked about this briefly in the past and i still absolutely beyond adore adore adore it.

i hinted really late that i wanted this for christmas because i LOVED the gift set from macy's ... and honestly, because i loved the ring and i love michael kors beyond belief. i had never actually seen/smelled the perfume in person..but i love michael kors (do i need to even repeat that again?) it definietly lives up to its name. it's a very glamorous scent. sephora describes it as "seductive, captivating, luxurious." i think that's the best way to word it.

neutrogena rainbath

found here and here (but you can find it basically everywhere, lol)

okay, i know...this totally isn't a perfume..BUT along with very hollywood, it's one of my favorite scents ever.

it is definitely one of my essentials and i honestly don't know how i ever went without using it.

i have fairly sensitive skin. i used to have to resort to using baby body wash, seriously. and even that bothered me. i always used to see the big box for rainbath at BJ's .. so being a lover of pretty much all things neutrogena, i gave in and bought it. since i've started using it, i haven't used anything else. it's described as "unique fragrance of spices, fruits and herbs" .. honestly, i can't pinpoint it myself..but i just LOVE the scent. i can wear this and even if i skip perfume, i still smell really good. or so i'm told. lol :p

apparently, i like woodsy, floral scents and cute packaging...but the bigger question is...

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE SCENTS?

i know it's been a while sweetheart...

2010-06-23T05:46:00.002-04:00

i probably deserve an award for world's worst blogger.

i've been going through some family stuff, some insomnia, and finishing up a summer course... so. that's that. i should be back soon, maybe even later today, with an update. i do miss blogging (i always refer to it as my creative outlet) and i miss visiting everyone else's blogs :(

i don't like this to be a place for negativity, which is probably why i've been subconsciously avoiding it...but in all honesty, i just haven't had the time or inspiration.

until then...

what can i say? i'm from jersey. of course i love it.

oh and ps: i might not update here a lot, but i update on twitter every 2.5 seconds (approximately)...so if you have twitter, follow & i shall follow back! :o)

keys.

2010-06-10T06:05:00.000-04:00

i don't know about you, but i've always had an affinity for cute key chains/key fobs for my keys. even when i was young and didn't have a car, i still loved them.

while searching for some new ones to spruce up my otherwise mundane keys, i came across some cute ones...

paloma picasso steering wheel key ring

found here

i love this key ring's cute yet super simple design.

juicy couture key fob

found here

i can't help but wonder if this key fob was inspired by twitter. so cute and vibrant!

spring street design group shoe key chain

found here

perfect for every shoe lover - these key chains are available in a few different styles and colors.

bottega veneta elephant lizard leather key ring

found here

how could you ever lose your keys with this bright ring?! (not sure if i'm feeling the lizard leather though...yikes!)

michael kors montauk key fob

found here

this might be the most mundane of all of the ones featured above, but it still appeals to me. i'm a huge michael kors fan and so i had to buy this one. it's simple yet still will look nice when paired up with my keys - and a bit professional ;p

WHICH ONE IS YOUR FAVORITE? DO YOU PREFER SIMPLE KEYS OR DO YOU LIKE TO SPRUCE YOUR KEYS UP?

summer sandals.

2010-06-08T02:36:00.001-04:00

case of the mondays? hope these shoes brighten your day!

steve madden chainge ornamented t-strap wedge sandal

found here ,here, here, here, here, and here

i saw these sandals at the nordstrom shoe sale a few weeks ago and was super tempted to buy them. unfortunately, i was in a rush and i could only find a pair that was a half size too big. off, they're cute..but on, they're amazing. they would easily go with a t-shirt and jeans or with a cute dress over the summer. while a black and gold combo will always have my heart, i'm kind of loving this shoe in pink. it's also available in white and brown as well.

WOULD YOU ROCK THESE SHOES?

ps: i want to apologize for being a bit absent lately. i usually like to visit all of your blogs and stuff, but i've been having a lot of family issues unfortunately over the past three weeks. hopefully things will be improving soon and thanks for hanging in there with me :o) xoxo

style crush: amanda seyfried

2010-06-02T00:51:00.001-04:00

"The main thing you can change is how you perceive yourself. Stop looking in the mirror and realize that you're living for yourself, not other people. If we're so busy trying to change ourselves, especially aesthetically, were going to miss out on other, bigger things."

i've been a fan of amanda seyfried since she was in mean girls. in fact, she had one of my favorite lines in the entire movie... "well, i'm kinda psychic. i have a fifth sense... it's like i have ESPN or something."

but amanda has proved herself not to be the ditsy character she played back then. she seems

to actually have a good head on her shoulders, something rare to find in hollywood.

she also seems to have so much potential and i expect to see great things from her in the future.

and um, i'm kind of dying over those shoes she's wearing from the teen vogue shoot.

i've read articles that amanda likes to stick to natural beauty - she doesn't even like to blow dry her hair!

she never looks too made up (or fake, for that matter)... this only enables all of her styles to translate well to every day life too.

i think she's the epitome of the girl next door .. i absolutely adore her girly yet chic style!

WHAT'S YOUR VERDICT ON HER STYLE?

images via here, here, here, here, and here

a little bit of palm beach.

2010-05-31T16:53:00.000-04:00

case of the mondays? hope these shoes brighten your day!

MICHAEL michael kors palm beach wedge sandal

found here, here, here and here

truth be told, michael kors can do no wrong in my eyes. from his amazing petite dresses, to his equally gorgeous handbags, the watch that never leaves my wrist and his stunning shoes...i kind of wish he lived in my closet...or at least was like my best friend. i'm a sucker for anything gold, so i love the dainty gold details on these wedges. they're also available in silver, if you prefer that over gold. these shoes look like they'd be great with well..just about everything. well done, MK, well done.

WOULD YOU ROCK THESE SHOES?

faux fix: primrose garden inspiration.

2010-05-30T17:00:00.001-04:00

marc by marc jacobs primrose garden cotton sundress

sold out here

last year, i was in absolute and complete LOVE with the above dress from marc by marc jacobs. i used to stalk it on net-a-porter all of the time. however, i just couldn't give into such a high price tag of $430 without even seeing it. i didn't even know what size i'd be. i tried talking myself out of even looking at it anymore, but i went back to it time and time again and searched high and low for an inspiration piece.

mossimo supply co sleveless floral dress - purple

found here

yesterday at target, i had one of those moments where i want to squeal and jump up and down in the store (don't pretend it hasn't happened to you!). this dress IMMEDIATELY caught my eye but i almost shouted "MARC JACOBS!". obviously, it's not an exact dupe...but considering it's friendly price tag of $21.99 plus very similar inspired print, it's by far one of my favorite faux fixes that i've ever done on this site. it's also available in another color here ... and at that price, you may just want to snag both. i love everything about this girly, floral dress, even the bow detailing that is meant for the front (although you can rock it in the back ala the primrose dress).

even though it's juniors sizing i found it to be true to size, btw :o)

(ps: props to target..the stock photos are looking a bit better than usual)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS FAUX FIX?

dear girl at anthropologie.

2010-05-28T00:48:00.002-04:00

HEY AGAIN!

remember me? i'm sure you do.

you see, i innocently walked into that little closet-esque space that anthropologie has to check out some of the stuff that they had on sale. i couldn't find the dresses and finally did. i really don't go to anthropologie a lot in person since it's not really that convenient.

so, i finally find the dresses and all that and i'm grabbing stuff that i think is cute and you walk in. i didn't expect anything, but i'll admit i started to pick up stuff a bit quicker (don't try to take my stuff when i'm shopping, it won't be pretty on your end)...

AND THEN YOU JUST STARTED UNDRESSING.

LIKE, UM...HELLO?! DID YOU NOT SEE ME STANDING THERE?!

I DID NOT NEED TO SEE THAT.

and it's not even like you tried on one thing. YOU TRIED ON MULTIPLE THINGS. AND THERE I AM. TRAPPED IN THIS QUASI CLOSET, TRYING TO HIDE IN THE SALE RACK.

you may have been in a rush, but i'm not sure if you heard of a concept called a "FITTING ROOM". they're also called "DRESSING ROOMS" ... where guess what?! you go in a little stall, LOCK IT for PRIVACY, and try on clothes. WHAT A CONCEPT!

i've had weird things happen to me while shopping before, however...never something like this. and i know it's not really as big of a deal as i'm making it sound to be, but still. i didn't need to see that.

at least i ordered this online last week...so at least you didn't totally ruin anthropologie for me...

stamp art dress

found here

but..um, i think i'm going to stick to ordering online for now on. THANKS.

xoxo,

tiffany

ps: you may have not seen me the first time around, BUT YOU TOTALLY SAW ME and continued to try on your clothes. THANKS AGAIN.

i can't believe i'm actually suggesting sneakers...

2010-05-25T01:01:00.000-04:00

case of the mondays? hope these shoes brighten your day!

christian siriano for payless walk it out laceless zip oxford

found here

i have a love/hate relationship with sneakers. i like how they look (hence my nicely sized collection that seems to just collect dust) but i don't like to wear them. i know, i don't get it either. i guess i'm more of a flats/wedges girl. i originally ordered these laceless zip oxfords because i needed to add on something in order to qualify for free shipping. i'm glad that i randomly picked these, because i actually adore them on. they're the perfect taupe yet gold-ish color and are actually very comfortable on. i think they're very versatile too - how cute would these look to make a dress look a bit more casual? these are available in blue and pink as well.

WOULD YOU ROCK THESE SHOES?

kinda late, but...

2010-05-22T02:50:00.000-04:00

you may have noticed something a bit odd for me. i usually post REALLY comprehensive reviews of any new target collection...but i honestly was so turned off by the entire zac posen collection that i couldn't even think of one nice thing to say.

...gaaasp, i know, i know. a lot of people LOVED this collection and thought it was the best one yet. personally, i didn't care for it at all. none of the pieces translated for me..except maybe this dress that made me look kinda like a human cupcake. i have no where to wear these pieces and honestly..no desire to do so.

zac posen braided belt

found here in black and here in cognac/blue/pink

dear target, can you please style your stuff online a little better? like please? xoxo.

i must admit, i'm glad that i ordered the belts while they were available online. the reviews are a bit mixed on the target website, but i think that these are the standout pieces of the zac posen collection. they currently are sold out online and only available in stores. i have NEVER seen any belts from any collection actually in stores..so i suggest stalking that link in case they come back in stock or calling a few targets (or even the direct 1-800 number or something) if you really want one of them.

my advice is to order up. the sizes are listed as small - medium and large - extra large. i typically take a small in a regular belt since i have a small waist (where i like to wear my belts, not on my actual hips lol) but i needed the larger size in this case. the buckles are really nice and not a pain to fasten, as some belts are.

WHAT WAS YOUR OVERALL OPINION OF THE ZAC POSEN COLLECTION? WHICH HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE COLLECTION AT TARGET SO FAR?

polished

2010-05-20T17:13:00.002-04:00

let me first apologize for really not being a good blogger lately..lol. i've had a lot of family stuff going on and honestly whenever i have free time, i'm sleeping or i go to check my email, try to start a new entry and nothing comes to mind.

i just wanted to do a quick post on some nail polish i picked up last week. some of you that follow me on twitter may have seen a little preview to this...

left to right: rumples wiggin, what's with the catitude, playa del platinum and turquoise and caicos

i'll preface my little reviews by first saying up until last fall, i was a pink/coral nail polish girl. i expanded my horizons (lol) and fell in love with grey and blue shades last fall..and i haven't looked back since.

also, sorry for like one picture of all of them lol. i don't claim to be a beauty blogger and honestly i don't have the patience to do a ton of swatches .. wish i did. anywaaay...

rumples wiggin: this is from the shrek collection for opi. love the light purple shade, i have a lot of things that will match with this. for reference, it's much lighter than do you lilac it by opi. definitely a great summer shade.

what's with the catitude: this is also from the shrek collection for opi. honestly, how can you pass that collection up? i'm not even a big shrek fan (i don't think i've even seen the movies, not that i can remember at least) but the advertisements for this collection were really cute. lol. i would have picked up some more colors but i honestly don't know if i'd like a green or a yellow. i would have tried the dark purple but they were sold out. another really pretty color.

playa del platinum: this is from the essie resort collection. i love this so much already and i plan to buy a second bottle. question: if you like a color a lot, do you typically buy extras? i usually do (lol). in a way, it doesn't make sense because you can often find a dupe and usually bottles last pretty long. this color will go with EVERYTHING you wear this summer. i love it. this is totally an essential color if you want to buy one new polish. it's a must have!

turquoise and caicos: this is also from the essie resort collection. it's a minty-teal. haha. if that makes any sense! i guess my mind was totally set on summer colors when i went shopping. i wasn't planning on picking this up but it totally caught my eye. it's not like a tiffany blue, but for some reason it gave me the same vibe.

WHAT COLORS ARE YOU LOVING FOR THIS SUMMER? DO YOU BUY MULTIPLES OF POLISHES THAT YOU LOVE?

my favorite flip flops.

2010-05-17T17:19:00.000-04:00

case of the mondays? hope these shoes brighten your day!

havaianas "fit" flip flop
found here, here and here

i'll be honest - i have a TON of shoes. especially shoes that are best suited for the spring/summer weather. even though i have gorgeous wedges, sandals and flats, i find myself always reaching for my beloved havaianas. i bought my first two pairs at a sample sale over six or seven years ago..and i still have them. havaianas are NOT cheap for flip flops..and most people would think over $20 for a pair is absurd but mine have lasted years. i had a pair of black ones that lasted me FIVE YEARS before they fell apart. can anyone say that about a pair from old navy? plus, i can pretty much guarantee that they are the most comfortable flip flops you will ever wear. i bought this style in maaany colors last season and i plan to wear them again this summer. with a bit of a different design, you may even be able to get away with wearing them to work!

WOULD YOU ROCK THESE SHOES?

perfectly petite denim guide

2010-05-14T13:29:00.002-04:00

i'm 5'1 and 3/4 of an inch (or we can leave it that i'm 5'2), which i've grown to love. i can get away with some dresses that may be too short for those who are 5'7, i can wear heels and not tower over most guys, etc etc.

but buying pants?

...don't. even. start. me.

most stores don't cater to petites and it can be really. really. really. aggravating. it's amazing to notice the difference of a petite cut. if you're my height, you completely know what i'm trying to say. petite dresses just fit better. petite pants actually don't look create horrendous proportions. and so on.

when you're petite, it's hard to walk into a store and buy a pair of pants to wear immediately. i always need to get my pants hemmed. i'm not exactly the most patient person to begin with, so waiting for my pants to get hemmed is another drawback. especially with jeans, haha.

often times, even if you do get your pants hemmed..they still don't look right. jeans that are made to fit someone 5'7 still don't look 100% right on a 5'2 frame. they just don't. and certain pants look downright awful hemmed (read: anything akin to yoga pants)

during my struggle with finding the perfect pair of pants, more specifically denim, i've learned a few lessons.

7 for all mankind lexie-gwenevere skinny stretch jeans

found here

i'm obsessed with jeans. if i'm not at work or not wearing a dress, you will likely find me in jeans. a lot of people may not agree with me, but i find a major difference between jeans you'd buy at a regular store (whether it be target or forever 21) and designer denim. i'm a sucker for designer denim. i can justify the price because i wear my jeans so often and in my experience, it holds up better (for me) due to overall better quality.

many designers have began to acknowledge petites. i'd recommend 7 for all mankind petite denim. i personally have petite skinny jeans from them and i adore them. i've had them for almost two years.. i think. lol. anyway, i've had a lot of luck with petite designer denim at nordstrom.. click here to view their selection.

william rast

found here

still, there are a lot of designer lines that do not acknowledge petites.

william rast (uhh justin timberlake and trace ayala), i'm talking to you.

william rast is one of my favorite designers when it comes to denim. the solution for me is to get them hemmed. again, i've had my best luck at nordstrom. i'm not sure if their policy has changed, but nordstrom used to do a free basic hem if you purchase the denim from them.

miss-treated skinny jean

found here

simply put, if you find a skinny jean that fits you properly, you can make it work. i know most assume "okay, skinny jeans aren't going to work unless i'm like, a toothpick." but they do. trust me. i have a kim kardashian booty and i still love my skinny jeans.

also, a lot of people don't buy the correct skinny jeans. they should not be loose...hence the name. they SHOULD be tight around the ankles...and if you're petite, there is going to be a bit of bunching, but it shouldn't be too much. for me, i'd rather have a bit of bunching than waiting to get my pants hemmed. plus, it's totally versatile to have them a bit longer if you're planning to wear them with different shoes that may be different heights.

jolt pick-me-up denim legging

found here and here

the best advice that i could ever give to someone who is super petite looking for the perfect jeans? don't be afraid of the jegging.

i know, i know. jeans + leggings = jeggings = that name just sounds gross. but trust me. it works.

you have to look for jeggings that are more like jeans, not leggings. look for faux pockets and real jean-like details. don't go for options that are simply a blue color with no details. that's when you can say "ew, jeggings are kind of horrendous.."

my personal favorite is pictured above. i ordered them expecting to hate them (read more here) and i instantly fell in love with them. i can't tell you how much use i've gotten out of these since i bought them. they're absolutely amazing and easily my current favorite pair of denim (or leggings? your call.)

the best part about them (besides the price, which i think is great) is the fact that they REALLY look like jeans. no need to worry about having to cover your butt (which you should do with leggings..lol). the pockets look legit. you can wear these as regular jeans.

in my opinion, they're a lot more comfy than regular jeans too. i've worn them a lot and they still haven't done the whole dreaded "ugh, how'd my favorite jeans get baggy and gross" thing.

again, you don't have to be super thin to pull off this look (remember, i have a whole kardashian thing going on and these work for me..haha.)

and...for the fifteenth million time..they're my favorite jeans (or leggings) .. like ever. haha

that's pretty much all of the tips that i could think of (for now at least). hopefully i'll be able to do some more tips one day. it's not easy finding denim that fit you perfectly if you're petite, so i hope this helps! :o)

DO YOU HAVE TROUBLE FINDING THE PERFECT PAIR OF JEANS? WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE TIPS TO FINDING THE PERFECT FIT?

saloni sandal.

2010-05-10T14:35:00.001-04:00

case of the mondays? hope these shoes brighten your day!

house of harlow saloni sandal

found here, here, here, and here

to say i love nicole richie is an understatement. i've loved her since her crazy, simple life days but i love her even more now that she's become a "grown up" (lol). she definitely could serve as an inspiration to these out of control starlets. not only has her life improved for the better, but her style has too! i'd literally be happy if i woke up one day and had her closet. when i found out that her house of harlow line was going to include shoes, i nearly jumped for joy. when i saw them on endless (my faaaavorite online shoe site) recently, i was even happier. these shoes instantly caught my eye with their beautiful, tribal inspired detailing. they certainly would pop with a pretty little black dress over the summer!

PS: the lucky winner of the sex & the city giveaway was #3...which isssss... MADDY! i'll be contacting you shortly :o) .. i hope to have some more giveaways in the near future so keep checking back!

WOULD YOU ROCK THESE SHOES?

confessions of a target-aholic.

2010-05-07T02:34:00.000-04:00

i've had a lot of luck at target lately. those who follow me on twitter .. you may have noticed that i go to target... um...all of the time.. like, i'm there a minimum of twice a week. i live close to at least six targets and considering how often i'm there..i'm surprised i just don't live at one.

(because sometimes... i know their stock better than their employees. and i called myself a targeteer the other day. yeeeeah. i know.)

recently, i've been obsessed with liberty of london and cynthia vincent. first off, i'm a sucker for anything with a good floral print. and secondly, we all know i have a shoe problem. a bad one. but that's clearly an issue i need to address with a trained professional who handles shopping addictions.

i was down in south (or central? i dunno. sort of on the border, so whatevs) jersey right before the zac posen collection came out and what do i find? A TARJAY! across the street from my other mothership (nordstrom). i'm one of those people who gets fascinated to visit stores that are near me anyway, but in different locations.

now i really sound like i have a shopping problem...

i digress.

i went in to see if the zac posen line came in early.. i found this maxi and two black skirts but it didn't do anything for me.

what did though was this display.

and i lost my self control.

what i think is a little odd (and i guess pretty lucky on my behalf) is that the target website lists most of what i bought as new and at full price. i'm guessing that maybe this store marked it down early and/or by mistake. the other targets that i went to did not have most of the selection in stock (perhaps either sold out or not in yet?) .. which i also found pertty (wtf? why did i just type pertty?) pretty odd. also, there are reviews from early march...so i guess it's not completely new. but i'm definitely not complaining.

some of the stuff i bought/saw isn't available online, so i'll just talk about/review what you can currently order online right now. i don't know if what i bought is a specific collection, but most of it falls into the "vintage sea life" section online. as always, the online stock photos do nothing for the collection..and honestly, this stuff didn't completeeeely completely impress me until i actually was wearing it.

nautical double strand necklace

found here

i'm someone who has to try everything on, regardless of if it looks horrible on the hanger/on display. i need to actually see it on me to make a decision. this necklace's vibrant colors instantly caught my eye, but i wasn't sure if i was exactly feeling it. i am SO glad that i tried it on because it's probably my favorite out of all of the things that i bought. this will look amazing with my simple michael kors dress. it's the perfect statement necklace for the summer. i was able to get this for $20.

starfish beaded multi strand necklace

found here

this caught my eye in the display, but i'll be honest..it didn't look like something that i would actually wear. again, i'm glad that i tried it on. it's definitely not the typical piece that i'd gravitate towards but i'm so glad that i picked it up. this is another great statement piece for the summer. while i think it would look great with a simple LBD, it also looked pretty cute with the simple white vneck that i was wearing when i tried it on. i paid like $27 for this.

enamel hinged bangle bracelet

found here in aqua, white, turquoise and coral (or as target likes to call it, coarl. clearly, someone isn't utilizing spell check..)

this bracelet is what originally caught my eye. it's so much prettier in person. can someone pleeeease tell me if there's a similar designer bracelet? they remind me of something that i've seen before but i can't pinpoint where/what. anyway, in person this bracelet looks more like a minty green rather than aqua. really cute and simple. the advertisement has them layered. i snagged this bracelet in the three colors available at the store for like $9. it's listed online as $12.99..and i wanted to complete my set so i bought the white at full price. definitely worth it - you'd pay much more in a boutique for something similar.

starfish oversized pendant necklace

found here

this also caught my eye as i was passing. i LOVE long necklaces that i can just put on easily..i'm really bad with hooking clasps (hahaha :p). i adore the cute starfish design.. i think it always reminds me of florida, where i spent a good chunk of my childhood. i snagged this necklace for $5. it's currently sold out online but the list price is $19.99.

cast coral oversized pendant necklace

found here

this was laying on the side (well, two of them were) and i wasn't sure if i was feeling it at first. of course, i changed my mind when i actually tried it on. i was afraid that it would look too much like a snowflake but it really doesn't. again, this is a longer necklace. this was also marked down to like $5.

triple drop earrings

found here

i'm not one for dangly earrings, or earrings in general for that matter, so i passed on these. but this target had the earrings marked down to $4!

nautical shaky stretch bracelet

found here

this was in the display, marked down to i believe half of the original price. i didn't try it on because i was in love with the other bracelets and this looked a bit too busy. it does match one of the necklaces that i bought though.

stretch oval ring

found here

i think this was marked down to like $15? it's a cute design but WAY too big..on my fingers at least. it literally ate up my ring finger lol. definitely wouldn't work with someone with small hands like me.

HAS ANYONE ELSE'S TARGET MARKED THESE PIECES DOWN? DO YOU LIKE THE VINTAGE SEA LIFE COLLECTION?

an update (well, kind of)

2010-05-06T13:00:00.000-04:00

i apologize for my absence over the past week. remember when i said i was having a rough week laaast week? well, the following day i found out that my dad's uncle passed away. he was sick for a very long time so it was not completely unexpected but it still took a toll on my family. unfortunately, he's been sick since i was very young so i don't have many memories of him...but the ones i do have are great ones of him joking around and smiling.

the other day i came to a breaking point where i felt the need to assess e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. i have definitely been beating myself up too much - i know that i'm my own worst enemy when it comes to everything. i'm a perfectionist to the core and i've just been stressing myself out lately about things that i'm unable to control. thankfully though, i've been working through it and my dad has been my biggest supporter, so i've been feeling a lot better. i have come to realize that once in a while you need to slow down from the fast pace of life and just breathe a bit.

wow, well i wasn't even expecting to go in to that much detail so sorry for boring everyone :p .. but i will be back with normal posting probably within the next week. i have finals coming up next week and then i'm free for .. a week. haha. then i start with my summer course until the beginning of july. things are falling back in to place, as they always seem to do.

i also will be announcing the winner of the sex and the city giveaway by monday - i'll probably just post it along with shoes to beat the monday blues. if you didn't already enter, i'll extend the time to enter until then.

hope you all had a fabulous week and i'll see you soon! :p

embellishments.

2010-05-03T07:40:00.000-04:00

case of the mondays? hope these shoes brighten your day!

madison cork wedge

found here

i'm a shoe snob. when it comes to shoes, i am willing to dish out money for good quality. however, i'll never refuse a little trip to payless. it's definitely a more wallet friendly option in regards to satisfying your shoe addiction needs. i usually wind up going in out of curiousity..and often wind up leaving with a pair (or two..or three) of shoes. i found these wedges a few weeks ago and instantly fell in love with them. i have a hard time saying no to studs or any type of gold embellishments. they're not too high of a wedge at all, either. i wore them for an entire day out (a LOT of walking included) and they were easy to walk in. they're also available in white...which aren't online anymore so check your store out.

(plus, how could i resist the brand dexter when my favorite tv show is dexter (a different one, of course!)? i know it's totally unrelated but it was just another sign, i swear! :p)

WOULD YOU ROCK THESE SHOES?

the new addition in my life...

2010-04-30T01:44:00.001-04:00

haha, well. my little new addition happens to be a blackberry bold. i have to admit, i really really really love it. i don't know how i went so long without a blackberry. i'm the type of person that loves their phone..and needs to have one with the qwerty, etc. i'm like a little kid when i get a new phone, haha. it seems like i may have found a phone that can finally handle me (lol). i had the G1, which is a droid phone. i honestly did like it..when i had it. now, i don't know how i dealt with it.

but i need some help! what are some must have apps that i need to put on my new blackberry?! i already have twitter (i have both the regular twitter and ubertwitter) and the blackberry messenger. there seems to be a lot of apps and i honestly don't know where to start.

this week has been particularly rough for me. some personal stuff, some family stuff, some school stuff. but i know that as cliche as it sounds, these types of experiences only make you stronger. i just would like the better days to come back already. i'm just sharing this to get it off of my chest a bit..but please don't be like "oh, i'm so sorry..." because no one should be. we all go through this crap.

i'm working on a petite denim guide - so if anyone has anything that they'd like to ask or have addressed in the post feel free to email me at fashionxcourt@gmail.com ! if you have a question or request other than that too, feel free to do so as well.

expect some more recipe posts in the upcoming week! i'm also working on sort of a target jewelry haul (we all know my target addiction), another baseball related post and a few other things i have just floating in my mind. i'll leave this post off with one of the songs that i've had on repeat all week...

love, love, love cynthia vincent for target!

2010-04-28T15:32:00.002-04:00

one of the best things about being a fashion blogger?

you sometimes just have to order things...you know, for "research" ;P

here's the thing. i am willing to dish out money for good shoes when the quality is there. i absolutely love pour la victoire and while they're expensive, i do think they're worth it.

when it comes to limited edition collections, especially at target (which i feel like i LIVE at lately), i can go a bit crazy.

and when i mean crazy, i mean...crazy.

here's my philosophy. i prefer to order online, even if i have to order in two sizes, so i know i don't have to hunt it down (it'll come to my door instead, less stress so i don't have to go on a full out manhunt to find an item... which i've done before) and i'm pretty much guaranteeing myself that one of the sizes will fit.

i was lucky enough to find CV in stores early (i think a lot of people's targets had them out early, come to think of it). the size 6.5 was too small for me and the size 8 was far too big. this time, i ordered a size 7 (i take anywhere from a 6-7, but it seems like i always take a 7 in target shoes) in every shoe that i even had an interest in. i did this so i could make my mind up later and return what i didn't want after they came.

honestly, i love ALL of them and i will be keeping them all. hi shopaholic. but seriously. i was able to get five pairs for under $130. that's pretty good, especially for me, who has already spent $300 on a pair of wedges.

the price points on this collection were extremely fair. the flats were $24.99 and the wedges were $29.99. not real leather, but good quality. i'm also a complete sucker for the yellow box - which definitely stands out when you're trying to find them in the shoe department.

i do have a gripe about this collection. availability. if i wasn't a psycho target shopper and didn't notice them up a bit earlier on saturday night instead of sunday when they were supposed to be released, i probably wouldn't have been so lucky to buy everything that i wanted. the selection in stores (i've been to a lot, trust me) has been horrendous, not even catering to those with smaller feet like myself. also, many of the styles are "online only"...yet they are no longer available. it just doesn't seem fair.

also, target seems to play mind games with availability. an item will be "sold out" but randomly come back on in a few different sizes. tarjay, i know your games. with experience from buying from various collections, i pretty much know how to play the game/track things down...but it's still a headache.

something new - i have actual pictures instead of the online stock photos, which i think usually do nothing for an item especially on target's website. i actually have a nikon coolpix but i never remember to charge it .. and honestly, i'm kind of lazy to take pics of everything allll of the time :p .. so these photos are courtesy of my new blackberry's fabulous camera (except for the photo of the multicolor wedges, which was taken with my g1).

cynthia vincent african print ballet flat

no longer available online

these were an "online exclusive" i think. again, don't start me about the availability of these items lol. they're basically the exact same pattern as the multicolor wedges. these seem to be really comfortable flats. the only gripe i have is the toe is a bit rounded, which at first i wasn't sure if i'd like. they will wind up matching a lot of the things in my closet.

cynthia vincent gladiator wedge sandals (in cognac, black and yellow)

found here in cognac, another in stores only item

above are all of the colors that were offered in the gladiator wedge sandals. while i love the cognac and black especially with that gorgeous gold hardware (i'm a sucker for gold), the yellow totally stand out for me. i absolutely LOVE the shade of yellow. they're not neon bright and they're not too lackluster. they actually kind of match the box...lol. i was skeptical and figured that i would wind up returning the yellow, but now i'm really glad that i just ordered all of the colors and decided to make my mind up later. i plan to wear them with my akebia dress from anthro.

cynthia vincent multicolor wedges

found here, but listed as in stores only

even though the website says in stores only, i wouldn't be surprised if they put some more up online again. keep checking if you REALLY want these shoes. you can see my earlier review on these by clicking here. these bold and vibrant shoes might not be for everything, but again i love how they will match with probably 90% of my summer wardrobe. i literally can't wait to wear them .. if only the weather would cooperate.

WERE YOU ABLE TO SNAG ANY SHOES FROM CYNTHIA VINCENT FOR TARGET? WHICH ARE YOUR FAVORITES?

also - click HERE to see rachel's review on CV for target! :o)

catch me if you can...

2010-04-26T00:23:00.000-04:00

case of the mondays? hope these shoes brighten your day!

cynthia vincent multi color print wedge

found in target stores

i was lucky enough (read: i stalk the target website ~~every minute~~ ~~hourly~~ ~~daily~~ ..okay, let's just leave it at "often") to notice that the cynthia vincent for target shoes were up late saturday night instead of their anticipated arrival at 3am on sunday. i instantly ordered every pair that i even thought i'd be interested in. knowing that i usually take a 7 in target shoes (i'm typically anywhere from a 6-7, but more of a 6.5), i JUST ordered that size and hoped for the best. often with target, i like to order a few sizes on their stuff that will have a limited availability. these lovely wedges made it to my door on friday afternoon and i couldn't be happier.

these wedges are literally the perfect summer shoes. they give you a TON of height..they're 4.25 inches!...but they're super comfy and you're actually able to walk in them without feeling like you're on stilts. they're actually super comfy considering the height too!

these are unfortunately no longer available online..but the target site says they're available in stores. if you want these wedges, run to target - now!

once i get the rest of my order, i'll be sure to post a complete review! :o)

ps: dear target. i know we're pretty cool and all but can you stop shipping my orders in like a separate box for each item? i think my ups driver and my family are about to stage an intervention for my online shopping addiction. xoxo

WOULD YOU ROCK THESE SHOES?

order in the kitchen!

2010-04-24T18:48:00.001-04:00

like order in the court...get it? hahaha. i know, i'm too much sometimes.

i'm in a super good mood today - i got a new phone! i loved my G1 but i'm the type of person that gets sick of phones easily plus it was starting to act really wacky lately so i'm so glad that i got a new one.

besides being in a good mood from that, i'm cooking today. i LOVE to cook on the weekends because it honestly helps me relieve a lot of stress from the past week with college, etc etc.

i found this recipe for garlicky baked shrimp in real simple last month. as you can see from above, i like to write out recipes on separate pieces of paper below. i often get my recipes dirty in the kitchen haha..so i find myself writing it out to preserve the original recipes. i've tweaked it a bit below. in my opinion, real simple did not include the proper amount of wine in this recipe.

this is a MUST TRY recipe if you love shrimp. whenever i make it, i find myself thinking "this is SO easy. what am i doing wrong?" ... but really, it's just that easy. i don't see why you'd opt for something frozen (yuuuuuuckkkkk) or takeout when you can make this easily.

garlicky baked shrimp

adapted from real simple

1. Preheat zee oven to 425 degrees.

2. Combine 1 lb of shrimp (obviously, all cleaned up), 4 cloves of sliced garlic (I swear by this garlic slicer, but you can cut it yourself), and 7 tablespoons of white wine in a 9x13 baking dish. I personally use this one from Giada's collection for Target...but you can even use those disposable tin pans.

3. Season the above with salt and pepper.

4. In a separate dish, melt 1/2 stick of butter (that's 1/4 cup of butter to be exact). Mix it with 1/4 cup of bread crumbs. I prefer whole wheat seasoned bread crumbs..there's like my recent obsession...SO GOOD. I typically double this mixture, but it's really up to you. You can also add a sprinkle of dried parsley here but if your bread crumbs are already seasoned, there's no need to.

5. Take the bread crumb and butter mixture and put it over the shrimp.

6. Bake for 15 minutes.

TAAAAAADAAAAAA!

done.

my suggestion is to serve it with rice. there's a bit extra of the breadcrumb mix that actually tastes pretty good mixed with the rice. even though it's double starches, i'm also serving brioche rolls with it tonight.

also, sorry for the photo quality. they're both from my G1. i don't have an eye for photography at all, obviously..plus coupled with a camera phone..well..you know the rest ;o)

if you do try this, let me know how you like it!

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE GO TO/EASY RECIPES?

yankees & mets gear + victoria's secret = homerun?

2010-04-23T03:15:00.003-04:00

eh. maybe a base hit but that's about all :p

if you follow me at all on twitter, you'll know i'm a HUGE baseball fan (that's probably an understatement). more specifically, a huge (again, understatement) yankees fan.

and if you actually do follow me, you know when a game is on. because i'm kind of obnoxious about my baseball. sorry in advance.

i would sacrifice a pair of pour la victoire shoes to go to a game. anyone who knows me...you know that's some serious stuff right there. haha.

obviously, i love fashion and i love baseball...which is a dangerous combination, especially being a shopaholic. only in recent years have there been more cuter options for girls. when i saw the victoria's secret mlb collection online, i knew i had to check it out.

let me preface it by saying that the online options and the store options are almost entirely different. i was hoping to find these pants but they only had white ones and the yoga pants. i'm a hairline under 5'2, which means i would have to get the yoga pants hemmed. have you seem hemmed yoga pants? they..just don't work hemmed. lol.

above is the display at my store. it's obviously REEEEALLLY picked over on the yankees side. they seemed to only have XS and XL, but luckily i found one left of my size. they had a TON of mets stuff though...lol.

overall, i DO like the collection. i like the concept a lot too. but i have a few gripes about it as well.

new york yankees v neck tee

found here

this is one of the items that was actually online and in store. pass. too many rhinestones for me. i could do without pink on the shoulder too. i brought it in the fitting room with me, but i didn't bother to even try it on.

this is the hat that my store carries. cute. i mean, i love the color pink..but it doesn't match ANYTHING else that i have regarding the yankees. i'm not about to look mismatched, i'll keep my world series hat instead thank you very much. the online option...much cuter and more appropriate in my opinion. they had this exact style with the mets logo too..but someone was standing there so i couldn't get a picture of that.

new york yankees baseball tee

found here

I WANTED TO SEE THIS IN PERSON. okay, honestly..i wouldn't have bought it. i'm not that prejudicial :P ... (i'd cheat on the yankees with joe mauer but shhh). i think this is an item that would have probably sold well in stores.. and i don't even think it sold out at my store (there weren't any of the mets version either)..but like i said, i wouldn't have bought it anyway so whatevs.

i understand the pink line targets a younger market than the normal victoria's secret shopper. however, i do not appreciate rhinestones and glitter over all of my clothes (lol). i'm definitely not in that age group anymore (come to think of it..i never liked it on my clothes to begin with).

the availability of this collection is sort of frustrating. i was down in south jersey on monday and they told me that they didn't carry the collection, that the store five minutes from my house had the yankees stuff. being in south jersey, i would have figured that they would at least have phillies stuff..but they didn't have anything. obviously, they're going to have yankees/mets stuff in nj/nyc, twins stuff in minnesota..etc. etc. ... but still. frustrating.

which leads me to another issue. i. hate. shopping. with. victoria's. secret. online. i've had so many problems over the years with them regarding clothing online. the biggest thing that annoys me is you can't return the items to the store, which means you're paying to ship it back. it's not like you can even say "okay, i might be a small, might be a medium, let me get both" because you're basically guaranteeing yourself having to spend money when you really don't need to.. ugh, don't start me on shipping costs in general haha. they just bug me. in addition, the customer service hasn't been the greatest in store or online. they also claim that it's two separate companies..insert huge sigh here because i could obviously go on and on about how much i hate their customer service overall.

the last thing that bothers me is the price. i know, i know. but i have a hard time paying $60 for a hoody that not only has yankees all over it but the pink insignia too. i mean i get WHY pink is on it..but it's still an mlb type shirt. knock it off with pink all over it. and the rhinestones..which i griped about before.

i wound up buying the $60 hoody above, which isn't pictured online. i know, i know... hi kettle, it's black calling. i kind of completely contradicted everything i just said (lol) but i really liked it..out of everything there it didn't scream LIKE OMG I GOT THIS AT VICTORIA'S SECRET! also, i have a world series hoody but it's so big on me..and it's a small too..this is a bit fitted...plus i borrowed my mom's $10 birthday gift card...thanks mom :P

my final verdict on this is that it's probably not worth your time (or money) to order it online if you can't see it in person in the store. i found that it ran a bit small in general (i usually take a small in a pink hoody, which was definitely too tight in this collection) and it's a bit... teen-ish? the best advice i can give is call your store before you bother to make the trip.

again, the price just irks me because it's at VS. lol. plus, i probably wouldn't get the entire collection regardless of price since i work in a fairly conservative work environment (aka, my boss will kill me if i show up in a t-shirt and jeans).

i'm a sucker for the majestic tees at modells. i can't even tell you how many i have in my closet (i still have a paul o'neill one too haha..and omg they have gardner ones now?! ..someone's going to modells tomorrow) honestly. lol. when i want to have a casual outfit for school, they're pretty much my go to shirts. they're on sale like all of the time too...and i think much more versatile (and possibly more age appropriate)

ARE YOU A SPORTS FAN? WHERE DO YOU BUY GEAR TO SUPPORT YOUR FAVORITE TEAMS? HAS ANYONE ELSE SEEN THIS COLLECTION IN STORES?

hey julius!

2010-04-19T11:25:00.001-04:00

case of the mondays? hope these shoes brighten your day!

dolce vita julius sandal

found here and here

the weather here has definitely been getting so much nicer, but for the past few days it has been cold again. it was ninety degrees one day like two weeks ago, which set a record high. i guess that's why i've been drawn to all types of wedges and sandals recently. nudes and neutrals are definitely in for this spring and summer. this pair of sandals fits into that classic but chic trend, with pretty detailing! the best part is that these shoes are available in not only the above pictured color (grey leather) but TEN other colors - including hot pink! just don't be tempted to buy all of them to match all of your summer outfits ;P

WOULD YOU ROCK THESE SHOES?

confessions of a binge shopper (the makeup edition)

2010-04-17T02:30:00.000-04:00

i have a problem that retailers definitely love.

i go on shopping binges.

take my recent MAC purchases for example. i bought one viva la glam gaga lipstick..then a liberty of london lip gloss..and wound up buying so much more. i guess i'm a very impulsive shopper. i can't just buy one and be happy (lol).

(now i'm starting to see why the cashier at nordstrom told me i should be on true life: i have a shopping addiction)

but i digress.

here are some of my recent MAC purchases + my little reviews about each!

viva la glam lipstick in gaga

found here

this shade of pink is beautiful. you can build it up (omg, definitely spending too much time on the MAC website/makeup sites lolol) which i think it perfect. you can go all out or make it a bit more subtle. i wasn't sure if i'd like this color on me, but i actually do. for reference, i'm super duper pale (rai will back me up on this! lol) and it still looks good on me.

plus, honestly? i kind of bought it because ... it's LADY GAGA! lol. i'm a gloss girl, i really don't wear lipstick...but it's GAGA. seriously, this is why retailers love me.

liberty of london tinted lipglass

found here

i couldn't decide between frankly fresh (the third one in from the left) and perennial high style (the last one in from the left). i bought frankly fresh first. i adored it. it's the perfect nude lip gloss. i think it would be perfect for all skin colors.

i gave in and ordered perennial high style. i think it was out of stock for a while. while i do love frankly fresh, perennial high style hits it out of the park (omg, too much baseball for me). i love a coral lip in the summer. this is literally the PERFECT shade of coral. not too pink, not too orangey. i'm sad this is a limited edition color. i bought a backup because i loved it so much.

liberty of london nail lacquer

found here

i also jumped on the liberty of london nail polish once i saw the blue india was back in stock. i also wound up ordering the vestral white because i don't currently own white nail polish.

i have heard that MAC doesn't produce good quality nail polish. blue india was FANTASTIC. it lasted an entire week, including putting a lot of wear and tear on my nails from baking, cooking, etc. it did not chip at all and the color is fabulous.

i haven't been so lucky with the vestral white. if you don't want a bold nail, don't get this. it's VERY white. imagine white out on your nails. imagine jorge posada's nails when he paints them with white out so the pitcher can see his fingers (again, sorry for the baseball reference.) i happen to LOVE this look, especially on my toes because it looks so perfect with black shoes! lol. it hasn't held up as well as the blue. i'm not sure why, but i do notice a bit of chipping. again, i put a lot of wear and tear on my nails.

tinted lip conditioner

found here

my last item on my MAC spree was the tinted lip conditioner. i was between the gentle coral and close for comfort colors. again, i wound up buying both.

hmm, the gentle coral. when you first open the container it looks SO bright..like clown bright lol. but it is very sheer when you actually put it on. it's a gorgeous coral color but not the same type of coral as the perennial high style gloss. it is a bit more orange-y.

rai (again, my makeup guru! lol) said that she thought close for comfort would look good on me. she was totally right! i absolutely love this color. it's VERY close to my natural lip color as well, which i love love love. i'm deeply saddened by the fact this shade is on their goodbyes list. uuugh, i wish it wasn't! i have already bought one backup, but i'm oh so tempted to buy more. but then again, i'm sure i'll find another shade i'll love as much as this (or at least i hope).

these lip conditioners definitely moisturize and i've seen a big difference. i like to put eos lip balm on my lips, then this for a bit of shine and color. my lips look and feel very healthy, which i'm happy to say since i hate dry lips! lol

i just want to end by saying that i'm actually not a big makeup person. i wish i had the patience (and skills) to be able to put effort into my look. i'm a total lip product girl and that's about it. i admire those who can do amazing makeup (unfortunately, i'm not one of them) lol.

WHAT MAKEUP HAVE YOU PURCHASED RECENTLY? ARE YOU A FAN OF MAC?

saying good bye to my straightener & hello to keratin complex.

2010-04-13T20:00:00.000-04:00

(this one is for Kimberly at fab finds under $50! ;P)

i've said it once before, and i'll said it again.

the sixteen year old me was STUPID. i thought that having perfectly, pin straight hair meant i had perfect hair.

and if you don't believe i was stupid, let me just remind you that i would straighten my hair multiple times a day. especially if we were going to the mall...yes, i am a jersey girl.

my hair is naturally pretty straight to begin with. it has one occasional wave throughout it. but try telling THAT to me when i was sixteen. i couldn't go out of the house with my hair looking anything but perfect. and that resulted in a LOT of straightening my hair...which eventually lead to heat damage.

luckily, i noticed the heat damage pretty early. i think it's the fact that my mom has her hair dressing license (that's what it's called right? beautician's license? you get the point, lol) otherwise i probably still would be straightening my hair. i learned to embrace my natural hair. i really do love my natural texture, but sometimes i sleep weird and i'll wake up with nightmare hair. that's when head bands come in handy..and OMG i found this amazing clip for your hair, but that's for another day ;o)

i started REALLY taking care of my hair again last november. i raved about moroccan oil here, and i still stand by that. however, i'm one of those people who has hair that gets used to things really easily, so i have to change it up every so often.

i was hesitant to try this new system because i LOVED the moroccan oil products that i was using. i'm glad that my mom did buy these for me (thanks mom!) because i really do love it. i honestly can't tell you which is my favorite.

below are my reviews on the products that i use. i'm linking to their actual website, but you can find them other places online if you look.

for reference...

- i have long, non-chemically treated hair. i also have a LOT of hair, it's pretty thick overall but my actual hair is fine

- i'm european and i don't have textured hair - so i don't know how this would work on other ethnicities, etc (if you have experience with it - please share!)

- like i mentioned, my natural hair is pretty straight with a bit of a wave

- before i stopped straightening it, it was starting to get very frizzy..

- and damaged, yiiiiiikes.

keratin complex shampoo (pictured) found here

& keratin complex conditioner found here

the shampoo and conditioner have a great smell, but it took me a while to get used to. i'll admit, at first i wasn't the biggest fan of the smell but i grew to really like it. i was used to the island-tropic smell that i think morrocan oil has. i think the shampoo lathers so much better than the morrocan shampoo. you really feel a difference when you're rinsing it out of your hair.

something that i read recently was to rinse your conditioner out with cold water. i know, i know..this is not a new beauty tip. i'm a sucker for a hot shower, so i've only recently been doing this. i've noticed SO much of a difference that it's almost unbelievable. rarely i'll skip the infusion treatment and my hair is still SO soft and bouncy the next day.

keratin complex infusion found here

the infusion treatment is my favorite. again, i'll admit at first i didn't like it. i was used to the liquidy texture of the morrocan oil. but i really began to LOVE this product too. you can't really compare it with the morrocan oil, they're both a bit different.

you can use this on dry hair but i never have. i always put it in my hair while it's still pretty damp. you only need like two small pumps for your entire head. well, that's what i use and i have a LOT of hair and my hair is long lol. don't overkill it with this product, you don't want your hair crunchy either. as the bottle says and from experience, for best results blow dry (even just a bit) if you want "straight straight" hair. i usually just let it dry - sometimes it dries pin straight and other times a bit wavy..which doesn't really bother me either way.

the online price is much more expensive than i thought it would be..weird..i know i didn't pay THAT much. but the bottle does last you FOREVER. i could take a picture of my bottle (which i've had since december) for reference, if anyone wants to see it. it looks brand new..and i wash my hair like every day.

keratin complex vanilla bean deep conditioner found here

if you're going to treat yourself to one product, GET THIS. i can't even begin to explain how amazing it smells. like...a very very very vanilla cupcake. it's amazing. i use this as a leave in conditioner. it says five minutes on the bottle (i think) but i've already left it in a few hours. what i'll do is wash my hair, then put this on when i know i'll be up late anyway and let it stay on for as long as i can tolerate it. with the amazing smell, you won't WANT to rinse it out.

keratin complex clarifying shampoo found here

this is one of my favorite clarifying shampoos. i used to have a different one .. i think it was paul mitchell .. but this has replaced it. the bottle says to use it twice for best results but sometimes i do it just once and it does the job (fantastically, may i add. lol)

my mom, again she's a licensed beautician, bought me everything mentioned above. she gets the products a lot cheaper because she's able to shop at the actual beauty supply. i realize that these products aren't exactly cheap, but you will see a difference with your hair. i'm willing to dish out a lot to keep my hair healthy..but i'm sure there are cheaper alternatives that work just as good out there.

overall, i feel this system does WONDERS for my hair. i like how my hair feels/looks with this a TINY smidge better than the moroccan oil. also, i can skip washing my hair for a day if i really have to compared to the moroccan oil, which sometimes makes my hair a teeeeny bit oily if i use too much (my fault, but still).

my hair is VERY smooth after i use these products. there is literally NO frizz, even when i give in and blow dry it (i try to stay away from anything with heat). my hair used to be a frizzy mess because it was damaged. i'm not sure if my hair isn't frizzy because i stopped straightening my hair december 2009 or the fact that these products really help. i think it's really a bit of both. since i'm not one to get a permanent treatment done, this also fits the bill for me.

if you have any other questions that you're wondering about, leave it below & i'll see if i can help!

but, i want to hear from YOU...

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PRODUCTS FOR YOUR HAIR? WHICH ARE YOUR GO TO PRODUCTS TO FIX DAMAGE? HAVE YOU EVER TRIED THE KERATIN CARE PRODUCTS?

i want your leather studded kiss in the sand.

2010-04-12T00:07:00.001-04:00

case of the mondays? hope these shoes brighten your day!

studded ballet flats

only found here

if you've read my blog at all, you KNOW that i have a weakness for just about anything studded. i received the black pair from my parents for christmas and i was so excited to see them under the tree. they are literally capezio ballet shoes, so you'll feel like an off duty ballerina. i wore these on campus when i had a lot of walking to do and wore them to the mall the same night. they're actually super comfy to walk in, despite them being an actual dancing shoe. another thing that i like about these shoes are you can wear them with the strap or tucked underneath for a different look. i prefer them tucked underneath! these are also available in pink (which uh..i kinda adore.) :o)

WOULD YOU ROCK THESE SHOES?

ps...keep your eyes open for some recipe posts this week :o)

dear boy at target.

2010-04-09T04:01:00.003-04:00

HI THERE!

sorry i didn't catch your name. really, i am. you see, i saw you give me a nice smile when i entered the men's department. i'm sure you thought i was there picking up a gift or something. right?

then you saw me head straight towards the liberty of london display. you know. the boxers.

the boxer shorts that look so feminine i doubt target is going to sell any at all?

OH, that's WHY i didn't catch your name.

YOU MADE A MAD DASH TO THE FITTING ROOM.

dude, WTF?

i think it was obvious, but i'm totally a girl. do you see my boobs? my kim kardashian-esque booty in my skinny jeans? I DON'T HAVE A PENIS.

BUT YOU ALL JUDGEY JUDGEY BOY, YOU RAN AWAY.

SERIOUSLY. WHAT IS UP WITH YOU?

because

a. girls do wear boxers. they are quite similiar to shorts. have you seen girls wear shorts? oh, you have. SO WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

b. it's not like i'm going out in public with them, they're going to be a major part of my summer pajamas.

c. HAVE YOU NOT HEARD OF THAT SEXY LOOK THAT I *THOUGHT* ALL GUYS LOVE WHEN GIRLS WEAR THEIR CLOTHING?!

d. i may religiously watch baseball and be able to give you the lineup in my sleep, but i don't have a penis.

but i guess YOU will never be finding that out.

xoxo,

ps: if i did have one, it would certainly be bigger than yours, you little manchild.

pps. my darling readers, don't forget to enter my sex and the city giveaway!

sex & the city giveaway!

2010-04-09T02:10:00.001-04:00

SO... i have an exciting giveaway for all of you lovely sex and the city fans!

i was recently contacted by someone from on location tours about their fabulous sex and the city tour! in celebration of the new sex and the city movie, they are kindly giving a gift certificate to one of my readers!

the prize includes a gift certificate for two tickets to their sex &a the city hotspots tour which runs daily (an $84 value). it never expires, which is awesome..especially if you live far from NYC but plan to visit in the future!

some of the tour highlights include:

stop at "scout," the bar owned by aidan
enjoy cupcakes like carrie and miranda
go on location to the art gallery in SoHo where charlotte worked
shop at the hottest boutiques & stores in greenwich village
visit buddakan, site of carrie and big's wedding rehearsal dinner
see new locations from sex and the city: the movie

i hate giveaways with long long long and complicated rules. so let's keep it simple.

RULES

1. please actually have intentions on visiting new york these tickets never expire but still. it wouldn't be fair to take these tickets away from someone who is actually going to visit. if you know that there's no possible way that you'll be in new york, please do not enter.

2. you must be a follower or leave your email address. aka, let me have some way of contacting you because i'm not about to get a computer geek to get your ip address and track you down (besides, that would be SO CREEPY.) you will receive one entry for commenting "i'm a follower and/or here's my email!"

for ADDITIONAL entries (these are all optional)...

3. tell me about your favorite SATC moment! i've never watched more than an episode (not because i don't like it, i just never got into it! i guess i was a little too young when it started lol)..so, share it with me!

4. follow FASHION COURT on twitter!

5. tweet about it! must my twitter name @fashionxcourt .. i'll allow you to do this once a day. please try include the link to the tweet itself (it will make my life sooo much easier)

6. visit HERE and tell me what tours you like!

7. blog about it! or anything else. be creative :o)

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put a separate comment for each entry. again, it makes my life so much easier lol.

~~you can enter up until may 1st.~~

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. THE WINNER WAS CHOSEN RANDOMLY..AND IT WAS #3..MADDY!

GOOD LUCK!

images via here, here and here!

small steps.

2010-04-07T15:57:00.001-04:00

hi darlings!

well.

i feel like i have SO much to write about..but i don't know where to even start. haha.

i have some posts on the back burner.. which include a few reviews of products that i have bought recently, recent MAC purchases, some of my favorite products in my general, etc etc. i'm working on a new special feature and also an exciting giveaway (to be announced on friday!)

BUT.

i want to hear from input from you, lovelies!

what are some of your requests?

also - two things i was considering...

1. i was wondering what a lot of you would think if i started posting some of the recipes i try and love. i cook and bake a lot - usually 3 or 4 days a week and i have a ton of recipes to share! or should i create a separate blog for that? hm. i still don't know. lol

2. i was going to start a separate "etsy love" feature..with..you guessed it..products i love on etsy. lol. but i think this might be a bit redundant because a few people already do this.

right now, i cannot do outfit of the day posts, so please do not suggest it. i wish i could, but i can't :( i'm open to all suggestions though!

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FROM FASHION COURT? ANY REQUESTS?

EOS spherical love.

2010-04-06T21:32:00.000-04:00

i'm a self confessed 'green product' lover. aka, i love natural products. especially when it is going to be something i put on my lips...since i wind up biting on my lips all day anyway (lol)

i have been on the lookout for EOS spherical lip balms for a while now. one day while picking up something to make for dinner, i FINALLY found it. (after like over a year people. seriously.)

i'm pretty sure i let out a squee in the middle of the a&p. just saying.

the first thing that i was attracted to was the BEYOND FREAKIN ADORABLE container! okay, how cute is that? seriously?

here's what the website says...

"To keep your lips looking and feeling healthy, we created this 95% organic, 100% natural organic lip balm that’s petrolatum & paraben free, just like you.

Packed with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, soothing shea butter and jojoba oil, eos keeps lips moist, soft and sensationally smooth.

Directions: Twist off top. Pucker up. Smooth on. Smile."

here's what i think...

FABULOUS.

seriously, i could not be happier about this product. i'm a HUGE burt's bees fan but i've been finding myself reach for this in my purse instead. it's perfect to find in your purse too because of its unique shape and pretty color. it's beyond fun to apply (you seriously have to smile as per the instructions!), smells great and really hydrates. my dry lips felt immediately relieved.

it's also a great base to put under lip gloss and lipstick. i see a big difference in lasting power when i use it underneath!

they also have lip balms in stick form (available here)...but i can't see who wouldn't want a cute little ball like that (lol)

the ONLY gripe i have about this product is its VERY LIMITED availability. by me anyway. my walgreens & my a&p carry only the pink summer fruit one. i really want to try the other flavors, but i can't find them in the store. their online store DOES offer a small flat shipping fee so i may resort to that. also, walgreens is supposed to start carrying a 3 pack in april so keep your eyes open for those.

AND. they have a twitter! and they actually reply to your questions (if any!) --> follow @eosproducts !

OH... look who likes his EOS! haha

img via here

HAVE YOU EVER TRIED EOS SPHERICAL LIP BALMS? WHAT DID YOU THINK? WOULD YOU TRY THEM?

perfect wedges!

2010-04-05T14:54:00.000-04:00

case of the mondays? hope these shoes brighten your day!

mossimo patina wedge

found here

truth? i bought the jessica simpson shoes that i featured in my very first monday feature. however, i quickly realized that even though they were gorgeous shoes and well crafted, comfortable heels, i have nowhere to wear them and they're not practical to keep. i reluctantly returned them. but the next day, i was at target and finally tried these cute wedges on. i saw a more expensive pair of wedges online that i loved (found here) but they didn't even have the color i wanted. i saw these on gigi's site and finally decided to try them on in person. i'm so glad i did. these shoes are more practical for my wardrobe and i think they're great quality for the price! good job, tarjay! these can function as a nude shoe but they are a bit gray-ish. i'm usually a 6.5 in general and in target shoes but i sized up to a 7 because it gave me a bit more room. if you're looking for a great wedge for this summer - this is it!

WOULD YOU ROCK THESE SHOES?

tag, you're it!

2010-04-02T14:28:00.001-04:00

this is a fun tag that i received from the fabulous RAI!

TAG: EIGHT THINGS TAG

8 T.V. Shows I like to Watch:

1. criminal minds

2. csi/csi ny

3. bones

4. american idol (why i still watch it.. i have no idea)

5. dexter (my all time favorite show, but it's not on all year, booo)

6. six feet under (the reruns)

7. yes dear (again, the reruns lol)

8. modern family

as you can see, i love crime/csi related shows lol with a mix of comedy. i also like sixteen and pregnant and i have fun doing my little commentary on twitter when it's on haha.

8 Favorite Places to Eat & Drink:

1. this local japanese restaurant - LOVE it!

2. qdoba mexican grill ... i've never had chipotle!

3. pf changs

4. my cousin's italian restaurant in new york

5. atlanta bread (wow, i haven't been there in a while!)

6. cheeseburger in paradise (two words: FRIED PICKLES!)

7. starbucks

8. nordstrom cafe + ebar (pomegranate iced tea = amazing!)

honestly, i love to cook at home on the weekends. cooking/baking relaxes me from a rough, busy week at school haha. i DO love to eat out as well and these probably aren't my top 8 places, but they're the first things that came to mind.

8 Things I look Forward to:

1. better weather/summer sunshine

2. wearing dresses when it gets nicer out

3. wearing flip flops/open toed shoes again

4. for this semester to be over

5. for baseball season to start! (ahemm nick swisher please grow your mohawk back, kthnx)

6. cynthia vincent for target

7. liberty of london to go on clearance so i can buy more of the boxers..haha

8. easter!

clearly, i'm in need of summer. haha. again, just the first eight things i could think of.

8 Things that Happened Yesterday:

1. i went to class

2. i went to the mall & bought a cute michael kors dress!

3. i made this italian breadcrumb pizza & shrimp bisque

4. i WORE FLIP FLOPS! (yes, this is a big deal for me lol)

5. my anthropologie dress came and it's twirl-worthy!

6. i watched a video on youtube

7. i tweeted

8. i browsed online (story of my life)

8 Things I like about Winter:

1. it's colder out (duh) but it's a nice break from the heat

2. it's boot weather!

3. snow days

4. throw on a cardigan or sweater with jeans - simple outfit!

5. you don't have to put as much effort into outfits (lol)

6. christmas, of course!

7. during the summer, most tv shows aren't on

8. you can preview summer clothes online and wish it was already summer...

8 Things on my Wish List:

1. more mac nail polish - my liberty one hasn't chipped at all yet and i'm super impressed!

2. elizabeth and james juliet dress found here

3. cynthia vincent for target wedges..not yet available

4. coach madison floral carryall found here

5. stamp art dress found here

6. good afternoon dress found here

7. glimpse of paradise tank found here

8. pour la victoire savina wedges..i have them in black but i wish i would have ordered them in vanilla, since now they're nowhere to be found lol... found here

8 Things I'm Passionate About:

1. law

2. this ties in with law but the constitution. i have a copy of the constitution on my phone (lol)

3. good shoes

4. fashion

5. cooking/baking

6. my family and friends

7. music (i LOVE lady gaga!)

8. recently, blogging. lol..i've been trying to be a better blogger

8 Words or Phrases I used Often:

1. "seriously"

2. "literally"

3. "you know?" haha..seriously, most common

4. "omg"

5. "could you believe..."

6. "like honestly..." i'm from nj/nyc, cut me a break :P

7. "essentially" ... yes, this is when i pretend to be a nerd. lol

8. okay, i honestly say "double-u tee eff" all of the time and it's embarrassing. lol

i think everyone in nj/nyc also has "dude, wtf?" in their vocab. lol. or maybe just the people i know.

8 Things I Learned From the Past:

1. have patience

2. don't worry about things that you can't control

3. don't stress over the small stuff

4. be grateful for what you have

5. sometimes you need to give yourself a day off from it all

6. don't obsess over the bad stuff, keep calm and carry on :o)

7. things could always be a lot worse

8. smile. it's contagious!

8 Places I would Love to go Visit/See:

1. london

2. california

3. las vegas

4. italy

5. paris

6. hawaii

7. boca raton

8. washington, dc

the last two are places that i've been..so i guess it's kind of cheating :P. i spent a huge chunk of my childhood in boca and i fell in LOVE with dc a few years ago. even though i love where i live (nj/nyc) i'd love to live in either place one day!

8 Things I Currently Want/Need:

1.more orbit wintermint gum. i have a pack a day habit with it and i haven't stocked up recently. it's the only gum that i will chew..honestly, if they ever stopped making it i'd be so lost lol

2. to finally try out china glaze nail polish

3. LUNCH! i'm starving lol

4. for my last target package to come (the purses have been on back order forever)

5. this semester to be over (i think i've said this about 10 times so far lol)

6. for blogger to WORK and stop telling me an error occurred while saving (ahem)

7. to go on vacation. even a short one

8. to figure out what i'm doing next semester

8 People I would love to Tag

1. erika

2. leeann

3. maddy

4. rosie

5. lauren

6. rachel

7. josie

8. leah

for madeline.

2010-03-30T23:16:00.001-04:00

as the month of april rolls around, i can't help but think of the spohr family.

before i started this little fashion blog, i used to spend my free time reading blogs. i don't know how i stumbled across heather's blog, but i did. and unfortunately, i found it after what is undoubtedly one of the biggest tragedies that could ever happen. their beautiful daughter madeline had passed away.

no, i'm not a parent..but hearing the spohrs' story just struck something in me. madeline was born over eleven weeks premature. i was a preemie myself, but not as drastic. i couldn't grasp how this little girl, with a contagious smile, was taken from her parents. no parent should have to see their child pass away. but that isn't the point to focus on.

i couldn't help but wonder...who else has been a preemie? albert einstein, mark twain, charles darwin, and a few more that may surprise you.

i mean, could you imagine what this world would be like without their contributions? ...but to bring to point home even more, could you imagine what it would be like if your child was born premature?

due to the advances of technology, madeline was able to bring joy to her family and friends for seventeen months.

due to the advances of technology, madeline's sister annabel was able to be born healthy. and due to heather chronicling madeline's life, annabel will never NOT know her big sister. she will always be able to look at pictures, videos, and her mother's blog entries. she will never be forgotten or overlooked.

i usually blog about fashion. and when you think about the context of how we value the importance of "fashion" .. you should also take a moment to realize that there are much more important things out there. one of the best things about the blogging community is that you know you're never alone - something that has helped heather and her husband mike through their darkest days.

heather and mike created friends of maddie after their loss. you can read more about their mission here, but it is very obvious - they want to help families who have to experience the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

i know times are tough right now for everyone, but i DEEPLY encourage you to donate. there is no minimum limit. you would be surprised of how far a dollar would go if everyone gave one. in addition, you can sponsor a family support pack for $25. we saw a cute purse, we wouldn't blink to donate $25.

it took me a while to write this, because it was a very important post to me. probably because i was a preemie myself. probably because many of us overlook what it's like to have family members in the hospital around the holidays. probably because most of us are too busy.

even if you can't donate, please just take a moment out of your day. be grateful for what you have. be grateful for the experiences that you've gone through. and please give a thought about madeline & the spohr family.

a special edition of shoes to beat the monday blues!

2010-03-29T00:32:00.000-04:00

case of the mondays? hope these shoes brighten your day!

this week, i have a bit of special announcement! nina shoes has generously given ALL of my fabulous readers a promo code for 30% off!

see those pretty babies up there?! I DESIGNED THEM!

...well, kinda ;o)

honestly, i think twitter is one of the best networking sites out there. you can find out SO much about new products, where to find them and even sometimes short reviews (or links to longer reviews!). i came across nina shoes on twitter and was instantly in love with their design your own shoe program. i've heard of this type of program before but the prices are usually outrageous. their program looks FABULOUS .. and honestly, i can stay all day on their website designing shoes..you can even customize the sole color! (lol)

cortney bronze wedge
found here

in addition to their awesome (and addicting) design your own program, they have a beautiful selection of shoes, ranging from heels, wedges, sandals, boots, wedding styles, kids AND handbags!

in order to get 30% off ANYTHING on their website (shoes, custom shoes, handbags, etc)... use the promo code FASHIONXCOURT! the promo code expires 4/29. happy shopping!

WOULD YOU ROCK ANY OF THESE SHOES?

my new obsession.

2010-03-26T12:44:00.000-04:00

confession time. i always find myself browsing on the anthropologie website, eying up and loving many items. but i've had a hard time ever ordering anything or placing an order. why? i'm not sure. part of it had to do with the fact that i didn't know what size i would be and i didn't really know the quality of the store.

i read a lot of blogs that LOVE anthro and always seem to suggest it, the most popular (and helpful) probably being anthroholic. i finally decided to place an order when i saw two gorgeous dresses that i had been eying up on sale.

anna sui tesserae dress

no longer available online

this dress is beyond gorgeous. i ordered two sizes but neither were flattering. the bottom has too much material and made me look way wider than i really am. the skirt was a bit too full and i'm not sure if it would really flatter anyone. this was the only disappointment in my first anthropologie experience.

akebia dress

found here

as soon as i put this dress on, i knew it was MAGICAL. haha. seriously, the ruffles are just perfect and they totally make you want to twirl. i'm glad that this was offered in petite because the dress fell perfectly on my 5'2 frame. the 6P fit perfectly but i felt that i could have sized down. i called customer service and they let me order a 4P, which arrived pretty quickly the next week.

i have to say - i am EXTREMELY impressed with anthropologie. they have amazing, helpful and friendly customer service. the only downside is the closest store is about twenty minutes away from me. that's not even that bad, because it's in a fabulous area near the water and you can actually see the skyline of new york city from across the river. i know if i lived extremely close to one, i'd probably be there every day (lol).

also, while i was on the phone placing the order for the smaller size, i noticed that something else that i had been eying up was also on sale.

lulea apron

no longer available online, although i did see a ton at the store so check yours

i never knew that their aprons go on sale! i couldn't believe that this gorgeous style was actually under $15! of course, i ordered it via telephone immediately and i couldn't be happier. i love to bake and cook on the weekends to relieve the stress of school and now i can do it in style.

when i went to the store to do my returns on the sizes i didn't keep i saw this pretty dress

dandelion wish dress

found here

how cute is that dress? i resisted the urge to try it on (ugh, it was even in my size!) because i've been trying to behave. i shouldn't have listened to myself (lol).

HAVE YOU EVER SHOPPED AT ANTHROPOLOGIE? WHICH ARE YOUR FAVORITE ITEMS?

sweet as a peach!

2010-03-22T13:26:00.000-04:00

case of the mondays? hope these shoes brighten your day!

bronx peach ankle strap sandal

found here and here

it has been SUNNY and WARM where i live..which makes me really happy. i swear, the gloomy weather was really starting to get to me. what does the springtime bring? great weather - the weather that you don't have to worry about wearing socks, boots, and all of that stuff that i'm totally over by now. you can slip on beautiful sandals! i love this time of year when you can effortlessly look amazing with a beautiful shoe. this shoe caught my eye because i adore a pop of red (especially with a black outfit!). i love the braided accents and adorable name of the shoe! i also loved the corda vachetta color!

WOULD YOU ROCK THESE SHOES?