The Perfect Couple

Like Zack and Kelly, Chuck and Blair, and Corey and Topanga, navy and coral just go together.  They complement each other, as all great couples do.  They individually shine on their own, but are better together.  I've found myself wearing this color combo a lot this season.  Here are some of my favorite finds.

L: me in J.Crew Factory shirt, Express pants, Tory Burch shoes, Francesca's necklace
TR: Romeo & Juliet Couture peplum blouse (Neiman Marcus)
BR: Adrianna Papell Colorblock blouse (Nordstrom)



L: me in Gap dress, H&M blazer, Style & Co boots
TR: French Connection Peter Pan collar dress (bluefly.com)
BR: Taylor printed jersey dress (bluefly.com)



L: Aqua shirt dress (Bloomingdales)
C: Tegan dress (Bloomingdales)
R: A.L.C. Thompson dress (ShopBop)

L: me in H&M shirt, Old Navy pants, Charming Charlie necklace, Coach shoes
TR: Forever21 top
BR: J.Crew Factory dotted bird graphic print tee



Made in the 80's

Every year when my birthday rolls around, I get to thinking about my life and what I have accomplished (and not accomplished).  It's hard not to compare my life to others around me and other people my age, although I am not around people my age very often so I don't really know what life is supposed to be like at 27.  I know I'm way mature and wise beyond my years, but sometimes I look at other girls my age like the Olsen twins and feel like such an underachiever.  I've grown up with them, as I started watching them as babies play Michelle Tanner on Full House.  I even wanted a twin sister so my mom could take us to Hollywood to become actresses.  They've surely made a few mistakes along the way (did anyone see New York Minute?), but they have also created a billion dollar empire through their production company and multiple clothing lines, including Elizabeth and James and The Row.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

There's no shortage of talented actresses and reality TV stars that were born in 1986.  Everyone knows that I want to be Blair Waldorf so I adore Leighton Meester.  I'm not always a fan of her red carpet choices, but lately I have been loving her bestie Emmy Rossum's style.  She killed it during her recent press tour for the movie Beautiful Creatures.  Does anyone else watch her show Shameless?  It is so good, but so wrong.  Emmy's character rarely dresses up or wears makeup, so whenever I see her on the red carpet I am wowed.  

Leighton Meester and Emmy Rossum

Most of the cast of Laguna Beach and The Hills are my age, including bff's LC and Lo.  I'm not sure what Lo is up to these days, but Lauren has two clothing lines, LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl's and Paper Crown.

Lauren Conrad and Lo Bosworth

I hated Olivia Palermo on The City, but am such a fan of her style.  The girl can dress and has become one of my fashion icons.  I know she is a guest editor for Piperlime.com but other than that, not sure what she does all day.  Who really cares though?  I would def be friends with her if I could borrow stuff from her closet.

Olivia Palermo

Also turning 27 this year are these gorgeous gals.  I thought Lea Michelle was younger, but maybe that's just because she recently was in high school on Glee.  I don't want to leave out the guys- Armie Hammer, Shia LeBeouf, Robert Pattinson, Stephen Colletti, Drake, and Penn Badgely also were also born in 1986.  I have forgotten what guys my age look like, but these guys look pretty dapper in their suits. 

Brittany Snow, Lea Michele, Megan Fox

  

Stephen Colletti, Drake, Penn Badgley

Whether I have achieved what I wanted to by 27 or not, I can definitely say I've turned out better than these two hot messes.

Amanda Bynes, Lindsay Lohan



New York, I Love You xoxo

I've been asking my husband if we could move to New York (or anywhere, really) for about 5 years now... his answer is always no, of course.  Even after choruses of 'Empire State of Mind' and 'New York, New York,'  I haven't quite persuaded him to move there (never gonna happen), but I did convince him to entertain the idea of going there for a weekend getaway.  I told him he just had to see it for himself, and then I would never ask him to go ever again.  I also threw in tickets to a Yankee game and leveraged that with the promise of no Broadway shows to seal the deal. 

We arrived in NYC on Thursday night and made it to Yankee Stadium by the 2nd inning of the game.  It was okay we were late, since the game went to 12 innings.  The stadium wasn't full at all, and I remember thinking that it didn't seem like there were that many people there, so imagine my surprise when the jumbotron said attendance was over 36,000.  My husband got his beer and hot dog, so he was happy and I was hoping that this would make up for the next two days of following me around while I was shopping.
The next morning, we went downtown to the 9/11 memorial.  It was a crazy feeling to see it in person, and incredibly sad to read the names of people who died that day.   To me, it was just another great reminder of how precious life really is, and tomorrow is never promised.

Later, we wandered around Wall Street and the financial district and then made our way up to Soho for lunch and shopping.

Since it was his first time to NYC, we did some touristy stuff.  I played tour guide by pointing out famous places and referencing what happened there on Gossip Girl.  We went to the 86th floor of the Empire State Building around 11pm, which is a great time to go- no lines to get in!  It was the perfect place to try to comprehend how big this city really is.  Also, I don't know if my hair got confused and thought since Manhattan is an island, it should go crazy like if I was in the Caribbean, but I had to tame the frizz in buns and ponytails for most of the trip.

Saturday morning started off with more shopping, then venturing around Central Park.  We stopped at the Bethesda Fountain to people watch and to rest.  Back at the hotel, the scale in my hotel bathroom said 84 when I stepped onto it...I mean, I knew I had walked a lot but didn't know I had dropped that much weight!  Okay, maybe it was broken, but we did do A LOT of walking.

We were able to hit up 2 of the 4 B's (Bloomingdale's and Bendel's).  We also had to stop at Dylan's Candy Bar to grab a few treats for the nieces and nephews.

There definitely wasn't enough time to do everything we wanted to do, but we did manage to squeeze in a couple of visits with some friends that were in town.

I am always happy to get out of my little 'bubble' every once in awhile.  I know I always say I want to move to NYC, but I think the only way I could do it is if I had a Park Ave penthouse on the Upper East Side and a personal driver.  Oh, and million of dollars to live off of.  I got my 'fix' of city life (for now) and was happy to see my little Monaco when I got home.  Needless to say, this guy below was totally exhausted!  I'm already
looking forward to visiting NYC again (def a girls trip!) and exploring the city even more.

It's in the Bag

I've always loved handbags and used to have a huge collection, but as I get older I have started embracing the 'quality over quantity' motto when it comes to purses.  Maybe over time I have gotten wiser, or maybe it's just that my taste has gotten more expensive.  I also go with 'bigger is better' when it comes to handbags, and it's kind of a joke among my friends and family how we can pretty much find anything we would need in my purse.  Hey, I like to be prepared, so yes I do need to carry a wallet, a wristlet, at least 2 pairs of sunnies, coupons, a notebook, a camera, a phone, and a plethera of medications with me at all times.

My ultimate 'dream bag' would be the infamous Chanel 2.55 quilted leather shoulder bag.  This bag isn't huge, but I could sacrifice and leave a few things at home in order to be able to carry this baby.

Chanel 2.55 Quilted Caviar Leather Jumbo Flat Should Bag


First, there was an 'It' girl, then came the 'It' bag.  The first one that comes to mind right now is the Celine Boston Bag.  An endless number of celebs carry this purse in different colors and sizes.

T: Nicky Hilton, Celine Boston Bag
B: Kourtney Kardashian, Nicole Richie, Jennifer Garner

 Another one is the Saint Laurent Ligne Y satchel.  I love bags that are structured but still big enough to hold everything.  Ok, fact of the day- Yves Saint Laurent is now Saint Laurent Paris but the iconic 'Y' logo is still widely used.

T: Charlize Theron, Miranda Kerr, Angelina Jolie
B: Saint Laurent 'Ligne Y' Leather Satchel, YSL Muse Dome Bag

 Springtime has me kind of wanting a white bag.  These are four of my faves that I have found so far.  These are all great shapes and sizes, and I like that they each have a top handle but also come with the longer strap.  I like options.

TL: Tory Burch Robinson Double-Zip Tote Bag
TR:  MICHAEL Michael Kors Devon-Large Leather Satchel
BL: Marc by Marc Jacobs Too Hot to Handle Medium Hobo
BR: Fendi Medium Chameleon Tote

 Even though it's hard for me, I do carry smaller bags every once in awhile, as needed.  I gravitate towards neutrals for most handbags, but I think crossbodies are cute in fun pops of color.

TL: Coach Saffiano leather phone crossbody
TR: Balenciaga Giant 12 Golden Town bag
BL: Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q- Little Ukita Shoulder Bag
BR: Rebecca Minkoff M.A.C. Shoulder Bag


I can't do a purse post without mentioning Louis Vuitton.  If my husband has learned anything from me, he could tell you that these bags are great investment pieces.  The classic ones never go out of style.  I love carrying the Neverfull MM but I would like a smaller option with a top handle or a crossbody. 

TL: LV Speedy 30
TR: LV Neverfull MM
BL: Jessica Biel
BR: LV Siracusa MM

My birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks, and although my b-day present is a trip to NYC, I'm just gonna throw this pic out there in case anyone feels like getting this little gem for me. 

Burberry House Check Small Hobo

Spring Shoe Guide

Spring finally arrived here in Kentucky this past weekend.  Thank you Jesus (in my Melissa Gorga voice)!  So besides getting to wear some different clothes now that it's warmer, we also get to break out some shoes that have been in hibernation. 

An obvious Spring essential is the ballet flat.  Tan is a good color to invest in since it matches so much, but white is also very versatile.


TL:  MICHAEL Michael Kors
CL: Frye
BL: Tory Burch
on me: Gap tee, Gap jeans, Tory Burch flats, Tory Burch sunnies, Louis Vuitton bag

 My favorite shoe of the season is the loafer.  Like I said, tan would go with a lot of stuff but I also love the different colors available for these Coach leather ones.  I would pair these with khaki dress pants or jeans rolled up at the bottom.


TR: DV by Dolce Vita
TL: Coach
BR: Coach
BL: MICHAEL Michael Kors



I recently bought my first pair of Sperry's.  I've never had a problem with them, I just didn't really think they were my style... until I found them in leopard print.  They aren't the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn, but I was informed they take awhile to break in so I'm giving them a chance, and getting lots of compliments on them while doing so.  I've also found some similiar style boat shoes that aren't Sperry's, but could easily be worn with jeans and shorts this Spring.

L: me in a Naked Zebra tank, Limited cardigan, Gap jeans, Sperry Top-Sider shoes
TR:  Missoni
CR: Sebago
BR: Splendid



Emma Stone is one of my favorite young Hollywood stars.  Her street style is very casual-cool and I've seen pics of her rocking all kinds of ankle boots.  I especially liked these tan ones and found a similar pair.  Even though they are boots, they are light enough for Spring and look cute with pants and dresses. 

L: Emma Stone
C: me in Bucco boots, Final Touch top, Bluetique necklace, Limited jeans
TR: Zara
BR: Sole Society

 My last Spring essential is the nude pump.  On my wish list is the L.K. Bennett Sledge pump that Duchess Catherine wears over and over and over again.  For the time being, I bought a similar style that I'm sure I'll be wearing with many different dresses in the next few months.  I broke out the bare legs with a dress yesterday and then immediately made a spray tan appointment.

TL:  Kate Middleton
BL:  L.K .Bennett
TR: Madden girl
BR: me in a Soprano dress, Madden girl pumps



Personal Style

I haven't been posting many of my outfits lately, so here I have compiled several pics of some of the outfits I've worn in the last few weeks.  Like I've said before, my office is 'business casual' so I don't have to dress up that much for work, and I tend to dress for warmth and comfort in the office.  I can't wait until the weather gets warmer so I can mix things up a bit with more dresses and lighter tops. 

L: Gap sweater, Gap jeans, Forever21 scarf, Tory Burch sunnies, Alex Marie flats
C: H&M dress, Apricot Lane necklace
R: H&M sweater, Gap vest, F21 scarf, Steve Madden boots



L: Loft sweater, Loft necklace, Gap cords, Style & Co boots
C: F21 top, Banana Republic cardigan, Banana Republic pants, Victoria Spenser booties
R: Banana Republic sweater, J.Crew scarf, J.Crew skirt, Steve Madden boots

L:  Final Touch top, Gap jeans, Style & Co boots
C: Gap shirt, Old Navy cardigan, Express pants, Victoria Spenser booties
R: Gap sweater, Gap jeans, Steve Madden boots



L: Limited top, Limited pants, Express booties
C: Gap top, sweater, and jeans, Steve Madden boots
R: F21 top, Express pants, Victoria Spencer booties



I Work Out

So I have a beach trip coming up in about 8 weeks, which means I have started trying to whip my Kardashian booty into shape.  I've been running more and going to a class at the gym a few times a week.  I go through phases where I work out a lot and then don't work out much at all for a few months.  Before I started back at the gym this time, I went through my drawers of workout clothes and did a Spring cleaning to get rid of items that were worn out or did not fit anymore.  Then, I bought a couple of new workout tops for motivation.  I must say that workout apparel has come a long way in the last ten, twenty years.  Gone are the days where you can throw on an old tee shirt and Soffe shorts and look okay.  With all the cute options these days, everyone should be hitting the gym in style. 

"Miss Stoeger, I would just like to say that physical education in this school is a disgrace. I mean, standing in line for forty minutes is hardly aerobically effective. I doubt I've worked off the calories in a stick of Carefree gum."--Cher

I like to wear tight pants with shirts that are long and a little loose in the stomach area, since I'm not exactly Adriana Lima.  I prefer lighter colors on top (anything but white- I wear too much makeup for that) and dark colored bottoms to ensure that I keep true to one of my life motto's- never let 'em see you sweat.  Victoria's Secret Pink has some cute black leggings and their basic tanks come in all these great colors.


Victoria's Secret Pink



The tops below are flattering and functional. 

TL: Lululemon
TR: Adidas by Stella McCartney
BL: VSX Sport Victoria's Secret
BR: GapFit

I like workout pants that are just below the knee, as they provide plenty of coverage but aren't too hot.

L: Adidas by Stella McCartney
TR: Zella
BR: Nike



Nicole Richie, Reese Witherspoon, Gisele Bundchen

When I find a brand that fits me nicely, I tend to keep buying more of that brand (i.e. Gap jeans), which is the case with Old Navy workout pants.  Their dryfit shirts are also good to work up a sweat in and don't break the bank.

I wish I could say that I loved to work out, but I just don't.  I do love how I feel after I work out, but I also love how I feel after making some good purchases.  If only shopping burned as many calories as a body pump class...

Wildfox Couture