A Little Bit of Randomness...

So...first of all, let me just say how SHOCKED I am that I am actually blogging while sitting on my front porch! Little Miss is playing in the lava rock and her Radio Flyer wagon, and we actually have a slight breeze blowing!

(photo from Instgram app on my iPad, so if the quality is poor, there's my excuse!)

The past few days in the 'ol Bluegrass have been quite unbearable! The humidity is out of control, people!

Anyway, So excited that "So You Think You Can Dance" is back! This season is going to be amazing! I'm still mourning the finales of my favorite shows (Greys, Vampire Diaries, etc) but I really think that my poor little DVR needs a break!

I'm feeling so blessed at this point to be home with Little Miss, but girls let me tell ya, after working for so many years, and for the past year and a half going to grad school full-time on top of work, this little homebody is getting a little cabin-feverish! LOL My husband would say I'm just never satisfied, and I try to roll my eyes and protest, but he's usually right! (Shhhh!) I'm the girl who LOVES buying a new planner just to mark and scratch all in it! It's definitely been an adjustment so to speak! Especially the whole not being able to run to my favorite stores and buy new pretties, now that we are down to one income! It's a new adventure! ;)

However, I did just recently celebrate my 26th birthday. (Now officially closer to 30 than 20, man I feel old!) I say all that to say this: I got a new pretty! My parents instead of actually buying me a gift, gave me money so that I could buy my own. Now normally, I like to hoard gift cards and whatnot, but with this shopping dry spell, it didn't last long! Bought a DIY project kit at Hobby Lobby, (more on that later!) AND because I am a certified bargainista, I hit up my local TJ Maxx. (LOVE that freakin place!)

And this beauty found her way into my arms and heart:

My newest baby, chillin with the Petunia's I've manage to keep alive for more than a few days...

For months now, maybe even a year, I had been pining for a tan Michael Kors addition to my collection. Howev, after perusing the aisles and not finding what I liked, or anything in my little price range, I decided on the sweet little Cynthia Rowley number seen above! She will be an excellent neutral "go-to" bag!

At least I can enjoy my MK sunglasses:

Night ya'll!

All the King's horses, All the King's men...

The entire world is now well aware that Prince William is engaged to be married to a

Miss Kate Middleton.

{Let's all give a collective sigh.

I for one, cannot wait for this royal wedding!}

How lucky is she to be married to the heir to the British throne!?
Wow! She seems to be a very down-to-earth, calm, stylish, and smart lady.

In honor of their engagement, I want to do a little fashion review of Ms. Middleton.

Let's face it, the girl can dress. She's got the bod, the money, and the sense.

I love, love, love her sense of style.

It's very well put together, and she consistently looks fabulous...I'd love to take a peek into her wardrobe...which, in the next 6 months, I'm sure will expand to include even more fabulousness...

Here are my top 5 favorite "Kate" looks, from a variety of sources:

1.) The To-Be-Seen-With-The-Queen-Look: This tailored coat: Love the color and cut. (And the hat and gloves! :)

From People Magazine Online:


2.) The Preppy Chic-Everyday casual look: Everything in this makes my heart swell...from the chic squoval glasses on the top of her head, to the fantastic brown belt, white skirt, and brown boots. I really do adore the collared shirt-under-the-sweater look. She could've literally stepped out of a J. Crew ad.

From InStyle: (On Right) {This picture is from 2007, taken at Badminton Horse Trials.}


3.) Plaid is Mad-The girl loves her plaid skirts, tights, and boots. And I do too! I love this look for running to business meetings, HA! IF I were the type to attend such meetings...I think I may be too short & stubby to pull this look off...would love to give it a try though, especially for the holidays! I love the black turtleneck sweater with the chic black blazer thrown over it...but I have to be honest, I just can't handle the light brown purse...it's driving me nuts. LOL.
Source


4.) Day-In-The-City: Love this look for running errands around town. The tailored jacket is great, the white purse I'm in love with...she just looks so polished and together.


5.) To-A-Weddin'-We-Will-Go: I just love everything about this outfit that she wore recently to a friends' wedding...the hat, the re-appearance of the simple black blazer, and that amazing, electric blue dress! I also love that she's left her jewelry to very minimal pieces of a simple pendant necklace, small ring, watch, and bracelet. Nothing too over the top.
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{Side note: I love that she can pair pretty much any outfit with her favorite riding boots...the girl loves her boots!}

Anyway-
That's a royal wrap of my favorite looks of the future Princess.

I think she's got a great sense of style, and

all of these looks are attainable by the, ahem, mere commoner.

Fall's Calling Me...

Source

I'm not sure what it is, but there is something so invigorating about Fall. So refreshing.

I love it. I adore it. I live for Fall.

I love the weather, with its cool, crisp mornings. Going through boxes of sweaters and jeans, scarves and boots. I'm almost giddy just thinking about it! I love gazing down the long aisles of fresh school supplies! I'm a paper and pen addict, and I used to LOVE going to get new notebooks and folders... Around the end of August, I swear I can smell football season. I absolutely adored football games in high school. I cheered my freshman year, and danced the remaining three. I loved it. Most of my good guy friends played, and it was a pretty small school {Small Town Girl, exhibit A}, and we all just loved it. Being on the yearbook staff had its perks too, as we got to go down on the field to take pictures...

As you may (or may not) know, I call Kentucky my home. And while we may not be Vermont-like famous for our fall foliage, I think the photo above can atest to the fact that they are still pretty spectacular in a good year. That photo was featured in a 2002 article in Southern Living about Louisville, Ky, home of Churchill Downs and the Derby.

I am eagerly awaiting the return of Autumn...

"No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face..."
Quote by John Donne

To hold me over until I actually get a chance to go shopping, here are some of my wants for this upcoming season:

I heart sweaters. Particularly sweaters in jewel tones. This lovely comes from our dear friend Ann. $39.50

I'm also loving this outfit, would be perfect for the office...

I am totally in love with JCrew's boatneck tee...and I adore the pin...$34.50

My love of handbags definitely comes into play as the seasons change...I've been on the lookout for a tan/brown "go-to" bag that I can wear with almost anything, and can hold my universe, with room to spare...And it never fails, when I find one that I adore, it is by none other than Michael Kors. I love him! He's a genius! $348.00

Well, gotta go. Work to be done!

Anyone else have a love affair with Autumn?

Jewelry Love...

No matter how many pieces I accumulate...I LOVE buying new jewelry!

For our one year anniversary last summer, my wonderful, loving, thoughtful hubby bought me this:

Tiffany & Co. Tiffany Notes Round tag bracelet. It's one of my favorite pieces! As much as I love it dearly, {and him for thinking of it}, it's my ONLY piece of blue heaven at this point in time. I'm all for quality over quantity, but I love buying cheap trendy pieces of jewelry to update my wardrobe. I hate clothes shopping, and I rarely buy any new clothes unless I'm in a certain mood. Instead I use jewelry for updates. I love going to my jewelry box each morning and picking out each piece for the day!

I always wear my watch & wedding set, and most days a ring on my other hand, a bracelet, earrings, and a necklace also. (Wow, listing all of that out sounds like overkill, but most of my jewelry is simple silver.)

I was browsing around on my lunch break today and found these lovelies at various stores:

This multi-strand beauty can be found at Lerner New York for $29.95. I love the black ribbon woven through the chain...

And for a sizzlin' summer evening...Belk: Nine West Bright Things Worn, orginally $95.00, on sale for $71.25. Would be very cute with a maxi dress and other skinny bangles.

I also love big, gaudy cocktail rings...With a larger statement piece, you can leave the rest at home. Too many things and it will be overwhelming...

I thought this was cute from The Limited: $19.50

Next up is a new browsing favorite: All the Rage Online: $27.00

For other recessionistas out there-The following pieces are all $10.00 and under! Found at http://www.alltherageonline.com/

I love these earrings: $9.00

Cute bangles: Also $9.00!

Another pair of very cute and summery earrings; $5.00!!

OK, my virtual shopping trip is over for now...hope you got some cute jewelry ideas for the sweet summertime!

Wedding Season is Upon Us...

It's here! That part of the year that usually begins in May and runs through the end of July, with a spattering in August, September, October and November...Wedding Season! In light of these upcoming joyous occasions, I have compiled a list of "wedding wear" that I think would be super cute...

Shall we begin?

I'll start with this cute little number, found at our lovely friend Ann's:

This little black piece is currently on sale for the low low price of $59.88. It's 100% polyester, dry clean only that was originally $229.00! Talk about a mark down.

Next up is from J. Crew, and is a bit out of my budget at $225.00, but I still loved it...It's listed as a bridesmaid dress, but I thought it would also work for a guest.

Instantly, I was in love with this from White House Black Market. It is currently $148.00

If you're feelin like a haute mama, this adorable dress can be found at Lerner New York & Co. It retails for $56.95.

And for those recessionistas out there, like myself, here's this flirty little floral from none other than Cato! This cute little sheath dress is only $29.99!

Enjoy!