Make No Comparisons

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Success

"Success is not easy and it is certainly not for the lazy." - Sam Saifer

Let's Misbehave

Via

It's Thursday and time to have some fun and maybe even misbehave a bit.  The weekend is upon us, do you have any plans?

Here's a few ideas to get the weekend activity wheels turning:

1. Test run that pumpkin pie recipe for Thanksgiving. Hey, you can never have enough pie, right!?  Perfection takes practice, by golly!

2. Buy some metallic nail polish and paint those pretty nails of yours

3. Find yourself at a local used bookstore and splurge on a few paperbacks. There is nothing better than getting lost in a literary adventure from the comfort of your own home.

4. Take out your planner, call an old friend and get crackin' on your holiday social calendar; the season will come and go sooner than you know it--make sure you spend it with those you cherish most. 

5. Do something outside; fresh air is never a bad thing.

6. On another note, if you haven't seen the newest major motion picture of The Great Gatsby by Baz Luhrman, you really ought to.  *This is in reference to the picture above, a scene from the movie.

Wherever your weekend takes you, I hope you find a way to misbehave a bit before the week starts all over, again…

The Flounce Skirt

Image source

When talking skirts, there are many styles which come to mind: a-line, mid length, pencil, peplum, maxi, pleated, bubble...etc. Add one to the list!  

The flounce skirt is a perfect blend of flirtatious and buttoned up all at the same time.  This skirt is a great transition piece from work wear to out on the town, or even a special event! 

The best part about replicating this look is playing around with the perfect graphic tee.  Want a super casual look?  Wear a kitty on your chest!  Looking to wear to the office?  A plain colored black, white or grey tee will do the trick.  This look is professional with a laid-back casual kick.

My guess is that the flounce skirt will only grow in popularity and would be a great investment piece for essentially any occasion!  

Ann Taylor has hit the mark with the flounce skirt.  Which look do you love most?

From // L to R //

Tweed, $85
Jacquard; $70
Graphic $85

Leopard is a neutral.

Okay, yep!  I agree.

Be Gracious

Be gracious.  Be thoughtful.  Be kind. 

Make Beautiful Things

Saul Bass

"I want to make beautiful things, even if nobody cares" -- Saul Bass

This is my philosophy, through and through.  Don't lose sight of your true passion and ambition.  Make beautiful things, even if just for your own personal satisfaction!

Color Inspiration: Yellow

How cheerful is the color yellow, anyway?  I am feeling inspired.  How about you?  Oh, and I'll take two of those Prada bags pictured above.

Here's to sunshine and happiness my friends.  

From L to R // T to B:
Art // Emily Rickard
Wisdom // Walt Whitman
Flowers // Sunflowers
Dress // Lisa Perry
Earrings // Elizabeth Cole
Bag // Prada

xo

DIY: Wall Art

Feeling inspired by these looks?  Me too!  Check out these fun wall decor ideas that will add pizzazz to your walls without paying a fortune.  

1.  I am dying to try this modern mosaic paint on canvas; but, I think I'd modify by using a narrower strip of tape (or, use a variety of different tape widths to create less white space).  Buy a blank canvas at a craft or art supply store.  Buy acrylic paints, a paint brush and painters tape (or scotch tape).  Glitter and Modge Podge is optional but always encouraged.  So simple, you could even have kids join in on the fun (if applicable!).

2.  How easy is this?  Seriously.  Search "silhouettes" in Google and your possibilities for creativity are endless.  Depending on the theme or look you're going for, there is a "silhouette" for everything!  Print images on regular white computer paper.  Pick out some simple frames at a craft, home or department store and hang as a collection!

3.  Again, could this DIY craft get any simpler?  All you need to do is purchase some pre-carved ceiling rosettes (find at your local home improvement store) from $8 to $20 dollars each.  Next, paint the ceiling medallions in graduated shades of a single paint color of your choice.  The medallions are light-weight and easy to hang.  This hanging display covers a lot of surface area and packs a lot of bang for your buck!

Now... if only I could add a few hundred square feet to my apartment to follow through on these fun decorating ideas!

Ciao! 

Sensible Summer Reading

Don't forget to pack your sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat and an ice cold drink!

1.  The Secret Life of Bees;  Sue Monk Kidd from $5 on Amazon.com

2.  The Glass Castle; Jeannette Walls from $10 on Amazon.com

3.  The Paris Wife; Paula McLain from $9 on Amazon.com

4.  Half Broke Horses; Jeannette Walls from $13 on Amazon.com

5.  The Great Gatsby; F. Scott Fitzgerald from $7 on Amazon.com

Be A Beginner

"Allow yourself to be a beginner.  No one starts off being excellent."

Here & Now

A Splash of Color, Please!

I know I am not alone when I say that color can be a major source of inspiration for almost any occasion.  Whether you find yourself in a position of selecting a shade of nail polish at the nail salon or caught in a pickle of choosing a lavender blouse over its neon green counterpart at your favorite boutique—these color driven choices exhibit our everyday. And, for that very reason, is why I am absolutely so in love with fashion, design and architecture.  Color has the power to motivate and enthuse beyond our wildest expectations.  And that, precisely, is why I am in love with color, color selections, color combinations, color schemes, color palettes (okay, I think I'm done now). 

The following website, Design Seeds, is a concept I fell in love with before I even knew it existed (if that is even possible?).  I first discovered this revolutionary site while browsing my Pinterest account (go figure!).  Friends had posted these neat color combinations inspired by photographs and I was instantly amused, clicked on the website and couldn’t get enough of it!  For people who feel hopelessly inspired by color, this site hits the creativity jackpot spot-on. 

I need not say much more about my experience using Design Seeds; but, I welcome you to browse around and see what creative journey this site has in store for you.

Do you have a new project you are working on around the house?  Are you planning a wedding or pitching a concept at work?  These color combo palettes may just be the solution to elevate your idea to the next level.  Or, do you simply feeling bare-bones dull and uninspired and need a dose of color inspiration?  Open Design seeds and you’ll feel instantly amused.  My philosophy being: Design Seeds was created to help you appreciate the color around you so you, too, can live brilliantly!

Attitude, baby.

Attitude is everything and there is no greater test then a Wednesday afternoon.  I hope today was productive, successful and lovely for you.  And, I hope tomorrow brings you both joy and inspiration.

Minty Fresh

Trend alert.

Mint, duh!  Big shock, huh?   

If you even have the slightest bit of a pulse you know the intensity of the mint trend.  Truthfully, it is hard to ignore the color’s popularity and it’s even harder not to fall absolutely in love with.  Who could resist the temptation of such a nostalgic hue?  I immediately think of mint chocolate chip ice cream and it is a color that makes me feel happy, refreshed and youthful!

Whether the color be as household decoration, painted on fingernails or hanging in the closet; my hope is that this trendy color will take some time and stay a while.  If you haven’t yet acknowledged or been made aware of this growing trend, all you need to do is search “mint” in Pinterest and you will be exponentially inspired.  From mint housewares to mint colored macaroons . . . it’s all there! I’m astonished by all of the creative ways the color is being used and I look forward to finding a fun opportunity to incorporate the color mint into my life!

What spring colors inspire you?

Home Furnishings

Rugs? Yes.  Lighting? Yes.  Throw pillows?  Yes, please.  

Safavieh has it all.  And, today on ideeli, was a featured boutique vendor.  Before today, I had no brand recollection of Safavieh, but now, I’ll consider myself an absolute fanatic.  Chic, stylish and unexpected prints, patterns and color.  What more could you ask for in home décor?   

Consider this: you plan your wardrobe to a certain extent and you want it to reflect your personal style, correct?  Safavieh décor is an absolute reflection of personal style and intrigue but in the form of home furnishings.   

If ever I win the lottery or become god-awfully rich overnight, you can make certain a plethora of Safavieh home furnishings will adorn my living quarters.  Until that time arrives, I can day dream and pin to my hearts content on Pinterest.

Take a gander at some of ideeli’s discounted Safavieh merchandise.  If you are inspired enough to purchase from ideeli, think fast!  Ideeli boutiques are available for a limited time and products are available until supplies last.  It’s a dog eat dog world out there, folks.  Or you can be old fashioned and just check out Safavieh's website and drool along with me.

What are your favorite home décor websites, retailers, or brand names?

Blazer

Blazers; there's nothing more simple and polished then a tailored jacket.  The thing I love most about a blazer is you get maximum polish for minimum effort (i.e. when you are scrambling to get ready in the morning for work).  Also, blazers come in all sorts of textures (light cotton, lined-wool), styles (cropped, boyfriend), colors (black, light blue, . . pink) and weights (summer vs. winter weights). 

Anyway, I was out shopping with my fashionista friend (Ms. Meghan Bas) last weekend we unearthed some pretty serious blazers during our excursion. 

The first find we found was a closeout deal from Ann Taylor Loft.  The blazer is exquisitely made of black wool/tweed with faint white speckles with an applique that runs along the bottom hem and breast flaps.  This blazer was a quaint $24 plus tax and I am certain I'm going to get a lot of use out of it!

I also managed to snag a fun and fabulous bright pink blazer from H&M!  This blazer will transition into Spring very well and I am looking forward to wearing this bold new style. 

Get wild, be crazy.  Buy a fabulous jacket and rock it!

Color Blocking

GlitterGirl

Color blocking: a styling trend that used to be fashion/styling "no-no" is now taking front and center stage.  And thank God, right?  How cute are both of these Spring 2012 outfits from J Crew? 

How to: pair like-colors from head to toe.  And, feel free to incorporate other colors! Color blocking doesn't necessarily mean using all mono-color schemes; you can combine colors into blocking patterns, too.

Main objective: have boatloads of fun and don't be afraid to go wild and crazy.  The bolder you go, the more your outfit will make sense. Start subtle; but daring is always exciting, right?

Start time: NOW!  Let your inner-eccentric take charge and be creative.

GlitterGirl

Do you have any color-blocking success stories?  Please post!

Zumba!

Great article, check it out!

So, Tuesday I went to the most invigorating Zumba session and I have fallen in love with going back to the gym.  Let me set my story straight, I've never really fell out of love with Zumba, I simply needed a really enthusiastic and high energy instructor to motivate me to show up to a class (instead of doing the at-home version).  

Anyway, it is the NEW year... so, try something new!  Or better yet, rekindle an old passion of yours to stay motivated through (what can be) the non-stimulating winter months.  Your body and general attitude will thank you come spring.  And always remember to have fun.  That is why Zumba exists.  I really can't wait to shake it, again, in just a few hours.  

Find Zumba class near you!

Zumba!

Be Kind to Yourself

30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Excuse me for the prolonged absence from writing a post!  I spent a gorgeous few festive days in the Pacific Northwest catching up with friends and spending quality time with family.  I worked for a mere day before continuing my holiday vacation into the New Year in Pagosa Springs, Colorado with my boyfriend and our great friends.  We made big meals, drank plenty of spirits and skied for days. 

I am now settled back into the ol' homestead and knocking back piles of "to do's" at work while trying to formulate my New Year's resolutions.  In light of another New Year, I think these words of wisdom must be shared.  I have seen this article passed around by a few family and friends but I continue to be impressed by the inspirational content and feel it is worth sharing, too!  I really hope you enjoy reading and reflecting on this article.  I also hope you had an incredible holiday season and are looking forward to a prosperous, positive New Year!

Be kind to yourself and to others.