Friday's Fancies::April Showers

How do I plan to keep a smile on my face during the upcoming gloomy April showers?  I thought you would never ask.  You're so thoughtful.

And to answer your question, I will wear bright accessories.  Do I have bright necklaces? Yes. Do I have any other bright jewelry? No. The rest is all silver or gold.  Timeless yet not nearly as fun as these beauties below:

Earrings: 1. Bauble Bar Tournesol Studs | 2. Kate Spade Rosewood Dot Stud Earrings | 3. Lauren Hope Studs

Rings: 1. {Kate Spade stack} Signature Spade Mini Cluster Ring, Bar None Ring, Be Mine Mini Heart Ring 

 2. Topshop Enamel Stone Band Rings | 3. ASOS Enamel Stackable Rings

As for earrings, the brighter the better.  And for the rings, the more the merrier.  I am in need of some put a smile on your face because I'm so pretty jewelry.  I am headed to NYC on Monday and expecting to find some fabulous pieces.  Which leads me to my next point that the no shopping until Easter will be put on hold while I'm in NYC.   I hope you understand as I don't know the next time I'll be in NYC and well, frankly, I don't have the will power.  Honesty counts for something, right?!

As for my weekend, I'll be heading home tonight for my first official night of Spring Break and getting a munch needed mani/pedi with my mom on Saturday. Sunday will be spent celebrating one of my hilarious Uncle's birthdays with the family and prepping for my trip some more.  Let's just say I only know how to over pack. 

Any big weekend plans?

Per usual, linking up with {long distance loving}

[Message to Mother Nature: let it be noted that I am by no means hoping for lots of gloomy, rainy days in April especially not on April 22nd as I will have birthday festivities to attend to Love, Carly]

Operation Organized Closet

On Tuesday, I was over at Living Savvy sharing some closet organization tips.  Just in case you missed the post, I thought I would share it here today, as I think it's really important to keep this an organized space plus it's about time you did some spring cleaning.

Before you jump the gun and start color coding your closet, take a deep breath and let's chat.  Color coding is great and all, but should not be your first step.  First and foremost, you must de-clutter.   You need to be able to see your selection of pieces.  Having a jam packed closet can end up being more stressful than you would think and leads to those, "I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR!" moments.  With a great selection of basic pieces, you can mix and match and wear them different ways.

I am beyond guilty of holding on to pieces that I just might wear again.  Newsflash: you probably won't.  Sorry, I'm dishing out some tough love today.  You'll thank me later...maybe. I haven't grown since probably the 8th grade so I kept everything.  If you're stuck on this part.  After wearing a piece from your closet, when you hang it up, turn the hanger the other way so you're getting a better sense of what you're wearing and what you're not wearing.  Reassess every few months.  Then it's time to donate! Find a family member or friend that you can give some of pieces to because it's so nice to see someone getting wear out of your old clothes and then donate the rest!

 {so much neutral}

Organize based on type of clothing: sleeveless tops, short sleeve blouses, long sleeve blouses, basic tops, cardigans, chunky knits, etc.  Once you have organized by types of pieces, then you can organize by color.  Two good things come from this: you can find a very specific piece easily and you can see what you have too much of or too little of in your closet.  For example, after organizing this way, I learned that my idea of adding color to my wardrobe is only buying blue and pink,  I have WAY too many grey and neutral chunky knit sweaters and that all of my tank tops are prints.

{just a handful, see what I mean}

 

 {pretty set on prints but could use more solid pieces}

How I can apply my organizing to shopping [this would obviously be different for you]:
I should not buy another grey or neutral sweater for quite some time.  I should invest in more colorful pieces, not blue though, and also find some more solid color pieces because those are what I could mix and match and layer.

Ways to vary how you wear pieces:
Tuck in an oversize blouse that you normally wear with leggings, add a belt, wear a different necklace or scarf, roll up the sleeves on a sweater or blouse, pair unexpected patterns,
and layer, layer, layer!

 It has been so much easier for me to get ready in the morning, and I hope you have the same results.

Wishful Wednesday

Somewhere along the way while creating this wish list, I created an outfit.  Now, for the summer, I would definitely pair this to-die-for maxi with a white tank top for a great contrast with the baubles, but on a chillier night, the long sleeve floral Topshop piece would be a great addition of pattern and pastel.

Dabney Bib Necklace // Topshop Lily Drape Front Blouse // J.Crew Sardina Wedge Espadrilles // Rebecca Minkoff 'Mac-Mini' Clutch // Zara Maxi

Coral may have recently surpassed mint on my favorite color list. Or it's a tie.  I don't know.  I just love them both, that's for sure. Don't make me choose. 

I am still on the hunt for the perfect casual wedge.  Any other suggestions?!

Arm Party

Remember when I was obsessing over BaubleBar last week and in major need of some arm candy?  Well, I got inspired by the fabulous Lauren of Stylized Existence and used two necklaces last week to create my first arm parties.

David Yurman Cable Classic // Mae Badiyan Vaida Necklace {last seen here} // Michael Kors Watch

Feedback from third graders:

On the red pants: "Wow, your pants are...different."

On the necklace as a bracelet: 
 "Um, Ms. H, you have on a lot of bracelets."
"It's actually a necklace."
"Ohhhhhh...[walks away, unimpressed]"

J. Crew Baubles {old} // Michael Kors Watch

What are your thoughts on using necklaces as bracelets? Are you as skeptical as my third graders?

I'm clearly all for it, especially when I'm on a spending freeze. It's great to use what you have in a different way.  Makes me love these pieces even more.

Today, you can find me over at Living Savvy chatting about closet organization! Thanks so much for having me, Tiffany!

Desktop Dreaming

Happy Monday, lovlies! Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

After three days of no Internet, it was finally back up and running on Saturday!  I lived at Starbucks for a few days and had the productive weekend I really needed to have.  That being said, I am in need of a gorgeous space to get my work done, which is not the case right now.  I would get so much done if this were my office:

[via]

And I would be extra pleased if these were on my desk:

 Webster Cheers, Notecard Set // Big Ideas Notebook // 'Get it Done' Notepad // #ThingsWeLove Pencil Set

The pencils from Design Darling really do have all the things I love on them.  I would just need to find a cute way to display them.  And who wouldn't want to receive that card? It puts a smile on my face even without any writing on it.  As for the notebook and notepad, nothing like adding a little more fun and style to getting organized.

 

Do you have a desktop necessity?

Friday's Fancies::March Madness

Red and white.  

They have been my school colors since I was a freshman in high school, and I have loved them ever since.  Even during my fifth year at UW-Madison.  Besides cheering on my beloved Badgers (if you haven't been to Camp Randall for Jump Around and the 5th Quarter you are really missing out), I love finding the perfect little red dress, LRD if you will.  Did you like how I avoided all discussion of last night's basketball game thus far? Today, is focused on a spring/summer appropriate piece.  Red + aqua has been one of my favorite combos lately.  Add gold into the mix and you have perfection my friends.

Topshop Dip Hem Waist Dress // BaubleBar Gold Bar Bib // BaubleBar Aqua Boho Drops // Banana Republic Sarah Wedge //  Melie Bianco Natalie Clutch and Wristlet

So do you love the LRD as much as (or more than) the LBD or what?

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend! I will be focusing on applying for jobs and catching up on sleep. 

PS: I would love to make some bracelets and necklaces and have been searching for the perfect chains, thick and thin.  Any suggestions on where to find some?

xo

As always, linking up with {long distance loving}

Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

With this gorgeous weather we're having, I wanted something lighter on the menu this week. I discovered this recipe and had to try it right away. To make the recipe a little lighter, I used Kraft Mayo with Olive Oil and opted to not put the bacon bits in, although I have no doubt those would be extraordinary with this mix of flavor though.

 

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 (16-oz.) package pasta
• 1 pound fresh broccoli 
• 1 cup Kraft Mayo with Olive Oil
• 1/3 cup sugar 
• 1/3 cup diced red onion
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar 
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 2 cups seedless red grapes, halved 

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°.  Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through.
2. Prepare pasta according to package directions.
3. Meanwhile, cut broccoli florets from stems, and separate florets into small piece.
4. Whisk together mayonnaise and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl; add broccoli, hot cooked pasta, and grapes, and stir to coat. Cover and chill 3 hours. Stir pecans into salad just before serving.