Taking it off

Being a flight attendant definitely has its challenges in the fashion department. I must be ready for any season at all times.

It started like this
Mini-golfing In chicago




























Then went downhill from there
Touring the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend Indiana




And ended like this
Panama City Beach Florida (taking off the layers)




























Challenges? Yes. But it's got it's perks too.

What's next? Snow in New York?

Red pants (you said what??!!)

My friend Keala and I went out for lunch yesterday, and since it was so nice out this is what I wore. It's so far from my usual colorless self but I liked it. (Please excuse the lack of makeup and hair, it was a lazy sunday and I'm still a little sick, I know excuses, excuses.)

striped top: H&M

scarf: H&M

red jeans: Forever 21

yellow flats: Tommy Hilfiger via Marshalls

crossbody bag: Forever 21

I've also been into scarves lately. I have so many but only knew two ways to wear them, looped and the way I'm wearing it here. But scarves no longer have to be boring thanks to this video from Nordstrom that I found on http://gummyvision.blogpost.com/. Go have a look for yourself it's full of fashion, makeup, and skincare for all you junkies out there.

Breaking up is hard to do

I finally did it, I dumped my closet (on the floor of course). It was the next step in making my closet work for me. So with the help of my VERY critical friend (thank you keala@ http://www.gummyvision.blogspot.com) I purged and it felt great.Now I have a more manageable collection of clothing, maybe not as large as before (I'll miss u circus t) but the peices collecting dust at the back of our closets certainly aren't making us fashionistas so it's time to let go.

Why I did it: My options were overwhelming. It wasn't due to sheer size of my closet (I actually didn't have that much this time around) or that I wanted to get rid of things so I can get new things (which is my usual reasoning). Some of the clothes I owned weren't working for me anymore (some never did). Ever have one of those days where you feel you have nothing to wear, thats everyday for me. Having things that didn't work made my mornings go a little like this. Stare at my closet. Pick out a shirt, pick out some pants. Decide it doesn't work well together after putting it on. Change shirt, change pants, change shirt back to the first shirt, repeat, get frustrated and stay in whatever outfit I had on when becoming frustrated because I couldn't continue this cycle, walk out the door looking less than great. To some of you this may sound familiar, rediculous to others (and to those of you that know me, you have probably witnessed this madness on more than one occasion and thought I was crazy.) When it came down to it did I really have nothing to wear? No, I had too much to wear and had no idea what was in my closet.

Here is what made it back in my closet. I am now left with a stack (20) of basic tops and a stack (20) of layering peices (sweaters, blazers, button ups, and random peices) and 6 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of shorts, 3 dresses (of which 2 are special occasion dresses) and 1 very casual skirt. To some of you this may sound like a lot to others it may sound bare minimum, but compared to what I had in the past (purged 3 times in the last year) this is not a lot. And for the first time im excited and not in a great hurry to get more (or at least not going to replace all I got rid of ha ha). And here's the best part. This morning when it was time to get ready I could actually see everything in my closet in one glance, thought about combinations for a minute or so, pulled out what I needed , put it on, gave myself the once over, and walked out the door. Amazing. (for those of u who know me and are shaking their head in disbelief right now, true story this really did happen and it was eye opening.) I wish every morning was like this. So is purging the answer to all of our closet disasters? Not quite, there's more to this story. But it's a great start. I'll leave you with my outfit of the day from yesterday as I forgot to take a pic today. Thanks for following me on my fashion journey.

blouse: H&M

cardigan: target

belt: H&M

jeans: The Limited

shoes: Vera Wang Lavender (patent nude flats)

watch: Fossil (Rose Gold)

Spring Teaser

So the weather today inspired me to write this blog post. I'm back (unofficially).

It was 70 degrees today, and for Chicago that's unseasonably warm, even for March.

Every year that first day of really nice weather after the long hard winter (even this year with the winter being pretty mild SO FAR) I am inspired to wear something spring appropriate, which inspires me to go out shopping. Shopping for springs clothes is exactly like shopping for cute leather boots, if you don't get them when they first arrive, WAY before you actually need them here in Chicago, then you'll be stuck with what's left, reminiscing about what could've been, I know dramatic like always. So spring shopping was on my mind but no $$= no spring shopping.

So I went with plan B, going through fashion blogs for inspiration. And while on Pinterest the heavens opened up. I stumbled upon a blog, one that I sat on for hours, amazed at all the outfit combinations. The blog: www.kendieveryday.com

This blog told me I must purge my closet and make it work for me. Working on it soon. Shop my closet... Sounds like fun. The main subject in all the posts was to see how many combinations you can make with the things you already own, mainly by layering. That sounded pretty easy and cost effective. Ok, let's slow it down for a moment.

Layering: Putting on a tank top or shirt under another tank top or shirt for practical reasons like sheerness. Putting on two or three shirts or sweater in order to stay warm in the cold weather. (this is my definition if you haven't figured that out by now.)

In an attempt to purge, a sad attempt at that, I found a couple of things that I'd worn a couple of times (this means never) and went on to make outfits out of them.

So what do all of these have in common? The pink/peach tank top that I bought for layering and then never used. I liked it then, and I like it even more now that I have some idea what to do with it.

So by the time I actually went to leave the house it had cooled down and this is what I ended up wearing.

But this is what I really wanted to wear (since I've never worn this either)

Spring needs to hurry up already because even the boots that I love so much (which I also purchased when it was still hot out, weird) are getting old.

Thanks for reading, see you soon (hopefully) !!

Mother's day gifts

So mother's day is almost here and unlike previous years (where I waited until Friday afternoon and then drove desperately to the mall to find something that didn't exist) I have my gifts taken care of this year. But maybe some of you are still pondering that perfect gift. Maybe your mom, sister, wife, or other women in your family have everything they need. Let me start off by saying a women never has everything she needs, kind of like the saying that a girl can never have too many pairs of shoes (or too much makeup in my case.) And of course it's the thought that counts. But it's also nice to get a little something special once in a while. Flowers are great and so are chocolates but something unexpected is just so much better.


So what to get you ask. Well let's brain storm. What does she like, what are her interests. I know some of you are tempted to go out and get her favorite perfume, she'll love that. Well if that's what you got the last ??? years then she's probably already loved it several times over especially because she has four bottles. Be a little adventurous and find a new scent that you know she will love just as much. My all time favorite perfume is Juicy Couture Couture Couture. But recently I tried Play by Givenchy and I love it. There's always room for something new in a woman's vanity.



Think of what she may need. A new mother always needs more hours in the day (well all of us do really) to get things done and mostly to sleep. She rarely thinks of herself. Give her the gift of time, whether it's a day out at the mall with her girlfriends, a day at the spa, or a day at home doing whatever she wants, (most likely sleeping) or nothing at all while you arrange a play date and a day out for you and the little bundle of joy. As much as you might be tempted to have a romantic dinner with her (which is also a great idea maybe arrange that too, on a different day of course) everyone needs some time to themselves without interruptions and new mothers just never seem to be able to fit that into their busy round the clock schedule.



Another good idea for new mothers (mother in general) is a makeup palette that includes it all. Mothers just don't feel like they have the time to look pretty (especially not the the time they had pre baby) but that doesn't mean they can't. Urban Decay, Too Faced cosmetics, and Smashbox all make great palettes and kits that include an array of products to make any look easy. These products are available at Sephora and Ulta.



For the new makeup lover or just someone that's getting back into it, this Borghese brush set from Costco is perfect, inexpensive, and everything she will need for a full face of makeup. It comes with 10 brushes and a brush roll. And for just under $30 you can't beat it.



And finally for someone like myself that has enough makeup already but always loves trying more there's birchbox.com.
It's a yearly subscription service that sends out a box of randomly picked new on the beauty market sample size products every month for the serious beauty lover to try. It's $10 a month and perfect for those who love to try it before they buy it. And it's a gift that keeps on giving.



And if u really must go the traditional route and buy flowers and jewlery, don't forget to be creative and that a certain teal blue box always puts a smile on a woman's face.

Happy Mother's Day!!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

All Things Royal

I planned on waking up early this morning to watch the Royal Wedding. Who was I kidding? If I don't have to wake up for work I don't get out of bed before 8 o'clock without a fight. But today was going to be different. Thanks to DVR I didn't miss a moment of this royal affair. And it was quite royal. Every girl's dream is to be a princess, meet prince charming, and live happily ever after. And today Kate Middleton's dream came true, making it a little more believable for the rest of us (ok, not really). She looked absolutely stunning in her Alexander McQueen gown and her absolutely gorgeous smoky eye that made the statement that smoky eyes are no longer for the night owls. The lace looked very elegant, the tiara just the right amount of flash, and the bouquet. the perfect size, let the dress shine. A fairy tale for the whole world to see. It made me wish that we had a royal family in the US, if only for the richness of the customs and traditions.

Then come the guests. There were many stunning guests at the affair. With each arrival the hats kept getting more and more extravagant. My best dressed goes to Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece. Her dress was gorgeous and at the same time understated. The accessories went so well, without looking matchy matchy the way they do when you wear bright colors. The look was classic and very put together. Victoria Beckham wowed as usual in a navy dress, her own design, that was very simple, therefore letting her headpiece do all the talking. And the bride's sister, Pippa, looked amazing (but in no way upstaged the bride) in her Alexander McQueen white cowl neck dress that flowed with exceptional elegance.

And the worst goes to: sisters Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice (just all around bad, way too much going on there from the hats to the, uuugggghh, enough said.)

Even though most of us won't get the chance to be a princess, (there's still Harry) we can all feel like one every now and then. Here are a few things I love that have that royal touch and never fail at making me feel like royalty.

Juicy Couture Couture Couture - This perfume smells amazing. It is my all time favorite, and just looking at the ornate design of the bottle transports me to a different time.

When I think of riches I think gold. Unfortunately I'm not a fan so rose gold is the my answer. It's very feminine yet has a presence about it, and I get compliment on this watch multiple times daily. It dresses up anything that I'm wearing, even a pair of sweats. (hard to believe I disliked rose gold just a month ago.)

Tiffany & Co. earrings are timeless. They will suit me for years to come. I wear them with everything and they make me feel elegant. They add just the right hint of class to any outfit but never look over the top.

LUSH products make me feel pampered. Every single item I have ever gotten from LUSH has had a feeling of luxury. I love the way you feel after pampering yourself with a long bath or a face mask.

A great pair of heels (I don't own these, but mother's day is coming, I wish.) I like being comfortable so heels are not an everyday occurrence but on those rare occasions they make me feel elegant (and tall). The right pair of heels can finish off just about any outfit (except for sweats in this case, but I'm sure some would beg to differ.) Heels just make a look polished.

8 Most Worn Items

Here are my 8 most worn items, things I reach for on a consistent basis, in some cases even every day. Included is a mix of cosmetics, clothes and accessories.