costume check: a la brunch…
Posted: September 30, 2012 Filed under: favorites., personal., style & fashion. Leave a comment »you’d think that since hubs & i work at the same place we’d see each other often but that’s not always the case… i’m off on weekends & he works. i start early & he usually starts late. he gets an hour for lunch & i only get 3o minutes… not to mention my spare time is full of domestic duties, antique boothing & cake making while he spends countless hours studying theology… but, we have the BEST jobs & i couldn’t be more thankful for where God has us, & how he’s using us… it’s pretty much perfect despite having many days off together but we’ve never had that our whole marriage so we make it work! when we do have a whole day together we like to make it special… lately we’ve been venturing to saturday morning estate sales with coffee in hand but one of our most favorite things is to have brunch at toast in davidson.
i’m a total creature of habit & we never tire of this place. if you’ve never been you just have to try it… not only is the food impeccable but it’s located in a quaintly lovely historic college town. oh & they play the best music. honestly that may be one of my favorite parts. i could eat the cali benny & listen to the mama’s & the papas ALL DAY LONG. {hey south queen citiers, they now have a locations in dilworth & ballantyne!}
i’m loving this cooler weather so i thew on my favorite sweatshirt & jumped in the car.
sunglasses: bp nordstrom
white collared top: lush via nordstrom
jeans: forever 21
polka dot loafers: gap
bag: lv eva
phone case: rabito via nordstrom
bangs: dirty & pulled back
*this is NOT a sponsored post.
costume check: circus inspired by accident…
Posted: September 15, 2012 Filed under: style & fashion., vintage prints Leave a comment »i’m normally off on the weekends but as the cosmetic stylist i spent my day at the store supporting our biggest cosmetics event of the year: beauty on location. it’s a huge beauty bash where artists come from each line to make over the ladies, gab about fall beauty trends & launch a lot of our fall collections. there’s a hair bar, a nail bar & there are hundreds of appointments… it’s so fun! last night we had a live band & mocktails. today prizes, free gifts & a dj spinning all the good stuff.
even though i can be a neutral nancy i decided to wear a fun, bright vintage printed skirt, my new favorite boots & a black h&m tee with mesh polka dots {very a-la stella mccartney.} i had my bestie Jessie at MAC give me some sassy black liner & told her to give me a pop! she went straight for the brightest blue, electric eel. i loved the look & it was SO fun for the day.
needless to say i soon realized i looked like a walking circus… & i kind of liked it. be curious!
{& it’s not too late, if you’re in charlotte visit Nordstrom tonight to join in the beauty bash fun!}
skirt: value village
shirt: h&m
watch: nordstrtom
boots: nordstrom
eyes: MAC electric eel
lips: chapped
it’s all about dark glamour…
Posted: September 5, 2012 Filed under: personal., style & fashion. 2 Comments »the closest i ever got to goth style was borrowing my best friends pyramid studded belt from hot topic in 10th grade & really wanting but never getting black lace up doc martens {fyi: i still really want a pair.} but this fall, it’s all about dark glamour… at least for one big trend. dark glamour in a nouveau gothic, enchanting, old-world victorian, eerie yet weirdly gorgeous, makes me want to watch sweeney todd kind of way.
here’s what i’m LOVING from the runways. i hope you’re inspired to add a wisp of dark glamour to your closet this fall. i know i am… allsaints & doc martens on ebay here i come!!
be curious!
every fall i splurge the $20 on a runway book… it’s the best way to peep all the up-close details &
feel a little closer to fashion week. this year, marie claire did a fab job.
helmut lang via style.com
lanvin via style.com
gucci via style.com
alexander wang via style.com
valentino via style.com
j brand rtw fall 2012… i would wear THIS outfit EVERYDAY.
a few “wish list get it’s:”
i heart these alexander wang shoes…
love these pleats!
philip lim 3.1 pashli transparent PVC tote
oh my these sleeves!
gucci ankle strap sandal… they come in navy too!
{wanna be on trend all the way? add wine stained lips, cage-like accessories, a belt & tall boots. game over.}
in my opinion fall fashion is always the best… layers, textures, the constant reinvention of silhouettes & the blowing of minds. enjoy it friends… resort is quite literally just around the corner.
*all runway shots via style.com. no one does it better than vogue.*
new favorite: ruby woo…
Posted: August 23, 2012 Filed under: favorites., personal., style & fashion. 1 Comment »let’s be honest, red lipsticks are hard to find… there are orangey red, blueish reds, pinky reds. it’s bananas!
i’ve been on the hunt for a new staple color… a classic matte red that has just the right amount of punch but is still lady-like enough to wear often, maybe everyday, maybe not. ya know what i mean? one that looks like this:
& i think i’ve found it. i only had to describe” it” once & my sweet as candy friend Jessi at the MAC counter via NORDSTROM knew exactly what i meant. MAC RETRO MATTE: RUBY WOO. sold. done. let’s go.
keep in mind that i’ve got pretty pale skin, but i still think it will translate well across skin types… it’s bold, bright, a perfect apple red & stays on forever… a tiny sweep of chapstick before painting it on will lock in some moisture. i love the retro librarian feel it had when i wore it with my glasses {it’s time for gil & i to get new ones but these a la high school square lovelys still work just fine.}
what’s your go-to red lipstick? be curious… shop ruby woo here.
*top photo via j.crew… they have got it going on.*
i fell in love with a bombshell…
Posted: August 9, 2012 Filed under: before & after., favorites., style & fashion. 3 Comments »i’ve had stick straight hair my whole life. i often begged my mom to curl my hair as a kid… party, dance, wedding or saturday, it just wouldn’t work. EVER. no amount of aqua-net could get any curl to stay longer than a few minutes before it fell flat. flat. flat. i was constantly heartbroken, comparing myself to the “other girls” & eventually got over the fact that it just wasn’t happening for me. these days i rock the “fresh out of the shower & then slept on for a few nights” look a la the man repeller… it’s got a little natural wave & it works for me.
but wait. this past weekend something amazing happened. i got invited to a Sultra Demo at Nordstrom. my Cosmetic gal pals wanted to see my length hair curled BAD & i didn’t mind being the test subject. because why not? the stylist, Dale was so sweet to wait for me to get off work & head down to the Cosmetics department… i’ve been told that their curlers {actually, all their products} are ahhmazing & i was excited to finally see them in action. i chose to try the newer Bombshell Cone Rod Curling Iron. it boasts Sultra’s “exclusive No-Slip ThermaGrip Tapered Barrel” & creates curls that go from loose to tight.
let’s just say i was hooked from the moment that first curl dropped. just look.
here are MY favorite things about the Sultra products… i asked Dale a lot of questions & she really showed me what was so special about these tiny machines.
- the Bombshell’s barrel provides constant, even 360°f heat. it’s loaded with Japanese Kyocera® Ceramic Technology & it actually repairs the hair with infrared rays while you style. {i’m not kidding when i say my hair was softer after being curled than before!}
- the no-slip grip actually holds your hair in place, so there’s no sliding while you’re trying to curl… curls come out tight, springy & gorg.
- these curlers have said bye bye to the old school clamps. no creases, lines or flat spots.
- all Bombshell curlers come with a sexy pink styling glove… as soon as you start to feel heat radiate the glove, that means your curl is done.
- last but not least these puppies have universal voltage! travel the world with them with no worries of blowing up your bombshell, flat or hotel room. {be sure to check out the travel hair dryer.}
i just happened to have my bangs pulled back this day… dale just blended them in.
i LOVED the way my hair felt & looked. & i even wore it still-curly the next day. talk about exciting! wow. i can’t wait to buy one of these saucy pups. you can buy Sultra products at NORDSTROM of course & you can check out their brand while shopping here. be curly. be curious.
& thanks dale! you were awesome.
*this is not a sponsored post*
costume check: charleston…
Posted: June 25, 2012 Filed under: favorites., personal., style & fashion., travel. 1 Comment »so, we’re back & i can honestly say it was the best. vacation. ever. {details in my next post.}
gil snapped a few photos of me this past week while we were out & about gallivanting around charleston… i’m a firm believer that vacation style should most definitely be laid back but styled none the less.
sunday: church & brunch at magnolias.{sunglasses: bpnordstrom. top: soprano via nordstrom. denim: urban outfitters + altered by my tailor. bag: lv eva. alligator belt: via gil’s dad in high school… his initials are carved on the gold buckle & they’re my initials as well!}
monday: celebrating gil’s 31st birthday & dinner at our favorite spot. {tank: f21. skirt: vintage christian dior. shoes: gucci marola flats. bag: lv eva. belt: vintage. watch: nixon.}
tuesday: touristy day visiting the U.S.S Yorktown. {dress: old navy from a million years ago, still a favorite piece in my closet. perfect for touristy travels in the sweltering heat. bracelet: jade via chinatown, nyc.}
wednesday shopping day & date night. {gil & i don’t venture out too often from our favorite items based mostly around neutrals, but for summer, brights just work. we shopped king street all day & dressed up in our new perfectly charleston preppy duds before dinner. my sweater: j.crew linen. his tee: lacoste.}
inspiration before vacation…
Posted: June 16, 2012 Filed under: antiques & trinkets., favorites., health & wellness., interiors., personal., style & fashion., travel., uncategorized. Leave a comment »omg. it seems like we’ve been waiting forever & it also feels like time is just flying by… i can’t believe all i have to do tomorrow is head to charleston with the hubs on our summer vacation. we’ll be spending a whole week {don’t mess with our ex-cop house sitter! 
} celebrating gil’s 31st birthday {it’s monday but we’ll celebrate all week} & focusing all of our time on doing whatever our little hearts desire. we’ll shop, hit the beach, explore & eat amazing food but i’m most excited to be away from the hustle & bustle… to relax, rest, refocus, be quiet, & mostly be still, which is really hard for me to do! but i’ve got a new book, my bible & journal & lots of magazines for the beach. plus a handsome husband to spend every waking moment with. done & done.
i wanted to leave you all with a few things that i’ve found inspirational lately & a list of my favorite places to explore on the web… ya know, to keep you curious while i’m gone.
first up this ahhhmazing DIOR video shot at Versailles. it’s over the top in a dior kind of way, but just when you think it can’t get any better the fountains go off… & then just when you can’t breathe, the sun starts to set… & Paris glows in a way you just can’t explain unless you see it with you own eyes. maybe it’s because i’ve always been obsessed with Versailles & being there last year was a dream come true {reminder to myself: paris post.} but the grandeur of this place is unexplainable & so very inspiring…
2nd: an encouraging note… not sure sure who’s going through what but you can be inspired & blessed by this truth.
3rd: i mean come on… i dare you not to cry.
4th: i’ve been really inspired by collections lately. i think it’s been my way to justify some of our clutter… that maybe if i can turn it into a “collection” than i can keep it right now i’m building our collection of clocks {mostly baby bens} books of course, maps, & i’m hoping to add globes & huge antique jars. this globe collection is perfection.
5th: we’ve all got to have a little inspiration to get fit & stay healthy… how else am i supposed to keep getting to the gym at 4:30 am & adding miles to my que?!
& last but not least a few of my favorite web candies from my bookmarks bar… moredesignplease. fashionologie. net-a-porter. apartment therapy. natural news. etsy. the sartorialist. & sadie olive. enjoy & be curious!
ok pupcakes… see you in a week!
*photos via: pinterest. & more design please.
costume check: wilmington wedding…
Posted: June 8, 2012 Filed under: favorites., style & fashion., travel., wedding... Leave a comment »last weekend Gil & I headed to Wilmington for a wedding… my sister-in-law London’s sister Madison was marrying the love of her life & we were ready to celebrate! we’d never been to Wilmington before & i was excited to spend some time in the quaint little town, even if it was just for 22 hours.
talk about a beautiful drive!
Madison & Cullen are both actors & their themed wedding was just too cute to handle. their wedding programs were to die for & looked exactly like a real play bill…
of course every wedding is an opportunity to get dressed up! here’s what i wore:
dress: diane von furstenberg- tolara (an incredible eBay find!)
shoes: sam edelman- yelena via nordstrom (on sale now!)
nail polish: butter- yummy mummy via nordstrom (see a post about how much i love butter london here.)
bag: louis vuitton eva with strap removed (i love a crossbody that turns into a gold chained clutch!)
a blurry iphone photo of the hubs & me…
my insanely gorgeous mother-in-law maggie…
we had a really fun time with friends & family… i love how weddings always seem to bring people together… Wilmington you were sweet but i didn’t get to see the beach… hopefully we’ll be back again in the future. ciao!
spring sale!
Posted: April 13, 2012 Filed under: antiques & trinkets., business., exteriors., interiors., living small., personal., style & fashion. Leave a comment »my mom & i are throwing a little spring sale at our antique booth THIS weekend! we’re offering 20% off just about everything… furniture, mirrors, glass, vintage clothes, linens, silver, garden accessories, books,antique lamps, artwork, & more!
we hope you’ll come visit The Depot this Saturday & Sunday. bring your friends & family! have a delicious lunch at the quaint little diner & hunt your hearts out! the place is huge & i guarantee you won’t be able to leave empty-handed… our booth has the gold roof & keep your eye out: all sale items will have a colored dot sticker on them!
here are a few sneak peeks… have a fabulous weekend & be curious!
*sale is this Saturday & Sunday only*
true love in pictures… tiffany & co.
Posted: February 13, 2012 Filed under: favorites., personal., style & fashion. Leave a comment »our friend andie asked us to help her out for a little photo project that she was working on… all we knew at the time was that she needed some fun shots of couples in love. gil and i are that indeed, so of course we agreed to work with her! we actually headed over to our church property for the shoot. the pond, fields & woods were a gorgeous backdrop! it was chilly so we bundled up and just frolicked around while andie did her thing.
come to find out the pictures were for a project with Tiffany & Co. omg!! they teamed up with some great fashion photographers & bloggers (including andie) to share {True Love in Pictures.} i just happen to wander over to the site today and was shocked to see her photo of us on the popular page. holy!!
we would love for you to head on over and “like” the photo & to give andie some love & attention! she’s got a good thing going on! you can do so by clicking here. you can also visit andie’s blog here & follow her on instagram: @andielinn. enjoy her work… she has a style that’s all her own.
here are a few other shots she took that day… i am in LOVE!
happy valentine’s day my lovely blog readers… be curious!
