shush girl, shush your lips...

...do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips. Excellent song and perfect transition in to my obsession of the moment: zipper detailing.
It adds the perfect touch of edge to a headband. I love the rosettes. It's still sweet and traditional, but the metal gives it a little bite. Even though I love black, the coral color is a nice break from the dark and heavy.

Anyone who knows me knows that I simply LOVE a good ballet flat. Simple and elegant, I can't get enough of them. So when I happened upon some cute zipped up ones, I couldn't resist. Too cute to be tough, too tough to be cute.

Finally, this BCBG dress. I saw it today at Saks but didn't get a chance to try it on. I'm a big one shoulder fan, but the super subtle zipper piping made me fall in love. It's so understated but that attention to detail is what makes it so great. So shush girl, zip your lips, unzip your wallets and pick up a bitingly cute zip-zapped piece. Or two.

all that glitters: TOMS is golden

Ok so I've already done a post about TOMS shoes, but I just ordered a pair of Gold Glitter TOMS and I'm so excited I just had to write about it. Plus, they have some awesome new designs I wanted to showcase.

In case you're not up-to-date with the movement, TOMS is a shoe company that follows the one-for-one model. For every pair of shoes they sell, they donate a pair to a child in need in a third world country. Pretty cool right? Here are my picks from the official website.I just bought the gold pair in the middle. I can't even begin to describe how incredibly comfortable these shoes are. I get tons of compliments when I wear my splatter painted pair and I love telling people the story behind the shoes and company. The left and right shoes are vegan, no leather use.

So maybe you're thinking "wow that's cool...but I'm not really a hippie tree hugger." Well do hippies shop at Neimans and Bergdorfs?That's right! TOMS has done an exclusive collection for the two high end retailers. Anyone that says high fashion and a good cause can't be cute, chic and affordable is lying.

I can't get enough of this brand. Shoes start at just $40...instant sticker love. They are cute, comfy and a great feel-good purchase. Spread the word. TOMS is on the up and I'm excited to be a part of this movement.

pretty in pink and wickedly cute

Wow I've been awful about posting. My new promise? Post something new and awesome everyday for the rest of the month. I'm up to the challenge.

Ok I have to admit it. I've never been a huge makeup person. I use the basics, jazz it up a little for a night out, but I'm not the kind of girl whose drawers are spilling over with products. This might be changing though. My good friend Justine has been introducing me to amazing new products all year. .Her mom works at Sephora so makeup goodies have been gifts from her all year long. Whether it was driving her home in a blizzard (we spun out several times but still managed to get Chinese food along the way) or hand addressing 200+ invitations for a banquet (I WILL be hiring a calligrapher for my wedding), she's repaid me in some sweet treats. My first favorite would be Tarte Cheekstain in Dollface. A beautiful blend between a stain and cream, this gives you the PERFECT rosy cheek look. It's super blend-able and easy to use on the go. My favorite part? It smells AMAZING. For a pale gal like me, it's a nice way to add a natural flush. It comes in other shades too so you're bound to find one that works for you. I usually use it over a light dusting of powder blush to really highlight the highest part of my cheekbone. It's definitely a product worth looking at in the store to find the right color for you. Her most recent goodie bag introduced me to my new favorite lipgloss. Trust me, I've used everything from candy scented chapstick in middle school to a Chanel shade that wasn't really worth the money. This gloss has me hooked. Say hello to O-Gloss by Smashbox. Don't ask me how it works (I'm not a chemistry person), but the gloss goes on clear, reacts with your body, and changes to a perfectly natural shade of pink. Sci-fi? Maybe, but I promise it works. It's not too heavy or sticky. It's not matte but not super shiny and because it adjust to YOUR coloring, it's insanely natural looking. I'm almost finished with my first tube and I haven't even had it a month yet.

I don't know what I'll do next year without Justine to introduce me to new products. I'll have to get weekly recommendations from her. Enjoy pretty ladies! Come back everyday in May for something new. I promise it'll be worth it.

look your best when you're wearing the least

Today was the first truly warm weekend so naturally I brought a book (Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund; it's about Marie Antionette) outside with me and read in the sunshine in a wonderful Tibi bikini. I have a system down for buying swimwear. Magazines always come at you with pages of "minimize this!" and "emphasize that!" but honestly, I think the key to swimsuits is to just buy the one YOU like and the one that YOU feel best in, even if the newstand is telling you otherwise. My best kept secret for buying a great bikini...is to only really pay for half of it. I love Bluefly for chic designer get ups so here are some of my favorite picks.



I love prints and colors and I had a really hard time only selecting a few suits. The catch...and the money saver? Only spend money on the bikini top. Instead of buying a whole suit for $80, get two really great tops that you love for the same price. Now obviously, most places in America require you to wear a pair of bottoms too. But why spend a fortune on bikini bottoms that just get worn out or don't fit the way the top does? Instead, I head to Old Navy, Target, Victoria's Secret or even Walmart and get a cheap pair of solid bottoms in a color to match. Black and white go with everything or scope out a bright pink, green, or orange if you're in the mood. You can find the shape and style that flatters YOU the most and pair it with one or two or five tops. Best of all? When it wears out or gets all nubby and gross, toss it and buy a new one. Plenty of cash saved.

Happy Mothers to day to all! I wanted to get this post in before dinner. I'll try to start commenting back tonight and definitely tomorrow. Thanks for reading and following!

Christo (not a typo) and Jeanne-Claude

I survived my AP Calculus exam, thank goodness, but I'm on the run the next few days with interviews, more school work, and club stuff so here's just a super quick post to satisfy my blogging needs until I can sit down and really write something. I love modern art (I'm planning to be an Art History major) and here's my latest obsession. Christo and Jeanne-Claude are a married couple whose art, defined as environmental art, is meant to change the way you see the world around you. How? By outfitting nature in hundreds of yards of fabric.
Valley Curtain

Umbrellas

Running Wall

Gates in Central Park

Surrounded Islands

Think of it as you will. I think it's a really cool idea. They raise all the money for the projects by selling sketches and other artwork. Sadly, Jeanne-Claude passed away last year so I'm not sure if Christo will continue with the works. So that's my food for thought of the day. Modern Art. Cool stuff.

weather wise

Mother Nature just can't make up her mind in the 3oh3. In the past two weeks it has hailed, rained, and snowed. We hit 50 degrees and 80 degrees. We've had severe thunderstorm warnings, a tornado drill, and a few days of gorgeous sunshine. I kid you not. Best part? There's ZERO rhyme or reason to the weather. So after walking to my car in pouring rain and hail a few times lately, I've come to the conclusion that a beautiful suede Donald J Pliner bag isn't entirely practical. Nor are really cute ballet flats or silky straightened hair. So whats my solution? Stock up on adorable items that can stand whatever mother nature throws this way. I'm a HUGE fan of Longchamp. I have a small tote in red and larger one in chocolate brown, but I'm thinking of getting one or two more. They are so classy and chic and best of all, virtually water resistant. I wouldn't advise walking through a monsoon with one, but you get the idea. Best of all, they work as an all-season bag. The only downside is that most have just one large interior pocket and if you're like me it fills up fast with receipts, checkbooks, spiderman rings and loose change. But for a go-to bag to throw your books in, I'd definitely recommend them. Next is footwear. I really need to invest in a good pair of rain wellies and I'm thinking Hunter Boots will be a good pick. Last year I ruined a pair of Uggs walking around San Fran in the rain. It was really uncomfortable and they smelled awful. I'd rather not repeat that. I kind of like this purple-ish maroon color. I know black or hunter green would be more practical and traditional, but the brighter colors are really growing on me. With skinny jeans or leggings, I think these boots can handle a downpour. Finally, I'm not one of those girls that freaks out over her hair getting wet because it will ruin it. I hate getting it wet because it takes forever to dry. My hair can't decide if it's going to be thick, thin, wavy, or straight so it holds water like there's no tomorrow. So a cute striped umbrella from kate spade should do the trick. I'm loving the cheery colors. Nothing beats a rainy day like bright hues! Plus it folds up nice and small to toss in your bag (Longchamp anyone?). Sometimes I feel like a damn fool carrying an umbrella around but I always look super ahead of the game when I whip it out. I'm probably the only one of friends who has the weather forecast book marked on my computer and on the front screen of my cellphone. I hope the weather is holding up where ever you are! But in case it isn't here's a song to cheer you up.

This is my favorite song of ALL time.
If nothing else, LISTEN TO THIS! It defines my life and my love of rain
Music, fashion, and a light sping drizzle. What could be better?

Sorry I've been so bad about commenting back! AP Exams have just started but I promise I'll pay everyone a visit as soon as I can.

cuticles vs cleavage

They say that the first born child looks more the like the father than any other kid and maybe that's true. I have my mom's figure but my dad's complexion, eyes, personality, and quirks. If I take after him, I should take after the girls in his family then right? Wrong. His mother is curvy and well endowed, his sisters had breast reduction surgery...and then there's me. I'm barely a full A and my hips would be lying to say they existed. But what's the one thing I did get from my paternal female relatives? Awesome nails. Seriously, I could be a hand model for David Yurman or the poster child for Essie. Last year I made a goal to paint my nails every Sunday. Needless to say I sort of failed once school kicked in. But I'm going to try again. As an aspiring artist, I have a wide array of colors that I like. Here are my top five picks from OPI
Black Onyx, Classic White, Do You Lilac It?, Ate Berries in the Canaries, Here Today Aragon Tomorrow.
There's no real rhyme or reason to my picks. I love a short black nail. Some people shy away from dark polish, but I think they look super classy. White is a 180 flip from black, but it's different and totally fresh; it also makes a tan pop like non other. I love purple and have totally hopped on the band wagon with lavender hues. I'm wearing it now and loving it. You can never go wrong with a bright pink. And for those looking for a twist on dark nails, deep green is perfect. I'm totally an OPI girl as far as polish, but Zoya has my heart fro top and base coats. Anchor is the most amazing base coat I've ever used. It grips the nail beautifully and I never have trouble getting dark polish off. It helps prevent chipping too which I love since I'm really hard on my hands even if I try not it be! I'm also a huge fan of their topcoat, Armor. Super durbale, the perfect amount of shine, and loaded with SPF, it's honestly amazing. The color won't fade in the summer, it also prevents chipping, and it dries super fast. Maybe I should work at a nail salon. I love this stuff so much! It's not longer up to the shoes to make an outfit. A quick swipe of two of color on your fingers tips makes every dress classier and every t-shirt sassier.

mixed up-mashed up

Today is May 1st. Usually it's not a day of note but this year it is. Today is the deadline to send deposits and make college decisions. And let me tell you...my group of friends could not have scattered all over the country more if we tried. So where's everyone going?
Chapman, Texas Christian University, Northwestern, Creighton, University of Denver, UC Berkeley, CU Boulder, Emory, Davidson, UCLA, Rose Hulman Institute of Technology, UVA, Wakeforest, Yale, University of Oregon, University of British Columbia, Santa Clara, Colorado State University, Carthage College, University of Southern California, Pepperdine, William Jewell College, Vanderbilt, Harvard...nearly every inch of the map is covered. I'm going to miss everyone so much but visiting them will be amazing!
On the theme of mixed up-mashed up, I thought I'd share my favorite song and newest shoe purchase, both of which completely embody the idea of two (or twenty-five) ideas creating a fantastic end result.

Song: DJ Earworm, Blame it on the Pop
If you haven't heard this, you're missing out. I'm hooked on mash-ups now (Lady Gaga vs Journey? Taio Cruz vs Jason Derulo? Amazing!) and this is the best one yet. Featuring 25 of the year's top songs...everything from Lady Gaga and the Black Eyed Peas to Kings of Leon and Jason Mraz...this track and video are sure to leave you dancing.

Shoe: Cynthia Vincent for Target
I love shoes. And I LOVE heels. Or wedges. Or anything that makes me taller than most guys (I'm 5'7" and these wedges make me at least 6 foot, probably taller). I just bought the pair on the left this morning and I'm already making plans to wear to them every grad party possible. They completely embody the idea of chic sophistication but the platform wedge and tribal print keep them young. Not only are they adorable they are extremely comfortable. The straps are Velcro...yes, Velcro like on your shoes in kindergarten. It's such a cute twist but also allows you to adjust them to fit perfectly; no more buckles hitting your ankles or being in-between holes on a strap. Love love love. And did I mention they were only $30? Now that's true shoe love!

Before I wrap this up, I want to extend a sincere thank you to College Prep for featuring me on her blog! I'm so excited to be joining her on the Hilltop next year. Check out her adorable blog! And I'd also like to thank and welcome my new followers. I can't wait to hear from everyone and check out everyone's blog. Keep it classy!