greyed out.

 Sweater & Large Clutch: Gap; Pants: Guess; Boots: Madden Girl; Bracelets: J. Crew

I woke up this morning, looked out the window, and saw SNOW!! While seeing snow made me very happy, I had no desire to throw on my brightest colored dress. Instead, I went with an oversize grey sweater and my favorite pants. Also, since large clutches are a staple for Spring, I couldn't resist getting this on my latest trip to the Gap.

expect the unexpected.

Dress: Tobi; Cardigan: Banana Republic; Belt & Tights: Forever21; Boots: ShoeWoo; Layered Necklaces: RUBY by Kaley Elizabeth; Ring: Vintage: Watch: Michael Kors

I don't know what's with me lately however I can't get enough of bright colors. It's pretty unreal however an outfit can take your mood from "make it through the day" to "I am owning this day". I bought this dress from a fabulous store called Tobi that I am now obsessed with. I have placed 2 more orders since buying this dress and I couldn't be more excited. My favorite part is that you can take this dress from work to happy hour by simply removing the cardigan and showcasing the back.

So how are you going to take your mood from "blah" to "bam!"?

custom cards.

It's hard to believe that February is in full swing and Valentine's Day is next week. Where does the time go?! 

In preparation for Valentine's day, I decided to make homemade cards. After all, nothing is more romantic than putting a little hard work into a present. After visiting one of the cutest boutiques in Columbus, On Paper, I was really excited to start my project. 

I bought an ivory sheet of paper with fringed edges, a matching envelope, 30 pretty brads, monogrammed seals (letter "H"), new pen and super glue.

After creasing the paper in half, I cut out a heart using another piece of paper. I wasn't confident that I could draw a perfect heart so I reverted back to 2nd grade and folded a piece of paper in half and cut a half of a heart.  Who knew those skills would still come in handy?!

Next, I laid out the brads along the heart and glued. I finished by erasing any pencil marks and writing "love you" along the edge. Voilà! Custom Valentine Card for anyone special in your life. 

jean jacket lover.

I am so beyond excited to have my first guest post today!!! My beautiful friend, Carrie Hermann, is delighting us with some very noteworthy fashion advice. For all of you jean jacket lovers, this is a MUST READ:

When I first met Kaley, I thought one thing, “This girl’s got great style.”  Kaley wore outfits I only wished I could pull off without looking like the spaz from your 6^th grade class.  Remember her?  The one who always had mustard stains on her sweater.  She also always smelled like pee.  Just a little bit.  But Kaley never did!  She always looked adorable and never once smelled like pee!  Well, there was that ONE time….  BUT ANYWAYS.  The point is, I knew Kaley had great style.  

However, I did not.

Don’t get me wrong.  I like things that embody style.  I like things that look like style.  I like things that FEEL like style.  It’s just that my style happens to be stuck in 1986 somewhere in between a Motley Crue video and plastic charm necklace.  

So after a few shopping trips with Kaley, I started to find some balance.

I’ll tell you what though.  I’m never going to stop wearing this.

And that’s where the balance comes in.  Here are three outfits that I think Kaley would approve of.  WITH the jean jacket.  Oh, and I love them.

Jean Jacket for Spring.

 

If there’s one thing I love just as much as a jean jacket – it’s leggings.  It’s like a fun joke that Style came up with so we could wear our pajama pants to work.  Thanks, Style!  All is forgiven for tight-rolled jeans and everything from the 90’s. 

http://www.polyvore.com/spring/set?id=42864242

 Put a Bird on it.

 

Kaley thought me three very important things.  One, you can always add a belt.  Two, buy little pieces that you like and eventually they’ll all come together.  And three, just work it.  This is my idea of working it with things I like.  Red feels pretty bold with this, but I think Kaley would be proud that I worked it out.  Oh, and there’s a bird on it.  So you know it’s cool.  

http://www.polyvore.com/put_bird_on_it/set?id=43187477

Partytime.

 

OK, so it’s not a jean jacket, but it’s a jacket I like.   And even though it’s yellow it totally reminds me of this.  And that dress was COOL.  I’m actually not sure what Kaley will think of the turquoise with yellow and black, but I know she’ll like the belt so maybe it’ll slide.

http://www.polyvore.com/afterwork/set?id=43188250

 

So if you want to shop for jean jackets, I’m your girl!  If you want to shop for anything else, that’s probably going to be Kaley’s department.  We’ll both totally go to the Motely Crue concert with you though.  And maybe at the end of the night, we’ll all be a little spazzy.