Blossom (and The Hunger Games)

On March 26, 2012March 26, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Has anyone else out there seen the new Old Navy commercial complete with Blossom AND Joey???? I saw it the other day and not only did I love the throwback to one of my favorite classic TV shows, but I was totally inspired by the vibrant colors, floral prints, and all things spring showcased in the ad. So much in fact, that I decided to throw together this bright and cheery outfit to go to church, run errands, and catch a showing of the Hunger Games with some of my favorite gals on Sunday…

Cardigan: H&M (recent)

Striped Tank: H&M (last summer)

Floral Scarf: Francesca’s $18 (recent)

Purple Jeans: Else by Joe’s Jeans exclusively for Macy’s $68.00 (post to come!!!)

Boots: Aldo Farmar (sold out)

Watch: Michael Kors c/o Macy’s

Bracelets: Tiffany

To be honest, I was totally on the fence about these purple jeans at first, but now that I have worn them, I am really loving them! In fact, yesterday when I was out and about, I literally had several people stop me to ask where I’d found them. And not only are they cute, but they are way comfy too. They were the perfect choice to wear to a movie, and didn’t bag out in the bootie after sitting for a couple of hours. And speaking of the movie, The Hunger Games was FANTASTIC!!! I adored the books, and never like screen adaptations as well as their novel counterparts, but I just loved this movie. The casting was spot on and much of it (of course there were a few exceptions) was just as I had imagined. If you haven’t read the books or seen the movie, I highly recommend both. Oh, and Team Peeta all the way!!!

Keepin’ It Casual

On March 22, 2012March 26, 2012 By all dolled upIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

As a district planner for Macy’s, I am always busy juggling many different hats and recently the addition of opening a new store in the City Creek Center in downtown Salt Lake City, UT has been added to my plate. It is the only retail development in the United States opening this year, so it is a pretty darn big deal. And while the hours have been long, and stocking shelves, chasing orders, and planning plans have all been exhausting, I know the results will be well worth it in the end.

But perhaps more challenging than the grueling schedule, has been the difficulty in figuring out what to wear for this type of work. Normally we are in an office setting, but for this phase of our job, as we set the store, we have to be casual, comfortable, and open to getting dirty. And let me tell you, for me this is much more difficult than you might think. Not only do I work in fashion, but I LOVE fashion so have a hard time dressing dowdy for any occasion. And having to be at work an extra hour early, I am certainly not at my most creative when it comes time to getting dressed in the morning. So a challenge it has been. BUT I did manage to pull together a few looks, and even felt this one might just be blog worthy.

Jacket: H&M (sold out)

Polka Dot Top: H&M (recent)

Jeans: Seven for All Mankind (old)

Boots: Aldo Farmar (sold out)

Ring: Italian Flea Market

Nail Polish: Hunger Games for China Glaze District 12 with OPI gold crackle

And yes, even though I have been doing a lot of manual labor, I still made sure to paint my nails. I can’t decide if it is an addiction or obsession (or both) but not matter the situation, you won’t often catch me with bare nails. It kind of feels like being naked!!

Stay tuned for more updates on the new store to come. Our grand opening was actually today!!! It was amazing, but exhausting, so I am off to bed to get some much needed rest. Sweet dreams(of new shoes, of course).

Party in the Front, Business in the Back

On March 18, 2012March 18, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit IdeasLeave a comment

I have been on the fence about the big hi-low trend this season. Not because I don’t like the look, but I think it is a trend better suited for tall people, and I am by no means tall. But the fashionista in me has definitely had me curious and I have been keeping my eyes open (but not exactly looking) for a piece that might work for someone shorter like me. Let’s just say that it has been on my “want” list, but definitely towards the bottom.

And then one day, when I was working in the new Macy’s store that we are opening (THIS WEEK!!!!), I overheard two sales associates talking about “mullet” skirts. It took me a minute to realize what a mullet skirt was and then of course I realized they were talking about hi-low skirts. And in that moment, I knew I had to have one. I mean, really? A skirt named after the raddest hair style known to man kind? Who wouldn’t want one???

Top: Arden B (old)

Skirt: Material Girl (select Macy’s stores)

Belt: American Eagle

Leggings: American Apparel

Watch: Michael Kors c/o Nordstrom Rack

Black Wedges: Urban Outfitters (sold out)

So not only have I found my perfect mullet skirt, but my version is a super fun and flattering silky fabric with a unique striped pattern that I am just in love with. Plus, with all of the colors, it makes for an easy piece to wear a lot of different ways. But this is how I styled it for a date night with my hubby to celebrate his 30th birthday over the weekend. I also gave him the night off and took my own photos so he could put his feet up and relax! Happy, happy birthday to my love!!!

’80’s Child

On March 14, 2012March 18, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas1 Comment

Not only was I born in the ’80’s (I won’t tell you what year), but as an adult, I still consider myself a child of the ’80’s (probably where my love for color stems from). And thus, it is safe to assume that this must be the reason why I am still (and always have been) fond of all things neon. And when I attended our Vendor Summit in SF last fall to catch a sneak preview of all of the spring fashions to come (which of course are upon us now), I couldn’t help but find myself totally infatuated by the theme of neon accents we were inundated with from just about every vendor who presented (there was also an overwhelming presentation of pajama jeans-not kidding). And so, ever since that sunny day in the beautiful city by the bay, I have been day dreaming of the perfect pair of neon pumps (but not of pajama jeans).

And so, as luck would have it, before I even began my quest for the perfect neon pumps, I had my radio tuned to Wake Up with Taylor on Sirius Cosmo Radio to keep me entertained on my commute to work, and miss Taylor (who I ADORE) was going absolutely crazy for a pair of neon pumps she purchased from Aldo that everyone was mistaking for Manolo Blahniks. Ding! Ding! Ding! JACKPOT!!!! Pretty sure I made a trip to Aldo on my way home that night. 🙂 However, Aldo didn’t have the pumps I was looking for in my size, which led me to discover that Nordstrom is now carrying a line exclusively made for them by Aldo. And guess what they happened to have??? A pair of incredible neon yellow pumps in my size-which also happened to be the absolute last pair they had in stock. So apparently not only was it meant to be, but I am not the only one around here totally enamored with the thought of day-glow tootsies.

Shoes: Aldo for Nordstrom “Capecoral” $90

Chambray Shirt: American Eagle $40

T-shirt: Victoria’s Secret Pink Essential Tee(2 for $28)

Jeans: The Gap (sold out)

Necklaces: JCrew (sold out)

Watch: Michael Kors c/o Macy’s $250

Bracelets: Tiffany

And let me tell you, these shoes are so bright, I think they might actually glow in the dark, and I couldn’t be happier with them! A little pop of happiness for my feet!!

Color Blocking

On March 14, 2012March 18, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit IdeasLeave a comment

I love color blocking-so retro and mod-not to mention just plain fun. I mean seriously, pairing multiple big blocks of colors together at the same time? Genius!!! In fact, I love this trend so much, I wanted to devote an entire post to it!

But before I do, I do have a little confession to make. It’s funny the things you learn about yourself when blogging, and I have clearly learned (in more ways than one) that I am a creature of habit. In fact, when I decided to write about color blocking, I immediately gravitated towards red and…wait for it…pink (surprise, surprise). But it also occurred to me that the last two posts I have shared have pretty much been about the color pink. Fortunately, for the sake of this post, I remembered the below gorgeous royal blue and teal silk blouse hanging in my closet that I picked up when I was in Seattle a few weeks ago-a perfect example of color blocking. Thus, I made the decision not to continue to bore you with my love for pink (you’re welcome), and change things up a bit by letting shades of blue take center stage (although my yellow suede pumps do make another appearance). Baby steps…

Blazer: H&M (sold out in stores)

Silk Tunic: Forever21 (sold out in stores and online)

Leggings: American Apparel (in stores)

Pumps: Steve Madden (sold out)

Bracelets: Nordstrom Rack (old)

Long Necklace: Personal Collection of Charms

Crystal Necklace: Sundance Catalog (sold out)

Watch: Michael Kors c/o Macys $250 (sold out in silver, but available in bronze)

Besides the color blocking element, I also love how versatile this outfit is. I could wear it to work, for a date with the hubs, or even for a night out on the town with the girls (would check my blazer at the door). And since I have to dress up for work, like many of you do, I am sure, the ease of day to night can sometimes be the most important element before heading out the door when we get dressed in the morning. If only all outfits were this simple!!

Plain White T-shirt

On March 11, 2012March 18, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit IdeasLeave a comment

Sometimes I think there is nothing better than taking a very basic outfit and pairing it back to super fab accessories to really take it up a notch. It feels very JCrew-esque to me, which is pretty tough to beat. I also think its hard to beat a t-shirt and blazer with some skinnies and fun pumps. So easy, yet so sexy and cool (according to my hubby!!).

So, once again inspired by Pinterest, I decided to take one of my favorite boyfriend tees and style it back to my favorite Gap skinnies, a staple gray blazer, and finish it off with some pretty great accessories-including my new bright pink pumps which I can’t get enough of!!!

Tee shirt: Forever21 (old)
Blazer: H&M (recent)
Jeans: Gap Always Skinny (sold out in stores)
Pumps: Jessica Simpson Waleo Pump c/o Macy’s
Necklace: Thai Pan Trading Company (Utah only)
Bracelets: H&M (recent)
Watch: Michael Kors c/o The Rack
Ring: Etsy c/o Decofox

Fortunately for me, I am all about the color pink which will no doubt be an asset as we move into a new season of fashion. But the good news is, if pink isn’t your color, pretty much every hue under the sun is in style this year, so you will no doubt be able to take your pick of a myriad of colorful baubles and accessories to spice up any outfit!! The key is to just HAVE FUN!!!

Think Pink

On March 10, 2012March 18, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit Ideas2 Comments

Pink and yellow are my favorite colors-which if you know me at all is definitely no secret. So when I found these bright pink pants at AE a couple of weeks ago, I couldn’t wait to get them home and pair them back to my favorite yellow suede pumps. What I didn’t realize, however, was how tricky it would be to find the perfect top to round out the look.

Enter my favorite website EVER: Pinterest. I’m almost embarrassed to admit to the amount of hours I spend perusing this site-it is a sick, sick addiction. But I just can’t seem to stop myself from pinning and searching for inspiration (of which there is plenty). So I knew it would be the perfect place to find a resolution for my dilemma, and of course I was not disappointed. Thanks to Pinterest I was inspired to pair my cute navy and white striped off-the-shoulder sweater back to my yellow shoes and pink pants. I think I kind of love how the the look how it turned out, but I have to be totally honest, I’m even more excited to pair this top back my sunshine yellow skinnies-which I will definitely share in an upcoming post!! But for now, I’m thinking pink…

Sweater: H&M ( recent)
Pants: American Eagle (recent)
Shoes: Steve Madden (sold out)
Watch: Michael Kors c/o The Rack
Bracelets: H&M (recent)

And if you couldn’t already tell, I’m so excited about spring and summer fashion trends that I can hardly stand it. So much so, I guess I’m getting a bit of an early start. Hooray for color (and warmer weather!!)!!!

A Little Bird Told Me…

On March 7, 2012March 18, 2012 By all dolled upIn Outfit IdeasLeave a comment

I am not usually a fan of ditsy prints, but have been on the hunt for the perfect little bird print blouse or dress since January. Something about the cute whimsy and prelude-to-spring feel of it had me hooked and I knew I needed to add a piece of this nature to my closet. For several weeks I looked high and low, but everything I found seemed to either be too expensive, or just not quite right (I should note that I think there is a fine line between tacky and cute with these types of prints so I have been pretty picky in my quest).

And then it happened, as it often does, when I least expected it. I was visiting one of my stores in Helena, Montana (of all places!) and happened to walk past the junior’s department (of all places!), and there it was, pretty and sweet, exactly what I had been looking for and for exactly the right price ($39.99 before my employee discount). I tried it on expecting the worst, but the fit was perfect AND it is a fab little frock with or without a jacket or cardi, which makes it an ideal transitional piece from winter into spring. And while it is oh-so-pretty and feminine, it is also perfect back to beat up boots and leather jacket, if you ask me!

Look at those cute little birds and that super subtle ruffle-LOVE it!!

Jacket zipped for to and fro on a chilly day…

Unzipped, showcasing a belt and cute necklaces…

Fab boots that I scored in San Francisco for an unbelievable price!

Dress: Macy’s (in select stores)

Jacket: H&M (sold out)

Belt: Mossimo for Target

Boots: Jessica Simpson c/o Ross

Necklaces: Tiffany, my personal collection of charms

iPhone Case: Kate Spade $40.00

So, consider this post to be your little bird telling you that in this dreary transitional period from winter into spring, it is most likely time to invest in a cute little ditsy print to lighten and liven your wardrobe up a bit. And remember, the early bird always gets the worm.

Happy hunting!

Before and After

On March 3, 2012March 18, 2012 By all dolled upIn Doll House RemodelLeave a comment

I have so many amazing before and after photos from our recent remodel that I am dying to share and blog about that it is sometimes hard to know where to begin. But as I was sitting in our sun room this morning drinking coffee and paging through the latest US Weekly, I couldn’t help but admire our fireplace and feel incredibly pleased with the makeover it received from me and my hubby.

It would be an understatement to say that our house was “out-dated” when it came into our possession last year, and the fireplace in our sun room was no exception. The grey tiles and gold trim just weren’t doing it for us, nor did they go with the rustic feel we were trying to achieve, or really with anything in the 21st century, for that matter. So, after a little research and multiple trips to Lowes and Home Depot to find just the right supplies, we decided upon our method of transformation. An entire day was devoted to the project, but in the end, it seems a small price to pay as it has improved the look and feel of the entire room, which also happens to be the BEST room in our house.

Before…

Grey shiny tile, gold trim, and a mesh door-I don’t miss that one bit!

During…

Tiles popped off, and face repainted-starting to look much better!!

After…

Voila! The finished product. LOVE the colors of the slate, the glass doors, and the matte black finish-actually, the whole package complete with decor and the way it all looks back to our wood floors. **Sigh** . Pretty sure my hubby and I make an awesome team. And as I already mentioned, I have a TON of before and after photos to share from our giant project-definitely many more posts like this to come!