Friday, July 13, 2012

I wear flats. You should too.

confession time:  i don't wear heels.

okay, that's a stretch, but i rarely wear heels (and then i usually regret it.)  i know heels would make my gigantic feet look slightly less gigantic (no, for real, i wear a size 11), but i just prefer comfort.  plus, i'm on my feet most of the time, my husband and i are already the same height and i don't like to tower...the excuses go on forever, but the basic premise is this.  i don't wear heels.

this does not mean i don't love shoes though.  i do.  i think some of my high-heel wearing sisters could probably benefit from some more flats in their lives, and i know those that are commited to the life of comfort probably need to swank up their flat wardrobe a bit.  so, i 've compiled a list of flats that every woman should own.  

5 - ballet flat
this is the basic, the lbd of shoes.  most people swear by a classic pump (which i don't disrespect) -- i swear by a basic ballet flat.  

you should own at least two pair - one black and one nude color.  after that, feel free to mix it up with fun colors and patterns.

here are some suggestions:


ballet flats


Reed Krakoff ballet shoes
reedkrakoff.com

Bloch ballet shoes
$88 - zenggi.com

Ash ballet shoes
$145 - jades24.com

Toast ballerina flat
$99 - toast.co.uk

4 - pointed toe flats

these are like the responsible, older sister of the ballet flats.  if you get a cheap pair, you might sacrifice a bit of the comfort of the ballet, but you'll always look quite put together.  these work much better than the ballet flat with work clothes, particularly pants.  again, neutral colors are nice to have, but i personally swear by a good pair of animal print pointy flats.

here are some i like:


pointed toe flats



3 - a "masculine" flat

here's a fun, quirky shoe.  i prefer my masculine shoe to be an oxford or a loafer, but really, this is where you get to have fun.  i use these shoes to add a little spunk to a basic outfit.  an oxford brings a touch of retro fun to a skirt or dress.  a fun loafer adds a punch of personality to a basic day-to-day outfit.  pair either with a cute pair of cropped pants and instantly look chic.

here're my suggestions:


"masculine" flats


Bronx shoes
asos.com

Steve Madden slip on shoes
lordandtaylor.com

Lace up oxford
topshop.com

Miss Selfridge slipper shoes
missselfridge.com

Oxford flat shoes
modcloth.com

Dress shoes
amazon.com

Spike shoes
myhotshoes.com



2 - a sandal

if you don't already have some flat sandals, you're behind.  regardless, you can't mention a list of must-have flats without mentioning a sandal.  flat sandals are effortless cool and work with sundresses, shorts, and, when done right, spring/summer work apparel.  use caution there though because you don't want to look too casual.  also, i love a metallic sandal.  i practically live in a simple pair of gold sandals i bought at old navy.

here're a few:



flat sandals


Strappy sandals
tommybahama.com

Jack rogers shoes
endless.com

Sam Edelman thong sandals
bloomingdales.com

Banana republic shoes
bananarepublic.gap.com

Dune nude shoes
$49 - johnlewis.com

H&M strappy shoes
$15 - hm.com



1 - comfy shoes

seriously, if you don't own a comfortable pair of flats already, close the browser and go buy some now.  this can include toms (it should), chucks, tennis shoes, something to wear when you wanna take a walk or wear a t-shirt.  you shouldn't live in these shoes, but they are essential to you wardrobe, and there's no need to sacrifice the cuteness here either.

here are some i like:



comfy flats


Madewell shoes
madewell.com

New Balance lace up sneaker
piperlime.gap.com

TOMS shoes
$69 - blueberries-online.com

Boden satin flat shoes
$60 - boden.co.uk

American Apparel unisex shoes
americanapparel.net




what are your must own shoes?  flats, heels, wedges?  is there one particular pair you couldn't live without?  let me know!

until next time, cheers!

Monday, July 9, 2012

you know what day it is...

music monday!

sorry i didn't give you a full list last week, but i couldn't skip you again this week.

(i hope you enjoyed that matt & kim song anyway)

let's get started

5 - owl city & carly rae jepsen - good time
this is just as sticky sweet as you think it's gonna be, but just as catchy as each of their big singles.





4 - grouplove - party hard (cover of andrew wk)
my love affair with grouplove shamelessly continues.



Grouplove covers Andrew W.K.

3 - maroon 5 - one more night
it's still not at songs about jane quality, but i like this one.  also, adam levine is too small to be a boxer.




2 - rachel crow - mean girls
cliche?  probably.  lame?  a bit.  middle school? definitely takes you back there.




1 - walk the moon - anna sun
i meant to post this a couple of weeks ago, but i forgot.  oops.  enjoy it now.




what are you listening to right now?  cheers!

Sunday, July 8, 2012

back to school - classroom look

so, the baby is due very soon, and while the school year won't start as soon for me as for most, i keep thinking about cute work clothes (mostly because i live in soft clothes right now and also because i'm dreaming of a time when this weight is gone.)

last year, i officially fell in love with the j. crew no. 2 pencil skirt, so i plan to add many more of these to my wardrobe.  my goal for the 2012/2013 school year (fashionwise only) is to incorporate blazers into my wardrobe.  they just look so darned put together.  i struggle with finding a blazer that doesn't make me look like a linebacker though, so it'll be a challenge.

here's an idea of the kind of teacher look i envision.  thoughts?  suggestions?  help?

until next time, cheers!




back to school - classroom


Tie shirt
topshop.com

Dorothy Perkins linen jacket
$61 - dorothyperkins.com

Kate spade bangle
couture.zappos.com










Monday, July 2, 2012

it's music monday!

i don't have five songs for you today :( but i didn't want you to think i'd forgotten.

here's matt & kim's new song, let's go.

it has fun basketball tricks in it.

enjoy!  cheers!


Thursday, June 28, 2012

summer makeup

the other day, i accidentally became a teen magazine:


Light makeup = summertime. Let natural be your look and you'll look so much better.

it was weird, but it came from a good place.  it's hot outside, really hot most days, and i'm tired of seeing ladies rocking thick-cakey makeup that only looks worse as their face begins to sweat.

most of the time this level of make up would not look horrendous, but if you go outside at all during the day right now, you have to factor in the sweating.  bc of that, i bring you the only five items you need in your summer makeup bag.

5 - moisturizer 

it's summer, so go with a bit lighter than you wear in winter, but moisturizer is a must.  another good thing about moisturizer is that it'll generally have some sunscreen in it, so that's a bonus for your skin.  (if it doesn't, you need to be wearing sunscreen too)

i like something light like:

Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 50

or something with a little tint (for those times my skin is being less than awesome)

Sonia Kashuk® Radiant Tinted Moisturizer With SPF 15.Opens in a new window

4 - concealer

for those dark circles and blemishes that pop up.  i don't normally require the tinted moisturizer and can get away with well-blended concealer and moisturizer alone.  here's my concealer of choice:

(diorskin nude concealer)

3 - blush/bronzer

some girls can get away with not wearing this at all, but between my paleness and the concealer under my eyes, i certainly need a little something to brighten my face up.  for my skin tone, i stick with a pink toned blush because bronzer turns me orange, but if you can wear bronzer, summer is the time to do it.

here's the blush that i wear:


somehow, it's supposed to improve your mood too, but i'm not sure what that's about.  i just like the pinkiness.  you can get it at most drugstores.

2 - mascara

 

as far as i am concerned, there are only two types of mascara in the world.  i recommend you use one of them.  i go with the diorshow when i feel like spending the money, but the maybelline is a much more affordable second place, so i normally go with it.


1 - lip color

i'm not specific here about type.  tinted balm, lip gloss, lipstick, it's totally up to you.  just choose something you want to wear and that doesn't dry out your lips in the summer.  i normally stick with a pink lip balm or lip stick because gloss is a bit sticky for me, but here it's really whatever you like.


did i leave anything off? are there any summer products you swear by?  let me know in the comments!

cheers!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

a little of this, a little of that

i think i fell into a time warp.  therefore, it is not my fault that two weeks ago i told you'd i'd be back with more blogs during the week.  let's face it.  these are going to be sporadic at best.  there's a child coming.  the blog is going to have to take a back seat.

however, here are some things i'm digging right now.

5 - both of us - b.o.b. featuring taylor swift
i've been waiting to post this for awhile, and the video just came out.  so, here it is.



4 - nick offerman reads tweets from teenage female celebrities.
enough said.  also, it came from conan.



3 - "why women still can't have it all"
this article from the atlantic magazine reopened the debate on gender issues and says it's okay to compromise.

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/07/why-women-still-can-8217-t-have-it-all/9020/

2 - our america with lisa ling

i am obsessed.  it took me a little while to get on board bc we didn't have own in hd, but now that we do, this is one of my favorite shows.

here's the first five minutes of last night's episode "teen mom nation"



Teen Mom Nation: A Cycle of Teen


1 - baby sam!

see, you thought i wasn't going to mention that as one of my current obsessions.  you're crazy.  we're just about a month from having a little one, and the room is mostly ready, and we have a name...so i'll post more updates about all of that very soon.

i hope that this list was varied enough for you.  what are you currently digging?  anything i should know about or post?  until next time, cheers!

Monday, June 11, 2012

...and i'm back!

i know you miss me when i'm gone, but there was much work to be done, so the blog had to take a break.

so happy to be back on a music monday though, so let's get right to it~

5 - extreme - more than words
what a great throwback jam--don't act like you don't sing along every single time you hear it!


4 - creep - radiohead cover by carrie manolakos
i love when people send me good music, and this cover was sent over by a facebook friend today - perfect timing!


3 - atlas genius - trojans
this is the version live from siriusxm, but i like both versions.


2 - grouplove - itchin on a photograph i think i've posted every video grouplove has released. if you don't get it yet, i'm into this band.



1 - of monsters and men - little talks
it is very possible that i've posted this already bc i've been into this song for a couple of months, but i think i might've missed posting it in my absence, so here it is anyway.




Well, you should be hearing from me more throughout the week and the summer!  Get excited!

Cheers!