Have a Spring Fling!

Kelly over at Fabulous K had the wonderful idea
 to throw a link party, to get fellow bloggers acquainted, 
and to help them discover new blogs.  It's super easy; 
Click the above link to join in on the fun! 

'Til Summer Comes Around

I apologize for the insanely long post, but i went a little crazy with my new camera last Sunday, as you can see.  Bear with me...the sun was out, it was a gorgeous day by the beach...i.e., i was happy as a clam!  We spent the day strolling the cliffs by the beach in Capitola, and then had dinner & wine on the pier.  I convinced the bf to walk along the boardwalk and it was so eerie to see all of our favorite rides completely empty.  It was so hauntingly beautiful...

On the way home, we passed by a carnival (I am a sucker for all things carnie,) and i tried to capture the essence of the lights, sounds, and aromas.  These are the days that I live for!

Oh, yes...I'm wearing a Forever 21 dress, Grass Collection sweater, tights from Target, Chinese Laundry over-the-knee boots, and flea market sunglasses.  If only every day could be this sweet!

Hello, World.

Just thought I'd share...My handsome godson, Mr. Dominick Dean Sackman, blessed us with his presence yesterday.  Mama is well, and we are all unbelievably ecstatic!

:)

To Trench, or Not to Trench?

*Tyte jeans, Charlotte Russe tank, Express button-down, Studio M trench, Target boots, Forever 21 necklace, Dolce & Gabbana watch, Ban.do shoe clips*

I've been in search of a decent trench for quite some time, but this 7 year-old version will have to do for now.  With clouds looming high, yet meager warm rays peaking through, layering was key on this fickle day.  

And who doesn't love a sequined heart?  I am head-over-heels for these Ban.do shoe clips I got recently, so instead of wearing my heart on my sleeve, I settled to wear it on my boot cuff.  (FYI, I swear I'm working on poses that don't involve me constantly looking at the ground.)  I'm super excited for tomorrow's beach post, full of fantastic carnival-themed images.  Stay tuned! 

Wine & Dine Me

I'm freakishly obsessed with weddings for some reason, and I just recently offered to create an inspiration board for a friend who's getting married this summer.  The theme is romantic vineyard, with tones of rich purple and crisp green.  Just thought I'd share since it's a fun little project to occupy yourself with, if you're into all that.  Head on over to Style Me Pretty to create an inspiration board with ease!

Just Peachy.

You will come to realize that I just love any & all shades of peach, coral, salmon, what have you.  And I have been told on occasion that hues of this variety suit me well.  Who knows, these people may have been colorblind, but I still die for these peachy tones.  This post was inspired by my lovely friend Amanda who just recently gifted me with some faboosh coral beaded necklaces that I've been dying to wear.  This dress, worn as a blouse, is one of my closet treasures.  And since I have curves, (not always in the right places,) I thought it would be nice to balance it with something a little more fitted on the bottom.  Business below, party on top, you get the idea.  Also note the pretty button detailing on the back.

Details

Forev dress (worn as blouse) & earrings

Sparkle and Fade skirt (via Urban Outfitters)

Michael Antonio platforms (some of my favorites!)

Sigh.

I've been wanting to play dress up so badly as of late.  I want to test out my new camera (which shoots amazing pictures, have I told you?) and capture some really inspiring shots.  My boyfriend and I had scheduled an "aimless back road driving" session this past weekend, to take some test shots and get dolled up, what have you...but once again, mother nature decided to foil my plans.  Jesus, I am seriously about to strangle this weather.  Hopefully I will have some awesome photos to share with you all soon.  Until then, here's a little sneak peak at my messing around:

Who's That Chick?

Hot damn.  I just can't can't enough of Ri Ri these days; she plays up her unique persona with these wildly daring outfits and God love her for it.  Even if she isn't always my personal style muse, her attitude just screams "fuck it! you don't pay my bills."  This, my friends, is a motto I can live by.  I've developed somewhat of a borderline stalker crush on Mizz Ri as of late, ever since the latest issue of Vogue hit the stands.  The hair, the makeup, the flirty playfulness, the fun little details, everything!  I think what I love most about her is that she still manages to be cute while still oozing sexiness.  And she has that air about her that lets you know she'd be a super cool chick to chill with, too.  love. Love. LOVE. 

Loving...

How fabulous is the '70s-inspired fashion for Spring?  You already know I'm a fan of high-waisted trousers, and stripes, so it's great to see these staples transitioning into some much-needed warmer weather.  My picks for the upcoming months?  Punch-hued shoes, peekaboo details, and bright/neon accents.  Find them all here:

1. Aldo Darie heels $135

2. Forever 21 Classic Striped Woven Dress $27.80

3. TopShop Ecru Pippa Pleat Belted Trousers $85

4. Ban.Do Classic Bow Headband $25

5. TopShop Knitted Dark Rose Crochet Shift Dress $125

6. Kate Spade Callista platforms (via Zappos) $225

Also, music plays such a big part of my life, and I've been wanting to do a music-oriented post for awhile, so...what songs or artists get you in the mood for Spring?  Or remind you of warmer weather and happiness?

Shine On, 

-D

Color Me Fabulous

Don't you just love my new 'do?  My good friend had the uber fabulous idea to throw a fantasy hair-themed bash for her birthday this past weekend, and man did we have a ball! Before you get your knickers in a bunch, obviously this is not my real hair, even though it would be pretty fierce if it was!  The bf even threw on a piece and...he looked like a fool. (lol bless his heart; he was still handsome.)  If you could choose any theme for your birthday party, what would it be?

I'm wearing a Selé pleather dress, Forev butterfly-sleeved bolero, and Guess snakeskin heels.  Had to show up with my A-game goods 'cause these girls don't play! 

Rolling in the Deep

I'm mad for plaid, y'all!  But quite honestly, I love this shirt to death and I wear it all the time, and have even snuck it into a casual office 'fit or two.  Rocking it with a bold red lip, and my "talk nerdy to me" specs, it is a DONE DEAL!  These were not taken on my new DSLR; I'm still learning the ins & outs of that little guy, so these shall have to suffice for the time being.  If you haven't already noticed, my little one decided to steal a kiss from her mama in the last shot.  Gotta love Miss Zoe.  I'm fitted in Forev from head to toe, minus the thrifted belt, Xhiliration lace tank, and Dolce & Gabbana glasses.  

Never Full.

In a tribute to some of my fellow bloggers who have done purse posts lately, I've decided to jump on the bandwagon and divulge the contents of my beloved (huge ass) bag.  PLUS, I am now the proud new owner of my first DSLR camera!!!  It seemed to be a never ending battle debating Canon vs. Nikon, but in the end, I'm a Canon girl and I decided to go with the Rebel t2i.  I'm over the moon for this baby and I wanted to test out its abilities on this here little post.  So here goes...

Pretty ridic for a girl to tote around a purse of such epic proportions only to carry such few items, but I am in lurrrvvve with my Louis Neverfull purse, so I made an exception.  (I usually stow away lunch items and snacks in here too, so I truly look like a bag ladayyyy.  Didn't want to freak y'all out with copious amounts of food spilling out of the top.)  Drum roll, please.

Gucci wallet (sturdy and sleek)

iPh'n 4 (duh)

Ray-Ban shades (because I feel like a boss when I mob around in these)

My grandma's monogrammed mirror (since I love the intricacy

and I'm a sucker for monogram engravings)

Inglot lipgloss (what MAC?  this gloss is the best, the end)

Extra pair of sassy earrings in case the occasion arises

Sexy Little Things Noir mini perfume (this scent is to-die and reminds

me of Nola, so it's a no-brainer.)

Let's hope my future posts prove my reading of the camera manual because I am so not ready to jump into all that jazz just yet.