color wave

With every new season that arrives, it brings something to love.
Spring lets the sun shine, the flowers bloom, and the plethora of colorful pieces to come charging out of the closet.

I've always been partial to pops of color. I used to paint each nail a different color, wear bright green eyeshadow with everything, and let my red pointy-toed flats or thrifted hot pink tennis skirt do the talking.

Now that bright colors are in more than ever, I can say that I'm just falling into the trend, but truth is: I've always been one for color. Now it's just ok to wear my bright yellow flip flops with my bright orange bag and my bright pink shorts. 
Though it's not like you ever really need an ok. I wear it cause it's fun. 

This skirt is tons of color and twirly fun, but to keep it fairly subdued and basic, I paired it with a black cami. Perfect for a spring day.

Necklace, Skirt, Purse: Forever 21. Flip Flops: Old Navy. Bracelet: gifted, Kameleon

springtime wardobe

One of my favorite things about the arrival of spring is the abundance of spring dresses and being able to wear them all.

I love taking a cold shower and slipping into a breezy, frilly spring dress.

I wore this out to a fun lunch on the beach last week. Paired with some sparkly sandals and a messy bun, it was beachy springtime chic.

And oh-so-comfortable.

Dress: Forever 21. Sandals: Rampage / DSW. Rings: Key West Shell Warehouse.

hello spring!

heat and beaches and tans and patio lunches and this wonderfully bright turquoise tank that I found at Forever 21 for under $5.

hello spring!

tank: forever 21. jeans: old navy. wedges: italian shoemakers / dsw.

warm weather basics

Purely coincidental, almost every part of the outfit is Forever 21. Flip flops: Guess / DSW. Rings: Key West Shell Warehouse. Bracelet: Kameleon, gifted.

Doggy optional.

This weather has been giving me whiplash.

Some mornings are breezy and cool but once the afternoon sun hits, the temperature shoots up to the 80s and I'm left in a puddle of sweat.

Short of going out in your bathing suit or staying in and laying out by the A/C, it's hard to get comfortable.

I find a basic cami, my favorite high-waisted shorts, a pair of flip flops, and a fun, bright bag help.

I bought this purse back in December. I saw it, I fell in love, I needed to have it.

It was my inner desire for summer and sun jumping out and now that the weather is hot and humid and kind of gross, it's the perfect time to wear it.

dinner date

And just as quickly as that aviator jacket went on, it came off.

The days have been hot - almost too hot - and the hopes for anymore jacket days are long gone.

This is looming beach weather.

Not that I mind!

No, no.

Because I got to wear this little number.

This was actually a Christmas gift from my mom and when I opened the box and pulled it out, I had no idea what it was.

Holding it wrong, I considered it might have been some kind of poncho? shawl? ruffly thing...?

When I realized it had straps, the silhouette became clear - and I loved it.

The love deepened when I tried it on.

The v-neck and the ruffles down the front make for a long and lean figure. And the color! What can I say? It brings out my green eyes.

Short-sleeve cover-up: Forever 21. Dress: gifted, Banana Republic. Shoes: Rampage / DSW.

Paired with the quintessential cover-up for a South Florida girl (one of the best purchases ever), a long necklace (also seen here), and some sparkly sandals, I looked and felt gooood.

A lovely dinner date ensemble for a delicious dinner date.

aviator

As a South Florida girl, and as I have mentioned thousands of times before (broken record, broken record), I have a rather ridiculous collection of jackets and coats. Coats that get used a week out of the year, scarves that rarely see the outdoors, gloves that I'll usually use in the wee morning hours so my hands don't freeze.

And yet, every Christmas, I ask for one more. One more will catch my eye at a store and I will desperately want it.

They're just so luxurious, you know? And classic. So classic.

But as for this one? Well this one's just cool.

And I've been wearing it so much lately it's practically a staple.

The shirt(s) underneath are my newest infatuation with layering. I actually kind of hate that layered look of camis under shirts under whatever else. But for some reason, I'm digging it right now.

The shirt (unjustly shown in the photo) is actually quite a vibrant orange-red that screams summer anticipation!

But not just yet. So for now I have my jackets and coats. And that is mighty fine with me.

Aviator Jacket: Gifted, Target. Glasses: TJMaxx. Shirt: TJMaxx. Cami: Forever 21. Jeans: Levis.

dustin' off the ol' peacoat

54 degrees?!

Wind?!

I'm freezing my patootie off?!

I'll take it!

Peacoat: Gifted, Forever 21. Scarf: Ross. Gloves: Target (2 pairs for $1.50!). Jeans: Levi's. Flats: Sirens.

pink & black

Glasses: TJMaxx. Top: Ross. Jeans: Old Navy (also seen here).

Oh how I love a good stripe on a (Florida) winter day.

stockpile

While the Extreme Couponing ladies are stockpiling mounds of groceries in their garages, bathrooms, and bedrooms, I'm stockpiling clothes.

Yes, clothes.

I don't know why it is and I can't really help it. I'll find myself shopping and purchasing fantastic pieces only to have them sit in my closet for months.

I think, "well it'll come in handy some day!"

And it does. So that's good.

I originally bought this dress and jacket back in June, because I considered using it as a birthday dress.

It did not become a birthday dress, but worked beautifully as a dress for dinner with the husband for his birthday.

And because it was nice and flowy, it allowed for me to stuff my face and not have to suck the tummy in too much.

Always an important feature!

Dress, Jacket, Necklace (turned inside out), Purse (turned clutch): Forever 21.

Sandals: Rampage / DSW

ch-ch-changes

The past 4 days were nothing but rain, cloudy skies, and crap.
And I love a rainy day as much as the next person - when I don't have to actually do anything.
Work, driving, errands, carrying my scared-of-leashes puppy: all inconveniences.
But when I woke up this morning, the sun had finally come out to play and it was a perfect, beautiful 66 degrees.
In south Florida?? In mid-October??
I love it!

This called for a trip to the dog park and my favorite lightweight button-down.
Even though it has a plaid-like pattern, this shirt is really a basic staple for me.

Shirt: Forever 21. Jeans: Old Navy. Sunglasses: Forever 21. Belt: I have no idea. Flip Flops: Old Navy.

being a ham.

Paired with a pair of skinny jeans (I've had a whiplash-enducing love/hate relationship with) and some basic flip-flops (because it still is Florida after all), it was one lovely afternoon.
And Sandy made some friends! Not that you can tell from the picture below, but still..

nature trails

Cami: Forever 21. Shorts: TJMaxx (also seen here). Bag: Target. Flip Flops: Guess via DSW.

an impromptu trip to the park calls for a basic cami and shorts - in a camo color palette, no less. simple, basic: works for me!

from the closet vault

My closet is crammed and overflowing with clothes. It always is, no matter how many times I clean it or how many trips to Plato's Closet I make.
So it's really no surprise that I tend to forget what I own.
I dug this shirt/dress up from the back of my closet and it's perfect for this summer weather.
While I'm not a big fan of red, I really like this.
Simple red touches, a cute print, a great sillouhette, and a puppy. What more do you need?

Shirt/Dress: Forever 21. Necklace: Forever 21. Shorts: Old Navy, originally jeans.

heatwave

If you were to ask me what my favorite season was, I would be torn. Right now I would tell you that I love summer. I love the sun, the lazy beach days, the right to wear short shorts and flip flops. Give me 6 months and I would tell you how much I love the winter.
(Though can I really be sure that I love winter when the winters I experience are kind of a sham?)
But really, I think there’s something to be said for a Florida summer. The sun, the sand, the beaches, the unbearable, sticky humidity.
And with the country reaching record heat waves, sometimes finding something to wear that will actually be comfortable in the heat is quite the chore.

Dress: Old Navy. Shades: Forever 21. Necklace: Forever 21.

I found this little dress on sale at Old Navy for $6. It has become a serious staple.
In the hottest of summer days, one of my favorite feelings is taking an ice cold shower, stepping out, and slipping into a light and breezy summer dress.


I’ve worn this one to the beach and pool numerous times, but it works wonders for just running some simple errands.
A simple, delicate necklace, hair up, flip flops and some shades and I am good to go.

the birthday suit

Every year I treat myself to a birthday dress. That may sound excessive, but I assure you it's not. Sometimes I find gems in the prom dress clearance rack. Other times I search the back of my closet for never-worn pieces. One time I bought a dress for what I hoped would be a Christmas party dress. It became a birthday dress, instead. And it only cost me $13. Thirteen dollars!
You can't beat that with a stick.
This year was a combination of a new dress I bought at Macy's and one that I bought a year ago and never wore.
The week was kind of a mess (mostly involving a disastrous road trip), but at least I had a great wardrobe.
And some equally great shoes.

Dress: American Rag for Macy's. Shoes: Steve Madden (also seen here). Necklace: Forever 21. Earrings: Charlotte Russe

Johnny V's chocolate sampler. You can't go wrong with chocolate anything.

Dress: Forever 21. Shoes: Levity via DSW. Clutch: DSW. Earrings: Charlotte Russe.