Mini Fashion Week ... Monday

Cleaning out my fashion files this week ... nothing too exciting, but thought I'd share some of my birthday wardrobe finds.

Jeans ... Gap

Oatmeal layer tank ... Old Navy

Peach racerback pocket tank ... American Eagle

Flip Flops ... Bandals (love the changeable bands!)

Accessories - Necklaces and Bracelets ... Forever 21

Nail polish ... OPI Fly from the Nicki Minaj collection

I have a little trick for customizing my necklaces that I find at amazing prices. Being they are so cheap ($4 to $6), if I find a layered necklace I adore a certain part of, I will buy it and literally cut off the layers I don't like with sharp scissors. In this ensemble, I am wearing 2 separate necklaces. Both of these necklaces came with a hideous amount of gold chains that a) became a tangled mess when wearing them, and b) took away from the fabulous pop of color that I wanted to stand out. So I simply cut off the chains. A super simple alteration that made the look even better!

As for the silly pic ... my hubby thinks it's entertaining to continue snapping pics of me AFTER I am done posing ... thought I'd throw that one in there to show how I keep it real around here.

Happy Monday, Peeps ... check back in tomorrow to see Tuesday's fashion post!

xoxo

Fashion Friday ... Hello 31!!

 Being that my birthday was on Wednesday this week, I had to work for part of the day. Lucky for me, the real estate company I work for is pretty laid back and casual, so I rocked jeans.

 Top: JC Penney

Oh.my.goodness! Have y'all checked out the new style that JCP is sportin' these days? They have definitely amped up their game and I found some cute stuff there for my b-day (wait til' I debut my new shoes ... fab.u.lous)!!

Layer tank: Target

I adore their Long and Lean tanks!

Jeans: GAP

These cute wedges are from the Tribeca collection by Kenneth Cole ... I have had them for years, but never really wore them because they were uncomfortable. I stretched them out a bit, and now they are comfy enough to wear all day long.

My necklace and earrings are from Old Navy (sorry, no close ups, but they have been in lots of other Fashion Friday posts), and my cuff bracelet is from a blog swap I participated in last year.

I have lots of fashion posts lined up for next week ... I need to get caught up in posting them or I will be showing you winter looks in August! So have a great weekend and tune in for my own little Fashion Week starting on Monday!

xoxo

Before and After ... The Haircut!!

 So here is the pic I took into the salon ... Miss Natalie Portman was my inspiration this time around. Medium length, layers, and nothing too drastic that would take a lifetime to grow out.

 Here is my hair before ... super long, ends fried from going with the ombre color process, and looking a bit brassy.

 And here is the after pic ... chopped off quite a few inches, getting rid of the dead, frizzy ends. I also had some more highlights put in to blend the definite color line of the ombre vs. my dyed black hair, and I also added a couple purple peek-a-boos near the front, but it is hard to see those on my phone pics.

 Fresh cut ends, no more severe damage needing to be treated every day, and highlights throughout... ♥

 I am loving the way this style frames my face, and how much healthier and lightweight it feels!

While I didn't go super extreme, I am pretty excited with the new 'do and happy that I finally took the plunge after so many years of hanging on to the super long length.

What do y'all think?

Today is the day ...

I am NOT chickening out this year! Tomorrow is my birthday, which (if y'all remember a new year's goal of mine) means it is time to cut my hair. I have dragged my feet, gone back and forth, and threw out lots of empty promises throughout the last few years. My appointment is set for 3:30pm today. I have a few celebrity hairstyle pics ready to go, and trusting my that fabulous hair girl, Mallela, pulls off a cut I will adore.
Wish me luck (this is a HUGE deal for me) ... and pop back in tomorrow to see my new 'do! xoxo

Post #875 ... Fur-ocious Vocals

Sally Hansen's Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips ... $8.99

In ♥ with this fun print!!
Super easy to apply, these nail polish stickers went on smoothly and quickly. Total manicure time took about 20 minutes, although I am a newbie at this. I was never interested in purchasing these strips because a) the price is a little steep in my opinion, and b) I never found a print that I adored enough, or couldn't re-create with polishes I already own.

I was at Walgreens last night and the box was whispering at me from a distance. Flashes of my current fave color and current animal print of choice sealed the deal on the purchase. This style is called Fur-ocious Vocals and is supposed to last up to 10 days. I applied a top coat to add a little extra protection, as I have had friends say this little trick helps the wearability last longer.

The kit comes with everything you need to accomplish your designer manicure, including easy-to-follow instructions. Coupons circulate every now and then and are definitely recommended to help with the $8 to $9 price tag.
Have you tried Sally Hansen's Salon Effects Polish Strips?

I tried it ... Olay Total Effects

I recently ran out of a spendy facial moisturizer I had been using for a few months ... it was a generous gift from my mom-in-law, but unfortunately I can not seem to justify adding it to my family's budget. I was browsing the aisles of Target last week and spent some time reading bottles and packages of facial lotions, debating on prices and brands. I had finally decided to try Olay's Total Effects + Touch of Sun.
I am turning 31 this month (holla!) and while that age is NOT old, I can see that my skin is starting to show signs of aging. Those fine lines and wrinkles of mine become more apparent this time of year when the sun starts to come out. I don't usually wear sunglasses, so the extra squinting helps defines my lines a bit more. I wanted a moisturizer that was going to help minimize the appearance of these imperfections, as well as give my skin the daily hydration it craves. Olay claimed to do all these things AND add a little boost of color with a sunless tanner added to the mix. Sold!!
I have been using this product daily for the last 9 days and I am loving it!! I notice my complexion has evened out and has a nice glow to it. The lotion gets an A in the moisturization department, no greasy or oily feel and absorbs nicely. And while I don't believe a topical cream can erase the fine line and wrinkles I already have, maybe this lotion can help prevent new ones from appearing. I definitely think this is a product to try, especially if you are in the market for a new moisturizer. This one retails for around $23. I snagged it for under $20 on sale.
What are your thoughts? Do you use Olay products? What facial lotion do you swear by?

Fashion Friday ... Rawr, baby!!

Channeling my inner Snooki, I am rockin' this fun cheetah shirt that I found at H&M for $5.95!

It is a stretchy cotton ... perfect to layer with the tights that I got at Target.

The tank is from Gap, cardigan is from Express, bracelet from American Eagle, and these two necklaces were actually apart of two other layered necklaces that I no longer liked, so I seperated them with some trusty scissors and kept the pieces I liked. Crafty, huh?
The boots are knock-off Uggs. Fuggs as my hubby likes to call them (Fake Uggs = Fuggs). I got them through Groupon for $20. They are no where near the quality or comfort of the real deal, but I ain't hatin' for 20 bucks!

I know y'all may be sick of seeing the boots in every.flippin.fashion.post, but it is OREGON!! We only get a day or two of sunny spring weather here in the Pacific Northwest, and our summers don't even get started until mid-July. Hang in there, peeps! Eventually I will pull out the cute booties and flip flops, sandals, and pumps! Until then, homegirl has got to keep her feet warm!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

xoxo