{bling in the new year}

Who needs an excuse to ice themselves?  Shouldn't we go through life as sparkly as possible?  If for some reason you need an occasion to get all shiny... New Year's is the perfect one!  Dig out anything that sparkles and Bling in the New Year!!!

Here's wishing you and all those you love a very healthy, happy, sparkly New Year!!!  May 2011 be the best year yet!

Bling H2O {here}

Flutes {here}

Bubbly {here}

Diamonds {here}

Ring {here}

Watch {here}

Dress {here}

Heels {here}

Ipod {here}

Outfit {here}

{all is merry and bright}

I have been a bad blogger during the last few months... it seems that once Halloween rears it's scary head the rest of the calendar pages just fly by...

I cannot believe it is Christmas Eve Eve!  I still have a little craftiness to accomplish and I happily bought my last gift on my lunch break.  Now the fun part... wrapping!  I love making the presentation of a gift just as special as the gift inside.  I do have to watch it... sometimes my wrapping may outshine the gift inside.

I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a hopeful New Year!!!

Go Santa Go!!!!

{via}

{All the Single Ladies... Now Put Your Hands Up...}

Today I am giving props to my fellow bloggers, Ashley & Kerri.  They have started a blog celebrating the plight of the single girl in this amusing world.  Check it out for a little light-hearted advice, or to follow their adventures as they navigate through their quest to staying true to themselves… instead of concentrating on the duty of find THE [elusive] one.  As a single 30-something it is comforting to have a blithe look at the age old task of finding a mate.  Check them out at Real Big Canvas.

In honor of the single ladies out there…

 {Vintage Photographs - 1948 Atlantic City - Photo By Nina Leen}

Stay true to yourself, don’t settle, and have fun… destiny finds you, not the other way around.

{pretty pretty peacock}

I have always loved the color combination in peacock feathers.  It amazes me that nature provides us with something so vibrant... and on a male!  Every peacock has earned the right to srut his stuff and show of the beauty of what he is.  This year for Halloween I have been inspried by my feathered friend.  I am now in the process of literally tarring (hot glue) and feathering (over 750 feathers) myself to make my fabulous peacock costume.  I will post pictures when I am done.  Until then, here is a mish-mash of peacock inspiration.  It seems like I am not the only one in love with the beauty of this bird.

Peacock Pin found {here}

Feathered Shoes found {here}

Feather Print Dress found {here}

Clutch found {here}

Naiomi's Dress found {here}

Feathered Skirt found {here}

Cuff Bracelet found {here}

Steampunk Necklace found {here}

Eva's Dress found {here}

Headband found {here}

{happy fall ya'll}

Today is officially the first day of Autumn and if you are anything like me, you are excited for what Fall tends to bring...

*cool mornings and evenings (yes, even in the Sunshine State)
*changing leaves (yes, even in the Sunshine State)
*changing wardrobes... can we say BOOTS!!!
*smells of cinnamon brooms in the grocery stores...
*...and the promise of Thanksgiving dinner (my most fave meal) with my Mama and Daddy!

Here is a mish-mash in honor of Autumn's approach and my excitement for Fall fashion...

Purse found {here}

Black Boots found {here}

Peep Toe Bootie found {here}

Blazer found {here}

Skirt found {here}

Boots & Tights found {here}

Knit Scarf found {here}

Coat found {here}

Felted Scarf found {here}

{ladies of labor day}

Well, I hope everyone had an amazing long weekend. I {heart} Labor Day weekend for many reasons… and two of my favorites are...

USF Bull’s football and...

enjoying the last boating trip of the summer!

I was lucky enough to spend my weekend with some great friends, watch some great football, and catch some great rays while relaxing on the island.
I was even so inspired by the Bulls WIN that I went home and unpacked my serger, sewing machine, and beading supplies… then I proceded to whip up a new dress for next weeks’ football game (against UF… it’s a BIG one for us). I do not have pictures to post of my new dress yet…

… but this is the one I made last year.

It isn't the best picture, but you get the jist.

I make them from a men’s XXL t-shirt. Here is a drawing of the one I am working on now…

I will post a picture of the finished product as soon I... well... finish it.

I will also post some detailed instructions on how you can construct your own T-shirt Dresses.  There are tons of books and ideas out there... try searching "T-shirt Reconstruction" on Google Images and have fun with all the possibilities.

I also own a couple of books on the subject...

find it {here}

find it {here}

...and find tons more {here}.  Get out all those boring t-shirts and have fun with all the possibilities!  And please, share your creations with me.  I'd love to see what you all come up with.

{finally}

I've been lucky to have been showered with complements and encouragement from friends and family for years… and I am finally putting some faith behind them.


I opened an Etsy store! Yay me… FINALLY!

So, check it out… let me know what you think. There are only a few things on there so far, but I will be adding... and adding... and adding... as I go along.

Wish me luck!!!

{come sail away}

As the summer winds down and I look forward to my yearly tradition of boating away Labor Day weekend… I am celebrating the fact that I have always been drawn to all things nautical. Maybe it was because my mom thought it was cute to put a little girl in a classic sailor outfit, or the fact that navy stripes will never go out of style no matter what age you are. I have even gone as far as to say that I grew up sailing… the truth is that I grew up near sailboats. I, myself, sat in the boat, docked at the marina during many a summer’s night. My daddy was the sailor… recreationally and militarily. I fondly remember finding his bell-bottomed navy blue woolen navy uniform in the attic one year… and I tried it on wishing for some miracle that by the heat of the attic it had shrunk from an adult male’s size to a pre-teen girl’s size. No such luck, but I did channel that nautical sentiment a couple of years ago for Halloween… I will find any excuse to go into an army/navy store!


So, in honor of my Daddy, the approaching end of summer, and of my urge to be on the water, I have pulled together a few mish-mashes of nautical inspirations…

A nautical inspired fashion mish-mash...

Heels: Michael Kors found {here}

Yellow Jacket found {here}

Wedges: Jessica Simpson found {here}

Tank: Michael Stars found {here}

Bracelet: Chanel found {here)

Watch: Chaumet found {here}

Bags: Louis Vuitton found {here}

Tank Dress found {here}

A nautical inspired home mish-mash...

Ladder found {here}

Ship's Wheel found {here}

Bedding found {here}

Dining Room found {here}

Stairs found {here}

Tableware found {here}

A nautical inspired wedding mish-mash...

Wedding Attire found {here}

Bunting found {here}

Invitation found {here}

Candle found {here}

Table Number found {here}

Save The Dates found {here}

Glass Orbs found {here}

{jumping in}

Here we go…

I’m starting a blog. I teased my mother for doing it when she moved to Bama-Lama, I snickered at her for following some pioneer lady… but then I fell in love with Snippet & Ink… I saw Julie and Julia… then I actually read Pioneer Woman (who, I will now admit... is absolutely amazing)

...and I miss my mama and realized that I love her blog because it somehow shortens the hundreds of miles between us.

...so… here i am… blogging

...a new hat to wear… “blogger.” (oooh… I do love new accessories!)

...and, here you are reading it… whoever you are

...take a look around… tell me what you think, but bare with me... I am a newbie!