look for less

First off, how is it already the end of July??  But in other news, it was refreshing to see the celebs put a classier touch on their Comic Con outfits this year.  Nikki Reed took the cake for me in her neutral tones and I immediately wanted to recreate her look.  So simple and the pieces can be worn 1,000 different ways.

via

Luckily, everything in this outfit is pretty easy to find.  Have at it below.

ASOS Peplum Top

TOPSHOP Curve Pocket Shorts

ALDO Leather Sandals

Studded Clutch

USA USA USA

I've got two things for y'all as we start to watch the Olympics...a drinking game and an extremely patriotic reason to drink PBR.

Frugal Friday

Speaking of orange in my previous post from Wednesday, it seems like I can't escape this damn color, so I'll have to embrace it.  And embrace it I will when it's a peplum eyelet skirt for $15.

ASOS Peplum Mini Skirt

I plan on wearing it with my favorite white tank and my orange bubble necklace.

{re-launch} HOS

So along with everything else that's coming back from the 90s, MTV's House of Style is being resurrected as well.  I ain't mad at cha.  It was a refreshingly cool way of showcasing all things fashion.  Not to mention, my girls Salt-n-Pepa strutted their stuff and who can't get behind that? 

If we were friends circa my 7th year of life you'd know how big of a S-n-P fan I was [and still am].  Sadly, I've terrified a few friends with my ability to sing/rap the entirety of Shoop.  I've got talents people and I'm not afraid to show them off.

I'm excited to finally have a reason to watch MTV again since my one time tuning in of 16 & pregnant has forever scarred me of the show.  Here's to House of Style 2.0.  They're releasing a documentary August 7th and announcing the new host September 6th.  I'm ready.

{currently craving}

Like this list ever ends...or even begins to be reasonable.  I love the look of a drop waist.  With that being said, I don't always love it on me, but dare to dream people.  I saw this TopShop Drop Waist Shift Dress on Krystal from This Time Tomorrow and fell in love. 

I'm in the small minority of people that likes orange [don't ask me how this happened because it was my high school AND college color and yet I'm still not scarred].  It's typically the red-ish or coral oranges that I find myself drawn to, but it's the same color family.  Seriously, this dress is gorgeous.  Color, cut, details.  I'm sold...I just hope my backside doesn't get in the way.

Lauren Conrad does it again {this time eco-friendly}

She never stops working....and I love it.  I'm a big LC fan, not just because I have dozens of her items from Kohl's and love them, but mostly because she used her reality tv popularity to create a fashion empire instead of becoming an alien and continuing to bitch about "life" on a show that follows scripted scenarios.  Oh, and she's one of my girl crushes and I want her wardrobe.  So...moving on.

She recently launched an eco-friendly accessories line called xo(eco) with Austin based business Blue Avocado, which is being sold on Amazon.  The majority of the bags are travel friendly and have removable compartments, making life easier.  The prices range from $9.99-$69.99.

welp...shit happens

So...one of my roommates Tippi gets insane. INSANE. perks through her job and luckily, Libby and I get to reap some of the benefits [i.e. maid service for our apartment one a month at no charge].  I know, I'm jealous of me too.  Sadly, [and this is me making assumptions because I've searched every nook and cranny] my favorite, simple gold Gorjana necklace was no longer in my jewelry dish after they had done their cleaning.  Whether they lost it, accidentally trashed it, or took it, it was a sad day for me.  Side note: they spoke no English and happened to vacuum Tippi's co-worker's husband's wedding band [whoa lots of possessives up in that one], so it's quite possible they did that to my necklace.  With this being said, I've been scoping out a new, everyday gold necklace and I've found a couple I love.  The simplicity of these gold bar necklaces allows for versatility and layering that can't be beat.

Gorjana Taner Bar Small Necklace

Gorjana Knox Necklace

Maybe I'll order a couple of these for the price of the ones above.  Decisions.

lately

I thought I should compile a pretty, picture-filled list of the items I've recently bought as part of my blog come back and Frugal Friday feature since I've been MIA.  Enjoy!

Madewell Basket Weave Sandals

Go to a store...NOT online.  These suckers are still $99 and an extra 30% off whereas in the store they were $59 and an extra 50% off!

J.Crew Safari Cat Pencil Skirt

J.Crew Jules Stripe Dress

Old Navy Racerback Tank Dress

These dresses are all cheaper online and then you get an additional 20% off with ONNEW20

Old Navy Flutter Keyhole Dress

Old Navy Sleeveless Utility Dress

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

That's right people...the big one is here (as of tomorrow)!  Y'all know I am a huge Nordstrom fan and extremely loyal, but their Anniversary Sale is always my favorite of any department store.  If you're unfamiliar, it is a good chunk of their fall inventory marked down and after the sale, the merchandise goes back up to full price.  I've been known to buy tons of stuff based solely on FOMO [fear of missing out].  With that being said, I was trying to be better this year and ended up buying just what I "needed."  BUT there are some gems in the sale, like the amazing Burberry trench with removable wool lining [hello year round coat] that my friend Jessica purchased.  Here are my picks [there are no links because the items are in a pre-sale website at the moment and the links won't work unless you have a Nordstrom card]:

 Import Collection Mercury Glass Vase

 Voluspa Candle Set

[usually $16 each, but all three for $29]

 Rubbish [I think] Chambray Shirt

 Juniors Jacket

[not sure what brand]

 Nike Free TR Fit 2

[Have these...feels like a sock]

 Tory Burch Nadine Riding Boot

BP Runway Boot

[I have these and wear them to death] 

 Ivanka Trump Abello Flat

 Sam Edelman Celia Pump

 Clarisonic Mia or Plus Packages

[I live for mine, you'll live for yours]

Philosophy Purity Face Wash Jumbo

[best deal in town both of these for $49...this lasts me a year if not more] 

 Hinge Lace Pleated Peplum Blouse

 Bellatrix Sheer V-Neck Blouse

 Burberry Brit Double Breasted Trench

Patagonia Better Sweater Jacket 

Barefoot Dreams Hooded Robe

[these things are seriously cozy]

brown bag her

I am the farthest thing from a fan of Michelle Trachtenberg.  Not sure if it's because I think she looks weird or if I just can't stand a single character she plays, but I am officially in love with the dress she wore last night to The Dark Knight Rises premiere.

I can't find who the heck makes this dress and it's DRIVING. ME. INSANE.

shame shame, know your name

I am extremely cautious and insecure about spelling things wrong.  I wasn't always like this, but for some reason lately I spell check everything...like wall posts (which I rarely do) and copy and pasting what I've written into a word doc or email to take advantage of that little tool.  I know it's crazy, but it may be because I judge (in secrecy of course) people who post insane grammar mistakes such as "Your going to love my outfit."  It may seem silly since I know that I don't get it perfect every time, but at least I proof read my shiz.

WITH THAT BEING SAID...Owen Wilson is in town filming a movie and he visited one of my favorite pizza places, Antico.  He left a little note and the only thing I took away from it was that he has no idea when to use "than" as opposed to "then."  At least he got the comma right after Atlanta...I guess I shouldn't expect much from Hansel.

[side note: I just spent a good 5 minutes re-reading this to make sure I didn't make myself look like an asshole]

things that make you go hmmm?

That's hmmm, not to be confused with mmmmm people.  hmmm as in with a fat question mark on the end.  That's exactly what I thought when I saw these pants from Bas Kosters Studio.

And here's a closeup, just in case you couldn't tell what exactly was plastered all over the pants.  At $150, that's expensive penis peni?

Happy Birthday Amurica!

Happy 4th of July!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, that just happened.

I hope y'all are all out celebrating like true Americans!  I'm currently walking a 10k for this great country and had there not been an extreme heat wave lately I would be wearing this!!!!!

So instead, I'll be wearing this, but I'm seriously considering purchasing the above for the Olympics.

Chicago in pictures

I'm back to my normal life now that my last trip in June is completed.  Barely survived and 100% exhausted, so I'll show you what I did in pictures and some captions.

 With our driver Emil

 liquor on tap at Kuma's Corner = danger

 48 oz. martini at Big Bar

 Drinks at The Pump Room

 The Bean

 the river

 reflections at the bean

 belly of the bean

 amphitheatre

 awkward fountain getting a doozy to the eyes

 Buckingham Fountain

 Cubbies game

 us at the bean

 Drinks and Dinner at RPM [Giuliana and Bill Rancic's restaurant]

 Jennifer and me "watching" the Cubbies [maybe more drinking than watching]

 Lake Shore Drive from the river

 Chicago Lighthouse [from The World's Fair]

 skyline

 Bloody Mary at Ditka's

 John Hancock

 the river at night