"We found love in a hopeless place."

I had another one of my monochromatic days...What can I say, black is my favorite color to wear! :o)

"How great Thou Are."

Apparently, I am on a screen tee streak! I love this Kitson LA screen tee though. You can't tell in this picture but there are little embellishments that simply make this shirt--such as little rhinestones on the girls' jewelry. And how fashionable is the girl with the pink headband??

"Picture that with a Kodak."

I'm semi short so I tend to wear skirts and dresses with shorter hems to allude that my legs are longer than they really are. Any length that falls past the knees gets a bit tricky so I tend to avoid them altogether.

However, once upon a time ago, I fell in love with John Varvatos and bought this silk dress. It's longer than I prefer--it's probably the longest dress I own besides the one in this post--and it's a tad matronly but I love it nonetheless. In attempts to not look so 40s housewife-ish, I paired the dress with nude fishnets (which is hard to see because of the brightness of the pictures) and tall heels.



John Varvatos dress. Forever 21 tank top. Steve Madden heels.
Swarovki earrings. Linea Pelle bracelet. House of Harlow Sunburst ring.





The newest items Sunburst collection from House of Harlow are currently this khaki color. I have the Sunburst ring in cream (as seen in this post), the earrings in black, and I have been wanting the Abalone Pendant Necklace for the longest time. So if I continue the trend of collecting different items from the collection in different colors, I could still choose from a few others to get in khaki. :o)

I am so excited that Pretty Little Liars is back! I haven't watched this week's episode yet though, has anyone seen it? And if so, was it worth the wait??

I'm going to start having a "Blogger/Look of the Week" which will normally be announced on Fridays (conveniently coinciding with Friend Friday) so be sure to friend/follow me on Facebook and Twitter! ! :o)

-Samantha

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"You got designer shades, just to hide your face."

It was another lazy day. I was running late so I threw on my Joie maxi dress, Juicy Couture jacket, and flats (as well as accessories, of course--I wasn't feeling so lazy that I would go sans accessories!) because it was an easy, but still cute, outfit. I had planned on changing my outfit later in the day but ending up really liking the outfit so I wore it all day. Maxi dresses are definitely essential for any girl--they are cute and great to just throw on really quick! :o)

Joie dress. Juicy Couture jacket. Gola flats. Lilly Pulitzer sunglasses.
House of Harlow ring. Linea Pelle and Nordstrom bracelets. Sophie watch.

Love the floral print design on the side of the sunglasses! :o)



Obviously, Gossip Girl is full of amazing style, but it's been awhile since I saw something that made me go, "OMG, I LOVE THAT!" That is, until I saw the Twenty8Twelve "Petunia" top Serena wore in the season finale ("The Wrong Goodbye"). I love it with the Herve Leger "Contrast Bandage Pencil Skirt" too!


[Image courtesy of www.leightonmeester.us]

What did you think of 90210 and Gossip Girl season finales (if you watched)? [NOTE: slight spoilers follow!] 90210 was okay, I was really sad Liam and Annie won't be together, and I think Adrianna needs a serious wake up call. Otherwise, I don't think it was too exciting.

Gossip Girl was pretty good, though not as good as I thought it would be. Most importantly, thank goodness Blair didn't get caught/die in a fire. Is there anyone else besides me who hates Vanessa? She really needs to go away, and I don't mean to Barcelona. She just needs to go away in general. At least Georgina is funny. Vanessa is just a selfish beyotch (sorry if I offended anyone, I couldn't think of any other nicer way to put it). I don't think this season finale was as gripping as the ones in the past, but I still can't wait until Gossip Girl returns.

However, if we're talking about gripping season finales, Castle anyone? That one was a total cliffhanger!

Thankfully, we don't have to wait too long for good television--Pretty Little Liars returns next month! I'm excited to have both my drama and fashion needs filled. :o)

I am entering Dylan & Rose's 2011 Style Competition and would really appreciate your vote!

Just go here or click on my picture below and "like" it! (You will probably need to go to Dylan & Rose's main page and "like" them first, before you can "like" my picture.) Extra kudos for you if you have your friends vote for me too!



Thanks so much! I really appreciate it!! :o)

--Samantha


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"I wouldn't wanna have it any other way, I'm addicted."

I was always told that April showers are supposed to bring May flowers. I've seen plenty of flowers, but apparently that doesn't mean that the April showers stop. I've always felt like I've been living in the wrong area. The Pacific Northwest is for people who can tolerate the abundant rain and love the outdoors. I hate the rain and my idea of spending time outdoors is probably running outside--in the sun, going to the beach--in the sun, or having a picnic--in the sun. Rain, rain, pleeeeeeeease go away.

In conclusion, I savor any breaks in the rain, especially so I can take pictures outside--in the sun (or at least non-rain).

Banana Republic sweater. Easy Money jeans. Groove boots.
House of Harlow ring. Linea Pelle bracelet. Cara Couture earrings.

I love this Banana Republic sweater, it's probably my favorite short sleeved sweater. I love the dark green, the puffed sleeves--just the right puff, not too big, not too small--and the floral print. :o)

To me, accessories are the icing on the cake. They provide the finish to the outfit and should definitely not overshadow your outfit. Therefore, if your top is busy and is already drawing plenty of attention to itself, go for dangly earrings instead. And if you were like I was and still really wanted a necklace, make sure to keep it simple. It's all about balance.



Sorry for the false announcement of the 90210 and Gossip Girl season finales last week--I really thought it was last week! So let me say again how super excited I am! How great will Ivy's wedding be? What will happen because of Naomi's paper? Will Adrianna get what she really deserves? (I hope so!!)

What is Georgina doing back in town? What are they going to do with crazy Charlie? When will everyone figure out Blair is missing? And please don't let Blair die because she's my favorite character!! Leighton Meester isn't going to be renewing her contract when it ends; if it's ending season, I hope they write her off marrying the prince and moving to Europe instead of dying in a fire because that would not be cool.

And at the same time, I will be switching back and forth to watch the season finale of Chuck as well. I'm hoping for a happy episode!!

Also sad that Smallville is over, though bittersweet rather. It was starting to not be as good, but certainly had a good run. Will definitely miss Tom Wellings! :o(

Sorry if I spoiled anything for anyone who hasn't been watching, but you shouldn't be missing out on great shows! :o)

XOXO,

S



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All I want...is to be thankful.

Obsession of the Week: things I already have

Warning: ahead is a lot of reading!

Though my usual Obsession of the Week posts have been things I currently have my eye on, want, am lusting after, etc., I thought I would bear in mind the Thanksgiving holiday and do a post about what I already have and was thankful for.  The following are items that I wear the most frequently--items that often help complete my outfits.  Though the more I shop, the more things I want, these are the staples of my wardrobe.




Jewelry
1. Linea Pelle studded bracelets, $25 each (mine are sold out but you can buy similar ones here); I bought these in the most basic colors (for me). They can instantly add edginess to any outfit, yet are pretty versatile. Plus, they look great alone or stacked.

2. Turquoise ring; I bought this at T.J. Maxx probably a year ago and as a huge fan of turquoise, I absolutely love it.

3. House of Harlow Large Peacock Cocktail Ring, $50; Definitely a statement ring, it's an great addition to any outfit--especially the most basic ones. Also, love House of Harlow and wanted this ring forever so I try to wear it as often as possible!

4. Hammered silver peace ring; Also bought at T.J. Maxx ages ago. That place has some good finds sometimes! I love hammered jewelry and also like the simplicity of the ring.

5. C.C. Skye Niko Ring, $66.50 (I bought it from Gilt awhile ago); The ring isn't that big, but it always makes a statement. The mirrored top is really unique and draws lots of compliments.

6. Nordstrom ring, $8.97; I love Nordstrom's sterling silver ring collection. Not only is it very reasonably priced, but the quality is excellent! This ring is definitely one of my favorites because of its intricate design; when I'm in a hurry, it's always the first ring I grab.

7. Tarina Tarantino Pink Head Puff Ring; I have a decent amount of Pink Head jewelry items, but I think I always gravitate toward this one because I love its cute simplicity.

Bags
8. Coach Signature Patent Stripe Convertible Crossbody silver handbag, $298; Both the silver color and the convertibility make the bag really versatile.

9. Marc by Marc Jacobs nile blue Pretty Nylon Tate Tote, $198; It's a really good size bag and the material is pretty low maintenance.

10. Coach black Signature Gallery Book Large Tote, $328; Despite that the tote is a fairly old style, I think it's pretty classic.

Jackets
11. People's Liberation gray Bomber Jacket, $59.99; Love the bomber jacket style in faux leather.

12. People's Liberation black Asymmetrical Zip Moto Jacket, $39.99 (from Ruelala awhile ago); What can I say, I love People's Liberation faux leather jackets! Throw in an asymmetrical zipper and I was sold.

Shoes
13. Calvin Klein black Carley heels, $79.99; My most worn pair of heels--classy, chic, versatile, and comfortable--they are everything I need in a pair of heels.

14. Gola silver Luxe flats, $36.27; The most comfortable pair of ballet flats! Plus, they're silver, an easy color to wear with everything.

15. Zigi Soho Dean black boots, $39.99 (from Journey's ages ago); For an edgy day!  Super comfortable, they are my go-to boots.

Basics
16. C & C California black Extra Long Sleeve Crew Neck Tee, $38; Great for wearing alone or layering. Plus, C & C California makes quality fabric so despite how often I wear it and how long I've had it (about a year now), it's still nearly new.

17. Banana Republic scoop neck puff sleeved black tee, ~$18; Can't go wrong with basic black! The scoop neck and puffed sleeves make the simple tee a little more unique.


P.S.
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Let's be friends!  :o)

"I feel the sun creeping up like tick tock."

Just kidding!  I don't really want to be like Paris Hilton when I grow up (well, to be as rich as her would be quite nice...), but I don't object to owning cute dresses and designer shoes like her!  :o)

Heartloom dress. Cara Couture earrings. Hollister bralette. Guess watch.
House of Harlow ring. Linea Pelle bracelet. Stuart Weitzman heels.

Dear Pacific Northwest weather,
 
Please don't start.  I like the sun and hate the rain.  

Sincerely,
Me.

"Had a feeling that it would be a day like this."

My new Juicy Couture dress!  Eva Longoria [Parker] has the same Dahlias Print Tiered Ruffle Slip Dress, only hers is in blue.  While the dress can be easily dressed up, I--like Eva--opted to keep it causal.  

Juicy Couture dress. Handmade headband. Juicy Couture necklace. Guess watch.
Marc Jacobs & House of Harlow rings. Linea Pelle bracelet. Melissa shoes.

I will take advantage of any fall day here that isn't pouring down rain!  I often feel like I'm not cut out for the Pacific Northwest.  I hate the nonstop rain for starters.  I can tolerate a bit of rain here and there, but when it rains the majority of the time, I'm not so thrilled by it.  I've also felt like I'm more of a city girl.  Maybe L.A. is where I need to be?  Maybe.  As book smart as I may be, I don't think I'm all that street smart.  Still, I'm looking for a nice big city with more sunshine than rain!  I went to a job interview earlier last week, and the guy who interviewed me told me I seemed more "East Coast than West Coast" and certainly like I "wasn't such a Portlander."  (He was from New Jersey.)  I took it as a compliment in any case.

I'm starting a headband line!  The headband seen in the pictures above was actually the first headband I ever made.  More pictures soon!  I'll also start selling them in my Etsy shop as well.  

And news!  I have realized how obsolete MySpace was getting (although feel free to still visit me!) so I finally jumped on the bandwagon and got myself a Facebook.  Like me!  :o)

"Like I'm the only one who knows your heart."

Priorities dress. Calvin Klein heels. Coach bag. Guess watch.
Juicy Couture necklace. Linea Pelle braclet. Forever 21 ring.




Has anyone tried the new Toffee Mocha at Starbucks?  I absolutely love it!  Nothing like some nice coffee to start the day! 

Also, please admire my cute Juicy Couture necklace more than my awful tan lines (courtesy of the Vans Tour day).  Again, do avoid statement necklaces for any days you might get a tan!

Back to how I was saying in the previous post about my tendency to buy the same item in multiple colors, I also have this pictured ring in gold.  I'm not sure if the double finger /connector rings are so huge these days, but I still both like and wear them.   This cross connector ring from Forever 21 one is quite the popular one though.  I've seen it on multiple fashion bloggers, including That's Chic!

"All we need in this world is some love."

Banana Republic top. Free People skirt. Calvin Klein heels.
Juicy Couture necklace. House of Harlow ring. Linea Pelle bracelet. Coach handbag.

I get attached to things.  So when I find a great pair of heels that I can live in all day, you can be certain I'll get attached.  Thus, it is why you see these heels here, here, here, and of course, in today's blog.  I have a hard time find amazing heels that are as comfortable as they are lovely--and I feel like I'm not alone.  However, when you see me wearing a pair of heels so often, at least you know that they aren't included in the group of shoes that are destined to stay confined to my closet.

"I got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine."

Juicy Couture dress. Victoria's Secret Pink tank top.
American Eagle necklace. Rachel Leigh and Linea Pelle bracelets.

Here is another blog post depicting me taking a risk: wearing yellow.  Yellow is probably one of my least favorite colors.  I just don't like it; it's probably too bright for my taste.  I also don't think it looks good with my skin color so I just avoid wearing it in all.

Enter the dilemma where I see this dress and fall in love with it.  I love the soft feel of its organic cotton.  It is the only one left and it fits so well.  Only it's yellow, a color I try to avoid.  

Only when I wear this dress, it's no longer a mass of yellow; it is my beautiful absolutely comfortable yellow Juicy Couture dress.  And then, nothing else matters--I just frolic comfortably in my dress. 

"I know a place where the grass is really greener."

Alex & Chloe tee. Joie shorts. Calvin Klein heels.
Carolee earrings. Linea Pelle bracelets. Forever 21 rings.

I love versatile clothing items.  Then again, who doesn't?  Versatility adds to convenience and efficiency.  Sometimes--okay, more often than not--I fall in love with a clothing item (or a pair of shoes...) that I must absolutely have for the sake of having it, like I couldn't imagine life without it.  I have a pair of beautiful Steve Madden heels that I bought probably more than a year ago and have never worn, but I had to have them.  They are gorgeous.  They are a dark red, almost a red violet color (perhaps setback #1 because I rarely wear red) with a t-strap made of this ruffly, flowery design.  Lovely.  Sometimes, I like to open up the shoe box and just gaze at them because looking at them makes me happy; they are a work of art.  (In general, I consider fashion art.)  But someday, I will find an outfit to go with those shoes (probably buy an outfit solely for wearing with those heels...) and I will finally wear them!  Hopefully.

However, I do like to be a really effective shopper and buy items that are versatile, that are not bought to simply go toward a single outfit.  Example A: my Alex & Chloe shirt.  I love this shirt because it's so simple and casual, yet can be easily dressed up.  I wore the shirt with some jeans as seen here and nicer shorts as seen above, but if I really wanted to, the shirt could easily be worn with a skirt.  I prefer to dress the shirt up with some heels, but it could certainly be paired with some flats or sneakers.