what i wore: blanket scarves and crossbody bags.

Hello, Loves!  How's it going?

It's actually pretty chilly here, all of the sudden.  

But, no need to fear... blanket scarves are here!

H&M shirt, Forever21 blanket scarf/high-waisted shorts, tights/socks (various), Mossimo for Target crossbody bag,Target watch, Chinese Laundry Bosco boots

So warm, so cuddly, so all around magical!  

Click here for examples of the many ways that these scarves can be styled.

And just when you thought this Fall's new trends couldn't get any better... you see a crossbody bag that just begs to go home with you, when you're taking a 'small' trip to Target.  

Oii vey!

So, tell me...

Have you tried a blanket scarf?  How do you wear yours?

What's your "it" bag this Fall?

what we wore: apples to apples, pumpkins and corn.

This weekend me, J, and my sister from another mister went to our favorite cider mill for cider, doughnuts, pumpkins, and a fun photo session.

What could be better than doing all of those things with my favorite people in the world?! 

:)

On me: Forever21 dress/jacket/scarf, Zara sweater, Etienne Aigner riding boots, stacked bangles(various)
On Melodi: Forever21 sweater & jeans, Journey's mocassin boots, Chinatown scarf, ICING earrings

Purse: random find from the Fashion District in Downtown L.A.

what i wore: don't stop be-leave-ing.

There's a beauty and assurance that comes with the changing colors of the leaves.

It's as if the trees want to say: "Hey, it's okay.  Every year, my leaves change color and fall.  And every year they grow back.  Don't worry, just believe."

Banana Republic sweater, Charlotte Russe wool shorts, Chinese Laundry Bosco boots, Forever21 scarf and stacked bangles

Have an incredible weekend!

watch it, share it, do it:: IMPORTANT short clip- please watch!!

Hello, Lovelies!

Just a quick post for today...

I don't know if you heard, but, Giuliana Rancic has been diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36.  The manner in which they found it was a total accident, and it was a complete shock as she has no history of breast cancer in her family.

As soon as I heard about this, I popped in the bathroom, stripped down to my skivvies, and felt myself up (heee!).

--But, seriously--
Check yourself out.
Be preventative.
And watch this video.
(Lots of eye candy!!!)

makeup tutorial: easy halloween cat make-up.

Hello, my Loves!  How are you?

I am having a relaxing day at home by myself.  I cooked a little bit of shrimp pasta for dinner, and now I'm watching re-runs of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills-- Mind numbing TV at it's best! 

But, back to this post--

Halloween has always been one of my favorite days of the year.  I absolutely adore dressing up.  And I almost always put together an outfit out of things that I already own.  Sometimes I will buy a hat or some accessories to add on to my outfit.  But, I love the creativity that comes from creating a costume out of my own belongings!

In the past few years I have been: A Wicked Witch, Minnie Mouse, Santa's Helper, Morticia Addams, a Doll, and The Corpse Bride.

This year I will be going as....

 a leopard!

(MEOW!)

The only real reasons that I chose this was:

1.Because I love kitties.  2.Because I have a leopard print shirt.

That's pretty much it! Haha.  All I really need is some leopard ears and I'm set! 

Generally, if I make an outfit out of what I already own, I like to amp up my makeup to add to the costume.  And I usually have a makeup trial well before Halloween to really get the look down.

  So, without further adieu, here is a fun take on "Halloween Cat Makeup":

 Eyes: 

All you need to do is apply a brown eyeshadow all over your eyelids, then draw on a very exaggerated cat eye with a good black eye pencil.  I use Revlon ColorStay eye pencil in Black.  First, line the upper lash line, making sure to draw the line out extremely far, both ways (the outer edge and the inner edge).  Then, line the inside and the underside of the lower lash line.  Finally, put on a couple of generous coats of mascara. 

Nose: 

Draw on a heart shaped 'cat nose' with the same black pencil.  Lightly blot your new nose with a tissue so that it doesn't smear later.

Whiskers:

Using the same eye pencil, lightly draw on a few 'whiskers'.  Don't worry about making them even.  They look more interesting if they're not too perfect.

Voila!

Just a side note:

Prior to putting on the above, I put on the following, as shown in this video tutorial:

concealer

powder foundation 

bronzer 

blush

lipgloss

So, tell me...

What are you going as for Halloween?!

Are you planning on doing anything fun?

::I promise to post pictures of my whole ensemble after Halloween!::

what i wore & my weekend, in pictures.

J & I usually have our weekends planned out ahead of time.  Ever since moving to the west side of the state a year ago, we mostly get to see our friends and family on the weekends.  So, we spend some of our time traveling to see them, and it's generally planned.

But, this weekend we found ourselves without anything scheduled.  For a weekend without any plans, we sure had a lot of fun!  Friday night, we used a 50% off Groupon (best site ever!  It has incredible deals.) to try out a Middle Eastern restaurant where we live.  We didn't know what to expect, but it was absolutely incredible!  We sat in a little canopy, filled with ornate pillows.  And we dined on tons and tons of delicious Middle Eastern food, while a beautiful belly dancer danced on stage.

  

On Saturday night, we decided to go to the movies.  We saw Contagion, which turned out to be very good and thought-provoking.  I recommend it.

I always get cold in the movie theater (I even bring a small blanket in my purse!  Haha).  So, I opted to wear something casual, with lots of layers.

Express basic tank in white, Aeropostale hooded sweater

Express jacket, White House|Black Market skinny jeans, Forever21 boots, Forever21 scarf, Coach purse

So, tell me...

How was your weekend?  

Did you do anything fun?

4-step guide to a complete closet makeover.

Every Fall and every Spring, I start jonesing for a complete closet overhaul. You see, unlike in my dreams, my actual closet is not huge.  Don't get me wrong, it's perfectly fine and functional, with racks and shelves and all.  
It's just not like Carrie's closet. 

Carrie's Closet from Sex & The City

But, I'm guessing that most people don't have closets like the one above.  So, we have to make due with what we have.  And this is where my freakish fondness for organization comes in!  I truly believe that tidy surroundings make for a more structured and relaxed approach to the day, and a neat and orderly closet can play a big part in that.  However, this is often a challenge for those of us with small to normal sized closets.  

How do I fit my Summer clothes in with my Winter coats?  

What do I do with my cute wedges and shorts when I'm mostly using my boots and jeans?  

And most importantly: how do I cram everything in at once?!!!

  The truth is, unless you have a Carrie Closet, you may not be able to fit all of your seasonal clothes in your closet.  Living in the Mid-West, I have to have clothes for all four seasons.  And just recently I have succumbed to the fact that I simply cannot fit everything in my closet at once.  So, twice a year, I have to switch out my wardrobe, so that I can dress for the correct season: once in the Spring (when I put away most of my boots, coats and other Winter clothes), and once in the Fall (when I pack up any clothing item that looks like it should only be worn in the warm months).  From my experience, this process works really well, and always leaves me feeling organized and ready to take on the new season.  I usually pack up out-of-season shoes in suitcases which get put into storage, and I pack any out-of-season clothes in clothing bags and slip them under the guest bed.  This is also a great time to donate or sell any clothing that you don't need anymore.

So, without further adieu, my tutorial for a Complete Closet Makeover will guide you in the step-by-step process of de-cluttering your closet and organizing your wardrobe, while maximizing space. 

Your Complete Guide to a Closet Makeover

Step 1:  Fling everything out of your closet.

Okay, you really don't have to do this.  But, you need to get the clothes out somehow, right?  Why not make a huge, stinking, mess out of it?!  

Step 2:  Decide on an order for your wardrobe.  

My order is functional.  Some people like doing theirs' by color.  Another suggestion is to put the items that you want to wear more in the "front" of your closet, so that they are more visible.

Step 3:  Roll roll roll.

This is my #1 space-saving tip (also great for packing for travel!).  Roll anything that you are storing in bins or drawers. It will save you tons of room, as well as help the garments maintain their shape.

Step 4:  Enjoy your hard work and beautiful closet.