The World's Easiest Scarf Tying Tutorial (maybe).

There are girls in this world who can show you how to tie a scarf in ten different ways in under one minute. 

My friends, I am not one of those girls. 
Through the years, however, I have learned a couple of pretty solid ways to tie my scarves, and this particular tie is how I wear my scarves 99% of the time. I'm not really YouTube savvy. So, I apologize for the total newbie video. But, I put it together because I've gotten quite a few requests for a tutorial. So, here you go!  

See, it looks kind of fancy, but it's not! 
And isn't that the way all things should be? ;)

1 skirt, 2 looks!

Do you ever have those days when you wake up and stare at your closet (for what seems like forever), and still come out without a descent thing to wear? 

So, what's a girl to do?

Pick out an old reliable, and switch it up a little!

...

-Instead of tucking a shirt in, wear a similar shirt and leave it untucked.

-Stick to a color family that you know works, and switch up the pieces.

-Wear a necklace over the shirt, instead of under.

...

Express button-up, LOFT outlet sweater, Express pencil skirt, Jessica Simpson pumps, F21 necklace, Tissot watch

F21 Boxy Polka Dot Shirt (in black/cream), F21 Contrast Round Neck Sweater (in black/cream), Express pencil skirt, Jessica Simpson pumps, F21 necklace

There are so many ways to wear the same pieces differently.  Just have fun and don't be afraid to mix it up!

how to "winterize" a summer dress.

F21 dress & jacket, Banana Republic belt, Etienne Aigner Costa boots, gifted scarf, watch via Kohl's

I am a big fan of multi-purpose clothing.  In fact, I usually don't buy pieces that I know I can only wear in a unique way, or with only a certain set of accessories.  Naturally, I also love clothing that can cross seasons.  Hey, if you can get more wear out of what you already have in your closet.  Why not?!

So, without further adieu,here are some things I've learned along the seasons on "winterizing" a Summer dress:

1.  Print and color matter. It's much easier to get multi-season wear out of a piece whose color/print don't scream a certain season.  I would probably not attempt to "winterize" a pastel floral dress. Actually, I probably wouldn't wear a pastel floral dress.  But, that's for another time!

2.  Texture matters.  But, only sometimes.  I have a light wool grey sheath dress that I have worn in all seasons.  It's not too hot, so it works.  If a dress is okay in print and color, but it's a little too thin or light, throw a slip under it.  It will keep you warm and give you an extra layer of fabric.  

3.  Warm up the look with a jacket or sweater.  Not only will a jacket or sweater help you keep warm, it will make the look more Fall or Winter appropriate.

4.  Add a big scarf!  Big, heavy, scarves scream Fall (and Winter!).  Throw one on.  Even better?  Try some pattern mixing!

5.  Throw on some boots (tights are good, too!).  Boots & tights are Fall/Winter staples.  Some "winterized" looks are even cute without tights.  So, experiment a bit and see what looks better!

6.  Belt it.  Belting a dress gives it a little bit more weight and can add some edge and heaviness to a look.

6.  Chunky accessories.  Chunky accessories are great for making a dress look less dainty and heavier and "warmer".  Watches are my fave for Fall & Winter!

I have now imparted all my "winterizing" knowledge upon you.  Go forth and Winterize, my friends!  (And let me know if you have any extra tips!)

dressing for an outdoor sporting event and NOT taking a purse.

Football season is here!  Yaaaaaaay.  Do I mean that?  I'm not sure.  Ask me in 4 months when it's freezing and I am tailgating in the bitter Michigan cold with icicles hanging from my Spartan face sticker. 

This may seem silly, but, dressing for a football game (or any outdoor game) and tailgating can sometimes be a challenge.  Our alma mater now has a new (stupid) rule in which you are not allowed to have a bag, purse, or umbrella of ANY kind.  The first time I heard this I freaked out: WHAT?!  Where am I going to put my ID/credit card, my phone, my lipgloss, my compact? What if my nose runs and I need kleenex?  What if I get a HUGE headache and need medicine?  What if I don't have my camera-- WON'T THE WORLD END?!!! THAT'S IT, I can't go to the game if I can't take my purse.

Yes, that really was my train of thought.  I'm that much of a spaz sometimes.  But, you'll be happy to know that somehow I've come up with a few ways that allow me to still stay fashionable and prepared WITHOUT taking my purse.  

Here's what I've learned:

1.  Take only a few things that are absolutely necessary for you to feel good and prepared.

2.  Skip the skinny jeans.  Wear jeans that are comfortable and roomy so that you can utilize the pockets.  Guys do this all the time-- it works!  But, if you love your skinny jeans, take a coat that will do the same job (see suggestion 3).

3.  If it's cold, take a jacket or sweater with pockets that zip.  You can use those pockets to store your stuff.

4.  My essentials are: 

-lipgloss in a tube

-MAC blotting powder compact

-a small tube of eye drops (my contacts get dry)

-1 or 2 sheets of kleenex (I get sniffly often)

-4 Advils (or whatever pain med you prefer)

-driver's license and credit card

-phone

-camera-- but, if and only if you are also taking a coat/sweatshirt with a pocket.  There's no way that you can store a camera in your pant pockets (with the rest of that crap) and still feel comfortable!  This is coming from a girl that's seriously attached to her camera.  You can take pictures on your phone.  Just go with it.

>>>I tuck the lipgloss in my right-front pocket, closest to the inside of my thigh.  I put the Advil in the little tiny pocket that no one knows the purpose of.  I place the eye drops in the inside of my left-front pocket.  My compact goes in my left-back pocket.  And my ID/credit card/kleenex/phone get placed in my right-back pocket.  TA-DA! 

I know that sounds like a lot.  But, if you spread it all out to the different pockets in your roomy jeans and jacket, you can carry your essentials and skip the purse. 

And last but not least, always remember to take your team spirit!!  (A team face sticker or two won't hurt either!)

MSU jersey, Charlotte Russe boyfriend jeans, Banana Republic Belt, Target Ona flats

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!::

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.