Decidedly D

Kate Spade Saturday (for the home)

2013-05-20T05:00:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone! How are you? Seriously, I want to know!

When Kate Spade Saturday was getting ready to launch, I was already on the bandwagon. I mean come on, Kate Spade styling and essence paired with more affordable pieces?! I was so there. When the site first launched, although I found few items that fit with my lifestyle and budget, I was excited about things to come - and I surely was not disappointed. While recently poking around on the site after seeing blogger after blogger featuring KSS items, I found several items that I'm not so sure I'm gonna be able to live without. It has a certain clean, modern Ikea-esque style that I'm drawn to. I can't resist black+white+a pop color. I even like the sampler print and that is so not what I'd usually be into. That just goes to show you the level designing genius is going on here. When you can get someone into something they normally wouldn't gravitate to, that's pretty clever. The zig zag print is the pattern winner for me, but only by a nose. :)

plates | short glasses | throw pillow covers (windowpane, sampler, zig zag) | mugs (yellow, zig zag, sampler, windowpane)

Newest eBay Auctions

2013-05-11T17:22:00.001-05:00

Hi Everyone! I hope you're all having a productive/relaxing/fun weekend. I've just listed some auctions on eBay - check them out here. If you're a reader, feel free to contact me if you'd like to make an offer. Happy bidding and as always, thank you for reading!

philosophy field of flowers

2013-03-04T05:00:00.000-06:00

I was in Ulta the other day looking for rollerball fragrances (previous post on my new obsession with rollerballs). I absolutely love the delicacy of philosophy's fragrances, so I tried some of the field of flowers scents. Not all of them are offered as eau de toilettes, so I tried out the lotions. I think my favorite was the peony blossom, with magnolia blossom as a close second. Hopefully they'll consider making these scents in rollerball form!

Do you like philosophy scents? What's your favorite?

Winged Satchels & Handbags

2013-03-01T05:00:00.000-06:00

There's something so sculpted, architectural, sophisticated, and modern about winged purses. I love the silhouette of satchels, but the short handles are usually too short and I don't really like to wear the long shoulder strap. I really like to be able to comfortably wear both handles over my shoulder, so for me, the strap drop is probably the most important detail I look at when shopping for a purse.

I received a coupon for 25% off at Coach and I had had my eye on the Candace for quite some time. (True story: Like, two days before the coupon arrived in my inbox, I told myself the next time I get one of those coupons, I'm gonna go get me one a them there Coach purses. I ended up buying two, but that's a story for another time.) I chose the black color because I really love the graphic contrast of black with whites and brights and thought it would be an addition to my wardrobe that would see a good amount of action. The size is just perfect for my needs. And at 25% off, it was a good deal for an optimum quality leather purse. If you flip it around, it has a outer zippered compartment that hints to the Celine Luggage.

The Celine Luggage bag is way out of my price range, and the exact price is difficult to nail down. The Purse Forum thread dedicated to just to this subject gives a general range.

The MK Selma comes in around $350 (depending on where you buy it), the J.Crew Tartine at $325, and the Coach Tanner is $498.

What do you think of this silhouette? Do you have a winged handbag that's not on this list? I want to hear about it!

High End Fragrances in Small Doses

2013-02-26T18:00:00.000-06:00

I am fragrance-phobic. I find most of them to smell cheap even if the price tag says otherwise. If I do find a fragrance I do like and want to buy it, I'm paralyzed by the price. What if I buy it and end up not liking if after a few uses? It's not an efficient use of money, that's for sure. I've noticed that recently a lot of perfume makers/designers have been putting their scents in a smaller form in a rollerball. I love the idea of rollerballs because they're not expensive usually, they're portable and there's just not so much of it.

I was in Dillard's a couple of weeks ago and picked up the Kiehl's Original Musk Oil rollerball (I think they make other oils in rollerball form, too, but they're not on the website) on a whim. It's kind of masculine but I don't think I smell like I'm wearing men's cologne. Anyway, it got me thinking, I may be more interested in perfume if I could avoid the commitment of a huge bottle and equally big price tag.

This past weekend I found myself back in the mall and thought I'd try some smells in hopes of being able to purchase them in rollerball form. I really liked the Marc Jacobs Dot, Daisy and Eau So Fresh. I also like See By Chloe. The rollerballs were often combined into sets with other products which I wasn't interested in. When I got home, I took my search to the internet. I found a set of the Daisy and Eau So Fresh in a rollerball set with Oh, Lola!, which I haven't tried. The rollerballs are usually around $20/each on Sephora's site, and I found this set of three rollerballs for around $30 on eBay, so I figure it's worth the risk - who knows, I might like it. I was able to find a Dot rollerball, but it looks like See By Chloe isn't being offered in a rollerball form, so I bought a sample size on eBay.

I ended up spending less than $60 for five perfumes, which I think it probably less than buying one full eau de toilette or parfum.

Do you like rollerballs? Is there a scent you wish you could try out on an extended basis that doesn't come in a rollerball form?

The Uniform: I've Figured Out the Formula

2013-02-13T16:00:00.000-06:00

I've finally figured out the formula to my personal perfect uniform. I used to think that having a uniform meant recycling the same ol' things that are in the same color palette. And while having a color palette is a good rule of thumb, I found that it just wasn't working for me. I (and I'm sure I'm not alone in this) need a mix and match wardrobe that can be worn to work or for play (thankfully I work in a business-casual environment, so as long as I'm not showing any skin or wearing jeans on a non-Friday-day, I can wear whatever I want).

Have you ever noticed how the thing that you think won't go with anything actually goes with everything? That's how I feel about my J.Crew Viv Striped Flats. They're not available on the site right now, but eeeeevery now and then you'll see a pop-back or you can sometimes find them on eBay. Anyway, I mix them with stripes and plaids and solids and brights and it's always somehow perfect.

I am a huge fan of cropped pants. J.Crew's Cafe Capris are more cropped pants than capris and they hit me on a pretty flattering place just above my ankle bone. I rarely wear full length pants; I wear skirts moderately during the summer and capri pants pretty much the rest of the year. I have seven pair of this style and an orange pair of the FactoryWinnies (I'm just dying for the Minnies in the bright berry color), so I've just about got a complete rainbow of colors. I actually prefer the Winnie to the Minnie, so I may pick up a pair in navy (especially since the whole site is 30% off right now - holla!).

Okay, so I take a collared shirt, and depending on if it's a neutral (navy or black, in my case) or a bright, I pair it with a contrasting bottom. I add a sweater vest (the Jackie shell or Factory version) or 3/4 sleeve cardigan (Jackie again or Factory) for a little dimension and to keep from freezing in my office or the grocery store. I pick one of my three pairs of pointy bow flats - my favorite silhouette right now. For jewelry, I have a rather embarrassingly large number of bubble necklaces so I pick out one of those. (Styling tip: I put on my monogram necklace and layer the bubble necklace over my collared shirt.) I try to take it easy on my wrist - I've seen some arm parties where too many bracelets have been invited. I do a sensible stack of one or two bracelets and a watch. I feel so naked without earrings so I make sure I've got on either my pearl studs or my starfish studs.

And that's it. This might not work for you. Sharing my uniform with you isn't a way of telling you that you should be doing the same thing. But try it, it might work. But it might not. The whole point really is to try lots of stuff and go with what you know works.

I know I mentioned that the J.Crew Factory site is on sale for 30% off, but J.Crew's site is also doing an additional 30% off of sale items (yesterday I bought the Scout Chino in neon rose - which for some reason is showing as the sale price is the original price; I called customer service about it and they were able to do them for 30% off when I ordered over the phone - and the Jackie shell in sea glass). Shop to it.

This Week In Review

2012-11-11T17:52:00.001-06:00

View this collection on Polyvore

Scroll through to see how I've made the most of my simple wardrobe this week.

Workwear Wednesday: Can-Not-Live-Without Office Essentials

2012-11-07T17:17:00.000-06:00

Sheath dress: I wear this jumper style with a shirt underneath, with a blazer or sweater and it's easily accessorized

Black flats: I gotta be able to move, and these help me do that.

Scarf: Somethin' fun

Button downs: Chambray and silk aren't your average everyday office tops. Make sure to choose well-tailored tops to keep them from being overly casual.

Striped tee: A classic black and white stripe makes getting dressed a breeze and fights off an overzealous a/c.

Black slim pants: Stretchy and appropriate. Make sure they're in a suiting material.

Dark wash jeans: Casual Friday? I'm set.

Black skirt: I love my ponte skirt. I have a wool pencil skirt that I wear in the winter, but since winter is about 2 weeks long where I live, this ponte skirt sees a lot of action.

Pearl studs: Always appropriate and go with everything.

Watch: Gotta know what time it is!

This Week In Review

2012-11-04T09:58:00.002-06:00

View this collection on Polyvore

Scroll through to see how I've made the most of my simple wardrobe this week.

Who Loves a Sale?: Shorts

2012-11-03T05:00:00.000-05:00

Interested in more than one? Email me - I'm sure we can work out a reasonable deal.

Workwear Wednesday // Having a "Uniform"

2012-10-31T08:40:00.001-05:00

The word "uniform" can elicit images of school uniforms or uniforms at fast food restaurants or grocery stores... that's what I used to think anyway. However, I have molded my definition of uniform to mean a standardized style of dressing. This week has shaped up to be a week where I'm thankful that I've somewhat created one.

My uniform is my wardrobe. It's my standardized style of dressing.

A couple of months ago, I did a huge wardrobe purge. Not so much huge, but really hugemongous. This is not a new concept for me; in the past I had done several of these, only to get lured back by trendy or seasonal items. This time, it's for keeps.

Now, this is not to say that I haven't purchased anything - there were some "holes" in what was left after the purge. I am making a personal commitment of mindfulness when it comes to adding items to my wardrobe.

If you'd like to view my currently wardrobe (not the "minimalist" version of it), scroll through the below slideshow. It does change from time to time.

View this collection on Polyvore

I built this wardrobe around what I like, what I feel flatters me (subjective!), and what I can really move in. I don't feel comfortable in v-neck tops, short skirts, super high heels, most blazers and tight clothing. I have also purged anything that I can't make at least 5 outfits with. I'm a big fan of neutrals and *gasp* black (so many people think that black is depressing or universally makes you look slim, but used responsibly, it's super chic), so that's what I've got. If I want to incorporate a trending color, I try to do that with a silhouette I often wear (like a long-sleeved tee - it goes with anything!)

What you'll see, generally, is slim cut bottoms, pencil skirts, button-downs/long sleeve tees and my third piece (jacket/vest), a few dresses, and tasteful, simple bits of jewelry. Some weeks I have "sub-uniforms" of all dresses or button-downs + skirts or long-sleeve tees + pants (all rounded out with flats and a third piece).

If I had some advice to give, it's just what you've always heard. Wear what you like, what feels good and what you feel looks good. If you find a good button down that fits you perfectly buy a couple (but not 8). And we all know how time consuming jeans shopping is, so if you find your "it" pair, buy a couple; one in a dark rinse and one in black or white or maybe a trending color if you're brave.

This week in the office, it's been bananas. Half of our office has had "life" happen to them, so we're all hustling to make our ship sail smoothly. Some people would get stressed about that, but it's really a chance for the rest of us to bring our skills and leadership to the table to truly shine. And to do that, hard work is called for. I have felt like a train wreck the past few days, so having a condensed wardrobe helps me keep me on track by not having to spend time concocting and outfit and keeps my focus on work-related issues and not what I'm wearing.

All this from a girl who likes clothes.

Sometimes, yeah, I get restless with my wardrobe, but then I reflect on all the positives and then it inspires me to try new combos of what I already have.

This Week In Review

2012-10-28T08:47:00.000-05:00

View this collection on Polyvore

Scroll through to see how I've made the most of my simple wardrobe this week.

Who Loves a Sale?: Tops

2012-10-27T05:00:00.000-05:00

Interested in more than one? Email me - I'm sure we can work out a reasonable deal.

Workwear Wednesday: What's Your Office Style?

2012-10-24T14:59:00.001-05:00

Today I'd like to start a conversation about work wear. So, what do you wear to work? What's your office climate?

I receive the Real Simple weekly newsletter via email. I went through a purge recently of email subscriptions and I found that I just couldn't live without my Real Simple fix - they cover it all - recipes, skin care, time management, holidays, decorating, style - and more!

They polled 2,650 Real Simple readers (via Facebook) on what they deem as appropriate for work. You can read the article here.

The results can be summarized as this:
Bare legs - 75% say yes
Open-toe shoes - 69% say yes
Jeans - 65% say yes
Cropped pants - 53% say yes
Leggings - 26% say yes (I might have croaked if it was over 30%)
Shorts - 12% say yes
Strappy tops and dresses - 12% say yes

I really liked how they gave the perspective of a corporate, business casual, and creative work environment. Most of these for me are a "Yes, if..." scenario. It's so dependent on the culture of your office. I work at a university where it's a business-casual environment, generally speaking. There are offices where staff are not allowed to wear denim at all - not even on Fridays, while in our office, it's perfectly okay to wear a nice pair of jeans in the middle of the week. I've seen chinos, I've seen wool suits (and people sweltering in them during a Florida summer), I've seen uniforms, jeans, shorts - you name it. It depends on the office, its function and relation to student service.

With items such as leggings, shorts, and strappy tops/dresses, you can find yourself on a slippery slope. You may have one person who wears leggings "responsibly" with a blouse-y tunic that hits mid thigh and the next may wear a fitted tshirt that comes to the hip with leggings (do NOT make me find you guys pictures of this). If leggings are okay, then both are technically permissible. However, I think we'll all agree that the former scenario is much more palatable for a work environment. Especially if you are a manager, you may find yourself erring on the side of caution and call leggings as inappropriate for your office setting because I guess you can't chastise someone for having bad judgement in clothing... besides, that would be a super awkward conversation.

I would say that my office is on the casual side of business casual. We have a classy crew, so there's been few work wear faux pas. This is and will continue to be my perspective for work wear. And, by judging by the high percentage of "yeses" to bare legs, open toe shoes, jeans, and cropped pants, I would say that in general, work environments are, over time, becoming more relaxed.

My verdict (as it relates to my office culture)
Bare legs - yes, especially in the summer - let's keep that air flowin'! Just make sure your hemline is at least just a hair above the knee or lower.
Open-toe shoes - sure. Although, I'm not a fan of thong sandals in the office. A nice peep toe pump or wedge heel is nice.
Jeans - yes. This depends on your office climate. Make sure you have a nice pair of jeans in a dark wash and contemporary shape that's flattering to your figure. Faded, shredded, overly embellished or ill-fitting jeans should remain at home.
Cropped pants - yes. Opt for a figure flattering cut in a suiting material. There are quite a few options in stretch twills at reasonable prices at retailers like Loft and Gap. You might even find a printed pair that strikes your fancy. Cropped pants are silhouette of the moment. They're the new bootcut trouser.
Leggings - nope.
Shorts - nope.
Strappy tops and dresses - yes, IF IF IF IF and only IF you wear a cardigan/sweater over it that you don't take off. If it's too hot to put on a sweater, please forgive me for being so blunt here, but, wear something else.

What do you think of the poll results? What's your opinion on these categories as they relate to work attire?

Six For The Mix: Fall Wish List

2012-10-22T05:00:00.000-05:00

After a careful assessment of my wardrobe, I've found some holes that need filling. Plus, it's nice to get a few things at the season change to help mix it up a little. Here are my "Six for the Mix":

1. A twinset. A twinset can be pretty versatile. It can of course be worn together, but you could wear the cardigan with a button down or other blouse while the shell can be worn like a sweater vest over an oxford button down. Or you could wear a blouse with the shell and sweater. With a little imagination, I'm sure you could come up with even more options. Try to choose a color that coordinates with your base wardrobe color. Since mine is black, and I love this shade of blue with gray and black, this is a good choice for me. (J.Crew Jackie Cardigan, $62, and Shell, $48)

2. A lined wool pencil skirt. Although I steer clear of animal fibers coming in direct contact with my skin, I do like the structure that wool gives a pencil skirt. And, with a lining and tights, there's almost no chance of the itchies. In the climate in which I live (the Florida panhandle), this skirt is only limited to the coldest it gets here, which only lasts a month's worth of days or so. However, this skirt will last years and years and years. (J.Crew Factory Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Wool, $59.50)

3. Mid-heeled oxfords. I don't currently have a moderately dress shoe in my arsenal. I just haven't found the right ones. After reflecting on an earlier post on black shoes, I have decided that these are the ones. They can take me to work or holiday party. These are of a fairly classic style, on trend without being overly trendy, so they can last for some winter seasons to come. (Naturalizer Jodell, $79.99)

4. iPhone 5 case. As soon as I pre-ordered my phone, I was immediately on the hunt for a cute, durable phone case. I soon found this lil' darlin' on the Nordstrom site. After weeks of waiting, I was so pleased to see that it fit perfectly and wasn't fragile. I bought a Lightning port to 30-pin port adapter so that I could listen to music through my car's speakers and at work on my little speaker. Disappointingly, the case didn't accommodate the adapter and I had to take my phone out of it adorable little case. Maybe this one will. And since tortoise is my animal print of choice, it's worth a shot. (J.Crew Tortoise Case for iPhone 5, $29.50)

5. Long-sleeved tee in a trending color. This spring and summer it was all about mint. Now it's all about bordeaux. This is an inexpensive and practical way of incorporating a trend into your wardrobe. (J.Crew Perfect-Fit Long-Sleeve Tee, $26.50)

This Week In Review

2012-10-21T16:55:00.001-05:00

View this collection on PolyvoreScroll through to see how I've made the most of my simple wardrobe this week.

Who Loves A Sale?: Cafe Capris

2012-10-20T16:56:00.000-05:00

Yep, I've got the itch again. Let's move 'em out, folks! Interested in more than one? Email me - I'm sure we can work out a reasonable deal.

Black Winter Shoes

2012-10-18T05:00:00.000-05:00

It's no secret how much I love my J. Crew Cece black flats. I don't know what I'll do if they get discontinued. I bought a pair in late fall of last year and they've taken me everywhere. However, for the winter, I'd like a full shoe that will look a little better with the tights + skirts combo. I'm looking for a shoe that's high quality, versatile, neutral, and... well... black.

For anything with a heel, I'm a total Naturalizer girl. I previously thought Naturalizer was a brand that was exclusively for the comfort set. Not so! Especially in past few years, Naturalizer has really implemented some pretty fashion forward styles. They've also managed to keep the comfort level high as well. Earlier this summer, my husband had his 10-year high school reunion and it was the perfect ~~excuse~~ opportunity to invest in a good pair of nude heels. I was pretty skeptical when I ordered these (they remind me of the nude pumps that the Duchess of Cambridge often wears); I had never had a pair of Naturalizers before, so I was concerned that the photo wasn't exactly representative of what the shoe really looked like. Boy was I wrong - and gladly so. They've added some other modern styles for winter which I'm glad to share with you (along with a few other labels).

I sectioned the black winter shoe subject into three main topics: Trend-Setting, The Classic, and Brogues; these are just the styles I'm personally contemplating.

Trend-Setting

Naturalizer Kaley. What a cool pump! Suede shoes are so evocative of winter and cooler weather. With the built-in hidden platform, the overall 4+inch heel will feel much more manageable.

Naturalizer Kindra. I find that with my build, shooties/booties are most flatteringly worn with a-line skirts and tights. Wearing them other ways like with cropped bottoms tend to make me look stumpy. Again we have a significant heel with a nice platform for stability and height. There's just enough detail to add some interest without being too attention grabbing or audacious. I imagine wearing these on the streets of a big city for some reason... they just scream out for it.

Naturalizer Jodell. I love the menswear inspiration on these shoes. They've got some cool wingtip detailing and a modern (yet stabilizing) block-ish heel. With a modest heel height, I can see myself traipsing along the sidewalks from building to building on my university's campus. I have a serious soft spot for shoes like this.

The Classic

Naturalizer Lennox

Yes, both pairs of these shoes are the same style, same color, but they have different finishes - one in patent and one in smooth leather. Which to choose? A nice smooth leather can be worn to work and maybe for some more dressy events. But that patent leather - it's just the bees knees in terms of spicing up an LBD for a cocktail or work party.

Brogues

Steve Madden Sophee

Indigo by Clarks Charlie

Ah, flat brogues! Both of these pairs would be so darling with tights + skirts - and I could run around with my usual purposeful gait. Oxfords in this fashion are the epitome of tomboy footwear. The width is a little more balanced for a woman's foot, but still retain the beautiful textual wingtip detailing and a little bit of chunkiness to balance out a woman's more slender leg line.

Typing out this post has allowed me to reflect on each style and each shoe. I think I might be leaning toward the Naturalizer Jodell. It can take me from work to cocktail during the winter and will likely last quite a few years.

Which of these shoes would you choose?

This is not a sponsored post.

Dialog About Simple Style

2012-10-17T05:00:00.000-05:00

Okay ladies, let's take a break from the arm party and overzealous layering. Oh, I get it, I do... it's a look that's popular these days. It seems like a lot of bloggers are in some kind of unspoken contest of creating the most depth in an outfit. I've tried... I've had an open mind... but it's just not "me". I'm a simple gal that likes simple shapes in simple colors. Oh don't get me wrong, I like to shop and I like to look at a lot of different styles for inspiration and new ideas, but I just keep finding myself coming back to my black sheath and oxford and gingham button downs. The slouchy knits and silhouettes do nothing - not a thing - for my particular body. I feel that I look my best and I feel the most confident in more tailored pieces.

So... that brings me to my issue. How do I curate my simple/minimalist wardrobe while maintaining a personal style? I guess a simple way of defining style is how something is done by an individual. Therefore, I could extend that by saying that, in general, oxford button downs, vests, black sheath dresses and skinny jeans are my components of style - how I have chosen to dress myself. I'm not sure if there's anything that I do that sticks out, but rather the things I don't do, style wise. I'm not sure that many of my simple outfits will get any attention or stick out, but I think that upon closer inspection, one will find luxurious garments that are well made.

I'm not really sure where this conversation is going. I guess I'm just going to leave it at that for a while. Hopefully I'll get some comments to keep it moving and continue this conversation.

I have found the most wonderful blog entry from Living Small that focuses on how to build a simple wardrobe. Please give it a read and spend some time on the Living Small blog - there's some good stuff there about simplify one's life.

(In My Opinion) The Best Way To Boil Eggs

2012-10-16T05:00:00.000-05:00

In my house, we go through boiled eggs like nobody's business. They are the quickest way to get protein in my body in the mornings. I have finally perfected my method for boiling eggs so that they peel easily.

About the eggs
I have had the best results from eggs that are not brown or organic or special in any way. I use plain ol' white eggs that I get from the Walmart. Week old eggs supposedly peel the best, but I've not noticed any difference in peeling regarding age.

Grab your pot and your eggs. I boil 10-12 at a time, depending how many are in left in the carton.

After adding your eggs and water to the pot (I do enough water to cover the eggs by 1-2 inches). Then sprinkle some sea salt and baking soda and a splash of white vinegar into the water with the eggs.

Put on your pot lid and turn the heat on high.

You know you're ready to move on to the next step when you hear the eggs rattling the pot.

Turn off the heat. Leave the lid on and set your timer for 13 minutes.

When the timer beeps, put your pot under some cold water. I also use ice to speed up the cooling process.

Once the eggs are cool to the touch, dry one off and lightly crack it all over.

Sometimes I'm lucky enough to get a really long strip.

Sometimes, despite my efforts, I end up with an imperfect peel.

When you've peeled all of your eggs, grab a plastic food storage container, line it with a couple of layers of paper towel and gently stack your eggs. You can store your eggs before peeling them, but I find them more difficult to do so after they've been sitting in the refrigerator.

In the mornings I just grab two of these peel away the egg whites (I don't care for the yellows) and inhale them with my mug of Earl Grey.

...And The Love Affair Continues...

2012-10-15T05:00:00.000-05:00

with Shoshanna! The other day I posted about how I am just gushing over Shoshanna's dresses. Since I had so many favorites, I thought I'd split the up the post - one for everyday dresses and one for party dresses. Again, all of these are from the Fall 2012 lookbook and not all are available for purchase from the website, but if you contact Shoshanna, I'm sure they'd be willing to help you track down your dress of choice.

1. Cobalt Matte Jersey Stacie Dress - One-shouldered dresses immediately make me feel taller, more exotic and desirable. I feel like modern woman living in ancient Greece - tailor, but just a wee bit undone. The simple silhouette keeps the attention at the shoulder frill which brings the eye's focus to the face. This particular color is universally flattering on all skin tones.

2. Aegean Jacquard Veronica Dress - Subtle details make this dress "the one". I am a sucker for greens and blues and tonal stripes, so this is right up my alley. The sheen of the jacquard is understated but uniquely elegant.

3. Elysian Night Beaded Bridgitte Dress - This item makes dressing up so easy. No need for jewelry; the embellishment at the neckline does it all for you. Like the Stacie dress, the embellishment at the top of the dress keeps the focus at your face and away from any areas you might not be in love with. Black sheers, pumps, a blazer and a clutch and you're out the door.

4. Verona Lace Mara Dress - When you see an enlarged photo of this dress, you'll notice that the bodice drapes in such a way that is slimming and flattering. A softly pleated skirt can help camouflage any tummy areas that you'd like to conceal.

5. Loren Lace Janelle Dress - This one is so interesting! First of all, I love that this dress is lined in the body, with no need for a slip. I think lace dresses are so elegant, but nothing ruins the line when you try to wear a normal bra with a spaghetti strap nude slip - you get that double strap look, which I find to be distracting and takes away from a beautiful dress. Secondly, the lining isn't white, nude, or black - it's a blue... a good, true, Crayola crayon blue. Nude pumps would be the best shoe for such a standalone dress.

6. Camelot Jacquard Beaded Priya Dress - The green beaded neckline is a perfect complement to the golden champagne jacquard of this dress. This could take you to parties during the holidays with black tights/pumps/turtleneck/blazer and to weddings with nude pumps or coordinating strappy sandals in the summer. I really like where the skirt is, too. It's in that area where it's not quite empire, but a little above the natural waist. I think waistlines like this can be youthful and sophisticated at the same time.

Don't forget to sign up to get 20% off your first purchase while you're there!

This is not a sponsored post.

I Just Can't Seem To Say Goodbye To Summer

2012-10-12T05:00:00.000-05:00

When it's constantly humid and the temperature is in the mid-80s, I find it difficult to say goodbye to summer. I still want to wear vibrant colors and extend summer into fall. I have tried anchoring my outfits with fall-ish colors like navy and black (although I wear those colors year-round!).

View this collection on Polyvore

Luckily, it's started to cool off now, bit by bit. When I look through Pinterest of Polyvore I see that folks have started pulling out the sweaters and boots and I'm ridiculously jealous. Usually at the change of a season I go on a "style diet". I go through and edit my wardrobe down to its bare bones - basically I just go back to my minimalist wardrobe. It's like I need to clean my style palate, so to speak. So now I'm sporting a sock bun, my black Cece flats and other items from my minimalist wardrobe. I do make changes to my minimalist wardrobe from time to time to make sure it's updated, but I like to keep it classic and neutral.

I wonder if I will change anything when I come off my "diet".

DecidedlyD's In Love... with Shoshanna

2012-10-11T17:00:00.000-05:00

Oh Shoshanna, I'm just in love with your dresses! The lookbook styling is spot on - I feel like I could actually wear these outfits. The textured tights and sheers add just enough interest without taking away from the garments. The cuts of the pieces are what I would consider modest (although it is a relative term), and can be worn with *gasp* normal underpinnings!

I wanted to feature some of Shoshanna's dresses here today, and it was so hard picking just a few from the lookbook.

I want to share all of my picks, so this might get stretched out into several posts. Today I'm starting with everyday dresses. You could wear all of these dresses to just about any destination and for almost any occasion.

Not all of them are available for purchase on the site, but I have links to the ones that are.

1. Black - This past spring and summer brought us some of the most diversity in color in clothes that I think we'd seen in quite a while. And while it was so uplifting to wear so many colors, I'm ready for a palate cleanse, and that's where black comes in.

Black Leather Belle Dress // Pebbled Crepe Rosalie Dress // Black Double Crepe Lela Dress

2. Double Crepe Leila - I am just in LOVE with this silhouette. It makes the perfect canvas to showcase colors, which Shoshanna has done with both spearmint and bordeaux. I could wear one in every color every day of my life as long as I live. Accessory options are limitless.

3. Simple Solids - The richness of these colors would be perfect with chunky gold jewelry and are perfect for the upcoming holiday season.

red // camel // emerald // twilight // bordeaux

4. Day to Night - The Ravenna Jacquard Bridgette dress is the quintessential day to night piece. I would wear it with a turtleneck to work with some heeled slouchy boots and maybe some dotted hose and take it to an evening dinner with a blazer and black patent heels. Adding a bow belt would be a nice touch.

5. My Favorite - The Allison Dress in Cambridge Plaid - Now this is what I'm talkin' 'bout! The plaid would add some depth to my personal wardrobe and I could wear it year round - flats, boots, gold jewelry, no jewelry, turtleneck, blazer, scarf, chunky cardigans, as a skirt - endless possibilities. See it here on Rachel from Pink Peonies.

Recipe Share: Mama D's Pasta Sauce

2012-10-09T18:22:00.001-05:00

My dear friend Kiersten asked me to post this recipe a few weeks ago and I'm just now getting around to it. Can we say "bad friend"?

I am clearly no food photographer.

I'm calling this recipe "Mama D's Pasta Sauce". There's probably not a whole lot of difference between this and any other sauce recipe, but maybe you'll like it. It's really more of a ragu than a pasta sauce, I think. I never measure, so most ingredients are to taste.

Ingredients:

28 oz can of crushed tomatoes

1 small can of tomato sauce

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1/2 onion diced (you can use a whole one if you want)

8 oz sliced mushrooms, diced (or you can use whole mushrooms and cut them up)

1 lb ground beef

minced garlic (to taste, I use like, a tablespoon or so)

salt

pepper

Italian seasoning (however much you like... probably like a couple of teaspoons)

and...

a tiny bottle of wine - a whole one (or you could do less if you want)

1. Brown the meat, mushrooms and onions together; add the garlic. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Pour in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce and paste.

3. Add Italian seasoning and wine. Let it simmer a bit. You could probably put it in a slow cooker for a slow low simmer so you can pretend like you actually slaved over a hot stove literally all day.

4. Toss with the pasta of your choice.

It freezes up and reheats nicely.

Everyone's got their own family recipe or neat thing they do that's different. I'd love to hear your recipes or any suggestions to this one.

Handbag Hysteria

2012-09-19T15:30:00.000-05:00

For me, personally, the large bag is on its way out. Maybe not for the high-powered executive or student that needs a tote, but for me, I think they're headed out. The Cloud, iPads, iPhones, smaller laptops and otherwise shrinking wireless devices don't require the handbag room of laptops and multiple planners/notebooks. There are tons of cute, medium sized handbags and will happily carry all of your doos and dads. Downsizing my handbag size to my Coach New Willis and being happy with the amount of room and lessening the amount of stuff I think I need to carry around with me has me re-thinking the whole large purse concept. Here are my picks for smaller bags with lots of ladylike charm.

Coach Legacy Candace Carryall

I love the tote styling and the smooth vachetta leather - it's such a basic classic. The little tassel embellishment adds just the right amount of cute. However, I'm leaning toward gold hardware and I don't think the strap drop is enough to wear it over the shoulder comfortably - and I certainly don't want to hold it like a tote. I need a hands-free shopping experience. ;) If it came with an additional adjustable shoulder strap, we'd be in business.

Coach Legacy Rambler

I love how Coach is updating some of its classics for a more modern look, but is keeping true to the original design. Hey, things are classics for a reason. Again, the leather is to-die-for. This one has the gold hardware that I'm looking for. I will definitely be trying this one on for size.

Coach sent me a 25% coupon via email (apparently I'm "preferred customer") and we actually have a Coach store here in the Pensacola mall (but no J. Crew, Gap, or Sephora???), so I am headed that way Friday. If I don't find a handbag I like, I can always use a card holder, as my cards have been ambling all over my purse since the downsize like it's romper room time or something.

J. Crew Edie Grand

It's the "Big Edie" of the Edie line. (There's the Edie Attache, but the Edie Grand looks more like a "Big Edie"). I love the strap drop. And while I am trying to carry less stuff in my handbag, but I think the original Edie is just a hair too small for what I need.

Brahmin Anytime Bag

I have found a new love in Brahmin. And while Brahmin carries more expensive bags, the ones mentioned here are comparable in price or much more affordable than the above bags, too! The silhouettes are so ladylike, but not overly precious. I love the longer strap drop of the Anytime bag, and I can't get enough of the citron color.

Brahmin Mini Arno Tote

I am a sucker for a bag with two sets of straps. The pecan colorway was unsettling to me at first, but now I'm a fan - I don't have to choose a black or brown bag, I get the best of both worlds!

Brahmin Anywhere Convertible Tote

This might be my overall winner. Ladylike frame silhouette, classy just-enough embellishment, striking color, 2 sets of straps - all of it's there. I am looking forward to heading over to my local Dillard's for a try-on very soon.