{ All Things Bright and Beautiful }

Oscar awesome sauce and guesting at Bijou and Boheme!!!

2012-02-28T06:00:00.003-08:00

So I forgot to ask yesterday, did anyone watch the Oscars? It sounded like the show was a flop...but that's just the chatter around the water cooler...

Michelle looked absolutely stunning...this was the only moment of the Red carpet that I caught and I'm so glad I did. Hands down favorite.

Also loved this look:

But mostly I just love what this lady is doing in the background. Hilarious.

But I digress...really this post is supposed to be about the fantastic guest post I'm doing over at the fabulous Christine's "all that and a bag of chips" blog Bijou and Boheme!!!

One of my daily must reads...and today it's my "Style in 7" or in my case, random 7 (c:

It looks a little bit like this:

Live in Color via Because it's Awesome

So drop by and stay at while at Bijou and Boheme, you'll be glad you did (c:

Fancy a game of tag?

2012-02-27T08:17:00.001-08:00

Apparently, I am still very susceptible to peer pressure because I am caving in right now and playing along with the Tag game that's been going around.

I usually just say "aw, thanks" and "I don't really want to do a post about me" and go about my business...but this time I've been tagged three times (thank you Ange, Carmel, and Maury!)

But because I can't just follow the rules and do things the right way (and since I had 3 sets of questions that were all different), I picked my favorite questions and just answered those.

Yeah, you're welcome...you *know* you didn't want to read THIRTY THREE answers to these questions!

1. What's your favorite movie?

Um, how 'bout what's the best movie you've watched lately? It would definitely *NOT* be The Vow...saw that for Valentine's Day and disliked it greatly...waaaaay too depressing for a date movie!

But I really liked the new Muppet Movie ...but I will warn you, it's cheesy, and the 3 and 5 year-olds that I took to it weren't partial...go figure (c:

2. Let's pretend you found $50 in your couch cushions, what would you run out and buy?

Yeah, I've already posted about this necklace once in the last week, and not that I'm *completely* obsessed or anything...but a 50 in the couch would *FOR SURE* be a sign that I need to get it (c:

via

3. What is your favorite home decor store?

I definitely don't have a specific store that I think has everything...I have *way* too ecclectic of tastes for that! But I would definitely LOVE to visit Furbish some day (c:

4. If you could swap lives with someone for a day, who would you choose and why?

Can I just be honest on this one? I have *NO FREAKING CLUE* who I would want to swap lives with. I know my life isn't perfect, so it's a pretty safe bet that no one else's is either!!! Although, I would *REALLY* like to hang out with Jonathan Alder for a day or two, my design boyfriend (c:

6. What was your favorite book as a child?

I still love reading this one to my little ones, it's just a classic. Sam-I-Am, I owe all my adventurous food tests to you (c:

5. If you could vacation anywhere, where would you go?

Honestly, right now I would love to just get to go home to NM for a bit, it's been a while since I've gotten to visit, and you know what they say, there's no place like home!

7. If you were a color crayon, what color would you be?

This is a really difficult question for someone who loves so many different colors...but in the end, you know it's always you PINK

8. What is your favorite childhood memory?
SOOOOO many of these...one of them has to be picking cherries every summer from the huge tree we had in the backyard...and eating half of them in the process (c:

9. What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten?

Of course I'm gonna pull something from my time in Brazil...this dish called Rabada...translated, that's cow tail. And I'll just save you the pleasure of trying it for yourself, it's disgusting.

10. Name one thing on your bucket list.

Skydiving. Oh yeah. (c:

11. What is one of your pet peeves?

*ahem*

It would definitely have to be negative commenters...I personally haven't experienced it (I'm knocking on wood right now, but I definitely just jinxed myself), but I just don't undestand why everyone can't just take Thumper's advice: If you can't say nuttin' nice, don't say nuttin' at all!!!

12. If you had three wishes, what would you wish for?

Easiest question *ever*.

#1 Enough money for me and the fam to live comfortably for the rest of our lives (c:

#2 A fantastic tutor for the kiddos so we could just travel *everywhere* but they wouldn't grow up to be dummies (hey, it's a real concern!)

#3 An awesome clawfoot tub. I just love those things...

And in true rulebreaker fashion, I'm not tagging anyone. I'm really "stickin' it to the man" this Monday morning, huh? (c:

Change is coming...

2012-02-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

Okay I'm ready for it...SPRING!!!

And all that comes with it...green grass, nice weather, couples kissing awkwardly in public places (ew), and most of all FLOWERS!!!

My mom has always had the fantastic talent of a green thumb and a fabulous flower garden...I'm completely jealous because I definitely *did not* inherit this gift. I can, however, kill anything even remotely alive that is given to me (with the exception of my children, *PHEW*! That's a relief, right?!?)

Growing up, we also had A LOT of floral fabrics around...on couches, bedding, clothing...it has taken me *quite* a while to get over the 80's version and to accept the gorgeous and terrific florals of the now...

Thank goodness because they are *FAB*:

Do you feel it in the air??? Or is February weather still holding you hostage???

Have a fantastic weekend!

Blocked...

2012-02-23T08:08:00.000-08:00

I've had a real creativity block lately...have you noticed???

Plus, the little ones got shots yesterday...*FOUR* for *EACH* of them...that equals cranky kiddos and one unhappy mama )c:

But what did cheer me up was another kind of block...

COLOR BLOCKING.

Oh how I love you! Giving permission to peeps everywhere to wear multiple bright colors at the same time!!!

via

Small dose of neon, if you're looking for it...

via

What's been on your mind lately???

Outfit to room...

2012-02-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

It's time for everyone's favorite game, Outfit to Room!

Okay, it's not really a game for you all, but *I* think it's darn fun...especially when Kokoon has so many fabulous new pieces in their spring line!

I used a couple of my *favorites* (c:

Bella Maxi Dress

Social Butterfly Blouse

Ines Jacket

Have you checked out the new line yet? What's *YOUR* favorite???

Add a little swag to your Monday

2012-02-20T07:40:00.000-08:00

Good morning, lovely people!!!

Don't I wish that President's Day actually gave me a day off, no such luck.

However, the holiday has me thinking that some swag is in order:

So swagged out, it's ridic.

And riding the swag train this morning: Green skinnies. I desperately need some, don't you think???

Happy Monday, y'all!

Friday's Fancies: Let's fly away!

2012-02-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

Hello, hello, hello!

I had so much fun doing Friday's Fancies last week, I thought I would play along again this week.

And lucky for you, it's a *reeeeeeally* fun one (c:

If you could take off to anywhere in the world, where would it be??? And more importantly...

What would you *WEAR*???

I have absolutely no imagination and so I would most definitely take off to here:

ROME. *sigh* It even sounds romantic (c:

I could stay somewhere like here:

And when I need inspiration, I need look no further than my fashion hero, Audrey...

Luckily, she even has a movie about a trip to Rome (c:

So this is my take on flitting around Rome, looking fabulous:

LOVE this new skirt from Kate, new Toms flats (for all that walking around), and Marc's cross body bag so I don't loose all my money and passport (c:

All ready to go! Who is going with me???

Linking up to Friday's Fancies with Alison!

Take that, Ebay!!!

2012-02-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

Whilst I was entertaining myself during my childrens' naps the other day, I decided it had been far too long since I had visited Elle Decor and dropped by to pay her a visit.

She is always so chic and on point with everything that's happenin' in the world of decor...kind of like the popular girl in high school that you always want to know what she's wearing so you can ~~copy it~~ admire it. (c:

And just *look* at all the fun she's been having without me!

Fabulous little lucite/brass coffee table giving me a come hither stare...

I'm not usually a dark and wood kind of gal, but MAN, this space is just so cool...it's an old factory, too, so that ups the cool factor by about 10x...

Stripey sofa in a Parisian apartment? Why yes! Thank you, I don't mind if I do!

I'm not really sure how I feel about the puzzle piece art...it's interesting, to be sure...

My fave: light and bright with color and coolness abounding.

And a *B*I*G* thank you to everyone for their advice with my little dilemma yesterday...you will be happy to know that I decided to give Tar-jay one last go...

...and I not only found this little piece of fantasticness *in my size* (miracle of miracles)...

...but it was also marked as a "repackage" (which means absolutely nothing because it was *perfect*) and so instead of $34.99, it was $24.99!!!

SHUT RIGHT UP.

Yeah, it was in my hand and out the door before you could say "Take that, you evil ebay dealers, you!"

It's adorable, so thanks for keeping my shopping compulsions in check...y'all are good friends (c;

To buy, or not to buy...

2012-02-15T07:17:00.000-08:00

This morning, *that* is the question.

So did any of you try to get any of the little gems from the latest Tar-jay debacle?

I mean really, people, TWO CARTLOADS full of Jason Wu???

I only wanted a stupid tee...

But I definitely didn't wish to be caught up in a Missoni-madness-esque situation, so I didn't go until Tuesday...apparently a mistake because they are *ALL* gone...

...ON EBAY )c:

For clearly way more than $22.99 (plus shipping, mind you, adding insult to injury).

So my question to you is...

Should I buy into the madness??? Should I pay a ridiculous markup just so I can get a tee shirt that I fancy???

Or should I shun the whole thing in hopes that the 6,000+ items of Jason Wu for Target are a lesson in manners to those greedy peeps???

It's a dilemma for sure.

I'm conflicted and a little put out.

So I'm calling on my common sense...you all! hehehehe!

What would *you* do???

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

2012-02-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

via

Ever lovin' Monday...

2012-02-13T07:06:00.000-08:00

I have dots on the brain.

Sounds like a serious medical condition, doesn't it? And it just might be. Maybe they'll name it after me when they determine that there is no cure for what I have...

Besides more dots on the brain (c:

LOOOOOOVE this.

I've got it so bad that I even wore it to work/my Valentine's date (the date was right after work, don't worry, I lost the cardigan and threw on some hot heels (c: Scandalous.)

And by a show of hands, how many people think that I desperately need a haircut???

That many, huh?

Just as I suspected.

Happy ever lovin' Monday, y'all!

Valentine's

2012-02-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

So since it's Friday (YAY and praise the heavens!), I thought I would do a little bit o' fashion Friday.

And since I've been thinking about V-day and date night get-ups, I thought "hey, why not???" And this also means that I need more to fill up my day because I'm making fantasy outfits on Polyvore instead of giving my children baths. TMI? Probably.

And who better to take fashion cues from than the fabulous face of SATC, SJP?

Whoa, that was a lot of initials.

This little piece of deliciousness has been making the blog rounds:

I would probably do it a little more like this:

Valentine's by edwards3 featuring gold plated bangles

DKNY silk shirt
$189 - stylebop.com

Slim fit jeans
$130 - witchery.com.au

Christian Louboutin high heel pumps
$595 - barneys.com

H&M flat shoes
£7.99 - hm.com

Tory Burch clutch handbag
£290 - harrods.com

Yves Saint Laurent gold plated bangle
£510 - net-a-porter.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs chunky jewelry
$128 - nordstrom.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs hardware jewelry
$98 - bloomingdales.com

Betsey johnson jewelry
$35 - betseyjohnson.com

Lorus bracelet watch
£32 - johnlewis.com

And since again, I clearly have too much time on my hands, I have shoe options *AND* bracelet options.

Fancy.

And then there's always the skirt option, also fantastic.

Although, I'm pretty positive I'll be wearing something like this for actual V-Day:

Except for I'll be a person...with this mantra:

It's lookin' pretty, people...

Good thing we're celebrating this weekend, huh? (c:

Happy Weekend, you love fools!

Moody

2012-02-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Do you ever just realize that you are in a COLOR kind of mood?

That's me today...it's been kind of lack-luster 'round these parts lately and I just needed a color kick to the head.

Ahhhhhh...so much better (c:

TGIF (tomorrow, DOH!)

Take courage, it's Wednesday!

2012-02-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

Praise the internet powers that be, I'm back on line, HALLELUJAH! Can I get an AMEN?!?

Sorry if I've been MIA...you can thank the internet for that, too )c:

This week has already been a doozy...so I was thinking that some inspiration is in order!

Thanks, Gem Goode, I needed that (c:

And in other inspiring news, Kate Spade is at it again:

Let's face it, the bold stripe has been done *to death*...but darn it if I'm still all googly-eyed in love with it.

And nobody does it better than Kate.

And I'm very glad to see that my precious pink is hanging in there, too (c:

2012-02-06T13:52:00.000-08:00

In true Monday fashion, things couldn't just go as planned and before I knew it the internet at our house was out (since yesterday morning, grrrr) and has just now been restored to it's glorious working order.

And of course this is one of the few days that I actually had something *IMPORTANT* to share!

And I figured I should post some of these pictures before the reveal because I think a few peeps thought that because I was posting all about green, that green has something to do with it.

Um, it doesn't.

So to clear things up, here's something that kind-of-not-really-but-is-super-fun has to do with it:

So without (much) further ado...

I have been meaning to do this project *FOREVER*...and when I say "forever", I mean like 3 years.

Ya. Am I a procrastinator? I'll tell you tomorrow. (c:

But it REALLY needed to be done after a certain genius that shall not be named (um, me) put packing tape over the front of the drawer to keep it shut while we moved (sounded logical) and peeled off the veneer stuff that looked like wood that you find on really fancy-schmancy furniture like that (from Walmart).

I needed to take this eyesore:

To something fun...with a dash of pink...like this:

You can see the pink better in this picture and that the knobs got a shot of gold, too:

And there you have it, something that makes me smile...with pink (c;

So what did you think?

I still can't decide if I want to switch out the knobs or not...

Happy Monday, pink lovin' peeps!

Today is brought to you by the color green

2012-02-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

I was going through some of the pictures that knocked my socks off this week and I noticed a theme:

Nope, not the "go green" kind...just GREEN.

Have you ever spelled "green" repeatedly??? It's a really bizarre word. Kind of like "voluptuous" but at least that one is fun to say (c:

Have I mentioned before that I have a really short attention span??? Thankfully it held out long enough to get me through this post...

via Bijou & Boheme

Green, green, *glorious* GREEN...

Any of you green with envy yet?

Regardless you party animals, you, have a fabulously colorful weekend (c:

P.S.-

On Monday I'm going to have a project reveal of how I took this lovely piece of work:

...to something that makes me smile every time I see it (c;

Stay tuned!

Eating crow

2012-02-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

It's time for a piece of humble pie.

I have not been quiet in my dislike of the styling of the oh-so-popular Toms.

Even sparkly, it's just not happening...

But my cute friend Amy pointed out that they have a new line of ballet flats...and guess what???

They are pretty great.

I know, seriously, I think that almost hurt me to say that I'm in to a pair of Toms...but seriously, look how cute these are!

I think I just died a little inside doing this post...I don't even know who I am anymore!

Anyone else eating some crow about now or are you still drinking the hateraide?

And speaking of hateraide...if you are desperately wanting to do someone a favor and get like all the good karma back that goes with that...you can enter the contest for this gorgeous necklace that I've been drooling over FOREVER by going and "liking" Petal Boutique's FB page and telling them that I sent you!

Um yes, I totally just asked you to help me win a contest. Does it make it any better if I say that I *reaaaaalllly*
love it and will probably never buy it for myself?
No???

Well, maybe your luck is just better than mine and you'll be the lucky winner instead!

Don't worry, if that happens, we'll still be friends. (c:

2012-02-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

On my wish list for Valentine's Day:

The Soho Hotel in London.

And why the heck not, huh?

London and staying in a swanky and trendy pink-themed hotel...I say that makes Valentines *magic*.

And who can resist that pink furniture???

Now to find a babysitter...hmmm...that will be tougher than getting the hubbster to agree to this trip!

I {heart} you

2012-01-31T06:00:00.001-08:00

Etsy.

The most marvelous idea to ever come out of sheer necessity.

Access to handmade goodies at the touch of a button, without scouring every little boutique/flea market/craft show know to man.

I adore everything about you, Etsy, never change *wink*

And I am madly in love with all the chic little valentines you can procure for your pretty valentine there...I mean just in case the Mister is reading this...

via

Yes, I do in fact have a "thing" for necklaces...and bracelets...and jewelry in general (c:

Just sayin', hubbs.

Fabulous Florals

2012-01-30T07:14:00.000-08:00

It's getting to be a gorgeous kind of weather in our neck of the woods...and that has me thinking SPRING!

Which has me thinking FLORALS!

It's a sick obsession that started with my mother...but I just love a good floral...and what better way to start out a Monday than with some happy blooms???

Happy Monday, gorgeous!!!

Update:

And then J crew drops this in my inbox...we are as one (c:

Thinkin' and hopin', wishin' and dreamin'

2012-01-27T07:37:00.000-08:00

Friday, huh?

That means it's almost the weekend!!! Yay!

And that also means that I am thinking about the next big thing: Valentine's (c:

It just dawned on me this week that now that my little one is in school, I actually have to do *valentines* for his class. So naturally, I headed straight for the internet...

...for research, silly, not for blogging (okay, that's a lie, there was plenty of that as well!).

Here's some stuff I'm thinking about:

Here's to actually accomplishing a project this weekend.

And to pigs flying...'cause those two are connected. (c:

Happy Friday, y'all!!!

House to Home

2012-01-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

House to Home.

Have you heard of it???

Neither had I...and then my friend Nancy was posting the most AMAZING pics of a home and said that was where they were from.

You *know* I had to check it out!

And this is what I found:

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

You know what I think is the best color combo *EVER* right now?

RED and PINK.

Or PINK and RED.

Doesn't matter...equally as fabulous. Oh c'mon, I know I'm not the only one crushing on this combo:

Hey, if it's good enough for SJP, Hermes, and Louboutin...you *KNOW* that it's great (c:

And no, it's not because I've been thinking about Valentine's Day...although that might be part of it...

Weekend shots

2012-01-23T08:04:00.000-08:00

Oh Instagram, how I love you! You can go everywhere with me and take *WAY* better pictures than I do!

But then I'm totally going to take credit for them (c:

This is what the weekend looked like:

A trip to the zoo...you have to read the sign...(c:

Some shopping at Loft because they got to 1 million facebook fans...

Still on the fence with that top...

But came home with this one! Um that is my I can't figure out my camera face...oops.

Things that made me happy:
A freakin' pink mixer at Williams...I'm in *LOVE*

Sparkly *neon* top siders...*so* rad.

AAAAAAND...

A new Valentine's mantel at the ATB&B abode, complete with *sparkles* (c:

Oh yeah, we were busy little bees this weekend!

How what your weekend??? Relaxing, partying, nada???

Do tell (c:

Go insane, go insane...

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

...Throw some glitter, make it rain.

Anybody??? Anybody???

Bueller??? (c:

Thank you KE$HA for the inspiration for my friday post, I'm feeling all glittery and shiny now that the weekend has arrived...

And a big thanks to Lauren for finding this little piece of glamaliciousness:

I never knew there could be such a perfect balance between sequins and leather tassels...it makes me have happy tingles all over...

Here's to a bright and shiny weekend!!!