Copy Cat

"I have nothing to wear!"

2013-05-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

The above quote sums up everything I've always adored about fashion. It's the imagination required when picking out an outfit that entices me the most. I love picking a theme for who I would like to be today and expressing myself through my clothing and accessories. Outfits can depend on my mood, the weather, the season, the occasion, etc. Some days I walk into my closet wanting to look tough in leather and studs, while other times I channel a more feminine or ethereal style. I relate to this quote because once I get an idea in my head of what I must be, I struggle to get it out unless I find the exact outfit that I am looking for.

White Russian Cupcakes

2013-05-15T00:00:00.001-05:00

I found the recipe for these White Russian Cupcakes from Pinterest and immediately knew I had to make them for my boyfriend's birthday. I've only recently began cooking and baking from scratch, so I was definitely scared that these cupcakes wouldn't turn out as planned. Believe it or not, they were surprisingly simple! Even the frosting, which I thought for sure would be a failure.

They do have a different consistency than your typical cupcake, which I assume is due to the alcohol used in the recipe. Whatever the reason, they were still a hit! The entire tray of cupcakes were eaten by my boyfriend and his friends within 24 hours.

Top 6 Summer Scents

2013-05-13T11:29:00.001-05:00

"I need the smell of summer, I need its noises in my ear." - Brand New

My favorite thing about perfume is how different scents can fit your moods, outfits, and even evoke memories. With summer on its way, I'm dreaming of a tropical getaway. These 6 scents have the ability to transport me there with just a few sprays.

1. Falling in Love Summer by Philosophy - I was already a fan of Philosophy's Amazing Grace and Falling in Love scents. This summer version is perfect when I just need a light scent after the shower.

2. Virgin Island Water by Creed - This is my most recent favorite. I've never been to the Virgin Islands myself, and right now can only dream about it. I love the mix or coconut, lime, and rum in this summer fragrance and like it best with a maxi dress and long, beachy waves.

3. Beach by Bobbi Brown - described as a "light, happy, and nostalgic scent that evokes warm sunshine and the sea breeze." Spray this and instantly be in a beach state of mind.

4. Fire Island by Bond No. 9 - To put it simply, this is the beach in a bottle. With notes such as "ozone", this eau de parfum has that sunscreen smell that everyone craves. Spray this on your body and you will immediately be on the sandy beach listening to the crash of waves on the shore.

5. Philosykos by Diptyque - A more traditional woody scent, Philosykos is a choice best for those summer days spent in the office.

6. Hamptons by Bond No. 9 - The Hamptons is the perfect scent for the chic woman at lunch in her sundress and oversized sunglasses, away from the bikinis and tanning oil. This scent is fresh and sexy, classic and a great choice when getting dressed up at night.

2013-05-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

"It’s OK to have a healthy envy and look up to somebody and set goals, but you have to realize that you’re never going to be exactly that person. Wishing you were Angelina Jolie or J.Lo isn’t going to change the fact that you’re not. Why not start working with what you do have instead of what you don’t?

I figured out there is no such thing as perfection. If I had known that earlier, I wouldn’t have been such a f–k up. The only thing I can be is me. I’m not perfect. I make mistakes. And my body is not perfect, either, but I love it. It will never be perfect but I do not want it to be. That’s so boring!"

-Kelly Osbourne

Latest Obsession: Great Gatsby

2013-05-09T17:01:00.003-05:00

FINALLY!! The Great Gatsby is out in theaters! I have been counting down the days for the past year and a half now, and was devastated when they pushed back the original premiere date from Christmas 2012. Watching the original trailer gives me chills. I love the soundtrack, the costumes, the setting, everything. I need to time travel right now!! Because of this, I felt obligated to make a post in tribute of some of the gorgeous gatsby designs available right now.

Alice Olivia flapper style dress
$675 - oxygenboutique.com

Topshop flapper style dress
topshop.com

Flapper style dress
oasis.andotherbrands.com

River Island flapper style dress
$54 - riverisland.com

Charlotte Russe stretch bracelet
charlotterusse.com

Kate spade necklace
katespade.com

BCBGMAXAZRIA multi stone ring
bcbg.com

Ted baker
$31 - sale.blueberries-online.com

Hair accessory
$40 - alannahhill.com.au

Currently Craving: NatureBox

2013-05-09T14:25:00.000-05:00

Out of all of the monthly subscription services available right now, I have caved in to two. Birchbox (click here for my review) and NatureBox. I had been interested in a similar one called Grazebox but held off. Then today in my facebook newsfeed was a 50% off promo code for Naturebox so I caved! After thoroughly checking out the website and blog, I was impressed and am now anxiously awaiting my first delivery.

Naturebox sends monthly packages of healthy snacks that meet the following standards:

No high fructose corn syrup
No partially hydrogenated oils
No trans fats
No artificial sweeteners
No artificial flavors
No artificial colors

You can also choose between different packages. There is the deluxe package, which is the one that I subscribed for and it comes with 5 full size snacks (equaling 15-20 servings) a month. It is $9.95 with the current $10 off promotion. Then there is the Family Snacker that contains 10 full sized snacks a month and is recommended for 4-5 people with a sale price of $29.95. Last, is the option of the Professional Snacker which is 20 full size snacks and recommend for 8-10 people currently on sale for $49.95.

One of my favorite parts of the Naturebox website however is their recipes like the Roasted Shrimp Sandwich pictured above. You can find the recipe by clicking here. The recipes all look healthy and refreshing for the upcoming summer months. They also don't seem too hard to throw together with recipes like the 3-Step Green Bean, Feta & Walnut Salad or Strawberry Iced Tea. I'll definitely be trying some of these out for myself!

Mod Moment

2013-04-26T16:37:00.000-05:00

Honestly, my first thought when I saw this trend was "Beetlejuice, beetlejuice, beetlejuice!". Then I tried out the look for myself by pairing a striped chiffon tank (seen in this post) with J. Crew's pixie pants and a black blazer. The more I've been exposed to the trend, the more I've grown to love it. So how do you pull off this bold new trend without looking like a cartoon villain or a referee? Check out some of the outfit examples below.

Shop the coverphoto:
Zara wedges
Marc Jacobs The Prisoners Domino
Alice & Olivia Skirt
7FAM Cropped pants
Balmain Blazer
Kate Spade Watch

Enjoy The Moment

2013-04-26T14:38:00.001-05:00

Source

Wearing Now: Bond No. 9

2013-04-02T15:56:00.001-05:00

The time has come to store away our winter coats, as well as our winter perfumes.
With ultra-chic note combinations like grapefruit flower, black currant and lily of the valley, in the new Central Park South-these Bond No. 9 perfumes are the most sophisticated floral scents for spring.

High Line
Central Park West
Madison Square Park
Central Park South
Chelsea Flowers

Get the Look: Leopard Sandals

2013-03-22T00:00:00.001-05:00

2013-03-20T00:00:00.000-05:00

“Style isn’t when you buy yourself the most expensive things,” she says. “It’s being creative and able to put together what you’ve collected. Growing up, didn’t have a lot of money, so I got things for, like $2, $3, and made myself look as good as I could. Limitations make you more creative.”

--Zooey Deschanel

Get Her Look: Pink Chiffon Dress

2013-03-19T05:51:00.001-05:00

Spring Awakening: 2013 Eyelet Trend

2013-03-18T19:24:00.000-05:00

With Such Precision Top in White

Not Your Average Brownie

2013-03-10T15:01:00.001-05:00

Recipe by photo under the cut

Carpe Diem

2013-03-01T00:00:00.000-06:00

Picture from Pinterest

Swap it: chocolate ice cream

2013-02-27T23:28:00.000-06:00

Here's a quick and easy swap to save calories. Freeze sugar free pudding cups and add sprinkles for a yummy treat that's 100 calories! One teaspoon of rainbow sprinkles is only 20 calories. Skip the sprinkles and you'll clock out at 60 calories.

Fab Finds: Spring Preview

2013-02-27T00:19:00.000-06:00

Recently spotted at Forever 21. Bold statement necklace and mint green lace top! Great additions for a spring wardrobe

Avocado, Mozzarella and Chicken Bruschetta Salad

2013-02-26T00:04:00.001-06:00

I recently saw two similar recipes on Iowa Girl Eats and Maggie's Bites that looked too irresistible to not cook for myself. The finished result tasted just as good as it looked, and really wasn't a difficult or time consuming recipe once I had gotten familiar with it. I even made it again the very next day!

Recipe by photo under the cut

A Review on the PoshMark app for iPhone

2013-02-25T20:09:00.000-06:00

Packages on their way to the post office!

I have a new obsession with Poshmark. I've been in desperate need to clean out my closet and this new app could not have made things more simple. It's free to download if you have an iphone, and is also available over the web.

I have been using Poshmark for about two weeks and have already made twenty separate sales. Many of those sales being what is referred to as a "bundle", or a deal made with the buyer to buy multiple items, usually at a discounted price so that they only have to pay shipping one time. One of the best parts of Poshmark is that it can almost entirely be done by your phone. I can take photographs of my clothing on my phone, immediately upload it on to Poshmark, and post it for sale. Many nights I go to sleep and wake up to find out that I sold items while I slept.

An example of one of the bundles I've sold on Poshmark.

There are several thousands of users on Poshmark and I have found the more followers one has, the easier it is to sell items. They have "Posh Parties" daily with various themes so that people can sell items that fit the theme and get more exposure.

Poshmark isn't only for selling though, it is also a place to score great deals for yourself. Once you have made a sale, you can request a check from Poshmark with your earnings or get it directly deposited into your bank account. If you have a balance, you could also use that to go shopping the closets of others.

Poshmark keeps a record of your sales in account settings so that you can easily check their status.

I tried Ebay for a couple of days but quit before my listing was up, as it hadn't garnered even one bid. On top of that, Ebay had pages and pages of fine print and was charging me fees before I made any progress at all. Poshmark is great because if you are selling an item, they provide the shipping labels once it's bought, keep up with the shipment tracking, etc. They have a very simple policy and straight to the point directions. They keep 20% of your profits but to me it is worth it, because otherwise I would have made 0. I highly recommend others to try out this great new app.

Poshmark walks you through the steps of your sale to ensure everything is done properly.

To visit my Poshmark closet click here

For some more great deals, check out Crescent City Chic.

Fab Find: Under $20

2013-01-23T12:29:00.001-06:00

Jacquard Animal Pattern Shorts in Celery from Forever 21

Pizza Casserole

2013-01-16T17:39:00.002-06:00

My best friend passed along this Pizza Casserole recipe to me when I was cooking for my boyfriend and his roommates one night. The directions were simple enough. It's similar to making lasagna, but you swap a few of the traditional ingredients.

I chose to use:

Pizza sauce

Rotini pasta

Ground sausage

Shredded mozzarella

Pepperonis

but there are more options listed on the For Mamas blog. Make sure to check it out if you need more thorough directions.

Brown the meat

Cook the pasta

Pour a layer of sauce, then layer pasta on top.

Layer meat on top of the pasta.

Layer the shredded cheese. Repeat layers.

Place last layer of cheese.

Top with pepperonis.

Bake for 30 minutes.

2012-11-19T18:10:00.000-06:00

Keep in mind, hurting people often hurt other people as a result of their own pain. If somebody is rude and inconsiderate, you can almost be certain that they have some unresolved issues inside. They have some major problems, anger, resentment, or some heartache they are trying to cope with or overcome. The last thing they need is for you to make matters worse by responding angrily.

-Joel Osteen

It Finally Feels Like Fall

2012-11-12T16:18:00.001-06:00

The weather down here has finally gotten cold enough to justify a shopping trip.

studded booties - Urban Outfitters

black snakeskin jeggings - JC Penney

Denim blouse - JC Penney

Emma jeggings in Onyx - DL1961

black sheer top - JC Penney

snakeskin jeggings (again) - JC Penney

gray waffle shirt - JC Penney

Oxblood jeggings - JC Penney

maroon snakeskin smoking slippers - Target

Close up of the oxblood jeggings. These were $7!

How To Be Happy

2012-11-07T19:42:00.000-06:00

Source: Tumblr

Stop comparing yourself to others. Everyone has their own battles, no matter how put together they look on the outside. Be thankful for the blessings you have today.

Smile. Even the process of faking a smile will eventually lead to a genuine one.

Discover what your beliefs are and don't back down. You've heard the saying, "if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything". Your beliefs and morals are the structure of your identity. They make you unique while developing a stable sense of self.

Surround yourself with people who make you feel good. This one should go without explaining.

Don't hold grudges. Forgiveness of others will allow you to forgive yourself. A heavy heart will weigh you down and hold you back from living your best life possible.

Set realistic goals, and set these goals based on what you want and not the desires of others. Anything is possible but understand that miracles don't happen in a day. Be patient. Have faith.

Get moving! Exercising releases endorphins that will boost moods, but even if you're not training for a triathalon, it's important to simply be active and productive. Nothing will improve if you never leave your bed all day.

Stay hopeful. Throughout life there will be trials and tribulations that test our faith. We won't always be strong and sturdy. We will experience hurt, loss, and rejection. Keep going. Those times do pass, and you will be happy once again.

Love yourself. This might be the most important, yet hardest of all the tips to finding happiness. If you don't love yourself, and respect yourself, it will eat away at you daily. You are lovable. You deserve to be happy.

Source: Tumblr

See Similar Posts:

10 Ways to Counteract Negativity

Forgiveness: Hurt people, hurt people

Disordered Thoughts

Product Review: Milani Eyeliner

2012-10-03T00:51:00.000-05:00

On two separate occasions, I have bought Milani brand eyeliner on a whim. I typically do some research on Make Up Alley before I buy a product I haven't tried before, but I didn't these two times. The Milani brand was inexpensive enough at $6.49 each that I decided to just take the chance.

Milani Infinite Liquid Eyeliner

I am so glad that I did! The liquid eyeliner paints on a perfectly solid line that lasts for days. Literally. On Saturday my friend complimented me on my eyeliner...and I first applied it Thursday! This is a really great product and I highly recommend it. However, I don't wear liquid eyeliner as much as I wear pencil.

Milani Liquif'Eye

This is probably my favorite eyeliner I have ever used. After years of sampling brand after brand, I have found the perfect liner. I used to rave about Urban Decay's 24/7 liner and L'Oreal HIP but the Milani is better AND costs less than both. It glides on effortlessly and so smooth. Seriously, you need to try it for yourself and then you'll understand! :)

What's your favorite new product you've tried lately? Tell me about them in the comments!

See Previous Product Reviews:
Self-Tanner Showdown
Sally Hansen Press On Nails
Crackle Nailpolish