{Leather and Leopard Shopping Spree}

Hey Peeps! How was your extra long weekend? I tell ya - if I had a 3-day weekend every week, I would be a much better employee at the day job. That extra day really makes you feel like you had a break. You agree? Over the weekend I did a little shopping - well maybe more than a little - as I needed to replace a few staples and let's be honest - I needed some therapy. As you call tell, I have a little trend going on here (not on purpose - I honestly didn't realize it until I got everything home)...but after thinking about it, there is a method to my madness:

Black Leather Booties: these can go with everything and a perfect heel to wear around the city - these will be my new staples

Leopard Booties: cute to wear with jeans, skirts, dresses - everything, and again the heel is perfect

Black Leather Jacket: I usually gravitate towards brown leather and have never owned a black leather jacket - so this allows me to switch things up a bit

Black Leather Moto Booties: perfect trucking it around the city casual boots

Grey Sweatshirt: you can dress this up (yep I said dress it up) or keep in casual. Stay tuned for a post on how you can do both.

Leopard Flats: who doesn't need these? I've worn my current ones into the ground, so it was time to replace them.

So what do you think? Some good finds right?

{Happy Love Day}

Happy Valentine's Day to all of the lovely couples and single ladies and gents out there!!! I'm sure you already have plans to celebrate this day of love, but just in case you don't, check out a list of Valentine's Day Do's and Don'ts below:

Purchase this Love You More artwork here

The Do's and Don'ts of How To Handle Valentine's Day {borrowed from the ladies at Rue Magazine}

ALL THE SINGLE LADIES: Sure, Valentine’s Day is marketed as a day for couples but really, it can be the ideal day to celebrate no matter what your relationshop status.

DO: Get your gals together. Take a page out of Leslie Knope’s playbook and host a Galentine’s Day, either on or around Valentine’s Day. Whatever you and your friends most like doing together is the perfect activity for the day, but take a minute to recognize the women (and men, if you want!) whose friendship means so much to you. Write each a little note and give out small treats, like candles or cookies from a local bakery. Or....just go out for drinks (that's what I'm doing!)

DON’T: Give in to feeling alone. By surrounding yourself with people who care about you, you won’t have a chance to!

NEWLY COUPLED: Valentine’s Day can be most exciting for those in a new relationship, but it can be stressful as well. Cut the stress but keep the butterfly in the stomach feeling with our hard-learned tips.

DO: Give small, inexpensive but thoughtful gifts. Let your partner know that you are excited to spend the day together and offer to plan part of the event. Even fairly straightforward hints can be missed, so let go of the details and “perfect day” ideas and just enjoy each surprise as it comes.

DON’T: Put too much expectation on the day. Laugh off hiccups like overcrowded restaurants and focus on the quality company. And for the sake of your single friends, try to keep your excitement about the day to a low simmer until they ask for details.

LONG-TERM SWEETIES: Once in an established long-term relationship, all but the most romantic of us often let Valentine’s Day slide. Not this year.

DO: Do something. Don’t miss the day altogether. If you’re feeling in a rut, go all out this once or if you just need a bit of a change, make the day a little bit extra special. We suggest cooking at home together or treating yourselves to a couples massage. Skip the gifts but focus on quality time together.

DON’T: Plan alone. The great part of long-term relationships is communication so get on the same page about what would make a memorable night and enjoy it!

No matter your status - just enjoy the day!

Love you more!!!

{How to Style Your Valentines Flowers}

In preparation for tomorrow, the biggest flower delivery day of the year, I thought it would be a great idea to show you how to style your valentines arrangements in your home or at the office. Sure - you could simply take the bouquet that you receive exactly how it arrives and place it on your table or window sill, or you could ...

Valentine’s Day can be a tough day to navigate, whether you're single, dating, or in a long-term relationship. One piece of advice I would like to give is simply try and take every opportunity to celebrate the ones you love - not only tomorrow, but everyday! 

{Borrowed DIY: No Sew Sequin Clutch}

Sometimes I find something so good while perusing all my favorite sites, that I first think - why in the heck didn't I think of that? and then I think I have to share this with my readers right away. So as a borrowed DIY from Henry Happened, check out this super cheap, super easy, and super cute sequined clutch. The best thing about this bag is that it's no sew! Gotta love it - simple, stylish, and useful! Check out how to make it below:

Materials:

~ A mesh pouch. {You can find this at the Container Store or even the Dollar Store}

~ Sequin fabric. {If you don’t have sequin fabric on hand, (like an old shirt or skirt in your closet) you can buy 1/4 yard of fabric at a craft store or even buy a cheap sequin shirt or skirt at Forever 21.}

~ Liquid Stitch

~ Scissors

~ Foam brush

~ Clothespins

Cut a length of fabric that wraps around both sides of the mesh pouch. Then glue the sides together with the Liquid Stitch and clamp. Give it plenty of time to dry.

For the top of the pouch, clean up any stray sequins or threads. Put a piece of cardboard in the pouch and then glue the fabric to the mesh just under the zipper. Clamp again and let dry.

And here's the final product!


Don't you love it? You don't even have to ask - I'll be making one in the very near future - and you should to! Just too good not to share...

{Girlfriends Valentine's Day Dinner}

I so wish all of my girlfriends lived here in New York with me. Oh the trouble that we would get in - and the memories we would make. Unfortunately, we are spread all over the country and I miss them dearly. If they were here I would love to throw them a big Valentine's day dinner, similar to what the lovely ladies over at The Everygirl did. I absolutely love the party favors and the table dressing shown below - don't you? To see more pictures of this very personal and girly soiree - click here and enjoy!

{TGIF Peeps}

Apartment Dweller Problems

{Shop here: Removable wallpaper | Wall decals}

All Hail To Kale!

Now that I've gotten back on my journey to a healthy body and life, I have stocked the fridge with lots of fruits and veggies. One vegetable that I used to shy away from, kale, is now one of my favorites. Kale is a superfood, meaning that it has high levels of all the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that you want to nourish your body with everyday. Just one cup contains 36 calories, 5 grams of fiber, 15% of our daily requirement of calcium and vitamin B6, 40% magnesium, 180% vitamin A, 200% of vitamin C, and 1,020% of vitamin K. And if that’s not enough, kale is also loaded with copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus. 

The amount of fiber and sulfur in kale makes it a great detoxifier and aids in weight loss, making us feel full and satisfied with just a small amount.

High levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in kale translates to strong hair and nails and a clear complexion that maintains a youthful appearance with age. Did you know kale also acts as a natural sunscreen, protecting your skin from UV rays?

Kale is rich in calcium, vitamin A and D, which means you will see clearly and stand strong with just 1 cup of kale incorporated into your diet on a regular basis.

Kale is a superhero when it comes to fighting off and preventing diseases. It’s an anti-inflammatory and has been known to fend off a long list of cancers and serious diseases by assisting the body in releasing toxins that gradually build up. The vitamin K in kale helps to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and the folic acid and B6 lend cardiovascular support to the body.

Now that you’re in the know about the health benefits of kale, click here for several ways to prepare it:

Enjoy!

{Next Year I Will Get The Flu Shot}

Hey Peeps! I am finally back from a bad stint of the flu. I honestly think the last time I had the flu was my freshman year of college - so I really did forget just how miserable it is to be sick. Most of the time I was either sleeping or staring at the ceiling – not even episodes of my favorite shows sounded appealing. But thank God that after about 10 days, I'm back to myself and am able to eat more than Popsicles and applesauce. Needless to say, next year, I will be getting the flu shot! 

So February is here {where again did January go?} and this is the time of the year that I like to buy myself a little something special. Other than Beyonce concert tickets {which I will be purchasing tomorrow}, below are a few items on my current wish list:

1 - loving these J Crew striped pumps. Since moving to the city, the majority of my shoes are flats for walkability sake, but these make me want to splurge on a new pair of heels...

2 - I already purchased this Manifesto t-shirt, and am just waiting for it to arrive on my doorstep. To learn more this t-shirt - click here...

3 - I am on the market for a new watch. I love the oversized Michael Kors watch I currently have, and unfortunately I'm not ready to purchase my dream watch yet, so this rose gold Nikon watch is next on the list...

4 - Love love love this necklace. That's all...

5 - I must have these earphones...they scream Jessica, don't you think?

Have a good one!!!