Mon Petit Chapeau

{gap tee | f21 shorts | ON hat (similar) | payless shoes (similar) | kohls, groopdealz bracelets | fossil watch | havok necklace (giveaway win)}

I just need to take a moment to rejoice over this hat.  Yes, this one, single, on-clearance, unwanted, little $10 hat.  And it's because it really, truly fits!  Being the owner of one of the smallest heads of just about anyone I've ever met, it's a pretty big deal to find a flattering hat that's not indigenous to the kids' section of Target or Gap (ditto for sunglasses, but that's a post for another day).  Right now I'm going to go put on my fancy new chapeau and do a little happy dance to celebrate my foray into adult-intended headwear.


Linking up here.

Tree Hugger

Click here for the OASAP giveaway!  Hurry, it ends soon!

^please pardon my uber-chic camera bag there^

{ON cardi (old) | whoop tee (giveaway win; designed by Tara) | target maxi (similar) | blowfish sandals | fossil watch | target, f21 bracelets (similar 1, 2, 3)}

Since today is Arbor Day (go hug a tree, seriously, it'll make you smile.  Or better yet, plant a few!), it only seems fitting that today's photos were taken during a walk through a local park's cherry blossom festival a few days ago.  The weather predicted a sunny 70 degree day, hence the skirt & sandals.  In actuality it was 55 degrees and cloudy with 13mph winds that made me want to walk around shrouded in a blanket.  But alas, cherry blossoms are fleeting and we were not about to let some wildly inaccurate weatherman stop us from enjoying them.

And just for the sake of Arbor Day:

Aren't they just gorgeous??

Linking here today.

Michael Kors Giveaway

This week I've teamed up with Gumball to bring you a fun giveaway.  I know spring has been slow to arrive to most parts of the country, but that doesn't mean we can't still dress like it is.  This bright & cheery yellow clutch would add such a fun pop of brightness to any outfit, no matter the weather (but really, let's hope spring kicks in quick).  Good luck!!

(Also, don't forget to enter the OASAP giveaway, too!)

Birthday Suit

~*~Don't forget to enter my OASAP giveaway here~*~

{target top, jeans & sneakers | fossil watch | groopdealz earrings (similar) & bracelet | asos necklace}

Before you go thinking I'm completely crazy for wearing a paper crown, just know that over the weekend some friends & I celebrated my birthday.  Not that this fact necessarily justifies the questionable headgear, but sometimes the birthday girl just needs to don a tee shirt, jeans, and wedge sneakers (a perfectly acceptable birthday suit in my opinion), and top the whole look off with a jaunty little flourish.  Because this is the one day a year that this particular cranial adornment isn't questioned.

Linking here.

Chevron's Got My Back

**OASAP giveaway happening right here**

{target chambray & dress (similar) | skechers shoes | UO necklace (similar) | fossil watch | groopdealz bracelet}

The weather's been throwing us some warmish days lately.  Not enough to throw caution to the wind and shut off the heat for the season, but enough to shed the tights from time to time, and open all the windows to let the bird chirps, fresh air, and sunshine inside.  This was one of those days.  I was in a rush to head out and meet up with some friends, and was so baffled by the warm weather that I forgot how to dress for a minute.  So I immediately went for my go-to dress - this little chevron number- which has been such a workhorse ever since I bought it last year.  It's nice to know there's an inanimate object in my closet that's got my back, giving everyone the illusion that I made an effort.  Even if they all know otherwise.


 

Linking up here.

OASAP giveaway

Hey guys.  Yesterday was my birthday.  And while I enjoyed such festivities as being woken up by a solo rendition of "Happy Birthday to You" sung by my boyfriend sporting a freshly shaved fu man chu (if you don't know why that's an excellent gift, then you need to read this), accompanied by a birthday cake fully lit with the proper amount of candles (true story), eating lots of delicious food that someone with loftier health goals has no business eating, and cashing in on some birthday treats, I didn't forget about you.  I have a little gift to share with you, too!  Oasap is having a giveaway.  Enter to win your choice of any one of these awesomely adorable prizes:

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 
not pictured: 10 // 11 // 12

*Some important things to note: This contest is open internationally.  There is just one rule: there need to be at least 50 entrants in this contest in order to choose a winner, so don't be shy about spreading the word!  The more the merrier, I always say.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Firmoo Giveaway

Hey all.  A few days ago Firmoo contacted me to collaborate with them because they're giving out free glasses and would like me to help spread the word. Of course I said yes, because, duh, free glasses!  Whether you actually need them to see (my entire family) or just like the smartypants look you get with non-Rx lenses (somehow, miraculously me), winning a pair for free is pretty awesome.

Besides, ophthalmologists recommend replacing your glasses frequently because wearing the wrong prescription can deteriorate your vision.  That is a big no bueno. So hop on over to Firmoo and get your free glasses now!

      The Fine Print:

1.     Giveaway will start on Apr.16^th, and the free eyewear code will be shown on that page right after the giveaway starts. Firmoo gives away certain amount of eyewear each day, so first come, first served.
2.     Furthermore, Firmoo will draw one lucky person per day from those who have shared this page via FB & twitter to win free eyewear.

It's Due.

{ON tee | diy skirt | target wedge sneakers | sprout watch | gifted necklace (cute option)}

Happy Tax Day everyone!  As we all know, taxes are due today so I hope you've all filed on time, or at least filed for extensions, and are receiving nice chunks of change back from Uncle Sam.  I don't have much else to report except that it was warm enough for this outfit a few days back.  The weather has since settled back down into its apparent comfort zone of low 50s, but things are turning green, flowers are starting to bloom, and I'm becoming just slightly more hopeful that I'll be able to rock more outfits like this in the very near future.  Spring has just got to show up any day now.  It's due.

Linking here today.

My Top 5 Favorite Birthday Freebies (and how you can get them, too)

image

(add a handful more candles to this cupcake and we're getting close to how many I'd really need)

My birthday is right around the corner, on Tuesday (aka the day after tax day; aka the day most Americans either dread (they didn't file on time and are now late and/or owe a bunch of money to the IRS) or breathe a sigh of relief on (they just finished their taxes and sent them on time and/or are getting a nice refund).  Either way, my sister and brother lucked out a little better in the birthday department (they got day before Valentine's and day after Halloween, respectively). 

But anyway.

Around this time each year, my inbox starts filling with all kinds of fun birthday freebies from various companies.  Just google "birthday freebies" and you'll find enough coupons and giveaways to enjoy a free appetizer, entree, ice cream cone, or cup of coffee every day for about a month.  But I've whittled down the list to my top 5 favorites.  These are the ones that I look forward to cashing in on every April.

1. Sephora birthday gift: There's something different every year but it almost always includes something awesome.  This year it's samples of Benefit They're Real! mascara & Watt's Up highlighter (two things I've been dying to try from one of my favorite cruelty-free companies).
2. Moe's free entree: Moe's is my new favorite fast food place.  EVER.  It's Mexican.  It's vegetarian friendly.  It's delicious.  We go way too much; the guys that work there now recognize us.  It's slightly embarrassing at this point.
3. Chevy's free entree: I have a thing for Mexican.  What can I say; it's the perfect cuisine for a cheese-loving vegetarian.
4. Anthropologie 15% off coupon: Admittedly this one isn't really a freebie, but it does give me an excuse to scour the sale racks at Anthro and get a couple extra bucks off when I choose something I absolutely don't need.
5. Dunkin Donuts free coffee: Need I say more?

Linking here today.

Gidget About Town

{target sweatshirt & jeans | ON chambray | skechers shoes | sprout watch}

There's someone I want you to meet.  Her name is Gidget.  She's my new bike and I love her.  Last year we took a vacation to Hilton Head, and rented beach cruisers there.  We rode those things everywhere that week, and I became slightly obsessed with the easy, laid back style of this kind of bicycle.  A nice, wide seat to coddle my butt?  No gears to change?  A veritable trunk?  Yes, please.

I took Gidget out for her inaugural spin on Sunday, and since the plan was a 10 mile route, I knew I needed something simple and easy to bike in.  The weather was mild, but there was still a slight chill to the air.  This easy, warmish outfit fit the bill.  I thought I looked decent, but apparently I pale in comparison to Gidget.  She got complimented by a stranger that day.  My outfit, on the other hand, went completely unnoticed.

Baby Brunch Best

{target top | tulle skirt (similar) | steve madden boots | fossil watch | kohl's necklace (similar) | groopdealz bracelet (similar)}

I wore this to a baby shower over the weekend, and despite everything I've heard about the horror that is attending one, I had a really excellent time.  The party was held at a trendy restaurant (that was closed to the public just for us) and included a tasty brunch, a unisex guest list, and some hilarious conversation with my friends & table mates.

In the last 10 minutes before leaving the house, I was scrambling to change out of my lightweight chiffon dress that I realized was not working the moment I stepped out into the still cold weather.  In what might have been my fastest sartorial decision to date, I put this little number together.  I actually can't believe I hadn't worn it until now.  I've thought about it so many times, and really, floral + denim?  It just makes sense (in a totally illogical, only because I'm a style blogger kinda way). 

Linking here today.

Vipre

This post brought to you by Vipre. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey guys.  Let’s talk about internet security for a minute.  I know this is a fashion & style blog, but no matter what you do with your computer, if you go online you run the risk of a virus.  I used to think that getting a virus was a death sentence for my computer, or meant having to bring it to an expert for an expensive fix.  But recently I realized that having a great antivirus program eliminates all of that.  Not too long ago, I got a major computer-altering virus that I thought would mean the end of my laptop.  And then my anti-virus program bailed me out.  It took a few nerve-wracking days and some work from my boyfriend (he's the computer whiz in this family), but in the end, it wiped that sucker out.  It was then and there that I realized just how absolutely imperitive having an anti-virus program is.

Recently I had the opportunity to try out VIPRE Internet Security.  I've had it for a few days now, and while I thankfully haven't had to use it for any viruses, I have been able to deduce a few things about it:

The Good:

~Easy installation.  I’m talking really easy.  Like, so easy I could do it (though I kept my boyfriend on standby just in case).

~The scan it performs is extraordinarily thorough; and from what I can tell, it automatically runs once a week, which is perfect for someone as forgetful as me. 

The Bad:

~I had an issue with the program’s website blocker.  It blocked several totally legit websites that I visit on a regular basis, so I had to go in and manually disable the firewall.  Unfortunately there’s no option to view the list of blocked sites, and allow those you feel should be allowed.  Instead, you have to enter each approved website manually, and for me it was inconvenient.  So I just shut the option off instead.  But like I said, I'm pretty computer illiterate.  If you try it and find a better way, please let me know!

The Verdict:

I think that there are plenty of excellent, free anti-virus programs out there, my preferred being Avira (I’m forever grateful that it saved my computer’s life).  But Vipre has free technical support, and promises to patch out of date software, which is a common cause of computer infections.  As far as I know the free ones don't.  It's really nice having that secure feeling of being protected from all the nasty little bugs that are floating around in cyberspace.  Click here {VIPRE Internet Security} to check Vipre out for yourself.

circa 1987

{thrifted top | ON chambray & jeans | target belt | steve madden boots | f21 necklace (similar) | fossil watch}

Here's another one of my prouder thrifty finds.  This top was almost flawless, except for a set of heavy duty 80s shoulder pads that it originally came with.  But I saw straight through those wads of cotton and my boyfriend's teasing that it looks like discarded scrubs, to the shirts versatile and mixable potential.  $2.50 later it was home, washed, shoulder pads snipped out & trashed, and my excel style spreadsheet (don't judge me judge judy) brimming with outfit ideas involving a bright blue, short sleeve rayon top circa 1987.

Linking here today, too.