Three Ways to Wear a Quinceanera Dress (really)

I know, I know, I know - a quinceanera dress probably isn't the most relevant dress to a lot of us.  My demographic is well above the age requirement implied by the term, quinceanera, alone.  But stay with me, here.  When my sponsor, TBDress asked me to write a post about quinceanera dresses, my first thought was, I am nowhere near 15; what can I possibly say about a quinceanera dress?!  But then I browsed the selection and was instantly enamored by this beauty below.

Then it dawned on me - even if we're not (ahem - even close to) fifteen years old anymore - styled with the proper pieces, this dress still could work for a night out, a fancy event, or even just a sunny day spent picnicking in the park.  A big thanks! to my lovely pal, Linda, whose awesome post gave me the inspiration for mine.

I love the idea of adding a little edge to a fluffy, poufy dress with a bad ass vegan leather jacket, punk-inspired clutch, and some mixed metallics.

Top with a belted chambray button up, pop on some ultra-comfy cowboy boots, rock a flower crown, and this dress goes from frou-frou to frolicking in a field.



For this last look I wanted to create a sleek, stylish vibe, so I added a crisp white boyfriend blazer, some killer peep toe booties, and a pair of those super-sleek mirrored shades all the cool kids are wearing.  Silver & pearl accessories add an extra punch of posh.

I hope I've inspired you to wear a super poufy dress in some new ways.  Find my muse, as well as SO many others here: {http://www.tbdress.com/Cheap-Quinceanera-Dresses-4374/}.

Post sponsored by TBDress.  All opinions, however, are 100% my own.

Tanks A Bunch

{Hurry!  Today is the last day to enter the Chicnova giveaway!!}

It appears the powers that be have noticed my little temper tantrum about the cold weather, and responded with a short burst of warmth.  Never has 45°F made me want to run outside in shorts as much as it has this winter.  So, in keeping with my dreaming of spring theme (you guys are still with me on this, right?), I'm thinking about tank tops today.  Because as much as I appreciate a slightly sunny high of 47° followed by a cozy 49° with an 80% chance of thunderstorms, I'm still waiting on those perfect 74° days to arrive (followed all too shortly by 95° & humid, but that's a tantrum for another time).

I went back to visit TBDress again, and searched through all of the cute, fun, summery tank tops here:  http://www.tbdress.com/Cheap-Tank-Tops-100519/.

I'm really feeling a simple, neutral palette full of interesting silhouettes in light, floaty fabrics.

I feel like each and every one of these tanks would be beautiful to wear - they are so sophisticated and stylish, and  yet are made of ultra-thin, lightweight fabrics that really let a gently blowing summer's breeze (or the frigid blast of an air conditioner) get in there and cool you down, if you know what I mean.  I know it's hard to imagine while in the throes of the worst winter ever (true fact* - this is the worst winter ever), but one day we will sweat again.  And won't it be nice to have one of these tops looking all pretty while it's secretly airing out our - ahem - glistening under arm and/or cleavage areas? 

*based on my own, completely biased opinion

Compensation was provided in exchange for this post.  As always, all opinions are 100% mine.  Because, f#ck winter.

Short Dreams

{Just one day left to enter the Chicnova giveaway}

So far this winter season it has snowed in NJ more times than I can remember.  Since December I have yet to check the 10 day forecast and not see snow predicted at least once or twice that week.  This winter has been so bad that I've even complained to my boyfriend that I feel like we're being punished for living in this state.  Winter has made me question my love for New Jersey.  Not cool, winter.  Not cool.

So I say, enough is enough.  I am officially in dreaming of spring mode.  I've been keeping a mental list of all the nice, outdoor places I'll go visit once the ground is no longer covered in two and a half feet of icy "winter wonderland".  I've taken to opening my closet every so often, just to stare longingly at the pretty, lightweight dresses, tops, skirts, and shorts I'll be able to wear once it warms up again.  My patience for winter has become so nonexistent that I even caught myself having a mental wager (with myself) to predict the date that all the snow will be really, truly, completely gone for the year (so far I'm placing all my bets on March 28th...anyone else care to get in on the action?).

And to kick start my countdown to spring, I'm shopping for one of the only pieces that I can't successfully wear in the dead of winter - shorts.  (I realize shorts + tights = winterized shorts, but that only works when it's 35° & up.  When it's about 17° & windy, not so much).  Here are some of my favorite picks from my sponsor, TBDress.  (To check out the rest of their selection, click here: http://www.tbdress.com/Cheap-Shorts-100532/)

I feel like I could spend at least half of the entire summer wearing these.  They're just a cute, comfy, basic denim short.

These are more polished than the denim shorts, but look just as comfortable. I'd wear these to transition into spring with a striped sweater, some sheer black pantyhose underneath, and black booties.

These bright blue cuties are just the perfect pair to add a fun pop of color!  I pretty much adore every single thing about this outfit.  I'd rip it off in a heartbeat!

Who says shorts can't be fancy?  I would so wear this sparkly little number to a party or a club.  The chance to be my own walking disco ball?  Yes, please.

What kinds of shorts are you dreaming of for spring/summer?

Compensation was provided in exchange for this post.  As always, all opinions are 100% mine.  Because, f#ck winter.

Rapunzel in Tulle

Remember when we talked wedding dresses?  Well, what's a beautiful wedding gown without a gorgeous veil to accompany it?  Just as it is important not to take out a loan to be able to afford your gown, you certainly don't want to go into debt over a piece of fluff you'll wear on your head for a few hours.  In theory, there's a good chance you can alter your wedding dress, and fashion it into something for everyday wear; but the veil?  I can't think of a single occasion outside of your own wedding when it would not look utterly inappropriate...unless you're going for the Madonna "Like a Virgin" look on Halloween. Ok, so there's one, very specific occasion you can re-wear your wedding veil and not look completely insane.  Luckily, TBDress has us covered (literally) in the beautiful, yet inexpensive veil department as well.

I searched all the veils on the site, and not a one was over $150 (in fact, the vast majority are significantly less).  If you don't believe me, I highly encourage you to click on this link: http://www.tbdress.com/Cheap-Wedding-Veils-4323/ to see for yourself.

And really, at an average of around $50 bucks a pop, who can resist a beautiful, elegant, delicate veil?  Whether you choose to go traditional with an elbow or fingertip length one, retro with a jaunty little birdcage, or dramatic with one of those amazing cathedral length veils like the one below, it's fulfilling almost every girl's lifelong dream - being Rapunzel in tulle.

Compensation was provided in exchange for this post. As always, all opinions are 100% mine. Cos that's how I roll.

Baby I'm Back

{ON dress, c/o | kimchi blue coat (crazy similar) | UO necklace | diy scarf (similar) | payless headband & tights | Steve Madden boots | Gramma's vintage brooches}

Hi everyone!  Please forgive my extended absence.  I just spent the last two weeks at my sister's completely awesome, yet internet-lacking apartment in Florida.  I had planned on posting to the blog while down there, but it seems I didn't posses the foresight to inquire about whether her place was internet-equipped or not.  (It was not).  But the good news is that we got to spend lots of quality time together; shopping, doing hair, cooking Thanksgiving dinner, catching up, and sharing lots of laughs & pumpkin-infused cocktails.  Extra bonus - my mom & brother also live down there, so I got to visit with them a bunch, too.  It was fantastic getting to see my family while relaxing in the warm, sunny Florida weather.

Just when I was getting used to the idea of Christmas lights on palm trees, I returned home to a blast of cold, grey weather that I was definitely not prepared for - either physically or mentally.  At least I had this new and adorably flattering, but more importantly, free Old Navy winter dress to wear*.  Getting to don a pretty, long sleeved dress with colored tights always helps to make the acceptance of winter just a little bit smoother in my book.

In other news, the supremely sweet and friendly Irene of Love Simple Green did a Q&A with me recently.  If you've been lying awake at night wondering what my favorite quote is, or how I'm working toward my dreams, check out the post and wonder no more.

*If you'd like to be able to snag free stuff, too, click here to sign up.

I'm linking up here today.

Comfy, Happy, Cozy

{thrifted UO sweater (similar)  |  no nonsense leggings, c/o  |  steve madden boots  |  ON scarf (similar)}

You might recognize these photos from my No nonsense review.  But I liked this outfit so much that I just had to give it a proper, dedicated outfit post (which means you'll also be seeing the outfit featuring the tights, too).  This outfit accompanied me on a date with my boyfriend, and got to witness us discovering a new Indian restaurant that had some of the most delicious food I've ever tasted.  It walked around with us while we window shopped and conversed, and my sweater even got to pay a visit to her mother ship (Urban Outfitters).  It was a comfy, cozy, happy day for us all.

Click here to see where I'm linking up.

Artsy Fartsy

{target dress (old), leggings, & belt  |  f21 top  |  steve madden boots  |  diy hat  |  ON scarf}

When my boyfriend saw me in this outfit, he called me artsy fartsy.  I don't know about you, but even though this term blatantly includes the word "fart," I still feel a swell of pride when described in that manner.  Even more fitting, though, is that we were headed to a place that actually is the epitome of artsy fartsy.  It's an intriguing and beautiful place called Grounds for Sculpture where various pieces of artwork are spread out over acres and acres of meticulously, immaculately landscaped garden.  It's like a fun, interactive, outdoor museum that includes secret paths and hidden sculptures.  With real peacocks that roam around the grounds.

The only drawback was that even with a jacket on, I was still pretty cold all day.  But Grounds for Sculpture is just the kind of special place that has you convinced that going out and suffering in cloudy, breezy, 50 degree weather for hours on end is a good idea.  Luckily, I was rewarded for my martyrdom at dinner.  I don't know if it was luck, or perhaps the fact that my face and hands were frozen in typical girl-that's-always-too-cold fashion, but we got sat at a table directly in front of a cozy, crackling fireplace and were able to sufficiently thaw out while we ate.  It was kind of a perfect day.  But next time I'm bringing gloves.

Click here for today's linkies.

blog-worthy

{target flannel & tee (similar)  |  ON jeggings  |  kamik boots  |  sprout watch  |  similar necklace}

I almost didn't show you guys this outfit.  I just threw it on (when it was still raining) to go to the library, the post office, and then to help my dad out in his chilly basement office for the majority of the day.  But when hunny bunny picked me up on his way home, he said "Oh, you want to take pictures today."  I didn't need much more prompting than that.  As I've progressed in my blog, so has hunny bunny's acute awareness of my style.  It's sort of amazing - for a guy who dresses like a cartoon character (seriously, he wears variations of the same outfit every day), I'm pretty impressed that he has become so attuned to my style, and what looks good on me.  He can now tell me - with accuracy - if something I wear looks unflattering, silly, or just plain strange.  So when he thought I looked blog-worthy, I had to take his word for it.  And besides, how could I pass up getting to take photos during "golden hour"?  This is the kind of perfect, soft, glowing light that girls everywhere strive to be seen in at all times, and I am no exception.

Click here for today's linkies.

Party Time. Excellent!

This is what happens when tree bark decides to reach out and pull your hair.

{marshalls dress (similar)  |  gap top  |  steve madden boots  |  f21 necklace  |  asos socks}

It got a little chilly at night:

{i heart ronson jacket (similar)  |  ON scarf  |  oasap ring c/o}

Over the weekend we celebrated one of my best friend's birthdays.  She invited us over for a late, intimate dinner.  It was a relaxed, low key evening spent chatting and laughing, followed by coffee and some of the most delicious pastries I've ever had.

And I just had to include some photos of the birthday girl.  She has impeccable style that is seriously enviable.  For her celebration she looked like a super stylish 60s-inspired go-go girl, and I mean that in the very best way possible.  So cute.

Happy Birthday, Fatiha!  You are an amazing, thoughtful, funny, inspiring, encouraging, and beautiful friend, and my life would be a much less happy place without you in it.

Gros bisous!

Today I'm participating here.