Stripes

I don't know if it's an "official" trend, but I certainly am seeing a lot of stripes just about everywhere!  For the faint at heart when it comes to patterns (I am one of those people), stripes are a safe option.  They are not over the top or obnoxious or too LOUD.  It is a classic pattern...and they are so much fun to pair with fun colors....

But look so great with classic black (or denim!)...

As with all fashion, this trend comes in all shapes, styles, and price....below are a few great (in-expensive) options! Click on the image to to be directed to site...

Lashes Part 2

I have posted about lashes before, but I would like to make an addendum as my eyes have recently been opened (no pun intended...well maybe pun intended..lol) to my new obsession regarding lashes.

Let me preface by saying that I am not typically a false lash kind of gal.  I think most look false and that is not the look I am going for...All I want it to my eyelashes to look full(er).  In comes the Ardell accent lashes..specifically the Ardell 318.  I have used other Ardell accent lashes, but these are the most natural looking as the lahes sort of cross cross over each other.  I must also state that while I sweat by the DUO dark tone lash glue (since I have dark lashes), the clear glue works just as well!

Please excuse my unkempt eyebrows, but below is what the accent lashes end up looking like. You have a slight winged out effect and lashes look much fuller.  This is just my everyday look, but I have paired this with a dramatic smokey eye (which I learned from this great you tube video...) and it really looked amazing!!! 

The only problem I have found, however, is that these are sometimes hard to find.  I can only imagine that Sally will end up carrying them, but to date, I have not seen them at Sally's. Where I have found them (of all places) is in the beauty aisles at Bed Bath and Beyond.  However, where I get them at a really good price is online here.  I would recommend buying more than one pair and this site is always offering coupon codes.  Furthermore, since I am frugal gal, I have re-use my lashes.  With proper care and cleaning, they can last awhile.  Check out You Tube for some tutorials on cleaning false lashes! Hope you enjoy them as much as I do! :)

Sunday Funday at the Farmers Market

So I have been spending most of my time in Florida lately (the only good thing that has come from being unemployed) as this is where my boyfriend lives during the winter months.  This particular Sunday, I wanted to be productive and made my way to the local Farmers market....and I was very pleasantly surprised!  It was such a beautiful day here that I could not have picked a better Sunday Funday for me! :)  Just look at that bright blue sky...

 

I really like to cook and love finding new and interesting spices to make marinades, dressing, etc. Check these unique blends! Cant wait to try them! And how can you leave a Farmers Market without some fresh local produce...and so cheap too! mmmmm...can't wait to make some homemade guacamole with those Avocados! 

One of my favorite condiments is honey....I love it in tea, to use to make glazes, to caramelize, etc. But I am kind of a snob, because ever since I tried raw honey, store bought honey....just tastes...well...store bought!  But, in my honey snobiness, I also have come to love raw honeycomb!  Beware how sweet it is though...and how addicting it is! I really love to spread on a green granny smith apple and the tart of the apple really compliments the sweetness of the honeycomb.  Great snacking!!! 

Looking forward to my next visit to the Farmers Market! :)

Let there be cake!!

So I know I post about style, but since it's the holidays and 'tis the season for good (not so good do you food)...I wanted to share my latest conquest...my first layer cake!

I just got a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer as an early Xmas gift and could not wait to break her in!! Lol! I so lovingly named her Lolita...:)

One of my favorite cakes is Italian Creme...so I dove head first and decided that should be Lolita's debut! And here she is and boy was she good!!!

Next conquest is a Red velvet cake! Hope I can fit into the clothes I am blogging about! Haha!

DIY

It is no secret that I am always on a budget. But,  I am so blessed to have so much inspiration around me to help me develop my style into a reality and not a luxury.

Style doesn't just stop at your clothes.  My home is a reflection of me as well.  Wall art, hower, can add up...so I did some research...and as much of the world is, I am absolutely infatuated with pinterest and find myself on it for hours! :-/  It is here I found what I was looking for...

One particular pin has been on my mind for several months and I finally bit the bullet and tried it out.  It was originally on Lowes Creative Solutions, but I found it via pinterest via a another blog..(whew...that is like seven degrees of separation)..check it out here

It was much easier than I thought...and it turned out so much better than I thought also.  I got all the materials at Lowes...and the entire project probably cost be about $50! 

I am moving so I have not put mine up yet, but this is what the end result will look like..

Lashes

I really have an odd obsession with lashes...not so much as an everyday item, but when I want to wear a smokey eye look. This is my "going out look" of course...Daytime makeup is much more conservative. :) However, as much as I like lashes, I don't like spending $5 bucks a pop for a pair...that may last only a day or two...and $5 is on the very inexpensive end!!!

I recently discovered e.l.f. and have gotten some great products from them. Great news is that this brand is now carried at Target, so instant gratification..no need to wait and to have it shipped. One of the products they carry are lashes. The big hiccup for me is that I don't want it to look like I have false lashes on...and I kept getting that look with a full strip of lashes. I don't want the obnoxious lashes that clearly look false...I like an natural false lash look...lol

In comes my love of accent lashes...meaning lashes that just go on the end of your lashes. It is such a great way to enhance your lashes but in a natural way...but again, not spending the $5 a pop on them. So...I bought the full strip $1 lashes from e.l.f. and just cut them. And here is my end result...I will post pictures of me with them...rocking a smokey eye! :) Give it a try...see how it works for you...

Leather pants please

So I went out on a limb and bought a pair of leather (well synthetic leather) pants...I only did because I have seem so many "conservative" non-Harley Davidson ways of wearing these and more importantly I scored these at F21 on clearance for $9!!!

I decided to soften them up with a blousy top and a boyfriend blazer and then paired them with a fantastic pair of heels! I also tried to accessorize it with a scarf...just to ass to the "layered" look that I do love so much!