Inspired By: Pantone Color of the Year {Greenery}

Say goodbye to Rose Quartz and Serenity, and hello to Greenery! This light green is refreshing and soft and I can see myself wearing it a lot this year (and for years to come). Pantone says "Greenery is a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew." Something we all need this year.

Dresses

{Greenery -- Dresses}

Greenery is the perfect neutral color that works year round, but it's especially great for spring and summer. Pair a light green dress with a nude shoe for a feminine and classic look. When mixed with navy heels and tassel earrings, it makes for a cool, fun look.

Tops

Who says you can't go for an all-out green look? Mix Greenery with a beautiful emerald green for a darker, sexier feel. If neutrals are your thing then pair a light green shirt with jeans, and some taupe -- a watch, earrings, and booties.

Outerwear

Usually olive is a popular color for jackets, but show off your love of Greenery by wearing a yellow-green coat. Make Greenery feel light and girly by adding a pale pink dress and flats to your outfit. Or if you want to up the fun, sunshine-y factor, pair Greenery with a bright yellow cable knit sweater and Converse sneakers.

Accessories

If you're like me and don't have a green thumb, you can wear Greenery accessories or add it to your home. Brighten up a black dress and booties with a green belt, watch, and nail polish. And Greenery pairs beautifully with this pale blue sweater and blue jeans.

Do you like Greenery?

Will you be wearing it?

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Inspired By: Pantone's Colors of the Year {Rose Quartz & Serenity}

I'm sad to see Marsala go because it's a beautiful, rich color, but Rose Quartz and Serenity are so lovely and fresh. Pantone says they wanted a softer take on color and that they picked these two shades because they're a "balance between a warmer embracing rose tone and the cooler tranquil blue."

Dresses

{Rose Quartz & Serenity}

These colors will be absolutely perfect for spring, don't you think? All of these dresses work for the office or a cocktail party. I think Rose Quartz looks so feminine when paired with nude pumps and Serenity when paired with a bright burst of orange from the bracelet and clutch.

Tops

Give Rose Quartz a more masculine feel with a bit of navy; pair it with a striped skirt or bracelet or navy flats. On the flip side, make Serenity feel more feminine by pairing this casual outfit with bright purple accessories. Aren't those earrings so pretty? 

Outerwear

If you really, really love these colors then you should show it by wearing a Rose Quartz and/or Serenity coat. You'll definitely stand out amongst all of the gray and black. I think Rose Quartz looks really pretty with Marsala and I know I have a ton of burgundy clothing. Serenity looks super classic and cute when paired with gray. 

Accessories

Want to get these colors in small doses? Accessories are the way to go! Grab Rose Quartz and Serenity as a handbag, shoes, a watch, or earrings. I also think spicing up your home with pretty coasters or a mug is super cute. I would love to get a pair of Serenity-colored flats for the spring. 

Do you like Rose Quartz and Serenity? 

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Inspiration: Jewel Tone Nails + Bloggers Think Pink

I'm officially putting away my hot pinks, corals, mints, and light blues and taking out my burgundy, navy, olive green, black, gray, plum, and metallic nail polish. During fall and the beginning of winter, I love wearing dark and jewel toned nail polish colors. It's fun to make my nails go goth after months of happy colors. Although as soon as February rolls around, I'm sick of the cold weather and start wearing bright colors again to make spring come faster (wishful thinking at it's finest).

P.S. -- I was interviewed by BangStyle! Read the interview if you want to find out which TV character's closets I would raid and my three fall must-haves!

What color are you wearing on your nails right now?
I'm thinking my next color will be cranberry red!

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You may have noticed the Bloggers Think Pink button at the top of my sidebar lately.

While I'm lucky that breast cancer hasn't affected me or anyone I know, I couldn't pass up this opportunity to help spread awareness and donate to a great cause. 100% of the proceeds will go to Bright Pink, which is the only national (US) non-profit organization that's focused on reducing the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer in women while providing support for high risk individuals. 

On the Bloggers Think Pink website, you can donate $1, $3, $5, or $10. If you donate as a blogger, you get social media shout-outs and an inclusion in the weekly round-up. If you're not, you can donate through Paypal. (Check out this week's round-up of bloggers!)

Bloggers Think Pink's goal is to reach $500 and so far people have donated $125! 

Help them reach their goal and go to the site to add a button to your sidebar!

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(via Pinterest)

Inspiration: Bright Pink Lipstick

As said here, I can't get enough of bright pink lipstick! I think it's so flattering, feminine, and fun. Wearing bright lipstick is great for the summer when you don't wan to wear any other make up, and when you're throwing on whatever clothes works because it's so darn hot, lipstick makes you look put together. 

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Top: Catching Cody K {host} // Chelsea @ Olive & Ivy  Middle1: Joanna @ ModaMama // Lets Go Lesco Photos // Laurie @ WorldTravelingMilitaryFamily Middle2: Angie @ MySoCalledChaos // Ashley @ BeautyFlawed // Brooklyn @ This Little Blonde Bottom: Michael @ CrazyTragicAlmostMagic // Sincerely, Sara Winner will recieve:  - $20 dollar Old Navy giftcard  - Book: "All I Need" by Susane Colasanti - 200x200 ad space on Catching Cody K - $20 to Olive&Ivy Design Shop - $10 Bath Body Works - 2 months ad space on CTAM - 2 months ad space on LGLPhoto - Social Shout out from LGLPhoto - 'Social Media Lovin' as space on Little Blonde - 300x300 ad space WTMF - $10 to WTMF's Etsy - Original watercolor dream catcher art

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What color lipstick are you into this summer?

P.S. -- If you have Feedly, you can follow me here!

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(via Pinterest: Beauty {Hair & Makeup})

Lusting: The Little Yellow Dress

If you're like me and somehow only manage to sit on gum or spill your food when wearing white, then a yellow dress is a much better option for spring and summer. They're fun, cheerful, perfect for any occasion, and flattering. I can't wait to wear my bright yellow dress with a navy blazer and flats for work, and with a beige cardigan and nude wedges while hanging out with my friends. 

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Do you like little yellow dresses? 

What's your go-to summer dress color?

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Inspiration: Bright Colors & A Blogger Book Swap: 5 Books Every Young Woman Should Read

Every time spring and summer rolls around, my love of bright colors and neons come back in full force {see this DIY and this one}. As you can see from this outfit, I love adding neon touches and I can't wait to wear my new bright-colored clothing (which you'll see in a new buys post this friday).

Looking at the picture below, you can see that I'm very into bright pink and yellow right now. While my love of pink is unwavering, yellow is a color that I used to despise. Before I thought yellow was boring and unflattering, but now I'm rethinking this vibrant color. It seems bright, cheerful, and warmer hues of the color are super flattering. Are you into bright colors?

I found out who my book swap partner is for the Preview to Summer: A Blogger Book Swap! It's Helen of Eat. Enjoy. Live! So excited to be partnered with her! We've been emailing and getting to know each other a little better! I can't wait to find the perfect book or two to send her, and see what I get in return!

ONE | Divergent by Veronica Roth

I read this book recently thinking that it would just be another dystopian-adventure novel, and while it is that at it's core, the theme of fear is prevalent throughout. It really made me think during and for several days afterwards about what my fears are, how having fears makes you human, and that overcoming them makes you stronger. Not only is a fun read, but it makes you think, too.

TWO | The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Katniss Everdeen is a badass. There's no denying it. She's smart, compassionate, stands up for herself, stands up for who and what she believes, knows how to protect herself, doesn't care what (most) people think, and lets herself get angry. Sometimes it's nice to have a reminder that inside all of us there's a badass chick.

THREE | Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Or really anything by Jane Austen. We all deserve to find love and be loved. It might take some time to get there or to find the right person, but we should never give up on love. And we should never let anyone tell us that we don't deserve a love like Elizabeth and Darcy's, or Emma and Knightley's, or Anne and Wentworth's.

FOUR | The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

I remember finding this book hard to read because of the subject matter. Offred is a handmaid who is serving the Commander and his wife, and has to hope that the Commander makes her pregnant because her value is marked by her fertility. No one should ever feel degraded or belittled like Offred in any circumstance. And sometimes it's better to risk everything in order to be happy and feel free.

FIVE | Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewette

This is a collection of short stories written in 1896 about friendship between women. There's really no plot or climax or crazy, never-would-have-seen-that-coming ending. It's just simple, conversations between close friends. Each character has been changed by their struggles, the weather, and the isolation of the fishing villages that they live in. It's a beautiful series of character sketches that can teach us a lot about friendship and the hardships of life.

What books do you think young women should read?

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(via Pinterest)

Lusting: Bright Blazers

Once I saw Kendi wearing a bright pink blazer, I suddenly felt that something was missing from my closet. I have my favorite navy blue blazer and one or two black blazers, but do I have a brightly colored one? Nope. I would love to find a fun pink blazer for spring and summer.

P.S -- I'm hosting a giveaway on Coming Unstitched!
The winner will get $25 to Starbucks!

Check it out here!

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What do you think?
What color blazer do you like?

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Five Spring 2013 Fashion Trends

*Written in collaboration with Matches Fashion.* 

Are you as excited about spring fashion as I am? I love seeing what new trends are blossoming and incorporating my favorite ones into my wardrobe. Almost every spring season the recurring trends are pastels and florals, and while that's always true, this spring it's all about being bold and having fun.

ONE | Black & White

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Black and white is already everywhere and has probably gotten the most attention; everyone is getting excited about it from designers to high street shoppers. I'm in agreement too, whether you choose to adopt the 60’s style dresses or keep to the more neutral black and white separates you can’t go wrong with black and white. There is something effortlessly chic about this trend and the major advantage is that it is so easy to wear without breaking the bank. If you are on a big spending break then have a rummage for those staple pieces we all have in the closet and update them with a few accessories. Alternatively if you are a sucker for punishment check out Marc by Marc Jacobs SS13 collection so you can lust after some designer picks.

TWO | Bold Prints

Well it wouldn’t be summer without a couple of bold prints thrown into the mix and this season does not disappoint at all. Floral is usually the big contender and tends to be a safe bet every year as it perfectly sums up the season. And who doesn’t love a bit of flower power when it starts to warm up? However this is not the only go-to print this season as things are beginning to look a little more abstract with designers using bold and figurative prints too. Unlike the whimsical flowers we would expect from previous SS collections, the prints that have lined the catwalks are more gutsy than girly showcasing a clever mix of bright and bold prints from geometric designs, global inspired motifs and even a bit of animal print.

THREE | All-White Ensembles

If you are not interested in the big bold prints then white has to be the perfect antidote to the riotous prints and colour clashing styles out at the moment. Good news again as it is such an easy trend to wear. White is the perfect colour for summer as it is fresh and simple, and although it may not sound ground-breaking in my opinion you have to be a bit brave to opt for a completely white outfit. My favourite picks for this look would be a simple but elegant white cotton dress that can be your go to piece for the whole summer.

FOUR | Stripes

For me this has to be my favourite trend emerging from the catwalks for summer. The reason being is that it seems to be mixing with every other trend out there to create the perfect spring/summer look. There are so many ways you can wear the stripe which is why I think it seems to be one of the big winners. From thick, thin, vertical, horizontal lines to classic monochrome or meshed with bold prints like floral and tribal, it is no surprise that it is keeping everyone happy this year. My favourite pick for this trend would be the simple black and white flare dress as it adds a little bit of retro to the average stripe. However the best thing about this style is that there are no definite rules -- as long as it’s striped it’s in!

FIVE | Metallics

This is one of the inevitable trends each year that is most likely going to split the crowd into those who love it or hate it. However, whether you are a lover or a hater of metallics there is no denying that this trend is going to get bigger with many high street stores already adding a bit of shine to their fabrics with shimmering foils and holographic finishes. Burberry seems to be the one leading the pack with this trend with the SS13 catwalk shows that displayed a multi-coloured array of futuristic-inspired pieces. I think this trend is a bit of a tricky one as you do not want to end up looking like a disco ball but you can certainly make a statement with your look without going overboard with some well-picked metal-inspired pieces.

Which trend do you like most?

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Lusting: Colorful Cropped Trousers

I've been wanting a pair of brightly-colored cropped trousers to wear to work in order to look more professional, or to wear dressed down with a black t-shirt and cardigan. There's so many choices online and so many great colors to choose from, but since I'm so short (4'10") I'll have to shop for cropped pants in store to make sure the fit is right. Most of the time cropped pants are still too long on me! Oh the woes of being a shortie!

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What do you think of cropped trousers?

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Inspired By: Pantone's Color of the Year {Emerald Green}

I don't know about you, but I'm really excited that Pantone's Color of the Year is emerald green! Pantone calls it "lively, radiant, lush...a color of elegance and beauty that enchances our sense of well-being, balance, and harmony." Emerald green such a rich, beautiful color that can be used for any season in so many ways (clothing, accessories, beauty, and home decor). I'm looking forward to wearing it this year and finding new ways to embrace this wonderful color.

Dresses

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If you're a dress-wearing kind of gal, then slip on an emerald green dress this winter. Pair it with a quilted leather sleeve moto jacket and black tights to keep warm, metallic cap-toe flats, and green earrings. Live in a warm climate? A green and blue maxi dress, black studded sandals, blue panama hat, and cute blue and green bracelet will do the trick. Finally, sip your coffee or tea in a Pantone color of the year mug.

Jeans

Maybe jeans and trousers are more your thing; in that case put on a pair of green skinny jeans to go with your striped peplum top, beige cardigan, lovely green necklace, and black maryjane wedges. For a day at work, go for an all green outfit: mint lace sweater, emerald green pants, black trench coat, green watch, zig zag stud earrings, and green-soled oxfords. For your home, have fun with a green clock.

Outerwear

If you'd prefer emerald green outerwear for a bold pop of color in the winter, try a blazer with a dark purple dress, green bow belt, green and gold necklace, and black booties. To keep warm, put on a green pea coat, navy polka dot blouse, skinny jeans, navy flats, and a green ring. If you're a constant notetaker or list maker, opt for a green journal and pen this year. Don't forget your green nail polish!

Accessories

Are you a girl who loves her accessories? Dress in a white long-sleeved button up, yellow jeans, green and silver watch, structured satchel, and green bow flats. For a fancy affair, wear a black zipper-detail blazer, pale pink blouse, swingy black skirt, green earrings, and green foldover clutch. For make up, try green eyeshadow (or eyeliner!), and for home, add a fun zig zag tray.

Do you like the color green? Will you be wearing it this year?

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