"Girls Just Want To Have Sun!"

I've officially been struck by the summer bug! I'm done with winter, awaiting spring, and exceptionally excited for summer! There is so much to look forward to in these upcoming months, but the highlight of everything to come is for certain...my trip to Greece with my hubs!!!

With this trip comes lots of planning. Not necessarily planning a detail for detail itinerary for the trip type-of-planning (not my thing), but more so lots of planning for my outfits! You will probably see many upcoming posts regarding Greece and my choice of wardrobe, but to start it off, I'm keeping it basic: dresses, sandals, cover-ups, bathing suits and ALL THINGS SUN!

I found myself browsing through the Victoria's Secret Catalog last night in awe of all the beautiful bodies and bathing suits, all while munching on Twix and Peanut Butter Cups - it just aint right (sigh)!

What I most likely looked like last night (add twenty years)

So, a fatty I am, but it's all good because I still have a few more months to loose the winter weight and get in shape for bikini season (I think I can...I think I can...I think I can)!

Anyhow, Victoria's Secret's catchy headline "Girls Just Want to Have Sun" has got me daydreaming like crazy and I couldn't agree with them more!

Girls DO just want to have sun!! Sun = Fun and it's never too early to start daydreaming of summer loving! Here are a few of my favorite finds, all courtesy of Victoria's Secret ($50 and under):


This two piece bikini set is my ideal bikini! Simple, soft, and that color peach would look great against a nice tan! 

Ruffled Triangle Bikini Set $38.00 - Front and Back View - Shown in Color: Peach

I had to buy this bikini set below! The Blue is amazing and reminds me of the islands in Greece!

Triangle Bikini Set - $29.00 for solids (Shown here in color: Pacific Blue) or $34.00 for prints

This dress below is my favorite purchase so far for Summer 12'!  It looks so comfortable and simple, and can easily be dressed up. Not to mention the color is gorgeous! I can't wait to explore Greece wearing this dress!

Maxi Tank Dress - $49.50 Shown in Color: Jungle Green 

Though I'm sure I can find it for cheaper (and will surely try), I am eager to get this next item below. I can go from the beach to the streets in this cover-up dress. The color is amazing and would blend right into the Sea's of Greece! Closet wishing!!!

Tie-waist Cover-up Dress - $45.00 - Shown in color: Poesia Aqua

Whether it be for the beach or to fancy up one of those dresses - these flip-flops below are perfect! Wishing for a Gold Pair!

Colin Stuart Knotted Thong Sandal - $29.00

Finally, this beach tote is what every woman needs to carry all her belongings to the beach or pool. This bag comes free with any Beach Sexy purchase at Victoria's Secret for a limited time! I just requested mine!

Free Tote Bag from Victoria's Secret with qualifying Beach Sexy Purchase - Enter Code: BEACH at checkout

Every item listed today would make my summer holiday! What are some of your favorite must haves for the Summer?

Pura Vida = Pure Life

The phrase Pura Vida refers to Pure Life in Spanish. Enjoying life slowly, celebrating good fortune, and not taking anything for granted embodies the Pura Vida Lifestyle.

"Pumped Up Kicks" $5.00

When two young men were vacationing in Costa Rica after their college graduation, they happened to stumble upon a struggling bracelet vendor on the street. They loved the bracelets that were simple and full of color, which captured the essence of their journey. They asked the vendor to make 400 bracelets for them to bring back to the US. They sold the bracelets at $5 a piece and soon realized that these bracelets were more than your everyday bracelets, they were a movement.

Pura Vida Bracelets are each simple, unique, hand-made pieces that have a great story behind them. Every bracelet purchased helps provide full time jobs for local artisans in Costa Rica. Pura Vida is also a member of One Percent for the Planet and donates a portion of its proceeds to the surf rider foundation, a grassroots foundation dedicated to cleaning up beaches and oceans around the world. A number of the bracelets teamed up with charities and causes, such as Stop Bullying Awareness, Anti-Rape Awareness, US Army, Our Forgotten Warriors, and numerous Cancer Awareness to name a few. They donate a fraction of the profit to the charity (usually $1).

What started as a relaxing vacation turned into a booming business for four men. They are now being sold in over 700 retail locations nationwide. Each one has a unique and different color combination so coming across people with the same one as you will be difficult. So, if you feel like being charitable, patriotic, representing a cause, or just being uniquely fashionable and expressing the type of lifestyle you choose, browse their website, www.puravidabracelets.com
I'm sure you'll leave with a purchase...I know I did! PURA VIDA!

$5.00 Purchase -$1.00 will be donated

$5.00 Purchase - $1.00 will be donated

$5.00 Purchase -$1.00 will be donated

"Rasta Mon" $5.00

http://vimeo.com/35729043

All information can be found on their website www.puravidabracelets.com

BOLD & BLUEautiful

Spring fashion has sprung and it's like Déjà Blue all over again! I love shopping and seeing the new collections hit all over the stores and Internet. It's a breath of fresh air and a reminder of the good weather that is to come during the spring time. One of the hottest trends is bold color, and one color that never fails to make it to the color swatch board for Spring Fashion is Blue! Together, it's the BOLD and BLUEautiful. Check out some of my favorite finds from these early Spring 2012 collections:

This simple, yet elegant pencil skirt is yours for only $24.95. Dress it up with accessories and other bold colors. It's perfect either way!

My featured item for today, only $14.95! I can't wait to slip into this dress from H&M

Reveal your inner-Greek Goddess in this dress from Forever21 - only $16.90

Shield those eyes from the sun shiny days of spring with these Michael Kors Sunglasses - $99.00

These Royal Blue skinny jeans from Forever21 are perfect for those cool transition days in spring. $27.80

This Chambray Shirt by Old Navy will pair well with shorts, a skirt, or simply as a cover up while you're on the beach or boat vacationing this spring. Only $29.94

The perfect accessory for any occasion from Forever21- $8.80

Give those toes some much needed air with these blue turquoise sandals by Sketchers - $26.00

Block Yourself!

Want to know the two words that I used to loathe?  

COLOR BLOCK

Colored Blocks

Nooo, not those pretty colored blocks!  

COLOR BLOCK! 

Color Block Silk Shirts - GASP!

The style - which can be bold, obnoxious, and at times interesting, to say the least - was a part of my daily life for over three years. There were actual times if I heard, "Look at the Color Block ----- (fill in the blanks)," I was more likely to block my entire face to contain myself from gasping and yelling out,"What the hell were you thinking when you designed, sold, and mass produced that... interesting... color combination!"

This was the very type of Color Block shirts for men that disturbed me daily for over three years and tainted my imagination of ever wearing Color Blocked anything, ever!!
 
But, fast forward a little over a year and a half and my imagination is no longer tainted, but rather inspired to dress myself in that once despised, but interesting Color Block! I no longer think of color block as the two, three, maybe four tone blocked shirts Charlie Sheen used to wear on Two and a Half Men - instead I think of it as beautiful, reviving, and sometimes daring!

Take a look at this collection I put together of some of my favorite color blocked items out there. Note: All items are $50.00 and under.

Block Yourself by destruges featuring stackable jewelry

59 Seconds blue dress
$22 - yesstyle.com

Pencil skirt
$23 - windsorstore.com

Leather clutch
$50 - dsw.com

French Connection stackable jewelry
$14 - asos.com

ASOS floppy hat
$21 - asos.com

And all that Fur...

This winter season, I have found a new obsession...Faux Fur! It's funny to me because Fur was always something I viewed as old, raggidy, and something that just sat in a closet for years and collected dust! But now, it's got a new meaning to me -  furry, fabulous, and frugal!

Fur has brought on a whole new meaning in the fashion industry. If you're not dripped in fur from head to toe, you will still see it accented on everything from your winter coat, to your winter boots. Here are some of my favorite furs of the season:

Hawke & Co. Faux Fur Vest - $40.00 - Available in Ash

Mongolian Faux Fur Vest - $40.00 - Available in Black & Ivory

Surell Faux Fur Quilted Aviator Hat - $40.00

Flat Sole Fur Boot - $50.00 - Available in Ice

Merry Christmas to ME!

Christmas is my favorite holiday, and each year, I am blessed to recieve such amazing gifts from friends and family! But there's always that favorite gift that most people are over the top excited about - and this year - mine was...

Capri Blue Mercury Glass Jar - Anthropologie - $28.00



this absolutly gorgeous, delighfully smelling candle from Anthropologie! Uh huh, this girl right here needs nothing more then candles and clothes in her life to keep her happy!It's only $28.00 and  has a burn time of 70 hours!! Move over Yankee Candle...Capri Blue just won my heart!!!

This is a great, savvy gift for any woman with a soft spot for candles. Whether it be for the holidays, birthday, anniversary, or just an appreciation gift - I can say with full confidence that she will LOVE it!

What was your favorite gift this holiday season?

I'm Back!

After taking a much needed break for the holidays...I'm back!!! The holidays were lovely. I absolutly love spending time celebrating with my family and closest friends but as always, the holidays go by too quick! After some January blues, I'm back to reality now and ready to report all my savvy finds!!!

Bring it on 2012!!!