plaid

 Madewell shirt (loving this one) | Chanel sunglasses | Hudson jeans | Max & Chloe monogram necklace | Kate Spade long necklace | Aritzia carigan (similar) | Boots from Italy (similar) | Longchamp bag | Forever 21 belt (similar)

xo-ally

friday's fancies - sparkle & shine

This week's Friday's Fancies theme with Long Distance Loving is sparkle & shine. For the outfit, I went for a somewhat Americana look with the color scheme. The red dress acts as the focal point which is accented by navy sparkle heels and a sapphire necklace. The neutral bag (so obsessed with this Tory Burch mini crossbody) and gray coat finish off the outfit. This look is a sure stunner at any holiday gathering this year!

dress, bag, heels, coat, necklace

xo-ally

PS - I just realized this post went up a day late! Oops! Haha :) Happy Saturday!

friday's fancies - summer treat

This week's Friday's Fancies theme with Long Distance Loving is summer treat. I can't wait to get to Italy in just a little over a week and get some gelato! I can taste the delicious-ness by thinking of it. Here is my outfit inspired by strawberry and raspberry flavored gelato:

photo credits: one, two

jacket, dress, pumps, watch, clutch

I like how the dress and suede pumps make the outfit dressy, but the moto jacket adds a hint of edge. Since the jacket is white, it makes the outfit summery and works better with the girliness of the rest of the outfit. I adore the cork and gold clutch, which goes well with the gold Juicy watch!

xo-ally

red, white, and blue in the garden

Ray-Ban sunglasses| J. Crew top (not available, loving this one) | Aldo sandals | J. Crew skirt (similar) | Max & Chloe necklace | Michael Kors watch | Swank bracelets, silver | Nordstrom faux pearl earrings | Nordstrom bracelet, navy | Nail polish: Color Club "Disco Dress" | Lips: Mally Lip Magnifier

Today's outfit is a repeat of what I wore on the Fourth of July -- I didn't have a chance to photograph it then, so I decided to pull it back out. If you can't tell, I've been gravitating toward stripes lately :) as well as red and white! Haha, I just can't get enough of it I guess. If my next job had a professional dress code like my last one, I'd even consider this red and white skirt from J. Crew factory. Yeah, okay, maybe I should hold off on the stripes.

I got my nails done today and chose this bright but deep purple. At first I was afraid it would be a little too "teen punk rock princess" but liked the shade so stuck with it. Now I'm regretting not doing a different color (baby blue or bright pink)! I know, I know it's a major #firstworldproblem...

On another note, I was browsing around online and came across this photo of Disney Princess-inspired engagement rings! How adorable.

My favorite is Ariel's, followed by Cinderella's. Which one is your favorite?

xo-ally

peplum + prints

J. Crew top | J. Crew pants | Chanel sunglasses | Muses & Rebels necklace | Report flats | Longchamp bag | Michael Kors watch | Swank bracelets

It was a slightly chilly, summer day in Seattle, so trading shorts for pants was in order. This particular pair was picked up from a recent J. Crew sale (scored them for $24, originally $128). Due to the busy print of the pants, I pulled the look together with a classic, white peplum top, sparkly bow flats, and accessories. I even did my hair for once - a loosely curled side pony made the look more fun, in my opinion. :)

More ways to wear it....what I love about these pieces are the versatility: I can envision this peplum top looking lovely over this bright blue pencil skirt or even a crisp pair of skinnies with mini wedges. As for the pants, a silk-y button-down tucked in with a belt would look effortlessly fabulous, as would this oversize sweater for early fall days.

xo-ally

friday's fancies - tanked!

This week's Friday's Fancies with Long Distance Loving is tanked! While I wear tank tops literally all year round (layered, of course, in the winter), the middle of the summer is the perfect time to go sleeveless and show off those bronzed shoulders!

tank, pants, handbag, bracelet, watch, sandals

This tank from Asos is super trendy so I paired it with classic, red skinny pants and neutral colored accessories. The colors work really well together and all play off the fun print on the tank. This outfit would be perfect for brunch or an evening around town. For work, swap out the sandals for a pair of pumps and top it off with a blazer. And aren't you just swooning over this Michael Kors bag?! Since a Celine is currently out of my budget, I'm actually seriously considering MK's take on the similar silhouette.

xo-ally

why you should shop the sales at j. crew

I mentioned last week that I was going to post about the amazing J. Crew sale happening right now. It was so great that I bought quite a few pieces (more than I normally get at once) and told everyone I knew. It was even so amazing that I had to write about it here!

Basically, J. Crew almost always has some type of sale going on. The best way to know which sale is happening is to get on their email list. The website usually says what sale is going on as well, but by getting emails, you know exactly which sales are happening right away.

The particular sale that occurred last week was 40% off sale items for final sale. So the items are already marked down, and then you get an extra 40% off. I got $500 worth of clothes for only $143! (I tweeted it was $600 worth by accident - I did the math wrong! Haha oops). But still, I saved a pretty decent sized chunk of change, which is why I often wait for the sales to happen and why you should shop the sales too!

The lovely items in my shopping bag:

 I've had my eye on this whale sweater for a while now (at least a month!) but waited until last week to get it. It'll be the perfect transition piece for fall. How cute are the little green whales?

 These pants are perfect for cool, summer days. The whimsical print will transition well into early fall as well.

 I love this striped top and the color blocking of the shades of red.

 So much sparkle. Couldn't resist.

 You can never go wrong with a classic, striped t-shirt.

Such a pretty lace skirt for almost 1/3 of the original price! The lighting makes it look off-white, but it is a true white.

Do you shop the J. Crew sales? Did you get anything recently? Aren't they simply amazing?!

xo-ally

PS - the winner of the project birthday giveaway is Shane! An email will be sent to you with all the info about receiving the gifts. Thank you ALL for participating :) I'm so glad I got to "meet" some lovely new bloggers and readers through the giveaway!

friday's fancies - stars + stripes

This week's Friday's Fancies theme with Long Distance Loving is stars + stripes. I recreated a very similar outfit to the one I wore yesterday (unfortunately didn't get photos - however I know I'll definitely be re-wearing it sometime soon!) I went a little crazy at the J. Crew sale - where I got a very similar shirt and skirt -  I'll definitely post about the awesome sale sometime within the next few days.

shirt, skirt, sandals, necklace, watch, bracelets, earrings

xo-ally

dresses for the fourth of july

I can't get enough of fun, summer dresses and have spotted so many adorable options when perusing shops online. Here are three of my current favorites that would be perfect for the Fourth of July!

dresses: left, middle, right

I also have a really fun giveaway starting tomorrow!! Stay tuned and check back July 1st at midnight PST to enter!

xo-ally

friday's fancies - project polka dot

This week's Friday's Fancies theme with long distance loving is Project Polka Dot. I love the black and white polka dot sweater so I built an outfit around it! The peplum top and scallop shorts make the outfit a little less casual but not too dressy. The trendy sunglasses, bold bangles, statement necklace, and bright nail polish complete the look!

top, shorts, sandals, necklace, bracelets, sweater, nail polish, sunglasses

xo-ally

gingham and denim

Button up J. Crew Red shirt Nordstrom Jeans Hudson Belt Forever 21 Necklace H&M Watch Michael Kors Sunglasses Chanel

My schedule didn't allow enough time for a .GIF outfit post today, but I did manage a couple photos. I wore a long sleeved red t-shirt underneath my gingham button up with jeans and brown leather riding boots. And sunglasses. Because it was actually sort of sunny today, and because I am running on less than 2.5 hours of sleep. Even my favorite concealer can't hide the zombie bags under my eyes. Well, what can you do.

Happy Wednesday!

xo-ally

adorable pieces from modcloth

Currently loving each of these adorable pieces from Modcloth. I can't wait for spring!

[Click the images to link back to the site/product info]

xo-ally

friday's fancies - red + pink

This week's Friday's Fancies theme with long distance loving is red + pink. Happy post-Valentine's day outfit! Even though Valentine's Day was yesterday, I still think this outfit is adorable and suitable for any day.

sweater, skirt, belt, heels, nail polish "demure vix", thin bangle, thick bangle

xo-ally

friday's fancies - holiday best

I can't believe it's already Friday! This week really flew by. Being on break from school really threw me off my routine.

This week's theme with long distance loving is holiday best. I chose a jewel dress from Kate Spade that I just adore with red tights, classic black heels, and a simple, sparkly necklace. Here's my outfit:

dress, tights, heels, necklace

xo-ally

Anddddd the world didn't end today.

dun dun DUN.

I feel like everyone jumped on the bandwagon a few years ago. Then realized it wouldn't actually happen.

We're alive! YAY.

cozy winter knits

Vest Nordstrom (old) T-shirt Nordstrom (similar) Leggings lululemon Watch Michael Kors Mittens H&M Boots Sperry

Today's outfit is actually from the weekend as well! I wore this on the way back from the beautiful cabin in the mountains last weekend. When I think snow, I just want to bundle up in something cozy. Casual knits like this long sleeved t-shirt and hooded sweater vest do just that. I normally save my lululemon leggings for exercise, but since they wick away moisture it helps to keep me (kind of?) dry in the snow. Rain boots also kept me dry! Thick, fuzzy socks are a must underneath rain boots. Plus, no one needs to see crazy socks underneath! (The other day I wore Valentine's Day socks underneath my boots - when I got home and took them off my roommates kept making jokes about them being the wrong holiday. Haha!)

xo-ally

coral cuff

On my way out from Lake Coeur d'Alene this Fourth of July week, I stopped with some friends at a boutique - which I am forgetting the name of - and found this red coral cuff! It was only $14 and matches my red Kate Spade ring well. ;)

Camera update: Half-fixed! I can usually take pictures on it (it's kind of hard to explain) but will hopefully be posting more outfits soon now that I don't always have to use my phone!

xo

sweets & snacks - recipes for 4th of july

With barbecues and parties celebrating our lovely Independence Day coming up this week, I am seeing USA-themed everything, everywhere. I was perusing the web for Fourth of July recipes, and here are some I found!

Red, White, and Blue Cupcakes from One Ordinary Day

These are super cute, and the colored cake make it so much fun!

Nutella Berry Crunch Crackers from LaurenConrad.com

Nutella? Yes, please! This post on laurenconrad.com has a few other 4th of July snack ideas too!

Pretzel Rods from Martha Stewart

I think I'm going to try these! Looks like a good mix of salty and sweet.

Happy almost-Fourth-of-July!

xo-ally

what I wore to a bridal shower

Dress: Swank Shoes: Dolce Vita Bag: Kate Spade Sunglasses: American Eagle Earrings: Stella and Dot Bracelets: Nordstrom

This weekend I am in Colorado for a family friend's wedding! This is what I wore to the bridal shower. Red and turquoise is a classic color combination so I thought it would be fitting for the outdoor party.

xo-ally

cheap nail polish finds

I was at the drugstore today and found a few awesome bottles of nail polish! Even though the trip was only meant for face wash, the shopper in me took a look at the makeup section. I love good nail polish finds, especially if they're cheap! Sometimes I don't buy cheap nail polish because of the quality of the paint and brushes, but some brands are actually pretty nice for the price!

Left: "Mezmerised" by Essie, $8

Middle: "Blue-Ming" by Color Club, $5

Right: "Energetic Red" by Sinful Colors, $2

I bought the Essie color thinking it would be similar to the shade of medium-wash jeans, but it's actually a little darker. It's more of a cobalt, saturated blue. It's still very pretty, though!

The "Tiffany Blue" polish in the middle is great! I'm rocking this shade right now. It's a beautiful robin's egg blue hue that is pretty good quality for only five bucks.

The red polish on the right is a gorgeous shade of red. It's not too alarming and not too subtle - a good in-between shade of red that's perfect for summer.

I'm thinking of doing a "French manicure" on my nails with the blue color in the middle and the red. The blue would be the base and the red would be on the tips. Do you think this would look good, or totally crazy?! If I like it I'll post some pics on here ;) and if not... well, you can assume it probably didn't turn out so well. Haha.

xo