Fleur d'Elise

hearts & candy

2012-02-14T08:30:00.000-08:00

Yet another holiday with the purpose of reminding us to tell our loved ones how much we appreciate them. Go buy some chocolates for someone :)

In these photos:

Thrifted Land's End sweater

H&M belt

Forever 21 skirt and shoes

Photo-a-Day: Week 2

2012-02-12T09:56:00.000-08:00

6. dinner

This was dinner on Monday. After Sunday's fare (so much cheese!) I thought a salad was in order. Call me old fashioned, but I still view salads as the confessional booth of foods. Repent of thy sins! Now do 10 Hail Meuslis.

7. button

8. sun

This is the last of the sunshine being reflected onto my apartment building.

9. front door

10. self portrait

I always thought I couldn't draw human figures, but then I decided to sit down and give it a real go. I drew myself, since I know that "subject" best. I think I turned out alright. There are certainly some "artistic liberties" taken, though.

11. makes you happy

This is Frida. For the past 2,758 mornings (minus the 7 months I lived in England) I have woken up to this silly looking dog. I laugh at her every day. Her face is so funny. Ears for days.

12. inside my closet

It's hard to take a photo in my closet. The lighting is horrible.

Follow me on Twitter to see a new photo every day. @catiebeatty

Photo-a-Day

Oh crap.

2012-02-07T10:20:00.005-08:00

I accidentally deleted this post. All better now.

In these photos:
Thrifted hat
J.Crew Cardigan
H&M dress worn as a top
Forever21 trousers
Vintage Coach purse

spring wish list: illustrated

2012-02-06T09:07:00.000-08:00

Clockwise from the left:

1. J.Crew Tippi Sweater $72.50
Great for layering (Spring weather can be unpredictable!) and the perfect preppy piece to pair with all of those crazy florals, which we'll get to later. Check out J.Crew for a million other colors.

2. Cat-Eye Glasses
This is one of those trends that seems to have real staying power. Vogue says it's because of the recession (no one has money to invest in new trends). Regardless, they're pretty awesome and go great with those other trends that don't seem to be going anywhere: 50's and 60's style

3. H&M Chiffon Blouse $49.95
Collars are EVERYWHERE. Classic oxford collars, patterned collars, peter pan collars, beaded collars; everything goes! They're an easy way to add some interest to an outfit. Layer it under your crew-neck sweater (see #1) for insta-prep.

4. M.A.C. Fake Lashes $15
What's nice about the trends this Spring is that they all go together! You don't have to worry about getting your space-age make-up to look right with Victorian-inspired dresses. Instead, most of everything looks straight outta the early 60's. So pair your cat-eye glasses with cat-eye make-up. Try fake lashes for extra oomph!

5. ASOS Floral Pants $72
Florals were seen all over the runways again for S/S 2012, but these are not your prissy mini-florals of years past. Think huge, bright, and kinda kitsch. Alexander Wang and Blumarine had some of the biggest, most over-the-top prints. Asos has some good ones, too!

6. J.Crew Tillary Bucket Tote $198
Ok, so neon is yet another trend that keeps coming back every spring. It just makes sense. It's fun, it's lively, and like masago adds such a pleasant pop to sushi, neon adds the nicest pop to an outfit. This leather bucket bag is a steal at just under $200. Also, check out the Celine-esque Tillary totes for $328.

Photo-a-Day:Week 1

2012-02-05T14:18:00.001-08:00

This Photo-a-Day thing is fun, but it was eating up too much space (in other words, pushing my main posts out of view). I've decided to condense the pictures into a weekly post.

1. My View
To be honest, I discovered the photo-a-day challenge late in the day, and since the daylight is gone and I can't get the pictures of my messy desk to come out right, I decided to cheat a little. Technically, I was downtown on Feb. 1, but this shot is from a couple weeks ago when we had snow.

2. Words
I am having a very passionate love affair with fonts. These are hand-painted using watercolors.

3. Hands

4. L'etranger
I want a new camera. Free is nice and all, but I want one where I can actually see what I'm shooting. I can't tell if a picture is good or not, so sorry stranger boys. I wish I could of gotten some better shots of you.

5. 10am
Toast with a side of vitamins: Calcium, Omega-3, Turmeric, and Hair, Nails, and Skin multi.

This is a great idea! It's like a treasure hunt through pictures. To join, visit Fat Mum Slim.

inspiration

2012-02-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

This card is currently looking down at me from my note-board. I don't usually buy cards--I'm quite efficient at making my own and people seem to like them--but I just couldn't resist this one. I love the handwritten text, the "Frenchiness", and of course the girl's striped top. I also really love the fact that the design is hand-painted.

I've been painting a lot more lately, thanks in large part to Rifle Paper Co. You never know what's going to inspire you or how, but every time I see one of their designs, I want to go home and paint! Every card, notepad, and calendar is the perfect combination of beauty and humor. I love the whimsy and the somewhat-careless fashion of the designs. I wish I could let loose enough to paint such fun designs, but I can't seem to get my hand to paint in that same style. You see, my style is determined to be very detailed and perfectly accurate.

Instead, I'll just keep painting in my own style and enjoying Rifle's designs when I'm browsing one of the many card shops I frequent.

I encourage you to visit the Rifle Paper Co. website . They have so many lovely paper products and even do custom designed invitations!

don't let it go to your head

2012-01-30T21:03:00.000-08:00

For those of you who haven't seen it yet, here's the Glamour shot! I've been meaning to scan it, but that's hard to do without a scanner. Luckily, the people at Glamour were kind enough to post it on their blog Slaves to Fashion . Someone even left a nice comment about it :)

Recently, my father-in-law asked me if it was "all going to my head." So far no, it's still pretty weird seeing myself in a magazine. The more appropriate phrase would be "It's hard to wrap my head around it." Then, while I was doing the washing up, I realized despite my health problems and the drama my feet caused this past year, I don't feel like I missed out on any opportunities. I feel very accomplished, and that's a good feeling.

Photo Credit: Marc Leibowitz for Glamour Magazine

The outfit:
Vintage velvet blazer and hat
Thrifted stripe top
American Apparel skirt
Vintage Coach bag

COVET.

2012-01-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

Glitter skirt by Danielle Scutt. COVET.

I saw this skirt in the most recent issue of Elle (Feb. '12, pg. 208) and knew immediately that this would be the next item featured on COVET. It's gorgeous, completely impractical and extravagant, and certainly nothing I will own anytime soon. Actually, I can't even figure out where to buy it. I think you would have to be famous or know Miss Scutt personally. Maybe it's just not available yet, but at $1,415 I will probably never be in the same city as that skirt.

Visit ELLE.com to see more of Danielle Scutt S/S 2012 ready-to-wear

F21 Feature

2012-01-27T17:16:00.000-08:00

Finally, all that money spent at Forever21 has paid off. LOL! j/k! But seriously, they were so kind as to feature me on The Skinny, which is Forever21's bloggity blog.

I am featured alongside 3 other lovely ladies, all of whom have much better picture quality! (I think it is high time I educate myself in the way of taking-nicer-photos). While I'm doing that, why don't you check it out!

Share the Wealth Giveaway-WINNER!

2012-01-27T16:13:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delay, but I have finally chosen a winner! After numbering everyone, I used Random.org to generate a random number and the winner is...

Moriela from Charmed!!!

Congratulations!

Thanks, everyone, for entering :)

snow day

2012-01-24T14:01:00.000-08:00

Currently, I am writing from my bedroom. My window looks out on the "yard" and alleyway; greens and greys are the primary shades. It's hard to believe that just 4 days ago it was under 5+ inches of snow and ice. I've never seen that much snow melt so quickly.

We've avoided flooding and burst pipes so far, but our dumpster is completely full (just my luck, as it is NEVER full) and I am still cleaning up mud. Seattle seems to have escaped unscathed, but the rest of the Puget Sound is a different story. Many homes are still without power, a man was killed by a falling tree, and a factory roof collapsed under the weight of the snow and ice. I guess we should just stop being "wimps", huh Los Angeles?

I was lucky that I didn't have to go anywhere and could just enjoy the white wonderland. It was fun seeing my tenant snowboard down our alleyway. How many people can say they have cross-country skied thru their town? Ok, well I can't, but I know some people who can :) I went out walking a couple times, but the cold and the low barometric pressure made my feet hurt SO bad, I couldn't stand or walk for very long. Accordingly, I had to coordinate my outfits around flat, warm boots. This outfit had a lot of fun layers and pattern combinations; I enjoyed wearing it.

Curly Hazelnut in the yard at one of our rental properties.

Don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY!

In these photos:
J.Crew hat
Forever21 jacket
Vintage sweater
Noble A dress
American Apparel socks
Payless boots
Coach bag

Share the Wealth Giveaway

2012-01-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

I have been very lucky this past year and feel that I should share some of my luck with my readers. That brings us to 2012's first giveaway! You will all have the chance to enter, and one lucky reader will win the Nine West bag I got from Marie Claire as part of my prize package. The winner will also receive the January issue of UK Glamour. My dad brought this back from England :) Ok, so if you're from the UK, it won't be that exciting, but it's still a free magazine!

So about the bag. As you can see in the picture above, it's a tote with a silver woven exterior. The interior is lined with fabric and features a large pocket, small zippered pocket, and a magnetic snap closure. It's an all-around great bag!

You can enter several different ways:
1. Follow me via bloglovin' or Google (Click "Follow" on the right side of the blog) +1 entry

2. LIKE Fleur d'Elise on Facebook +1 entry

3. Post a link to the giveaway on your blog +2 entries

Remember to leave a comment telling me which one you did and post a link if you mentioned me on your blog!

Giveaway ends January 25th, 2012

The Four Snowmen of the Snowpocalypse

2012-01-17T13:35:00.000-08:00

It's coming!! A whole 6 inches of snow! DOT is putting down so much sand and salt it will be like driving on the beach once all the snow is gone!

Surprisingly, it's not that cold out, so strategic layering is all I need. A loose, heavy-knit shrug to provide warm pockets of air, full length gloves, a beret to keep the snow off my face, and thick socks in my boots; I'm good to go!

So I was trying to come up with names for the Four Snowmen, but I've only got three so far.
1. Pestilence, the Snowman of Delayed Garbage Service
2. Anguish, the Snowman who brings chaos to I-5 and leaves drivers stranded there for 5+ hours.
3. Pain, this Snowman brings icy sidewalks and consequentially, broken tailbones and bruised egos

I'm open to suggestions for the fourth

Cross your fingers that my husband doesn't get stranded at work tonight!

In these photos:
American Apparel beret
Zara top
Harmonic shrug
Vintage fur stole and leather gloves
H&M bag
Zella Leggings
Etienne Aigner boots

Spring Accessories

2012-01-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

Spring Accessories by fleur-d-elise featuring glitter shoes

Neon accessories seem to pop up every Spring. As much as I love them, maybe it's time to give something else a try. How about metallics? They're just as bold; just as eye-catching. Plus, gold and silver are technically neutrals, so neutral rules apply to them!

Try pieces that glitter, try pieces that shine, and if you get too overwhelmed or don't feel like spending money, try Essie's line of Luxeffect Nail Polish. I especially love the silver one over top of a peachy polish.

As promised, I will be having a Giveaway very soon! Check back on Wednesday to see what goodies I will be giving away to a lucky reader!

better.

2012-01-12T22:55:00.000-08:00

Finally, everything is coming up Catie! If that doesn't make any sense, it's a Simpsons reference. Millhouse said something similar once. Anyway, things are starting to go very well for me.

After nearly a year of foot problems, my feet are finally starting to feel better. I've completely cut coffee out of my life (sigh) because it causes inflammation and I'm seeing an acupuncturist. After trying everything else, I didn't think it would work. I was wrong! Acupuncture is magic!! I have my second appointment tomorrow, which I'm hoping will go well. You see, I'm pretty terrified of needles. Like get-up-and-run-out-of-the-dentists-office terrified. My aunt, who works at the acupuncturist's office, didn't think I would actually come in for it, but I did! Christie, if you're reading this, thanks for telling her I blacked out when I got my ears pierced!

I don't know if I'll ever be able to wear heels again, but I am so, so thankful to just be pain free. It's nice to have a little break from that whole ordeal.

On top of improvements in health, I've been approached for more features and a collaboration; two things that are always welcome! And I have all you lovely readers :) It feels good to be a part of this community.

P.S.
A little shout-out to my Uncle Paul and Aunt Anita who made my latest Forever21 shopping spree a possibility :)

In theses photos:
Forever21 jacket & stockings
Forever21 sheer blouse
H&M cotton mini dress
DKNY fishnets
Kate Spade iPad case
Aldo shoes

Spring Color Trends: Part 2

2012-01-10T13:51:00.000-08:00

Spring Color Trend: Pastels by fleur-d-elise featuring a collarless jacket

Pastels are still prominent, but at Jill Stuart, they were paired perfectly with candy brights.

It was easy to find similar pieces at affordable prices, since J.Crew has some nearly identical color combinations in their Spring line. If J. Crew is still too pricey, look to H&M's new S/S '12 line for fresh brights and sweet pastels.

Here are some other great pieces that follow this trend!

Cotton candy trousers? Yes please! Buy them at HM.com

Cotton Candy Pants by fleur-d-elise on polyvore.com

Pineapple sorbet and lemon jelly beans come to mind when I look at these pumps from Charlotte Russe:

Shoes! by fleur-d-elise featuring patent leather platform pumps

Ok, I hate gumdrops, but I love this purse. Buy at Forever21.com:

For my blog by fleur-d-elise featuring cross body handbags

Spring Color Trends: Part 1

2012-01-09T23:17:00.000-08:00

Spring Color Trend: Pastels by fleur-d-elise featuring an oversized leather clutch

So I've done a little research (not gonna pretend like this was my idea!) and pastels are suppose to be very "in" this Spring. Definitely appropriate for the season, I should say! Quite a few designers sent light, frothy shades down the runways, but one really stuck out: Chanel Ready-to-Wear for S/S 2012.

Dewey-faced models floated down the runway that had been decorated to look like a a coral reef. There weren't any obvious mermaid references (no silly tails or shell bras), but every piece was a nod to the sea. Delicate scales, pearly fabrics, and colors reminiscent of sea fans and scallop shells are just some of the details Karl Lagerfeld used to bring this underwater world to life.

The term "ready-to-wear" is sometimes a little misleading. You think to yourself "Oh, maybe it's in real people dollars," but no, it just means it's not made to order. The prices are still excruciating. Instead, the average girl, like moi et tu, must take notes on what she likes and find inspired pieces at prices she can afford.

I've done some of the work for you and found some lovely items at stores like Madewell, American Apparel, and online at Asos.com. Below are a few more reef-inspired pieces.

Look for frothy textures and shimmery fabrics, like this Romwe tunic:

Romwe Top by fleur-d-elise featuring a pink tee

If that's too much for you, try adding some scalloped edges into your wardrobe. They're named after a sea creature, and for good reason! I like this tiered top from Forever21.

Forever21 Top by fleur-d-elise on polyvore.com

As for accessories, opalescent stones, pearl earrings, and coral clutches are perfect for finishing off a look. I'm heading to Forever21 today to see if I can score this amazing necklace!

Opal necklace by fleur-d-elise featuring forever 21 jewelry

It's here!

2012-01-09T23:11:00.000-08:00

Just picked up a couple copies of the February 2012 issue of Glamour. One for me and one for my husband's family. I am soooo happy with the picture. I like it a lot more than the one in Marie Claire, but I can't complain really! What a great start to the year :)

Twee

2012-01-05T13:11:00.001-08:00

I've been very busy crafting. That is the one blessing that has come from my feet problems. I'm finally working on arts and crafts projects! I'm even getting around to projects that have been waiting on me for years. I've been obsessed with felting. It's way easier than I thought it would be and I actually have the patience for it, unlike sewing. I made a whole bunch of little animals for Christmas presents (ex. my sister got an otter and my grandma got an english Robin) and now I'm working on a project that I'm hoping will someday become a book. I can't tell you what it is yet, because I don't want anyone stealing my idea, haha.

As for the outfit, I was happy to finally style the little yellow blouse you see peeking out of the sweater. It's from Lulu's but I was lucky enough to get it for free on Chictopia. They have a great rewards program! I didn't even have to pay shipping. Actually, this outfit was very cheap! The blouse was free, as was the skirt and belt! I am a lucky-duck, and I feel I should share some of my luck. Keep your eyes open for a giveaway coming in the next week or so!!

In this outfit:
American Apparel beret
Vintage sweater
Lulu blouse
Felicee skirt & belt
Vintage velvet blazer

January, supposedly.

2012-01-02T23:25:00.000-08:00

After dealing with crazy weather 3 years in a row, I was really prepared to get snowed in again (it only takes like 2 inches). So far, not one flake. Instead we get days like yesterday. 49 degrees and sunny. Apparently, the rest of the country is experience this, too. It just doesn't feel like winter.

Apart from that, Happy New Year! What are you looking forward to most this year? I, for one, am bound and determined to start seeing some improvement in my feet. That is what I'm looking forward to (cross your fingers). I will never wear heels again, but I will be satisfied with just being pain-free. It puts quite a damper on my blogging, as I'm sure regular readers have noticed.

I got these pictures as we were heading out the door yesterday. The cardigan is new and was free with the use of my Chic Points on Chictopia.com. I really love the black piping around the edge.

You know what else I'm looking forward to? The February issue of Glamour Magazine. You know why? Because I made it in!!! The section I'm in was suppose to be in the November 2011 issue, and I figured they ran out of room or I didn't make it. Then, last month, I got word. I feel pretty accomplished. They sought me out for this and I made the final cut. Pretty damn affirming :) Remember, hard work always pays off. Keep blogging, keep writing, keep doing whatever it is that you love!

In this photo:
Tisvin cardigan
Zella leggings
Ray-Ban Sunglasses
Kate Spade iPad case

Handmade gift: Bath Salts

2011-12-12T09:00:00.000-08:00

I make little jars of bath salts almost every year. It's easy and cheap to assemble, and a lot of fun to customize! I use coarse "ice cream" salt, baking soda, and olive oil for my base, then add natural fragrance oils and herbs. Salt draws out toxins and helps soothe soar muscles, while baking soda is great for itchy, dry skin.

Here are some fragrance blends I like:
- Lavendar, clove, and tangerine (great for soothing headaches)
- Tangerine and clove are very festive
- Eucalyptus and mint for circulation and cedar is anti-fungal (great foot soak!)
- Lavender and extra baking soda for someone with sensitive skin

I find most of my essential oils at Super Supplements and a great store in Ballard called Danelion Botanical Company . They have great products at reasonable prices (note: Rose oil is NEVER reasonably priced, no matter where you get it)

You will need:
1+ cups of coarse salt
1 to 2 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp dried herbs (your choice)
1/2 tsp citrus zest (optional)
6+ drops essential oil
1 tsp Grapeseed or Olive Oil

A bowl and spoon for mixing
A jar, plastic bag, or other grease-proof container

Add the herbs (here I use peppermint tea) to the salt.

Now add citrus zest, if you are using it. I would recommend chopping it into tiny pieces so it's less likely to clog your drain (forgot to do that in the pictures!)

Stir the herbs and zest together, then add the grapeseed or olive oil. Mix until evenly distributed. Now add the drops of essential oil. You can add more or less, depending on your preference. Mix well.

Sprinkle the baking soda over the mix and stir to combine.

Lastly, spoon the mixture into your bag or container. I like these little decorative cellophane bags, especially since they won't shatter if dropped in the shower!

Note: If you choose to use peppermint oil instead of tea, limit it to 2 drops. I have ruined many baths by putting in too much peppermint oil. My! Does it burn!

Good tidings!

2011-12-10T14:11:00.001-08:00

A peek at the holiday cards I've been working on :)

And guess what!

My dad gave me a camera! It's not new or super fancy, but he got it for a good price at a garage sale and he already has a camera... not sure why he even bought this one. Lucky me! It's a Nikon and is working out really well so far!

I bought the stripped top at Zara, downtown San Francisco. It's actually the first thing I've ever bought at Zara! I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but Seattle is a Zara-free zone :(

As good as Zara's stuff looks (the designers are amazing, really) I was a little surprised at the quality. Half the the clothes I brought into the dressing room had busted zippers or were already splitting at the seams. You can't see it on the top, but the sleeve openings are actually two different sizes. I guess they spend all their production money on design and quality fabrics (wool, silk, etc.), but then skimp on assembly. Still wouldn't mind having one here in Seattle, though.

It's good to be back :)

In these photos:
United Colors of Benetton coat
Zara top
Forever21 skirt
Vintage fur stole
Vintage bracelet
Xhiliration flats

Stocking Stuffers: $10 and under

2011-12-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

stocking stuffers by fleur-d-elise featuring cotton skirts

I labeled this set as "stocking stuffers", but really, most of them would make fine gifts as well. Especially if you are on a tight budget like I am!

1. Forever 21 Make-up Bag $5-$10
The bag shown has already sold out, but Forever 21 is always a great place to find cute things for cheap!

2. H&M Cotton Mini $6
I have a few of these myself. They fit great, come in tons of colors and are super cheap! They're also pretty versatile. Add some flexibility to anyone's wardrobe for just $6!

3. Forever 21 Nail Polish in Sunset $3
Nail polish is always a fun and affordable gift. Check out Forever21 for a million great colors.

4. iTunes Card $10+
iTunes cards make the best gifts! Just like everyone needs food, everyone needs music as well. Hit up Target or Best Buy for one of those 3-packs and you have a gift for your cousin, your dad, and a stocking stuffer for your significant other.

5. Crate and Barrel Snowflake Soap $1.50
This snowflake soap makes a great stocking stuffer or hostess gift. Throw in a soap dish and you've got a great little gift set! Has a soft, clean scent.

6. Miniature bottles of liquor $1-$8
Even though neither my husband nor I drink, little bottles of alk-ee-hall always sound like fun gifts. I haven't included a link for this one, because there isn't really a place online I would recommend buying these. Instead, visit your local liquor retailer for fun, adult-only stocking stuffers.

7. Cooperative Eyeglass Case $10
This is another great gift that can be used by anyone. Check out Urban Outfitters for more styles.

8. Theo Chocolate Bars $3-$4
I've saved the best for last: Theo Chocolates! Made here in Seattle, this has got to be some of the best chocolate in the World! Creamy and rich instead of waxy and bitter, nothing beats their dark chocolate. They use only organic, fair trade chocolate and have the most delicious selection of flavors. The one shown here is Bread and Chocolate and contains crunchy little bits of french bread.

Well, that's it for the gift buying guides! Keep an eye out for some homemade gift ideas in the next few weeks!

Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts for IT

2011-12-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

gifts for all by fleur-d-elise on polyvore.com

This gift guide has no gender. Maybe you need a gift for a couple or for a whole family, or maybe you just need ideas for someone you don't know very well on a personal basis, like your boss. Well, this is the guide for you!

1. Crate and Barrel Goodies $5-$22
Crate and Barrel has great general purpose gifts. Their gourmet Christmas goodies are always a hit, because everyone likes food! Everything is relatively affordable and comes festively packaged which is perfect if you're hurrying off to a holiday party and need a last-minute gift.

2. Heifer International $10+
Heifer International is a non-profit organization that provides livestock to poor families in the US and around the World. This gift is great for someone who already has everything or a family that is interested philanthropy. You can "buy" anything from a share in a sheep to an entire "Ark" of animals, which will then be sent to a struggling family in your friend's honor. The organization also accepts monthly donations.

3. Kate Spade Leather Cleaner $10
Most people own something made of leather and every once in a while it needs to be cleaned. This gift is for that practical person on your list. Maybe it's your aunt or your older brother, or maybe you are just trying to encourage your younger sister to take care of her stuff for once! This leather cleaner is perfect for cleaning smooth and patent leathers and can also be used on vinyls!

4. Kate Spade Domino Set $30
I swear, this is the last Kate Spade item. There are just so many great gifts on that site! This set of dominoes is perfect for a family with kids or anyone who likes to play games. Fun, affordable, and can be played by all ages.

Holiday Gift Guide: Ladies

2011-11-21T16:38:00.000-08:00

gifts for ladies by fleur-d-elise featuring a cotton beret

Buying for the ladies in your life probably isn't as hard as buying for the men, but just in case, I've come up with a list of things I think would make great gifts (i.e. I want them all).

1. Kate Spade Rain or Shine Mug $20
This is my favorite thing on the list. Who wouldn't want one of these?! They're made by Lenox (ooh la la) and at only $20, it's waaay cheaper than what the tote bag version of this design costs.

2. J.Crew Edie Purse $238
Ok, so I imagine at $238 this isn't something you are going to be buying for all your best girl friends, but maybe put it on your own Christmas list...

3. Diptyque 'Roses' Scented Oval $45
This would make a great gift for a special lady, like your mom or grandma. The loop makes it perfect for hanging in a closet and the scent lasts for 3 months. Visit the Nordstrom website to find matching candles and other scents.

4. Weleda Everon Lip Balm $5
I am wearing this lip balm right now! It's my favorite. All-natural, high quality ingredients leave your lips soft and healthy. Real vanilla and rose oils give it a delicate scent and at $5 it makes a great gift or stocking stuffer!

5. American Apparel Beret $20
This cotton beret comes in 4 colors and the wool version comes in 13 colors! The cotton version isn't quite as stiff as the wool and has a more relaxed fit. Both are adorable, though!

6. American Apparel Turtleneck Crop Top $28
This gift is especially perfect for any fashionistas you may know. The cropped style pairs perfectly with high waisted garments. Made from spandex jersey, this sleeveless top is also great for layering. Comes in 8 colors.

7. Kate Spade Hinge Bangle $88
I will never have this kind of money to spend on gifts, but I'm kind of obsessed with everything at Kate Spade right now, so it's on my list.

Holiday Gift Guide: Guys

2011-11-16T12:56:00.000-08:00

gifts for guys by fleur-d-elise on polyvore.com

I always struggle with what to get for the men in my life. Mostly it's just because guy stuff is kinda boring, so I am even more prone to buying something I like as opposed to something the man I'm buying for likes. "Enjoy your bubble bath set! Lemon Verbena is kind of a manly scent, isn't it?" It's either that, or they end up with the same thing every year (I always have to stop myself from buying my dad barbecue sauce every year).

I have this inkling that some of you might have the same problems, so I've come up with a short list of tried-and-true guy pleasers (my husband owns all of these things).

1. Tanner Lanyard
Made in the US from English bridle leather and tanned with natural vegetable dyes, this lanyard is perfect for keeping wallets and keys close to the body. It looks pretty tough, too. Available from Blackbird Ballard.

2. Filson Travel Kit
So $90 this isn't exactly a steal, but it sure is nice. These waxed-canvas bags are made in Seattle by a company with a long and interesting history. All their products are durable, high-quality, and super cool (at least according to the men I know). Check out the Blackbird website to learn more about the company and their products!

3. Stanley Thermos
Nothing says "tough and manly" like a Stanley Thermos! They come in quite a few colors now, are still made of high-quality stainless steel, and are great for keeping coffee piping hot.

4. LUSH Soak and Float Solid Shampoo and Tint
Cade Oil gives this solid shampoo its distinct campfire scent. My husband's favorite scent (and flavor) is smoke, so he was pretty thrilled when I found this shampoo bar. Every once in a while he gets very worried that they discontinue this scent and swears he's going to go buy 10 of them just in case. This one bar has lasted him for so long though, that I'm pretty sure 10 would last him the rest of his life. The bar is $10.95 and the tin was free with purchase. Make sure you get the tin or you will think your bathroom is on fire!

hello there!

2011-11-10T14:04:00.000-08:00

Oh goodness! This always happens. I go on vacation and my whole flow is completely interrupted. It takes me weeks to get back into the swing of things. I'm surprised I am even back on my regular work schedule. And, of course, breaking my camera on vacation doesn't help in the blogging department. It's just the LCD screen that's broken, but it still makes it hard to take pictures since I can't tell what it's focusing on and I can't use any of the menu options. These pomegranates were photographed just 2 days before the fateful drop. I have never seen them "out in the wild."

We had a wonderful trip, my feet felt quite nearly fantastic, and I was even able to go shopping at Zara! We don't have any in Seattle, so it was a real treat. I'm a little disappointed in the quality, but I'll leave that topic for another post.

Hope you are all well! xoxo

time to pretend

2011-10-24T19:47:00.000-07:00

I wish I could say I wore this look all day, but I was only able to enjoy it for a little while. I'm still suffering from tendinitis in my feet and can't wear "fashionable" shoes for very long. I am resigned to wearing tennis shoes and Naots; shoes with lots of padding and little style. Tendinitis takes so long to heal!

My ex-podiatrist (he did not have enough time for me so I've stopped going to him), said to find flat, stiff-soled shoes. Turns out that is nearly impossible to do! 99% of shoes have a slight heel and/or are completely flexible in the forefoot.

Enough about my dumb feet and on to a happier topic! My husband and I are leaving on our "honeymoon" on Wednesday. We will be spending 5 days in northern California. Specifically, San Francisco and Santa Cruz. His mother has cousins there, so we will staying with them. Other than that, we don't really have any plans. Our most recent trips (Baltimore and Houston) have been exhausting, because they both involved weddings. We spent our days "off" running around like mad. This time we are just going to relax and go with the flow. The weather looks like it's going to be perfect and since we will be there in the off season, the crowds will be smaller. I'm excited :)

I'm hoping to do some blogging, or at least take outfit pictures while I'm there, but it's always so hard when you have a limited wardrobe!

So about this look. Today I discovered that I can zip the wool liner out of Trevor's Burberry trench coat. Happy discovery since that coat is too big and kinda looks ridiculous on me. The liner fits well under my cheap-o Forever21 coat. I'm loving the mix of patterns too. The skirt is from Value Village and features messy polka-dots, as you can see.

In these photos:
Forever21 Coat
Burberry wool liner
American Apparel leotard
Vintage skirt and belt
GAP clutch

cinnamon and sheer

2011-10-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite outfits. I try not to wear it too often because 1. I want to keep the skirt in good condition (I got married in it!) and 2. I am not in middle school anymore and have learned to not wear the same outfit everyday.

I think the colors, contrast, and textures are perfectly balanced. Plus, it also features my favorite hat and top.

The newest addition to the outfit are these lovely leaf earrings from Felicee.com. They are punched from metal and add delicate glitz without being gaudy. The size helps with this and, despite my short hair, aren't too long. I'm not sure what kind of metal they are, but my sensitive ears haven't reacted to them yet. Good sign!

In this look:
Vintage hat
J.Crew cotton cardigan
Chico Design top
American Apparel sheer maxi skirt
Vintage Coach purse
Felicee earrings

polka dot capacity

2011-10-11T15:00:00.000-07:00

You know how sometimes you're like "I really like ______, I should buy more of it," and then eventually you realize you have rain boots, an ipad case, three skirts, two umbrellas,a sweatshirt, and a pair of pants in _______? Well, this is what has happened with me and polka dots. I was totally convinced I needed more polka dots in my life (I blame Marc Jacobs and Stella McCartney), until I realized I was at polka dot capacity. If it rains I will either have to go without an umbrella or without rain boots,for fear of looking crazy. I will be the polka dot version of Crazy Cat Lady or Crazy Purple Lady.

However, I would not give up my newest polka dot item for the World.

Ta-da!! Polka dot pants!

Out of all the great stuff I ordered from Felicee, these were what I was looking forward to the most! I was not disappointed. They fit great, despite my "generous" calves, and the fabric is oh-so-soft. And like everything else on Felicee, they're super affordable and cost me just under $22.

Something else I noticed, they actually do the opposite of what I thought they would do and provide a bit of camouflage for my rounder parts, haha.

They are the perfect addition to my wardrobe. Neutral color, classic pattern, and a ton of fun!

Buy them here

In these photos:
H&M coat
Thrifted oxford shirt
Felicee polka dot trousers
American Apparel leather pouch

Fall Brights

2011-10-10T10:33:00.000-07:00

Yesss, new clothes! I love getting new clothes, but who doesn't??
I ordered a few things from www.felicee.com and can't wait to style them all! It took a whole 5 days for my package to get here. That's incredibly fast, considering it was shipped internationally.

Isn't this sheer skirt lovely? It's a little see-through, but nothing some spanks won't fix. Other than that, it's perfect! It fits really nicely. I was afraid it would be that really itchy tulle they use under prom dresses and such, but it's not. It's comfortable and light, and is quite nice to wear. Plus, it was under $16!! You can find it here along with a lot of other awesomely affordable things. For instance, the leopard-print belt I'm wearing! It set me back a whole $4.46. Pretty great deal, huh?

The magenta jacket is new too, but it was a lucky find at a thrift store. It's 100% wool! I wish I could have taken more pictures, especially better ones of the detailing, but my feet were killing me, so I had to cut the photo shoot short.

Look at the pin-tucking on that jacket, though. Definitely a quality piece!

In these photos:
Skirt and belt from Felicee.com
GAP merino turtleneck
Chloe flats
Vintage wool jacket

Covet.

2011-10-08T21:21:00.000-07:00

The return of Covet.!

It doesn't need to be said really, but most ads I just flip past. However, for a few seasons now, I've found myself taking a few moments longer to gaze at the Max Mara ads. The styling is simple, the models' make-up is clean and elegant; you just don't need much more. The coat does the talking. Magically, softly, the camel-hair and silk come to life. I just imagine the weight as the coat slipped over my shoulders. It's not the kind of weight that slows you down. It's the kind that keeps you warm and reminds you that this $795 coat was worth every penny.

Then I turn the page and the imagined scenario vanishes. I am brought back to reality with the more realistic outcome of a purchase of this magnitude. Trevor would flip his lid if I blew half my savings on a coat. Not as furious as he would be if I spent it on shoes, but pretty upset.

I will just have to live vicariously through Freja.

If you actually have the money for a Max Mara coat, check out Nordstrom

Let the horn tooting commence

2011-10-06T20:08:00.000-07:00

Oh neat-o! I'm on the Marie Claire website!

See the rest of the winners here!

Photo courtesy of MarieClaire.com

out to sea

2011-09-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

I won't keep you long this time, as I have a horrible migraine. Brain function at diminished capacity... Probably wake up blind tomorrow... Obviously a hypochondriac.

This is another dress that belonged to my husband's grandmother. You can read the full story here. It's one of my favorites and I only wish it wasn't so fragile.

Happy Friday!

In these photos:
H&M sweater
American Apparel beret
Vintage dress and belt
Vintage Coach purse

DIY: Homemade syrup

2011-09-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

Today we are making pancake syrup! Maple syrup can be very expensive, but I've developed a really good imitation! The trick is to use piloncillo sugar. It's unrefined and gives the syrup that earthy, planty taste that most imitation maple syrups are lacking. I buy it at a local Asian/Ethnic market, and it can also be found at smaller Latin markets. If you can't find piloncillo (they look like little cones made of brown sugar), then brown sugar or raw sugar will work just fine!

What you'll need:
- 1 part water to 1 part piloncillo sugar
- Tablespoon Mapleine or Maple extract
- Some spoons, spatulas, etc.
- Sauce pot
- A small bowl
- Funnel
- Glass bottle (Old syrup bottles work well!)
- Kitchen timer

To start, let's put our little bowl in the freezer. We will use it to test the thickness of our syrup.

Now, over med-high heat, combine the water and sugar in the sauce pan. The sugar will start to dissolve pretty quickly, but stirring helps speed up the process.

Once the sugar is completely dissolved, turn the burner up to high and bring to a boil. I like to call this a "candy boil." It has a very distinct look, as seen in the above picture. The bubbles are relatively small, clear instead of frothy, and do not increase in volume.

Set the timer for 7 minutes. Stir occasionally.

After a couple minutes, take the bowl out of the freezer and spoon some syrup into it. Place back in the freezer. It should start to get thicker as it cools rapidly. When the timer goes off, take the pan off the burner and do another freezer test. If the syrup is not setting up, you need to boil it a little longer. If it doesn't need to boil longer, then set your timer for 10 minutes. This will allow for a little cool down before adding the flavoring.

It's important to not add the flavoring while the syrup is boiling. I find that most of the flavor evaporates at such high temperatures. Add the syrup when the timer goes off.

Now you can leave the syrup to cool for a little while. 15 to 30 minutes is enough time. Don't leave it too long, thought, or it will be harder to pour into the bottle. Take your funnel and carefully fill the bottle with the warm syrup. You can use your spatula to scrape down the sides.

I store mine in the fridge, but you probably don't have to as this is nothing but sugar and water.

Try it in yogurt, on pancakes and french toast, or even use it to sweeten your coffee!

New URL!

2011-09-25T22:38:00.001-07:00

You probably haven't noticed, but Blogger is now redirecting you to a new web address! I splurged on a fancy new domain name! Ok, it only cost $10. But now it's mine!
The new address is http://www.fleur-d-elise.net

Please update your bookmarks and such :)

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

In this look:
H&M sweater
Forever21 maxi skirt & glasses
American Apparel leather pouch
Thrifted leather belt

The blogger's tool kit

2011-09-24T16:51:00.000-07:00

My blog posts have gotten all out of order. I'm pretty behind, too. I post pictures on Chictopia and Lookbook the next day, if not the same day I take them. It takes a little longer for the picture to end up on my blog, though. I should probably prioritize a little better, but a blog post takes a little more thought!This post was actually started long ago, but got interrupted. Many of you have probably even seen these pictures already on Lookbook, etc.

Back to prioritizing... I'm not convinced the blog is the most important place for someone to share their musings and outfits. Sure it is more personalized and presents a broader perspective of you as a stylist (chef, crafter, etc.), but it's also harder for company and fashion reps to find, unless you have a huge, well-established fan base.
Which brings me to another topic, how do you establish that fan base? Do you just wait around and hope a persons random Google search leads them here? Or even more reliable, wait for them to Stumble your blog; that could take a 100 years! That's why sites like Chictopia, Lookbook, and even Hypeed (my least favorite, read why) are such important tools! I've been contacted for features and events through Lookbook more often than any of the other websites or services I use, even my own blog! I think one reason is that these sites, or communities, are almost like having a built-in fan base. The readers are right at your finger tips. They only have to search for "stripes" or "American Apparel" as opposed to entire sentences that magically have something to do with your blog. It still takes some work, but you are definitely more visible within these communities. Think of the internet as the ocean, and fashion communities as a smaller inlet or harbor connected to the ocean. It's much easier for the big fish (clothing companies, magazines, etc.) to catch the little fish in a smaller body of water, instead of trying to track them down in the ocean. Ok, so that's not a perfect metaphor. Unless we're talking about Anna Wintour, these bigger fish I speak of aren't actually gonna eat you, but you are part of the fashion food chain now!
The next thing to do is attract the fans you've gained in fashion communities to your blog, which is where you are going to show people that you have the brains, style, and charisma to make it in a sea of other fashion blogs. This is something I'm still working on; my writing skills are not as strong as I'd like them to be, I run out of topics, and I need to find a photographer I'm comfortable with, but I am 100% dedicated to this blog and drive can make all the difference. If you work hard at something you are passionate about, you will at least enjoy the ride, even if it doesn't get you exactly where you wanna be.Check out my latest feature on STYLEPANTRY.COM!!!

In this outfit:
Thrifted United Colors of Benetton sweater
Forever21 skirt
Chloe Prince Calf flats
Vintage purse

up/down

2011-09-20T20:19:00.000-07:00

There have been so many ups and downs today!First thing in the morning, a little bird, a lark specifically, came to tell me some good news. This lark, of Happy, Honey, and Lark, said that I am in the October issue of Marie Claire!!! I have been to 5 different grocery stores hoping to find the issue, but apparently only some subscribers have received it so far. Not me of course, mine always comes late :/ BUT I AM IN IT!!! Can't wait to see how the pictures turned out!

Downside of my day (week, month, year), my feet have been doing quite poorly. I haven't talked about it much, but it seems the pain in the ball of my foot is chronic. I've bought Danskos and am seeing a podiatrist, so hopefully it will eventually heal. I also just found out some very sad news regarding a family friend. Knowing that she lived a very long, wonderful life is a comfort to me and, I hope, a comfort to her family.Ok, so not to end on a sad note... well, I'm working a lot which means I'm not quite as broke as I usually am and the weather was gorgeous today! And didn't my husband do a nice job taking these photos? He was mostly patient with me and kept giving me tips on how to pose. Mostly, though, he just said "look model-y" and "stop moving."In these photos:Forever21 blouseThrifted maxi skirtAldo bagNeon Xhilaration bra

Colors/Patterns: Fall 2011

2011-09-17T18:00:00.000-07:00

colors/patterns by fleur-d-elise featuring Pieces

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you are here reading my blog by choice, not because you couldn't find that article about cage fighting and have opted to read this instead. What I'm getting at is that if you're reading this, you probably care about fashion and so have observed at least a little of what's going in colors and patterns this season.

Polka dots are a big one (I've already blogged about this, sheesh)! They're cute, fun, and classic. Plus, anyone can wear them! Try combining a neutral polka dot with one of this season bright colors, such as orange or magenta.

I am not a fan of jade, nor am I fan of snake skin, but together they just work! Take the above Zara bag for instance. The combo is just meant to be. Go for a natural looking snake skin (real or fake), since unnaturally colored prints look tacky after a while.

Two of my favorite trends this Fall: leopard and burgundy! It can be tricky wearing an entire garment in leopard print, but don't be shy! Try a skirt or accessorize with the print. Belts and scarves are a good option. Burgundy, in all of it's regal splendor, looks great with the browns and camels found in leopard print.

Unexpected

2011-09-15T23:24:00.000-07:00

Tonight, out of the blue, American Apparel contacts me on Lookbook.nu. Turns out I'm featured in their What's New section of the website. Click here to see the look featured on American Apparel.com I'm the 12th picture down.

I'm so excited!!! Just wanted to share the happy news with you all. Have a great weekend!

outsider

2011-09-15T12:16:00.000-07:00

I am going to get a lot of flack for this, but I'm just going to come out and say it: I do not like Missoni.

I don't like vintage Missoni, I don't like the haute couture Missoni, I don't like the Target Missoni; I don't like any of their designs and never have. It comes down to personal taste. What my eye sees when I look at a Missoni pattern is an old 1970's afghan that someone has sewn into a dress. The colors are overwhelming (or just plain muddy), the patterns harsh, and most of their cuts unflattering. I know it is all signature, well made (may not apply to Target line), has been around for forever, but I just can't get myself to like it and I think I am one of very few people who feel this way.

I am basing this assertion on the recent hubbub around the release of the Missoni for Target line. Maybe it's just that after all the advertising and promoting and build-up people are just freaking out, or maybe enough people love Missoni that they are capable of crashing the entire Target website; who's to say. The advertising industry can be very influential, as we all know.

I do however, have the utmost respect for this influential and established fashion house. How many designers can you name that have not had to do any sort of reinventing or reworking of their signature looks? Missoni has basically been making the same knitwear since 1953. And having a brand ambassador like Margherita Missoni has done quite a bit to cement Missoni in the minds of a new generation. She is charming, incredibly fashionable, and has the most intoxicating voice. Margherita's voice and one of the models fainting is all I remember from that episode of America's Next Top Model, cycle 15. Oh wait, yes, now I remember the models having to wear these awful mud-brown scarves in 90 degree weather.

Respect and charm aside, I still will not be shelling out $160 for a black market tote bag from Target that just happens to bear the name of Missoni somewhere on it. (One thing they got right is that they didn't brand the crap out of the bags!)

What is your opinion of Missoni? Have they been a favorite for a long time or are you just discovering their unique, signature styles? Did you go to Target on the release day? Interested in hearing your opinion :)

Fashion by Feelings

2011-09-13T19:54:00.002-07:00

Ahh, yes, a promotion I can really support! Woolmark has launched the Fashion by Feelings Campaign to promote wool and provide another awesome outlet for posting looks. Visit the Fashion By Feelings website to post a look (or 3, like I did, haha), give Love to other posters, and learn more about the amazing trip to Australia you could win!

I am a huge fan of wool, so I have no shortage of great pieces to style, but I live in Seattle so it makes sense that I own lots of wool. It's warm and it's water proof, but did you know that what makes it waterproof also makes a moisture-wicking material? Yup, that means it's great for warm climates, too! Sheep wear wool in the summer and sheep wear wool in the blazing Australian sun, so why not you?

I can't seem to figure out how to link to my looks via my blog, but, if you have nothing better to do, visit the Fashion By Feelings site and search for "Catie Beatty." I would be happy to return any Loves given!

In these photos:
H&M cardigan
Thrifted oxford shirt
BDG cropped cigarette pants
New Look wedges
Aldo bag
H&M sunglasses
Scarf bought from a street vendor in London

Faux Fall

2011-09-08T10:12:00.000-07:00

I really wanted to dress for Fall, but it was 80 degrees out, so I had to fake it. It seems like I’ve done a lot of this this summer. For the magazine shoots in July we had to dress for Fall, and even though it wasn’t very hot, it was incredibly muggy and very uncomfortable wearing jackets and hats. I learned, though, that adding some key pieces-a hat or scarf, maybe a jacket just on your shoulders-can really make an outfit look seasonal without making you too miserable, plus you can take them right off when you’re done shooting. So for any of you ladies (and gents) who live in warmer climates where you don’t get cold weather even in January, why not style those looks anyway? This whole blogging thing is about developing your styling talents, so why not push yourself and experiment in areas of fashion you’re not as experienced in? This goes for everyone in cold climates, too!

For me, styling is like playing dress up; I can go wherever I want and be whoever I want just by changing my skirt. Today, I’ve decided to go to Post-War Paris. Where do you want to go?

In this outfit:
Vintage wool beret
Vintage velvet midi skirt
GAP t-shirt and cardigan
Xhilaration flats

I'm sure you are all dying to know...

2011-09-05T22:08:00.000-07:00

What HAS Catie been up to?

Not much to talk about in the way of fashion or anything really. Although, it might just be a sign that I shouldn't blog at 10pm. That's about the time my brain calls it quits (forgive any poor grammar, spelling or forgotten words). On top of that, I've been quite busy! Took a mini vacation to go visit my mom and sisters, dinner at my dad's Saturday and today, then big family dinner with the in-laws on Sunday, and today we woke up early to take my mom out for a birthday breakfast.

It's been a fun, family-filled week, but now the holidays are over and it's back to serious work, if you can call playing video games serious work. I start nannying again on Thursday and will probably pick up tutoring again, too.

We haven't had the warmest of summers, but now just as I'm ready for sweaters and scarves, the forecast is saying mid- to upper-80s for the coming week. I think it is just to spite the poor school children.

This outfit is an attempt at a more somber Fall look, without the risk of overheating. I'm happy to have found another way of incorporating the cheetah fur into an outfit.

Update: This look is featured on the American Apparel website!! CLICK HERE!

In this look:
Vintage cheetah fur collar
American Apparel leotard
Vintage skirt
Vintage frame bag
Thrifted glasses and shoes

Menswear

2011-08-29T16:50:00.001-07:00

Like most of you, I've been researching the Fall trends lately and I'm glad to see that "menswear" is still on the trend list. Really, it's old news, it's been around for a while now, but who can blame 'em for keeping it going? Have you noticed how feminine you feel in menswear? It's like the contrast between the clothing and the wearer is so strong that instead of it hiding your femininity it just makes it more apparent.

My short hair is pushing it in the femininity department, but throw on some red lipstick and pearls and I feel the most womanly sort of powerful. I feel a sense of authority that is based on my appearance alone. I know it sounds like an authority or confidence that could be taken away with the removal of a jacket, but really it's just a seed that's been planted in your subconscious. Why do you think they call Power-suits, Power-suits? Not to get too technical and factoid-y, but psychologist have found that there is real validity to the old saying "fake it till you make it."

P.S. I'm not saying that only dressing like a man can make you feel powerful. Wear what makes you feel confident. If Uggs make you feel powerful, then I guess you can wear those.

In this outfit:
H&M Overcoat
H&M sweater
Zella leggings
Aldo bag
Forever21 glasses

Fall Wish List: Accessories

2011-08-26T19:51:00.001-07:00

I would like to introduce you to one of my many treasures: My cheetah fur collar. I think it's completely amazing! The epitome of exotic.

I purchased it for $20 in an antique store in the capital city of Olympia, Washington. It has to be at least 30 years old, if not older. In the 1980's, it became illegal to sell or trade endangered animals and products made from those animals, and these days you still can't trade something like cheetah fur over state or international borders!

It seems that at one point, the collar was attached to a coat. It also has the name "Gail Ladage" written on the underside. I would love to know the story behind this lovely piece of fur.

This collar is just one piece of fur from my ever-growing fur collection. It's amazing what you can find at thrift stores and garage sales! I have a rabbit fur stole that I have featured in at least one post, a black rabbit ushanka, and a huge wrap-around stole made of wolf (I think).

It seems I am set when it comes to Fall accessory trends! Fur and faux fur has been predicted to be one of the many popular trends for Fall clothing and accessories. But what if you're too grossed out by real fur and not thrilled about faux fur's tendency to look cheap? Well, there are plenty more trends to follow, love, and make your own.

Fall Accessories by fleur-d-elise featuring purple sunglasses

1. You'll need a couple classic belts to go with all those midi skirts!
2. Leather gloves are very versatile! Perfect for fetish-inspired styles or classic mid-century looks. Plus, they keep your hands warm, duh!
3. We've already talked about this, need I remind you? Fur is warm and on-trend.
4. Can't get enough polka-dots! Umbrellas are perfect in this fun pattern.
5. Cat-Eye glasses: the perfect way to accessorize classic feminine looks or even add a touch femme to masculine looks, like we're seeing in Moschino's F/W 2011 line.
6. I'm not really sure if this is a trend. I just really like that cuff.

poor neglected hobbies

2011-08-24T17:58:00.001-07:00

Oh man, it's been a WHILE. My poor blog, my poor readers (you guys have nothing else to do but read blogs, right?)

I have a whole list of excuses, but mostly they are boring and/or sad. Nobody wants to hear about how my dog has become horribly sensitive to things she eats or the disgusting results that!

You might want to hear about our "We got married!" party, but I will tell you more about that when I get more pictures. I had so many friends documenting it that I want to use at least one of each of their pictures in a special blog entitled "Look at me! I got married and I KNOW everyone wants to hear about it!" It's a very long title, but it gets the point across. I am waiting on the last of the photos to be "published" and then I will show you all how PRETTY I looked haha (some of you have already seen on Facebook).

Ok, so back to the point of this blog, I've finally had the chance to take some outfit photos and they turned out pretty well. I am getting a little sick of the background, but whatcha gonna do? I am still not gutsy enough to set up a tripod where people can see me.

Have you heard all the hubub about midi skirts? I've read so many articles (Vogue, Wall Street Journal, etc.) about buying them for Fall, that I must say I am very relieved that I bought so many last Spring! I am all set! I have this lovely velvet one that I've had for years and years, then a full one in black cotton, an A-line in black velvet, a striped jersey knit, and a figure-hugging style in dark green velvet. Hmm, that's a lot of velvet...
If you are midi-less, I recommend heading over to Forever21 where they have a few really cute full skirts. All of them have a 1950's feel, which, my darlings, is a trend that is just not dying out!

This look is kind of my nod to Chloe's past few seasons. Somebody really loves this burnt umber color. It's so striking and unexpected, who can blame them?

This outfit:
J.Crew chambray shirt
Vintage velvet skirt
Vintage Coach bag
Vintage leather belt and wooden bracelet

Fall Wish List: Bright colors

2011-08-02T21:19:00.000-07:00

There is no reason Fall should be limited to dark, neutral colors reminiscent of forest mould. That's why this Autumn, at the top of my wish list, are bright colors. I have 3, maybe 4 reasons, for putting color in such a lofty position.

#1
They're perfecting cheering up any gray Seattle morning and, if you think about it, will make the transition from Summer to Fall that much easier.
Which brings us to...

#2
You already have all the brightest pieces in circulation, don't you? Yes you do, because they're always popular during the Summer! Now just layer them up and you're set for cool weather!

#3
I haven't gotten enough of the color blocking trend. I want to do more! It's so fun, so bold, and so graphically pleasing. You look like a chic piece of modern art in color blocked clothing.

#4
Oh yes, I already mentioned it. Brights are perfect for cheering up a gloomy Fall day!

If you're really itching for some new pieces for your wardrobe or you just can't seem to get the Popsicle stains out of that one yellow top, then I highly recommend checking out J.Crew's Fall 2011 line. Color is everywhere! They took out all the stops and have done some daring, yet ingenious styling. Just look at this red and fuchsia combo!!

I'm buying those trousers as soon as they go on sale! Check out the rest of the lookbook at Refinery29

Breaking Rules

2011-08-01T11:25:00.000-07:00

According to rules of taste, these pants should not be worn by anyone. They are ridiculously loud and rather shapeless. Yet somehow, they are not completely unflattering.

Underneath the sweater, the pants are attached to a tube top, so technically it's a jumpsuit. But the elastic is fading and the top is no where near as awesome as the bottoms. This is where the cropped sweater comes in.

It gives the whole thing a slouchy, yet polished look. Think 80's power-suit goes on vacation.

In these photos:
Vintage jumpsuit
GAP sweater
Vintage frame bag
Aldo flats
Vintage watch and costume jewelry
Forver21 sunglasses

Just kidding!

2011-07-24T18:35:00.000-07:00

Just as I'm about to give up and start planning for Fall, Summer pulls a fast one and the temp reaches 83 degrees. Not to get into weather too much, but we always know when things are warming up or cooling down in Seattle. This Summer has been completely unpredictable, though! It'll be 56 one day and 78 the next!

I styled a couple outfits the other day, in anticipation of Fall (and because it was cool) and I'm seeing a lot of stripes in my future. They are with me in the present, as well. My love affair with stripes smolders on!

In these photos:
American Apparel Harem pants
Thrifted top
Vintage velvet blazer
Vintage Coach
Forever21 glasses

Reviews

2011-07-20T10:23:00.000-07:00

I've been slowly compiling reviews of all the different daily outfit communities that I use. Today seems like a good day to share them with you. It's another cool, gray day. We have had a total of 78 minutes worth of 80 degree weather. I must say, the mildest winter I've ever seen!

On to the reviews!

Chictopia
This site is what got me started. They're a wonderful community. I've met so many great people there! It can be hard to get your photos into the Style Gallery, which is for photos that the staff at Chictopia choose based on some complicated qualifications, but everyone's photos are always visible in the New Photos section. At Chictopia, the rule is kinda of "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." You can vote for photos, but you don't rate them, nor can you take away votes. It all makes for a happy, positive, inspiring experience.

Hypeed
I use this website occasionally, but it is definitely not my go-to. First off, photos load really slowly. They require photos be at least 2000x1500, which is HUMONGOUS. Most other websites only require 600x400. This can be a problem when you've set all of your photos to 600x400. They also have very specific feature themes and your photos must go through approval before they are included in a thematic category. You can just upload photos to your profile, but if you actually want people to look at them, you need to get them into a feature category. Another thing I don't like is that they have a rating system. You are in competition to get featured, so you rate other people's photos and they can rate yours. It's on a scale of 1 to 5. One means "No" and 5 means "Perfect". What I've noticed is that girls vote others' photos down in the hopes of making their own ratings look higher. This kind of system tends to bring out the mean in people, and it's the reason Chictopia got rid of it years ago.

Lookbook.nu
This place is for those of you who are too cool for school. Everyone seems like they are part of the It Crowd and nicely enough, they make you feel like you are part of it, too. Sometimes it seems everyone dresses the same (peer pressure is plentiful), but for the most part, it's a great site. It's easy to see others' photos and in turn other people see your photos. This site is definitely user friendly. It's easy to hype photos and easy to post looks. There are 3 categories of photo galleries: Hot, New, and Top. From what I gather, Hot is similar to being featured and Top is for photos with the highest votes. New is self-explanatory. I highly recommend joining this site, if you haven't already for two main reasons: to get your style noticed and to get inspired!

Weardrobe
This site is a little weird. It's still up and running and there's someone who chooses photos for the Featured section, but other than that, this site seems pretty dead. There are no contests and they haven't chosen a Spotlight Member in almost a year. There are still a lot of users, but it's definitely not as active a community as the other sites I mentioned above. Still, it's another site to post your outfits on, so you may want to think about joining.

In this outfit:
American Apparel dress & petticoat
H&M flower pin
Payless peep-toes
Belt is borrowed from an H&M dress

Whirlwind

2011-07-18T19:32:00.001-07:00

What a weekend! I worked both days, had a huge bbq with my family because my cousins were in town, and managed to fit in two photo shoots!

The first photo shoot was downtown and took about 45 minutes. This was the one for the Marie Claire contest.

The photographer shot quite a bit of film in several different spots. We even went to the roof of a parking garage. That was a great location, because we didn't have to wait for pedestrians to pass and I didn't have to worry about getting hit by cars! I have done very little modeling, but something I learned about myself was that the more film they shoot the more relaxed I am and the more I enjoy myself. When it's like "Ok we'll take 3 shots, lets get this done, go!" It's much harder to relax then. For instance, I was such a ball of nerves at the Shipley & Halmos event last Fall that I am surprised any of the photos turned out at all! The camera starts moving in close and I am thinking "OMG what do I do with my cheekbones?? How do I pose my chin??" I found a way to relax myself, though, and that was to make funny faces in between shots. I'm sure there are a few on film, as well.

Have any of you done modeling? Do you get nerves? I don't know if my blog would exist if I couldn't take my own photos, haha.

The second shoot was much shorter, but was still fun. They took a few photos and then we departed. For the first shoot, I was instructed to wear simple, classic colors; nothing too revealing or crazy and natural looking make-up. I had way more freedom on the second shoot, but that naturally made it harder to decide on an outfit. I got up an hour early to finish deciding. I was pretty satisfied with the results, though. Hopefully you'll see it in the November issue of Glamour :)

In these photos:
H&M chambray dress
DIY cropped Forever21 tank
Forever21 sandals
hand dyed scarf

And the winner is...

2011-07-17T21:57:00.000-07:00

Not BlogSpot! It signed me out in the middle of posting and I lost everything I had written.

Anyway, on to choosing the winner! I used the old names-in-a-hat routine, so the winner would be totally random. The winner is... Isabel over at I Fly A Starship!!!

She will be enjoying this lovely little Blog Birthday Prize

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend :)

On holiday

2011-07-11T16:55:00.001-07:00

Haha, sadly, I am kidding! I've been working my butt off instead. I missed you all terribly :(

So much working and busy-ness meant I was not broke for a few weeks. It was a nice change, but now I am back to "Uh oh, shouldn't have spent that money at Forever21..." I think I will go back on my clothing diet (which was a great success, btw)

So I've been working hard at making my wedding reception happen, but I'm not really sure how to go about things. Thank goodness for my husband, who is very good at taking care of boring yet important stuff like making reservations and obtaining event insurance. It has given me a chance to play with colors and patterned papers and day dream about center pieces. I'm just getting the invites out that my step-mom was so graciously kind to put together for me. She is a graphic designer by trade and very skilled with the Photo Shops. She scanned in my original drawings and cleaned them up a bit, then worked with me for hours on alignments, fonts, and other graphic designy things I did not understand. Here's how they turned out:

I am still trying to think of the perfect thank you gift for her!

(The drawing is based on the original illustrations from Pride & Prejudice)

Ok, back to work for me! Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY! You can win this lovely little necklace :)

My outfit:
Vintage dress
Forever21 frames
GAP clutch
Banana Republic sling-back flats
Vintage bracelets

Birthday, giveaway, and big news!

2011-07-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

Today is the one year anniversary of Fleur d'Elise! It's been a great year :) I have met so many wonderful bloggers and connected to so many amazing blogs and communities, thanks to this blog.

Some Stats:
In total, I've posted 131 blogs articles (not including this one)
Gained 104 followers via Google
Since I started using StatCounter.com in April, I've had over 4000 visitors

Here is a picture from my first post

This is from my second post

The past couple of weeks I've been immensely busy with work and planning my wedding reception, but I've been thinking about the blog and all of you a lot. Mostly I just feel guilty; I've neglected something I really care about, but sometimes it can't be helped! I've also been trying to figure out how to my measure my blog's success now that it's a year old. Is it the number of followers? The number of comments? The number of affiliates or official recognitions? It would make more sense that success is a product of all those things, and not just one.

For instance, 104 followers is a drop in the bucket when compared to the fan base of other more established bloggers, but I am lucky and flattered to have everyone of you. I'm also thrilled to share some awesome news with you: I've been contacted by Glamour for a street style photo shoot and I am a finalist in Marie Claire's What I Love About Me Contest! I am not guaranteed to be in either magazine, but the simple fact that they would even be interested in considering me for publication is completely awesome! As stressed as I am this week, I am feel completely blessed. Thank you all for your support and readership. I would not have come so far without it.

And now for my official THANK YOU! It's time for another giveaway!

One lucky reader will win this necklace and vibrant lipstick. The necklace is from Forever21 and features a Goldstone pendant and I've added a pink ribbon. It's very similar to a bracelet I made back in January. The lipstick is a Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Siren. It's a gorgeous, creamy orange-red and is one of the colors I recommended in this post. It's a fantastic shade for Summer and will look stunning with dark and muted colors this Fall.

Ok, so to enter:
Follow me via Google or BlogLovin' +1
Like Fleur d'Elise on Facebook +1
Link to my blog/giveaway on your blog +2
Remember to leave me a comment with your name and email and links!

The giveaway will end in one week. Good luck!

Blogger Feature

2011-06-22T08:55:00.001-07:00

StyleCurrent by catiebeatty on Polyvore.com

Colorful Poppies - Kukat - Valokuvatapetit - Photowall, €9

Phew, what a month! I have been working at least twice as much as usual and have barely had time for anything else. Unavoidably, my blog has been quite neglected. This week I am nannying 10 hours a day, which has actually given me some time to brainstorm some blog entries, including this one.

I have been wanting to feature Ashley for a while and I'm happy to finally introduce you to her (assuming you haven't read her wonderful blog beforehand!). She is one of those girls who you just know will go quite far in the blogging world. She's gorgeous, friendly and sociable, and of course has amazing style!

Many of her looks draw inspiration from classic, feminine fashions. She has a talent for styling clothes from various sources, including designer, discount, and vintage. This flexibility and her styling know-how gives each outfit a unique and completely personal look. Her vintage and thrifted pieces are all lovely and some of them can be purchased via her Etsy store.

What are you waiting for? Go check out her BLOG and add her on Chictopia!

Product Review: Benefit's B. right!

2011-06-11T17:57:00.000-07:00

product review by catiebeatty on Polyvore.com

While at Ulta recently, I picked up three samples of Benefit's new line B.right!, but before I dive into my review, let me start off with a little story.

I started my junior year of high school with a new perfume: Ralph by Ralph Lauren. I had been keeping the perfume in my locker when it inexplicably sprung a leak. My locker smelled so strongly of Ralph that I eventually stopped using both the perfume and the locker.

What does this have to do with Benefit's new line? Well, it smells exactly like Ralph by Ralph Lauren. It smells so strongly that I was a little nervous to try it out. You wouldn't spray yourself straight in the face with perfume, so why should your lotion be as heavily perfumed? I was right to be nervous.

I tried three different products from the line: It's Potent! Eye Cream, Total Moisture Facial Cream, and Triple Performing Facial Emulsion SPF 15 PA++. I liked the feel of the Facial Emulsion, but didn't notice any obvious signs of "radiance." The most important thing I observed while using these products (this is the part where I was right to be nervous), was that I broke out in rashes.

Under your eye is quite possibly the worst place to have a rash, and I had one. Then I got a nasty one on the sides of my nose. A week and a half later, that rash is finally disappearing. Bottom line: Use caution when trying out this product, ESPECIALLY if you have sensitive skin or occasionally sensitive skin.

I don't break out all the time. I can even use some highly perfumed facial products, such as Dior's Capture Totale Foundation, which is basically tinted Dior perfume, so I was quite surprised at the reaction I had to Benefit's B.right! line.

Even though the packaging is really pretty, I will not be going back to purchase this product.

stolen/borrowed

2011-06-10T21:15:00.001-07:00

I bought this leather pouch for my husband. It was a gift on our wedding day. Secretly, I want one very badly. Ok, not so secretly, but sometimes it's easier to buy things when they are gifts for others. He wanted it one, of course, I wasn't just buying things I liked, haha.

I borrowed it today, with the idea that I would return it to its original spot before my husband got home from work. I wasn't quick enough, though. He got home and even though he hasn't touched it in over 2 weeks, he went looking for it. Whoops! He wasn't angry, but said he was starting to freak out, because he thought it had been stolen. By who, I don't know. It's just me and the Frida all day.

My outfit:
American Apparel shorts & bag
Vintage sweater
GAP cardigan
H&M flower brooch
New Look wedges
Vintage belt

Tomorrow:
Product review of Benefit's So Radiant Face Care line

So far so good

2011-06-06T22:22:00.001-07:00

I haven't bought any clothes in June! I know it's only June 6th, but that is still a good start! I almost bought a sweater at an estate sale, but it was too much and didn't fit in the arms. I've been thinking I might make an exception for really cheap things at estate sales, since that is my favorite hobby that I rarely get to do, but honestly, I would just be cheating.

Instead, I've been working a lot more lately. I'm not working full time, but it feels like it with all the driving. I might even pick up a little more work at a fifth job! It would just be temp work for a small high-end consignment shop on Queen Anne, but that's if it works with my cafe schedule and if the nice lady will have me.

In these pictures I am wearing a wool sweater. Yes, wool in June. The very next day, the temperature soared above 70 for the first time in 2011. Such a sad city made ridiculously cheerful by a little heat. People waved, actually waved, at me as I drove by in my car. It's amazing what an impact some sun can have.

In these photos:
Forever21 sunglasses
Forever21 skirt
Vintage wool sweater
J.Crew denim shirt
Aldo bag & shoes
H&M scarf

#4 orange/coral

2011-05-31T23:31:00.000-07:00

Orange/Coral by catiebeatty featuring retro shades

Orange & Coral lips were seen on many of the runways this spring, including Marc Jacobs and Nanette Lepore.

This shade is great because it works on a lot of skin tones. Warm oranges and corals bring out warm tones in anyone's skin! Also, similarly to the bright pink, it stands out so much that a lot coloring rules don't count anymore.

Try MAC's Morange or Revlon's Super Lustrous Lipstick in Siren. Pair with liquid liner and mascara for a bold & bright vintage look.

DIY Food

2011-05-28T18:41:00.000-07:00

Let's make this:

OK!

You will need:

A bunch of pots, pans, bowls, dishes, utensils, etc.
A 10 oz. container of fresh garbanzo beans
Cooking oil
1 small red onion
2 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 small lime
Salt & pepper
1 can of refried black beans
1 small tomato
1 small avocado
2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro, stems included
2 tbsp Mexican queso fresco (see below for sources)
2-4 sopes (see below for sources)
Radishes & hot sauce optional

(Makes about 2 servings)

Warning: Turmeric stains like crazy!

Step 1:
Shell the garbanzo beans. This is kind of time consuming, since there is usually only one bean in each pod, so it should be an activity you share with a friend. Otherwise you will spend 30 minutes talking to yourself while you pop garbanzos. Next, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and throw your shucked beans in. Boil them for 3 to 4 minutes and then drain.

Step 2:
Put about a tablespoon of cooking oil in a saute pan and place over medium heat. While the pan is heating up, slice the onion into thin pieces. Add this to the pan when it is hot and stir to coat. While the onion cooks, slice your garlic cloves, but save for later. Optionally, you can just stick them in a garlic press when the time comes. When the onion is just starting to turn translucent, add the garbanzo beans. Stir. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally so they don't stick to the pan. Now add the turmeric, more oil if needed, salt and pepper, the garlic, and the juice of half of the lime. Turn down the heat and let cook while you prep the other ingredients.

Step 3:
Place the refried beans in a sauce pan over low-medium heat. Stir occasionally. Put a little more than a teaspoon of cooking oil in another saute pan and place over medium heat. This will be for the sopes.

Step 4:
All of the following ingredients will be prepped and set aside. Dice up the tomato, chop the cilantro, crumble the queso, and slice the rest of the lime, and the radish if you are using it.

Step 5:
The oil in the second saute pan should be hot by now, so now it's time to heat up our sopes. Fry for 3 minutes on each side.

Step 6:
Now to assemble! Take a hot sopes and spread a 1/4 to 1/2 inch layer of refried beans on it. The next layer is the garbanzo and onion mixture. I put about a half cup of this on my sopes, you may need less or more depending on the size of your sopes. Next, comes some tomato, a few slices of avocado, some cilantro, and queso. Garnish with a lime wedge and the optional radish.

Step 7:
Eat it!

The little radishes are from my mom's garden :) They are her first crop!

Sources:
Sopes- They are like tortillas, but thicker. They vary in size. Mine are about 4 1/2 inches across, but I've had smaller ones at restaurants, so it depends on where you get them. I bought these at the mercado (Mexican grocery store) next to my apartment. I imagine they are available at most international food markets and mercados or you can make them yourself! Try this recipe!
Queso- This is a crumbly, mild cheese. It's considered a fresh or "farmer's" cheese. It's available in most supermarkets, but I like to buy it from the mercado, which means I can buy as little as I want, since they sell it by the pound. Queso fresco, queso blanco, queso panel, and oaxaca will all work.

neighborhood

2011-05-28T14:59:00.001-07:00

The good news:
The duplex behind me has all these lovely flowers that sprout up everywhere. They're all well established and come back year after year. Two of my favorites, iris and poppy, are the most notable. There is one giant pink poppy that has probably a dozen buds on it. Then there are these little orange Icelandic poppies. They grow along the rockeries in the front and back. They are day-glow orange and so papery and delicate; photos don't do them justice. The irises bloom like clockwork every May.

The bad news:
Crime is getting more noticeable in my neighborhood :( I was actually interviewed by one of the local news channels today in regards to safety at the park where I got married. Then last Wednesday, I was awoken at 3am by ADT, because our office had been broken into. It's two doors down from my apartment, which made it easy to go talk to the police when they arrived. *Sigh*

Luckily, nothing was stolen; they just broke our door knob and smashed one of our windows with a HUGE rock. Honestly, the flood we had in January was worse than this.

Ok, enough of about that. I have decided to go on a clothing fast. No shopping for the month of June! No malls, no thrift stores, no boutiques, nothing! The past two months have been so spendy (wedding, after wedding,after wedding), that I will be in serious financial pain if I do not take a break from buying clothes.

It's time to work with what I have (which is about 5,000 skirts). For instance, I just bought this mini at H&M. Isn't it a cool color? It was $6. I also bought a great little lacy top that I hope to style soon.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

In these photos:
H&M mini skirt
Nordstrom Men's Shirt (cropped)
Cooperative wedges
Aldo bag
Vintage resin and shell pendant

This just in!

2011-05-25T20:50:00.001-07:00

Got hitched!

Not yet married! Don't look at the bride!

...Ok,now you can look.

On the bride (me, duh):
American Apparel leotard, sheer skirt, and petticoat. Flower from H&M and hair piece cut off dog's tutu and fastened with bobby-pin.

I was so thrilled to find my entire outfit at American Apparel, mostly because I really wanted this skirt! The fact that it is completely sheer made me a little cautious to wear it to my wedding, but with the help of my lovely sister-in-law, I found the perfect fix for the see-thru-ness. And just a tip, white leotards from American Apparel are also see-thru! I tried pasties, I tried white stickers, and in the end I just wore a white bra :/ Regardless, I was beyond happy with the way it all turned out. The whole outfit was so fun to wear and made me feel so lovely and unique, and what bride doesn't want to feel like that??

On the groom:
Custom made Thick As Thieves suit, vintage wool tie, American Apparel dress shirt, Lucchese boots. He put it all together and looked so fantastic :)

My best friend and Witness #1. Her name is Katherine, too!

My sister has the best camera. It takes lovely pictures of everyone all the time!

My sisters from, left to right, Beth and Maddie, and my niece, Tilly.

Trying to escape.

My husband, me, and our dog, Frida. She lacked grace, to say the least. She peed on her tutu and wouldn't stop pulling on her leash. Her tutu looked like a bird's nest by the end; it was so full of moss and twigs!

#3 classic/red

2011-05-23T23:59:00.000-07:00

red/classic by catiebeatty featuring silk tops

Ok, well red lips are more than a trend, I suppose. All the same, they are very popular right now. In my opinion, though, it's always a good time to sport classic red lips.

The models at the Gucci and Dior Spring 2011 shows all sported this classic look. (If you have seen the Dior show, go watch it now! The dresses are possibly the most beautiful things ever created.)

I prefer a warm red, but most people like a cooler shade. I think it is mostly up to preference. If you like warmer tones, try Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in "Ravish Me Red." If you like the look of cooler reds, try "Fire & Ice."

Red lips can be quite overpowering, so it's best to keep the rest of your look simple. Go for a natural looking shadow and a little bit of mascara.

#2 burgundy/maroon

2011-05-19T12:51:00.000-07:00

burgundy/maroon by catiebeatty featuring bikini bathing suits

Maybe bright is the wrong word for this lipstick shade, but we can all agree, it is anything but dull! This bold look was seen at YSL's Spring 2011 show, as well as on the runways at Louis Vuitton.

Dark burgundy and maroon lips are harder to pull off, but can look amazing if done correctly. I think it looks best on very pale or very dark complexions. If you're pale and NOT a model (like me) try for a very simple eye. A little bit of eyeliner or mascara is all you need. I also use Clinique's Redness Reducing Powder to even out my skin tone and give me an even fairer complexion.

Try YSL's No. 151 "Sweet Dark" or MAC's "Velvet Teen". I own "Viva Glam" from MAC, but I'm not sure if it's still available in stores.

Side Note: OMG I'M GETTING MARRIED IN AN HOUR! WHY AM I BLOGGING?? Seriously, this is the most laid back wedding day ever. Thank you all for your warm wishes and kind words :) I'm glad I can share this day with such a great community!

gowns

2011-05-17T22:41:00.001-07:00

Wedding attire was the topic of the day. I spent hours at University Village with my fiance's sister and even splurged on a British Vogue that is a special wedding issue.

I nearly spent $500 on a beautiful dream-gown at J.Crew, but opted for more casual, fun, and unique. All I have to say is that I will be wearing ALL American Apparel when we get married on Thursday. (Makes me laugh)

The dress I wanted at J.Crew looked almost exactly like the one I am wearing in these photos. Same color and length with an empire waist; same column style. The Taryn, as J.Crew calls it, is made of silk chiffon, though, and has a twisted bodice instead of a smocked bodice. Mine is definitely more casual, but you can't beat $10!

Everything is happening all of a sudden, but it's ok. I was a little worried I was missing out on the traditions of longer engagements, but this weekend we bought an engagement ring, so I'm happy :) Especially since it is my dream ring. Sapphire is all I wanted. I could careless about everything else when it comes to engagement rings.

I'm sure you noticed it's on the wrong finger, but at the moment it doesn't fit me! We need to have it for the ceremony, so we've postponed having it re-sized till afterward.

Back to writing announcements :)

In these photos:
Forever21 dress
J.Crew cardigan
Chloe flats
Sapphire & diamond ring from Alana Antique & Estate Jewelry

#1: Pink/Fuchsia

2011-05-16T21:13:00.000-07:00

This week I have a little series planned. I love all the lipstick colors that are out right now, so I've made Polyvore sets for four of my favorite shades and written little articles for each. Enjoy!

Pink/Fuchsia by catiebeatty featuring a zip handbag

Neon pink and fuchsia lips have been popping up all over the place lately! Everyone from the models at the Spring 2011 Jil Sander show to Emma Stone have been donning this vibrant yet wearable color.

This color is so bright that it kind of breaks all the skin tone rules out there. I'm pretty sure anybody can pull off this look! It looks lovely paired with soft pastels, but can also be worn with other bold colors.

Try MAC's Lipstick in "Quite Cute". If you can find it! It's been very popular and has sold out at many MAC counters. If you can't find it or prefer something cheaper, try Maybelline's Color Sensational Lipcolor in "Fuchsia Fever." I own this one and it is pretty much identical to the MAC shade. Pair with eyeliner and false lashes for a super flirty look.

oh hi

2011-05-13T18:36:00.000-07:00

Now that Blogger is back up, I will tell you my big news.

I am getting married in 6 days.

That's right, we are eloping. I don't even have a ring yet, sheesh.

Ok, bye.

pink

2011-05-11T10:28:00.001-07:00

I've been to Value Village 3 times in the past week or so. I will probably regret it after paying bills, but for now I am happy with all the cool things I've found. I've had such luck! Velvet skirts, bright pink silk dresses, fur collars, a lovely sun hat, and so much 80's vintage you will probably want to puke. The funny part is that most of it is pink. I don't have enough in my wardrobe and I just so happen to be finding lots of pink pieces!

This headband is one example. It's like a punch in the face of pink.

Anyway, look out for more warm weather clothing, as my foot is doing much better! I'm so relieved.

AND I have big news to share, but the details haven't been worked out yet,so stay tuned.

In these photos:
Vintage scarf
American Apparel leotard
Vintage skirt
Vintage purse
Payless shoes

just a note

2011-05-06T10:32:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share some of my cards with everyone. These are three of my favorite "Happy Birthday" designs.

I've been drawing for about as long as I've been playing dress up. Possibly longer! I'm not sure which pastime is my favorite.

The first two cards are hand-drawn designs and the last one has handwritten text and flourishes. I cut out the flowers with little tiny detail scissors. It was tedious! It's been one of the few cards I've reproduced en mass, and I have to cut the flowers for each card. For some reason, I can't figure out how to reproduce things in a timely fashion. Printing is expensive and doesn't always work for my designs. Oh well, it just means all my cards are one of a kind :)

Versatile Blogger

2011-05-02T13:25:00.000-07:00

First, I must apologize, because I believe one of my blogger friends has already given me this wonderful award, but I didn't remember till just now! I am sorry I am so feather-brained.
Second, the beautiful and talented Ashley over at StyleCurrent has bestowed this award on me again and written the most wonderful things about me. It made me cry. (Stay tuned for a post dedicated completely to Ashley's amazing sense of style!)

Seven things you might not know about me:
1. I was a ballet dancer from the ages of 3 years to 9 years. I even danced in the Nutcracker!

2. I really, really like bugs & spiders, and have since a young age. I am still thinking about becoming an entomolgist when I grow up. I have all the gear and even pin my own beetles and have spiders in preserving fluid.

3. I have fighter pilot vision. I will be so sad when my eyesight goes, because I won't be able to draw itty-bitty anymore.

4. I lived in Basingstoke, Hampshire for 7 months and I've been there on vacation 2 other times. England is my first true love.

5. The only thing I'm allergic to is shrimp; the little tiny cocktail kind. I puke a lot. The strange thing is that I can eat every other kind of shrimp and shellfish in existence.

6. I have a short attention span. Seven things is too many.

7. When I was little I used to plan huge reenactments of Disney movies. I would make my little sisters dress up like mermaids and we would perform Little Mermaid songs for our dinner guests. I also spent the 2 weeks before my 7th birthday rehearsing Beauty & The Beast and assigning parts to my guests, but it never happened. We didn't have enough kids for all the parts.

And now to pass the award along!

Haiku Ambulance: Zoe is so nice and so cool! Gorgeous, talented, funny; what more could you want! Her blog is always a pleasure to read, so make sure you don't just gawk at the great outfits! Read!

This Charming Style: Harriet has such a unique style and great personality. Definitely a Style Icon!

Papillon Chouette : I'm lucky to know Angie. Like all the girls on this list, I wish I knew her in real life! She's a great writer, as well as having a style all her own, so I encourage you to read her blog!

RedPoppy Fashion: Tanya is an amazing local blogger, who I completely admire. She's insightful and has a great eye for fashion. She also makes gorgeous hats!

RAGS against the MACHINE: Terri is a great writer and has such a classic sense of style!

Statements In Fashion : Collette is so inspirational. She is talented and incredibly hardworking. She is also gorgeous and has a great sense of style. I think she is an important voice in the blogging world, and you should be paying attention to her!

I had it all planned out...

2011-04-30T22:20:00.000-07:00

Oh bother. Where is my brain? These photos were supposed to be in the last post and I completely forgot. It's been a stressful week, though, and I do believe my cognitive functions have been affected.

I love the architecture in Baltimore and wanted to share these pictures with you! All the buildings are so old and European-looking. And some are painted wonderful colors!

The jewelry that I brought on the trip.

The "statement necklace" is from my boss, who I think has now bought me more jewelry than anybody else has. The pearl & coral necklace is from my mom, the earrings in the box are painted horn from Africa, and the beetle brooch I received for my 17th birthday. The other necklace against the pear is one I made and has been featured before. The wonderful thing about jewelry is that every piece has a story.

I feel I should update you on my foot situation. I am officially in a below-the-knee boot :( The doctor thinks I now have a stress fracture. My foot had been getting better, but inexplicably took a turn for the worse. I'm not sure when I will be able to take outfit photos again, as I am to stay off my feet when I'm at home. On the bright side, I had today off! I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend :)

Bored at a party

2011-04-29T13:29:00.001-07:00

And now to talk about a different wedding! Finally got the photos from the matrimonial celebration Trevor and I went to last month. I think they turned out wonderful. Trevor thinks it's hilarious to look totally bored and uninterested in any photos we take together. It was pretty funny when the photographer, Brad Barnwell, actually suggested we take one like that. I usually look a little more put out, though.

So, did I talk about how long it took me to find an outfit for this? It was ridiculous and a little embarrassing. I was at H&M and J.Crew at least twice a week for about 5 weeks. I returned nearly everything, including the dress I ended up with. It was actually the first thing I bought :/ I would not be surprised if H&M put a block on my debit card.

Glad I ended up with this dress. It's really cute AND an item off my Spring Wish List: Chambray! I have more plans for it :) Trevor got his suit custom made at Thick As Thieves. He ordered it by email though, which meant I had to take his measurements. It was tedious. It's a pretty sharp suit and was under $500 (I think), so he might order another one.

Spring Wedding by catiebeatty featuring patent leather high heels

Photographer: Brad Barnwell Check out his website!

This next photo is mine though :)

Yay! So happy!

My Outfit:
H&M dress
American Apparel Stockings

Trevor's Outfit:
Thick As Thieves suit
American Apparel dress shirt
Geoffrey Beene tie

Oh no.

2011-04-25T12:23:00.000-07:00

Whoa. My foot is BAD. Going back to the doctor ASAP. My aunt suggested her friend, who is a refelxologist, but I think I may be past that point. I think I may need crutches and a brace. Yeah, that bad.

I would like to say "So I've been spending more time resting and sitting" but actually it's not that different from the usual :/ I guess I will just busy myself with some more Polyvore Sets. Such a wonderful time sucker. I am also going to make some cards, though, and fold laundry. Sooo exciting.

May I suggest checking out this blog ? It's the Blackbird Blog! Blackbird is one of my favorite boutiques in Seattle, and I know I've mentioned them at least once. Funny enough, I just noticed their latest post is thanking all the bloggers, websites, sandwich board painters, etc. who have featured their products!

Here is my latest Polyvore set! I think it's SO CUTE.

Dogwood by catiebeatty featuring hair clips accessories

fluoresce

2011-04-23T15:03:00.001-07:00

So, I am not suppose to be wearing heels, but right now my foot feels better in heels than in my 5 oz. running shoes. Why?? I don't know what is going on with it. It was getting better, but has gotten exponentially worse over the past couple weeks. Humph.

It is currently 61°F here and sooo bright. I think I will hobble outside and sit somewhere. Then I will watch the joggers go past, and for once in my life, wish I could jog.

Sorta what I wore! by catiebeatty featuring leather shoulder bags

My mom half-gave-half-relinquished these amazing lace pants to me. I can't actually where them anywhere yet, because there is a hole in the seat, but they still work for pictures. They are completely see-through, so it's not like the hole is that much more indecent, it just looks bad. Anyone know how to repair lace?

In these pictures:
Forever21 Tank Top
J.Crew Cardigan
New Look Wedges
Aldo Bag
Vintage Lace Pants
Handmade Italian Coral Earrings

A bit French

2011-04-15T10:34:00.001-07:00

Breakfast is my favorite meal. It always has been, and it might have a little to do with my mom. I think it is her favorite meal too, and she has always made sure it is enjoyable for everyone. She in turn, learned this appreciation for the first meal of the day from her French grandmother.

My sisters and I grew up hearing stories about my mother's childhood in France. One that always stuck in my head was about her grandmother bringing in the milk from the cows. Her grandmother would say something along the lines of "Zut alors! It's happened again. The cow has given us chocolate milk!" In reality, my great grandmother would take a bar of chocolate to the barn with her, and slip it into the bucket while the milk was still warm. Most mornings, though, my mom and her siblings enjoyed baguette with chocolate and butter and a bowl of cafe au lait.

Breakfast has the obvious importance of fueling our body, but I think it has another important purpose, as well. It can set the mood for the entire day. We easily forget, especially in America, that food is very closely connected to our emotions (this forgetfulness probably has a lot to do with emotional eating problems). Traditions and routines are important, especially when beginning and ending our day, and they're something I've been thinking about a lot lately.

I enjoy my morning rituals so much, that I've decided to share them with you. I like to think many of them are a little bit French, since they have been learned from my mother. I've started a few of my own though, that at the least recreate the experience of French food, and make my mornings pleasant. Below you'll find tips and links to recipes and products that I use on a daily basis. Profitez-en!

Tips:

Butter your bread and then broil it. The act of broiling the butter will make your toast smell and taste just like a croissant!

For strong espresso-like coffee, perfect for cafe au lait, buy a percolator. There is a link below for the one I use.

Crepes are easier than you think! My mom makes them every time I visit and they never get old! Here's a basic recipe.

Freshness is key! Shop at local "ethnic" markets where things like fresh herbs and vegetables and raw sugars are WAY more affordable. A lot of the bigger Asian/World Food markets even offer organic produce, always at much lower prices than big chain stores. You will also be supporting local businesses.

French Breakfast by catiebeatty on Polyvore.com

Eat eggs! They are so much better for you than we have been led to believe. They have been found to make you happy, as well as full and satisfied. Sure they have fat, but guess what? Your body actually needs fat (in moderation of course). They are also high in protein, vitamin A, iron, and calcium. All are important "girl vitamins."

Have your mom build a coup and raise chickens so she can bring you fresh eggs when she comes to visit! Or you can visit LocalHarvest.org , which is great resource for finding farmers' markets and family farms in your area.

Speaking of moderation, probably not the best idea to eat pastries every morning, right? Well, I've found that putting cream cheese and jam on toast is a pretty good substitute for a Danish!

A sugar bowl is a pleasant addition to any table and makes your morning traditions that much prettier.

Add a cafe au lait bowl to your cupboard. Nothing is more "French breakfast" than a bowl full of creamy coffee! I buy mine at Anthropologie where they are cheap, and there is also another link above. I have one from France too, but it lives at my mom's house with its sister bowls.

The picture at the top of the page is my version of Martha Stewart's Stuffed French Toast. It is one of the best things I've ever had! I used cherry jam, since I didn't have apricot, but I'm pretty sure any jam would work. Get the recipe HERE.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Friday morning!

Robin's Egg & Goldenrod

2011-04-14T21:34:00.000-07:00

Goldenrod & Robin's Egg by catiebeatty featuring a pleated skirt

The weather has been awful and I am feeling lazy... and this is what happens. I spend way too much time on Polyvore. Aren't these colors lovely together? I love that each piece is equally beautiful; they don't depend on each other to stand out.

Brand New

2011-04-09T15:18:00.000-07:00

With the help of gift cards and discounts, I was able to get both these items for super cheap! The top is from J. Crew and has the cutest heart pocket! Based on that detail alone, I was completely sold. Plus, chambray was on my wish list for Spring!

The shorts are from American Apparel and are the most flattering shorts I've ever owned. I'm really not a shorts person, but I quite liked the way these ones looked. The high waist is awesome. I'm looking forward to styling them in a classic 50's sort of way.

I am fighting back the urge to talk about the weather. It's the #1 factor in deciding what I wear, but who really wants to read about that?

Goodness, I love this look. I hope you do, too!

In these photos:
J.Crew Chambray Shirt
American Apparel Bull Denim Cuff Shorts
Aldo Flats
Vintage Belt
Handmade Necklace

Mary Poppins plays baseball

2011-04-07T09:52:00.000-07:00

Maxi skirts always surprise me. They are way more versatile than you would think. In cold weather you can wear a complete pair of pants underneath and no one will be the wiser!

Yesterday, while I was playing catch and working on my baseball skills (surprisingly, I do not suck), I realized exactly what makes most skirts a bad choice for most activities: they are usually too short and constricting and you lose your range of motion. A maxi, my dear friends, with restore this range of motion and provide you with yards of modesty! This article is starting to sound like a pamphlet from 1906... Anyway, when the skirt started to trip me up, I just knotted it on either side, and continued on!

Yay for color! And blue sky!

In these photos:
GAP cardigan
Vintage sweater vest
DIY circle scarf
Forever21 skirt
Thrifted flats
Ray Ban Wayfarers

Peaches & Toast

2011-04-05T09:47:00.000-07:00

A DIY post is long overdue. I thought I would share one of my favorite breakfast recipes with you. I grew up eating peaches and toast, but other than that I don't know where it originated from. It could be my grandmother's invention; it could be Dutch; who knows!

Bacon is the perfect side. It goes so well with sweet fruity or caramel flavors. but if you're like me and hate smelling like bacon all day, or don't have room in your diet for bacon (especially since you ate 2 1/4 pieces of pie last night), a soft-boiled egg is a nice side of protein.

One of it's best features (other than being delicious), is that it's fast and simple! This makes it perfect for all different sorts of breakfast situations. Live by yourself? Having 10 people over early in the morning? (Goodness, why would anyone do that?) It can even work when you're camping! Anyway, I would give you the recipe and you will see how easy it is!

(This version serves 2 people)

Ingredients:
-Two 15.25 oz. cans peaches in light syrup
-1/4 tsp cinnamon
-Sprinkling of nutmeg
-4 pieces of good whole wheat bread
-Butter, to taste
-Bacon, to taste

1. Empty both cans of peaches into a saute pan or sauce pot. Mix in cinnamon and nutmeg. Bring to a very small boil over medium heat. Let bubble for 5 minutes, then reduce heat to low.
2. While peaches are cooking, make your toast. A nice wheat or oat bread works best, as it holds up well and the nuttiness of the grains goes very nicely with the peaches. Toast to preferred darkness and apply butter as necessary (avoid eye contact).
3. Serves peaches over toast. Spoon a little extra syrup onto the corners. This will soften them a bit. You don't want the bread swimming in syrup, though, because it gets too soggy! I mean, if you like really sloppy sloppy bread soup, by all means, add more, but I prefer it just slightly softened.

For larger quantities, get those giant cans of peaches. They can also be used as doorstops and camera stands.

Variations:
If you have more time, use fresh peaches. Water and sugar will make a nice syrup.

Add sliced bananas and use coconut butter on the toast! My mom made this variation last summer when we were breakfasting in the garden. It was the perfect morning.

Let me know if you have any questions, because I undoubtedly left something out.

Next please!

2011-04-04T10:29:00.000-07:00

So I'm brainstorming for my next giveaway. It won't happen till May or June, but I thought I should start thinking about it sooner than later.

What would YOU like to see in the giveaway? Should I do another pair of earrings or a necklace? Also, if you're interested in collaborating, send me an email with your ideas! catiebeatty@yahoo.com

Hope everyone is having a great Monday :)

Necessities

2011-04-02T13:33:00.000-07:00

A black turtleneck has been on my list for a while, and I finally found one. It's Merino wool, fits perfectly, and was only $5!

Even if you feel that turtlenecks are unflattering, you should still own one for practical purposes. Even if you live in Southern California! What if you decide to go skiing?? You will be so cold in shorts and a tank top! So buy some pants, too. Those are very practical.

On a side note, if you're ever in Seattle, make sure to get yourself a cupcake or two at Trophy Cupcakes. I think they are the best. Their chocolate frosting is the pinnacle of perfection.

And that is my fashion tip for the day: Buy cupcakes and pants.

In these pictures:
GAP turtleneck
Forever21 skirt
Aldo shoes and bag
H&m glasses
Trophy Cupcakes

Coast to Coast

2011-03-29T11:07:00.000-07:00

Oh man, what a tiring trip. It wasn't long enough to fully relax and get into the swing of things. It was just go! go! go! Trevor and I were in Baltimore Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and then took the bus to New York Sunday afternoon. Then we had to take the bus back on Monday to catch our flight out of Baltimore!

On Saturday, Trevor was the best man in his best friend's wedding. We spent most of the weekend preparing for this; running errands, setting up, partying with lots of old friends. It was a gorgeous wedding and quite possibly the most fun I've ever had at a wedding. We all partied till very, very late. When the photographer posts the photos, I will post some of my outfit. I maybe some of the bride, if she gives me permission. She's amazingly gorgeous and one of those people who is friends with everyone. I could gush about her all day.

I love the East Coast, and I'm sad I didn't get to spend more time there. We had planned to spend all day in NYC on Sunday, but missed the bus because I was sick in the morning. Thank goodness it was short lived, and we made it to Manhattan by 7pm, but then had no time to go to Uniqlo. We were really looking forward to this, but it's probably good we didn't make it, since we were pretty much hemorrhaging money.

We had dinner and drinks with a bunch of friends on the Lower East Side. We have friends who moved to Brooklyn last fall and another group of friends were visiting them. It was perfect timing! Dinner was enjoyed at CultureFix, which is a great little bar/gallery run by Trevor's distant cousin. The service was great and the food was delicious and affordable!

I had really hoped to wear this outfit while there. It's so easy and simple and perfect for warm weather. When I left Seattle, it was 60 and sunny. Not so on the East Coast. The weather was sunny, dry, and really cold. The wind was awful; I hate wind. We had better weather than I had expected, but lots of layering was required at all times.

What a whirlwind trip. We took taxis, trains, buses, subways, airplanes, and cars. We ate grilled cheese on the Lower East Side, pizza in Manhattan, bagels in Baltimore, hot-dogs and pretzels in Chicago, and Starbucks in Seattle. We were in 6 states yesterday alone! It was pretty exciting :)

Well, now I am exhausted from just reliving the trip! I hope everyone is having a great week!

In this outfit:
Urban Outfitters shirt
Thrifted skirt
Aldo Flats
DIY scarf
Thrifted belt
H&M glasses

COVET.

2011-03-22T20:37:00.000-07:00

Green Tote Bag by catiebeatty featuring a pearl beaded necklace

I would like to own everything in this Polyvore set, but most of all I want the beautiful green Longchamp 'Roseau' Tote that floats in the midst of all the other lovelies.

The deep, forest green of this bag may, at first, bring to mind Christmas, but for me it's the color of Spring here in Washington. Everything is such a deep, saturated green, and will stay that way until July. Despite all the rain we get, we have strangely dry summers. The grass dies every year, but at least the Douglas Firs keep their color.

This tote bag covers two of the categories on my Spring Wish List: Forest Green and Tote Bags. It's available at Nordstrom.com and costs a mere $400! Completely out of my budget. Forever. I will see you in my dreams, Roseau Tote.

Skirts

2011-03-21T10:55:00.000-07:00

I want more skirts! Tulip skirts, full skirts, mini skirts, maxi skirts, pencil skirts, etc.

One day, when I'm not poor, I will buy this one skirt I saw at H&M. It's a full skirt in navy blue and comes to about my knees. It comes with a belt and is also available in red. I imagine myself wearing it on a bicycle made for two. Unfortunately, I would probably be riding that bike by myself, because my boyfriend would be too embarrassed to get on. I guess he could just meet me later at our imaginary picnic.

This is one of my favorite things about clothes: the day dreams they inspire :)

In these photos:
Vintage skirt
Vintage cashmere sweater
Chloe flats

Coral & Orchid

2011-03-15T20:27:00.000-07:00

It's almost Spring, which means it's time for something new.

Time for some personal envelope pushing and more colors in my wardrobe! I found these tights, which are the exact shade of purple I hate the most, but thanks to these tights, I now love it!

During this photo session the lighting changed dramatically and I was able to get some really neat shots. They're so graphic.

What are your plans for your Spring wardrobe? What shapes and colors are you hoping to add? What are your favorite Spring trends right now?

In These Photos:
Thrifted DKNY tights
Thrifted H&M Dress
Thrifted Cocoon Sweater
Vintage Coral Necklace
Handmade Necklaces
Bamboo Heels

Fashion Victim

2011-03-14T09:57:00.000-07:00

Good news, my foot is all better! The bad news is that it can be blamed on heels, for the most part.

I gave in and went to the doctor (with the help of my boyfriend). I didn't need x-rays, thank goodness, and the doctor only took 10 minutes to diagnose it. I have sesamoiditis, which is an inflammation in a very tiny bone in the ball of my foot, the sesmoid. These bones are found in a few places in your body and serve the purpose of protecting tendons that are located over major joints (your patella is another sesmoid). It's a common injury among dancers and anyone who spends lots of time on the balls of their feet. Anyway, my high arches, prior injury, high heels, and tripping all played a part in the pain I was experience. Mostly though, my doctor told me to stop wearing heels, which officially makes me a victim of fashion :(

I can't promise to stop wearing heels, but I can take better care of my feet, and I want to encourage you to as well! Who wants to have old-lady feet at the age of 26?? I went out immediately and bought insoles with arch support. The relief was pretty much instant. I haven't worn heels out of the house in about 3 weeks and I don't plan to until the 26th, when I have a wedding to go to. I think this will give my foot enough time to heal properly.

More tips:
1. Wear insoles in any shoes they will fit in! Full-foot or 3/4-foot insoles are the best options.

2. Take a break from heels every once in a while. Platforms are a better option as they provide more padding, but they can cause problems in other areas of your feet and body.

3. If you have localized pain in one or both feet, don't ignore it. Achy feet are common after a long day, but pay attention to what kind of pain you are feeling. One of my symptoms was this feeling that there was a lump in my foot. Not a normal achy foot!

4. An ibuprofen does wonders for any kind of inflammation!

Feet are important! Remember, they don't heel as quickly as other parts of your body, because it's harder to rest them properly. You need to use them everyday for the rest of your life, so take care of them!

I am eating toast and Marmite :D Sooo good!

In these photos:
Vintage Nordstrom Merino Sweater
American Apparel Biker Shorts
Aldo Flats

Giveaway Promo!

2011-03-06T23:36:00.000-08:00

Daria, over at Kittenhood, is having a great giveaway. She makes beautifully whimsical accessories and one lucky reader will get to choose an accessory from her online store as a prize!

Click HERE to be taken directly to the giveaway page :)

Saturday

2011-03-05T18:02:00.000-08:00

Finally a Saturday off! My boyfriend and I went to our favorite Seattle neighborhood, Ballard, to check out the newly-remodeled Field House. They seem to have made it bigger, but I'm not sure how. Maybe just took down shelving. Also, I'm hoping their plan is to get more products, because it seemed kind of empty.

The concept behind the store is pretty neat. They carry a lot of things that an old general store would have; pipes, wool blankets, eggs and milk, penny candy, new and vintage clothing (mostly men's), and the wonderful mending kits shown below.

These mending kits are assembled by hand by the Field House employees and come with everything you need to keep your clothes tip-top. I have a thing for kits, and couldn't pass them up. My favorite feature is the pincushion affixed to the top of the lid. Such a great idea!

As for clothes at Field House, I have included a picture of my boyfriend, who could be a poster-child for the store. Levi's, Filson jacket, bandanna, vintage boots; he really should work there.

In These Photos:
J.Crew Cardigan
Thrifted top & scarf
Ray Ban Wayfarers
Zella Leggings
Chloe Flats
Aldo Bag

Feature

2011-03-01T17:08:00.000-08:00

Recently, I was lucky enough to get an email from the lovely people over at Tresics. I own one of their cardigans and they liked my styling enough to feature me on their blog! Click on the link below to see my styles. Right now, there is one other girl featured, but I hear Tresics has found some other really great bloggers that will be featured in the future :)

Tresics Blog

Also, if you have done some styling featuring Tresics pieces, they would love to hear from you! Look 'em up on Chictopia.com!

Seriously

2011-02-28T13:24:00.000-08:00

My life is not crappy. I shouldn't whine, but sometimes things go the way of Majorly Dumb.

This past week was just one of those weeks. On top of my dog being sick, I think I've also messed up my foot. I was hoping it would stop bothering me, but it keeps getting worse. Last Monday I stepped in a crack and just the inside of my foot went in, which means the ball of foot got bent weird. It really didn't bother me much at first; didn't really even hurt when I did it, but now the ball of my foot is really sensitive and it worries me. Especially since it's the exact spot of an old injury I sustained when I was about 12.

A doctors appointment would be in order, but I have no insurance. That's right, four jobs, and none with benefits.

I want to wear heels again, but what if I never get to???? The thought inspires tears.

In these photos:
Vintage chambray romper
Vintage wool sweater
Urban Outfitters tights
Vintage Beret

Snowglobe

2011-02-25T13:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was like living in a snow-globe, except for the part where I was sick with worry about my doggy. It snowed all day, but never really stuck; the air was just filled with fine white flakes that floated off to somewhere else. Seattle only had a light dusting, but other towns up north got over 12 inches! My mom lives about 60 miles south of me, and she got 6 inches. The panic that sets in here in Seattle gets worse and worse every time we have snow.

Today it is blindingly sunny. That type of sunny that always comes with below-freezing temperatures. I'll take it though! My dog is feeling better, and could now open up a small drug store, which might be a good idea as she now owes me $200. They're not quite sure what she is sick from, but I'm still waiting on some test results. Thanks for all your kind words :)

As for this outfit, I just looove the colors. I think I'm going to start building my entire wardrobe around reds and blues. I painted a little heart on my cheek that my boyfriend says is "too precious" to wear everyday. I agree with him, but I like it so much I might wear it once a week.

The blouse is a vintage Wrangler that I can't bare to part with, even though it is two sizes too big for me. It's such a treasure.

In These Photos:
J.Crew Cardigan
Wrangler Blouse
J.Crew Cashmere Hat
Zella Leggings
New Look Wedges
GAP Clutch

Bed-rest

2011-02-24T12:30:00.000-08:00

My dog is sick, yet again. I bring her in for emergency visits more than I bring her in for regular check ups.

My mom won't answer her phone and my boyfriend is at work, so I've resorted to posting about it for all the World to see.

I have an appointment with the vet at 2pm, which seems like ages from now. I just want to figure out what's going on! I'm very, very worried. On top of everything, it's snowing again, but luckily not sticking. Hopefully the roads won't freeze over too early in the day.

ModCloth Giveaway

2011-02-22T17:32:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! Just wanted to give you the link to Collette's awesome giveaway. The winner will receive a $50 gift card for ModCloth.

Click HERE to be taken directly to the giveaway post

You should also check out the rest of her Collette's blog, Statments in Fashion. She's a great blogger!

On a side note, it's snowing here O_o Earlier in the afternoon it was a perfect, sunny blue skies and it was filled with snowflakes!! I've never seen weather like that.

On a sad note, my pictures turned out bad today. I didn't have enough light. :(

In these photos:
Vintage velvet blazer
Coal cowl scarf
GAP shirt
Zella leggings
Vince Camuto boots
Vintage Rabbit Fur

Holiday

2011-02-21T22:50:00.000-08:00

Today was one of those very meaningful holidays. The kind where you can't run any errands, unless they involve buying mattresses at great prices! I realized halfway thru getting ready that I was not going to be able to go to the bank, post office, or library. I ended up at our one-and-only outdoor shopping mall.

Have you ever noticed how much your attitude effects how you perceive the weather? I'm so ready for Spring and keep thinking it IS Spring, so today I didn't think much of the bitterly cold wind. Let me tell you, I was pretty surprised when it started snowing. All of a sudden, my Uniqlo jacket and nylons seemed flimsy and ridiculous (they pretty much are), but thank God for my hat! My one practical item.

The dress and the bag are two of my newest wardrobe additions. The bag was on sale at Aldo. It's amazing what they can do with polyurethane these days. Everything looks so soft and real, and I swear they spray the bags at Forver21 with leather-scented perfume.

In These Photos:
H&M Dress
Uniqlo Jacket
Urban Outfitters Nylons
Forever21 Stockings
Bamboo Platform Heels
Aldo Bag
Vintage Hat
Ray Ban Wayfarers

Reviews and Favorites

2011-02-21T13:24:00.000-08:00

And now for installment #2 of my reviews. In this post, I'll focus on beauty products.

I was hoping to cover beauty and services in one post, but it got too long. Actually, it got so long that I'm going to have to split my beauty reviews into two separate posts, and then I will have a final post covering service reviews.

An important note: I have moderately sensitive skin, but I always have such a hard time figuring out what product caused which rash, that it makes it hard to know which product to stop using. None of the products in this review have been connected with rashes (for me personally), and I will try my best to properly warn you if I have experienced any reactions to any products I ever review. (Ex. One time I made this linen spray with a perfum oil I had, and ohmigod, I thought I had the measles, but it was just the worst rash ever.)

My favorite products of the moment:

Revlon's Super Lustrous Lipstick in "Ravish Me Red" ($4.99 to $7.99)
Personally, I think I look awful in "purple" or cool reds, and most classic red lip colors are just that. They look heavy and awkward; I end up looking pasty and puffy. I need warmer colors and I've finally found a red that leans more towards orange-red, but isn't quite as bright as the MAC lipstick I have. I nearly bought a very similar version at the Estee Lauder counter, but everyone else had had the same idea and so all the Washington Nordstroms were sold out. I'm happy it worked out that way, because I ended up finding this Revlon color and saving $15! Another good option is MAC Lustre Lipstick in Lady Bug, which costs around $14.

Clinique Redness Solution Powder ($33)
What do you get when you combine Dutch, German, Scottish, and Scandinavian genes? One very red-faced offspring. I've had random people ask me "Were you just running? Your cheeks are so rosy!" "No, ma'am, just cursed." On top of that, I have very spacious cheeks (They are like the Great Plains), so downplaying at least one of these things is always a goal. Reducing redness is easier and cheaper than reducing size, especially thanks to this loose powder from Clinique. It's one of the few products that is marketed as having instant effects AND actually delivers said effects. Another plus: it didn't make me break out in a rash.

All-Time Favorites and Standbys:

Essie Nail Polish ($8)
Essie always has the best colors. For those of you who are very particular about your french manicure, they have about a zillion different pale pink and beige shades made just for french manicures. I find that Essie lasts longer than OPI, as well (But only about 10 seconds longer. I chip my nail polish almost instantly). The color shown here is the newest shade in my collection. It's a lovely rusty, brick red by the name of Alligator Purse.

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Face Primer ($10-$12)

I can't tell you how much I love this stuff. It's a great primer, but also works wonders when worn alone. It's mattifying, but not so much that your skin looks like a piece of copy paper (I've experienced this with other products). It also magically perfects you skin! It evens the tone, minimizes pores, and can even erase fine lines. At around $12, this product can't be beat. Like with the Clinique product above, I was super thrilled when I didn't break out in a horrible rash.

Self-Portrait Sundays

2011-02-20T16:36:00.000-08:00

Today I was featured on Kirstin's wonderful blog, Crimson Rosella. She has a wonderful weekly section called Self-Portrait Sundays where she interviews fellow bloggers about their photography techniques.

I also highly recommend checking out the rest of her blog! She has a very personal style. Whimsical and lady-like and full of delicate details and pretty touches. She also has gorgeous blond hair and the biggest blue eyes; a winning combo!

The colors and accessories in this outfit are incredible!

Thank you, Kirstin :)