5.17.2013

{Love You: Chelsea}



I am so excited today to be sharing with you my sweet blogger friend Chelsea from Haute Child in the City.  Like many blogger buddies, I can't remember exactly how Chelsea and I met, whether it was stumbling upon her blog or instagram, but I am just glad we were able to "virtually" meet.  Chelsea's fun, sparkly, and sassy personality exude on her chic lifestyle blog Haute Child in the City, and I am excited for you all to see what she is loving about herself today.   

"I love that I am decisive
I have the ability to quickly come to a decision and stick with it.  Sometimes it can be to a fault; but mostly, it enables me to get in and out of the grocery store much more quickly than the average person.  Anything that acts as a time-saver for me is aces in my book. 

I love that I am loyal
To my friends, family, and colleagues, I am one of the most loyal people that you will ever meet.  I will always be there for you, I will travel great distances to support you, and I will go to the mat for the people in my life. 

[via]

I love my scars and random body idiosyncrasies
From the small stitch marks on my forehead from my first stitches to my oddly shaped toes from years of dance, they are all a part of who I am and tell the story of my life.  Also, it's super fun to mess with people when they inquire about certain ones. "Oh that chunk out of my leg?  Shark attack."


I love that my superpower is the ability to wear any height of heels without feeling pain
Sure, it’s a little freakish that the nerve endings in my feet don’t communicate with my body well and I’m sure that most doctors would read this and tell me that I needed to lay off of the heel wearing, but being 5’0 on a good day, this super power comes in handy.  It also makes me a bad gauge for people who ask, “Are those shoes comfortable.” My answer is ALWAYS yes.   

I love that I have the most random (and at times, terrible) taste in music
My iPod has everything from The Clash, to GirlTalk, to Vampire Weekend, to John Mayer to Van Morrison, to The Beatles, and yes, even the entire music catalog of the one-and-only Britney Spears and Taylor Swift, as well as most of the songs from Glee.  I unapologetically download Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez.  It should be shameful, but for me, it’s totally not. #sorryI’mnotsorry

I love that I am a nerd
I’m a totally science nerd and I love to read, mostly nonfiction.  I never want to stop learning and I think that the thirst for knowledge is an under appreciated quality.


I love that my sister and I are close
My sister and I haven’t always been close.  In fact, it wasn’t until I went away to college and she started high school that we actually could tolerate being the same room as one another.  Most of that was my fault; I was too cool to have a little sister hanging around and we fought like cats and dogs.  I’m lucky and thankful that she and I are very close now because there is such an awesome bond between us a sisters; a sense of comradery that only we will every truly understand being sisters.  Not to mention she’s way cooler than I’ll ever be and is such an amazing Aunt to our little guy.

I love that I don’t own a scale
Seriously, if you asked me what I weighed right now, I couldn’t even wager a guess because the last time I was weighed was at my post-partum appointment after my son was born which was over a year ago.  I just don’t see a point to obsessing over a number; as long as I’m happy with what I look like, my clothes fit, and I’m eating well, it’s just not a priority to me.


I love that I am comfortable in my own skin
It’s taken a while to get here, but I’ve gotten to the point in my life where I know who I am, I don’t regret any foolish decisions from my past, I know what I like (and what I don’t), I’m settled in my life and career, and I’m happy with and appreciative of where I am."    

Do you see what I mean about being sassy???  I love that she jokes with people that she was in a shark attack because her toes and feet are a little wacky after years of dance.  I also really loved that Chelsea shared her love for her sister.  I too became very close with my sister, especially after I went to college, and so often relationships with other people are such an important part of our lives and certainly something we should cherish.  A big thanks to Chelsea for sharing so much on the blog today.  I am not surprised, but happy to know she is just as beautiful on the inside as the outside.  If you have not checked out Haute Child in the City yet, the site is a must.  Happy Friday...J 

5.16.2013

{Day 16/184 of No Shopping}

So I am on day 16 of 184 {6 Months No Shopping}.  It has not been awful yet, but I will say I am getting a little nervous about my upcoming trips to NYC and SF this summer, but the plan is to stay strong. As you know if you have been reading along, I thought it would be fun to keep track of items that I see that I think I would have bought to see how much money I am saving and to see if a couple months down the road I am still thinking of any of those items.  

So this week up on my "Woulda If I Coulda" Pinterest Board is this amazing Zara shift print dress. I love little shift dresses because I know I will wear them for work and play.  This one in particular just had such an amazing print and after seeing it all styled up on Cheetah is the New Black I was wishing I could have the dress for myself.  But the bright side is I am saving myself $79.90.  Anything you have been dying to buy lately?  Happy Thursday...J 

5.15.2013

{Sate Love}

So I practically lived in this shirt when it first arrived.  Not only is it darling, but so soft.  It is the perfect way to stay comfy and show a little state love.  And the best part is...Riffraff has a whole line of State Love items that you can check out here.  Whether you are looking for a cute workout tee, something to pair with jeans or a flowy skirt on the weekends, or a new lounging top, these are the perfect addition to any t-shirt collection.  I also think they make an amazing gift.  I decided to pair my State Love tee last Sunday afternoon with crisp white jeans and a DahliaLynn necklace for a laid back Sunday evening.  
Happy Wednesday...J

Top {Riffraff}, Jeans {Joe's Jeans}, Heels {Lucky Brand}, Bag {DANNIJO}, Necklace {DahliaLynn headed to Savoir-Fair}

5.14.2013

{This & That: Black Meets White}

With these few days of breezy, cool weather all I want to do is lounge around on the porch or inside with the windows open.  So I would not mind taking a break in THIS chair in THAT sweet tank and killer necklace.  Who doesn't lounge around their home in killer jewels??  Happy Tuesday...J

5.13.2013

Moi...et toi


So I picked this little sweater up the last time I was in NYC.  I fell in love with it when I saw it on my buddy TulipLouise.  My impulse with any large word printed sweater is to wear it around the house or to pair the sweater with my favorite boyfriend jeans for a casual look.  But when I was set on wearing this breezy dress for Mother's Day brunch after temps had drop to the high 50s and low 60s, my little "Moi et toi" sweater came to the rescue.  After deciding that my usual go to cropped, blazer jackets were just too formal for a lazy Sunday brunch, I thought this soft knit was unexpected but perfect all at the same time.  

Now can we take a moment to talk about the words on this sweater. The sweater came out around Valentines, so I think the thought of getting a comfy sweater that read "Me and you" in french was just too romantic to pass up.  I imagined my hubby and I enjoying a homemade Italian candle lit dinner "Lady and the Tramp" style, while I was so chic in my "Moe et toi" sweater.  But we went out on Valentines and I did not wear the sweater, but got a little more gussied up.  I can't spend all my time in baggy clothes.  Or can I?  

Nevertheless, I found myself wondering yesterday if anyone sees me in this sweater and thinks to themselves, "Why does that jerk have a sweater on with the giant word "ME" on the front?"  And if they even see the little hidden "et toi" on the bottom left corner, then what do they think?  I mean they are reading it "Me and you"?  I don't want to be a walking invitation for "Me and you" time with complete strangers.  This little brainstorm went on for longer than it should have in my mind yesterday.  So I landed on the decision that I often do when it comes to my clothes.  I will wear it because I like it.  Ok...cutting myself off for the day.  Happy Monday...J    

Sweater {Zara}, Dress {last season, Target}, Clutch {old, gift from a friend}, Heels {last season, Jessica Simpson}, Necklace {DahliaLynn Vintage}

5.10.2013

Love You: Nancy

Well hi friends and hi Friday!  Per the usual I am so glad it is almost the weekend, and so excited to share this Love You feature today.  I imgaine you will love Nancy as much as I do!

"Hi everyone! I'm Nancy from Adore to Adorn.  I'm so honored to be a part of a feature that embraces the positive traits we all have.  When Jessica sked me to participate in the "Love You" series, I couldn't wait to share my post.  Having grown up with a "what's wrong with me?" attitude, I have discovered more of what I love about myself that I used to criticize and am grateful to share this insight with you! I'm sharing my lucky 8 (a good luck number!).

  1. My sense of humor. Laughter has gotten me through a lot of tough times in life. If I couldn’t laugh at myself I would not be where I am. I also love to cheer people up by smiling, laughing or telling a nerdy joke.
  2. Being a survivor. I am incredibly grateful for the life I have now. I lost my parents when I was still a teenager and just learning to become an adult. I met some “bad” people afterwards that made me lose my way. While I didn’t get to learn more from my parents, what I did learn has made me stronger and made me understand how important hard work is and how valuable self-worth is. I am a better person for that.
  3. Being an introvert. I have always longed for the day that I would break out of my shell and be the extrovert I always dream of but by being introverted, I have appreciated the ability to listen to people and what people say. It has made me a better spouse and friend.
  4. My hands. I cook, I clean, I write, I blog, I create art and I hold other hands with them. They have been the best tools in my life. Plus, I love creating nail art!
  5. My thick (THICK) hair. I never appreciated my hair until I became an adult. But I am grateful that I don’t need to do much to create volume. The little things!
  6. My partner. Without him, I would not be able to embrace the person I have grown to be. He met me when I was still “discovering” myself and never doubted the person I would learn to be. He has been the hugest support system in my life. And, he always makes me laugh.
  7. Being a fast learner. This has helped me work a lot of different jobs and able to move quickly in the ranks. I ask questions when I need to and retain the information that helps me work faster.
  8. My smile. This might be an odd fact but I never smiled a real smile until I was in college. Before then, I felt awkward and paranoid that people were judging me (of all things!).   All my smiles looked “fake” in photos but suddenly, in college I cracked a real smile and haven’t stopped."
Nancy thank you so much for sharing so much with us today.  I love to see other women really thinking about and sharing all the things they love about themselves, especially when those things involve tough times in life.  I find it hard sometimes to make reason of the hardships around us, but taking time to think about how those tough experiences mold us in to stronger people is a really imporatnt part of living.  You have served as such a wonderful reminder to me today that the bad can be just as important as the good.  I also think I can speak for all of us when I say I am so glad you found your real smile because the world is a much prettier place as a result.  Please take a moment to skip on over to learn more about Nancy at Adore to Adorn.  You will find she is beautiful and creative inside and out.  Happy Friday and lotsa love...J


5.09.2013

Day 9/184 of No Shopping

So I am on day 9 out of 184 of no shopping.  It is going ok so far...I mean, but how bad can it be going after the first week?  I have already started the closet organization process, I have some fun projects in the works to freshen up some of my old goodies, and I have started a "Woulda If I Coulda" board on Pinterest.  I am hoping to use this board to track what I would have purchased if I had not put myself on this freeze.  I think it will be amazing to look back and see the money I save and decided what items in retrospect I could have lived without.  

So I share with you my "Woulda If I Coulda" picks for week one of my 6 month shopping spree.  

One This amazing little $88.00 bracelet matches a necklace I bought during a one day online sale right before I started the shopping freeze.  I love the necklace, so I thought the bracelet might be fun to add to my collection.  
Two I loved this little dress I saw on one of my favorite bloggers Signe, and thought it would be a fun breezy addition to my flowy dress stash for summer.  And at $29.80 it is kind of a steal because I think it would transition in to the fall very nicely.
Three I have been looking for the perfect denim vest for a little over a year now.  So when I saw this gal on J.Crew she caught my eye.  The fact that she is an additional 30% off with their Spring sale right now dropped the already sale price of $88.00 to $61.60.   

Though they add up to a little bit more than I would like to spend in a week worth of shopping, after my successful closet sale I have a little pile of profits that are just burning a hole in my pocket.  Now might be a good time to mention {though it should not come as a surprise}, I am not one of those people who saves my pennies and shops for the essentials for a season once or twice a year.  I like to browse and purchase along the way.  I am also a crazy person for sales and deals.  That can be a good thing, but can also encourage you to buy things you might not REALLY need because of the thrill of the sale.  Though it is bittersweet to wave good bye to these goodies, I must say it feels pretty good to be $179.00 richer.
Anything that you have said no to lately while shopping?  Are you happy you stayed strong or regretting leaving that goodie behind?  Happy Thursday...J

P.S. Time to announce the winner of that amazing Hazel's Haven giveaway.  Congratulations to Jasmine Lease.  Please email me at dahlialynnlane@gmail.com to retrieve your gift certificate.  A big thank you again to Hazel's Haven for sponsoring this amazing giveaway and for all of you wonderful people who entered.