Tunic love.....

Do you ever go into a store not really searching for anything in particular, in fact not intending to buy anything at all, and spot an item you cannot leave the store without?  I found that item today, at Target!  I had a dentist appointment and needed to kill some time before meeting a girlfriend for lunch, so I browsed through Target.  I was about to leave the women's clothing department when out of the corner of my eye I spotted this:

It is so light and sheer  - great to wear as a top or a swimsuit coverup!  At only $29.99 it's a great deal!  I can't wait to wear it!

White Denim

I love white denim when the weather starts getting warmer.  It just looks clean and fresh as opposed to regular denim.  Just add a bright color and you have a crisp, polished outfit!  So easy!

Here are some of my picks for white denim in stores or online now:

Cropped Denim by Banana Republic
Bootcut Denim by Gap

Vault Denim also carries white denim - you can shop for a pair in your own home!

Meet J from J's Everyday Fashion

Happy Hump Day everyone!  While perusing through my blogs this week trying to learn all things about fashion an beautifying my home (my two obsessions), I came across a blog that I had not seen before.  Meet J from J's Everyday Fashion .

J is a girl after my own heart!  She strives to enjoy fashion and participate in trends all on a budget.  And what's more.....she is teaching us how to do the same thing through her blog!  J has a knack for taking inspiration photos and recreating them to suit her budget and lifestyle.  Her are some of my favorites:



For some real fashion and budgeting lessons, check out her blog!

I'm back - with news - Vault Denim

Hey guys - if anyone i still out there!  I am sorry that I have not posted in so long, but I needed to take a break from posting and gain some perspective of what I want to do with my life right now.  As you know, I am a stay at home mom with 2 boys in elementary school.  I love being a stay at home mom. I love my mornings when I can exercise, gather my thoughts, run errands and prepare myself for the after school rush of homework, activities, supper and bedtime.  I love the bond that I have with the boys, I love spending time with them, helping with homework, and the gift of being able to watch them grow and mature into young men.  However, with the cost of gas, groceries, clothing, etc. rising, it is time that I help out financially.  I have been trying to figure out how to meet the needs of myself and my family, and I think I might have found it.  I have discovered a wonderful company called Vault Denim. 

Vault Denim is a home party business that sells designer jeans at a discount.  That's right, you read it correctly- designer jeans!  How can the do that, you might ask?  They have contracts with designers to buy the designer overstocks and sell them to us.  All the names you know and love - Joe Jeans, Sevens, AG, William Rast, to name a few.  Vault Denim sells them at up to a 50% discount!  Have you ever been to a home party where you actually are buying products for less than you can buy them at the retail store?  Me neither! I also love that there is no pressure to buy - you go to your friend's house, try on some jeans, if you like them you buy, if you don't or the don't fit, you don't buy.  That's it!  The consultant brings inventory to your home, you and your girls try on jeans until your hearts content and you take them home with you!  No waiting around for your order to come in!  What else is great about this company?  It's only a year old, so we're at the ground floor!

If you are interested in knowing more, please email me or leave a comment.  Wish me luck in this new, exciting endeavor!

Field Trip

How do you like my new shirt?  There is a story behind it and it goes a little something like this.  Two ladies, while their kids were in school, decided to take a field trip and have a little adventure.  We cruised on down to the 5 Points area of Columbia, SC  where we came upon a little consignment shop called Revente.  Now, this isn't any consignment shop, it's an upscale consignment shop.  That's right, I said "upscale".  What does that mean?  It means designer labels at a fraction of the cost, baby!  We're talking Tory Burch, Tibi, Adriano Goldschmied with some Lily, Ann Taylor, and Banana Republic thrown it - but that's as low end as they go.  We piled items up in the dressing room and tried on to our hearts were content.  In the end I scored this Tibi Blouse, a pair of AG jeans, a French Connection top and a pair of Banana Republic shorts all for less than $150.  I can't wait to show you the rest of my scores!

Calls in the middle of the night....

Do you ever get calls in the middle of the night that make you heart skip a beat (or four) and then turn out to be nothing?  That happened to me last night, at 3:00 AM.  The phone rings and caller ID says Lexington Medical Center - my heart has now stopped.  I groggily say, "Hello."  Voice at other end says, "Hi!  This is Liz, is this Nikki?"  Me again, "Umm, no, wrong number."  What the hell, Liz?  It's 3:00 in the morning!  I am sure this Nikki is asleep just like I was! What do people think?  It's not even the weekend, it's a Wednesday night (or Thursday morning, rather)!   And then, I was too mad to go back to sleep for at least 30 minutes. 

Enough about annoying strangers who call from medical centers in the middle of the night.  How do you feel about daytime sequins?  I love just a touch of them added in a casual way.  The shirt that I have on in this picture is almost like a sweatshirt, and definitely as comfortable as one.  I love how it added a little bling to the outfit.  I will need a little bling added to my day today:)

Pop of Red!

Okay, so I put this top on and the jeans and flats, looked in the mirror and thought, "How boring!"  But I really wanted to wear the top because I bought it from the Maxx the other day and it has been begging me to wear it!  So I thought, "What can I do to make this outfit not so boring?"  The answer:  a pop of red!  I threw on a red necklace, red ring, and even painted my nails red.  I don't feel so boring anymore!  And now you know how I like to have conversations with myself!

Do I look tired to you?

Yesterday I felt very pretty wearing this pink sweater.  It was Valentine's Day and I was sporting a color of love, running around doing sweet things for my three Valentines.  During one of my errands I had to go to Kmart to make a quick exchange, then get to my son's school for his class party.  The lady behind the service counter was very busy making change for the cashiers and dealing with customers, plus she was as slow as Christmas.  In front of me was this sweet little 90 year old women with about 20 items to return.  Ugh!  I know I looked disgusted, because I sure felt disgusted.  And then the angels began to sing as the sweet 90 year old lady said, "Oh, you just have one item?  You should go ahead of me."  I said, "Oh, thank you so much, you are so sweet!"  And then the angels stopped singing and the little old lady said,"Well, you do look a little tired."  (Insert screeching record sound here)  At least my tired self made it to the party on time.

 sweater - The Limited

skinny cargos - Forever 21

chambray shirt - Target

boots - Ecco

necklace - Francescas



Happy Valentine's Day!

In honor of Valentine's Day I got all dressed up!  Okay, not really.  I wore this outfit to church yesterday, but it could work for today because it does have a little red in it.  This weekend my sweetie and I went out to dinner with a group of friends to celebrate Valentine's Day (yes, we are romantic like that - our group loves each other).  We went to a restaurant called Mr. Friendly's  where they serve southern cuisine, and then went to a wine bar afterwards.  We really had a great time sharing stories and laughing the night away.  Nothing restores the soul like laughter.  It was a wonderful way to end a stressful week.  This week we begin on a note of love!  Let's make it a good one!  Have a happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

shrug - Loft

blouse - Banana Republic purchased from Ebay

skirt - Target

boots - Bananan Republic purchased from Ebay

necklace - Kohls

I need an upgrade!

There are some bloggers out there with truly, wonderful pictures that I so admire.  They have the best cameras, and husbands/boyfriends who are photographers and some are even photographers themselves.  Me, I make do with myself, a timer, and the same ol' camera we've had for years.  We seriously need an upgrade!  But until then, I will keep playing with what I've got.  Today, I attempted some outdoor shots.  This is the only one worth putting on the blog, but hey - at least I got one!  Is there anything in your life that needs an upgrade?

sweater - TJ Maxx

jeggings - Old Navy

boots - Nine West

striped t-shirt - Target

necklace - Handpicked

Blazer time!

Hey guys!  If you haven't checked out a great little site called Everybody Everywear you should.  Every month the writers choose an item to style and bloggers can link their posts to it so we can see how everyone has styled that item.  This month's item is the blazer.  I have mine on today and I will be linking up to the site.  Go on over there for great inspiration!

blazer - Loft

jeans - Gap

sweater - Express

necklace - Handpicked

clogs - Target

Singing in the mornin'

I love the sound of happy boys getting ready for school in the morning.  As I type this quick post, they are singing in the upstairs bathroom while brushing their teeth.  So happy!  Wait a minute, if they are singing, they can't be brushing their teeth.  And now, there are banging sounds, and, what's that?  Wrestling!?  We're going to be late for school!  Stop, boys!  Get down here this instant!  And in a matter of seconds, our morning has gone from happy to frantic.

To all my homeys...

Last Saturday at my 1st grader's basketball game, Little G says to his coach during a time out, "Hey Coach!  You can call me 'homeless man'........or 'homey'!"  So after the game, my husband and I had to tell the little man the difference between a homeless man and a homey.  Oh, the life lessons we teach!

Yesterday, when I was getting dressed, I noticed this sweater and shirt hanging beside each other in my closet.  I loved how the navy made the turquoise pop!



Online magazines

Have you guys discovered the word of online home decor magazines?  There are several out there that are so very good - beautiful pictures, great designers, wonderful inspiration, and best of all, they are free!  Let me introduce you to my favorites.  First up we have Lonny Magazine.  It was originated by the people who brought us Domino Magazine, which is no longer in publication.  Here are some pictures from the latest issue:

And then you have this great little mag from down under - Adore Home Magazine.  Oh, those Aussies really know how to throw some eye candy our way!

And we have Rue Magazine, a wonderful lifestyle mag that I thoroughly enjoy.  Feast your eyes:



And last, but not least, there is High Gloss Magazine that just launched in January.

So there you have it, 4 great online magazine for your viewing pleasure.  Check them out and let me know which on is your favorite!