valentine's florals.

valentine's florals for this semi-wordless wednesday.

speaking of florals...ladies (and men!), do you like to receive flowers and chocolates on valentine's day? if not, what would be the ideal gift? let me know your thoughts. 

(Sheinside blazer; Lulu's skirt; Charles David heels; JustFab bag)

shop the look:

east vs west style. holiday party.

now that thanksgiving has passed, it's starting to feel like christmas. driving around the neighborhood this weekend, the night air was crisp and cool, and many of the houses were starting to put up their christmas lights and decorations. and you know what that means...holiday parties!

the ladies and i are back with a holiday edition of east vs west style, and we're kicking it off with what to wear to your holiday parties. black doesn't have to be boring. play around with layers, textures, and prints to create a look that will stand out in the crowd.

east

Jackie / Living After Midnite / New York

Tiffany / Tiffany Style / Georgia

Tracy / TheRightShoes / New York

west

Ashley / Pursuit of Shoes / California

Danielle / Envision Pretty / California

Becks / oomph. / Hawaii

figuring out what to wear to a holiday party can be stressful. you're already worried about your grab bag gift, your dish or wine selection, and you might be on a budget with all the christmas gifts you have yet to buy. your work wardrobe can provide a great base for an outfit.

for me, it's this leopard print pencil skirt and tank top that i always wear to the office topped off with this beautiful faux leather drape cardigan from Karen Kane. it's slightly textured and has a pretty sheen to it that makes it feel festive. i'm also loving the ruched sleeves that show off your jewelry [and flash tats] without having to roll up your sleeves.

when the holidays are over, this cardigan will fit right into my work wardrobe...and that's what i call a great investment.

(Faux leather drape cardigan c/o Karen Kane;

love & sunshine clutch; Jessica Simpson shoes)

you might like these:

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last day to enter to win a love coupon book from Datevitation.

a week of high-waisted shorts. blazer.

today i'm tucking a simple tee into these high-waisted shorts and topping it with a blazer. tucking into a high-waisted short will accentuate a short torso, so just make sure the blazer extends below the waist.

i'm gearing up for my 30k race coming up this sunday. at almost 19 miles, this will be the longest training run before the marathon. i'm already dreading this course as it ends with a hill that gave me major cramps in the first race i did in august. i can only hope that my body is better prepared now.

(Deb Shops high-waisted denim shorts; Gap Pure tee;

love & sunshine clutch; Forever 21 blazer; Paula & Chlo necklace)

in case you missed it:

a week of high-waisted shorts . monochromatic

a week of high-waisted shorts . oversized sweater + tall boots

a week of high-waisted shorts . kimono

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click image to enter.

warm weather blues.

although it has been miserably hot and humid the past few weeks, i actually felt a chill last night. the first chill. could it mean "fall" is coming? with 90° temps still on the horizon, it's highly unlikely...but i'm hopeful.

next week is our family's big birthday week...four birthdays, three days in a row. what do you get for retired parents who [tell you they] have everything they need and an extremely picky pre-teen? i welcome any suggestions.

what's the weather like in your neck of the woods?

has fall arrived yet?

(F21 blazer, Lulu's tee; DIY denim; Nine West sneakers)

sorority sister + GIVEAWAY.

leave it to the movies to skew our perception of what sororities and fraternities are really like...i mean, the first thing that comes to my mind is the movie legally blonde. while raging frat parties, that nerve-wracking sorority rush, or those secret rituals may or may not be true, i do know that members of these greek organizations share experiences that create lifelong bonds.

what better way to celebrate, create unity, or remember your association with a greek community than with a personalized piece of jewelry? The Collegiate Standard, a jewelry company created by greeks, for greeks, caters to fraternity and sorority organizations. looking for a thoughtful and unique gift? consider one of their lettered pendants, rings, tie clips, or cuff links. best part is that they give a portion of their sales to the designated sorority or fraternity, and we like companies that give back.

 scroll down for the giveaway.

are you part of a greek organization? if so, which one?

floral joggers are not pants!
they are comfortable pants.
and how might one wear these outside of the house?
with a shrunken blazer + heels.

(Sterling Silver Anchor ring w/lab-created diamonds c/o The Collegiate Standard)

this Delta Sigma Pi bangle in pink is one of my favorites;

i borrowed it so you could see it worn.

(Rampage blazer; Patty's Closet pants c/o;

Ellie shoes via i love Sexy; JustFab bag)

GIVEAWAY

Collegiate Standard is giving away one piece of jewelry to a lucky reader. you do not have to be part of a sorority or fraternity to enter; they have some pieces without letters (like the anchor ring i'm wearing above).

giveaway open to U.S. residents only, ends 6/18

enter using the rafflecopter widget below

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