pretty little things.

with summer's heat and humidity upon us, i'm keeping things light and airy these days. denim cut-offs + converse keep it beachy and casual while sheer blouses + pretty peek-a-boo lace bralettes keep it feminine.

you can find lots of great summery deals at nordstrom's anniversary sale. if you are a nordstrom cardholder, get early access and first dibs on sale items now. not a cardholder? it's ok! take a sneak peek now and shop from july 22nd.

what are you wearing to stay cool this summer?

are you a nordstrom cardholder?

if so, what do you pick up during the sale?

you might like these:

hello longer legs.

ok, we're all guilty of this...right?

tiptoeing to lengthen our legs? or tiptoeing just to look taller than our friends in that reunion picture? i mean, let's be real. i love wearing heels, but sometimes i have to give my legs a break. but when i do [wear flats], i can't help but feel short and stocky...so i tiptoe. a few guilty photos below.

check out this product i recently discovered. it's called invisible heels. just pop these inserts into your shoes, and you've instantly lengthened your body, lifted your butt, and slimmed your figure. no need to tiptoe.

are you guilty of tiptoeing?

have you tried shoe inserts before?

tiptoeing...guilty as charged.

three heights are available: 3/4", 1.5", 2"

oops, i did it again!

made of memory foam cushioning that's lightweight,
comfortable, and sturdy.

what? not again!

*this is NOT a sponsored post.

monogram clutch GIVEAWAY.

let's kick off july with a giveaway!

i've teamed up with 9th & Elm to give one reader a cute monogram clutch. this burlap clutch is available in four different trim colors and two different monogram styles to choose from. it also comes with a shoulder and wrist strap. since the natural material is on the casual side, i opted for black trim and letters to dress it up a bit...but throw on a bright pink or blue trim and you have yourself a fun summer bag. scroll down to enter.

do you like monogrammed items?

do you own anything with your monogram on it?

(patty's closet skirt; jessica simpson heels via lulu's)

giveaway closed

prize: one burlap clutch with monogram

giveaway ends 7/10 (11am CST), open to US and Canada only

good luck!

enter using the rafflecopter widget below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*winner chosen and notified by 9th & Elm.

[oomph.] not responsble for prize fulfillment. 

a week of high-waisted shorts. cardigan.

finishing off this week of high-waisted shorts with a look i love. again, playing with the short and long proportions, a simple white tank tucked into high waisted shorts is topped with a statement red plaid blanket cardigan that is oh-so-fall. the black and silver accessories adds a bit of edge to the outfit.

hope you enjoyed this 'week of'...
did you have a favorite look?

(Topshop sleeveless top; Plaid Blanket Cardigan; River Island shorts; 3.1 Phillip Lim ankle boots; Leather tote bag; Midi ring; Long necklace; D&G sunglasses)


a few tips for wearing high-waisted shorts:

- keep them looser and longer (i like at least a 2.5" inseam)
- when tucking in shirts, layer a longer piece over it to balance the short torso
- shorter the shorts, lower the heels


you might like these:

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

a week of high-waisted shorts . blazer

columbus day sales.

3-day weekends are made for [online] shopping. with these great deals, update your fall wardrobe or get a head start on your christmas shopping. here are some of the best columbus day sales happening this weekend. happy shopping!

BANANA REPUBLIC: 40% off your purchase with code: BRWEEKEND

FOREVER 21: 30% off with code: TAKE20

MADEWELL: 30% off with code: OHFALL

you might also like these:

Piperlime | 20% off with code: FALL20

Macy's | 30% off with code: FALL

Old Navy | 15% off with code: ONSAVENOW

Williams Sonoma | 20% off with code: SAVE20

J.Crew Factory | 50% off entire site

*exclusions apply. check site(s) for details*

be in the know with POPSUGAR Now.

[this post is sponsored by POPSUGAR. while i was compensated to write about POPSUGAR Now, all opinions are 100% mine.]

POPSUGAR has become my one-stop source for everything from fashion to shopping to celebrity news. if you love watching red carpet coverage, seeing what celebrities are wearing now, and knowing what designers are sending down the runways, then tune into POPSUGAR Now on tv!

POPSUGAR Now, weeknights 6/5c on TVGN

coming to you from their new york, los angeles, and san francisco studios, POPSUGAR Now brings you the latest in fashion, celebrity news, and lifestyle content throughout the award season. this week they're spilling blake lively's secret detox juice recipe and chatting with a hottie from magic mike!

they also have daily giveaways ($100 to J.Crew this week!) and lots of special guests on the show (recently, paul wesley and some of the guys from glee!).

check below to find your TVGN channel:


watch POPSUGAR Now and let me know what you think!

fashion to fitness.

"it's only $1 per mile."
that's all it took for me to sign up for the honolulu marathon.
never mind that fact that it is twenty. six. miles.

i was at my friend's house for dinner one night, and somewhere between hellos and a couple drinks later, i was all in. we have been talking about training for the 8.15 mile great aloha run coming up in february, so what's another 18 miles?
but seriously, despite all my anxieties and fears about finding the time to stick to a training schedule, i'm excited. i told mini-she that i was going from fashion to fitness this year...that i was going to live and breathe fitness. trade in my stilettos for nikes, my necklaces for a pedometer, my skinny jeans for compression pants.
she's not convinced.
but look. my first marathon-training purchase...a hat to shield my face from the sun when i'm running all those miles.

just a warning that in six months, this blog may turn into a documentation of how i ran my first marathon. haha.

and a few other things i plan to pick up along the way:

- a pedometer to track my workout miles

- lightweight sunglasses

- sunscreen

- new running shoes

- swimsuit for those cross-training workouts

- workout clothes

have you completed a marathon?

if not, do you have the desire to?

veterans...any advice on what to do or not to do?

juggling act + tia and tamera on style network.

this is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of style network. all opinions are my own.

*     *     *

it's tough enough just being a single mom.

add to that a family business...a job that doesn't end at 5pm.

then try keeping up with two kids who are on opposite ends of the spectrum...a moody teenager with an attitude who is silently screaming for my attention, and a needy toddler who really is

just. screaming.

and, add to that this business of blogging.

juggling these things on daily basis is overwhelming sometimes.

but seriously?

i wouldn't have it any other way.

remember those spunky twins, tia and tamera, from the show Sister, Sister? (i loved that show, by the way!) they're back! i caught a few episodes of their new show, Tia and Tamera, and fell in love with them all over again. now in their 30s, the twins are married with kids, trying to juggle family, work, and running a business...just like many of us.

photo credit: matthias clamer/style network
i have two sisters and even work with one of them, so i can totally relate to the relationship tia and tamera have. and that's what i enjoy about the show. it's relatable.
not to mention stylish!

in season three of Tia and Tamera, which premieres july 14th, 8/7C on Style, the girls deal with the same struggles we experience and show us that it is possible to have it all.

to celebrate the upcoming season premiere,
style network wants to know, "who is your &?"
your sister, your mom, a pet? share a photo of your bestie on instagram for a chance to win a $2,000 shopping spree. get the details here.

will you be tuning in for the season premiere of Tia and Tamera?

summer 2013 trend. pointy toe flats.

pointy toe heels have been popping up everywhere, and i love them. they're sexy and look good on the feet. these pointy toe flats are a great alternative for summer's activities. paired with boyfriend jeans and a kimono top (also on refinery29s summer essentials list), it's laid back, boho chic.

shop these:

report signature silverton flat

nasty gal field day flat

jeffrey campbell scatter flat

jenni kayne lattice d'orsay flat

rag and bone relaxed fit jeans

sass & bide loose jeans (similar)

j-brand mid-rise jeans

in case you missed it:

the sandal

*     *     *

don't forget to enter these great giveaways!

click here to enter the coach bag giveaway

*     *     *

click here to enter the persun jewelry giveaway

1st class fashion.

we're all here because we love fashion.

along with fashion comes travel...

think fashion week all around the globe.

now there's a social network that combines the two.

1stclassfashion.com is making travel a reality

to anyone with a dollar and a killer outfit.

and not just any travel.

first class travel.

it's quite simple.

1) register

2) upload an outfit photo for $1 per photo

(enter as many as you want.)

3) vote

the outfit that gets the most votes from the community each week wins a first class airline ticket to anywhere in the world.

each week there will be one male and one female winner.

that's 52 chances to win a first class ticket.

even if you're not up for the competition, you can register and browse the 1st Class Cabin...i guarantee you will find some first class inspiration from all around the world. 

1stclassfashion.com

century 21.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of CENTURY 21 for SocialSpark.
All opinions are 100% mine.

one of the great things about the blogosphere is that i am constantly being introduced to new places to shop. down side to that? not many of those places are here in hawaii. but if they have an online store, you can believe i'm all over it. so i was excited to hear about Century 21 Stores. it's over 150,000 square feet of shopping. incredible fashion for

women and men, linens, decor, and more.

top designer brands at incredible prices.

i know some of my blog friends live in new york while many others visit often. they have two manhattan locations

(1972 broadway + 22 cortlandt) plus a few others.

you can also shop C21 24/7 online. there you will find flash-type sales with the same great brands. i just signed up for my free membership and was amazed at the affordable prices. below are a few items that caught my eye.

emerald jeans $29.97

leopard blazer $49.97

polka dot blouse $19.97

visit the Century 21 facebook page to enter the Empire Hotel sweepstakes for a chance to win a $500 C21 wardrobe makeover and a two-night stay at the iconic Empire Hotel in NYC!

 while there, you may even spot some of your favorite celebrities shopping at C21!

have you been to a C21 store? if so, tell me about it!