Just The Way You Like It

Have you ever brought a piece of clothing home from another shopping jaunt and giddily hung it in its rightful place in your closet only to pull it out for that oh-I-have-just-the-thing-to-wear event and find yourself in that all too familiar spot, standing in front of the mirror, nitpicking and tugging and pulling at sleeves, waists or lengths that just aren't quite right?  I know I have, and then in that same instant, I realize I don't have a trusty tailor on speed dial (darn it) and I'll just have to cinch my belt a little tighter or throw on a pair of high-ish boots instead of rockin' those heels just to hide the fashion-y, almost-perfect piece I'm donning.  Well, have no fear because eShakti is here!

Meaning 'power' in Sanskrit, eShakti gives you just that and allows you not only to pick that perfect piece through dozens and dozens of tunic-y tops, dresses and skirts (all ranging in sizes 0-26W), but once you've found your find, you can customize to your little heart's content (whether it be a shorter or longer sleeve or hem length) and it's all up to you for a teeny-tiny minimal $15 fee, every time (and ships out directly to your doorstep, always in 3 days)

And since I looked out my window for this morning's weather report (rain, rain and slushee-like snow go away) I thought I'd show you some pretty blue beauties that caught my eye that I wish I was wearing right about to reflect the spring-y sky's imaginary hue (unlike it's real life, right-about-now grey-ish tone) instead of the layers upon layers as I go to turn on my space heater for another blanket-cuddling day:

And if that wasn't enough to get you to click on over and start making everything your way (in your own color picks and fit), they also have quite the little contest going on too (I know, it's like triple the icing to top the perfect chic little cake, right?!)

It's called The eShakti Woman Contest (and it ends today) and all you gotta do is tell them exactly who the eShakti woman really is (get all sorts of clever and specific like where she shops, travels, eats and who her fanciful friends are too) so get clickin' and tell those judges why YOU (and your wonderful writing skills) should be picked for the $250 Grand Prize to shop, shop, SHOP 'til you drop, drop, DROP!

P.S. Don't even get me started on how I'm already daydreaming that for the entire length of my summer, all I could be wearing is one of their uniquely and beautifully embroidered caftans with a glass of crackling ice water (with a slice of cucumber or a spring of mint) in my hand as I breathe in the crisp, cool air. Ahh ... that's the ticket.  Livin' the (albeit it imaginary for now) sun-filled life.

Nothin' but blue-skied beauty pics all courtesy of eShakti

Tee For Two And Two For Tee

I never really understood what I was missing when others would talk about that one tee shirt that feels like a second skin whenever they throw it on ... you know, the one that becomes your security blanket and bodyguard against all things uncomfy?  Well ... I get it now because I haven't found the one, I've found the two:

Thanks to American Apparel and my sister dear, I now know what it feels like to have that elusive perfect tee(s) in the form of a dark grey scoop and v neck (just like the ones shown in the pictures above)  If I could, I would just 'wardrobe rotate' between these two for the rest of my ever-t-shirt-lovin' life.

'Tee Time' images courtesy of American Apparel

Dine With Me

You have no idea how much I wish this was my very own dining room table.

No idea.

Delectable dining pic courtesy of design*sponge

Coat Of Charms

This is a man that knows sometimes it's okay for your clothes (ahem, your coat) to do all the talking.

Today's chic style lesson (and pretty pic) brought to you by V. Jackman

Monday Mantra

Some days (especially some Mondays) I have to keep repeating a certain mantra to myself: Just Breathe.

Thanks for the reminder, Eddie.

Lyrical loveliness courtesy of Pearl Jam via YouTube

Pretty In Pink

I'd be tickled pink to be able to wear any one of these pretties!

{all priced from $28 - $48, pink you very much}

Prettiness personified in pics courtesy of Anthropologie

Got You Covered

After I saw this downright delightful denim pic (and proceeded to get uber jealous that I don't already have an interpretation of this outfit already hanging in my own closet) I knew this gal would just have to be my next look-for-less subject.  No question.  If only for nothing but the fabulous leopard-printed booties, then so be it. 

Here's what my budgeting, bargain-y brain came up with:

twelve dollar and ninety nine cent d&y straw cloche women's hat

-I'm a style sucker for anything with a bow, every time -

{tillys dot com}

thirty two dollar and eighty cent bell sleeve trench

- opted for a slightly darker and shorter take on the classic trench -

{forever 21 dot com}

fifty four dollar and fifty cent white western shirt

- whenever I think 'classic white shirt,' I always fall into the Gap -

{gap dot com}

forty four dollar and ninety nine cent carhartt women's bib overall

- couldn't get over how fashion-y and functional this pair was -

{construction gear dot com}

twenty eight dollar basket case clutch

- fell in fast love over the criss-crossing weaves of this clutch-

{lulus dot com}

twenty two dollar leopard-print ankle boot

- could not resist these shiny, spotted heels -

{newport news dot com}

There.  As I told you in the title of this entry: I got you covered.

(in all sorts of head-to-toe casual and dressy chicness)

The image that got me huntin' for my own bargains courtesy of Vanessa Jackman

Hilarity Ensues

Best. Commercial. Ever.

Period.

End of story.

The funniest-of-funny video clip courtesy of YouTube

The Magnificent Mole

I've always been rather green-eyed when it comes to anyone with what I consider to be the most darling of all accessories: freckles.  See, I wasn't blessed with such pretty little dots, no ... I got cursed with what I thought were always a bit much for a mug: moles.

It wasn't until I came across this striking beauty over on Garance Dore's blog that I stopped dead in my tracks and marveled at the lovely round polka dots resting upon her neck, and in that moment realized something that I'd never allowed myself to think before: maybe my moles are the best beauty mark of all.

Black and white beauty of a pic courtesy of Garance Dore

Male Pattern Boldness

Apparently I really dig men that aren't afraid to sport a little pattern-on-pattern action whether it's in the form of an oh-so-stylin' scarf, a bold blazer with the perfect punch-punch-of-color pocketsquare or a head-to-toe cardigan combination of it all.

Styles spotted and snapped for our viewing pleasure courtesy of The Sartorialist (pics 1 & 2) and Vanessa Jackman (pic 3)

Clawfoot Confession

I've become obsessed with clawfoot bathtubs. 

I've never been a big (bubble) bath fan in the past (must be my utter lack of patience to really, really relax) so I'm not sure as to why I can't stop daydreaming about sudsing up in one now; must be because everywhere I turn (or click) lately, there is another adorable tub (just like the blue green-ish one with the stylin' silver-y accents above)

Ernie must have been onto something because I think they (clawfoots, not just rubber duckies) would make my bathtime lots o' fun.

Beautiful bathtub pic courtesy of the nester dot com

Cuttin' It Short

The sun has been in the midst of some silly little trickery these past few days ... staying out much longer than ever expected and almost willing me to give in and start donning (gasp!) bare legs again.  I'm trying to keep my cool and not succumb, but when I see beautiful, crisp pieces like the outfit above (thank you, darling CC) I can't help but find my own look for less (evidenced below) and start to believe the saying: Where there's a will, there's a way.

twenty nine dollar japanese satin blouse

{newport news dot com}

thirteen dollar strappy design belt in camel

{go jane dot com}

fifty nine dollar and eighty three cent asos scalloped hem silk short in pink

(since I can't see myself donning white shorts, I opted for a blush-y shade)

{asos dot com}

forty dollar equestrian cross-stitch satchel in brown

{fred flare dot com}

twenty three dollar and seventy cent buckle t-strap platform heels in camel

{go jane dot com}

The silky short pic that started it all courtesy of  fellow fashionista, Couture Carrie

I Love The '80s

I want nothing more than to grow my hair out to look just like this chick's.

And to have insanely gorgeous black-lined make-up just like hers.

And to wear such eighties-tastic clothes.

And to have this as my new anthem for the rest of my year.

Yeah.  All of the above.

Best. Song. Ever. courtesy of my best gal pal through the TV screen - ellen

Rollin' With It

If I could, I would literally live in these got-'em-for-nineteen-dollars jeans, 24/7.

That's how much I adore them and all their hole-y glory.

I like 'em.  I like 'em a lot.

The Weekender (but more like everyday-er) Jean pic courtesy of Old Navy

Boy Wonder

It's gone and happened all over again, I've fallen head over well-adorned heels for another blogger extraordinaire, thanks to the lovely (and always best dressed) Lydia over at Style Is Style (read the article that made it so here) 

Danny Roberts (quite the handsome fella, no?) from Igor + Andre has the gosh darn prettiest site my eyes have seen in a very, very long time.  His drawings are drop dead gorgeous and I want them plastered on every square inch of bare wall that surrounds me (not to mention how much I would adore one of his self-portraits drawn just for little old bargaining me by this thinker of a guy) 

I wish I could fill this entry with pages upon pages of his pretty pretty pictures (just so I could sit and stare, stare, stare for days on end), but I did quite the difficult task of choosing just a few of my most favorite for your eyes too:

{this print comes in t-shirt form too! be still my heart}

You're welcome.

All breathtakingly beautiful, stop-your-heart images courtesy of Igor + Andre blog and stunningly stylized store

London Calling

One of the things I like most about blogging and its community is when you find yourself smack dab in the middle of hitting the 'publish' button on a comment you want to send out to another and you find yourself intrigued by what someone else has already left as a friendly opinion and message for the individual and their masses to read; leaving you no choice but to visit said stranger's site.

That's exactly what happened to me a few days ago when I discovered a Londoner's almost-too-beautiful-for-words site after reading some smartly written notes left on another blog I frequent and couldn't be so selfish as to keep it for only me (finders keepers and all that) so I am sharing some of the stunning snapshots with you today as we welcome in another (hopefully warm-ish) weekend:

And yes, I've always, always, always wanted a spiral-y staircase all my own.

Be sure to click here for more unbelievably gorgeous shots and then here to learn a little more about the man behind all the prettiness.

The pictures that paint a thousand words courtesy of Davidikus