Blogger Q&A: Meet Life's A Party Dress Like It

Today I want to introduce you to Paige from Life's A Party Dress Like It. Paige and I met through our involvement in the SoCal Blogger Society and I am so excited to start to feature some more wonderful bloggers from the area. Paige works in Entertainment and Non-Profit PR, working events and just being an all around kick-ass go getter. This girl is super cool and her blog reflects every aspect of that. Check her out!

via Life's A Party Dress Like It

Describe your personal style in three words.

1. Preppy

2. Classic

3.Feminine 

I can’t leave home without: My Raybans (life savers) or any chapstick/lipstick. I'm constantly reapplying!

If I were any accessory, I would be: Earrings! Anything from a sophisticated diamond stud to a fun pair of statement chandelier's. Any outfit can go from plain and ordinary to extra special with the right pair of earrings.

What are your three favorite places to shop?

1.  Francesca's Collection 

2.  Marshall's/TJ Maxx -- always find great deals!

3. Small boutiques - I tend to stay away from big department stores because I don't want to be seen in what everyone else has

What is your favorite travel outfit?

When I travel, comfort is key! My go to is black Victoria's Secret yoga leggings, long white tank, button up chambray top and ankle booties. If it's going to be cold where I'm headed I'll trade those in for knee high boots and add a scarf and fur vest.

What outfit to you go do when you want to feel strong and powerful?

I have two outfits which make me feel invincible:

Office: I have this white chiffon blouse with gray polka dots I like to tuck into my hunter green skinnies. I add a gold glitter belt, pointed gold flats and some serious statement jewelry pieces and am seriously ready to own the day!

Weekend: When I think of strong and powerful leather instantly comes to my mind because it reads edgy. I grab my favorite Ann Taylor stripe top with sequins, tuck that into a printed giraffe black/tan skirt and throw on the leather jacket + heels. Instantly feel super feminine yet rocker-chic with the leather jacket on top. 

via Life's A Party Dress Like It

What is your go-to handbag right now?

Working in events I either have a large tote to hold all of the excess folders and knick knacks I have or a clutch but I don't really carry either during the week. I have a Kate Spade bifold which perfectly holds my ID, debit card and cash and I carry that pretty much everyday. It's a great transition piece because I throw it in whatever bag I'm using.

What are you reading right now?

Shamefully nothing at the moment (tsk tsk) but I'm heading to Cabo in a couple of weeks and plan on diving into the Divergent series!

What is a guilty pleasure of yours?

Monster Energy Drinks. They're so bad for you but because I get the Absolute Zero  (0 Calories, 0 Sugar) I feel a little better about it.

via Life's A Party Dress Like It

What company milestone are you most proud of?

I moved to LA 2 years ago without a job and a handful of money in my pocket. I started temping immediately and doing everything from clipping Kardashian labels off of clothes to send to Marshalls, to working check in tables at events. I moved on to a fashion marketing job I hated but had a steady paycheck at before landing my dream job of working in Entertainment/Non Profit PR. That in its entirety has me pretty damn proud of what I've accomplished. 

What blogs have you visited recently? 

I recently met Stormie at the So Cal Blogger Society luncheon and lover her blog, 20 Something Diaries, but my daily go to's are Ashley from Le Stylo Rouge, Ashton from Ashton Wears Things, Emily from Life with Emily, Shanna from Because Shanna Said So, Pamela from Sequins and Seabreezes, Lauren from Fizz and Frosting and of course Elisabeth fromHeadbands and Bagels! 

Loving Summer Hats

Love Love Loving by preppy-lizzy featuring a fedora hat

Madewell fedora hat / Baseball cap / Cotton hat / Packable Wide Bow Sunhat / panama | Tuckernuck, preppy clothing

Hats are a go to staple for me in the summer. With the amount of time we spend at the beach, hats keep my face shaded and my head cool in the hot sun. The top of my wardrobe is filled with hats including wide brim hats, fedoras, panama hats and baseball caps. Here are a few of my favorites this season.

New Girl Thoughts & Reactions

If you have not watched this past weeks episodes, avoid this post!

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New Girl was back this week with a new episode and the return of everyone's favorite drinking game, True American! Our group of friends keep trying to find a time to try the game out but as you can see by the rules, it is a bit complicated and ample space is a requirement. I may try to get a game going at this year's family Square Dance over Memorial Day weekend since space is clearly not an issue there.

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But after a night of True American, the cast awakes to horrible hangovers all with very differing results. While Winston, Schmidt and Coach come upon the hot new neighbors moving in and offering to help them move, Jess and Nick end up fighting over trying to put a toy together for Jess's godchild's first birthday. While normally you would think a scenario like this would result in hilarity, this time it only results in arguments and an untimely fire. 

Jess ultimately tells Nick that she cannot always tell him the truth because that would mean they would always be fighting. You kinda know immediately where it is going from there. By the end of the episode they agree to break up and Nick walks Jess back to her bedroom. It honestly feels like we are starting a Ross and Rachel relationship all over again and I have to say, I don't know how I feel about it. I also really hope that Jess taking her old room back doesn't mean Coach is out. I love Coach and would hate to see him written off the show. What do you think? How do you feel about the end of Jess and Nick for the time being?

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Currently Craving... Tassels

Currently Craving.. Tassel by preppy-lizzy featuring pendant jewelry

Pendant jewelry / Tassel Earrings | Tuckernuck, preppy clothing

I am seriously all about the tassel jewelry trend right now. I love this adjustable J.Crew necklace and these Lisi Lerch beaded tassel earrings. If you have read the blog for some time you know tassel earrings come up in my posts one and a while. Have you tried the trend? What are your thoughts?

Gym Rat Report: Week 4

via Pinterest

So this week's gym rat report is very light on the exercise notes and more of a cautionary tale. Last weekend I was rocking at the gym between pilates and training for my half marathon, only to wake up Sunday morning with my back thrown out.

Ever since I ended up in a walking boot a few years back for ankle damage, I have found myself more prone to throwing out my back. Now let me preface this with saying, I'm 27! I cannot believe it myself. Still I have been better about knowing my body because of it. Because of the boot my hips were thrown out of sync and to top if off I naturally have very short and tight hip flexors and hips. As a result I really need to be careful about stretching before and after each workout. And to be honest, I have not been good about my post workout stretches lately.

Still this is the worst its ever been. I find myself back on muscle relaxers and working from home because I cannot sit in a chair for very long. Fingers crossed that I will be back on my feet soon as it is getting better each day, but so frustrating! I miss the gym. Seriously, I miss my workout time. But for the time being I can look forward to meds, heating pads and laying down with my knees up on the couch.

How do you care for injuries?

Wednesday Wishes: Mixed Bag

Wednesday Wishes by preppy-lizzy featuring a rainbow stripe bedding

J Crew drapey tee / J Crew stripe pencil skirt / ASOS romper / KUT from the Kloth distressed jeans / Jack rogers sandals / Elizabeth and James stackable ring / Yves Saint Laurent round glasses / Ipad cover case / Beach Riot rainbow stripe bedding / Vase

It's kind of a mixed bag this week, but these are all items that are on my radar. As I clean out my closet and post new items on postmark these last two weeks, I am finding where I have holes in my wardrobe, and these are just a few ways I could fill them.

SCBS Monthly Link Up: Spring Pastels

What I'm Loving by preppy-lizzy featuring purple watches

Untold lace shift dress / Zara pastel dress / Alexander Wang loose tank / 1 State mint top / Pinko sash belt / Charlotte Olympia ballet flat shoes / Chanel leather shoulder bag / River Island chain handbag / Nixon purple watch

Joining in on our first SoCal Blogger Society link up today!

Store Obsessions Right Now!

Favorite Stores Right Now! by preppy-lizzy featuring a colorful striped bedding

Ruched dress / White tunic / ASOS print romper / ASOS shorts / Sam Edelman black rhinestone shoes / Low heel wedge sandals / Asos satchel / Coral jewelry / Elizabeth and james ring / Yves Saint Laurent round tortoise sunglasses / Scarve / Beach Riot colorful striped bedding / Vase / panama | Tuckernuck, preppy clothing / Julie Vos Belize Studs / Hot Pink Tassel Key Chain

I am all about these four stores right now. They are all killing it on a regular basis and every time new arrivals are announced I run to snatch them up. Fantastic is all I can say about Tuckernuck, Shopbop, Design Darling and ASOS. If you have never checked them out do so right away!

The Perfect Brown Sandal

What I'm Loving by preppy-lizzy featuring Sole Society

Chie Mihara wedge shoes / Jessica Simpson high heel shoes / Franco Sarto strappy sandals / Low heel wedge sandals / DV by Dolce Vita platform sandals / American Eagle Outfitters black sandals / Sole Society sandals / ASOS flat shoes / Charlotte Russe thong sandals

I have been on the hunt for the perfect brown sandal. I love my black Ralph Lauren wedges I bought last year and I wear them all summer long, but sometimes black is just too harsh and in that case, I would love a great pair of medium brown leather sandals to rock out. I honestly think you can do anything with a pair in black and a pair in black, and now I just need of find the perfect pair. I ordered Pair 1, but have a while I await their arrival I am checking out some other contenders in case these just don't work. Fingers crossed!

Your Own Virtual Makeup Studio

The opinions in this post are my own. This post was sponsored to BrandBacker and GlamST. BrandBacker pairs bloggers with companies looking to promote their services and products. I did not recieve any compensation for this post other than access to their beta system. Thank you for considering companies and sponsors who work with Headbands & Bagels.

Have you ever gone to a makeup counter and bought a lipstick or eyeshadow you thought would look great, only to get it home and be disappointed? Or even try a new color in store only to realize that in natural light the color does not work on you at all? This is wear GlamST comes to the rescue. 

Trying out Makeup on GlamSt.com

You can register via Facebook or Google+ and upload a photo of yourself to see how great makeup products will look on you. You an also use one of the three models whose skin coloring is most like you to compare. I was having a hard time uploading a photo of me, so I ended up using the model who was most fair.

The before and after feature may be my favorite!

Overall I really like the idea of the site but there are definitely some kinks to work out. The before and after feature is hands down my favorite. I was able to find some new products I really want to go check out and the best surprise, you can order through the website directly with Sephora (my favorite!).  In particular I am excited to try a new color of the Rouge lipstick, the Bobbi Brown tinted moisturizer and pot blush and the Laura Mercier neutral eyeshadows!

Add it to the bag!

Match Made in Heaven

Love Love Loving by preppy-lizzy featuring yellow shoes

TOMS navy blue shoes / TOMS slip on shoes / TOMS yellow shoes / TOMS shoes / TOMS flat shoes / Marco : Jonathan Adler for TOMS

I recently became a serious Toms convert. I always thought the shoes looked like slippers but honesty, they are amazingly comfortable and I love being able to slip them on for errands around town. They are a great alternative to flip flops and I really think Toms hit a home run with their most recent collaboration. I LOVE Jonathan Adler. He is the king of geometric prints and I absolutely love everything about this collaboration.

Top 10 Playlist - March Edition

March Top 10 Playlist by preppy-lizzy on Polyvore

This month's playlist is all about Glee in honor of their 100th episode earlier this week. What is your favorite Glee cover?

Wednesday Wishes: Spring Fever

Wednesday Wishes by preppy-lizzy featuring long tops

White tunic / J Crew long top / Gap low rise short shorts / Low heel wedge sandals / Kate spade handbag / Coral jewelry / Scarve / Pim Larkin Color Block Stripe Maxi / panama | Tuckernuck, preppy clothing

I am obsessed with all the great spring and summer gear that has come out over the last few weeks. Tuckernuck is seriously killing it right now with all their amazing curated pieces. The tunic, panama hat, lobster scarf and wedges are all amazing and so right up my alley. I also am loving this Pim + Larkin maxi from Piperlime, these green leather bag from Kate Spade (the perfect summer green - seriously), this french popover from J.Crew, and these denim cutoffs from Gap. I also think that the summer is a great time to frequent smaller vendors like these super cool white coral necklace from Design Darling and this awesome leather headband from Gina Made It (they just revamped their website - its great!). Now all I need is a great weekend getaway to appreciate all these awesome pieces!

Tuesday #Shoesday: Love of Sandals

Tuesday #Shoesday by preppy-lizzy featuring lace up sandals

Sam Edelman ribbon sandals / Jack Rogers lace up sandals / Low wedge sandals

Living in California, I realize I basically live in sandals all the time. Even at work during the summer months, I find myself in wedges in sandal styles. While I also have my share of rainbow leather flip flops, I love a more structured sandal day to day because they are less beach and more delicate. I just got these Sam Edelman jeweled flats and I am obsessed. They are beautiful and will be great for all our spring and summer weddings!

Currently... March Edition

Currently... by preppy-lizzy featuring GreenGate

Reading: Tangalang by Gerald Tang. This book was just released on Amazon and is written by my good friend Gerald. Hilarious and though provoking it is a great read. More to come on the book review this coming month.

Eating: Cheese and Wine. We are celebrated my sister in law, Juile's birthday with lots of wine and cheese. Cheese is my absolute weakness. Many diets have been derailed with wine and cheese!

Listening: To Ennico Morrcone's greatest film scores. I love falling asleep to classical scores and something about Ennico's music gives me quite the positive reaction.

Watching: Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Dan and I had been wanting to start watching this show for a while and wanted to see what all the hype was after they did so well at the Emmys. The show is wonderful and Andy is awesome. Thank goodness for HuluPlus is all I can say.

Craving: These navy blue tassel earrings. I feel like these could be dressed up or down and are just so elegant without trying to hard. I really want to pull the trigger.

Dreaming: Of Easter in NYC. Dan and I are trying to alternate Easter's between the east and west coasts and we are excited that this Easter my entire family on my mom's side will be together. I can't wait for an amazing meal, an epic Easter egg and beer hunt and toasting my grandfather at the cemetery with a little white wine.

Spring Wedding Season - What to Wear

Spring Weddings... What to Wear by preppy-lizzy featuring a zipper dress

Mary katrantzou dress / Paul Smith Black Label blue camisole / Vivienne Westwood Anglomania zipper dress / Ted Baker vneck dress / Coast green one shoulder dress / AQ AQ blue skater skirt / Poem elastic waist dress / Red sleeveless dress

Spring Weddings are always beautiful. The weather has started to warm up, flowers are starting to bloom and everyone is excited to get out of their winter clothes. Colors are everywhere and the same goes for spring weddings. Break out your prettiest colors and get on that dance floor. We have a few spring weddings this year and I am definitely choosing between a number of bright pieces.

Pinterest Hairstyle - A Pony Alternative

via Pinterest

I am a pony tail fanatic but since I chopped off my long locks in return for a long bob, I had to come up with some pony alternatives that don't result in a stubby looking ponytail. Hence this twist ponytail. I love that it is close to your head and is a great option in a more conservative office like mine. It allows me to have my hair back without it looking too juvenile.
What's your favorite go-to work hairstyle?

The Gym Rat Report: Week 3

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This week's post is all about the best fitness apps out there. I am a huge fan of using fitness apps as personal trainers, trainers for races and general fitness, especially when traveling. Right now my favorites are the 13.one, water in and NTC. These 9 are the ones I use the most and swear by.

Nike+ Fuelband: I have been wearing the Nike Fuelband since it first came out and have gone through a few after some breaks. I still really love this app, especially when I am traveling. This is probably most likely due to the fact that it gives you how many miles you walked that day, which when abroad is always mind blowing.

Nike+ Running and Runkeeper: I really like both of these apps, but honestly they are mostly interchangeable. The big difference I have found between the two is that the Nike+ Running app allows for treadmill and outdoor use which I love when I am at the gym. What I like better about Runkeeper is the ease of keeping up with your friend's fitness and the ability to cheer them on. A lot of times I used both simultaneously so I get the best of both features in my mind.

LoseIt: I started using this app with a few of my girlfriends in the new year to help lose weight. I love the fact that it can easily be used with friends and it is easy to track one another's progress. You also can't beat the fact that this is free unlike most other weight loss apps like Weight Watchers. Also it is impressive how many brand name items they have saved. There really is no excuse not to track.

MindBody: This app is pretty cool as it shows you all the different fitness classes going on in a particular area and in most cases allows you to sign up for a class. I use this app daily to sign up for my pilates classes at my gym, but have found it a great resource if you are interested in trying something new or even finding massages and facials in your area. 

Waterin: This app is awesome! It is a good reminder to keep drinking your water all day and instead of keeping a scratch pad it slowly fills up your meter as you input data throughout the day. It is shockingly simple but totally worth it. It's free and it is amazing how little water most of us drink daily. It really keeps it in the forefront of your mind.

Nike Training Club: The go to on any business trip, this app has it all. Tons of different workouts for whatever situation you find yourself in. NTC was a serious godsend last year when I was constantly on the road, but I also have to admit I love using it at the gym. It is like having your own trainer in your pocket. The coaching and demos are great and I love that you can sync it up to your music library to keep moving through the whole workout.

13.one: I found this app when looking for half marathon training plans. I have used paper ones in the past but I really wanted to try this one. It takes the date of your race and skill level and maps out your training plan through race day. It uses GPS to monitor your runs, so if you run a treadmill it won't work, but I love that I just have my training regime right in my hand. 

SeaWheeze: I am preparing for the 2014 SeaWheeze half marathon this August in Vancouver. It will be my second of three halfs in 2014 and I love this app because it is a training plan focused around not only running but yoga and pilates. I love the laid back vibe it takes and it is also a great planning resource for my race!

What are some of your favorite fitness apps?

Masculine and Feminine - Making the Pairing Work

Pairing the Masculine & Feminine by preppy-lizzy featuring ann taylor pants

L K Bennett sleeveless fit and flare dress / MaxMara beige top / Aéropostale navy blue letterman jacket / L K Bennett double breasted coat / Ann taylor pants / Oxford wedge shoes / Santoni brogue shoes / Gucci tote / Accessorize shoulder strap bag / Olivia Burton water resistant watch / Grey earrings / Charm jewelry / J Crew print scarce

I love pairing masculine pieces with feminine pieces. I love picking out pieces that are delicate and lady like and paring them with structured bags, masculine watches and shoes, like brogues and loafers. Here are two looks pairing masculine and feminine pieces that I am all about.

Wednesday Wishes - The Luck of the Irish

Wednesday Wishes by preppy-lizzy featuring green wreaths

Green wreath / Shirts top / Style Co green t shirt / Green skirt / Claire s headband hair accessory / Saucony Originals Jazz Low Pro World Celebration - St. Patty's Day / Old Navy St. Patricks Day Graphic Caps For Baby - St pats day / Green St. Patrick's Day Recipes / Cotton Snap-Up St. Patrick's Day Sleep and Play Carter's

In honor of Saint Patrick's day this coming Monday, I am in the celebratory mood this Wednesday. It is my husband's favorite holiday and I am going to be honest, I can't wait to drain a pint or two of Guinness and maybe even a Guinness float. Are you all excited for Saint Patrick's Day!

Tuesday #Shoesday - Get My Miles In

Tuesday #Shoesday by preppy-lizzy featuring evening shoes

Asics leather shoes / Saucony shoes / Brooks evening shoes

With this week being the start of my half marathon training, all my shoe dreams are about great running sneakers right now. I ran my last two half marathons in Nike Free sneakers, but found that while they are great gym sneakers, they are not great on the knees.

My sister suggested trying out some different sneakers as she has fallen in love with a pair of Brooks running sneakers while training for her half marathon. When my mom was here, we headed out to Sports Authority to try out a few pairs. I fell in love with an Asics pair and her with another Brooks pair. And I have to admit, the cushioning makes all the difference, especially on longer runs. Do you have different sneakers you use for different fitness activities?

Transition from Winter to Spring

From Winter to Spring by preppy-lizzy featuring a waist belt

Cinzia Rocca faux fur collar wool coat / Waist belt / Repetto ballet shoes / Ganni high heel booties / ABS by Allen Schwartz black crystal earrings / Aldo jewelry / Essie nail polish / Essie nail polish

Spring is upon us and it is time to start transitioning from the moody deep colors of winter to the light and airy silloutes and colors of springtime. When I think of spring, easter and flowers spring to mind. What is your favorite spring piece you can't wait to bring out of hibernation?

Making Your Own Wedding Invitations

When Dan and I were getting married, we had a wedding budget set by my parents and when we saw what personalized wedding invitations cost, we were floored. We also knew we wanted to spend more of our budget on our photographer, location, food and DJ. In addition, I felt confident in my ability to design our own invitations with my experience using Adobe suite products and my past work in layout design in both college and high school.

We researched the style of invitation we liked and found that we both really liked the idea of vintage maps representing our childhoods and where we live today. I found inspiration online from another couple whose husband did the graphic design for their wedding and decided to get to work. I downloaded pages for my Macbook (a fraction of the cost of Adobe InDesign) and started working on layouts for invitations and response cards.

For our invitations I chose a vintage subway map of New York City from the 1930s, representing the location of the wedding and for the response cards a vintage map of Los Angeles from the 1950s. After I was satisfied with the design, I had the entire wedding party proof it for me and then brought the files to Kinkos to be printed. Then with my card stock copies at home, I cut each invitation by hand and then stuffed the envelopes over Easter with the help of my family. My Meme then addressed and sent all the invitations for me.

Here was the final result.

Photo by Courtney Dudley of Craig Paulson Photography

Photo by Courtney Dudley of Craig Paulson Photography

Recently, my friend Suzanne got married and as one of her wedding presents, I offered to design their wedding invitations for them as well as after she lamented to me the cost of invitations. I followed a similar model to my own invitations at request of the bride and am pretty stoked with how they came out.

Here was Suzanne and Mike's final result.

Photo by Reign7 Studios

I have to say if you are confident in graphic and layout design on a computer or have a friend who is, you can spend a tenth max of what personalized invites normally cost. You just have to be willing to dedicate the time to it (because it is labor intensive). Still the DIY wedding craft I am most proud of is our invitation suite.

New Leather? Protect It!

I used to be careless with my new leather purchases and not protect my precious new items when I brought them home. What my grandmother taught me is that leather only improves with age and it is best to do what you can to protect, clean and condition your leather pieces. In fact, my sister is still wearing the Frye boots my mom bought when she was in high school.

Now when I bring home a new purchase, I spray the items down with leather protector before I brave them in the elements. For suede, I have a brush and cleaner to do spot touch ups. I also make sure I always have polish, conditioner and saddle soap on hand.

Protect Your Leather! by preppy-lizzy on Polyvore

Lexol Leather Cleaner Pump / Brahmin Leather Care Products Leather Protector / RED WING Leather Protector Accessories / River Island Perfection shoe protector spray

Saddle soap may be the best thing ever. It conditions and cleans your leather in the same step. You just rub the wax based soap on the leather in a circular motion until the stain is covered and worked through, and then wipe clean with a cloth or paper towel. Volia, if removable, the stain will be gone! My new jeans have been rubbing dye off on my light blue leather purse and with a few waves of saddle soap, it is just like new all over again.

Taking care of your investment pieces only pays off for you in the long run. Trust Meme, she knows.

The Gym Rat Report: Week 2

via Pinterest

Week 2 of my weight loss journey is underway and I was stoked to see that I lost a pound on the scale over the last week. I have been working with a trainer now for about a month and I am definitely starting to see some changes in my body shape. While I have not lost a ton of weight I definitely feel like I have put on some more muscle and my overall tone is starting to look better especially my quads and arms.

As I found myself working out on Monday doing some squats with my trainer, it was clear that I have become much stronger. I especially find my knee is getting stronger and glad I am doing this as it is a great post-therapy effort to keep my knee strong.

I also continued my pilates classes through the week. I have been trying to go 2-3 times a week and love it. It is a great way to stretch out and keep my hips flexible since that is always a huge problem for me.

Finally softball started back up this week. I am so glad to be playing with all my buddies again and I love the cross training aspect of it. I just need to keep reminding myself that its only company softball and not to put my knee or ankles at risk!

Next week I start my training for my half marathon on June 1st in San Diego. Any suggestions on great training programs?

Meet Belladwella Interior Design - Blogger Q&A

Jenn of Belladwella Interior Design is a friend of mine through my sister and her sister-in-law. We met at our baby sisters college graduation party in 2011 and totally hit it off. This girl has amazing fashion and design sense and has been teaching people how to fashionable upgrade their homes DIY style on her blog Belladwella for ages.

Jenn recently started her own virtual interior design company where she can work with over one on one over the world wide web. She is amazeballs. She is also mom to a beautiful little girl Hutton. You should really check her blog out!

Jen and her handsome hubby!

Describe your personal style in three words.

1. Assorted
2. Love
3. Fest

I can’t leave home without:
My babylove, Lulu.

If I were any accessory, I would be:
My leather tassel Marissa Haskell necklace. 

Where are your three favorite places to shop?

1.  Nordstrom online
2. eBay
3. Amazon

What is your favorite travel outfit?

Zella leggings from Nordstrom, petty boots, ray bans. 

What outfit to you go do when you want to feel strong and powerful?
My black J. Brand skinny jeans with zippers on the ankle. Only because I can finally fit into them again after losing 40 pounds (thanks a LOT, Lulu).

What is your go-to handbag right now?

My Neverfull. It's been my go to since I was allowed to purchase it because "I needed a diaper bag"...

What are you reading right now?

Catching up on the "reading parts" of House Beautiful and Veranda. I look at all the pictures, from back to front, and then put it away until I really sit down and make an effort to read the articles, which are fabulously written.  

What is a guilty pleasure of yours?
Cinnamon roll Quest bar rolled out and put in the toaster oven to make it like a "cookie".

What post or blog milestone are you most proud of?

Forming an LLC and increasing my client base this year to more than just my mother.

What blogs have you visited recently?

I haven't had much time lately, but I'll always fall back to the Little Green Notebook and I Suwannee. Jenny Komenda and Jamie Meares are forces to be reckoned with. Funny story... back in 2010 when I first started my blog, I emailed Jamie a picture of my "DIY chevron trashcan" (c'mon..) and she sweetly responded "Wow! I like it. But would never have the time." Now, four years later, I have the same feelings as Jamie about DIY'ing a trashcan. 

Wednesday Wishes: Oscar Glam

Wednesday Wishes by preppy-lizzy featuring oscar de la renta dresses

Oscar de la renta dress / Steffen Schraut rayon dress / Pink sequin dress / David Meister white sheath dress / Jimmy Choo strap sandals / Valentino white handbag / Forevermark bezel set diamond earrings / 14k bracelet / Swarovski filigree necklace / 2b stone necklace

So who watched the Oscars this weekend. It was the first time in a while that I watched the entire show. We were hanging out in Orange County with Dan's family and I have to say, Ellen was an awesome host. I also was totally inspired by some of the looks the ladies pulled together. I think Lupita, J.Law, Kate Hudson, Sandra, Charlize and Julia Roberts were my favorites on the carpet.

Love Love Loving.. The Oscars by preppy-lizzy on Polyvore

This week's wishes are all about being red carpet ready day to day. I have my eye on that blue and white dress especially. Serious coveting right now.

Tuesday #Shoesday: Work Flats

Tuesday #Shoesday by preppy-lizzy featuring kate spade shoes

Prada slip on shoes / Kate spade shoes / UGG Australia black shoes

I am a big fan of flats for the office. Especially if you are the type that is running to and from meetings all day or giving a lot of presentations and therefore up on your feet, a good pair of flats can really make all the difference in how tired you are at the end of the day.

I frequently find myself going for a great pair of flats in the mornings as I am getting ready for work when I know I have a jam packed day but I have to say I am glad that I have invested in some great flats because an unsupportive pair of flats are just as bad as painful heels. In fact I would pick my higher quality heels over crappy flats any day. It's true the right pair of shoes make all the difference.

I am a big fan of Kate Spade, J.Crew, Sperry and Sam Edelman for flats. They have cushion and hold up great. I also try to look for a more structured flat with a heel or like a smoking slipper over the ballerina flat usually as ballet flats have little to no support and the soles wear out easily.

I also think that shoes can be a place where you are able to assert your personality a little bit more, even in the most conservative offices. Here are some fun flats that are of high quality but still let you be a little of your own person.

What's On My Kindle? - February Edition

What's Been on my Kindle? - February 2014

What's On My Kindle? by preppy-lizzy on Polyvore

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
I decided to read the rest of Gillian Flynn's novels after I read Gone Girl last year and I was not disappointed. Actually I think I enjoyed Dark Places even more than Gone Girl. Dark Places follows the story of a woman whose family was brutally murdered one night on their Kansas farm. She and her older brother were the lone two surviors, her brother charged and convicted with murdering her mother and two older sisters in some sort of Satanic ritual. But like Gone Girl things are not as they seemed and Gillian Flynn weaves a tale told from the perspectives of multiple characters decades apart. The book is strong from start to finish and leaves you with surprises until the very end.
4.5 snaps for me!

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
At almost 800 pages long, The Goldfinch is told through novellas, with each one another important chapter of narrator Theo Decker's life. The book opens with Theo as an adult, stranded and desperate in Amsterdam wondering if his life could have taken another path. Theo is in trouble and as a result begins to reflect upon his life and the first major event that he believed changed the course of his life, the death of his mother in a terrorist attack on the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The tale is fascinating and keeps you gripping onto the edge of your seat throughout the entire wild ride. This is a serious must read and a modern classic. I am a major fan of Donna Tartt now.
5 very enthusiastic snaps for me!

Grimm's Fairy Tales by The Brothers Grimm
It was nice to return to childhood and read some of the stories that have inspired so many animated favorites of Walt Disney, like Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, the Princess and the Frog, etc. What's amazing is how Disney transformed some of these seemingly short tales into feature films but all the same they are fascinating. Grimm's are also darker than the fairytales we are used to, but that makes them all the more entertaining for an adult audience.
3 snaps for me!

The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory
The first in chronological order of the Cousin's War series, the Lady of the Rivers is fascinating. In a time where knowledge and scientific exploration were commonly viewed as witchcraft, a young woman must carefully tread through life with her dangerous gift of foresight as she balances court life, powerful marriages, love and children. I love Philippa's novels and this book was a great introduction into the Cousin's War series. It was also nice to explore the story of a woman that history has gone into depth about in the past.
5 snaps for me!

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
I actually consider this to be Gillian Flynn's best book. Gone Girl has gotten all the press but seriously everyone should be reading Sharp Objects. It is the story of Camille who returns to her hometown of Wind Gap, MO after two young girls are brutally murdered 9 months apart. Camille is a writer for a Chicago paper and is asked by her editor to return to a place that has haunted her for years. You quickly learn that there is a reason Camille had to escape Wind Gap and that the police have no leads on a potential murder suspect. Camille is forced to deal with the memories of losing her younger sister when she was just 13, by living with her mother, step father and new younger sister, Amma, over the course of the investigation. More comes to light than just who the murderer is. I couldn't put this book down and read it over 2 days.
5 snaps for me!

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
I am a huge history buff and even more enraptured with WWII history. Maybe it is because my great grandmother was a spy in the French Resistance or because my great grandfather was taken prisoner of war and held on the German/Polish border for almost the entire war only to be captured by the Russians at the end of the war and then escape and be found by the Americans liberating camps or perhaps because my grandparents grew up less than 20 miles apart and only my grandmother was in occupied France or maybe because my grandfather was an American submariner. Either way it is all fascinating and I find myself always drawn to both non-fiction and fiction centered around that time frame.
Reading Unbroken I found myself completely absorbed by the book to the point that I could do little else by read constantly. It's a story so outrageous it's difficult to believe but one that I think everyone should enjoy. I also think that this is the perfect opportunity to read the book before the movie comes out. Angelina Jolie is currently directing the movie version of Unbroken, but the story is so rich I can't imagine how they are going to fit it all in. So my advice, read this book ASAP!
5 huge snaps for this book!