What I Wore: Sunday Movie With The Folks

Lately, I've been feeling the lady-like vibe. Skirts, fitted tops, mid-lengths, florals - this is where I'm happiest. Maybe it's just my way of rebelling against the tank top and shorts clad masses that are everywhere since it's been so hot. Not to say I don't enjoy tanks and shorts, but sometimes you want something a little more...feminine.

I wore this outfit to a morning movie with my parents on Sunday, and then I took it grocery shopping. It was the perfect warm weather (but not crazy hot) outfit. 

Top: JCP

Skirt: JCP

My Quest For A Formal Dress

Lately, I've been getting more and more into fashion. My Pinterest is covered with handbags, and shoes, and beautiful clothes that I WANT, WANT, WANT. But alas, I'm cheap (and not independently wealthy), so I have to look for other options to get the look that I want.

One of my new favorite sources for clothes online is eFoxcity. For example, My lovely friend Saba is having a blowout 30th birthday party this weekend and it's FORMAL. Which is great for her, because she's always going to fancy parties, but me? I have...sundresses. So, I had to find a dress, but I didn't want to break the bank. Enter eFoxcity and their evening gowns. 

This A-line, sweetheart neckline dress is just my style. It's floor-length satin in the most gorgeous hunter green. At at only $78, I can actually do that. 

I LOVE the style of this dress. It covers a multitude of flaws, but still looks chic and on trend. Also, that black bodice would be so slimming. At $133, it's still definitely doable. 

I also looked in the bridesmaid dresses section, because sometimes those are the cutest ones (seems weird, right?).

This dress is pure romance. The crossed bodice, the ruching, the pleats. I'm swooning over here! I even think that this baby pink color would make me look so tan. This beautiful number is only $108.

Holy moly, I can't even stand the drama of this dress. I LOVE it! The chapel train, the shoulder accents and the pinned bodice...this might be the one! And, it's only $97! 

More reasons to shop at eFoxcity

- They have extended sizes, from US 0-26W -

- All of these dresses are available in a ton of colors and you can even customize your own! -

- They offer FREE worldwide shipping (with no minimums!) -

- Sign up to stay in touch via email and you'll get a 10% off code! - 

This was a sponsored post and I was compensated. All opinions are mine, however!

What I Wore

I recently discovered J's Everyday Fashion via Pinterest and I am obsessed. Not only have I revamped my closet in the past 3 weeks, but I've repurposed so many things I already had. J takes inspiration photos - from magazines, catalogs, pinterest, anywhere - and recreates them using items she already has and incorporating her personal style. She also writes about how to budget for clothes, how to make the most of your money, and she always gives you a few places to find items like what she's wearing.

I've always been a super comfy/casual dresser, not worrying about coordinating colors or prints, and sometimes I've basically ignored the condition or even the fit of my clothes. Well, that's changing a bit. Now, I'm paying more attention to accessories, shoes, and what looks good on me. I still can't be bothered to do my hair/makeup most days, but it's a start!

Here are two of my recent outfits utilizing some tips I've picked up from J's Everyday Fashion (and some new clothes!).

{i wore this outfit to amy's house for a game night and i thought it was so cute! elle jeans from kohl's,  ikat top from kohl's, lauren conrad boyfriend blazer from kohl's, turquoise and lavender reptile print flats from Bamboo, bag by michael kors, necklace from cost plus}

This was a really nice outfit for a casual night with friends, but with a step up. I *might* have been hoping a special someone would stop by. :)

{this is what i wore last friday to work. this is WAY dressed up for my office, since it's just my dad and i - in my parents' house. but after work, we went to a screening of Celeste and Jesse Forever where Rashida Jones was there (!!!), so i had to look awesome. the dress is from Old Navy - i love the heart print, the tie, and the ruffled sweetheart neckline! the cardigan is from Ann Taylor Loft - i was sucked in by the sale price (cheaper in store) and the awesome bright yellow hue. the shoes are simple white flats from Payless (predictions brand).}

{here's more of a close-up so you can see the print on the dress. i'm sorry my camera phone isn't super clear!}

I am really loving this black + white + yellow outfit, the cardigan is such a fun pop to a basic color scheme.

What I'm Digging Right Now

These beauties are at the top of my etsy faves today:

{clockwise from top left: pile o wood - $30, la calavera catrina - $15, 

emerald green dresses - $18, luna moths extra wide scarf wrap - $32}

go forth and buy, my readers! or, at least, covet. that's what i'm doing.

My Totally Awesome Happy Kitty Shoes!

I already told you I love Em and Sprout's super cute handmade shoes here, so of course, I bought some!

Here are my awesome kitty cat shoes! 

I bought a size 8, though I normally wear a 9. However, I followed her sizing guide and measured my foot and these fit perfectly! They are super comfy (though I probably wouldn't wear them alllll day because they're pretty flat) and I got a TON of compliments on them. I think I convinced my mom to get the Frankenstein pair! Go get your own at Em and Sprout!

I Invite You... To HauteLook!

I'm not exactly sure what I want to do today... I could go hit some garage sales, I could go to Costco and investigate the $50 peacoat I was tipped off about, I could go to a yoga class... So many options! Or, I could stay in and see what HauteLook has in store, because I'm pretty much addicted to these deal-a-day fashion sites now! Here's what I found at HauteLook this morning:

{creature - $13.49}

{the little books boxed set - little pea, little hoot, little oink - $13.59}

{over in the hollow - $11.99}

{kill city snow leopard skinny jeans - LOVE THESE! - $42}

{8 chocolate lava cakes - $26.95}

{bailey the bear - $8.95}

{leo the lion - $11.95}

Just click here to become a member!

And don't forget to check out the previous I Invite You... features!

I Invite You... To Ideeli!

Last week, I told you about Rue La La, this week, I'm going to introduce you to Ideeli. It's a similar idea - great deals on great brands for a very limited time. Here are my faves at Ideeli today:

{marc new york grey eyelet dress}

{sorelli flower studs}

{65% off forest villa getaways on mexico's pacific coast}

{jessica simpson double breasted full skirt dress 

- i want this!}

{matty m. green moto jacket}

{baby aspen five little monkeys set}

{think kitchen crème brûlée torch set}

here is your invite, from me to you!

go forth my friends, and find good deals!

I Invite You... To Rue La La!

If you're not on Rue La La (a destination for invite-only, premium-brand, private-sale boutiques), you should be. If only for these:

{Arthur Court Ghost Salt and Pepper Shakers - $25}

also, maybe these:

{Diane Von Furstenberg (how could it be anything else?) silk leopard cover-up - $99}

{Report Edson Sandals - $49}

{Suzi Chin Embroidered Dress - $49}

{Tibi Intarsia Sweater Dress - $99}

It's invite-only, but I'll give you an in.

Just click here.

Sketchy Tees on Sale at Forever 21!

I am loving the Forever 21 sale section today. They have these super cute black and white sketch tees for less than $7! The kitty love one is my fave - what's yours?

{kitty love tee - $6.99}

{umbrella tee - $5.99}

{drift away tee - $6.99}

{a toi pour toujours tee - $5.99}

{french woman tee - $6.99}

Check out the rest of the sale here!

Shabby Apple Groupon? Yes, Please!

{my fave - the champs elysees}

Like Shabby Apple? Who doesn't? They offer vintage-inspired dresses for any and every body type. Shabby Apple is constantly being written about on blogs, fashion websites, and in magazines, and now you can get in on the action!

Groupon (a fabulous deal-a-day site for Los Angeles based companies) has posted a deal for a $100 gift certificate to Shabby Apple for $40! That's right, a gift certificate for more than double the value. This deal is only redeemable online, so it doesn't matter if you live near L.A. or not. This is a limited time deal and only available for a couple more hours, check it out now!

Love...

You guys. YOU GUYS. I am in love with these shoes. 

a. They're flats.

b. They have dainty ankle straps.

c. THEY HAVE FACES.

a + b + c = = Me in love.

Unfortunately, Topshop, purveyor of fabulous and affordable goodies, is SOLD OUT. If any of you see these, tell me! :)

{Victoria Face Flats}

Raspberry Sorbet, Anyone?

{I'm not exactly sure what that is supposed to be, but it's almost lunchtime, so I'm going with raspberry sorbet. Silly Brits and their crazy hats.}

A Quick Update & Great Shirts!

This is going to be a super quick update as I am leaving work soon to go babysit for my two favorite boys today. For today and tomorrow, I get to pretend I'm a soccer mom, dropping off and picking the kids up from school, taking them to karate and football, and running errands! It will be fun. And challenging. But I love those boys :)

 Last week, I lost almost 4 lbs! Whoo-hoo! I also talked to a friend about how none of my jeans fit anymore (not even from my "skinny" pile!), but how I don't want to "waste" money on jeans that I will (hopefully) soon not fit into either. She pointed out that buying new (smaller) clothes along the way is an amazing motivational tool and that wearing clothes that fit makes you look better, which makes you feel better. So I bought jeans! A whole size smaller than any of the jeans I own! Whoo-hoo!

While at Old Navy, my jean-shopping location of choice, I fell in love with these shirts and bought like 6128612 of them. They're so perfect for me - linen, light, fitted, flirty, feminine, and all-purpose. I also bought a smaller size than I normally do! Whoo-hoo!

   

Hopefully, later today, I will take some pictures of my awesome new outfit.

Enjoy your beautiful Thursdays! Mine will be filled with cute little boys, the farmer's market, comfy new clothes, and lots and lots of photos!

love... Fun Tights!

How freaking awesome are these?

and these?

These give me the creeps a bit, but they'd be super for Halloween.

These might be my favorites.

These are all from Les Queues de Sardines, which I found through the lovely Little T Jane.

Cart-Worthy + Heart-Worthy

Is this calendar from SusyJack not the super-coolest calendar ever? You can hang one page on top of another, like a normal calendar or you be AB-normal and hang them like this - all spread out! OR you could hang them by quarters, so you can always see what's going on around you. The prints are so fresh, the colors are crisp, the whole effect is like art. When you're done, slip them into frames and they ARE art.

When we were younger, my grandpa would carry long, skinny balloons in his pockets and where ever we were, (but especially in restaurants) he would bring out a few and start making animals. He made dogs and flowers and small round balloons inside larger, cylindrical ones. Balloon animals always make me think of going to breakfast with my whole family. And since my kids probably won't get that experience (the balloons, not the breakfast), then this is second best. From Art Star.



ThinkGeek is one of my nerdy guilty pleasures - they have EVERYTHING you need but didn't know existed. Like this stealth switch - it's a USB connected foot pedal that tabs through your windows when pressed! SO YOUR BOSS DOESN'T EVEN KNOW YOU WERE HERE! I would totally buy this (since I do 99% of my shopping, posting and general internetting from work) if my boss wasn't my dad and wouldn't be like, "KATE, what is this cord? Are you bringing viruses into my office?"

"Of course I am, Dad. I'm actually a double agent; the Russians sent me here to disable your home office."