Currently Loving: Julie Vos

I have a new found love.  Julie Vos jewelry is perfection.  The semi-precious stones are vivid in color and fun.  Her pieces are classic yet fun.  

I first fell in love with the Nicolette Bangle.  How can you not?

These great bracelets are so great to wear all together or add to others.  I love them.

They are available in pearl, orange coral, turquoise, aqua chalcedony, labradorite, and black onyx. And to be honest, you can't go wrong with any of them.  In my option, you need them all!

After loving these bracelets, I saw the Avalon Pendant.

The Avalon Pendant comes in a variety of colors, turquoise, lapis, moonstone, orange coral, aqua chalcedony, black onyx, and labradorite.

I have my eye on a few other pieces.  Some great earrings and another necklace are on my list.  Check out her great website.

Hope you all are enjoying the last week of August!  Schools are starting and September is right around the corner.  My vacation in September is booked.  Yes, I will be chasing summer as long as I can.

Laugh Lots

This Berry "Laugh Lots" bracelet from Nordstrom has been a new favorite of mine lately.

It is available in both Gold and Silver

Gold

Silver

It is a simple piece to add to a bunch of bracelets or wear alone.  This bracelet is a nice reminder that everyday you should have a laugh and not to take things so seriously.  We all need a good laugh sometimes, do we not?  I know I need a good laugh every now and then.

Hope you all have had a great Wednesday.  Glad to see the middle of the week again.  I am looking forward to this weekend.  I have dinner plans with some great friends on Friday and Saturday!

Don't forget to laugh!

Stripes

Old Ann Taylor Top

Ann Taylor Loft White Jeans

Tory Burch Thora Patent Sandal

Essie Cascade Cool

David Yurman Bracelet

Mom Made Bracelets, Thanks mom!

and of course my Kate Spade Watch

I love a classic striped top and this black and white one is at the top of my list.  The three quarter sleeves are great for day or night.

I still love striped tops; here are some of my current favorites.

Madewell

Madewell

Nordstrom

Hope the week is going well.  Almost time for the weekend again!  I can't believe August is almost here.  Where is the summer going?

Have a good night!

Friday Finds a Foundation: Oxbow Designs

This weeks Friday Finds is related to a foundation that is close to home.  This is a special Friday Finds.

This week's Friday Finds is:

This wonderful shop is owned by Maggie Kyle and she makes great hand made necklaces.  With her free sprit, she reminds us that it is fun to go your own way.  Explore the unknown.

Courtesy of Oxbow Designs

Courtesy of Oxbow Designs

Aren't these perfect?  They are each hand stamped so you will not see the same one twice.  These great necklaces remind us to take a chance, be who you are, and most importantly to be kind.

This necklace has a even more meaningful statement behind it.  This necklace supports the One Love Foundation.  20% of the profit will be donated to the One Love Foundation.

The One Love Foundation was made to honor the spirit of Yeardley Love.  She was a Baltimore native who played lacrosse at Notre Dame Prep and continued to UVA.  During her lacrosse career she wore the number 1 and became a friend and a teammate to many.

Her fun loving spirit, kindness, and laughter are missed, but live through the One Love Foundation.

The One Love Foundation was started in 2010 to keep Yeardley's spirit alive for everyone she touched.  Their mission is to end relationship violence, especially through technology and education.

For more information visit the One Love Foundation at www.joinonelove.org.

This Friday Finds is one that is very special.  
Be sure to check out Oxbow Designs and the One Love Foundation.

Friday Finds: KoolPlatez

So excited about this Friday Finds!  I am a huge fan of this Etsy shop.  They make some of the neatest items.

This weeks Friday Finds is:

Courtesy of KoolPlatez

KoolPlatez

Brooke and Todd from Ohio are the etsy shop owners and they make these great items from recycled licenses plates. 

Courtesy of KoolPlatez

 Keychains, signs, necklaces, and my favorite cuffs.

Courtesy of KoolPlatez

These cuffs are so fun!  I personally own a Maryland, Hawaii, and South Carolina cuff and love them all!

I have even given some as gifts.  Not to long ago I gave a Delaware cuff to a friend of mine who bought a beach house in Bethany Beach.  She thought it was such a great idea.

So if you know anyone moving or just loves a state, check out their shop. 

These pieces are conversation starters that is for sure!  I feel like every time I have one on someone asks about it. 

Brook and Todd are very nice and great to talk to.  I wanted to know if they had any other options for some states and they got right back to me about the options they have.  They do have a custom order section.

If you are looking for a fun, not seen everywhere gift for someone, check out KoolPlatez.  They have something for everyone.

Favorite: Statement Necklace Edition

HER

It is no surprise that I love accessories.  Bags, shoes, jewelry, I love them all.  It is hard for me to pass them up, especially statement necklaces.  I love anything that makes a statement.

An outfit can come to life with a great necklace.  Sometimes I feel like I am not complete without one.  Good thing there are so many great necklaces out there in the wonderful world of retail.

Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Tortoiseshell Long Tizzy Necklace- 

Love this piece in the summer time.  Goes great with a striped dress.  

Found: South Moon Under

2.  Coral Flower Necklace-  

Love the colors.  It is such a great look and I can't wait to wear it paired with white jeans and a chambray shirt.

Found: JG Sassy

3. Kate Spade Hot Chip Necklace-  

An all time favorite of mine.

Found: Nordstrom

4.  Cluster Pearl Necklace-  

Talk about classic.  How can you go wrong with pearls?

Found: Nordstrom

5.  J.Crew Stacked Layered Tortoiseshell Necklace- 

This was a great buy.  I wear it with everything!

Found: J.Crew

6.  J.Crew Factory Stone Shapes Necklace-  

I just love the color combination of this necklace.  

Found: J.Crew Factory Online

I honestly feel that a great necklace can make an outfit.  Adding a statement necklace to your wardrobe is a must!

These are great pieces for my collection and I feel like I have made some good choices.

Here are some I have my eye on:

1. J.Crew Factory- Translucent Stone Necklace

2.  Baublebar- Vermeer Pearl Pendant

3.  Lee by Lee Angel- Soleil Frontal Necklace

I just might have to add these.

Do you have a great statement piece that you love?  

Do you feel like a great necklace can make an outfit?

Winter Wardrobe

HER

With the weather being terrible and I mean terrible I have resorted to sweaters and more sweaters.  They are the only thing that are keeping me warm.  I am so glad I have a good selection of heavy sweaters.  Have I mentioned I love sweaters?  Just kidding.

Anyway, this Monday we had the lovely gift of more snow.  Yes, can you believe it, more snow.  I can honestly say I do not want to see more white snow this year.

So with all this snow my winter wardrobe has turned to the sweaters in my closet.  They have been the most perfect article of clothing.

Monday's Snow Day Outfit

Heavy sweater (duh), J.Crew statement necklace, black pants, J.Crew Camp Socks, and Hunters. 

I woke up and got dressed not sure why because I didn't have work.  But luckily, after the shoveling and ice scrapping the hubs deciding to venture out for lunch.  I knew I got dresses for a reason.  You never know who you are going to see!

Each one of these items have helped me through the harsh winter we have been having.

Do you have an article of clothing you couldn't have lived without this winter? 

This Year: Organizing

HOME

What I want to get out of this new year: Organizing!  With this New Year there is a new slate.  I am going to start the year off right with getting things done around the house.  I posted about my cleaning schedule the other day.  But my organizing doesn't stop there.

I plan on working on the following:

Closet:

I would like to go through my closet and get rid of some things I am no longer wearing.  Time to give things away!

Shoes/Bags:

Organize my shoeboxes.  For my bags?  I found these great boxes from Ikea, they are a great way to keep your bags from getting dusty.  In the bottom of the closet above is where I have some my shoeboxes and on top are boxes that are full of my bags. It is perfect! 

Files:

I hate loose papers around the house.  I need to file away the rest of my papers from last year and get together for this year.  I just opened my new pack of folders from Target.

Jewelry:

I like to put all my jewelry in clear bags, that way I can see everything.

Now doing these things makes me feel great once completed.  I love checking things off my list.  Time to get to work!

How do you organize your home? 

Black Friday Shopping

EVENTS

I will consider this post an event because lets face it, Black Friday can be quite an event.  From the parking lot to lines in the store, you never really know how the day will pan out.  

Every year my mom and her long time friend go to the mall the day after Thanksgiving.  As long as I can remember my dad would drop them off and wait for their call to come pick them up after the long fun-filled day of shopping.  I started to join them as I got older and started to like shopping more (I think it was mainly because I could last the day of shopping).  I have been joining them for some time now.

Let me say it is an experience and I love it.  I love being out in all the crowds and I am a professional people watcher. (Black Friday is a good day for people watching)  This shopping trip is a tradition I will keep.

This year we started our day around 10:30 at the Towson Town Center.  I planned on stopping in my favorite stores, J.Crew, Madewell, and Nordstrom.  I found something in each store. 

Surprising I know!  I just can't leave things behind in these stores.

Now I didn't go overboard or anything and to be honest there wasn't to much stuff I wanted to buy.  I am a terrible shopper when places are busy and packed.  (That might have had something to do with it)  But I did find a favorite, must have at Madewell.

 How great is that sweater?  I had to break it in already.

 Nordstrom is one of my favorite places in the mall to wander around.  Bags, shoes, clothes it has everything including one of my weakness- jewelry.

 Now it wasn't all about us.  We did do a little Christmas shopping for others.  They will have to wait and be surprised.

We ended up leaving the mall around 5:00! We all had a wonderful time and I can't wait until next year to do it all again.

Classic Prep: Rings

HIM/HER

Well I have to say when it comes to Baltimore classic style; a signet ring or family crest ring is a popular option.  These rings are usually seen around the preppy areas on both men and women.  Men tend to carry the family crest rings, while women have their signet rings on hand.  Anything family/monogrammed is a hit with the Baltimore prep.  Even some schools around here have their school rings that look a lot like these rings.  Garrison, Oldfield's, and St. Paul's are some just to name a few.  

I wear my school ring still especially when I have my silver jewelry on, it is white gold.

 
I personally have had my wonderful signet rings since I was in eighth grade.  I wear mine every time I have my gold jewelry on.  I couldn't live without it.  I have loved mine so much that when my husband and I were picking out our wedding bands, he decided to go with a family crest ring.  I was so excited because I am not a big fan of men wedding bands and that just really isn't his style.  Plus my dad wears a family crest ring so I was excited to see my husband opt for the idea as well. (It is said that most girls marry someone like their father!)

Classic prep is what really comes to mind when I think of these rings.  You can't go wrong with a little classic touch to your everyday style. 

Living for the Weekend

  EVENTS

I hate to wish away my weeks, but I live for the weekends.  I really don't like wishing away my life, but weekends are when all my friends and I can relax and catch up.  I work hard Monday through Friday, but Friday at 5 is my time and I love it.  Every minute of the weekend is usually packed full of things to do.  These things can range from errands with mom and dad to date nights with the husband.  Family is the most important thing to me and I love to spend time with each and every one of them.

This weekend was family packed, mine and the hubs.  It was my dad's birthday this weekend so I was focused on keeping the party a surprise and running errands for the party itself.  Friday I left work and went to order the cupcakes for the party.  I, of course, picked some up to take home.  Too bad the cupcakes had an accident on the way home! 

Oh well, they were still good.  Thanks to Flavor Cupcakery!  If you haven't been to get a cupcake, you should go.  Plus, you get a free one on your birthday- how great!
They have two locations Bel Air and Cockeysville, so if you are near one, I would stop in and try one of these wonderful cupcakes.

On Saturday, my mom and I ran some errands like we normally do on the weekends.  We always have a great time together.  We were running errands all the way up until the surprise party!  It was a busy day. 

Look how great the cupcakes turned out for my dad's special day!

 Now just to get them to the party and set up before he gets there!

I think they turned out great!  Love the topper.

 So that was with my family, now on to the hubs side.  Sunday was spent at his parents house for the Ravens game.

Oh Ravens,  I am not a huge football fan, but I do love going out and celebrating.  With that being said, I don't have a lot of Ravens Wear.  (I am starting to collect things for purple Fridays)  So I celebrated with accessories.  That's pretty normal for me.  
YAY RAVENS!!!

Added alittle Kate Spade in there too. 

It was a fun, family-filled weekend and I wouldn't have changed anything.

Now it is Monday...back to work.  

Favorite: Kate Spade Edition

HER

Kate Spade has always been a favorite of mine.  I remember when I was in maybe the 6th or 7th grade I wanted the bags and wallets

Well it is safe to say my love for Kate Spade has continued to grow.

What am I loving right now?

Kate Spade Home

I registered for the Kate Spade fine china.  I fell in love with the Larabee Road Platinum Collection.  How can you go wrong with polka dots?  It is such a classic, clean look.  

They are such as cute addition to our kitchen and I can't wait to have people over to use them!

I have to say Kate Spade has such cute packaging.  I really love everything about the home section.

Love the color Pink!

Kate Spade Agenda

This is a new edition, you can read all about how tough it was to pick my planner this year in Dilemma: Planner Picking: Solved.

Kate Spade Jewelry 

  Every time I am in Nordstrom I have to stop and look at the jewelry counters.  I have to check out the Kate Spade.  I love her taste in jewelry.  I personally believe a lot of her pieces are classic, timeless pieces.  I know there are some that are a little different, but I usually purchase everyday wear items.

It is one of my favorite pearl necklaces, I have to say it was a good buy.

 The color is great and I can actually pair it with more than I thought!

I am loving these earring right now.  They are perfect for this fall feeling weather and how can you go wrong with anything tortoiseshell?

Oh Kate Spade you get me every time.

Kate Spade Watches 

Confession time- I have an addition to watches.  Ever since I can remember I have worn watches.  I mean I had all the Freestyle Shark watches in an assortment of colors, Baby G watches, the Roxy watch that had bands you could change out, I had a collection.  

So with that being said, here is a favorite watch.

 
Thank you Kate Spade for all you wonderful items.