fringed heart

Gap heart tights, Kelsey Dagger "Fortune" wedges,  thrifted dress & lace skirt, Chicos bracelet, 

Decree bracelet, F21 cardigan,DIY fringe scarf, Mulberry for Target bag, vintage jewel hair pins

Here is the DIY scarf (tutorial below) in action! It was so beautiful out today, but I'm sad that it does not feel like December here but it does mean that I can wear this cute dress without a thick coat!

So this dress is yet another one that is way too short for me, but too long to wear as a top. AWKWARD. So what's a girl to do? I pulled out my lace skirt and made it look like a slip, which also made the skirt of the dress appear fuller. 

Go ahead, say it. The tights make me look like a leopard with heart shaped spots haha its cool, but I scored these at Gap for a super great price, so its ok. I also wanted to show that  this itty bitty bag can perfectly store my Blackberry, cash, chap-stick,and my debit card! 

Make due with what you have an work it baby, thats my motto. Ok, not really but I said it just now.

Sorry for the rambling, but I hope you all have a wonderful New Year. May it be a memorable one or may it be so much fun, you can't even remember it ;) 

I'm so glad I started this blog and adore each one of you, so thanks for your support duuudddes! Here's to another year of life and exploring!

Listening to: "Be Ok"- Ingrid Michaelson 

♥

DIY fringe scarf

Another DIY idea from P.S.--I Made This... by Erica Domesek. So easy and so much fun, Zeus totally loved it.


You don't have to add  the fringe, it could simply just be a tube/circle scarf as well! 


Enjoy!

♥

Edit: A beautiful friend of mine, just started a blog of her own. She also has her own photography business, I love young entrepreneurs like her. She shows off this DIY scarf in her recent post. Send Aricka some love! 

antique metals

F21 top & floppy hat , vintage bracelet, Chicos ring/watch, vintage coin necklace

For those who have asked, my bf[Doug] received a Canon 5D Mark II for Christmas because his old camera broke. This camera is just so amazing and he's so in love with it and it benefits both of us, which works out great. This new floppy hat was a gift but it looked silly with the ribbons attached, so I tucked those in. 

I found this coin necklace at a local thrift store about a year ago and instantly fell in love, its my favorite necklace so far. Doug's sweet grandma sent me this vintage bracelet, and its so beautiful and just my style...ahh its so great! This ring was a gift as well, but the awesome thing about it was that when you lift the top...it becomes a watch! I love hidden treasures like that! 

And I finally saw Black Swan...it was totally cray-cray but I loved it. 

Listening to (while posting this):  "Paint It Black"--The Rolling Stones 

♥

cookie thief

F21 coat, sweater, and beanie, Gap high rise jeans, Chicos ring

Hello all! I hope you all survived the holidays and enjoyed your time with your loved ones. The holidays come around faster each year, and its so easy to forget how precious our time is, so we should truly cherish it and make the most of it. 

My sweet boy bought me this fun Cookie Monster sweater and this awesome olive coat. He picked out the best things and I love the colors of this sweater...especially since Cookie Monster is rocking some sweet wayfarers.

I'm in the middle of playing Monopoly with electronic banking...so I better pay attention before I start losing my dolla bills ;)

♥

blog awards

A special thanks to all the sweet bloggers who have nominated me for a blog award. Seriously, you guys are so awesome :)

Stylish Blogger Award

 From: 

Patsoir

Kaylyn of Love & Labels

Chelsea of Organized Mess 

Kenny of fivetwocharm

Dahl of l'arc en ciel

Johanna of Johanna Urban

Patrice of I'm Just Me

One Lovely Blog Award

From:

Kathleen Carla of Inspirafashion

The Versatile Blog Award

From:

Elanor of Missing-Lovebirds

Now for the seven facts that most of these awards ask for:

1. While some people collect cards, antiques, etc., I collect (more like have an obsession) with paper (stationary, sticky pads, notebooks) and sharpies. 

2. I'm not good at writing in cursive, I have an extremely hard time with the cursive "s". I blame it on moving during third grade.

3. I love making people feel beautiful. Everyone is, in their own way, even flaws are beautiful.

4.  I've been with my photographer(lol), bff, and bf Doug for 5 years. He is the most incredible person, and I'm so lucky to have him. 

5. I am the oldest and only girl, with three younger brothers. We all have the same initials. BNA. haha

6. I love challenges. I'm a person that constantly needs something to do.

7. I went through and "emo" stage and was known to break some bones in mosh pits. Oh gosh.

So silly of me, I had this as a draft but have recently added a few new ones. 

La Schtroumpfette

vintage sweater, F21 hairbow, gap jeans, aldo shoes

I love these shoes, but it's sad I don't wear them enough--they make me feel like dancing! The past few days I've been catching up on last minute shopping, which is no fun with all the traffic. But as of today, I am officially done with shopping and partially done with wrapping presents. 

I'm obsessed with these chunky acrylic sweaters, especially the pop of color. I found this one for $2.50 as well, I'm so pleased with my bargain hunting skills :) This is a pretty lazy/casual outfit, but bold colors like this lively blue make it so much more interesting...plus I feel very smurfette-like.

On another note, I really hope it snows. It doesn't feel like Christmas without snow and its bumming me out. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Currently listening to: "Time to pretend"--MGMT

♥

i change shapes

F21 beanie & tights, Hollywood Intuition for Target bag,  Xhilaration dress,

 Gap cardigan, Kelsi Dagger "Fortune" Wedges, 

It has been such a beautiful day today, the sun is out and its perfectly cool/warm enough to not have to wear a coat! I've been catching up on all the sleep I've lost this semester, so mornings for me start around noon (earliest)...I know I'm a lazy bum but I think I deserve it, its been a crazy semester! 

After taking these pictures, I went with Doug (my bf & photo dude) to eat at one of our favorite local restaurants called Feltner Brothers. They have the best Chicago-style hotdogs and hamburgers, ahh so good. It's just another lazy sunday that I'm enjoying and really soaking in. 

Food+Black Ops+Movies+Music= an awesome day.

Anyways, you guys are all rad & I hope you've had some time to relax this weekend before the CRAZYHOLIDAYRUSH. (just had a mini panic attack thinking about it haha)

Currently jamming out to: "Animal" (Punks Jump Up Remix)--Miike Snow 

♥

don't think twice, its alright

When I get inspired, I don't like to limit myself. I try to draw inspiration--not just from the models on the runway or whatever current trends magazines are trying to set forth--but from everything.

I've always found inspiration from menswear, specifically men who not only influence me through their style but also through their work. One such man, is Bob Dylan. Two years ago Esquire did a story on men's fashion inspired by Dylan and his somber beatnick style which continues to inspire my everyday style.

 F21 for WWF panda tee, thrifted vintage booties, BB Dakota coat, 

Vintage Etienne Aigner messenger, target beanie, thrifted cardigan

From his leather pointed boots, his billowy polka dot shirts, skinny jeans, fitted coats and his somber and mysterious dark sunglasses-- he knew how to make a statement, without having to say much. And I love that.

Photos from here and here. photoshop collage by me.

Bob Dylan is great, if you don't know that already. 

Here are some of my favorite Dylan songs:

1. Boots of Spanish Leather (my personal fav.)

2. Positively 4th Street

3. Ballad of a Thin Man

4. With God On Our Side

5. Blowin' in the Wind

6. Mr. Tambourine Man 

7. Hurricane

8. It Ain't Me Babe 

9. Like A Rolling Stone 

10. Lepoard-Skin-Pill-Box Hat

11. The Times They Are A Changin'

12. Forever Young

13. Moonshiner (another fav.)

14. Knockin' on Heaven's Door 

15. Don't think twice, it's alright (love this one)

Who inspires your style?

♥

comfort creature

thrifted cardigan, thrifted dress, F21 tights & necklace, Kelsi Dagger "Fortune" wedges,DIY wrap bracelet

This outfit is the product of me rolling out of bed, showering and throwing whatever felt comfortable. I usually tend to go for jeans,  but my polka dot tights were begging to be worn with this long dress. This dress is so fun and the length is perfect because I don't have to worry about it being too short when I sit or showing my bum when the wind blows!

I bought this bracelet as a necklace and it was on clearance--I should have questioned why it was on sale but I couldn't pass up the deal! It was actually too short to be a necklace. Luckily, both ends had lobster clasps, so I wrapped around the chains and linked them together and voilà--a chain bracelet!

This just goes to show--don't give up on something because it doesn't work how its supposed to, change it to work for you!

I'm getting use of all my winter sweaters (I also thrifted this one for $2.50) and this one puts me in the holiday spirit! My favorite part of the holidays is finding gifts for all my loved ones, its such a fun thing to shop for others--especially when you have younger siblings! 

Hope you all are having a lovely Tuesday!

♥

walking dead

 Vintage wool vest, Gap high rise skinnies, Kelsi Dagger "Fortune" wedges, 

thrifted coat, F21 hat and top, Chico's chain bracelet

I apologize for the small hiatus! Its been quite a rough week but I am officially done with fall semester and will be posting more during the break. I've literally been walking around campus like a zombie. The  virus that plagues every college student during finals week is simply inevitable.

And playing the zombie level on Halo Black Ops didn't necessarily help my anxiety, but it was a nice release to shoot zombies. My dexterity with game controls has also highly improved. You will no longer find me standing in the corner shooting at a wall, because now I can aim, shoot, and fire baby! 

I scored these wedges for less then half the original price and they are so comfy.  I'm too much of a klutz  to wear heels and for my lifestyle-- these are so much more practical. Plus, I feel like a Clydesdale horse trotting about and they boost me to almost 6'0". Yay! 

I'm currently loving all Fair Isle inspired knits. I found this cozy wool vest for only $2.50 at a local thrift store. Perfect for throwing over anything.

I hope you all have had a relaxing and warm weekend! 

Note: Zeus would like to send whisker kisses to all his lovely fans!

♥

meeeooow

On me: DIY faux fur vest, thrifted dress, F21 tights & hat, Monet brooch

On Zeus: au naturel baby, authentic Chic black kittehh

On behalf of Zeus, I would just like to say that this is a FAUX fur vest and he loves it--but will gladly keep his own! 

I'm beyond ecstatic about reaching a little over 100 followers, I know its nothing compared to the "big boys" but its still so great!  So thank you, yes YOU. 

Check out below to see how easy it was to make this vest! 

♥

DIY faux fur vest

Being a college student on a budget has really helped bring out my creativity. DIY projects are my absolute favorite because it challenges me to be resourceful and helps me focus my energy and creativity on something...which is good because I'm definitely a "hands on" kind of person.

With the recent trend of faux fur popping up everywhere, I never found the perfect vest or within a reasonable price range. After hearing about the book P.S.--I Made This... by Erica Domesek, I jumped into my car and headed to Barnes & Noble to get my hands on it!

This book is so great. It's simple and so inspiring, the best part--you don't need a sewing machine! How awesome!

One of the projects was this great DIY faux fur vest that was so easy to make. It seriouly took me 30 minutes at most, to actually make it. I love how it turned out, and I can wear it to have the top rolled like a collar. Its warm, fuzzy, and made by me!

The faux fur was only $10 per yard, and I'm sure you can find sales and deals at your local fabric stores! It's totally worth making, especially if your on the fence with this trend. I knew I wouldn't wear it all the time, so why spend $30+ for something that might stay in my closet?

Pictures of me wearing the vest are posted above!

If you try this yourself, let me know! I want to see your lovely creations!

♥