The Mess

My blog has been a bit of a jumbled mess lately. I think with the wedding being in 3 weeks,it's close to impossible to keep my thought straight. I apologize for anything I post from now until the end of May. I should be regaining my sanity around the beginning of June and will post some stuff you might actually want to read.

Miss you Holly

One of my favorite people has up and moved to Ireland to be with her love! How romantic is that!!! The music and senary is breathtaking in Ireland and we are all so extremely jealous. But as not to forget her, I've copied a link to a great compliation I found. Tis a bittersweet farewell....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-3aUvmNdXQ&feature=related

Wedding music

I pretty much have everything set for the wedding except some of the smaller stuff. But the one thing I keep getting stuck on is the music for the ceremony!! The reception is almost all done, but man...going through all the different songs and compositions is a bid maddening!! I want it to be elegant and NOT cheesy or too over the top and for some reason that has been a challenge. It's probably cause I'm just too picky. My mother says I need to let it go. Arg! ok mom.

New Etsy pics

I took some new pictures of my necklaces for Etsy. I like them much better. The whole process is pretty time consuming, but I enjoy it. Just wish I had more time to do it all. I wonder if there are people who make a living from selling items on Etsy. Wow, wouldn't that be awesome!

Check out my shop at etsy.com/shop/loveoflines

Overalls!!

I knew they were just around the corner! Wow that 90's are back in action now! Ralph Lauren does it with a just got done in the garden look.

Friday

Is there a point in our lives when we stop and say, "What is going on!?" "How did I get here??" We realize what is REALLY important and find that what we've been doing for the last 10 years is just, well...almost silly. But instead of regretting it all, we must move on. Forge ahead into the evermore unknown. Torn between what was and what is about to be. There is so much opportunity out there, so much life! Oh the possibilities! But be practical, there are people that expect certain things from you. Don't let them down. Don't be stupid. But wait, your not concerned about what others think anymore. Your a new person! Determined. Poised. Really to concur the world!! And that makes you very scared. Terrified. Defeated. Oh yeah. Now you remember. It's the fear that got you here. That put you where you are now. Is it possible to let go of that fear and follow your dreams? It's paralyzing to even think about it. So you keep doing what you have been doing all along and accept it. Again.

colorful clutches from nine west

Although the weather may still be cold, spring is technically here. So, to try and kick start it, I've picked out some fun colorful clutches from Nine West to brighten up the gray days.Jasmina Rose Clutch $49

Barbe Zip Around Clutch $39

Nine West Neo Geo Clutch East/West $69

Guess what!?

These are WAY higher than I could ever get away with but I thought they were fabulous to just look at! Aww Guess, I love you.

Success!!

My wedding shower was a great success!! What a wonderful sister I have :) My daughter was the cutest toilet paper bride I've EVER seen! Thank you to all who came.

Sisterly creations

My sister made some necklaces that we have posted on the our Etsy shop at loveoflines.etsy.com

Check them out!!

WEDDING SHOWER!

Aren't wedding showers great!?! Mine is today at 1:00. I know my sister is using this opportunity to embarrass me but I'm ready! :)

What do you think??

blog find

I found this GREAT blog http://www.abeautifulmess.typepad.com/

She also has a online store(and one physical location). Even if your not a fan of this particular style, I love the blog and it's honesty :)

New stuff on Etsy.com

Check out my jewelry on http://www.esty/shop.loveoflines

I saw these great Bettye Muller shoes on overstock.com!!

My daughter with her side braid. Too cute.

My mother's pink salad

The pink salad my mother made for dinner last night. I thought it was too pretty not to share.

CK boots

My mother and I went shopping last weekend and hooray for end-of-the-season sales!! I got some Calvin Klein boots for a STEAL!!! I had been wanting a shinny flat boot and tada! There they were 70% off. YEAY!

Mary Mary

I’m making a prediction. Mary Janes. Yes, I said it. You can curse me if you want, but I just had to put it out there. I think updated tho. I know there has been a high heel type Mary Jane that has been popular. But I’m talking about the flat version. With a little bit of a kick. Like a pattern?. Maybe some with studs? Ooohh, or checkered. I would sport some checkered Mary Janes.

my top 3 picks for spring

There are so many cute new fashions out right now! The task of finding out how to achieve them without overdrawing your account can be difficult. However, I have compiled some of my favorites for spring at easy-on-the-wallet prices. First, the Shirt Dress has become hugely popular and has now made their way into Walmart. While I don’t normally like to endorse buying clothing at Walmart, they currently have a shirt dress at a reasonable $14.00 which I myself just purchased. In fact, I just wore it for our family trip to the Phoenix Art Museum. That was a great day. The dress was stylish and comfortable all at the same time. I love it when that happens.

The next item on my list is the double wrap belt. I have not yet purchased one of these, however, I see it happening in the near future. It was difficult to find an affordable one that was also cute. I finally had success on the website ASOS.com. Their black studded double wrap belt comes in at $20.51 plus shipping.

Lastly, cute tights. While summer is just around the corner, there are still the days of cool mornings and mid-afternoon breezes. What a perfect opportunity to don your new textured tights! There are so many options on these; it was hard to pick just one. But when it comes to hosiery, I feel it is important to buy durable. This means spending more than $10 on a pair that MIGHT last one full wearing. JCrew has a great selection at decent prices and will last long enough to feel you got your money’s worth.

AHHH! vent vent

I've been feeling very stressed lately. So much so that my face is breaking out and my neck and back are tensing causing great pain! Perhaps it's the planning with the wedding? Probably more the money needed to plan a wedding. There is a secret part of me that wishes we had a quick small CHEAP wedding. BUT, I would have probably regretted it later. SO, here I am. Not to mention everything else that is going on. The NORMAL day to day stuff ha ha. I'm making an attempt to not get caught up in it all and take it a day at a time. I mean God never gives us more than we can handle so I know I'll be ok. Don't mean it's not difficult along the way tho.
Whew, ok, enough said about THAT!

Vest it!

Previously, I posted about the tuxedo jacket. Well...now that we are SLOWLY coming into spring(at least out here in Arizona anyways) I thought a cute way to keep this trend going is to rip of those sleeves and say VEST! Now, I'm not a HUGE vest person, but I'm sold on the tuxedo version. Stylesuperstore.com has a GREAT selection of vests for any mood. This website is a MUST to check out! I've pasted some pictures from the website in case you don't believe me!!!

balancing act

I've been on a bit of a hiatus with this blog because I have been struggling with my priorities. What is more important when time is limited? My first response has to be family. So, I'm no longer committing to a blog a day, but I will post a new blog report when I find one that is too good not to share. I'm really trying to move towards a more spirit led lifestyle, however, I must admit that more times than not I'm left confused. Am I doomed to this back and forth of rational thinking to carefree back to crap, I need to be more organized!? It's exhausting and I am struggling to find balance.

we will miss you Alexander....

I'm sad to report that Alexander McQueen has killed himself last night in his London flat. What a tragic day. My heart goes out to his friends and family. Many articles I have read speculate he was depressed over his mother's death which occured only days ago. McQueen was an inspiration to many many designers and fashionistas. I admired his work and his love of fashion. I pray for him and his fans. We will miss you.

blog of the day

Today I have dedicated this blog of the day to the first blog I ever read. I first saw the link to Sea of Shoes on style.com. Once I read it, I immediately wanted to create my own blog and created love of lines. So, it is safe to say this blog was ultimately my inspiration. I suppose I need to say thank you writer of Sea of Shoes blog even tho I can't find your name on your blog anywhere??? Love your blog. BIG fan. BIG. Shoes are definitely my favorite accessory. If if wasn't so dang difficult, I would make my own! How fun would that be?!?! Anyways, this is a fun blog to check out. Always full of great pics and of course GREAT SHOES!

fashion week live feed

So, New York Fashion Week has begun and although I can't be there - I found out some great news! A handful of designers have decided to stream their shows live! According to style.com Mark Jacobs will be streaming Feb 15th at 8:00 EST. Count me in for that one!!! I'm very excited about this new integration of fashion and technology! Seems to be a common theme lately.

On a side note, Fashion Week has been experiences some weather troubles. Unfortunately, it appears they have had to postpone some shows. I'm not sure if it has to do with all of the current plane delays, but I would have to assume there is a correlation. Hopefully all will be back on schedule soon! I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see the new styles!

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br earrings

Working in the corporate world, I've always found a need for Banana Republic. They really know how to mix class and hot style trends together into an appropriate ensemble. As I was checking out their new arrivals, I came across these earrings and fell in love. ahhh sigh :)

blog of the day

So far, the blogs I have visited are very fashion informative and filled with the latest styles and trends. Well, today I discovered www.thefashiontechie.com/blog/ Created by Tierra Wilson, this blog features fashion AND technology. What a wonderful concept!! I'm in love with this blog and have to say it is my favorite so far. I know, I know, I adore the full time fashion blogs with their latest sequin filled blazer or Valentino handbag, but this blogs offers so much more. Don't worry, there are still reports on fashion trends and reviews of celebrity mayhem. If you are looking for a resource to help keep your blog ahead of the curve, this is the online destination you will want to frequent.

H&M website

Have you ever been on the H&M website??? Today was my first time and OH MY! How fabulous! I could seriously spend hours coming up with new outfits on their Fashion Studio page! Pick your top, pants, jacket, shoes, belt…you name it! A++ to the H&M website design team.

blog of the day

I really to enjoy fun loving blogs written by witty entertaining people. That is why I’m excited about my discovery of www.purseblog.com. These blog is written by 3 different authors, which I really feel helps give it sense of variety and is one of the many blogs available through the Midley Network Sites. This blog offers reviews of hit shows, picks for the season or occasion in a heartfelt approach that makes you feel like one of the girls. Not to mention a wide array of handbags to check out! Bravo ladies.

blog of the day

This Friday has been one distraction after another! Searching the internet for a blog to write on can be very overwhelming!! Then, I found http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com. A fashion blog from a male fashion photographer’s perspective packed with gorgeous pictures of everyday fashion found on the streets of New York City, With a mix of commentary, this blog is a great look at what types of styles actually hit the streets. Full of personality and amazing photographs, it is an easy blog to check out and one I highly recommend.

blog of the day

Today’s blog is brought to us by Joy Deangdeelert Cho, writer for the blog www.ohjoy.blogs.com. There is a whole lot of stuff going on here! A nip of that, a tad of this. Reminded me of myself! I had to take a deep breathe and start at the top. What I found was an array of wonderful home decor, fashion news and fun gadgets. This blog is short and to the point. It truly lets the pictures tell the story, which is commendable in our fast paced society. Oh Joy is a wonderfully fun blog that I must say puts mine to shame! But I’m not bitter. I’m more excited I found it! One more mailing list under my belt. Hurray!

who is Giacometti

Last week, The Wall Street Journal started showing up on my doorstep. I’m not really sure what to do about it, but in the meantime, I’ve decided to read it. I don’t read the paper much simply because I don’t have the time. However, since it so conveniently appeared, I figured it couldn’t hurt to take a look right?

Front page of today’s issue is about a Giacometti bronze sculpture that sold at an action for $104.3 Million! It beat the previous record of $104.2 Million for a Picasso! Who is this Giacometti guy anyways??? Well, I did some research…

Alberto Giacometti lived from 1901 until 1966. He was a surrealist painter and sculptor whose main focus was on the gaze of the living person. Everything else was of no importance. How intriguing! After looking at many of his sculptures, they all have the similar long and slender look to them with a rough unfinished texture. For myself, I find his pieces evoke a desire to sit alone and stare at it for hours contemplating every line and angle. I sure wouldn’t mind having one in my house! However, with a $104.3 Million price tag, I’ll be content to admire from afar.
There is much more to Giacometti than what I can fit on one blog posting. The following are a few links II used in my research, however, there are many many more.

http://artchive.com/artchive/G/giacometti.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberto_Giacometti

vs convertible dress

With Valentine's Day coming up that also means Date Night dun dun dun.....What to wear!? Victoria's Secret new Ruched Convertible Dress changes with every occasion. I say Fabulous!! With 11 different colors to chose from and a multitude of style options, the $88 dollar price tag is money well spent. I've posted the 4 sample styles they show on their website. You be the judge!

Day 1

Today I visited http://fashionpulsedaily.com/

While some of the other fashion blogs I've visited are very couture, runway specific, this one is down to earth and a bit more realistic. Writer Julia DiNardo blogs on fashions even I can afford! Filled also with contests and a touch of humor, I have to give this blog of the day a thumbs up. I have subscribed to the newsletter and will be a returning admirer.

blog a day

There are so many blogs out there, I get so extremely overwhelmed and don't know where to start!! So, I've decided to take it one day at a time. One blog a day. With commentary.

tribal blue

Guess has always been one of my favorite stores and while I was perusing their website, I found some fabulous T strape heels. I’m in love with the zebra print/royal blue combo. Check them out!

thoughts for today

So, today is a new day and after recovering for the wedding weekend, I feel like a new woman! It’s amazing what exhaustion can do to a girl. Mandie and Grant’s wedding was a great success and fun was had by all! They are in the Bahamas right now, probably enjoying the beach. They deserve it! The photographer was even nice enough to take some pictures of Olivia, Matt and I while we were all dressed up. I’ll post them when I get them!! I really do enjoy attending weddings. They are always such a joyful occasion. Being at the wedding made me really appreciate Matt and all he does. It truly is all about the little day to day things. A little bit goes a long way. A touch of kindness or a helping hand with nothing expected in return. I read an article in ELLE talking about a study about how woman have become unhappier over the last couple of decades. One opinion was it began when people stopped helping each other and the focus became all about us. That made a lot of sense to me. The article also talked about how perhaps this recession is what we need to get our acts together and start caring about people again. I’m not sure if it will all play out that way, however, it did catch my attention. With the disaster in Haiti and so many people out of work, how can we not? The bible speaks about when you give your rewards are 10-fold in heaven. Yet, it’s so easy to come up with excuses not to help or give or even lend an understanding ear. I have a passion for clothes, accessories, make-up and hair, you get the idea….however, I make a vow to never let it corrupt me into someone who doesn’t care about others. I greatly dislike being judged by others. Let’s hear it for the golden rule!

the discovery of McQueen

As I begin to explore more of the fashion world, the names and references can be a bit overwhelming, as well as, intimidating. However, there has been one that seems to stand out above all others. The first time I viewed a collection by Alexander McQueen on style.com (my all-time favorite website) I was mouth-open in awe. I may be new to it all, but it was obvious this was no ordinary designer. His attention to detail and line were astounding. The color and patterns are so vibrant and alluring, I just couldn’t get enough. While Betsey Johnson, Versace and Valentino have held high regards in my limited knowledge base of designers, Alexander McQueen has now topped them all. Runway achieves here I come! What fun!!

Top 5

52nd Annual Grammy Awards

bridesmaid nerves

One of my very good friends, Mandie is getting married tomorrow and I am a bridesmaid. My daughter is a flower girl and my fiance is a groomsman. It's a family affair that's for sure! Maybe that is why I'm so nervous?? Perhaps it's because I want it all to go smoothly for her. Or could it be that I will be walking down that same aisle 4 months from now? Which ever the case may be, I am thrilled to be part of such a momentous event for such beautiful people.

The Balmain Effect

During my daily visit to style.com, I read a reference to "The Balmain Effect". In my pursuit of fashion knowledge, I began to research this so-called effect and found an astounding discovery. Shoulder pads are back! And not just any kind of shoulder pad. These are 1970's futuristic movies version of 2000's fashion. The one's we laughed at and said "That will NEVER happen". Well, it has. One could describe the fad as extreme. Yet, somehow I find it a chic and fun trend that screams "Where can I get some?!"

Tuxedo Jackets and Overalls

As I was reading through my sister's December issue of ELLE last night, there was a small column on the newest craze of tuxedo jackets. While at first I thought really? It began to grow on me and I'm seriously considering heading down to my local H&M and picking one up! The comeback of the 80's has had a good run, but maybe this is a sign the 90's are not far behind. I've heard many say the 90's were a boring fashion year, however, that doesn't mean we are not still destined to repeat it. My question is if we are going to see some overall action. Sure they lack any shape or flattery but I can't help but think it's possible! They fit in line with the masculine vibe of the tuxedo jacket except with a blue collar twist.

right now

When you walk down the street, what are you thinking? Are you in a rush? Do you drag your feet? Are you only thinking about your destination or are you more concerned about where you just left from. This blog is intended to look around at what is right in front of you. Are you paying attention? There is so much, how can you not?! I am convinced now more than ever that the "now" is the best part of life. My 5 year old daughter can't wait for this weekend or when she turns 6, but I love this night with her even if it might be filled with disagreement and lessons learned. Everyday is a way to explore something you couldn't yesterday. My passion is for color, shape and design. Which, consequently, will be the underlying theme for many of the topics posted on this particular blog. However, that could change. Who knows. I'm not worried.

I won't hide that I believe there is a higher power out there who knows what my life holds until the day I die and then some. Believing this fact has changed my life in so many ways I can't even begin to describe. It's because of the Lord that I am living a life so fulfilled and I thank him everyday for a new opportunity to just be....me.

I'm excited about my new blog and hope it might be enjoyed by others even if that number is few. I know at least my fiance will visit just to see what's in my head. HA! Love him. Always.


Have to give a shout out to my blog teacher Kate. I know she will be a valuable mentor in my future blogging adventures. Your rock my socks off. Makes me wanna SHOOP!

clueless

So this is my first post on my first blog! WHOO HOO!! I'm super stoked but not really even sure what I've just gotten myself into. I'm so very clueless to the whole blogging world. BUT - I'm stubborn and the only way I learn anything is by experiencing it myself. Even if it turns out to be the hard way and a total disaster. With that said...thank you for visiting my blog and hopefully you will return often!