What to Do With a Broken Brooch

Oh no!

I love this brooch from Kohl's but unfortunately the pin on the back broke off. I couldn't bear to throw it away so I came up with an idea. I had some ribbon lying around and got to work.

Best & Worst Dressed at the SAG Awards

Tonight was the 18th Annual Screen Actor Guild Awards and there was a lot of ugly. Let's break down the red carpet...

Best Dressed: Michelle Williams in Valentino. You can't go wrong in red Valentino.

Great Reads of the Week

Rather than use my typical "Great Reads of the Week" photo. I thought I'd feature the delicious mint hot chocolate I enjoyed at Kitchenette during a recent brunch with friends. And now onto the round up of posts I enjoyed reading this week:

Movie Review: "Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston"

Image via

On Thursday night, LIM College (where I attended) held a screening of the new film about fashion designer Halston. Director Whitney Sudler-Smith went out to search the legend who was known for his extravagant dinner parties and hitting up Studio 54 with some of the biggest names. However, what he found was a few loyal friends who wanted to keep the spirit of Halston alive.

FBFF: Keeping It Trendy

Source: michellephan.com via Life on Pinterest

FBFF is back! And this week Katy asked us to answer a few questions about upcoming trends.

1. With Fashion Week just around the corner, we are all beginning to focus on the upcoming trends for fall. But what about the trends hitting stores now? What are you coveting?
I'm still admiring leather from a far. I need to finally make a purchase! I'm really loving colorful pants. I got those awesome J. Crew pants for Christmas and recently purchased bright pink Rachel Roy pants from MYHABIT.

My First IFB Links À La Mode Feature!

I'm so pleased to inform you that I've made my first IFB Links À La Mode round up! Every week IFB rounds up the top posts of the week. It is a great way to get exposure and build community. Whether you're a relatively small blog like mine or bigger, you should submit your post. I'm honored to be included with the fabulous bloggers below and be sure to check out their posts as well:

Review: CoverGirl's LashBlast Fusion Mascara

Image via

I am not a fan CoverGirl's LashBlast mascaras because of the rubber bristles. I prefer a mascara that combs through my lashes. However, my Maybelline Falsies mascara was drying up so I was in the market for a new one.  It was $10.49 at Duane Reade (Manhattan's pricing for ya), but I found it online for $7.99.

Why I Love Fashion

Source: weheartit.com via Marlise on Pinterest

I've had this post on the back burner for awhile and figured it was time it got published. I often get asked why I studied fashion in college, to most people it's a frivolous thing. Not to me. I briefly discuss this issue in the About The Blog section. But let me reiterate. To me fashion is a form of self expression. We all have to wear clothes every day (or we'd get arrested for public nudity) so I'd rather wear clothes that say something about my personality. As Bill Cunningham described in his wonderful documentary "Fashion is our suit of armor to survive every day life. It would be like doing away with civilization." Even those who claim to be anti-fashion or don't bother to put any effort into their look are saying something about themselves. But we don't have to be cookie cutters - it should be a colorful world with individual style!

New Blog Trend: Dogs Photo Bombing

For those who don't know - photo bombing is when you drop in on somebody's photo without them knowing. My two favorite celebrities who do this are Tina Fey and Nathan Fillion. They are pros! I've recently been amused by all the dogs photo bombing bloggers during their outfit pics. Can you spot the pooches below?

Mani of the Week: Chrome Nails

Inspiration via

I've been wanting to create a chrome affect on my nails like Minx. I haven't been able to find a great polish for it. I was tempted to use aluminum foil but I saw Stripes and Sequins suggest gold leaf paper for her pedicure.

We're Going to the Super Bowl!!

Giants just won the championship game! It was quite the game - we won 20 to 17 in overtime. Now we're headed to the Super Bowl against the Patriots - repeat of 2008!

Image via Big Blue View

Great Reads of the Week

Here's a round up of posts I enjoyed reading this week for you to enjoy this weekend:

- IFB had a great post explaining how the SOPA/PIPA bills will affect your fashion blog. Very important! Read up about SOPA/PIPA if you haven't already.

What to Wear When Watching the Giants Game

If you follow me on Twitter then it's no secret that I'm a football fan. Tomorrow is the NFC Championship game between the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers. Who ever wins goes to the Superbowl. I grew up a Giants fan and when I first moved back to New York in 2007, they won the Superbowl. Their first in 20 years! Now they are possibly headed there again and I feel like their lucky charm (lol).

RIP Etta James

The news broke yesterday that Etta James had passed away at the age of 73. She passed away from complications of leukemia. She had been sick for awhile. Etta was a star and her reputation superseded her. They call it the blues for a reason. She lived a rough life and her pain was heard in her voice but damn did it make for some beautiful music. We'll miss you Etta.

Avril Lavigne Collaborates With Sally Hansen and I Want!

I've already discussed my addiction to Sally Hansen nail stickers but apparently it's only going to get worse. WWD announced that they've teamed up with Avril Lavigne to create a limited edition collection of their Salon Effects nail stickers. The collection features 12 designs including skulls and leopard each for $9.99 (the usual price). I'm not a fan of Avril so I didn't think I'd be interested... but OH NO! I already have my eye on these...

4 Guys I Had On My Binder In High School

When you're in school, you like to decorate your binder and locker with something that expresses your personality. While most girls have their boy band crushes with hearts on their binders. I actually had some provocative photos on my binders. Before there was Ryan, Bradley, there were these hotties:

The Odd Slipper Soiree!

Last night was my first event hosting with Small Girls PR and The Odd Slipper at The Little Shoe Store. The Odd Slipper is an online store specializing in petite shoe sizes, ranging from 3 to 6. Amazing! I'm a size 4 but sometimes slip into a 5 just to find cute shoes. The Little Shoe Store is open on the weekend in the East Village and I really need to come back - I had no idea it existed and now I found my source for cute shoes in my size!

I Hoard Sally Hansen Nail Stickers

My stash

I've mentioned my hoarding of magazines in the past. But I noticed yesterday that my collection of Sally Hansen nail stickers is growing abundantly and for no rhyme or reason. I love the stickers but I don't like to wear them too often because I change my nails at least once a week. I can't commit to anything longer! So it's not like I'm using all of these all the time that I need to have so many.

#IFBCon Coming to NYC in February!

It's here!! Registration for the Independent Fashion Bloggers' Conference is open. Conferences like these are so important for bloggers because it's a great opportunity to get everyone in one room and the friendships you make will last a lifetime. This is my wrap up post from September's conference and what I learned.

Best and Worst Dressed at the 69th Annual Golden Globes

Ricky Gervais was back hosting after his scandalous hosting skills last year. Although I felt he was pretty tame this year and was a bit disappointed. There was more color on the red carpet then there typically is but nude, red and black were still the big trends. I'm glad to see green is having such a great year though. Let's break down the red carpet, shall we?

Great Reads of the Week

Notice anything different? I hope you like the new look. I'm still working out a few kinks. But now for a round up of posts I enjoyed reading this week:

My January Birchbox

After there was a little bump in the road last month and we didn't receive any boxes in December, I was hoping the Birchbox for January would start 2012 with a bang. Not quite. There were some improvements such as new card designs and a little tip guide to help with new year's resolutions. But overall, not impressive. The theme was "Clarity" and they explained how they included "products that will help you start 2012 with a fresh face and optimistic mood." Let's see what's inside...

I'll Be Playing Host on January 18th!

Mark your calendars! Yours truly will be playing host on Wednesday, January 18th along with other petite feet fashionistas. The night features petite shoe brand, The Odd Slipper, which sells shoes from sizes 3 to 6.

Check out some of these hot shoes:

Best and Worst Dressed at the People's Choice Awards

Image via

Kaley Cuoco, star of one of my favorite shows The Big Bang Theory hosted and I thought she did a fairly good job for her first time hosting. The show ran smoothly and on time. There was a lot of color on the red carpet, which I loved. So refreshing!

Blume Blogger Project: Let's Get Personal

Blume Girl is known for their personalization for men, women and kids. This makes them a great gift idea or a great way to show off your fun side. Many celeb babies have been spotted in Blume including Kourtney Kardashian's son Mason and Victoria Beckhams boys. I'm so honored to have organized this little project where selected bloggers were given personalized patches to stylize and show off their creativity. I went with my name in a navy blue since "I Have A Degree In This" was too long.

Mani of the Week: Highlighter Yellow

Inspiration

I've been searching for the perfect neon yellow shade. I wanted something in your face, shockingly bright. For those non-nail addicts, quality neon nail polish colors are very hard to find. They usually chip easily, separate quickly or run really thin. I've had my eye on this POP Beauty nail glam color for quite some time but didn't want to shell out the $10. But after many failed neon yellow attempts - I had to try it!

Get Blinged Out At Rafaello & Co Jewelry

On Friday night, the ladies of NYC Fashion Bloggers Meetup group had the privilege to visit one of the premiere jewelers in New York City, Rafaello & Co. (Nothing we could afford but still nice to look at!) They create amazing custom pieces for some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment. Clients include Cee Lo, Darrelle Revis of the New York Jets, Amare Stoudemire of the New York Knicks and Curtis Granderson of the New York Yankees. Their jewels have been featured on VH1's hit show, "Love and Hip Hop." Now sit back and enjoy these beauties: 

How amazing is this?!

The Jesus pendants were very popular

They even had an autobot!

I'm a sucker for skulls

Among all the oversized, blinged out chains there were also some beautiful, classic pieces.

Loved their motto "Dare to be different."

A big thank you to Rafaello and Co. for letting us stop by their beautiful store!

Great Reads of the Week

The first of 2012! Here's a round up of posts I enjoyed reading this week:

- Alixrose shares 3 petite celebrities who have great style - give it up for the short girls!

- because im addicted posted about DIY Thank You cards which I thought were so sleek.

- Ever wanted to freelance? Then you must read Jen from A Little Bird Told Me's post!

- The Fat and Skinny on Fashion says we should stop being concerned with other women's bodies and be happy with our own - AMEN!

- Style Me BAD gives some love lessons.

- Style. Love. Repeat shared a video "Love is Like Life but Longer" by Poppy de Villeneuve. So beautiful.

Today I'll be watching football (it's the playoffs!). What about you?

Guest Post: Dos and Don'ts of Detoxing

After reading my post about New Year's resolutions, Bella got in touch with me. She is a beauty blogger who blogs for cosmeticsurgeryguru.com, a blog dedicated to advice and guidance on all surgical and non-surgical procedures. I've been contemplating doing a detox but wasn't sure of the dangers. Hopefully you'll find this post helpful! 

From exfoliating regularly to booking a course of microdermabrasion, there are many ways to look after your skin. A detox diet can help improve your complexion – but there are plenty of dos and don’ts. Here’s how to purge unwanted toxins from your body without taking any safety risks. Please note, this is just a guide and you should always consult your doctor before changing your diet dramatically.

Dos:

1. Eat well - While detoxing it’s important to eat between 5 and six meals a day in order to stay strong and healthy. Consume organic fruit and vegetables and fill up on complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, granary bread and high-fibre breakfast cereals.

2. Drink water - Water makes up 60% of our body weight, so it’s essential to stay hydrated. Try drinking at least 2.5 litres a day and never let yourself get thirsty. By the time thirst sets in you can already be dehydrated, so keep a water jug nearby.

3. Avoid preservatives - Try to avoid foods with a lot of added flavors, colors and preservatives as these are not good for you. Don’t eat microwavable meals as these can be full of salt and try cooking up meals from scratch.

4. Don’t take in excess sugar - It’s really important not to consume too much extra sugar as this will ruin your detox diet and could make you put on weight. Watch out for sugary drinks from concentrate and always attempt to buy 100% fruit juices.

5. Exercise - While following a detox program it’s important to exercise as sweat helps get rid of unwanted toxins. Perhaps follow a gym workout with a session in the sauna to help clear your pores.

Don’ts:

1. Starve - While some detox diets involve very little food, it’s important not to starve yourself. While you might want to cut back on what you eat for the first few days, it’s not sustainable, so it’s better to make healthy choices.

2. Exercise vigorously without eating - It’s not wise to exercise if you haven’t eaten as you could become extremely dizzy. Food provides fuel for your body and without it you’ll become weak.

3. Starve then binge - You need to keep your sugar levels and blood pressure stable, which is why it’s important not to starve and then binge. You could put your body through too much stress and end up feeling unwell.

4. Continue extreme diets for too long - If you decide to follow an extreme detox plan, make sure you consult your doctor. Many detox plans are designed to be short term solutions and not life-long diet plans.

5. Drink too much water - While water is really good for you it’s important not to drink too much. An excess of fluids can cause your brain to swell, so always stick to your doctor’s guidelines.

If you’re planning on starting a detox diet, make sure you seek medical advice before you begin.

Have you ever tried a detox? What advice can you add?

Bloggers Do It Better Outfit Challenge: Sequins

Top: J. Crew, Pale pink corduroy pants: Ann Taylor Loft, Shoes: Zappos

I couldn't resist participating in Pretty Shiny Sparkly's Bloggers Do It Better challenge - SEQUINS! My love of sequins has grown into quite the obsession. As my mom said during a recent shopping trip, "Kim bought everything that sparkled." And it was true. I think I should pace myself but when I saw this top on sale at J. Crew, I couldn't resist. Unlike cheap sequin tops, this one is lined with a soft t-shirt so you don't even feel the sequins.

Banana Republic scarf (see similar)

I've been wearing this super huge but super comfy scarf from B. Repub (also on sale!). It has some gold tinsel stripes at the bottom.

Please excuse the poor lighting outside the restaurant

I also wore the top to Taco Tuesday while in California with my sister.

And my glitter obsession has made it's way to my feet with my new TOMS slip-ons.

How do you add sequins to your wardrobe? Full force or small accessories?

Movie Review: My Week With Marilyn

I've been wanting to see this movie for awhile now and finally was able to last night. And I have to say I was disappointed. Don't get me wrong, Michelle Williams was great - I think she pulled off a fantastic Marilyn! However, I was not that impressed with the supporting cast. Her young love interest, Colin Clark, was played by a newcomer Eddie Redmayne. I was not inspired by him at all.

The movie is based on a book the real Colin Clark wrote about working on the production of Sir Laurence Olivier's film "The Prince and the Showgirl." With this in mind, I expected the movie to be more from his point of view. I would have expected Marilyn to be a little more elusive, something he wanted but couldn't have. However, she was very present and a major role. The film didn't make me feel like he was so madly in love with her rather it was just a school boy crush. Perhaps I went into it with the wrong idea.

It also felt way longer than an hour and 40 minutes. It may have been because it was after work and I was tired. But I'm pretty sure it was more because the movie dragged along with some boring characters. Ms. Williams really had to hold the movie together herself.

I think you could really wait for Netfix to watch this movie. Otherwise, go in expecting to see Michelle Williams be spectacular and the rest of the cast be lackluster.

Image via

Help Make the Blog Better!

I'm always looking for ways to make the blog better and what better way than to ask YOU, my readers. With the new year upon us, I'm open to making some changes. I would greatly appreciate your honest feedback so please answer the following questions (and don't hold back!):

Scroll down for more questions.

Feel free to leave suggestions in the comments as well. Thank you for your time!

The Color of 2012

Pantone predicts "Tangerine Tango" as the color of 2012. You may remember last year's was "Honeysuckle" a grapefruit pink. I'm loving that these brings colors are having a moment. They are really helping liven up the fashion world and even my own wardrobe.

I definitely see myself rocking this more with a lipstick.

Image via

Nanette Lepore Spring 2012

Taylor and Demolish is in agreement with Lady Gaga that mint is going to have a big year as well. I'd love to see this colors infused together.

How would you wear these colors for 2012?

All runway images via Style.com

Mani of the Week: All That Sparkles

Santa brought me these sparkly nail polishes for Christmas. Couldn't wait to play with them! Rather than choose between the two of them... I put them both on!

They are actually top coats so I decided to apply them on top of one layer of Essie's Marshmallow.

First the silver.

Followed by the gold.

I loved how it turned out!

It's a mix of big and small glitter chunks. I'm such a magpie!

What's on your nails this week?