Summer Shoe Style Guide

For most women the key to their heart is new pair of shoes, so don’t fret ladies as the 2012 summer rolls in so do the new summer shoes! For the summer 2012, we are going to break down our shoes into five must have types: classic, elegant, trendy, sexy and wild.

Let’s begin with classic, for this style it is simply just fun colored flats. From pale colors to bright colors these shoes are easy for every day running around and look great with skirts, shorts and skinny jeans. Metallic is also a trend that’s in so try a flat with a metallic tip like this one!

Bruno Magli Flats - Bogolino Woven Metallic Toe

 Elegant shoes are all about the famine aspect. A simple nude colored pump is perfect for business attire and can easily be switched into night life by throwing on a fun cocktail dress. Make sure to find ones that are comfortable or else you’ll have blisters for days!

Steve Madden Allyy Pumps

 Now for trendy, these are all about the wedges (a personal favorite). Wedges come is all shapes, colors and styles from braiding, metallic/bright colors, buckles, and designs, they are seen everywhere. Wedges are perfect for shorts, maxi dresses and short dresses, these shoes are definitely diverse and the easiest to walk in!

Steve Madden Winonna Wedges

 Your sexy shoes are stilettos with the shiny or metallic look. Metallic is used to make a shoe more durable but lately shiny and metallic has been extremely in. If this isn’t your look rivets will be. Rivets come in all forms from stiletto to biker boots; they can be almost invisible or made to call attention. These sexy looks are great for out on the town or a night with your man!

 Bottega Veneta Silver Naturale Mirror Antique Karung Wedge

Versace SS 2012 Shoes

 Finally your wild shoes, these are your look at me bright colored shoes, which yes pastel colors are in but bright colors have stayed as well! From stilettos to lace ups these shoes are perfect for a night on the town or to just brighten up your outfit.

Ruthie Davis Candy Shoes

Gooey Grilled Green Goodness

Y'all know I don't usually spend a whole lot of time in the kitchen, so working from home and being around the house more during lunch has forced me to come up with tasty, semi-healthy ways to feed myself. (If it takes more than about six minutes to put my mid-day meal together, I'm more likely to eat nearly half a bag of Chip'Ins and go on about my business. That's not good for anyone involved.) Luckily, I've discovered a super simple, very tasty version of a grilled cheese that even I am capable of making. Allow me to introduce you to the Grilled Avocado, Spinach and Goat Cheese Sandwich. It takes no time to make and after a few short minutes I have a stack of grilled goodness overflowing with soft melty goat cheese, slightly wilted spinach and warm avocado. Honestly, it's pretty amazing. In fact, you should probably stop what you're doing now and whip one up. You can thank me later.

Pretty Sweet Fonts - Fun, Fabulous & Free!

I've been doing lots more graphic design these days, which I absolutely love. Sometimes, I'm given a project and directed to simply "make this pretty!" Those are the fun projects! Pretty sweet designs often require fun, fabulous FREE fonts and discovering new fonts is practically a hobby of mine. I tend to have weekly favorites, so this week, I'm sharing a few of them with you. Enjoy!

Google your favorites to download them from your preferred font source. I love www.dafont.com, www.fonts101.com and www.fontspace.com.

Simply Glamorous  |  Rabbit on the Moon  |  K22 Spottyface  |  Nollie  |  Cutie Pop  |  Desdemona  |  Honey Script  |  Gabriola  |  Carnivalee Freakshow  |  Jelly Cutty Cupcakes

Messy Hair Days

Hi, friends! Are you still there? I hope so! I've been away from the blog for far too long, thanks to all sorts of excitement in my life. If you've watched Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23, you'll understand when I say this -- it's been totes cray cray! (Side note: James Van Der Beek as himself is hilarious.) 

It's actually been really busy and chaotic, but in a truly great way. I'm finally settling into a normal routine, but more on all that in another post. Right now, I'm just accepting the fact that mild chaos can be a little normal and that every day is not perfectly scheduled with everything on the to-do list checked off. Sometimes, bigger, better or more meaningful items get added and sometimes not finishing one item is a good thing. 

Sometimes, we have days with chipped nail polish and dry-shampooed hair. Sometimes, we have coffee stains on our clothes and late nights catching up. Sometimes, we have half-stocked fridges and floors that need sweeping. Sometimes we have bad hair days. Yes, I know. I didn't want to believe it either. I'm learning that sometimes we just have to accept it all, good, bad, organized or unruly. Sometimes we just have to do this (and trust me, I'm trying):

via bippity boppity boo 

sweet southern sayings

Growing up and living in the South means hearing (and saying) my fair share of sweet southern twang. There are more country sayings around here than you can shake a stick at. Some of them are a bit of a tongue twister ("Can't tell no one that ain't been nowhere nothing nohow."), some simply don't make much sense ("You better get it while the gettin's good."), and some of them are racy enough to make you slap your mama (we won't go there). Here are a few of my favorite phrases -- at least the more lady-like ones -- residing in the vocabulary of most any belle south of the Mason-Dixon line.

go beach chic with judith march

If you've ever visited our beaches here in South Walton and wandered around Seaside, you've probably seen the bold striped curtains and sweet blue sign welcoming you to the beach store Deja Vu. It's a quaint and cute clothing and accessory shop with a style that seems one party beachy, one party preppy, one part hippie, one part Southern belle and one part cool girl. It's hard not to find something to like. Trust me. What's even cooler? Stephanie Nichols, the owner and super cool local, designs the Judith March clothing line carried in the store! The line, named after two grandmothers, is gaining national popularity and is popping up in stores all around the South and beyond. It's been so exciting to watch it grow!

Stephanie and her team do an amazing job representing our little beach town to the fashion set and always have captivating campaigns that show just how versatile the lovely little dresses, tops and shorts are. I'm a dress girl all the way, so I love seeing so many options for wearing an all-in-one outfit. For their 2012 lookbook, the Judith March girls took to the super chic Moroccan style Caliza Pool at Alys Beach and used its gorgeous water and white walls for their fashion backdrop. The final look? Fab.u.lous!!! 

Take a look:

Just lovely! Very cute and dresses that can really be worn anywhere. If any of you are really into gift giving, feel free to bestow one or all of these snazzy frocks upon your favorite blogger. Wink, wink.

To keep up with Judith March on their blog, go here. To keep up with owner/designer Stephanie Nichols on her blog, go here. To shop Deja Vu and Judith March, go here.

Happy Friday to Career Moms!

I'm sure you've all seen at least one of the "What I Do" memes floating around, from journalists to gamers, lawyers to Nicolas Cage and even stay-at-home moms. I haven't come across one for career moms, so I decided to make my own. To all of the woman trying to balance work, mommy hood, being a wife and having interest on your own, many times unsuccessfully, this one's for you! 

life lately + the giveaway winner!

There has been so much going on lately, that I've fallen asleep on the couch, laptop open on more than one night this week.  It's been a whirlwind, but in a good way. It's real life, to be honest. First, let me tell you about my pride and joy. Miss Emery Lynn has given us so much to smile about with her sweet personality, gibberish conversations and at 10 1/2 months old, HER FIRST STEPS! I was sad I wasn't there to see the first steps in person, which I suppose is a risk for all working moms, but I was thrilled that our babysitter got it on camera.

Our little girl has grown up so much right beneath our nose. She seems so much more mature and giggles all the time. She waves bye-bye and acts like she's telling hot gossip when I hand her the phone. She's even gotten her first tooth, actually two on the bottom, which she will not let anyone see under any circumstances.

Two teeny tiny teeth inside

Pretty Sweet Pick of the Week - Damita Wedges

I'm a little late this week, but I'm kicking off a new series called "Pretty Sweet Pick of the Week" highlighting one of my favorite "it" items from around the fashion world. This will give you a little more fashion inspiration and help me keep track of all the things on my wish list. Hint, hint. :)

Mint Maxi Dress / Rachel Leigh necklace / Fuchsia lips / Michael Kors Wedges / Tory Burch clutch

VS Caftan / Skinny Girl Margarita / Oliver Peoples Sunglasses / Michael Kors Wedges

So, what do you think? Do you like? How would you wear this Pretty Sweet Pick?

P.S. I'll be announcing the J. Crew iPhone case giveaway winner tomorrow. Stay tuned!

goodies for your valentine (and you!)

For Her: Essie nail colors for a sweet mani like Celia at Willow I Love You art card / Nikon J1 /  Michael Kors gold buckle ring /  Dotted Forever top from Deja Vu / J. Crew pearl and crystal pinwheel necklace / Bond No. 9 at Patchouli's

For Him: Of-the-Month Clubs: Beer of the Month and Dive Bar Shirt Club / Fresh Baked Bacon Brownies / Edisto Oyster Knife from Williams Knife Co. / Book Book for iPhone / Costa del Mar polarized sunglasses /  Southern Marsh redfish tshirt /  Peter Nappi Deco Watch /


If you shop now, you still have time to get these goodies in time for lovey dovey day. Ladies, feel free to pass along this round up for your man (hint, hint). For any of you guys realizing the current month is February and that Valentine's Day is next week, consider this your wake up call. Get moving!

There's an App For That + a Giveaway!

My hubby gives me such a hard time about having my phone glued to my hand around the clock. I may not always know the contents of our pantry, but I have an uncanny ability to participate in almost any activity with phone in hand or a short arm's reach away. Sure I may be browsing Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter or Instagram, but I'm also organizing my life and trying to make it more efficient with some seriously awesome apps. Thoughtful discussions about said apps, new discoveries and fresh ways to put that smartphone to use seem requisite, especially among iPhone devotees. If your phone is only as good as the apps you've chosen, it begs the question, "What apps can't you live without?"

I've rounded up a few of my favorites and even thrown in a snazzy J. Crew iPhone 4/4s cover to give away! Read through and follow the instructions on the bottom to enter before Sunday, February 12 at 5 PM.

how to throw an arm party in four easy steps

Google image search

Arm parties are everywhere these days and you don't have to be "on the list" to participate. It's super easy to throw together your own and really, you can do no wrong. It's all about your personal style and using whatever you have hiding in your jewelry box.