Monday Moodlifter - Clutch Me Close

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I promise things will begin to get back to normal posting around here, although there might be times when things pick up too much and posts will slow down again.  That's the unfortunate price for not being able to just be a full time photographer and blogger, a girl can dream though.  One thing that has not stopped during this little posting interlude, spring catalogs are flooding my mailbox.   It is depressing, I admit, to see the beautiful warm weather fashions and then step out the door to blistering cold wind.  However, I have noticed a fun, colorful trend this year that doesn't depend on the temperature, clutches!  I'm seeing them all over the catalogs, in fun bright styles.  Here are my five favorites of the moment, I hope they brighten your cold Monday!

Ann Taylor Envelope Clutch

I love the bright cobolt and aqua in this two tone clutch.  It's so cheery, if you're stuck wearing a boring black winter coat, at least you can carry this in your hand to stand out a little.

Ann Taylor Foldover Napa Leather Clutch

 I really enjoy foldover clutches, they seem to have more space than the envelope style.  This is a beautiful aqua color that could be a fun pop of color next to any other color you decide to wear.

LL Bean Signature Heritage Leather Clutch

 I know, you're thinking "LL Bean?", but yes.  If you haven't yet checked out their Signature Collection, you are missing out.  While not everything is my style, there are a number of lovely, quality pieces.  I have one of these Heritage clutches, although mine is a combination leather and denim (no longer available apparently).  I love this bright red leather, it has me thinking about 4th of July BBQs already.

GAP Leather Envelope Clutch

Despite being a bit of a girly girl, I actually don't love wearing a lot of pink.  I do enjoy a nice pink accessory though, and this neon clutch would be a perfect touch of pink.

Banana Republic Patent Clutch

 I saved the best for last, this is definitely my favorite of the bunch.  It looks like mint is going to be just as popular this year as it was in 2012, which I love.  It's a bright, fresh color, and this clutch combines it with patent leather, a to.die.for. combination in my book.

Are you just as ready for spring and warm weather as I am?  What are you most excited for when the season finally changes?

Wednesday Perk: Ooooh, Sparkly!

With Christmas just around the cornor, it's time to start figuring out your New Year's Eve plans.  Ok, we'll admit, we've both reached that point in life where NYE consists of dinner with friends and watching the countdown in pjs from the comfort of our couches (if we even make it to countdown, sigh).  However, we still remember our days of excitedly getting dressed up and paying waaaaaaay too much for a ticket for some "fancy" party, and, being the girls we are, we still completely appreciate the sparkles that come out front and center on this one night.  So, for all of you who have plans to get dressed to the nines searching for a glittery look, or for those like us who simply like to admire shiny things, here are some sparkly dresses and accessories to make you a star this New Year's Eve!



We don't know about you, but we would never pay more than $100 for a NYE dress.  Luckily this Zara dress is only $89.  If silver isn't your thing, it also comes in black.  Also, if you are curious how this dress actually looks on check out the review over on Extra Petite, she includes actual pictures of her wearing it.

If you have the legs to wear a mini-dress, then NYE is definitely the night to rock it!  We love how this Arden B. dress balances the short hemline with the longer sleeves, it even has a cute keyhole cutout on the back.  This dress also follows our under $100 rule, coming in at $89 as well.

Not everyone is comfortable trying to pull off a fully sequined dress, so here's a classic pencil skirt alternative.  We love the simplicity and the length, and currently it's on sale for $64.99.

If sequined clothes just aren't your thing, but you still want some sparkle try these lovely gold shoes.  These would be great for a cocktail party, or even to spice up a more casual jeans outfit; so really there is no excuse not to wear them, even for us.

If you really only want just a tiny touch of sparkle, this clutch is perfect.  It's not totally bedazzled like everything else here, plus the coloring means it will go with just about anything you decide to wear.

What are your NYE plans?  Do you just admire glittery outfits like us, or do you actually have plans to don some sequins?

Monday Moodlifer : A Walk on the Wild Side

It is that time of year where our weekends are full of various holiday gatherings.  Some are casual, and some are more formal.  Typically at these types of events the common colors we see women wearing are blacks, reds, and some lovely jewel toned blues, greens, and burgandies.  We thought for today's Monday Moodlifter we would offer some different accessory options, all in the same theme, that will go with any of these colors, and that can either make a casual outfit a little more cool or a cocktail dress a little more daring.  So what is this universal theme, why leopard print of course!  So enjoy these wild animal print items we are completely in love with right now!

This J.Crew bangle is just beautiful and classic, with the leopard giving it that little bit of an edge.  This would be a great addition to a casual outfit adding just that hint of interest without going over the top.

These block heeled shoes from Ann Taylor would be the perfect addition to your outfit if you have a work holiday happy hour to attend.  They are fun without being offensive, and bonus, you can probably get away with wearing them through out the year in the office as well.

A scarf like this will help take your outfit from running errands to brunch or dinner or friends.  It will also keep you warm as you rush along to your destination from the metro.

This haircalf belt is super versitile.  It could wrap around a sheath dress or a pencil skirt at work.  You could toss it on over a long sweater and skinny jeans, or if you are daring, you could even try it out over a simple black cocktail dress.

 Lastly, this little box clutch is so lovely and would be a fabulous statement piece to add some sass to a more formal outfit.  It's also great because it will work with more casual outfits as well, which makes the $120 price a little more palatable.

Do you have any go to accessories for the holidays?  H has a lovely pair of onyx and gold teardrop earrings she regulary pulls out this time of year, and M likes to pair crisp cream/white tops with bright, sparkly jewelry.