crazy print crop top

i love crazy prints, crop tops and neutral colors. a main reason for the purchase of this top. a higher waisted pant is a perfect way for those who might be afraid of the crop top to make the first step to wearing it confidently. another way is to layer it with a solid tank or cami under neath. with this outfit i choose to spend more on the top i wanted, and spent much less on the basic skinnies i need and love.

i got to work on this test shoot (last minute) yesterday with my photographer friend, adam chandler. he's a great photographer and i appreciate his patience with me (being that i am not a model). i can't wait to work with him again on a day that the weather wants to work with my hair. hope you enjoy the outfit! a remix is predicted in the future as it gets warmer.



top: h.i.p. woven tee from nordstroms bp ($28)/ skinnies: from forever21 ($10.50)/ bangle: from h&m ($3.50)/
flats: merona from target ($20)

 this was merely our first shoot, and i hope to work with adam much more in the near future.

location: carmichael, ca
photographed by adam chandler


best,
alyssa

if it glitters it must be...

gold? silver? platinum? yes... platinum. continuously i am looking for styles that are timeless, luxurious and well of course... beautiful. i have discovered style.com. this consists of all of the above.

of course i watch e!'s fashion police, oh how i love guliana rancic, joan rivers and kelly osbourne. (the guy on there is pretty cool too) anyways, kelly osbourne had slyly mentioned how she had seen the dress rhianna wore to the grammy's on style.com. so immediately, i had to see if there really was such a miraculous thing. not only does this site capture my full attention and interest, it has a platinum level of advice. it definitely is hard to not feel like a vip with advice that the stars follow. style.com has an infinite amount of inspiration and advice, unlike a magazine.  however, i do like a magazine because having a hard copy of an article or picture that inspires you lasts a lifetime.

so prepare yourself, and browse like crazy. there's beauty advice as well!

choose to explore what interests you, want to strive for success, and need to not always believe that if it "glitters" it must be gold.

best,
alyssa

ready for february

with february a little over a week away, i am so excited for the excuses to wear pretty valentines day colors. everything that is floral, pink, deep burgundy, or girly has caught my eye. today i was in desperate search of my new sweater i was given for christmas from my mom. i absolutely love the color, the fit and the bold statement of the massive flower. i was in somewhat of a hurry today, so i didn't even need to try to avoid searching for complementing accessories. i also avoided taking any risks and just threw on my skinnies and boots.

i needed to get to school on time, i chose to be lazy and wanted to be dressed cute, yet comfy. an over sized sweater with a scoop neck that can be pulled as an "off the shoulder" is my go to.

top: lauren conrad @ kohls, jeans: forever21 skinnies, boots: steve madden intyce boots

best,
alyssa

p.s. apologies for the lack of accessories.

p.s.s. yay for valentine's day being around the corner!

motivation

today i was completely unmotivated to do basically anything. besides having somewhat of a headache from a lack of hydrating myself throughout the weekend, nothing sounded more appealing to me than sitting on the couch with the fatty tub of mint choco chip ice cream i found in the freezer. (thanks, mom!)

yesterday, i went on my first adventure to my school's new health and wellness center and basically kicked my own butt. by over working myself yesterday because of my highly motivated spirits, i realized to take other's advice on not wearing myself out. i want working out to be fun and positive, so swimsuit browsing online seemed to make me look forward to tomorrow's trip to the gym. preparing myself for this upcoming week in school is definitely still on my to do list for the night, all while i am trying to find the hottest swimsuit styles for this coming spring.

swimsuit browsing > preparing for school.... not really, don't take that piece of advice :)

i have mentioned singer22.com before, and have found a brand called alexis that has an amazing collection that looks as though it would be ideal for any beach resort vacation. how could any girl not feel like they were off in the tropics while wearing anything from this collection. i am so obsessed and i want it.

as a girl trying to make her way through school and still having a love for fashion, i would love to sign up for every credit card i could get approved for and max it out on designer clothing but that is just not a smart idea. moving away from the bad advice, i choose to research the hottest styles through the designer name brands, and as a student, i need to keep track of those ideas and look at lower cost stores.

for swimsuits, (depending on one's body type and style) i have heard so many opinions on whether or not a swimsuit should be an investment piece. for myself, i am a more average size so it is easier for me to find a fit at any store. i also am one to want to wear a different swimsuit for each day of the week when it comes to summer time. if i plan to invest, i decide to invest in mix and match pieces. keep in mind when shopping where you will be swimming, who you are swimming with, and if it is a  swimsuit you think you will wear next year as well. very important and boring information, i apologize... but i feel it is so crucial!


hope everyone enjoyed their weekend! and wish me luck with my first week of the spring 2011 semester!


best,
alyssa

western shoe fetish

i haven't found it in any other target location besides the first one i saw them at. word of advice: do not ever let your boy take you away from a pair of heels that are this cute and only $20. thankfully, i have found this cute chunky tan heel sandal online. and after i check several more target locations to try on for fit, i will be purchasing them. it was easy for me to distinct this "want" into a "need". if any girl is dreaming about a pair of heels that going to be a seasonal purchase, it is a need. a distraction of my frequent visits to target, i have become sidetracked and purchased these cowboy booties (also only $20) that i wore to the professional bull riding event i went to last friday. since the sun was out today, i took advantage of wearing a short sleeve cropped shirt.



cropped top: forever21; skinnies: forever21 (shown previously);
necklace: nordstroms bp; boots: target (cheaper in store) 



i love testing myself in choosing between which items in my closet can be mix and matched to be made into cross- seasonal items. for example, the outfit i chose to wear to work yesterday was a darker, cold, january outfit. all i could think about during my down time at work was how i could wear each item of clothing well into spring. today, it was still somewhat chilly. however, i'm a little over excited for the spring weather and  neglected all sweaters and coats to be alone in the closet. a girl on a budget needs to make the most out of her wardrobe especially if she is one to make every single "cute" thing a purchase. items of clothing or accessories that work all year round are just about the best investments, especially  if you can find a great find with great quality.


photographs done by: the wonderful mommy! thank you for taking these pictures :) and for testing my strength to get myself into that tree!
location: my own backyard

best,
alyssa

awaiting spring

i may not be a huge online shopper, i much prefer to have an item at the moment i pay for it. but i do love browsing online to get ideas and inspiration without the thoughts or opinions of others. shopping online is a great way to have a clear mind on what catches your eye. we have to admit, not all friends are meant to be a shopping buddy, i know i have found myself at work being hesitant to make a purchase because fellow peers might not love a certain piece as much as i do. it's fun to make a carefree purchase because you truly love something, especially when know you absolutely will not be self-conscious with your wardrobe choice. a fun website i have come across is stylefind.com. browsing at all the designer clothes and accessories got me thinking about trying new styles that i may have otherwise overlooked. stylefind has amazing stuff that has got me realizing it is time to create my want list.

the want list:
cargo skinnies
cropped pant
cropped sweaters
neutral flat
tan or cognac wedge
chunky heel
utility jacket
girly trench
white and navy striped top (i love the nautical look, and i am so glad it is still "in" this coming spring!)

after about a week of hearing myself continually ramble about how much i need some of the items above, i am hoping to be able to choose which ones are going to fit my budget and work well with the cross- seasonal stuff i already have. i also want to make sure i will get good use of the items i plan to purchase.

check in tomorrow to see pictures of the first purchase from "the want list."

best,
alyssa

online obsession

i can find everything i want when it comes to clothing on  singer22.com , i am absolutely obsessed. looking through their sale page is definitely making it hard to choose which pieces i need to stay in style like the celebs in hollywood. it's definitely a great site to browse around and become inspired to try something new.

a fun tip: play around with this site. look at the stuff your favorite celeb is wearing, as well as exploring new designers when a certain something catches your eye! if you are unsure about spending the big bucks on a particular item, check out places like forever21 or h&m for an imitation of the piece. chances are if you wear the lower cost piece often, the investment for better quality is well worth it!

best,
alyssa