Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Shoe Crush- Star Sandals

Even though I may be yearning for fall, it is still summer. So in honor of these last few weeks of warm weather, here are some fabulous sandals. Fabulous because they have stars on them. Yes, I love stars.

Loeffler Randall Starla Plank Sandal

Watch Obsession- Owls

A lot of pretty cute owl accessories and home décor has made its way into the world lately. In honor, I'm devoting this Watch Obsession to Betsy Johnson's Owl Watch. Cute!

Is Fall Here, Yet?

While I pretty much hate winter, and can only stand snow for about the first 24 hours, I absolutely love fall. Boots, scarves, leggings, cardigans.... what more could we ask for? Oh yeah, cozy weather, hot chocolate and cider, and football. Pretty much the best time of year!

So in honor of my premature fall fashion cravings, here are a few accessories I can't wait to break out and some that I wish I had in my wardrobe!



Switching from hot summer to cool fall? Go from shorts to rolled boyfriend jeans and some cute flats or sneakers. The best accessory for switching seasons? A great cardigan that you can layer with. If the summer heat sticks around a bit, you can always take it off in the afternoon and layer up again when it gets cool at night. Plus, you look so effortlessly cute you'll have no problem finding someone to keep you warm on those cool evenings. :)


A chambray or plaid shirt paired with super dark jeans is a great combo. Add on a chunky scarf and keep that trend going with accessories. A 'manly' big watch and a neutral bag complete this great look. Wearing your hair up in a bun or pony with a scarf also looks super chic.


I could go on and on about fall/winter style, and probably will in future posts. This look will be a comfy classic for at least a few style years to come. A big shirt/tunic/sweater over leggings (remember, it should be long enough to cover up your bum!) is a great way to stay comfy and warm. Staying in? Wear it however you want. Going out? Well, still wear it however you want, but adding a cardigan, scarf, and some cute boots (three must haves) is a great way to be stylish, comfy, and warm all at the same time!


Now go enjoy the rest of your summer while dreaming of spiced ciders and cute boots!

WORDS


Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Watch Obsession- Chevron

Chevron stripes add just a touch of flair and cuteness to a watch! Check out these cute examples!

Recipe- Cinnamon Roll Cake

This is a cake... that taste just like a cinnamon roll! YUM!



Cinnamon Roll Cake
Cake:
3 c. flour
1/4 tsp.salt
1 c. sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 c. milk
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. butter, melted

Topping:
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1 Tbsp. cinnamon

Mix everything together except for the butter. Slowly stir in the melted butter and pour into a greased 9x13 pan. For the topping, mix all the ingredients together until well combined. Drop evenly over the batter and swirl with a knife. Bake at 350 for 28-32 minutes.

Glaze:
2 c. powdered sugar
5 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla


While warm drizzle the glaze over the cake.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

What I'm Reading

Lately, I've been reading a lot of young adult fiction. They tend to have decent story lines and are easy reads.

I've been reading the Infernal Devices Series by Cassandra Clare. This series includes Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince, and Clockwork Princess. They are the prequel to the Mortal Instruments series.

Story synopsis from Amazon.com:

"In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.


The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them...."


Check them out!


 

Mani of the Week

This week my nails are rocking a gorgeous blue by Essie called Butler Please!

Shoe Crush of the Week- Jimmy Choo

I'm loving these Jimmy Choo shoes! The visual effect is stunning.

Urban Peach Boutique

Hey all! Sorry for the wait for a new post.

So I stumbled upon this awesome website with great prices for statement necklaces, earrings, and bracelets! It's Urban Peach Boutique!

Check out this great necklace I just got!




Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Shoe Crush of the Week- Studs

This week's shoe crush is actually more of a shoe trend crush... and it's STUDS!
 
Diane von Furstenberg's Ara Studded Flats are perfect for the office:
Link to Store
 
 
 
And if you're feeling a bit more daring... try these Alexander McQueen Leather Studded Pumps:
 
 


Awesome Website Find- Free E-Books

If you're keeping up with technology and also love books, chances are you have some kind of e-reader or tablet to expand your book collection. While one of the biggest e-reader sellers, the Amazon Kindle does have a major character flaw: basically, you can pretty much only get books through Amazon. This means that all those awesome libraries that are offering free e-book check outs (basically like checking out a library book, but you can often do it online and download it right to your e-reader) are useless to those of us that have a Kindle, including me.

On the upside, a lot of authors make some of their books free for a limited time on Amazon. Usually they do this for the first book or two of a series, and usually it is to help get a new author's name out to the public. But if you're like me and you just kind of like to read anything and everything, then it doesn't really matter. Unfortunately, it takes a lot of time to sort through the thousands of Kindle books to find the free ones, and they are constantly changing. Well, one person made it his mission to do the dirty work for the rest of us. He created One Hundred Free Books, a blog that is updated several times a day with free books on Amazon.

So go check it out!

Summer Lip Colors

Spring and summer are the perfect time to try a bold, bright, and fun lip color. Whether bright for at the beach, or something a bit more subtle for a friends wedding, experimenting with your lip color can change your whole look!

Classic red is always a great look, but why not try something different? I'm loving the fabulous coral lip color this summer. Paired with a bit of aqua eyeliner makes even more of a statement, but you can also do more neutral tones on the rest of your face for a more conservative look.

Monday, July 1, 2013

This Week's Shoe Crush

Just found these and they are absolutely adorable! Perfect addition to any work outfit!

Prada Bicolor Pointed-Toe Bow Flat at Nieman Marcus
Link to Nieman Marcus

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Watch Obsession- Wrap Watches

One of my favorite things: watches.
One of the seasons hottest trends: an arm full of glorious bracelets.
Add these together and you get awesome all-in-one wrap watches.

This week I'm loving this nautical-themed Portofino Gold Charms watch from La Mer Collections.

http://www.lamercollections.com/shop/Charm-and-Stone-Wraps/

Their whole website is full of great designer quality accessories and watches! Love this look!

Who Is Listening When You Say "I'm Fat"?

As women, we are pretty much all guilty of looking in the mirror at one point or another and thinking, if not saying, "I am so fat."

As I was growing up, discussions about weight were as common as most any other topic. Especially when my mother and aunts would all get together. I can see the desire to talk about such a subject. It is something everyone deals with and everyone gets to share their latest brilliant tips and tricks. But unfortunately, it seems all anyone ever really did was talk about it. And talk about it. And talk about it.

Now, as I'm older, when the women in my family get together, I see the same conversation happening again. I am proud that after a certain extent, my mom is usually the one that will change the topic. Just one of the many things I love about her.

It's just such an easy topic to get stuck on. But as I now have nieces and younger cousins that are entering pre-teen and high school age, I worry about passing all of this on to the next generation.

I have struggled with body issues since I was the first to develop in my class at a very young age. I was also always much taller and just didn't have the same petite body that most of my friends had. By the time I was a freshman in high school, I was dealing with anorexia, depression, and anxiety. When I look back now at photos of those years, instead of seeing that fit high school athlete, I just see a very sick girl. By the time I was a senior in high school, I had taken my food control issues to the opposite extreme and was binging. I also struggled a lot with alcohol, which of course just sped along my weight gain.

Going from one extreme to the other has wreaked havoc on my body over the last ten years. Keeping a happy medium is something I struggle with each and every day.

I'll admit that I do still talk about weight, probably more than I should. Probably because it is indeed something that I have to work hard on constantly. And I will talk about it on here, but that is because I am extremely proud of the hard work I am putting into being healthy, not skinny.

But there is one thing I have been trying to do, and that is to definitely pay attention to who is around when I give myself those looks in the mirror or discuss my weight. It would break my heart to know that one of my nieces, and someday my daughter, felt that she wasn't good enough because the women in her life feel like they aren't good enough.

Those little girls I love, deserve to see women that love themselves.

The inspiration behind this: http://www.rolereboot.org/life/details/2013-06-when-your-mother-says-shes-fat

Monday, June 17, 2013

Hairstyles- The Summer Braid

When it's hot and gross outside, one of the best ways to battle the heat is with a great braid! A good braid is especially necessary for a day at the beach or pool. It keeps you cool, plus when you get out of the water you don't have to worry about how your hair looks! Braids are also great add-ins for the classic summer pony.

Here are just a few of my favorites:

Kendall Jenner rocking the side fishtail.
A low side braid is a great way to go. Just a regular braid works great if you don't know how to or have hair long enough for a fishtail. Side braids are great for beginners because you can see what you are doing.

Small braid with messy pony.
This messy pony gets a bit of glam added with a mini braid. Perfect for poolside.

Sarah Michelle-Gellar
A dutch braid on both sides with a messy bun at the back guarantees cuteness (and hold) all day!


For more must-try summer braid styles, here's Glamour Magazine's list of the latest- Glamour Beach Braids.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Looks I Love- Floral Cardigan

I am just loving this floral cardigan for spring and summer! Here it is paired with French Connection's 'Loving Crochet' Fit & Flare Dress and some cute pumps with a pop of green. Love this look!

Saturday, June 15, 2013

This Week's Shoe Crush

Let's start out "This Week's Shoe Crush" with something at least most of us can agree on.

The classic black pump from Louboutin. The trademark red-on-the-bottom of Louboutin gives these stilettos even more of a sexy and kick-ass feel. Love them and need them in my closet!

What I'm Reading- Witch & Wizard Series

I've been reading the Witch & Wizard Series by James Patterson. The books in this series are Witch & Wizard, The Gift, The Fire, and apparently a fourth book has been released called The Kiss. It is a young adult series.

 
 



My version of the story:
Apparently some government regime called the New Order has taken over. A brother and sister, Whit and Wisty Allgood, are accused of being a wizard and witch. After being imprisoned and tortured and whatnot, they realized that these accusations against them are true. The New Order does a bunch of bad stuff and Whit and Wisty fight against it and its evil leader The One Who Is The One.

What I think:
To be honest, the only thing I've liked about these books was that they are a quick read. The plot and characters are very undeveloped, and I couldn't really get in to the story. Maybe those ten years younger than me might appreciate them more, but I feel like that isn't even fair to them. I'm just one person, but Patterson, and his numerous co-writers, definitely need to strive for books where we might actually establish a connection with the characters or even care about their fates.

Getting Started

First, a little more about me:
So I'm not technically a Librarian... yet. But, I am starting graduate school this fall to begin work on my Masters of Library Science. So that is the goal!
I also work full-time in a public library as the Assistant Director, and I'm sure some of my adventures there will show up here.
I am 24, the youngest of four children of two amazing parents. I also currently have 6 nieces and nephews!
I have so many interests in so many different subject areas, including writing, so I'm hoping using this as a bit of a creative outlet will not only entertain me but also any of you who choose to read!

Second, a little more about this blog:
I have always been a little obsessed with fashion and all the things that fall under that title. I remember designing clothes as a little girl. As I grew up, my interest in this area never really diminished, it just got pushed aside. So now, as an adult, while I may not be able to afford everything that fashion provides us, I can certainly appreciate it. This ranges from nail polish and make up to couture.
Also, there are so many other things going on that I would love to talk about and share with you. These include my journey through weight loss, as well as struggles with depression and anxiety, and many other issues that are impacting our world today.

I really hope you enjoy reading along!

Don't forget to like The Designer Librarian on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! And on Google+ if anyone actually uses that.