Pretty *Basic* Fashion

Fashion: Fashion is the style and custom prevalent at a given time. In its most common usage however, "fashion" describes the popular clothing style. Many fashions are popular in many cultures at any given time. (thanks google)


Some things I'm really digging currently:

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Beige/taupe/nude color heels. I'm digging the platform bottom and the patent look (as opposed to a matte look).
And apparently, heels this color are great for pale girls because they give the appearance of longer legs since there's no sharp contrast between your leg/feet and the shoe. Bonus for this barely five foot tall chica.

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Tom's shoes are adorable, and I'm really digging the saffron cord shoe.
I generally have a hard time justifying spending $54 dollars on any one clothing or accessory item, but with Tom's "One for One" campaign I view it as 2 pairs for that price.
The result? These may be purchased sooner than later.

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Stockings.
I'm not sure what my obsession has been, but I'm loving stockings this season. Under my dresses and skirts they've done me well. The post-weight loss shopping has allowed me to work these in slowly but surely.

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I'm loving mid-calf boots this winter. With jeggings/skinnies or a cute dress/skirt with tights. Fall and winter in Ohio are perfect for rocking this look.
Hopefully it will still be "in" next season, haha. Oh, who am I kidding? Even if it was the biggest fashion faux pas, I'd *STILL* wear them!
I saw these Frye boots in a fashion blog over a year ago, but they were red. I absolutely love them in all the colors in this style but the price tag keeps it on my "dream on" list.

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Big.Friggen.Purses.
I carry my life with me nearly every day. My friends and family make fun of my "luggage". But, I'm a girl who carries a small pharmacy, my small digital camera, a planner, some pens, several lip glosses, a book, my GPS... you get the picture (well, at least a mental image... maybe I'll do a "What's in my bag?" post sometime).
I'm a big fan of Duex Lux bags, which can be found at UO.

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Congratulations, cardigan sweater! You are my favorite clothing item, no contest. Especially if you are vintage, like the lovely floral one above.
I love that cardis can be dressed up, down and in between. The colors, weights, patterns, knits, ages (yes, ages... as in new and vintage), styles... all of it. They are the all year 'round, one for every outfit, adorable as all get out piece.

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T-shirts. Especially ones like this fabulous literary tshirt from Out of Print clothing, featuring another one of my all time favorite books. Bonus! When you buy a tee from Out of Print Clothing, they donate a book to Books For Africa.
I have a weakness for t-shirts that show off my personality, the things I like and the things I believe in. For more great t-shirts check out the I *Heart* Etsy post featuring them!



There are so many fantastic things out there that I'm loving right now, these are just a handful of pretty basic items. This brings us to the unveiling of another new post grouping. Pretty *___* Fashion. Each PF post will showcase some great fashion finds and ideas! I'm quite excited to add PF to the ranks of Sweet Spots and I *Heart* Etsy. Soon to come will be an 'inspirations' post, of sorts. That will round out the quartet of regularly posted (I hope!) theme specific posts for the time being.

Fashion is ever changing and ever evolving. Fashion seems to be on lazy susan of sorts, as it goes away and comes back around again. Fashion is highly personal. Everyone has clothing that they feel their best in. Now, more than ever, can you walk down the street and see so many years of fashion all at once. Thanks to the wave of vintage and thrift fashions so many "old" pieces are becoming new and not just by being worn as is... some are up-cycled and others are worn in a different way than intended.

Recently (mostly within the last year and some change) I've lost quite a bit of weight. As a result it means going through my wardrobe and getting rid of a lot of it (donations to friends and Goodwill). Some of it has been salvaged for me by my wonderful seamstress, Tracy. But, there's still a lot that I need. I've even had the courage to attempt some fashions I stayed away from before because I wasn't comfortable. It's been fun. But, I tend to get fixated on a few items here and there that just aren't in the budget, at all. So, then I bargain hunt my way around until I find what I want at a price that I'm willing to pay. Sometimes, I win. Sometimes, I lose out. But it's always fun to dream and for me the hunt is a good part of the fun!

What are your current favorite fashions?

Sweet Spots - Word Decor

My current favorite is anything that has words on it. I love the term Textorating. Word Decor sounds nice too. Unfortunately I don't have much in my little apartment like it at this time:

Over my table I have this current arrangement. "Home is where your story begins", so very true.

"Christian Dior could lower forty million hem lines by lowering his pencil" I found this photo and quote in a Vogue magazine someone gave me. It fit perfectly int he frame which I got super cheap on clearance at Michael's.

My Believe sign. Believe is my favorite word.

Maybe it's the book-nerd in me, I don't know.

Here are some more great finds that I would love to have adorn my walls:

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Because in this ladies mind, cupcakes are the most perfect food. Ever.

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Vintage china turned into text-o-ration. Love it!

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But of course The Beatles would make an appearance.

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I absolutely **LOVE** the overnight accommodations sign. It's silly and unexpected.

I think, for the most part, we all gather our likes and dislikes in terms of decorating based off of what we were surrounded by in our home while we were growing up. I seem to pull away from things that my childhood home had much of (mirrors, crystal, super colorful art) and veer more towards things like metal wall art, vintage photos and prints, black and white pictures/photos and text wall art.

I have some great ideas forming for my apartment... more things that really reflect me. I need to start listening to my head and my heart when it comes to decorating, and not what my mom/friends/etc are saying, because while they do have some awesome ideas - what I like is what I like. I live here, so I need to be the person the happiest with it.

So maybe blogging will help me realize the potential I have to play decorator in my own home ;)

Sweet Spots - The Start

"Home is a name, a word, it is a strong one; stronger than magician ever spoke, or spirit ever answered to, in the strongest conjuration."
-Charles Dickens

I love home decorating.

Being a renter of a one bedroom apartment in a pretty modern building doesn't allow me the freedom to do as I want, nor does it give me the bare bones I would be happy with in one of the vintage buildings in my area. But, I still dream big.

Style in both fashion and home is highly personal. Ideas from one person blend with another idea and a third idea is born. To me, often it is the little touches that make a house (or apartment) a home. The personal touches that your visitors see as reflections of who you are, and your true soul.

It seems like each day I come across a new idea, some feasible and others not so much. Thanks to this, I bring you Sweet Spots. A new spot on Moose that will feature decorating ideas.

This version is just a few things that I've seen and collected on my computer lately. The next Sweet Spots post will be dedicated to one particular room or item in a home. Any requests? Leave them here!

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No large yard or balcony for a garden? Not much windowsill space? Try this fun idea of a hanging planter. I like the idea of making it from an old drawer.

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I love the idea of turning a closet into a book nook. One apartment I looked at when I first moved out on my own the current tenant had turned a random middle of the room closet into an office area to house her computer and the like.

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This is pretty modern, and generally I'm not big on the modern style. But I'm LOVING the pink. I'm also a huge proponent of having a washer and dryer in the kitchen to maximize space elsewhere in a small space.

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Fairy lights, especially in a bedroom setting.


As with the I Heart Etsy spot on this blog, I'm not sure how often I will post it. I'm trying to come up with a schedule for these two, plus two more.. one on fashion and one on inspirations. Both of the latter will be posted for the first time in the coming days.

Fill in the Blank..

I should be sleeping since I have to be up in about seven hours... but babysitting this evening has had it's usual effect on me where I'm taking a bit to wind down.

The lovely Lauren posted this... and so I hopped on over to do it myself as well.

1. My favorite quote is

You save yourself or you remain unsaved. - Alice Sebold, Lucky.

No day but today. - RENT

I refuse to run from the rain, instead I will dance in the puddles. - Not sure who said it first, but my lovely friend Amber sent that to me today.

2. A bad habit I have is

Letting life get the best of me. I tend to get a bit snarky and mean when I feel like the hand I'm being dealt isn't fair.

3. The first time I felt like a “grown up” was

Honestly? I'm not sure. I've had flashes of "Oh crap, I'm an adult!" at random times when I'm doing pretty random things... but I can't tell you when the first time was.

4. Weekends are

often spent babysitting, reading, spending time with my mom, spending time with a few friends.

5. When I was a child I wished my name was

For a while I really liked Brittany and Sarah. Then it was a wish for something not so common since I spent grades K-8 with a girl who had the same first and middle name, as well as the same last initial as me. I'm kind of still on the latter statement in terms of it all, but I'll survive :)

6. I wish

All the time. For many, many things.

7. A secret I have is

I like being alone, I hate being lonely.

Be sure to check back soon... I have a few posts in the works including a home decorating themed post and a fashion post!

Valentine's Day Must Read

So. I'm not a fan of Valentine's Day. Never have been. I'm of the school of thought that everyday should be about showing the ones we love our appreciation and adoration.
Even if I'm in a relationship, I'm not really a fan. Being single... well that one's obvious. And while I am proud of the fact that I'm independent, it doesn't mean that sometimes I don't become a bit bitter. *ahem*.

"When it comes to love, there are a million theories to explain it. But when it comes to love stories, things are simpler. A love story can never be about full possession. Love stories depend on disappointment, on unequal births and feuding families, on matrimonial boredom and at least one cold heart. Love stories, nearly without exception, give love a bad name . . . .

It is perhaps only in reading a love story (or in writing one) that we can simultaneously partake of the ecstasy and agony of being in love without paying a crippling emotional price. I offer this book, then, as a cure for lovesickness and an antidote to adultery. Read these love stories in the safety of your single bed. Let everybody else suffer."—Jeffrey Eugenides, from the introduction to My Mistress's Sparrow Is Dead

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However, at least I know Valentine's Day won't be a complete bust this year. It looks as if I'll be seeing South Pacific at the Playhouse with a good friend on the 12th.

And, of course, while we're on the subject of February 14th related things, I encourage any and all of you reading to become informed about V-Day. Not the day of candy hearts and red roses, but rather a global movement to end violence against women and girls worldwide.

A book, a musical and most importantly a cause to stand behind. Pretty stellar line up if you ask me.

I *heart* Etsy - T-shirt finds

Who doesn't love some Etsy shopping? Unfortunately at this point, being a broke teacher doesn't bode well with my Etsy addiction. However, it's always fun to browse and mark favorite items! They all deserve to be owned and loved, even if it's not by me.

So, I bring you I *heart* Etsy to showcase some of my favorite items on Etsy.

**Please note that some of the items may be sold out, but since I really like the item, I didn't delete it off my favorites on Etsy. But, if you like it too, check the store! You never know, sometimes there's more!**

1. I Think I'm In Love t-shirt from rosiemusic
Because I love a boy who loves books as much as I do. Bonus points for laying in bed together reading.

2. Librarians Gone Wild T-shirt from gibberish 2
Because not only is the name of this shirt fantastic, it simply states one of my favorite things to do.

3. NENEE Charlie Shirt by nenee
Mr. Chaplin, I adore you!

4. War is Over T-shirt by vortextradingcompany
I have a serious love for John Lennon. I believe that the youth of today may be a bit different if he were still alive

5. Atticus Finch is my Co-Pilot T-shirt by inexplicableconfetti
My favorite book. Ever. No contest.

I'm thinking this may be a weekly thing... but I'm kind of bad at that... so let's just leave it at... the next I *Heart* Etsy post will be soon :) What item would you like to see me showcase?

Library Love!

The end of winter break... this is really a bummer. Well, kind of. Another week off would be stellar, but I do miss my kiddos and having a "weekday routine". Maybe if I can stay healthy (unlike last year when I had to get my tonsils out - pronto like) I can take a week off later this year.

It's almost the close of the second day of 2011 and.. I am really ashamed here... I haven't started a book yet! I had no clue what to choose... and I have a pretty large library pile right now to choose from.





As for what book I chose for the first read of 2011? You'll have to wait and see :) (unless, of course, you're my friend on GoodReads because I'm sure I'll update it on there in the nearish future).