Big Girls Definitely Cry!

Ok, ya'll said before to just say it when everything seems to be rough... Here goes:

I am sick for the 3rd time {on top of the "usual" stuff} since Christmas! I have actually never been this kind of sick. It is SUPER lame! I won't traumatize you with an outfit post! Haha. Im wearing a lil white t and some cozy sweatpants. I look and probably smell like barf. Keepin' it sexy and classy over at Krystle'sStyle today, no?! Jealous? Didn't think so. :) Can you tell I'm slowly losing my mind? It's the Gatorade I'm sippin'. Heavy stuff.

Ok, so I got my whining out now! You know, I am still really blessed! I have such an amazing family and group of friends! And if anyone is reading this, some loyal followers as well! I mean, times like this when I get really down, I think about people who don't have family 10 minutes away. My best friend lives in Montreal with no family, and not many friends. If this had happened to her, she wouldn't have had the Gatorade delivery I just recieved from my handsome brother. See, folks, there's a smile in every situation!

Oh, and anyone having a fat/ugly/ihavenothingtowear/bloated/bad hair day? You don't look worse than me, TRUST!

Ok, back to sippin my 'rade!

Happy Monday!

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FBFF~ Photo Posting

This week's Fashion/Beauty Friend Friday post is about blogger technology:

1. What technology do you use in blogging? (computer, camera, video camera, tripod, etc...)
I use my camera {Sony Cyber-shot} and computer.

2. What computer and online technology do you use? (blogging system, photo storage, photo editing tools, etc..)
I use Blogger for my posts. When I upload my photos, they go to my Picasa Album and I edit them there, through Picnic.

3. What is your process for taking pictures?
Brace yourself. Ready?? You honestly aren't going to believe this!! So, I don't have a personal computer right now. Crazy, right?? It crashed and I will likely be purchasing a new one in the next two weeks. Right now posting is just nuts!! I live really close to work and work is even closer to my parents' house. I also have a really nice cell phone, so some posts, I post from that. Of course for outfit posts I cannot. So, I will take my photos and during my lunch at work {usually} I will upload my photos. When I have time I will edit them and post. Sometimes it's really crazy, like this week, since I was sick. I can't be driving all over just to get an outfit post in!!

4. When it comes to backdrops for your photos what do you consider? Do you scout locations or shoot the same spot daily?
Well, I am not quite bold enough with my backdrops. I haven't gotten to the point where I just go out and take my photos in public. It seems like a lot of you have husbands/partners who take your photos, and I don't, so I take my photos myself with a self-timer on my camera. Usually I take my photos before I upload them at my parents' house. I will go in the backyard or different areas indoors since the house is pretty big. I try to consider aesthetics as much as possible.

5. If you could splurge and get one new piece of equipment what would you be buying?
I will be buying a new laptop very soon! Probably in the next week or two. I have been shopping around!! This whole "no computer" thing is crazytown!!

{Katy over at ModlyChic is the founder of FBFF- Fashion/Beauty Friend Friday; visit her blog here}



Gotta love the kiddos!

Hey there fashionistas!!

Sorry for being MIA. I have just had a lot going on. Then I had a fab outfit post planned for today but I am currently laying in bed with a sick tummy! BumMER!! However, I have a sweetly refreshing story for ya'll:

A woman in my office told me this is what her 11 year old son announced when he woke up this morning, "Mom, I have so much going on today! First, it's 'Crazy Hair Day' at school, then I have a spelling test and a math test, AND I won a golden ticket, so I get to choose 2 friends to sit at the special table today! How do I decide who to pick? I'm going to be thinking about it all morning!"

Isn't that sweet? I love the innocence of children. Their enthusiasm and zest for life is so refreshing to me! I'm so glad I was able to get to work for an hour this morning, just to hear that story!

Have a wonderful day! I hope to be back to posting tomorrow!

~Krystle

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Weekend Snapshot

Wow, what a weekend!

Friday~

One of my dearest friends, "A" texted me when I was on my way to work, asking if I wanted to go to the beach for the weekend. She's going through an awful time right now, and needed to get away. I was stoked to get away with her. We've been close friends since the 7th grade!! Anyway, I left work a little early and raced home to pack my bags, picked up some treats, and headed over to meet A for our little road trip. We arrived at her beach home in the early evening. It sits less than a mile from the water, on a beautiful golf course. That night we drank wine, snacked, and just relaxed together. You know, there's nothing like ending the work week with a mini vacay with your best friend, full of laughs, tears and everything in between!

CHEERS!

Saturday~

self portrait

We woke up bright and early! We had a nice, chill morning eating a light breakfast and liesurely getting ready to go out for the day. A's grandpa lives in an assisted living facility near the beach house, so we went there for a short visit. Afterwards we went to Seaside, one of the more popular cities on the Oregon Coast. We took a long walk on the beach. It was a really beautiful day as you can see on the photos! Then we went to this arcade on the main "strip" in Seaside. It was so much fun! We are both really competetive, so we played skee-ball next to each other, comparing scores after each round. We also played this basketbal game where the hoop moves closer and further away while you're shooting. Again, we played competetively. I did really well at the basketball game. My dad would have been proud! We did a little browsing in the shops and I bought some new sunglasses for $7.00. Score! Then we did a little grocery shopping and went back to the house. We had an afternoon mimosa and relaxed the rest of the night. I was in a lot of pain and she was exhausted, so we were happy to enjoy some chocolate, each other and some trashy television!

i love her!

lil pose for the blog, of course!

~so beautiful~

Sunday~

don't wanna leave

Sadly, it was time to head home. We had a truly wonderful weekend together. I have been blessed with friends that have sincere, beautiful, compassionate hearts.  Like I said, A is a dear, dear friend and I was happy to be there to support her through this difficult time. We spent the morning cleaning the beach house and headed out in the early afternoon. We got back to Portland and spent some time with her family. I haven't seen them in awhile, so I enjoyed catching up with them a bit. Soon I went home to do laundry and get ready for the week. I also picked out most of my 30 pieces for 30x30!! I'm still undecided on if I'll do it or not, but I thought it would help me decide by getting started and coming up with some possible ideas.

All in all, it was just really great to get away and rest and spend some quality time with A!

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A Case of "The Mondays"

This will be short. I am trying to power through an awful workday. I am just in a lot of pain today. The good news is, work isn't too busy! I am going to try to work on my "About Me," after I post this! I took some photos on my lunch break, so I could get an outfit post in. As you can see, the goal today was comfort!! Weekend Snapshot post, tomorrow.

i wanted to show how the earrings match my sequins



in my dad's office with his blueprints!!


THE OUTFIT:
green leggings - AE
gray racer back tunic - Target
gray cardigan - Express
wedge boots - Nordstrom, by Jessica Simpson
earrings - AE

I often prefer leggings when I want to be comfortable. Also, tunics are great for bloating, or in my case, when I have a disposable heating pad {or two} sticking on my tummy! It usually hides it well!

What are your go-to pieces for comfort??

Happy Monday!

It's Friday!!

not sure what my hand is doing, but the point was to show the entire outfit :)

THE OUTFIT:

plaid shirt - Target

extended black tank -f21

lace tank - Target

black skinnny pants - Target

booties - Jessica Simpson Online

cocktail ring - Aldo Shoes

***********************************************************************

Hey beautiful readers!! I am leaving you with a fun outfit for the weekend! I am taking off on a spontaneous ladies' weekend with one of my best friends, so I am not sure I will be blogging. She's going through a rough time, so we are going to get away and relax. I will try to remember to take some photos!

About the outfit... obviously I am wearing my new Jessica Simpson booties, that I am totally in love with!! I meant to photograph this outfit in a pair of faded black skinny jeans I have, too. I am in this exact outfit at work, and when I leave I am putting the skinny jeans on. I thought it would be fun to post it both ways, since I am wearing it both ways. If I am not in too much of a hurry to leave for the trip I will take a few and post it later. Another note on this, is I have been looking for a plaid shirt for awhile. I have a small waist, but very long arms and broad{ish} shoulders, so it's been difficult to find a good fit. They either fit my body well and have short arms, or long arms and too big elsewhere. I was inspired to keep looking when I saw Charee Lenee's post the other day, and then yesterday I found the perfect one at Target!! Thanks, Charee!

Any fun plans for you all this weekend??

I would love to hear about them!

Have a fab weekend,

FBFF ~ Blogger Authenticity

Katy, over at ModlyChic, is the founder of FBFF, and emails us questions every week that we post our answers to on Fridays. This week's subject is:

Blogger Authenticity

 1. Most readers and fellow fashion bloggers value authenticity in the blogs they read. How would you describe blog/blogger authenticity?

To me, blogger authenticity is when I can feel who the blogger is through their posts. I like to read blogs that have a true voice behind their words. I don't think they always have to be witty, but they do surely have an extra kick that shows you who they are in their every day life, not just on their blog. Also, I enjoy blogs that have something original, for example, something that they do on certain days of the week, or outfits posts with a unique feature or quality.

2. When it comes to your blog how to you infuse it with that true/authentic feeling?

I think I am still learning how to do this. I have mentioned this before, but I definitely write how I talk. I don't worry about grammar as much as I would in other writing, because I want to show my true, passionate, sometimes dramatic self! *smile* I want my readers to really get a feel for who I am. But this question gives me an appropriate segue into an issue I have been pondering about mentioning on my blog. I have been battling chronic illness for over a year now. There are days {sometimes weeks} that I am in severe pain and cannot function in life the way a typical woman in her 20's can.The part of this I struggle with is, balancing between being honest about what's going on with me on "bad days" with not making my blog a pity party. I can't promise I will be perfect with that but I can promise I will be real. {My first time talking about it is here}More on this on #4.

3. Have you stopped following a blog in the last three months? What made you lose interest?

No, I have only been blogging for about three months!

4. We can't communicate effectively on our blogs, something we don't live in real life... what are some ways you try to live an authentic life?

My first priority in life has always been integrity. My aim is to always be the same person in the dark when no one is watching, as I am when all eyes are on me. Integrity is something I truly value in myself and in others. This is why I seek to be transparent in my blog and why I have struggled with the illness situation. I don't feel right posting something that sounds enthusiastic when I'm actually laying in bed with my heating pad feeling miserable. For now I have been just choosing not to post when I don't feel well, or to just not mention it at all, but I think at times, I may just say how I feel. I can't promise that I will always post what others agree with, but I can promise I will always be true and I hope it shows.

5. Give a shout-out... Which bloggers do you think are truly genuine and why?

SkinnyRunner - She is probably my favorite blog! I love her sense of humor. I also enjoy that she is completely transparent. She writes about her faith openly, but without being pushy or judgemental of others. She also seems to always be trying to interact with her readers by posting frequent Q/A posts. I really like her silly photos of herself! They make me laugh!!

AHastyLife - Ashely, from a Hasty Life, has some unique ways of doing outfit posts, which I really enjoy. I also appreciate that she has posted openly about her chronic illness. She has been open and honest but not asking for pity. She has been really supportive of me as well. Thanks, Ashley!!

ChareeLenee - Charee is new to fashion blogging, just like me!! I like her style and have had fun supporting each other back and forth with comments and tweets and everything! It will be fun to see how both our blogs evolve over time.

PolkaDot - Jill has been a major support for me "behind the scenes." She has sort of taken me under her wing early on, helping me with my layout and just providing encouraging words. Thanks, Jill!!

Paper Packages Tied Up with Strings - Check out her blog!! As a fashion blogger she has a different style... her blog is "newer" as well, and she's another person I have had fun sharing support with!

{Katy, at ModlyChic, is the founder of FBFF- Fashion/Beauty Friend Friday; visit her blog here}

What blogs do you favor authenticity in??

The Repeat!!

Ok, funny thing about this post is, after my lunch time photo shoot, I came in to post and I ended up with this ONE usable photo!! Of course this happens when I shoot one of my favorite outfits!! Go figure. I wore this exact same outfit to work about two weeks ago, and probably again four weeks before that, and maybe over a weekend or two... you get the point - I like this look! Maybe it's the tunic- I love this thing!! I have had it for about 2 years now, and I wish I had it in more colors and perhaps, patterned. It's perfect with leggings or skinny jeans, and great for a bloated day!

I guess this tells me how to shop for more favorites!! I need more tunics like this! Some with patterns and bright colors!! Coral, perhaps??

THE OUTFIT:

black tunic - Nordstrom Rack

green lace cami - ON

green leggings - AE

boots - Nordstrom by, Jessica Simpson
flower cocktail ring - Target

Oh, have you noticed?? I am doing really well with my hair goal!! No more lazy mornings for me!

Do you have any favorite combinations you like to repeat??
If you could wear one outfit weekly what would it be?
HOLLA BACK!

I hope you're all having a fabulous Wednesday!

From Down Under!

Hey gorgeous readers!!

So this outfit is a fun one! My dad played in the World Masters' Games in Australia this past year, and he bought me this shirt at an art gallery or something! Doesn't he have fab taste?! I was pleasantly surprised! This top definitely beats some lame cotton t-shirt with a logo on the back!

Also, you may notice the link in my sidebar for Tobi.com., an online boutique. They are sponsoring my site. Basically, if you visit their site through my blog and order something using the promo code, "KRYSTLE20" to get a whoppin' 20% off, I get a very small percentage of the sale. Totally a win-win situation for all, ya?? I don't want to promote anything that I wouldn't use myself, so later this week I am going to order some clothes from them and I will give you all a review of the process. Stay tuned. Oh, and you should browse it a bit... they have some nice stuff!!

THE OUTFIT:

black skinny pants - Target

gray cami - ON

top - gift

black stilettos - Macy's by Jessica Simpson

cocktail ring - Aldo Shoes



**Edited to add... being my vain self I looked over this post and noticed the yucky camel toe! EWW!! Wanna know why?? I purchased the pants a size bigger because they were the last pair and so cheap!! I guess you can't win 'em all, can you??!

Brand Names or Cheapo??

Today I want to talk about shopping!! Yessss!! We all love a good shopping trip! But more specifically, sales and brand preferences. How often do you shop sales? Honestly, as I have mentioned before, I haven't been much of a bargain shopper in the past. However, it seems in the past year I have gotten way more into shopping sales! It's a little bit fun, even. Who doesn't like to buy a few great additions to your wardrobe for half {or more} the regular price??! I am still unable to brave stores like Ross and Marshall's. I just really don't have the patience. However, cheap tops on the sale racks just about anywhere else are where it's at!! I am a Target lover! Who doesn't like Target?! Seriously, if you don't, I want to hear about it!! Anyway, I rarely would shop there for clothes, but I hit up the sale racks the other day and came out with some black skinny pants {I loathe the word, "jeggings"- ew} for about $10.00 and a really cute tank/tunic for about $5.00. Last week I scored a couple tops from Old Navy for about $3-$8 each. And, as if that wasn't enough, I bought two cardigans on sale from Express at $14.99 each. SCORE!! I don't mind buying cheaper tanks and other basic tops. What I don't ever buy cheapo brands of, are jeans and shoes. Of course I jump at the chance of a good deal on either, but cheapo brands? I just say no. I like the high quality stuff on those items.

What about you?? What do you prefer to splurge on?

Do you go cheapo on anything??



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Golden Globe Red Carpet ~ 2011

Let's Recap, shall we??

I decided to show you my BEST and of course, WORST dressed from last night... let me know what you think!

MY BEST~



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 Eva Longoria in Zac Posen, Sergio Rossi clutch. This brunette beauty always looks amazing!! Last night was no exception. She is so classy.

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Carrie Underwood in Badgley Mischka Couture, Swarovski clutch I think she looks exquisite. My favorite part of this look is the shimmer and sparkle in this gown. It's so feminine.


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Scarlett Johansson in Elie Saab.

Another uber feminine look.

Very delicate and I really like the sleeves.

Anne Hathaway in Armani Prive, go ahead, honey! You look AMAZE!!

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Jane Krakowski in Badgley Mischka. This pregnant beauty chose a dress that flattered her shape nicely. My favorite parts of this look are the shoulder and the color. Beautiful color! 

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Natalie Portman in Victor & Rolf, Stella McCartney shoes, Dior Clutch. I have heard mixed reviews on her look, but I think she was stunning. Again, a flattering look for the preggo belly. Normally I wouldn't be into the flower detail, but she's pulling it off in my opinion!

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Halle Berry in Nina Ricci. Rock it, honey!! Halle can do no wrong in my eyes!! Not many women could pull off this dress, but she is looking hot and classy in this lil number! Keep it up, girl!

MY WORST ~

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Michelle Williams in Valentino. This dress is TERRIBLE!! I saw her come up on the screen last night while I was on the phone, and I gasped mid sentence!! I think this floral gown is awful and tacky!

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Helena Bonham-Carter in Vivienne Westwood. Do I have to say anything?? I mean, she's just an eccentric kind of gal, but two different colored shoes?? The whole look is just bad!!

Heidi Klum in Marc Jacobs. this one is more a matter of taste. The dress isn't terrible, but it's not great either. I also just don't think it's formal enough for the Golden Globes.

A few others to note:

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Megan Fox in Giorgio Armani Prive. I think the dress is beautiful. Especially the glittery detail. However, I think she's lost too much weight. She's a beautiful woman and when I saw her presenting, I was a little stunned at how thin she is. Not a good look. She was hot back in the Transformers days... what do you think??

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Claire Danes in Calvin Klein. Her gown is fine. I want to note that her hair color is fabulous, and she is looking great in general!!

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Christina Aguilera in Murad. She was bashed on Twitter last night... obviously she's gained some weight, but I think she looks pretty and I love her gown.

Well, folks, that's all I have for now!

What did you think?? Favs?? Worst??

Holla back!

I can't wait to see what Fashion Police has to say!!

Keepin' it real...




Me, Copyright Brian Stevenson Photography


Well, today's post is a little more serious. My "About Me" section mentions that I'm battling a chronic illness. I do not intend to go into too much detail on it at this at this point, just because it's not the purpose of my blog. If it feels appropriate/relevant I may in the future. Who knows. Anyway, without too much complaining or making you feel like you just walked into a KrystlesStyle pity party, I will say that the past couple of weeks have been intense and increasingly difficult for me mentally, emotionally and physically. As I've been in a lot of pain I have been quite sedentary and became really depressed as a result. Before about 18 months ago I had always been active. I used to be a runner, loved strength training, fitness classes, and just a fitness and nutrition {and dark chocolate} junkie! I grew up that way. My mom was a runner and my dad played pro basketball. Physical activity was just the norm in our household, and still is in my family. Fast forward to lately and I've just been barely functioning, so working out isn't something I've made a priority. Well this week I've been thinking about how something has to change! I was really starting to feel bad about myself. Although I can't run like I used to, I've still found my own ways to be active up until recently... I would stretch at the very least every day and lately haven't even done much of that. This morning, still feeling low, still in pain, I pushed myself! I did a Yoga Meltdown dvd with Jillian Michaels. It felt sooo good to break a major sweat, challenge my body and know it would bring my spirits up, and guess what? IT TOTALLY DID!! After my workout I did my normal weekly cleaning of my apartment, showered, painted my nails, ate some lunch and now I am relaxing with a smile on my face!! I love post-workout highs! Don't you??! Do you ever notice that no matter what you weigh or look like, when you don't workout for awhile it affects your body image negatively? Or for some women maybe this happens when you haven't been eating balanced? For me that stuff is so mental. Being physically fit and taking care of my body is so important to me, and when I'm not pushing myself it really has negative affects on me mentally, physically and emotionally. I love my body and I think I'm at a good, solid weight, but I also like to be actively working out... you get the point!

Anyway, I worked my body hard {but not too hard} and now I need to take it easy this afternoon. It's so much easier for me to relax completely when I know I've done my body good!

See below & HOLLA BACK!!

Do you work out regularly? What activity(ies) do you enjoy to stay in shape? If so, how does it affect you when you get off track? How do you get yourself back in the game?

If you are inactive, why??

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FBFF ~ What shall I wear???

Happy FRIDAY, everyone!! It's that time again for...

Fashion/Beauty Friend Friday!
What to Wear??

1. How do you determine what you will wear that day?



I often lay out my clothes the night before. Sometimes I lay out an entire outfit, and sometimes it's just one specific piece that I know I want to wear and I will put the look together in the morning. There are weeks I am in a different kind of "style mood," and each day I lay something out, I am not really feeling it in the morning, and I choose a completely different outfit! It's so funny how I cycle with the way I choose my outfits from day to day. 

2. Do you plan outfits out in advance for a whole week, month, weekend?

If I plan an outfit in advance, it's only by a day or so. When I was in  high school I went through this phase where I would plan my outfits for the week on Sunday afternoon; all the way down to socks and underwear, and I kept track of it all in a special notebook! It was crazy! I guess I have always been into fashion and clothes. These days if an outfit is planned more than a day in advance it's only because there's a specific event I am planning for and I may have purchased a piece or entire outfit around that event.

3. Do you have any specific way of tracking outfits and items already worn so you don't repeat?

Not really. I know in my head what I have worn. Also, there are certain pieces {usually pants or shoes} that I wear more than once in a week sometimes, but I definitely remix the outfits around them so it's not really so obvious. This tip is from Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashian- in the book, Kardashian Konfidential; "Go through your closet and pull together outfits by figuring out which pieces you're going to put together. Bring all pieces out of the closet and hang them together somewhere so you can see them clearly. Add belts and jewelry and other accessories. Put the shoes you'll wear with the outfit beneath it. Now take a picture of the outfit, and upload it into a folder on your computer marked either "Day" or "Night." Viola! When you're totally in a rush, all you have to do is go to your computer, refer to your folders, choose an outfit, and you're out the door in a flash. After you've worn the outfit, you can delete the picture if you want and go make some new outfits from the pieces.
 I thought this was a cool idea and I may try it in the coming months... possibly when I FINALLY commit to 30 for 30. :)

4. How do you discover new combinations of items in your closet? (Trial try-ons?  Hanging items together?)

Hm... discovering new combinations?? Well, I am often inspired by something I have seen on television, online, or in a magazine or blog. From there I will try things on together. Some evenings when I am bored or frustrated with my wardrobe, I will just start pulling pieces from my closet and creating all sorts of new looks. It's totally an adult version of playing dress up. Does anyone else have times where you wake up in the morning and even though you're staring at a closet full of clothes, you can't seem to find anything to wear?? I have those days sometimes and I think to myself, "just yesterday I had like 10 outfits I couldn't decide between, and how can I be looking at the exact same closet today and not be able to find ONE outfit!!??"

5. To streamline the process for 2011 what is one new thing you can do to cut down your dressing time?

Well, I am going to give a different spin on this answer. I LOVE to sleep!! Love it. So in the morning I have gotten in the habit of overusing the SNOOZE button as many times as I can, and leaving far too little time for myself to dress and groom as well as I prefer to. I would say in 2011, a top goal of mine {hence this post} is to really take more time to dress and prepare for the day in the morning. I find that when I am rushed and run out in whatever outfit I managed to throw together in 30 seconds, with a pony tail and a little mascara and lip gloss {if I'm lucky} I don't feel as good about myself. I feel so much better, in general, when I have taken the time to do my hair and make up and really get put together properly.

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{ModlyChic is the founder of FBFF- Fashion/Beauty Friend Friday; visit her blog here}

Oh, and P.S. you're not getting an outfit post today... I did stick with the hair challenge {here} but I didn't sleep much last night, and I am not feeling well... basically I can't feel good about posting photos of myself when I look like a sleepy, bloated troll!!

Toodles!!

Copito {Bootie} Debut

Well, today is the day of my new booties' debut!! I have to be honest, I was imagining introducing these on a day where I felt fearlessly confident - like the world is my runway. Unfortunately today just isn't that day...

4.5 inch heels!!

sooo serious!!

i thought this one showed my accessories well

 Getting my photos seemed to take forever, as the camera wasn't loving me. It took way too long to get a few acceptable shots. And now looking at my photos, I think my outfit needs something. I was going for a sleek look, but it doesn't look quite right... any thoughts?? Is something missing or am I just having PMS a woman day??

What do you think?? 

THE LOOK: $$$

black leggings - AE

black extended tank - f21

gray cardigan - Express

necklace - Express???

booties [Copito]- by Jessica Simpson {shop - they went on sale after I bought them!!} 

cocktail ring - Aldo Shoes