The Kentucky Derby

This weekend was my first Kentucky Derby... and probably my last. It ended up being fun and was a big event on my "bucket list", and I LOVED seeing all of the different dresses and hats, but it was just WAY too crowded. I think in the future I would like to try The Oaks (the day before the actual Derby) or go one of the days earlier in the week when it's not AS busy, but still dressy!

Unfortunately I did not do any betting. I picked the horse who won it all based on name and colors the night before (I'll Have Another in purple and white) without having any idea what any of the stats were, but did not end up placing a bet because I didn't know how! Lauryn and I sat together and our dads took the other set of seats, so we spent most of the day playing fashion police rather than being too concerned with the actual racing.

Here are a few pictures from the day:

 

Outfit

Hat: Berkeley Hats

Dress: Torrid

Shoes: Target

 Dad and I 

 Lauryn and I

 Our dads becoming the best of friends over cigars

 Class acts!

 The craziest hat we saw all day

 One of my favorite hats. You can't really see the shape, but it was Mad-Hatter-esque!

 Mint Juleps, of course!

 Another favorite hat. I think I just liked anything pink...

This is when the winning horse (white/purple) made the dash to take on the lead right in front of us!

Overall I think I would prefer horse racing much better if I knew how to bet and could do so on a slightly cooler day. I'm sure I will be back for more races at Churchill Downs, if only to have an excuse to buy another hat!

Spring Time Floral

I made a stop by Target today and am so glad I did a quick peek at the clothing section because I ended up coming home with FOUR of the dresses. Isn't it always when you least expect it that you end up finding something you really love?

I had to get multiples of this first dress (I also bought the second pattern shown) because I LOVED it. It was very similar to another dress I have from Target that I have absolutely worn out. The fit is really flattering, so I felt justified buying three of them. Not to mention the fabric patterns were all so different that they practically look like different dresses as it is.

I bought this one, but I'm still thinking about it. I love the overall fit and the feather pattern on the dress, but it definitely accentuates your back side because of the gathering and I'm not sure my butt needs any more accentuation. Haha. We'll see, but I'm guessing I'll end up keeping it.

These next two are dresses that I tried on but didn't end up getting. The first one was just a bit too tight in the chest and the second is probably better for those of you who don't have much of a butt. I did love the details on both of them though. The back of the first one is SO cute and it's more of a turquoise color in person.

I skimmed through the Jason Wu collection and there were definitely some cute items embracing the spring florals, but nothing really stuck out at the fit of dress I was looking for. Have you bought any of the Jason Wu or current Mossimo dresses? I'm looking forward to giving my daily wear a little dose of spring!

Christmas Wish List

You know you're getting old when any given wishlist consists mostly of things for the kitchen. I'm really trying to think ahead here and stock up on things I don't have for when I have another apartment. I'll sneak some DVDs and music on the list so I'm not totally lame. If only that Lana Del Rey album was already out...

It Might Get Loud on DVD
(Amazon)

Documentary about the electric guitar from the viewpoints of The Edge, Jimmy Page, and Jack White

Immersion Blender
(Target)

Preferably with detachable end

Full Sized Coffee Maker with Custom Brew Strength
(Target)

4 Piece Glass Cylinder Canister Set
(Target)

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland
(Amazon)

Florence & The Machine- Ceremonials
(Amazon)

Christy Fringe Moccasin Slippers
(Target)
Chestnut, Size 9

Melio Frosted & Mirror Finish 20 Piece Flatware Set
(Target)

Set of Plain Black or White Dishes

Bridesmaids
(Amazon)

Mossimo Kloe Wedge Booties
(Target)
Black, Size 9? I guess I'll need to wander in and try these on

Wamsutta Down Alternative Comforter
(Bed Bath & Beyond)
Full/Queen

Binx Faux Fur Duvet Cover Set
(Bed Bath & Beyond)

Black, Full/Queen
(This might be a bad idea... I don't know that I'll ever get out of bed. But I think now that I've seen it I am going to have to have it one way or another. I'm sorry, savings account.)

(Most pictures linked to specific website)

Wow, that was a terrible idea. Every time I make a Christmas List I always find so many things that I never thought of and end up falling in love with them. (Cough... duvet cover, you will be mine.) Looks like my savings account might be taking a pretty big hit post Christmas with all this home shopping!

I also feel the need to disclose that I ridiculously contemplated registering for a "wedding" to myself at Target just to get some organized list of everything I'll need for a new apartment. I thought that might be taking advantage of the system though. That wedding I went to last weekend had me so excited about EVERYTHING on their list... and also a little sad that someone already bought them the waffle maker. Isn't it just so much more fun to buy presents for people that you would also love getting? Now I'm in the mood to start making my lists for what to buy everyone else!

What's on your Christmas list this year?

Self Control or Shoes

Remember that time I mentioned Target's awesome spring shoe collection, and the Mossimo knock-offs of the Dolce Vita Pela's that I have been dying to own for a year now? And then remember how I ended up going out and buying them before I even got around to getting the post out to you with birthday money that I technically had not even received yet? Well, here are those wonderful little (or not little at all) shoes put to work.

Outfit
Dress: Forever 21
Bracelets: Charlotte Russe
Clutch: Coach
(Compliments of Kelly's closet for the day)
Belt, Shoes: Target

And I'm not at all ashamed to say that I love them so much that I went out and bought a black pair today to wear for graduation... and every outfit this summer thereafter. It's a good thing they only had the two colors in the store, because chances are I might have come home with a nude pair on top of the other two. Self control and shoes are mutually exclusive in this brain.

(I will address the fact, for sake of full disclosure, that depending on where they hit on the back of your heels, that part can be a little uncomfortable. My solution is simple: leave them just a tiny bit unzipped at the top and this problem is eliminated!)

Spring Shoe Frenzy

You all know how much I love shoes. And you also probably know how much I love trying to pawn awesome shoes off on you guys when I can't afford to buy every single pair that I want. Target has a sale going on sandals right now, but aside from that they also are carrying the Dolce Vita for Target line AND have a really great knock off of the Dolce Vita Pela wedge. So let your mouth water on behalf of your feet (and my wallet), these are my picks right now:

Dolce Vita for Target: Cork Wedge Sandals
$29.99

(These remind me so much of one of my favorite pairs of flat sandals from Old Navy, and they come in A LOT of colors, including metallics!)

Dolce Vita for Target- Rope Wedge Sandals
$29.99

Mossimo Pilar Strappy Wedge Sandals $29.99

(These are the Dolce Vita Pela knockoffs, and I have been drooling over those for practically a year. Plus, I have it on good authority from Miss Joanie that they are super comfy! These also come in about a million colors: everything from neutrals to pink!)

Xhilaration Thierry Ruffle Flat Sandal (Floral)
$14.00

Mossimo Wauna Braided Flat Sandals
$14.00

(Also available in multiple colors!)

Ok. I have to be honest here. I started this post this afternoon and after my night class I had to run to Target to pick up a few things. I ended up coming home with the Pela knockoffs in Brown. My first choice was obviously black, but I have way too many black or black-friendly shoes as is, so I really wanted to do something different. I was interested in the Nude, but they didn't have those in store, and I really have been wanting some brown comfy but cute shoes for the summer. Joanie was not lying- they are SO comfortable. They're probably close to 4 inches tall and I don't feel like I'm wearing heels at all!

Do you have any Spring/Summer items you're drooling over right now or absolutely must have?

The Sparkly Belt

What can I say, I am a five year old child when it comes to anything sparkly/shiny, and this belt I came across at Target was no exception. It was $15, which as a poor college student is a little more than I would normally want to spend on a Target belt (Clearance is where it's at), but it was one of those things I saw and immediately had to have. I justified it by the fact that I have really been needing SOME kind of new belt, and I don't have any that are a gold-ish color. Whatever works to eliminate or at least reduce the buyer's remorse.

I should also let you know that I made this entire outfit around the fact that I wanted to wear this headband out. Again, I may or may not have multiple personalities, one of which is a five year old girl. These socks WERE one of the clearance finds... only $1.40!!!! It all evens out, right?

Outfit
Dress, Socks, Belt, Sidebag: Target
Boots: Steve Madden
Headband: Forever 21

See, it's already right at home!

Happy Spring Break for those of you who are on it! Kelly and I are Florida bound Monday afternoon. I'm sure that will result in all sorts of outfit posts and pictures to share!

Mothers' Day Outfit Post.

Well, ok, these pictures are from Saturday... but my dad had to leave Sunday morning to head back to Chicago so we did "Mothers' Day Dinner" on Saturday night. Although, technically I did another one with my mother on Sunday, so it's ok.

Here's one of the new Target dresses put to action with my recently new Old Navy wedges. I LOVED THIS OUTFIT. It was sooooo fun and flowy yet still comfortable!!! Don't know what was going on with my camera in the third picture. And sorry about the really lame "outfit picture" including the jean jacket. I wanted one of the final whole outfit, so I tried to make Kelly take it in the bathroom of the party we were at... and we didn't really have a whole lot to work with. Haha.





Also worth sharing is the fact that later in the night my best friend Steven spilled his drink on his shirt and so he just wore my jean jacket for the rest of the night. I couldn't NOT share a picture of THAT with you... Note that he's slouching in this picture, so for most of the night it was really more of a cropped look. Love my friends.

Target Time.

Finally went on that much-needed Target shopping spree with my lovely mother today, and I'd say it was a definite success. There were a few other things I liked, but I limited myself and ended up with the following:

Merona Shirred Bandeau One Piece. The website will tell you that this is red, but it's really more of a coral color. I REALLY wanted a strapless one piece that would be perfect for laying out, and LOVED this one. I'm also really glad it's got the attachable halter strap.

Xhiliration Twist Tie Dye Cover Up. This picture is actually kind of misleading, because the real thing is more tie dye and less striped looking, and definitely way better than this picture. I love cover-up type dresses for just running around the house on lazy summer days, and of course for actual cover ups.

Mossimo Knit/Woven Tank Dress. This is actually the same dress as the gray and coral dress I wore a few posts ago, but I LOVE the colors of it! Perfect summer sun dress.

And last, but certainly not least, the long awaited Mossimo Smocked Waist Dress. It says this is "Cosmo Pink", but it's actually more of an orange and fuschia print. I saw this dress up in Bloomington but waited to buy it, and I loved it so much I had to buy it in black. Lately I've really tried to avoid the whole "Buying one thing in multiple colors" situation because I used to do that way too much, but I honestly could not pass it up. It's SO comfy but also looks super cute and nice enough to wear to a semi-casual nice occasion, which I thought the black would be perfect for, especially when paired with heels.

(Joanie at JoanieBean recently posted about this same dress!)

So to say the least, I think my summer shopping is basically complete. I'm sure you'll be seeing these dresses put into full outfits in the near future. Have any of you had any good summer buys lately? I know my roommate, Kelly, has been coming home with all sorts of cute stuff from Charlotte Russe everytime she works!!!

Summer Brings Out the Virgin Mary!

Summer and sundresses always put me in the mood for bright colored jewelry... and out comes the Virgin Mary Necklace from the Cactus Flower! Usually paired with matching green and bright blue bracelets from Forever 21, and I threw in this creme bangle from India. Today was definitely a sundress day- temperatures almost hit 80. However it was not a good "Self-timer" day, and I had to settle for a mirror picture to get one of the dress, so sorry for the poor quality of THAT one. Lighting was just not working with me this morning in our apartment.




I finally got my digital scrapbook of India finished for my Creativity and Communications final project, and went and got it printed/put together this morning. So yay for being done with that. My Marketing Research final was tonight, and everone kept saying it was easy, so I didn't really study for it... and it was. Now just one more on Thursday, and it's summer!!! Plus, Cinco de Mayo in the meantime. One of my favorites :-)

Today Betsy and I ran to Target in search of some little over the shoulder side purses for going out... and I got this little metallic one, as well as a clearance belt, all for $17! Goooood day. I think I'll have to go back this weekend because they had some reallly cute dresses.