SLEEPLESS NIGHTS

ONE OF MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS IS GETTING NEW PAJAMAS EVERY CHRISTMAS EVE. I CHEATED AND WORE MINE A BIT EARLY THIS YEAR SO I COULD SHARE THESE FUN PICS WITH YOU GUYS IN TIME FOR THE FESTIVITIES. DURING MY PAJAMA PARTY I EXCHANGED CHRISTMAS GIFTS, ENJOYED MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY WINE (7 DEADLY ZINS), DANCED TO ALL OF MY FAVORITE SONGS (WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO BE ANNOUNCED ON MUSIC MONDAY), AND LAUGHED UNTIL I CRIED!

PAJAMA SET : J CREW

RAD T-SHIRT : EXPRESS

POLKA DOT SOCKS: FRESH BOUTIQUE // SLC, UT

HOLIDAY PILLOWS: 
IVORY LAMB FUR: CRATE AND BARELL
BEADED SPARKLE PILLOW: CRATE AND BARELL (SOLD OUT)

PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE  SHANNON ELIZABETH 

JOHN MAYER

I'M GOING TO BE HONEST HERE. WHEN I HEARD JOHN MAYER FOR THE FIRST TIME, I WASN'T A FAN. "YOUR BODY IS A WONDERLAND" JUST WASN'T MY JAM. I'D PRETTY MUCH WRITTEN HIM OFF UNTIL HIS 2008 HIT, "SLOW DANCING IN A BURNING ROOM". AT THE TIME I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ON- AGAIN OFF- AGAIN RELATIONSHIP. I'M GUESSING WE WERE GOING THROUGH AN OFF -TIME BECAUSE THAT SONG BECAME A VERY THERAPEUTIC SONG FOR ME, THAT WOULD SOON BE PLAYED ON REPEAT 1,000 TIMES. *SIDE NOTE: THERE COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE A MORE APPROPRIATE POST- BREAKUP ALBUM THAN "CONTINUUM" . SERIOUS THANKS TO WHOEVER BROKE JOHN MAYERS HEART.. WE ALL GOT A REALLY GREAT ALBUM OUT OF IT.

FOLLOWING "CONTINUUM" (2006), JOHN HAD DRAWN ME BACK INTO HIS ROMANTICALLY TWISTED WORLD, YET AGAIN, WHEN HE RELEASED HIS FOURTH STUDIO ALBUM "BATTLE STUDIES" IN 2009. THIS ALBUM EARNED THE NUMBER ONE SPOT ON THE BILLBOARD 200. THIS WAS WHEN I QUICKLY JUMPED FROM FAN, TO MEGA -FAN STATUS.

FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, JOHN GAVE HIS VOCAL CHORDS (AND REPUTATION) A REST WHILE HIDING OUT IN HIS SECLUDED MONTANA HOME. DURING THIS TIME, HE WROTE HIS LATEST ALBUM "PARADISE VALLEY" (2013). MUSICALLY, IT'S SIMILAR TO HIS PREVIOUS ALBUM "BORN AND RAISED"(2012). BOTH HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT FEEL THAN ALL HIS ALBUMS PRIOR.

 FOR ME,  "CONTINUUM" STILL REMAINS THE FAVORITE ALBUM, ALWAYS THERE WHEN I NEED TO  BLUR OUT THE WORLD AROUND ME. EVERYTHING ABOUT HIS MUSIC HAS THE ABILITY TO CALM MY ANXIOUS MIND. 

TOP 5 FAVORITE JM SONGS:

1. GRAVITY
2. IN YOUR ATMOSPHERE (LIVE)
3. EDGE OF DESIRE
4. SLOW DANCING IN A BURNING ROOM
5. ASSASSIN

LISTEN ON AND ENJOY!

LETS GET GLAM

HERE ARE MY MAKEUP AND OUTFIT  DETAILS FROM OUR H2BLOW / HOLIDAY GLAM LOOK! IT WAS SO MUCH FUN TO WEAR A DIFFERENT HAIR/MAKEUP STYLE THAN USUAL. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS SUCH A GREAT LOOK TO ROCK, ESPECIALLY FOR THE HOLIDAYS! 

XOXO

MAKEUP I USED FOR THIS SHOOT:

RED LIPSTICK : TESORO BY STILA

CHEEK BRONZER: LAGUNA BY NARS

GEL EYELINER: BLACK INK BOBI BROWN

CHEEK AND INNER EYE HIGHLIGHTER : NYLON BY M.A.C

EYESHADOW USED THROUGHOUT WAS A COMBINATION OF : WOODWINKED BY M.A.C. , SADDLE BY M.A.C

OUTFIT DETAILS:

BLAZER/CAPE : ELLIATT // THRIFTED AND MODERN

BLACK SHIRT: AUDREY// PURCHASED FROM LOLABELLA FASHION PLACE

SILK DROP CROTCH TROUSERS : ELIZABETH AND JAMES // SIMILAR AVAILABLE AT NORDSTROM AND 40% OFF!

OXBLOOD CUTOUT PUMPS: STEVE MADDEN // ZAPPOS AND ON SALE! 

JEWEL EARRINGS: NAME DROPPERS SLC

PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE BEAUTIFUL SHANNON ELIZABETH

THAT 70'S STYLE

WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS AND IT STARTS GETTING COLD OUTSIDE, I LOVE HAVING THE OPTION TO WRAP MYSELF IN A LITTLE BIT OF FUR....

FOR THIS SPECIFIC LOOK I FELT LIKE TAKING A MORE VINTAGE APPROACH. KIND OF LIKE 70'S MEETS THE WILD WEST. HA! BUT REALLY..

IF I'M GOING WITH A FAUX FUR , I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE TAKING A TRENDY APPROACH. (BOLDER COLORS AND PRINTS) . IF I'M SPLURGING ON REAL FUR, I'M GOING TO OPT FOR MORE OF A CLASSIC STYLE SINCE ITS SUCH A PRECIOUS INVESTMENT PIECE. 

FUR COAT: NORDSTROM (OLDER)  //  CURRENTLY LOVING THIS ONE FROM ASOS

BUTTONDOWN: ZARA ( SOLD OUT) // BUT FOUND ONE AT NASTY GAL THATS PRETTY MUCH THE EXACT SAME! 

ROUCHED SKINNIES: JOE'S JEANS // PURCHASED FROM LOLABELLA FASHION PLACE 

WEDGES:  VINCE CAMUTO (OLDER) // SIMILAR STYLE, AND CHEAPER HERE !

PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE LOVELY SHANNON ELIZABETH !!

NOT YOUR GRANDMOTHERS QUILT

THIS FALL IT SEEMS WE CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THE TIMELESSLY-CHIC, QUILTED DESIGN. IT ADDS THAT DEFINITE "COOL FACTOR" YOUR LOOKING FOR TO ANY OUTFIT YOU PAIR IT WITH. I HAVE NO DOUBT WE WILL CONTINUE TO ROCK THIS LOOK FOR DECADES TO COME, AND IT'S ALL THANKS TO ONE LADY...

LETS TAKE A TRIP BACK TO THE YEAR 1955 WHEN QUILTED LEATHER WAS MADE FAMOUS BY THE MATRIARCH OF FASHION, MISS COCO CHANEL. SHE BROUGHT US CHANEL 2.55, THE ICONIC QUILTED FLAP BAG NAMED AFTER THE YEAR IT WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED. WE'RE ALL WELL ACQUAINTED WITH THE IMAGE OF THE LEATHER, CHAIN LINK STRAPS, AND THE INTERLOCKING C'S. THIS CHANEL HANDBAG HAS WITHSTOOD MANY DECADES OF FASHION TRENDS AND HAS BECOME ONE OF THE ORIGINAL "IT BAGS". TO THIS DAY IT REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST COVETED ITEMS AROUND. 

IN THE PHOTOS BELOW I DEMONSTRATE HOW I WILL TEMPORARILY SATISFY MY QUILTED CRAVING, UNTIL I CAN GET MY HANDS ON MY VERY OWN 2.55 :)

OH AND ONE MORE THING.. VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO THE GUY THAT LET ME BORROW HIS GOLF CART FOR MY SELF IMPOSED PHOTO OP! HAHA

QUILTED TWO TONE JACKET: H&M // CURRENTLY ONLY IN STORES

QUILTED WAX SKINNIES: G-STAR // PURCHASED FROM BASTILLE GATEWAY

OPEN SHOULDER T: LEITH // NORDSTROM // SIMILAR HERE

FLATS: NORDSTROM // SIMILAR HERE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE ALWAYS AMAZING SHANNON ELIZABETH

THE CIVIL WARS

THIS AMAZINGLY TALENTED FOLK/COUNTRY DUO FIRST GOT MY ATTENTION IN 2011 WITH THEIR SINGLE  "BARTON HOLLOW".  THAT SAME YEAR THEY MADE THE WISE DECISION OF COLLABORATING  WITH TAYLOR SWIFT, CREATING THE THEME SONG FOR THE HUNGER GAMES, "SAFE AND SOUND". IT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED-AND FOR GOOD REASON. THEIR LATEST SINGLE "DUST TO DUST", OFF OF THEIR SELF TITLED ALBUM "THE CIVIL WARS", IS THE SONG THAT HAS COMPLETELY STOLEN MY HEART.

MY TOP PICS FROM THE ALBUM ...

• DUST TO DUST
• EAVESDROP
• DISARM
• THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY 

IF YOU WANT THE INSIDE SCOOP ON THE DUO JUST LISTEN TO THE ALBUM. IT SEEMS THEY COULDN'T HAVE PICKED A MORE FITTING NAME FOR THEIR BAND. :/ 

RIHANNA

THIS BAD B*TCH NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION. I DOUBT THERE'S A PERSON IN THIS WORLD WHO HASN'T HEARD OF MISS ROBYN RIHANNA FENTY.

 SHE PRETTY MUCH HOLDS A CONTINUOUS SPOT ON ITUNES TOP 10 , BILLBOARD TOP 100, AND EVERY PLAYLIST EVER MADE SINCE 2005. SHE'S SOLD MORE DIGITAL COPIES THAN ANY OTHER ARTIST IN HISTORY, WHICH MAKES PERFECT SENSE SINCE IT SEEMS AS IF EVERY SONG SHE RELEASES GOES STRAIGHT TO #1. 

WHAT'S EVEN MORE APPEALING ABOUT THIS ICON IS THAT SHE MAKES ZERO APOLOGIES FOR HER BADGALRIRI BEHAVIOR. AND WHY SHOULD SHE? 

IN 2012, TIME NAMED RIHANNA ONE OF THE 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. ON NOVEMBER 24TH, 2013 RIHANNA WAS PRESENTED WITH THE FIRST EVER AMERICAN MUSIC "ICON" AWARD. 

AS IF HER WIDE RANGE OF MUSICAL TALENTS WEREN'T ENOUGH, SHE CAN ALSO CROSS BECOMING A FASHION ICON OFF HER CHECKLIST. SHE'S CONSTANTLY SURPRISING HER FANS AND THE MEDIA WITH NEW INNOVATIONS OF HER STYLE AMD IMAGE. 

THE LIST GOES ON AND ON, AND I HAVE NO DOUBT IT WILL CONTINUE FOR MANY MORE YEARS TO COME.  AT LEAST I HOPE SO, AS SHE IS ONE OF MY TOP 5 FAVORITE ARTIST'S EVER!

FAVORITE RIHANNA ALBUM? RATED R

TOP 15 FAVORITE RIHANNA SONGS? CHOOSING ANY LESS THAN THAT IS LITERALLY NOT POSSIBLE. 

1. SKIN
2. ROC ME OUT
3. STAY (FEAT. MIKKY EKKO)
4. RED LIPSTICK
5. G4L
6. WHAT NOW
7. HARD (FEAT. JEEZY)
8. DRUNK ON LOVE
9. ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD)
10. HALF OF ME
11. LOVE WITHOUT TRAGEDY/ MOTHER MARY
12. FIRE BOMB
13. TALK THAT TALK (FEAT. JAY-Z)
14. LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE (FEAT. EMINEM)
15. REHAB

LISTEN TO RIHANNA AND MAKE YOUR MONDAY THAT MUCH BETTER! XO-H

SHIFTING GEARS

AS WE HEAD INTO COLDER WEATHER, I'M TRANSITIONING SOME OF MY FAVORITE SUMMER PIECES TO MAKE THEM A BIT MORE SEASONALLY APPROPRIATE. HERE ARE A COUPLE OF SUPER EASY STEPS I TAKE TO WINTERIZE MY WARDROBE :

STEP 1: ADD TIGHTS. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHEATHER YOU PREFER SHEER OR OPAQUE, JUST COVER UP THOSE WINTERY WHITE STEMS :)

STEP 2: LAYERING!! I PERSONALLY LOVE MY FALL/WINTER WARDROBE MUCH MORE THAN MY SUMMER WARDROBE BECAUSE I HAVE SO MANY MORE OPTIONS TO LAYER AND PLAY AROUND WITH. THROWING ON A JACKET, SCARF, BEANIE, ETC.. CAN CHANGE THE ENTIRE OUTFIT AND MAKE IT MUCH MORE ALLURING. 

SIDE NOTE: WE ALL HAVE OUR CERTAIN GO-TO COLORS THAT MAKE US LOOK AND FEEL AMAZNG. KNOWING WHAT COLORS LOOK BEST ON YOU WILL MAKE LIFE SO MUCH EASIER. JUST MAKE SURE TO ASK YOURSELF IF THOSE COLORS ARE SEASONALLY APPROPRIATE. EXAMPLE: YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO WEAR HOT PINK OR BRIGHT YELLOW IN THE DEAD OF WINTER.  

*ACCEPTION BEING MIAMI. IF YOUR VACATIONING OR LIVING IN MIAMI, FEEL FREE TO WEAR WHATEVER STRIKES YOU FANCY. I LEARNED THIS AFTER VACATIONING THERE LAST FEBRUARY. A NEON STRING BIKINI HAPPENS TO BE PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE DINNER ATTIRE. 

EMBELLISHED SHIFT DRESS: FREE PEOPLE

GOLD HARDWARE BOOTIES: JEFFREY CAMPBELL // NORDSTROM

OMBRE COAT: BB DAKOTA // NASTY GAL // PURCHASED FROM FLIGHT BOUTIQUE IN PARK CITY, UTAH.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE LOVELY SHANNON ELIZABETH 

XOXO

CURRENTLY TRENDING: SOCKS WITH HEELS

I'M FEELING REAL GOOD ABOUT THIS WHOLE SOCK AND HEEL/ BOOT CRAZE THAT WE'RE SEEING LOT'S OF THIS SEASON.

FROM THE RUNWAY TO THE STREETS, THIS TREND IS BACK IN FULL STRIDE. 

BELOW I'M SHOWCASING J.CREW'S VERSION OF THIS TREND. THEY'VE ADDED AN UNEXPECTED TWIST TO THE BASIC TROUSER SOCK BY ADDING WORDY INSCRIPTIONS SUCH AS "XOXO" AND "LOVELY". 

WHATS NOT TO LOVE?

FADE AWAY PLAID SHIRTDRESS: URBAN OUTFITTERS

XOXO SOCKS: PURCHASED FROM J.CREW FASHION PLACE // NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE, BUT HERES ANOTHER PAIR I LOVED...  WORDY TROUSER SOCKS 

RIBBED MOTO JACKET: SIMILAR JACKET THATS EQUALLY AMAZING HERE !

BOOTIES: DOLCE VITA // URBAN OUTFITTERS 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEPHANIE WEST FROM BLACKBIRD PHOTOGRAPHY

PENDLETON // SEATTLE

ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I WAS EXPLORING THE STREETS OF SEATTLE WITH MY HUSBAND WHEN HE INTRODUCED ME TO AN AMAZING NEW STORE...( WELL NEW TO ME ) ...PENDLETON!! USUALLY IM THE ONE DRAGGING HIM IN AND OUT OF AS MANY STORES AS I CAN POSSIBLY GET AWAY WITH , BUT TODAY IT WAS HIS TURN...

THE WOMENS CLOTHING AT PENDLETON ISN'T EXACTLY MY FASHION, BUT THE HOME SECTION IS A DIFFERENT STORY! IT'S BEEN OVER A MONTH AND I'M STILL OBSESSING OVER THEIR NATIVE AMERICAN INSPIRED  BLANKETS, LUSH OVERSIZED TOWELS,  AND 100% VIRGIN WOOL ACCESSORIES; JUST LIKE MY CLUTCH BELOW! ALL REALLY AMAZING QUALITY AND I LOVE THE UNIQUE -YET- TRADITIONAL DESIGN.

COLOR BLOCKED TRACK JACKET: FREE PEOPLE

TRIBAL DISTRESSED MUSCLE T: CHASER // REVOLVE // IT'S CURRENTLY ON SALE!

JEANS: G-STAR 

WOOL CLUTCH: PENDLETON // MANY SIMILAR ACCESSORIES HERE

ANKLE BOOTIES: FREE PEOPLE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEPH WEST FROM BLACKBIRD PHOTOGRAPHY