Hello, October!

Can you believe its October 1st already!?! Me either! BUT I welcome it with open arms.

It's the start of the most fabulous time of year, where the weather is a cooler, your hair stays put a little better, you can add layers upon layers and of course.... wear SCARVES & BOOTS! Oh and let's not forget to mention there is pumpkin EVERYTHING!!! Here's a little humor for ya.... 

There is no escape. Behold the seasonal flavor/terror in Pumpkin Spice: Official Movie Trailer.

With a nickname like "Pumpkin" --given to me because of my love for everything pumpkin-- I found the trailer to be hilarious yet scarily on point! 

And even though the high is supposed to be around 90 today in sunny Florida, I had to celebrate my excitement for my favorite month -which includes our anniversary:} - with my favorite scarf and a piece of pumpkin cream pie!! Yummmm!

So as October officially starts (Rabbits!), here's to cold weather, scarves, boots, comfy sweaters and everything wonderful in the world of Fall! 

XO 

Links à la Mode: “But if fashion were easy, wouldn’t everybody look great?” ~Tim Gunn

"But if fashion were easy, wouldn't everybody look great?" ~Tim Gunn

I usually open with a title for Links à la Mode.. but this week, it's a quote found in one of our links. Tim Gunn did say it best, if fashion were EASY, everyone would look great! But alas it's not. It's tricky, specific, fickle, and highly personal. We all spend our entire lives getting dressed, but how many truly have style? This week we have a mix of the things you need to find your own personal way to fashion. So grab your cuppa and read these links!

Links à la Mode: The IFB Weekly Roundup

• A la Modest: Chelsea Boots: From Victorians to Mods to You
• Al-Balsam Life: Tim Gunn's 60th Birthday: His Memorable Quotes
• Arash Mazinani: Are you searching for a style magic pill?
• Beauty and Sass: marc the many moments
• Burgundy Whispers: Best Fictional Boyfriends
• Catching Flight: eBay Finds 6 eBay Shopping Tips
• Dresss:Code: Wearable Avantgarde: Salvatore Ferragamo F/W 13/14
• Fashion is Evolution: 3.How to DIY tie-dyed distressed cutoffs
• Healthy Fashionista: Healthyfashionista's Guide To Naturally Perfect Skin
• Inexpensive Chic: Pantone's Fall Colors '13
• Inspirations & Celebrations: The Best White Jeans For Your Body Type - Style Guide
• Little J Style: Do's and Don'ts for Clear Skin!
• My Style Vita: Accounting 101 for Bloggers
• Rose & Pine: Do You Have The Time?
• Stilettos & Tequila: How To Haggle Like A Pro In 11 Easy Steps
• Style Bizzare: How to Find Your Personal Crystal
• Style for the Seasons: 10 Essential Items for an Overnight Work Trip
• Style Vanity: Mixing Prints Guide For Men
• Tickle Me Chic: Who's to blame?
• Wild Beauty: Wild Beauty Places: Bite Beauty Lip Lab

  SPONSOR: Shopbop Men's Morning Warrior, RVN, d.Ra, Velvet, Ohne Titel, Isa Tapia, EastDane, Notte, Casadei, Clo Intimo, & Paris House Wallets

LIttle Miss Sunshine

It's officially spring here in Florida and I was ready for  something new! Last year I got ombre for the first time and absolutely loved it! So I thought I'd try it again this year! Since April is my birthday month, I thought it would be the perfect time to change it up a bit!

My hair is pretty thick and long so it takes a while for color but I couldn't have asked for better results. After about three hours of color and cut, my stylist, Lili, asked if she could take photos of the finished product for a Bumble & Bumble contest she was entering. If she wins she gets a page in a magazine!

So we had a little fun with my hair. She blow dried it with a round brush creating massive amounts of volume and voila! Since Bumble & Bumble loves volume and messiness, she created lots of texture too. I absolutely love my hair as always! 

Here's hoping you win Lili! You're the best hair stylist out there! ♥

LINKS À LA MODE: THE IFB WEEKLY ROUND UP: Reflecting on Fall

Reflecting on Fall

Edited by: Emily of Sugar & Spice

The cold weather seems to have well and truly graced our shores this week and as we all scramble to put together something that resembles style whilst also keeping us warm — we are all trying to remember what trends we should be rocking this season, after months in our summer wardrobes. Well, allow this week’s posts to inspire, educate and warm you.

LINKS À LA MODE: THE IFB WEEKLY ROUND UP: SEPTEMBER 27TH

• A Casa da Va: Dreaming of a Country Retreat and musing over what to wear


• Adentro Style: Mean’s Trends at NYFW


• Buy Any Means Necessary: The Best and Worst at the Emmys


• Chic All Week: Make It Work At Work


• Fashion’s Fade, Style Is Eternal: The Cold is Coming


• I’ve 2 Tell U: The diary of a fashion student in Milan: Behind the scenes at MFW SS12


• Morbid Glamour: Inspired by Stripes


• Musings of a PR Girl: Life in Fashion PR


• Project Style: How to dress for the office


• Skeletons out of the Closet: Catwalk details


• Sugar & Spice: 5 Key Pieces For AW12


• The Closet Coach: Do I Have To Pay Attention to Trends?


• The Curvy Elle: Happiness should be in fashion


• The Penny Rose: Fast Fashion


• Studs and Sapphires: Best Memories Come From Bad Ideas


• Tickle Me Chic: Harvest Happenings


• Rue de Tres Chic: Smoky Eyes


• To Bruck Ave: NEPALcrystals


• Libby’s (out)Look: When the Stars Go Blue


• Laura Valuta: Fall Fashion

SPONSOR:

Shopbop Discount Sale : Marais USA, Shona Joy, Heimstone, Zac Posen, Peter Som, LK Bennett, Iosselliani, Wrap Scarves, Puffy Coats & Jackets

If you would like to submit your link for next week’s Links à la Mode, please register first, then post your links HERE. The HTML code for this week will be found in the Links a la Mode widget on the right side of the blog, and will be published later today. ~ Jennine

Harvest Happenings

Happy Fall!

The latest bloggers do it better is all about the color, oxblood. I know, I know, it's a weird name but hey, you gotta know & love fashion to understand what it's all about! When Kristina from PSS sent out the email I was a little worried, but knew I was going to accept the challenge! I shopped & shopped & surprisingly couldn't find the fall staple color anywhere. So, I looked in my own closet only to remember I bought these fabulous skinnies that I absolutely LOVE!

Living in Florida, we don't get too many cool days but that doesn't stop me from adding my own fall touches. That's why I'm a scarf-aholic! It's a great layering piece & they are super cute!

This was such a fun shoot! Since fall just officially started, (& pumpkin spice lattes have retuned!) I wanted to celebrate with fall colors & have a rustic, country feel. My, as always, wonderful boyfriend, was the photographer & he knew exactly where to go!! I can't thank him enough for capturing me the way he does. ♥ 

The location is out in the country & you can feel fall in the air. It was so nice to be out with my love, just having fun with our Sunday.

  Pure happiness in my eyes  :}

Details:

Skinnies- Hollister

Top- Forever 21

Boots- Target

Scarf- Express

It's been a crazy couple weeks, with so much going on, so I thought, why not have a little fun with this shoot, adding some silly ones into the mix! 

So to all the fashionistas out there, have fun with fall! It's my favorite time of year for living & fashion!

p.s. This was by far, my favorite BDIB shoot!!! I had so much fun! Check out all the other fashionistas out there showing how they do oxblood! 

Mint + Coral

There's been a mint and coral explosion everywhere, from pinterest to polyvore, fashionistas are sporting the color combo in all types of fun ways! 

When Kristina, from PSS, announced the newest bloggers do it better challenge, I knew it was time to go shopping! This spring, I've really stepped out of my style box, buying neons, tribal prints, and even cut out tops but mint and coral were next on my list. 

After shopping for two days, I was having no luck at all, wandering the mall thinking, "I just saw these colors EVERYWHERE! Where did they go?" The last store I checked out was Cotton On, a store I would call a mixture of Urban Outfitters/ Forever 21, and BOOM goes the dynamite! I found both mint + coral pieces that totally fit my summer style plus, the look will be a great little day outfit for my Miami trip, coming up in a week!

If you look closely, my dress is actually ombrè, going from mint into a more turquoise color. When I saw the dress, I had to have it since I LOVE the ombrè trend---Check out my hair below! 

My wonderful boyfriend made these sunglasses for me, for my upcoming trip to Miami. He revealed them to me as we were getting ready to go shoot the photos and I thought they would be a perfect coral accessory to add to the mix! THANKS BABE ♥♥♥

Wildfire

Ombrè hair is back and BIGGER than ever. From chalked hair to dyed colors this hair trend is so fun. Celebrities are even sporting the ultra stylish, super easy look.  

I never really thought much about the look until my friend Allison, aka Love Bug, met me for lunch. She had just gotten her hair done and I was obsessed with the look. 

I have pretty long hair, so it can get boring always having the same style. To be honest, I get REALLY bored with my hair, and I just want to chop it all off at times, but I always stop myself because I do love my long hair. 

(hair before)

But I needed a change. I had already scheduled an appointment to darken it with a little hint of burgundy but when I saw that ombrè, it got me. I went to my appointment and my stylist was so excited. I was only the second person she would be doing it on--I SWEAR by my stylist. She does wonders--The whole salon was excited. Customers and stylists kept coming over to see the progress. 

The technique was awesome. Lilly would take pieces and backcomb the hair. It was so interesting to watch. It took about 2 hours since I have a lot of hair and it's pretty long. When it was all finished everyone was in awe. She even took pictures to show other clients. And it inspired her to try it out too! 

It's been about 3 months and I still LOVE my hair! It's so fun. I like to be a little different and my hair is one thing I've always cherished, so this is a fun way to keep it me.  This has honestly been the best color I've ever done.

So if you're contemplating the Ombrè look, just do it! It's a great look for spring and summer and you can be so creative with it. If you are still a little worried, try some fun non permanent looks like chalked hair. The Beauty Department has a great chalk hair tutorial.

I will definitely be keeping this look up, but that's the best part-- there's not a lot of upkeep! I might go a little lighter at the ends in mid summer but I'm loving this trend. It's one more way to express my style. I'm one happy little jojo after! 

xoxo

(hair after)

Sequins, Sparkle & Shine

Around the Holidays, I always say you need to have the 3 S's in your life: sequins, sparkle and shine. The holidays are filled with all three, whether it's your Christmas tree filled with lights and ornaments, or that beautifully wrapped present, the three S's are everywhere and you always need to add a little, or a lot, to your wardrobe for those holiday get togethers! 

I had emailed Kristina a while back about maybe doing a BDIB with sequins. The fashionista that she is, she said she loved my idea but she was working on it for an upcoming BDIB! Great minds think a like ;) 

So Voila! Here you have, Bloggers do SEQUINS better!

Details, details, details:

Shoes: Aldo

Jeans: Kohls

Sequin Tank: Express

Cardigan: F21

And here are a few fun photos of me and my boo! He is my wonderful photographer, who bought me this FABULOUS new camera.  Thanks baby! xo

                             

Review of Sally Hansen's Salon Effects: Kitty Kitty

As I have confessed, I have a slight obsession with all things leopard. I've kept it hush hush for the most part, but this fall the trend has exploded and so has my collection of pieces! About two weeks ago I even participated in the newest bloggers do it better assignment, Animal Instincts, (my favorite one yet), showing my wild side in all things leopard print. 

I have been debating on buying the stick on nail strips but I couldn't resist any longer. I recently purchased the fun nail polish strips and in 10 minutes the look was complete. 

Sorry for the backwardness, I took it with Photo booth :)

The pack comes with 16 strips in two sealed cases, so I figured ok, one for each finger including the thumb would leave me with 6 left over BUT, I tried to carefully file off the excess so I could use the other side for my other hand (if you have longer finger nails it might not work, but I keep them pretty short so it was perfect!). I alternated, right finger, left finger, and so on.

**I am right handed so I knew it would be easy to do my left hand, that's
why I suggest starting with your dominant hand, in case you need help
putting the pieces on.

**Sometimes it's not the same fit so you will have to use another strip,
 but I only had that problem once. 

I have only had them on for a day but they have held up well and look awesome! I'm loving this manicured look. 

The patterns and colors they have are SO fun and they even have a halloween collection now. The best part, they're immediately dry! 

So if you're looking for a great alternative to dress up your nails, these polish strips are great. For 10$ a pack, I've got two manicures in 1! And while some people might not be able to use the strip for two nails, you still have a super cute look!

For more information on how to apply watch the tutorial below. 

Enjoy! xx

**Update to come on how they hold up :)

Animal Instincts: Meow

So I kind of have a secret obsession with leopard print. When I found out the new Bloggers Do It Better challenge was titled "Animal Instincts"I literally eeeeeee'ed with excitement. 

With the animal prints being so popular this fall, I have made a few purchases that make me oh so happy. A few months ago, while writing my trend post, The Cat's Meow, I found the "leopard on me" top from ModCloth, and I HAD to have it. After patiently waiting for it to become available again, I snatched it up at the end of September. September 27th, the day that little package arrived on my doorstep, was one happy day for me! The next morning I woke up to a new BDIB email announcing the new assignment and I was SO excited to participate! It was meant to be :) 

So without further adieu, meet the animal in me. 

Two days after the new BDIB I found this precious little skirt with leopard bows and wallah! I had my outfit. While it's a little crazy for me, there is just something about this outfit that makes me feel good! It's bringing out my inner feistiness that I normally don't show!

Needless to say, I really do love leopard print. I have a few pieces that just spice up an outfit. 

And I just had to include my little precious bug, Tika because like mother like daughter, she loves leopard too ♥