Random Thoughts by Me: 2010 Grammy's

Lady Gaga and Elton John make playing the piano look BAD ASS! Love it! WOW sing it B!!aww I wish Alanis would have showed up, that would have been sick. Great performance though. Off to a good start so far!! WOW how does PINK do all that while singing!?? That was amazing! I can't believe that album only got 2 nominations. Umm what is this jamie Foxx performance?? Weird! The ladies really brought, and this is just awkward.OMG Ke$ha is a HOT MESS!*chills* Carrie looks amazing!!! And I want to know how many people actually had 3-D glasses Quentin Tarantino is SO weird! Guess who's back??Back again!! Eminem, Lil Wayne , Drake and Travis Barker were AMAZING! They brought it down!I don't understand how Taylor Swift won Album of the Year, she had 1 hit song they overplayed like crazy! I wish Beyonce or Lady gaga won it!
And my pick for Best Dressed.
Did You watch? What did you think? I love award shows and the girls (Pink, Beyonce and Lady Gaga worked it! I really wish Pink or Lady Gaga would have won more. The rappers boys rocked it out as well.

Birthday Party Recap: Heinz 57 Varieties

Ketchup was the theme of the party yesterday. Which is just perfect for me since that is my favorite condiment and the Heinz 57 was perfect for my Dad's 57th birthday. We had a great time playing board games, my friend Mandy and I decided we are making our own version of Guess Who with pictures of our friends!! My Step Mom Rena sure knows how to throw a party, she step up a salad bar and had the cutest little soup tureens for the potato soup she made. She also brought over an amazing cake!! I don't even like cake but this was seriously one of the best cakes I have ever had. I didn't end up wearing the Yumi Kim top and I also didn't get a Look of the Day post but I had lots of fun!
The closest thing to a look of the day picture.
All about the 57!
Yummy cake. Vanilla, vanilla, VANILLA! And mini carrot cake, chocolate and raspberry cupcakes. Aren't they CUTE!!?? They are from Kara's Cupcakes, my new go-to cupcake bakery!
Salad bar:
Yummy soup!
Here's to a great 57th year Dad!!
OMG the Grammy's are blowing me away right now!!!!!

20+10: Backyardigans

#18. Stare at clouds and stars

It was so nice out today I took blanket, my Catcher in the Rye book and of course my iPhone out to the grassy area in my yard. I spent most of time enjoying the sunshine, fresh air and the clouds in the sky. Now I am watching the Grammy pre show and uploading pictures from yesterday. I'm rooting for Gaga!!

iPhones take surprisingly GOOD pictures!! Hope you weekend was a good one!!

Copy Cat Style: Lauren Conrad

Today I am spending the day coaching my Odyssey of the Mind team. And after I am heading to my Dad's birthday party, and pretty sure I am going to be rocking this Yumi Kim Amber top that I just got. LOVE!! The colors on this top are just perfect. I love how easy Lauren's looks are to recreate. She always looks great without trying to hard.
Case in point.
I'll be back later with a look of the day post, happy Saturday!

Style Icon: Daddy's Girl

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

I am so lucky to have such a wonderful Dad. He does everything and anything for me. When we were growing up he ran for the local School Board (on top of his regular job) to help make our schools better. He made sure to spend every moment he had with us. And even though he traveled a lot he sent us postcards every time he was out of town and always brought a special treat back. When my parents got divorced he made sure that changed our lives as little as possible. He came over to our house, instead of making us split the weekends. And he also came over every year on Christmas morning so we didn't have to have two Christmases. My Dad taught me many things over the years how to be generous(to a fault), work hard, and to dream big. He also taught me to love Tabasco, be corny as heck, give directions by using gas stations and car dealerships as landmarks and to have a really big shoe collection. His style is pretty cool as well. He won Best Dressed back in High school and I think I might have picked some of his awarding winning style. Love you Dad!
"The King of Cool"
One of his many cars.
Rocking the trucker hat WAY before Aston Kutcher.

My Dad was taking Look of the Day shots way back when.

I LOVE YOU DAD!! THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!

On the Hunt: If Only there was a Real Life Place That Made Me Feel Like Tiffanys

As I mentioned earlier I have watched Breakfast at Tiffany's a few time this week. Definitely expect a Stye Icon post for all the pictures I took! But for now I am on a mad search for some tasseled ear plugs like Holly's. I wear ear plugs every night and think these would make my ear plugs feel much more glamorous! They are like earrings but are ear plug, genius!So far my googling has only yielded home made looking ones, I suppose I could DIY, but they certainly don't have to same glamorous feel as Holly's. My search continues.
Only Holly can make sleeping in look this glamorous.

Image from Everett Collection/Rex Features

Image source Unknown
And of course the pictures I took of my TV:

I wouldn't mind a nightgown like hers either.

She makes me want to drink everything out of my champagne coupes!

"Then I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name"

Look of the Day: People Always Clap for the Wrong Things.

What really knocks me out, is a book, when you're all done reading it, you wished the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.
Holden Caulfield, Catcher in the Rye

Much like my affinity for re-watching movies I also love to re-read books. The most re-read book of mine is Catcher in the Rye. For some reason I have a strange connection to it. I read it almost yearly around Christmas time. Every year that Holden Caulfield and I meet it is different experience. Although he is always the same in the book, my perception of him and the book changes depending on where I am at. On my old blackberry I used to have "note" filled with my favorite Holden quotes. J.D. Salinger shall forever be remembered by me in my well loved old copy of Cather in the Rye, originally my Mom's book from high school. This year I picked up the book just after Christmas, around when Lyndsy was reading it and I never go that to into. But this week I plan to pick it back up and see where Holden and I stand these days.
My well loved copy.


And my outfit. Rodarte Cardigan, Anthro skirt and Twelfth Street Cynthia Vincent wedges.


Check out the steal on this Dolce Vita skirt!

That's the nice thing about carousels, they always play the same songs.
Holden Caulfield, Catcher in the Rye

How I Shop: EFF Two One

When I shop at Forever 21 I am looking for two thing: #1 Super trendy pieces and #2 Super cheap basics. I am not looking for regular rotation pieces, but my main goal is to look for pieces that I don't mind wearing for just a season.

So I tend to really stay towards the front of the store, that is where the new pieces are, and therefore the latest trends. All the pieces I purchased the other day (besides the green dress, which was the only one like it in the store) were from the front area. Hot trends like florals, military inspired and striped pieces were heavy in the front area. I was hoping for more strong shoulder pieces (because I think this trend is SO flattering and hip) but there wasn't all that much, but the cardigan I grabbed is amazing!!! I find that F21's jackets, dresses, skirts and cardigans are my favorite. And I try not to buy pieces that have a lot of stuff on them, for instance, sequins. I have had bad luck with pieces falling apart after a wear or too so I don't buy a whole lot of that. I also grab a ton of stuff try on when shopping there. I normally HATE trying on clothes but when I shop at Forever 21 I plan for it. I went to the dressing room three times, each time with pieces I thought were awesome, but the fit was not.

After looking for the trends I want, I look for cheap prices. I picked up a sweet grey and white striped skirt for a mere $6. I am certain I will be definitely be getting more then $6 wear out of that. Forever 21 is also a good place to get dresses and tunics. They have great plain basic ones for great prices and cute ones with great details (like pockets and pleats) for steal. I was SO excited about the green dress I picked up and the sun dress has pockets, pleats and a zipper, both were about $20!!

Oh and I always hit up the Jewelry and accessories area, they have GREAT pieces for a steal.
My haul:
Although Forever 21 is a great store for trendy pieces I do feel a bit guilty shopping there (ethics, environment, etc) so I tend to limit my shopping there but it sure is a wonderful store for great styles for less.

Look of the Day: Sunny Days Sweeping the Clouds Away

On my way to where the Air is Sweet....

We had sun today! Yay! I missed my daily vitamin D intake, and the sun felt so nice today.Not sure what is was but I really had a fabulous day today. Something about the sun just makes me happy, it gives me energy. M sunny day ended with a night at home watching the State of the Union, and now I am about to rewatch Breakfast at Tiffanys ( I watched it last night). I am not sure why I have a strange habit of watching the same movie over and over again in a short period of time but I do! And be ready for a post on it, I was snapping away with my camera last night (yes, taking pictures of my TV is another strange habit of mine). Here's to a good Thursday and a fun Friday!
Today I rocked a Free People dress (from this summer), nine west boots and my favorite Forever 21 studded bracelet.


And all together.
And thank you to any new readers and followers from Kim's blog! And if you don't read Anthroholic you definitely should! Check out me and other readers outfits here. Thanks again Kim!! She made my day with her compliments!!!!

Look of the Day: Mr. Rain Man Can We Have a Rainy Day?

I rocked one of my Forever 21 purchases today and I loved it. I got a few emails and comments about how I tackle Forever 21 shopping, so I plan to address this is in a How I Shop post. But usually when shopping at Forever 21 I gravitate towards cheap trendy pieces that fit me well. I always believe that think fit trumps trend. And the fit of this twenty dollar something jacket rocked!
Forever 21 jacket with a H&m top, Jbrand doll jeans and Franco Sarto boots, that are hidden.

And in case you are keeping track, I am on day six of my Amish bread! It is coming along!
Ella ella eh eh...

Style Icon: She's an American Girl

...Raised on promises....
Not really much I need to say, she (Blake Lively) has so many great looks but this shoot from Marie Clarie's December 2009 issue blew me away. All that Chanel, wow. She is stunning!
Image scanned by be me from December 2009 Marie Clarie
Image scanned by be me from December 2009 Marie Clarie
Image scanned by be me from December 2009 Marie ClarieImage scanned by be me from December 2009 Marie Clarie
And a Few more of my Favorites
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OK Now I just need to get on the Gossip Girl Train, I have not watched one episode!