guest blogger: korie's san tan-tonio

what's better than a guest post to kick off my return from hiatus? :) - annie

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Loving the new OPI Texas collection. Tried the San Tan-tonio...love it! Def will do this one again sometime.

necklace in action: sailor knots

i started out the week with some bad iphone photos so i figured i'd continue the trend...with more bad iphone photos. i just don't leave enough time in the morning to set up the tripod before bolting out the door to get to work on time. man, do i look tired. aaaaanyway...

my new banana republic sailor knot necklace arrived the other day and i luuuuuurv it. i bought mine with a discount code and a merchandise credit, bringing my grand total to $9, but i'm still annoyed that of course NOW it's on sale. oh well. i'm just glad i have it! get yours for $48.50 today. i think i'm gonna wear it again tomorrow.

strawberries and gold

i keep forgetting to blog about this fun surprise that came in the mail just before valentine's day. it's a hand painted tote bag from blogger jessica of flourish the blog. she went out of her way to make something like 20 of these for readers who signed up to receive her special valentine's gift - and if all of them are as awesome as the one i got, she has some lucky readers! check out her blog, you'll like it.

oh, while i was outside taking photos i decided to show off the activity in our tiny little vegetable garden. every single thing we planted has sprouted. i can't wait for the teeny tiny strawberries and broccoli florets to turn in to something edible!

tart deco and coat azure

not only have i been buying spring/summer clothing lately, i've also decided i'm ready to go light with my nail polish. while opi's russian navy and essie's chinchilly have been my staples as of late, a trip to ulta over the weekend inspired me to lighten up with essie's tart deco on my fangers and coat azure on my toes. do you have a favorite shade for spring?

i did it...i bought my tom fords

remember way back when when i first blogged about my obsession with the tom ford jennifers? weeeellllll, i finally bit the bullet and bought them for myself!! woot!!! i brought these bad boys home from nordstrom over the weekend and i can't get enough of them. i'm kiiiinda wondering if i should have gone with the brown/brown rather than the brown/bronze but they didn't have them in store. i may order them and return one...decisions, decisions.

below: brown/bronze

below: brown/brown

opi texas collection launches today

i'm back, bitches! and what better timing than to commemorate the launch of the opi texas collection? i haven't seen any of the hues in person just yet but i look forward to trying austin-tacious turquoise, san tantonio and do you think i'm tex-y. i don't think those names could be any better. i haven't seen many of the colors for sale online yet but this entire set could be yours for a mere $73.

ps. thanks for sticking with me during my hiatus. it's been a crazy long couple of weeks but it was also super rewarding. i finished up yesterday with a massive presentation and work product under my belt and i couldn't be more pumped. now i have time for my fun, non-paying blogger job, yay!

i'm not really a waitress...really.

over the weekend katy and i decided to use the bad weather as an excuse to relax our butts off and treat ourselves to a mani/pedi. i chose a "classic" color for my fangers - opi's i'm not really a waitress - one of their best sellers. i never ever wear red nailpolish, and although i wanted to try essie's fishnet stockings, the salon i like only carries opi. i really like it...and i can't wait to try some of the new spring colors in the next few months.

back to reality...with a new watch!

hi!

i hope you all had as wonderful of a holiday as i did. it was a really great week and half off and i am so so so so so sad that the christmas decorations came down. even though a new year always means a fresh start and the beginning of something new and unknown, i always spend the first week of january just a little bit sad.

but the good thing about going back to reality is that i'm doing it with my BRAND NEW CARTIER WATCH courtesy of the husband of the year. he completely shocked me with this bad boy for christmas and i think i'm still not believing it's real. i guess my not-so-subtle hints that i wanted him to hand-me-down his own made him go one step further.


i feel weird "bragging" about my new watch, but f*ck it, i'm doing it anyway. typically i like to write about the favorite gift i gave so i'll do that too.

gift certificate for my parents to have a yummy dinner in charleston (where they have a newish condo) at the renowned peninsula grill

glass piggy bank from viva terra for my sister ($39)

gilded herringbone toms for my sister, sister-in-law, and cousin ($54)

ps. only five more days til my bff of all time, katie, comes to visit with her hubby warren. yay!
pps. if you're wondering what my new years resolution is, i don't make them. to shop more?

if i were sitting on santa's lap...michael kors, please!

there are many things on my christmas list (as to be expected), but one thing i haven't blogged about yet is this michael kors horn chronograph watch ($195). i've had my eye on it for quite some time and i just can't get over it. sure, i'd rather nick size down his cartier tank (please?!) for little old me, but this little gem would certainly tide me over. i still love the michele watch i've been rocking since 2003 but i really could use a break since i've worn it every single day since i brought it home...too bad the MK horn is backordered til jan. nick, i reaaaaaally hope you scooped it up before it was too late!

earrings: i switched gears

during my blue and coral earring hunt last week, i fell in love with this more fall-inspired pair from shopmamie.com (just for fall earrings, $16). i couldn't resist and now i'm waiting patiently for their arrival. i think they'll work for all seasons but you can be sure i'll happily rock them for the rest of this season.

blue and coral earrings - help me choose!

since my mexican vacation, i've been dying for some coral and/or turquoise earrings. i've found four solid options and need help choosing. which ones are your faves?

below: kendra scott nyla starburst earrings, $95 (but i have a $20 coupon from signing up for emails)

below: soul-swinging filigree earrings by thestellabluegallery on etsy, $25

below: red lucite earrings by blondechick on etsy, $25

below: turquoise and coral chandelier earrings by offthechainjewels on etsy, $34.99

sparkle it up

i'm a big big big fan of this fall's military and simplistic styles - which is why i appreciate this bag for a little girly and sparkly flair. sure, leather messenger bags are all the rage - but what about a nice evening out with friends? you don't want to rock a 20 lb bag in one hand and a glass of bubbly in the other. steve madden blustful crossbody bag, $38.95

outfit in action: making a statement at a wedding

bcbgeneration dress, swell necklace, zara shoes (even though you can't see them)

i mentioned my new wowza-thats-a-statement-necklace last week and here are some photos of it in action. nick and i attended a friend's wedding in maryland over the weekend and they couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather. i heart weddings, especially when i get to catch up with some really great people that i haven't seen in years. and helloooo...that's the view from our hotel room. we got to watch them set up for the ceremony and cocktail hour, both of which were awesome. congrats, julie and todd!

it's gettin' chinchilly up in here

my ski teal we drop manicure finally bit the dust (lasted two weeks, woot!) so i decided to go back to an old favorite from earlier this year - chinchilly by essie. i finished it after the second coat but i kiiiiinda think i coulda gone for a really thin third. a great transition color from bright summer hues to the darker shades of winter, chinchilly is a lovely option this fall. it's funny, though - it looks more green in the photos than it does in real life (it's really grey in the sun) and i kinda like it! goes with the military trends of fall.

that's what i call a statement

nick and i are heading to a friend's wedding this weekend and i decided it's about time i got myself a new fall dress for weddings just like this. i found a bcbg navy blue number on super sale last week and decided to go for this orange statement necklace to top it off. i plan to take photos during the weekend so i can blog about the entire ensemble upon my return. zad statement necklace from swell, $39

opi ski teal we drop and funky dunkey

nick and i were lucky to have some of our best friends, christy and bobby, make a last minute trip from nyc to austin this past weekend. christy and i decided to steal away on saturday afternoon for some much-needed lady time at my favorite austin nail place. i decided on two OPI colors - ski teal we drop (from the swiss collection) on my fangers and funky dunkey (from the shrek forever collection) on my toes. i'm really loving both shades...so much that i might have to visit my local ulta store to add the hues to my personal collection.

knotted silk neckwear

loving these knot necklaces by tame (pronounced tam-ey). while i love the sailor-inspired look of the navy and white, i think i'm springing for the pink and grey one ($30). everyone needs a little pink in their life now and then, eh? (they come from canada)

me time amidst the madness

i'm back! but we haven't moved yet. some loan stuff got a little tricky so our closing kept getting pushed back. as of now, we're closing wednesday afternoon and moving on friday (knock on wood). i decided to give myself a little break from the packing madness to repaint my toes, which had been neglected for quite some time. essie's lovie dovie is one of my favorites from a few years ago - something about bubble gum pink makes me feel really happy.

fleabags and club monaco - a match made in my heaven

i've written before about my obsession with club monaco. i also have an obsession with fleabags' bags. and NOW i have an obsession with the fact that fleabags is creating an exclusive line for club monaco. SWOON!! no details on styles or pricing yet, but i might have to make a big decision in the near future - new couch or new fleabag?

(thanks martha!)

look for less: dual-tone necklace

i've built my jewelry collection around a few pricier, classic pieces and i add in a few trendier statement pieces every season. my go-tos for inexpensive jewelry are forever 21 and charlotte russe. they have an ever-changing rotation of inventory and it's also a great way to find the look for less. i just came across charlotte russe's version of anthropologie's double torsade necklace. it's less than half the price and every little bit helps...especially when you're about to buy a house.

below: anthropologie's double torsade necklace, $28

below: charlotte russe's half and half necklace, $10.50