Hydrangea Blue

I'm not sure if I never noticed it before or if it's just this year in particular, but the hydrangeas all over New Hampshire are a particularly vibrant shade of blue and have been for the last month or so. My commute takes me through some winding back roads and I see a lot of nicely manicured lawns. Hydrangeas have been in bloom for several weeks and I have been continually struck by the amazing color. I've even found myself searching in my closet for clothing that is as vibrant, but nothing seems to be able to equal the flowers I've been seeing outside.

I think it is the ombre shading of the actual flowers- it's a more complex combination than you might think at first glance. However, I thought these pieces were close enough in terms of color. If they aren't inspiration enough for you, I suggest you head to your local eye doctor and ask them to test you for color blindness.

Vintage Harper Dress, Anthropologie, $325

Kay, Bakers, $59.99

RD Style Silk Basic Tank, Piperlime, $58.99

Colorful Paintstrokes Skirt, Forever 21, $16.90

Whether you incorporate this bright blue color into your outfit with a dress, a skirt, a top, or even a small accessory, I promise you won't regret the cheerful addition. 

Rate My Look: How to Defeat the Heat

This week marked record temperatures across the country and New Hampshire was no exception. Temperatures climbed to over 100 degrees and the humidity was absolutely brutal. Given the situation, I really had no choice but to defeat the heat. Honestly, the only solution I could come up with was to simply be hotter. So I put this outfit together:

Dress: Taylor Dresses via Burlington Coat Factory

Shoes: Bakers

Necklace and Ring: Stella and Dot

The dress is super hot, the shoes are extra hot and the jewelry is supremely hot. Together they make for an outfit hot enough to intimidate even the hottest day of the summer. Did you happen to notice that the temperature has dropped about 20 degrees since this morning? You're welcome. 

And in case you want a close up of the shoes and my new ring, here they are: 

Enjoy your weekend, everyone! 

Rate My Look- mixing plaids

Dress: Burlington Coat Factory, $13

Shoes: Bakers, gift

Ring: Festoon, $42

Cardigan: Marshalls, gift

Earings: Ann Taylor Loft, $7

Sorry the photo is so blurry today- I didn't have a lot of time to get a shot, so I was sort of stuck with this one. Anyway, I'm wearing a plaid strapless sundress that I've "winterized" with a fabulous cardigan. What makes this outfit fun for me is the mixing of plaids- in the dress and on the shoes. People say not to mix prints, but I don't buy that rule. Mix away, friends! I wish the sleeves on the cardigan were more visible because they are so fun- they sort of balloon out at the elbow and then gather back in at the hem. I love the sweater for this reason, but also because of the way it creates a v-neck AND a sort of inverted-v from the waist down. It's incredibly flattering and makes my waist seem oh-so-tiny.

In other news... I hope all of you have not forgotten to post a comment on Monday's Giveaway post. It's the only way to be entered into the drawing for the $20 gift certificate from Eshakti. I'm SO excited to get my pants & top from them- hopefully it will arrive this week and I'll be able to do a complete review for you. But, even if you aren't interested in their clothes (and I can't understand why you wouldn't be!), they have lots of fun accessories, too.

And finally, here is a little sneak peek of some DIY fashions I've been working on. Can you figure out what they are?

 (Why won't this picture center for me? Weird.)

Intrigued? Especially by the first one, right? Well you'll have to wait a few more days to find out about them, but I think you're going to enjoy these future posts! Have a great day, everyone!

Shoesday Tuesday- Wish List

Recession? What recession? I know, I know- we're still in an economic crisis, but I don't think that means we can't even look at what's out there. Just because you're on a diet, doesn't mean you don't look at the menu, right? So here is my fall shoe wishlist with no consideration for price or availability:

Since money is no object with this list, let's start with the most extravagant, Christian Louboutin:

I have no words for these shoes. Well, maybe one word: art.

Moving on before I start obsessing over Louboutin, don't you just die for these boots from Bakers?

I don't love the over-the-knee trend, especially when the heels are sky-high, but I do not have the legs to pull off an over-the-knee flat boot, so I feel like these are a good compromise. You can actually convert the top to be below-the-knee as well:

I'm obsessed with grey right now, too. It's my new black. Alright, moving on, but still sticking with Bakers- you know I'm in love with the ankle boot trend and that combined with my love of ruffles brings me to these lovelies:

Super cute! The ruffles are actually more like tiny little petals- it's like a perfect feminine detail against the harshness of black leather- so cool. Contrary to popular opinion, I do not always wear heels. It took me a little while, but I finally got on the ballet flat bandwagon. These from Nine West make me happy because of the bright jewel tone color:

But for those days when I want bright color on a heel, I'd love to sport these gorgeous pumps, also from Nine West:

Or these, also from Nine West, because who doesn't love a great platform cut-out bootie?

That's enough of a fantasy shoe wishlist for now. What are your dream shoes? Do you imagine sky-high platform heels? Or super feminine flats? Edge-y leather boots? What makes you drool?