i like the way you move

The best thing about being on a shopping diet is rediscovering items in your closet.

The worst thing is not being able to shop, obviously.

I bought this skirt from Benetton 5+ years ago and I probably haven't even worn it 5 times.

I don't know why something that moves so beautifully with the wind would not get more use.

Moral of the blog post...save yourself some money and find hidden treasures by shopping in your own closet :)

wearing: f21 top, united colors of benetton skirt, steve madden heels, thrifted necklace, mom's earrings

worn to: lunch at LE CHEVAL

DON'T FORGET TO HELP ME WIN THE CBS MOST VALUABLE BLOG AWARD BY VOTING HERE :)

i need your help!

I am so excited to be a finalist for the CBS San Francisco Most Valuable Blogger Award. I'm honored to just be nominated, but it would be pretty cool to win, and that's where I need your help. Please VOTE FOR ME HERE. Voting stays open until September 9th, and you can vote once a day until then. Let's show these people that Simply Chic readers are the best! On to the post...

Is it just me or do jumpers remind you of pj's?

Perhaps it's just because they are so comfortable?

Either way, this will be in heavy rotation from now well into fall.

wearing: j crew cardigan, f21 jumper, dolce vita heels, tiffany & co necklace michael kors watch, bracelet purchased in south africa, chic shop ring

worn to: wine tasting at ROCK WALL

Don't forget to VOTE!

who wears short shorts?

This is not an outfit I had any intentions of posting. I was just out having a picnic under a canopy of trees, and decided to practice shooting in the shade.

I don't think my photography teacher would be impressed with these pictures, but I kind of like them.

They are somewhat soft and blurry (don't know the correct terms), and I find that quite interesting.

On a random note, I've had this bag for almost 2 years, and the straps are already unraveling!! If the leather wasn't so soft I'd be ticked off ;)

wearing: nordstom necklace, urban top, old navy shorts, kenneth cole sandals, english laundry sunnies, badgley mischka bag

worn to: a pizza party picnic in the park

Last but not least, a special thank you to Sharda Sewdien for the blog award :)

blocks of color

This dress is one of my all time favorite thrifted purchases, hence the enormous smile on my face.

It's not exactly my size, so I mask its "bigness" with a denim jacket...

and a thrifted belt.

Maybe one day I'll get it altered and go jacketless (never beltless).

But for now, this will do :)

wearing: thrifted dress & belt, f21 jacket, steve madden shoes, michael kors tortoise watch

worn to: dinner at CREASIAN

8/8

Those of you who follow me on TWITTER likely know that last Monday was my birthday! I had a low key fabulous WEEK of fun doing all the things I love most...

RELAXING (deluxe mani & chocolate mint pedi at THE LOUNGE NAIL SPA & BOUTIQUE)

EATING (baby back ribs and parmesan truffle fries at OOLA, soft shell crab fried rice at CREASIAN)

COCKTAILING (a mojito or 3 & wine tasting at ROCK WALL WINE CO)

SHOPPING ( a top, a clock, a jumper and an ipad that's en route)

MORE EATING (red velvet cheesecake all the way from brooklyn & ice cream..fried and in a waffle cone)

Thanks for the happy bday wises that poured in all day on TWITTER. You guys rock!

ebew: pattern mixing

I was very happy when I found out that the next EVERYBODY EVERYWEAR challenge was going to be pattern mixing because that is something I could easily participate in. I thought about doing stripes, or dots like I normally do but I decided to do a challenge within a challenge and challenge myself to switch things up a bit ;) Can't wait to head over to EVERYBODY EVERYWEAR and see what the other ladies came up with.

wearing: h&m bodysuit, old navy jacket, urban pants, steve madden luxe heels, michael kors watch

worn to: dinner at OOLA

Note to self, don't shoot fatigue against trees and bushes next time. Ugh!

as white as it gets

As I mentioned on TWITTER I went to a great charity event last Friday that recommended white attire.

Well, I'm not a huge fan of all white and I don't really like being told what to do (or wear), so of course I had to add some color. Hello peach blazer and turquoise necklace:)

I hate to keep wearing this necklace, but it conveniently goes with everything so you will probably continue to see a lot of it.

I didn't properly introduce you to this ring the first time I showed it on the blog because I don't know who makes it and I don't know what animal it's supposed to be. What do you think? I'm going with owls...

The event was held in this beautiful mansion and on the 50 acres that it sits on. If you look closely you will see I was not the only one who added color.

wearing: zara blazer, j crew tee, urban jeans, bcbg heels, necklace from nordstom, ring from macys, opi cajun shrimp, revlon kiss me coral

worn to: DUNSMUIR HOUSE for an event

colorful

Outside of challenges does your blog ever dictate what you wear? This morning when I got dressed I did so with the mindset "haven't been showing much color on the blog lately". There were a ton of colorful options to choose from, but this is what I came up with...

zara blazer, f21 top & jeggings

english laundry sunnies, michael kors watch

revlon kiss me coral & mac ruby woo lipsticks, opi cajun shrimp polish

carlos santana pumps, thrifted clutch, eshakti earrings

33 questions

I'll be the first to admit there is nothing particularly special about this look, but I wore it and I shot it, so I am posting it :) In an attempt to liven things up a bit I leave you with 33 questions...

1. Is it cute when a guy kisses you on the forehead? depends on who the guy is

2. Would you like a long love letter? absolutely!!! i'd even take a short love letter..via e-mail

3. Group dates or single dates? single dates until the b/f and i are no longer doing long distance

4. Is your hair up or down? pin curls would be considered up right?

5. Do you straighten your hair? look at the pictures...

6. Do you get your nails done? rarely, i mostly take my nails into my own hands (no pun intended)

7. Jeans or skirts? i don't want to choose

8. Do you wear clothes/shoes/jewelry that's uncomfortable? yep, and any woman who says she doesn't is not telling the truth

9. Do you text a lot? i hate texts and if you text me, it's very unlikely that you'll get a response

10. What would you do if you got pregnant? cry.

11. Whats your favorite color? don't have one

12. Heels or flats? i don't want to choose

13. Did you ever cry during a romantic movie? yep, believe it or not, i'm a crier (see question 10)

14. Would you ever leave the house without makeup on? does eyebrow powder count as makeup? if it does then probably not

15. Do you think lipgloss is the best? sure, why not

16. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? 20 mins tops

17. Gold or silver? diamonds

18. On a scale of 1-10 how much do guys confuse you? 22

19. In the last 48 hours have you hung out with a guy? yes if my nephew counts

20. Do you wear lipsticks? just now starting to get into them, and i'm kind of obsessed

21. What age is the youngest you would ever date? guys are too immature to go younger

22. Is it hot when guys are sweaty? no, it's actually gross

23.What is the best possible feature on a guy? ambition...i'm getting all flustered just thinking about

24. Do you like making eye contact? that's an invitation to talk and i don't like talking to strangers

25. Do you ever picture your wedding dress or wedding? yes and i see a chapel in vegas and a nice little black dress ;)

26. Would you kill for chocolate? no, but maybe for potato chips

27. Do you freak out if you miss your fav shows? how long ago were these questions written? no, that's what DVR is for

28. Do you yell a lot? ugh, yelling is SO unattractive

29. Have you ever dressed unlike yourself to impress a guy? i don't even know what i would do to not dress like myself...

30. Do you write a lot of mushy letters? i don't write any kind of letters

31.If you are to choose one makeup to use forever what would it be? brown eye shadow to fill in my sparse brows

32. Do you fall in love easily? no, i'm a total skeptic

33. Do you have cramps right now? tmi

I read so many blogs, that I cannot remember where I saw these questions, but if you are reading, please let me know it was your blog :)

ETA: I found 33 questions on NIKKISHO'S blog :)

wearing: h&m dress, 9west boots

worn to: run errands

neutral

I went out for happy hour recently and decided to dress as if I could be coming from work.

I was telling my friend, if I am ever in an industry where I need a completely separate wardrobe for work and weekend, I'm doing something wrong.

Anyway, as you can see I'm getting good use out of this Kenneth Cole "chain" and the best part is it was only about 8 bucks! I've gotten more than my money's worth.

I've also gotten my money's worth from these Dolce Vita heels that I've had for probably two or three years. They are my go to neutral shoe when I don't want to wear black or brown as evident HERE & HERE.

wearing: zara blouse & trench, topshop trousers, dolce vita heels, thrifted bag, kenneth cole necklace, f21 rings, michael kors watch, gifted bracelet

worn to: drinks & sushi at OZUMO

short set

I was looking through my camera and realized I still have stuff to post from my cruise, so here we go...

As soon as I put this on I thought, "this looks like a short set and I feel old lady-ish".

Well it's actually two separate pieces...

and I like it :)


wearing: fab'rik boutique top, urban outfitters shorts, kenneth cole necklace, h&m sunnies, cheap/old sandals
worn: in miami & first day on my cruise