take care

In my last post I briefly mentioned the Drake concert and being jet lagged. Well this outfit is a version/combination of what I wore to the concert and to a lunch date in Atlanta, hence my reason for being jet lagged.

First, the concert was soooo good although at times I felt more like a chaperon than a fan (the concert was at a college event center). He can sing, he can rap, and basically he can do no wrong :)

Secondly, my trip to Atlanta was ugh! Literally as soon as I touched down and got to my condo, I got sick. I'm talking 103 fever and an all over achy body sick. Needless to say I spent much of my trip in the bed :(

Finally, today I'm just getting back from a weekend in Napa, and working hard to round off my last two weeks of school. As I said at the beginning of the month, March Madness is real! Pictures and details about Napa coming soon...

wearing: old navy sweater, zara blouse, f21 mini sweater skirt (SIMILAR, SIMILAR) & necklace, steve madden boots (PURCHASE) target bangles, michael kors tortoise watch (PURCHASE) 

blue

I'm jet-lagged and getting over the flu. Happy Monday :-/

Please check out these two awesome features/shout outs HERE & HERE. Thanks ladies :):):) 

wearing: random top, zara pants (SIMILAR), nine west pumps (PURCHASE), f21 & target accessories (PURCHASE) 

worn to: supposed to wear to the drake concert but had to change b/c it was COLD

bows and bruschetta

As promised, a true outfit post. A quick post, but an outfit post nonetheless. I wore this out to a yummy Italian dinner in San Fran at E TUTTO QUA. It's very rare for a meatless appetizer to steal the show, but man the bruschetta I had was sooooo delicious!
 Everyone have a lovely start the week. I'm already ready for Friday...

wearing: express blazer (SIMILAR), j crew top, topshop trousers (SIMILAR), JESSICA SIMPSON HEELS (PURCHASE), michael kors tortise watch (PURCHASE), JEWELMINT earrings (enter simply101 for 50% off)

worn to: dinner at E TUTTO QUA

nine west aroundtown

Thank you to everyone who entered the TIFFANY & CO giveaway. The lucky winner is MO. Congrats again!!

March Madness is real and in full effect for me. I've got a lot going on the next couple of months so bare with me please :-) I'm going to try my best to actually take pictures of what I'm wearing because there would be no blog if I didn't do that, and somehow that seems to be my main struggle right now. Ugh!

Anyway, a full on outfit post is up next, but in the meantime...there's nothing wrong with a shoe post, right? I ordered these NINE WEST AROUNDTOWN PUMPS last Monday, had them by Wednesday, wore them on Sunday and already thinking about what to wear them with next :) 

wearing: target white tee, dry aged denim jeans, nine west aroundtown pumps (on sale HERE)
worn to: brunch

simplychic + jewelmint

I'm really excited to be teamed up with Kate Bosworth's & Cher Coulter's jewelry line, JewelMint as a MBA (mint brand ambassador)! Have your heard of them? I recommend you check it out on the JEWELMINT site, but in a nutshell, you take a style quiz and based on your answers you will have various pieces of jewelry added to your personal showroom  for you to choose from, and every month your showroom changes! They were spot on in selecting these Wonderland earrings for me...

All pieces are just $29.99 with free shipping. They are great quality, and the packaging is super cute as you can clearly see. You know I'm a sucker for the details. Thanks to the OAKLAND MBA TEAM you can enter simply101 at checkout and receive 50% off your first month with JEWELMINT. Happy Shopping :)

fat tuesday

I celebrated Fat Tuesday at Miss Pearl's Restaurant & Lounge and appropriately wore a lot of color and had some yummy gumbo and daiquiris while sitting outside next to a fire listening to a blues band. It was a perfect evening, but when I got home I realized I didn't get any beads :( 

HURRY!!! Only a few more days to enter my TIFFANY & CO GIVEAWAY.

wearing: old navy sweater, gap jacket, fcuk skirt (SIMILAR), steve madden luxe heels, necklace from nordstrom, gifted bracelet, michael kors watch (PURCHASE)

worn to: MISS PEARL'S

from my heart to yours: a tiffany & co giveaway

In keeping with the theme of love and knowing your worth, I want to express my love and appreciation for all of you by offering Simply Chic's biggest GIVEAWAY yet! This double heart Tiffany & Company necklace could be yours by simply:

Required (1 entry)

1) Follow via Google Friend Connect by clicking "Join this site" on the left side of the page

2) Let me know what name you are following me under so I can easily find & confirm you if your lucky name is selected :)

3) Leave a comment with your email address and all the ways you've entered

Optional (1 entry each)

1) Follow on FACEBOOK

2) Follow on BLOGLOVIN
3) Follow on PINTEREST 

4) Follow on TWITTER & tweet about this giveaway saying "@simplychic08 is giving away a tiffany & co heart necklace. check it out here http://bit.ly/xAijRr"

The winner will be selected using random.org on February 29, 2012. Good luck! 

you are good enough

I was having a conversation a couple of nights ago with someone associated with a prestigious institution and he was talking about some of the women he’s come across who are part of this institution and therefore obviously smart, intelligent, worthy of being there but somehow still felt inadequate.

Then today I was watching Whitney Houston’s funeral and I was listening to Kevin Costner speak about how Whitney was one of the greatest voices and talents in the world and she still didn’t think she was good enough. He ended his eulogy by saying “Off you go Whitney. Off you go. Escorted by an army of angels to your Heavenly Father and when you sing before Him don’t you worry, you’ll be good enough.”

I typically don’t deviate from fashion, food or overall fun on this blog, but today I want to remind women how important it is to know your worth. You were good enough the day you were born. You're not always going to be the the prettiest, the smartest, the skinniest or whatever your insecurity may be, but you will ALWAYS be good enough :) 


Up next, a giveaway you don't want to miss! 

when love is a verb...

Between school, work and overall busy schedules I can't tell you the last time I actually celebrated Valentine's Day on Valentine's Day and this year is no different. One of my lovely professors decided to make a massive midterm due this week, but I did manage to make time for brunch and a basketball game this weekend. And thanks to EBEW & BDIB it wasn't very hard deciding what to wear. Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I leave you with two great quotes on love, from two very influential people ;)


"Only when love is a verb and put into action does it thrive. It's a mistake to think that a loving relationship is going to automatically sustain itself. Nothing worth having happens without work." ~Oprah


"You know you are in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." ~Dr. Seuss 


wearing: old navy blouse (PURCHASE) & earrings, express slacks, calvin klein heels (SIMILAR, SIMILAR), thrifted necklace
worn to: brunch at PICAN


BTW if you are local and free on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. please stop by Macy's in Union Square. They are doing a great thing this Black History Month and honoring the legacy of famed artist Romare Bearden and they are kicking off the exhibit with a reception this Thursday 2/16. To RSVP, learn more, or see if Macy's in your area is doing something similar please go HERE. Maybe I will see you there :)

zebra watercolors

Given this post and the last, you would think I have a thing for zebras. I don't. Anyway, I met up with a friend for lunch today. I love when I discover new gems in my area, and SELLERS MARKETS is definitely a gem. I had the BBQ pulled pork sandwich with house-made sea salt potato chips. Gosh it was good. I guess from this post and the last one you would also think I'm a bit obsessed with food. That, my friend, is true :) 

wearing: RACHEL ROY BLAZER, urban top (SIMILAR), matiko wedges (SIMILAR), macy's necklace, kenneth cole watch

worn to: lunch at  SELLERS MARKETS

crabs, cocktails & cardigans

I'm not sure why it took me almost 30 years to go to my first crab feed, but I am so glad that I finally got to go. It really doesn't get much better than buckets of crab at your disposal. After my belly was full and my cholesterol was high, I hosted a mini cocktail party. I'm a a vodka tonic or vodka lime juice kind of girl so coming up with a yummy cocktail or two was a challenge, but I think I did alright. I learned that you can't go wrong with sweet & sour. Recipe below...

wearing: j crew cardigan, old navy sweater, urban pants, MOJO MOXY LOREN PUMPS, scarf from tj maxx

worn to: crab feed

A Strawberry Cocktail

*1 or 1.5 part(s) vodka depending on your taste and tolerance

*1 part sweet & sour

*muddled fresh strawberries

*big splash of strawberry nectar 

mix all ingredients along with some ice in a shaker and serve in a chilled martini class

for an alternate recipe replace nectar with sprite and leave out the muddled strawberries

ENJOY!

the next big style blogger

Not sure how I missed this last year but one of my favorite sites, REFINERY29, is hosting its second annual search for the next big style blogger and I would love your support! You can VOTE HERE by clicking the heart on my photo. You can find me easily by looking for the girl in the sequin pants ;) or doing a control find (F) for "SIMPLYCHIC". Thanks in advance for your votes. You guys always do me proud!