Bloggers Do It Better: Sequins

 I know I am juuuust about a week late on posting this outfit, but I promise I was saving it for something very special.  Today I am linking up with Kristina's BLOGGERS DO IT BETTER at Pretty, Shiny, Sparkly.  If you can't tell by my disco-worthy get-up, this round's theme is SEQUINS! How perfect for NYE! On top of the sequins/sparkles, this outfit culminates a lot of my favorites.  Your best jewels, YSL red lips, neutral chiffon pleats, black opaque tights, + ankle booties with a stacked heel...
it's like a five course fashion meal for a blogger. :)
It is a merrymaker's duty to bring the whole she-bang to an end of the year  blowout party....

 {pleated skirt, black cardi, gold necklace: target | sequin top: thrifted | tights: TJ maxx

| boots: LB | bracelets: dots, LB | watch: MK | gemstone ring: silpada}

I hope you guys enjoy this post and be sure to check out all of the other lovely bloggers at BDIB at Pretty, Shiny, Sparkly... This was the first thing I wore in 2012, it sets prrrrretty high standards, but I have a feeling the best is yet to come...

2012 + good luck

I hope all my little chickens had the most amazing NYE last night!I drank champagne out of fancy flutes & wore my best sparkles (stay tuned for the full post for Bloggers Do It Better) surrounded by some of my favorite people.2012 is here to stay, and let's make it the best year yet!

Today we will have our traditional "Good Luck"New Year's Day meal of black eyed peas, greens, pork, & cornbread!And most importantly, I will cherish my last few hours of vacay and I may or not just wear my Snuggie :)

CHEERS to 2012!

sparkle skirts & pretty parties

{dress as top: TJ maxx | skirt, cardi: LB | necklace: dots | shoes: payless}

Party over here! Okay, well not really.  As you can see from my tree, that I am slacking in the gift wrapping department (one down...), but I am more than covered on the sparkly skirt front.  I have about 25 outfits planned around this skirt, so get ready for that little chickens.Other than that, I think I've got the sequin thing down...
Ozzy, on the other hand, is taking a crack at the whole style blogging thing.... Goof.

{collar: Kong brand, via Petsmart}
Have you heard this song? It makes me laugh because when I first heard it- I thought it was a joke.Get it, Toby.

DIY: Glitter and Stud Wedges

If you are way too poor (like me) to be racking up on some great Black Friday deals AND you have a great appreciation for the sparklier things in life (like me) then you will LOVE transforming a pair of boring shoes into a pair of show-stopping ones!Okay, okay... You have all seen these boots, AND even these. Although, my original inspiration was KARA!I just could not make a decision on which DIY shoe project to complete, so I bit the bullet and combined my crafts.  Here's how I achieved my glittery studded wedges- PERFECT for the approaching holiday season.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------supplies:shoes, brush, mod podge (I bought the sparkle finish, for added pizazz), martha stewart fine glitter (in smoky quartz), thumb tacks, spray paint--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Spray Paint Your Heart Out!

First, I spray painted the shoes, so that no red would show through.  Depending on your shoe color, this may not be necessary.  I already owned the spray paint and just went crazy.

2. Podge, Sprinkle, Repeat.

After the shoes were dry, about 30 minutes later, I added the mod podge with a paint brush and sprinkled the glitter on.  Some tutorials instruct you to mix in the glitter with the MP, but that did not achieve the right amount of sparkle for me.  I just sprinkled over a tray and reused the excess.

3. Get Tacky!I started at the highest point that I wanted studs, and went in a straight line from there- getting less strategic as I went down towards the soles.

4. LOOK AWESOME!This step is all up to you, y'all.  Rock these shoes with your favorite outfit, I know there are a couple of holiday parties that these will accompany me to!  This project took me like two hours total, and cost >$10!  Hope you guys liked reading about my DIY Wedges!

stop. collaborate. listen.

There's an FBFF post down there at the bottom.  Promise.but first...Your daily dose of sparkles:

I had a test today, and if you've been paying attention, I have strict rules about days like this.

SPARKLES!

That is one sequined top, my chickens.  I hope you love it as much as I do.

Two weeks ago, I won the lipstick challenge giveaway at Feminine Bravery! (YAY!)

Charlotta sent me and three other bloggers a tube of the best lipstick ever.

(one of the four of us will be picked and featured on her blog... stay tuned)

My color was Lingerie Pink and it fulfilled all my of my bright pink dreams.

I LOVE IT!

(thanks, girl)

Lipstick adds a dash of color to any outfit, and I think ANYONE can pull of this look.

No excuses.

(bonus points for neon green sparkle shirts)

striped sweater: gap

sparkle shirt: LB

necklace: gifted

gray jeans: ross

flower flats: payless

Today's Friend Friday questions answered by yours truly.

Read other fabulous answers written by my fellow blogger friends at Ms. Katy Rose's blog ModlyChic.

1. Guest posts are a good way to gain new exposure. What do you think
is the appropriate way to go about securing a guest spot? I think that just networking with new bloggers and getting close to current blog friends is a really good way.  When a blogger needs one, she generally will ask one of her favorite blogs or blogs most like hers.I have never personally needed one, but I know if I did, I would ask the bloggers that I speak the most with, and the ones that have similar content.  Likewise, if I'm asked to be a guest poster, I am completely willing to sprinkle some humor & sparkles, as directed.2. Leaving comments is essential to growing your blog. But how can you
leave a comment without coming across as ‘Follow Me. Follow Me!’? I have never said, Follow Me, to another blogger.  I think that is so disrespectful.I leave my link at the bottom of my comments on their blogs, so that they can easily come to my page.(sometimes it is hard to get back to a commenter's page directly, so I love when people leave links)If someone says COME FOLLOW ME with some generic comment, I generally don't respond, much less follow. But thankfully that really doesn't happen.3. We’ve all gotten a mass email at one time or another asking for
blog exposure, a link exchange, etc… But the mass emails don’t work.
How do you make your email stand out from the crowd? I wanted to get my name out there by networking through comments, twitter, and FBFF.  I also work on generating new content so that people want to keep coming back.I have been blogging for a whoppin' 3.5 months now, so I am not one to give a bunch of advice on this :)4. In interacting with other bloggers where do you draw the line
between seeking support and begging for exposure? I follow blogs and bloggers that I like for one reason or another. It is the most amazing when they want to connect back with me through commenting, following, or tweeting.  Recently, a few of my favorite bloggers have followed my blog and it made me jump for joy.No, really, I did.It's kind of like Lady Gaga complimenting you on your leotard.Huge. 5. What’s one rule of engagement error you made and how have you
remedied that? I did so much blog research beforehand, and I have been reading them for longer- so I think I played it pretty safe.  Unless I have been screwing up this whole time and no one told me.Thanks, you guys.

into the woods... sequin style

I am by no means a "nature-lover."

For one, I am allergic to fresh spring air.

My eyes, nose, ears, head, skin, everything just freaks out.

Don't worry- I'm medicating in preparation for the pollen outbreak.

But, there's nothing I can do about those blasted mosquitoes.

But, I am really good at pretending, right?

This skirt was the product of me wanting to incorporate more skirts in to my closet.

I own tons of dresses and jeans and tops, but my skirt collection was minimal.

I never say never....

to florals.

(take that, justin bieber!)

Bows make me happy.  This is a long, shark bite cut tank and I am learning truly how versatile it is!

READER QUESTION #1: 

Have you ever done a makeup tutorial?

I had a question on a couple posts ago about whether or not I have ever done a makeup tutorial.  I do love makeup, I buy it, I wear it... But, I have never done any tutorial, makeup or otherwise.  I'm such a silly person, I might have to break the ice with a few, casual vlogs before heading towards anything remotely instructional.  

READER QUESTION #2:  

What shades of lipstick do you wear?

My favorite lipsticks are as follows:  

Yves Saint Laurent lipstick, in Opium Red,

 seen on me here & here.

Revlon Lipstick, in Orange Flip, seen on me here.

I love lipstick, and besides these I have like A BAJILLION more in my purse.

Oh, do you see that curtsy?  

I'm a lady.

floral skirt: torrid.com

sequin bow tank top: LB

pink cardigan: Gap outlet

leopard shoes: american eagle

curly, mess of hair: mom & dad

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

One of my many loving and precious readers, whom I know and cherish in real life, wanted me to share with you my newest technological purchase.  

She saw the sparkles and promptly said, during dinner, 

"Oh, Bekah, you should totally blog about that!"

Here ya go, Brookie, this one is for you.

What can I say? I told you I liked

  sparkles.

FBFF: Finding The Balance

Sister #1 told me that she was loving reading my blog lately (what a wonderful sister!)she said i'm the prettiest girl alive.. okay, not in so many words.
BUTshe told me she was bored with my repetitive backgrounds.it got me thinking: maybe i should be more adventurous.i mean... okay- the porch is safe and dry. UNLIKE the driveway.My first extracurricular photo shoot turned in to a torrential rain pour.I am not one to just give up. The photo shoot MUST go on!  I was a prepared gal, equipped with a umbrella in my car, so nothing was ruined. Seriously, in the time I got in my car, drove to the street, it turned from not raining to raining pretty steadily.  I am going to aim to have more exciting background for my little chickens in the coming weeks.STAY TUNED.
It's the last day of the week again, which means it's my favorite because it's the weekend and it is Fashion Beauty Friend Friday!Today's topic for FBFF is Finding the Balance.

1. When it comes to prioritizing your life, in what place does blogging fall?My blog is something that I have really grow to love.  A creative outlet unlike any other, I make time for it.  (although-family, friends, class, work all come first.) I am lucky enough to be able to make time for it.2. We all wish we had more free time to dedicate to blogging and all it entails.  What are your tricks for taking advantage of the time you do have to be as productive as possible?I try to schedule a post the night before.  That means editing pictures of me, sharing some of my favorite things from various sources, and writing the post- all before I go to bed.  I can set the blog to go live at a certain time and it really cuts down on my list of things to do in the morning.  I don't know how people do it ALL before work.  Seriously, you guys are awesome.

3. Have you discovered any short-cuts that makes blogging easier or more time efficient? Posting the night before means that sometimes I am using yesterday's photos for today's post.This isn't always the case, but yes, sometimes I have a lazy day off with frizzy curly hair in a ponytail and yoga pants where I'm in bed cleaning house all day- and no one wants to see that.Trust me.4.  Do you have an editorial calendar or something similar that helps you plan ahead?A who what? Huh? Haha.  I do have a blog folder and an inspiration folder on my laptop desktop that I look through and add stuff to all the time.  My "to-blog" list is always in full rotation.5.  If time wasn't an issue what would you be doing on your blog.for your blog that you aren't doing now? If time wasn't an issue- I would use more time to perfect my pictures.  I think that's an area I would want to improve.  My camera is silly and I do very little editing to my pics, so just having a better quality image would make me happy.  I would also love to eventually gain sponsors and host giveaways, but I am not savvy enough- yet.
To see everyone else's responses to this week's questions, visit ModlyChic.

it really was raining- this isn't product placement.jeans: ROSS, sparkly tunic: LB, cardi: LB, necklace: DOTS, umbrella: TARGET
ANYTHING YOU WOULD LOVE TO BE DOING WITH YOUR BLOG, IF TIME WASN'T AN ISSUE?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -My brother and sister-in-law leave tomorrow for their honeymoon.  They got married January 8th.They're going to (Dublin) Ireland.  I hate them.

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Are you following me on Twitter and Bloglovin'?You should.Cause I'm mad cool-- Or at least my mom thinks so.right, mom?Have the most merry weekend.cheers,

blues-day.

tuesday is not just between monday and wednesday anymore.

it is a day to embrace the shades of blue all around you.

maybe i'm just craving blue skies and sunshine. come on, come out.

best of the blues:

navy blue.

sweater savvy.

via

baby blue.

drawer pulls.

via Etsy

ikat blue. 

fab pillows.

via

 turquoise blue.

rockin wayfarers.

via Free People

sparkly blue.

nail polish perfection.

via

royal blue.

bright tights.

via Zappo's Couture

denim blue.

chunky heel heaven.

via Michael Kors

lapis blue.

chandelier jackpot.

via Bluefly

 egyptian blue.

historical + adorable.

Rock your blue of choice + enjoy!

Cheers!