Cold Hearted Valentine

So, if you are thinking that perhaps it was too cold to be outside in New Jersey this weekend without a coat on...you would be correct.  The small number of pictures in this post s due to the fact that it was 17 degrees.  I did not attempt to get in good light or even stand still long enough so that hte photos wouldn't be blurry.  People were throwing around phrases like "polar vortex," which I think indicates that you should only leave the house in a snow suit.  

However, I am a devoted blogger and I bought this heart print dress special for my annual Anna Howard Shaw Day celebration with my college friends.  It's an intricate celebration that requires the drinking of mimosas, eating of various cheese covered foods, and cackling at a high volume.

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Heart Print Dress: Eshakti (exact) Unisa Saranaa Boots via DSW (exact) Cluster Pearl Necklace: J. Crew Factory (similar) Kate Spade Bracelet via Bloomingdale's (similar) Loren Hope Sarra Cuff via Rocks Box (exact, worn) Get a FREE MONTH OF ROCKS BOX SERVICE you sign up here and use code "pennilesssocialitexoxo"

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Linking up with Trend Spin Link Up, Syle Sessions, The Pleated Poppy, Style Me Wed., The Mummy Chronicles, Tucker Up, Pastries, Pumps and Pi, I do DeClaire, Pumps & Push Ups, Whims Wednesday, Mix and Match Fashion, Thursday Fashion Files, Happiness at MidLife, Friday's Fab Favorites, Passion for Fashion

Foxes and Sparkles

  

Shirt: Marshall's (worn, similar in mens) | Skirt: J. Crew (similar) | Necklace: Banana Republic (exact) | 
Bracelet: Groopdealz (worn, similar) | Booties: Target (worn, similar)

There's nothing better than a big ole sparkly necklace.  Except maybe a big ole sparkly necklace on the clearance rack.  This sparkler was hanging out all by itself on the clearance rack at Banana Republic.  It had no price tag and it was a lonely little guy all by itself.  So, of course, I had to torture the sales associate completing his first week on the job.  The poor newbie couldn't find the product number on the computer.  If I was a nice, reasonable person, I would have told him it was OK and just gone home.  But, I really wanted it.  However, I did not realize that this poor dude had to take out a giant product book and look for it.  I started to feel bad when he took out the phone book sized Banana Republic guide.  Well, it was too late to turn back at this point.  While he searched, I went to get a coffee at Starbucks.  When I returned, he had found the necklace's SKU and told me it was $50 (plus 40% off clearance items).  It was a little more than I wanted to pay, but I had tortured this poor soul so much already.  But, then the necklace rang up at $29.50, plus an extra 40% off, making it $18!  Well, actually $22, after the cost of the Starbucks coffee I brought back for the hardworking associate that put up with my nonsense.
  

Linking up with  Little Miss Monday, Mix it Monday, Funday Monday, Monday Morning Gossip, Monday Mingle, Trend Spin Link Up, Stylish Tuesday, Syle Sessions, Afternoon Style, The Pleated Poppy, Transatlantic Blonde, Whims Wednesday, Because Shanna Said So, I Feel Pretty, I do deClaire, Be.You.,tiful Link Party, Mix and Match Fashion, All Things Thursday, Lovely Blog Hop, Friday's Five, Passion for Fashion, Simply Just Lovely, Glitz and Gold, Vodka Infused Lemonade, That Friday Blog Hop, Fashion Informant Link Up, and Perfectly Coutured

Icy Fancy Fox

Shirt: Marshall's (worn) | Necklace: Zoar Jewelry (exact) | Jeans: Old Navy | Sandals: Target (exact, worn) | 

Watch: Michael Kors | Bracelets: c/o Brighthouse Baubles and Favery (worn)

Check out that sweet ice around my neck.  I am not one to shy away from statement necklaces, but this might be the most shiny plastic I've ever had around my neck.  I almost felt like it was too much...almost.  So, I downplayed it a little with a nice whimsical fox print and some jeans.  None of those things can draw the attention away from this bauble, however.  And I have come to terms with that.
And yes, I am aware this necklace is a cheap knock off from J. Crew.  You can hold the lecture, because I have already given it to myself.  I've gone through the stages of shopping piracy guilt.  However, I ended at acceptance because I don't think there is any amount of eBay knockoffs that can bring down the glorious empire of J. Crew.  The powers of eBay and Etsy combined can never make the No. 2 pencil skirt.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway to win a pair of colored skinnies and some jewelry!

Linking up with Trend Spin Link Up, Molly and Carly for Yolo Mondays, LeAnn for Monday Morning Gossip, Monday Mingle, My Style Monday, Real Girl Glam, Style Sessions, Anything and Everything Blog Hop, The Collective Blog Hop

On a Budget: Lucky B Boutique

Today I want to introduce you to Lucky B Boutique, a fun (and of course affordable) clothing retailer run by the lovely Brandi!

Jeans: c/o Lucky B Boutique | Top: Marshall's | 

Necklace: Lucas Jack via Rocks Box (worn) | Flip Flops: Lauren Conrad for Kohl's (worn) | 

Bracelets: Pame Designs (giveaway win) & Sira and Mara (worn)

Brandi sent over these pale yellow skinnies to try out.  I freakin love them.  They are so soft and have the right amount of stretch in them.  When I bought this little fox shirt, for some reason I knew I wanted to pair it with yellow.  And then Brandi was reading my mind and sent over the perfect color skinnies to show off my foxy shirt.  Sorry...I had to go with that pun.  So, now...meet Brandi!

Q. How did Lucky B get started?  What does the name mean?

I opened Lucky B Boutique on October 22, 2011.  I was working in hotels and wanted to get out and pursue my love of fashion without losing the customer service aspect that I enjoyed in the hotel industry.  It was a really quick turn around from when I decided to take the plunge and start putting together a business plan and applying for small business loans.  Probably only 5 weeks total from when I decided yes I want to go for it, to our Grand Opening!

I played around with names for awhile.  My little Jack / Yorkie mix is named Lola B.  I felt like Lola B didn't quite fit, so a friend of mine helped me run through different versions until we landed on Lucky B.  I feel very blessed and lucky that I have family and friends that support me in this so Lucky sort of worked.  Kind of a neat sign for me was right after I had been turned down from a couple of banks, I was playing golf with my then boyfriend (now husband - he proposed the night of the grand opening and we got married September 15, 2012 :) anyway...) and I sat down on a little hill on the course waiting for him to shoot and there were clovers all around and I grabbed one at it was a 4 leaf clover! The next day I was approved for my business loan and kind of felt more sure in the name Lucky B. :)

Q. Tell me a little bit about you. What are you doing when you're not managing your shop?

During the very little free time I have away from my store (I work pretty much 6-7 days per week), I usually spend time with my husband and 3 dogs (Linus, Lola and Russell ).  We like to golf, try new restaurants around town and travel.  My husband works as a Director of F&B for a hotel and is working 24/7 like me so most of our free time is late in the evenings when we like to hang out with our friends and neighbors or catch up on as many HBO and Showtime shows as possible!  If I'm home for the evening alone, reading a good book with a glass of wine out on our patio is probably the place you'd find me. :)

Q. Any advice to ladies thinking of starting their own business? 

Plan, plan, plan...  I wish I had done more planning but I was in such a hurry to secure my location and get open that I lost out on some of those planning stages.  Also, talk to as many other business owners in your field as possible.  Had I known what I know now I could have saved myself a lot of time and money.  If it's your passion, don't be afraid to go for it, but be prepared to work long hours for little pay.  The retail business is so up and down and there are so many competitors, but if you can find your niche and really connect with the people you are helping dress it is really rewarding! 

Q. Who are your style icons?

This is a hard one!  I tend to look more at the clothing I see and determine what I like vs. determining what I like based on who is wearing it.  I think we are all swayed by certain trends, but if you stick to dressing in clothes that make you feel pretty and happy then you'll enjoy getting dressed each morning.  That said, I do love seeing Blake Lively and pretty much anyone from the cast of Gossip Girl's outfits though.  I still wear a pair of Grey, Knee High, Flat Boots I bought after seeing Serena wear them in Season 2 lol :)  I really like Marnie's character from Girls too and how she's casual but pulled together looking.  I tend to watch characters more so than a specific actress, singer or celebrity in real life.

Q. What are some of your favorite pieces in your shop right now?

We just got a tie dye open back dress that I am in LOVE with!  I'm 5'10 so it's a little short on me, but I'm obsessed with it!  Any maxi dresses and statement necklaces we get in are hard for me not to take home too.  I also really enjoy side or back cutouts.   I have a black and white striped dress available right now that has little cut outs in the rib section and I feel like it's just super flattering with the cutouts and skimming skater style skirt.  

Q. Any predictions for upcoming fashion trends for the summer and fall?

I've found that following to closely to trends works out badly for me.  For example, all we saw was printed denim, printed denim everywhere, and the 2 styles I got in were subdued to some extent, but they are definitely hard to pull off for your every day woman.  I think solid colored denim has become more of a staple than a trend at this point.  Our Skinnies in brushed cotton sell out quickly!  I'll be ordering darker colors for Fall like Navy, Mustard, Forest Green etc...  They always go for $36 so it gives women a chance to break out and try different colors without draining their bank accounts!   I go to market or shop online for the boutique and try to only choose things that I think will be flattering and make sense for an Indianapolis market.  As I grow the website I hope I can bring in a greater variety of styles, but I think I offer a range of selections that suite many ages and body types.

Linking up with: The Pleated Poppy, Transatlantic Blonde, Rolled Up Pretty, Because Shanna Said So, I Feel Pretty, Dress for the Day You Want, Whatever Works Wednesday,  Real Girl Glam, Style Sessions

Stuff I Bought: Whimsical Print Intervention

It's time for another edition of "Tara has lost her damn mind."  I did a little online shopping during Anthropologie's last round of sales and I had a little look in Kohl's after receiving a 30% off coupon.  (Kohl's was also offering $10 Kohl's Cash for every $50 you spend.)  And, well, then this happened:

If you followed me on Instagram you'd already know that I am cray cray

Yes, you are seeing that correctly.  I bought things in a bee print, an acorn print and a flamingo print all in one weekend.  I need a whimsical print intervention.  I can see it now: my friends and family sitting around me.  "Tara, your addiction has negatively affected my life in the following ways.  I can not look at you without laughing about how stupid you look wearing your flamingo dress and flamingo shoes."  And then I am hauled off to rehab, but not after screaming, "Please just let me buy a kitten print dress before I go to take the edge off!!!"
And here is a better look at the evidence of my insanity.

Whimsical Print Intervention by veggielawyer

Acorn Dress // Anthropologie, $80

Flamingo Dress // Lauren Conrad for Kohl's, $48

Pollination Tank // Anthropologie, $50

And of course my insanity knows no bounds and there are a few more crazy items on my list.  I'm getting mixed reviews on the flamingo shoes still.  I am on the fence, but I might fall off on the crazy side of the fence and get them.

Whimsical Prints 2 by veggielawyer 

However, I will be saying NO to anything bicycle printed.  I have reached my bicycle print quota for life.  Seriously, if I try to buy that Lauren Conrad dress, someone smack me.

Bicycle Print Problem by veggielawyer
Bike Lane Dress (worn here)
Bicycle Skirt (worn here)
Jason Wu for Target Cycle print dress (worn here)