shelf help

image source: pinterest, apartmentthereapy.com, chiccheapnursery.com

bookshelves are always a great conversation piece.  i love walking into a place with bookshelves covered in personal pictures, nik naks, souvenirs from far away places and of course....books.  these are some of my favorite bookshelves, that use different and interesting combinations of book and shwag.  changing up your bookshelves is always a great way of updating a room. 

neon

image source: plentyofcolor.com

1. theyskens' theory anen mini flap bag

2. marc jacobs party balls cross body bag

3. marc jacobs neon croc-effect leather shoulder bag

4. moyna tie dyed beaded clutch

5. cambridge satchel co. upwardly mobile satchel

neons are a predominant color seen in springs' layout of apparel, jewelry and accessories.  if the bright hues scare you, maybe try just a little dose of the color as accents (such as the theyskens theory bag)  a little bit goes a long way, as they say. 

NY Fashion Week Fall 2012

elizabeth and james; marchesa; alica + olivia 

rebecca taylor; elie tahari; mara hoffman; jcrew

february is known for snow, cold, valentines day, more cold and new york fashion week.  the city is all a buzz for a week, bringing in the most desired models, actors, editors, buyers and a-listers to the big apple. trends and colors are mapped out for the fashion conscious to plan out accordingly of what to keep, what to toss and what to purchase.  last night concluded fall 2012 ready to wear collections after over 300 shows presented.

rich jewel tones set the stage in almost every collection that was paraded down the runway.  ruby, emerald, cobalt, orange and magenta were the top picks for accessories and apparel alike.  vests, bags, collars, cuffs, sleeves and accessories were adorned in luxurious fur; both real and faux..... this could most widely be seen in michael kors, jason wu and carolina herreras collections.    headbands came back with a vengeance with the help of orlando pita crowning the models with this hair accessory in the doo.ri, carolina herrera and oscar de la renta shows.  dresses, dresses and more dresses strutted down almost every runway.  short and long hemlines were equally distributed with one not being favored over the other.  my  favorites were mara hoffman, rebecca taylor, alice + olivia and j. mendel (shown below) collections.

j. mendel

other highlights to be seen were; moncler grenobles show presented on ice, husband beckham and anna wintour were neighbors in the front row at victoria beckhams show, 14 year old models were hired by none other eccentric marc jacobs for his show, christie brinkley and rose mcgowen almost take a spill on the runway, nicholas k shows off his dog and of course, i will always love you whitney houston...

cupid

flowers can make you smile or can make you cry.  the smell can spark a moment in your memory that you will never forget.    flowers can set any mood, they can be fun and bright or sexy and sophisticated.   valentines day is right around the corner.  i personally dont celebrate this holiday, but for those who do and are expecting a lovely bouquet of flowers or need ideas for your the person your lovin; here are some of my favorites (shown above)......

anemone

peonies

amnesia roses

ranunculus

poppies

Jean.... Is that you?

left to right: ag stilt cigarette denim ikat blue; current/elliot stilleto skinny jean; citizens of humanity mandy floral roll ups; paige denim toulouse verdugo in tumble; jbrand houndstooth skinny jeans; 7 for all manking jeans twill crop skinny jeans in ikat toffee

 after shopping around the past couple of weeks the big trend ive seen and lovin is printed denim.  florals, animal, chevron, houndstooth.... you name it, it is out there.  these prints and colors are so fun and can be mixed and matched with any solid or print top.  what a way to jump into spring!

dolce vita

image source: style.com

its never too early to start thinking of what your spring closet will look like, especially when its cold and dreary out.  dolce and gabbana's spring 2012 collection would brighten anyones day with their use of color, texture and silhouette.  of course, who can afford any of these frocks strutting down the runway? the least that can be done is take inspiration from this collection. 

bright bold colors such as this tangerine (number one pantone color of 2012- tangerine mango) will be seen all over stores come spring.  happy florals and prints can be mixed and matched with solids or other prints, this can make a vibrant statement. textures such as the floral dress above, gives added depth to any ordinary outfit.  sheer tops and dresses are staying in trend this spring.  pair a sheer top with a sheer tank to add a perfect cover up underneath.  how can we forget about jewels, sequins and sparkle?  sequin and jeweled accents go a long way,  replacing the disco ball dress worn on new years eve. sparkled collars, cuffs, belts and headbands add just enough bling to your overall look for the warm weather. bright accessories are also in tote for the spring.  greens, aquas and oranges can be seen on bags, scarves and shoes. 

nail files

images source: pinterest

 i couldnt think of anything better than getting a mani, pedi and maybe throw in a 10 minute massage.  but sometimes its also nice to sit home, hang out with the pooch and attempt to get your right hand looking as great as your left with a diy mani.  i added some inspirational pictures of how to add some layers and oomph into your nails.

all of these deco shapes and lines can be done by just using tape.  cut out any shape you want and put it over a base layer.  give it two coats to make sure you cant see the base color coming through.  peel the tape off while the polish is still damp or else the polish will dry and rip up the base coat along with the tape. throw on a good top coat (always splurge on a good top coat) and voila! everyone will be asking where you got that done!

 background image source: spoonflower