Oh Pinterest ...I really like you...

Don't you think that whoever created Pinterest probably thought that chocolate covered pretzels were divine and that puppies make the world a better place... And that breakfast in bed heavenly .. I'm pretty sure that that they should be my friend, we would get along smashingly! Pinterest is probably hands down one of the funnest ways I waste time.. ;) Not to mention they just installed this new thing that alerts you when your about to Pin the same thing twice! Mind blown...

I find the most incredible recipes for food right around lunch time when my coffee and yogurt have sufficiently

worn off and I need a pinata cake like pronto..  Or some fabulous inspiration to my wardrobe (wouldn't be amazing if it actually ended up in my closet?) I would die! I mean how rockin is that leopard print clutch?? gosh..I pretty fairly certain I live out some form of dream while I'm pinning away! I want to travel? Done.. Pinned the Eiffel Tower.... I want to have kids someday? Done, pinned that ridiculously cute picture of a baby with puppies.. Want to cook amazing tasty food? Done.. Pinned that hazelnut crepe recipe.. I mean the options are really endless!.If you would like to see more of what I'm pinning over on the ol Pinterest account... who doesn't? ...click here! 

White Denim & Fried Chicken....

Top-Old Navy (similar)

Jeans- Old Navy

Heels -BCBGirls via Marshalls

Sunglasses- HM

Is there nothing more magical than white denim and leopard print... it's like combining two epic neutrals for one spectacular finish....  I read somewhere that wearing white creates an emotional response of feeling alert and alive..  Well I'm not sure about that unless of course we are talking about that I'm extremely alert to all the potential coffee spills and stains... It's a gift I have a real gift... however I would like to thank Clorox bleach and Shout pre-wash for making my white denim dreams come true!

I put together this little ensemble for ya'll... and of course a little Friday night date to KFC... yeah, that was a low moment... however I do not regret it... I had been craving fried chicken all and day and the only way to get some was (other than making it myself which we all knew was not going to happen).. yup KFC...  Seth was like, "are we going in?" to which I responded "OH NO...we are using the drive through"...  I'm not sure how this whole running to KFC got out of control but it felt like we were cheating on our healthy lifestyle just a bit... Only we would start juicing and go to KFC in the same week! Uhhh... I judge myself...  I must say... it was delicious.... and I don't regret it... well maybe a little... I wanted to feel young a free and how I do that is going through the KFC drive through... 

So enough about our poor decisions... and back to fashion... If you don't  own any white denim... put down the coffee.. close the computer and run, don't walk to your closest Old Navy...   Tons of choices in white denim and they are on sale! The jeans I got are in the Flirt line and for a girl with some curve it's heaven sent.. with a little stretch to help the fit.. I paired it with a silky leopard print top... I wish I could say this is still available but it's from a couple of seasons ago... however a leopard print top, shoes or clutch is the perfect pop to any outfit.. I feel that leopard print can easily fit into the classic "must haves" for any closet... I put on a pair of black pointy stilettos (because they make me feel powerful)... and I was ready for my night with a bucket of fried chicken! Because that's how I roll...

What's in my makeup bag...

What's in my makeup bag... by hchdesigns featuring mac cosmetics makeup

What the what? I'm posting on the blog!! Geesh... I sincerely apologize for the lack of posts lately.. I swear I've thought about you often and almost everyday I wear something cute.. however you would never know because just like John Lennon said "life happens when your busy making other plans.." Boy aint that the truth! Busy busy busy... anyhoo... enough about that... I'm already boring myself...

There has been a trend running around the blogging world of taking a picture of what is in your bag/purse... Well I would love to join in on that trend however there really isn't anything too interesting about random scraps of paper and bobby pins...  Sooo.... I thought I would do a little twist on that and share about what is in my makeup bag!

So obviously I love Urban Decay.. I'm always amazed at the quality of their product.. but one brand that I love just as much is Arbonne.. similar to Avon or Mary Kay it is only available through a distributor... however it is 100% vegan and cruelty free! See their ingredient and product details here...
Now, I'm not saying I'm going all "granola" on you.. I can eat a good steak along with the best of them.. I just don't like to rub it on my face...  Great visual huh?
Also it doesn't hurt that their product is hands down some of the best I've tried.. and what I'm really excited about is their newest addition to their cosmetic line..

Is their It’s a Long Story™ Mascara!! I love it.. totally lengthening, stays on forever, no flaking, and yet washes off with complete ease..totally crushes the other competition...

So that's my makeup bag... what is missing you might ask? Skincare... Ugh.. here's where I need your help..
I've got a problem.. all of a sudden like out of nowhere my skin is wicked dry... like ridiculously dry... I'm used to "normal" amounts of dry skin sometimes but this is unreal...  I feel like I need a tub of face cream just to get by.. Does anyone else deal with this? Or do you have a favorite skincare product you swear by? I'd love to know!

Insta What? & Five to Ten Things....

my makeup, selfie,  Dutch Bros... heaven, wedding day of my friends

Selfie aka..good hair day, lunch, Hot Tameles, where I work....

My husband doing the duck face, going for a walk, The Bucks, Our besties..

Five, six or ten things you don't know about me... mostly all of them embarrassing....

• I'm only 5'1... that's wicked short for everyone that doesn't know... and I need help reaching things at the back of my top cupboards... It looks a little pathetic...
• When I was 17, I wrote, directed and starred in the lead role of Anne of Green Gables play... SUPER embarrassing now but at the time I was a rock star... and yes I can quote the movie in my sleep.
• I like to sing...my neighbors are quite aware of this fact...cleaning the bathroom and Mariah Carey go so well together...
• I pretty much hate going to the fitting room when shopping... if I can avoid it I will... Who can blame me when the lighting in there makes you look like you've got 5 chins instead of 2? Old Navy I'm looking at you.
• One time in my life I walked into a red pole at Walmart while I was waiving at a guy, everyone at the entrance noticed including the guy...the pole was just as tall as me.
• Sometimes when I can't remember how to spell some something I spell it incorrect on purpose so the "spell check" will show me the correct version... lazy? maybe.
• My favorite candy is Hot Tamales... they make me happy.
• I've got a slight addiction to sparkling water.. Ahh... Pellegrino... Perrier....Trader Joe's...
• I don't like to get out of bed in the morning until I know what I'm going to wear... it's a great mix of style and procrastination.
• Favorite movie... Fools Gold... I never get tired of it.. 

The rest of me will remain a mystery...  

Gold Stars & Pep Talks....

Top- Joppa

Jeans- AE

Shoes- Bass

Sunglasses-HM

Have you ever been so busy that you're not sure what to start first? It's like ADD on steroids sometimes... I read on Pinterest once "if a man wants to know what's going on in a woman's mind, just open up 250 tabs on your Internet browser and just bounce around all of them." Haha.. so true... Us ladies are are like the ultimate multi-taskers... Right now, my "real job" has entered it's busiest season... I'm also the wedding coordinator for a friend that is getting married on Saturday and 2 weekends ago my mom was in town... and it doesn't stop there! But I will... because any further it will sound a bit like whining... unless of course wine is involved, in which then I'm totally OK with that...

So now, here I am with this little conversation in my head... "I've got to get an outfit post up on the blog, it's been like ages and my readers are going to think I've disappeared .. How the heck can I squeeze in time for a little photo shoot?.. not to mention writing"... and then the little voice says, "other bloggers do this everyday... if you can't do this then I guess your not cut out to be a blogger..."  To which I say... total crap... I've got other words for that but my mom reads this and well.. ya know...

 Life happens, and I happen to be in one of the busiest times right now, so what? I'm a toughie... made out of more than just red hair and hazel eyes...  and I know that this is what I'm meant to do.. so little voice in my head.... you can go to hell... just sayin...that's my little pep talk...

I think it's really easy to look at others with the perception that they've somehow tapped into their superpowers and have endless amounts of energy and can always get everything done... Well, I'm not one of those people...  It's bare your soul Monday over here folks... To me, it creates all of these unrealistic expectations... Ahhh the pressure! 

It's a lot what we do, as bloggers, as women, as people... on a daily basis if we are not congratulating ourselves for the little accomplishments then I think we should all go back to 1st grade when everything is celebrated... Gold stars all around! .. Cue my Oprah impersonation... "you get a gold star and you get a gold star and you get a gold star!" As, for a style tip... take it easy on yourself... If your like me and fighting feeling overwhelmed don't add to it with unrealistic expectations... just be you... and slap on some lip gloss, curl your hair, pour yourself a drink... and breathe... then maybe watch a little YouTube... because nothing says "coping" like a cat falling into a bathtub...

Real Beauty...

I'm sure most of you by now has either heard of the video or even seen it... but I just watched it a couple of days ago... and wow how profound.... I think too many times we see ourselves to harshly or the words said to us as children ring in our hears..

I love this because it shows us, especially women to not judge ourselves too harshly or to start seeing ourselves in the light of all the wonderful things that make us to who we are....  Because if we only knew like deep inside how incredible we are.. we just might believe it!

Links à la Mode!!!

OMG...sorry/not sorry for my freak out moment... Seriously so honored to be featured in the weeks Links a la Mode! There are some wicked fabulous bloggers out there that I am just giddy to be included with them! IFB (Independent Fashion Bloggers) is an amazing resource for all fashion bloggers out there and I am just so thankful to apart of! So with out further adieu this is the roundup of their favorite 20 links this week! Enjoy!

World Click

Does it matter where you blog from? I say this as I've lived in four cities during my blogging career, and to tell the truth, it kind of does, but it also kind of doesn't. This week Style Bazaar asks that question to a few bloggers about their experiences with blogging and location. We also travel around to Australia to check out their MBFW, how Man Repeller got us thinking about Japan (again), about how female politicians across the globe relate to fashion (should they?) and where you can get globally conscious accessories. As always it's a mixed bag, so enjoy!

Links à la Mode: April 18th

1. Anna Lou Eliott: 3 ways to wear white: for day, night and work
2. Attire Club: What We Can Learn From Superheroes
3. Cosmolawitan: Dove: Empowering Women With Its Ad Campaigns
4. Dressed up on a cloudy day: How to Combine Colors : Analogous Colors
5. Fashion is Evolution: 4 Tips for Pushing Yourself to Achieve Your Creative Goals
6. Fashion Moriarty: Are female politicians reduced to what they wear?
7. Hey Mishka: 5 Globally Conscious Festive Accessories For Summer
8. HH Designs: Glamping: My Overall Lack of Roughing It...
9. Lara Lizard: Test : Are you the cutest creature of the social media?
10. Incognito: On how Man Repeller got me thinking about fashion in Japan
11. Modestelle: Mercedes Benz Australia Review 2013-2014
12. Mis Papelicos: My 6 Easy Steps to Happiness
13. Nothing to wear: The Rookie Department: Hair Styling For Beginners
14. Runway to Style: 7 Style Guidelines To Look Your Best at Prom and More
15. Style Bazaar: Blogging: How important is your location?
16. The Curatorial: Vale Jewelry: Algorithms and Delicate Jewelry
17. Undercover Dress Up: Interview with lolita icon Emilka P.
18. We Are Ready Made: Irreverent Youth
19. Wild Beauty World: War Paint
20. Youth Savage: Fashion Blogging vs. the World

  SPONSOR: Sale @ Shopbop: Timo Weiland, Rebel, Star Mela, Beth Richards, Hunter, Voltaire Zadig, Mugler, Ulla Johnson, Jill Stuart, Superga, & L'Wren Scott