resolutions

Leather Pants from H&M  Shirt & Socks from Joe Fresh  Vest & Necklace from F21  Boots from Winners   

Earrings from Kate Spade  Watch (gift) from Fossil

In the spirit of New Years Eve - here are my resolutions for 2012:

- I will grow my hair
- I will give up chocolates. 100%. Honestly
- I will do less laundry, and use more deodorant
- I will stop worrying so much
- I will not procrastinate
- I will not stare at my computer just because I don’t have anything worthwhile to do
- I will update my resume
- I will stop buying nail polish
- I will consider second and third breakfasts as real meals
- I will spend more time with myself
- I will give a hug every day
- I will sing in the shower, and in the car
- I will take risks
- I will talk more & tweet less
- I will watch the sun set
- I will tell him that I love him
- I will enjoy every minute
- I will laugh lots
- I will not make any resolutions

  

Cheers to a happy New Year! We get a blank page, so lets scribble all over it!

what i {insta} love about christmas

let's be friends on instagram?  

katyabrook

happy holidays (from me & the dinky tree)

Hope you lovely galls/guys are surrounded by love and warmth this holiday season.

We should live every day like it is a holiday, being thankful and spending time with family, and looking hopefully to the future.

As for me, you can find me with a glass of wine in my hand - devouring the cheese plate - and chatting hapily away with all my loved ones this weekend.

Oh and of course indulging in eggnog.

growing up

Leather Skirt - Thrifted (14$!!)   Sweater - Gap    Boots & Bracelet - Winners 

Growing up is never easy. You hold on to things you were. You wonder what's to come. But last night, I knew it was time to let go of what had been, and look ahead to what could be. To be precise, it was time to let go of my 'leather fear' once and for all. It started with baby steps, leather gloves - and slowly I was okay with leather jackets and leather shoes. I got brave, half leather leggings. But this weekend, I took two final steps - leather pants and leather skirt. *Pat on the back*

Oh my mama would be so proud of all my new leathery friends. Look ma - I'm growing up! It also helped that this skirt was a steal - for $14 - what fear? Well, only the new fear of ripping my skirt bowling (probably the wrong outfit choice for the night).

great minds dress alike

Hi pretty ladies. Today I'm guest posting over @ Chic on the Cheap. It was my turn to re-style one of Lydia's outfits and add a little twist of my own. Let me know what you all think!

guest post: lydia from chic on the cheap

Top Swapped with another blogger

Jacket from Express

Fur Collar from the thrift store

Bag from Coach via the thrift store

Jeans from Kohls

Boots from Steve Madden

Belt from the Gap

Rings from American Eagle and the Cavernous Jewelry Box

 

Hi, Lydia from Chic on the Cheap here, and for my post I've taken an outfit of Katya's and recreated it. Of course she has so many great ones to choose from, and we even have the same horse print top from H&M, so that would have been an easy option, but the second I spotted this one I knew it was IT!

I love it when you can take great basic pieces and give them a lot of polish - even though this is basically a white top and a pair of jeans, having a tailored leather jacket, a fur collar and a little pop of color can make you feel so posh and chic on the weekend! 

Thanks for the inspiration, Katya! 

spoiled rotten

Jacket from Aritzia   Booties from Nine West   Bag/Earings from Aldo 

Whenever I tell people I'm an only child, I get that judgmental look - you know the "oh, lucky you" look. However, if they spent even a second with my parents they'd realize that I am far from spoiled. Though that doesn't mean that my mommy and daddy don't love me. Because they do. Especially around the holidays - they love me a LOT (birthdays are included in that too). So if not being spoiled rotten by my parents during the year means that I get a gorgeous jacket (yup that one right there!) as an early Christmas present...I'll take it! Plus, I've got an ah-mazing boyfriend to make up for all the years of spoilage I've missed. And let me tell you - he's doing a pretty darn good job.

unwanted

Shirt from H&M   Sweater/Boots from Winners   Pants/Hat from F21   Socks from AE

I have been wanting to adopt a puppy from the pound for over a year now. But with our super hectic schedules, boyfriend and I have no time to pick up after ourselves - not to mention a little bundle of joy. When we moved in together I had to leave my princess at my parents, and I definitely don't have the heart to take her away from my dad. He already lost one gall from the house, I don't think he'll handle it too well. He calls her his new daughter. I miss you too dad. But I'm right here, promise!

So now whenever I see those cute fuzzy noses at the shelter, I just want to hide one in my enormously large winter jacket and take the little tyke home. But instead, I go shopping. Fair tradeoff right? Then, when I see stores that are closing, and having up to 70% off lovely boots, well I can't say no. While I definitely don't try stuffing them in my jacket, I do buy them. Very legal here folks. 

Just because they are unwanted, last season and ridiculously discounted (see the puppy resemblance here?)...does not mean they won't show you the same amount of love as those other pricey designer ones. They've got a lot of years of loving left in them. 

**PS. I am not allowed to buy more boots. Boyfriend forbids me. For one reason only - there is no longer any room in the closet. Make that in either of the closets.

ruby deer

**What better inspiration for holiday nails than an adorable straw reindeer**

you know you WANA

image via modgblog

The second I saw this post --> Operation WANA: We Are Not Assholes over at modgblog I knew I had to share it with you guys. MODG has done something so wonderful in light of the holiday season, I'm not sure I even have the right words to describe it. So I won't try. Go on over there (clicky the link above) and see for yourself.

She's uniting the blogging community, in order to help those in need. We all have something we can contribute. We're already such an uplifting bunch, who stand behind one another. There is nothing more powerful than all us guys and galls put together.

Operation WANA warmed my heart and made tears run down my cheeks. Growing up, my family struggled. We were new to the country, with only a few dollars in our bank account. My wonderful mother, my hardworking father, and little ol' me was all we had. I know what it's like to see parents struggle to do everything they can for their children.

In no way am I complaining though. My parents are my world, they've built such a fantastic life for us in a matter of only 10 years. I look up to them, and I treasure them, and I love them with every piece of my heart. They've went from nothing to so much. And for that, I am forever grateful.

So let's help others get on their feet, shall we?

why?

Dress from FCUK   Leg Warmers/Belt from H&M  Boots from Steve Madden   Necklace from Winners

**the scarf was a gift

I heard this story about a University student in Toronto (and take this with a grain of salt, people have very creative minds) who might have written the most epic essay in the history of ever.

It was a philosophy final, and the broad question that the professor asked the class was:

 

"Why?"

 

The entire class spent the whole three hours mauling over their essays, while one particularly awesome guy finished in aproximately a minute and handed in his paper. He later got his final mark, which was an A+. He had written two simple words (and a punctuation): 

 

"Why not?"

 

A pretty good philosophy to live by ;)

never too much glitter

**Layer a neutral pink-beige with a gold glitter top coat**

find the perfect gift

If you're like me, you've got a pretty tight leash on your holiday gift budget. Mine happens to be extra short. Here are some ideas, staying under $50, for those special girly galls in your life.

[1] H&M Skirt for the one who shines $24.95

[2] Victoria's Secret Angel Eau de Parfum for the one who is sexy and confident $45.00

[3] Coach Liquid Gloss Wristlet for the elegant one with an uptown edge $48.00

[4] Revlon Lip Butter for the non fussy lady $7.00 to $9.00 (in any local drugstore)

[5] Urban Decay Naked 2 for the beauty lover $50.00 (just became available today!)

[6] Jewelmint Gift-card for the jewelery lover $29.99 (incredible quality, great price)

[7] J.Crew Leopard Glittens for the one who's chic and feisty $41.50