Mint Handbag Obsessed

From clothes and accessories to makeup and nails, powdery, pasty, minty green goodness has been everywhere lately. Every-where! But we've seen mint {or "seafoam" as it was referred to a few years ago}, try to make a statement for a while now. And thanks to the 2012 Spring runway collections, it finally has. For the past few months I've been obsessed with fresh mint green handbags and couldn't help but link to each from my Facebook page... but then there were just so many...

Here are my favorites, from all different price points.

Which is your favorite?



























Click to buy...

1. ASOS Leather Portfolio Clutch With Metal Tip $85.94
2. Louis Vuitton ALMA $1770
3. Botkier Valentina Satchel $395
4. ASOS Weave Metal Bar Clutch $42.97
5. Topshop Drench Holdall $72
6. ASOS Weave Hobo Bag $50.13
7. JAS MB perforated Mini Move On Bag $395
8. JAS MB perforated zen wristlet $175
9. BCBGeneration Charlie Medium Satchel $128
10. Chloe Madeleine Tote Bag $2695
11. Haru studded mint crossbody bag at YesStyle $72
12. PRADA mint leather double handle bag $1520
13. ASOS Mint Pocket Shopper $62.67
14. PRADA perforated mint patent leather tote bag $1750

Happy Friday Lovecats!

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Hints of Minimalism... Minimally Hinting

What I'm Wearing
* Vintage black blazer
* Trapeze tank by MYNE w/a black tank under... seen here in one of my favorites outfits still.
* Victoria's Secret cuffed/cropped jeans from a few years ago {I bought them a size big so they'd be baggy and I'm usually not a proponent of buying inexpensive jeans however, when the fit doesn't really matter, like with these, they do just fine}
* Various bangles, D&G watch, gold branch bracelets, AV Max Python bangle, Fornash Rome leather/gold wrap bracelet in white from HauteLook.
* Tiffany gold pendant necklace.
* Chloe gray/gold sunglasses
* Rebecca Minkoff MAB in gray
* Charles Jourdan strappy heels... I half-sized up but didn't need to. Luckily the straps keep my feet held in.

Sometimes the husband and I catch the sun at just the right second before it sets for the night and end up with some really beautiful photos. The exploding light behind me and the peachy glare on the street is just so pretty to me. I was a bit off in the first shot, but it kind of made my hair look more magical than when I was standing directly in front of the sun. My husband has been shooting my outfits shots {with my direction, or more, my demanding} just about a year now and has gotten so good. For someone who literally never picked up a camera and only rarely even took/takes pictures with his iPhone, AND who fought wanting to learn anything about it, his eye for it is unmistakable. If were were both a little more technical, and understood my camera and lenses better, we could create even prettier shots. Anyway, I wore this outfit last Saturday, out to dinner with some friends ;)

Happy Thursday!

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Peach & Purple Nails Alternating Colors Manicure

After creating this manicure the other day, it occurred to me that I may have seen a similar technique on Consider Me Lovely's Instagram feed. It wasn't until a day after I painted my nails though that I realized I may have seen it elsewhere, though I'm still not completely sure. That's how inspiration works I suppose ;) But to get on with it, I really love this manicure. Both colors are equally as vivid {as are my blue toes} and I love looking down at them while I'm working at my desk... or well, doing anything really. This peach may be more of a coral but it borderlines on neon once applied & has a smidge of shimmer... not so much of an accent nail manicure but just as fun.

There's no real tutorial with this manicure except that you paint your thumb, middle, & ring fingers in one color then your pinky & pointer with the other, and alternate it on the other hand. It's simple, but effective without actually needing to add any nail art, design, or glitter. A quiet boldness I suppose.




* Sephora by OPI "How Cute is That?"
* Sephora by OPI "Iris I Was Thinner" {freebie size!}
* Essie "Good to Go" top coat {my new favorite!}

*NOTE: colors may appear darker & more vivid in reality.





Apologies for the seemingly gratuitous ring & bracelet shots.

Have Fun!

Find all of my Nail Art Tutorials Here

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Leather Peter Pan Collar Necklace DIY

I know it seems like everyone has already done some sort of collar DIY {and I've done a few collar DIYs as well as an embellished collar diy myself} however, I kind of wanted a leather collar necklace and didn't want to buy one. So obviously, I decided to DIY my own and document it to share with you all because, that's what I do ;) It's really very easy actually and the leather gives the sweet & girlie Peter Pan shape a bit of edginess... which I always like. It's very minimal, with the pinked round edges as its only design feature, but you can add studs or a little bling or slip a ribboned bow in the center if you wish as I have demonstrated above.

What You'll Need

* Leather... medium weight, if all you have is thin leather, glue two sides together to make it thicker. You need the weight so it will stay put and keep its shape.
* Peter Pan Collar Pattern - which you can eyeball and draw yourself, use an existing blouse with a peter pan collar as a guide or - download my Peter Pan Collar Pattern here. {Psst! Just cut out one side of the pattern, & flip it to use for the opposite pattern}
* Scissors & Pinking Shears
* Sharpie Paint pen {or anything that will show up on your leather} If you're using raw leather, any pen will do.
* Bead Reamer {or leather hole punch}
* Jump Rings - I used oval rings for this project
* Lobster Clasp

Steps

* Carefully trace your pattern onto the back or suede side of the leather {or on whichever side you will not be using as your front}



* Using your pinking shears, cut the outer part of your collar necklace pattern out.
* Using your regular scissors, cut the inside of your collar necklace pattern out.



* Using your bead reamer {or leather hole punch} puncture a small hole close to the end of each center.



* Using one jump ring, through the holes, connect the two pieces of leather.






* Using your bead reamer again, create a hole in either end of your leather pieces.



* Connect a jump ring and your lobster hook to one side... and a single jump ring to the other side. * If you'd like to be able to wear it longer, add a bit of chain on one side for adjustments.

Voila!

Have Fun!

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My Easy Go-to Outfit for Spring

What I'm Wearing
* Black and white striped sweater courtesy of Jigsaw London. And actually, my go-to winter outfit also contained a sweater from Jigsaw. Striped sweater seen here with pink jeans.
* American Apparel racerback tank worn under
* Rich and Skinny "Lira" jeans... seen here
* D&G watch, navy AV Max Python bangle, SEAH watches orange Gemini/Pisces wrap bracelet, various bangles, gold oval hoop earrings, Tom Ford sunglasses
* Black Avarcas sandals... worn here in brown and here as well... AND HERE lol. But they have a cute little selection of colors and styles as well.
* Rebecca Minkoff morning after bag in gray/blue


These days it seems like every time I have to leave the house in a hurry, run an errand or stop by for quick-visit, this is what I put on. I swap out my American Apparel racerback tank for any other color I have that's clean {I have about 5 I think} but otherwise, this is it. I've never been one for ballet flats, not because I don't think they're cute, I totally do, but they just don't work for me. For one, I can't walk in them without looking like a complete moron and two, they don't ever stay on my strangely shaped/wide/bunion-inhabiting/archless feet and accentuate my pigeon-toed walk which I try to correct on daily basis. And this is why I usually opt for heels, they have a forced arch. But when Avarcas {also: Abarcas} sent me my first pair of these leather sandal-like-slip on flats from Spain last year, I fell in love. They're such a classic design and fit my feet and style perfectly. They just sent me this black pair and I wear them everywhere... including walking LeRoy {though I don't normally bring my handbag along with}

* LeRoy was more interested in watching the squirrels frolic and chase each other up and around trees than focus on modeling for this photo shoot. {I can't believe he's going to turn 8 next month!}

Happy Monday!

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