{beauty} checking out julep

I decided to give julep a try when I came across a no brainer deal, a coupon code to get it for a PENNY, (which was actually the code but I am not sure if it is still valid) 

UPDATE: i was browsing the web and saw that the code is in fact still good, so it's definitely worth checking out.

And shout out to Kimberly for correcting my errant ways on the name of this co!!

Like most of the other goodie box programs you answer questions to determine your style and for $19.99 they send you nail polishes and other hand/foot treatment products.

A couple of things that make them different from some of the other monthly beauty boxes is that they allow you to view your options and change them before they are shipped and you can send your monthly box to someone else as a gift if you like.

So I answered the questions and they determined that my answers fit their Boho Glam style and this is what I got in the intro box.

{rock} tortoise, danglers, studs, hammered and more

Happy Humpday!

Crazy busy today with work stuff but I did get a new shipment

 of Closet Fete goodies in that I wanted to share with ya.

{beauty} in the mail...

last week while checking out my twitter stream i came across a chat that Clarisonic was holding called #sonicchat and joined in a little bit and won the most wicked of giveaways and the prize (the Clarisonic Plus and their new body brush extension handle) arrived today!

WOOT!

i can not wait to start using it and of course i will report back here at some point. in the meantime, you can check out my review of the Clarisonic Mia that i already owned here.

Thanks Clarisonic!

{rock} split thigh...yay or nay...

i have found myself watching the runway video for this skirt on and off the last couple of days and i still can not decide if i like it or not...

i of course like to show a lil leg but i am not sure about this one...maybe if the short part was more angled like the bottom of the long skirt instead of just straight across??

hmmmm?

{rock] red hot sunday...

yesterday some of the fam came to town and we had a family dinner
and as usual there was nothing for me to eat (side eye) 
but lots of fun, laughter and dancing!

i pulled out one of my fav kiyonna red dresses for the occasion...

{events} Windy City Live's 1 Yr Anniversary

Windy City Live popped up on the scene filling the Big O's time slot after she retired 

last year and they just celebrated their first year with a fab roof top party!

 

honor....{life}

this post was originally titled #summertimechi because when i wrote it last night, i was all smiles about the fun day that i had...well of course we all awoke this morning to hear of the Aurora, CO movie theater tragedy and i didn't want to post this...


but as i was dressing it dawned on me...how i will not let the crazies of the world steal my joy...


and how i will not allow them stop me from sharing it with others. 


so while the posting of this may seem frivolous, it is not. 


it is a declaration, that although i shed tears this morning for something unimaginable, i will continue to honor life by living it fully and OUT LOUD!

~~~

last night was the perfect example of what i love about summer in born home...chicago.

it started off at a cool event put on by LPYP at Social 25 sippin on libations and nibbling delicious eats with a bunch of fab girls who won tickets from me to go on twitter.

this polenta was so good...i will definitely be taking a trip to angelina ristorante

next i was off to do one of my favorite things...dance... in the park.

i love this dress...it's simple, yet the sideway high low is sexy ;)

 it was african night and there was a great band playing and lots of people just having a 

good time shaking their money makers ;)

i was still dancing even after we left the dance floor! 

more pics on my facebook page

an organized {life}...

i have slowly been getting more organized and thankfully so...

i recently thrifted a new desk, well actually what i think was made as a bar 

that i am using as a desk, and the best part about it besides the 

clean whiteness of it, is that i can close it up at the end of the day.

the pics on the cabinet door and on the wall are from my etsy shop

{ootd} summer rockin

happy monday!

here are some pics of my drag and details that i have snapped with my phone while out and about lately.

{rock} weekend chill

i rarely ever wear cropped jeans but when i saw the rich wash on these cropped 

skinny's @ eloquii, i decided to give them a whirl.

blouse | shoes | jeans | tote

{fun} Happy Friday The 13th & over 5,400+ tweeps!

just realized that i have over 5,400 twitter followers....thanks tweet fam.

i love tweeting with you guys and you definitely keep me in the know and crazy entertained.

i think that this milestone, along with making friday the 13th all about good stuff, calls for a lil giveaway.

i love this fab bangle (there are two for sale at Closet Fete) and i will be giving away one to a twitter follower who tweets me at some point today, Friday the 13th!

the winner will be randomly chosen saturday the 14th.

if you aren't following me on twitter (side eye) you can do so here!


have a fabulous one!

{fun} 31 Days of moi... #photoaday

i take a lot of pictures...i mean A LOT! and i love everything about photos and photography and capturing moments, which is why i have had my photoblog for years.

but one of the things about picture taking, is that when it comes to taking them of myself, i am usually like, ok lets get this over with.

it's not because i don't like taking pictures, it's because i am not a poser and i really don't pay much attention to how i pose. but i decided recently that if there is going to be so many friggin pics of me out here, then i might as well get into posing more.

so, i created a challenge for myself and i have been posting a daily pic of myself on instagram and using it as my new twitter profile avi.

here's what i have posted so far....

i love that just a slight change in the angle of a pose can make me look completely different 

{foodie} herbivoracious Cocktail Party & Cookbook Launch

A while back, my peeps at the Chicago Blogger Network hooked me up with an invite to the herbivoracious Cocktail Party & Cookbook Launch held at Heaven on Seven.

The author, Michael Natkin, a software engineer turned vegetarian food blogger was on hand to share how the book came to life.

{rock} Kiyonna Charlize Maxi

Some items of clothing just call out to you.

And that is exactly what happened when i saw the Kiyonna Charlize Maxi dress.

It is so soft and flowy and the sleeves so regal and feminine.
The color I am wearing is called watermelon and it is a deliciously perfect description of the color.

{life} Sonsi Blogger Be-YOU-tiful Pop-Up Party

While in NYC for FFFWeek, I hit up the Sonsi Blogger Be-YOU-tiful Pop-Up Party to kick back with other bloggers and brands.

i was rockin a lil summer colorblockin

It was a really gorgeous morning only made even more fabulous by the drinks and eats and the convo with some of my favorite blogging boos!

with Glen from Full Figure Plus. anytime i am at an event with him,

{shopping} eloquii by The Limited Comes to #Chicago

As mentioned in this post, I recently had a chat with Jodi Arnold, the VP of designer for the eloquii by The Limited brand.

We talked about her motivation for designing the brand, changes to the sizing and styling of the brand, potential plans for more “shop-in-shop” retail locations and more.

I must say that I really enjoyed speaking with her. She is open and she really makes me excited for the future of the brand.

She signed on to the brand because as she said, it was "really cool that I can start designing where this a real need" and I think we will all be geeked that she has.

Have you seen the new summer pieces out?