2.27.2013

am I too late for the party? {what i wore}

I finalllllly found my faux fur vest.  and yes maybe its {almost} spring and its a few seasons behind, and it was super clearanced...  I'm still really excited.  I feel like I could pair it with the same earrings and a little black dress and heels.  or dress down with a denim shirt and tag earrings.  in fact my photographer stylist friend tried it on with her denim jacket and it was perfect.  so I'm set.




have you heard about my new love affair with f21?  these jeans are part of the reason, and 17$ folks, some crazy great deals.  they are actually quite comfy.  and have cute zippers on the side.  what a great place to look for those colored skinnys you aren't quite ready to really invest in?  maybe a little mint for spring?   and the classic, if not completely wrinkled! white shirt.  {guess I shall start to embrace ironing.} 


can you see my earrings.  I wore these earrings.  a little sparkle.  a little edge.  I love wearing these because every time I do someone notices them.  and if I could just get ahead of my life enough to throw some business cards in my wallet {hello!} I could share where to buy them.

 shirt - Anthropologie {on sale folks}
vest - Michael Kors outlet
jeans - Forever 21
my fave booties - Kelsi Dagger 
earrings - Lucia K. Taylor
bracelets - Lucia K. Nora {this color is no longer available} and Faye

linking up with pleated poppy today for what i wore wednesday.

happy wednesday.  hello is anyone else feeling like it shouldn't be end of february yet?!

best,
kirsty

2.22.2013

week 20. half way there!

Half way there. It's hard to believe! July will be here before we know it. I'm doing my best to take advantage of my current energy levels and get cracking on the nursery and other baby prep things that need to happen around the house (like is a coffee table without corners a must?...if you have advice, please share). This first time parenting thing can be a bit (A LOT) daunting.

The husband planned an awesome night out for the two of us and found it a perfect excuse to wear a dress...a rarity. This dress is not maternity, so I'm sure as I keep growing outward it will have to become less dress and more shirt paired with skinnys.


dress: XXI . boots: frye knock-offs (target last year) . boot socks: smartwool . necklace: blake 

I must talk about blake, my favorite necklace from the new line. I think the best jewelry is versatile (can be worn with a lot, compliments your style, makes a statement without stealing the show, and adds interest to what might be an otherwise "typical" outfit.) Blake is versatile. I love it. 

care to share what your "go-to" lkj pieces are OR might be (if you haven't yet splurged on any)??

we're almost to spring, can you believe it?!

ali for lucia k.

2.20.2013

silly putty nostalgia {what i wore}

recently a very stylish friend of mine {who also happened to take these pictures} re-introduced me to Forever 21.  two strollers.  two kids.  lots of snacks, toys, iPhone.  a mid dressing room "I gotta go poddy!!" and an "actually we don't have any restrooms in this {3-story} store, you have to go acrossed the {downtown street} to Pacific Place." are you kidding me?! later, and it was a great experience.  we are talking a 5.99$ summer maxi dress.  and the 40$ quilted pleather love below...




there is a faint smell of something so nostalgic in this new jacket of mine.  finally I figured out.  it is silly putty.  although others have assured me I don't smell of the mystery material.  do you remember the stuff, how it bounces so well yet stretches yet picks up newsprint.  it is ever so slowly airing out.





all the black and gray in my outfit, I thought I needed these bright pink/fuchsia/orange sparkling swarovski gems to add some color.  I love how they change colors and sparkle when the light catches them.

dress - Anthropologie {super on sale, dang!}
scarf - H&M {old}
jacket - Forever 21}
shoes - Dolce Vita
belt - Meadow

linking up with pleated poppy for what i wore wednesday.

happy wednesday.

best,
kirsty

2.15.2013

week 19.

hey jewelry lovers...

I love any outfit that I can pair my favorite lkj earrings with. This week was sort of "blah"...trying to get back into the swing of things after some serious rest and sunshine.

soon very soon we'll find out boy or girl, another exciting step in this whole journey. Makes it a little more real. What about you guys, opt for surprise on delivery day or would you rather know in advance???


earrings: lkj / cardi: olive & oak (old) / scarf: (local market) 
leggings: nordstrom rack / boots: frye / tank: h&m



here's hoping your week was just what you needed.

ali for lkj


2.14.2013

in honor of Love day, a little love story...

A to B.


Allegra and Brendan are such a joyful full of life {and completely smitten with each other} couple.  I received this lovely surprise in my inbox this week and what a perfect day to share.


one of my very favorite custom pieces ever, I was given the honor of designing jewelry for this bride using her grandmothers' vintage beads.  as you can imagine, I was over the moon.  and perhaps shed a few tears at the love an aunt had for her niece in sharing these precious family heirlooms.  we used semi-precious crystal quartz, creamy freshwater pearls, a few Swarovski crystals, and vintage glass beads in a deep deep blue.


just as the wedding mixed traditional with a lot of fun.  vibrant blue carnations with classic white roses.  the sweetest father daughter dance.  a late night hot dog cart {my favorite thing ever, wish I had thought of this one!}  the bride's jewelry needed to as well.  mixing in sterling silver chain in draped layers along with strands of freshwater pearls gave us just the look we were looking for.

we wanted the jewelry to have some drama and sparkle, but just the right amount, letting Allegra shine the most.  not wanting to compete with the beautiful sweetheart neckline and halter of her dress we decided to stick with a large bracelet and earrings, no necklace.


congratulations A and B, thank you for letting me be a part of your love story, you're love is enveloping and contagious!

happy Valentines Day.

best,
kirsty

2.13.2013

when you're stuck with a day, that's gray, and... {what i wore}

today was completely one of those quintessential gray Seattle days.  its not really rain, its a mist.  the sky runs into the clouds run into the mist until the green green grass.  {thankfully all these gray days creates the most luscious green landscape.}


so its kind of a must to own a brightly colored rain jacket.  to help with the gray mist.  an umbrella is just too much.


today I also really needed the extra details.  earrings.  these are so great because they give you a lot of impact but are super light weight.  the silvery blue-gray freshwater pearls give great detail to these hoops.  and the gold and silver detailing makes them work with everything.  necklace.  when I look down and see my Nora necklace, it makes me smile.  I love the crystals mixed with black silk.  its so classic to me.  red lipstick.


and how about those awesome striped socks underneath it all.


and 9 times out of 10 on a misty gray day you will see me in a headband/turban/hat.  to control the frizz. oh the frizz!  its kind of unstoppable.  anyone else with me?

rain coat - Daughters of the Liberation, Anthropologie
sweater - Zara
tshirt - Pure Body by Gap {fave, here's why}
leggings - H&M
boots - Hunter {sale}
turband - Anthropologie
earrings - Lucia K. Jessica
necklace - Lucia K. Nora

linking up with pleated poppy for what i wore wednesday.

happy wednesday.

best,
kirsty

2.12.2013

we are pretty sure...

we are pretty sure she would go by "grandma chris."  that's the family consensus anyways.


and I'm positive I would celebrate her today by taking us to get pedicures together.

but I wonder if I could talk her into getting her toes done.  I remember her having nail polish and occasionally having painted nails.  but I never remember her toes painted.

and then we would go out for italian food.  all of us.

and I wonder if she would love or hate the orange lipstick I am wearing today.

and I wonder what her favorite kind of birthday cake would be.  I remember trying to make her a chocolate cake on her birthday when I was much younger, but we were out of eggs.  so I called my grandma and she told me I could substitute mayo for eggs.  it was so not good.  but I don't ever remember asking her what her favorite kind of cake was.  would she love salted caramel as much as I do.

and I wonder how we celebrated her 44th birthday.  we didn't know it was her last one with us.  I didn't take mental notes.  I wonder if my memory will ever give me the gift of recalling that day.  I so pray it does.

and I wonder if she would understand how messy my floor is most of the time.  especially today.  if she ever had a messy floor?  I always remember our floors sparkling clean growing up.

I know she can hear my boys singing "happy birthday grandma chris" up in heaven.  but I wonder if I will ever be strong enough to sing along.  until heaven.

Happy Birthday Mom.

2.08.2013

week 18. sunshine in the southwest.

This week I was in Southwest Colorado celebrating our wedding anniversary in the same ski town we got married in. For the last couple years, we've been fortunate enough to come back to this special place and celebrate with close friends and family. It was great to be with some of the people I love the most in one of my favorite places...despite the fact that the majority of us (6 of 10) came down with the nasty flu! 

The days in Durango were filled with sunshine, blue skies, and snowcapped mountains. It was challenging to pack this time around, being pregnant and all. I only have one pair of maternity jeans that fit well, so the majority of this vacation you'd catch me in leggings (thankfully in style) or sweats. I'm still holding out as long as possible in my "regular" clothes before I succumb to the necessity of all things "maternity wear."



shirt: XXI (old) . tank: h&m (old) . leggings . headband (vacation souvenir) . earrings

Disclaimer: I'm actually wearing the best slippers ever in this picture but didn't want to make my sweet husband re-shoot (as he was one of the sick ones)... if you love all things outdoorsy but still want to look like a woman, check out smartwool (I pretty much love all the things they make). 



If you're not sure about everyday earrings definitely check out Lucia K. Tag earrings. They are a great 'starter' pair of earrings that go with everything from leggings to a little black dress. 

until next week.

Ali {for Lucia K.}

2.06.2013

i went to disneyland and bought a fur-lined coat {what i wore}




this last december we went to Disneyland.  it was magical seeing it through 2 and 4 year old eyes.  it was a comfortable upper 60's sunny California day.  but when the sun went down, it was freeeeezing.  okay not freezing like mid-west style.  but it was frigid.  when what to my surprise do i spot through a shop window in downtown Disney post-dinner, but pre-fireworks.  this lovely fur-lined number at 40% off.  leave it to California to have the best surf, and snow gear.


and some lovely chevron hand-painted earrings to add to my lovely printed jacket.

jacket - Roxy
jeans - Paige {old}
boots - Kelsi Dagger

linking up with pleated poppy for what i wore wednesday.

happy wednesday.

best,
kirsty