Ok.  So one of my goals this year is to dress better.  I'm the type of person who just throws on a comfortable outfit in the morning.

That is...if I can talk myself into getting dressed that day.  Jammies are just so comfy.

I decided a lot of it is based around tops.

Right now I'm still hanging onto some baby weight and while I'm working to get it off...I don't have very many shirts that fit me.

This is a problem.  Probably the big reason I stay in jammies.  They're comfy...and they fit.

SO!  Here is a list of affordable tops that I think are cute and springy.

I think I'm gonna just trade out my wardrobe 1 shirt at a time.

Forever 21
#1.

#2.

#3

#4

#5 - a cute alternative to just a random running t-shirt

#6 - love this cardigan...if a shirt has short sleeves, you can almost guarantee I'll be in a cardi...

GAP
#1 - seriously, a simple flower applique does wonders for just a regular t.  And I love the length.  Love. 

#2.

#3 - a simple pintuck and flutter sleeves and you have yourself a durned cute shirt.  hmmm...maybe I can knock-off this look.   

#4 - pair this with a cardigan of any color and voila!  SO cute!

#5 - ditto

OLD NAVY
#1

#2 - my fav springtime cardi.  light weight and 3/4 length sleeves.  perfect.

#3 - my fav boyfriend cardi, again...light weight and they come in such springy colors!

TARGET
#1

#2

#3

#4 - oh how I love liberty of london for target.  This might be the cutest springy top I've seen so far.  And the cardi color options are unlimited! 

So there is my window shopping for the day.

Maybe I can convince myself to get dressed today.  HA!

Ok....so I'm totally getting into wallpaper as a way to add a nice splash of color to a room.  And since I'm focusing on the master bedroom re-model this year...I'm looking at yellow and gray.

I just found this new wallpaper website and oh.my.gosh...

I am in love.  

Look at these!  Just look at them!!!

Can you just imagine a square of that surrounded by a white frame on a gray wall?  Um...I can.

Or this one...

...surrounded by a frame on a yellow wall.  Mmmmmmmm....

Or what about this?

But instead of on a wall, on the inside of the built-in's we're putting in?

Or for an extra pop of color...

Um...love.  So many different options! 

You really must check out this place.  Walnut Wallpapers.  You will not regret it.

Ok...so I'm looking at more yellow and gray bedrooms.

Really, I have grown to LOVE this color combo.

It really is just calming.

Take this picture for example

Image found HERE

I just think the gray headboard is the perfect contrast to the yellow.

And the pattern on the floor...Love. 

And I love the white bedding and chairs.

Ahhhhhhh.....

This week (including last weekend) has been one of the most stressful weeks of my life.

Honest.

No exageration.

And I discovered that when I'm stressed...I shop.

Not really shop shop...more like window shop.

Today's window shopping was for slipcovered couches.

I always wondered why people want slipcovered couches.  I recently figured out why.

Children.

Oh how I would love to slip off the cover from the couch and throw it in the washer.  I can't do that.

So my next couch might be this one...

Found HERE

Or a cheaper version from Ikea...

Image found HERE

Add some cool pillows like this

this...

and this...

All from Pier 1, and you've got some fun pops of color thrown in.

Or if buttons aren't your taste you could always use this...

this...

and this...

Again...all from Pier 1.  I'm kinda on a Pier 1 kick lately.

And I am just totally crushing on that ruffle pillow.  LOVE.  Orange or beige...LOVE.

And as for a throw...

THIS cable knit throw from Target would do nicely.  I LOVE cable knit accessories.  SO pretty.

A long time ago I lived with a room-mate who had lived in Italy for several years of her life.  In fact...Italian was her first language.

I've ALWAYS wanted to go to Italy...and by always, I mean always.

I've dreamed of Venice...taking a gondola ride down the middle of the city.

Florence...wandering cobblestone village streets.

Rome...seeing the incredible originals of the Sistine Chapel...and many other sights.

And the list continues.

She would tell me all about her time there and bring me back little knick-knacks when she went back to visit.

One thing we would talk about was the Masqurade Balls.

You dress up in a ball gown and a beautiful mask...just like in the movie Ever After.

I've always wanted to go and the Hubby has promised me that it WILL happen.

I can't wait.

In the meantime...I decided to do a search on Etsy to find some pretty masks.

Here's one...

Image found HERE

So pretty.  I love the peacock and the black feathers.  And the black tulle?  Swoon...

Another option from the same seller...

 Image found HERE

Mmmmmm...can you just imagine a flamenco dress with this mask?

Black and red with lace.  Love.

A more simple yet no less stunning option would be this.

Image found HERE

So pretty and so classic.  You could do something truly dramatic with your hair and this mask would complement it perfectly.

But until my ball is scheduled...I think I'll make do with this...

Image found HERE

A simple and charming mask necklace that will always remind me of my goal and help it actually happen.

So pretty. 

So unique.

So perfect.

I'm ordering it today. 

There's nothing worse than waking up to this...

...at odd hours of the night.

Honest. 

'Specially when you already have to wake up super early to go to work.

Blah.

So the Hubby and I are going to put a Captian's bed in our room.  Captain's beds are the ones with storage drawers underneath them.

We were going to build one that didn't look too difficult.  In fact...it acutally looked doable.

The problem arises with this.

I become emotionally attached to things I build.

We are leaving this bed with the house when we move in a couple of years because chances are it will just go with the built in we are building.

I know myself.

I would cry.

SO!  I just found a different option.

This bed from IKEA.

Now I have never bought furniture from Ikea.  I have friends in Russia who have and they weren't too impressed with the quality.

LOVE Ikea for textiles and accessories and art and rugs and...yeah, all that stuff but furniture?  I kind of balk.


BUT!  This bed is only $350 AND it's solid pine which would enable me to paint it to match the built-in's.

And the drawers are perfect.

And it's not at an abnormal height.

It's not the bed I pictured at all...but I'm not hating it.  Hmmmmmmm.........

I am totally loving yellow and gray decor lately.  Hmmmmm, kind of like my blog colors.  Funny!

I think the gray is soothing and the yellow adds a pop of life to the room.

I'm thinking those are the colors we're going to decorate the master with...

Here are some examples.

#1.

Image found HERE

#2.

Image found HERE

#3.

Image found HERE

#4.

Image found HERE

#5.

image found HERE

Mmmmmmmmmm...I just love how they complement each other!

Trains. 

Trains and boys go together like whipped cream and cherries.

We went to a model train show here last Saturday.  The Hubby had such a fun time sharing his passion with the Princess.

We've determined if I get a craft room/office...he gets a train room/office.  In our eventual home.

Here are some cute pics of our outing.  So cute...

I LOVE the Hubby's face in this one.  He's just having so much fun sharing this with his girl.  Or girls if you include me.  :)

Ok.  So I've been looking for a black dress for a while now.  Problem is...most of them are made out of jersey and I don't care who you are, what size you are, or how old you are...jersey is NOT the most flattering material.  Especially after having a baby.  Since I'm an only girl I just very recently found out about Spanx...still have to try them.  Very excited about that.  But the downer is that they're pretty pricey.  Worth every penny from every girl that has worn them but pretty pricey.  But to be able to wear a jersey dress w/out worrying...wow.  When was the last time that happened?  Haha!

Then I found this.

 

Picture from Target.com 

A lovely black dress that has a built in Spanx knock-off slip!  Not the best picture...but what can you do...?  Click on the link and you can see it much better!

So it's not only pretty but very realistic and flattering to any body type.  

Um can I say AWESOME!!!  

It's also modest and that neckline is versitile enough to wear a scarf in the winter or an awesome necklace in any other season.  

You can dress it up with heels or add a belt and boots for the winter.  

I think I'm in love.  LOVE!  

And the best part......drum roll please......

It's only $29.99!!!!  Woot woot!  

So in honor of this wonder dress...I decided to put together an outfit.  One to celebrate spring.  Ah spring...where did you go?  Why is there 4 inches of snow outside of my window right now?  I love you winter but it's time.  Move on...Let the little green blades of grass that have been so hopeful come up please.  Thank you.  

Alright...moving past my rant.  Here is my outfit.  

Ah shoes.  Probably my favorite part of an entire outfit.  One day...I will have a closet for shoes.  Love.  

Picture from Zappos.com

I've been LOVING purple lately.  Don't know why...it's just speaks of happy and pretty.  And aren't these just so so cute?  Love the flower...

Now to the accessories.  

Image from Etsy.com

Um...I think this necklace is about a cute as they come.  LOVE the flower.

I think any other accessory for this particular outfit would be a bit too much.  BUT!  You have to have a bag.  I mean have to.  It's a must.

And this bag...

Image found at Zappos.com

I LOVE the way mustard and purple go together.  I'm kinda obsessing about it actually.

So what do you think of my outfit?  I really am going to buy that dress.  Probably today.  If it would stop snowing that is...