pop of purple.

Happy Tuesday! For this week's Friday's Fancies, I wanted to explore color and prompted the lovely ladies you join me to do the same. I have long been a fan of cobalt as my pinterest board can attest, but I have been looking to add a few hues to my repertoire. In prepping for my post on Friday, I may have gone a little overboard in my affection for purple. You'll reap the benefits today ;)

{find these purple pops here: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9}

Don't get me wrong: I don't want to look like Barney and be full-on purple. In my book, accessories are the best way to incorporate a color without overdoing. I would love include a few pops of purple to bring this hue into my wardrobe--without breaking the bank! Some of these goodies are not budget friendly, but a few of them are. You better believe I'll be trying to work this happy hue into my every day in 2012. 

monday happiness.

Hello friends! I hope you all had a fabulous and relaxing weekend :) Work was crazy last week for both of us, so {cv} and I enjoyed every minute of the downtime. Though I don't have many photos to show for the weekend, I snapped a few of the little moments on Instagram. I'm also linking up with Ashley at a {little} dash of ash for her Instagram Mondays!

I flew through my favorite DC airport on Friday night and jazzed up my trip with my J.Crew Glitterati Flats {similar}. After a long week of work, it was nice to have a little sparkle ;) {cv} and I laid low on Friday night, which was just what I needed. The rest of the weekend consisted of a run in 54-degree January weather {YAY!} and loads of cleaning. I organized my load of J.Crew Jackie Cardigans and we also enjoyed a show at PPAC.

We also saved some pennies by not going out to dinner at all this weekend. {cv} and I had a ton of fun planning out our meals and getting ready for the work week. We added two new dishes to our repertoire which we will definitely make again {these chicken tenders and this copycat of our favorite Wagamama dish}. They weren't too tough, but they were super high on flavor!

Have a fantastic week! Friday will be here before we know it :) Since I'm addicted to Instagram, I really want to hear what other phone apps you're into these days. I need to spread my app love!

friday's fancies #58.

Hooray for the first Friday's Fancies of 2012! It only makes sense to focus on putting our best foot forward--with a fabulous pair of shoes ;) I am so excited to kick off the year with a bang and cannot wait to see what you ladies pull together! Without further ado, here is the outfit I'd love to rock tonight:

1) Tie shirts are all the rage this season, but beyond that, they're just plain chic. This Elizabeth and James Jamie Tie Shirt is simple and lovely--and would look great tucked in or left out.

2) I love little monograms, so these Gorjana Alphabet Single Stud Earrings were a perfect choice! They don't take away from the fabulosity of the shoes either, which is the last thing I want to do ;)

3) If you know me, you know that pink isn't my first color of choice {don't judge!}. I'm warming up to it though--and this Michael Kors Gia Clutch would be the ideal piece to help me overcome my fear of pink.

4) I own {and LOVE} these J.Crew Minnie Pants. {I won't tell you how many colors I have them in...} I love the look of cropped pants, especially when you want to bring a load of attention to your feet.

5) Hello amazing! I have been admiring these Kate Spade Karolina Pumps for months. When I decided on the theme, these shoes were my only choice. I love sparkle like most of you, but these shoes kick it up about a thousand notches. I'd love to have them in my closet!

My Friday's Fancies posts will always be my favorite of the week--because they give me a window into your blogs! This lovely group of bloggers who devote time each week to link up humble me every Friday. I'm so lucky to have found you in the blog world! If you'd like to join in the Friday's Fancies fun, email me if you'd like to get on the "heads-up" list :) Until Monday, here is a little toast:

a little flair.

On Tuesday, I shared the goals I have for this year. One of the very real goals is spend less, which doesn't mean I have to sacrifice fashion if I play my cards right. Over the last year, I invested in some quality basics, so I think the best way to keep my wardrobe current is through accessories. Some of the pieces below are more timeless, others are more trendy--but they're all under $30. 

{find them here: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8}

Investing in one quality piece rather than a number of less expensive pieces may be the best bet for the long term, but for the short term, I will be focused on finding a few pieces which keep me current without busting our budget. I'll keep you posted on my progress along the way--and I'll use my Friday's Fancies posts to dream big :)