A Little Lookbook: What Are Your Favorite Spring Basics?

All right, so I recently felt motivated to do a mini-spring lookbook of basics that I plan to wear and build on this season!! I know it isn't very Spring-like right now with all this rain/snow nonsense, but warm weather is right around the corner and I can't wait!! Again, I only took these on my little phone (which is literally nearing the end of its life and I can barely text/call anybody on it..let alone take pictures, so I have no idea how I managed this one.) But I hope you enjoy!!! This is just a little-bitty blueprint, and I plan to make more interesting outfits out of these fairly basic ones!

What favorite spring basics do you have in your wardrobe?!

Let me know! :-)

Okay, so the picture definitely doesn't do this ensemble justice. This is a beautiful ivory slip with the most stunning floral and feminine detailing, and I plan to wear it everyday I can this spring!! Underneath is a sheer, black skirt and matching ..bra. I like the look of a black hue underneath an ivory one, and I think it's definitely a combination I plan to embrace this Spring. Also, you don't get any more basic than this: it's simply just a sheer black skirt, a bra, and an ivory slip. And there are SO many ensembles I could come up with using these little pieces.

I LOVE BRACELETS. Again, since I wanted to keep it simple, I didn't really go as far with my bracelets as I sometimes do (that's a different blog post..), but I just wanted to add a little something :-)

I added a hat!!! I love it.

And a statement earring, on only ONE ear. I think that look is really cool. I've definitely rocked it before, and if you do, just learn to ignore the people that tell you you're missing an earring...

Okay, so I removed the slip adding a sheer, button-down black top! (I tied it at the waist.. again, the quality of this picture really doesn't capture the look the way I would like it too, but hey.) Anyway, white on white is really in this season, so I thought.. what would the opposite look like?! I love both combinations, but I wanted to do something a little different...

Remember how I said I love bracelets? Well, I love rings just as much! (Again, that's a different blog post...)

Just a simple earring! This time on both ears.

Just a closer look at the top.... 

Now with a semi-sheer white top - here it is bunched at the waist...

...here I just let it down.

Replaced the skirt with some white-washed cut-off shorts! See! I told you I liked the white on white combo ... and I think it's really cool in this look. (All jewelry is the same as in previous pics, with the simple earrings in this outfit, but there is SO much I could add and take away to this look and I'm so excited to rock it this spring.)

I added a leather jacket!! I recently got it and now I'm completely obsessed with it....

Isn't this detailing so cool?!

Replaced the cut-off shorts with leather leggings. There is so much I could do with this outfit!! From statement earrings, to colorful heels, to necklaces, and even to a different-colored basic top, the possibilities are endless!! Imagine it with a red top or even an emerald green! 

Okay, so I replaced the leggings with this awesome orange/turquoise skirt, lost the jacket, and rocked an elongated statement necklace -- while tucking the white top in. 

So the moment I saw this dress when I was browsing online I knew that I just had to have it. I fell completely in love with it..

I kept all the same jewelry!! It looks cool, but, when the dress arrived...

It reminded me of how short I am.
In the previous pics I maneuvered the extra fabric to make the piece appear more fitted, but there is so much extra fabric on the back, that I need to get it tailored before I actually rock it when I'm out. This isn't the manufacturer's fault nor is it mine, I'm just too short for it. It's an XS, but it was made for someone about 7 feet taller than me.... ;)

See!! A little tailoring job will do the trick.

Added a sweater to make it a little more casual...

And lost the sweater and all of the jewelry besides my simple earrings, only adding a pair of heels while putting my hair up...to make it more formal.

Okay, so I pulled my sheer black skirt/bra combo again for this look, and placed my favorite slip over the duo. Again, looks way cooler in person, but the sheerness of the top combined with the sheerness of the skirt creates a really smooth yet dynamic look. (Smooth because of the shared sheerness, dynamic because of the completely contrasting hues.) I absolutely adore this slip...

So here's another little outfit that includes it. I paired the slip with an ivory slip and a jean jacket. It's extremely simple, but it definitely serves as a foundation for some really wonderful looks!! I can't wait to come up with more throughout the season!

Okay, so this is just a brief idea of some of the pieces I plan to rock this Spring.
Are there any pieces in your own wardrobe, that are completely different from what's shown here, that you absolutely can't wait to wear this season?!
Let me know and don't be shy :-)
(Also, I didn't include shoes in these pictures because I really wanted to make it THAT basic.. again, that's a different blog post!)

Spring Decor Pt. II: Where Did I Get All of It?!

In my previous blog post I forgot to mention where I purchased all of my stuff/how I put everything together.

I made the canopy over my bed, not really knowing what I was doing. This decorating venture really was THE definition of winging it so I didn't wanna spend too much $$ in case I messed anything up and I held on to all of my receipts like a mad person throughout the process.

I found that the hard part wasn't in finding inexpensive materials to accomplish this redecoration feat, but in putting in the work to make everything look perfect, especially when SO much of it was hanging up the drapery (don't get me wrong, it's the look I wanted!!), but I'm only 5'2'', so that was definitely quite a challenge. And then, when the drapery was finally up, adding the floral detailing and lighting was such a pain in my side.....  Nothing wanted to stay where I told it too, but, luckily, I worked my magic, made it exactly how I wanted, and I couldn't be happier!

 But the canopy is 'home-made,' by me, of a recipe I concocted and I really had NO idea how the result would taste, the ingredients of which consist of three sheets of 3-yd fabric, rope, floral decor, and metal tacks all from Jo-Ann Fabric.  The white luminaries are from Target!!

(I also really thought that the 3yd fabric would be enough for so much of the room, and I could use the extra draping for different decorative arrangements in the space, but, of course, I was very wrong....)

I really played around with it SO much to make it perfect and, yes, I moved all the furniture myself too...really wasn't as bad as I thought and I got quite a work out!!

Anyway, the curtain over my window? $5 from Target, or $4.74 to be exact w/ the Jo-Ann fabric rope and metal tacks....I don't care how I was going to do it, I've always wanted curtains held up by rope in my bedroom and I love it.

Both the throw blankets were around twenty bucks from Target, my Zen lamp....also Target, as well as my dim-able floor lamp and desk lamp. Let me tell you, finding the matching bulbs for these lamps was such a pain... I don't understand lightbulb lingo.... but, fortunately, I knew just enough to get my way around, and I found the right ones!! (I think anyway... I mean, they all work...)

And the green draping in my little cozy corner is also Jo-Ann.

Floral decor in cozy corner- Jo-Ann

Some of the greenery hanging on the green draping - Target ($6 a pop.)

Orange luminaries - Target
The waterfall - $5 from 5 Below

The greenery and floral decor located on my book shelf over the floor lamp all from Jo-Ann...

The sun mirror all of the floral decor attaches itself to is from Target ($20)

The 'curtain' over my desk is also just another piece of fabric from JoAnn...the floral decor, curtain hook, and rope are all JoAnn too.

So, at the end of this pretty daunting task, I discovered that pushing yourself to try and execute a process that you've never quite fulfilled before might be scary, but it's totally worth it!! I can honestly say that I put all of this together myself from the ground up with ZERO assistance, and, because of that, I can't wait to do it again :-) 

Florals, Fun Colors, and Fabric: What’s Your Favorite Spring Decor?

For some unknown, possibly unconscious reason, I felt a burst of inspiration to revamp my room for spring! I wanted a look that was unique, colorful, and appropriate for the season.  I also really believe that the state of anyone’s personal space has such an effect on the way someone feels, acts, and thinks.  I have so much on my plate right now and there was no way I could focus on all I have coming up if the feel of my own bedroom wasn’t energizing!! I convinced myself that I could do it based on the fact that I can put fabulous outfits together in a flash, the same should go for a room, right?? Wrong. 

  (I actually finished my room today, I just couldn’t wait!! But I started around Saturday, and I embarked on this project all.by.my.self., so I still have no idea how I managed it. Really. I don't....But once I start any project I always become obsessed...so, here it is!! And I'm sure I'll add/take away more pieces throughout the season. Also, it's so much better to experience in person! but I would say that since I decorated it....)

The following is just a little round-up of my favorite before and after photos.  

The 'before' photos are on the left, and the after photos are on the right. 

I don't wanna give anything away too soon, but can you guess what the theme of my room is?! It's not just about spring!! (I'll tell you at the end...)

My bed before! Okay, I'll admit, I made my room look a
little more barren for added dramatic effect in the photo...

My bed after!! I still have the same bedding (which I love,
and is the comfiest piece of paradise anyone could ever
rest their pretty little head on!) ,
and tapestry on my headboard.  But I angled the bed
so the corner of the room, as pictured previously, is
directly behind the center of the headboard. I added a canopy with
white, red, and yellow draping then added white luminaries! .. but I like
to think of them as shining stars in the prettiest night's sky!
I also draped some floral decor around the edges of the canopy.

My desk and door before! Womp womp...

And after!! I replaced the chair adding candles and other
pieces to my desk.  I also placed a curtain over one of
Vincent Van Gogh's Wheat Fields paintings.
I wanted to add a touch more realism to Van Gogh's artwork
by draping a curtain over the piece to give the appearance
that I'm looking out of a window as I work,
adding some more floral decor.

My closet space/shoe rack before...
(this is to the left of my desk, as pictured previously.)

And after!!! I made the rack a little more space efficient
and, you can't see it in this picture,
but I had an old CD rack that I had no idea what do with!
So I turned it into, of course, another
shoe rack. You'll see the picture in a moment....

My closet before.....

My closet after!!
Hope you didn't notice a difference....
because there isn't any.

The wall facing my bed before...

And after!! You'll see more of the
little details in a bit, but the overall
difference is huge. Again, it looks way cooler in person.
But I added more floral decor, a sun mirror,
and a floor lamp.
I really feel as though this wall tells a story, with the lighting and
greenery leading up to the sun :-) Which gave all of it life!!

So this is the corner of my room
across from my closet door before...

Then after!!! Remember the chair that
was at my desk?? Here it is! Since it's so cozy,
I decided to dedicate a corner of my room
to coziness!! So this chair is in this
corner now, which is adorned with green draping and
ORANGE lights. I also added some greenery and other
floral decor! My little library is under the painting, and
the side table has blue draping, a Zen lamp
AND, here's my favorite,
a mini waterfall! It really feels like you're in nature, and it's
SO soothing! (I just can't keep it on when I sleep,
I'd be up all night!)

So those were just some the before and afters!! I don't want to bore anyone to tears with photo after photo, but here are some extras for all the other details I added.

This is an evil-eye from Turkey!! At the front of my bedroom door...

The other side of my bedroom door!! I've had this Lennon poster since college,
and there's no way I will ever get rid of it :-)

There's my side table! Before it was on the other side of my bed, now it's here with a white candle and a collection
of twigs. Gives a really calming, natural vibe. Also another look at the floral decor on my self made canopy....

And another one...

My bed again!! Laying over my bed is the comfiest
throw blanket! It looks like it's an extension of the red draping a little bit.

My little stars and pillow set. Also pictured is my favorite tapestry I've had since college and I love it.
It's huge and I would LOVE to hang it in my room for all to see, but I just can't imagine it anywhere but on my headboard....

Elephants!! One of my favorite animals, besides...

...FROGS. I've collected frogs since I was really little and here's some of it!
Below it are more books.  (This little nook is located right next to my bed under the only window in my room!)

Here's the window! With more frogs, and the only real plant in the room....I had to have something!! There's no way I'd be allowed to have real flowers and leaves draping everywhere in the house!! ..bummer.

This is just a close up of the little Zen waterfall and lamp I told you about.... I added the blue draping, which consists of little ripples, underneath these pieces (and over the respective side table), to accentuate the colors in water,
while the waterfall emphasizes its calming sounds :-)

Again, this floor lamp dims, and it was obvi at its brightest so this pic isn't really the best!
But I wanted you to notice how the greenery at the top of the frame "connects" the greenery at the bottom of the frame...
creating a more dramatic yet real effect...and I love how the 'rays' of the sun flow with the greenery, building such a captivating yet tranquil balance.

Close up of the floor lamp...greenery and florals galore!! Again, looks cooler in person..and the ambience it provides my room is exquisite, along with the other lights, of course. I've been playing around with all the lighting in my room, and it really does effect the energy of your room -- whether I want a more lively tone or a more serene one, I have the tools through all the wonderful lights in my room! Definitely worth investing in. 

Close up of my shoe rack. I saved so much space by hanging my heels this way!

In the corner is the CD rack that I converted into a shoe rack that I mentioned earlier...

Another photo of my desk and all of its updated pieces/decorations! I've had that Buddha poster since 

My little window to Van Gogh's fields!
No better view from a desk that has no window to overlook a glorious landscape.

I kept this wall as simple as possible to balance out all of the
detailing in the rest of my room. I thought about hanging my elephant tapestry up here,
but, like I said, I couldn't imagine it anywhere else but on my headboard when I sleep at night!!
The naked wall really does have a soothing effect though, so I am really happy with it.

Again, these pictures don't capture the room the way I want them too!! It really is an experience, and I worked hard so the vibe, the ambience, the music, and the scents work seamlessly together.
But, basically, I wanted to tell a story about nature, and its continuous and ever changing condition. You experience a day, a night, a decade, or whatever frame of time, as well as so much life in this little room.  And I wanted to express this exciting dynamic of living through the eyes of Mother Nature because,
without question,
she's someone we all know :-) 

Do you have any home-decorating pursuits this season?! 

I'd love to know, don't be shy!!

Thanks for reading xxx