D.I.Y. Inspiration: Trompe-l’œil Clothing

August 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment

D.I.Y. inspiration trompe-l'oeil
Some awesome trompe-l’œil pieces to inspire your own projects:

  1. Vika Gazinskaya’s Spring 2012 Scribble Jewels.
  2. Flower Boy Ramyun Shop promo pics (not sure who the designer is–anybody know?).
  3. Vintage leather patchwork skirt (sold), from Lethilogica aka I’m Revolting.
  4. From the Moschino Cheap & Chic Pre-Fall 2012 collection.
  5. Hermes tie dress, photo by Gordon Parks.
  6. Mark Stevens-Ellis button bow shirt, first seen on Style Bubble.
  7. Big Bow Canvas tote bag, $24, from Soraam on Etsy.
  8. Milly Trompe l’Oeil Bow Sweater Dress (sold out), from ShopBop.
  9. Crewcuts sequin sweater (sold out), from J. Crew.
  10. Bonjour Bag by Jump From Paper.
Filed Under: D.I.Y. Betty

Hi-Lo Fashion: Polka Dot Shoes

July 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

polka dot shoes high low
Digging both of these dizzy polka dot shoes:

Filed Under: Accessories & Shoes, Budget Finds Under $75, Fashion

Budget Finds: 3 Black Basics

July 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

black work basics
Just a quick post, as I ease back into regular blogging. Sorry for the absence; will tell you all about my new job, and what’s been going on for the past 6 months in later posts! Sorry also for the mess as I continue combining & migrating my two Typepad blogs to WordPress. Will have a blog-based festivus when that finally wraps! 

One big thing about a career shift, especially if you’re a freelancer, is finding budget-friendly dress-up options. Here are three simple black basics that can anchor your business wardrobe, whether you freelance or not:

I’ve owned both the shoes & the bag. The ballet flats are wider than normal, and there was no breaking-in period. However, they did start slipping off my feet after about a year.  They are also not as fitted/elegant as some other flats I’ve worn. But they’re one of the best leather flats for the price, and an excellent option for wider feet.

As for the bag, I’m using it now. It’s the perfect size if you’re petite; I’m 5’4″, and most handbags, even so-called “normal” ones, are far too big and make me look silly. The open mouth design of this one, though, means you can fit quite a lot inside, despite the small size. The bag’s quality (lining, leather, etc.) is good, although it does sag when you put it down, and the metal finishings are too shiny.  That said, I bought mine on Amazon for $67, and it’s been worth every penny.

Filed Under: Budget Finds Under $75, Career Betty

Currently Enjoying: WordPress, Polka Dots, & a Bialetti Moka Pot

January 9, 2012 By 2 Comments

Moka pot polka dot wordpress

Above: WordPress.org; Old Navy polka dot sweater; Bialetti 3-cup moka pot.

Hi everyone! Hope 2012 is treating you well (or at least better than 2011, my goodness). Here are some things I'm liking right now, and think you might too:

  • First, I broke down & bought the Old Navy polka dot sweater that's been featured all over blogs & Pinterest. I haven't received it yet, but I'll post a mini-review when it arrives. So cute.

UPDATE: I returned the sweater. It's cute in person, and good quality for Old Navy, but the print makes you look significantly wider/bigger up top. I'm short & curvy, so this just wasn't the best look for me. Two bloggers who make it look good, though: Mix & Match Fashion & Petite Little Girl.

  • Second, I recently discovered moka pot coffee, aka "espresso for poor people." Of course, it's not real espresso, but it's still intense and good. I'm using a Bialetti 3-cup moka pot & LavAzza Qualità Oro ground coffee.
  • Finally, I'm currently setting up self-hosted WordPress sites for several clients. In doing so, I've realized that I'm ready to transfer my blogs to WordPress. Typepad has been great all these years, but I need something more customizable & functional. I want jQuery slideshows and responsive site design like everybody else!

Switching services isn't the easiest process, though, and most of my blogging energy & time over the next two months will be spent on behind-the-scenes stuff. I will post once a week on each blog, and hope to finish migrating both blogs by mid-March. Also, I will be cleaning up old content as I go, probably deleting or at least combining many of the pre-2009 postings. So much of that content was shopping-related, and has little to no value now (dead links, unavailable products, etc.).  

What are you guys currently enjoying?

Filed Under: Currently Enjoying Tagged With:

Christmas 2011 Recap

December 28, 2011 By 2 Comments


Xmas celebration 2011

A Christmas that started off inauspiciously, with stress and empty pockets, ended up being one of the best ones in recent memory. This was the first Christmas in four years where I didn’t have to work Christmas Eve, or the week after; everyone was in a good mood and liked their presents. Here’s how we celebrated (clockwise from top left):

  • Watched holiday movies while working on this Thomas Kinkade Christmas Wreath puzzle (50 cents at the thrift store).
  • Ate gingerbread (made with Betty Crocker mix and Target cookie cutters).
  • Rented Bachelor Mother, which was even better than I remembered {film still via Livin’ Vintage; rent it for $2.99 On Demand}. David Niven and Ginger Rogers are just magic together, and the script’s so clever. In my opinion, it’s aged better than many so-called “classic” screwball comedies.
  • Saw Arthur Christmas, the latest movie by Aardman Studios (Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep). My teen brother & I saw it in mid-December, and had the theater to ourselves. We don’t always find the same things funny, but we both laughed ourselves silly, especially at naughty Grandpa.
  • Drank Crispin Honey Crisp Hard Apple Cider, another good & cheap holiday tipple.
  • Also: Bought a bunch of snacks (chips, crackers, cookies, things we normally try to restrict), and made a giant batch of paella on Friday, and nibbled on both through the weekend. Watched the first episode of Rosemary & Thyme, a cozy British mystery series with a gardening theme (Season 1 is available for streaming on Netflix).

How about you guys? What made your holiday break special (or at least bearable)?

Filed Under: Christmas, Festivus Tagged With: