That's So Chic

I always had the dream to have my home featured on apartment therapy. So in 2019 I am checking off all the projects on my, now overflowing to do list, so that I can make this dream a reality.  My focus is on making our apartment look more grown-up and put together. I aim for our decor and style to be more intentional and full of things that we love. Though we are currently renters, it does not mean our home has to lack style. The first room to tackle is our bedroom. Our needs are: better lighting, bringing in an area rug, putting up drapery, artwork, and some furniture re-arrangement.

On the sweetest October afternoon, the love of my life and I, surrounded by our closet friends and family became man and wife. We had private ceremony in downtown Memphis, that was perfect.

I could do a long post about where I've been and what I've been doing this past year and a half, but it wouldn't be all that exciting. To sum it up, life took off, promotions, engagements, planning a wedding, so yeah a lot of adulting. If you have been following me on instagram you have caught some of my updates. If not come on over.

I change looks like a change shoes; Gemini to the core honey. For a while I have been wanting to get a septum piercing. However, I am non-committed to putting a hole in my nose (allergies I see you). Naturally, the next best thing is break out the DIY skills and create a faux septum ring that is perfect my non-committal soul.

There are several things I have been lusting over. However, my wants are a tinsey bit bigger than my bank account and I sort of played through it in the basket spent more than needed in June. For all of July  I'm only buying needs (I have the sads just typing that) and well, I still WANT all the things I have been lusting over. Besides getting really acquainted with my wardrobe, I have decided to indulge in some DIY. Preferably the type that only requires some scissors and glue. I have a few projects already in progress and hopefully few more on the horizon. To keep my DIY juices flowing I have been bookmarking the heck out of everything.

Gladiator Sandals //

Alexander Wang is bae and so are these shoes.

Love a gladiator that wraps up the leg. However must don't get along with my calves. Ex-athlete woes.

Thicker straps but still divine.

Fancy Shoes //

Wrap, woven, and tasseled up.

Pom poms on heels? Like heck yeah!

Most sought after shoe that I'm going to so DIY the heck out of. Just watch.

Pom pom on heels? Oh the possibilities.

Men's shirts //

Men's t-shirt into a draped vest

Men t-shirt into race back vest

Turning a men's button down into a woman's shirt?! Why yes!

home decor inspiration board

We are well into 2015 and while soo many people are flocking to the gyms for the new year, I am dedicated to making my home the most adult looking space possible. I have amassed a pretty decent collection of mid-century modern furniture thanks to my love of thrifting. I now want to give my space a little more, polished home of two. and less museum of all things Mad Men. My inspiration board is filed with textures, statement part work pieces, and sleek finishes.

I used to always hate getting a regular mani and about 30 minutes after I had left the nail salon, I had already chipped a nail. So I love a good shellac mani, just for the sheer lasting power alone. However, my nails grow super fast and getting a mani on a weekly basis is not in my budget. I use this shellac mani removal process to ensure that my nails remain healthy and strong. NEVER, I REPEAT, NEVER peal or pop off a shellac mani. 

tools// Acetone Cotton pads foil
step 1// gather your supplies. Also grab a file to shape once done.
step 2// cut foil. Pre-cut your ten pieces for easy use.
step 3// cut cotton pads.
step 4// soak cotton & wrap nail in the foil. I do this 1 nail at a time, so that the pad is good and moist. Make sure to securely wrap each nail. Tip, do this on a clean surface, free from any material that you do not want to get acetone on. There will be some drip when you first tightly wrap the nail.
step 5// repeat. I suggest do 1 nail at a time. Its sort of hard to secure the foil on your other hand once you have covered your fingers. Now wait at least 20 minutes. Turn on Netflix, pop in your favorite movie, or watch your favorite show.
step 6// viola, clean fingers. Use a metal nail file to push away any residue. 

The internet has caused me to fall head over heels all this week. From Chanel, to H&M, to gorgeous outerwear let's take a look at the links that made this week's chic list.





A Pair and a Spare DIY Dior double pearl earrings| Dream Create DIY Chanel No. 5 Clutch|Beaute J'adore.com Transition Coat
Isabel Marant for H&M Collection Launch|KP Fusion Beauty Budget Friendly Illuminators| Salonge's Saint Heron's release announcement via IG

How urber chic is this remix that Chasity of The Curvy's Girls Guide to Style created. This is super smart and a wonderful display of celebrity style on a realistic budget. I loved this look soo much that I have been inspired to recreate my own.






The folks at EatSleepDenim have given us another great showcase of how to wear denim: black and denim parings. I am utterly in love with the leather peplum top with the cuffed boyfriend jeans. The mix of black with denim creates a chic and polished look.





A pair and a spare continues to amaze with beautiful DIY projects. This sequin blazer looks so easy to do and is a great transitional piece from summer to fall. Another DIY project and I am soo up for the challenge. Are you?







Andrea Fenise is spot on with this celeb inspired look for less. She took a men's wear inspired look worn by a celeb and styled it so that the everyday woman can wear. This look oozes weekend chic and is another great seasonal transition look.







While Channing of channinginthecity is away, she has collaborated with  blogging friends to create a series of fabulous guest posts. The latest contributor is Sereeda from eclechick.com. She offers up a super cute tutorial on how to create a cotton candy dot mani complete with tips on polish secrets and step-by-step pictures to assist us in creating this beauty.

The more my personal sense of style grows, the more and more I find myself being drawn to prints. My closet is beginning to overflow with with polka dots, stripes, and florals. Even though I am slowly falling heads over heels with prints, I still find myself somewhat hesitant to embrace full-on new crops of prints du jour that arise. To warm myself up, and to sort of test the waters, I find a safe and sure way to try out new prints is via the designs on my nails. Ikat prints are cropping up everywhere. And while I think this print is rather funky and chic, the jury is still out on how I feel about currently adding this as a staple in my wardrobe. I recently came across this nail design and subsequent tutorial and thought I would give this look a try.

colors used are Essie in Marshmellow and Turquoise and Caicos, Sinful in Unicorn and Revlon in Midnight (290)

I stay in a gorgeous midtown turn of the century apartment. Like most older apartments in my area of the city, space is an issue. My beauty vanity needed some serious sprucing up and reorganizing. The vintage table I had brought into my bathroom was no longer big enough to handle my overflowing tubes of lipstick, body spray, foundation, blushes, and makeup brushes. If you have experienced similar to me, a simple and quick fix is to install a floating shelf. This is fairly inexpensive and the end results are super chic.

I'm on a pretty chill week with my manicure, however I did want to add just a little pizazz. What easier and simple way than mint dots on a white mani. Of course I don't own a dotting tool, but this did not stop me. I've seen plenty techniques on creating your own tool, however the one offered by the beauty department was by far the most simple, quick, and easy way to making your own.

colors used Essie in marshmallow & turquoise and caicos

1. All you will need is to gather a straight pin or two
2. Get a pencil and push pin into the center of the tip
3. I did two to show how easy it is using a regular pencil and a mechanical pencil
4. Perfect dots :)

The Beauty Department: Fancy finger-The Bow mani. Cause I'm a sucker for all things bows.
Cupcakes and Cashmere: Tasty and fancy transformation of the icecream sandwich

Beauty is an adventure. I find inspiration everywhere and have been busy organizing my vanity in my midtown apartment for two. Pictures can tell a story soo much better than words.

simple DIY shelf

I'm an Essie girl