Bright Jeans For Spring...Still So, Very Chic

Before we jump into fall next week (next fall that is...you know it is Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week...so get ready!), let's get a little sentimental over spring, shall we? Ahhh....bright colors! While you shouldn't necessarily shy away from them in fall/winter, spring is just *bursting* with color (and not to mention the sun we've missed so much...although today down south it's supposed to be a balmy 70 degrees! is that right?! um, YES, I'll take it!)!

Earnest Sewn (a fav of the Olsens, I do believe) is launching their staple high-waisted skinny jean (Esra) in sooooo many beautiful colors for spring...help me, I'm dyyyyying over them! Neon Pink, Kelly Green, Blue (my fav), Orange and Red, will all hit stores in March...OR in mid-February you can pre-order them on the Web. (I do suggest - they might get snatched quick!) If you haven't leaped onto the bright-jeans-bandwagon just yet, these are a great pair to get started. Pretty darn tempted myself...

[Photo Courtesy Earnest Sewn]

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Best of the SAG Awards Fashion

Zoe Saldana in Givenchy Couture...straight off the runway, be still my heart. A FAV.

Rose Byrne in Elie Saab...a jumpsuit!! Absolute perfection and another FAV.

Emma Stone in Alexander McQueen...risk-taking, and absolutely, adorably chic (look at those peep-toes!!).

Emily Blunt in Oscar de la Renta...jaw-dropping gorgeousness, prettiest hue of the night.

Giuliana Rancic in Basil Soda...loving that mermaid fit, the color and WOW necklace.

Julie Bowen in Temperley...all of the draping has me in a full-on chic tizzy. (and did you see the open back??)

Stacy Keibler in Marchesa...simple, yet so classy and just my style (sucker for lace and fishtails).

Dianna Argon in Carolina Herrera...v-necks are so flattering and the braided hair is stunning.

[Photo Credits: Mario Anzuoni/Landov; Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images; Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage; Steve Granitz/WireImage]

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What's On Your Leap List?

Everyone has something to "leap" towards in life, and lucky for me, as I sat down to write this post, I couldn't honestly think of too many leaps for this Leap Year of 2012 - it's gonna be a year of stability, I think. Obviously, leaping is a great thing - we need to grow and change and accomplish. But, as I referenced Honda's leap list, I realized, wow. I've graduated college, gotten married, settled down, bought a (dream) house, had a baby, started this "job/business" I love and just turned 30 last year. I have a lot to be thankful for, folks (including you!)...so what could possibly be on my leap list for this year, I asked myself??

While I do consider exercise important in my life, I don't necessarily want to run a marathon. And while I do wish I cooked more often, I'm pretty fine with my current skills. I think the next great leap is in this very arena - this "blogging world" of mine. I wanna be published in a national magazine. Sure, that's pretty specific, and maybe a tad annoying, but I Heart Heels turns four this year and - omigosh - would I break down in tears if ever were I to see those three words in national print. Before that happens, I'm gonna need to:

*work on some "legal stuff" (that's what I call it, haha)

*fine-tune more of my photography skills (my new lens is a beaut!)

*brainstorm new ideas

Blogging is lots of hard work, and I need to stay on top of my game in order to meet my goals. My mom always said to me, "fail to plan; plan to fail." So, here we go, 2012! I'm running full steam ahead in my peep-toes and not looking back....wish me luck and I hope you make a "leap list" of your very own! xo

About Honda CR-V

From bumper to bumper, the all-new CR-V is loaded with pretty much everything you need to tackle your Leap List. It’s your ultra-versatile adventure partner, and it’s built to take you just about anywhere you want to go. Learn more at leaplist.honda.com.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Honda via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Honda. 

 

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Beauty Sleep 101

I haven't had a good night's sleep in almost three years...yep, that's when I became pregnant. Three years ago. While it's been a looooong three years of a little boy who doesn't exactly like his sleep (maybe someday?), I wouldn't change one bit of it (well, maybe I would wish for a little more shut-eye...I prob get 5-7 hours?). In the meantime, I've found ways to help me cope. I've been using a sample of Neal's Yard Remedies Beauty Sleep Concentrate (which is 90-percent organic), and loving every sleep-inducing second of it. Yep, that's right. I'm faking a good night's sleep, y'all.

It's chock full of all kinds of aromatherapy oils (sunflower, cypress, Clary sage, eek!) and let me tell you...these are so calming. I've learned to put a few pumps of the lotion-type ointment on my face about 30 minutes before bedtime...too early and I literally start to fade! Too late and I've found it doesn't work so well. I like to massage it onto my face in a slow, circular motion and it's really sorta meditative. No, really.

The daffodil extract in the formula works to help damaged skin rejuvenate and recover (ha, nice way of putting it, eh?). And the amino acids minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles (which I can't attest to just yet because honestly I don't have many of these yet at 30...but I'm all about getting ahead of the game!). It's also been proven in clinical trials to increase moisture levels by up to 98 percent over 12 hours. Hey, if that's not enough convincing what is, right? With just three pumps before bedtime, it's one of those products sure to last awhile, too. Bonus.

[Photo Courtesy Neal's Yard]

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Barbara Bui, You Complete Me

And alllll of a sudden I feel the sudden urge to scoop up a pair of Barbara Bui pumps. Ok, fine. The turquoise suede pumps shown here on Emmy Rossum, to be exact. I have a weakness, indeed, for suede pumps. I own them in a multitude of hues (turquoise, you are my next culprit!), and love them all to pieces. For some reason, suede just looks classier to me on a shoe, and you can never, ever go wrong with a classic pump. Don't ever doubt the pump. Therefore, you can and should own every hue ever possibly made - bonus for owning every one made by Barbara Bui. Her shoes are hot.

P.S. Happy Friday, chicettes! I hope you enjoy your last blistery-cold weekend of January. I, for one, can't wait to skip forward to February, so we can, of course, make it to March. Baby steps, I know....whatever you do, make those feet chic! xo (oh, and just received word the dress here is by Nicole Miller...fabulous-ity indeed!)

[Photos Courtesy Startraks]

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First Look! alice + olivia Spring

Spring is about to, well, spring! I was sooooo excited (yes, squealing) when I laid my eyes on the first round of spring for alice + olivia. You know a+o just so happens to be a fav label of mine, so to see the blue! the green! the sequins! (yes, you can't have an a+o collection without sequins...) Well, I was giddy. 

Blue and green are two of this redhead's fav hues, and I think these pieces are going to look gorgeous on me, thanks. :) We're seeing a lot of one-shoulder pieces for spring, so it's time to work those shoulders! And a+o has always been famous for pants (where do you think designer Stacey Bendet got her nickname staceypants??), so be prepared to have a complete fashion omg-moment when you try these suckers on for the first time. (p.s. you can't have the green ones - they're mine!)

But, seriously, the draping on these garments is outstanding. So much that it makes me wanna take a romantic spring getaway and wear nothing but alice + olivia. Don't tempt me.

P.S. These have already hit stores, so hurry, hurry!

[Photos Courtesy alice + olivia]

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Tracy Reese Fall 2012 Inspiration: Bold Pops of Tomato Orange

The fall 2012 fashion week shows are approaching (less than two weeks!), and while I personally won't be attending this season (brrrr...too COLD!), I Heart Heels will have some amazing coverage with a team of Fashion Week correspondents (Tiffany, Thao and Sarah, to name a few!). So, obvi you won't be left behind. Pretty soon I'll let you know which shows we're confirmed to attend, but right now? I have Tracy Reese's inspiration behind her Fall 2012 collection! Ohhhh, fingers crossed this is on the I Heart Heels line-up...loving the contrast!

For fall 2012, Tracy Reese offers an optimistic color palette of vibrant tomato, juniper green and lemon enlivening neutral browns, grays and black. A mixture of fabric, textures and embellishments create dimension on tailored silhouettes, abundant with refined craftsmanship details. 

Bold pops of fiery tomato orange energize the classic contrast of black and white, as seen on the Black Box Jacquard Pea Jacket with large leather knot button, and Bi-Level Mini, when paired with the Tomato Falling Leaves Ruched Turtleneck and Black Tomato Gold Mixed Media Pump. A subtle peplum updates a classic mini yet remains flattering and wearable.

[Sketch courtesy Tracy Reese]

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