Currently Craving: dainty rings

I love accessorizing (and hey, it is the easiest way to make an outfit complete, right?), and lately dainty little rings have been on my mind.  A thin metal band adds a dainty, ladylike touch to any daily outfit.  Here are a few dainty rings that you might see on these 3P digits sometime soon.

Shop the look:

Lauren Conrad Rings · stella & dot Jewelry · House Of Harlow Rings

Desire or Acquire

 J.Crew // Gap

A few things that are currently on my fall wish list: a comfy jeweled sweatshirt (to dress up or down), leather leggings (to try my hand at styling these), and a killer red clutch.  Enter, in today's desire or acquire series, 6 fabulous finds and 3 amazing deals for these wish list items.  I will definitely be adding a few of these deals to my fall wardrobe.  Oh, that Stella & Dot clutch is caaaaaaalling my name!  Leave a comment and let me know if there is a specific item you are loving but wanting to find a better deal on, and I will be happy to hunt down that deal for you in an upcoming desire or acquire post!

 Vince // Hue

(+20% off both these pants at Bloomingdale's with code DESIGNER20)

Coach // Stella & Dot

Cobalt Crush

As a girl who loves blue, I couldn't be more pleased that cobalt is one of fall's hottest hues.  This vibrant  color can be seen on everything from coats to clutches, and even an evening's smokey eye.  When styling an outfit, try pairing this blue with cranberry, grey, marigold, and even animal print.  Click below for some great buys in this hot peacock color, and let me know if you have any great cobalt finds for your fall wardrobe!

1. Stella & Dot Midnight Bloom scarf // 2. Tech wallet // 3. J.Crew tweed jacket // 4. Peacock convertible chandeliers // 5. Old Navy sweater // 6. Peacock necklace // 7. Merona satchel

Shop the story:

J.Crew Jackets · Dorothy Perkins Jackets · Dorothy Perkins Cocktail Dresses

Obsessed: around the web this week

Happy Friday and TGIF!  Hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

1. I cannot wait for the Nate Berkus fall collection, out at Target September 15th. (abullseyeview.com)

2. 100 inspirational quotes for a positive addition to your day. (forbes.com)

3. My grandma is still so stylish, and yes we talk about the ways women just aren't dressed the same anymore. (huffingtonpost.com)

4. Can't get enough smiles out of this video of jumping animals on trampolines. (youtube.com)

5. Table setting tips for a fail-proof dinner party. (refinery29.com)

6. Great ideas for simple DIY accessories for around your home. (bhg.com)

7. Loving that the animal trend is still on this fall, and I'm thinking this Ann Taylor kissing fox sweater must get in my closet soon. (antaylor.com)

8. This pumkin french toast bake has me crazing cozy fall weekend mornings. (minimalistbaker.com)

9. Never Settle- and other important lessons from LC herself. (laurenconrad.com)

Fall wish list

As the end of August approaches, even though summer weather is still heavy in the air on sunny days, I am dreaming of autumn and all the warm feelings that fall brings around each year.  On my wish list for the cooler days when golden leaves decorate the ground are cozy knits, aztec prints, burgundy and darker jewel tones for both fashion and beauty, and rich textures with a hint of gold.  It will probably be a few weeks before the weather cools down enough to wear any of this, but I just can't wait for those mystical fall days!

1. Dorothy Perkins aztec jacket // 2. Threshold chenille throw // 3. LOFT animal print dress // 4. J.Crew sweatshirt // 5. Stella & Dot tassel necklaces (1, 2, 3) // 6. OPI San Francisco nail polish set //

7. Michael Antonio ankle boot // 8. Stella & Dot snakeskin tech wallet // 9. Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick in Terra Copper

Crushing on weekend getaway bags

Although the past few weekends at home have been so nice, there are a few weekend getaway treks coming up.  I love to plan and pack appropriately, but as a somewhat chronic overpacker I tend to lug a few extra things along with me, just in case. As my current weekend/overnight bags have pretty much seen their heyday, I am on the hunt for a new, sturdy, large-enough getaway bag.  Here are some of my current favorites, a few of which I am majorly crushing on.  Which are your favorites from this selection, or do you have other weekend bags you are eying?

1. Stella & Dot // 2. Deux Lux // 3. Knomo Bayswater // 4. Le Sport Sac // 5. Stella & Dot // 6. Kate Spade Saturday // 7. Lulu by Lulu Guinness // 8. Lo & Sons // 9. Deux Lux

Kate's Polka Dot Dress

< Get Kate's look for less, here >

Ever since William and Kate debuted their precious little bundle of joy, I have been on the hunt for a budget-friendly lookalike to Kate's sweet periwinkle polka-dotted dress.  Enter Target, to save the day!

Currently Craving: spring edition

There is something about springtime that just has me craving color here, color there, color, color everywhere!  As I am freshening up and doing some spring cleaning around the house, I am intent on adding fresh, bright colors to each room, and brightening up the space.  I am also happy to be adding some brighter colors to my beauty routine, in honor of the warm, sunny spring days. The next few weeks are going to be very busy, so bright colors will be what I am sporting to look alive even on days when 2+ cups of caffeine will be required.

Currently Craving: spring edition

1. Sur la Table towels in lemon and /  2. poppy / 3. Sissinghurst Castle dinner plate / 4. PB Hyannis wood tray / 5. Benefit bella bamba blush / 6. Kate Spade Saturday Mug / 7. Threshold hurricane / 8. Stella & Dot Getaway bag / 9. Stella & Dot Spring Getaway necklace / 10. Revlon Peach Me

Obsessed: Stella & Dot bags

Happy Friday, 3P pretties!  Have you heard the fabulous news?  Stella & Dot has launched an AMAZING handbag collection!  The sizes are fabulous and so handy for many different occasions, and the prints and linings are so adorable you just want to squeeze them.  These are the PERFECT bags for summer- some will take you from the boardroom to date night, others will fly with you to tropical locations and lounge with you poolside.  OBSESSED, I tell you, indeed!  Seriously, I am beside myself with excitement over this line!  Take a peek at the whole bag collection on my Stella & Dot website, or click below to peruse some of my favorites pictured above!

Top row (Left to Right): La Totale Medium - Navy Ikat / How Does She Do It - Navy Stripe / How Does She Do It - Metallic Ikat / The Switch - Natural Snake

Bottom Row (Left to Right): Getaway - Multistripe / The Classic / How Does She Do It - Red Ikat / Getaway - Elephant

PS- Also cannot get enough of their new 'companion' collection!

< The Zebra Pouf >

< The Bring It Jewelry Roll in Multistripe (benefits Autism Awareness!) >

Obsessed: LC Lauren Conrad- Spring '13 line for Kohl's

TGIF, my wonderful 3P friends!  What a week this has been- so happy that the weekend is almost here.  With Friday usually making all of us happy, I just thought I would share a little something else that is making me happy- Lauren Conrad's Spring collection for Kohl's!  When she released her photos yesterday, I could not stop eying each adorable look.  Everything looks so fresh and spring-like, the polka dots are adorable, and the staging in Lauren's photos depicts (as I imagine it) the ideal spring Saturday.  Well done, Lauren and team, well done!

Have a great weekend, 3P style, and I will see you back her next week!

* all photos in this post via

Currently Craving: fall jackets

< Trench coats with contrast <

Merona, BCBG, Forever 21

Well, this week is flying by!  It is hard for me to believe that this is already Thursday, but what is harder to believe is that we are already well into October, and fall weather in my neck of the woods has yet to be found.  However, the fall decorations that are up around my house have me craving all things fall: pumpkin parch visiting, hot apple cider, warm soups, and yes- fall jackets.  The kind that keep you warm when you layer, but are not so thick that they might qualify as a winter jacket.  Lightweight and totally wearable, I am craving a new little jacket or two to add to my closet this year!

PS- the deadline for submitting a picture of two of your favorite/fabulous shoes is coming up tomorrow!  Send me a picture (ParticularlyPracticallyPretty@gmail.com) of your Tuesday Tootsies and they will be featured on the blog next week!

< Moto jackets >

byCORPUS, Candie's, Xhilaration

< Tweed-le dee jackets and blazers >

Hinge, American Rag, Mac & Jac

< Perfect parkas >

Dorothy Perkins, Old Navy, Asos

Obsessed: Currently, sparkles

Happy Friday, all you wonderful 3P pretties- so thankful that today is here!  Sparkle, sparkle, sparkle has been in my thoughts very much so as of late, and so I am happy to share some shiny, sparkly love today!  Catch a glimpse into some of the sequined clothing items I am currently craving, and try not to drool over any of those beautiful pieces too much.  For more sparkly influence, click here, and to see outfits I created once influenced my the olympic gold medals, click here.  Have a great weekend, and I will see you back here next week!

1. Jimmy Choos sandal

2. Rebecca Taylor jacket

3. Xhilaration swim top and bottom

4. Topshop silver sequin dress

5. Sam Edelman high heel sandal

6. Rebecca Minkoff minaudiere

7. Dorothy Perkins foil lace dress

8. Daytrip sequin headband

*love image via 

Obsessed: summer eats

Warm summer days mean time in the sun, splashing in cool water, road trips and new adventures, barbecues with friends and loved ones, and of course, those colorful fruits and veggies that are prime in the heat of summer.  While I really enjoy fresh fruit salad, I can basically obsess over any summer salad or freshly picked fruit (and hello, fruit sorbet!).  After eying all the photos above, my mouth is watering- time to plan the next backyard barbecue!  What are some of your favorite things to eat and favorite recipes during summer?

Have a wonderful weekend, 3P style, and I will see you back here next week!

* melon pictures above- mine, all other photos via Pinterest

Adventures in dining

Every time I see a new restaurant open, I want to hop right in a try everything out!  A few weeks ago a steakhouse opened in my little California town, and sure enough, I managed to make my way in there just the other day.  As it so happened, a few other friends had decided to dine there that night also, so a little date night with the hubs turned in to appetizers, laughter, and fun with good friends.  While the décor was superb, and the renovation process had admirable remained true to the historical accuracy of the building and its time period, the food was just not up to par, in my opinion.  However, the service was great, the ambience was fun, and it is a place I will enjoy returning to! To you have fun trying new restaurants in your neighborhood?  Have you had hit and miss experiences while you have tried new dining venues?

< Starting off the night on a good note- beautiful logo on the menu, and a tasty blood orange martini >

< Loving the light fixtures and ceilings that were installed in this recently renovated space >

< Appetizers that were presented well, but took almost at hour  and a half to be delivered to our table!  And then the flavor was lacking... > 

< Took a little peek at the other rooms that received the makeover treatment- beautifully done!

Currently Craving: Gingham

< Clockwise from top left: >

Anthropologie clutch, Bettie Page heels, Modcloth tunic, Cross journal, Old Navy dress,

Splendid pocket shirt, Asos pencil skirt dress

Recently, popular prints that are popping up on all my favorite clothing sites, on the streets, and in the lives of the fashionable people I know, are really starting to grow on me.  Take, for example, gingham- this delightfully checked pattern is cheeky and fun, can be dressed up or down, has a way of cheering you up with checks in adorable colors, and is the perfect design for a casual summer afternoon in the sunshine.  Above are a few of my current favorite gingham designs, which I hope will be making their way into my closet!! Now, off to 'check' some things off my list today!

Obsessed: Wild Thing

Happy Friday, 3P Readers!  What a long, busy week this has been- accomplished so much, but there is also so much more to do!  I am really looking forward to this weekend, and I bet you are too.  In honor of the exciting "The weekend is coming!" feeling, I am posting about my love of animal print, which also creates a feeling of excitement for me whether it is a fashion accessory, or an accessory for home.  You can see more of my passion for animal print here, here, here, and here.

Enjoy 11:11am and 11:11pm today, especially, and have a great weekend!

(All above images via Google; belt from Versace for H&M, coat from Old Navy, and heel from Piperlime)

Currently Craving: Fall Fashion

I realize that many of my fellow bloggers are already enjoying fall-like weather, but the weather in my area is still very sunshiny and summery.  However, the 'September issues' of many of my favorite glossy-paged magazines have me dreaming of sweaters, animal print for colder weather, and if I dare- trendy leather skirts.  It will prbably be another six weeks or so until fall weather appears in my neighborhood, but in the meantime I will be keeping a keen eye for alerts about fall clothing sales.  In this post, I am happy to share with you eight items that I would love to have in my closet for fall.  What is on your fall wish list?

From left to right in above picture:

- Top Row -

Leopard print skirt (to wear with tights, boots, and sweaters): Forever 21

Platform Loafer (to pair with everything from skirts to jeans): Banana Republic

Tie-neck Blouse (to dress up or down):  Gap

Wide-Leg Pants (for trying the colored pant trend): Victoria's Secret

- Bottom Row -

Luggage-like satchel (boxy is not really my style and this will be a great option): The Limited

Animal Print Jeans (for fun!): Gap

Leather-like skirt (to make a girly-tough statement): H&M

Mixed-metal bracelet (to mix up those wrist parties): LOFT, no longer available (similar)

Currently Craving: Summer Staples

Currently Craving: Summer Staples by ParticularlyPracticallyPretty

1. A bright, striped, easy to wear sundress

2. A lightweight blouse that I can dress up for work and dress down with jeans

3. Boldly colored tanks that I could wear every day of the warm summer months.

4. Tortoise sunnies in a crazy fun shape.

5. Braided bracelets with some bling that remind me of summer camp with a grown-up twist.

6. A neutral colored, lady-like handbag that will last forever.

7. A purse for day in a shocking yet refined color, with minimal hardware.

8. Neutral colored shoes in heels for work and flats for the weekend.

9. Tie-front shorts (to try this trend) in a color that won't demand immediate attention.

10. Simple, skinny belts to add a quick pop of color to pretty much any outfit.

11. A maxi skirt (prefer these long skirts over maxi dresses) in a color I love.

12. A fun clutch that will always remind me of a cold glass of lemonade sorbet.

Concurrently Craving

< Probably the best color KitchenAid has ever produced for their fabulous mixers - this is now available at Williams-Sonoma >

This week has been quite busy, and last evening I had a difficult time realizing it was truly only Tuesday night.  How is it that April days are so jam-packed and yet still flying by?  In the middle of this crazy week, I thought it might be nice to take a little time to enjoy some of the fabulous items I have recently noticed, and that I am currently thinking I would love to own as my own.  For example, how can you not fall in love with the KitchenAid mixer shown above?  This hot shade of pink would be the most fabulous pop of color in any kitchen, and the fact that sales from this mixer will go to benefit the Susan G. Komen Cook for the Cure efforts would make this purchase even that much more worthwhile.  Is pink not your cup of tea?  Find some color refuge in the neutrals, blues and metallics in the other items with I am currently coveting.  See something here that you like?  Let me know, or let me know what is currently on your wish list!

< This leather blazer from Banana Republic will go with everything, and will be great to dress up or dress down in any season of the year >

< This picture does not do this chair justice- this vintage seat caught my eye at an antiques market (mentioned here) and has been haunting me (in the best way possible) ever since >

< Not that these are "Hello, lover" heels, but how enticing is the sherbet orange of this ankle strap heel from Gap? >

 

< Target's designer collaborations are usually fairly fabulous, and there are several items from the upcoming release of the Calypso St. Barth for Target collections that I cannot wait to get my hands on, including the pouf in gold and cosmetics case with an island flair pictured above >

< And last but certainly not least... Heidi Klum's style.  Simply amazing.  I love how she can carry any look to her advantage, and her slight mixture of prints paired with light jeans is a marvelous laid-back spring outfit (picture is courtesy of InStyle).  I am going to have to try to copy this ensemble! >