Obsessed: color, glorious color

TGIF, 3P pretties!  So happy that today is Friday!  Also, finding so much happiness in color lately, so I just wanted to share some of the bright, cheery hues that have been bringing joy and inspiration into my days as of late.  Any time I am thinking of new outfit ideas, new decorating plans, makeup to try, crafts and gifts to make... the list goes on, but color is always the thing that is popping up in my mind as inspiration.  When all else fails, a bright color can bring joy and a smile where none was before.  And what is better than a Friday?  Well, maybe its a tie, but I think the collage above with all the bright colors is pretty darn great.

Have a particularly pretty (colorful!) weekend, and I will see you back here next week!

*All above images via

How To: Sock Bun

It's sock bun time today!  This is a hairdo I have enjoyed learning how to do, now that my hair is a little longer, and it is something that I love seeing on my head because it makes my fine hair look voluptuous!  When I have posted some outfit photos in the past, I have received several questions about exactly how to make a sock bun, so I am giving you the scoop today!  You can either use a sock with its toe cut off, rolled into a donut shape, or you can use a hair piece shaped like a donut (see picture below). Then in several simple steps, you will have a bun that will help you get compliments all day long!

To fashion a sock bun, just follow the steps shown above:

1.) Start with texturized hair- I like to leave mine unwashed, as my hair is super fine, and this helps make it easier to work with.

2.) Add volumizing product as you wish, and tease around the base of your scalp.  This will help you to avoid the 'peeled onion' look, which is a look I always want to avoid!

3.) Put your hair into a high ponytail.  You can pull all of your hair back, or leave out some bangs.

4.) Pull your ponytail through the donut, all the way to the end.

5.) Begin tucking your hair around the donut, and roll the donut toward your head. Continue tucking your hair as you roll so that all of the donut is covered once you reach the base of your ponytail.

6.) Check to ensure that your hair is covering the donut/sock.

7.) Use bobby pins to tuck away any loose strands.

8.) Use a strong hold hairspray to keep everything in place.

9.) This is how the sock-bun will look- large and in charge!

10.) Violâ! Your sock bun is complete!

A view at the supplies:

< A few bobby pins, a hairpiece to serve as a donut (I got mine for a steal at H&M), and a headband to add >

Daily Dressing

Some of my favorite pictures to share with you each week are... daily wardrobe photos!  Here are some outfits I have worn recently in the nearly constant triple-digit summer heat- and in lieu of layering, I have mostly just mixed up a few colors and patterns.  If you can't tell from many of these kinds of photos, I really do love skirts and dresses- they are my favorite thing to wear on hot days, no matter the occasion.  I hope that you wonderful 3P readers are able to find some outfit inspiration of your own from these photos, and remember to vote on your favorites in the Weekly Wardrobe Win!

< Outfit 1: flowers and spots >

Occasion: work

Dress: BR (also seen here, similar here, here, and here)

Belt: Target

Heels: Jessica Simpson (love these)

Bag and sunnies: TJ Maxx

Jewelry: Target (watch), ON, F21 (bracelets), Kohl's, Ralph Lauren (necklaces)

< Outfit 2: nicely neutral >

Occasion: work

Shirt: Target

Pants: The Limited (old)

Purse: Ross

Sunnies: ON

Heels: Calvin Klein (similar)

Jewelry: The Limited, BR, F21 (necklaces), LOFT, Kohl's, F21 (bracelets), Kenneth Cole (watch)

< Outfit 3: florals in pleats >

Occasion: work

Tank: The Limited (old)

Skirt: Elle (similar)

Belt: F21

Bag: BR (wanting this orange clutch, too!) 

Sunnies: Ralph Lauren

Heels: Guess

Jewelry: Target, F21, LC Lauren Conrad (bracelets), Target (necklace)

< Outfit 4: mauve, lime, and a touch of gold >

Occasion: work

Dress: Simply Vera Wang (similar)

Belt: F21

Purse and sunnies: Target

Heels: Guess

Jewelry: Simply Vera Wang, DIY (necklaces), F21, BR (bracelets), Target ring

< Outfit 5: neon + bright >

Occasion: work

Shirt: Target (love this striped version)

Skirt: F21 (similar)

Bag: Ross

Heels: Jessica Simpson

Jewelry: Kohl's (ring), F21, BR (bracelets), F21, Target (necklaces)

< Outfit 6: feelin' flamingo-ish >

Occasion: friend's birthday dinner

Dress: As U Wish (similar)

Belt: old, unkown

Purse: Nine West

Heels: Guess (similar)

Sunnies: Steve Madden

Jewelry: BR, gifted (necklaces), F21, Ross, Tiffany (bracelets)

< Outfit 7: ocean shades >

Occasion: lake time with friends

Tank: ON

Skirt: Target

Sunnies: Steve Madden

Purse: Nine West

Flip flops: J.Crew

Jewelry: F21, Simply Vera Wang (bracelets)

< Outfit 8: florals and mint >

Occasion: church

Tank: Ambience

Skirt: ON (love this design)

Belt: Steve Madden

Purse: Tommy Hilfiger

Heels: old, unknown

Jewlery: F21. Target, Tiffany (bracelets), Simply Vera Wang (necklace)

Weekly Wardrobe Win

Tuesday Tootsies

< Summer kicks I have shared lately- see them in these posts >

On Tuesdays, some of my favorite things to share on Twitter and Instagram are my shoes- my Tuesday Tootsies!  I would like all of you wonderful 3P pretties to participate in an upcoming post, and am inviting you to send me a picture of your of your favorite kicks.  Here's the scoop:

1. Email me (ParticularlyPracticallyPretty@gmail.com) a 4x6 picture of your shoes- this can be a picture of a single pair, or a picture of multiple pairs, or a collage of a few pairs.

2. Send this 4x6 picture in by this coming Sunday, July 22, at 9PM PST. Include a link to your blog or website, if you want to.

3. Watch for your flats, wedges, and/or heels to be featured on the blog next week!

4. In the meantime, feel free to post pictures of your Tuesday Tootsies on Facebook and Twitter- just add the hashtag #TuesdayTootsies.

Now on this Tuesday, enjoy a peek at some of the recent shoes I have shared in outfit posts and the like, and know that I am really looking forward to seeing all of your lovely shoes!

 < Vacation shoes, seen here >

< Tuesday Tootsies I have had fun sharing on Twitter and Instagram- find me at @3Pprettyblog (or online here) >

< Wedges, heels and flats from Summer kicks >

Wonders from the weekend

Happy Monday, you wonderful 3P readers! Hope you all had a great weekend! I sure did- mine was an ideal summer weekend, with lots of time with friends, relaxation, and afternoons by the water. Above you can see snapshots of my weekend- a view on a quick road trip, ice cream in honor of Sunday's national ice cream day, my DIY jean short cutoffs which I wore for the first time this weekend, prepping for some caprese salad (a current favorite), and school supplies which we sent to a local organization working to provide elementary students with much needed items. All in all it was a great weekend, and (typically) I did not want it to end! this is going to be a busy week, but stay tuned for some posts I am excited to share with you in the next few days. Whatever your week is filled with, make it a great one!