Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Busiest Time of the Year



Although most companies are wrapping things up for the year, we're still as busy as ever here at Local Marketing, Inc. Most of my day was filled with meeting after meeting, so it's always nice to pull out a professional yet chic sheath dress, like this one from Jay Godfrey, to help give you a boost of confidence. I believe that the right outfit not only allows you to feel good about yourself, but helps you perform better as well!

Dress: Jay Godfrey Macon Colorblock Sheath Dress

Shoes: Casadei Blade Peep Toe Pumps

The closed-toe version of these shoes were very popular among celebrities, and were spotted on no less than fashionista Victoria Beckham! The heels are very high, even for me, so I can't stand in them for long... but aren't they beautiful?

Things should start to slow down in the office tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to two long weekends in a row. Although Christmas doesn't mean as much to me as an adult, it's still a wonderful time of year to connect with loved ones and see old friends.

Friends who moved away often come back home this time of year, and I spent Saturday afternoon catching up with my good friend, Laura, whom I've known since 7th grade. Last night, I met up with another good friend, Erin, whom I also met in middle school. We ate Indian food at a great place in the suburbs: Urban Spice. I included a few pictures below.

Happy Holidays!

With my friend, Erin (12.21.2015)
With my friend Laura (center), her daughter and son, and her sister, Taryn (right), with her little son (12.19.15)

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Ugly Christmas Sweater - Pug Edition

Today was the annual Local Marketing, Inc. holiday party, and while we normally take the team out for a nice dinner, this year, we changed it up.

  • We ordered food in from a local caterer, Figs and Honey. We decided on a mix of heavy hors d'oeuvres, and some of the eats included crab stuffed mushrooms (my favorite), deviled eggs, stuffed potatoes and much more.
  • Everyone brought a toy to donate to Toys for Tots.
  • We had our annual white elephant gift exchange. I ended up with a camel shaped candle holder. It will make an interesting addition to my office.
For the first time, we held an ugly Christmas sweater contest. While I did not win, I did have fun wearing this sparkly pug Christmas sweater from the Blizzard Bay brand, which you can still buy on Amazon! As you can see, not everyone participated in the contest, but we had a decent turnout. Jordan, in the middle with the Dolphins Christmas sweater, was the clear winner!


We had 17 people total at our holiday party, the highest number we've ever had. I looked around during the party and felt so proud. Puneet and I have really built an amazing company, and I continue to feel happy every day I come to work. It's not always easy, but it is definitely rewarding.

Happy Holidays!

Monday, December 14, 2015

How Dressy Is Too Dressy for Work?

This fit and flare dress seems more suited to a party or evening out than a day at work, but since I spend most of my time working, why not wear something that makes me feel good about myself? Even if it means dressing up a little more than usual, if it makes you happy, then go for it!


Dress: SB by Sachin + Babi Faria Dress (Find it on eBay.)

I can't normally afford Sachin + Babi, a favorite brand on the celebrity circuit, but I can afford its little sister line, SB by Sachin + Babi.

My mom bought me this dress from Anthropologie. I am a big fan of fit and flare dresses with cap sleeves, and the flattering neckline is just an added bonus. Plus, I love all the colors... blues, purples, greens and red. You can wear it any time of year, really. We've been having some amazing weather in Atlanta the past few days - 70-degree weather in December! - so while it doesn't really feel like Christmas, I am enjoying not wearing boots and a jacket every time I go outside.

Shoes: SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker Sandals (no longer available)

Walter Update:

I appreciate all the sweet and encouraging comments about Walter that I've received here on the blog, on Facebook, and on my Instagram account. Every day he seems to feel more and more comfortable with us.

His personality is also emerging. I heard him bark for the first time yesterday! He loves going for rides in the car, and this morning I came downstairs to find that he had curled up on the couch all on his own. His former family trained him well; he stands by the door every time he needs to go out outside for a potty break, which is a much appreciated change from Norman. (Norman enjoys leaving revenge poops in the house if he feels he is not getting enough attention!)

We have Walter on a grain-free, heavy fish diet, and gave him a bath over the weekend. His coat seems a little softer, but it hasn't even been a week yet, so I'm probably just imagining that. Chapin is amazing with him and is already Walter's favorite. He cooks actual salmon and has been placing it on top of both Norman's and Wally's food each day. He didn't eat on Day 2, but now he devours his meals in typical pug fashion.

I was hesitant at first about opening our home to Walter, but I'm so, so glad we did. There are always risks in life, but those risks come with some amazing rewards... and I'm so happy this little pug has a home for Christmas.

Enjoying the sunshine in Inman Park: Walter, Chapin and Norman (December 13, 2015)

Friday, December 11, 2015

Welcoming Walter

It's the holiday season, and what better way to celebrate than by giving a lonely little dog a new family. So, without further adieu, meet our new addition: Walter, or Wally for short.


Here are the details:

Where we found him: Clayton County Humane Society (via Petfinder).

His situation: All we know is that he was at the Clayton County Humane Society for about a month. His past owners, who called him "BJ," short for "Bentley, Junior," gave him up. We have no idea why. I don't know how anyone could part with this sweet little pug.

Health: Overall, Walter is in fairly good shape - no heartworms or fleas. His main health issue is a skin condition. He doesn't have any fur on his chest, which you can see in the photo above. We are starting him on a grain free diet to see if it helps. He's also underweight, and probably malnourished. He could have something like Celiac Disease, where his diet is preventing him from properly absorbing nutrients.

Age: Walter turns four in late January.

The name: It took us a looooong time to decide on Walter. Many people suggested Cliff, because of the Cheers reference (Norm and Cliff), but I'm not a big fan of that name. We knew we wanted a nerdy, old man type of name, so after a lot of back and forth, we finally narrowed it down to Jack, Walter and Henry. Last night, I came home, and Walter watched me walk across the room. Chapin said he was wall-eyed, so it looked like he wasn't really focusing on me. I said "Wall-eyed...Wally! That's it!" It's also the name of my favorite Pixar character, Wall-E. It does seem to suit him.

Personality: He's only been with us for a few days, but so far, Walter is fairly quiet. He loves, loves, loves my husband, but doesn't seem so sure about me and Norman yet. It probably doesn't help that Norman is always in his face, and I'm always at work!


He is house broken, and walks very well on the leash. He doesn't like being crated during the day, but he could be a little traumatized from his time at the humane society. Hopefully, with time, we will see more and more of his little personality.

I was talking to my sister, Laura, last night, and we both agree he looks like a combination of George and Izzie. He even has snarled bottom teeth like George, which I always loved so much.


Walter is fitting in well with our family already. My mother-in-law texted her congratulations earlier this week, saying "Walter is one lucky pug!" We hope he agrees.

Happy Holidays!

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Match Made in Heaven

Today's blog post title is not only referring to the fact that my shoes and colorblocked dress match up perfectly, but because we have decided to open our home to a new pug.


First, the outfit:

Dress: BCBGMaxAzria Colorblock Drie Dress

The dress is still available (and on sale) at the following retailers:


Beware, though: This dress wrinkles easily! I even ironed it before work this morning.


Shoes: Stuart Weitzman Soundtrack High Heel Sandals

These suede sandals, in a port wine color called Currant, are still for sale at the following sites:


I absolutely love the name of these shoes! In high school and college, before the days of iTunes and Pandora, I was obsessed with buying movie soundtracks. I have so many CDs now of soundtracks from a variety of 90s movies, from Aladdin to You've Got Mail. I don't really buy CDs now... does anyone?

Now, the pug news:

As many of my readers know, I have struggled this past year with getting over the death of my first pug, George.

George was extremely important to me. He was my baby, my buddy, my best friend. He was there for me always - never judging, just loving.

Last week, we discovered a pug available for adoption at the Clayton County Humane Society, and today, we are picking him up and bringing him home. I'm excited, scared, and dreading such a big change. Those who know me well know I don't like changes in my routine or my world. Chapin pushed me (hard) to get me to say yes, and I finally relented, because this little guy needs a home. He's thin and has a skin condition, and wasn't well cared for during his short life. He's four years old, fawn-colored, and currently unnamed. I'll keep you all posted!

Maybe he's a gift from George. Tomorrow, George would have turned 11 years old...

Monday, December 7, 2015

Silver Shoes

Although most people think of ruby slippers when that infamous pair of shoes from The Wizard of Oz comes to mind, the ruby slippers were actually a Hollywood creation. L. Frank Baum, the author of the Oz books, actually fitted Dorothy in silver shoes. (Hopefully you will answer that trivia question right the next time it comes around!)



"She took off her old leather shoes and tried on the silver ones, which fitted her as well as if they had been made for her." -The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)

Today, I feel like I'm in my own version of those silver shoes. Although they are black and sequined, they catch the light and sparkle just like I imagine Dorothy's shoes once did.

These shoes are actually quite special to me. Chapin bought them for me on a trip to San Francisco, when I deemed I had nothing to wear with the dress I'd brought for my cousin's wedding. While I was in the hotel room getting ready, he sneaked out and bought them for me. I was so excited (and surprised)... although not happy he paid full price. I do like my bargains, after all.

Dress: Nanette Lepore Daydream Dress with Embellished Neckline

Available at Amazon, Saks Fifth Avenue and Zappos.

I like how the shoes and the jeweled neckline both shine in the sunlight!

Shoes. BCBGMaxAzria

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Sparkling

I'm wearing one of my favorite dresses today, this sparkly fit and flare dress from 4.collective, because it is a special day in my house. Those close to me know why!


Dress: 4.collective Verona Jacquard Cap Sleeve Fit and Flare Dress

It's hard to tell, but the dress is actually made with silver thread, so it sparkles! It's a fun dress to wear to work, and it's perfect to go right out to dinner or drinks with friends (or your spouse).

The dress is also available for purchase on the 4.collective website, or you can rent it on Rent the Runway.

Shoes: Jimmy Choo Abel Patent Leather Disco Hologram Pump

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Spanish Influences

It's been a busy few days since we returned to work following the Thanksgiving holiday. I took full advantage of the extra days off to relax, and watched plenty of old episodes of Gilmore Girls! I loved that show when it aired, and it's been fun re-watching the series on Netflix.

Today's dress, to me, has some Spanish influences. Although it doesn't fit quite right in the bust, and the length is a little long for my frame, I still think it's a fabulous dress... and one that is fairly unique. It's hard to see, but the pattern has hints of light blue that I decided to play off when choosing my earrings and footwear.


Dress: Shoshanna Clark Embroidered Dress

You can still buy the dress in white on Shoshanna's official website.

Shoes: Stuart Weitzman Peep-Toe Blue Pumps (no longer available)

Here is a photo from Thanksgiving Day. We had my parents over to our home, and Chapin cooked the turkey. He did some inventive things this Thanksgiving - turkey confit using duck fat! - and all the food was wonderful. Chapin is such a good cook, and you can see he's wearing his chef's coat. (Fun fact: The duck fat cost more than the turkey!)


Norman spent a lot of time in the kitchen supervising Chapin's efforts. I included a photo of him below.


You can also see I'm wearing my George necklace from Three Sisters Jewelry. I've been thinking of George a lot lately. I often find myself thinking of this comic from New Yorker cartoonist Charles Barsotti. It comforts me when I'm missing George the most.



Tuesday, November 24, 2015

The Classic Sheath

When it comes to professional work wear, my go-to piece is always the sheath dress. I especially like a silhouette that is belted (to show of a small waist) with an open neckline.


One of my favorite necklines is the square neckline, which I feel allows you to show off your curves in more subtle way. That's why I jumped to buy this flattering tweed sheath dress from Kay Unger, even though it's a little big on me. (I wanted to wear it today when I had meeting after meeting after meeting; usually I would get the dress altered before wearing it.)

Outfit Details

Dress: Kay Unger Blue Tweed Belted Square-Neck Sheath Dress

The dress, my first from the Kay Unger brand, is still available at Lord & Taylor. Honestly, this brand tends to skew older (more "mother of the bridge), but this dress works for all age groups.

Shoes: BCGeneration Peep Toe Pumps

There are flecks of gold in the tweed pattern (this picture doesn't quite do it justice), so I would normally wear my gold Casadei pumps with this dress. Unfortunately, I left them at my mom and dad's house over the weekend. After celebrating our faux Thanksgiving, I changed into jeans and a tee to watch the final Hunger Games movie with my sister and good friend, Elizabeth. I can't believe the Hunger Games trilogy is finally over!

Monday, November 23, 2015

Faux Thanksgiving

My sister, Gail, was in town from Chicago this past weekend, so we celebrated Thanksgiving a little early. It was so nice to be with my family and eat some incredible food.

My sister, Laura, with her youngest son, Cole, Gail (middle) and me (far right).
The original Fontanelli five with our husbands and kids. Gail's hubby was in Chicago and couldn't make it.
Everyone pitched in, so we had a lot of food on hand:

  • Laura and Matt hosted and fried the turkey. Laura also made creamy mashed potatoes and a pecan pie!
  • Chapin made gluten-free brioche stuffing (vegetarian) and we brought cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcakes in Buckhead. 
  • My mom made an Italian meat stuffing (my Grandma's recipe), corn casserole, salad and corn bread.
We had a feast!


The weather has turned cold here in Atlanta, and the temperature has dropped. We had a lazy Sunday yesterday, just hanging out at home, watching Netflix and enjoying the fire. Today, it's back to the office, and I feel a bit stressed trying to cram a five-day work week into just three days. I'm looking forward to the upcoming four-day weekend!

Today's Outfit Details


Dress: Shoshanna Black and White Cleo Sweater Dress

The Shoshanna Cleo Dress is still available at the following retailers:


You can also rent the dress on Rent the Runway.

Shoes: Sophia Webster Mika Polka Dot Leather Pumps (no longer available)

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Silver Jacquard

It's a rainy, dreary day in Atlanta, and I just realized that our new office doesn't have any covered parking! For someone who wears heels most days, and often is carrying a laptop bag, purse and travel mug full of coffee, that is a little upsetting. Oh well! I guess I will have to get used to it, since we signed a seven-year lease on our new space.

Today's dress is one I'm super excited about. I remember seeing it and thinking it could have been made just for me. The cap sleeves, the structured fit and flare silhouette, the silver/grey color... I just love everything about it!


Outfit Details:

Dress: Halston Heritage Jacquard Cap Sleeve Fit and Flare Dress in Vapor

The dress is available online at Amazon (in a bluish lavender only), Lord and Taylor and Halston.com.

Sandals: L.A.M.B. (no longer available)


Monday, November 16, 2015

Pulling for Paris

Today has been a crazy day, mainly because my company just moved into a new office! We literally moved across the street from our old place, but moving is never easy, and it's always stressful. I'm still unpacking while trying to get all my work done.

I wanted to wear something different for our first day in the new office, so I chose this Shoshanna dress. With its asymmetrical skirt, it's unlike anything else in my closet, but I just love it. As a bonus, it has a plaid pattern featuring red, navy and white. I know the blues don't match up exactly with France's colors, but I feel like I am showing my support for Paris in my own way.

Dress: Shoshanna Asymmetrical Sicily Tweed Sheath Dress in red, white, blue and black

Shoes: BCBGMaxAzria Red Dress Pumps (no longer available)

The dress is available online at Shoshanna.com, as well as AmazonSaks Fifth Avenue and 6pm,

It also comes in another eye-catching blue print.


Here I am sitting in my new office and trying not to laugh for my picture:


Despite the way our Friday night started - watching the coverage of the Paris attacks on CNN - Chapin and I had a fairly enjoyable weekend. We ran errands and crossed things off our "to do" list that had been hanging around a while - for example, giving Norman a bath - and we had dinner out with our friends Rahul and Vinnie on Saturday night. We tried a place in Sandy Springs that people have been raving about: Rumi's Kitchen.

The restaurant specializes in Persian/Iranian cuisine, and the flavors are really unique and like nothing I've ever had before. I am trying to eat less meat, so I tried the vegetarian stew. Most of the menu is gluten free; there are plenty of rice and potato dishes, and if you avoid the pita bread, not too much gluten.

Although Rumi's Kitchen is fairly casual, I wore a dress and some new shoes I was dying to break in. I'm really excited about these shoes, because not only are they gorgeous, but they are my first purchase from the Tamara Mellon brand.

Tamara Mellon's name may be new to you, but she is a staple in the shoe fashion industry; she co-founded one of my favorite brands, Jimmy Choo. She left the label several years ago to start her own line.


Dress: Vince Camuto Embellished Little Black Dress (LBD)

Shoes: Tamara Mellon Talisman Beaded Watersnake and Suede Sandals
(Shoes also available at Saks Off 5th.)

Clutch: BCBGMaxAzria

You can see Norman wanted in on the picture. Chapin and I had no idea he popped in for this photo, so it was a nice surprise. He looks so cute in his new camo harness.

Teresa Palmer was seen in the same dress a few years ago, though she wore it as a maternity dress. I loved her in Warm Bodies, one of my favorite (more recent) movies.




Thursday, November 12, 2015

November Floral


Just putting on this floral dress from designer Trina Turk makes me smile. I love the bouquets of bright colors, especially in the middle of what's turning out to be a very dreary November. Atlanta had ten straight days of rain in the first part of the month!

Work has been keeping me very busy lately, and my company is in the process of moving to a new office, meaning most of my files and day to day items are packed and not available for my immediate use. I'll be glad when we're finally settled in at our new space.

Outfit Details:

Dress: Trina Turk Garden Jacquard Fit and Flare Dress

Also available at Lord and Taylor and Neiman Marcus.

Shoes: Schutz Ankle Strap Sandals

These exact sandals are no longer available, but here is a very similar style: Schutz Cadey-Lee High Heel Dress Sandals. Schutz is a very fashion forward brand available at very reasonable prices.

Celebrity Sighting!
Mindy Kaling recently wore the dress on an episode of The Mindy Project. She paired the dress with a green shirt for a more conservative look.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Inversely Related

I love mixing things up, and though I would normally pair a black and white dress like this one with red pumps, I decided today to pair it with these Kate Spade New York pumps. They have the same print - only with the black and white colors reversed. And I did use my red purse today.. and red lipstick, of course!


Dress: 4.Collective Mod Check Sleeveless Sweater Dress

I am not usually a fan of sweater dresses - they make me itch all over! - but I absolutely adore this one. The material is so incredibly soft, and the dress overall is just a thing of comfort. You can still buy the dress on Amazon, Saks Fifth Avenue or the brand's website. My only criticism: I wish it had pockets!

Shoes: Kate Spade New York Larisa Dress Pumps in Cream and Black (The pumps are no longer available, but I found a pair for sale on eBay.)

Friday, November 6, 2015

Always the Optimist

Chapin and I recently celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary. We have actually been a couple for 16 years, though! It's hard to believe that much time has passed since our very first date in the Fall of 1999.


This year, we decided to forego gifts and cards and just go out for a nice dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, The Optimist. Many people commented that it was a good restaurant choice (the name) to celebrate an anniversary. I guess I agree! Chapin and I have our ups and downs like any other couple, and we definitely don't have a perfect marriage, but we love each other, enjoy spending time together, and have a lot in common. I think if you have that kind of foundation, you can grow and change together. I am certainly not the same person I was when I married Chapin at 25!

I think in today's Facebook/Insta-Age, we all try to display that facade of perfection. One Instagram user recently made headlines for "quitting social media," saying she was actually miserable despite all her positive posts. I'm guilty of it, too, I guess - Isn't everyone? No one really wants to read about how I was recently diagnosed with stress-induced eczcema, or how I often cry myself to sleep because I miss George so much. We are all only human, after all.

Outfit Details:

Dress: Shoshanna Sequined Polka Dot Katarina Dress (no longer available)

The Shoshanna Kimberly Dress is similar but has a different silhouette.  It's also available at Saks Off 5th.

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Happy Halloween 2015

Norman and I dressed up this year, although we don't match.


Norman is a taco and I'm the Cat in the Hat! I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween.


The dress is an old one of mine from Alice + Olivia, and the shoes are Prada.





Friday, October 30, 2015

Halloween Colors

I have never truly liked the standard orange and black colors that accompany the scariest of all holidays: Halloween. The typical Halloween orange is very bold and, frankly, not that appealing - to me, at least. But on this last workday before Halloween, I thought I would wear a dress featuring an orange that is more my style. With my dark nails, I feel truly ready for the holiday!

Dress: Shoshanna Floral Serena Dress in Orange

It's hard to see in the picture, but the dress is actually a print made of tiny, pastel orange flowers. It's quite beautiful.

Shoes: Stuart Weitzman Strutting Platform Sandals (no longer available)


The dress is still available at Shoshanna.com, and the site is doing a special 25% off promotion through Sunday, 11/1/2015. Use code PUMPKIN at checkout. You can also find a few sizes left at Bloomingdale's.

If you're open to renting the dress, you can find it on Rent the Runway. Since I usually buy my dresses on sale or clearance, the thought of paying something like $50 to wear it once, when I could pay just a little more to own it, has never truly appealed to me, but I would probably consider it for higher end items you can't nab on sale.


I'm excited for this afternoon, when my company holds its annual Halloween. I even made Peanut Butter Buddy Bars, my first attempt, for the occasion (they were super easy to bake). Although I'm not going all out like I usually do - this year, my favorite holiday seems muted because George isn't here to celebrate with me - I'm still planning to dress up. I have a plan for Norman as well, but that will have to wait until tomorrow. Stay tuned...

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Back to the 70s

The title of today's post has a dual meaning:

First, after some chilly, rainy days, Atlanta is back in 70-degree weather (hooray). Although it's been rainy off and on today, as I write this post, the sun is shining. I think it's the first time I've seen the sun since Saturday!

Second, I am getting a distinct 70s vibe from today's dress. I think it's the explosion of different reds, golds, oranges and pinks in the skirt. Those colors definitely mean "the 1970s" to me.


Dress: Cynthia Steffe Ivy Fit and Flare Pleated Dress

Find it on sale at Amazon Fashion.

Sandals: Manolo Blahnik Perpia Strappy Stretch Sandals

Earrings: Stella & Dot Aurelia Drop Earrings

Necklace: Blue Nile Mini Feather Diamond Pendant


Monday, October 26, 2015

Welcome to Georgia, Patricia

Hurricane Patricia, at least its remnants, has set its windy, rainy eye on Atlanta. Today was simply miserable: cold, wet, devoid of sun, and overall just a day you wish you could spend watching TV in bed. Unfortunately, like most people, I had to be at work today. At least Monday is almost over... though I think the weather is not going to improve much until the weekend. It was so windy today it would hard to get a good picture!


Today I'm wearing a dress from a brand called Leota. It's my first (and currently) only dress by the brand, which I discovered on RueLaLa.com, one of my favorite discount sites. You can find Leota on sites like Amazon and Nordstrom, and the brand is well known not only for its cute and inexpensive dresses, but also for chic maternity wear.

This blue cap sleeve dress is just adorable, though like most cheaper brands, it's not that well made. It is not lined and has no zipper, so over the head it goes.

I like mixing in more inexpensive fare with higher priced items to really build out your wardrobe, and many celebrities are starting to do the same. You will see movie stars wearing an H&M top or Zara jacket with higher priced jeans and Manolo Blahniks. It's fun to see what cheaper items the stars pick up! I almost feel like Sharon Stone started this trend when she wore a shirt from GAP to the Oscars in the 90s.

Dress: Leota Blue A-Line Cap Sleeve Dress

Shoes: Stuart Weitzman Peep-Toe Pumps

Nail Color: Essie Luxedo

I had a mani/pedi this weekend at Nouvelle Nail Spa in West Midtown (Atlanta). I love a dark nail color that is so bold it's almost black... but not quite. This color is a very deep purple, and goes with just about anything.


Friday, October 23, 2015

Business in the Front

Fridays mean getting a little more daring with your wardrobe. This dress looks very professional in the front, but is more open in the back. I think it's fine to take risks on days when you know everyone in the office will be a little more casual.

My husband told me I looked very pretty today, and he usually just gives me the standard, "You look fine." I am putting today's outfit in the win column!


Shoes: SJP Sarah Jessica Parker


Here is the back view:


Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Back to the Future Day: The Future Is Here

As many of you know, Back to the Future is my all-time favorite movie. In fact, one of my 2010 blog posts went into detail on my favorite moments from the film, and I read We Don't Need Roads: The Making of the Back to the Future Trilogy this summer.


Today is a special day for Back to the Future fans: the day Marty traveled to the "future" in the second film. Yes, it's finally October 21, 2015. While we don't have flying cars, and barely use fax machines anymore, the movie did get some predictions right: video teleconferencing, thumb print security (I use it everyday on my phone) and 3-D movies, to name a few.

I'm excited to celebrate by watching the movie tonight, wearing my Enchantment Under the Sea Dance t-shirt, and with my Marty McFly and Doc Brown Funko Pop figurines by my side.

This movie is truly special, and there is a reason so many people are celebrating Back to the Future Day today... me included.

And for those who don't know... Michael J. Fox was my first crush. I still hope to meet him one day!


Some of my favorite links/stories in honor of Back to the Future Day:

Monday, October 19, 2015

Every Which Way But...

Today's French Connection dress represents another recent bargain from the Belk at Phipps Plaza. I think I paid $10-15 for this cute body con dress, so even though the stripes are going every which way, and make me look wider than usual, I still had to have it.


Now, French Connection dresses are generally not the highest quality, so this dress is not lined. If you have to wear something so form fitting, add Spanx underneath; otherwise you will feel almost naked. I chose to wear it with wedges, but it would also look really cute with navy flats for a casual shopping trip or weekend lunch out. This dress is very versatile.

Dress: French Connection Summer Stripe Sheath Dress

Also available at Amazon.

Shoes: L.A.M.B. Plum Wedges in Navy (no longer available, but here is a similar wedge pump)

Here is a similar style dress available at Nordstrom, along with one at French Connection online. Both are only available in black/white.


If my makeup looks a little more natural today, it's due to some tips I gleaned from makeup artist Scoobie West. Scoobie did my wedding day makeup 12 (gasp!) years ago when Chapin and I got married, and I organized a Book Club outing at his studio this past weekend. (Funnily enough, his studio is just five minutes from my house.)

The group gathered to get his take on the best way to do a daytime to nighttime eye, fill in your sparse eyebrows, make your lips look bigger and more. It was so much fun! I placed a rather large Sephora order as a result, but if it makes me look like I have eyebrows, it's worth it. Is anyone else out there a victim of 90s over-plucking? Unfortunately for me, my brows never grew back.