The Sensational Satchel

satchel: Michael Kors via macys.com

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't completely in love with satchels. I mean, who could say no to a purse that is incredibly convenient and versatile? Below, you will find 6 different satchels that I recommend for the end of summer/beginning of fall:

1. Marc by Marc Jacobs 'Natasha' Satchel

2. Mossimo Patent 'Small Lady Satchel' via Target

3. Michael Kors 'Bedford' Genuine Bowling Bag

4. Michael Kors 'Bedford' Large North/South Tote

5. Mischa Barton Mini 'Melrose' Satchel via ASOS.com

6. Braided Tassel Satchel via Target

Wedding Wonder

see below for accessories

This summer, I attended two weddings, both of which, were very different. The first one was a backyard, sunset wedding: rustic, and laid-back, while the second one was at a tennis club: formal, and ritzy. From the descriptions, I bet you can already tell that I had to find completely different outfits for each one. I definitely struggled when it came to finding outfits, but came out OK in the end. Here are some tips I picked up:

• Attire-wise, you will find all the information you need in the invitation. Pay attention to it's appearance (i.e., font, type of paper, colors, etc.)-- as it will indicate the the dress code, if it doesn't already explicitly say so.

• Don't be afraid to experiment with color. Weddings are supposed to be a time of celebration, not mourning, so if you decide to wear all black, be sure to accessorize with brightly colored jewelry.

• Be conservative. Keep sequins, and sparkles at bay, and dresses at an appropriate length and tightness. As my friend N would say, "This ain't a club!"

• Absolutely no denim, unless stated otherwise. This might seem obvious, but believe me-- it happens.

• And last but not least, before you hit the mall, try shopping in your own closet first. I started by searching the mall, and when I couldn't find anything, two dresses I bought last year for graduation ended up working perfectly. Yay for saving money!

One last thing-- I can't make a fashion post without mentioning my BFF, R. The two outfits you see in the picture above, plus the accessories below, were almost identical to what she wore, with the darker colored dress and the white, beaded statement necklace being dedicated to the more formal wedding.

DIY Watercolor Greeting Cards

A few weeks ago, I purchased a cheap watercolor set. You know, the ones your kindergarten teacher would whip out when he/she had a project for the class to paint. It was supposed to be for the kids I work with, but one afternoon, out of boredom, I decided to play around with it myself.

After painting several rainbow blobs, and changing the water a few times, I found myself making greeting cards.

WHAT I USED: a few sheets of printer paper (8"x11"), a watercolor set (I got mine at Target for $2-$3), water, a paper towel, and a pen.

And, instead of directions (since they are so straightforward), here are some tips:

-You can virtually make a card of any size, but the best size I found could be created by folding a piece of printer paper into 4. The extra layer of paper hides any paint that may have bled through.

-Speaking of paint bleeding, if you do decide to make a smaller-sized card, be sure to paint your picture when the paper is completely unfolded. This will prevent any transfer that may occur between layers.

-The less water you use, the darker the paint will be. Don't be afraid to play around with different amounts of water to create different gradients.

-Mix colors that are in the same temperature family together to create a pretty effect.

Insta-obsessed

In the past few weeks that I've had a smart phone, Instagram has become one of my favorite apps. For those of you who don't have access, here is a brief recap of the pictures I've taken recently. The pictures include:

1. My favorite phone case... ever.

2. A white chocolate raspberry bread pudding R and I shared the other night.

3. A lily from my neighbor's garden.

4. Pink lemonade from Trader Joe's. It comes in the prettiest bottle!

5. My favorite nail polish: 'Big Apple Red' via OPI

6. A sunflower cupcake from a bakery I passed last week.

Black and Yellow

skirt: Urban Outfitters

I'm not a pro when it comes to styling neons, but a tip I have for beginners like me is to keep it simple. If you want to wear neon, but are unsure of what complimentary colors go with your statement piece, try nudes, blacks, or whites-- 3 shades you can never go wrong with.

Overtly Orange

image via tumblr.com

Pantone, a popular color-matching company, named a shade in the orange family, 'Tangerine Tango' 2012's color of the year. As I always say, what better way to be festive, than with your nails?

Out With the Old

This week has not been the most fun. With roommate drama, a presentation, and finishing up summer classes, life has been beyond stressful. To get my mind off of things this afternoon, I decided to re-do my fashion rack.

The neon yellow skirt you see above, I have been eyeing for weeks. After snagging it for $5 (made possible by a clearance sale+gift card) this past weekend at Urban Outfitters, I knew it was meant to be. I decided to revolve the entire rack around it, with neutrals, blacks, and denim-- the perfect color palette to celebrate mid-summer.