6 ways to wear your winter hat

As a Chicagoan, I understand the importance of a good winter hat.  For obvious reasons and for fashion's sake, duh.  A good winter hat can keep your noggin warm, complete an outfit and of course, hide that hair you've been meaning to wash for the past few days.  I most certainly utilize my beanie for all of these reasons, so I was more than stoked to read this post from the folks at Refinery 29 covering multiple ways to wear one beanie.

'Ashton Kutcher'

'Dock Worker'

'Garden Gnome'

'Peter Pan'

'Single Fold'

'Usual'

And it's also really adorable that her lipstick almost matches her beanie. 

bittersweet colours: DIY necklace

bittersweet colours: DIY necklace  Check out her necklace.  She made it herself along with the help of her husband, how cute.. also check out her outfit and blog.

Did it on 'em

Now, I can't say that I love Nicki Minaj or that I even like her music that much.. But I do respect her drive to be a force to reckoned with and for being, well.. Nicki Minaj!  What I do love, however, is getting my nails done.  And Ms. Minaj is giving me more incentive to like her with her latest collection of O.P.I. nail polish.  Like Miss Minaj, the line is bold and bright and sure to make a statement; not to mention super spring-y which I can't help but be into considering this unseasonably warm winter Chicago has been having.  I love them all, except for the crackle.  It's just not for me.. any hoot.. I'm sure all of my favorite nail bloggers just about died when they saw these colors, too..  Enjoy!

Did it on 'em

Fly

Metallic 4 Life

Save Me

Pink Friday

Super Bass Shatter

And whether or not you like Nicki Minaj, you can't deny the utter haute-ness of this video.  This section of this year's Victoria's Secret show is my absolute favorite.. neon, lights, stripes, tutus.. so cute.  I could watch this over and over for hours.

**find the whole collection here

Something to think about...

The Quiet Place Project  If you haven't done this already, click on the link and do it now. It's very cute and it really made me think.  It made me think about how unimportant some of the things I think are important really are. Enjoy.

gettin' lippy

Sound advice, yo.  Wearing lipstick always makes me feel put together and well, like a lady.  I'm not really doing much today except for eating popsicles and watching consecutive episodes of Fear Factor and Drugs Inc.. Oh, and reading every blog I've become obsessed with as of late.  I figured I'd put on some lipstick just to feel somewhat normal.  I've gotten over my fear of red and purple; although i might revisit that purple (MAC Go For It) sometime in the near future. It looks like this:

My makeup conquests for this year are blue:

Ka'oir by Keyshia Dior Doll Blue Lipstick, $19

Next, is a bright pink:

M.A.C. ProLong Wear Lipcreme in Love Forever, $17

And last, orange:

Make Up Forever in Intense #30, $19

I don't know if I'll have the courage to brave the streets in these shades, but I really want to.  The farthest I usually make it when trying a daring shade is the mirror in my bathroom.  But, I'm turning over a new leaf this year and just doing whatever the fuck I want.  After all, it ain't how you look, it's how you feel.  

photo via

Cheers for the freakin' weekend

Have you seen her?  Tell me, have you seen her?!  Another one bites the dust.  I loved this phone, I truly did.  I haven't seen her since last Thursday night when I made what was supposed to be a pit stop at my job's employee appreciation party.  That stop lead to another and another and another.. with a final stop at home at 11 am the next day, sans $600 smartphone.  I still had a good time, from what I remember, so the night wasn't a total bust :)  Friday night, you'd think the loss of my precious phone would keep me home.. nope.  Met a hottie at work named 'Aristotle' (seriously) who invited my co-workers and I out for drinks.  You know I went.. and in the process was given a full bottle of Ketel One by some guy who introduced himself by saying, "I like my women like I my coffee, BLACK!" Ha ha.. what the fuck?  So Saturday night.. yess, I went out.  But, I kicked it in Wicker Park, which is what I do every Saturday night, pretty much.  None of the pretentiousness of downtown, just a bunch of people who like (actual) good music and want to keep that party going til 5 am (or later).  I enjoyed a full night of drinks and two steps with my best gal and even got an unexpected smooch session from my summer 2011 crush. (boom)  Didn't see that coming, but not mad nonetheless.  Let's hope this weekend is a mild one. I don't really know how to do that, but I'm gonna have to try.  I can't afford to lose anything else!

Spring MakeUps

 I have a lot of fuckin' makeup.  I think one of the next posts I do will be an actual photo of all my make-up laid out.. (prepare to have your mind blown) I like making cute color combos, really.  And it feels ultra girly to wear makeup; people notice.  Post application, you step back and look at yourself in the mirror and it's like..boom.  I love that.  And when someone compliments me on my makeup,  well.. that's the icing on the cake.  Any hoot, one of my favorite cosmetic companies by far is NARS.  Kinda pricey, but the texture and quality of their makeup is unrivaled.  It goes on amazing, eye shadows and blushes can be interchangeable and are super intense when combined with water.  Most certainly my go-to when I want new makeup (that I don't need).   Fashion Bananas posted some really cute spring outfits this morning and it made me think of the NARS Spring 2012 collection. Mature, versatile and I don't own any other colors like these. Perfect.  here goes..

BILBAO  this most likely looks amazeballs on every skin tone. perfect nude, for any season.

DARK RITE  goes on creamy; can be used all over the lid, as a base for shadow or a liner. tres magnifique?

DIAMOND LIFE inspired by and named after Sade's 1984 debut album..  SOLD.

DOUCE FRANCE  can be used alone or all together. Perfect with heavy black eyeliner and mascara.

PARAMARIBO  so many options with this.  looks rich for work,  add water and make it even richer for a night out.

GAIETY  i can't rock with this as a blush.  i'd use it as a shadow or  liner.  i do the same with  TAJ MAHAL

MEXICAN ROSE  use this lip liner for spring-y hot pink lips.  could be used in combo with the blush above.

VALPARAISO  super sultry.. could be used for spring, fall and winter.   add messy bun and over-sized sunnies and.. GO!

I hope that by the time spring rolls around that I own most of these and that my gal Alessia at un giorno da leone has made some time for me so we can incorporate them in our upcoming style posts.  Stay tuned and until then.. stay warm.