thursday latelies

If you can't see the video, click HERE.

Hope you all have had a lovely week! Thursday snuck up on me this week! Here's my little loves of the week:

1. J. Crew gold giraffe necklace. I couldn't find the link on their website but I just got mine in store this weekend and on sale!
2. Air plant...it's so cute! Is that weird that I think a plant is cute? Some of the hanging glass orbs to put them in can be found over HERE and over THERE.
3. Michael Kors Jalita Flatforms - WooHoo! I finally got some anndddd I've barely taken 'em off since they arrived on my doorstep!

Has anything made your week just a little sweeter? Pop over to see Bex for more Thursday Latelies!

Make sure to enter the LAB giveaway for a gorgeous Brass Peter Pan Collar! I wear mine all the time! Hurry because it ends tomorrow night!

And congratulations to Emily for winning the Much Love, Illy Giveaway!

Send me an email!

pros & cons of a maxi

shirt  |  similar dress  |  bangle  |  similar sandals

{Pros:}

• Maxis are to summer barbecues as elastic waist pants are to Thanksgiving (i.e. room for that extra helping of potato salad, brisket, pie, & whatever else you can fit)
• The terms "thunder thighs, pale legs, and cankles" do not exist within the maxi skirts vocabulary
• They keep your legs from deep frying
• Who doesn't love a statement? Bold pattern, color, or even boho lace? check, check, check.

{Cons:}

• Walking down stairs with a plate in one hand and a drink in the other and your stupid shoe catching on the skirt leading to you holding the new record for flight time down the remaining steps
• On that same note...having your legs hog tied by your own clothing in the middle of the grocery store because obviously you're the only person in the world who can't walk properly in a long skirt
• Not suggested to be in a plant nursery and definitely not in the humid tropical plant section because you've now created your own hot house under your skirt. I think I saw steam when I lifted it to get into my truck. erh uh. Not that I lift my skirt often in public...because I'm a lady & ladies don't do that.

And there you have my Memorial Day Weekend in a nutshell! Thank you to all our wonderful past & present servicemen & women! Did you all enjoy your weekend?

Would winning a gorgeous Brass Peter Pan Collar ($65 value) from LAB be a sa-weet start to the summer? I thought so too. Click HERE to enter!

friday giveaway - LAB {CLOSED}

I am so amazed by what some people can create with their own two hands...Laura is one of those people! There are some seriously creative people in the world, now add the talent of welding (yes, welding) and metalworking and there you have the owner of LAB, Laura, who is bringing us this week's giveaway! 

Not only can Laura resurrect vintage metal into edgy feminine accessories but she is one of the sweetest ladies that I am loving to become friends with! Remember that gorgeous Peter Pan Collar I wore HERE? Completely from the hands of this girl! 

Meet Laura of LAB:

For the past 10 years, I've been trying out as many different creative outlets as possible. I've amassed an incredibly random skill set, from costume design, fashion illustration, model making, welding, and personal styling. Along with those, I've cultivated a pretty intense love for junk shops, medical curiosities, Alice in Wonderland, Vladimir Nobokov's Lolita, metalworking and 80's new wave. It seemed kind of impossible to choose just one those things to focus on, so I began making one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces which let me combine most of those random interests in a pretty satisfying way. I believe in handmade craftsmanship and working with organically occurring materials. And mostly, I love being influenced by the creative hub that is Brooklyn, New York. 

You can get into my brain a little more by checking out my blog:
3rd Party Observations

Laura is giving away one of her Brass Peter Pan Collars to one of you lucky readers ($65 Value)!

Curious how I styled it? Check HERE!

How to enter:

1) Be a follower of Simply Bold with Google Friend Connect! (mandatory)

2) Visit LAB and comment below on your favorite piece!

Extra entries:

(1 entry for each! Make each entry in separate comments to count!)

Follow her blog with Bloglovin HERE or HERE

Like her on Facebook HERE

Heart/add her shop to your favorites HERE

Follow me on Twitter HERE

Follow me on Bloglovin HERE

Tweet, Facebook, or blog about this giveaway

Don't want to wait?:

Use code COLLARLOVE25 at checkout for 25% off your entire shop order!

How generous! And trust me...you'll find plenty to use it on!

Giveaway is open to all Simply Bold readers! Closes on Friday, June 1st at midnight! I'll announce the winner the following week!

Want to add some cheer to your summer wardrobe? The Much Love, Illy Giveaway ends tonight! Don't miss your chance for some adorable accessories!

thursday latelies

Can't see the video? Click HERE

1. My new haircut! 5-6" lopped off...don't know for sure, I tried to not pay attention cuz nobody likes a crier!
2. Junk Food Clothing Tee: perfect for this summer! Probably the softest tee I own now! So excited they asked me to participate in a style project! I'll let you know when voting goes live; I'd love to have your support (and maybe some votes too)!
3. Favorite new shorts: JCrew leopard shorts (seen here) and custom vintage shorts by Automatic Doll (check out Jessica's blog too).

Make sure to enter the Much Love, Illy giveaway! It ends tomorrow! Don't forget about her discount code!

What's new with you this week? Have you visited Bex yet?

wild cat

similar fedora  |  sweater  |  necklace  |  similar belt  |  shorts  |  watch  |  h&m sandals (similar)

New favorite shorts, meet the blog. Blog, meet the shorts that you will be seeing so often you will either covet them or want to burn them. It's still a toss up at this point.

I have every intention of wearing the backside out of these bad boys. I'm not sure why that's where my bottoms tend to fail me over time...but alas it happens. I had a favorite pair of Calvin Klein jeans in high school that I wore almost every day until this very instance literally happened. In the middle of science class of all places. Yeah, fun memories. 

PS if I ever plan a safari trip, this outfit including fedora will be packed first because well I like to blend in to my surroundings. Where's my travel agent when I need her?

Did you enter the Much Love Illy Giveaway? Perfect opportunity to snap up some fun, colorful accessories for summer...especially with the discount code she's offering!

mint & berries

H&M tank {similar} | J Crew pants | F21belt | watch | similar wedges | necklace c/o LAB

This weather has just been beyond perfect for me! I finally got some time to indulge and worship the sun...feel free to comment on my newly bronzed glow (it's barely there...but it's there!). Wait for it. That's one of those amazing things that happens when you have Italian heritage. A little sun will go a looong way for me. Anyway, I've been searching for a refreshing drink for this glorious summer weather and I've found it! Mint & berry mojitos. Take that in. It's like a splash of water in the face, in a good way. So to commemorate my new love for the mint & berry mojito, I bring you the mint top paired with berry pants. Is that weird that alcoholic beverages now influence my style? No? Well that's good.

Other things I'm loving: my new peter pan collar! It adds that perfect amount of interest to a plain tank and I can't wait to pair it with a collared blouse! I never would have imagined Peter Pan would influence my style either. So there you have it, in a nut shell, my outfit is driven by alcohol and Neverland.

Are you Leigh-Ellen? You've won the amazing giveaway to Automatic Doll! Email me!

Be prepared to indulge in some truly breath taking free-spirited jewelry because Jessica's shop is ah-mazing! Check out her blog too for some great inspiration!

PS don't miss out on the Much Love, Illy giveaway going on now! Pssst there's a discount code too!

friday giveaway - much love illy {closed}

This week's giveaway is brought to you by the beautiful Ilene! This girl probably doesn't even need an intro as I'm sure you all know this ah-mazing lady! Illy has quickly become one of my favorite blogger friends! She can always put a smile on my face with her quirky personality or adorable shop! Love her & I'm sure you will too!

Meet Ilene of Much Love, Illy:

Hello, friends of Kristina! My name is Ilene (aka illy) - and you can find me over at Much Love, illy. If I'm not at my blog, you'll find me behind the scenes at work at my etsy shop. I love making handmade accessories - from poppy garland headbands to big hair bows or jewelry. When I'm not blogging or creating, I love spending time with those I love most - like my family, my dog (named after Peyton Manning!) or with my incredible fiance in Georgia. I also have a mad obsession over nail polish, coffee, movies, and photography. 

Be sure to stop by the blog or shop to say "hi"! And psst, use code KRISTINA20 at checkout for 20% off of your entire shop order! 

Ilene has got $25 shop credit up for grabs!

How to enter:

1) Be a follower of Simply Bold with Google Friend Connect! (mandatory)

2) Visit Much Love Illy and comment below on your favorite piece!

Extra entries:

(1 entry for each! Make each entry in separate comments to count!)

Follow her blog with GFC HERE

Follow her on Twitter HERE

Like her on Facebook HERE

Heart/add her shop to your favorites HERE

Follow me on Twitter HERE

Follow me on Bloglovin HERE

Tweet, Facebook, or blog about this giveaway

Don't want to wait?:

Use code KRISTINA20 at checkout for 20% off your entire shop order!

Giveaway is open to all Simply Bold readers! Closes on Friday, May 25th at midnight! I'll announce the winner the following week!

Don't forget to enter the Automatic Doll Giveaway for some amazing free-spirited Cajun inspired jewelry! It ends tonight!

PS: Did you win the Twillypop Giveaway?

thursday latelies

Hello! Welcome to my chocolatey week!

1. Emerald Cocoa Roast Almonds! So delicious! I was right. Half the can is already gone just in the time it's taken me to publish this video.
2. Dancing Deer Baking Co Chocolate Chunk Brownie…that's a mouthful, literally! You can never go wrong with chocolate brownies, especially all-natural ones!
3. Smashbox O-Glow: intuitive cheek color so it goes on clear and changes to your best glow!

Also, make sure to enter the Automatic Doll Giveaway for some amazing free-spirited jewelry! It ends tomorrow!


Any chocolate suggestions? I have a feeling like I'm just getting started on my obsession for the week. Shocking huh? Have you checked out Bex's Thursday Latelies? Stop by and say hi!

white jean interference

scarf: h&m (similar) | top: J Crew (similar) | jeans | sandals: h&m (similar) | bracelet c/o twillypop

First off, can we talk about the "amber waves of grain" in the background. Ok, it's not grain...it's actually wheat and field grass. now you know. (tip: if you're on a bad date and want to dip just start talking about your new found knowledge of field grass. I promise your date won't last much longer.) your welcome. Anyway, my point was look how fluffy it looks! It makes me want to jump in it and roll around. White jeans have a tendency to inhibit my urges to dive into mud. They're kind of a buzz-kill in that way.

Now that's out of the way...I'd like to introduce you to my summer wardrobe: navy, white, green, and typically gray likes to make an appearance as well. I have a die hard adornment for nauticalness. word? no. In my vocab? yes. So this is your heads up to brace yourself for the crazy amount of maritime vibes to come.

Here's another way I've worn this top. 

 Check here to see if you won the twillypop giveaway. It must be a scarf type of week huh?

sisterhood of the traveling scarf

H&M tank {similar}, jeans, similar belt, H&M sandals {similar}, scarf: scarves.net, headband c/o much love illy, bracelet

Who doesn't love a little nostalgia? A little throwback to grade school. Kinda makes me want to bust out in "memories make me wanna go back there, back there!" Ok, I cease. From the title of the post I'm sure you know where I'm going with this...Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Yeah, I knew you'd remember.

Not long ago I got an email from Ilene asking me if I wanted to participate in a traveling scarf project. A wha? As I kept reading I squealed. yes. squealed. How fun of an idea did scarves.net come up with?! Some of the girls there decided it'd be fun to have a traveling scarf since well...finding a pair of pants to fit numerous bloggers was pretty much slim chances and they're scarves.net not pants.net. So of course I jumped at this! I could not be more thankful that Ilene chose me as the next blogger! Thanks girlie!

A little while later I received my lovingly adorned scarf and obviously well traveled box. poor box. I'll be sending it on it's way in the morning mail and had to reinforce it as best I could. Hopefully it'll make it to it's destination. Each blogger before me has attached a unique element to the scarf that represents them in a way, written their most exciting moment with the scarf on it's bag, and added little momentos and decor to the box.

Here's just a few examples of where this much-more-traveled-than-moi scarf has been:

http://www.selectivepotential.com/2012/01/metaphorest-project.html

http://snappycasual.tumblr.com/post/19669711922/sisterhood-of-the-traveling-scarf

http://www.starsforstreetlights.com/2011/12/sisterhood-of-traveling-scarf.html

http://dwellingandtelling.blogspot.com/2012/04/traveling-scarf.html

http://muchlove-illy.blogspot.com/2012/05/officially-cursed.html

The scarf made it to my KC blogger meet-up on Thursday night. The week I had it (I feel like it needs a name? Is that weird?) it was hot. 80-90's hot. Lucky me though...the back of my tank is sheer and it got chilly in the room where our meet-up was and a little chilly on the walk in the dark back to my truck. I had my fun scarf to top off my outfit!

Wish the scarf (and it's box) much luck on it's travels to Jill, who is the next blogger to join the Sisterhood! And a big thank you to Sandy who took my pics before the meet-up and for walking with me back to the dark parking lot afterwards! No worries. She parked next to me :)

P.S. Are you Elif Onay? You won the last week's Twillypop Giveaway! Congratulations!

Send me an email!

Don't forget to enter this week's giveaway for Automatic Doll, an amazing shop full of beautifully free-spirited Cajun and vintage inspired jewelry and clothing!

friday giveaway - automatic doll {closed}

Is it possible for me to be any more excited to introduce you to Automatic Doll?! Nope...not possible! Jessica is the creatively romantic genius behind the necklace I wore HERE and from the reaction you guys had about that necklace I'm sure you'll be super excited for this giveaway! Jessica encapsulates the true mysterious, romantic, and free-spirited vibe of the Louisiana native she is. I adore her dreamy & natural cajun inspiration! Her items are the epitome of unique statement pieces. 

She also has some amazing vintage clothing in her shop! I've got my eye on some of the shorts and a denim vest to wear with my maxi skirts this summer! Make sure to check out her blog for some great DIY tips (like this one that I'll definitely be doing)! 

Meet Jessica:

Being an Automatic Doll is all about living whimsically, dreamily, and deliberately. I specialize in feathers, flowers, lace, nostalgia, and inspiration through nature. I am an English professor by day and a craftsman by night. I am inspired by literature, birds, and all things Tennessee Williams.

Jessica is generously giving away (your choice of) any jewelry item in her shop!

I told you you'd be excited for this one!

How to enter:

1) Be a follower of Simply Bold with Google Friend Connect! (mandatory)

2) Visit Automatic Doll and comment below on your favorite piece!

Extra entries:

(1 entry for each! Make each entry in separate comments to count!)

Follow her blog with Bloglovin HERE or HERE

Like her on Facebook HERE

Heart/add her shop to your favorites HERE

Follow me on Twitter HERE

Follow me on Bloglovin HERE

Tweet, Facebook, or blog about this giveaway

Don't want to wait?:

Jessica is offering 15% off with code SIMPLYBOLD12!

Giveaway is open to all Simply Bold readers! Closes on Friday, May 19th at midnight! I'll announce the winner the following week!

Don't forget to enter the Twillypop Giveaway before it ends tonight!

thursday latelies

Happy Thursday! Time for the latelies!

1) Sisterhood of the Traveling Scarf! You know you remember the Traveling Pants books :)
Here's Ilene's post on it! Be on the lookout for mine next week! NO idea what to add to it before sending it on it's way!

2) Mother's day gift idea...love old mason jars! Endless possibilities.

3) Pineapple Plant. Yes...you read that correctly. Definitely the most unique house plant I own.

P.S. the bracelet I'm wearing is from HERE. Note to self: get more.


Visit Bex for more Thursday Latelies!

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borrowed from the boys

Similar top, necklace c/o Automatic Doll, AE belt {similar}, Jeans: borrowed from Jake, DIY bracelet, watch, similar wedges

Guess what this girl just realized! Those oh-so comfy boyfriend jeans are no longer on my shopping list because I have my own boyfriend with jeans...jeans that fit my girlie hips! These are the most comfortable jeans ever with the addition of a belt of course. Why have I been squeezing into my skinnies when I can just swipe a pair of Jake's? I can't say I'm converted but I have every intention of shopping his closet more often...just don't tell him. I'd hate to have to learn to pick a lock to wear men's clothing. That'd just be strange.

Also, are you Jenni of Jenni Austria Germany? You just won the Craft to the Radio Giveaway! Congrats girl! Send me an email!

Head over to the Twillypop Giveaway going on this week! You'll adore Sara's playful jewelry...I love mine!

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