A Spring Snood

Every Spring I feel the need to amp up the color factor in my wardrobe. This may be triggered by the abundance of vibrant flowers at every turn - who knows?... But want I do know, is that when I found the pictured "Nola Snood" by Pieces, I was thrilled. What a fashionable way to sport a piece of Spring!

So, you may be wondering, "what in the world is a 'snood'?!" Good question. I discovered that historically, the term was used to describe a close-fitting hood. But in modern times, the term refers to a tubular neck scarf.

The "Nola Snood" is seasonally-appropriate not only because of its' artistic tulip smudge print, but also due to its' lightweight nature. Since Spring is normally a temperate time - not too hot, not too cold - this type of layering is ideal.

This garden of delights accessory brightens up any outfit and serves as a reminder that April showers will bring a cascade of even more May flowers.



For more information about this Spring Snood, click here:
http://us.asos.com/Pieces-Nola-Snood/y0t4l/?iid=2007926&cid=4174&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=200&sort=-1&clr=Yellow&mporgp=L1BpZWNlcy9QaWVjZXMtTm9sYS1Tbm9vZC9Qcm9kLw.

An Easter Bonnet

In recognition of Easter, I thought it would only be appropriate to showcase the classic accessory associated with this holiday: a bonnet... or in layman's terms, a hat. An Easter bonnet heralds spring and honors the tradition of wearing new clothes on the day in which renewal, rebirth, and redemption are celebrated.

Fortunately, these days there are a multitude of hats to choose from at various price points. One of my recent finds is pictured above - the "Colorblock Trim Floppy Hat" an understated straw chapeau from Forever 21. This simple design is on-trend due to its' floppy, wide brim silhouette and colorblock element. The cheerful yellow trim color is my top pick, but additional accent colors are also available (hot pink and turquoise). 

Whether you are attending a church service, having brunch with loved ones, and/or hunting for the treasured golden egg, enjoy your Easter Sunday ~ bonnet and all!

Click here for details of F21's "Colorblock Trim Floppy Hat":
http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=acc_hat&ProductID=2000038941&VariantID=

Additional historical information about the Easter bonnet:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_bonnet

L is for ...

Feeling the need to make an indelible statement? Look no further than to your brilliant accessory: a piece of personalized jewelry.

While personalized jewelry has been around a long time, an updated angle on this "charming" genre caught my eye recently. BAUBLEBAR is now offering the "Coloful Initial Pendant" (featured in the above image). Combining the trendy neon pink letter on a gold-plated brass necklace is a modern take on a traditional design. Not only are additional letters available, but there are multiple color options, allowing you to go one step further with the personalization process.

Wearing baubles with initials is a simple way to express a special tidbit about yourself ~ whether it is representing the first letter of your name or that of a loved one. It could even stand for a personal belief or attitude. Whatever it symbolizes, there is meaning behind it because it expresses something unique about you. No better reason for it to be a must-have accessory in your jewelry collection!



Compelled to express yourself? Check out BAUBLEBAR:
http://baublebar.com/index.php/colorful-initial-pendant.html

Spring Time

In case you missed it, we "sprung forward" to Daylight Savings Time a couple of weeks ago. On Tuesday, we officially transitioned from Winter to Spring. Feeling lost amidst these changes? It may be time to invest in a useful, yet stylish, accessory: a watch.

Timex is my favorite watch brand because of their reliability, affordability and aesthetic. Recently, they updated their product assortment by adding novel twists to their classic styles. The Timex Modern Easy Reader Watch, featured in the above image, is a perfect example of the brand's brilliance. The infusion of pink is a seasonally appropriate, cheerful touch to a timeless design.

Take a moment to soak in Spring by enjoying a stroll in the extended daylight hours, listen to the chirping birds and notice the emerging yellow daffodils - all the while wearing a colorful timepiece on your wrist!



Here is additional information about the Timex Modern Easy Reader Watch:
http://www1.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/timex-modern-easy-reader-watch-38mm?ID=606870&CategoryID=20532&LinkType=#fn=GENDER%3DFemale%26PRICE%3D50.0|99.99000000000001%26spp%3D1%26ppp%3D96%26sp%3D1%26rid%3D31

A Wee Bit O' Green

Wearing green on St. Patrick's Day is a non-negotiable for me. Always has been, always will be. Not only is it a festive way to pay tribute to my Irish heritage, but it is also a preventive measure from getting pinched. According to legend, sporting a piece of green on March 17th makes you invisible to leprechauns that will pinch you if they see you. 

You may now be wondering, "how can I fashionably keep the leprechauns at bay?" A solution is to add Stella & Dot's "Serenity Stone Drops" (as pictured above) to your St. Paddy's Day look. These Emerald Isle hue earrings uplift an outfit in March and beyond. I don't know about you, but I think this accessory find is jig-worthy.

Whether at a pub or a parade, enjoy a fun-filled, pinch-free holiday! 

I will leave you with one of my favorite Irish blessings...

"May the road rise to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face.

And rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand."

The link to the featured Stella & Dot's earrings:

http://shop.stelladot.com/style/b2c_en_us/featured-shops/sp12-collections/amalfi-collection/e168gr.html?s=lindsayoehmen

Nail It

We all have done it. Gazing at the numerous nail polish colors at the drug store or nail salon, we try to determine the best hue for our hands and/or tootsies. Our choice may be based on our current mood, an upcoming event or a popular beauty trend. No matter what the deciding factor is, this process can take some time, especially nowadays with the recent explosion of polish options - various colors, techniques (i.e. gel), glitters, patterns... What is an indecisive girl to do? 

Fortunately, there are easy-to-use, affordable nail products at our fingertips. When I stopped into Rite Aid yesterday, I perused the cosmetic aisle and came across Sally Hansen's extensive product assortment, which included their Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips and Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pen. Instead of feeling pressured to invest in the "perfect" shade, I breathed a sigh of relief as I picked up a few polishes to dazzle up my nails over the next month, thanks to Sally's user-friendly applications and reasonable price points.

Nail polish. A tried and true beauty accessory. A creative vehicle to add a pop of color to our look. A light-hearted way to express our personality.

Now let's get out there and nail it.

Do any of the Sally Hansen nail designs in the above photo peak your interest? Wanting to view additional colors? Click on the following links for more information:  

http://www.sallyhansen.com/products/nails/nail-color/salon-effects-real-nail-polish-strips

http://www.sallyhansen.com/products/nails/nail-color/color-quick™-fast-dry-nail-color-pen

March Madness

March: a month of madness. Thanks in part to college hoops and St. Patrick's Day. This year Nike is honoring these events in an ingenious way. The leading athletic retailer released one of their latest and greatest products, the Nike SB Dunk High "Guinness" Shoe for men. The color inspiration is captured in the featured photo -- black with tan accents... makes me thirsty ;)

Celebrate throughout this month by wearing these shoes, rooting for your favorite basketball team and/or sipping the well-known Irish dry stout. Cheers to March Madness!

Additional images of these new Nike kicks:

http://www.kicksonfire.com/2012/02/23/nike-sb-dunk-high-guinness-new-images/