Black Iridescent Purse

Since everyone is suddenly obsessed with hologram iridescence, here is a purse I just came across! Pretty affordable (important for random trends!), buy at Nasty Gal for $48.

Baroque Print Knit Dress

I love the decadence of baroque prints in the winter! This knit dress will keep you stylishly warm - not an easy feat. But at Intermix for the sale price of $149.

High Fashion Princesses

British department store Harrods apparently has a magazine, and recently did a photo shoot with featuring High fashion Disney princesses! I grew up with many of these women so had to share some with you!

Sequin Chiffon Shorts

It's time for holiday parties! While I used to buy a new cocktail frock every season, now I try to think a little more outside the box - how about sequin shorts this year! Wear with tights and some silver heels! Buy at Bluefly for the sale price of $119.

Woven Insert Ankle Boots

Freebird by Steven is gaining popularity with their woven insert boots! Very rugged cowboy with a touch of boho, this pair is definitely on my wishlist for the holidays! Buy at Free People for $328.

Floral Lace Top

It's the edges of this top that make it so outstanding! It would look great layered over a bright sheath dress or perhaps a green leotard for a Poison Ivy cosplay?? Buy at ModCloth for $80.

Coral Quilted Robe

As I get whinier and whinier about the cold, my thoughts drift so squishy warm loungewear! This quilted robe looks super comfy and is lined with modal... love it! Buy at Anthropologie for $198.

Happy #GivingTuesday!

We took all weekend to shop, now it's time to give back! Help me celebrate #GivingTuesday - a campaign to create a national day of giving at the start of the annual holiday season. It celebrates and encourages charitable activities that support nonprofit organizations.

Of course, I want to highlight a few awesome alternative gift catalogues you can browse today!

The USO Wishbook - Support our troops and their families this holiday season! For just $15 you can send comfort food to our men and women serving overseas.

The National Wildlife Federation Adoption Center - Adopt a fuzzy wuzzy animal!! For just $30 you get a stuffed plushie to remind you how awesome you are!

Oxfam America Unwrapped - You are what you give! Be a pile of manure for just $12.

Heart Box Clutch

I try to rarely post super splurge (ie totally unaffordable) items, but I just couldn't resist sharing this DVF clutch with all of you! It's so cute, but a way pricy $782 at Matches. But surely you'll keep it forever!

Black Friday - Cyber Monday Sale Codes

Most sites just have massive discounts automatically for Black Friday - Cyber Monday, but some have sale codes I feel like I should share with you! Also, I have a few less more unique online stores here for you - time to try something new and get a discount!

All Saints - 20% most items with the code THANKS
ASOS - 30% off with code CYBERMONDAYSPECIAL
Bauble Bar - Buy 2 baubles, get 15% off use code FRIDAY15, buy 3 baubles, get 25% off use code FRIDAY25, buy 4 baubles, get 35% off use code FRIDAY35
Dear Fieldbinder - 35% off with CYBER35
Diane von Furstenberg - 30% off sale itens with code HOLIDAYSALE
Freida Rothman - 25% off with HOLIDAY2012
Gretchen Jones - 40% off with HOLIDAY12
Inge Christopher - 30% off with the code CYBER30
Kohl's - 15% off with BLACKFRI
LOFT.com - 50% off everything Cyber Monday with code TODAYONLY
Neiman Marcus - Discount on special items & free shipping with NMFALL
ShopBop - Spend $250+: save 20%, $500+: save 25%; $1000+: save 30%; $1500+: save 35% with code BIGEVENT12
Sorel - Get 15% off with the code SOREL15OFF
South Moon Under - 20% off almost everything with code CYBER20

Shark Bait

As a newly single female, I sometimes feel like a meat hook being dangled in shark-infested waters. Everywhere I turn, it feels like a male friend or acquaintance suddenly wants to spend a lot more time with me!

I do not, by any means, think I am some fabulous supermodel / genius / comedian / humanitarian. I think a lot of it has to do with men finally being at that age where a majority women they know have gotten married. Sure, there's an influx of divorcees, like myself, but it's relatively small.

But even more has to do with my attitude: I'm willing to give almost any guy a chance! Now, I won't be going out with any trolls, but if I'm attracted to someone and he's nice I'm more than happy to see if there's potential. In fact, many of my friends were a bit surprised when I started dating First Kiss. Now he's actually quite good looking and very sweet, yet I think many people dismiss and friend zone him due to his silly personality. He makes me laugh and we always have fun, so I'll take silly over smoldering any day!

Many of my girlfriends often say things like, "Oh I could never date a guy if he didn't X." It really surprises me since I find that some of the best couples I know are unexpected and often have very divergent interests!

My philosophy has always been to test things out: you can always break things off if they don't work out, but you'll never know until you try! And, back to where I started, I think guys can sense that open mindedness about me. They feel like they may have a shot and so here I am: shark bait.

Blue Velvet Flares

A great way to stay fashionably warm in winter is velvet! These flared pants look impossibly comfy and chic to boot. Buy at a new store I've found, Dear Fieldbinder, for $93.

Navy Leather Skirt

Every girl needs a leather skirt, and every girl needs an a-line skirt! Why not combine the two into one fabulous piece? This Patterson J. Kincaid piece is on sale at CUSP, originally $298 but now a more reasonable $178!

Colorblocked Waffle Cardigan

I love the waffle knit of this cardigan - it adds texture without being too chunky! Perfect for looking cozy cute, buy at ShopBop for the sale price of $90.

72-Year-Old Models For GrandDaughter's Teen Fashion Boutique

Pretty sure the title says it all! This insanely fabulous grandpa, Liu Xianping, models fashions from a teen fashion boutique in China, Yuekou. One of the owners is his grand daughter - um, best grandpa ever!

Sales have gone up five times since, and he's becoming a bit of an Internet celebrity! "Modeling for the store is helping my granddaughter and I have nothing to lose. We were very happy on the day of the shooting. I'm very old and all that I care about is to be happy," he told a journalist. I just want to eat him up!

He often does his own styling and sometimes wears wigs, though I prefer without because then he reminds me of Karl Lagerfeld.

Triangle Stud Boots

Nothing I love more than a versatile ankle boot - wear with tights now, bare legged in the summer! I really like the stud embellishments on this pair. Give it that extra omph, no? Buy at Gargyle for $205.

Fair Isle Skirt

Here's a new way to rock fair isle - in skirt form!  Certainly a bold choice, you will get lots of attention in this piece. Good from the fashion world, maybe a little raised eyebrow from the rest of the world, but who cares??  Buy for $160 at Acrimony.

Vintage Flapper Evening Bag

Isn't this fringy evening purse from the 20s just to die for? Perfect accent to your holiday soiree look, buy at Couture Allure for $95.

Fully Assed

Me: "I went on an accidate! Smoochy town!"
All my friends: "Be sure to take things slowly, maybe just be friends a little longer? You're not even officially divorced yet!"
Me: "That makes sense, good idea!"

... Meanwhile I completely ignore all common sense and charge forward straight ahead!

It's not like I meant to completely disregard all advice and logic. But when I like someone I want to see them. And when I want to see someone I make it happen... a lot! I seem to lack a certain amount of discipline O.o

And it's hard to know if you should listen to your brain or your heart. It makes sense to take things slowly, but I like to really go for things! Perhaps I'm just looking for justification to do what I want, but I don't like the idea of "half assing" the beginning of a relationship. I like to go fully assed!

I also like to follow my gut instincts. I'm not the type of girl who has to always be in a relationship and I don't feel like this is some sort of band-aid relationship. I feel like like I genuinely like First Kiss and he likes me. We have fun together and it's kinda neat to go out and do new things. So why not spend lots of time together and see what happens? Or am I just trying to convince myself...?

At this point my friends know I'll just do what I want anyway!

Lust For Less: Initial Necklace

Some of my friends have initial necklaces, but they're usually a bit too pricey for me to ever consider purchasing!

I think the Jennifer Zuener version is the original, but I could be wrong. This rose gold version will cost you $325 at Neiman Marcus.

But now Bauble Bar has their own initial necklaces, and I must say I'm sorely tempted!! For just $105 you can buy a silver version, $10 more for gold plated.

Snowfall Socks

Socks are a highly underrated part of any person's fashion wardrobe! Try wearing them under cropped pants or over tights for a fun new look! This pair is great for sinter but not in your face about it! Buy at ModCloth for $22.

Faux Fur Coat

I admit I love the look of fur, but I love animals more! So I'm always on the hunt for great faux fur options. This alive + olivia coat looks super luxe and comfy and is on sale at Saks Fifth Avenue for $278.

Collared Jumpsuit

Stand out at your next holiday soiree by breaking out a chic jumpsuit instead of the expected dress. Buy this versatile piece at South Moon Under for $149.

Snakeskin Cowboy Boots

They're actually not yet available, but you're gonna wanna bookmark this page on Zara! These boots are totally bad ass, on trend, will match everything and are a reasonable $169 - I know what just went on my wishlist!

Lace Cocktail Frock

Ladies, I present to you the perfect work holiday party dress! Fun, yet demure, it would look great with a bright belt or strappy heels! Buy at Revolve Clothing for $297.

Deer Print Tee

Now back to regular want curation... I love bold prints in neutral colors! It's such an easy way to jazz up an outfit and without getting too crazy! Buy this tee at Anthropologie for $48.

USO Gala Style

I've been in Texas for work, I totally thought I would have posts up anyway... but I haven't! So here's a picture of me at the USO Gala last week - I love my BCBG cocktail dress!

Boucle Contrast Sleeve Jacket

I absolutely adore this boucle jacket - somehow it's simultaneously edgy and ladylike! Buy exclusively at Intermix for $178. Not cheap, but I expected it to be twice that amount so now I'm very tempted...

The Accidate

I Googled "surprise kiss"

It was a bit of a surprise and I felt very unprepared. One minute I'm thinking, "Good thing I know better, otherwise I'd think this guy really liked me" and the next minute I'm having my first first kiss in seven years!

Let me start from the beginning. I had a friend of a friend, more of an acquaintance really, who showed up randomly at an event I threw a few months ago. I was pleasantly surprised and decided he and I should become good friends as he's always smiling and seems up for anything. And I certainly needed happy people in my life to keep me occupied! Pretty soon we were hanging out with his friends (hooray more new friends for me!) on a weekly basis. Let's call him First Kiss.

Around then the friend of mine who first introduced us told me an interesting story about how First Kiss was just the type of guy who would make and have close female friends. He never seemed to date much at all... So even though First Kiss and I were spending lots of time together and texting even more, I didn't think anything of it.

Until I was absolutely and completely wrong. We had taken to hanging out at his place, and had started to sit closer and closer... but I still assumed nothing of it! But then something suddenly didn't feel normal ,and my only thought was "Wait a sec-" and then smoochy town!

So I guess I'm now accidentally dating - accidating! I suppose this is where things start to get interesting..

My Style Challenge: Dress Over Pants

You heard me right - I decided to try wearing a dress over pants this weekend!! And if I can do it, so can you! I admit I went a bit on the safe side, choosing a dark navy dress over skinny black pants. But I did add some bold red heels! And I was surprised with how cute the outfit ended up looking!

Now I have just discovered mid outfit pulling together that I did not have a wallet in my purse... it was lost! So I forgot to put on any bracelets or rings and was very late to the Emporio Armani event I was attending.. womp womp! Luckily my wallet was found yesterday, so all is right in the world! Whew!

I'm wearing: Opening Ceremony dress, J Brand pants, Zara heels, Jill Stuart purse, Free People hat, belt from Anthropologie, headband worn as necklace from ShopBop.

The event I was seriously late to was the opening celebration of Emporio Armani at Tysons Galleria in Virginia. The afternoon, presented by Marie Claire, benefited the Water.org organization and included an in-store Fall 2012 runway presentation with seasonal trend commentary by Marie Claire Senior Fashion Director Zanna Rossi Roberts. Yeah, I missed that part! But I did see some fellow fashion bloggettes, like Kara of Politics of Pretty and Liz of So Much to Smile About!

And I did manage to snap a picture of Zanna before running back out to look everywhere and anywhere for the missing wallet. It may have messed up my day a bit but it's ok, because I got it back!

Varsity Sweater

I kinda like the varsity jacket trend but not enough to buy some outerwear! But here's a much more affordable option - a cardigan for just $42! Buy at Wasteland before I do!

Help Rebuild Post Sandy

Help Superstorm Sandy survivors by making a monetary donation through iTunes to the American Red Cross. www.itunes.com/superstormsandy