Christmas Weekend [photos]

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah! Billy and I had the rare occasion of having both Saturday & Sunday off together! It was a fabulous {and quiet} weekend that involved lots of eating, shopping and being thankful for what we have!

Our beautiful tree - I love all of our bright ornaments and shiny packages

Christmas Eve we went shopping and I scored this fab J Crew dress for 35 bucks with an original price of $395! Talk about a steal...

My gorgeous gifts that my husband picked out all by himself!!!

We really racked up the gift cards from both sides of our family! Apparently we like to shop and go to the movies A LOT! :)

This was The Jacky on Christmas night... talk about being exhausted! We think he had too much eggnog....

Hope you had a wonderful mini-break! Yay for 4-day work weeks!

Lusting After: Designer Shoes

If you're a regular reader you know how much of a budget shopper I am. I hardly ever buy anything over $70 dollars and I'm really proud of my thrifty nature. But that doesn't mean I still don't day dream about owning extremely gorgeous and very expensive pieces - mainly shoes. Since we've been together, the hubs and I have been working so hard to pay off his school loans from Veterinary school. We're so close and next month we will officially be DEBT FREE! I cannot wait for the moment when we send in our final payment. With that being said, I am so excited when I can finally make my first bold purchase and not have a guilty feeling about it. In honor of this new territory, I've already scoped out some amazing choices. Tell me what you think:

Charlotte Olympia Masako Silk-Satin pumps $875

Gucci Zebra-print calf-hair pumps $695

Jimmy Choo Vamp Glitter Platform Sandals $750

Miu Miu Platform Shoe Bootie $750

Maybe Santa will slip one under the tree for me... wishful thinking! Merry Early Christmas everyone!!

Images via {check links above}

{Holiday} Gift Guide: For The Guy

1: J Crew Cashmere Scarf $88. 2: Ray-Ban Classic Wayfarer Sunglasses $145. 3: Sperry Top-Sider Oxford Boot $100. 4: Fossil Messenger Bag $278. 5: Brixton Leather Belt $45. 6: Pentax Vintage Inspired Digital Camera $250. 7: L'Occitane After Shave Balm $30. 8: Nixon "51-30" Chrono Watch $375. 9: Imbibe! Book $20. 10: North Face Down Jacket $200.

Let's face it... Men are hard to shop for. Every Christmas and Birthday I'm continually stumped about what to buy my husband or father or brother. It seems anything they want, they either already have or buy it themselves. So this year I wanted to include a few options and ideas that may help you find the perfect gift for that special guy. I'm loving that digital camera that looks like a vintage collectable or a fabulous pair of classic sunglasses. Or if your guy appreciates whiskey as much as my husband does, reach for a fabulous read featuring stories and drink recipes dedicated to the first pioneer of the American bar. What guy wouldn't love that? Good luck Ladies!!

In ♥ With This: Open Letter to Ryan Gosling

Go Read This. It's hilarious, and oh so true. Click here to read.

Giveaway Winner [Travel Beauty Bag]

I almost forgot to announce the winner of my first giveaway! Sorry lovely readers! So without further adieu, the first winner of the giveaway is....

Congrats to Brittany who shares a love for wine and Italy as much as I do! Please email me with your address so that I can send you the bag full of goodies! Thanks again to all who entered the giveaway! If you missed out on this one - don't worry there will be more to follow - just remember it's so easy to enter just by commenting! Have a wonderful week! xoxo

Ask Bedazzles: Holiday Outfit - Trousers

If you're searching for a new look this holiday season, why not try a menswear chic piece that can update any closet in an instant. A pair of tapered, skinny trousers are the perfect polisher for finishing off any ensemble with a touch of glam. My personal favorite right now is J Crew's Minnie Pant (they're only $80 bucks!) The minnie comes in a variety of shapes and shades, that create a rich and colorful style. Here, I've highlighted the bright and bold flame color and picked feminine accents like a sheer top, bow detailed shoes and lace clutch. With a look like this, you'll be the center of attention during this yultide season. Or try a classic color and add a playful twist with glittered pumps and a leopard clutch. This type of pant is so versatile and can be dressed down just as easily as we've dressed them up. For an everyday work look wear them with flats and a jean jacket for a casually cool vibe. Happy Dressing! :)

{Holiday} Gift Guide: Sparkles

1: J. Crew Pavé Link Bracelet $118. 2: Juicy Couture Stardust Glitter iPad Case {on sale} $47.60. 3: Madewell Moonlight Sparkle Bib Necklace $108. 4: J Crew Glitter Skinny Belt $30. 5: Essie LuxEffects Collection Glitter Nail Polish $6 each. 6: Kate Spade Sparkler Missy Crossbody Bag $155. 7: Jimmy Choo Glitter Luggage Tag $195. 8: Ban.do Back & Forth Rhinestone Bobbi Pin Set $25

"When in doubt, Always turn to a sparkle" Words to live by if you ask me. So naturally, when you're stuck on what to give for a gift this year, just remember that sparkles are your friends! Continuing on with our Holiday Gift Guides I've chosen a few pieces that will add a dash of dazzle to any present. Plus, a gal can always use a little shimmer. Look to colorfully flecked nail polish, glittering luggage tags or a shining iPad case for a little holiday glitz and glam. It's easy to insert some bright details into your world with these options - trust me she'll love it!!

Ask Bedazzles: Holiday Outfit - Sequins & Sweaters

I get a lot of questions about what to wear to special occasions, especially around this time of year. Chances are you've got one or two if not several parties to go to, including the biggest bash of the year - New Year's! So I wanted to put together a mini series with my suggestions for stylish and sophisticated Holiday Outfit attire. Here you can find the perfection option whether you're headed to a glamorous celebration or just sharing some champagne with close friends. No matter your plans, we'll make sure you have the perfect ensemble. First up is one of my personal favorites - sequins & sweaters!

In my life, I consider sequins a basic - a necessity if you will. But for others, this time of year is when the sparkles come out to play. For your next holiday house party or casual get together, why not trying pairing a sequined bottom and cozy cashmere sweater together? The two different items balance each other out, creating a sharp, smart and sophisticated style. Keep your look fun and fresh with glistening beaded details that offer a brilliant accent to an everyday staple. Here, I've highlighted two different color tones that come together for a monochromatic palette. While wearing such a bright and bedazzled piece, you'll want to keep everything clean and minimal. And if you're worried about bare legs with the shorts, look to pair of thick tights to keep your gams covered and warm. As for shoes, I love black pointy pumps with sequin leggings or a feminine yet utilitarian wedge boot with a shimmering skirt. Paint your nails with an eye-catching cherry polish and reach for a glittering stud set to top off your look. I promise it's all the accessorizing you'll need. Happy Glittering! xoxo

Things That Make Me Smile [photos]

Happy Monday Lovelies! How was your weekend? Mine went by too fast - as usual. Here's a few pics I snapped over the last few days...

My outfit for Ashley's Holiday Bash - Love all the parties this time of year!

So thankful that my husband bought me this pot and pan rack!. Our new place is a little tight on space and I came home to this last week!

The holiday season means breaking out my perfect cranberry toned nail polish - Wine Not (ummm greatest name ever!)

I still really miss our old place but I'm slowly getting used to our new area!

Here's hoping for a great start to a fabulous week! xoxo

{Holiday} Gift Guide: Leopard

 1: J Crew Leopard Perfect Shirt - $78. 2: Dolce Vita Nariko Leopard Smoking Flat - $165.

3: dELIAS Skinny Leopard Belt - {on sale!} $13.65. 4. Guess Faux Fur Jacket - {on sale!} $133.

5: Kate Spade Leopard iphone Case - $40. 6: ASOS Leopard Rhinestone Heart Earrings - $18.

7. Topshop Leopard Scarf - $32. 8: J. Crew Invitation Leopard Clutch - $138

I just love the holidays! The smells, the music, and just the general feeling that this season brings. And yes, with this time of year comes gifting! I know that sometimes it can be hard to find great gifts that won't break the bank. So I'll be spotlighting a few special Holiday Gift Guides that can point you in the right direction. Wow the wild woman in your world with a hint of special and super fun leopard print! Whether it's a simple skinny belt, trendy pair of loafers or a glamorous faux fur coat these budget friendly options are sure to add a dash of style to her Christmas morning. And if you need a little inspiration on how to wear a leopard button down - visit Ashley over at Pursuit Of Shoes who styled her J. Crew shirt 6 different ways! Happy Shopping!

Look Of The Day: Olivia Palermo in Matthew Williamson

Here's a little inspiration for your next holiday party look complete with sparkles and feathers!!Whether you're attending a fun and festive celebration or out on the town for New Year's Eve night, now is the time to bring out the big guns and wear your most decorated piece. Trust me when I say, "Yes you can wear that over the top selection." Just remember styling is a very important and key element. Let's look to one of my favorite fashion inspirations who can teach you and me a thing or two.

Olivia Palermo absolutely radiates in this feathered and beaded Matthew Williamson frock. I love short mini dresses especially when the sleeves are long - the proportions work just beautifully. I also love how she paired her dress with a printed ankle booties and colorful clutch. If you're not quite as daring as Ms. Palermo in the printed department, have no fear! Try a simple yet sexy pair of leather booties to edge up your look. It can keep everything looking extremely modern and very stylish. One thing you cannot forget to leave the house without this holiday season? Confidence! It's the best a girl can have! Have fun! xoxo

image via People

L.A. - The Windy City

The weather in LA has gone crazy! We've been experiencing a major wind storm (60-plus mph) that is expected to last through Friday! While walking to my car last night I thought I might actually blow away. Let's just say that this kind of blustery weather is never a good fashion statement. I came to work today armed with a seriously high top knot, lots and lots of hairspray, and hopes that what happens to Carrie Bradshaw above never happens to me! Happy Thursday!

P.S. I wanted to share this video but YouTube wouldn't let me! So for all the Winnie-the-Pooh fans if you watched this video 100+ times like I did - you'll love it!

Please Stand By & Bear With Me

Hi lovelies!!!! I am so sorry I've been absent - there's a lot going on in my world right now! We are in the midst of moving [again!!], I started my new job, hubby's birthday is in 14 days and the holidays are finally here! With all that's going on I've been quite distracted (even though I did have 4 blissful un-interrupted days of sleep and food!) So just bear with me for a few days while I get everything straightened out! I will announce the giveaway winner next week and will [hopefully] have a slew of holiday posts on the way! Don't worry, I still love ya! xoxo

image via Bagwine from Pinterest

Inspiration: Words of Wisdom

I've been feeling a bit un-inspired lately. In my blog life that is.... every night I sit down to write a post I just seem to stare a blank screen for a while before closing up my laptop and heading to bed. I know I try to keep this blog more fashion focused rather than personal but I felt this was worth sharing. My good friend Katie (who has guest posted for BAD before) wrote an amazing and heartfelt post last week that really resonated with me and got me thinking! I wanted to share it with all of you and hope, that in some way, you feel inspired as well! As we hit Thanksgiving and quickly arrive upon the holiday season it's nice to remember what we appreciate about others as well as ourselves. After all, you can't love anyone else to the fullest if you don't love yourself first. Happy Wednesday!

Click Here To Read Post



Giveaway: [Travel Beauty Bag] *closed*

Ok! It's time for the first ever Bedazzles After Dark giveaway! In honor of my Guest Blog about what to pack when you go on your honeymoon for Witty Whit's Words, I've got a great little giveaway lined up for you! I've packed an adorable cosmetic bag with a few of my personal choices for traveling beauty essentials. Read below to find out what you'll be winning and how to enter!

{1. Pink zip-around travel case with 4 zippered pockets 2. Travel shampoo & conditioner 3. Travel dry shampoo 4. Travel lint roller 5. Travel shaving gel 6. Travel body lotion 7. Travel face wash 8. OPI nail polish - I'm Really Not A Waitress 9. Travel mouthwash 10. Toothbrush carrier 11. Travel toothpaste}

I love packing my travel bag with mini replicas of the beauty products I use on a daily basis. Here are a few of my every day go-tos, in mini travel form, that I added to the bag:

One of my favorite things I've included is the dry shampoo [#2]. This is an every day staple that every woman should have. After I found the travel size I was so excited I literally screamed. It has totally saved me from the day after weddings when my hair needs a little pick me up but I don't want to wash it completely. I love it. Whenever I take a trip I also always pack a bottle of nail polish. It's always great to have a pretty red or pink on hand, so I threw in one of my favorite OPI colors ever [#8] It never lets you or your outfit down. I also love carrying a travel size lint brush [#4] You just never know when fuzzies or dog hair might pop up!

The rest are regularly used items but in mini bottles and packaging that will keep your luggage light and keep packing a cinch.
Here's how to enter:

1. Follow Bedazzles After Dark (You can do that by clicking the Follow box in the top left corner of your screen or by clicking that little box to the right that looks like this:)

2. Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite place you've ever traveled to and why.

That's it!! So easy, right?

Please note: Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. 1 entry per person. Winner will be chosen at random via Random Number Generator. Giveaway ends at 9:00pm PST on November 21, 2011. I will announce the winner on November 22 in a blog post. The winner must contact me by email {bedazzlesafterdark[at]gmail[dot]com} within 3 days of the announcement to claim the prize. If there is no contact by the 4th day or the winner is not a follower, I will choose another winner at random.

Good luck and don't forget to read my packing picks for your honeymoon trip!

Ask Bedazzles: Guest Post

This past Friday we got to attend my good friend Whitney's wedding! Whit and I became close a few years ago when we bonded over our love for champagne, frozen yogurt and home-grown Kentucky boys. :) I got to see her journey with her new husband from the beginning so it was really special to attend their wedding. While she's away, she asked me to guest post for her blog [again!] This time I decided to tackle a wedding fashion related question - What To Wear On Your Honeymoon

Head over here to read the full post. Let me know what you think!

Style Crushing: Nicole Richie

I've always been a huge Nicole Richie fan. She's gorgeous, hilarious and has really grown into a style inspiration for my wardrobe. Especially as of late since she's been showing up everywhere looking absolutely amazing. Whether it's running errands, hosting an event or just taking her daughter to ballet, one thing is certain: the girl has style game.

Nicole tends to gravitates towards basic silhouettes but always adds a whimsical twist that makes her stand out from the crowd. She's become a pro at infusing bohemian touches into her everyday wardrobe while still keeping her look completely on trend and modern. I literally want to wear everything she puts on - making her a major style crush in my book. And.. Ok I'll admit it - I also can't help but love her new bangs - I was practically ready to cut my hair myself just to get the look.

Take a few style cues by pairing a simple look with leopard touches {1 & 4} Or change up your weekend style by pairing your favorite skinnies with an oversize sweater and open toe booties {2} At your next event choose a cutout dress or  plunging neckline but keep it tasteful and understated with closed toed shoes {3 & 5}. Branch out and discover a few new style tricks you hadn't thought of before. And if you take one thing away from Nicole's wear - have fun and enjoy it! Happy dressing! xoxo

all images via People

New Obsession: Pinterest

Ok - so this post may be a little late to the game - but better late than never right?! I joined Pinterest about 6 months ago when Katie couldn't stop telling me how amazing it was. I told her I didn't really "get it" What is this? I asked. Is this worth all the time people spent on it? Why are so many people talking about this site? She convinced me to join and well... let's just say I have been pretty much hooked ever since. In fact, it's totally taken up most of my blog research time as of late! (though I think it technically could be research!) I find myself sitting on my couch pinning and then I look up and 2 or 3 hours have gone by... Yes it's that addicting.

If you still aren't sure exactly what Pinterest is - here's the breakdown. It's an online inspiration board. The site let's you collect all the things from the internet that you love, want to cook, want to DIY, want to make, want to decorate [this list goes on... and on.. and on] It's kind of like when you read a magazine and tear out pages of inspiration or recipes that you intend on trying. Only 6 months rolls around and you're combing your house up and down for that tiny piece of paper that you ultimately never find? Yeah, I know you know that feeling! This eliminates stacks of papers, cut outs, recipe cards and just the general mess and craziness that comes with making a inspiration board.

You can create as many inspiration boards as you want with just about anything you can think of. The boards that are getting the most action from me right now are my Style Inspiration, Style Crushes, Tattoo Ideas, Braided Hairstyles and of course... my Ryan Gosling board (sigh) But I've got so many other ones too!

My favorite part is probably the fashion posts. I love seeing what real girls are wearing and then trying out their ideas with my own twist. I guess I've been totally inspired. And with that sentence, we've come full circle in the world of Pinterest....

So if you haven't joined start! Follow me here and I can't wait to see what you start pinning! Happy Tuesday everyone!!

xoxo

Look Of The Day: Freida Pinto in Salvatore Ferragamo

Freida Pinto at the premiere of Black Gold

The always gorgeous Freida Pinto wore a lovely berry colored pleated gown from Salvatore Ferragamo during the Tribeca Film Festival last week. The Grecian inspired look, including a soft updo, absolutely knocked it out of the park for me. I LOVE the tassel belt and all her gold-toned accessories. All in all, it's a completely stunning ensemble.

As we delve further into the winter months, I've decide to keep my brights going as long as possible. It doesn't get extremely cold here in LA but you can further you're bold options by pairing them with basics like black tights and long sleeve tees. You could even trade out the typical black dress and go for a long gown in a jewel tone [like the above] as a fabulous option for your Holiday parties or formal New Year's Ball. I guarantee that your vibrant choice will have you wearing a smile on your face the entire evening. Happy Wednesday! xoxo

Image via InStyle

Halloween 2011 Part I: Sonny & Cher Costumes

My Cher Costume

This past weekend was a great one. I spent the first half of Saturday with some fabulous friends and their adorable kids. Then in the afternoon I cleaned up around our apartment and caught up on my neglected DVR. By the time Bill got home from work all of our friends had officially said they were spending a quiet Halloween at home. I was a bit sad and worried we wouldn't be able to wear our costumes! But thanks to my lovely husband we rallied and went out just the two of us! It was actually tons of fun bar hopping in our area and we got to do some major people watching.

P.S. he posed on his own FYI :)

This year our costumes were the glamorous Sonny & Cher. I have this gorgous vintage dress that my mom bought for me a few years ago while we were shopping at a thrift store. It's definitely a bit big and was slightly long for this look but it still screamed Cher to me. I'm also so terrified of getting it tailored and taken in for fear of ruining it. It's literally a million of those shiny sequin discs individually sewn on. I can only image the price tag of getting it fixed... Anyways it was still a major hit and everyone loved our costumes! We were told twice that if we entered the contests we would have won... I paired my sequin dress with the gorgeous Versailles earrings from Jewelmint {get them here} and the Wyld platform pump from Sole Society. P.S. Check out Bill's furry vest! Thanks to Dana & Steve for letting us borrow it... it was a major hit! As was his faux mustache. Though I must say I hope he never really grows a real one! :)

Hope you had a fabulous Halloween weekend! I also dressed up for work yesterday but I'll have more on that later on in the week... xoxo

Things That Make Me Smile [photos]

Happy Monday everyone! Hope your Halloween weekend was exciting! I'll post our costumes a bit later on in the week. To start the week off here are a few pictures of things I am loving right now...

My belated birthday present from my great friend Amy. Yay for more outfit posts!

Nothing warms my heart more than a big pot of soup during the fall and winter. I made an amazing Italian Wedding one that was delish!

My lovely vintage sparkles! I wore it for my costume this weekend. It's a bit big but so fabulous.

I can never eat just one dessert from the amazing Babalu in Santa Monica. Friday night we had pumpkin cheesecake and chocolate pecan pie [not pictured]... they were heavenly!

Happy Monday everyone!! xoxo

Halloween 2010: Lady Gaga Costume [DIY]

I'm completely obsessed with Halloween. It's by far my favorite time of the year [well.. it runs a close second to Christmas...] I love when the weather starts to change, the leaves turn colors and everything gets that "crisp" feeling. October means scary movies for the entire month and by the time the 1st rolls around, I am usually waist deep in our costume plan. This year is no different. I can't wait to share this year's selections with you guys but I normally never tell so that it won't ruin the element of surprise. So I thought I would share with you our 2010 outfits.

I started working on them around mid-August which may seem extreme, but allowed me to slowly get a fabulous finished product. I find that DIY Halloween costumes are always so much more fun than buying that generic one in a plastic bag. And I couldn't be more proud of what I created. Let's take a look:

DIY Lady Gaga Costume

I love dressing with the hubs in a matching or relating costume and this brilliant idea of Lady Gaga & Justin Bieber hit me in the middle of summer. My favorite part about wearing this costume is that I created half of it! Those crazy glittered crystals are actually 10+ mini crystals glued together. They took a bit of time and perfecting but the final product was amazing and I probably spent a total of $3.00 on them. The crystallized sunglasses were another DIY project. The glasses cost $2.00 on eBay and the crystals probably $3.00.

Lady Gaga Crystal Sunglasses

The only thing I actually did purchase specifically for the costume was the glitter bodysuit and the wig. Each were $14.00. I had just planned on wearing a plain dancer's leotard but I came across this bodysuit while shopping in Forever 21 one day and thought it was perfect. The rest of the items were straight from my closet. The bottoms were from another DIY Playboy Bunny costume as were the tights. Those shoes are one of my favorite pairs I have! Lastly I borrowed the bow from the amazing Pursuit Of Shoes who was Lady Gaga the year before that. Billy's costume is all completely borrowed with the exception of the sunglasses ($3.00), t-shirt & necklace (his own) and the wig ($8.00 on Amazon)

So all in all I saved so much money by completing these projects and scrounging around my closet. The total bill for me $36.00 (Just as an example the Lady Gaga costume at the store is $50.00 for the dress not including the $20 wig, $15 bow, $10 sunglasses, $10 accessories, shoes or whatever else you want to add) If you haven't thought of a costume yet - don't worry! You still have time and I'll give you some tips.

1. Hit up your local thrift stores and Goodwill. That's where we found a good amount of Bill's costume for this year and so many of my past costumes.

2. Ask friends! Chances are they might have that one item you've been looking for {a la Lady Gaga Hair Bow} that can save you some extra $$ and they'll feel good about their pieces being used more than once

3. Be creative! Do a bit of research. Check out blogs. I discovered how to create those glitter crystals by watching a 15 year old make them on YouTube!

4. Lastly, have fun!! Go crazy and enjoy yourself. It's the one time of the year you can dress up so take advantage!

What DIY costumes have you done? I want to know. Send me some photos and you could be featured! bedazzlesafterdark[at]gmail[dot]com. Happy weekend everyone!!

p.s. if you want to know how to make the above just comment below or email me and I can tell you!

Currently Inspired By: Seeing Spots

I'm totally obsessing over polka dots right now! The key to this trend is picking pieces that are in basic colors and toning them down with menswear separates or leather items. A bow here and there or a tiny bit of lace trim is extremely feminine and lovely. But anymore "sweet" details than that and it's veering into age in-appropriate territory. Try a tough leather jacket or a pair of slimming black pants. As a beauty bonus, do a strong lip and tons of mascara. Whatever you choose... have fun! Happy Wednesday! xoxo

Lusting After: Leopard Smoking Flats

The Darby Loafer - J.Crew $275.00

Thought we could start Monday off with something lovely that's on my current wish list! These adorable leopard smoking flats/loafers have been spotted all over the blog circuit lately. I too have been struck by this new twist on the latest leopard craze. However shelling out almost $300 for a pair won't be happening anytime soon so I'm determined to find a look for less. I'll be sure to post the options when I find them. In the mean time... aren't they so pretty! Happy Monday! xoxo

image via JCrew