Gold, Pearls and Pink

Nothing makes me swoon more than a gorgeous piece of statement jewelry, especially if it falls into the vintage category. So, you can imagine my reaction when I saw this late 1970s Sarah Coventry lariat tassel necklace from Southern Vintage, a Northwest Arkansas jewelry and accessory boutique.

Be still my bauble-loving heart. 

Sarah Coventry tassel lariat necklace c/o Southern Vintage // felt floppy hat in brown, (also love this one and this one)  // Fuzzy Knit Pocket Sweater  // Fade to Blue 5 Pocket Skinny maternity skinny jeans // Vince Camuto 'Kain' heels // Prada Saffiano Tote in Caramel, very similar here and here // pearl ring (also love this one and this one) // bangle set 

The chain...the pearl accents...it's downright dreamy, I tell you.

You can stop in Southern Vintage every Saturday at 123 S Main St. in Bentonville from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. or by private appointment! You can also keep up with them on their Instagram account (username is southernvintagebentonville) and Facebook page, too. 

Right now, Karey is offering complimentary gift wrapping with every purchase, so it's a great way to knock everything out in one stop. You can also pop in and make your own holiday wish list so that you can be sure you get what YOU want this Christmas ; )

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Cyber Monday - The Rundown

Riffraff - 50% off site-wide (Use code BLONDE for an additional 10% your order!)
Savoir-Faire - 50% off site-wide
Maude - 30% off with code MONDAY30 (Plus, free shipping for orders over $75!)
Forever 21- 20% off when you spend $60, 30% off when you spend $100
Loft - 50% off everything with code MONDAY
Ann Taylor - 50% off everything with code CYBER50
Nordstrom - Up to 40% off on women's shoes, handbags and clothing
Old Navy - 40% off everything with code CYBER
Gap - 40% off everything use code CYBER
Banana Republic - 40% off everything with code CYBER

Plaid Clad: {Outfit Pics}

So many possible dorky titles for this post...Clad in Plaid, Glad for Plaid, Plaid is Rad...really, I could go on all day. But, I won't. (Your welcome.)

From top to bottom, the outfit details:
By the Books Jacket (c/o Riffraff)

Ingrid & Isabel Scoop Neck Maternity Tank in white

Tassel necklace from Evereve last year, similar here

Fade to Blue Secret Fit Belly 5 Pocket Skinny Leg Maternity Jeans from Destination Maternity (Tip: they're having a Buy One Get One 50% Off Sale right now!)

Shoes from H&M last fall, very similar here and here

I will, however, go on about this jacket. And my general addiction to plaid this fall.

Plaid in itself is a cinch to style, but here are a couple things to remember:

• Keep it girly. For example, if you're wearing a voluminous jacket, keep the pants or skirt on the fitted side. (I freaking adore a tight pencil skirt with blousy plaid button down.) Love an oversize plaid shirt? Me, too. Just remember that there IS a difference in the way manufacturers construct men's and women's shirts. A chick's shirt, even if it is considered "oversize", will always, always have a more contoured seam than a guy's. So please buy from the women's section. 

• Lumberjacks are awesome. You just don't want to be mistaken for one. Ballet flats, stiletto heels, riding boots and wedge booties are the perfect footwear choices for a plaid ensemble. Avoid clunky shoes though, unless you're cool with being the Brawny paper towel guy. 

Oh, and before I leave you, I wanted to let all you ladies that live in the Dallas area know about Friday's grand opening of Riffraff Dallas! Join my friends in the Big D for some major fashionable fun from 2 p.m.-9 p.m. at their new second home, located at 4009 NW Parkway. 

Follow them on Instagram (username @riffraffdallas) and don't forget to tag your pics with #riffrafftakesdallas if you do attend! (I know the Riffraff team would love to see them!)

Oh, and my friend and fellow blogger Ashley (of Fancy Ashley) will be at the event from 5-6 p.m. to offering her personal styling advice! She's such sweet person and really does have amazing style, so go see her and get'cha shop on. 

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Alrighty, I'll see you in the a.m. for a riveting 28-week bumpdate, in all its third trimester glory. So pop a Zofran, grab your sexiest maternity jeans and meet me back here tomorrow.  

Vive la September: {Outfit Pics}

The official beginning of fall may not be until September 23, but in my mind, it's already here. The temps are slowly starting to drop here in Northwest Arkansas, so I've actually had a chance to bust out some of my new fall clothes, (eeeek!)

Jacket (c/o Savoir-Faire, in-store only) + Black and White Lines Tank (c/o Savoir-Faire) + Fade to Blue Fit Belly 5 Pocket Jeans (Motherhood Maternity) + shoes (Target, in-store) + Weekend Warrior Choker

(c/o Savoir-Faire) 

This get-up from Savoir-Faire is going to be on repeat for the next four months as this bump continues to grow. And, the best part is, I'll get lots of wear out of it next spring too, since it's not maternity, (hooray for that!)

I love the combo of a blousy jacket, loose tank or dress and a cuffed skinny jean. It's my go-to formula for putting together an outfit right now. And it takes zero thought, which, if you have a 10-month-old crawling/cruising around the house, is tres necessary.

For days that aren't conducive to heel-wearing, I like to sub out the stacked heel for my favorite black Converse, which are huge again this fall.

Worldly Printed Chic Blazer + Black and White Fine Lines Top (the tank I'm wearing) + Blank NYC Frenemy in Black = DONE

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Try the combo. It's an easy formula for looking put together when you have no time to think about it.

Just Fur You: (Outfit Pics)

To take a line from  'Let It Go', the famed song from the animated-phenom Frozen, "The cold never bothered me anyway."

I'm in the minority and I tooooootally know it, but I don't mind winter. (There, I said it. I'm ducking in preparation for the objects being hurled at me.)

Vest via Belle Boutique (in store) // jeans here // turtleneck here // sunnies here // lucite bracelets c/o Savoir Faire (in store) // pyramid spike bracelet and infinity woven bracelet c/o Ettika

Hear me out, though. You see, I detest temps above 90 and really, really loathe crazy humidity. In fact, I avoid going to these sticky and hot places like the dadgum plague.

Yet, I live in Arkansas.

Ironic that we spend nine months out of our year sweating our tails off in this state? Perhaps.

All that to say, I'm doing whatever it takes to stay warm and toasty right now. And also doing whatever it takes to get more wear out of this furrrrociously awesome fur vest. (I had to...sorry.) And some bracelets from Ettika, my new favorite place to get accessorized via the interwebs. (Seriously, y'all have to check them out!)

What has been a staple in your closet for these cold and snowy months? Tell me, because I may need to add it to mine!

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Follow me on Instagram at @ablondeambition to keep up with the latest in outfit pics, news and photos of my cute kid. 

Mondays Need Sequins (and Caffeine)

I was digging in my closet Saturday afternoon in search of a missing pair of H&M skinny boyfriend jeans that got lost in the two blackholes known as "laundry hamper" and "clothes rack".  Amidst the Great Jeans Search of 2014, I stumbled upon the outfit below, which I had purchased during November's Cyber Monday sales: the top and pants for a great price from Maude Boutique, and necklace from Hot Mama. I had honestly forgotten about buying the top and bottoms, but saw them lurking in the back of my top closet rack, all pressed and ready for their debut.

I mean, we all love the idea of a beautifully fitted, cropped trouser and a feminine sweater, but what sold me on the outfit were the sequins in the top. (What? You expected something more complex?) Yup, suffice it to say I'm a sucker for anything sparkly, you see. Like a moth to a flame...

Sweater and pants purchased from Maude  // tassel necklace purchased from Hot Mama (similar here) // Heels via ASOS last year (similar here) // bag c/o Emilie M. // bracelet from Groopdealz (similar here) // sunnies found here

Nail polish is "Lincoln Park After Dark" by OPI, found here

The weather may be a tad brisk, but the warm tones of this outfit definitely won't leave you feeling the chill. 

Special thanks to my dear husband, S. Saturday marks the third year in a row he's been clicking away at the camera for moi.  My gratitude for his sacrificing of many a televised sporting event, all in the name of blog photos, runs deeper than my love for stilettos and slingbacks.

To the moon and back, sugar. Love you, I do.

Savoir-Faire Moment: Thrill of the Chase(r)

I picked out this outfit in February at Savoir-Faire, and kept waiting for the perfect dreary day to snap some photos. (I dunno why I needed dreary weather…this just felt like something I’d wear on a rainy-ish day.) Unfortuntely, or rather fortunately, our February was downright beautiful. Not one cloud in the sky. So I waited…

March rolled around and again, lots of sunny weather. Totally not complaining though…

But Sunday, the clouds rolled in and I knew we had the perfect slightly overcast sky to capture the grunge of the Chaser Tee, ripped boyfriend denim and leather-sleeved army jacket. And beanie. Because I’m wearing my beanies until it’s 110 degrees outside. And then maybe I’ll still do it.

Let’s talk details. The Chaser Tee, featuring a vintage Monk illustration, is the softest thing I’ve ever worn. It’s like tiny little angel fairies knitted it out of feathers and baby giggles. And then those angel fairies said, “Let’s take this shirt one step further and leave out that awful, itchy tag. It’ll really blow their minds.” And they did. Chaser tees are tagless. And, hand to God, the most comfortable article of clothing I’ve ever worn or owned.

The Blank Denim Frayed Boyfriend jeans are perhaps the greatest thing since…I dunno, Lucky Charms. I was going to say sliced bread, but I don’t eat a lot of sandwiches. I DO eat a lot of cereal though. And just like our favorite marshmallowy breakfast cereal, these jeans are magically delicious.

The leather-sleeved army jacket? Well, it speaks for itself. Seriously. An army jacket is a glorious thing on its own, but add some leather sleeves and, as Phil would say, “Now you’re cooking with peanut oil.”

The shoes are mine. From ASOS. They are simple and not very exciting, but I’m okay with that. They do their job, which is to compliment the rest of the outfit, without being a scene-stealer. These shoes are like the Best Supporting Actors of the ensemble.

(Psssst...and a little birdie told me they come in orange, too!)

If we need to discuss the beanie, we can. But really, haven’t we beaten this undead and still trendy horse enough? Let’s just let the beanie be. Eventually, I’ll quit wearing them for outfit pics. 

Yeah, it's fair to say Blank Denim has definitely become my jean of choice. And have you seen the adorable Blank Denim Flavor Savor vest? Oh my word...so cute! 

Isn't Melissa just gorgeous? 

I'm also smitten with this adorable Check It Out blouse and the beautiful Rose Bloom Pants . 

And did y'all know that you can now purchase accessories and jewelry on SF's web store? Yup. True story. I die for this Peach Tiered Necklace and Teal Mosaic Bib. Gaw, so pretty. 

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Alright, bunnies - I'm out! Don't forget to peruse Savoir-Faire's website this week to treat yourself to a spring goody or two.

P.S. - Had a couple of you girls ask about the shoes I wore in the S.F. fashion show. Naturally, Savoir-Faire : ) Each model was outfitted from head to toe (literally) in the store's merchandise. I *think* that right now they are only available in store, but keep checking the site, in case they do post them.