The IT List

• One Hundred Inspirations puts together an amazing summer wedding look inspired by Kate Middleton - all for under $160! A must see!
• Diva in Me combats the monday blues with a gorgeous yellow and white dress she collaborated on with a friend! So talented! (find Diva in Me on Twitter!)
• Olive and an Arrow mixed and matched her way to an adorable summer outfit! Checks and floral were meant to be! (find Olive and an Arrow on Twitter!)
• Rachel's Look Book shows us her international style on a recent trip to Dublin. Hint - it's fabulously edgy! (find Rachel's Look Book on Twitter!)
• Melificent is feeling happy in her good mood outfit! So much so that she even brought out the bubbles! So fun! (find Melificent on Twitter!
• Crazy Style Love shares her simple formula for taking any outfit from day to night! Head over to find out how and see her cute look! (find Crazy Style Love on Twitter!)
• Sigh...Gush...Gasp looks polished for weekend errands in a blazer and jeans - and you'll never believe what she paid for her top!! (find Sigh...Gush...Gasp on Twitter!)
• A Fashion Fixation found the perfect polka dot scarf - it's long and goes with everything! Pop over to see where she bought it! (find A Fashion Fixation on Twitter!)
• High Heeled Style has jumped on the chambray wagon! And what better to pair it with than white skinny jeans and a pair of fabulous heels?! (find High Heeled Style on Twitter!)
• Ash 'N' Fashn pairs denim and lace for a look that's perfect for any date night or party! So cute! (find Ash N' Fashn on Twitter!) 
• Pink Margarita Pearl takes us through three ways to style a skinny cowl top! It's impossible to choose a favorite!
• Urban Frill is trying out a new way to style her pencil skirts! Pop over to find out why untucked is better! (find Urban Frill on Twitter!)
• Here & Now cools off in an adorable pansy print sun dress! Paired with sleek silver accessories, she is ready for the heat! (find Here & Now on Twitter!)
• Second Street East finds inspiration for a bedroom design from her latest casual weekend outfit! Head over to check out the room AND outfit! (find Second Street East on Twitter!)

the IT list is brought to you weekly by Jill of Good Life and edited by Michelle of Second St. East.

 For more information on how you can be involved - click here

Second and Dahlia's Style Steals

Hi! Well, I wish I had some better news about the house today but it's still a big ol' mess. So much so that we might have to start all the way over with a new mortgage company! All because of an incorrect seller's disclosure... so frustrating! I'll keep you guys updated! In the meantime, this room is serving up some serious home and outfit inspiration! I have always loved that David Hicks fabric and paired with the ikat, it's a killer combo! Def. going to have to find somewhere in the new house to use it! And how fun are the shoes that Jessica found?! Love!

Dress / Shoes / Bag / Necklace 1 / Necklace 2

Table / Chair Fabric / Pillow / Bookcase / Vase / Glasses

Vintage Moroccan

Let's talk rugs today.. I am almost finished (mentally) decorating our new house but the first room we are actually going to take on is the basement, which is where we will watch TV and drink! It has it's own fancy bar... well, it isn't fancy yet, but it will be! We want to get that finished as a sort of "hideway" before we get started with renovations upstairs. I promise to share pictures with you guys Anyways, I have been looking for a vintage moroccan rug and I have come to the conclusion that they are just ridiculously expensive! I have yet to find a reasonable one... I have of course fallen in love with the following from Madeline Weinrib. 

So my question to you guys is where in the world can I find something similar for a reasonable price? Any ideas?

Outfit to Room

Happy Monday!  Coming off of a weekend with my wonderful parents being in town and it isn't easy being back at work! Also, some bad news on the house...we were set to close on Friday (second date that has been set) and the underwriter just had a few more things to do Friday morning but got into a car wreck on the way to work. I can't make this stuff up, guys. Needless to say we didn't close... still living in it, which is good, but have no clue when it is going to officially be ours!

On a more fun note, I thought this guy was pretty cute on the wall! Made Adam pull over to take my pic with him after eating some delish BBQ!

Bed / Sheets / Painting / Rug / Table

The It List

Happy Friday! Hopefully we will be actually closing on the new house today, which would mean we could actually start unpacking everything! Can't wait to share it with y'all even though it isn't much to see right now. Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you back here on Monday!

• Sweetie Pie Style shows us how to pair lemon and lime pieces for a bold, vibrant look! Head over to see her top picks!  (find Sweetie Pie Style on Twitter!)
• A Fashion Fixation is channeling her 70s vibe in a vintage inspired outfit! Wide leg jeans and a flowy top? So Chic!  (find A Fashion Fixation on Twitter!)
• Urban Frill is beating the heat in her patterned mini and airy top - the perfect outfit for an outdoor summer concert! Cute!
• Sandy a la Mode is getting twice the use out of her maxi skirt by making it a dress - and it has a beach scene on it! What more could you want?! (find Sandy a la Mode on Twitter!)
• The Fashionable ESQ found tons of sassy snake inspired accessories that will add a punch to any outfit! Just call her a snake charmer! (find The Fashionable ESQ on Twitter!)
• Northern Style Exposure dresses down a lace dress with a safari-worthy jacket! Head over to see how she layers her way to casual chic! (find Northern Style on Twitter!)
• Miss Top Ten Image looks back to some of her favorite looks from 2011! Pop over for tons of eye candy and to see how her style has evolved! (find Miss Top Ten Image on Twitter!)
• Here & Now shows us how to look cute in tennis shoes! Throw them on with a dress and hair scarf and you are ready for weekend errands! (find Here & Now on Twitter!)
• Diva in Me pairs an oversized clutch with a printed dress for a look that is perfect for a night out on the town! Love! (find Diva in Me on Twitter!)
• Olive and an Arrow shows us her preppy side in a look that could be straight out of Clueless! Totally fab! (find Olive and an Arrow on Twitter!)
• Melificent wears an adorable nautical outfit for an impromptu getaway in the Florida Keys! Swoon! (find Melificent on Twitter!
• Crazy Style Love has an eye for eyelet in this black and gold ensemble! And her belt? A must have! 
• Sigh...Gush...Gasp rocks the neon look on a budget! Head over to see where she found her adorable dress for an incredible price! (find Sigh...Gush...Gasp on Twitter!)
• High Heeled Style goes full on pattern in an adorable wrap dress that is perfect for a day at the office. Best news? It's easy to style since it's the statement piece! (find High Heeled Style on Twitter!)
• Second Street East is sharing some big news and a sneak peek of a recent photo shoot she did! Pop over to find out what she has been up to! (find Second Street East on Twitter!)

the IT list is brought to you weekly by Jill of Good Life and edited by Michelle of Second St. East.

 For more information on how you can be involved - click here!

Second and Dahlia's Style Steals

Happy Thursday! This week is a special week for Jessica as she has been gearing up all week to announce something special tomorrow! The heart in the photo has something to do with her surprise and I couldn't be more excited to see what she has in store!  This week's favorites? The super cute (and cheap!) loafers and the DIY planter! 

Top / Jeans / Shoes / Purse / Glasses / Red Bangle / Multi Bangle / Black Bangle

Heart Print / Dresser / Chair / DIY Pot / Bookends

Hump Day Happy Hour with White Table Style

Hi, I'm Ellen and one of the partners of White Table Style. If you haven't heard, I am 5 1/2 months pregnant (with a baby boy!) but still like to go out with my friends for my own mocktail happy hour.

I love Michelle's blog and am always inspired by her beautiful Etsy shop. When I started my hump day board, I knew I had to share my favorite pillow - the vintage kantha quilt pillow. Then, I based my dream happy hour around it! Who doesn't need a Rio maxi? I could definitely belt it to make my bump stand out. My other summer essentials have to be the Bronzing Mousse and Surf Spray. You must have beach waves in the summer and especially at a happy hour. My favorite fashion tip is to buy men's sunglasses such as Marc Jacobs aviators. It will literally change your life. Plus, every girl needs a new pair of shoes.

Finish everything off with a Cherry Mint Spritzer - yes, please!

Cherry Mint Spritzer (recipe from Delish)

1 cup of pitted fresh or frozen cherries (if using frozen, you will need to thaw)

1/4 cup of fresh mint leaves plus garnish

8 teaspoons of sugar

1/4 cup of lime juice

3 cups of cherry-flavored seltzer (or add in your cherry flavored vodka for the drinker)

Directions:

Divide cherries, mint and sugar into four glasses. Mash everything together and then stir in lime juice. Add ice and fill with the seltzer or vodka. Garnish with mint.

I hope you enjoyed my mocktail happy hour. Happy hump day to you! And, thanks to Michelle for having me.

Enjoy,

Ellen 

News and Sneak Peak

So this isn't really how I wanted to tell you the first part of my big news (I had planned to do a fun photoshoot with confetti and the works) but time hasn't really been on my side and I got nothing else for ya. Also I feel like I need to explain where I have been and why posting hasn't been as regular for the past couple of weeks... so here goes... 

WE MOVED!!! 

(insert picture of me laughing and throwing confetti in the air with a glass of champagne nearby)

We haven't exactly closed on the new home but should be this week. It is a really long, stressful story that I won't get into but we at least got early occupancy and aren't homeless.

This has been a long time coming and may not sound like a big deal but, trust - it is. Before, we lived 15 minutes south of Kansas City, which means I was 40-45 minutes from my friends and most activities I was doing. Now I am in the same neighborhood as all my buds and it is ah-mazing. I want to thank my husband a million times over for getting me "to the city" as I call it and making my life a billion times better! The rest of the news will come next week (hopefully!) and bear with me on posting while we get internet at the new house and unpacked, etc. My momma is also here this week so I definitely want to spend some time with her as well! But things should be back to normal in the next couple weeks and probably even better ;)

I forgot to mention that I did a little photo shoot last week for an upcoming article I am writing for a new online mag and here is a little sneak peak!!

I will see you back here tomorrow for happy hour as usual!

The It List

Happy Friday! Headed to Oklahoma this weekend for a sweet friend's wedding - so excited to see tons of my college buddies! Have a wonderful weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!

• Sweetie Pie Style shows us that black and blue really do go together! Such a cute look for date night! (find Sweetie Pie Style on Twitter!)
• A Fashion Fixation looks positively radiant in her day-glow hues! Head over to find out her tip for seamlessly adding this look into your wardrobe! (find A Fashion Fixation on Twitter!)
• Urban Frill has found a summer layering piece to replace the jean jacket! Pop over to see what warm weather essential she is sporting!
• Sandy a la Mode looks adorable in her floppy summer hat! It is the perfect accessory to elevate any look! (find Sandy a la Mode on Twitter!)
• The Fashionable ESQ is breaking the bank with her current wish list! It's good for a girl to dream every once in a while, right?! (find The Fashionable ESQ on Twitter!)
• Seize the Styles is making a statement in her fun pencil skirt! Check out her tips for styling this bold choice! (find Seize the Styles on Twitter!)
• Northern Style Exposure plays with brights in her whimsical sequin top! Paired with neutral accessories, it makes for an exciting every day look! (find Northern Style on Twitter!)
• Miss Top Ten Image is channeling her favorite 50s movie stars and showing us her throwback style! So cute! (find Miss Top Ten Image on Twitter!)
• Here & Now has a new favorite activity - cruising on her cute bike! Her outfit even matches it! So fun! (find Here & Now on Twitter!)
• Diva in Me is sharing a little bit of her daily work life with us. Pop over to see her new clothing shop! Swoon! (find Diva in Me on Twitter!)
• Olive and an Arrow is rockin' the Texas Tuxedo! Paired with a bit of leopard and you have a sassy outfit ready for just about anything! (find Olive and an Arrow on Twitter!)
• Melificent is keeping her mood in check by wearing bright stripes! Don't forget to check out her shoes - they are killer! (find Melificent on Twitter!
• Sigh...Gush...Gasp dresses up her jeans and blazer with a few colorful accessories! It's all in the details! (find Sigh...Gush...Gasp on Twitter!)
• Second Street East shares her favorite vacay outfit with us! Cute, comfortable and easy going is the name of the game! (find Second Street East on Twitter!)

the IT list is brought to you weekly by Jill of Good Life and edited by Michelle of Second St. East.

 For more information on how you can be involved - click here!

Second and Dahlia's Style Steals

So close to Friday! We are going to make it! Jessica and I are loving this room from Rue - the simple color palette paried with glossy finishes is enough to make us swoon! And don't even get me started on the weathered beams and exposed brick...love.

Dress / Earrings / Cuff / Shoes / Bag

Chandelier / Curtains / White Chairs / Antique Chairs / Mirror / End Table

Hump Day Happy Hour with DahliaLynn Lane

Hi there sweet Second Street East Readers!

Jessica here from DahliaLynn hosting Hump Day Happy Hour.  Hopefully some of you know me from Second & Dahlia's Style Steals.  If not...it's so good to meet you!  Today I am wishing I was sipping on this yummy Berry Sangria, in this ensemble, in that Moroccan cabana with this vintage DahliaLynn necklace on.  I do realize that I might blend right in with the pillows, but who cares with pillows that pretty?  I hope everyone has a Happy Hump Day!
J    

Flo-rida

I realized the other day that I never shared my vacay with you guys! We started off in Longboat Key, FL (flo-rida as we like to call it) for a wedding and then headed down to Captiva Island to finish up. Tons of food, drinks and sun! My activity was fishing... not my usual style but we saw TONS of dolphins hanging around the boat and I was sooo close to touching one! Maybe next time :)

I wasn't too good about taking outfit pics while we were there. The first one is really the only decent on I got! I did manage to get a pic of me in my fancy nike shorts after being on a boat all day though! Keepin' it real, folks. 

Do you y'all have any fun vacations planned this summer? Or have you ever been to Captiva? It was just darling!

Guesting

Today I am over at Sweetie Pie Style sharing my 5 summer essentials - all under $100! Head over to check those out! Hope you all have weekend planned that is going to be way more fun than what I am doing! I'll be sharing soon, promise! Any guesses???

Second & Dahlia's Style Steals

Happy Thursday! Back from a week off with another edition of Style Steals with Jessica from DahliaLynn Lane. We were totally inspired when we saw Bailey's living room on Design*Sponge. Look at those colors!! So much fun recreating! I am particularly loving the necklace fron the outfit and artwork from the room! Enjoy!

Art / Sofa / Trunk / Rug / Side Table / Lamp (on sale!) / Lamp Shade

Hump Day Happy Hour with A Dash of Details

Happy Hump Day! Ali from A Dash of Details here and I am so excited to be serving up this week's hump day happy hour for the lovely Michelle. If I am lucky enough, maybe we will be sipping cocktails by the pool this weekend in KC. As summer approaches everyone is in need of a cool, refreshing drink by pool, so how about try a Hop, Skip, and Go Naked.  The name may be a little inappropriate, but they sure are delicious.  

Serve these drinks poolside under a bright umbrella, wearing these cute J Crew swim suits (1, 2) (or mix and match like Michelle did here), while listening to some of your favorite jams (1, 2).  My summertime go-tos are Passion Pit and M83. The Hop, Skip and Go Naked's will be the hit of any pool party, but be careful because these tasty drinks will catch up with you! 

This simple recipe includes:

- 360 Vodka (a hometown original and eco friendly bottles) 

- Any kind of Sweet Tea (I love Joe's Tea from Whole Foods) 

- A splash of Bud Light 

- Squeeze some lemons to top it off! 

xox- Ali 

Outfit to Room

Top - J.Crew Factory / Jeans - Madewell / Shoes - DSW / Watch - Anne Klein

Settee / Rug / Pendant / Antler / Stool / Pillow / Basket

Mix and Match Swim

Polka Dot Top / Floral Bottom

Loving the mix and match thing happening in swimwear this year, so I picked up this little number from J.Crew for the vacation I just go back from! I seriously wanted to wear it every day - so much better than those plain jane matchy matchy suits :)

Have you guys tried out this new swimwear trend? Any faves?

The It List

• Sweetie Pie Style has the colored pant trend down! She pairs bright turquoise with summery white for a look that is sure to please! (find Sweetie Pie Style on Twitter!)
• Style Your Life is crushing on cocktail rings! Head over to see all of her fun picks - there is something for everyone! (find Style Your Life on Twitter!)
• DahliaLynn Lane shows us how to have fun with colorblocking! "Go bright or go home" is a fitting motto for her adorable outfit! (find DahliaLynn Lane on Twitter!)
• Fabulously Average is bringing back overalls! Don't worry - she looks totally chic! Pop over to find out how to style your favorite old pair! (find Fabulously Average on Twitter!)
• Wardrobes I Met and Liked is wearing the most amazing neon skirt! Paired with black, it makes for an on-trend look for day or evening!
• A Fashion Fixation is sharing bits and pieces of what looks to be a fabulous tropical vacation! Cayman Islands, anyone?! (find A Fashion Fixation on Twitter!)
• Urban Frill pairs pastels and brights for a colorblocked look that is sure to please! She is also matching her bag to her necklace - such a fun look for summer!
• Sandy a la Mode shows us her take on summer's hottest color - yellow! Pop over to see how she mixes different shades for a fun look! (find Sandy a la Mode on Twitter!)
• The Fashionable ESQ rounds up her favorite pieces for a beach getaway! Make sure to check out her picks and stock up for that upcoming vacay! (find The Fashionable ESQ on Twitter!)
• Seize the Styles sports the perfect summer scarf - yellow polka dots! Head over to see the cute pieces she pairs it with! (find Seize the Styles on Twitter!)
• Northern Style shows us her sequin swagger by mixing high and low! Check out how she dresses down sequins for everyday wear! Cute! (find Northern Style on Twitter!)
• Miss Top Ten Image wears an adorable floral maxi for a little sea-side lunching! The perfect outfit for the perfect setting!! (find Miss Top Ten Image on Twitter!)
• Here & Now is sporting her red, white and blue in honor of Memorial Day! You have to see the fab lace shorts she is wearing! (find Here & Now on Twitter!)
• Second Street East hosted a hump day happy hour with the help of a friend! Head over to see the recipe for a Kiwi Capiroska! Looks delicious! (find Second Street East on Twitter!)

the IT list is brought to you weekly by Jill of Good Life and edited by Michelle of Second St. East.

 For more information on how you can be involved - click here!