SJP has been rocking Chanel in multiple magazine spreads the past few weeks (Elle, Glamour) and making me lusty for a Coco inspired cardigan for myself…(How freaking adorable is that second picture? Love her.)

I’ll have to settle for some FauxCo Chanel though, and luckily Forever21 is pumping out the Coco inspired looks lately:

I am going abroad and needed a cross body bag to keep my things protected from pesky gypsies and pickpockets, that I have been warned time and time again about. I really loved the “pouch/satchel” trend. However, let’s remember I am a college student and I am on a tight budget. I fell in love with a “Olivia Harris Baby Ball Studded Lambskin Crossbody Bag” at Bloomingdales.com. Theenn I checked the price and cringed. $295.00 is not something that I can realistically spend or justify or live with spending for that matter. My hopes and dreams crushed temporarily, I picked myself back up and set out to find something-anything-similar to this beautiful bag. Yahtzee I hit the mother load. Forever21.com has a similar bag for meer pennies of the price. Peep it!

Olivia Harris Baby Ball Studded Lambskin Crossbody Bag

Price:$295.00

Forever 21  Shoulder Pouch Purse

Price: 14.80

While they have their differences, I’d say it’s not a bad option. Plus if anything does happen I can live because it was only fifteen bucks! Sometimes you really don’t have to spend the money honey.

[While everyone is fabulous in their own right, we thought we should celebrate the campus fashionistas of the world for their continued excellence in not looking like a hot mess for class. So, we started stalking those girls on campus to get a few pics and get some tips on their personal style.

And maybe a restraining order or two.

But it’s worth it to highlight fresh, unique wardrobe choices that show personality and the courage to wear what you believe in.]

I knew I wanted to feature Amalia for my fashionista-of-the-week from the moment I saw her walking to Psych class, leggings tucked into her buckled riding boots and a funky bright-blue American Apparel zip-up on top. Her clothing choices draw attention, probably because she takes her fashion inspiration from all over the world,  including Portugal and Brazil, which she’s visited many times (…not for the sun or the beach or anything).

And when it comes to jewelry, I really think she started the statement jewelry trend; I have yet to see her without a glam bracelet or a pair of adorable dangly earrings that somehow totally make her outfit. She’s got spunk and is not afraid to be big and bold in her fashion choices, and that’s just the way the boys like her. Well, that and her booty, but that’s a whole different post.

Name: Amalia S
Year: 2011
Major: Psychology and Latin American Studies
Amalia in 3 words: bootylicious, empathetic, fun

1) Describe your personal style.
Really eclectic and always changing. Two weeks ago I hated animal print, now I can’t get enough of it. I also really love bright colors, no matter what time of year it is.

2) You can’t leave your house without your ________.
Jewelry; I feel naked without my necklaces and rings. Also, during the winter I am never seen without a scarf on, usually one from H&M.

3) What is your favorite store to shop at?
Forever 21, BP at Nordstroms, and American Apparel.

4) Ok, well that was three, but I’ll take it. What/who is the biggest influence on your style?
Right now, Betsey Johnson. She’s just so much fun, lots of pink bows, animal print, and pearls. She’s the definition of eclectic.

5) What’s your favorite trend, past or present?
I’m really into these leggings that look like jeans. I’m all about fashion, but being comfortable is also super important to me. The jean leggings look great with boots and can be dressed up, but are just as comfortable as regular leggings.

In the photo:
Dress: Urban Outfitters
Necklace: Vines and Roses
Bag: Coach
Bracelets: flea market in Brazil

[Is there a fashionista on your campus whose style should be celebrated? Someone who is always pushing the style envelope and lookin' damn good doing it? Someone who always seems to put together the coolest outfits, no matter the occasion? Send us a picture and she (or he!) could be featured in a future Campus Couture!]

What up, Snack Pack! How are we doing this fine day?

This is from Sunday, but it's almost as exquisite today.

Today is swell, as was yesterday.

I arose to the chilly air at 5am, early enough for a routine workout and Jerz Guid scope out. Fantastic. They were ripe for the picking Monday. Unfortunately, my camera skills were embarrassingly horrid. Also, the one I was trying to capture could have eaten me.

A sweaty workout was had thanks to the elliptical and abbage work. For those who wonder, I did 40 minutes on the elliptical at intervals of five and 10, switching every two minutes. When I’m feeling Olympian, I kick the highest  level up to 12. This is happening less frequently at the 5:30am to 6:30 hour.

Showered, makeuped, straightened and capped (I wore a hat!), I fetched the train. This is what I’ve noticed about people commuting, both in the morning at night: Everyone looks exhausted, depressed or pissed, or some combination of those. It makes me a bit sad. I realize we can’t all be perky to the point of obnoxiousness (and who would want that anyway), but I wish to always enjoy a day, a job, an environment, a commute…everything. Please tell me I won’t forget this in 10 years.

Once at the office, I was thrilled to bits to make oatmeal. In attempts to save money, I bought a box of the microwavable grain for $2.99. Having pre-sweetened, prepared oats at the ready make it even cheaper, as I don’t have to buy as many oat fixins. This is all that went in:

Banana, Hemp Plus oats and peanut butta.

With a guesstimation of water, this turned into a creamy delight. Creamy is such an iffy word. Moving on:

Amazing. Forgot how delicious oat packets can be!

This breakfast held me over until 1:15pm, and even at that time I wasn’t starving. When I eat a bar in the morning, no matter the bar, my stomach is audibly begging for food by 11-11:30am.

The morning passed by quickly as I called chefs yet again. I’m starting to feel annoying.

When I broke for lunch, I wanted nothing but soup. I walked my hiney a handful of blocks away and picked up a V, L, D soup from Hale and Hearty. V, L, D indicates that a soup is vegetarian, low-fat and dairy-free. How bossy is that! The low-fat thing is irrelevant to me because I figure anything plant-based is magical for my bod.

I loved how easy it was to select a simple lunch:

Blurry Tuscan White Bean zupa with blurry 7-grain bread.

The soup and bread were so good that they were definitely worth the $3.47. Shockingly, this tiny cup of soup kept me full all afternoon:

Maybe 8 oz. AKA Smaller than anything else I eat.

I also worked on drinking more water yesterday, and that may have had something to do with my satiety levels. What I can’t stand about drinking water is how often I have to jet to the john.

At 5:15pm, I walked to the train, got back to Hoboken and picked up some groceries. Because I’m trying to hold myself accountable for my purchases this week, I’ll be sharing monetary deets witchoo. For two apples, one orange, three bananas, one kabocha squash and one bag of kettlecorn, it cost $8.80. This would have been worth it had one of these products not been horrendous. More on that in a bit.

Before prepping dinner, I had a photo shoot for the day’s fit. First up, I was woman enough to wear a hat. For some inexplicable reason, I’ve always felt insecure in hats. I bucked up. I didn’t don the hat all day, only when outside:

I enjoyed it!

Over the weekend I bought two things I’ve wanted for years: a skinny belt for the waist and an oversized cardigan. I found both at Forever21, and the cardi was from the guys’ section. First ridic picture:

I make that face all day, erryday.

Second ridic picture because I was getting down with my bad self:

Love the badge on the sleeve.

You can’t see, but I wore the ankle-length cigarette pants with zippers at the ankle and black ballet flats.

After having fed my inner model with a photo shoot, I thought it best to feed my hunger with a feast. The first course:

Getting the greens. And fibahhh.

In the mix: baby greens, cucumber, pickles, salsa, tempeh and ginger-soy vinaigrette. Isn’t it ironic to have both cucumber and pickle slices together on a salad? OK, maybe I’m the only one who finds that funny.

I was most excited for the second course. It was to be my first reunion with kabocha since the summer. The squash was gorgeously orange and looked delicious:

Still looking forward to a kabocha belly at this point.

Much to my dismay, the first bite was horrendous. I tried to mask it with raspberry fruit spread, but it couldn’t be assuaged. The squash tasted…green. It wasn’t ripe or something. Do you know how heartbreaking it is to throw away a freshly roasted squash?

Wallowing in self-pity, I ate an apple as I tried to figure out what else I could eat:

Arty.

And then I turned to what I’d been craving for a solid three weeks:

Kettlecorn!

Ike & Sam’s kettlecorn is outstanding! There are four ingredients: corn, corn oil, sugar and salt. It tasted almost like lightly salted caramel corn, sans the burnt caramely taste. The pieces of popcorn are large, too:

The look like mini cauliflower. Or tots. Or another body part that comes in a pair...

A whole bag of that popcorn makes for a very satisfying dinner. I’m not kidding. (Hey, I’ve never claimed to be a health-food blogger, ya dig?) I didn’t even feel uncomfortably full afterward. Score.

Properly fueled, I texted homegirl for final words of advice as to what to do about Hot Bartender (proper noun, as that’s now what I’ve named him). You all gave me wonderful and hilarious advice, but I was still torn. Brookie and I decided a text would be sufficient.

My text: “Hey, this is Kailey, the tall blonde from the restaurant Saturday night.”

The text back: “123-456-7890* is a landline #…” (*Number has been changed to save him from harassment calls from y’all.)

SKETCHTASTIC. Who has a landline anymore? Rather, what male in his twenties has a landline?!

My final decision regarding calling Hot Bartender? How ’bout no. Absolutely not.

Relief washed over me and I continued watching the tube, talking to Muffin and thinking about what a skeeze this guy probably is. It was a great night.

Ciao for now,

Kailey

QUESTION: Thoughts on the landline? Also, how do you feel about eating bags of popcorn for dinner? Kidding. But isn’t it so satisfying to just dig in to something like that for dinner (or dinner, part two in my case)?

Mariah Carey, while in London, she recently turned on the Xmas lights at the Westfield Shopping Mall. Despite what people say about how she dresses to tight for her age. I love the outfit she was wearing. She definitely knows how to show off her infamous curves.

Below I show how I would make this outfit my own. I took a really nice cardigan sweater and paired it with either some black leggings or some skinny black jeans. Choose whatever is more comfortable for you.

Note I didn’t add any jewelry, reason is becuase that is something that I think everyone can add their own special touch to.

I hope you enjoy!

H81 Sequin Shoulder Sweater Cardigan
$19.92 @ Forever21 (Heritage 1981)

Fringe Knit Tank
$14.80 @ Forever21

Fab Leggings
$4.50 @ Forever21

H81 Double Stitched Skinny Jean
$24.90 @ Forever21 (Heritage 1981)

Five Buckle Stud Trim Boot
$37.30 @ gojane.com

Sunglasses
$5.80 @ Forever21

If you wish to share your photos with us, please feel free to contact me.

Hooooray for no classes on Fridays! So to prepare myself for finals, I decided to go… SHOPPING!!!!!! Hahaha it’s the best de-stressor for me I went to eat some hot wings at Rubicon (in Sacramento) with the bf, then headed over to Roseville Galleria (mall) for some shopping! I really wanted to go there b/c I heard that a huge Forever21 opened there. Boy did it exceed my expectations!!!!!!! It was soooo pretty and I definitely want to go back! Here’s what I wore today and pics of some of the stuff I bought:

chictopia: sandym

bow & pearls top ($10)

buckle boots ($30)

Does anyone own those boots? Are they comfortable??? Because I tried them on at home and they seem pretty comfortable for F21 shoes, but then again… I only tried them on for 2 minutes haha. How long before it hurts?!? I already added cushions under the balls of my feet b/c I suck at wearing heels all day, haha. OH YEAH, F21 TWIST TRES PARIS COLLECTION = <3333 I really like it!

Anyway, after shopping the bf and I decided to go to … CHUCK E. CHEESE’s! -_______- We really wanted to play those basketball arcade games… and I redeemed a t-shirt with the tickets that I’ve accumulated hahaha! Then I went to Thunder Valley Casino to redeem my maturity back HAHAHAHA

It’s been a great Friday! & I’m totally not looking forward to finals this coming week! But soon after finals come Winter break!

Twitter: iemSandy || Chictopia: sandym

Sandy

I love the Confessions of a Shopaholic series.  I decided to use this as my title, because well I can be a shopaholic.  It doesnt matter how much I try to follow my own advice, if I want it I usually buy it.

I went shopping last weekend and what did I buy…a jacket!  This jacket from Forever 21 to be exact.

This jacket looks way cuter in person.  So I know in my last post I said that one of the lessons I learned from shopping my closet was that I had way too many jackets.  But this jacket was just way too cute to not buy!  Umm…and it was cheap, $27!   This piece can get a little bit more wear than most of my other jackets since it’s a 3/4 sleeve.  Plus, after I bought this at Forever21 I walked into bebe to look at their jewelry and they had almost the same exact jacket for about $120 more.  I wore it on Monday and I had about 20 people come up to me to and tell me how much they loved my jacket and where I got it.

Even though I didnt follow my advice while shopping, I dont regret buying it…I love it!

I love sequins and this trend always seems to be around.

whowhatwear.com

Forever 21’s plus-sized line Faith21 has debuted a few new outerwear options for their curvaceous customers. One piece that really caught my eyes is a grey tweed belted trench. Definitely a great investment for those with a classic style. Wear it with a beret for an extra-chic vibe.

Click here to purchase.

Satin Lapel Single Button Jacket $29.80 @ Forever21

Velvet w/Satin Trim Single Button Jacket $29.80 @ Forever21

Wool Blend Single Button Tux $32.80 @ Forever21

This post is focusing on the jacket and how to fit it to my body. I have a slight waist with a belly so I need something that adds definition and disguises my tummy. A single breasted jacket with shape detailing, such as princess seams, can be a life saver. Yeah, I haven’t been as dedicated to working out since the baby.  And, I am on the type of  restricted budget you only find in Orwell novels. Yet, I digress.

I am going to try and make this as short, sweet, & as succint as possible. It’s the holidays and I understand that you may not have a lot of time to dawdle. I have this amazing sequin dress I want to wear to a party. A dress is only a dress (even a sequin one) if it isn’t styled properly. Don’t depend on the sequins to ferret you into the highly stylish category in one fell swoop. So, I decided to add a jacket (preferably of a tux style), some light jewelry (since the dress shines enough on its own), a clutch, & shoes.

Feel free to send some feedback or ask questions. I will be more than happy to help you find that piece to put you at the stop of the impressively styled list.

With our bellies still stuffed with the delicious foods of  Thanksgiving, the holiday season draws closer. No matter how you celebrate, a decent holiday outfit is vital to survive the numerous gatherings to attend during the season. It’s important to have the holiday cheer, without feeling the need to dress up like a Christmas tree.

Here’s an outfit I threw together as a basic idea of the type of outfit to wear this holiday season.

What’s great about this outfit is the fact that it doesn’t go overboard. There’s no need to dress incredibly fancy if you’re just going to a small holiday party, but this outfit still sends the message that you put effort into your outfit. Pairing a nice skirt with a plain white t-shirt makes the outfit more casual, yet the sweater, tights, and flats help to make the outfit less of an everyday look and more of a special event one.

Of course, this outfit doesn’t have to be reserved just for the holidays!

Today’s Shopping Bag: 

1. Cherry Skinny Jean $24.90 from Forever 21

2. Long Fur Vest $21.50 from Wet Seal

3. Kady Boot $29.99 from Target

4. Fab LS Knit Top $4.50 from Forever 21

5. Bisou Bisou Faux Fur Vest $62 from JC Penney

BEAUTIES!! How are you! I am so thrilled to be posting again that I can’t type fast enough! My poor keyboard is getting a brutal workout. Speaking of, thank you so much for the workout/non-workout recommendations! I think I’ll worry about enjoying the city and people more than I will my workouts. Also, I’m paying $3.99 for two hours of wi-fi again because you have to be a green card Starbeezies member in order to get free wi-fi. I don’t even know what that means!

But let’s get to the fun stuff, such as sex and the city! I mean, SnackFace and the city.

Tuesday I made sure to get up super early. I showered, put on my face and was so antsy to get downtown that I left at 7:30am. With coffee in hand and these snacks in my purse, I was ready for the day:

Ate the Clif for breakfast (phenomenal), naner for an afternoon snack.

I like to play a game on the train into the city. It’s called “What Did He Look Like 30 Years Ago?” Non-creepily, I stare at the middle-aged, business-suited men as they make their daily commute. In my mind, grim faces are painted with a smile, thin lips suddenly become fuller, wrinkles erase, receding hairlines are magically hairy and grayed temples return to their intended chestnut brown. This is why I cannot bring reading materials for the train ride. Too much analyzing to do.

My morning at work was filled with organizing, labeling, mailing and learning. It’s nothing like the editorial side, as I’ve said before, but it’s solid experience with incredible people. At 1pm, Caroline and I went to this fabulous place that assembles your salad and chops and dresses it for you. There have to be a million of them in the city, but I was still fascinated. Look at this beast:

Approximated 37 pounds of fresh veggies. Of course I ate all of it.

In the system cleanser: mixed greens, corn, chickpeas, black olives, cucumber, tomato, roasted red peppers and a sweet lime dressing. Worth the $9.95. (But I don’t want to spend that much again!)

While walking to and from the office in the afternoon, I couldn’t help but take pictures of the city:

You'll notice something about my city pictures...

They all look the same:

And I'm not stopping the torture anytime soon.

The office was quiet in the afternoon, and after throwing media kits together, I was released 15 minutes early. I took advantage by roaming to my dinner destination early.

While nearing Union Square (and thus popping my Union-Square cherry), I saw my dinner destination was conveniently located next to Forever 21. Seriously, that is both heaven and hell. Placing Whole Foods and the only store in which I shop for clothing next to each other is sensory overload. Somehow, I kept my composure (and my wallet in my purse) and didn’t buy any of the three dresses I wanted.

After a half hour in Forever and an hour in Whole Foods, I found another gem around the corner. How has no one told me about Strand Bookstore? It sucked me in and I almost forgot about dinner.

Actually that’s a straight-up lie. I had been thinking about dinner for days. Wouldn’t you be excited about the dinner conglomeration of Hungry Homegirl Snack Diaries in Manhattan at Whole Foods? Yes, we did. We all met up and gossiped like nobody’s business (about, what else, blogs and food). By the time we parted ways, this had definitely digested:

Orange as Paris after a mystic tan, sorry!

That looks like vom, but I swear it was amazing. It had sweet potatoes, butternut squash, wheatberry+apple+pecan salad, channa masala, brussels and other things that have slipped my memory.

We laughed and talked for hours! Our neighbors even took to calling us Charlie’s Angels. That was until Brooke shot her garbage at them. According to Brookebaby, it was an accident. Sure.

Elise and Lauryn had to bounce early, but Brooke, Sarah and I had to keep the chat-fest going. To 16 Handles we went. Lovepies, I couldn’t resist the siren call of fro-yo. I had a cup of white chocolate and peanut butter and topped it with other non-vegan stuff. Naturally, I was too busy eating and talking to take a picture of the food. However, Sarah forced a stranger to take a picture of the trio:

They are gorgeous. Love.

Sarah was picked up by her pops, and Brooke and I walked together for a while afterward. It felt so good to talk to my little homie again! Missed her so much! When we parted ways, I was in a state of bliss and had to take another city picture:

Looks just like the others, but dark. My skills amaze me.

Wednesday morning’s wake-up call was…whenever I wanted it to be because I didn’t have to work. Apparently my bod was not having sleeping in, as nature called at 10am (see above salads). Alright, so maybe 10am is sleeping in.

After watching trashy tube for a bit, I poured some cereal for breakfast:

Kashi Go Lean with almond milk and 2/3 a very ripe banana.

I’m pretty sure it’s not vegan, but whatever–I’d forgotten how much I love Kashi Go Lean! So cardboardy but yummy.

Insert more trashy television for a while. Suddenly, snack time! This is all I want when it’s near:

Let's call it lunch.

Eventually ambition struck, and I did 30 minutes of what I’m calling AAA: abs, arms and ass. Did a ton of ab work, some lame attempts at different kinds of push-ups and 70-ish squats for the tush. You should see this jelly.

After that, I was exhausted again. I think going from exam week to New York immediately and never stopping caught up with me. Did not mind the lounging one bit.

At 4pm I was finally showered, straightened and makeuped, so I spent more money (gahhh) for groceries. I had a snack plate as soon as I returned home:

Snackdiddly. Honeycrisp+carrots+peanut butter.

This was good, but I bought something else because it was on sale and couldn’t get it off my mind. It was something I’d not yet tried. FoodShouldTasteGood, why you gotta be holding out on THE SnackFace and not introducing me to your AMAZING chips? So. Freaking. Good:

Can't get over these!

Like Stacy’s, however, FSTG has one major flaw. Those silly people do not get the serving sizes right! The bag says there are six servings. I’ve tested this and there are only two, at most. I definitely enjoyed five of the six servings. I’m not even adding an “oops” after that. It’s not my fault, it’s theirs.

This leads up to now. I’m sitting in an oversize chair, spending too much money on wireless. This also is not my fault. It’s YOURS. I kid. I have an addiction that cannot be helped. It’s called love And I am thankful for each and every one of you reading.

Thanksgiving is going to be bossy and bloggy, so stay tuned!

Ciao for now,

Kailey

QUESTION: With whom are you spending Thanksgiving? AND What food do you want the most on the so-called Turkey Day? AND Do you eat way more servings of delicious foods than suggested?

I mean, seriously, how can you not?!

I can be bribed with these items.

Check out the rest here.

Here is what I found blouse-wise

Ebay.co.uk

Click

I think this one is rather a vintage pajama and red, but could work anyway – looks so cute. Click

Similar Skirts:

Forever21

EBay.com

Here

Headband:

Click

Click

Click

And the matching purse

Find it here

The temperature in LA has dipped low enough to keep me snuggled up indoors for the majority of the day. Despite the chilly weather, I’m excited for the coming holiday season! I love seeing all the stores decked out in Christmas decor and it reminds me that it’s a good time to start thinking about picking up some fun holiday dresses.

BCBGMAXAZRIA One Shoulder Satin Dress ($248) BCBG dresses were always a staple at my college banquets and this one is absolutely perfect. It’s clean-cut enough to wear to office holiday parties, but still offers a sassy kick with the gorgeous zipper-lined shoulder bow and pockets (still loving pockets oh so much!). One shoulder anything reminds me of this horrific red one shoulder shirt I wore back in high school and  as such, I haven’t been able to bring myself to go back to that style ever again. However, this dress just might be enough to quell that memory. Being that 20-something in the office means we have to walk that thin line between classy and youthful–this dress manages to promise both!

Arden B. Taffeta Ruffle Front Dress ($78) The strapless mini is my fallback for all my evening wear dilemmas. The silhouette has never failed me in presenting a fitted, slim, and mature look… even when I feel like over-indulging at those holiday gatherings. The added touch of the pleated ruffles (for that GORGEOUS neckline) and banded high-waist also sets this dress apart from the other strapless dresses I already own. This is my favorite must-have for the season based on look and price. Can’t wait to see how it looks on!

Despite how much I love my dresses, it’s a shame that us girls can’t wear them (usually) to more than one main event. That leaves me thinking twice before spending too much on a dress I’ll never see again. Luckily, I found some more affordable options for the social butterflies out there who need a few options for the season.

Forever21 High Sheen Dress ($22.80) It’s easy to think of red as being the go-to color during this time of year, but this deep violet dress would be a great contrast on anyone’s skin! The sweetheart neck and layered skirt are fun and flirty. Pair this up with some gold strappy heels and a long strand of pearls for a dressed up and sophisticated look. My only concern about this dress would be that sometimes F21 tends to make their frocks awkwardly too short, so hopefully it’s not the case with this one! I suppose we must give up something for not paying $322 for the Foley + Corinna version.

Forever21 Sparkling Tiered Dress ($24.80) This is another take on the tiered skirt, but the high waistband and sequined layers are perfect! This dress mimics another dress I have from the summer and I’m loving that this would be a comfortable choice for dancing the night away. Since it’s black, I wouldn’t have to worry about the sequins looking tacky as long as I don’t over-accessorize. The key would be to balance out the dress with some colorful heels and a simple long necklace.

Happy dancing, ladies!

Browsing Forever21 for some cheap finds and this is what I found:

Forever21 Cropped Tuxedo Pants $17.80

Forever21 Beaded Garden Tank $22.80

Forever21 Jewel Trim Tweed Jacket $34.80

Forever21 Sgt. Runway Jacket $39.80