What I've Been Reading: March

Hey everyone, happy Friday. It's time for the second edition of monthly must-reads (you can read the first installment here in case you missed it). And, it's time for this month's question, courtesy of Andi. The question is: "If you could have one celebrity's wardrobe, whose would it be and why?"

This took some thought, as a few different starlets came to mind. Rachel Bilson, Bethenny Frankel, Jennifer Aniston, the Kardashian sisters, and Kyle Richards all have a great sense of style that closely resembles my ideal. However, the one girl who always stands out, the one whose wardrobe I'd love to own is Lauren Conrad. No analyzing her claim to fame please! For the record, I liked Lauren on Laguna and The Hills. While some were quick to point out her somewhat lackluster personality, she just seemed real to me. Hell, if I had cameras following me around all the time, I'm sure my personality would come off as less then exciting. Aside from her spats with friends over jerk boyfriends, Lauren stayed above the fray.

Of course, the main reason I think we all watched The Hills was to see what she was wearing each week. She is the epitome of California cool. Mixing casual pieces with fun and feminine frocks, her style is accessable and easy to emmulate without looking like you're trying. She's chic and glam, and yet she strikes a delicate balance by staying true to her beach girl sensibility. If Olivia Palermo is New York's It girl, then Lauren Conrad is Los Angeles.

So, can you tell why I would LOVE to own her wardrobe? Designer handbags but a penchant for Chanel, skinny jeans, pumps, lace, girly skirts and dresses, sandals...a girl after my own heart!

Now here are some great posts from my fellow blogger friends:

• Beautygirl24 - Noelle has a serious crush on the color orange. See how she used it to build an outfit.
• Ella Pretty - Ella's been shopping and sewing - view her spring purchases here.
• Lilly's Style - Find out which outfit Lilly loved the most in March.
• Pearls and Green Tea - Jiye's been welcoming the warmer weather with floral shorts, a braid and sandals!
• Saltwater Dreams - Andi's going gluten-free -- and it's easier than you think. See her favorite tips, recipes and products.
• Schnelle Couture - Danielle broke out the white jeans and sandals for St. Patty's Day- be sure to check out her new favorite mint nail polish too! 
• Sequins and Stilettos - Skylette has been playing with nautical looks by picking up some fun accessories.

♥ Noelle

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To tuck or not to tuck?

Pussybow blouse - F21, Lace skirt - Express (old), Pumps - Nordstrom rack (old), Jewelry - Etsy, Michael Kors, YSL, Sonya Renee, Lips - Lancome Corail in Love

When all else fails, wear black. I don't really adhere to this rule, as I've noticed that I don't own a lot of black anymore. I'm proud of this fact, because up until a few months ago, I wasn't too into color. Black feels safe. Head to toe black? I'm bullet proof! Ok, not really. But I definitely felt very relaxed in this look. I didn't want to feel fussy, so I kept the blouse loose, flowy, and untucked. I think the question, "To tuck blouse in or not?" is one I ask myself now all the time. I think the answer to that is...that it depends. Tucking a top or blouse into your skirt or pants looks more polished, more formal, and more intentional. However, leaving a blousey top untucked looks more relaxed, like you aren't trying too hard. I often do this when I wear a super tight skirt or with my skinny jeans. The proportion looks (and feels) better because you have a looser top and are tighter on the bottom half. I know a lot of girls who follow this guideline as well. On this night, I do think the blouse would have looked better had I tucked it in, but like I said before, I just didn't feel like it. Thus, the more casual approach.

What do you girls think?

♥ Noelle

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Shades

Lace cardi - F21 (recent), Tee and Jeans - Banana Republic, Suede wedges - Target, Infinity Scarf - Express (link), Earrings - Tory Burch via Nordstrom (link), Watch - Michael Kors

Something I'm really enjoying lately is taking one color, and then wearing varying degrees of it in my outfit. Shades of blue are my favorite to play with. Aside from fashion, there isn't anything I love more than going to the beach and quietly sitting beside the one I love, admiring the waves as they crash against the shore. It will never get old, and I will never tire of it. After a stressful week, wearing blue was what I needed to breathe deeply, relax, and unwind. That, and a quick trip to a local winery where my fiance and I shared a bottle of wine :)

♥ Noelle

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New Season

A new season means...

Pretty blouses from Forever 21

Spring-worthy nail polish in feminine, fresh shades

Small pictures hanging on my wall that remind me where I'd love to go (Paris and New York, again)

What is getting you in the mood for Spring?

♥ Noelle

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Corail in Love

When I first spotted this ad in a magazine, I was intrigued. I've never tried a Lancome lipstick before, but the saturated color of Emma Watson's look had me curious. I'm always a sucker for lip products. Over the years, I've found that MAC and Revlon make the best, but that doesn't stop me from trying new (to me) brands.

I picked up "Corail in Love", a pinky coral. Alright girls - this color is amazing! That word gets tossed around loosely, but this is truly "my" coral. I've struggled with corals in the past. Most look way too orange, too pink, or just too dramatic on me. I fix this by applying a soft colored gloss to tone it down, but that can get tiring when I'm out and about. This is the first coral I've found that doesn't require anything!

I like to swipe some on, then lightly dab or press the color into my lips for a pretty effect, almost like a stain. It wears for a long time without any fading. The claim is 6 hours, but I don't know of any lip product that lasts that long on me. Talking, eating, drinking...they all get in the way. But, because this lipstick isn't super creamy, it lasts a good three to four hours on me. When I say it isn't creamy, I don't mean it's gritty though. It goes on smoothly, but then feels weightless on your lips, almost as if you weren't wearing anything. It's very strange, but I like that. No temptation to press my lips together since I can't feel a thing!

The color reminds me of crushed rose petals. Ultra feminine and supremely wearable for a coral.

No flash

See what I mean? It's definitely a coral, but it's so soft and natural. It just brightens my entire complexion, which by the way, is very pale these days.

With flash

The Rouge in Love line can be found at most Lancome counters now. They have a good range of colors, so go test one out.

♥ Noelle

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Teal

Teal vest - F21 (recent), black pocket tee - Madewell, Jeans - BR, leopard scarf - Angl (old), Pumps - Nine West "Ambitious", Earrings - BR (old), Ring - Kendra Scott, Nails - Chanel Black Pearl

I hope you all had a good St. Patrick's day! It was cold and rainy here, so although I was contemplating wearing my green Spring Fling dress, the weather just wouldn't allow it. Instead, I opted for a teal vest/jacket that I bought while on a Forever 21 "spring" wardobe venture. Teal is a shade of green, right? I was worried I'd get pinched all day, so I threw on some green jewelry for good measure...just in case!

I had my first glass of green beer, and I must say that it made the experience more fun.

♥ Noelle

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sonya renee

Nobody makes delicate, intricate jewelry like Sonya Renee. I discovered her on YouTube, and after my fiance purchased the "amazing studs" from Lorraine, I became hooked. The Current Custom only sells a tiny amount of Sonya Renee jewelry, so I highly recommend going to the actual site in order to really see just how many beautiful pieces they sell.

These gorgeous CZ studs are by far my most worn earrings.

Last week, I decided to finally place another order after holding off and stalking the site for months. In general, Sonya Renee pieces aren't expensive, so I'm not sure why I waited so long to get the items I had been wanting.

Again, I was throughly impressed with the quality and attention to detail.

Gum Drop Earrings

 They come in other colors too!

Mini Initial Script Necklace

The chain is 16" long, and the initial itself is really sweet and tiny. It would be great to layer, but I'll probably wear it mostly on its own. I love it. It can stand for my name, or for the boy since our names both start with "N".

I wasn't contacted by Sonya Renee's company, so please don't think that this post is in any way sponsored. I was just so excited when I received this package in the mail this evening, I had to share it with you. After a stressful day at work that was complete with a slight migraine, this definitely cheered me right up :)

♥ Noelle



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Nautical

Striped tee - Madewell, Poplin Jacket - Necessary Objects via Nordstrom Rack (old), Jeggings - BR, Green flats - Zara (old), Necklace - Jewelmint, Bracelet - J. Crew, Ring - YSL, Lips - Lancome Rouge in Love lipstick in Corail in Love (So pretty! Review to come).

 I had been looking for the perfect crisp striped top for months. I tried LOFT and J. Crew, but the fit was always off. I went to Nordstrom to check out some Splendid tees, but the one I had liked online was sold out. I even tried stores like Forever 21, but the material usually felt too flimsy. I then took a stab at Madewell, and there it was - the perfect striped tee, made from soft cotton. The whole nautical, beachy vibe is right up my alley. Classic enough to look polished, yet casual for a relaxing weekend. It acts as a backdrop for my nautical themed jewelry.

♥ Noelle

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Spring Fling

Dress - Lush via Nordstrom, Necklace - H&M, Bracelets - Etsy, J.Crew, Michael Kors, Earrings - Chanel, Leopard Heels - Guess (old), Sunglasses - F21, Nails - DL "PYT"

This dress is actually a super bright green in person. Somehow, my camera couldn't capture its true color. Either way, it's my new favorite dress for Spring.

I hope you all had a beautiful weekend!

♥ Noelle

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Kaleidoscope

 Just a quick post for today! I know I'm a little late, but I was browsing street style photos from NYFW the other night. Everything is so vibrant! I can't get enough of all the color we are seeing everywhere. The celine totes are my personal favorite.

Photos from Elle, Fashionologie, Marie Claire, The Sartorialist, and Harper's Bazarre

♥ Noelle

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Current Skincare Loves

Left to Right:

1. Pond's Wet Cleansing Towelettes in Evening Soothe. These have been my go-to makeup remover wipes for the past few months now. The quilted texture gets every trace of makeup, and the scent is relaxing for nighttime use. I've come to realize that many brands make great wipes (I still love Yes to Cucumbers and Neutrogena). However, I can always find Pond's on sale so I keep repurchasing.

2. Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. This works wonders on heavy duty mascara, especially my Benefit "They're Real" which is known for being difficult to remove.

3. Josie Maran Argan Oil. This has been raved about from so many bloggers. This is my newest skincare addition, as I just added it to my nightly routine two weeks ago. I already love it, and can't believe how soft and supple my skin looks and feels when I get out of bed in the morning. I slather it everywhere. I concentrate on my skin, but it can also be used on cuticles, hair, and anywhere that needs a serious dose of moisture.

4. Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment With Avocado. Now that I'm in my late 20's, I notice just how sensitive the delicate skin around my eyes are.  I don't have any lines yet, but I do need moisture. This eye cream is amazing. This is my second jar, but it lasts forever. A little goes a long way. I use it not only before bed, but also in the morning underneath my concealer. If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it!

5. ROC Deep Wrinkle Night Cream. I mainly use this for preventative measures. I'm still fairly young ;) But I've said before that I do have little lines between my brows. I don't use it every night because it does irritate my skin slightly, but I try to apply a bit at least four times a week.

6. MAC Fix+. This is the travel size that came out with some collection I'm sure. I spray this on after applying my makeup, as well as right before bed. No reason why really, it just feels so refreshing and I love that scent. I didn't think it set my makeup well until I started spraying some on before using my MUFE HD powder. That does the trick, and my makeup stays on a few hours longer.

* I completely forgot to include my Cetaphil cleanser. It's gentle, it's soothing. It's perfect.

I'm always curious about skincare products, so there are a few things I want to try. I've heard some of you girls rave about Peter Thomas Roth. His correction pads are on my wishlist. I also have a friend that is sending me some goodies to test out ;)

What are your current skincare loves?

♥ Noelle

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Orange Crush

Dress - Zara, Cardigan - Halogen via Nordstrom, Pumps - J. Crew "Mona" suede, Bag - Kate Spade, Necklace - F21 (old), Bracelet - TJMaxx, Nails - Essie "Cute as a Button"

Sunday is always so bittersweet. This one in particular was beautiful. The weather was warm, and my fiance and I went to brunch with friends that turned into a three hour gabfest. I haven't been to Sunday brunch in months, and I wasn't sure what to wear until I spotted my bright orange cardigan peeking through in my closet. I thought it was the perfect topping to a cream dress and bright pink heels.

♥ Noelle

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