AREN'T YOU MARBLE-OUS.

Springgggg, you guys. I can't even express how excited that word makes me. Spring means fun prints and lighter fabrics and THIS marble-ous skirt. I am VERY into marble right now. Remember the contact paper? I want it everywhere. I want it in my kitchen (apparently not okay in a rental?). I want it on my bod. I want it on my Macbook. I want it err-where and I want it now. 

This pencil skirt is one half of a two-piece set I have, but I decided to ditch the top this time and go with my longtime lover, black. [I put the link to the matching crop at the bottom too!] It's that kind of scuba-ish material that hugs your body in all the right places, but also let's you breathe which is semi-important to me. I am kind of dying over the way all of the hateful "squeeze squeeze squeezes" in barre class are lifting my boo-tay, so let's parade it around okay? #ifoundyoumsnewbooty
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MOET ON STELLA
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(UN)WORK OUT.

Okay, you guys. I have been getting asked to do a fitness/work-out routine post and this is my version of such. I am not one who loooves to work out. I am usually tired, or have a fresh spray tan that I don't want to ruin or just washed my hair. The list goes on and on. Don't get me wrong, I like to be active (hiking, walking Chastain Park OR flitting around Lenox Mall…), but I am not a gym-rat by any stretch of the imagination. Lately, however, I have been trying to get back into somewhat of a better fitness routine. This week I managed to make it to FOUR classes. Two barre classes at SVELTE and two spin classes at CYC. That is unheard of for moi. I am practically hobbling and had zero time for anything else this week, but it is still a huge victory, okay!?
PANTS: Target / TOP:(similar) old Splendid / SPORTS BRA: Target / BARRE SOCKS: SVELTE

Like any good goal maker, I have set a reward for myself. It involves guess what? CLOTHES. If I can stick to my new routine - working out for a minimum of 30 minutes at least 3 times per week - for the next month, I will reward myself with a cute new workout ensemble. If I can hit 4 times per week, I will get TWO new workout ensembles. So far, so good..and naturally, I have already started my wish list. It's clickable, of course:
Time to collapse into clean sheets. I have EARNED tomorrow's wine people. Happy weekending!

P.S. Don't forget to sign up for your FREEBIE class at SVELTE with code: giltyaschgd! We can sit next to each other and cry.
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IKEA HACK: DIY VITTSJÖ BOOKSHELF.

EW, sorry for the wait, but this just in…DIY-ing is no freaking joke. Blood, sweat and tears went into this piece. So did a lot of "whatevers" and one solo trip to Arby's. I'm not proud of that last bit. All that being said, I am SO happy with the final product, I have been dying to share it with you guys! Let's start with my old bookcase. Nothing was really wrong with it, but I bought it when I had a brown leather couch (no mo!), it was $26 at Target and it felt SO very college. I have been out of college for far too long to own such a piece. Ahem. #lemmeupgradeya

OLDIE NOT-YET-GOLDIE SHELF:
STEP TWO was purchasing the VITTSJO shelf from IKEA, seen below. It comes in two sizes and I chose the larger of the two ($79), because I had more space to spare than my original shelf actually took up. My friend Brandi and I tackled this project together, and she got the smaller version ($49) for a narrow wall in her new house.
After a lot of debate about how to handle the solid brown bottom shelf, I found this "marble" contact paper on Amazon and snapped it up to give it even more of an upscale feel. This was actually a lot easier to apply than we thought it would be. Sighhh. I just love when a vision really comes to life.
STEP THREE is what I lovingly call the "hell phase." Building anything from IKEA is cruel and unusual punishment. This actually wasn't so bad, and having the real drill helped a ton. I highly recommend doing this with a friend and not a family member to avoid excessive obsenities & possible murder.
Priming and painting took the longest. I think overall, I used two cans of primer and three cans of gold spray paint to cover mine completely. I still may buy a 4th can for touch-ups later.
 After a LOT of cans of primer & gold spray paint (buy extra and thank me later), I give you NEW NEW in all of her glory!
Close up of the "marbled" bottom shelf. Ahh! I love it so much!
I am still playing with the decor on each shelf, but that is the beauty of shelving like this. You can change it all up as many times as you want!
Baby Coco Chanel approved. Looking pretty proud of her mom's handywork. Either that or she is thinking about what a total freakshow her mother is. Both extremely likely.
The two baskets on the bottom shelf were another IKEA find. I love the way they look against the metal frame.
Those sad little paintings were done by yours truly, ha I apologize, but the great metal 'H' is one of my favorite pieces. I love that it adds height without being too bulky.
Little shell my Grandpa Poppa gave me on top of my most intellectual stack of books. Paris Hilton, anyone?
Love this picture of my Aunt Rhett and my Dad at my graduation from CofC. I lost my Dad in 2011 to lung cancer, and like to keep as many reminders of him around the apartment as I can. 
Annnd a double-cameo by my most favorite five...well, four, excluding myself.
Coco is pretty happy that it is warm outside again. She got very adventurous yesterday and even made it cautiously out onto the patio! She is an indoor girl, through and through.
Look at that little woman taking it all in! I love her horribly. I really need to clean my patio off...sick pollen.
IKEA VITTSJÖ SHELF / GIANT METAL 'H' (℅ Shop Alix)
OVERALLS: Express (no longer available) similar here + here / CONVERSE

So there you have it. I lost brain cells due to paint fumes, but in the end, I think it was all worth it as I now have a much better view from my couch for wine-sipping. DI-WHY.

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WEEK IN REVIEW.

It's almost Friday (praise the LAWD), so I thought I'd recap the things I am loving most this week, aside from you of course. Sort of an appetizer for the weekend debauchery that is to come? (Happy Happy Birthday to my JTucke & Dimesatchel!) Fact: I never skip the appetizer portion of the meal.

1. LOUD WORKOUT WEAR.
So obviously ready to get my #SVELTEfit on. And who knew Carrie Underwood had her own activewear line!? Have you registered for your first class yet? It's free! Let's go to the barre and then the bar. Code: giltyaschgd

 2. THE SPARKBOARD.
My beautiful and talented friend Tina launched her brainchild, The Sparkboard, this week and it is every bit as amazing & inspiring as it sounds. Real art pieces, reclaimed wood, an endless platform for your own creativity? Do yourself a favor and check her out here. You can even support her launch if you feel like your own spark has been #ignited.

3. UNDERGROUND RUNWAY.
This is the absolute first place I go when I am looking for designer pieces at a WAY discounted price. My adorable friend Emily Westergreen runs this fashion powerhouse out of her basement, and people literally flock to her door. I drive her crazy trying to get the best deals from her first, but she puts up with me because I'm funny and always travel with wine. I keep up with all of her latest finds on her Facebook page, but you can also check in right from the website. Bonus for out-of-towners? She ships!
DRESS: H&M (OLD) similar here / NECKLACE / BLAZER

4. LINDI SKIN.
I am a big fan of mixing up my skin care routine, mostly because I love products, but also because I have combination skin that is always changing with the weather. One of my favorite PR mavens sent me a few Lindi Skin products for a test drive and I have become OBSESSED. The entire line is super gentle because it was actually developed for cancer patients whose skin had become sensitive during treatment. My favorite by far is the citrus face serum. It feels like silk and has just enough hydration for my face before bed without making it greasy at all. You can peruse the rest at lindiskin.com and use CODE: BLOG25 for 25% off and free shipping through May 31st! They are donating the proceeds to the American Cancer Society. #nearanddear

 5. MAKE-UP & MAHKEUP.
Two products I cannot get enough of right now. First up, Complexion Rescue by Bare Minerals (Thanks to Megan over at Holy City Chic for selling me on this one!). I have been using it for just over two weeks now and am totally in love! I am more of a full-coverage girl, and this works perfectly under my Make up Forever foundation.

Secondly, after a little skinformation sesh with my best girl Amanda, I decided to test drive the Laura Mercier primer this week over my usual Smashbox pick. I have really been happy with how much more hydrating it is! Definitely keeping this one around in the beauty arsenal.

If you are like me, you are always looking for new beauty products, and more importantly, trying to figure out how the heck to wear them. Check out my beautiful friend Mahlon's blog MAHKEUP to keep up on all of the latest! Bonus points for that name, girlfriend.
Happy (almost) weekend, Gilties! Thanks for being you. EW, I'm so emotional about leaving you!

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KIMON-OVER.

I feel like I was really reaching with that title. Kimono? C'mon over? Anyone? No, okay. That's what I thought, but hey, A+ for effort. So I actually bought this leopard situation as a beach cover-up way back when I lived in Boston (shout out Shabu Zen!), but was inspired by this picture on Pinterest, and whipped up this Spring outfit that I am actually loving. Who doesn't love to be swaddled in leopard while also recycling items you already own? People that can't be trusted, that's who.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MOET ON STELLA

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PINCH ME.

Sooo, between the DIY that took over my weekend (coming soon!) and the beautiful weather here in ATL, I don't know where my head has been. I'm kind of a terrible blogger and really wish I had prepared a fabulous green-flavored post for you early this morning, but I actually TOTALLY forgot today was St. Patrick's Day (because I was thrown off by LEPRECON being Saturday)...did NOT wear green, and was forced to pout my way through the afternoon. Just kidding, my boss immediately donated one of her plastic shamrock couture necklaces to me and all was right in the world. Before you guys virtually pinch me, here are some green things that we would all be super lucky to own, OKAY?? Can you guys forgive me, or nah?
Ok, so I guess those sandals aren't technically green green, but it felt morally wrong to leave them out. Something about them screams, Ireland. I am absolutely lying, but just go with it. 

Once you are done with all of your green bee-yahs and want to get your butt back in gear, pop on over to SVELTE and take a look at their schedule. Your first class is on me! Code: giltyaschgd. See you at the barre.

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ROMPER ROOM PART II.

Welcome back, romper lovers. Part II, as promised, is a lower-priced, less fussy look. I didn't even wash my hair. We're all friends here. Option dos is perfect for your next beach vacay (take me with you!), or just running errands around town this summer. This bright little beauty by Luminere is light weight enough to be worn over a bikini, but also substantial enough to stand on its own as seen below. Even better? It's less than $100, and also comes in navy. Romp on, my sistas.

PART II: LOW.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MOET ON STELLA

How cute is that tote bag?! It was a birthday gift from my friend Lindsey when we were in college, and it is still my favorite go-to beach bag. Also, I admired the gladiator sandal from afar for a long time due to the fact that my legs are the shorter half of my body, however, this python pair by MIA was practically destined to be mine. DSW wins again. If nothing else, they motivate me to go a little longer on on the elliptical.

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ROMPER ROOM PART I: HIGH VS. LOW.

When rompers came back as an acceptable option for adults, I went overboard and bought tons. I know, how unlike me. Ahem. That said, they are not always the easiest for me to find, considering I have the longest torso in the world, and many of them are too short-waisted for me. There is nothing more irritating. There have been actual tears on more than one occasion in more than one dressing room. One day, you guys, I WILL start a line of clothing for long-torsoed people. I have a dream…of a long inseam.

I digress. I love that rompers are an instant outfit that take zero effort because there is no "putting together" involved, but also that they are super chic and can be dressed up or down. Consider this part one of a two part-series I am going to throw at you guys. It is basically a high vs. low for price range, but also a higher (i.e. dressier) look vs. a low-key, vacay style option. Capiche?

PART I: HIGH
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MOET ON STELLA

I am totally obsessed with this boho number by Lavender Brown. I love the way the long flowy sleeves allow you to pair it with a bootie for spring, but the gauzy fabric is also light enough for me to wear this summer in the ATL heat. A little more pricey, but transitional, y'all. The booties were a Christmas gift from my Momma-girl. She just gets it. What is your favorite way to wear a romper? Part II coming at you tomorrow!

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KEEPIN' IT ONE HUNNID.

You are about to be a part of history in the making. This...right now…is my 100th post! I seriously can't even believe it. This baby blog has been such a dream of mine for so long, so I really cannot thank YOU enough for following along!

In true milestone spirit, I plan to celebrate with a little gift to moi from moi & I don't think it's any coincidence that Shopbop is having their biggest sale of the year at this very moment. These are all in the running. Click each image to shop!
AND..It wouldn't be a true #TBT without throwing it back to my very first post…
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAUL HOURIGAN
DRESS / NECKLACE / SHOES (old Zara, similar here)

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WHITE DENIM + THE THIRD-PIECE RULE.

White is actually my very favorite (non)color to wear, so when wearing white year-round became acceptable, I was pretty eager about it. You guys, I've said it before and I'll say it again, nothing beats AG Jeans. This pair is a little looser than my beloved ankle leggings, which makes them perfect for cuffing at the ankle. My legs are short compared to my freakishly long torso, so my jean-to-bootie ratio just looks better with a little skin peek-a-boo in between. These are also skinny enough to tuck into a knee-high boot, which is exactly what I plan to do with them next.

Side note: I have been LIVING BY the "third-piece rule" ever since reading this post on WHO WHAT WEAR. It is the simplest, but it makes total sense. Basically, you just add a "third-piece" (i.e. a blazer, a scarf, or a belt) to any outfit to make it a little more complete, and make you a LOT more style-savvy. With this simple sweater + jeans combo, I opted for adding the denim jacket around my waist to break up the black and white. A side piece, if you will. (too soon?) Technically, the scarf could also be my third-piece, but I got a little carried away. What's your favorite third-piece?
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MOET ON STELLA
HAT(similar) / SWEATER / TANK / DENIM / BAG / BOOTIES(old Target, similar) 
NAIL BANGLE / HEET BRACELET / BLACK BANGLE(similar) 
DENIM JACKET / SCARF / WATCH / LIP COLOR / LIP GLOSS / KNOT RING

You can find most of this outfit on shopalix.com, which is kind of amazing news considering you Gilties can use discount code: GACShopAlix for 15% off of your entire order! This friendship is just the gift that keeps on giving, isn't it?

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