Last week I showed a layout with one of Spring 2012′s new trends: Color Blocking. It’s not a new concept by any means, but it’s all over this spring.

Using a site called Polyvore, I like to show quick layouts of outfits so you could duplicate it on your own perhaps from other sources. It’s also a fun way to show merchandise from sites I would never go to or even know about if it weren’t on Polyvore. Sometimes the things are reasonably priced, other times not. The visuals come from all over and I like to show a little bit of everything.

If you didn’t like those ideas of color blocking, perhaps some pictures from stores you are used to shopping will give you a little different idea. Right now you can put Color Block in the search box of any major store and a number of designs will pop up.

From Nordstrom

         Caslon                                           Vince Camuto

           Eliza J                                             Bailey 44    

White House Black Market

What do I think? I’m not sure what I will choose if anything. I do like many of the color block styles. I like the way bold solid colors are mixed together. I like the fun patterns that created with creative color blocking. I think that many of the styles I have shown are extremely flattering–particularly the dresses.

Dark colors minimize. Color blocking can work to your advantage if you want to minimize a certain body part. The band of white around the Vince Camuto dress creates a more defined waistline just by varying the blocks of color. As one reader pointed out, this style is a great way to transition into pattern if that just isn’t your thing.

Perhaps this trend isn’t for you. You do not have to try every new trend that is out there.

What do you think? Will you give it a try this spring?

Faux fur started making a comeback last season. I bought a fur vest and a leopard shrug from Cabi. I love both of them. This year fur is everywhere. I think it’s a nice option for a holiday outfit if you do not like sparkle. It can be a little dressy or worn with jeans. Fur can be very classy or it can add a little “edge”. It crosses the age groups and can be great if your twenty something or seventy!

As you can see from all the different photos below, you can go all out or add it in small increments. Are you a fan of fur? If so, would you choose a jacket, vest or shrug, or start small with fur trimmed gloves or a fur collar?

(all selections are from Nordstrom.com)

So let’s hear it for fur. What would you choose?

Recently I received a Land’s End catalog in the mail. I ordered from Land’s End frequently in the ’90s. As I’ve said before, my style and tastes have changed the last decade. I got out of the habit of ordering. The catalogs stopped arriving and Land’s End was not on my shopping radar.

I have always appreciated the superb quality and excellent customer service they provided. From coats to luggage, Land’s End features some amazing products and are known for their classic styles and reasonable prices.

As I thumbed through their catalog, the Ponte Knit selections caught my eye and I just had to share! I liked the way they described this awesome fabric I’ve written about previously.

“Get the Ponte…the knit that stands, sits and moves all day long and looks great doing it”  and “Ponte combines the polish of a woven with the comfort of a knit. In short, it’s pretty much the perfect fabric.” Thanks Land’s End for saying it so well!

While I did not care for every piece and how they styled it online (more appealing in the catalog), here are my favorites I thought worth mentioning.

Above: the Demi Boot Cut. I always like a good tweed pattern when I see it.  It’s an easy way to “pattern mix” because a tweed is really just a more interesting solid.

Herringbone skirt

Are you a Land’s End fan? Check out their site this weekend and receive 30% off your order through the 28th. (plus free shipping)

Last chance to enter the Hairstyle Giveaway: Deadline is Nov 26th at 9 pm PST

Don’t forget to enter the Zumba Giveaway! You have until 9 pm PST tonight. It’s one of the most generous giveaways I’ve featured. Go for it.

I enjoy blogging. I wasn’t sure I would. I’m slowly learning to be more succinct in my thoughts. That part isn’t easy. I feel like the topics I choose require a great deal of explaining. I might be better suited for writing magazine articles.

Instead I’ve chosen to blog–because I can–the same sentiment as umpteen other bloggers out there. Isn’t it hard to believe that it wasn’t that many years ago when none of us even knew what a blog was? Chances are you have several friends blogging on various topics. It’s a lot of reading material. This means I have my work cut out for me trying to make my blog different than the others out there.

You may wonder where I get all the ideas. I never seem to be short on information and have plenty to say. In fact I have lists. I get behind. My ideas far outweigh the time I can spend blogging. Sometimes I have giveaways or guest posts lined up and they have to be delayed. I can write a rough draft in no time flat. Proofreading and adding photos takes the time. And then there are weeks I don’t feel like blogging!

I can remember the first posts I wrote and I must have read them over a dozen times. (I hate to see errors in print) Thank goodness I have a friend who helps me proofread. It’s hard to get it perfect. I’m sure there are still errors we both miss.

My best ideas come from clients and the questions they have when I work with them. Women who come into the boutique also give me ideas. And then I hear from readers. A post about swimsuits last year, what to wear to a wedding (coming up) are questions that readers have presented to me.

It is fun hearing from readers. Recently some have told me they feel like they don’t want to be always the same person commenting. Some of us have opinions on most everything. I seem to! Many blogs have their “regulars” and that’s OK.

I also heard recently that readers were embarrassed to enter every giveaway. Honestly, don’t worry. Random.org takes care of it. If the same person wins twice in a row, I’d choose someone else. I thought I’d share. Perhaps more of you feel the same way.

Please keep the ideas coming. Contact me with any questions or suggestions!

I’ve said it before. Blogging can be lonely. Your comments keep me going. I know you might not have something to say each time. I get behind reading blogs, and I just have to delete them and catch up another time. I really do understand when at times things will go silent.

And finally, one of the best ways you can help me is by forwarding a post to a friend.

What’s coming up this summer? I plan to do a shorter post on Tuesday or Wednesday with the the theme: ‘Things I love”. On Friday or Saturday I’ll have a longer post with more explanation. Over to you… what would you like to hear about this summer?

Coming Friday: Self Tanners

I want to wish all the moms who are reading a wonderful Mother’s Day. I hope you have a lovely day. I hope your family gives you the day you so richly deserve!

I thought about what I would write this day that would be different than last year’s post.  Network TV is allowed to do re-runs and so I think bloggers are allowed too. Mother’s Day Tribute is a repeat from last year.

This year my family is taking me out for lunch at an undisclosed location. It’s always a surprise. When my kids were born we started a tradition. One of the gifts I received every Mother’s Day was a rose bush. I loved looking at them all summer and fall. We added a few to the collection each year. When we moved to a new house I was sad not to be able to take them. The last years I’ve asked for hanging baskets for the porch and pots of annuals that really add color this time of year. Well we’ve had such a cool and rainy spring that I haven’t been motivated to start looking or think about flowers. We often go to the nursery on Mother’s Day to pick out some things. This year my husband looked at the forecast and took advantage early and bought the baskets. The other things will have to wait as it’s raining off /on again today.

We caught 2 quick photos before church in between drips. My college boy arrives home this coming week and soon we’ll be  family of 4 again!

Happy Mother’s Day everyone!