Spring Break and Some Spring Style!

Whew! It has been a solid two week spring break for us over here at TMS! We took some much needed time off to rest and rejuvenate. Holly is of course still spending all of her time with her new, precious twin baby boys! If you want a little peek, click here!

Well we are back to the real world and in the real world it is officially Spring! Where we live spring is often an enigma. Sometimes it shows up and sometimes we simply jump from winter to summer. Spring is a tough season fashion wise because you are in a very in-between temperature time where it is not warm enough to bust out capris, tanks, and sandals, yet it's too warm for all the comfy, cozy layers of winter. I find myself transitioning into spring with color, texture, and (gasp) revealing my pasty white legs one tiny inch at a time in a few cropped pants and rolled skinnies. Here are three spring trends I plan to jump on pronto! Join me in saying hello to spring and goodbye (good riddance!) to winter with these three trends.

1. Color: Radiant Orchid
This is Pantone's 2014 color of the year! It really is a stunning hue and will lift your spirit and your style this spring! Try starting with just a pop of the color and move your way up to a top or sweater in this delicious hue! I even just bought a gorgeous nail color in this shade!

Radiant Orchid Spring by embellishedangel featuring Phase Eight

2. Texture: All Over Lace
Lace is such a fabulous feminine touch for spring. I am a huge fan of lace no matter the season but it really fits perfectly in spring. Try finding a wardrobe piece that is ALL OVER lace for a big wow effect. Also, try a lace piece in a bold, spring hue.

Lace Spring Trend by embellishedangel featuring a blue shirt

3. Length: Cropped pants and rolled jeans
This is the perfect trend for spring. It allows you to show a little bit of leg while still keeping warm on cool spring days. The length you are looking for is just above the ankle--showing a teeny bit of calf. Old Navy has a new line of pants called the Pixie that are perfect for this look.  Cropped pants and rolled jeans look adorable with just about any shoe too. I love to pair mine with flats, heels, Sperry's, and tennies. Try and snag a pair or two in a bold spring hue or print. My latest fashion find is a pair of distressed cuffed skinnies that I simply love. They are the cutest thing with flats!

Cropped Pants by embellishedangel featuring skinny pants

Inspiration for an OOTD!

One of my favorite fashion blogs (and one of the reasons I started my own) is J's Everyday Fashion. The best part of her blog and the foundation behind nearly every post is an inspiration photo. She must scour fashion catalogs and magazines for hours for these photos! Does she have a stock pile? I would love to know her process! Magically, she then pulls items she already owns and puts together an outfit eerily similar to the inspiration photo. There are times when instead of creating the exact outfit in the inspiration photo, she simply tries to replicate the color scheme or pattern. I have always marveled at her ability to do this.

One of my favorite places to go for inspiration (as crazy as it sounds--I don't subscribe to really any fashion mags or catalogs) is Polyvore and of course, Pinterest. Polyvore is an account based site where you can build outfits using fashion pieces they provide. We have all probably pinned these "body-less" outfits that we wish would just magically appear in our closets. I have found myself in a winter clothes rut the last few weeks and have been relying heavily on outfits I have pinned from Polyvore. I'm telling ya--they have come through when I am desperate for some outfit inspiration. The plan is to share a few of these with all of you!

Here is a super simple look that looks super pulled together. I love combining black and brown (which a few of you are still afraid to do...bah!--get over it!!) I boycotted our endless winter and showed some pretty white knees but stayed warm with some cozy boot socks. I tried to stick very close to the inspiration photo using items from my own closet. Sometimes the best part of this process is getting to try out a combination or color scheme that you would have NEVER come up with on your own. Go ahead and get some outfit inspiration and re-create the look!

{Shop the Style}

Scarf: Steve Madden at Herberger's

Cardigan: Old Navy

Dress: Ann Taylor Loft

Boot Sox: TJ Maxx

Boots: Steven Madden 

Bloglovin + some bloglovin!

I really do not have an addictive personality at all. Most foods I can take or leave. Definitely not into anything harmful. Rarely binge watch any television shows (except for maybe Downton Abbey...). However, when I find something that I love (or maybe AM addicted to) , like, um hangers, or a beauty product, or an app--I MUST share it and get other people to love it too! Maybe my addiction is getting other people to love what I love. Is that good or bad? (That was a rhetorical question by the way!)

My latest addiction, er, love is an app called Bloglovin. This is by no means a new site but it is new to me and I thought maybe it might be new to some of you too. It's a website but I much prefer the app for its layout and ease. This lovely little app allows me to follow all my favorite blogs from across the interweb and stacks all the latest posts up for me to read and enjoy. It is my new favorite past time to snuggle up with a snack and drink and browse through my Bloglovin goodies. It is so convenient to have all the blogs I follow in one place (very similar to an RSS feed reader like Google Reader for those of you that have used that system). You can "like" posts and they are stored under your profile to visit later. You can also go directly to the blog right from Bloglovin if you want to leave a comment or share a post. Now instead of visiting all of your favorite blogs separately, they are now all lined up in one tidy app. Whoo hoo! Want to sign up? Here's how-

1. Go to bloglovin.com

2. You can either sign up using your Facebook login or with an email. I chose my email and I also get an email each day with my Bloglovin feed.

3. Once you are logged in you need to add blogs to follow. (We would love it if you followed TutorMyStyle!) You can search directly using the titles of blogs you love or you can use their search features. You can search by category or you may search their list of top blogs.

4. Once you have a few (or 30!) blogs that you are following, the new posts of each blog will be in your daily feed.

Get yourself some Bloglovin! 

And here are a few blogs that I follow with some pretty adamant love~ follow them too! 

www.maskcara.com: 
LOADS of hair and beauty tips from an amazing self-made guru

imlovinlit.blogspot.com: 
One of my favorite teacher blogs and sellers on TeachersPayTeachers. She has tons of freebies!

abeautifulmess.com:
A gorgeous home decor, photography, design blog that I drool over on a regular basis. They also have an amazing photography app by the same name

Blah to BAM! ~family style!

This weeks's blah to BAM comes courtesy of my gorgeous niece. She is such a great supporter of this little blog and is always up for trying out our fashion tips. She texted me a few pics asking for a little advice on how to get a dress to work with layers. Honestly, I didn't even give her any tips before she texted me with her BAM! outfit. To say the least I was impressed and not to mention, a little proud. On top of it all, she was willing to let me use her photos for one of these posts. Thanks girl!

 Blah....

This is not a bad start. The dress is a fabulous cobalt blue which is totally on trend. Also, she did what I probably would have done first too--grabbed a blazer to make a summer dress work for winter. However, a few things make this look a bit blah....

1. The blazer is a boyfriend style and therefore has no shape. Her waist is completely lost somewhere in the middle. Never a good thing. 

2. The outfit looks mashed together color wise. This is due in part to the similarity in color tones of the blazer and dress. 

3. Lack of accessories doesn't give our eye anything interesting to rest on. 

Three easy additions to move this from blah to BAM...

WOW. What a difference. She made some super easy and super quick changes and the WHOLE outfit is way better. 

1. Contrasting cardigan: This was a huge change. Adding a cardigan in a much lighter hue than the dress makes the whole outfit pop. Despite the overall new color tone, the outfit appears MORE cohesive than the original. 

2. Belt: Holy moly did the belt MAKE this outfit. She has a waist! A tiny, gorgeous waist! Whoo Hoo! Never underestimate the power of a good cinch at the waist. Well played girl, well played. 

3. Accessories: She added two simple accessories that gave us the perfect focal point. Her necklace is SPOT ON for placement--just above the belt and her bangle bracelets add a air of femininity that I am a sucker for. 

The cognac boots are a perfect winter option for this outfit. I maybe would have even thrown on some gray boot socks too for a little extra warmth, but I live in the frozen tundra so...

Feel free to send us your Blah to BAM photos! We would LOVE to feature them on the blog!! 

Hanger Rant and Rave

RANT:
Part of having a sizable and seasonal wardrobe means having to deal with hangers. No, this is not a first world problem, I get it. However, something as simple as hangers does impact my style choices on a daily basis. Why? I have never really been satisfied with how my clothes hang on your typical white, plastic hanger. There is the problem of slippage. And the problem of hanger bumps (We call them something altogether different that I won't share here. Don't ask). And the problem of closet space with all those clunky hangers. I know for a fact that I am not the only one with such issues. Even clothes manufacturers have tried to solve some of these issues. How about those utterly annoying plastic/ribbon thing-ys they put in the shoulder seams for you to "use" to keep your item on the hanger. I honestly have a love/hate relationship with these things (WHAT are they called anyway?!) I love them when they keep my cardigan on the hanger, but I HATE them when I am wearing the cardigan and trying to keep them from being visible. Ugh. Not really a solution to me. Where am I going with all of this? Well, I decided to make an investment in the hanger department. I have been spending some of my "fashion budget" on a solution to my hanger issues. By buying new hangers. Yep. Velvet/felt hangers. The benefits of this type of hanger?

RAVE!
1. They are coated in a velvety/felty finish and clothes absolutely DO NOT slide, slip, or fall off. Even if you hold the hanger and shake vigorously. Believe me, I've tried. Even tanks and skinny straps....there is a little notch on the ends for even more non-slip for these dainty items.

2. The hangers are able to curve down at the end (because slippage is not an issue) so you do not get those unsightly hanger bumps on the shoulders of your clothes.

3. The hangers are considerably thinner than the cheap plastic ones and cumulatively take up so much less space.

The only "downside?"

These hangers cost a pretty chunk more than conventional plastic hangers. At Target you can get 80 white plastic hangers for $24.99. Target sells a version of the velvet hangers--sold as Huggable hangers--48 hangers for $39.00. I have approached this by buying a set of hangers each month and slowly turning my closet over to these types a bit at a time. I have also found a set of 30 for $9.99 at Walmart and a set of 25 for $12.99 at TJ Maxx. Slowly but surely I am reaping the benefits listed above and am a hanger convert! Just wanted to spread a little hanger love with you all!

Walmart

Target

Overstock

Beauty Bite {Brush Cleaning}

Not so long ago I recommended a Sigma brush for applying liquid foundation. Check the post out here if you haven't read it yet. I have even since purchased another Sigma brush for my concealer that I love as well. I still adore both the brushes but have been experiencing a strained relationship with them since I discovered how often they needed to be cleaned. I used to be a sponge applicator user for my foundation and rarely...if ever... cleaned my sponges. Once mine got gucky I would simply toss it and get a new one. One can afford to do this because sponges are cheap-o. However, I much prefer the application and finish of the F80 flat brush...and I cannot simply toss it when it gets gucky....So....I had to find a way to clean it and maintain its ability to create a flawless finish. Let me walk you through my discovery process and reward you at the end with the ultimate process I now use and adore. You're welcome for saving you tons of time trying to find the right method. Go ahead and skip to the end if you would like.

First off, my brushes BEFORE cleaning. This is what they would look like after one week of daily use. 

At this point they are pretty much useless for foundation application. The bristles are full with product and will just leave streaks at this point. In the end it IS better to wash your brushes each week. This will prevent bacteria from festering and growing...and then be given a free ride all over your face. 

1. The first thing I tried was olive oil and Dawn dish soap. This had so-so results. However, to get the so-so results I had to work so, so hard swirling and scrubbing to get the makeup to break down and leave the bristles. It was exhausting. I kept thinking I'd rather have acne. (Not really, but you know what I mean). 

2. The next thing I tried was based on a tutorial I found on line. This gal had you soak your brush in a small amount of rubbing alcohol which would help break the makeup down. Then she had you use the palm of your hand with some Dawn dish soap and keep swirling until the suds ran out and the water ran clear. This process actually worked SO WELL. My brushes looked and felt amazing. However, I felt like after each wash the bristles were becoming dryer and dryer and starting to fray out. I was not too happy. So I asked the lady at Sigma and she said....

3. To use baby shampoo and the brush cleaning mitt they sell at Sigma (for $35.00!). I said no to the mitt but was willing to try the baby shampoo. This method really did not work at all. Liquid foundation is very stubborn and I was back to scrubbing and swirling with little result...a la number one. Nope. 

So...I spent some quality time with my good friend Google and came up with the method I have stuck with and love the results. 

4. Dr. Bronner's Castille Soap--I know...I had never heard of it either. Target carries it in their Burt's Bees, Say Yes to Carrots section in the beauty aisles. This is an all natural soap that can be used for pretty much anything. Laundry, face, hair...etc. I soaked my brushes in the soap for about 10 minutes. I then did the swirling/scrubbing in the palm of my hand method for about 5 minutes. It all took minimal work and time and the result was similar to the drying alcohol. Bonus--the soap smells like peppermint! I have used this method many times now and really think I have found the one I will stick with. Side note--always dry your brushes bristles down so water does not leak back into the fennel and mess with the glue. Also--there is a difference between synthetic brushes (which my Sigma ones ARE) and natural goat hair brushes. Make sure to check your brushes before you wash them. 

AFTER:

Let me know if you have another method I should try! Or try this method and let me know what you think! 

Clearance find [OOTD}

There's nothing like rushing through Target trying to snag a last minute supply for homemade valentine's when a cute little dress catches your eye. Even better when you go check it out and it is on clearance for $11.48! I have always wanted to get my hands on a striped dress after seeing a post on Putting Me Together on how she styles hers....and then to snag one on Target clearance?! Get out! It has the cutest details too--cuffed sleeves, a zipper on the right shoulder, and a scalloped hem. It came in burgundy and navy as well. I've worn this beauty three times since then and have styled it several different ways and it is pretty much a no fail. I love mixing the black and brown together as well. Now I must be on a search for a lightweight version for spring and summer!

{Shop the Style}

Sweater: Target

Dress: Target

Tights: Target

Boots: Steve Madden

Necklace: Charlotte Russe