Closet organization!

If any of you know me personally (most of you probably don't), you would know that I'm the least organized person. Well, in the general public's opinion, maybe. But not mine - I see it as "organized chaos." I was an art major. I'm a creative person, a free spirit. I'm just flat out NOT GOOD at keeping things neat, straight, organized, etc. although it often makes me feel better when things are that way. Make sense? So, I've spent a reasonable amount of time in my closet (and to those of you snickering to yourselves remembering the time I passed out IN my closet after one too many painkillers - the drink, not the pills) trying to make sense of things. So, here goes:

First things first - shoes. Why? Because, let's be honest, in my world, they're the most important part of one's outfit. So here are many of my shoes, as many as I can cram in my closet, and as organized as I can get them.

Some of the "best" in their boxes: Prada, Chanel, Stuart Weitzman, Hollywould, Brian Atwood, etc.

I keep all of my flip flops, organized by color, in a basket on the shelf.

Winter boots, up on the top shelf, until they are needed again.

Tops, organized by color.

Denim!!

Dresses, pants, shorts, skirts...

Gym gear - as a personal trainer and a gym rat, it's important to have these easily accessible. Here they are on my lowest shelf, organized by long yoga pants, cropped pants, sports bras and shorts. Notice how small the stacks are? I really need to do laundry.

So that's that. Pretty much. I'm trying! And I enjoy the more "organized" closet - I have closet envy of those that use all the same color hangers and all their clothing hangs nicely in a row, not a sleeve out of place, but this is as close as I get to that. For now.

Sidewalk Sale!

Sigh. I love them. Especially because my favorite local boutiques do not have them frequently and although I love fashion and clothing, I'm not made of money! I went to Clodhopper's a few weeks ago and was overwhelmed with choices. Usually all the smaller sizes are gone and I don't have much to choose from...that's why getting there early the day it starts pays off!

I purchased a Lauren Moffat dress that is just to die for. I love the open back, the detail ruffling on the belt, and just the overall feminine feel of the dress. I paired it with some yellow Jessica Simpson slingbacks to give it a little color contrast.

Here is a photo of me in the dress:

and these are the shoes I wore with it (so mad I don't have a full length picture! or a picture of the back!):

I also lucked out and got a gorgeous green silk Robert Rodriguez top - I don't have any photos wearing it yet, but this is it:

I love this. And the chain comes off, so once all the hardware/chain type fashions go out, I still have a beautiful green silk top.

And finally, new shoes. I found these originally last year (gasp! last season shoes??) and I loved them, but never got around to purchasing and shortly thereafter forgot about them entirely as I have the attention span of a fly. But, while shopping around DSW this weekend, they called to me from the sale room. You know what they said? "Samantha, you have to buy us! We used to be $150, but then we were marked down to $89.95. And now? We're 70% off of that." So, yeah. I snagged these bad boys for under $27.

long time, NO BLOG

So sorry - real life got in the way.

On June 13, I lost my 5 year old English bulldog, Gus, unexpectedly. Probably one of the harder days of my life up to this point. To compound the loss, I was in Las Vegas. Not the phone call one looks forward to receiving at 6:15 a.m. while on vacation.

Sweetest boy ever. My time with him was way too short. We rescued him at just 2 years of age and he passed at 5 1/2...I had the honor of calling him mine for three short years. I'm a huge animal lover, so much so that I can't even go in to the pet store to purchase dog food because I'll come home with every animal in there. This was my first pet loss as an adult, and I have to tell you, it was hard. I don't have children yet - these are my babies. I miss him so much.

However, I took this as a chance to bring another bullie in to my life. This time, a baby - I brought Piglet (AKA Piggy, Miss P, Piggy Poo and a myriad of other names) home at just eight weeks. She's now almost 12 weeks and so precious. She certainly doesn't replace the Gus Man, but I have a new place in my heart for her. And she's entertaining my other pup, Phoebe, to say the least.

Meet Piglet:

I'll be posting more this week - as you know my shopping addiction hasn't slowed. And I've certainly had my fair share of some ridiculous bargains as of late. TTFN.

Kristen Stewart

I'm sure most of you have heard of Kristen Stewart by now, considering you can't turn on the tv without seeineg a preview for Twilight: Eclipse. The Twilight series - both book and movie - has taken the world by storm and in doing so, put the spotlight on a little known actress Kristen Stewart. Sure, she's awkward in interviews and hates the attention. But I will say from what I've seen for the current press junket, she's gotten much more comfortable in her skin. She's a great actress, a beautiful woman and seems completely humbled by all of this. She had the haircut heard round the world last year when filming the Joan Jett movie, The Runaways, but it's finally grown out and she recently died it red for her latest film, On The Road. I'm loving all of her fashion choices as of late, she's looking FAB. She has the perfect mix of rocker/bad ass edge with femininity. Her personality comes through in every choice...I feel at just 20 years old, Kristen has already found herself. Here are a few favs:

Clockwise from top left:
1. It all started at the first Twilight premiere: Balenciaga dress, Christian Louboutin shoes
2. Oscars 2010, Monique Lhuillier dress
3. Adventureland premiere: Herve Leger by Max Azria dress
4. New Moon press junket, J. Mendel dress, Sergio Rossi peep toe pumps
5. 2010 MTV VMAs, Dolce & Gabbana dress
6. Runaways premiers/SXSW Film Festival, Jasmine de Milo leather dress
7. Love Ranch premiere, Azarro bandage dress, Sergio Rossi pumps
8. New Moon screening, Jason Wu dress, Sergio Rossi pumps

Clockwise from top left:
1. Eclipse premiere, Elie Saab dress, Christian Louboutin pumps
2. Jimmy Kimmel show, Herve Leger by Max Azria dress, Brian Atwood pumps
3. Letterman show, Herve Leger dress, Brian Atwood pumps
4. Eclipse press junket, Marchesa dress, Roger Vivier shoes
5. Eclipse press junket, Prabal Gurung dress
6. Eclipse press junket, J. Mendel dress, Jimmy Choo peep toes
7. Eclipse press junket, Versace dress, Camilla Skovgaard peeop toe booties

And my favorite hairstyle/color thus far:

Eclipse screening, Rouland Mouret dress

In Honor of the World Cup

I know I just blogged about her around six weeks ago, but in honor of the World Cup (even though poor Becks is out with an injury), let's focus on my favorite soccer wife, Victoria Beckham. I have loved her since the days of the Spice Girls. I think she's witty, funny, chic, beautiful, stylish - you name it.

I love the way she is dressed to the nines almost all the time (even while traveling with three boys), but even when she's not? She still looks amazing in jeans and a tank. In her own words, she's "major."

I wish they could have continued their reality show - Coming to America. I got to see a completely different side of her on that show, and I would have loved to have seen more.

On the way we perceive her:

"I think they have this impression that I'm this miserable cow who doesn't smile. But I'm actually quite the opposite....I'm going to try and smile more for America." on her signature pout, to W Magazine

On the sex-on-a-stick that is her husband:
"He does have a huge on, though. He does. You can see it in the advert. It is all his. It is like a tractor exhaust pipe!" on hubby David Beckham's assets, on display in his Armani underwear ads, to Britain's The Sun

On being a mom:
"Three boys. I think it's less about parenting now for me and more about crowd control." to Ellen DeGeneres when speaking about Brooklyn (11), Romeo (7), and Cruz (5)

And now for my obligatory fav VB pics:

The Biel Deal

Jessica Biel has never been one of my favorite actresses. Actually, I'm not sure I've ever seen anything she's been in, honestly. She also never stuck out as a fashionista to me, or someone I paid attention to...until now. Sure, she dates Justin Timberlake. I could take him or leave him. And she has a bangin' body - always has. As a personal trainer, I definitely noticed that.

But lately, Biel has impressed me with her fashion choices. She's really come in to her own, and is so...glam. And gorgeous. And has such an air of confidence about her. The woman climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, for crying out loud! I'm not the only one who has noticed - the ladies over at Who What Wear Daily have noticed, too, per their e-mail today.

Whether she is rocking a white dress with black lace by Emilio Pucci or a black and white Giambatista Valli dress, she looks AH-mazing and event-appropriate (The A-Team premiere for the former, MTV VMAs in the latter). Her hair looks amazing in every shot and her choice of romantic colors and clothing accentuates her beauty. I'm a huge fan.

Love is in the air...

One of my long-time, closest friends got married this weekend. As a part of the wedding party, it's been a year full of festivities from engagement parties, bachelorette parties, showers, cocktails, drinks, gifts, etc. There's just something to be said for standing up for one of your girlfriends when you know she's making the right decision, you can feel the love between the two of them capture the entire room...it's inspiring. And refreshing.

Now in all honesty, I was apprehensive about being a part of this wedding. I didn't know the other girls very well and I wasn't close with many of the groom's friends, either. BUT - I was pleasantly surprised. I had a blast. From hanging out in an alley in our matching robes for photos, to getting ready together as a group, the bottles of Veuve Cliquot that flowed freely - it was one of the best days I've had in awhile. It was the quintessential Southern wedding - mint iced tea, shrimp and grits, hot browns, bourbon balls...all things I love about where I live. It was also exciting because it was the first time I had designed the invitations for an event I was to attend - always fun.

Here are some photos from the event:

The bridesmaids and the bride at the Bridesmaid Luncheon held at Churchill Downs.

Me and the Bride

Some of the Bridesmaids

Champagne!

And....this is what happens when there is an open bar and old time photo booth involved: