luck of the irish

top o' the morning to ya!!

happy st. patrick's day ya'll!!

seeing as i'm only the tiniest of tiny smidgens irish, i'm only giving you a smidgen of green.

partly because i don't own anything kelly green and mostly because this day snuck upon me and i was not fully prepared with a head to toe leprechaun look.

i DO own a pile of army/olive green and while it's not a shade designated for st patty's only, it's serving its purpose for today.

 i love love love these shorts!!

they are my new favorite "dolphin" fit, which is basically like a dressed up track short.

the faux leather waistband and pocket trim give a little touch of luxe and add the "expensive" factor to an otherwise cheap pair of shorts (im talkin 17 bucks from F21!)

i paired it with this leopard print blouse to dress it up an extra notch and slung on my favorite ivory blazer (also from Forever 21) to lighten the look.

when putting together outfits, i don't really believe in matching, i like to coordinate, so for me, its all about the details.  

the waist on the shorts, the zippers on the blazer, the sparkle in my heal; they are the touches that matter in pulling together a polished look.

what's your process in dressing??  do you start with 1 feature piece and work from there??

"luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity" 

ALL IMAGES MARIE RODRIGUEZ

armstrong blouse StyleMint // ivory blazer Forever 21 similar here and here // olive shorts Forever 21 similar here and here // eileen heels ShoeMint also love Bovary and Giselle // cross-body bag Rachel Rachel Roy // sunnies Forever 21 love these // leather wrap Stella & Dot // watch Michael Kors // bangles Alex and Ani // midi rings BaubleBar

cobalt, coral and a chihuahua named astro

ok, so a couple of super exciting things are happening in today's post!

the first is a bit hard to miss, his name is Astro!!

this little cutie is a 2 year old chihuahua with lots of love to share!!

he smothered me kisses and accessorized my look with perfection, right down to the coordinated collar and leash

he is currently available for adoption from Peanut's Place

click here to go directly to his page, and check out his buddies here!

Peanut's Place is a small breed rescue based in Matthews, NC and they strive to provide the best possible home for every pup!!  

be sure to check out their site www.peanutsplacerescue.org and like them on facebook!

the second great thing about today's look, is it is super duper affordable!!!

literally the whole look is under $50!!

whether it's a day at the office or sittin' in on Sunday's sermon, this look is chic and sophisticated and fresh and fun!!

you know by now how i scour and hunt for the best deals in town, but i really scored big this time.

the sweater was a steal at Kohl's for $5!!  no typo there, it actually rang in at 4.80.

gotta love a sale rack on coupon day!!

the skirt was also a steal at a mere $7, again on a discount day

and the heels and necklace are Mint purchases in which i used my points

you can still snatch the whole look by clicking on the links below

if you love  good sale as much as i do, be sure to swing in the GAP this weekend!!  

the entire store is 30% off (including sale items) and i just scored some pretty sweet blazers for under $20!!

"kindness in words create confidence.  kindness in thinking create profoundness.  kindness in giving creates love." 

cable knit sweater Kohls // electric leopard pencil skirt Forever 21 // eileen heel ShoeMint updated version here and classic here // style warrior necklace JewelMint // gold clutch Vintage love this // cobalt leather wrap (old) similar here // silver leather wrap styleXchange 

on Astro: harness and leash both available at PetSmart

almost famous

i'm forever inspired by penny lane and the "band-aids"

i could probably pin point that as the moment i fell in love with all things "bohemian"

its a world where massive furs, colorful silk prints, and piled on jewelry collide (hello!!)

throw on some sunnies, rustle your bed head and call it a day

there are definite variances to the bohemian style

there is full on hippie boho; we're talkin' bell bottoms and head scarves

or hippie chic; which is a more polished look, think kimono and skinny jeans

i would consider my style more rocker boho with a trendy/chic influence

this look definitely embodies everything i love about fashion

i'm channeling the 60's with my hair and fur while rocking a 70's band and adding some sex appeal with a skin tight midi skirt and stiletto heals

you can only get away with that combo in fashion and that's why i live for it!!

"if you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun"

ALL IMAGES MARIE RODRIGUEZ

acdc muscle tee Forever 21 in store // faux leopard fur (old) similar here and here // maroon midi skirt Forever 21 // "eileen" heels ShoeMint // clutch vintage // knotted necklace TJMaxx // watch Micheal Kors similar here // spiked leather wrap Bauble Bar // "strappy hour" bracelet Jewelmint // bangles Alex and Ani // spike midi ring F21 // 6 ring spike Monkees

freezing in faux fur

you know that 1 piece in your closet that just makes you smile?

this is faur fur vest is mine!

i have probably only worn it a half a dozen times, but every time i do, it makes me extremely happy!

and while i must admit, i paid a pretty penny for this show-stopper (im usually uber frugal when it comes to clothing), it felt good to splurge on myself for just this once!

 it is such an overpowering mass of fur, so i paired it with these white shorts and simple blouse to really showcase its beauty

i'm really loving the dolphin shorts trend for summer!  especially in leather like this pair.  they're super comfortable, slightly sporty, and a welcome change up from my cutoffs (not that i wont be rocking "jorts" like everyday all day come summer)

my topknot was inevitable, mostly because of the rain, but also because the collar make this a definite "hair up" look

thank goodness for my bangs, they kept it looking fairly chic

"Happiness is a habit, cultivate it"

xoxo,

Tara Belle

 
ALL IMAGES MARIE RODRIGUEZ

blouse Rock & Republic similar here, faux fur vest Alice + Olivia similar here and here, faux leather shorts styleXchange, "eileen" heels Shoemint, earrings Jewelmint (old), bag Maurizio Taiuti tjmaxx aviators Marc New York