Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Today I have some treats for you.

Really, these treats are more reasons for you to make fun of me so please watch and read on.

I mean, in this post I am featuring pictures from childhood Halloweens. Annnd I made a vlog. I sure hope I'm making my new Followers feel welcome!

First up, let's rip off the band aid and get to the vlog. I'm linking up with Erin and Ashley for their fun theme: 

The Girl Behind The Blog- Show and Tell

Time limit: Vlogs should be 2-3 minutes long

Introduce yourself and your blog

Share with the rest of us: What are 3 items you couldn't get through the day without?

 Not gonna lie, I'm a little nervous to share this with you! It's very short, so please watch...or just keep scrolling on to the pictures!

Second, my parents had fun going through old pictures and sent me some from my earlier years. 

I just had to do a Way Back {When}sday post with Rachel from Can't Google Everything for these memories frozen in time.

First up is my princess costume...or at least I think it's a princess costume judging by the tiara. However, the outfit suggests I'm about to bake a pie with help from my Barbie.

Second, my ballerina costume. I never took a dance lesson but I NEEDED a tutu. 

I guess I also needed to wear it mid-torso.

Next up is one of my favorites, a family picture. Hello, my name is Mary, and I was a little lamb.

I loved my lamb costume (apparently my brother did NOT like his), but I think my favorite has to be this gem:

I couldn't even stop eating candy long enough to take a picture. At least I struck a pose mid-chew.

So there you go, awkwardness through the years.

Speaking of awkward (as if I could avoid it), 6 of my co-workers and I are dressing as an awkward family photo at our work party later this afternoon. I'm pretty pumped!

Well, I hope I didn't turn away too many of you after this post! Please leave a comment and tell me about yourself, especially my new Readers! Do you have three things you can't live without...or can't avoid throughout your day? Any favorite Halloween costumes to share?

Little Bit of Class Tuesday

Hello and Happy Tuesday! 

First of all, my thoughts and prayers right now go out to anyone affected by Hurricane Sandy. 

The pictures and stories are all pretty unbelievable. 

Please be safe!

Second, I have a question for all of you. You see, every Tuesday I post pictures of what I think is classy, from home decor to fashion to icons.

But what I want to know is: what do you think makes something or someone classy?

Is it in what people wear?

 

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

 

Is it the photos they take and the places they've been?

 

 

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

 

 

Maybe it's the yummy treats they bake and the parties they throw?

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

 

The promises they make?

1 | 2

How they style their home?

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

 

Hmmm...I get it...

...but do you think maybe it's in how people treat others?

 

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

 

 

What do you think? How do you keep it classy?

 

I may focus more on manners, etiquette and volunteering on Tuesdays...while mixing in some pearls and sparkles (obviously).

 

Weekend Update

{Leeann, Dana, Sami}

Another fun weekend in the books!

Friday night I went to Maureen's Birthday party. This girl can bake, folks.
I mean, she put whiskey in her cupcakes. Mind. Blown.

 That's four Otterbein gals in one room...in Chicago! #neverhappens

It was so much fun hanging out with friends from Ohio. Happy Birthday, Maureen!!

Saturday I was a busy bee. I cleaned the apartment, did all of the laundry, and put together my free Halloween costume, all before partying at Daniela's fun soiree.

 

I enjoyed being 50 Shades of Grey! Other party-goers got a little chuckle when they realized what I was. I luckily have a paint store in my neighborhood, so this took absolutely no time to put together. Since I went literal with my costume, rest assured that I counted 50 color cards in various hues and pinned 25 on the front and 25 on the back. Go big or go home, amIright?

The double-braided headband was a first for me. I saw a quick tutorial on Allie's blog and had to give it a whirl. It kept my bangs out of my face while I danced so I chalk that up to a successful 'do.

Sunday was nice and lazy, with Mass, brunch, and football (aka the best way to spend a Sunday)!

I also found out that I have over 100 GFC Followers now?!?! That's amazing! Thank you! There is a giveaway in the works to celebrate!

How was your weekend?? Did you participate in any Halloween activities?

Enter the Giveaway!

{via}

Happy Sunday, friends! Go check out the giveaway on Living in Yellow today.  TWENTY-EIGHT prizes for the winner!!!   (I may or may not have contributed, too)   Have fun and Go Steelers! :)

Friday's Fancies: A Night on the River

{via}

Happy Friday, party people!

Today I have plenty of pictures for you.

First of all, I have to congratulate {av} from long distance loving. She started her Friday's Fancies theme 100 weeks ago and it is still going strong! Happy 100th, av!

Friday's Fancies 100th by mkrulia featuring diamond jewelry

I picked a sparkly outfit for today's 100th link-up. While the dress is wallet-friendly, the luxe earrings, the deliciously sassy Vivienne Westwood clutch, and the divine Kate Spade shoes are certainly not.
Oh well!


Second, I have to share pictures from the boat cruise last night! Our friend got a Groupon for a BYOB night river cruise on the Chicago River. The weather conditions were not ideal, but the good thing about Chicago is that rain or shine, this skyline is always photogenic!

Our boat was enclosed, so our fun group stayed warm and dry, sipping brews and eating yummy treats. My favorite part was the music: Andrew played some Rat Pack and jazzy tunes that went perfectly with the rain patting down on the roof of the boat. No one else was on the river, either, so it was like the river and cruise were just for us!

And what a pretty sight!

I definitely recommend a night boat tour if you have the chance. It was only $12/person in our 9-person group with a Groupon!

Enjoy your weekend and go check out the other party outfits at long distance loving today!

Little Bit of Sass Thursday

Gosh I love Thursdays. One more day closer to the weekend and I get to post pictures. Win-win, no?

Let's start off with the girlie before the funny:

Source: beautylish.com via Mary on Pinterest

If I had the patience, I would absolutely do this.

Source: gage-joelle.polyvore.com via Mary on Pinterest

Hello, my pretties.

Source: ricketyrack.com via Mary on Pinterest

Sparkles on a LBD? That's the essence of my blog title, don't you think?


And now for the funny portion of this sassy day:

Source: Uploaded by user via Mary on Pinterest

So true. Awful font.

Source: dailydawdle.com via Mary on Pinterest

Good gravy I love cheeky puns.

Source: fhm.nl via Mary on Pinterest

I don't know, dude. You sure seem like you did in Madagascar, and we all know that Dreamworks don't lie.

Source: quickmeme.com via Mary on Pinterest

Yeah!

Source: 24.media.tumblr.com via Mary on Pinterest

Yes, but we'll never forget you.

OK, OK, the last two I promise:

Source: 3.bp.blogspot.com via Mary on Pinterest

Source: t-le.tumblr.com via Mary on Pinterest

Teehee!

Holy Heat Wave, Chicago!

Well I can't believe my bare legs! 

It's October 24 and the high is 75? What is happening?? 

Not that I mind. As I alluded to above, I am parading my paleness today by wearing a skirt sans tights and boots. 

It wil be normal Chi-town weather by the weekend, but in the meantime I plan to soak up as much Vitamin D as possible. This will certainly be the last heat wave until the spring. (Wah.)

These beauties will have to wait a couple days.

Last weekend Andrew and I ventured to the burbs to Nordstrom and then to see Argo. It's nice to go for a drive outside the city! While at Nordstrom I tried on different boots in an array of price points. Nothing compares to the leather on the Frye boots. Nothing. This style (The Melissa Trapunto boot) was on sale so they had to ship me this color (Saddle) in the size I needed. I love Nordstom's customer service! The stylist who helped me was very knowledgable about all of the boots I tried on and listened to me when I told her what I needed: flat and durable since I walk to work, comfy, stylish without looking too masculine, versatile enough so I can dress them up or down, and a cognac color. She did push the Frye's more than the others, but that's understandable. She also offered to have me come back in once the boots arrived and she would personally stretch them so they fit perfectly. I don't need to take her up on the offer, but I appreciated it nonetheless.

FYI, I had to go up half a size. I also used two gift cards to help with the purchase since this gal certainly can't afford Frye's at the regular price. Thankfully these will (supposedly) last years, so I look forward to not having to boot shop every year. I decided that I would pay extra for the quality, but after the sale and the gift cards I paid less than what I would have paid for the other boots I tried. I also bought the Frye leather treatment so they continue to look lovely for years to come.

Well that about does it for me. Enjoy the heat!

Little Bit of Class Tuesday

Well hello!

I went on a pinning frenzy last night. Fit and flare are my two new favorite words. 

Source: poshandpoised.com via Mary on Pinterest

Source: fashionworship.com via Mary on Pinterest

Source: gabbagabbagorg.tumblr.com via Mary on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Mary on Pinterest

Source: jonesandjonesfashion.com via Mary on Pinterest

Source: us.asos.com via Mary on Pinterest

Basically, these pins should tell you that if you give me stripes and sparkles I will give you every reason in the book to have them in your closet.

Weekend Update

 (Linking up with Leeann, Dana, and Sami!)

Hi there!

I hope all of you enjoyed your weekend! Mine was busy and full of fun!

First of all, Thursday I went to not one, but TWO Bring Your Own Pumpkin parties!

 

The top two are from my co-worker party, where EJ and I carved a super cute bow to a girlie Jack-O-Lantern. The bottom two are from the second party of the evening, where I impatiently carved "eek!" into a pumpkin. It was the first and last time that I will ever take that much time on a pumpkin. 

On Friday I volunteered at a Bright Pink event. Have you heard of the organization? It's really incredible! As they say on the website, "Bright Pink is the only national non-profit focusing on the risk reduction and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer in young women while providing support for high-risk individuals." The founder, Lindsay, has done some amazing things since Bright Pink began 6 years ago, and I am very proud to volunteer for such a positive and inspiring organization. 

On Friday night Bright Pink hosted VIPink at Saks Fifth Avenue. The event spanned three floors with delicious food and drinks from generous sponsors and fun activities like a "pink" carpet step & repeat, a photo booth, and a make-up artist giving guests pink lips. There was even a fashion show with gorgeous Saks items. 

 

My job was supervising the photo booth craziness and guiding guests off the runway during the fashion show. Not gonna lie, it was so much fun that it didn't feel like a volunteer job. The guests had a blast and I sure had a great time meeting other volunteers and the amazing Bright Pink staff. I can't wait to help out at other events!

On Saturday Andrew and I had fun at our new favorite breakfast spot, Johnny's Snack Shop on Halsted. I walk by it every day and we finally popped in for the most delicious breakfast! Saturday night we met up with friends at Aberdeen Tap, another new bar for us! 

Sunday I wasn't feeling too well, so it was very low-key with sports and cooking...and a little Google Hangout where we all had pillow heads:

Now it's time to enjoy another week! How was your weekend?