A little #ootd ++ a giveaway winner.

Truth: One perk about blogging is that from time to time, I get to collaborate with awesome companies and introduce them to you guys! Today, I bring to you a little #ootd featuring this gorgeous statement necklace from Happiness Boutique.

I chose the Art Deco Necklace because it's nothing like what I already own. I love the way it's layered and has a super cool and unique shape that would make any outfit pop. Happiness Boutique also offers free shipping as well as a customer reward program so that's definitely something you could take advantage of. 

To be completely honest, the quality of the necklace isn't the greatest but I mean for the price and awesome design, it's definitely a great deal. You guys know I would never blog about something I don't think is something you guys would enjoy. Especially since it's hard to find cute, unique statement necklaces for this kind of price. Have fun finding yourself a necklace! And a big thank you to Happiness Boutique for sponsoring this post :)

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 happiness boutique necklace c/o  

oversized zara cardigan 

[ more options: 1, 2, 3 ]

bag: steve madden 

[ similar designer bag ]

french connection reva loafer

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Winner to Younique giveaway here!

Winner has 24 hours to email me back before I pick a new winner. 

Thank you everyone for participating!

The Time I fell off my bed.

Ah, yes. What a fun time. I remember it so clearly. Because well, it was yesterday. Last night to be exact. I fell off my bed last night. I'm 24 years old and I still fall off my bed. I thought I was over that stage of my life but apparently not. I've had a few other instances where I almost fell off but usually I catch myself right before it happens. Luckily our bed is quite low so no damage was done. Except for maybe a little stab to my ego. Oh, and Jerry just kept sleeping. Sound asleep. Good thing I've got those ninja skills to stay stealthy even when I'm falling off the bed.

On a side note, it's almost Christmas! Whaaat? We haven't even done our Christmas card yet. Hah. So it probably won't say "Merry Christmas." Maybe something a little more vague like "Happy Holidays" to cover it all :)  
whoohooo procrastinators unite!

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wearing:

sweater: f21 // more: 1, 2, 3

booties: thrift // similar: 1, 2, 3

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Haroooooo

Okay first of all, suuuuper sorry for neglecting the blogging. Actually, no I'm not because I've been having the time of my life! Sister came into town for Thanksgiving weekend and we really didn't do much but it was still a lot of fun. Also, husband got a week off from work so that's always good. Nothing much has changed I guess. Still on the job hunt with a few hopeful opportunities coming up. 

And hey, did you notice how I totally mismatched by cardi buttons? Third button to second hole. I kinda like it.

Hope you've all been doing amazing!

As for outfit deets, everything is from good ol' Forever 21.

sweater: 1, 2, 3

top: 1, 2, 3

<3

You need this. The Layering Tank Edition. Part III

Simply because sometimes, your favorite top is completely sheer and you need a little something to give it a color boost and also make it just a bit more appropriate. You know how it is.

Read these too:

Part I   &  Part II

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wearing:

tank: free people

cardi: bp

bar necklace: the shine project

druzy necklace: etsy

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Married Life Funnies: Don't ask your husband about makeup.

After putting eyeshadow on just one eye:

me: can you see the difference between this eye and this eye??

jerry: hmmm... yes?

me: really?

jerry: ya! one is your left eye, and the other is your right eye.

-_____-

no.
at least he tried though.

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wearing:

jacket: gap

top: nordstrom bp; more here (1, 2, 3)

booties: delias; similar here (1, 2)

necklace: lulus

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Friday.

Well today was different. Jerry had a work function thing that lasted all day so I was pretty much home alone for 24 hours. Well, maybe not quite. But it felt like it. The house felt colder and I didn't eat much. I've noticed that when I don't have to cook for anybody but myself, I tend not to cook at all. Is that bad? I had a banana for dinner since we're being completely honest here. Sometimes it's even cereal. Don't tell my mom though.

Anyway, tomorrow or today, depending on when you're reading this, is Friday! We're staying in and having a popcorn / movie night. And I get to pick the movie sooooo.... chick flick it is!

Fall / Winter 2014 Lookbook ++ a little 101 about one way I make money through blogging.

l l  S H O P   M O R E   I T E M S   H E R E  ll

Here it is! The fall / winter 2014 lookbook. If you ever want to shop my favorite looks, just click the "here" link above, or the "shop" button in my navigation bar located at the top of the blog :)

So here's a little something you may or may not have known. Whenever I do an outfit post or a lookbook post like this one, I use a gadget called "Reward Style." Basically what it is, is a way for me to make a few extra bucks here and there. A commission type of ordeal. So a lot of the time when you shop for something off of my blog, I make a small percentage from it. Does that make sense?

For example, say you like some shoes I listed in my lookbook. When you click on that particular shoe, it'll take you to the exact location of where you can purchase it. Then once you do, I make a buck or two depending on how much it costs.

So why am I telling you this? Well, because it's something I thought you guys should know, especially if you use my blog as a way to shop online. And also because I wanted to thank those of you who are helping me out by doing so. It really means a lot and I'll try my best to find stylish things for reasonable prices for you guys :)

Love ya! Thanks for all your support <3

You need this. The Layering Tank Edition. Part II.

Because sometimes, you want to wear a crop top. But then you think about it and you realize you've put on a few pounds since summer and you don't really feel like showing off your bum nor your thunder thighs. And yes, I'm talking about myself right now. So if you're like me, then this is when a nice long layering tank comes in handy. Even a simple neutral colored one like the one I'm wearing today will do the trick. Also, the slightest difference in color and texture of the two tops gives the outfit just a teeeeny bit more interest. Doncha think?

Read part 1 here.

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wearing:

top: f21   ll   more--> 1, 2

tank: asos   ll   similar--> 1, 2

jacket: f21   ll   similar--> 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

necklace: lulus   ll   more--> 1, 2, 3

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The "you need this" series. As told my Marsa. Aka, moi.

The series where I talk about all things you need in your closet, pantry, and life in general. Because obviously, I just know so much. No. Not really. But because I feel like it. So welcome! And to kick it off, I will start with some classic pieces we all need in our closets. Because it's fall and that means that you get to wear lots of clothes at once to keep cozy. Yippee!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

You need this: layering tank edition. Part I.

Sometimes you need just a little more umph in your layers. And when that time comes, having a little something peeking out of your top does just that.

See that? Umph.
Stay tuned for part 2, 3, and maybe 4!


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wearing:
top: nordstrom bp
shoes: thrift; similar --> 1, 2, 3
vest: uo; similar --> 1, 2, 3
tank: shade; similar --> 1, 2
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Halloween Times.

This year's costume has been brought to you by my minnie mouse ears from 2008.

 Jerry will probably be a Seahawks fan or something.

 Obviously, we put in a lot of effort this year.

Happy Halloween!

meep.

Fall is my favorite for a few reasons. Scarves,  layering, and cuddling. Duh! Obviously cuddling is totally doable in the spring and summer time too. But I tend to get hot easily so it doesn't last very long. Fall and winter though, cuddling is an all day kind of thing. Not really... but at least through an entire netflix episode. Speaking of which, have you guys watched the show Parks and Recreation? Ummmm ya..... hi-la-ri-ous. So if you're fun and like fun shows, you'll like that one too. And if you don't like it, then I guess you're not very fun. Hah! ;) 

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wearing:

top: madewell

scarf: madewell

hoodie: nordstrom bp

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On being married to a sports fan.

So Jerry looooves sports. Especially football. He likes that stuff a lot. So a while back, he got us both some Seahawk jerseys since he's always been a fan. And depending on the day, we'll wear them out for things like grocery shopping or even a date night. And today (Sunday), there was a game going on so after church, Jerry busted out his jersey and wore it to watch the game on tv. But to his surprise, I wasn't changing into my jersey. This is how the conversation went:

jerry: you're not changing into your jersey?!?
me: mmm no?... why would i?
jerry: because the game's on right now!
me: oh, but i want to be comfy.
jerry: the jersey is comfy.
me: but not as comfy as my night dress (i always wear it around the house)
jerry: well nothing is comfier than your night dress though....  :( 


He was pretty bummed. And also sounded quite defeated because his dear wife wouldn't wear his team's jersey around the house during game time. Such is the life of a sports fan.

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wearing:

shoes: thrift; similar- - (1, 2)

shirt: f21; similar- - (1, 2, 3)

hat: thrift; similar - - (1, 2, 3, 4)

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oh, and purely for your entertainment:

go hawks!

:)

It's the middle of the weeeek!

And I'm in laaahv with this sweater! If I could insert an emoji right now, it would be the super smiley one with hearts for eyes. Ya, you totally know what I'm talking about. And also, my necklace says "J & M" on it. I like it a lot. And I've been wearing it a lot. Favorites in one outfit whoop whoop! *high five* And I feel like I'm rambling now so that's it I guess. Enjoy the rest of the week friends :)

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wearing:
sweater: f21
tank: everlane; similar- - (1, 2)
necklace: the shine project
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Weekend Recap. And a look into 30 years from now.

So we went to a piano recital this past weekend. That was fun. A couple hours of pure classical music. I felt like some fancy lady. There were also lots of elderly folk. So I guess that makes old people fancy too. Haha. Seriously though, it kinda seems like that's the it thing to do once you hit a certain age. Because as much as I enjoyed the recital, I feel like I would appreciate it a lot more if I had 30 more years or so under my belt. Hah. Am I just stereotyping or what? Probably. But anyways..... 

Jerry also made me pancakes for breakfast and his pancakes are kinda the best thing ever. Especially when I get to eat them in bed or in front of the tv. Married life happiness right there. Hopefully in 30 years he'll still be making me pancakes in the morning. And maybe by then, we'll be enjoying our breakfast with some fancy Beethoven music playing in the background. Ya, I can totally see it.

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wearing:
shoes: thrift; similar- - (1, 2)
jacket: f21; similar- - (1, 2, 3)
top: nordstrom rack; similar - - (1, 2, 3)
necklace: c/o mindy mae's market
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Selfie Kind of Post.

This is what happens when Jerry isn't home or he's doing something productive and I don't want to bother him with the task of taking my outfit photos. Selfie time! Haha. And it's quite hard to do with a bulky camera you know. So I think it's about time I invested in a tripod or something.

On a different note, Jerry and I have been extra great together lately. Have you ever had that time when you felt like your relationship with your significant other has been better than ever? That's us recently. And I don't know why, because I feel like we've always been happy. But this past month has just been some kind of wow. Marriage is legit guys. And I know we've only been married for a few. So ask me how we're doing again in another 10 years ;)

ps. special post specifically about lipsticks? i think so. it needs to happen.

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wearing:

top: nordstrom; similar- - (1, 2, 3, 4)

jacket: jcrew thrift; similar- - (1, 2, 3)

necklace: c/o mindy mae's market

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About that last post.

So you guys kinda made my day, week, everything. Thank you sooooo so much for all your comments, emails, and positive vibes from the last post. You guys are unbelievable and so incredibly supportive. I can't even handle it. To be honest, I was actually a little worried about posting it for some reason. But now I realize that I was just being silly. So thanks :) And hey, if you have any more questions, concerns, or comments, let me know!

Now, you might have noticed that I've been a total snail with the whole blogging thing lately. I told myself I would be better about it once I graduated but that was a total lie. Hah.. Right now I'm in the middle of resume editing, job searching, and just trying to get my life organized again. Life really just doesn't stop for you does it. Hmph.

Oh, and I'm also working on some things for you guys! Like the hair tutorial for this highly requested look. And the makeup tutorial for this look. I'm kinda having a hard time with the hair tutorial because it's a lot easier to do it on someone else. But I'm workin on it! Thanks for being patient and awesome :)

p.s. I passed all my state board exams so I am officially a licensed cosmetologist! Haircut anyone? ;)
   snip snip <3

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wearing:

top: japan

shoes: topshop

short necklace: uo

long necklace: f21

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How to Save The Moneys: Online Shopping Edition

ll     instagram: @hey.im.marsa     ll    

Okay, so one of my guilty pleasures is online shopping. Or more like online window shopping. I can honestly spend hours looking at cute clothes online without actually buying them. Hidden talent? I think so. BUT, there are those times when I feel like caving because I see something that I absolutely MUST have. You know what I mean. You've been there too. So, here are some of my tips to online shopping that can save you a lot of money :)

1. Upcoming holiday.

• If there's a holiday coming up such as thanksgiving, labor day, or even halloween, then wait! There's sure to be some kind of  discount code the shop will give out. Shops honestly love giving out those special deals and it's usually anywhere from a 15% to 50% off discount.

2. Look at other sites for better prices

• A lot of clothing brands are held in multiple shops. For example, say I like this Free People sweater from Revolve clothing. But it's $76 on sale. Still kinda pricey. So, what I would do is type "Free People Dash Sweater" on google search and ta-daaa! It's also found on Piperlime for $55, and on Shopbop for $43! So don't jump on something the first time you see it. Definitely hunt it down somewhere else for a better price.

3. Google discount codes

•  I can't even begin to tell you how much money I've saved just from google searching discount codes. Even if the shopping site doesn't have any listed on their page, it's very likely that they have one out there. These discounts usually only range from 10% to 15% but hey, anything helps! Even if it's a code just for free shipping.

4. Sale section

• I always always always shop the sale section first before looking at the full-priced items. Why? Because if I find something I like on sale, I'm way less likely to want to pay for something else at full price. But maybe that's just me.

5. Put it in the online shopping cart, and walk away.

• That's right people. walk. a. way. I pretty much do this for everything that I buy online. I put it in my shopping bag, and leave it there for anywhere from 2-7 days. Why? Well because of the "lust at first sight" factor of course. When you see something cute for the first time, you automatically think, "omg! I HAVE to have it!" But really guys, you really don't. And after you give it a couple of days to sink in, you might look at that oh-so-cute top again and think... wait a minute, I already have something like that. Or... wait a minute, it's not that cute. Or... wait a minute, I guess I wouldn't even wear it that much. And then the "lust at first sight" factor is gone and you're finally thinking straight again :)

6. Wait a season

• If you have the patience to do so, wait an entire season or two before buying. I can guarantee you the price will drop at least 40%. Plus, you might find a discount code to add on top of that. This free people top I'm wearing in the photo above for example, was about $60 or so when it first came out. But I waited a few months and got it for more than 70% off! I felt like a winner.

7. Poshmark

• Have you guys heard of the app Poshmark? It's amazing!!!! And no, this isn't a sponsored post or anything. I honestly just love the app. It's a place where you can buy and sell old or new clothing and you won't believe the treasures people are trying to get rid of. I bought some Steve Madden wedges for $15 and they were originally over $80. They were worn once but still in great condition. I just cleaned them with some alcohol and they're easily now one of my favorites. If there's something you're wanting but not loving the price, check it out on Poshmark first. You might actually find it for a way better deal.

 8. Give yourself a budget.

• Jerry and I started doing this and let me tell you, it's the best thing ever! Because now if I want something really expensive, I don't feel bad about buying it as long as it fits in the budget. And if it doesn't, then that's just one more reason why I shouldn't buy it. And it makes it easy for me to just forget about it. 

So that's my long online shopping tips for you. If you have any others that work for you, I'd love to hear them! Comment below or just email me. Happy shopping!

Outfits of Instagram // 2

l     instagram: @hey.im.marsa     l

Same as last time! Because I tend to post more outfits on my instagram than I do on the blog itself, this is your chance to voice your option. Which of these four outfits would you like to see re-created into an actual outfit post with full product details?

Vote below! Can't wait to see the results <3

Which outfit is your favorite?

#1

#2

#3

#4

Life of a graduate.

Being the 5th time I've graduated, (yes I counted preschool, elementary, high school, and college), there's nothing much to say really. Unless you count sleeping in, being a couch potato, and eating whatever I want, whenever I want a big deal....then yes, I guess life right now is a pretty big deal. Really though, I can't wait to get going again. I've picked out a few salons that I'm really interested in but there's a lot more research and pondering that needs to be done before we make any big decisions. Plus we have some events coming up within the next couple of weeks so no work for me until those things are out of the way. Not that I'm complaining. 

On a side note, Jerry biked to work and back home the other day. Burned about 800 calories. Like. A. Boss. And that was after a couple months or so of taking a break from biking might I add. He's pretty much a spartan my husband. Except the next day he was feeling it baaaad. So naturally I laughed at him for pushing himself too hard like he always does. And then I nursed him back to health of course. Such a good wife I am. 

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wearing:

top: ruche

bag: aldo

sandals: nordys- - (also here: 1, 2)

vest: ae

jeans: ae

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