Sneak Peak:

I went home to Cincinnati this weekend, and returned to my University with a treasure trove of goodies from my mother's attic. I'll get a proper post up after midterms. But here is a quick sneak peak :)

Give Heels the Boot!

I love combat boots. Seriously. Truly. Madly. Deeply. (Most likely somewhat obsessively.) They just go with anything! This weekend I wore a grey lace dress, flowered tights, and my brown motorcycle boots. Last week I wore jean shorts and a flowey button up blouse to class with my combat boots. Who said you need heels to look like a lady? I'll be wearing my boots, and enjoying comfy feet all night long thank you  very much!

Make sure you grab a pair with buckles for an extra kick.

I love the fur, to keep your tootsies extra toasty.

I also love the roughed up look of these boots. I'd definitely add some DIY studs to the trim.

All of these boots are from urbanog.com, one of my new favorite shopping sites. The shoe selection is huge, unique and priced great for poor college students.


I also love a bright pair of socks peeking out of your boots, especially with some DIY lace at the cuff! Have fun, and send pictures of your favorite outfits incorporating boots!

Dearest Bloggers,

I thouroughly apologize for not posting in several weeks. I moved back to University early to help with freshman orientation. While this left plenty of time for making new friends and having an absolute blast, it left NO time for posting! I promise to have a new post up in a few days!

Summer Tie-Dye Hair.

I saw this post The Beauty Department and decided that I have to try it! I love the tie-dye effect that comes from mixing the colors right on the strand. I made my hair a little different than Lauren's by having an artistically gifted friend literally paint the color on my hair with a paint brush. This organic approach really made my hair into an abstract, swirly masterpiece. I'm so pleased with the results. I'll be sad though when the dye washes out, I love having a little crazy in my locks!

Gold Dust Woman

I've recently become slightly obsessed with Fleetwood Mac, specifically the powerful Stevie Nicks. It seems as though "Gypsy" has been playing on repeat during my summer car rides. Both the music, and Stevie's amazing wardrobe channel this ethereal, magical hippie vibe.

Stevie was known for her flowing dresses, shawls and capes. Balance a  lot of fabric around your shoulders with a little bit of bare midriff.

Stevie rocked slouchy hats before they made a major comeback during the 2000s. I personally look terrible in basic snoods, but I cant wait to try this oversized beret in the fall!

All that fabric made Stevie an amazing performer. She was known to hold onto long flowing pieces and twirl during instrumental breaks. However, all of this material could be a bit overwhelming. Keep this look modern by wearing a flowing dress super short!

Many recognize Stevie by her now trademark top hats. Try this look, but make it more girlie by adding flowers or oversized feathers. This will make the top hat work well with this season's more romantic hippie vibe.

This is a more romanticized Stevie. I love how she pinned back her hair to show off her smokey eyes, contoured cheeks and stained lips. The sequins both on her blouse and in her headband really add to this sweet yet sultry look.

Try channeling your inner rock goddess next time your in a bit of a fashion rut. The flowing fabric, wild hair, and funky accessories will definitely help you "Go Your Own Way"!

My favorite canvas? Shoes, of course!

Over this summer I've discovered that I actually really love to paint... on shoes that is. I love the new life you can give to an old pair of kicks with a few tubes of paint! I've revamped several pairs of shoes by painting new colors, prints, and images onto the canvas sections.

These cowboy boots has a canvas section that I painted using acrylic paint. I love the summery feel of these shoes!        

I've also found that you can repaint old scuffed up pumps as long as you sand the shoe gently before painting on the surface. This works best with faux leather and other man-made materials.

If you want to try this at home there are several tips I would recommend following:
1) Clean your shoes so that the paint sticks the best.
2) Use acrylic paint, it adheres nicely to canvas and covers very evenly with little effort.
3) Plan your design! Spontaneity is wonderful, but it really helps if you have a general idea of what colors and designs you want to use to prevent mistakes.
4) Painters tape can be used to create straight lines and clean edges.
5) Invest in ScotchGard and spray your shoes when they are finished to help protect the paint for weather.

Have fun! If you have ever hand-painted shoes, I'd love to see pictures! Attach a link in the comments or email me! Happy creating! 

Well Hello,

"I love your shoes!"
"You made those yourself?!"
"I could never pull that off"

Welcome, my fellow conquistadores of cute! Have you ever heard any of the above phrases? Do you often respond to such compliments by meekly saying "Oh thanks, I'm just trying to be cute,"? If yes, then you understand my quest for cuteness: the mission of always trying to be a little bit more eclectic and adorable than the rest of your peers. I often feel the need to respond to these compliments by rationalizing my somewhat eccentric fashion choices, by saying "I'm just trying to be cute." This response provides the title for my blog, dedicated to you fellow conquerers of cute.  I'll be posting inspirations based on fashion, movies, music, and whatever else strikes my fancy. I hope that you all enjoy it! Feel free to leave comments with suggestions!

Now, on with the quest!