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Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Scratching an Itch

Today I saw a really great layered look for fall with a shirt dress and heavy belted sweater over it, and cozy thigh high socks. It gave me an itch for warm layers already and it's just barely summer! So I did a lighter version for this post.

The sweater vest is breathable with different types of stitching, and being that it has no sleeves, would hold up well in summer time. I suppose whether or not the socks are needed depends on your local weather!
Dress: Forever21
Sweater Vest: Buckle
Earrings: BabblingBrookes at Etsy
Socks: Tie Mee at Etsy
Shoes: Urban Original

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Something Blue

Wedding Season is in full swing! Here are a few Etsy items that I like for wedding gift ideas.
Personalized Mug: LoveArtworks at Etsy
Personalized Card: Storeyshop at Etsy
Hearts Personalized Framed Picture: Sarah & Bendrix at Etsy

Monday, June 28, 2010

Lunch at the Lake

I love this daytime look. It started with the shoes. They also come in tan, but what fun is that? The dress is breezy and simple, with the bow adding interest without being distracting. I chose a smaller, pretty necklace so as to not compete with those amazing shoes.
Shoes: Piperlime
Dress: French Connection
Necklace: Piper Blue at Etsy

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Links à la Mode: Week of June 17, 2010

Here is my first Links à la Mode post! I decided to submit a blog post, and they chose it! So here it is. By the way, I'm still on vacation, posting from my in-law's house in Myrtle Beach!

links a la mode

You, Only Better


Edited by: Ann Colville Somma of Holier than Now

It's a strange culture we live in: we're always told Just be yourself!, yet the bestseller list is chock-full of self-help books and memoirs depicting radical change. Finding the balance between total transformation and chilling in our pajamas is difficult, but that's why I love the blogosphere. Here, inspiration is served up one manageable bite at a time. Want to save the world? Start with vintage beachwear - the purchase benefits disaster victims. Hoping your man evolves into a sharp-dressed diaper-changer? Let's begin with a chic- and sustainable- Dad's day gift. Looking for your dream job? Take baby steps by revamping your work wardrobe and taking notes from inspiring entrepreneurs.

Links à la Mode: June 17th


Sunday, June 20, 2010

Sunday Splurge

Kate of Paisley Hill Designs created this hand painted child's tea set. They're made to order and she is happy to customize it for you. This is something that could easily become a family heirloom!
 Child's Tea Set: Paisley Hill Designs at Etsy

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Vacation!

Just a quick post to let you folks know that I will be on vacation with my husband visiting family until next Friday. Aside from a queued Sunday Splurge post that you can expect on, well, Sunday, there won't be any posts ready til Monday the 28th. Hopefully!

See you then!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Finally, a Romper

I've been wanting to feature a romper for a while now. It's been difficult to find one that I loved, along with items to go with it. Many times I'd get stuck and just give up and move on to another outfit. This time I did it! Here is one in a bold bold pattern with a few great neutral accessories.
Romper: LuLus
Belt: ModCloth
Shoes: Avenue
Bangles: Brooklyn Arts at Etsy

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Martinis Anyone?

I love martinis. I feel so classy drinking out of those fancy glasses! These stainless steel glasses look sleek and kind of retro, but they also keep your drink cold til the last drop. Drink charms are a fun way to make sure don't confuse glasses. Way better than the old sharpie on the red cup trick.
Drink Charms: clinks at Etsy
Martini Glasses: Target
Bar Set: Bed Bath & Beyond

Monday, June 14, 2010

Summer Romance

If I weren't already wearing a bridesmaids dress, this is exactly what I would love to wear to the wedding I'm attending this weekend. The dress is so soft and romantic. It's modest, yet still really gorgeous.
Dress: Forever21
Shoes: YesStyle.com
Hair Comb: Gardens of Whimsy at Etsy
Bangles: JCPenney

A Belated Introduction

Hello! My name is Sam and I am the one that's been hiding behind the hundred dollar curtain for the past month. I came up with the idea for Hundy&Undy while laying in bed one night not long after being laid off from my job as a nanny. Over the years I've really evolved and grown, fashion-wise, but one thing stayed generally the same: my frugality! This was something I thought a lot of people could relate to. My favorite parts of all the fashion magazines are where they piece together outfits. My least favorite parts of all the fashion magazines are where they piece together outfits, and I see the prices are well beyond my price range.

So that's where the idea came from for this blog. Hundy&Undy features outfits that I've pieced together for you. These are for you to take literally, or as inspiration for your own wardrobe. The main point of each post being that the total of each collection be less than $100. ("Oh, now I get the name!")

Something else that I love, that has also found a way into this blog, is Etsy and the whole handmade movement. I've been a buyer on Etsy for four years and an off-and-on seller for nearly that. The handmade community is really special and I wanted to support it by incorporating it into my blog. To help make this easier, I expanded my subjects to include not only fashion, but decor and gifts as well. You'll usually find at least one handmade item in nearly every fashion post, and sometimes all of the items in the decor and gift posts are handmade.

The blog has been really well received and I want to thank everyone involved so far; the readers, commenters, and link-sharers. This brings me to my final point of this introduction. In the handmade and blogging community, it's all about connections. When I started this blog, I tried to keep it written like blurbs you would see in a magazine. I wanted to keep the look sleek and clean. The longer I tried to do that, the more difficult it became! So this is my introductory post to provide a more personal experience for you and me on Hundy&Undy. From now on I vow to rave on about what I love in my posts as opposed to using generic adjectives and sterile impersonal statements. I hope this will only improve the quality of this blog as well as the connection between you, the reader, and myself here at Hundy&Undy.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Sunday Splurge

There's no questioning this is a major statement piece! The metallic magenta-colored stingray leather is absolutely stunning. This would be perfect for adding a major kick to your little black dress.
Metallic Genuine Stingray Cuff Bracelet: Unearthed at Etsy

Friday, June 11, 2010

Bring Out Your Inner Barbie

Barbie knew how to work a pink pump! You can too, just make sure keep it as the most outspoken piece in your outfit.
Dress: Delias
Cocktail Ring: Joli Marble Swirls at Etsy
Necklace: Miss Betty Lou at Etsy
Shoes: Urban Original

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Wooden Accents

Here are some modern and unique wooden items for your home.
Scrabble Tile Sign: Out on a Whim at Etsy
Wooden Whale: WD Design & Photography at Etsy
Hand Crank Pirate Ship Automata: Cartoon Monster at Etsy
Picture Frame: DA Custom Frames at Etsy

Pair It with Parrots

This fun tank top can brighten any outfit, but pair it with more "serious" items for more of a kick!
Tank Top: O'Niell at PacSun
Pants: Nordstrom
Shoes: GoJane.com
Bracelet: Spiffing Jewelry at Etsy

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Pillows are a Chair's Best Friend

Throw pillows are perfect for making a space more cozy. They don't have to be all frills, though, like throw pillows of the past!
Suitcase Pillow: Olive at Etsy
Cream and White Striped Pillow: dgsHome at Etsy
My Pillow Has Pants Pillow Cover: Sugar Baby Love at Etsy

Get Textural

Contrasting textures add interest to an outfit, like this one which features silk, canvas and wool.
Top: Charlotte Russe
Jeans: Sears
Bangles: Starring Nobody at Etsy
Shoes: Alice + Olivia for Payless

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

How About a Picnic?

Enjoy the summer sun with a good old-fashioned picnic! This insulated picnic basket keeps food hot or cold and comes with reusable plastic dishes and flatware. The blanket folds up into itself for easy carrying and has a waterproof underside for when the grass is still dewy.
Picnic Basket: Bed Bath & Beyond
Picnic Blanket: Kohl's
Floor Pillows: Overstock.com

Casual Doesn't Have to Be So Casual

A soft woven skirt and a plain white tee can be dressed up (without being dressed up!) with a statement necklace and summery wedges.
Tee: Target
Skirt: Forever21
Bib Necklace: Therapy by CoconutMarci at Etsy
Shoes: Shoes.com

Monday, June 7, 2010

Love is a Many Splendored Thing

Hearts aren't just for Valentine's Day.
Mixed Media Framed Art: Paper Prayers at Etsy
Custom Embroidered Pillow Cover: Cozy Blue at Etsy
Photo Print: Yann Pendaries Photography at Etsy

Summer of Love

Pay homage to '67 with these updated, vintage-inspired items.
Top: Forever21
Jeans: Target
Earrings: Paige's Emporium at Etsy
Clogs: Two Lips at 6PM

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Sunday Splurge

On Sundays we will splurge. Here we will showcase a single item that would take up most of our $100 budget.

The first Sunday Splurge is this Ampersand pillow by Alexandra Ferguson. The felt she uses is made of 100% post consumer recycled water bottles!
Ampersand Pillow: Alexandra Ferguson at Etsy

Friday, June 4, 2010

Aspire to Inspire

"It is in all of us to defy expectations, to go into the world and to be brave. To want, to need, to hunger for adventures. To embrace change and chance and risk so that we may breathe and know what it is to be free."

"Acta non verba." (Actions, not words.)

"Choose happiness."
To Be Brave Print: Mae Chevrette at Etsy
Acta Non Verba Bracelet: Corine Grant at Etsy
Choose Happiness Print: Sweet Blue Photography at Etsy

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Brighten Up Date Night

Wear these bright items out on your next date. Pair them with dark jeans, simple shoes and neutral clutch to stay balanced.
Top: Overstock.com
Shrug: Wearable Artz at Etsy
Cuff: Dirty Story Jewelry at Etsy

Bring the Outside In

Bring nature into your home with these items. Each features real, natural elements: mother of pearl, raintree leaves, dried grass, birch bark, and a real butterfly!
Pillow Cover: The Home Centric at Etsy
Switch Plate: Paper Planet at Etsy
Birch Bark Vase: New Hampshire Woods Creations at Etsy
Framed Butterfly: Bug Under Glass at Etsy
Dried Grass Vases: Simply Chic Florals at Etsy

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Antique Inspired

Here is an antique and vintage inspired dress for any special occasion. Keep to the gentle theme with modernized pearls and a flower hair comb.
Hair Comb: Flowers From Fatima on Etsy
Dress: Macy's
Bracelet: Ami Designs at Etsy

Father's Day

This Father's Day collection was inspired by one specific Dad.
PBR Soap: Anderson Soap Company at Etsy
Ostrich Leather Wallet: Yoshino at Etsy
Father's Day Card: Monkey Mind Design at Etsy
Campfire Scented Candle: True Texas Scents at Etsy

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Music Festival Season

Here is a great outfit to keep you cool and comfortable at your favorite summer music festival.
Dress: ModCloth.com
Hat: JCPenney
Sandals: Cynthia Vincent for Target
Shoulder Bag: Dot24 at Etsy