Raise your hand if you're a new blogger. Hi there. Welcome. I'm coming up on my one year anniversary, and I cannot believe how quickly this time has passed.

I have to say that one of the coolest (if not best) things about blogging has been the friendships and collaborations I have made with some seriously cool chicks.

And talk about like minded.

Jen from Belle de Couture and I have been admirers of each other's blogs and styles (and shared obsession with vintage fashion) for quite some time now. She's not only a breathtaking blonde bombshell, but she has a killer knack for mixing high and low end fashion and making it look effortless.


But when we decided to do a "shared item" post, and without even telling each other, wore the SAME SHOES, well... we had to laugh. Like minded indeed.

Here's my take on a flirty vintage shell skirt I found via thrift in the dead of winter (shop off season, gals!) ~ and shipped with love all the way to Florida to see how one of my fave fashion bloggers would rock it.

So head on over to Belle de Couture to see Jen's styling of the same skirt. (And also a chance to win it!) Fun, right?

P.S. ~ we'll be doing this again. Next time, with her find!

Skirt - Vintage

Tank - American Apparel

Necklaces - Vintage & Lisa Dempsey Designs

Shoes - Jessica Simpson Dany Platforms

Skinny Trick: Get those veggies in!

Last night we welcomed my Father in Law into town (aka "Papa" as little monkey decided on her very own to call him) and had one of our regular Italian Night dinners. 

There's always a lot of leftover veggies in my house, which saddens me to no end when they go to waste!  So I'm always trying to find a way to reuse and fit them in elsewhere.

This morning I decided to throw the rest of the roasted tomatoes from our pasta into our scrambled eggs, and use the last half of the avocado from last night's salad as a spread for our wheat toast. 

Do I have to explain to you why veggies keep you skinny? 

(P.S. How cool is my F.I.L that he brought my fave bread for me all the way from NY?!)

5 Minute Fake Bob

OK, so I have a lot of hair.  And while I'm not complaining, sometimes it's a bit much, (and heavy, and hard to deal with...) I know, I know, I'll shut up.  But quite often, I find myself tempted to just hack it all off into a daring (and darling) little bob, as I did once before.

But because I am avoiding the cliché that is "every new mom cuts her hair",  I continue to refrain from what I believe would be sheer genius (props to all the short haired ladies out there!!) Instead, I fake it.  As seen here, here, and here.

5 min Fake Bob - How To:

Make sure your hair is nice and wavy. Have some sort of body or curl going on. (I always use hot rollers - see trick here.) Use a good amount of hairspray too, muss it all up. Hair with product in it is so much more malleable.

Next, twist your hair into a semi-loose bun. Secure it in the mid to low base of your head with a hair tie.

Pull the sides out a bit while keeping the bun intact. This will give the "illusion" of a bob.

Tuck the bun part up under at hat, or if you're not wearing a hat, flip the bun under the "bob" part and secure with pins. (But truth be told, a hat makes it much easier to disguise!)

Finish with some tucks and tweaks but be casual about it. It's a messy undone look. 

Let me know if you try it! xx

Forgive yourself, breathe, enjoy the ride...

Image 3 via my beautiful sis

All others via Weheartit

Designer Event ~ Heidi Merrick/Calypso Tunic

Last night I spent the eve at Calypso Home in Brentwood, lost in a sea of gorgeous pillows and shams.

It was a trunk show and celebration for designer Heidi Merrick, who designs not only pillows and blankets, but pretty amazing clothing as well.

If I had my druthers, I'd spend my life in a home designed by everything Calypso has to offer, opening my giant walk-in to a closet full of dresses like the above.

Heidi was gracious and quite funny too, and we chatted not only about fashion, but our little girls as well, only a few months apart in age, and how they've changed our lives so completely (and all for the better).

Add in two handsome side kicks for the evening (no, neither one the hubs)...

A little Calypso tunic I'm a bit "boho obsessed with" (and can't wait to wear to Mexico soon!)

Some sweets, some bubbly...

And it pretty much was the perfect evening....

Click here for more on Heidi in "Seven Minutes with Heidi Merrick" at Elle.com.

P.S. - Check out my side project here for a vintage take on Military Balmain!

Passion project... Secondhand Star!

I'm so excited to introduce my side project, my baby, and something that has been in the works for a while... it's a vintage redesign collaboration called Secondhand Star! 

Secondhand Star was born out of a shared love and passion with one of my best friends, Noa Bolozky (who you may remember seeing a few times here on November Grey) for turning vintage and secondhand clothing into modern, interesting and one of a kind pieces.  Together we have made a collection of killer dresses and pieces, as well as a blog (go here!) that documents how we do it all!

As you know, November Grey is an outlet for several creative musings, at which fashion often seems to dominate the list.  And that won't stop. You'll still get your daily dose of all things you've come to know and love here. 
But now there is another place to fill up on nothing but fashion, and thanks to my girl, Noa ~ another unique (fashion designer trained, killer seamstress skilled) point of view as well!
I really am thrilled, and I thank you guys so much for the support. 

For full story and details on these redesigned dresses - go here! 

Mad love and gratitude, 
T xx

Skylar Grey - Love the way you lie

Remember at the Grammy's, as Eminem and Rhianna sang a slowed down beat rendition of this very popular tune? And there was that piercing angelic voice echoing from a half lit stage...

"I need a doctor, I need a doctor, I need a doctor, doctor, doctor...."

Yeah, that was this girl. Check it and be in awe.

And oh, she wrote it too. Talent!

On the first page of our story
The future seemed so bright

Then this thing turned out so evil

I don't know why i'm still surprised

Even angels have their wicked schemes

And you take that to new extremes

But you'll always be my hero

Even though you've lost your mind

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn

Well that's alright because I like the way it hurts

Just gonna stand there and hear me cry

Well that's alright because I love the way you lie

I love the way you lie

I love the way you lie

Now there's gravel in our voices

Glasses shattered from the fight

In this tug of war you always win

Even when i'm right

Cos you feed me fables from your head

With violent words and empty threats

And it's sick that all these battles are what keeps me satisfied

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn

Well that's alright because I like the way it hurts

Just gonna stand there and hear me cry

Well that's alright because I love the way you lie

I love the way you lie

I love the way you lie

So maybe i'm a masochist

I try to run but I don't wanna ever leave

Til the walls are going up

In smoke with all our memories

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn

Well that's alright because I like the way it hurts

Just gonna stand there and hear me cry

Well that's alright because I love the way you lie

I love the way you lie

I love the way you lie

I love the way you lie