Sweets and Hearts

Lion/lamb

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Thu, 31 May 2012 06:52:00 +0000

"Petal Pusher" wedges by Poetic Licence

Outfit Details: Coral gingham retro playsuit (Urban Outfitters) | Cream scalloped crochet top (Forever 21) | "Petal Pusher" floral espadrille wedges (Poetic Licence, c/o Very.com) | Vintage kite necklace (made by me) | Rhinestone bow earrings (Betsey Johnson)

I bought this open weave scalloped crochet top from Forever 21 recently because I thought it was really pretty (and it is), but I had no idea what to wear it with. I was going to wear the playsuit/romper with a cardigan, but remembered I had this. I like how the layering turned out, and it's not too heavy. It'll be great for the warmer weather, when I want to throw something over spaghetti straps/strapless things.

Image: Amazon

In other news, I just got Regina Spektor's newest album, What We Saw from the Cheap Seats ($5 to download on Amazon!). Her last album, Far, is one of the most played albums on my iPod. I've been waiting for this to come out! Be sure to give it a listen. I've just started, but it's so good so far.

What are you listening to right now?

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Beauty Blurb: Philips Satin Perfect

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Wed, 30 May 2012 07:34:00 +0000

Philips Satin Perfect

As summer approaches and it gets warmer outside, I start to get excited about wearing shorts, skirts, and dresses tights-free. Don't get me wrong--I love wearing tights, and I actually kind of hate summer weather, but I do love the freeing feeling of bare legs.

I just hate the shaving that goes with it.

Well, I don't mind it, but it just gets tedious. I've tried Veet (works fine, but results last only as long as shaving--also smells a little weird), sugaring (works great, but a long/messy process when doing yourself), and of course shaving, but have been looking for longer lasting alternatives. I had read up on epilators before and briefly considered it, so when I got offered the chance to try the Philips Satin Perfect (currently on sale for $149.99 USD at Macy's), I figured 'Why not?'

The idea behind epilating is that it's a little shaver-like tool that basically tweezes your hair really fast. Since it pulls it out from the root, hair is supposed to grow back finer, and the results are supposed to be long lasting.

Before you even consider epilating, know this:
It hurts. Like, a lot.

More after the jump.

Included in the Philips Satin Perfect set: shaving head, trimming comb, washable head, illuminating tweezers, cleaning brush and carrying pouch

The Good

What's great about it is that it's hypoallergenic, charges fast, and is intuitive when it comes to using. Basically, all you have to do is press the button to turn it on and go (once the epilator head is attached, of course). I probably should've read the instructions more thoroughly when I first started using it--there were so many different attachments, I wasn't sure which would work best.
Tips: After some experimenting, I discovered that the epilator head and plain cap on its own worked the best. Don't press too hard, just glide it over your skin slowly and try to be thorough.
It's GREAT for underarms! Seemed fine on my legs, but didn't hurt so badly on my underarms at all, and the results last for days.
There's an attachment that has a "hair lifter", but it didn't seem to work that well. There's also one that has massaging bars to help stretch the skin and work with contours--good for the legs--but was unnecessary in my opinion.
Also included is a shaver and trimmer option. The shaver is awesome! It has to be used on dry skin, so you can do it after showering. I love that you can just shave your legs really fast without hopping into the shower--perfect for rushed mornings.
The illuminating tweezers (which seemed silly to me at first) turned out to be amazing. They light up, so you can see all those tiny hairs you usually miss on your eyebrows, and they're nice and sharp. The little carrying tube is pretty genius too, and has a tiny mirror on the inside.

The Bad

It HURTS. Worse that waxing. The first time I did it, it hurt so badly that I rushed through my legs just to get it over with. It seems to hurt the worst when I do my thighs. Feels like a strong stinging sensation when you run it over your skin.
Skin is smooth after the first time, but there's this awkward hair growth phase in-between epilating that never goes away because hair grows in cycles. My legs look smooth, but feel just a little prickly as the hair starts to grow back. The dilemma is that you need it to grow back long enough so you can epilate again, so your legs will never have that just-shaved feeling for a long time.
Not good if you have sensitive skin or are prone to in-grown hairs. I get the occasional one, so I try to exfoliate before and after.

Philips Satin Perfect

Final Thoughts
The Philips Satin Perfect definitely has its pros and cons. It's easy to use, but pretty painful. You also need to be thorough--it's annoying when I see that I've missed spots and have to do it again.

I'll continue epilating to see if my hair does grow back finer. You're supposed to epilate less over time the more you use it, and some women swear by it. I'm also hoping my pain tolerance will get better with each use. Since it's more of a long-term thing, I'll update my review as I familiarize myself with the process.

Have you tried epilating? What are your thoughts on it?

Disclosure: Review

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Backyards

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Tue, 29 May 2012 07:35:00 +0000

Outfit Details (me): Ivory bow blouse (Ruche) | Gray eyelet scalloped high waist shorts (Forever 21) | Black cloche hat (Forever 21) | Cream bow cotton slingback flats (Payless) | The straw hat with black ribbon (H&M)

A fun little shoot I did with my friend Yan, who's visiting from Hong Kong. Everyone needs to try and convince her to start a style blog, because she's one of my most fashionable friends. I asked her what she was wearing, but she said she bought everything from Hong Kong (dang!) and they're not available here, so I'm sorry if you wanted her outfit details too.

I'm loving the color combination in her outfit (rust jeggings, blush trench coat, black top), and it's hard to see her shoes, but she's wearing leather ivory ballet flats.

Yan is one of my best friends from college, and we haven't seen each other since we graduated in 2010. It's been fun catching up and hanging out with a few of our mutual friends from school. It's crazy how much time has gone by already, but it's nice to know we can always pick up where we left off. She's as silly as I am (and comes up with better poses!), so she makes a great partner in crime.

A good friend doesn't mind your weirdness.
A best friend is as weird as you are--and that's probably why you get along.

Tell me about you and one of your closest friends. Why do you get along so well?

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Instragram Photo Diary: May 17th-24th

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Fri, 25 May 2012 03:09:00 +0000

Left to right, top to bottom: 1. Me and my friend Yan | 2. Pastel petit fours | 3. Black peter pan collar romper by Freeway Apparel at Dillard's | 4. Scalloped skirts from Forever 21 (on sale for $6 each!) | 5. The solar eclipse from May 20th | 6. Kate Spade's "Twirl" fragrance | 7. ModCloth's "Beauty in the Air" dress in Deliphinium | 8. My new haircut

A selection of Instragram photos from the past couple of weeks.

Be sure to follow me @sweetsandhearts for more random photos from my everyday life.

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Awake till sunrise

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Wed, 23 May 2012 07:48:00 +0000

Outfit Details: Coral polka-dot ruffle blouse (Zinga via Q) | Magenta tulle lace skirt (Rodarte x Target) | Brown zipper bowler bag (c/o R&Em) | Brown t-strap espadrille wedges (Aldo) | Mulit-chain flower charm necklace (Betsey Johnson) | Purple vintage rhinestone earrings (I'm Your Present via Etsy) | Lipcolor: "Awake Till Sunrise" Lipstick (Sula)

Here's what I wore to the Gossip Girl final screening last week.

This wasn't something I'd normally come up with, but I sort of had this "a-ha" moment after I bought the blouse and was trying to figure out what to wear with it. I want to start experimenting more with color combinations, so I covered myself in bright, happy colors (and a crazy necklace, just because), and used a neutral brown for an accent.

Forget pairing a bright color with a neutral--pair it with another bright color!

What's your favorite bright color to wear?

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Polish Post: Peachy Pink Glitter Gradient Nails

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Tue, 22 May 2012 00:43:00 +0000

Peachy Pink Glitter Gradient Nails

Here are my nails from a couple of weeks ago.

I've been obsessed with orange/pink shades lately, and this was the perfect pastel peachy-pink! The salesgirl at Skin Food was really nice and helpful, and suggested trying a glitter gradient. It's a good thing she explained how to do it--it's something I had wanted to try for a while.

Peachy Pink Glitter Gradient Nails

It's pretty simple, actually! Start with a base coat, then two coats of a solid pastel polish (I used Skin Food's Milk Creamy Nail in No. 5, a peachy pink shade) and let dry. For the glitter gradient, it's great because it doesn't have to be perfect. Paint a generous glittery strip across the top of the nail (I used Pop Beauty's "Twinkle", a silver-toned iridescent glitter polish), as if you are painting a French tip (but make sure it's not a thin coat of glitter! It has to be a little thick to work well). Working quickly with the brush, use small, quick strokes to carefully drag the glitter in a downward direction. If there are bare spots, add glitter in small amounts or else it can dry quickly, resulting in tiny glitter clumps. Finish with a topcoat.

Tip: When using the glitter polish for the gradient, close the lid tightly and re-shake the bottle vigorously every now and then to keep the brush smooth. After I finished one hand and started the other, the brush had dried out a little, and my gradients ended up bumpy.

"Twinkle" (c/o Pop Beauty) | Peachy Pink "No. 5" Milk Creamy Nail (Skin Food)

I'm itching to get a bright purple shade, a fluorescent neon pink, and a tangerine color.

What's on your nails right now?

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Hey Sailor: Nautical Swimwear for Summer 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Mon, 21 May 2012 03:46:00 +0000

1. Frauke Nagel Reversible Striped Sailor Print Bikini (reversible top - $111.99 USD, reversible bottoms $89.99 USD) | 2. Betsey Johnson Striped Ruffle Bikini (top - $77.99 USD, bottoms - $87.99 USD) | 3. Blue and White Polka-Dot Bikini (top - $94.99 USD, bottoms - $84.99 USD) | 4. Navy Retro Sailor One-Piece (one-piece swimsuit - $22 USD) | 5. Sailboat and Waves Print Bikini (top - $16 USD, bottoms - $14 USD) | 6. Red or Dead Navy Halterneck Swimsuit (one-piece swimsuit - $113.07 USD) | 7. Seafolly Blue Pinstripe Boyleg Swimsuit (one-piece swimsuit - $147.86 USD) | 8. Marie Meili Polka-Dot Bikini (top - $24.35 USD, bottoms - $24.35 USD) | 9. Juicy Couture Stripe Bandeau Bikini (top - $160.03 USD, shorts - 154.82 USD)

A little retro and a lot pretty, nautical themed swimsuits are among my favorites! Stripes, ties, navy blue, and large buttons are a few of the details that set this classic look apart from the rest. Some of these are modern and some are vintage-inspired, but all of them are perfect for lounging by the pool (or on a ~~sailboat~~ yacht).

I'm very much in love with the first bikini from ModCloth--the pieces are reversible!
Which one is your favorite?

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[CLOSED] Sponsored Giveaway: Win a Custom Fashion Illustration of Yourself in Your Favorite Ready-to-Wear Outfit (valued at $100 USD)

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Sun, 20 May 2012 07:36:00 +0000

This sponsored giveaway is brought to you by the extremely talented New Zealand-based fashion designer and illustrator, Lorena Balea-Raitz.

Lorena Balea-Raitz specializes in hand-drawn illustrations. Her signatures include using bold colors and strong, confident strokes, creating pieces of art that are both one-of-a-kind and high-fashion. Her Etsy shop offers postcards, prints, and custom paper goods, such as gift boxes and cards. I love how dynamic and detailed her work is.

Win an illustration of yourself (valued at $100 USD) in your favorite designer ready-to-wear outfit!
Fashion illustrations and more by Lorena Balea-Raitz available on Etsy

The prize: If you've ever wanted to see yourself in the latest designer fashions straight off the runway, here's your chance to win a a custom fashion illustration worth upwards of $100 USD from fashion illustrator Lorena Balea-Raitz! There's a lot of hard work that goes into creating custom fashion illustrations, and you'll get your very own stylized high-fashion rendition of yourself in your favorite ready-to-wear outfit (get inspired and pick your favorite runway look from Style.com! They have the best runway photos). How cool is that?

Mandatory Entry: (1 entry)

Must be a blog follower through Google or Bloglovin' to be eligible.
Visit BaleaRaitzART and leave a comment in this post with your favorite item and e-mail address (so that I may contact you if you're the winner).

Additional Entries:

(please leave a separate comment on this post for each entry)
+1 : Follow BaleaRaitzART's illustration blog through GFC and leave a comment on this post with your username.
+1 : Like BaleaRaitzART on Facebook and leave a comment on this post with your Facebook name.

+1 : Follow Lorena on Twitter and leave a comment on this post with your Twitter name.

+1/day : Tweet the following: Be your own fashion muse! Win an illustration of yourself in your fave runway look by @lorenanbr >> http://goo.gl/M9QGX [@iamericaleigh] **Can tweet daily for extra entries. Please leave a comment in this post with your Twitter username every time you do this.

Entries will be accepted until

Wednesday, May 30th, 2012

9 PM PST

Giveaway is open internationally. Winner will be chosen at random, notified by e-mail, and announced in this post.

Good luck, fashionistas!

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Gossip Girl Season 5 Finale Screening Presented by Birchbox

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:25:00 +0000

Birchbox x Gossip Girl Finale Screening in Burbank, CA

As a huge fan of the books and the television series, there was no way I was going to miss the Birchbox Gossip Girl final screening at the CW (although, I probably should have caught up with this season before attending! Thanks to my friend Chris and Leann for giving me a 5-second catch-up before the screening. I had no idea I had missed so much in the last half of the season!).

Thanks to everyone who followed me on Twitter while I live-tweeted my reactions to the episode. That was my first time doing that, and it took a lot more multi-tasking than I realized!

The CW office in Burbank, CA

Mini desserts, champagne, and Birchboxes

Bloggers in the CW's screening room

Lights out! Gossip Girl finale has started

A Q&A with Stephanie Savage, executive producer of Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl Birchbox

Stila was on-hand doing touch-ups and mini makeovers, and Stephanie Savage, the show's executive producer, showed up to answer some questions about the show.

We were told that the sixth season will actually be the last, so I'm really curious to se how it will end. I'll be sad to see it go, but I'm glad they're not going to drag it out--I'm sure it's going to be all kinds of crazy/amazing next season, so don't forget to watch in the fall!

Gossip Girl "Chic Sunday Brunch" Birchbox

The little Gossip Girl Birchbox I received was pretty awesome too. I had never tried Birchbox, but have heard great things about their subscription service ($10/month, and you get a bunch of awesome beauty samples!). One of my favorite items that I got from my Gossip Girl "Chic Sunday Brunch" box, was a bright notecard cleverly printed with an "XOXO".

Thanks so much to Birchbox and the CW for making this happen! It was fun watching Gossip Girl with fellow fans in a comfy chair while sipping on bubbly and snacking on opera cake (if only I could watch regular TV like this all the time).

Did you watch the season final of Gossip Girl too? What did you think? I can't wait to see how the series ends!

Outfit post from the event coming soon.

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Spare change

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Thu, 17 May 2012 23:30:00 +0000

Outfit Details: Gray ruffle chiffon tank (Gilly Hicks) | Navy and white gingham skirt (Baby Tears; had since high school) | Brown woven belt (Forever 21) | "O & O Jewelry" Red leather bunny flats (Le Bunny Bleu)

I like mixing red and blue together, but try to avoid looking too patriotic by adding a neutral or two (I wore gray and brown).

Ahhhh, my hair is getting too long! I need to get a haircut pronto. I've been putting it off for a while now because of my trip--and also, I have some bills and things I need to take care of before I can take care of my hair.

I've been spending some time with friends I haven't seen in a while, so it's been really fun! I can't wait to share some photos with you.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

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'Dating Rules from My Future Self' Fashion: Ep. 9 U Can Get It if U Really Want // Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Tue, 15 May 2012 06:32:00 +0000

I had to do another style post for the last episode of Dating Rules from My Future Self, "U Can Get It if U Really Want", because Lucy's closing outfit is so adorable. I'd definitely wear something like this--and I don't usually wear pants! But this outfit is just too perfect.

I hope Dating Rules comes back for another season. I'll let you know if I hear anything.

EDIT: Ooo! I just found out on the Dating Rules Facebook page that they're working on a second season! I can't wait to see the outfits.

In the last half of this episode, Lucy dresses up a pair of pastel pants with a floral blouse and contrasting cardigan. The muted color palette works is neutral enough for work, but still contains lots of pretty colors (pink, mustard, brown).

Lucy's vintage/modern style is so great because she never worries about matching perfectly, but everything comes together so well anyway. Don't be afraid to experiment with color combinations or mixing prints and textures--you can create a unique look that way.

Lucy's signature cat-eye readers (similar here)

Get the Look:

1. Yellow Cardigan (Urban Outfitters, $39 USD) | 2. Wine "Brooke" Ruffle Satchel (Danielle Nicole, $54.99 USD) | 3. Multi-colored beaded necklace (Forever 21, $7.80 USD) | 4. Pink Skinny Jeans (ModCloth, $77.99 USD) | 5. Brown Leather Belt (ModCloth, $37.99 USD) | 6. Cream Elephant Tie-Neck Blouse (ModCloth, $52.99 USD) | 7. Brown Vintage-Inspired Lattice Ankle-Strap Heels (ModCloth, $49.99 USD)

To get Lucy's preppy pastel look, pair a tucked-in tie-neck blouse with a whimsical print (this one has elephants on it) with slim pastel pink jeans. Layer a yellow cardigan over the top and pants, and loop a dark brown leather belt around your waist. Add some vintage-inspired brown heels, a long beaded necklace, and a wine-colored satchel to finish it off.

I hope you had as much fun checking out the style re-caps and inspirations as I did making them!

You can watch episode 9 here.
For more Dating Rules fashion, click here.

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Sretsis x Summer Camp: SUPERSWEET Live! 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:24:00 +0000

Sretsis x Summer Camp 2012

My favorite dream designer Sretsis teamed up with the London-based boy-girl duo Summer Camp this month for SUPERSWEET Live!, a music festival in Bangkok. Sretsis' youthful, quirky designs complemented the easygoing, laidback musical stylings of alternative rock band Summer Camp (which I listened to on Amazon just now, and ended up really liking).

Sretsis designed exclusive apparel and accessories for the band, including friendship bracelets, scarves, and shorts, which will be available in their stores soon. Everything is super cute as usual, and looks like the stuff you wish you had worn at summer camp--whimsical and charming, but still casual.

SUPERSWEET Live! Video:

I wish I could go to Thailand so I could get my hands on a few things! Those striped high-waisted shorts need to be in my closet.

Photos: Sretsis Facebook Page

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Instagram Photo Diary: Chicago & St. Louis Trip, May 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Mon, 14 May 2012 03:13:00 +0000

I'm back! I had so much fun visiting my sister in Chicago and my uncle in Bloomington, and seeing the Gateway Arch in St. Louis with my aunt and parents. I didn't take too many photos (it wasn't my first time visiting and I took sooo many touristy photos before), but I did take a few with my phone.

It was great seeing my sister's new neighborhood (she moved to Lakeview East in Chicago), learning how to use the bus system/trains (I'm an L.A. native--I'm so used to driving everywhere!), eating at local restaurants (me and my dad had even seen some on the Travel Channel!), and taking photos with the giant Marilyn Monroe statue in downtown Chicago. Chicago weather was temperamental--it rained on and off, and there were a few warm days in-between. We ate a lot and walked a lot--which I love doing on vacation.

Here's a selection of photos from our trip (mostly in order). Enjoy!

Wrigley Field, Chicago

Lakeview East, Chicago

Chicago stuffed pizza from Giordano's

Marilyn Monroe statue, downtown Chicago

Chicago skyline reflected on the Bean, Millennium Park

on the road to St. Louis

Abe and his lucky nose, Lincoln Tomb in Springfield

Barbecue pulled pork sandwich, Pappy's Smokehouse in St. Louis

"Concrete" frozen custard from Ted Drewes in St. Louis

The Gateway Arch, St. Louis

Flower-shaped Belgian Waffle and raspberry mocha from Wild Berries in Bloomington

Ferris wheel at Navy Pier, Chicago

The Willis Tower in Lego form, Chicaco

The view from the top of the Willis Tower, Chicago

The gorgeous famed peacock doors at our hotel, The Palmer House, Chicago

My little blue Abe from the Mold-a-Rama machine in front of the Chicago Skyline

For those who followed my photos on Instagram and Twitter: I told you there'd be lots of food photos! ;)
You can follow me on Instagram under sweetsandhearts.

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Big Sur

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Outfit Details: Black "Big Sur" romper (Snoozer Loser via Emerging Thoughts) | Brown woven belt (Forever 21) | Coral straw satchel (Nica via Ross) | Brown "Patuel" espadrille wedges (Aldo)

From one of our random hot days. (Please excuse the wrinkles--I had been out all day)

This romper is great! It has this cool Eqyptian-esque beetle design, printed on black linen. Plus, it has pockets! Pockets! You know I can't resist pockets.

I first discovered Snoozer Loser by browsing the Emerging Thoughts shop. When they tweeted an additional 50% off coupon, I snatched the last black "Big Sur" romper. When it came in, it was too big, but that was easily remedied with a few strategically placed pleats, some elastic, and shortened straps. Then ta-da, it fit perfectly (major props to Emerging Thoughts' customer service--I mentioned on Twitter that it was too big and they offered to exchange it when they found a smaller size! But it was okay, because I was able to fix it).

Snoozer Loser is an indie brand based in New York. Not only is each piece handmade from organic materials, but they're hand-printed as well! They have so many gorgeous designs, so be sure to check them out.

Also, I'm quite proud of the satchel I bought above! I scored it for $15 at Ross (retails for $88!). It pays (really) to be cheap.

I'll be back from Chicago soon! Be sure to follow me on Instragram (sweetsandhearts) while I document my trip.

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Polish Post: Mint and gold glitter nails

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Sun, 06 May 2012 17:30:00 +0000

Mint and gold glitter nails

I'm in Chicago right now, so enjoy this Polish Post! xx

When I painted my nails this color, I was just going to leave it as is, but it seemed like it was missing something...

So I added a bit of gold glitter!

Glitter makes everything better.

Mint and gold glitter nails

To get the same effect, paint your nails with two coats of a pastel mint shade (I used Pink Ice's "Home Run"). With a gold glitter polish, angle the brush starting at the center of the nail, and make short diagonal strokes, filling in the corners as you go. I used two coats of gold glitter to make it extra sparkly (Pop Beauty's "Gold Glitz").

Gold Glitz (Pop Beauty) | "Home Run" (Pure Ice)

What's on your nails right now?

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Les Fleurs Giveaway with Two Winners! Win your favorite top or a ticket to Unique LA (Valued up to $132 USD)

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Sat, 05 May 2012 00:55:00 +0000

A last minute but very awesome giveaway sponsored by Les Fleurs!

Les Fleurs is an L.A. made women's knitwear brand. The collection features sophisticated fashion forward, artistically designed basics that live beyond seasons. These tops and tanks offer blooming buds, springtime themes, and a vintage aesthetic.

Designed by a 20 year old L.A. native who loves sunlit days in the garden, this season's collection sprouts forth flowy garments, silky silhouettes, birds in meditation, bright floral motifs, and smooth cotton blends.

Les Fleurs' unique clean lines flatter the feminine shape and the collection combines soft, luxurious fabrics with special dyes and detailed construction to make stylish, ready to wear pieces that take you easily from day to night and weekday to weekend.

Les Fleurs is generously offering two prizes to two lucky winners!

1st Prize - One (1) winner will win the top of his/her choice, and may choose between either the Vintage Birdy Top (valued at $132 USD, currently $58 for a limited time) or the Flush White Parrot Top (valued at $86 USD, currently $38).

2nd Prize - One (1) winner will win a free ticket to the Unique LA show for May 12th and 13th (valued at $10 USD), the largest independent handmade show in the country.

Giveaway Rules

There will be two (2) separate drawings. The first drawing (for the top) will include all entries (open internationally!), and the second drawing (ticket to Unique LA) will include only Southern California/Los Angeles residents, so please be sure to fill out the entire form before submitting your entry in this blog post.

Mandatory Entry: (1 entry)
You Must be a blog follower through Google or Bloglovin' to be eligible. Copy & paste the following questions and leave it in a comment on this blog post with your answers.

Which top would you want to win and why?
Are you a Southern California/L.A. resident? (yes/no)
What's your e-mail address?

Extra Entries
(please leave separate comments on this post for each entry)
+1 : 'Like' The Brands Boutique on Facebook, then leave a comment in this post with your Facebook username.
+1 : Visit Les Fleurs on The Brands Boutique and leave a comment with your favorite top from the shop.
+1/day : Tweet the following: I want to win a lovely vintage-inspired top from indie label Les Fleurs >> http://goo.gl/FUlEx [@iamericaleigh] **Can tweet daily for extra entries. Please leave a comment in this post with your Twitter username every time you do this.

Entries will be accepted until

Wednesday, May 9th, 2012

9 PM PST

Giveaway is open internationally. Winners will be chosen at random, notified by e-mail, and announced in this post.

You can view Les Fleurs' lookbook here.

Shop the collection online at The Brands Boutique.

Learn about the Unique L.A. show here.

Share, shop & support! Good luck!

EDIT 5/18/2012:

And the winners are...

vdaygirl214 for the Unique LA ticket, and Debbie P for the top! Congratulations!

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Limbo

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Thu, 03 May 2012 22:34:00 +0000

Outfit Details: Cream and black sailor collar chiffon blouse (Forever 21) | Rust high-waisted "Romana" bow shorts (Audrey 3+1 via Ruche) | Black over-the-knee socks (Forever 21) | Black leather booties (Levity via DSW) | Black plastic bow ring (Forever 21) | Silver bunny necklace (c/o Anirtak via Etsy)

Not wearing anything new, except for the sailor collar blouse (which I looooove--the quality is pretty good for Forever 21, and it has pretty button detailing on the back--see above; just ignore my tag sticking out). I spotted it on my way out of the dressing room and just snatched it. Sometimes I'm an impulse shopper.

I've had a couple of job interviews this week (yay!), so we'll see how that goes. I forgot how hard job-hunting is. Wish me luck!

I'll be in Chicago visiting my sister next week, so I'll be taking a break from blog-land to spend time with my family. I might schedule a post or two, and when I get back there will be a new reader appreciation giveaway for reaching 600 followers! Woooooooo! So be sure to check back soon.

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Florals, Ruffles & Stripes: The Prettiest Swimsuits for Spring/Summer 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Thu, 03 May 2012 04:33:00 +0000

Left to right, top to bottom: Bordered Lobelia Bikini (top & bottom $78 USD each) | Watermelon Pulp Bikini (top & bottom $98 USD each) | Retro Poppy Bikini (top & bottom $78 USD each) | Orange Stripe Bikini (top $17.99 USD, bottom $14.99 USD) | Black multicolor ditsy floral monokini ($24.99 USD) | Pink Striped Ruffle Bikini (top & bottom $14.99 USD each)

I don't go to the beach that often--heck, I don't even go to the pool that often...or participate in a lot of outdoor activities that involve wearing a bikini.

But that doesn't stop me from making sure I at least have a cute one to wear--you know, just in case. I gathered up the prettiest, frilliest, ones I could find (via Target and Anthropologie) to share with all of you.

I was pleasantly surprised with Target's selection. They have plenty of designs and styles, most under $30 for a set or one-piece.

I most certainly need at least one of the above.
Which one's your favorite?

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Food Adventures: Chicken Crostina

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Wed, 02 May 2012 03:55:00 +0000

Chicken Crostina

Okay, so the chicken crostina isn't supposed to be exactly as pictured--I put a little bit of the caprese salad we made on top for some color.

I found the recipe for chicken crostina on Olive Garden's website, of all things. It's a potato-crusted chicken breast with pasta, in a wine and cream sauce. It wasn't too hard, although I made a few blunders (burnt the garlic for the sauce, burnt the chicken crust a little when it was in the broiler), but oh well, it still came out surprisingly tasty. I also didn't like the wine I put in the sauce--some cheap moscato that came in a single-serve bottle. Maybe next time I'll try a wine that tastes better. I was too lazy to add potatoes to the crust (which, essentially, is the "crostina" in the recipe, I think), but it worked fine without it! Promise.

Happy food-ogling.
Pin any recipes you've been dying to try lately?

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Songbird

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 07:10:00 +0000

Sabre "Acid Aloha" sunglasses

Outfit Details: Black maxi dress with yellow bird print (made by me) | Skinny brown belt (Forever 21) | Bronze jelly jewel sandals (Payless) | Oversized black "Acid Aloha" sunglasses (Sabre via 6pm)

I was itching for a new maxi dress...
so I made one.

I hardly ever sew anything for myself, so now that I have more free time, it's something I want to start doing more! Plus, I can't get enough of this bird print (I already have a mini dress I made using it a couple years ago).

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ModCloth's Make the Cut: Exclusive Dress Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:19:00 +0000

Wedges, $48
Satchel, $135
Doilie earrings, $9.99
Bow necklace, $9.99
Straw ribbon hat, £14
Red heart belt, $20
Beauty in the Air Dress in Delphinium, $100

I just wanted to share my entry for ModCloth's Make the Cut: Polyvore contest! I chose the Beauty in the Air Dress and mixed it with bright primary colored accessories. Isn't the dress beautiful? I want it in my own closet. I don't know why I don't play around with Polyvore more--making collages is actually kind of fun.

For the contest, bloggers were invited to style their favorite dress from ModCloth's exclusive dress collection, designed by their community and founder. I think it's a really neat concept and hope that they continue collaborating with their fans and followers to design clothing--the results are quite amazing!

Here are a few of my favorites:

Winsome Style Dress ($99.99 USD) | Effortless Allure Dress in Gold ($129.99 USD) | In the Mood for Dots Dress ($74.99 USD)

The dresses above, along with the others from the collection, will be available soon! You can preview the rest of the collection here.

Okay, I'm going to spend the rest of this rainy day watching Arrested Development re-runs with the dog. Have a great rest of the week!

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Come closer

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 03:41:00 +0000

Outfit Details: Navy and cream v-neck sweater dress (Madewell) \ Woven brown belt (Forever 21) | Brown bowler zipper bag (c/o R&Em) | Taupe wedges (Alloy)

I've been favoring simpler styles lately, and minimal (if any) jewelry. We all go through our fashion phases.

This is the sweater dress I got from the Madewell Style Social event. I love it. It's easy to wear. The only thing I regret is not getting the coral version as well (but I'm trying to save money right now, so this is the only thing I left with).

In other news, I'm so excited! I'll be visiting my sister in Chicago in a couple of weeks with my parents and aunt. I can't wait to eat deep dish pizza. Ohhhh. If you have any other restaurant recommendations, do let me know--I'm always up for trying new things in big cities!

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Polish Post: Sparkly Rose Gold

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:02:00 +0000

Sparkly rose gold nails

I can't get over my love for glitter nails.
I also can't get over my love for rose gold lately. It's just so perfect--neutral and feminine.

I tried Nails Inc.'s "Chelsea Square" (very similar to above, but chunkier glitter) a while ago and really liked it, but it was sold out at every Sephora I went to, and I didn't want to pay for shipping online (or buy more things in order to get the free shipping). I saw that Butter London had a similar shade and bought that on Amazon instead (no tax, and I had free shipping with something else I needed anyway).

I've heard so many good things about Butter London, and was introduced to the brand when I watched Betsey Johnson's fashion show online a couple of years ago, so I wanted to give it a try. Though they're a little pricey (about $14 USD a bottle), they're made without all those awful chemicals that stain your nails, and come in a lot of fun and interesting colors with cheeky British names. Awesome.

"Kate" (Zoya) | "Rosie Lee" (Butter London)

Just paint two coats of a dusty pink/mauve shade (I used Zoya's "Kate"; got it for free when they had a two free polishes deal a few months ago!) and two coats of a rose gold glitter (I used Butter London's "Rosie Lee"). These two shades complemented each other wonderfully, creating a seamless sparkly rose gold

It was also my first time trying both brands, and they're both great! Non-streaky and opaque in just a couple of coats.

What's on your nails right now?

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Photo Diary: Style Social at Madewell with Sincerely Jules

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:01:00 +0000

me on Madewell's steps (black platform sandals by Diba, c/o CSN.com; photo by Yang Chang)

Madewell at the Americana

Inside Madewell's store (look at all the pretty colors!)

The DJ

Jeans in fun colors and prints

Treats and eats

Vintage handheld mirrors

Striped outfits (so nautical)

Leather sandals

The navy and cream sweater dress I bought (on sale for $30!)

Sincerely Jules and me

The Americana at Brand in Glendale recently had weekly store events hosted by some of the most popular bloggers, covering everything from decorating to DIY, and of course, shopping. When I found out that Sincerely Jules was hosting a shopping night at Madewell a couple of weeks ago, I RSVPd right away! She's such an inspiration (and super sweet in person, too!), and definitely one of the style bloggers I look up to the most.

I had never stepped inside a Madewell before, but had stalked a few pieces online and in their lookbooks. Their style is very preppy, clean, simplistic, and British--one of my go-to looks because it's so classic and easy. I loved the way the store was decorated too! There were a bunch of random, vintage found objects arranged in mini collections around the store (mirrors, spools of thread, glass decanters filled with colored water).

Me and my friend enjoyed a few sweets and drinks while shopping around and trying on a few pieces. I even scored a v-neck navy and cream sweater dress in the sale section (about $30, marked down from around $100!).

Overall, it was a wonderful event! I do hope they have more of these in the future. It's fun getting to see your favorite bloggers in person and checking out their favorite things. Plus, the Style Social series events were free and open to the public, so next time there's another one, be sure to stop by!

Check out the photos on Facebook.

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I'm a lady

noreply@blogger.com (Erica Leigh) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 20:49:00 +0000

Outfit details: Cream heart print "Becca" dress (Dahlia via ASOS) | Black faux leather motorcycle jacket (Sashimi) | Black crochet tights (Betsey Johnson) | Black suede "Folklore" boots (Seychelles) | Pale gold swing bag (Rebecca Minkoff via Endless) | Plastic black bow ring (Forever 21)

Here's what I wore to the 365 Hangers Style-a-thon event in my last post (oops. You can see my slip in a few of the photos--better than the alternative though). This is my favorite favorite dress--I've worn it so much already that the little heart prints are starting to fade (ack!), but whatever. I always stalk Dahlia dresses on their website, and ASOS too, to see when they're going on sale.

Also, It's a good thing I took these photos when I did--it started sprinkling, then raining heavily right when I was finishing up! The weather is so unpredictable sometimes.

Oh, and be sure to follow me on Pose and Instagram (my username is sweetsandhearts). I'm quickly becoming obsessed with both. As for my iPhone, I love it, but I sure miss having real buttons to press. I can't seem to type anything in it without making at least one mistake. Completely irritating. I suppose there's a learning curve to any of these new things though!

Have a great weekend!

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