how low can we go?

you know i'm a fan of the high/low analysis, and just generally of finding accessible ways to try trends we like. don't get me wrong...i also like the occasional splurge, but we can't splurge all the time. so here, i found an even lower version of the yellow satchels i wrote about last week (admittedly this one's not neon, but still very yellow) and also a very affordable colorblock heel like the ones i admired here.

though i love the ones below for sure (mainly for color choice), i think the above version is a pretty good replacement, especially given that they're over $300 less. thoughts?

high/low...structured leopard clutch

loving these structured leopard bags...can you guess which is mcqueen and which is house of harlow? the top one is from our girl nicole and retails at $255 and the one below is a slamming $1450 from mcqueen.

and then there's this sparkly riff from savanna...

the lowest priced of the bunch is the one from free people, and do we really need more encouragement to shop there?

take me away

this bag is so much fun. and i love this wallet:

both of these items make me feel like i'm on vacation...what's on your shopping radar right now?

tiny treasures...over the shoulder

sometimes i just feel overwhelmed by the awesomeness of a good find...can you relate? when i was in bath and body works mourning the discontinuation of my beloved vanilla noir, i spotted these nylon totes and i wasn't as sad. i went for the lime chevron and the blue ikat, but the other prints are great too.

i've long loved nylon totes and i use them for little gifts, for carrying stuff in matching style and for keeping one in every nook and cranny of my life. what's special about these is twofold - first, the pouch they roll into is attached, which isn't always the case, so there's no little pouch to keep track of. and secondly, and this is the best part, the straps are long enough that you can comfortably wear them on your shoulder rather than having to hold them.

so these are this week's tiny treasure. if you need an almost-neon pick-me-up, the lime chevron is your answer.

images

watch the gap

holiday shopping starts out an organized fantasy... it's idealized by our long and thoughtful lists, dogeared catalogs and big, thematic plans. in reality though, some of the most efficient holiday shopping is done on the go - on our way to or from work, a doctor's appointment or an oil change. this month, window shopping and killing time are crucial to our effectiveness. i'll certainly share the best things i've seen on my walk to work, and i hope you'll do the same!
from the gap, i die for the nylon puffer totes ($14.99 - $17.99) and the silver ones (by far the most moon-tastic, in my opinion) aren't available online anymore, so scamper in. these are perfect for wet, slushy days and to throw everything from extra socks, a rolled up hoodie and all your other essentials. i mean my essentials. i mean your gift recipient's essentials...you know what i mean.

i also obviously love the sequin totes ($44.50) though the silver seems to be only available in stores. clearly, silver's a big deal right now.


and the velvet totes ($39.50) are so cozy and luxe at the same time which is, in my opinion, a pretty perfect combination. warm and versatile in the gray, and piercing and on-trend in the blue, these are a total win.

these are all perfect as secret santa gifts, the best "stocking" around to be filled with other goodies, or a standalone gift for someone special. or of course for you - i mean me - i mean...

top image from martha stewart, all images from the gap

hot under the collar

aren't heavy winter coats the bane of your existence while commuting, traveling or shopping? UGH! they're great when you're outside freezing, but it seems like the nanosecond you get inside, the heat is blasting like it's trying to bake you, and all the people create a level of body heat that makes you want to strip down and scream. my solution is usually to skip the coat if at all possible, figuring i'll be cold while outside but that i'll warm up quickly inside. then i stand there shivering waiting for the bus cursing my stupid, stupid idea.

enter the abrigo bag...love love love! have you seen it? it's a pretty tapestry-style carpetbag (comes in cognac or verde) which holds any size coat (and a pocketbook as well!) and is easily slung over your shoulder or strapped onto a piece of rolling luggage. and when you're not using it, it folds flat and stows anywhere you want. this is so perfect for someone who travels a lot, carries an abundance of stuff everywhere they go (hello, have we met??), really this is just pretty awesome.

LOVE. especially in cognac.

images from abrigo bag

go for baroque

i am just obsessed with vera bradley's new print, baroque. can you believe? you go, vera. as her site says, this is a fully modern print but with strong roots in the classical, which to me, makes it just about perfect.
i adore the black-and-whiteness of it all, especially with the elegant flourishes throughout, but the punch of a sharp, sharp citrine color...it goes over the top. OBSESSED.
this new development makes me totally question my previous intention of beginning a new, matching but mismatching vera bradley wardrobe since mine is falling apart after over a decade of checking it at airports (wouldn't do that again) and dragging it everywhere (i would lift and place this time around). although i suppose i could see throwing in a piece or two in imperial toile one day.



and then maybe just one piece of puccini. you know, down the road...

oh boy, here we go again.

all images from vera bradley

in the bag

old navy is really pleasing me with accessories as of late. first it was these great duffels, then the terrifically beautiful scarves and crossbody totes i wrote about here. add to that the bucket bags and straw totes i wrote about on shefinds, and i'm basically a bag hoarder.

but there's more. i seriously love these graphic rope totes. i feel like they're pretty much perfect for a wide array of summertime activities - they're great for the beach, obvi, but they're also good daytime totes for daytrips or parties where you need to pack a little more than usual - a towel, a change of clothes, a large bowl of pasta salad...anything, really. i also love them because they're a nice alternative to a leather or otherwise heavy commuting carryall.

love!

nothing old about it

good morning friends. i feel it's my civic duty to share with you some of the loveliness that is old navy right now.

first order of business...floral print sarongs. i am obsessed with the yellow one above. i think it would be summer perfection with this lightweight coral hoodie on top, don't you?

truly, i love all the colorways the sarong comes in, but that yellow...it just has my number (see here for yellow obsession).

and they are downright nailing the lightweight scarf situation - love the metallic thread and pom pom details!









and look at this update on the crossbody tote style - you can control the strap length with the cute bow -- major improvement!




every single item above...under $20. LOVE.

all images from old navy

tiny treasures...roll it up

i am of the firm belief that you can never have enough bags (exhibit A, my closet). totes, clutches, hobos, barrels...a purpose for every one of them, and once in a while, a bag truly wows me. the one i'm telling you about today happens to cost $3, so...tiny treasure, obvi. (if you're new to honey living, or just to tiny treasures, they're small indulgences to make you feel good for under $5. check out all the past tiny treasures here).

i've had these bags for a while (see here for the matching reusable shopping totes), but for some reason, i keep forgetting to write about them. forgive me! so...

pier 1 carries the bag in four extremely likable prints, and they roll into a small pouch which can clip on to...something. keys i guess? i don't know, that part i don't get, but i'm a huge fan of throwing one in my bag, one in the car, one in my desk drawer...the list goes on. they're so perfect for when you end up with more stuff than you thought you would coming to or from work, shopping, a visit with friends, etc. also, you don't have to deal with the annoyance of forgetting the reusable grocery bags in the car or your house every time you're at the store, because these are always in your bag taking up hardly any room at all.

me being big on matching bag ensembles, all mine are in the spot-on black and white damask, but the other three coordinate nicely with each other and might one day find their way into my bag too.

some honey living you might have missed:
-if you love black and white damask like i do, you might love the rainboots in this post.
-for more stylish reusable tote bags, see here and here.

photo from pier 1

sax it up

how cute?? they're envirosax and they're $10 each and i found them at bloomie's. apparently, they're the original designer reusable bag (that's a mouthful). hate to say it (slash love to say it) but they're way cuter than the ones i've written about before.

my crazy shopping brain would like to have them in the following groupings:





another very doable combination would be this:





what about the top one, you ask? (cause i'm sure you're asking that, naturally). well that one i'll just take a pair of. done.

all photos from bloomingdales