Shabby Apple Giveaway

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Today I have an extra special treat for you guys! Shabby Apple is giving another one of you lucky ladies out there a $50 gift card to spend as you please!! 

Just in case you need some inspiration on what to spend that $50 on, I've decided to pick out 3 of my current favorites from their site ;) 

First up and top of my list, is the gorgeous desert modern jersey maxi dress with kimono sleeves. I love to dress in all different shades of gray (a little obsessed) and this looks so amazingly comfortable, I don't think I'd ever want to take it off. Plus, it looks like it would work as a great maternity option as well to accomodate a growing bump.

I also wouldn't turn down this cute first stop peplum skirt. The eggplant/oxblood color seems to be a perfect fit for this time of year don't you think? 

Lastly, how about this stunning palatine hill sheath dress? I know it is very white but what a great silhouette and how easily could it be accessorized? This is my favorite pick for a last minute spring break get-away to some place warm. If you can't make it to Rome like this lucky model, how about one of my all-time favorite spots, the Florida gulf coast! 

Now to win that $50 all you have to do is the following:

-Like Shabby Apple's facebook page here and leave a comment on this post saying that you did. 

-Please follow The Forge via GFC and leave a comment.

-Visit Shabby Apple shop and pick out a favorite item, leave a comment here stating which one you picked.

Make sure to also include your email address!!

For extra entries you may:

Tweet about the giveaway (leave a comment with the twitter link please)

Follow The Forge on twitter (leave a comment here)

Follow The Forge on Facebook (leave a comment here)

Follow The Forge on Instagram (leave a comment) 

If you just can't wait to shop Shabby Apple, and I won't blame you, then use code THEFORGE10OFF to receive 10% off your entire purchase :)

Giveaway is open to US residents only.

Giveaway ends Thursday 1/31 at midnight EST. 

Winner will be announced and contacted within 72 hours and has 48 hours to respond or else another winner will be drawn.

Click here for detailed giveaway rules and disclosure .

Good Luck! 

The winner of the $50 credit is entry number 4, Mandy Ford. 

Congrats!!

excuse my sleepy eyes

T-Shirt: Zara, Sweater: Esprit, Pants: Unionbay, Jacket: old Navy, Shoes: Steve Madden, Hat: Pieces

Do you ever look at pictures of yourself and suddenly realize how much your child looks like you? I mean it's not like I never noticed the similarities before but looking at these pictures I was like, holy cow we have the same exact "still sleepy, I just woke up" eyes. The ones that make me look like I'm 12!! 

Oh well, that was my random fact of the day.

On another note, my in-laws gave me two tickets to see Les Miserable (broadway version) for my birthday and so Jason and I got all gussied up and went on a real date last night. Including a fabulous dinner at Meat&Potatoes.

It was so nice to get out of the house and enjoy an adult evening out. We even made an effort not to talk about Logan the entire time, which of course was a total failure ;) and let's be honest, there simply is nothing better to talk about than that awesome little guy.

Extremely funny faces, folks!

Vest: h&m, Shirt: American Eagle, Sweater: Esprit, Leggings: F21, Boots: Hunter 

Ok, just one but isn't it a great one? This is what happens when my husband (aka the photographer) tells me to "work it gurlll". And check out that nicely pointed leg to top it all off.

No words!

Now that we covered that, let's move onto the anatomy of this outfit, shall we?

I am in love with this vest. I almost bought it back when I was in Chicago in September but just couldn't bear to spend the $50 at h&m. I ended up thinking about it for months and then while we were in Germany I happened to come across it again and it was on sale for 20 euros which is about $25 or so. So score! I thought ad bought it. Finally. You will be seeing a lot more of it, I promise. (and if you follow me on instagram you already have...) 

The leggings aren't my favorite but Jason obviously liked them, as he repeatedly told me. I don't really think leggings should be treated as pants, unless you are under 12 or weigh less than 110 lbs, but I think they're ok if your butt is covered up. Then they're kind of like tights. Or not?

What are your thoughts on leggings? When, where, how? Do's, Don'ts? 

And lastly, I sometimes wish I would have just gotten a plain pair of Hunters instead of these... but then again, wouldn't that be boring? 

Well, those are my thoughts on this outfit for today. 

It's my birthday tomorrow and I have a giveaway planned so you should totally come back for that!

28? Yikes! 

this is becoming quite the fashion blog...

Sweater: H&M, Pants: Jbrand, Jacket: Ralph Lauren, Boots: Sorel, Hat: Pieces, Scarf: Gap 

The weekend is already over again and yes, there is another outfit post! I'm saying it is due to a major case of writers block and the fact that I've been so busy with everything else but any form of creative project to share on here :( Shame on me.

What do you do when you write a blog and feel like you don't really have anything much to say??

Post pictures, I guess? 

restore to factory settings

Coat: Mango, Sweater: H&M, Leggings: F21, Boots: Steve Madden, Scarf: Target

It's been kind of crazy since we got back home and today surely takes the cake in the "ya didn't anticipate this when you woke up, did you?" rate your days category.

Logan had to get his flu booster shot in the morning and since we were all up before the crack of dawn thanks to le jet lag, I managed to get dressed in something totally appropriate for a doctor's visit and a Target run. 

See above. 

Right! 

While getting dressed I remembered that I hadn't backed up my phone yet since we got home and it was pretty much exploding with pictures. So trying to be super efficient I plugged it in while the curling iron was heating up and since it was early and I wasn't thinking very clearly yet, I didn't hesitate to click "download and update" when iTunes reminded me that my phone still needed the newest update.

Of course by the time I was done with my hair and all, I had long forgotten about my phone updating and me wanting to transfer pictures and such...

After breakfast and right before we were heading out to the doctor's appointment the husband delivered the news that no "too many really, very necessary pictures taking" girl out there wants to hear:

YOUR COMPUTER IS SAYING THERE WAS AN ERROR WHILE UPDATING YOUR PHONE AND YOU NEED TO RESTORE IT TO FACTORY SETTINGS NOW!!!

Say what??

I won't go into too much more detail but after accepting that there was really no way around it, I gave in and decided to restore instead of using my phone as a paperweight in the future.

I don't know what caused it but I am guessing that having virtually no available space left on your phone isn't a good foundation for any software updates being installed properly. Also, it would probably help if your computer weren't just as full as your phone. 

Lesson learned.

Thank goodness for iCloud.

Thank the heavens for a patient and understanding husband.

Thank the flu shot? for a 5 hour toddler nap spent wrapping gifts for another Christmas tomorrow, 2 baskets of laundry folded and a phone restored back to almost normal. 

back home with an outfit

sweater: i forget!, pants: drykorn, bag: fossil, leather boots: thrifted

We are back and doing the usual unpacking, laundry, mail, get the house back in order, make sure the plants didn't die type of stuff. Soooo I am just posting this outfit I wore way before we left for Germany from one of those unusually warm, late November days.

I really love this sweater and the boots are so nicely worn in you almost can't tell they're even there. Looking at this I'm kinda ready for spring already. Are you? 

Outfits of 2012 and Giveaway

There are only few hours left in 2012 and I feel like another year has gone by more quickly than ever.Life is busy but so good, mostly thanks to that little man of ours of course. 

I decided to pick out some of my favorite outfits of this past year and looking at them all now I feel like I have multiple personality disorder in the fashion department ;) 

I didn't group them by seasons so I guess that makes it look even worse but holy cow!!! 

For a while now I've been making an effort to try and find more of a true style direction. I've cleaned out my closet, got rid of a ton of stuff and try to be pickier when it comes to the clothing I buy. 

Quality over quantity. 

Looking back at some of these looks I realize that even though I like them, I don't necessarily feel like the clothes will be worn again in the future, which is something I am trying to change.

Change is good, I like to see how my style has evolved and I think it's always ok to change your mind :) Not all of the outfits I have posted throughout the past year I am happy with, but that's normal right? 

This blog has come a long way as well and I am happier with it than I've ever been. 

To finish this year off right I want to give you all a chance to win some ad space here :)

I know it's not much but there is another awesome sponsor giveaway coming up very soon as well. 

If you're a follower, simply leave a comment on this post and let me know what sort of posts you enjoy reading the most here on The Forge. Please also leave your email. 

If you're not a follower yet, now is the time ;) 

Your comment will be entered to win one of four 200x150 px ad spaces that will run for 30 days.

The 4 winners will be drawn on January 4th.

Thank you all so much for reading and have a happy and healthy new year :) 

Paris pt.I and an outfit

coat: old navy, cardigan: urban outfitters, chambray: jcrew, leggings: american eagle, scarf: gap, hat: timberland, bag: liebeskind berlin, boots: sorel

A few days before Christmas, my parents graciously offered to watch Logan for a few days so that J and I could hop on a train to Paris, take in the city and get away from it all for a littler while.

Obviously, that isn't an offer you turn down so we made plans and went. 

I'd never left Logan for more than a night so it was definitely weird to get up at 4 am, sneak one more peek at him, and leave. Just like that.

The grandparents say everything went great and he didn't seem to have missed us much at all... 

We came back after he was already in bed again so there were no big goodbye or welcome back scenes either, he just woke up and we were there and he didn't even bat an eyelash. Works for me!

Now back to the much more interesting Paris story here, shall we? 

We took the German high speed train ICE from Stuttgart to Paris' Gare de l'est which took under 4 hours and was the most comfortable trip I have had in a long time. Actually makes me never want to get back in a can of sardines on an airplane ever again... 

Since we left so early we got some more sleep on the train and arrived just before 10 am. It was almost like we just woke up there. Almost. 

At Gare de l'est we hopped straight onto the metro that took us to the hotel. I bought our tickets at the counter using my best french of course. I got a weak little smile and the answer in english. Hey, I tried! We stayed at the Le Meridien Etoile which is great because it has a metro station pretty much right next door, friendly staff and we had a very sleek, comfortable and clean room. 

Since we got there so early in the day we went straight back out to explore the city a bit. We took the metro up to Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur and took a nice little stroll. Montmartre was so cute and quaint and even had a small Christmas market. Oh, and if you need some tacky Paris souvenirs or like to be harassed by shady guys in the street that would like to tie a string around your finger, you will find them here as well... and most every other touristy place in the city. Be ready for a shouting match people! 

It wasn't horribly cold and stayed dry all day which was more than we could have expected for traveling in December. I wore my Sorel boots all 3 days and I have to say they were amazingly comfortable and warm through the rain that we did get and with all the walking. Oh the walking!

I took way too many pictures for one post so I'll be posting more pictures as I go through them.