may flowers

5/17: Updated to fix some silly mistakes!

Hi!

{background from here}

For this month’s Style Snapshot, I’m excited to showcase all of the gorgeous floral prints available! May is the month of blooming, and I think that the beauty of the outdoors really translates nicely into different pieces. Each item has been paired with corresponding items that make a complete outfit. Do you like florals, and if so, have you been spotting them this month? :)

O U T F I T   O N E :

When wearing such a bold pattern on the bottom, it’s important to keep the rest of your outfit neutral. A basic tee and understated flip-flops let the shorts shine on their own!

Floral Clean Print Shorts from Gap / Lightweight Crewneck in Pear Drop from Boden / Foundations Flip Flop from Nordstrom

O U T F I T   T W O :

Floral patterns are so easy to wear on top, as long as you continue to keep the rest of your outfit coordinated. When it is breezy in the morning, a cardigan does the trick {and it looks stunning against the cami!}, and it can easily be taken off later in the afternoon.

Pretty Cami in Pearl Watercolor from Boden / Summerweight Cotton Cardigan in Succulent Green from J. Crew Factory / Dark Denim Midi Short from American Eagle

O U T F I T   T H R E E :

Finally, a gorgeous, embroidered dress deserves to stand out on its own. To keep it simple, I recommend going with a basic pink flat and an easy, but still very pretty, hairstyle. A light pink cardigan would look adorable as well :)

Floral Embroidered Sundress in Peach Blossom from J. Crew Factory / Kenneth Cole Reaction Slip Fine Shoe in Pink from Piperlime / Perfectly Pretty Hair from The Small Things Blog

Have a lovely night!

Bella

loving >> week 74

Hi!

I’m loving…

dear edwina jr.

My little sister, Lulu, is performing in Dear Edwina Jr. this weekend, and I’m so excited for her! I honestly have never heard of Dear Edwina before she signed up, so I am kind of intrigued to see what the show is all about :) All I know is that she is a cowgirl, a chef, and a boy who lives in Hawaii {there was a shortage of males in the cast. don’t you hate that?} all in one show. Bound to be interesting, but also entertaining and oh-so adorable.

angie’s boom chicka pop popcorn

I really do think I have an addiction to popcorn. Yum, yum, indeed. I’m always on the lookout for low-calorie {which usually means low carb!} snacks, and this sea salt popcorn fits the bill! I could honestly eat it all day long, but right now it suffices as a lunch snack or I have a bowl of it after school. And, I promise you that I have no affiliation with the Angie’s brand, but are we not loving that packaging?! :) I think it is so fun and colorful!

janie jumps

I like to keep my dolls looking cute whenever possible, so I love finding unique, original Etsy shops that sell clothing for them. My recent fave is Janie Jumps, which is a shop full of the most adorable shorts and dresses, as well as tops, for eighteen-inch dolls! The owner just updated her listings this past week with new summer items, and my favorites are shown above. {The shorts, bottom left, sold out after I made the collage. sorry!} Anyhoo, I just love her use of whimsical patterns, and I kind of wish that these were human-sized too.

to and from’s spring 2013 issue

I am a big fan of To & From’s gift guides, and I had no idea that they released a spring issue! With over one-hundred pages, the online magazine is full of gift ideas for graduation, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and birthdays. It’s pretty awesome, and the layout is amazing. I think that the bunch of bloggers this round was a good one, and I really enjoyed flipping through. A long mental wish list was made as I read through myself :)

More online May fun can be found here at the Emma magazine website. Such a good issue, yes?

good luck charlie!

Good old Disney shows! I usually don’t care for much of the programs anymore, but I really like watching Good Luck Charlie. I mean, look at how much they have all grown! The premiere was so cute, and I loved that the Muppets “guest-starred.” Although this is the last season, I’m sure it will go out with a bang!

Have a lovely start to your weekend!

Bella

Style Bloggers!

Hi!

For this month’s Style Snapshot, keeping with the Tech Week theme, I picked six of my favorite style bloggers to showcase. Each have a distinctive taste, but when it comes down to it, they are all so chic and write really fun posts! :) Do you follow any really good style blogs?

1 » Rumi at Fashiontoast » I love Rumi at Fashiontoast for her simplistic taste both in style and design. Her looks are so effortless, but have a big impact.

2 » Emily at Cupcakes and Cashmere » One of my first style blogging loves was Emily over at Cupcakes and Cashmere. Her lovely crafts and recipes aside, I seriously envy all of her outfits! {plus, she has a book, for anyone who wants even more tips! :)}

3 » Jane at Sea of Shoes » First off, can I just say how much I love Jane’s amazing red, curly hair?! Anyhoo, Jane always looks amazing, and her outfits aren’t too over-the-top, so this is a good blog to start with if you’re just venturing into the fashion world.

4 » Justina at A Bent Piece of Wire » I got hooked with A Bent Piece of Wire even since I read about Justina in Teen Vogue. I think that she looks good in just about anything, which is pretty hard to do!

5 » Tavi at The Style Rookie » Tavi literally changed the world of fashion, all as a teenager. She is so inspiring, and although she has thousands of fans, Tavi can also feel like your very best friend.

6 » Kate at The Small Things Blog » Finally, Kate isn’t necessarily at “style blogger,” because she focuses more on beauty, but what is a good outfit without the perfect hair and makeup? Her tutorials are quick and easy to follow.

Have a lovely night!

This was a part of Tech Week, a week-long event here at Ciao Bella! Be sure to check back for more technology related fun!

loving >> week 71

Hi!

I’m loving…

moonrise kingdom

Oh, I loved this movie! :) It had been a long time since my family had a movie night, so we picked up Moonrise Kingdom on our weekly trip to the library. My dad gave it a rave review, but I wasn’t really sure what to expect. After watching it, I’m glad to say I really enjoyed it. Set in an old-fashioned campground and the surrounding towns, it follows young lovers Suzy and Sam, and it is entertaining from start to finish. Totally worth seeing, in my opinion! Have you watched Moonrise Kingdom?

how to succeed in business without really trying

One of the perks of being in my school’s drama program is that you get to go on field trips to watch and critique local shows. Yesterday, I went to see How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and it was outstanding! The basic storyline is about a young man named J. Pierrepont Finch as he navigates his way through the business world. It was so funny, and I adored the costumes and set design. I would love to see it on Broadway some day.

boden’s summer releases!

We all know by now that I am a huge Boden fangirl :) So, you can imagine my excitement when they released over seventy new items yesterday in the Johnnie B and Mini Boden lines! There was so much to love, but my favorites are shown above. It’s pretty clear that I’m really digging turquoise and coral right now. Anyhoo, in clockwise order from top left, the Hotchpotch Dress is a new design, but I really like how unique it is and the pretty floral prints used. The Broderie Shorts are another new design, but I think they will be perfect for hot summer days. The Full Skirt has been a favorite of mine in the past, but the sailboats were what really did me in! And, finally that Floaty Top is beyond adorable, and I hope to add it to my wardrobe!

smash’s reach for me performance

Smash has had a rocky past, but I think the storylines are beginning to look up a bit! One addition that I think has really improved the show is Ana, Karen’s friend. She is an awesome performer, and a surprisingly good singer. I mean, have you seen this performance yet?! AHmazing.

this cute lamb stuffed animal

I’m usually not on for stuffed animals, but this little lamb has stolen my heart. My little sister got her for Easter, and I have fallen in love with her adorable expression! My sister named her Willow :) Isn’t she just the cutest thing?

Have a lovely Friday!

the braid parade

Hello!

March seems to be a month of braids, don’t you think? From the classic French braid to the newer Fishtail, braids are being reinvented daily, and I love testing them out myself. For this month’s Style Snapshot, I took some of my favorite braided styles and paired them with a cute fashion piece! What braids do you like to wear?