5 Epic Labor Day Weekend Sales

1. Tory Burch Robinson Dome Satchel. Up to 30% off through Sept. 2. Code: LABORDAY

2. Asos Dahlia PU Skirt with Cutwork Detail. Take 20% off all items through Sept. 3 Code: SUMMER4EVER

3. J.Crew Peplum dress in stretch wool. Extra 30% off final sale items through Sept. 2. Code: HELLO30

4. TopShop Jago block heel midi court shoes. Take an extra 20% off through Sept. 3

5. Piperlime Marc by Marc Jacobs Ball and Chains cuff. On sale now plus free shipping.

Have a great long weekend everybody! 

White after Labor Day?

Last weekend came and went too quickly for my taste. I have been wearing my white Hudson jeans like they are going out of style because, well, they are. I'm not normally one for 'rules' especially when it comes to freedom of self-expression, but this post–Labor Day moratorium on white apparel is a rule I won't write off entirely. 

Old etiquette and snobbery aside, wearing white jeans after Labor Day, the symbolic end of Summer, doesn't lend itself to my love of chunky Fall sweaters and boots. So, I shall bid adieu to these skinnies until Spring.

That being said, every other piece of white clothing is totally game. Remember Michelle Obama's white Jason Wu dress worn confidently to the Presidential Inauguration in 2008? Such inaugurations happen during my least favorite month - January.     

Do you wear your whites post-Labor Day?

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Domestic Life

I mentioned (via Instagram) that I've been revamping our home decor a bit and figured it would be fun to share with you! After living together for 3 years, our home is finally starting to feel like 'us.' 

You know what is better than chips and salsa? Serving it in ikat printed bowls. The large ones are ideal for serving my salads. They're so interesting, I might leave one out just to be admired. 

New throw pillows (20% off at Crate & Barrel) are an easy and inexpensive way to change the aesthetic and add a pop of color to a room.

A few friendly negotiations took place before the art I acquired through marriage found a new home at Goodwill. While the time was right to part with decor that no longer spoke to us, we aren't exactly strutting in to galleries, sipping Dom Perignon and purchasing an original or two. I replaced our old art with some affordable pieces that speak to both of us. 

Throwing in the towel on designing my dream bathroom until we own a place of our own makes me get a little creative in the water closet department. I change our towels and bath mats 2-3 times a year to mix up colors and make the space feel new.

Pillows Crate & Barrel / stripe towel, monogram towel, bath mat, bowls, mercury vase, lacquer tray West Elm / 'For Like Ever' print Super-Rural / other prints Society 6

This and That

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

All of these products were found at Lydali, a SF based company whose mission is to share beautiful, ethical products like all of these (and this fantastic tote designed by Julie Wagne of Petel). 

They source products from artisans and designers in countries where economic activity is limited, but needed.

It's pretty empowering to know my shopaholic tendencies can help change the global economy because, as they say, talent is universal, but opportunity isn’t. Makes you feel pretty good about spending your hard earned money, right?

Dream Believe Achieve

Photos by: Lydia Hudgens

Not long ago, I was fearful that starting a blog would lead to ridicule and isolation. All of my friends would surely know I am a self-absorbed, judgmental, serial-grammar-killer with shopaholic tendencies.  (Not that they didn't know this already, but it can be scary to put yourself out there for the masses to judge and critique.)

What surprised me, however, was that starting BethAnimalPrint resulted in interesting opportunities and greater friendships. It has been amazing collaborating with superb people and unique brands all because I pressed 'publish' on that first post.

This is post 102 and I am humbled by the amount of support, love and constructive feedback  I've received from family and friends (both old and new) from the beginning. 

This sweatshirt is the truth. A necessary reminder to always dream and believe. If you can do that then you've achieved something already. 

Thank you for reading and for supporting BethAnimalPrint. It means so much to me. A special thank you to the love of my life for taking photos of me every weekend for the past nine months. If you were thinking this is just a phase, it is not.

Please keep the support coming by heading on over to Monogram before Sept. 2nd and commenting, 'favorting' (click the heart) or re-posting this outfit. Thank you, lover faces!

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Fall Wish List

I spent most of yesterday on a patio sweating  glowing profusely in abnormally sweltering temperatures, so it is hard for me to imagine that Fall is almost here. Gorgeous September issues covering the magazine stands are all the proof I need that Fall shopping needs to begin now. Here's what is on my list:

1. Lime Green Floral Blouse

2. Marc by Marc Jacobs Too Hot to Handle Hobo

3. Tall Leather A-Line Skirt

4. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Vintage 19 in Fuschia Pink

5. Lydali Bull Skull Ring

6. Dolce Vita Hilary in Black Mid-rise Ankle Boot

I shared some tips for an easy transition from Summer to Fall with Lydali so, head over there now! 

Exposed

In a rather daring moment, I bought this crop-top thinking I would wear this tiny piece of fabric if a.) I was moderately inebriated and/or b.) it was hot enough outside to fry eggs on the sidewalk.
I brought it with me to Arizona last week where both of those things happened, but was caught up attending baby showers and birthday parties and never stopped to take photos. Hashtag, priorities.

Thus, I wore this yesterday specifically to snap a few photos for the blog. Does that make me a lame blogger?

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Oh and all of you bloggers, don't forget about this month's Lucky Community Challenge:

Styling the Tee

I made my beloved James Perse tee a little less casual by pairing it with a summery mini. (My pal Julia from Once Upon a Blog has a crochet skirt that I've been coveting for awhile and I had to have a similar one.) Since I wore this while strolling my neighborhood with Harlowe, I opted to take the sexy mini silhouette down a notch by styling it with cut-out ankle boots. Harlowe is wearing a Baby Gap tee and shorts.

Shop my look below!

Distressed Denim at the Office

Is this unavoidable trend acceptable in a casual office environment? In search of answers, I posed the question on Twitter: "Taking votes: is it okay to wear ripped jeans in a casual office environment?" 

After getting mixed responses on Twitter and failing to find resolution by asking myself, "What would Pippa do?", I went to Emily Post for answers. I stumbled upon these 5 tips for Looking Cool and Crisp in the Workplace. To save us all time, I'll give away the ending and let you know none of them said, "twill trousers only" or anything to that effect. 

Still, I can't help but be curious about office etiquette when it comes to distressed jeans - is it taboo?  I am also secretly dying to know if Brazilian bikini waxes remain the hottest grooming trend. I'll leave that query for another place and time.

What is your stance on ripped jeans at the office? Reply to my original tweet or share in the comments below.

Steal these styles:

Easy Makeup Organization Tips

I posted a pic of my makeup on The Insta last week and few people asked me where I got my cosmetics organizers, so I figured it was time for a 'makeup organization' post.

When it became apparent my caboodle had to go, I resorted to having my makeup strewn across a vintage serving platter (see here). Any product overflow sat underneath my bathroom sink and was quickly forgotten about. Hashtag, Totalshame.

I'm a bit neurotic about a clean brush (especially since Harlowe has a penchant for using mine to apply almond butter to the floor), so I shampoo my brushes with my beloved Shu Uemura Full Shimmer Illuminating Shampoo bi-weekly. Much to my husband's dismay the need for clean rarely makes it all the way to the large collection of cosmetics just gathering dust. It wasn't until I read that using expired makeup can be really bad for your skin that I made time to purge some products. For beauty's sake, it had to be done!

I used some of Sazan Barzani's Easy Tips on How to Organize Your Makeup and cleaned out the clutter by making two piles: one for keepers and one to toss. I used rubbing alcohol to clean the products I kept and organized them in handy, clear acrylic containers. My morning routine is more efficient, more products get face-time and Harlowe can easily find her coveted powder brush.