Bows, baby!

Did a little shopping yesterday, my favorite! I picked up these shorts at nordstrom rack. They were a great price and a great fit!
I love that they are a classic black and white so they can be paired with so much.
I paired them with a red silk nordstrom bp top, gold watch, gold/black arty ring, black pumps (which I later switched out for black gucci flats), and my gray YSL easy bag.
I think these are going to be my go to summer shorts. ;)
Xoxo,
Maranda Marie

It's story time...

So there are a couple things I'm currently stoked on in my life, so I thought I'd share. 

FIRST:

Here is a photo of my dyed hair, I never posted one after the picture of me in the salon chair.

I tried to go black but my hair is originally a dark blonde so it doesn't want to soak up all that gothic goodness which is black. 

This brings me to my next topic. I decided I won't try to color my hair black anymore because it looks a little harsh. I'm just going to stay a nice chocolate brown.

Reason being....I have recently acquired a new piece of art on my arm, haha. 

Ok ok, it's a tattoo! 

So I want to make sure I don't look like a punk girl, because I am definitely girlie!

This is my new piece, and this is me just beginning with all the pain. Fun. ;)

He's just getting the outline started here.

4-ish hours later and it's still not done! But this is the half way done result. I didnt realize going into the shop that it was going to turn into turn a big piece taking up my whole forearm, but I'm glad I decided to do it! I really love it and can't wait to finish the rest!

Oh, and it says "Ohana" on the banner, which means Family in Hawaiian. I really wanted a Ohana tattoo since my mom has one on her foot and my sister got one of her foot the same day I got mine. 

Family is forever and it is so important to me. I put the two roses with the script, one for my mom and one for my dad. My dads is the one that's finished already.

I really love the way my tattoo looks in pictures and I feel like it's a beautiful accessory I'm always wearing. :)

Last but not least, since this is a fashion blog, CHECK OUT MY NEW BOTTEGA VENETA MOCCASINS! 

Ahh! So in love. When we first got them in I really loved the color, so I made them mine! They were supposed to come in from New York but they are so busy and never sent them out. So we got them from the online store and they are BRAND SPANKIN NEW! 

They are so comfy and I cant wait to wear them out!

Until next time lovelies. 

xoxo,

Maranda Marie

It's me

I didn't go missing, don't go filing a missing persons report. I just lazy. ;)

Today I'm getting my hairs did! It's long overdue and I am going black! My blonde days are history at this point.

Once you go black you never go back...so they say. Does this apply?

Hey now hey now, this is what dreams are made of...

Hahaaaa Hello all, did you love my Hillary Duff lyric title? Oh I crack myself up sometimes, sorry it has to be taken out on you!

My sweet friend Lindsey encouraged me to do a blog on "dreams". Check out her cute blog here and her post on her own dreams: Lindsey Talerico

At first I didn't really know what I was going to talk about, considering my blog is more of a fashion blog than personal/life blog. But then it hit me.

What I'm going to talk about is partially the reason I have been absent from the blogging world for a few days and a little longer than normal. 

Over the past two weeks I have begun to realize a couple very important things in my life.

BUT FIRST, 

I want to share with you my most important personal dreams and goals in life.

#1-To be a follower and lover of Jesus until my dying day and to strive to bring praise and glory to His name.

#2-To be the best wife I can be to my husband I love so much.

#3-To (one day) be an amazing mom like my own was and is.

#4-To be a good friend to those I love and care about.

(#5-To always dress FAB-U-LOUS!! ;))

NOW, after thinking long and hard about my dreams and also going through a few things over the past two weeks I realized something that just made me feel dumb!

I have been putting SO MUCH emphasis on material things. Now don't get me wrong here, there is nothing wrong with wanting to look pretty, dressed up, or feel glamorous. But I personally think it is wrong when you hold it at such high value in life when there are much more important things.

I will always, always love fashion. 

BUT, I HAVE A NEW DREAM.

I want to care less about owning the newest trends, keeping up with the joneses, and paying top DOLLA for items that are not forever! 

I want to encourage women to feel just as beautiful in a Forever21 outfit as they might in a YSL or Gucci outfit! 

I understand the importance of quality and have seen it first hand, you get what you pay for. But honestly, paying thousands of dollars for a dress, bag, watch, etcetera, just seems a little silly.

I hope you all understand what I mean and where I'm going with this (and I'm trying to not let this post get too heavy, haha).

I'm not coming down on anyone, just trying to say that I have a new goal and dream for myself and I want to explain why.

I have many important things in life and I'm very blessed and I want to take some time to focus on those things.

There will always be an admiration from myself for luxury items, they are just so appealing to the eye and beautiful in what seems like every which way. 

But from now on I will be holding these items at a much lower value in my life and raising back up the things that were supposed to be at the top in the first place. 

Here are my [revised] dreams and goals for this blog:

WITH THIS FASHION BLOG, MARANDA MARIE IN THE 808 STATE, I DREAM TO:

1. Help women feel beautiful in a tank top and jeans, with a few added accessories.

2. Help you all realize you dont have to spend $500 dollars on a clutch for it to be the "perfect one".

3. Keep fashion and style light hearted and fun.

4. Keep you all laughing with my newest posts and silly comments. ;)

I hope I didn't get too heavy with my post, I just felt like this was all on my chest and I needed to get it out and this post on dreams was the perfect way to do so!

I hope my followers and friends will understand my openness and honesty from my heart. <3

Stay tuned for a new post on a gorgeous new trend I'm loving...

big time xoxo's

Maranda Marie

Gucci 1970 Bag

Have any of you seen this bag? The Gucci 1970. Ok sorry I worded that wrong...who HASNT SEEN THIS BAG!?

I remember first seeing it, in the window of their store. My work is only two stores down from theirs so I have to walk past it on my way into work EVERY DAY! It's a little bit torture in a way.

I just had to write a review on it and share it with you all because I'm so in loooooove.

In case you haven't seen this bag yet....get ready to pick up your jaw off the floor.

These are some professional pictures of this bag. And the colors pictured are only two of the many color variations available!

Oh yes...here come more...

These are more of the beautiful colors available. Do you not totally love this bag? It's just so fabulous!

You can dress it up or dress it down, depending on the color and material. 

Personally I LOVE the tan leopard print-y looking one. It is a python skin but the color and mixture of the python skin looks very leopard print to me! It's my absolute favorite. The classic black leather one is in the second running. 

The long handle makes it a comfortable over the shoulder length so you can easily wear it with a jacket if needed. 

I also really like that it's open and just kind of folds over itself at the top. Makes it easy and convenient to get into.

Basically every woman could rock this bag.

I threw together some Polyvore outfits to show what I would piece together with that bag if I was lucky enough to make it mine. <3

The price on this bag really ranges from $2,100 to $4,100 depending on the skin used. (Of course I love the most expensive one, of course)

Check out these beautiful bags: gucci 1970 bags

There are already multiple celebs pictured with this style. Of course they know what's up and that this style needed to be a part of their bag collection! Maybe I should ask one of them to throw in one for me on their next Gucci shopping outing? Haha...

Pictured above: Olivia Wilde & Jessica Alba

Are you so sold on this bag now?

Which one is your favorite, I want to know!

xoxo,

Maranda Marie

Todays Outfit!

First off I want to apologize for the amateur mirror pictures. My husband is not a professional cameraman in the least, haha, and taking pictures is probably his least favorite thing to do!

So I resort to the mirror *sigh*, sadly.

This is what I wore into work today. 

I wanted to wear my coral shorts with some black. The weather is starting to get very warm and I'm feeling funny wearing my jeans every day, ha. 

I'm sporting my Sam Edelman Zoey boots that I LOVE! I got them on Ebay brand new about a year ago and don't get the chance to wear them often, but love when I do.

I tucked my black tank into my shorts and threw on a gray stripped vest half way buttoned up. 

Ok now that you all feel bad that I have to take mirror pictures, any photographer offers? haha ;)

xoxo,

Maranda Marie

Denim On Denim

Oh HI, it's me Maranda. I hope you all didn't forget about me over the past few days that I have been MIA! I tend to be quite lazy in the mornings (hence the "lazy morning" post) when I work the late shift at work, I have to mentally prep being at work until 11pm. Stupid Waikiki, haha.

Oh you know, just having a little photo shoot with....myself, after dinner.

I should have taken the picture from farther back because my shirt is AWESOME! Skulls galore. I love skull stuff so much, especially girly skulls. 

OK.

There has been many MANY comments made, especially lately, on the whole "denim on denim" look.

Most seem to be negative, sadly.

I personally LOVE this look. It's just all about how you do it! It definitely has to BE DONE RIGHT! Don't just think you can throw together any denim pieces and it will work.....ohhhhh ho ho no you are sorely wrong if you think that!

I'm going to let you all know how you can pull off this look and look like you know what you're doing! 

<3

OFFSET THE DENIM WITH OTHER COLORS AND OR FUN ACCESSORIES:

I love that she is wearing denim shorts, bikini top, and shirt, and it all works! She has a very hippie boho vibe with the accent leather hat and chunky wooden bracelet. She pulls this look off TO A T!

<3

WHY NOT TUCK YOUR SHIRT IN?!:

Like I said earlier, different accent colors and accessories! I love her bright pop of color with the necklace and the cute brown bag that would go with most outfits!

<3

DIFFERENT COLOR DENIMS. [I REPEAT] DIFFERENT COLOR DENIMS!!:

Alright lets get serious here. I think the BIGGEST and BEST way to pull off this look is really paying attention to the COLOR of the denim you are pairing together. 

Most pictures I've seen where the girl is pulling off a denim on denim look, the denims are two different wash colors!! 

Wearing the same color, or even something super similar is a little too matchy matchy. 

(Also loving her bell bottoms!)

<3

TEXTURES AND PATTERNS:

"Woah woah woah, didn't you just say don't pair same color denims?!!??!?!?!??!?!?!??!?!?"

I know that's what you're thinking.

Ok well I'm eating my words a little bit, TINY BIT, ok?....OK!?

I think in RARE occasions the same colors can be paired together. BUT, offset the colors with some texture or patterns!

Notice the distressed look her jacket has (texture), and her lace looking top with a fun swirled design(pattern). 

<3

ACCESSORIES!!!!!

Personally this is not an outfit I would wear but I think it totally works and I love the leopard print, black sunglasses and converse paired the her denim pieces. I like that her shirt is half tucked in for a very casual look. 

<3

Denim is GREAT! Denim never is "out of style" and it recently has made a huge comeback with the whole denim on denim look. 

This is going to be hot hot HOT for summer! Not just the denim/denim look but denim pieces in general. 

I love how this girl took an ordinary denim button down top and spruced it up with a brown belt and white bodycon dress! SOOOO cute! :)

Also check out a million other ways to wear a denim top here:

MyFashionBeautyTips-28 ways to wear denim shirts

(you should really check that out, I was impressed!)

DRESS IT UP.....

<3

OR DRESS IT DOWN!

<3

Polyvore set I put together. Simple and classic. Denim on denim with some brown accents, some wedge heels, and chunked out accessories!

Have you tried any denim looks yet? I want to know! I am currently on the hunt for a Bottega Veneta denim looking shirt I had, I can't find it anywhere!

Wish me luck.

xoxo,

Maranda Marie