The Right... Instagram Confession

My lovely friend Katie tagged me in one of her latest posts all about her Instagram confessions so I decided to share my own with you today!  I have to admit, I try to be as "real" as possible on my Instagram but honestly, sometimes you have to stage things.  Its like anything with photography - you need to have the right balance of objects in the photo, the right lighting, etc. and with all the photo editing apps out there, it's really easy to make your online life look even more amazing than usual.

Below are some of my recent snaps (including the before/raw shot!) and a little explanation behind each.  I hope you find this post amusing (and don't unfollow me!) rather than annoying and I can assure you, 90% of my Instagram life is my real life in real time (just with a little enhancement): 

before...

after...

What I want you to see: Look at me!  I get up early every day to enjoy the sunrise in Central Park on my nice long runs and I'm so fit and so blessed to have this view!

What's really happening: I'm still half asleep because it's 6:30 AM and it's really super hot/muggy/humid but the clouds!  The clouds are making a fake sunrise (because really the sun has been up for a good 45 minutes).  Oh and I'm not stopping on my run today so I'm going to snap this while I run, trying to get a shot that's not totally blurry.  This is one of about 6 photos...

before...

after...

What I want you to see: Ermahgerd nature and flowers!  Oh and look at me, I'm taking beautiful pictures while I'm running through Central Park again!

What's really happening: I took this picture 2 weeks earlier in Washington Square Park (I know, I know - this one is probably the worst) BUT I saw a patch of these same flowers on my run in Central Park all week.  I just didn't want to stop to take the photo.  And I hadn't instagrammed those flowers yet.  And if I crop it just right you won't really know...  This is one of about 8 photos...

before...

after...

What I want you to see: #SummerFriday with my bestie by the pool at the Dream Downtown sipping sauv blanc and lovin' life.

What's really happening: "WTF is going on in the background??  Crop, Crop, CROP!"  Also, "this filter makes us look SO tan!"  Annddd this is no joke our fourth (maybe fifth?) glass of wine.  Because apparently that's how we roll on a Friday afternoon. This is one of about 10 photos...

before...

after...

What I want you to see: Dayum these shoes look good - and they look SO good on my rug #win.

What's really happening: This is one of (literally) 55 photos.  This is the 5th "background" I've photographed.  I'm running late for work because I just had to instagram these shoes today.  Oh and can we talk about how hard it is to take a picture of your damn shoes/feet without them looking awkward?  I really don't know how Eva Chen does it.

before...

after...

What I want you to see: Look how cute my casual Saturday night out outfit is - I'm so matchy matchy with my white lace, jeans and sandals.  Oh and look how cute my new C.Wonder bracelet is!

What's really happening: "Wait, before we leave for dinner I have to insta something."  This turned into me trying to figure out just how bright and white I could get this picture before it was totally distorted.  Oh and it's photo 1 of about 12...

before...

after...

What I want you to see: You know, just casually strolling around midtown, taking a break with some afternoon coffee from a cute little non-Starbucks cafe.

What's really happening: My first set of photos taken off to the side on a sidewalk just didn't look right.  As if I didn't get enough stares there, I decided to pause on the corner at the red light.  "I must get just the right angle so maybe @coffeenclothes will regram me!" And "I better get back to the office because I've been gone wayyyy to long" (coffee breaks are definitely not a regular part of my job).  Photo 1 of about 8...

after...

What I want you to see: Clearly I spend my weekends wandering around NYC finding pretty things to instagram and look at this bike I stumbled upon!  How cute is it?!

What's really happening: I took this picture in May.  I instagrammed it 3 weeks ago.  I wasn't really in SoHo that day, but I just thought I'd pretend like I was (because really, it is an adorbs bike that needed to be shared anyway, right?).  Oh and I deleted the original already because it was so.long.ago.

I hope you enjoyed today's post and I hope to see more of these popping up around the internets (they really are entertaining when you think about it!).

Have a great weekend!  

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DC In An Insta

Did you notice the blog's facelift?!  Thanks to Mrs. Sommer Elston I have a pretty new logo and new social media buttons to match!  I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself.  I know Sommer from back home who recently started doing graphic design, and when she approached me about doing a logo I was so excited (I had been thinking about it for a while so it was perfect timing!).  For now you can find her on Instagram and pretty soon, on her own website.  Check her out and let her know if you need any design work done!

Back tracking a little here...  I went to DC for the first time about 3 weeks ago and had such an amazing weekend!  It's definitely added to my list of favorite cities.  We did a bunch of touristy things like the monuments and museums and also went to some fun local spots.  See what I wore on my trip down and some snaps of my adventures from Instagram:

Jacket: Elle (similar here), Shirt: LOFT, Pants: LuLu's, Shoes: Me Too, Purse: Kate Spade, Bracelet: Kristin Hasaan, Watch: Fossil

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Pops of Red and Florals

Happy Friday everyone!  As some of you read this I'll be on my way to St. Louis for the weekend for St. Louis Fashion Week!  I couldn't be more excited about how great this weekend is going to be.  Such a random adventure but I'm so ready!  Follow along on Instagram & Twitter to see all the action live!

If you read Wednesday's post, I showed you some of my favorite floral pants.  Today I'm styling my new floral pants from LuLu's!  I'm very picky when it comes to a lot of prints like animal print and florals and this pair was just the perfect print!  And trust me, I searched high and low.  I can't wait to style these for you more - I have a feeling they will be in heavy rotation all the way to Fall.

Blouse: Parker c/o via internship (similar here and here), Pants: LuLu's (other favorite floral pants here), Pumps: Sole Society (similar here and here), Necklaces: Sequin (c/o) and Stella & Dot (similar here and here), Bracelet: J.Crew, Clutch: C.Wonder 

Thanks for taking my photos Jen!
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Weekend Recap

This weekend was pretty quiet compared to the week before it (spent apartment hunting... More on that later).  Just the standard coffee run on Saturday morning followed by sandwiches in the park and a little shopping.  Sunday I met with Jessica of Bows & Sequins for a little lunch date and some outfit photos (you'll have to wait til tomorrow for the full post!) and spent the afternoon trying to figure out how I'm going to get my own domain and possibly make the Blogger to Wordpress  switch as well as get business cards ordered/delivered by the 3rd.  The IFB conference (read: my first blogging conference) is that day and I have to be prepped, polished and ready to meet people!  Let me know if I've exhausted you yet because I'm sure tired.  Oh and I am going to do this all while working on more job applications (trust me, I'll know I'll be busy). 

Here's a couple of Instagram shots from the weekend just in case you don't follow me already (@rightshoesblog):

New manicure

Statement necklace + stripes + Vince Camuto pumps for a night out

Friends

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#StyleMeAugust: Buttoned Up

Hello readers!  Surprise!  I cut my bangs!  If you follow me on Instagram you saw this last week but if not, here you go!  I'm still getting used to them (and I have to admit they are reallllyyy hot :(, like a blanket on my forehead hot...).  Also, I'll be doing some scheduled posts as I work on the big move so you'll notice my old hair style but I've got lots of outfits to share with you (don't ask why I've been hiding them, I've just been busy!). 

Also, I'm participating in #StyleMeAugust!  Here's the list of all the challenges followed by my outfit for "Buttoned Up."

All the details here!

Sweater: Forever 21, Blouse and Skirt: J.Crew, Necklace: Etsy, Shoes: Target, Watch: Skagen, Bracelet: J.Crew

 

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TGIF/Whirlwind!

What a whirlwind of a week!  As you may or may not have seen in this post, on Monday I put in my 4 week notice at my job of 2 years to move to New York City!  Since then it's been feeling even more and more real!  I have so much to do though.  It's a little overwhelming...  That aside, how was your week?

I posted my SugarLips look yesterday (still pinching myself for actually getting a chance to be part of their blogger partnership!) and this afternoon I've got a doctors appointment then it's off to San Francisco for the weekend!  I'm doing the Color Run with a couple of my girlfriends!  Should be a blast! 



Via



 Via

Btw, I have been feeling really unorganized lately because this is the second doctors appointment in the last couple of months that has crept up on me and I only found out about it because of the reminder call from the doc (I thought it was next Friday!).  Ugh.  I think I need to get a May Books planner to keep my life straight.  I used to be the type of person that absolutely died without her planner, then I graduated college and thought I could just rely on my phone but I think I'm back to needing a planner.  Oh well, at least these make it fun!  P.S. Thank you to Lili of Swanky Chic Fete for turning me on to these on Instagram.
Anywho, hope you all have a lovely weekend! 

I'll post weekend updates next week but in the meantime follow me on Instagram!!

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TGIF/#StyleMe Update!

Helloooo Friday!  This week flew by!  What are ya'll up to this weekend?  I'll be at graduation party Saturday and then just hanging out Sunday!  Maybe I'll get crazy and make it to the lake....

Anywho, here is a short recap of my week:

1.  Bought myself some daisies for the desk this week.

2.  I announced that I'm now accepting sponsors!  Contact me if you're interested in working together.

3.  My Stella & Dot giveaway started on Tuesday!  Only 5 days left to enter!

4.  Ordered supplies for possible Etsy shop bracelets! 

And here's the #StyleMe update!  #StyleMeMay is officially over (very sad, it was so much fun!) but, Hilary has decided to do a #StyleMeSmartly challenge/book club!  Instead of outfit posts for the month of June, we will be reading "Fifth Avenue, 5 am: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and the Dawn of the Modern Woman" by Sam Wasson.  There is also a Facebook group, an Instagram challenge AND a viewing party to go with it!  So much fun!  I really wish I was going to be in NYC for the viewing party, that's for sure!

Check out all the details here and the Instagram/chapter guide below!

Also!  Don't forget to enter my Stella & Dot giveaway!! 

Find it here!

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The Military Jacket

Wore this casual shift dress/military jacket combo yesterday.  I posted on my Instagram a while ago that I had practiced quality over quantity with this jacket (instead of going with Forever I went with a jacket from Michael Kors).  It's a little large in the sleeves but I love it (and I wear them rolled up all the time so it doesn't matter that much!).

Jacket: Michael Kors (similar here and here), Dress: J.Crew, Belt & Bracelet: Forever 21, Sandals: Target

How was your weekend?  I had a pretty busy weekend with some friends and my boyfriend graduating, a dinner honoring my boyfriend's grandfather, celebrating graduation and attending a musical/dinner with my grandmother and brother.  It was a great weekend!

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TGIF/Weekend Ready!

I am so ready for this weekend!  Lots of things happening!  It was one of those weeks where I thought it was Thursday but realized it was only Wednesday.  Darn humpday. 

Anyway, I'm gearing up for quite the busy weekend.  Little's (sorority sister that is) graduation party tonight, Boyfriend/Boyfriend's Cousin/Little's graduation tomorrow, Boyfriend's Grandfather's Hall of Fame induction dinner tomorrow night and then seeing a play with the Grandma (it's our bi-yearly tradition!) on Sunday.  Whew.  I'm feeling tired already!  I've been channeling the look of this skirt and want to find something like it to hopefully wear to one of these occasions this weekend (I checked out the thrift stores around town last night and came up with something close, but not with sequins):




Via

 How amaze is this skirt?  I love the sequin look and I have a dark gray sequin top but that doesn't translate too well to Spring/Summer.

Also, I wanted to do a recap of some of my favorite #StyleMeMay looks from Instagram!  Hilary did such a good job of putting together this style challenge and I have to say I've found a lot of great bloggers/people to follow!  Check them out:

All images via Instagram

Have a lovely weekend!!

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TGIF/Week In Review

I hope you all have had a wonderful week!  Mine was spent just working, detoxing, and getting used to waking up at 5:30 every morning for Kaia.  The waking up part wasn't bad it was the fighting the urge to nap every day that was tough (part of the detox = no caffeine or sugar so coffee was out)! 

I started participating in #StyleMeMay.  If you're not participating join in!  Here are some of my outfits (in case you don't follow me on Instagram - @RightShoesBlog):

"Makes you want to twirl"

"Bright, happy color"

"Jazzed up hands"

"Always gets complimented"

I'm waiting on this lovely Kate Spade case to arrive for my iPhone.  I finally broke down and bought it (I've only been eyeing it since December...).

Hope you all have a great weekend!

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