Summer Layers

If I have learned one thing from a summer in California, it's dress in layers. The Bay Area consists of many microclimates with drastically varying temperatures. One minute it's sunny and 70 degrees, the next it's windy and 55 degrees. It's sounds dreamy, but it definitely makes for a challenge in my daily style. One I'm happily willing to tackle.

Shop You Should Know {Parc Boutique}

One of my favorite things about Instagram is the ability to discover unique and beautiful shops. I'm constantly stumbling over new shops and pretty Instagram accounts I hadn't known before. Ah, the power of social media. Recently I came across Parc Boutique. Based in Minneapolis, they are a shop for the modern and minimalist. Located only a couple hours from my hometown, I definitely need to make a trip back to the city just to check them out in person. 

I mentioned earlier that I'm drawn to modern, neutral styles lately. I'm in a bit of a transition and shying away from my usual brights to more muted and chic designs. Parc Boutique has modern and clean written all over it and I am OBSESSED. They nailed it on the head with a perfectly curated boutique of beautiful jewelry, clothing, and pretty packaged products. And if you are looking for some inspiration (who isn't?) then you should check out their Instagram, like now. Thao is a creative genius and I'm totally stalking their account for styling tips. 

The Chock Block Copper Necklace, Leather Bracelets, Horse Watch, Linear Earrings, Soy Candle, and White Vest are a few of my favorites from the shop, though honestly I wanting everything. 

Do you have a favorite shop you think I would love? I want to hear about it! 

All images via Parc Boutique Instagram

Little Lessons

It was Saturday morning in Oakland. A number of creators and makers set up stands displaying their proudest collections of things for sale. Pretty stone rings, woven blankets, and vintage purses were waiting for someone to snatch them up. After briefly meeting one of the shop owners and exchanging business cards, I was complimented on my necklace. I thanked her and she followed with the usual question, "who makes it?" I was attending an event that celebrates small businesses and the handmade. So I proceeded to answer her question with my honest answer, American Eagle. The raised eyebrow staring back at me was a bit surprising. Should I not have told the truth?

Domino Nails Summer Style

I have always loved magazines. When I was in 7th grade I subscribed to Lucky magazine when it first came out. Mostly because my older sister read it, so naturally that meant I should to. Turned out I loved the magazine and currently am a happy subscriber. These days I have less free time to sit down and read my favorites, but this past weekend I picked up the summer Domino issue. You must g`o get your pretty little hands on an issue NOW.

Natural Clay Mask

About a month ago I read a blog post on To Vogue or Bust about natural skincare, specifically natural clay. I was intrigued by her incredible results that claimed to banish breakouts after a few days. Alexandra went in great detail about the clay and different ways and benefits of using it. If you haven't read her post, I suggest you do if you are interested in natural skincare. It was incredibly interesting and she has some great tips and other product suggestions.

After hearing about all the benefits of clay bentonite and its claim to clear up and even out skin tone, I was sold. I ordered myself some clay bentonite that night and couldn't wait to give it a try. I have been using it for just under a month now for about 3-4 times a week and I love it! I have oily acne-prone skin and it's helped dry up my skin a lot and even out my skin tone as well. My skill feels softer and more healthy and I'm overall impressed. This stuff really works. The best part is that it's only $10 for a full jar!

I mix about a teaspoon of clay powder with a tablespoon of water. Stir with a plastic utensil (metal deactivates the clay's electric properties) until it forms a thick paste. I like to apply the mask all over my face and leave it on for about 15-20 minutes or until it dries.

Do you follow a natural skincare routine? What are your favorite skincare products?

Have a great weekend! I finished up dead week this past week which means finals starts on Monday. I fortunately only have two finals this year and then consider me an Iowa State alum :) I'm working on an amazing blog redesign which is super exciting, new post ideas, and I'm also taking a deep dive course on Wordpress (I'm switching over. If anyone has advice on how to handle the migration it's greatly appreciated :)) to learn all the ins and outs so the blog is a place that's organized and makes reading and following along easier for you! I hope to roll out the changes by June first, which sounds far away but is going to sneak up on us in no time! Which is a scary thought in itself.

As I'm making changes at H&H, keep pinning, liking, sharing, and commenting on your favorite blog posts so I know which ones you're loving and I'll be sure to plan more of them for the future!

Style Secrets: $6 Moto Jacket

Instagram photo

Oh, hello Monday. Though I had a great weekend, I'm finding myself off to a slow start and wishing I had just one more day to get things organized and get ahead of schedule. But who doesn't, amiright?

I'm going to let you in on a little secret of mine: I don't purchase anything if it's not on sale. This goes for clothing, home decor, accessories…you name it. Call me cheap, but I consider it savvy shopping. Why pay full price if you don't have to? You see, retailers have a cycle they follow. New arrivals come in and are marked at regular prices. After about three weeks, the "new arrival" prices are discounted to move inventory and make room for more clothing coming in. If you're patient enough and figure out the retail cycle of your favorite stores, you can find things for as much as half off or more. So worth it. It's so predictable and every time I walk in J.Crew or Banana Republic I quickly browse the full-priced items in the front then head straight to the sale. Another not-so-secret secret? Stores have sales all the time! Banana Republic is known for their 25% store-wide sale they have at least once a month. If I'm shopping and don't see an extra sale happening, I'll wait. These are not earth-shattering tips people, I'm just super aware of all of the sales happening (thank you, e-mail) and plan my shopping trips around them.

I wish I could say that I was eyeing this jacket for a month waiting for it to go on sale, but I wasn't. In fact, I had never seen it before. In my local mall, shopping is sparse and we don't have a huge selection of stores. I was looking for an outfit for Go Blog Social and needed a moto jacket and wasn't having any luck. JCPenney has the occasional cute piece, so I walked in and had a mini celebration when I found this jacket on clearance. The price? $6. Sometimes you just get lucky! I wasn't sold on the multi-colored buttons, but at $6 I couldn't pass it up.

Last weekend when I wore the jacket to Go Blog Social I got tons of compliments and was asked numerous times "Is that vintage?" and my favorite ,"Is that real leather?" Sorry guys, I'm not that good!

So there you have it, part one of my style secrets. What shopping tips have you learned over the years? Do you have any rules you follow when shopping? Where do you find the best deals?

P.S. Thank you for participating in the Sparrow $50 giveaway! We have a winner!

Hello Go Blog Social + Giveaway!

Sparrow Blazer ℅ / Big Star Jeans / Francesca's Blouse (similar) / TJMaxx Betsey Johnson Bag (similar) / BCBGeneration Heels (similar)

You guys, I can't believe it's finally here!!! I have been waiting months for this weekend to arrive and now, today's the day! I'm attending my first blogging conference, Go Blog Social, which means I get to meet so many of my favorite bloggers and readers (um, hello Erin, Lauren, and Jessie) Not to mention, learn a TON about blogging. So many emotions going on right now: excitement, nervousness, eagerness…I want to take as much in as I can. Next week I will give you a run down of the weekend, share my favorite notes, photos and more! Be sure to follow along on Twitter and Instagram for instant updates the entire weekend :)

Anyways, can we talk about this blazer from Sparrow Boutique for a moment? Everything about it is perfection. I'm dying over the gorgeous bluish purple hue because it's so unique, and the zippers add the perfect amount of edgy-ness. You can bet this is worn on repeat! My love affair with blazers continue, and this is my favorite one yet. If you take a peek around Sparrow's website you'll notice that this blazer is not the only gem. In fact, the entire boutique is full of adorable clothes that need to get in my closet. To treat you all for being so lovely, I teamed up with Sparrow to offer you one $50 gift card to Sparrow Boutique. Enter the giveaway for your chance to win until April 11th! Be sure to leave us a comment telling us what you would buy with your $50 gift card.

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The Perfect Spring Handbag + Mishqua Giveaway

When spring arrives, the first thing I do is trade the boots for flats and swap out my handbag for something more spring-y. I love switching handbags as the seasons change. During the winter months I usually carry a black bag, and for spring and summer I like to lighten it up a little, just like I do with the rest of my wardrobe. Come spring, I want something with color and a nice, convenient size for all the essentials, but nothing too big. Lucky for me, Mishqua seemed to read my mind and came up with the perfect spring bag! Meet the Maddelyn. The prettiest blush pink bag that also doubles as a clutch. Mishqua Handbags is one of my favorite lines for bags because she designs them all from scratch, and as a bag lover herself, she knows exactly what her customers are looking for. Mishqua (she shares her name with her handbag line!) truly understands her customer and always comes up with the freshest ideas for colors, patterns, sizes, and styles. I'm obsessed!

One of the things that makes a bag extra special is the pretty lining on the inside. The Maddelyn has the most colorful lining that just makes me burst with excitement every time I see it. I have carried my Maddelyn for a week now and received so many compliments on its cute design.

In celebration of spring, we partnered up to give away one Maddelyn handbag to a lucky winner! You have until next Friday, March 28th to enter the giveaway. Don't worry, if you can't wait to get your hands on the Maddelyn, you can get yours here! 

Good luck and happy Friday!

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This post was sponsored by Mishqua Handbags - thank you for supporting the sponsors that help make A Hammer & Heels possible! All opinions are always my own.

Shop Feathered

Wishbone / Balloon animal bookend / Pineapple antler jar / Stationery / Print

When I'm decorating my home, I'm always thinking how I can add personality to make it "mine." I use colors and patterns, select furniture styles I like, but it's the accessories that really make a home stand out and reflect who you are. How you style a shelf, coffee table, and what sits atop your dresser are all ways to display your style or tell a story through items with fond memories. I call it the art of layering. A home with lots of layers and accessories feels more cozy and overall lived-in -- which is exactly how it should be, right?

Insert Feathered. The cutest shop with the best home decor, pillows, and prints. Every single item is unique -- I want my home adorned in it all! I mean, who wouldn't want this sitting on their kitchen counter? Feathered is perfectly curated by Kelly of Fabulous K. I have been obsessed with her blog for a while and was thrilled when she opened up Feathered a few months ago. It truly is a reflection of her blog; full of inspiration and pastels. 

With spring right around the corner (tomorrow is the first official day!), what better time to decorate your home with a bunny cake (or jewelry) stand or wishbone wall hook.

Style to Steal: Framed Scarves

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This is one of my favorite ways to personalize those white walls and bring a little much needed color into a space. You may have noticed my current headboard in my apartment is actually a scarf, but I'm loving the look of framed scarves as wall art. Genius, right? It seriously doesn't get any cuter or more affordable! Sure, it probably started when someone framed their Hermes scarf, but that doesn't mean we can't frame our favorite Target printed scarf we have had for years!

Guys, it's that easy. Just do me a favor and make sure you iron that thing so it's wrinkle free when you frame it. The little details count! When I'm decorating my new home it's going to be hard to refrain myself from hanging framed scarves in every room. Since my favorite banana leaf wallpaper is out of question, I have my eye on this palm print scarf that will most definitely make its way into the living room, probably above a credenza.

Thoughts? Do you like the framed scarf look?

                                                          Shop the look:

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Style to Steal: Copper Decor + A Handbag Giveaway!

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Copper is the metal of the season. More muted than gold, copper looks beautiful combined with crisp whites and grays. It's simplistic and pure perfection in my eyes. Thoughts? I think it's a nice change from the gold we have been bombarded with over the years (don't get me wrong, I still love me some gold!) My favorite copper look is lighting. There is something so special about statement-making light fixtures that aren't obnoxious.

I rounded up a few of my favorite pieces -- and the best part is they are all under $50.

West Elm Mug /  West Elm Light Cord / H&M Cushion / H&M Candle Holder / DIY Lamp 

On another note…I am so excited to team up with Mishqua for a handbag giveaway! Mishqua is a vegan fine handbag line founded by none other than Mishqua herself. I am so obsessed with every single bag and she is the absolute sweetest. As I prepare for graduation and starting my career, I understand the importance of a great, stylish bag that can hold my laptop, planner, and all the essentials. The woven tote and the seamed tote are roomy enough for the office or running errands and the perfect accessory to any outfit.

Enter the giveaway for your chance to win the woven or seamed tote. Leave a comment telling us which bag you would choose as the winner! The giveaway ends on February 24th. Good luck!

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