outfit details: worn for small group on June 7, 2011.
earrings: walmart
top: banana republic, thrifted
watch: target
pants: gap, thrifted, restyled
shoes: target

These pants started their life looking more like this picture I pinned.  Then I found them in the thrift store and loved how well the top fit and decided to make them into something I would actually wear.  It wasn’t the easiest restyle, but I traced the pants legs of one of my favorite pairs of jeans and then sewed along the traced line.  I love how they turned out!  I would never wear them as wide-legged pants, because it is an incredibly unflattering look on me.  However, taking the legs in a few inches turned them into one of my favorite pairs of pants.

Transforming seems to be the topic of the day and Katy, of Modly Chic is asking us to share if and how our taste has transformed since we started blogging.  I look forward to seeing every-one’s answers to these questions.

1.    Since you began blogging do you notice a change in the types of things you gravitate towards while shopping?
Oh yes! And I think people who know me have noticed the differences.  I used to only buy clothes that were within my “safe” set of colors.  That was essentially limited to dark, cool tones and neutrals.  Now I have a wardrobe full of all different sorts of colors.  Before blogging, I rarely found any sort of patterns that I loved, and if I bought them I rarely wore them.  This shirt is one thing that I would not have found before I started blogging (partially because I found it at a thrift store, and I started thrifting after I started blogging).  It is patterned and has ruffled sleeves, which I was a little unsure of.  I really like it though, and it was a great find!

2.    Do you find, as a fashion blogger, that you dress differently from your family and friends? Do they comment on that?
Yes, I do dress differently than my family and friends, and they do comment on it occasionally, though rarely negatively.  Often they want outfit advice or just want to let me know that they really like what I’m wearing.  I actually came up with the name of my blog thanks to friends and family, who (still) ask if an outfit or item of clothing is “Rochelle Approved”.

3.    What’s the weirdest fashion that you secretly like, even if you aren’t bold enough to wear it?
Neon and the bright orange and yellow tones that are everywhere are trends that I like on other people.  Those colors are ones that have yet to make it into my closet as most of them make me look dead.  I love to decorate with them and those colors can be found all over our apartment .

4.    Looking at current trends – what would you like to try but need to build up the courage to do?
White pants.  But I need to find a pair I love before I can work up the courage to try wearing them.

5.    Toot someone’s horn – what fashion blogger out there inspires you with her bold fashion choices?
I just found the blog Fashion Curious, and Cait is already inspiring me with her choices.  I love how she wears yellow in a pair of summer wedges and isn’t afraid to carry a flea market purse with her outfit!

Your turn!  Have you seen your style transform and your tastes change?  Or is there a fashion trend you’ve been wanting to try, but don’t know how to wear?

outfit details: worn for church on June 4, 2011.

necklace: forever 21

dress: te chichi, thrifted, okinawa

belt: wet seal, thrifted

ring: charlotte russe

purse: ???, thrifted

shoes: target

I found this minty green dress at a consignment store out in town here.  I was pleasantly surprised, as it is long enough.  Most of the dresses I have found in town here have been closer to tunic or mini length, which I find much harder to wear.  The dress makes me want to think it is vintage, though from what I can tell it isn’t that old, so I carried my vintage purse and updated the look with chunky wedges and thick belt.  It is amazing how quickly a few accessories can update a look into vintage inspired, from dated.  Keep an eye out as tomorrow I have a surprise for you that involves crafty projects and a linky tool! 

We ate at this restaurant last night and the lined up delivery mopeds are just adorable.

Once again it is Fashion Beauty Friend Friday and today the topic that Katy, from Modly Chic asked for us to answer has nothing to do with fashion or beauty.  She asked for us to share our favorite summer recipe!!!  If you want to see what everyone else loves to cook in the summertime they are all linked up here!  (I may bookmark that page so that when I am stumped for what to cook I know there will be some tried and true recipes!)  I’m going to share with you my absolutely favorite Guacamole recipe! 

Guacamole

2 ripe avocados

2 ripe roma tomatoes

1 cup cottage cheese

2 Tablespoons sour cream

1/4 cup salsa 

tortilla chips

Scoop out avocados and mash into small bits.  Add cottage cheese and sour cream.  Add salsa to taste.  Slice tomatoes into small pieces and add. Devour with tortilla chips.

What is your favorite summertime food?

This week for Fashion Beauty Friend Friday, Katy, of Modly Chic asked us to compile the trends we are looking forward to wearing this summer.  I had a lot of fun putting together a Polyvore for the FBFF on Spring Trends, so I put together a few for summer trends.

If I had to pick one single piece to purchase that would update a wardrobe for this summer it would be a hat.  Pick one in your favorite or your most flattering style and wear it with everything. If you’re not sure how to style it check out this post I did on Ways to Wear a straw hat!

Summer Trends: Hats by rochelleapproved featuring a floppy straw hat

Maxi Dresses by rochelleapproved featuring maxi dresses

I must admit that I only recently became a fan of ankle length skirts and even more recently a fan of maxi dresses.  Flowing, bohemian style skirts won me over pretty quickly, but I wasn’t sure if full length dresses would work with my height and body shape.  As with any piece of clothing, fit is very important.  You want to avoid ones that leave you looking like you don’t have a figure or were swallowed up by a tent.
Scalloped Hems by rochelleapproved featuring scalloped shorts

Scalloped hems went from never-heard-of to all-over-the-place in a very short time. I love how they can add a feminine touch and make any hemline look updated. I’m working on making a skirt from this tutorial and really want to make a faux-leather skirt with a scalloped hem.

Wedges by rochelleapproved featuring platform wedges

Seriously, by now you should have guessed that one of the trends that I would showcase would be shoes!  Wedges are a great summer heel and in case you didn’t notice in the polyvore they can be found in a variety of vivid color!  A few of the benefits of wearing wedges are that you are more stable while walking in them and you are less likely to sink into the grass if you walk across it!  I’m loving how the neutral ones have a lot of details on them and how some of them only have a little pop of color.

Cobalt Blue by rochelleapproved featuring john fluevog shoes

Cobalt blue is one of my favorite colors that is on trend right now.  It is a very timeless color though, and should be easy to find some in a thrift store if you don’t want to spend a lot on it.  I particularly like how you can find all different sorts of items in cobalt blue right now.  One of my favorite cobalt blue things that I have purchased recently is nail polish.  It is fun and a little unexpected, and much more of a statement than pastel.

Now that you’ve seen my top trend picks for summer I want to know what you’re looking forward to wearing!

outfit details: worn for daily activities and a bit of grocery shopping on May 25, 2011.
shirt: i <3 ronson via jcpenny
bracelet: villiage house, okinawa
shorts:target
shoes: target

 
New shoes may be one of my favorite things in the world.  Some people are crazy about cupcakes, while other people adore kittens, but I love shoes, and when they happen to be new it’s even better.  These lovely new wedges arrived in the mail and when the mailman told me to have a nice day I responded with “Of course I will!  You just handed me new shoes!”  And yes, I pulled them out of the box in the car and wore them for the rest of the day.

This place is called stairway to heaven, and a lot of the Marines run it… which I think means that running all of those stairs would make it a stairway to somewhere else. 
 


Summer is here in the Northern Hemisphere and so this week Katy, of Modly Chic challenged us to share our vacation packing tips and secrets here.  I think she wants to find out if anyone has some way to get everything into a suitcase without having to compromise on what to bring, or threatening the suitcase zipper.
  


1.      When it comes to packing for vacation what’s your mantra?  “If the suitcase zips without having to sit on it you can bring at least two more pairs of shoes.”
2.      What are your must packs? Shoes… oh yea and my favorite jeans and jewelry.  At least the jewelry doesn’t take up much space.
3.      What are you happy to leave behind? I feel like this is a trick question.  I’m not usually too happy at leaving the rest of my wardrobe behind.
  


4.      Any packing secrets that help you get everything into one suitcase?  One of my best friends, Amy, taught me this trick (and she is the person to listen to, considering most of the year she’s on tour, living out of two suticases {and that has to include EVERYTHING}).  Instead of rolling clothes fold them flat and stack them into a pile, then turn the tall pile sideways and slide it into the suitcase so you can see the side of every item packed.  It works for saving room and works quite well when you need to leave it packed, but still grab an outfit out of it.
5.      Beach reading… what are you taking with you to read in the sand?  The books on my reading list for the summer include any of the ones that I own, but haven’t read yet!  On the top of the list is A Lion Called Christian (Hey Mom! I still have that book, you’ll have to visit to get it back!) and Jane Eyre.

So there you have my packing tips… but honestly I’m more interested in knowing if you like kittens, cupcakes or new shoes better. Happy weekend!

outfit detaits: worn for running errands and bike riding on May 19, 2011.
earrings: ???, okinawa
tank: energie via belk
dress: old navy
shoes: qupid via lucky penny

Today is my mom’s birthday!  (Hi, Mom!  I’m hoping you have a wonderful day, and enjoy yourself all day!) Everyone should wish my mom a happy birthday!  This picture is from my parents’ 29^th anniversary!  My mom made the shawl she’s wearing, in case you’ve ever wondered where I got my crafting side.  Happy Birthday Mom!

This week the Fashion Beauty Friend Friday the questions are on hair care.  Katy of Modly Chic hosts this feature every week and does such a good job at getting the questions together.  Here is the list of everyone’s answeers to the hair care questions!

1.      How often do you get your hair cut?

My hair stylist from North Carolina would laugh so hard he cried if he could see this question.  I’m terrible at getting my hair cut regularly.  The last time I got my hair trimmed was the end of March and the time before that was September.  Who knows how long it will be until I find someone here to cut it. 

2.      Do you go to the same stylist each time, try someone new, go to the cheap hair cutting chains or live it up in a salon?

I tried to go to the same stylist every time.  Nelson did a great job of understanding how my hair grows and cutting it perfectly.  I wouldn’t say I “lived it up” because I waited forever between haircuts.

3.      Do you color your hair? How often? What’s your natural color? 

Yes, I color my hair.  Once again I am not particularly consistent with how often I color.  Every 6 to 8 weeks is where it averages out.  My natural hair color is lighter brown.  I like making it a little darker with a bit of red in it. 

4.      The one thing you always do to keep your hair looking great is:

A technique that Nelson, my hairstylist taught me.  Longer hair doesn’t get dirty a few inches away from the scalp.  So I apply conditioner to my hair first, about 4 inches and down, then shampoo my scalp and rinse it all together.  Then I usually add a little more conditioner to the ends and leave it in while I finish showering.

5.      What hair trend do you love and wish you could rock?

I adore pixie cuts!  I love how just the right haircut can be ever so feminine even though it is short.

Please help me by heading over here and asking a question for my upcoming Frequently Asked Questions page!  Feel free to ask me anything and there is a chance to win a Pintrest account!