Last week, my cars totally uncontrollable ejection caused me to discover this delicious mod coat……..for $30!

Stylist Tip  ::  Blending in is easy. Make a style statement with unique garments and accessories.

Wearing  ::

Vintage Mod Coat by Lilli Anne Knit. New version here.

Wedge Heels by Nine West

Silver Clutch has no name and was found at a yard sale but checkout this one.

Sunnies by Kate Spade

Pearls & Rhinestone Jewelry from estate sales and my grandma

Easy & Affordable Style for less than $200

Stylist Tip  ::  If your clothing doesn’t say something…..it’s boring.

Wearing  ::  Vintage Dress & Jewelry, all from estate sales

Easy & Affordable Style for $ 50………..yea, really!

Mrs. Ann Beaver,

You don’t know me. We’ve never met.  I wish we had. I understand that you were a local stylist and boutique owner…….Ann’s Place.  I recall your boutique and drove by it often. Sadly, I never stopped in. At the time, it wasn’t my style. Now, Ann’s Place, your style, classic style, is completely me. So, I thank you for sharing your personal collection of purses, belts, scarves and jewelry with me. I want you to know that I will wear them with honor, creating memories, celebrating life and fashion just as you did.

Best,

Paula Parisotto

fellow stylist & accessory maven

Style Tip  ::  Whatever happened to belt straps with removable buckles? It’s a brilliant idea! I’m feeling ultra lucky to have gotten my hands on over 20 colorful belt straps and vintage buckles. (Again, thank you Mrs. Ann Beaver) Oh, the accessorizing I’ll be able to do………but I’m having a bear of a time finding straps and buckles for you. And YOU NEED SOME too! I’ll keep looking but if you know of a good source, share. Please and thank you!

Hey………..I have a lil’ secret. Wanna know what it is?

My peplum……..it’s not! Well, it is BUT it was “born” a scarf.

One of the best parts of being a stylist (besides helping women look and feel their very best) is arriving home to boxes full of fab goodies on my porch. This week, Sara Smelt of Felt Evolution was kind enough to share a few of her one of kind, natural, eco-friendly, warm, breathable, soft, malleable and naturally antimicrobial scarves. Now that was a mouthful!

My design inspirations are numerous: the shapes of nature, a season, a mood, a painting, a challenge; but color is central to all my creations – I adore living life in color! – Sara Smelt

Do yourself a favor and check out her works of art. Wear as they’re meant to be….scarves……or play around as I did. You have to admit, this scarf makes a very pretty peplum.

Style Tip  ::  Learn to look at garments in ways they aren’t necessarily meant to be worn. Wear a shirt or dress backwards. Seriously, in Styling  ::  50 Shades of Grey  I wore my dress backwards because the neckline looked better underneath the blouse that way.

Morgane Le Fay Top  (similar here)::  Hillard & Hanson Skirt  ::  Felt Evolution Scarf  ::  Diega di Lucca Heels  ::  Bijoux Terner Purse  ::  The Hatter Hat  ::  BCBGMAXAZRIA Cocktail Ring  ::  Vintage Brooch & Earrings

Return the shoes?! I can’t talk to you when you’re being hysterical!

- Gabrielle, Desperate Housewives

“Hi! My name is Paula Parisotto and I am a high heel addict.” Okay, there, I said it. I admit it. I have insatiable weakness for high heels. Stilettos, stacked heels, wedges, sling backs, mary janes, pumps, peep toes, pointed toes, closed toe, d’Orsay, T-straps, mules, boots………if the heel fits (even if it’s just a bit uncomfortable), buy it! This is not a frivolous ”obsession”. I mean, there they all are, sittin’ on display,  with tongues hangin’ out like happy puppies (pun intended), just waiting for a foot to fill them. As I see it, I am just here to help. Filling my closet with high heels is my lil’ way of fueling the economy. Now, where’s my wallet?

Style Tip  ::  You can get a pair of shoes for $3.00 at the bowling alley.

The day had finally arrived. The day I’d been waiting an entire year for. I awoke early, completed my daily chores, dressed the part and with my hubby, surrounded by the warmth of the sun, attended the Buellton Vintage Trailer Bash. Wahoooo!

I knew it would be a fun afternoon but had no idea what was to come……….amazing vintage trailers, trucks, cars, bikes and memorabilia coupled with authentic, enthusiastic and kind people finished off with a trailer park wedding. Yes, a trailer park wedding and we attended. Wouldn’t you?

Style Tip  ::  When attending a trailer park wedding, even on accident, almost any style is welcome. Just do you!

New York & Company Dress

If you’ve ever worn a tube top to a wedding………you might be a red neck.

-Jeff Foxworthy, American Comedian

Who ever said red necks don’t have style was flat wrong. Let’s take for example, camouflage. Pattern is a ginormous trend and green, in its many tints and shades, is big for fall 2012. And how about hats? Big trend for us fashion forward folks! Ever seen a red neck without a hat on his/her head? I think not. Tank tops, bras, boots? Style staples for both red necks and fashionistas. Rednecks are also very good on the environment. By BBQing road kill, they are recycling. By living in trailers that belonged to their mothers uncles sisters grandpappy, they are reusing and thereby reducing their carbon footprint. So, raise up your Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and let’s toast to redneck style.

If you’ve ever barbecued Spam on the grill……..you might be a redneck.

-Jeff Foxworthy, American Comedian

Style Tip  ::  Take it from red neck women, your hunting knife should always match your outfit and your bra should not.

Cabela’s Duck Waders, Tank Tops, Hats, Fishing Lure Earrings, Hunting Knife, Shorts and Shades

Easy & Affordable Style for $0 (Just go a diggin’ in your garage……… or your neighbors)

My beautiful step-daughter arrived home this weekend from a 10-month long stay in London. We had a lot of fun catching up, sharing photos, seeing family, being silly and figuring out what to do with our overly abundant zucchini supply.

Above  ::  I can’t offer you exact recipes because I rarely use them. I tend to toss in a little this and a little that and somehow it always works out……..lucky for my family.

Fresh Baked Zucchini, Squash and Onion ………Toss rinsed and chopped vegetables in olive oil, balsamic glaze, balsamic sea salt and fresh ground pepper. Place in a baking dish. Bake ,uncovered, for aprox. 30 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Check and gently toss as it bakes.

Baked Herb Chicken………Place washed chicken legs and thighs in a large zip-lock bag. Toss with olive oil, sea salt, fresh ground pepper and fresh herbs of your choice. Place in a baking dish in a single layer. Bake, uncovered, in a 375 degree oven for aprox. 30 minutes. Check and pour juices over chicken as it cooks.

I have the advantage of having two ovens in my kitchen so I cooked these dishes separately but you could cook it all in one dish.

Below  ::  Our dessert was a-maz-ing! Zucchini Cobbler. Yep, not apple or peach but zucchini. truly tastes like apple and is an excellent use of our zucchini load. I have to give credit to my fellow blogger, Beth of the Renegade Seamstress, (Read her zucchini blog entry and learn awesome DIY’s here) for the recipe.

Follow the original recipe here. Follow my updated version below.

Zucchini Cobbler

Ingredients

• 8 cups peeled, chopped zucchini (I peeled, cut zucchini in quarters, removed seeds and sliced ¼ inch think. This really makes this dish look and taste like apple cobbler.
• 2/3 cup lemon juice (I was 1/4 cup short on lemon juice so I added 1/4 cup of our homemade limoncello)
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2  teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups oatmeal
• 1 cups white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups butter, chilled
• 1      teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1. In a large saucepan or skillet over medium heat, cook and stir zucchini and lemon juice until zucchini is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in 1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and nutmeg and cook one minute more. Remove from heat and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 10×15 inch baking dish. In a large bowl, combine flour, oatmeal and 2 cups sugar. Cut in butter with pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir 1/2 cup of butter mixture into zucchini mixture. Press half of remaining butter mixture into bottom of prepared pan. Spread zucchini mixture over top of crust, (if zucchini mixture has a lot of liquid, gently strain it before placing on crust. A bit of liquid is okay) and sprinkle remaining butter mixture over zucchini. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
3. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until top is golden. Serve warm or cold. (Mine took a bit longer to bake. Just keep on eye it.)

Have a great zucchini recipe to share? Please comment and give a link.

Our recent trip to the Dominican Republic was more than a much-needed break. It was educational, inspirational and colorful.

The islands inhabitants, kind and colorful, are mainly mulatto-a mix of descendants from Spain and West Africa along with a small population of  Haitians and Caucasians. Classes range from the wealthy-singer Julio Iglesias and native Oscar de la Renta live on the island-to very, very poor.  Our time was spent in the poorer villages where the people don’t complain about what they don’t have but make the most of what they do have. Life is celebrated through colorful clothing, art, music, dance and paint. Their mix of bright (and i mean bright) color, pattern and texture is style inspiration. They further prove that style doesn’t have to come at a high cost but should be personal, functional, a confidence-builder, creative and a celebration.