What to Wear for NYE

What are your plans for New Year's Eve? We got invited on a ski trip to New Mexico, which would have meant a more casual night. But since we're taking off kind of a lot of time and dropping a big chunk of cash in the next couple of months between our wedding, bachelor/bachelorette parties, and our friends' weddings, we decided to be responsible and stay in Chicago instead. Now that we're staying, we may have gotten talked into hosting a little party ourselves! 

Like just about every girl, I love New Year's because I love the excuse to wear something sparkly. I've put together a couple of looks that would work for any NYE plans, from a casual night with friends to a fancy party. 

Sweater / Shoes / Watch / Clutch / Nail Polish / Jeans

Scarf / Heels / Clutch / Bracelet 1 / Bracelet 2 / Blouse / Skirt

Clutch / Heels / Earrings / Lipstick / Dress

What's your NYE style?

Linking up with Friday Fab Favorites.

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin

NYE Dresses on a Budget

I always want to buy a new fancy dress for New Year's Eve, but after all of the Christmas shopping (ahem, and shopping for me, the sales are just too good!) it seems silly to spend a lot on a dress I'm probably only going to wear once or twice.  I've pulled together some cute dresses for NYE that are under $25, under $50, and under $100.

1 - A'GACI - $22.50

2 - H&M - $24.95

3 - Macy's - $22.99

1 - Forever 21 - $27.80

2 - H&M - $34.95

3 - Nordstrom Rack - $39.97

1 - Piperlime - $69.00

2 - Express - $58.80

3 - Macy's - $52.99

Follow along via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin!

Win Big this NYE with Hpnotiq’s SparkleLouder Contest

This post is sponsored by Hpnotiq, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Have you started thinking about your NYE look yet?  I love New Year's because it gives me the chance to wear my fanciest dresses and accessories.  Chicagoans tend not to dress up that much for a regular night out, but for NYE everyone steps it up.

I saw this super cute LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl's dress last month and decided it was worth breaking my shopping ban for - when you find a dress that works, you have to snap it up! Last year I wore a ton of sparkle (ahem, as shown by my blog header) but this New Year's Eve I plan on sparkling with my accessories, like a sparkly belt and jewelry.  

This year you can sparkle too with Hpnotiq's SparkleLouder contest.  Hpnotiq is challenging you to upload a pic to show how you plan to Sparkle Louder this New Year's Eve, whether it's a glam outfit, you and your girlfriends, or a selfie.  Then you can use Hpnotiq's "SparkleLouder" app to make your photo shine, like mine above.  I just uploaded my pic to the Hpnotiq SparkleLouder site, then used the easy tools to add some sparkle.

Each sparkly photo entry gives you more weekly chances to win one of 20 EFFY Diamond & Blue Topaz Rings Sweepstakes Prizes (four each week).  Not only can you win an EFFY ring, but the entry that Sparkles the Loudest will win the Grand Prize: A New Year’ s Eve trip for you and three girlfriends to New York City for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the ball drop in Times Square!  Wouldn't NYE in NYC be so fun?  To enter or for more details, visit http://www.hpnotiq.com/SparkleLouderContest. Hpnotiq’s SparkleLouder contest runs from November 4 - December 8, 2013. When you share your SparkleLouder photos on social media, be sure to use the hashtag #SparkleLouder.

Dress - LC Lauren Conrad (another cute option from LC) / Belt - unknown (similar) / Bracelet - BaubleBar / Heels - Shoe Mint 

If you want to Sparkle Louder this NYE, you can add a little sparkle with accessories like I did, with some fancy sparkly makeup, or with some fun sparkling Hpnotic cocktails!

Right now I can still manage a dress without tights, but considering Chicago's weather, I'm thinking I'll probably have to wear tights and some cute booties instead.  If I won a trip to NYC for NYE though, I'd probably break out the sequined dress from last year.  I mean, hello, I would have to!  Have you decided what you're wearing for NYE?  How do you plan to sparkle this New Year's Eve?



Follow along via Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin!

Since I've Been Gone...

Today I have to go back to the real world after a great week and a half off.  My little Christmas break was great - relaxing and fun.  I spent some time with my family, with the boy's family, and with my friends.  Here are a few photos from my break, get prepared for a photo overload.  

At Zoo Lights with the boy.  Somehow I've never been before!  It was actually way cooler than I expected.  

Most of the animals were asleep, but a few were getting ready for bed - including these monkeys that were giving each other good night kisses!  Super adorable.

Remember the little piggy I wanted?  Well I may or may not have ordered him while writing that post.   We don't have any bookshelves to put him on yet, so he's been assigned to another task in the meantime.

 This is a terrible picture but I saw the Christmas train go by me!  Unfortunately it was on the other side of the tracks so I didn't get to ride, but I did get to wave at Santa.  

Dessert with the boyfriend - I've never had a dessert that came with two little cups of hot cocoa before.  So adorable!

Relaxing with the boy after opening our presents - he got me the best one!  

The watch I've been dying over for ages and ages!  I may or may not have sent the boyfriend an email with the link and the subject line "BUY THIS FOR ME!"

Christmas at my parent's house - we did a great job with the color coordinating, yes?

The fireplace at my parents' house.  Fun fact - I made the painting on the mantle in art class in elementary school.  I'm pretty sure I copied it off of a postcard.  

Craft time with my brother's fiance for their wedding.  This is a wine bottle we wrapped with twine, I think these will be used for centerpieces.

My parents' new dog, Sophie!  She's great at laying, right?  My parents are so sweet to have adopted her, she's 12 years old and was returned to the shelter because her owner had to move into a retirement home.  Now she has a new home and a new family!

 I was at JCrew after Christmas and somehow resisted this coat.  They only had one left and it was in my size, marked down to only $50!  But I already have tons and tons of coats, so I left this baby behind.

Middle Sister wine, yes please!  I think my role as middle sister could be categorized as mischief maker, but my siblings may disagree.

A reunion dinner with my college roommates!  Love these girls!!

My NYE mani, I decided that super bright was the only way to go to compliment my super sequins-y dress.

Being silly with the boyfriend on NYE.  Apparently this is the "Kristina" pose, which my family teased me about and then copied for all of our Christmas photos.  

Happy New Years to all of my readers, here's to a fantastic 2013!