There's a specific kind of exhaustion that creative business owners know well. You're working constantly — posting, pitching, delivering, following up — and yet nothing feels like it's actually moving. Your revenue is inconsistent. Your offers feel scattered. You're not sure what your business is actually supposed to be anymore. That's not a motivation problem. That's a structure problem. And a creative business audit is usually where the answer starts.

What Is a Creative Business Audit? A creative business audit is a structured review of your business — your offers, your brand, your messaging, your pricing, your client experience and your revenue model — to identify what's working, what's costing you money and energy, and what needs to change. It's not a generic business plan template. It's a focused, strategic look at your specific business, designed to give you clarity on exactly what to fix and where to focus.

5 Signs You Need One

1. You're busy but not profitable. This is the most common sign I see. Creative business owners who are genuinely talented, genuinely working hard, and still not making the money their work deserves. The problem is almost always structural — not a talent gap, but an offer gap, a pricing gap, or a positioning gap.

2. You can't clearly explain what you do in one sentenceIf you find yourself adding qualifiers every time someone asks what you do — "Well, I do this, but also that, and sometimes this other thing" — that's a sign your business model has outgrown its clarity. Confused messaging means confused potential clients. Confused potential clients don't buy.

3. You're constantly creating new offers instead of selling existing ones. New offer energy is exciting. It's also often a way to avoid the harder work of figuring out why the last offer isn't selling. An audit helps you stop chasing shiny objects and start building on what you already have.

4. Your brand doesn't reflect the quality of your work. You've evolved. Your work is better than it was two years ago. But your website, your pricing, and the way you talk about yourself haven't caught up. You're attracting clients from an earlier version of your business — and it shows in the inquiries you're getting.

5. You're doing too many things and none of them feel like enough. This is a focus problem, and it's incredibly common among creative entrepreneurs. The solution isn't to do less. It's to do the right things — in the right order, for the right people.

   
   

What Happens After a Creative Business Audit? The goal of an audit isn't a long list of things you're doing wrong. It's a clear, prioritized action plan for what to fix first — based on what will have the highest impact on your revenue, your clarity, and your energy. After your Creative Business Audit, you'll know exactly which offers to keep, which to retire or simplify, how to position your work for the clients who can actually afford and value it, where your brand messaging needs to change, and what to focus on in the next 30 to 90 days.

Who the Creative Business Audit Is For? This is for small business owners who are ready to stop guessing. You don't need to be in the creative industry — you need to be a creative thinker who's ready to build something that actually works. It's especially useful if you're a service provider, a maker, a consultant, or a brand founder who's been in business for at least a year and knows something needs to change but isn't sure where to start.

Ready to Find Out What's Actually Going On in Your Business?

he Creative Business Audit is now available at breecooley.com/creative-business-audit. After 25+ years working with 400+ brands across film, fashion, and small business, I built this to give creative founders the kind of honest, strategic clarity that changes how you work — and how your business grows.

If you're ready to stop spinning and start building, book your audit today: breecooley.com/creative-business-audit.

The unveiling of the upcoming IKEA x Raw Color TESAMMANS Limited Collection made me gasp. My obsession for color grows more everyday and this launch with the incredible Dutch design duo, Raw Color, might put me in some real financial trouble. How can I buy just one piece? I can’t. Have you seen these patterns and colorful curves?! Holy hell. I haven’t been this excited for a design launch in quite some time, it’s nice to be inspired again and feel that spark ignite inside. IKEA x Raw Color TESSAMMANS Limited Collection launches in April 2024.

While you’re stuck in your home this winter, whether it be by choice or from mother nature, why not make it beautiful. These cool home decor finds will help warm up your space and help create that perfect, cozy and inviting feel. Pale pastels mixed with deep, jewel tones is always my favorite winter, color combo. Dopamine decor doesn’t always have to be bright neon or bold, primary colors. It’s simply about the feeling and yes, color is involved, but opting for a rich, emerald green mixed with pale pink, can also do the trick. As long as your space makes you happy and If having a perfectly styled, badass tiger on your wall puts a smile on your face, like it does mine, then that’s a job well done.

The only style trend I subscribe to when it comes to interior design and home decor is “cozy vibes”. Sure, carpeted bathrooms in the 70’s will always be out, but home design should simply reflect your personality. Adding to your space, is something we do a lot, but creating a space based strictly on trends is where I call bullshit. Incorporating an item or two, that can be swapped out when you’re sick of it is fine, but don’t be pusuedd by some famous interior designer claiming that your style sucks unless you have that certain piece in your space. We don’t change our home as often as we change our clothes, so as long as you like it, that’s all that matters.

And for the love of all things holy, YES- IT IS OK to mix patterns! Please do. Pair jungle vibes with stripes or flirty florals with geometric shapes. Whether you are all about patterns, with a more maximalist style or a more minimalist approach, with a just a couple of patterned throw pillows, mix and match as your heart desires.

Interior design is simple. Your space should be filled with pieces that make you feel good, and a healthy balance of old and new is always ideal. Those new, colorful, scalloped glasses sitting on top of your grandmother’s old nostalgic dresser turned bar, is the perfect combo of contemporary cool meets vintage vibes. Cheers!

snuggle up with warm & fuzzy blankets, plush pillows and patterned rugs…

colorful, vibrant artwork instantly gives your space personality and invokes inspiration…

fresh flowers or greenery in a new vase or colorful, handmade planter can transform any mood…

glowing candles and warm lighting calms you and adds just the right amount of cozy…

create a beautiful tablescape filled with your favorite food and people that warms your soul…

If there’s one thing Las Vegas isn’t missing, it’s the plethora of incredible restaurants. However, not all of them are as gorgeous as these top 13 must-see designed restaurants for all you design and architecture addicts. From the retro-inspired tropical bars to stepping back into the glam, Great Gatsby era, these inspiring hospitality interior designed spaces are top-tier places to visit while you’re on vacation this summer in the desert. Don’t just indulge in the tastes and smells, but enjoy the colors, textures and lights of the amazing interior design and architecture Las Vegas has to offer.

Rhumbar Tropical Ultra Lounge | Mirage Las Vegas

The tropical oasis located on the Las Vegas Strip serves up signature cocktails, elevated bar bites, and a refined cigar menu coupled with nightly entertainment. Whether sipping a specialty cocktail at the inside bar, meeting friends for a late-night snack, or people watching on the outdoor patio, Rhumbar Tropical Ultra Lounge will be the place to see and be seen.

Check availability at The Mirage Las Vegas and book your stay today!

Superfrico | The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Superfrico is an Italian American Psychedelic restaurant inside the ultimate Las Vegas house party. Beyond its enigmatic purple doors, world-class, rule-breaking creatives cut loose and do their thing—in the kitchen, behind the bars, inside the walls, under the bed—and you’re invited. A veritable smorgasbord for the senses, Superfrico is more than a restaurant—it’s an experience. Expect wall-to-wall eye candy across a series of imaginatively-themed, infinitely explorable bars, lounges and dining rooms, all with a bumpin’ soundtrack courtesy of the Strip’s only all-vinyl DJ.

The Chandelier Bar | The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

A multi-story visual wonder housing three unique lounge experiences, The Chandelier expresses elements of playground, art exhibit, and cocktail haven all at once. The Chandelier is a living, breathing architectural wonder created by shimmering, beaded curtains of light.

Vesper Bar | The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

With mirrored tiles surrounding neon accents and waves of gilded gold hanging above you, Vesper Bar brings a contemporary flair to a classic look. Enjoy a signature cocktail from a menu featuring timeless classics and some that we’ve reimagined or choose something from our extensive list of wines by the glass and bottled beers.

Check availability at The Cosmopolitan Of Las Vegas and book your stay today!

Bejing Noodle No. 9 | Caesars Palace Las Vegas

With the wide selection of authentic dishes on our menu, it means you'll never eat the same thing twice. Whether you’re craving chow mein, fried rice or a lychee martini, you can find it at our upscale Chinese restaurant in Las Vegas. Walk through a dramatic entrance flanked by giant fish tanks and immerse yourself in energy reminiscent of the streets of Hong Kong or Beijing.

Stanton Social Prime | Caesars Palace Las Vegas

Chef Chris Santos continues to redefine the dining scene with his creative cuisine and innovative dishes at Stanton Social Prime in Caesars Palace Las Vegas. True to the showmanship of Las Vegas, Stanton Social Prime also features theatrical tableside presentations, delectable desserts, and charming craft cocktails.

Check availability at Caesars Palace Las Vegas and book your stay today!

Craig’s Vegan | Resorts World Las Vegas

Nothing says guilty pleasure quite like ice cream and Craig’s Vegan Ice Cream inside of Resorts World Las Vegas is delivering just that. The LA-based establishment has made it’s way to Vegas with all of its vegan fanfare in tow. Satisfy your sweet tooth with rich, creamy and decadent vegan frozen treats like ‘Perfectly Chocolate’, ‘Kursten’s PB Krunch’ and ‘Melrose Mint Chip.’ Stop in for a scoop or a sundae, or take (multiple) pints to go.

Bar Zazu | Resorts World Las Vegas

Bar Zazu showcases the spirit and flavors of Europe in a festive and stylish atmosphere. The chic bar, lounge, and whimsical dining room provide a distinct ambiance for visitors to enjoy Executive Chef Nicole Brisson’s globally-inspired cuisine alongside an array of brews, wine, and specialty cocktails.

Check availability at Conrad Las Vegas At Resorts World and book your stay today!

Delilah Lounge & Fine Dining | Wynn Las Vegas

Wynn Las Vegas and acclaimed global hospitality partner h.wood Group present a modern-day supper club, Delilah at Wynn Las Vegas. Located in the exclusive Tower Suites enclave, Delilah at Wynn Las Vegas offers a true supper club atmosphere, inspired by the earliest showrooms of Las Vegas in the 1950s. The venue has multiple environments for guests to dine and socialize, with live music and special performances, DJs and Sunday Night Jazz.

Check availability at Wynn Las Vegas and book your stay today!

CATCH | ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas

The go-to dining destination for celebrities from Los Angeles to New York City, CATCH is the only location to bring epic renditions of Asian-influenced sushi, seafood and steak. So meet here, eat here and party here. At CATCH, you can come for dinner, and stay late night. You are where you eat.

Check availability at ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas and book your stay today!

Night + Market | Virgin Hotels Las Vegas Curio Collection By Hilton

California chill meets Bangkok frenzy at chef Kris Yenbamroong’s Night + Market. His award-winning Thai street food has won his Los Angeles locations countless awards, most recently a James Beard nomination for ‘Best Wine Program.’ What started 10 years ago as an extension of his family’s kitchen has led Yenbamroong to be named Food & Wine’s ‘Best New Chef’. He takes recipes from the ‘old country’ and gives them a dizzying modern spin.  Whether it’s the crispy rice salad or outside-the-box fried chicken sandwich, some of the dishes are traditional, some are evolutions, some are not even Thai at all, but presented together it’s Night + Market.

The Bar at Commons Club | Virgin Hotels Las Vegas Curio Collection By Hilton

Commons Club Lounge is designed for people to gather, enjoy and be in the moment. Hotel guests and locals alike can treat themselves to an extensive, but highly curated wine list. For the savvy connoisseur, we offer a wide-ranging, locally-sourced wine by the glass menu. Beers and craft brews also prominently populate the list. Our signature cocktails reflect our English heritage, but with influences of the ever-present cocktail culture that is only in Las Vegas.

Check availability at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas Curio Collection By Hilton and book your stay today!

La Strega by Chef Gina Marinelli

We feature inspired, Italian cooking by Chef/Partner Gina Marinelli. Italy is Chef Gina's muse for her menus. Through her travels throughout various regions in Italy, she features menu items that are filled with old world charm, modern flair with the touch of a Strega.

Keeping your bathroom organized doesn’t have to be a daunting task, with a little bit of planning you can easily make your space more tidy, sanitary and aesthetically pleasing. Let's be honest, we can use a little help to keep our sanity in check when the anxiety sets in, realizing we’re late for work! These decorative bathroom storage ideas help you maximize the space in your bathroom while also adding a touch of style, color and personality. Creative storage solutions are super simple, once you find the right pieces that fit. 

My #1 rule when decorating a bathroom or re-organizing, is to keep it sleek, simple and minimal. Any ideas I use for bathroom storage should be easy to clean, have the ability to hide your personal items and always keep things covered like q-tips, cotton swabs, makeup brushes. The amount of dust that settles on these items when they are out in the open is pretty gross, so I always keep them covered or in a container with a lid for easy access. 

Maximizing your countertop storage solutions is a must. I like to use a variety of items, from shelves, jars, baskets to wall-mounted soap dispensers and cool, covered makeup storage. There are so many items we use in the bathroom and making sure they all have a clean space to call home, will free up your countertop from clutter and ease you into your day while you get ready.

Another way to keep your space clean and organized is by using hooks for towels or cabinets with glass doors. Not only does a cabinet offer plenty of storage space, but it looks great in any bathroom setting. Decorated with a  framed art piece leaning on top, a snake plant (my favorite bathroom plant that thrives without sunlight and helps keep the air clean!) and a beautiful scented candle. Plus, with the glass doors, you can easily find what you're looking for without having to open and shut every cabinet. 

Here are some fun, and modern minimalist bathroom storage must-haves that will keep you organized and clutter-free in no time!

Before you go, don’t forget a few these easy, helpful tips on how to store your bathroom items in a decorative and tidy way:

1. Start with a plan. Before you start organizing, it’s important to have a plan of attack. Take stock of how you use your space, what areas are most cluttered, and what you’d like to accomplish. From there, you can create a plan for organizing and make sure you’re focusing on the most important tasks first.

2. Utilize storage solutions. Storage solutions are a great way to keep your home organized, especially if you don’t have a lot of room to work with. Consider investing in attractive storage bins, baskets, and racks to help keep your home organized and looking neat. Don’t forget to grab containers that have lids or are covered for those items you need to keep clean and sterile.

3. Make it a habit. Once you’ve established your plan, make sure you stick to it. Put aside time each week to focus on organization and make sure you’re staying on top of it. I promise it will save your sanity.

4. Don’t be afraid to get rid of things. Part of home organization is knowing what to keep and what to get rid of. If something isn’t adding to the value of your home, toss it. You can do this. I don’t want to see you featured on the next episodes of Hoarders.

Happy Cleaning and good luck on your home organization journey!

Looking for bold, fun sweaters to keep you cozy and warm? Look no further. I’ve selected 30 bold statement pieces perfect for sweater-weather! (and many are on sale!)

You know me, the brighter the style statement, the better. There’s a time and place for beige and it’s never here. With all this crazy weather across the states, I think it’s safe to say we have a month or two left of wearing cozy and warm knitwear. Dopamine dressing? Yes, please. It’s 2023 and we have survived more shit then we would have ever imagined and mental health problems are spreading like wildfire, so if a fun, colorful sweater puts some pep in your step. Buy the damn thing. Allow it to boost your mood all day, dance in the snow or rain and have some fucking fun! Your energy levels will thank you. Plus, this is a great time of year (and excuse) to snag some sale items to stockpile in your wardrobe for next fall.

The perfect winter sweater comes in many forms, from cropped cardis to color blocked crew necks or cashmere turtlenecks. I tend to lean towards bright colors, cool unique textures and high-quality soft knits that make me feel happy and warm, all at the same time.

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It’s a fresh new year and that means a fresh new space with bright colors and positive vibes! If you are a creative that works from home, having an office space that inspires you, is imperative. Designing a home office, should be a reflection of you and your own personal style to help get those creative juices flowing. I like to mix fun, colorful home decor accessories with a statement piece or two and finish the space off with more neutral, investment pieces.

Although this trend of wavy or curved interior design is popular now, it’s a style I’ve been crazy about since I began my interior design obsession, many years ago. From the mid-century modern, retro shapes of the 50’s to the awesome abstract of the 80’s, the curvy, soft elements create a more calm feeling of the space for me. For me, the bright, bold colors invoke happiness and help to inspire creative, successful ideas. When I’m designing or styling a space, boring is never an option.

SHOP THE SPACE:

japandi white curved home office pedestal desk // $829

color cloud ombre abstract art print // $174

white modern Etagere bookcase with drawers // $1,199

fuchsia frost curved resin pull // $18 each

pink lilac curved vase, candle holder // $22

umbra set of 3 stained glass window panel // $70

jonathan adler eyes valet tray // $68

iridescent acrylic accent end table // $244

west elm magenta modern shapes shag rug // $349

jungalow bencia slipper chair, mustard // $300

jungalow yellow wavy ceramic lamp // $60

paddywax curved realm candle // $25

*BREE’S DESIGN TIP: Don’t get discouraged when you find an almost-perfect furniture piece or accessory, if it isn’t the exactly what you want, just make it your own. This bookcase was perfect for this space, but the hardware isn’t the right style and finish I wanted so swapping the pulls out for a more playful, look that fits the aesthetic is an easy way to get those little details I needed to “pull” it all together. (see what I did there…)

The holidays are upon us and I’m bringing you some of the Best Christmas Decor for the Holiday Season! Fill your home with colorful and whimsical, festive finds for the holidays to brighten your space and your mood. 2022 has been a tough one, but if we can all just find some happiness where we can and spread a little joy around, maybe we can end the year on a positive note!

If you are anything like me, you might have a hard time deciding on what Christmas colors or holiday decoration style to use, but here’s a holiday decorating tip that works like a charm…. do them all!

I love the traditional green and red, which reminds me of my childhood, but I typically stick with the multi-color, holiday rainbow style for my office/studio space and pale pinks and golds for the rest of my house. This semi-neutral makes it warm, cozy and inviting while my workspace is vivid and bright and keeps my energy up!

Whatever style you choose, I hope this roundup of Best Christmas Decor will help inspire you for all your tree-trimming needs!

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OBSESSED. Take all my money. TAKE IT! I need it all! The more shiny and colorful, the better! After being in quarantine last year I started decoration for Christmas right after Halloween. I needed to do whatever it took to put a smile on my face and make me happy. This year, I’m hoping to have it all up by the weekend, because I need my holiday serotonin boost stat! After scouring the web for the best bright & colorful Christmas decor, I had to share! I hope some of these jolly, must-haves can add some rainbow cheer to your holidays and your home this season!

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Surprise! It’s been a while my friends. After trying to navigate life with the pandemic, I’m trying to finally get excited again about the things that I put on the back burner. Fashion and socializing! You know me, what’s better than a great outfit? A colorful one! How amazing is this zimmerman blouse?! If this #ootd doesn’t inspire you to get out and dance it out, I don’t know what will! Indulge your inner flower child and do a little holiday shopping for yourself this year! xo

Zimmermann: Concert Printed Linen-Silk Tie-Neck Top

Eva: Chamois flared trousers

Gucci: Rubber Logo Platform Slide Sandal

Sonix: Magsafe® Compatible Illusion iPhone 12 Pro Max Case

Seventy Seven: Flower Power Pink Acrylic Earrings

Seventy Seven: Flower Power Lilac Acrylic Ring

Seventy Seven: Retro Cat Eye Translucent Lilac Sunnies (with Iridescent Scallop Case)

Fun & colorful accessories, made with love and a nod of nostalgia... SEVENTYSEVEN is now open, just in time for your Christmas shopping! What a labor of love this has been and I’m just getting started! These unique and handmade earrings are the perfect gift idea and are just $25! Give the perfect pop of color or keep a few pairs for yourself! SEVENTYSEVEN now features acrylic statement earrings and accessories and soon will expand to include more gifts, home decor items and clothing.

My obsession with color and all things fun is who I am and spreading love and happiness is what I’m put on this planet from the moment in 77’ I arrived. From the dynamite, groovy days of the 70s to the awesome, shoulder pad days of the 80s, I’m inspired by the past and ready for the future!

Follow @SHOPSEVENTYSEVEN on for updates, sales and new product drops!

Thank you in advance for your support!

I've taken many breaks over the past couple years from blogging. Breaks due to busy work schedules, health issues and losing my dad. Every break was due to things out of my control, but this latest break has been on my terms for once. I needed to step back to dissect and prioritize who I am and what makes me happy… and I finally figured it out.

It’s funny how life takes you on a fucking roller coaster of experiences, lessons and every emotion under the sun, to simply bring you back to where you started.

Although I wasn’t climbing Mt. Everest physically, I was definitely doing it mentally. I’ve gone through moments of self-doubt and emotionally draining days filled with anxiety and fear. I fought back and finally shut down the negative thoughts and listened to my gut, it was clear as day. I have to create and I’m meant to inspire! What I realized after this past year of soul searching (and turning 42..) is that although I love the business side of things, it lacks creativity and doesn't always set my soul on fire. I’ve been building businesses for over 15 years, and while it’s been so incredibly rewarding to help others achieve their creative dreams, I was squandering some of mine.

So…. I’m happy to announce, I’m launching my very own product line of accessories and gifts!

This is something I’ve been wanting to do for a few years now and after this moment of clarity, I refused to wait any longer! I’m still in the pre-launch phase, as I finalize product design and overall strategy, but the exciting unveiling will take place next month! I can’t wait to share my journey and creations with you al!. As a wardrobe stylist, I’ve built and designed numerous costume pieces, but it was always the vision of someone else. I even had an etsy shop many moons ago when I lived abroad and sold at local markets, but it was more of a hobby and I didn’t give it the attention it really needed to grow. This time, it’s completely different. It’s my vision, it’s my ideas and it’s my style.

This is my greatest accomplishment because I’m finally listening to ME. It feels incredible to finally start fulfilling my needs and wants for a change.

Moral of the story? No matter how old you are or what direction you thought you were going in, it’s never to late to change it up. Re-evaluate yourself more often and if you aren't 100% content, take the time to dive a little deeper and figure it out, because life is too fucking short to be unhappy.

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]]>MY BIGGEST DECISION AND GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT EVERdesign + decorBree CooleySun, 25 Aug 2019 19:36:18 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2019/8/21/iridescent-obsessed-home-decor533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5d5dedf0cc43f100010c3213

Iridescent home decor? Yes, please! This past year I’ve been in utter and complete nesting mode. I’ve been in my new place for 9 months and I’m still implementing new pieces in every room. When you work from home and spend so much time in your space, it’s so important to make it feel comfy and filled with as many elements that reflect your personal style as possible. My motto when decorating is that if it doesn’t make my heart skip a beat then don’t buy it, but these iridescent home decor pieces almost made my heart stop! I’m obsessed with the shiny rainbow reflections and anywhere I can add in that extra pop of fun, I’m all in!

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I’ve been hiding in my cave lately, but I would rather be here talking to you and sharing my latest finds in hopes to help brighten your day! My hermit mode mentality is simply because I’ve been working on some huge changes in my life and my business. One of those changes will be a little creative journey I’m about to take. It’s one that I’ve been wanting to do for quite some time, but kept putting it off. Since this year has been all about soul searching so far, I quickly realized it was time to make it happen. (stay tuned!) As I let go of things that no longer serve me, I look forward to stepping back into more projects that fill my soul instead. On that note… I needed some color inspo for my upcoming project and while doing some spring shopping (and diving in the rabbit hole of online shopping), I thought I would share some pieces that will certainly bring some fun in your life and put a smile on your face!

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]]>WHAT TO WEAR: A MODERN DAY RAINBOW BRITEfashionBree CooleyThu, 21 Feb 2019 20:44:41 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2019/2/19/make-it-a-bright-sun-shiny-day533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5c6c6ce54785d3fe62874118

Who’s ready for spring already?! This winter has been pretty harsh for most of us here in the states and you would think that l since I live in Las Vegas, we would have warm and sunny weather year-round. Be ironically enough, as I’m typing this bright and bold spring outfit post, it’s snowing! So I needed a little outfit, pick-me-up and I thought this fun pink and mustard yellow combo was just perfect!

Here are a few of my fave bright and bold #ootd pieces and spring must-haves that will help bring a little sunshine into your day!

Head over to Can’t Clutch This by Studio DIY and grab this fun, Sunshine Clutch!

I’m already laughing at the fact that I’m talking about taking a break for your mental health, but I’m sitting here writing a blog post about it instead of actually taking the break... Let me explain.

This month marks my 11th year as a blogger and 23 years as a business owner. Since starting my blog, I’ve taken off every January to set goals, get creative and make plans for the upcoming year. Last month was the first month I wasn’t able to take the time off. The good news is the reason I couldn’t was because my business, has been growing at rapid speed and I had to dedicate my time to work and clients. The bad news is, it caught up with me real quick and my mental health took a complete nosedive.

I found myself getting annoyed, frustrated, angry and struggled with any sort of motivation. I still got up each day and put in long, work days to get my tasks done but I was anything but happy. As someone that’s been on an intense journey of self discovery over the past few years, I’m grateful that I’m aware enough to recognize when I started to feel unhappy. The irony is, I just wrote a blog post in November about “how to unplug and practice self care during the holidays”, but my anxiety and stress level were so high, I couldn’t even remember. There I was just 3 months ago talking about prioritizing and planning ahead so you don’t get overwhelmed and here I was doing just that.

My breaking point had arrived and if I didn’t step away, I wasn’t sure what would of happened. As much as I would of loved a real break where I escaped to a tropical island off the grid, my business needs me. So I have taken off the past 3 days, minus a few morning work hours, to gather myself. Gather myself and allow my brain to actually think outside of emails and routines. When you don’t allow yourself time to let ideas flow and plan for long-term goals, then you stay stuck in the mundane energy and a stagnant business.

That’s all it took. Dedicated hours to focus on me, my goals and what I’m going to do to get there. Prioritizing is key. I went through lists, ideas, got creative, took a deep breath and focused on what it is I really want in my life. Clarity finally presented itself again. My future felt a bit cloudy, not because I’m not succeeding, but because I felt like I wasn’t sure of what I truly wanted to manifest.

HEY UNIVERSE! DID YOU HEAR ME THIS TIME?

I’ve put in my requests now and I’m visualizing exactly what it is that I want and need. I made my vision board for the new year and my mental state already feels 10x better. Grounding myself mixed with a bit of planning and meditation has been vital.

Set your goals high, but give yourself a break if you need a little detour in order to get there.

If you are blogger, small business owner or creative entreprenuer then this holiday wishlist is for you! The more busy we get, the more necessary it becomes to fill our lives with cute tech gadgets to keep us going. As an advocate of self-care, enter to win a Kindle so you can enjoy a little downtime and catch up on your favorite books and blogs! Whether you want to give or receive this holiday season, here’s a roundup of some must-have tech gift ideas for the techie bossbabe…

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Happy December! I’m so excited to finally be in my new home and I couldn’t WAIT to start shopping! It’s no surprise around here that I’m a fan of color, so my office and kitchen are packed full of bold, bright colors and I’m going with a bit more calm colors (gray and pale pink) in my boho/glam style living room. (stay tuned for room reveals in early 2019!) So I rounded up some fun, budget-friendly home decor gift ideas for everyone on your list! Since it’s the time for giving, enter the giveaway to win $300 to Amazon! Happy Holidays!

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The holidays are upon us and the pressure and stress is real. Whether you are an entrepreneur trying to promote holiday sales, push out social media content or a 9-5’er that has a big family and big Christmas plans, it can all be a bit overwhelming. But guess what, it doesn’t have to be. Here’s how to unplug and practice self-care during the holidays…

1. Walk over to the power outlet and unplug your phone.

2. Turn off your ringer.

3. Turn off the power button on your computer.

4. Walk into the bathroom and draw a bath.

5. Light a candle, sit in the bathtub.

6. Exhale.

7. Don’t give a fuck about anyone or anything, except you, in this moment right now.

It’s that easy. I know, you expected some long list of tips on how to cope with holiday stress, how to manage your schedule, how to hire holiday help or some meaningful ways on practicing self-care….blah, blah, blah. I’m here to tell you that it’s as simple as just doing it. You can read articles and blog posts on how-to advice, but that is just distracting you from actually doing it. Believe me, when it comes to the pressure of the holidays and running a business, I have over 20 years experience of pulling my hair out and going crazy to keep up. This year, I come first. This year, so should you. Celebrate the holidays, throw lavish parties, travel, shop til’ you drop, but do it after you’ve checked in with yourself first.

My business has grown by leaps and bounds this year and I’m beyond grateful. But, if I don’t put myself first and practice self-love, my business fails and so do I. When I need 30 minutes to decompress or an afternoon nap because I was up half the night working on a client project, I stop what I’m doing and take that time to rest. I spent many years trying to one up myself every holiday by buying a million gifts, creating a ton of content and not enjoying the holidays the way they were meant to be enjoyed.

This is a time to reflect, relax and have fun with family and friends. Soak in the sights, smells and memories. Be good to yourself, give your mind a break and allow yourself to plan for the new year. Think about your goals and dreams and know that they aren’t going anywhere. I promise you they will still be there when you wake up from your Christmas cookie coma.

There is a fine balance of maintaining your mental health and still getting work done. It’s all about prioritizing and planning ahead. So when you feel yourself overwhelmed, anxious or lacking creativity, just walk away. Take a hot bath, take a drive, take a nap or treat yourself to an afternoon movie. Sometimes those little ways we show ourselves love, gives us more energy and enthusiasm to continue our day. Be aware of how you are feeling and most of all, don’t get caught up in comparing yourself or your journey to anyone else.

♥️

…and if you need a little help with your holiday shopping don’t forget to enter to win an $800 Sephora Gift Card! I’ve rounded up a few of my self-care favorites below!

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The holidays are here and I couldn’t be more excited to start to celebrating! To kick off this festive season, let’s start shopping early and get our glam on! I’ve rounded up a few of my fave beauty gift ideas and giving you a chance to win a whopping $800 to spend at Sephora! Grab all your gifts for your gal pals and snag a few must-haves for yourself!

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It’s easy to get caught up in the business side of being a creative entrepreneur. Sometimes you just need to step away from the screen, head over to your nearest craft store and dive into a fun, DIY project! It’s easy to get burned out, so I always welcome the holidays and embrace a little me time to unwind and get those creative juices flowing again. I’ve rounded up a few DIY projects from some of my fave bloggers to help you get inspired to make a gift for someone you love, or even treat yourself this season with a $75 gift card to Hobby Lobby!

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DIY RUFFLE HEM WRAP DRESS | A PAIR & A SPARE

DIY WOVEN LEATHER BASKET | HELLO NEST

KNIT BEFORE CHRISTMAS STOCKING | PURL SOHO

GINGERBREAD VILLAGE CENTERPIECE | OH HAPPY DAY

DIY CHRISTMAS STOCKING | TELL LOVE AND PARTY

HOW TO MAKE A FRINGE CHANDELIER | STUDIO DIY

Lately I’ve been focused a bit more on the business side of things, instead of the creative, and it started to wear on me. After a little self-reflection and a few days deep down in a rabbit hole of creativity, I found myself inspired once again, after drooling over the new Atlantic-Pacific x Halogen Collection at Nordstrom. WOW. This is by far, one of the best (and most fun!) collections for the season. The colors, textures, quality and structure are giving me all the feels, and is about to leave me broke af. If the gorgeous, feminine details weren’t enough, the entire collection is under $250, and is available in all sizes 00-24! Congratulations Blair, you outdid yourself!

ATLANTIC PACIFIC x HALOGEN // THE BOW LACE DRESS $159, THE BOW FRONT BLOUSE $89

ATLANTIC PACIFIC x HALOGEN // THE BUTTON BLAZER $169

ATLANTIC PACIFIC x HALOGEN // BLACK POLKA DOT SKIRT $129, PINK LAYERED TULLE SKIRT $99

ATLANTIC PACIFIC x HALOGEN // THE COLOR-BLOCKED CASHMERE SCARF $199

ATLANTIC PACIFIC x HALOGEN // THE STRIPE TURTLENECK $79

ATLANTIC PACIFIC x HALOGEN // THE MIDI COAT $249

ATLANTIC PACIFIC x HALOGEN // THE STRIPE LUREX SWEATER $59

ATLANTIC PACIFIC x HALOGEN // THE TEDDY COAT $249

ATLANTIC PACIFIC x HALOGEN // THE CROPPED TROUSERS $99

ATLANTIC PACIFIC x HALOGEN // PLEATED COLORBLOCK DRESS $149, PLEATED COLORBLOCK SKIRT $99

ATLANTIC PACIFIC x HALOGEN // CASHMERE BLEND BLOUSON SLEEVE SWEATER $189

ATLANTIC-PACIFIC x HALOGEN // FAUX FUR COLOR-BLOCKED WRAP $89

These are only a few of the pieces in the Atlantic-Pacific x Halogen collection, so be sure to head over to Nordstrom and check out the entire collection! WARNING: The shoes are ah-mazing! Get em’ while you can, because I have a feeling they won’t last long!

ATLANTIC-PACIFIC x HALOGEN // THE TIE FRONT SWEATER $149

ATLANTIC PACIFIC x HALOGEN // THE CASHMERE BEANIE $55

ATLANTIC-PACIFIC x HALOGEN // FAUX FUR STOLE $49

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There are those that love to wear heels no matter how much they hurt their feet, just to look good... and then there's me.  I love and will drool over a gorgeous pair of heels, but I will only spend my money on something practical. My style is much more laid back and casual, it's how I'm most comfortable. Give me a pair of joggers, a slouchy cardigan over a graphic tee, paired with cute, sporty, slip-on sneaker and I'm good to go! I've wasted way too much time in my life attending to sore feet when it was never worth it, so why put yourself through it when you can stock up on some cute and comfy shoes under $50!  Here's a few faves... (on sale!)

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Whether you work at a 9-5 kicking ass or you're hustling to run your own empire, a perfectly fitted blazer is a must-have staple you should always have in your wardrobe.  A blazer jacket is a perfect investment piece, worth every penny.  Pair with jeans and flats for casual client meetings over coffee or style it with a wide leg trouser and pumps for a business meeting. Here's a few of my favorite blazers that will make a bold statement for all you bossbabes!

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Believe it or not, fall is sneaking up on us.  It’s the perfect time to start thinking about planning your fall wardrobe to save time and money.  I challenge you to take an entire day off of work, social media and personal life to focus on you and your wardrobe.  Sort your closet, then head out for a day of retail therapy. Self care isn’t always about manicures and spa days, it’s simply about taking time out to invest in you.  We know how frustrating it can be when it’s time to put together an outfit for a meeting or dinner date and instead of walking out the door on time, we are laying in the fetal position with a half-empty bottle of wine and pile of every piece of clothing we own.  You're shaking your head in agreement, aren't you?  Here’s 5 ways to transition your wardrobe from summer to fall and a chance to win $800 to shop your heart out.

As a wardrobe stylist, I take clothing way too seriously sometimes.  I tend to organize my closet by color, my accessories by size and my shoes my height. These habits were ingrained in me many, many moons ago when I start working on set. If costumes and clothing pieces weren’t organized, then it was impossible to keep track of the characters or actors that wore them and when. I still have the occasional mental breakdowns when I try to put together an outfit, but since I’m mostly organized and can see what I’m working with, those temper tantrums are few and far between.

A few starter tips… Clean up your messy room. Grab your phone, a notepad and pen. Turn on the tunes. Open the closet.

1. COLOR IS KEY.

Bring the neutral and jewel-toned pieces out of your closet and push the pastels to the back.  I like to see what I’m working with before I start shopping for my fall wardrobe. Stick with olive green, teal, navy, plum, deep red, mustard, burnt orange, dark grey, taupe, brown and black. I suggest laying out your neutral pieces and seeing how you can pair them with a pop of color. Take pics of outfit ideas and make notes of a few pieces you can buy in order to complete the look. It’s good to have a reference when you’re shopping so you don’t overspend or buy the same colors you already have.

2. LAYER IT UP!

This easiest way to transition your summer dresses, rompers, tanks and tees is by pairing with a cardigan, blazer or moto jacket. Unless your summer pieces are neutral or the above mentioned colors I would just pack those back into your closet. I’m a big fan of a slouchy cardigan or fitted blazer thrown over a long tank and skinny jeans, paired with a platform sneaker or bootie. It’s my go-to for fall, almost daily. If you prefer dresses and rompers, then a leather moto jacket is a perfect way to layer.

3. PAIR WITH LEGGINGS OR TIGHTS

An easy and affordable way to transition those shirt dresses or skirts is by simply wearing them over a pair of leggings or tights.  Grab a few different colors and textures to play with and you can easily get a few different ways to wear the same piece. I would always suggest black, but if you are comfortable wearing bold colors, then go for it! Have fun and mix up a patterned dress with a mustard or dark green opaque pair of tights. 

4. INVEST IN STATEMENT PIECES

Biker/Moto leather jackets, boots and coats are the best statement pieces for fall.  They can transform an outfit from day to night and keep you warm too.  Quality over quantity. A wool cocoon coat or an ah-mazing, structured jacket can last forever.  I love a bright-colored coat and suggest having fun with your wardrobe (always!), but be sure to also invest in basic neutrals and black too. 

5. SWITCH UP YOUR SHOES

Heels, boots and sexy sneakers. Taking a dress from summer to fall is as easy as pairing it with a velvet pump or knee-high boot vs. an open-toed sandal. When you invest in a statement boot, be sure it's not too trendy and comfortable enough to walk in.  Again, stick to the fun, fall colors and black is always your best friend. 

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Unless you're new around here, it's no question that I am completely and utterly addicted to bags. Handbags, tote bags, suitcases, clutches, wristlets, cross-body, satchel... Basically if you can shove your phone, lip gloss and a bunch of other crap you don't need really need, I will buy it.  I know it's addiction, but it's a fairly harmless one. I've rounded up my favorite bags for every budget for summer, fall and a few are great seasonal transition pieces too.

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If you work from home, you know how important it is to have dedicated space to work out of, and it helps if it's filled with glam pieces to keep you inspired too! So it's time to load up the steals happening over at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.  I've picked my fave must-haves for your home office and gorgeous guest room!

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It's here! The sale of the year! I spent hours browsing the NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE and I was super impressed with this year's sale items. If these finds don't make you excited for fall, nothing will. Is it too early to crave a PSL while I get cozy in a new cardigan and prance around in velvet pumps? I don't think so. The discounts are HUGE and I may or may of not made my wallet cry. Wait are you waiting for, grab those discounts before it's too late!

Make a shopping list

Shop and save!

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2018 EARLY ACCESS

WOMEN'S:

SHOP THE BEST WOMEN'S CLOTHING:

PLUS-SIZE:

SHOP THE BEST PLUS-SIZE FINDS:

SHOES:

SHOP THE BEST SHOES:

HANDBAGS + ACCESSORIES:

SHOP THE BEST HANDBAGS + ACCESSORIES:

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It's about that time again...time to shop til' you drop! I know that saying is old, but so am I. I just turned 41 yesterday. Forty. One. But...I still feel and look like I'm 30, so life is good! And if you win this $600 Nordstrom Gift Card up for grabs, your life will be pretty great too! Just to get you in the mood, I've rounded up some of my Nordstrom faves I will be spending my birthday money on! 

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Over this past year, I've done my best to switch out my beauty products to only natural and organic ones. Once I started paying close attention to my food labels, it was only natural to do the same with the products I was putting on the outside of my body too.  These are my organic and natural beauty favorites for summer...

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Being a blogger, entrepreneur or small business owner means wearing every hat you can shove on your head and having the multi-tasking skills like a badass, mother f*cker.  I’ve rounded up 20 of my favorite automation tools for your small business to grow, expand your customer base and help implement your digital marketing strategies while saving you time to you do what you really love, CREATE. Many of these small business, automation marketing tools are free or only cost a small, monthly fee.

ACUITY ONLINE APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING
Acuity Scheduling is an online appointment scheduling software. Clients schedule appointments, pay, and complete intake forms online 24/7. Free signup! Never ask “what time works for you?” again. Clients can quickly view your real-time availability and self-book their own appointments—and even pay online, reschedule with a click, and eliminate 100% of the drudgery. 

AWEBER
Looking for affordable and easy to use email marketing and autoresponder tools? Launch and sell your next big thing with email marketing.Find your audience, build a relationship and sell your products. Reach your business goals with AWeber’s email marketing and automation platform.

BENCH

Bench pairs you with a team of professional bookkeepers to do your bookkeeping, leaving you to run your business. Real humans. Perfect books. Your bookkeeping team imports bank statements, categorizes transactions, and prepares financial statements every month. Learn more with your free trial today.

BLUCHIC
Bluchic is the premier feminine WordPress Themes for women in business and bloggers. Check out the Canva Social Media Templates too!

BLUEHOST
Bluehost is one of the largest and most trusted web hosting services powering millions of websites. Join Bluehost now and get a FREE domain name! 

CONSTANT CONTACT

With Constant Contact, you can create effective email marketing and other online marketing campaigns to meet your business goals. Send great-looking emails that drive big results.

CONVERTKIT

Get the automations and email marketing tools you need to grow your blog and business. Join 19000+ creators and try ConvertKit today. Create more. Worry about email marketing less.Uncomplicated email marketing,backed by a team that cares about your success.

COSCHEDULE

Get your entire marketing strategy under one roof with CoSchedule, the #1 marketing calendar for everything you need organized. Create a unified workflow for every project with CoSchedule's drag + drop calendar. Sync your teams inside a collaborative, cross-functional calendar for social, content, email, events, and more.

CREATIVE MARKET

Creative Market is a marketplace for ready-to-use design assets from independent creators around the world. Bring your creative projects to life. (check out Dear Miss Modern, one of my faves!)

EVERNOTE
Organize your work and declutter your life. With Evernote on your desktop and mobile devices, your notes are always with you and always in sync.

G SUITE BY GOOGLE CLOUD
Get Gmail, Docs, Drive, and Calendar for business with G Suite. All you need to do your best work, together in one package that works seamlessly from your computer, phone or tablet.

HUBSPOT

HubSpot is an inbound marketing and sales platform that helps companies attract visitors, convert leads, and close customers.

INTUIT QUICKBOOKS
Small businesses choose QuickBooks to manage their accounting, get invoices paid on time, accept payments & much more. Their products are geared mainly toward small and medium-sized businesses and offer on-premises accounting applications as well as cloud-based versions that accept business payments, manage and pay bills, and payroll functions.

MAILCHIMP

MailChimp is a marketing platform for small businesses. Send beautiful emails, connect your e-commerce store, advertise, and build your brand. Give your customers a clear call to action. With MailChimp, you can create beautiful landing pages that make it easy for people to buy your products or join your list.
 

PLANOLY
Planoly is the first visual planner and scheduler for Instagram. We're the end to end Instagram management platform. Manage your Instagram’s marketing campaigns and content visually before pushing it live. View your data and engagement rates for each post. Track and reply back to comments directly on the app.

SC STOCKSHOP
The SC Stockshop is the original and premier source for stunning feminine styled stock photos for creative businesses and brands! Professional and exclusive styled stock photography source.

SENDIBLE

Sendible is a social media management tool that helps agencies and companies boost their productivity on social media. Try it for free.


SLACK
Slack is where work flows. It's where the people you need, the information you share, and the tools you use come together to get things done.When your team needs to kick off a project, hire a new employee, deploy some code, review a sales contract, finalize next year's budget, measure an A/B test, plan your next office opening, and more, Slack has you covered.

SHOPIFY

Shopify is the best e-commerce platform that has everything you need to sell online, on social media, or in person.

TAILWIND

Tailwind is a pinterest and instagram scheduler, analytics and marketing tool. Save time and post at the best times for engagement, grow together with Tribes, get more actionable analytics. Start free!

As an entrepreneur, there are three things that can eat up your day. Emails, dead-end client prospects and the deep, black hole of social media. When you're fully aware of how your time is spent, it can be mind-blowing. Think about how many minutes you spend making to-do lists, scrolling instagram, researching something or crafting the perfect email. These boring, but necessary, tasks can easily take up 6-8 hours a week. That's an entire work day if you add it all up!  As a creative entrepreneur or small business owner, you have to be spending your time as wisely as possible.  Here are 5 time management tips I've learned over the years, when working from home.

1. IDENTIFY WHAT'S WASTING YOUR TIME, THEN STREAMLINE & AUTOMATE.
Email.
It's a love/hate relationship. Who doesn't love to open emails with sold order notifications, new client inquires or partnership opportunities?  Typically those emails are buried in a pile of newsletter subscriptions, advertisements or opportunities that aren't beneficial to our brand. Take a few minutes each day and unsubscribe! Before you know it, your inbox will be clean and organized. Only keep things that are of value and can somehow be profitable or informational.

PR Pitches/ Brand Emails. (this one is for my fellow bloggers)
If you are a blogger or work in the media, then your inbox is usually filled with brand partnership inquiries and product pitches. I don't have the time to respond to every one, unless I see it's a good fit or I'm interested in learning more.  I highly recommend creating different email templates for these. I have a few that I pull from and it saves me SO much time.

Social Media.
Consolidate your social media channels by using automation tools. Limit your social media time to certain times of the day and focus on engaging and connecting with your core, demographic audience. Use social media platforms for promotion and marketing as much as possible.

Dead-Beat Client Leads.
If your client leads aren't qualified then it's time to move on. Some clients need a bit more attention or a custom proposal, but don't let them waste your time when their goal is to get your product or service at a discounted rate.


2. LEARN HOW TO DELEGATE AND OUTSOURCE.
There comes a point in business journey where you either finally give in and delegate certain tasks or simply, lose your sanity. If you attend one of my workshops or take one of my courses, you will always hear me talking about "hitting a plateau".  This happens numerous times through the success of your business, but you have to pay close attention and set your ego aside. There's two types of these "plateau" moments. The first one comes when you know that you've exhausted all your energy and free resources and now it's time to step up your game or you might not even be able to remain a player. Depending on your circumstances and streams of income, I always suggest that you start with an intern. Maybe do a 3-6 month trial period, with either a small stipend or exchange for college credit, that can then grow into a future employee.  The second "plateau" moment happens usually when you go viral or sell out of a product and your brand is simply on fire with followers, fans and most importantly, customers! When you get to this phase it's time to bring on someone or multiple people that excel in different areas to take your business to the next level. Congrats! Welcome to yet another job to add to your plate, human resources. If you haven’t had your pivotal, mental breakdown... (whoops!) I mean, plateau moment, don’t fret.  Try outsourcing in the meantime and, an awesome guide to online, automatic tools that will help to elevate your brand. Keep your eye on the prize, set the intention of what your business goals are and just keep hustling.


3. USE SPREADSHEETS LIKE A PRO.
I can't stress to you enough how much I rely on my google drive. In fact, I probably wouldn't even have a business without it!  I'm super anal organized when it comes to keeping my contacts, to-do lists, tasks, editorial calendar and content ideas in order. I use one master spreadsheet, labeled with rainbow colored tabs and color-coded columns. In fact, I might want to read this post a few times myself, because I spend too much time just organizing the shit.  But don't follow my lead on this one, you're better than that. Just get yourself organized and don't get too caught up in how pretty it looks.


4. SET AN ALARM CLOCK. 
I live by alarms.  I use them on my phone and my desktop.  When I'm sitting at my desk, I try to stay off my phone (and social media) as much as possible so I like to use a free desktop alarm clock. It's simple and straightforward, no fancy bells and whistles. he he... see what I did there? Anyways... set alarms and follow them.  I use several throughout the day to remind me it's time to grab a snack (this is a major problems for workaholics who suffer from a slow metabolism, I don't think I need to tell you who I'm referring to here), take a 15 min. break, call a client, move on to the next project, etc.  I schedule out my day by giving myself a certain block of time for each project. Every day is different and at the start of each day, I look at my agenda and prioritize.  Take 10-15 min. to organize yourself and set your alarms for the rest of the day, to stay on task. 

5. STICK TO A SCHEDULE.
No, we don't have to punch a time clock, but we do need implement structure.  The good news is, you are your own boss, the bad news is that you have to be responsible enough to be disciplined. I'm certain a few of you will still be cooking dinner with a toddler on your hip while also taking a conference call, kudos! Good on you, if you can manage that, but it's not ideal.  It's important to separate your business life from your home life as much as possible. Don't forget to find your balance.  It's a perk to be able to finish the laundry between work projects, but it's also important to carve out your business schedule and stick to it.  Be sure to keep your workspace clean and full of inspiration.  When you find yourself in the flow, let it happen, but don't let it take over your life. When you love what you do, it never feels like work.  Unfortunately, I speak from experience when I say that it's so important to remember self-love and not to push yourself too much. I've pushed myself so much that it's led to negative effects on my health, don't get to that point. Stick to a schedule and be sure to pencil pen in those mani appointments, bestie coffee dates and an occasional spa day. You deserve it, because you can't pour from an empty cup!

If you can't lay in the pool this summer on your own inflatable yacht, rainbow cloud, poop emoji, giant swan or sprinkled donut pool float, are you really even living? 😜 So it's that time to shop for a swimsuit, grab a bottle of wine and pick out a few summer-must have pool floats ...

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Being a woman full of curves, finding great wardrobe pieces is not an easy feat.  For so many years, most retailers and brands just assumed that since you were above a size 10, that meant you wanted to dress like an eighty year old that had given up on life.  Finally, they are starting to get it. If you make great plus-size clothing, we WILL buy it. After you take a peek at these gorgeous editorials from Violeta by Mango you will be ready to start building your wardrobe and book a trip to paradise!

SHOP THE VIOLETA BY MANGO PLUS SIZE COLLECTION >>

This past weekend, after spending all day writing content for upcoming blog posts, I needed a break and went to chat with a few blogger buddies... when I slapped in the face with the most disgusting news.

An influencer had noticed that a picture of her son had been posted on the PopSugar website. When she clicked the link, she discovered that PopSugar had pulled her Instagram feed of the images that were connected to her RewardStyle/LIKEtoKNOW affiliate account.  While digging a bit deeper she discovered that there were thousands of other influencer and blogger profile pages that were the same. PopSugar had posted RewardStyle members content without consent and were trying to monetize it.  Not just a few pieces, but millions of content. The kicker was they even had a page for Amber Venz, the co-founder and president of RewardStyle ...

Within minutes of learning about this, we began posting on social demanding that PopSugar take down our content immediately. After several hours (and perhaps another entity that persuaded them), they pulled the pages down.

Why did they move so fast? Because they are guilty as shit.

But this isn't the end of the story.

They've received hits on their website and money off our content. Unauthorized, without consent.

I felt violated when I saw my face and content on their website. I had 47 shoppable posts on their site, some bloggers had over 1,500. Many bloggers, myself included, make a living on creating content. As a reader, you see a great photograph or blog post, but you might not always realize the time and energy that went into it. The fact that this large corporation thought is was ok to steal from us blows my mind.

This is a screenshot from their website of my profile page:

Once you clicked on one of my instagram images that were being pulled, it then took you to this page below, where you could click and then purchase the items. These were all originally linked to my own LIKEtoKNOW.it account, as you can find in my instagram feed.

BUT...they had deleted my affiliate links and inserted their own ShopStyle links instead.

...a pretty sleazy move to make a buck.

The extent and effort that the PopSugar team put into this "new" way for them to try and make a buck, blows my mind and is completely disgusting. 

They won't let get away with this though, I promise you that.

*update, we all received a payout from the class action

Working from home has many advantages.  There's no time clock to punch, we don't have to pile on our makeup to impress anyone and we get to stay in our p.j's all day. Score! I like to keep my desk as minimal and organized as possible, to avoid any distraction. Here are a few of my favorite items that will keep you feeling inspired and happy while you're hustlin' away in your home office.

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Ok, so maybe it's not ideal to want to walk down the runway dressed as a bouquet of flowers like Gigi, but this does get me inspired for spring.  Jump start the season with a splash of color and a pinch of blossoming botanicals from head to toe in a floral print romper or pair this gorgeous, floral crop top with high-waisted trousers. I'm always a fan of mixing prints and patterns too, here are a few simple tips to keep in mind, when mixing florals in your wardrobe...

1.) START WITH A STANDOUT PIECE: 

It's easy to build the perfect outfit when you focus on one item to use as your inspiration.

2.) SIZE MATTERS:

Stick with a mix of either small patterns or with bigger ones. 

3.) STAY IN THE SAME COLOR FAMILY:

Try to keep warm tones together and cool tones together. If the pattern is a mash-up, then pick a color or two from the combo and go with that. 

4.) STEP OUT OF THE BOX:

Experiment with patterns you wouldn't normally pair up. Pair up a striped skirt with a floral top! You would be surprised to see what a difference it makes if you try something new, so for the love of all things holy, don't be too "matchy-matchy".

5.) GO BOLD OR GO HOME: 

To offset the vibrant floral pattern, pair with a minimal and bold accessory.

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( photo credit: moschino/gigi hadid spring 2018)

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]]>FRESH N' FANCY FLORALS FOR SPRINGlifestyleBree CooleyFri, 12 Jan 2018 19:12:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2018/01/new-year-new-goals-and-brand-new-me.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b837f09c63473a67cfd

photo credit: jeff mindell for studio diy

I've never been more excited to welcome the new year.  Last year was just a pure shit show, filled with grief, sadness, stress and road blocks.  Since 2017 blew, I'm calling for a do-over.  I'm healing well after losing my dad and I have a new energy like I've never had before.  The changes I went through last year, as difficult as they were, brought me to a welcomed place of alignment and evolution.  Surprising enough, this "new person" I turned into, was actually ME, but the authentic version of me.  

Let me explain...

Throughout life, a lot of shit happens.  We experience hurt, hard times, stress and plain ole' ugly feelings of not feeling worthy enough.  During these crappy times, we are completely unaware that we lose ourselves in the process.  A little piece of our soul is crushed and destroyed with every heartbreak, trauma and moments of second guessing ourselves.  There may be tiny signs or glimpses when we get the message that we are going in the wrong direction, but we don't usually pay attention to them.  For me, I've had a more than my share over the years.  

I'm funny.  I mean, there are times when I can have a whole room laughing until they cry and I start to wonder why I didn't charge twenty bucks at the door.  

I think laughing can cure us from almost anything in this big, crazy world.  So when I've found myself in a moment when I couldn't remember the last time I laughed or made someone laugh, it broke me.  I stopped in my tracks and sobbed.  These are the those moments where I realized I had let life take away bits and pieces of me and my soul, and I was pissed.  How come no one told me?  Why had I not paid attention?  But most importantly, how the fuck can I get myself back again?

16 months ago, my self-discovery journey began.  I was determined to find my way back to self love and embrace unconditional love, no matter what.  The results? I did a damn good job. But one year just isn't enough, especially when it came with unexpected heartbreak and loss. 

The one thing that did happen was this series of moments, big moments.  Mind-blowing realizations where I became so aware of the parts of me that had disappeared and life-changing occasions where my true, authentic self starting to shine through.  This person who has a child-like sense of life, who enjoys the simple and silly things, someone who creates and someone who was strong enough to endure everything life had shoved in her face.  Me, myself and I had been reborn.

A dear friend of mine asked me last month how I keep going (and thriving) while and staying so positive.  He just couldn't grasp how I was so resilient, when most people would of called it quits.  My answer was simple.  

I'm a beacon of light and love.  

THAT is my true and authentic self.  As damaged as it's been over forty years, it still shines bright.  Today, bigger and brighter than ever.  I believe that I've gone through so much in my life, to help you.  I also believe that the many hurdles I've had to jump have magically disappeared.  They've disappeared because I've become aligned again with my true, authentic self.

Why now?  Because it's time to give back.  

This year I will be stepping into a brand new pair of shiny shoes.  In fact, I will be stepping into a few pairs, some are new and some are old, colorful, structured heels that just needed a little dusting off.  

The first step in the new year and my new journey is teaching!  I've wanted to start coaching and sharing inspiration with you for a while now and the time has finally come.  This Sunday is my first workshop of many, where I will be sharing bits of my own journey of self-discovery and entrepreneurship with you IRL.  If you are in the Las Vegas area, I would absolutely love to meet you! The majority of my workshops and classes will be based in Vegas with a few more later in the year in Los Angeles and Portland!

And... after stepping away from fashion/wardrobe styling for a bit too long, I'm happy to say, I'm back baby!  The creative, styling soul inside me has been screaming to get out and I'm ready to unleash the beast.  It's part of who I am.  I'm ready to dive in headfirst on focusing on what truly fills my soul and that is hands-on visual storytelling and all the creative directing I can handle!

Needless to say, it's been a super busy and exciting year already and the energy is just out of this world!  I know in my heart that this is finally my year.  I also know it's finally your year too.  Can you feel it?  It's just in the air.  Pure magic.

All that manifesting I've been doing is finally here and I can't wait to take you along on my journey.  If you are a blogger, business owner or creative entrepreneur, get ready, because things are about to get really good... 😉

Here's to a 2018!  May this year fill us with everything we've ever wanted and deserved!  Cheers!

xo

Ho Ho Ho and Happy Holidays!  Santa, his elves (some fellow blogger pals) and I have teamed up to spread some shopping joy to one lucky winner this holiday season!  If you're just as obsessed with ASOS (and this ah-mazing red dress) as I am, then I'm sure you won't have any problems finding a way to spend your winnings. Enter to win $1,000 ASOS gift card giveaway below, good luck!

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To say this holiday season is a busy one, would be an understatement. I'm swamped, but in the best way possible. I'm finishing up current projects, trying to find the time to enjoy the festivities of the season, while still planning some even bigger upcoming projects. This past week, I've been chatting with a few other creative entrepreneurs and they seem to all be in the same place.  Ambitious, overwhelmed, excited to plan for the new year, but stuck. So I'm interrupting your regularly scheduled holiday programming to just chime in and "preach" for a minute. I'm hoping that maybe this rant will help you overcome one of your biggest barriers.

Success doesn't come easy, but here's a little secret...

I've had numerous personal and business breakthroughs over the past ten years of writing this blog and of the past twenty years of working for myself.  But, 2018 is about to be the most successful year I've ever had, and let me tell you why.

Confidence.

If you don't believe in yourself, no one else will.

You are your best salesman, even if you aren't good at selling.

I'm great at selling someone else or someone else's product, because I'm passionate about it. So why was I not passionate about myself? (ahhh... lightbulb!) Yep. Once that aha moment kicks in, you will never be the same again.

You know this thing that people say...

"Don't take it personal, it's business."

...well I say,

"Bullshit."

I am my business and I do take it personal. My business is me. I'm not selling a handbag I've designed (well not yet at least) or tube of lipstick, I'm selling me.  So when I didn't land that client or big project, you best your ass I've taken it personal. I can almost guarantee you that most of the time though, it's not you, it's them.  The timing could be off, they can't afford you, etc.  Whatever reason why it didn't work out, or they didn't buy your product or your service, I can almost promise you it has nothing to do with you as a human being.

This is not an easy pill to swallow and I still struggle with it from time to time.  When you are your own brand, there's a fine line between you being the brand and the brand being you, and that fine line usually comes down to money.

Speaking of money...

"Knowing your worth is necessary in building your confidence."

If you don't truly believe that you deserve money and success, then you will never achieve it.

Don't get caught up in comparing yourself to others. Been there, done that.  The time and energy you waste on comparing yourself to others only takes away from your own goals.  We all are on our own special journey and we just need to stay in our own lane.  Focus on you.  Whatever has been blocking you from success, figure it out, work on it and move past it.

We all have those people that we look to and compare ourselves to. You know the ones.  They have the job we want, the money we want, the wardrobe and the life we are striving to achieve.  Guess what they don't have? They aren't you.

Embrace your talents and really understand your value.  It's great to look at others being successful, because that just drives you to do more and achieve more, but when you put those people up on a pedestal, you are just giving away your energy.  The only person you should be giving energy to, is you.

After twenty years of hustling, creating, learning, teaching, succeeding, failing and getting up again, the one thing that changed me, was accepting that I had lost my authenticity along the way.  In those moments of fear when I was falling, failing and filling myself with self-doubt, I lost who I really was. I kept trying to fit into the mold that I thought people wanted. I lost myself in chasing success so much that I forgot my authentic self.  I forgot my passions and the weird, little things that make me, me. That one thing that sets me apart from you and everyone else.

In that moment, (or perhaps I should say several months of on-going personal growth) when I finally realized that not being my authentic self being me was the one thing that had prevented me from achieving the success I was after, everything changed.

Confidence isn't something you gain overnight.  It's not something that can be taught from a book.  It has to come from within. Once you understand where and why you are lacking any ounce of confidence in who you are or what you are trying to "sell", watch the magic unfold and the success pour in.

Don't mistake confidence for arrogance. There is a perfect balance between knowing who you are and what you're worth and thinking you just deserve success because you are you. You have to put the work in.  You have to look at yourself with a microscope and be willing to admit your faults.  Leave your ego at the door.

Your ego is only fear.  Fear that you won't succeed, fear that people won't like you or fear that you aren't good enough.  When you are really ready for success and pure happiness, your confidence will kick in and you will suddenly realize that you will succeed and people already love you because you aren't just good enough, but because you're pretty incredible.

photo credit: wildfox

It's here! I’ve scoured and searched the interwebs, far and wide to bring you a curated Holiday Gift Guide of my favorite finds for all your gift-giving needs.  With over 500 gift ideas, you can finally cross everyone off your list! I put my heart and colorful soul (hint hint) into every page.  This season, I’m inspired by life.  The simple fact that we are all here on this beautiful earth, so why not live our best life in the most bold and fun way!  Sit back, get comfy and SHOP !

This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of Macy’s; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. It's that time of year again!  Can you feel the holiday energy starting to trickle in? I'm excited to wake up next week on Thanksgiving morning, get cozy on the couch with my morning coffee and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade.  This has been a fun tradition I've been doing with my family since I was a child.  Year after year, I would watch the parade and dream about someday seeing it in person.

This holiday season will be our first one without my dad.  I know it won't be easy, but it's important for me to hold on to the wonderful memories we shared over all those holidays we spent together.  I feel it's my duty to carry on traditions we had growing up, as well as creating new memories.

I remember my dad telling me stories of how he would watch the parade as a child living in New York City and the excitement he had watching those giant balloons float by.  Perhaps it was his own excitement that rubbed off on me.  I love watching the broadway performances and those ah-mazing high kicks from the Radio City Rockettes, never get old.

Although, I haven't been able to visit the big apple yet during the holidays, the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade brings back so many wonderful memories.  As a child, I would be focused on the tv, while my mom and dad would take turns running into the kitchen to check on the turkey in the oven.

Although this holiday season will be a difficult one for my family, I plan to do all I can to keep my dad's childlike spirit alive by carrying on the joyous spirit he had.  No matter how I old I get, my most precious memories are those surrounded my family, laughing and simply enjoying the little things in life.  Because as time goes on, we realize those little things were the most important things.

On Thursday, November 23rd, the 91st, Macy's Thanksgiving Parade® will march down the streets of New York City as the country gathers to celebrate. Don't miss out, so be sure to tune in at 9 a.m. ET to watch the new opening of the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade.  This new opening will feature an all-star ensemble cast of celebrities from pop-culture, stage and TV all singing and dancing together in an epic performance of Dancin' In The Street!  And don't miss the first hour of festivities when Gwen Stefani performs White Christmas at Bryant Park.  

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This post was sponsored by Samsung.

As a content creator in today’s world, I’m constantly living my life through a lens. Capturing moments of my day and sharing them with you is just part of my regular, everyday routine. So I was excited when Samsung invited me to their Samsung Studio Pop-Up for an insider's peek at their newest innovation, the Galaxy S8 and S8+ !  It was a great opportunity to experience Samsung's cutting-edge products up close and personal. Once I got to know just how ah-mazing the Galaxy S8+ was, I took it for a spin and thought I would show off a couple of my fave, inspirational hidden spots here in Vegas!

At the Samsung Studio Pop-Up, guests could experience Samsung’s 4D Gear VR Theater, interact with the Samsung Gear 360° or even challenge a friend to a cycling game.  I’m all about a little retail therapy, so I checked out their new products and learned about the features on my new Galaxy 8+. I’m obsessed!

Love this pink, suede Alcantara cover!

Ended the evening with a mini dance party and performance by DJ Marshmello, hosted by Kelly Rowland.

The Infinity screen is one of my fave features of the Galaxy S8+. It’s one of the best smartphone screens and the biggest ever put on a Galaxy phone. It stretches from edge to edge and the curved design easily fits in your hand.

Another few ah-mazing features I’m completely smitten with…

• The Infinity screen even gives you the ability to use two apps at once

• The Infinity screen has 16 million colors and 4.1 million pixels

• The Galaxy S8 and S8+ is water resistant in up to 5 ft. of water for up to 30 minutes ( I saw this with my own eyes at the Samsung Studio!)

• Iris scanning for enhanced security and face recognition

•10nm processor that runs on 20% less power, so you get a longer and more efficient battery life

If I’m out on the weekend, you will typically find me hanging out in Downtown Las Vegas.  The old, nostalgic feel of the city combined with the new, colorful art gets me every time.

Some fun, inspirational street wall art I captured with the Galaxy S8+...

Whether you are heading to Vegas for a fun-filled weekend or just choosing to enjoy a little local staycation once in awhile (like me!), the Samsung Galaxy S8+ is the perfect little travel companion to capture the glistening lights and the local gems, like this.

Caffeine + Communication = Love.

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I've been super busy lately, but when I'm not working on a project or with a client, I'm actually taking time for me.  My world has dramatically changed, once I made time for me. Taking care of you, isn't an easy feat.  I'm sure there are more than a few of you reading this that always puts your children, your parents, significant other or even your boss before you consider taking care of you first.  I'm guilty too and my name has usually been on the bottom of my to-do lists in the past, but not anymore.  This year has taught me so much about what it means to self-love and I promise you it has nothing to do with being selfish or narcissistic in any way.  So to all my fellow boss babes, here's some easy ways to implement self care into your life.

1. Breathe.  

When you feel yourself starting to get anxious and stressed over a situation, stop.  Deep breath.  Spend a few minutes to take control over your actions by paying attention to your breath instead. Inhale, Exhale. Close your eyes and take yourself to a happy place.  Hugging someone you love, laying on the beach, playing with your pet.  Stress and anxiety are evil.  I promise you that whatever the problem is, it get resolved.  Even if it doesn't turn out in your favor, it just might teach you a lesson in the long run. 

2. Laugh and Have Fun.

I strongly believe that laughter heals all wounds, even if it's temporary.  Life is so damn short to not laugh and smile.  During a very dark period of my life last year I met someone and he brought back the laughter in my life.  My cheeks actually started hurting. As silly as it sounds, it was pretty sad.  How did I go so long without laughing that when I finally did it again, it was a chore?  I promised myself in that enlightened moment that I would never let myself get that far down again.  For me, work is fun, because I enjoy what I do.  But when I say 'laugh and have fun", I actually mean it.  Take yourself to the park and swing on the swings, take a road trip Disneyland or just put on a funny movie and let yourself unwind.

3. Live Well.

Drink plenty of water. Take your vitamins. Eat something green! I'm not yelling at you, but I'm yelling at myself. I still struggle with this, but I'm getting much better.  I have a gallon of water on my desk each morning and drink throughout the day. I take vitamins with breakfast. When I keep almonds or fruit close by, I tend to only eat good snacks because they are there, well and because I'm lazy... Plan your meals every week if you can and take time to move your ass!

4. Unplug.

Get your ass outside.  Even if you only have five minutes before your next meeting, there's no excuses.  We are so addicted to our phones and computers that we forget about the simple things in life. Eat your lunch in the park and listen to the birds, watch the kids play and let your mind wander.  Whether I take the dog to the park or go on vacation, I always make it a point to unplug for as long as I can stand it. Even though we want to share every moment with our friends or followers, it's crucial to have some memories just for you too.

5. Mind Over Matter.

What we think, becomes our reality. I don't care what your excuse is or how bad you think you have it, stop obsessing over it. Don't be a victim.  I can tell you first hand that when I have felt sorry for myself in the past, bad shit always surrounded me.  Change your mindset. If you really focus on the positive and the best possible outcome, the universe must deliver. Think about what you want and how you really want your life to unfold. While living in Denmark, I made a dream board. I spent an afternoon tearing out words and pictures of things I wanted to manifest in my life. I hung it on the wall and looked at it everyday. I imagined myself wearing the clothes, flying a plane on vacation and creating an abundant life.  This became a ritual that only took a few minutes every morning. About a year later, I looked at that pink poster board covered in magazine cutouts and stood there crying. I had achieved 90% of what was on my board.  Trust me, the mind is a magnificent thing.

6. Treat Yourself.

Whether it's a facial, manicure or a retail therapy trip to the mail, you deserve it. Even if you can only afford $5 on yourself, do it.  You don't have to go overboard and buy that gucci bag you can't stop thinking about (or maybe...) but just give yourself a gift.  I, personally, get excited over a new nail polish or stationary.  Investing in yourself is necessary.  It's an external way to practice self-love.  Do something for yourself every day, no matter how small it is, you will see the difference it makes in no time.

7. Practice Gratitude.

There is so much to be grateful for, even the little things. No matter how bad your situation might be, there is always someone else that has it worse.  I've been homeless, poor and depressed, but there were still people in this world that had it far worse than I did. For me, success is something that was handed to me. It wasn't something that just magically happened one day. I'm grateful for every experience, even if it was traumatic, if it changed me in any way then it helped me grow. I'm grateful for my friends and family and even the strangers I meet. A smile from the barista handing you your coffee or someone holding the door, can go a long way just at the right moment. Write in a journal or just spend a few minutes every day silently listing out what and who you are a grateful for. When we appreciate life, it appreciates us right back.

photo credit: wildfox

Good style makes me happy.  Colorful, fun, fashion makes me even happier!  I've been in my cocoon lately, working on some exciting, new projects and feeling the emotions of the world as its' battling mother nature.  I just wasn't in the mood for NYFW this season.  Until I just saw this. Alice +  Olivia just turned my frown upside down!  This collection inspires me so much, it's exactly what I needed. The world does need more sparkle, don't you think?

credit: gigi hadid for missoni

It's that time of year again. When my anxiety kicks in because we are only a few weeks out from it officially being fall and I'm still sweatin' bullets in 100+ degree weather.

All I want to do be a basic bitch and sip my pumpkin spice latte with scarf wrapped around my neck, while wearing velvet pumps. Is that too much to ask?  While I daydream about my cozy, autumn ensemble here are some pieces I'm crushing on for fall...

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Last month, I turned the big 4-0!  For many months leading up to my birthday, I was terrified.  Sad and scared that I was leaving my 30's and discouraged that I didn't reach every goal so far.   There was so much anxiety and grief I was dealing with in my life that I wasn't sure I felt that it was right to have fun.  As it got closer to my big day, I realized I just had to embrace this next decade and party like a boss.  I also knew that if my dad was here, he would of kicked my a$$ if I didn't.  I suddenly knew I had to live in the moment, to celebrate me.  Las Vegas is the ultimate destination to celebrate your birthday and as a local, I don't always take time out to enjoy everything this crazy city has to offer. So even though my 3-day birthday binge left me with a sore cheeks from laughing every night and an ugly (sugar + alcohol) hangover, it was worth every moment. Whether you are a local or tourist, I promise you this fun guide won't leave you disappointed!

DAY 1 (FRIDAY): Check-in hotel (we stayed at the Palms Place Hotel & Spa & loved it!), indulge on delicious food at a fun dinner, then sing/dance your guts out. ✔

SUGAR FACTORY

Where do I begin?  We started the birthday weekend off with a bang!  The lovely folks at Sugar Factory treated us like royalty and the delicious and outrageous food created by Chef Mitch Homes was jaw-dropping!  As a guest of the restaurant, we were able to try and taste different drinks, appetizers, and desserts.  Some of our favorites were the Sugar Factory Rainbow Sliders, The Big Cheesy Burger, Caramel Sugar Daddy Cheesecake Milkshake, Lollipop Passion Goblet and of course the World Famous Sugar Factory King Kong Sundae! (even delivered with sparklers!)  This was such a fun experience and if there was ever a real-life Candyland, this is it!

THE BEATLES LOVE CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

This show was everything to me.  I've been a die-hard Beatles fan since I could remember and with my 25+ years working/performing in the theatre arts behind me, it took this show to bring me back to life.  Lately my work has had me stuck behind this screen, but for 1.5 hours while singing to songs like, "Get Back" and "All You Need Is Love", I was so fulfilled with happiness that I wanted to cry. Inspiration overload!  The vivid costumes, acrobats, energy, talent and special effects was almost too much for one stage to contain. This historic and visually-stunning, musical journey inspired me to my very core. It brought back a sense of wonder I had suppressed and for that I'm grateful to every single member of the cast and crew for their talent and energy.  The Beatles LOVE Cirque du Soleil show is by far the best show on the Las Vegas strip!

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DAY 2 (SATURDAY): Wake up & celebrate with a mini road trip, eat way too much birthday treats, spend quality time with friends and family, soak in all the memories and throw an epic hotel room birthday party! ✔

Apparently everyone runs on DUNKIN' DONUTS and so do I.  So head over to your nearest drive-thru for a pretty, pic-worthy donut & a much-needed, morning caffeine boost and hit the road! Enjoy all the gorgeous scenery at Red Rock Canyon and Seven Magic Mountains remain grateful for yet, another birthday. 

Now that you are back in the city, it's time to hit the strip and get an energy boost! First stop, SPRINKLES CUPCAKES. Load up on a few dozen birthday cupcakes for the party and don't forget to stop by the oh-so-cute, pink cupcake ATM around the corner from the shop!

Next stop, M&M's World. Both your party guests and friends back home will appreciate the bright, chocolate drops of heaven so stock up like I did on some fun colors like pink, teal and lime green. Four floors of adorable gifts and souvenirs of your fave cute and colorful M&M's characters. 

It's party time!  Hotel parties make me feel young, so maybe that's why I suggest them. When your friends and family take the time to fly into town and celebrate with you, it's nice to have a private place to gather and enjoy their company.  Then after you've drank a ton of pina coladas (and zima!) you can hit the casino later and get crazy with strangers, uh.. I mean respectfully nod and say hello to other fellow tourists.  I had fun making a photo backdrop for selfies and curating a fun party theme.  I wanted it to reflect me. Happy, Bold, Bright and Silly! When it's your birthday, it's the perfect excuse to embrace your inner child and dance to 80's/90's music all night. ...he he he

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DAY 3 (SUNDAY): Sleep in, nurse hangover, eat cupcakes for breakfast, soak in the sun, head downtown for photo opps and enjoy a few local hidden gems. ✔

DRAI'S BEACHCLUB is the perfect place to shake yo' ass and continue the party and enjoy the rooftop view of the strip.

Downtown Las Vegas is an entire adventure all on it's own.  The street art and vintage signs at The Neon Museum will leave you inspired and A few other of my fave spots end the evening at a couple of my fave DTLV spots.  Grab drinks with friends at The Griffin and then a bite to eat at the whimsical Park on Fremont.  Don't forget to sneak in the back of the patio and take a turn on the teeter totter, then stand in front of the green neon sign (below) and take a selfie. Let it be a reminder that you are fucking beautiful and what an incredible birthday you had...Vegas style!

A huge thank you to my ah-mazing brand partners for helping me celebrate the big 40!

*Disclosure: Thank you to The Beatles LOVE Cirque du Soleil for providing complimentary tickets and to the Sugar Factory for providing complimentary meals. All opinions and reviews are my own. 

Our mind is a funny little thing, it likes to play tricks on us at the worst possible moments.  I think I want to create blog posts, talk about parties, fashion, travel and business, but the only thing I can actually do is sit here staring blankly at the screen, wishing I was back in LA laying on the beach and trying to remind myself to breathe. 

For the majority of this year, my life consisted of sitting in the hospital beside with my dad, dealing with his doctors and trying to heal him through every way possible.  But now, these past 2 months have been spent trying to cope with the loss of him. How do I move on? What do I do now? I'm numb and completely lost. Should I be pressuring myself to figure it out?  Maybe the pressure I always put on myself is the first thing I will get rid of.  I really just think I'm in shock.  As much as I want to be on social media and inspiring you through business tips or pretty designs, I'm just not ready.  Those things are all part of who I am and what makes me happy, but in the big scheme of things, it's not what is important.  I think I need this time out to re-invent myself.  I need to take the time to practice self-love and care and plan for my future. I'm going to decide what I truly want and then make a plan to get it.  Life is too short to be mediocre. When I return back to the blog,  I hope you are still here to follow along as we share this journey together, called life.  

Words can't explain the empty hole I feel inside.  These past few months have been some of the hardest I've ever gone through.  My dad was in the hospital for over 3 months, while my brother and I took turns spending every other day there by his side.  Nothing else mattered.  My mind was being pulled in a million directions and most days, I was just going on auto-pilot.  Work projects got pushed, personal responsibilities were forgotten and the only thing we were concerned about was being his advocate and fighting for every answer we needed to save him. We tried everything we could, but in the end his body just couldn't fight anymore. My dad and I had our battles, we shared tears, we shared laughs and despite it all, we loved each other wholeheartedly. He believed in me and was so proud of every accomplishment, no matter how small.  I have his ambition and tenacity. He taught us to follow your dreams and NEVER give up.  My heart is broken, but I know he would want me to continue living loud in his honor and to always have hope.

These past few months have been agonizing, stressful and downright traumatic.  At the end of each day the only thing I can think about doing, is soaking in a hot bath. I'm gathered a few of my fave bathrooms for some inspiration, but I just can't seem to make up my mind if I want a more zen space, fun and modern spin or an over the top glam room.  What's your powder room style? The only thing I'm dreaming of is some me time...

 hgtv

the perennial style

 palms springs life

the perennial style

 brit + co

kelly golightly

 hgtv

 the perennial style

 brit + co

 aol

 elle decor

 elle decor

 the perennial style

If these bathrooms can't inspire you to create your own girly getaway, I don't know what can. Just be sure to add some ah-mazing bathroom fixtures, dual flush toilet and some gorgeous wallpaper!

*in partnership with decoraport

]]>16 PRETTY POWDER ROOMS: IDEAS + INSPIRATIONbusinessBree CooleyMon, 08 May 2017 22:54:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2017/05/pr-101-how-to-work-with-bloggers.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b847f09c63473a67dea

Alright, here it is.  This is a post I’ve been wanting to write for quite some time now.  With 10+ years of blogging, content marketing and PR under my belt, I thought it was time to shed light on a topic that no one seems to be talking about.  

This is the raw, ugly/pretty truth and the do’s and don'ts of influencer marketing. Whether you own a small business, work in public relations or are a kick-ass blogger, these are crucial tips and reminders when it comes to working with bloggers. These are the cold, hard facts that every brand need to know, but no one is telling them.

There is a mutual frustration across the board when it comes to blogger/brand relationships. At the end of the day, the simple truth is, the brand needs the blogger and the blogger wants the brand.  I’ve worked with numerous small businesses who want to partner with influencers. Not all of them understand this easy, although still tedious process. The clients that are open to understanding it, or allow me to lead them on the journey, are the most successful ones. Don't be one of those brands that are missing out.

" Once you understand how we work and think, you should be on your way to building successful blogger and influencer partnerships in no time! "

These are vital tidbits and tips on understanding the blogger/brand dynamic. I hope to empower each and every one of you, by sharing these important insights that every brand needs to know. I'm just going to pull the band-aid off, so be warned this may sting a bit. This is not personal, it's business. I want us to grow together so I'm going to save you the time and cut through all the bs.

The influencer doesn’t need the brand, the brand needs the influencer.

Shocked? Don’t be. Back in the day, only celebrities were the ones dancing while sipping your soda, chewing your gum or wearing your shoes. Welcome to 2017, where bloggers and influencers rule the game. Whether it’s a micro- blogger or a top-tier style influencer, these are the ones validating your product and filling your pockets with all that dough.  Bloggers are your best friend.  We tell it like it is and we don’t like to talk about a product that we don’t love.  We are your voice.  The key ingredient, between product and consumer.   

Blogging is not a hobby.

This is our business. Whether it’s a side business or a full-blown operation, every blogger has put their heart and soul into their baby.  Thousands of hours, a shit ton of blood, sweat, tears and huge sacrifices were made in building our brand. We take this seriously and we expect you to do the same.

Brands don’t give influencers enough credit, where credit is due.

Just because you might view us a one woman (or man) army, don’t underestimate our dedication, success and ambitions.  Blogging is not an easy feat, and there are layers upon layers of things we have to manage. We are entrepreneurs, just like you. Whether we owe money on a business loan, hired out our entire family or are so exhausted from juggling it all 24/7, we are theultimate boss babe. From the outside, it might look like all we do is receive gifts in the mail and eat sprinkled cupcakes for dinner, but that is just what we choose to show you. Really, we are sitting in our pj's with a head full of dirty hair and five empty cups of coffee on our desk. We are dedicated more than you know and we won't stop until we check off every goal on our list!

Please, no micro-managing.

We are big girls and boys and this isn't our first rodeo. When working on a sponsored partnership, we completely respect and understand there are specific brand requirements and rules.  However, just leave the creative part to us. That’s why you hired us, right?  Make the guidelines and details simple and easy to read, then let us work our creative magic. We guarantee you will be more than satisfied with the results.  

Don't try and calculate our worth.

Yes, you have a budget, but we also have set rates too.  99% of bloggers will be a bit flexible in their rates if they absolutely love your product or brand and just really want the partnership.  However, you have to respect our value.  There are several websites that offer an online calculator for determining an influencers worth based upon followers, comments, etc.  This is not accurate information.  If you simply based my rates on my instagram following, you wouldn’t know that I actually have 275,000+ monthly readers on my blog and each one of my instagram pics are posted right on my website. You also wouldn’t know that I push my instagram posts to pinterest, facebook and twitter.  We don't blindly set our rates and we have a reason they are what they are.  If you want to know our stats, just request a media kit. Bloggers, if you don't have one, stop reading this and create one right now.

Party invites don't pay our bills.

Do you have any idea how many invites a blogger receives? Way too many to attend each one.  Our time is precious, as most of us are balancing all the writing, photo shoots, website edits, shopping, business meetings, conference calls, traveling and attempting to control our monster of an inbox everyday.  We want to attend your events.  It gets us out from behind this screen, we get to meet people face to face and enjoy a cocktail while snapping pics to create new content.  But, we have to be selective with the events we can attend and if it’s not of value to us, we usually have to politely pass.  If we can’t attend your bash or pop-up, don’t just accept a no and hope to connect with other bloggers instead.  Send over a bottle of wine and a goody bag from the event with a note that reads “sorry we missed you” . A simple note can go a long way to show us you really to value the relationship and believe me, we notice those things. We might even give you a shout-out just for you being you.

Be professional, but be yourself.

You don’t have to be stuffy in your approach, in fact, just be yourself.  Make a joke, tell us you wish you had the nerve to pull off a bold, pattern dress too. Be real. Approach us in a fun way, but keep your sense of professionalism. We aren’t saving babies, we are promoting fun brands, products and experiences we love.  This is an ah-mazing gig we have and we are grateful to be able to make a living doing something we love.  Brand partnerships are the icing on the cake for us, so bring it!

Your email is one of hundreds we receive every day.

I hope that you've learned a thing or two and that you have taken away enough info to make your pitches stand out.  The truth is, unless the blogger has a team working with them, if your email doesn't stand out it will just get deleted.  Build those relationships, put in the time and do your research.  It takes just a little bit of effort and you will have a fan and customer, for life.  

We don’t work for exposure.

Unless you are a global brand and we just joined the blogging world yesterday, we don't work for exposure. This doesn't mean we aren't open to a mutual partnership where you share our post or interview to your audience or include it int you newsletter, but this is pretty rare. Your invite to have us share a 10% discount with our readers on a product we have no interest in has absolute no value to us whatsoever. We know exactly where to go to find discounts if indeed that is what it is we want to share with our readers. But that is only beneficial to you and we aren't interested promoting for free.

No, I won't promote your product in exchange for a high-res image.

I laughed so hard, I spit out my coffee. Yes, this is quite common. Seriously?! I can't even comment on this because if you think we can tell our readers how great these new jeans fit, by seeing a high-res image that we can simply find on your website, then you are in the wrong business.

We are just as valuable as “old school” traditional advertising, if not better.

TV, radio and billboards can be great for brand awareness but guess what, you can't click and buy. In today's world, we are way too distracted by unicorns and pretty flat lays, that if you aren't shoving your product down my throat through one of these methods, you might not capture my attention. Everyone is online and everyone is addicted to their phone, even in the bathroom. If the blogger has influence on instagram, then there is great value there. End of story.

We don’t give a rat’s ass about your press release.

Unless you are invited us on a private jet to the red carpet premiere of the latest Johnny Depp flick, where I get to sit on his lap during the film, while he feeds me popcorn and champagne and Ryan Gosling brushes my hair, then I'm probably not interested in your long ass, boring press release. (*disclaimer* this is strictly my personal wish, but you get the point.  Oh, and if you are the media contact for Johnny’s latest flick, you know where to reach me.)

We don’t need content ideas.

Being a content creator, is knowing how to create enticing, clickable content.  That's our job.  If you want to pitch us , then tell us about your product but don’t assume we are sitting around without a clue or idea on what to write. Believe me, I'm sitting with more than 100 blog post ideas that I still don't have time to write.

Ease up, on the follow up.

Yes, we know it’s your job but the more you harass us, can almost guarantee you won’t hear from us, even if we were interested. We heard you, we saw your email and we will get back to you if we are interested and have the time. Plain and simple.  Just like dating.  

No ghosting.

On the flip side, you reach out to tell us about an exciting campaign or an idea for a partnerships and we take the time to research and respond then we never hear back.  If you're just not into us anymore, there are no hard feeling, but can’t you at least have the courtesy to tell us? Just like we had the courtesy to get back to you too.

What’s in a name?  A whole hell of a lot.

Please for the love of {insert your preference here}, Know who you are pitching.  The first time I received a pitch from a very large and reputable PR firm that said “dear gmail.com”I threw up a little in my mouth. This isn't for only bloggers or influencers, this is for anyone with an email account.  If you are an intern or fresh out of college and you still haven’t learned that you should not be dressing people with a "dear gmail" then (I’m gonna pull a Simon Cowell here...) you shouldn't be in this business.  Your job is to sell me, not annoy me in the first two words.  

We make the rules.

Every blogger has their own way of working with brands. For me, I offer dedicated, sponsored posts on both my blog and social networks. I also accept products for review. Before we jump into bed together though, I'm upfront and honest about the details. My standards and morals are high and don't sell out for anyone. When I say I love a product, you can guarantee that is the truth.

If there isn’t a budget, don’t bother.

Do you work for free? Then why would you expect us too? Think of it like this... We are an extension of your marketing department. Your job is to promote, create brand awareness and drive sales.  Our job is similar, but in a more creative and organic way. You wouldn't hire a production company to produce a commercial without paying them, would you? Instead of being on the payroll, our portion just comes out of the marketing budget.  

On the other hand, we don’t always require monetary compensation if the partnership is exciting enough for us.  I partner with brands all the time, because I simply love the product.  A great example of this is when I partner with a hotel.  If I have a trip planned already, then it's the ideal situation, to stay at their property complimentary in exchange for exposure. In this case, the blogger is getting something out of great value and the hotel is getting the exposure, basically for free. Especially if the hotel was fully booked.  It’s easy. This isn’t new and it goes all the way back to the ole' barter system.

Big numbers don’t mean big sales.

As cheesy as this ole’ saying goes, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.”, it's true. After the reader/follower leaves our site or social platform, we have no control.  All we control is how we are going to show off your product and create awesome and unique brand awareness. Of course, the more followers an influencer has on their blog and social media, the bigger the reach is, but this isn't always best for the brand.  How is the product being showcased? Is their audience your ideal demographic audience? Are you selling sweet-tasting champagne to an audience of underage teenagers? These are things to think about and factor in. I promise you this is not rocket science.

Keep it short and sweet.

Define your goal and execute it. What is it that you are pitching? We don't have time to read a novel about how your beauty serum is the newest and greatest fountain of youth.  Show us a photo, highlight the product in 1-2 sentences and tell us what it is you want from us.  PLEASE include links! This is the single, most ignorant mistake you can make. Welcome to PR 101.

Do your homework.

If you’re going to pitch your product or client, don’t you want it to be successful?  Take the time to research who we are and what it is that makes us special. Why do you want to work with us?  Do we own a dog?  Are we vegan?  Are we recently engaged?  Any partnership should just organically flow and fit into our aesthetic and be a perfect fit.  

Woo us.

Influencer marketing is just like dating.  You need to impress us, wine and dine us, appreciate us, then you can tell us what it is you really want out of this relationship.  This has to be organic. It has to be fun and exciting, but don’t rush it.  

Despite this post being a bit lengthy, I still feel like this discussion is just getting started. I’m sure I will chime in again soon on this topic.  I want to help in any way I can when it comes to these pivotal relationships. Bloggers, I would love to hear from you and get your feedback. PR reps and small business owners, I invite you to join in this conversation, so please leave a comment below if you have any questions.

Influencer Marketing and Blogger Outreach is a fairly simple process, as long as you can put yourself in our shoes. Recap...

• Get to know who you're pitching.

• Appreciate them and their value. 

• Pay attention to the details.

• Keep it short and sweet.  

photo credit: wildfox

]]>PR 101: HOW TO WORK WITH BLOGGERS + INFLUENCERSfashionBree CooleyWed, 03 May 2017 18:47:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2017/05/target-summer-faves-gift-card-giveaway.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b847f09c63473a67e08

It's no surprise that I'm addicted to Target and I'm sure you are just as obsessed too.  You know that feeling you get when you walk in, grab the red cart and immediately see that they have new products in the dollar spot...  You're ready to get in your car and drive there now, aren't you?  Say it with me, " Hello my name is (insert name here) and I'm a Target addict."  You aren't alone, it's going to be ok. In fact here's a few of my summer faves and a chance to win a $200 gift card to help satisfy your needs. ;)

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]]>TARGET SUMMER FAVESlifestyleBree CooleyTue, 25 Apr 2017 21:16:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2017/04/my-fave-spring-beauty-must-haves.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b857f09c63473a67e13

When I'm not battling my allergies, I'm gettin' my glow on.  Maybe it's the fact that summer is just around the corner, but my beauty game has been on point lately! I'm all about keeping my skin super hydrated and working on maintaining my youthful appearance, as long as humanly possible. Oh, and I'm completely addicted to shimmer and all things coconut.

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]]>MY FAVE SPRING BEAUTY MUST HAVESdesign + decorBree CooleyTue, 18 Apr 2017 21:21:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2017/04/20-tips-for-creating-your-dream-closet.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b857f09c63473a67e16

If you dream of having your very own beautifully, organized closet, let me help your wishes come true!  No matter what your budget is, or how big your closet is you can still create a chic boutique style space to store your duds.  

20 TIPS FOR CREATING YOUR DREAM CLOSET

 

1.  Before you begin, head over to Target and The Container Store (my must have spots!) to purchase hangers, containers and pretty, patterned storage boxes. These will come in handy when you start to sort. Don't forget a pretty colored sharpie and labels too!

 

2. Set aside 2-4 hours to attack a small closet or 4-6 hours to wrestle a walk-in!

 

3. If you can convince your best friend to come over and make it an event, that’s even better! Whether she helps or just laughs at your old 80’s hypercolor shirts, it’s all worth it. So turn on some tunes and let’s start!

 

4. If it hasn’t been worn in over a year and it’s not sentimental, sensational, vintage or special occasion.. DUMP it, SELL it or DONATE it. If you have been a size 12 for 5 years STOP holding on to those size 8 jeans! If you lose weight then you can treat yourself to a brand new pair and if you stay the same size then stop torturing yourself! You are beautiful no matter what size you are!  I promise by the time you can fit into those old pieces of clothes, you will want to buy new stuff anyways.  I highly recommended to start at either Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack for that. 

 

5. Ready? Take everything that's not on a hanger out of your closet. As you remove each item, sort it into one of 6 piles...

KEEP: Only if they fit, are in good condition and you actually wear it.

TRASH: If it’s stained, old, ratty, out of style and UGLY…DUMP it.

SELL: Good condition, cash is good for new fresh pieces

DONATE: Charities always need donations in various styles and sizes. Do your part

PROJECTS: That LBD that's missing a button, Sew it, Make it work.

STORAGE: Pack up those winter sweaters and bring out the bright skirts and sandals!

 

6. You should have nothing in your closet that is not currently wearable. Toss the spandex, overalls and your high school prom dress. If you haven't worn it in a year, and it's not designer, get rid of it. 

 

7. SEPARATE. Color: from light to dark. Type: jackets, blouses, pants. Style: tank, long-sleeve, etc.

 

8. Say NO to wire hangers. (take them to the dry cleaner’s for recycling!) Buy velvet or huggable hangers. I only use these and swear by them.  

 

9. Use padded hangers for your delicates and velvet hangers for everything else. I love the slim velvet, huggable hangers because they give you more room and helps from things falling off. 

 

10. Place cute baskets in your closet and label for laundry, dry-cleaning and alterations/mending.

 

11. Use double-hanging rods for shorter items.

 

12. Get rid of dry cleaner plastic covers as they clutter up your closet.

 

13. Store small loose items in drawer systems or pretty decorative bowls

 

14. Put purses and bags on shelves or hooks, organized inside your closet.

 

15 . Take shoes out of their original boxes. Use a shoe storage, or clear plastic boxes instead.

 

16. Mix and Match.  Most pieces you keep should easily pair up with with something else: #OOTD

 

17. Your closet is personal. Make it your own. Prettify it. Create your own space with your own style. Display your grandmother's gorgeous jewelry box.  If you are a hustler and are aiming to create your own empire, then add pieces that can motivate you and inspire you for the day, like a framed quote or dream board. 

 

18. Congratulations on a job well done! Now take a hot bath, put on your favorite dress, go out and celebrate! The least you can do is treat you friend to dinner. She does have all of your fashion secrets to keep under wraps, ya know...

 

19. When donating your gently used clothing, find your nearest Dress For Success and help build the confidence in a woman that truly needs to look and feel her best!

 

20. Maintain your beautiful closet by repeating these steps every 6 months.

 

Happy Organizing!

]]>20 TIPS FOR CREATING YOUR DREAM CLOSETdesign + decorBree CooleyMon, 27 Mar 2017 06:13:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2017/03/25-diy-spring-projects-giveaway.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b857f09c63473a67e19

I've been on the spring cleaning kick lately and after the cleaning, comes the fun decorating!  Since this is my year for self-love, I've been spending a lot of time crafting.  The kind of crafting where you turn the music up and lose yourself in the project.  A good DIY project is healing, good for the soul and I highly recommend it!  I've rounded up some projects for spring from some of my fave DIY bloggers to help inspire you.  And if that wasn't enough, I've also partnered with a few more awesome bloggers to give away a Cricut Explore Air 2 Machine to help with your spring or summer decor!

Check out these 25 ah-mazing DIY spring projects from around the blogsphere. Don't forget to scroll all the way down to ENTER TO WIN!  GOOD LUCK!

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DIY TASSEL JEANS  |  STUDIO DIY

DIY FAUX STAINED GLASS BARN DOOR  |  LOVELY INDEED

DIY JEWELRY BOX  |  A BEAUTIFUL MESS

DIY CUSHION HEADBOARD  |  A PAIR & A SQUARE

SPRINKLE COVERED ANIMAL COOKIE VASES  |  A KAILO CHIC LIFE

DIY MARBLE AND GOLD ACCENT TABLE  |  SUGAR & CLOTH

DIY CRYSTAL PLANTERS TO PURIFY YOUR HOME  |  JOJOTASTIC

DIY FEATHERED PILLOW  |  THE LOVELY DRAWER

DIY STRAW CLUTCH  | A BEAUTIFUL MESS

DIY PAINTED ROPE WALL DECOR  |  DAMASK LOVE

DIY RAINBOW STREAMER CURTAINS  |  THE HOUSE THAT LARS BUILT

DIY POM POM PLANTER  |  THE CRAFTED LIFE

PAPER PLANT TABLESCAPE  |  THE HOUSE THAT LARS BUILT

DIY CRICUT PLANNER STICKERS  |  DAMASK LOVE

LOLLIPOP PINATA MAKEOVER  |  OH HAPPY DAY

DIY PATTERN WRAPPED CANDLES  |  A KAILO CHIC LIFE

DIY FLUFFY YARN POM POM MAGENTS  |  LOVELY INDEED

DIY HANGING ORGANISER  | THE LOVELY DRAWER

DIY DIPPED STOOLS  |  STYLE ME PRETTY

DIY HOLOGRAPHIC CLOCK  |  STUDIO DIY

DIY CLEAR PINATA  |  OH HAPPY DAY

DIY FACE PLANTERS  |  OH HAPPY DAY

PAPER QUILLED FLOWER CAKE  |  THE HOUSE THAT LARS BUILT

DIY NESTING DESK ORGANIZER  |  SUGAR & CLOTH

DIY COPPER WIRE INSPIRATION BOARD  |  DAMASK LOVE

]]>25 DIY SPRING PROJECTSbusinessBree CooleyWed, 22 Mar 2017 22:40:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2017/03/fear-is-your-friend.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b857f09c63473a67e42

 credit: fashion gone rogue

If you are a blogger, business owner or creative entrepreneur of any sort, listen up!  No matter what stage of success you are in, there is always room for growth. Stop closing your eyes and keeping wishing for a miracle, because that miracle is right inside you. Yes, you have the answer if you look deep enough.

I've been self-employed for 20 years. Right out of high school I got into the film industry and from there I went into fashion blogging and digital marketing.  I didn't have a boss or a leader or anyone to guide me on my path. I didn't receive a gold star when I achieved a goal, nor did I receive any warnings when I made a bad, business decision.  I'm a self-taught success, but that also comes with many failures.  If I wouldn't of failed in certain areas, then I couldn't of learned what worked and what didn't.  A few of these so-called "failures" seem to all come one after another over the past few years.  I worked 12-15 days, 6 days a week and put my heart and soul into every word, idea or design but for some reason, there were blocks.  

These massive road blocks were right in the middle of my path to success and I couldn't seem to get around them.

What were they?  Was I suppose to change my career?  Did I just plain suck at what I was doing?  

I talked with friends, family and business colleagues and the only thing I could come up with was to just keep trying. I didn't agree.  No way in hell was I about to give up, but I knew that I couldn't just keep trying the same way anymore.  Isn't that the definition of insanity? doing something over and over, but expecting a different result?

As an entrepreneur when things don't work the way you expect them too, the only choice you have is to keep going.  Yes, there are many of those people that just say fuck it and walk away.  But not me and I know you won't either.  

So guess what?!  I figured it out. After struggling and thinking I was having a mid-life crisis in my 30's, I finally had the epiphany I needed.  

I. Was. Scared.  

Scared?  But I'm a brave, tough cookie and I'm always taking risks.  What the hell was I so terrified of?  I was scared of success.  I was scared of the success, because I thought I didn't deserve it.  

After so many years of allowing others to take advantage of my kind-hearted behavior, I had subconsciously programmed myself in believing that I didn't deserve the success, I was killing myself to find.  I had allowed these friends, acquaintance and even clients to take advantage of me.  I couldn't blame them because I allowed it to happen. At the time I didn't realize it was happening of course, because I assumed I could trust everyone. Ha! ...not when it comes to business.  

The business blocks that I was faced with, were really just my fears showing up in different forms.  I was stuck.  I didn't know how to get around them, until I realized I simply had to re-program my way of thinking. Yes, I say simply like it's such a "fun and easy" casual process with unicorns tossing rainbow, glitter confetti all around me, but it's not so easy.  (on a side note, if someone could possibly arrange the unicorn/confetti thing, let me know)

The key is to be able to face your own shit.  Accept that you were the one causing your own obstacles and that it's OK.  You are ready to work on it now and that's what matters.  Move forward, full steam ahead! 

Don't be scared of fear, it's your friend.

It's here to teach you what it is that you have to work on, if you are open to facing yourself. Your brand are simply a reflection of you.  So if you have fears or blocks within yourself, your business will too.  Fear is that loyal friend that tells you like it is, no matter how much it hurts because it wants only the best for you.

 Personal Success = Business Success.

Think about any blocks in your business that you may having and ask yourself, is it really success that you are afraid of?  You might be surprised when you find the answer...

]]>FEAR IS YOUR FRIENDfashionBree CooleyWed, 22 Mar 2017 22:40:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2017/03/blush-is-new-black.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b857f09c63473a67e3e

I'm all about bold colors in my wardrobe, but there is something soothing and romantic about pale pinks, rose gold and blush this spring.  It's calming and feels fresh.  Yes, it's on trend and I'm not one to always go by the trends, because I like what I like, but I'm swooning a bit over this hue. Here's a few blush-colored pieces to help renew your wardrobe...

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]]>BLUSH IS THE NEW BLACKfashionBree CooleyWed, 01 Mar 2017 20:35:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2017/03/girls-just-wanna-have-fun-they-just.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b867f09c63473a67e50

I'm totally guilty of wearing black, all the time.  Maybe it was many years I spent working backstage where you have to wear black, but then it just became a staple for me.  The funny thing is that I'm batshit crazy over color and always have an excuse to have fun. So I'm challenging myself (and you!) to mix it up and pair that everyday outfit with the perfect pop of color!  You will be ah-mazed how your mood changes when you embrace a little joy in your life...

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]]>GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN, THEY JUST WANNA..fashionBree CooleySun, 12 Feb 2017 00:14:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2017/02/target-collab-sugarfix-by-target.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b867f09c63473a67e53

I'm absolutely obsessed with this new Sugarfix collection by Baublebar at Target.  Beautiful +  Budget-friendly statement jewelry, just in time for spring.  SWOON. Take a peek for yourself...

]]>TARGET COLLAB: SUGARFIX BY TARGETfashionBree CooleyThu, 09 Feb 2017 20:31:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2017/02/what-to-wear-valentines-day-date-night.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b867f09c63473a67e79

Love is in the air and I've put together a simple and sexy outfit to wear for this Valentine's Day. One of my favorite spots for date night is the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.  An evening overlooking the city, while you gaze at the stars.  Be on the lookout for cupid's bow though...

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]]>WHAT TO WEAR: VALENTINE'S DAY DATE NIGHTfashionBree CooleyTue, 07 Feb 2017 20:31:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2017/02/valentines-day-gift-ideas.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b867f09c63473a67e89

Hello lovelies!  After a much needed break, I'm happy to be back.  As I'm growing and learning all about self-love, I wanted to gather some Valentine's Day gift ideas.  You don't have to hint around to your husband or boyfriend for these, you can just treat yourself this month! Or just maybe you want to show your bestie how much you appreciate her for putting up with you crazy antics all the time...

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]]>VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT IDEASlifestyleBree CooleyWed, 04 Jan 2017 17:06:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2017/01/my-word-of-year-is-love.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b867f09c63473a67e8c

This year is all about love. I'm making some major changes in my life and I couldn't be happier! Each decision is simply based around love, with self-love being my first priority.  When you truly love and believe in yourself, you become more empowered than ever before.  I will be sharing more with you in the new year, but for now I'm taking a bit of a break here on the blog while I adjust to these changes.  Happy New Year!  Until then...

"Don't forget to fall in love with yourself first." - Carrie Bradshaw

]]>MY WORD OF THE YEAR IS... LOVElifestyleBree CooleyThu, 15 Dec 2016 21:14:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/12/gift-guide-under-25.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b867f09c63473a67e90

This season I'm dreaming in rose gold, pretty pinks and must-have metallics.  The best part is that these holiday gift ideas are all under $25. So let's give glamorously and save tremendously!

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]]>GIFT GUIDE: UNDER $25lifestyleBree CooleyTue, 13 Dec 2016 17:16:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/12/gift-guide-beauty-finds.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b867f09c63473a67e9b

Hello beautiful! Too many people to buy for and not enough time? I've got you covered. From great-smelling hair fragrance to the motherload of eyeshadow palettes, there is a beauty gift for every gal pal on your list!

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]]>GIFT GUIDE: BEAUTY FINDSlifestyleBree CooleyMon, 12 Dec 2016 17:51:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/12/gift-guide-stocking-stuffers.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b867f09c63473a67ea6

I'm a kid at heart.  Yes, I am an adult (sometimes), but when it comes to Christmas morning, opening all those fun, little goodies in my stocking from Santa is by far my favorite part!  Here's a few of my fave stocking stuffers for everyone on your nice list.

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]]>GIFT GUIDE: STOCKING STUFFERSfashionBree CooleySat, 10 Dec 2016 18:24:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/12/gift-guide-editors-pick-wish-list.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b867f09c63473a67eb1

I'm a giver. My "love language" is giving gifts and despite that after every Christmas I'm broke af, I do the same every year. Although I think it's important to give a token of love and gratitude to friends and family, I think it's equally important to show yourself a little love too.  A simple or big reminder to celebrate that you made it through yet another year of lessons, struggles and hurdles. To all my hustlers out there, I dedicate this to you.

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]]>GIFT GUIDE: EDITOR'S PICK WISH LISTtravelBree CooleyWed, 30 Nov 2016 02:02:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/11/i-left-my-heart-in-oregon.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b867f09c63473a67ebf

credit: mt. bachelor

If you follow me on instagram you might of noticed I took a little break last weekend. A very important, much needed getaway and in more ways than one I completely fell in love.  

Bend, Oregon was my destination and I was greeted by gorgeous nature, fresh air, the friendliest people and two absolutely adorable deer. 

My time here was spent unwinding and thinking. Sometimes in life, you just need to hop on a plane and go with the flow.  Last weekend was nothing short of magical. I learned a lot about myself and want I really want in life. I realized that I had bigger priorities and I refused to settle for less. The struggles I've endured over the past few years just seemed to melt away. For the first time I was able to see a clear future for myself and it just might be filled with a closet full of boots, gloves and scarves...

Bend is a quaint city filled with humble, kind people and my heart swelled from the joy.

Look at that view.  I'm not sure if it's gets better than this. The cold, crisp air felt invigorating and the nature was something I'd been craving for way too long.

I felt like a queen with a two bedroom suite (and a private hot tub) that overlooked the Deschutes River. Between the soothing sounds of the river, the crackling fireplace, the flowing wine and the great company I had, I was in complete heaven. 

Friday afternoon I spotted these two beauties from a distance and on Sunday morning, before I left, momma and baby came over to say hello. I'm pretty sure I gasped from excitement! After being a city girl for so long, I forgot the simple things in life that make me happy. 

If you are looking for a winter ski or family ski getaway for the holidays I highly suggest you don't hesitate another minute and book your lift and lodging package at Mt. Bachelor Village Resort in Bend, Oregon. This was by far the most quiet, coziest place I've ever stayed. It felt like home and I honestly, almost refused to leave. I spent time enjoying the nature and soaking in every breathtaking view.  I learned how to relax again and to sum it up, this trip was simply life-changing. It's ah-mazing what a few days in Oregon did for my soul. 

A big thank you Mt. Bachelor Village Resort and Bend for welcoming me showing me nothing but love. Oregon, you have my heart and I will be back sooner than later.

]]>I LEFT MY HEART IN OREGON.fashionBree CooleyWed, 30 Nov 2016 02:02:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/11/mytheresacom-x-dolce-gabbana-exclusive.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b867f09c63473a67ebc

Be still my dreaming heart. Hey Santa, are you paying attention?! I've been good this year, I pinky swear. This MyTheresa.com x Dolce Gabbana Exclusive Capsule Collection is everything.

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]]>MYTHERESA.COM X DOLCE & GABBANA EXCLUSIVE CAPSULE COLLECTIONfashionBree CooleyTue, 22 Nov 2016 21:04:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/11/2016-holiday-gift-guide-holiday-gifts.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b867f09c63473a67ed2

The 2016 Holiday Gift Guide has arrived! I know the shopping season can sometimes be overwhelming so I've rounded up some holiday gifts for everyone on your list!

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]]>2016 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST!lifestyleBree CooleyWed, 26 Oct 2016 19:53:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/10/self-reflection-take-look-at-yourself.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b867f09c63473a67ed8

credit: juco photo

If you're currently in a state of struggle in your business, building your brand or blog, please take this moment. Sit back, breathe and feel my words.  Re-read, post, share, bookmark and read again. You aren't alone. I see you, I hear you and I want to try and help. 

Three decades later and I'm still inspired by the lyrics of Michael Jackson. He was a legend and he made his mark in this world. I want to share some words of wisdom with you to guide you in your own path to success.

I've been a self-employed, entrepreneur since I was 18.  I graduated high school and joined the ranks of the overworked and underpaid world of filmmaking. After many years of hard work, passion and dedication, my checks were larger and the work became easier. When I was able to hire a team to support me and my vision, it didn't seem like work anymore. I felt lucky and so grateful that I could finally make a living doing something most people only dream of.  I didn't take one moment for granted, but I did stand up for myself.

In 2006, I made the decision to move Denmark (that personal story is a long, four-year one that I jut prefer to keep in the past) and I gave up my entire career I had spent 12 years building. Fast forward to 2010. I'm back home in the states and my blog is now two years old. I created it out of my love of fashion and my need to have a creative outlet. It has quickly turned into a business and I needed to either keep building it, or give up and go back to styling in the film world. Do I balance both? Am I crazy? Do I have the time? Send help.  

In the end, my blog won. My passion for styling, has never left me and perhaps I will dive back in again in time. Over the past 9 years my blog has provided me confusion, struggles, new friends, money, self-worth, insight, a creative outlet, lessons, sanity, insanity, clarity, inspiration, motivation, headaches and turmoil.  Thought I was going to tell you have wonderful and perfect it's been, didn't you? Surprise! It's not easy. It hasn't been easy. It will never be easy. If it was easy, then it wouldn't be worth it. Without the struggles, I wouldn't of grown. Making mistakes and learning from them have propelled me forward numerous times. 

When you feel that you aren't succeeding and you've tried every trick in the book, look again. 

But don't look at your blog or your business or brand, look at who's driving it.  What are your fears? What doubts creep in your head about yourself?  Do you really believe your business will succeed? Are you scared of success?  What a silly question. Hopefully you just asked yourself, "Why would I be scared of success when all I've been doing is killing myself trying to achieve it?", because that is exactly what I wanted you to say. 

I don't doubt for a minute that you haven't been working 12-15 hour days, 6 days a week for what might feel like an eternity, because that's my life too.  I feel you, it's exhausting.  How can we work so hard, yet our successes are smaller than we want or need them to be?  I'm my own brand and if I'm not at 100%, then that is directly affecting my brand.  One of the worst qualities I posses is my negative way of thinking. I've led a hard life and even though from the outside it might not look it, but I've been homeless, broke, neglected, filled with depression and anxiety and felt worthless.  I've always put on a brave face, but the trauma that life has dealt me, can sometimes catch up with me. How am I supposed to stay positive and conquer the world when I'm afraid every path might lead to failure?  

I change. I change my way of thinking. 

This doesn't happen overnight and you truly have to be open to self-growth.  You have to look at yourself and know that your circumstances and fears don't define you.  It's not easy. It may come in many forms. Tears, anger, confusion, irritation or just a plain ole' panic attack. Let it emerge. Get the sh*t out. Don't be afraid to fail. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Don't be scared of falling flat on your face.

The only person that determines if you are worthy of success, is you.

There's no comparison. Screw competition. Just do better than you did yesterday and they day before and the day before that. Step back and take the time you need to take to reflect on you, not your business, but you.  Find your flaws. See the similarities between your business and your own head. I bet if you took a look, you might be surprised. If you want to share your struggles or thoughts, I would love to hear them. xo

]]>SELF REFLECTION: TAKE A LOOK AT YOURSELF AND THEN MAKE A CHANGEtravelBree CooleyMon, 24 Oct 2016 01:07:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/10/halloween-time-at-happiest-place-on.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b867f09c63473a67ee0

Yes, I'm over 30 (cough! ...way over) but that doesn't mean I have to stop enjoying the fun things in life. No matter how old I get I will always be young at heart and embrace the happy things in life, even if the package it comes in, is a smiling, talking mouse.

I've worked hard this year and the best way I could imagine to celebrate, was a little fun at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park. I chose to take my brother Chris, since he's been with me through the tough times and has a bit of an obsession with all things Halloween.  We indulged in as many rides as we could fit in, we ate too many churros, chocolate chip cookies, chilaquiles, cinnamon crisps, bread bowls and bbq skewers. The 13 hours of walking balanced it all, at least that's what I keep telling myself...

Haunted Mansion Holiday is always my fave and the old, musty smell of Pirates of the Caribbean brings me back to the days when I use to work at Disneyland Costume Department (one of my most beloved jobs of all time) and on special cast member employee nights we would ride this over and over again. It was magical.

The happiest place on earth.  A place where you can laugh, forget your worries, sing, dance, act silly, and wear mouse ears without being judged.

Fantasyland is by far, my fave and in honor of the dvd/blu-ray release of Alice Through The Looking Glass, here's a little glimpse into Alice's world...

Thanks Disneyland, for allowing me to take a little break from being an adult.  If you're reading this post and are wondering how to have some Halloween fun this month, while you need to 'forget about your worries and strife', I highly suggest a trip to The Happiest Place on Earth!

*Disclosure: Thank you to Disney for graciously providing me with park-hopper passes.

]]>HALLOWEEN TIME AT THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTHfashionBree CooleyMon, 24 Oct 2016 01:07:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/10/40-reasons-to-rock-velvet-trend-under.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b867f09c63473a67edd

The luxurious feel of velvet on a budget? Yes, please! This season, velvet is all the rage and I've gathered forty reasons why I suggest you jump on the bandwagon too. Feel free to go a little nuts and shop the velvet bomber jacket, velvet sneakers and those sexy velvet jogger pants... just don't wear them all at the same time.  A little goes a long way, so pair it up with an over-the-top glitter envelope clutch or metallic flats instead. Balanced, but never boring.

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]]>40 REASONS TO ROCK THE VELVET TREND (UNDER $100)fashionBree CooleyMon, 03 Oct 2016 16:29:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/10/must-have-monday-20-pairs-of-pretty.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b867f09c63473a67f1f

It's must-have monday and I've rounded up some of my fave picks for fall. Down your coffee, grab some killer shoes and bust out those killer moves. I'm sorry I can't apologize for my cheesy humor today, because it's October, I've just had my 2nd PSL and life is good! Let's start this week off with a little throwback to 1990.... make it a good one ladies!

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]]>MUST-HAVE MONDAY: 20 PAIRS OF PRETTY PUMPS FOR FALLbeautylifestyleBree CooleyMon, 26 Sep 2016 22:06:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/09/neutrogena-anti-residue-shampoo-to.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b867f09c63473a67f22

I think I might of been a mermaid in my former life.  Maybe not the kind that sings and uses a fork to comb her hair, but simply the kind that thrives in water. My swimming addiction is a healthy one but the after effects aren't so pretty. Fall has officially arrived and my relaxing pool days are over, which means it's time for some damage control and a detox.

Living in Las Vegas, with lovely warm temps most of the year, I tend to swim from May to September. That's 5 months, approximately 3 days a week and an average of 60 days spent immersed in chlorine and a heap of other nasty chemicals. This past summer my hair has been a wreck. Besides the oil and residue building I also had some scalp breakouts. This was not fun and completely embarrassing to even discuss.  Even after washing my hair with my regular shampoo it still felt dirty and so did my scalp. I'm so grateful that after I started using the Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo my hair felt softer, cleaner and looked more vibrant! The oil build-up disappeared and so did my breakouts! #ByeBuildUp

Having healthy hair is a essential and Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo is safe for color-treated hair and instantly removes up to 90% of dulling residue caused by shampoos, conditioners and styling products. 

This post was sponsored by Neutrogena as part of an Influencer Activation for SheSpeaks. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions (FTC) guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review.

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]]>NEUTROGENA ANTI-RESIDUE SHAMPOO TO THE RESCUEfashionBree CooleyThu, 22 Sep 2016 18:36:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/09/what-to-wear-effortless-fall-findshtml533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b867f09c63473a67f2a

If you are anything like me (hustling workaholic) and you need an easy and effortless outfit for a chilly evening out, I've put together some simple pieces to pair up. Mixed metallics matched with cozy cashmere + a bold audacious lip. Hello fall, I'm so happy you're here.

SHOP NOW 

1.  J. Crew Chenie Cashmere Sweater in Grey

2. Baublebar Moana Lariat Choker

3. River Island Silver Faux Suede Metallic Bomber Jacket

4. Le Garcon Distressed Mid-Rise Slim Boyfriend Jeans

5. Nars Iconic Color Nail Polish in Mash

6. Nars Audacious Lipstick

7. Steve Madden Edit Bootie in Burgundy

8.B.P. Tonal Stipe Black Foldover Clutch

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]]>WHAT TO WEAR: EFFORTLESS FALL FINDSlifestyleBree CooleyMon, 19 Sep 2016 21:21:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/09/pumpkin-spice-and-everything-nice.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b877f09c63473a67f3b

It's that time. My favorite time of year when I can indulge in all things pumpkin and my house smells like a bakery!  I've missed you over the past month, as I've been doing a bit of transformation around here. I thought it was the perfect opportunity to come out of hiding. Well, maybe not hiding, but sometimes we need to just step back and regroup. It's a new season and for me, change is a good great thing and I look forward to sharing more with you soon.

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]]>PUMPKIN SPICE AND EVERYTHING NICEfashionBree CooleyMon, 19 Sep 2016 21:21:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/09/currently-crushing-burberry-x-barneys.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b877f09c63473a67f32

There are times when you need to splurge on a piece or two to complete your fall wardrobe and this is one of those times.  The Burberry x Barneys New York capsule collection is a fusion of feminine florals and structured ruffles that makes my heart skip a beat. Detailed, ornate style transforms me into feeling like a modern day renaissance woman.

]]>CURRENTLY CRUSHING: BURBERRY X BARNEYS NEW YORKlifestyleBree CooleyThu, 11 Aug 2016 00:16:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/08/putting-on-my-positive-pants-still.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b877f09c63473a67f3e

Hello lovelies.  Here I am, once again at a crossroads. I try to keep my personal life out of this blog, but sometimes I feel the need to share my thoughts with you and today is one of those days.  If you follow me on social media then you know I'm all about spreading the positive vibes and I try to keep you motivated and inspired as much as I can, but I'm feeling the summer slump...

The past couple of years have made me think, rethink and think again about my choices, my goals and the direction I'm trying to head. There have been numerous obstacles, dead end paths, closed doors and many open windows. Every time I make a personal or business decision, I try to weigh my options and put on my thinking cap and my positive pants and charge full speed ahead, but I'm tired of having to make those tough decisions, in fact I'm completely exhausted and drained.

It's important for me to take a moment, gather myself and my goals and take a break. I need some new found energy and I need to make a drastic decision. I don't know what that is quite yet, but I have my mind on something and I will have to see if the stars align themselves properly first before I can see where I'm headed. ...The ole' waiting game.

It's time for a change though, and I'm afraid it might be a big one. This doesn't mean the change will be bad, because believe me, it is much welcomed and I will be beyond grateful when it arrives.  It probably won't fall from the sky or be delivered from the legacy of Ed McMahon, (it if does though, how great would that be?!) because I do believe that you have to work hard to get what you want and if you knew how hard I've been working you might be surprised. I'm ready for greatness. I'm ready for the next step in my journey and I'm ready for it to be a fun one, a great one and an exciting one!

If you remember at the beginning of the year I talked about how joy was my word of the year and how I wouldn't stop until I find it.  Well, I'm still searching.  But that's ok, I'm on the right path and I think my career is taking a turn for the better. There just comes a time in your life when you need to shake things up a bit.  As much as I want to blog full-time and spend my day taking pretty pictures and shopping online, I need to focus on the bigger picture right now.

So I'm just gonna bow out for a little bit, take a deep breath, get re-inspired and come back refreshed, just in time for fall (my favorite time of the year!) Thank you for your support and thanks for hanging in there with me through the good times and the stressful times, it means so much.

See you back here again soon... xo

]]>PUTTING ON MY POSITIVE PANTS + STILL SEEKING JOYfashionBree CooleyWed, 27 Jul 2016 20:12:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/07/best-of-nsale-under-50-nordstrom-gift.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b877f09c63473a67f42

The Nordstrom #Nsale is here and going strong, but you have to grab the goods fast before prices go up!  For those of you that really love a bargain, I've rounded up some of my #Nsale fave finds under $50 ...and I thought you could use a little help to shop, so I'm giving away a $100 Nordstrom Gift Card to one lucky winner, good luck!

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]]>BEST OF #NSALE UNDER $50beautyBree CooleyWed, 27 Jul 2016 20:12:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/07/beauty-spotlight-john-frieda-brilliant.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b887f09c63473a67f5a

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of John Frieda® Hair Care. The experts at John Frieda® Hair Care challenge you to rethink everything you know about hair color with their latest innovative products that allow you to change your hair color right in the shower.

As a brunette, I have to believe we have more fun, (cue debate) and since it’s summer, it’s the perfect excuse to have even more fun with my hair color.  If you are looking for a subtle change for the season, the John Frieda® Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter™ and Visibly Deeper™ collections, available at Walmart, make it simple and easy! When it comes to summertime beauty tips, I like to keep it simple.  Less is more.  I’m not a fan of layers of makeup, I want my face to feel fresh and my hair to shine. A few of my favorite go-to summer style and beauty tips are...

- Wear the perfect shade of coral lipstick 

- Swim, Swim, Swim! (good exercise and keeps your skin clear)

- Drink tons of water

- Use a tinted moisturizer instead of a heavy foundation

- Plenty of sunshine (get that glow and a little vitamin d!)

- Sunblock everywhere, everyday (at least spf 50+)

- Stick to whites, brights and natural tones for your wardrobe staples

- Choose a lighter and brighter hair color

We are all looking for that sun-kissed glow of summer and the Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter® Collection helps enhance your natural brunette color right in your shower.  It slowly brightens and gradually takes your hair in a warmer and golden direction. The effects are subtle and work with your shade, so there’s no need to be nervous. Don’t worry, your hair won’t turn orange or brassy.

Go from brunette to brilliant brunette in just 3 easy steps...

The John Frieda® Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter™ Collection (Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter™ Subtle Lightening Shampoo, Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter™ Subtle Lightening Conditioner and Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter™ In-Shower Lightening Treatment) are available at Walmart. If you’re a brunette and want to go a shade deeper instead, John Frieda® Hair Care also has another trio of products called Visibly Deeper™ Formulated with cocoa and evening primrose oil. The Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Deeper™ Color Deepening Shampoo and Conditioner infuses rich and dark tones so you can deepen the spectrum of your brunette color.

John Frieda® Hair Care

“I partnered with John Frieda to bring you this sponsored post.”

]]>BEAUTY SPOTLIGHT: JOHN FRIEDA® BRILLIANT BRUNETTE™fashionBree CooleyWed, 13 Jul 2016 23:03:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/07/on-trend-live-in-color-pre-fall-2016.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b887f09c63473a67f62

Time to brighten your mood and spruce up your fall wardrobe!  I'm a sucker for color and Nordstrom is killing it with the bold hues for fall.  These are just a few of my designer faves from this perfectly curated, color collection!

MCM Mini Duchess' Leather Backpack

Akris punto Notched Collar Coat

Jimmy Choo 'Candy - You Are What You Wear' Asymmetrical Flap Clutch

Dolce & Gabbana Banana Leaf Print Cotton Poplin Wide Leg Crop Pants

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]]>ON TREND: LIVE IN COLOR PRE-FALL 2016fashionBree CooleySat, 09 Jul 2016 02:14:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/07/friday-faves-pom-poms-on-parade.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b887f09c63473a67f77

It's fri-yay!  I don't know about you, but this short holiday week seemed to drag on forever. I'm ready to relax, have a glass of wine and do a little online shopping this weekend.  I'm obsessed with anything with a pom pom or a bright-colored tassel this season. The addicted is real and I've rounded up a few of my faves to help inspire your summer wardrobe. Happy Weekend! xo

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]]>FRIDAY FAVES: POM POMS ON PARADEfashionBree CooleySat, 09 Jul 2016 01:03:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/07/on-trend-jewelry-geometric-modern-pearls.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b887f09c63473a67f7a

Last month the JCK Jewelry Trade Show hit Las Vegas with quite a bang!  As the top leader of discovering new and innovative jewelry designers and trends, JCK has me drooling over these pieces. I'm all about gold and even though I tend to always gravitate towards the geometric jewelry trend, I'm in love with the look of the modern pearl trend too.

My two fave trends are a lot like me.  Bold and strong, with an old-fashioned, soft nostalgic side that loves anything that reminds me of the classic vintage style that my super-hip grandma use to wear. 

• Geometrics

• Bold shapes, highlighted by cutouts, strong use of metals or oversized gemstones

• Modern Pearls

• The antithesis of your grandma's jewelry, fashion-forward, uber hip

Gold is my spirit guide.  From office accessories to nail polish to fashion accessories, I'm completely addicted to the glam glow of gold.  

I also love the art deco inspired, geometric pieces and when mixed with the modern pearl, it makes a bold statement all on its own. 

Although I'm a huge fan of color, you will usually see me wearing all black with a few statement jewelry pieces that pop and now every one of these absolutely gorgeous pieces below are now on my dream wish list!

• Fern Freeman Eyelash Earrings

• Amy Glaswand Pendant Necklace

• Amy Glaswand Earring Jackets

• Doryn Wallach Finely Ribbed Open Cuff

• Sylvie Collection Diamond Ring

Some of the other trends from the JCK Jewelry Trade Show were:

• Exotic Journey

• Warm yellow golds, mixed with vibrant colored gemstones intricately set in patterns and designs found on a globe-trotting adventure

• Mixed Metals

• Bright golds layered on blackened silvers, high shine juxtaposed on hammered matte finishes

• Industrial Arts

• Black diamonds, dark metals, matte finishes, chainmail

This post was sponsored by JCK as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central.

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]]>ON TREND JEWELRY: GEOMETRIC + MODERN PEARLSfashionBree CooleyMon, 06 Jun 2016 17:52:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/06/what-to-wear-chic-simple-summerhtml533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b887f09c63473a67f87

I'm not one to usually follow the rules when it comes to outfit planning, but when I do I like to keep it simple.  Living in Europe will forever change you and the first thing I noticed about my four years abroad in Denmark, was that the women always knew how to dress.  If you stick to quality, comfortable pieces you can never go wrong.  So here's my rule...

When styling your summer wardrobe, just picture yourself casually strolling through the picturesque, cafe-lined, cobblestone streets with your head held high, cappuccino in hand, looking for the next boutique to step into, works every time.

1. Eugenia Kim feather trimmed straw sunhat

2. Chloé silk crepe de chine top

3. Karen Walker super lunar sunglasses

4. Baublebar jem drops

5. Chloé faye medium leather and suede shoulder bag

6. Joie cecilia wedge sandal

7. Frame le capri high-rise wide-leg jeans

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]]>WHAT TO WEAR: CHIC + SIMPLE SUMMERlifestyleBree CooleyThu, 02 Jun 2016 17:33:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/06/dont-just-be-dreamer-be-doerhtml533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b887f09c63473a67f8f

You can't judge a book but the cover.  On the outside it might seem that I've been slacking and falling short in my "stylish" duties, or it could simply just be my own guilt. But the truth is, I haven't been around as much as I should be and I just wanted to check in and let you know I'm still here and I still love you all.  In fact I love you so much that I've been putting in 12 hour days to prove it. I'm working on a HUGE secret project and will be announcing it around (my birthday!) July 1st. It's so exciting that I'm bursting at the seams to tell you!

If I were to share with you the dirty truth of how difficult this past year has really been, you might not believe me. To say that I've had some hurdles to jump, would be the understatement of the century. From frustration, severe depression and anxiety filled days, I lost my way. Although most of the circumstances were out of my control, the one thing I failed to do was to listen to my instincts.  My head was leading me one direction, while my heart was jumping up and down waving neon orange traffic wands and frantically screaming "Hey dummy, you're going the WRONG way!".  But guess what?  I finally listened.  I took matters into my own hands again and realized that the only person that was going to be in charge of my happiness, was me.

"Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will." Suzy Kassem

I realized that I wasn't going to let these ideas of mine be a just a dream, but a reality. The mind is a funny, and sometimes tricky, but if you fill it with positive and motivational thoughts the world suddenly doesn't seem so scary anymore.  My road to freedom and happiness is just around the corner and I won't stop until I reach it.  Sometimes that means we have to prioritize, focus and align ourselves up again.  I have a sneaky suspicion that I'm exactly where I need to be and I'm paying attention to the little signs the universe keeps showing me to confirm my decision.  When you stop to pay attention and listen to that voice inside, it's truly amazing what can happen. Thanks for hanging in there with me, as I take a little detour on my path to joy and become a doer, instead of just a dreamer.

"Believe in yourself, you're more capable than you think you are."

Yours Truly ❤

photo courtesy of wildfox

]]>DON'T JUST BE A DREAMER, BE A DOER.fashionBree CooleyMon, 09 May 2016 17:14:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/05/gorgeous-global-inspired-handbags-that.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b887f09c63473a67f92

Fringe, tassels and pom poms, OH MY.  I'm crazy about color and obsessed with all these delicate details in this gorgeous global inspired handbag roundup for summer. One of my most prized possessions is this pink and blue tribal, embroidered bag I found in Spain at a flea market that probably only set me back about eight bucks. It reminds me of the time I spent soaking the sun in Costa Del Sol and inspires me to buy even more that makes me happy!

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]]>GORGEOUS GLOBAL INSPIRED HANDBAGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPYlifestyleBree CooleyWed, 20 Apr 2016 16:45:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/04/the-best-pool-floats-inflatables-forhtml533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b887f09c63473a67f95

Yesterday was my first official pool day here in the desert.  I think I might of been a mermaid in a previous life, because if I don't live by the ocean or a pool, then it's not living at all.  But when pool season is 5-6 months out of the year in Las Vegas, the one must-have is a hoard of fun pool floats and inflatables for those pool parties! Here's my ultimate list of toys to make your summer complete. Bring on the sun!

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]]>THE BEST POOL FLOATS & INFLATABLES FOR SUMMERfashionBree CooleyWed, 13 Apr 2016 01:07:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/04/coachella-must-haves-music-festival.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b887f09c63473a67f98

Coachella is just three days away and then we have officially kicked off festival season!  I've rounded up some of my fave must-haves for the road trip and those long, hot days dancing in the desert. Are you ready?  Because it's almost time to pack your bags, blast some tunes and hit the road.  Let's go!

1. FESTIVAL TASSEL BRACELET BY BAUBLEBAR $34

2. MALIBU SUNGLASSES BY WILDFOX $179

3. OFF THE SHOULDER TOP BY H&M $49

4. NATURAL FEDORA BY TOPSHOP $38

5. SUGAR SPF LIP TREATMENT BY FRESH $24

6. TASSEL SCARF BY LA  FIORENTINA $58

7. PETITE MOTO RIPPED MOM JEAN SHORTS $58

8. CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH QUEST BAR $23

9. STUD CROSSBODY BAG BY DOLCE GIRL  $38

10. LACE UP SANDAL BY FRANCO SARTO  $109

11. I AM HAIR TIES SET BY KITSCH  $12

12. SUPERGOOP SUNSCREEN MIST SPF 50 $19

13. REVERSIBLE BIKINI BY MARA HOFFMAN $255

14. YES TO CUCUMBERS FACE TOWELETTES $3

15. GRAPEFRUIT BODY WAX STRIPS BY NADS $9

16. LA CROIX CURATE CHERRY LIME $4

17. S'IP BY S'WELL WATER BOTTLE $25

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]]>COACHELLA MUST HAVES: MUSIC FESTIVAL PACKING LISTfashionBree CooleyWed, 06 Apr 2016 19:29:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/04/12-platform-sandals-you-can-wear-all-dayhtml533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b887f09c63473a67f9e

If you're vertically challenged like I am, then platform sandals might be your best answer for summer footwear. When I'm either working or power shopping, I always go for a stylish sandal that I can comfortably wear for those long, 10-12 hour days. So since I'm looking for some new styles to add to my collection, I thought it was only fair to round up a few of my faves!

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]]>12 PLATFORM SANDALS YOU CAN WEAR ALL DAYlifestyleBree CooleyMon, 04 Apr 2016 19:05:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/04/must-have-monday-mega-blooms-by-bando.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b887f09c63473a67fa1

Happy Monday lovelies!  If you aren't a die hard Ban.do fan yet, now is the time to become one. The Mega Blooms collection has me motivated for spring and planning my travels for summer. The duffel bag and travel tumbler are ideal when it comes to roadtrip essentials!

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]]>MUST HAVE MONDAY: MEGA BLOOMS BY BAN.DOfashionBree CooleyThu, 24 Mar 2016 22:29:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/03/uniqlo-x-liberty-london-spring-collab.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b887f09c63473a67fa4

I'm always a sucker for mixing prints and patterns and I'm over the moon about this Uniqlo x Liberty London collab!  Umm...Did I mention everything is under $40!  FORTY BUCKS.  It's time to celebrate spring and stay on budget!

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]]>UNIQLO X LIBERTY LONDON SPRING COLLAB IS IN FULL BLOOM!design + decorBree CooleyMon, 21 Mar 2016 17:25:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/03/50-ways-to-refresh-your-space-for-springhtml533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b887f09c63473a67fac

It's officially spring and that means I had yet another excuse to spend three hours in Target this weekend.  I became giddy with excitement, just walking the aisles, like a kid on a sugar high.  It's like disneyland for shopaholics.  I've rounded up my fave items for refreshing your space this spring. Bright colors, bold patterns, magical unicorns and prickly-free cactus pillows!

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]]>50 WAYS TO REFRESH YOUR SPACE FOR SPRING!fashionBree CooleyMon, 14 Mar 2016 17:15:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/03/festival-fashion-h-loves-coachellahtml533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b887f09c63473a67faf

If these images don't get you pumped for festival season, nothing will.  It's almost that time to pack your bags and head out west for the best weekend of the year. H&M takes us on a magical journey to the dreamy desert. So, take notes and start planning your wardrobe and make sure it includes bold, boho patterns, fun fringe and plenty of color. The H&M Loves Coachella collection will be available March 24 in stores + online and they will also have a pop-up shop on-site at the Coachella grounds.

]]>FESTIVAL FASHION: H&M LOVES COACHELLA CAMPAIGNlifestyleBree CooleyThu, 10 Mar 2016 23:01:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/03/saying-goodbye-to-stylist-diva-and.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b887f09c63473a67fc2

Eight years after creating Stylist Diva, it's time to say goodbye. I'm not saying goodbye to the blog itself, but the name. You might have noticed a few cha cha changes around here and I must say that I'm so excited about where this new blogging journey might take me.  When I started this blog the name was something I came up with as a nod to my knowledge as a wardrobe stylist and my love of fashion. I've wanted to change the name for many years now, but it wasn't until recently when I decided that there couldn't be a better name, than my own.

The past year has been a tough one, but one that has forced me to grow.  When you're in the middle of a struggle, no matter what kind, it's hard to imagine the end result a positive one.  While I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I'm still learning.  This semi-simple change on my brand, blog and business seems to be one I've needed for quite some time. I felt stale. I felt like I was paralyzed on an infinite plateau.

"A blog is platform, one that should be constantly elevating." 

As much as I believe this to be true I hate to admit that I was stuck.  I've grown extensively in my career since starting this blog and more than half of my client list has been an ah-mazing result of it, one that I'm grateful for, but I knew there was something missing. When you work for yourself there is a time you reach a pivotal point in your journey.  This is a good thing, but not always an easy thing.  When I reached this particular point I was living in LA and it was time to hire on a few team members to help grow and execute my vision.  Unfortunately during that time I was dealing with a severe back injury, doctor appointments and depression, which all resulted in a loss of income.  Even though this was the time I should of been making some serious changes and expanding my business, I lost my ambition and drive to do so. Fast forward, 2-3 years later and here we are.  The blog maintained itself, neither growing nor losing speed and I've been caught up again with projects, health, life and loss. 

With every failure, comes a lesson.  With every mistake, comes a new idea.  I don't believe in failures.  I only believe in growth.  If something isn't working the way it's suppose too, then it's time to just change direction, it doesn't mean you failed.  

"Failure is not an option." -Gene Kranz 

The new season has filled me with a new energy and outlook.  I'm excited to see where this new blogging journey will take me and I hope that you stick around and if you are new here then I welcome you with open arms.  My motivation is to inspire you through style and design, while my passion is to empower you to follow your dreams, embrace your true talents and reach for the stars. I will also be sharing creative business tips and tricks and I can promise you that if you stay true to who you are, great things will happen. 

Goodbye Stylist Diva, this farewell is bittersweet and I thank you for everything you taught me. 

HELLO to the new me, let's do this...Welcome to my happy place, where business is my bff, style is a way of life and joy is my motto. It's a pleasure to meet you.

❤

]]>SAYING GOODBYE TO STYLIST DIVA AND SAYING HELLO TO THE NEW MEfashionBree CooleyThu, 10 Mar 2016 23:01:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/03/on-trend-crazy-about-colorblocking-for.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b887f09c63473a67fbf

Spring is about renewal and new beginnings, but for me, it's also about color!  I've always been a cuckoo bird for color and there's a special energy I get when wearing bright + bold colors.  It makes me feel alive, unstoppable and even more courageous. With all the positive changes I'm making recently, I'm quite certain a few of these babies will feel right at home in my closet.

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]]>ON TREND: CRAZY ABOUT COLORBLOCKING FOR SPRINGbeautyBree CooleyWed, 17 Feb 2016 22:33:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/02/beauty-spotlight-backstage-at-rodartehtml533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b897f09c63473a67fea

“The makeup look is beautifully romantic, with a contrast of deep color.” 

—James Kaliardos for NARS Cosmetics

FACE: 

• NARSskin Luminous Moisture Cream

• NARSskin Aqua Gel Luminous Oil-Free Moisturizer

• NARSskin Total Replenishing Eye Cream

• Velvet Matte Skin Tint

• Radiant Creamy Concealer

• Soft Velvet Loose Powder

CHEEKS (FAIR SKIN MODELS): 

• 413 BLKR Illuminator 

• Miss Liberty Highlighting Blush 

• Paloma Contour Blush 

 CHEEKS (DEEPER SKIN MODELS): 

• Satellite of Love Highlighting Blush 

• Paloma Contour Blush 

EYES (FAIR SKIN MODELS): 

• Albatross Highlighting Blush

• Reckless Highlighting Blush

• Las Pozas Velvet Eyeliner

  EYES (DEEPER SKIN MODELS): 

• Dione Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow

• Las Pozas Velvet Eyeliner

BROWS: 

• Audacious Mascara

• Matte black side of  Pandora Duo Eyeshadow

LIPS: 

• Liv Audacious Lipstick

• Train Bleu Velvet Matte Pencil

]]>BEAUTY SPOTLIGHT: BACKSTAGE AT RODARTE AW16fashionBree CooleyWed, 17 Feb 2016 22:33:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/02/runway-delpozo-fall-2016-ready-to-wear.html533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b897f09c63473a67fdb

My obsession for Delpozo quadruples every season.  The playful color choices and sculpted structure absolutely blows my mind. This morning I caught myself gawking over these runway images and drooling on my keyboard. Practical or not, you can't help but admire the talent and craftsmanship that goes into this collection.  Congrats Josep on yet another ah-mazing execution!  

images courtesy of vogue runway

]]>RUNWAY: DELPOZO FALL 2016 READY TO WEARfashionBree CooleyMon, 15 Feb 2016 19:26:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/02/16-sexy-sneakers-for-springhtml533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b897f09c63473a67ffb

I'm still trying to balance this whole work, me and joy thing for the new year.  After being a workaholic for so many years, it's tough to get into a new routine of taking time out to focus on myself.  I'm trying as best as I can to schedule a little "me" time and everyday.  Whether it's a power walk or just browsing at the mall, exercising more is my first priority and these gorgeous sneakers are just the right amount of motivation I need!

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]]>16 SEXY SNEAKERS FOR SPRINGfashionBree CooleyWed, 03 Feb 2016 19:23:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/02/valentines-day-gift-guide-for-herhtml533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b897f09c63473a67ffe

Roses are red, violets are blue, I may be single but I can suggest a great gift for you. HA! Ok, ok... so I'm not a poet laureate, but one thing I'm good at is shopping! Whether you treat yourself, drop a few hints to your special someone or want to show your bestie how much you appreciate her, these 40 Valentine's Day gift ideas will make you swoon.

]]>VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT GUIDE FOR HERfashionBree CooleyTue, 26 Jan 2016 19:26:00 +0000https://breecooley.com/blog/2016/01/6-runway-looks-to-get-you-excited-abouthtml533c5358e4b01d79d0aed34e:5ad39b827f09c63473a67cf5:5ad39b897f09c63473a68004

As I dive back into my blog and prep for the new year ahead I needed some inspiration.  The winter weather has me dreaming of spring and fantasizing about bold color choices and floral patterns. When you throw in some glitter and visions of vintage design, I'm a happy girl. Thanks Gucci, for continuing to amaze me.

]]>6 RUNWAY LOOKS TO GET YOU EXCITED ABOUT SPRING