Plane Pretty | Fashion, Travel and Lifestyle Blog

Albion Fit swimsuit giveaway!

2013-05-21T14:00:00.000-06:00

Aruba was such a blast and I will try to share some more pictures tomorrow, but today I have something you are all going to love! Do you like my new swimsuit? Would you like the chance to win it? Of course you would!

When Albion Fit, a boutique that sells cute workout clothing, contacted me about doing a review and giveaway I was a little nervous. I'm not the most "fit" person and I don't love exercise as much as I should (or at all for that matter), BUT once I saw their line of swimsuits I was so excited! I fell in love with this suit immediately...the black and white stripes with the red bow (In these pictures I just wrapped it around instead of actually tying the bow, but it's super cute either way) is the perfect nautical look and I knew I needed it for my Aruba vacation. It fit perfectly, had a lot of support and was comfortable in the water, as well as out of the water.

Albion Fit is giving away this exact swimsuit to one of you lucky readers...we can be swimsuit twins! The giveaway will run through May 27th, 2013 and is open to readers with a U.S. shipping address. Note: You MUST do all 3 mandatory entries in order to win. Just enter using the rafflecopter widget below and make sure to check out Albion's great women's fitness and swimwear options...make sure to use the promo code planepretty15 to save $15 off any purchase of $50 or more (through 5/23/13).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

P.S. This is what happens when Jenny gets some sun...

Yup, that sunburn is peeling now.

Sunday Style: Hot Pink

2013-05-19T22:36:00.000-06:00

You guys...I have been the worst blogger! It's already Monday for some of you, but I still wanted to get Sunday Style posted for those who wanted to link up! I just spent a week in Aruba (plenty of vacation pics to come), so I haven't had any time to post anything and I've gotten so far behind. But you know what? It felt kind of nice to have a little blogging break!

Here are some of my favorites from the last Sunday Style link up:

Suburbs Mama

And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson

Kelsey Bang

Yup, I'm kind of loving hot pink right now. It's such a fun, girly color! Ok, let's see what you all are wearing this week! As always, here are the rules:

1. Add the link to your specific outfit post, not your main blog page.

2. Grab a button and add it to your post (a text link is also fine). Note: if you don't link back to me, I can't feature you!

3. Comment on this post and at least one other post...the whole point is to visit each other.
4. Follow my blog, so you can be reminded to link up next time!

$50 gift card giveaway from Fashion Flirtation!

2013-05-14T09:00:00.000-06:00

Hi guys! I'm Victoria from Fashion Flirtation and I am so excited to be doing a guest post on Jenny's blog! Her blog has been one of my favorites for a while! I started a personal fashion blog because I have always had a deep love for fashion and I wanted to share some of my tips and tricks with my readers. I read so many other blogs, but a common factor that I see is that the items of clothing they wear are almost always pretty expensive. I decided that with my blog, I wanted to show women that you and your wallet can both be happy, because being fashionable doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune. Most of my clothes and accessories come from places like Target, Forever 21, and Marshalls. Figuring out your own personal style can be tricky, but in order to help you all out, today I am giving away a $50 gift card! And because I want you to focus on finding your own style, the winner will get to choose between my favorite stores: Target, Forever 21, or Marshalls!

Thank you all for reading, and thank you to Jenny for hosting this giveaway! I'd love for you all to follow along with my blog! xoxo,

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I was so excited when I discovered Victoria's blog, because she has such a great sense of style and I LOVE that the items she wears are actually affordable. As you all probably know by now...I'm pretty dang cheap myself! Please go check out her blog and be sure to enter Victoria's fantastic giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway will run through May 20th, 2013 and is open to all readers! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Home.

2013-05-10T14:04:00.000-06:00

Tee: c/o The Home. T, Flannel: Target (similar), Jeans: Old Navy, Boots: Bass (similar), Bracelet: c/o HelloFab

Although I've lived in Utah for about 8 years, I still consider Oregon my home. I was born and raised in the 'beaver state'. All of my childhood memories involve this beautiful, green location in the Pacific Northwest. Some people say it's too rainy (it definitely does rain a lot), but the rain is what makes it such a gorgeous place! And I can handle the rain most of the year, because nothing beats an Oregon summer. Plus, I love the outdoors and it's the perfect location for hiking, camping, fishing, going to the beach and even skiing (Sure...the snow can't compare to Utah, but Mt. Hood has a ski resort that's actually open year round)!

I loved living in Oregon, but after attending community college I decided it was time for something new...so I made the trek to Utah and enrolled at Utah State University. I had no real intentions of staying, but then life happened. I got married, had kids, got a job...and for now Utah is where we reside, but I do hope to one day get back to the city I love: Portland, Oregon.

I can't even tell you how excited I was when I found out about The Home. T! It's the perfect piece of clothing that helps me to show love for my home state and it makes me so happy when I'm wearing it. Honestly, I've probably been wearing this shirt more often than I should, but I just can't help it...I like to show off my Oregon pride! The fact that it's the most comfortable t-shirt I own also helps AND I love that a portion of the profits are donated to multiple sclerosis research! I'm fairly certain they have a shirt for every state and even a couple countries. I definitely recommend getting one of these, especially if your true "home" is somewhere else (like mine is). If you start to feel homesick, you can just throw on this t-shirt and it will make you feel a little bit better!

White pants and a floppy hat

2013-05-08T13:16:00.003-06:00

Top: Old Navy, Crop Jeans: Old Navy, Hat: H&M (borrowed, similar here and here), Shoes: c/o MyHotShoes, Bracelets: c/o VeryJane, c/o Sira & Mara

This past weekend I had the opportunity to be part of a fashion blogger event at my local Old Navy. I styled a mannequin and helped a couple ladies pick out some outfits, which was super fun. I had to bring my kids with me, which was a little bit of a challenge...but they were actually pretty well behaved (I brought the iPad, so that helped)! Old Navy is starting to come out with some super cute items for Summer. There are a bunch of lightweight, flowy tops and I'm loving all of the white items! White pants might just be my new favorite thing. Although, I must admit...small children + white pants = a recipe for disaster!

Amy, Kelsey, Gentri, Me, Jessi

I had such a blast with these ladies. They are all so awesome and you should totally check out their blogs...I'm always getting style inspiration from each of them!

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(I was compensated with an Old Navy gift card, but all opinions are 100% my own.)

Spring Florals with Lily from Blushing Boulevard

2013-05-07T13:22:00.000-06:00

Hey y'all! My name is Lily and I'm so excited to be doing a little introduction on Jenny's blog today! I blog over at Blushing Boulevard which is a lifestyle blog, where I talk about anything from fashion, beauty, health and fitness, and moments in life that are needed to remember!

There are so many trends that I am loving this spring but one thing that I can't get enough of is florals. Florals are so fun to wear and to style. I also love wearing bright colors, so I decided to pair this floral blazer with a bright orange tank. I thought the two complemented each other well. Brights and florals are two trends this Spring that I seriously think I could wear on repeat! What I love about the floral trend is that they can incorporate it in clothes in so many ways. You have floral pants, floral shirts, and in my case floral blazers.

Blazer: Nordstrom, Jeans: William Rast, Tank: Nordstrom, Heels: Charlotte Russe, Necklace: Forever 21,Spike Bracelet: Nordstrom, Watch: Michael Kors, Link Bracelet: Henri Bendel

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Isn't Lily the cutest?! I definitely recommend following along over at Blushing Boulevard. You can also find Lily on Bloglovin', Pinterest and Instagram!

Manicure Monday: Zoya "Irresistible" Collection

2013-05-06T17:38:00.000-06:00

One of Zoya's new collections for this Summer is "Irresistible", a set of six metallic shades in fun shimmery colors. Each of them was opaque in two coats and dried a little quicker than normal. There wasn't any weird streaking, which was nice (I've experienced that in some other metallic polishes). Here are the colors:

"Bobbi"


"Tinsley"


"Amy"


"Kerry"


"Hazel"


"Rikki"

My favorites are the last two, "Hazel" and "Rikki". I love the little specks of gold mixed in with the green and blue. The orange polish ("Amy") is also really fun for Summer!

Each of these polishes retail for $8 and can be purchased at Zoya.com. Which is your favorite?

(Product sent for review.)

Sunday Style: Black with a Touch of Gold

2013-05-05T18:43:00.002-06:00

Last week was another successful Sunday Style link-up and there were so many fantastic outfits. I always hate having to pick out my favorites, because it's so hard to narrow it down! But this week I wanted to share a few looks that I loved, which happened to include black pieces paired with gold jewelry/accessories. Here they are:


Loverly She


Hunters of Happiness


Fashion Flirtation

I love the simplicity of black clothing. It's so classic and beautiful! I think these ladies look lovely...wouldn't you agree? Now, let's see what you are wearing this week. As always, here are the rules:

1. Add the link to your specific outfit post, not your main blog page.

2. Grab a button and add it to your post (a text link is also fine). Note: if you don't link back to me, I can't feature you!

3. Comment on this post and at least one other post...the whole point is to visit each other.
4. Follow my blog, so you can be reminded to link up next time!

Amourx Handmade Giveaway!

2013-05-04T23:21:00.001-06:00

Wishbone Earrings // Faceted Bead Necklace // Dahlia Flower Earrings

Do you see those wishbone earrings above? I'm pretty sure I never want to take them off again...they are officially my new favorite earrings. And wishbones are supposed to bring you good luck, so I figure I better wear them as much as possible! They are made by one of my amazing sponsors, Amourx Handmade, along with the other lovely jewelry you see in these photos. I've always been a big fan of dainty jewelry. Sure, the occasional statement piece is fun, but I love simple and classic pieces that I can wear with everything! Amourx has a ton of beautiful necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings that are handmade in Australia. Oh, and let's talk about the low prices for a second...those wishbone earrings: $10 with free shipping worldwide. Seriously...that's like Forever 21 prices, but you are getting way better quality!

Amourx Handmade is giving away these adorable gold meditation earrings to one lucky reader. Just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway is open to readers worldwide and will run through May 9, 2013. Good luck and be sure to go check out this great shop!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

And my floral obsession continues...

2013-05-03T13:04:00.000-06:00

Floral Jeans: c/o PB&J Boutique, Top: Old Navy, Shoes: Kohls (similar), Bracelet: c/o Sira & Mara, Watch: c/o Feral Watches, Necklace: Forever 21 (similar)

Yup, floral again. I can't stop. There is just something about colorful flowers that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. These floral jeans from PB&J Boutique are such a pretty, feminine print and I am obsessed with them. I love that you can dress them up or down (I will definitely be putting together a more casual look with these pants).

Do any of you lovely readers live near Utah County? I will be at the American Fork Old Navy, along with some other fabulous bloggers, tomorrow from 11am-1pm. I would LOVE for you to come and hang out with me for a little bit! I styled a mannequin for the first time (which was super fun!) and I will be helping customers pick out some cute items. There will also be a special discount for those who attend: $10 off $50 or 10% off, whichever is greater! I hope to see you there...let me know if you think you will be coming!

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Ooh Baby Designs Giveaway

2013-05-02T17:20:00.000-06:00

Today I get to share a great Etsy shop with you...one of my fabulous sponsors, Ooh Baby Designs! They are giving away a $15 gift card to their cute shop, so be sure to enter after reading a little bit about them below!

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I started playing around with accessories that I wanted for myself. Soon I was making and selling Infinity scarves by the handfuls. Later, I discovered that I was not the only one interested in tote/beach bags that could accommodate everything necessary for a family of 4+. I started experimenting with fabrics and designs - trying to keep them bold, simple and functional. I wanted to maintain a simple design, yet still add a little bit of visual interest. Who thought something as simple as a tote bag would bring me such joy to create?

Now when I create, I try to think of my audience and their needs. Are they teachers? Hmmm...lots of pockets and a big roomy bag. Moms going to the pool? Hmmm...waterproof interior lining so the cannon ball splash doesn't soak my kindle (or book if you're old school, I won't judge). Brides?? Hmm....classy, affordable, quality and trendy!

I love every minute of this :-)

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You can find Ooh Baby Designs on Facebook, Twitter and their shop. Make sure to enter for the chance to win a $15 gift card, using the Rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway will run through May 7, 2013 and is only open to U.S. readers. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Birthday Date Night Attire

2013-04-30T13:58:00.003-06:00

Skirt: c/o Lulu's, Top: LC Lauren Conrad (Kohls), Shoes: c/o MyHotShoes, Nixon Watch: c/o WatchCo

For my birthday Emery took me out to The Roof, which is a fancy restaurant in downtown Salt Lake City. It was such a great date and I will share some more pictures later this week, but this was the outfit I wore that night. I was so excited to wear my new Nixon watch that I got from WatchCo. The rose gold color is so pretty and I know I will be wearing it a ton. I think I might actually become a watch person now...they are such an easy accessory!

I am currently flying around the country, so I don't have time to write anything else. My job has been keeping me super busy lately and I have been flying more than I would really like to...but that's life, I suppose! I hope you are all having a great week!

Sunday Style and a Hapari Swimwear Giveaway!

2013-04-28T09:00:00.000-06:00

If you are as excited for sunshine and Summer as I am, you are going to love the giveaway I have to share today! Have you heard of Hapari? They have some great modest swimwear options and they have suits designed for all body types. I have a couple of their fabulous tankinis, which have accompanied me to Hawaii, on trips to the waterpark and numerous other places under the sun! The quality is great and they are still in wonderful condition, even after the many times I have worn them. They are sending me another suit for the upcoming season and I'm so excited to wear it!

Well, today you have the chance to win a $95 Hapari gift certificate! The giveaway will be open through May 4th and is open to U.S. and Canadian residents. Just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's also time for Sunday Style! As always, here are the rules:

1. Add the link to your specific outfit post, not your main blog page.

2. Grab a button and add it to your post (a text link is also fine).

3. Comment on this post and at least one other post...the whole point is to visit each other.
4. Follow my blog, so you can be reminded to link up next time!

One year older and wiser too.

2013-04-27T12:52:00.001-06:00

Blouse: Target, Skirt: Target (dreaming of this one), Shoes: c/o Lulu's, Necklace: c/o Cheerfully Charmed

You are probably noticing that these pictures are old (since my hair isn't this color anymore). But, I totally forgot about these pictures and I really liked this outfit...and I'm way too lazy to retake the pictures. This was actually the outfit I wore for Easter, so these pictures have definitely been hiding out on my camera for a while!

I was so excited when I found this skirt and top at Target. These pieces look like something you would find at a nicer store, but they had a lower price tag...which is always nice! To be honest, I kind of thought I would never wear my bubble necklace again. I got tired of seeing them in every fashion bloggers' outfit pictures back when they were super trendy. However, I really like the way it looks with this outfit and it adds a nice little pop of turquoise!

Sorry I've been slacking on the posts this week. Today is my birthday, so I've been trying to have as much fun as I can (to keep my mind off of how old I just turned)! Hope you are all having a great weekend!

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Spring and a Sponsor Spotlight

2013-04-24T13:23:00.001-06:00

Even though it's the end of April, here in Utah it is still way too cold for my liking. Spring is supposed to mean warmer temperatures isn't it?! I'm sure the heat will arrive soon and then I will probably start complaining about being too hot, but for now I will keep dreaming of soaking up the warm sunshine! I asked my lovely sponsors to share what they are looking forward to this Spring and here is what they had to say:

Shop | Twitter | Facebook

"Spring typically brings new designs! I have a great spring skirt I'd like to see in the store soon and some re-designs on bags for summer!" ~ Ooh Baby Designs


Blog \| Bloglovin' \| Instagram

"There are so many things that I am looking forward to this Spring, but there are two trends that I'm obsessing over specifically, lace and neon colors! Lace is so feminine, girly, and so fun to wear! Its been a huge hit on the runways for this season too! Wearing neon colors also is something I am looking forward to, I think that it just fits the season so perfectly and its such a fun trend!" ~ Blushing Boulevard

Shop | Facebook | Instagram

"It has been a busy past few months for me as I am *finally* completing my Masters degree. This spring ( I live Down Under!), I look forward to the graduation trip I have planned for the past 1.5 years. Will be jet-setting off to Canada and the US for a whole month, escaping the winter chills and soaking up the heat on the other side of earth. Yay! " ~ Amourx Handmade

Dreaming of Coachella Style

2013-04-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

Aztec Jeans: c/o Lulu's, Denim Shirt: JCP (old), Boots: c/o MyHotShoes, Wrap Bracelet: Made Myself, Cuff: c/o Color by Amber, Watch: c/o Feral Watches, Sunglasses: Sunglass Warehouse, Necklace: MooreaSeal, Earrings: Gift from Dad, Hair Feathers: c/o Fine Featherheads

Going to Coachella is one of those things that I really hope to check off of my bucket list sometime soon, but unfortunately it wasn't this year. The music festival wrapped up this past weekend and I have been so jealous of all the photos that I saw popping up in my Instagram feed! I figured if I couldn't be there I could at least dress in some Coachella-inspired fashion. Obviously, there is a big temperature difference between Utah and California, so I had to dress a little warmer...but you get the idea! I built this whole outfit around these amazing southwestern print pants from Lulu's. One of my favorite things in this outfit are the clip-in hair feathers from Fine Featherheads. I don't know why I never hopped on the feather earring/hair feather bandwagon when they became popular a couple years ago, but I sure am loving them now!

I've always been a pretty relaxed and laid-back person. I really feel like this outfit fits my personality...is that weird??

Linking to WIWW

Manicure Monday: Barielle Summer Brights

2013-04-22T17:44:00.001-06:00

I've been doing Manicure Monday for over a year now, so I feel like I have a pretty good idea of which nail polish is great quality and which is not. "Summer Brights" is only the second collection from Barielle Shades that I've had the opportunity to review, but I'm now putting this brand right up there with my favorite Butter London and Deborah Lippmann polishes! The polish goes on really smooth, it's very opaque and it stays put for a long time without chipping. What more can a girl ask for in a nail polish?

Cosmic Kiss

Pink Flip-Flops

Lemondrops

Sweet Addiction

Blue Capri

I love all of these colors, except "Lemondrops". I've mentioned before that I'm just not that into yellow polish and this one is no different...but it could definitely look good on the right skin-tone. My favorites are "Sweet Addiction" and "Blue Capri", because I feel like they are somewhat unique shades of blue and green, which I didn't previously have in my collection. Which one is your favorite?

Each bottle of Barielle polish retails for $8 and can be found at Barielle.com.

(Product sent for review)

Sunday Style: Dressin' Up!

2013-04-21T09:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Sunday! I hope everyone is having a great weekend! I loved looking through all of the great outfit posts in last week's link-up and the ones that really caught my eye all had a classy, dressy look to them. Here are some of my favorites:

Gingersnap

Sandy a la Mode

Breezy Days

Love Me, Dani Marie

Now let's see your cute style! As always, here are the rules:

1. Add the link to your specific outfit post, not your main blog page.

2. Grab a button and add it to your post (a text link is also fine).

3. Comment on this post and at least one other post...the whole point is to visit each other.
4. Follow my blog, so you can be reminded to link up next time!

To Infinity and Beyond...

2013-04-19T10:12:00.000-06:00

Dress (worn as a top): c/o Sugarlips, Leggings: c/o Style Lately, Boots: Bass, Belt: old, Basic Tee: DownEast Basics, Bracelet: c/o Hello Fab

So...galaxy leggings? I never in a million years would have thought I'd be wearing a pair of leggings that have outer space printed all over them. BUT, they were sent to me by the wonderful boutique Style Lately and I was determined to make them work! After all, who doesn't love a little challenge? Since the print is so interesting, I immediately knew I wanted to keep the rest of the outfit pretty basic...so I opted for neutral colors. I also knew I wanted to cover up my rear end as much as possible, so this green Sugarlips dress was the perfect fit! I have to say I'm pretty proud of this interesting outfit. Obviously it isn't something that is my normal style, but you know what? It's kind of fun being different sometimes! Do you notice anything else different? I'll give you a hint...it's on my head.

P.S. I've pretty much been wearing this adorable stud bracelet from Hello Fab nonstop since I got it. It goes with everything and I just love it!

Also, thank you to my dear friend Catherine for taking these photos for me...so Emery didn't have to. My husband is so great and supportive, but he just isn't a big fan of taking my outfit pictures!

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Lace, Bows and a Giveaway from Mikarose!

2013-04-17T06:00:00.000-06:00

Lace Skirt: c/o Mikarose, Neck-tie Blouse: Shabby Apple, Shoes: Target (similar), Purse: Kohls (wish I had this one), Bracelet: InPink (old), Lipstick: MAC Ruby Woo, Nail Polish: China Glaze Galactic Gray

I am absolutely in love with this lace skirt from Mikarose. I love lace in general, but I think lace skirts are so classy and can be styled so many different ways! I love the cream color paired with the navy blue neck-tie top. But I wanted to spice it up a bit, so I threw on a pair of leopard heels. Are they a little too crazy for this outfit? I normally would just be boring and wear some plain black pumps, but since I was wearing this to a fashion event, I figured I would step out of my comfort zone a little!

Today you lovely readers have the chance to win a $50 Mikarose gift card. They have so many classy dresses, skirts and tops...I'm sure you will find plenty of things you like! The giveaway is open to readers with a U.S. or Canadian address and will run through April 24, 2013. Just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below!

P.S. My gorgeous friend Sasha took these photos for me. We had about 2 minutes, only my point and shoot camera for her to work with, as well as a slight wardrobe malfunction...she is a trooper and I have to say she is a pretty awesome friend!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

BB Couture "Pastel Bunnies" Collection

2013-04-16T12:45:00.000-06:00

I know I'm a day late, so it's technically not Manicure Monday anymore...but I still have to share this pretty new collection from BB Nail Polish. It's called "Pastel Bunnies" and there are 6 lovely Spring colors:

This is "Cotton Tail". It's my favorite color in the collection...I just think it's the perfect Spring green! This lovely creme polish was nicely opaque in 2 coats.

"Snow bunny" is a pastel bubblegum pink creme. It's a nice looking pink that I think would look good on any skin tone. Opaque in two coats.

This soft lavender creme is "Bunny Love". Purple is my favorite color, but I wasn't in love with this shade...just a little too light. It was opaque in two coats.

"Bunny Boo Boo" is another light purple creme, but it's a little darker than "Bunny Love" and has more of a bluish purple color. I loved this shade! It was also opaque in two coats.

Another one of my favorites is "Bunny Bum", a pastel peachy pink. This shade is unlike anything else I have and I can see myself wearing this one a lot, because it's a color that works with any outfit! Pretty opaque in two coats, but could have used three.

The last color in the collection is "Honey Bunny". It's a pastel yellow creme. I'm just not a fan of yellow nail polish in general, but this is a nice shade if you like the color. It did need three coats to be fully opaque.

BB Nail Polish is free of Formaldehyde, Toluene and DBP. It's also vegan and cruelty-free. The polish can be purchased at BBNailPolish.com and retails for $10.95.

(Product sent for review. However, all opinions are 100% my own.)

Sunday Style: Accessories Galore!

2013-04-14T19:22:00.000-06:00

Happy Sunday ladies (and possibly gentlemen?)...it's time for my favorite post of the week: Sunday Style! I loved looking through all of the outfits from last week's link-up and I can't wait to see what you have to share this week! My favorites from last week included lots of fun accessories. I've never been someone who wears a lot of accessories (mostly because I'm lazy), but I've started paying more attention to them and I've decided I'm going to start working more watches, hats, jewelry and other fun items into my outfits! Here are just a few of the outfits that I loved:

Bitty.and.Bunny

Little Bird Lee

The DayLee Journal

The Mrs. and the Momma

I think these ladies used their accessories perfectly, don't you think? Ok, now it's time to see what you have been wearing. As always, here are the rules:

1. Add your link to a specific outfit post, not your main blog page.

2. Grab a button and add it to your post (a text link is also fine).

3. Comment on this post and at least one other post...the whole point is to visit each other.
4. Follow my blog, so you can be reminded to link up next time!

Tribal Print Love

2013-04-13T19:21:00.000-06:00

Aztec Print Top: c/o Style Lately, Maxi Skirt: c/o Lularoe, Levi's Jacket: Kohls (similar), Sandals: Target, Necklace: Fletcher and Fox, Bracelets/Earrings: c/o Color by Amber

I'm developing a love for aztec prints. They are so fun, unique and most of the time they are full of bright, beautiful colors. This cute tribal print top from Style Lately is so comfortable and flowy, plus it has the best mix of colors, including my favorite...purple! I recommend checking out Style Lately to see their great collection of jewelry, accessories and clothing at affordable prices.

I also want to share another fantastic company with you lovely readers today. Color By Amber is awesome because they help support women artisans from all around the world! The products are assembled here in the U.S., but the gorgeous materials originate from these talented women across the globe. The bracelets and earrings I'm wearing were made with materials handcrafted by women in southern Mexico by using open weave techniques to capture the vibrant colors of the Chiapas highlands. Color by Amber is helping create economic opportunities for these women, making sure they receive a fair wage for their hard work. I don't know about you, but I love the idea of my purchase helping others in need!

Here is a little video about the company for you to check out and if you make a purchase, be sure to use code 12741 at checkout to receive free shipping!

NDEM-color by amber from ColorByAmber.com on Vimeo.

You can follow Color by Amber on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram!

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Feelings of Insecurity and a Challenge

2013-04-10T15:41:00.000-06:00

I'm sure all of you have had some point in your life where you've felt insecure in some way. If you haven't, you must either be lying to yourself, or you are just a really lucky person! But this post is for those of us who have experienced feelings of not being pretty enough, skinny enough, smart enough, rich enough, or just plain good enough.

I've been out of high school for almost eleven years (for those of you who just did the math...yes, I am THAT old). Throughout that time I have never felt like I was back in high school, until just recently. You see, blogging can be a very positive and rewarding experience. I have made so many friends and learned to push myself out of my comfort zone. But people don't usually talk about the negative side of blogging. The part that leaves you with a sense of self-doubt and feelings of inferiority. You can't help but notice when other blogs seem like they gain a million readers overnight, or when someone else just bought the latest designer clothing that you wish you had (but can't afford). And I can deal with those feelings. I can keep focused on bettering my blog and making genuine connections and friendships. I can continue to challenge myself to put together outfits that the average woman can afford. But, what I can not deal with is bloggers who project an air of superiority, while treating others as if they are beneath them.

I have always been a shy person, so I completely understand when people have a hard time talking to others in public situations. However, since I'm that type of person, I understand the difference between being shy and completely avoiding people you don't want to talk to. When someone makes an attempt to talk to you, you should try to make some kind of conversation back...even if it's just small talk. Or if someone politely asks if you will be in their picture, maybe you should be a kind person and just do it, instead of saying no and hurting someone's feelings. No matter how "popular" you may be, it is not acceptable behavior to stick your nose in the air and completely ignore someone standing next to you. We are adults and I assumed that cliques were a thing of the past, but unfortunately they are alive and well in the blogging community. In high school, I was never a part of any specific group. I had friends on my cheerleading squad, in the band, on sports teams, in the Honor Society, in Theatre...I tried to be friends with everyone, because I thought popularity was dumb. I thought cliques were dumb. And you know what? I still think they are dumb.

I found myself in this exact situation at a recent event and I felt a sickening feeling come across me: I really wanted to fit in. I wanted the money, the clothes, the followers...I wanted it all. And I think it's alright to want those things. BUT, if it requires excluding other people and being fake? Count me out. With that said, I like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, so I'm hoping that these bloggers don't intentionally act the way they do. Maybe they don't understand that they are making other people feel bad. But I think we all need to take a step back and assess ourselves sometimes...are we treating other people the way we would like to be treated? It's the Golden Rule people! Jeffrey R. Holland said it best: "Be kind, and be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live."

The point of this post isn't to complain. I just want everyone to know that you ARE good enough. Be yourself and people will notice that you are special. Let your beauty from within shine bright. Be kind and you might just make someone's day a little better. I have a challenge for each and every one of you reading this. I challenge you to reach out to someone you don't know very well. Not out of pity, guilt, or selfish desires, but in genuine hopes of forming some type of real connection. Because THAT, my friends, is what really matters. You can have money and fame, but if you don't have authentic relationships and friendships, does any of the other stuff matter?

Bold color, stripes and Dansko shoes

2013-04-09T13:30:00.000-06:00

Levi's Jacket: Kohls, Striped Top: Old Navy, Jeans: Old Navy, Shoes: c/o Dansko, Necklace/Bracelet: c/o Chicnova

In my profession I'm on my feet a lot, so it's important to have comfortable shoes that will last. Almost all of the flight attendants I know own a pair of Dansko's, because they have great arch support and the way they are designed help keep your feet from hurting after working on them all day. I had never worn any of their sandals before, but I'm happy to report that they are just as amazing...they are actually more comfy than my dressier work shoes! The style I'm wearing is the "Jess", which is part of the new Vista collection. I highly recommend Dansko shoes if you are on your feet a lot, or even if you aren't. There are a bunch of great styles and you can find them at Zappos.com, Nordstrom, and a few other places. They retail for around $135, which may sound a little high for shoes, but I can honestly say they are worth the price (and I don't say that about many shoes). They last forever and best of all...they make your feet happy!

Also, this is one of my favorite outfits lately. It's casual and comfortable, but I still feel really put together!

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