Doesn’t Spring just always make you want to dress up like a sailor? Well, I do. And I found this and I think I’ll have to re-create!

Yippee! I’m so excited that Maria is guest posting today. She’s one awesome lady and a super mom for sure. Go check out her site, she’s got amazing style, features lots of fun things and eye candy over there including her 2 cute little boys!

Hello friends! How’s it going? Did you have a good weekend? I hope so.

I thought I’d pull a few photos from our trip last year so it feels like you’re seeing what we’re doing now. I hope I get as tan as I did last year. Being tan always makes me look better. I think I was born in the wrong part of the world. I should live on a tropical island.

Boy do I have a treat for you today! Carol from Learn To Rock It is a personal friend and I’ve just learned that I will never shop for jeans without her again! She works at Nordstrom and has basically made the perfect designer denim guide! Enjoy and happy shopping!

Hello Everyone!
It’s Carol From Learn To Rock It here and I’m really excited to do this guest post video for Rosa a La Mode!

Here are a few basic tips for jean shopping. Please note that these principles remain true for most designers, but there can be a few exceptions. The most important thing is that you’re getting something that you feel great in. Jeans are such a wardrobe staple and it’s crucial that you have ones you love. I made the switch to investing in designer denim a couple years ago and have not regretted it once–there truly is a difference in quality and fit. And it’s not hard to find great deals on them.

I used to think I was beating the system by getting a cheaper pair of jeans, only to hate the way they look on me after a couple washes. They would completely lose their cute shape and I ended up spending more $$ by re-buying less expensive jeans. Now don’t get me wrong, I still have a good ‘ole faithful pair of Forever 21 jeans that have lasted forever and I still love, it’s just more hit or miss.

Thanks so much for watching and I hope you enjoy!

P.S. I’m currently really loving Paige Premium Denim- looks so good on and feels good too. That’s been a must lately. I have to be able to workout in them (give me some stretch baby) AND be able to sleep in them (so soft). Kinda kidding…kinda serious….

If you can’t view the video, click here.

If you can’t see the video, click here.

Hi guys! I decided to do a quick video to check in. I can’t tell ou all of the wonderful things coming out of the time on this trip, mainly having to do with my charachter. But here are a few things I have that I can actually show you.

Here is the recipe I was telling you about. Enjoy!

Yippee! I’m so excited to introduce you guys to Lissa! She’s been a huge supporter of mine and has passed along some amazing tips to me as well. And then, she started her own blog! Seriously, this girl is awesome and I’m so glad she agreed to do a guest post today. And now, here she is:

[button down] ralph lauren [sweater] bonton (gifted) [jeans] thrifted [heels] target

hello to all my fellow rose a la mode readers! seriously, how much do you love this blog? i’ve spent many hours pouring over it. i just love how sweet & sincere linda is- she’s such a natural, darling gem of a lady! i am so honored that she asked me to guest post today.

before i keep chirping away, let me introduce myself: [i’m lissa from through the looking glass blog.] i’m a doting wifey, grad

student, & the new kid on the fashion bloggin’ block. i titled my blog through the looking glass because i’m completely enthralled by the concept of a mirror.

[have you ever thought about what a mirror actually does?]  it reflects with clarity; it faithfully shows a true image; it imitates. as women, we tend to avoid mirrors, scrutinizing ourselves for what we see.we always think we aren’t enough-not fashionable enough, not skinny enough, not pretty enough.

[what do we spend so much time comparing ourselves to?] …who really knows? we never will look exactly the same as someone else. our uniqueness is what makes us beautiful, each & every one of us. it is so tempting to compare our wardrobes, our bodies, our “stuff”. if we are always changing & molding ourselves to be like others, we lose what’s truly beautiful: who we are, created perfectly, with purpose.

when i read the Bible, i’m reminded that i was created for a higher purpose & that purpose reaches beyond my own appearance & finds it’s resting place in God’s hands. i only know my true beauty when i see through His looking glass.

[when you look in the mirror are you seeing yourself or everybody else?]

hold tight to who you are & never, ever let go.

so we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but unseen.
for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 

 -2 corinthians 4:18-

You know, my mom always made me feel special and loved on Valentine’s day even when I had no boy to buy me flowers. And it resulted in me absolutely LOVING this holiday. So weather you have a special person in your life or not, celebrate this girly holiday of love! Here are some fun girl things just to make you happy!

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Before we left for vacation, I was at Target with Gertrude and she informed me that the swimsuits were on sale. Yessssssss! So I picked up this little guy for less than 30 bucks. It might even be cheaper now! So go to your local Target and get yo self a cheap swimsuit. Can you tell I’m against spending $100 on something that’s only gonna last a few years anyway?

The Loft spring collection 2012 kind of hit one out of the park for me. Saw this in the window last week and fell in love!

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Check it out! Got my friend Joanna to guest post! Ain’t she cute! And we’ve both got the poodle sweater (because of our half black poodle doggies)! I love sharing clothes with friends.

Do you know what I love about fashion? *other than the cute clothes and pretty things of course*  What I love about fashion is its ability to make you grow, change, and take you to unexpected places.  I know that’s putting a lot of meaning into the things that keep us from walking down the street naked, but that’s what it’s been doing for me lately.

Let’s rewind.

Several years ago you’d be hard pressed to find me in anything other than black.  I just didn’t have confidence in who I was and what I was capable of, so I thought it was easier to stick to a simple black silhouette.  As I’ve gotten a little older and gone through some things, I’ve become more confident in who I am as a woman and what I have to offer, and I’ve tried new things, first in fashion, then in life.

Now you’d be hard pressed to find black in my closet.  It’s there mind you, it’s just hidden among the sea of colors, pattern, shapes and styles.  I still don’t know who I am sartorially speaking – one day geeky, the next sexy, etc. – but I’ve realized that my fashion can be fun, unexpected, and that I don’t have to be too concerned about the message I’m sending, or not sending.  I used to over-analyze.  Now I play…and I love where that attitude has taken me.

I would not have expected my favorite pair of pants to be skinny, black velvet! Nor would I have thought that I would be drooling over a fringe shirt.   But they are, and I was!   I love that getting a Peter Pan collar shirt as a hand me down, made me say, “Who cares if I look too cute for a grown woman and mother!  That’s what I like today.”

This sartorial attitude has changed, or perhaps reflected,  my general attitude.  I’ve become more open to trying things, even if they make me nervous or scared.  There have been some mistakes, but the successes have far outweighed them.  Some of my successes have been photo shoots of fictional characters like “Nadia” and “Dawn,” producing films/series *here*, and starting a series called Mamahood Exposed, through which I’ve met some incredible women and heard some amazing and hilarious honest stories.  I can’t wait to see what happens next!  Thanks for listening to my ramblings.  I’d be pleased as punch if you came to hang out with me on ModaMama.  I’d love to hear your thoughts on fashion!