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Nov 30, 2016

Velvet Glamour


I'm back today with my last of three outfits featuring pieces from Zaful.  If you missed them, take a peek at my cozy blanket scarf look and my trendy choker experiment!

As much as I love the pieces I've already featured, I've saved my favorite for last!  I've been itching to try the velvet trend, especially for the holiday season!  To me, velvet just exudes warm holiday glamour.  For that reason, I put together a party look featuring this beautiful blue velvet dress from Zaful.



Let's start by highlighting what I love about this piece: the color!  It is even more vibrant in person than it is on the website.  It also comes in a pretty green that I wish I could see in person.   And the price absolutely can't be beat.  I guarantee you won't find another holiday party dress for such a steal!

The one downside is that this dress can't really be worn as a dress, at least not on my body (and I'm pretty average in height).  Admittedly, the dress looks a bit short on the model but is extremely short on me.  It will definitely be worn as a tunic but makes for a super comfy holiday look paired with leggings!  I'm wearing my typical size medium but wouldn't size up because the rest of the dress fits well and I don't think it would add enough length.

If you are interested in your very own velvet tunic, comment below with your e-mail address and a link to something else from Zaful that you are coveting for your chance to win a $100 gift certificate! Today is the last day to enter!


What I'm Wearing:
Tunic: c/o Zaful (exact)
Leggings: LulaRoe
Necklace: Rocks Box (similar, similar)
Bracelet: Stella&Dot (exact)
Clutch: LouLou (similar, similar)
Heels: DSW (exact)

Where I'm linking-up!
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Nov 29, 2016

Rose Quartz November and Trying a Trend with Zaful


Wow!  It's hard to believe that I've been doing my monthly Rose Quartz series for almost a whole year!  In case you missed it, this shade of blush pink was deemed Pantone's color of 2016.  Rose Quartz has always been one of my favorite hues so I've featured it once a month, all year, in seasonal combinations.

I thought that November would be the perfect month to break-out my blush, leather moto jacket!  It's been unseasonably warm this month and this jacket is the perfect light layer to wear over my other wardrobe staples.



The other fun detail I've added to my outfit of basics are a couple of chokers!  Have you noticed that these necklaces have reemerged and are totally on trend this season?  Zaful generously gifted me with this three-strand, leather choker and I added a simple gold one from Stella&Dot for a layered look.  If you are curious about trying one of fall's biggest trends but don't want to break the bank, this is the one to try and I suggest checking Zaful for a large and super affordable collection.

And speaking of Zaful, together, we are giving away a gift certificate for $100 to their online store.  All you have to do to enter is comment below with your e-mail address and a link to one of their items that you are wish listing.  And believe me, $100 will get you really far because their pieces are so affordable!


What I'm Wearing:
Shirt: Banana Republic (similar)
Jacket: Wilson's Leather (similar)
Jeans: American Eagle (exact)
Leather Choker: Zaful (exact)
Gold Choker: Stella&Dot (exact)
Flats: Target (similar)
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Nov 28, 2016

5 Ways to Be a Better Dater at The Blended Blog


Well friends, I have been out in the dating world for a couple of months now and let me tell you, it's not easy!

If you are looking for ways to maintain your happiness and to continue to feel at peace with yourself while navigating the crazy dating world (or perhaps you want to be able to provide support for your single friends), check-out my post, 5 Ways to Be a Better Dater, at The Blended Blog today!

P.S.  If anyone has a single, eligible Prince Charming on hand, I wouldn't mind if you sent him my way!
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Nov 25, 2016

Blogging Besties: Black and Cognac


Blogging Besties is a weekly series featuring Whitney of Whitney à la mode, Alex of The Cheerful Closet, Maricel of ::My Closet Catelogue:: and Selah of A Bibliophile's Style. Each week, one of the bloggers will choose one component from the previous week's outfit to pass on in a brand new look. This "take one, pass it on" challenge is an inspiration to stretch your closet and your imagination!


Last week, Whitney left me with probably the easiest prompt ever--black and cognac! I wear black and cognac ALL. THE. TIME, so it was my pleasure to style it for Blogging Besties! Here, I wore my black jeans with cognac boots--a classic combination. I added a lace top, my pumpkin orange, and a fluffy scarf. Not gonna lie, I felt really good when I wore this to church!




Maricel's prompts for next week are: pumpkin orange, a cozy scarf, lace, and riding boots!

Top: J.C. Penney (similarsimilarsimilar)
Cardigan: Target (similarsimilarsimilar)
Jeans: LOFT (exactsimilarsimilar)
Boots: Target (exactsimilarsimilar)
Scarf: Forever XXI (similarsimilarsimilar)

Previous Editions of Blogging Besties

Nov 24, 2016

Thankful


Want to wrap-up in your own cozy scarf from Zaful?  Enter to win a gift card below!

Happy Thanksgiving, my lovely friends!  I hope this post finds you with a warm (non-travel) mug of coffee in your hands while enjoying the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

As I mentioned earlier this week, I will be spending the holiday with my mom and dad.  We are planning to watch the parade (and the subsequent dog show), eat our favorite Thanksgiving dishes, and then nap to the sound of the Lions football game in the background.  While I may not be wearing this exact outfit today, I will be wearing something very similar.  Since we're spending the holiday just the three of us and aren't traveling anywhere, it's leggings and comfy clothes all the way for me!

While I love my blanket scarf as much as the next girl, this is the first I've thought to use it in a comfy "stay-at-home" kind of an outfit.  The scarf makes the outfit even more cozy but also makes me feel a bit more put together.  And yes, yes I do own slippers that match my cat.  See!?



Nov 23, 2016

A Brilliant Smile for the Holidays

My good friends know that, depending on the time of day, you will probably find me with either a latte, a fountain coke or a glass of red wine!  And do you want to know what these three beverages have in common?  First of all, they are delicious!  But secondly (and unfortunately), they do not keep my teeth as sparkly white as I would like.

coffee, coke and red wine teeth!

For this reason, I was super excited when Smile Brilliant reached-out and wanted to collaborate!  A professional teeth whitening kit in return for a blog review?!  I'm in!  The whitening process was super easy and thorough with excellent customer service every step of the way.


First, I received the kit I used to make molds of my teeth.  The instructions were clear and the steps were simple.  Even the packaging was cute! #smilefearlessly



Once I sent my molds back to Smile Brilliant (in prepaid USPS packaging), I received my personalized trays within days!  The kit comes with an ample supply of teeth whitening gel as well as gel to help sooth sensitive gums.  As someone who has naturally sensitive teeth and gums, this second gel helped so much!

After just over a week of using Smile Brilliant's home teeth whitening system, I noticed a difference in my smile!  Are you ready for the big before-and-after reveal?

 before...
...and after!

Even though I sensed my teeth were whiter, I'm still blown-away by my before-and-after pictures!  But just in case this isn't enough to convince you, check-out all of Smile Brilliant's happy customers or watch this adorable review video.

And guess what!?  It's your lucky day!  Follow this link for your chance to win your own Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening System worth $139.95!    To enter, click the link and submit your name and e-mail address.  The winner will be contacted directly after two weeks!

And even if you aren't the big winner, you can still receive 5% off a Whitening System using the code "whitneyalamode."  Don't you want a sparkling smile just in time for the holidays?!
Professional Teeth Whitening

Nov 21, 2016

Comfy and Cute for Thanksgiving

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is just a few days away?!  What are your plans for the holiday?  Are you spending it with family or perhaps a group of friends?  Are your gatherings a bit more formal or super casual?  And do you know what you're wearing yet??



My Thanksgiving celebration will be a bit different than usual this year.  My sister, niece and brother-in-law will be with his side of the family so it will just be my mom, dad and me indulging in the feast!  I'm thinking that since we are having a mini-Thanksgiving, we will be dressing very casually (I'm hoping for leggings and a tunic), but normally we get a little bit dressed-up for the occasion!


If your family dines more formally for Thanksgiving, this is the perfect dress!  The fit is what does it for me!  It skims the body so you don't look like you're wearing a sack but it's loose and soft enough to accommodate the inevitable stuffed belly.  Not to mention the pretty, burgundy color is perfect for the holiday season!  But do you know what I love the best?  The scallop detailing on the sleeves and hem.  It takes a basic, comfy dress up a notch!  I'm wearing my typical size medium and it fits perfectly!  You can purchase your very own holiday dress from Shein for an amazing price.  Seriously, you will have plenty moolah left over for Christmas shopping!  Or maybe you can find gifts for your favorite gals at Shein!



What I'm Wearing:
Dress: Shein (exact)
Scarf: Cotton On (similar)
Tights: Nordstrom (similar)
Boots: Nordstrom (similar)
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Nov 18, 2016

Blogging Besties: Moccasins and a Big Comfy Sweatshirt


Blogging Besties is a weekly series featuring Whitney of Whitney à la mode, Alex of The Cheerful Closet, Maricel of ::My Closet Catelogue:: and Selah of A Bibliophile's Style.  Each week, one of the bloggers will choose one component from the previous week's outfit to pass on in a brand new look.  This "take one, pass it on" challenge is an inspiration to stretch your closet and your imagination!



Is "comfy chic" a thing?  If it is, Selah totally nailed this vibe last week with her cozy sweatshirt and sleek moccasins.  She gave me the following prompts from which to create my outfit this week: moccasins (girlfriend know I love a good pair of moccasins), tassels, monochromatic or a big comfy sweatshirt!

Selah's prompt could not be more perfect for the week that I'm having.  I am majorly jet lagged from my trip to China.  I was wide-awake until 4:00 a.m. last night!  What to wear to work after having only logged two hours of sleep?!  A big comfy sweatshirt and my comfy moccasins!


Thanks, Selah for helping me slowly get back into the swing of real life!  And Alex, your prompts for next week are the following: buffalo plaid, black and cognac or lazy-day chic!

What I'm Wearing:
Sweatshirt: L.L.Bean (exact)
Jeans: American Eagle (exact)
Moccasins: Minnetonka (exact)

Nov 16, 2016

Fun, Little Details

Hi, friends!  I'm back from China and I've missed you!  I took so many photos during my vacation and am in the process of sifting through and editing them.  You can look for a Beijing post sometime next week!

In the meantime, can I get a little pat on the back for actually getting dressed and looking like a human today?!  I got home at 12:30 last night after 23.5 straight hours of traveling and my body still doesn't know what time zone its in!  But two of my lovely friends invited me to coffee this afternoon and I couldn't resist a latte with good company.  Plus there's nothing like showering and putting on a cute outfit to get you going again!


For the most part, I consider my style to be pretty classic. I own lots of fit-and-flare dresses, dark wash jeans, basic cardigans and classic, well-made pairs of shoes.  But even in a classic wardrobe, it's so much fun to have pieces with unique details!  Often times these are my favorite clothing items and by pairing them with my other pieces, they still fit into my style.  It's that little addition of whimsy that makes my style truly "me."

When Romwe offered me the opportunity to choose one of their pieces to review, I couldn't pass up this blouse!  It has so many fun, little details that make a great addition to my wardrobe.  The print is unique and the pleated peplum adds an extra bit of oomph to any outfit.  Plus there is a little tie on the back of the top and the sleeves have cute elastic cuffs.


If you are looking for unique or trendy (and inexpensive) items to add to your closet, look no further than Romwe!  And I would highly recommend this top!  It can be dressed up or down and is just so much fun.  I typically wear a size medium and I sized up to a large since the material has no stretch to it.  The large fits perfectly!



What I'm Wearing:
Blouse: c/o Romwe (exact)
Cardigan: Macy's (similar)
Jeans: American Eagle (exact)
Ankle Boots: Nordstrom (exact)

And don't forget to link-up with The Blended Blog for our Fall Favorite Finds today!  I'm so happy I've found this blouse to wear throughout the fall and beyond.  What have you found lately?


Nov 15, 2016

Guest Post: Katie of The Mishaps and Mayhem of a Solitary Life

Ni hao!  As you read this, I'm on a grand adventure in Beijing, China.  Don't worry, I will tell you all about it when I get back!  But for now, please enjoy the company of some of my best blogging friends who have generously agreed to guest post while I'm traveling.

Hi All!  I'm Katie from The Mishaps and Mayhem of a Solitary Life. There I blog about everything from fun, family, friends and fashion to my life as a teacher-librarian! I'm so excited to be guest posting today for Whitney, my fellow Blended Blogger, teacher friend (and single gal), while she's away enjoying China!!


I must admit when I heard where she was off to, I became a little bit jealous.  I have never been outside the U.S., except to Caribbean vacation destinations, but China is definitely on the Life List for me.  All this talk of travel though, I decided that for today's post I'm going to share my favorite vacation destinations!

These days, I don't travel too, too much!  I used to travel more before I had a mortgage to pay!  In fact this past summer was the first time I've traveled in about five years! But it's ok, because I really love my home, my town, and where I live!  There is so much fun to explore right here!  Find out a little bit more about where I'm from here!

When I do travel, I'll admit, I'm a repeat offender!  :) I'm not one who embraces change easily, so I don't mind going to destinations over and over!  Here are some of my most favorite places to visit!!



Family Vacations to North Carolina:

In 1988, my family started renting a beach house on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina at a place called Emerald Isle.  It was pure heaven!!!  Back then it was not too well known, and not very crowded.  Pretty perfect!  We went there for years and years and years and I loved it.  Each year, our crowd got bigger and it made it that much more fun.

These past few years though, we've gone to the Outer Banks.  It's about three hours closer.  (Still a 10 hour drive, but that better than 13, especially with all the kids in tow!  These days just my family alone fills up the house!!  We've come a long way since 1988!



Caribbean Cruising:

I've been on lots of cruises. I started going on cruises after college with my best friend, Mel.  They were affordable on my measly Catholic School teacher salary (especially when you go during hurricane season!) and lots of fun.  Ironically, my favorite days cruising are the super relaxing days at sea!  It's really hard to beat a beautiful day, laying out on the top deck, looking out and seeing nothing but beautiful, blue water. But I've done lots of awesome excursions, too!  Swam with dolphins, para-sailed, swam with sea otters, zip-lined in Belize, took a Mexican cooking class (where the margs flowed like water!). Such awesome stuff!!   Actually one of my best vacations was when I went on the Mexican Rivera cruise out of Cali!  We broke the bank that trip!!  Went out to California a few days before the ship set sail! Stayed in West Hollywood and toured Hollywood Blvd in a red convertible, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Disneyland...the whole nine!! So much fun!!



High above Labadee!

Nashville:

One of my favorite places ever!!  I love country music and one day my Mel and I just decided we would go to the Country Music Association festival, a 4 day music fest they have each June for fans.  We got an awesome deal for the event, so we jumped on it.  That trip was a lot of fun, but it was the hottest June ever there and we pretty much died.  Like 10 p.m. and still 100 degrees, hot. So the next time we went in April! That was more bearable.  The CMA trip was packed with so much to do, when we went in April, we basically did the touristy things, went to bars and listened to music...pretty perfect! Oh and we took a road trip to Dollywood!!  It was further from Nashville than we thought (and in a different time zone!) but it was so much fun and not to be missed! We even ended our long day with dinner at Sonic! My first Sonic (and still only) experience ever!!  I will return to Nashville one of these days!!




Disney World:

I thought I'd end with a little funny!!

Is it bad that I've been to Disney so many times and loved it each time, but my favorite was probably when I was 8 or 10. My whole family got to go with my dad on a business trip. We probably stayed in one of the nicest hotels I ever remember staying in The Lake Buena Vista something.  At that hotel they had the BEST waffle cones ever!!!!!!!  I got one every night!!  I wanna say that my 10 year old self  thought they were free, but they probably weren't.  I know that probably pretty pathetic that my favorite part of that trip were those waffle cones, but that seriously was the best ice cream I've ever tasted!!  And who doesn't love Disney World? (Whitney even celebrated 30 there!) Space Mountain Forever!


Since I couldn't find a picture of me eating ice cream cones at 10, I thought I'd include this one.  Even as adults we wait on line to to see the characters.  And let me just say, I liked it better when they just roamed the parks!!

Eyeore is my spirit animal!

Thanks so much for having me today Whitney!  I hope you are having the BEST time!  And I can't wait to hear all about your trip!

Nov 14, 2016

Guest Post: Deena of Shoes to Shiraz

Ni hao!  As you read this, I'm on a grand adventure in Beijing, China.  Don't worry, I will tell you all about it when I get back!  But for now, please enjoy the company of some of my best blogging friends who have generously agreed to guest post while I'm traveling.

Hey Whitney à la mode readers, I'm Deena, a blogger friend of Whitney's.  Like Whitney, I'm also a French teacher, I teach high school french in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Now go figure out where that is :)

I'm thrilled that Whitney would have me guest post for her, so today I thought I would share with you my key piece for the transition from fall to winter.  Yes, we're already thinking winter in our neck of the woods.

What is that piece, you ask? A turtleneck.

I find that I can pair a turtleneck with any outfit I put together.  Under a sweater, with a blazer, under a sheath dress or alone with high-waisted pants: a turtleneck is super versatile. Plus you don't have to break the bank buying them and can get multiple colours.  If you want to see how I style turtlenecks, I'll be posting my looks Wednesday on my blog.

Today I thought I'd show you how I transition my favourite piece from the spring and summer for winter using a turtleneck ( vest here).  I wasn't sure how much use I would get out of this vest in the winter but I am loving how it looks paired with a turtleneck.


The other thing I found challenging about this outfit was the colour combo.  I never pair black and greys with any browns, but when I look at the pictures, I really like the fall vibe that it gives.


Coming up with different ways of putting together outfits has me feeling creative and inspired.  I will definitely be looking at more ways to see how I can wear this vest during the winter months.  You can pop over to my blog today to see how I wore the vest in the summer.  Have a great Monday!






Nov 11, 2016

Blogging Besties: Sensible and Cute

The Blogging Besties series is the brain child of Alex @ The Cheerful Closet and Whitney @ Whitney à la Mode. In 2015 the series expanded to include Maricel @ My Closet Catelogue and me, Selah @ A Bibliophile's Style. It's based on the idea of "take one, pass it on," but we're passing on an element from another blogger's outfit. It's a fun challenge that inspires us to be creative!

Last week, Maricel wore all neutrals, and I butchered her post (thankfully, I was able to correct it - sorry, Maricel!).

 


The prompts she gave me were "polka dots, neutrals, or something sensible".
One of the very few clothing purchases I've made this year is this pair of sensible shoes:

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Tasseled driving mocassins - aren't they cute?

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I paired them with distressed jeans, my favorite comfy sweatshirt, and a matchy-matchy tasseled necklace. I ended up inadvertently fulfilling 2 prompts - something sensible and all neutrals (assuming you consider navy and denim neutrals, which I do).

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Next week, I challenge Whitney with: moccasins, tassels, monochromatic, or a big, comfy sweatshirt. 😁

Nov 10, 2016

Guest Post: Alex of The Cheerful Closet

Ni hao!  As you read this, I'm on a grand adventure in Beijing, China.  Don't worry, I will tell you all about it when I get back!  But for now, please enjoy the company of some of my best blogging friends who have generously agreed to guest post while I'm traveling.

Hello! My name is Alex, and I blog over at The Cheerful Closet. Whitney has been my "blogging bestie" since I started blogging, so you may recognize me from our Blogging Bestie series and a few other past collaborations. I am here today to guest post for Whitney while she is in China (jealous!!!) 

So, without further ado, I'd like to share with you my favorite fashion tip. I am a huge fan of colorful, playful prints, but they can sometimes be difficult to accessorize, because I don't want to be too "loud." So, when I wear an attention-getting print, my strategy for accessorizing it is to pull out different colors from the pattern and match my accessories to them. You can pull out just one color and wear all accessories in that color (especially if you have a really wide collection of accessories, or if you're wanting to keep it really subdued.) But I usually like to mix it up, because it looks fun and because I don't have a million accessories in every color. For this outfit, I found that I had a necklace, vest, and flats all in colors that matched colors from the dress! (The lighting suggests otherwise, but the flats and the green in the dress are almost an exact match.)

This tip is an instant way to look put-together and pair pieces you might never have thought to put together! I didn't realize the necklace and shoes worked with this dress until I literally put them right next to each other and saw that they matched. Here, I used a vest, necklace, and flats, but here are some other suggestions for accessories to color-match to patterned pieces:
  • Jewelry: Bracelets, rings, earrings
  • Outerwear: blazers, cardigans, casual jackets
  • Footwear: socks, tights, shoe clips
  • Other accessories: scarves, belts
I always forget how many options I have, but typing out that list is really getting my brain working on how to accessorize old pieces and make them look fresh! 





Dress: Old Navy (similarsimilarsimilar)
Vest: Old Navy (similarsimilarsimilar)
Flats: Old Navy (similarsimilarsimilar)
Necklace: thrifted via Plato's Closet (similarsimilarsimilar)