Monday, November 23, 2015

Cecy & Blake: Unique Designer Handbags

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Happy Monday to All!   It's Thanksgiving week here in the U.S.  I am thankful for the many blessings in life and that includes freedom of speech: the opportunity to write and say your opinions on a blog!  Thanks to all of you for coming here week after week and listening to me blab! A few weeks back I did a collaboration photo shoot with Cecy & Blake, a new handbag designer here in the Seattle area. I had a wonderful time and enjoyed meeting them.  This gorgeous hand painted collection just launched on kickstarter for a 33 day campaign, and it's exciting to help spread the word! The designers's artistic talent is evident on every handbag.  I love it that each bag is original. Who doesn't love to show off your latest style that no one else has!?!  These bags pair great with your casual wear or a dressy outfit.  They make the perfect holiday gift! Photography: DenMar Studio The main qualities of these beautiful bags are: Made from
Monday, November 16, 2015

Las Vegas: The Ultimate Style Guide

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*This post is in collaboration with Vegas.com. All opinions are my own VIVA LAS VEGAS! Swimming pools, shopping, dancing ,what's your dream?! Las Vegas has it all .   It is a fun place to relax, unwind  and show off your great style. I was invited to a style challenge by the site vegas.com   to create a collection of outfits.  This is my take on how a gal can transition from day to night and be effortlessly chic.
Monday, November 9, 2015

How to Style Faux Fur

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Hello Lovely People, How was your weekend? Maybe you spent it shopping for the upcoming holidays, I did get a few gifts bought.   Here in the northwest the colder weather has settled in, so it is starting to feel more like fall for sure.   As much as I LOVE warm weather, it's nice to  pull out the furry, warm fuzzy pieces to liven up your wardrobe for the long days of fall and winter. Faux fur is always a great choice, and pairs well with casual or dressy outfits.    Layered on top of a long sleeved knit top and your favorite leggings, a fur vest can add a lot of glam to your otherwise simple outfit.  Some gals don't want to go all out with a fur coat, so a vest is a fabulous way to make style statement as well. What I love about faux fur the most, is it makes you feel just a bit glamorous, girly, and admired.  Whenever I see a lovely lady in fur, it always catches my eye!  Seeing it takes me back in time to the fashion  eras of th
Thursday, October 8, 2015

5 Things I've Learned in My First Year of Blogging

5 Things I've Learned in My First Year of Blogging - Read more »
Hey lovely people, TGIF! I can't wait for the long weekend to start!  September was the one year anniversary of starting my blog. It's been an incredible ride so far, an amazing experience to say the least! I've had the opportunity to be involved in some exciting events, collaborate with designers/brands, and had my writings published in two magazines.   Some days I've been tempted to give it up, the time commitment and work involved is so taxing when you have another job. Then I'll receive a kind comment from a reader of how I inspired them, and it gives me a boost to carry on. I had no idea what I was getting myself into! I'm happy I made the plunge and here are some things I've learned along the way! 1) The blogging community is tops for support and encouragement  In recent weeks I've joined several blogging groups on facebook. It's very heart warming to see people who are strangers to one another, so willing to help out. I
Monday, September 14, 2015

1970's Fashion: My Favorite Outfit Picks

 1970's Fashion: My Favorite Outfit Picks - Read more »
 Peace, I hope it's a groovy Monday morning! It is really starting to feel like fall here in the Northwest.  I am never totally ready to give up summer, but I do love dressing in fall clothes. Seasons changing is another great excuse to shop til you drop!  I am so excited: The 1970's are here again!  Fashion's full on decade is back with flares, platforms, fringe, suede, and more is more prints.  If you grew up in this era  like I did, you'll have fun reliving it with your favorite styles. There are masses of retro pieces flooding  retail shelves right now. PHOTOGRAPHY: Ruth Faustino For a more casual twist on this outfit, pull out the boyfriends jeans. Yee haw now you are ready for horse riding! To dress this look up for a fun night out, add a pair of flared dark wash jeans.  I had a hard time finding some flares I liked, but I finally did at Macy's. The 70's bring to mind many style icons that had a great impact on me.  A few of my
Monday, September 7, 2015

The Natural Side of Puget Sound: Port Gamble

The Natural Side of Puget Sound: Port Gamble  - Read more »
Happy Labor Day Weekend!  It's hard to believe summer will be over in just a few weeks.  I was fortunate to travel this summer to Hawaii , Canada, and to a few beautiful spots locally.  One of my favorite places on the Kitsap Peninsula is the picturesque town of Port Gamble. I took my daughter there before she left for college to study fashion.  I am  excited to see where her talents will take her! This old mill town is filled with cute little shops, cafes, and a historic theater. Most of the shops are located in Victorian style homes. One  of the main attractions of this town is its superb wedding venue that boasts a  breathtaking view of the Hood Canal.  If you are a fan of ice cream, head over to the general store. This place was a hit with me, because they carry my favorite ice cream flavor: black licorice!  I grew up in Canada, and Dairy Queen always made the yummiest  black licorice milkshakes.  I rarely find this flavor available in the area. For a
Monday, August 24, 2015

How to Make Denim Work for the Office

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Everything is turning up blue these days. Every wardrobe item that you can imagine is available in denim: skirts, jackets, dresses, shoes, boots, and even swimwear. "Jeans" doesn't describe just pants anymore.  Most employers allow casual Friday, a day to dress down and wear your favorite pair of denim pants.  Some employees love to sport the comfy casuals everyday.  There are many options for dressing up your blues.  Staying comfortable and maintaining a professional look can sometimes be challenging.  Just how do you make denim work for the office on a daily basis? Try to stick with a dark wash- stay away from distressed, faded, or torn jeans. Choose styles that are not too trendy. Straight leg jeans, or boot cut are timelessly versatile. Denim on denim is too casual, wear only one denim item at a time Rich browns and silver accents elevate the casual Friday staple Skinny jeans work, as long as they are worn right. Pair them with a stylish tunic,
Friday, August 21, 2015

Bohemian Street Style

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A few weeks ago I made a trip to my favorite shopping place: Bellevue Square on the east side of Seattle. I love Bellevue!  It is very classy city with a very "Califoniaish" feel to it. I would love to live there, but I would probably need 6 jobs to survive! While I was there I met up with another blogger Lara of PepperandStyle . You will love her lifestyle themed blog! We have been conversing online for several months, it was so awesome to finally meet her in person!  She offered to take my pictures in the park just a few blocks from the mall. I love the versatility of this bohemian top from Charlotte Rousse. It is a great piece for all seasons.  When I was in Hawaii this summer I wore it as bathing suit cover up.  You can also dress it up with a leather skirt as I did here.  For a total seventies look, pair the top with a short suede jacket and some flare jeans. The weekend is here, do you have any exciting plans?  SHOP:| Bohemian top (similar)| Mich
Tuesday, August 18, 2015

D.I.Y Color Block Dress

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Hello friends,   I 've been working on this color block dress awhile, and finally finished it.  The many days of hot  weather are to blame for my slacking. It's hard to glue yourself to the sewing machine when it's so nice out!  I saw this trendy color block dress on the runway at the NW sewing expo last Feb.  It definitely has a retro flavor and I fell in love with it!  The model looked fabulous in the orange color scheme, so I chose it as well.  Fabrics that work great for this pattern are linen blends, ponte knits, and crepe.  Although this color combination works best for spring and summer, it works for early fall too. The old rule about not wearing white after labor day no longer stands.  A jean jacket or blazer would pair great with this dress too. Have you started making plans for your fall wardrobe yet?  Which trends are you most anxious to shop for?  I bought a few things already and am looking forward to layering up for the cooler temps.
Monday, August 10, 2015

10 Reasons to Own a 2015 GMC Terrain Denali

 10  Reasons to Own a 2015 GMC Terrain Denali - Read more »
I had a very exciting weekend, and am anxious to share it with you! I just finished a GMC vehicle loan try out with  Page One and Weber Shandwick . These agencies target clients in the media industry for advertising and marketing purposes.  I am very happy I was chosen, and would like to thank them for the collaboration.  It was a very fun experience! I was given the choice of  4 different GMC vehicles.  I chose the smallest available, a 2015 Terrain Denali ,: compact luxury SUV.  It was the perfect size for me, and I maneuvered it well.  What an amazing ride it was. I totally fell in love with this car and now I want one!  The Denali makes a bold statement with its unique design features. This powerful machine  "owns the road" in every sense of the word.   It is luxury defined to the max, and has all the bells and whistles you would ever need or want.  I highly recommend getting one if you in the market for a new vehicle.    Some of the Feat
Monday, August 3, 2015

How an Aha Moment Can Change Your Life

How an Aha Moment Can Change Your Life - Read more »
I should've jumped in, sizzling temps in the NW! High in the sky scenic ride on the monorail!   A pit stop at Pike Place Market for some refreshing peach tea Last week I was invited by   Mutual of Omaha video tour to come over to Seattle Center and share my aha moment.  It was a beautiful sunny day and I enjoyed the sites.  I was a little nervous, but it was a super fun experience and I'm thankful they contacted me.  One video from the nationwide tour will be chosen  to feature on an upcoming commercial, that would be so cool! For those who have been following my blog, I thought I would share the inspiration for starting this journey. For most of us there is usually a defining "aha moment" that sets the course for a new adventure in life.  Last summer is when my aha moment came.  I was networking on Linked In to find a new job, and had hopes that a new career would be on the way soon.  It was there I connected with a entrepreneu