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

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've...

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1970's Fashion: My Favorite Outfit Picks

 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. 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...

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The Natural Side of Puget Sound: Port Gamble

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 ...

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How to Make Denim Work for the Office

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 t...

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Bohemian Street Style

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 Pepper and Style. 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...

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D.I.Y Color Block Dress

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 tr...

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10 Reasons to Own a 2015 GMC Terrain Denali

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 n...

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How an Aha Moment Can Change Your Life

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...

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Once Upon a Time in Stevetson B.C.

Good Morning! I hope the weekend was fantastic for you!  I made another short trip back to my home town again in Canada. This time I visited a little village by the sea I had never seen before.  My daughter wanted to find the setting for the ABC series "Once Upon A Time."  It was fun to see the buildings used in the show and tour the town. Stevetson is located 30 minutes  south of Vancouver BC.  It is on the west coast of Richmond, and is where the mighty Fraser River and the Pacific Ocean converge. This charming town has a very relaxing aura about it, the locals are very friendly, and it's perfect for a weekend get away. What are your favorite weekend spots to visit in summer? Sometimes if a vacation is not possible, getting away for the weekend does the trick! Have a great week!

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Zaful Maxi Dress Review

Photography: Valerie Hansen |  TGIF!  I hope your week has been great. Zaful, an online boutique reached out to me to do a collaboration. I chose  this lovely flowing maxi in powder blue. When the dress arrived, I tried it on and so did my daughter Ashlin.  It was a perfect fit on her, so I decided to use her as the model for my review.  I love the cut out styling on the sides of the waist, and the comfortable flow of the skirt.  The dress has a draw string at the neck that ties on the side, as well as small bow detailing on the back of the dress.  It pairs well with a jean jacket, or you could throw on a cute bolero over it too.  Adding a pair of silver heels and fancy jewelry would dress this look up for a night out! Zaful offers a wide selection of trendy styles for ladies of all ages.  Dresses, swimwear, jumpsuits, rompers, and accessories are just a small sampling o...

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