For the LOVE of Polka Dots!

Lately I can’t get enough of this mustard yellow!!!  Seriously, I just can’t pass it up whenever I see in the store.  Today, I paired it with this sheer black and white polka dot blouse that I placed over a simple black camisole…fold up the sleeves and pop out the collar and BAM you have some much needed structure to this outfit.  I wore this with a dark wash trouser jean (a staple in my wardrobe).

 I choose a bold gold chain necklace as a statement piece.  (One thing to remember is if you have to lose the sweater at any part of the day…due to it being too warm, you still want to have some sass to your outfit….the gold necklace provides just that.) Pair the necklace with a simply diamond stud earring. 

Style YOU:

My encouragement for you: Try pairing a bright solid with a fun complimentary print!  

The Craziness Begins...

Two things that I thoroughly enjoy in life are fashion and photography.    I invested in a light kit about a year ago and sadly, it has been sitting in the corner of my room, pretty much since its arrival :o(!  Such a shame, I know!!!   Well no more…I have decided to brush the dust off  that suitcase and put my studio to good use.   I am very excited to start blogging about my daily outfits!  While I am no New York fashionista,  I do enjoy the challenge of choosing pieces that will flatter my curvy figure, pairing great outfits with unique accessories and finding those great bargains!  My hope is to share tips, tricks, and inspiration to help you pull a great outfit together from your closet!  

Felt Fun

I had some left over materials from the Halloween costume project I have been working on.  Just as I was folding up the scraps of felt about to put them in the craft box, I remembered the felt flowers I had seen on Pinterest.  I remember being surprised at the simplicity of the craft and thought….it can’t be that easy!   With the hot glue gun and scissors already out…I thought I’d give it a try!  (Now you do need a good pair of sharp scissors) I followed the steps in the photo,  exactly as I found on it on Pinterest, which was:

For the bottom I just cut out a small circle of felt, hot glued the bottom and stuck a skewer stick (literally from my kitchen drawer…sometimes you have to be resourceful, Ha!) in the bottom of the flower, and you have a cute, cheery  felt blossom!  Put them in a mason jar and they provide a lovely little centerpiece for my dining room table.  

Chalk Talk

I am blessed to be able to attend Grand Canyon University, pursing my undergrad in Applied Management.  I am currently in a class titled ‘Organizational Change and Development’… and loving it! My professor has worked as a Dean in higher education, Director at Sperry Aerospace and Senior Vice President at SRP.  He has his Doctorate in adult learning; simply put, he is brilliant!  In last night’s class he began by handing out a paper that had three questions on it:

1. What is motivating you? 

2. What are your personal goals this year?

3. What are your professional goals this year?

While not profound questions…they had a profound impact on me that ignited tonight’s project.  Zig Ziglar once said “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why recommend it daily.”  How often we get caught in the day to day routine that we quickly lose sight of our true goals, aspirations and dreams.   The daily drudgery of over-sized workloads, hectic schedules and trying to meet everyone else’s needs has us wondering what our own purpose is!  I sat in class able to clearly identify what my goals were…but the daily disciplines I need to exercise in order to attain those goals weren’t so easy to see.  Thus….Chalk Talk!  Hobby Lobby carries chalk board contact paper.  Peel and stick right on your wall…and WHALLA, you have a chalk board!  For this season, I have dedicated mine to my goals, providing me a daily visual reminder of my motivation, purpose, passion and direction. 

Cheers to ChalkingJ!

Straight for the Heart....DIY Project

I’m not an avid DIYer…more of an avid Pinner, but nonetheless every now and then I get the itch to do a project.  It was a friend’s  son and daughter combined  birthday party;  I knew there would be tons of your run of the mill cutesy outfits and noisy toys….but I wanted to make something special!  Me and a friend decided to tag-team a hanging letter, photo collage project.  Our aim, straight for the heart! Here is a little video of the project.  Totally worth it!   

VIDEO LINK: http://animoto.com/play/722ceR3BLx3x06klw9gLvQ

Project details: The wooden letters were purchased at Hobby Lobby.  Photos were transferred to wood with Liquidex Gloss Gel. We painted white and grey chevron pattern to the sides to tie it in with their home.  Added crochet flower made by Teri Babcock (thanks Teri).  Then Super glued flowers, buttons and scrabble letters on to personalize it…and TADA, a one-of-a-kind gift, perfect for any age.  Happy DIYing! 

Saul and Adrienne

This past weekend I was delighted to shoot one of my best friends, Adrienne and her boyfriend Saul.   Saul had reached out to me months ago booking a photo-shoot  in advance for a surprise photo session date with Adrienne.  This was just one of his many surprise dates he is famous for.   Saul suggestion Castles’N’Coasters as the shoot location and I reluctantly agreed.   Truthfully,  I just couldn't see past my junior high opinion of Castles’N’Coasters as a dated arcade that desperately needed new carpeting.  I was pleasantly surprised that the location was anything but dated, it offered backgrounds o’plenty with brilliant colors and lots of fun.  It fit Saul and Adrienne’s relationship and personalities  perfectly .    Well done Saul, well done!!  Here are just a few moments we captured from our session!

In the Mood for Great Food!

 It’s one of my favorite weeks in the valley; restaurant week!  Arizona’s Restaurant Week theme boasts: ‘Priceless Dining without the Price,” and with over 150 participating restaurants it is sure not to disappoint your cravings.   This week is a perfect  opportunity to gather your friends and dine at that restaurant you have always wanted to try!  Tonight, my best friend Kendra and I tried a divine little west side hideaway named Betty’s Nosh, mushroom bar.  Tonight’s menu was:

         

• Wine: McMannis Chardonnay – California
•  Starter: Betty’s Signature Salad
• Mixed baby greens, candied walnuts, fresh sliced pears, Maytag blue cheese crumbles and citrus vinaigrette
•  Entrée: Steak Au Poivre
• Eight ounce New York Strip seasoned with cracked black pepper, seared and topped with Sautéed Mushrooms and a touch of brandy. Served over Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
• Dessert:  Peanut Butter Cheesecake

The Chardonnay and Betty’s Signature Salad provided a perfect pairing. The Peanut Butter Cheesecake…a must!  We will defiantly be back for a ‘Noshing’ good time! 

Get out there and support your local restaurants.  Cheers! 

http://www.arizonarestaurantweek.com/

http://bettysnosh.com/