I celebrated my 12 year wedding anniversary on September 11th. That is when my husband and I walked down the aisle to start our life together. Each year to celebrate our anniversary, we pack up one of our Jeeps and head out on the highway for an exciting road trip. It’s been a tradition with us since 2005. In previous years, we have traveled to North Carolina to see the Biltmore, drove up Pike Peaks in Colorado and explored the Native American sites in New Mexico. This year’s trip was a little different for us. My hubby wanted to surprise me and would not tell me where we were going until we got close to our destination. We left early Friday morning and started driving.
After about four hours on the road, we stopped and had a great Italian lunch in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.
Hubby at Vincenzo's Restaurant
We drive to our hotel and checked-in. I had never been to Louisville before, but it seems like a cool place. I think of great Bluegrass music and the Kentucky Derby horses. I still did not have an idea why we were in Louisville. My hubby said that we had to dress up for the evening’s event. I wore my maxi dress which doesn’t wrinkle and a tailored black blazer because it was a little cool.
JTwisdom getting ready
I said to myself, “we probably will be going to a nice restaurant, how sweet!” So we decided to take a nice stroll since he said where we were going was not that far. We walked about a block in a half and came up on the KFC Yum! Center. Okay I am really wondering what’s going on now.
KFC Yum! Center
My hubby had on some awesome boots. He was getting compliments on the cool look of the boots.
Hubby wearing some awesome cowboy boots
Before we got into the center, my hubby was sweating from sheer excitement. I was like, “Honey do you need to take off your coat?” He said, “So you know why we are here?” Still not sure, I noticed that people were dressed nicely so it looks like it might be a concert. He said we are here to see Sade! I was like way cool, awesome. We saw the concert in Missouri back in July. I said that we would love to see it again. I had no idea that we would get the chance to see it again. Seeing Sade in concert is a treat.
John Legend opened the show. His hour-long show was packed with piano playing, slow dancing and singing his hit songs, including Ordinary People and Green Light.
John Legend
Sade was awesome. When I say Sade, I mean the singer and the band. They both gel together like the song, “Nothing can come between us.”
Sade in Louisville, KY
Sade in Louisville, KY
My hubby surprised me big time and I love it when he does those sweet romantic things. Marriage is not a cake walk. It takes work and most of all we have to communicate with each other. I know that when I need him, he is there and vice versa and I find that so important and special. My husband is a cool guy and my best friend.
Happy Anniversary honey!
This post is linked with Not Dead Yet Style blog Visible Monday’s
I am thankful and honored to be included with this great group of bloggers for the LINKS A LA MODE:IFB weekly Roundup. Tonight is QVC Fashion Night Out and NYC Fashion Night Out where fashionistas will be out going to different stores to see the latest fall trends so this is an awesome day!
08 SEPTEMBER 2011
BE AUTHENTICALLY YOU!
Edited by: Fajr of Stylish Thought
The IFB conference is over and the dust is finally settling. After a day of being immersed in the power and study of blogging, I’m left thinking about what I learned from IFB this season. Without a doubt, the unequivocal theme was to blog and be authentically you. From building your blogging tool kit to balancing it all, being unique and putting what you love into the blogging space is the best method to lasting blogging success.
THE IFB WEEKLY ROUNDUP: LINKS À LA MODE: SEPTEMBER 8TH
The article in the September 1, 2011 issue of the Wall Street Journal Project Plus-Size by Sarah Naussar had me thinking about the vast fashion industry and sizing. Stories on retail companies changing ways of looking at sizing creep up because women’s clothing fit sizing issues are an ongoing problem.
Naussar says, the fashion industry is trying new tricks.” She gave statistics that one-third of American women are plus size and sales of plus-size clothing hover around 15% of women’s apparel sales.
Really, new tricks? I disagree, companies for years have researched to address sizing issues of plus size women. QVC and HSN designers focus on women looking great no matter what size. Designers research different fabric that won’t cling and consistently designs for women from a size 2 to 3x. Also, these online retail stores do not charge larger size women extra money because additional fabric is needed for a particular garment. This type of thinking increase sales and confidence that plus-size women can wear cute clothes.
Diane Gilman, the “Jean Queen” designer for HSN, targets the baby boomer generation. She has sold over 1,000,000,000 pairs of jeans. That is so amazing! Gilman is an advocate for every woman who deals with sizing issues. Most of the high-end designers in the Couture houses have not sold that many jeans.
So the companies Naussar is mentioning in her article are seeking new innovative ways to make plus-size women look and feel better in their clothes but the concept is not new.
In the article, a spokesperson for Lane Bryant said, “Our customer fluctuates in size. How can we help her?”
Here’s my take on this quote:
1. Most women fluctuate in size not just a woman who’s over the size of a Misses 12. Size fluctuation can range from water gain to the time of the month. Go figure?
2. All women want to be able to try on one pair of pants and have the perfect fit. Perfect fit is not limited to plus-size women. I am not plus-sized but by me having a small waist and curvy hips all pants are not created equal. The majority of the time I have to tailor my jeans because they gap at the waist.
Do you think sizing issues are only limited to plus-size women?
Shapers
I want to add in shapers because normally people think plus-size women only wear shapers. Wrong! Shapers are for women in size ranges from extra small to large. Shapers are created to give a smooth finish to the body, if clothing fits snug there shouldn’t be any lumps or bumps. A size zero can have bumps as well as a plus size women. The concern is unanimously across the board.
Spanx.com
Spanx Shapers are for all figures because we want those knit dresses to look smooth whether we are a size 0 or higher.
No matter what our size and shape may be we all want to look flawless.
Confidence comes from within and projects outwardly in a very positive way. Clothing and accessories can also make us feel good too. I wear this dress often by itself or with a jacket or vest. I will make it casual with boots or I will add some patent clogs to spice it up a bit. I wore this dress to church service and it’s so breathable.I tried my hair a little different using twist outs and it worked really well. I will definitely including this as one of my hair styles I do on my hair. I do not get chemicals in my hair anymore and I love the extra body and the thickness that my hair has after two years of no relaxers.
Leopard bible cover and Miss Tina caged handbag
I feel very confident when I wear this dress and purse. The color red evokes power and good vibes. The Miss Tina shoulder caged bag designed by Miss Tina Knowles (Beyonce and Solanges mother) when she was designing for HSN. This purse is an attention-grabber. I bought this purse in 2008 and still get questions asked about it often.
Miss Tina Caged bag
Miss Tina Caged purse
I love turquoise jewelry so I had to highlight my necklace.
Turquoise necklace
And also the earthiness of my bracelet and ring.
I am loving bright colors on my skin tone because it makes my face look so much more youthful.
It’s beautiful here in my neck of the woods the temperature went from 100 degrees to lows in the 50’s. A welcome relief let me tell you.
This is an important week. Not only is this the most fashionable week of the year it’s also my wedding anniversary week.
I will not be able to get to New York this year for Mercedes Benz Fashion week but I will definite be watching Fashion week on QVC. They will have designers such as Rachel Zoe, Marc Bouwer , Heidi Klum and many m0re so there will be much to see.
A little preview of some of the items that’s a sneak peak to Mercedes Benz Fashion Week on Qvc.com.
M by Marc Bouwer Faux Leather Jacket with ruffle trim qvc.com
This M by Marc Bouwer leather jacket looks delicious, I can see this with a pencil skirt or a pair of wide leg jeans and a wedge boot. The line at QVC.com is a line to watch because it’s gorgeous. The M by Marc Bouwer Faux leather jacket is $89.00 on Qvc.com.
Dennis Basso Matte Jersey Faux Wrap Dress with Belt qvc.com
Dennis Basso designs elegant coats however his clothing is a must see as well. This faux wrap dressby Mr. Basso is so chic the leather jacket by Marc Bouwer could easily work with this dress. A wrap dress is so versatile like a chameleon. The wrap dress is $64.00 on Qvc.com.
If you would like to purchase a memorable item where proceeds will go towards Fashion Targets Breast Cancer please take a look at this beautiful scarf . The scarf can be purchased on QVC.com for $20.00.
Vogue, CFDA scarf
QVC.com detail
Vogue, the Council of Fashion Designers of America Foundation (CFDA), the City of New York, and NYC & Company have teamed up for this worldwide initiative to promote local retail and celebrate the fashion industry. Net proceeds raised from the sale of this Vogue-designed “Fashion’s Night Out” scarf, sold exclusively through QVC, will benefit “Fashion Targets Breast Cancer,” the charitable initiative of the CFDA, for all sales through the end of 2011.
Learn More About JT
Bubbling with Elegance and Grace started out as an outlet for my passion for fashion but has evolved into a place for me to teach, collaborate, and inspire. My hubby has since joined the team and we have been digital creators for 13 years. We are thankful for those who believed in us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
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