by | Sep 1, 2019 | Fashion |
Hello good people,
I’m thankful to have Labor Day Monday off because I know that everyone does not have the day off. Whether you are off or working, enjoy your day. Today my husband has been painting the office. It looks so good and ready for a fresh look in the house.
I have really been working on my wardrobe, looking at what I have in my closet. I realized last year that I did not have a true small crossbody handbag. Our wedding anniversary is coming up when I saw on QVC the Dooney and Bourke Leather Cameron Crossbody with the logo strap. It looked really cool and thought it would be worth a try. Many of the reviews said that the strap should be sold seperately since the Cameron is not new to the Dooney line. Since I do not I have a Dooney and Bourke crossbody, so this seemed like a perfect fit for me.
Here’s more information about the bag.
From Dooney & Bourke. Logo embroidery on this gorgeous crossbody bag’s strap sets it apart from more ordinary accessories.
Collection: Cameron
- Pebble leather body, zipper closure, four feet, metal plated logo, removable logo-engraved strap
- Lined interior, front-wall zipper pocket, back-wall slip pocket, key hook
- Measures approximately 7.5″ x 9″ x 4″ with a 24″ strap drop; weighs 1 lb, 6 oz
- Body/trim 100% leather; lining 100% cotton
- Imported
Description on QVC.com
The strap sets the bag off. It is more of embossing than embroidery. I can see myself wearing this strap on other bags that have interchangeable straps.
Do you think the guitar strap overpowers the bag?
The cameron bag is actually quite roomy. I can fit my full size iPhone, my wallet and cosmetic bag inside. The bag even has feet on the bottom.
The strap is comfortable and in my opinion doesn’t overpower the bag at all. I wore it to church and it was great. I even had my friend asking me where I got it from and wanting to place an order.
This is my first crossbody small handbag from Dooney and Bourke and I am enjoying the bag. Please let me know if you own the original Cameron or purchased this Cameron with the guitar strap. I would like to know what you think about it.
by | Aug 31, 2019 | Fashion |
If you are a little on the short side, special care needs to be taken when shopping for an evening gown, and working on the principal that an evening gown looks entirely different when worn by another, it is important to find a gown that simply works for you. Here are a few suggestions to help you make the right gown choice for that very special homecoming if you are on the short side.
Photo by Bruno Salvadori from Pexels
Empire Waist – This style really does work for a short woman, with a waist that flares out from under the bust line, and petite girls should avoid puffy gowns, as they seem lost in the many folds. It might be an idea to opt for a gown that has a just below the knee hemline, and if you really must go full length, make sure the gown is tight-fitting and it looks proportionate with your frame.
A-Line Cut – Fitted at the waist, the A-line cut flares down in an A shape and if you have wide hips, this is the style for you. For a great selection of A-line waist evening gowns, search online for an established boutique, where you can find A-line cut gowns from leading designers such as Sherri Hill.
Consider A Two Piece Outfit – If you search the online boutiques, you will find stunning two piece homecoming dresses that would suit you, and by ordering in advance, you can ask your local seamstress to make some small adjustments. Wearing a two-piece outfit does offer you a level of freedom that a single gown cannot, which is great if you like to dance until the early hours.
Photo by Agung Pandit Wiguna from Pexels
Wearing High Heels– The short girl’s primary weapon, wearing high heels can give you that essential extra few inches where it counts, and the most important thing is your dress length, which should be just touching the floor if full length. Of course, you may choose not to wear a full-length gown, in which case the main thing is that you feel comfortable in the shoes, and it goes without saying that you can remove them when on the dance floor.
Plus Size Girls – We come in all shapes and sizes, and if you are a plus size girl who is around 5 ft. tall, avoid dress styles that don’t complement your figure. There are online designer boutiques where you can view a great collection of plus size evening gowns, and once you find the ideal dress, a secure online payment is all it takes to have the garment dispatched to your home address.
Petite girls should always remember that the best things come in small packages, and providing you feel good in your outfit, that’s all that really counts. If you have a dress rehearsal at home, take a selfie and send it to your best friend for a second opinion, and remember to order your gown, leaving enough time for any minor alterations.
Homecomings offer the chance to meet some old friends and see how their lives are turning out, and if you are looking your best, your friends will be more than a little impressed.
* First Photo by zelle duda on Unsplash
by | Aug 20, 2019 | Fashion |
Hello, Lovelies
It’s been all about color and prints for me this summer. The bolder prints and the brighter the colors, the more I enjoy the outfit. Pink brightens my face like soft light and it really stands out in the sea of black that some many women wearing. I am not trying to be an imitator of other people’s style, but I want to make my own style statement. My hubby tells me to embrace my uniqueness and if I like it, nothing else really matters.
This is a regular workday outfit for me, where I dress in layers. It may be hot and humid outside, but it can be chilly on the inside. Layers meaning a black shirt with a true pink Bob Mackie T-shirt. I added a belt to define my waist. The piece de resistance is the Bob Mackie Tropical Paradise Gaucho Knit Pants that are a vibrant burst of pink and red variations with splashes of black in the backdrop. Do you notice how the colors are balanced? The gauchos take center stage in this outfit. If I really wanted to step out, I could add a printed top with the pants. However, I don’t believe that I need it. The solid top adds balance to the outfit and makes it work-appropriate. I went with black wedges for my shoes, but I could also have paired it with pink espadrilles or nude wedges.
Do not be afraid of bold colors. If you are in a black rut or tend to wear monotone hues, you can make it work for you by adding small amounts of color to your top, pants, skirt, shoes, or scarf, and see how you feel in it.
by | Aug 18, 2019 | Fashion |
Hello, Lovelies
It’s sunny, hot and humid here in the Midwest. But what do you expect, it is August. Work has been keeping me busy lately with quite a few projects. I feel so relaxed working on summer style posts.
Soft Surroundings has quickly become one of my favorite retailers for high-quality fashion pieces. If you have looked through its website, you know that the items are at a higher price point because the fabric and details are higher quality. Being a savvy shopper, I tend to look at the clearance and sale sections to see what has been marked down. I recently found the Lupita top with tie-front, shown in the photo above. This fabulous top retails for $79.95, but I was able to find it on sale for only $19.95. WOW!
I felt floral fancy. The pink roses and the corresponding colors are year-round and the tie in the front is effortless. A colleague said that it reminded her of Paris. I wore a black tank underneath, but it is not a necessity. The top is not shear and is not see-through. The lace skirt is from Isaac Mizrahi Live line from QVC. It is a perfect pair for summer with the cool cotton fabric. I am constantly on the move throughout the day while at work, so I want my shoes to be comfortable, but chic. These blush Sketcher wedges fit the bill. I can walk with added height and my feet well supported. The Sketchers Suede Peep-Toe Slingback wedges -Stylin are on clearance right now on QVC for only $37.12.
Jewelry
I wore my jasper necklace on a leather cord, Grandmother’s Buttons earrings and My Saint My Hero Bracelets. When it’s hot, I don’t wear as much jewelry.
Handbag
Dooney and Bourke Hattie is the handbag I chose with this outfit. The leather is soft and pliable and feels like a second skin.
I felt confident, chic and floral fancy. So pretty in pink!
by JTwisdom | Jul 29, 2019 | From the Heart |
Hello, Wonderful People,
Today is July 29th. I will be upfront with you. I use to hate this day. Whenever I heard it mentioned or saw it on the calendar, my heart would break and my mood would dampen. How could a single day have such an effect on me? Well, on this day, back in 1987 my father passed away when he lost his battle with lung cancer.
The only known photo of only me and my father together.
I was only twelve. I felt like my whole world had been broken and shattered. I didn’t know what it all meant and I didn’t know how to handle it. Only two months had passed from the time that my father found out that he had lung cancer to the day that he died. My family had to deal with the shock of the diagnosis, the trauma of him being in ICU and the agony of him being unable to breath on his own or talk with us. My summer started out thinking about making the baseball team and ended with learning how to restart my life without my father.
As the years passed, it didn’t get any easier. When the calendar would change to July, my thoughts would turn to my father. Memories would race through my mind. I would think about the times that he missed out and I didn’t have with him in my life: the first shave, the graduations, the father-son talks, the holidays. Depression and anger gripped my life and held a tight hold over me. I was angry at him that he had died. I was angry that cancer took him away from me. I was angry that I didn’t have my father to help me through the stages of life. The more angry that I got, the more depressed that I got. The anger and depression came to a breaking point eight years later when my oldest sister died from lymphoma.
The anger and depression further escalated, and I had no way of dealing with it. It was my final year of college and my life seemed to be out of control. I had stopped attending church because I felt like it had betrayed me after my father and sister died. I turned 21 and I began spending time in bars with my college acquaintances. I tried to dull my pain; but it didn’t seem to help.
I graduated from college and began my new life on my own. However, I still faced a difficult road ahead because I had no way to deal with the depression and the anger. But soon my life would begin to change when I met someone, while at work, who would help me take that first step on the road to recovery. We both had difficult circumstances in our childhood that we had to overcome. She had lost her mother a few years prior; and together we helped each other cope with the loss of a parent. All the while, she also encouraged me to re-examine my faith in God and it took me back to church. This was not the traditional denominational church that I was use from my childhood. It focused more on a relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ. It was in the relationship and the studying of what God tells us in His word that I began to see my life change.
I am no longer angry. I am no longer living a state of depression and sadness. By studying what God’s word says, I learned that my father’s sickness was a part of the devil’s plan to steal, kill and destroy his life; and take away the good memories my father had created. My faith in God, His Son and His word has strengthened me and keeps me strong on days like today.
Now when July 29th approaches, my attitude is much different. The heartache and pain has given way to peace and joy. Peace in knowing that the disease may have destroyed his body; but it didn’t take away his spirit. I have joy knowing that he wanted me as his son and convinced my mother to have just ‘one more baby’!! I focus on the good memories we shared and the positive influence he had on so many other people. Until this day, I have found no one who has a bad word to say about him.
It is worth noting here that the wonderful woman who started out with me as a colleague at work. But we soon became very close friends. And on September 11, 1999 she became my wife and we are celebrating twenty years of marriage. Thank you, Lord Jesus for putting my baby in my life and helping me see that I didn’t have to live with depression and anger.
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