It’s so hot that you could fry an egg on the concrete and cook some bacon on the side. It’s like as soon as I step outside, I am sweating. Even at 9 o’clock in the morning. When the weather is like this, I wear natural fibers that are breathable. Synthetic fibers like polyester make me feel miserable when the temperature hovers near 90 and the humidity is up. In the photograph below, my blouse and matching tank are from Soft Surroundings. Both are 100% cotton and zips in the back. My paisley pants are from the Isaac Mizrahi 24/7 line sold on QVC. The cotton and spandex blend are both breathable and has stretch.
I am still a little hesitant about posting pictures. My body has changed a little, so I had to rework my exercise routine that incorporated more weight training and intense cardio for more toning. I am not a size zero and never have been, but I want my body to be strong and fit.
I wanted to show you the intricate work of the embroidery along the front and bottom of the blouse. The blouse originally sold for $99 on the Soft Surroundings website, but I was able to purchase it on clearance last December for under $30. Another sale of the century! If you can find sales like this, your wardrobe can look like a million bucks without having to spend that much.
Love it!
I am not the kind of Influencer that will post fifty photographs of the same outfit in one post. I wanted you to see in this final picture how I styled my outfit red Skecher wedges for a pop of color since I was wearing mostly blue. It doesn’t look patriotic but offers a contrast of colors. The handbag is the Michael Kors Jet Set Saffiano Leather Tote. It is a chic bag that I will wear for all occasions – work, church, or wherever my day takes me.
Jewelry style
I don’t wear as much jewelry when it’s hot.
Hoop earrings
Wedding ring on the left hand
Cameo ring on the right hand
My Saint My Hero Bracelets
Tigers eye bracelet
I pray you are having a lovely holiday weekend. I hope you are relaxing and having fun. It has been hot, humid and rainy here in the Show-Me State. But it seems like that is typical of the Fourth of July holiday. When it is hot, it is essential to wear natural fabrics to keep cool. My whole wardrobe is not natural fibers, but I am almost there. For my photoshoot below, the Joan Rivers Floral shirt is polyester, but it is suprisingly lightwieght and cool. In constrast, my Isaac Mizrahi Ombre Lace Skirt is cotton and I wear skimmies underneath for complete breathability. The Ombre lace skirt is on clearance right now on QVC.com for $24.97 (it was $79.50). The skirt is so feminine and beautiful.
The hand bag is the Patricia Nash Linked leather Shoulder bag and it has that 60s and 70s feel. This multicolored leather bag reminds me so much of my mother’s bag that just wore out from wear over time. This bag is made up of 800 leather chainlinks. My mother’s bag was black and white, but did not have a lining. The updated version is so is exquisite and finely constructed. I bought my Earth sandals a few years ago on my birthday at DSW.
The Jewelry Special Edition Italian 500 Carvelle Lire Pendant on 14KT Gold bail
Gold necklace – gift
Dragon Fly Earrings- gifted
My Saint My Hero bracelets
Coin Ankle Bracelet: LisaRobertson.com
Special Edition Italian 500 Carvelle Lire Pendant on 14KT Gold bail
I did nto purchase the Pendant from LisaRobertson.com that she was selling recently on advanced order on her website. The Pendant is sold out and does not have a 14kt gold bail and trimmed in 14Kt gold. I actually bought it years ago from QVC when they were doing 24 hour Italian Gold days, Lisa may have been doing a presentation of it at that time, not sure. Recently I saw Lisa selling this pendant on advanced order and she explained the meaning so well that I included it here.
Summer is definitely in the air and last night was fireworks outside until 1:00 am. The humidity is thick and it’s been raining almost every day with periodic sun. For the first time this summer our Hibiscus trees are starting to bloom and it’s so beautiful. Although the flowers are beautiful the trend in the weather makes me dress more in natural fiber clothing and carry non-patent leather bags.
I’m joining Katherine, from Katherines Corner for her Bali Bag Giveaway!
The Bali bag is perfect for going to church, the movies, friends barbecue, or going out to dinner for a fun night out.
Please enter the giveaway!
Please remember to follow Katherine, and all her hostesses so you can earn all of your entry opportunities.
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To enter please log into the entry form using your email address. Have fun and Good Luck in the Giveaway!
Formed billions of years ago from the pits of the earth, so few diamonds have survived to reach the surface, and not all of them have the quality to pass the diamond market standard. Diamonds are not only valued for their sparkle and clarity. They are also durable – in fact, the hardest matter known to man – and because they are invulnerable to deterioration, they can last a long time, making an ideal material for heirlooms. Their clarity is also among the qualities that make this stone so precious.
When a diamond is given as a gift, it means that the recipient means a lot to the giver. If you are planning on buying a diamond engagement ring for your partner, you should at least have a basic understanding of how precious stones are graded. The 4 Cs, which are, Cut, Clarity, Colour and Carat are universally used to grade diamonds, and with that in mind, here are a few tips when looking for clarity in a diamond.
Clarity A flawless diamond has no inclusions, whereas a diamond that has inclusions will appear slightly duller, and the clarity does affect the shine of the stone. If you are looking for that perfect ring, The Diamond Jewellery Studio has a selection of pink diamond engagement rings, along with an extensive catalogue of stunning diamond rings to suit every budget. Of course, you will need to know her taste in jewellery, as well as her ring size, but once you have those, online browsing will give you a virtually limitless number of quality diamond rings to view.
Two Types of Flaws There are two types of imperfections with diamonds, namely: blemishes, which affect the diamond’s surface, such as cracks or chips, while the other imperfection is called an inclusion, and is an internal flaw. Both of these flaws have a direct impact on a stone’s value, yet slight flaws are not really visible to the naked eye, and for many people, that is the preferred type of stone, due to the lower cost.
Flawed Diamonds That Can’t Be Seen With The Naked EyeImage Source: Pixabay
If you placed a flawless diamond next to one with inclusions, you would not be able to tell the difference simply by looking at them, so rather than spending a lot of money on a flawless stone, consider one with a few inclusions, which will cost much less and still have that sparkle that diamonds are known for. You can find informative articles online if you want to know about the clarity grading system, which every potential buyer should read.
Diamond Clarity Chart At the top end of the scale, a flawless diamond is graded as FL, while at the other end of the scale, a badly blemished stone is classed as I3. Diamonds that are graded as VS2 have inclusions or blemishes that are not visible to the naked eye, and are a popular choice for diamond engagement rings. If you are soon to pop the question to your partner, search online for an established jeweller, who would have an extensive catalogue of top-quality diamond engagement rings to suit every budget.
How Is Clarity Grading Carried Out?Image Source: Pixabay
A qualified gemologist examines the diamond using a 10x powered microscope, and grades the stone according to his findings. The gradings are as follows:
* FL – No inclusions or blemishes * IF – No Internal flaws, with minute surface blemishes * VVS1 & VVS2 – Very, very slight inclusions * VS1 & VS2 – Very slight inclusions * SI1 & SI2 – Slight inclusions and blemishes that are visible to the naked eye * I1 & 12 – Obvious inclusions that are noticeable to the naked eye
Once you have familiarised yourself with the 4Cs of diamond grading, you can begin to browse online jewellers in search of the perfect engagement ring with some confidence.
Patricia Nash has had her designs on Evine.com, Hsn.com and now will be on the sister channel QVC.com. Her designs are unique and timeless. The Pisticci bag gives the 60s and 70s vibes. This bag reminds me so much of my mother’s bag. The Pisticci bag has additional features that include a lining, inner pockets, and it can convert to a crossbody as you see in the photo below. I purchased the bag at Lord and Taylor with a great one day sale. However, the bag retails for $399.99.
What does Pisticci mean? Pisticci (Metapontino: Pestìzze; Latin: Pesticium) is a town comune in the province of Matera, in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata. It’s the fourth town of the region for citizen and the most populated of the province after Matera. It is known for being the production site of Amaro Lucano, one of the most famous Italian liqueurs. (Wikipedia)
Pisticci through the arm
PIsticci Shoulder bag through the arm is perfect if you are wanting to showcase the bag in all its beauty.
The 1970s are in now?
Yes, the 1970s are in now but you have to understand that it’s more of an inspiration. For example, the bell bottom jeans you wore in the 70s may have no stretch and may be as stiff as a board. The bell bottom jeans now will be more inspired with new technology may have more stretch for comfort and may have a more 2019 construction. Inspiration is the key here but if those jeans you have from the 1970s feel great then wear them.
Why no picture of my mother’s bag?
My mother’s bag, unfortunately, was falling apart and couldn’t be repaired. It was such a good feeling inside when I saw this bag it took the inspiration of my mother’s bag to another level.
What vintage-inspired pieces do you have in your wardrobe?
The weather is on a roller coaster ride, it was 62 degrees yesterday and it was in the 40s today. It’s that time when Spring Fashion 2019 trends are rolling in. You know that 2019 fashion lines were created last year and designers are now working on designs 2020.
QVC had a two-day Spring Style Out. On one of those two days, Dooney and Bourke had the Today’s Special Value, a woven embossed leather satchel. From seeing the presentations on-air, I thought the handbag would be perfect for spring; but could also be worn now going into spring. I liked the woven look and thought it was much different than the other Dooney bags. QVC offered five colors that were ideal for spring. I decided on the coral because that was not a color I didn’t have in my collection. And it is the Pantone Color of the Year. So how could I go wrong?
JT with Seppe
I received the handbag late last week and I was excited to see what it looked like. When I took the bag out, my initial thoughts were that the bag was much smaller than I had thought it was going to be. Granted I didn’t look at the dimensions on the product description, but it looked much bigger on-air. From there, my eyes were drawn to the wrinkles on the back side of the bag. Take a look at the pictures below. You can see in the upper left corner, next to the zipper, the big wrinkle. There is also a large wrinkle on the underside of the bag, as well. You will also notice that the leather does not lay flat next to the zipper. It is not smooth. And the bag is not a true coral color. It has more orange, like a dreamsicle popsicle from my childhood. The coral is not available on the QVC at this time. Only pink and blue are currently available. I also reviewed the Dooney and Bourke Beacon Woven Embossed Beacon Leather Satchel on my Youtube Channel. You can watch it here.
Dimensions of the bag:
*Measures approximately 10-1/2″L x 11″W x 6″D with a 22″ to 28″ strap drop and a 4″ handle drop; weighs approximately 2.13 lbs
*Body 100% leather; lining 100% cotton
Overall the embossing on the handbag is different and I like it. However, the bag should be flawless when it arrives, with no wrinkles. I will be returning the bag after I test it out for a few days. The overall design of the bag is different for Dooney and Bourke and I can see it being very popular. If a Dooney and Bourke representation is reading this, please find out why some of the bags are wrinkled during the manufacturing process. The bag is not $5,000, but it doesn’t need to be. It still should be in pristine condition when it gets to the customer.
If you have this bag, please let me know if your’s arrived in perfect condition or it was wrinkled as well. I would like to know if mine was a rarity or if this is a more common problem.
Learn More About JT Bubbling with Elegance and Grace is a place for life long learners. The Bubbling With Elegance And Grace team was created 14 years ago. A passion for fashion sparked a lifestyle blog for our Elegant Community to enjoy. We are thankful and in gratitude to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for those who have been with us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
I also reviewed the Dooney and Bourke Beacon Woven Embossed Beacon Leather Satchel on my Youtube Channel. You can watch it here.
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