Have you ever had a handbag that stopped you while in your stiletto heels?
The Florentine Toscana Front Pocket Satchel stopped me, literally.
I had said before that I was going to not get another handbag for a little while because I am focusing on saving and achieving that nest egg.
While at work and in a public area of the building, I had walked by a lady standing at a counter when I noticed her Dooney and Bourke handbag. Being a Dooney fan, I stopped and said to her that I really liked her bag. She turns to me and says, “Oh you mean my Dooney?!?” I said, “Yes, the strap is really different.” She told me that was one of the reasons that she purchased the Florentine Toscana. I knew by seeing the bag in person I had to add that bag to my wishlist.
Designer notes from the Dooney and Bourke website:
“Luxurious Italian leather and signature Dooney design elements combine for a collection that is truly exceptional. Inspired by one of Dooney & Bourke’s original styles, the Front Pocket Satchel speaks to our legacy of crafting and designing timeless, iconic shapes and features a variety of carrying options.”
The bag on the Dooney and Bourke site retails for $568.
Would you believe that this bag requires no creams, lotions or leather cleaners? To take care of the bag, all you need is a cloth.
The bag is soft but durable, sturdy but elegant. I received this bag as a Christmas gift and I must say it’s the gift that keeps on giving. This is an all-season handbag that has become a work horse in my wardrobe closest. I gave a full review of the handbag on my Youtube Channel.
I styled the handbag for an updated chic look. It is very classy with town and country vibes.
The more we are connected to our computers, smartphones and televisions, the more I realize that computer glasses are necessary. Computer glasses are designed to filter out the blue light from computer monitors, smart phone screens and even televisions. The blue lights can be harmful to your eyes and increase the amount of eye fatigue. I recently had an opportunity to collaborate with Spektrum to see how the glasses worked.
The glasses pictured below are similar to the design that was sent to my hubby and I. The inside of the frame arms are more red and there is a slightly yellow tint on the glasses that does not come through in this photograph. This yellow tint is what removes the white glare and the blue lights that are emitted from your computer screens.
Spektrum Computer glasses
Since I wear prescription glasses, I can only wear these glasses when I am wearing my contacts. My hubby could wear the pair because he does not wear glasses or contacts and the lenses do not have any prescription in them. For him, it was a new experience of wearing glasses (of any kind) for the first time. He said that the yellow tint took a little for him to be accustomed to because initially did not look natural. Also, he noted, that when looking out the sides of the glasses, he noticed a bright glare on occasion when looking at other light sources; which was another thing for him to get adjusted to. However, the more he wore the glasses, the easier it was to adjust to the yellow tint and the bright glare was not as noticeable. He recommended wearing the glasses because it was easier to look computer monitors and smartphone screens without the extreme brightness of the screen; and his eyes did not feel as tired when he wore them later in the evening.
My hubby wearing the Spektrum computer glasses.
Some questions you should ask yourself:
When you work on your computer, do you find that you don’t look away to give your eyes a break?
Do you often complain of headaches when you are looking at you’re computer for long hours?
Do your eyes feel tired or blurred after working on the computer?
Are you staying awake at night finding it hard to sleep?
If you answered yes to any of those questions you might consider computer glasses. You may not think that glasses are cool. But guess what? Spektrum glasses are more than that. The designs are cool and they protect your eyes.
I wear prescription glasses and Spektrum also has a varied array of computer glasses that you can add your prescription. The prescription glasses retail for $89. I chose the design below because I really enjoy wearing tortoiseshell and they are fashionable.
50% blue light blocking – blocks the most harmful blue light
Blocks 100% of harmful UVA and UVB light
Scratch-resistant coating to extend the life of your lenses
Anti-reflective coating makes lenses nearly invisible and eliminates reflections
Anti-glare coating alleviates eye strain and headaches caused by device glare
Anti-fog coating prevents fogging during temperature or moisture changes
Fingerprint-resistant anti-oil coating because no one likes to continually clean their glasses *(If your hands have lotion or oil you will have to wipe them off)
Free case and microfiber cleaning cloth included
The glasses are lightweight and come with a case with a magnetic closure and dust cloth.
Spektrum computer glasses are affordable, the price ranges are from $39.95 to around $89.95. If you have not checked out its website, Spektrum has polarized sunglasses, blue light blocking glasses, kids’ computer glasses, and prescription computer glasses. It’s so important to protect your eyes from the light that comes from your computer and smartphones. And please make sure you have your computers and smart phones set for night mode to ease the strain off your eyes.
TIP I know this is hard to do but if you could try to put all your techie devices away in hour before bed because it will give your eyes time to rest before bed.
FTC Disclosure:
Bubbling With Elegance And Grace received a pair of glasses at no charge to write this review. All opinions are strictly our own. We did not receive any additional monetary compensation.
Even though it is spring, we are still experiencing cool temperatures. You don’t want to look like you are wearing your winter apparel, even though you want to be warm. What is a girl to do?
The answer is that you dress in layers; and if you get warm you can take one of them off and still look put together.
In the picture below, I am dressed to go to an evening concert with my hubby. Look at how I styled my outfit. My Monet-printed inspired dress, from Jones New York, is a polyester blend and a chartreuse color. I paired it with my Anne Klein cardigan and topped it off with my off white leather jacket from Chadwicks. I decided to wear tights and pair them with my Vince Camuto wedge booties.
JTwisdom Layering
I can take my jacket off and still know that I have my chartreuse cardigan underneath if it is a little warm in the concert hall. If it is a little on the cool side, leaving the jacket on does not look out of place. The leather jacket is great for an outwear piece; but it looks just as hip on the inside for a rocker-chic look. The chartreuse color in the cardigan is bright and makes me smile. Its so perfect for the spring when the weather is varying at different temperatures throughout the day. As a stylist I find that jackets are such a necessity no matter what time of the year.
How do you layer in the spring? Do you layer or you say it’s spring so I am not layering at all?
Spring has Sprung, but it still feels like winter here in the Show-Me State. No humidity right now and temps have been in the 20s and low 30s in the morning hours. I work near the park and I see runners wearing only bra tanks and short shorts and it is only 32 degree temperatures. I also see people wearing no jackets or coats and it is 29 degrees! Maybe they they are cold tolerant.
The weather has been all over the place, so I find myself dressing differently every day. I cannot come out wearing next to nothing or only a light jacket. I still want to dress warmly; but look colorful like its spring. In this picture below, the temperature peaked out at almost 60 degrees, but the morning started out at only 32.This Michael Kors dress came from Macys. I bought it when my hubby and I were in San Francisco a few years ago. The cotton/spandex fabric stretches and is very comfortable. There are silver metal zippers in the from and in the center back. I layered the dress here with a pink cardigan sweater. Since it was quite cold, I wore tights and my Marc Fisher knee-high boots. My handbag is the Dooney and Bourke Florentine Toscana Leather Satchel that my hubby bought me for Christmas last year.
Jtwisdom striped dress
And what was great about this outfit is that the dress is so versatile that if i take off the sweater it can be worn as a jumper. The dress flares out into A-line and is very slimming. The lines in the dress go horizontal the side stripes really cinch in the waist. The look is still bright and youthful without looking to trendy.
Jumper look
Jewelry
If I am not wearing jewelry, it feels like something is missing. In this outfit, I am wearing a gold-clad Lire bracelet that I purchased on clearance from QVC. The Lire bracelet is still available for only $49.98, you can watch the video presentation here.
Lire Bracelet
As a stylist, I can say that just because it is spring, it really depends where in the world you are located to see how you should dress. I know most people in my area want it to be hot; but I am actually enjoying the cool weather and finding different ways of making my winter attire colorful and feeling like spring.
It was 72 degree on Thursday and but I still feel that I have to wear a jacket, sweater or both. It is not officially springtime yet; and yet even in the spring, it still can be cold. At the local park I have seen people wearing all kinds of attire; from shorts to tank tops. It is still chilly out there. I just don’t know what to say about that.
At work, I never know what the temperature may be. It can be cold in one office and more mild in another room, all at the same time. I need to be dressed for the temperature changes, so I dress in layers.
I really like a modern turtleneck that is not bulky. It looks smooth underneath sweaters and jackets. Macy’s is my go-to place to for these turtlenecks because they have such a wide array of color. To add a pop of color to the turtleneck I chose my pink cashmere cable knit sweater that is also not bulky. However, cashmere is a natural fiber that will keep you warm. I find that most of my cashmere is vintage because it is hard to know where the cashmere is sourced from and if it’s sustainable. I saw an article on Fashionista,“Three Ecofriendly Cashmere Labels to Watch.” The article highlights three eco-friendly companies, including White and Warren who reclaim cashmere by going through the recycling process of unworn cashmere. There is no governing board over what is sustainable, so there is still more work to do. All cashmere is not created equal. Take a look at this other article from Fashionista, “How truly ‘Responsible’ is your Responsible Cashmere”.
JT Style FIle
Vintage cable knit cashmere sweater: Macy’s
Turtleneck: Macy’s
Skirt leggings (one Piece): Legacy
Tights: I have had for a couple of years
Boots: Clarks
Handbag: Dooney and Bourke
When working with a limited budget, remodeling or renovating your home might seem like an impossible feat. But, with a little creativity, and the willingness to undertake some DIY tasks yourself, it doesn’t have to be. In fact, there are many simple tasks you can do, which are cost-efficient, and will instantly give your home that much needed face-lift it hasn’t seen in so long.
Bathroom – Before the renovations
One simple way to recreate your home is a fresh coat of paint. Let the kids choose the colours they like and paint their bedrooms. Work with your family to paint the interior, do minor touchup and detail work throughout the home, and do detail work where there are chips/cracks in the painting throughout your home. If you don’t want to paint the exterior, pressure washing will do wonders to your home’s exterior; and, it will run a fraction of the price. If you would like to know the cost of a a certain job then I would recommend visiting yourjobcost.co.uk.
Consider simple changes like replacing knobs on cabinets in the kitchen. Upgrade the vanity in the bathroom with a new mirror you find in a second-hand (used) shop locally. Refinish your cabinets by painting them or replacing the interior wood-panel with glass mirrors. You can easily look up quick videos and guides (on a site like Youtube) which will give you step by step instructions on performing these tasks.
If you are unsure on doing certain changes in your kitchen I would recommend getting in touch with a local tradesman who can help you and assist you in what you are doing. They might even be able to tell you a few cheaper alternatives to what you are planning on doing.
No matter how much you have to spend, these are a few simple and quick fixes anyone can do (regardless of whether or not you know the difference between a Phillips head or straight-head screwdriver) when upgrading the home on a budget. If nothing else, it is a great way to bring the family together.
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.
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