September Capsule + Link-Up

August 31, 2015

And so it begins, friends. I am ready for fall but Texas temperatures are not budging out of the 90’s. Since busting out the fall wardrobe really isn’t possible yet and I’m a little bored with summer style I thought I would spend this month working on a little transitional/seasonal capsule. I’m hoping a month of remixing with spark my creativity and hold me over until the Texas fall begins.

When I first began to blog one of my goals was to reduce my clothing and embrace more of a capsule type wardrobe. My problem with that idea has been this: I easily fall back into the mindset that I have nothing to wear. I also have not really taken the time to sit down and determine which pieces I really love and which ones are there simply filler. Those filler pieces remain in my closet and take up space mostly because I’m afraid to let them go because I might want to wear them….someday. This is the craziest mindset because it keeps me from really focusing on building a wardrobe I love instead of a wardrobe that I sort of like and tends to look like everyone else instead of me. I don’t know about you but I would like to be a little original. I mean we’re all originals so why not work that out?

Here enters choosing the pieces I love on me and remixing them during the month of September. I have thought about how many pieces I would use and settled on 28 because it falls in line with the Create28 number. But this is not a Create28 this is a capsule wardrobe remix. I’m choosing 28 pieces and revealing them today. Wednesday I’ll post my first installment of the looks I create from these pieces.

Here’s the breakdown - 8 tops, 3 blouses, 1 dress, 3 skirts, 5 completer pieces, 7 bottoms = 27 total. I’m holding out on that one extra piece because I just couldn’t decide. I might add it or not. We’ll see what happens down the road.

TOPS & BLOUSES

TANKS/SLEEVELESS & COMPLETER PIECES

PANTS

DRESS/SKIRTS/SHORTS

Now, the truth is this: most of these pieces I really love but there maybe one or two where I’m still on the fence. Those pieces might be gone after this remix or maybe I’ll totally love them. We’ll find at the end of September.

Anyone want to join in? I’ll be posting my looks each Wednesdays on the blog and using the hashtag #septembercapsule for Instagram if you want to join in. Style is always better with friends!

Shop Some of My Pieces

And since it’s Monday, it’s time for our link-up. Thanks to everyone who joined in last week. Whitney, Casey and I enjoyed reading your posts and searching for our favorite looks. Can’t wait to see what you lovely ladies link up this week.

Hosted by ~

Carrie/A Lovely Little Wardrobe ~ Bloglovin/Facebook/Instagram

Whitney/Whitney à La Mode ~ Bloglovin/Instagram

Casey/A Little Bit of Cheer ~ Bloglovin/Facebook/Instagram

Each week we choose a favorite…check out Casey & Whitney’s blogs to see if it’s you! My favorite this week is Brooke from Pumps & Push Ups. This is such a pretty and feminine look which she featured in her Superpowers & Oh, Hey Girl! Link-up.

Now let’s get linking! We like to keep things simple around here. Just link up your favorite posts-fashion, beauty, food, DIY, anything goes! Follow your hosts on social media, have fun and be inspired! Thanks for linking up! We have added a Pinterest board where we’ll be pinning looks and an Instagram hashtag. Feel free to add #lovelylittlealamode to your looks on Instagram that you link up with us.

Where I’m linking up.
[inlinkz_linkup id=550626 mode=1]

Whatever is Lovely #12

August 28, 2015

Happy Friday! Are you ready for the weekend? I am so ready. One reason is the local fair and rodeo is in town. It started last Friday and we had a blast at opening night. We were excited to catch a little of the rodeo before heading down to grab some seats to hear The Randy Rogers Band. It’s Texas country and the music we love. This weekend the fair closes on Saturday evening. We’ll be there for the Bull Riding Blowout and hope to catch a little of the Charlie Daniels Band. When I was young I always loved summer because the fair came to town and each little small town had its festival. I hope I’ll always enjoy the fair and that it represents small town community to me. I think I’ll always be a small town girl at heart.

It’s also a happy Friday to me because it’s a Whatever is Lovely post day. I tried to narrow it down to five and here’s what I’m sharing today. Hope you enjoy my picks this week.

1. J at J’s Everyday Fashion featured this navy and olive look which I thought was perfect with the white pants. This look totally inspired me and I just might shop my own closet to re-create it myself. I enjoyed her post which explained how long she had each piece and where they were purchased. You can read it here.

2. Laura who blogs at I Do deClaire featured a chic houndstooth dress. I love houndstooth and she pulled off a classic look with the dress she featured in this post.

3. One of the first bloggers that I “met” through blogging was Alex. Her blog is Undergraduate Style and it focuses on style and her life as an undergraduate student. She just had her last first of school. I have to say she looked quite pretty and professional starting her senior year at KU. Congrats, Alex! Hope your year is richly blessed.

4. Sometimes I spend way too much time on Pinterest but then I stumble across a great little article like this one: 41 Insanely Helpful Style Charts Every Women Needs Right Now. Yep, I pinned it right away and couldn’t wait to share it with you. What I found super fascinating and helpful was the first chart about clothing store vanity sizing. I hope this article is helpful to you too. Enjoy!

5. Another blogger I started following early on in my blogging journey was Audrey at Putting Me Together. {Who doesn’t follow Audrey?} This week she posted answers to questions from her readers. Her Clothing Budget Q&A was super helpful and I wanted to pass it on in case you might not have seen it.

I thought I would share of little piece of my day yesterday. It was birthday and I actually turned 52. It’s strange to be that age because I don’t “feel” like I’m that old. When I was younger I never thought about getting older and what that would be like but now here I am and in some ways I still resemble how I was in my 30’s and 40’s. The day was mainly just ordinary, which was fine with me. In the past my husband has rounded up friends and planned surprise parties and such but I just wanted something low-key. When he asked me what I wanted to do I told him this: I really want to go to the gym and do a good weight workout and then come home and jog/run to the downtown square where we can have breakfast for dinner. Afterwards we can walk home. We did exactly that but with one additional part I didn’t ask for - cake. Gotta have a little cake on your birthday. For me, it was all good!

That’s a wrap on Whatever is Lovely this week. Hope you enjoyed the faves and found them helpful and interesting. Thanks for letting me share a little piece of my life. My hope is continue to open the door of my life to you more and more…that way we can become better friends. Enjoy the weekend, friends! Hope you have some fun planned. I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Beyond Cleansing with Spongelle’ + a Giveaway

August 27, 2015

Have you ever tried a luxury bath product? Actually, I haven’t given it much thought, which means I tend to purchase the same products over and over again. Recently, I have had the opportunity to try a luxury bath product. It’s Spongelle’ an innovative body cleansing sponge. I feel like I’ve stepped into a whole new world of pampering.

Spongelle’ Anti-Cellulite Infused Buffer is an exfoliating and cleaning sponge for the body. The brand makes boasts of these benefits:

-Body Wash Infused Body Contouring Buffer
-Utilizes a SalSphere delivery system
-Enriched with coffee, arnica, and sea kelp
-Multi-Function: formulated to cleanse, exfoliate, & massage, all-in-one easy application
-Multi-Use, 30+ washes
-Hypoallergenic & dermatologist tested
-Proprietary infusion technology

When I first opened the box, I found the smell to be a little strong. I thought I might not be able to remove the plastic wrap and release the smell because it might give me a headache. Thankfully, I found that this product did not give me a headache at all. Actually, the smell was quite soothing.

The sponge was a little stiff right out of the package but once water was applied it not only loosened up but the cleansing product was released. This cleansing product is basically two-sided with a sponge on one side and an exfoliator on the other. It provided a good amount of suds with a refreshing {and not overwhelming} smell. The other side did exfoliate my skin. I know the exfoliation is to aid in the reduction of cellulite but I found it was better at exfoliating my skin to create a new smoothness. I also found that using the exfoliator side of the sponge everyday was a little to harsh for my skin. It did work great on my summer feet though. You know what I mean…those heels need extra care in the summer months.

I did think this product definitely brought a luxury and pampering aspect to my showering time. I enjoyed using it and am excited to extend a discount code to my readers as well as a giveaway.

The 20% discount can be obtained through their website {Spongelle’} and using the code BBLOGGER20 and it’s valid through October 19, 2015.

You can enter the giveaway for the chance to receive Spongelle’ Body Buffer Giveaway.

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Be sure to follow on Spongelle on Instagram too. https://instagram.com/beyondcleansing/ (#spongelle)

*I received this product as a gift but the opinions are my own.* Powered by Brandbacker[promosimple id=”7a77″]

Good-bye Summer!

August 26, 2015

School started Monday here in my area of Texas. This seems to signify summer is quickly coming to a close. Labor Day is right around the corner too so it’s inevitable the close of summer is upon us. Although I know our temps will still remain summer-like for a while, I also know we are all itching for fall fashion. Therefore this seems like a perfect time to recap my favorite looks from this summer.

Since pattern mixing is on my list of favorites for a style profile, I’m featuring my two favorites. Both of these would be appropriate in a business casual office environment. Both looks have some great patterns and color and the mixing was easy with what I found in my closet.

pants/ON {similar, similar}tank/target {exact} kimon/image {similar} shoes/dsw {similar} // dress/ON {similar, similar} blouse/the limited {similar, similar} shoes/dsw {similar, similar}

Those red pixie pants found lots of looks this summer. When I started to pair them with breezy tees I was completely hooked. People at work might have gotten tired of me in this type of look because I wore it often.

pants/ON {exact} breezy top/ON {similar} belt/the limited {similar} shoes/dsw {similar}

I fell hard for coral this summer. I found this top at The Limited and bought it on a whim. It became one of my favorite pieces. I wore it to work on a regular basis and never grew tired of it. Coral is a color that goes with almost everything and I think it will see some new looks through early fall.

shorts/thred up {similar} top/the limited {similar} shoes/dsw {similar} // shorts/ON {exact} top/the limited {similar} scarf/charlotte russe {similar} shoes/dsw {similar} watch/JORD {all} // pants/jcp {similar} top/the limited {similar} wedges/dsw {similar}

Another favorite from this summer was blue and white stripes. I found I absolutely adored a pair of blue and white shorts I purchased. They became my husband’s favorite pair of shorts on me. I always enjoy hearing what he likes on me.

shorts/ON {exact} top/the limited {similar} belt/amazon {similar} shoes/dsw {similar} // shorts/ON {similar, similar} tank/ON {similar, similar} scarf/gift {similar} wedges/dsw {similar}

And then there was blue and white stripes on top too. These looks were on my favorites list too.

pants/ON {exact} blouse/the limited {similar} shoes/dsw {similar} necklace/? {similar} belt/amazon {similar} // shorts/ON {exact} top/ON {exact} jacket/free people via {Brandzaffair} shoes/famous footwear {exact}

And then there were just favorite looks in shorts. Denim boyfriend shorts were a part of my go-to looks more times than I’d like to admit. And because every girl has to have a shorts and boots look {in Texas} I added one of those too. But I also think every girl needs a feminine look too. Yes, feminine and shorts do go together.

shorts/ON {exact} top/ON {similar} kimono/f21 {exact} shoes/dsw {similar} // shorts/ON {exact} top/rosegal {exact} boots/cavendar’s {similar} // shorts/ON {similar} top/stitch fix {similar} shoes/dsw {similar} necklace/jane {similar} earring/walmart {similar}

Those are the highlights of my favorite summer looks. One thing I’d like to point out is that my summer revolved around very few pairs of sandals. Honestly, the wedges that I featured over and over again were my staple shoes. I wore them practically every day. They really could be dressed up or down and seemed to look good with any outfit. The flat metallic pair were the same and became the second shoe workhorse.

When I purchased the wedges I was a little reluctant to spend $60.00 on them because I didn’t think I would wear them enough. The metallic flats were on sale for $20.00 so I didn’t feel so badly about those if I didn’t wear them as often. Guess what I finally learned? Less might just be better! I’m rethinking my shoe philosophy and working on determining what would be the most versatile to remix with my wardrobe. We’ll see what happens in that department as styles transition into fall.

Hope y’all have a lovely day!

Where I’m linking up.

Pura Vida Bracelets + Link Up

August 24, 2015

Hello, friends! It’s Monday and for families in my area it’s back to school today. I’m looking forward to lots of First Day of School photos on Facebook. It is so incredibly fun to see former students, teacher friends and friends in general post pictures of their children as they head back into the classroom. My hope is for a blessed day and school year for all. This is the first time in years that I am not participating in school in some form or fashion. Not teaching and not a student…I’m just a regular person in the general workforce. I have such mixed emotions about this issue. But life is always moving forward. Who knows what may be in store in the future.

Although there is a twinge of sadness in my heart today, I can’t help but be excited to share with you about Pura Vida bracelets. They are handmade by local artisans in Costa Rica. The story is a little fascinating but the short version is two guys from Cali met two guys in Costa Rica making bracelets to keep a roof over their head. The Cali guys brought the bracelets back to the States and they sold out in no time. Now the endeavor continues to grow. Good news for all involved! Another plus is that Pura Vida also gives back to various charities to continue the blessing that they have received.

This photo shows five different bracelets. They are each an individual piece and a different style and color. I think the variety adds to the interesting effect of stacking. Each bracelet easily slides over the wrist and is adjustable by pulling the tied strings. They are lightly coated so they slide easily.

I chose to only stack the Pura Vida bracelets together in this look but absolutely will be wearing them with other bracelets that I wear on a regular basis. I like that they are versatile and they easily work with this dress. I know I’ll be wearing them with jeans and short looks as well. Simple and versatile are things I look for in accessories.

dress/h&m {similar, similar} shoes/famous footwear {exact, similar}

I would love for you watch this short video to learn more about Pura Vida.

If you would like to try these bracelets, Pura Vida is offering a special until the end of the month:

20% Off With Code BACKTOSCHOOL20! Exp 8/31/15. Coupon Code: BACKTOSCHOOL20

Hosted by ~

Carrie/A Lovely Little Wardrobe ~ Bloglovin/Facebook/Instagram

Whitney/Whitney à La Mode ~ Bloglovin/Instagram

Casey/A Little Bit of Cheer ~ Bloglovin/Facebook/Instagram

Each week we choose a favorite…check out Casey & Whitney’s blogs to see if it’s you! Here was my favorite this week. It’s Ana Luiza from Northwest Blonde in her colorful floral look from last Friday’s post. Such a pretty floral skirt with perfect shoes and a great bag to match.