Friday, April 30, 2010

"My Brunette Reality" Shares Some Swimsuit Ideas

Hi everyone! Most of you in the blogging and Twitter world know my guest blogger today as "My Brunette Reality" or "MBR". She is not only a wonderful wife, mother & friend, but a true fashionista. I always love seeing her outfits of the day. She's the best at combining affordable pieces from Forever 21 with higher end pieces-and totally making it work.

Check out her wonderful bathing suit combinations. Even if you're not "bikini ready", you can find inspiration here. Enjoy!

P.S. Look for her new blog coming soon. I know it'll be just fabulous!


Hi friends! I've missed you and hope you all are doing well! Thank you to the Dishy Decorator for letting me do a guest post on her blog, this will be fun!

So bathing suit season has arrived and for many of us, the thought of going shopping for a new suit sounds like evil torture. I hear you, I understand and I have been there before. Who wants to try a suit on when we are still white from winter, brainwashed to hate our bodies, and have to do the "try on" under horrible fluorescent lighting? Normally I would hate this process and send myself into a shame attack for even thinking about a suit, but this year I am so just DONE with the self hate. You may have guessed it, I have been reading "So Long Insecurity" by Beth Moore. If you are dreading shopping for bathing suits I highly recommend reading SLI.
Alright! Lets gets started! I am going to be going on a quick weekend vacay next weekend so I absolutely must purchase some new suits. Like the Dishy Decorator, I also enjoy shopping high to low. Some of my best fashion finds have occurred on the cheap.
Items in this set:
Antibes bikini briefs, $92 Antibes bikini top, $90 Mystique T-Strap Sandals with Gems in Gold or Silver @ Singer22.com
Gucci Logo Temple Oversized Square Sunglasses, $275 Helen Kaminski Frida Sun Hat, $110
This first set is of course absolutely adorable in my opinion, well I did put the items together, but I really like all of these pieces for laying out on vacation. Once I put this set together I knew that I could get very similar items for much less.
This set is very similar, but costs much less. Obviously I will be ordering these items instead!
Bikini's aren't what everyone wants to wear and I get that. One piece and tankini suits are having a huge revival and you can find them at many different price points.
This adorable shirred one piece is from Juicy Couture for $160.


Very similar suit, but can be found at Target for $29.73.

Another great suit from Juicy Couture, for $173.00

Mossimo from Target also created this great one piece for $28.00.

Now if tankinis are more your style, they are available at all different price points also.

This Spanx tankini is fun and feminine, the top is $128.00 and the bottom is $78.00.
Merona from Target brought us this great set for the new season. Each piece is $18.00 and the top looks to have good support, which is CRUCIAL!
My best advice that I can give for bathing suit shopping is to use self tanner or get a spray tan before going suit shopping. I know for myself that the warm glow from a sunless tanner always perks me up when shopping. Also, be kind to yourself. I'm not kidding friends, BE KIND. I hope these suggestions help you to find a fun new suit for this season. Always remember to wear your sunscreen and a hat too!
I will be launching a new blog soon and look forward to sharing it with you all! Have a fabulous day!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

From Lilly and Tory to Kmart……

For those of you that know me in real life, you know I’m not discriminatory in regards to clothing brands. Don’t get me wrong, I love Tory Burch, Milly, Nanette Lepore…..the list goes on. But if I see something I love at Wal-Mart, Target, or gasp…..even K-Mart, I’ll get it.

I was on K-Mart’s website, and found these Jaclyn Smith brand tunics. I’m thinking of sizing up and getting a couple of them to wear over my swimsuit.

Jaclyn Smith Women's Medallion Print Wide Sleeve Tunic

$14.99 until 4/17/10

Jaclyn Smith Women's Circle Print Stone Studded Tunic

$14.99 until 4/17/10

Aren’t these cutey, cuterson?

Monday, April 12, 2010

Celebrity Spotlight-Jennifer Aniston

I’ve always loved Jennifer Aniston’s polished, put-together style. She has a killer body and knows how to dress to highlight her toned arms and legs (all without looking trashy inappropriate).

The past 3 or 4 years, I’ve watched her clean, minimal style evolve into her own unique look. Seriously, will you ever see her at an awards show with a poofy fuchsia tafetta bubble skirt? Nope. Will you see her out running errands in sweats and Uggs. NOPE. Even at her most casual, she looks effortlessly beautiful.

Elements of Jennifer Aniston’s Fabulous Style:

  • Form-fitting, tailored pieces
  • Lots of black and neutrals
  • Soft, beachy hair. No helmet head for her
  • Jeans and more jeans
  • Leather black or brown belts usually worn with jeans.
  • Large, lightweight scarves
  • Cargo pants and tanks
  • Neutral shoes with dresses to showcase her legs
  • She can go from a tailored look to Bohemian with the twist of her hair
  • Always tan with sun-kissed hair
  • Loves leather jackets, whether it’s with jeans or over a fitted skirt and blouse
  • Lots of aviator sunglasses

Here are my favorite Jenn Aniston looks:

Celebrities at 'The Bounty Hunter' premiere at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City, NY.

Photo Source: Zimbo Photographer: Photo Agency

Dress: Donna Karan
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Clutch: Ferragamo
Jewelry: Fred Leighton

Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler attend 'The Bounty Hunter' photocall held at the Villamagna Hotel.

Photo source: Zimbo. Photographer: Bauer Griffin

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photo: Source unknown

Photo: Janet Mayer

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Source: Peoplemagazine.com

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Source: Peoplemagazine.com

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Source: peoplemagazine.com

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I *need* those Christian Louboutin shoes!

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Source: peoplemagazine.com

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Source: peoplemagazine.com

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Way to get the hem length right Jenn! Love it.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

A Visit With a Dear Friend……

I’m still in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and plan on traveling back home tomorrow. Every time I come back, I have to see my dear friend “Mrs. Charlotte”. Mrs. Charlotte (Kidd) is an incredibly talented interior designer and antique dealer. Talented is truly an understatement. If you see something new and fresh in Traditional Home or Veranda magazine, chances are….Mrs. Charlotte’s been doing it for 10 years already.

I did design work and had a business when we lived here and was forever bouncing ideas off Mrs. Charlotte. We have very similar design styles~~I’d call it eclectic and “traditional with a twist”. In the 5 years we lived in Hattiesburg, I think I came to Mrs. Charlotte’s shoppe at least once a week. I usually had my girls with me and they always loved to look at all the “pretties”. I’m sure Mrs. Charlotte found shells and small figurines in every drawer of her store. ha ha

Not only is Mrs. Charlotte super talented as a designer, but anytime she plans a party and wedding, you can bet the decorations will be to die for. Every detail of her parties is executed with the greatest attention of detail. I always love to hear what she’s doing next. Today when I stopped in, she had an artist there sketching tuxedos in colored pencils and marker on outside of the groomsmen’s gifts. The gifts were wrapped in brown craft paper and had a black bow around the perimeter of the gift. You really had to see them! Again, this shows her attention to detail!

I’d love to share with you some pictures from her store Captain Kidd’s Treasure House. If you’re ever in Hattiesburg, MS, you have to stop in and see her.

Here’s the address: 5268 Old Highway 11, Hattiesburg, MS 39402-8379 PHONE: (601) 579-0207‎

image Charlotte Kidd

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Just lovely, isn’t it?