Stella Summer {Style Series}

As some of you know I recently became a Stella & Dot Stylist.
There were multiple reasons for my choice, but the two biggest reasons were my love for fashion, and my passion of helping others.

 If you have not heard of Stella & Dot, head on over and check it out. Their designs are chic, and their products are high quality.
 If you have, than you already know the colors, style, and variety are never ending, and when it comes to the 2013 Spring & Summer line they did not disappoint.

I don't know about you but I am a visual buyer. I like to try things on, feel the texture, see certain things accessories placed with full outfits, and my favorite thing of all...recreating looks!

 As my way of introducing you to Stella & Dot, and myself as a Stylist, I will be running a small series.. Stella Summer, a style based post highlighting some of my favorite Stella & Dot products!


Even though summer is fast approaching, some of us still have jobs to attend to. (unless your a teacher, in that case, let's switch!) So while you can't wear your bikini to the office you can still look fabulous!

 

If you are anything like me nothing is better than business casual. A cute pair of jeans from Forever 21 (similar) paired with an adorable pair of heels from Nine West (similar), a blazer or cardigan from Kohl's (similar) and you are set for a comfy, casual day at the office.

How do we do it? Work full time jobs, blog, be wives/mothers, all while looking adorable? By piecing everything together and running on a tight time schedule. Stella & Dot kept this in mind when they designed the super spacious and overly gorgeous "How Does She Do It" bag. 

I LOVE this bag and ever since it showed up on my doorstep I have not put it down. It has multiple pockets for extreme organization. It's big enough to hold my planner, book, phone, gym clothes, lunch, and whatever else I may need throughout my day! 

Did I say how much I love it? Because, I really do!

My other simple accessory I paired with this outfit was the oh so gorgeous Deco Drop Earrings

These simple, vintage inspiring earrings are so gorgeous and a great accessory to any outfit.

 My favorite part about these beauties, is on my bad hair day, when only a sock bun will suffice, they add the much needed attention to my bland neck and chin areas. 

Dress them up or dress them down. These Deco Drops are to die for!

So whether it's a day at the office or a day at the mall these items are two you just can't live without!

 If you believe any of the accessories I styled would look great in your closet, head over to my stylist page, and you will find all these items and MORE.

Why not get it free? Even better!
Host a trunk show with me, invite your girlfriends, and rack up the rewards!

What is Success?

I don't know about you but I struggle with the word success every day.

Am I being the best employee I can be at work? Am I being the best wife I can be at home? Do I come off as successful to my peers, fellow employees, even my husband.

Do other bloggers look at me and feel I am successful in my writing? Do my family members think I am successful in starting my own jewelery ventures?

Even down to if my dogs love me, even if I forgot to take them on a walk 3 days in a row.

What is success?
and how will I be successful?
How am I already successful?

Am I going to be successful when I have over 2000 blog followers and 50 comments per post?
Am I going to be successful when I host 6 Stella and Dot trunk shows?
Will I be successful when I can be a entrupenuer in whatever my choice of interest shall be?


Am I being successful wife, and be able to make my husband happy?
Am I a successful daughter and make my parents proud?


It took me awhile to realize that success isn't measured in numbers, feelings, or analytics.
Sucess isn't measure by money, cars, or how big your house is.

You can have 5000 blog followers, drive a brand new BMW, and own a 10,000 square foot house, but if your not happy.
are you successful?

No, probably not.

Success is measured by happiness. By how what you are doing in your life makes you feel.
Success is measured by your passion. For life, love, and all you surround yourself with.

 I heard multiple times on our wedding day.
"You look so genuinely happy, I can see it all over your face"
To them. I was, we were successful on our wedding day. We had successfully found love, and we had successfully found happiness in one another, and everyone could see it.

That is success.




I took the plunge to start my own blogging business, and jewelry ventures. I have booked 3 trunk shows, and have almost 300 blog posts to date, all followers, comments, and sales aside.

It is successful.

I wake up everyday with love in my heart, hope in my soul, and dreams in my head.  I wake up with a purpose, and a fall asleep with a smile.

Happiness is the only thing that can measure success.

Me?

oh yeah, I am EXTREMELY successful.

Weekend Shennany's: Closet Makeovers & Monsterous Meat

Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy,

I hope everyone had a great weekend!


We were overly productive in our household this weekend and it honestly makes for the best Monday, well the best Monday would allow me to go to work in my pajamas, while being provided endless coffee, and consisted of only 1 hour of work instead of 8, but that is for another day.


On Friday I started on my DIY closet renovation. In P's mancave there is a ugly storage closet that was just used to pile on tons of old storage boxes, and wedding stuff. It was driving me absolutley nuts (I hate clutter) and I really needed a place for my blog, stella, and everyday thinking.

Ugly Closet: BEFORE//// Yes, I can use power tools. Yes, I also like to think I make them look good.

Saturday we woke up at the butt crack of dawn to be the first at a garage sale I found on craigslist. They had an old desk I had my eye on for my new closet, and I was going to be damned if someone else got that beaut before me!  Well when we arrived, after measuring it turned out the desk was WAY to big to fit in to my small space. I was overly bummed, but P made sure we did not go home empty handed. We scored a $500.00 almost like new bar for $50 bucks.

New Bar & Decor (Hobby Lobby)

 So being the obsessive furniture recycle(er) I am, I took the old bar, and used it as an excuse to go to Hobby Lobby. I grabbed some paint, cute new knobs, and a couple TON of other items.
New bar for the living room, and new shelving unit for the my new office!

Before/////After

After 13 hours of sanding, painting, furniture restoring, desk mounting, and decorating. My New closet office is complete! Total DIY restoration: $>$100

Pretty Closet: After

Sunday was spent relaxing, drinking, and having a good ole' BBQ with some friends!

6 pounds of steak; 2.5 for each man and .99 for the women to SHARE// Man Cave resting after a large dinner
///Funfetti Cake dip for dessert!//Drinks, a must.