Everyday Bombshell

I went on a little shopping spree with my favorite shopping partner-in-crime this weekend, and picked up 4 dresses, 2 pair of earrings, 2 necklaces AND a pair of sunglasses...for about $100. Where can one snag so much loot for so few $$? Forever 21 of course.

I love shopping in the plus section of my Forever 21 store for two reasons: cuteness everywhere for under $20, and all the twiggy 14 year old girls steer clear of the double digit sizes. Today's outfit is comprised almost completely of Forever 21 pieces.



The Outfit:
Navy blue & white flutter sleeve dress- Forever 21+
Faith/Hope/Charity necklace- Forever 21
Medallion earrings - Forever 21
Carrie sandals- Jessica London

Everyday Bombshell

I've been having a hard time getting dressed lately. There are several contributing factors which include, in no particular order:
* boredom with what's in my closet
* a desire for separates when all I seem to have are dresses
* the weather's inability to get its act together (it's summer for goodness sake - the high should not top out at 65 degrees)

So I did what I always do when stumped as to what to wear: pull out one favorite piece and build an outfit around it.



The favorite piece here is the red & white striped tee.



Followed closely by my new earrings, picked up at a really fantastic boutique in Athens, GA. It's called Entourage and, although it does not carry plus size clothes, they do carry a plethora of accessories that are funky and affordable. If you live near Athens, definitely check out Entourage.

The Outfit:
Black ruffled bolero- Lane Bryant.
Red & white striped tee- Gap
Denim skirt- Old Navy
Earrings- Entourage
Nude sandals- Jessica London

Kate Spade Copy

One of my favorite things to do is take inspiration from outfits I see on Kate Spade's website, then translate them into actual looks that I could wear - a.k.a they're more affordable and available in plus sizes. Here's my latest Kate Spade copy:



I really like the simple, graphic feel of this zebra-print dress. It's anchored with a pair of yellow flats. And a long, lanyard-style necklace helps draw the eye down from top to bottom: a known trick for making someone seem taller. At 6' tall, myself, I'm all for the illusion of a few extra inches!

Here's the outfit I created based off this inspiration.



Lane Bryant Tribal Print Short Sleeve Dress

REPORT Burna Flat

Forever 21 Hinge Feather Pendant

Photo credit: KateSpade.com; Nordstrom.com; Forever21.com; LaneBryant.com

Review - By C: Creative Creations

Although I'm not naturally a social media maven (I can admit it - bad blogger!), I have to give credit where credit is due. So Facebook, thank you for connecting me with long lost relatives, far flung friends, regular updates from Runza (seriously, open one in MN please!) and reconnecting with high school classmates. It was through one of those high school classmate connections that I came to own this super cute tunic*:



Here's a close up of the fabric. The bright colors and cheery pattern are impossible to wear without a big smile on your face.



The tunic was custom made for me by Carrie Vincent Babbitt of By C: Creative Creations. Carrie and I are both from York, Nebraska. She's based out of Kansas City, MO now and keeps herself very busy with her family and her creative business. Carrie asked for just a few measurements and then whipped up this tunic for me. It has an elasticized top and comes with a matching belt...and she even threw in a very cute barrette made of the same material. Adorable. My tunic is a longer version, though she can customize the length to fit your proportions.

A lot of people might expect to pay quite a few $$ to have custom-made clothing. But Carrie's prices are incredibly affordable - depending on the fabric that she uses, her tunics are typically under $20.



I threw on a little bolero jacket and leggings with my tunic to run some errands. But I can also envision wearing it tucked into my high-waisted skirt; with jeans, boots and a cardigan come winter...lots of options for creating outfits around this piece. If you'd like to get in touch with Carrie about your own custom tunic, you can reach her through (what else?) her By C: Creative Creations Facebook page. Tell her I say hi!

The Outfit:
Tunic - c/o By C: Creative Creations
Black ruffled bolero - Lane Bryant
Leggings - Lane Bryant
Mixed metal necklace- c/o Lane Bryant
Leather & cork wedges- Nordstrom Rack

Everyday Bombshell

I love this dress. It's just so...easy. And that shade of blue is somewhat unusual in an entire dress, you know? It's more common as an accent color which makes this outfit feel just a little different. For me, anyway.





The Outfit:
Classic Surplice Neckline Dress in Cameo- c/o Sealed with a Kiss
Stretchy corset belt- c/o Torrid
Silver monogram necklace- Tiffany & Co
Black faux snakeskin heels - Jessica London

What I Want Now

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you have a weekend ahead full of fun and sun and whatever makes you happy. These two outfits make me pretty happy and epitomize everything that I want now - crisp shirt dresses accessorized with punches of bright color; and a light, cottony top in a beautiful sky blue grounded with perfect black pants and a pair of intricate sandals.









Outfit 1
Eliza Parker - Nantucket Dress ($148)

Target- Mendie Flat Sandals ($19.99)

Red Envelope - Murano Heart Bracelet ($49)

Red Envelope - Butterfly Necklace ($49)

Outfit 2
Sealed with a Kiss - Laura Top ($44)

City Chic - Buckle Waist Pant (on super sale for $19.99)

Target- Dolce Vita for Target Silver Wedge Sandals ($24.99)

Kohl's- Napier Silvertone Multi-strand necklace ($18)

Everyday Bombshell

I wore this outfit on date night with Dan and three of our best friends. The top is one that I've worn before, but always with a tank or cami underneath because the lace panel in the back is so low that a bra strap always shows.

I decided to turn the top around so the lace panel was in the front, showing a little cleavage and bra in a way that was absolutely on purpose and could not be mistaken for accidental.







The Outfit:
Butterfly tunic- c/o Lovedrobe
Black leggings- Lane Bryant
Hoop earrings- Lia Sophia
Silver clutch - Hobo International
Black and cork sandals- Norstrom Rack

Super Sale at City Chic!

City Chic, hands down, puts on the best sales in the online plus size clothing business. These people do not fool around- remember that plus 50% sale a few weeks ago. Yeah. Well they're at it again, this time with crazy markdowns on really cute stuff - starting at $4.99, with nothing over $19.99.

I found lots of things I want/need/really must snap up now, like these super cute cargo pants:



Bling Cargo Pants

And this very cool grafitti tank top (would be adorable under a blazer!)



Dreamcatcher Grafitti Top

And this very crisp, super summer white dress:



Broderie Dress

I even found a piece that I already own in white - marked down from full price, of course. But I'm not bitter - because the deal is so good I just might pick up the alternate color.



Tuxedo Jacket

Is there anything you've been eyeballing at City Chic that is suddenly on super clearance?

Everyday Bombshell

There's a really pretty top that's hung in my closet for a couple months, now. I loved it when it first arrived from City Chic, and I had lots of ideas for how to wear it. But for some reason, I never seemed to actually pull it from its hanger. Until (finally!) today.



This yellow chiffon tube top has such pretty details, like the floral gathering at the bust that drops into pleats. Because it's a little volunimous, I paired it with a pencil skirt to keep the proportions right for my body.



The Outfit
Black tie-front cardigan - Banana Republic
Yellow tube top - c/o City Chic
Refined denim pencil skirt- Lane Bryant
Ballet flats- Payless Shoe Source
Monogram necklace- Tiffany & Co

Beauty Stash- Skindura Secret Shield

I took Skindura's anti-chafing stick, Secret Shield, on a test drive during my recent vacation in Georgia. Did this vegetable-derived product alleviate my chub rub during the extremely hot and humid southern climate?



I'm so surprised how essential Secret Shield has become within my daily beauty routine. I really like the fact that the product doesn't get sticky or fade; and the stick formula is portable. If you're looking for an anti-chafing product, check out Skindura's version.

Everyday Bombshell

I've mentioned before that I have a denim skirt that just never quite fits right...well, I've found the perfect remedy. A belted vest! This formerly problematic skirt suddenly seems absolutely wearable - and a welcome addition to my spring/summer wardrobe.





The Outfit
Denim skirt- Old Navy (last year)
Perfect Knit Vest in Iris - c/o Sealed with a Kiss
Plunge Tunic- c/o Sealed with a Kiss
Inspire Necklace - Red Envelope
Belt- Gap Outlet
Black patent flip flops- Avenue

Trend Test-Drive

I think you guys know by now that I’m not a super trendy girl. I know what works for me, and I also know what I like. But…that gets kind of boring, sometimes. Trends are there for the fun frivolity of it. So I’ll pick one out every so often that’s popping up all over magazines and on our favorite stars - then take it for a test drive. Some will be terrible, I’m sure, but some might be eye-openingly awesome. Either way, it’ll be a lot of fun.


Trend Test-Drive: Mid-thigh Dresses

Short skirts aren’t necessarily a new trend. But they’re something that I’ve just begun noticing and thinking, “Hmmm…wonder if I could?” For the longest time, I bought into the notion that plus size women look best in skirts that are knee length or longer. And I also kind of thought they were no longer age appropriate. Something best left to the 21 year olds.

But mid-thigh dresses are popping up all over my favorite fashion magazines this spring; and my favorite celebrities are wearing them too. Celebrities like Reese Witherspoon and Liv Tyler (both of whom are older than I am).



Maybe I’ve been wrong to either dismiss a thigh-length dress as unwearable, or to automatically add tights or leggings to every skirt that doesn’t hit my knees. Let‘s find out…will this trend work for or against me?



Pass or Fail? After test driving the mid-thigh length skirt trend, I think it’s a keeper. No, I don’t have toothpick legs. Yes, my thighs are a little thick when on display. But I feel sexy and vibrant in this trend.

The Logistics:To make this look do-able for work, I strike a balance between showing some skin...but not too much skin by covering my upper body and wearing flats. For weekend-wear or date night, nude heels make my legs look longer.

Beauty Stash - New CaciqueBody Lotion & Spray

Lane Bryant has launched a new line within their Cacique lingerie brand. It's called CaciqueBody and includes a range of products that include an anti-aging cream, revitalizing leg cream, and an entire line of bath products that are available in four scents. I was sent two products to sample and review for you: Firm Believer smoothing body lotion and Spray It Again hydrating body mist. Will these two products earn permanent spots in my beauty stash?



CaciqueBody is available in select Lane Bryant & Cacique stores, and is also available online.

I'm Baaack!

Dan and I had a wonderful vacation, full of sunshine, southern history and new memories with old friends. Thanks for hanging out with my mom while I was gone - and a HUGE thanks to her for manning the blog. I loved reading her posts and hope you did too.

Before I take back the blog, I want to send Mom off in style by sharing just a few more of her best looks. Whether she's dressed up for a wedding, relaxing on the beach, hanging out with her family, or getting into the pilgrim spirit at Thanksgiving, my mom is one stylish, beautiful woman. You're my original style icon, Mom - LUTP!