A very happy Halloween from Ava and I! This year Ava is Michael Jackson from Thriller. I cannot even begin to tell you how excited she is to be her favorite singer and entertainer.
Read MoreHappy Halloween 2019!
Cream Sweater Dress
in fashion, photography
Cream Sweater Dress c/o || Burgundy Bag (Similar) || Boots (Similar ) || Pearl Drop Earrings || Lipstick in Fab ||
Good morning and a very happy Wednesday to everyone! Above is a look that I absolutely love and cannot get enough of for the Autumn season. This dress comes in a beautiful shade of cream with delicate pom poms along the sleeves and cute ruffles at the wrist. Sweater dresses are a particular favorite of mine this time of the year since, as most know, I’m always cold. Pairing them with chic boots also adds to the overall warmth and comfort level while giving a sleek appearance. Just a note, I’m actually wearing this dress backwards, but it does work both ways.
Tomorrow is Halloween and as you can imagine, all of the kids are beyond excited! I’ve seen some amazing costumes so far from all of the events we’ve attended and cannot wait for the big day.
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xo, Amanda
A Cozy Autumn Afternoon
in fashion, photography
Happy Friday, friends! As we get closer to November, it’s inevitable that the weather will start dramatically cooling as the days grow shorter and the warmth of the golden sun becomes even more important to feel and see. Ava and I have been taking advantage of each gorgeous afternoon we have whether it be our walks, leaf rides, or simply staying cozy at home. We love to spend as much time on our porch as possible, especially with the afternoon sunshine pouring in through the trees. It’s a peaceful way to spend some relaxing time reading, enjoying a snack, or even playing board games.
On this particular afternoon, I treated myself and Ava to our favorite apple cider donuts and pumpkin bread. When at home, we both loveee to be comfy and cozy and for me, slippers are a must! These leopard ones have a faux fur lining and are perfect for when you need to walk outside, say to grab the mail or take the garbage out. I had the gold glitter pair from last year that I wore to the point they were falling apart. They fit true to size. Speaking of cozy, I just got this throw for Ava since she enjoys being wrapped in anything soft, haha. I don’t blame her! If you’re looking for a new throw for the holidays, I can attest to how well made these are. We love wrapping up in it to watch tv or to take naps in. There’s nothing I love more than being wrapped in a sweater that keeps me warm and comfy, especially since I’m always cold. This sweater does the trick with thick fabric and a turtleneck. Even with the afternoon sun starting to dip behind the mountains, I was warm and toasty. I personally love the pink and red color scheme as well. Think how nice this sweater will be for Valentines day or even Christmas! The colors are very festive. It fits true to size.
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xo, Amanda
If It happened To Me, It Can Happen To You
in lifestyle
Cream Sweater || Similar Suede Leggings || Star Earrings ||
As I was mentioning in my previous post, I’ve been a bit absent from the blog and if you follow me on social media, you’ll notice quite a change on there as well. My Instagram and e-mails were all hacked, with my Instagram specifically being held hostage from me until I would give the hackers, who were Russian, money. Crazy, right?! I did not give anything so they went ahead and permanently deleted my account. They were consistently texting and sending me e-mails trying to get me to pay them the money. It’s an extremely scary situation where you feel completely violated. Instagram is not the begin all and end all of the world, but for bloggers and any business, it is a huge part of their promotion. It’s typically why a company will want to work with a blogger. It was a huge blow to lose five years of hard work, the friends I had made over the years, and of course, the highlight reel of memories.
On top of losing my Instagram and business that went with it, I could also see the hackers were in my e-mail, which is how the hack originally happened. Please, be extremely careful with links! I received an e-mail from a company I know, or rather thought I knew, asking to work with me and for me to view their collection of items to choose from. I clicked the link and BOOM, I was hacked. The impersonators pretended to be from Good Night Macaroon, so if you receive any e-mails from them, double check the authenticity first, though I have a feeling the hackers use tons of different companies that bloggers/influencers/people work with. After that, I had to delete my e-mail accounts as well and have my computer wiped clean. You really never know. I learned a good and hard lesson from this episode. I’m not the only one this has happened to and I will not be the last. Last year, thousands of Instagram accounts were hacked by Russians and apparently, it’s still going on. Aside from Instagram, people get hacked everyday. The question is not if, but when it will happen. It’s unfortunate we live in a world where this happens on a daily basis, but the best thing you can do is to be vigilant in protecting yourself.
One last note is my disappointment with Instagram’s customer service, or lack there of. It took me an hour and a half just to find the correct form to submit to Instagram to let them know my account was hacked. If this happens to you, it is a purple form that pops up from the login page, but good luck finding it. I found it by accident. By the time I did find it, instagram informed me that my account had already been permanently deleted and there was nothing they could do. Sorry for the inconvenience. I was flabbergasted. There is no one to call, no where to send an e-mail. Basically, no one to contact if something goes wrong. Not exactly the best way to run your company.
With this all going on, I also had my brother’s wedding to prep for and then to celebrate and work photographing the big day. More on that happy occasion to come! Needless to say, I’ve been a bit busy dealing with all of this, but I will not let the bad parts get me down. Yes, it was discouraging and I had a lot of work to do afterwards, but my reason for starting this blog was to inspire people and I can still do that here on the blog, with or without Instagram. As it was for me, let this also be a learning lesson for others as well. Now, it’s time to move forward and to get going again. I’m more than ready to get back on here. Also, a big thank you to everyone who helped during the hacking period. Your help and understanding is more appreciated than you’ll ever know.
xo, Amanda
Golden Yellow With A Pop Of Leopard
in fashion, photography
Black/Leopard Sweatshirt || Corduroy Skirt || OTK Boots || Similar Leopard Bag || Sunglasses ||
Good morning, everyone! As you may have noticed, I’ve been a bit absent on here, and for good reason which i’ll discuss in a separate post following this one. Some happy news, my brother got married this past weekend!! I had the honor of photographing their special day. I love editing the photos and getting to relive all of the lovely memories of the beautiful day. Ava got to walk one of their dogs down the isle, which was soooo cute! I can’t wait to share some moments from the day.
Everything about this outfit says fall to me from the otk the knee boots, to corduroy skirt, and the sweatshirt with pops of leopard and a cozy feel. Personally, I’m a HUGE fan of leopard, but if you aren’t, this top works for both. The neck and cuffs have little leopard ruffles that give a nice pop of pattern without being overwhelming. So chic! I typically wear an XXS, but decided to size up to an XS in the sweatshirt for a roomier look.
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xo, Amanda
The Color Of The Season
in fashion, photography
Good morning, friends! This season, one color I have seen pop up over and over again is purple. All different shades, though typically your lighter ones such as lilac, wisteria, lavender, and so on. Pastels are a constant for me, regardless of the season, so it was nice to see so many this year for fall! My mom would have been so thrilled to see her favorite color come to life in all of these beautiful creations. I think she would have particularly loved this wool coat in a gorgeous shade of wisteria. I remember one of her favorite scents from Crabtree & Evelyn was called Wisteria, which she would always get while we were on our family vacations at the beach. I cannot help but think of her every time I see a shade of purple. The current purple shades of this autumn season are softer, lighter, and all around brighten up your wardrobe. Come to think of it, that’s a perfect way to describe my mom. Light, bright, and happy with a soft touch.
All items fits true to size. I’ve mentioned this before, but I love to layer with lightweight turtleneck underneath. They not only add a pop of color or pattern to an outfit, but they are great for an added layer of warmth, or if the afternoon turns out to be warmer than expected, you can simply take your sweater off and sport your chic turtleneck underneath. The one I have on is pink with cute little white polka dots all over. Also, these star earrings are oh so glam and perfect for not only some pastel outfits, but also for the upcoming holiday season! They have been a go-to for me lately. I can’t help but smile looking at them.
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xo, Amanda
It's The Great Pumpkin, Ava!
Ava’s Pumpkin Top || Ava’s Pumpkin Stripe Leggings ||
Good morning, friends! A few weekends back, Ava and I went to Roba’s Pumpkin Patch with some of our friends for a day filled with fun and tons of fall activities. Did I mention the delicious food too? Not going to lie, the food is usually my favorite part, haha. For late September, the weather turned out to be extremely warm with beautiful golden sunshine throughout the day. The kids had an amazing time with everything from corn mazes, hay rides, pumpkin patches, big slides, bounce pillows, the spider rope web, searching for gemstones, pony rides, feeding baby farm animals, tug-a-wars, playgrounds, cow tractor rides and so much more! Ava already wants to go back lol. She was also pretty excited when I told her we were going to a pumpkin patch and could not wait to wear all of her pumpkin gear. The admission prices are cheaper is you purchase the tickets ahead of time online. The current month of October has the highest prices, while September and November are slightly cheaper. Here’ s a link to their homepage with more information on what to do, admission prices, and directions to get there. One thing I’d like to go back for are the campfires where you can roast marshmallows. Of all the times I’ve been there, that is one thing I still have not done. Definitely on my bucket list for next time!
xo, Amanda
Mary-Jane & A Blue Bow
in fashion, photography
Blue Coat c/o || Mary-Jane Dress c/o || Similar Floral Bag || Similar Pink Heels || Gold Hoop Earrings || Pink & Blue Co. Bracelet c/o ||
Good morning and happy Thursday, dear friends! Pink and blue are two of my favorite colors, especially when combined, such as with this Mary-Jane dress, which feels soft as silk. Truly a delight to wear! The front has buttons, a classic collar, and contrast along the folded cuff. Not to be outdone, the navy blue coat has the same pattern as the dress for the lining and an adorable bow at the neck. I must say, I loveeee matching and bows making this one flawless combo to wear. Not only is the bow on the coat chic, but it’ll also keep the wind at bay on those chilly winter days. Practical and stylish!
If anyone is looking for something new to watch on Netflix, I just started The Politician and it is soooo good! I’m two episodes in and completely hooked. It’s about an ambitious high school student who wants to be president of the United States. The first thing he must do is navigate the political landscape of highschool. I love how they intertwine some political history into the story along with the comedy, drama, and insight on how to achieve being a politician.
xo, Amanda
Pretty Pleats Please
in fashion, photography
Yellow Pleated Dress c/o || Leopard Heels || Leopard Box Bag || Pink & Blue Co. Bracelet c/o || Crystal Link Bracelet ||
This dress! I love a good pleated dress for the beautiful movement it allows and also the distinct femininity it has. This was a huge hit at Ava’s school too! So many moms came up to me to tell me how much they liked the dress. A true winner in my book when that happens. The color is incredibly vibrant and stunning too. It’s lightweight and comes with a sash for the belt, which is essential since there is technically no waist to the dress without it. The dress fits true to size (i’m in an XS for reference.)
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Celebrating Shein’s 11th Anniversary in Fall Style
in fashion, photography
Leopard Sweater c/o || Similar Circle Skirt || Similar Blush Circle Bag || Leopard Circle Earrings c/o || Black Flats ||
Leopard Coat c/o || Red Plaid Tweed Dress c/o || Leopard Heels || Tory Burch Bag || Gold Hoop Earrings ||
Stripe Patch Top c/o || Skinny Jeans || Similar Top Handle Bag || Gold Hoop Earrings || Over The Knee Boots ||
Cream Sweater Top And Skirt Set c/o || Similar Pink Belt || Similar Blush Circle Bag || Blush Velvet Heels || Olive Branch Earrings c/o ||
First off, happy 11th Anniversary to Shein! I’ve been working with them for about four years now and I am so happy to see them continue to succeed. I was asked to put together five different fall themed outfits for their celebration, which is what this post is all about. I wanted the outfits to range from casual cozy to chic and glam, which represents all of the different styles you can find at Shein. All pieces fit true to size and helped ring in the new month of October today. A very happy October to you as well! Two frequent questions I get asked about Shein would be their shipping and quality. I’ve never experienced an issue with shipping, which takes about a week in a half to two weeks to arrive. The quality depends on the item chosen. Obviously, a $5 top will differ from a $40 dress. That being said, I’ve received some amazing pieces a great prices, like this leopard coat, which is only $45. A true steal! No joke, it kept me sooooo incredibly warm that I was almost sweating. All of their pieces in this post are under $50. While typically thought of as an affordable trendy fast fashion destination, they also carry pieces that are classic staples, which I tend to gravitate towards, though I do like to try out some trendy pieces here and there! Once again, a very happy anniversary to them.
You can use the code 11SH588 for 15% off of your order!
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xo, Amanda