I’ve found that at times I get so wrapped up in the gift selection process that I can leave the purchasing of the packaging goods for the last minute. Luckily, T.J.Maxx and Marshalls help me to be more prepared for gift giving, since the stores provide a wide selection of bows and ribbons, gift boxes, tissue paper, gift bags, wrapping paper and more, conveniently found alongside my favorite finds. The packaging supplies in-store are always well-edited and come in both traditional and super sleek prints and colors, so that from start to end, my gifts look GOOD! I want you to also be able to partake in easily completing your gift giving routine this holiday season by discovering the great packaging offerings, therefore, I’m giving away a $25 T.J.Maxx and Marshalls gift card! See below for the fast and easy rule of entry – good luck!
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December 12, 2016
GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY: Wrap it Up at T.J.Maxx & Marshalls This Holiday Season! WINNER ANNOUNCED!
May 5, 2016
Win a $100 Marshalls Gift Card & Surprise Yourself with New Possibilities
Let me be 100% honest with you: I don’t like shorts. I think that they look bad on everyone, all of the time, and especially terrible on my short little legs. I rarely ever wear them, and are never even a thought, but…what if there was a way to make them cool? Like being incorporated into a lightweight, breathable, army green linen romper just perfect for the summer? Can you even imagine the possibilities of entirely new looks unfolding, thanks to this revelation? I surprised myself at Marshalls; I was very much drawn to this garment, despite my “no shorts” regulation, but rules, especially fashion-related ones, are meant to be broken. I was certainly inspired to try something new, and evolve this look into a summer festival/concert-going look for the over 30 set.
Adding in a tassel bag upped the festival vibe, along with an array of bangles, vibrant jewelry, and espadrilles. I already have tickets for a few summer concerts, and this inspired me to pick up one more: to a reggae fest at Red Rocks Amphitheater. I’m also prepared for scorching days and chillier temps at night thanks to one extra versatile accessory (cue in the pashmina wrap!).
Now, I’d like you to also have the opportunity to surprise yourself with new high-quality, unique style possibilities that you can discover at Marshalls.
I’m giving away a $100 gift card to one lucky winner! See below for entry details and the rest of my personal style post!
RULES OF ENTRY:
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December 10, 2015
Finding Meaningful (and Useful) Holidays Gifts this Season
[You never know what brands you’ll run into; it may just be one of your favorites!]
I’ve always had very, very good luck at knocking out a bunch of gifts in one fell swoop at T.J.Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods around the holiday season, and sometimes I enter the store with a mission and specific gift in mind, but occasionally I will just rely on the mix of inventory to hint at what I should get, which can be thousands of items each week. With that kind of ratio, gift inspiration is bound to strike! I love that I can discover quality gifts for newborns and 90-year-olds alike at one place, making it a year-round destination for presents for loved ones and of course, myself! I even outfitted my dog-niece, Beatrice, in an adorable reindeer outfit from T.J.Maxx last Christmas.
[Holiday soaps and guest bathroom products can make a great hostess gift]
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May 11, 2015
Gaining Aesthetic Confidence
Ah, the elusive white jeans…when the perfect cut, thickness of fabric, and size has been located, it’s a killer look. However white jeans can be so…unforgiving, hugging every curve, and concealing..nothing. To me, they are the great sartorial paradox of looking amazing, but hold the potential to make one extremely self-conscious while wearing them. Just the very nature of them being so stark white makes one’s every move a strategy- where to sit, what to eat, even what handbag or shoes to wear is crucial, as these accessories can potentially leave rub-off marks on the jeans.
At the end of the day, when the perfect pair is find, they are worth the preventive measures, and making peace with what may happen to them, letting go and enjoying the look, is all part of the process. In working with Marshalls recently, I spoke with stylist Estee Stanley about identifying personal goals and tips to find, and relish in confidence. Clothing truly has so much to do with it, and finding your own personal style, pieces you love, that work best with your individual body is essential to the process. For me, wearing these white jeans in a cut that works with my petite frame, being neither too tight nor too lose and taking a cavalier attitude to them achieves that, and I’m going to incorporate into my wardrobe weekly, so stay tuned for more personal looks featuring them!
Back to my conversation with Estee, she reiterated that “what you wear is a powerful tool to convey who you are and how the world perceives you; what you are wearing makes a huge statement of who you are. Look AND feel confident, dress and feel comfortable, and ALWAYS wear something that you LOVE!” In an independent survey down by Marshalls, 42% of women identified looking and feeling their best as something that would help propel them towards their goal, and I couldn’t agree more. Remember to “dress for your body type, and ignore trends, ” Stanley emphasizes. “Make a statement with the story you are telling with your outfit and don’t feel what you don’t feel happy in. There is so much fashion out there that there are amazing clothes for all body types. Have the guts to go into the dressing room and try stuff on; items look completely different on the hanger than they do on your body.”
I think that it’s important to be accepting and accommodating to our bodies, and reward ourselves with clothing that fits our shapes and lifestyles to a T. If you’ve lost weight, gained weight, have “baby weight,” and don’t feel like yourself, find clothes that work with that new body of yours, instead of resist it. Choose items that make you feel confident and powerful for every stage of life that you’re in. Considering being your best version of yourself by dressing the part; white jeans, here I come!
In This Look:
Designer Blouse via Marshalls (c/o)
Designer White Jeans via Marshalls (c/o)
ShoeDazzle Morena d’Orsay Espadrille Flats (c/o)
Alexis Bittar Ring via Shopbop (c/o)
Kenneth Cole Men’s White Ceramic Watch (c/o; no longer available)
Sorrelli Cuff Bracelet (c/o) & Stud Earrings
Ted Baker Scarf (c/o)
Makeup: NARS Audacious Lipstick in Lana; Clinique Cheek Pop in Fig Pop (both c/o)