June Group Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered the June group giveaway!  The winner of the ad space is.....

Kirstin

Be sure to check your e-mail and respond within 48 hours!  The blog is getting close to 300 GFC followers, when we reach that milestone we will have another giveaway!  Have a lovely weekend!  And to all my Canadian readers Happy Canada day!  

The IT List!

• One Hundred Inspirations puts together an amazing summer wedding look inspired by Kate Middleton - all for under $160! A must see!
• Diva in Me combats the monday blues with a gorgeous yellow and white dress she collaborated on with a friend! So talented! (find Diva in Me on Twitter!)
• Olive and an Arrow mixed and matched her way to an adorable summer outfit! Checks and floral were meant to be! (find Olive and an Arrow on Twitter!)
• Rachel's Look Book shows us her international style on a recent trip to Dublin. Hint - it's fabulously edgy! (find Rachel's Look Book on Twitter!)
• Melificent is feeling happy in her good mood outfit! So much so that she even brought out the bubbles! So fun! (find Melificent on Twitter!
• Crazy Style Love shares her simple formula for taking any outfit from day to night! Head over to find out how and see her cute look! (find Crazy Style Love on Twitter!)
• Sigh...Gush...Gasp looks polished for weekend errands in a blazer and jeans - and you'll never believe what she paid for her top!! (find Sigh...Gush...Gasp on Twitter!)
• A Fashion Fixation found the perfect polka dot scarf - it's long and goes with everything! Pop over to see where she bought it! (find A Fashion Fixation on Twitter!)
• High Heeled Style has jumped on the chambray wagon! And what better to pair it with than white skinny jeans and a pair of fabulous heels?! (find High Heeled Style on Twitter!)
• Ash 'N' Fashn pairs denim and lace for a look that's perfect for any date night or party! So cute! (find Ash N' Fashn on Twitter!) 
• Pink Margarita Pearl takes us through three ways to style a skinny cowl top! It's impossible to choose a favorite!
• Urban Frill is trying out a new way to style her pencil skirts! Pop over to find out why untucked is better! (find Urban Frill on Twitter!)
• Here & Now cools off in an adorable pansy print sun dress! Paired with sleek silver accessories, she is ready for the heat! (find Here & Now on Twitter!)
• Second Street East finds inspiration for a bedroom design from her latest casual weekend outfit! Head over to check out the room AND outfit! (find Second Street East on Twitter!)

the IT list is brought to you weekly by Jill of Good Life and edited by Michelle of Second St. East.

 For more information on how you can be involved - click here

Shoes of the Week!

Flat are a huge part of my wardrobe now, since I have my little baby girl to carry around.  When Kate tweeted this pair from Aldo I immediately fell in love!  I love the pointy toe and the ankle strap is the perfect touch.  These are a great shoe because they can be worn casually or dressed up for a night out!  They currently are on sale on Aldo.com for $49.98; a great price!  I am hoping they will come down a bit more so they fit into my budget!

Image Source

Image Source

Weekend Wear

 Blazer - H&M (similar) || Leopard tank - Halogen (similar) || Black tank - Undercover Mama || Jeans - Silver Jeans || Shoes - Old Navy (similar) || Necklace - Unknown || Bracelets - Smart Set || Watch - Fossil (similar)

Last weekend was a bit rainy and overcast so this outfit was perfect for a day of running errands with my hubby and baby girl.  We had a wonderful morning enjoying a breakfast at our local city market and then on to some grocery shopping.  On Sunday, we attended my cousin's graduation pool party.  Unfortunately the rain kept us out of the pool, but it was still a great time!

The tank top I am wearing in this picture is also another one of my Marden's finds.  I purchased this top for $1.00!  It is a petite so it is a bit short for me so my undercover mama tank was perfect under it to hide my belly.  This top is light and airy, for those warmer days, but I also fell in love with the animal print!  And I won't lie, the price was right!

Bauble Swap!

 

I am hopefully going to be participating in the Bauble Swap going on over at Because Shanna Said So.  How it works is like this (details taken from Shanna's blog):

If you are interested in participating send an e-mail to Shanna with the following information:

E-mail Address: shanna_schneider@hotmail.com

Subject: Bauble Swap

Include: First and last name, Shipping Address, and URL

You will then get paired up with someone else who wants to join in on the fun.

Once she has paired you with another blogger, she will provide you with your Bauble Buddy's name, shipping information and their blog address. That way, you can go to their blog, check out their style, learn more about them and make a new friend!

In the next week or so (the sooner the better), she would like you to send a necklace, pair of earrings or bracelet(s) you think they would wear. Please DO NOT send rings since we don't know sizes.  If you send earrings, please PINKY PROMISE that they are NEW and not gently used.  Your buddy will do the same.  Please be considerate on what you send. Make sure it's something you would be excited to receive. Don't be a jerk and send something from a gumball machine. Put some thought into it because, I promise you, your Bauble Buddy WILL blog about it!!  If you are sending something new; the price limit should be $25 or less.

After both buddies receive their item, blog about what you sent and received! She will post a place to link-up on her blog once we have some interest so we can see what other people are sharing.

Time Frame
This swap will run through July 15, 2012. Don't wait until the end to sign-up!

Can bloggers from Canada participate or is this just for the U.S.?
For Canadians to participate, we need someone else in Canada to swap with (shipping across Customs tends to get hairy). If you are Canadian, encourage other bloggers to play along. I would be happy to set up a swap!  I would love to see other Canadians participate!  I have sent my information in, in hopes that there is someone they can pair me up with!

Important ExtrasYou must be an ACTIVE blogger (i.e. the last time you blogged wasn’t last year). It's only fair, people. You don't need a gazillion followers or blog every day.  Just be somewhat active. Okay? Deal.

If you plan to participate, please visit her blog so you can grab her button and blog about it!  Hope to see you participating!

The IT List!

• Sweetie Pie Style shows us how to pair lemon and lime pieces for a bold, vibrant look! Head over to see her top picks!  (find Sweetie Pie Style on Twitter!)
• A Fashion Fixation is channeling her 70s vibe in a vintage inspired outfit! Wide leg jeans and a flowy top? So Chic!  (find A Fashion Fixation on Twitter!)
• Urban Frill is beating the heat in her patterned mini and airy top - the perfect outfit for an outdoor summer concert! Cute!
• Sandy a la Mode is getting twice the use out of her maxi skirt by making it a dress - and it has a beach scene on it! What more could you want?! (find Sandy a la Mode on Twitter!)
• The Fashionable ESQ found tons of sassy snake inspired accessories that will add a punch to any outfit! Just call her a snake charmer! (find The Fashionable ESQ on Twitter!)
• Northern Style Exposure dresses down a lace dress with a safari-worthy jacket! Head over to see how she layers her way to casual chic! (find Northern Style on Twitter!)
• Miss Top Ten Image looks back to some of her favorite looks from 2011! Pop over for tons of eye candy and to see how her style has evolved! (find Miss Top Ten Image on Twitter!)
• Here & Now shows us how to look cute in tennis shoes! Throw them on with a dress and hair scarf and you are ready for weekend errands! (find Here & Now on Twitter!)
• Diva in Me pairs an oversized clutch with a printed dress for a look that is perfect for a night out on the town! Love! (find Diva in Me on Twitter!)
• Olive and an Arrow shows us her preppy side in a look that could be straight out of Clueless! Totally fab! (find Olive and an Arrow on Twitter!)
• Melificent wears an adorable nautical outfit for an impromptu getaway in the Florida Keys! Swoon! (find Melificent on Twitter!
• Crazy Style Love has an eye for eyelet in this black and gold ensemble! And her belt? A must have! 
• Sigh...Gush...Gasp rocks the neon look on a budget! Head over to see where she found her adorable dress for an incredible price! (find Sigh...Gush...Gasp on Twitter!)
• High Heeled Style goes full on pattern in an adorable wrap dress that is perfect for a day at the office. Best news? It's easy to style since it's the statement piece! (find High Heeled Style on Twitter!)
• Second Street East is sharing some big news and a sneak peek of a recent photo shoot she did! Pop over to find out what she has been up to! (find Second Street East on Twitter!)

the IT list is brought to you weekly by Jill of Good Life and edited by Michelle of Second St. East.

 For more information on how you can be involved - click here!

June Group Giveaway!

If you are a blogger/shop owner you are going to love today's giveaway!  The June group giveaway is for ad space!  Here is what is up for grabs:

Blog || Twitter

Blog || Twitter || Facebook

This giveaway is open worldwide and will run from now until June 29, 2012 at 12:01am EST.  Entries accepted through the rafflecopter widget below!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Neon

 

Dress - Old Navy || Belt - Old Navy (similar) || Shoes - Marc Fisher (similar) || Necklace - Silver Daisy* || Watch - Fossil (similar) || Bracelet - gift from Hubby

Neon colours are something that I haven't seen since I was in elementary/middle school and I never thought I would wear those colours again.  Yet, this season I find myself falling in love with neon shades all over again.  When I found this dress at our local Old Navy for $10.70 I knew I had to add it to my closet.  Not only is it a great colour, it is super comfortable and the price was right!  It was on clearance for $17.99 and there was an extra 30% off clearance and then I had a coupon for another 15% off, making it $10.70.

Those of you who follow me on twitter may remember me tweeting that I was implementing a spending budget of $30/month for myself until October.  This trip to Old Navy I spent my budget and was able to get 4 items for $30.  I got the dress, a t-shirt and 2 baby outfits; one for my little girl and one as a present for a friend.  Now I just have to wait until July so I can shop again!  Have you ever put yourself on a shopping budget? 

* Items purchased locally - Silver Daisy Designs (necklace)

Baby Brights

This season is all about bright and bold colours. When I found this dress back in April at our local Winners, I knew it was going to be perfect for Adele this summer.  Sundresses are quickly becoming my favorite thing to dress her in because they make diaper changes so easy!  This dress is made by Penelope Mack, they make cute clothes for baby and toddlers!  You can check out their webiste here.

Dress - Penelope Mack || Headband - Gift from Nana

Perfecting her blogger pose :)

The IT List!

• Sweetie Pie Style shows us that black and blue really do go together! Such a cute look for date night! (find Sweetie Pie Style on Twitter!)
• A Fashion Fixation looks positively radiant in her day-glow hues! Head over to find out her tip for seamlessly adding this look into your wardrobe! (find A Fashion Fixation on Twitter!)
• Urban Frill has found a summer layering piece to replace the jean jacket! Pop over to see what warm weather essential she is sporting!
• Sandy a la Mode looks adorable in her floppy summer hat! It is the perfect accessory to elevate any look! (find Sandy a la Mode on Twitter!)
• The Fashionable ESQ is breaking the bank with her current wish list! It's good for a girl to dream every once in a while, right?! (find The Fashionable ESQ on Twitter!)
• Seize the Styles is making a statement in her fun pencil skirt! Check out her tips for styling this bold choice! (find Seize the Styles on Twitter!)
• Northern Style Exposure plays with brights in her whimsical sequin top! Paired with neutral accessories, it makes for an exciting every day look! (find Northern Style Exposure on Twitter!)
• Miss Top Ten Image is channeling her favorite 50s movie stars and showing us her throwback style! So cute! (find Miss Top Ten Image on Twitter!)
• Here & Now has a new favorite activity - cruising on her cute bike! Her outfit even matches it! So fun! (find Here & Now on Twitter!)
• Diva in Me is sharing a little bit of her daily work life with us. Pop over to see her new clothing shop! Swoon! (find Diva in Me on Twitter!)
• Olive and an Arrow is rockin' the Texas Tuxedo! Paired with a bit of leopard and you have a sassy outfit ready for just about anything! (find Olive and an Arrow on Twitter!)
• Melificent is keeping her mood in check by wearing bright stripes! Don't forget to check out her shoes - they are killer! (find Melificent on Twitter!
• Sigh...Gush...Gasp dresses up her jeans and blazer with a few colorful accessories! It's all in the details! (find Sigh...Gush...Gasp on Twitter!)
• Second Street East shares her favorite vacay outfit with us! Cute, comfortable and easy going is the name of the game! (find Second Street East on Twitter!)

the IT list is brought to you weekly by Jill of Good Life and edited by Michelle of Second St. East.

 For more information on how you can be involved - click here!

Sponsor Spotlight

Today I would like you to meet my lovely sponsors for the month of June - Brittany of Three Years Down and Laurel of Girl Meets World!  Read on to learn more about these lovely ladies!

Blog || Twitter

My blog is a place where I discuss life, love, faith and adjusting to life in a small town after growing up in the city. I feel like I'm always going on an adventure these days!

Pool or beach?   Beach for sure. I still won't go in the water very often, but nothing beats the sun and the sand!

Popsicles or ice cream?  I would normally chose ice cream, but I had some otter pops last weekend that were SO good, so now I think it's a tie.

Shorts or sundress?  I would wear a dress every day of my life if I could (and wouldn't FREEZE in Small Town)

Blog || Twitter || Pinterest || Facebook

Hi! I am Laurel and I blog over at Girl Meets World! My life is all about meeting the world head on and taking things one day at a time! I blog about all my adventures along the way! Coffee addict and total bookworm I love all things vintage and pretty! I hope you'll join me on this crazy ride called life! Pool or Beach? DEFINITELY the beach - though I DO enjoy a good pool where I can see what is beneath me.
Popsicles or ice cream? I def prefer popsicles
Shorts or sundress? I  LOVE a great sundress!!!


Want to become a sponsor on Sigh...Gush...Gasp?  Watch for passionfruit ads to be set up for July 1st!

Downpour

Blazer - H&M (similar) || Tank - Old Navy (similar) || Necklace - Twillypop (won in giveaway) || Shoes - Guess (similar) *|| Jeans - !iT Jeans * || Ring - Silver Daisy Designs || Watch - Fossil (similar)

The day these photos were taken it couldn't have been raining any harder.  I took a trip up to UNBSJ to see Leigh - Ellen and deliver her Twillypop bracelet to her.  We had planned to take photos outside but the rain certainly put a stop to that.  I did however, get a nice little tour of our university campus by Leigh - Ellen, as I had never been up there before.  We had a lot of fun taking these pictures and I think Adele did too.  Thanks again to Leigh - Ellen for taking my photos!

* Items purchased locally - Ring (Silver Daisy Designs), Shoes (Manchester Shoe Salon)

Saturday Swapper Spotlight!

This week we get to meet Miranda of All Things Lovely.  She really does live up to her blog name and is a lovely girl!  Be sure to stop by her blog and check it out!  Now lets get to know a little bit more about her:

1.  Tell us about your blog.

Hello Lovelies! I'm Miranda and I blog over at All Things Lovely. I'm a 20-something, Fashion Merchandising student on the cusp of graduating! You can find a little bit of everything girly at my blog such as style tips, DIY crafts, and how to be a baller on a budget!

2.  What is your favorite trend right now?

Colored Skinnies!! I need them in every color, right meow. ;)

3.  What is one trend that you wish would go away and never come back.

Super skin-tight dresses or skirts...you know, the kind that girls wear to bars? But only because I can't pull it off and secretly want to!

4.  Who is your fashion icon?

It's a tough pick. For classic looks, Audrey Hepburn but for more modern-day yet still classy looks, Lauren Conrad!

5.  In your opinion, what is the one essential piece that each woman should have in her closet?

A pair of good-fitting pants! Whether it's skinnies, jeans or jeggings/leggings, you should have a go-to pair of paints that you can throw any top on and run out the door!

6.  Tell us one fun/interesting fact about yourself!

When I was in third grade I was already pushing 5ft 2 and already had size 9.5 shoes. I was one of the fastest swimmers on the swim-team, probably because I had flippers as feet!

Be sure to stop by Miranda's blog and check out some of the other swappers in my sidebar!  Have a fabulous weekend!

Shoes of the week & Undercover Mama Giveaway Winner!

This season I have been on the hunt for a pair of nude heels.  All of the ones that I have found have either had too high of a heel for walking with the baby or been out of my price range (mat leave pay doesn't allow for as much shopping).  When I stumbled upon these beauties on modcloth I was super excited!  Not only are they the perfect colour but a great price at $34.99!  Unfortunately they are out of my size or these beauties would have been added to my closet!  What shoes are you on the hunt for right now?

Image Source

Also thanks to everyone for entering the undercover mama giveaway!  I am so excited for this lucky lady to get one!  I hope you love yours as much as I love mine!  The winner is....

Michelle Lang Standring

Congratulations Michelle! I will be in touch soon about your prize!  (Be sure to respond in 48 hours or I will have to choose another winner.)



Secret Blogger Swap!

In May I participated in the secret blogger swap that Danielle hosted over at Framed Frosting.  It is a super fun way to get to know another blogger and send them a little gift.  I certainly had fun getting to know Jayme and Mendi over at Her Late Night cravings.  I had tons of fun reading their blog and watching their you tube videos, seriously if you haven't checked them out you need to!  They are now one of my daily blog reads!

Yesterday, my package arrived from the lovely Nicole!  I see she is starting a new blog so once I know the address I will update it here.  But she sure took the time to read my blog and get to know me!  Here is the pretty card that she wrote a little note in.

Here is the beautiful insides of the box before I opened it.

Here are the lovely contents!  She got me lots of candy; I love werther's originals and gummy bears, 2 of my favorite candies!  A mug, perfect to go with the Starbucks Zen tea she got me, (which is my favorite green tea they carry!) and a beautiful pearl necklace that I can't wait to wear and I played around with it and I can wear it as a bracelet too!  Immediately after I was done taking pictures I went and made a lovely cup of tea and enjoyed it in my new mug!  Thanks Nicole for all the wonderful goodies, I really love my package!

Thanks to Danielle of Framed Frosting for hosting, I can't wait until the next one!  Missed out on the blogger swap but want to be in on the next one?  Sign up here to receive an e-mail about it!

Fields of Sunflowers Dress

Dress - c/o Sugarlips || Belt - Old Navy || Shoes - Michael Kors || Bracelets - Silver Daisy (similar) and gift from hubby || Earrings - Brooklyn Thread || Watch - Fossil (similar) || Ring - Dominican Republic

This yellow fields of sunflowers dress from Sugarlips is so much fun and great for colour blocking!  It certainly reminds me of sunflowers!  I wore this dress on Friday and even though it was a bit overcast it helped brighten my day!  I love cotton dresses in the summer time, they are so easy to wear and this one is very comfortable.  I really like the wide straps on it as well, so you don't have to worry about your bra showing.  I also like the detailing at the sweetheart neckline, something you don't tend to see in cotton dresses.

Thanks to my Mom and Dad for letting me use their beach/deck for the backdrop for these photos.  I was down visiting them for a couple of days while I had my year end dance recitals.  Friday was our dress rehersal and Saturday we had 2 shows.  This dress was great to wear out after dress rehersal when we went out to dinner!

Undercover Mama: A Review & Giveaway

Blazer - H&M || Tank - c/o Undercover Mama || Necklace - Je Suis Prest * || Jeans - Old Navy (similar) || Shoes - Naturalizer (similar) || Clutch - Manchester Shoe Salon* || Watch - Fossil (similar) || Bracelet - gift from hubby

Undercover Mama is a nursing tank designed by President and Founder Elisa.  After the birth of her 4th child she wanted to be able to wear her regular clothes while nursing and not have to go buy a whole new wardrobe, so she designed the undercover mama tank.  These tanks can turn any top into a nursing top.  How they work is you can either attach it to the flap of a top opening nursing bra or you can attach it directly to the strap (see close up photo above)!  I love my undercover mama tanks (yes I said tanks, I now have 3 of them!), they make nursing so easy and cover your stomach and back so you are not exposing that area when you nurse.  They are very well made and have gone through many washes at my house and have not lost their shape.  The material is very comfy and they look like a regular tank.  People cannot tell that they aren't a regular tank top which to me is the best part!  They had a sale for mother's day and I was sure to take advantage of it to buy a top for me and one for my friend who is expecting.  At $24.99 each, they are very reasonable and worth every penny.  I can even see myself wearing my undercover mama tanks long after I am done nursing.  If you are looking for something to help you transition your wardrobe for nursing, I would recommend giving these a try!

Now for the exciting news....

Undercover Mama is offering one of my lucky readers their choice of either a white or black tank! (lace trim tanks not included).  Giveaway is only open to residents of Canada and the US and entries are only accepted through the rafflecopter widget below.  Once the winner is chosen they will have 48 hours to respond.  Giveaway runs from now until June 8, 2012 at 12:01am.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Note: I was not compensated for this review other than to receive a white undercover mama tank.



* Items purchased locally - Je Suis Prest (necklace), Manchester Shoe Salon (clutch)