Dawned On Me

August 7, 2018 / Fashion, Uncategorized

Ageless Style Link Up – It’s A Whiteout!

Happy First Tuesday of August Beauties!

I’m so delighted to be the guest host of this month’s Ageless Style Link Up! When my sweet friend, Paula of the beautiful blog, Dimplesonmywhat asked me to join this group of lovely ladies for the month of August I was thrilled!

I was even more excited when Paula told me the theme was: Summer Whiteout! Lately I’ve been living in a world of white! From my fashion taste to my decorating choices – white is where it’s at!

I’m not the only one loving white! Down below, please join me in checking out the posts from all the talented blogger women of Ageless Style and reading about their take on wearing white this summer! Here’s mine:

It didn’t take me long to find the perfect white dress for this post!

It’s actually kind of funny to think back when I was a little girl and my poor mother could NOT get me into a dress for anything! I apologize for being so difficult mom! LOL! I was more of a jeans and overall type of kid. I got home from school and put on my trusty pair of faded bibs that were oh, so comfy! I wore them so much they could probably walk on their own…NO kidding!

With that said, this dress could not be more girly or feminine and now it’s so me! Crazy how we can change.

I thought this little white number would “pop” among the rolling fields of purple that are nearly in my own backyard!

We have a gem of a lavender farm (Lavender Hill Farm) only about 10 minutes from my house in Southwest Michigan. Each year, we make a point to go cut a big bunch of lavender and take in the amazing aroma that fill these fields.

I think perhaps my obsession with white clothes in part, comes from that old saying that you always want what you can’t have. I’m a former television newscaster. In the TV world, wearing white was NOT an option. It made the cameras go wonky! If I ever wore a white blazer, I’d hear about it! Our wardrobes were provided so it was easy to just blame the retailer for sending a white piece of clothing. Ha ha. So, in those days, I was drawn to bright and bold colors that played well on tv. Problem was…it wasn’t always easy finding jackets that were in deep pretty hues like cobalt blue or a fuschia pink. I learned there were an awful lot of boring, black blazers out there!

So, because I’m free to wear what I want now, bring on white! I am sure many wonder why I’m gaga over a color that is well, lacking in color. Some might say: Boring!!! Not the case at all. I’d say that beige is dreadfully boring. Beige dresses and beige walls. But NOT white! There is SO much to style with white! The possibilities are endless really! Anything goes with white making it hard to go wrong.

White to me, is crisp and clean. It’s fresh and it’s youthful.

I love the guazy cotton, and flowy fit of this dress. The daisy eyelet detail screams summer. It’s a great dress for an island vacation or a poolside party.

All summer long I also wear white on my nails and my toes. (I do my own and and have linked my favorite white polish and no light needed gel coat – it’s that good)

If you’re no sure about white…give it a try. Add a colorful scarf, or some animal print shoes!

And one more thing: Labor day is approaching. You know the whole “don’t wear white after Labor Day” stuff…well, I say bunk to that! White is always right!

Ok, below are more posts by the Ageless Style bloggers. Make sure to check everyone out for their take on styling white.

Thanks for joining our Ageless Style Link Up. Make sure to add your blog to the link up below.

Daenel ~ Living Outside the Stacks blog, instagram, pinterest, twitter

Debbie ~ Fashion Fairy Dust bloglovin, blog, instagram, pinterest, facebook, twitter

Jennie ~ A Pocketful of Polka Dots blog, instagram, facebook, pinterest, twitter, bloglovin

Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style blog, facebook, instagram, pinterest, bloglovin, twitter

Jonet ~ Fabulously Chic Over 50 blog, facebook, , instagram, pinterest, twitter

Kellyann ~ This Blonde’s Shopping Bag blog, instagram, bloglovin, twitter

Lisa ~ Coast to Coast blog, facebook, instagram, twitter, pinterest

Paula ~ Dimples on my What blog, facebook, pinterest, instagram, twitter

Shelly ~ The Queen in Between blog, instagram, bloglovin, pinterest, facebook

This Party Has a Few Guidelines:

Have fun and make some new friends! Please visit at least 2 other links.

Please link to your acutal post and not your blog’s homepage.

Please link back to the Ageless Style Link UP in your Linked post

Feel free to use #agelessstylebloggers in all your soical media posts

Please follow each of your hosts on at least one social media channel via the links above

An InLinkz Link-up

August 4, 2018 / Fashion, Uncategorized

Pulling Off Animal Prints + My New Favorite Sweatshirt!

Happy first weekend of August! Holy Cow! How could it possibly be August right? I’m secretly looking forward to fall..and the cooler weather. We got a taste of it early last week and it felt sooo good! I was even able to wear this new animal print sweatshirt all day when we went on a day trip to Shipshewana, Indiana. It’s a charming little Amish community. The flowers were awe-inspiring! Everywhere you looked there were petunias flourishing! The landscape is impeccably maintained and it’s always a treat to spend the day there. Two days a week they hold a massive flea-market but it was not opened when we were there this year.

On to this look. Pulling off animal prints is pretty simple but if done wrong – can be a real train wreck. Done correctly, it adds a hefty dose of personality to anyone’s look. Remember, just like habanero peppers, a little goes a LONG way! So if you want to take a walk on the wild side, keep it to a minimum. A top is perfect paired with some solid pants or denim. This cheetah print sweatshirt is THE softest, comfiest top Ever! (It runs HUGE, I’m wearing an XS and it is still oversized!) I decided to just throw it on over some ripped jeans and my new suede sandals I got from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. (They are still available and on sale through Sunday 8/5)

Animal print can get hairy (ha ha!) if it’s on a full skirt or even a dress. Too much leopard or cheetah will make anyone want to pull the cringe curtain really tight! It’s just simply too overwhelming on an stature. So make sure to find something (preferably solid) to break up all that continuous print.

Lastly, you’ll be seeing a ton of animal print on footwear for fall. Don’t attempt to match animal print with more animal print. If you’re wearing print shoes, (I love these loafers here and these booties here on sale) aim for your footwear to be the only print you have going on. Don’t try to bring in a leopard print bag for example. Choosing just one piece packs a powerful punch and is all you need to make a bold statement that will make anyone purr.

I’ve linked this look and some of my favorite animal print pieces down below. Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

July 31, 2018 / Fashion, Uncategorized

Colorful Tweed Jacket still on sale from the Nordstrom Anniversary sale + my new favorite accessories!

I’ve been absolutely loving the cooler temperatures we’ve had this week! I know some parts of the country are still SO hot but I welcome the comfortable temps so that I can take some of my great finds from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale for a test ride! This Tweed Fringe Jacket sold out in a flash. There are still sizes popping back into stock. I have a strong hunch this jacket will eventually be full stocked for fall and is totally worth a spot in your closet! I also linked a few other tweed fringe jackets down below.

I’m not sure what makes this jacket more fun; the bold colors or all the layers of fringe detail! It goes great with so many other colors!

If we canalso talk about these sandals? I have worn them two days in a row since getting them. They are very comfortable and true to size. They will do a great job taking me into fall as well! Check them out!

In terms of accessories, these dark Sonix sunglasses are fully stocked and still on sale until August 6th. They also come in tortoise. They are lightweight and comfortable. Some glasses start hurting me behind the ear after a while. Not these.

Hope everyone’s week is going great. Thanks for stopping by. Please leave comments below. Happy to answer any questions. Have a great end of the week!

July 30, 2018 / Fashion

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Outfit – Still In Stock

I really can’t believe July is almost over!! This summer is flying by! If you’ve been reading my posts for any length of time, you know that I REALLY love cold weather fashion! Sweaters, boots, scarves, coats…. I know I know! You can stop gasping! LOL! I just love the layers, textures and um, not shaving my legs! Who’s with me? 🙂 I got several favorite cooler weather pieces from the Nordstrom Anniversary sale… so much sold out but there are some goodies still left. The sale is on until August 6th so there is another week to enjoy some really great prices!

This cardigan is one of my favorites from the sale. It’s lightweight and comes in a bunch of colors! The pockets are an added bonus. It’s light enough that you can easily start wearing it now and it will take you right into Fall weather.

One of my favorite looks is pairing these solid colored cardigans with a striped shirt. The one I’m wearing is from Target. It looks cute alone and even better against a pop of color.

Below, I have linked this look along with some of my other favorite Nordstrom Sale Items that are still available at the time of publication.

Other Favorites Still in Stock:

July 22, 2018 / Fashion

My Favorite In Stock Pieces From The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

So The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is open for public access and is in full swing. There were SO many great finds. But, problem this year was that Nordstrom seemed to really struggle with the technical side of things. Many orders were placed (including mine) and then cancelled days later after everything was sold out etc. I was really disappointed as I know many of you were as well. I talked to someone at Nordstrom who acknowledged how bad it was. With that, I still always appreciate how customer oriented they are. They always do their best to right the wrongs and to make their customers happy and I truly love shopping there because of it!

So with that said, I wanted to make my best effort to put together some of my favorite IN STOCK pieces from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. Keep in mind that things are ever changing with stock, but in general almost everything I am posting is available at the time I’m writing this. I just know as a consumer of other blogs that I find it frustrating to find looks that I really am drawn to, then to discover they are no longer available. So, while I own a bunch of pieces from the sale that I absolutely love, I decided not to post them here if you can no longer get them.

The pieces I put together below are so much fun! The cozy, fuzzy wuzzy wraps and sweaters are my go-to when the weather gets cold. I am in LOVE with the boiled wool waterfall collar coat in grey! The rugby takes me back to my college days. The bells sleeves on it are fun and really takes it to the next level! The cardigans I chose are a staple. They go with so much! The other big hits for me were shoes and boots ! I found so many GREAT ones to my dismay. lol! The platform sandals are so high that I said to myself: “no way” when I opened the box….turns out they are easy to walk in and really comfortable! Must be the platform. My friend twisted her ankle not long ago and is shying away from heels like this. Let me tell you these are worth twisting your ankle. LOL (kidding…of course) Watch, I’m going to end up at the orthopedic surgeon’s office now for saying that ! LOL! Also, in the comfy department is the pair of rose colored Nikes. They are like walking on air, still available and about $40 off the original price.

Prices will go back up on August 6th! Below each photo, you’ll find the links to every look! Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Wrap | Sandals |Michelle Watch | White Denim

Striped Rugby | Sandals | Sunglasses | Bootie | Winking Pillow

Twist Front Thermal | Metal Handle Bag | Booties | Denim

Cardigan | Platform Sandal | Metal Handle Bag | Striped Tee | Sunglasses

Fleece Pullover | Perforated Sandals | Cuff Bracelet | Necklace

Wrap Sweater | Nike Shoe | Sunglasses | Disc Earrings

Hooded Cardigan | Booties | Sunglasses | Ring Here and very similar Here

July 12, 2018 / Fashion

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: Top Picks and What’s Going Fast!

It’s the most wonderful time of year! LOL! Seriously friends! Nordstrom has nailed it! As my girlfriend said, they are marketing geniuses! For sure. The hype is real and in my honest opinion, worth all the chatter! I have seen a good share of bloggers who don’t share in the enthusiasm and I totally get it! If it’s not your thing, it’s not your thing. But I just love all the great deals ….especially on items that rarely go on sale!

So I set my alarm for 3am today! Bill said to me last night: “really?” ….I said, yup, really! On top of it, I usually am a great sleeper but with building our lake home and all the stuff going on around here, it’s not uncommon for me to wake up in the middle of the night and toss and turn! At least this morning, I had something to do with my restlessness. LOL!

FYI…On a side note, I have experienced a lot of technical difficulty placing orders today. I have a hunch the Nordstrom site is overwhelmed to say the least. I am in a few bloggers groups and everyone reported trouble so try and try again if you’re having trouble like I am.

Also, my best tip in shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (I’ve been doing it for years) is don’t give up if something you LOVE is sold out. I like to add it to my cart and save it, even if it’s the wrong size. Then, whenever I’m on my computer, I will just zip over to my cart and check if something popped back in stock. It almost never fails me and I usually end up getting what I wanted even though it was once sold out.

Ok, so without further ado, I’ve split up my picks and my sell-out prediction into 4 categories: Clothing, Footwear, Accessories, and Athleisure!

Happy Hunting!

Thanks for checking all this out! Let me know what your favorite picks are…and if you have any questions, please let me know – Happy to help!

Hakuna Matata!