Details Details - 4th of july family style Friday, June 28

4th of july family style

Attending any 4th parties or cookouts this weekend? We have a few festivities that will require a bit of thought pulling us all together. With several kids in the mix, it's just as easy to throw on all the same shirt or dress but I like the challenge of creating a fun mix of color, pattern and diversity! A celebration of holiday without being so predictably "The 4th." I love mixing stripes with the star detail and incorporating salmon with the red to soften it up a bit.    

If your hosting a party at your place this week you may want to consider making these or this. And if there will be a slue of kiddos, may I suggest playing some of these games to keep the littles busy. 

Even the smallest of details add just the right touches and make everyone feel special. Here are some great ideas for decorating an outdoor space to enjoy. 

wedding.com 



Maternity Style Guide Wednesday, June 26

Maternity Style Guide


Being a stylist allows me to work with such a wide variety of people and I have to say moms are at the top of my list! So much has changed in maternity fashion from when I started having babies 11 years ago. I still have a horrid photo of me 20 weeks pregnant with floral cropped pants and a white oversized blouse that was so unflattering!!!! Thankfully with moms like Heidi Klum we have jumped leaps and bounds and are now trend setting while pregnant!  Check out this fab video with Heidi talking all about maternity fashion!





















Photography is another forever way to capture the beauty of pregnancy. Gone are the days of stuffy posed portraits, we are now focusing on more lifestyle imaging. Capturing beautiful silhouettes in a romantic and whimsy feel turns out simply stunning. I absolutely love designing statement accessories to enhance and accentuate beautiful bumps.  Being commissioned to creatively direct the overall feel and look of the shoot from posing to concept, wardrobe styling and a custom accessory is what creates a one of a kind experience. In a recent maternity shoot with Paige, I chose this black maxi dress, which picked up the lighting so beautifully. We also used a light blue fabric to wrap her into a grecian inspired dress. I then designed the flower crown below using lavender and taupe flowers with dipped gold accents. I have seen a test shot and it is seriously amazing! Can't wait to show you all of them.

photo credit: Jeff Anderson Photography
styling: Ahndea May




Spanx it up! The right shapes... with no bumps! Tuesday, June 25

How to wear your spanx!
I have to admit, embracing spanx was not something I was thrilled about.  See in my younger days my lower stomach was one of my best assets, and FLAT! As each child came along so did some extra skin and a few bumps I was not used to seeing. When hunting for "undergarments" it's easy to get lost in a sea of nude stretchy things that reminded me of grandmas slips. My first experience was at my sisters wedding which I literally called the "sausage" as I squirmed my way into this casing like tube shaped material that was nearly impossible to get in and when I did, I could barley breath. But.... I have to say, I felt tighter, taller, sucked in, tucked in and constantly reminded that if you let go of your breath, even for a second,  you might just explode!

So today a lesson in spanx. If you get it right, you will be so happy you did. There are so many options and variations, you almost need a manual to understand what they all do.

1 - The basic leotard type with a skinny strap and thong back. This style is perfect for your fitted tank tops, or if your going to wear a shirt tucked into a pant or skirt.  You would still wear a strapless bra with this to give the support and shape in your top.

2. The tried and true basic tank holds you in while providing smooth lines, hiding the dreaded back fat and bra indents. I love this one because the straps are thicker allowing you to still wear your favorite bra.

3. High waist control top with legs. This option is great for long dresses, a fitted maxi or gown. The legs go down to avoid any lines on the thigh and the waist is high to suck in your tummy. You can wear your bra  and for extra support add a tank top over the bottoms.

4. High waisted shorts. This style is great for your a-line dresses, fuller skirts, cute sun dresses and structured shapes with texture.

5. Strapless body shaper. This little number gives a perfect silhouette for a lovely strapless dress or top and skirt. 

Follow My Blog With Bloglovin Sunday, June 23



It has not been on my radar at all that google reader is going away and I had no other plan for keeping up with the blogs I love! In fact, I honestly don't look at many blogs mainly because it's not in front of me, I am in go mode most of the time so my typical click through would be from twitter or facebook. But that has all changed thanks to this informative post by my friend Trina over at LaLa Lovely Blog.

Bloglovin is an amazing way to keep up with blogs in a visually enchanting way. As well as a perfect outlet to manage your own blog.  I need all the advice I can get, working smarter usually equates to less time and better results. I played around for a bit last night and fell in love with the slight ocd/organization Bloglovin let's you have. Creating categories for each kind of blog, allowing you to organize within each category, i.e. style, food, design, beauty etc. They even have an iphone app which is just as visually fantastic shared by The Blonde Salad .  Also, once you claim your blog there are several tips to helping you optimize your following.

1. Claim your blog and publish a post letting your followers know how to join in. Then share your link...  Follow my blog with Bloglovin

2. Add a follow button to your blog

3. Also make it easy for readers to follow by placing the button at the bottom of each post

4. Connect your bloglovin to Facebook for automatic updates

5. Announce it! Follow My Blog


what's in your beach bag this summer? Tuesday, June 18

What's in your beach bag!


Headed off for a quick get away with the hubby, well he is working and I am "getting away!" What are your essentials for relaxing poolside? When packing think easy and basics. Love the denim dress with flats for travel day. Add the sunhat or wedges and statement necklace and you are off to lunch. Always pack a wrinkle free maxi! It's your go to swimsuit cover as well as cocktails and dinner.  Reading material is essential and for this trip, I brought a few magazines, but also a few introspective books, more on that later. I am hoping to rest, like really sleep, enjoy some alone time and pay some attention to my soul! Of course no bag is complete without a little dark chocolate, sunscreen and beach waves spray! Any must have's I should know about?


Urban Loft Wedding Shoot - Style Me Pretty Feature Friday, June 14


I can finally talk about this magical Urban Loft photo shoot with wedding and event planner Lauren Wave  and photographer Mandy Blair . I remember getting the email asking if I would design some accessories to go with an upcoming shoot and of course I was thrilled and said yes yes! The excitement for me is understanding the vision and then creating pieces to help make the vision come to life. I bring along my "bag of tricks" or my accessories and then set up shop styling and accessorizing the models, in this case it was the beautiful Jared and Ciara Cacciatore. Then, I coordinated with hair and make-up stylist Rachel VanGilder to execute the details cohesively, hoping in the end something fantastic occurs. And I think it did... Style Me Pretty agrees!


With each scene we are creating a different moment. Capturing a feeling expressed through photography. I hand painted this leaf hot pink to offset the purple and green flowers and accenting the beautiful bouquet carried by the bride. The first scene... "The Meeting" the groom anxiously awaiting his bride. 



I designed a hot pink tool bow to create a bit of something fun but not too much to distract from what Mandy wanted to capture... as you can see! Next, they adorably flirt as they stand on this beautiful runner and capture their "I do's." I designed the ankle feathers to add a special detail to her neutral shoe and dip dyed tool skirt.


Next the fun begins... moving to "The Reception"... where Lauren truly nailed the romantic yet vibrant style with her set design. I added a large flower with glitter dipped feathers adorning the petals, creating a lighter whimsy feel. The tie he is wearing is a part of the HeirBloom vintage collection .


After the reception... the hair came down, we moved outdoors, using Mandy's spectacular sequence backdrop and the scene changed again, "The After Party!" For this, I added a black and white check bow tie to the groom, some suspenders and gave his jacket to his new bride!


And what wedding day is complete without an amazing cake, which was custom designed by The Sweetery and adorned with a handmade HeirBloom flower.  The small details is what makes this not so ordinary cake table a stand out, like the adorable arrow print by Lindsay Letters  and cranberry dresser.



Neon Yellow Wednesday, June 12

Neon Yellow


How to add a bright neon can be tricky. Not going overboard, keeping it clean and modern or a bold print seems to be working with the celebs! I like all 3 of these picks this week. A perfectly fitted dress, tailored with the black blazer and a nude shoe is definitely classy. I love the styling with the long geometric jacket, a paisley pant and then a surprise statement shoe. Even the black bag is unexpected but works. And then that bold patterned skirt, which seems like a lot but I love it with the hot pink top! And the hat! What's your pick?

For detailed style board and where to buy these looks, click the link below to my polyvore.