Organizing Your Jewelry

This post is inspired by one of my very best friends, Kasey.

We both have a ton of great jewelry, but haven't found a great way to organize it.

I keep my jewelry in two jewelry boxes, but there is nothing organized about it! My necklaces get tangled, the drawers topple over all the time scattering earrings everywhere....it's a disaster.

To make it worse, these jewelry boxes are inconveniently located in my closet with clothes hanging down in front of them making it very difficult to see what is in them.

Most of the time I am rushing out the door as I put my jewelry on. Instead of picking out jewelry that would accessorize and compliment my outfit I just through on "the usual" because it is on my dresser and walk (rather run) out the door.

I racked my brain and here is what I cam up with. It will only take 3 dollars and an empty drawer.

::I like cheap!::

I went to Wal-Mart and purchased one of the organization boxes, slid it in my drawer and put all my favorite jewelry in there. It is wonderful and I actually wear more of my jewelry now. It doesn't have all my jewelry in it but it has the pieces that I  like the most.

Down Under

Exactly one year ago today I landed in the land down under, Australia, for what was the most INCREDIBLE vacation I have ever experienced. I can't help but think back on those incredible ten days and marvel at what God allowed me to experience. He is so good!

So the plane ride was well, LONG. The first five hour flight from DC to Cali was was nothing compared to the 14 hour flight from Cali to Sydney.

But it was well worth it when we arrived, at 6 am, to what I am convinced could quit possibly be the most beautiful city on the planet.

And...I got my first stamp in my Passport

::Good thing you cannot see the picture in my Passport...YIKES::

We spent our first morning there in the beautiful Darling Harbor and ate breakfast gazing at these sights....

Not too bad huh?

My main reason for going to Sydney was to attend the women's Colour Conference at the world renowned Hillsong Church.

It was such a blessing to be able to attend this conference with my momma.

It is a memory I will NEVER forget!

God continued to blow my socks off when we got to sit in the fourth row! 

::This is a conference of 3,000-4,000 women!!::

After the conference we got to go sightseeing. We went to the Blue Mountains...

...all sorts of different beaches, including the famous Bondi beach, 

 ...and even to this amazing lookout point where we watched the sun set on Sydney.

::Breath Taking::

While I was there I also got to attend some classes at Hillsong Leadership College, talk about favor, and I meant some incredible girls.These girls are for sure world changers!!!

This vacation truly was life changing for me and an opportunity that God, and my amazingly generous parents, blessed me tremendously with.

Sunday Seven

Pinned here

Buffalo Chicken Garbage Bread

This looks incredible to me

pinned here

So pretty and cheap to make

::I love cheap::

pinned here

Put vinegar in a dishwasher safe container on the top 

rack of your dishwasher, run it on the hot cycle and watch it release the gunk 

from in you dishwasher!

pinned here

How to pack for 10 days of clothes in carry-on.

With summer vacations coming up, this post and the next

are perfect.

pinned here

pinned here

How to clean microfiber furniture

pinned here

PREC

 

Shopping Tip #6

First, happy Saturday and HAPPY SAINT PATRICKS DAY!

Now, shopping tip #6:

Know your GO-TO stores

When you are going shopping to shop and not just peruse, know what stores you love, are in your price range, and you can almost bank on always having something you will love.  For me those stores are Kohl’s, H&M, Target, Forever 21, and New York & Co.  When I walk into these stores I know that they are in my price range, what size I wear there, and that I am guaranteed to find at least one item I love. Unfortunately I normally find waaaaaay more than just one thing I love. But, better yet Kohls and New York & Co. literally ALWAYS have ah-mazing sales.

After you have established your go-to stores, sign up for their mailing lists. You will often get coupons through e-mail or postal mail on a frequent basis and you can plan your next shopping excursion accordingly.

I hope you all have enjoyed my shopping tips this week. Let me know if you have other questions or comments!!

Have a great weekend lovelies :)

Shopping Tip #5

Invest more money into your "staple" items

If you are like me you have a closet full of sale and clearance clothes. Truth is, I have a hard time buying things that that are on the pricier side, even when I'm in love with something. My rule for spending a little more on a piece of clothing, a pair of shoes, or an accessory is to evaluate how much I will use it. For example I have a pair of heels from the Simply Vera Wang Kohl’s collection. I am a shoe lover and these were calling my name! They were much more than I would normally pay for a pair of heels but I justified it by saying they were black and I would wear them all the time. Well, I do! They are my go-to shoe and well worth EVERY penny.

When shopping for clothes, shoes, and accessories think if this is something you will wear or use a lot. Below are some items that you use all the time and it is worth it to get the quality items because you will probably put some serious wear and tear on/in them.

©       Cardigans

©       Black Heels

©       A neutral color flat

©       Structured jacket

©       A purse you can use all season (you do carry it every day)

©       Jeans

©       A go-to dress for weddings, holiday parties, etc

©       Coats

©       A great watch and pair of earrings that can easily be paired with almost any outfit

©       A fabulous pair of boots

Shopping Tip 4

 Dress your body

So you don’t have the perfect body, who cares neither do I;  just be sure you dress for the one you do have. And give yourself a break when you walk into the dressing room and the outfit that you saw on the manikin or on your girlfriend doesn’t quit fit right on you. Remember you are dressing for your body type not theirs. And I know your excuse to not buy any clothes right now, you want to loose some weight first right? But listen there are very few women that wouldn’t like to lose a few pounds, but dress the body you have NOW not the body you want to have. You will be more apt to lose the weight if you actually like your body somewhat.

::But enough on that back to my shopping tip::

Even though something is “in” right now doesn’t mean you have to wear it despite the fact that it doesn’t look good on you and you feel horrible in it. When you get dressed in the morning it should make you feel good about yourself. You should feel confident. The more you start understanding what looks good on you the more you will enjoy shopping, because you won’t force yourself to try on the things that don’t flatter your body style.

Now, I definitely do not claim to know it all, but here are a few rules I do know in dressing your body…

©       Accentuate the smallest part of you. For many women this is their waist. Look for tops that draw attention to this area with a belt, or some type of embellishment. Empire tops are great for this.

©       V-Necks are great for women with a shorter torso because it gives the illusion of elongation. They are also great if you have wider shoulders to draw the eye in.

©       If you have those good “child bearing hips” you will look better in a pair of pants that goes straight down, like a wide leg or trouser pant, rather than bootcut or straight leg pant.

©       If you have a straighter figure go with dresses and tops that have structure. Jackets are a great way to give you the illusion of an hourglass shape. Another great way to do this is to belt your shirt, cardigan, etc.

©       Whenever you can, avoid horizontal strips, they add girth ::who wants that!:: If you like strips try vertical ones. A vertical pin strip on your dress pants can create an elongated leg.

©       If you have a small bust, look for tops with ruching to add some volume.

Shopping Tip #3

Know What Colors Look Good on You

There are just some colors I know I can’t wear, which normally isn’t a problem since I naturally gravitate to blacks, greys, browns, and any other neutral colors. But, I am aware that I need to add a little more color into my wardrobe.  The key to color is knowing what looks good with your skin tone, eye color, and hair color. The best and easiest way for you to do this is to hold the color up to your face as you are looking into the mirror. You can watch the way your skin tone, eyes, and hair color reflect the new color.

Or you can decide which season you are:

Winter:

Hair Color: dark shades

Eye Color: Brown, Hazel or Dark Blue, Grey, or Green

Skin: Cool Blue undertones

Spring:

Hair Color: Your natural color ::if you can remember:: is a strawberry blonde to reddish brown, or flaxen

Eye Color: Blue, Aqua, or Golden Brown

Skin: Warm Yellow undertones

Summer:

Hair Color: Ash Blonde

Eye Color: Blue eyes are the most common but may also be Green, Grey, Hazel or Brown

Skin: Rosy coloring with Blue undertones (you burn easily)

Autumn:

Hair Color: Blonde to Dark Reddish Brown with Red highlights or tint

Eye Color: Usually brown but sometimes Hazel, Green, or Blue-Green

Skin: Dark skin tones, with Golden Undertones

 

Here's the simple break down: If you have lighter hair you are Spring or Summer

 (Summer = brighter eyes, mostly Blue, Spring = Most Red heads and Green and Brown eyes)

If you have darker hair you are Autumn or Winter 

(Winter: Blue and Green Eyes, Autumn: usually Brown eyes)