fashion friday: just in case

We’ve all had this moment in our lives . . . that moment when we finally decide to clean out the closets on get rid of some things. Spring cleaning came early for me this year. I’m usually one to put off organizing until I just can’t bare it anymore, but for some odd reason unbeknownst to me, I felt the motivation.

While going through my hideous clothes from high school (yes, the hoarding was that bad), I kept telling myself “Oh, I will keep this just in case” and in some cases that was a smart idea. In others, I really needed to let go of that concert tee that would never fit me again or those jeans with lots of memories that I couldn’t fit a thigh in anymore. You know this has happened to you. Don’t lie!

I finally disciplined myself into only keeping things I “needed” and in this case they were classic pieces. A word to the wise, when it comes down to purging the closet, only keep items that are basic/classic in color and virtually timeless. For example, NEVER get ride of a little black dress or blazer. Those pieces will forever be trending and you will regret that decision to throw away later.

In the midst of my cleaning, I found this precious light rain coat in the picture above. It’s actually what I am wearing today and I am so happy I kept it. You know, it is truly amazing what you can find when you organize!!

One last thing, please please please don’t just throw away your clothes. DONATE! There are so many less fortunate people your age and even younger that would kill for those clothes. It’s a win-win situation for you both!!

P.S. — It might have taken me 2 whole days to go through my dressing room. Whoops!! Oh and feel free to follow me on Instagram @theprprincesss 😉

Good luck dolls & happy cleaning!

2013 was beyond good to me

I cannot believe that tomorrow starts 2014. Personally, I’ve always been a fan of the New Year hype. It’s a fresh start . . . a chance to set new goals & become a better you.

2013 was beyond good to me. I set three main goals when going into this year: 1) to be loved & love others, 2) to be successful and 3) to become a better me. For the first time ever, I am proud of where I am.

In 2013, I wanted to be loved and to love others. In the past, I hadn’t had the best of luck when it came to guys. I’ve dated all the crazies and selfish men you could think of, but I finally found my prince. He has been my best friend for over five years now and under my nose the entire time. Oh and the first guy my parents actually LOVE! I’ve never had someone truly love me, love my family and want to be involved in my dreams and aspirations. I could not be happier when it comes to this. With that, we moved in together, traveled here and there and got a precious puppy. Needless to say, life is good in the love department.

In 2013, I wanted to be successful. This meant graduating college with my B.A. in Public Relations, as well as, finding a job in my field. God sure did bless me this year. I graduated, landed a job in nonprofit PR a month later and also have had the most successful fundraising experience ever seen at my job. I went from a college student trying to pay the bills to a PR professional with my name in the paper. It still feels like a dream.

In 2013, I wanted to become a better me. After leaving a grocery store job I had been at for five years and landing a career, it was time to let go of the negativity around me, close doors and welcome new opportunities. I was given lots of support with all of my successes, but also much negativity when I started going places. Many so-called “friends” of mine were purely an illusion. I cut many ties with many people and now lead a very positive life. I am a better me because of it.

Overall, this past year has taught me what is important in life. It’s surely not how many friends I have or how much money I make, but instead it is what will further me and my dreams and the love of my family and close friends. Because of them, all of my goals were achieved in 2013.

I look forward to 2014. I want to travel, continue to work and dream my ass off and hopefully open a new chapter in my life. I thank God for all of the opportunities he has put in front of me, as well as, all of the obstacles. I am me because of Him.

Happy New Year dolls! Let’s make 2014 our best yet!

fashion friday: finding the perfect sparkle for your body type

With 2014 right around the corner, that means every woman is in search of the perfect New Years Eve dress. Of course, this dress must include SPARKLES!! Sparkles are the ultimate go-to showstopper. But with that being said, that also means that certain areas of your body will be drawn attention to more than others. So, how do you know which area to bedazzle and which to keep basic? I think it’s best to approach this with taking into consideration your body type. If you’re a full-figured girl, you probably aren’t going to want to wear sequins from head to toe. Through my searching for the right NYE ensemble, I came up with a few tips for each of the five body types. This will not only ease your hunting, but also assist you in accentuating your hottest assets.

1) Apple – This is a woman with a chest and hips that are close to the same size, but your hips tend to be about six inches smaller than your chest. For this, I suggest your sparkle focus point be on the bottom half of your body. This will even out that small difference.

2) Pear – This body type is the exact opposite of the apple. With this, your hips are significantly wider than your shoulders which causes you to be curvy on your bottom half. There is nothing wrong with having hips ladies! Embrace it this NYE by purchasing a skirt has sparkle detail and pairing it with a basic top. This will not only draw attention to sexy curves, but also create the look of a smaller waist.

3) Rectangle – This is a woman where her shoulders, waist, bust and hips are around the same size. A woman with this body type can virtually get away with anything. Though, I do suggest creating the illusion of curves. In order to do this, you should buy a piece that will cinch the waistline. You can do this with a belt or peplum dress or top.

4) Inverted triangle – This body type is very similar to the apple shape, except instead of a subtle difference in your hips, they are significantly smaller than your shoulders. For women with this type, you absolutely do NOT want to put any focus on your shoulders. The last thing you want is to have the appearance of “man shoulders.” I would by a dress that flows outward on the bottom with sequin or glitter detail.

5) Hourglass – This is every woman’s dream. This woman embodies the perfect balance of bust and hips while having a small waist. Talk about having it made! I suggest picking a dress that is more form fitting to show off that awesome body. Work it girl!

Whether you are rectangle like me or fabulously hourglass, pick a sparkly dress right for your body and go into 2014 with a BANG! Good luck & happy hunting ladies!

I would like to extend a special thank you to my idol, Chelsea Krost, for featuring this post on her blog. To check it out, go to www.chelseakrost.com.

fashion friday: accessorizing your winter wardrobe

“Buy something because you love it, you need it, and you will use it” — Rachel Zoe

Not only do I completely adore Rachel Zoe, but I completely agree! I immediately think of accessories when I read this quote. Accessories come and go with trends. Too many things we “must have” end up being wasted because it wasn’t a good buy. Do you all remember the choker stage? Or what about scrunchies? Nowadays, you would be struck down if you were seen in public with those. I am a firm believer in buying accessories that are timeless. This winter, some of my favorite looks are trending once again!

These accessories consist of leg warmers, clutches, & GOLD GOLD GOLD!! Below are some tips in buying these items:

Leg warmers – Everyone looks presh in leg warmers. But to make them trend longer, buy classic colors like black, cream, or even a light sparkly pair.

Clutches –  Clutches are brilliant & almost always chic. When looking for a clutch, be realistic. If you carry everything in your room in your bag, pick something bigger. I also suggest picking leather clutches or one’s with a black and white color palette. This way, it will match with more!

GOLD –  I am a sucker for some rich gold pieces. I am especially a fan of a short gold chain look like below or even a nice statement ring. Gold, to me, makes any outfit look much better!

Lately, I have been obsessed with Courtney Kerr from Courtney Loves Dallas on BravoTV. She is the queen when it comes to accessorizing!! To find inspiration, visit www.thecourtneykerr.com. Her photo is above. 

Have fun with your style this winter! Here in Florida, it doesn’t last long.

work before friends

In college, friends seem to be the most important thing. When is the next social? She hooked up with who? In the real world, work comes before friends. Since making this transition in early July, it hasn’t been easy. There are many days I wish I could stay up late watching chick flicks with my best instead of going to bed at 10 o’clock. I’ve slowly transitioned from Social B to Busy B, but I’M OKAY WITH IT!

I never thought 6 months ago that I would say that, believe me. There comes a time when your priorities change and with that, so do some friends. I have gone through quite some change when it comes to who I consider friends.

“You have to choose your friends wisely. You can invest a lot in them and end up very hurt. Business is almost never a risk. If you work hard, you devote yourself, you’re going to get a positive reward.” – Lilly Ghalichi

This quote really stood out to me when watching my reality TV this week. (Yes, I am one of those people) This quote has evolved into my life. I’m no longer in college. The next social is my last concern. My close friends can be counted on one hand. When starting my full-time job, many so-called “friends” diminished from my life. I was told I thought I was better than them or you’re too busy. Truth is, yeah, I am busy . . . too busy for people who cannot be supportive. My attitude has changed and I continue to grow up every day and learn many hard lessons. In the end, I want to be successful and in order to do that I must work my tail off and one day I will see the result. True friends will understand that.

Currently, I am perfectly content with the people who have decided to go on this journey with me. I am ecstatic about my future, as well as, theirs. I write this to explain that whether you are drifting from a friend or fighting with another, true friends will always be revealed. Focus on work and get what you want out of life! Life is far too short to worry about people that don’t worry about you.

Special thanks to those people for sticking with me through thick & thin and always being supportive of my dreams. You know who you are!

fashion friday: must-have boots

Boots with heels. Leather boots. Boots with the furrrrrr. Whatever your fancy be, it is essential to have a pair a boots that speak volumes. There are so many options, but which is right for you and your wardrobe? And affordable for that matter?

Trending right now are ankle booties, boot wedges, and combat boots. I, personally, think everyone should have a pair of each kind. But, then again, I’m a shopaholic and will never have enough options. I decided to investigate to find my favorite of each trending type with a designer pair, as well as, an affordable pair. Let’s face it, not all of us can afford $10,000 Louboutins.

ANKLE BOOTIES 

Perfect for that night on the town paired with a cute dress. I find these good for the lady who doesn’t like too high of a heal. Plus, I love the western flare!

                

Alberto Fermani – $445           Mossimo Supply Co. – $35

BOOT WEDGES 

These are perfect for those girls that have a hard time walking in heeled boots. I love seeing these matched with jeans and a blazer!

                    

Elizabeth & James – $400                        Soda – $34

COMBAT BOOTS

These are by far my favorite trend right now! They add edge to any outfit and look especially good with distressed jeans and a t-shirt.

          

Alexander McQueen – $1,295        Steve Madden – $130

This day in age, it doesn’t take a million dollars to look fabulous! I suggest taking advantage of online deals and definitely look around before settling on one style. Happy Hunting dolls!

last minute meeting frenzy

Meetings can be stressful enough, but what if it was LAST MINUTE?! I’ve never personally had this happen to me, but I can only imagine. For this topic, I looked to my fellow PR tweeple. Yes, that’s slang for twitter people!

I gave each of them this scenario: “You have been told about a last-minute meeting, how do you prepare & what do you bring?”

@kayla_hollatz: Well, I like to bring many post it notes so I can jot down quick notes!

@BeckuhBeck: To prepare, I would look over any notes or work that is relevant to what we’ll be covering in the meeting. If I had time, I’d try to do a quick chat with anyone else involved. I would bring with me a notepad = pens or my laptop, so I can jot down important information.

@OliviaAdamsPR: I would first find out the purpose of the meeting and know the basics. I’d want to obtain the agenda, know the location, and find out who needs to attend. I’d also create a checklist to help organize my thoughts for the meeting. Checklists can help ensure all of the bases are covered and reduces panic. Finally, I’d make sure to breathe and keep a positive attitude. As long as you have composure and poise, any last minute meeting can run smoothly!

I think they pretty much summed it up for me! Whether it be a last minute project or meeting, keep calm, brainstorm and go prepared with lots of post-it notes & pens. Special thanks to my PR dolls for helping me out with this post. Folks, go ahead & click their name to follow them on Twitter. You won’t regret it!

happy thanksgiving

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” – Oprah Winfrey

Oprah said it perfectly. Today, I woke up on this beautiful & chilly day in my home, Pensacola, FL, with a lot to be thankful for. I have a roof over my head, shoes on my feet, family down the street & lots of food to eat! Life could not be better. 

I hope you & your loved ones have a happy & safe Thanksgiving. Please, don’t forget about those less fortunate during this holiday season. Since working in nonprofit PR, I have found that it is our job to lend a helping hand & make this world a better place. The smallest act can make the biggest difference. Believe that.

P.S. Now, what would a holiday be without a precious pug photo?! My obsession continues! Sorry, not sorry.

black friday fuss & feathers

‘Tis the season for your sweet tooth to engage in sugar overloads, family time, endless Christmas tunes and Black Friday adventures. It seems to be the topic of conversation these days . . . “Where are you going on Black Friday?” or “What deals have you found?” This day in age, if you don’t camp out the night before with your Thanksgiving dinner in hand, then you aren’t going to see any deals. According to CNN Money, individual shoppers shelled out on average $423 during the Black Friday weekend in 2012. Total spending over the four-day weekend reached a record $59.1 billion. That’s absolutely insane!

I don’t know about you, but I’m not about freezing my butt off to buy a toy or waiting in line to find deals for my family and friends. I turn to ONLINE SHOPPING, which by the way, I find to be one of the best gifts from God. You can not only take your time shopping, you can even do it in your PJs. Sounds like a winner to me!

Ditch the Black Friday fuss!! This holiday season I’m featuring one of my personal favorites on the gift-giving list this year, CoCoFeathers. A dear friend of mine, Corrie, crafts these beautiful handmade feather earrings and accessories. From football themed feathers to fabulous feather headbands, she makes it all. She even does custom orders! Now, I don’t know of any department stores that would be willing to do that. Below is a little bit more information about her & her cause:

“Hi! My name is Corrie Lail and I am from Pensacola, Florida. I’ve recently married the man of my dreams and we currently live in Orlando. I give my husband all the credit for inspiring my venture into jewelry making. During a time of personal uncertainty, my husband, Matt, gave me the freedom and encouragement to explore my creativity, something I’ve felt that I’ve never really let myself do! I started making feather themed earrings and realized that it was something that I loved to do. I finally found a creative outlet that I had a passion for. Naturally, I chose the name CocoFeathers; combining my childhood nickname with my newfound passion.”

If that sweet story doesn’t make you want to help a girl out, then something is wrong with you!! Please take the time to check out her gorgeous items at her Etsy store: www.etsy.com/shop/CoCoFeathers

Shop early with coupon code: BLACKFRIDAY to receive 15% off from now till Friday November 29!

saying your Ps & Qs

Most of us were told when growing up to always say “please” and “thank you”, or at least I was. My mama would slap me silly if I didn’t show respect and gratitude towards everyone, no matter how small the favor might have been. As I’ve grown older, I’ve seen this elementary habit fall out of adults every day life. I find it quite sad.

I think I first noticed this trend when I started my new job. I have an assistant who help me do simple tasks such as stuffing envelopes, making copies or filing papers. For our annual event, I kept her a busy bee for about 3 months straight and she never complained once. They were God-awful tasks like licking envelopes and shredding papers. I often times felt so bad for her because I knew how that was just a few months prior . . . I was the assistant.

In return for her outstanding help and her being the only reason I didn’t pull my hair out, I wrote her a personal thank you note. I didn’t think much of it because I thought it was the right thing for anyone to give someone that helped them out. I thought wrong. My assistant came to my office almost in tears and gave me a HUGE hug telling me that it was the nicest thing anyone had ever said to her. I’m pretty sure I made her whole week and it felt good.

Needless to say, “thank you” notes make such an impact in people’s lives. The smallest of people on the food chain in your work place deserve them the most but often times never get thought of. It makes them feel included and important.

So in conclusion, don’t forget to thank your staff even in the busiest of times around the office. Five minutes of your time could be worth millions to them.