Fabulous Friday Feature: Karissa and Company

Karissa & Company:  So excited for this beauty to be featured on the blog today!  She is a sassy Idahoan who knows her stuff about fashion, fitness, beauty, and pageantry.  She is even competing in Mrs. Idaho America this month!  This lady is full of sweetness and has been a joy to get to know!  Plus I want to raid her closet.  This girl's got style!  She's shared some of her favorite fall fashions with us today, AND is teaming up with me to giveaway $50 to Target!!  Woot woot!  Happy Friday y'all!

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Hi, Pretties! I'm Karissa from Karissa & Company and I'm so happy Ashton is letting me take over today. Blogging is a great way to connect with people and I have loved getting to know Ashton.  Over at K&Co I blog a lot about fashion.  I love putting together a good outfit, mostly business casual, since I have to do the ol' work grind Monday-Friday.

In honor of fall, I thought I would share some items I'm loving right now and just NEED to keep wearing all fall long.  Fall is my favorite season- and the most fun season to dress in.  You get to layer, put on tights, and BOOTS, but you aren't freezing to death in the cold of winter.  It's still warm where I am here in Idaho but I'll keep dreaming of cool fall evenings.  Ready for my list? Here we go!

1. Pleather Leggings

Is there anything better than pleather? The answer is no.

2. Gold Statement Jewelry

It matches perfectly with all the fall neutrals that are in in in.

3. Fur

Any fur, all fur - if it has fur on it I want it!

4. High Boot Socks

Layer them up, layer them down. A great way to keep your legs warm and still wear a dress.

I want to know what you are wearing this fall? Is there a certain color you are loving? A texture? A go to piece? Also make sure you come say - I would love to get to know you!

❤, Karissa

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A Fabulous Friday Feature: Claire Wilson

Introducing Claire Wilson y'all.  I couldn't be more excited about having this gorgeous, sweet, fun girl be our Fabulous Friday Feature this week.  For being a senior in high school, this chick has an innate sweetness about her with a strong drive to be a positive influence in the world.  My favorite part about the blogosphere is connecting with women all over the world.  Women from all stages of life.  This Arkansas-native has a style that will rock your world.  Check out her blog here for more style inspiration!  She is one of my absolute favorite style bloggers.  Her style touches on everything: classy, edgy, bohemian, and more.  She caters to all styles, and woman from all stages of life can find something to pull from her personal look!  

Aside from her fashion sense though and much more importantly, this girl has a heart of gold.  Getting to know her and then reading her "About Me" section on her blog gave me goosebumps.  This is a girl whose sense of self goes way deeper than her wardrobe.  This girl just gets it.  Gets what's most important and recognizes the importance of being true to who you are and not letting anyone else try to tell you differently.  She says, "Learning how to be yourself in a world that tries to clone you into everyone else is difficult.  Also, being a senior in high school doesn't make it any easier.  This blog is where I can put my creativity and fun into a place that helps me inspire others in a world of style."  You go girl!  So here she is y'all.  Claire Wilson and her fall-inspired stylings!

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I know, I know. You've read and seen all the styles for fall this year...but sometimes outfits in magazines can be unrealistic . So here are three practical styles you can rock this fall!

1. Crochet anything and Hats

This little Riffraff number is a great piece for transitoning into cooler weather.You can never have too many knitted tops in your closet (At least that's what I think!) I've been stocking up on hats lately, or you could say hoarding them..Lol. I'm going to wear mine to change up an outfit or to add a little extra flare.

2. Cozy Knits & Docs

 

Two words. TOO COMFY! I don't know about you but I love throwing on a comfy, cozy sweater with some boots for a chilly day. Doc Martens are awesome boots for this year. I can't wait to put on big sweaters, leggings and docs when it's a snowy day!

3.Plaid

 

You guessed it, plaid is so hot!! Mix up your plaid look a bit and throw another pattern in. I always think of leopard as a neutral that can be put with most anything! Also, another way to wear this is to wrap the button down around your waist with a graphic tee. Check out the lookbook below!

     

A Fabulous Friday Feature

Nanette from Sweet Fringe Benefits:  I am so incredibly excited for my guest blogger today.  This is a woman from my hometown, Franklin, Tennessee.  She is full of faith, honesty, and a powerful love for her family.  On her blog, Sweet Fringe Benefits, you can find refreshing honesty in her day to day.  What I love about her blog is that even though we are at very different stages of life, I am able to find a way to relate to a lot of her experiences.  There is something about a woman who shares the truth about what's in her heart and on her mind.  A woman who doesn't try to be something she's not.  Her writing is real, funny, and touching.  Reading her blog encourages me to find my own Sweet Fringe Benefits each day.  And even if she's 50, she's got killer style.  I've pulled many ideas from her OOTD.

I want this blog to be a place where women of all personalities, styles, and ages come together to find common ground.  A place to feel connected.  A place to be uplifted.  A place to laugh and maybe to cry.  A place to realize that you're not the only one who has weaknesses, and you're certainly not the only one who feels like they don't add up.  We're not perfect, and we're all learning.  We'll be learners our entire lives.  So why not be a little less hard on ourselves and try to find the Sweet Fringe Benefit of each day?  

Sit back and enjoy a little dose of a Nanette.  You won't regret it!    

"I can't wait until I'm 50!" said no one, ever.  I know I certainly didn't.  And yet here I am.  50.  Sweet Fringe Benefits (SFB) are all the good, the sweet, the easier side effects of my age.  And although the "nasties" of 50 abound,  I have spent the last year finding an SFB in any kind of day.  My blog posts are prompted by emotion, daily experiences, music, pictures, flowers, teenage angst, hot flashes, cycling analogies, spiritual ah-ha moments and the list goes on and on.  My posts have gotten me in trouble for being a little too honest at times.  But I've been surprised by the commonality that has been found in my realness...by men and women of any age.  

My niece is a young mom.  I shared with her my concerns of guest blogging for such a young hip crowd.  She encouraged me by saying, "Well, I love it when you talk about when your kids were young because it helps with perspective.  I think that times are crazy and all, and then sometimes you need to stop and realize that it'll all be gone very soon, and I just need to enjoy it all.  Hearing you reflect on that is different than someone telling you to stop and relax and enjoy blah blah."  I get it.  I remember plenty of 50 somethings giving me the same advice.  Ugh.  And I didn't listen.

Enough about my background.  Let's get to the meat of the post...

I have shared many a post about my daughter's involvement in cheerleading.  I've shared her successes and her failures.  I've confessed my middle school emotions of not fitting in with other cheer moms.  I've even admitted to breaking a rule of parenthood...the one about living your life through your children.  Well, here's another one.  

My daughter sprained her ankle 10 days ago tumbling...just when she was landing her standing tuck and making progress.  And she's been in a boot ever since.  I gotta say, I'm tired.  I'm tired of the drama.  Over team sports.  Over peer pressure to succeed.  And of my daughter's self esteem being caught up in whatever tumbling skill she is landing...or not landing.  

I'm going to try to learn from past mistakes here.  I will love every minute watching her on the sideline cheering (even with a boot on), and on the stage competing.  But I'm not going to miss it when it's over.  I do miss the successes, the highs, the wins, the triumphs that I witnessed with my boys on the field.  But I don't miss the nervous stomach on a Friday afternoon wondering if tonight my son would finally  get a chance to play quarterback, or alternatively, if his luck would run out, and he'd get injured.  I miss cheering out loud for my sons, but I don't miss the silent treatment in the house all weekend long after a loss or a botched play.

Today's Sweet Fringe Benefit is a boot.  A boot that's been worn because of Sever's Disease (a growth plate disorder) and many twisted ankles.  A boot that's kept my daughter from achieving goals.  A boot that's helped me see the short term nature of this aspect of her life.  And a boot that teaches my daughter to overcome obstacles.  And in 3 years, that boot will be retired.  I don't think I'll miss that or the pom poms.  I'm just going to enjoy the phase while it lasts...disappointments and all.

See.  Sweet Fringe Benefits can be found in just about anything.  Phases are called such because they don't last.  By definition, a phase is a distinct period in a process of change or forming part of something's development.  Babies are born.  Eventually sleep through the night.  Terrible twos end.  Teenagers become adults.  And 50 year olds find peace with their new normal.

Outfit of the Day:  Merona (Target) black/white geometric blouse, JCrew Factory mint green shorts, Banana Republic white statement necklace, Banana Republic black espadrilles.  The only deception you'll find on my blog is the "selfie" that I take of my Outfit of the Day (OOTD).  It makes me look like a size 4, when really I'm a 12.  The pressure to get dressed each day, get out of my workout gear right when the workout is over has been good for my psyche.  Now that I have a part-time job, getting out of my workout clothes is a requirement.  But the OOTD continues.  

Do I have regrets about not finding the Sweet Fringe Benefits of age 29, 35, or 42?

Nope.  I don't like regrets.  The past is the past.  All I can do is change my attitude today.  Right here, right now...

❤, Nanette

And just for fun, I put together some of my favorite outfits of hers from previous OOTD!  From her statement necklaces to her playful, fun patterns to her popping colors and beautiful neutrals, she's got it goin' on and really knows how to put together an outfit!

Fashion Forward: Sunday Sparkle

Momma:

Skirt>> Mindy Mae's Market

Shirt>> Cotton On (Similar)

Necklace>> Mindy Mae's Market

Reese:

Skirt>> Mommy's Little Sunshine (only $7.99 right now//usually $34!)

Shirt>> Baby Gap (Similar)

Bow>> Lavender and Lace Bows Boutique

Had loads of fun doing this shoot with Katie Riley Photography for our Lavender and Lace Bow Giveaway today!  She has such a gift for capturing moments and taking beautiful pictures.  She also does it all!  From senior pictures to weddings to newborns.  Follow her on instagram @katierileyphoto, and if you're in the Utah Valley area, look for a giveaway with her early next week!

Fashion Forward: Lovins Lately

a.>> Target
b.>> Forever 21
c.>> Fabric Wraps
d.>> Target
e.>> H&M
f.>> Ulta
g.>> Target

//click on store for link to item//

Y'ALL.  These are some of the things I'm loving lately, and they're each under $20!  I'm all about a good deal.  Forever 21 is even having a sale right, spend $50 get 10% off, spend $75 get 15% off, and if you spend $100 you get 20% off!  The sale runs until tomorrow, so if you've been looking for some great finds, Forever 21 is the place!

A few things about this fashion board:

a.>> I just got similar aviators from the Old Navy Outlet in Park City and am loving them!  I've never been big into sunglasses because they always seem to slide off my sweaty face at the pool.  But yesterday I tried them out at the pool for the first time, and no sliding down my face whatsoever!  I'm in love, and it really was nice to not be squinting in the bright sun.  PLUS my mother-in-law has convinced me it's about time I protect my eyes, and I totally agree.

b.>> Comfy and breezy.  Perfect tee for a hot summer.  You'll quickly find I'm obsessed with Forever 21.  They've got so many options, you're sure to find something you like there.  As long as you can handle the sensory overload when you walk in the store.

c.>> These wraps, these wraps these wraps.  If you've never tried a wrap before because you've been a little scared to give them a go, or you have tried them and they just didn't fit right, I can promise you that these wraps will change your mind!  I just got my first one a few weeks ago, and they are the best fitting, most comfortable and stylish wraps I have come across.  They have all sorts of patterns and solids that will fit any personality!

d.>> Mustard ladies.  Great purse, low price.  Target is my best friend.  I will never turn my back on her.  She is loyal and trustworthy.  Always providing me with what I need and giving me what I want for extremely low prices (if I'm patient enough to wait for the sales).

e.>> If you have clicked on the link already, then you know that these jeans are ridiculously low-priced, and they're not even on sale.  This may make you wonder if they're bad quality or even worth the $10 because they'll fall apart and won't fit right, etc, etc...  Well I have always loved these jeans, but that's me personally.  I'm not into stiff jeans.  At all.  I'm all about the jeggings, and if you feel the same way, you'll love these.

f.>> If you haven't given teal or blue nail polish a try, do it!  Gives any outfit a fun pop of color.

g.>>  These sandals are only $19.99!  Super comfy and cute.  Definitely my favorite purchase of the summer.  

Hope you enjoyed my first fashion board of my Lately Lovins!  

P.s. Reese's birth story is still in progress.  Taking a lot longer to write than I thought!  So many emotions from that day, writing them down is a process.  Hoping to have it done by tomorrow!

XO, Ashton Tilton

And a post wouldn't be complete without a little Reese action...