Friday Fashions: ModCloth Fall

I absolutely love ModCloth!  I’m sure everyone knows about this site by now, but I can remember when I first discovered it – I was obsessed!  I loved their mix of vintage and new styles at affordable prices.  It has been great watching the company grow and now the options are endless!!  I love that they feature designs from small designers, including great handmade items! 

Here are a few of my current favorite fall items!  Enjoy!  :)

 

Friday Fashions: New Moon

Tonight is a New Moon and even more exciting, a Lunar Eclipse (6 months until the next Eclipse).  Although I don’t study the moon phases, I have started paying more attention to the cycles of the moon . . .  I’m kind of embarrassed to say it’s because of shelling.  Yes – I mean picking up shells on the beach.  :)  It has become a new hobby of mine (sometimes bordering on obsession) and I recently learned that a Full Moon and New Moon bring the best shells to shores. 
In addition, as I spend more time trying to be lost in life and enjoy the world around me, I find myself taking time to look at the moon and stars every night while walking the dogs.  If you saw the moon tonight, it was absolutely beautiful!  It was huge & bright!  Plus, there were a few clouds passing in front of it throughout the evening making it look even more magical.
So, in honor of the New Moon and Lunar Eclipse I wanted to share some really cool jewelry I found on Etsy.
Gemagenta is a jewelry designer that offers these custom-made necklaces with designs of the moon for a particular night with the corresponding date engraved in the reverse side.  Not only is the necklace beautiful and original, it is a simple design that can be worn by men and women of all ages .  What a cool way to memorialize a special day and have a unique piece of jewelry!  I will definitely be ordering a few of these for gifts! 




Monogram Pendant offers a huge assortment of amazing pendants.  I love this one, New Moon and at only $11.99 it’s a steal!


Hard Candy Gems offers amazing handmade gemstone rings.  This Agate Geode ring is beautiful with shades of black, grey, and white.  Plus, the handmade sterling silver base enhances its elegance. 


Mayahelena also handcrafts gemstone jewelry.  This Lunar Eclipse necklace features a Rainbow Moonstone with a smaller, Sunstone.  The gemstones are great quality and will compliment any outfit.

Hope you enjoy the Lunar Eclipse!  Take a moment to stop and enjoy the beauty of the world around you!  Happy Friday!

Dog Day Wednesday: Sanibel Island

I’m back!!!  :)  I took a little break from blogging over the past few days so I could enjoy a mini-vacation to Sanibel Island.  :)  It was an amazing trip and a great way to celebrate our first 3 months in Florida!  I will be catching-up on my blogging and sharing some highlights from the trip over the next few days.  Today, I want to share some of my favorite photos from the trip!  We visited Bowman’s Beach and the Lighthouse Beach & Fishing Pier, both in Sanibel Island.  Enjoy!






Happy Dog Day Wednesday!!

Dog Day Wednesday: Bye Summer. Hello Halloween!

As the temperatures are starting to (slowly) drop, we have been trying to squeeze in as much beach-time as possible!  Here are a few shots from a trip to Honeymoon Island this past week!  We found some amazing shells this day, too!  I love collecting shells and the dogs have started helping me by running and sniffing all the shells.  (They have found a few creatures in the shells so I think that is what they are really looking for.) 





I am a total sucker for the Dog Halloween Costumes!  It feels like Christmas when the stores start bringing out the stock!  Here are the pups in their Superman & Superwoman costumes!  I have to admit they have a few other costumes so I will post more photos this month.  :) 



Happy Dog Day Wednesday!!

Forgiving & Forgetting

I must admit forgiving is NEVER easy for me and forgetting is near impossible!  I can only guess why I struggle so much with both of these things, but I know I am inclined to blame it on other people. (Apparently, accepting fault and responsibility do not come easily for me either.)  I think, in general, I tend to blame it on the fact that so many people in my life have betrayed me, lied to me, or just hurt me.  However, I’m sure I could make a much longer, more detailed list of excuses if I took the time. 
If I’m really honest about it . . .  the only person really responsible for my inability to forgive & forget, is me.  After all, I am the only person that can control my thoughts, actions,  and reactions.  No matter how much I want to say other people have caused me to feel this way or influenced me to be this way.  It is really me, who has allowed other people’s words and actions to influence me to choose not to forgive &/or forget. 
You may be wondering why I’m choosing to discuss this topic .  It isn’t random.  It was actually spurred by a conversation that I had with my sister yesterday.  I won’t get into the details but I realized after the conversation that I had actually forgiven a few people and (gasp) even forgotten some of the things they did that made me so angry, upset, and hurt.  Actually, forgotten may not be the correct word to use.  I do remember the things they did and said but I no longer have the same emotions or reactions to them.  I don’t think about them daily.  They aren’t part of my life – rather just distant memories.  They don’t control any of my actions and no longer influence my decisions. 
Somehow things have changed.  I’m not exactly sure what it is or when or why it happened.  I can’t pinpoint the actual time when I stopped carrying the burden of those experiences.  I don’t know when the pain and resentment  subsided.  I guess it must have happened slowly, gradually unloading over time.  It wasn’t until these people came up in my conversations with my sister that I even realized I had let go of these experiences. 
I’m very thankful that this happened but also I’m pretty shocked.  Like I said before, this is not very characteristic of me.  Plus, these things were BIG – I didn’t just have an argument or a disagreement.  These were really big things that happened and they led to major changes in my life.  The pain I felt was incredibly deep and it has caused several years of heartache.  I even went to counseling for a year to try and overcome the feelings, as I was unable to trust anyone and became very introverted and closed-off from the world.
Although, I am not jumping to reconnect with these people, nor am I ready to try and reestablish a relationship with them, I am VERY happy that I am not weighed down by these feelings of pain and resentment.  Plus, I don’t have to carry the guilt of not letting go or the burden of all the negative feelings associated with holding a grudge. 
So, the big question is how and why did it happen??  I think there are several reasons why this happened.  The first is that I have changed.  I’m not the same person that I was a few years or even a few months ago.  I am free-er (I realize that is not a word but I think you understand the feeling).  Through my journey of self-discovery and my choice to live the life I want to live, there have been many other positive “side-effects”.  My outlook on life has changed and I try very hard to make a conscious effort to choose to be happy. 
Each day, I wake up and think, I want to be happy today. I want to have a good day.  I try to think about how my choices and actions can influence my mood and attitude.  I try to do things that help me to stay positive and enjoy life.  This has helped me tremendously because, for me, a bad mood can easily spiral out-of-control and cause me to become depressed.  Then, I have a negative attitude about everything. 
In the past, I have let bad things build on each other causing me to carry a lot of harmful feelings and keeping me in a negative state-of-mind.  By breaking that cycle, I have created a life that is geared toward positive thinking and positive emotions.  I think that has made it easier for me to let go of things.  Since I no longer focus on the bad, it is easier to forget how people have hurt me.  I have to forgive in order to free myself from the negative feelings associated with resentments and holding a grudge. 

Make-A-Difference Monday: F*** Cancer

Since October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I have been reading a lot about non-profit organizations that focus on breast cancer research, education, and treatment.  One charity that really stands out is F*** Cancer (not just because of the name).  This organization started with a T-shirt that Yael Cohen made while her mother was being treated for Breast Cancer after a 2009 diagnosis. 
Yael and her mother, Diane, are such strong women and both are really inspiring in their own way.  Their story is very real and easy to relate to.  I am very blessed that my mother has not been diagnosed with cancer but I (like most people) have known many people that have been diagnosed with cancer. I have seen how it changes people and their daily lives.  I have seen how cancer makes people feel helpless or worthless.  I have watched as strong, brave individuals become lost and hopeless.  But I have also seen amazing strength, perseverance, and optimism from people that are fighting cancer.  I am constantly amazed by people’s ability to face a cancer diagnosis and the treatment and expense that come with it.  Cancer really does require patients and their friends and family to fight - and fight hard! 
I think we all have said or at least thought F*** Cancer at some point in our lives.  Maybe that’s why I relate so much to Yael and Diane’s story.  Plus, Diane reminds me of my own mother.  Yael explains on her website (www.letsfcancer.com), that her mom is not someone that uses the “F” word, however, she immediately wore the shirt in public.  This immediately made me think of my mom!  She, too, does not use the F word but I could see her wearing the shirt if she was in Diane’s place.  I immediately pictured my mom walking down the street in a t-shirt with big, bold letters, F-U-C-K C-A-N-C-E-R. 
Yael explains on her website that she made the shirt after her mother’s first surgery, To me, the shirt said, “Yes, I have cancer – but no, I won’t go down without one hell of a fight.” It said, “I am not a patient – I am a survivor.”  
In a way, doesn’t that describe all mothers.  They are true survivors -  whether or not they are facing cancer. I think we, as daughters, gain our strength and courage from our mothers.  We grow up watching them fight to give us everything they can.  They teach us about life and inspire us to follow our dreams.  It is our mothers that encourage us to be whatever we want to be.  They constantly tell us that we can do anything in life.  It is our mothers that push us to believe in ourselves.  I think this is why we can all relate to how Yael saw her mother as a survivor . . . as a fighter. 
It was people’s reaction to the shirt that inspired Yael to create charity.  In an interview with Shape magazine, Yael says, her mother, couldn’t go a block without people stopping to hug and high-five her.  As people asked where they could get a shirt, Yael began to see a way to help raise month for a Breast Cancer charity.  She eventually decided to start a new charity as she couldn’t find one that she truly connected with. 
Yael’s organization is about creating a community where people can say what they really feel about cancer.  It makes sense considering the 2 words that started it all.  The organization is also dedicated to early detection as Diane was fortunate enough to be diagnosed with Stage I after a routine mammogram.  I hope that you will visit the charity’s website to learn more about their mission and how you can donate or get involved!
F*** Cancer!

Friday Fashions - Paris Fashion Week (Part 2)

I’m sad to say Paris Fashion Week is over.  :(  It’s overwhelming to see all the designers’ newest styles crammed into just a few days – part of me wishes they would spread it out over several weeks so we could have more time to really let each collection soak in. 
I can’t imagine what it would be like to be part of the design team or the show production and see all your months of hard work come to life and be over in just a few minutes or maybe (if your lucky) an hour.  The adrenaline of that day would be huge and then “poof” it’s over. . . until you start on the next collection – the next show.  I’m sure it is rewarding but also a little bit saddening.  This is kind of how I feel I about the shows and fashion week, too.  (But on a much smaller scale, of course.)  It’s exciting to see all the designs and collections but it is over too soon and the wait for next seasons’ shows is too long!
You can check out my favorite designs from the shows this week below.  I tend to gravitate toward designs that are wearable or almost wearable, as opposed to the over-the-top designs that will never be seen off the runway.  I love those crazy, truly creative designs too, but my favorites are always things I can dream about actually wearing!  I will start with my favorite collection of all the featured designers . . . Valentino.
The collection’s designers are Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli and they are AMAZING!  There were over 70 looks in the collection and I am seriously obsessed with each look!  I have always been a sucker for embroidery and this collection features lots and lots of embroidery!  The details are almost unreal!  It is crazy to think the pieces are handmade!!  Anyone that has every attempted embroidery of any guide will appreciate the intricate designs and the skill that it would take to create such incredible pieces.
I really love the entire styling o this collection – not just the clothing!  The simple sandals add a hipster, laid-back feel to each style, further highlighting the garments.  The bags are amazing with fringe details and beaded chains, again giving the collection a casual, bohemian feel.  Lastly, as you know from previous posts – I love headbands and these are the perfect “icing” for this collection. 
Please check out the links below to see all the catwalk styles and the close-up shots of the details and accessories!  Enjoy!

            
  Valentino (Ready-to-Wear SS14)                 Valentino (Ready-to-Wear SS14)

         
     Valentino (Ready-to-Wear SS14)                     Valentino (Ready-to-Wear SS14)

                   
    Valentino (Ready-to-Wear SS14)                              Valentino (Ready-to-Wear SS14)

Next, I want to share a few Chanel shots.  Paris Fashion Week would not be complete without a Chanel show.  This design house always brings chic and sophisticated styles.  Plus, I think every collection stays true to CoCo Chanel’s vision and style, using structured suits as the starting point of each collection.  I love to see how the designers recreate and build on the classic design!  This collection includes beautiful colors, a variety of textures, and a futuristic look with a vintage feel. 
I think the accessories carry this futuristic yet vintage theme through each style.  There were only a few pieces of jewelry and a couple of bags that I really liked but I appreciate the cohesiveness and consistency of the styling.  Overall, I really liked this collection!  It makes me wish I had a important meeting to wear these styles to!
               
     Chanel (Ready-to-Wear SS14)                       Chanel (Ready-to-Wear SS14)
             
     Chanel (Ready-to-Wear SS14)                     Chanel (Ready-to-Wear SS14)

          
         Chanel (Ready-to-Wear SS14)                        Chanel (Ready-to-Wear SS14)
The last collection I want to share is Emanuel Ungaro.  The designer is Fausto Puglisi and this is his second collection for the design house.  I have never been a huge fan of  Emanuel Ungaro but I liked the bright colors and whimsical flairs of this collection.  I think part of the reason I have avoided this label in the past was their unfortunate decision to have Lindsay Lohan design for them a few years ago.  (Ugh!) 
However, I’m glad I took the time to look at their designs again.  I thought the collection was different, but most of all, fun!  My only complaint was that the collection was small and there wasn’t enough variety!  (There were only 37 looks in the show and many of the pieces were the same design just featured in a different color.)  Regardless, I will be watching Fausto Puglisi  to see where he takes this label in the next few seasons.    Check out a few of the styles that I would want to wear to a party or night on the town.  :)

Emanuel Ungaro (Ready-to-Wear SS14)

Emanueal Ungaro (Ready-to-Wear SS14)

      

Emanuel Ungaro (Ready-to-Wear SS14)

Au revoir, Paris!  :)

Dog Day Wednesday: Kobe Lee

This past Saturday would have been my Kobe’s 12th Birthday so I decided to share some of my favorite photos of him this week.  Kobe passed away about a month after his 10th Birthday and it was one of the most difficult things I have had to face in life.  I’m sure anyone that has lost a pet can relate to the feelings of helplessness, loneliness, and overwhelming heartbreak.  I’m blessed to have my babies, Milo & Ellie but I still miss Kobe everyday.

Winter 2006

Halloween 2008

 

Winter 2009

 

Happy Dog Day Wednesday!

Make-A-Difference Monday: Pets for Vets

As you have probably noticed, I am a dog-lover!  (Hence Dog Day Wednesdays)  I’m really an animal-lover in general but dogs have a special place in my heart.  I think the love for and from a pet is one of the sweetest gifts in life.  My dogs are my children and I can’t imagine going through life without them!
I have always been a big supporter of animal charities and Pets for Vets is especially great because it helps animals and Veterans!  Their slogan, Healing Vets & Saving Pets, says it all!  This organization is amazing!  The goal is to provide a companion pet for Veterans that are suffering from conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).  The rescued shelter pets are trained specifically for each Veteran to make the perfect Veteran-Pet match.
Anyone who has a pet, knows their love and companionship can be a source of strength and comfort!  I can only imagine how a companion animal would help a Veteran struggling to overcome the traumas of military duty and transition back to civilian life. 
There are multiple ways to help this organization.  You can donate, volunteer (in a variety of ways), and purchase items from their sponsors who in turn donate and/or support Pets-for-Vets.  I encourage you to learn more about this organization!  It truly is a great way to help rescue animals and support our U.S. Military Veterans!
Happy Make-A-Difference Monday!  Please let me know of ways you are Making A Difference by emailing me at Tess.LostInLife@gmail.com.  I would love to hear about other organizations and learn ways I new ways I can help Make a Difference!