Category: reviews

Valentine’s Day with Minted: Sale Shout

A Valentine’s Day outfit from a few years ago! 
OOoo, it’s almost Valentine’s Day! It truly is one of my favorite holidays. It’s the turning point of winter in my mind, when spring feels like it is possible, love is celebrated, and chocolate is doled out. Could it BE any more fun? Well, yes, with some of Minted’s Valentines and Gifts.
 They have Valentine’s Day Cards and, for the kiddos, Classroom Valentines cards that are unique designs, high quality, and many incorporate the gold foil trend that is tres chic. Ooolala!

 faves for the kids at school:
Treat Bag
All-Star (love this for little boys!)
You’re So Cool

to send love from the kids/babe:
Lil’ Baby Love
Sunset
Big XO

to showcase your love (+ that delicious gold foil that is 20% off!):
Jotted Love
Hearts Aflutter
Luxe Heart

And quite possibly my MOST favorite, this little gem for those with new darlings:

In Love 

Are you feeling the love? I soooo am. Love Minted’s products, the quality and customer service are truly unbeatable. Order now for delivery in time for your sweethearts, classmates, family, friends, and…well, I’d love one too 🙂 Email me for my PO box! Tee hee, but seriously.

Make it Happen Book Review & Book Club

(Book courtesy of book look bloggers)
Oh I dearly love Lara Casey and watching her online life is so inspiring. But this book of hers, which I know was written with tears, guts, vulnerability, and lots of grace, is even more inspiring. Fair warning that I haven’t finished the book entirely yet, but I wanted to share the review-so-far so you can get your copy ASAP and read with me in our Facebook Book Club (details below)! 
Not going to lie, the introduction made me cry. I have already underlined and highlighted so many phrases in this book. Be sure to keep a dedicated notebook handy, as this book is part work-book as well, and leads you through exercises on almost every page to get to the bottom of surrendering your own fear, taking the leap, and living on purpose. Lara doesn’t just tell her story, she gives actionable tools to help you live the BEST of your story. This would be a fantastic group read or Bible Study book, which is exactly what we’re going to do!
Lara confesses in the intro, “I feared my anxiety would hold me back from the things I was created to do. I was afraid I would always be stuck.” 
Can we cue the tears? 
Then she says, “You were created for a purpose, and it’s time to make it happen.”
This is one of those life-changing books if you let it and you do the work. This is one of those books you have to engage with, cry over, discuss with friends, and ultimately, be free to fly. 
So let’s get to know each other and read this book together! Join our book club on Facebook and we’ll start in-depth January 12th. Plenty of time to get your book ordered 🙂
Make it happen, my dears!

The Last of the 2014 Books

I had a couple of books from 2014 that I haven’t had a chance to post about. Here are my reviews! 

courtesy of booklookbloggers
Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary
This is one beautiful new reference book I was thrilled to add to my collection. The pages are thick, glossy, richly illustrated color pages that add depth to any Bible study time. This is a hefty tome, to be sure, both in content and size. My boyfriend was enthralled with the beauty and detail found here, and I fear the book may end up living at his house! For any scholar or serious Bible lover, this is one of the most stunning Bible Dictionaries out there. Not to be confused with a concordance, though this edition is cross-referenced, this book gives contextual info and historical background on Biblical terms, feasts, figures, and more. You can find such interesting things as a list of diseases in the Bible, photos of discovered historical ruins, and detailed definitions of all of those hard-to-pronounce Old Testament places/names/facts/figures. This is an essential for your bookshelf.

courtesy of bloggingforbooks
Make Up by Michelle Phan
Have you heard of Michelle Phan? Who am I kidding, if you’re a female with internet access, of course you have. She is one of THE biggest YouTube beauty gurus, and this hardcover shares her story along with actionable tips to be your best, beautiful self. 
Michelle runs her YouTube channel and blog, her makeup line Em, her beauty subscription service ipsey, and her television company FAWN, along with being Lancome’s beauty guru. Can we say BUSY?
While Michelle’s tone is a bit elementary, there are some interesting stories and tips to be found from poring over this book. I was pleasantly surprised. Her story is interesting (she started out as an art student) and I enjoyed seeing a behind-the-scenes peek into her life and routine. I was expecting this to be a thumb-through book but I enjoyed spending time with the book. Michelle covers a LOT of ground, from makeup and skincare to job interviews, etiquette, and finding your online persona. I think this would be a great gift for any teenager or twenty-something. A beautifully presented book, and looks pretty in any stack or bookshelf, too, which is a huge plus in these visual days! 

Warby Parker Home Try-On Winter 2014

(this post is sponsored and contains affiliate links that help support Good Girl Style at no extra charge to you!) 

It was high time I gave the Warby Parker Home Try-On Program another go with some old favorites and some new frames from the Winter 2014 Collection. If you’re eyeing some new eyeglasses or sunglasses for the holiday season and brand-new year ahead, I highly recommend Warby Parker.

The Home Try-On Program is the best I’ve found, and I’ve tried just about all of the online glasses places for you! Warby Parker makes it easy and smooth. It does require a credit card as insurance (just in case!) but they don’t charge you a cent and shipping is free both ways.

Now, on to the 5 frames I selected for my Home Try-On box:

holcomb
Holcomb in Pearled Tortoise
This is definitely my favorite. It’s just so darling and a combination of heavy rim with the feminine cat-eye shape is undeniably fun.

laurel
Laurel in Tea Rose Fade
I can’t lie, these fun glasses have a bit of a Steve-Urkel’s-Girlfriend-Myra-Monhouse vibe.
That said, I’m not hatin’ on them. It’s quite adork-able.

wilkie
Wilkie in Sugar Maple
Your classic studious eyeglasses. Goes with anything, which is a huge plus for everyday eyewear.

Now, on to the sunglasses, always my favorite part of any Warby Parker collection! 

reilly
Reilly in Sparrow Grey
I adore, adore, adore these. I cannot tell you how much I adore these. So utterly chic in a fading gray.
A must-have.

jennings
Jennings in Whiskey Tortoise
These have SUCH a Kennedy vibe, don’t you agree? I think anyone in the Kennedy family could wear these, male or female, and be rocking the Hyannis-Port-chic thing.

Have you ever tried the Warby Parker Home Try-On Program?

Ok, which one is your favorite? Are you hoping for new glasses under the tree? 

Minted Holidays: Custom Wrapping Paper

minted1
*I received the Minted items in return for this post and all opinions, images and words are my own. This post contains affiliate links, which support Good Girl Style at no additional charge to you! Thanks!*

Every year, I delight in choosing a theme for my present-wrapping and then taking a picture of the giant pile to keep record of each year’s themes. This year, Minted reached out to see if I wanted to try their brand-new personalized wrapping paper. HOW FUN IS THIS? It’s utterly amazing and I’m super in love with the ability to use wrapping paper filled with photos of all of the family adventures and milestones of the year (HI NIECE OF MINE!).

Here are the trimmings I selected that you see above and below:

Krafted Frames Personalized Wrapping Paper

Bold Washi Gift Tags
Plain Kraft paper
Various ribbons
Black Sharpie
minted3
Here you can see everything together here, with the Holiday Bling Scalloped Stickers Scalloped Stickers and a pop of red for holiday spirit and to brighten things up.

minted2

To coordinate with the fun Bold Washi Gift Tags, I wrapped a present in regular Kraft paper and covered it with black Sharpie polka-dots. A few of the plainer packages help balance the photo paper.
minted5b
The beautiful Krafted Frames Personalized Wrapping Paper with my family photos in action!

minted4

You might think this is expensive, but it’s really not. It’s only $15 for 5 generous sheets sized at 20″ x 28″. That’s only $3 a sheet for 5 luxuriously thick sheets. Scroll down for a coupon code, too!
 Check out all of their other custom, personalize-able options here!
While you’re at it, you might be interested in one-stop shopping and grabbing your holiday cards, all addressed as the “world’s most beautiful envelope” (gorge!): 

Or pick up some personalized stationary for anyone in your life. These cards are beautiful and I think any lady aged 10 all the way up (or me!) would cherish them, and might even be inclined to send you one as a thank-you note! Love the Sanibel Island Stripes!

AND Minted’s Cyber Monday deals have been so popular they’ve extended it through tonight, December 2nd, at midnight.

Deets:

  • 15% off + Free Shipping on holiday cards  with Code: 15CM
  • 25% off everything else with Code: 25CM – includes Minted’s Unique Wedding Stationery, gifts, art prints and more!

    • Happy present-finding and -wrapping, my dears! Enjoy every minute!

    Published
    Categorized as reviews

    Christmas Dreaming A Little Early

    “So I’m doing, my Christmas dreaming, a little early this yearrrrrrr…” 
    I couldn’t resist these beautiful diamonds from Anjolee jewelry when they sent me their website and asked me to review it. So here are some lovely diamond choices should a loved one be looking to gift you with something sparkly this year. If so, you’re in luck, scroll to the end of the post for a discount. If not, do some dreaming with me about Christmas party outfits with extra sparkle! 
    Here are three outfits I’d simply LOVE to wear to holiday parties this year…or to find under the Christmas tree! 
    This is my absolute favorite outfit and SO perfect for the holidays. Then wear it again at Valentine’s Day, of course! The skirt, the bow shoes, and a simple top…to die for. The unexpected? Lip print, of course. So very Schiaparelli! 
    This is such a grown-up outfit and I love the luxe textures and details. Nothing like leather pants, leopard print booties and a sumptuous top and clutch for the holidays. The unexpected? Leather pants at a cocktail party. Daring, darling!
    This is so cute and party-perfect. I’d love to wear this for my birthday in January! Ladylike and lovely. The unexpected? Arrive with a black cape to top it all off. Oolala.
    Anjolee also has customizable Gemstone bracelets that make great Christmas presents too! 
    AND as a special treat, here is a code for 5 percent off your purchase (since we’re talking high prices here, this discount is totally worth it): Anjolee5
    (these are NOT affiliate links)
    Here’s to a fun and festive holiday season and hopefully a little something sparkly!
    Which outfit is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!

    Elsa Schiaperelli: A Shocking Life

    I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this honest review.
    Have you ever heard of Elsa Schiaparelli? If you’re in the fashion world, the answer is probably yes. In her time, Schiaparelli was a more famous couturier than Chanel, her contemporary. She is perhaps most famous for her invention of the color “Shocking Pink” and the corresponding “Shocking” perfume. Her inventive clothing designs captured the spirit of the times and the art movement of Surrealism at the time (she was a great friend of Dali’s), becoming art themselves. Giant lobsters skirted the bottom of dresses, and don’t forget the parsley sprinkled here and there, on a dress worn by Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor, in her wedding trousseau. Buttons were foreign coins, giant bugs, or other strange ideas. Her clothes were expandable, sometimes even three-in-one, or featured unique hidden pockets, trompe l’oeil details, or fabrics of her own creation.
    Schiaperelli’s 1937 Lobster Dress, designed with Salvador Dali, 
    currently in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art

    But before Schiaparelli was a famous couturier, she had a unique and perhaps upsetting life, one that set her up for her surrealist escapades and her utterly unique entree into the fashion world. She learned business lessons by hard scrapes, had a disabled daughter with a conniving husband she later divorced,  and somehow made her way into the top tier of Paris fashion. The second World War saw her star waning, perhaps due to a nagging interest the FBI had in her whereabouts (was she a spy? we may never know). Schiaparelli lost her footing in the fashion world, but her legacy continues today with inventions such as the wraparound dress, dresses with matching dinner jackets, swimsuits with built-in bras and the ahead-of-her-time split skirts. And, of course, her call of “Dare to be different!” and that ever-so-lovely shocking pink.

    {hover to pin}
    This lovely book, a tome to be admired and set on a dressing table, is a triumph of the story of the shocking and madcap dress designer, none other than Madame Schiaparelli.

    A dash of the unexpected, indeed!

    Happy Reading!
    Natalie 

    Real-Life Devotional Bible for Women

    {This book was provided by BookLook Bloggers for my honest review}
    It’s a rainy day here. Quiet, gray, begging for quiet time with my Bible and an English Breakfast Tea Latte.
    I’ve been needing a new everyday Bible. My old one is literally from elementary school and falling apart, loved as it is. The only other Bible I currently have is a travel version with my name on it that was a gift, and I cherish it, but find it a bit cumbersome for regular reading. So when I saw this lovely edition with real-life devotions by Lysa Terkeurst and the team at Proverbs 31 Ministries, I was super excited. I adore Lysa and Proverbs 31 Ministries. (you should SERIOUSLY follow them on Facebook…their posts are always timely!)
    This NIV Bible is a Compact size, which is the size of a larger paperback book, bigger than my travel version but small enough to tuck into my purse. The embossed leather and smooth leather in lovely robin’s egg blue and a deep turquoise are stunning. The pages have silver edges and blue pages for the devotionals. There are 365 devotionals throughout the book, one for every day. The devotions are focused on family and children, but the lessons are applicable to everyone. 
    This Bible would make an absolutely lovely gift or a gift to yourself. It’s a real beaut, and so is the box, a perfect box to keep cards or notes in.
    Do you have a hardcover or softcover Bible? 
    This is actually my first softcover one!
    xo
    Natalie

    Book Review: Once-a-Day Chronological Bible

    provided for my honest review by BookLook Bloggers
    The NIV Once-a-Day Bible, Chronological Edition, is one of my new favorite things! 
    My boyfriend and I had been talking about reading the Bible chronologically for awhile now as a way to refresh our reading of the Bible and bring new perspective. We’ve also been looking for a devotion to do together, so when I had the opportunity to grab this once-a-day version, I knew it would be perfect for his birthday. We’ve been greatly enjoying reading together nightly. 
    I will admit the readings can be a bit long each day, but you’re reading the whole Bible in a year, so it’s to be expected. I particularly enjoy the “reflection” section after each daily reading. 
    It’s fascinating to be reading the Bible in chronological order, so if you haven’t tried this, I recommend it so far for sure. The once-a-day version makes it easy to stay on track. And the readings are merely numbered, not dated, so no need to feel guilty if you miss a day. I do wish they had a hardcover edition, but that’s a minor detail. Overall, a great Bible to have in your house because of its useful and unique set-up. 
    Have you ever read the Bible chronologically? What did you think?
    Happy Reading, 
    Natalie 

    Fascinator Giveaway with Vivo Masks-CLOSED


    Exciting News!
    I’m so thrilled that Vivo is letting me give away a fascinator to one of my lovely readers! This is the perfect opportunity for entree into the fun world of wearing hats and fascinators!
     I’m giving away one of the under-$50 fascinators (the winner’s choice!), which are smaller and more manageable for wearing to Thanksgiving, a school dance, a holiday party, or a birthday. Or even just because, if you’re like me! Vivo has an amazing selection and I’m sure you’ll find one you’re in love with! Here are some of my favorites…
    Favorite VIVO fascinators under $50
    I think the hot pink one is my most-favorite. How about you?

    Please enter and share!
     I’m so excited for this opportunity for another lovely lady to wear a Vivo fascinator.
    Entry closes at midnight EST on Monday, October 13th.