Spring Outfit Formula: White Jeans + Black Tank

Spring Outfit Formula: White Jeans + Black Tank

Apr 17, 2015

Do you love easy outfit formulas?  Of course you do!  Who doesn’t love something that makes life easier and getting dressed a breeze?  Honestly I rely on formulas to get dressed almost every single day. Having one in mind when I walk into my closet makes it super easy to pull pieces together into a quick outfit.

The GYPO Style Challenge is basically built around my favorite outfit formulas.  This past week, participants in the spring challenge got their first full week of outfits to style from the items on the shopping list.

One of the favorites from the week was this easy outfit formula built on the foundation of white jeans and a black tee or tank.  By swapping out the scarf and cardigan, you can create endless possibilities from it.

White Jeans + Black Tank + Bright Cardigan + Print Scarf

Here’s how I pulled together my outfit.

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And here are some of the awesome ways that the challengers paired it up.  (They put me to shame, right?)

white-jeans-outfits-springCollage 12I have to say that this has been the best challenge yet.  We have many returning challengers who are knocking it out of the park this round.  They’re setting a great example for the new girls and guiding them in the right direction.  But we also have quite a few girls who are brand new to the challenge and stepping right up to the plate.  The beauty is each challenge builds upon the next so challengers are passing down what they’re learning.  Maybe I’m partial but I’m just going to go ahead and say that it’s the nicest place on Facebook!

GYPO GNO

Last week, the Dallas area style challengers got together for a fun girls’ night out at Watters Creek in Allen, Texas.  We munched on appetizers at Mi Cocina then headed out to take advantage of some great deals on last minute items on the spring challenge shopping list.

gypo-gnoOther challengers are organizing regional events across the U.S. to meet up in real-life too.  You have no idea how happy this makes my heart!

If you’d like to get in on the fun, it’s not too late to join us.  When you sign up, you’ll get the shopping list and outfits immediately so you can jump right in!  Click HERE to sign up.

spring-challenge-bannerSquare CollageIt’s Your Turn:  Do you have any go-to, no fail outfit formulas for spring?  Share them with us in the comments!

Getting my pretty on with The Pleated Poppy.

Three Ways to Wear Lace (Without Looking Like a Teenager)

Three Ways to Wear Lace (Without Looking Like a Teenager)

Apr 15, 2015

Think the lace trend is just for teens?  So did I.  But today’s post is going to prove us both wrong.

Last week I was out doing some spring/summer shopping for my 16 year old daughter Aubrey when I noticed that the juniors’ department was overflowing with lace everything.  Tees, tanks, shorts, dresses, you name it.  There was lace everywhere.  I thought to myself, “cute trend, but I can’t pull that off”.

Then I strolled over to the “age-appropriate for Alison” section (it’s really a thing) and saw a few cute lace and eyelet pieces there too.  Immediately my mind started piecing together outfit scenarios and I realized that I really can pull it off and so can you!

Here are three totally mom-appropriate ways to wear lace.  (P.S.  Aubrey approves!)

1.  Lace T-shirt + Boyfriend Jeans + Sandals

Throw on some layered gold necklaces and grab a pretty crocheted tote to finish this outfit.

[Lace T-Shirt/Boyfriend Jeans/Tote Bag/Necklace/Sandals]

Change It Up:  Add nude heels and pearl accessories to take it up a notch for date night.

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[Image Via]

2.  Eyelet Top + Bright Pants + Wedges

Lace’s cousin eyelet is every bit as pretty. Tie this look together with a fun statement necklace and some wedges with a printed heel.

eyelet-shirt-coral-pants-wedges

[Eyelet Top/Statement Necklace/Bright Pants/Wedges]

Change It Up:  Get double duty out of your eyelet top by pairing it with some printed shorts for an easy breezy summer look.

eyelet-top-printed-shorts

[Image Via]

3.  Lace Shorts + Fitted Tee + Sandals

This updated nautical look stars lace shorts paired with a fitted tee and sea-worthy accessories.

striped-tee-eyelet-shorts

[Striped Tee/Tote Bag/Eyelet Shorts/Gold Sandals/Hoop Earrings]

Change It Up:  Tie up a soft chambray shirt and add neutral wedges and accessories.

eyelet-shorts-chambray

[Image Via]

It’s Your Turn:  How will you be wearing lace this spring and summer?  Share your styling tips in the comments.

spring-challenge-bannerFor easy spring outfit ideas, join us for the Spring 2015 GYPO Style Challenge.  Over 1,700 women have already signed up and are dishing style advice and shopping tips in our private Facebook group.  If you haven’t joined us yet, there’s still time.  Late registration is now open!  The spring trend outfits started this week.  Sign up HERE.

 I FEEL PRETTY

It’s the day of the week at GYPO where we celebrate what makes us feel pretty. Whether it’s a new outfit, hairstyle, or makeup, the I Feel Pretty link up is about anything and everything that makes your life prettier. Even if you’re not a blogger, you can still play along. Just tell us what made you feel pretty this week in the comments!I Feel Pretty Logo

There are just a few simple rules:
1. Follow GYPO. (Bloglovin‘, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest)

2. Link up your pretty post.

3. Link back to my blog (using the button above or your own link).

4. Visit other pretties. That’s it, now go have some fun!

Getting my pretty on with The Pleated Poppy.
Anti-aging Skincare Tips for Faces Over 40

Anti-aging Skincare Tips for Faces Over 40

Apr 6, 2015


Do you remember your 20-something skin? I do, and boy would I give anything to go back and appreciate it more. Great skin was easy; I just rolled out of bed (with very little sleep, I might add), washed my face and put on a little makeup. My skin tone was so even that I didn’t even wear foundation back then! Sadly, I didn’t wear sunscreen either and if I’m being totally honest, I spent more time in tanning beds in college than I want to admit.
Now that I’m over 40, that 20-something skin is long gone and my skincare routine has had to change drastically to keep up. I moisturize a lot more, wear sunscreen every day and exfoliate at least once a week to encourage cell turnover. But most of all, the need for great anti-aging skincare products is of utmost importance now.

I want products that do more than just protect my skin but also reverse the signs of aging. More than 40 years of environmental factors takes its toll. When I’m researching and shopping for new skincare lines to try, I look for those that help reverse the signs of damage. Elizabeth Arden PREVAGE® is one of them.

PREVAGE® Anti-aging Daily Serum is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of lines, wrinkles, sun damage and uneven skin texture, which are some of my biggest skin issues at this stage in life. It also helps reverse the signs of environmental damage, the #1 cause of aging skin.* You know how good antioxidants are for you, right? PREVAGE® is formulated with Idebenone, a powerful antioxidant that fights environmental threats including pollution, UV rays, and smoke. If you’re looking for an alternative to professional procedures, PREVAGE® anti-aging skincare solutions offers it by helping to give skin a smoother, firmer, more resilient look. But the proof is in the results, 96% of women saw an improvement in skin’s overall appearance in just four weeks.**

I’ve just recently started using PREVAGE® Anti-aging Daily Serum and am already noticing my skin tone is more even and looks brighter. 

Elizabeth Arden PREVAGE® Anti-aging Daily Serum is available at ElizabethArden.com, Macy’s and Nordstrom.

*Bahman, G et al (2009), Factors Contributing to the Facial Aging of Identical Twins.  

**Based on a US home use test on 99 women aged 25-65 after 4 weeks.

It’s Your Turn: Do you plan on trying PREVAGE® Anti-aging Daily Serum to reverse the signs of environmental damage to your skin? Tell me in the comments for a chance to win a $100 VISA gift card.

Entry Instructions: 

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

  1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
  2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
  3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
  4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected. 

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 4/6/15 – 5/31/15.

Be sure to visit the Elizabeth Arden PREVAGE® Anti-aging Daily Serum brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

I Feel Pretty | at a Bridal Shower

I Feel Pretty | at a Bridal Shower

Apr 1, 2015

[With my niece Lauren, the bride to be]

We’ve got a wedding coming up in our family and I couldn’t be more excited!  My sweet, intelligent, beautiful niece Lauren is tying the knot.  The wedding with be in New Orleans this summer but this past weekend, her bridesmaids hosted a bridal shower for her in Dallas.  It was an English tea themed fete complete with fascinators, big hats and lots of girly treats and decorations.  Absolutely perfect for a spring bridal shower to celebrate one of my favorite people.

alison-lauren-andrea

[Me, Lauren and my sister Andrea, the mother of the bride to be]

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I wore a light gray fascinator and sparkly heels with a bow-tie one shoulder sateen dress from eShakti.com.  I love eShakti dresses because I’m able to customize the length and this one has pockets.  Who doesn’t love a dress with pockets?  This dress was originally below the knee but I had it brought up to knee length.

gray-dress-bridal-shower

gray-dress-english-tea-bridal-shower

[Dress:  c/o eShakti, Fascinator: NY Fashion 101, Shoes:  Michael Antonio]

Spring Challenge Registration Closes Tomorrow!
spring-challenge-bannerIt’s official – the Spring 2015 GYPO Style Challenge is the biggest yet.  Over 1,200 women have already signed up and are dishing style advice and shopping tips in our private Facebook group.  If you haven’t joined us yet, there’s still time.  But hurry, regular registration closes tomorrow night at midnight!  The spring trends shopping list will also be released at that time.  Sign up HERE.

 I FEEL PRETTY

It’s the day of the week at GYPO where we celebrate what makes us feel pretty. Whether it’s a new outfit, hairstyle, or makeup, the I Feel Pretty link up is about anything and everything that makes your life prettier. Even if you’re not a blogger, you can still play along. Just tell us what made you feel pretty this week in the comments!I Feel Pretty Logo

There are just a few simple rules:
1. Follow GYPO. (Bloglovin‘, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest)

2. Link up your pretty post.

3. Link back to my blog (using the button above or your own link).

4. Visit other pretties. That’s it, now go have some fun!


Spring Challenge Registration is Open + $500 Giveaway

Spring Challenge Registration is Open + $500 Giveaway

Mar 27, 2015

Today’s the day – registration for the Spring 2015 GYPO Style Challenge is now open!  Click the link below to sign up now and take advantage of early bird pricing.

SPRING 2015 GYPO STYLE CHALLENGE

After you sign up, be sure to enter my $500 Spring Wardrobe Giveaway!

$500 Spring Wardrobe Giveaway

There’s only one way to enter and here’s how:

1.  Go to my Facebook page (and like it if you haven’t yet!)

2.  Find the pinned post at the top of the page (it will be about the Spring 2015 Challenge)

3.  Like and comment on that post.  If you’d like you can also share that it with your friends!

That’s it!  Easy right?  The entries will be put into a random number generator and a winner will be announced on 4/3.

Contest Rules:  US and Canada residents only.  Prize will be awarded on a gift card.  Winner will be selected through random number generator.  Contest closes at midnight ET on 4/2/15.

P.S.  This is the lowest price this challenge will be offered at.  Sign up now for early bird pricing!