Starfish Project: Jewelry with a Purpose

Jewelry that helps others speaks to my heart.  I recently came across the Starfish Project and their mission to help restore hope to exploited women in Asia.

Through life changing opportunities with holistic care programs and a social enterprise where women take on jobs they can be proud of.  They have employed over 130 women and have served thousands through community outreach services. 

The Meaning Behind the Name: The Starfish Parable

One day, an old man was walking along a beach that was littered with thousands of starfish that had been washed ashore by the high tide. As he walked he came upon a young boy who was eagerly throwing the starfish back into the ocean, one by one.

Puzzled, the man looked at the boy and asked what he was doing. Without looking up from his task, the boy simply replied, “I’m saving these starfish, Sir”.

The old man chuckled aloud, “Son, there are thousands of starfish and only one of you. What difference can you make?”

The boy picked up a starfish, gently tossed it into the water and turning to the man, said,

“I made a difference to that one!”

I picked out this beautiful initial necklace.  It is 14K gold and the perfect dainty everyday piece.  I have been wearing mine everyday on it's own and layered up. 

It came in the prettiest packaging and included a handwritten note from a women who is being helped by the Starfish Project.

It's not too soon to start thinking about Christmas presents, a jewelry piece from the Starfish Project would make a perfect gift.  Beautiful jewelry and a mission.

Friday Favorites

Friday favorites coming at you.  I love seeing favorites from people, gives me ideas of things to check out for myself.  Be sure and let me know your favorites so I can check them out!

Stranger Things Season 3: We finished season 3 last week and y'all it was crazy!!  No spoilers for those of you who haven't finished it yet.  I am a total chicken and don't do scary movies at all and I'll be honest and say that this season was a little creepy.  Much creepier than the past seasons for sure.  The characters were good, story was great and I would definitely recommend it!

Country Graphic Tees: I did a post styling these tees last week, check it out here.  I am obsessed with them!!  They are so cute and they look really fun and vintage.  I've really been enjoying styling them and showcasing my love for country music. 

Instacart: This has been a lifesaver y'all!  Such a great way to save time!!  I don't always have time to go to the grocery store with work and everything else going on so instacart is super helpful.  You pick out your items and schedule a delivery, the quickest they can deliver is 2 hours.  You then get an update on who is shopping for your order, if any items are unavailable and then when they are on their way to your location.  Sometimes things may be a few cents more and you do have a delivery fee of $4 but y'all I'm willing to pay that for the convenience of not having to go to the grocery store.

Rose Gold Earrings: I ordered these beautiful earrings from Aliexpress and have been wearing them ever since.  I love the simplicity of them and they don't irritate my ears!!

Runaway June: Yay for new music!!  I have really been enjoying Runaway June's new album.  Reminds me a little bit of old school Dixie Chicks.  Some of my favorites are: Head Over Heels, I Know the Way, Got Me Where I Want You Good, Bad and Ugly and Blue Roses.  

Let me know what you have been loving lately!

Friday Favorites

Friday favorites coming at you.

Joggers: I already own these joggers in black and am obsessed with them so I figured I would pick them up in a new color.  I got this really pretty slate and I love them!  They are no kidding the softest joggers EVER!!!

Eli Young - Break it In: Yes to new music from Eli Young!!!  My husband and I are big Eli Young Band fans and I am so excited they have new music coming!  I love the chorus of this one, such a great sound! p.s. if you missed our Eli Young Band concert experience, check it out here.   

Initial necklace: I have been eying this one for a while and finally ordered it.  I love how dainty and tiny it is, perfect for layering or pairing on its own for an effortless look.  Also it's crazy cheap, it just takes a little while to get here with shipping. 

Crossbody bag: My sister picked this bag up for me from her job at Altar'd State.  She gets a pretty good discount so she got it for a steal.  I love the simplicity of it and even though it is a smaller bag it fits a lot!!

Big Brother: Big Brother is back and my husband and I are living for it!!  This is the third season we have watched and we are so hooked!  If you have never watched it I completely recommend checking it out, it is so interesting to watch.  Prepare to get reeled in, I know I did the first time I started it.  

That's it for favorites this week, letme know down below what you guys have been loving lately!

How to get Kendra Scott for 50% off!!

I have been a fan of Kendra Scott for years, I'm just not a fan of the price tag.  I have a pair of earrings that my husband got for our anniversary one year.  I have always wanted one of the Elisa stone pendants but didn't want to shell out $50 or more.

Y'all know I am all about a good deal and I had to share this one with you.  Did you know that during your birthday month if you go to a Kendra Scott store you can receive 50% off ANY item???  

One more time, you get 50% off any item!!

You can only redeem this in store, not online (unfortunately) but it is a super easy process.  I decided that this birthday was the one I took advantage of so my husband and I took a trip to the Kendra Scott store.  I knew I wanted an Elisa but I wasn't completely sure what color stone I wanted.  I looked around and fell in love with this blue illusion one.  

When you checkout you just mention that you want to apply the birthday discount.  They will check your id and put an email on file to track your discount, super simple.

P.S. you can also use your boyfriend/husband's discount during heir birthday month they just have to be with you ;)

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Five Things Friday

Another weekly favorites!  A little random, but that's what makes it fun.

Teleties: I got these in my stocking and have been loving them.  I got the peppermint color and it is like a unicorn, all holographic and gorgeous.  These guys really work, they are super comfy in your hair and look really cute on your wrist.  I've been wearing one on my wrist pretty much everyday.  Also little tip, if they get a little stretched out shrink them back with hot water.

Liz High Top Sneakers: I finally got my hands on these shoes!  They were on my Christmas wishlist but ended up selling out.  I got a notification that they were back in stock and jumped on it.  These guys are super comfy!  I have been wearing them non-stop!!  They look exactly like the Dolce Vita pair but for a fraction of the price.

Extra Toasty Cheez-its: So this is a random favorite but y'all if you haven't tried the extra toasty cheez-its you are missing out completely!  I like the "burnt" cheze-its in the regular box and this is a box of just them!  Now don't get put off, they don't taste burnt, you really have to try them for yourself!

Animal print robe: I got this robe for Christmas and have pretty much been living in it!  It is crazy soft and cozy.  It says it is animal print but my husband has dubbed it "Giwaffle".  He says it looks like a Giraffe/waffle.

Kendra Scott Elisa necklace: This was my early birthday gift from my husband.  We spent the weekend spending time together and picked up this beauty.  It is the Elisa in the light blue illusion and I'm in love!  I have been wanting an Elisa for years and finally have one in my collection.  

Let me know what you have been loving!

Aliexpress Haul

I've been a fan of Aliexpress for years, it's a great way to get trendy pieces for cheap.  The only downside is the shipping time, typically it can take up to a month for your items to get to you.  I just order with that in mind. Here are the items from my most recent order:

Tortoise acrylic earrings: These acrylic earrings are so trendy right now.  J.Crew and Madewell have them for $20 and up, these were less than $1 and they have other colors!

Leopard Beanie: Leopard is my favorite neutral right now and this print beanie is the perfect way to add the print to a look.  This one was less than $3!!

Phone tripod: I picked this thing up on a whim and y'all it has been pretty useful.  We took it with us on our trip to Biltmore and used it to get pictures of both of us.  You set your phone up and use the button through bluetooth to take pictures.  For less than $3 it's worth a try.

Cross hoops: I have been really loving cross hoops at the moment and these are the perfect simple addition to an outfit.  For right around $1, I couldn't pass them up.

Leopard Fitbit band: Yes to more leopard!!  I love the little touch to add to an outfit.  It is super comfy and seems to be good quality.  I found others for more than $10 and this one was less than $3, score!

Have you ordered from aliexpress before?  I would love to know your finds, leave me a comment down below.

Five Things Friday

I love seeing what people are loving.  It's been a while since I have done a post on my favorites, thought I would bring it back.

Stranger Things: Kyle and I have been watching this for a while and I realized that I hadn't even talked about it.  We are on season 2 now and I'm definitely hooked.  I held off on watching it because I was afraid it would be too scary (I'm a total chicken).  While it is a little freaky the story line is great as well as the characters.  We are about halfway through season 2 and I can't wait to see what happens. 

Anastasia Soft Glam Palette: I got this as a Christmas gift and am in love!  I will admit I was definitely afraid of this palette at first but y'all its so pretty!  The shadows are super buttery and pigmented.  It's always nice to get something as a gift that you wouldn't normally get yourself. 

Sam Edelman Boots: These boots!!  I have been wearing these boots so much this winter.  They look so chic!  The fur is crazy soft and I love the soft touch they give to your outfit.  

Alex and Ani Bracelet: My mom got this for me for Christmas and I have been wearing it everyday since.  The charm is sterling silver and the bracelet adjusts to fit my wrist (something that rarely happens).  They are on sale right now for $10!

Planner: I am a big fan of having a planner to write in for the year.  This one was a Christmas gift and I am loving the large layout. 

4-H, Livestock and more at Whippoorwill Valley

If you have been around for awhile you know I am a cowgirl at heart.  I grew up on a beef cattle farm, raising and showing Simmental.  I was in 4-H for 10+ years and owe a lot of who I am to being involved in these programs.

I discovered Whippoorwill Valley on etsy and fell in love.  It is run by two sisters who have a heart for the country way of life.  They grew up on a farm in Missouri on Whippoorwill Road.  

My favorite piece is this show cattle keychain.  It is such great quality and is the cutest way to add a little charm to your keys.

This show heifer charm necklace is so cute and would be perfect to wear to a show or livestock event.

They were so sweet and sent this necklace to me as well.  I love the arrowhead and the message of following your own arrow.

  

If you or someone you know is involved in 4-H, FFA or agriculture in general check out Whippoorwill Valley and see what you can find.

Jewelry Junkie Styling

A touch of turquoise and you have my attention.  I love the western feel turquoise and stones add to an outfit.  Raised on a beef cattle farm, I love pieces that give that cowgirl vibe.  I recently discovered The Jewerly Junkie, a Texas based company creating beautiful jewelry pieces that have a western boho vibe.  I'm all about them!

I picked up three pieces from them and had so much fun styling and adding a little boho touch to my outfits.

This white turquoise slab necklace is so easy to add to an outfit.  It is gorgeous and also surprisingly comfortable to wear.  The back is a leather cord so it sits nicely on your neck.  I wanted the necklace to pop so I styled this one pretty simply over a black tank. 

How pretty is that stone???  This regalite slab cuff is gorgeous!  Bracelets can be hard for me since I have smaller wrists but this one adjusts and actually fits!  Again I wanted the bracelet to stand out so I paired it with a simple shirt, jeans and my favorite booties.

My last piece was this turquoise multi-cross necklace.  Give me all the turquoise!!!  This piece is a stand out and I love the versatility.  You can double it up or wear it long and layer with other pieces.  I can't wait to try out other styles.

I wanted to play up the western vibe so I paired this one with an embroidered tank and cardigan.

I am obsessed with these pieces and love the western touch they give an outfit.  Let me know your favorite styling below!

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New Favorite Jewelry Pieces!

If you have been around for a while you know I love personalized jewelry (or just things in general).  I am a southern girl and I will always love a well placed monogram or initial.  I discovered Keira Nicole Jewelry on instagram and fell in love with the simplistic designs that are perfect for layering.  She is super sweet and sent me two initial bracelets and a necklace.  I have been obsessed with them ever since!  

I got one bracelet with my initial and the other with my husband's.  I could totally see getting my kid's initials to wear down the road.

I have been wearing these bracelets pretty much nonstop since I got them.  They are super easy to throw on and I love pairing them with other jewelry.

Side note...how cute is my new pearl denim jacket??

I have also been wearing my "e" necklace all the time.  I love how dainty and simple it is.  It looks so chic on its own or layered with other necklaces.

These would also make really great gifts, everyone loves personalized goodies!!

Christmas Wishlist

I don't know about you but I love seeing what people want for Christmas.  I'm nosy and it also gives me some ideas for what I might want to ask for.  Here are a couple of things I am hoping for this year:

Chick-Fil-A calendar card: I ask for this every year because it's the gift that keeps giving.  If you haven't ever gotten a calendar card form Chick-Fil-A you are missing out.  These guys are less than $10 and you get around $40 worth of food and drinks.  Each month is a new deal anything from a free sandwich to a frosted lemonade.  If you love Chick-Fil-A like I do this is perfect!   

Duck Boots: I have been wanting a pair of duck boots for a while and wasn't sure if I would get use out of them.  There has now been enough times when I wished I had a pair for an outfit that I felt like I needed them in my closet.  Perfect for rain or snow and they are really cute!  

Olive Booties: I love booties, I have quite he collection.  I have been seeing a lot of olive booties styled lately and really like the look.  I have a light olive but would really like a dark olive pair.  

Chenille Cardigan: Unless you have been living under a rock you know that chenille is all the rage right now.  Super soft and cozy, I'm all about it.  This chenille cardi is from JCPenny, comes in three colors and I am in love! 

Fitbit Alta HR: I have had my Charge HR for almost two years and it is about to bite the dust.  It is peeling, doesn't sync and the clock is way off...I think it's time for a new one.  

Druzy bracelets: I am really loving bracelets at the moment, especially druzy stones.  I love the natural chic feel they add to an outfit.  This one is less than $10! 

Kristin Hannah The Great Alone: Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors and this is her most recent book that I haven't read yet.  You be it's on my wishlist! 

Espresso Maker: A coffee maker that makes coffeehouse quality espresso at home...sign me up.  My mother-in-law has this model and it works great.  It even has a milk frother so you can get real fancy with your lattes and all.  

Gucci Belt: Ok, so this isn't an actual Gucci belt...I could never spend that much on a belt much less ask someone else to.  I found this one on amazon for around $15.  Yeah it's probably not the best quality but I can deal.  I have seen so many instagram posts styling these belts that I fell into the trap.    

Turquoise Earrings: Statements earrings are making a comeback and these turquoise ones stole my heart.  I love turquoise (blame it on my inner cowgirl) and these give a Kendra Scott vibe for less than $10.  

What are you hoping to get for Christmas?  Let me know in a comment below! 

Target and Rue21 Clearance Haul

I recently went to Target and they had SO many things on clearance!!!  I am all about the clearance.  To make things even better Target cartwheel had an extra 20% off clearance.  Which if you aren't using cartwheel go download it now, it will change your shopping there! 

Anyway here's what I picked up on this trip:

How cute are these rainboots??  They had these in the regular section as well in a new glossy version.  I actually prefer this matte floral version better.  They were so cute and less than $10!!

I am so in love with these brown and ivory slides.  They are so pretty and chic.  I am so in love with them.  They have just a slight baby wedge for a little extra umph.

Alright these are going to be a love hate thing, my husband hates them.  I have been looking for a pair of buckled sandals because they are so comfortable.  These guys were on clearance and I'm not in love with the flag print but they are really comfortable.  I am planning a little diy with them to redo the flag print to something a little more me.

These are probably my favorite find, and also my most expensive.  I had been eyeing these blush satin sneakers for a while and they finally got on clearance!  They are super comfy and look like a Steve Madden dupe.  They also have a burgundy velvet pair that I have on my wishlist.

I also ran by Rue21 randomly and found two pieces of jewelry for $1 each!

They are both long necklaces with a really pretty stone pendant.

They were originally $10 and I can't wait to pair them with a plain sweater this fall. 

What clearance finds have you found lately?

Aliexpress is it a scam??

If you know me you know I am always on the lookout for a good deal.  I discovered aliexpress in college and was a little skeptical as to the quality of the items and also if I was going to even receive my items.  The prices are crazy good, they are from China so prices can be lower.  The downside is waiting for shipping.  I have placed a couple orders through the years and thought I would share my most recent purchases:

Quote Bracelets .99 cents!  These bracelets caught my eye and for less than $1 I thought it was worth it t give it a try.  I was pleasantly surprised.  They are flexible so they fit to your wrist, I have a small wrist so this was really nice.  They are really dainty and perfect for layering.    

Cat Eye Sunnies .99 cents.  These sunglasses were another random find that I picked up for less than $1.  They are really cute but the quality is just so so.  They are plastic and super light.  I am still going to give them a try.  Honestly I'm thinking they might be good for Disney because they are so light.  You can hardly feel them so they won't hurt your ears or your face.  

Kendra Scott inspired necklace $2.00.  This necklace I have been wearing on repeat since I got it.  It is beautiful!  The quality is great and it definitely looks like a Kendra Scott.  I'm not sure about the long time quality but for less than $2 I think I can deal.

Have you tried Aliexpress?  What has been the best thing you have picked up?