Pretty is

...My Life and Style

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About Blogging

Since starting my wordpress blog on March 10th I have learned so much about setting up a blog.


I have been a follower of several fashion blogs for several years.  It was J’s Everyday Fashion that hooked me.  J would find a fashionable outfit, and style a look-a-like from items in her own closet.  She gave me a good amount of styling info.  Then I stumbled onto Grace + Beauty which led me to Jolynn Shane and others.  I arrogantly expected that I could produce the same type of blog with great ease.

Not so much.

I’ve come a long way in one month (learned at lot), but have a long way to go.
That said, if I can help others have an easier time with this process, I am happy to do so.

To begin, here is what I’ve learned:
First of all, wordpress.com is BY FAR easier to manage than wordpress.org.  HOWEVER, if you hope to have a blog like the ones aforementioned, you’ll need to utilize wordpress.org and first find a host (I use Blue Host), then install wordpress from that host site

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Secondly, there are SO MANY themes you can choose from  if you have a self-hosted blog (wordpress.org).  Choose wisely and KNOW that yours will not look the same without modifications.  I have a Genesis theme that I have yet to customize to the point that it looks like the theme I purchased

If you know nothing about CSS (and such), you will need help.  I have spent many hours searching YouTube for help.  It can be found, but it takes time.  This research time will cut into the time you may have spent writing/posting.  If you have a full-time job and spend time commuting like I do, don’t be disappointed when your blog is not all that you expected in a short amount of time.
Next, your photos may seem to lose clarity when you “Add Media” into your post.  In the editing stage, make sure you select “Media File”.  Mine was default set to “None”.  It changed many of my photos when I corrected this.

Which brings me to my “Site Icon” which is set in “Site Identity” when you customize your “Active Theme”.    That was a run-on sentence, but forgive me.  This is the Icon I created on the PicMonkey website

It may not mean all that much; you see this icon in the tab when you visit a website.  I wanted mine to look “clean”.  It took learning PicMonkey to make that happen.  If you are as OCD as I am you’ll understand why this matters.  I’ll be happy to answer any questions.

Now… my post with the most views is dated March 31 and was regarding what I thought to be a super-fail.  Here it is:

As he walked through the kitchen in an early morning funk, LB announced sleepily “well baby, it’s the last day of fall”.  I looked at him and replied, “I don’t even know what you just said.”

Well baby… its the last day of March!

Today I jumped in with my eyes closed and for the first time I posted to Jo Lynne Shane’s [famous] Fashion Friday.

I attached my 50 Shades of Red post because I thought it was a pretty good ‘over 40 fashion blog’ post for someone who doesn’t really know what she’s doing in the world of BLOG.  Only I cut my head off.  How sad is that?  My LB exclaimed “OH NO” when I showed him.  I felt like a failure.

Apparently I’m resilient.

Today I helped [at least] 2 people.  One little old fella (and I say that because he did) who couldn’t figure out a problem.  And one lady who just wanted someone to care, and attempt to fix her problem.  And I Will fix her problem.  I don’t feel like a failure.

As a side note, I looked pretty today.  This is what I wore:

There’s more and I’ll continue my blogging quest and Happily help anyone who has questions.

Let me know yours

Casual Friday

TGIF and I am NOT KIDDING!

Its a beautiful day and I have spring fever.  Today would have been the perfect day to play hookie.  I was completely unmotivated by anything in my closet this morning.  Patience was not a virtue for me as I stood in my closet with a blank stare at the sea of fabric hanging from the racks.  With no desire to put an outfit together, I grabbed this yellow shirt from NY & Co and the light blue skinny jeans that I rarely wear.  And voilà… casual Friday outfit

There are 452 emails (exaggeration) from LOFT in my inbox.  Truth be told, I have NEVER purchased an item from LOFT.  However I did tag an item from their website once and I cannot help but admire their sales persistence.  Currently there is Free Shipping on $125 and 40% off when using code: OHGOODIE.

I’m looking at the website right now.  This little skirt is TOO CUTE and

Image of Boho Shift Skirt

would look great with an Old Navy Everywhere Relaxed V-Neck tee and these little shoes product photoOr maybe these little shorts

Thumbnail Image of Color Swatch 0544 Image of Marigold Tie Waist Shortspaired with one of the same Old Navy V-Neck Tees in slate, pine or navy.  Buy them all… they are only $6.  Or pair them with this Cold Shoulder top they are pictured with here

Primary Image of Cold Shoulder TopI might need that outfit.

Me and my orange obsession cannot help but LOVE this Sunflower Lace Shell

which would pair nicely with denim blue or white.

I suppose I’m going to need to visit LOFT and try some of these items out for myself.  Sounds like a good shopping trip idea for Saturday!

Retail Therapy

One of my weaknesses is shopping.

This is a known fact to anyone has spent time with me (or read my blog).

Retail therapy is what some call it and rightly so.  I find that it is an escape and a form of entertainment. It doesn’t always involve a purchase. Most of the time it involves filling up a shopping cart then closing the webpage. Occasionally I will find myself searching for something like a new pair of sandals in a specific color, with straps across the toes (not between) and a heel no higher than 2 ¼ inches.  That is what I ENJOY!

This type of expedition may take weeks.  Currently I am stalking these little sandals:

They meet all the criteria.  And would look nice with this outfit…

I love planning and styling outfits.  It isn’t always easy to put the whole outfit together.  This is what I wore today:

I purchased this top a few years ago on a shopping spree night from Venus.com.  Never worn until today.  I love the top and tried styling it with white pants.  It is so sheer that I could see my belt loops under the top.  I didn’t like seeing my belt loops.  Or my pants pockets or buttons for that matter.  But wearing it with this little scuba skirt was an entirely different story.  Nice and smooth.

For anyone interested… in the background is the 2015 Anniversary Edition Race Red Ford Mustang that has been part of my family since last January (2016).  I drove that to work today.  It matches my top.

Swimsuit Nightmares

I am one lucky lady!  LB loves to give me attention, buy me pretty things, take me on vacations.  He also likes to send me little “flashback” or “reminder” texts to brighten my day.  Recently I received a text from him that read “only 6 weeks and 3 days till our tropical vacation”
I’m so excited!

This eventually prompted me to start thinking about my packing list:

  1. white halter and orange shorts
  2. red/blue striped off the shoulder and white shorts
  3. sun dress with lace up front
  4. sparkly flip flops
  5. floppy straw hat
  6. sunglasses
  7.  swim suit

Swim suit???

 

  no shocked upset noooo robin hood men in tights GIF

Yep… it’s time to break out the swim suit again.

I’ll be having nightmares for the next six weeks
You can find a lot of blog posts that attempt to provide helpful information about what type of suit is appropriate for the over 40 age group.

I have a few suggestions of my own:

 

 

 

 

 

JK

Just because you are over forty, doesn’t mean you have to resort to a suit that is boring, old-fashioned, skirted or the like.  Coverage is important, and more so as we age, but trying to hide imperfections with a larger than life swimsuit isn’t the best strategy.  An attempt to cover everything may only draw more attention to those seeming figure flaws. Case in point, if you have large thighs, don’t try to hide them under a swim skirt. You may inadvertently appear to be wearing your tent to a camp-out.  Opt for a one piece with a higher cut.

This swimsuit has a higher cut, but it also has a lot going on.  Very cute.  Proceed with caution.

Cupshe Movie Scene Floral One-piece Swimsuit

If you have tummy trouble, a high-waisted bikini bottom may only accentuate the tummy you are trying to disguise. A one-piece with stripes that point downward help slim your figure while providing coverage.

Cupshe Line of the Times Halter Swimsuit
On the other hand, I have talked about The Power of the Peplum in the past for tummy disguise, try something like this

Cupshe Bottomless Sea Falbala Bikini Set

Or we can cover all the bases at once and opt for  A Miracle Suit!

Use code “MIDDLE” for a surprise discount.

Have fun shopping!

Any Plans this Weekend?

Every weekend is an adventure.  LB will almost always have something planned [or have an idea or two].  On Friday afternoon, without fail, someone at work will ask if I have any plans for the weekend.  This past Friday the only plan I had was to go home that evening and make little pizzas then be ready for the treadmill Saturday morning.

I did both of those things.

Saturday was such a beautiful day, I decided to spend time outside and show some much needed attention to the sad plants on my deck.  Experimentally, I divided and re-potted one and transplanted another [from a pot to the yard], hoping they respond positively.  Two of my potted plants resemble the bird of paradise, although they have never bloomed.  Another two are plumeria although, they too are bloom-less.  My hibiscus plants have lost all their leaves and my croton appears to be depressed.  If I put my mind to it, I may have success growing a dandelion, but I doubt it.

Apparently I have a black thumb.

Then onto the treadmill.  I try to do 15-20 miles every week; this week I managed to log 16.

I’ve been wanting to stop by Classy Crossroads Boutique, so we made a quick stop before heading out to dinner.  LB discovered Classy Crossroads’ first location in Macclenny, FL  about six years ago.  He introduced me to this little boutique knowing I would love it.  Now it is not so little and they have added a second location in Jacksonville.

I found two blouses that I really liked and one I would have purchased, but I was hungry and didn’t feel like trying it on.

After much deliberation, we headed back to St. Augustine for a salad at the Cellar Upstairs

 

Same salad, same band mentioned in a previous post.

And yes, I’m wearing an orange top again.

Monday morning, I’ll be able to cheerfully answer “what did you do this weekend?” when posed with the question.

What’s in Your Bag

As I strode to my desk this morning, one of my co-workers commented on my pretty handbag.

The comment sparked a group conversation that led to a discussion of all the things ladies carry around in our handbags. “What’s in Your Bag”, I thought, would be a good topic for a blog post.

To circumvent your mounting curiosity, I’ll now divulge my deep dark “pocketbook” secrets.

There are seven main items in my handbag: A wallet, an iPad, a small notebook, 2 sets of car keys (one for my car, one for LB’s), a case containing eyeglasses, a pack of gum, and a much smaller bag that contains all those little necessities that get lost in the bottom of your handbag if not properly contained.

Pretty standard pocketbook stuff.  Everyone carries a wallet of some sort.  Mine contains my drivers license, debit card, and various other wallet type items.  My iPad is a necessity during lunchtime at work because I have my Stylebook to arrange, Instagram to stalk, and other blogger’s posts to catch up on.  The small notebook comes in handy if I think of a new post title or other idea to capture before it evades my overstuffed brain.  The other items are pretty self explanatory but small bag is the really interesting part…

and I’m not sharing.

so… what’s in your handbag?

[I SO wanted to say “what’s in your wallet”]

 

Orange and Blue

As I revealed in a previous post, orange is one of my favorites. Orange paired with blue is a glorious combination!
But though I’m a native Floridian and have lived in Florida all my life, I’m not a Gator fan. Sorry Folks.
I wish the Gators no ill will, I’ve just never been a fan of the team, or of football in general.

Speaking of football, aside from the SuperBowl (which is in my opinion just an excuse to have a party), the only thing I appreciate about football is the beer and hot wings.

Well… maybe just the hot wings.

As I mentioned, orange is one of my favorites. Together orange and blue create a synergistic effect which is great for a football team. It is also a combination I assemble often as blue jeans pretty much pair well with anything and I have a LOT of orange tops.

My taste in jeans changes every couple of years or so. Right now I’m obsessed with colored skinny jeans from Venus. A few years ago it was Stella boot cut jeans from Express. Sprinkled in the mix of my denim collection are Rock & Republic and a pair of True Religion that I rarely wear for fear that I may destroy them. I can be hard on my clothes (slob) and certainly don’t want to do any damage to a $300 pair of jeans. I don’t worry so much about a pair from Venus that cost $29.

Happy Tuesday!

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