Jonquil Alyse

Thirty, Flirty, and Thriving

Today is officially my birthday and I’m 30! (Insert all the just turning 30 saying’s here) As you can see my favorite one happens to come from a little cinematic flick named ’13 going on 30′.

Though I feel truly no different than I did last year, saying that I’m 30 does make me feel a lot like I’m officially an adult. It’s funny, because I was just thinking about how fast the last 10 years flew by, but how as a kid it felt as though time stood so still.

I wanted to do this post as a way to share some of the wisdom that I’ve learned throughout my twenties, who knows, maybe someone needed to hear this so here goes:

1.You are forever and always going to make mistakes, it’s how we learn and grow from them that matters most.

2. Low rise jeans were definitely a mistake.

3. Using your fingers to count is still a viable counting system.

4. Life is in fact like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get, there are sweet moments, and also some bitter ones.

5. Having girlfriends is not only necessary, it’s essential! I am a strong believer that our friends, the family we create for ourselves, are our soulmates and help us get this thing called life. (Reference material: Sex and the City)

“We made a deal ages ago. Men, babies, it doesn’t matter. We’re soul mates.”— Carrie Bradshaw

6. A daily SPF is a must and I should have been wearing this long ago.

7. The things that make you different are in fact very beautiful, and it’s ok not to “fit in”! I know that people say this as an inspirational quote, but this one’s true, this one you can keep.

8. Investing in shoes with the proper arch support and cushioning is the smartest decision you can make.

9. Try to never lose your sense of childlike wonder and adventure, and never stop setting goals and believing that you can achieve them.

10. And lastly time will pass by before you know it, moments were not meant to last forever, so take chances, create memories, and love as hard as you can.

I’m hopeful to learn more valuable lessons in my life and to really live for the moment. My 20’s did bring me a lot of growth moments, I’m hoping to put all the knowledge I’ve learned to good use in my 30’s and start all the moments possible.

Street Style: Luxe for Less

Do you ever have those items in your closet that you purchased because you felt like if you wore them you be a bolder and better you…well for me that was this mesh bodysuit. On the left is the one I’m wearing, On the right is a close Comparison by Boohoo. Continue reading Street Style: Luxe for Less

On a mental note

Every so often I keep running into that problem where I lack the same amount of inspiration that I once had, it’s always seemed as though it was slightly a bad thing, and I always felt really bad for not pushing through those times like a champ, But realistically…..I took a break, and it felt DAMN GOOD to do so.

Lately, when I’m feeling as though I have nothing to contribute, as far as my blog goes, I try to just to let that be a sign and just take a mental break from it. In my mind, I would rather not write anything, than to put out into the world stuff that I’m not really proud of or feel is the best that I can put out. What brought about this break, is the fact that I’ve been wanting to really shake a few things up on this platform and stray from the norm and make it something that my readers would truly enjoy (even if there are on 12 of you lol).

I really want to make this something more visual opposed to what I had been doing, so bear with me guys, and pardon the dust while this site (as it stands) is in a bit of transformation mode! Thank you so much to everyone who has stuck with me, and I truly always mean it when I ask, but if there is ever anything that you guys are curious about, or would like to see, please let me know.

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The Gift of Gordmans

With only a few weeks left until Christmas and the New Year, the holiday party season is in full swing, and with that comes holiday party fashion. If you’re like me, you’re probably looking for something extra special to wow in, something that’s definitely going to be a showstopper.

Well I was recently able to explore the aisles of Gordmans, where I put together a few holiday looks guaranteed to stand out at any holiday soiree. In all honesty, I always envision a Great Gatsby-esque mood board when I’m looking to for what to wear for these events, and without a doubt Gordmans had so many fun styles to choose from.

I also loved their wide range of shoes, accessories, and brand name products, it truly makes Gordmans a one stop holiday shop, especially considering how amazing their prices are. They say that one is never under dressed or over dressed in a little black dress, but I say…let’s shake things up and have a little fun thinking outside the box.

What’s your go-to style for rocking it at Holiday parties, are you into very minimal sleek looks, do you prefer to sparkle in sequins, do you gravitate towards the luxe feel of velvet textures or do you like to rock it all.

**This post was sponsored by specialty retailers, inc. all thoughts are my own.**

On any stage

If you don’t know by now shopping is one of my all time favorite sports and as someone who is constantly on the go, I always love being able to find a place with a huge selection to offer. I recently got to attend the grand opening of a new Bealls in Seguin Texas, and was thrilled with all they had to offer and all the amazing deals.

They had Home decor and essentials, clothing and accessories, a great shoe selection, makeup/perfume, toys galore, and so much more. Bealls is a one-stop-shop type of operation, where you’re able to purchase an array of different products from the brands we all know and love. I think it would be perfect, especially with the holiday season rolling around to be able to pop into one of their many locations to be able to find everything you need for gift giving without having to break the bank.

I am currently in the midst of redecorating a few areas in my apartment, to give it more of a Rustic Industrial feel, and I was able to find the major things I was looking for and more. I found the cutest comforter set, sheets to match, and a few decor items to tie the space together. We went for a blue toned color palette, but I can tell you it was a hard choice with all the options they have available. I have listed a few of the items I purchased below, definitely go check out the website, they have some major pieces available at such great deals, it’s hard not to want to take it all!

I can’t wait to show you guys more of the space once it’s all completed!

Vintage

I realize that fashion, like most things in history, keeps repeating itself. Over the Summer season, I noticed a huge nod to the 70’s era and it seems to have continued on to the Fall as well. (Insert me telling my mom that she should have kept her old clothes for me lol)

I’ve been definitely grooving on this ‘vintage take with a new spin’ style recently, I love the color palettes, the bold prints, the fabrics as well as the cuts of the pieces that are rolling out.

For this look I wanted to play on that vintage-esque vibe with muted color tones, perfect for the Fall season, with trendy cuts. I love this super cute tie front crop top, paired perfectly with these high rise pants. For me this purse was the star of the show, it was the centerpiece to this whole look, and I scored it for only $2 at my local goodwill. The Calvin Klein shoes were also a Thrift Store find that I got for $8.

I’ve been really loving this trend and plan on continuing it with other pieces as well. Is the vintage clothing trend something that you’re into as well?

Athleta

I had the honor of playing dress up recently as part of the Athleta #workinyourworkout campaign. They gave me 2 mannequins to dress, with a bit of a twist, transforming a pair of workout leggings into a work day outfit with just a few minor tweaks. My initial thought was to go for a pair that wouldn’t necessarily be the “easy” choice, by just picking a pair of plain black leggings, I wanted this challenge to exciting and innovative. Not only did I want the pair I went with to be comfortable, but I wanted them to be the star of the show.

I went with the Elation 7/8 Tights, specifically in this print to break up the darker tones, and to give this look a pop. When I tell you that the Elation Tights are so comfortable, that is such an understatement, they feature a high waist band for comfort and fit snug and perfectly. I liked that they give you the feeling of support without being too tight.

With the fall season in mind, I dressed my ladies for a bit of a cooler temperature, keeping warm tones and layering as a must. I loved getting to be super creative and to come up with looks that I would not only wear myself, but something that I would feel comfortable and confident in.

I worked closely with Mark Lee Wolf, who not only helped me really understand what each piece was capable of doing, but took the time to help me understand Athleta’s mission in this industry. To ignite a community of active, healthy, confident women and girls who empower each other to reach their limitless potential. They believe alone we are strong, but united we thrive; bringing this to life through the Power of She campaign.

(P.s. Of course I had to get in the Elation tight’s myself, they are magical)

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