Having Fun with Layers - Dressy Valentine's Day Look - 5 Year Bloggiversary with a Giveaway

Today I am showing you a more dressed up Valentine’s Day look. Although, so many of us are choosing to not go out very often, or at all, there still is the opportunity to dress up for a date night right in your own home. Obviously, this is harder for those of you who have kids, but those of us who are empty nesters can do this a little more easily. If you are a young couple, there is no reason you can’t have a fun Valentine’s party with your littles and reserve some of your own special time once they are in bed.

Today’s outfit revolves around a beautiful blouse I recently acquired from Maurice’s clearance rack. I love everything about this blouse from the high collar, to the pattern and the flowy, sheer fabric. Just like I did for my casual outfit on Tuesday, I am wearing the same under layers consisting of the black tights and black tank top.

My long, black maxi skirt was a Meijer clearance find. It is a summer weight skirt of lighter material, but it is not sheer, so doesn’t need a slip underneath. The brand is Ava James. I like the textured pleats which gives it the look of crepe. It also has a comfortable elastic waistband and pockets.

You can see from the above picture that I drew on the gold, metallic splashes that are on the blouse for my jewelry inspiration. There is plenty going on, on the blouse, but I thought a few simple gold pieces would compliment the look just right.

I added the metallic, blush moto jacket as my over layer piece. This jacket, I’ve styled before on the blog. I got it a few years ago at Nordstrom Rack and it is a brand called Coffee Shop New York. You can see how I styled it with a camo shirt and with a Mickey Mouse tee.

In keeping with the gold jewelry and the gold flecks on the blouse, I decided to carry my small gold, clutch. This is a thrifted piece and perfect for those special occasions that require you to dress up. I don’t have very many of those any more. How about you? Do you still find occasions to dress up?

My shoes you have seen multiple times on the blog. They are Aerosoles and I got them on clearance at DSW. Again, I apologize for the dirty shoes. I didn’t realize how much cat hair is just laying around, and I have vacuumed several times since Christmas. Those darn fur balls. Ha, ha.

What did you think of this outfit? Do you like floral blouses? Do you prefer maxi skirts, midi skirts or a knee length or shorter? Are you doing anything special for Valentine’s Day? I don’t know if we are doing anything or not. As we get older, it has become less about the particular days and more about making every day special. Don’t forget about the giveaway. I’m including the rules again, below. If you haven’t entered yet, be sure you comment and subscribe.

If you want to be entered into the drawing to win either a $25 Target card, or a $25 Amazon gift card, please be sure to read the rules and enter. Entries will be taken until 12 midnight on Friday, February 12th. If you are not sure how to subscribe, just click the link at the top of home page that says, Subscribe and fill in the information. Being a subscriber does not cost you a thing. It just allows me to sent you a once a week email, to remind you there are new posts on the blog. You can either comment on today’s post, or on this past Tuesday’s post. You can also earn more entries by commenting on Facebook and Instagram. Have a fabulous Thursday!

Celebrating My 3 Year Bloggiversary with a Giveaway

It is hard for me to believe that I am celebrating three years as a Faith and Fashion blogger. It has been an interesting hobby and I have definitely created new pathways in my brain. There was so much I had to learn about downloading pictures, pasting in links, collaborations and more. There were times that I was ready to throw in the towel, and others, where I was very excited about continuing this journey as a blogger. I have connected with friends, people I may never personally meet, but friends still the same and I have stretched myself by learning new things both technologically and in the realm of fashion blogging.

I wanted to make this a celebration by giving something away. You, my faithful subscribers, are the ones who really keep me motivated to keep doing this. Let’s face it, there are thousands of fashion bloggers out there and thousands of faith bloggers. You could easily find a blog that is more up on the trends, and geared towards featuring great clothes from retailers for you to see and buy. You could also find a blog that is more geared towards the younger set, moms who are raising kids, who need just the right advice or encouragement about how to keep their sanity in these busy years of their lives. These are all good and so many of them are extremely well done. So why do I keep doing this?

Every time, I get discouraged, and start asking myself, why am I doing this, God seems to send just the right person along, to comment on my blog. When someone tells me I inspired them with a certain outfit, to try to do a similar thing from their own closet, or when a subscriber tells me, the faith post I wrote, was just what they needed to hear, that is why I keep doing this.

You see, when I started blogging, it wasn’t about making money, getting free stuff, or becoming famous, it revolved around my desire to write and my desire to encourage. I know in my heart of hearts that there are hundreds of women out there who are having bad days. It might be hard to get out of bed, let alone, figure out what to wear. I also know there are women, like me, who can’t always talk about what is going on inside, because there are other factors and people involved. However, we can still be encouraging by just being there for one another. Think of me, as that friend that shows up at your door at just the right time, to give you a hug and remind you that you are beautiful and you are valuable. We all need that.

I thought it would be fun to show you a few pictures from when I first started blogging and compare them to more recent photos. Let me know if you see any changes, for good or bad. Ha, ha.

This is from my very first fashion post in 2016. If you want to see the original post, just click on the picture.

The next image is from a year later, in February of 2017.

Here is an outfit from February 2018.

And of course I had to add one from this year.

I think it is fun to watch the progression, not only in my daughter Rebecca’s photography, my other daughter Rachel’s make up, but also in the changes in my hair. Ha, ha. Having a blog is a great way to document changes in your life.

I thought a Target gift card would be a good choice for this giveaway. Everyone can find something or other at Target, even if you don’t like their clothes, bags or shoes, you can always use $30 to stock up on toilet paper or cards for upcoming birthdays.

Just follow the directions below to participate in the giveaway.

Thanks again for all of your support. Entries for the giveaway will close on Friday, February 15th at midnight. I’ll announce the winner Tuesday, February 19th.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull. Make up Rachel Christensen.