Don’t Quit – Persevere

Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle

Some how this vlog slipped through the cracks and never got posted. However, it’s perfect timing as I’m coming up on my one year anniversary of hitting goal at WW (formerly known as Weight Watchers)! Lori and I share our thoughts on staying the course and not quitting! Sometimes easier said than done!

Celebrating 1 Year Anniversary

It recently dawned on me that I hit my goal weight at the end of October last year. That means that I’m celebrating one year of keeping my weight off! That’s kind of a big deal in my mind as I’ve never lost this much weight and I never kept if off for any length of time!

Before and After

Lori thinks that I never really looked this big and that it’s a bad angle! I agree that it’s a bad angle but I really was this heavy. I knew how to dress to hide much of my weight and never posted any pictures at “bad angles”!

Every day I have to make an effort to make good choices, to never give up, to remind myself how far I’ve come and how good I feel! I continue to go to meetings weekly at this point especially in support of my husband. I like our meetings and our group of wonderful friends that are also on this journey. Will it ever be easy for me? Probably not..not that it’s hard it just takes effort and as we state in the video, I can’t stop reminding myself daily. In the past, I’d quit and the weight ALWAYS came back each time resulting in me being bigger than the time before!

Remember friends…it’s never too late and you’re never too old! If I can do it, so can you! I never dreamed it possible; and here I am heading into year two of my weight loss maintenance!

Let’s Chat

What tips or tricks do you have to stay the course and not give up or quit your weight loss or fitness journey? Have you been able to make healthy lifestyle choices your way of life? Leave us a comment! We love to hear from you!

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Feature a Friend

Meet Sue of Fashionably Fifty

Fashion Trends and Friends is as much about friends as we are about fashion. This week we are happy to introduce you to a fellow Chicago Area Midlife Influencer. Sue is a self-described clothing connoisseur & accessory addict! We first met on social media via Instagram. Our first in person meet up was at an event at Chico’s Water Tower Place.

Sue, Lori and I at Chico’s Water Tower Place. Our first in person meeting!

Sue is an avid thrifter, which I find intriguing as she always looks so put together and on trend! Thrifting is very overwhelming for me but maybe Sue will take me some time and school me!

How Sue Got Started

My daughter opened my Instagram account for me on September 10, 2016. At that time, I had been taking quick photos of my outfit and posting them on my personal Instagram account so that I could keep track of what I was wearing.

The first picture Sue’s daughter posted for her in Instagram.

I work at two community colleges, and I felt like I was wearing the same thing every day. In fact, I was wearing the same thing if I did not go to both schools on that day. When my account was opened, I was training to run in the Chicago Marathon, so I posted my outfits of the day and stuff about running. It quickly became evident that I needed to focus on one genre so to speak. My outfits posts got the most attention, and my handle is @fashionablyfifty, so I decided to post outfits in my little squares.

Now, I cover running in my stories and outfits in my posts.
Most of my clothes, as well as many other things in my home, are acquired from thrift stores or consignment shops. In the beginning of my Instagram account, I was hesitant to mention this because many people are grossed out by that. Not me, I absolutely love the thrill of the hunt. I find so many unique things.

How Sue Got Started Thrifting

When I was a child, my family spent our summers in the sleepy beach town of Syracuse, Indiana, across the road from Lake Syracuse. That town was packed with cute little secondhand shops. My mother would take us into town for ice cream and shopping. She never said no to anything we wanted to buy from the secondhand stores. We would have a ball buying clothes and household items, but we mostly bought books to read on the beach. That was my favorite part. Anyway, I was hooked on thrifting at an
early age. In my tween, teen, and young adult years, my shopping habits shifted away from thrifting, and I shopped in malls where it was convenient. After I had my last child, I lost weight and got into shape. I ended up losing 32 pounds, but I was still wearing my bigger size clothes because I was afraid that I would gain the weight back and didn’t want to spend money on clothes.

My mother suggested that I shop in thrift stores to find clothes that would fit. A Goodwill had just opened in my area. I really did not want to go because of the stigma attached, but my mother insisted and even went
with me. It was so much fun!

Thrifting Tips from Sue

This maxi sweater dress by Henri Bendel is one of Sue’s favorite thrift finds.

Although this dress didn’t have any tags, Sue was attracted to the colors and patterns. It’s another favorite thrift find!

Go early and go often.
I wear leggings, a tank top under a sweatshirt, and slip on shoes.
Be patient.
Have a list [for example, a navy blazer].
Try everything on—people alter clothes.
Button every button and zip every zipper.
Look at the inside of the armpits [I know, gross] to check for stains.
Go to the shoe section first.
If you find a pair of shoes, put them on and wear them the entire time to ensure they fit and are comfy [it is rare that I find shoes].
Avoid pieces with loose threads or rips unless you can sew.
Don’t be afraid to shop in the men’s section or the children’s section.
Have realistic expectations, you will come home empty handed at times.

FTF Hangs With Fashionable Fifty

Sue and I: Mirror Selfie at Chico’s of South Barrington Fashion Show

Chico’s South Barrington Fashion Show July 2018

The first Chicago Midlife Influencers Meet Up July 2019

July 2019 Happy Hour Meet Up
Julie, Lisa, Sue, Michelle and Linda

October 2019 Naperville Woman’s Club Witches Night Out Fundraiser

Chicago Midlife Influencers: Sue, Lisa, Me (a witchy friend) and Linda
Fun Times at Witches Night Out!

Follow Fashionably Fifty

If you aren’t already, you can follow Sue on Instagram: Fashionably Fifty

and on Facebook or on Like To Know It

Let’s Chat

Do you like to thrift? If so, what are some of your best finds? Leave us a comment! We’d love to hear about your treasures!

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Stylish Monday

Mad About Plaid

Fashion Trends and Friends did a previous blog post titled: Perfect in Plaid Pants. Click HERE! We shared 13 ways to style plaid pants! When my fellow fashionable friends suggested we do a collaboration on plaid, it was an easy YES for me and no panic regarding do I even have any plaid in my wardrobe…why YES, YES I DO! It’s no secret I’m a huge fan!

Currently Trending Plaid Blazers

A plaid blazer can actually double as a really trendy top when you button it up! Make sure the blazer is just a little oversized and the jeans or pants are slim fit and skinny at the ankle to balance proportions. Pair with your favorite booties and voila! Your perfect fall outfit is done.

I purchased my boyfriend style plaid jacket last year! Actually, I like how I styled it this year even better! The leopard print accessories with the plaid is a great mix in my opinion! This jacket would also look great with a sweater underneath, leggings and booties!

How I Styled the Plaid Jacket this Year

Plaid Jacket: New York and Company (last year)
Leopard Necklace and Earrings: Chico’s
Leopard Purse: Amazon

How I Styled the Plaid Jacket Last Year

Last year, I made a video for work wearing my boyfriend plaid jacket…felt like a boss babe so thought it was fitting. I’m including the video as it gives you a peek into a tiny portion of what I do as my district’s Prevention Coordinator.

SHOP THE LOOK

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Plaid Pants

Plaid pants are my jam! I own quit a few pairs in all kinds of colors! Plaid pants call my name. I wear them all year long and in every season. I don’t think I’ve ever met a pair of plaid pants that I didn’t love!

These plaid pants are the exact match to the boyfriend jacket I just posted! They could be paired with the jacket for a matchy matchy look, which I’m not opposed to and actually tend to be matchy matchy but have yet to wear that way. I tend to pair them with a solid color top or sweater. Used my leopard accessories especially since all animal prints are on major trend right now!

Plaid Pants: New York and Company (last year)
Sweater: Express
Leopard Belt and Sandals: Target
Necklace: Chico’s (last year)

Had to share the back of this sweater as the v cut out adds so much interest! I’ve also paired this sweater with white jeans.

The day I recently wore these plaid pants my nails were a perfect match! Made my heart sing…case in point and had to take a picture! Love matchy matchy!

Nail Colors: White, Light Beige and Gold Glitter – DIP manicure

If you’re an avid FTF follower, you know I LOVE wearing bright colors! When I spotted these plaid beauties, I knew immediately I had to have them. Who doesn’t love a bright plaid that includes PINK?! These plaid pants will look great with a thicker solid colored sweater and booties for the dull days of winter!

Plaid Pants: New York and Company
Sweater: Glam Fox Boutique – @glamfoxboutique

Thought you’d like to see the great colors – pink, turquoise, yellow, black and white up close!

Couldn’t pass up these plaid pants as I loved the unique color combination! These colors seem so fall perfect! I’ll also wear these pants in the winter by switching out this short sleeved top for either a long sleeved top or a solid colored sweater.

SHOP THE LOOK

Check Out How My Fellow Lifestyle and Fashion Blogging Friends Put Her Spin on Mad About Plaid

Cindy Scurry at Middle Sister Style Blog

Let’s Chat

Are you mad about plaid? What is your favorite way to wear plaid? Leave us a comment! We love to hear your thoughts!

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This post contains affiliate links, meaning when you click on an item or purchase an item, I may receive a very small commission for the click or purchase. These picks are NOT sponsored, are selected solely by me, and opinions are entirely my own.

Link Up

Timeless Skin Care

This post is sponsored by Timeless Skin Care

Freshness is Very Important for Skin Care Serums

More and more people are becoming aware of the devastating effects that time, the environment, various toxins and pollutants, and even the foods and liquids that we ingest can have on our skin and overall appearance. This isn’t even mentioning the ever-increasing stress and anxiety levels people are experiencing due to the various economic, social, and political climates that exist in today’s society.

All of these things added up spell disaster for the health and appearance of our bodies, especially our skin. Anti wrinkle serums and creams have come a long way in recent years due to the increase in demand for quality products that can help to slow down and even reverse the effects of aging. To help people interested in trying these products, we thought answering a few of the most common questions about them might be helpful:

How Do Serums Help Reduce the Signs of Aging?

There is a lot of science and ingenuity behind the development of these kinds of treatments. In the early days of skin care and anti-aging products, there may have been a little bit of “snake oil” showmanship and lofty promises regarding the potential effects that these items could offer the user. Perhaps playing on the insecurities of those who were advancing in age and seeing their once radiant skin beginning to lose its glow played into the desire to try anything that could take a few years off of their appearance.

But what it led to was the realization that there was a true demand and market for legitimate products of this type, and that’s when the real medical and scientific professionals got behind the creation of them. By experimenting with ingredients and supplements that performed such tasks as smoothing out skin, replenishing collagen, moisturizing and hydrating, restoring elasticity, as well as several other key factors, the market was soon inundated with viable solutions for people seeking to look younger.

What Other Products Can Help in This Process?

But of course, the advancement wouldn’t stop there. As the decades passed and the market grew, other vitamins, supplements, and ingredients were either created or discovered in nature to assist with the task of reversing the appearance of aging. One particularly effective product is matrixyl, which possesses anti-wrinkle components known as Matrikines. These little miracle workers help to rebuild and restructure the papillary dermis network.

Are There Accessories That Can Increase a Product’s Effectiveness?

Absolutely. One of the most popular and highly recommended products by the experts we consulted with was a dermaroller. Dozens and dozens of tiny little micro needles help to condition the skin to allow maximum exposure and absorption of the various creams, serums, lotions, and oils that might make up your particular skin care regimen.

By getting the full benefits of these products you will not only receive the visual compliment of your routine, but your skin will also feel better as well. Just be sure that if you decide to purchase one that you opt for the higher quality such as are made with medical grade steel.

Let’s Chat

What does your skin care routine look like? Do you have a favorite product? You know Lori and I are always looking for facelift in a bottle! LOL! Leave us a comment! We love to hear from you!

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Millennial and Mid-Lifer Fall Fashion

How to Transition Your Wardrobe

Mid-Lifer (Julie) and Millennial (Brittany): Friends and Fellow Fashionistas!

If you’re an FTF follower, you recall my friend, millennial cutie Brittany. FTF has done previous blog posts with Brittany (Eyelash Extensions and Millennial and Mid-Lifer Shop and Style Fall Fashion Trends and A Millennial and a Mid-lifer Style Lilly Pulitzer). Brittany is Lori’s niece. She and I had an immediate connection over all things beauty and fashion. Brittany is passionate about fashion and likes to look stylish at work and even at home. She loves to find good deals and enjoys accessorizing from head to toe! I believe she is my millennial clone! A girl after my heart for sure! We often text each other for opinions and fashion advice! I adore Brittany!

Tips on Transitioning Your Wardrobe for Fall

1. Keep Your Maxi Dresses

You can easily add a t-shirt under these dresses and top off with an awesome moto jacket or cardigan!

Equally at home on the beach as it is for weekend shopping, maxis are easy and cool for those hot summer nights. But before you relegate them to the back of your closet, restyle them by wearing them with long sleeves. Whether it’s a belted blazer, a chunky-knit sweater, or even a knotted chambray shirt, the trick to wearing a maxi dress in the fall is to layer up and then define your waist to offer added structure.

2. Add Tights or Leggings

I’ve added leggings and my half tee in order to transition this dress into fall! To see our previous post on half tees click HERE.

Adding tights to your outfit can be a fun way to play with pattern, color, and texture for the fall. By stocking up on tights you have a way to extend the life of your favorite summer skirts and dresses. Look for opaque tights. A pair of gray textured tights worn with your favorite khaki skirt and boots is about as autumnal as a pumpkin patch.

If you’re not into tights, try leggings. Some styles look a lot like pants, but have tons of stretch. They’re perfect to wear under your summery tunics for more coverage, while still staying fashion-forward.

You could easily add a cardi or a jacket for more warmth! Think about how to add layers, which takes me to tip #3!

SHOP THE LOOK

3. Layer Up

Brittany and I love our black jumpsuits! To transition them into fall, it will be easy to layer them up by adding a sweater, cardi or jacket. In addition, you can add darker colored accessories and switch out sandals with pumps or booties. Think creatively and shop your closet!

Julie’s Jumpsuit: Amazon
Brittany’s Jumpsuit: Francesca’s

Layered looks aren’t only fashion-forward – they’re also completely functional. As you layer up your summer clothes, you create new looks that will actually keep you warm. I’m always cold so this might be my favorite tip no matter the season! LOL!

But how do you know which looks to layer? Try this rule: Layer long over lean. This means matching up longer-length tops (think tunics or boyfriend cardigans) over leaner bottoms, such as tights or skinny jeans. This can help you extend some of your summer favorites, such as a long tank top.

Julie’s Cardi and Cami: Express
Brittany’s Pants and Clutch: Lilly Pulitzer
Brittany’s Button Up Sweater: New York and Company

The “long over lean” rule helps to avoid the bulkiness that can sometimes be a result of overenthusiastic layering. Then, just add a sweater or jacket, a light scarf, and a pair of boots to finish your perfect fall outfit.

Julie’s Jean Jacket: My Closet
Purse: Aldo purchased at DSW

SHOP THE LOOK

4. Invest in a Statement-Making Jacket

The Boyfriend Jacket from Express
Lace Cami: Evereve
Black Jeans: Target

I’m a sucker for jackets, blazers, and other toppers. They can make such a large impact on the overall tone and look of an outfit that they can eclipse summer fabrics and prints, making them more fall-appropriate. My advice is to purchase one statement-making jacket that really stands out, but goes with all of your summer clothes as you transition into fall.

Consider any one of the following:

A military-style cargo jacket with a waist that cinches, perfect for skinny jeans and flat booties.
A leather jacket with moto styling, which you can wear with summer dresses and boots and looks great with a graphic tshirt.
A well-cut blazer (I love ones with military styling). Toss it over your light summer tops for a night on the town.
A classic trench coat in a darker neutral, such as gray, navy, or camel. This is a wardrobe workhorse that goes with everything while fending off inclement fall weather.

A jacket or blazer can stretch your wardrobe by allowing you to create new combinations and always look put-together and polished.

SHOP THE LOOK

5. Add Deeper Colors

Brittany has styled a navy top with her white statement jewelry and peep toe booties! The darker navy color is a great way to transition into fall with deeper, richer colors!

Brittany’s Navy Top: Francesca’s
Julie’s Bar Shoulder Sweater: H & M
Julie’s White Jeans: Rockstar by Old Navy
Julie’s Rose Gold Sunnies: Express

I love the deeper colors that come with the changing of the leafs. The pastels and neons of the spring and summer give way to rich jewel and earth tones. But don’t worry if your closet isn’t already stocked with all of the Pantone Fall 2019 colors, you can add a couple of pieces to extend the life of your lighter summer clothes.

Brittany’s maroon/wine colored top and my olive and black cheetah print top are perfect transition pieces. Think darker, richer colors!

Take a lavender pair of pants for instance. It was perfect for summer but do you have to put it away for fall? If you add some heavier textures and jewel tones, you’ll be able to keep wearing it. Consider pairing it with a plum cardigan and a sleek pair of booties. Suddenly, the addition of a deeper color tones down the brightness of the lavender, resulting in a more cohesive and fall-appropriate outfit.

Stay on the lookout for pieces in jewel tones that can pull a summer wardrobe into fall. A pair of rust-colored skinnies, a turquoise statement necklace, or a mustard scarf can all add a pop of fall-appropriate color on the cheap.

SHOP THE LOOK

6. Ignore the Rules

It’s taken me some time to be able to break the rule of wearing white after Memorial Day! These Old Navy Rockstar jeans are the best! I’ve added this off the shoulder H & M sweater and leopard accessories to transition this look into fall!

One of the reasons fall shopping can be so expensive are all the supposed “rules” that surround dressing in cooler weather. Whether it’s not wearing white after Labor Day, skipping tights with open-toed shoes, or even pairing black with navy, these silly rules severely limit the scope of your fall wardrobe. Feel free to wear white after Labor Day (a chic, yellow-toned winter white looks perfect with jewel tones), or wear your favorite open-toed booties with a pop of colored tights. Don’t spend too much time thinking about whether or not an outfit is fall-appropriate, but that it’s weather-appropriate and makes you feel great, regardless of the rules. If you love it, wear it!! That’s my rule!

SHOP THE LOOK

7. Buy Boots

Boots are an autumn staple that easily make all of your summer outfits warmer and more functional. And while you can spend a ton of money on good-quality boots, purchasing a few pairs of lower-cost fashion boots (more about looks for the fall than function in the winter), you’ll extend everything from dresses, to jeans, to shorts.

Try a summer dress worn with knee-high boots and a leather jacket. Or, be daring and treat your beloved shorts like a skirt: Add over-the-knee boots and chunky sweater for a “city look”. You can even buy booties on the cheap and wear them with your favorite skirt and cardigan combo. Boots are an ideal item to stretch your wardrobe.

SHOP THE LOOK

This post contains affiliate links, meaning when you click on an item or purchase an item, I may receive a very small commission for the click. These picks are NOT sponsored, are selected solely by me, and opinions are entirely my own.

Let’s Chat

How do you transition your wardrobe? What tips can you give us? Leave us a comment! We love to hear from you!

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Fitness Goals 2019 – An Update

Goat Yoga

If you’re an FTF follower, you’ll recall that my fitness goal this year besides being fit (lol) is to try new activities that I haven’t done before with the hopes of discovering something I truly enjoy! (Click HERE for my previous post titled: Health and Well Being Check In) I hit the lotto with my first choice – aerial yoga. Yoga has been part of my physical activity for many years. This seemed like the logical first activity to try since I know I like yoga and all of it’s benefits and it looked like it would be a blast! Let me tell you it didn’t disappoint! To see the post on Aerial Yoga, click HERE. Goat yoga seemed like the logical next class to try.

Goat Yoga Chicago at Reverse the Kerrs Farm

“Goat Yoga at Reverse the Kerrs Farm allows you the opportunity to be one with nature, one with goats, and one with your soul. We are a unique farm in that we sit on the edge of a beautiful wetland full of a variety of birds and other wildlife that provide a beautiful chorus of sounds from sunrise to sunset.” (Taken from Reverse the Kerrs Farm Website)

Danielle is the owner of the farm! She and her employees are welcoming, friendly and ensure you have a wonderful experience!

Meet Danielle and Her Goats

The Goat Yoga Experience

My step-daughter, Tiffany and grand daughter, Violet were eager to join me for this adventure. In my opinion, goat yoga is an activity that is more fun with friends and/or family. While I’m willing to try many things on my own, I knew this experience would be more fun if done with others! Seeing the delight on Violet and Tif’s face was part of the FUN for me!

Pre-Yoga Selfie with My Favorite Girlies

As the goats move about while you’re doing yoga, you are free to stop and love on them, pet them and enjoy the moment! It’s much more about the experience than the actual yoga in my opinion!

We had a perfect day to be outside enjoying each other, enjoying the goats and enjoying our experience!

We did yoga for about 30 minutes and then we simply had fun with the goats! The entire experience was about 90 minutes.

I made a good goat bridge! I’m surprised he didn’t start chewing on my hair! LOL!

We got to talk with the employees and ask questions about the goats, etc. They were very knowledgable and informative! It was clear that the goats are well loved and treated well!

The baby goats were kept in the barn. Afterwards, we got to hold them. They were very soft and reminded me of puppies! My favorite girlie was super excited to be able to pick one up and hold it!

Tif and Violet are HUGE animal lovers! This adventure was right up their alley!

The farm next to Reverse the Kerrs Farm had horses. Violet enjoyed petting them before we left!

Reverse the Kerrs Farm sells the cutest tees. Of course, it was necessary to purchase one for each of us to commemorate our adventure! The front is their logo the back says, “We’ve Goat Your Back”! You can see my favorite girlie put hers on before we even left.

In my opinion, goat yoga is a one time experience vs a weekly class, which the three of us highly recommend! If you live in the area, you should definitely check it out! You need to register for the class in advance and they fill up quickly. The website is HERE.

By the way, I’m pleased to share that we did not get pooped or peed on! LOL Many friends were concerned for us! No worries necessary!

Another fitness goal and bucket list item are now checked off my list! Winner Winner!

Aerial yoga classes have begun again. Classes weren’t offered over the summer. I have a new instructor, which is good as she’s having us do things I haven’t done before! Here I am with my goat yoga tee on heading out to my aerial yoga class.

NAMASTE!

Let’s Chat

What do you think about goat yoga? Is it an activity you’d like to try? Do you have a favorite fitness activity? What fitness activity should I try next? Leave us a comment! We love to hear from you!

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Is Olive the New Black?

Stylish Monday – Featuring Fall 2019 Trend Color Olive

Olive green is here to stay as a wardrobe staple. It’s a color that looks great with almost everything–black, navy, animal print, brights, neutrals–the list goes on and on. You’re only limited by your imagination and comfort! This makes styling olive green outfits a no-brainer for fall and into winter.

As I was thinking about today’s post, I looked back through previous pictures and posts. I already have quiet a bit of OLIVE in my current wardrobe so I didn’t do my usual panic: I don’t have anything for this collaboration…LOL!

Olive green is here to stay. It’s an essential fall color, whether you wear a touch of it or a whole outfit.

For today’s post, I’m sharing some olive green outfits that I’ve styled in the past. I will wear these looks throughout the fall and into the winter. Plus you get to see how my stylish friends put their spins on styling Olive!

Olive Pants & Shorts

These olive colored pants are easily dressed up and down. I’ve worn them in almost every season. Olive goes great with all of the animal print that’s been trending and continues to trend especially with snakeskin print! I wore both of these looks to work! This first look is more winter/fall. The second look is spring or earlier summer here in Illinois. Same olive pants styled two ways! Winner Winner!

Pants from My Closet: Dress Barn
Snakeskin Print Blouse: H & M
Boots: New York and Company

In the second look, I used rose gold accessories. Rose gold is another on trend color and is easily incorporated through the use of accessories or a rose colored sequined top – LOL!

Top: Shein
Rose Gold Belt and Sandals: Amazon
Jewelry: Charming Charlie

In Illinois, our fall and spring can be short lived! We get some pretty warm days in the fall so shorts are still appropriate! To make the transition to fall fashion, you can begin to wear darker colors. As you can see, I’ve simply switched out the olive pants for olive shorts!

SHOP THE LOOK:

Olive and Camo

The camouflage trend doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon! Olive is an obvious match for all things camo! The first look is from last year. I paired my olive sweater with sequin pocket with my camo pants! This look will definitely be recycled again this fall! FTF did a previous post on Cargo and Camo – Click HERE

Olive Sweater: Steinmart
Camo Pants: New York and Company
Olive Booties: DSW

This camo jacket is new this season! Initially, I spotted it on IG. Several influencers were stating how great it was and surprisingly it’s from Walmart! The peplum adds additional interest and hides your mid-section! The paperbag, high waisted (another trend!) olive pants are a recent purchase from Target! Remember my mantra – You can be cute and trendy without breaking the bank! I wasn’t looking for pants but you know how it is when you go into Target. You come out with a bunch of things you didn’t go in for…LOL! Can you relate? I like the idea of adding a pop of color with this combination. This hot pink top is from White House Black Market.

Camo Peplum Jacket: Walmart
Hot Pink Top: White House Black Market
Olive Pants: Target
Hot Pink Slides (My Closet)

SHOP THE LOOK

Olive Jackets

All of these jackets are previous purchases, previously worn and loved! It’s time to pull them out and recycle them…time to shop my closet! If they’re too big, I might have to get creative in my styling!

SHOP THE LOOK

Check Out How My Fellow Lifestyle and Fashion Blogging Friends Style Olive

Let’s Chat

Do you think olive is the new black? How will you be wearing it this fall/winter? Leave us a comment. We’d love to hear from you!

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Link Up Party

Product Review

Shavers

To see our previous blog post on eye lash serums, click HERE!

FTF hopes you enjoy our product review and vlog series! Technology isn’t our thing so our videos are pretty much the raw, unedited real deal! Although I have to say I think we’re getting a lot better! Hope you find the humor in our authentic selves!

SHOP SHAVERS AND SERUM

Lori likes the Nutralux Lash MD; and Julie likes the Grande Lash MD!

This product review and recommendations are our own opinions. If you purchase through our links, we’ll make a small commission at no cost to you.

Let’s Chat

Do you use a small personal shaver? What do you recommend? We’d love to hear from you! Leave us a comment!

Would you like Lori and I to review a specific product? We’d be happy to do just that and are always looking for more ideas. Leave us a comment!

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Summer Vacation and What I Wore

Disney Cruise

Prior to this vacation, Mr. FTF and I went on only one other cruise for my 40th birthday. If you do the math, that was quit a few years ago. We loved our ports but the overall experience was so so. Therefore, we never cruised again. That is until this summer. Our granddaughter suggested we vacation together and do something Disney. We went together four years ago to Disney World for a week, did all of the parks and had a blast! Needless to say, we were ready for this Disney Cruise adventure with our favorite girlie!

Preparation

In my opinion, part of the fun of traveling is the excitement and preparation leading up to the actual vacation! My favorite girlie and I attempted to make matching Mickie Mouse T-shirts. It was way more difficult than I anticipated but we had lots of fun together. Planning our excursions, outfits and nail and toe designs were also BIG FUN!

Shopping for the perfect looks for the cruise!

Travel Day

Mr. FTF and I decided to travel to Florida two days before our scheduled sailing date. We did this because getting on and off the ship was such a challenge during our previous experience. We wanted to be relaxed! Additionally, we thought it would be great fun to go to the Kennedy Space Center NASA. Unbeknownst to us, we landed (play on words!) there on the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11! It was AWESOME to be part of the celebration! We would highly recommend going to NASA if you get the chance!

I typically like to wear something super comfy to travel in like this jogger set. I purchased new luggage and packing cubes! LOVED both! I’d highly recommend packing cubes as they are so great for keeping everything organized and easy to find!

SHOP THE LOOK

Kennedy Space Center NASA

When I’m site seeing, I like to wear something that’s cute and comfortable. It’s no surprise I’m sure that I chose this tee covered in brightly colored round sequins! Since it’s super hot in Florida in July, I mostly packed shorts. These Marc Fischer sandals were very comfortable for all the walking we did that day.

This picture was actually taken in the lobby of our hotel.

There were lots of great seafood restaurants in Cape Canaveral where all the cruise ships set sail! We enjoyed dinner both nights on the water. Grills Ticki Bar had shark kabobs, which Mr. FTF wishes he would have tried. We did a little surfing at Fishlips Waterfront! We recommend both!

SHOP SIMILAR LOOKS

BOARDING DISNEY DREAM

We opted to wear matching women’s/girl’s and men’s T-shirts. I know from our previous Disney vacation that it not only looks cute and is the “thing to do” but it’s also much easier to locate each other in a sea of people! Disney does things right and boarding was super easy and smooth sailing (see what I did there?!)!

Once on the ship, we had fun exploring while we waited to get into our room! Food and drinks were abundant! Our favorite girlie headed right for the pool!

Gorgeous entry onto the ship! How about this beautiful chandelier?!

Swimming and ice cream make for a perfect start to the cruise!

Our staterooms were amazing and very spacious! I love DETAILS! Disney doesn’t miss a single detail! I felt as though our ship was brand new as it was so clean! Our three staterooms were next to each other. We were able to open the balcony dividers so that we were all connected.

Entry hallway and two bathrooms! Loved that!

That evening we had a wonderful dinner and watched the Golden Mickeys in the Theater!

SHOP MATCHING T-SHIRTS

Castaway Cay

Castaway Cay is Disney’s private island. We spent the day snorkeling, swimming, floating, playing, biking, eating, drinking, and laughing! The weather was perfect! The water was gorgeous, crystal clear and sooooo blue! The beach is always my happy place! Doing anything through the eyes of my favorite girlie is always precious and joyful!

We wore the matching tie dye T-shirts that my favorite girlie and I made! Since it was a beach day, we spent the day in our swimsuits. To see the previous swimsuit posts in which I shared my recent swimsuit haul, click HERE (Part 1) or HERE (Part 2)

This personalized water bottle was a gift from the kids to me for my birthday, which was perfect for this trip! They ordered it for me on Etsy. I brought it with me every where and it kept whatever I filled it with nice and cold! On the island, they had lots of drink choices.

Dinner in Animators Palate

Animators Palate was very interactive! The pictures frames were actual screens and Nemo characters moved across the screens talking and interacting with the diners! The wait staff is assigned to you and remain the same throughout your stay. Each night you switch restaurants but the staff remain the same. My favorite girlie was called “princess” and was entertained with riddles and magic tricks at each dinner. The menus offered lots and lots of choices for all! Dinner attire was “cruise casual”. I opted for these striped shorts from Express (size down) and INC International Concept color block ruffled top from Macy’s.

Vanellope’s Sweets and Treats

As you know, I’ve been on my journey to be thinner, healthy and fit. I did splurge on desert twice while on vacation. The menu had sugar free options, which I chose. I might have eaten a chocolate or two off of our bed at night. As they come in and turn down your bed, create a blanket animal and leave you chocolates. My favorite girlie might have eaten some of our chocolates as well! We had to check out Vanellope’s! It was a kid’s dream!

SHOP THE LOOK

NASSAU BAHAMAS

As we pulled into port, I loved to look and see where we were and enjoy the scenery! Pulling into Nassau the Bahamas did not disappoint! There was a lighthouse off in distance and a beautiful rainbow! The water was almost unbelievably blue and crystal clear! This day’s agenda included a ferry ride to Blue Lagoon. We sailed past The Atlantis and many gorgeous homes. It’s fun imagining who might be lucky enough to call it home! Our adventure for the day was swimming with dolphins! Another day spent in our swimsuits, which is a perfect day to me!

Swimming with Dolphins

This experience was truly a highlight! Although Mr. FTF and I had done this before, it was pure delight seeing it through the eyes of our favorite girlie! It was pure joy experiencing it with everyone else! It will forever be a cherished memory!

Pirate Night, Fireworks and Dance Party

We knew in advance that we should come dressed as pirates for the Pirates of the Caribbean Night! It was so much fun because the whole ship was dressed up! Darin, Tif and Violet were chosen to be part of the ship’s entertainment that night and got to be in the show on the pool deck! After the show, we got to watch fireworks off of the ship! Then we danced the night away! What a perfect day!!!

My costume and Mr. FTF’s costume are from Amazon! If you’re interested, I can share the links! Tif and Violet’s costumes are mainly from Etsy. Darin got his costume at a shop in Chicago. John and Mary also got their costumes on Amazon.

Violet playing the squeeze box in the show!

Darin (in the center) with the drunk’in pirates! If there was a prize for best costume, Darin would have won for sure! Many thought he was part of the ship crew that night!

As the only cruise line to feature fireworks at sea, Disney Dream lights up the sky to dazzle guests with the largest, awe-inspiring fireworks extravaganza presented aboard a cruise ship. The skies above the Disney Dream explode with brilliant colors during Buccaneer Blast! a pyrotechnic spectacular choreographed to a dramatic score featuring songs from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, and Peter Pan.

Back to Castaway Cay

We spent the last full day at Castaway Cay! It was a perfect day to chillax on the beach and enjoy another beautiful day with those I love dearly! The kids went on some crazy banana boat ride. I knew that my motion sensitive stomach would not be a fan of this activity! Sun and sand was more my speed that day! Another day spent in a cute tshirt, shorts and swimsuits!

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Dinner and Characters

The Bibbity Bobbity Boutique is truly a magical place that transforms little girls into the princess of their dreams! My little princess chose to be Jasmine from Aladdin! She was GORGEOUS as Jasmine; and I’m not at all prejudice! I think they should create a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for over 50! Care to join me…LOL!

This neon romper seemed like a perfect choice for our last dinner and night on the ship! The bright colors and the cut of the romper called my name. However, I must admit that it doesn’t meet my easy on and easy off criteria for going to the bathroom. I had to have my favorite girlie unhook me, but I think she liked being able to help me out! The sandals are from last season, but I never got to wear them due to my broken foot!

Good Night my sweet Princess! Sweet Dreams! She loved that her bed came down out of the ceiling!

SHOP THE ROMPER

Last Day

We were able to get up, eat breakfast and debark on our last day! I’m pleased to state that it all went smoothly. We picked up our rental car and off we went. Mr. FTF and I had planned to spend the day in Orlando. He and I like to go to the Hard Rock’s when we travel and tick them off of our list! Most of you know that he’s in a band. First, we were able to spend the day at the pool at our hotel, have a few drinks and last laughs! We dropped the kids off at the airport and headed over to the Hard Rock Hotel!

I chose to wear a casual top and shorts for the day…cute, comfy, easy styling!

This little cutie is a fish and so good at swimming!

Mr. FTF and our Favorite Girlie get some last minute pool time!

Such a cool water fountain made with metal guitars!

Traveling Home

I traveled home in a comfy two piece jogger set similar to what I flew out wearing! I actually wore both of these jogger sets this summer to and from my girl’s trip to Malibu so they’ve gotten a lot of use! In my opinion, it looks put together and stylish, yet cute and comfy! Those are apparently my criteria – cute and comfy! What’s your traveling outfit criteria?

This denim jacket from Chico’s is an oldie but goody! It comes with on most trips especially since I’m almost always cold!

This vacation was extra special since it was with our family! Disney does an amazing job of ensuring your vacation is magical! If you’ve never taken a Disney cruise, I would highly recommend it! We had such a great time that we’d be willing to look into doing another cruise! How about you? Are you a fan of cruising? We’d love to hear about your experiences!