So this post wasn't scheduled to go live until Monday morning at 5:00 a.m., just like normal.
HOWEVER.
I got an e-mail about a FLASH SALE where SEVERAL of the items I was planning on highlighting on Monday are 60% OFF RIGHT NOW, but only through tomorrow Morning at 10:00 a.m. EST.
SO.
I did what any SALE CRAZY blogger would do...I finished up the post really quickly, and I hit PUBLISH! I wanted y'all to have more time to shop WITH THESE AMAZING PRICES then just a handful of hours tomorrow morning.
SO....I present Monday's post to you.....like 12 hours early!
ENJOY THE SALE!
Click HERE to browse the 60% OFF favorite seasonal items!
Click HERE to browse the items already on sale that are an additional 60% OFF!
CRAZY!!!!
IF THE ITEM I'M HIGHLIGHTING IS PART OF THE 60% OFF SALE, I'LL MAKE SURE TO LET YOU KNOW IN THE BODY OF THE POST! :)
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WELL GIRLS! TODAY IS THE DAY!
It's time for a SPECIAL MAMA GIVEAWAY!
Click HERE to read the entire story about how the giveaway came to be.
If you haven't read it yet, please do so. :)
Click HERE to see the 3 previous giveaways that we've done!
Click HERE to see the last one where I took Candace (the local mom who inspired the contest) on a $1000 shopping spree to Nordstrom during the Anniversary Sale.
It was so much fun and will totally go down as one of my favorite days of my life!!!
In a nutshell, as a Speech Language Pathologist, I of course started out with a heart for the sweet kids I was working with. Ever since I can remember, my caseload consisted mainly of children on the autism spectrum and those with other developmental disabilities. I didn't see many of the traditional articulation kiddos (you know, those that just couldn't say there "r" sounds right) The children I've always worked with had delays and disabilities that were much more involved. So I started out with a heart for the kids that were dealing with so much, but I soon gained a heart for the incredible mamas who I watched dedicate their lives to helping their children. These mamas give up so much to help their kids progress and live their best lives possible, and there is no doubt that they need a little pampering and some recognition!
Well, today, we are celebrating all of you special mamas, and we will be honoring one very lucky lady on Friday! Please feel free to nominate a sister, a neighbor, a friend, yourself, etc.
The only requirement is that the woman entered be a mom of a child with special needs.
You will see at the bottom of this post that you have to leave a blog post comment telling us a little bit about the special mama's story. And remember, if you are a special mama, please feel free to nominate yourself!
In addition to the comment, you will also have to say on the rafflecopter that you did in fact leave a comment. I will not be "choosing" a winner (that would be wayyyyyyyy to hard), so the rafflecopter will randomly select a winner to make it 100% fair.
So..............
What's the one special mama gonna get?
Hold on to your Hanky Pankys ladies.
I've partnered up with LOFT today, and the winner will receive.....
A $1,000 SHOPPING SPREE TO LOFT!
SO! FLIPPING! EXCITED!
:)
I get lots of requests to feature business casual wear that is appropriate for an office environment. Well, your wish is my command today! :) LOFT is a great place for not only casual wear (like I'm always showing from LOFT, and you'll see some of today), but also for office clothes, as well as fun dresses! We've got lots to cover, so let's get busy!
Let's start out with what I feel is a PERFECT office look!
My black utility blouse (found HERE) is almost sold out (only XL and XXL remain), but there are many other utility blouses from LOFT in lots of pretty colors found HERE.
The utility top drapes nicely, fits well, and the fabric is so soft!
If you work in an office environment, I'm guessing you may want more than 1 of these. (See a pretty soft blue and a gorgeous fiery orangey-red HERE). All the other pretty colors found HERE.
For size reference, I'm wearing a medium in the blouse.
I typically wear a small in tees and sweaters from the Loft, but I almost always wear a medium in their blouses that button up. If I don't size up, the buttons tend to pull.
Now the pants?
Well, I cannot say enough about them.
They are ankle pants, and the "regular fit" fits my almost 5'4" frame perfectly.
But don't worry, because they also come in petite and tall!
On the site, they have 10/11 5 STAR REVIEWS!
Here's what LOFT has to say about them:
Clean and composed, we crafted this skinny ankle pair in our new tech stretch fabric - a super smart blend that holds you in all the right places - and has sleek down to a science.
And you know what? They're right. These pants are sleek and they hold me in in all the right places.
They are extremely flattering, and I just feel great in them!
Click HERE for the pants!
THEY ARE ONLY $27.80 right now!!!
GET THESE PANTS!!!!
For size reference, I'm wear a 4 in these pants. Now, a word to the wise, I ordered these online and when I pulled them out of the box, I thought they looked HUGE. But guess what? They fit me perfectly. So don't be scared when they look ginormous!
I picked up this bracelet several week ago, and I love it! If you are one that is scared to mix metals, this one does it beautifully for you! The casing is a deep gold color, but the drusy is a light and dark silver! It's GORGEOUS!
Click HERE for the bracelet.
And now for something new I'm trying. Please try to not giggle. ;)
Whenever Chris is home when I'm doing outfit pictures, I'm going to try to get him to get a shot for me that isn't my normal selfie in a mirror pose.
This was our first try.
I'm not sure why my hand is on the post like that?!? :), but just go with it now, and we'll keep learning as we go.
Not to self: Next time, don't lay hand awkwardly on a post.
Easy enough.
Don't get excited, because I would say that 90% of the blog (or more) will remain my normal selfies, but we thought we would try to mix it up every now and then!
utility blouse options HERE / pants HERE / bracelet HERE/ similar earrings HERE /
similar simple long pendant necklace HERE (this ones a ladder necklace)
And if you want to know what shoes look good with these type of ankle pants, the answer is just about every type of shoe! Flats, heels, and even sneakers are all a go!!!! I actually love the sporty look with the LOFT sneakers. Click HERE for all LOFT shoes.
So, if you loved the above pants, but they bright fiery color scares you, well I've got great news for you! They also come in black!
Click HERE for the tech stretch skinny ankle fit Marisa pants in black! If you work in an office environment (and even if you don't), these are a great pair of pants to have in your closet.
The black pants are also only $27.80 right now!!!!
GET THEM BEFORE THEY ARE GONE IN YOUR SIZE!
These are classic black pant that everybody needs to have in their closet!
Pants in red HERE. Again, wearing a size 4 in these pants!
And the 2:1 sweater is DARLING!
I think it looks awesome with nice pants (and is totally office appropriate), but it would look just as awesome with jeans for casual wear!
Find the striped 2:1 sweater HERE.
The sweater material is thin (which makes it great for spring and even early summer), but not so thin that you would need a cami under it. And I forgot to take a picture of it, but there a cute little zipper on the back.For size reference, I am wearing a small in the sweater.
Here's another blouse great for office wear as well as with jeans!
Find the floral charm bow neck blouse HERE.
I'ts ON SALE too and ONLY $23.80!
For size reference, I'm wearing a medium in this blouse too. I wanted it plenty blousy
and not at all fitted. I have mine just knotted, but I would also like it tied in a pretty bow for a different look!
black pants HERE / jeans HERE
Here's a closer look at the jeans!
They are a little long on me, so I have them tucked under in these pics to make them the right length for flats. For size reference, I'm wearing a 27.
Clic HERE for the jeans.
And now, a dress.
A DARLING, FLIRTY, and a little bit SEXY dress!
HOW FUN IS THIS DRESS?!?
Find the scuba flounce dress HERE!
Most sizes sold out, unless a petite works for you.
It comes in regular and petite, but I always like to get dresses in petite sizing. They just fit my frame better. Dresses and skirts are the only items I ever buy in petites.
For size reference, I'm wearing a 6P (which is pretty standard for me). I almost always have to size up in dresses.
Here are two close up pictures of the dress.
The dress is from their "scuba line" and the material is so soft, but it's also nice and thick (but not cold weather thick). It hugs the body in all the right places, but it isn't restrictive.
I absolutely love the little flouncy ruffle on the bottom.
I think if you threw a blazer over it and wore it with tights it could be office appropriate.
I think I'm going to wear it to an upcoming event with fun and colorful heels and fancy earrings!
Click HERE for the dress!
Here's another fun dress, but this one is way more casual!
Find the mini windowpane tee dress HERE.
For size reference, I'm wearing an x-small in the dress.
I thought it was so cute paired with my denim jacket (LOFT option HERE) and slip on sneakers (lots of LOFT sneaker options HERE)!
Note to self: start applying self-tanner asap.
Maybe you are in the market for a pair of white jeans?
Find these white cuffed jeans HERE.
For size reference, I'm wearing a 27.
And look at this pretty pink sweater!
It's soft, feminine, and has the prettiest lace detailing on it!
Find the lace edge sweater HERE.
I would like to caution you, if you are tall, this sweater probably isn't for you. I'm almost 5'4" and it's a great length for me (I like the shorter in the front, longer in the back look), but if you are over 5'5", this sweater would probably be too short for you.
Same jeans as seen above, you can find them HERE.
And I'm sure you probably remember my camo pants obsession from last week?!?
THEY ARE on SUPER CRAZY SALE!
THEY ARE NOW $21.99 RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!
You can get the modern skinny HERE (I have the modern skinny) and the curvy skinny HERE.
For size reference, I'm typically a 4, and my pants are a 27.
If you want to see the entire camo pants post I did last week, click HERE.
If you are ordering the pants from LOFT, then here are some LOFT options for tops that
all look great with the camo!
B, D, and E are all on SUPER SALE!!!!!
a) stitchy 2 in 1 sweater HERE / b) mixed striped tee HERE ($9.99!)/ c) collarless chambray shirt HEREd) black and white striped 2 in 1 sweater HERE ($17.99!)
e) coral striped sweatshirt HERE ($15.99!)
And I also thought you might want to see some of the items I tried on in store a couple of weeks ago.
All PERFECT for Spring!
Click HERE for this layered top. I'm always a sucker for navy.
THIS LAYERED TOP IS ONLY $23.80 right now!!!!!
For size reference, I'm wearing a small in the top.
Fabric necklace (also in yellow) HERE.
The necklace is only $9.99!!!!!
Find the navy pocket henley blouse HERE.
I think this blouse would also look great with THESE pants featured earlier!
Click HERE for this striped gauze softened shirt. I'm actually wearing a small in this (it's VERY stretchy), and I actually would have preferred an x-small.
Find the mixed media tiered peplum HERE (also in blue and white!).
Find the cardi HERE (lots of different colors available).
The cardigan is only $19.80 right now!!! It's a GREAT basic cardigan to have and layer with tops all spring and summer!
For size reference, I'm wearing a small in both the top and the cardigan.
henley blouse HERE / tiered peplum HERE / cardi HERE
layered top HERE / fabric necklace HERE / gauze striped shirt HERE
OKAY GIRLS!
THAT'S IT!
NOW IT'S TIME TO LEAVE BLOG COMMENTS NOMINATING A SPECIAL MAMA!
As your leaving your comments, please keep in mind that the blog comments are moderated, so they will not immediately show up. I will publish them in batches throughout the day, but I'm chaperoning an all day KN field trip on Monday, so it might take me awhile to get them all published!
Also, please know that I wish I could respond to each comment!
The comments are almost always incredibly poignant and touching, and my heart is just so proud of these mamas!
I know all of you will be blessed by what you read and many of you will also feel compelled to pray for these mamas, these kids, and these families.
Also, remember that I will not be personally selecting a winner (how could I possibly?), so the rafflecopter will just randomly pick a name.
THANK YOU LOFT!
AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE SPECIAL MAMAS OUT THERE WHO SERVE AS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE INSPIRATION TO US ALL!
GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU DESERVING MAMAS!
(The winner will be announced on Friday's post, and additional prizes will be revealed! GET EXCITED!!!)
a Rafflecopter giveaway