Because Style Matters

Oh, what a weekend I had.  Friday kicked it off and Saturday was the true highlight, but all in all, it was the BEST weekend I've had in a while.  Usually, I spend my weekends running errands that I couldn't get to during the week, catch a quick bite with a friend or my sister, and before you know it, it's Sunday evening and I'm preparing for the work week.  I still had to start preparing for the work week on Sunday night, but the weekend was awesome.  It was so awesome, that I had to break this blog post into sections. 

Let's talk about Friday, shall we? On Friday, for the first time in what seems like months, I left work on time. I had to prepare myself for the eventful day that I was about to have on Saturday (I attended Pepperologie, something that I'll explain in tomorrow's post).  As you know, this girl LOVES a good deal. As a rule, I don't splurge on trendy items, but i won't sacrifice quality. I've been wanting a pair of printed denim that doesn't look like every other printed denim jean.  A light wash was a must and the print had to be unique.  Of all the places, I found the perfect pair at...wait for it...American Eagle Outfitters. They were perfect - ankle length with a light wash, a unique paisley print that incorporated one of my favorite Spring/Summer colors - coral. And then I get to the register and they're 40% off!!!! SCORE!!!

Next, I made my way to the nearby Zara, because I've been in desperate need of a drapey white shirt.  By white, I mean white white. Not bleach, not ecru, not eggshell, not light cream.  Believe it or not, as any true shopper and style maven knows this is by far NOT an easy task if you don't know where to go.  Zara usually has exactly what I'm looking for, and this was no exception. 

Zara Drape Blouse - (color available in stores only)

Another one of my penchants are silk blouses. To be quite honest, I'm really partial to natural fabrics.  That's not to say that you won't find me wearing polyester ever (but it's almost like such a rare occassion when that happens - I have skin issues). One of the places that has great silk shirts that are so reasonably priced is Joe Fresh.  If you don't know who Joe Fresh is, you're going to have to do your research, but in a nutshell, it's like the perfect place to get your favorite basics.  Good quality, minimalist style with a little edge.  And now that you can shop them online at JC Penny, everyone has access to this line that is kind of like the little sister of Club Monaco (another one of my favorite places to shop). So, I was in need of a cream silk shirt, and as soon as I walked in there it was.

Joe Fresh Long Sleeve Silk Shirt - $49

I did all that within an hour. I was so pleased with myself! Home at a decent hour! Woo hoo! Then I remembered...when I get home my studded sandals from Sole Society would have been delivered! See, here's the thing, it's really hard to find the perfect navy shoe.  It's either too dark so that it almost looks black or too light that it looks royal blue - something is always off.  I sat on the fence for a long time with this sandal, but was determined to find a navy sandal. When I got home and opened the package, I was genuinely surprised. They were the perfect navy and have that studded detail that gives it enough edge. Not a bad way to start the weekend - no?

Sole Society Jade Sandal in Marine - $59.95

The temperature hasn't been cooperating lately, but it definitely has been sunny. That has put me in a Spring mood.  I've been browsing my Spring wardrobe and reviewing Spring trends and I've come up with some of my favorites.  From mint to coral to stripes, here are some of the things that you are sure to see me wearing or spritzing this season. Scroll over the image for product info.

So now that it seems that Spring has finally arrived, it's time to bring out the baubles.  Statement necklaces are big this season (but when are they not). We all know that green, coral, and aqua are major trends this summer so here are my picks for the season incorporating these color trends.

Well it's week 3, and now is where we really put this product to the test.  So far, there has been noticeable improvement with as much much as three shades lighter in just two weeks.  I have to be honest here, I mentioned that I am a coffee and red wine drinker, so the goal with this challenge is to make sure this is a wise investment.  What I will say is that I was surprised to find out that I quickly ran out of the pre-rinse.  I had to order a new bottle - something to keep in mind. Again, keep in mind that I'm not too sure about the lighting, but I really didn't see a significant change (then again, I did drink loads of wine and coffee)

So here it is, after two weeks of treatment and embarking my third week.

My grade: B

              Before Supersmile                            After One Use   
 
                             

                              

                 

SHOP THE PRODUCTS

I'm about to start on Week 2 of this beauty challenge and I have to say, it looks like this is working.  After using the system for a week, I have noticed that my teeth are definitely brighter.  While they are still not pearly white, I am finding that I am moving in the right direction on the shade finder.  In just one week I've gone from a 6-8 and now find myself at 3-5.  I always use a shade range because I'm not quite sure the lighting is exactly the same as last week.  In any case I've also decided to start using the two bonus items that were included in my kit.

The second bonus item is the On The Go Whitening Gum is another travel size bonus that you can use at anytime.  I see myself using this right after lunch during the work week since most of us don't usually brush when at work.  So now, that problem is solved. I can see myself using this all the time, and it's especially good as a breath refresher. My kit only came with 12 pieces, but you can purchase larger quantities here.

Here's a look at my progress so far:

       Before Using Supersmile             Day 1 after one use                       Day 7

My assessment after a full week: B+