Cheers! Its Friday! And the skies are blue and that big ole ball of sunshine is begging us to put the cares of the day in a box for the weekend and put on our boom shaka laka shoes!

And what fun can we cook up for the weekend? I’ve got my tunes playing already this morning bright and early and a little extra spring in my step! It is of course, “Fashion Friday”, and I must confess, its only January but I am beginning to comb the stores for SPRING fashion!!! Ahhhhhh!

A friend of mine Dena is talking about starting tomato plants inside in her home, doesn’t that sound like a great idea? I just love the energy that thoughts of spring bring us this time of year! Its kind of like the adrenaline you get for Christmas but somehow supercharged with extra happy vitamins!

So here are a few of the great sales out there if you want to do some exploring…  Lets Shop!

Banana Republic – 40% Regular Price + Sale Items an extra 60% off – that’s a lot of bananas! Amy’s Choice for today

Chicos – 30% off your entire order in stores or online, use code 43310… I’ve got my eye on this little number…

Dillards – Take an additional 30% off clearance

Express – Take an additional 50% off clearance

JCrew – An extra 50% off final sale items, use code SAVENOW I like this one…

JJill – 40% off all sale styles

Kohls – Any Way you pay take an extra 15% off Promo Code TAKE15

Loft – 40% off full price styles! Use code LOVEIT- in stores and online! ***AWESOME NEWS*** Their site says this morning they are expanding sizes offered, starting in 10 days there will be a plus size offered sizes 16-26!

Lord & Taylor – Extra 15% off regular and sale priced items- use code FINAL,  extra 25% off shoes and handbags through Saturday (if only I liked shoes and handbags… LOL! I must check this one out!)

Macy’s – Take an extra 20% off everything, use code SUPER; or $10 off purchases of $25 or more, use code SUP25 (some exclusions apply) And Free Shipping!

Nordstrom – Tons of new things added to their sale, and always free shipping. Amy’s Pick (in my basket!)

White House Black Market -Take 50% off already reduced prices- Use Code 96266

I am expecting that list to get a whole lot longer as we get closer to Valentine’s Day!

So this time of year, I spend lots of time recreating and using what I have in my closet to make it stretch the last couple months of winter. Layers are so important… and getting really comfortable layers is a huge blessing!

That is the inspiration for a few of  the outfits today, including this first one. But first, I want to thank my precious husband Troy for these lovely pictures and your steady help and encouragement with this blog. This is a dream for me, I love love love communicating with you this way, and he is always cheering me on. I am so grateful, thank you, Troy!

Ok, in this first combination, my sweater is a cardigan by Halogen and comes in a variety of colors, and is on sale now. The long sleeve tee underneath is by Free People and it is so comfortable! I also ordered it in a gorgeous olive green, and an orange as well, super soft and flowy.

My necklace is the Rayna Pendant Set , a brand new selection offered by Stella & Dot, the beads are black with white accents, and the metal is silver, anchored by a solid pendant. The two strands can be worn separately or together.

If I could, I would wear bright colors every day of my life, but I mix it up a bit so that no one thinks I have a certifiable problem. Its like sitting down to dinner… you are expected to follow a certain order… soup, salad, main course, dessert. This outfit is one where I jumped straight to dessert and asked for a double!

Aren’t those stars just so cheerful? The sweatshirt is super soft, and you would have laughed if you saw me open the box, I gasped out loud! “Its so beautiful!” I held it up and grinned ear to ear!

Alexa Superstars Sweatshirt by South Parade

So since I had the red stars, I thought “why not add some blue stripes?” You see, there was this adorable navy striped bag, the Oversize Millie by Sole Society, and I blinked and it was in my basket and on its way home! I tell you, that bag chose me! Its really fun and feels like a breath of spring! My sidekick Kasey carefully selected her toy doggy wearing the red and white hat to coordinate. I told her you would really appreciate that!

Next, I have another longer cardigan, in a rich olive green. Its super soft, and I paired it with an older cream henley I had, but I think it would also be lovely with pale pink or peach.

Long French Terry Cardigan by Caslon $59.

My Bag is one I got on sale this past fall, the Rebecca Minkoff Slouchy Hobo with Whipstitch, now over 50% off! I love a big slouchy bag! I think it stems from my roots from the 70’s. I have a true story from the 70’s… I was in a home economics class in junior high, and we were assigned to “sew” a quilted hobo bag. I had zero experience with a sewing machine, and I confess, I had a very poor grade on this assignment, for I sewed my bag permanently closed. Yep. But no worries, this did not wound me, it convinced me that I was meant to be a shopper! Its nice to know where your gifts and talents are!

Troy took this picture while holding a piece of cheese over the camera… which one of us do you think he tossed it to?

Finally, I’m wearing a black Vee Neck. I love Vee Necks! They really help “slim” the look of my neck, and I will take that kind of help any time any day!

Here I’m wearing the Halogen Cashmere V-Neck sweater on sale 20% off and comes in several colors. The one I am wearing is a black with tiny flecks of color, though its hard to see in this picture.

My handbag is the Chelsea28 Blair now on sale at Nordstrom Rack for $39.97! Great Price for a great bag! Seriously I love this bag, the shape is just so defined and cute with that little top handle!

My necklace is the Luna from Stella & Dot, my all time fave, perfect for so many necklines, and a very interesting shape, and a steal at $49.

And its tough to see, but I am wearing my new favorite shoes, a pair of black mules with just a lovely blocky heel, by Johnston and Murphy, now 40% off.

Also, last week, I shared this blush statement tee with a moto jacket.  

But, I wanted to show you the tee so you could see it a little better, it has such an awesome message on it. I absolutely love statement tees! I love the creativity and the way it interacts with people! I am that person that often is “searching” different stores to see what statement tee’s they have in stock! They are kind of like candy for me! The more upbeat and positive the message, the more I love it!

Its super comfy and soft, and is a very soft blush color. You can’t quite see it, but on the back up by the neck is a small arrow pointing up. One more affirmation that you are not looking behind you anymore, you are moving forward. You are strong! And rising to the top! I love that message!

I can comfortably wear a large in this top. They also offer it in little girl sizes as well! Its such a cute tee, it looks great with a statement necklace and a jacket, and will work year round! I think this is my favorite of all of the Stella & Dot clothing items, the “Eye am Strong” tee.

I also wanted to show you this pretty jewelry box by Stella & Dot, in a champagne gold. It has compartments for statement necklaces, an earring organizer, is perfect for traveling and pretty enough to set on your dresser. This jewelry box which I love is usually $59, but for Valentine’s Day they are running a special where you can get the jewelry box plus a beautiful set of pave knot stud earrings for $50 all together! Its really a great deal, and if you would like to take a closer look and see the earrings, you can see the Champagne Wishes Gift Set here.

Finally, I want to encourage you this weekend to treat yourself to a weekend chock full of one good moment after the other! Fill it with fun! With Color! With Good Food! With Laughter! If that means a road trip for an overnight or to the beach or a movie or a lovely walk in a park, whatever things fill you with joy, I hope you will make your weekend overflowing with these things! I have a sister who lives in Florida, and it always does me such good when I see her pictures spending the evening to watch the sunset at her favorite beachside hangout, in “Pass-A-Grille” (google it, its lovely!) I love knowing that she takes hold of life and fills it with as much beauty and fun and love as she can!

Years ago, I needed to create a back drop for a stage that was canvases covered with big bright splotches of paint, like a beautiful messy art studio. I brought in a crew of friends and we literally took paint brushes dipped in super bright color paint, and splattered it all over the giant canvases! Talk about exhilarating! It was so much fun to be free to just splat bright color everywhere! I am so glad I have that memory! And that I got to share it with a team that I love! Its really kind of a cool analogy for our lives! What do we want that canvas to look like?

I read an article recently about how healthy it is for us to surround ourselves with things that bring us joy! That can include your decor, cheerful clothing, lovely company, even standing outside in the bright sunshine! I know so many of us have a pack of troubles that most people have no understanding or knowledge about. But you are entitled to rest and rejuvenate, and compartmentalize those serious concerns for a healthy break. Just as your body needs to sleep, your mind and soul need a break to refuel as well. Take a chance to get in touch with your own dreams, a chance to smile so big it hurts and take a big juicy bite out of life! I hope your weekend is chock full of laughter and adventure and fun! You are worth it, and I hope its a regular part of your life story!

I’ll be back next Tuesday for another Tasty Tuesday!

Love Always,

Amy

“Life is a great big canvas, throw all the paint you can on it!”   ~Danny Kaye

 

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