Hi friends! It’s Friday! And I hope you are having a ridiculously amazing day!It’s been another busy week for me, how about you? What was the best thing that happened to you this week? I have a couple different highlights. I love doing that, even every day to focus on the best thing that happened that day… makes me smile and be thankful!

Just a quick note, if you notice at the top of this blog page, there is a bar under my blog title with 3 tabs to the left. One says “Fashion”, one says “Food” and one says “Subscribe”. If you click on either the Fashion or the Food tabs, it will pull up all the blog posts I’ve written on that topic. This is helpful if you are a big fan of one or the other.

Also, the subscribe button will get the blog post sent to your email box if you would like to receive it that way.

On that same bar, if you look over to the right, you will see the different social media symbols for the platforms this blog has a presence on. For instance, some people always click on my blog through Facebook. I do occasionally add things in on the Your Favorite Chapter Facebook platform that are new and interesting. The same is true for Twitter, and Pinterest. And Instagram is kind of like the pictoral Readers Digest of each post. If you would like to follow my blog on any of those social media options, simply click on the one you like, and “like” and or “follow” me.  I’m hoping to learn and grow and improve this blog, and I so appreciate you checking in on what is happening!

This week, I received my FabFitFun subscription box for Summer!

FabFitFun is a seasonal box that comes out 4 times a year for $49.99. But the box contents will retail for at least $200. This is my third box, and its full of goodies! It contains products with everything from fashion, beauty, fitness, health and fun! And they always come with a fantastic newsletter, and in an adorable box.

This time the artist for the box is Ayumi Takahashi, born in China, raised in Japan and educated in the United States. She “explores the subtle beauty of everyday through colors and shapes”. She’s done work for the New York Times, Paramount Pictures, Coca-Cola, and many more. She currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. The box is gorgeous! A keeper for sure!

So lets see what’s inside!

Here is the list of what’s inside the box I received for summer:

• Summer & Rose Beach Towel (in one of 2 patterns) (retails at $55)
• tarte tarteist PRO to go palette & liquid eye liner (retails at $43)
• Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel (retails at $45)
• Minor History Post Script Wallet (retails at $20)
• Jaboneria Maranella Hawaiian Black Lava Body Caviar (retails at $48)
• Foreo Luna Bluetooth Technology Skin Care Analyzing Device and App (retails at $89)
• COOLA Face Sport SPF 50 White Tea Moisturizer (retails at $32)
• Pier 1 Imports Marble Ring Dish (retails at $14.99)

I was so excited to see the lovely items! I’ve never owned any of the products by Tarte before! I will be interested in how I do with that liquid eyeliner. I am also curious about that “Body Caviar”, its suppose to exfoliate, condition and hydrate all at once! I’ve never had any kind of caviar, but this one comes with instructions, so I now know not to spread it on a cracker and eat it!

And the facial device with the bluetooth technology… I’ve never heard of such a thing! So it seems I put my cleanser on it (its a soft silicone sphere with soft spines, you clean your face with) and it sends information about your skin to this app to assess hydration levels. And it does pulsations for effective cleaning (I suppose kind of like my power toothbrush). You fill out a profile on the app and it gives you skin analysis with suggestions for the perfect cleansing routine for your skin. Interesting! I will give it a try and report back to you!

And check out this beach towel! I love bright colors, and this is fabulous and huge!

FabFitFun is a nice surprise that arrives in the mail. The box is so pretty, and I honestly get so happy when I see it on my doorstep! FabFitFun knows you will love their box, so you can order your first one and use the Promo Code WELCOME10 and get $10 off your first box!  Also, they are frequently offering additional specials you can add to your box, it is never a dull moment at FabFitFun!

If you would like to subscribe, or to learn more, you can click here: FabFitFun

And now on to this week’s fashion!

Many thanks to my son Jacob Kennedy for his help with my photos this week. He is studying photography and video for school, and is a natural! If you would like to see more of his work or for an inquiry, you can follow him on Instagram @Jacob.Kennedy21.

So let’s begin! I have some fun and interesting fashions for this week! I guess I would describe my style as an eclectic mix of classic, boho, and a little bit edgy at times. This first item is definitely boho summer fun! It’s the Chevron Waist Duster by Steve Madden, $49. I purchased it in black but it is also available in white.

The colorful band around the waist gives it such a fun pop of color!

I put a white tee on underneath, this would also be adorable with a tank shirt. I included a tribal looking statement necklace (I love things like this for summer!) and a fun cuff bracelet in woven threads of black and white.

These pictures are taken at the community garden at Frog Island Park in Ypsilanti, MI.

Look closely for the legendary Smeet Frog in the pictures, but chances are it has migrated for the season. The Smeet Frog (so they say) has webbed arms and legs, and a body covered with fur for the cold temperatures in the Huron River. The good folks of Ypsilanti enjoy a good legend and a great sense of humor. Keeps things in perspective.

One legend says they migrate to chillier climates for the summer (thought to be the northern coast of Labrador). Sounds reasonable.

Next I have a fun summer top in a pretty orange/peach shade by Chaus,

the Dot Ruched Sharkbite Hem Top, $59.

It’s flowy and fitted all at once, perfect for so many things dressed up or down.

My necklace is a layered necklace, the Grandi by Stella & Dot. I love that it has some orange, turquoise and a double arc horn, the piece is designed by Rebecca Minkoff.

I love these jeans! I’ve been looking for a summer pair in a light wash, and these are ankle length with the cutest embroidery at the cuff for that little extra something something! They are NYDJ Ami Skinny Jeans, through Nordstrom. They might be my new faves!

My bag is a camera bag cross body by Sole Society, for $54.95, and comes in a host of fun colors. Confession time: I am having a ball with all the cute handbags this year!

Finally, I want to share this super soft and comfy top, the Asymmetrical Tie-Dye Top from Chico’s. Honestly the fabric is so soft, I tried it on and promptly told the very kind lady helping me, “Sold!”. It’s a no brainer! The cut is flattering and the color is bright and cheerful. Bazinga! By the way, isn’t that a beautiful mural behind me in the picture below? It was painted by artist Mary Thiefels, who in one area has some characters painted showing the past and the Native Americans who lived here, and showcases the beautiful wildlife and nature and people who enjoy it. So everyone can find something they can relate to in this painting.

My shoes were some I purchased with that last “Trunk Club” delivery I received from Nordstrom. These are the Andre Slide Sandals by Halogen, and they are on sale for $41.96! These are some of the comfiest sandals I’ve ever owned. That is why I bought them. And they come in a host of colors too!

So many beautiful wooded areas to explore in this park area.

My necklace has a very special story. A few months back, my husband’s parents, Pat and Joyce Kennedy, came into town from Florida for a funeral of a dear friend of theirs. It was one of our cold and snowy winter weekends here. We were so glad they stayed a few extra days, and one of those days, Joyce and I went to Target just to walk around and spend some time together, and see what was new. We looked at everything! Purses, clothes, shoes, makeup, even tea pots! And she wanted to get something for me. So I picked out this pretty necklace. It reminded me of our family, inside the circle pendant are branches woven together, beautiful, and like the circle, our family goes on and on, with a new baby boy born just this week to one of my nephew’s and his lovely wife. It reminds me of a lifetime of precious memories with my dear mother-in-law who is one of the kindest, most lovely and humble women I’ve ever met. I am truly blessed to have her as my mother-in-law. So that necklace has a permanent home in my “favorites” now.  The Tassel Long Necklace from Target.

Jake asked me to walk out on the rocks for this next shot. Just an FYI, the rocks weren’t all stable. He asked me to look down the river, but I knew he was standing on a bridge with traffic behind him, so I kept saying “Be Careful!” and looking over my shoulder. Me on the rocks and him on the bridge!

This is the Huron River. It really is a pretty area. The river runs 130 miles long, and pours into Lake Erie. I grew up in Toledo which also shares a shore of Lake Erie. When we first arrived to this park, there was a fisherman fly fishing on these rocks. Fishing… what a history fishing has played on our planet! The history of this area goes back to the Native Americans, and the Huron People, hence the name “Huron River”.

There is something so mesmerizing about a river, if you stand on the edge watching water rush by. Every current, every bubbling splash, every drop is new water that comes from one place and is heading to another. It commands your awe and respect. The river twists and turns, with branching tributaries and brooks and eddies, and over time has carved through the very rock and earth. It can be very humbling. And in the face of such rugged wild strength stands the undeniable truth: Yet we have been given the gift of life, of a mind that thinks and dreams, and a heart that feels love and compassion.

There was a Disney movie on the life of Pocahontas several years ago, and in it she sang a beautiful song about what lies ahead “just around the river bend”. She does not fear, rather she is exhilarated by it. New dreams like the twists and turns of the river are ever flowing. I’ve always said there is no expiration date on our dreams. Every day we are here we can have new dreams, and yes we can go after them! If its something you want in your life story, then you set a course and go for it! It might not happen overnight but that doesn’t mean its impossible. Think of how many people kept trying for something people told them would never happen. At the very least you will get a whole lot further if you try! And the world is just waiting to see what you can do with your dream! It’s exciting, life changing, and it’s just around the river bend!

Have a wonderful weekend, my friend!

I’ll be back Tuesday for another Tasty Tuesday.

Love always,

Amy

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined. 

~Henry David Thoreau

Places I link up:

Jo Lynne Shane My Life and Style 

Northwest Mountain Living and Style 

Sharing A Journey

Fashion Should Be Fun  

Not Dressed As A Lamb