Hi there, my friend! Happy Friday!I hope you have had a great week! It’s been a bit chaotic with our weather up here in Michigan, and that is something we are used to! Your temperature can easily slide up and down a 30 degree range. The kids are getting quite a few snow days (or ice days) off of school so they don’t mind that part. Right now, our ground is rather iced over. It’s kind of like a skating pond, so we are moving slowly, but the sun is shining and that is a welcome thing!

This week, I want to start by thanking my husband Troy for helping take the pictures for me. It was cold the day we went to shoot these, but we didn’t let that stop us! We are learning more about photography every day!

So now that Valentine’s Day is behind us, we are in the end of winter stretch to try and get in shape for spring, and sometimes it’s just hard to get started and stay on task. So about a year ago, I decided to try and round up anyone who wanted to join forces to try and improve in the exercise and health department. I started a Facebook group to try and help me stay motivated. The group is called The Sizzler Challenge  and it is a fabulous place to find encouragement to make time for intentional movement/exercise for women on Facebook.

We are a no pressure all positive encouragement group, judgement free and free free.

Yep there is no cost of any kind, and no strings. It’s  just a “come as you are and be inspired” kind of place! Did I mention it’s free? Free fits my budget! And the nicest group of ladies you ever met! We have all fitness levels so where ever you are at is absolutely perfect for this group!  Come check us out!

We sure would love to have you join us! Click Here: Sizzlers Challenge

How to follow my blog:

Did you know you can follow my blog on my Your Favorite Chapter Facebook page? Yes you can! And I occasionally add in other things there as well. I would love to have you join me!

I’m also on Instagram, you can follow me there.

I also am on Twitter! You can follow me there as well!

And Pinterest too!  Now my blog has the Pinterest app on it, so you should be able to hover over pictures in the blog and “Pin It”. Your pins actually help my blog to grow! There is also a Subscribe button on the top of this blog toolbar and if you subscribe, you will get my blog delivered right to your email! 

Weekend Sales: President’s Day Sales!! I dug up a whole bunch of them! Wowza! Check out these deals! Yay!

Alex and Ani – Save 20% off when you spend $100 or 25% when you spend $200

American Eagle – Save 25-60% off everything

Ann Taylor – 40% off select full price styles, use code SOSWEET; And an extra 50% off all sale styles. Wowza!

Anthropologie – Extra 40% off sale styles

Banana Republic – 40% off almost everything except 20% off leather, suede, silk and cashmere apparel

Bath and Body Works – $10 off a $30 purchase, use code YAYDEAL

Bloomingdales – Save up to 70% off when you take another 20% off items labeled “Big Brown Bag Sale”

Chicos – New styles added to sale up to 60% off

Dick’s Sporting Goods – Up to 50% off this week’s deals, Huge Clearance Event, save up to 75% select apparel, equipment and footwear.

DSW – Free lunch tote and 2 containers with a $39 purchase, use online code GOODEATS

Eddie Bauer – 40% off everything! Extra 40% off clearance, use code FROST40

Evereve – Up to 70% off sale!

Forever 21 – Extra 50% off sale, use code EXTRA50

Gap – 40% off everything, includes denim. Use code GREAT. Extra 10% off everything, use code BOOST.

Gap Factory – Extra 40-60% off everything!  Plus an extra 20% off, use code LAYERITON

JC Penney – President’s Day Sale and Clearance! Extra 30% off $100 or more, or extra 25% off for orders less than $100. Or and extra 30% off select home items. Use code 9TOSAVE

JCrew – 40% off your purchase, use code YESPLEASE

JCrew Factory – The Yay OMG CHACHING sale, 50% off Everything!

JJill –  30% off all full priced tops, extra 40% off sale styles

Kate Spade – get an extra 30% off sale styles when you use code MORELOVE – free shipping and free returns to all 50 states. Yesss!

Kohls – save 20% when you spend $100 or save 15% use code COLD .  *50% off Carters Baby Things PLUS get an extra 20% the baby sale online when you use code BABYSALE20

Loft – 40% off full price styles. Use code XOXO plus an extra 50% off sale styles

Lord & Taylor – Up to 50% off Storewide! Use code HOLIDAY

Luckybrand – 40% off entire site!

Macy’s – Extra 20%, 15% or 10% off storewide, use code PRES;

Madewell – extra 30% off sale styles, use code BRAVO

Michael Kors – Enjoy an extra 25% off sale! Use code EXTRA25

Neiman Marcus – $50 off $200 event for qualified items. Use code LOVENM

Nine West -extra 40% off sale for up to 75% off

Nordstrom – Winter Sale! Up to 40% off all kinds of new additions to the sale!

Old Navy – Up to 50% off storewide!

Pier 1  – Save $20 when you spend $100 or $40 when you spend $200, use code PRESIDENT

REI – Up to 50% off winter sale

Saks – Up to 75% off final sale

Sur La Table – President’s Day Sale- up to 70% off through Monday

Talbots – 70% off all markdowns

Target – Save $10 when you spend $40 on clothing, shoes and more for the family. Up to 25% off Home items. Get an extra 15% off home items when you use code HOME

White House Black Market – President’s Day Spectacular up to 40% off!

Williams Sonoma – 20% off your order – use code WINTER

This week on the blog:

Ok, friends first I wanted to share this link to the Tory Burch website page. They don’t have a specific sale going on, but they are showing a fashion show for their Fall Fashions for next fall! I kid you not! Honestly, I have not yet ever made a purchase there, but oh my goodness! These styles are so pretty! Some of those blouses… oh my word! Swoon! It is fascinating that the Fall clothing line fashion shows are happening now, six months out from when the season starts.

Next, I wanted to share this watch with you. This is a Timex with Swarovski crystals, isn’t it lovely? If you haven’t looked at Timex lately, you need to check them out! They have such a fantastic selection of styles! But friends, you won’t believe this. Back during the holidays, Timex had a contest giveaway on their Instagram site. I put my name in for it.  Guess what? I was one of the winners! They messaged me on Instagram about a week ago, and told me I won, (can you tell I’m just a little excited about this?) I didn’t even know which one I would be receiving, it was a surprise, and this is what they sent me, I love it! So thank you very much, #Timex!

It has a little glitz so you can dress it up or keep it casual. Very elegant, and so comfortable! The crystals actually are even more sparkly than in the picture. I love this watch!

How many times do I say to myself, “Oh you won’t win” but this time I did! Woohoo!

Ok, let’s move on to this week’s fashion.

First, I’m sharing a statement sweater by Topshop at Nordstrom. It’s chunky and bold, cropped a little shorter than I normally wear, but I had a black turtleneck on underneath and it was trimmed in black so it made me a little more comfortable in case the sweater rose up on me at all.

This sweater actually sold out, but Topshop has so many gorgeous sweaters, a little bit edgy, but I kind of like that! Check out this one  which has a pretty wild spin on a houndstooth pattern, and this one which reminds me of a flock of birds lifting in flight, and this one, which has a gorgeous applique of flowers that wrap around the sweater like a stole! Topshop has such cool designs!

Topshop actually began as the teen department in the basement of a Sheffield Department Store in the UK. In the 1970’s it became a stand alone retail (along with it’s male counterpart, “Topman”). Today there are around 500 stores worldwide.

And Topshop prices are usually not extremely expensive, making really high fashion within reach. The tricky thing is that it sells out fast. So I have found if you like something, snag it before it’s gone. Or just be ok knowing that something equally cool is probably already available right now.

Next, I am sharing a really comfortable cashmere sweater which is available in a variety of colors and it’s on sale for $66.33.

I have it paired up with a plaid coat I shared a few weeks ago.

I put it with black slacks, black boots, and a black handbag.

The sweater is so comfortable, not itchy at all. It’s a little bit lighter, which I prefer in a sweater.

And I love wearing bright colors all year long! I’m so grateful to the fashion industry for providing really cheerful things to wear no matter what the season!

So this week was an exciting one. I was asked to do something I was a bit nervous about. I was invited to do a “Facebook Live” interview with a lovely friend, Rebecca Phillips for this amazing group I am in, The Forever Fierce Revolution on Facebook. The group is the genius of an incredible woman named Catherine Grace O’Connell, and its a place that reaches out to women in my age bracket and provides a wonderful community for almost 6,000 women. I am an admin in the community and I was invited to do a live interview to share why I love the group so much. This meant I would need to hook up my phone/camera and it would provide a live feed via Facebook to the community.

Ok, I was just a little bit nervous about this. I didn’t want to let anyone down, and I thought, “What if I draw a blank?” Goodness knows I am forever drawing a blank on where my car keys are! So, I spent some time jotting down the things I knew I loved about the group and wanted to share. And the time came for the interview. But there was a host of technical difficulties. So I was just trying to do everything I could from my end to help get it up and running (or at least not cause any more problems). And finally after 4 or 5 tries we were able to connect and do the interview.

Now at first glimpse I might think pessimistically, “Oh great! Just my luck! Technical difficulties”. But you know what? All the while we were troubleshooting, every ounce of nervousness was releasing as I was focused on trying to assist Rebecca. So when it finally worked, I felt like cheering, I was so happy! No nervousness at all! Now I wanted to shout from the rooftops! Time was short and I didn’t want anyone missing out on this great community! The technical difficulties actually served a valuable purpose in helping me get ready to step up to the plate.

And I got to thinking of how many things I may have said no to in my life out of fear, and yet maybe I had what it takes all along. I think we can sometimes be so afraid of failing that fear pushes us back in the corner. But really, we don’t need to be afraid of trying something new. So what if it doesn’t go well. At least I can try. And for sure I will learn something. And I will have this incredible sense of accomplishment.

The same is true for you too! If there is something you have always wanted to do, now is the time to start planning and implementing it! Whether it’s writing a book or making a move or a job change. Just start. That is something Rebecca taught me. No more excuses. Now is the time.  No matter what, at least you will have the satisfaction of knowing you gave it your very best shot, and who knows, you may end up absolutely loving it! It could be a super fulfilling addition to your life! I do know that your ideas are worth investing in, both for you and the rest of the world.

So what is it you’ve always wanted to do, but just haven’t gotten around to doing it? What do you say we go for it, together? You go for your dreams and I will go for mine!

I hope you have a fantastic weekend! I’ll be back Tuesday with another Tasty Tuesday!

Love Always,

Amy

“Time is growing short. There are unexplored adventures ahead of you. You can’t live the rest of your life worried about what other people think. You were born worthy of love and belonging. Courage and daring are coursing through you. You were made to live and love with your whole heart. It’s time to show up and be seen.”   ~Brene Brown

 

Places I link up:

Mummabstylish

Jo Lynne Shane My Life and Style 

Jodie’s Touch of Style / Ageless Style Link up

Sharing A Journey

Fashion Should Be Fun  

Not Dressed As A Lamb

Elegantly Dressed and Stylish

Glass of Glam

A Pocket Full of Polka Dots

Nifty Fifty Fabulous

The Blended Blog