Chloe & Isabel Trunk Show

Hi everyone! This weekend I'm teaming up with one of my favorite jewelry lines Chloe & Isabel.  Be sure to follow me on Facebook for updates and special offers throughout the day.  You can also shop here between now and Sunday. Happy shopping and be sure to let me know which piece is your favorite! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Jamberry Nail Wrap Review

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural leopard wrap c/o Anya Magestro of Jamberry nails

Hi everyone.  I am very excited to be working with Anya Magestro, an independent Jamberry nail consultant. She was kind enough to send me a sample leopard print nail wrap, so that I could try it out for myself.  I must say that I am totally hooked! They were so easy to use and seem to be very durable.  You basically heat the wrap (I used a hair straightener and held the wrap close to it), adhere to your nail, cut off the excess on the top, and file down the rest to smooth it out.  That's it...it's that easy!

 

This time I used the nail wrap for an accent nail, but they would also be cute to use on all five fingers.  I will definitely be purchasing some of my own and already have my eye on a few prints that I like. 

 

Be sure  to check out Anya's website here to order your very own.  You can also request samples or host a party, so be sure to check out her Facebook page here.  She has been amazing to work with and I would definitely recommend Jamberry nail wraps!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Liebster Award Nomination

source

I am so excited to be nominated for a Liebster Award by the fabulous Munachi of A Glamorous Revelation blog.  I have only been blogging for about 7 months, so it is so nice to realize that others have found my blog and like it enough to follow along!

There are a couple of rules for being nominated, like linking back to the nominator (thanks so much Munachi!), answer the questions they gave you, list 11 facts about yourself and your blog, pick 11 small bloggers to nominate, and let them know they've been nominated.  I've included all the information below, so hopefully it gives you some more insight into me and my blog! 

11 Questions for Chic Love Affair's Liebster Award

1) What has been your proudest blogging/blogger moment so far?

     My first comment! At that point it really became real and I quickly realized how great it is to connect with others through blogging. 

2) What is one beauty product that you swear by?
     Mascara in general...I can't leave the house with black curly lashes.  Some of the brands I love are Tarte, Clinique, Dior Show, and CoverGirl. 

3) Instagram or Twitter?
    Instagram for sure! I don't even have a Twitter account yet.  I am a visual person, so I love seeing other people's pictures and love to get inspired by browsing through.  I guess this also explains my obsession with Pinterest. 

4) What is one item on your Rich Girl Wishlist?
    A pair of nude Christian Louboutin heels.  They are so eye catching and I would love to own a pair. 

5) What is your favorite movie, TV show, or song?
    It's so hard to choose, but in general I enjoy romantic comedies/chick flicks.  For TV shows I really like Gossip Girl, Drop Dead Diva, Sons of Anarchy, Burn Notice, and the Walking Dead ( in other words all kinds lol).  As far as music, right now I really like Lana Del Ray's "Summertime Sadness."

6) Curly hair or straight?
    Wavy...it used to be more curly, but over the years it has become more straight.

7) On the beach, in the city, or out in the country?
    How about in the city, looking out on the beach, in a country cottage themed B&B.  In other words I can appreciate a little bit a bout each, but I am a small town girl that loves to visit the city and sit on the beach (I don't like being in water). 

8) What is your favorite perfume/scent?
   Chanel Coco Mademoiselle

9) Who is your celebrity girl crush (I won't judge if it's not Beyonce)?
   It is tough to choose between Kate Middleton, Lauren Conrad, and Olivia Palermo because I love all of their styles.

10) Name one little luxury you love to indulge in (ex. bi-monthly pedicures, Starbucks coffee, an extra half hour for your lunch break on Fridays).
   Home DIY manicure every Sunday.  I carve out some time to treat myself to a little me time. 

11) What is your all time favorite restaurant?
   It's hard to choose again, because I love trying so many different types.  I really love Cheesecake Factory, Corner Bakery, and a local place called Boba Café (soups, sandwiches, and bubble tea). 

source

11 Facts About Me and Chic Love Affair Blog

1) I would love to have my own clothing boutique one day.  The idea of selecting the clothes, styling and merchandising them, and being a 'shop girl' would be so much fun.

2) Soup is one of my all time favorite foods.  I typically don't pass up an opportunity to order it when we out at restaurants. 

3) Some of my favorite books are the "Confessions of a Shopaholic" series by Sophie Kinsella.  I can totally relate to the main character and the books are the perfect amount of funny and romantic. 

4) I am a total list maker and find myself making lists for all kinds of things just to keep it all straight.  I love pretty notepads and office supplies to aid in this little quirk of mine.

5) I'm not much of an animal person, but we are considering getting a beagle puppy.  They are just so cute, so we'll see. 

6) My Blog name is made up of my initials CLA and I chose words that I liked in each letter.  So far I love it and I think it really represents me and my blog content so far. 

7) In case you haven't noticed I love shabby chic décor.  I would love to own a quaint little cottage and decorate the place in some of my favorite soft colors. 

8) I work as a full time senior manager of an insurance claims office.  I love my job, but I started my blog as a creative outlet for me outside of work.

9) Traveling is one of my all time favorite things to do.  I love being in airports, hotels, and just exploring somewhere new. 

10) I speak German and would love to learn at least 6 other languages.  Next on my list is either Arabic or Russian. 

11) Next up on my DIY list is a tulle skirt.  I love how feminine they are and I think anyone who wears one would feel like a total princess!

source

Questions for Chic Love Affair Nominees

1) What made you decide to start a blog?



2) Favorite color?

3) What do you never leave the house without?

4) Social Media Preference?

5) Favorite type of music?

6) If you won the lottery what would be your first purchase?

7) Dream Vacation?

8) What are some common characteristics of your favorite blogs?

9) Favorite celebrity trendsetter?

10) Magazines or books?

11) Do you prefer online shopping or in store?

Here are my nominees...

Topknots and Pearls

Crafter Thought Blog

Life Love Lauren

Made in the Shade

Bloom

Craving Chic

Glitter and Bow

Serendipity Delight

Essent Jewels

Confetti Darling

Stripes in Bloom


Good luck to everyone and thanks for stopping by!

#fabsummergiveaway

I have teamed up with this fabulous group of ladies for an amazing giveaway!!  Be sure to follow me on Instagram to enter.  The lucky winner will receive a gift box including a painting, gift card to Southern Pearls Boutique, pink and gold bangle stack, handmade friendship bracelet, two heart bangles, sequin and tulle camera strap, statement necklace, pineapple print, "wirkin for a birkin" tee, aviators print, and a custom initial canvas from yours truly. 

To enter on IG be sure to:

Follow these ladies: @laurenashleypatao, @allglammedup, @hmwillow, @samandkatedesign, @shopsouthernpearls, @twentiesgirlstyle, @accessoryjane, @chicloveaffair, @hnicholsillustration, @girlmeetsgold, @katlynmaupin, @luckysageshop, @somevelvetmorningblog, @claudia_candelas, @jacquelinerendine, and @consigntimes

Repost the photo with #fabsummergiveaway (only one entry per account)

The winner will be chosen on Tuesday, June 17th at 7 pm EST. 

Good luck to everyone!!

Blogs I Love

Today I wanted to share some of my favorite blogs to follow.  There are so many out there and it's hard to choose, so I may make this a regular post in the future.  Be sure to follow along with these amazing blogs. 

Pearls and Pastries - This blog is so inspiring and provides daily doses of all things girly and sparkly.   Lauren takes amazing photographs and her posts include DIY's, jewelry, home décor, fashion, sparkly accessories, and of course her signature sequin hangers. 

Life Love Lauren - I have known Lauren for a while and she is such an amazing person.  Life Love Lauren is a lifestyle blog with fun humorous posts, recipes, home décor, advice, and anything else you can think of.  She helped me out when I first started my blog and I have enjoyed following hers ever since. 

Pink Peonies - This is one of may favorite fashion blogs to follow.  I love Rach's simple, feminine, and trendy outfit choices.  Her photos are amazing and her personal style is so classy.  She wears a lot of high end brands, but she also posts links for similar styles at a lower price point. 

Southern Curls and Pearls - If you are looking for adorable and preppy fashion inspiration, this blog will not disappoint.  Caitlin has amazing style and always takes the cutest pictures. 

Macarons and Peonies - I recently stumbled across this blog and now I am officially obsessed.  Roxy takes amazing pics and the blog is filled with feminine, Parisian chic inspiration.  Check it out for DIY's product reviews, home décor, and amazing photo styling. 

CrafterThought Blog- This blog is the best source for lovely DIY projects.  Kristin is so "crafty" and creative and I love to see the different projects she comes up with.  Did I mention that is super sweet and amazing to work with too!

With a City Dream - This blog is another source of amazing style and fashion.  Emma has amazing taste in clothes and outfit choices. You can also expect to see tutorials, beauty finds, and even home décor.  Her blog is so much fun to follow along with. 

Stripes in Bloom - Here is another blog that I recently came across and it has quickly become a favorite.  Jensyn has a lovely feminine style and I love seeing her outfit posts.  She takes great photos and also has some beauty posts and tutorials as well. 



What are some of your favorite blogs?

Thanks for stopping by!

Julep: Classic with a Twist

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Hi Everyone! Have you ever heard of Julep?  I had not until recently and now I am totally hooked.  Julep is an online shop that sells nail polish and a wide variety of beauty products. I recently signed up for the Julep Maven subscription box and I love it!

 

First what you do is take a style profile quiz, so that they can determine the best set of personalized products just for you. My style profile is "Classic with a Twist," which is spot on. After you determine your style profile you can select the type of subscription you want.  I selected the one that costs $19.99 a month and it comes with two nail polishes and a beauty product. 

 

The great thing is that you can preview your box before it ships and make any changes to the products beforehand.  The membership also gives you free shipping and 20% off at julep.com purchases.

 

So far I have received two boxes and have been very satisfied.  The nail polishes are high quality and the cuticle pen works like magic. If you are interested in signing up or purchasing some really great products then check it out for yourself here.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Shop Announcement: Tassel Garlands

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately and it has led me to a difficult decision.  I will be discontinuing tassel garlands from my Etsy shop.  I have been very busy with work lately and it has been difficult to keep up with the demand.  To be honest they can be time consuming to make, especially when I have multiple orders. My weekends have been busy with creating and packing up orders, which has not left me with any rejuvenation time from a busy work week.  Right now I need to be able to focus on work and myself a little more. 

 

The good news is that this should allow me more time to focus on this blog and be more consistent with posts and even better content.  My plan is to keep my Etsy shop open and debut more items to sell. I still need to narrow down what they will be, so stay tuned for more updates. 

 

If you were wanting to purchase a tassel garland, you are in luck! I will be selling the garlands until I reduce my tissue paper supply (yes I have a ton! ). This means that I will not be re-ordering anymore tissue paper, so first come first serve on the colors I currently have.  Also I will be offering an additional 15% on all tassel purchases during the month of May.  Use code TASSEL15 at checkout.

 

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has purchased a tassel and supported my little business. It truly means the world to me and I hope I was able to brighten up your day with a little something special. 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Kate Spade Beau Bag

 

 

Hi Everyone...I'm so sorry for the lack of posts lately. I have been swamped at work and have had a difficult time balancing everything. I'm hoping to get back to a better schedule soon though, so thanks for your patience.

I wanted to post about one of my most recent Etsy purchases. Holly from HN Illustrations was able to create an amazing custom Kate Spade Beau bag print for me. I have had my eye on this purse ever since it first debuted. I was initially turned off by the price, but once I saved up some money I ordered one of my very own. Naturally I ordered the blush color and I was so excited for it to arrive! 

When I opened the box and took out the purse it was just as I had pictured it, except in real life I did not completely love it...I know weird right?? The bag was too wide for my taste and I didn't like the fact that I couldn't wear it on my shoulder. I sent it back, but a couple weeks later they came out with the nude/ivory two toned version and I fell in love all over again. I ordered it a second time hoping that before I was just not thinking straight. It came in and again I was disappointed (sigh). 

That is when I reached out to Holly to create a print version of this amazing bag. I figured since I was still visually attracted to it, but did not want that actual purse, then why not have a lovely illustration to hang up and look at everyday. I am so thrilled with the final product and am glad she could turn my dream into reality. Check out her shop here for your very own illustration. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Burlap Bunny Banner DIY

 

 

 

I stumbled across this tutorial at Living Well Spending Less and I was instantly drawn to the soft neutral palette. It is also a no sew tutorial which was even better. I decided to make it and could not be more pleased with the end result! Here are the steps to complete your very own burlap banner.

 

What you'll need:

 

Burlap (I bought two yards and it was way too much!)

Felt in any color of your choice

Pom Poms

Ribbon

Hot Glue Gun

Scissors

Craft Paper

Iron

Spray Starch

 

 

(By the way I am a terrible DIY blogger since I did not take any "during" pics, but if you need the visuals check out the original tutorial link...sorry and I'll try to do better next time!)

The very first thing I did was iron the burlap using a little bit of spray starch. I found this to be very helpful in keeping the shape of the burlap and even preventing some fraying.

 

 

 

Next cut out your bunting and bunny stencils using the craft paper. I freehanded mine since I don't have a printer, but Ruth has some free printables on her blog if you need them. The craft paper I used was the consistency of cardstock, so it made for a nice stencil.  After this I cut the burlap and felt one piece at a time, to make sure they were even.

 

 

 

 

Now it's time to glue! I glued the pom poms onto the bunnies first and then glued the bunnies to the burlap pieces.  A helpful tip would be to use a small amount of hot glue on the felt. The first time I used too much and it bled through a bit. Also when you glue the bunny to the burlap make sure you have a hard surface underneath. I had to use some cardboard because it seeps through the burlap. Next glue the banner pieces to the ribbon and you're all done! Easy right?

 

 

 

If you are not up to making one yourself I have teamed up with Kristin of Crafter Thought Blog and Megan of The Sis Kiss to create this giveaway! Check out my Instagram account for more details on how you can win your own banner, a cute bunny canvas, and an adorable chick print!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

With a City Dream

 

 

 

I am very excited to announce that I teamed up with Emma from With a City Dream blog to create this beautiful custom tassel garland. First of all I cannot even express how much I love her room! From the colors of her wall, to the shabby chic vanity, and vintage gold frames, I am obsessed with it all! Not to mention Emma was super sweet to work with and has a fabulous blog.  Be sure to check it out for yourself to see some more fashion, home décor, and DIY inspiration.  This special edition tassel is also available to purchase in my Etsy shop.

 

Thanks for everything Emma!

Pretty Things

Last week one of my favorites bloggers/shop owners celebrated her 1st Birthday! In honor of the celebration I put together some pretty items to wish her a Happy Birthday! Check out Pearls and Pastries shop  and blog for some amazing inspiration.