MAJOR CRUSH

If you know me or have followed along for some time you'll know that I don't wear a lot of jewelry. But, when I do wear jewelry I only like to wear very special, quality pieces. I like when jewelry has a story, a powerful message or a special someone behind it. I've partnered with Shane Co. to share with you my Valentine's Day must-have jewelry because they are a company that offers those treasured gems.

Sometimes we see dollar signs when we think of shopping at a jewelry store, but I had no idea that you can find real gold and real silver items at Shane Co. for reasonable price points of under $200. Plus, with every purchase you make at Shane Co. you receive a certificate of authenticity. Many of us have probably spent similar amounts of money on jewelry that isn't even the best quality or guaranteed to give you timeless satisfaction.

I love this infinity collection by Shane Co. because the best way I can describe my love for my husband and kids is "infinite." This diamond bracelet and matching ring are modern and simple, but eye-catching. They are definitely high on my Valentine's want list.

Yellow gold, rose gold and silver are all on trend right now. You can mix and match them without wondering if they "go" together. I liked stacking these gold and rose gold diamond rings for understated, daily sparkle. 

In the past I haven't gravitated toward heart shaped jewelry, but when I saw this simple heart necklace I really loved it. It's one of those necklaces you would expect to see every woman wearing because it's sweet, delicate and can be layered with other jewelry.

This gold tassel bracelet, on the other hand, is that kind of unique piece that I'm always looking for. To put the bracelet on, you simply slide the gold ball down and slip it on your wrist. It's a design you would think you would see other places, but I never have! This bracelet is at the top of my want list!

If you're in the market to buy someone special a gift but you don't know what to get them, you can take this quiz to see what they might like. To see more things I'm crushing on you can check out my MAJOR CRUSH Pinterest board. Plus, you can enter to win $1,000 to Shane Co. by designing a Valentine's card, click here to enter.

Photos by Rennai Hoefer

IT'S MINE

Love comes in many forms and fashions, and for a limited time so does the look of Diet Coke. There is beauty in diversity, and soon, for a limited time, you will be able to take your pick of 12 oz. Diet Coke glass bottles that are each unique in their own way just like you and me. Diet Coke is has been my go-to soda for years. It's the only soda I crave, and I love that I don't have to feel guilty about the calories. Everyone's Diet Coke experience is unique to them, and I'm showing you mine through my other love, fashion, as part of Diet Coke's IT'S MINE campaign.

I gravitated toward this bottle because of how vibrant it was. It looks as if it's dripping wet from a rainbow, and so I immediately thought of this chiffon dress I have. It embodies the abstract art of the bottle and the silk chiffon moves effortlessly in the wind. I can't wait for spring and summer so I can wear it as a dress alone, but for now I have styled it with a long white sweater to create the illusion of separates. 

One color that I am looking forward to wearing more of this spring is lavender. I know that pale pink seems to be the "it" color, but in keeping with the pastel trend, lavender is more complementary to olive skin. And just like I love the specs of lavender in my floral blazer, I loved the hue on the Diet Coke bottle too.

But the reality is it's still winter, so one of my go to outfits is this rust, knit turtleneck paired with classic jeans. This bottle of Diet Coke feels SO me because it too has this rusty hue along with mint green. It's almost like an old lucky penny you always keep with you. If you come into my home you'll find these colors everywhere. 

So, what bottle is uniquely you? Share how you would put together your own IT'S MINE look with Diet Coke in the comments below and you could win your very own Diet Coke IT'S MINE style kit including a unique IT'S MINE bottle and one of my wardrobe must-have's for the ultimate look. The content will be open until February 10, 2016. A winner will be declared in the comments below on February 11, 2016 at 12pm MST and notified by email. 

Photos by Rennai Hoefer.

PINTEREST LOOK FOR LESS

Life's a bit crazy these days, and sometimes I have to remember that simplicity is best. The simple, tomboyish look below (pinned over 4000 times) is a perfect example of how sometimes less is more. The striped tee and jeans are comfortable and relaxed, but the sleek details of the watch and the patent leather oxfords pull the look together. This look also showcases the power of a simple red lip. A tiny pop of color like this really can go a long way. Grab the entire look below for under $130 and top it off with your favorite black blazer. Easy.

She Inside Striped Tee - $9

She Inside Jeans - $18

Nine West Silver Watch - $49

Amazon Glasses - $5

Forever 21 Patent Oxfords - $30

MAC Satin Lipstick in Lady Bug - $17

Total - $128

FASHION TERMS YOU MAY NOT KNOW

Fashion week (or month, should I say) is right around the corner. Prepare your thumbs for lots of scrolling through somewhat blurry but oh-so-chic runway shots and perfectly captured street style snippets. This would also be a great time to buff up on your fashion literacy. Fashion truly has it's own language, and it can be quite daunting and confusing at times. From those hard to pronounce french terms to slang that changes just as frequently as the collections themselves, it's hard to know it all. 

When I first began attending fashion events I was terrified of mispronouncing a word or being lost in the jargon. There have been many times when I've had to Youtube a designer's name to make sure I'm pronouncing it correctly or quickly Urban Dictionary a term. No shame! I've found that learning this new language is all in all quite fun. Here are a few terms to test your knowledge.

Bespoke - Bespoke is just a fancy way of saying "custom-made". The term usually refers to custom mens suits, but all you have to know is that the customer gets to personalize everything down to the stitching and hardware. 

Capsule Collection - You'll hear this phrase quite often. Brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein have come out with capsule collections that are in theory, wardrobe essentials. The pieces are often quite timeless and can easily be mixed and matched with one another. 

Frow - This one's simple. Fashion insider lingo for "front row". Example: "Did you see Anna Wintour sitting next to Beyonce in the frow last night?" 

Haute Couture -  Most of us know that haute couture translates to "really, really fancy and out of our price range", which is pretty much correct. But what does it actually mean? Haute couture means "high sewing". Haute couture shows happen mostly in Paris and for a collection to be considered haute couture it must meet the standards of the Chambre Syndicale, a Parisian regulating commission. Requirements include that the ateliers have a full time staff of 15+ people, design custom-made garments for clients, and present collections twice a year showing at least 35 looks ranging from day to night.

Lamé - Lamé is a particularly shiny fabric made of woven metallic threads. Most commonly found in silver and gold, you will see this fabric used in lots of dresses and skirts. 

Minaudière - You know those darling little evening clutches which look like little acrylic boxes? Usually adorned with jewels or the like... well, that's a minaudière! The perfect accessory for your next soiree. 

For more fashion terms, download the Fashion Dictionary app from this blog post. 

Photos by Nick Duplesis; Styling by Alex Evjen, AVE Styles

HOW TO WEAR 2016 PANTONE COLORS

This post is sponsored by Neiman Marcus.

Every year Pantone releases the "it" color for the year, but this year we have TWO colors: Rose Quartz and Serenity. I'm not too surprised the hot colors of the year are pastel after we have seen so many blush colored dresses and tops preceding this announcement. Being a woman with olive skin, I've steered clear of wearing pale blue and pink in the past. Usually warm tones look best on me, but I decided to take the challenge of finding some clothes that I think work well for my skin and showcase the trend. The trick that I have found is to lean on the warm side of pastels. That means more of a pink peach or a purple-y blue are totally game! See how it turned out.

This blouse by Rebecca Taylor makes me feel so beautiful. The ruffled sleeves and soft pink color are very different from what I gravitate toward as a mentioned earlier, but sometimes you just need to feel like a woman and this blouse does just that.

Equipment makes the best silk, button-down blouses. If you know me at all my favorite outfit is a button down, jeans and blazer. I would have a 100 of these blouses in my closet if I could. I really love how they made a printed silk top with hearts without making it overly cutesy. This is definitely what I would wear for Valentine's Day. I paired the blouse with a Current Elliot denim button down skirt. I would say the "it" item to have this summer would be a jean skirt, and this is a great option if you're looking for one. It's a bit a-line, which is complementary to those with hips.

If you're looking for a work appropriate Pantone inspired piece, consider this Rebecca Taylor woven jacket. I love the fringe and design details on it. It references Chanel, but inserts a cool, young vibe with the chevron-like pattern.

And if all else fails and you can't find a Pantone colored shirt you like, go with a gray muscle-t that has a graphic incorporating both colors.  This one is by Pam & Gela, and would be awesome with a blazer and skinny jeans for a casual Friday or by itself for comfy Saturdays at home.

Photos by Rennai Hoefer