Win Love

This post is sponsored by Ellie Vail.

Love. It's what we all hope to feel and know every day of our lives, but also something we often fail at doing well with our friends, kids, parents and significant others. We have often heard the famous quoted verses from 1 Corinthians 13, "love is patient, love is kind, love does not envy, love does not boast...." and I've already missed the mark with patience this morning with my 2 year old. But every minute that goes by is a new opportunity to change our attitudes and actions. What better reminder to love well than jewelry that says "love" on it.

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All of these gorgeous pieces are by Ellie Vail. They are not only stylish, but also affordable.

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You can win your very own Juliette "love" ring just in time for Valentine's Day by entering below or clicking here. The contest ends on Friday, February 13th. Best of luck, and I hope your day is filled with a lot of love.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Polkadots & Pearls

When at Alt Summit dress to stand out. This is something that I have learned over the years. The outfits at Alt are always top notch, oozing with creativity and style. There definitely is an unspoken pressure to showcase your personal style, and so I decided to pack my fluorescent orange skirt for one of my outfits. I am literally a walking traffic cone, but I LOVE it! When you need to stand out and have brands notice you count on neon to do it.

Also, mixing patterns is always a great way to express creativity. I decided to mix my polkadot cropped sweater with my damask orange skirt to create a more dynamic outfit. (Check out my earlier post where I paired my skirt with leather). A touch of pearls and a chambray shirt underneath gave a feminine and preppy element, but it wouldn't feel like "Alex" with out a little edge. My open-toe leather shooties (get similar ones here) did just that. Of course, you could pair a classic pointy toe pump with this outfit and continue to the classic vibe, but why be predictable? I'm wearing neon orange after all.

Photos by the AMAZING portrait photographer Sarah Deragon. 

Merry & Bright Christmas

Christmas is almost here. Only four more days until the family is together eating delicious food, laughing at each other, watching kids open gifts...I'm really looking forward to Christmas this year mostly because it's the season of hope, and where would we be without hope?

New beginnings are just around the corner, and 2015 will be a new year of peace and simplicity. More on that soon, but for now may your Christmas be merry and as bright as this neon skirt.

Get the look: Neon skirt from Nove Boutique, leather top from Bailey 44, boots by Matt Bernson.

Photos by Melissa Jill Photography

Winter Date Night Outfit

You can't go wrong with black and white. If you're trying to figure out what to wear for a date tonight, start there. That's what I do.

During the winter, we want to stay warm while looking sexy for our date. My solution is faux leather pants. I paired a silk tunic top with them that extends past my hips, and I added a dressy, white tuxedo jacket to keep me warm.

A black sequin clutch and high heels really dresses the outfit up. No need to worry about earrings or necklaces this time, but if you want to add jewelry, a pair of shoulder-duster earrings would be gorgeous.

Get the look: faux leather leggings, tuxedo jacket, silk top, clutch, shoes

Photos by Melissa Jill Photography

Winter LBD 3 Ways

This post is sponsored by Synergy Organic Clothing.

I'm sure you have heard the acronym L.B.D. by now, but in case you haven't it stands for "little black dress." That's what every woman should have in their closet because it's a wardrobe staple that is incredibly versatile. When you find a great fitting black dress you can dress it up for a party, down for the weekend or make it sophisticated for the office. It's truly a woman's best friend.

So, I'm sharing with you today my long-sleeve winter "LBD" from Synergy Organic Clothing that I wear at least once a week if not more (shhhh!), and I'm showing you how I style it three different ways.

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1| The Weekend LBD - I simply add my Moon Cats scarf and I am set for the day. I really love the tassels and the blue and red color combination. It makes me feel so French.

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2| Work LBD - When I go to style for a shoot I have got to feel comfortable and move easily. This dress allows me to do that with a double slit. I paired my fuzzy vest to dress it up. Plus, having my hair pulled back makes everything look more sophisticated.

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3| Party LBD - I don't like being cold, and I'm always freezing at winter cocktail parties because I pick a cute little dress. I finally get fed up about feeling cold and wear a jacket, but then my dress is covered up the whole time. This outfit is perfect for braving the temps and you don't need to worry about covering it up. I paired a white tuxedo jacket with my black dress and a black and white houndstooth clutch made by Sincerely Jenn to pull it together.

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Photos by Amy Frances Photography