Tag: Chic In Academia

A ‘Chic and Fit 2014’

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I had a relatively stressful day today.  All self-imposed, so no one to blame but me. 🙂  That said, I turned to a couple of things today that usually help me ‘de-stress’, so to speak.  Among those things, chats with friends!!  Many thanks to my amazing friends (you know who you are) who listened to me vent. 😀  The other thing I tried was…a run.  Yup, a good ‘ol run on the treadmill.

I haven’t worked out regularly in a while, mostly because I was breastfeeding my son for the past 10 months (have you ever tried running with breasts full of milk?!  PAINFUL.  Or at least it was for me!!).  But also because I didn’t HAVE to!  He’s turning 11 months this week and this past month, I’ve watched the scale climb faster that I ever knew it could!  I knew I was burning lots of calories while breastfeeding, but didn’t realize how many until I stopped (though we do have frozen stock to get us through the year, fortunately!)!

Anyhow, I forgot how good it feels to get some physical activity in my day.  The stress is not completely gone, but the endorphins appear to help me manage the stress better, I think (this, by the way is not a scientific opinion, haha!  Just my opinion. 😉 ).  So, I thought, why not engage my friends and see if we can all get a little healthier and de-stress together?!

So, I am starting ‘Chic and Fit 2014’!  The goal here is not to:

  • Get skinny
  • Try new diets
  • Workout like crazy

The goal is simply to incorporate at least 30 minutes of physical activity into my day.  If by chance I happen to lose some weight along the way, become less stressed, eat healthier, or decide that I love working out (this has never happened before, so I doubt it will happen now, but I’ll never say never, haha!), then so be it!

Want to join me?!  I will post updates here on my blog, also on Instagram, and on Twitter using hashtag #chicandfit2014.  You can post as well and use the hashtag, so we can all keep up with each other.  Sure, we may be halfway through 2014, but the year is not over yet!  So, follow along as I incorporate fitness into my attempt to stay ‘Chic in Academia’.  No gimmicks, nothing difficult, just me, a workout, and social media. 🙂

Stay Chic!

Workout Treadmill Day 1 edited

Me, my treadmill, and my phone (camera) 😉

Workout Day 1

Day 1 – A slow jog on the treadmill.

Exclusive Preview of LOTUS BOUTIQUE’s New Spring Line

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Anyone who has ever gone shopping with me knows that Lotus Boutique is one of my go-to for unique, affordable clothes and accessories in the Birmingham area. I am ESPECIALLY fond of their earring, belts, bracelets, and statement necklace inventory! Check out some of my previous purchases:

Chaus Bow Blouse) I inherited from @sarasab! Happy Tuesday! // Belt: @lotusboutiqueonline Shoes: Paolo @nordstromrack // Skirt: Norma Kamali #Walmart // Hanger: @pearlsandpastries

Chaus Bow Blouse, from @sarasab // Belt: @lotusboutiqueonline // Shoes: Paolo @nordstromrack // Skirt: Norma Kamali #Walmart // Hanger: @pearlsandpastries

Skirt: Lotus Boutique // Top: Vince via @tjmaxx // Blazer: boutique in LA // necklace: @ellandemm // shoes: marc jacobs via @eBay

Skirt: Lotus Boutique // Top: Vince via @tjmaxx // Blazer: boutique in LA // necklace: @ellandemm // shoes: marc jacobs via @eBay

Until recently, I had no idea that they also had an online store! What’s more, the online sales are crazy good! It is not uncommon for them to have 40% off flash sales, which includes clearance items. Here are a couple of things that I have purchased for next to nothing during these flash sales:

lb jewelry

Lotus recently received new merchandise for the Spring and you are among the first to get a preview of their new Spring Lookbook!! Here’s a look at what they have in store this Spring:

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I am loving some of these pieces, so naturally, I have put together a list of my top picks from their current, Spring Lookbook! Here are my picks:

floral dress Screen Shot 2014-04-04 at 11.41.12 AM Screen Shot 2014-04-04 at 11.45.52 AM Screen Shot 2014-04-04 at 11.52.45 AM

Love these looks??  There are even more on the Lotus Boutique website!  Lotus Boutique has been incredibly generous and is offering one of my lucky readers a $15 gift card to use on your next online purchase!!!  Just comment below with your thoughts on the Spring line and a winner be chosen at random and announced Monday morning!!

Last, but not least, I am excited to report that I will be styling and wearing Lotus Boutique outfits during Birmingham Fashion Week!! Birmingham Fashion Week will take place Saturday, April 19th- Saturday, April 26th at Pepperplace Mart in Birmingham, AL. Follow me on Instragram to see what I’ll be wearing! I’ll also be posting updates on Twitter for those who are tweeting-inclined. 😉

Stay chic!!

Finding style with Kleenex!

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Disclaimer:  This post is a compensated post in collaboration with Kleenex and Linqia.  However, opinions expressed in this post are my own and have not been modified by the sponsors or any other third parties.

I was recently offered the opportunity to check out the new packaging for Kleenex®, and naturally, I was super excited!  As you probably know by now, I get excited about most things related to fashion, including collaborations between Kleenex and fashion designers! I’ve been a fan of Kleenex for years and, I don’t know if you are guilty of this, but I will often catch myself saying, “Can you hand me a Kleenex?”, instead of “Can you hand me a tissue?”!  Do you do that??  Fine, don’t ‘fess up.  I do. 🙂  That’s probably because they have been around forever, though (not that I have…I haven’t been around that long, hee hee)!!  In fact, Kleenex is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year…can you believe the have been around that long?!  To celebrate, they created an innovative first: The Kleenex® Style Studio. It’s a fun way to learn more about the Kleenex Brand designs and products. Here’s a sneak peak at some of their new designs, including a collaboration with Isaac Mizrahi!

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Anyhow, I do love how cute their new packaging is!  As a recent aficionado of Instagram, I look for every opportunity to “cutesy” up my belongings (okay, ‘cutesy’ may not in fact be a word, but it’s my word, so, just nod and smile :)), including items that are part of my home decor or my handbag!

Take for example the new Kleenex decorative tissue box:

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It is adorably designed and even matches my makeup bag!  They have tons of other decorative styles, of course, all of which can be seen on the Kleenex Style Finder Studio website.

In addition to the decorative tissue boxes, Kleenex also debuted individual pouches to carry in your makeup bag, purse, or if you’re like me, your diaper bag (not pictured…it’s late, I’m writing in the dark, so you will just have to imagine it for now :))!

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There were several designs to choose from, but I settled on these three individual pouches, which included this black/white floral pouch to match the makeup bag I carry in my purse!

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Cute, right?!  Check out all of their new designs on the Kleenex Style Finder Studio site, in their new Catwalk or Kleenex? video, or by taking the quiz to earn a coupon for your new purchase!

Thanks for reading along and allowing me to share with you the news about this exciting new collaboration and debut of the new and fashionable Kleenex designs!

Finally, I hope you are in need of these NOT because you’re at home sick with the flu (ahem, did you GET the flu vaccine this year?! #publichealthadvocate), or a cold (can’t yell at you here, except maybe because you should sneeze into the inside of your elbow and wash your hands frequently, tisk, tisk!!), but rather because you have other, more practical uses for them. 🙂

Stay chic!!