LoveFeast Table

What I Wore Wednesday is a fun link up party over at the blog, The Pleated Poppy.  We’ve participated in it once before and when we feel the inspiration I am sure we’ll do it again.   Tonight, I was inspired by the outfit I just picked up from Old Navy a few hours ago.

Shopping Old Navy around this time of year is a regular habit for me.  I like to grab some festive tees and dresses for my gang.  For the past several years we have celebrated the 4th in Colorado with my husband’s sister and family.  We take our kids from the suburbs and let them go wild in the west climbing hay bales, shooting guns, 4 wheeling, boating and fishing.  After about an hour and at least one margarita and under the shadow of the Grand Mesa I loose tract of my suburban ways, the time, my kids and their bath schedules (does swimming count?) and my to do list and find myself relaxing and enjoying the simple things in life, our kids, campfires and family.

The fact is this this Old Navy outfit is a little bit more city than country, but it was too fun to pass on.  (And, I’ll bring cutoffs to change into.)  Here’s the down low:  Skirt reg.$29.94 on sale for $20.58 – Tank $5.00 on sale for $3.57.  So, total outfit was around $25.  Husband pointer (free of charge) do not tell your wife she looks like a flag.  I prefer to call this look “flag festive”.  So, here’s your 4th of July outfit inspiration ~ for What I Wore Wednesday.

*Old Navy did not sponsor this post – ya that bums me out too.  Flag festive inspiration – all mine!

And so we didn’t.  Kristin made hers…

And, I made mine…

On our first evening at the GE Momsperience we were treated to hat making led by the lovely ladies from Dee’s Crafts.  What a treat.

It was fun to get to know everyone’s personal style and flair right off the bat!

Word on the street or at least in the 21c Museum Hotel is that later on that evening two crazy hat ladies were caught in the art gallery mixing with the artwork!

Then, on the following evening all the lovely blogging ladies were able to enjoy a dinner and a bit of horse racing history at Churchill Downs.

This was our first time at Churchill Downs and we made a promise to come back and watch a race some day.

Then we landed in our beds ~ tired out from painting the town red!

Here’s to Fancy Hats!

Last Saturday night Kristin and I hosted our 5th BlogLove™ event.  This was our 3rd event in Minnesota.  Our BlogLove™ events bring bloggers, businesses and brands together for what we hope is an inspiring time.  Kristin and I were so happy to have so many guests join us for BlogLove™ Spark & Style!

DJ Kane kept the Houndstooth energy popping!!

Thanks to our models who worked their own “Spark & Style” walking the room in Houndstooth fashion.  Amber from Houndstooth, dressed the “Spark & Style” blogger models who were:  Missy ~ Marketing Mama, Jennifer ~ 30 Days of Honey, Jilene ~ Be Put Together, Kristin & Chris Ann ~LoveFeast Table, Kristin ~ High Heels And A Hammer, Kara ~ LaunchHER, Sasha ~ Fabuliss. These gals all have tons of their own spark & style!  And, they were gracious to help us out!!

The evening was upbeat and fun!  There were familiar faces and new faces.  We hope you all got to meet someone new and reconnect with a bloggy friend in real life!

Thank you to Christina representing Therapon, who sponsored our evening networking event.  Therapon is a clinical grade skin care line that knows that beauty and quality comes from within.  We were excited to be able to shared the quality of their product that we believe will give you that outside spark!  We were inspired by all the spark and style reppresented at this BlogLove event.

We hope your time at BlogLove™ left you inspired as well!  (Cristina ~ Therapon, Kristin & Chris Ann)

Bloggers who attended BlogLove™ “Spark & Style” are invited to link their recap posts here.  “Spark & Style” recap posts by bloggers who attended this event that are linked to this post will be entered into a giveaway for our LoveFeast Mother’s Tree Of Life necklace with birthstones.  The giveaway will be drawn on Sat, April 9th.

Today I went over to Houndstooth Boutique the location for our next BlogLove™ event, “Spark & Style”.  I needed to go over last minute details with Amber (the owner of Houndstooth) and of course check out the fashion.  Later I realized that this would be the perfect time to link up with an a popular blog party called What I Wore Wednesday over a Lindsey’s blog The Pleated Poppy.  Hi Lindsey!  These are some of the looks I tried on today at Houndstooth.  (Sorry the pics are out of focus a tad, Amber was not acquainted with my camera…but I think you get the jest of what they were like!)  The day defiantly put me in the mood for spring!

Amber shared with me a little bit about what it trending for spring!  High waist-ed jeans ladies!  With flares!  Silk buttoned down shirts, unusual graphics, bohemian florals and shades of nude.  In accessories ~ feathers, turquoise, natural stones and crystal accents.  Leather wrap bracelets are going strong!

We’re looking forward to seeing you at BlogLove™ Amber is giving all guests 20% off (exception: sale and Oie Jewelry).  We are having a special Oie Jewelry Trunk show too.  Bring your wallets ~ you can always get a new handbag at Houndstooth!

You can get a BlogLove™ ticket HERE: http://bloglovesparkandstyle.eventbrite.com/

When have you last rocked a glittering vintage pantsuit?

The details on this dress were beautiful just like the gal who wore it.  Robin ~ Pensieve, brought glamor to Blissdom 2011.

And~The Beverlies…brought hats.

Last year at Blissdom I met Laura, via her stylish dress.  This year I walked across the hall to meet the women behind this dress, Liberty ~ 16 Ball In The Air, turns out she co-writes her blog with her bff too.  I was sure glad I was looking for great style and found an opportunity to meet her!

Speaking of great style.  Check out this amazing electric blue purse seen on fashionista Allison ~ Petite Elephant.  She rocked a chic outfit from head to toe from White House Black Market.

These lovely ladies are Jessica ~Allora Handmade and Jeannett ~Life Rearranged wearing beautiful red rosettes from Allora Handmade.

Last year I started the tradition of Fancy Friday Blissdom Style while looking for fancy at Blissdom.  It has created an opportunity to introduced myself to and meet great people.  But, these stylish women are more than what they wear.  They are bloggers who know how to work more than just a pretty dress~

(Robin ~ Pensieve at Blissdom ~ circa 2010)

Who are you and what do you rock?

Silver Stacks… “A fine quotation is a diamond on the finger of a witty person, but a pebble in the hands of a fool.”  ~Author Unknown

Turquoise from Mexico~ “I never worry about diets.  The only carrots that interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.” ~Mae West

Sweet Gold~ “I’d rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.” ~Emma Goldman

Rings that strike our fancy~

“My crown is in my heart, not in my head,

Nor decked with diamonds and Indian stones.

Nor to be seen; my crown is called contentment;

A crown it is, that seldom kings enjoy.”

~William Shakespeare

We are excited to introduce to our LoveFeast readers a fabulous new company called Peppermint Park!  And, to offer you a SWEET deal!

Peppermint Park is a membership based fashion e-tailer.  It is a place where you can shop and generate income at the same time.  Every time you introduce a friend to Peppermint Park you receive $10 and then after that 10% of all their purchase amounts comes back to you!!  You can shop and make money all at the same time!!

The discounts at Peppermint Park are below wholesale prices making fashion affordable for stay at home, single-income and money-savvy fashionistas!  Peppermint Park makes luxury shopping accessible, affordable and fun!

So what’s our SWEET deal?  When you sign up this month with Peppermint Park and use the promo code “LoveFeast”~you receive 2 months of a Peppermint Park membership free!!  After that you can decide if you want to continue your membership and enjoy fantastic fashion and great shopping and even better prices!!

While Kristin was in town for our Minnesota BlogLove event we decided to take a trip to the Southdale Mall to visit and thank Rachael & Patty at Aveda for bringing wonderful hand massages to our BlogLove event.  Aveda added some gifts to our BlogLove swag bags that included a Caribbean Therapy body creme and an empty pure-fume bottle to bring in to be filled at the Aveda store at Southdale.  So, of course we brought our empty bottles with us!!

We had to choose from a tray of different scents to custom blend our perfume.  And, think about this.

We went on a “sensory journey” and smelled all sorts of little bottles with different scents.  Kristin and I both landed on #4.  #4 is a floral scents with jasmine and rose.  It’s not a big shock that we picked the same signature scent.  We’ve been known to pick the same style and color of laundry hamper from half the United States away.  We kinda get along like that.

So, while you’re playing perfume-ologist someone at Aveda will ask you if you’d like a sip of this…

It’s the lovely tea from Aveda that is a caffeine and sugar free, licorice and peppermint blend.  It’s part of what’s called a “Moment of Wellness”-which also includes this…

Now, there is something you should know about the “Moment of Wellness”.   Any guest can have one.  Even if you are not carrying an empty perfume bottle from a BlogLove swag bag!!  You can take your worn-out, shopped-out, kidd-ed out stressed-out self and have a “moment”.  For free.  For reals.

Isn’t that awesome?  We think so.

If you’re not near an Aveda store for a “Moment of Wellness”…where do you find your break in the day?

There’s nothing more fun then sharing your shopping with your peeps!  So, if anyone is curious as to what we bought with our Houndstooth credit from BlogLove….Kristin got this amazing sweater…

and I got this relaxed and cozy shirt.

We also spent some time chatting with Amber, the owner of Houndstooth, about fall fashion.

And, got a sneak peak at her new website!

Houndstooth Boutique is a chic little shop in Savage, Minnesota.

BlogLove Minnesota attendees received a Houndstooth gift to spend in the store in their BlogLove swag bag.  You can see what’s fabulous for fall fashion and our interview with Amber, here.

Houndstooth Boutique in Savage, Minnesota was one of the businesses that put a little swag in our bags at BlogLove!!  During the week while Kristin was visiting we ran down to Houndstooth and interviewed Amber, the owner to see what is going to be in fashion for this fall!  Amber is really knowledgeable and will know just the right look for you!!  So peek through your BlogLove swag bag and find her business card and visit Houndstooth to use your store credit special for BlogLove Minnesota attendees!

And, here’s a look at this fall’s fabulous fashion:

What trends do you like this fall?