Things I Love: Braided Hairstyles

Casual, funky and sophisticated braids are a great way to bring style to your hair. There are so many different ways you can incorporate a simple braid into your hairstyle. It's a fun way to change up your everyday look without getting a new hair cut or changing the color. Braids are often simple, chic and fun to wear. My hair is finally getting to a length where I can try out some of these braided looks.

all photos found on google image - click for larger view

Happy Styling! :)

Things I Love: Spring Colors

Spring is so close I can feel it. Signs of the new season are literally springing up everywhere I look. Soon the weather will be cool but comfortable as opposed to chilly and tolerable. I'll be able to move into lighter and brighter fashion once spring finally arrives. Warm colors look best on my skin tone but I still love the bright, cool colors of the spring season.

Here are a few fashion items I found inspired by spring....

1. Mint flower charm from Forever21
2. Floral coin purse from Forever21
3. Floral scarf from Old Navy
4. Green silk blouse from Polyvore
5. Yellow halter dress (google images)
6. Colorful panel bangles from Forever21
7. Fuschia patent leather heels by RSVP Evelyn
8. China Glaze nail polish in Spontaneous

Fashion: Nautical Inspired Clothing & Accessories

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for warmer weather. It's actually been pleasant here in Switzerland but it still gets pretty cold - especially when the sun starts to go down. I know for family and friends back home this winter has been pretty relentless. Spring will be here sooner than we think and then summer will follow right behind it. I know it's close because stores are already starting to put out their spring and summer clothes! It looks like the summer trend is nautical inspired. Lots of stripes, blues, golds, chain and rope textures, anchor details and of course - my favourite - bows! :) With a cruise in my future, this is very fitting and very exciting! :) Lots of cute stuff that definitely sings "summer" and/or warmer weather. Here are a few nautical items that caught my eye.

click image for larger view

1. ASOS contrast longline cardigan
2. Aeropostale nautical stripe tank
3. Forever21 gold rhinestone anchor necklace
4. Kate Spade woven handbag with blue bow
5. Accessorize red nautical stripe bikini
6. Delia's nautical stripe dress (this would look great with a simple white cardigan)
7. Colin Stuart white with gold ring sandal (love!)
8. Arden B. nautical short
9. Chanel white sunglasses
10. BayanHippo yellow sailor tote
11. Forever21 gold chunky chain 5 bracelet set
12. Lindsay Colbus sea floor cluster earings
13. Spiegel wide brim hat
14. Chanel nautical bracelet
15. Colin Stuart gold braided ankle wrap sandal


Remember to think happy/warm thoughts! :)

Feature: HauteLook

I recently stumbled upon a great website called HauteLook which offers 48-hour sale events with the world's top fashion, accessories, beauty, kids and home brands. Each day, HauteLook offers discounts of 50 to 75 percent off on whatever the featured items are for that day. You can see what brands are being featured about a week in advance so you can check out the "upcoming events" list and if there is a specific brand you love you can be sure to shop their sales that day. You will want to shop your favourites early though because popular items sell out quickly! Sales start from 8am pacific time to 11:00am eastern standard time.

What I love about this site is that it offers top quality brands at discount prices. And if you're like me, you like to look like a million bucks but not spend a million bucks to achieve that look! I also love the variety HauteLook offers...clothing, jewelry, beauty products, home decor...all at amazing prices! The products and brands offered are new daily and the sale lasts 48hours. It's like your own personal online exclusive sale that happens EVERY day!

Oh and the other cool part...if you invite friends and they purchase something you get credit toward future purchases! BONUS!!

It's definitely worth checking out! Here is my personal invite to you:

http://www.hautelook.com/invite/ldelcamp116

Things I Love: Handbags

I grew up as a "dainty tomboy". I loved ninja turtles, building outdoor forts, sci-fi and action movies and most of my friends were (and still are) primarily boys but I also love(d) getting dressed up for special occasions, Disney princesses and shopping. There is definitely a girly side to me. The older I get the more I embrace this girly side. :)

One thing I have always loved is purses and handbags! I remember for my 20th birthday my parents bought me my first designer handbag - light blue signature Coach purse with white leather trim. I was SO excited! The first designer bag I bought for myself was for my 21st birthday it was a small purple signature Coach purse with suede trim. I still have both of these purses and have since added quite a few new ones to my collection. I am not a purse snob though. While I LOVE designer handbags, I love purses in general and I don't care what the brand is, as long as it is cute! :)

I think my love for purses came about because it is the one fashion item that you don't have to worry about trying on and it not fitting. Jeans, shoes, swim suits...everything else has to fit just right and when clothing doesn't fit, it can be somewhat depressing (I know you ladies understand!). With purses, it doesn't have to fit your body shape, it just has to look cute with your outfit and a great purse can really make a statement. Not to mention purses are useful! I don't know how guys get by with just a wallet! ;)

Here are a few of the designer handbags I have my eye on and some I currently have in my collection. If you notice I love bows, ruffles and feminine details on purses. I also tend to gravitate towards classic styles that won't fade out with trends. The classier the better! :)

click image for larger view

I've listed below the designer and the style of each handbag for easier searching.

1. VALENTINO side bow zip top satchel in brown leather
2. PRADA with white bow detail
3. MICHAEL KORS lattington medium satchel in purple
4. EIGHT SEASONS cream handbag with flower detail (talented etsy seller)
5. ELITE berynice crossbody in taupe with zipper detail
6. KORET third avenue medium tote in black
7. MELIE BIANCO ruffled bow satchel in taupe (can now be found at Target.com)
8. CHRISTIAN AUDIGIER zee zee top satchel in gunmetal
9. NZLBAGS green knit shoulder bag with brown silk bow (another talented etsy seller)
10. COACH colette leather perforated OP art tote in gold/bronze
11. TORY BURCH black patent leather satchel
12. MIU MIU side bow in taupe
13. CHANEL signature quilted white on black (currently in my collection)
14. LOUIS VUITTON white multicolor with bow (currently in my collection)
15. COACH sutton signature in purple (first handbag I ever purchased, currently in my collection)
16. DOLCE & GABBANA bronze and brown stripe bucket bag (currently in my collection)

2010 FAVOURITES (Part One) - Beauty & Fashion

There have been so many things that I enjoyed in 2010. So many that I can't fit them all into one blog post...well I could...but it would be entirely too long! Instead, I am going to break down my 2010 favourites list into five parts: 1.) Beauty and Fashion Favourites 2.) Favourite Music Albums 3.) Favourite Films 4.) Favourite Books 5.) Favourite Moments

I'll be starting off with my 2010 Beauty and Fashion Favourites so that if you see something you like you have a better chance of finding it in store or online.

1. L'Oreal Go 360° Clean Deep Clean Cleanser

I discovered this face cleanser early on in the year and it is my holy grail of beauty products! I have very sensitive skin in that I am allergic to certain face products and my face will break out into a rash if something too harsh touches my face (like my husbands beard stubble) but I don't break out in blemishes very often. Typically I only get one or two pimples a month sometimes I can go a month without getting blemishes at all, which compared to some is pretty good, but I have been using this product consistently since early spring and I have only had two pimples all year! Yes, that's right...two pimples ALL year and I swear it is because of this cleanser! I use it every day - once a day - and I am so happy with the results it has given me! I can't guarantee it will work for you because all skin types are different but if it works as good as it has for me then I think you'll fall in love with it too! It's affordable, it lasts a long time and it's good for sensitive skin (like mine). I get the pink bottle because I have more dry skin so the formula works best for my skin type. Jared uses the green bottle and he too has had great results with it.

2. DKNY Havana Frame Glasses Lens Crafters
These frames fit my face well and because Lens Crafters was having a sale when I bought them, I got them for cheaper than the retail price.

3. Marc Jacobs Daisy Perfume
For those who know me well you know that my favourite perfume of all time is Breathless by Victoria Secret. But this year I discovered Daisy by Marc Jacobs and I absolutely love it! The bottle is adorable, the scent is youthful yet sophisticated, fresh and feminine and just an all-around nice light scent. I have actually only smelled it at the perfume counter and don't actually own it, but I would like to. *hint hint* ;)

4. Louis Vuitton White Multicolor Handbag
 I happened to stumble upon this gem on eBay and quickly snatched it up. Actually, it was a closed auction and I was able to outbid the other lady by only $1.00!! I was so excited when I found out it was mine! Unfortunately it's really hard to purchase this handbag because it is extremely rare and hard to find but don't let that stop you from searching! I love that it is the white multicolor because it can go with just about any outfit and the bow makes it extra feminine and SO cute. It is definitely my new favourite purse! :)

5. Essie Nail Polish in the shade Forever Young
Red nail polish is classic and classy. This Essie nail polish is a nice tango red shade. It looks great on both finger nails and toes. It was one of my go-to nail polishes of 2010.

6. Rimmel Moisture Renewal Lipstick in the shade Vintage Pink
I am not a huge fan of lipstick. I prefer lipgloss. But this lipstick doesn't feel sticky or dry like other lipsticks I've tried. It's very smooth and moistuizing and feels like more of a lipgloss or chapstick on your lips than actual lipstick. This shade is a very subtle pink shade that would look good on most skin tones. You can find this product at your local drugstore.

7. Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara in Black
Non-clumping, non-flaking, volumizing and lengthening mascara. What more could you ask for in a mascara?

8. Pink Burberry Scarf
I have been wanting a pink Burberry Scarf for a very long time. I found mine in one of the many Swiss shops during Christmas and was so excited to add it to my ever-growing scarf collection. It's so girly and cute!

9. Hello Kitty iPhone Case
This was another eBay find! (My Mom and I are addicts!) I'm pretty sure this iPhone case was only $3.00 plus shipping. I'm a big Hello Kitty fan so when I got my new phone I instantly went on the hunt for the perfect Hello Kitty case. I love that this is a mobile phone case and Hello Kitty has a rotary phone. So cute!

10. Beauty and the Beast Diamond Edition
My favourite Disney movie of all time was re-released this year and Jared got it for me for our three year wedding anniversary! Not really a beauty product...but Beauty is in the title so it counts right? ;)

11. Head and Shoulders Smooth and Silky Shampoo
I don't care if this is a "dandruff shampoo" it smells AMAZING! I have my sister-in-law, Jess, to thank for this discovery! Every time I gave her a hug I could smell her hair and it always smelled so good. I asked her what hair product she used to get her hair to smell so good and couldn't believe it was the drugstore brand Head and Shoulders. I ran out and bought some and it's been on my favourites list since summer! My hair still has the freshly shampooed scent ALL day. I love that it is long-lasting because other shampoos I have tried the scent wears off in just a few hours. I love smelling my hair after I use this shampoo! :)

12. Colin Stuart Riding Boots
I had my eyes on these boots for months and Mama Bear got them for me as a Christmas gift this year. They are not the best at keeping your feet warm in snow, but they are too cute for me to care! :) If you layer up socks you will be able to better fight the cold feet. I got my pair in the color caramel and I absolutely love them! They are pretty comfortable. I wore them walking around the streets of Switzerland all day and they didn't hurt my feet! These boots will be great in spring and summer too with sundresses because they are lightweight so I love that they are versatile.

My favourite trend of 2010 definitely has to be bows. Bows on handbags, bow jewelry, bow hair accessories, clothing with bow detail. I definitely fell in love with bows this year and bought a lot of things that were adorned with them. They are just so feminine and classic and I can't seem to get enough of them! :)

Hope you enjoyed the first installment of my 2010 favourites. Be sure to check back for the sequels of this series! :) Have a fun and SAFE New Year!

Things I Love: New Year's Eve Sparkle

 Tomorrow is New Year's Eve and it is one of my favourite holidays because it is a holiday that everyone around the world celebrates! Lots of us will be ringing in the new year by going to parties or to a dance club or to dinner and some of us will be bringing in the new year from the quiet comfort of our own homes. Whatever your plans may be...it is a great excuse to add some sparkle to your outfit! Silver and sequins were big this year and when I think new year's...I think sparkle! So here are a few ideas for your  New Year's Eve outfit. Obviously you shouldn't wear sequin from head to toe or you'll look like a disco ball, but pairing one or more of these items with more simple clothing choices will really make your outfit shine! Whether you are going to a fancy party or just enjoying a mellow evening with your significant other or friends I think you'll be able to find at least one item here that could work for you! For those of you who prefer gold...maybe I'll do gold-themed fashion suggestions next year! :) I hope 2011 finds you happy and healthy! Have fun, stay fabulous and be safe!

Cheers!

1.  Tiffany Heart Key Charm

2. Silver Sequin Tank by Romeo and Juliet Couture

3. Silver Sequin Bow Hair Clips from Forever21

4. Silver Sequin Peep Toe Heel from Skelapparel

5. Silver Sequin Diamond Dress by Miss Selfridge

6. Serena Williams Signature Statement Collection Bow Earings

7. Coach Silver Sequin Wristlet

8. Seaman Schepps Ivory and Diamond Cuff Bracelet

9.  Top Shop Silver Sequin Skirt

10. Silver Sequin Converse Sneakers

Things I Love: Sweater Dresses

I am in LOVE with sweater dresses this season! They are a great way to dress comfortable but still have style. I recently found several cute sweater dresses and have enjoyed accessorizing them to change the look. Belts, scarves, shoes and tall socks/leg warmers can really add style to any sweater dress!

Here I have paired some cute black wedge boots, black tights, leg warmers with a snowflake pattern and a simple necklace to really pull this look together. Because this gray sweater dress is somewhat simple, you can really play with different accessories to completely change the look. I love the neckline and fit of this dress too. The sweater dress is from H&M. My wedge boots are by Roberto Santi. The leg warmers are from a local shop here in Switzerland called Yendi and the black tights you can find just about anywhere. Opaque leggings with flats work great too or if you want to dress it up, wear some cute heels!

Here are a few other fashionable sweater dresses. There are so many styles and ways to wear them! I'm absolutely obsessed with them because I can be comfortable and still feel cute! :)

1. Banana Republic
2. H&M
3. Juicy Couture
4. YesStyle.com
5. Victoria's Secret
6. Vivat Veritas
7. Victoria's Secret
8. Old Navy
9. Kimberite

Review: Zoppini Charms

I guess I would consider myself a collector. More specifically, a sentimental collector. I enjoy things that are tied to a memory. For example, one of my favourite things to collect are Zoppini Italian Charms. My mom bought me my first Zoppini bracelet and charms several years ago as a gift. She shares my love for traveling so she had the brilliant idea of buying a charm for each country I had visited up to that point and each time I visit a new country, I get a new charm to put on my bracelet. So unique, so fun, and so...ME! I love it!

The current flags that I have as charms on my bracelet are:

America
Ireland
Italy
France
United Kingdom
Canada
Brazil
Mexico
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Europe

Flags of the countries I've been to that I need to add to my charm bracelet are:

Germany
Scotland
Switzerland
Bahamas
Jamaica
Costa Rica

As you can see, I really love to travel! I've been blessed to have been able to see so much of the world already and hope to visit as many countries as I can. I love wearing my bracelet because it is definitely a conversation starter. I get asked questions about it nearly every time I wear it. I like that the charms allow me the opportunity to briefly share my traveling experiences with others and the sentimental reason behind the bracelet itself.

There are other Zoppini Charms aside from just flags so you could personalize it to match your personality and who you are. It's a fun way of collecting memories and because the charms are individually handpicked by you or a loved one, it is certain to be one-of-a-kind. Definitely a great gift idea for the holidays.

Check out their website for more detailed info:  http://www.zoppinicharms.co.uk/

Things I Love: Cocktail Rings!

I love unique jewelry. Lately I have been into fun and funky jewelry - more specifically, cocktail rings. These oversized and glamorous accessories are very trendy right now. I have seen more and more of them lately. This diamond bow ring is my current favourite cocktail ring that I own. I wear it almost daily.

My collection is continuously growing though! I have several! I just love how a simple accessory, like a cocktail ring, can add so much to your look. It's a fun way to dress up any outfit.

Here are a few cocktail rings that I have my eyes on! :)

1. amazon
2. juicy couture
3. brokenfingersart
4. cirkus-charm
5. chanel
6. chanel
7. ragtradervintage
8. katespade
9. chanel
10. brilliancefound
11. perfectdetails
12. macys

Review Tuesday: 2010 August Favourites

There are a ton of haul videos out there and I personally enjoy this type of all-in-one review. It's good for gift ideas or for great finds for yourself! This is my first haul video but I think I might make it a once-a-month kind of thing. It's more or less a product review of some various items that I have purchased throughout the previous month. I've included the product details of the items I have reviewed here in my blog. I hope you enjoy my August Favourites! :)



Items Reviewed:
Pet Carrier: Louis Vuitton look-a-like  - Ebay
Glasses: DKNY, style: Havana  - Lens Crafters
Zipper Earings:  Claires
Rose Hair Accessories:  Claires
OPI Nail Polish: Jade is the new black AND Ski teal we trop  - Trade Secret
Skirt Purse: Mod Dot print, Rose print  - Thirty One Gifts
Book: Twelve Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur  - The Open Door Christian Bookstore

Review Tuesday: Thirty One Gifts

I have to share a great find for all the ladies out there!

Thirty One Gifts was created a few years ago with the scripture Proverbs 31 in mind. Founder, Cindy Monroe says that the message behind Thirty One is to Celebrate, Encourage and Reward women.

Thirty One has so many personalized items that are fashionable, functional and fabulous! My favourite Thirty One  product is the skirt purse. I am a purse-a-holic so when I found out that this purse is fashionable AND interchangeable I had to have one! This purse has so many cute patterns and the best part is that you can change the look without taking all of the contents of your purse out and having to switch them to another purse. So clever!

Thirty One also offers TONS of utility totes, organizers and "products with purpose". Life is busy so anything that helps make life a little simpler is great! And they make awesome gifts! Again, so many great patterns with equal functionality!

My Mom and I just hosted a Thirty One Gifts party and not only was it a lot of fun but we were able to get some great hostess rewards including free shipping, free products and discount products....good stuff!

Find a Thirty One consultant in your area and have fun shopping with friends! :) You can also shop online, have online parties or become a consultant yourself!

Review Tuesday: Fashion-Forward Photo Product

 As a photographer, I'm constantly researching all things industry related and I recently discovered something that I think is A-mazing and just had to share!

ChrysQ's Luxe Slipcovers are great for photographers who want to make a lasting impression when presenting their client albums. Each ChrysQ slipcover is custom-made to specifically fit your albums. These high fashion slipcovers are something trendy and luxurious that gives your already fabulous photo albums even more glamorous touch. These slipcovers are made to any size dimensions and are a perfect complement to your stand-out albums, photobooks or dvd/cd cases. You will definitely leave a distinguishing impression on clients. A custom-made, handcrafted product that emphasizes your art, now that's what I'm talking about!!

These one-of-a-kind slipcovers are sold directly to photographers only. If you are a client of a photographer, please have your photographer contact ChrysQ to order. Slipcovers can also be made for your laptop and phone so be sure to check out the ChrysQ website to see the different styles or place a custom order!

Here are just a few examples so you can see how gorgeous these slipcovers really are!

Review Tuesday: What's In My Makeup Bag?

I used to hate makeup. I still wear very little makeup and some days none at all but if you're like me, you enjoy getting dolled up now and then. And unless you were blessed with perfect skin(which I was not), then there are days when you need to cover up blemishes or dark circles so makeup can be our best friend.

It can be so disappointing to buy a beauty product only to find that it doesn't work. Spending any amount on makeup (even if it's only $1.99) that doesn't work is still a waste of money, not to mention it's really annoying. And no matter how affordable drugstore beauty products are, if they don't work, they're never a good deal. So I'm going to do a review of a few drugstore products that I have found really work for me.


1. I have been using Maybelline's Dream Liquid Mousse foundation for over a month now and have no complaints about it. I love that it has a pump because it's easy to use, there's no mess and you don't waste as much product this way. It's a medium coverage foundation. It goes on evenly and smoothly giving an airbrushed look. It has such an airy feeling on your face, it blends easily and doesn't streak. It evens out your skin tone without looking like you have a coat of foundation on. I like to keep my makeup as natural looking as possible and this foundation works for me! My shade is Classic Ivory.

2. If you are like me then you are plagued with dark circles under your eyes. (9 out of 10 women have dark circles so we're not alone) I have tried several concealers and the best I have found so far is the Covergirl Simply Ageless Eye Concealer in number 215. It's extremely creamy and easy to blend and doesn't settle into your creases. It brightens up the eye by evening out the skin tone under and around the eye. It's a must have in my makeup bag!

3. It's always a good idea to set your makeup with a powder. It helps keep your makeup in place and last longer throughout the day. Too much powder can make your face look cakey so you want to be careful. I prefer Maybelline's Dream Matte Powder. I like the matte finish, it gives you smooth even-looking skin without that chalky look. My shade is Beige Medium.

4. When it comes to blush, lately I have been trying Maybelline's Dream Mousse Blush in Peach Satin. It's very creamy and blends easily over the apples of the cheeks. It's a very subtle color and gives you a nice natural glow. I sometimes put a little powder blush over it if I want to get a little more intense color, but usually I don't. It looks nice and natural on its own.

5. I don't wear eyeshadow everyday but there are two eyeshadow palettes that are my go to shades if I want to dress up my eyes a bit. If I want to keep my eyes looking more natural I wear Physicians Formula Baked Collection in Baked Sands. These neutral tones have a satin finish and are great for everyday wear. If I'm going out and I want to really play up the eyes then I will use the Covergirl Shadow Quad in Drama Eyes. LOVE this palette for a night time look. 

6. If there was only one makeup product I could use it would be mascara. It can do so much by doing so little. It can turn your tired eyes into glam eyes in seconds. My all-time favourite mascara is Covergirl's Lash Blast mascara. It thickens and lengthens without flaking or clumping giving you full, sexy lashes every time. If you are looking for a waterproof mascara then I would suggest Covergirl's Lash Exact  with hydrofuge. So many waterproof mascaras are dry, flakey and just plain horrible. But Lash Exact goes on like regular mascara and definitely holds up when you need it to but removes easily with makeup remover. It's the only waterproof mascara that I've tried that I would recommend!

 7. Another product that I don't wear everyday, but can really help you look polished is L'Oreal's Lineur Intense liquid eyeliner in carbon black. It gives the eyes definition and if worn correctly can give your eyes a lifting effect. I like this liquid liner because it's easy to apply, and you can make your line as thin or as thick as you like with it. It's long wearing and I haven't had any trouble with it running or smearing like I have with other liners.

 8. Now, when it comes to removing my makeup I like to use Olay Eye Makeup Remover and Anti-Wrinkle Treatment. It comes with a pump, which again, keeps you from wasting product and I have very sensitive skin, especially around my eye area so this works great for me. It doesn't irritate my skin and quickly and easily removes all my makeup while moisturizing my skin. Can't beat it.

9. Another must-have product for me is the L'Oreal Go 360 Clean Deep Cream Cleanser. It comes with a soft scrublett that you put the cleanser on and then rub all over your face. I have very sensitive, dry skin so I was nervous about trying this but it's amazing! I haven't had a single breakout since using this (I've been using it for about 3 months now) and my face feels so refreshed afterward. Jared uses the green one because he has more oily skin and he has had great results too!

10. It's so important to keep your skin moisturizes. It can really help delay the aging process and we all want to stay looking young as long as we can right? Before I go to bed I like to put on Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Moisturizer. It's thicker than a day cream but it's very hydrating and feels good after a long day once you have taken all of your makeup off. It's as though my skin says "thank you" when I put this on! :) I also wear a separate eye and face moisturizer during the day.

Every girl needs a cute makeup bag and I'm a big Hello Kitty fan! :)

I hope this makeup review was helpful. I went through quite a bit of trial and error to find products I like and that work so I hope this saves some of you time, money and frustration. As I said, I am not necessarily a makeup geek, I don't wear a lot of it, but I am a woman and I do like to look nice. I will never claim that these products will make you look like a supermodel (I mean, that should be obvious when you look at the reviewer) But my hope is that you understand that makeup doesn't make you beautiful, but it can enhance your natural beauty. Everyone has beauty inside and there's nothing wrong with trying to have your outside match your inside as long as you always remember where true beauty lies.

Here's a self portrait of me wearing many of the products listed above.

(click photo for larger view)

'Things I Love Thursdays' - Sundresses

I looooove sundresses! I absolutely hate shorts so to keep cool and stylish in the summer I opt for sundresses! There are so many different styles out there and just I love the feminine feel of a simple summer dress. I guess you could say they bring out the girly side in me because I'm typically a t-shirt and jeans kind of girl but give me a sundress and I start doing up my makeup, accessorizing and can even be caught skipping while in a cute dress! :)

Also: Check out the song 'Sundress' by Ben Kweller - good summertime tunes! :)