MOTHER'S DAY GIFTS

This post is sponsored by Shane Co. 

Fine jewelry is a gift that you keep for a lifetime. That's why it makes such a great gift for special occasions like Mother's Day. I already save every piece of art my kids make, so you better believe I will be save every piece of jewelry they give me. The same goes for gifts from my husband. Fine jewelry is the ultimate symbol of telling someone they are special and worth it, and so I've partnered with Shane Co. to share with your pieces from their Mother's Day collection that communicate value and love for all moms. 

A locket is a timeless piece of jewelry that lasts generations. Being able to put photos of your loved ones inside and wear it close to your chest is beautiful. I love this silver locket because of its simplicity. You could easily wear it every day. It has one tiny diamond for some sparkle and space on the back for engraving. I wore my locket with a long crochet top and jeans, and I loved it!

ID bracelets are another timeless piece of jewelry that gets passed down generations. I particularly love Shane Co.'s design because it's adjustable for any size wrist. The tassels that hang down can be worn as the front or back of the bracelet, and the heart detail is lovely. 

You could also engrave this piece of jewelry with a special date, phrase or your kid's names if you wanted to. Personalizing jewelry with something like that makes it much more special to a mother don't you think? 

I styled my ID bracelet with a stack of three rings on my ring finger. A diamond one for Ryan, a gold and diamond ring for Elle and a gold midi ring for Levi. Ring stacks are still very popular, and for a trendier statement midi rings in particular are a great choice. 

If you love color, birthstones are an excellent way to personalize your special gift and add some personality to your collection.  Both of my babies were born in September. Their birthstones are peridots, but I don't wear green too much. So, for someone like me that is more of a color minimalist, I suggest trying blue topaz. I love this topaz tennis bracelet that is adjustable and the light blue goes with denim easily. You can dress this piece up or down. I dressed it down by adding a simple silver bangle to it.

Rings and bracelets can sometimes be a challenge to purchase when you don't know a person's wrist size. So, when in doubt, go for a necklace. This gold and diamond circle necklace is probably my favorite piece out of the whole Mother's Day collection. I have one in rose gold, but I also love this gold and diamond piece too. I wear my circle necklace every day, and I love that it symbolizes eternity. The love I have for my children is truly eternal, and this necklace is something any mom would be proud to wear daily just because of the message alone. The design is a stunner too.

And for the ultimate gesture, a beautiful cocktail ring will always make a woman swoon. Every woman needs a statement cocktail ring in their jewelry box. This would hands down be my choice. 

Be sure to visit Shane Co. for your next fine jewelry purchase. They guarantee quality and service every time, and they truly have beautiful pieces every woman would love.

Photos by Rennai Hoefer.

Win Love

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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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IMG_5637web

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

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IMG_5646web

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.

Mint & Florals

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blog shoot 1-21web

I mentioned in a past post that I don't own very pieces of clothing with floral patterns. I generally stick to simple stripes, plaid or solid colors. This minty floral skirt by Shop and Apparel really caught my eye, and I couldn't pass up the chance for it to be mine.

Mint has been a popular color for awhile now, and it has really grown on me. One of the things I love most about the color is that it often makes people look tan. I haven't seen a skin tone that looks bad in this color. Also, you would think that a tight pencil skirt wouldn't be too comfortable, but this one will prove you wrong. It's machine washable and let's me move freely so I can chase after my two-year-old.

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blog shoot 1-23web

Because the skirt is so bright I paired it with a simple, fitted chambray shirt also from Shop and Apparel. It's incredibly comfortable as well. Chambray shirts have become one of those closet staples that can take you through every season of fashion. This one in particular is fitted and perfect for tucking into pants and skirts.

To add a bit of glam, I accessorized my outfit with a gold glitter belt, navy suede shoes with gold studs and gold spike earrings. I think a denim jacket, leather jacket, a white blazer and many other closet favorites would work well with this skirt. It's definitely my new favorite piece in my wardrobe.

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blog shoot 1-20web

Photos by Michelle Herrick

Production of Lexi Arielle's Brand Film

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View More: http://lexiarielle.pass.us/phoenix
View More: http://lexiarielle.pass.us/phoenix

I've styled many bridal shoots, but this is the first time I have ever styled and art directed one for motion to reflect a brand. This time I had a client to make happy, Lexi Arielle, and I had a cinematographer trusting me to deliver for her client. You'd think the added pressure would hinder creativity, but it actually pushed me to aim for excellence like never before. This is the project I am proudest of to date. I am proud because I made my clients happy, and I am proud because I didn't just pick out the clothes, I art directed this piece to the very detail of putting streamers in a tree. So, what's the process for something like this?

To start, Ale Vidal, did a great job walking Lexi Arielle through a consultation process where she gained a better understanding of Lexi's ideal client and personal style. Ale shared her findings with me, and from there I spent a lot of time looking at Lexi's website and Pinterest boards.

Lexi Russell Brand Highlight Film   Pinterest
Lexi Russell Brand Highlight Film Pinterest

Once I had a good understanding of her style I began a Pinterest board and defined the color palette. Choosing the palette is everything for a shoot. It's what ensures cohesion. Ivory and peach were the dominant tones with bits of gold and lavender. It was the perfect pastel palette, and also in line with a lot of spring trends right now.

View More: http://lexiarielle.pass.us/phoenix
View More: http://lexiarielle.pass.us/phoenix

Claire Pettibone was the wedding dress collection that personified Lexi's client the most. Mariee Gallery is the only place to get those dresses in Arizona, so, of course, I went there. Knowing that we wanted to see motion in the bride's hair a soft, touchable hair style was important. However, braids and twists are quite popular right now, so Amber Tillinghast did an excellent job marrying the two together. Gold crowns are becoming a new trend in the bridal industry, and this one from Mignonne Handmade provided the touch of metallic to enhance the color palette and romantic quality of the bride. Soft, natural makeup was exactly what the bride needed, and Azure Shaffer did an excellent job executing it using peachy tones to reflect the palette. I couldn't find a veil that was the right shade since the dress had a peachy color, so instead we just draped peach tulle over the bride. No other accessories were needed (no shoes and no other jewelry).

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lexiweb10
View More: http://lexiarielle.pass.us/phoenix
View More: http://lexiarielle.pass.us/phoenix

Lexi loves natural settings, so we chose The Farm at South Mountain to be our backdrop for the whole shoot. The Farm balances rustic elements with elegance and grace. Not to mention, they were wonderful to work with and believed in the vision of this film.

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lexiweb2
View More: http://lexiarielle.pass.us/phoenix
View More: http://lexiarielle.pass.us/phoenix

Ale and I worked on defining two scenes that would show a lot of movement. Ale had a genius idea of streamers and then I thought a swing wrapped in flowers and vines would be fun. Hilary Lamb did an amazing job with the florals, cake and bouquet. Mary Claire and I got nice and tan hanging a bagillion streamers.

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lexiweb7

I relied on the groom's styling to bring an approachable quality that was important to Lexi. Navy complements peach well and is a perfect spring and summer choice for men.  The navy blazer paired with a chambray delivered a casual yet dressy combination. Stone colored pants are always classic and still formal enough for a farm wedding. As spring is in full force, floral ties are becoming popular. I really wanted to use this opportunity to showcase how men can embrace this feminine print in a masculine way. Dapper and Dash was kind enough to lend us one of their ties, and Two Guys Bowties sent us a wooden lapel pin to further accessorize. A wooden lapel pin was our take on a boutonniere.

View More: http://lexiarielle.pass.us/phoenix
View More: http://lexiarielle.pass.us/phoenix
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lexiweb6

Once the faux wedding was planned, I made sure Lexi was styled perfectly to match. She loves maxi skirts and happened to have a pretty white one in her closet. The fabric moved so well for the video! Her peach top went along with the color palette and she added small, layered gold necklaces to bring in the metallic element.

View More: http://lexiarielle.pass.us/phoenix
View More: http://lexiarielle.pass.us/phoenix

This project couldn't have happened without an amazing team and contributors. Lexi photographed everything beautifully. If I was getting married again this would definitely be a dream wedding and Lexi would be the perfect photographer. Make sure to watch the brand film that Ale Vidal created. She really made the romance between Agency AZ models Kelsey and Daniel believable. Click to watch the film.

Credits: Brand film for photographer Lexi Arielle www.lexiarielle.co Film: Ale Vidal // www.imaginaledesign.com Fashion Styling & Art Direction: Alex Evjen // www.avestyles.com Models: Daniel Markus and Kelsey Groetken from The Agency AZ //www.theagencyaz.com Venue: The Farm at South Mountain // www.thefarmatsouthmountain.com Make-up: Azure Shaffer // www.artistrybyazure.com Hair: Amber Tillinghast // www.facebook.com/pages/Grateful-Head-Hair-Studio/116426275086567 Floral Styling & Cake: Hilary Kramer // www.hilarylambphoto.blogspot.com Assistant: Mary Claire Cook www.maryclaire-photography.com Wedding gown: Mariee Gallery // www.marieegallery.com Bridal Accessories: Mignonne Handmade // www.mignonnehandmade.com Bow Tie: Dapper & Dash //  www.dapperanddash.com Lapel pin: Two Guys Bow Ties // www.etsy.com/shop/TwoGuysBowties

Gold Belts

There is an accessory missing from my closet that I REALLY want right now...A gold belt. However, my waist is just a tad larger than normal being 7 months pregnant and all. haha. So, that shopping trip will have to wait a couple months longer, but that doesn't mean you can't go snag one. Belts have been a popular accessory for a long time now. Granted, the width of belts has dramatically changed from thick to thin, but they remain a fashion accessory must have nonetheless. Braided belts were extremely popular this past spring and summer, but as the fall approaches and people start thinking about the holidays, gold belts will take over.

Gold is THE metallic of choice in fashion. Even in interior design gold has made strides toward center stage. So, my recommendation is to invest in a gold belt. It can be skinny or go up to 1.5 inches, but I probably wouldn't go any wider.

Not sure if this trend goes with you fashion aesthetic? Here are several examples ranging from professional to bohemian to inspire you.

Image Sources: A pink dream, Who What WearPinterest, unknown, Your Fashion Inspiration, Lilac Chiffon, unknown, Glitter Guide

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