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Blooming in Blue

Published on by thenavyleopard6 Comments

While we endure the rain (as you know from Monday’s post, I love it!), we can wear this wearable art, by Michael De Feo (a.k.a. the flower guy) for J. Crew,while we await the Spring flowers to come.  They are each so unique, I had to get all three.  The Daisy Vase tee fits right in with my home decor.

You can read more about the Michael De Feo and the collaboration here.

Michael De Feo for J. Crew Striped T-Shirt with Painted Flowers

J. Crew Gemma Suede Flats with Pom-Poms

J. Crew Lookout High-RiseGarmetn -Dyed Cropped Jean in Aqua Haze

J. Crew Jane Sunglasses in Pink (on sale!)

Michael De Feo for J. Crew Painted Daisy Vase T-shirt

J. Crew Quilted Safari Jacket

J. Crew Martie Pant in Windowpane

J. Crew Ryan Sunglasses in Blush (on sale!)

J. Crew Shoes older style (these and these would both look great)

 

Micheal De Feo for J. Crew Painted Tulips T-shirt

J. Crew Regent Blazer in Bohemian Red

J. Crew Gemma Suede Flats with Pom-Pom

J. Crew Lookout High-Rise Denim in White

J. Crew Medium Pouch in Bright Flamingo

J. Crew Jane Sunglasses in Pink (on sale!)

Happy Shopping!

XO,

JAE

Tickled Pink

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I am tickled pink about several of the new arrivals from J. Crew.  I went for this black and white geometric top, but had to add three shades of pink and my favorite new pink lip color by Chanel.  I don’t tend to wear lipstick.  I can still hear my mom saying ” You need lipstick” as I was leaving the house in High School.  I guess it is still a way of rebelling.  The truth is, it just doesn’t stay on and gets on my water bottle.

At a gift exchange over the holidays, a Chanel Rouge Double Intensite Ultra Wear Lip Color was the hot gift that kept being stolen.  I mentioned it to friend and she got me one for Christmas.  You apply the lip stain, wait a few minutes and then add a gloss.  It stays on all day without being drying.  I am wearing Darling Pink.

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J. Crew Top

J. Crew Jane Sunglasses (on sale!)

J. Crew Cashmere Cardigan (on sale!)

J. Crew Pouch

J. Crew Toothpick Black Demin

Prada Shoes similar here and here

Chanel Rouge Double Intensite Ultra Wear Lip Color in Darling Pink

Happy Shopping!

XO,

JAE

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Mani Monday – Umbrella Edition

Published on by thenavyleopard1 Comment

I love my rain boots.  They are comfortable, stylish and naturally, a leopard print.  They make me look forward to the rain.  I love to slosh through puddles and not worry about my shoes.  I feel a little invincible like I can tread through anything.  I am more playful; the idea of jumping through puddles makes me smile.

1983. Winter sports at Stevenson School include Boys Soccer, Boys Lacrosse and Girls Field Hockey.  Field Hockey has the worst field; on rainy days it is more like a swamp.  We play in knee-high mud.  We practice rain or shine — or we would never have practice during El El Niño.  I love Field Hockey. All the stresses, troubles, and academic pressures of the day melt away with the mud.  Mud flies everywhere. Sticks and balls and mud do battle.  I stand in my cleats. Mud swishes through my socks between my toes and my toes wiggle in the mud.  I am not the most skilled player, but I love this sport.  Actually, I love the uniform.  The kilt hits me just right and Field Hockey girls  – we – give off a,  ‘ready for anything’, tough-girl vibe, which I can’t muster off the field/so unlike the real me. I am covered in mud, my perfectly coiffed bob is destroyed.  I feel liberated from the controlled and striving for perfection self I am off the field.

My father picks me up from practice.  The front seat of his Audi is covered in towels.  I strip down in the laundry room off of the garage lest I drag the field into the the perfectly clean main part of the house and dump my clothes into the washer.  After a hot shower, I devour a whole box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and ask for more.   I have earned this, I am a serious athlete and I am starving.  It is time to buckle down for 4-5 hours of homework.  As I write essays, solve geometry proofs and conjugate verbs in French, I stop and smile as I remember the feeling of freedom in the mud.  Tomorrow is another practice, I hope it rains.

The manicure and nail art are by Olive & June.  The color is “Don’t Bossa Nova Me Around” by OPI.

Happy Monday!

XO,

JAE

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Eight Years

Published on by thenavyleopard5 Comments

A lot can happen in eight years.  Eight years ago I was a newlywed in a job that was not a good fit. My beloved and I were struggling to conceive and were given a discouraging outlook on our fertility.  A neighbor had arranged a meeting with the woman who would become my future boss in a new career in Education, but we rescheduled so everyone could watch the Inauguration of Barack Obama.  We met the next week.  She had hundreds of candidates for a Director position and only agreed to meet with me as a courtesy to our mutual friend.  Luckily, we hit is off and I started on a three month, ten-person committee interview process.  During the long interview process and wait we ran over a rock in a rain storm and caused substantial damage to our car.  I managed to burn my leg after a spin class with a heating pad (Don’t ask.).  One day I said enough is enough.  I burned some sage to clear out all of the negativity energy and as the flame was going out, the phone rang.  It was my job offer.  Things started to change.  Miraculously – our odds were just five percent – I was pregnant by June.

Eight years later.  Our son is about to turn seven.  We built a house.  I reinvented my career.  Again.  We have traveled.  We lost my father-in-law and Grandmother.  A lot has happened. A lot has changed.  I felt hopeful eight years ago, despite all the obstacles we faced as a family of two.  I remain hopeful now, even though it is more challenging.  In another eight years, I will have a teenager who will likely be taller than me.  We will be using technology that is only someone’s great idea currently.  The world will change, I hope for the better.  In the meantime, I am grateful for all the opportunities my family and I have.  I am wearing red, white and blue because patriotism is not determined by our country’s leadership. It is in the system that enables a peaceful transition of power for the 44th time.

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J. Crew Shirt (on sale plus 60% off)

Hermes Scarf (similar here and here)

J. Crew Ryan Sunglasses (on sale!)

J. Crew Shoes (similar here and here and both on sale!)

AG Prima Jeans

Here’s to being hopeful.

XO,

JAE

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Too Good to Be True

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Collection Calf Hair pumps at 50%?!!! J. Crew is on day two of a forty-eight hour 50 % off sale on select items (see them all here).  My new favorite leopard heels and leopard flats are on the list (along with a few other items below).   I wear the flats with everything and they are so comfortable.  I just received the heels for Christmas and they are already in heavy rotation.

You can click on any of the photos below to get link to the original blog post.  The code GOSHOP is good until 11:59 pm eastern on January 18, 2017.

Greenery
Neutrals at Sunset
Resolutions and Intentions

J. Crew Colette d’Orsay Pump in Leopard Calf Hair

J. Crew Silk Blouse (also 50% off)

Stripes and Bows
Broad Stripes
Stripes and Polka Dots in La Jolla

J. Crew Leopard Gemma Flats

J. Crew Oversized Combo Stripe Shirt (also 50% off)

J. Crew Field Mechanic Jacket (also 50% off)

Fall Foilage
Easy Elegance
Role Play
Checks on Checks
Bright and focused in La Jolla
Doggie Stripes at Georgie
Fall Colors in Santa Barbara
Wild Flamingo In Montecito
An Afternoon at The Getty
Fiddlehead Farm
Black to Basics

The code is GOSHOP for 50% off of select items.  It is good until 11:59 pm eastern on January 18, 2017.

Happy Shopping!

XO,

JAE

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Greenery

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Greenery is nature’s neutral according to Pantone. It is also a life-affirming shade that is also emblematic of the pursuit of personal passions and vitality. I feel the same way about my favorite neutral, leopard print.

I styled Maddie pants in misty forest, Colette d’Orsay pumps in leopard calf hair, silk pocket blouse, Ryan sunglasses in blush, and an oval lucite link necklace – all by J. Crew.

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J. Crew Blouse (50% off with code GOSHOP)

J. Crew Necklace

J. Crew Shoes (50% off with code GOSHOP)

J. Crew Maddie Pants (on sale!)

J. Crew Ryan Sunglasses in Blush (on sale!)

Happy Shopping!

XO,

JAE

Back to Basics

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This week’s black striped mani (which was chip-free seven days later, btw) got me thinking about stripes and basics.  As much as I love color, there is an elegance to simple black and white and (of course) my favorite navy and white.  Here are my selections from the J. Crew New Arrivals and some great classic buys from the sale section.

J. Crew Italian Cashmere Mixed Stripe Sweater (new!)

J. Crew Geometric Eyelet Top (new!)

J. Crew Colorblock Ponte Striped Dress (on sale!

J. Crew Swimsuit

J. Crew Striped Pom-Pom Scarf (on sale!)

J. Crew Buffalo Check Shirt-Jacket (on sale!)

J. Crew Gemma Cap-Toe Flats (on sale!)

J. Crew Gemma Cap-Toe Flats (on sale!)

My favorite faux-fur scarf that I featured in Pattern Mix Hits the Gym , All of the Stripes and Stripes and Kisses is on sale!

J. Crew for Net-A-Porter Faux Fur Scarf (on sale!)

Happy Shopping!

XO,

JAE

 

 

Resolutions and Intentions

Published on by thenavyleopard4 Comments

Ever since I could put pen to paper, I would make New Year’s resolutions.  Each year there would be lists that most certainly included “lose weight” from my teenage years on.  The last few years the idea of resolutions has evolved into intentions.  I set intentions regularly on a weekly or even daily basis in my meditation practice.

This year rather than declaring “lose weight” as a resolution (though admittedly, I would love to lose a few lbs) I want to feel healthy and vital.  It has become clear that eating certain foods — dairy, sugar, corn and gluten. – does not make me feel good and at times downright uncomfortable.  This week I have eliminated the aforementioned  foods to see if I feel better.  It’s only day four and I already do feel better.  The more I eat cleanly, the more I want to keep going and build my resolve.

I was fortunate to kick this intention off with a “Reinvention” Hypnosis at my favorite mediation studio Unplug, with the always inspiring Camilla Sacre-Dallerup that is based on her upcoming book “Reinvent Me”.  The mediation made a huge difference.  I started the elimination of dairy, sugar, gluten and corn in earnest on Monday.  After the Friday class, I found myself resisting the temptation of the all the yummy Christmas leftover cookies and chocolate.  The part of my brain that said “No, this won’t make you feel good” was loudest – and victorious.

I am keeping lots of good snacks on hand and planning meals.  This morning I will give Bulletproof coffee a try which will leave only two meals a day to prepare.  I don’t eat red meat.  If any of you have great “Whole 30” recipes or tricks, please reply in the comments section.

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My outfit from a recent trip to the fabulous new natural market with locations in California, Lazy Acres.

J. Crew Tippi Sweater

J. Crew Signet Bag in Bright Sea

J. Crew Shoes

J. Crew Black Toothpick Jeans

J. Crew Ryan Sunglasses

Happy, Healthy 2017.

XO,

JAE

 

 

Neutrals at Sunset

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Leopard is definitely a neutral for me.  I love mixing it with stripes and plaid and other patterns, but I also love the way it pops with black and white.  My new leopard heels that I was so excited to get for Christmas (more on that in Leopard Surprise) are so easy to wear.  My number one criteria for shoes is comfort and these heels are very comfortable.

I styled them with my J. Crew Black Toothpick Jeans, J. Crew Black Cashmere Cardigan, a white shirt and my J. Crew Ryan Sunglasses.  You can expect to see more of these heels.

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J. Crew Leopard Heels

J. Crew Black Toothpick Jeans

J. Crew Cashmere cardigan

J. Crew Ryan Sunglasses

Lafayette 148 Shirt similar here and here (on sale!)

Happy Shopping!

XO,

JAE