Pillow Talk: The Nolah Bamboo Sheet Set in Queen

If you’re like me, you dread making the bed. Well, I felt like that until the Nolah Bamboo Sheet Set in Queen came into my life, anyway! With this set, I actually look forward to putting new sheets on the bed. Keep reading to see why!

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The #BoundingWithPride 2022 Challenge Wrapup!

Every June, I look forward to the #BoundingWithPride challenge hosted by @thedisneybound. Being an ally for the LGBTQIA+ community is extremely important to me — and I’m here to do that not just this week or during Pride Month, but all year long! This bounding challenge encourages people to build a rainbow by creating bounds every day featuring a different color of the Pride Flag. It's my third year participating in this challenge — here are the Disney characters I chose this year!

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Care Bear Stare! Obsessed with the New Her Universe Care Bears Cousins Shortalls

Caring is what counts! Who else absolutely loved the Care Bears growing up — and, okay, loves them as an adult, too? If you’re like me, the answer is a resounding “I DID!” So when Her Universe sent over these nostalgic Care Bears Cousins Shortalls, you KNOW my heart exploded with glee!!

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The March 2022 #DisneyBoundChallenge Wrapup!

March was a busy month — because I participated in all 31 days of the #disneyboundchallenge! This annual Instagram challenge hosted by @thedisneybound is always a lot of work AND a lot of fun. It's an amazing opportunity to not only be creative, but to see everyone else's creativity in the bounding community as well! It was my third year participating in the challenge, and the first time I actually posted a bound every single day.

I even shot 23 new bounds, which is definitely a record for me! To only have 8 reposts made me feel really proud of everything I accomplished this month. And now, for the looks!

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A Reflection On Body Image and Time Spent in Heart-Shaped Pool Floats

Is there anything better than sitting in a heart-shaped pool float at a gorgeous Airbnb in Palm Springs? I’m going to admit something to you, though. I almost deleted this photo from my camera roll. When I first looked at it, all I saw were my flaws. The rolls on my stomach, my bigger arms, my larger hips. I was afraid to put this photo out there because of what I saw.

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Every Halloween Look I Created This Spooky Season, From Ghostbusters to Candy Corn

Halloween may be over, but you know what? Spooky season is still living rent free in my head for at least another week or two! (Hey, I mean, someone's gotta eat all the candy I bought for myself this year.) I figured this was the perfect time to do a roundup of all my spooky season outfits! From participating in the month-long Instagram challenge #Boundoween (hosted by @thedisneybound and @bounderstyle) to creating a whole week of looks dedicated to the one and only best Halloween candy — CANDY CORN! — I really enjoyed putting looks together this month. Check out everything I created!

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The #EarsOutsidetheParks Disney Fashion Challenge: All 7 of My Looks!

If you know me at all, you know how much I love Disneyland and all things #DisneyStyle! Since the parks are closed for the foreseeable future, it got me thinking -- why not still have a little fun with my Disney fashion? And voila -- #EarsOutsidetheParks was born!

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Rated. Reviewed. LOVED! The Nuuly Clothing Rental Subscription (AND a $20 Referral Bonus for You!)

I've known about clothing rental subscription services for a long time. I actually even worked on one for awhile, back when I was at JustFab (we had our own version of this service called PS by JustFab). And it's not that I didn't think they were a good idea -- I just never really saw the point. Until I discovered Nuuly, that is. Well, how times have changed!

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Year in Review: Looking Back on 2019

2020 is upon us. A new decade full of new chances, new choices and new adventures. As is customary on my blog, I'm looking back at 2019 -- the year that's passed, the year that brought more happiness into my life once again.

I look at every moment as a chance to embrace the best life has to offer. Yes, I have lows -- for instance, I was fired from my job this year -- but I never let them get me down. I use them as learning experiences to grow and change for the better, and to continue to make my life what I want it to be. Despite them, I turned 2019 into my best year yet -- a year filled with family, with friends, with new opportunities, with the first time I've gone fully freelance and actually not just survived, but THRIVED.

My wish for the coming year, and the coming decade, is to continue to embrace every moment. Let's all find happiness, peace and strength in the year ahead.

My most special moments this year had some definite themes that emerged. Keep reading for a look at what happened this year!

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The #BoundToParkHop Challenge: All 7 of My Disney Bound Looks!

A few weeks ago, I participated in the #BoundToParkHop challenge on Instagram, where participants created looks inspired by various things around Disney. I worked extremely hard on this challenge and really pushed myself creatively, and I’m really proud of the results! I've been a major Disneyland fan for quite some time (I got my annual pass 3 days after moving to LA), and I'm always fascinated by the people who really DO Disney Bounding. My friend Erin is basically the most impressive Disney bounder there is, and I'm really grateful to her for encouraging me to step outside my comfort zone and take part in this challenge. Read on for a closer look at all 7 of my bounds!

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One Boot, Two Ways: The JustFab Ari Block Heeled Boots in Snake

As soon as I saw the JustFab Ari Block Heeled Boots in Snake, I knew they had to be mine. I'm obsessed with tall boots, I'm obsessed with snakeskin, and I'm obsessed with JustFab. So it really was a win win! I decided to pair them with two different dresses to create two very different looks.

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Embracing Body Positivity Even When That's Really, REALLY Hard (Thanks to Beneathe)

This past weekend, I participated in a photo shoot. I've done them before, and I really love being part of the experience. This one was a little different, though, because it was for underwear. And, to be perfectly honest, I am not comfortable showing myself in underwear, well, ever. But Beneathe Underwear Club changed all that.

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Year in Review: Looking Back on 2018

2018 is about to draw to a close. And, as is customary at the end of any year, I'm in the midst of some deep reflection. 2018 was one of those years that, while it had some ups and some definite downs, was still by all accounts a very happy one. I don't know if that's because I'm finally at a good place with my mental health (thank you to three very intense years of therapy for that one -- and, actually, that's something I'll be talking about and sharing more of in the coming year), but it seems that even when life threw some pretty major curve balls at me, I was still able to approach them with positivity, happiness and good intentions.

I don't really make resolutions. But my one main goal for 2018 -- I guess you can call it a resolution if you will -- was to be HAPPY. And I'd say I approached that goal/challenge/resolution head on. (See the photo above for proof -- that's me on my birthday.) I made new friends. I went to Disneyland -- A LOT. I took one of the best vacations of my life.

Not all was rosy. I lost my job and spent three months unemployed, making no money, burning through my savings and worrying about how I'd pay my rent or eat. I've never worked so hard to find work. This unfortunately also took its toll on my body -- I've definitely gained some weight, and I've also spent the last two months of the year suffering from a bout of stress hives (though I think they're hopefully, finally going away). Thankfully, I'm ending the year with an amazing new job at a company I really love, and I am beyond grateful.

We only have one life. And, the fact is, we never know how much time we're really going to have. This past year, I continued to take it upon myself to make my life everything it could possibly be. Am I exactly where I want to be now that 2018 is ending and 2019 is fast approaching? No. But am I pretty darn close? A resounding yes. LA has been and continues to be the place that makes me feel like my true, best self.

My hope for all of you is that, as 2018 ends and 2019 begins, you feel like you're on the path toward being happy, healthy and both who and where you want to be.

Please indulge me as I take a (not so) quick walk down the memory lane of 2018. (Spoiler alert: there are a LOT of photos!) Here's to everything 2019 has to offer -- happy new year!

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Style Alert and OOTD: Gozon is the Affordable Fashion Website You Can't Live Without

I'm always on the hunt for affordable fashion. If it looks cute and chic but doesn't cost an arm and a leg, sign. me. up! Gozon most definitely fits the bill. I kept seeing girls I follow on Instagram wearing their clothes, and I finally had to try them for myself. I was lucky enough to get a couple totally fabulous styles sent to me recently, and I'm so excited to share them with you.

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#ShoesdayTuesday: Mi.iM Indira Sunbleached Denim Slides

So here's the thing. I have a new obsession with Mi.iM. And I don't care who knows it.

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Kate Spade: In Memoriam

I've had many thoughts swirling around since Kate Spade's untimely suicide last week. I wanted to take some time to put them into words -- and I think I've finally figured out what I need and want to say about this tragedy.

I'm fairly certain every woman can remember her first Kate Spade purchase. Maybe it was a wallet. Maybe it was a bag. Maybe it was a pair of shoes. For me, the first was the aforementioned wallet - a bright green zip-around envelope wallet with 14 credit card pockets and a clear ID window, to be exact. I bought it at the Kate Spade outlet at Woodbury Common in 2003.

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Follow Your Heart ... Especially with Fun Heart-Shaped Sunnies

Disclaimer: This is going to be a different kind of post than you normally find on The Beauty of Life. It's an OOTD of sorts -- but with a wider message.

What makes you happy? This is a question I've been asking myself for a long time -- and, frankly, until I moved to LA, I really wasn't sure how to answer it. But these past two and a half years have proven to me, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that when you really work on making yourself happy and healthy, you can achieve anything.

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Flashback Friday: Looking Back on 2017

As is customary at the end of any year, I'm in the midst of some deep reflection. By all accounts, 2017 was an incredible year. I don't know about you, but the previous couple years were definitely filled with some pretty big struggles for me (hello, Pittsburgh crash of 2015 and broken ankle saga of 2016). But I had one main goal for 2017 -- call it a resolution if you will -- and that was to be HAPPY. (See proof above: this was me in Palm Springs over Labor Day. The elation was totally, completely, 100 percent real.)

We only have one life. And, the fact is, we never know how much time we're really going to have. This past year, I took it upon myself to make my life everything it could possibly be. Am I exactly where I want to be now that 2018 is approaching? No. But am I pretty darn close? A resounding yes. LA has been and continues to be the place that makes me feel like my true, best self.

My hope for all of you is that, as 2017 ends and 2018 begins, you feel like you're on the path toward being happy, healthy and both who and where you want to be.

Please indulge me as I take a (not so) quick walk down the memory lane of 2017. (Spoiler alert: there are a LOT of photos!) Here's to everything 2018 has to offer!

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First Look Fridays Interview Series: Jewelry Designer Jennifer Loiselle

For as long as I can remember, I've been obsessed with earrings -- the bigger, crazier and more attention grabbing, the better. In fact, I was coined the "Pin and Earring Queen" of the 7th grade because I was always wearing the most out-there pieces, like shoulder-length houndstooth danglers (I even spent one month of that year documenting and cataloguing my jewelry looks so I wouldn't repeat them). So when I discovered jewelry designer Jennifer Loiselle, whose signature statement pieces -- especially the ones crafted in perspex -- are colorful, bold and, most importantly, FUN, I fell in love immediately. I snapped up five pairs of her earrings -- yes, five -- during one shopping spree on ban.do and haven't looked back since. So I'm beyond thrilled to bring you my interview with the truly fabulous Jennifer Loiselle today! Read on to find out how she got her start as a jewelry designer, where she gets her inspiration and so much more.

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Throwback Thursday: My Junior High Earring Collection

If you had to choose only one accessory for the rest of your life, what would it be? I can answer definitively that my accessory would be earrings, earrings and more earrings. I've been obsessed with earrings since before I even had pierced ears and used to use those fun stick-on earrings in the 80s -- and, as soon as I got my ears pierced for my 10th birthday, my whole world opened up. All of a sudden, the earrings universe was my oyster! And, as you might imagine from the photo above, I went a little crazy with the choices. Delve into my junior high collection with me, won't you?

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