My New Favorite Accessory from GiGi Couture!

Thanks to GiGi Couture for providing me with this gorgeous necklace to facilitate this review!

I'm a bit of an accessory hoarder, the perfect necklace really completes an outfit in my mind and a pair of earrings that are cute but not TOO matchy-matchy are the perfect addition to ANY outfit, ever. I've found most of my fun, playful jewelry at local boutiques, the flea market, and even the clearance section of some of my favorite stores. I love wearing a simple pendant, a semi-bold statement necklace, or layering some of my classic pieces for a more "me" look.

So you better believe when my friend Ghiovanna asked me to share my secret to my most gorgeous jewelry pieces, I almost hesitated because I don't want to lose out on all the cuteness... but lucky for you, I'm feeling generous and I'm sharing GiGi Couture with you today.

GiGi Couture is Ghiovanna's Chloe + Isabel online boutique and I have found a handful of pieces that are on my must-have list for this summer. Have you seen all of the latest trends? I'm obsessed!

My most recent piece from GiGi Couture is the Medina Convertible Pendant Necklace. It's seriously so perfect for any outfit and since it's "convertible" I can wear it as I like. Some days I wear just the delicate crystal pavé bar, other days I rock the faceted smooth bezel-set turquoise, and when I'm feeling awesome I wear all three necklaces together to really show off. Each piece feels weightless around my neck and hasn't shown any signs of wear even though I've worn at least one of the necklaces every day since I received it weeks ago!

I know my next purchase will probably include the gorgeous purple ameythyst earrings that match the Medina necklace, they are just the right mixture of earthy and edgy and I can wear them anytime... Another reason to love GiGi Couture, the jewelry is so diverse!

So now that I've shared one of my fashion secrets, I have to know... Have you checked out GiGi Couture yet? What's your favorite piece in the collection?

Good Times and Tan Lines - Beach #OOTD + A Thug Life Shirts Coupon

I love a little bit of wit and humor, especially when it comes to my clothing so when I found Thug Life Shirts, I kind of fell head-over-heels with all of their awesome tees! With everything from baseball style tees to potterhead t-shirts to tanktops that contain the most off-the-wall stuff, they have a shirt that everyone will love.

After almost 2 hours of weighing my options and having about 50 tabs open, I finally decided I had to have the "Good Times and Tan Lines" tank top to wear all the time this summer.

It's fit is perfect, the material is so comfy and since it's a little long, it makes the PERFECT beach cover up. I may pair it with some yoga shorts if we are running errands but I felt perfectly comfortable sans pants... because uhm, these shirts are all so incredibly me (and I'm adding all of them to my Thug Life cart right this second):

Whether you are looking for a cute new shirt for yourself, your best friend, or your boyfriend, Thug Life has some of the best (and most unique) gift ideas I've ever seen! Have you shopped Thug Life Shirts before? If not, you should right this second ---- I'm excited to share that you can score 10% off with the code "LAUREN10"!

I'd love to hear, which Thug Life Shirt is your favorite? Have a clever t-shirt slogan idea? Tell me what you want to see!

The Secret to Self-Confidence - Are You Brave Enough? #OOTD #BeConfident #GoCommando

Thank you to Cottonelle for sponsoring today's discussion and providing me with a confident clean!  

I'm about to turn twenty-six and I'm just now able to walk with confidence.

You may call me a late bloomer if you aren't grasping what I'm saying...

What I really mean, is that I just don't care any more -
not in the sloppy, I'm not putting effort into myself way, but in a "I'm doing me" type of way.

As an empathetic person, I've always kind of cared what others thought of me...
and while that has helped in some aspects of my life, it's really damaged my confidence in others.

This year, I've decided to stop worrying so much about what others think about me.

After coming to the realization that confidence is a choice;
just like love, passion, happiness,etc. I'm changing the way I live in a big way.

I'm not following the fashion main stream any longer. I want to do my own thing and wear what makes me feel beautiful and comfortable. I'll listen to what I want to listen to, I'll write about things that make me happy, I'll eat what makes my body feel good, and I'll live how I want to live.

I used to care about how I was perceived and while it's important to care about the opinion of others in some senses, caring about what people think of who you truly are is just a waste of time.

Instead of waking up in the morning worrying about how overweight you are, make the choice to wake up and be thankful for the body you've been given and everything it is capable of doing. Instead of looking in the mirror and being upset that you have frizzy hair, be thankful for the amazing color of hair you were blessed with. Instead of beating yourself up about not understanding a new concept at work, be excited about the possibility of a break through today.

You are an amazing being full of endless possibilities. Stop worrying about what other people think you are capable of, you are you and no one else can dictate what you are capable of. So tell me, What will you accomplish today? 

When you truly begin to be thankful for yourself and start honestly loving who you are is when confidence just starts to ooze out of you.

I think some people figure this out when they're super young, maybe even most people figure it out during their college years. I wasn't one of them and I'm certain I'm not alone.

For those that are still struggling with confidence, I know It's not always easy to feel confident. Sometimes we've been told we aren't this or aren't that for so long it's just what we believe. Make the choice today to feel confident no matter what. End the repetitive negative self talk and choose to treat yourself like you would your closest friend.

You wouldn't tell a friend she looks awful in what she's wearing because she's just too fat, would you? I guarantee you wouldn't tell your friend she looks ugly without make up, why would you allow yourself to speak like that to yourself?

Slay the negativity, battle it each and everyday until it just becomes natural to speak to yourself positively. I'm not telling you to solely focus on yourself - continue to grow, nurture, and care for others, but stop worrying so much about what other people think. Are you brave enough to let go and just be who you were meant to be?
 

With that said, I need to mention that I took on the Go Cottonelle, Go Commando Challenge and it left me truly feeling inspired and confidently clean! I feel more confident in these pictures than I have in a long time! I'm wearing a dress that was too small for me to even zip up last year, but now it fits perfectly... while trying out new shades of make up! This #OOTD has to be the ultimate confidence booster. Want to join me in this confidence boosting challenge and #Go Commando? Snag a free Cottonelle Commando Kit while supplies last.

Business Casual Adventurer: Outfit of the Day Starring #KiplingHoliday #OOTD

Thank you to Kipling for sponsoring today’s post and inspiring me to get ready for the holidays with the #KiplingHoliday Tour

Kipling has to be one of my favorite brands this season. With a company wide love for living, imagining, and laughing, I pretty much fell in love with the brand the second I read those words. Then I started looking through the Kipling Holiday catalog and they invited me (and you and all of our friends and families) to the Kipling Holiday Tour event in Orlando featuring a Kipling Holiday Collection show wall, on-site monogramming, bespoke gift-wrapping, personalized sweets, photo booths, giveaways, and holiday DIY inspiration and I really just kind of melted... I love a brand that loves it's customers and obviously Kipling fits the bill! They're a company I can truly stand behind because they have such a positive outlook on life by encouraging everyone to live a joyful life and cherish little moments while their mission is to make bags that lighten and brighten our days.

I shopped the Kipling Holiday Catalog for hours trying to pick out my favorite bag and while I had a tough time deciding because I liked so many bags, I finally decided on the Kellyn Handbag in Dune Beige. When my purse arrived in the mail a few days ago, I was ecstatic to get my hands on it. I practically hugged my UPS man as I grabbed the package out of his hands, he is kind of like Santa around here after all. I tore into the package and stared at my purse. I love the gold details, the fabric is sturdy and earthy looking (exactly what I wanted), and the bag is HUGE on the inside but doesn't feel like a duffel bag while carrying it. It's perfect.

I decided to accessorize my Kipling bag with a $1 scarf from The Salvation Army and one of my Mialisia necklaces just to make it more me and soon I'll be sharing what's inside my bag but today I'm sharing one of my favorite outfits for Fall and some awesome news for my fellow purse hoarders and handbag lovers! Kipling has provided me with a discount code for my readers, if you use the code HOLIDAYS30 you'll receive $30 off your order of $150 - lucky you!

This outfit of the day is perfect for any activity, comfortable and business casual making me ready for an adventure or a day spent in the office while the Kellyn bag is so versatile and carries so much it's amazing. I stuffed my D-SLR, my planner, a jacket, and my collapsible tripod just to see if it would all fit.... and it does, I would say the Kellyn Handbag is a bit like Mary Poppins purse but so much cuter!

Now that I've shared my favorite handbag from the #KiplingHoliday Collection, I'd love to know what your favorite bag is? Head on over and flip through Kipling's Holiday Catalog and tell me which one you have your eyes on... I'm considering buying one to give away while I'm at the event so I'd love to hear which one you like the most! Also, be sure to let me know if I'll see your shining faces in Orlando at the awesome Kipling Holiday Tour event and RSVP here!

Spirit Lockets: Cute and Customizable Lockets for Everyone!

Spirit Lockets are super cute and customizable necklaces and bracelets suited for everyone's taste. They provided me with a locket for myself and a yoga challenge participant in exchange for an honest review. I'm actually an affiliate for the company and their links can be found on my site... Regardless, I only recommend products that I think will benefit my readers.

Spirit Lockets are just the coolest. I absolutely love everything about the bracelet they sent me. The locket face is covered in rhinestones and is absolutely beautiful with a huge window to hold all of my charms. I decided to get a Yin&Yang charm to remind me to always be at peace and the airplane charm because I have a pretty strong case of wanderlust plus two gems just to make it shine and with it's newest addition the brand new "Yoga" Om charm (not pictured above, but seen in the necklace below) this bracelet is soooo me and I love wearing it. Placing charms that mean something to me is the most fun part of having a locket like this... I hope to add and exchange charms soon too. Maybe a painters palette will be my next charm?

I was lucky enough to be able to provide one awesome participant in my yoga challenge with a locket from Spirit Lockets and a chain actually purchased outside of Spirit Lockets, sadly the chain they sent me was short enough to make the necklace a choker... *awkward*. Now I've resolved the short chain issue with a third party vendor and the winner will receive a chain that will fall approximately to her bust or below; a much more desirable length! My fault for not observing lengths when chosing the winner's prize. Anyways, the winner's locket is wonderful and turned out perfectly; that is all that really matters to me. The locket features a white detail on the edges and a beautiful, large open window. I chose charms for the winner based on our mutual interest in yoga and I hope she loves her necklace. She will receive a necklace with the same Om and Ying-Yang charm I mentioned above, as well as an adorable teal bird charm, a rose charm, some rhinestones, and a strength dangle as a reminder of how strong she is.

Spirit Lockets are the most adorable necklaces and make the perfect gifts - you may even want to include one of these in your favorite fashionista's stocking this year!

You can {shop the look here}.

I've notified the winner of the yoga challenge that she won this gorgeous necklace and a painting and I'm waiting for her to confirm before officially announcing!

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Fall Outfit Inspiration and a Mialisia Jewelry Giveaway!

 Over the past few months I've had the opportunity to share some gorgeous pieces from Mialisia Jewelry. As I keep saying, with customizable styles and unique clasps you can wear any of these necklaces in numerous ways to suit each occasion. Mialisia Jewelry is for everyday wear and special occasion wear, it's for a day at the beach or a day at the alter. The pieces can combine together to create whatever look you are trying to achieve and today I decided to share a few unique looks for Fall using the jewelry for my outfit inspiration!

Awakening has to be the most stunning piece in the Mialisia Collection, it really does it's job as a statement necklace and I love how I can wear it with anything and still feel dressed up and beautiful but not over done. I paired Awakening with some teal pants, a white tank, my favorite pair of heels that include tons of shades of blues and greens, and my Pin-Up Darling Denim Jacket - the perfect outfit for a night out with the girls or even a casual date with the hubs. One thing I have to share about this necklace: every single time I wear it I get compliments; you have to love pieces like that in your wardrobe!

Entangled is such a fun necklace full of personality; I decided to pair this piece with a more edgy look - class and punk go together well, right? I wore this necklace with a tank top, a high waisted black skirt, some knee-high boots, and a longer cardigan. I loved how the black glass beads complimented the outfit and the small sparkle they added to make my outfit really pop!

The Duchess necklace is gorgeous, featuring a ton of slightly dangling pearls. I paired this necklace with one of my favorite dresses the day after I had my hair done and I felt absolutely gorgeous. This necklace is made for royalty and matches absolutely everything, plus pearls are just awesome.

All three of these pieces are perfect additions to any woman's wardrobe and will spice up any outfit.
You can shop these looks here: Awakening | Entangled | Duchess
and one lucky winner will win all 3!

Please use the giveaway tools form below to win:

Entry-Form

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned above to facilitate my review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.This contest will run through October 31st at 11:59 pm EST. Must be 18 years or older to win.  This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter or any other company mentioned above. You understand that you are providing your information to Lauren Paints | a beautiful life and not to Facebook, I will not use your information other than to e-mail you a winning notification if you are the chosen winner. Enter using the Giveaway Tools form above. Void Where Prohibited. Please note that Lauren Paints | a beautiful life is not the party held responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes.

Feeling Sassy & Classy: Mad Men Inspired Pin-Up Darling #OOTD

As you may already know, I'm a huge fan of Pin-Up Darling so I'm beyond excited to bring this post to you on their behalf. Pin-Up Darling is an amazing boutique that sells vintage-inspired clothing that is just too cute. I fell in love the Alika Pencil Dress while browsing through their inventory online and just knew it was going to be a part of my wardrobe soon!

I've recently become a binge-watcher of "Mad Men" - I'm obsessed with the show and the styles the women wear. (I know, I'm late to the party!) I admire the stylist for the show, Janine Bryant... She has such a good eye for recreating vintage outfits like a pro and she is actually quoted saying "show off your assets and always accentuate your waist".



When I saw the Alika Pencil Dress I realized it was something that would help me achieve the look both of her style tips suggest and the open top detail was so sexy - it is the perfect piece to make me feel like one of the bombshells on the show. Once I received the dress in the mail, I instantly fell in love with it - the tight fit flatters my curves perfectly, the fabric is comfortable as can be, and I feel as glamorous as Betty Draper herself while wearing it!



The Black Suede Mary Jane Pumps are a new staple in my closet. The classic style of the pumps is the perfect way to achieve a timeless look with any outfit - I love pairing these with my longer pairs of jeans even! I have tons of black heels but none of them are this cute! The strap and the suede material are a little different than what I'm used to but that's what makes these shoes so awesome! While they definitely needed to be worn in before I walked around town in them, they were actually pretty comfortable over all - I would  recommend these shoes to a friend... & that's why one lucky friend of mine will win a pair of these babies in her size!



There used to be a giveaway here, sorry to disappoint you but it's over now! Want to know who won? You can find the winner's information on my winner's page!

I put this outfit on a few weeks ago when it arrived just to show off how cute the dress was... and after realizing how hot I looked, Hubby asked me out on an impromptu date - I obviously agreed. Dating my husband is the best thing in the world, he is such a gentlemen!



He took me to one of our favorite local spots to have a bite to eat - we saw this silly sticker and busted out laughing... I had to share. After we ate we decided to take a walk around downtown. I felt like a million bucks while rocking this dress and the pumps; it's amazing what an awesome outfit can do! I think I nailed the vintage look, what do you think?