One Dress, Styled 4 Ways {on a budget} - #CableandGauge Animal Print Dress Review

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned below for free.
Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I was recently given the opportunity to review the twist top animal print dress from Cable & Gauge,

I fell in love with the dress from the moment I saw it - the fun leopard print, the twist top detail, 

the super soft and comfortable fabric, the affordable sale price - this baby is a win!

I've heard it said before and I'll say it again,

animal print is a basic & can be worn with anything!

Domenico Dolce, from the well-known brand Dolce & Gabbana, said it best -
"[Animal Print] is a timeless classic...It has always fascinated us for its sensuality and femininity,
and for this reason it has become a color rather than a print." 

With that said, I decided to style my gorgeous Cable & Gauge Twist Top Dress four ways so that you can see how diverse animal print really is, with different accessories one little animal print dress can be so versatile!




 

 Which style is your favorite?

 

                 

Business Casual, as most of us know, simply means a more relaxed professional look. Pairing the leopard dress with this black blazer adds a fun, sophisticated element. My blazer is a thrift store find so it isn't exactly tailored but it works... and it makes looking professional budget-friendly! I styled this outfit with a fun multi-charm necklace {a gift from a friend but I've seen similar necklaces at Charolette Russe and Forever21}, and giant black, gold, and cork wedges {e-bay}. This sassy leopard look isn't for the most uptight offices but if you work in a fun environment this look is the perfect way to spice up your wardrobe!

Trendy fashion is tricky at times, trends change and something that was "so in" last week can easily be kicked to the curb the following week. Trends can also turn into classics - it's hard to say what's going to stick and what won't... Statement necklaces have gone from being trendy to being a staple piece in several wardrobes; until recently I ignored the statement necklace trend but since they seem to be around for good, I think I'm actually starting to like them. I paired the dress with a cyan colored statement necklace and some bangle bracelets! I was given the necklace from Kisspat and reviewed it here, they have the whole statement necklace thing down - so much cuteness and most of their items are fairly inexpensive as well! The wedges I'm wearing for this look are indeed trendy - nude in color, with two bands of gold on each strap. They are fun, funky, and even better, from Payless' clearance section so they are inexpensive as well! I really like this look and feel like it would be a good option for a girl's night out or maybe a fancy lunch date with some clients.

 

Flirty and feminine is probably my favorite style when I'm heading out on the town with the hubs. I love wearing items that make me feel girly - think lace & pearls. I decided to pair the leopard dress with a pink wrap {ebay}, the trendy {Payless} wedges mentioned above, and a pearl, gold, and pink beaded necklace{Rue21}. It all made the edgy leopard dress feel so much more feminine. I think I'll be wearing this the next time we visit the symphony! It's classy yet playful - the perfect date night outfit!

Boho - chic is such a fun style, featuring items that are truly bohemian and vintage and pairing them with modern pieces - a little bohemian, a little chic, a lot of cute. To create this look I wore a fun bohemian piece from my August Mialisia collection, The Savannah {which you will be able to win in just a few short days here on the blog} and matched it with my everyday purse - a cobalt blue Nine West Bowler bag. I'm also rocking my favorite pair of flats, Black Gladiators from Olivia Miller. The Boho - Chic look is convenient and easy-to-achieve; perfect for running errands or a busy student on-the-go. 








 

As you can see this Cable & Gauge dress is truly versatile;
    The little animal print dress  

                     is the new little black dress. 

How to Create a Custom 404 Error Page - Lauren Paints | a beautiful life Blogger Tutorial Series

No one wants to find an error page, on any website,

but it happens on occasion.

Whenever a reader finds a link that no longer exists,
your blog most likely sends them to a typical error page that looks similar to this:

With a custom 404 error page, you can add several features on the 404 error pages that make them more user-friendly and interactive. You can customize the page by giving the reader the option to contact you, to go to the home page, and more.

 I decided I wanted to spice things up so I'm changing how my error page looks. I figured I'd write up a simple tutorial to help my fellow blogger friends out if they want to do the same.

Follow the steps below to make your own custom 404 error page!

Let's get this party started:


1. Go to Your Blogger profile, click "Settings" on the side bar,
then "Search Preferences".

2. Scroll to find "Custom Page Not Found"

under "Errors and Redirection".

3. In another window, create a new post 

and use the HTML editor to create the HTML for the error page { do not publish at any point. }

You can just type in something funny and format it as you please,

custom design a graphic, the possibilities here are endless!

Get creative and make it your own.

Now click the HTML tab in the corner and Select all + Copy!

I custom designed a graphic in photoshop, uploaded it onto photobucket,  then used image mapping to make the links clickable.

{That's a whole different tutorial that I'll be posting soon.}

 

4. Paste the code into the "Custom Page Not Found" box and save.

5. Now test out your link and make sure it works:

Just type "YourSite".com/404 into your address bar.

Click here to check out my error page in action.

An informal letter to my younger self

When you are young hearing about how your choices have consequences is redundant - it's boring, it's an obnoxious lecture, it's routine whenever you get in trouble.

You've heard it all: teachers and principals are constantly reminding you to be on your best behavior, your spiritual leader says God will guide you on a righteous path as long as you believe, your parents lecture you about how you must make the right choices so that your life turns out perfectly, yadda yadda yadda - you get it, right? You're a professional at life and although your parents are just trying to be helpful, you know everything you need to know about life and you'll do what you want.

I get it. I totally do. I'm not here to lecture anyone. I'm sharing this as an informal letter to my younger self - a letter to my former self.

"Please take the time everyday to stop and look around, enjoy every second of your life. Stop rushing to grow up. I know you only want to grow up because you are assuming life will be better when you're older. I've got news for ya kid, it gets tougher. The grass is hardly ever greener, in any situation.

Stop feeling like the world is on your shoulders and that your life is so hard because in all reality - your suburban, middle class upbringing is no excuse for your behavior - bad decisions reflect on you and you alone when all is said and done, remember this. What kind of reputation would you prefer to have? Think about this before you decide to get involved with the wrong crowd.

Make decisions based on your own moral compass. Do not make decisions based on emotions, what the crowd is doing, or the idea of "fun". I know you'll disregard the short and sweet message I just shared with you...

Sadly, you will put yourself in bad situations. You will get hurt. You will occasionally even be ashamed of your choices. You could have avoided all of this, but you are young, you know everything."


When you're fifteen - Just try to remember this, you have the rest of your life to grow up, slow down.

 

{image thanks to flickr}

This post is part of a writing challenge I'm participating in during the month of August, are you interested in joining? Link up with BE society.

Wherever The River Runs by Kelly Minter Review & Giveaway - Beach Reads in August Hop {ends 8/15}

I'm so excited to share a book I just finished reading at the beach today!

I'm not one to discuss religion much, I believe we all have the right to have our own beliefs and I am in no way trying to force religion on you by sharing this christian book, I just enjoyed it and I was given the opportunity to give away a copy of it and thought someone out there may enjoy it.

With that said, this book is unique. Although at times a bit repetitive I really enjoyed Kelly Minter's writing. She shares her journey down the Amazon, where she gets to know several communities and shares God's word with them. It really is an inspirational journey, with some of her stories truly hitting home and making me tear up a little.



Be prepared to hear about rivers teeming with piranhas, caimans, and other wild creatures. You'll be introduced to heroic jungle pastors, record producers with big hearts, children filled with faith that I can not even begin to muster, and several other people that will open your heart and the way you think of the world in general, this book left me feeling dedicated to changing things so that those that are suffering around me can hopefully get some relief while embracing what I currently have and being thankful for the blessings I've been given in my life.



Kelly's narrative is full of miracles and captivating as she tells us a story of her unbelievable journey down the Amazon. I enjoy the comical moments she adds into the book, mentioning the tight sleeping quarters in hammocks while continuing on to tell heartbreaking stories of people living along the Amazon. She's real, the book is fresh and honest, I can completely relate - it's almost like reading a fellow blogger friend's adventures but full of miracles -  
a really easy read that I had trouble putting down while at the beach!

Wherever the River Runs by Kelly Minter
"How a forgotten people renewed my hope in the gospel"
 If you want to see a visual summary, check this out:

Now let's get to the fun part, enter to win the giveaway by using the giveaway tools form below:

Entry-Form

Disclaimer:  (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. This contest will run through August 15th 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 and all other bloggers participating are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Be sure to enter to win all of the other great giveaways listed below:

4 Things blogging has taught me

I recently have decided my blog needs a new focus, I'm still going to share several giveaways but I want to share more with my readers than just prizes, I want to share ideas. I hope to inspire. I want this blog to be what I originally intended for it to be. I want to be a positive, authentic source of random but helpful information. I want to be a friend. I want to give advice and share stories.

With the new focus for my blog set in place, I have been taking a lot of important matters into consideration. I'm going to share the lessons I've learned from blogging thus far and what I have discovered while planning and trying to implement my blog/lifestyle change:

Routine is important:As we all know, creative types struggle to get things accomplished. I definitely fit into the category of a "creative type". I almost always get all of my goals accomplished, I just procrastinate some (maybe a little more than some). This is changing!

Setting a blog routine in place is imperative to functioning as a productive blogger. Waking up every morning and checking e-mails and responding to them, then having lunch and composing a few posts, then having free time - or maybe you'll wait until late in the evening to write, like I do. No matter what the plan is - have a plan, have a routine.

I suggest having a planner you can use for every single detail of your blog/personal life, actually using your phone's calendar to remind you of dates sponsored posts are due, scheduling as many posts as possible in advance. These are small things but they will help you feel more organized.

I feel like I spend every single hour I'm awake on the computer, this is my livelihood, I love sharing on my blog, and I'll always be doing this so implementing a structured routine is definitely part of my adjustment in my lifestyle.


Write, even when you feel uninspired:

Blogging doesn't have to be perfect. I can write even if I feel like I have nothing to write about.

If you're having a rough day, share it. If you feel like your life is boring, make a list of places you hope to visit and publish it. Share something, make connections, grow your circle: just get productive. Magic is in perseverance.

I think this is the main thing that has been holding me back from refocusing, I've been scared to really compose from the heart. I am ready to share, to be open, to be real. I will write even when I feel I have nothing to write, sorry if my posts get a little weird - but let's be frank, I'm a little weird.


Every single day is an adventure, 
you can use every experience as an opportunity to learn:

Embrace the everyday. I can learn from anything that happens to me during every experience in my life.

Say yes to things that scare you. Learn from your mistakes. Become a better person from making a fool out of yourself on occasion. Wherever you are, take it all in - every conversation, scent, sound, smile, and learn from the experience. Keep track of it all on your phone, jot it down on a napkin, whatever you need to do. If you learn something valuable, share it with the world, teach it.

I need to really focus on embracing details. I hope to start absorbing like a sponge and then sharing what I have learned on the blog.


You are your own worst critic:

I always notice my own typos, I stare at photos for hours and wonder if I look overweight in them, I obsess over if I'm using the write form of a word or if I'm spelling a newer (to me) word correctly.

You can and will have a few negative readers but most of your readers will be understanding. Guess why? We're all human and we all make mistakes.

I need to try and remember this during every moment of every day. Criticizing myself is helping no one. I'm going to try and stop focusing on what I've done wrong and try and focus on the things I've done correctly.

All I really know is this:

I'm still learning about myself (and my blog) daily.