Last night was as good as advertised.

We celebrated my 40th birthday last night at the Jean Bonnet Tavern. I heard great things about this place from my Berlin Gaffron cousins. Aunt Sue and Elizabeth suggested this place and I’m so glad they did. The experience was great.

Like Toastmasters, I’m going to give my feedback of the great establishment. The Jean Bonnet Tavern is located on the Lincoln Highway in beautiful Bedford. It’s a tavern and also an inn. Rumor has it there are spirits 👻 haunting the place as well.

They serve all types of comfort food, from burgers and sandwiches to entrees (ribeye, chicken parmigiana, and filet mignon) and specials (my cousin had the tomato gnocchi). I ordered the loaded potato crisps as my appetizer and a raspberry margarita for my drink. For dinner, I had the chicken parmigiana with a house salad.

Overall I thought the dishes we ordered were well worth the price. I felt we had excellent service. Our waitress took great care of us. It wasn’t a long wait between ordering apps and dinner. We were too full for dessert but that’s a good thing. An A-plus on all three of these.

The atmosphere was really nice. They had a table for eight set up for us. My cousin called ahead to make sure we’d have a great experience. I didn’t pay much attention to the decor other than the fireplace. I was enjoying myself and my time with family. At the end of the night before heading home, I got to see the goats 🐐 and my cousins fed them but I was a little bit squeamish to do the same myself. An A-minus here to balance it out.

This experience would have been made better if we were able to eat outside on the patio, but you can’t control the weather. Maybe next time. Also the spiral staircase can be a little bit tricky if you have a lot to carry.

To challenge myself, I’d like to come here during the Fall Foliage Festival or at Halloween. I’d also like to bring some of my friends here to experience this place. It’s worth spending a night or weekend here too if you want to get away.

Overall grade: 9.4/10

I’ll close off this review by talking about my gifts I received. From Megan, I got an Amazon gift card. I’ll use it on some amazing fashionwear or some lip balm or other cosmetics or even a cardigan. The possibilities are endless. But how sweet is the gift card I got from Aunt Sue and Elizabeth? It’s for this hair and nail salon (AristaCuts Hair and Tanning Salon) 💇‍♀️ 💅. I can’t wait to use it.

I think I’ll go for a mani/pedi and a facial. I should try out Clarabella or Salt Beauty Lab sometime too. Both are local. Salt will be moving to the Greensburg area in the near future.

I plan on doing the ULTA Beauty/Target blog at the end of July. Maybe I’ll get my hair done there (or pay my usual visit to Sport Clips).

Bye everyone. ❤️ you.

My 30’s began at Kennywood Park on June 30, 2011. We celebrated my birthday and my cousin made me the most scrumptious cake ever. It had blue icing and weather icons on it. Turning 30 was a welcome change after my late 20’s brought me misery and heartache. My late 20’s were just a dumpster fire 🔥.

Turning 30 did bring me Toastmasters, which I’ll discuss later on in this blog. But despite the slight improvements I had in 2011, I really wasn’t out of the woods yet. Five years after college and at age 30. Go figure.

Eventually, I put my back to school dreams on the back burner for good and accepted my past college experiences. The day of Gary’s memorial service was a turning point for me. But even in 2013, I still had a long way to go before I would be in the clear.

I still struggled with not taking stuff personally. This turned into a huge problem at work and it also became a big distraction when I started taking on bigger leadership roles in the District. I followed political pages on Facebook but the views and opinions of others brought me down. Even things that happened years ago were still bothering me.

That epiphany that I had in the Spring of 2013 was feeling more like a wasted opportunity as I reverted back to my old ways. Going back to school seemed like a good idea, but for me it wasn’t for the right seasons. Even going back to learn my field of study on my own was a challenge. I’d been out for so long that I just didn’t have the motivation anymore.

It would take until 2018 for me to finally stop living in the past and move on with my life.

My 30’s brought a lot of Toastmasters memories. I had plenty of magical memories at Disney in 2015. I launched the blog in 2019, dealt with the pandemic 😷 in 2020, and had a health scare earlier this year.

I attended plenty of great Toastmasters events in my 30’s and want to continue the trend into my 40’s. One of my best stories from TLI came at our last in person training before COVID-19 hit. It was one of our most well attended sessions and everyone was asking me about my blog and complimenting me on my stylish attire. Last year’s virtual Winter TLI had us who won the Spirit of Toastmasters participating in a panel discussion. I hope we can meet in person soon.

This past Spring, while at my doctor’s appointment, I found out that my blood pressure was through the roof. I was at heart attack/stroke level and wound up in the hospital for four days. All this to get that bump on my head removed. I came home the day before Easter. I went to my Cardiologist later that week and scheduled an appointment with the Dermatologist. A week later I finally got my cyst drained and removed.

Since then my blood pressure has gone down and I am feeling a lot better than I did when I made that trip to the Emergency Room. I’ve also had a great support system in place and lots of great friends who have reached out to me.

In October 2017, we witnessed the end of an era with the Fall Conference coming to an end. It would be replaced with the Fall Symposium the next Fall. In October 2018, I ended the long-standing tradition of attending Homecoming at Slippery Rock University. It was fun for a long time, but after so many years and having been out of college for a decade, it just got too stale and was dated. My new Fall tradition would be that Fall Symposium the next year. Tonight is the last night of my 30’s.

My 30’s brought the light at the end of the tunnel. But for a while those lights were from oncoming trains 🚆. Patience was a virtue even well into my 30’s. My 20’s were about academia and later on, I paid the price for my education and lack of work experience. My 30’s were a slight improvement, but I was still feeling the effects of the previous decade for a long time after.

The latter half of my 30’s brought a lot more happiness than the stagnant first half which saw me going nowhere chasing an education I did not need. 2019 was a sad year as I mourned the loss of loved ones. But it was also a standout year for me in Toastmasters, as well as launching the blog, and thinking about dressing nicer. A girl in a cute pink cherry dress can do that to you. 2020 saw me learning to support my local everything and falling in love with my hometown. I won the Spirit of Toastmasters award at the Fall Symposium. I started carrying a bag and wearing patterned scarves and worried I would be shamed but I had the love and encouragement of my friends and adopted family.

2021 is where I will end this blog and I will talk about the two biggest stories. I became more confident about myself and attended a great wedding. In February, I went to Tanger and bought some awesome bags from the Coach outlet. This is me being confident. I broke gender norms and rocked some pastel blazers and a leopard print cardigan. What’s next? Headbands, scrunchies, fashion jewelry?

This past May, I attended the wedding of my dear friends Rob and Sara at the Greensburg Country Club. Sara is one of my biggest encouragers and it was a pleasure to attend her wedding and reunite with her and her family. She loves my fashion sense and the blog. I’m her own personal Harry Styles. I always look forward to us hanging out when our schedules allow and hope to do more with her family soon.

As we begin to have more social gatherings, I’m able to talk more my lifestyle changes and the blog. Speaking of, the blog continues to grow and I have some exciting content that’s coming this summer. I have an ULTA Beauty/Target trip planned for July. That might have me buying… cosmetics. I’m also planning a back to school blog for the middle of August and another Outlets trip. That might happen around Labor Day weekend.

Lots of fun things are happening in Toastmasters as well. A dinner planned on July 24 to honor all that the District has done during this trying time will be held at WCCC. Dates have planned for the Fall Symposium and Winter TLI. I’ll cover these as they get closer. For now enjoy summer.

Bye everyone. ❤️ you.

It’s that time again. Time for our officers to get trained in the roles for the upcoming Toastmaster year. It’s Summer TLI (Toastmasters Leadership Institute).

We started at 9 o’clock this morning. Our incoming District Director Bob Johnson gave the introduction and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. He then introduced the new members of the trio. Dr. Elizabeth Carter for Program Quality Director, and Stephanie Scott for Club Growth Director. All three belong to exceptional clubs in the Cranberry area, so it goes without saying Cranberry Township will be well represented.

Our morning Toastmaster, incoming Division A Director Julia Wick, recognized past and present District Leaders and our International Director Melissa McGavick. Our current District Director Patti Thor installed new leaders for 2021-22. She also looked back on the current Toastmasters and her role as District Director. We’ve come a long way virtually.

We have an exceptional team of Division Directors and other District leaders coming in for 2021-22. Kat Licause moderated our Spirit of Toastmasters panel discussion and I know she’ll rock that Public Relations Manager position. Bob also introduced an exceptional slate of Area Directors. Afterwards Julia introduced our keynote speaker, Lance Miller.

Some of the things that I took away from Lance Miller’s keynote speech were the four areas of growth and the three reasons why clubs fail. Also, he mentioned that a Toastmasters membership is like a gym membership and that you want to build your club to be the best.

Isabelle Billig and her team led a great session on quality meetings. It means you don’t want to miss this meeting, and it means that members will be coming back after they’ve attended one. Quality meetings go a long way in determining success. Also, plan your agenda, plan your meeting roles, and plan for contingency.

Marci Antion and Carol Snyder taught us the importance of Member Engagement and Retention. We learned about some of the Soutb Hills members and how they’ve benefitted from joining Toastmasters.

Diana Lomelin led a panel discussion on the Pathways mentor program, and Joe Arnold led our Division breakout.

He made sure everyone got called on. He discussed the importance of the club success plan, highlighted clubs that were struggling (Penn Hills comes to mind as Nate Stephens resurrected the club from Extinguished to Distinguished). Joe also hit on evaluation. Mike Dalton provided the best answer to the question when discussing how he does evaluation. I think, as Toastmasters, we should follow his example of writing out an evaluation and saying something different for the oral evaluation.

We ended the afternoon with a club officer training session. Dr. Elizabeth Carter and Chad Hudson taught us incoming Vice Presidents of Education how to do our roles. It’s a lot more technical now with Pathways. I learned a lot in the session and am confident I can do my job well. I like the tips that Liz provided. In the next few weeks I plan to design a chart showing off our education goals and where we stand for the Distinguished Club Program.

We concluded with words of encouragement from our trio. I’m excited to see what they do for our District in 21-22. We have some great leaders coming in next year and I’m excited to serve as an officer under this exceptional group of Toastmasters. I leave you with our 2021-22 District Leaders.

Bye everyone. ❤️ you.

The TLI blog will be released after the event has ended, but until then let’s look back at some other milestone birthdays and preview next week. It’s not just any birthday 🥳, it’s my 40th. Wait until you see the one that’s coming in ten years.

I’ve been making kind of a big deal about the event more than I should. As I turn 40, I’ve come to realize that I’m at a good place in life.

I have my blog which is growing. I have my love of fashion and style that’s just getting better with every passing day. I’m looking forward to TLI on Saturday and this new Toastmaster year coming up on July 1. I belong to a wonderful church home.

Back when I was 25, I worshipped higher education. I’d do anything to go back to school even if it was for a useless post baccalaureate degree. In 2006, I was sitting at home unemployed and taking care of my sick grandmother. I was a dumpster fire and it would be a while before that flame would be extinguished.

These days I think college is overpriced and overrated. I have Toastmasters and my blog. I have my love of fashion, and I have my friends and I enjoy following their Instagram pages and learning about their businesses.

As I turned 30, I was a few years into posting the weather on Facebook. I was crazy about politics but eventually it chewed me up and spit me out. I joined Toastmasters and was still longing to go for a postbac degree. I quit the politics and chasing that higher education and accepted my time in college after years of doubting that it was the right choice. I was getting better but still had a long way to go.

When I turned 35, I thought about getting back into my field of study. However, being away from it for so long hindered my performance and I couldn’t stick with it. I eventually retired my longtime tradition of attending homecoming at my Alma mater. By 2018, it had become really stale and I regretted missing the first Fall Symposium that my Toastmasters District held.

Which brings us to the present day. I have my blog which is doing well. Long gone are the times when I would live for the good old days. I’m looking forward to being Greensburg’s Vice President Education in July. I wow my friends and family with my fashion and stories on social media. I learned to support my local everything when the world shut down last year.

I’m looking forward to a great long birthday weekend. My aunt and cousins have turned me on to the idea of exploring the shops in Bedford and then having dinner at the Jean Bonnet Tavern. I think this may just eclipse last year’s Ligonier Tavern dinner with Rob and Sara. It’s just the start of what will be a great time.

In just a week I’m going to be fierce, fabulous, and 40.

Bye everyone. ❤️ you.

This morning at 11 I had a meeting at church. It was for frontline workers. Pastor Mark Pastoria provided the Chick Fil A nuggets, and we had an amazing spread. It was a short and sweet meeting and we were done before Noon. Time for my Target run.

I knew I needed some groceries but I also wanted to pick up a gift card for my dad for Father’s Day. Instead of going to the Target right by my house, I decided to take a road trip and shop at the one in Monroeville. By now I’m fully vaccinated so I didn’t need a mask 😷.

I prefer the Targets with more of a grocery section because I can get more. I bought my usual stuff for lunches (gotta fill up that cute Bando tote). However, I’m starting to buy more HBA products at Target as well.

I’m stocking up on body wash. I like this stuff by OGX that I’ve bought on Amazon but now I’m starting to buy it in store. Right now I use the coffee coconut 🥥 body wash. I bought the sea kelp scrub as well as rose water and pink sea salt body wash to use for future spa 🧖‍♀️ or shower 🚿 days. I continue to wash my hair with the tea tree mint shampoo 🧴 and conditioner. I got hooked on this after they used it on my hair at Sport Clips.

I also bought moisturizer because I want to use it more. I bought two 6 oz tubes of St. Ives scrub and can’t wait to use them. I’ve really begun to emerge from my shell and don’t feel embarrassed, but proud. Remember, fashion is nothing to be ashamed of. I’ve really come into my own with all of my Amazing Fashionwear 👗 👠 purchases I’ve made.

After spending an exact $100 on my Target run, I drove through Miracle Mile and passed by ULTA, gaining some inspo for a future blog I’m doing where I shop at ULTA Beauty and Target. The stores look very spacious and have a lot of product. I even saw the salon 💇‍♀️ in the back of the Monroeville location. Don’t worry friends, I still support my local everything and that includes my friends who are stylists and hairdressers.

I plan to do this blog in mid to late July and looking at a Saturday. I might even include a trip to Old Navy as well. I also want to have dinner to cap off the trip. Lots of great places in the suburbs to grab a meal. Monroeville looks like a feasible location but I’m also interested in Cranberry, North Hills, South Hills, and Robinson. All have a decent size Target and an ULTA Beauty nearby. I have even gotten my fashion buddy interested in going with me too.

Last night I hit 200 blogs on Stylish 👢 and Trendy 🐰 after I ended my epic “Who’s the Inspo” series. I think the blog is a lot better with just weekly content (this week was an exception). I’m beginning to worry a lot less about people’s opinions of me, and that’s a big win.

Bye everyone. ❤️ you.

My friends and family give me the inspiration to be unapologetically me. My cousins view my stories and react to my Facebook and Instagram posts. Now that may make me somewhat of a social media slut but it does give me confidence and makes me feel loved.

Let’s start with my family. While there are too many to name, I will only choose a select few. However, I’m blessed with a wonderful, loving family.

My cousin Emily (Gaffron) is so sweet and always finds the nicest things to say in our chats on social media. Back in March when I posted my #joyspotted, she posted some kind words on my Instagram.

“You’re incredible and so beautiful 😍 inside and out ❤️”

“You deserve every kind word and more ❤️❤️❤️”

I took those words to heart and made them my own. “You’re incredible. Shine bright ☀️ like a diamond 💎.” “Embrace your style.” “Explore your beauty.”

My cousin Katie (Nicholson) has made her blog, Everyday Adventures With Katie, a hit with her weekly posts. I started this blog, Stylish and Trendy, in November 2019 to compete with her blog which has been so successful itself. Katie is always following my blog and my updates on social media and she too provides some great compliments.

I have come into my own with the blog as much as I have with my fashion and style. Last year, building upon the quick run of success in 2019, I felt my head was getting a little bit too big. I was blogging every day and I posted some stuff that I shouldn’t have. At least the shutdown helped put some things into perspective.

Next is my adopted family. Paula and Sara and I have known each other since 2008 when we attended church together at Greensburg Alliance Church. We parted ways for a bit but life brought us all back together.

I met up again with Sara in 2018 when she was working at Old Navy at Westmoreland Mall. She had gone through a lot herself and it was nice that we reunited. Paula and I chatted on social media. Both women mean a lot to me. We all got to meet in person at Rob and Sara’s wedding this past May. I had a dinner date with the Newsoms back in December and a coffee date earlier this year. Of course we also communicated via text and social media.

Paula and Sara inspire me because they accept me for who I am. I worried at first that no one would like how I dressed or what I carried on my shoulder but these girls were always here to give their approval.

When I was interested in buying a new bag, and I posted pictures of Coach purses, they shared my interest and even were a little envious that I was purchasing one. Paula and Sara showed their love to me instead of discouraging me.

When I post my outfit of the day on social media or share my blog, Paula and Sara will always find the nicest things to say. They compliment me on my posts on Facebook and Instagram. “SLAY 🔥”

Paula and Sara aren’t just friends, they’re family to me. I am family to them as well.

Another person who gives me inspiration to be fashionable and stylish is my coworker, Emily Swager. It was a little more prevalent in 2019, but a couple times outside of work, her sense of style really rubbed off on me. It’s amazing how those couple of experiences changed my perspective. She deserves credit even if she doesn’t realize it.

I liked her ban.do lunch tote so much I had to buy one of my own. She’s also part of the reason why I became interested in Coach and eventually bought my crossbody and tote. I liked her Coach purse so much I had to have one of my own. But it’s also because of the encouragement I’ve received from Sara and Paula.

I’ll close off with some coming attractions. Club officer training is next Saturday and there will be a blog covering the experience. I’m going to take some time this weekend to get acclimated into my VPE role for Greensburg. We made Select Distinguished and big things are coming in 21-22 for my home club.

I’m planning a visit to ULTA Beauty and Target to shop for HBA products and check out some of their cosmetics. I might even get some work done at the salon 💇‍♀️. I’ll even look for dinner too. I’m scoping out a good place to go. Monroeville, North Hills, Cranberry, Robinson, and South Hills all have an ULTA and Target close to each other.

I’m also looking another outlets visit for some back to school deals (I’m not going back to school but this is something I want to report on 🎤 for the blog). Finally, I want to shout out my local businesses and visit some boutiques and florists. Sara and I want to check out a shop in Ebensburg right up our alley (Sandy Johns).

Bye everyone. ❤️ you.

Rogelio De La Vega wows me with his vanity.

Gene Belcher gets me with everything he says.

Harry Styles brings me in with his amazing fashion sense. Need I say more?

My mind has undergone a transformation in the last few years. Long gone are the days when my brain fed on the good old days of college and academia. I still enjoy educating myself, but in a different way now.

September 24, 2019, had an impact on me. At first I was longing for someone after I saw my two coworkers happy together. I was crushing on the girl, but also I was crushing on her sense of style. Seeing her rock her cute pink dress helped open my eyes to dressing better. Eventually, the crush wore off as we dealt with COVID and moved in separate directions. However, she left in me a love of fashion and style (even if I’ve only seen her dressed up twice).

Last summer, I began searching for a bag to carry to work and when I go out. I ordered a purple canvas bag from Amazon. Originally, I was shy about having it out and about, worried about what people would think or say. Eventually, it caught their eye. My manager even complimented me and I sent her the link for the bag. I was no longer afraid to express who I was.

I feel like I’ve had to explain myself to my friends and family because they might think I’m weird for carrying a bag/purse, watch a lot of Hallmark movies or, read books by Candace Cameron Bure. All they’ll tell me is to be me. Be You. Thank you Jojo Siwa. They also tell me, “Have You Heard of Harry Styles?”

So far, this year has seen me really come into my own. But it’s also my love of fashion and just being more confident. It all started when I began waxing Coach and it got the attention of Paula and Sara, my adopted family. Sara always reminds me, “Don’t be embarrassed. Be proud. Fashion is nothing to be ashamed of.”

Harry Styles is always rocking a bag. He loves his Gucci. I love my Coach.

As Spring approached, I began to consider buying more stylish clothes even if it was defying gender norms. Harry Styles wears a lot of patterned suits, just as I can be seen in my leopard print cardigan or pastel blazer. Harry also high waists his pants. I try to do so myself. It works best with my Old Navy jeans. I do want to buy some floral tops, since I crush so much on my coworker’s fashion sense. She wore a nice one on Thursday with a black top underneath and high waisted black pants.

I just bought some new blouses 👚 from SHEIN. That’s really defying gender norms and breaking down barriers and shattering glass ceilings. Perhaps I should be shopping in boutiques after all, since I follow them on Instagram. Have you seen the cover of Vogue with Harry on it rocking that dress 👗? Not quite sure if I’m ready for that yet, but Harry Styles is definitely one of my guiding forces.

Bob’s Burgers 🍔 is one of my favorite shows. It’s fun to watch and a nice reprieve if the Simpsons and Family Guy are getting too stale for you (no offense to the people who still watch them).

I discovered the show in 2017 and watched the first seven seasons on Hulu. I definitely want to get back to Bob’s and watch the newer stuff. I hope the movie comes out soon. The series just completed its 11th season on FOX.

Out of the Belcher family, I love Linda because of her enthusiasm and Louise because she makes the show funny (she’ll never give up those bunny ears). Tina is the hopeless romantic who will never get boys to notice her and loves horses and butts. But my favorite character out of them all is the musically talented Gene.

Gene as you know is a mystery. I can’t tell if he’s trying to be masculine or getting in touch with his feminine side. His one liners are hilarious and they do show that he is possibly gender fluid.

I know what you’re thinking, is this why I like Gene and the answer is no. Here’s three reasons why Gene Belcher inspires me to be fashionable and stylish.

He’s not afraid to say what’s on his mind.

There was one sequence of dialogue in particular, which inspired intensive reflection about Gene’s sexuality. Here’s an excerpt from “Bob Fires the Kids”:

Gene: We’re working girls now! Deal with it!

Mickey: You’re a girl?

Gene: Yes, I am!

Bob: No, he’s not.

Gene: Tell that to my vagina!

He’ll dress up just for the fun of it and doesn’t care what others think. Remember the episode where they had a casino 🎰 downstairs. Gene tried to lead a girl group but they all quit on him, so he just dons one of their outfits. The sequin gown and gloves are a nice touch, Gene.

He’s proud of his fashion sense, or trashion sense.

Remember the Thundergirls episode where Tina was trying to uncover who the mole was in the troop? In one part of the episode, Gene is digging through the trash and he finds the Jessica sweatshirt. He rocked that piece of trash with enthusiasm no matter how dirty it was.

When I look at how I evolved into what I’ve become, I think of Gene in that classic Beefsquatch episode. When it comes to my fashion and style, THIS IS ME NOW!

Last month at Rob and Sara’s wedding reception, I rocked a nice outfit (a black on black ensemble with a leopard print cardigan). During the reception, Sara and I are outside chatting with her friends and she comes up to me and asks “What’s the Inspo for this outfit?” That gave me the inspiration for my blog that week.

This time I’m going to tell you who the inspo is behind why I’m always being my fashionable and stylish self. Who encourages me to be unapologetically me? I’ve come up with three celebs and three non-celebs (but they’re my celebs) who motivate me to have a love of fashion 👗 and style 👠.

I stumbled upon Jane the Virgin this past winter and I’ve since become an addict of the telenovela. Rogelio has become one of my favorites on the show and in my upcoming blog “Who’s the inspo?” are some reasons why he inspires me to be unapologetically me.

I know, OMG 😱 right? Well friends, let’s begin. When Jane was 13…. Oh wait this is my blog. No love story here.

How does Rogelio drive my passion for fashion and style?

He’s a star ⭐️. The man stars in a hit telenovela, and is an amazing actor. Even if his ego is a little bit inflated. He might be at odds with his rival or costars, but he’s always the better man. He built a house on set for Jane and her mom and abuela when a pipe burst. Rogelio always looks out for Jane and would take a bullet for her.

He always looks good, except for that time when he had tire grease on his best shirt. How was he going to an audition looking that dirty? Rafael to the rescue.

His bromances with Michael and Rafael. Let’s face it. I’m team Rafael all the way, but Ro and Michael were cute when they hung out. He loved him so much that he named him and Darci’s baby after Michael (Baby Michaelina De La Vega Factor). I just watched the episode where Raf and Ro babysat Mateo. Rafaelio makes a good pair too.

The man owns more makeup 💄 than Xiomara. Well the guy does make a living in telenovelas and is in front of the camera all the time. I’m watching makeup tutorials myself and in the market as well and I am doing a future blog that will have me going to ULTA Beauty (as well as Target) to look at cosmetics. Rogelio gives me encouragement to be me and try something new. But if any of my friends want to help me as well, please, the floor is yours.

He looks great in lavender. We all have our signature colors. I love pink, other people love red and blue and green, Rogelio rocks anything lavender well.

I know, straight out of a telenovela right?

It’s always a fantastic day to be Rogelio.

Come back for Inspo #2 tomorrow.

This blog was meant to be about fashion & style.

Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoy talking up Toastmasters but I enjoy showing off my Amazing Fashionwear. I just need to quit apologizing for being unapologetically me and explaining “this is who I am” all the time. If I enjoy it that’s all that matters.

This latest entry will find me styling. You’ll see some of my favorite outfits; I’ll drum up some scenarios where I wear my pastels, black and white, or my scarves; and, I’ll show off some of my cute props I used in my Amazing Fashionwear blog/photo shoot.

All in all this will be an enjoyable blog and the first of many that highlight my love of fashion and style.

In a future blog, I’d like to take a trip to ULTA and Target and check out all their beauty products. Another Tanger outlets trip (going to visit Coach again as well as Kate Spade ♠️) and a visit to some of the local boutiques in Greensburg and Ligonier is on the agenda.

I wore this outfit to the birthday event at Trendy back in March. The jeans are from Old Navy (no better place to buy great jeans), the T-shirt is from State of Virginia boutique, and the cardigan is from Amazon. I also wore the mustard colored cardi on a previous dinner date.

This next outfit is my fave. I wore this to Rob and Sara’s wedding last month. I think the leopard print cardi and hat says it all. Sara asked me “What’s the inspo behind this outfit?” and I spilled the beans.

I just ordered these two pastel blazers recently and took a few pictures with them. I’ve been getting a lot of likes on the mint blazer but the peach is just as nice. Eventually I’ll go to a store and buy stuff this fashionable. Like Sara tells me, “Don’t be embarrassed. Be proud. Fashion is nothing to be ashamed of.”

Here’s the perfect scenario where I can rock this outfit. Summer TLI at WCCC. It’s a Saturday morning and I want something nice to wear. Why not rock this cute mint blazer with my cute Coach tote; picking up tips in my Division breakout or learning how to perform my new officer role, I’ll be doing so in style.

Back in February, I went to Tanger Outlets determined to find my Coach bag I’d had my eye on. I found success and a great set up that included the tote, crossbody, and a wallet. Love all the C’s Lots of people have been crushing on my Coach. It’s that pop of red on my crossbody that has some people mesmerized.

I did my black and white shoot last week. While I’m disappointed that I didn’t get too many great pictures, there were a few that stood out. I like this outfit.

The jeans also go good with a chambray shirt as well as a floral top; pair this outfit with wedges, sneakers, sandals, or heels 👠.

Here’s a few more of my favorites. Love that Gilmore Girls top with the black on black. This is the perfect outfit for Ligonier. I made quite an impression at Abigail’s Coffeehouse with my love of the show.

I’m thinking you can wear these for a coffee date at your favorite local cafe or, a Toastmasters meeting (online or virtual). Any combo I just mentioned will work. I’d pair the black and white with a jean jacket.

Let’s talk about some of the cool props I used in last week’s shoot.

I felt like having a little bit of fun so I took some selfies with my Frappuccino (I hadn’t drank it yet) and as always I had to rock my scarf. I love these infinity scarves (I wore this cheetah print at Rob and Sara’s wedding).

Also, I took a nice selfie with my iPhone of me with my camera (which I should use more). I love my photographer friends and should hire one who can take some headshots sometime. I think the Ligonier Diamond is perfect. Also, I love the Ban.do lunch tote. It’s so cute. Thanks to Emily Swager for showing me where to find it, in case Sara or Paula are interested.

Time to close off the blog by talking about coming attractions.

Who inspires me to dress nice and be stylish? I choose six people (three celebrities, two friends who are family to me, and one coworker) who give me the motivation to look great every day and be unapologetically me. Coming June 18.

Ten years of Toastmasters means plenty of TLI memories. I’ll talk about some of my favorite club officer training experiences and highlight my best trainings that I attended. Also, what has it been like holding these big Toastmasters functions online via Zoom? Coming June 25.

I’ll cover this summer’s TLI and also, talk about a pretty big birthday.

Have a great weekend. Appreciate you. ❤️ you.