Intuitively, it makes sense that humans are undoubtedly genetically hardwired to connect with nature and that we benefit from it in numerable ways. Nature is our extended body. Nature is pure. The beauty that we experience around us can unlock the beauty within us.

Try connecting with nature and its limitless beauty by:

Sitting still, watching the sunrise;
Allowing the sun to warm your face while letting the breeze pass through your hair;
Caressing a leaf and appreciating its gentleness;
Sitting next to a stream of water and listen.

But most importantly, remember its the little things and enjoy outside!

Always be mindful that genuine strength comes from within. When you allow your path to spirituality to be exposed, all you have to do is remain stable and focused.

I strongly believe in miracles. In fact, one is on the way, today, tomorrow and  every day after. Battling the negativity around you is not easy, but letting your soul focus on personal progress is. Remember that genuine strength comes from within. When the path to spirituality is revealed, remain stable and focused.

Healing doesn’t mean that he damage never existed. It means that the damage no longer controls your life. Seek and find the guidance needed during the times you feel low and when you are in need of a little energy boost.

When life throws you shade, throw it right back by releasing negativity. Positive thoughts allow you to move to a higher state of consciousness and vibrate at your full potential. Ground yourself in the determination to create positive changes.

Don’t miss the blessings in your life because you are too busy counting your troubles. We always have something to be thankful for. Push along the mountain of your aspirations, stay grounded during the most tumultuous times, keep your beliefs and hopes for the future at the forefront.

Intuition is a gift we are all given at birth. It’s a higher octave of consciousness, the key to awareness and understanding oneself and the world. It’s an integral part of our DNA and has psychic cognition that goes beyond logical reasoning. 

The key to spiritual growth and self mastery is connecting with and strengthening your intuition. How? it’s relatively easy…

Notice What Happens In Your Body – Tuning into the sensations in your body trains you to be more intuitive. The more in tune you become, the easier it will be for you to trust your intuitions.

Lose The Distractions – Distractions quiet our inner voice and allow us to “run away” from the world and from ourselves. Choosing to consciously say no to them, enhances your chances of coming in to your true self. Choose to be mindful and present in your reality.

Meditate – Meditation is a powerful tool for finding inner peace and tuning inward. As you meditate, you begin to calm the inner chatter and allow your mind and body to relax. This creates a beautiful space for intuitive knowledge to surface and allows you to access higher realms of consciousness that can’t be reached via rationalization or logical analysis.

Sounds very cliché, but believe it. Don’t worry, or at least try not to. Just when you think your life is going to hell in a handbasket, stop and look at the person beside you. They are probably really going through tougher times than you can possibly imagine. Haven’t reached those goals yet, keep striving and don’t quit until you are truly satisfied with your effort(s) and result(s). Remember, quitters don’t get very far and that’s not by chance but winners hit the mark because they stopped worrying!

Be happy and live your best life. Rumor has it you won’t get another. Do your best and give your best. That’s happiness.

…stiletto canvas sneaker, that is. In honor of my upcoming trip to London/Paris, I’ve decided to step outside the box. What better way to do it than in these fun and quirky sneakers from Be&D. So cool, so now, so London…at least for one day.

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Initially, I wanted the black. I ended up with neon pink, which is perfectly inline with the current craze over neon brights for the spring. These are going fast!

I am less than two weeks away from my upcoming travels to the UK. Hubby and I will spend 7 days in London, making two trips to Paris. All this has me excited and I must confess. I am getting pretty antsy as the days go by. Which has me wondering. What do I pack?

I know what you’re thinking. An empty suitcase, of course, right? Ok, yes, I will travel with an “almost empty” suitcase for all the wonderful finds I plan on bringing back. But what will I wear in the streets of London? Streets of Paris? With the exception of the ridiculously high counts of pollen, the temperature here in Atlanta has already reached 80 degrees so you know I’ve been sporting yellow denim and other bright colors. But London’s weather is unpredictable, so I’ve heard. Not so warm right now.

So far, I’ve only committed to 2 pair of jeans and 3 tops. The shoes/boots have me extremely puzzled. Comfortable, but cute, walking shoes are a must. Party footwear have to accompany me on this trip and some fun pieces of jewelry, of course (thanks to http://www.bexcessive.com). But is that enough?

I have been spending time on some of the more popular Street Style blogs in London, just to get an idea of what my outerwear options are. But I’m curious, what are your favorite London Street Style blogs? Perhaps, they can help me pull my suitcase together.

Who doesn’t like free jewelry? I know I do, espciallay when it’s actually something I would wear. So, here’s the skinny – bexcessive.com has launched a Jewelry Giveaway. All you have to do to enter is like bexcessive.com on Facebook. Easy-peazy. Here’s a snapshot of the giveaway:

Today, we are launching our first Jewelry Giveaway. As a Facebook fan of Bexcessive, you’ll get the opportunity to enter this exclusive giveaway.

Don’t miss out on a chance to win this seasons sensational Pretzel Stretch Ring (for full description, visit http://www.bexcessive.com/pretzel-stretch-ring,p1039252). NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Purchasing does not improve your chances of winning. Bexcessive Jewelry Giveaway  is open to residents of the 50 U.S. States and D.C., age 18 or older. Void outside the U.S., Puerto Rico, and wherever else prohibited by law. Contest begins at 12:01AM ET on 3/14/12 and ends at 11:59PM ET on 3/30/12. Winner will be announced on 3/31/2012.

Contest Rules:

1) Visit http://www.facebook.com/BExcessive and like us.

2) Contact info@bexcessive.com to notify us of your entry.

3) Cross your fingers!

Wishing you the best of luck,

Bexcessive

On a quest for true spring weather, as I am? Well who said we can’t bloom in our pants? This spring, the buzz is the “Printed Denim”. How quickly the press left behind animal prints and moved on to floral and geometrical prints. If you’re thinking they’re not made for you, think again. I can’t wait to hit the streets in my new flair for flowers.

As you can see, this floral printed denim works best rolled up and paired with neutral feet with some height. Keep your top very basic with this print, make sure you jewelry is at a minimum and go all out on your makeup. And whatever style bag you decide to drag around while floucing in these florals, do make sure it is in the brown family. Keep the focus on the legs!

Me, I’m wearing them on my wrist at the moment. You know me, always searching for what I call “Conversation Starter” pieces. And did I get lucky.

I fell in love with the red and gold crystal lip bracelet from http://www.bexcessive.com. It’s surprising eye catching. And I say “surprisingly” being facetious. It goes without saying that hot red lips make the men go wild! The amount of conversations struck up because of the bling on my wrist was tremendous.

The beauty of it all is that if you are seeking plump and juicy lips, you don’t have to endure plastic surgery. Just give these a try and you won’t be disappointed.

It hasn’t even been 24 hours since Target unveiled its Jason Wu collection, and it’s already almost sold out.

What was I thinking in taking my time making my way to Target near my home? You know what they say? You snooze, you lose. But I couldn’t believe my suburban neighbors wanted Wu too. The racks were practically bare. Really?

All I wanted was the oh-so adorable sheer blouse with sexy bowtie.

Yesterday was a rare day for me. Rarely do I sit at home during the day, watching television, let alone the Wendy Williams Show or Doctor Oz. But I did just that. I managed to catch the last half of the Wendy Williams Show and then saw the commercial for the upcoming show of Doctor Oz with Jennifer Hudson.

I just smirked and immediately went on the hunt for images online of both of these women wearing the same BCBG dress, on the same day, on the same channel, back to back. BTW, BCBG does make some incredible cocktail dresses and you should have at least one in your closet.  

So, you tell me, who wore it better? Jennifer Hudson or Wendy Williams?

Girls, girls, girls. Don’t we love a sale. Don’t we a love an awesome sale that includes hot, wear now and stock up for later pieces? A shoe sale worth getting in more trouble? I confess – I’m a sucker for shoe sale.

I hope you still have some after christmas sale money put aside for some end of the season fun because now is definitely the time to increase your inventory. When I received the email notification that I could save up to 60% off of boots, I got the shakes. Piperlime always seems to know how to capture and keep my attention. I saw a pair of booties marked down in half and I had a flashback.

Early in the season, two of my friends sought out a pair of leopard booties. They both had tried on a pair made by Sam Edelman but neither loved them enough to pay the original asking price. They both also tried on another bootie and to my surprise, they both had very different opinions. One was in love and the other wasn’t. One immediately thought comfort and the other instantly thought clumsy. What was the debate over? Vince Camuto Bailey’s.

And here they are on sale, for half. So what do I do? I need to investigate for myself, naturally. Of course I ordered a pair, final sale and all. For the price, what’s not to love? Did you know that the leopard consumes virtually any animal that it can hunt down and catch? Well, now you do.

Meow.

So, we’re one week into 2012 and the resolutions are either being maintained or forgotten. If there was consideration and effort poured into the cup of new years resolutions, it certainly makes sense to at least attend to half the glass, right?

I,myself,did not make any resolutions. I did, however,catalog my inadequacies. My conclusion of this despicable assignment? I intend on concentrating on my face and my feet like never before. Everything else in between will naturally take on the domino effect. After all, our face shows up first but we lead with our feet.

From laser hair removal,to frequent facials,to a rekindling of my reverence for makeup,a flawless face is my top priority. I have tried Proactiv,and hated it. Actually, I have tried several cosmetic lines but I am still searching for that line of products that will aid in achieving splendor.

With the exception of the shoes I wear to cycle or to run,I vow not to wear anything on my feet that isn’t sexy. I know this is a rather large commitment,but a sexy shoe doesn’t necessarily have to be a painful high heel. A sexy shoe is a shoe that commands attention because of its ultra feminine appeal.

That being said,I have completed my first session of hair removal and ridiculously hopeful in the results. Thanks WIFH

(http://www.wifh.com/) for honoring an outdated sale price to accommodate this hairy-mary. I have also purchased my last pair of winter shoes, which, believe it or not, appear to be more painful than they actually are.

Yes, 2012 is off to a fantastic start.

Let’s face it. You either succumbed to the Ugg invasion and own at least one pair or completely rejected the insistence of heavy and warm boots. Whichever side of the fence you stand on, you do realize that the craze over them hasn’t come to a conclusion as of yet. As a matter of fact, the Austrailain boot noticeably wears claims it loftiness title as the winter-go-to-boot.

What I find darling about the brand is its ingenuity. You can sport the classic version or test some of these new styles. I sure will.

…and get ready for the Fall/Winter cold air. Unless you live in the Carribbean, it’s a coming.  To help you prepare, I have found some of the seasons hottest head gear. It’s all about fedoras and floppies. So grab your besties and go hat shopping! You will love what you see looking back at you in the mirror.

 

 

 

 

18th Century
As slave labor and cotton plantations increased, workers wore jean cloth because of the strength of the material. It was sustainable and did not wear out easily.

19th Century
In 1853, Leob Strauss started a wholesale business, supplying clothes. Strauss later changed his name from Leob to Levi.

1930’s – Birth of The Western
Cowboys often wore jeans in the movies-became very popular.

1940’s – War Instigated
After World War II, rival companies, Wrangler and Lee, began to compete with Levi.

1950’s – Rebels Rebel
James Dean wore them in the 1955 movie Rebel Without a Cause and made them extremely popular amongst teens.

1960/70’s – Hippie Subculture
To fall in line with the 60’s fashions, embroidered jeans, painted jeans, psychedelic jeans were created.

1980’s – Designer Jeans
Famous designers started creating their own styles of jeans, displaying their
own labels on them. Jordache initially only marketed their products to women. Shortly after, several other brands emerged such as Sergio Valente, Sasson, Gloria Vanderbilt, Calvin Klein, Guess?, Diesel, Bugle Boy and Parasuco.

1990’s – Recession Saddens
Eleven North American jean factories closes, as the popularity fades.

2000’s – Denim reinvented, rejuvenated and takes over
Jeans have become the single most potent symbol of fashion. In the summer  of ’99 Tom Ford’s elaborate feathered, beaded, beat-up, torn-knee Gucci blue jeans, seen globally, sell out instantaneously, priced at $3,134. Forbes once showcased Escada’s Swarovski crystal-encrusted jeans that sold for $10,000.

And the phenomena continues. The styles of 70’s were mostly influenced by the hippie movement. One of the significant fashion trends of the 1970’s includes bell-bottomed pants/jeans. Two and half decades later, the flare returns.

Style Tip: Complete the look with a short or tucked-in feminine blouse, skinny belt and platform heels. This screams sexy!

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Every window, every mannequin, every shelf is currently showcasing the fall line-up. Are you ready for the transformation? Before long, we will be shoving those racerback and strapless bras to the rear of the drawer.

You do realize that what you wear underneath that bulky sweaters, the flared corduroys and those fabulous maxis is just as important as that top or bottom you intend on wearing, don’t you? That is why I jumped at the chance to begin stockpiling my 2011 fall/winter undergarment collection.

Thanks to the bra fitting I received at Victoria’s Secret, I got confirmation of my bra size. But thanks to the revolutionary lingerie line, MySkins™, I am in high spirits. I see MySkins™ and myself partaking in a long term relationship. Within 2 days of placing my order, my seamless and really comfortable underwire bra arrived.

Why did I fall in love? For starters, after simply asking them to extend the coupon offer for me so that I could purchase the bra, they did. It was just one day after the coupon expired, but still, they saw me a valued customer and appreciated my business. How many stores have done that or will do that for you? Not many, if any.

With twenty shades of skin tones to choose from, finding my match was effortless. I am far from beige or taupe and up until now, I thought I was far from espresso. Now, when I wear my new favorite blouse that necessitates a bra that appears to be nonexistent, my options are no longer a too light or too dark bra. My option is espresso.

Impeccable service. Flawless product farily priced. This is grounds for worship.

Or shall I say, my cobalt blue suede shoes? I’m going crazy for the color. So vibrant. So wicked. So much fun.

Fall represents a change in color. As we switch from brights and white to blacks and browns, let us not forget about the beautiful blues in between. There are some hot heels out there.

When it comes to your blue suede shoes, if you have to pace your spending, you might fancy the Today picks which are reasonably priced. And for the rest of us, we can still sneak peeks at the Someday picks.

Today: the economy sucks but I still treat my feet neat!

left to right:

Enzo Angolini Sevilla $99

Jeffrey Campbell Zoomie Boot $169

bebe Tristan Pump $120

Someday: the sky is the limit, in fact, you have no financial limits so have at it!

left to right:

Alexander McQueen Punk Skull Peep Toe Pump $1,195

Sergio Rossi Uptown Platform $690

Giuseppe Zanotti Women’s 17098 Ankle Boot $930

…and I’m loving it!

I found this awesome t-shirt at one my favorite places where all maxxinista’s shop, TJMaxx. So appropriate. Believe it or not, it was just $7.99. Cute price for a cute-T. I’m so excited, I can jump for joy…and I did.

• t-shirt, something mary
• jeans, Joe’s Jeans
• belt, Betsey Johnson
• shoes, Bakers Square Even
• earrings, Claires

It’s still blazing hot out, yet we’re so obsessed with the upcoming chill of autumn. It is really the best season to explore and display the fashionable options beyond measure.

C’mon, admit it. You have a thing for feathers too. Feathers are fun. Feathers are sexy. Feathers are versatile. Feathers are forever. Unlike most fluff, feathers can be found adorning most accessories including, but not limited to handbags, eyelashes and even tights. And because it’s just feathers, they are very inexpensive.

The fall line up is gorged with feathers so you can find them in just about every store you frequent. Especially the trendy spots. Here are just a few  pieces I am coveting.