Orange is the new Black

We all need a little spice in our lives and orange is the perfect way to put a little vibrant spice in your wardrobe. Orange is only rivaled by yellow as the number one color of happy:-) Orange adds a nice POP of color to your wardrobe and can be used sparingly to accent a neutral look or used for a very bold and fresh spring or summer look.

Orange is always a runway favorite

 You will never fade into the background wearing orange, but you can always tread lightly by wearing orange shoes to pair with other colors

Black and orange is a very chic color combo

This color also translates well for work ensembles

Every shade of orange looks gorgeous

For those that know me or have been following my blog for awhile, you know that I don't hesitate to adorn myself in the vibrant shade of orange.

I have every hue of orange in my wardrobe

I use unexpected color and pattern combos

I have lots of orange dresses in different cuts, shades, lengths and fabrics. I love to wear orange in the spring and summer, but I wear it all year long and just temper it down with neutrals in winter and fall.

Do you like orange? 

No matter what shade of orange, or how you style it it, this color is sure to add the perfect jolt of electricity to your wardrobe

In Living Color

Summer is such a great time of year. I love the warm days, vibrant colors and beautiful flowers blooming everywhere. This has been a great summer so far. I have truly enjoyed  so many great moments, which include celebrating my birthday and spending quality time with my little guy and meeting a new group of friends. I have been meeting some wonderful new people, but still very guarded because there have been people who were not who I thought they were, so I am extra careful these days.

 I am really excited about some projects that fell into my lap that I wasn't looking for. Isn't God amazing? Only God can bring something to you and place it right in your lap.

Dress: Banana Republic (old), Purse: See by Chloe, Shoes: Nine West, Photography: Stacey Gutierrez

There is nothing like spreading a little love around

One of these days I will share my fitness routine. Ever since I started my blog in 2011 I have been  getting emails about what kind of exercises I do for my arms and requests for a post on my fitness routine. My arms are much more defined when I don't go overboard with pigging out, but you all know how much LV likes ta eat:-)

Love the vibrant colors of summer. Orange and pink will always be a color combo I love

So much anticipation for great things ahead

I can't help but smile

 

 What do you love the most about summer?

 Have an amazing day!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Birthdays...

We love cake, ice cream and presents don't we?

When you get older and wiser you realize that each birthday is a special gift from God. I remember when I was younger I couldn't wait for each milestone birthday. At the age of 12 I couldn't wait to be 13 and then 16 and then 21 and then somewhere after 25 I stopped counting.

I think its funny that I am getting closer to being able to order from the senior citizens menu, but that is a blessing too. Wrinkles and laugh lines are blessings even though society says we should be ashamed of them. A wrinkle and laugh lines say that you have lived long and well and that is something to be celebrated.

Now I reflect more on my birthdays because I don't know when it will be my last one and I want my life to mean something. Even though a lot of us like to make life about us, I find my deepest joy comes from making someone else's life a little better. I am usually in the shadows doing things for others that no one knows about because I don't crave the spotlight. Most of the time, I run from it.

I go through a lot, but one of the lessons I have learned is that my life does not have to be perfect to be a  blessing to someone else and my trials and tribulations do not define me.

 I have been through hell and high water and I am still here.

I am still standing STRONG

Forgiveness has been the hardest lesson for me to learn because the people that were the closest to me, the ones who were supposed to love me have inflicted the greatest pain upon me and that includes family, as well as friends. They have lied on me, talked about me behind my back, made me the subject of vicious gossip and laughed at my challenges. How do you reconcile in your mind a person that would rather believe a lie about you than the truth?  Or a person that gets close to you just to try and hurt you? How do you love someone who treats you like that?

You can't.

Unless God helps you. The hardest lesson in my life has been loving people that are unlovely. Those are the ones I am on my knees praying for at night. 

And now with the wisdom you only get from experience, I love them from a distance because everyone does not deserve a seat in the front row of your life. If their hearts are wrong, they have automatically disqualified themselves.

Joy and happiness are my constant companions

I take the time to stop and smell the roses and have the kiss of the ocean on my face. The beach has always been my happy place

My steps are ordered by God

Strength and Honor are her clothing and 
she shall rejoice in time to come - Proverbs 31:25

Photography: Stacey Gutierrez

Dear Past: Thank you for the lessons

Dear Future: I'm ready!

Skittles

I am enjoying these last days of summer so much. I had a great weekend with my little guy. We enjoyed some time at the beach and had a great time and I also got a chance to catch up with friends that I hadn't seen in a while. Quite a few of you have sent emails requesting to see more of my inspirational writing and recipes. You will see some great stuff coming up. The warm weather we have been having made me want to wear orange, which is among one of my favorite colors. I found this cute orange dress hiding in the back of my closet.

Most people know that I love bold colors. They just make me happy:-) These bold candy colored hues remind me of a pack of skittles. There is something I love about the color orange and yellow is my happy color. I decided to anchor these two bold colors with a  neutral blazer and a clutch that has a deep rich hue of purple and orange. Perfect summertime colors!

 You definitely do not blend into background wearing colors like this. What bold color combos do you like?

I love wearing rings even though I am starting to have a touch of old lady hands, LOL

Blazer: Bergdorf Goodman (old )Dress: H&M, Pumps: Urban Original, Clutch: Fashion District, Rings: H&M and Private boutique

I love the color and detail on this clutch. Do you like it?

These shoes are like the sun. So bright!

I really love statement jewelry. How about you?

Have an amazing day!