OOTD // Blogger Inspired: Bows & Sequins

As an avid reader of fashion blogs, I come across outfits often that make me want to recreate them from within my own closet. Sometimes it doesn't always work out - I may not have similar items or the outfits may not be realistic for my daily life - but other times they are just perfect! I saw this look over at Bows & Sequins and immediately fell in love. I knew I had to make it my own.

 

 

 

The combination of the striped tee + boyfriend jeans + leopard flats made for an easygoing, practical look for the workday and luckily enough, I had every single piece!

 

 

 

J. Crew Top / Target Boyfriend Jeans (similar option) / Target Leopard Flats (similar option) / Kristin Hassan Necklace (similar option) / Guess Watch / JewelMint Gold Bracelets / BaubleBar Coral Bracelet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So what do you think? How did I do in remaking Jessica's look?

 

 

Should I do more 'Blogger Inspired' outfit posts?

 

BDIB: Oxblood

 

The theme for this Bloggers Do It Better challenge is oxblood - the IT color for fall.

 

You can see my previous submission for BDIB: Sequins here.

 

 

 

Oxblood is not just maroon or bordeaux or wine...it has a hint of brown mixed in with the burgundy. Such a perfect fall color...makes me think of rich wine or dark colored leaves.

 

I had pants that were PERFECT for this challenge but alas, they were still needing to be hemmed. Luckily I had just purchased this cardi and it had oxblood all over it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Target Cardigan / Target Tank / J. Crew Trouser Jean / JustFab 'Krisily' Wedges / Coach Tote Purse / JewelMint 'Daphne' Necklace / Pyramid Rhinestone Earrings (similar)

 

 

 

 

Even my lipgloss was an oxblood shade!
 

I told you I was loving my sock bun - it was just right for the weather since it's been raining non stop. And no joke, the humidity was at 100%. Hence the flyaways framing my face.

 

 

You can see the other bloggers sporting their oxblood on the BDIB link up here!

 

 

My Girly Weekend

This past weekend was one of the girliest weekends I have had in awhile. Granted, I am usually found doing something girly, but this weekend was non-stop girl stuff.

And I enjoyed it thoroughly!

Most Friday nights for me are nights in. I don't usually make plans for Friday nights because at the end of the work week, all I want to do is veg out at home and RELAX. So I swung by Target to grab some things & picked up Essie's "Ole Caliente" for my at-home mani/pedi.

Saturday morning/afternoon brought about laundry & other house stuff before GIRLS NIGHT OUT! A few of my girlfriends & I were just meeting up for dinner & dessert but I swear I was putting more energy into getting ready for it than I do for a night out with my hubby! ;) Just kidding....I put in effort for him too! But I think it's because when you are married (& all of your friends are married), your schedules aren't as free...so it takes quite the effort to plan a GNO. In any case, I was really excited for it.

If you follow me on Instagram, then you caught a sneak peek of this outfit...

Dress: Forever 21

Leopard Belt: Target

Rhinestone Bracelet: J. Crew

Cuff: Jewelmint "Gehry"

Watch: Guess (first seen here)

 Earrings: (I don't remember!)

Ring: Gift from Husband

Wedges: Steve Madden "Riddgge"

Dinner at Bonefish Grill with Raisa & Cheryl

Sunday didn't start out so hot - I woke up with a killer headache so I stayed in bed for awhile until I felt better. I had breakfast & relaxed because it was storming outside. The other day I shared a picture on Instagram that was so quintessential South Florida - it was sunny as all heck but it was raining at the same time. Typical. Anyways, I had a baby shower for a friend later on in the afternoon so while I was feeling the urge to stay in my pj's, I got it together.

Dress: J. Crew 'Maritime Anchor' (now on sale!)

Sandals: Sam Edelman

Watch: Guess

Necklace: J. Crew via eBay

Cuff: Jewelmint "Gehry"

Chain Bracelet: Spike the Punch

Rings: Jewelmint "Forget Me Not" Trio

Book: Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty (first seen here)

My weekend ended with Sarah Jessica Parker...in the form of watching her movie, "I Don't Know How She Does It"...finally! This movie has been out forever!

It was cute. Then again, my opinion may be biased because I just love me some SJP!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

What did you do?

A New Mint!

By now, I am sure that you have seen JewelMint, StyleMint, BeautyMint & ShoeMint - item of the month clubs that offer you items each month based on the results of your  personalized style profile. With the aforementioned clubs, you have the ability to shop jewelry, tees, skincare & shoes every single month for one set price. And coming in May, we have a new addition to the BeachMint brand - HomeMint!

Just like the other Mint brands, HomeMint is backed up by a celebrity. Justin Timberlake (along with his own personal interior designer, Estee Stanley) will be the curator behind the newest addition to the BeachMint family. HomeMint looks to be only $10 a month with access to exclusive home decor items!

You can sign up now to be a part of HomeMint before its official release in early May!

Just sign up here - once HomeMint has launched, you will be set to shop!



And if you haven't checked the other members to the Mint brand family...

JewelMint - by Kate Bosworth & Cher Coulter ($29.99)

StyleMint - by Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen ($29.99)

BeautyMint - by Jessica Simpson & Nerida Joy (starts at $39.99)

ShoeMint - by Rachel Bilson & Nicole Chavez ($79.98)

JewelMint Giveaway / WINNER!

The lucky winner of the Crystal Cascade earrings from the JewelMint giveaway is...

#15 - Kassi

Congratulations!

Please send an email to theprettyfactorblog@gmail.com with your full name & shipping address so I can get those pretty earrings on their way to you!

Thank you to everyone who particpated in the first giveaway!

I hope there will be many more to come!

Enjoy your weekend :)

JewelMint Giveaway! / CLOSED

So here we are friends - we are about two weeks into the new year! I really cannot believe how fast the days go by! While I don't like the fact that the holiday season is really over, it is nice to know that we have a whole bunch of things to look forward to within 2012! And why not start this year off with a giveaway...the first here at TPF ever!

The lovely people of JewelMint (most specifically the Mint Brand Ambassador Team of Seattle) offered up a piece of their jewels for me to giveaway to a reader!

Behold, the Crystal Cascade earrings!

The fashion forecast calls for rainbow-kissed gems and a dramatic glam slam. Weather all your fashion needs when you fall for our radiant 2” glass drop earrings. Purple, lavender, rose, and yellow sherbet shades leave you dripping in soft, brilliant color.

(Take a look here for more pictures & a video about these earrings!)

*UPDATE - It was brought to my attention that the photos from the site are not accurate to what they are like in person (color arrangement & length differ) but my photo above is the exact pair that the winner would receive!

*I have these earrings myself and let me just say, they are GORGEOUS!

So here is how you can enter!

  

Mandatory Entry

Leave me a comment below telling me what you would wear with these earrings.

Additional Entries

(leave a separate comment for each extra entry)

Follow The Pretty Factor on Bloglovin'

Like The Pretty Factor on Facebook

Post about this giveaway on Facebook & tag The Pretty Factor in your post

Follow The Pretty Factor on Twitter

Share this giveaway on Twitter & tag The Pretty Factor (post your status link here)

Follow me on Pinterest

And if you are a blogger, share this giveaway on your blog (leave your post link here)

THAT'S A TOTAL OF 8 POSSIBLE ENTRIES!

*Please make sure your email address is in your entries for contact purposes if you win!*

You have until next Wednesday, January 18th midnight EST to enter!

Winner be announced that week!

Note: This giveaway is for US & Canada residents only!

Share with your friends too!

Good Luck!

JewelMint + Special Discount!

JewelMint is a monthly service club headed up by Kate Bosworth & stylist Cher Coulter that offers beautiful jewelry pieces at just $29.99 per month. The membership is similar to it's sister companies (StyleMint, ShoeMint, BeautyMint), allowing members to have jewelry handpicked for their boutiques based on the results of their submitted style survey. I have been a member of JewelMint since November 2010 and their quality has never been a disappointment. Each piece I own has garnered tons of compliments!

Here are some of my favorite pieces in my personal JewelMint collection...

 

You can get more information on how JewelMint works HERE.

Thanks to the powers of social networking (Hello, are you following me?!), The Mint Brand Ambassador Seattle team is offering new members a 50% discount for your FIRST JewelMint purchase! That makes your first piece only $14.99! That is a great price for those that want to try JewelMint out but may not want to jump in at full price.

Here is how you can get your first JewelMint piece for half off:

Sign up for JewelMint HERE & fill out your style survey!

Once your showroom is ready & filled with jewels, use code SEATTLE118 to receive 50% off your first JewelMint purchase!

Share this special code with your friends & family so they can enjoy it as well!

*Remember, this code is only valid for first time purchases only.

The 50% off discount code is courtesy of the MBA Seattle Team - THANK YOU!

Stay tuned for an awesome JewelMint giveaway coming soon!!!

New Shoes & Baubles via Instagram

I haven't shared Instagram pics in awhile and I was pulling some of them for this post, I realized that the majority of my recent pics were of shoes and jewelry. Makes me wonder how many purchases I haven't taken pictures of!

BaubleBar

(FREE with my referral credits!)

JewelMint

Meghan LA via HauteLook

Monica's Fantabulous Fashions

Michael Michael Kors (thrifted!)

ShoeDazzle

ShoeDazzle

Marco Santi via SoleSociety

Marco Santi

And I found this cute calendar for the new year...it will bring a little girly cheer to my office!

 You can find my pics on Instagram @theprettyfactor

Not a member yet? Sign up here -

BaubleBar

HauteLook
JewelMint

ShoeDazzle

Sole Society

Find Monica's Fantabulous Fashions on Facebook!

Now let's see if Cyber Monday brings anymore shoes or jewels my way!