Versatile Style by Tracey

So crazy a time recently!

First of all my youngest turned 18 and there is so much joy at getting all my children to adulthood with none of them making and bad decisions and with goals for themselves!   Of course the ying/yang of life means there is also a bit of sorrow that this venture is over , yet not really because he will be home continuing what he began this last year of homeschooling by studying and taking Clep tests for college credit.

Just getting use to this life change , when I went for a routine eye exam for new glasses, only to be diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder of Cornea Dystrophy. A dye test showed it has gone beyond the top layer of my cornea and I now have an appointment with a specialist on May 14th, to get more tests and a treatment plan.

Of course I see another side to this not good news because since this is a rare condition, it presents an opportunity for my 22year old who is still finishing up his Bachelor’s Degree , but has plans to become an eye surgeon.  I am hoping the specialist will humor me and allow him to see my eye with their magnifying equipment.

Naturally this has been a tough thing to take in and accept, two days of tears really missing my mother and my sister. Mom would have been my soft place to fall, my sister would have been researching DRs and been championing for me. It really hit me hard being the only female left in my family. Thank God , I do have a daughter,lol.

The Day before my life changing eye appointment, I had ventured into a new business of these fabulous completer pieces and was so excited! I am renergized after the Products arrived and they are fabulous. I ordered just one of most items and have priced them between $22 to $28.

The first way I am going to introduce them is a Live Sale in a Private Facebook Group on Tuesday , May 8th at 8:30pm EST.  You can request to join the group by following this link and please share with any friends you think may love these.

K&T Stylists – Fabulous Completer Pieces

If you are a blogger who would like a free item to review for me , please let me know and we can make arrangements!

Have a Fabulous Weekend!

 

My Dear Readers, as most of you know I just survived a total year of mourning hell when my healthy ,vibrant sister suddenly passed on last November.  I am through the worst of it , but every time I say I am getting back on track, I get thrown for a loop and just can’t put it together. 

Not Anymore, this time I mean it! 

I am back on Weight Watchers and  Started with coaching for my Amelia James Business.   

 

Bookending my Amelia James Memphis Ruffle Top With

My new for the season,

Isaac Mizraahi burgundy flat ankle boots.  

I am also wearing my much coveted Isaac Mizraahi leather jacket, that one piece I waited years to discover! 

We had snow two days ago and it has mostly melted, unlike the foot the week before that stayed around and caused chaos for this unprepared southern region. 

We are in the 50’s today, but last time we hung onto freezing temperatures, so our normal wait a day and it will begin to work was not happening. Public School kids now have I think 7 makeup days! 

Taking off the jacket to get real about my weight gain 

and have before pictures,lol! 

Just kidding, just showing my Amelia James Top, Available in all sizes Small -3X . 

If you haven’t already joined my Amelia James Facebook group page where I post pictures of items to sell and do live videos, please join me Here

Have a wonderful weekend, will start my Graitude Journal again Monday. I miss that and know it does wonders for me! 

I apologize for such sporadic blog posting.  

I can not believe that we are coming up on the year anniversary of my sister’s

passing and the emotions that have erupted in full force again…

The Toughest Loss of my life and this year has seemed to literally have flown by! 

With the Holidays around the Corner, I thought I would just do a fun post on some of my favorite things.  

 

I have always highly recommended that every woman needs a long necklace or 

two as they are perfect for adding a vertical line and somewhere for the eye to go.

This Joan Rivers Tassle one is perfection in my humble opinion 

It comes in both silver and gold and is a nice substantial piece, I must say for plus size women,

this bolder more substantial version is a definite must-have!  

I thought I would add something for Men here and these Muk Luk Compression arch socks

for just $15 are an easy crowd pleaser.  

If you haven’t tried compression arch socks, you most certainly should make that on your list too! 

Sometimes we tend to forget those small luxury pieces like a wonderful leather cord tie belt.

This  Halston one is just $14.76 and comes in 3 colors and sizes.  

I own it in black and have to say that I use it quite often and can not even begin to describe how much I love it!  

Last month I took a trip to San Diego and unbeknownst to me, the airline tickets 

an associate bought for me, was so basic you did not get a carry-on , just an underneath the

seat personal item.   I went searching and fell in love with this set and they were perfect. 

Watch the video to see all the features on this Lug Puddle Jumper .  

This Halston Navy Bomber Jaceket is one I bought in March and have worn so many times already. 

A true work horse, so comfy , yet adds a fun sporty touch which is still running strong. 

Good News is it is on Clearance at $34.98  

Every woman should own a jean jacket or some kind of casual jacket to throw over dresses to make

them more versatile and enable them to be worn for several seasons and these fabulous pins are a perfect

way to spruce up a jacket.  Don’t wait on these as they are on clearance for just $9.99 and come in three sets .

Embroidery is everywhere on trend right now and these 

Vince Camuto Kassie boots are to die for fun!   

I have worn these twice already (our temps have had a peak of Fall but not much more) and 

1. they really are such a fun twist to my love of boots.   

 

One Last item for the traveler and this neat one works for both men and women. 

It is on clearance now , so only available in black, but I bought the black for my husband and

purple for myself.  These hold all your toiletries items in individual zippered bags that roll up into this case. 

We both agreed that this has been that missing piece in our travel adventures !  

Dear Readers, Remember I make no money off recommending these items and have no relationship other than a customer who 

truly adored the items I have posted here.   

I do have a wonderful Clothing Boutique with Amelia James Clothing I have started 

and am just really starting to get motivated to work as I started too soon after my sister’s passing 

and should have waited!  I am even selling Gift Certificates!  

You Can Check out my Faceboook Page and look for me to do some

live sales next week and put up some pictures of items as well. 

Just message me there and I PayPal Invoice using your email address, 

I can answer any questions on fit and sizing too.   

This Camden Dress is one of our newest items and so flattering!  

Jazzed up with a necklace and an Obi belt with pretty Gold Sandals is 

how I plan to wear it for a holiday party, but shhh don’t tell anyone it is super soft, feels 

like wearing a comfortable nightgown and you have to love a dress with pockets!  

 

 

I recently got back from an Amelia James company retreat in San Diego

and am facing some darn really hard truths…

This is me meeting the owner of the company and doing my thing of offering encouragement,   she told me I almost made her cry, lol….

I am so good at taking care of others, but seeing pictures from this trip I can see my weight gain and how I have not been taking care of myself.  

I don’t just mean the weight gain,  I have not been sleeping well, I have not really launched this business I feel so passionate about.    

Today, I was so focused and ready to change that, by doing a Pop-up shop in my front yard since I live on a busy road going into my neighborhood, but alas

mother nature mocked my enthusiasm and sent me scurrying back inside and forgetting that plan…. 

It was just way too windy and after some clothes flew off the rack and broke my hangers, I had no choice but to abandon my plans.  

 

The Coo of the company on the left and new Director of Sales on the right.  

The Director of Sales heard my comments to the company founder and pulled me aside immediately afterward, 

telling me “That was Great!  Take a picture with us!”   What a boost for my damaged soul these last months!   

All we want as humans in this life is to be seen, valued and understood! 

 

The final event of the retreat was the three top people in the company taking the stage to answer questions we had been putting in the box all weekend. 

Imagine my delight when my question was picked and cheered by the room of reps!   

I sat down at the computer to write this post and reliving those moments was good for my wounded soul. 

Some days are harder than others and today was just one of those tough ones. 

I am just putting so much pressure on myself to get this business launched, after realizing that I had tried to start this

too soon in the mourning process.   I am in a much better place now, but just feel so much pressure to fly with this new venture as

there is the added importance and value of spending my sister’s life insurance to start it…. 

I am looking forward to boxes in the next week or two with new inventory including this outfit… 

The delightful part is that I love the clothing line and am passionate about wanting women to get their hands on the pieces to

fall in love with the comfort and styles.  I came home from San Diego and booked 4 vendor events to do just that and just need to be patient.

I am normally a patient person, but this venture is testing me in a way stronger than I can recall before, unless of course, you count the last month of

pregnancy when every woman becomes impatient.  

Dear Readers, Just working through my funk and writing a blog post seemed better than stuffing my face, which is what I have been doing lately…

When I voice it out loud, I am committed to getting back on track and making self-care a top priority!  Will head back to Weight 

Watchers next week, meeting tomorrow, but it was an early day and is now after 11pm, so sleep is more important. 

Back to eating right and working out in the morning!  Thank you for being my sounding board!  Back with outfit posts soon!  

.  

 

Dear Readers,

 

   A lot has been going on these last few months as the mourning process continues.  

The loss of my sister with no warning has been a huge blow to us  all, but at least I have reached 

a stage where I can speak of her or of this loss without crying every single time.  

I am starting a new chapter in my life due to the life insurance.  

There really is this sense of huge responsibility to make wise , thoughtful decisions around spending this and 

I am confident that my choice to start a business would make Kelley very happy.  

You see, I had a Consignment Store back in 2003 and Kelley was my biggest supporter 

and cheerleader.  She told me so much how proud she was and how brave I was to do it.

 

My Business is an Independent Rep for Amelia James Clothing Boutique, which features

Quality , Comfortable, Affordable Clothing mostly made in USA and moving to everything made in USA in sizes XS-4X

.

I was so inspired to join this journey from seeing the success of Lularoe,

but as a fashion blogger the leggings in crazy patterns and tops and dresses 

that didn’t show you collarbone really rubbed me the wrong way after I got duped 

into a fundraiser where I bought two dresses.  

I began seeing so many women wearing the styles everywhere I went and was cringing a lot!

This top pictured above is by Amelia James and is Called the Sydney, I have to say I am in love

and want it in every color!  It is mostly made of modal which is so soft.  

You can Check out my Facebook group  and Live Video where I un-boxed this and a few other styles last week.

I don’t have these tops yet, but hope to eventually.

I love it so much and when your 17 year old photographer son looks at you in this pose and says 

“You look thinner in that top!”  I knew I have to get more, lol 

Since Amelia James just began in February there are growing pains

and so far getting inventory is the biggest issue.  

They have however found a solution and I will be able to Pre-order in

styles, colors, patterns and sizes of my choice.  It will take 6 weeks to arrive but 

my kit is about a month away, so the timing will be fine.  

I will be having other smaller amounts of inventory trickling in every week or so.

Here I am wearing a Sydney top and Palazzo pants ( both in stock now).

I am also wearing new necklaces I am selling as well, that fit my desire for 

versatility as they have removable snaps and you can change them out to 

with the addition of new snaps.  

Readers, I am going Live Friday in my Facebook Group, so please join me 

and like my page.  I am just a few people away from the 50 I need to give away 

two necklaces , so if you like the page, you will be entered to win!  

Gratitude

I am grateful that my dear friend has agreed to be my partner in this new business venture!  

I am grateful that I found a clothing line I believe in with a founder who wants to offer trendier pieces.

I am grateful that this week I had time with my niece as it’s Summer and she is with me every other week during the day!  

I am grateful that my husband and children are supportive and a huge help in getting my dining room ready for a home boutique.  

 

May I also ask for a prayer request for my 21 year old Nicholas who is at Marine Officer Candidate School feeling out what he wants to do after college and 

due to the medical staff on the hike who ignored him , he has terrible blisters all over his entire bottoms of both feet.  I am out of touch with him until the weekend

and feeling so distraught after hearing his voice and his pain.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the emotions of finishing up going through my sister’s condo, 

I am failing to stay on track with eating right and exercising, 

So today I decided I needed a solution!  

Source

I have 184 days until I embark on my second annual Girls Only Cruise with a few friends, 

and I want to be ready and feeling vibrant and wonderful.   

Source

Two weeks prior to my cruise I am going to Walk in my first 1/2 marathon 

to honor my sister , Kelley who did a few every year!   

I have had success in the past with WW after the birth of my youngest and again after my mother passed on when I gained as her caregiver.   It stands to reason that having had 2 successes with this program I should stick with what has worked in the past, because I certainly need the support and accountability of weighting in… 

So wish me luck my Dear Readers, as I have accepted that I do not succeed with out this kind or program , 

and get real about losing this weight and getting my body back to healthy!