A Million Reasons (Why It's Good to BE a Girl) with Vera Bradley

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

JACKET (SIMILAR) || DENIM (SIMILAR) || TEE || BACKPACK || BOOTIES 

Vera Bradley is on a mission to share a million reasons why it's good to be a girl and I'm thrilled to team up with them to share "MY reasons" why I think it's not only good, but that it is GREAT, to be a girl!

I think back to my early childhood and I can't help but think of my parents who helped form my perception of what it meant to be a girl.  They guided me but they also allowed me to form my own opinions, develop my own self and my own life experiences, and turn into the "girl" that I wanted to be (as long as I was following the rules that is ;-)).

My Dad would spend time blow drying my hair into the most perfect little bob and my Mom would spend time taking me shopping at some of the most girly stores.  At the same time, they would send me out the door to play baseball in a field of boys, to trample in the creek, to shoot hoops, and to do anything that allowed my inner tomboy to flourish as well.  I've always been a girly girl yet I could hang with the fellas as well.

One of the most amazing things about being a girl is that I have been able to bring life into this world and have two beautiful children who I now have the honor to parent and help guide just as my parents did with me.  I just had to pause and think about that sentence...I brought LIFE into this world...man, I am LUCKY and BLESSED to be a girl!!!

There are so many reasons why I think it's good to be a girl, like being a Momma, and here are a few other reasons that I wanted to share with you all!

1) I can provide the BEST comfort!  As a Momma, I'm able to comfort our children in a way that no one else can.  It is such a privilege to be the one that they run to when they need comforting and when they need a little extra TLC.  Don't get me wrong...Dad's have a very special way of doing this as well but there is nothing like a Mother's hug and a Mother's touch when it comes comforting a child...it's good to be a girl!

2) I can cry at a sappy commercial and not feel embarrassed!  I don't know about you all, but I can be moved to tears pretty easily sometimes...especially when I see a commercial that pulls at the heart strings!  I don't hesitate to get teary eye or even shed a few tears if something moves me and I never feel embarrassed when I do...it's good to be a girl!

3) I can collect & carry all kinds of different handbags!  Handbag collector over here my friends...two hands raised!!  Can you ever really have too many handbags?!  I love being a girl because I can have a killer handbag collection and switch my bags out daily if I want to!  I'm currently obsessed with backpacks, just like this gorgeous mustard yellow Vera Bradley backpack that you see in this post!  Again...it's good to be a girl!

4) I can get DEEP with my girlfriends!  Let's be honest...girl talk is some of the best talk and I love that I can get super deep with my girlfriends.  No surface level conversations here.  No subject off limits.  We scratch the surface open and then peel back the layers!  We aren't afraid to share our feelings, our joys, our fears...you get the picture.  Girl talk fuels the soul...it's good to be a girl!

5) I can rock a camo jacket with confidence!  Ladies...camo jackets aren't just for the fellas anymore and no, I can assure you that you won't look like a hunter.  Rock a camo jacket with some distressed denim and a tee for a casual chic look.  As a girl, I love that I can wear something more masculine and make it look feminine...it's good to be a girl!

Now your turn!  I'd love to hear why you feel that it's good to be a girl!  Leave a comment below...can't wait to hear from you!  You may also share "your reason" HERE or on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook with hashtag #itsgoodtobeagirl!

*Special thank you to Vera Bradley for partnering on today's post.  All opinions are 100% my own.  It's partnerships like these that make KBStyled possible.

Poncho Up with Jenni Kayne

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

CASHMERE SWEATER C/O || TOP C/O || DENIM || SHOES C/O || BAG C/O 

*USE CODE KBSJK20 FOR 20% OFF OF YOUR JENNI KAYNE ORDER

I've introduced you to Jenni Kayne's beautiful shoes HERE and today I am sharing this absolutely stunning cashmere poncho!

The word cashmere just screams luxury and this poncho is beyond luxurious.  It is so soft and beautiful...a classic timeless piece that if taken care of will be a Fall/Winter wardrobe staple forever.  I honestly just want to live in this poncho so don't mind me if you see me wearing it all of the time this season.

I always recommend adding 2-3 staple pieces to your wardrobe each season and I would certainly consider this a staple.  When you invest in staple pieces...invest in quality, something that will hold up wear after wear after wear.

I've paired this poncho with a black Jenni Kayne top and her classic black D'Orsay Flats.  The jeans that I am wearing are a new favorite pair of boyfriend jeans and I'm carrying my new Catie Crossbody bag.

What do you consider a wardrobe staple this season?

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day!

*Thank you to Jenni Kayne for partnering on today's post.  All opinions are 100% my own.  It's partnerships like these that make KBStyled possible.

Sleek & Stylish Supergas

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

TOP C/O || DENIM (SIMILAR) || CHOKER || SHOES

What a HOT September it has been!  We are going to FINALLY starting to see temps in the 70’s.  The first day of Fall has come and gone and I can tell you that I’m so ready for cooler temps and all things Fall.  Need I even ask, whose with me?!

Today I am partnering with Zappos.com to share a bit more about Superga shoes!  Aren’t these kicks super cute?!

One thing that has taken off from a trend perspective is women who are wearing sneakers more often and pairing them with outfits of all kinds for a chic, comfortable, and functional look!  Wear them with jeans like I have or pair them with a dress or skirt for a cute trendy look!

So many fashionable women were wearing sneakers while in New York for fashion week and they all had the right idea!  I wish I had taken my Superga sneakers with me to New York…my feet would have thanked me!

I’ve never owned a pair of Superga shoes but I am so glad that I do now.  To tell you a little bit about this brand, Superga is an Italian brand that designs chic comfortable sneakers and they are available on Zappos!

If you have never ordered from Zappos.com, I can tell you first hand that they offer excellent customer service.  When I ordered my sneakers, they arrived in the wrong size so I reached out to Zappos and they immediately sent the correct size and they also emailed me a return shipping label so I could ship the wrong size sneakers back to them at no charge.  I had the correct size within a couple of days!  They offer fast shipping and free returns and they were super nice and understanding when I spoke with them about receiving the wrong size.  They receive a 10 in my book for excellent customer service!

I am wearing the Superga 2750 Cot Snake W in brown!  Lately I have had this thing for snake skin print so I knew these sneaks were perfect for me.  My normal size is a US size 8 and these fit well.  They are a little loose but I can tell you that I would prefer my sneaks to fit a little loose versus too snug.  They do not slip on my feet at all and they are super comfortable!  I’m excited to wear these with dresses and skirts this Fall season too!

Do you shop at Zappos.com and have you ever bought a pair of Supergas?!  I had not shopped at Zappos in some time but I can tell you after my positive experience, I will be shopping their site much more often now!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day!

**Thank you to Zappos.com and Superga for partnering on today’s post.  Although I was compensated for this collaboration, all opinions are 100% my own.  It is collaborations like these that make KBStyled possible.

Dining Room Decor with Minted Art

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

Linger by Sarah McInroe  || Slopes by Melanie Severin  || Inner Nature by Kristi Kohut 

Tee || Denim (similar)

I've been excited to share today's post for some time and to give you all a peek into our new home.  When we started our home search, we knew that it was going to be out with the old and in with the new...literally.  We decided to sell most of our furniture and almost all of our accessories, including any art that we had.  

We simply planned for a "fresh start" with a home that was a blank slate, giving us the opportunity to take our time decorating and making it our own.  Many times you pick your furniture first and then accessorize a room with art and other pieces.  But I've done things a little bit backwards for our dining room.  First the art and then the furniture.  

Picking out art for our dining room was such an enjoyable process and I am grateful that Minted helped guide me along the way.  I've always heard such wonderful things about Minted however, I've never shopped for art on their site.  I probably spent hours looking at all of the beautiful artwork by various Artists and I was beyond impressed with their selection.

Because of the color scheme that we decided on, I was able to narrow down my favorite pieces to a group of about 10 and then finally narrow it down to these three gorgeous pieces of art.  I fell in love with Linger by Sarah McInroe...this piece just spoke to me, it is so so beautiful.  Slopes and Inner Nature were the two pieces that I felt complimented Linger so well and that tied in all of the colors.  It just felt as if these three pieces of art were meant to be together.

Although we don't have any dining room furniture yet, we had to go ahead and hang our art, we were just to excited not to.  There is so much that I envision for our dining room and we can't wait to see it continue to come to life over time.  Next up for this room...a table and chairs. ;-)

Minted was so wonderful to work with.  Again, the selection is amazing and they take great pride in offering the best and ensuring that your pieces arrive to you in perfect condition.  We will be on the hunt for more pieces for our library (I plan to create an entire gallery wall) and I know we will be using Minted again!

Looking forward to sharing more peeks into our home as we fill our space and decorate each room over time.  There is so much to be done but it will be a marathon to the finish, not a sprint, so stay tuned.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by!

BUTTONED UP IN MY SWEET MUSIC JACKET

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

JACKET C/O || DENIM || TOP || HEELS

If there is one thing that I can't get enough of for Fall, it is jackets, jackets, jackets!  From bomber jackets, to faux leather, to military, to patchwork jackets, to embroidered jackets, to this gorgeous "Sweet Music Jacket" from Vici Collection!  Just give me ALL of the jackets!!!

Having a few great jackets in your wardrobe is essential.  They can change up your look so easily and they are staple pieces that you will be able to wear year after year, season after season.

This gorgeous "Sweet Music Jacket" from Vici Collection can be worn dressed down with denim, dressed in a business professional way for work, or even dressed up for date night, girls night, or an evening event.  However you imagine wearing this jacket, I am sure it can be done...it is so versatile and lightweight enough to wear over just about anything.

For a size reference I am wearing a small!  I don't like my jackets to fit too snug and I always want a little extra room to be able to comfortably wear long sleeve tops underneath.  This jacket offers a little more room but I could have also worn a medium.  If you want to wear it over light sweaters, a button down, or what not, and you like for your jacket to be a little less snug, I would recommend sizing up.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and I wish you all a great start to your week!

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Breaking In My Born Boots

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

BORN BOOTS C/O DILLARDS || BLACK TOP || DENIM || JACKET (J2 BRAND VIA KOHL'S)

If my Born boots could talk, they would tell me to tussle my hair, take some risks, and live on the edge a little bit.  And when I wear them, I can't help but feel a little bit of rock and roll too!

What I love most about these boots are that they give the appearance of having been worn for years and they FEEL LIKE they have been worn for years too!  They are edgy, chic, and as comfortable as they come!

As a busy Mom of two, comfortable weekend wear is a MUST and although many times I gravitate towards high heel boots, they just aren't practical when running around with our kiddos.  I will be breaking in my Born boots a ton this Fall and I feel confident in saying that I will look stylish and chic yet totally practical when wearing these boots when out and about with my family.  Plus because they are so comfortable, I know that I will be able to wear them all day without any aches and pains.

Hand selecting my new Born boots from Dillard's was a breeze and they arrived on my doorstep in no time!

If you aren't familiar with Born boots, you have got to check them out online!  You can follow along with Born on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram & with Dillard's to see new Born styles on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram & Twitter simply by searching handle @Dillards.  Share your Born style on social media and be sure to use hashtag #FallForBorn!

How do you dress for comfort on the weekends?

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!

A special thank you to Born, Dillard's, and Collectively for collaborating on today's post.  All opinions expressed about Born boots and my shopping experience with Dillard's are 100% my own.  Collaborations like these that make KBStyled possible.

Stepping into Fall with Jenni Kayne

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

D'Orsay Flat C/O || Mid Equestrian Boot C/O || Top C/O || Denim 

**Discount code KBSJK20 is available for 20% off of the flats & boots

When the extended forecast says that it will be close to 90 all week long, it's hard to believe that the first day of Fall is this week!  Regardless of warmer temps, I definitely have Fall fever...who else is with me?!  We've had a wonderful summer but I am excited for the temps to cool off...it has been so hot and humid here lately.

Part of the reason I am so excited for Fall is so I can put my open toe shoes away and start wearing flats and boots!  Won't it be nice to not have to worry about whether or not your toe nail polish has chipped before putting on a pair of shoes?!  As much as I LOVE getting pedicures, I am going to enjoy not having to check my toe nails when getting dressed...a chip here or there won't hurt when I'm wearing my new Jenni Kayne "D'Orsay Flats" or "Mid Equestrian Boots".

The "D'Orsay Flats" are one of Jenni Kayne's signature styles and they are handcrafted in Italy with gorgeous Italian leather.  This classic flat will get a lot of wear this Fall season.  And I'm head over heels for these stunning "Mid Equestrian Boots".  I love that this equestrian boot fits just above the ankle with a very subtle heel.  Again, the leather is beautiful and soooo soft.  I'm excited to break these boots in and see how they soften even more over time.  

Jenni Kayne's shoes are certainly an investment piece, however the investment is worth knowing that you will have a pair of amazing flats and/or boots for YEARS to come.  They are classic, chic, and comfortable!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by, hope you have a great start to your week!

Thank you to Jenni Kayne for partnering on today's post.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.  It's partnerships like these that make KBStyled possible!

JTV Jewelry Fall Must Haves

This post was sponsored by JTV.com. I was paid for this post and received JTV jewelry pieces as compensation.

  

0. Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson
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2. I don't know about you all but I am starting to get really excited for Fall!  The subtle change from season to season is so wonderful and Fall is by far my favorite season.  This Fall season is going to be even more memorable because we are now in our new home and we are are celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary in October!  Wow...writing that out made it hit home even more...10 years!!!
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   As we move into those Fall months we all begin to think about adding new pieces to our wardrobe...from sweaters, to boots, to new accessories including new jewelry pieces.  I recently had the opportunity to update my jewelry box with some beautiful pieces from JTV.com that are perfect for Fall.
   
   
   I picked 3 JTV.com pieces that can be worn dressed up for all of the fun festivities that Fall brings (dinners, holidays, events, etc) and that can be dressed down with jeans and a sweater.
   
   
   This diamond sterling silver bangle is the perfect bangle to wear to a special event but it is also perfect for everyday wear, layering with other bangles, a watch, etc.  It really is gorgeous standing on its own too!
   
   
   These gorgeous Genevieve's Cercle De La Vie Dangle earrings from JTV.com's vintage collection are statement stunners and can you believe that they are under $30?!  They are absolutely STUNNING in person.  I will be wearing these dressed up and dressed down this Fall season.  Every lady should have a pair of statement earrings in their wardrobe and the yellow stone reminds me of the beautiful colors of Fall!
   
   
   And how adorable is this set of 3 adjustable bracelets?!  I love these worn together and worn as individual bracelets as well.  The triad of colors adds such visual interest and the diamond simulate sparkles and shines!  Again, these are such fun pieces to add to your wardrobe to update your Fall looks and can easily be worn every day or dress up for an evening out!
   
   
   I encourage you all to check out JTV.com's Fall pieces!  They are gorgeous, affordable, and perfect for updating your Fall wardrobe!
   
   
   Which piece is your favorite?!
   
   
   As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!
   
   
   These affiliate links are not associate with JTV.com.  My blog may contain links to other websites.  I am not responsible for the privacy policies of those other websites.  When you click on a link, your information may be collected by those websites so I encourage you to read their privacy policies.

New York Fashion Week Fall '16 - Day #1 Recap

Photography by Meghan Jaline Photographie

Attending New York Fashion Week this year was such an amazing experience!  I've always wanted to go and I knew that this year would be perfect timing for me to attend for my very first time.  And what a memorable first time it was.  I'm excited to share more with you all about my experience as a recap my trip within a few blog posts.

For my first full day, I wore this navy blue Topshop romper (so sorry friends, navy is sold out but there are a few sizing options in blush still available) with simple neutral accessories like these Steve Madden heels and this Gigi New York bag.  I chose a simple with clean lines because it was blazing hot and very humid and I knew that I wanted to be as comfortable as possible.

Early Thursday morning we (me and Meghan, our Photographer) left the hotel and took the subway over to 5th and Broadway to capture shots of this first look before I headed off to a day filled with meetings and shows.  We shot near the Flat Iron building and we spotted Howard Stern walking to the subway.  You never know who you may see walking around New York!

Shortly after, I headed to my first appointment, which was a meeting with Bauble Bar! #eeeekkkk The Bauble Bar team invited me to visit their showroom at their home office...the team was absolutely wonderful and the showroom was just beautiful.  This was such a surreal moment for me because I never thought I would visit Bauble Bar's headquarters.  What a dream come true!  Many of you know how much I love accessories and I have always LOVED Bauble Bar's pieces (I have my own little collection) so visiting their office and trying on their pieces was definitely a highlight of my trip!  I came home with this statement choker and these gorgeous floral statement earrings!

After meeting with the Bauble Bar team, I had some time before my next appointment so I walk over to the Empire State Building and went up to the 86th Observatory!  Although I have visited the city many times, I have never visited the Empire State Building.  This was a sight to see!!!  I am so glad that I took the time to visit because I felt like I was able to see the city in a way that I've never seen in before...literally, from the 86th floor!  Piece of advice, wear comfy clothes and comfy shoes...I was not and I did a lot of walking so my feet were soooo sore!

Next up, I was off to my first runway show at Pier 59...Fashion Palette which showcased Australian swim and resortwear.  The Aussie line showcased everything from swimwear to blinged-out separates in blush-toned hues!  I was able to sit front row at this runway show so as you can imagine I got a close up a look at the pieces.  This was a great first show experience and I truly enjoyed seeing pieces from various Australian designers!

After this show, I hustled back to the hotel to freshen up and change outfits for my evening show and event.  It was the perfect little break that I needed...let's be honest, my feet were hurting so I need to kick them up for a hot second before heading back out.  I learned quickly that getting around the city (to and from meetings/shows) is not an easy thing to do.  Everything is so spread out!  I also realized that it was expected, by fashion week standard, that I change several times a day so guess what, that's what I did.  Most days I only changed twice but I know many who changed way more than that!  Don't take this as a complaint but boy, it was tiring!

I headed back to Pier 59 that evening for Fashion Palette's Ready-To-Wear runway show.  Again this show included showcases from various Australian designers.  These designers knocked it out of the park...everything was STUNNING!  The dresses from designer Con Ilio blew me away (see some of the pics below)...how gorgeous are these gowns?!  I also fell head over heels for CRISTAHLEA'S structured brocade pieces with Swarovski embellishments.  Con Ilio & CHRISTAHLEA's attention to detail was impeccable.

Immediately following this show I made my way over to an event hosted by People StyleWatch and Kendall of StyledSnapshots at Nautica.  This event was smaller and more intimate and it was so nice to meet Kendall and also several other Bloggers who were in attendance.  Of course by this time I had not eaten any lunch or dinner so I was STARVING!  It's amazing how you forget about food when you are on the go, go go!

That evening I went to dinner with a handful of Bloggers at Beauty and Essex!  This restaurant was soooooo much fun and I can't wait to go back the next time that I am in the city.  You walk through a pawn shop into this chic New York city spot.  They serve champagne in the ladies room!  That was the first time I have ever walked out of a bathroom stall, washed my hands, turned the corner to find a bar/bartender serving champagne!  It was AWESOME!  The vibe was amazing and the food was fantastic.  They played the best hip hop music too and the place was packed.  If you are making a trip to NY any time soon, you MUST add Beauty and Essex to your list...I can assure you that you won't be disappointed.

By the end of day #1 I was sooooo exhausted!  I got back to the hotel, set my alarm, and prepared for an early Friday morning wake up call.  I'm pretty sure I fell asleep the minute I laid my head on my pillow.  The next day started with a meeting at Charming Charlie and I can't wait to share more about my second day!

I know this post was much longer than normal and I hope I didn't bore you all but I was just so excited to share my first New York Fashion Week experience with all of my supporters!  Let me know if you have any questions...I'd be happy to answer them!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!
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