Everything’s Coming Up Roses!

Spring time roses in my backyard – so pretty!

Red roses blossoming in my backyard.

This week, we will be exploring deliberate creation, in conjunction with allowing, to manifest what we want. We will kick off this deliberate creation series with an area of my life that I have little resistance in creating – my work life.

The photos of the roses above demonstrate the ease and balance of deliberate creation and allowing. A seed was once planted – deliberate creation – and the seed was allowed to grow. Below is my diary entry where I made the decision to deliberately create and allow a glorious work day. As we move into the series, I will discuss what deliberate creation is and how to manifest using it.

Thursday, May 1, 2014:

I woke up grateful and ready for the start of the day. I declared it was going to be a great day, full of surprises and it was! I arrive at work and my manager sent an email to our team, informing that I won two arbitrations that I wasn’t sure I was going to win. Then, I got the big news of my arbitration career. I filed arbitration to recover $175,000 on a claim against a certain huge insurance company (the one with the cute, little gecko). In the world of insurance claims, this was huge and I broke a record on the most recovered in one claim through arbitration.

It felt like a long shot to prevail in the $175,000 case and to win was huge! I jumped and laughed out loud. We high fived and I celebrated. It was the grace of God and me setting the intention on having an awesome day. But, it didn’t end there. As we were leaving for the day, my manager said she received an email from the same auditor that reamed me in another audit (I discussed the first audit in another blog and it is a compliment to receive an email from an auditor), saying I did a great job on an arbitration filing and that I won that case, too!

All the pieces worked together. I deliberately created an awesome day and allowed the new day to unfold in its own way. Each time I touch a new arbitration filing, I set the intention that only the best outcomes for me will manifest. And, time and time again, it does. I will now practice deliberate creation in other areas of my life where resistance is more dense and prevalent.

~Your Curator of all Things Beautiful, Kimberly Jo Cooley

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A Vintage Coral & Turquoise Journey

The coral blouse is a recent thrift store find and the sandals are from Target. My gold and turquoise earrings are from Forever 21, circa 2011.

Saturated coral and turquoise pops against all skin tones.

I included a gifted cross friendship bracelet to my collection of bracelets. Thanks to my friend Mardella for the cross friendship bracelet.

Rejoice!

Happy trails!

~Your Curator of all Things Beautiful, Kimberly Jo Cooley

 

Oaklandish & Their Trendsetting Tees

Visiting my old high school and standing in the area where I frequently ate lunch.

My mother-in-law bought me the pictured yellow tee shirt and for those who are from Oakland, California, they may recognize the giraffe. Oaklandish.com is a brand of tee shirts of Oakland symbols and phrases. Tee shirts with images, graphics, phrases and labels are big this year (although I never wait for trends to wear comfort clothes). Representing the city I was born and raised in, here’s some cute tee shirts from Oaklandish.com to round out your tee shirt collection.

Oaklandish’s proceeds go to back into the community and a listing of all the organizations and community events they’ve supported is extensive. It’s a feel good situation all the way around! From buying socially responsible clothes to wearing them with your favorite jeans, you’re bound to feel and look good from the inside out. Support your local clothing makers and businesses.

~Your Curator of All Things Beautiful, Kimberly Jo Cooley

 

 

Overalls Spring 2014

Spring 2014: Striped Forever 21 shirt; Urban Outfitter Overalls; Sole Society Booties and my studded wrap bracelets with rose gold hooped earrings.

 Northern Californian sunshine and overalls – a perfect match. Here’s a look at my seventies inspired overalls – looking forward to finding more ways to wear them.

Big Buddha Python bag.

Seventies inspired with a 2014 twist.

My Urban Outfitters overalls I’ve named Rita.

 

Striped shirts and hoops are timeless.

 

Love the modern, zipper detail on the overalls.

~Your Curator of All Things Stylish, Kimberly Jo Cooley

Light denim in Focus

Family bike trip to the park. Daniel getting a hug from his mom.

H&M tee shirt, Love Culture denim jeans, Target sandals.

 

As a curator, I take current trends and distill them into every day, timeless looks for the everyday person and the everyday budget.

I am super casual in the above pictures, but wanted to share my ways of wearing light denim this season.

I used to only be into dark wash denim, but  am now a light denim convert. I see this trend lasting for at least a few years. Just as skinny jeans started as a trend and turned into a pants mainstay, so will the light denim wash. What’s great about light denim is you can never wash them too many times, because the more they’re washed, the more comfy and unique they become.

My very random musing on fashion – Synchronicity in fashion trends: everyone collectively liking the same things at the same time before trends manifest for the upcoming season. Kind of like the chicken and the egg (which came before) situation – is it the fashion designers that create the fashion trend or is it the every day people who are tapped into what they are gravitating to next, sending out inspirational vibes to fashion designers?

~Your Curator of all things Light Denim, Kimberly Jo Cooley

 

My Early March Denim Looks

Spring is approaching and in Northern California, one day its seventy degrees outside, and the next, cold stormy weather. My colorful jeans have a late eighties, early nineties vibe, but the skinny shape makes them 2014.

A wool turquoise jacket, a denim chambray shirt layered over a burgundy tee shirt, with abstract patterned jeans and leather booties. Gold hoops round out my look.

Without the picture color tinting and the jacket.

My jeans are from Forever21.com and I got them on sale for $8. I also purchased my chambray shirt from Forever21.com.

I love this American Rag shirt from Macys.com. I got it just last week for $8. On rainy days, a beret works great for hiding bad hair days. I love my Born boots – been wearing them for four years now, and they’re still looking good (with the help of my shoe cobbler, of course).

My take on the Pantone color of the year, Radiant Orchid.

My mother of pearl earrings go with a lot of outfits.

~Your Curator of all things Inspirational, Kimberly Jo Cooley

2014 Overalls Overhaul

I have always been a huge fan of  the versatility of overalls. I wore them back in the 1990s, sporting the baggy, carpenter variety (a la Osh Kosh).

2014’s overalls has a place in your wardrobe to allow you to express them in a sophisticated, casual or edgy way.

What Shoes to Wear with Your New Overalls:

Transitioning from winter to spring, booties look best. Spring to summer, wear canvas shoes, such as Vans or Toms. Summer time is great for options. Wedges, flip-flops, Birkenstocks, gladiator sandals or high heels are all for the taking when wearing your overalls.

How to wear your Overalls:

The look is off duty model look than baggy farmer look. Watch the fit and pay attention to how the overalls fit in the rear. It should fit like a comfortable pair of jeans. There are some overalls being made today that are tight – which some ladies can pull this look off well. I will stick to a slightly looser fit so they can be my go-to uniform on weekends. Also, the more distressed, the better. A notable difference from 2014’s overalls versus 1994’s is the cuffed, cropped looked of today’s frocks. Once upon a time, body suits and fitted shirts was the look, then there was the music group TLC’s baggie shirt and overalls look. Remember to bring in edge with your choice of accessories and keep the shirt from being to voluminous as it will make you look like you have extra pounds.

The Dream Team (These finds are great for inspiration and for the ones who wish to splurge):

Image courtesy of http://www.freepeople.com/. $398. Style: 28523728

Image courtesy of http://www.freepeople.com/. $148. Style: 30131585

Image courtesy of http://www.freepeople.com/. $98. Style: 26820217. Multiple denim color choices.

For the Budget Minded Spiritualista:

Image courtesy of American Rag from http://www1.macys.com/shop/. $62. Get 20% off now. I own these lovelies.

Image courtesy of American Rage from http://www1.macys.com/shop/. $64. Web ID: 1322783. 20% off on macys.com.

Image courtesy of Guess from http://www1.macys.com/shop/. $158. Get 20% off now. Web ID: 1290909

Image courtesy of Life in Progress from http://www.forever21.com/. $29. I purchased these overalls as well. Product Code : 2000110704

Image courtesy of http://loveculture.com/. $47. Style: 1000021767

I curated many options for you to pull from, but the best finds are at vintage stores, for a unique, one of a kind look that is budget friendly.

I will be showcasing my overalls style in upcoming blogs, for your styling pleasure and inspiration. I bought a couple of pairs of overalls (shown above) for my own denim collection and will demonstrate different looks as the seasons change.

~Your Curator of all things Stylish, Kimberly Jo Cooley

2014 Faded Denim Trends into Focus

Every Spiritualista needs a little bonding time with her son – why not take some selfies on a Sunday afternoon? We both are wearing some of 2014’s denim trends. Check out our photos of our look as well as source images to cop your own faded denim look.

My son and I on a Sunday taking Selfies – ah, the joys of parent/child bonding.

Mom and son, February 2014. Dante’s wearing a Hurley sweatshirt from Pac Sun, some medium washed jeans and a denim chambray shirt with the collars peeking through. I’m wearing a Leith (Nordstrom) jean jacket, a white t-shirt that says “Haute Paris,” floral patterned jeans I scored from JC Penney’s for $13! And, Julianne Hough Sole Society Kita booties. I love gold hooped earrings and my collection of spiked, studded wrap bracelets on my left wrist.

Dante’s serious look. I am digging his Hawaiian sweatshirt.

In a posing kind of mood.

63 degree weather – feels like springtime in Northern California in February. I’m enjoying denim jacket days in the winter.

Jacket off, just my lovely t-shirt from Ross for $6! The best part of my outfit? The great deals on clothing!

Leith denim jackets sold out, but check out Leith’s denim vest for $78.00 – very cute at http://shop.nordstrom.com/

I was lucky and scored some floral brocade jeans from JCP during a clearance sale for $13. I found some close replicas for $25, Life In Progress Skinny Jeans from http://www.forever21.com/

Start your own wrap bracelet collection. This bracelet is $7 and can be found at http://www.forever21.com/

You’ve seen this bootie featured on my blog before. I now own these booties and they’re comfortable with edge. They’re the Kita bootie at http://www.solesociety.com/kita-black.html

~Your Curator of all things Stylish, Kimberly Jo Cooley

My Spring 2014 Accessories

New boots, paisley print jeans

Today’s Super Bowl Sunday, and I don’t know too much about football or even who’s playing!  But, I know what accessories to wear for this coming spring. Check out what I’m wearing this Winter/Spring 2014:

My favorite accessories…stacks of studded wrap bracelets and my wedding bands.

Boots off, breaking in period over for today…

Another look at my booties…

Me and my gold hooped earrings…

~Your Curator of all things Stylish, Kimberly Jo Cooley

Light Blue Denim Go To Color for Spring 2014

LoveCulture’s light colored jeans lying on my bed.

I’ve been hunting the perfect light blue jeans since last year. Every other week, I trolled the internet for vintage stone or acid washed jeans. I almost went with Forever 21.com’s light blue denim jeans (see next image), but I didn’t want to spend extra money to reach the $50 free shipping minimum requirement.

Image courtesy of Forever21.com. On clearance for $24.80, product code 2021839395

Before committing to Forever21.com’s jeans, I took a peek at Loveculture.com. I called Love Culture’s Roseville, California Galleria store and placed a pair of the Iceberg jeans on hold. A trip to the mall with the jeans I wanted already picked out saved me time and money.

What’s great about Love Culture is although it carries junior sizes, the store carries up to size 15 jeans.

Ahhh, some jeans with a little stretch – 2% spandex. Online, this “Iceberg Wash Skinny” jeans, was exactly what I was looking for and they were just as cute in person. Near checkout was another cute pair that had a warmer light blue tone and brown stitching (versus Iceberg’s cool blue look and dark blue stitching) that I could not pass up. For $35, I got two pairs that will have me en trend and super comfortable this season.

Loveculture.com Iceberg Wash Skinny Jeans $19.95, style number 1000020450.

~Your Curator of All Things Stylish (and Comfortable), Kimberly Jo Cooley