The Story of a Dress.

Sponsored by Zappos

I've always been a dress girl. I'm not even the girliest girl. I have a bit of tomboy in me. My knees are permanently gray from all the scars from competitive sports and climbing trees in my youth — in dresses. I am simply dress obsessed. I believe that when you put on the right dress, you can take over the world. I've teamed up with Adrianna Papell, who is known for their fashionable, quality dresses, and Zappos.com to share the story of my perfect dress — and tips to help you find yours too!

When I'm in a rush (which is pretty much always LOL) I grab a dress, some cute shoes, sunnies and a bag...and I'm out the door. It's the ultimate momiform. There's no top and bottom to match, which is a huge time saver for this busy mom on the go. Dresses are such a simple way to look polished.

Like most moms (especially over 40) my body isn't what it used to be. When I was shopping for my son's Bar Mitzvah I walked into a store, grabbed 50 dresses, and stood in the dressing room for almost an hour. I grew increasingly frustrated as one after the next did not fit or flatter. I did magically finally find one, but since that experience I've been doing a whole lot more on-line shopping so I could try on in the comfort of my own home.

People like to talk about body confidence and loving the body they're in. Truthfully it's hard. I don't need to be a size 2 or any specific number but I've been finding myself in a rut, hiding in oversized clothing. I decided it was time to push myself outside of my comfort zone and challenge myself find something a little more flattering.

The story of this dress wasn't without a hiccup or two. Ordering on Zappos.com is super easy. I combed through tons of stylish Adrianna Papell dresses until I selected the most beautiful boho embellished dress. When it arrived I quickly put it on...and it didn't zip up. They had been sold out of my size (10) so I was hopeful that I could size down — and I couldn't. So I printed a return slip, packed it back up and returned it. Then I found this chic blue dress and I loved the high low hemline and body skimming shape — and decided it was worth a shot. But I played it safe and sized up to a 12. Big mistake. I tried it on and knew it would be perfect - in a size 10. So I once again, returned the 12 and ordered a 10. And eureka, it fit. So a huge thank you to Zappos for their amazing fast, free shipping and super easy 365 day return policy. FYI Zappos also carries petite and plus sizing for Adrianna Papell, so chances are you're gonna find your perfect fit too.

Knowing your body shape is key. I used to be more pear shaped but now I'm pretty curvy all over. I do love a good a-line style because it shows my shape without hugging my body. I think this dress is successful for me because of all the vertical lines that help draw the eye up and down and creates length. I'm only 5'5" but I tend to look taller because I try to create verticals in my photos. One tip is to make sure your photographer crouches down and shoots you from a lower point. And don't forget those heels! I also think the open neckline extends my neck, and this front panel creates another vertical that (bonus!) also helps cover lumps and bumps. Most importantly, the flutter sleeve helps strengthen my shoulders and balance my hips. I do wish the sleeves covered a little more (I'm a little self conscious of my upper arms) but I went and looked back and photos from a year ago when I was probably 20 lbs lighter and found a bunch I didn't share because I thought I looked too big — and honestly I wish I still looked like that. So now I'm going to try not be so hard on myself and focus what I do like about myself in this dress. I love the color. I love the versatility. I love the simple elegance. And I love that I feel more like myself in the dress — more than I've felt in a while.

Why not make every day a special occasion? Treat yourself to your perfect Adrianna Papell dress —  you can thank me later. What do you look for in a dress? Is it more about style, how it fits, or how it makes you feel? For me, it's all of the above.

Thank you to Zappos for kindly sponsoring this post. All opinions are 100% honest & completely my own.

 XO
 Michelle

Not Your Grandmother's Comfort Shoes!

Sponsored by Zappos

In my twenties I was all about 6 inch heels and stupid shoes that 20 years later I've come to regret. I've since made it my mission to hunt down cute and comfortable shoes that I can wear all day long without shedding a tear — or needing to pull out the band-aids. Last year I spotted the cutest Pikolinos sandals online (which sadly sold out before I could pull the trigger) and I have not stopped thinking about them. Ever since then, Pikolinos has been on my radar, so I was excited to team up with my friends at Zappos.com to share my hunt for the perfect spring sandals!

If you haven't shopped Zappos before, you don't know what you are missing. They have a huge selection of current styles, free shipping and free returns, a 365 day return policy, and hands down the best customer service ever. As a busy mom, some days fly by with deadlines and chores... and before I know it, it's 10pm and I haven't left my house. Nothing makes me happier than shopping online in my PJs after my kids are in bed.

Right now, there are over 100 Pikolinos sandals to choose from so narrowing it down was the most difficult part of the process. Their philosophy is to "make yourself comfortable and let happiness begin at your feet." What's so special about this Spanish company is that Pikolinos is so much more than just comfort shoes. I love that they are socially responsible with their eco-friendly use of materials, and give back through their foundation Juan Perán-Pikolinos — both locally and internationally.

After reading tons of user reviews and watching those handy little Zappos videos (so I could get an idea of what the shoes would look like on the foot), I finally selected these Pikolinos Mykonos sandals in Marfil — the perfect pale blush-nude color. You know me and pink! I love how comfortable and lightweight the footbed is and I was able to wear them all day long on one of my City shopping adventures last week. I also love that they have a little bit of height to them — I actually find it uncomfortable when shoes are completely flat. I would totally order another pair of Pikolinos on Zappos, especially if my dream shoes ever magically come back in stock!

Who else is so done with uncomfortable shoes? Don't get me wrong, I love my crazy shoe collection. I can still pull out my heels and wear them for 3-4 hours at a shot, but I'm so happy to have another pair of cute, comfortable shoes in my arsenal.

Thank you to Zappos for kindly sponsoring this post. All opinions are 100% honest & completely my own.

 XO
 Michelle

Zappos x Kamik, Mommy & Me Style!

Sponsored by Zappos

I teamed up with my friends at Zappos.com to step outside and share a little fall fun in our new Kamik boots! We took the kids for a family outing at a local farm to look at pumpkins and fall foliage. We spent a couple hours stomping around and exploring all mother nature had to offer. 

Zappos offers a huge selection of Kamik footwear and apparel - for men, women, and children. So much so that we all had a hard time choosing our favorites! The girls settled on these cute rain boots with a pop of pink, and Ella neeeded a matching puffer coat in black and pink. Zappos offers free shipping, easy returns or exchanges - which is every busy momma's dream. Luckily I ordered everyone's sizes correctly after reading all the customer reviews (so helpful!) and everyone loved their final picks! 

The girls are wearing the Stomp 2 in sizes 2 and 4 - I'd say they run true to size. The girls raved about how comfortable they were and happily ran around in them all day.  Come winter I'll probably add some boot socks for warmth when it's time to play outside in the snow. Ella's Leona jacket is a size 12 and it does run big. Most of her other winter coats are size 10 and just fit so I figured I'd size up for this so she could wear it for a while. I had to fold up the sleeves and my skinny minny will probably be able to wear this until early adulthood. In my book that makes it a great investment!

I chose the Evelyn boots for myself and I sized up to a 10 (I'm typically a US 9/40). They're super comfortable and are gonna be perfect for all the upcoming rain and snow coming our way. I actually also ordered super cute red Kamik Jennifer rain boots for myself (on sale!) and I bought ahead for Ella another pair of Scribble rain boots with hearts (both not pictured).

I couldn't leave my son out (plus he just outgrew his old boots) so I ordered him a pair of Kamik Fargo boots. He's wearing a men's 10 as they do run small (I sized him up - he's more of a 9/9.5). They're a little heavy but he can handle it.

Have you tried Kamik boots? So far we are loving all of ours. And I would definitely shop again with Zappos! Ordering was a breeze and a week later our boxes came beautifully packaged and all in one piece. So bring on the rain and snow - we're all ready for you!

Thank you to Zappos for kindly sponsoring this post. All opinions are 100% honest & completely our own.  

XO
Michelle