Look Book: Stripes

Dress: c/o Ladyee Boutique, Jacket: GAP, Scarf: GAP, Bracelets: c/o Lemon & Line, Shoes: Anthropologie (also worn here) 

There's one trend that I can never get enough of, and that is stripes.  In my opinion, the more stripes the merrier! Stripes can be classic and modern all at the same time.  And, I know what you're thinking... bare legs again!  Yes, this is Southern California and as I've said before, Winter is a bit of a myth around these parts. And that's just fine by me, because sunshine warms my soul.

And while I'm talking about things that warm my soul, I have to tell you all how much I appreciate each and every one of you voting for me in the Circle of Moms Top 25 Fashion & Beauty Blog contest. I'm so thrilled to announce that I placed in the top 25 (YAY!) and not only that, the Circle of Moms selected Shannon Heart's as one of their Top Blogs to Watch in 2013. I am thrilled and honored beyond words. And it's all because of YOU. I can't tell you how much your love and support means to me. I appreciate you all so very much for visiting me each day and for your comments and friendship. You are simply THE BEST. Big hugs and kisses to you all!  XO.

Look Book: Winter Blues

Dress: Rebecca Taylor (similar), Sweater: Free People (on sale), Tights: Target, Shoes: Poetic Licence, Necklace: Anthropologie, 

Bracelets: c/o Stowe Street (15% off w/code shannon15)

Sometimes life throws a curve ball and things aren't always as easy-breezy as we like them to be. I'm a fan of smooth sailing. No rough waters, and no surprises. I'm a very positive person, and I always try to see the bright side in things. But sometimes, life just gets hard. And sometimes it's hard to see the bright side. I've had a bit of a challenging week, but today I am feeling hopeful and inspired. I'm ready to take on the day with enthusiasm and vigor, because after all today is a new day. I hope you all have a beautiful day as well.  XO.

Giveaway | Win a $50 shop credit to AMY WALTZ DESIGNS *CLOSED*

I am so pleased to offer this delightful giveaway from Amy Waltz Designs.  Amy Waltz Designs jewelry is unique, meaningful and naturally beautiful.  Each piece serves as a pleasant reminder of our own uniqueness, inner beauty and purpose. The words and messages of each piece offer inspiration and purposeful reminders. Their jewelry is positive, uplifting, and will simply make you feel good each time you see it.

I have a set of bangle cuffs from Amy Waltz Designs that are inscribed with the word BELIEVE.  You've seen me recently wearing them in this post.  The bracelets are so special and personally meaningful, that I chose BELIEVE as my mantra for 2013. I wear the cuffs almost daily and they warm my soul each time I look at them or feel them. They bring me positive energy and encouragement, especially when I need it most.

Each piece of jewelry from Amy Waltz Designs is exceptional, and the packaging is equally special.  The bracelets that I received were packaged with love in an organza bag, and included inside were sweet little handwritten notes and a peacock feather.  Even the packaging was filled with inspiration, nature, and beauty.

I can't express how impressed I am with Amy Waltz Designs. Their jewelry is extraordinary and amazingly thoughtful and unique. It's jewelry that makes a person feel special and beautiful, not only on the outside, but on the inside as well.

You can visit Amy Waltz Designs at these spots: WEBSITE | ETSY | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST

Now for the giveaway! Amy Waltz Designs is kindly offering one lucky winner a $50 shop credit! Enter here to win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions: Open to residents worldwide! Winner will be selected via random.org and announced on this post. Giveaway will end on Feb. 5th at 9:00am PST. Best of luck to you all!!! xo.

Look Book: Silver Streak

Jacket: c/o Karen Kane, Shirt: Bailey 44, Handbag: LASH Clothing, Jeans: AG, Shoes: Jimmy Choo, Earrings: c/o Gallery Atlantic

I'm loving the trend of mixing dressy pieces with more casual pieces. I've been trying to shop my closet more and use pieces in different ways than I traditionally would. These sparkly shoes were my wedding shoes and they've been sitting in my closet all these years just waiting for the right fancy occasion to be worn again. I'm taking inspiration from Carrie Bradshaw, and saying there's no time like the present to pull out my sparkly heels and add a bit of glam to my day. A little sparkle just makes a girl feel good. xo.

Look Book: Rainbow Sherbet

Earrings: c/o Saressa Designs, Bracelet: c/o Saressa Designs, Jacket: Free People, Tank: J.Crew, Jeans: Mother, Scarf: c/o Nepali by TDM, Nails: MAC Kid Orange, Shoes: RED by Valentino (from last year)

I hope you all have a bright & happy weekend.  XO.

Look Book: Believe

Poncho: c/o Goddis Knitwear, Jeans: AG Stilt, Boots: Frye (on sale!), Bracelets: c/o Amy Waltz Designs, Necklace: Maefly Design

January is passing by so quickly. At the beginning of the year, I kept thinking of putting together a list of New Year's Resolutions. Yet, something about it just didn't feel right. I think what it comes down to is that I don't really like the idea of coming up with a resolutions, and then most likely forgetting about them by February. I strive to be a better person each and everyday, whether it's January 1st or not. So I decided I wasn't going to make any New Year's Resolutions this year. But what I did decide to do was to dedicate a word for 2013. An inspiring word. A word that I can learn from, and grow from, and that will bring me happiness and hope everyday. A word that will give me strength and comfort. After much thought, I came upon the word BELIEVE. The moment it came to me, I knew right away that it is the perfect word for 2013. I felt that 2012 was a sad year. Not personally so much, but around the world. There was so much fear, and violence and sadness. I've put together a list of things that I want to remember to believe throughout this year:

- I believe that 2013 is going to be a positive and prosperous year.

- I believe that my kids will be safe and protected at school, and at home, and everywhere they go.

- I believe that my husband will find a new job, that will bring him success, and more importantly, happiness.

- I believe that I am strong and healthy, and I can achieve anything that I set my mind to. 

- I believe that I need to be present in my children's lives. That's it's more important to read them a book at night or tell them a story, than to make sure the laundry is folded or the dishes are done.

- I believe that there can and there will be peace on Earth. 

And when I'm feeling down, I will come back to this list. And I will reflect. And I will believe.  XO.

Giveaway | Win a $50 Gift Card to LASH Clothing (3 Winners!) *CLOSED*

Hello lovely friends! I have a sweet giveaway for you all today. The lovely people at LASH Clothing are giving THREE WINNERS $50 gift cards to their shop!

LASH Clothing is an online boutique for fashion forward women. Started by two girls who love to shop, Lauren and Ashely.  Together, they have created a shop that offers a beautiful selection of women's clothes and accessories. They carry many of my favorite brands including Bailey 44, BB Dakota, Rory Beca and Tracy Reese and many more! And I'm loving their selection of handbags from J.J. Winters.

You can visit LASH Clothing at these spots: SHOP | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | TWITTER

Enter here to win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions: Open to residents of US only. Giveaway will end on Jan. 29th at 9:00am PST. 3 winners will be selected via Random.org and will be announced on this post. Best of luck!   

My Favorite Beauty Products // 2013

I love to discover new beauty products, hair products and cosmetics. I've put together a list of some of my absolute favorites.

1 // NARS Pro-Prime Primer SPF 30 // I've spoke about this product before and it continues to be on my must-have list. What I love most about it is that it has an SPF so that I don't have to use one in my moisturizer. It's very lightweight and doesn't clog pores, like many SPF products that I've tried before. It also is the perfect base under foundation or powder. It makes foundation go on smoothly and stays put all day long.

2 // Dr. T's Supergoop! Everyday Lotion SPF 30 // This is my favorite sunscreen for my body and for my kids. It's paraben-free, water resistant and has a high UV protection. I love that it's not greasy and it doesn't feel heavy on my skin. It leaves my skin so smooth and even my kids love this. If there's any advice I could ever give, it would be to make sure to wear SPF EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

3 // Clarisonic Aria Skin Cleansing System // This product has completely transformed my complexion. After hearing rave reviews of this device, I finally took the plunge and bought one last year. My skin has never looked or felt better! I have always struggled with break-outs and clogged pores, and this has almost completely eliminated that problem. My skin looks healthier and clearer than it ever has before. This is an investment worth making.

4 // Fresh Soy Face Cleanser // My favorite cleanser, and works wonderfully with the Clarisonic. It's all natural and gentle, but cleans wonderfully and never dries out my skin. Truly a wonderful product.

5 // Perfect Formula Pink Gel Coat // This nail polish gives you a salon-quality gel coat that makes your nails stronger and healthier and stays on for at least a week. This is my go-to product when my nails are feeling week or damaged. It gives my nails a healthy glow and shine, and it whitens the tips.

6 // MCMC Fragrance Pheonix // I received a sample of this perfume in a BirchBox and I'm completely hooked. I'm not a perfume person, but this smells warm and slightly sweet and not perfumey at all. The scent is a mix of floral, vanilla and peach, but it doesn't smell like you've just left a bakery. It's quite sophisticated and soft. 

7 // NARS Velvet Lip Gloss Pencil in 'New Lover' // I am a lipstick and lipgloss addict, but after discovering this lip pencil, I've forgotten about all my other lipsticks. It has the perfect amount of shimmer, it makes my lips look lush and healthy, and it stays put for hours. 

8 // Benefit They're Real Mascara // No "best beauty product list" would be complete without this mascara. This mascara is the best. It makes lashes look long, full and never clumpy. It's dramatic and amazing. 

9 // Living Proof No Frizz Shampoo & Conditioner // I think I've tried every shampoo and conditioner on the market, and this is hands-down my favorite. I have damaged, color-treated hair that pretty much has a mind of it's own. This product magically makes my hair smooth, silky and it doesn't weigh my hair down. And to top it all off, it smells wonderful.

10 // T3 Single Pass Whirl Styling Wand // This is my newest tool, and I love the curls that it creates. It creates the natural, beachy waves that I wasn't able to create with my traditional curling iron. And the curls stay in place and last all day long. I love it!

Now it's your turn.  I'd love to hear what products you've been using and loving.

Look Book: Happy Heart

T-Shirt: Wildfox, Jacket: Nanette Lepore, Jeans: Paige, Shoes: Pour la Victoire, 

Clutch: c/o GiGi New York, Earrings: c/o Hamilton Jewelers, Bracelet: c/o Hamilton Jewelers

I have Valentine's Day on my mind. Everywhere I go I see hearts, doilies and pink. Cheesy or not, I love Valentine's Day! It's a holiday that is built around appreciating those we love and telling them so. It makes me happy. I think back to my days in elementary school and sharing those silly little Valentine's with my schoolmates. Each child had a cardboard mailbox that was decorated with glitter and stickers, and we'd deliver our little notes into each mailbox. It just makes a person feel good to share and receive so much love. And I'm such a sucker for those candy conversation hearts.

Giveaway | Win Jewelry from Everyday Icing *CLOSED*

Happy Friday! I have a sweet giveaway for you to start your weekend of right! First, let me start off my introducing you to Everyday Icing Accessory Auctions. Everyday Icing was born from a love for designer jewelry and accessories, but not designer prices. Their gorgeous and stylish pieces fit into every woman's budget and lifestyle. I've always believed a beautiful piece of jewelry or a lovely accessory will not only make a woman feel pretty, but it will also elevate an average outfit into an extraordinary outfit.

Everyday Icing is not your normal internet shop. Everyday Icing combines social media and shopping. Simply 'like' their facebook page and then hover over the 'like' button and select 'add to news feed'.  Then you won't miss a thing! 

How does it work?

1. Visit their facebook page every Monday evening at 9pm (eastern) to shop from their collection of  jewelry and accessories. But you have to be quick. When the items are gone, they're gone.

2. Comment 'sold' on any delicious deal that you can't resist. Make sure to include your email address! (You can keep your email address private by clicking 'register to shop' tab on their home page, then you can just comment 'sold')

3. They will invoice you through paypal. And domestic shipping is always FREE!

It's really as easy as 1-2-3. How simple and FUN is that?

Now, for the awesome giveaway! Everyday Icing is generously offering 1 lucky winner 4 pieces of jewelry from their shop. The winner will receive all the items shown in the image above. That includes:

1. Abalone Van Cleef-Inspired Necklace

2. Turquoise Love Knot Earrings

3. Shades of Turquoise Bracelet

4. Teal Ruffle Infinity Scarf

These pieces have a combined value of over $70!

Enter here to win...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & conditions: Open to residents of US only. Giveaway will close on Jan. 25 at 8:00am PST. Winner will be announced on this post. Best of luck!

Look Book: Blackout

Jacket: via StitchFix, Dress: Rachel Pally, Booties: Rachel Comey, 

Ring: c/o Nina Nguyen, Black Necklace: Margaret Elizabeth, Clear Necklace: c/o Keltie Leanne Designs

When you can't decide what colors to wear, you can never go wrong with black and white. It's classic and effortless. And speaking of effortlessly wonderful things, I am borderline obsessed with blazers. If I am to say one piece of clothing that is a must-have for this coming Spring, it would hands-down be blazers. From crisp white, to printed, to bold colors, I love them all! They look perfect when paired with everything from a dress, to jeans and a t-shirt. It's such an easy item to throw on and immediately look polished. What is your must-have item for Spring?