Style Archives - Page 21 of 45

#WNJSocial | 5 (More) Amazing Women to Follow on Instagram

February 3, 2016 by Whitney 5 Comments

In case you didn’t know, I’m a very visual person. When it comes to how I learn and how I go about growing my business(es), how something looks is very important. In a nutshell, beautiful images, clean and simple design, as well as appealing imagery makes me happy. Because of this, I’m very particular in choosing who to follow on Instagram. If your feed has pretty pictures, inspiring quotes, well designed flat lays and cute kids, I’m all in! Below are 5 (more) amazing women that I follow on Instagram.

1. @WhitneyNicJames | I had to include my account, of course. I’ve actually had quite a few fellow bloggers and followers comment on the style of my feed and content. I’m extremely thankful for the positive feedback. I’ve worked hard to create a certain aesthetic and I continue to challenge myself to post inspiring, stylish and uplifting content regularly.

2. @DaynaBolden | Dayna’s warm spirit and down to earth personality can literally be felt through her images and captions. Dayna executes her mission to inspire women to do all things with Love, Passion & STYLE flawlessly. Her Instagram feed is full of aesthetically pleasing style, lifestyle and product photos, along with the occasional posts of her adorable and ever so stylish baby girl.

3. @Brosiaa | This Arizona based Youtuber and Content Creator has been on my radar for years. I was first inspired to follow because of her minimalist lifestyle but as time went on I started to enjoy her candid, yet visually pleasing, lifestyle Instagram posts as well. Her tips on style, beauty and even fitness are always honest and presented in such a retable way.

You should be following these 5 amazing accounts on Instagram. #wnjsocial

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4. @Styleandpoise | I’ve been following style blogger, Roni, for years. I’m such a fan of her colorful and chic style, but more importantly, she’s so positive and inspiring. Anyone who can inspire me AND look fly while doing it, you’re winning in my book. I also like the fact that Roni’s messaging is the same across all platforms. Trust me, that’s hard to find these days. Take a look for yourself; I’m sure you’ll love her just as much as I do!

5. @IamDionneDean | Dionne captures you right away with her exciting and lively Instagram feed! I thoroughly enjoyed scrolling and double tapping through her fashion-forward images, and I’m constantly inspired by her smart shopping tips and tricks.

So tell me, are you following any of these accounts? Any amazing women on Instagram you think I should check out? Let me know!

Thanks for stopping by today. I plan to share more #WNJSocial posts this year. My love for social media and blogging has grown over the years and I’m excited to share my thoughts, tips and what I’ve learned along the way. Until next time, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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Personal Style | Casual Date Night Outfit

February 2, 2016 by Whitney 12 Comments

I’m a strong believer in scheduling date nights with my husband. Be it a casual date at the Shake Shack or a fancy planned dinner at the Standford Grill, date nights are a must. Due to the weather hubs and I haven’t been able to get out as much as we usually do, but we did get a chance to grab lunch last week during one of our off days, thanks to the snow storm. Needless to say I was thrilled!

Blouse: Thrifted, 2nd Avenue (Cute Option) // Denim: JCP (Another Option)

The perfect casual date night outfit! #wnjstyle

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When getting dressed for a casual date night I like to keep things simple and cute, which is not much different from my normal outfit choices. On date nights I know hubs likes to see me wear certain denim styles, as well as certain tops – preferably sheer. I do my best to dress the part, while staying true to my personal style. Therefore, I usually gravitate towards the following items:

A pair of cute flats
Tight, yet comfy, pair of denim
A red lip
Big Earrings
Big Hair/Wig (or a stylish hat/beanie)

Despite the snow on the ground, I still decided to go for it and wear flats and ankle length denim. On that day the temps were a bit higher, so it worked. Plus I love how these pants fit. They hug my curves in just the right places and they seem to never not fit, if that makes any sense. So yea, I pretty much wear them as often as I can. I actually prefer ankle length denim/pants because they’re perfect for year round styling. I can easily tuck them into a pair of boots if it’s cold or wear them with flats or a pair of sneakers when it’s warmer.

Ankle length denim and pants are definitely wardrobe staples. They can be worn any season! #wnjstyle

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Watch: Charming Charlie (Cute Option) // Flats: Sam Edelman, Nordstrom Rack (Similar) // Gold Hoops: Target (Similar Pair)

So tell me, what are your casual date night must haves? Let me know!

Thanks for stopping by today and thanks in advance for commenting. Don’t forget to link your outfit to my Personal Style Linkup HERE. Until next time, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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** Linkups: How I Fall, Sophisticated Style, Hello Monday **

Personal Style | Work from Home Outfit + The Pearl Source

February 1, 2016 by Whitney 21 Comments

It’s been a while, I know, but I’m back! I’d planned to be back to blogging in early January, but I decided to take a few extra weeks to enjoy the holiday season and prepare for 2016. I feel refreshed and ready to get back in the swing of things. I’m actually just getting back in the groove with my 9-5 also. Because of the winter blizzard and crazy weather, I worked from home a lot last month. Nonetheless, I was stylish and chic when deciding what to wear while working from home.

Tunic: Lord & Taylor (Similar) // Denim: JCP (Similar Pair) // Mug: Marshall’s (Cute Option) // Phone Case: Best Buy (Another Option)

Working from home has its perks, but it can be hard to stay motivated. That’s why I must get up, do my regular morning routine and get dressed regardless. This work from home outfit is definitely a go-to look. The tie-dye tunic is flowy and loose fitting, the stretch denim is comfortable and easy to move in, and the simple accessories bring it all together. When thinking about what jewelry to wear while working from home on this day, I opted to wear a subtle and classic pair of freshwater pearls, sent to me from The Pearl Source. I’m not usually a fan of smaller earrings, but this pair was perfect.

Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you can’t look stylish! #wnjstyle

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I always have a cup of tea and a huge glass of water by my side while working from home as well. It’s important to stay hydrated throughout the day and who doesn’t like a nice hot cup of tea to on a cold winter day? And if you’re wondering why I don’t have on shoes, well, I pretty much never wear shoes when I’m home. I like to keep our carpet clean throughout the apartment, so hubs and I enforce the “no shoes in the house” policy.

Pearl Earrings: The Pearl Source (Other Options) // Bracelet: Gifted

So tell me, what does your work from home outfit look like? Let me know!

As always, thanks so much for reading! Keep up with me on social media and feel free to sign up to receive my (sometimes) weekly newsletter. I’m excited to be back and I thank you for hanging in there with me. I truly appreciate your comments, emails, tweets, and support. It really keeps me going and means the world to me! Until next time, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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#WNJHome | Remembering Haiti with Macy’s Heart of Haiti

January 12, 2016 by Whitney 1 Comment

Hello there, and Happy New Year to you! I hope 2016 is being good to you so far. I’ll update you on what’s been going on with me a bit later, but in the meantime I want to share another exciting home decor addition from the Macy’s Heart of Haiti Collection. Today marks the 6-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. This catastrophic disaster left so many of its citizens homeless, without loved ones, and without employment. Thanks to the selfless and bold decision to carry handmade items from local Haitian artisans, and creating Macy’s Heart of Haiti collection, over 550 artists make their livelihood by creating goods for sale at Macys.com (and a few select stores).

Purchase HERE

Both handmade metal bowls are not only great additions to our apartment, but the items also serve as a constant reminder of how ethical purchases do so much good for so many people, and their families. After watching the video (below) of how the artisans create such intricate and hand-made metal pieces, I was truly inspired. Can you imagine taking a recycled oil barrel and pounding out intricate designs? Well in the town of Croix-des-Bouquets, that’s exactly what the metal artist do in order to create these masterpieces. There really is an art to it and you can tell that the Haitian artisans take much pride in creating such masterpieces. Knowing that everytime you make a purchase you give hope to AND employment to artists is reason enough for me to support Macy’s and this campaign.

I want to share the locations that have these handcrafted items available for purchase once again. Perhaps you will visit a location and make an ethical purchase sometime this year:

Herald Square
Downtown Brooklyn
Downtown DC’s Metro Center
Chicago’s State Street
San Francisco’s Union Park
Downtown Seattle
Dallas Gallaria
Downtown Portland
Atlanta’s Lenox Square
Dallas Galleria Mall
Miami Dadeland

So tell me, have you seen Macy’s Heart of Haiti collection? Have you made any ethical purchases this year? Let me know!

Be sure to take a look the collection and browse the items. As I said in my previous Heart of Haiti post regardless of your purchases this year, be sure to give some thought to making more ethical and meaningful purchases to support local artisans and small business owners. Until next time, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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** This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency; however, all thoughts and opinions express are my own.

#WNJSocial | 7 Must Have Apps for Bloggers and Entrepreneurs

December 24, 2015 by Whitney 20 Comments

As mentioned in this post, being a blogger and entrepreneur keeps me on the go most days. I absolutely love what I do and as of this year, I fully understand what it means to be an entrepreneur and an intentional blogger. I’ve also learned which apps help to make navigating through the world of entrepreneurship and blogging a bit easier. Below are the 7 Must Have Apps for Bloggers and Entrepreneurs, according to little ‘ole me.

1. PayPal | As an entrepreneur and blogger there are several times a month I hear the PayPal chirp go off. That means I’ve gotten paid for a sponsored post, from a social media client, or that I’ve gotten paid for an item sold on eBay. I can also accept payments on the go by using my PayPal card reader. This app, and the reader, are definite must haves for all entrepreneurs out there!

2. Mint | This is a great app to help track your spending. I like to know what I’m spending the most money on and how much I have left in my account at the end of the day/week. The app sends alerts when you’ve reach a “low balance” and tracks pretty much all your purchases, made from your linked bank card & accounts. Very helpful!

3. Mailchimp | Although you cannot create a newsletter using this app, it’s a wonderful tool to track your newsletter openings, clicks, new subscribers and unsubscribers. I send out 2 newsletters a week (WNJ & #FearlessWomanIam), so I find this app very helpful.

7 Must Have Apps for Bloggers and Entrepreneurs. #wnjsocial

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4. Evernote | I use this app to record my daily to do lists for my 9-5, as well as for my personal business needs. Thanks to Mattie, my mentor in my head and play cousin, I use Evernote daily. I’m very thankful she introduced me to this app and created an easy to follow “how to use Evernote” post on her blog. It has helped keep my day to day activities in one place and it also allows me to send my to-do lists to someone else (i.e. an assistant, intern, co-worker, boss, etc.) With the app, you can also create separate lists and notes and even add images and links to each list.

5. Buffer | This is how I schedule all of my tweets for @whitneynicjames. Each week I plug in and schedule certain posts I want to share via Twitter, including the images and links. Once added, I don’t have to think about it anymore. I know the tweet will be published at the right time and I can even check the stats of a particular tweet.

Try a few of these apps to enhance your blog and business in the New Year! #wnjsocial

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6. WordSwag | I share at least 4 or 5 inspirational quotes or scriptures weekly via Instagram as part of my brand. Because I’ve created a certain “look” for my Instagram feed, I like everything to look a certain way, even quotes. I use this app to create the quote image and it’s so simple. The different fonts, backgrounds and sizes help make each image different or the same, whatever your preference.

7. Rituals | As an entrepreneur and blogger it can be difficult to find a few moments to yourself. When I do get a moment of downtime, I like to either read, take a nap, listen to music, or meditate. The Rituals app is great for training your mind to meditate throughout the day. I usually use the app early in the morning when I wake or when I get home from work. I’ve even used it during my lunch-breaks. The app guides you through different types meditations for 5, 10, 15, or 20 minutes. The app also shows short videos (and descriptions) of different yoga techniques. This really is the perfect app to have on deck when you need just a few moments to regroup and refocus.

So tell me, do you use any of these Must Have Apps for Bloggers & Entrepreneurs? What’s your favorite app? Let me know!

I hope you’ve found this post helpful. Let me know if you’ve tried any of these apps and also let me know which apps help you find helpful as an entrepreneur and blogger. As always, thanks for reading! Have a happy and joyous Christmas and until next time, be blessed and stay safe.

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Events | Virginia Girl’s Summit Recap

December 22, 2015 by Whitney Leave a Comment

Back in October I had the opportunity to attend the Virginia Girl’s Summit at George Mason University. My 13-year-old sister Taylor joined me and I was thrilled! Because of our age gap I don’t get to bring her with me to most of the events I cover. However this was the perfect event to bring her along. Not only did we both enjoy the summit, but we also had a chance to tour of the University. Although she’s been on several college campuses, this was the first time Taylor took an actual campus tour. Being able to experience her first college tour together was indeed a special moment for me, thus making it my favorite event of the year!

The theme, Own Who You are and Rock the World, immediately caught my attention. I’ve been all about owning who I am and representing myself in the best way possible since I can remember. Showing my greatness to the world is something that was instilled in me as a child. Taylor knows and understands the importance of this message as well.

Watching her navigate through the event, on her own, all the while making conversation and connections with her peers (and adults) was awesome. I was so proud of the way she handled herself. Taylor also attended some really great sessions including the following:

We’re in this Together | This session focused on time management, dreams, passion, stress, fun, joining clubs/sports teams, and expectations from teachers and parents.

Bad Blood | The topics covered in this session included what does a good friendship look like, how to get out of a bad friendship, how to change groups of friends and how to deal with losing your friend to her new boyfriend. Not to my surprise, this was Taylor’s favorite session. 😉

I Want Candy | Stress, eating, nutrition and exercise were the topics of discussion during this session. Taylor learned so many great tips on healthy eating and many fitness tips!

Before, after and in between the sessions, Taylor (and I) had a chance to listen to the incredibly inspiring panel of speakers. News Anchor of Good Morning Washington and ABC7 News at Noon, Autria Godfrey, was the emcee and welcomed the audience with an uplifting and heartfelt speech. She spoke on social media and pointed out that “everyone posts the best of the best on social media” and reminded the audience “not to compare our real lives to someone’s highlight reel.” Now that was a word, indeed!

Don’t compare your real life to someone’s highlight reel. – @ABC7Autria

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Below are the names of the panelists, and the keynote speaker, as well as a few motivating and inspirational nuggets they shared.

– Bethany Mota, Keynote Speaker (YouTube Star) | Self confidence doesn’t happen over night. You have to train yourself to be confident; it takes time. Focus on the passion and the content, not the views, and don’t let your fears hold you back.

– Ashley Graham (Body Activist, Designer & Supermodel) | Words to my 17-year-old-self? It’s ok, calm down. You won’t get everything you want right away.

– Willa Doss (Teen Entrepreneur and Creator of Willa Skincare) | You don’t need to be older to make an impact on your community.

– Pooja Chandrasheker (Founder of ProjectCSGirls) | See and know where the gaps are and fill the need.

– Rachel Hankers (Singer and American Idol Contestant) | Discover who you are and run with it!

Taylor & Ashley Graham

Bethany Mota Signing Taylor’s DIY Sneakers

So tell me, have you ever heard or attended the Virginia Girl’s Summit? What’d you think about the recap? Let me know!

All in all the event was absolutely amazing! From the speakers, sessions, swag bag and attendees, I was beyond pleased. Taylor and I cannot wait to attend the next year’s event. The Virginia Girl’s Summit did an excellent job and I applaud them for creating such a needed and uplifting event for today’s young girls. For more information visit their site HERE. Thanks for reading, sharing and commenting and until next time, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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Personal Style | 2015 Personal Style Recap

December 21, 2015 by Whitney 31 Comments

Happy Monday! I wasn’t going to post again until next year, however there are still a few posts I want to share; my 2015 Personal Style Recap is one of them. This year I’ve really come into my own in more ways than one, but especially style-wise. I have never been more comfortable in my own skin or with my personal style choices. I’ve searched, tried and experimented with several styles (stores, brands and designers) and I’ve finally figured out what works for me. Let’s take a look at some of my favorite outfits from 2015.

Cape & Leggings // 80’s Inspired // Thrifted Kimono

Thrifted Menswear // Crazy Pants // Wearable Art

On my 2015 vision board I pinned a few images that reminded me to explore and express my personal style. As a budding entrepreneur, blogger and new wife, defining my personal style has been very important to my personal development. I wanted to be sure I was purchasing clothing that fit my lifestyle, not a trend. I wanted to be happy with my outer appearance just as I was with my inner self. No matter how you try to spin it, your inner and outer go hand in hand. If you look good and dress for yourself, you feel great on the inside.

Figuring out your personal style makes you feel great on the outside AND on the inside! #wnjstyle

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Tunic Dress // Sheer Blouse // Black & White

Black Maxi // Jumpsuit // Lounge Wear

My 2015 personal style recap shows that I wasn’t afraid of embracing color, print and different styles. It also shows that I have somewhat of a cohesive style. Comfort, practicality, chic and stylish are the words that come to mind when look back at my 2015 style. I also realize that I’m a fan of casual wear, with a stylish twist. Comfy flats, beanies, hats, bold accessories, flowy clothing and neutral colors are definitely my thing!

Being confident with your outer appearance is just as important as what’s inside. #wnjstyle

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Sequin Hat // Thrifted Tunic // Tees & Vest

Leather Leggings // Blog Life // Chic in Black

So tell me, what do you think about my 2015 Personal Style Recap? How has your personal style changed this year? Let me know!

I always thank you for reading and linking up, so today is no different. THANK YOU for all your support this year. I truly appreciate you linking up every Monday and sharing my #OOTD posts. It means the world to me, really. Be sure to linkup to the last Personal Style Linkup of the year below and check back this week for my last few posts of the year. Until then, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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** Linkups: Sophisticated Style, How I Fall, Garay Treasures, Let it Shine **

Personal Style | Wearing a Maxi Dress in the Winter

December 17, 2015 by Whitney 5 Comments

During the spring and summer months, I’m all about styling a maxi dress. I live in them during those seasons! When it gets cooler, I tend to push them to the back of the closet and wear pieces that are a little heavier in material. This past (December) weekend however, I was able to style one of my favorite summer maxi dresses.

Maxi Dress: H&M (Another Option) // Kimono: Nordstrom Rack (Another Option)

During the cooler months wearing a maxi dress is just fine, but the key to wearing one is layering and wearing the right shoes. I decided to layer mine with another favorite wardrobe item, my lightweight kimono. I’ve worn kimonos on the blog over and over….and over again. I also took layering a step further and wore a heavier cape (not pictured) as outwear, in case the weather dropped.

The key to wearing maxi dresses in the winter is layering. #wnjstyle

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I think every wardrobe needs at least 3 kimonos. As stated in this post, kimonos are not only versatile but they’re easy to style year round. Like kimono’s, maxi dresses are great investment pieces for your wardrobe; they’re also comfortable and timeless. Style these items together and you have the perfect pairing!

Heels: Kenneth Cole, Bloomingdales (Similar) // Purse: F21 (Another Option) // Necklace: oNecklace (Purchase HERE – 10% OFF)

So tell me, do you style maxi dresses during the wintertime? Let me know!

Thanks for reading! Quick reminder; be sure to sign up for the WNJ Newsletter. Tomorrow morning I’ll be sending out a jam packed issue and next week, I’ll be sending the last newsletter of the year. Until next time, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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