Apparel Candy

With Christmas right around the corner, I have already started shopping for Christmas gifts. Since I have two little rascals who make it nearly impossible to shop in peace, I do most of my shopping online. I've gotten pretty good at looking around for the best deals and figuring out which sizes work best.

I was fortunate enough to be asked to review a wholesale clothing website called Apparel Candy. I was eager to do this because it is right up my alley and, really, who doesn't love to shop online? It's so easy and convenient!! Especially for those of us with little kids or if you work crazy hours and don't have time to go from store to store to find something.

New customers get 15% off their first order at Apparel Candy. They have a huge variety of choices for apparel, sunglasses, accessories, cosmetics, fragrances, shoes, and handbags!! Their wholesale jewelry is so inexpensive! My heart is beating faster talking about it just like any true online shopping addict.

Here are just a few of my faves...

$3.50

$8.00

$6.50

$3.50

$7.50

Apparel Candy prides themselves on having the best prices, great customer care, fast and reliable shipping and refund policies.


Happy shopping!!

Like To Shop Online? Love A Good Deal? Read This!

I just had to stop in (on a Sunday-gasp!) to tell you about these two websites (and apps) that have seriously been awesome.  TONS of deals which is good for this shopaholic on a budget.

1. Zulily

They have new deals every day. It's where I got my Costco membership for half price. I also just bought some maternity clothes for the future. Three shirts, workout pants, and a pair of jeans for a total of about $80.00. Score!! Everything was less than $20.00 each.

2. thredUP

This is a newer one that my friend introduced to me. It's new and used clothes for super cheap. You get $10 credit after you order your first item. I bought a jacket for Emily for the price of JUST shipping, which was less than $4.00. It is brand new. Then someone used my link to buy something for themselves, and I got more credit and used that on two more items.

I'm telling you, you need to check these out!!

Food and Shopping Date? Yes, please.

After having such a good weekend, I was a little nervous that yesterday would be a let down. The day started off good with some gym time for both of us. We kinda-sorta had plans to try to go on a date while a friend of mine watched Emily for us but one of her kids got sick so we ended up going on our "date" with Emily in tow.

Emily did well in the car as long as we kept handing her snacks to munch on. She would raise her hand up and start to whine impatiently if we weren't fast enough with the grub. Here's a picture of the hilarity. 

After driving around and around trying to decide (agree) on a place that we both wanted to eat at and that we could take Emily to, I convinced Michael to let us eat at Panera. I love Panera!! I got the BBQ chicken salad, bread, and broccoli cheese soup. Oh my goodness. YUM.

 Emily even liked it! If you know Emily, you know that feeding her is an ordeal. No food thrown on the floor means it was a success in my book!

After we stuffed ourselves, we did some shopping nearby. I got to use a giftcard I had to get some much needed new cropped jeans (it's already so warm here) and a shirt. I got my first pear of jeans there a couple months ago and they are my favorite ones. I don't even wear other jeans anymore!

I also got these pretty new bad boys! 

Remember how I wanted some but didn't want to spend a fortune on them? I looked around Nordstrom Rack to see if I could get a good deal- bam! $43! That's a whole lot cheaper than I've seen them at other places! Still pricey but you know what? I've been wearing my work out shoes more than my regular shoes these days! I'm excited to not wear clunky running shoes anymore!

Anyways, it was obviously a great date. We all had fun and I got spoiled. Win! ;)

Summer Essentials from Target

I was doing some online "window shopping" on Target the other day and saw that there was a list of "must haves" for Spring/Summer. I thought it would be fun to do my own collage of some of my favorite things to have in my closet in the warmer weather- Target Edition!

These are some of the things I have to have in the Spring/Summer. A cute swimsuit, tons of tshirts, sandals, skirts (it gets so hot here that pants and sometimes even shorts are too hot), a cute purse with a bright color (like this one I just bought), and a neutral wedge heel.

PipLey Vintage Giveaway!

Hey, friends!! The other day I woke up thinking "I wonder if I can reach 475 blog followers today.." and then I randomly made it my goal to get 6 followers to get there. And you know what? I did! It was so random and awesome! I didn't actually think it would happen but it did, thanks to all of you!!

So, to thank you, I wanted to do a giveaway on this little (but growing!) blog of mine. I contacted my friend (she is not only so sweet but also gorgeous and a SAHM with two adorable little girls) who runs an online vintage inspired boutique named PipLey Vintage and she agreed to provide one of YOU $30 of store credit! I gotta tell you...I'm a little jealous! :)

Here's a little sneak peak at some of the great pieces you have to choose from!!

Isn't she gorgeous! Modeling her own clothing. How fun!

What are you waiting for? Enter now!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway will be open until Saturday, March 17th 12:00 a.m!

*You must be a GFC follower to enter. This is, after all, a thank you for following! Thanks!

Ups and Downs of Our Week

Last week was such a roller coaster of emotions and so much happened that it is hard to even remember everything.

UP: The week started off good because we went to California Pizza Kitchen and then walked around the mall. I got a pair of jeans from American Eagle that I really needed and I love them! It was fun to get out of the house as a family. I took pictures because I hardly ever wear makeup these days!

DOWN: Then the week took a turn for the worse when on Wednesday Michael had a job interview that didn't go well and he didn't end up getting a promotion that we were really hoping for. That was a very hard pill to swallow and for a couple of days we were both super depressed, not knowing what to do next or what the future holds.

UP: Thank goodness my friend Kambree came to stay with me for a night and kept me company. She is one of those friends who is always there for you and gives the best hugs! Love that girl!

UP: On Friday things got better when we headed out to Orange County for one of my best friends baptisms. She had been going to our church since she was in high school and so this was a long time coming! A lot of my friends were there so it was all around a much needed night of getting spiritually fed and being around loved ones. We stayed at my parents house that night and then Saturday my dad and I took Emily on a nice walk around their neighborhood. Then later that evening, we hung out with his brothers and their wives who live in the area. We always have a good time with them! It was especially good for Michael to be with them since he had been working every night until then. We went to dinner and played games.

DOWN: That night we decided to stay an extra night so we could be around them longer but then all night long after about 3:00 am we were up and down with Emily the rest of the night. She would fall asleep on us and then wake up screaming bloody murder. It was a long night. It wasn't until the drive home the next morning (Sunday) when she was tugging on her ears that I realized it was probably an ear infection. We took her to Urgent Care and they confirmed she had a double ear infection, a small cold, and the rash she had developed all over her body was a viral rash that would clear up in a few days. No wonder she has been really fussy, has had a fever off and on, not sleeping well, low appetite, etc. I feel terrible we didn't know sooner! :(

UP: She is on antibiotics and Tylenol for pain. It seems to be working already, thank goodness!

UP: Michael and I were able to spend some time together last night and that was really nice. As fun as it is to hang out with friends and family, it's hard to not get any one on one time with Michael!

That was our week/weekend that had MANY ups and downs!!

What I Would Wear To The Oscars

Today I am linking up with Misty from Handbags & Handguns to show you what I would wear if I ever went to the Oscars. I had so much fun picking this outfit out, let me tell you! It's so much more fun than my every day clothing ;). 

There you have it! I wanted something feminine, not over the top, and classic. I feel like I did a good job! 

I believe the dress is Victoria Beckhams, the heels are Louboutins, and the clutch is Judith Leiber. I'm not a fashionista so I needed to ask for help from a friend via twitter and google images. Although I don't know brand names very well I do think I have a pretty good eye about what looks good!

What do you think? What would you wear if you ever got to go to the Oscars? 

(And, you know, could afford all of this stuff!)

Things Are Looking Up!

I just had to write a quick thank you to those of you who have called, text, emailed, commented, tweeted, messaged, etc. I can't believe how blessed I am to have such great friends and family around who lift me up and support me when I am down. It was so nice to hear that I am definitely not alone in feeling like this sometimes. We all struggle from time to time and we need to continue to be there for each other when things get tough! So, thank you for that!!

I'm trying my best to climb out of this little hole I'm in. I've been a little bit better at cleaning the last few days and I've even cooked dinner a couple times, which I am sure my husband appreciates. It's been hard for me to feel motivated but I'm trying!

A few things have happened that have cheered me up (besides you guys of course)! I FINALLY bought an entryway table! I used some of my very own Scentsy paycheck to purchase it, Michael put it together, and I decorated it! I am LOVING it!!

I'm also planning on getting out and having fun tomorrow at a food truck festival! I've never been to one but my bloggy friend, Lin from Linny's Vault, so kindly gave us four tickets! I'm sure it will be so good for us to get out and do something new and exciting. Plus, we love to eat! ;) Thank you so much, Lin!

Another thing I'm excited about- I won a giveaway! Becky at From Mrs. to Mama gave away $50.00 to A Cut Above and I won! I haven't been entering that many giveaways lately because (let's face it), a ton of people enter and your odds aren't great but I was lucky enough to actually win one! Sweet!

Anyway, I hope you all have a great weekend. Most of you will be enjoying beautiful fall weather in your cute fall outfits. I, on the other hand, am in Southern California so we are still having temps around 80 degrees! Oh well, at least it's not in the hundreds anymore. We did have a couple days where we got to pretend it was cool enough for fall clothing.

Happy Friday!!

Oh, How Pinteresting: My Style

As I mentioned last week, I wish I had the clothes in my board on Pinterest.

Like...seriously? How do I have so many clothes and yet still feel like I don't have anything to wear sometimes?!
If I could afford it, I would totally have a closet full of clothes that I would be excited to wear.

Anyway, these are some of my favorite outfits I've pinned!

Source: evokingyou.com via Shelley on Pinterest

Source: pamnken.polyvore.com via Shelley on Pinterest

Source: blondie021.polyvore.com via Shelley on Pinterest

Source: deborah-simmons.polyvore.com via Shelley on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Shelley on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Shelley on Pinterest

Weekend Update: Teething, Instagram, and H&M

 This weekend I finally broke down and installed Instagram on my phone. 

@ShelleyBells07

I know, I know. Just another thing to waste my time with. BUT I LOVE IT, lol!!

It's so fun to change the colors of pictures. I guess I hadn't done it for so long because I thought you would lose the original pictures and didn't JUST want the edited ones. 

Why didn't you guys make me get it sooner!? ;)

This weekend was kinda boring, to be honest. Michael has been working and sleeping nonstop for like a week now and will continue do that until Wednesday. Not fun.

Sleepy Michael and Jexi snuggles.

Emily is teething. She is getting her two top teeth in addition to the two bottom ones she has now. So, yeah! I've been just shoving chocolate down my throat in order to maintain some sanity this weekend. That, and I started watching episodes of Dawson's Creek on Netflix. I never saw it before!

Emily chewing on her chair straps.

I did visit with a couple of friends from church on Friday. Heather and I went over to DeeDee's house to see her before she has her baby girl. :)

And then church, of course. Emily fell asleep on the way to church and I didn't want to wake her up so we sat in the car until I needed to go in to teach my class in the second hour. 

Me, sitting in the car, not sure what to do. Carseat behind me. Sunglasses marks on my nose :)

I hate missing Sacrament meeting but I didn't want a screaming, tired, banshee of a child while trying to teach my class.

Oh, and Emily is slowly getting the hang of drinking from a bottle! She drank about 4 oz. at church from a bottle which is the most she has ever done in that short amount of time. Yay!

The things Mommy's get excited about. :)

I wanted to spend the giftcard for H&M (that I got for my birthday from my MIL!) online the other day and I found some really cute things!!

Can you tell I am ready for fall?

 When I went to checkout it wouldn't let me. It turns out they don't sell to the U.S online yet. 

WHAT THE HECK.

I am hoping they have what I picked out in the store.

So, I guess this weekend was alright! I managed to keep from losing my mind and even had a little fun ;).

My Weekend: We Like To Eat!

This weekend was much better than my birthday weekend last week when I was sick! I finally have an appetite back so my MIL took us out to lunch at a BBQ place. I wore my white skinnies and was lucky I didn't drop food on them!

 The next day Michael and I brought Emily with us to lunch at California Pizza Kitchen. I ordered a delicious cold root beer and the BBQ chicken salad. Yum!

Going out to eat is always a juggle between eating, talking, and trying to keep Emily happy. Usually as long as we are feeding her things she does fine.

After lunch at CPK I used some birthday money and bought myself another pair of skinny jeans! They are actual jean color this time and I like them from Wet Seal because they are skinny but not skin tight and they even have them in "short" for shorties like me! :)

On Saturday my mom and Grandma came to visit and we all (them and Michael, Emily, and I) went to lunch at Chick-fil-A and walked around downtown and explored the shops and stuff. It was fun and exhausting!

Sunday I went to church and taught my class. This week I had 11 students! I am always impressed with them. They are so smart and they also love Emily and help me with her.

All in all it was a great weekend!!

Emily's First July 4th and My First Skinny Jeans

I bought my first pair of skinny jeans the day before Fourth of July so this worked out perfectly!

Patriotic nails, yes?!

Michael and I went to lunch at Chick- fil- A together and then came back to his parents house before he had to go to work. We tried to take a family picture!

After he went to work, Emily and I went to my parents house for a BBQ.

Emily enjoyed the hammock for a bit with my dad.

Then my sister Kristin and I tried to get some pictures...

We chased Emily down a lot because she is a fast crawler and likes to chase the dogs!

Look at that crawl stance!

After eating, my parents played with Emily. She loves books and music. Have I mentioned she dances now?! It's the cutest thing!

At 7:30 pm we headed to Michaels grandparents house for dessert and the fireworks show. They have a great view!

This is Kristin, Emily, and me in the caged in area with Emily, haha.

Gorgeous!

SIL Sarah, MIL Diana, BIL Tyler with Emily!

Four generations! Emily, me, my mom, and my grandma!

I was worried how Emily would do past her bedtime in the cold with fireworks but we swaddled her up and took turns holding her. She actually loved the fireworks!

It was a great day!