My Hilarious Talking Dog

Some way, some how…my dog, Cooper, has developed a hatred for baths, water, and really anything else a typical Golden Retriever loves to do.  I like to joke sometimes and say I got a “defective” retriever.  Aside from the fact that he isn’t your average goldie, he is highly intelligent.  So much so, that he has learned to “vocalize” words when he really wants something. Or better yet, when he really really DOESN’T want something.  This is not a trick I have tried to teach him, and honestly, I have no idea where it came from. But he is progressively becoming more talkative as the days go by.  I was fortunate enough to catch one of his “moments” on camera without even trying to.  I was trying to show how his mood changes whenever I ask him if he wants to take a bath.  He made it very clear that he did not want to take a bath last night.  You can hear the “NOOOO” in his howl!  Hopefully this video will cure your case of “The Mondays” with some laughter and cuteness overload!

Doggy Valentine’s Day Box

Valentine’s Day will be the first holiday I get to celebrate with my new co-workers. This year, we will be decorating boxes and passing out valentines to everyone.  Considering my competitive nature, I did not take this box-decorating lightly.  I am still the new girl in the office, so I had to bring my A-game.  Naturally, I turned to Pinterest for inspiration.  There was one box in particular that caught my attention right away.  It was a dog that appeared to be made out of a mop.  I immediately began drawing up my plans to recreate this adorable pooch.  Here is the adorable creature that forced me to get creative:

via Pinterest

I made a trip to Michael’s craft store to gather some supplies.  I wasn’t sure how the dog’s head was made exactly, so I had to get creative.  Here are the supplies that I used to create the entire dog:

Hot glue gun, yarn, packaging tape, masking tape, toilet paper roll, egg-shaped styrofoam, blue ribbon, googly eyes, red felt, and black pom-poms.

 

I started by taking a strip of masking tape that was equal to the length of each side of the box I was going to use.  I folded the yarn along the tape like the picture above.  I did this for each side of the box and did maybe 4-5 layers total. Then I would cut the center of each loop to give it that “shaggy” appearance as pictured below.

 

Then it was time to start cutting a hole on top of the box and form the frame of the head.  I cut out the hole with a knife after tracing out the desired size.  Then, this is where I had to get creative with the head.  I hot-glued a toilet paper roll to the box to form a neck.  I cut out an oval shape for the styrofoam head to set on with more stablility.  I also had to use some q-tips to pierce the base of the styrofoam head and into the body of the box.  I hot-glued this in place as well for better reinforcement.

 

 

I continued to tape the layers onto the box with packaging tape so it would be less visible on the top of the body.  I used scraps of yarn from trimming the other bits around the body to hot-glue onto the head of the dog. For the ears, I used q-tips and two cardboard cut-outs for the shape, and just hot-glued the strands of yarn to it.  I tied smaller ribbons around each ear for looks.  I also used a thicker ribbon for the collar around the neck.  Then I just added the finishing touches of eyes, ears, and tongue to the head, and the dog was complete!

I don’t think Cooper was a fan of the fake dog on the table, haha

 

 

 

And there you have it!  My Pinterest-inspired Doggy Valentine’s Day Box!  Who knows, maybe next year, I will have another box to create.  I hope you enjoyed my post today.  It was so much fun getting creative for this project.  Have a great rest of your weekend, and Happy early Valentine’s Day!

Love always,

Jillian Wade

 

Fashion Obsession: Mixing Navy + Black

We all can name a fashion “faux pas” that we usually try to avoid on any given day.  We try to play it safe by the “rules” that, in my opinion, are entirely outdated by today’s standards.  Rules like, “don’t wear white after labor day”, and “don’t wear black with brown”, don’t necessarily apply to us anymore. Who made up these rules? What century did they come from? Okay, well there are some fashion no-no’s out there that are valid. Those like wearing socks with sandals, or the visible black panties through skin-tight white jeans. But I digress. There are a few trends I am currently lusting over that I would have previously dismissed by my grandmother’s fashion advice. One of those consists of pattern and print mixing. Who would have thought plaid and stripes would be so brilliant?? I will dedicate another post to this trend later. What I want to focus on right now is pairing black and navy. Neutrals are my favorite colors to incorporate into my wardrobe. Two of the colors I wear the most of would be black and navy. When Pinterest and Stitch Fix  introduced me to the idea of combining the two, I was hooked. Contrary to its belief, neutrals almost always go well together. I say “almost” because it has to be done right. In my opinion, it is all about the shade of the neutrals in order to make it work. I have seen some horrendous pairings of brown and black that almost made me turn green. However, when the right shade of brown is used with black, it is simply perfection. The thought of wearing navy and black together used to make me shudder. This mentality I had developed really affected my shopping habits as well. If I found something I really liked in black, I would buy the same exact item in navy just to wear with other items in my closet to avoid the navy/black fashion no-no. But those days are behind me now, and I am embracing the fashion trend I once rejected. Still not convinced? Here are some pins from Pinterest and Stitch Fix that have me begging for more:

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

via Stitch Fix

via Stitch Fix

And to show you how I have incorporated this trend into my wardrobe, I snapped a quick photo of myself with some of my favorite basic items from my closet (with terrible camera lighting included, sorry!)

Black Peacoat: New York & Co.; Navy Sweater: J.Crew; Black Leggings: Cabi; Necklace: J.Crew Factory; Shoes: Nine West

Love Always, Jillian Wade

New Year Resolutions

When I reflect on my past new year resolutions, I realize that I have not truly given enough thought into what I would like to change, or what I would like to work on.  I notice a lot of my goals tend to be unrealistic, or just cliche like most other resolutions.  I have spent a lot of time thinking over the past week as to what I would realistically like to accomplish, and things that would be beneficial for me.  And I don’t want to pick just one goal.  I want to work on all aspects of my physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.  So what are my New Year Resolutions for 2015?  Well I am glad you asked.

1.)  Drink more water.  I can’t emphasize enough how important water is on the effect of one’s overall health.  I admit that I definitely don’t drink near as much water as I should, and I think everyone can agree with me on that.  I am lucky to get even a glass or two of water in per day.  Often enough, I make poor choices by consuming more soda that anything.  It tastes great, and satisfies that caffeine fix I crave for the day.  I most recently replaced sodas with Gatorade G2, since it tastes better and has only 45 calories.  But it is still not the best choice for my body.  I decided it was time to finally put my goals into action.  I now only allow myself to drink water with each meal, rather than drink a Dr. Pepper with my meals.  If you haven’t noticed, fluid intake occurs most often during the day with your meals.  And if you are like me, you find yourself drinking more than just one glass with a meal of whatever beverage it may be.  So that can amount up to 6 glasses per day already!  I only have two more glasses left to drink throughout the day, which is a lot easier to do in my opinion.  Water also plays a key role in the appearance of your skin.  When you are dehydrated, your skin cells essentially shrink, and can cause wrinkles to become more visible.  You may even notice a more oily complexion as your body tries to compensate for the lack of hydration, and ultimately produces more oils.  When you are hydrated, your skin appears more radiant, even-toned, and perfectly balanced.  Just be patient, and give this idea a try.

2.) Be more organized.  My life can be a little messy at times, and that is when good organization skills can come to the rescue.  The mess that I can create in my house is what I would like to consider an “organized mess” because only I know where I have placed certain items among the mess.  But there are times where the mess can get out of control, and I no longer know where everything is.  I decided to embrace a new approach to better organization.  Simply doing small, quick chores every day can keep your home and workspace in order so you don’t have to clean up a larger mess and spend even more time doing so.  Over the past week, I have dedicated one day to re-organizing each individual room, and creating a plan to KEEP the room in order.  Monday, I focused on the bedroom.  My closet was chaotic, the side tables filled with unnecessary junk, and the dresser over-flowing with shirts and pants.  I went through all the clothes of my closet, and tossed the items I no longer wanting, or items I have not worn in the past year.  If I didn’t intend to wear it in the coming year, it was going in the donation bag or the trash.  I removed all the terrible wire clothing hangers and replaced them with space saving, and aesthetically appealing hangers. I tossed all the junk from the side tables and gave every item an appropriate space to stay.  As for the dresser,  I refolded and reorganized the drawers to create more space.  Also, I got rid of some items that I no longer needed or wore, just like I did with my closet.  I have decided to dedicate every Monday to maintaining the cleanliness of the bedroom, which also includes washing the sheets and vacuuming the carpet.  I taken the same concept and applied it to the other rooms of my home.  I will try create a separate post of my weekly cleaning routine, and let you know how it works out for me over the year!  Just remember that if you take it out, put it back when you are done.  It could not be any easier than that!

3.)  Be a better friend.  I am so lucky to be blessed with a wonderful husband, and amazing friends and family.  I moved from North Carolina to Nashville, TN in 2012, and I left all of my friends and family behind.  It has forced me to make new friends, and lovingly embrace the new members of my family.  I have never been a person to just call up a friend or family member for no particular reason, but over the years that I have spent separated from the special people in my life, I have realized that it is more important than ever to do these small tasks.  I find myself so out-of-the-loop when I travel back home for holidays and events because I have failed to maintain steady communication with my dearest friends.  It makes me feel so good when a friend calls me just to see how I am doing.  I want to be that kind of friend this year.  Showing someone that you are interested in their life is the kindest gesture you can do.  It is true that people love talking about themselves, and I feel that not enough people take the time to show interest in learning about other people’s lives.  I want to try to ask people how they are doing and what they have been up to more often this year.  Not only will I build better and stronger relationships with the ones I care about most, but I will only develop new and stronger relationships with those I would like to know better.  Give someone a call today that you haven’t talked to in a while.  I guarantee you will make their day a little better!

What are your New Year Resolutions?  Did you find mine helpful?  Try to do something that would improve YOU.  Ask yourself the true purpose behind the goal you have set.  If you are trying to lose weight, why are you setting this goal?  If you are doing it for your own self-esteem and health benefit, then that is GREAT!  But, if you find you are doing it to meet someone else’s approval, or plan to cause harm to yourself to achieve that goal, then you are not really achieving anything.  Do something that will make you feel like you have at least made progress, even if you have not yet achieved that goal.  And don’t beat yourself up if you don’t get to your goal.  Look back at the accomplishments you made along the way.  That is success to me.  Have a great rest of your day, and thanks for reading!

Love Always,

Jillian Wade

Sunday Doodles

This should be a rather short post tonight, but I wanted to share what I have been working on this evening.  I am very passionate about creating my own artwork for my home.  Our guest room features most of my fashion paintings, since I have appropriately given it a “Sex and the City” theme.  I frequently get requests to do similar paintings for family and friends, so I thought I would share some of my projects with you.  I start by doodling on a piece of computer paper to refer to as I translate it onto a canvas.  I tend to paint “iconic” high fashion pieces, like Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Hermes, etc.  I am considering creating custom paintings to sell online.  So if you are interested in a painting of a specific item, let me know and I will try to create something just for you!  Here are some examples of what I have done in the past:

Classic Christian Louboutin black pumps

A quote from Sex and the City incorporated into a dress

Manolo Blahnik pumps

And here are some examples of my doodles before I paint on a canvas:

Sketch of a Birkin bag

Sketch of more Louboutin pumps

Sketch of Manolo pumps

Sketch of Louboutin pumps with studded points

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend, stay tuned for more information about my paintings and completed projects!

Love always,

Jillian Wade

Style Envy: January 2014

I have recently revisited my obsession with Pinterest.  What I love about Pinterest is the connection to blogs from a single post.  I came across one blog in particular that I now find myself reading week after week.  Her name is Grace, and her blog is called A Southern Drawl. I adore her sense of style.  She uniquely pairs items together that I could have never imagined doing myself.  Her style is effortless, chic, and FUN.  She is also a photographer with an amazing camera, and her pictures are stunning.  She inspires me to step up my game and ditch the iPhone when I take pictures for my blog.  My mom is an incredible professional photographer, but she is 500 miles away in North Carolina, so no help for my case.

I wanted to share some of my favorite outfit obsessions I have stumbled upon.  Hopefully, I will be wearing some of these items in my future posts along the way.  But I will just settle for some inspiration for now!

Tory Burch “Reva” Ballerina Flat

Sam Edelman “Delilah” Calf Hair d’Orsay Pump

Hunter Adjustable Back Boot

Clarks Alpine Melt

TOMS Desert Wedge Bootie

Steve Madden “Frennzy” Pump

Clare V. Flat Clutch

GiGi Teddie Tote (Monogram options available) 

Loren Hope Lucile Necklace

L.L. Bean Scotch Plaid Shirt

SheInside Black White Long Sleeve Plaid Belt Coat

J.Crew Stadium Cloth Cocoon Coat

Wardrobe Re-Model

As I am about to begin my new nursing position, I have to ditch my comfy scrubs for office-appropriate attire.  I had a mini panic attack because my wardrobe variety has taken the backseat over the past two years.  When I would, it was usually just outfits for date nights and social gatherings.  I never needed business style attire, simply because I never needed to wear it that often.  I went through my closet and identified my “go-to” outfits.  When I compare them to my Pinterest boards, they seem a little lackluster in style.  I prefer solid color, basic items that can be worn many different ways.  They are super cute, but very boring to say the least.  I decided to try a new approach to my wardrobe and see what I can create with the pieces I already have.  Not just for work purposes, but for every day casual wear as well.  I will try to feature a single outfit that I would typically “go-to” for certain occasions, and then transform it through layering and other fashion techniques.

I am having a casual date night with my main squeeze tonight.  I usually wear my skinny jeans for this type of occasion and pair it with one of my J.Crew Tippi sweaters that I own in almost every color (don’t judge me).  Considering that I live Nashville, I really enjoy wearing my cowboy boots almost anywhere I go.  Now, don’t just assume that people in Nashville walk around wearing cowboy hats and boots every single day, because they don’t.  I just find that my boots are super fun and cute to wear, and very comfortable!  So, here is my first “go-to” outfit for a casual date night:

–Top: J.Crew
-Jeans: Citizens of Humanity
-Boots: Ariat

Ehhh, not too bad, but you can see what I mean by boring.  So, I tried to do some layering and mixing with clothes I already have to create a more exciting outfit.

Added to the look:
-Shirt under Sweater: J.Crew Keeper Chambray
–Vest: Snow Angel Puffer Vest in Navy from Nella Boutique (CHECK US OUT!)

I plan to add a scarf into the mix, but that inventory needs to expand before I am able to do so, haha!  That is another item I tend to forget about while shopping.  It is a work in progress right now, and I hope that my fashion-sense continues to blossom.  Let me know what you think!  Stay tuned for future wardrobe re-models!

Lots of Love,

Jillian

Latisse vs. Eyelash Extensions

I would like to consider myself an expert when it comes to eyelashes.  Even my nickname is “Lashes”.  Ever since I discovered the wonders of makeup during my curious adolescent years, my one true love has always been mascara.  I love a full, voluminous, insanely long set of lashes.  By the good graces of God and genetics somewhere down the line, I was blessed with long eyelashes.  Sure, you can wear false lashes everyday, but nothing ever compares to the real thing.  We all have good and bad hair days, but I like to say I have good and bad eyelash days.  Some days when my “eyelash game isn’t strong” (as the teens call it these days), I really wish I had a set of false lashes to put on and just be done with it.  A few years ago, I discovered Latisse, and I have been a dedicated consumer ever since.  No more bad eyelash days, ladies!

I have tried all sorts of tricks and products to “keep my game strong” in the eyelash department.  But for me, applying mascara is a process and can be very time-consuming.  I know this is not the case with the average girl, but I really take the time to make them look good.  As a nurse, you don’t necessarily have the time to get ready in the early mornings before work.  I was tired of reapplying mascara everyday, and wasting so much of my precious morning hours.  So I decided to try eyelash extensions.  I was instantly hooked from the moment I got them.  Now if you aren’t familiar with professional eyelash extensions, allow me to explain.

An aesthetician applies a lash to each individual eyelash, and they generally last 2-3 weeks.  Sometimes they can last longer than that.  As you would maintain upkeep of highlights for your hair, you must maintain upkeep for your lashes.  You can get them wet, and you can wear mascara with them as well.  In my opinion, I didn’t need any mascara at all since they were already flawless.  I would go back for a touch-up every three weeks or so.  Extensions are not harmful to your natural lashes, and they do not cause premature shedding of them either.  You don’t notice how frequently your eyelashes naturally shed until you have a super thick black eyelash resting on your cheek.  I continued to do extensions for almost two years until I decided it was time for a break.  I will go over the pros and cons in a minute.

It was around the time I started getting extensions when I was first introduced to Latisse.  Latisse is a prescription serum that is applied daily to the base of your lashes to enhance the growth of your natural lashes.  You can generally purchase this product at a MedSpa or skincare office without asking the doctor for a prescription.  I started using this along with my extensions, just to keep my lashes strong and consistently growing between fills.  If you have seen the commercials, they list off all kinds of side effects that can occur while using the product.  Don’t let that turn you off from trying the product.  Just like any other advertised prescription medication, any side effect that has ever been reported is required to be listed.  In my experience, the only small thing I have noticed is a thin pink-ish color on my eyelid at the base of my lashes where the medication is directly applied.  It will go away when you are not using Latisse.  Otherwise, I have not experienced any burning, swelling, brown pigmentation of the iris of my eye, or any other side effect the commercial reports.  I noticed amazing results after my first week of using it, and they continue to get better.  All you do is take the sterile brushes provided in the kit, add a drop of the medication, and apply to the base of your lashes before bed.  It is so simple, and I am extremely pleased with the results.  It is definitely a cheaper alternative to eyelash extensions if you have the patience to see results.  I will list some pros and cons of the product shortly.

Pros of Eyelash Extensions: 
-No makeup required!
-Significantly reduces time to get ready
-Does not harm your natural lashes
-They can get wet (but you need to wait 24-48 hours after lashes have been applied for the glue to dry)
-They look natural and flawless as the lash is applied 1 mm away from the root of each lash
-You wake up looking fabulous without any makeup at all!

Cons of Eyelash Extensions: 
-Cost: For me it was $250 for initial application of the lashes, and $100 per fill-in
-You need to do your research for who is qualified to apply extensions.  Look for certified aestheticians, and not a cheap Groupon you found online.  I have heard HORROR stories of people who ruined their lashes from going to a cheap, inexperienced “professional”.
-Right before you need to get them filled again, they can start to look scrappy and bare due to the shedding of your natural lashes, so you will be anxious for your next appointment.
-It takes about 90-120 minutes for initial application of a full-set of lashes.
-It takes about 45-60 minutes for fill-ins.

Pros of Latisse:
-Simple and easy to apply
-It grows your OWN lashes
-Your lashes become fuller, longer, and darker
-You can apply before putting on your makeup, or right before bedtime
-Amazing results after repetitive use!
-Although the product says it is a 2 or 3 month supply, it will generally last you much longer than that.

Cons of Latisse: 
-Cost: $120-$180 for 2 or 3 month supply (3 ml and 5 ml)
-Prescription may be required
-Side effects (not generally a big deal, but the ones that were reported came from about 4% of the participants in a clinical trial…so nothing to worry about)
-Patience is required to notice dramatic results, not a “quick fix”
-Be careful where you put Latisse, because HAIR WILL GROW wherever it touches on your skin!

After my experiences with both of these options, I prefer Latisse.  Although it is relatively expensive upfront, it lasts a very long time, and it is your own natural lashes.  Extensions are gorgeous and I will always love them, but with refills every 3 weeks along with the cost of upkeep, I think I will stick to Latisse for now!  Before I finish up here, I will attach some pictures of my eyelashes with extensions, and after just using Latisse.  Have a great rest of your day, and thanks for reading! Enjoy a few embarrassing photos of myself below…

This is the best picture I could find of myself with eyelash extensions. This was about a week before I needed a re-fill.

These are my natural lashes after using Latisse. This was originally just a goofy picture I had sent to my husband. I had no idea I would be posting this embarrassing selfie to a blog about my eyelashes, haha!

About Me

My name is Jillian Wade, and I currently reside in the bustling city of Nashville, TN.  I am originally from North Carolina, but I moved here in 2012 to be with my now husband, Hunter.  Together, we have the most handsome and loving fur-baby, Cooper.  He is a 2 year-old European Golden Retriever, and happens to be the most spoiled-rotten dog on the planet.

As the title of this blog suggests, life is like a box of chocolates.  You never know what you’re gonna get (thanks for that one, Forrest Gump!). I plan to cover lots of topics ranging from my latest obsessions, to my most recent adventures.  No, I am not a fashion blogger, food enthusiast, or fitness coach.  I am simply a young professional with a desire to share what is on my mind with the world.

I am a registered nurse, and a co-owner of Nella Boutique with my Mom and two older sisters, Gina and Emily.  I am always seeking my next challenge in life, and I am excited to bring you along on my journey.  Let’s see what we get next out of this Box of Chocolate!