wanna sponsor?

I still have a few sponsor spots open and would LOVE to have you join in on the fun! If you want to make some magic together please check out my Sponsor Page! I just switched over to Passionfruit Ads so it's even easier to reserve your spot! 

There are also some solo post and giveaway options but days are filling up quick and I only do a limited number each month! Email me if you'd like to claim a date so I can pencil you in before they're all gone!


PS did you check out the EcoShag giveaway for eco-friendly statement wear?! Yeah, you might wanna look into that. And by "look into" I mean run! You don't want to miss this one!

how to: Madewell braid

Remember that amazing Madewell Event I ran amok in? er. gracefully attended. Well, there was braid bar that I was super excited for. I have a serious love for the Madewell braid...the messy ease that still looks fresh. I thought how fun to have the steps documented to share with you all! And so I don't forget, because well it happens more than I'd like to admit.

All the braid styles were named after Madewell's Denim Bar, how fun!

Rail Straight: Braided side bangs

Skinny Skinny: Halo braid ("Madewell braid")

Skinny Skinny Ankle: Side fishtail braid

High Riser: Waterfall braid

Step 1: Part hair to the side and begin a french braid...the more loosely you braid then the messier and more carefree the final look will be.

Step 2: Continue french braiding behind the ear.

Step 3: When you come to the nape of the neck remember not to steal hair from your unbraided side so you have hair to round out the braid.

Step 4: Once you get to the back, begin adding hair from the center of your hair into the braid.

Step 5: Continue french braiding along your hairline, up and over your ear.

Step 6: Once you reach the top of your head, and there is no more hair to incorporate into a french braid then finish off the ends with a simple braid...I have a lot of layers, hence the messy braid.

Step 7: Bring the braided ends over the top of your head and pin into place. You now have a halo braid!

Meggy and I rocking our new braided hair-do's!

Feel free to pin this easy step-by-step tutorial!    

Tutorial steps photography by: Nicole Clifford Photography

Have you entered the EcoShag Giveaway yet? Get to it!

EcoShag love + Giveaway! {CLOSED}

You all are in for a treat this week! Tania is the talent behind EcoShag, an environmentally friendly accessory shop! Not only are her handmade lovelies amazing but I have been impressed by this girl more than one time in our conversations. She's got a motivation from within to make a difference and touch as many lives as possible, from upcycling forgotten treasures to even donating a portion of all proceeds to the National Brain Tumor Society and the Humane Society of America! When I first became a nurse, I worked in a brain injury unit for just over 4 years so I've got a soft spot for women like Tania and can't wait to introduce you to her! Without further ado...

Meet Tania of EcoShag:

I’m a mother, a wife, a philanthropist, and I own a little place called EcoShag. 
Losing my sister in 2008 is what inspired my company. She was my creative counterpart and in many ways, her memory lives on with each item I make. Heck, she’s the one who taught me how to make a scarf necklace back in the 80’s….

I think I was 6!?! 

One of the most gratifying aspects of my work is in finding the fabrics I use. Unlike many scarf and accessory makers, I don’t go to my local fabric store for textiles. I hunt down materials at estate sales, remnants when I’m fortunate to find enough, as well as organic/eco-friendly textiles. Even though it’s a lot more work, it feels really good to be eco-friendly. 

Tania has a $30 gift card to EcoShag up for grabs! 

How to enter:

1) Be a follower of this blog with Google Friend Connect!

2)  Visit EcoShag & comment on your favorite piece!

Extra entries:

(one entry for each! Make each entry in separate comments to count!)

1) Like EcoShag on Facebook HERE

2) Follow me on Twitter HERE

3) Follow me on Bloglovin HERE

4) Tweet, Facebook, or blog about this giveaway & comment for each

Don't want to wait?:

Use "SIMPLYBOLD"for 10% off at checkout!

Want to make a difference too?!:

(Please don't feel like you have to but every little bit helps...even a few dollars)

Donate to the National Brain Tumor Society HERE

Donate to the Humane Society HERE

Giveaway is open to all Simply Bold readers! International readers...this means you too! Closes on Monday August 6th at midnight CST! I'll announce the winner later that week!

thursday latelies

Can't see the video? Click HERE!

Some many little loves throughout the week...here's just a few of em!

• Tees from Our Imagination ~ Supporting emerging artists with an edgy casual clothing line...love!
• Crown Vintage loafers ~ perfection. simply perfection.
• Keurig Platinum ~ crazy what some scattered change can get you

Go see Bex for more Thursday Latelies!

Don't miss out on the Stitched + Adorned Giveaway for any piece from the shop!


PS Are you Jill? You just won the Anna Delores Giveaway! Congratulations, send me an email!

feelin blue

Madewell tank  |  Scarf  |  Skirt c/o Tees by Tina  |  tote  |  H&M sandals {similar}  |  Watch  |  JCrew ring {similar}

When I first put on this outfit, I looked in the mirror and said oh...blue top, blue skirt, blue bag. Greatttttt. So I made a B-line to my trusty green sandals, donned my yellow ring, and snatched up my new orange scarf on the way out the door. Could I have any more colorful accessories? Yes.

I'm typically not a skirt kind of girl. What can I say? I like to wear the pants. But when you come across a skirt that fits size 2 to 22 your mind tends to go places like "It has been awhile since I've been to a Chinese buffet" or "I can totally do the 'After' pose from that 2 am P90X infomercial." Which I did do and couldn't help but smile when my skirt returned right back to "like a glove" size, even after said buffet, gelato, and popcorn with a side box of Junior Mints at the movies. Let's just say I like to test the claims of my clothing. Test: passed.

Have you entered the Stitched + Adorned giveaway for ANY piece in the boutique?!

madewell event

Wow! Picture overload much? Yeah, but how can you edit down such gorgeous photos of such a fun event? You can't...hence the gold star you get for making it to the bottom of this post.

I know I've already expressed my love for Madewell more than once here but let me reiterate. I loved Madewell before I knew what Madewell was. Their perfect mix of playful colors with the reinvention of classic pieces has my heart aflutter. I had a "want list" in my hot little hands, the opportunity to utilize a shopping discount, and tossed a few bellinis into the mix. I was a kid in a candy store. 

Even their store was decorated to my every whim. My mantel is spotted with vintage industrial spools, I have an affection for antique scales, and navy & white are heaven to me. My 20' living room ceilings are painted in a creamy indigo. Let's just say navy and I have met...and we're on a first name basis.

What more could a girl ask for than to hang with one of the funnest group of bloggers & friends while being thankful she tripled her money on slot machines a couple nights before on her 3rd time ever gambling? Um...a pony?

Some of the lovelies pictured: Kelly, Sarah (stop by & say hi...she's adorable and I'm currently stalking her blog archives), the hardworking and oh-so-stylish ladies of Madewell, Ngan, Sandy, Erin, and Meggy. BIG thank you to Meggy for organizing the event!

My outfit: shirt, vintage elephant necklace, skirt, similar belt, watch, Coach flats {similar}, clutch: Anthropologie

Photography by: Nicole Clifford Photography

friday giveaway ~ Stitched + Adorned {CLOSED}

I can't wait to introduce you all to the gal behind the scenes of Stitched + Adorned, where this week's amazing giveaway comes from! Karen has an amazing eye for style and at some of the best prices I've seen! She's truly got a passion for fashion and it shows! I'm crushing on several pieces in her store so I'm super jealous of the lucky reader who wins this one!

Meet Karen of Stitched + Adorned:

Most people find it surprising but Stitched + Adorned is a one woman shop! I do everything from buying to photo taking to editing to product write up to packing and shipping! The vision behind the shop is to offer great styles at affordable prices, that is why nothing is over $50. A lot of shops offer value but since I shop for the clothes for the boutique myself, I touch and feel each and every piece to make sure I'm offering the best quality I can find at this price point! If I won't wear it, I won't sell it!

S+A is giving away the winner's choice of ANY item in the shop!

How to enter:

1) Be a follower of Simply Bold with Google Friend Connect! (mandatory)

2) Like Stitched + Adorned on Facebook HERE & comment below!

Extra entries:

(1 entry for each! Make each entry in separate comments to count!)

Visit Stiched + Adorned and comment below on your favorite piece!

Follow me on Twitter HERE

Follow me on Bloglovin HERE

Follow me on Instagram HERE

Follow me on Pinterest HERE

Tweet, Facebook, or blog about this giveaway & comment for each

Don't want to wait?:

Use code "simplybold10" for 10% off at checkout!

Giveaway is open to all Simply Bold readers with a USA shipping address! Closes on Friday, July 27th at midnight CST! I'll announce the winner the following week!

thursday latelies

Can't see the video? Click HERE

It's Thursdsay! Time for some more weekly loves!

• Brocato Cloud 9 Miracle Shampoo & Treatment! Pick it up for $12.98 at Beauty Brands Annual sale...that's $25 off!
• Madewell Transport Tote - on sale & additional 30% off with code "LOVEIT" til Monday night
• Infused olive oils and vinegar - Heavenly is where we picked ours up. Here is the grilled artichoke recipe I told you about...enjoy!

What's been making your week just a bit more amazing?! Go see Bex for more Thursday Latelies! Love that girl!

on airing out

open back tee  |  jeans: Target {similar}  |  similar bag  |  earrings c/o Love Sexton  |  DIY belt  |  watch  |  sandals: H&M

It has been hot around here. i. mean. hot. Sometimes you just need to locate the most light colored and breezy pieces in your closet and plan on those and only those for the remainder of the week. The best way to air out? Open it up. Especially the back of your tee. Layer a bandeau underneath and your in business.

Jake & I went to his union picnic, complete with a variety of inflatable water slide obstacle courses and slip & slides. Oh, the slip & slide. I was only seconds away from journey down the slick goodness into a little pool of cold water but for some reason taking out a few kiddos on the way to happiness didn't seem right. Plus, it's frowned upon to get soaked in public while wearing white. Shame. So I just sweat it out the classy way.

PS are you Alyssa of Ten Feet Off Beale? You just won the Shappy Apple Giveaway!

Congrats! Send me an email!

styling sheer shirts

I live in sheer shirts during the summer. They're a warm weather essential and great for layering! 

Click HERE to see three ways I style up a sheer white shirt from summer into fall!

saks off 5th event

Typically, I get posts up pretty dang quick...if I do say so myself. But wow, I'm a tad bit behind on this one. I feel so lucky to live in an area that has such an active blogger group. We'll I'm lucky that we have a blogger group at all because my guy can only stand to listen to the rationale behind an outfit, followers, putting up posts and blogging life in general. It's nice to kick back with others who share my love of blogging and do what we do best...shop. We have another blogger event with Madewell on Sunday so I figured I should post about the last one, prior to the next one. Make sense? Yeah I thought you'd get it. 

Anyway, Saks OFF 5th was so generous to let us take over their store and also give each one of us a gift card! You betcha I found something to use it on too! We snacked, sipped (notice the sangria to lemonade ratio...just saying), and shopped. What more could you ask for? A DJ? done. Yeah we had jams too. 

I had a blast with these girls and can't wait to see them again Sunday! Wanna meet them too? Check them out: Meggy (thanks for taking my outfit pics!), Sandy, Erin, Emily, Lisa, Shea, & Kem

blog swap - becky from bex a diary!

good morning {or whatever time of day you find yourself} simply bold  readers. my name is becky and i blog over at  bex a diary. bex, is what my dad would call me from time to time and i adored it. since then my good friends have picked up the tradition. because, ya know, becky really is too long and needs a nickname. i digress. 

my blog is a little bit of everything, but mostly, life, love & everyday style. leaving the life and love bits at home today i came ready to share with you a bit of everyday style. my Summer style. in short, these pieces are my "Summer essentials". items i simply can not do without, in the most ungodly heat, Phoenix experiences May through September. 

yup, five months of Summer, we're talking 110 + degree heat on a regular basis. wow is right!

so, in order to keep my cool while still dressing cutely i learned a few tricks. more after the jump

1//2//3//4//5//6//7

pleated skirts: shorts get pretty boring after a while. plus they're not always appropriate for work. enter soft and breezy pleated skirts. they're perfect! dress them up with a tank and blazer or casual with a graphic tee. i'm telling ya, you can't go wrong with the pleated skirt. 

graphic tee: plain & simple, graphic tees are the best. comfy cozy & cotton anything is wonderful in the heat. 

panama hat: the sun rays can be a tad harsh during these months. a panama hat is a great way to block those harsh wrinkle causes rays without looking like your gardening grandmother. 

shades: i don't go anywhere without my ray bans. did you know that light colored eyes are more susceptible to cataracts later in life due to the suns rays? so all my, green & blue eyed friends protect your peepers! 

totes: tote bags are quite possibly my favorite bag of choice. think about it, there's nothing you can't carry in a tote bag. plus, they're so casual & scream, "it's Summer and i'm taking it easy".

flip flops: what's more Summer than flip flops? Rainbow makes the best basic flip flop ever! my cousin and i bought a pair a few weeks ago and i've worn them every other day. bonus, Rainbows come with a lifetime guaranty.

delicate jewelry: i'm a big jewelry fanatic. more is best in my opinion. however, when it's hot out the less articles of clothing on my body the better. a tiny delicate piece makes a statement without all the weight. 

i've enjoyed hanging out with you ladies today. stop by bex a diary  anytime.  

You're invited...

I'm sure you've realized by now I'm a tad bit of a shopper...especially with Madewell. Oh, the colors, prints, styles...the list goes on. and. on. I'm in love! So how excited was I when Meggy helped to organize a Blogger Event at our local Kansas City store? Freakin' stoked!

We'll get the first look at their new Fall 2012 lineup, a shopping discount (I will be putting this to use), a giveaway (fingers crossed!), snacks & sips, and tips from the lovely Madewell stylists!

When: Sunday, July 15th from 5-7p

Where: Madewell

Town Center Plaza

Leadwood, KS 66209

AND you're invited!

No, I wouldn't think it strange if you booked your flight and canceled all plans for this Sunday just to come spend the day with us...we are pretty cool to hang with. I'm just saying.

Wanna come? RSVP with Meggy!

Oh, and yes you can expect to see pics of my Madewell Braid from the Braiding Bar.

Have you entered the Shabby Apple Giveaway yet?!

win a $50 gift card to Shabby Apple! {CLOSED}

Hello lucky ladies! Today I have a fun giveaway for you from the lovelies over at Shappy Apple! 

There's a $50 gift card up for grabs! 

How to enter:

1) Be a follower of Simply Bold with Google Friend Connect!

2) Like Shabby Apple on Facebook HERE & comment below!

Extra entries:

(one entry for each! Make each entry in separate comments to count!)

1) Visit Shabby Apple & comment on your favorite piece!

2) Follow me on Twitter HERE

3) Follow me on Bloglovin HERE

4) Tweet, Facebook, or blog about this giveaway & comment for each

Don't want to wait?:

How about 10% off for Simply Bold readers for the next month?!

Use "simplybold10off"

Giveaway is open to all Simply Bold readers with a USA shipping address! Closes on Friday, July 13th at midnight CST! I'll announce the winner the following week!

best fourth...

...ever! What can I say? There's something amazing about watching fireworks with a river front view, just me & my hunny...and thousands of other people, but who's counting?