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Quaker Pet Group offers a selection of brands that carry pet products and supplies for your beloved furry friends. Sherpa is one of them, and it offers a line of pet carriers that help you keep your pet safe and comfy while on the go. There are pet carriers for every breed of small dog and cat and Sherpa carriers were the first soft sided pet carrier to be endorse by major airlines! It's important to remember that when traveling anywhere whether by car or plane, your pet should always be contained and securely strapped in. This not only makes others around you feel comfortable, but your pet will be safe and content, and you won't have to worry at all! 

I received their Park Tote, which converts from a carrier to a blanket which is great for restaurants, patios, parks, and almost anywhere else I can think of. The whole thing is machine washable and it's great because there's no liner to remove.... you can just toss the whole thing in! Plus, it comes in different colors like black, brown, and zebra and leopard. There are 2 sizes...small which is 14x6x9 and medium which is 16x8x11. I received a medium for my pups. I love the quilted design and the zippered outside pocket. It's great for storing treats and even my cell phone. The roll back mesh top panel is great for letting fresh air in and allowing the dogs to see me when one is inside. The inside is so soft and when you make it into a blanket, it's warm and cuddly! You can purchase one for your pets at: www.simplydogsandcats.com

Outfit of the Day: Earthy Tones

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One thing I love about Fall is that I can embrace my dark color side, and I love earthy tones like darker greens and browns. So I was very pleased with the way this outfit came out. The top is a simple earthy green button up from Body Central.

I can't even describe how comfortable these skinny jeans are. They are from M2F Denim and they are the Indie Skinny. The stone washed color is beautiful and it actually is nicer than standard dark wash denim (to me at least) because it isn't rubbing off on everything I touch. The fabric is so so soft and so snug yet still comfortable. I am seriously in love with these jeans!

These boots are amazing, as they are so comfortable yet still stylish. They have a nice feminine look and aren't too bulky. I am pleased with how well they lightened up the dark colors of this outfit! And they go fantastic with these jeans! Of course, they are from JustFab, which has an amazing selection of Fall and Winter footwear, especially boots!!!!!

So What I wore:
Top - Body Central
Boots - Whistler in Cognac from JustFab
Jeans - Indie Railroad Skinny Jeans from M2F Denim

LuckyFABB 2013 Recap: Day 1

So last week was LuckyFABB in New York City.   I was so excited and I have some great coverage for you that I'll split up into several blog posts.

I was lucky enough to get to stay with my friend, and fellow blogger Stephanie, from Cookies and Daydreams.  Her house is so awesome and she even will be on HGTV because they redid her one room!

The room makeover (just a sneak peek) that will be featured on HGTV. 

She is great company and it made the whole being away from home thing much easier, so check out her blog when you get a chance because she has awesome DIY posts as well as recipes!

So....the LuckyFABB conference itself....

So tired waiting for the train into NYC.

When I arrived in the city on the morning of the first day I met up with Amy from One Artsy Mama.   Here we are standing in line...

I wore a Bebe Leather Jacket, Target Leggings, JustFab boots, a blue dress from Body Central, and an Alexander McQueen scarf!

It was so neat when we first walked in for registration.   We were handed a folder with the day's agenda as well as our name badges attached to a gorgeous charm necklace from Charming Charlie!

The first speaker of the day was Gillian Gorman Round, who is the General Manager of Lucky!    

Gillian welcoming all the bloggers!

Then came Eva Chen!  She is the Editor in Chief of Lucky Magazine and is so adorable!  She was interviewed by Lauren Sherman, the Editor a Large of Fashionista.com. 

Eva was so down to earth and explained that she was wearing a sweater from DKNY that is actually from the 90's and belongs to her mother! She had a Marc Jacobs dress over that, and was wearing her hubby's socks and her own loafers from Top Shop!   She gave some great tips on being a blogger and growing your brand.  She explained that you should know who you are, and your values, and stick to them.   Her 3 tips were:
Don't be afraid or nervous.
Enjoy what you do.
Always be yourself!

She also advised against pointing out "Cheap" things because you want every reader to feel equal...so just because something cost $5 doesn't mean you need to celebrate it as "cheap".  In fact, Eva's own words were "All things are equal." AMEN!

The first panel was Community ROI: Turning Your Readers Into Your Advocates.  

The panel was Erica Domasek of PS I Made This, Gabi Gregg of GABIFRESH, Alisa Gould-Simon of Pose, and Verena von Pfetten of Luckymag.com.

One of the things I took from this session was that social media is more important than comments on your blog.   Social media basically is a way of commenting on blog posts, so dont stress out if you don't get tons of comments.    The panel discussed their experience with high/low traffic posts and gave some more tips for bloggers.

Next there was a break where I took advantage of the All Access Gifting Suite.

A preview of my goodies.   My post about them will be up later! 

After we reconvened, it was time to meet Eva Mendes!  She was SUCH a sweetheart.   She was interviewed by Eva Chen!

She's just so darn gorgeous.   We learned that Eva likes floral for Spring so she will be featuring that in her new collection at New York & Company.   She also likes lipstick over gloss and the smokey eye versus natural eye makeup.    And when it comes to technology, she likes her iPad more than a laptop OR desktop!    Eva Mendes created her line because she wants women to trust her as a brand and a designer.  She's a girl's girl so trust is important.  Her line is affordable for all women and that means a lot to her because she grew up in a lower middle class family and she doesn't want other women to feel that they have to struggle to look good!   I absolutely adore her!

Oh and she said her worst look was when she wore a side braid to a premiere. 

I still think she's gorgeous!

The highlight of everything was when she took a girl's scarf from the audience and showed us how to wrap it around our heads!  

After lunch, Eva Chen came back on for a conversation with BryanBoy.  

He reminded us to not blog about things we truly don't like, and that it's okay to turn down the opportunity.  Also, he said it's okay to wear outfits over and over again.   His last great find as a Stella Sweater and when asked for a tip to get a good deal he said to always research promo codes.   

During audience Q&A, someone asked what Eva and BryanBoy's blogging do's and don't were.  Eva said DO videos, spellcheck, and use your own voice and said DO NOT copycat.   Bryan agreed with her and also said that make your selling point be your blog, not just your business card.  

Next up was another panel, for Five Mistakes You Don't Want to Make.

Moderator Haley Phelan from Lucky, Lindsey Calla from Saucy Glossie, Amber Venz from rewardStyle, and Mattias Swenson, the CEO of Bloglovin.

   

This panel was very informative.  They explained what platforms you can use for which social media promotion.   They also said to listen to what your readers tell you, and listen to what people say you're good at.  For me that's budget posts, modest and realistic outfit posts, and giving advice.  Also they explained that you should ALWAYS be authentic and stay inspired, but also keep challenging yourself when it comes to your content.   

After a break it was time for the Blogger's Choice panel.... Where to Post What: Which Social Media Platforms are Best for your Content.  

John Jannuzzi from Lukymag.com, Aliza Licht from Donna Karan International, Suzanne Schloot from Kate Spade New York, Stephanie Horton from FarFetch, and Amy Cole from Instagram. 

This panel was awesome and one of my favorite tips was that it's okay to not use every social media platform.  Also, they reinforced what I already stood by when it came to images...I use Instagram for my images, and Twitter photos only for an image that I don't really care to reference again.  


After one more break, it was time for Evan Chen to bring out Kate Bosworth!  She was gorgeous and such a doll!  She was also very shy which was crazy because we are the ones that should be shy!!!

She is so down to earth just like Eva Mendes and I enjoyed learning about how simple she styles herself and how she stays true to herself.     

After Day 1 ended I rushed home and had to rest up for Day 2... which I will recap tomorrow!!    

What I learned from the Book THE SECRET

The insane thing is this book, The Secret, is so legit and the secret if applied correctly, really does work. I've already applied it to my life before reading the book and here are some of the ways I can show you it has worked for me.


Parking spots

There’s a part in the book that talks about how the one guy always imagines the parking spot he wants on the way to the store, and each time he gets there , it’s open or it’s open after he drives down the aisle quick first. I suddenly realized that I always was envisioning a parking spot next to the one car corral and it’s always open or if it’s not, the one next to it is! I’ve been doing that for years, so I will continue to do it.


No parking tickets

The book explains how you shouldn’t curse yourself by saying “I don’t want **Something bad** to happen.” Instead you should focus on the opposite of that in a positive manner. Well, this has also been working for years for me, as I have no speeding/parking tickets. Every time I tell someone that, they say, knock on wood! And I always say, I don’t have to, I drive smart and I will continue to, rather than saying that I don’t want to get pulled over ever.


Opportunities for income

I stopped wishing for a way for easy money, and instead just told myself in the Summer that I would have lots of lucrative opportunities with my blog. Within weeks, everything poured in and it wasn’t until I read The Secret that I understood that it was from me thinking positively towards it.



After reading the book I did a few more things that worked in my favor:


Winning giveaways

I entered them with the intent to win, I didn’t doubt anything for a second or worry that my chances were not good to win. In fact, I ended up winning at least one giveaway a week since then. I just keep my thoughts positive.


Improving my Health

I began to catch a cold, and I remembered what it said about mind over matter...and the power of healing from positive thought. So rather than dread being sick or getting worse, I'll just focus on how strong my body is and how much it will kick butt. Hey, it's worked so far!


Surrounding myself with Positive People

I must say, after reading this book, I can not stand negative people or downers, even more so than I already couldn't stand them! If you read the book, you will see what I mean!!!!!
Seriously, GO BUY THIS BOOK! You will not regret it!

Behind the Wheel of the 2014 Kia Soul

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We went over the inside and under the hood, but now here's how the 2014 Kia Soul was when I actually took it for a spin!

It handles like a gem! It was great going around curves and turns on backroads AND in the city. I actually liked how smooth it road on the highway and in the city, as the streets aren't really well maintained these days. It was very quiet inside when I didn't have the music on, which was really relaxing and pleasant.

The brakes stop on a dime and I also liked that despite the Kia Soul being larger than my car, my cargo didn't fly around (aka my handbag and my luggage when I went to New Jersey for Lucky Fabb in NYC). It actually did a great job stowing my goods! I was also very pleased with the fuel economy and how far it got me. The heated seats were quite a luxury while driving to work in the morning.
The ease of getting in and out of the Kia Soul is amazing!!!! It's actually easier than an SUV or a car.. it's like the perfect height and size for me! And parking was super easy even though this is bigger than my car. Actually, I even parallel parked the Kia Soul and had not a single issue. The back up camera really helps too!

Overall, this is a great vehicle for pretty much anyone. It has plenty of room for kids, but it's compact enough for the individual driver and does well in the city and on the highway so it's great for any commute! I love the mood lighting around the stereo speakers and I feel so young in this vehicle! I mean, I know I'm 27, but I mean I feel like I just turned 20! I really love the sound system and the navigation. It made my trip to New Jersey so easy, and it was very easy for me to see my surrounding when switching lanes, merging, etc. I highly recommend this affordable and practical vehicle to anyone!!!!

Tune in to the Electrolux Live Cooktop Challenge!

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If you love watching food shows and seeing celebrity chefs cook up delicious new meals... then tune into Food52.com for the live stream on November 6 at 1pm EST.    You'll get to learn a thing or two about cooking and even get the opportunity to win an Electrolux cooktop!   Wouldn't it be so easier to prepare meals with a quality cooktop?! 

Electrolux has some great cooktops like the Induction Cooktop for $1,999 for the 30" or $2,199 for the 36".  It can boil water in 90 seconds, gives you control of a gas cooktop with an electric range, and can indefinitely hold food at the perfect serving temperature.   

Electrolux also has an Electric Cooktop ($1,299 for 30" and $1,399 for 36") that has the Flex-2-Fit Elements that adjust up to three sizes.   Your elements will fit your cookware with no problem.   It also has the Glide-2-Set control panel that allows you to control heat with the touch of a finger!      

And of course there's the Gas Cooktop ($1,349-$1,549)  which has a dual flame sealed burner and amazingly designed precision control knobs.   So basically, there's something for everyone!  So join me and tune in to learn some more about cooking and to get your mouth watering!