sparkling wednesday

Today's post is about taking a break. Taking a moment in the middle of your week to say "okay... here's what I need right now." Today I needed some freaking chocolate covered pomegranate seeds. So when I gave myself a break around 2pm today I made sure that they happened. 

I am teaming up with Ozarka® Sparkling Waters to help you relax this Wednesday, so how do you like to treat yourself during the week? Do you have a midweek ritual that helps you make it to the weekend?

Every hump day Ozarka® is sharing some of their favorite ways to feel good and escape the midweek hump.  Head over to their Facebook page every #HumpDay to have a feel good moment and share your own!

Happy Hump Day!

This post is sponsored by Ozarka® Brand Sparkling Natural Spring Waters.

oh, shoes and bags, let me count the ways I love thee

In my very brief stint as a working women (more on that later) I have already rediscovered my love for shoes that seem weird to just wear around the apartment, and therefore have gone utterly unworn for the longest time - but no longer! Even though my job was short lived, my love for these shoes will not be, and I'm thinking some new ones might be forthcoming now that I've found a new site to fall in love with. Ummm, check these out.

I'm a shoe and bag girl, so ShoeDazzle is like my dream store. Prices are super reasonable (Look at them!), styles are cute and - this is a big one for me - the styles aren't what you would find at the mall or in chain shoe stores. Shoes are about the only thing I don't often buy used or vintage and so they are my most likely splurge item - i.e. ShoeDazzle is dangerous. The two pictures above are my #1 picks!

Here's what ShoeDazzle has to say about itself:

ShoeDazzle is the original online personal-styling innovator treating millions of women to a monthly showroom filled with on-trend, personalized shoe and accessory recommendations.
By building an intimate, customized experience through creative innovation, social engagement and world-class service, ShoeDazzle aspires to make women feel pampered and beautiful.
Fashion icon, designer, and world-renowned stylist Rachel Zoe serves as the company’s Chief Stylist. The company’s founders include Brian Lee, Robert Shapiro, Kim Kardashian and MJ Eng.

So here's how it works: You take a fun quiz so ShoeDazzle can get to know your style and based on the results of the quiz, ShoeDazzle gives you your first showroom of shoes and handbags they think you’ll love. At the beginning of every month you will receive a new selection that fits your individual style, and as new styles get added to the site throughout the month, they continue to tailor your personalized recommendations!


I don't know about you, but I love styling quizzes. It's worth it to take the quiz just to see what a professional stylist would pick for you to wear and sometimes it helps you look at something in a new way. And hey, free professional styling? Who couldn't use that!

And so here's another perk: if you make a purchase within 2 days of taking the quiz you get 25% off your order! YES PLEASE!

This post was sponsored by ShoeDazzle.com.

birthday frock

Dress: Graphic Colorblock Frock c/o Eshakti, Heels: Charlotte Russe

Isn't "frock" the best word? We should use it always. I can hear it now - A friend says, "That's cute!" and their stylish compatriot replies, "Oh, this old frock? It's nothing." Let's make this a thing.

So today is my birthday! I'm 23 - which finally sounds grown up. And unlike last year, when I was totally lame and didn't care about my birthday, this year I am getting into it! I've been on a pretty stringent diet lately so I am looking forward to cake WAY more than usual, and I am generally just looking forward to treating myself today - to sunshine, sketching, new kettlebells, and maybe even a manicure, if I'm feeling crazy.

When Eshakti contacted me about reviewing an item from their spring line, I was pretty excited, because I had already decided I really wanted this dress. If you've been eyeing something from Eshakti, or if you just need something new for Easter (cause this is for sure going to be my Easter dress!) stop by their site and check it out. And - BONUS - get %20 off now through 3/20 with the code FVRTHEBRVE.

show some love - be a february sponsor!

My group of sponsors for February is looking a little small, and that's why I need you! And guess what? It's free!

That's what I said! Free ad space! All you need to do it swap ad with me and you'll be featured for one month in my right sidebar. Go to my SPONSOR page and link up! Hope to see you all smiling at my from my side bar!

This month I'll also be putting together a special GROUP GIVEAWAY with my sponsors, so if you want to be a part of it, head to that Sponsor page!

All swaps are subject to my discretion. Only blogs that are in keeping with Favor the Brave's values and audience profile will be selected for swapping.

january summer

I was surprisingly uncold taking these pictures last weekend. It was the perfect time to break in this beautiful dress I recieved from Eshakti. I love this dress for many reasons - it has a great full skirt, it is the perfect mix of modern and vintage styling, and, of course, it has pockets! If you're looking to try Eshakti out, they're having a 30% off sale right now that you don't want to miss!

Linking up with Weekend Update, Yolo Monday,
Monday Meetup, Miscellany Monday, Love my Online Friends 

free ad space to start the year!

That's what I said! Free ad space! All you need to do it swap ad with me and you'll be featured for one month in my right sidebar. Go to my SPONSOR page and link up! Hope to see you all smiling at my from my side bar!

But HURRY! This deal will only last a little while!

All swaps are subject to my discretion. Only blogs that are in keeping with Favor the Brave's values and audience profile will be selected for swapping.

operation smile

I think 99% of us take our smile for granted.

We've never not had it.

As style bloggers, and maybe just as human beings, we have the tendency to look for all the things that are wrong with our physical appearances while overlooking all our blessings. Many of us are healthy at all shapes, colors, and sizes, and we have every reason to be thankful for that. And sometimes the best way to show our gratitude is to take the emphasis off of ourselves and put it on someone else who needs our help. Enter Operation Smile.

Here's a quick excerpt from Operation Smile's About page:

As an international charity for children, we measure ourselves by the joy we see on all of the faces we help. At Operation Smile, we're more than a charity. More than an NGO. We're a mobilized force of medical professionals and caring hearts who provide safe, effective reconstructive surgery for children born with facial deformities such as cleft lip and cleft palate. 

Every three minutes a child is born with a cleft — often unable to eat, speak, socialize or smile. In some places these children are shunned and rejected. And in too many cases, their parents can't afford to give them the surgeries they need to live a normal life. 

That's where we come in as one of the top charities providing much needed surgical services. Since 1982, Operation Smile — through the help of dedicated medical volunteers — has provided more than 3.5 million comprehensive patient evaluations and over 200,000 free surgeries for children and young adults born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.

So how can you get involved? Well you can definitely donate directly to Operation Smile,  but you can also support them with something you might be buying anyway: your textbooks for next semester. I rented from Campus Book Rentals in college and was happy to find out that they support Operation Smile as part of their Making a Difference program. Personally, if I'm buying something anyway I like to do it somewhere that also benefits causes I care about.

Because I think everyone deserves a smile.

peace&love,
Jill

This post was sponsored by Campus Book Rentals, but all the opinons and viewpoints are the mine - just sharing a cause I care about. -js

The Chameleon of Accessories

I love jewelry because it tends to be so versatile, no matter what it is. Even a statement necklace can fit in all kinds of outfits... statement earrings even more so in my opinion. So whether you're rocking a brilliant diamond necklaces or a more subdued pendant, there's a good chance it will go with just about anything.

Here I have taken a simple and beautiful gemstone and diamond necklace and made it the focal point of three completely different outfits. One for weekend, one for work, and one for a fancy evening out. Let me know what you think!

And let me tell you ladies, if your boy needs some Valentine's Day inspiration leave the link to this diamond tennis necklace open. I think he'll get the idea. Then you can show him the outifts and how wonderfully versatile it can be!

(This post is sponsored by Anjolee jewelry. Please take a moment to check out their beautiful necklaces.)

weekend wear by unresigned featuring dark denim jeans

colorful work by unresigned featuring a flannel jacket

belle of the ball by unresigned featuring black evening dresses

peace&love,

Jill