If you live around Scottsdale or have passed through recently, you may have noticed the giant white tents standing alongside Loop 101 and Hayden Road.  For ten weeks at the beginning of every year as many as 100 of the finest artists from across the country gather in this enormous arena to display their work.  Many of the artists create new work whilst visitors, art lovers and art collectors meander the studios taking in spectacular art in various forms from paintings to sculptures, and can chat with the artists and see how their work is created.

Upon observation, it seems the most recent styles from last summer through to the present have transitioned from off-the-shoulder to cold shoulder, to bell sleeves, to drama sleeves -  and I've enjoyed every minute of it!  All of the above are still going strong, but the latter is the new kid on the block.  Here's my favorite find thus far to throw spotlight on this newcomer.

Popular new stores were emerging as I was hitting my midlife.  For a few years I would march on past these shops discarding them for "teenagers only".   One day I decided to venture in even though I didn't have a teenager with me to use as an excuse.  I braved it by myself and realized that in among the frivolous and many tiny clothes, were some pieces that were not so tiny and worked for me too.  I've never looked back, and whilst I don't buy tons of clothes in these stores, I do find adorable items for fantastic prices.  

There is always somewhere good to be in Arizona at any time of the year, despite the soaring temperatures in the summer.  It's a state with it's own climate control.  A couple of hours north or a couple of hours south, we've got it all covered, just find your comfort zone.  At this time of year, you want to be right here, Scottsdale and Phoenix, the places to be, weather included.  With so much going on, from music festivals to rodeos, art shows to championship golf tournaments and everything in between.  It's alive with life, the State's own entertainment capital.

A jumpsuit is a great way to elevate a casual style and to offer up a change to the jeans and  tee shirt look.  For the casual style jumpsuit, cotton or chambray denim fabrics are very popular.  Whether you prefer plain or patterned,  they're super comfortable, tres chic, and make a bold style statement.  There are a few key notes I would recommend when wearing a jumpsuit so to keep the overall look in proportion.

With spring just around the corner and finally the reduction in layers of clothing, it's fun to start exploring the parts of your closet you closed down and said goodbye to as fall came upon us last year.  It always brings a renewed sense of inspiration to formulate new outfits or different pairings with existing clothes as we are tempted by the new seasons colors and styles.  

They say when little girls grow up they marry their daddy.  I was one of those little girls.  I had the best daddy in the world, and now I'm all grown up I have the best husband in the world.  I am truly blessed to have experienced only good men in my life, I know there are many women who are not as fortunate.

On a recent visit to target to get the hubby some Advil,  I stumbled across a bag of Kraft Jet-Puffed pink heart marshmallows.  As is my weakness, attracted to all that is pink, I had to get them because they were too pretty not to!  Who does that?  Whilst I was there, I stumbled across a few other fun things to sweeten up the Valentines festivities.

Animal prints have always held a high ranking in my closet.  Not only in tops, pants, handbags, and of course shoes but also in a couple of pieces of jewelry.  Come to think of it, I'm rather animal print obsessed.  As I write this I realize sitting at my dining room table with my laptop, my dining chairs are covered in leopard print velvet, and the reading chair over in the corner is covered in a faux fur leopard print throw.  So you get the picture - definitely obsessed!

Locally, this event has quite a reputation for being the single most popular people watching arena in the west.  Of course, some people do actually go to watch the golf!  Many girls dress up as though they're going to a star studded party on a yacht in the Caribbean.  It was a gloriously warm day which favored the skimpy clothes, and with no concern for the general terrain of such event, the scenery was more than entertaining with high heels and platform shoes tottering about the sloping grassy banks of the vast 18 hole championship TPC golf course. 
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This was my first time to a golf tournament, and the first time to any event that hosted a record breaking almost 205,000 people on a single day.  It was a sight to behold.  I didn't see much golf but that wasn't really why I was there, as I believe was the same for a large number of other folk in attendance!

If you like to exercise first thing in the morning, but don't want to use up your precious time on all the other stuff that follows  - showering, hair, changing clothes, make up etc. then here's how I transition swiftly from a (low impact) workout to going about my daily errands without much ado.  This is really all about bringing yoga pants into the current year!

Pink is coming back with a vengeance.  Shades from the palest hue of "almost" pink to the vivid intensity of candy floss.  For those who love pink this is great news, you're going to be able to swim in pink.  If you don't love it now, you may just find yourself falling in pink love by the time spring is here.

Brian (hubby) makes the best mussels I've had anywhere between here and France, whichever way around the world you go.  This is how he does it.  This recipe serves two as a main course, takes about 30 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes to cook.

Beneath the cozy cardigan peep hints of feminine charm in the form of a lace camisole.  I love how these on-trend camisoles  soften the look of an otherwise tomboyish outfit.  It can turn your comfiest gear into a "going out" outfit, especially if you elevate your boyfriend jeans by adding a sexy pair of heels.  But for keeping it daytime, chunky booties or sneakers totally do the trick.