St. Louis Style Collective Meetup

June 12, 2017 ~ styledmuse ~ Leave a comment

Above photos taken by Taylor Mobley of blondeandambitiousblog.com

Above photo taken by Carmen Ramirez of frontrowstl.com

Pictured above from left to right: Myself, April, Anna, Taylor, and Carmen. (click the names to see their blogs!)

On May 21st, the St. Louis ladies of Style Collective had our first meetup! But it wasn’t your ordinary meetup. We were celebrating the launch of Style Collective’s new podcast! Just search “Becoming Fearless” to give it a listen. I love meeting bloggers that are located in the STL area. It gives me comfort knowing that we are all doing this blogging thing together, and trying to figure it all out as we go, considering it’s kind of a new industry.

The meetup was held at Blo Blow Dry Bar in Chesterfield, MO. About 30 minutes from STL. Blo was nothing but amazing, and gave us complimentary blow outs. I decided on the style “Pillow Talk”. You can see in the photos above :). It was my first blow out, and the experience was SO relaxing. I cannot wait to go back! They were so accommodating and let us setup our snacks on a table in the back of the salon. We had cheese, crackers, grapes, cookies, and of course champagne!

We also had the opportunity to collaborate with some great local shops! They were kind enough to donate items from their shops for goodies bags for each of the girls. You can see in the photos below what they gave each of us. Thank you to all the shops who donated! I linked all of their websites and put their Instagram handles so you can check them out!

Paperdolls Boutique @pdshopgirl: They have the cutest clothes! I’m in love with the scent of the candle they gave us. I also cannot wait to wear those bracelets!

Christopher’s @christopherskirkwood127: This shop has the perfect gift items! Christopher’s was kind enough to give us Pink Pig Soap, and a tape measure (are you surprised I didn’t own one of these!? haha)

CR Jewels @crjewels: Our very own Carmen Ramirez made these gorgeous jewels and was nice enough to donate a few to us!

The Spotted Pig @thespottedpigstl: Another one of my favorite local shops for gift items! This would be a great place to go for Father’s Day gifts! They were super kind, and sent us this Lucky Penny key chain.

I had such a blast at our meetup, and I cannot wait for our next one! If you would like to join Style Collective to experience local meetups, and to pump up your blogging game, you can join HERE!

Hope everyone has a great week!

Valerie

P.S.: I have an exciting Instagram collaboration coming up with a huge clothing company, so make sure you are following me on Instagram to see it! I can’t wait to show you!

Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale

May 27, 2017 ~ styledmuse ~ Leave a comment

NORDSTROMHALF YEARLY

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Happy Friday! I decided to kick off this Memorial 3 day weekend with my favorite picks from the Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale. This is one of the biggest sales they have of the year (the other one being the Anniversary Sale, which I will also share my picks in July). What I love about this sale is that designer items are included. I saw a YSL bag for over $500 off, like whoa! But of course it sold out right after I saw it. Items go super fast, so if you see anything you like, make sure you jump on it.

Anyways, most of the shirts above I currently have in my shopping cart, and I’m having a hard time trying to figure out which ones to get! Help me out by commenting below with which one I should purchase and style for you guys! I have really been wanting a robe, so this one is a must for me! After going through my closet last weekend, I realized I didn’t have enough short sleeved shirts for summer! I’m in love with this sheer one! I also have this one in the color “Neon Pink” in my cart, even though it’s not on sale, I just couldn’t pass it up! The color is perfect for summer with a pair of white skinny jeans.

They also have a lot of home decor on sale. I love these white shag pillows! I currently have them on my living room couch as you can see in the below photo :). The pink flamingo pillow I found at Michael’s Craft Store, and the banana leaf pillows are from Shein, but you can find similar ones from Target!

Couch Pillows

I hope you all have a great Memorial Day Weekend. I plan on going camping (well, I guess glamping because my parents have a camper with AC and showers, haha) at the lake about an hour from our house. The weather is supposed to be pretty bad this weekend, so hopefully I will have a little dry time to hit up the beach for a little while because I really need a tan! Haha. What are your Memorial Day Weekend plans? Let me know in the comments!

Valerie

Easter Dresses Under $40

April 3, 2017 ~ styledmuse ~ 19 Comments

Easter Outfit 6

Easter Outfit 5

Easter Outfit 4

Easter Outfit 3

Easter Outfit 2

Easter Outfit 1

Easter Outfit 7

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Dress: Charlotte Russe – Similar, Pink, Olive, Coral (with bell sleeves!) // Bag: Charlotte Russe // Shoes: Similar // Bracelets: Similar, Similar // Lipstick: Nyx, Shade Lace Detail

Happy Monday! I can’t believe Easter is only a couple weeks away. When I was little, my mom would always take my sister and I to get our Easter outfits. Luckily, we didn’t have to get matching ones. She would let us pick out our own. I was more of a tomboy when I was younger, so I would either wear a skirt and shirt, or pants and a nice top. My sister on the other hand, would always wear cute dresses. Of course as we got older, our styles changed. Now we are the complete opposite! I love wearing cute dresses, and she likes to stick with jeans and a t-shirt. Haha! Easter is always something I look forward too.

Since I’m trying to save money this year (new car, here I come!), I decided to show you guys a few dress ideas that will fit your budget. All of them are under $40! Of course as soon as I shot this dress, it sold out! But they have a lot of other colors available, so I tagged them all above. I even bought it in black!

I’m absolutely in love with this crossbody bag from Charlotte Russe! They have so many different colors, and you can wear them with any outfit. You also can’t beat that they are under $20! Also, The NYX Lingerie liquid lipstick in Lace Detail is the perfect nude shade! It’s long lasting, and you can’t even tell that you are wearing anything!

What are your Easter plans? Let me know in the comments! Thanks for reading!

Valerie

Leopard Booties And Ripped Jeans

March 7, 2017March 7, 2017 ~ styledmuse ~ 16 Comments

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Leopard Booties (on sale for under $20!): Charlotte Russe // Jeans: Nordstrom // Top: Similar // Earrings: Baublebar // Ring: Charlotte Russe // Clutch: Similar

Happy Monday, babes! Did y’all have a great weekend? All last week I was battling the flu, that turned into a sinus infection/ear infection! No fun. My plan was to have this post up last Wednesday, but I literally had no energy to write it. So you get to see it today! 🙂

This was one of my favorite outfits to wear over the winter. Since we are still having chilly days, I figured this would be perfect to post. The pink tassel earrings from Baublebar add a perfect pop of color for spring. They will be on repeat, I can already tell! I also plan to incorporate these leopard booties from Charlotte Russe into my spring wardrobe. I will have a post all about how to do that in a few weeks. Right now they are currently under $20, so make sure you grab them before they sell out. They run true to size, and are SO comfortable!!! I wear them literally everywhere.

With the leopard booties, I wore my black ripped jeans (these are great to wear year round, they are one of my closet staples!), and an oversized long sleeve turtle neck. I found this on the clearance rack a Kohl’s one day (and is no longer available), so I tagged a similar one. The clutch I got a Target two years ago and is no longer available, so I tagged one that I like even more! I might need to add it to my collection. 🙂

I was also really excited when I found out that Charlotte Russe is finally starting to sell bigger sized rings! I have big knuckles, so I have a hard time finding rings that fit. These fit me perfectly!

Would you like to see a blog post about my wardrobe staples? Let me know in the comments! Have a great week, and thanks for reading!

Valerie

The Perfect Top For Spring Transition

February 24, 2017February 24, 2017 ~ styledmuse ~ 6 Comments

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Top: Soft Surroundings // Pants (similar) // Heels (similar) // Bag (similar) // Bracelets (similar)

Happy Friday! Do you have any fun plans this weekend? My mom and I are going to a Working Women’s Survival Show/Convention on Saturday! They have it in St. Louis every year, and we always go! We haven’t been able to go the past couple years though, but I’m so excited to finally make it this year! You can follow along with me on Insta stories (@valeriehelton) or on Snapchat (valzors)!

Has it been abnormally warm where you are? In January and February, it is usually pretty cold and snowing in STL. Well, lately it has been so warm, like in the upper 70s! My closet has been really confused, haha!

I found this top on Soft Surroundings’ website, and it is perfect for transitioning from winter to spring. The colors are perfect for spring and have cute beading details around the collar! It has long sleeves that you can easily roll up when it gets warmer. I paired it with white jeggings and nude stud heels. You can even wear this during the summer with a pair of jean shorts. It is a bit oversized, so I would go down a size or two if you want a more fitted look.

Soft Surroundings has so many new tops for their spring collection, and will have a bunch more in their summer collection! I think I’m going to add this one to my closet. Also, this swimsuit might make an appearance. Soft Surroundings plans to open 17 stores in 2017, so check to see if you will have one near you!

Thanks for reading, have a great weekend!

Valerie

In collaboration with Soft Surroundings. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Styled Muse possible! ❤

What’s In My Bag: Work Edition

February 20, 2017 ~ styledmuse ~ 1 Comment

Happy Monday! This weekend is a three day weekend for me, so I get to relax today! Much. Needed. Especially since I plan on working overtime this week. Needing a new car = needing more money. Haha! I decided to do a post showing you what I keep in my bag for work, especially during overtime weeks. I showed you what I keep in my smaller bag in this post.

Bag: This Kate Spade bag I found at the St. Louis Premium Outlets! This is seriously one of my favorite places to shop. You can find so many great deals! I found this tote for under $100 (such a great deal!) This size is perfect to hold anything you may need for work, including your lunch. This bag also reminds me of the LV Neverfull, but at a way more affordable price! I tagged a similar Kate Spade bag, since I can’t seem to find the exact one online. Just check your local Simon Premium Outlets for it!

Makeup: I carry a few makeup products with me that I may need for touchups throughout the day. I always carry two different lipsticks in case I need a more nude one, or if I plan on going out after work, I can throw on a dark or bright one. I always have my Too Faced Melted lipstick and my YSL lipstick with me. I always keep my YSL Blur Perfecter with me to use as a mirror and to use on my face once it starts to get oily.

Planner: My boyfriend bought me this planner for my birthday and I absolutely love it! I carry it around with me everywhere. I also always carry around a pen and pencil so I can write dates down in my planner on the go. I found these in the Target dollar section!

Sunglasses: I always carry my sunglasses with me. My eyes are very sensitive to the sun, so I always keep a pair in my bag. I found these sunglasses on Amazon for under $15! I can’t seem to find them on the website any longer, so I tagged a similar pair.

Wallet: I love carrying a larger wallet when I have a larger bag. I have so many cards that I can’t seem to fit them in a small wallet. I got this one at Target a few years ago, so I tagged a similar one.

Card Case: I use my Coach Card Case to hold my business cards. I just throw a few of them in each opening, and it works out perfectly in case I ever need to give one of them out to someone. I also found this card case at the St. Louis Premium Outlets (for under $20!), but it was a couple years ago, so I tagged a similar card case.

Cosmetic Bag: I keep all of my makeup, hand lotion, chapstick, and hand sanitizer in a cosmetic bag so It’s easier to find everything. I hate having to dig through a large bag, trying to find a small item, so cosmetic bags really help to organize larger bags.

Key Chain: I love poof ball key chains! They are so adorable and a huge trend right now. I always keep one on my keys and add one to my bags. You can find the red one I have on my bag here.

What is an item you always have to keep in your bag? Let me know in the comments! Have a great week, and enjoy your day off (if your work celebrates Presidents’ Day)!

Valerie

This post was in collaboration with St. Louis Premium Outlets. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Styled Muse possible!

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide For Her

January 20, 2017 ~ styledmuse ~ 16 Comments

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Happy Friday! I’m so glad it’s finally the weekend, I have been so tired this week! What are your plans for the weekend? My boyfriend and I are going to the St. Louis Auto Show! We are going to check out all the new cars, hoping to eventually get a new one. My car is so old, she’s not going to last much longer! Follow me on Snapchat (valzors), I will be posting on there while I am looking at some of my favorite cars.

Isn’t it crazy how fast this year is going already? I can’t believe Valentine’s Day is only a few weeks away! To save you from doing any last minute shopping, I created a gift guide that’s perfect to give any lady in your life. If you have a boyfriend or husband that has no idea what to get you, just send him the link to this, haha! 😉

The prices on this list range from $18-$350 to fit every price point. My boyfriend bought me that Graphic Image planner for my birthday, and I’m absolutely in love with it! Not only is it chic, but it helps me organize my time. Also, how adorable are those Kate Spade heels!? They are a bit pricey, but so cute!

What is your favorite gift you have ever received for Valentine’s Day? Let me know in the comments! Thanks for reading!

Valerie

Outerwear Under $100

January 9, 2017 ~ styledmuse ~ 14 Comments

outerwear

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Happy Sunday! Are you watching the Golden Globes right now? That opening with Jimmy Fallon was so great! I usually watch the red carpet (I love seeing all of the beautiful dresses!), then end up just watching Netflix. I’m more into the Oscars and Grammys. A post that I am planning in a few weeks will show you how to throw the best awards show viewing party! So keep an eye out for that post. I hope that Stranger Things wins a few Golden Globes though! My boyfriend and I loved that show so much that we finished the entire season in a couple days. I hope the second season comes out really soon!

Since the weather has been SUPER cold all over the country, I decided to round up some of my favorite outerwear items to keep you warm. All of these are under $100 (just in case one of your resolutions is to save money 😉 ). Right now a huge trend are beanies with pom poms! My bestie got me the cutest one for Christmas, and it keeps my head so warm! The one I tagged above is very similar, but it’s under $9! I’m also obsessed with that leopard beanie, it is on my wishlist.

One item I really need to get is a coat to wear when it rains. This trench coat from Nordstrom is perfect for that. It’s also under $80! Of course, I tagged a few of my favorite winter coats and a cute faux leather jacket that can be worn on a warmer day. You also can’t forget about scarves and gloves. This blanket scarf is almost identical to the one I wore in this post. You can wear it so many different ways!

Who do you think was best dressed on the red carpet? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading, and have a great week!

Valerie

2017 Goals

January 3, 2017January 3, 2017 ~ styledmuse ~ 2 Comments

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Chambray Top // White Jeans // Ankle Boots // Crossbody Bag // Ring // Blanket Scarf

Happy 2017! I have many goals for this year. I always say goals, because when I think of resolutions, I always think of something that doesn’t last very long (like a month, if that). I also always set goals that are actually attainable, otherwise I would be super disappointed at the end of the year! Here are some of my main goals for this year:

Take care of myself: This means by eating right and actually exercising. I know I need to lose a few pounds, but if I don’t set my goal to a certain number on the scale, then I won’t be disappointed. The older I get, the more I really need to take care of my body and listen to what it’s telling me. Right now I’m doing a 28 Day Challenge with Blogilates. It’s kind of like Whole30, but not as crazy. I’m really interested to see what foods affect my body. I will keep you all updated!
Save money: This is something I really need to do. I tend to blow my money on things I don’t really need. This year my goal is to save up enough money to put a down payment on a new car (because mine isn’t going to last much longer!). Whenever I go to purchase something, I’m going to ask myself if this is something I really need, or if I can find something similar at a better price (especially with groceries and eating out).
Blog more and be more organized: The past year I was really bad with juggling my time. I always had a goal to post new content at least 3 times a week, but time got the best of me and it ended up being more like 1 or 2 times a week. This year I got a new planner that will help me organize my time, you can see my new planner HERE! I also got a new white board for my editorial calendar! It’s so much easier than writing it on paper, because things seem to change a lot and it’s easier to erase! I will have a blog post up soon how I organize my time with my full time job, blogging, and social life.

These are my main ones for this year. Of course I have little ones like set a cleaning schedule for the house, and to attend church more. What are some of your goals? Let me know in the comments!

This outfit is one of my favorites for winter. The blanket scarf is so warm! I love wearing light colors during the winter, especially white pants. Don’t be afraid to break rules! I tagged everything above, if an item was sold out, I tagged similar items.

What type of posts would you like to see in 2017? Let me know in the comments, or shoot me an email at styledmuse@gmail.com. As always, thanks for reading! Have a great new year!

Valerie

Christmas Outfit

December 25, 2016 ~ styledmuse ~ Leave a comment

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Dress: Loft (Similar) // Blazer: Similar // Shoes: Charlotte Russe // Clutch: Similar // Tights: ASOS

Merry Christmas! I am finally starting to get over my sickness. I planned to have this outfit post up a week ago, but I ended up being way too sick to shoot the photos for it. Of course the day I shot these, it was so gloomy outside!

Anyways, I picked up this dress (I tagged a similar one since the one I found in store isn’t listed online) for under $3 (yes, you read that right!) at Loft Outlet at the St. Louis Premium Outlet mall. They hosted a blogger shopping event for the holiday season. I found SO many good deals including a Kate Spade tote for under $100, Nikes for $35, and a Loft layered sweater for $20.

We were also given the chance to have a bra fitting with Jockey, and it was so great! I actually found out I was wearing the wrong bra size. Their bras aren’t your typical cup size, they run by numbers, and are kind of in a way custom fit. It is one of my new favorite bras! If you get the chance, I recommend stopping in there.

Now, on to the Christmas outfit. I always love dressing up around the holidays. I guess it’s because my full time job is so casual, I never really have an excuse to dress up. This dress is perfect for Christmas and even Valentine’s Day. Since the dress is sleeveless, I paired it with a black blazer, black tights, and my Charlotte Russe stud heels. Of course, I had to add my signature leopard clutch. I literally wear it with everything.

Have a great Christmas everyone! Also, I’m having a Christmas giveaway on my Instagram page, make sure you head over to enter!

Valerie

This post was in collaboration with St. Louis Premium Outlet Mall. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Styled Muse possible!