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New Series Dynasty!

This past week I was invited to The CW viewing party for the new series Dynasty, at the beautiful Mountain Shadows Resort in Paradise Valley. It was fun to watch the season premiere with other fellow lifestyle and fashion bloggers all dolled up for the occasion. We popped some bubbly and celebrated all things glam (especially the fashion in the show…you will know what I mean when you watch). It was like a sleepover with your BFF’s but instead of pajamas we were all in cocktail gear!

I was excited for the invite because I remember the original Dynasty in the early 80’s (I was just a thought back then but I remember the re-runs when I was older). I wasn’t sure if this new reboot could compete with Joan Collins and Linda Evans fierce feud throughout the series but I was ready to give it a watch to see.

It’s been nearly three decades after the original Dynasty premiered on NBC and now The CW has debuted the new series. The show is very different from the original but it’s fitting and competes against some other high drama shows in that time slot. The reboot is centered more on the business aspirations of the two leading ladies which I seem to like more than the original show.

The new Dynasty is a cross between Gossip Girl (the fashion) and The Real House Wives (the cat fights and drama). The story is told primarily by Fallon Carrington (Elizabeth Gillies), who is the daughter of billionaire Blake Carrington (Grant Show) and her soon to be mother in law Cristal Flores (Nathalie Kelley) that works for her father. After her homecoming, Fallon Carrington is positive that she will be receiving a promotion in her father’s business but soon finds out that she was overlooked for….I will stop there so you can tune in on Wednesdays 9/8c on The CW. Overall the show definitely left me wanting more and as soon as I left the viewing party I got home and set my DVR to record it so I don’t miss a thing!

Your Phoenix CW6 and Mountain Shadows Resort teamed up so you can enter to win a free one night stay to the beautiful Mountain Shadows Resort by clicking on the link yourphx.com/contest.  Now throughout December 30th you can also receive 25% off a night stay by using promo code “Dynasty.”

Style on ladies and gents!

xo

Ro

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It’s Official… I am a SeneGence/LipSense Distributor!

So excited to announce that I am now a SeneGence Distributor (better known as the company that sells “LipSense”). SeneGence is a privately owned, network marketing company that is in the business of developing and selling personal care products through an independent sales network (aka ME). If you can believe it, in 1999 Lipsense made it’s first debut and was their premier product (only coming in 6 colors) and now SeneGence has a complete line of long lasting cosmetic colors (eye shadows, foundation, blush, mascara) and anti-aging skin care products (face creams, eye creams, self tanners, stretch mark reducers).

For me it all started with one tube of LipSense (Praline Rose to be exact). I saw all the hype on social media about this long wear, long lasting product that was smudge free, water proof, kiss proof, cruelty free and vegan, so of course I had to try it out and once I tried it I was completely hooked. This lipstick truly lasted a good 9 hours for me and all I had to do was apply the gloss to keep my lips moisturized throughout the day!

How It Works:

LipSense is not a stain; it is a patented molecular bond, meaning it sticks to your skin and that is why you have to have clean and dry lips so that the pigment can “stick” to your lips.

SD40 alcohol is the delivery system for LipSense. It’s much thinner than water. After you apply LipSense, the SD40 alcohol dissipates quickly, only leaving the color in place. It also keeps the product bacteria-free for the life of the tube which is unlike any other lipstick.

Typically, the first couple times you apply LipSense you may experience burning or tingling and that means your lips are dehydrated; the skin is damaged, leaving nerve endings exposed… So heal those lips and exfoliate as much as possible and apply the gloss, even when your not wearing the LipSense color!!!

The patent is in the color, it would stay on without the gloss, but the gloss is the moisture. There is no moisture value in the color, it’s system that works together. LipSense lipcolor is a mechanical shield from the sun (like wearing clothes on your lips).

How To Use:

Apply 3 coats to clean, dry lips. You can use the tip of the applicator in the tube to get the perfect “lined lip” first before filling in the rest of your lips. Your lips may tingle and they will be sticky, so don’t press them together until you apply the gloss, which is your lip moisturizer. LipSense will last on your lips anywhere from 4-18 hours (depending on the PH of your body), but the average wearing time is 6-8 hours. Make sure to apply LipSense Gloss throughout the day, as your lips will tell you when they need more moisture. One tube of LipSense will last 4-6 months on average if you use it every day.

Below are the Lipsense colors SeneGence carries. I have almost all of these colors in stock, feel free to email me your order, or send me a selfie in natural lighting and I am happy to color match you with your perfect color. If you haven’t purchased Lipsense before I always recommend purchasing the Starter Kit (includes 1 color, 1 gloss and 1 remover). Below is also a breakdown of all of the glosses SeneGence carries. Then I can ship it right to your door within 24 hours of your email! Make sure to email me at [email protected].

Style on ladies and gents!

xo

Ro

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Toddler Approved Restaurants in the East Valley

We love eating out and do it at least twice a week. We have tried a variety of restaurants but have found our favorites and wanted to share them with you so you can try them out too! Since we have a toddler (that is almost TWO!) we had to be unique with our choices but it’s easy to do in Gilbert and Mesa. We always like to make sure that the wait time is minimal, booths are large and it is loud enough so my daughter can talk our ears off while we wait for our food. Presley loves, pizza, chicken, french fries, rice and hummus. So it’s pretty easy to find one of these items on the menu. Below are our favorites in the east valley that are TODDLER APPROVED (and parent approved)!

The new Bobby Q located in Mesa off the US60 is our number one choice for most kid friendly restaurant in the east valley. To top it off the food is amazing, kids menu is great and the cinnamon sugar donuts is a bonus.

Liberty Market located in downtown Gilbert is one of Presley’s favorites (especially their kids menu pizza). The service is great, prices are affordable and the wait is minimal. There is seating inside and outside (perfect for the hot summer months) and it’s loud enough that if your kid has a tantrum it won’t disrupt anyone’s meal 🙂

Kona Grill located at San Tan Mall is great because there are large booths, great kids menu and crayons! They have a great patio that we love to sit at during the cooler months but they also have a large inside seating area and then is rarely a wait (which is a plus when you have hungry kids). We typically order Presley’s food when we place our drink order so she isn’t antsy (and she takes forever to eat).

Postino located in downtown Gilbert is another fan-favorite because they have an amazing protein kids plate and fun picnic-style play area outside with blocks and botchy-ball. We usually take some of Presley’s toys and a blanket to eat on the floor outside, she plays with the other kids while we chat with their parents and enjoy a bruschetta board a bottle of wine.

Our last favorite kid friendly restaurant in the east valley is Oregon Stop Pizza. Our friends introduced us to this place and Presley fell in love (and we fell in love with the yummy, inexpensive salad bar). The vibe is fun, music is awesome and there is no wait to sit and eat.

So there you have it, our 5 favorite kid friendly places to eat in the east valley! Eat and enjoy!

 

Style on ladies and gents!

xo

Ro

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Breast-Milk Jewelry

My breastfeeding journey was a lot of blood, sweat and tears but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I was lucky enough to be able to breastfeed my daughter until she was 18 months old and we both loved every minute of it. As soon as I went back to work I started my pumping journey when I was away and then I would store away my breast-milk in the freezer. Surprisngly, I was able to store away over 1000 ounces of milk and donated some of it to a baby that was in need of it.

I then was introduced to a breastfeeding group on Facebook and that was a huge support for me (especially since I was a working mom). From this group I found out about breast-milk jewelry and how you can preserve your milk into a stone, so of course I had to find out more about it.

Breast milk jewelry is jewelry made of breast milk and is a keepsake. Various methods are used to make the jewelry. To preserve and protect it, the piece may be covered in a clear resin or glaze. No matter the process used for preservation, there seems to be a long and tedious process involved in creating the keepsakes leading to long waits for order fulfillment. My ring took 10 weeks but it was truly worth the wait and it actually came one week before I stopped nursing, so it was very bittersweet to receive my ring. I bought my milk ring from Precious Milk Drops, she sells more than just rings. She also sells lockets, Pandora like charms, earrings, bracelets as well as custom orders.

I will truly treasure this piece forever and hope to give it to her one day!

 

Style on ladies and gents!

 

xo

Ro

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2017 Spring Fashion

I know! I know! It’s not even March yet and I am already talking about spring. Over the past week I have seen a lot of new spring trends on the runway and a nice surprise is that it is nothing like years prior. No more denim, floral (yes I said floral) or metallic this spring, it’s all about the structured look.

Personal stylist az

The runway showcased a lot of white shirt dresses with interesting waistlines and very unique hemlines, but what I like about these looks is that you can actually wear them off the runway. Simply by adding a fitted blazer, this look above can be worn to work and if you are meeting friends for cocktails after work, lose the blazer and add a skinny belt to give this dress a totally different look!

fashion expert az

Next look is probably my favorite (even though it wasn’t on the runway) the off the shoulder, flowy sleeve combo! Off the shoulder tops, dresses and rompers are a really popular trend with fashion bloggers and a lot of stylists on Instagram and I don’t see this trend going away any time soon. So make sure to stock up!

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I also love the over-exaggerated sleeves, they are truly a statement piece within themselves and don’t need much accessorizing. You will also see a lot of slashes in the sleeves this year as well as ruffles at the wrist, to give the blouse an extra kick.

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Whoever said pain is beauty is wrong this spring because it’s all about the flashy sneakers…yes you heard correct sneakers, not wedges, stiletto’s or gladiators “SNEAKERS.” This is very exciting news to me because I am a busy mom that is always on the go and although I like to wear heels when I meet with clients or I am working during the week but when I am out and about with my little one I need to be comfortable (because I am typically chasing after her). You will see a lot of rose gold, golds and neutrals this season with some glitter and lace.

rochelle york personal stylist

2016 was all about the choker and in 2017 it is all about the long delicate pendants. I am excited for the choker trend to die out (even though I bought them in every color and attempted to wear them). Chokers are truly just not meant for everyone, being a shorter person with a short torso, this was something that was not flattering on my body type, but the tall beautiful ladies out there can work it wearing a choker.

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Graphic tees with a message. Everyone loves them because they are comfortable, easy to accessorize and are a great conversation starter. These tees have been popular over the past couple of seasons but they are coming in full effect on the runway this spring.

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So there you have it! My top picks this spring. To catch up on more spring trends tune in to Mix 96.9 this Monday, February 20th at 8:08am (you can also tune in online).

Style on ladies and gents!

xo
Ro

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Mom Life Essentials

Being a mom not only means caring for your little one, loving them unconditionally and putting them first in your life but it also means that you can’t do it alone. I am lucky enough to have my family and close friends but on top of that I need my “essentials” to get through the “I got 3 hours of sleep,” kind of day. So below are my top 7 items I needed to survive as a first time mom.

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New moms often worry about every little thing when it comes to their baby (I am definitely one of those moms). So I ask a lot of questions and while asking those questions I found out about the app (that is also a book) The Wonder Weeks. It has more than 35 years of international scientific research that will keep you informed about the (mental) leaps and bounds of your baby. This app won prizes in several countries as the best parenting app! Think of it as a portable, at-a-glance version of the leap chart in weeks. The app is the perfect companion element to track your baby’s mental development (during the first 20 months). This has helped us on so many levels and let’s us know how long the good or bad leap is going to last and how we can help our babies through them. I paid $1.99 for this app and it was well worth it!

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Boppy. When I was first registering I had no idea what a boppy was and never thought I would really use it, but I listened to some friends and registered for it anyway. Fast forward 10 months and I can honestly say that I use it every day. Not only do I use it when I am breastfeeding but it was great when my daughter was learning how to sit and practicing her tummy time. It has also saved her from many (almost) falls when she would lay back.

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Coffee. I was never a big fan, I always liked tea or smoothies but never coffee….until I became a mom. When I would see comments scrolling through Facebook or Instagram reading “But First Coffee” I never really understood. But now? I get it! I need a caffeine fix every morning before I go to work but I have to be careful because I still breastfeed and I can only have a certain amount of caffeine a day. So my “go to” drink at Starbucks is an iced chai, coconut milk with a single shot. It is truly the little things in life that make all of the difference (and keep me awake).

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I work full-time and sometimes have to travel, all while breastfeeding/pumping full time. This nursing poncho from Milkmaid Goods is amazing and is my ultimate essential. In this picture I am pumping at Sky Harbor Airport and feel completely comfortable because I am covered (if only it eliminated the loud pumping sound too). This cover is light weight and roomy for nursing and also doubles as a cover to put over the car set when my daughter is sleeping or a high chair when we are at a restaurant.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYPR5IQh_Tw&w=560&h=315]

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Pumping, we all LOVE to HATE it but it’s what keeps the process going (if you know what I mean?!) My goal is one year of nursing so I pump when I am at work and before I go to bed….EVERY SINGLE DAY! With that being said I would keep track of how many minutes I pump for and how many ounces I get. Then about 4 months into pumping I found this free app from the Apple App Store called Pump Log. This log is amazing because it keeps track of how long I pump and how many ounces I have (freezer stash) and how many ounces I still need to hit my goal for nursing. You can also set a timer that reminds you when to pump during the day. #itspumpingtime

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Car seat handles are very odd and you can never really feel comfortable when you are carrying your little one. Being only 5″1 I look pretty funny trying to carry my daughter in her car seat until now. LugBug came out with this nifty handle that connects to your car seat handle. It takes the straining away and is uniquely shaped to make it easy to maneuver your little tike around. The person that invented this device lives here in Arizona, he was also a first time dad when he thought of this concept. The cost is $39.99 and it comes in a wide variety of colors and is easy to attach to the baby carrier.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpnIxrMAxS0&w=560&h=315]

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Mommy and Me Photos were a must for us because I noticed that when I would scroll through my pictures on my phone I had a lot of photos of her by herself or photos with her daddy (I was always taking the picture). This was fun for us and I would recommend it to any mom (especially a first time mom) because the first year goes by so fast and you want to look back and remember everything about your child at that very moment.

My mom recently brought my baby book over and I noticed that the baby book was filled with photos of me by myself and not enough photos with my mom in them. So, now it’s a birthday tradition every year during my birthday month I will get mommy and me photos with her. I will cherish these photos forever. Thank you Jenna Donato Photography!

So there we have it the 7 essentials that have helped me as a first time mom. Some of them were pretty easy to figure out (like the coffee) but I hope some of these really help you out whether you are a first time mom or are one kid number 5!

Style on ladies and gents!

xo,
Ro

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Mom Life (is the best life)

This has been my first blog post since October and I am sad that I have not been documenting (through my blog) the last 8 1/2 months of my now “mom stylist life.” It has been a journey and boy do I give all of the moms out there a lot of credit because being a mom is hard but so fulfilling. I have never been so in love, challenged, determined and overjoyed all at the same time. She is 8 1/2 months and has already taught me to be patient, live in the moment, love unconditionally and not to care that the house isn’t perfectly clean.

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Mom life is nothing that I ever thought it would be; it is truly so much more. That is why I am taking some time off from styling clients so I can spend more time with my love bug. I will continue to work with my existing clients but will not be taking on any new clients or jobs at this time. I hope to start meeting with new clients the first of the year (2017). But be sure to check back in for posts about breastfeeding fashion in the next couple of days because breastfeeding momma’s have to look stylish too 🙂

Rochelle York Personal Stylist

Style on ladies and gents!

xo
Ro

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In Love.

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When I would ask mother’s what it felt like to be a mother, they could never really explain it to me because they said that it was an, “unexplainable feeling.” Now I completely understand what they meant. This past month (September) has truly been the best month of my life because we got to meet our little bundle of joy. She is complete perfection and I am the luckiest mom in the world! The love I felt the moment I met her was so strong and amazing. I instantly felt like her protector and then I realized my name was no longer just Rochelle or Ro, it had been promoted to “Mom.”

The first couple of weeks weren’t easy by any means, no new moms talk about the first month as being hard and maybe even difficult (they just say how perfect everything is and post happy pictures on social media). Mat and I were extremely lucky because we had a very healthy baby (that wanted to eat 24/7 and not sleep…EVER) but breastfeeding was a bit of a struggle in the beginning. I was lucky enough to have a close friend who’s mom was a lactation counselor (which made my life so much easier and reassured me that  I was doing everything right). I highly suggest if there are any new moms reading this that are struggling with breastfeeding find a lactation counselor or specialist. They will teach you tips and tricks to make breastfeeding easier for you and for your little one.

Also, if you are a working woman like me, you are used to being “on the go,” so being at home on maternity leave might make you a little stir crazy even though you are spending time with your little one. For me it was helpful to get out of my p.j.s in the morning and wear workout clothes (even though I am not working out). It just feels good to put something on that I wasn’t sleeping in and that I could leave the house in when I take my babe to her doctors appointments. It is also good to make a little time for yourself, even if it is just reading a magazine or taking a bubble bath for 30 minutes.

Hope these tips help my expecting momma friends out there. I also promise to start posting “fashion after baby,” once we start getting in a routine (I have a lot of great outfits for breastfeeding moms).

Style on ladies and gents!

xo
Ro

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Hospital Bag Essentials (for you and baby)

personal stylist az

So, I am a first time mom and for me everything you have to read up on and learn is a little overwhelming before baby get’s here. What type of breast pump if you’re breastfeeding, swaddle blankets (what type to get), car seats, strollers and the list goes on and on and on. But what I have learned over the last 9 months is to ask your mom, your doctor and your friends all of the questions in the world until you get everything answered (that is my tip for the day).

As for your hospital bag and babies hospital bag, I have read that it is good to start preparing your bag at 35 weeks because you never know when your little one will arrive. Being a first time mom I had absolutely no idea what to pack…..so I went to some of my expert friends to guide me and lead me in the right direction. So below are the items that I packed that will hopefully ease your mind because you now have a list to go by!

My hospital bag:

Toiletries– I bought my toothpaste, mini toothbrush, mouth wash, body wash, shampoo, conditioner and deodorant from Target in the travel isle near their cosmetics. If you are breastfeeding make sure to pack a good amount of nursing pads (the hospital gives you some but I heard that they aren’t very comfortable and kind of bulky) and nipple cream. I also packed her boppy for breastfeeding so she can get used to laying on it from the start! Also make sure to pack a good amount of maxi pads for after labor (another item I was told by my friends to pack).

Lounge Wear- As a personal stylist I had to have matching lounge wear when we start getting visitors at the hospital so my mom found me a comfy and fashionable pajama from Kohls by Vera Wang. It’s light weight, stretchy and super comfy. I actually packed to pj’s just in case. I also packed a robe, comfortable stretchy underwear, 2 pairs of fuzzy socks and my slippers.

Distractions- I know that sometimes labor is longer than anyone would expect so you have to be prepared. I am not sure how much I will really dig into these items (depending on how I feel) but I packed these items anyway just in case. My iPad and charger (also good for listening to iTunes or Pandora), gossip magazines (guilty I know), and current baby books I am reading at the moment: The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep, by Harvey Karp, M.D. and Your Baby’s First Year Week by Week, by Glade B. Curtis M.D. and Judith Schuler, M.S.

Snacks- This is important for the loved ones that will be with you in the delivery room because you can only eat so much out of a vending machine. So I packed almonds, fruit snacks, chex mix, chocolate chip cookies (for my husband because he is obsessed) and granola bars.

Capturing Moments- I made sure the first items that went into my bag were my camera, 2 camera cards (because everyone knows how many pictures I like to take), camera battery and charger.

Make-Up- One tip that I have read on various mom blogs is to make sure to bring your make-up bag because a lot of moms wish they had a little color in their face when they started taking their first family photos…..so I say this tip with a grain of salt because I think the last thing I am going to think about is putting blush on my cheeks before a family picture with the hospital photographer 🙂

Going Home Outfit- Last but not least remember to pack your going home outfit and make sure that it is loose and comfortable just incase you may have a c-section. So I packed 2 maxi dresses to choose from with ballet flats. Some of my favorite maxi dresses right now are at Anthropologie and Target perfect for fall into winter with a blazer or denim jacket!

Baby’s Hospital Bag (Diaper Bag):

Lounge Wear- I packed 2 short sleeve onsies and 1 long sleeve onsie (all with matching bows and hats) in case she is cold. I also packed 2 swaddle blankets that are very soft because I have noticed that the swaddle blankets they put the babies in at the hospital is not as soft as you would think (and not as pretty <3).

Toiletries- I made sure to pack, diapers, baby wipes, baby powder, Desitin, baby lotion and hand sanitizer (for the adults). I am sure the hospital provides these items but I packed them just in case.

Going Home Outfit- This part was very important to me, I went shopping for a couple of weeks until I found the perfect little outfit for her. We are not sure how big she will be so I packed one newborn outfit and one 3 month outfit both with matching socks and hats/bows.

Last Helpful Tips- Last but not least make sure to have your carseat ready and strapped in your car. I have read mom blogs that said that they packed everything but the carseat in the car, so their husband had to drive back home to get it. So make sure at week 35 to put the carseat in your car so you can be ready at any moment.

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But in the end this will be the most amazing and memorable time of your life, so remember to enjoy every moment because you are about to meet your amazing bundle of joy!

Hope this post helped you on your packing adventure!

Style on ladies and gents!

xo
Ro

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Is This Nesting?

I have read an insane amount of books on pregnancy and how to prepare for our amazing bundle of joy but I would have to say the most fun I have had during pregnancy is buying her cute little outfits and styling them (it’s the personal stylist in me I think). She already has a closet full of colorful outfits that can be mixed and matched! Out of all the baby clothing stores I have been to over the past 9 months, my favorite store would have to be Carters it’s my Nordstrom for baby clothes! As for her decor in her nursery my new obsession is Etsy, specifically KBCute. She is a local business owner here in Arizona and is amazing at what she does, she also makes custom orders, so if you’re a mom make sure to check her out!

personal stylist az

personal stylist az

I cannot believe in 4 short weeks I will be a mom. We are thrilled beyond belief and cannot wait to bring her home. So of course I had to pull a couple outfits for her to wear while she is in the hospital and when she comes home <3

Style On Ladies and Gents!

xo
Ro

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