It's All the Rage

Hey, girls! This week on A Blonde Ambition is dedicated to the amazing supporters of this blog. Yesterday, we got another glimpse of Savoir-Faire, tomorrow we'll take a look at Lavish, a sponsor store in Russellville, Thursday we'll look at Ex Voto Vintage and today, we'll be taking a peek into The Rage, a unique boutique in Mena, AR.

Open for over two years, The Rage is owned by Laci Miner, a sweet and trendy Southerner that knows just what we ladies like in terms of clothes and accessories.

From cute gameday dresses, to work-appropriate trousers and blouses, to unique accessories that will amp up the trend factor of any outfit...if you want it, The Rage has it.

Red Cropped Pant, just perfect for gameday!

Keep it Classy blouse in Navy/White

One of the things I like best about The Rage is that they only carry a select number of each item. This means that if you buy something there, you probably won't see another girl wearing it to the football tailgate. Consider this store the weapon against the dreaded fashion faux pas : )

Mustard Shirt Dress for only $40!

Isabella in Black necklace

You don't have to live in Arkansas to shop The Rage, though. Fans of this store can shop on their website, which ships nationwide for usually only $6!

Even better, you can stay updated on the latest sales and promotions by following The Rage on Facebook. They post tons of new arrivals, as well as Daily Deals on certain items.

Denim Skinnies, which would look great with any animal print top. 

Alabama girls will NEED to have these Houndstooth Print Shorts

Be sure to also check out their sister store called The Elle, which is also located in Mena, AR. The Elle offers exquisite accessories and outfits to satisfy any sartorial craving. You can find them on Facebook here.

So what are you waiting for? Get thee to The Rage (or at least to their website) and see why this store is  leaving such a lasting impression on fellow fashionistas.

Be blessed, lovelies-

Savoir-Faire Moment: {Rosebud + Outfit Pics}

Outfit for this post was generously gifted by sweet Tess, owner of Savoir-Faire.

‘Ello, beauties. I hope your debit card is good and rested because you're definitely going to be in the buying mood after this post. After you see the presh merchandise that Savoir-Faire has stocked for late summer, that little piece of plastic will most definitely be put to use.

This month for my Savoir-Faire moment, I chose a floral jacket with a femme, pink rosebud print. This jacket is definitely one of those “hello, I have just walked into the room and you need to take notice!” pieces.

For underneath the blazer, I chose a beautiful green tank with horizontal detailing along the bust.

Honestly, girls – when you purchase a great statement jacket, you need to be super mindful of what you put behind it, (i.e. cami, sweater, tunic, etc.) The blouse underneath is like a sturdy foundation for showcasing the jacket. Make sense?

The shorts? Well, y’all know how I love cut-offs. So when I saw this pair of raw-edged black shorts by Blank Denim, I was hooked. They’re extremely soft, like your favorite T-shirt, no lie.

Jewelry can be kept simple with this look. Let the jacket carry the outfit and focus only on a chic necklace or earrings if you desire some baubbling : )

What have we learned today?

Floral prints…tres' chic.

Black, cut-off shorts…tres' soft.

Savoir-Faire…tres' magnifique.

Be blessed, lovelies-

Confessional Friday: {Link-Up}

Today’s post starts with a news item. I saw this story online yesterday and it nearly made me bawl. Apparently, officials found 38 dachshund puppies living in one home in Texarkana. 

A generous rescue program leader, Jeff Tarpley, took them in and found temporary homes. But still, all 38 still need forever homes. If you’re looking for a pup (and weenie dogs make AMAZING friends), you might check with Jeff’s shelter. I’m sure those little guys would be grateful!

Okay, enough with the sad stuff, let's confess:

1) I'm obsessed with these bright blue pants from ASOS. I posted them Wednesday afternoon and since then, have purchased them. Presh, y'all. Just presh. Yup, I'm a victim of my own gratuitous outfit sharing. #Can'tBeHelped

2) Stephen was in NYC earlier this week on business and I was so excited he came back Wednesday night, I jumped up and down like a five year old when he came in house. It's the little things, y'all.

3) I love T.J. Maxx but HEAVENS TO BRENDA, it stresses me out! I ventured in yesterday in search of...well, nothing really. What I found was a disorganized mess. Lots of screaming babies in strollers, shoes laying in piles on the display shelves and housewares dropped smack dab in the middle of the aisles. Anyone else get shopping anxiety when you go in T.J.?

4) I snuck a tiny square off someone's cake in the breakroom. It looked like it was put out for people to enjoy, so I took a look around and sliced off a teeny piece. : )

5) We've started watching Breaking Bad and we're addicted. Stephen and I pretty much sat through the first episode with our mouths hanging open. It's dirty, it's gritty and it's as addictive as the stuff Walt peddles in the show.

6) I confess that I'm toying with the idea of buying a package at the barre classes in Fayetteville. I tried one a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it. My gym membership expires next month and I don't think I'm going to re-up. Anyone else do Barre and love it?

7) I confess that I wanted to write a number seven and, alas, can't think of anything to say.

Happy Weekend. Go get 'em tigers.


Be blessed, lovelies-

Everyone Needs Pants and Jackets

via J.Crew

Because wearing pants is important, I thought I'd show y'all some of the cutie-patootie britches I've seen lately.

And jackets.

Suiting is going to be mucho trendy this fall, thanks to the fab Rachel Zoe. This is super convenient for those of us who work in a more formal office setting and require something a little more "mature" than cut-out dresses and crop tops.

I don't usually wear dress slacks and jackets together, just because I feel like I'm wearing a pants suit. And frankly, pants suits are a little restrictive for someone who works in a creative industry. (Plus, they make me feel like Janet Reno.)

So here are some suit-like items that will skinnify any girl. And keep you from looking like a broke-down politician.

I have these and love them. And I think you will too. Buy them if you feel so inclined.

Here. 

If these pants were a FB status, I'd double-like them. Found here. 

Isn't this blazer just the prettiest thing? Get it here. 

I'd take this one, too. 

Of course the shorts wouldn't fly in the office, but HONEST TO JOSH - have you seen something so perfectly red lately? Get it here.

Find 'em here, from ASOS. 

I'm a little obsessed with this green color. From blog sponsor The Rage.

Hi, Perfection called. It wants its jacket back. From sponsor Savoir-Faire.

And that, my pretties, is all I wrote.

About jackets and pants, that is.

Be blessed, lovelies-

So I Ran at 6:00 a.m.

Today was supposed to be comprised of beautiful Savoir-Faire outfit photos, but for the umpteenth time since I got the camera, the dadgum memory card won't transfer the pics to le computer. Stephen returns from NYC tonight though, so I'll be putting his magic fix-it skills to work. Here's hoping you'll click over here tomorrow and, instead of finding a rant about sweaty running shoes, will find a presh outfit pic or five.

We can hope, right?

So instead of SF, I'm talking about something about as anti-glamorous as I care to dish up on this blog - exercise and my love/hate relationship with it.

I'll give you a moment to absorb the excitement that I'm sure you're feeling about this topic.

For some reason, I feel it's my duty to eat everything from here to kingdom come during the summer. Seriously, I'm like a stinkin' bear preparing for winter hibernation. So to offset the eleventy thousand calories per day I've been consuming, I decided to start running regularly again.

In late July.

Because it's only 106 degrees outside.

Well last night's jog (or "yawg" if you're fancy and foreign) darn near killed me, so I had the bright idea to get up at 6:00 a.m. this morning and huff it down the street in my Asics.

In the scheme of good ideas, this ranks second-to-last, only less terrible than partaking in the poncho trend six years ago.

I assumed it would be comfy cool, but HEAVENS TO BRENDA. It was awful.

You see, first thing in the morning, here in the South, there's this exquisite humidity that seems to settle over everything. It wraps you up like a wet blanket and it actually makes the most minor of activities, (like stopping to re-tie one's shoe mid-run), quite brutal.

It makes you itchy and tired and immediately resentful of living in such a warm climate while others can complain about their piddly 80 degree "heat".

(I'm not bitter at all, you see.)

I enjoyed my A.M. run as much as Ari enjoys his baths.

And, oh yes! Random stray cats. Apparently they're quite the morning joggers, too. And we all know how I feel about felines. If not, read here.

(If I were in Noah's place, I'd probably have left them off the Ark. Just sayin'.)

They ran alongside me, which actually caused me to quicken my pace.

By the time I returned back to our house, I was soaked with sweat, irritable from the humidity and cursing myself for not enjoying an extra half-hour of sleep prior to going to work.

In summary: Jogging outdoors in Arkansas in July is impossible no matter how you spin it.

I'll just do some jumping jacks in front of our A/C vent until about mid-September.

Peace, love and humidity, y'all.

Be blessed, lovelies-

Nice to Meet You

Photos by Rhyanne Ketron

It just occurred to me today that we have lots of new friends around here! Trust me, I read each and every comment and it does my blonde heart good to see new faces.

I thought today that I'd just introduce myself to new faces here and tell y'all a little bit about us.

My name is Leslie (but you probably gathered that from the top of the page, huh?) I grew up in an itty bitty town with (legitimately) one stoplight. I majored in English at Arkansas State University (Jonesboro) and served on the Pom squad during college!

I moved up to Northwest Arkansas in 2007 for an advertising/PR internship and have never
left since : )

In 2010 I met Stephen, my husband. We got engaged on New Year's Eve and were married on September 17, 2011.

I work for an amazing communications/PR firm in Fayetteville as a writer. Stephen is a national account manager for a nutrition company that supplies products to Walmart, Target, Costco and more.

We have one furry son named Ari, a five-year-old German Shepherd who has the sweetest, most tender personality despite weighing in at over 100 pounds : ) I do believe that in his mind, he weighs 10 pounds, as he often tries to sit in our laps - ha!

(As for real kiddos, we're waiting a few years before going "there". Hopefully the Lord will have blessed us with some much-needed patience by then, haha!)

Stephen is my personal Tim Tebow (a lot of people say he looks like Timmy T.) He's super fit and super family-oriented. He's got a big heart and is one of the most generous people I've ever met. He's a character, that one...loves to make people laugh and usually can be found holding court and entertaining folks wherever we go. 


And, I'm sorry, but the boy is fine : ) 

A comedian, this one. Our three-year-old niece giggled out loud when she saw this photo : ) As you can see, he takes himself very seriously ; )

As for me, I love fashion, hair, make-up, workin' on my fitness, blogging (duh) and cooking. And SEC football. Y'all non-football fans will probably want to wring my neck at some point this fall. I get a teensy bit worked up over the Gridiron : )

So that's us, in a nutshell.

Anywhoodle, nice to "meet" all of you new friends. I hope you'll pull up a chair and sit a spell!

Be blessed, lovelies-

Bubble Necklace Giveaway from GroopDealz!

via Style on the Line

It's giveaway time, ladies! So remember how I told y'all about those presh bubble necklaces that GroopDealz had on sale last week for only $19? Well, as if it wasn't great already, those fine folks at GDealz have gone and extended the necklace deal until WEDNESDAY night of this week! That's right...you've got a couple more days to take advantage of these adorable necklaces for only $19 a pop. That's a steal since the original necklaces are usually $50 or more!

I sported my red bubble necklace to dinner on Saturday night with my cute, new tank from Belle Boutique. I think the necklace just makes the outfit, don't y'all?

And remember how I told you about the layering technique that's becoming popular? Buy two bubble necklaces and give this funky and fresh styling a whirl!

All colors currently available!

To sweeten the deal, Megan and the other fab girls at GroopDealz are giving away a bubble necklace this week on the blog! If you win, you can choose a bubble necklace of any of the 12 available colors. Excited and ready to enter?

I thought ya might be.

Mandatory- worth 1 entry

1. Visit GroopDealz and leave a comment telling about your favorite current deal on their site.
2. Like GroopDealz on Facebook.

Additional Entry

3. Share about this giveaway via Facebook, Twitter or on your own blog. (Just come back here and leave a comment telling me you did so!)

Rules

-Giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. CST on Wednesday. Entries must be received by that time.
-A maximum of 2 entries per person.
-Email addresses must be included within your comments or entry is null and void. (Sorry gals, but we have to have a way to get in touch with ya!)

Happy entering! And seriously...these make amazing stocking stuffers so get thee fine self to GroopDealz and buy 'em up while you still can!

Be blessed, lovelies-

Celebrating Southern: {Top Reasons}

Okay, I know it’s one of those “duh” statements, but I seriously love living in the South. Don’t get me wrong – I’ve traveled all over (both in the country and internationally) and loved just about every place. In fact, one of my favorite cities is San Francisco and the people in CA were some of the most welcoming I’ve ever met.

There’s nothing quite like the warmth and vivacious character of the South, though. Here are just a handful of my favorite things about living in the South:

No One is a Stranger

No matter what state you visit in the South, you’re bound to feel an immediacy of friendship. In the South, we know no strangers. We welcome everyone into our homes and hearts. We hug. We laugh. We cry. Together.

People will still stop on the side of the road to change your flat tire. Cute Southern gentlemen will help you lug heavy grocery bags to your car. Little old ladies will still stop you in Walmart and tell you they like your outfit.

It’s one of those regions where people still look out for their fellow man. And that, my friends, is pretty rare these days.

Chivalry Isn’t Dead

By no means would I want to imply that there aren’t chivalrous men everywhere. I firmly believe that there are still guys with manners in every part of the world. And the South is no different. And listen, I’m an independent girl. I don’t need a man to foot the bill for my shopping trips or rescue me from arduous tasks like changing a light bulb. I lived man-free for the better part of my twenties and I can handle those things just fine thankyoukindly.

 But there is something to be said for a man opening your car door on the first date or taking the time to get to know your grandma on the first trip home to see your family.

via

One of my most favorite things about Stephen is the type of manners his momma taught him.  He still helps me climb into the truck when I’m wearing heels. He still shakes my dad’s hand each time we see my parents. He still insists on opening the door for me when we go out on date night.

And I appreciate that. Southern or not, manners go a long way with a lady.

History. Everywhere You Turn.

Some of the coolest houses I’ve ever seen were in Charleston, SC. The South is full of rich tradition and colorful history, which is celebrated by publications like Garden and Gun and Southern Living.

From the food to the architecture, everything tells a story here. It’s also one of the most well-preserved parts of the country, as most of the original architecture has been kept in tact and maintained.

The Football

I’m not going to write too much about this, but y’all know how I feel about SEC football. There’s a reason ESPN analysts and Sports Illustrated writers sing the praises of our conference: We’re good. Real good.

Reynolds Stadium, Fayetteville, AR - Home of the Arkansas Razorbacks

Only in the South would a fancy photo frame contain a football schedule : )

And you can’t argue with six straight BCS titles.

That is all I’ll say about that : )

..............................

It’s been a really fun week and I so appreciate y’all supporting this little post series. I hope to do more of these in the future.

Again, I think there are treasures no matter where you’re from. But to me, there’s no where else I’d rather live.

P.S.- Sorry that InLinkz isn't working today. Just leave your link in the comments and I'll be sure to stop by everyone's blogs later : )

Be blessed, lovelies-