Going Guiltless

Hello Mermaids! 

That time of year is approaching us - oh yes, the holiday season! The holiday season is like a cornucopia of feelings and emotions for women and mothers especially. It’s exciting and fun, there’s lots of events going on, friends to see, activities to do, parties to attend and plan. And it’s busy. There’s parties in the kids’ classrooms at school, at work, events with extended families, deadlines to meet, crafts to make, gifts to buy. Need I mention the stress that abounds during this time of year? It’s all kinds of merriment and overwhelm all mixed up together. 

As a mother, I find the last couple months of the year to be guilt inducing. And it’s my own fault. Nobody is forcing me to feel guilty. But I want to keep up. I want to keep up with the “room mom” who puts together the Halloween harvest party, the pilgrim/indian feast and the winter celebration all within a 60 day time frame. She makes it look effortless - you know, like she is a walking Pinterest board or something. 

And then there’s the exhaustion of trying to keep up with the Joneses who seem to be taking their family to every possible holiday festivity in the local area - the tree lighting, Candy Cane Lane, the gingerbread house display, the nutcracker, Santa pictures at Nordstrom and the holiday dinner at the fancy-pants restaurant in town. That would be fun if only my kids would act like they like each other for 5 minutes and I could get enough sleep to give me the energy to do all that. I’m tired just thinking about it. And don’t even get me started on how I feel in crowds of people. 

I look around and I’m tempted to compare and compete. I’m tempted to want to try to do it all…the classroom parties, holiday events around town and don’t forget about volunteering at church…tis the season! It’s easy to look around at other people and only see what’s going on on the outside and if it looks good it must be good. And we feel inadequate. 

In our striving for perfection, we beat ourselves down. At this time of year, our need for perfection is more prevalent than any other. We have many deadlines, obligations and other added stressors and in our desire to make the season wonderful for everyone else in our company, we sacrifice ourselves. We don’t get enough sleep. We decide that we can let our gym time go for the next several weeks - because, after all, something’s got to give. We don’t make time to plan our meals and make sure we have nourishing foods with us, so instead we settle for something quick and easy that’s not doing our body much good and only makes us feel worse. Sleep is a luxury we don’t have time for right now and so we keep ourselves going on copious amounts of coffee. We’re stopping at Starbucks at 4pm for a quad grande something-or-other just so we have the energy to make it to bedtime. 

If there is one time of year when it’s important for us to take care of ourselves, this is it! The holiday season is taxing on everyone. When we lower our own expectation of ourselves, we don’t expect it from others either. We can choose to let ourselves off the hook and not do everything. Choose to do the things that truly matter to you and let the other things go. Remind yourself that self-sacrifice is not a gift to anybody - not to your loved ones and most definitely not to yourself! 

That means you’ll need to schedule time for yourself. Maybe that’s an hour in the gym a few days a week, a quiet hour in a coffee shop with a book and [gasp] no technology or small people asking you for stuff, or a pedicure or massage. I hereby grant you permission to schedule some much-needed “you time” guilt-free! Also take a little time each week to make sure you’ve got healthy foods available for yourself. Your nutrition doesn’t have to be perfect, but when we sacrifice nutrients we usually end up feeling crappy. And sleep - please ladies, get some sleep. Go to bed earlier - you can fold that last load of laundry tomorrow, the dishes in the sink can wait. Your self care is priority here! 

Think of how you want to feel come January 1st. Do you want to feel like your tank is empty? Or do you want to feel like the season nourished your soul, your spirit and your relationships? Do you want to have memories of quiet conversations and moments that matter? Or do you want to remember being so busy and stressed out that you are unable to recall any of the details? 

The beauty of this season is that it can be whatever we choose to design it to be. 

Thoughts on Fashion

Happy Monday!

Kendall + Kelsey here from The Radiant Life Blog and today we want to talk to you ladies about fashion.

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening." - Coco Chanel

That is probably one of our favorite quotes about fashion. When we spent time overseas we actually missed fashion quite a bit and we can remember being so inspired by everything around us. While in Africa it was the bold patterns and mixed prints, in India it was the bright homes, in Thailand it was the thought that was put into the most beautifully designed restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops and it truly felt like we took that inspiration home with us.

We couldn't agree more with the how Coco Chanel describes fashion. To some, fashion can be thought of as maybe a little superficial and unimportant but to us it's something that is all around us just waiting to be noticed and ready to inspire those who do. 

Be inspired today, mermaids!

xx, 

Kendall + Kelsey

{{Reveal}} Talking to Heaven Interactive Reading

Happy Monday Mermaids!! This week I decided to use the Talking to Heaven Mediumship Cards by Doreen Virtue and James Van Praagh to deliver your weekly motivational message from your loved ones in Heaven. Be sure to leave me a comment below with your feedback and if your message resonated with you! I'd love to hear it! <3
 

Card #1 Life is a Series of choices. Choose love.

 

"Love is the true nature of your soul. By making a choice from love instead of fear, you are saying yes to God. I remember in life when I would let other people's opinions of me define who I was. I was never good enough to be accepted. That was because I was living in fear. But now I know how much more powerful love is."

 

"By making the right choices, you welcome abundance into every aspect of your life, and I want nothing more than for you to be happy. So with every choice you make, stay true to your nature and choose love. Fear separates; love unites. From over here I will try to remind you to always attempt to see love in all you do; that way you can live a happier more fulfilling life while on Earth."

 

 

Card #2 Remember me by the happy memories we created.

 

"I can see you remembering me with heaviness in your heart, because you worry and grieve. These are normal, beautiful, and understandable emotions. ..and they are part of your healing. However, when the dust settles, I really wish you would focus upon our happy times instead of the sad ending."

 

"Keep my memory alive by thinking of me at our most joyful times. When something stirs a pleasant memory, talk to me about this, and know that I will hear you and share the sentimental moment with you."

 

 

Card #3 We have been together in dreams.

 

"When you are dreaming, I can more easily connect with you. That's why you've seen and felt my presence while you sleep. Sometimes you fully remember our dream connections, and other times you have a sense that we were together, without a clear memory."

 

"These experiences are very real! Your soul is traveling while you dream, and I meet you at a similar vibrational level, where we can talk, share, and heal together. These dream connections make me as happy as they do you. I'm also delighted to help you understand their meaning in our conversations."

If you enjoyed this interactive reading, meet me back here on the Nobella Grace Blog every Monday so I can help get your week set off in the right direction with each card picked with YOU in mind! :)

 

XOXO, Karabears

Unboxing My {{Mermaid Medley}}

Hello Ladies! So happy you have joined me! For those of you who don't know me, my name is Jenna Valentino Pintor! I used to blog for Nobella Grace and took a little hiatus when things got busy. I'm so happy to be back in action {{thank you Kristi}}! I have missed you all and I have especially missed talking all things NBG fashion!

I wish I could sit here and cover EVERYTHING that I have missed while I was gone, but we will eventually get to that because I have A LOT of ideas when it comes to my blog posts...

BUT first things first: NBG's Mermaid Medley!

Like a lot of you, I JUMPED at the chance to receive a coveted {{mermaid medley}}. I mean, 2 amazing hand-picked items for only $35 and free shipping...yes please! I knew these pieces would be AWESOME because they are picked by Kristi in the LA fashion district and she always picks unique, one-of-a-kind items that are PERFECT for me.

I waited anxiously for my package to arrive and was SO excited when it did (a day early! Thanks USPS)! I ripped open the package with all my might and was in AWE! Two beautiful pieces, just my size, and unlike anything I would typically pick for myself. Kristi knows me well...I tend to shop in my comfort zone and these two pieces took me beyond that...which I love her for.

When I got home, I tried them on and decided how to style them! I'm so excited to get the chance to share it with you all!

First up: A stunning evergreen Everly midi dress

This dress was OH SO SOFT and the perfect work appropriate length. The sleeves are long, but I pushed them up, because I'm more of a 3/4 length fan. The neckline is V, but not too low. It looks fabulous with a simple braided belt and comfy booties {clearance} from Target!

To add another dimension to my look, I grabbed my {{Marley Scarf}} that is oversized and super cozy and made it into a shawl. Shop all of Nobella Grace's scarves {{right here}}! I love that this piece hugs all of my curves and makes me feel beautiful. A wonderful "throw on and go" dress that will keep you looking chic and pulled together!

Next Up: A stunning animal print dress by Everly

So I'm not typically a huge animal print fan, but I was so excited to try this piece. I love Everly dresses for work and this one was super flattering. It looks adorable just paired with a pair of black booties.

To kick it up a notch, I added a black lace kimono that is {{vintage}} Nobella Grace. I think the Lulu and Lace Cardigan would be darling with this dress as well!

For my final look, I wanted to recreate something I had seen on Pinterest. Take a dress and add a sweater over top for a casual and extra cozy look. This one I call "rocker chic". I'm OBSESSED and can't wait to rock this look when it cools off a bit! I added the Ella sweater in black, but it is still available in oatmeal {{shop here}}.

Thanks for checking out my exclusive {{mermaid medley}} ensembles! Can't wait to see what ya'll got in yours!

Until Next Time,

Jenna

Follow Me on Instagram!

@jvalpintor

So Fresh & So Clean

Happy Thursday, loves! Today I wanted to talk a little bit about a topic I get asked A LOT about, whether it be while I’m working, or with friends and family: skincare. We're all NBG fashionistas who are all about looking and feeling our best, so I figured it was a worthy topic to dive deeper into.

Let’s face it, we’re all 50 shades of busy in our everyday lives and sometimes a girl just doesn’t have time to worry about a mundane skincare routine, I get it, but I’m here to tell you that you should, well actually, that you NEED to.  Your skin is the canvas to all of the pretty palletes you want to swipe all over it, so you need to maintain that highly valuable real estate to not only ensure the picture perfect makeup application, but also that you’re doing your part in the anti-aging process.

I’ve worked in the beauty industry in different facets for about 4 years (the most recent at a high end makeup company and as an assisting makeup artist for events and bridal parties for a local recognized small business/artist), and the biggest concern/question I receive on the daily is “how can I cover [insert concern here] on my face?” and the simple fact-of-the-matter answer to that question is: SKINCARE.

What I’ve learned: our society is so worried about “covering up” the problem instead of doing what it takes to alleviate the problem.  Don’t get me wrong, I fully understand that it takes half the effort to conceal a blemish in the morning than what it does to follow a daily skincare regimen, but if you don’t water a plant everyday, how will it ever grow? Same goes for your face, pretties! If you don’t address the concern, how will it ever be resolved?

I wanted to share the basics of creating and implementing your own skincare regimen, so let’s break it down:

It’s important to note that not every routine will be the same, for we all have different skin types. Identifying your skin type (i.e. oily, normal, combination, dry) will help you or a skincare professional pick the perfect products for you, I’m Italian and VERY oily, so if that’s you, feel free to follow my personal routine!

• 1.     Cleanse your face.  Seems simple enough, yet SO MANY people aren’t doing it properly. Invest in a facial cleanser that works well with your skin type and use it A.M. and P.M. I use the Kate Somerville Daily Detox Cleanser during my morning routine with my Clarisonic Mia, and in the evening I use Lush’s Dark Angels Face and Body cleanser with just my hands, as this cleanser has more of a grainy texture and dark pigment, two things I don’t want to involve my Clarisonic with.
  

• 2.     Apply toner. Toner helps reduce redness and dry patches and can come in a variety of formulas, spritz’s/sprays, lotion, etc. My favorites are here & here, but I am currently using the Sephora Collection moisturizing toner lotion, which is also really nice.
  

• 3.     Exfoliate. Exfoliating helps to eliminate excessive build up that can be caused by acne, oily skin, etc. while also evening out skin tone and addressing dullness and wrinkles. My favorite is Exfolikate by Kate Somerville  

• 4.     Treat. Depending on your specific skin concern, whether it be acne, skin lightening/dark spots, anti-aging, etc. My skin is VERY oily and in some cases I tend to use a lot of acne product to help battle the oil even though acne isn’t necessarily a concern for me. I use the Ole Henriksen Truth Serum that has collagen boosting technology infused to help keep my skin looking fresh and bright in conjunction with the Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Treatment to address my oil and breakouts when they happen. This particular product has been my most favorite find of the year and has honestly changed my skin texture and complexion for the better.
  

• 5.     Moisturize. Finish everything off with your favorite moisturizer that helps your skin feel soft and smooth, also use your targeted eye moisturizer too (I typically only use an eye cream at night, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t do it in the morning as well!). My daytime moisturizer lately has been the Sephora Collection Mattifying Moisturizer with SPF & nighttime the First Aid Beauty Ultra-Repair Hydra-Firm Sleeping Cream & the Ole Henriksen UltimateLIFT Eye Gel.
  

Now, I totally understand that there are times where we need a condensed routine, so assess your own skin needs and develop your own mini-essentials routine for when your on-the-go, traveling, etc. so you have a mini and an essential routine to follow based on the needs of your life.

I hope y’all learned a little something today and that you’re feeling a little inspired to dive into all things skincare! I’d love to chat with you about your routine, favorite products, etc. so please feel free to drop me an email, comment, etc.!

Until next time!

IG: @chelseaesheridan

Email: chelseaesheridan@gmail.com

Twitter: @ChelseaSheridan

Blog: www.prettypinkandproper.com 

Fun Jewelry Display

Hello Mermaids! It's been awhile since I've last blogged here. Life seems to be crazy busy. I homeschool my twin girls, and we started first grade in August, and it has for sure been an adjustment for me. 

The days seem to just speed by and before I know it another week is gone. How can we slow these moments down? Anyone know? A pause button would for sure be nice! 

I had told Kristi a couple of months ago I wanted to share how I keep my jewelry. I had come across a fun picture on Pinterest and showed my husband, and together we made it just a little bit better. (Fun benefit of having a carpenter for a husband :) ) I just didn't mean it would take me a couple of months to get the pictures taken and post about it!! 

My iPhone just wasn't capturing the photos how I wanted them to look. We have a super small master bathroom, so it made it a little more challenging to get the shot just right. I broke out my Canon EOS 50D and forgot just how much I love taking pictures. 

See? I had a great time! 

This is where is display all of my necklaces. I love being able to have them right there on display so I can just grab and go. 

I pulled out the egg holder that I had in my kitchen. While it's a super cute idea to display your eggs in, it mostly sat in my cabinet. I really try to be resourceful and use what I already own, this leaves me more money to spend at Nobella Grace. Ha!! 

I wasn't crazy about all of my bracelets just sitting on the shelf, so when my mini cake stand broke for the third time, I decided it was time to just toss it. Then I had an idea....

See what I did there? It may not be the cutest thing in the world, but it serves it's purpose. It also keeps little hands out of my bracelets, and I was going to throw it in the trash. Win win! (Arm candy from Metal Marvels.) 

Here is a close up of the arrow and how I hung the necklaces. 

I'm not even going to tell you what I had to do to get this last shot. ;) 

It is not the clearest picture, but you get the idea. 

Thanks for touring my bathroom with me, and I hope you got some great ideas for storing your jewelry! 

Until Next Time, 

Erica 

{{Reveal}} Soul Coaching

 Happy Monday Mermaids! Below is the reveal for the interactive Soul Coaching reading.

I used the Soul Coaching Oracle Cards: What Your Soul Wants You to Know by Denise Linn.
Be sure to leave me a comment to let me know if these cards resonated with you!
I would love to hear your feedback! <3
 

 

Card #1 Delight

 

Card meaning: Clap your hands with joy and let your inner child play. Be silly or play hooky and take a day off. This isn't the time to buckle down and get to work; this is when you should be madcap and spontaneous. Have fun!

 

Your soul wants you to know: Your spirit guardians are delighted when you're filled with childlike wonder, joy, and exuberance! When just one person experiences true delight, this joyous energy radiates outward like ripples in a pool, reaching even the farthest shores of humanity. Your pleasure can rejuvenate you and can have a powerful healing effect on others.

 

Affirmation: "I delight in everything in my world, and divine joy fills me!"

 

 

Card #2 Embracing

 

Card meaning: Embrace all of your life, both the dark and the light. Dance with your shadow, and reclaim parts of yourself that you've denied. Embrace your past and what has been hidden or denied.

 

Your soul wants you to know: The path to wholeness is through accepting and embracing all parts of yourself. Every experience you've had - even the ones that you thought were bad - was important for your spiritual journey. What you deny in yourself can fester and even control your life. Embrace your darkness because you need every aspect of yourself in order to attain wholeness. Don't suppress your anger, bitterness, or fear to a place where it can grow in the deep recess of your being. Bring it to the light. Accept and love it all.

 

Affirmation: "I embrace and love all of my life."

 

 

Card #3 Essence

 

Card meaning: Find your essence. Simplify and contemplate in the Zen garden of your mind. Discover the stillness in the center of the cyclone; do what's important and let go of the rest.

 

Your soul wants you to know: Peel away everything that isn't truly you and let your essence shine. If you've ever watched a cut crystal hanging in a window in the sun, you'll remember seeing small rainbows around the room - yet they all emanate from the same source. You have different parts that comprise your identity, yet beneath it all is your spiritual core. Take time to find your source and live from your center. If something doesn't give you joy , don't do it (or find a way to make it more pleasurable). Don't try to expand your personal power and intent without first exploring and understanding the wisdom of your Soul.

 

Affirmation: "in my essence, I am joy!"

If you enjoyed this interactive reading, meet me back here on the Nobella Grace Blog every Monday so I can help get your week set off in the right direction with each card picked with YOU in mind! :)

 

XOXO, Karabears

{{REVEAL}} Messages From Your Animal Spirit Guides

Happy Monday Mermaids!! This week I decided to use the Messages From Your Animal Spirit Guides Oracle Cards by Steven D. Farmer to deliver your weekly motivational message from your angels and spirit guides! (or in this case, your animal spirit guides) Be sure to leave me a comment below with your feedback and if your message resonated with you! I'd love to hear it! <3

 

 

Card #1 Humpback Whale

 

Music is essential to your healing and well-being, whether

singing, playing an instrument, or listening.

 

In order to diagnose their patients, one of the questions that shamans often asked was when the

patient stopped singing. If it had been quite some time, the shaman was certain to recommend

singing (among other remedies) as an essential aspect of recovery. All that's involved when

you sing - the fullness and rhythm of your breathing, the opening of your mouth and jaw, and

the soulful and creative expression of your spirit - serves to enhance your health and raise your

vibrations.

 

Similarly, playing an instrument can touch those inner creative depths that you yearn to be

expressed through song. Simply listening with your full attention to your favorite tune or melody

can also inspire and heal. Make music as essential to your lifestyle as eating and breathing.

 

You can breach the inhibitions about expressing yourself musically that you've acquired

over the years in some very simple and easy ways: Sing, chant, or play an instrument! Take a

few voice lessons as a means to shore up your confidence. Let the magical child inside help you

rediscover the joy of creating music. Dive in and play!

 

Associations:

 

Singing; Breathwork; Sound Healing; Sensitivity: Alchemy:

Ancestral Wisdom; Creativity; Inner Depths; Insight; Healing;

Release; Guardianship

 

 

 

Card #2 Snow Leopard

 

Take some time out of your usual life

and spend it in solitude.

 

It can be difficult these days to spend time in solitude - to unplug, get off the electronic grid, and

find a quiet place in or near Nature - yet it's important to do so at this time. Turn off the phone,

computer, and television, if only for a few hours. Although you may feel a little anxious and

restless when you first do so, these feelings will pass. Use the time for contemplation and meditation.

It's not isolation; it's solitude. Solitude is a conscious and loving choice to be alone for a period of

time, while isolation is a habitual and reflexive coping pattern to avoid discomfort and intimacy.

If possible, take a full day by yourself, and just do whatever you feel like doing. Whatever length

of time you spend in solitude, be sure to write as often as you can in your journal.

 

If you should feel guilty or anxious about the thought of doing this or even while you're actually

doing it, use your breath to help you relax. As much as you possibly can during the period of

alone time, remind yourself to breath and relax. Whenever you notice your breathing becoming

shallow, take three or four slow, deep breaths and watch how your tension and anxiety dissipate.

Enjoy the feeling of having the sacred space of solitude surrounding you. And remember:

You're never really alone.

 

Associations:

 

Solitude; Self-reliance; Balance; Silence; Stealth;

Confidence; Determination; Perseverance; Containment;

Sensitivity; Intuition; Reliability; Mysterious; Integration;

Shamanism

 

 

 

Card #3 Chimpanzee

 

Use both your intuition and your intellect to solve

the problem or get answers to your question.

 

When your intuition and intellect are in harmonious accord with each other. there's no problem that

you can't resolve. The combination emerges as creative intelligence, an elegant blend of your

capacity for reasoning coupled with a deep trust in your gut feelings. In the flow of thought and

action that results in resolving your question or problem this way, you may surprise yourself as to

how simple and effective the answer really is.

 

Your intuition is actually a constellation of physical cues that respond to the subtle body language,

voice intonations, and energetic quality of the people or situations around you, often felt in your

gut but not confined to that area. It's your instinct communicating - an aspect of your animal nature

that's cued in to your survival and growth. You can best access this instinctual wisdom by

breathing slowly and steadily and focusing your attention on the physical sensations you notice.

 

In addition to your intuitive feelings, get more information on which to base your choices by doing

some research. Consult books, the Internet, other types of oracles, and/or discuss the issue with

a friend. Or you may simply need time to contemplate it. Often when you walk away from the problem or question after intensely researching or thinking about it, an unexpected insight surfaces

that helps you discern the best choice among all the possibilities. When there's congruity between

mind and intuition, coupled with a healthy dose of patience, you tap into the deeper wisdom

of Source.

 

Associations:

 

Problem Solving; Agility; Insight; Wisdom; Intuition; Dexterity;

Toolmaking; Harmony; Intelligence; Cooperation; Laughter;

Communication; Affection; Playfulness

 

 

Hope everyone enjoyed their spirit animal messages this week! Be sure to meet me back
here on the Nobella Grace Blog every Monday so I can help get your week set off in the right direction with each card picked with YOU in mind! :)

xoxo, karabears

Blanket Scarf Tutorial - Repost

Happy Weekend Mermaids!

Since Fall is upon us we thought it would be the perfect time to repost this great Blanket Scarf Tutorial that Jenna wrote for us last year!  We have a ton of blanket scarves going up on our website today and can not wait to see how you style them.

Hi Nobella Grace Girls! Now that Thanksgiving has passed, the winter chill is starting to set in. There's no better way to keep yourself warm and cozy than a beautiful blanket scarf! These scarves are top quality, gorgeous rich colors that will match with pretty much anything in your closet, and super soft. They are also the lowest price I've seen anywhere! Only $25 with free shipping! Grab this MUST HAVE item and wear it all winter long!

So now that we know how amazingly AWESOME it is, how do you wear it? Well, any way you want! I wanted to share my favorite way to wear this fabulous blanket scarf with a quick tutorial for you all! Enjoy!

First, hold the scarf completely open in front of you.

Second, fold the scarf in half to make a triangle.

 

Next, with the middle point of the triangle against your chest, start to put the two ends behind you.

After that, cross the two ends in the back.

Last, lay the ends of scarf against your chest on either side and adjust the neckline as needed.

Here's a recap of the tutorial that I created for you all!

It's as easy as 1-5 ;)

If you aren't aren't into wearing your scarf around your neck, you can also drape it across your shoulders! Add a belt and it creates the cutest poncho! 

These are just a few of my favorite ways to wear this very versatile scarf. There are MANY more! Check Pinterest ((HERE)) for more ideas!

Until Next Time

Xoxo,

Jenna

(Follow Me on Instagram: jvalpintor)