Guest Post: Sam of Style of Sam

Hello Friends,

Hope your week is going well!  I'm Sam from Style of Sam.  I'm a pharmacist/ wife/ mother to an 8-month old/ try-t0-consistently-blog style blogger by way of Texas.  I'm a self-proclaimed mixmaster of vintage, couture, and thrift.  Fashion is my drug of choice!  Thank you for letting me visit on Jen's blog while she is out.

Jen and I became REAL LIFE friends after meeting at IFB in New York last year.  Oh you know those blogger conferences... where "internet friends" can become real friends!  Anyhow, I think Jen is FAB.U.LOUS as I'm sure you do too!  Let's all wish her a speedy and peaceful recovery.

Remember when Jen wore this gorgeous beaded collar jacquard dress here?  SO FUN with the purple tights and woven wedges!!!  Well, I wore the same dress too!  I think it's so fun to see the same item styled by different people.  Everyone has their own interpretation, and that's what makes life so great!  We are all different!

dress WAREHOUSE borrowed // hairpin and earrings VINTAGE // rings OUI ETSY, SNS // bracelet PREMIER// handbag FROM G-MA {cute} // heels LANVIN FOR H&M {similar} // sunglasses PRADA // lipstick TOM FORD

Guest Post: Suma of The Fashion Beauty Junkie

Hey Loves!

I'm Suma and I am a typical NYC girl. Coffee, shoes, glitter, large purses, skinny jeans, art, fashion and beauty is what I surround myself with. You can learn more about me on my blog, The Fashion Beauty Junkie.

I finally was able to add Heroine from MAC to my lipstick collection! I am obviously not wasting anytime and just jumping into this blog post. The moment MAC sent out the email that they have it back in stock, I dropped what I was doing to purchase it! Buying lipstick is like eating Pringles, you just can't have one! With that being said, I also added the new Viva Glam Rihanna to that purchase and couldn't have been any happier!

The two lippies are perfect additions to my collection. The beautiful purple hue of Heroine is just the right touch for spring. I know it has been out for a while now and continues to sell out but this is thee perfect time to get my hands on it! Honestly, if I would have bought this color months ago, I probably would have forgotten about it. I know, I may or may not have too many lip products but that's besides the point. 

Moving on.........

Now, lets talk about this beautiful red that we call Viva Glam Rihanna. It is my first frost finish lipstick I have ever own. I'm not really into the MAC Frost colors. I prefer their matte and satin finishes. I convinced myself to buy this color because all the proceeds are donated to MAC's Aids Fund, so I didn't even think twice about it. I find the red more on the blue-ish red side and it's not an everyday red for me. I mean, compared to RiRi Woo which I grab all the time.

I haven't had the chance to sport these babies yet, but they're on my list! I didn't even put them away yet! They are sitting pretty on my makeup table! Have you added any new lipsticks to YOUR collection?

Until next time,

Xo Suma

Guest Post: Lorna from Raindrops of Sapphire

Hi, I'm Lorna from Raindrops of Sapphire over here in the UK.
I have a passion for blogging and denim and am very happy to be guest posting for Jen! 

Yellow is a great intense colour for Spring and Summer! Wearing yellow really livens up any outfit, whether you choose a bold shade of lemon yellow or you want something slightly more fresh and opt for a pastel tone, it always manages to look cool and Spring ready! I got this gorgeous lemon yellow coat from Zara and it definitely stands out! I find the best way to wear it is with other colours like red and blue. Colour blocking yellow just always looks fantastic and gives your outfit that extra pop! I find lemon yellow suits most skin tones, so you don't just have to be tanned to suit it! I'm as pale a can be and lemon yellow doesn't wash me out in the slightest.

If you prefer a less offensive shade, you can definitely opt for pastel yellow which looks amazing paired with white! That's a look that's incredibly light and airy which is perfect for the muted colours of Spring! I find you need to have a tan to your skin tone though when wearing pastel yellow as if you are paler, it can wash you out. If you aren't a fan of choosing yellow for a coat or jacket, you can also opt for yellow accessories! It's an amazing way to incorporate the pretty colour in your wardrobe without making too much of a statement! Why not try a pretty yellow scarf or bag? You really can't go wrong! Whatever you feel like wearing, make sure you add yellow to your wardrobe in the coming months!

Written by Lorna Burford

Beyond the Blog: Life Happens.

I'm not talking about anything style-related in this post, which is completely out of the ordinary for me. I struggled with the decision to write about this at all, whether or not it was too personal, but in real life, things other than fashion consume my life. I'm human, and that means everything isn't all about my bangs (or is it) or what I'm wearing. I have a life outside of House Of Jeffers that I rarely share. But I felt since this is something that affects me, and affects my blog, I'm putting it out there:

I'm having surgery to remove a cyst from my ovary on Wednesday... And I'm scared. And angry.

I'm not ashamed because it's something I can't control, but I didn't expect to be preparing for something like this right now. The one ironic thing about finding out you have a cyst is talking to other women and finding out they went through similar issues. That makes me feel better...

As for my blog, I didn't want this to become a platform about the bad things happening in my life - because everything isn't as bad as I might think it is. My blog is extremely important to me - it gives me an escape to feel like myself, and in some sense, gives me control to guide this ship on my own path without interference from things I CAN'T control - and I don't feel completely comfortable talking personal stuff on my blog. Don't get me wrong, sharing more of who you are beyond just clothing and manicures is fun, because it gives others a bigger glimpse into me as a person. But, there are some things I have to keep to myself, so for now, I'm not ready to publicly put everything out there. I hope you understand.

Who knows, maybe someday, I'll be able to let the words run out of my fingers and onto my blog and tell you what's going on. That choice I haven't made yet... 

What I will say is this: No matter how much of a planner you can be, things will run the course they choose - not what you choose for it. I'm trying my hardest to accept the things I have no control over - like this. The faster I have surgery, the sooner I can get back to normal. 

But, there's good news to all of this! For the next week or so, I'll have some fun posts from guest bloggers from the U.S. and UK! They are a wonderful group of women who are so diverse, unique, and utterly fabulous that you probably won't miss me... But please do. = )

Til then, I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes. 

All my best,

Jen

What's In My Bag

As much as I swoon over a beautiful handbag that I see on a blog, I am often intrigued by what people keep inside them. Usually, it's some type of trinket or accessory that catches my eye - considering sometimes, the accessory ends up outshining the bag because it's just so darn cool.

So, I decided to share some of what I carry on a daily basis inside my bag. I am a fan of fun-size things that have a Swiss-army knife, be prepared type of mentality. But, by the looks of what's in my bag, I'm prepared for a glitter apocalypse and a shortage of pink lipstick should it happen.

I always have with me:

- A pair of oversized sunglasses. I should get a sunglass case to protect them, but I like to rotate my 

glasses to fit my outfit. These tortoise shell ones are my favorites at the moment.

-  Marc by Marc Jacobs Wallet: A gift from my husband during our first Christmas in England. We agreed on small gifts... but I guess we didn't set a monetary amount. This wallet is about 4 years old, and I haven't stopped using it since.

- A British Hair Comb/Mirror Compact: Given to me by my brother and sister-in-law while in England. I spotted it in a shop in Bathe, and they surprised me with it for my birthday.

- Covergirl Powder Compact - Because homegirl can't look shiny.

- My iPhone 5 with uber-sparkly glitter phone case. BAM!

- An array of lipsticks and makeup treats:

1. Maybelline Baby Lips Electro Lip Balm in Pink Shock

2. Bobby Brown Tinted Eye Brightener: It has a felt-tip brush that can be used under the eyes, or as an on-the-go concealer. Honestly, it's better than stick concealer.

3. benefit cosmetics They're Real Mascara in Black (Tiny lifesaver.)

4. NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Yu: This is the color you see me wearing in the majority of my photos. My signature if you will. I panic if this is not in my bag... at all times.

Of course, if I'm going to let my tech gadgets tag along, they need to be dressed in equally adorable style:

URBANEARS Platton Headphones in Pink: I love the look of these old-school inspired headphones. They not only sound amazing, but I wear them when driving since they're equipped with a microphone. And if I happen to forget them, let's just say a day at the office isn't the same without my music fix.

iPad Mini with a Victoria's Secret Pink Crystal Case. One word: Ballin!