Good Girl Style

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Blowfish Shoes GIVEAWAY!

{how cute is this Blowfish ad?}

As I said yesterday, I am so thrilled to be able to give one reader any pair of Blowfish shoes their heart desires.

Did you hear that?
ANY PAIR YOU WANT!
I suggest a big iced coffee to sip while you peruse their website.

Might I also suggest the Illi in Natural Straw, like moi?

You, too, could rock the straw wedges with the cute little almond toe shape and blush at all the compliments comin' your way. Though, really, any of their shoes are sure to garner compliments. And they are way comfy, ya'll.

How to Enter:

Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment here, on this post, telling me your favorite shoe from Blowfish Shoes' current collection
Giveaway open to US residents only. Ends Monday, May 27th at midnight ET.

Extra Entries:

(leave a separate comment for each one)

2.) Follow @blowfishshoes on Twitter

3.) "Like" Blowfish shoes on Facebook

4.) Follow Blowfish shoes on Pinterest

5.) Follow Blowfish shoes on Tumblr

6.) Follow Blowfish shoes on Instagram

7.) Follow @fashionatalie on Twitter

8.) "Like" Good Girl Style on Facebook

9.) Be a GFC follower of Good Girl Style

10.) Follow Good Girl Style on BlogLovin'

That's TEN ways to enter to win. Cross your fingers (and toes) for some cute new summer shoes :-)

*Giveaway sponsored by Blowfish Shoes. Thank you, Blowfish!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Meet Blowfish Shoes

New favorite shoes alert. But first: a story.

I once had a pair of white and cork heels that I got compliments on every.single.time I wore them. And wear them, I did, until they were completely unwearable, unrepairable, and I tearily said goodbye to them (is tearily not a word?).

Sad story, right?

Nope.

Becaaaaaauuuuussseeeee...look what I found!

I know this will be my new compliments-all-the-time can't-stop-wearing-em shoe. The Illi Wedge in Faux Straw is just seriously amazingly beautiful, comfortable, and best of all: affordable from Blowfish Shoes.

A perfect wedge, just like the kind Duchess Kate likes to wear.

The perfect summer shoe, to go with any summer dress.

The cutest little almond toe shape with a little toe-box pleat.

A really soft interior that's an amazing shade of blue.

And a real rubber sole to keep me from slipping during summer adventures.

Seriously, I'm in love.

I hope you all know I only ever talk about things I really am crazy about. And these shoes? Crazy about 'em.

Also lovin' on this beautiful linen Tibi dress, but that's playing second fiddle to these straw shoes.

{I also just like to say my straw shoes. Giggle.}

Blowfish Shoes has got it down. Great shoes, great customer service, great attention to detail.

Not to mention...they're generous too! Giveaway time tomorrow, friends! Stay tuned ;-)

Sunnies: local store//Earrings: local store//Bangles: F21 & J.Crew//Dress: Thrifted//Heels: c/o Blowfish Shoes

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Sound of Music

Oh my heart is singing a song lately! It's Springtime and the lilacs are blooming and I love these new shoes and Jesus is just filling my heart to overflowing.

I've travelled a lot lately, and caught up with some dear friends I haven't seen in years, and I've gotten lots of little girl hugs & smiles (I just ADORE my friends' kids!).

I'm so excited to see what else is on the horizon for the summer. It's going to be a good one, don't you think?

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Waves & Being Mermaids

This skirt reminds me of waves because of the turquoise swirls and the tiered scalloped edges, topped with a "whitecap" of the white ruffled shirt.

I spent yesterday at the beach with my friends (read my post on how to pack your beach bag here) and really experienced the waves with a heart for the metaphor found in them. Thanks, in no small part, to this song, which has been soaking deeply into my heart this week.

I'm not sure I can describe it. Not yet, anyway, this experience of ebbing and flowing with the waves, of the physicality involved in trying to avoid the waves, the fear that can so easily overcome us when facing waves. I was struggling to keep my back to them, to close my eyes and mouth and grin and bear it...and then I looked to my side and I saw a beautiful friend, embracing the waves like a mermaid, swimming through them with a purely joyous smile on her face. She was at home in the waves, while I was in survival mode.

God tells us there will be waves. I repeat: There will be waves.

We can choose to embrace the waves and realize that they are part of our story, part of our refining, and that God's hand is always on us. He's got us. We won't get lost. When we swim under a wave, let us find the beauty in those waters until we surface again. And when we surface, we'll take a big gulp of fresh air and feel stronger than we ever did before. Stronger, more full of the beauty of life, and more free.

Let's be mermaids, darlings.

Sunnies: GoFish Clothing//Shirt: J.Crew//Skirt: Thrifted//Sandals:F21

Monday, April 29, 2013

Subtle Monday

Just a few pictures.

That's all.

The words in my heart this Monday morning are subtle, quiet, pondering thoughts for God. Or maybe for a wordy blog post later tonight ;-)
Either way, for now, it's just a few subtle Monday morning pictures of a sundress and Swedish clogs.

Sunnies & Earrrings: GoFish Clothing//Dress: Target//Cardi: Thrifted Marc Jacobs//Clogs: Hasbeens

MINTED WINNER: Congratulations to Briana D. the winner of the $50 credit to Minted.com. Email me at goodgirlstyleblog (at) gmail (dot) com, Briana! Enjoy :-)

Into the week!

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Mother's Day Gift Idea

Photo and gift above from PeacockTaco on Etsy

I thought I'd share a few of my favorite Mother's Day gift ideas here and there. This one rocks!

When it comes to Mother's Day gifts, there's really nothing more special than TIME spent together, making memories. I love my momma so much I can't even tell you....she's one of my very best friends and I'm so glad I get to call her "mother." I also get to call her artist extraordinaire, because she is, fancy degree and paint-stained hands and all. Her artistic spirit is definitely something I inherited from her (though NOT her artistic talent!).

Since my mom is an artist, she is constantly looking for new inspiration. Combining inspiration-seeking with memory-making? The perfect Mother's Day gift. So here's what I would give my mom if there was any way I could: A Sunday afternoon, blissfully spring-like and with the only purpose of the day being inspiration-gathering wherever the wind blows us.

But since I don't live near my mother anymore (in fact I now live quite far away), I would send something more lasting than flowers.

This air plant in a sea urchin is just perfect.

It's beautiful, artistic, and it is a plant that lives on the moisture in the air.

I don't know, it just sort of seems like a metaphor for motherhood.

Sometimes it seems like moms live on the crumbs of our love, not necessarily fed with encouragement and words of praise by their children regularly. More likely screamed at, cried to, hung up on, all while ultimately loved and thoroughly adored. But they have to come to know that through osmosis sometimes--to find the "moisture in the air" and the love in the hurt feelings. We children are not always great at saying, "Hey mom, thanks! You're the best, and if you needed my kidney I'd probably totally give it to you (maybe. but definitely)."

That's why we send air plants in sea urchins. Duh.

LOVE YOU, MOM! You're the best!

(we'll cross that kidney bridge if we ever get there, ok?)

;-)

*This post is part of NerdWallet's Mother's Day Gift Contest :-)

Friday, April 26, 2013

Friday Vlog

Vlog 9 from Natalie of Good Girl Style on Vimeo.

The vlog on books of the week!

If I seem a bit tired, that's because I am. I've been in a bit of a rut this week, terribly homesick and feeling the weight of all of the change in my life. Drawing me closer to God, no doubt. All good things, right? This song has been my heart lately. ("Nothing is Wasted" by Elevation Worship). Those lyrics, gah, my heart.

I hope you have a GREAT weekend!

I want to go to some MUSEUMS!

Much love,

Thursday, April 25, 2013

April Snacks

April Snacks by fashionatalie on Polyvore

The things I can't get enough of right now...oh MAN are they crazy-delicious! (cue SNL skit)

The older I get, the more important I realize snacking is for me...I just gotta have something with me that I can eat at a moment's notice, and it's gotta be gluten-free. Here are a few of my favorite new things:

1.) Cabot Greek Vanilla Bean Yogurt...This stuff looks & tastes like perfectly-melty vanilla bean ice cream. Amazing, amazing, amazing. Also, from Vermont, which gives it extra points.
2.) Carrot Cake LaraBars....I love discovering new LaraBar flavors, and this one is delicious with carrots and pineapple.
3.) Mom's Best Cocoa Krispy Rice Cereal....With ice cold milk, it is the perfect late-night snack to satisfy a chocolate craving.
4.) Archer Farms Monster Trail Mix...This is always one of my favorite snacks. The addition of peanut butter chips somehow makes it.
5.) Noble Blood Orange Juice...Delicious and different!
6.) Glutino Apple-Cinnamon Toaster Pastries...Oh boy. I seriously have gone through at least half a dozen boxes of these in less than a month. I keep checking WholeFoods and they are almost always out of stock, so when I see them, I grab a few. The strawberry ones aren't worth your money, but these? These are a combination of a pop-tart and a McDonald's apple pie. Toasted heaven.

There ya have it! My delicious finds for April.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

He is Fighting For Us

I just needed to share this song with you this morning. Because I'm having a tough morning. You know? I miss my family, I miss my old life, I am second-guessing everything, and honestly trying not to cry so I don't ruin my makeup before work. Oh right---work. Gotta go do that thing all day.

"Mighty is the One, who is strong to save, He will make a way....

Our God is fighting for us always, our God is fighting for us all...Our God is fighting for us always, we are not alone, we are not alone."

So I guess I just wanted to tell you, that if you're having a morning, or week, or month like my morning, that you are not alone. You are not the only one there. God surrounds us with His light, and He is fighting for us.

ALWAYS.

Even when we don't see it, feel it, or really even want to believe it.

Rest in that truth today, my dear friends.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Sixties Sunday

I love Sundays for so many reasons. I mean, hello, I get to celebrate Jesus, have a day off, worship with my friends, go out for brunch...and obviously, pull out my favorite vintage dresses.

I had half a mind to chop this late-1960s dress right above my knee (thinking it looked a bit, "I grabbed the shower curtain and made it into a dress" when left long). The next day, I walked by Lilly Pulitzer and saw this dress in the window. Sold! (well not the Lilly dress! but the idea of keeping it long).

I wore this fun dress to church and to brunch with some friends. We sat outside under a big straw umbrella and chit-chatted about life while eating banana pancakes and drinking orange juice out of wine glasses. Just the way a Sunday should be.

Into the week, my friends!