Spell and the Gypsy Sayulita Flower Child

With my upcoming 40th birthday on August 27 I splurged a little on the latest Spell drop. Sayulita from their Flower Child collection is amazing. Love the colors and floral print. Then the designs are very feminine vintage 1970 vibes. The denim pieces are amazing and so happy I went with the jeans because they ended up being one of my fave pieces from the collection. 

If you have followed me since I started blogging Spell graphic tees and their mid to maxi length skirts have been a long time staple in my wardrobe. I also had an obsession with their jewelry and kimonos. About 4 years ago my love grew more and more now over 70% of my wardrobe and accessories is Spell or something similar in style. Bohemian, edgy rocker chic are my fave styles. I love long flowy dresses and flouncy skirts with graphic tops, bell bottom jeans, fringe, kimonos, wedges, clogs, vintage jewelry and distressed tees. Then I love leather, ripped jeans, band tees and edgy boots. 

The Sayulita frill strappy mid length dress in birthstone is a fave. I love the color since blue is my fave in all shades then the frill ruffle design of the front and back is beautiful. It really is a very lovely feminine look. The steps are adjustable and the back is very open with the ruffle right at the bottom of the open back. Here I belted it with a crochet tie belt, and paired with crochet cork bottom wedges from American Eagle. Bracelet is a turquoise beaded piece by Ettika jewelry. 

I don't usually like to post mirror style selfies but wanted to share the musk frill mini dress quickly. This is a Spell exclusive color and also purchased the yellow both in L. Keeping this color and either selling for what I paid for it or retuning the yellow. Want to save up for the next collection so decided I didn't need two of the same dress. It is really nice, it has an elastic waist, button down front with tie neck. It is a short play dress style but very cute with some boy shorts underneath and love it with a camisole under it with a couple buttons open or worn as shown here too. 

Last items I have worn is this wild moon singlet in a M, love the wolf and feather graphic print. The jeans are amazing, I almost didn't buy them cause I had heard so many say that they ran very small. I was also worried if I sized up to a L or XL them being very long and wouldn't want to hem them cause of the amazing embroidered and patch like details. I finally after placing two orders went back and decided since they had my size I had to try them. When I am not wearing Silver Jeans the only other jeans I wear are Free People super flares jeans cause I love the stretch to them and wide leg bell bottom style flare. These jeans are the most amazing fit and the details are insane. 

They have a very high waist which I love, two front pockets that I feel add to the look. Patches and embroidering all over but not so much that they look gaudy they actually look super cool in person. I wish now I had purchased the shirt and skirt but I'm very happy with the jeans. They have some stretch and a hidden side zipper.  I'm 5'8 and the length is almost perfect they are maybe a tad long but with my wedges they are perfect and usually I always wear a heel or wedge with jeans unless they are Capri or ankle length. If you are on the fence about the jeans and you love the vintage 1970 bell bottom look or free people flares you must buy these. 

You can shop all my looks using the links in my sidebar and I also have a link on all my social media accounts. You can access both the US and AU sites using my links. All ads for Spell on my page in sidebar are also one click links just simply click on the ad or photo that will direct you right to their site. I have the Flower Child graphic tee, sunflower mini dress, birthstone and black old style bras and bloomers and then the birthstone frill mini skirt still to share from my first batch then I also ordered the black pant set, birthstone blouse, and the new style triangle lower cut bra in birthstone coming from a late night restock last night. My mom got me the white lace clover dress and then have another tee I want that should be released any day now. Stay tuned to my social media and blog for more photos coming soon. Thank you and happy end of summer to all. Hope all the kids are enjoying their first weeks of school. 

Peace love and light always xoxo 

For all my ladies always asking about sizing cause I know I am always asking others about sizing also, I am wearing a XL in jeans which I was told they run very small and they do.  I normally wear a size 28 in jeans.  Mini dresses are all size L, mini skirt is a L, and any other questions on any sizing please comment below.  I will always answer back.

Our Dream Home

Our Dream Home Craftsman style 

I posted back a few weeks ago when we first started shopping around for land, builders and then when we went to our first design center appointment. It is all 100% official. We had given our deposit to hold the lot then we just finalized all the changes we made to exterior and interior of the blue prints for the floor plan of the house. 

Our new home is located in one of the most sought after neighborhoods and also the best rated school district. The school are not only ranked top in the state but in the country they are in the top 100. Important since we have on graduating this year which is why I am staying down south but we have one starting 4 grade this year so the middle and high schools are top of our priority list. 

 I have always dreamed of owning a craftsman style home since I was a child. But as I have gotten older it really is on the top of my Dream home styles. I love interior and architectural design since it was my main area of study when I was in college. Most people when purchasing a new home don't mind going standard with the exterior then landscaping for added curb appeal but for me the exterior of the home was at the top of the list.  I love the front porch, molding and siding details of the craftsman style with the lovely columns with stone. I am so excited to pick out the exterior lighting and paint. We are doing a lot like the photo. Blue isn't an option so we are doing a dark to medium gray with a blue undertone with light gray, the trim, windows and some of the accents will be white and then I will have my blue front door lol. 

Interior is also very important to me so adding more windows was a must. I love natural light and the two story homes didn't have windows on the sides. I added 5 total windows to the sides down stairs there are 2 and upstairs 3. We also replaced the original double sliding door off the dining area and kitchen that went out into the standard 10x8 covered lanai. We actually moved the lanai all together and it will now have a triple slider that opens all the way leading out to the 20x8 huge covered patio off the gathering aka living room. 

We did some minor upgrades like wood look tile in a coastal white with gray wash look. We added a game room which will be our theater and game room upstairs, deluxe master bath with shower and tub which also extended my walk in closet. Our kitchen will be dark solid wood with shaker style. Flat picture frame trimmed style doors, slide out shelving in under cabinets, dove tail constructed drawers with soft close, hardware, upper crown molding and glass, quartz and stone gray with white backsplash. Granite is white with black, grays, silver and some ivory/sand tones.  We also upgraded the appliances, pull out garbage, box for 2 pendant lights over our large kitchen island and that is most of the downstairs. 

Upstairs we upgraded to a heavier dark gray carpeting since all downstairs will be wood like tile. The bathrooms, and laundry room will have a white with gray veining stone like tile. Guest bath has a gray Quartz counter with similar white and gray veining large floor tiles and smaller wall tiles, with a similar to the kitchen accent tile with gray glass and white stone thin subway tile. Cabinets will be either white, the dark black tone from kitchen but a different door similar to the one in photos. Under mountain sink, and all windows in home have white plantation style shutters. 

Master bathroom has a white with gray specs Quartz counter, dark stained shaker style cabinets. Then the small grey tone glass and stone tile is our accent tile for the master shower and tub surround. Utility laundry room will have white cabinets and gray Quartz counter similar to the one in guest bathroom. 

Wanted to share most of the final prints and some of the samples from our first design center appointment. In the end of September we have our exterior paint, roof, trim etc appointment and in November will be our second design center to review and make any changes we have on the interior choices. House comes with under cabinet lighting, irrigation system, and we get a credit towards picking our exterior and interior lighting. Whatever we don't get with our credit we will buy online like chandeliers, fans and pendant lights. 

We are feeling so blessed to be buying our dream home and in the most gorgeous area. We have a view of the lake since my neighbor is the last house that backs all the way up to the lake so we have a side view and will have the amazing breeze. This is what helped us decide on the garage and house placement on the lot so our huge lanai I moved and redesigned will be over looking the lake area. We have been pinching ourselves and can't wait to share photos of the progress once they pour the foundation. We are trying to push back the start cause I don't move until end of May and house is scheduled to finish March/April but if you have ever bought a brand new home those dates change. Our first new build was April finish date we didn't move in till end of August lol. 

Thanks for passing by and have a lovely week. 

Peace love and light always xoxo 

Quiqui Clothing and Arnhem style

Quiqui Clothing is a brand out of Australia with lots of amazing styles. All her pieces are high quality and fit amazing. International shipping is fast and so far since the start of the year I have accumulated multiple skirts and a dress I love. 

Quiqui Clothing Calynda dress in Ink. Flattering fit with off the shoulder sleeves and full button down front. The waist has a drawstring tie that falls right below the bust so it is perfect for multiple body types. I am wearing a M/L and normally being larger busted buttons will pull or won't fit right this fits amazing. 

Arnhem Sol midi dress I think speaks for itself. The fit is just amazing and the fabric is so soft. The slit isn't too high and I went with a size 12 worried about my larger bust size but wow this dress really compliments your natural curves and I got so many compliments on date night Saturday. 

My Quiqui clothing skirt in teal is one of my faves I own this same skirt in two other colors. They go amazing with so many of my graphic tees and blouses. Here I am wearing a blouse I got off Hollister Co for under $8. Love them together, and felt like barefoot was the way to go for these photos. 

Enjoy and can't wait to share my new pieces from the upcoming Spell and the Gypsy collective Sayulita drop from their Flower Child collection. You can shop using my link located in my side bar or below. 

Peace love and light always 

Melissa 

Wanderlust Fire in my Soul, Alex and Ani

Alex and Ani Wanderlust bracelet with Swarovski orange and red tone fire glowing beaded bangle. Shop using my link:  http://www.gopjn.com/t/R0JIRkVOSUxCRklLTkhOQk1LTk5J

More of my fave recent Alex and Ani pieces from Mother's Day and my recent birthday pieces I was sent. Have more to share with my sigh, Virgo and August set. Use the link: http://www.gopjn.com/t/R0JIRkVOSUxCRklLTkhOQk1LTk5J and the ads on my blog to click for shopping all Alex and Ani. 

Quiqui clothing skirt paired with Chaser Brand Camel graphic tank. Bracelets are all Alex and Ani. 

Peace, love and light. Always live for the today, and enjoy your inner Wanderlust soul. Xoxo

New Home Shopping Adventure

We sold our home in July and are currently renting two homes one in northern Florida the other in south Florida. We are currently shopping around to sign a contract on a brand new home to be built and ready for move in May/June 2018. My dream has always been to have a northern design inspired home like the craftsman style homes. I love the exterior siding, stone accents, and craftsman style posts that the design is known for. We have found two models by one builder and I'm returning after a week there last week, to stay the rest of the summer and we will be looking at a few more new areas that are breaking ground or in early phases of construction. I'm so excited and by the time I return for the girls to start school we should be under contract and I will have photos of the exact design we picked. We are looking for a 4/2 but have found a few 3/2 models with what they call a Flex room or bonus room that is like a bedroom without a closet and some have an arch opening with no door but can be closed in. We would use the room as guest room/home office. 

Can't wait to find our future dream home and I have plans to go with a very historical old Florida coastal design for the interior. Lots of gray, blues, white, sand (off white/ivory) and coral tones. I leave tomorrow mid day and Saturday we will be out looking at homes all day. Ready for the next chapter in our lives and with how well the sale of our home went, sold after only 4-5 showings and less then a few days on the market, we had multiple offers on the same day and went with the best offer with a strong back up offer. The buyers skipped the home inspection which saved us a lot of money, and we closed in under 30 days. We literally went to check the area my husband was looking to relocate for work the end of May, came home called our realtor, listed the home a week or two later, sold it that next week and closed less then a month after that. It's been such an amazing experience but also very emotional, we lost our cat of 16 years to kidney failure, and then have had a lot of stress with living 4 hours apart but I wanted my oldest daughter to finish her senior year in the school she has gone to since she was 6. 

Hope that life continues to bless us, they always say good things happen when you put good out there and do good to others. Ready for a new beginning and a year full of road trips, adventure and milestones as my oldest turns 18, I turn 40 and she will be going away to college this time next year. Savor every second with your children cause it flies by, and really be sure to push them to work hard and do their best because my daughters both have been in the high achieving or gifted programs with levels grades above the grade they are in. My youngest is going into the 4 grade but reads on a high school level and is on a 8 grade math level. My oldest is going to graduate with Honors and has been in the junior and high school honor society, volunteers for the city, is a police explorer, and coaches youth cheer. I couldn't be prouder of them both. Life really is beautiful. Peace love and light always xoxo  

Update we went today and secured our lot, now we are looking at the two bedroom will know for sure after doing loan paper work and going to design center so we can calculate cost with upgrades, elevation changes, and a few extra things. Either way we will be moving into a 1 story coastal or craftsman style 4/2 or 5/3 home. So excited and was so fun to chose the lot really excited to pick the exterior colors, lights, stone work, siding, roofing, then inside cabinets, stone counters, back splash, wood tiles, accent tile in bath, siltstone for bathroom, and more. Peace and light with lots of extra good vibes.  

Spell & the Gypsy Flower Child Elle

Loving the newest collection by Spell and the Gypsy. The Elle midi skirt and blouse in Indigo are amazing. Blue is my fave color and love all shades so this one was #1 on my wish list from the first drop. I tried on the blouse when it arrived with my Free People super Flare frayed bottom, dark wash jeans looked so good together and wince the blouse has multiple shades of blue you can style with all shades from light, medium to dark wash. The skirt and blouse look amazing together but I always love when I can style the pieces with other items in my closet. The skirt goes nicely with denim and chambray tops, white, ivory, shades of blue and then all kinds of graphic tees with shades of blue in the graphic print. I also love that the top can be worn with a camisole under it for a little less cleavage, I have a lace trim top cami that looks great under it, and you can wear it open like a jacket, or kimono style look. This set is a win all around. Sizing is pretty true to size, I normally can wear a M-XL in their tops or dresses being larger busted (34DDD US) and I went with a L after viewing their sizing and fit description under the item listing on their page. I was nervous but so happy I didn't go with an XL, sometimes the XL is way to big in the arms, under arms, shoulders and waist. This top fits me amazing. I went with a M skirt but since it has an elastic waist a S would have worked fine. I tend to like to order up a size in the elastic waist cause I like the fuller skirt with more material for that Spell swish style look.

https://t.cfjump.com/30821/t/25515

Their mini skirt is a new fave, I got the Etienne from their previous collection and loved it so much I got both colors. I have the Monaco and Sienna color. I always shy away from mini skirts and dresses due to being more modest as I have gotten older but recently I have been loving cut off shorts, not too short but shorter then normal and the Spell mini skirts are perfect for summer time. I love this skirt in Rosewood and the day it arrived since I was out of town for over a week I had my mail held so I came home to packages like it was Christmas. I opened the skirt first and tried on then was opening my package from The American Alchemy and this Amuse graphic tank matched so perfectly.

I styled the skirt and graphic tank with my new Ettika Galileo choker, charm bracelet with reddish maroon tassel and gold charms and my charm anklet. Love Ettika jewelry and have been blessed to be able to work with the brand for some time now as a review team member. I also wore some brown simple slip on leather sandals from Target and a cute cross body purse with tassel detail on front from Forever21.  Use my code CR8TIVEWANDERLUST for 15% off www.ettika.com

Hope you enjoy my styling of the new Spell and the Gypsy Flower Child collection. I'm excitedly anticipating the release of the rest of the collection which I have heard will be coming out August 14/15. I will be sure to keep you updated once I have confirmed the time and date. Be sure to use my link and if you need a 10% code I may have one or two that work. I have to check but feel free to message me on IG or here. 

Have an amazing weekend, sending lots of peace love and light always. Xoxo 

Where to shop:

Spell: www.Shop.spelldesigns.com

The American Alchemy @theamericanalchemy on IG they offer FaceTime styling and shopping assistance and ship to anywhere in the US for additional postage fee of $5-7