A Giveaway to Honor Mom on Mother's Day

Hello All! Long time no chat!! It’s been quite hectic (in a good way) here at 344pm HQ…. I can't believe it's already spring!

With the start of May comes one of my favorite celebrations- Mother’s Day. Yes, I’m a Mom and I am a bit biased because I do love getting all the hugs, kisses and “World’s Greatest Mom” paraphernalia from my little one. However, Mother’s Day for me goes beyond that. Growing up, Mother’s Day was (is) always the time of year when I would realize just how much the Moms (Mom, Grandma, etc) in my life helped me, cared for me, loved me, and did so much for me.

When I was in 1st grade I made an egg carton flower plant for my Mom. I wanted to show my Mom how much I appreciated her so I put my all into that fake plant. I clearly remember focusing so intently on coloring within the lines and choosing the perfect colors for my “flowers”. I really wanted my Mom to have THE BEST egg carton plant possible because she deserved THE BEST. On Mother’s Day, when I gave my Mom her egg carton plant she was overjoyed, and so was I. Because for me, in my little 6yr old way, that was how I chose to honor my Mom. To this day, every Mother’s Day I try and do something special to let my Mom know that I understand how difficult it is to do the toughest job on the planet (being a Mom) and that I continue to appreciate all she does. 

To honor all the Moms, and "like Moms" out there, 344pm and Melissa Dew Genuine Gems (another Mom owned business) are giving you all a chance to win a 344pm Wardrobe Consultation (45 min) AND a $60 Melissa Dew Giftcard. Total value $120.

We know that a Mom's job is never done and that Moms rarely have any time to take care of themselves so we wanted to make sure this Mother's Day was special.

(Enter Below)

344pm provides busy women with clear and simple ways to dress according to their own personal style, in a quick, convenient and affordable way. From insightful blog posts to online wardrobe styling consultations, and more, you’ll be able to find the answer to your style dilemma.

Melissa Dew is a fabulous jewelry line that features sterling silver and genuine gems.  They feature new classics to wear every day along with unique sparklers that will be the finishing touch to anyone’s style.  Why buy faux gems when you can enjoy the real thing? 

Show your Mom, yourself, or that special lady in your life that you really care by giving the gift of style. With a new wardrobe and beautiful jewelry "Mom" will not only be looking good, but she’ll be feeling good!

Just Login (so we know who to contact if you are the winner of the prize!) and fill out the form below to enter. Hurry though, this giveaway ends at midnight 5/6/14!

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The Athletic Inspired Shoe Trend

I have to admit, one of my most favorite trends this season is the “Athletic Inspired” trend. It’s like taking the comfort of yoga pants and sneakers and mixing it with dressy components to create a comfortable, fashionable look!

What started as the wedge sneaker (see post here) and sweatshirt trend has now exploded to a true lifestyle look. Athletic inspired footwear and clothing were all over the spring 2014 runways and a dominant street style look. Now, before you stop reading and say “Seriously? You are going to talk about what models wear on a runway? No thanks, I can’t wear that stuff”. Hold on, because if you do like this trend, no matter where you are on the “trend spectrum”, you CAN wear it! You don’t have to exactly replicate the runway looks if you don’t want to you… You can easily wear this trend according to your personal style and your lifestyle, your body shape and your budget. The easiest way to incorporate this trend into your wardrobe is to start with the shoes! A very good place to start… No? :)

Sneakers are no longer the “commuter shoe”- you can keep them on even when you get to work! (Yes, you can wear them with a suit). Slip on sneakers go from day to night with sparkly sequin. Athletic sandals are comfy and chic.

Here are some ways to go sporty without breaking a sweat!

The Running Sneaker- Brands like New Balance, Asics and Puma which have been associated with true athletic gear are now making headlines during fashion weeks. Take the running sneaker to the limit and pair it with a suit or dress.  You can also ease into the trend by wearing them with jeans and a dressy blouse. Or you can never go wrong with wearing them with updated jogging pants and a tank.

The Slip On Sneaker- Oh my goodness- this shoe has literally exploded!! You can find this shoe at any price point, from flat to platform and from leopard print to sequence and more!! The ease of a slip on mixed with the elegance of a detailed upper makes this shoe a fabulous day to night shoe. Pair with a dress, skirt, jeans or pants. Anything really goes!

Athletic inspired Sandals- From true athletic comfort sandals (updated Teva’s and Birkenstocks) to athletic heels- athletic influences can be found throughout this summer’s sandal assortments. Perfect for any personal style or wardrobe needs. 

Will you be embracing the athletic inspired shoe trend this season? If so, what’s your favorite way to wear athletic inspired shoes?

Let's Connect! 

Tip Tuesday #10- How to Feel Blue (In a Good Way)

What better way to start talking spring trends than amidst a snow and ice storm!! Pretty much sounds right based on the winter we've been having… 

Looking at the calendar, spring will be here in a few days and even though Mother Nature may not have gotten the memo, that doesn't mean you can’t start dressing for spring. 

Blue is a hot color this spring and it’s perfect for these transition months. Red carpets were adorned with blues and the term “Blue is the new Black” was mentioned many times during this year’s SAG awards. Stores a chock full of all shades of blues- from cobalt to navy to pastel blue. It’s good to be blue- in a happy, fun sort of way. :)

Today’s tip- Here’s how you can very easily incorporate blue in some of this season’s top trends. Along with some inspirational looks to get those creative styling juices going.

Nautical- Nautical looks are hot this year. Anchors, boats and the classic Brenton stripe are adoring any garment and accessory this season. The true navy color is perfect for this transitional time of year. Add some gold accessories navy and white for a bit of pizzazz. 

Denim- Head to toe denim / chambray is still a look that’s going strong. Go casual or dressy with this versatile “blue look”. Add in pops of red, pink or leopard print to break up the blue a bit.

Athletic Inspired- Athletic inspired looks are a huge trend for this spring. Wear blue athletic inspired dresses, bomber jackets or skirts for some fun spring looks.

What are some ways that you wear blue?

Let's Connect!

Tip Tuesday #9-What to Wear When You Find Yourself Working From Home

Today's Tip Tuesday a bit unplanned... When I found myself home today with a sick little one I decided to set aside that tip I had originally planned for today and blog about tips on what to wear when you find yourself working from home with a sick little one... We've all been there, your kid gets sick, and you can't send them to school or daycare so you end up staying home from work and your day turns upside down...

While I was able to move some things around, I do have 2 Skype calls that can't be cancelled. So what's a Mama to wear when she's gotta be professional enough for business calls and casual enough to pick up tissues and offer hugs all day. Well, there are quite a few ways to do this. My outfit of choice today- Casual waistband pants, with a pastel sweater and statement necklace (that I'll put on at the time of my call and remove when tissue duty starts again). And since my client can only see me from the waist up I'll be leaving on my warm furry slippers. (I hope my client's not reading this...)

Some quick tips on what to wear when you're working from home with a sick kid:

1. Machine washable- Kids =  germs (sick or not). Therefore, you want to be able to throw all the germy clothes in the wash. And yes, there are lots of work wear clothing that is machine washable. 
2. Accessorize- I know I may sound like a broken record with this one, but accessories help. Throw on a scarf, necklace, earrings etc when it's time to work. Even if you don't have to interact with anyone and it's just you and your laptop. It's a good idea to get a little professional when it's time to work. When you're dressed in work attire you feel like you're in work mode as opposed to tissue picker upper mode. 
3. Comfortable- You're home after all, why not be comfy. The fabulous thing is this season the trends are all pointing to comfort- from easier fitting boyfriend jeans to stretch pants and baggier boxy tops. 

What's you're outfit of choice when you're stuck working from home?

Let's Connect!

Vacation Outfit Ideas

Hello all! I’m so sorry I haven’t blogged in a while, but I was on vacation. Now, before you get all excited and say “lucky you”! - let me clarify. I was on vacation, with my family, on a Disney Cruise… yup… right… So are you still thinking “lucky you”? Sure, it was great to be out of the snow and in the sun, and it was so rejuvenating to be away from the routine. Of course, it was wonderful spending time with my family and I loved being on a cruise with everything taken care of, Disney does a great job at catering to families. It was so fabulous seeing my daughter’s face light up when she “met” Tinkerbell, Captain Hook and the big M.M. But, like all the other kids, my 6 year old was also on “overload” which meant the Hubs and I were chasing after her as she would bolt from one end of the ship to the other. The good thing (or good in my mind at least) is, as I looked around the ship, I saw other parents running after their kids as well. Some were also juggling strollers, diaper bags, other little ones and of course, “grown up” drinks. By dinner time most parents had the same dazed and tired look as me. But, I suppose it was a family vacation after all it’s just par for the course. 

If you’re planning a mid-winter or spring break vacation with the family, here are some ideas on how you can incorporate this spring’s trends into your vacation looks and still be comfortable enough to run after your kids.

Nautical- The nautical trend is huge this spring / summer. Pair a nautical stripe top with easy Bermuda shorts and running sneakers (which, thankfully is also a big trend) for a look that’s not only fitting for a cruise but any fun filled vacation.

Vacation Outfit by mk-344pm featuring a cotton shopping bag

Maxi Dress- Perfect for formal dinners or casual walks on the boardwalk (aka running after your kids as they accost the balloon guy), the maxi dress is trend right and versatile. Pair a floral halter maxi dress (that’s 3 big trends in one) with ankle flats for a “Mama’s got this covered” look.

Vacation Outfit by mk-344pm featuring a floppy beach hat

Pastels- This spring is all about Pastels. While your day of sightseeing may end up being chaotic, you can look and feel in control by pairing a pastel aqua tee with crop pants and athletic sandals. 

Vacation Outfit by mk-344pm featuring cat sunglasses

Did you go on a mid-winter vacation or planning a spring break family vacation? What are your go to fashionable vacation outfits?

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