it's a new year.

happy new year, everyone! i hope your new years eve was filled with all of your favorite beverages, people and booty mixes. 

so i need to say a couple of things to you faithful readers...

i'm so sorry for my silence lately! i got a little overwhelmed with the holiday season and just couldn't make the blog a priority during all of it. i received several thoughtful emails, texts and phone calls from many of you, expressing how you missed my presence on the blogosphere. your kind words meant a lot to me! blogging is a weird thing and can be difficult because it creates vulnerability. even if you don't post super personal things, you're still putting yourself out there for the world to judge. and they do. and so to hear that people like what i'm doing and missed me when i wasn't around, truly brightened my days!

the new year always brings a fresh start, so over the next couple of weeks i'll be brainstorming and refocusing my efforts, looking for fun things to blog about. i appreciate positive feedback so if you're really itching to see more of something i've posted about in the past, please let me know! your thoughts will be helpful as i'm finding my niche.

anyways, thank you all for helping to make my transition into blogging a pretty easy one!

<3 jojy

christmas shoes

i just got these beauties in the mail this morning. my mom usually takes my sister and i shopping for christmas but i'm more of an online shopper so lately, for any gift giving occasions, my mom just gives me her credit card and i get to go online shopping within the budget. [i'm not spoiled, i promise! i usually only get one thing because i value quality over quantity...specifically when it comes to shoes..] so on cyber monday i checked to see if these pretties were on sale, and of course, they were. my mom graciously gave the OK to get them with her card after my frantic texts [MOM THOSE SHOES I HAVE BEEN WANTING ARE ON SALE CAN I GET THEM FOR CHRISTMAS TODAY?!?!]

these shoes are by kork-ease which is a brand that was all about the chunky platform clog styles that were popular in the 60s and 70s. the platform clog style has been repeated so many times in fashion history and it appears to be back in again now. it reminds me of when i was 8 years old and my sister was in high school wearing her chunky "candies." anyone remember those shoes? they had the big wooden heels and were really loud.

i have a thing for comfortable, quality shoes [clarks, fryes..] and so as the clog style peaked my interest, i have been researching and looking at different brands. dansko, swedish hasbeens, kork-ease... they all have lovely, quality clog heels. i was almost swayed by swedish hasbeens, but in the end i felt a little more comfortable with kork-ease. and so far i really like them! they are super comfortable and light weight which is great cause i don't like to have my heels hold me back at all. i've been known to walk a couple miles while wearing heels.

i think i'll be wearing them this winter with colored tights, socks, dresses and probably flare jeans.

<3 jojy

my favorite etsy shops: soapwalla

i adore this shop. Soapwalla has some serious bath and body products. y'all know that i'm all about the natural and organic stuff and this shop is definitely my go to for soaps, body oils and of course the deodorant. 

the Soapwalla chef, Rachel is one inspiring lady. she started making her products in her own kitchen because she has lupus, a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disease that was causing her to have painful skin rashes. she needed to use products that were free of all those toxic chemicals and made instead with wholesome and organic ingredients. thus she created Soapwalla:

"Soapwalla products are comprised of the highest quality products available, made with organic, vegan, food-grade ingredients, and never harmful or synthetic additives such as petrochemicals, parabens, pthalates, or sodium lauryl sulfate. Our skin is our largest organ and in order for it to function at its best we must feed it with wholesome ingredients. If I refuse to put something in my body, I shouldn't be putting it on my body, either."

                                                   -Rachel, Soapwalla chef.

my favorite product of hers so far [sadly i haven't tried all of them yet] is the deodorant cream. it is THE BEST deodorant i have EVER USED [organic or not] IN  MY LIFE. i have always had sensitive armpits. deodorant always made my skin get red and rashy and it hurt so bad. i used dove for years cause it was the least irritating stuff i could find but when i changed all my products to be more natural, dove had to go. after some research i finally came across Soapwalla's deodorant and i've been hooked ever since. i never stink. i'm serious. it works so well. and it doesn't irritate and it smells wonderful. 

you know how bath&bodyworks is the typical "i don't know what to get this lady" present? well just stop it. you know that stuff always ends up collecting dust in the guest bathroom [also it's filled with gross chemicals]. go check out Soapwalla and buy them something that they'll actually use! 


<3 jojy



[photos courtesy of soapwalla]

my favorite etsy shops: olivia terrell jewelry and metalworking

this one in particular is near and dear because olivia is one of my good friends. we originally met through our boyfriends, who were best friends growing up, and then they both became our husbands. when i first found out that olivia "makes jewelry," i gotta be honest, i wasn't expecting a whole lot. i had never really known anyone to make real jewelry..you know just friendship bracelets or something. but that was just my naivety cause i quickly realized that THIS GIRL CAN MAKE SOME JEWELRY. 

olivia manipulates metal in a perfectly beautiful and fresh way. she does subtle everyday jewelry to statement-like jewelry [which in my opinion could still be for everyday]. i have several pieces from her and i wear them all the time.

there are two photos above [top and bottom left] that are from her portfolio. aren't they lovely? i think they showcase her talent and versatility. pretty much all of the other photos you see are pieces that you can buy from her etsy shop. she can also be found selling her jewels around various holiday craft fairs and things of the like. for anyone in georgia, she'll be in athens for the indie south fair on december 8th, selling her creations

i have never been much of a jewelry person until olivia and i became friends, and now her's is pretty much the only jewelry i wear! while you're poking around her shop, you should also check out her website and her blog.

<3 jojy



[photo in the right middle by clark brewer, styling by caroline brewer styling/ all other photos by olivia terrell]

my favorite etsy shops: KiNGFLY

next up in my etsy shop series is KiNGFLY.

KiNGFLY has bags, totes, clutches, card holders and other accessories. they are made with quality leather and fun fabric interiors and they are all one of a kind! handmade by Rachel Pepper, these bags are so unique and fun! 

Rachel does everything herself. she picks out the materials, designs and sews. no assembly lines, no factories. just one incredibly talented lady!

i have one of the iconic shoulder bags [similar to the big one above] and a natural leather clutch [middle] and i love both of them. the design for the shoulder bag really is perfect and its so different than anything else i've seen in the bag realm. i get a lot of comments on it when i wear it out. i received the natural leather clutch as a bridesmaids gift earlier this year and it was definitely a winner all around. 

these bags are for anyone who appreciates quality, style and originality. i love how Rachel doesn't duplicate a bag. the color of leather, thread and interior fabric is only used together in that combination one time, insuring that your bag is in fact the only one of its kind out there. so cool!! 

if you have a special lady in your life [wife, girlfriend, sister, mother, daughter] who likes purses and individuality, i recommend something from KiNGFLY for any gift-giving occasion.

<3 jojy

p.s. tomorrow is small business saturday!! shop small and show your support for small business owners like Rachel!

[photos and logo are from KiNGFLY]

thanksgiving times

wishing everyone safe travels and big food babies for thanksgiving. i'll be posting another one of my favorite etsy shops on friday so stop by and take a look!

<3 jojy