Happy Thanksgiving loves!  I hope you are spending the day with people you love and care for.  I pride myself on being thankful for all I have especially when I am feeling blue.  Being able to take a moment when my mind is racing with something I didn't get or something that didn't go my way, brings me back to reality and is the key to my happiness.  I don't need a made up holiday like Thanksgiving to be thankful for all I have, but Im a sucker for themes so here it goes.  Top four things I am most thankful for:

1) My marriage

This is both our second marriage. We both were unhappy in our first marriages and were given an opportunity to learn from mistakes we made in those relationships.  Having that experience only enhances and makes us appreciate what we have with each other.  It's magical.  I will share an example with you, its personal but so is this blog so here we go.  Yesterday I was having one of those days.  You've had them before, you feel unhappy, unattractive, empty and alone.  Yes, I have those days!  Let me be clear I was at work and wasn't alone but I felt alone.  I came home to my boys, the hubby fixed me a cocktail, we had dinner and then we spent the rest of the evening cuddled in bed watching 90's movies and Friends re-runs.  We stayed up until 3am and can I tell you how "full" I feel today?  The connection I have with my husband is nothing short of magical.  I am thankful for his endless love, patience, support and understanding.

2) My boys

My husband and I both have children from our previous marriages so we are what you call a blended family.  My son is 17 and his son just turned 13.  I won't sugar coat it, raising someone else's child is not easy and we are all still learning.  We have, however, gotten a lot better.  My husband and I are very open about our feelings and insecurities and that helps us be better parents to our boys.  Our boys are different in many ways, but their differences compliment one another.  They are learning from one another and we are learning from them.  They are both kind, respectful and loving boys.  I am thankful to be blessed with not one but two wonderful boys!

3) My friends

My friends are some of the best people I know.  We share the good, the bad and the crazy and I wouldn't have it any other way.  They are smart, loving, passionate, funny and I am so lucky to share this life with them.  My friends have become my family and there is nothing I wouldn't do for them.  I am thankful that they remind me that I am worthy of love on those days that I can't see it for myself.

4) My dog Timmy

Honestly you guys if my husband told the story he would say that I wanted to return Timmy to the pound the first week we got him.  And this would be true!  We had all just moved in together, juggling a home, kids, their schedules, work and everything else the hubby and I do, it was ALOT.  Bringing a puppy into the home is almost like bringing a new baby home (I said almost).  It takes a lot of time, patience and time. lol None of which I possessed when we brought our little guy home.  I broke, I told my hubby it was too much and we should return him.  It was a moment of weakness and I am beyond grateful that the hubby was strong for all of us.  Timmy made us a family.  All of us had to chip in to train, tend and play with him.  He is the heart of our family.  He brightens any mood I am in.  He is always happy to see me, even when I've just gone to the store he welcomes me home like he hasn't seen me in weeks!  He watches movies with us, takes naps by my side and shares our meals.  The boys argue about who has to walk him and who walked him last and I wouldn't have it any other way.  That is family.  It is messy and sometimes contentious but the love we share carries us through. I am thankful for Timmy making four strangers a family.

My heart is so full of love, not just today but everyday.  I am thankful for all my life includes and I hope you feel the same way!  I wish you nothing but love and peace.

What are you thankful for?  Comment below!

Thanks for reading!  XOXO 💋

by LifeStyledbyErica

Three cheers for the freakin weekend!

What I do every Friday morning when I get out of bed..I swear.

Thanks for reading!  What are your plans this weekend?  Comment below..

By LifeStyledbyErica 💋

Hi gorgeous!  I have a love/ hate relationship with my hair.  I love to see it long, shiny and healthy but I don't like to put in a lot of work.  The truth is some women have amazing hair without even trying, I am not one of those women.  I have done many things to my hair including coloring (Ive literally been all shades known to man and most not found in nature) a keratin treatment about two years ago and all sorts of leave ins and hair masks, homemade and other.  It left my hair dry, dull and damaged. But all of that is changing...

I've found the right combination of hair products that have been working for me and since sharing is caring I'd like to share with you what they are!   For the last six months I've been (religiously) taking Nature's Bounty Extra Strength Hair, Skin and Nails (pictured below) twice a day.  My hair takes forever to grow, true story but my hair has been growing like crazy. I didn't realize how much until I looked through some pictures on my Instagram Feed, thanks Nature's Bounty Extra Strength Hair, Skin and Nails, lol.  I picked up mine from Costco, but I think anything with Biotin works for hair growth.  Ive also replaced my shampoo and conditioner, I'm on week two of using CHI Keratin and I really like the results. I love the smell, but more than the smell, my hair feels manageable and has a healthy sheen.  It can be a little pricey, I think I paid $30 for the combo but it's worth the investment.  Trust me, I read lots of reviews before I hit "buy" on amazon.  So far, a great purchase.  The last "go-to" is my new Remington Pearl Digital Curling Wand!  I'm using the 1 1/2 inch barrel.  It's great for creating that tousled, beach wavy hair look.  I am challenged when it comes to styling my hair, but this wand is a no brainer AND it comes with a glove to prevent those burned fingertips.  SWEET. I've provided product links below!


What are some products you are using?  Comment below!

Thanks for reading! XOXO💋

By LifeStyledbyErica

 Hi beautiful! This has been a tough week in more ways than one.  Of course the elephant in the room is Tuesday nights' Presidential Elections.  While the country was watching with bated breath who our next President was going to be, I had a stomach bug. OMG the pain and discomfort I felt that night was severe and it took the entire rest of the week to fully recover.  I am still in a bit of discomfort whenever I eat. I still can't figure if the "bug" was something I ate or just my nerves and anxiety taking a physical toll on me.  I have just a few words to say on the elections, we have a lot of learning and growing to do.  Listening to one another is a good place to start.  It can be difficult when you don't agree with what someone has to say, but not allowing a discussion just proves you are no better than the person you disagree with.  Words are powerful, don't underestimate your power.

Winter whites! This has got to be one of my favorite looks.  White and camel in the fall/winter months is such a chic look.  I paired a pair of skinny white pants from H&M with this white cashmere turtleneck sweater I scored from the Gap many years ago.  Finished the look with my favorite boxy camel coat from Forever21 and my go-to nude pumps I purchased via Shoemint.  Shoemint is another site similar to Shoedazzle which I explained in my Floral Print Dress Post except Shoemint has more wear to work friendly options, a bit more high end and classic.  Shoedazzle is all about the glitz and the glam, nothing wrong with that but a girl needs simple patent leather pump every once and a while.  I paid about $50 for these puppies and I wear them at least once a week, really a wardrobe staple! This whole look is under $100, minus the sweater, its an investment piece, Ive had my sweater for at least 8 years!  You can look like a million bucks without having to spend that much.  Check out the links below to see how you can shop for a similar look.  Keep, keep on, keeping on...

Hi beautiful! Can you believe we are in November? I can't, I really can't!  I took this weekend "off" from the blog to spend some time with a good book (the gargantuian Power Broker) and a few of my old favorite movies.  I am a hopeless romantic who tends to watch the same movies over and over again.  I also gravitate to "junk" reality tv shows also about finding love like Catfish, 90 Day Fiancé and Love at First Sight.  I can't help it, I believe in the power of love and wish for everyone to find it.   Maybe one day I will share with you all the bumps in my road before I stumbled upon the man that I would eventually marry, but thats for another day. 😇

Hi beautiful!  I openly admit it,  I am still in the process of understanding myself.  How I come to forgive someone is a big one for me.  I am not perfect, obviously, and I can admit that I sometimes hold people to unrealistic standards, especially if I love and care for them very much.  If they hurt me, it's difficult to find the road to forgiveness.  I eventually get there but it does take time.  Here are a few things I actively put into practice when I find myself struggling to forgive and move on.

1) Maintain Perspective

This is an easy one if you remain open minded.  Life happens.  People mess up.  You've messed up.  This "thing" that you are mulling over in your head is not life threatening, is it?  The answer is most definitely, no. Once you look at it through that lens, it shrinks and you soon realize it is something you can handle.

2) What is the Lesson?

I am a firm believer that every experience, every hardship, every thing really, is an opportunity to learn and grow.  Everything is shaping you into the person you are becoming and that is a good thing, when you maintain perspective (please see tip 1!).

3) Talk to a Trusted Friend

 Over the years Ive curated a group of trusted friends who have my very best interest at heart.  I will admit I have a small circle of friends, but that circle is EVERYTHING to me.  When I struggle to find a resolution that Ive gone over in my head, to the point of mental exhaustion and still can't figure it out, I know it's time to "consult an expert".


4) Let it Go

Too many times we hold on to these bad feelings as if it will change the situation when really what it is doing is rotting us from within.  Life is precious and we have too much to be grateful for to allow ANYTHING to have that much power over us.

Forgive the person. Forgive yourself.

I hope this helps.  I don't want to minimize feelings but the reality is forgiveness is more about you than the person who should be seeking forgiveness.  I remind myself of this every time I hit a wall.

What are some of your tips?  Please share below.

Thanks for reading.  XOXO💋

By LifeStyledbyErica