Sometimes I Party Like Puffy

Saturday was Rochester's 2nd Annual White Party to benefit Trilium Health.  My BFF Jeree was in town, so she came as my date.  (And what a hot date she was.)

What she wore:

Dress: T by Alexander Wang
Shoes: Christian Louboutin

 What I wore:

Dress:  Yumi Kim Snow Mountain Maxi (Rent the Runway)
Shoes:  Guess (not pictured)
Earrings:  Shop Peppermint (not pictured)
Ring:  Jewelry by Artwark (not pictured)

The #seflies we took: (ok...SOME of the #selfies we took - no one wants to see all of them)

The press we received:

All in all it was a great night with my best friend raising money for a worthy cause annnnd we go to hang out with Mrs. Monroe County. ;)  Success!

xoxo

Jenny

PS - Check out #jereedoesrochester - Yes, I created a hashtag for her visit... what of it?

  

Happy Blogoversary to Me!

Today marks the two year anniversary of The Flower City Fashionista.  Wow!  Part of me feels like I've been doing this forever, while the rest of me still feels like a newbie without a clue.

So much has happened since I started this blog in April 2011 only to find out I was pregnant with baby #2 (aka Cooper) four short weeks later.  The blog took off faster than I ever could have imagined, but I was so sick during my pregnancy that my it had to go on the back burner.  Time ticked on, Colten was diagnosed with Childhood Apraxia of Speech and before I knew it I had a baby, and a special needs 3 year old, and a blog.  I moved forward, kept writing, my audience grew, and before I knew it, this space could no longer contain all the local Rochester buzz in additional to my personal style ramblings which were garnering the attention of a national audience.  In August 2012,  Flower City Fashion and Beauty was born and I became the author of not one blog, but two.

Blogging has quite possibly been the best thing to happen to me.

It got me writing again.  It gave me my sense of self back (easily lost in the sea of motherhood) and it allowed me the creative outlet I so desperately needed.  Without my reawakened passion for writing, I never would have pitched myself to Lori Perkins for Fifty Writers on Fifty Shades of Grey.  I never would have met so many incredible bloggers, business women, and entrepreneurs, who challenge and encourage me every day.  And let's be honest - I'm a stay at home mom - without this blog, I would have nothing to call my own.  It has allowed me to stay me, what better gift is there than that?

This blog has become a little slice of heaven for me; an escape.  I can't write as often as I'd like or do all the networking and collaborating that I want to.  And even though I hear myself say "no" an awful lot more than I would have hoped - I'm here.  I'm writing.  I'm promoting small businesses, local designers and American-made brands.  I've started my own business as a stylist and personal shopper.  I've taken on freelance writing jobs, edited two novels, and become the Fashion and Beauty Blogger for Rochester A-List.

I feel alive.  I've discovered than I can be more than a mama.  I'm a writer.  I'm a woman.  I'm the Flower City Fashionista.  And I love what I do.

In the spirit of nostalgia, I've included links to my some of my favorite posts from the past two years.  Enjoy!

1. My First Post 

2. My Eye Brow History

3.  An Homage to My Mama and Me

4.  My Runway Modeling Debut  + More Runway

5.  Announcing My Pregnancy to the World

6.  Some Bad Hair (Mine)

7.  Me Pregnant

8.  Coopy is Born 

9.  My Dirty Thirty

10. What I Believe

Thanks for reading.  Stick around.  Spread the word.  Without you guys, none of this would be possible!

Love you all more than you know!

xoxo

Jenny

PS- What's your favorite fashionista post?  I've love to know.

Rock Out With Your Hat Out

Happy Weekend!

Thanks to all the lovely ladies who linked up for my first ever Bloggers with Balls link up party!  You ladies rock!  I love seeing how everyone adds their own personal style to common pieces.  Which brings me to the premise for today's link up:  hats.  I love hats.  Knit hats, cowboys hats, baseball caps, wide-brimmed, vintage - I love 'em all. 

One of the best things about temperatures turning a little chilly is that I can break out my knits.  I'm not sure if it's the throw back to early 90s grunge or the fact that they can hide even the worst of hair days, but either way, they are a staple in my fall/winter wardrobe.  

Here are some ways I've worn mine this season:

As a Pop of Color
Hat:  Forever 21

With Shades 

With faux leather Buffalo jacket, Christian Dior frames, and my Jane Eyre scarf.
Hat:  GAP

I want to see how YOU wear YOURS!

Link up and "Rock Out With Your Hat Out!"
(I know that's not grammatically correct - just go with it).

xoxo

Jenny

Bloggers with Balls

Good Morning!

I've had this idea for a while and finally got my act together to make it happen.  I am pleased to announce that I am hosting my first ever link up party and blog hop!  Yay!

If you've been around the blogosphere, you've likely noticed the prevalence of a certain necklace.  I've even heard it referred to as the "blogger necklace."  I affectionately refer to mine as "my balls" and get tons of compliments every time I wear them.   You can read about how I got my balls here.

Here are two examples of how I've worn them:

1.  Night out in NYC

2.  Church on Sunday

Whether yours is J.Crew or "JCREW" (I'm pretty sure mine is the latter) whether you call them your balls, your bubbles, or your baubles, I'd love to see how you wear them.  So whip out your balls and join the party.  Apparently I am having a contest with myself to see how many inappropriate ball phrases I can jam into one blog post... looks like I am doing a bang up job.  Be sure to include where you got your necklace and as many outfit photos as you can!  Welcome to the party!

xoxo

Jenny