This Is How I Roe In Real Life

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2017-11-04T22:53:00.002-05:00

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On My Lips, Not On My Glass

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How-To Guide for Hostesses

2017-03-26T07:37:00.000-05:00

How do you hostess a really great party! I get that question a LOT!

I would by no means consider myself a professional hostess, but after hostessing over forty online parties for Lularoe last year and now doing several of my own in-home parties for multiple vendors and now my own parties for SeneGence, I do have a pretty good idea of what it takes to put on a pretty decent direct sales event.

Face it, everyone. If you have a friend or know someone in direct sales, chances are at some point they are going to ask you to hostess for them because that’s the way they expand their client base. And by you opening your home and inviting your friends, you can earn some really nice rewards from the consultant or distributor as a thank you gift. It’s a perfect “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” exchange. It’s a lot of fun for both the consultant/distributor and for you if everyone works together to make it a success.

I have been asked on several occasions to give some advice on how to do a great in-home party, both from the sellers and the hostesses, so I decided that what better way to get that message out than to put it on my blog!

So here is a how-to!

1) Pick a date and time. You have to think about what consultants you have coming and who you will be inviting. I realized very early on that during the week at night and weekend morning parties are NOT the best for my guest list. For me to get the best turnout, I either do Friday or Saturday night or Saturday or Sunday afternoons. For the time, I would allot two hours for Lularoe and add on an extra hour for the second consultant, and one extra hour for the third and fourth consultant. I also like to have my parties be open-house style, so no one has to worry about being on time. It’s actually better if everyone comes and goes so that way the consultants are not overwhelmed during the first thirty minutes. This is what works best for me, but it may not be the same for you. If your guest list are all stay at home moms with toddlers, during the day might be great. If you have happy hour girls, Thursday night might be great. Tailor it to who is coming!

2) Decide on what consultants you will have in attendance and schedule a firm date and time with them. Make sure you can stick with it because once it’s in their calendar, it’s there and they will be passing over vendor events and other chances to have parties for yours. My parties are for the most part the same formula every month; I always have one or two Lularoe consultants, my friend who sells Scentsy, me with SeneGence, and we’re now adding one more. My house is only 1,700 square feet, so five consultants is max capacity for us. We determined that we can fit six racks of clothing in my living room, so when I decide on one or two consultants, I ask how many racks are coming. Lularoe goes in the living room, Scentsy and SeneGence in the dining room, and the fourth or fifth vendor usually squeezes in between the living room and the dining room. It’s a tight squeeze, but it’s fun and festive!

3) Once you have decided on the time, the date, and the who, it’s time to get the word out! I usually start by creating a public event on Facebook and inviting all of my local friends. About two weeks before the event, I will create an Evite and do my invitations by email. Evite AND the Facebook event have links that you can copy into a text message so you aren’t constantly typing the same information over and over again. Text them, email them, put a sign up at work, tell your friends about it, even post on your community boards! If you can, put a sign up in your yard the day of the party. You never know, your neighbor might be a closet Lularoe fan girl and just didn’t know anyone local to shop with! Remember, all it takes is one pair of leggings to start the addiction. This is key; make sure that you make your event PUBLIC on Facebook; otherwise, you can’t share the event to groups and neither can your friends or consultants.

4) Tell your friends to bring their family and friends. I always tell my guests to bring their spouses and kids with them. It has been my experience that if you make SURE your guests know that their kids are welcome, you will have a bigger turnout. My daughter McKenna is always on kid duty and my husband talks to the guys in the kitchen. It’s a party, after all!

5) Now, most direct sales consultants will tell you not to have food because it distracts people from shopping. I completely disagree. I think if you make it MORE like a party with food and drinks, it is more festive, the ladies with come and bring their kids/spouses, and it won’t be so much like an obligation to BUY. I always tell my guests who say they don’t have money to spend, just come and hang out! It’s a fun time, they can shop, get a break, the consultants have a chance to pass out their cards, and there are no formal presentations so they just drop in and browse. I pretty much have the same food at all of my parties. I always have wine, light beer, bottled water (get the small bottles), diet and regular soda, and Capri-Sun for the kids that come. For food, I make Ranch dip, put out a bowl of chips, a crudité tray, a fruit tray and deviled eggs. Occasionally I will put out a candy bowl or someone will bring a dessert, but that’s really about it…that pretty much fills everyone up and it’s all finger food so it’s quick to eat and fast to set up. Make it easier on yourself with Solo cups and paper napkins; I generally use appetizer plates instead of paper plates.

6) Make sure that if you have WiFi, you give the password to your consultants ahead of time or put out a sign so they can connect. With everyone doing orders and invoicing online, it will help out your consultants and your customers immensely so they can check out fast, and if the tweens bring their devices, they will appreciate having it so they can play Minecraft.

7) If you have dogs, I would suggest confining them to outside or another room. I have a black Lab, a Great Dane mix and a Yorkie/Dachsund mix, and they stay confined during all of my parties for several reasons: I don’t want them getting scared and nipping a kid, I don’t want the guests scared when they see how big my dogs are, and I don’t want the Lula getting dog hair on it. Plain and simple.

8) Check with your consultants ahead of time to see what they need. I usually send a picture of my living room to the Lularoe consultant that is coming so she has an idea of how she is going to set up her racks. I always offer to set up a table for leggings, and I have a little bag of belts and shoes that I set out for accessories in case someone wants to see how leggings look with boots or how they can belt a Carly to look a little more form-fitting. I also set out a full-length mirror and move some lamps into the living room since my house is on the darker side of the moon. I have moved furniture around for racks, made different food depending on what the consultant prefers (for example, I like red sangria but I have had a consultant request white sangria in case of spills), and made size cards. My Scentsy consultant will use a lot of my Scentsy products for her display so she doesn’t have to bring all of her stuff, so I always make sure I have that ready for her when she arrives.

9) You are going to need at least two rooms for changing. I always set up my guest bathroom, my daughter’s room and my office for changing rooms, and that way if a lot of kids come, they can hang out in my daughter’s room, and we still have the two rooms free.

10) Since I always have Scentsy there, and I LOVE Scentsy, I make sure and change out all of my warmers with fresh wax and make sure that all of the scents are ones that are currently carried by Scentsy. I also put the Scentsy box next to the warmer so if the shoppers are curious as to what scent it is, they can look and then ask her about purchasing it.

11) Ultimately, whatever you are hosting, make sure you are promoting it because your guests aren’t going to be interested in it if YOU are not interested in it. Granted, this is not a hard task for me because I adore Lularoe, but I always make sure that I dress in full Lularoe and try my best to wear something that the consultant sells. For example, if she sells Amelias, I wear an Amelia, but if she doesn’t, then I’ll ask her what dress she would like me to model. I’ll try to not dress the same as the consultant. But if you are hosting Chloe and Isabel? Wear the jewelry. LipSense? Wear the lip color. Stella and Dot? Put on a necklace. Thirty-One Bags? Pull your bags out that you have already and show your guests how much you love them. Flaunt your Scentsy! This is your party! The more your consultants sell, the better for everyone because you will be rewarded for bringing them clients!

12) For me with LipSense, I’m pretty easy because my stuff is small. I have a four-foot long table, and everything fits on it, so as long as I have a space to accommodate that, I’m good, but I do like having WiFi since my invoicing system is online. I like to drink wine during my parties out of a clear wine glass so I can show my customers that I am demoing the product for that the lip color does NOT come off.

13) Lastly, ALWAYS send a thank you note! I usually get a thank you note when I hostess as well, but I always always always send a handwritten thank you note to the consultant letting them know that I appreciate the opportunity and also that I appreciate the gift of the clothing that they rewarded me with for bringing them business. It's just good manners!

Now…let me tell you what NOT to do because there are some dos and don’ts with hostessing direct sales:

1) Don’t have competing vendors there. If I got to a guest’s house and saw a Mary Kay rep, I would turn around and go home. It’s just not courteous. Lularoe is a little different because no two consultants have the same inventory, but even then, I always make sure that I talk to both of the consultants and make sure that they are okay sharing my living room before setting up the event. But don’t invite two jewelry vendors, don’t invite Scentsy and Pink Zebra, no Perfectly Posh and Arbonne…just NO. It’s not polite to them and it’s confusing for your customers. Enough said. If you want to hostess for competitors, do it on separate dates.

2) Most direct sales consultants are going to make sure that you are aware of the hostess compensation system beforehand, and if they have not, ask. It’s better to know up front what to expect than to get to the end of the party and have things be awkward. Hostess rewards are at the discretion of each consultant, but there is nothing wrong with asking. If you can’t agree, don’t waste their time or yours. If the consultant and the hostess aren’t on the same page, the guests will pick up on it and your guests are going to be shopping from the consultant because they assume that you know the consultant and trust them.

3) There is nothing wrong with looking at the things that you want as your hostess gifts, but it is in very poor taste to ask the Lularoe consultant before the party if you can set aside the items that you want for yourself. Your guests are there to shop. They should get first choice.

4) Lastly, don’t guilt your guests into coming by telling them things like “you really want such and such” or “please come and by, I want this”. I went to a Pure Romance party where the hostess was reminding everyone all night long about the item that she wanted, how she couldn’t afford it if we didn’t buy a lot and it made things very awkward. I wouldn’t even mention anything about hostess rewards to your guests. In fact, I tell people that there is no obligation to buy and I would just like to see them, which is the truth! My last in-home party I saw a friend of mine from four jobs ago that I hadn’t seen in five years and it was a lot of fun to catch up with her! I have had guests ask me if I get hostess rewards for hosting parties at my home, and I answer that I do but that’s not why I’m having the party. Direct sales is a lot of networking as we all share the same clients, but it’s also supposed to be fun and not “what have you done for me lately?” at all.

5) If you have the party at the consultant’s house instead of your own, don’t leave the mess for her to clean up.

6) If you have the party at your house instead of hers, don’t leave her alone to clean up and take down. If you have ever helped a Lularoe consultant set up for a party or take down, you know it’s no easy feat. Each consultant has their own system, so it’s best just to ask for direction and do what they ask and lend the extra hands.

So that’s it! That’s my guide for hostessing a great direct sales party! If you want to read my guide to hostessing a great online direct sales party, click here to read about that as there are a little different rules.

Oh, and P.S….

If you DO want to hostess for me? You can hostess for me online or in-home. I have a sliding scale for a percentage off your order depending on what sells during your party and as long as I sell one thing at your party, I will give you a lip gloss of your choice OR $20 off your order, your choice. So if you are interested in earning some LipSense, drop me an email at ericasbutterflykisses@gmail.com or join my Facebook group here.

Good luck with your party! And HAVE FUN! This is a picture of one that I took in January at my in-home party, and everyone had a great time!

Day #11: LashSense and Sand Dollars

2017-03-04T13:48:00.000-06:00

When I first started blogging, I envisioned this being strictly for Lularoe...until I realized that there really IS a demand for review of certain beauty products. And now that I am a SeneGence distributor, I realized I could do both here easily.

LipSense is fantastic. It's what made me become a distributor. I bought my first tube in November, my next two in December, and after that, I was hooked. I will do a review on it at some point, but right now while I'm still trying all the other lesser known products, I'll focus on those since I won't sell anything that I haven't tried and reviewed myself. I just won't do it. If I have a client that wants something, I'll disclose that I haven't tried it and I won't stop her from ordering, but usually it's a person who has tried it elsewhere or has heard great things about the product first.

So, one of the first things (other than LipSense) that I was asked about was LashSense, the mascara made by SeneGence. I am extremely picky about my mascara, probably more so than any other cosmetic that I wear since I wear contact lenses, and I knew this would be an excellent product for me to try and review since I would run it through all the tests that I always do with every mascara.

First, I have to tell you that there is a story here. This is absolutely not Sephora's fault and could have happened anywhere from Ulta to Neiman Marcus, but I happened to be at Sephora when it happened. I am allergic to about 50% of mascaras that are on the market, and did I happen to mention that I am picky about my mascara because I wear contacts? Yes. So I was standing in the middle of Sephora in my pre-Lularoe days when I wore all black, and I think two of the customers mistook me for an employee. When they asked me for my number one choice in mascara, I responded with Too Faced Better Than Sex without thinking. I then proceeded to watch the first one put on the mascara straight from the tester on her eyelashes. If that wasn't bad enough, the second one opened a brand new box, cracked open one of the mascaras, put it on her eyes, put it back in the box, and walked away. I just stood there with my mouth open. And yes, ever since then? I have never purchased a mascara without making SURE before I left the store that it was sealed, and most of the time if I can, I just order it online. And I have ordered mascara since then online from Sephora and I have purchased mascara at Ulta since then as well, but after I buy the mascara, I stand there in front of the cashier, tear open the box, and make SURE that tube is sealed with no tampering before I buy it.

A few rules that I have on mascara:

1) DO NOT SHARE IT. Period. I don't think you should share makeup period, but I share eye makeup all the time with my BFF because I know she cleans her makeup brushes regularly and so do I. I also share it with my daughter. But mascara? No way, no how, absolutely not.

2) Always keep it tightly closed so no air gets in there to dry it out. And once you have cracked the seal? See #4.

3) Always apply it to clean lashes. I don't think it's a good idea to apply mascara to lashes that already have mascara on them because then your applicator is picking up your old mascara and putting it back in the bottle. Ew.

4) Set yourself a timeline to get rid of your mascara after a certain timeline, and that time clock starts the second that mascara is opened. All makeup has expiration dates, and we can all tell when stuff has gone bad. I have lip glosses and lipsticks that smell bad, and I have some eyeshadows that have clearly had it because they won't blend well anymore, but with mascara? I set a 90-day note on my calendar to change mascaras. Some sites recommend sixty days. It's not worth it. That stuff can breed bacteria and if the right kind gets into your eyes, it can really damage them. To me, it's not worth it. I usually spend between $20-$25 on mascara that I use every day. For grins, let's round that up to $30.00 with taxes and shipping if you order it. That averages out to 33 cents a day. To me, it's worth it to have the peace of mind. If I didn't like mascara so much, I probably wouldn't use it but it is one of those "I would take it with me to a desert island" things so I do.

So, on to the LashSense. I opened it on Wednesday March 1 and threw away my last tube which was some waterproof thing from CoverGirl that I bought a few months ago. LashSense will NOT be my tester for the public as I will not have one (see #1 above) and I will be getting rid of it on June 1, exactly three months from the date I cracked the seal.

LashSense mascara comes in two colors-black and brown. That's it. No blue, no purple, no neon green. Just black and brown. The black is a jet black and the brown is a dark chocolate.

I applied it live for the first time during a live video in my multi consultant group which has Butterfly TV every Wednesday night, and it applied fine. The brush is a traditional barrel shape with a wider section in the middle than at the ends, and the point of the brush is narrower which is good for applying it to your bottom lashes on your waterline. It goes on very smoothly

with no clumping and no need for an eyelash comb. It's not as thick as other mascaras that I have worn, so there is no spiky lashes, no fake eyelash look, and it's not overly dramatic. It dried to the touch within a few seconds. I used an eyelash curler to curl my lashes, and the mascara did not spatter onto my cheeks when I closed my eyes. I also tested it yesterday without an eyelash curler, and it also did not spatter onto my cheeks, which most mascaras do. As you can see, I did not wear it with any eye makeup at all for take #1.

As I stated, I am highly allergic to most mascaras, so I was watching this to see if I was allergic to this. Usually when I start having an allergic reaction to a mascara, it starts with my contacts starting to go fuzzy and I can't see very well. Not only did that not happen, but after an hour I took one out to inspect it and see if there was any residue or flakes on my contact. Not a one. The next morning, it was still on, but removed easily with waterproof eye makeup remover. I
have not tried Fooops! yet, which is SeneGence's makeup remover, so I'm still using my favorite Sephora brand which takes off everything. Take #2 was later that morning. I did apply full makeup to see how it would look and used Too Faced's Peach Pallette and Urban Decay eyeliner. The mascara went on fine and accentuated my eyes with the eye makeup. I also decided to test the waterproofness of this mascara and put a swirl on my hand at that time which was about 1 pm on day 2. My last test was the morning of day #3 which is where I went to sleep wearing my makeup (not a good idea, but I took a chance because I wanted to test the durability and also the waterproofness) and took a shower the next day with my makeup on. By the time I showered, I had probably washed my hands at least a dozen times since the day before, but look at my hand after the shower.

So pros of LashSense:

-No allergic reaction.
-Ease in application with no need for my eyelash comb.
-No cheek spatter.
-No eye irritation.
-Long durability.
-Natural look.

And my cons of LashSense:

-I'll be honest, $25 is a tad pricey for mascara, even for me, but my old standby Too Faced Better Than Sex in the pink tube is not waterproof and it is $23 whether you buy the pink tube (regular) or blue tube (waterproof). And I don't play when it comes to my mascara, because if I open one and I'm allergic to it, I either have to toss it or see if I can get the store to take it back. Most of the larger stores now will take mascara back even if it's opened, which is great, and guess what? So will I! If you like what you have read and want to give this a try, let me know, and if you aren't 100% satisfied, I'll accept it back opened or not for a refund or exchange within a reasonable amount of time.

-The ONLY other thing I didn't like about this was that for me, I prefer a thicker application, and I couldn't get that without a lash thickener. Yes, I admit it, I like my lashes once mascara is on to look one step below wearing false eyelashes. However, SeneGence has a solution for that. If you like THIS look that I am modeling, which is very nice, you can order just the mascara, but if you are like me, and want a more dramatic eye, you can buy the combination tube which has LashSense on the top and UnderSense on the bottom. UnderSense is like a primer for mascara. I haven't used it since I wanted to review LashSense all by itself but from the pictures that I have seen, it appears that using UnderSense would give me the look that I want, so when the combo double-ended tube is back in stock, I'll be ordering it for myself to try it for sure.

I have LashExtend in stock in clear. It is a product that helps your lashes grow. I haven't tried this and to be honest, I don't need to because the one thing I was blessed with was very long eyelashes. LashExtend comes in black and brown for day use and a clear formula to wear at night and is to be used for fuller and longer lashes within three weeks.

So here is the price breakdown for all the "lash" stuff.

LashSense in black or brown all by itself is $25.00.

UnderSense (the primer) all by itself is $20.00.

The combo LashSense/UnderSense is $20.00.

The Lash Extend in clear is $50.00.

The Lash Extend in brown or black is $55.00.

As of the time of this post (and of course, this could change by lunch time), I have one black LashSense, three brown LashSense, and one clear LashExtend. I can order the brown LashSense only. However, if you are interested in any of these, please comment, join my page, email me, text me, send out smoke signals, whatever, and I'll put you on my list to order as soon as they come back in stock. And if you are reading this review after the fact? Hopefully if you read this and are like, oooh, gotta have THAT, let me know because it might just be in stock to order or I might have it!

So where are the sand dollars, you wonder?

I have to show me Roeing in the wild! And I haven't done that in a while even though I have a ton of Lula pictures and the laundry basket to prove it. In fact, I've now ruined every last one of my old non-Lularoe leggings and yoga pants so now I have to wear my Lula leggings around the house OR go buy non-Lula leggings. And that's just wrong. Yesterday I had breakfast with my girl Deborah Shute and I sported a 2X Cassie (YES! I NOW CAN FIT INTO A 2X CASSIE! AFTER ONLY BEING COMFORTABLE IN A 3X FOR ALMOST A YEAR!), a black Irma and a black Mimi. Yes, flip flops...it's starting to be a little spring-like around here. And I LOVE this Cassie; the design reminds me of sand dollars so it is one of my favorites. I also have it in light blue and white. And lastly....a close up of LipSense Beige Champagne which turned out to be not as nude as I thought!

Hope everyone has a great day and please let me know if you have any questions about LashSense! To join my group, please click here to be added.

Day #10: Where have I been!?

2017-03-03T22:00:00.000-06:00

So yes! I have been gone for a while (sadly) and really have violated my New Year's resolution to blog every day, even if it was just to post a few pictures, and I plan on rectifying that VERY SOON.

However, I do want to share with you what I've been doing!

First off, I have left my old job to take a new job adjusting with another carrier and getting that all situated and resolved was kind of a mess. That's really about all I can say about that in a public forum, but just know that I am going to be MUCH better off where I am going. MUCH.

Second, about six weeks ago I decided to do three things almost simultaneously which in retrospect was kind of a mess and probably not the best idea to do all at the same time, but you know how you can see things are going south, you know you're overcommitted, but you're helpless to stop it because things are already in motion? That's kind of how things have been for me. So the three things I decided to do at once:

1) I decided to sign up to be a distributor for SeneGence International, who manufactures the WILDLY popular and WILDLY fantastic LipSense. I named my business Erica's Butterfly Kisses. It took me literally about five minutes to come up with the name. I love butterflies, I thought kisses was fun for lip color, and Butterfly Kisses was the song I danced with my dad to during the father-daughter dance at my wedding. My friend found an aqua and royal blue butterfly logo, and my business was born.

2) I decided to start an online multi-consultant event for Lularoe consultants to sell their wonderful clothing which of course is why I started this blog, and I am fortunate enough that I am able to post a small LipSense album alongside their inventory and gain some clientele while helping my Lularoe girls sell their beautiful clothing. We would LOVE to see you there. Our events are Butterfly TV every Wednesday night (schedule announced in the afternoon) and then our Multi on Saturday starting at 12 noon Central going through 12 noon Central on Sunday. Please join us here if you are interested....we have giveaways every week including one unique Buyer's Choice giveway sponsored by the consultants and lots of other giveaways. We are growing daily and I hope you will join us!

3) I used to cross stitch HEAVILY but stopped about ten years ago when my daughter was born and finally decided to liquidate it so I could use it to fund Erica's Butterfly Kisses.

And THAT'S what has been going on! It's been insanity! But the Roeing goes on....LipSense style!

Public Service Announcement: Business Personal Property Insurance in your Homeowner's Insurance Policy

2017-02-14T22:32:00.001-06:00

If you are a small business owner that operates out of your home, PLEASE read whether you are Lularoe, Senegence, Thirty-One Bags, Scentsy, Perfectly Posh, Chloe and Isabel, Arbonne, or Pure Romance.

I've been trying to get this message to everyone I know, but particularly my Lularoe girls since you all have the MOST in inventory. I don't want to see any small business owner go under because they just didn't realize they weren't properly covered. I know this is boring, but please read it. I pray that none of you are ever in a situation where you are saying to yourself in tears, "WHY didn't I read that insurance girl's blog!?!??" after your adjuster informs you that they can't do anything for you in the event of a fire or water loss. The definition of business personal property: "Building, equipment, fixtures, furniture, merchandise, etc., identified in an insurance policy as owned by the insured and used in his or her business. Also called contents." Everyone close to me knows that I am a 20-year general insurance adjuster for property insurance licensed country-wide, and I know the policies really well. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make sure that you know what you are covered for on your homeowner's policy. Anything that you have purchased for selling Senegence or Lularoe or whoever you distribute for is considered "business personal property".

It doesn't matter that it is yours or that it is located in your home. It is used to garner a profit and thus it is in a different class of contents than your furniture, clothing, kitchen stuff, etc. Even if it is a tester that YOU use for yourself, it is BPP because you use it in your business. I can't even tell you how many Mary Kay reps or photographers that I have disappointed when I have limited or denied their claims when they lose their business personal property in a theft or a fire because they didn't know that they weren't properly insured. And don't think you will fool your insurance adjuster either, because we can tell the difference between stuff for a hobby and stuff for business.

Now, pay attention, because this is particularly important. SOME policies have language in them that excludes "articles for sale or distribution". Yes, ladies and gents, that applies to ANY INVENTORY YOU HAVE IN STOCK. Your policy may not say that, but I've read a LOT of policies countrywide that have that language in them. When you call your insurance company to check, have them read the portion of the policy that pertains to that AND have them send you a copy if you don't have one in your records. You also want to find out what your limits are for your BPP (business personal property) ON-premises (while it's in your home) and OFF-premises (after you pull out of the driveway) because there is a difference, and make sure there are no exclusions for certain perils (such as water or collapse or vehicular accidents).

Some real life examples:

1) You are in a car accident on the way home from a trade show. You lose ALL of your stuff because the back of the car where your stuff was located was crushed or damaged when you were rear ended. Based on your policy, you may get a very small amount on this or NOTHING. Your automobile policy only covers what is attached TO the car, not property located in the car.

2) Your house has a kitchen fire and your room where your inventory is located is only affected by smoke. Your inventory will be totaled because it is personal cosmetics and there is no way to clean that. Even Lularoe inventory is totaled because the tags will be ruined by smoke with no way to clean them. Based on your policy, you may get a very small amount on this or NOTHING.

3) You have the tissue paper, mailers, inventory, boxes, and what you wear to events on the floor. Your water heater floods your home and everything is ruined in that room because the colors bleed all over the place. Sure, the damage to your house is covered, but what about your business stuff? Based on your policy, you may get a very small amount on this or NOTHING.

TIP: Please don't rely on what your insurance agent says. I love the agents, and if they didn't sell policies, I wouldn't have a job handling claims, but most of them have NO idea how to read the policies that they sell. Make sure that you talk TO your company AND get a copy of the policy so you can read it for yourself to make sure you are properly covered in the event of a fire, theft, water loss or auto accident.

For me, I have USAA so I called today now that my Senegence inventory is starting to come in, and my particular policy in Texas covers my business personal property up to $10,000 on-premises and $1,000 off-premises. They don't have any exclusionary language about perils (what caused the loss) and nothing about "articles for sale or distribution" so my inventory is covered. I'm a tad concerned about the $1,000 limit off-premises, but right now I'm so small that my equipment that I'm taking to events doesn't exceed that. However, if I ever get to the point where I have inventory of everything Senegence makes, I will likely have to get a separate small commercial policy. Everyone's situation is different. I have seen a number of policies cover business personal property up to $2,500 on premises and $0 off premises, so please, make sure you know what you are dealing with so you are not caught off-guard. For the time being, I won't be leaving ANY of my inventory unattended JUST in case. I doubt that my LipSense will be the first thing a thief will go for, but makeup divas can get pretty crazy about lipstick.

Keep in mind that your house, even though you probably have a room or a closet dedicated to your

business, is going to be covered no matter what, so if you have shelving or racks or anything permanently installed in the room, you're good; it's just the loose "personal property" that this applies to. In order to quickly expedite your claim, make sure that you have current records of everything you keep in inventory and the current replacement cost. NOW, keep in mind that replacement cost where we are concerned is going to be the replacement cost of that item, which is wholesale. You can't make a claim that you lost retail value on a pair of leggings or a tube of lip color when it only costs wholesale to replace it. Now, if it is something like the Diamond Collection which is now gone and you can't replace it or the Elegance Collection that you can no longer order, that is a different story, but if you have records on how much you paid for it, the insurance adjuster will have something to work with.

NOW, if you have a separate structure such as a detached garage or a shed that is used SOLELY for your business, please check your policy on this because most policies exclude any separate structure that is used for business purposes even if it is on your land.If something happens to your things while you are at another location that is the fault of that homeowner or business, you can always file a claim with their liability insurance, but you're going to be made whole a LOT faster (i.e., be paid) if you make sure that you have your own insurance. Your carrier can always go after the other party if needs be.

Lastly, do not be concerned about your deductible, as most carriers apply the deductible to the LOSS, not to the limits. In other words, if you have a $1,000 deductible, and your limits on BPP are $5,000 and you have a loss of $7,000, they are going to pay you $5,000. See example below.

$7,000 TOTAL BPP LOSS
<$1,000> DEDUCTIBLE
$6,000 INSURED'S LOSS AFTER DEDUCTIBLE
$5,000 (PAYMENT; limits are less than the loss)

However, if your loss is under the limits, then the deductible will apply so keep that in mind. However, if you have a large loss in your home, it's only going to be one deductible, not two separate.

If anyone needs any help with this issue or just wants me to review your policy, please message or email me. You can just photograph the portion of the policies that you have questions about. I am licensed in every state that requires a license, so please, reach out to me with questions. Comment here if you have a question that you feel like the answer to could benefit others. I hope this was helpful. I know it wasn't fun, but believe me, crying because your kids put macaroni and cheese in the microwave without water and totaled your business is WAY WORSE. Not a fun subject, but I hope it was educational!!

Day #9: Has it really been almost a month?

2017-02-07T03:00:00.001-06:00

It hasn't really been almost a month since I blogged....has it? Ugh. I am really falling down on my goal to blog every day. I have tons of photos of me Roeing in the wild, just no time to write anything up.

I'll sum up the last month in a few bullet points:

1) I am having severe problems at work. Since my blog is public and I am well-known in Dallas in the insurance industry, that is all I'm going to disclose at this time.

2) I decided to become a distributor for Senegence (you know, Lip Sense?) and in order to raise capital for inventory, I decided to sell off all my cross stitch supplies, fabrics and patterns. Ugh, that's all I can say is UGH! It has been two weeks OF HELL!

3) I think that's ABOUT it! I can't think of anything else! But this outfit was way comfortable. WAY! But, my Roeing goes on! Real life, right?

My outfit that I am featuring today is a four-piece oufit that I wore to meet my friend at The Flying Saucer in Rockwall for dinner and drinks. I paired a solid royal purple Carly with a pair of, well, African print leggings! One of the girls that commented on these said that they looked like Lion King leggings and yes, I admit it, that made me see them in a different light! I also topped them with a purple striped Sarah cardigan and a blue Mimi.

Now that I'm getting more organized with my life in general, I should be blogging more, but I apppreciate your patience. If any of you are friends with some makeup divas, contact me, and I'd love to come to your house to do a party. More to come this weekend. I promise. It has not escaped my attention that I am not done with the core reviews yet!

But I do have to admit I LOVE this Sarah. Dark purple stripes on a solid royal purple? That's just freaking awesome! Purple is great and yes, I admit that these leggings look like they are RIGHT from Mufasa's wardrobe. Have a great day!

Day #8: I Love L.A. (we love it)

2017-01-19T11:45:00.000-06:00

I'm sorry, I know there are a lot of you out there that LOVE Lalaland, but I am NOT one of them. However, I was told this past week that I had two choices. Rebook my ticket home from Sacramento for the next day and get my OWN hotel room, or take a chance that my flight from Sacramento to LAX might land in time for me to catch the flight to Phoenix leaving at the same time.

They were close. I missed it by minutes. But as they say, it's not over until the doors closed and the

doors closed. So, I got to stay at the Aloft in El Segundo where it's very, very retro decor and the bartenders are obviously very excited about making their martinis, which made me very excited since I love fruity martinis like this pomegranate blueberry one.

I had so many blog posts started this week and ended up falling asleep writing every one of them, so I know I'm behind already on my New Year's Eve goals of blogging every day but I have so, so, so many pictures to share of me Roeing out in the wild. And this is one.

I have discovered that Lularoe is just absolutely perfect for traveling. It's so funny but every time I think I've found all the reasons why this clothing line is the best EVER, I find another one. When I flew out to Los Angeles, as you saw the other night, I was wearing an Azure layered over leggings with a Perfect and Sarah. Great for travel. I was so comfortable. For the trip to Los Angeles, I wore a black Maxi with a purple, yellow and red floral print over eggplant leggings with a mineral wash berry Classic. Same purple striped Sarah. It was so incredibly comfortable for getting through security and to the gates and went perfectly to the hotel for dinner.

When I was given about three minutes to grab a change of clothes for the next day, it was an easy

decision. I pulled out a Carly and a pair of leggings. Done. Unfortunately, I got home SO late that day that I forgot completely about taking a picture, but when I got off the plane, it took me comfortably to an Arbonne party with Shannon and to the grocery store to prepare for my in-home the next day. And the purple striped Sarah that I wore with the Maxi and the berry mineral wash Classic transferred perfectly to the Carly and leggings.

Packing with Lularoe for a trip is a piece of cake because you can roll it and it doesn't require any ironing. You simply shake it out and go. But look at all the possibilities with the outfit that I had worn on the plane. It was a little chilly, so I didn't do the Maxi as a dress down to the bar for dinner, but if it had been summer in Los Angeles, which is on the warm side, look what I could have done. It's very, very cool in northern California over the summer, and if I had had to, I could have ditched the Sarah and the leggings for just the Classic over the Maxi, OR, I could have just tucked in my bra straps and pulled the Maxi up for a cute summer dress. So that was trip to Los Angeles. Maxi + Classic + Sarah, martinis, sleep, and then Carly + leggings for the flight home to Dallas. And that's how you Roe while traveling!

China Glaze Don't Desert Me

Looking for a Sarah like mine with the stripes or in the purple? I haven't seen my exact Sarah anywhere, but Serena Cervantes has an excellent selection of striped Sarahs in a variety of colors, and if you just love love love the purple, there is a solid one and one with stripes but almost in a chevron-shape. Make sure and check out her selection!

Have a great day, and now that I'm home from the West Coast, I'm hard at work on the core style reviews once again.

I did have time to paint my nails while in Los Angeles, so here is China Glaze Don't Desert Me. Great shimmery pink!

Day #7: Elegance...for work?

2017-01-10T07:28:00.000-06:00

Why not? These girls look like they are ready to party it up every day of the week when the average person may attend one formal event every few years. Maybe.

I really had no idea what to expect when the Elegance Collection was released. All I knew was, several of my consultants were taking preorders, nothing in my size was available, and everything that I absolutely loved wasn't even made in my size. And it was expensive! And dry clean only!

But when it comes to clothes, jewelry, makeup, nail polish, whatever....I'm attracted to the sparkly. If I were a fish, I'd have been dead on a plate long ago. An old friend of mine used to yell "fish bait!" every time we'd be shopping and run into a display of jewelry that caught my eye.

The first thing I got was the Classic T in a combination of silver and rose gold. That was a preorder and I was happy with it. The second thing I got was the sparkly Carly in the berry color. Also a preorder and I was happy with it. Everything else? Well, I came across this Lindsay in the picture at a multi-consultant sale after Christmas and told myself I wouldn't buy it unless it was still available at the end of the day. Obviously it was. I had several friends on the list to the left contact me when they had stuff in my sizes to offer me first right to buy. I had several friends say that they didn't think they would EVER sell X, Y or Z....and then I decided I had to have it. The rest of it? Imagine a lion hunting antelope and

that was me. See that picture? The antelope was the shiny blue Wonder Woman skirt and I was the pouncing lion. I justified it by telling myself that because I have fifteen nieces and nephews that are growing up and will be getting married that I need these semi-formal (all right, fine, they are formal!) clothes. Then I justified it by telling myself that they really aren't that Christmasy and I can wear them whenever I want. Then I made myself a promise that I would wear Elegance to every Lularoe party and pop-up and event this year to get my money's worth, a promise which I promptly broke on Sunday.

Shameless....I really could talk myself into walking off a cliff if I tried hard enough.

So a few tips for those of you that are like me and have a ridiculous amount of Elegance and won't admit it (but you know you do):

If you have one of the glittery sparkly Carlys and you are freaking out about the glitter dust that is everywhere, I heard from another consultant that if you take it outside, shake it out and then spray it thoroughly with Scotch Guard, the glitter fall out will be at a minimum. Another suggestion is hairspray, although I'm not going to be trying that, thank you very much! Here's an article that talks about how to keep glitter from falling off clothing.
I have heard from several wearers that the glitter fabric scratches the bejeezus out of the underside of the arms when you wear it. I don't have any input on that yet since I haven't worn mine anywhere except around the house, but I'll update this article when I wear one for more than five minutes. I would suggest wearing a Lindsay or Monroe with it to help with the chafing.
Read the care instructions on every piece that you have. I have heard that dry cleaning is recommended for these pieces, but I seriously doubt I am ever taking it down to my local dry cleaner to let them have at it. Since I'm an insurance adjuster, I know people in the textile restoration business, so I'll probably be doing that as needed but only as needed. Any piece that can be hand-washed, I would do that with the most delicate soap possible and wash by hand.
Be careful with it and watch your jewelry, especially on the stuff that can snag. I didn't even bother wearing a bracelet Christmas even when I wore my Elegant Lucy that has a tulle overskirt. (You can see the picture of me wearing that green skirt in this article.)
I seriously wasn't kidding about wearing it to every pop-up party I attend this year, but I'm not going to wear head to toe metallics or glitter. I plan on toning some of those pieces down with some solid shirts and skirts.

And with that, it's a perfect segue into the title of my article where I actually did wear Elegance to work. My first Lindsay that I bought (ouch, I just admitted I have more than one, didn't I?) was a bronze shimmery Lindsay with gold threads running through it, and I thought it went really well with this combination of a mineral-washed black Classic tee, a floral Azure skirt in tones of gold, gray, and white on a black background, and tan leggings underneath. Definitely four pieces that I would not have thought about pairing together, but it just kind of....worked. Which is odd considering that there were four fabric types in this outfit....mineral wash, gauzy chiffon with metallic threads, slinky Tencel in the Azure and then everyone's favorite leggings. It was dressy for work without being overkill, and it was fun. (Karaline, if you are reading this, I told you I had worn the mineral wash to work!)

And the Azure is such a cute topper for leggings...it's swingy, it's comfortable, and you can pick a color out of the pattern in the Azure to bring to the forefront with your legging choice. I was trying to highlight the gold in the floral pattern to bring out the color of the gold threads in the Lindsay.

I loved pairing the Azure with leggings so much that day that I decided to give it another shot today when I was traveling, except this time I paired the Azure and leggings with a Perfect tee and a Sarah cardigan. It was great for flying, so much better than the jeans I used to travel in. Unfortunately I didn't find anyone that I felt would stop what they were doing and take a picture of me, and I hate taking selfies of myself in the mirror, so I took this one of me from the waist down . The "bell" of the turquoise Perfect blouses out perfectly over the Azure, a lavender cotton with a rich vibrant purple and turquoise thinly striped grid-like plaid, which I layered over purple leggings to match the "grid" in the Azure. I wore a purple striped Sarah over the entire thing, and now you get a close-up of my Skecher ballet flats. When I travel, I only bring one set of jewelry, so I just was wearing my wedding rings, some handmade turquoise black beaded earrings and a stainless steel Fossil watch with a white marbled face.

But this weekend I am hosting my first in-home party AT my home, and you bet I'll be wearing one of my fancier dresses then...maybe I'll try one of the glittery Carlys and see if I can irritate my husband by getting glitter all over the couches that he'll insist on vacuuming to perfection before my guests arrive.

The bronze Lindsay with the gold threads is available for purchase from Jessica Martin in sizes medium and large. She also has the berry sparkly Carly, the green Lucy with the rose gold diamonds and the Classic tee in the silver and rose gold, so if you are still on the hunt for Elegance, it's a great place to go shop, and she is offering special pricing through tomorrow evening.

Have a great day and remember, any day is a good day to dress in sparkling clothes!

Oh, and one last thing...look what I spotted at Hudson News at Dallas Love Field! Sure do look like MIMIS, don't they? Just goes to show you that EVERYone wants to Roe!

Day #6: Pattern-mixing

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Pattern mixing takes a little bravery, courage and creativity, but when done successfully, it looks perfect and is a great way to combine some of your more unusual prints with the classic ones.

I originally saw this Lindsay cardigan in a sheer chiffon material sold by a consultant in a sale that had held it for a consultant that wanted it....and then changed her mind. When I saw it, I knew I had to have it. I didn't know what I was going to wear it with yet, but I thought probably a purple skirt and a tan top.

Then I discovered this Carly...and knew that these two pieces were meant to be paired. The Carly is a desert sand brown with a variety of wildflowers all over it that blend together into a great print that is accented by the ice blue Lindsay that is a purple and brown floral watercolor print.

I layered it over slate blue leggings to go with the blue flowers in the Carly and wore a purple-striped Sarah over it to make the pattern mixing complete. The outfit really works.

When it comes to pattern mixing, you really never know what is going to look good together until you just try it. Florals with florals, florals with stripes, vertical with horizontal, pattern with stripes.

I have done this successfully with three other outfits. The first time I tried pattern mixing was a turquoise Monroe with a brown floral print layered over a chocolate and taupe striped Carly which was a great combination for the summer.

Recently I tried the same style of Carly with rose-patterned leggings which was a beautiful combination given the strong outline of the roses in the same berry color used in the Carly.

This can also be used with the Cassie over leggings when trying to create a unique combination. I was trying to find a pair of fun print leggings to wear with this vertical striped Cassie skirt, and I ended up settling on the sugar skull leggings because they were black and white, which complemented the skirt, and the direction of the skulls was vertical.

Make it a great Lularoe day!

The Madison skirt....hand pleats just like a cheerleader skirt...

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The Madison skirt is such a fantastically tailored skirt and looks so great on the right body shape...I refuse to give up on it for me, even though everything tells me that it won't look right on me ever. And that's why there is no Madison in my closet.

I love, love, love the Lularoe line up of skirts so much and was determined to give this another go after it was a bust at a pop-up I went to last year. At that time, I tried a 2XL. At the time, I thought that it made me look pregnant so I didn't buy it, but later I went to a multi-consultant event and decided to give it another shot, but size down. I chose a beautiful soft chocolate brown XL Madison, one that I would consider buying, and paired it with a dusty rose knit Classic. It was actually kind of funny, because I realized when I got in the dressing tent that I needed a shirt and asked the nearest consultant to hand me a Classic in 2XL that would go with brown and that's what she chose for me. AND I ended up buying the shirt. The knit Classics are awesome, like short-sleeved sweater tops, and I thought that this knit top would blend well with the fabric of the Madison since both fabrics were so fancy.

Sadly, I did not buy the skirt, although I did realize that a XL was a better choice for me than the 2XL. This skirt is absolutely beautiful on the right body type. It has a tailored waistband with elastic in the back, perfectly hand-set pleats and pockets big enough to fit your entire hand and probably little things like keys or a coin purse. (An excellent clubbing skirt, if you don't want to keep up with a purse!) It is very flowy and twirly, and when you sit down, it pools just right around you in the chair. The fabrics on most of them also are a little heavier than the typical Lularoe fabric, so it's really got some meat to it. And the pleats are just so adorable. It reminds me of a cute pleated cheerleader skirt and when you spin, it actually flares out.

However, there is one big reason I didn't buy this skirt, and it's not the Madison's fault. It can be summed up in three words: Baby Got Back. I could not figure out why when I held up the skirt, it was perfectly even and then when I tried it on, it almost looked tilted. Easy answer: my booty was lifting up the back and making the back portion look shorter than it is. The reason why this happens with Madison and not the other skirts is because this skirt has a completely even hemline all the way around whereas the other Lularoe skirts are cut just a tad longer in the back to accommodate those of us with a little extra junk in the trunk. Even the Cassie is slightly longer in the back. My suggestion if you are interested in this skirt is to try it on first (unless you have a fairly flat or non-bubble butt) and make sure it is a good look for you. It is fairly true to size although I felt one size down for me looked better. I even tried pulling the shirt flat instead of blousing it over the waistline and that didn't help with my booty issue, sadly.

Jennifer Klump of Sweet and Sassy Lularoe wears the Madison better than anyone I have ever seen, and as such gave me permission to use her pictures of her wearing her beloved unicorn Madison skirt in my blog. Look at how well the pleats drape and how great she rocks this Madison! She looks so beautiful! It is a beautifully well-made skirt without a doubt. And the Madison comes in solids, prints, silky fabrics, heavy cotton fabrics and was released in the Elegance lines in 2016 in a variety of styles including heavy tapestry plaid fabrics and velvets.

I am also featuring a more recent picture of me wearing a black, red and peach print Madison with a peach Classic tee. While it looks better now that I have lost some weight, you can still see it raising up in the back because I have a booty!

So....truly personal preference. I refuse to give up on this skirt, but I also admit that this skirt may not be the best choice for my hourglass figure, just as the Randy baseball tee is also not the best shirt choice for me either.

The minimum advertised price (MAP) set by Lularoe for the Madison skirt is $48.00.

If there are any questions about the Madison skirt, please post them below. Make it a great Lularoe day!

The Ana....understated, undersold and not just a tall girl's dress

2017-01-08T04:23:00.003-06:00

There is a dress in the Lularoe lineup that is one of the most undersold but best dresses that they manufacture, and it is the Ana. Quite simply, the Ana is the long version of the Nicole. It's exactly the same in every way except for the fact that it is a full floor-length dress and the skirt does not flare and twirl. Sorry, no Katniss Everdeen stage twirling with Ana.

If I had a semi-formal event to go to, such as being asked to be a reader in a wedding, or a chaperone at a prom, or a guest at a wedding, this would be the one. This would be the dress I pulled from my closet. It is gorgeous, it it slinky, it pools perfectly around your ankles but doesn't sweep the floor....it's just absolutely beautiful and no other Lularoe dress has ever made me feel like a princess when I put it on like this one does. That being said, however...I don't think I would have any problem wearing this for a casual event either. In fact, I dressed up for Halloween as a devil, and it was a close tie between wearing my red Ana or my red Nicole as my costume with some devil accessories. I only picked the Nicole because it was very warm that day.

The only thing about this dress that I would caution you about is to definitely find your exact size. The dress that I am wearing is a 3XL and I can not wear a 2XL in it which is my true size (same with the Nicole) because of how fitted the sleeves are and how fitted the bust is. The first time I tried on a 2XL Ana, I felt like I was wearing a straitjacket, but then again, I have guns and a D cup. If your arms are either a problem area or just a little on the large size because of muscle (like mine), size up. If you are big-busted, size up. It's a fitted dress from the waist up without a doubt, but once you find your size, it's a dress that you can take anywhere, wear anywhere and do anything in.

Unfortunately, you're not going to find this dress at a lot of vendor events or even in-home sales because it very much teeters in no man's land between the best sellers of Lularoe and the specialty items such as Lola, Lucy and Jill. And it's long. I think a lot of consultants shy away from carrying a large inventory of them because they look deceivingly long on the rack and a lot of people don't want to give them a try, which is such a shame because they are so gorgeous. I think that Ana looks on the hanger like a tall girl's dress, which is true, but the smaller it is, the shorter it is. For me at 5'7, the Ana falls RIGHT at my ankles even though it looks ten miles long on the rack. It hangs flat as a board, but since it has enough meat to it to accommodate all of your curves without being skin-tight, your bust and booty will lift it up and take some of that length up so that it falls just perfect.

My first suggestion would be, of course, to try one on at a local event and make sure that you are happy with the length before purchasing one. However, if you are dying for this dress and can't find one (like I was), then try a Nicole and find your true size FIRST. THEN ask the consultant who has the Ana that you want to measure the skirt length between your size in the Nicole and the same size in the Ana. I didn't do this because I'm on the taller side and felt confident that it would not be too long since I often have to get tall in jeans, but if you are say, 5'5 and shorter, I would check this with the consultant. As I have done in the photo, all you have to do is hang a Nicole on the same type of hanger in front of the Ana and measure from hem to hem. In this example, I have placed a patterned Nicole over a royal blue Ana and used a Fat Max to measure. The difference is approximately 17" so I would assume it's probably proportionately the same in all of the other sizes as well since the dresses do get shorter the smaller they go. However, once you figure out your sizes in Nicole and Ana, it is SO game on! You can even tie the hem up at the side in the Ana as a cute way to shorten it.

If you get the chance and find an Ana on a rack in your size, slip it on and see how the fit is, because you just never know where she might be lurking! You might find that this is YOUR DRESS.

The minimum advertised price (MAP) set by Lularoe for the Ana dress is $60.00.

If there are any questions about the Ana dress, please post them below. Make it a great Lularoe day!

The Nicole Dress...May the odds be ever in your favor!

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The Nicole dress is such a fun party dress. To me, it is the perfect all-occasion dress. It is great for weddings, funerals, dinners, holiday work parties, work, just wherever you want to wear it. It EVEN makes a great Halloween costume! I wore a plain red Nicole layered with a red lace Monroe and accessorized with a metallic devil horns headband and plastic pitchfork. It is a very simple fitted dress with a waistline that is right at the natural waist, a fitted bodice with a scoop neck that shows the perfect amount of cleavage without being indecent and fitted elbow-length sleeves and a Katniss Everdeen twirly skirt. You know what I'm talking about...remember her dress where she spun around and it burst into flames? Yeah, the Nicole does that. You twirl and the skirt flares out. Totally fun.

This dress is completely versatile. It can be dressed down with sandals and worn alone. It can be layered over leggings and worn with boots. It can be dressed up with hose and heels for a formal look with a wrap. Any occasion, any season, any day, this is your dress.

I initially bought this dress for a funeral, and the first time I wore it was in Orlando, Florida, where it is humid all the time. The morning that I put it on, I remember thinking, black dress, 75% humidity, 82 degrees, I'm going to ROAST. But I really honestly didn't. I can't explain it....I don't really sweat that much in Lularoe and I'm a sweater, not a glistener. More importantly, I was comfortable all day long starting in the wee hours of that morning when I woke up to shower and get dressed to the wake to the burial to the party afterwards and then to my aunt's house where we sat around until the wee hours reminiscing. That's nineteen hours in a dress in Orlando, Florida and yet I was comfortable the whole time? That's saying something! I layered a black lace Joy over it which is the perfect layering piece since it is the same length, and it was truly perfect.

The only thing about this dress that I would caution you about is to definitely find your exact size. The dresses that I am wearing is a 3XL and I can not wear a 2XL in it which is my true size because of how fitted the sleeves are and how fitted the bust is. One of the pictures I have featured is a comparison of my black funeral dress sleeve which is a 3XL and then the red 2XL sleeve. It's a very significant difference, so if your arms are either a problem area or just a little on the large size because of muscle (like mine), size up. If you are big-busted, size up. It's a fitted dress from the waist up without a doubt, but once you find your size, it's a dress that you can take anywhere, wear anywhere and do anything in. I love my Nicoles! They come in the typical Lularoe polyblend of 94% polyester, 6% spandex, crepe fabrics (like the Cassie) which are very stretchy (the blue dress above with the bird print is that type of fabric), and even thicker tapestry fabrics which are great for winter. Solids, prints, stripes....Nicole has it all. The Elegance line that was released in 2016 released Nicole dresses in various materials....crushed velvets, oil-slick colored metallics and glittery knits with poinsettia prints. Oh, and as a side note, my cousin Nicole (yes, I know, funny, her name is Nicole too) and I were both speaking at my grandmother's funeral side by side at the podium. She was wearing an XXS Nicole in a gray snakeskin pattern and I was wearing a 3XL black Nicole. No one had ANY idea that we were wearing the same dress.

Every one of them is unique. Every one of them is perfect and simple and the very epitome of understated elegance. You can even wear a lace petticoat under them to flare out the skirt and wear a belt around the waist to create a 1950s rockabilly look.

They are so fun and the ultimate party dress! Add in that they are comfortable to boot, and they are well worth the money for the understated elegance that this style gives that will endure as it has for over sixty years.

The minimum advertised price (MAP) set by Lularoe for the Nicole dress is $48.00.

If there are any questions about the Nicole dress, please post them below. Make it a great Lularoe day!

Day #5: When life hands you lemons....enjoy them!!!

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I don't know what it was about this print that I loved so much when I saw it at a vendor event in McKinney, but I really, really did. Nor can I explain what possessed me to buy a lemon shade of yellow in a Monroe with a black fringe even after my best friend told me it would make me look like a bumblebee.

All I know is that together, these two items of clothing look fantastic. And I never even planned to put them together. I had no plans for the lemon Monroe other than I thought a yellow kimono would be a great thing to have and I loved the sunny color. And I didn't think I would ever find the lemons in ANY piece, much less a Nicole dress which is a favorite style of mine.

And I didn't. This was a wonderful gift from a consultant that I hostessed for twice who knew I wanted it. It was a unicorn for me. The word "unicorn" in Lula-vocabulary means a piece of Lularoe that you are looking for in a specific style, print and size and are hunting for. It's a fabled creature, a creature of mythology and in Lularoe-world, you question its very existence!

The lemon yellow shade of yellow in the Monroe picks up the lemons, the swingy black fringe matches the twirly style in the Nicole....put together, this is a perfect outfit. Very fun, good in winter due to the dark color of the dress but colorful and sunny in spring because of the gorgeous creamy yellow.

Paired with black flats or black sandals, this is perfect. And....not bumblebee-like at all.

Maybe a little.

The Mimi: Is it a sweater, a blanket a poncho or a scarf?

2017-01-08T02:55:00.000-06:00

For me, the answer is that it is whatever you want it to be. My best friend thinks I look like I am wearing a macrame potted plant hanger. And she's probably laughing RIGHT NOW reading this article.

I actually did a lot of research on this since it is just so darn different than anything that Lularoe makes, but if you are on the fence, haven't seen one in person, or just want some good reading material, get a fresh cup of coffee and sit back! I did a little blogging reconnaissance when these beautiful items first came out last summer and made a run out to check out the newest addition to the Lularoe lineup at a local consultant's house. I wanted to do some research, see these fabulous pieces up close and personal, and take pictures to share with you all, since there is a lot of buzz going around the Lulaworld about these fabulous pieces. (And yeah, I admit, I bought one. And since then? Three more.)

Here is the nitty gritty...the Mimi is essentially a large shawl that is sold as one long piece, but with buttons on one side that allow you to fasten it in front or to the side of you as a poncho. You can also wear it as a wrap, a scarf, or a blanket-style wrap on cold nights. The way that I have modeled it in these pictures is to wear it poncho-style with the blue one buttoned to the side (over a Julia) and the black and gray one buttoned in front (over a Carly and leggings). I can't see myself wearing it unbuttoned personally because I could totally see it slipping off of me and falling on the ground and getting stained or something. I'm just that clumsy, which is why I have to take extra-special care of my Lularoe!

The Mimis are designed, plotted, cut and knitted to their own specifications. Each one is made individually and knitted by a machine, and then finished off and tasseled by hand. This is the reason why this is the most expensive piece hands-down right now in the Lularoe collection. A piece like this is called "Full Fashion Knitting". Yeah, right, I don't know what that means either. So I looked it up!

According to Wikipedia, "Fully fashioned knitting machines are those flat and circular knitting machines that produce custom pre-shaped pieces of a knitted garment. Instead of knitting a whole rectangular sheet of fabric, instructions from a knit pattern on a punch card or computer file guide a fully fashioned knitting machine's needles to add or drop stitches to create custom two-dimensional shapes appropriate to the desired finished garment structure. The pieces emerge from the machine ready to be sewn together." Now in the case of the Mimi, there are no pieces that are being sewn together, but the point is that the machine makes each Mimi individually, which is why they are so expensive! As we all know, Lularoe's bedrock principle is that they make a print or a color in a fabric, they cut it into the various styles, sew them together and then distribute them for sale, but in the case of the Mimi, these are a little more special because there is no fabric anywhere in the piece. They are 100% yarn in the piece and the tassels and finishing are made with some sort of thread from what I could tell.

From what I can tell, there are three main "styles" of the Mimi:

1) The first style, featured in purple and blue, is a combination of a shaker-style stitch with bands of honeycomb mesh stitches in a staggered eyelet design.

2) The second style, featured individually in black and cream, is a honeycomb mesh stitch in a staggered eyelet design for a more traditional crocheted look.

3) The third style is a tight zig-zag rib knitted stitch pattern, featured in slate blue.

Don't be impressed that I knew those stitch names. I had to look them up on Pinterest while quietly cursing myself for not letting my late grandma teach me how to knit or crochet. She, by the way, was also nicknamed MIMI.

It also appears from what I have seen online so far with Mimi, there are four main "color variations" as well:

1) The first style is a blend of two colors of yarn that combine together to appear as one color when actually when examined up close are two. For example, the plum one that is modeled is actually a combination of purple and blue. That's the only one I have seen in that way.

2) The second style is a solid yarn in one color. I have seen this style so far in black, gray and white.

3) The third style is almost a combination of striped and heathered, which is what I am wearing in the blue. I have seen this in also in olive, green, gray and black.

4) The fourth style is a solid color but with partial stripes of a contrasting color coming in from the sides, which is what I am wearing in black and gray. I've also seen this in blue and gold, green and white, white and black, pumpkin and cream, olive and brown, and white and gray.

So now, on to what I thought of the Mimi itself:

The first reaction I had after laying a hand on one was how incredibly soft and light it felt compared to what I had expected. I don't know why, but I had honestly expected it to feel like wool. You know, scratchy? Itchy? Hot? Not something you want to wear? But it wasn't like that at all. It was incredibly soft and luxurious. The knitted fabric stretches gently so that it truly is one size fits all, and because there are no sleeves or a waist, you just wrap it around your shoulders and button it up and go. Or, leave it buttoned and then slide it over your head like a pull over. Then you can adjust it to have the buttons to the side (as I did with the blue) or leave them in front to create a more cardigan-feel (as I did with the black). Another way to wear it is to stylishly arrange it around you so it drapes at an angle.

Another concern I had with the Mimi was that I won't be able to wear it very often since I live in Texas. That was a concern that I had back in August when it was triple digits. Now, in January, I am very glad that I bought them as they are wonderful to wear, very stylish, and very cozy. The knitted fabric is very flexible and thin but not so thin that you are cold. However, I did hear from another consultant in New York who was not impressed with the Mimi at all because she feels that it will be too thin to provide any warmth for the chilly Northeastern winters. I have a feeling that the consultants in Florida probably will like theirs but won't keep them since Florida hardly ever gets cold. I have worn my Mimi when it is fifty degrees (perfect), thirty degrees (perfect but I could have used a little more warmth) and nine degrees with wind chill (completely insufficient).

The tassels, as intended, are purely decorative to add some flair to the shawl and not just make it look like a rectangular piece of knitted fabric. The buttons are in complimentary colors to the yard and fasten the Mimi on securely but not so much that they are hard to unbutton.

So the question is, are you buying one because you truly intend to wear it, or are you buying one because it's the hottest flashiest thing right now? Ask yourself that before you buy one, because not everyone likes them. My husband was not too crazy about them. Mr. Fashionista, upon seeing the pictures of the Mimi when it was first released last summer, asked where my sombrero and burro was. Ha. Do you live in a climate where it would be worth it? Do you live in a climate where it won't provide you with any warmth? Does it go with your clothes that you wear? Is it really you? It's $75 retail, ladies...ask yourselves if you really want it or you just want it because everyone wants it? It's so easy to get caught up in the whirlwind...kind of like Tickle Me Elmo.

For myself, I decided when I first saw them that I really wanted one because I have shirts that are this style that I really enjoy wearing. Texas does get cold when the storms blow down from Oklahoma, and as it stands right now, my warmest dressiest "jacket" is the Sarah since I donated my old out-of-date leather jacket. I also think that these look really nice and stylish with skirts and dresses and jeans. I think they have the capability to be styled in a lot of different ways and to be genuinely enjoyed....if you truly want to spend the money to do that. If you do, they are definitely worth it. There are items like this on the market right now that on the cheap retail for about $29 from Target and on the pricey retail for about $208 at Nordstrom's. And I really wanted the ones from Lularoe because of the colors. I decided on two in the color combinations that I would wear the most: black and blue. The ones featured are the ones I will own and wear for years to come. Since the first release I bought another one that is solid black with white threads and a gray one, and I am thinking about a green.

So for me, I guess I did get sucked into the Tickle Me Elmo whirlwind. I don't even know whether or not I should hang these things up or just fold them. Right now, they are all sitting folded in my office until I figure out a storage method. I throw them on my desk at work because my coat hook stretches them out.

But I really like them. Do you? Have you tried one on? I am tall and these hit right at the right place on my hips and my arms. Do they hit right on you, or are they too heavy? Only you can say! I personally love mine and I wish that I could have one in purple and one in blue-green. But I don't like the fabric in the purple and the blue-green doesn't exist.

Okay, fine. I admit it. I love them. They are so darn cozy and I can wear whatever I want and it will layer over everything. Look at this. What can layer over leggings, a Nicole dress, a Joy and a Sarah and still look normal?

The minimum advertised price (MAP) set by Lularoe for the Mimi scarf is $75.00.

If there are any questions about the Mimi scarf, please post them below. Make it a great Lularoe day!

Day #4: Get Rhythm When You Get The Blues

2017-01-07T19:04:00.000-06:00

Seriously, you would think that no one in Dallas had ever seen snow or ice before. But I digress. I teased my coworkers enough at the office for standing at the window watching our parking lot get covered in white yesterday. I know a lot of people were excited about the snow, and I know I should be too, but I guess in Dallas it's more of a hassle than pretty. But at least the city is preparing better.

Since it was going to be COOOOOOLD yesterday, I decided to take advantage and wear an Ana which I hardly ever get to wear! I know it looks purple in the photographs because of the flash, but it is actually a mix of navy blue and royal blue. I paired it with an Aztec-style turquoise and royal blue Lindsay and turquoise leggings. Accessories? Denim blue Skecher ballet flats (let's face it, after my shattered foot, I don't have a lot of options for footwear), an aqua agate faced Fossil watch with a stainless steel band, turquoise headband, blue topaz cocktail ring and a pair of turquoise and teal beaded earrings. As my coworker said, "look at you in all that blue!" If you picked my favorite colors dependent on what the predominant color is in my closet, blues and turquoise would be it.

The Mimi was nice to have on with the cold in the morning. I didn't take a picture of me wearing it because I have a few pictures up already with me wearing it and the Mimi, really, doesn't look any different worn over different dresses. I wish I was all stylish and fashionist and wore it all scarfed and everything but I just like to wear mine poncho-style with the buttons in the front or pulled to the side so that the bottom hem of the Mimi drapes at an angle. I will be honest that it did not do a thing for me in the afternoon when I walked out at six pm when it was 23 degrees with a wind chill factor of 9 degrees, but fortunately my car warms up fast, and once the heat was going, the Mimi kept me snug as a bug in a rug.

The Ana dress is a fantastic dress and if you know your Nicole size, this is the same as the dresses are identical, it's just a longer skirt that doesn't twirl. However, as you can see, it is rather clingy. I didn't wear a Spanx under mine since I was wearing leggings and you can tell for sure!

Wearing leggings under an Ana is something that a lot of people don't think about doing because it's such a long, formal dress, but I have done it now on two occasions and no one has noticed my leggings either time. Both times that I did it, it was on really cold nights and I don't think I would have been warm enough either way. The Ana is a fantastic dress and I am so excited to get to wear the ones that I have this winter with leggings as an accompaniment. For this dress, the blue is so vibrant and vivid and beautiful, it is perfect for winter, and the Lindsay that I selected is in a combination of so many shades of blues and turquoise that it was the perfect compliment to this perfect dress. And the flash of turquoise as the skirt of the Ana swished matched the Lindsay.

The Lindsay, a hard to find one, is available in S for purchase from Deborah Shute. She also has the turquoise leggings in OS and TC.

Make it a great Lula day and stay warm!

The Perfect Tee...Simply Perfect!

2017-01-06T06:59:00.000-06:00

2XL red Perfect

The Perfect tee is one out of the four shirts in Lularoe's line. It is truly special and unique to Lularoe as I have never seen anything styled or cut like it.

2XL white Perfect

The construction of this shirt is similar to that of the Classic tee in that it has the hemmed sleeves and a hemmed bottom, but the neckline is a stitched scoop and the sleeves fall to the elbow, so they are a little longer than the Classic sleeves. They are similar to a Classic at the top although the bust area is just a little larger. As the shirt flows down, it flares out at the edges like a bell with a four to eight inch slit (depending on your size) on either side that just give it a little something extra special. However, these slits also allow the shirt to be tied in knots at the sides if you want a more fitted look by your hip area. The sleeves come down to about the elbow, but are generously sized so they are not clinging. It is a very dressy version of a t-shirt and just absolutely perfect to mix and match with anything from jeans to full-length skirts.

Sleeve Length

3XL Perfect over leggings

Unlike the Classic, the Perfects really do vary from size to size, but sizing up may be the look you want to achieve depending on your preference. In the Perfect, I wear a 2XL or a 3XL (which have 6" slits and 8" slits respectively) and while the 2XL is my perfect size and the one that I prefer, I do like to wear 3XL Perfects with leggings because they hang a little longer (similar to the Irma tunic). However, what I think is really neat about sizing up one size is that an oversized Perfect, because of the way it is cut, looks like a baby doll dress...or even a miniature Carly dress...and looks really great with leggings. It is a cute and playful look especially for the weekends. They come in a variety of prints and solids, although the only fabric I have seen them made in is the standard Lularoe polyblend of polyester and spandex. They are a great addition to any wardrobe to wear with skirts, leggings, pants and jeans. I bought one gently used Perfect from a consultant who had worn it as a bathing suit cover up on a vacation so the possibilities for what you can wear them for and pair them with are endless!

The Perfect tee will accompany any of the Lularoe skirts very well, but to me, the Perfect and the Cassie skirt go together like peas and carrots. The Perfect drapes down perfectly and the flare at the bottom (the part I refer to as the bell) hits right at the hip line. Depending on your figure, the slits will separate slightly and show the colors of the Cassie that you are wearing.

Perfect tees are also available in a staggering number of prints as these are included in the styles that Lularoe cuts their limited edition printed styles from. You can find Perfects in geometrics, animal prints such as butterflies, florals, stripes, and so much more.

The minimum advertised price (MAP) set by Lularoe for the Perfect tee is $36.00.

If there are any questions about the Perfect tee, please post them below. Make it a great Lularoe day!

Day #3: Layers, layers and more layers!

2017-01-05T23:00:00.000-06:00

Snow flurries tomorrow. Really? Argh. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that it's finally starting to act like winter around here, but I have a feeling when March comes I will be so happy to wear sandals again!

I've had some very big changes at work this week, which means I'm going to start traveling again, so I haven't done as great with blogging EVERY day as I wanted...but the changes at work are really positive and I'm going to be back out in the field. I'm leaving for Sacramento, California on Sunday.

On Wednesday, I wore a gorgeous new Nicole that I honestly wish I had bought months ago after hostessing for Laura Lindsay. I was very lucky that she still had it during her end of the year sale, and I can't be happier that I gave it a try. It is a dark blue, almost navy background, with a pale platinum gray lace pattern overlaying it. I wore light blue leggings underneath, a white lace Joy on top with a navy blue Sarah with white heathering, and to top it all off, my blue Mimi since the temperatures dropped like a rock in a pond while I was at work that day. I think what I liked the most about this outfit was that the white lace Joy really went well with the pattern on the dress. White is generally a spring and summer color, but in this case, it was a perfect combination with the lace pattern especially for winter....kind of like snowflakes! And the blues, even though they were all different shades, all complimented each other well.

...and then the leggings!
As each layer comes off...

Wearing a Sarah layered over a Joy really adds a different dimension to the duster cardigan. They are the the same length, so the lace worn under the Joy almost makes the Sarah look lined. It's a really unique way to dress up the Sarah when wearing it with a dress. For accessories, I am wearing a pair of blue Skecher ballet flats, a pearl headband, a pair of silver seashell and pearl drop earrings, a silver and cubic zirconia cocktail ring from Brighton, and a silver Fossil watch with a white marble face.

And for fun, I decided to paint my nails in a complimentary color...OPI Live and Let Die!

This really has been the first week of the season that I've gotten to really wear my Mimi scarf and enjoy it, and I'm just loving it. They are so soft and warm, and they layer perfectly over your outfit, no matter how many layers you are wearing. And they are really comfortable and not scratchy at all. I'm really glad that I made the investment to get the ones that I wanted for this year rather than replacing my leather jacket from years past.

The blue Mimi I am wearing is available for purchase from Lisa Mims.

The dark blue with platinum lace Nicole is available for purchase in a 3XL from Laura Lindsay.

The navy blue heathered Sarah is available for purchase in an XL from Katie McReynolds.

The white lace Joy is a little out of season as that is more of an item sold in the spring, but white knit Joys are very popular right now and Serena Cervantes has the white knit Joy in S, L and XL available for purchase.

Thank you for reading and I hope you have a wonderful Friday as the first week of 2017 draws to a close.

Day #2: Why was today a holiday?

2017-01-02T21:23:00.000-06:00

I have never quite figured out why New Year's Day or especially the day after New Year's day is a holiday. To me, it seems very strange. I get why New Year's Eve is special; it's the last day of the year. The first day of the year? That's a happy day and the start of a whole new clean slate.

I guess what I'm getting at is WHY WAS THE MAIL NOT RUNNING!? It is a Monday! I want my Lularoe!!!! I look forward to opening that!!

Anyone notice my iMood addition to my blog to the right or the fact that I figured out a way where you can sign up for text notifications when I publish a new article? Pretty neat. Anyway, my status is relieved. I don't want to get into all the specific details, but I was having some pretty significant problems at work this past week. It turns out that it was ALL a misunderstanding (a pretty significant one if you ask me) and miscommunication (imagine that) and they asked me to stay and give them another chance. I'm so relieved I can't even express. I feel like the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders! So, all you girls that reminded me that Lularoe is hiring? Sorry, gotta stick with insurance!!!! My new all-male team needs some estrogen to balance them out. *wink* You ladies are stuck with me endorsing you!

As for work? Well...that's not apple juice in my hand....For Monday, I signed up for the skeleton crew at work which actually turned out just to be me alone. I wanted to be comfortable but still look nice, and the high today was 72, so I decided to wear a Maxi skirt over bare legs with sandals. I remember when I bought this skirt and I loved it SO much; it reminded me of kind of a New Age patchwork quilt pattern! The colors in it are so varied that you can match a ton of shirts with it. It's a mesh block design of black, tan, coral pink, blue-gray, teal, and pale yellow. It's made out of the tencel material, so it's very silky and slinky. I paired it with a stone-colored mineral wash Classic and a light cotton heathered sky blue Lindsay cardigan. Perfect. For accessories, I am wearing black and gold Teva sandals, a silver Kenneth Cole watch with a pink pearl face, a labradorite cocktail ring, a plaid headband in the same colors, and a pair of handmade champagne flute earrings with champagne beads to celebrate the new year.

The Lindsay cardigan I am wearing in heathered sky blue is available in small from Serena Cervantes.

Thanks for reading, welcome back to work if this is your first day back after the holiday, and make it a great Lularoe day!

The Randy Baseball Tee: Batter Up!

2017-01-02T03:34:00.000-06:00

Batter up, Lularoers! One of the most popular tees in the Lularoe shirt lineup is the Randy baseball tee, which ranges in size from XXS to 3XL. It is a fitted bodice with three-quarter sleeves. Most of the shirts either have a patterned shirt and solid sleeves or solid shirt and patterned sleeves or dual colors, but there is always some differential between the sleeves and the shirt part, just like on a regular baseball jersey.

The Randy is an adorable darling little baseball t-shirt that can be worn with so many things. It can be worn with skirts, shorts, jeans, capris...really just about anything you want. I have seen them on girls and women of all ages and shapes and they are truly too cute for words! My favorite ones are the ones that have the floral shirts and solid sleeves as I just think that's such a feminine touch on a sporty fun style. It's like seeing a little girl play softball with a pink baseball glove!

I will be honest that this is not my favorite Lularoe shirt; in fact, I don't even own one. My daughter owns four. It is a very fitted style and the abdomen is cut straight with no curves or flares or anything. In other words, if you are like me with a straight hourglass figure and some pounds to shed, this is probably not going to be your best friend. Every woman that I have ever been with that has purchased a Randy tee has sized up two sizes since they run smaller than the true size. My daughter is a perfect example. She is eleven years old and is five feet tall. In a Carly, she wears an XXS, but in a Randy? A clear small.

I will add here also that by the time I discovered Lularoe, my daughter was already ten and too big for any of the kids' clothes that Lularoe carries, BUT the Sloan tee shirt is the kids and tween version of the adult Randy. Her best friend is modeling it with tween leggings, and as you can see from the big smile on her face, she's very happy with her Sloan and leggings!

I have some pictures of me in the Randy. When I first discovered Lularoe, I refused to accept that I could not wear this shirt well and bought two shirts in florals, which were promptly exchanged. This shirt is just not flattering on me at all. My bust is too big and the bottom is too clingy around the stomach area for my preference. The photographs in the red floral and the yellow floral selfie were both taken in August, and since then, I have lost weight. When I took the new picture in the dark blue butterfly Randy, I was wearing it with a Spanx shaper, and yes, it does look better, but not enough for me to invest in this style as part of my wardrobe.

However, I took a new picture at a consultant's house in a butterfly Randy (I love butterflies) to show that it is possible for it to look better after I lost weight. The floral one with the red was me in August, and the butterfly one was me 35 lbs lighter wearing a Spanx i November.

The skirt that I think they look the best with is the Cassie, left untucked and casual, but you can honestly wear them with anything. My daughter is featured wearing her Randys with leggings and since I don't have a lot of Randy pictures to share, one of my readers Katy graciously gave me permission to use her Randy collage and pictures in my blog to share.

The minimum advertised price (MAP) set by Lularoe for the Randy baseball tee is $35.00.

If there are any questions about the Randy OR Sloan, please post them below. Make it a great Lularoe day!

Day #1: Happy New Year and Welcome!

2017-01-01T23:00:00.000-06:00

I can't believe that I almost missed one of my New Year's resolutions before it started! My #1 resolution for 2017 is to blog in This Is How I Roe In Real Life every day and talk about an outfit that I put together and wore, preferably that day.

This is a great time for me to let everyone know that is reading that if you scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page, there is a list of all of the styles that are made by Lularoe that I can model and review. If there is a particular style that you would like to see (or a few), please make sure and participate in the poll every week as I will use this to come up with outfit ideas. For example, if you want to see how I wear the Monroe and what I pair it with? Check Monroe and one of the dresses or skirts. Every week, I'll clear the poll, and we'll start again!

Sadly, my butt was glued to this couch all day today working on getting all of my core reviews up on the styles, so I never made it into the shower, out of my pajamas, and out the door. The most sad? I didn't get to go to Lisa Mims' house and pick up my new gray Mimi or stop at Spec's for a little something something to celebrate the New Year. But at least I have the core reviews up on the Julia dress, Cassie skirt, Classic tee and Lindsay cardigan for your reading pleasure, so please, enjoy, and excuse my strange picture placement. A lot of these pictures have been cropped for Facebook which doesn't exactly work perfectly with blog placement, but I think they came out pretty well.

I'm so excited to be blogging again that I can't even tell you all. There are likely some people reading this blog that remember when I blogged before my daughter McKenna was born and I actually had the time to cross-stitch (not to mention the eyesight). I actually really miss blogging. You know how there are those kids while growing up that always had a journal or a diary that they were writing in? That was me. That's now my daughter. Even though blogging is a bit of a lost art, I'm glad to be back to it, and really happy to have something that I'm excited to write about! I will thank you all every day for reading and following along in my Lularoe journey in 2017, and if you have any friends that enjoy reading blogs, love clothes or are curious about Lularoe, I hope that you will encourage them to come visit.

So, since I can't really post a picture about my Dr. Pepper pajama pants and my old t-shirt, I am going to post a picture of me in my holiday outfit on Christmas Eve! My outfit for Christmas Eve was one of the Lucy skirts from the Elegant Collection. When I claimed this skirt for sale, I had clicked on it and of course, there were about ten or eleven posts on it so I was thinking, "surely it is already sold." Ha ha, lucky for me, everyone was asking questions, but no one actually said the magic words: "SOLD PENDING QUESTION". And I haven't seen another one in my Lula travels like this or for sale. This is a Christmas dark green Lucy, which is a two-layer skirt. The Lucy itself is constructed with a thick belt-like elastic waistband from which two layers of fabric falls. The underskirt is a silky base that acts both as a slip and a background for the top skirt, which in this case is dark green tulle with rose gold diamonds set in the netting. What I love the most about the Lucy is that once it's in place, it stays in place, and this one was no different. I paired it with a dark green Irma tunic to match. As I had spent most of the day getting ready for Christmas, I was hustling to get out the door, so my accessories were a rose gold Fossil watch to match the skirt, handmade Christmas tree earrings, and a lab-created emerald three-stone ring for my right hand. Shoes? Black ballet flats from Skechers.

I also featured a close-up of the rose gold diamonds on the skirt with the flash.

So, in case you are wondering what this mysterious Mimi is that I am excited to pick up, the Mimi is a limited edition full fashion knitted scarf finished with hand tassels. The first release of these was in August and I was able to get two. I'll do a full review of them very

soon with pictures since I have no doubt that this won't be the last release that Lularoe does of the Mimi. It's just too popular! It hasn't been cold enough yet in Dallas for me to really wear them, but the one day that I did wear my Mimi it was freezing, and I layered it over a Lindsay cardigan, Carly dress and leggings for an outdoor cookout. It was wonderfully warm and comfortable, and as such, I decided to invest in another one since I don't think I've worn a winter coat in Dallas in years. The one that I selected below is a solid gray one with white

threads running through it and I will be picking it up tomorrow. If you haven't tried on a Mimi yet or gotten a good look at one, definitely check them out. I have heard mixed reviews about them. People in the colder climates don't think they are warm enough, people in the warm climates think that they are too warm, and they are too long and heavy for some petites to wear since they are all One Size (OS). For me, they are perfect because I like to layer my Lularoe, and these will fit perfectly over a Sarah cardigan and whatever else that I choose to wear that day. In addition to the full fashion knitting and hand tassels, the Mimi also features a row of buttons which can be worn in the front (my preference) or to the side which lets the scarf drape at an angle. Some people think this looks like an afghan and some think it looks like a poncho. My husband asked where my sombrero was when I first modeled it for him. But I like it and that's all that matters! In addition to the pictures of my new Mimi, I have also included a picture of me taken wearing my black and gray one on the cold day which was layered over a black Carly dress and a pair of black leggings flowered with tiny orange and red flowers.

Best wishes to you all for a wonderful start to your new year and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Please refer to the calendar above for the current sales. At the current time, green Irmas like the one I am modeling with my green and rose gold Lucy are available for purchase in size XXS from Ariel Walk,

I also had an idea of including pictures of my manicures (since I do my own nails) when they go with the outfits! These were my Christmas nails....Zoya Honor with a matte top coat and Julep Sharma on the accent. Fun, right? They were inspired by the Elegant Lucy!

The Lindsay cardigan...the perfect layer like icing on the cake

2017-01-01T21:00:00.000-06:00

The Lindsay kimono was actually my second piece of Lularoe that I acquired. I was gifted a plain black knit one as a thank you for helping a consultant photograph and stage her initial on-boarding inventory. I remember at the time thinking that it was kind of a strange piece and that I wasn't sure if it would look right on me, but out of all of the Lindsays that I have acquired since that initial piece, the solid black one is the one that I have worn the most.

Out of the entire Lularoe lineup, the Lindsay cardigan baffles me the most. Not the piece itself...but why it is not more popular. Why this piece does not sell out as soon as it comes in, I don't get. I admit that I have eclectic tastes, but this piece is the easiest way to dress up a pair of leggings and a t-shirt or to throw over a dress when you are cold or just to accessorize with a put-together outfit to bring out a color to the forefront. Below I have demonstrated how you can take a t-shirt and leggings to the next dressy level just by adding a complimentary Lindsay to pull it all together.

The construction of this piece is simple. It is like a cardigan in that it is put on like a very light, thin sweater, but there are no zippers or buttons. The sleeves are elbow-length and have a large droop at the bottom, similar to a kimono on a geisha. See the similarity? There is just enough exposure to let the lower part of your forearm show, but enough coverage to cover your upper arms and keep the chill off. They are well-made with seams at the top of the shoulders

The Lindsay cardigan, which is kimono-style, really should be in everyone's Lula wardrobe even if JUST in black or gray. For me, it is my go-to piece to grab when there is a chill in the air and I just want something to cover my arms, or if I just want to dress up something casual, or if I want to accessorize a dress and bring a color out of it to the forefront. It is a wonderful accessory piece to wear over Classics, Perfects, Irmas, and all of the Lularoe dresses.

If you have any dresses that are strapless or sleeveless that you want to wear to work but have a no-bare-shoulders rule like my office does, the Lindsay is the perfect solution. They are light and thin enough to wear all day long in the office and come in a variety of fabric styles such as knit, lace, chiffon and brocade. For the colder climates, they are thin and cool enough to layer under heavier winter coats and for the warmer climates, they are warm enough just to take the chill off as the arms are about three-quarter length. As an example, look at how I am wearing my Maxi dress. I am wearing it as a skirt with a Classic tee and a turquoise topped with a turquoise jacquard Lindsay. Lose the shirt, pull up the Maxi, and now it's a strapless dress with a midcalf length but still work-appropriate because of the Lindsay.

For sizing, you can see that the Lindsay runs large. No question. I am a full 2X full-figured woman. I have long arms, so long that I need an XL in the Sarah cardigan just for that reason. I am 5'7. I have a 38D bust. Yet, I can wear the Lindsay in the small, medium OR large. I prefer the large because the arms are a little longer and more generous, but if I find a Lindsay cardigan in a color that I like and it is only available in medium, I don't have an issue wearing it as there is a very negligible difference. I have plenty of room in my Lindsay in the back, shoulders, arms and midsection, and the back is almost Irma-length which is perfect for me. The main difference in the sizes is the length; the smaller the size, the shorter in the back. Featured below is a small in gray, medium in green and large in peach.

What I find interesting about the Lindsay from critics is that lace is not a preferred fabric and that girls with narrow shoulders find that they dwarf them. I find it interesting, but I understand why. Lace as a general rule is not thought of as a jacket-type material, which is why I consider my lace Lindsays to be more of accessories than actual jackets for warmth. I think if your thinking adjusts to that frame of mind, that these are layering accessories more than actual jackets or sweaters, you will find that these are more versatile than you think.

As for the dwarfing, well....you can't change your body's frame, but you can change the way you wear the Lindsay. I have seen Lindsays knotted in the front to bring the bottom up. I have seen Lindsays gathered in the back to pull the the sides back and almost convert it into a shrug. I'm sure that there are other things that can be done with this kimono-style wrap that I haven't even thought of yet.

One thing for sure is that if you think you might want to have one, even just to keep at the office for those chilly days, give it a try. It's a very warm and soft piece of clothing, there are lots of styling possibilities, and you can buy one as basic and non-frilly as you want or as dressy and lace and feminine as you want. There are lots of jacquard-style Lindsays that are incredibly dressy and can make the most casual of outfits look fancy and dressed up.

The minimum advertised price (MAP) set by Lularoe for the Lindsay cardigan is $48.00.

If there are any questions about the Lindsay, please post them below. Make it a great Lularoe day!

The Cassie pencil skirt...an golden oldie never goes out of style!

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The first time that I saw a Cassie pencil skirt, I was immediately transported back in time to Grease and Grease 2. I guess some styles are just timeless and never go out of style. But even now, when the Cassie skirt is an integral part of my wardrobe, every time I pull on a Cassie I remember my favorite scenes in the movies with Betty Rizzo and Stephanie Zanoni. Remember? Michelle Pfeiffer realizes on the first day of school that she's the only one wearing pants and pulls out a tan pencil skirt to pull over her capri-length leggings? And Stockard Channing...always wearing her trademark black knee-length sexy pencil skirt.

It should not be a surprise that the pencil skirt is still in style as much now as it was then in the 1950s and 1960s as it is an incredibly flattering and slimming skirt that is just as fashionable for a trip to the mall as it is for an evening out for a nice dinner. And the Cassie? It's the best pencil skirt imaginable. I joke with other Lularoe fans that I collect Cassie skirts like most Lularoers collect leggings...I love them that much. I live in Texas where eight months of the year, it's just not a practical temperature to wear leggings. This is where Cassie skirts come in. I have worn them to do literally everything. I wear them to work with sandals. I wear them to the mall to go shopping with friends. I wear them to lunch. I wear them out to dinner. I have worn a Cassie to get a tattoo on my ankle. I even have discovered that Cassies are the perfect solution for getting pedicures done because they are the perfect length at the knee where you don't have to roll up your pant legs. I am not a fan of shorts and never have been, so for me, the Cassie skirt is the perfect solution to my summer woes. Plus, the fabric is cool, comfortable and breathable, not to mention stretchy and flexible, so for our blazing Texas summers, they are perfect.

The construction is quite simple of the Cassie. It is a uniform appearance all the way around the skirt (the only way to tell what is the back is the tag) with a slightly longer length (just slightly) in the back to accomodate for the curves in the trunk. The waistband is an elastic five inch band, similar to a yoga waistband, which pulls up and stays in place. If you are wearing a Spanx or other sort of undershort, you may notice that it slides a bit during the day because the fabric that the Cassie is made from is so soft, but for the most part, it stays right where you put it and doesn't move.

When I first tried on a Cassie last summer, my first reaction was no. JUST NO. I don't wear skirts! Right? Then I realized that I really WAS a skirt wearer and these are super-comfortable to wear either to work, to dinner or just on the weekends to go shopping. I pair them with Spanx underneath so it's like wearing shorts and a t-shirt but more comfortable and more dressy, and the look is very classy, comfortable and sexy. The fabric that most of them are made of is a crepe-like stretchy fabric that is incredibly comfortable and soft. The skirts that aren't made out of the crepe fabric are made of a knit fabric which is just as soft and cozy and breathable as the crepe counterparts. And the best part? They require no ironing which is one of my favorite things about them. They are the epitome of wash and wear. I actually recently moved my Cassie skirts into drawers after realizing that there is really no point in keeping them hung up since they really don't wrinkle.

The number of prints and colors that Cassies are made in is almost as varied as the prints and colors that leggings come in. It is Lularoe's most popular skirt. My favorite Cassies are the ones that have so many colors in them because the possibilities of shirts to wear with them is endless. Every time the look is different because whatever shirt you are wearing brings out the corresponding color in the skirt to the forefront. The Elegance line released in 2016 also included Cassie skirts in a variety of fabrics with metallics and foils.

One of the other great things about the Cassie is the versatility and the options that you can use it for styling. While I have acquired the majority of mine for the purpose of wearing them in the summer, they easily transition to the winter by sliding them over leggings. These skirts can also double as a stylish infinity scarf. They are very comfortable and soft around the neck because of the lining on the inside, and not at all itchy or scratchy or hot.

And lastly, while the Cassie is very stretchy and has a lot of give to it, it is slimming at the

2XL Cassie over 3XL Cassie

same time. My true size is a 2XL which I can wear in a Cassie, but I prefer a 3XL for me since I wear them over leggings. There's very little difference between the 2XL and 3XL as you can see in the picture where I laid the 2X over the 3X. Once you find your true size in Cassie, it's game on as there are so many fun patterns and prints out there. If you have tried this skirt and didn't like how clingy it was, try sizing up. The waistband is still going to be very fitting and slim but will give you a little more room, and you might just find a new best friend that will make you feel just like a Pink Lady!

The minimum advertised price (MAP) set by Lularoe for the Cassie skirt is $35.00.

If there are any questions about the Cassie skirt, please post them below. Make it a great Lularoe day!

The Julia dress...the perfect little black t-shirt dress and more!

2017-01-01T05:42:00.000-06:00

Black Julia dress

The Julia dress is a very popular one, but is not an easy one to wear due to its close tight fit. It has a clingy fit to it which makes it a very sexy and attractive dress, but it is imperative that the right size be chosen in order for this dress to look absolutely amazing as it does. It can easily be worn alone by itself with sandals for a casual look or dressed up with heels and a wrap for an elegant night on the town. There are even baseball styles that, paired with chucks, can look extremely sporty and fun for the summer.

I admit that being a plus-sized woman, it took me a very long time to get up the nerve to wear this dress in person, and I still am not completely comfortable in it without a cardigan or another layering piece over it. However, it is an absolutely comfortable and cool dress for the spring, summer or early fall, and with the way that it hugs curves in all the right places, it is very flattering if you are on the curvy side as I am. If you are slender, it is a wonderful draping dress that hangs perfectly straight to the knees for an elegant but not overly dressy look.

Julia and I have had a love-hate relationship from the first moment I saw her and tried it on. The first time I saw it was on a teenager who was a size 2, so of course, yeah, she looked freaking AMAZING in it. So slim, so cute, just perfect. That's the love part of the relationship.

The first Julia that I bought was this black one, and one of my local consultants convinced me to try and buy it by showing me how you can ruche up the bottom around your waist for a gorgeously elegant elbow-length sleeved top. The Julia is a knee-length t-shirt dress with a flare at the hips, a nip at the waist, elbow-length sleeves, and a hemmed jewel neckline.

Since the Julia dress has a very long fitted bottom, you can wear it with a skirt and ruche the bottom up to the length that you want and the dress will stay as a shirt since it is so clingy and fitted. The ruching technique will hide your tummy if that is a problem spot and it's great to rock with jeans or a shorter skirt and just get your Friday night on. I threw a pair of jeans on to show how it looks with pants. Basically the Julia is a transition piece....you can wear it to work during the day for a professional yet sassy look and then scrunch it up for a sexy top, throw on some jeans, and hit the happy hour! And...look what I can do so I can pretend I'm wearing a Randy! A reader gave me the idea of ruching up the baseball-style Julias so that it looks like a Randy which is really cute over jeans.

Blue/Gray Julia
worn as shirt

Black Julia dress
worn as shirt

I was determined to give this another fair shake, and try it on as Lularoe intended it. AS A DRESS. I will share with you that I was SO afraid of wearing this dress out of the house that not only did I not cut off the tags before putting it on, but I made my husband wait to leave for work until I had his stamp of approval on it. And THEN I cut the tags off.

Black Julia with crepe Monroe

My first thought when I finally put this dress on before work the day that I wore it for the first time was, "OMG, I FINALLY HAVE A LBD!" I felt HOT and sexy ALL DAY LONG! I layered it with a red, fuschsia and orange crepe Monroe, and it was just a fun, sassy day.

Urban Dictionary definition of LBD: "A term used to define a little black dress which most woman possess.The dress is most likely overworn but always seems appealing especially when added with acessories such as bangles and clutch purse."

Chances are, pretty much every woman under the age of 40 has some sort of LBD in their closet. I remember the term becoming much more commonplace when Sex and the City was the hottest show on cable. Sarah Jessica Parker even has a line of little black dresses which you can read about here.

It's great that I can finally wear this dress and feel confident, thin and sexy in it. Spanx (my new best friend) is a must for me with this dress as it really pulls everything in for a slim, smooth fit. I wear the Power Shaper in nude which can be purchased here from Amazon. I am 5'7 and the skirt of this Julia falls right at my knee line. If I ever had a night to go hit the bars and have some lemon drop martinis with the girls, this would be the outfit!

However, this dress also exudes class and elegance. When it came time to select a beautiful and flattering dress yet not too dressy for our family portraits, I immediately selected a dark blue Julia dress, which I am wearing with a gray Lindsay cardigan.

For sizing, the Julia runs small. My true size is a 2XL and this is a 3XL. The arms are fitted just like a Nicole dress and an Ana dress if you have ever tried those on. As you can see in the photographs, I have swimmer arms from high school, a large bust from having a child, and I'm clearly plus-size with my problem area being my tummy area. If you are the same, you might want to size up. Trying the dress on in person at a multi-consultant sale or at an in-home pop-up is the best way to determine if this dress is for you (which it is likely is) and what size looks the most flattering.

2XL over 3XL sleeve

If you are buying this untried (and I commend you for being that brave if you are!), I might suggest that you pull out a sweater or a long-sleeved shirt that you are comfortable with between the elbow and the shoulder and measure the height of it. Then, ask the consultant you are buying from do the same thing with the size that you are considering. The booty area and width of the skirt doesn't seem to be an issue for me at all, so I would say that this is true to size. There is a difference between the sleeve width on the 2XL and the 3XL, so if you are a 2XL but would like a little more room in the arms, size up.

So channel your inner Carrie Bradshaw or Samantha Baker and go out in search of YOUR LBD! Black Julias are not easy to find, but they are out there, and if not, maybe you'll find a pattern or another sexy color or print that really speaks to you! I own Julias in a number of solid colors, but I also love them in prints, with my favorite one being a jeweled-toned print with black scrollwork running through it. Striped ones are also very flattering and cute, and baseball Julias, worn as a shirt or as a dress, are sporty and fun. Julias are available in so many colors, so many prints, florals, geometrics, stripes, baseball styles....there is truly something out there for everyone. And Julia dresses are great for layering with a lace Joy vest, a Lindsay kimono, a Monroe kimono, whatever you like!

Peacock Print Julia

Jewel-tone print Julia

Brown and red geometric Julia
with red lace Joy vest

The majority of the fabrics that I have seen the Julia made in is the standard Lularoe poly-blend of 96% polyester and 4% spandex, but there are some very soft silky dresses made of 76% rayon, 19% polyester and 5% spandex which drape beautifully. I own two baseball Julias and they are a blend of polyester, rayon, cotton and spandex. The Elegance line released by Lularoe in 2016 did make the Julia dress in a variety of sparkle and glitter dresses that are absolutely gorgeous and still available for purchase if you are lucky enough to find one that didn't sell during the holiday season. Once you find one that seems to be "your fabric", you might just make a note of that and search for other Julias that are the same blend.

The minimum advertised price (MAP) set by Lularoe for the Julia dress is $45.00.

If there are any questions about the Julia dress, please post them below. Make it a great Lularoe day!

The Classic Tee....A Traditional and Timeless T-Shirt

2017-01-01T04:23:00.001-06:00

Black Classic Tee

To begin our journey, the must-have for any Lularoe fan or a good starting piece for a person new to Lularoe is the Classic tee shirt. The cut and fit of this shirt is a perfect transition piece if you are switching to Lularoe clothing from the classic fitted t-shirts available at Old Navy or the Gap, although it is without a doubt of higher quality and will endure for many wears and washes for years to come.

A warm welcome to you, my blog reader, and I hope that you enjoy my blog, This Is How I Roe In Real Life! I am very glad to have you here, and if you have found yourself here, you have either been led here by a Lularoe consultant, a friend who wants you to experience the joy and beauty and simplicity of Lularoe clothing or by searching for clothing blogs. My core style blogs will cover each style in the Lularoe lineup including construction, fit, sizing, available fabrics, styles, and colors.

Hemmed sleeves with fold-over stitched scoop neckline

Fold-over stitched scoop neckline (with Monroe kimono)

Out of the four t-shirts in the Lularoe lineup, the Classic tee shirt is undeniably the most classic and traditional fit. It has hemmed sleeves that fall right under the tricep, a slightly fitted waist, a hemmed bottom, and a stitched fold-over scoop neckline. The Classic tee looks good with anything in the Lularoe line up as well as other pieces in the standard wardrobe from leggings to capri pants to jeans to skirts. I have worn my Classic tees with everything in my closet, because they are just that versatile. You can pull it flat or you can ruche it a little over a skirt to hide your tummy if that is a problem area for you. It looks great on anyone and everyone, whatever your size or shape. My preferred size in the Classic is a 2XL or a 3XL since there is so very little difference in size between the two (this is true as well between S and M, M and L). Once you know your size, they are easy to order without trying on and an integral part of any wardrobe.

Hemmed bottom in butterfly print Classic (with Azure skirt)

Sizing more than one size up is not a problem if you don't mind a slightly larger shirt. The shirt will hang a little longer permanently since they don't shrink when washed properly, but as with all Lularoe clothing, it needs to be washed cold and hung dry. If you like a more fitted look, you can try to size down, but be careful of the bust area because they are very true to size. I can fit into a L or XL Classic, but both are very tight in my chest area and my bust is a 38D. They don't hang long like a tunic, so before you venture out in public with a Classic tee shirt over leggings, make sure that you are comfortable with the way it looks since the leggings are quite clingy and do not leave anything to the imagination.

Classics for the most part come in the standard poly-blend of fabric which is a combination of 96% polyester/4% spandex, but there are some knit Classics that have the consistency of a very light short-sleeved sweater top that are 50% polyester and 50% cotton. There are also some very silky Classics available that are manufactured from 100% tencel which is a sustainable fabric, regenerated from wood cellulose, and similar in hand to rayon clothing and bamboo sheets.

Poly-blend Classic

Knit Classic

Tencel Classic

In 2016, Lularoe released their Elegance line which had Classics that were made of metallic, spandex and threaded fabrics. Classics come in a rainbow of solid colors that span the color spectrum in vibrant reds, blues and purples, heathered greens, pinks and lavenders, and distressed fabrics which can be referred to as acid-washed or mineral-washed. These shirts, which are overdyed to create a very velvety appearance with mottled discoloration spread throughout the body of the shirt and on the sleeves and hemming, are a really unique style of t-shirt that are very reminiscent in appearance of the Hypercolor shirts from the 1980s, except of course, there is no change in appearance when a warm hand is placed on the fabric. They have a very velvety and soft appearance and lend a different look to any outfit.

Silver Elegant Classic Tee
with metallic blue Jill skirt

Mineral-wash Classic

If you own a mineral-wash or distressed Classic, it will come attached with a tag on it that states that due to the overdye used in the preparation of the material, you should wash the shirt by hand to prevent bleeding onto other fabrics or surfaces. I have heard that soaking this shirt in a vinegar solution will help set the dye so it will not bleed; if this is a process you are interested in, there is an article here from Popsugar that will instruct you on the proper method to do this which can also be used with leggings and other pieces of clothing. I have not yet tried this method myself, but I have heard that vinegar is a successful way to set the dye in these overdyed fabrics. The tag about handwashing did not start appearing on the distressed Classics until I had bought several of mine, so I never handwashed my shirts of this style. However, I do make sure the first time that I am washing a mineral-washed Classic that I turn it inside out, that I wash it with dark colors, and that I use a color-catcher sheet which you can throw in the washer with your clothing to catch any loose colors that leech out into the laundry water. My favorite ones to use are Shout Color Catchers, which were recommended to me by my stepmother Susan and are now a staple in my laundry care. The first time I used this sheet with the purple shirt in the below photograph, the sheet came out tinged with splotches of purple but with no color on any of my other laundry. These sheets are made by Shout and cost about $4 at Wal-Mart. I throw one in every time I wash my Lularoe, and for the most part, I never see any loose color on the sheets unless I am washing a distressed mineral-washed Classic.

The distressed mineral/acid wash look is also available in the Carly dress, which is reviewed in a separate article. The best thing about the Classic tee is that it is such a traditional cut, it will never go out of style and can be worn with anything. With the proper laundry care, washing it with other Lularoe clothing or soft items and not drying them in the dryer, your Classic tee shirts will last for many years to come with no shrinkage, pilling or bleeding of the fabric.

Classic tees are also available in a staggering number of prints as these are included in the styles that Lularoe cuts their limited edition printed styles from. You can find Classics in geometrics, animal prints such as butterflies, florals, stripes, and so much more.

The minimum advertised price (MAP) set by Lularoe for the Classic tee is $35.00.

If there are any questions about the Classic tee, please post them below. Make it a great Lularoe day!

Welcome and How to Successfully Roe

2016-12-28T05:01:00.000-06:00

Welcome to my blog!

Lularoe is something that I discovered the summer of 2016 when an acquaintance decided to be a consultant and I spent a whole weekend helping with hanging and staging her on-boarding inventory of clothing. I got to feel the fabrics, see the prints up close, and try everything on. I was gifted with an Azure (knee-length swing skirt) as a thank you gift, I wore it as a top the next day to a Father's Day brunch, and that, as they say, was the start of my addiction. After I got a job that required office time and not just running around on roofs in Old Navy t-shirts and capri pants, I decided to overhaul my 2001 wardrobe and replace it with good quality colorful clothing that really fit my personality and made me feel attractive. I now feel attractive every day when I go out, my clothes are comfortable, they are very no fuss-no muss and low maintenance, and I get compliments on what I wear all the time.

Here are my recommendations for how to be a successful Lularoe wearer:

1) While the sizes really DO run true to size, there are a few sizes that run very small or very big depending on your body type. For example, I am a full-on 2X with muscular arms left over from swimming and weight lifting, a large bone structure, D cups and 5'7 in height, so a lot of what I wear has to go big for that reason. I can't wear Randys because they are too fitted through the bodice but Carly dresses have to go two sizes down to give me a waist and not look like a bag. I would very much recommend trying the clothes on FIRST before buying anything unseen and figuring out your sizes, because after that, you can buy off the rack with no problem.

2) This is no joke, they really don't make more than a specific number of pieces in that print, so once all those lovely pieces have found homes, they are gone unless an eBayer sells them for something outrageous. My suggestion is that if you find something that you really love, get it, because in all likelihood unless you scour the internet with a fat wallet, you won't see it again.

3) Wash your clothes according to the care instructions, try to wash your clothes with other Lula clothing or very soft t-shirts, and hang dry or dry everything flat. I have to hang dry everything that I wear because of space, and it works just fine. The thing I like the best about the clothing care is that you don't have to iron your clothes; they dry ready-to-wear.

So that's my story, and I'll be blogging as often as possible with where I wore my Lularoe clothing, accessorizing, reviewing the style, etceterera. If you are interested in reading about the clothing, doing some shopping, attending parties, and in general having fun, please follow my blog. I am happy to have you whether you are a consumer or consultant. If you are a consultant interested in having me model, review, assist you in your business, or hostess online or in-home, please contact me via the gadget on the right. I am glad to have you here and I appreciate you reading and following me as I ROE in real life.