Conscious Consumerism: Half United

Well, it has been a hot minute since I did a Conscious Consumerism Post & I'm back with a bang! I am so excited about today's featured brand & product.  Teaming up with Half United to show off their new Flourish collection, a giveaway & talk about their efforts to feed children in need!

Their jewelry uses repurposed bullet casings (so cool!) to represent the fight against hunger. A half of profits from every item sold goes directly to fighting the world hunger epidemic! Wear something with a story & a cause! 

(Pssst… you will have a chance to win a necklace of your own at the end of the post!)

{ What I Wore to brunch: necklace ℅ Half United // dress ℅ Dex // shoes ℅ Shoe Carnival // Ray Ban sunglasses // Laura Mercier lipstick (shade: Poppy) }
all photos | Zipporah Photography

I love the edgy pop this necklace adds to my easy Summer weekend outfit.

Repurposed bullets and crystals that fight hunger… you know that's a win!

Off topic & not for brunch, but if visiting Nashville, put Rolf & Daughters on your must try list! They have a great mural wall at the Germantown location too! 

Check out my previous post with Half United here. 

And today you can be apart of the change to end world hunger too! Check out Half United & enter to win your own "Isla necklace" from the Flourish Collection below. 

Open to all US readers, a winner will be randomly chosen by Rafflecopter.

Find HalfUnited online: Shop // Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest // Instagram // YouTube 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

on change

{ What I Wore on a date: (old) H&M tank (similar) // Storets {vegan} leather skirt // Steve Madden heels ℅ Macy's // clutch ℅ Gigi New York }

all photos | Alyssa Torrech Photography

It is funny to look back at the version of myself that moved to Nashville 5 years ago. I was ending a 4 year relationship, moving away from all my college friends, embarking on a crazy journey towards a Ph.D., living in the "big city" after calling small town Arkansas home my whole life, & oh so young! 

5 years has brought change - new friends, new experiences, a degree, different last name, a career change, many moves, the loss of friends (growing older sadly sometimes means growing apart), & 2 adorable pug children.

I hear change when my alarm now goes off at 5am. I see change when I look in my closet & the pencils skirts have replaced the comfy blue jeans at the front of my wardrobe. I feel change when I come home from work after a 12 hour day of teaching & have never felt more fulfilled. I smell change when my husband cooks dinner, as we both adjust to the new life that is ours (he's shaping up to be pretty skilled in the kitchen!). I taste change when my Friday nights are more like ice cream and a movie on the couch rather than beer and honky tonks downtown.

Change is good. Change is hard. Change is refreshing. Change is the only thing we can grow to count on in this life.

I am so thankful to be surrounded by friends and family that embrace, support, love, and comfort during the many changes and stages in my life.

And just so you know, 26 going on 27 year old Jessica can totally still rock this skirt like 22 year old Jessica once did! Age is just a number right!? (less than 2 months till my 27th birthday and it's making me all sentimental!)

*Except this time, I'm headed out to dinner with my husband instead of dancing on bars with the ladies. Yup, things have changed.

How are things changing in your life? Any profound reflections on how the past 5 years have looked?

P.S. Change up your Summer wardrobe with the J.Crew gift card giveaway going on now. Enter to win here!

Wedding Wednesday: Getting Ready

All photos | Jessica Ranae Photography

I loved everything about our wedding day, but getting ready was way sweeter & more special than I had ever expected. It was just lovely to see all the tiny details come together. And I was most touched by the ties to my family that I found threaded throughout.

My grandmother's pearl necklace that I wore around my neck. My great-grandmother's brooch that held my bouquet together. A token from my grandparent's wedding to tuck in my hankie (a much needed accessory… I'm a crier!), & the ring that Tyler gave me, signifying the years we have to share together, till death do us part.

Call me an old-married-sentimental-sap, but as much as I love my costume jewelry, it is the meaningful bits & baubles that I treasure the most. The string of pearls that have been well loved by many women in my family. The brooch that probably has a wild story or two to tell. The ring that my dear husband gave me that I hope to carry in our family for generations.

I know it sounds silly, but I never thought that when Tyler went ring shopping (that sneaky boy totally surprised me, I had no part in it!), that he was not only picking out the ring I would wear for the next 10 decades or so, but he was also choosing the jewelry store we would build a relationship with.

He chose Shane Co. because they have locations in cities that we consider moving to next (that forward thinking man of mine!), paired with the local, high quality customer service that you would expect from your neighborhood store. Oh & they totally bring the sparkle factor in all their diamond rings!

We had a great experience returning back to Shane Co. to pick out his ring, & I hope that many more of my gifts in the future hail from here as well! (*hint hint* *nudge nudge* sweet husband of mine!)

If you are looking to surprise someone this month, don't forget that June's birthstone is pearl! Shop my favorite Summer just because gift ideas below & bring home something meaningful! bracelets // earrings // design your own pendant necklaces // pearls

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Shane Co. The opinions and text are all mine.

Daisy Power

It's nearing Summer time which means that I want to wear less make-up, but my skin isn't quite ready for it's naked debut. Humidity + make-up isn't a pretty sight, so I'm always looking for ways to lighten my routine and freshen up my complexion.

I can't wait to share with you what I have found - the power of the daisy, Nature's Retoucher! I've been using the daisy extract powered Burt's Bees brightening treatment for 4 weeks & (if I do say so myself), my face is luminous!

Your Summer brightening toolkit: 1. Brightening Daily Cleanser // 2. Brightening Refining Tonic // 3. Brightening Eye Treatment // 4. Dark Spot Corrector // 5. Even-Tone Moisturizing Cream. 

Make this your brightest Summer yet! The line of brightening products from Burt's Bees is "clinically proven to help improve the appearance of surface dullness", harnessing the power of the daisy! Daisy extract helps reveal a more even skin tone in as few as 4 weeks & a multi fruit complex effectively removes dirt oil and makeup. Make it part of your daily regimen for a brighter and more even complexion, naturally. 

Check out my Instagram feed to see my brightening results after 4 weeks of use & read more about these great products at Burtsbees.com & find out more on the Daisy, Nature's Retoucher. 

Find Burt's Bees on social media: Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Burt's Bees via Burst Media. The opinions and text are all mine.

My City, My Style: Nashville

Thank you so much for all your love & support surrounding the awesome project I got to participate in with Macy's American Icons feature of 5 amazing cities. I am very Nashville proud & it makes my heart happy that you care, as much as I do, about this great city!

I was extremely nervous to talk for the first time on video (I hate hearing even my voicemail message…), & narrow down my favorite hot spots to only my top 10 (so. much. stress!), therefore your positive feedback has been wonderful!

Looking forward to sharing more of my beautiful town soon… but for now, please enjoy these photos we snapped at the gorgeous Union Station hotel.

And check out the full States of Style project on Stylebistro.com including a highlight video, Nashville street style, & style guide. See more at Macy's American Icons hub here.

all photos | Alyssa Torrech Photography

{ What I Wore for a day in Nashville: Levi's denim jacket, GUESS sundress (see more options below), Steve Madden fringe purse, Jessica Simpson wedges - all ℅ Macy's // Ray Ban sunglasses }

Shop this All American look with Macy's! My top picks: