Instagram Live Recap + 2018 Expectations + Survey

January 12, 2018

2017 was the year of growth for this blog but I want 2018 to be the year of community and connection. I’ve started to realize that I don’t care one bit what the follower count says anymore, I care about connecting with the ones I already have because it is SO fulfilling and I already have everything I need right here.

I am so happy that you are a part of the IACTM community and I am excited to make IACTM an even better outlet this year! It wasn’t until the very end of 2017, my “you only live once” phase that I just didn’t care what I put out there- the good,bad, the ugly. And you know what? Y’all seemed to really love it. I thought I had hit rock bottom but y’all loved it. Not the rock bottom part per say but the “screw everything, this is the real me, take it or leave it” part of rock bottom. And it made my rock bottom seem just the opposite. I realized I thrived at rock bottom. I realized what it meant to have and be a part of a community. So that’s exactly what 2018 is all about.

Things Happening in 2018

Weekly Giveaways

You all loved my 12 Days of Christmas giveaways so much that Santa Shelbi is coming out of retirement to bring you giveaways until you say “NO MORE!”. Since I want to get you more engaged and build this community, the giveaways will involve getting to know you better. That being said, as long as you follow along on Instagram and Instagram stories these are going to be EASY. You won’t have to follow any other bloggers or tag a million friends. The winner for the week will be chosen every Sunday evening.

The way it works: the first 100 comments on every Instagram post will be entered to win. This means you might want to have post notifications turned on or check Instagram each day. I usually post around 12 pm and 8 pm CST but that’s not always the case. The key is you will have to watch my Instagram stories each day to know how to enter. I will ask a question on my stories and you will then have to answer the question in a comment on the most recent Instagram post. I will also occasionally give fun ways for extra entries that might involve a secret emoji or something else simple and ultimately FUN!

How the winner is chosen: at the end of the week I will add up how many Instagram posts I did and generate two random numbers. The first random number will select which Instagram post, the second will select a number 1-100. That will be the number of the comment on that specific Instagram post aka the winner! I will do the drawing during the Instagram Live each week so that y’all can get the hang of how it works and be able to see who wins at the same time that I do!

Weekly Instagram Lives (“Chic Chats”)

So many of you want to see more real life shenanigans so from now on, I’m going to host a quick (30 minutes TOPS) Instagram Live every week. The majority of you picked Sunday nights at 8 CST/9 EST so that is what we are going to start off with for now but if I get enough people that want them on a different day I might trade off each week. For each live session there will be a topic of YOUR choosing. For ex: how to start a blog, best jeans under $100, spring trends, etc. I’ll have you guys send me your suggestions each week and then I will announce the topic the day of the live. This way you can decide if you want to tune in or not. I plan on giving away a $5 gift card to the most engaged person EVERY single week so it will help to tune into the live even though it will be saved for 24 hours.

Tuesday Ten

After many requests to shop my closet, I finally figured out a way to make it happen! Every Tuesday (or that’s what I’m aiming for) I will be selling 10 brand new or like new items from my closet at a MAJOR discount. This does not necessarily mean all clothes. It could be skin care, make up, fitness items, purses, shoes, vacuums (yes I get random stuff!), etc. While the clothes will primarily be my size (Top: XS/S // Bottoms: 25 or 0), this is not always going to be the case. I do get sent stuff sometimes that is not my size! I will host the sale every Tuesday evening on my Instagram stories at 8 pm CST. This will be first come, first serve. If you are interested in an item, you will email itsallchictomeblog@gmail.com to claim it. I will give each person an hour to pay before someone else will get a shot. I will put prices on each item and there will be a standard $10 shipping.

Blog Tips

So many of you are either bloggers yourself or just want to know more about how all of this blogging stuff works. You asked, so I am answering. I am going to start doing blog tips twice a month! Everything from how to start a blog, beginner photography, how to grow on social media, how to make gift guides/collages, etc. If you have topics you want me to talk about, please send them my way!

Styling/Business Coaching Services

I’ve been trying to figure out for the past year how I could connect more with you guys and bring my passion for fashion and building your own business to life. I love blogging but I’m also behind a computer all day. I am so much of a people person and find so much joy from sharing what I love best with others, I just haven’t known how. *Insert blog here* The blog has connected me to all of you and in 2018 I will be offering personal styling sessions as well as business coaching for beginner bloggers/entrepreneurs both locally in person and virtually. Stay tuned for more information on this 🙂

Frequently Asked Questions

How old are you?

I am 26 years young! I have 2 younger sisters and we are all within 4 years of each other.

What was your full time job?

I was a supply analyst for a retail power (electricity) company. My job in a nutshell consisted of forecasting power usage, buying/selling power, hedging our exposure, data analytics and lots of excel spreadsheets.

Why did you quit?

Ultimately I quit because of timing and I knew it was not what I wanted to be doing long term. Between my two hip surgeries, moving home, travel opportunities, and a burning passion to give the blog my all, I decided it was the right time for me to quit. Granted this would have never been possible if I was not living at home and the fact that I built my savings up over the last 3 years.

How did you manage your full time job with the blog?

Long story short – not very well. I would keep my blog email open at work so that I could star important emails and answer any time sensitive ones. I would write posts and answer emails after work. I would take pictures every other weekend, usually Saturday mornings where I would shoot 4-8 looks at one time with my photographer which would give me enough content for about 2 weeks. I didn’t have much of a social life between working 2 jobs but I didn’t mind at the time.

Do you plan on going back to work?

Yes! I am starting to look for work now and am hoping to go back to work in March or so. I still don’t really know what I want to be doing but I’m thinking something along the lines of marketing, public relations, social media, or event management. If you have a job that you love, I’d absolutely love to hear!

What surgeries did you have?

I had two PAO surgeries to correct hip dysplasia. I had the left side done in March and the right side done in October. Each were about a 2 month recovery. You can read all about it here.

How did you rehab after?

Yes, but not like I should have. After the first one I only went to physical therapy for a month because I was in so much pain. I don’t think the place I was going was very attentive to what my body needed and instead of finding a new place, I just quit. This go around has been harder because now I have 2 bad hips instead of just 1 so we are working both sides in physical therapy. I also have had 2 falls since my last surgery which have not been good for my hips. On top of that, I had to get my own health insurance and it’s been a constant battle so I am currently not doing physical therapy but desperately need to be!

Where did you go to college/what was your major?

I went to Texas A&M University and graduated with a Finance major and International Business minor. I actually studied abroad my sophmore year all over Europe – London, Paris, Nice, Monaco, Austria, Venice, and more!

Instagram Live Winners

Please contact me to claim your prize! And if you didn’t win this time, I will be doing it every week!

@keepingupwithgjones

@kiki_1978_

@babykakesss

2017 Feedback Survey

Thank you so much for making 2017 such a great year. I am so happy that you are a part of the IACTM community and thank you for answering these quick questions that aim to make IACTM an even better outlet! Remember these are anonymous and your HONEST feedback helps me the most! Thanks in advance for your response and taking the time to make IACTM a community – I am so glad that you are here!

*You can answer the questions below + submit the survey directly below!*
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Outfits

Most Liked Items of 2017

January 11, 2018

Based on Liketoknow.it’s analytics along with my own, here are the winners for 2017! Every like, screenshot and online purchase counted as a vote. On the left side of the screen you will find Liketoknow.it’s winner and on the right you will find It’s All Chic To Me’s winner.

Basic Tee

Need-It Sweater

Most Loved Layer

Wardrobe Staple

Most Partied In

Most Sunbathed In

Dream-Fit Denim

Shoe Crush

Best Bauble

Prettiest Pout

Fitness Fav

It Bag

Most Seen Sunnies

Investment Piece

Must Have Home Piece

Mobile Must Have

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Outfits

Best Purchases of 2017

January 7, 2018

Beauty

Sunday Riley Acne Kit– I’m not one to talk about skincare very often because to be honest my skincare routine was pretty nonexistent until the last couple of months. I get sent a lot of products to try out but this one is by far my favorite and I love that it helps with acne since my skin is very acne prone. After using it the past few months I’ve seen a serious decrease in my hormonal acne. The oil that comes in this kit is my favorite part of my entire skin care routine, I literally look forward to it every night. It is infused with tree oil and smells so good.

Amika Blowout Spray– This is another product that was gifted to me. I had seen multiple bloggers rave about this product so I finally gave it a try. Talk about va-va-voom! Ok it doesn’t give a ton of volume but I love the grit it puts in my hair to hold a curl and lift my roots. Not the nasty type of grit, more so just a little bit of texture to make your hair more malleable.

T3 Curling Wand– If you have been following me this year you might know I’ve had a love, hate relationship with this 3-in-1 curling wand. For the longest time I would have told anyone that I would never pay money for this wand (it’s $300) but since it was gifted to me I used it. At first I swore to you that my Hot Tools wand did the exact same thing (it’s $45) and I do still highly recommend the Hot Tools wand if you are looking for a budget friendly one. It served me well for 5+ years. It wasn’t until recently when I started incorporating product into my hair care routine that I saw a major difference. I use the Amika Blowout Spray and Redken Styling Spray and boy does it make my hair actually hold the curl all day and even when I sleep on it. If you are looking for a great curling wand and would use the multiple attachments, the T3 is a great one!

IT Cosmetics CC Cream– After several attempts at finding a full coverage foundation that lasted all day, IT Cosmetics finally pulled through for me. Prior to trying this one I was using the Benefit Hello Flawless foundation but was not impressed with it’s coverage. I love that the CC cream fills in my pores and leaves my skin looking much more even toned! I also finish off my look with their Celebration Foundation pressed powder.

HASK Dry Shampoo– After trying what seemed like every dry shampoo on the market (expensive and non expensive), I was about ready to completely give up on this whole dry shampoo concept until I found HASK! Warning: this stuff will make you go questionable lengths of time between hair washings. I use to not be able to go more than one day without washing before my hair would get greasy but I can push 7 days thanks to this stuff!!

Style

Olive Jeans | Light Wash Jeans | White wash Jeans | Dark Wash Jeans

Wubby Pullover– Although I’ve only had mine a few weeks, it’s quickly become one of the top sellers for the blog in December and for good reason. If you are a cozy lover like myself, this pullover is a no brainer. It also comes in a vest version (on sale, I sized up to a medium) that I did pick up the other day because let’s face it, I have a serious sherpa addiction these days.

Levi Jeans– These were actually bought in 2016 and were still so much a favorite in 2017 that I bought them in the darker color too. I get lot’s of questions about my ripped denim and my Levi’s jeans are hands down the best that I own. They are a bit pricey which but after trying several pairs of cheaper jeans, these out do them on so many levels. They are the only pair of jeans that actually fits me, are of good quality, make my butt look good (because hey that’s important!), have the right amount of distressing in the right places, and hold up for multiple wears before washing. I promise you these are worth the money and then some! I personally size down in Levi’s but many of you have told me that you get your true size or even go up one so I suggest reading review before purchasing. Other notable distressed denim that I discovered this year and love are my olive Free People jeans and light wash mom jeans. Both run true to size.

BP Side Split Tee– For $19, I bought these basic long sleeve tee in 4 colors- black striped, white striped, grey striped, and olive. They do fit a little oversized so Nordstrom will tell you to size down. I ordered my true size (XS) which is a little long but I prefer the length for layering purposes. I wear them under EVERYTHING. My favorite way as of lately has been to wear them layered under sweaters so that they show at the bottom, sleeves, and sometimes top too depending on what you are wearing. I’ve also worn them layered under a military vest, puffer vest, or denim jacket. The possibilities are endless and it really is a great basic to have in your closet.

Aerie Fleece leggings– Believe it or not these were the blog’s number one seller and for good reason! Y’all certainly love cozy just as much as I do! I personally own them in 3 colors if that tells you how good they are. I suggest sizing up one. I wear a size small (normally an XS). These are great as pajamas or just lounging and they are still only $12!!

SPANX Leather leggings– It took me a long time to pull the trigger on these because of the price tag and to this day I still buy alternatives to dry and find something cheaper that is comparable for you guys but there honestly is just no comparison to how good these are. I do suggest sizing up as they run quite small. The only alternative that I found and liked was this $18 pair. If I am comparing the two they are night and day difference but if you are trying to save up before you buy the SPANX, they are decent and I do wear mine! Definitely size down as they run large.

Gucci Dupes- So I did this crazy thing in 2017 during my YOLO-quit-my-job-travel-the-world stage this year. I splurged on the Gucci Marmont 2.0 bag and small leather belt. The Gucci belts have been crazy popular this year and thanks to Britt, she introduced me to an identical dupe for the belt. It’s quickly become the blog’s number one seller in December. It comes in the small and large version and in all colors too! It is one size but fits most sizes. My favorite pair of shoes this year, especially after surgery, were the Gucci dupe slides from Target. I’m pretty sure I wore them almost every day this year not kidding one bit. I wore them to work every day and they are my go to casual shoe. The best part? They are $19 and extremely good quality. I even wore them to tromp all over Europe!

Other Favorites

Present Over Perfect– I don’t read. Period. Even though it’s been a new year’s resolution for who knows how long I just am not a book reader. BUT this year I did something crazy. I read a book! In fact, I read it twice I loved and connected with it so much. If you feel like you are running yourself ragged or are craving some sort of deeper connection with people and things, this book is AMAZING.

This is Us– I rarely watch TV and I try not to even start any new shows because I get sucked in to the point that I binge watch like nobody’s business. That being said I am super picky about shows and movies. I don’t like sci fi, action or history based shows. In typical girl fashion, I usually am a fan of romantic comedies. This Is Us is not a show I’d normally go for which is why I held off for so long. I binge watched both seasons in 2 days and cried the entire time. IT’S SO GOOD!!

Pop Socket– I had to throw this one in here because it has been a life saver for me ever since I got the 7+. If you have tiny hands and a big phone, the pop socket will rock your world and make your life so much easier.

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Life, Outfits

Dear 2017.

January 2, 2018

Dear 2017

Top of the Rock NYC, Holiday dresses under $100

Photography by: Banavenue

Dear 2017,

It’s not me, it’s you. I regret to say that I am NOT sad to see you go. So much happened this year. More than has happened in any year to date. I wish I could say that you rocked because that would be a cute blog post and all being that I am at the top of the Rock (Rockafeller Center) but to be honest, you mostly sucked. When I started trying to recap the year, I got stuck several times because there were only a couple major things that stuck out. The bad. The hard. The heartbreaking. And that made me sad that I couldn’t remember all of the good because of this. So I forced myself to sit down and remember all of it. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

January– I rang in the New Year in Seaside, Florida watching one of my oldest friends get married! Seaside is one of my absolute favorite places. I then traveled to Waco, Texas the following weekend to watch another childhood friend get married. This also gave me an excuse to visit the popular Magnolia Market for the first time and it did not disappoint! I ended the month with an early Galentine’s Day celebration at my favorite rooftop wine bar in Houston – Sonoma!

February– Not much more to mention about this month besides the fact a man entered my life that changed the rest of the course of the year for me. We will call him “bumble boy”. To be honest I didn’t really share much about this topic with you guys but it was a big factor this year.

March– By far my hardest month of the year. It started off great with a trip to Puerto Vallarta (my first sponsored travel opportunity) and with my best friend, Britt! Shortly after that, I moved home for the short term and had the first of two hip surgeries. Right after my surgery, the guy I met back in February and had spent almost every day with since, completely ghosted me. No text, call or anything to break things off. He just stopped responding to texts/calls. I regret to say I spiraled into a deep depression between these two things. I barely ate, got out of bed, or thought about anything else. For those of you that have been ghosted or had your heart broken by a boy, I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy! This was the first time I had been broken up with and the worst part to this day, is that I have no idea why.

April– Since the hip surgery recovery involved being in bed and on crutches for 6 weeks, I had SO many friends visit me at my parents house. I am truly so grateful for all of these friends who helped me more than they knew by just being there in my lowest time. April brought LOTS of pool days and relaxing at hotel Adams. It was also the first (and only) time I opened up about “bumble boy” on the blog.

May– After being off of work for 7 weeks, I went back to my full time job. As much as I hated going back to my desk job, I needed the consistency of a schedule more than I knew at the time. I was still thinking about “bumble boy” every day, ALL day. My family also celebrated my youngest sister graduating from the University of Texas in Austin.

June– June was a fun month! I experienced my first two “staycations” at two of Houston’s nicest hotels! The first staycation involved a wine and taco convention. That’s right, unlimited wine and tacos. Need I say more? The second staycation involved a penthouse, my blogger babes, and a night out at Sonoma Wine Bar! The common theme in June was lots of wine 🙂 I ended the month with a spontaneous girls trip to Denver and Boulder, Colorado and it was by far one of the best trips with one of my oldest best friends and a new one too!

July– July 4th was spent with some of my blogger besties at her grandparent’s ranch and then again with new friends in San Marcos floating the river.

August– It was a full month of big blog collaborations (which I am SO thankful for!) with Academy and CStudio Home, traveling within Texas, wedding shenanigans, and birthday celebrations! August was also the month that Hurricane Harvey reeked havoc on Houston. Thankfully my house and family’s houses were not harmed but I cannot say the same for so many of my friends and it was heartbreaking to watch the people you care so much about, lose everything. As much as it hurt to watch these things, it was a good reminder to not take a single thing for granted, that there could always be worse, and to be thankful for all of life’s many blessings even when we feel God has wronged us. I also must add that my best friends and I got stuck in Fredericksburg (Texas wine country) during the flood and our sweet host comped the entire stay. If you are planning a trip to Fredericksburg, I highly suggest where we stayed for SO many reasons. More here.

September– While I HATE to admit that I was still thinking about “bumble boy” more days than not and after watching so many people lose everything, I had a major realization. What the hell was I doing with my life? Why was I succumbing to the devil? Why was I letting someone or something steal my joy EVERY day? For someone that thought they had everything figured out, I heard God say, “Let go, let go of everything and trust me”. And that’s what I did. I quit the job that was stealing my joy. I moved home. I booked several one way airplane tickets and I felt the most overwhelming sense of peace that I had EVER felt. Travels included: New York Fashion Week (for the second year in a row!), Boston, Nantucket, Copenhagen, Prague, Vienna, Milan and Cinque Terra. Read more about that big announcement here.

October– I ended my month long travel diaries and came back home to have my second hip surgery. While the recovery process ended up being much easier, the first week after surgery was AWFUL in every way. I battled severe nausea and migraines which resulted in an ER trip and trying over 15 medications to get these symptoms under control. I ended up having to completely forgo pain meds the rest of my recovery because of these side effects. Thankfully after the first week (from HELL), my recovery was mostly smooth sailing minus a severe amount of weight loss that I can’t seem to gain back. I ended the month by going to see Bruno Mars with the family. Best concert ever!!

November– November brought some exciting things for the blog! My biggest campaign to date with Olay, an event with Banana Republic, and my most profitable month to date! I cannot put into words how thankful I am that my leap of faith to blog full time (even if just for the short term) proved to be paying off in a big way. More than the money aspect, November brought so many opportunities to connect with all of YOU. If there is anything I have learned this year, it’s that this blog thing doesn’t have to be one sided! It has been so rewarding to start developing a community with you all and it is truly the highlight of my day when I get to chat with you via email or direct message.

December– December was a busy busy month and for that I am thankful. It was the first month that I did not think about “bumble boy” almost a single time. If you only knew how many times I prayed to God that he would erase that boy from my memory. Every day, y’all. My time was spent pouring myself into the blog. 12 hours a day. Between 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways and sharing tons of holiday gift inspiration, I didn’t sleep much but my heart was SO full. I finally felt like I was making a difference. Like I was helping you more than you were helping me! Other highlights of the month included my family taking a vacation to Cabo, ringing in the New Year in Chicago (my sister’s new home), Houston seeing it’s first snow in years, two slips and falls that set me back in physical therapy (clutz!), two amazing roaring 20s parties and more joy than I have felt in months!

While there were so many ups this year, most were regretfully clouded with sadness, grief, and anger. I put on a front to my family and friends that I was ok while I most certainly was not. But two things that stayed constant for me this year were God and all of you. When I think about what I am most thankful for this year, it truly is my faith, my steadfast friends that might not have known what was going on but loved me anyway and my growing relationship with each and every one of you. Most days I would be wallowing in my own self pity or not able to pull myself out of depressing thoughts and then I would get a message from one of you that would turn my entire day around. The thing is that you had no idea what you were doing. You had no idea what I was going through and yet God placed each of you and your voice in my life for a reason. I can only hope that I can return the favor to all of you this year. 2018- this is OUR year!

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Holidays, Outfits

New Year’s Eve Outfit Ideas

December 27, 2017

NYE Outfit Ideas

Dress: SOLD OUT but similar one linked HERE | Shoes: Similar | Earrings: BaubleBar

Photography by: Banavenue

No matter what new year we are bringing in, you can bet sequins and sparkles are going to be a thing! So when in doubt, sparkle it out! I would put money on the fact that you probably have an old sequin dress or skirt hanging in your closet that is begging to see the light of day again!

Two new trends that I am particularly loving this year though are metallics and velvet. Both are perfect for any dressier events that you might have coming up such as New Year’s or winter weddings. So while sequins and sparkle will never go out of style, if you are wanting to try something new this year, a little metallic dress or maybe a velvet jumpsuit might seal the deal on that New Year’s kiss! Speaking of New Year’s kiss, how cute is this bag?!

I will be braving the cold for New Year’s so I’m happy that the velvet will actually provide a little warmth. *Nevermind the completely bare back aspect* When picking out a New Year’s Eve outfit dress I always look for something that is fun and flirty but doesn’t show too much skin. This dress was the perfect compromise. Business in the front, party in the back!

If you need a little last minute inspiration of other outfit ideas, I’ve linked a few favorites below! Good news: there is still time to grab majority of these before the ball drops and we ring in the new year 🙂

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