Spring 2019 Style Report

Here at bel monili, we are always excited to see

what the fashion trends will be for the upcoming season.

Spring 2019 is especially exciting for us

as it combines our love of color and texture with a fun, casual chic vibe.

Here are the top 5 trends we are seeing for the Spring 2019 season

that you can actually implement into your style wardrobe:

1) Bamboo accessories

We LOVE the natural color and rich texture of this highly structured bamboo tote. Imagine filling it with a good book, a cold beverage, and a chic sarong and heading off to a private island retreat.

2) LOTS of color

If there is one thing we saw from the runways, it was C-O-L-O-R rules this season! The Pantone New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2019 color report is brimming with bright, juicy tones.

3) Feathers

Feathers are a perennial favorite, and this year is no exception. You will find these ethereal beauties everywhere:

a chic pattern on a layering tee

on a delicately perfect pair of earrings

4) Vintage Florals

Well, this trend is pretty much our wheelhouse here at bel monili. We love working with vintage enamel flowers, which pair up well with basics OR layer in with other florals to create a bright, bold look.

5) Layers, Layers, Layers

So far the Spring 2019 trends have been right on target for bel monili, and the layering trend is another one that we just can't get enough of. Pile on bracelets, necklaces, and earrings and strut your stuff in style! The best part about this layering accessories trend is that you can really work it in to your everyday wardrobe with neutrals such as a tunic and leggings or rock it out in an evening look with a little black dress.

Here are some of our favorite layered looks from the runways:

Let us know what your favorite spring styles are and how you work them into your style routine!

31 Days, 31 Ways to Bring Joy: Day 7: Purge

Purge.

I have to admit, the word itself sounds kind of off-putting in a weird way...but to me it evokes thoughts of cleaning, clearing, and organizing. 

In fact, here's what Merriam Webster has to say about it:

Yesterday's way to bring joy was "Let Go", and in many ways this is synonymous.

If we are talking about a physical purge (i.e., of things), think of this:

 How does this translate to bringing joy?

Think of this: how thrilled would you be if you could shop, 

come home with new goodies, and not spend ANY money. 

Pretty happy, right?

How about getting a group together to do a "purge merge"? 

Everyone takes the opportunity to "clean out" and gather up things they don't use or need anymore. I would suggest an overall category: clothing, craft items, kitchen items, etc. 

Then, you all bring your junk, er, wonderful stuff to one central location. 

Everyone then takes turns "shopping" from the collective pile! 

Anything left over can be donated to your local thrift shop, church group, or other charity. 

You get new goodies.

Your pals get new goodies.

You get rid of clutter.

Your pals get rid of clutter.

Some lucky local organization get s a LOT of new goodies.

That's a lot of joy to spread from a purge!

31 Days, 31 Ways to Bring Joy: Day 4: Coffee or Tea

It's Sunday.

It's morning.

It's a new year.

Make a cup of coffee or tea for yourself AND the one(s) you love...that's joy.

Wishing you a happy day and lots of simple Sunday joy!

31 Days, 31 Ways to Bring Joy: Day 3: Pictures

For me, there is an unbelievable amount of joy stored in the thin colorful scraps of paper that are my family pictures. Those quirky, somewhat faded images bring me right back to moments where my grandmother held me tight, my grandfather planted strawberries, or my mother hostessed a 4th birthday party.

Bubbie (my grandmother) and I, probably around 1981

Recently, my dear Aunt Patti (who is also my Godmother) started going through her likely huge collection of family memorabilia which includes (but is not limited to):

pictures, greeting cards, invitations, some of my earliest craft work, and much more.

Sometimes she'll take pictures on her phone and text them to me. 

Sometimes I laugh, sometimes I cry, but I always feel joy.

I'd date this to the late 1980s...that's my Grandfather (Jeddie), Grandmother (Bubbie), myself, and my brother in front of my grandparents' home.

Today I invite you to take a look around and find some pictures that bring you joy and think about who you might be able to share that joy with. Would your brother just love to see that old picture where you dressed him up as a child? Do you think your dad might enjoy seeing that time he tried to cook a turkey but forgot to defrost it? Think about it...joy is a click and a quick memory away.

31 Days, 31 Ways to Bring Joy: Day 2: Give Compliments

Yesterday we talked about giving a smile,

today this will get one. 

Give a compliment!

It's another easy one: 

simply find something that you like and comment on it.

There are so many wonderful things about people to compliment, 

it doesn't just have to be about appearance!

"I like the sound of your laugh."

"You make the very best cookies."

"I love how you put colors together."

In my professional life as a speech-language pathologist, my job is to go to homes and evaluate children ages birth-3 to determine whether or not they need developmental therapy services (physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, etc.). The evaluation is play based and I am looking to see how the children can process information, manipulate objects, move around, etc. Sometimes they can complete the tasks, sometimes they can't. 

One thing I am sure of is to always compliment their efforts. 

"I like how you stacked those cups!" or "You did such a nice job jumping!"goes a long way and almost always earns me a sweet little smile. 

Try it and bring some joy to someone today!

It's that time of year: the 4th Annual 31 Days Blog Series is coming up!

It's finally here: we are ringing in the New Year with much anticipation, excitement, and our annual 31 Days blog series!

Many of you may remember last year's series where I happily asked questions about weddings since I had recently been engaged. The information you shared with me was invaluable, 

and now a year later I am exactly 101 days away from my wedding day on April 11, 2015. 

The joy I am experiencing in my new life is inexplicable.

So joyful am I that I decided to make the theme of this year's 31 days series how to take that joy and spread it to your lives and the lives of others. 

Beginning tomorrow, I will be launching the series "31 Days, 31 Ways to Bring Joy"

You will find tips on organization (to increase your joy at home), inspirational quotes (to increase your joyful spirit), some vacation ideas (to increase your joy in the world) and anything else that I think may bring you some happiness and relaxation.

Thank you all for joining me yet again on this wonderful adventure, and I wish you all the happiest and healthiest of times as your ring in the new year with hope, love, and excitement.