The Good Girl Gone Blog

C&C California Girl: Coast to Coast Cool

While at Lucky FABB, bloggers had the chance to choose 3 items from C&C California's collection to style and create a "Coast to Coast Cool" look. I almost forgot that I'd signed up until I received the package a few weeks ago containing the top above, another top (that doesn't work on me) and a pair of faux leather leggings that I'm obsessed with.

I think California girls definitely have a unique style- it's laid back, comfortable and cool- but so do us east coast gals. We need to stay warm in the winter months and try our best to still look cute doing it.

The top pictured is super soft and ultra flattering. Paired with similarly colored jeans, I thought the whole look elongated my frame, something that's always a plus for those of us on the petite side!

Top- c/o C&C California|Jeans- swapped Paige Denim|Belt- Primark|Booties-MIA|Necklace- Kate Spade|Sunglasses-Gifted Armani

Photo Diary: National Aquarium Jellies

If you, like me, grew up in Baltimore, you've definitely made a few trips to the National Aquarium. Though the layout and exhibits have definitely changed a bit since my last visit (what happened to those awesome columns filled with bubbles?), it was so much fun to go back and enjoy this hometown gem with Eric and my dad.

Hanukkah gifts came early this year (my dad's family and I exchanged gifts over Thanksgiving), and I was delighted to receive a new lens for my Nikon. Though I didn't bring my actual camera to Baltimore, my dad always has a spare lying around This time it was the D7000, or what he likes to call his "little" camera. (It's not little, it's bigger than mine!)

To be honest, if my dad hadn't pushed me, I wouldn't have brought the camera to the aquarium at all. I stepped out of my comfort zone and used a camera and lens that were both bigger and heavier than what I'm used to.

Achieving good or even mediocre photographs was a challenge. Shooting through glass (often scratched or dirty) was no small feat. I never, ever focus my camera manually, but in this case it was a necessity- otherwise the shots would end up focusing on the glass or anything showing up in reflection!

In some cases, like the photo above, a little reflection actually made the photo even cooler! It sort of seems like the jellyfish is floating inside of a spaceship. The screen reflections didn't happen on purpose, but I'm happy with the result.

Though I took about a million photos throughout the aquarium, I was most happy with the jellyfish because of their whimsical shapes, celestial vibe and bright/contrast heavy colors. 
I'm really, really proud of these photographs. They may not be my best, but I definitely would not have been able to take these types of photos a few years ago, or without the encouragement of my dad. Really, I feel so blessed to have such a cool and talented Dad. 

I'll leave you with this photo that reminds me of 2 things: 1) a flame (while editing, I couldn't get 'Girl on Fire' out of my head) and 2) some sort of crispy, fried carbohydrate that you'd find on top of a piece of fish/a salad at a fancy restaurant.

Homemaker Happy Hour- Holiday Shopping!

Hey everyone- what are you doing this Wednesday at 1pm EST? If you're not working (or are extra good at being sneaky), I'd love for you to join me in Wayfair's bi-weekly #HomemakerHappyHr chat on twitter. We'll be giving away $25 gift cards every 10 minutes- woohoo! Wayfair is a great place to shop for gifts, whether you're kitchen gadgets, home decor items or even pet products!

Be sure to follow @goodgrlgoneblog and @wayfair and tweet with #HomemakerHappyHr!

Hope to see you there :)

Disclaimer: I am not being compensated to host this chat, but I am partnering with Wayfair on a future blog project. I love the brand so much, I just couldn't say no!

BeauCoo: An Essential App for Fashionistas

Have you heard of BeauCoo? No? Well, it's an awesome fashion app that helps you find clothes that fit your body by matching you with women who have similar body types. All you have to do is create a profile and input your measurements- the app will add users with similar proportions to a special feed so you'll be able to see which pieces work best on women  just like you!

When you're shopping, you can snap pictures as you try on clothes and upload them to the app with store, size and fit information. Easy peasy :)

Some screen shots from the app:

I found the BeauCoo easy to use and could definitely see myself using it again in the future, especially as more people who match my body type sign up. The app is still in beta, so I didn't find any fit matches just yet. I'll give it a little time thoug-I'm hoping some other curvy petite ladies sign up soon.

There are definitely a few features I'd like them to alter/add, but the team of BeaCoo has been very responsive to any feedback I send their way, which is great!

From BeaCoo:

Pics on someone your own size! Discover a social style network of women your shape and size for looks, brands and stores you’ll love. 

Want to try it out for yourself? You can request an invite here!

Disclaimer: I will be receiving a gift card in exchange for my review, but opinions are my own.

Pink Ruffle Trench

This pink, ruffled trench has played a recurring role in my wardrobe since I picked it up at the Wilson's Leather Outlet this summer. The hue and detailing are both very "Alana", so it was obvious to me when I saw this gorgeous coat that it needed to make its way into my closet. Plus, at 50% off the outlet price, I really couldn't say no.

With the weather getting colder, I'm not sure I'll be wearing this gem for much longer. Good thing it's perfectly colored for spring!

So glad we decided to bring the camera to the dog park. How beautiful does Maggie look during the magic hour? It's like she glows!

It's SUPER giveaway time!

I've had 4 bags full of goodies sitting around in my office for the past few weeks, just waiting to go home with some of my lovely readers. You see, I've accumulated quite the collection of event swag recently, so much so that I just don't know what to do with it all. I've got full and trial-sized beauty items, drool worthy fashion accessories as well as items for the home. My apartment is simply too small to keep everything.

So here's the deal- all you have to do is let me know which prize pack you'd like. I have 2 beauty prize packs, one fashionista prize pack, and one "home" prize pack.

Giveaway is open to US readers only and will run through the end of the month! Oh, and the photos above? They're just a sampling of the goodies I have available ;)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cute Couple Shot

Just a couple of fun photos my dad took of us while we were in Greensboro, NC celebrating my cousin Dori's wedding. It's pretty reminiscent of the photo shoot we did last year for our holiday cards. Now we just have to do one with Maggie in it :)

One Brand, Two Looks: No nonsense

This week, I received a package in the mail from No nonsense, which included a pair of red tights and a pair of leggings. I want to call the leggings jeggings, but they're really more legging sthan jeans, so let's go with "faux-denim leggings".

Here are two looks I created with the pieces provided:

This is one of my favorite dresses of all time. I picked it up on a trip to Spain a few years ago, and it's remained a staple in my closet every since- here's some bloggy evidence! I've worn it in the summer with bare legs, or paired it with black tights the winter to keep the look more neutral. This time, I tried something different- red No nonsense  tights!

I think it adds a bit of fun to a darker outfit, though I'm not sure I prefer it to plain black. Still, it's good to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. I think this look would work well for date night!

This look is something I could see myself wearing constantly. Because I spend a good chunk of the work week working from home, there are days when I don't need to dress up. The oversized sweater/leggings/boot combo is super comfy, yet still looks chic. Though I wouldn't wear this to the office, it's perfect for running errands around Salem, especially ones that involve Maggie.

(Excuse the sleepy eyes- I had to take these photos before Eric went to work, so I was makeup less and still half asleep!)

Overall, I was very impressed with the quality of the tights, but didn't love the leggings, which I felt were cut funny. I'm used to wearing pants at or below my belly button, but these went way higher. I hate to reference the term "mom jeans", but in this case, it's the best descriptor that comes to mind. 

In short, buy the tights, skip the leggings!

I was sponsored by No nonsense for this opportunity. All opinions are my own. 

Photo Diary: Salem Halloween

Last night, we celebrated our first Halloween in Salem. It was crazy, to say the least. Salem is a pretty low-key place 11 months out of the year, but in October, it's crazy. Driving is a nighmare as there are tourists everywhere! It's not hard to believe that October is Salem's best month in terms of business. While other cities may add tons of employees over the holiday season, October is the Salem holiday season.

I ventured out with Maggie (dressed in her special bow she received at daycare!) around 4:30 to snap some photos before it got dark. The streets were blocked off and full of entertainers, vendors and people dressed in costume.

Maggie was probably the most "under-dressed" dog in Salem yesterday, as many pooches came out in costume to celebrate Halloween.

This lady actually recognized Maggie from the dog park (of course, I didn't recognize her in full makeup!) and invited us in to her shop for a treat.
This guy? He was standing near the Bewitched statue and the Christian outreach people- not sure what their official title is. They had big megaphones and kept talking about Jesus and sinners.

This lady dressed as a pregnant statue and was one of the best costumes I saw all night, other than what seemed like the entire cast of Spaceballs. I wish I'd been able to snap a picture of them, but I was sitting in a restaurant eating dinner and only saw them through a window. They even had a Pizza the Hut!
If you're in MA next year, I definitely encourage you (I'm looking at you, dad!) to head up to Salem on Halloween, even if it's just to take pictures.