fashion blogger

1.  BIRDWATCHER

Birds are my jam!  My husband loves bird watching as well so it’s a joy we share.  I absolutely love how this bird flew into our blog post set up and gracefully walked across my frame. Nature is everything. Click to see more!

2.  DOGLOVER

We adopted a new furry soul this past year! His name is Benji and he is wonderful! There is not a sweeter little guy.  His jaw was shattered so his tongue hangs out, but Blanca loves him tremendously! Little Bella accepts him but he’s so hyper it freaks her out at times but truly she barely accepts any of us!

I started putting him on the float with the girls as a team building exercise in friendship.  We also have the occasional swim sessions so we can make sure they all know how to get out at the stairs.  Benji, BenBen, Benny, Benjamen Buttons…we call him everything! He is such a special little blessing in our lives!

3.  NATURELOVER

This is me attempting to teach Blanca to observe nature and not interfere and bark at it. Don’t let the blond hair fool you… she is an Alpha female so she wants to chase and dominate everyone and everything.

4.  ISLAND LOVER

If we had millions and didn’t work…we would have a small place in Maui to live part of the year.  My soul belongs there.  When it became evident that planning the perfect Italian vacation was a better idea for next year, we decided on Maui again at the last minute. This photo was taken at Mama’s Fish House just before a romantic seaside dinner!

This dress had come in at Johnny Was The Woodlands and I decided she would be perfect for Maui.  Of course there was that moment when a woman in a black t-shirt and white jeans walked by and said, “…not every woman could pull that look off…”  to which my husband and I laughed at her dis, and went on with our day!  Last I checked it was an island and I was on vacation.  Bitter unhappy people kill me sometimes. The #RESORT2018 post was my favorite this past year!

5.  HAWAII LOVER

Visiting Maui again was a dream come true.  I love Hana and have always wanted to go back.  Some of the photos are here at Eight Shots for September.

6.  RAINBOW CHASER

Anyone who thinks they know my husband, would be shocked to know that he adores rainbows and must pull over and take photos whenever her sees one! We had sort of a photo competition when trying to photograph this one on the way back from Hana on Maui! I think this is the best rainbow I’ve ever seen. God is good!

7.  LASH BOSS

I did not take this photo, one of our customers of Bosscat Beauty did ! She had on #bosscatdays lashes and I absolutely love it!  It’s better than any I’ve taken.  If you love makeup you may want to follow this MUA @justineebella on Instagram!

8.  INSTAGRAMMER

Check out either one of my Instagram accounts if you’d like to see more photos! @bosscatbeauty or @stephaniedawnsjoberg

9.  ECLECTICISM

I do what I want .  I wear what I want. I am who I want to be.  With fashion and styling…I have fun. Eclecticism is a natural state for me. Vince Camuto booties, with a silk kimono from #johnnywasthewoodlands , a Texas girl belt, Prada bag, leather cuffs, Quay sunglasses and probably no bra….that’s me. I have no box.  Perfectly perfect is not my thing because that’s too hard. Perfectly fun makes more sense. It’s easier. Bold is good. The other day, I ran into a friend while getting something loaded into my trunk at Academy.  She had on a sweat shirt, I had on velvet and heels…we looked at each other and laughed.  I really am this person. I like that my friends and my husband let me be me.

10.  BIRTHDAY GIRL

I turned 50 years old on December 28th!  In the rule book of life, it says you are supposed to throw a party for anyone turning 50, so I did! It was so much fun!  Even my dad came and remarked that it was the best party he had ever been to!  I realized that it is so cool to have a house full of people who actually like you and you like them.  In life, we deal all day with those we must tolerate.  I have not posted a blog yet or shared photos, but I will!

For a couple of years, I kept to myself a lot and did not make time for people.  I realized that most people didn’t know why.

One day, I was sitting in a parked car at the bank, and another car ran into me. When you are in a car that is locked up in park, the impact is not cushioned. It actually snaps twice. It lunges forward, yet snaps back harshly and your seat beat does not work.  I had a headache for a solid 6 week period immediately following the impact and then it was downhill from there.  I didn’t have the youngest, fittest neck to begin with since I was about 47 already when it happened. I had whiplash so bad that just getting to work and functioning was my primary priority.

I finally realized that I needed to really verbalize to people what I was dealing with, because I was told that my isolationist behavior was hurtful to others.  I explained in detail the seriousness of my injury and I immediately felt so much relief. Friends appreciated knowing why I was not interested in doing a lot of extracurricular activities. Although some people at work knew, it’s not the kind of thing that you call up your corporate office and discuss.  Actually, some people might…but that’s not me.  The people I worked with knew I was suffering but I didn’t really make it super clear to a lot of people why I was MIA at certain events. Lack of sleep and neck pain was zapping my extra energy but after all of that suffering, I am starting to see light!

My party was a gift to friends, an opportunity for my husband to meet people that I’ve known for years and it was me re-inviting people into my life. As for my blog…. I never really explained the issue to any depth because I saw a blogger do that month after month and it became draining on me hearing about her lack of sleep over her health issue.  It sucked the joy out of the blog.  I didn’t want to be that.  Blogs are supposed to be fun and uplifting damn it!  People and love are the meaning are life so I want to work on that aspect of my life this year and be more present! My little party was the beginning of a new chapter and I am so happy with my little circle of friends!

11.  MUA

I got to brush up on my MUA skills to snap shots of my cousin for Bosscat Beauty lashes!  I love how she turned out! Beauty isn’t about just looks, but it’s about the person.

12.  HOMEBODY

I was home a lot in my spare time this past year!  I had different projects going on and I enjoy being a loner.  My dogs are my heart and I suppose it’s possible that I spend too much time with them because I catch myself having conversations with them these days!

I had a skin cancer issue (thanks probably to the good old days when I hit the tanning bed after each trip to the gym)… so these days I try to cover up somewhat.  Tan on young skin is hot, on older skin it just looks like leather,  just sayin.

This cover up was from #johnnywasthewoodlands and I actually ended up buying two!  I wear it as a swim cover or a top! The design is timeless and it’s flattering – what else is there?

I truly look forward to 2019…to blogging, working, growing, loving and spending time with people of good heart.