Looking For the Perfect Jean?

Who isn't always on the look out for a great fitting jean?! Look no further... we just got in a new pair of Sang Real jeans that are absolutely amazing! I'm always looking for a jean that is tight (but not too tight) in the leg, but still has some room in the waist. These jeans have just that! And they are SO comfortable.... and I don't say that about jeans, ever! I literally dread wearing jeans because I always find them uncomfortable. Or if they are comfortable, they stretch out and look bad on me. But finally, my search is over! I'm so excited to get these great fitting jeans!

Stay tuned, they should be up on the site by the middle/end of the week!

-Julie

Miracle Story

I just read a beautiful article in the Wisconsin State Journal. I had to share it with all my friends.
Karen Dennis was only 35 years old when she was diagnosed with carcinoid cancer. She was a young mother of three daughters and incredibly shaken by the news. For the next 10 years Karen fought hard to beat the cancer — undergoing three surgeries removing a third of her digestive anatomy with staggering post-operative complications. She endured 63 scans, chemotherapy and even traveled to the Netherlands to undergo an intensive radioactive treatment straight into her bloodstream. She tried traditional medicine, experimental medicine, alternative medicine.

Eight years ago Karen was told the cancer had metastasized, now in stage four, and she should get her things in order. She named guardians for her girls, got her finances in order, and planned her own funeral. Karen then spent the next four years planning to die.

In 2005 at a regular check-up with her doctor she explained to him that all of the tests and scans continually being done where extremely difficult mentally for her and her family. Would it be possible to just live, the best life possible without running all of these tests? What's the purpose of the tests when there is no cure? The doctor brilliantly agreed with her and literally wrote her a prescription that read, "You have my permission not to accept your diagnosis. You have my permission not to accept your prognosis. Go celebrate the miracles in your life." A life changing script.

"I realized that I had become completely and totally defined by my illness," Karen reflected. "I was able to redefine myself, and I think that’s when I began to heal." She continues on saying for the next two years she lived her life without additional medical care. Prompting from the Social Security Administration (because of disability payments), Karen was forced to go to the doctor to get a new scan to update her status. Sitting in the exam room, the same exam room where she had been told to get her things in order, the best news she was hoping for was that nothing has changed. Then the oncologist came in and told her "you are not a cancer patient anymore."

"I realized in that moment that whatever part of this miracle was influenced by me — and not luck or divine intervention — my getting well was a consequence of me once again inhabiting my body and trusting it. And I did that when I had exhausted every other option." She mentions in the article feeling elated and blessed, but also guilty. Wondering why she was the one chosen to beat the odds. And beating the odds indeed. Apparently, the odds of spontaneous remission of any stage four metastasized cancer are one in up to 100,000.

The article continues on to discuss how Karen is using her 13 year battle and victory with cancer to help other cancer patients. She is leading classes in Prairie du Sac an Lake Delton and is also writing a book titled, Stage Five. A book I will definitely purchase. I'm in awe of her courage and strength.

Be sure to read the full article, http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/445700. It warmed my heart and soul.

All my best to you Karen. You're truly an inspiration.

Jennifer

Another one from Lady Gaga

Here's another popular song from Lady Gaga. Both "Lovegame" and "Starstruck" are hot on itunes... so I'm not sure which one is her next single (I think it may be this one, since it has a video already.) They both rock, though!



-Julie

Lady Gaga

I love her too, Jennifer!! I didn't see her performance, but I bet it was awesome! Have you heard her latest song "Starstruck" with Flo Rida and Space Cowboy? I like "Poker Face" better, but it's good too!

Check it out!



-Julie

Lady Gaga. . . ! I love it!

Hi friends!

I'm still 'gaga' over the performance of Lady GaGa on American Idol the other night. She absolutely stunned the audience and me. I had never seen her perform before but I had heard about her stage antics, platinum hair and crazy outfits. I know that American Idol can be down the middle as the show is never to far out there as their guest performers in the past have shown. But Lady Gaga was unlike any performer I'd ever seen on the show before. Amazing!

The act opened with Lady Gaga siting at a Plexiglas piano filled with pink bubbles and, as she slowly curled her fingers over the keys, she opened the start of her hit song "Poker Face." A song I love by the way. The song started slow and the camera panned to a dread lock wearing violinist and I was thinking it was going to be a slow version of the song. Wearing a bleach-blond wig and a pair of shiny aluminum shoulder pads, Gaga seemed like she was going to play it straight and tone down her flamboyant style (relatively speaking) while belting the lines, "Russian roulette is not the same without a gun/ And baby when it's love, if it's not rough, it isn't fun." I loved it.

The outfit she had on was incredible. The zipper eye patch was so cool and I love how fresh and interesting this new performer is. She looks and sounds completely different from everyone else.

I'm a big big fan.

Jennifer

This is what's it's like . . . !

Hi friends: Having your own business is a challenge and a gift at the same time especially if you work with your husband. I work the store and Jim works the website and takes care of all things 'tech' for us gals. I'm very lucky to have him BUT, when he gets on a humerous rant about things, or life in general, this video is exactly what he's like.

I want all of you to click on this video and watch it to the end. This is exactly what it's like working with my husband Jim, ALL DAY LONG!

At one point in time Jim had banned Julie from her computer because she was clicking the mouse to much when things weren't working fast enough and threatened to make her pay for a new mouse and computer if she did it again. Isn't that right Julie?

Jennifer

Hello from London, England

Hi Jennifer: I know I have been absent from writing blogs and reviews for some time now and I want to reintroduce myself to your ever increasing readership. It's really amazing! I have been following you, the website, and the friends blog for the past year and I can't believe the impressive changes you and jlamore.com have made even with the global economic meltdown which appears to be coming to at least a bottom. (Hopefully!)

I know that Lynn in Los Angeles is your west coast correspondent for all things fashionable, glamorous, and fun and after receiving your recent emails, I'm ready (and would love) to be your London correspondent for all thing British, fashionable and fun for jlamore.com.

So, I'm ready for my assignment and can't wait to get started.

Thanks again for your emails and support.

Clare

London, England

My "Weekly Favorite Item!"........

Use Promo code "diorshow" at checkout and get this favorite item FREE!

Have you noticed how all mascara brands promise to deliver the most luscious, longest, fullest, most beautiful lashes on earth? How can every brand be the "best ever?" It seemed like a challenge to me! Bring it on! I went out and tried as many mascaras as I could stand and I'm happy to share with you one of my favorites!

My favorite giveaway this week is the Christian DiorShow mascara in black. Not only does it make my lashes look incredibly full and long it goes on like a dream. No clumping, smudging, or flaking. Seriously, a dream come true! Sephora.com claims "this mascara has a cult like following and that it is a must-have mascara that delivers ultra-glam, catwalk-length lashes." Meow and purr!

You can purchase DiorShow mascara at Sephora.com for $24 a tube. For a limited time, I'm sharing this product for FREE with all online orders at jlamore.com (while supplies last). Be sure to enter promo code "diorshow" at checkout.

Please contact me with your favorite item! If I feature your favorite, you will get it for free and so will some lucky online shoppers!

Jennifer

Gone!. . . Finally!

Hi Jennifer and friends! Herky jerky quirky Megan Joy Corkrey is gone! Finally! Apparently good looks will only take you so far and then it's up to something else called 'talent' that gets you to the next level. She had little talent in my opinion but awesome good looks.

The real kicker for her was her attitude! She had a weird attitude to put it mildly and I couldn't tell if she was happy or sad to be in the bottom three. Her big eyes, wide smile, fist pumping and bird like sounds and flapping were signs that she knew she was gone and was happy about it.

I was then shocked when the criticism of the judges from the previous night was read back to her by Ryan Seacrest and when she said that she didn't care about the criticism I was like 'what's wrong with you.' I no longer liked her and now I'm mentally jumping up and down with hope that she would be voted off. And then it happened -----Gone!

Simon had the last word and said that if she didn't care about them then the judges didn't care about her and she could sing her last swan song or not and the 'judges save' would not be used on her.

Goodbye Megan, it's back to Utah for you!

See ya Jennifer!

Lynn Los Angeles

Maxi Dress

Summer is my all time favorite season. Why? It's because I love to wear shorts, sandals, light weight fabrics, and dresses! It's just so much easier to through something on when it's warm out, rather then putting on tons of layers and trying to make all the pieces work together :)

I'm really looking forward to wearing this maxi dress look! I have about 5 maxi dresses that are just sitting on my closet waiting to be worn.

Happy April :)

Kalyn

Shopping local!

Hey ladies (and, what I assume are a few good men!),

So sorry it's been so long since I've posted — life at brava has gone into overdrive in preparation for our May issue and the annual encore edition! Just wanted to say a few quick things before I'm off to write write write ...

I just posted our monthly CW segment on our "In the Know" blog, and if you'll look closely, you'll see that I was wearing a My Tribe dress that I bought from none other than J. LaMore. It's black with billowing sleeves, so it's not super flashy but still easy-to-style, and I bought it initially for a Fashion Friday's event a few weeks back, but I've just found that it goes with EVERYTHING. I wish I had a photo to show for that night, but alas, I hadn't gotten my new camera yet :)

Second (and on the same blogging note), I posted on our "Style File" blog yesterday about the ease of shopping local ... and, since I'm running around every month for the magazine, my list of favorite stores runs a mile long. I took popular national chains (like Target and H&M) in our area and revealed my picks for local boutqiues that compare in Madison. J.LaMore's shout out is toward the end!

Anyway, hope all is well and everyone is enjoying the warming weather (and rain/snow showers!). Oh - and Julie, it was so great to meet you this weekend!

XOXO,

Mollie

Celebrity Style

I'm always keeping my eye on celebrity's style. One celeb that I always adore is Vanessa Hudgens. She always has a fresh new young look. I've never tried to wear boots with shorts...Vanessa can pull this look of really well and it definitely makes me want to copy her style :)

Jessica