Tag: Fashion Finds

Collaborations, Fashion Finds

What defines “Happiness?”My Collaboration with “Happiness Is Inc”

by alyssahotrumLeave a Comment on What defines “Happiness?”My Collaboration with “Happiness Is Inc”

Good morning beautiful souls! I hope you all are doing absolutely fabulous and having a great start to your week so far! I know things have been kinda hectic these few months with everything that has been going on, but it is so important to always check in with yourself as well as others. I know this can be a complete rollercoaster for individuals who suffer from a mental illness, myself included. To be quite honest, my anxiety has been up and down, somedays are way better than others and you know what? That’s okay. It’s okay to acknowledge that these are difficult situations we all have to go through, it’s out of routine, it’s out of normality. We have to make the best out of this situation and that is that. What has helped me tremendously is staying busy nonstop. This helps to preoccupy my mind, keep me moving and gives me something to do each day so I am not sitting there constantly thinking about when things return back to “normal”. Sometimes, this can be as little as planning a day where you are going to wash your makeup brushes and clean out underneath your bed. It could be organizing your room or finally sitting down and going through your closet. There are so many things to do, you just have to explore your options. Make a list. Make a list of things you want to get done each day! That way, you feel more accomplished and productive with your day. This is what I do, and it really helps me stay on track and plan better. On the topic of staying busy, it is so important to incorporate self care into your day. Again, the self care routines are endless as there are so many options out there. What makes you happy and feel good? Finding what works for you, puts your mind at ease and helps your brain unwind is key. Everyone’s self care routine is different, there is no right or wrong way. Tune into yourself, explore and find what you enjoy. Finding what you enjoy doing will put you in a great mood and bring you so much happiness!

“Happiness is…”

Happiness is everything and that is why I am so excited to be collaborating with this amazing clothing company called, “Happiness Is Inc.”. You beauts know I am all about positivity on my feed and blogging channel, especially during these hard times. These times are difficult and I truly find so much joy when I am scrolling through social media and something upbeat shows up. I don’t think I could’ve collaborated with a better company! Happiness Is Inc is a casual clothing company that inspires gratitude, connection and happiness. I simply love everything about this company, from they stand for, promote and help shed positive light on something that can he hard for some individuals to find. This company takes into consideration life’s struggles, fast-paced environment including stressful situations. Gorden Carton, at 95 years old, founded this beautiful company. He wanted individuals to find happiness within themselves and I absolutely adore that. He knew that it was impossible to have a lifetime of happiness but having the gratitude towards what makes us smile, and through the amazing connections we have with people around us, we can all be more happier. This is so true, I simply could not agree more! He knew that happiness is contagious and I am a strong believer of that myself. Sadly, Gorden passed away in the year of 2017, but his legacy lives on through his granddaughter, Andrea Armstrong. This amazing company strives on making high quality and casual/athletic clothing that brings a smile to your face when you put it on!

One thing I love about this company is that they are Canadian! You beauts know I am a huge supporter of Canadian companies! Their clothing pieces are made from biodegradable certified organic cotton and bamboo which is amazing. They have a wide range of sayings when it comes to their clothing company. Each article of clothing states “Happiness is….” and offers a variety of different sentences! This company has women, men and children’s clothing, so a little something for the whole family! Seriously guys… they have the cutest sayings ever that will make you smile in a heartbeat. They have a phrase that fits well with everyone!

I was so fortunate to be gifted this stunning, “Happiness is Morning Coffee” crewneck sweater. I think this completely defines me to a t! I absolutely love my coffee! I am always looking forward to my morning coffee, it is truly something that makes me happy all the time and is something I look forward to each day! I tell you, it really is the little things in life that are the best. It doesn’t take much to make me happy, I really do cherish the tiny moments life has to offer each day. This sweater retails online for $89.95, and comes in either ballet pink (what I received) or in charcoal. This is a crew neck sweater which I adore so so much! The material is super comfortable, stretchy and cozy! I always crack a smile and feel unreal when I am wearing this! Be sure to check out all of the other sayings on the shirts as well, way too cute! Some of the different categories you can explore are active lifestyles, on the water, moments of value and fun, as well as happy places. Lots to choose from that’s for sure!

“It’s the little things in life…”

So I am going to ask you beauts, what is happiness to you? What truly makes you smile and feel great? It’s so important to take that time to yourself and ask yourselves this question. I have come up with a small list of things that make me happy to share with you guys!

  1. Happiness is morning coffee
  2. Happiness is reading a great book that you can’t put down
  3. Happiness is grabbing Starbucks and exploring Indigo for hours
  4. Happiness is finding a pair of distressed jeans that fit amazing
  5. Happiness is giving your boyfriend the biggest hug when you haven’t seen him all week
  6. Happiness is getting a family picture of your 3 sisters altogether
  7. Happiness is grabbing your boyfriend’s hand when your walking on a crisp evening
  8. Happiness is looking up at the stars and seeing them fill the sky
  9. Happiness is sitting in the hot tub with your pumpkin tea listening to Owl City
  10. Happiness is remembering to turn on your fairy lights as you soak in the tub

Happiness is everywhere. Find what makes you happy….big or small. I want to personally thank Happiness Is Inc for allowing me to collaborate with their beautiful and inspiring company. I love everything they do, what they are about, and the the pieces of clothing they have to offer. So many amazing sayings and things to be happy about. Be sure to follow this company on Instagram at “@happinessisinc” as well as check out their website at “www.happinessisinc.com”. I hope you all enjoy the rest of your week and keep on smiling!

Collaborations

My Collaboration with “From Rachel”

by alyssahotrumLeave a Comment on My Collaboration with “From Rachel”

Good morning beautiful souls, it’s Friday and you know what that means, let the weekend begin! What are your plans? I am currently going to spend time with the family, probably stay all cozy and warm as well! I am almost done all of my Christmas shopping, and did most of it online which has been fun! Usually when it comes to Christmas shopping I dedicate a few weekends to go to the mall, rush around the large heap of people and try go gather my sanity back…. it’s tough and usually gives me a lot of anxiety not going to lie! However, this year I did a majority of my Christmas shopping online and have been pleasantly surprised with how many beautiful things I have found! I highly recommend purchasing some of your gifts online, you save yourself the rush of everyone, and also you can be in the comfort of your own home, with a cup of tea or coffee! I love this.

“Let’s ask Rachel!”

One company that I recommend checking out this holiday season is “From Rachel”. I found this adorable company on Instagram and was super excited to take part in a collaboration with them! This company is a woman’s clothing store, more specifically selling absolutely GORGEOUS tights…. like flawless. I am not going to lie, I have never really worn tights too much with dresses or skirts, I just didn’t really know how to style them, wear them, or what shoes to wear with them as well! I didn’t really care too much about fashion back in the day, let alone how I presented myself. Can we just start off by saying, “I have been missing out”. I can not get over how classy a pair of tights can pull together an outfit. These tights you guys, are so sexy, chic and stunning with outfits. I was gifted two beautiful fashionable pair of tights that literally suit my style so well, I couldn’t believe it!

“The secret of style is to feel good in what you wear”

The first pair that I was gifted were these flattering “Over-the-Knee Lace Crown Tights”. These tights have a faux lace finish which own my heart completely, I have received numerous compliments on this gorgeous pair! I simply paired this with an over-sized classy bow sweater, but the possibilities are endless when it comes to styling these! You can wear a gorgeous holiday dress, or a high-waisted skirt and be the talk of the room! These tights retail for $20.00, and are literally a must have in your wardrobe! These are honestly going to be my go to holiday looks and can even be such a cute “holiday gift for her” or for your significant other.

The second pair of tights that I was gifted were these adorable, “Glitter Tights”. I absolutely love anything in relation to glitter….like completely. I think sparkly products are so stunning, and they make me so happy! I think these tights are flawless! Heck let’s be real, I think every single pair of tights that this company sells are extremely fashionable and so chic! I paired these tights with a turtle neck black dress, super cute for the holidays or for family gatherings! These tights retail for $19.00 on the website.

“Style and confidence requires knowing yourself and wearing what you feel best in”

“Like….. can we appreciate the glitter on these tights?!”

I honestly can’t get enough of these tights and can’t wait to explore some of the other designs! When it comes to the holiday season, I love getting all dolled up, looking nice, and feeling all the festive vibes for sure! I honestly wish I started incorporating tights into my wardrobe a long time ago but I was so new to them, I wasn’t too sure which ones would look good! I can for sure emphasize how much I recommend for you beauts to try these out for yourself! They are super stunning, and there are so many designs to choose from! I think my favourite would have to be the “Over-the-Knee Crown Lace tights”! They are so unique, different, and can you say SEXY?!

“Holiday parties here I come!”

I am also super excited to throw in an amazing discount code for you beauts to use as well which is valid until the end of the year! Simply type in, “ALYSSAHOTRUM20” at checkout for 20% off all regular price e-shop orders! How amazing is that!? What are you beauts waiting for? It’s time to feel sexy, sassy and chic, it’s time to focus on you! It’s time to feel good about what you are wearing, it’s feeling sexy when you look in the mirror, and it’s about feeling your best! I love this company, and highly recommend checking out their Instagram page at “@fromrachel” or their website at “www.fromrachel.com”. Did I also mention that you can sign up for the Subscription service as well!? You can get 50% off your first box with a two box commitment! Simply get two pairs of tights regularly $27.50 for only $13.75! Love this!

I want to personally take the time to thank this wonderful company for allowing me to collaborate with you guys! You offer such stunning pieces, and I can not wait to wear these to family holiday gatherings in the near future! I hope everyone has a beautiful Friday and an amazing weekend!

Collaborations, Fashion Finds

My Collaboration with “Vionic Canada”

by alyssahotrum2 Comments on My Collaboration with “Vionic Canada”

Good morning beautiful souls! I hope everyone is having an amazing start to their week so far! I want to welcome you if you are new to my channel or if you are coming back to visit welcome back! I have been nonstop busy these past couple of weeks in regards to blogging, Christmas shopping and Christmas festivities! I love the holiday season for so many reasons! First, I love buying and picking out presents for loved ones. Second, I love spending time being cozy all snuggled up on the couch with the Christmas tree all lit up. Lastly, I love dressing up for holiday festivities! One thing for sure is you have to have a gorgeous pair of shoes to rock your outfit. I absolutely love fashion, and I love trying out new styles and putting new outfits together. One company that I simply can’t get enough of when it comes to footwear is “Vionic Canada”. I am super stoked to share with you beauts that I recently collaborated with this stunning company! YAY!

I tell you….. it’s something about a good pair of shoes.

Let me just start off by asking one simple question… have you checked out their website yet!? There are shoes for every single occasion and they are all FLAWLESS. We are talking cozy slippers. dress shoes, running shoes, even cute pairs of booties! I was so fortunate to be gifted a pair of these Black Leather “Madeline Ankle Boots”. These boots are so adorable, and I adore the little tassel on the side! I love how these are the perfect height too! The heel is not too tall and they are super comfortable to walk in! There are three different colours and materials to choose from; black leather, chocolate leather, and Greige Suede. All the colours are to die for and the neutrals literally can go with any outfit!

“Good shoes take you good places”

These cute ankle boots can be paired with so many different outfits, but I am absolutely digging them with these black tights and leather jacket. These shoes are originally $249.95 but are currently on sale for $159.99! Like YES PLEASE!

The fact that there are size 11’s… I am on cloud nine!

I don’t know about you beauts but when I pair a cute outfit with an amazing pair of shoes, I literally feel on top of the world…. hands down! I recently wore this outfit while going shopping for Christmas presents and received multiple compliments! I couldn’t believe how comfy these boots were too, wow! I highly recommend checking out their website and grabbing a pair for yourself, super cute for holiday festivities or parties you may have coming up!

“I automatically have a good day if I’m wearing a cute pair of shoes”

I want to personally take the time to thank “Vionic Canada” for allowing me to collaborate with your amazing company, you guys are the best! Thank you for having the cutest pairs of shoes & in bigger sizes…… horray for size 11’s! Be sure to follow this company on Instagram at “@vioniccanada” or check out their website at “www.vionicshoes.ca”.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a fabulous pair of shoes…”

I hope all of you guys have an amazing rest of your week! Don’t work too hard and make sure you put some time aside for some self care! Have a fantastic day!

Collaborations

Canadian Beauty Box “Winter” Review

by alyssahotrumLeave a Comment on Canadian Beauty Box “Winter” Review


“LIVE, LOVE, SHOP LOCAL”

Good Morning beautiful souls and welcome back to my channel, I am so so happy to have you here with me, especially on a Friday! I am so excited that it is finally the weekend, thank goodness man! It has been an absolute week let me tell you! Now it’s time to enjoy the weekend and the plans that arfe ahead! I have some fun plans ahead that I can not wait for! But today, I am so excited to share a collaboration that I have been working on for you beauts! I have been given the wonderful opportunity to review this gorgeous subscription box for the Winter from “Canadian Beauty Box”. This company fits me so perfectly, as they feature beauty, fashion and lifestyle products in their boxes. As you beauts know, I am a passionate beauty, fashion and lifestyle blogger so this is golden! I honestly can not hide my excitement in this blog post! I am super stoked to share more about this company with you guys, and the goodies featured in this “winter” box! Shall we get started?!

Can we just take two seconds to acknowledge how adorable this box looks?!

I absolutely LOVE supporting local companies, especially when they are Canadian! Go Canada Go! I am excited this company is from Oakville Ontario, so that is pretty neat! How this company and subscription works is when you enter on the website, you have two payment options to choose from. You can choose to have one season subscription which retails for $69.95, or you can choose the one annual subscription which retails for $249.95. Once you have chosen, you are all set to go! Simply wait for your box to arrive! It’s that simple! Did I mention it’s free Canadian shipping? YUPP. Now what’s in this winter box you may be wondering…?

The product that I want to share with you beauts first is this moisturizing body bar. This bar is absolutely heavenly and feels amazing on your skin. Especially since the winter weather is approaching and the cold weather can create such dry skin. I love putting aside some self care time, and apply this on my body. These bars are made from unrefined food-grade cocoa butter and fair-trade, organic, refined shea butter. These bars are solid at room temperature but then honestly melt when they come into contact with skin. I know what you beauts may be thinking…does this product feel greasy on your skin? Absolutely not and that is what I adore about this! This “NYLA” moisturizing bar retails for $13.00.

The next goody that I am going to be talking about are these super adorable “Canadian Beauty” cabin socks that are the cutest when it comes to the winter season (these are shown up on the first picture). I don’t know about you beauts, but I love socks that are this style, especially when they keep your feet toasty warm as well! Can you say yes please? These socks are created by “K8 Creative Designs”.They give off such a cozy vibe and retail for $15.00.

The third product that I have been absolutely loving in the winter box is this “Nat’s Organic Lab Matcha Lip Balm”. I don’t know about you beauts, but I love a really good moisturizing lip balm in these harsh winter months. My lips are always insanely dry, and nobody has time for them cracked dry lips....am I right? I love the smell and feeling of this balm, it is super gentle. This product is made with 100% Japanese Matcha and other ingredients that will help your lips out immensely! When I say that I carry this product in my purse at ALL times… that is an understatement! Hands down. This product retails for $9.50.

“Hello weekend, I am glad you are here!”

For all you beauty and makeup lovers out there, this one is for YOU! I absolutely adore my makeup and can not get enough of lip products in general. I find adding some sort of lipstick to your makeup routine just enhances your look 100%! I am all for a great red lip with the holidays fast approaching. I think this looks so classy, especially with all the different festivities you may have planned! I am hooked you guys on this “Tin Feather Cosmetics Velvet Lipstick in the shade, “Viola”. GUYS….. GUYS…. can we just take two seconds to address how stunning this colour is! It is a beautiful soft raspberry red shade. This lipstick is super moisturizing and will not feel like your lips are drying out. I have tried numerous red lipsticks in the past but they have always dried out my lips making them look awful after a few hours! Not with this little guy. I can’t get over how flawless my lips look and how beautiful the packaging is as well! This is a must HAVE. This is a full coverage product and retails for $20.00.

I am a huge sucker for stunning earrings, anyone else?

I can’t get enough of these super adorable “NewBorn Feathers 8mm Earrings”. Honestly, these danty sparkly earrings are the absolute cutest! You beauts know I am all about my jewlery and fashion pieces always. These earrings can be paired with literally any outfit look that you had in mind! That is what I adore about these! This product retails for $29.00.

“Let’s support one another!”

The next two products that I want to share with you guys are the “Clean Organics Rose Chamomile Facial Toner”, and the “Design Me Hair, Fab Me”. I love both of these products so much! The toner is so refreshing, and it is super calming! I use this product after cleansing my face and before moisturizing my facial skin. This product is very therapeutic and can be used for the daytime or night time. This can also be used under your makeup or even on top for a refresher. This product retails for $22.00.

The other product is amazing for your hair! The Fab Me treatment has 18 benefits included in it which is amazing! This amazing product helps with colour fade protection, split end smoother, breakage prevention, free radical and heat damage protection, a revitalizer for hair’s natural protective layer, helps with detangling, static reduction and frizz control just to name a few! Holy heck that is unreal, sign me up for all of that! I love this product a ton and have been using it everyday nonstop! This one retails for $24.50.

I am a lashes kind of gal…..sign me up!

Last but not least, is this “LIp Service Beauty You GROW GIRL LASH ELIXIR”. This product is unreal for strengthening and lengthening your lashes with this natural and vegan mixture made up of castor oil, vitamin E and fractionated coconut oil. You can even use this product on your eyebrows as well which is amazing! This product works best when applied at night time as there is oil within it. This wonderful product retails for $25.00.

So my gorgeous souls, this is the end of the review! I hope you all enjoyed hearing about the lovely local beauty, fashion and lifestyle products located in this winter subscription box! I want to personally thank the Canadian Beauty Box for allowing me to collaborate with you guys, you all are amazing and have such gorgeous products located in your boxes! I was honoured to review this winter box! Be sure to use my personal discount code, “ALYSSA” at checkout for 20% off your order! Be sure to check out their company on Instagram at “@canadianbeautybox” or their website at “www.canadianbeautybox.com“. What are you waiting for? Happy black friday shopping beauts!

Collaborations, Fashion Finds

My Collaboration with “I Love Jewlery”!

by alyssahotrumLeave a Comment on My Collaboration with “I Love Jewlery”!

Hello, my gorgeous beauts! I know what you guys are obviously thinking, “Alyssa, where the hell have you been on here, you have been completely MIA!”. Yes, I am quite aware that I have been gone from WordPress for quite some time, mostly have been focusing on my new YouTube Channel which you can find under “Alyssa Hotrum”, be sure to come take a peek! I have only uploaded a few videos so far as I am currently planning what ones to do in the near future & what days to post! That being said, I can’t wait for you guys to start this journey with me and I can’t wait to bring you beauts along! Be sure to subscribe to my channel for more videos to come! Thanks for all the love & support so far guys, you truly are amazing and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me!

I have really missed blogging a lot and I am so glad to get back into the swing of things that’s for sure! I guess you can say in the winter time, it’s hard to find that motivation to get started again when somedays you just want to snuggle up in bed! But I have finally found the motivation again and I couldn’t be happier! I recently collaborated with a beautiful company on Instagram called, “I Shop Jewlery“, and their Instagram handle is “@shopilovejewlery“. I reached out to this company because their page completely sparked my interest. I love companies that offer a variety of products, especially unique products. One of the things that stood out to me about this company was their “personalized clothing“, which I thought was so neat! I had to reach out to this company right away and see if they were interested in collaborating!

I was ecstatic to hear that they were interested in collaborating with me on their Valentines Day items! I kept in contact with one of the store owners, Kaitlyn, who was extremely welcoming, nice and so generous! I could not wait to receive my package in the mail & was so excited to see what I had gotten! When the package came in the mail, I was in shock at how gorgeous these products were in real life and at how generous the company was. I mean, I knew all the products on the website were stunning, but looking at them in real life & wearing them…. just WOW. I am for sure one of those girls that love dressing up for special holidays & occasions, especially Valentines Day! I was stunned at how many beautiful personalized Valentines Day items there were!

I am super excited to show you beauts the “Monobox” that I received in which you can join this monthly subscription for only $21.95 which is unreal. The Monobox includes three mystery items: one monogrammed item, & two fabulous surprise items ( could potentially be earrings, necklaces etc..). You guys will not be disappointed that’s for sure! The packaging was super adorable and so cute! I even received a personalized note with the package which was super thoughtful and sweet! In the Monobox I received a super cute heart shirt with my initials on the bottom, a heart cup and a heart necklace!

(I seriously can not get over how adorable this heart top is…. like come on! Simply paired it with a red scrunchie & red sunnies to match of course!)

(Ps… this cup makes the perfect wine glass… just saying!)

(I literally wear this necklace with everything! It’s super chic and pretty much goes with a bunch of cute outfits!)

Now onto the Swag Bag! I still can not get over how cute all these products are! I received these super comfy “Sweetheart Swag Bag Pants!“. Beauts…. BEAUTS… these are by far the cutest lounge pants ever, & are perfect for Valentine’s Day coming up! Right now it’s a monthly subscription for only $10.00 guys! What the heck! You will receive one personalized clothing item per month which is fantastic! I am loving my heart pants, and yes they do have my initials on the top of them which is super cute! Love it!

(I honestly can not get enough of these pants Beauts!)

I highly highly highly recommend checking out their website and Instagram handle if you have not already! Literally, want to buy absolutely everything! Sign me up! I want to personally thank “I Love Jewlery” for collaborating with me & allowing me to blog for you beauts! You guys are absolutely amazing and I can’t wait to see what new products in the future you guys come out with! Be sure to come spread some love on their page and give them a follow! Also be sure to follow my other social media accounts located on my home page for more collaborations & blogs in the near future!

Take care & much love xo

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Collaborations, Fashion Finds

My Collaboration with “Noloco Apparel”

by alyssahotrumLeave a Comment on My Collaboration with “Noloco Apparel”

Goodmorning my beauts, I hope all is going well and you guys are having a fantastic week so far! I can’t believe that it is already Thursday like what the heck this week flew by! I have been busy with work, and taking care of our puppy while my family is on vacation for two weeks. I am enjoying the peace and quiet to say the least but it does get lonely some days, especially when your pet doesn’t talk back to you! I hope my family is having a great time on their cruise! How has your week been guys? Recently my boyfriend and I have been really busy with collaborations lately, especially with a beautiful company I found on Instagram called, “Noloco Apparel“. This company caught our attention, ever since I have incorporated men’s fashion onto my blogging channel. Like I have mentioned previously, my boyfriend works in finance and is always wearing suits to work all the time, so he is always on the constant lookout for new fashion statement pieces like bowties and ties especially. We came across this company a bit ago, and were hooked on their pieces! I knew I had to reach out to them right away. Honestly, they were such an amazing company to speak to, very friendly and so down to earth as well. They were more than happy to collaborate with my boyfriend and I! I was super excited to be working with this new company that I came across, and could not wait to start the journey!

I was very anxious, patiently waiting for the package to arrive in the mail, and we could begin to start modelling the products and blogging. My boyfriend Dayten was super excited once the package came in, and we got working! It has taken us a bit to post this blog post because sometimes life just gets in the way at points, so I do want to take the time to thank the company for being patient and understanding, you guys are amazing.

So I know you beauts are dying to know a little bit about the company and what not right? The company is based in Oslo, Norway which is pretty neat! I love finding companies to work with all across the world, it’s so intriguing to me, to say the least! This company provides accessories to freshen up any man’s suit. The company states, “as a wedding photographer, I see a lot of different men’s accessories for suits. The thing is, I have been looking for something different that stands out for a long time, but I could not find any ties, bowties, handkerchiefs of my taste. That’s why I came up with the idea to solve the problem myself and started looking for some different and cool accessories to match with our suits, that are good looking and affordable”. I love this, and I was immediately hooked on their page! There were so many wonderful products to look at! When we received our package, we were so excited! Dayten received the package called, “Ladies Choice” which includes a beautiful tie, bowtie and handkerchief.  I could not get over how stunning the collection was, and it had a beautiful and stunning design on it! This gorgeous set retails in store for $65.00 which is great considering you get three items in the package set!

I want to personally take the time to thank Noloco Apparel for allowing me to collaborate with them and their amazing company! Dayten has received so many compliments at work from his gorgeous accessories! I highly recommend checking out their Instagram page at “noloco.store”, as well as their website at “http://www.noloco.store”. Thank you guys for being amazing and offering so many beautiful products! Be sure to follow my other social media sites located on my homepage for more blog posts to come in the near future! Have an amazing rest of your week, take care!

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Collaborations, Fashion Finds

My Collaboration with “Team Insane” Clothing!

by alyssahotrumLeave a Comment on My Collaboration with “Team Insane” Clothing!

Good morning my beauts, and welcome to my blogging channel if you are new! Welcome and I am so pleased and blessed to have you stop by! I know what some of you guys are wondering, “where the hell have I been?!“. I just started my new job as a daycare teacher about a week ago, and have been focusing on that, trying to divide my time and spread it out evenly. I want to take the time to thank the companies I have recently been collaborating with for their patience and understanding, you guys are awesome and I apologize for the delay and wait! The past two weeks have been so hectic for me, trying to organize my room since I moved back home with my mom in our old town. I have to say, it’s quite the change from the big city of Hamilton that’s for sure! I absolutely love it here though, it’s so peaceful and quiet, love it. Recently I found a wonderful and rad company on Instagram called “Team Insane” Clothing. Their Instagram Page grabbed my attention right away and I had to reach out to them! They were more than happy to do a collaboration with me, and I was super excited! I could not wait to receive my package in the mail! Right away I loved how simple their clothing was, but it was stylish and fashionable at the same time.  The companies’ mission is to provide the highest quality designs and materials in innovative varieties at the best value.

“Staying Dedicated. Staying Passionate. Staying Insane”

I received three beautiful shirts in the mail which I absolutely adore.  I received two t-shirts, one in the colour grey and one in black as well as a tank top in the colour grey. What I adore about all of these shirts is you can style them with so many different outfits. For this photoshoot, I wanted a more grungy feel for the look, so I simply paired the shirts with a pair of ripped shorts and some converse. I have also worn these shirts to the gym as well, and have gotten so many compliments on them! The first shirt I am going to show you beauts is the “Insane Flowy Side Slit Tank” in the colour grey which retails for $24.99 but is on sale for $13.99 right now which is amazing! Guys… GUYS I can not express how comfortable this tank is, I wear it everywhere and I mean everywhere. It is so breezy, stylish and comfortable all at the same time. What I love about this tank is that if you want to choose another colour or style for the logo simply let the company know in the checkout notes, as there are other colours to choose from.

The next item I have to show you guys and rave about are the two shirts called, “Women’s Relaxed Insane Jersey Short Sleeve”, which retails for $18.99 on sale now for $12.99, again another great deal! I got mine in the colour black and grey. I love neutral colours as they are easier to style and match with other pieces of clothing. Again, another extremely comfortable top to wear, love it. Can I just say I love the font of the logo as well, it looks wicked! Love it.

I want to personally take the time to thank Team Insane Clothing for allowing me to collaborate with such a rad and insane company,  you guys are amazing and wonderful to work with. I absolutely love my shirts and love wearing them, I highly recommend checking out their Instagram page at “@teaminsane415“, and check out their website at http://www.teaminsaneapparel.com.  Their shirts are so comfortable and stylish at the same time! Come spread some love over on their site, and also be sure to follow my other social media sites to stay updated with my latest blog posts as well. I hope you beauts enjoyed this blog post and take care! Much love xo.

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Collaborations, Fashion Finds

My Collaboration with “Smith and Tailor”

by alyssahotrumLeave a Comment on My Collaboration with “Smith and Tailor”

Good morning my beauts and welcome to my channel if you are new! My name is Alyssa and I have been blogging for several years now, I am a beauty, lifestyle and fashion blogger. I love doing reviews and modelling clothes for different companies and brands. I have met so many beautiful and intelligent individuals while collaborating, it’s amazing! I have always included women’s fashion on my blogging channel but one day it just hit me! I thought to myself, ” why not I incorporate men’s fashion” into my blogging channel?! I am dating this amazing man, Dayten Pottruff, who certainly has model material and quality in my eyes, and he would be the perfect candidate to model men’s wear and fashion! Dayten works at a bank and always has to dress formally for his job, wearing suits and ties. I mean come on… who doesn’t love a man in a suit… am I, right ladies?! I sat down with Dayten one day and discussed him potentially being featured on my blogging channel and modelling clothing. He was more than happy to and super excited!

We began searching on Instagram for men’s wear and companies and came across this gorgeous company. They were even from Hamilton Ontario and I was over the moon about that! I love promoting brands in my hometown! Love love love it! I then sent a detailed message to this company called, “Smith and Tailor” suggesting a potential collaboration involving myself and my boyfriend Dayten. We spoke to a beautiful soul whose name was Kathryn Dieroff, the Designer and Goldsmith of Smith and Tailor. She was so lovely and friendly to speak to, and we chatted back and forth about the potential opportunity. Kathryn had never done something like this before and wanted to meet in person to discuss. Dayten and I were more than happy to meet with Kathryn and met her at her studio in downtown Hamilton. She was so down to earth, funny, and overall an amazing person to be around. I was even more excited to collaborate with her and her beautiful company. Kathryn agreed to the collaboration with the both of us! We chose two ties for Dayten to model from her collection, and let’s just say… they are absolutely stunning. Kathryn is a firm believer of products that stick out, are unique and grab your attention. That is exactly what she incorporates and shows in her designs and work. She is a very talented individual and has been successful over the years. I know you beauts are dying to know a bit more about herself and the company Smith and Tailor right?

Kathryn is a hardworking individual who has returned to Hamilton Ontario, her hometown and brought her talent and creativity with her. Kathryn opened a retail jewellery store in Toronto that was super successful, raising to be the top ten jewellery stores in Toronto according to Now Magazine, BlogTO, as well as Toronto life. Kathryn handcrafts custom wedding and engagement rings, as well as creates a collection of unique handmade heirloom jewellery and designs. She also makes a textile collection for men and women! She has run her own business since 1999. Smith and Tailor was launched in 2017 and was created for her luxury jewellery and textile lines.

Kathryn states, “my life has always been about creating. I sewed my first skirt when I was six, we had a darkroom in our home and I began developing my own prints when I was 10. I learned woodworking from my dad, crochet from my grandma, music and art from my grandfather. My journey toward jewellery began in the first week of my first year of University. A friend in my dorm had taken a lost wax casting course and lent me some wax and tools to carve a ring.

Four years, and one Bachelor’s degree later, I returned to jewellery at George Brown college for the three-year Jewellery Arts and Design program. Following that, I began an apprenticeship with a Master Goldsmith and Gemsetter who tutored us for 18 months in platinum fabrication, hand engraving, and pavé setting. We were required to find our own clients, and work for free so that we could work in the most expensive materials our clients could afford. I looked for work but kept finding more clients, and my business has been running steadily since 1999. 

Along the way, I learned traditional glass enamelling techniques, learned lampworking from a studio-mate, opened a store, started a family, and moved to Hamilton, ON. My mission is to continue to grow as an artist. I want to challenge myself every day to improve, learn, discover something I didn’t know before, but most importantly of all, to make”. 

Dayten and I were super excited to receive the two ties! I can not get over how stunning and gorgeous the two ties are! They are amazing and the design is so beautiful! While looking on the website, it was so hard to just choose two, but there were two in particular that caught both of our attention right away.

The first tie retails for $55.00 in store, and has a beautiful unique design to it. I absolutely love the colours in this tie, and it looked great with Dayten’s taupe dress shirt.

I still can’t get over how unique and stunning this tie looks!

The second tie that Dayten modelled from Smith and Tailor was probably my most favourite out of the two, just because it was just so unique and different from anything I have ever seen! This one is called the “Tickets Tie” and retails for $55.00 in store.

I think this is so classy, unique, fun and screams outgoing. What are your beauts waiting for? I mean come on… these ties are absolutely unreal, and I was so pleased with how the pictures turned out. I highly recommend checking out Smith and Tailor for yourself, you will not be disappointed! There are so many other beautiful designs to choose from! You can check out their website at http://www.smithandtailor.com or their Instagram page at @smithandtailor. You can also contact Kathryn through email at hello@smithandtailor.com.

Come spread some love on her page and give her a follow! I want to personally take the time to thank Kathryn Dieroff for allowing Dayten and I to collaborate with your amazing company. You are an amazing individual from the short time we have met you and wish you nothing but the best for you and your company! Be sure to follow Dayten and I on our social media sites! Dayten can be reached at @dp10nf on Instagram for business inquiries. I hope you beauts enjoyed this blog post and are happy about men’s fashion being a part of the blogging channel! We are excited for more collaborations in the near future! Take care and much love xo.

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Collaborations, Fashion Finds

My Collaboration with “Sacer and Savive” Clothing

by alyssahotrum2 Comments on My Collaboration with “Sacer and Savive” Clothing

Good morning my beauts, and welcome to my blogging channel! I hope you all had a wonderful and fabulous weekend and are still enjoying your long weekend! I have been just hanging with my family and enjoying the long weekend, seeing my sisters and mom! What have you beauts been up to? I have been doing some collaborations over the weekend but there was one in particular that I was excited about because I was going to include my twin sister in it! Her name is Stefanie for those who do not know that I have a twin sister, you can follow her on Instagram at @stefaniehotrum. I found a company on Instagram called, ” Sacer and Savive” who were from Clarksville Tennessee. I thought their clothing line was absolutely rad and their designs on their shirts were amazing, such detail! They were more than happy to collaborate with me, and I was so excited! The company was so pleasant to speak to, very attentive and really helpful as well! There were so many different designs to choose from on their page, it was hard to choose just one!

“Clothing in Strength and Dignity to live with Purpose”

I finally decided on a design that was amazing and stunning! It involved two skeletons hugging. I thought it was so neat, different, and full of intense detail! I know you beauts are dying to hear about the “Sacer story ” and how the company came to be! The company states, “Sacer began as a creative outlet for me during a dark time in my life. Over time this hobby developed into hand stencilling t-shirts with spray paint in my friend’s barn. We soon introduced it to bands we knew; getting us exposure. My passion for this just kept growing and so did the idea. That’s why we named it Sacer. Sacer means sacred in Latin. It represented our faith and what we stood for. When I transitioned to Nashville the momentum stopped. Once I was ready, I picked up the pieces again to pursue the development of this sacer Idea.

The Sacer idea turned into an experience when I took it on the road; first, stop Vans Warped Tour. This enabled me to get my idea in front of the masses. I knew Sacer meant something to someone more than just me. I began to put a table out in front where people could see and make custom shirts right in full view. I started letting customers pick colours and placements themselves. It was becoming their expression and not just mine. While I was making their shirt I had a moment to talk to them and give them something they were apart of too the Sacer experience.

I didn’t want this to just stop at t-shirts. I added boutique styles and renamed the line Sacer and Savive Clothing. In 2012, I bought a 14′ trailer, introducing my full line of boutiques for infants through adults making a fashion store on wheels. I could now travel to events, making my business unique and accessible. The most important part is making sure the Sacer experience isn’t left out. I offer over 80 hand stencilled customized designs for your one-of-a-kind looks on the spot. Being apart of the creation process gives it a deeper meaning.

I saw this idea as a way to give back. I now work with many youths giving themhands-on experience through the line. I offer classes through the non-profit, I started called ArtLink and host an annual fashion and art show to unite the entire community creatively. I know that for me having a creative outlet was vital for me to overcome obstacles and build my self-esteem and love life again. I now live passionately doing what I love and I want that for others. Because if we aren’t living passionately are we even truly living?

I want to see this Sacer experience taken to its highest potential and be available coast to coast. This is a simple idea that gets people excited. When I am interacting with someone while making their shirt you see them light up, in turn, I light up. I want to see this idea affect our communities in a positive and creative way. I want to change the mindset of custom clothing; from too expensive and hard to reach to affordable and easy to access”.

I absolutely love the storyline behind the company and think it’s awesome what they are doing. I was super excited to receive my package in the mail, and once it finally came in, it was absolutely stunning. The design was unreal, and you can tell so much time and effort was put into the shirt, not just that one but all of the shirts on the website. I received a shirt called, “Skeleton Hugs T-shirt” which retails for $26.99.  You can customize this shirt just the way you would like, and the company hand stencils it which is amazing and so talented. You also can pick the shirt style and colours. The logo is then placed on the back shoulder of the shirt.

I absolutely loved including my twin sister in this photoshoot, as she absolutely adored the shirt and so did I. I think she was perfect for the modelling session and photoshoot. I think she absolutely rocked this session and I could not be happier with how the photos tuned out! I am beyond excited. I just want to take the time to personally thank Sacer and Savive for allowing me to collaborate with their company,  you guys were awesome and your designs are out of this world, beyond talented. I highly recommend checking out their Instagram page at “@sacerandsavive“, or their clothing website at http://www.sacerandsavive. Come spread some love on their page!! Be sure to also follow my social media sites to say updated with blog posts in the near future. Take care and much love xo.

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Collaborations, Fashion Finds

My Collaboration with “Most Girls Apparel”

by alyssahotrumLeave a Comment on My Collaboration with “Most Girls Apparel”

Good morning my beauts, and happy Saturday! I hope you all had a wonderful Friday, and are having a great start to your weekend!  I know I had a great start to my weekend bringing in some wine and hopefully having a little more over the weekend! If one thing is for sure, I absolutely love my wine! Anything from red, white, sparkling, you name it, I love it. I came across this awesome new clothing company over who were looking for influencers and bloggers for their company. I jumped right on this opportunity and messaged the company because I adored their page, website and clothing line so much!  The company who I reached out to is called, “Most Girls Apparel“, and they were more than happy to do a collaboration with me, which I was stoked about. Not going to lie, what caught my attention on their page was the wine sweatshirts, t-shirts and tote bags, they were super adorable. I don’t really own any wine shirts, so I for sure needed to start!

Most Girls Apparel is a sassy and funny clothing line for most girls. The company is like most girls; funny, irreverent, and not at all serious about anything. They make comfy and funny sweatshirts and tees for wearing to work, yoga, playgroup… the list goes on! Overall if your shirt says what you think, you don’t have to talk much and I absolutely love that. While looking at the site, two sweatshirts, in particular, stood out to me and I had to get them! The one is an adorable wine shirt that says, “ red & white & rose & orange & sparkling“, it retails for $55.00, and I absolutely love it to pieces. The caption of the shirts is the best! This one states, “HAHAHA It’s so funny because it’s true: LADIES LOVE WINE. Don’t pretend you don’t like wine because you do. You love that it goes down easy and that you can get kinda buzzed while holding an elegant big old glass of happy juice. Pay homage to all the types of yourfavourite beverage and stay cozy while you sip your troubles away”. Friggen love it.

The other sweatshirt that I adored was called, “Literally like most girls”, and this too retails for $55.00. The caption of this item states, “Has a man ever told you that you’re not like most girls and meant it as a compliment? But then you were like is this guy shading my entire gender whilst simultaneously trying to compliment me? And then you were like screw this guy I’m more like most girls than this idiot and I’m pretty proud of that fact? If any of the above applies to you then this shirt captures that feeling. Literally. You’re like most girls”.

I highly recommend checking out their website and the other clothing pieces and items they have! The company recently released a new shirt that is super cute! This is a sweatshirt called, “Will you accept this rosé?“, and this retails for $55.00 as well. The caption of this one is bomb as well, and states, “If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a million times. Some puppy-eyed looking square-jawed dudes handing out roses to a bunch of skinny ladies with perfect makeup and fake nails. We love it, we hate it, we love to hate it. But imagine if instead of handing out roses, they handed out bottles of rosé and curled up on the couch to watch reality TV? THAT would be a love journey closer that’s more real than the fantasy suite. For watching everyone’s favourite beautiful people go on fake dates, the WILL YOU ACCEPT THIS ROSÉ sweatshirt is here for you”.

I want to take the time to personally thank Most Girls Apparel for allowing me to collaborate with them! They were so friendly and awesome people to talk to which was fantastic. I absolutely adore their clothing line and I know that you beauts will too! Come spread some love over on their Instagram at @mostgirlsapparel.  Or come visit their website at http://www.mostgirlsapparel.com!  The company has a sale going on for all of May which is 15% off, simply use discount code “HEYGIRL” at checkout! Also be sure to follow my social media sites to stay updated with the latest blog posts and upcoming posts in the near future. Stay positive beauts, and have a wonderful weekend! Take care and much love xo.