made-to-travel.com

So it is officially ONE WHOLE year ago today that I wrote and published my first post!

This little space has brought me so much joy and has honestly filled a gap that I think I’ve had in my life and I want to thank every single one of you for being a part of it. Every view makes me want to be better and all your support makes me want to do better; so really a lot of my inspiration is you…so thank you, thank you, thank you.

In honor of made-to-travel’s 1 year mark I went through each month and picked my personal favorites. I hope you enjoy them!

NOTE: I switched blogging platforms back in September and not all the posts transferred perfectly. BUT, I did do my best to make them at least presentable to you.

NOW ENJOY!

February 2011

Valentine’s Day is my most favorite holiday so I genuinely still love every single item on this post .

March 2011

This post on ASOS Africa and their manufacturer the fair trade cooperative SOKO Kenya was a real turning point for made-to-travel. It got me my first of a few features on Independent Fashion Bloggers’ Links á la Mode.

April 2011

So this little post is super special to me. Looking at it again kind of let me relive how awesome it felt that I made a small difference in the already beautiful practices of ASOS Africa.

May 2011

Easily :13 second with my mom is my favorite in May, definitely one of my most loved posts ever.

June 2011

I was really honored to get some blog acknowledgments from some super pals in blogsphere…this also allowed me to get a little personal in this post which I don’t really do too often.

July 2011

I could not pick just one in July! I really think the ethical choices in bathing suits surpassed my expectations so I really just love all the finds in this post. And then the post on my new tattoo is especially dear to me because my tattoo brings so many warm and fuzzy feelings in my life. So there! I am sticking to 2 for July .

August 2011

August was easy to pick out because I got to interview and meet one of my favorite ethical fashion bloggers Anabella of Ethicalbella. This woman is such an inspiration.

September 2011

This post in September is one of my favorite Shop for More’s-Gorgeous jewelery with a lot of conscious encompasses everything about Free the Nations and really it was my pleasure to know them and share their wonderful goods. I love this shop and browse it often .

October 2011

Oh October was the BEST MONTH EVER! I was asked to be one of the bloggers to style the Goodwill Suits You fashion show honoring Disability Mentoring Day. Literally, this is on the list of best experiences in life not just in blogging. The energy in this fashion show was beautiful and I am so grateful I was a part of it. See my recap here.

November 2011

I am really proud of this post in November on being thankful for myself. I will not get into my struggles of acceptance and appreciating everything good in me, but trust me friends when I tell you these things exist in me and so being able to be kind to myself in such a public forum was really empowering.

December 2011

It’s a little embarrassing how many times a week I go on the HousingWorks website, even if it’s just to browse. And so highlighting them for the work they do on World AIDS day was long overdue in my opinion and I quite love how the post turned out.

January 2012

A new feature is born on made-to-travel…Consciously Trending. I’m super happy with the idea. Not just on a blog content level but also on a personal level. Challenging myself to shop the trends I want ethically is making me a better consumer and a more thoughtful shopper.

Other wonderful things about my year in blogging-guest posting on really great blogs and really having the honor of being featured and mentioned on so many sites I love and admire.

Which brings us to TODAY . I hope you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane. I certainly found it so interesting to see how made-to-travel has evolved and I hope to do so much more…I wonder what my second year will look like!

LOVE YOU FRIENDS! Thank you so much for reading.

“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy second week of the second month of the year, friends! I think we all need this little quote from Emerson at times. By staying angry, sad, or upset at something you are really eating the seconds you could spend happy.

Ways to stay positive and start loving your body.

Karen of Where Did U Get That? has a new bloggy on cute couples (not just lovers, but pals too).

The CUTEST gadget ever ever ever.

Ummmm, the craziest thing that has happened in my blogging days…plagiarism.

If you don’t listen to This American Life YOU SO SHOULD! Courtney gives you a wonderful starting point.

Adore everything in this pantone ensemble.

Lastly, how fun is this mani?!?!

Have a wonderful wonderful week, friends.

While I don’t have the neon dress I’m dreaming of in my head I do have a little neon in my life .

(polish: color club-yell-oh w/ brucci french bliss; rings: rose-my grandma’s ring, spike ring madeherthink)

(sweater-barney’s warehouse sale; neon blouse-urban outfitters; jeggings uniqlo; boot-miz mooz)

I bought this neon tank top three years ago as a birthday treat for myself. I only remember it was 3 years because I believe it was my first beeday with the bf and he was not a fan of this top (ha!). But I still love it and still wear it and we’re still together (smile).

I love a little bright color in a wintery mix but really the goal is for a super bright neon dress! Keep your eyes peeled for me, friends.

Friends! Jason Wu is almost at Target and honestly I could not be more excited! I know I don’t really talk about a lot of mainstream stores or designers but I could not let this one pass. I LOVE Wu’s aesthetic and I think it is fantastic he is bringing his exceptional talent to the masses (DO read about Wu, he’s kind of a prodigy).

The democracy of fashion is really interesting to me. I won’t get into it, but I do think there are pros and cons. But I am ecstatic that a regularly budgeted woman like me will be able to own a piece designed by Wu, one of my favorite designers.

What I’m most looking forward to …

(all above, and more can be seen HERE)

My cute read of the week was an interview with Jason Wu on A Bullseye View HERE as he’s dressing DJ Harley Viera-Newton for the launch party of his line with Target. LOVE that he said he’ll be working till the last minute .

The Jason Wu for Target limited line debuts on February 5th…Can NOT wait!

(cutest mug ever found here)

“I think I can! I think I can! I think I can!” The Little Engine That Could

Friends! This past Saturday marked the 1 year anniversary of made-to-travel.com! NO! It’s not my actual blogiversary, but it is the day I bought this little space. It took me 3 weeks to muster up the courage to publish my first post and then I didn’t tell a soul for about a month!

Like The Little Engine That Could, I really did have an uphill obstacle, which was honestly myself and I’m so happy that I was able to push pass it…well, push pass me . So happy beeeday dear domain! I love you like mad!

Now friends for some reasons I hearted the internet last week.

The United Nations taking an interest in fashion .

Yeah I wrote these down, 20 foods to boost metabolism.

Awesome relic from a Madonna concert in 1987.

Reasons not to spend all day sitting! Um SCARY reasons! And how to get up!

Lastly, you might know Doctors Without Border, but how about the other rad rad organizations without borders? Like CLOWNS! Love .

DON’T FORGET!  The gorgeous Future:Standard is giving you 20% off with code: “ShopEco20OFF”!

Have a wonderful wonderful week! And again and again thanks so much for reading .

Have a WONDERFUL week! And thank you so much for reading.

On this Shop for MORE I would like to introduce you to the impressive Future:Standard; a boutique that not only is gorgeous with a really modern aesthetic but also a place where they put ethics first.

“We do not compromise on style and do not think our values should get in the way of looking great.”  Future:Standard about page.

Future:Standard is an online boutique that sells eco-friendly, fair trade, and locally made clothing and accessories. I really am super selective about the brands and boutiques I feature here and so I am always so thrilled when a company contacts me and I am excited!

Future:Standard is a year old and they have a definite vision of the future that I can get behind.

“We are waiting for the day that what we purchase does not need to be described as sustainable or fair trade…That all of this is standard. This is our Future:Standard.”

Lookie at Future:Standard’s Spring 2012 lookbook . Mmmmm, a million things I want.

While browsing thru these beautiful styles keep in mind Future:Standard has generously given made-to-travel readers…AKA YOU! 20% OFF their boutique, use code: ShopEco20OFF. Thank you Future:Standard!

NOW! IF YOU’RE FEELING A LITTLE BOHO…

(silver dress-Tie Dye maxi /green dress-SUNNY )

(polka dot dress-Sarah; black dress-Slant)

(black blouse-i’m with the band top; pants-kelp pants; blue blouse-rio ruffle top)

( sweater-angie sweater and hi-low skirt-encinitas skirt)

(yerba mate vest)

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I’m a little obsessed with gold right now. It is a trend that was spotted on many a Spring 2012 runway and I was definitely inspired by it. Gold is fun, sexy, urban, and chic all at the same time for me .

(image sources: 1, 2, 3,