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Coffee Talk

view from The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

Hello, friends! Happy weekend! I’m writing from the plane on my way home from the Mom 2.0 Summit. I didn’t get around to putting together Instagram Roundup yesterday so I’ll hit the highlights in a post sometime next week. The WiFi in the plane is too slow to deal with all those pictures and the gathering of links, so we’ll settle for a Coffee Talk instead. I have a lot to share, so it all works out.

I have mixed feelings coming home from this conference. It doesn’t feel like a good fit for me anymore, and that makes me sad because I have so many friends there.

friends at the Cabana Party, Mom 2.0 2016, the Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel

Many of the sessions were designed to be inspirational, and the conversations were focused around motherhood and balance instead of offering strategies for building our online businesses. While I’m a mom, it is not my identity, and I was looking for more practical information. I’m not sure I’ll be returning next year because this conference isn’t cheap and there are a lot of other options.

That said, I did enjoy my time with my friends, the parties were fabulous, and the location was spectacular.

If you every travel to the OC, I cannot recommend The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel enough. Here are some of my favorite pictures.

The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel

This was the view from my room. It was a little noisy at times and I’d have preferred an ocean view, but I certainly can’t complain!

view from my room at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

Even if staying there isn’t an option, you should at least plan to stop in and have drinks and appetizers at sunset at 180blũ, their outdoor lounge over looking the ocean. The view is absolutely exquisite. My iPhone photo hardly does it justice.

sunset at Laguna Beach, Mom 2.0 Summit 2016

Last night before the Iris Awards, I took a walk around the grounds and came across these Adirondack chairs overlooking the ocean. After I took a dozen pictures (haha) I sat down for a few minutes and took in the view and the sounds of the ocean.

adirondack chairs at The Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel

I ran both mornings on the public trail that runs along the beach and by the golf course. When I was here three years ago, I was in the beginning stages of training for my half marathon, and I remember running 5 miles every morning and feeling so strong. I feel so blessed to be running again after being plagued with injuries for almost two years.

The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

All those little black specks down there in the water are surfers. There are SO many surfers on this beach. Every morning, the ocean is full of them.

surfers in the water at Salt Creek Beach, The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel

One afternoon I left the conference early and sat outside by the pool by myself, sipping Rosé and reading a book. It was glorious.

Rosé by the pool, the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel

So yeah, if it’s sounding like it was more of a vacation than a business trip, that’s because it was.

Here is a picture from the Iris Awards and the closing party on Saturday night.

friends at Iris Awards, Mom 2.0 2016

I was so excited to wear my white lace sheath dress again.

Jo-Lynne Shane at Iris Awards 2016, Mom 2.0 Summit, Laguna Beach

It was killing me that I didn’t think to plan a few new outfits and hire a photographer to take outfit pictures in that stunning setting. If I do go back next year (it is going to be at the Ritz in Orlando) I am definitely bringing my husband or looking into hiring a local photographer. I’m still learning to think like a fashion blogger. Haha!

I know it’s not about the location. At the end of the day, my goal is to share wearable outfits, tips for making the trends work for us middle-aged gals, and alert y’all to the good sales so you can make the most of your wardrobe budgets, whatever they may be. So I know it doesn’t really matter if we photograph my outfit pictures in front of my house or beside the ocean, but I do enjoy taking photos in new locations. It keeps things interesting, and my husband especially enjoys the on-location photo shoots so much more.

This is the perfect segue to tell you about a fashion eCourse my friend Kelly is running called Adore Your Wardrobe.

I’m always saying that the key to great style is balance and proportion, but what does that mean for YOU? I can show you how it works for me, but we are all different shapes and sizes, and what works for me may not work for you.

I’m learning as I go, and I enjoy sharing outfit ideas, sales, trends, etc., but when it comes to figuring out what works for YOU, I’m not your gal. Kelly is.

Do you have a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear?

Kelly Snyder from Redefined Mom was in the same predicament. But one crucial revelation changed her fashion-life forever…

Fashion wasn’t art. Fashion was science, math, proportion, and balance. And now, she is on a mission to demystify fashion for other women, transforming the way they think about, buy, and put together outfits with the Adore Your Wardrobe course.

There is a one-time fee of $69, and that includes 10 lessons plus access to her private Facebook Group and Pinterest Boards. Each lesson contains a video, worksheet, and written lesson. You can go at your own pace, but classes officially start on May 11.

Not sure this is for you? Kelly is offering a sneak peek so you can get an idea what the eCourse is like. Click here and then click on the GET ONE FREE EPISODE button to get her Rule of Four Episode for free.

Rule of Four is stylist’s secret formula for how to make an outfit look “put-together”. It’s a formula that you can use for accessories, patterns and layering, so you can make your own “Pinterest-Worthy” outfits.

Sounds pretty cool, yes? I am actually going to take her course too. I know I still have a lot to learn, and I believe it will help me as I style the outfits that I share with you.

I arrived home late last night to a chilly, rainy Philadelphia, and it’s supposed to be like this all week. It’s quite the rude awakening after spending the last few days in sunny Southern California. This is the kind of weather we expect to get in April, not the first week of May. I guess I’ll just hunker down and bang out a bunch of work so I can enjoy springtime if and when it ever returns.

It is good to be home, raunchy weather and all. I enjoy living alone for a few days, but it gets lonely after a while. Although I do miss the turn-down service and those little chocolates by my bed every night. Maybe we can find a way to incorporate that into our family traditions. Ha!

Today I have church, and then we’re meeting friends for lunch, so I better get this posted and get on with my day! I hope you have a blessed Sunday!

Join The Conversation

15 Responses

  1. One of the things I like most about your blog is that it is down to earth and not over-the-top professional. Everyday women can relate to you and your simple style is workable for real women. Please don’t gloss it up too much or women won’t relate to you as they do. I am a young CA 53 and your blog has helped me to improve my wardrobe. I also enjoy your sisters blog as she always points us back to Jesus and that our true beauty comes from within. I know this is a business for you but, success comes in many forms! I think there are probably many women, like me, in their 50s following you as well. Many of the of the over 50 blogs are way too old for some of us. Your reach is farther than you think! Just some thoughts….please don’t get too professional!

  2. Following you on SC, Twitter, and IG, I could tell that this conference wasn’t your “cup of coffee.” However, I do think you most definitely needed the R&R and this looked like heaven! The ocean and sunshine, well, you just can’t go wrong. I’m sorry, but I think I send all my dreary weather from MI straight to you, I apologize ????. Depressing for sure!
    I am excited to hear more about your conference, what you took away from it, the outfits and most definitely the pictures!

    Have a great Sunday.

  3. I don’t mean to be snarky but why would you object to being identified as a mom? Sure you didn’t mean to make it sound like moms are not as important as having a business.

    1. Absolutely not. I think what I’m thinking is still all jumbled up in my head, and I didn’t articulate it very well. I’ve been in this business for years and I’ve attended more of these conferences than I can count. They’re usually very practical and inspirational for the business of blogging, no matter what type of blog you write. This year, this sessions I attended seemed more geared for women who write specifically on parenting topics, and that is totally fine, it is called Mom 2.0 after all. 🙂 But that’s not what I do anymore. And some of the specific conversations regarding motherhood and parenting, I found insulting and unrelatable, so it was disappointing to me b/c I usually enjoy it so much. That’s all. I probably should have just left that commentary out of this post b/c it’s sort of a “you had to be there” kind of situation, and I was more or less thinking out loud and processing the event.

      1. With time, comes change! It was great for you to reconnect with friends, but your blog has evolved to more fashion and that’s great! I’m 58 and love reading your posts and hearing about your family, trips and fashion advice! Love that you keep it real! Laguna is beautiful, unfortunately we have the same dreary weather here in Michigan as you do righ now! Hoping for sunny days ahead!

  4. Blogging is definitely an ever evolving process and I haven’t been doing it half as long as you have! I can appreciate you feeling as if this conference isn’t as relevant to you as it may have been in the past. And good of you to come to that realization despite how gorgeous this setting is! I’m not sure I would have had that same clarity – ha!
    Carylee | morepiecesofme.com

    1. Haha, I’m not even saying I won’t go back. The Ritz is AWESOME. But I think I need to reassess why I’m going and manage my expectations accordingly. 🙂 It was just an interesting moment of epiphany. I don’t think I articulated my thoughts and feelings very well.

  5. i think it is real and interesting to hear your viewpoint, Jo Lynne. Thanks for sharing! Your white dress is amazing!

  6. Jo-Lynne you are an amazing woman. You are beautiful, intelligent and articulate. You also know what you want and are working on making that happen. Keep it up, and if this conference wasn’t the right fit, then we know you’ll find another that is. Just getting started in the blogging world is more often, for me, overwhelming, but it is nice to follow a person who is grounded and keeps working at it. Thanks! – Amy
    http://www.stylingrannymama.com

  7. Welcome home Jo-Lynne….I totally understand that feeling that your priorities have changed, but for others it hasn’t. And really, that is life in a nutshell. I think it’s good to realize it and move onto different focuses!!
    We love what you’re doing…and the pictures in front of your house, definitely make you seem more “real” to me!! (Of course the ocean ones are terrific—and that’s real too because hopefully we all get to have a vacation or fun time too!!)
    jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

  8. I’m glad you got to get away and I appreciate your honesty. ( AND I love your white lace sheath!) Glad you could enjoy some of our California sunshine and I hope pleasant spring weather arrives for you soon 🙂

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