Ana Patricia Boutique: Meet & Greet edition

Hi! Welcome to Sweet and Modern! It's no secret, the blog has taken a backseat to the baby. I wouldn't have it any other way. However, we are still here and I have some SUPER exciting news. Ana Patricia and Sweet & Modern have teamed up to provide a monthly series for all of you! If that doesn't make a Monday better, I don't know what will! 

The first part of our series is a simple meet and greet. Not everyone knows about AP, much less how they got started. No doubt you love their clothes and accessories, but read ahead to find out how they came to be! 

Read to the bottom for special giveaway info! 

Tell us about how AP started. 

Nancy went on a mission trip to Ensenada, Mexico about 20 years ago with her church. While they were waiting in the park she was standing by a young girl who was creating flowers with wire by using her teeth to bend them into the shape she wanted. At that moment, Nancy suggested that she make earrings and sell them.  When all of the earring sold, Patti kept making more and Nancy would keep selling. We have to admit looking back that the earrings she first made were not as pretty as we thought at the time! Patti came a long way with her jewelry making over the years. Nancy would ship supplies to Patti & Patti would ship the jewelry back to sell. For about, 10 years Nancy had a room in her house that the jewelry was set up in and it was named “Ana Patricia” after the creator..Patti!

What sets your boutique apart from the rest? 
Ana Patricia Boutique offers big city styles & trends with keeping the small hometown feel. We LOVE to make each and every one of our customers not only look their best but FEEL their best from the inside out.   We take pride on our ONE on ONE customer service as well! 

How would you describe the vibe/style of AP? 

We love casual pieces that can be worn everyday as well as those go to pieces for special occasions.  If I had to put us in a category I would say Casual with Bohemian flair!

Share about the personalities begins AP?

We have an AWESOME team at AP! We are so blessed to find the right mix of girls who keep each other balanced. Behind the scenes- Nancy, Erika, Mariah- We are a mother daughter trio who works together EVERYDAY!  We do everything from Social Media, Invoicing, Unpacking, Shipping, answering emails/messages & getting merch in the store.  

Frontlines- Morgan, Arianne, Lauren, Katie (Nancy, Erika)- these girls will be the faces you see when you come to the store in Milford. They also help with posting on Social Media.  Morgan & Arianne do POP UP Shops for us as well! ( Yes, we will come set up in your home, place of work, sorority, etc!)

How did AP get started and when?

The “Original” Ana Patricia was started back in 2002. After years of selling jewelry only we took the leap in 2014 and added clothes. That is when we decided to change the name from Ana Patricia to Ana Patricia Boutique.  

What is the best / most rewarding and hardest part of owning/running AP? 

The most rewarding part of running AP is seeing the look on our customers faces when they find something that makes them feel confident! The hardest part of owning the boutique (or any business, I believe) is learning how to separate work from home. With everything being on your phone these days it is hard to put “work” down. 

What is Patti's involvement level now and what does she do with and for AP?  

Patti has a full time job and graduated with an Industrial Engineering degree but still continues to make jewelry when she has time. Her jewelry making is what allowed her to go to college and she could have never dreamt that would have happened. Patti is also married and has a beautiful baby girl Emma. Although Patti’s jewelry making has slowed down the mission behind the business still remains. 

Matthew 25:40  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Tell us where you are located /store hours?

Ana Patricia Boutique is located in Milford, NE but we ship ANYWHERE in the US for FREE! We are Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 11-8 and Saturdays 10-4!  We don’t have a website but you can follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We do have Snapchat as well..not going to lie it’s not my forte but you can follow us there as well as ap_boutique 

 

So, what now? 

1. Go check out AP on Facebook or Instagram to browse/shop. You will not be disappointed!

2. Follow along to be the first to see and purchase all new trends.

3. WIN a $30 gift to AP!

feeling floral {sweet p & fi}

Who loves boutique shopping? raises hand

Who loves the price tag? slowly puts hand down and runs away

Seriously though, I LOVE boutique shopping. The one of a kind pieces and pretty details always get me. Unfortunately, most of the time I see the price tag and think… hmmm...maybe not. 

I heard about Sweet P & Fi about 5 months ago and could not wrap my mind around the affordable pricing PLUS the amazing inventory of clothes and accessories. And to make it even sweeter? It's a local, online boutique! So when you order from Sweet P & Fi, your items are shipping directly from Omaha! If you know me, you know that nothing gives me a greater thrill than supporting local businesses…whether that be boutiques, farmers market vendors or small coffee shops; I truly love to know that families are supporting themselves by doing what they love! 

When Molly contacted me about picking out a piece from her most recent inventory, I could not contain my excitement. In fact, I already had a few items bookmarked when I saw the Instagram post and readily emailed her back. I am so excited to share this look with you! 

If I could put a single word on my favorite picks of this season, I would have to say "floral." It's almost always the first thing that catches my eye! I love that I can wear this top as a summery look with white jeans, or transition into a Fall look with jeans and booties. 

Shop this exact shirt HERE! (PS - It comes in white as well!)

My other favorite part about Sweet P & Fi are THESE earrings!
No earrings, in the history of my earrings, have ever gotten as much stage time as these beauts! They go with everything. Literally. I wear them to work, on date night, to weddings… seriously, they can do no wrong. And did I mention they are $10?

And my personal favorite? They are SO lightweight! As in I'm not ripping them of and throwing them in my purse halfway through the other day. Just to drive my point home, I fell asleep wearing these earrings the other day. How often does that actually happen? ;)

I have purchased several staples from Sweet P & Fi over the last few months, and all of them transition SO wonderfully from the office to dinner with friends. And my favorite part? I am still getting fashionable items without breaking the bank!

BUY THIS TOP! 

The seasons are changing and that always gets me excited to add a few new pieces to my regular rotation! This sassy cardigan is my next purchase!

Now, for the BEST part! Sweet P & Fi is offering a discount to Sweet & Modern readers!!!

Enter sweet15 at checkout to save 15% off of your purchase!

I can't wait to see what you find - but I know it will be perfect. Happy shopping!


To learn more about Molly & Sweet P & Fi, click here! 
Shop Sweet P & Fi now! 

Special thanks to the lovely Jenny at Rocking J Imaging for capturing my look!

Friday Favorites: Bra Edition

Happy Friday! Yay! After being up half the night with some sort of stomach bug, this day really cannot end soon enough. God bless the weekend.

So, on a normal Friday I would have a list of things I am currently loving... which is new and changing every week! But this week, I am SO EXCITED about one item that I am just going to talk about it. Over and over. Until I am blue in the face.


My previous dilemma with Summer tank tops was this in a nutshell: "I love this shirt but I would have to wear a strapless bra... and I don't want to."

I cannot count the times I thought about buying a cute shirt or tank top that fell under this situation. Ladies... you know! Strapless bras are the worst. They slide down. They give you ledge boob (I think you are familiar). The are uncomfortable. They don't stay in place. You are always doing the awkward "pull up."

Until... this bra.

 

If you follow Sheaffer Told Me To blog than you probably already know about this bra. In practically ever post, she mentions that it is the greatest strapless bra in the world. But, I am always skeptical. I mean, a strapless bra is a strapless bra. WHY is it better? But I had to know.

So I went to Von Maur (we don't have a Nordstrom's here in good ol' Nebraska!) and asked to try it on. The sales rep said, "Oh, sure. It's the best strapless bra ever."

I thought that was a good start.

As soon as I put it on, I understood. I just got it. It was clinging to my chest for dear life. I could tell it was different from any other strapless bra. I may have even done a few jumping jacks. And a modified cartwheel (the dressing room is only so big). I was sold enough for me to make the purchase.

It's hard to see in the picture, but it is lined with rubbery material.

But...I knew the true test would be in the actual wear. I immediately went to work with my research.

Results as follows:

Evening out on the town:
Didn't even remember I had a bra on.
Didn't pull said bra up one million times
Didn't take bra off in bathroom and put it back on

Daywear (in the heat!):
Bra didn't slide (even when I was sweating profusely. Sorry, but it's the truth.)
I didn't pull the bra up once.
Ledge boob? None here!

and the ultimate test...

A day at work:
(quick side note, I work with families and kids. I spend a lot of time crawling around on the floor and sometimes playing with children. I would have never considered wearing a strapless to work. Just  no.)
but...PASS!
That is all. I didn't even remember I was wearing a strapless bra.  There was no "falling out," sliding down, spinning around...etc.

You guys, this is the real deal. Wacoal knew what they were doing when they created this heavenly bra.

Now, a few things. Yes, it is $65. Which, in terms of bras, is somewhat typical to a little pricey. A VS bra is going to run you something similar. But put it like this...you will never need another strapless bra. Until you wear your first Wacoal Red Carpet bra out, that is. But it's a bra. That could be years. I think the investment is worth it.

I can't remember the last time I went outside and did this pose in a strapless bra! Oh that's right...never have.
Image: Nordstrom's.

So what am I saying? GO GET THIS BRA! And no, I am not being paid or compensated in any way. I just feel that strongly about it. :)

Happy Friday!

xoxox

Pssst... link up below!

Boyfriends & Girlfriends

Not that kind of boyfriends and girlfriends!

I'm talking about the jeans.

This pair from Nordstroms...

 

 

I've been crushing on a pair of boyfriend jeans for the last 1+ years and I STILL haven't found any that fit me!

I've tried them on at everyone's favorite places. And nope. For some reason multiple issues have continued to abound: they fit my butt, they don't stay up. They are too tight on the leg and gapping at the waist. I just could not get it right!

So I basically gave up. Then I started noticing that a lot of places were selling "girlfriend" jeans. If  you are like me and wondered what that meant exactly, I'll fill you in.

By fill you in, I mean from my Google research, the "girlfriend" cut is basically a slightly less baggy and slightly more feminine version of the "boyfriend" jean. And that seems to be consistent with my overall findings. One of the things I appreciate about the girlfriend jean is that it seems to have shortened the zipper region. I can't get on board with an overly saggy crotch on jeans. Too boyfriend-y for me.

So this weekend I finally made the purchase. The Express outlet had a really cute, distressed pair that I actually could pull up. They fit a little bit baggy but they also have a feminine cut that doesn't make me feel like I am actually wearing guy pants.

The exact pair from Express that I bought.

The only issue is with the waist. And to be honest, this is an issue for me with regular jeans as well. It's super hard to find a pair of pants that fit my butt and thighs AND doesn't gap in the back. And no, like I tell my husband, I will not wear a belt.

Do I just need to get a tailor and start taking all of  my clothes in for small alternations?

The tags are still on the pants and I plan on trying them on a few more times before I make a decision. All of this rambling to say... does anyone else have this issue? Have you found a pair that works? Fill me in!

Oh, and happy Monday!

OFW 2016

Fashion Week immediately makes me think about a place that I probably don't belong at... I mean.. maybe two days out of the week I try my hardest to put together a cute outfit. But otherwise it's a free for all over in my closet, and I would say my designer knowledge is slim to none.

However.

I'm totally a girly-girl and the idea of attending a showcase at Omaha Fashion Week sounded super interesting and fun. Since my friend Kristin {A Midwestern Mix} was able to score us VIP tickets -  we collaborated with some of our favorite local businesses to make the night a real treat. And luckily, with Kristin's eye for fashion and designer expertise, she made sure I was up to speed in every area! :)

First things first... Stephanie Moss salon. I had never been to Stephanie Moss salon, so I came in with zero background information. The salon is so gorgeous! It's sparkly and fun and made me want to get pampered!


Second, the staff is insanely kind. Stephanie and Sarah were truly interested in our event, our outfits, and what look we were going for. Ladies, if you have an event coming up - let these two take over for you!  It was SO fun and relaxing knowing that they used their creativity and talents to transform our hair for the evening. And seriously, if you haven't ever had someone give you a blow out- it's worth it.

Sarah styled my hair and I felt so glammed up at the end! She zoned in on what my hair was capable of and I came out feeling confident and ready for the night. (Thanks Sarah! It was SO nice to meet you!)

A big thank you to both of these women who took time out of their busy schedules to make us feel pretty! Also... if you are looking for a new salon, Stephanie Moss Salon is top of the line! While I don't color my hair, the ladies over at Stephanie Moss salon are experts and I would trust them to figure out your best look.


Next -  I want to send a virtual hug out to Sarah Spooner, the owner of Four Sisters boutique. Sarah was amazing and so generous to dress us for the event. She lent her opinions and expertise, and also pointed out a few fun options for us. As soon as I saw cut outs, I knew what I would be wearing to the event. I LOVE THIS DRESS.

 

Dress & necklace: Four Sisters boutique
Shoes: Chinese Laundry
Hair: Stephanie Moss salon
 

It was so fun and flowy, yet feminine. I topped it off with this necklace, which added a burst of color to the otherwise neutral palette. I absolutely loved this dress and can't wait to style it a few different ways this Spring/Summer.

You guys, Four Sisters is a gem in Omaha. You can follow them on Instagram and even place an order online (if you aren't  in the Omaha area!) Pop in and let Four Sisters boutique dress you for your next big event, a fun night out, or even to add some cute accessories to your outfit!

 

On that note, the fashion showcase was totally fun! I am so glad that we went. I snapped a few pictures of the runway - between the gift bags, appetizers and drinks, we had a really great time! I loved that some of the designs were things you would actually wear. ;)

Thanks again to the wonderful people who collaborated with Kristin and I for a fun, local night out!