yes, the weather lady dress is the best

I am sure you saw all the news stories about this weather lady dress, that basically every on-air personality owns...LOL, well close.  And I am obviously included in that group. 

Well, if you'd like a nice dress for work, this is a great choice ( https://www.amazon.com/HOMEYEE-Womens-Stretch-Pencil-U837/dp/B00RYRB6UA) 

The material isn't the greatest, but it is by no means the worst. It's actually comfortable and looks very nice in person, but it's definitely by no means high quality. But for 25-30 bucks, I really cannot complain. 

Then I started researching and found a bunch of great dresses around this price range. Again, not the greatest quality, but still would be great for work. So pretty pumped that I bought the weather lady dress and now I have discovered  -- what seems like -- a hidden treasure trove of business casual dresses. 

Ladies, I definitely recommend this dress and encourage you to shop around and check out the others. I've already purchased a couple other designs from the same company or similar companies. So yes, the weather lady dress is the best.

beautiful bomber jackets

Le Tote Le Lis - Floral Embroidered Bomber Jacket $39 & Glamorous - Cut Out  Mock Neck Dress $54

I am all about the bomber jacket right now. These jackets can dress up a casual outfit -- throw it over a t-shirt and jeans and you have a really fashionable look. Or you can put it with a fancy dress (like the photo above) and it makes the outfit laid back and fun!

I also love the intricate embroidery I have seen on a lot of them. The floral embroidery on this Le Lis - Floral Embroidered Bomber (via Le Tote $39) was stunning. I got a ton of compliments when I was wearing it.

Definitely an item you got to add to your closet and you can find many inexpensive ones at Forever 21  -- or you can go high end! Bomber jackets are da bomb! 

I accept you parachute, over-sized shirt dress

LE TOTE - Au Amanda Uprichard Multi Stripe Dress $54 & Noir Luxe Mesh Gold Choker $13

So I absolutely hate dresses that are not form fitting and usually stay far away from stripes, but this Au Amanda Uprichard Multi Stripe Dress ($54 via Le Tote) totally changed my mind. 

I have not caught on to this over-sized shirt dress trend. Just haven't. I think that I look like I am wearing a muumuu. They do not photograph well at all and look OK in person. They're just not flattering, imo. 

BUT when I ordered my Le Tote the captivating colors in this dress caught my eye and I thought -- well why not, give it another shot. So happy I did. 

This piece was incredibly comfortable -- and apparently with proper hand placement -- you can take a great photo in one of these! Who would've thought.  

I am certainly not about to fill my closet with a bunch of dresses like this, but at least I have realized with the right pattern and photography tricks -- these parachutes can look pretty darn good. So, thanks to Le Tote for sending. I accept you flowy dress.   

Resplendent & Radiant in Rent the Runway

New Orleans is magical during #mardigras ✨🦄 Making you feel like a queen 👸🏻💃🏻 in a dream ⛅️🌈 @renttherunway #orpheuscapade #orpheusball

4 Likes, 2 Comments - Jacki Jing (@jackijing) on Instagram: "New Orleans is magical during #mardigras ✨🦄 Making you feel like a queen 👸🏻💃🏻 in a dream ⛅️🌈..."

My first Rent the Runway experience could not have gone better. I am 6'2" with an athletic build and clothes just do not fit me right. Period.

I was a little nervous when I rented this gown. It said it ran long, but as any tall girl can tell you -- most retailer's "long" is just "wrong". Almost all formal wear I have ever owned required alterations, but I decided to put all my eggs in one basket and hope for the best -- with this Rent the Runway dress.

When the gown arrived, I could not get the smile off my face -- it was gorgeous! But then I started feeling anxious -- what about sizing, quality, material, etc? The size 8 fit like a glove. The gown did not look cheap and the material was comfortable enough (for a gown). I did need to use a little toupee tape to keep some of the flowers on the top from drooping, but that was a small price to pay for how this dress made me feel! I felt like a queen in a dream, the belle of the ball, resplendent and radiant in Rent the Runway. The best part, I got to feel and look like a princess all night, outfitted in an extravagant gown, without having to pay an extravagant price.

Will I rent out another dress for a big occasion? Heck yes. Would I recommend Rent the Runway for others -- definitely.

Yassss #orpheusball #mardigras #carnival 💜💚⚜️ @renttherunway

76 Likes, 8 Comments - Jacki Jing (@jackijing) on Instagram: "Yassss #orpheusball #mardigras #carnival 💜💚⚜️ @renttherunway"

Volleyball is not girly.

As an aging NCAA DI volleyball player, I have to admit, I was pretty stoked when I saw espnW wrote an article titled, "Why volleyball -- not basketball -- is winning the popular vote" -- but my smile quickly turned to a scowl as I read deeper and deeper into the piece. 

In particular, I felt like someone sucker punched me in the face when I read this quote by Mike Flynn, editor of the national recruiting newsletter Blue Star Report and "a longtime authority on girls' basketball."

"You go where you see success and where you have access to success. Basketball is a hard sport to master. Unless you're willing to put in the time and effort and have a certain level of athleticism and hand-eye skills, you will not be successful. You will be pushed out of the sport because of what it demands. In volleyball and lacrosse, those barriers are lower."

Smh... My blood is boiling right now. My heart actually starts racing a little bit when I read over that quote.

Basketball is an incredible sport, and without question, it requires an insane amount of talent and athletic ability to be successful at it. But the same goes for volleyball. 

What does Mike Flynn know about volleyball and the skills required to be successful? No, I really want to know. The article says he is an authority for girls' basketball. Then why are you making such miserable commentary about volleyball? 

Mr. Flynn, do you have any idea how incredibly hard it is to master volleyball? Have you played before? Have you ever touched a ball before? Then why are you insulting us?

Just like basketball, and frankly, most sports -- it takes years to hone your skills. It requires long practices in the gym (or in the sand), multiple times a week. Approaching, hitting, serving, digging, passing, setting -- it may not look hard -- but do you understand, to play at a high level, a very specific form for each skill must be mastered. None of that is learned overnight. In fact, players will spend a lifetime trying to perfect each skill. The ladies on the Olympic teams make it look easy, because their movements are finally fluid and graceful, after years of coaches scrutinizing and refining their form, spending countless hours ironing out imperfections and flaws. 

And hand-eye skills? ...We have to hit a ball that is set to us and then somehow angle it around a block, away from diggers. I mean, really? Do I need to even go on. And don't even get me started on timing -- oh my goodness -- that takes time to get down right. 

Mr. Flynn's  quote and some parts of this article are just offensive and hurtful. 

I remember being a 6'2" gangly, awkward teen -- having to choose between volleyball and basketball. And everyone chooses their own path for different reasons and I don't think one sport is better or harder than the other -- but I chose volleyball because it required work. I had to learn how to control my body. I had to learn how to do more than just jump high. I had to learn how to swing hard and sharp, think fast, move quickly, use strategy. I had to bleed and I had to sweat just as hard as any other high school or DI collegiate athlete.

During my prime, I lifted heavy. I did olympic-style weightlifting like the rest of them. In fact, I made the Binghamton University Weights board for hang clean.

I did agility drills and sprints constantly so I could close the block and I could rush in for a "quick" with ease.

I worked my way through a partially-torn PCL, ripping nearly every ligament in my right ankle, impingement in my shoulder and chronic knee pain -- all of those ailments afflicting me when I was just 16 years old. 

I am tired of hearing that volleyball is easy. I am sick and tired of it.

It is not a "girly" sport. I was/am a nerdy tom boy  -- I could care less about germs and bows -- or whatever nonsense this article was trying to insinuate. 

More young women are choosing to play volleyball because it is tough, competitive, fierce and fun. That's it, Mr. Flynn. That's it. 

And if you really think volleyball is that easy -- go try jump serving. Shouldn't be that hard for you since, in your opinion, volleyball's "barriers are lower" when it comes to "athleticism" and "hand-eye skills" -- What a joke. 

But no seriously -- can you film yourself trying -- because that will undoubtedly go viral and I can't wait to watch. 

As for the young women out there who are thinking about volleyball, I can tell you right now it is my life and my passion. I am 30 years old and I still play as much as I can -- indoor, sand, grass -- whatever. And believe me , I still have not mastered it. It's the sport you can always get better at -- truly.

Volleyball changed my life. Playing in high school and college, it brings back memories that make me tear up! My teammates are my  "ride or die" sisters. I am still friends with some of my biggest rivals in college on Facebook! I still hold close to my  heart some of my biggest wins and hardest losses. I've learned what is necessary (mentally and physically) to perform under pressure, I've learned how to work with a large group of people harmoniously, I've learned how to push myself to another level, to the edge, to get what I want and I have experienced the highest highs while on that volleyball court.

ESPN, Volleyball is not girly. It is not any less athletic.

It is just awesome, lol.

That's why it's winning the "popular vote". 

Diamonds, Parallelograms, & Flowers -- Oh my!

This Geo-Floral Dress ($56 via Le Tote) from Charlie Jade is wild and fun! I love the colors, I love the funky pattern -- interweaving diamonds, parallelograms and flowers.

I mean this dress, matched with the Camilla Lace Stretch Choker ($18 via Le Tote) and Sondra Roberts Zipper Front Mini Satchel ($50 via Le Tote) -- I just felt like walking straight to a music festival or a fun night on the town.

I get it -- the design can be a little intimidating -- especially when you look at it up close. But from a distance, it really just looked like a nice floral dress. Then when people got closer, many actually complimented me on the ornamentation! Comfortable, yet chic. Really loved this outfit! 

Where's my pink convertible?

Le Tote: Anne Klein Double V Fit & Flare ($45), Ava Enamel Link Bracelet ($5), Sondra Roberts Quilted Nylon Crossbody ($19)

I feel like a Barbie Doll in this outfit. 

The accessories are so glam. The dress colors pop! And the design is classy, yet fun...

I had way too much fun walking around in this. Each item made me smile so big. Ladies and gentleman -- you know how it feels when you just feel so on-point. This ensemble did that for me :)

I have a strange style. Sometimes I'm a little grittier and edgier with my personal look. Then my business attire is clean and simple. I really don't like to go over the top too much.

But I embraced the unicorn colors and trotted around with pride. This outfit made my heart sing, I felt like I was part of an old musical -- compelled to dance, frolic, spin and swirl.

I learned that sprinkling some bright colors into your wardrobe can really brighten your mood. So while baby pink, magenta and cyan are -- frankly -- never my go to colors,  I'm glad I gave them a try.

Maybe the bright colored outfits is why Barbie's always smiling, haha!?