Back to School...

I've been back to school for a week and it's been going great.  I wasn't sure it would be the best of starts, though.  I was awakened last Tuesday morning not by my alarm, but by the most interesting of dreams. The Zombie Apocolype had taken over my school, and I woke up at the very moment I was bitten. You can't make this stuff up, people.  

Also, this is my 10th year of teaching and the new math teacher was in 7th grade my first year teaching. Wow. I feel old. 

On a good note, I'm really liking my kids and loving getting my dress clothes back.  This combo might be one of my new favorites, for sure.

I'd love for you ladies to take a second to vote for me in the #AllNaturalStyleSecrets challenge here. Thanks so much!!!

Have you entered to win my giveaway for a $25 gift card to Target or Old Navy/Gap/Banana Republic here yet?

Blazer: Kohl's similar

Dress: Loft $5 (thrifted) similar

Necklace: Stella and Dot Sutton

Bracelets: Stella and Dot  Peacock, Renegade, Urbane

Belt: Kohl's $1.5 similar

Shoes: Fergalicious $30  similar

Linking up with:

What I Wore Wednesday

Get Your Pretty On

Sponsor Spotlight: I do deClaire and a Giveaway!

Today I'm going to introduce you all to my lovely sponsor Laura at the blog I do deClaire, she hasn't been blogging for very long, but has gotten into an awesome groove.  She works in education, just like me, so she automatically get's double super-cool points.  So without further ado, here's Laura!

Hi everyone! I am Laura and I blog over at I do deClaire. I am thrilled to be a sponsor this month at My New Favorite Outfit! I enjoy reading Ginny's posts and love her outfits. My blog is primarily about outfit posts, recipes, and occasional stories about my family. I married my high school sweetheart over seven years ago and our beautiful daughter Claire is almost 8 months old. I work as a speech therapist in an elementary school. In my free time I love to bake and cook, read, attempt craft projects, and run (when my IT band lets me!). My recipes are quick and easy because, really, who has the time?! My outfits are primarily casual to slightly dressy since my work environment is fairly laid back and I don't work summers.

1. Why did you decide to start blogging?

I hated maternity clothes so I was really excited when I could fit into my normal wardrobe after my daughter Claire was born. And then I realized I didn't really like my clothes (Bummer. What am I going to do now?). So, I started reading more fashion blogs to figure out what to buy and rework my wardrobe. I started a blog because it's a fun way to motivate myself to be a better, (hopefully) more fashionable me.

2. What are a few of your daily reads?

I like to read quite a few blogs. Some of my favorites are Franish, Hello Gorgeous!, Fairy Wings Make Good Soup, Merrick's Art, and Putting Me Together. I could go on and on!

3. What trends are you loving right now and what trends are you steering clear of?

I never love a trend when it first starts! I am such a chicken about trying trends because I don't want to buy something that will be out of style in a few months. I'm not a fan of rompers, crop tops, and hi-low dresses/skirts. I like neon in small doses, love stripes and polka dots, statement necklaces, 'arm parties,' and skinny belts. I hope those are all trends so I look like I know what I am talking about! ;)

4. What are some of best things that has come out of blogging for you?

Even in the short time I have been blogging, I have started to build relationships with other bloggers. I never knew that would happen and I love it! It is such a supportive community. I have also noticed I am taking more (small) risks with my style. I am more careful with my purchases and learning so much about shopping and remixing clothes (keep reading for a remix example!).

5. What a piece of advice you have for your fellow blogger or those thinking about starting a blog?

Make sure you are doing it for fun and that you have the time! Blogging can be a lot of work and there really isn't any monetary reward, but that shouldn't be why you are blogging. Comment on other people's blogs and form relationships with other bloggers. Try to be consistent with your posts and Have Fun with it!

Making sure my clothes are able to be remixed and that I know how to remix them is a big part of reworking my closet. Since school is starting soon (for me, it's probably already started for many others), I put together a remix of a sheath dress I got at a thrift store last month for $2.50. Even though this wasn't on my list of closet holes or the right season to wear it (it's mostly wool), I recognized how versatile it was. Hope you enjoy the remix and are able to get some inspiration to remix a similar item in your closet!

striped sweater- Old Navy; pink button up- Bethesda thift; purple shirt- Kohls; blazer- Forever 21; cognac boots- Etienne Aigner via Shoes.com; black boots- Nine West; black pointy toe heels- Shoe Carnival; black suede heels- BCBG via Marshalls; red necklace- Ebayed; gold necklace- Lia Sophia; cluster necklace- New York & Company; black and gold pave necklace- Lia Sophia; black and leopard belts- TJ Maxx; boot socks and lace tights- Penney's (Irish store); purple tights- Walmart

What an awesome re-mix and what a steal on this dress! If that wasn't enough, Laura has a great giveaway to share with you all today too! You'll get your choice of a Target or Gap/Old Navy/Banana Repulic gift card!  Open to U.S. residents, just enter using the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Natural Beauty

I've always admired natural beauty; girls who always look like they rolled out of bed looking perfect. They make it look effortless. For me, it's a process.  When I wake up in the morning, my hair looks like I stuck my finger in a light socket for one. That being said, I think there are some really basic things that can make your natural beauty shine a little bit easier.

First, I think getting enough sleep is super important. The average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep each night. If I don't get at least 8 I am no fun to be around. For real. My son has a set bedtime, why shouldn't I? Last week I stayed up late watching Project Runway (I couldn't help myself). I paid for it the next day.

I also think it's important to make sure you're eating right. The health teacher has this poster in the hallway and I think of it often. Our portion sizes can be way out of whack. I thought I'd share some tips to making sure you're monitoring your portion size. First, never eat out of the package directly, trust me; the bottom of that chip bag will come sooner than you think. Second, when going out to eat plan to eat only half of your meal, or box up half of it to take home before even starting to eat. Third, use a smaller plate. We have a tendency to fill up our plates. I always use a small plate at breakfast and lunch and use a normal dinner plate at dinner.  Lastly, and I can be super guilty of this one, ask yourself if you're hungry or just bored.  If you're just bored drink some water or have a piece of gum, I find this works. I know I don't feel like I'm any closer to being a natural beauty after I've eaten a greasy meal or snacked all afternoon.

Next I think it's important it be active; this definitely helps bring your natural beauty out. Experts recommend 30 minutes of physical activity each day. Before Grant I went to the gym at least five days a week, now Grant and I go on a lot of walks. I always feel great after doing this. I wish I went to the gym again, but at this stage in my life I don't feel good about not getting Grant from daycare until 6:00 because I've been at the gym. I think it's important to do what you can, and some is better than nothing.

I also think that knowing and dressing for your shape helps to show off your natural beauty.  I take the time to plan my outfits ahead of time, so that I can look my best. If I wait until the morning I end up wearing basic pants, a cardigan, and some shirt.  I don't feel great in this, therefore my natural beauty isn't able to show through as easily.  It's amazing how putting on clothes you feel good wearing can change your whole attitude!

Lastly, I think it's important to pamper yourself a bit. After Grant's bedtime I enjoy taking bubble baths. I also enjoy giving myself manicures and pedicures. I used to go get this done, but started doing it on my own a number of years ago to save money.  I was recently given the opportunity to try Seventh Generation Skin Serum for being a part of the Lucky Community as part of their #AllNaturalStyleSecrets contest. The serum is specifically formulated to "provide all-day moisture to help relieve and protect against chapping, cracking and roughness due to dryness." I decided to give this a try on my feet to finish off my pedicure. My feet are definitely the roughest part of my body, so if it worked there, it would work anywhere. I applied a small amount to each foot and was very happy with the results. It was the perfect end to my pedicure and I definitely plan to use it again. 

I'd love for you ladies to take a second to vote for me here. You can also take a look at the others posts about Seventh Generation Skin Serum here too.  

Blazer: Kohl's similar

Top: Loft $20 similar c/o Chippmunk

Skirt: Target $16  similar

Belt: Kohl's $1.5  similar

Necklace: Stella and Dot Jolie

Bracelets: Stella and Dot Julep, Gilded Arrow, and Chimera similar

Shoes: Fergalicious $30 similar

                                                   

*I received a free sample of this product from Lucky and Seventh Generation for use in connection with this blog.

Bite into Giant Flavor with Green Giant-Sponsored Post

Mmmm, chips!  I hear that pretty often at my house.  Pretty much every night before dinner my husband gets out a bag to chomp on, because he evidently can't wait five minutes for dinner to be done.  Once they're out, you know who else wants them: Grant.  I believe that everything is fine in moderation, but there are lots of other things I'd prefer my three year-old has for a snack. 

Enter Green Giant's new line of veggie chips. I was really excited when I got the chance to try these for myself and give them a whirl with my family as well.  I received two different kinds: Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chips and Multi-grain Sweet Potato Chips in Barbecue. The Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chips have 18 grams of whole grain and the Multi-grain Sweet Potato have 40% less fat then regular potato chips.  

How do they taste, you ask?  I really liked both of them, so did my son.  Those of you that have kids know they can be pretty picky and times, especially when it comes to food.  I wasn't sure they'd pass the kid's taste test, but Grant was crazy about the Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chips. The great thing about the flavor is that you don't need dip. They're seasoned perfectly. Score.  I liked the Multi-grain Sweet Potato in Barbecue.  I love all things barbecue, so the tang of these chips was perfect, and I really like that they're made from sweet potatoes.

 Green Giant is known for bringing us great healthy vegetables, so don't stop eating them. BUT if you or your family are hungry for a snack these new chips are a great option when you really want something to crunch on.

Just so you know, I've been snacking on them the entire time I've been writing this post.  Seriously. They're yummy.

Here are the two kinds we got to try, yum!

Grant thought they were "pretty delicious."  Anyone else have a three year-old who talks like that??

Yum.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Pinspiration to Reality: Translating Couture

Today I'm going to share with you my final tip for pinspiration success. It's all about translating couture into an everyday look.  I don't know about you, but it's hard for me to follow blogs or pin looks that seem so out of the realm of something I could ever wear; they don't seem to translate to my life style.  Take for example Blair.  The style.  Oh my, the style.  Before a trend has even make it on my radar Blair has been wearing it, and wearing it well for like a year.  As beautiful as every look is, it's hard for me to relate to her or her style.  Take my inspiration today, this one look of Blair's is pretty much the cost of my clothing budget for THE ENTIRE YEAR.

This is where my tip come in: look at the idea of the outfit, not the outfit as a whole.  Take away the Chanel Broach and trade in these $350 JCrew pants for a more affordable option, and you've got a a great professional look that easily works for every-day wear.

Blazer: Loft $30 c/o Chippmunk similar

Chambray: Kohl's $3 (thrifted) similar

Pants: The Limited $3.5 similar

Necklace: Stella and Dot Sutton

Bracelets: Stella and Dot Peacock

Belt: Kohl's $1.5 similar

Heels: Audrey Brooke $26 similar in silver

Also, check out the winner of the latest winners for the Chippmunk Expert Shopper Contest here.  Way to go ladies!  They just started another round, enter to win here.

Pinspiration to Reality: Stick with the Styling or Silhoette

Today I'm going to share with you my second tip for success when trying to recreate a look on Pinterest.  Sometimes I pin something strictly because it's pretty.  I might only have only similar piece in my closet, but the look is so pretty I just want to wear it.  There's where my second tip comes in: stick with the styling or silhouette.  Focus on what you really love about the look and think about what pieces you have in your closet that can help you style an outfit similarly or with the same shape.

I love today's inspiration from Kendi.  Problem: I only have the gingham shirt to recreate the look and nothing else exactly the same. BUT I do have a pencil skirt in a different color and some nude wedges that could work; definitely the same shape with the skirt. I can also tie a mean know, so the styling should be a cinch. When I focused on the styling and silhouette, it was easy to get the essence of Kendi's style, which I love.

Gingham Shirt: Target $5? (Plato's Closet) similar

Skirt: Target $16  similar

Necklace: Stella and Dot Sutton

Bracelets: Stella and Dot Peacock, Renegade, Urbane

Shoes: Kohl's $26 c/o Chippmunk same

Bag: Coach same

Linking up with:

Tre-Chic Fashion Thursdays

Summer Style Link-up

Also, have you entered to my jewelry giveaway here yet?

Pinspiration to Reality: Shop Your Closet

I'm super excited to be starting a little series this week, obviously called "Pinspiration to Reality."  I've taken a two month hiatus from my dress clothes, and honestly I needed to do a little brushing up on how to dress up.  Where better to look than my friend Pinterest!  I started thinking about all the times I've tried looks and failed, so I thought it would be fun to share with you all some tips for pinspiration success.

The first tip is to shop your closet.  When I'm pinning things I often times think, oh, I have a gingham top like that, and pin the look. BUT what if I don't have any of the other pieces to complete the look?  That's where this tip comes in: think about what you have that's a similar shape or color in you closet before heading to the mall to recreate your new favorite pinned look.

Here's my inspiration today from Little Miss Fearless. I loved this look, but didn't have the exact pieces in my closet, so I improvised.  I decided to wear my striped tank dress as a skirt, and changed out the white tee for a button-up.  I had similar sandals, but wanted to wear my espadrilles instead.  I guess another tip would be: don't play dress up, make the look your own. Here's my take:

A tip to pulling off the dress to skirt idea is in the layering.  I put a white cami over the tank dress to cover up the stripes on top before adding the white button-down; this help makes a more clean and polished      look. I then tied the shirt in the front, which might be my favorite new trend.

What tips do you have for pinning success?

Jacket: The Limited (circa 2004ish?) similar

Button Down: ? (fashion swap) similar

Dress as skirt: Target $15  same

Necklace: ebay $10 same(ish)

Bracelets: Stella and Dot Triple Wrap, Renegade, Moxie

Shoes: JCrew (circa 2005ish?) similar

Linking up with:

What I Wore Wednesday

Get Your Pretty On

Also, have you entered to my jewelry giveaway here yet?