Love and Gingham

I picked this sweater up about a year ago from Target for a steal. I love it, but it's been totally under utilized in my closet.  Anyone else have pieces like that? On the other hand, this skirt and shirt seem to be in constant rotation. I don't think it was a bad idea to buy this sweater, it was only like $6, but I think if I'm going to have something in my closet I better find a way to wear it.

Speaking of wearing what I own, the heels I'm wearing today have officially bit the dust. I've worn a hole in the soles, yep, I definitely buy my shoes to be work horses. Luckily, I was able to replace them with these for half the price. Now, I just hope they'll be comfy.

Also, make sure to stop my Whatcha Makin' Now, my sister is starting the coolest idea today. She's going to be sending sweet treats to one lucky person each month...for free. Go check it out!

Bows and Dots

Today I decided to pair my bow cardigan with my polka dot blouse and my purple pencil skirt. I was feeling pretty optimistic about the weather when I took these pictures about a week ago, but reality: I'll be wearing tights with this outfit today, and probably with every skirt I wear until spring.  Sigh....

Floral and Stripes

This combo has been in the back of my head for awhile, but I just hadn't tried it out until today, and I have to say I love it! I found this blazer at Goodwill a month or so ago and have worn it a few times with jeans, but love it with is dress today. I added the bright scarf for something different and finished it off with my boots.  I think I'll mix it up and wearing it with a scarf like this and my black boots next time.

What to Wear With Wine

This week I thought it would be fun to do a mini-series focused on color.  I recently joined a fashion page on Facebook where women post their OOTDs.  It's a great group with a lot of stylish women, but one of the things I see people post often is a picture, then the question: "Do these go together?" Another common question I see is: "What color goes with this?" This prompted my mini-series.  I thought I'd pick three color that are big this fall and try to help give some direction as to what to wear with them.

Today I'm focusing on wine, burgundy, ox blood....whatever you call it, it is definitely a great color for fall.  The problem can be deciding what colors look best with it.  I came up with some different colors which I think pair nicely with wine.  

• The first is another shade of the color for a monochromatic look; this is also a big trend this fall, and definitely one worth giving a try.  
• The second is to pair it with neutral colors, either a combination of warm tones, like browns and chocolates, or cool tones like grays and blacks.  I chose to pair it with cool tones today (mainly because I wanted to wear my Phoenix Pendant again.  
• The third is with a complimentary color like mustard or navy.  I'm a big fan of both of these combinations too. (Look below for examples of these color combos).

To help out you visual learners (like myself) here's a handy little chart for you to reference:

Chelsea and Ginny Take On: Fall

Today Chelsea and I are taking on Fall. One of the biggest trends for fall is Leopard print. After buying this polka dot top I knew I needed this leopard one from the same line too.  Today I decided to show you how to style this top for both the workday and weekend.   

Jewel Tones

Almost two months ago I tried on this top and was in love....with everything but the price, that is.  What do you know, it went on sale and they only had one left in the stores, and it happened to be in my size.  It was fate.  You guys.  I love it.  I also got this skirt and love it too.  A navy skirt had been on my list for fall and I really like the structure of this one, but that it's not a traditional pencil skirt.  I've got a number of looks lined up for these too pieces and I'm pretty excited about it. 

Polka Dot Love

Last week we had parent teacher conferences, which seems crazy that it's time for that already.  I like to make sure I dress very professionally, but still be myself. Our conferences are two nights, so for one of the nights I wore this outfit  again, seriously, it's one of my favorites. For the second night I wore this look. When I came across this blouse at Target, I knew it would be a great addition to my closet.  I feel like I can tend to neglect tops, but adding this blouse to the outfit as apposed to wearing just a plain white one makes the outfit a little more special, and I like that.

I'm still amazed by all the great options Target has like this blouse, and I can't believe its such a great dup for this Gap one at less than half the price. Crazy.  I might need that one too, two polka dot shirts is definitely not two too many. : ) So, what tips do you have for making your outfit special?

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.

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?

It's in the Styling: Tip Three, Tuck Your Shirt

Ever put on an outfit that in theory should look great, only to find you look frumpy and dumpy? Me too. However, the simplest trick to styling an outfit and taking it from bad to fab is to tuck your shirt. Seriously. Sometimes a shirt is just fine un-tucked, especially for more casual looks, but if the shirt is too long/flowy/loose a simple tuck is all you need to dramatically change your outfit's look. I usually try an outfit both ways, then decide which is best.

I also decided to enter Chippmuck.com's Expert Shopper Contest again with this outfit. I came in 7th last time and the top five won. Help me make the top five this time by loving my look here. You can vote each day too. I seriously appreciate it ladies!

Do you see the difference?!? I probably look 30 pound lighter by just tucking this shirt in!  I honestly didn't realize the power of the "tuck" until I started reading blogs and seeing what other girls were wearing.  I also didn't own a lot of skirts before tucking in either, just look at "Exhibit A" and you'll understand why.  Now that I realize that tucking your shirt in can make such a great change in the outfit, my skirt collection has grown tremendously, and I have a much more polished professional look too. Here are some more pictures of this look:

Cardigan: Old Navy $20 similar

Top: Target $3 (thrifted) similar

Skirt: Target $16 similar

Belt: Kohls $1.5 similar

Necklace: Loft $5 similar

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

Shoes: JCrew similar

Purple with a Patterned Skirt

The sun shining just totally changes my attitude!  I love it!  Grant, Gracie (our Beagle), and I went on a walk on Sunday and it was wonderful! I'm really looking forward to getting back in the grove and doing this more regularly! I'm also loving today's outfit, I got this skirt back in the fall but have only worn is once as I wasn't sure what else I had to go with it.  I decided to pull it out and look though my shirts again and realized this top worked with it!  I'm also loving it with this necklace; it's like the perfect classic piece, I think I'll get a ton of use out of it!

Also, the ever spectacular and hilarious Samantha is featuring my Beagle Marley  Gracie or her fun blog today. Stop by and say hi

Shirt: Kohl's $3 (thrifted)

Skirt: The Limited $7 (thrifted with tags)

Necklace: Stella and Dot Avalon

Bracelets: Stella and Dot Gilded Arrow/Renegade/Chimera

Bag: Coach

Shoes: Fergalicious

Linking up with:

What I Wore Wednesday

Get Your Pretty On

Fashion and Beauty Finds