Let's Get Fancy

Don't you love wedding season?  I DO!!!  I love getting dressed up and lookin' fly (that's right...I said fly.  Early 90's yo.  Word.), and the great thing about the East Coast is there seem to be a plethora of black tie weddings here.  People like to do it up right!  I found this dress at Marshalls and was a bit worried about the color because it's not quite red, not quite pink....but it turned out to be juuuuuuust right.  Easy top knot on the hair and some ultra simple accessories...I was ready to get my champagne on!

And let's all agree that Craigy looks just fabulous in a bow tie.  I made fun of him at first....but I love it!  It suits him!

Easter Dressing

 Ah Easter...it was never a huge holiday for my family when we were growing up, as we are not church going folk.  Not saying that I don't doubt there is a higher power out there...but we had limited time together as a family because my dad traveled so much that on Sunday's, we spent as much time doing other family activities.  Celebrating the higher power in our own way, if you dare to say.  But Easter with my new family is a very celebrated occasion, and I love the fact that it's another excuse to get dressed up.  My first dress for this day was an ULTRA cute dress from H&M that my mom got me...but sadly...it didn't fit and they didn't have any in the store to exchange.  I found this, though, at Macy's.....for $11!!!!  I literally saw it, grabbed it, and ran....after paying for it of course.  It's the perfect spring outfit!!  And I'm just going to toot my own horn and say that I made Hunter's seersucker pants too.  WHAT?  Yup...I'm supa mom!

{We had to wake them up from naps to get them going...clearly...the like their sleep}

{Just look at that gorgeous tailoring!  lol!}

The Deets:
Dress: BCBG at Macy's
Shoes: Old....unknown source
Earrings: Francesca's Collection
Watch: D&G
Necklace: Gift from the hubs

Thirty Two

Today I turn 32.  The big Three Two.  Do I feel older...not so much.  Do I feel wiser...absolutely not.  But what I do feel is stronger.  Stronger in my beliefs, my goals, my convictions.  I don't feel like I'm intimidated by much (except other mom's....still gets me sometimes), and I feel very secure in where my life is headed.  Sometimes I look back at the past 7 years and can't believe I went from a single California girl working her way up in the design world, to a married New Jersey mom of 2, working on 2 blogs and working to grow a little business in her Etsy shop.  It's really kind of hard to believe.  And I can say with 100% conviction...that I would not change a thing.  Times have been tough...but I feel a change in the air that mine and my family's life are only going to get better from here.  So bring on being "IN my thirties"....it'll be the best decade yet!

The Deets:

Top: Target

Skirt: Old Navy

Shoes: Macy's

Necklace: Forever 21

Target Boodle!

I notice a lot of girls use the word "Haul" to describe their shopping sprees.  Oh don't get me wrong...I love it and I love hearing about it.  I just wanted to use a different word.  So yes...I did a thesaurus search.  The thesaurus is seriously one of the most underutilized tools out there.  So this is what it came up with

• load
• loot
• gain
• goods
• spoils
• swag
• boodle
• booty
• plunder

Most of these sound like I'm a pirate if I use any of them.  I guess it's appropriate since whenever I find myself getting a good deal I run to the checkout waving my arms yelling ARRRRGGHHH!!!!!  With happiness of course.  Argh with happiness.  

So imagine me picking up a prescription at Target (sigh...for my little boo boo's....2 ear infections, 2 kids, 2 weeks...it's been a tough month) and casually walking over to the clearance section in the beauty department.  Do you guys skeeve clearance makeup?  I totally DO NOT.  It's AWESOME!!!  Check out my loot!  Or swag...whatev....

Nothing you see here was over $4.00.  AMAZING!

The first thing I picked up was the mascara, mainly because I desperately needed mascara.  It's Almay and it has a 3 click system...one of full, fuller, and fullest.  I have only used full...and it does the job.  I am going out this weekend to a party so I'll turn it to fullest to let you guys know what the deal is there.

Then I saw this overnight foot cream.  Hey why not.  I just did a bunch of shoe perusing and since spring is coming up, my feet could sure use some sprucing up.  Training for this marathon certainly has done a number on my tootsies and I want them to look excellent for the sun when it decided to peek out!  So far it's been great!  I feel a slight little tingle and my feet definitely feel softer after a couple days use.

Then, as any girl should have this as a basic in their makeup routine, I picked up this Neutrogena sunscreen. However...this claims to have a "matte" finish...and it does!  I would say that this could almost double as a primer!  It's moisturizing and protection and doesn't leave my skin at all greasy.  It creates a nice matte base for foundation!  I think I love it!

This is from the Boots line and it's a lovely shade of sheer red.  Love the polka dots on the cap too!

I got this Burts Bee's hair conditioning treatment.  I have been DYING to get my hair cut since, like, November...and can never find the time and the babysitter's and my hair girl's time to coincide.  So...if I'm going to look like Morticia Adams...at least my hair can be healthy.  Only 2 bucks people...

I picked up this Rimmel foundation...mainly because it came with this free primer, and because I had a coupon.  Ha!  I'm so cheap.  I'm not partial to foundation, and I guess I only attribute that to not coming across one that I'm like "ohmygodthishaschangedmylifeidon'tknowwhati'ddowithoutthis."  Much like Italian food.  Most restaurants taste great to me...but if you ask me to tell you which is best...I really don't know...it's hard to mess up lasagna....

So that's my boodle, my swag, my haul, my bounty!  You gals score any great deals lately?

Typical Day

There's is nothing fancy about a sweatshirt and jeans...but sometimes it's just what you need to get out the door.  I've been having a little bit of trouble lately with personal style.  My birthday is approaching and I'm going to be (gulp) 32.  For some reason...32 is hitting me.  30 didn't feel like much, perhaps because I was pregnant and didn't really get to enjoy it, but 32 is getting to me.  I know there are things that I should be doing to "improve myself"...I don't mean plastic surgery or anything...just taking better care of my skin/hair/clothes/etc...yet it's hard to find the time.  I want to dress "my age" without compromising who I am.  So...I guess I'm in a bit of an identity crisis.  To add fuel to the fire...for some reason...these boots got the eye from a couple mom's when I went to drop Hunter off from school...and I just don't get that.  I like platforms, and heels, and I really don't like wearing running shoes unless I'm, well, running!  I feel like in the environment that I'm in (the mom world) the plainerI look, the more accepted I am.  And I'm just not a jeans and tee kind of gall.  See my crisis?  Any advice would totally be helpful!  So for today...I wore my sweatshirt, fishtailed my hair...but wore my new favorite boots.  So PLEH!

I like this picture...it makes my butt look small....be prepared for many more poses like this :)

Eyein’….but not buyin’…yet

I’m seriously obsessed with spring right now.  SO much so that I’ve already booked a no kids allowed spring trip for my husband and me, started on my spring cleaning/spring refreshing list (painting the bedroom!!  Yeah!), and am already making lists for my annual spring shopping trip.  Every mother’s day since, well, I’ve been a mother, Craig has asked me what I want to do.  Um….shopping.  At the mall.  By myself. And I want to eat lunch at Nordi’s café. And be able to sift through racks with a coffee in my hand instead of 2 children.  Let me tell you that it is one of the highlights of my year.  Some people might say “don’t you want to be with your kids on Mother’s day?”  If that’s you’re logic than EVERYDAY is Mother’s day in this household!

Anyway…so the list is being compiled and I just thought I’d share with you a bit of what I’m craving for that trip!  The first thing is definitely pastels.  I need more color in my closet for one…but more soft color.  I have so many darks and navy’s and reds…but I need light colors and bright colors!  So here’s just a few things that I’ve been pinning!

Forever 21

Old Navy

H&M

Forever 21

Asos

i heart you

My darling husband took me to a wonderful brunch this weekend to celebrate Valentine's day.  I've never really been into this holiday at all, as I believe in expressing your love every single day of the year, not just a designated one.  That's just me, though.  But, I must say, Craig picked a WONDERFUL little place, we went without the kiddos, and he even spotted this wall and said "let me take pictures of you for your blog."  Awww...see...THAT'S showing love...you listen and you care about all my little pet projects.  However, being that it was in the teens with a wind chill in the single digits...we were both pretty eager to be snap a few and call it quits!   But I will say...yay for my new Jason Wu for Target shirt and my cute hair!

The Deets:

Blazer: Target

Shirt: Jason Wu for Target

Jeans: Old Navy

Boots: Hunter

Glasses: Target

Necklace: Vintage ("stolen" from my mom)  :)

Watch: Gifted

My weekend spending spree!

Alright...yes, yes...I said I was on a spending freeze....but I had some Christmas money...and I couldn't pass up some good deals...so that's still following the freeze rules right?  I'll just tell myself that because it makes me feel better!  Today we are seeing what I found at Kohl's and Target.  I don't normally shop at Kohl's....but the hubs wanted to try it out, and not only did we get killer deals (aka...bigger bang for our buck!), we also got Kohl's cash to spend later (which I did, already!) and they even honored a 15% off coupon that I didn't have at the time of purchase..but brought it back and they said OK!  I will definitely be going back there.  I saw some LC by Lauren Conrad pieces that would be fantastic for spring...but since it snowed here on Saturday...I was realistic and did not invest in those yet!

First things first....the boots that would have worked last week for Pinterest challenge day #2:

These are LC by Lauren Conrad boots from Kohl's...originally $99...on sale for $34.99 plus an additional 15% off.  Genius!  I said this last week, but one of the great things about doing the Pinterest Challenge was that I really got to see what I had and what was NEEDED in my closet..and tall, reasonably heeled brown boots was definitively one of them!  As were black booties that I could wear under bootcut jeans and also look good with skinnies....look what I found at Target:

Don't even get me started on the price of these.  $8. I almost died. Next up...using the Kohl's cash I got this awesome tweed bag (perfect mom over the shoulder so your hands are free to wrangle crazy kid bag) and 2 belts...one being a nice bright yellow! Yay spring!

From Kohl's on the 80% Off clearance rack, a totally adorable leopard print cashmere cardigan.  I debated over this...but the hubs really liked it...and he's not a fashion or shopping dude...so a nabbed it!

And then from Old Navy...this was practically free after a coupon and some rewards points I had...a bright "grellow" (to quote YHL and their take on this color) sweater for spring!  Another thing I definitely needed after the challenge is a variety of color!  My closet seriously lacks it!

I cannot wait to wear all these new pieces and incorporate them into my closet!  And then...in just 2-3 short months...spring should be here and I can hopefully un-freeze my spending freeze again!

My Pinterest Challenge: Starting off Sweet and Simple

Welcome to my Pinterest Challenge!  Oh yeah...I'm starting slow, y'all.  Throw me some black and gray! This one I took pretty literally, as I'm just beginning and had pretty much all the elements in my closet at the ready!

 So here's the inspiration:


And here's my take!

Hunter had his first little school friends b-day party to go to and since it was at a Chick-fil-a and I got to bring Jagger...I knew I'd be running around a little bit.  Thank goodness for the flat boots! The one thing I'm pretty proud of is thinking to raid my husbands scarves to find this one!  The only other black scarf I have has a Mickey Mouse head on it...and I just didn't feel like rockin' that to the party.  Oh...and how clever am I to turn my necklace into a bracelet?  So clever...pat on the back from myself.  I love this outfit, however, because I truly love this dress and for some reason I don't wear enough!  It's super comfy cashmere that I got on extreme clearance from a store that was closing.  I almost forgot I had it!  Will definitely have to wear it more often and attempt to do a couple re-styles!

The Deets:
Sweater Dress: It's so old I don't even know what store it's from.  No tag either...
Leggings: Mossimo at Target
Boots: Mossimo at Target
Bag: Forever 21
Necklace (worn as a bracelet): Gifted from mom (can also me seen here)
Scarf: Husbands...I think from Kmart!
Nails: Sally Hansen "Red Carpet"
Earrings: Forever 21

Monday Momma

Happy Monday y'all!!  Today I wanted to do my first feature, as I am seriously cold and lazy and laying around in my Mickey Mouse sweatshirt and jeans today with my boys.  Who are also in their sweatshirts and jeans.  It's a hot chocolate, finger painting, and crafting kind of day.  Mainly because of the weather, but also because of my training for a marathon (what? crazy insane lady) I ran 13 miles this week and today is my rest day and i am doing so in every sense of the word!

So today I feature my gal pal Heather.  She is a stay at home mom of one little boy, who is crazy...and cool...and also crazy cool.  She shares my love of design and all things stylish.  She also runs her own invitation/paper goods company called Paper Monkey, and you should visit her etsy shop because she has some insanely cute goods up there.  All this, and she still has time to throw together a great outfit on a tight budget....you gotta love that!! 

This dress was a total OOO and AHHHH for both of us, as you know we share "should I buy this" texts all the time...and we were both concerned about the horizontal stripes...but Pa-POW and WOW!  Doesn't she look great?

The Deets:
Dress - Old Navy, $39
Cardigan - Target, Merona, $10
Tights - Missoni for Target, $16
Boots - Target, Mossimo, $20 on clearance.
Earrings - Italy street vendor
Necklace - Gifted Kate Spade necklace (from someone awesome....me!!)

This mom is sexy on a stick, no?  Any of you have an item that is traditionally taboo (like horizontal stripes) that turns out super fab?  Throw any outfits together that just make you feel amazing?  Thoughts for relieving sore muscles after a long run?  I'd love to here them all!!!