Fall into Fashion

“This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group®, InStyle, Vogue and Elle, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #inspirefallfashion  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV”

 

top: old navy   pants: tjmaxx  shoes: target 

Now I know I mentioned last week that I'm still appreciating the ease of summer clothes and am in no rush for cold weather.  But I am getting more exciting for Fall.  I just wish Fall would last many months and not rush right to winter.  I read this article on buzzfeed the other day and it made me laugh, as I am guilty of well over half of those things.  

Although they probably should've included something about going to Target on the list.  Like going to Target and buying Fall fashion magazines and looking through them for outfit inspirations.  I bought Elle and Instyle's September issues last week and when I did I got a $5 Target gift card.  (You can also grab Vogue's September issue or any combination of the three and get a giftcard too now until September 13th.)  
Whenever Addilyn goes down for a nap I am usually quick to turn on the tv while cleaning up the kitchen or while working on a project or my blog.  This day I instead just sat on my couch reading these magazines, drinking a cup of coffee and enjoyed the quiet.  I should really do that more often.    Last Fall I didn't fit comfortably in a lot of my jeans, and wearing leggings and dresses was hard with nursing.  While I look forward to wearing some pants I haven't worn in well over a year and half, I'll happily try out any trend that allows you to wear pajama like pants and feel stylish.  
So I was happy to see that these loungewear pants are in style for Fall.  There was a full page in Elle with all kinds of cute, trendy looking pajama like pants.  However all of them were over $50, which is so far out of my budget for clothes, even ones that are as comfortable as yoga pants.  A few months ago I bought these pants at TJMaxx for $12.  Much more my price range.  I haven't worn them once, as I couldn't figure out what to wear them with.  I am glad I had some extra motivation to figure it out because now I can't wait to wear them more.  

Let's hope wrinkles are in style to this year because clearly I'm sporting just a few.  
I was a little unsure of what shoes to wear with them, or how to make them not look sloppy.  The magazine gave some tips like wearing a more fitted shirt or heeled shoes.  Now heels are pretty impractical for me on a daily basis, but cute leopard flats are much more fitting for me. 
I was happy for a little inspiration and push to try out my new pants.  Sometimes I forget to look through magazines for inspiration with pinterest, instagram and blogs being a more used source for me.  But it was nice to sit and read a magazine instead.  Especially when it means I have $5 to spend at Target.  

It will come

sweater: kohls   jeans: old navy  flats: target  necklace: groopdealz

If I start dressing in springy colors and stop wearing boots, Spring will come sooner right? 

I realize, like always, I'm behind on the trends but I finally have something neon.  I bought this sweater for $6 the other week at Kohls.  I was really hoping it would work with leggings but no such luck.  I'm not sure why I thought it'd cover my butt at home since it didn't in the dressing room.  Blame it on trying on clothes with a squirming 8 months old on the dressing room floor.  

Thankfully I'm happy wearing it with my new jeans.  Wish I failed to mention in my last post what kind they were and many of you commented asking.  I tried to respond to your comments but may have missed some.  Sorry!  They are the rock star skinny mid rise jeans and are still only $19.  

And I never know how to end these posts and have been staring at my screen for over ten minutes.  So I'm wasting not a minute more . . . . . 

Hail to the mom jeans

 

blazer: tjmaxx    tee & pants: old navy   flats: target

It's been awhile since I've attempted to wear super low cut jeans.  Even before I was pregnant, I learned quickly as I entered adulthood that constantly pulling up your pants or showing your underwear is not attractive.  But I still wore many pants that sat on my hips. 
That is no longer the case.  Thanks to always sitting on the ground, constantly bending over and the main reason: having a much "softer" midsection thanks to pregnancy, low cut jeans are not my friend.  I had yet to find a good pair of high waisted, skinny jeans. 
That is until last weekend.  Thanks to a $5 coupon for trying on a pair of pants that lured me in, I found my new favorite pair of jeans.  Which were only $19, plus $5 off.  I probably should've bought them in another color.
I am way overdue for going through my old jeans and getting rid of the many pairs that are way too low and don't fit. I'm pretty sure I will be wearing high waisted mom jeans from here on out. 

High Five for Friday

tank top: old navy maternity    jeans: ross maternity   shoes: target   cardigan: rue 21 (diy elbow patches)
1. I've started considering my leopard flats as a neutral and assume it is okay to wear them with anything.  Please don't tell me if that isn't true. 
2.  This week was teacher appreciation week and one of the days the students could bring in a special treat for you.  One of the girls made me a diaper cake.  I loved it!  

3.  I made this BLT pasta salad this week.  I am definitely ready for more summery meals and this one was perfect.  

4.  I am slowly getting better at curly my own hair.  The first time I tried it I walked out of the bathroom and asked Chris what he thought.  He told me the back looked like an 80's rockstar.  Definitely not a compliment.  

5.  Last month I won these beautiful earrings from Sandra at Litva's Jewelry.  I have loved getting to know and working with Sandra.  She has her own jewelry shop filled with gorgeous pieces, like these feathered earrings or this wrap bracelet.  And today she is giving one lucky reader a $40 credit to her shop!  If I won I'd have a hard time choosing, but am pretty sure I'd pick this.  

Enter below!  The winner will be contacted after the 13th. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

If you knew me . . .

scarf & shorts: old navy  shoes: target  shirt: loft

If you knew me . . .

You would know that the thought of wearing a turtle neck, scarf or anything around my neck used to freak me out.

You would know that it is rare that an hour goes by when I don't think about being pregnant. 

 You would know that patience is something I so badly need but struggle with - from small things like the internet loading to big things like waiting for God's timing.

You would know that I think that I have the best husband in the world.



You would know that I have a lot of insecurities, especially around big groups of people.

You would know that I can become too dependent on sticking to a routine.

You would know that I would almost always choose a night at home than anywhere else.

You would know that if I had three wishes one of them would be that my sister and her family lived close to me.




You would know that one of my best qualities is being loyal.

You would know that my favorite flavor of jelly beans are licorice and buttered popcorn. 

On Your Heart

A scenic walk

dress & flats: Target  belt: thrifted

Last weekend Chris and I went on a walk in the forest preserve by our house.

The first few years of marriage I would often get frustrated when we would go on walks.  To me I would go walking with the intention of getting some exercise, meaning I'd want to walk at a decent pace.  Well this rarely happened, as Chris' "comfortable" pace is quite slow. 

Over the years I've learned to look at our walks more as time together and then I don't get annoyed at how long it takes us.  

Due to Chris' love for nature, as well as his ADD we often stop many times throughout our walk.  

This is typical throughout our walk: 

Those are perfect raspberries, we need to find some to pick. 

Did you hear that cat bird?  Listen. It is mimicking me. 

Taste this raspberry. In't it delicious?

Do you hear that bullfrog? We should find him.

We should pick all these raspberries and make jam.

Why didn't we bring a bucket?

Look at this (those white flowers that are old dandelions I think).  

Then proceeds to blow and throw multiple in the air.  

Guaranteed our future children will love going on walks with him. 

Birthday Girl

dress & scarf: old navy  shoes: target

Wearing leopard flats and a polka dot scarf is about as far as I've come with the whole pattern mixing trend.  I have a long way to go but you have to start somewhere, right?  

May is a full month of important dates and celebrating for us!
Friday was my niece's first birthday.   

Lena Jane -

You are the sweetest, cutest, happiest, most precious little girl I know.  I feel honored that we share a middle name, and get beyond excited when people tell me you look like me.  I can't wait to be the aunt that you can call to tell your secrets to and hopefully that I can give you advice.  I look forward to shopping trips, sleepovers and celebrating you and all the things you will accomplish.  You are more loved than any little girl I know and I am proud to be your aunt. 

Happy first birthday! I wish you didn't live so far away so I could celebrate you in person. 

I love you!  

Love,

Dress your Age

 shirt: forever 21  jeans: kohls  shoes: target

It never fails that every time we have a parent event at school I get some comment about looking too young to teach.  As the years have gone by, they have become fewer, but there is always at least one. 

At open house last week one of my students' grandpas came up to me and asked me how long I've been doing this.  When I told him 5 years he replied, 

"What, did you start when you were 12?" 

Why, yes I did.  Isn't it amazing they let 12 year olds teach 9 year olds these days?

After telling him I started after I graduated college he then began a long string of odd questions like, 

So is that your desk over there?

Do you sit there all day?

Do the kids really sit in desks like this? 

Do they sit there all day? 

Needless to say it was a long, very awkward conversation.  

 Now it just makes me laugh, whereas it used to make me feel self conscious,
 but as people always tell me, I know I will appreciate it someday.  

Pleats & Shoes

skirt: Kohls  shoes & shirt: target  

I've seen a lot of pleated skirts around blogs and pinterest and I think they are so pretty.  I found this one at Kohls the other week and it was only $7.  I debated about buying it for awhile because I think it is a little too close to matching my skin color.  

When my sister is home it is pretty much a given that we will go to Target at least once.  I bought these wedges for $8.  And I bought two more pairs of shoes while she was here. 

The sandals were only $4 and then while we were out of town for the wedding I realized I forgot to pack a pair of flats to wear at the rehearsal.  So I made another trip to Target and bought these leopard flats for $15.  Can't complain about having to solve that problem!

Add up my recent purchases of a skirt and three pairs of shoes and it is only $34. 

I think I need to find a new job as a bargain shopper. 

Now despite the fact that these were all incredibly cheap I should probably stop buying shoes and clothes for awhile.  Not only do I really not need any more shoes, but my closet is running out of space!

whatever wednesday   what I love wednesday
what I wore