CONTRAST

It's been a warmer week so far, and the forecast looks like the warmth will keep up for the rest of the week. I decided I better try and get another shorts post in before the cooler weather completely takes over.

One of my favorite looks for shorts is to pair them with a long sleeved top. Just the right juxtaposition: covered arms and bare legs.

A red lip and dark brow adds polish, while the messy hair keeps it casual.

Slipped on elongating pointy toed flats and I'm good to go.

Button down - Goodwill - $3 

Shorts - Ann Taylor LOFT via Goodwill - $2 

Flats - Gap - $7 

Red lipstick - Russian Red MAC - $13

True Love

Today is my husband's and my 9 year anniversary. I'm going through that "I-can't-believe-we've-been-married-that-long-seems-like-just-yesterday" stage. And then I uploaded these photos from last week. I guess it really has been 9 years - after all, we have three children and and I'm looking quite a bit more mature than I did nine years ago!

My girls and I all happened to be wearing hearts on the same day, so even though I hadn't intended to make an outfit post out of this outfit, it was meant to be. We all match without really matching and we're so cute.

And since today is my anniversary and I'm reminiscing about when I first fell in love with Chris, it's the perfect day to post an outfit centered around hearts.

For some reason my son didn't get the memo about wearing hearts. Hmmm...

I'll try not to get too mushy here about my anniversary, but I just have to say that Chris is the best thing that ever happened to me. Growing up watching romantic movies and reading fairytales, I always thought the romance ended the day you got married. While I was as boy crazy as the next girl, I was more interested in the chase and couldn't imagine being content once the chase was over. How foolish was I. I am so blessed to have been proven wrong about marriage. Romance didn't end the day I got married. It was just beginning.

As CJ would say, "OK now. Enough of that mushy stuff!"

Shirt - Goodwill - $3

Sweater - Ann Taylor LOFT - $2

Necklace - Charlotte Russe - $8

Jeans - H&M - $2.50

Leather espadrilles - DSW - $12

By The River

We're headed up North today to see my family for Easter. I'm definitely looking forward to celebrating with them!

CJ and I have been going over the Easter story for our Bible study lessons each morning for the past couple of weeks. Watching him get excited because he truly understands this holiday has me more than ever excited about celebrating this weekend. This is also the first year that I've ever given up something for Lent, which has kept the importance of Easter at the forefront of my mind these past 38 days.

The river has only recently thawed out. It was still iced over in mid-March, which as I'm writing this was only a few weeks ago. That's how cold it has been here this Winter. The water was as brown and ugly as ever, but I am so happy to see it running without any traces of ice or snow anywhere. And look at all that green grass! Could it be that Spring has finally sprung?

With Spring finally here I'm getting excited about working outside. I didn't do hardly any work on the yard last summer due to my pregnancy, but this year will be different. I'm looking forward to mowing, weeding, and planting.

And all the running I've been able to do outside now - especially with the kids! Glorious!

Happy Spring folks and have a glorious Easter weekend!

Blouse - Goodwill - $3 (Similar)

Coated jeans - Gap - $10

Slingback heels - Steve Madden - hand-me-down from my Mom (Similar)

Peter pan collar necklace - Charming Charlie's - $2.99 

Recovery

It's taken me a good long week to recover from the time change, travel, and sickness that occurred in Alaska. I've been grateful that the roads have been too treacherous for driving and the weather too cold to venture out so I had every excuse to stay indoors, relax, and just focus on getting back into our routine of homeschooling.

We were supposed to head to our homeschool co-op classes today, but they were canceled due to all this melting snow (it's going to be 39 degrees today) that is now turning to ice. I'm hoping that tomorrow the roads and weather will be clear so I can finally venture out and feel like a normal person again.

In the meantime, it felt good to put on some make-up, curl my hair, and put together an outfit today.

 Infinity scarf - handmade from my Mom (similar)

Chambray shirt - Goodwill for $3 (similar on clearance for $9 at Target)

Coated jeans - Old Navy - $9 (same)

Boots - Target (girl's section) - $7 (similar)

Spring in the Winter

Yesterday got up to 58 degrees. Yes, that's right - 58 degrees in Northwest Ohio! I had to strip down to just a t-shirt with all my running around. So this morning, I started out with just this:

 The forecast is calling for snow tonight, so I added the scarf and boots and switched out the jacket for another shirt so I wouldn't be layering a jacket under a cold weather coat.

 

 

I'm feeling pretty girly in all this pink!

 

Shirts - Goodwill

Pants - Gap

Boots - DSW

Flats - Gap

Scarf - Target

Jacket - Macy's

Flashy Pants Take Two

A church in a nearby community offers a community meal every Tuesday night. Our small group at church is hosting the meal tonight. I am excited for our family to participate in a community outreach. We made this cake, browned and seasoned five pounds of taco meat, and washed 50 pounds of potatoes to help out. The other families in our group did the same and together we're going to have a fabulous potato bar and serve about 300 people!

 

As always, we have so much to be thankful for. The kids and I have been doing plenty of "thankfulness" crafts this week and last and I'm hoping that the event tonight will drill into them even more just how grateful we should be of our many blessings. 

Pants - Gap - solid color version (I got them on final sale for $4.50 at my Gap!)

Chambray tunic shirt - Goodwill - similar here

Moto boots - Target Girls (I got them on clearance for $7.48!)

 

Girl's Day Out

Since school starts next week for us, Grandma asked if she could take each of the children separately for an all day visit and sleepover. Yesterday was brother's turn. He was so excited to go, he woke up super early, got all dressed, packed, and then begged me to take a picture of him with his backpack. Of course I obliged.

 

 

My daughter and I took our time, but got ready for our own special day as well.

 

 

 

We headed to two different outdoor malls for some girl shopping. We found this cute little photo prop so Cassie could pretend she was a deep sea diver.

 

 

We cooled off by splashing in the water fountain after treating ourselves to some frozen yogurt.

 

We hit up Meijer for some grocery shopping, but didn't leave without a pony ride on "Sandy."

 

And as soon as we got our bags unpacked from shopping, we went out to eat for dinner with my husband and followed it up with a make-up session (my daughter's favorite thing to do). She did my make-up, and I did hers. Aren't we cute?

 

Of course, no make-up session is complete without manis and pedis.

All we had left to do before baths and bedtime was to fix our hair with all the pretty hair bows we could find. I should have gotten a picture of that look!

 



 

Shirt - Gap - hand-me-down

Shorts - Motherhood - hand-me-down

Flats - Target - hand-me-down

Earrings - hand-me-down

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

I was just given three bags full of hand-me-downs in sizes that are about 4 to 5 sizes larger than I normally wear when I'm not pregnant. I decided to keep them and opt out of maternity clothes. I still have some room in these shorts, but I thought I could get away with them because they kind of look like boyfriend shorts. They are super comfortable and best of all, they were free! 

We're headed to a baseball game tonight, so I might throw on a baseball cap on my way there. Nothing like a minor league baseball game to get you in a summer mood!

 

My daughter is trying to make a bold fashion statement with her "ankle bracelet". ha ha!

Everything but the shoes are from Gap and were hand-me-downs. The shoes are from Dillard's and were gifted.

Copying Outfit Posts

OK, so I know this is the same outfit as a few weeks ago, but I liked this outfit so much with the added blazer, that I had to post it again.

 

 

Jacket - Ralph Lauren via Goodwill - $3

Pumps - Jessica Simpson - gifted

For the rest of the outfit details, see this post

The "Mom" Cut

Had a hair appointment Tuesday night and decided just before that I wanted to get rid of my highlights and take off a few inches. Being sick all the time with morning sickness and headaches means I need a lot less weight off my head.

 

 

Pretty plain and simple, but definitely more practical.

Spring has finally arrived in Northwest Ohio! I bought a training-wheel-less-bike for my son earlier today to celebrate the weather, and he just now learned how to ride it. We're pretty excited over here!

Happy New Year!

Corduroy blazer - H&M ($20), Chambray shirt - Gap (thrifted for $3), T-shirt - NY&Co (thrifted for $3), Pants - Nordstrom Rack ($7), Booties - Target ($8).

 

We didn't do any New Year's celebrations last night or today because my daughter has been sick with a fever. We spent a week with family in Michigan, and did enough partying together there, that we can appreciate a relaxing evening/day at home before the work/school week starts tomorrow.

 

Picked up these pants at Nordstrom Rack while I was in Michigan. Buying into the printed pants trend since they were cheap enough and I liked how they fit. My Mom said I looked like I'd been painting all day, my Dad asked me why I was wearing camo pants, and my brothers teased me. Some people just can't understand fashion. ;-)

 

Wishing you all a year of blessings and a new, more positive perspective on life. Happy New Year!

 

Classic

Wore this for my son's Christmas Program at Church last night. I wore the dress from yesterday's post for Sunday morning church, and wanted to go with something more understated and classic for the evening service. There's nothing more classic than a white shirt, but the sparkly necklace gives it a touch of glamour that stays in line with my style.

 

Shirt - Banana Republic - $11

Corduroy skinnies - Kohl's - $6

Pumps - Vince Camuto - gifted

Necklace - gifted

CZ studs - gifted

For the Party

Wore this for my son's Birthday party.

 

Shirt - Diane vonFurstenberg - thrifted for $3

Corduroy skinny pants - LC for Kohl's - $6

Necklace - gifted

Pumps - Banana Republic - $15

Pink and Chambray

 

Almost, just almost wore my Ugg style boots instead of these cute wedge booties. How could I, right? They really are so comfy, though, and I think they are cute in an "I-don't-care'what-I-look-like" sort of way. These wedges are really comfy, too, though. Style doesn't always mean uncomfortable.

 

Chambray shirt - Gap - thrifted for $3

White t-shirt - Mossimo/Target - thrifted for $3

Jeans - thrifted for $3

Scarf - H&M - $7

Puffer vest - J.Crew Outlet - $20

Booties - Target - $8

Chambray and corduroy

Shirt by Gap and thrifted for $3

Skirt by Tommy Hilfiger bought at an Outlet Mall for $7

Suede boots bought at an Aerosoles shoe party for $29

Belt from Gap bought over 9 years ago for $24.50

Earrings are gifted from Target



Shopping!

Yesterday the cabin fever got to me so my husband let me get out and go shopping. I love shopping all by myself. I stopped at Starbucks for a pumpkin spice latte and leisurely strolled through all of the shops. It's been a while since I've shopped anywhere besides thrift stores.

 I picked up some moisturizer from Clinique during bonus time (yay!), bought a couple of casual tops for $5 each, and a black swim bottom to match a black tankini top I have for only $7, and then a pair of gray jeans and swim trunks for my son for $7 each all at the Gap. All their women's clearance was an additional 50% off and all the other clearance was an additional 25% off. My favorite kind of sales.

 Yes, my nails match my necklace perfectly.

Tomorrow all of the Goodwills in our area will have their 50% off sale. All clothing items will be 50% off. I can't wait!

 

Top - J.Crew - brand new with tags at Goodwill for $3

Necklace - eBay - gifted

Jeans - H&M - $20

Espadrilles - Nine West - gifted

Nail polish is Revlon's "Minted"

White Jeans Before Labor Day

I wore this yesterday when it all of the sudden occurred to me that we were only a couple of weeks away from Labor Day. Immediately the old fashion rule that says, "You cannot wear white after Labor Day" popped into my head. There are always exceptions to every fashion rule, and fashion rules hardly exist anymore, but it inspired me to pull out my white jeans. What I wasn't thinking, however, was that wearing white jeans on a playdate to the park wasn't the most genius idea. At least I had enough forethought to switch out of my platform espadrilles and into some flip flops before I walked the half mile there and back. Sometimes I'm just not even in the running to win that medal for "World's Most Practical Mother." One day I'll at least remember to keep my diaper bag stocked, and at that point avoiding white at a park will become second nature to me.

 

Shirt - Gap - thrifted for $3

Jeans - Zara - 25 euro (bought in Italy)

Espadrilles - Nine West - gifted