style: what i wore

Today is the last day of summer day camp and it's bittersweet. When I was a classroom teacher, I couldn't wait for summertime when I could just relax and recharge. The school year was always so hectic so I was thankful for a slower summertime pace. I've technically had summers "off" for awhile now until this summer. Our summer day camp was 20 days long and so full of fun. I have had a such a fun time enjoying the students we work during the school year and some new ones who joined us for the summertime. We have been able to fill our days with field trips, tons of fun, and lots of learning. It will be bittersweet to end summer camp but I can't wait for our school year program to start back up. Have a happy Friday, friends!

#whatiwore... {an instagram roundup}

purse

necklace

style: neon love

So, this is literally one of my most comfortable outfits ever and it's also one of my favorites. I got this striped tee from the Nordstrom anniversary sale {comes in tons of colors + it's less than $16} and it's the perfect tee. It runs a little big and it's long, which I love. Longer tees are so versatile because you can tuck them in, wear them with skinny jeans, or knotted, like I did in this outfit. We also need to talk about this maxi skirt. It's a neon yellow/lime and it's just gorgeous + it's very affordable. Can I just wear this outfit everyday? K, thanks.

style: pool day

My favorite place to be is by the ocean but if I can't be there, the second best place is by the pool. Summertime was made for the ocean and the pool. My husband and I took our girls to the pool this past Saturday and met up with some of our closest friends for a day of fun. This pom pom cover up got so many compliments from random people at the pool and the best part about it is that it's less than $10! The colors are so fun and I love pom poms... so of course, I had to pair it with my pom pom clutch. 

style: pizza night

My favorite night of the week is always pizza night. We started our pizza night tradition about two years ago and my girls look forward to it every week. They ask all week, "is it Friday yet?" This week for pizza night, my husband was just getting back into town after traveling to Florida so he met us at one of our favorite local spots, Bill's Pizza Pub. It's nothing fancy but the food is amazing. Oh and I would recommend wearing a swing dress to every pizza night. So comfortable and simple yet so stylish. Swing dresses are my BFF, especially since I love pizza.

turquoise beaded necklace

style: neon + dots

This past weekend, we went to South Carolina to visit family. I didn't pack too much for this trip, just my go-to summer items: t-shirts and shorts. It was so humid + just plain hot. 

These black and white polka dot shorts were perfect and so comfortable. They have an elastic waistband and pockets. These shorts have a 3-inch inseam but the loose style still makes them mommy friendly. I love, love, love these shorts. I have three different pairs in this style from J. Crew Factory and they never disappoint.

I added a pop of neon {I bought this Kate Spade purse for 80% off at the outlet earlier this month!} and my favorite Kendra Scott necklace. This outfit is definitely one that I will be repeating.

style: i love jewelry

The Southern girl in me loves a good monogram. Is it really yours if it isn't monogrammed? Haha, but seriously, I love monograms. When I first got married, seeing my new initials just made me even more excited about being married. As cheesy as it sounds, I loved getting a new last name and sharing a name with my husband. I think monograms are the perfect gift for a bride or anyone!



My new favorite place to get all of my personalized items is I Love Jewelry. Everything on their website is so stinkin' adorable at amazing prices. I had too much fun shopping their site.

My first pick was this 1.25 lace monogrammed necklace. I have always wanted a necklace like this because it's so classic and goes with everything. I paired mine with a swing dress, wedges, and a bright purse. I've also worn it a few times with a t-shirt to work at summer camp. It's such a versatile piece.

My next pick was this monogram crossbody tassel bag. The color and big, bold tassel caught my eye right away. I also love this style of monogram. I've seen it on more expensive, designer bags but this adorable little bag is much more affordable. It's now my go-to bag! It adds the perfect pop of color to any outfit.

My last pick were these monogram denim pom pom shorts. And how fun are they?! I couldn't resist the cute little pom poms and embroidered trim.

Be sure to follow I Love Jewelry for more affordable and adorable monogrammed items. 

style: let's cha cha

So do y'all remember that Lilly for Target collaboration back in April? Well, I definitely do. I had never owned anything Lilly Pulitzer but of course I loved the bright, bold colors and patterns. I wanted to get a few pieces at a great price so I literally stayed up until 4 am. I had to be at church the next day at 7 am so going to the store to camp out wasn't an option. 

I think the idea behind this collaboration was to get girls hooked on Lilly. Give them a taste of the beautiful colors and they'll be Lilly Pulitzer retail customers for life. I got a swimsuit, wedges, a tote bag, and a beautiful shift dress. I loved everything and I thought the quality was great. Last month, I got my hands on my first Lilly retail piece and now I'm obsessed. The color, the quality, and the style is just too perfect. 

These Let's Cha Cha Callahan Shorts are one of my latest Lilly purchases. They have a 5 inch inseam and are completely mommy friendly while still looking adorable. So comfortable and they don't ride up. Win. I love Lilly.

with style & grace: 10 facts about me

I've had this little blog since 2009 and along the way it's changed so much. My blog originally was called "A Pea in the Pod" because it was a pregnancy diary that I started when I was 20 weeks pregnant with my first daughter. Then it became our family name which involved into Sugar and Spice and Everything {Mostly} Nice to document our family moments. 

In the last two years, my blog has shifted to mostly fashion and style so I changed the name back in February and bought my own domain. The new name just fits me so much better now and I love that it's a shorter name, too. I thought it would be fun to share some facts about me with my new readers so you can know the girl behind the blog:

1. I have a degree in Elementary Education and I taught in a third grade classroom for four years. I loved teaching but resigned to spend more time with my daughters.

2. My girls are 5 and 3 {26 months apart}. My oldest is a sassy, performer who also loves a good princess movie and art session. My youngest has the sweetest heart, loves to cuddle, enjoys the color orange, and has the silliest sense of humor. 

3. I'm from a small town that is gradually growing. I love living where I grew up and sharing some of the same experiences that I had with my children.

4. Traveling is my favorite, especially the beach. Any beach. Sand, ocean, salty air- I'm in. 

5. I've been married to my husband for seven years. He proposed to me at the haunted trail where we were first introduced. He scared me as a zombie and had a local news channel there to film it. 

6. After resigning from my teaching position, I ended up finding the perfect part-time job. I now work as the lead STEM {Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math} teacher at The Dream Center; a faith based, non-profit, afterschool program for at-risk youth in my community. It has really been one of the biggest blessings in my life. I am able to pursue my love for teaching children in such a rewarding atmosphere.

7. I have an irrational fear of whales and I think pigs are adorable.

8. I am the youngest of three; I have two older brothers.

9. I started posting outfits on Instagram a few months after having my youngest daughter. I was stuck in the yoga pants + a t-shirt rut. I needed to motivate myself to get dressed and feel better about my appearance. Three years later, I'm still posting my outfits. I love inspiring others and being inspired myself.

10. I am super shy until I get to know someone but when I get to know you, you'll see how much I love to talk {just not on the phone} and how random/silly I can be. 

style: what i wore

Have I mentioned that I love dressing for spring and summer?! Bright colors and bold patterns are my favorite. Every fall I say that I'm not going to keep the brightness going but I am seem to gravitate back towards navy, brown, and other neutrals. Pledging now to get the pops of bright coming during the cold season too because nothing could beat the winter blues better than hot pink. Right?

#whatiwore...

necklace

skirt

necklace