Friday, August 31, 2018

Currently Loving

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Happy Friday! I hope y'all have had a great week! This week has been much busier than it has been lately so I'm even more excited for some family time this weekend. Back to school has gone very smoothly and I'm so thankful that my girls are loving their new school!

Today, I'm sharing my weekly roundup of what I'm currently loving. Apparently, I am loving black, white, and patterns this week! What I love about these pieces is that they can be mixed and matched. Like I mentioned in yesterday's post, purchasing pieces in the same color family makes getting dressed so much quicker and easier. Yay for neutrals! 

1. S C A R F | This silk scarf was love at first sight, lol! But really, it's gorgeous. I love the colors and the size. It just came in the mail yesterday and it's going to be perfect for fall. I'm planning to tie it in my hair and on my bag asap!


2. E A R R I N G S | Basically all I am wearing right now is gold hoop earrings. I love the simplicity of them and they just never go out of style!


3. J E A N S | I own and love these jeans! They were actually one of items that I chose in my favorite purchases of the month post yesterday. They take some breaking in but when you do, they are so amazing! Such a great pair of denim for a great price.


4. T O T E | I also got this bag in the mail this week and it's been on my wish list for awhile now. It's such a timeless tote that will only get better with time!


5. T U N I C | I've also already shared this tunic earlier in the week but it's worth sharing again but it's a closet staple. So perfect for skinny jeans or leggings! I sized up one size for the best fit.


6. S K I R T | I have been hunting for a black skirt that was a modest length and this one is it! Bonus: it's under $20! It runs a little small so size up one size.


7. N A I L  P O L I S H | Now that September is on the horizon, I feel like I can start wearing darker colors on my nails. I recently picked up this perfect mauve shade called "Take Me to Thread" and it's the perfect shade for fall. So pretty!


8. T E E | I am a long time fan of polka dots but sometimes it's hard to find this print in a style that doesn't look like it was made for a child. This tee gets polka dots right! This would be so cute with denim now and later.


Thanks so much for visiting! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

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Thursday, August 30, 2018

My Favorite August Purchases

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Happy Thursday! Today, I'm narrowing down some of my favorite purchases from the month of August here on the blog. Being a life and style blogger, I definitely purchase more items in a month than I would if I wasn't running a blog. So, I wanted to share what I purchased last month that I really think is worth your money because I've used it first hand and I can honestly report back on the quality/style/fit of these items. 

During the month of August, it's still definitely summer weather but fall is on the horizon so buying things can sometimes be tricky. You don't want to buy something that you won't get a lot of use out of but it's also hard to buy a sweater when it's ninety degrees out! So for me, I buy items that I can wear now and later. Everything I'm sharing in today's list of favorites are things that I am currently wearing but that I also plan to wear later. I love buying items that I can get a lot of use out of! Also, I always try to buy items that work together. That's why I love neutrals so much! They always work together and creating outfits is a lot more simple when you work within a similar color palette. I'm all about simplicity while still remaining put together (and comfortable, of course)!

L E O P A R D  M U L E S | I bought a pair of cheap leopard mules last fall and I literally wore them out so I felt good investing in a good quality pair. This pair is so beautiful! I have already worn them with dresses and shorts but they will also be so perfect with skinny jeans in the fall. They run just a little small so definitely size up a half size for the best fit.

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L A C E  T O P | I'm pretty sure I have worn this top every time it was clean again! It's so pretty! It does require a cami underneath. I have worn it with shorts, a skirt, and underneath my overalls. It will transition into fall perfectly layered with a utility jacket! The fit is true to size.

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D I S T R E S S E D  D E N I M | I just got these jeans last week and I've already worn them twice. They are a high rise mom jean and the denim is stiff, so it does require breaking in. I bought my regular size and they were definitely snug when I put them on but they get even better with wear! I really love a true denim. These jeans suck you in and instantly make you look slimmer! I also really love the unique distressing on this pair. 

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L A C E  T R I M  C A M I | I wore this cami the same day it came in the mail and again a week later. It's the perfect layering piece! I loved it under a camo jacket but it would also be great on it's own or with a cozy cardigan during the fall. The fit is true to size and even prettier in person!

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S U N G L A S S E S | I was really loving the round Ray Bans but I wasn't loving the price tag at all. I have a really bad habit of loosing, scratching, or breaking my sunglasses so I don't usually spend a ton of money on them. I found this great pair for $15 and I love them! The exact look I was going for at a fraction of the price.

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M O C K  N E C K  T A N K | This $10 tank was worth every penny! I always love black and white stripes so this tank caught my eye as soon as I saw it in the store. The quality is also amazing for the super low price tag. I love it with high rise denim since it is a shorter tank (but not cropped at all). The fit is true to size and it's definitely a must have.

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N E C K L A C E | This pendant necklace has been one of my most worn pieces of jewelry this month. I love that it makes a statement without being too overpowering. It also pretty much goes with everything! I love wearing it with a basic tee to make the outfit more fun.

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L A C E  S W I N G  D R E S S | I have been hunting for a dress like this for so long. Honestly, it was after I saw Joanna Gaines wearing something similar on an old episode of Fixer Upper. She has a similar tunic/dress with skinny jeans and I just loved the look! So of course, I'm planning to style it with jeans and heels when it cools off. I love it and it's a bargain, too!

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M O R E  O F  M Y  R E C E N T  P U R C H A S E S:


Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you have a wonderful day!

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Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Instagram Roundup

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Happy Wednesday! I hope your week is off to a great start! With school in full swing, the house has been so much more quiet during the day. I don't go back to work on a regular basis for a few more weeks so I have trying to accomplish as much organization and cleaning as I can before it really gets hectic around here. I am looking forward to going back to work and seeing my students again but for now, I will just enjoy the quiet time at home with my first baby (my dog Maggie) who literally follows all over the house, all day. Haha!

Today, I'm sharing my weekly Instagram Roundup. I love this time of year when you can start pulling out the cardigans (even if it's only to wear for 10 minutes first thing in the morning)! I am also loving incorporating leopard print back in my outfits. Besides stripes, it's my favorite pattern!

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This $10 mock neck tank is one of my most favorite recent purchases! I love the fit!




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Gimme all of the leopard! Every August, my love for leopard is rekindled. I'm planning to wear this dress now and into fall with layers.





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How beautiful are my little ballerinas?! They began their first year of competitive dance last week!



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White Merlot at my favorite vineyard is one of my favorite weekend activities. Also, in case you missed it, I shared how I organize my purse in this post.





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I was loving the super similar (and pricey) Ray Bans but I found this pair for $15 and they definitely achieve the look for less. Plus, no worries if I lose or break them!



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A very rare glimpse at their hair down! They got back to school hair cuts last week and they absolutely loved being pampered.



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Shorts and sweaters season is the best! I love pairing pieces together that you can't normally wear together except during this transitional time between seasons.



Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great day!

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Back to School Tips and Mom Hacks

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Hey y'all! Yesterday, I sent my girls to their first day of school (at a brand new school, too) as a first grader and a third grader! I can't believe I have a third grader. Y'all, time passes by just way too quickly! It seems like she was my sassy two year old just a few days ago and now she's an even sassier eight year old, lol. And my baby, needs to stop growing up too. How is she in first grade?!

 I have been back to school shopping sporadically over the last few weeks and I wanted to share a few of the things that I picked up for my girls for this school year. First of all, I do 99% of my back to school shopping online. Wondering around the school supply section with two little girls and half of my town, isn't really my idea of fun! It's just stressful. So, I park myself on my couch with my phone and the school supply lists and hit up Target.com! Literally 20 minutes later, it's done. I let them girls give me feedback on which color folders they want or which pencil case is their favorite. If you don't already shop online for school supplies, do it next year for sure! I am all about simplifying life and making stressful tasks a lot less stressful... plus shopping online keeps my spending up control because I can see how much I'm spending as I add things to my online shopping cart. Win-win!

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C L O T H E S  A N D  B O W S
Yep, we are still living in our matching outfits. Another way that I eliminate stress is by dressing them the same. I know this wouldn't necessarily work for every set of siblings or every family but it totally works for us. Laundry is simple. Getting dressed is quick. Also, it eliminates a lot of drama! Most of their clothes (actually almost all of them) are from the Cat and Jack line at Target. I love the comfortable fabric, the fun designs, and the price! Also, a fun fact: Cat and Jack has a one year warranty. If anything gets a hole in it, bring your receipt in with the item and they will give you your money back (if you have a Red Card, you don't have to save your receipt but I try to anyways). 

Also, let's talk about their hair bows. I got a pack of 20 bows for $13.99! These are the nice bows, too. The six inch ones with the alligator clips. The colors are gorgeous and the quality is amazing! I just couldn't believe the price! I was paying $3-$5 for one bow before!


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W A T E R  B OT T L E
My girls only drink water while they are at school so I always try to find them a fun water bottle to take to school with them. I love the style of this one and I also love that the lid is attached!


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S H O E S
How cute are their new shoes?! I was hunting for a pair of sneakers that would work with shorts, jeans, and dresses. I think these are perfect with any outfit! They were super excited about them and they said they are very comfortable!


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P A C K I N G  L U N C H E S
Packing lunches isn't my favorite task but I bought a few new things this year to make it more fun. I got these fun lunch notes to stick in their lunch boxes this year. I really try to write them notes but in the busyness of prepping for the next day, I usually forget so I love that these are ready to go and I think they are going to enjoy reading them each day. I also love the idea of bento boxes but they can be so pricey so I found a budget friendly way to achieve the same organization. I use inexpensive (a two pack is $1.50) sandwich boxes from Walmart. You can find them in the kitchen supply aisle near the water bottles and lunch boxes. I have eight of these containers so that I can throw them in the dishwasher each day. I use four of the little silicone food cups in the box to organize their food. For example, we put cut up ham, crackers, grapes, cheese cubes, pretzels, strawberries, etc. in the cups. You can also use cupcake liners but I like that these silicone cups are reusable and they are less than $2 a pack so they are also super affordable. 

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P E N C I L  C A S E
The girls both picked this adorable unicorn pencil case. Even when they have the chance to pick whatever they want, they often pick the same thing anyways!


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B A C K P A C K S  A N D  L U N C H  B O X E S
Next up is a total mom hack! I always use Scotch Gard on my shoes but I started using it on my kids' backpacks and lunch boxes last year. It helps keep them so much cleaner! It's a must try! Also, this is the second backpack I ordered for Julianna. I accidentally ordered her a tiny one the first time but it will make a great dance bag. This book bag is the size large and it's a great size for her (and she's a petite eight year old). I always have great luck with this brand and we can usually get at least two years of use out of their backpacks!


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T E A C H E R  G I F T S
And lastly, teacher gifts! I was a classroom teacher for four years so I fully understand how incredibly exhausting the first day of school is. So, for the past three years I have put together back to school gifts for our teachers. Just a few items that will hopefully give them the pick me up they need after a long day! This year's gift included: coffee (I'm sure this will be much needed), gum, sticky notes, chocolate, a face mask, hand sanitizer, and sharpies!


Thanks so much for visiting! Have a great day!

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