What to Wear: Now & Later

Sorry for the lack of posts this week. Work was completely nuts and I've been trying to unplug more at home, but I'm hoping to make it up to y'all with something good today!

Around this time every year, I start to hate everything in my closet. I'm tired of bundling up, tired of sweaters, tired of boots, tired of flannel. So apparently I'm tired of being an 82 year old man, but you know what I mean. Add to that the fact that it's that tricky stretch between seasons, and I feel like I am dressing like a bona fide wackadoo. But I found something this weekend that might save my sanity, friends.

The magic tunic.

Have you ever bought a shirt, a pair of jeans, some article of clothing that is not only flattering, it makes all your trouble spots (real or perceived) seem to disappear? I found my miracle piece this weekend. This tunic nips in just enough at the waist, hits at just the right place to minimize my thighs, and it's just the right weight that I can wear it now in cooler weather and later when spring finally arrives. It's the Goldilocks of tops! I thought I'd share a little styling inspiration to show how I wear it now, and how I'll wear it later.

J.Crew Factory Chambray Tunic; Stella & Dot Phoenix Necklace and Various Bracelets; Flash Lens Ray-Ban Aviators; Michael Kors Turquoise Hoops (on sale!); Gold and Gray Wood Bracelets; Chan Luu Skull Bangle; 7 for All Mankind Slim Illusion Jeans; Sam Edelman Gigi Sandals in New Nude Leopard; Essie Polish in Geranium (my all time favorite!); Michael Kors Watch Hunger Stop Watch; Old Navy Booties (no longer available); J.Crew Leggings (amazing fit!)

Happy weekend, friends! XOXO

Five on Friday: On My Shopping List

TGIF, friends! Hope everyone's had a great week. The hubs decided to lay the budget smackdown on our household this week, and I am not faring well. Am I the only one who sees retail therapy as a logical way to deal with it? Probably so, and probably why we really, REALLY need a budget. But that sh*t's boring, so this week's Five on Friday post is a roundup of some items that may or may not be in numerous online shopping carts of mine at this very moment.

Ray-Ban Aviator Flash Lens in Green

Online Calligraphy Class with Melissa Esplin (you can see more of her incredible work and read her super fun blog here)

Amanda Catherine Designs "Work Hard & Be Kind" Pencils

J.Crew Toothpick Jeans in Tux Stripe

Graham & Brown Beadboard Wallpaper

Hope everyone's weekend is amazing! XOXO

Spring Style for Little Boys

Happy Monday, friends! Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend. I caught up on some work Saturday, and Sunday I slept in until... wait for it... 10 a.m. Y'all. IT. WAS. AWESOME. Best Valentine's gift my husband could have ever given me!

As promised, I'm sharing my picks for H's spring style. Shopping for boys can be a challenge... there are a LOT of bad graphic tees, knit shorts, and cargo pants out there. But thankfully there are a few shops that make it much easier to find classic pieces for little guys. Seriously, what did mamas do before crewcuts?

The whole coordinating color scheme was a happy accident. I love navy, and it looks so great with a punchy shade of tangerine. I snagged this tee at the J.Crew clearance store today because it works so well with the other pieces. 

Heathered Sweater; The Dude Baseball Cap; Anchor Kurta; Plaid Bow Tie; Anchor Bow Tie; Navy Gingham Button Down; Chino Shorts; Chambray Shirt; Hooded Jacket; Chambray Roll-Up Pants; Polo; Sneakers; Wellies; Flip Flops

Where do you mamas of little boys shop? XOXO

Make This, Wear That - Valentine's Day at Home

Hello from the frozen tundra of North Carolina! Today is day three of no school, no getting to the office, no sanity. Heaven help us.

We're not big on Valentine's Day celebrations around here... maybe a bottle of champagne and a handmade card, but that's about as fancy as we get. The hubs is working on Valentine's night again this year (I think this makes 4 years in a row?), so it looks as though H and I will be having a quiet evening at home--at least as quiet as an evening with a 3 year old can be. We'll have our usual Friday night movie (probably Despicable Me 2, as it's been in heavy rotation lately--gotta love Gru and his chip hat!), but I'd like to make a special treat. I'm thinking this might be perfect...

Old Fashioned Pink Popcorn from Cooking Classy

As far as what to wear for Valentine's Day, I'm not a typical red dress kind of gal. I much prefer the idea of a soft pastel like lavender paired with just a splash of red. And I guess I'm in denial about the fact that winter is sticking around for a while, because I am ready to start wearing spring clothes. Snow storms be damned!

Margaret Elizabeth Cube Studs; J.Crew Merino Tunic Sweater; Old Navy Sweetheart Distressed Skinnies; Minnetonka Back Zip Booties; Essie Polish in Fishnet Stockings; Gold & Gray Medium Wood Stretch Bracelets; Rikshaw Design Lulu Scarf

I am loving the new merino tunic sweaters from J.Crew... they're like the swing sweater 2.0. And though I will admit I was a skeptic, I am here to tell you, Old Navy's Sweetheart jeans are pretty much perfect for those of us with more voluptuous posteriors. Great amount of stretch, and they're high-waisted, so they suck in the muffin top really well. I can't recommend them enough. And if you need another reason to give them a try, they are on super duper sale right now. Like, such a crazy good sale I'm thinking of ordering a size down so I can have them when my current ones are too big.

If you are looking for fun bracelets at a fabulous price, check out Gold & Gray. I have three of the wood bead bracelets and I just want more. So fun! And this necklace is at the top of my wish list for spring.

Rikshaw Designs founder Catherine Fitzsimmons has southern roots, but her bohemian flare is what I admire most. I have a Rikshaw classic kurta that I wear non-stop in the summer, so I think adding one of the scarves to my wardrobe is an obvious choice. And for you mamas reading, they have a children's line that is pretty much the cutest ever. H outgrew his kurta at the end of last summer, so we'll be ordering another for this year.

Whether you're big on the "Hallmark holiday" of Valentine's or not, I think it's a perfect opportunity to tell those you love how much they mean to you. Not that any of us need a holiday for that, but sometimes it's a good reminder. XOXO

Spring Style: Skater Chic

Hello, friends! Hope you all are having a great week so far. We are bracing for the snowpocalypse here, which is expected to hit tomorrow. yaaaaay. Yesterday we had about three inches of "pre-snow." This was the view from our back porch earlier...

So pretty! So peaceful! So f&@king over it!

To maintain my sanity and keep cabin fever at bay, I've been doing some online window shopping for spring. I've already picked out some fun things for H (which I'll be sharing later this week!), so I started browsing for myself last night. I'm not ready to buy any clothes yet (still trying to shed a few pounds I packed on over the holidays--damn you, Christmas cookies!), but shoes always fit, right? And since my piggies haven't seen a nail salon in far too long, I figured I'd start with something other than sandals.

The old school slip-on sneaker trend seems to be getting stronger... I found a pair last summer that I wore constantly, but I have my eye on a few more that would be perfect with skinny jeans now and shorts later. Please, Lord, let shorts weather come soon.

Sam Edelman Becker; Sperry Mariner; Vans Chambray Dot; Vans Bronze Metallic

What trend is on your radar for spring? XOXO

Five on Friday - Things I Heart Right Now

Happy Friday, friends! Thanks and praises be for a week with no school closures--seriously, I thought we might be on the verge of a revolution last week being cooped up in the house so much. Tensions were high. There was much unrest. H started referring to himself as Che. OK, not really, but you get the idea. Very grateful for some improvement in the weather, although I don't think we're completely past the polar vortex just yet. Ugh.

Anyway. I wanted to share a handful of things I'm loving right now, in real life and on the interwebs...

1. Weleda Skin Food

Winter weather absolutely wrecks my hands. It doesn't help that I tend to leave the house without wearing gloves--not because I don't have any (I do, including a gorgeous pair of cashmere-lined leather ones my mom gave me for Christmas after seeing my chapped, dry hands at Thanksgiving one year), but because I consistently forget them or I'm in such a rush to get out the door that I can't be bothered. Enter this amazing cream. It's pretty much the only thing keeping my hands from looking like something out of a horror movie. I get mine at Target, but you can also find it online at places like drugstore.com or Amazon, or in health food stores.

2. Coola Liplux in Peppermint Vanilla

Like 99% of women, I have more lip balms than I can count, most of them used once or twice then tossed to the side when I find a new one to try. But Coola's Liplux has become my staple. As in, I keep one in my purse, one on my nightstand, one in my makeup bag, and one in my desk drawer at work. It's smooth (read: not waxy like so many lip balms out there) and the peppermint vanilla scent (flavor?) is just right (read: delicious and ever-so-slightly tingly, not at all cloying). You can find it online here.

3. Catbird NYC Elfin Studs

 

Lately I've been obsessed with the idea of getting a third (and maybe fourth) hole pierced in my left ear. These teensy studs would be just the thing I'd want to wear. 

4. Greythread "Do Small Things" Tee

I've been looking for spring clothes for H (which I'm planning to blog about next week!) and I went down the etsy rabbit hole and came out with this adorable gem. And the best part? They have a brick & mortar storefront in Georgia--in the same town where my mom lives! Like we needed another excuse for a weekend trip to GiGi's. Also, this shirt will soon be on heavy weekend rotation in my wardrobe. Embrace messy hair, y'all. 

5. The Ultimate Anna Wintour GIFs (via The Cut)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, the Winter Olympics started today, but for many of us, the games take a backseat to the high holy days of New York Fashion Week. I mean, who needs ice skating when you have the Ice Queen herself? The mavens at The Cut pulled La Wintour's best withering gazes via this collection of gifs for our viewing pleasure. Enjoy, and in the true spirit of sportsmanship, remember: "If you can't be better than your competition, just dress better than them." -AW

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! XO