I put myself on spending restriction in September and did a no-buy month. October meant I could spend freely again, but I didn’t do too much damage. There were a few sales this month, a few impulse purchases, and one intentional purchase that I’m so glad I got. Let’s dive in!
Continue reading “Top 5 October Purchases”Category: Fashion
Romanticizing the Fall Season
A few years ago I started hearing this word romanticize. Everyone was telling us to romanticize our lives. I take this to mean doing a little extra to celebrate the season/holiday/event/etc. The intentionality of the celebration is what makes it special, and while that can look like extra work, the payoff is always worth it to me. Remember The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo? She said to hold onto the things that spark joy and get rid of the rest. Romanticizing things sparks joy for me, so I’m going to hold onto that as long as I can.
I’ve recently had the epiphany that I am an autumn. I’m a cold weather girly, and I love the change of seasons, especially with the crisp mornings and the need for a sweater or some boots. I am having the most fun with my pumpkins, fall flavors, fall decor, fall fashion, the slightly cooler temps, the leaves that are finally starting to change around here. We’ll have about a week before they fall off the trees, so open your eyes and really take in the beauty of this season. It’s nature at its best out there, y’all.
Romanticizing this fall season has been a true joy. I know we’re nearing the end of October, but fall isn’t over yet. It’s just beginning here in terms of temperature, so let’s stretch it out a little bit longer. Here are a few ways to easily romanticize your life before the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season is upon us.
Continue reading “Romanticizing the Fall Season”Summer Recap Part 3
As we enter our third full week of school, I’m reminded August is coming to an end and summer, in my mind, will officially be over. September 1st is my kickoff to fall. I cannot wait another minute to put out a pumpkin or two and change my door hanger to something Auburn related for football season. AHHH! I’m getting so excited! I’m really trying to be intentional about looking forward to things. Time moves so quickly, and I find that looking forward to something has really made it slow down for me…or seem like it, anyway. Like when you were a kid waiting for Christmas, the time would drag on and on. But become an adult and BAM, lightening speed. ………I don’t know how any of this fall talk pertains to my summer. Let’s reign it in, shall we?
The topic of today’s summer recap is: Most Worn Items/Favorite Purchases. If what I was wearing is not available, I’ll try to link this year’s version or just link to the shop I got it from. Not everything is clothes, but for the items that are, if you’re in the south with me, you know everything I’m about to share will be relevant in your closet until about November. Come on cooler temps! I’m ready for a sweatshirt!
Granny and Granddaddy
So It’s March Now…
Oh, hello, March! How did February come and go so quickly? I had every intention of blogging more than clothes in February, but I can only blame it on the stress of school. It was a hell of a month, and I am glad to be nearing spring break! But let’s put all that aside, I have a few things to share with you that I’m loving lately!
Spanx Air Essentials Lounge Set
I got the pullover for Christmas, and my oh my, it is the softest, most comfortable loungewear I’ve ever owned. I bought the pants myself, and while they’re also soft and comfortable, they ride up and up and up, and they’re also a tad long, so I feel like maybe I don’t recommend those as much as I do the top. I am very curious about the tapered leg pants, so I’ll let you know if I splurge for those. The pullover is worth the pennies, though. I size up one in Spanx. I typically wear an XL in pants or sweatshirts, but at Spanx I get the 1X.
Cloth napkins
Maybe I’ve talked about these before, but I love cloth napkins. You can sew them yourself or buy them anywhere. Local shops always have cute ones, and so do places like TJ Maxx and Home Goods, and Target. A paper towel will get the job done, but don’t the pretty patterns spark a little extra joy? I keep mine all mixed up in a big bowl in the middle of my table for easy access at dinnertime. Once you start, you’ll never go back!
Dots Pretzel
I cannot stop buying these pretzels. I like to keep a bag on hand. One at home, one at school, one in my lunchbox. You know, just covering all my bases. If you like pretzels, try these out. So far the honey mustard flavor is my favorite. I did love the cinnamon sugar ones, but I think they were limited edition. The original flavor ones are also delicious, but the cheese curl ones are no bueno.
The Bible in a Year Podcast
I heard about this podcast after listening to Annie Downs’ podcast when she talked to Father Mike Schmitz about Advent. She went on and on (and cried) about his Bible in a Year Podcast, and I was intrigued. I started January 1st and have kept up every morning. I actually listen to it and read along in my Bible for my quiet time. This is a totally different quiet time experience than I’ve ever had- listening to a podcast while learning about Jesus is definitely new for me- but I have enjoyed it a lot. He reads the scripture and then explains what we’ve just read. It’s like you get a mini sermon every morning. Don’t be turned off because he’s a Catholic priest. He’s very knowledgeable and easy to listen to. You’ll love him. Jump in where we are now or go back and catch up. Either way, you’ll be blessed.
New Balance 327
I have been eyeing this particular style of shoe (327s) for about a year or so now, but I bought Brooks Adrenaline sneakers instead (and love them). But I saw that this beautiful lilac color was available, shared them with Paul, and was surprised with them shortly after that for an early Valentine’s Day present. They fit true to size and are very comfortable. I haven’t worn New Balance shoes since I wore the grey pair that everyone had back in the early 2000s. I am thrilled to report the hype is real, and now I want another color in this style. They sell out super quickly, so if you find a pair you want, grab them fast!
I sure hope you’ve had a great start to March. Daylight Saving Time begins next weekend. Are you a fan? Or are you one who would rather it just be left alone? I feel like I think it should be left alone. I do enjoy a little extra daylight, but my husband tends to linger on the golf course longer if there’s more daylight so…. 🙂 Have a great one, guys!
Closet Diaries | No. 4
You know that saying that goes something like: Adulthood is saying, “things will calm down in a week or two” until you die…. That’s how life feels lately. Go, go, go, one thing after another, someone is sick, someone is celebrating something, I have to go to the grocery story (yet again), etc, etc, etc. And I don’t even have children! This particular season of life is so great but so busy. I’m thankful for it all, but I often wish I could go back to being about 12 years old when my biggest stressor was studying for a test and having to wash the dishes after dinner. You feel me?
Anyway, I’m going to take some time to relax tonight. I will probably watch the Rhianna concert, I mean the Super Bowl, and probably read my book while the actual game is going on. But before that, I’ve got to go through the 28 Day of Style Challenge and get an idea of what I’d like my outfits to look like this week. We’ve got the big V-Day coming up, and I know I’m supposed to wear red. I have one red sweater, so I’m hoping it’s cold on Tuesday! This past week I was able to follow most of the prompts for the challenge, and I’ve enjoyed having a task for getting ready every morning. I also have enjoyed shopping my own closet for the outfits. I haven’t bought anything new for the challenge, but that’s the fun of it. It gets your creative juices flowing to rethink what you already have, which is good for your pocketbook and helps you create and maintain a sustainable wardrobe. Win-win. Without further ado, here are my looks from last week.
Monday
Style Challenge- Style an outfit around sneakers.
Blazer, leggings, and sneakers all fit true to size
Chambray shirt was a Goodwill find but from Old Navy. I can’t find the exact style, but the one I linked is very similar. This one was one size too big but it fits a little oversized and is great for layering. Don’t forget about your local second hand stores.
Tuesday
Style Challenge was to winterize a spring dress. I just didn’t have the goods in my closet to make it happen. Plus it started in the 40s and climbed to the 70s today. I needed to layer. I also needed a spray tan, so I opted out of the style challenge today.
Everything fits true to size.
Head to True South to see if any of these tops are still in stock. It’s from the She and Sky brand.
The scarf is from an old Fab Fit Fun box. The one I linked is similar and much more affordable than what this one retailed for.
Wednesday
Today’s Style Challenge was to style a graphic tee with a blazer. Can you even with this shirt? It says “So Many Books So Little Time”. Perfect for a reading teacher. It’s from the Etsy shop, Powerfully Positive. Fits true to size.
My blazer is a Goodwill find. The Prattville Goodwill is good, y’all. I linked my favorite Amazon one. Get your regular size.
The jeans are, once again, Old Navy. I have had these several years, and they are much more faded than the ones I linked to. Honestly, I don’t think my jeans were jet black to begin with. They were more of a faded black. Fit tour to size.
The mules I’m wearing are very old from Target. I couldn’t find any there, so I linked my favorite Amazon ones that have a slightly different buckle. True to size.
Thursday
Still loving this shirt so much. It’s extremely versatile, though I’ve only worn it styled this same way with a sweater draped over it. Oh well! It fits true to size.
I’ll wear these jeans until they have holes all in them. True to size.
Chelsea rain boots are my favorite style of rain boots. I opted for this taupe pair and want a black pair too. They’re comfortable and fit true to size.
Friday
Today’s style challenge was Head to Toe Black! This is my sweet spot. My favorite color is black. I love to wear it and decorate with it, so I knew I’d find something to wear for this particular day.
My black shirt is old Entro from Wisteria Cottage. I think these types of shirts are easy to find at any boutique. I got my regular size.
Pants from Old Navy are old, but I was able to size down. They tend to grow with this linen/cotton blend.
Booties- get your true size.
My bracelets are either family heirlooms, unavailable, or Ronaldo. You can get Ronaldo at The Roost or McFerrin’s (I think), locally.
Saturday
The Style Challenge for Saturday was “Sweats but make it fashion”. It was a rainy day, and I had to get out, so sweats was utter perfection.
Get your true size in the sweatshirt.
My pants are Time and Tru from Walmart but are old and not sold anymore. They are a true sweatpant with the elastic at the ankle. If the jogger style that I linked isn’t to your taste, I’d look in the men’s department in Walmart and try to find some plain black sweatpants. Try these.
Shoes are true to size.
The jacket is old from H&M. I recommend sizing down in H&M with anything that says “oversized”.
Have a wonderful rest of your weekend and a very LOVEly Valentine’s Day!
Closet Diaries | No. 3
Thankfully, this week has been less eventful than last week. I wasn’t really feeling creative in my wardrobe. But then Candace Read came along with a February Style Challenge! Pulled me right out of my funk. That didn’t kick in until Thursday for me, but I now have a plan of action for what I’ll wear this week. Join me!
Monday
*Should have hit this sweater with a steamer. Can’t blame this one on the seatbelt.
Tuesday
*Zero inspiration. Sweater and jeans again because I needed flats and comfort.
*When buying a canvas tote from L.L. Bean, always opt for the long handles if you’re getting a larger size bag. There is no other option.
Wednesday
*If I had it my way, I’d have this blazer in every color. It is so comfortable and lovely.
Thursday
*This was the beginning of the style challenge for me. I don’t have any trousers in my wardrobe, which was the challenge for the day, but I did have some linen pants that I thought would work, and what do you know?! Perfect!
Friday
*When buying Spanx leggings, go up one size than your normal size. I have found them to be the best fit. You can’t tell these are the faux leather leggings, but they are. They aren’t very warm, but they are very comfortable.
Saturday
My man came out of the deer stand for a breakfast date, so I threw on some gold hoops with my jeans and sweatshirt and called it a day. And if there’s a better waffle than a Waffle House waffle, you’ll have to work mighty hard to change my mind.
I’m looking forward to attempting all the daily style challenges for the week ahead. I hope you’ll take a peak at it and look in your own closet for outfit inspo. Have a great one, y’all.
Closet Diaries | No. 2
Another week in the books, and boy it was an eventful one. I got to go to an Auburn basketball game, we had awards day at school, and Paul surprised me with tickets to see Hamilton on Saturday! What a week!! Here’s what I wore.
Monday
This sweater is nearly identical to the one linked. Get your normal size.
Old Navy jeans are on sale at least once a week. Get on the email list!
I am trying not to get too sucked into scarves, but I love finding new ways to wear them.
Tuesday
Size down one in this dress. It is 100% cotton, so maybe don’t dry it if you don’t want it to shrink.
The boots I linked are so cute, and I like them better than the old Target ones I own.
Couldn’t link the necklace, but it’s from McFerrin’s.
The earrings I linked are a smokey quartz instead of the black that I have, but they would go with literally everything.
Wednesday
Striped shirt is so cute and comfy. Get your true size. How is this WALMART? And only $20?!?!
The jeans- I’m trying to love them, but I don’t always. We’re getting to know each other. I will almost always wear them with a pointed toe boot or pump. These are not casual jeans for me.
This bag is Sole Society, a company that sadly went out of business. I did find the exact one on Poshmark and linked that one.
*For the basketball game I swapped the loose jeans for my favorite skinny jeans, swapped the boots for the Amazon mules, and threw on a white blazer to be warm and comfortable enough to walk around and stand during the game.
Thursday
This dress was my very first H&M purchase in the height of the pandemic in 2020, so this exact one is not available anymore. It was listed as a chiffon dress when I bought it. They tend to have lots of those options available, especially closer to spring. The one I linked is a little pricier than H&M, but it’s so beautiful. If you do H&M, I’d consider sizing down but read the reviews always.
Friday
The sweatshirt was an Etsy find and is so adorable.
The New Balance 327s are new, bought from Ebay, though I found them for the same price on the website where they’re linked. I got my true size, and they’re perfect.
Saturday | Hamilton
I took a gamble on wearing heels not knowing how far we’d have to walk once we parked our car in Birmingham. It wasn’t too bad, though, because these heels are actually pretty comfortable. I was also glad to have the blazer for the chilly night air before and after the show.
**Plenty of these blazers left in True South when I went Friday afternoon.
We got home from Hamilton at about 1:15am and had church at 8:00, so the thought of picking out any clothes for next week seems like the most daunting thing. Instead, I think I’ll go get back in bed and take myself a nice rainy Sunday afternoon nap. Have a great week, y’all!
Closet Diaries | No. 1
I’ve been enjoying sharing all my outfits lately on Instagram, but I don’t always have time to link each piece. I thought I could compile my week’s worth of outfits here on the blog, link everything I can, and *hopefully* find some similar pieces if what I wore isn’t available.
These outfits are what I wear to work. (Except this week, we were off Monday.) I’m a teacher and very fortunate to be able to wear jeans to work everyday if I want to. We just have to abide by a few rules when wearing them, such as no distressing and we have to wear a nicer top with them. On Fridays we can be more casual and wear t-shirts/sweatshirts. Also, please forgive the iPhone mirror pics, but I’m snapping these on the way out the door, and that’s the most efficient way I can grab these photos. Okay, let’s get started!
Monday
*Wearing my true size in these jeans but think I could have gone down one size.
*Wearing my true size in the sneakers.
Tuesday
*Wearing my true size in the dress. It’s roomy, but if you’re busty, stick with your true size.
*Similar booties linked are the same brand as what I’m wearing. I wear my true size.
Wednesday
*Jeans and mules are true to size.
Thursday
*Jeans, black tee, and sneakers are true to size.
Friday
*Denim jacket is in shade Birdie. Size down one.
*Jeggings are true to size
*Booties linked are the same brand as what I have. They are true to size.
Bonus: Spanx Air Essentials Set
*Go with your true size in Spanx. For me that’s typically one size up from my pants/top size in regular clothes.
I look forward to putting together these round ups again. If you have any questions about the looks or if I forgot something that caught your eye, let me know! I’d be happy to find it for you.
4 Day Weeks are the Longest…
Hello friends!
You know, I’m not sure why I’m always surprised when a four day work week turns out to feel like the longest week of my life, but it always does. Monday was productive at home, and Tuesday was a great day.
But Wednesday.
Oh. My. Goodness.
Thursday was hair day! Praise be! It was also book club day. We read Every Summer After by Carley Fortune, and it was really good. I listened to it and really enjoyed the narrator.
I was basically itching to get out of the school house door on Friday afternoon, and I fully embraced relaxing Friday night.
So far Saturday has been lazy with the exception of laundry. The gloomy weather has been a great excuse to perch up on the couch and surf the internet for any good deals. I was influenced to buy this dress (got it in white but want in navy too if I love it) and this button down (got the blue and white bold stripe). I’ll let you know if they end up working out. They are relatively new arrivals, but we know how things start to sell out fast. I haven’t seen many people talking about the dress yet, so go ahead and scoop yours up now! The shirt wasn’t fully stocked but did have a few options left, so check it out now if you are curious. My motto is: Just return it later if it doesn’t work out or sell it to a friend.
Anyway, let’s wrap up this weekend by sharing a few things that have been useful, bringing me joy, and keeping me entertained lately.
We’ll start with an account on Instagram that is so incredibly interesting but also incredibly time-consuming. The account is @houseinhabit. She has a Substack account with a paid tier, which I don’t currently subscribe to, but I’m contemplating it. Jessica Kraus is the woman behind the account. She’s an independent journalist sharing hot takes and unpopular opinions on some of the biggest cases going on right now: Ghislaine Maxwell, Johnny Depp, Harvey Weinstein, and so many more. She’s unapologetic, authentic, and reliable. I am loving her account on Instagram and her newsletter. Riveting stuff, y’all, I promise!
The next thing I want to share is all about organization. I tried to be organized with my jewelry a while back. I even blogged about it in one of my early blog posts. (Check it out here.) It worked well until my Vivian Drew earring collection grew. Most of those are post-backed, so I found my trays overflowing. Enter an influencer on Instagram (but I can’t remember who). I saw her share this nifty little jewelry box that was not only pretty, but would help me keep things organized and tidy. Plus it would free up some space on the top of my dresser. It’s made a world of difference! You can take apart the dividers and customize it to fit what you need, but some drawers have different sized dividers than others. I’ve loved it!
Okay, I said I’d never use another planner in all my life. I even wrote a blog post about how much I loved the Simplified Daily Planner. (See that blog post here). But…… My mom always gives me a planner for Christmas, and I threw her for a loop when I said that I wanted to change to the Weekly Planner. Let me just tell you- I LOVE IT! Trying the weekly view of the planner was a great gamble.
Maybe the best thing about it is the absence of the spiral binding. I didn’t really care all that much about it when I was using the daily planner, but now that it’s gone, I am realizing how much better the weekly planner is- aesthetically and performative-ly. It also has a ribbon bookmark. I was always using paperclips or binder clips to mark my spot in the daily planner. This version is so much more efficient for me. If you’re a not-so-busy person that doesn’t need to schedule your day out by the hour, consider this weekly version. It has been a perfect fit for me.
I can’t believe I’m writing about this damn cup, but here we go. How many of us have seen an influencer on Instagram carrying this Stanley cup around? (I’m imagining all of you saying, “Omg, me!”.) Well, my mom of all people was the one who was influenced and scooped up one for me while it was on sale. Guys, it’s a cup. It keeps my water just as cold as my Yetis, Ozark Trails, Orcas, and Hydro Flasks.
But what’s so great about it is the handle. The HANDLE! I am willing to buy more cups with handles. I don’t think it has to be a Stanley cup. But the handle is the ticket! Also the 40oz capacity is great. And the straw. Don’t you drink more or drink faster when you drink out of a straw, or is that just me? Okay, so get a cup with a handle and a straw that holds 40oz of water. So….maybe just get a Stanley cup.
I can’t let this week go by without talking about press on nails. Yes! I know! But press on nails are still a thing. Apparently Kim Kardashian talked about them and people went nuts, but I’ve been on this train for about a year now. I took a break for a while because of the beautiful Zoya polishes that I just had to try out, but I’ve started wearing the nails again. I discovered Red Aspen Love from Megan (@counterfam), gave them a try, and fell in love. As with most new things, there’s a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll get better and better at the application and you’ll be so impressed with how natural they look. Everyone asks about them when I wear them, and I’m so excited to tell them they are press ons.
They are, at most, $16 a set. I can get 2 manicures out of each set, and the nails last up to two weeks. The amount of money you save by using these is incredible compared to the price you pay at a salon. Another plus about this brand is that the glue is a safer glue and a million times better than what’s used when you go have them done. I’m having a little pop up party, so if you’re curious, I’d love for you to shop through this link.
Lastly, I’m currently listening to Spare by Prince Harry. I have a lot of thoughts and not all of them are that positive. However, I’m only finished with part one. Maybe I’ll change my mind by the end of the book. Stay tuned here and on Instagram, where I normally post my quick reviews of the books I read. If you’re a royal watcher and happen to be reading this one, let me know. I’d love to know your thoughts.
That’s gonna do it for this week. Here’s to a restful Sunday and a great week ahead! See you next week. I’ve got lots of fun things planned, and I can’t wait to share!