Just Another Manic Monday

I may be dating myself, but I still really love this song and can’t help but sing along {full concert mode} whenever it comes on the radio.

It’s already been a tad bit of a manic Monday here. My 1st grader is on Spring Break this week, and I opted to save half our daycare fee by keeping both boys home with me all week. {Luckily my job is pretty much working from home right now, so I am able to do so!} We had an exciting Easter weekend in which we accomplished THREE Easter egg hunts, went to our church service and spent the weekend with Jake’s parents and his brother’s family since they came to town with their little ones. I definitely didn’t feel rested when I had to get up at 3am this morning to work the opening shift at my gym. But, I did make it to barre class to hopefully redeem myself for some of the things I had eaten over the holiday! So needless to say, this song was on my mind today.

Anyway, this Monday post isn’t about these Bangles, it’s about THESE bangles:

{Forever 21}

I’m sure many of you are now familiar with the term “arm party“. I am in love with this trend…I remember playing dress up as a young girl with my best friends and we would pile on the jewelry. No doubt each of us would have our arms stacked nearly from wrist to elbow with beads and bracelets.

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Just so fabulous…I love it. This has inspired me to get some more bangles and bracelets so I can create all sorts of arm parties. Here are a few I’ve stumbled across – I wanted to share them with you.

This set at Target is sure to get your collection jump-started:

This one from Forever 21 will go with just about anything. Check out their collection of bangles and bracelets at great prices – most under $10.00!

{Madewell}

Have you tried the arm party trend yet? Do you like to be bold and fun with it? Understated, yet classy? There are so many ways to create an arm party – and they are a great addition to dress up any outfit – even just a tee and pair of jeans.

Happy Monday, y’all!

 

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Dressing for Easter

I know many moms out there have already planned and/or purchased Easter outfits for their little kids. Well, hand me the bad mommy card because I have NOT. I’m going to be real with y’all. I have two BOYS. Two boys that seem heck bent on staining every piece of clothing I buy them. So let’s just say, I don’t get too excited to buy them expensive new outfits they’ll likely wear only once…and/or possibly ruin that day.

We pretty much try to attend church every Sunday, so despite our lack of new clothes, I think we’re a little ahead of some that are putting on their “Easter best” this coming Sunday since for many it will be the last time they see church until Christmas. Needless to say, we have a fair amount of khakis, polos and button-downs for the boys to wear to church, so really, I don’t see the need in purchasing anything new just because it’s Easter. In fact, there’s a good chance I’ll put them in the outfits they wore for our downtown family photo shoot:

{But maybe khakis instead of jeans? Yeah.}

I probably won’t purchase an Easter dress for myself either, I have a few things in my closet that I haven’t even worn yet…and actually there is one Lauren Conrad dress I bought a little over a year ago at Kohl’s that I’ve never worn and I think it would be the perfect Easter dress:

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So pretty, floral and very “spring” if you ask me.

What about you? Do you buy new Easter church outfits each year? What about for your kids?

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Beach Ready

It’s getting close to that time of year, y’all. {Praise the Lord!}

 1. Fedora w/Leopard Band

2. Ray Ban Aviators

3. Roxy Sun Dancer Scalloped Bikini

4. China Glaze Nail Enamel: Flip Flop Fantasy

5. Missoni Home Hugo Beach Towel

6. Neutrogena “Beach Defense” Sunscreen

7. Lands End Canvas Tote {I’ve got the same one with the same name….lol}

Cheers to sunshine and warm weather! xoxo

 

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Black & White Maxi Skirt {3 Ways}

The other day, I was perusing Marshall’s and literally ended up spending a small fortune. I found so many cute things for summer and just simply couldn’t resist. One of my favorite finds of the day was a black & white striped Michael Kors maxi skirt for $34.99. I was just playing around with some things in my closet and put together some quick ensembles with it. {Sorry in advance for some of the smudgies – didn’t realize how my mirror needed a good cleaning – thanks DSLR for pointing that out!}

The top in this first pic is from Target. I got them on a buy 1 get one half off sale, so one was $10, the next was $5. The bauble necklace is that infamous J.Crew lookalike I got off of eBay for $14.99 {sure beats the $150.00 J.Crew price tag!}

The top in this second picture is from Kohl’s last year. I love the shoulder cut-outs and the color. I got it in a few different colors at the time since it was such a steal. Feel free to shop Kohl’s tops collection here. {They are actually giving a 10% online discount to everyone through May 10th, just use the promo code BLOGS10 at checkout!} Again, another J.Crew look-a-like bauble.

And lastly, this is the skirt paired with just a simple black tank. I tucked it in to give more waistline definition.

I have so many other things I can pair with this skirt – its classic lines and colors make it so versatile. It’s going to be a spring/summer staple for sure. It’s so comfy, I could live in it all summer – maybe I will. xoxo

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St. Patty’s Outfit {The Deets}

So yesterday in my Monday Musings post, I posted a quick, but not too quality pic of my outfit from St. Patty’s Day. I actually got a few compliments on the get-up while out and about that day, so I thought I would share with all of you just what it’s made of.

Dress: TJ Maxx / Boots: Minnetonka Moccassins / Necklace: Bohme Boutique /		Earrings: Target

Some of you may remember this outfit from the Rascal Flatts/The Band Perry concert I went to on Valentine’s Day when I got to meet The Band Perry backstage! This dress was such a great find at TJ Maxx for $12.99 – and now I have some much-needed green in my closet {I am seriously lacking in that department!} And plus, it is fitting with Pantone’s 2013 Color of the Year: Emerald.

These earrings were a steal at Target for $7.99. I checked and they are not available online, so I suggest you run to your nearest store and raid their jewelry section…they had tons of great stuff.

The necklace is from Bohme Boutique. I got this when I visited Idaho last summer. They do not have these boutiques on the East Coast…I think so far they are only in California and the Northwestern states. So if you live over there, lucky you! They had a great selection of jewelry.

And I tell you, I have not gotten tired of my Minnetonka Moccassins and I don’t think I ever will. LOVE.

Hope y’all had a great St. Patty’s Day! xoxo

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Ways To Wear Emerald

With St. Patty’s Day just around the corner, and emerald being Pantone’s 2013 Color of the Year, I thought it would be great to show some ways to incorporate emerald into your wardrobe. I personally have never been a big fan of greens in my wardrobe, however, I love the tone of emerald if I am ever to start branching out with more green.

If you prefer just a pop of green, go with a scarf on neutrals:

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 Maybe try it on your nails:

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Or a fun statement necklace:

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If you look great in green, or are just looking to brighten up your wardrobe I suggest trying some cute skinny jeans:

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Or an emerald shirt or sweater paired with a patterned scarf:

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Have fun with it – hoping to see lots of the emerald shade this St. Patty’s Day! I know that’s what I’ll be sportin’! xoxo

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Friday Five

Hey y’all – Happy Friday! Cheers to the freakin’ weekend, right? Man, it’s been chilly here in Charleston! It was so windy the other day, a triangular sign stand flew into my car door at the gas station and I had to squeeze my way out of the car. {Luckily no vehicle damage, but sheesh!}

This weekend is supposed to bring some low 70s temps here in the Lowcountry…I’m thinking Sunday is a definite beach day provided it still looks to be clear and sunny. It is March, OK? I mean, I am done with this winter shit.

Anywho…here are some fabulous finds for my Friday Five…enjoy!

One.

One of my fave style mavens, Emily Maynard, just launched a new lifestyle and fashion blog…can’t wait to read it on the daily! Just love that girl’s style and she is so dang cute. After all, she is the one that inspired my Minnetonka Moccassin Boots purchase!

Two.

This cute little clover charm…I think it would be perfect to sport on St. Patty’s Day, or even just “for luck”.

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Three.

Barre classes. Yep, started going to them again. My gym now has them for FREE. {I know, right?!} I work at the gym now until 8am on the mornings I work, and then there are classes at 8:15am, so I stick around and take them. I went on Monday AND Wednesday this week and I FEEL THE BURN, y’all. And I workout very regularly…so when I say it was brutal, I mean it. I plan on going tomorrow morning too. Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays will be my new schedule with those classes for sure. I also still have a Living Social coupon for 4 classes at Barre Evolution, where I took my very first barre class last summer. Here’s to a toned bikini bod! I recommend you try.

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Four.

I’m at no shortage for maxi dresses by any means {I live in them in the summertime}, but I am seriously considering purchasing this maxi dress for the beach…how super-easy it is to throw on and off…great for heading out to the beach bar for an afternoon cocktail right off the beach.

Five.

Lastly, I’ve been fixated on prepping my wardrobe for spring and summer fashion…looking to Pinterest for great ideas and seeing what I already have that I can use to recreate some of the looks…definitely think I need some sort of bulletin board in my closet to manually “pin” pictures of outfits too so I can look to it when getting dressed in the AM {lightbulb!} But here’s an outfit I found that I just L-O-V-E:

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Definitely recreating that with my navy and white striped Gap tee and nude heels. Just need a great pair of nude shorts. And that Celine bag…actually, some might not like that I say this, but I read about so many style bloggers lovin’ on that bag right now, but I sorta think it looks like a Lego man face…nice bag, but it’s definitely staring at me.

Happy weekend, y’all! xoxo

 

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I’m On A Boat!

Haha, NOT. {Did I really just pull out a circa 1990s not?} But anyway, seriously wish I was. However, just because I’m not, doesn’t mean I can’t have me some stylish and comfy boat shoes. I’ve been in Charleston for about 8 years now…I think it’s time. It’s also time for me to get on some more boats…{I’ll work on that}.

Here are some boat shoes by Sperry that I’m dying to rest my feet in comfortably…perfect for shopping or just having a casual weekend.

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 I’m in the mood for spring, aren’t you?

 

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Valentine’s Day Recap

I’m in a haze this morning, y’all…extremely exhausted. But Rascal Flatts and The Band Perry were AWESOME last night! We had such a fun Valentine’s Day. It was what we needed because Jake had to fly to Illinois early this morning – his grandfather passed away early yesterday morning. He is attending the funeral and being with family and won’t return until late Monday night. Just me and the boys for about four whole days…we’re going to miss him.

Yesterday after picking up the boys from school, I surprised them with a little Valentine’s Day party of our own:

The beer of course was for Jake. {I figured he’d like that more than flowers.}

Did you catch that sneak peek at our new table? Mentioned changing out the dining situation in this post the other day.

As for the Rascal Flatts concert later that night, I had gone searching that day for the perfect dress to pair with my Minnetonka Moccassins {I already had it set in my mind I was going to wear those to the concert}. And it didn’t take me long to find…check out this beautiful teal dress I snagged up at TJ Maxx for $12.99:

It’s so light and comfy – will be perfect for summer. I’ll admit I was a little chilly at last night’s concert, but not so bad that I couldn’t stand it. 

 

The boots are available here and the necklace I bought at Bohme when I visited my family in Idaho last August.

We got to meet The Band Perry backstage last night…Kimberly Perry is much shorter than I thought she was, but she is super-cute and they put on a really good show. I found out we are the same age – she turns 30 in July. {Maybe there’s still hope then for my country music career? No?} I love both her brothers’ {Neil and Reid} hairstyles. We got a picture taken with them, but that will come later as they haven’t posted it to their website yet {they wouldn’t let anyone take pics with their own cameras}.

Oh and speaking of concerts – I’m definitely dropping hints to Jake that I want to see Carrie Underwood on April 17th in Columbia, SC {my 30th birthday is April 14th}…and just found out that Jason Aldean and Jake Owen are coming to Charleston in May – going to be a great year of concerts! {Maybe I can try to win some more tix on the radio? So far my track record is twice – the concert last night and also saw Tonic in 2009 after winning tickets on 95SX! But don’t want to jinx myself.}

Anyway, I hope y’all had a very romantic and sweet Valentine’s Day. xoxo.

P.S. I realized in the past year or two I’ve really become quite the country music fan…never really was growing up. I think that it has to do with the maturity and substance of the songs in the genre…I must be growing up. But I still love a little bit of everything. ♥

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V-Day Wear – Day, Evening, At-Home

I’m not a big V-Day advocate or anything, but I do like to make it a little special just for the sake of mixing things up a bit with the hubby.

I’m not sure what our plans are this year, but honestly, I’d be happy curling up next to him in some comfy {but sexy} PJs with a glass of wine and a romantic comedy. I think many of us women that are in relationships would much rather go that route than deal with the restaurant waits and fuss. {But maybe that’s just me?}

Anyway, here are some suggestions for V-Day wear:

Valentine’s Daytime Date by morgan483 featuring teardrop earrings

Peplum top, $24 / rag & bone skinny leg jeans, $210 / Platform heels / Christian Louboutin clutch / White House Black Market bangle bracelet / Teardrop earrings, $38 / Tahitian black pearl necklace

Valentine’s Evening Date by morgan483 featuring a c wonder

ISSA London short a line dress, $865 / Oska short sleeve cropped cardigan, $100 / GUESS high heels / C. Wonder c wonder / Jon Richard white pearl necklace, $55

Valentine’s Movie At Home by morgan483 featuring gray shoes

Eberjey / UGG Australia gray shoes, $110 / Circ Party Bowl Popcorn / Cabernet Red Wine Glass Holmegaard

Hope you and your honey have a lovely Valentine’s Day. xoxo

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