2014: The Year In Style Review

So if you've kept up with my blog for any length of time, or if you've happened to have read my 'About Me' page, then you know I began this blog as a way to document my own journey into the unknown realm of "personal style". That makes it sound so much bigger than it really is, but when I made the choice to stop dressing exclusively in sweats, I was staring into this dark unknown territory and it was terrifying. I had spent years as a sheltered stay-at-home mom and my biggest excursions in those days consisted of grocery store shopping and preschool drop offs; I had completely forgotten what it was even like to "get dressed" or to "pick out clothes". I had no wardrobe, no closet, just drawers and drawers of yoga pants and t-shirts. So this being my second year blogging, I figured one of the greatest ways to take a look at how my personal style journey has evolved is to....well....see how it's evolved!

Now I'm not going to go all the way back through 2 years of outfit posts (yes, you may take a big sigh of relief) for 2 reasons. A.) that's 2 years worth of posts and this would be the world's longest post ever and B.) those first posts from the beginning are suuuuper embarrassing. It was like watching a toddler trying to figure out how to put their shoes on the right feet. It's that bad. If you really want to know where I began, you'll have to go back through the archives on your own because I really just cannot bring myself to post them a second time. Once was bad enough!

So this is just the 2014 recap. And even the outfits throughout this last year, I only chose my favorites for today because, hey, they can't all be winners. Amirite? So without further ado, here are my fashion favorites from 2014...

Closet Building 101: An Easy Step-by-Step Guide to a Wardrobe Overhaul

One year ago, when I made the decision to drag myself out of my "mom wear" of sweats and yoga pants and to start consciously dressing myself, I had to build an entire wardrobe from the ground up. Having literally nothing as a starting point and having to completely break down my closet it to rebuild it back up again was extremely intimidating. Not only could I not afford a wardrobe overhaul, I had no idea where to start. How could I get the most bang out of my buck? How do I know what pieces to buy? Where do I begin??

The big, bad, scary beginning

In the beginning, the task of starting completely fresh seemed to be so big and scary. And, although it took me a while, eventually I learned the whole process could be made easy just by breaking it down and following a few simple steps. The tips and steps themselves are so simplistic and really common sense, but when you're diving headfirst into the unknown and starting something new like this, "simple" can sometimes be elusive. It was for me anyway! I was over-thinking the whole thing and making it so much bigger and complicated than it needed to be. I mean, it's not science, it's just clothes! But I was incredibly disorganized and went about it all in a very haphazard way that left me with a closet that I couldn't do anything with. No bueno!

So the tips I'm sharing today are very basic and really just about how you can simplify this whole process and make it easier on yourself. They may not seem all that insightful to some of you seasoned veterans, but I'm targeting the rest. Yes, you! I wish I had something like this to act as my guide when I began, it would have taken so much intimidation out of, what seemed like, a huge task. So if you've built a wardrobe solely for functionality and now you want to turn it into a wardrobe for function and style, this one's for you. Hopefully I can help take a little bit of the fear out of starting all over again for you because I promise it's not as scary (or expensive) as it seems!

How can this work for you?

If it still sounds like this is more complicated than you're willing to take on, don't worry! This "guide" is for absolutely anyone; any size, any age, any style. I am not breaking down specific items or wardrobe staples that "everyone" should have in their closet or anything like that. Those posts can be really helpful, but we're thinking in broad strokes right now. This is more like a method for determining what you want in your closet. You need a direction, you need to figure out your style and tastes, and you want to stay on budget. 

A Vision in Grey

I don't know where this look even came from. I didn't see it anywhere, no "pinspiration" of any kind to guide me. Though I'm sure I'm not the first to go all grey....and I don't just mean my hair! Ba Dum Pssh! Thems jokes people! But I unearthed this sweater from the bottom of my winter box and decided to give it a whirl and these jeans are my clear favorite....and let's be honest, they were the only pair that were clean. And so, coupled together, my vision of grey was created.

Beauty From the Inside Out: The 5 Best Protein Packed Recipes for Skin and Hair

“This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Aloha, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #myAloha and #AlohaMoment http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV”

Protein! You hear about it all the time. You want shiny, healthy hair? Protein. You want long, strengthened nails? Protein. You want glowing skin? Say it with me: protein. Protein is essential for that youthful, glowing look we all covet.

You see all these DIY beauty recipes floating around and they usually include some form of protein. But why protein? Because it's the stuff we're made from, people! Skin, hair, nails, all of it. I hate to admit it, because I hated it so much, but anatomy class did teach me at least one thing. So it's no surprise to see it listed as one of the ingredients in these recipes. However, not all of these recipes work just because you threw in a protein. So how do you know which ones do? And how do you get the most benefits from your protein?

From the inside out, of course! Yes, slapping that stuff on externally will get you some results. But think about it, we need to start at the source; from the inside. Too many people forget that it's not just what we put on our bodies. Let's get that protein inside and outside! From masks to smoothies, here are some ways you can maximize your protein results and get that healthy, glowing look.

Black Friday Steals

I am going to rant for a minute. You've been to my blog before, nothing new here. I have always hated Black Friday. Loathed it in fact. I once worked in retail during a Black Friday and seeing that craziness first hand absolutely terrified me. There were clothes strewn all over the place, people were climbing the employee ladders; it was pandemonium! Then you hear stories of people getting in fights over pillows. Pillows! A physical altercation over pillows. I can't. What has Black Friday reduced us to when we're fighting over getting the better deal on a pillow? I have always loved a good deal and I frequently rave about how cheap I am able to get something, but Black Friday? I have always avoided that black pit of craziness like the plague.

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  But I have to admit, when Black Friday deals were extended to online shopping, it peaked my interest. Getting good deals from the comfort of my own cozy home, dressed in my PJs, coffee in hand? Ok, I'll bite. You've got my attention. Payless is one of these stores who's Black Friday sales ran online and since this is one of my favorite stores....Yipee!! It drug me out of my Black Friday hatred just a little. Especially since I've been admiring the York riding boots at Payless Shoesource for months now. And this Friday they were on sale for....wait for it...$16.99. Boom. I immediately threw my Black Friday reservations out the window and those sweet boots in my cart. And since I was feeling generous, I picked up a schnazzy pair of kicks for the hubs too. Feeling generous or just really hating his current shoes? Eh, tomato, tomahto. But even still, with my boots, his tennies, and free shipping, our total came to $41. AND they arrived in 2 days. That never happens. Ok. I think I might actually love Black Friday.

Holiday Style

Christmas, Christmas, Christmas. I love the holidays. I truly do. It is the single thing that gets me through the brutal winter season. Each year the days start to get a little colder, a little shorter, and a little gloomier. It's seriously depressing. I think I've made that fact clear several times. But the bright spot in this dreary time of year, is the festive holiday season..... and the cookies. Let us not underestimate the power of a good chocolate chip cookie!

So since Christmas is the only thing I anticipate amidst this 6 month stretch of "blah", I go all out. Thanksgiving night? Bam, that tree is up and twinkling! And in addition to the tree, our yearly gingerbread house and tons of handmade paper snowflakes (yes, each year countless hours are spent constructing 50+ snowflakes made by yours truly; you may let your admiration flow freely), I get each of the kids a Christmas shirt and jammies. It's a yearly tradition that began when I was a kid. My mom always made us our Christmas shirts.....

So what do you love more, the hair, the brows or the acid wash jeans?

And while I forgo the impressive craft of making them myself, I still always deck the kids out out holiday style. This year, we went one step further and got personalized holiday shirts. How's that for fancy? Everything is better with your name on it, right? Assuming you don't have a unique name like my sister (Kendall) that's almost always impossible to find in souvenirs and other random knick knacks, then it's a pain. But Bright Star Kids allows you to customize them yourself, with any name or phrase you choose.

I chose this really cute reindeer design and customized Izzy's shirt with her name. Then I found this wall decal to match. And since I'm a very "matchy-matchy" kind of person, this was perfect. 

A Two Day Reprieve

That's what mother nature gave us this weekend. We had two super warm (but windy) days. And since I knew this was a fluke and would be short lived, I snatched my opportunity for an outfit post!