Tis the Season: Fall Fashion

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

I have never understood "high fashion". I know, how do I have a fashion blog? But I'm a mom in small-town Indiana and "straight off the runway" just does not work for my lifestyle (or my wallet, if you really want to get specific). I don't exactly spend a lot of nights "out on the town" or at red carpet events; I don't go to art shows or fancy charity events. But as Miranda explains (quite eloquently) in the Devil Wears Prada,

"I see. You think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select... I don't know... that lumpy blue sweater, for instance because you're trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don't know is that that sweater is not just blue, it's not turquoise. It's not lapis. It's actually cerulean. And you're also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent... wasn't it who showed cerulean military jackets? I think we need a jacket here. And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers. And then it, uh, filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic Casual Corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you're wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff."

this high fashion, straight off the runway hullabaloo I can't seem to understand, does influence what the rest of us peons wear. Now I'm not refusing the fashion industry because I take myself too seriously or have a disregard for designers the way Andy did, I just don't live their lifestyle or earn their income to make it appropriate for my daily life. BUT as she points out, high fashion majorly influences what I wear. All of my closet and outfit combinations are completely comprised of inspiration I draw from what I see. What are my spots for inspiration? Well Pinterest, of course. And other bloggers. But my favorite source is fashion magazines. Most especially fall fashion magazines. Can I get an Amen?

There is just something greatly cathartic about sitting down with my enormous magazines, curled up on the couch in the worst sweats imaginable, coffee in hand. So while I was looking a hot mess, dreaming of...well....not looking a hot mess, I was majorly inspired by this season's fall looks and how I can work them into my everyday lifestyle. These are a few of my favorite trends and how you and I, regular folk, can have functional pieces that work for our lives (and budgets!).

A Sad Farewell is Looming

That yearly farewell to summer is coming. And I am dreading it. Fall is absolutely my favorite season but it's what comes after it that I dread. It taints my view of fall. I can't anticipate my favorite season because my least favorite season follows it. Are there actually people out there who like winter? I just can't see the appeal. The days are shorter, drearier, colder and it seems to draaaaaaag on forever. It's usually about this time of the year that my seasonal depression starts to slowly creep in. So I'm holding on desperately to what last shreds of summer I can. While I was embracing fall fashion last week, not today. No dressing for fall, I'm full on summer today with this white/nautical feel....after all, no white after labor day, right? Today is the last day I can wear white this year, right? Psssh. I have never felt the need to abide by that rule. Is it actually still a "rule" anymore anyway? 

Patience at it's Finest

I am a whiner. I always have been. My mom used to tell me when I was a kid to stop whining, she wasn't going to speak to me until I stopped. I would reply back to her in my whiniest voice, "But I'm not whiniiiinnnnggg!!". I seriously whined so much, I had completely lost touch on how to speak normally and had no idea I was even doing it. (Sorry, mom!!) Well, I have since learned how to speak in a "normal" tone but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't still guilty of the occasional whine. Today was one of those times.

One Last Shebang

So if you notice over there in the sidebar, I've added a shop my closet at Poshmark. It took me forever to finally put together but it was a long time coming. After jean jackets came back in style and I realized I used to have one and got rid of it, I've been afraid to get rid of anything. So I have a closet (and boxes upon boxes) filled with clothes that never get worn but never get thrown out either. I'm most definitely a hoarder when it comes to clothes. I'm ashamed at just how much just hangs there neglected, but I have an unnatural fear!

So I've been forcing myself to abide by the rule "if it hasn't been worn it in a year, it's time to go". Well, it's still REALLY hard to bring myself to get rid of things! These cobalt skinnies are one of those things. I've not worn them for a year and even then I only wore theses cobalt skinnies a couple times so they are still like new. It's so hard to get rid of something that is like new! So I'm giving them one last "hoorah" to see if they really belong on the short list. Problem is, I'm still undecided! 

MoxieJean: The Little Fashionista

For an entire year I have had this blog and for an entire year my daughter has been asking for one of her own. She's 6. Uh...no ma'am. But that doesn't mean I can't share with her every now and again, right? Of course I can! So (drum roll please) I introduce to you, the witty, the charming, the fabulous Izzzzzyyyy!

Isn't she charming?

And there is no better time than now to share her and her wee little fashion because the new school year is upon us and I know all you mommies out there are back-to-school shopping too....and probably spending a fortune.

But, whoa, wait a second. Back the train up. I'm all frugal and thrifty over here, buying my things super cheap so I can go out and spend a fortune on the kids? Oh, no no no miss thang, I am not! Plus, we know they're just going to outgrow it all in a year (month...week...day...they never stop growing!) anyway, so why go into debt just to clothe them? I would not spend that much on myself, so I am most certainly not spending that on this messy, growin-like-a-weed, rough and tumble kid!

This year, you fellow frugal mommies can streeeeetch your back-to-school budget while still dressing your budding fashionista supa dupa fly. MoxieJean is an online consignment store that carries great brands like Gymboree, Gap, Old Navy, Baby Lulu, Ralph Lauren, etc. All at 75% or more off retail prices.
 For a mere 35 chucks, I was able to score Izzy 3 separate looks! Holy money saving steals, Batman! And MoxieJean adds hundreds of new outfits every Monday and Thursday so there is always something new to choose from, and with sizes newborn all the way through to 13-14, there's something there for your entire fashionable clan. 

So, without further adu, here is little miss Isabella sporting her back-to-school looks I scored from Moxie...

Summer Survival: The Date Night

Ok, so if you have followed my blog for any length of time, you ladies already know that date nights are far and few between for this mama of 3. If you're a mom, you're nodding your head, saying "Yep!". You know what that's like. So when I do get that rare chance, I take it very seriously. This is my opportunity! This is my time to shine and get all gussied up! (fyi: "gussied" is the official term) I want to step out carefree and fabulous, sans kids. I want to throw on my heels and lipstick without worrying about sticky hands, runny noses or repeated whines of "She's looking at me." "He pushed me." or my personal favorite, "The cat threw up again." (I hear that one a lot more than you would think!)

Needless to say, date nights can be a savior for me when I'm ready to pull my hair out. Summertime is by far my favorite time for these date nights. My winter ensemble consists of two styles: bulky and even more bulky. But summer, I can whip out those skirts and dresses and those (gasp!) sexy, strappy tops. I'm mommy no more; I am wife and goddess. (humor me here)

Of course, my under things have to accommodate these summer styles. I'm sorry, I am just not a fan of thongs....but I'm not a fan of underwear lines either. And do you have any idea what a pain it is to have to keep yanking at your strapless bra? You're a woman, of course you do. But what's the alternative? Have your bra showing? No thanks. Maidenform has become imperative for my summer survival. Yes, I said imperative. I want to be able to strut my stuff for my hubs on those rare date nights without worrying about what I can and can't wear based on what I have to go under it. I didn't find a babysitter so I can look mediocre....yet again. I didn't leave my worries behind so I can gain another. I want quality, comfortable, effortless pieces that help me look my best self. Don't you? Of course you do!

So I've built some of my favorite summer date night looks and have included all the necessary Maidenform pieces I need to make them perfect. It's all about surviving summer; making the best of those dates.

I Love Pockets

I really do. I don't know why I love them so much but they do genuinely make me happy. It's not like pockets are a newfangled contraption and they're not exactly hard to come by; most things come with pockets installed (in place?) but, still, I always get a thrill out of them. 

One thing I really hate is when you get a pair pants (or shorts, a skirt, whatever) and the pockets are fake. That really grinds my gears. Like, why are you withholding the pockets? Did you forget about them? Did you run out of pocket fabric at the pocket store? Did you not think I might like to put things in these false so-called "pockets"? Where is my Chapstick supposed to go? What if my hand gets tired and I need a place to rest it? Charlatan! Anyway, these pockets are real so crisis averted.

I'll Take an Order of Lace, With a Side of Lace

There is no denying that I love lace. I wear it frequently. I always find that on those "I have nothing to wear" days, lace is always an easy, go-to choice to fall back on because it always looks good and it can jazz up darn near everything. Plain pair of jeans? Lace. Shorts? Lace. Skirt? Lace. And does lace ever go out of style? I'm pretty sure lace has no expiration date. This particular top is sweet and feminine because of the lace fabric but edgy (and dare I say) a little bit sexy because of the cut and color. It could easily transform to fit any style and you know me, I love "easy"! When deciding how to wear it today though, I thought what better to pair with it but more lace?

Lace Top c/o Choies *ONLY $13.99!* // Lace Shorts c/o Oasap *ONLY $8.90!* // Bag- Target // Heels- Shoe Dazzle

What's Your Style?

Have you ever been presented with this question? There are all these categories; classic, bohemian, feminine, casual, preppy, traditional, sporty, etc., etc. but where do you fit? Where do I fit?

Turn a Negative into a Positive: The Secret to A Happier You

I wake up in the morning ready to carpe the sheet out of the diem. I start everyday this way. It's a new day, the sun is shining, the birds are chirping and there are endless possibilities. I can make this day my biatch! So, wait, what happened? Why don't I feel ready to take on the world? In fact, I never do. My mind is always plagued with worry and all of my "problems" are always circling around in my head. The damn diem never gets carped! But, why?

 The last year has been a whirlwind for me. It started when my grandma passed away and seemed to snowball from there. My relationships, friendships, marriage, state of mind and even my blog started to slip. Nothing was ever going to be right again after she left so why even bother? I made an effort to put on a pretty face for the rest of the world because that's what was expected but inside I always felt like a big ball of negativity. And well, negativity breeds negativity. Maybe the rest of the world bought my happy exterior (maybe they didn't) but the universe seemed to knew better and the hits just kept on coming.

I felt like every step I took forward, I got shoved two (or twelve) steps back. I kept wondering how I was ever going to get ahead like this. How am I supposed to think positive when negative things keep happening?? And how am I supposed to be productive and solve these problems when I can't get my head out of this downward spiral? But then I thought, maybe my negative thoughts were having an effect on the negative happenings too. Could I be perpetuating this cycle? Maybe I could control some of this. Some times bad things just happen and there's nothing we can do to change them; the death of a loved one isn't something we can change and it's definitely something you can make yourself crazy with. All of those "what ifs" can be toxic. Those thoughts can majorly effect our mental state; I know this personally. But what about that snowball effect? Does it have to happen that way? Does one bad happening have to spawn a continuous series of bad happenings? Maybe we don't have to be completely out of control on how these things effect us. And, heck, maybe we can even encourage good things to happen too! So, I went out on a (skeptical) limb and found some really surprising results!

So what did I do? What's the secret? How did I turn these negatives into positives? It's going to sound cheesy but stick with me...