Style Favorite: The Ankle Boots

So just this last week, I did a 2014 recap of all my favorite outfits from the last year. As I was looking through them all and seeing them all in one place, I noticed there were definitely some pieces making frequent reappearances. This makes sense, of course, if you've read my guide to an easy closet overhaul. But for those of you who haven't read it (for shame!) this really showcases how I choose the pieces I purchase and how I use those pieces to maximum versatility. So to branch out from my guide, I'm going to try to wrangle up a little mini series of "Ways to wear: blah, blah, blah". It sounds really classy, doesn't it? No but seriously, my goal is to share how much life one small purchase can have in it, when you shop smart.

Suspect No. 1- The Ankle Boots. I was actually quite wary when I made this purchase. In my mind, at the time, I viewed these boots more as a fun splurge than a practical staple. I didn't expect to get much wear out of them; just a touch here and there. However, as usual, I turned out to be wrong. These boots have taken me across the seasons and back again. So after noticing there were repeats, I rounded the rest of the booties up and slapped them down here for a "How to wear: ankle boots" shin dig.

Leopard and Leather- Full Post
This is when the boots were brand new and I was completely enamored with them. I honestly can't think of a better pair of shoes to complete this outfit. The outfit itself isn't the favorite of all I've worn, but for what it is, the boots look great with it.

Distressed Flannel- Full Post
This outfit, however, was my first time wearing a plaid. I loved this shirt, but I knew it could become very "lumberjack" in a hot minute and I needed to be careful how I styled it. The boots keep it chic and stylish and away from country bumpkin.


Aztec- Full Post
This is another one that I couldn't picture a better pair to complete this outfit. Riding boots could have worked, but these give it a little more "oomph" and makes it look more put together.

Lace- Full Post
This was my first time wearing boots with a dress. Ordinarily I would only ever pair a dress with sandals or wedges. And while that would have looked nice too, it was nearing fall and the boots kept this dress relevant and brought it into the new season.

Military- Full Post

Ah, the military jacket. I wanted one of these for so long before I finally got this one. I ordered it online so I wasn't able to try it on; I was surprised at how big it was when it arrived. With this style and roomy size, the look ran the risk of looking like I was headed for combat. Once again, the boots saved this look and immediately made it chic instead of frumpy.

Now these aren't all my "favorite outfits" or anything, just a mash-up of all the ankle boots in one place. Hit or miss, win or lose, there's no denying the old girls have some life in them. Unfortunately the original pair are sold out. whomp whomp #sadface but I did find some other great similar options.

1.Michael Antonio  2.Zigi  3.Michael Antonio 4.Isaac Mizrahi  5.Kelsi Dagger  6.Sam Edleman  7.LuLus  8.Saks Fifth Avenue 9.Charlotte Russe


I love all of these options; some even more than the pair I have (#2 and 3 are rocking my world!)! But either way, the ankle booties have been a great, versatile addition to my humble closet. Its always great to be able to wear something over and over again, and staples are a must have for a wardrobe on a budget! So I have to ask...

What is one of your favorite staple pieces?

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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...

Frugal Fall Fashion

Have you all ever known me to spend a lot of money on what I wear? Or anything really? No, you haven't. If my blog had a motto it'd be "If it ain't broke, don't spend it". Ok, maybe I need to work on that motto. But the point is, I've been screaming from the rooftops (or my blog, tomato/tomahto) how I never ever "splurge" on anything because it's excessive, unnecessary and, in my case, simply unobtainable. We're a one income household full of kids. It just ain't happenin'. But what are you paying for really? A label? Yeah, I can do without that. I'm not a materialistic person. I just can't understand spending nearly double on an identical item just because of a brand name. Price is not always equal to quality. I think a lot of women are misguided and think the higher the price tag, the higher the quality. That age old saying "You get what you pay for" is really ingrained in us but it's an antiquated, archaic notion. Trust me on this, I have a lot of experience behind me!

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!).

Summer Fashion Favorites: 30 Under $30

Ahh, tis the season! It's summa, summa, summatime...

Summer is my jam, ya'll. I mean, I like spring, I like fall (dread winter) but summer is where it's at.  It's also time to break out all the skirts and dresses! They're easy and absolutely ideal for those of us who are too lazy to put on pants; what's not to love?

So in anticipation of the upcoming heat, I've compiled some favs (30 to be exact) to share with you guys. Bonus: they're all under $30! Booyah! I love when people do a post and they're all like "save vs splurge" and the "save" is like $150. Get that ish outta here! That's a splurge, homie! None of those here, you're safe to peruse at your leisure. And with 30 options to choose from, you're bound to find something you love!

Playlist of the Week: Go do Some Dishes (ya, old granny you!)

This is a fashion/beauty blog but it's also MY blog. And I've let it become boring. The horror!! So in lieu of the deafening silence that's been plaguing these parts from lack of style inspiration, I'm branching out and giving you my playlist for the week because it's put a little pep in my step. This is also my soundtrack for cleaning; makes doing the dishes a little less brutal. My kids are cringing at my "old" music. I thought being "old" and "lame" would feel different but I'm just relishing in their annoyance. Mom of the year right here!! Tell me you can't turn up "Nothing Compares" at top volume, belting in your best Sinéad, and not feel amaze? So if you're as "old" as I am, this one's for you!





(This was a "commonly misheard lyric" for me...I only just realized this year that it's "broken glass" instead of "gonna get back". Hey, I was like 5...)


(This is the ONLY song my kids like....because they're little Labyrinth fanlings like me. David Bowie in those tights; that mullet; that glitter! Swoon!)

No Spend Spring: No Money, No Problem

Today is the first day of spring! That puts me in a "Hells yeah!" kinda mood! Except....slow your roll partner....it's only 40°! However, I know (or am hoping rather) some spring weather is around the corner and I'm ready to hurl myself into spring fashion.

But wait! I have to pump the breaks again, I have NO money to spend on a new season of clothes! I've got a certain little girl's birthday party to fund AND we're in the middle of a move. I repeat: I have NO money to spend on clothes! However, I've decided that rather than letting that bring me down, I'm going to make what I already have work into spring 2014.

I've always had the mindset that I need to restock my closet with every new season and when I can't, that bums me out. Especially when all of the stores are proudly displaying all these beautiful new pieces and fellow bloggers are rocking their new purchases. It's so hard not to want a piece of that! So this season is all about retraining my brain; looking at what I've already got in a whole new way. I've been on a serious hunt for inspiration on new ways to rock what I've already got in my closet. After going through all of my long-forgotten pins, I've found tons of great inspiration and outfits made entirely out of pieces I already own. So now, rather than to be bummed about my lack of funds, I'm excited to try things in new ways. Maybe I can be that 1 blogger out of a million who can inspire you NOT to go shopping this season! :)

Follow Lindsey Blincoe's board Spring/Summer on Pinterest.



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Cosmo Asks: What Is It Really Like To Be A Fat Woman?

Now you may be wondering what in the hell I could possibly know about being "fat". (I have to use quotations....I hate that word and I feel that it's so very subjective....just like pretty, ugly, thin, beautiful; we all see things differently) There's no denying that I'm "small" (again, I have to use quotations!) and I always have been. Just as some girls struggle to keep their weight down, I have always struggled to keep my weight up. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining. I am not one of those attention seekers who cry "fat" on the regular, fishing for compliments and looking to receive a chorus of "OMG, you're sooo not fat! You look amazinnnng!". I know that I have genetically lucked out. So then why would I be posting about what it's like to be "fat", when I admittedly know nothing about it?

via

Best DIY Beauty of 2013

Hey, guys! You probably know by now that I love the world of fashion and beauty. However, I take an extremely frugal approach to it. My blog's entire purpose was to motivate women, like me, who don't have much money for it all. Just because you can't prance around in Prada or play around with the latest MAC product, doesn't mean you have to give up. I think moms are the biggest victim to this misconception and thus mom jeans and pony tails were created. Don't get me wrong, I love a good pair of sweatpants but we don't have to be limited to that. As it turns out, beauty DIY-style can be a great solution to low funds. These recipes are just as good (if not better) at meeting your needs, but best of all, it's at a fraction of the cost! So since we are at the start of 2014, I thought it would be a great time to do a roundup of my DIY beauty posts from 2013.

This year has brought some amazing beauty recipes and they have completely changed the way I look at skin and hair care. I have never thought of myself as "granola" but we go through life being conditioned to think that fancy brands and complex ingredients are the things that make a product the best. (I'm in the middle of a Mad Men marathon, I know where that started!) Ingredients from the kitchen are not what most of us think of when we think "beauty products" but I've come to find that they can actually be the best when you want results. So break out your inner "hippy"; it's time for us to simplify, ladies! I'm dusting off all of these posts from the year to re-share them with you so you can get to the kitchen and start creating! 

1. No Poo Method

This has been my greatest find this year. I'll even dare to go so far as to say it has changed my life. For women, hair can be a huge burden and can make or break the kind of day you're going to have. With No Poo, "bad hair days" are a thing of the past!

2. DIY Zit Zapper: Aspirin and Lemon Juice Mask

This mask, for me, is more of a spot treatment. The ingredients in this will clear up any breakout in 24 hours. Got a special occasion? Don't let a breakout ruin it! You can clear it up with 2 simple and inexpensive ingredients.

3. DIY Foot Soak: Get Rid of Cracked Feet in 15 Minutes

This foot soak is especially good for those dry winter months. 15 minutes in this soak will take your feet from dry and cracked to soft and smooth. Even better? You probably already have all of the ingredients on hand!

4. Coconut Oil Hair Mask

This mask can bring your hair back from the dead! Not only does it help with the look and feel, it can help your hair's long-term health. This, again, is especially good for dry weather when we're battling static. No funny concoctions; all you need is coconut oil to say farewell to frizz and split ends forever!

5. Orange Juice Face Mask

This mask is great for brightening your skin and for reducing your pores. It's ingredients can exfoliate as well as deep clean and the results are immediate.

6. Honey Face Mask
This is my favorite face mask of all; it makes your skin glow! This mask will brighten your skin and lighten dark spots. The ingredients have antibacterial properties too, so it can also help with breakouts. My skin always appears rejuvenated, evened out and feels so smooth afterwards.





I really hope you give some of these a try! I promise that you will be pleasantly surprised and will never spend $30 on some cleanser/serum/treatment ever again! The individual ingredients in these masks have so many different properties and do things that commercial products just can't do. You could even create your own recipe by mixing and matching what you already have on hand! There are many, many more DIY options out there that I want to check out; dry shampoo, toner and makeup remover just to name a few. I look forward to sharing those with you in 2014! In the meantime, have fun with these and good luck!

My Everyday Makeup Products | Part 3: Face

It's here, the final video in my 3 part everyday makeup series! First was coverage, second was eyes, and today is face. 

Yes, smarty pants, all makeup products go on your face, that's true. But this post  is specifically geared more toward the blushes and bronzers and such. It's a bit more than just those 2 products though because on an average day, I do highlight and contour my face. Obviously on a more special occasion there's a bit more of that but I always try to do a little in my day-to-day makeup routine because....well....I personally think it's just fun! I think it's amazing how you can alter your entire face shape and layout with just a couple tricks of the hand. Just think, a little bit of shading and highlighting can make you look completely different! Some people think that can be misleading or deceiving and you should just be happy with what you've been given naturally but you could really turn that into an entire debate, that I don't care to get into. Yes, you should be happy with the skin you're in but that doesn't mean you can't still have fun with it! And for me, it's just fun! It's just like painting or drawing; it's an art! As most things, to each their own...

So, if you're like me and you have fun with your makeup, this post is for you. My plan of attack is to next feature my brushes and also, my makeup routine. You've seen the products and now I want share how I use them. The brushes should be easy enough to share but as for my makeup routine, we'll see. I haven't yet done a makeup tutorial so figuring out how to best go about that is new. Also, just putting that out there like that is nerve wracking for me for some reason. It's not so different from what I've already done but it just seems like I'm putting myself out there even more so. It's silly, I know. But don't worry, I have full confidence that I can overcome my weird bought of awkwardness and post it like a champ. :)

So for now, I hope you enjoy part 3. Don't forget to watch part 1 and part 2, if you haven't already. Also, be sure to check out my brushes and makeup routine. If you find this video helpful, remember to give it a thumbs up and don't forget to subscribe to my channel! I've made it really simple for you; just click on the handy dandy subscribe button at the end of the video. I super-duper appreciate it! ;) Enjoy, guys!

I Want: Fashion Favs

It's a fashion post! Ahhh! I know, I know, I have gone a reeeally long time without a fashion post. I have definitely been on a beauty kick and have been focusing more on growing my YouTube channel lately. Also, it has been waaay too cold for me to get outside to shoot some outfits. Know what the high is here tomorrow? 1! No, that's not a typo. It's going to be 1 whole degree. I don't know how these other girls do it; standing out in the snow in a skirt! I salute you, fellow fashion bloggers! So for today, this big baby is sharing some fashion favorites I'd really love to add to my closet.

The Best of Beauty 2013

The new year is here, it's 2014! Which doesn't feel right to me because for some reason it still feels like 2012. It doesn't even feel like it should be 2013, yet 2014 is here. Odd, I know. But regardless of my wonky internal clock, we're in the year 2014! So to give 2013 a good send off, Kallie from But First, Coffee and I have teamed up together to bring you our favorite beauty products of the year.

You guys probably already know Kallie by now; we've worked together to bring you some fun videos before. I always say this, but I absolutely love watching Kallie! She is the reason I ventured into YouTube and making videos; because she is just that darn good! She's so gorgeous, fun to watch and I always learn a lot from her. Some of my most favorite products I owe to her for recommending them. Case in point: you need to go check her out!

So the best of 2013 is a roundup of all the beauty products I have loved this year. There's a little bit of everything; makeup, skincare, hair care, you name it. Trust me, I had a lot of trouble narrowing down products to mention but these are the best of the best. I didn't try to find just any product to fill a category; these are here because they're genuinely my loves!


 As always, if you enjoyed this video, please remember to give it a thumbs up and don't forget to subscribe to my channel! I've made it really simple for you; just click on the lovely little subscribe button at the end of the video. I super-duper appreciate it! And don't forget to go check out Kallie's Favorites of 2013! She had a lot of great favorites and they were all different than mine. That means you get a double dose of great products to discover! Enjoy, guys!

My Everyday Makeup Products | Part 2: Eyes

Hey, guys! It's part 2 of my Everyday Makeup Product series! Today it's all about the eyes...

I like a more neutral look for my day-to-day eye makeup. Don't get me wrong; I like to look nice and have a little "wow" factor but I like my shadows to be more neutral in color. I love big, bold lashes and I like to define my eyes with liner but that can be a bit much for your daytime makeup. A neutral color palette can give your makeup a more wearable look so you can still have that big, bold lash and liner without looking like your waiting for Richard Gere....She might be America's favorite prostitute but I'm not trying to look like her. ;)

Just like Part 1, these products are all drugstore. I know high end brands can really crank out some great foundations, brushes, bronzers, etc. but drugstore mascara is where it's at! There are so many to choose from though. Trust me, I know. After going through numerous mascaras, eyeliners and shadows, I finally found some that have stuck and today I'm sharing them with you! 

Don't forget to check out Part 1 of my everyday makeup, if you missed it.  It is all about the products I use for my coverage. There are some really great products there that target those really tricky problems. If you have trouble with large pores, dark circles, redness or acne scarring but you still want to look human; it is definitely a must-watch for you! 

Part 3 is on it's way too, so make sure you're on the lookout for that. Part 3 will be all about face products such as blush, bronzer, highlighters and the like. Also, if you find this video helpful, please remember to give it a thumbs up and don't forget to subscribe to my channel! I've made it really simple for you; just click on the lovely little subscribe button at the end of the video. I super-duper appreciate it! ;) Enjoy, guys!

Don't forget to watch in HD! 

My Everyday Makeup Products | Part 1: Coverage

Hey, guys! Do you all love watching everyday makeup routines as much as I do? I am completely addicted to them right now. I mean, I like "special" looks too; they're fun to watch and fun to try. But for me, I'm more interested in everyday looks because I don't generally have a lot of special occasions to get ready for. Your basic everyday makeup is more what I do so I really like to see what products other's are using for their "go to" day-to-day looks.

 Even more specifically, I like to see what products work best for other's with the same concerns and skin conditions as myself. It helps me find good products that work for my specific troubled areas without costly trial and error. So I thought, maybe I could help you out the same way. I'm always trying new things and playing around with different brands and colors but I do have a set of everyday products I use that haven't failed me yet. 

I've divided it up into a 3 part series to make it easier (and shorter) for you to see what I use to target specific areas. Part 1 is all about my coverage. Of all the  products I use and all the different reasons I use them, coverage is my number 1 concern. Unfortunately for me, I don't have the kind of skin that allows me to go bare faced (oh, how I wish!) or with something simple like a BB cream; I need a pretty good coverage. But in addition to full coverage, I also need a product that helps smooth my skin's uneven texture as well. I'm finally reaching an age where fine lines and large pores are starting to be a concern and they can definitely be difficult to fight without the right products. 

So if you have any of the same skin concerns or if you're just looking for some great new products, check out my everyday coverage. I know there's something here that can work for you because all of these products work tremendously and I highly recommend them. And you know me; they're all drugstore, i.e. they're all affordable! I'm all about great products for a great price!

If you enjoy Part 1, be sure to check out part 2: Eyes and Part 3: face! Also if you find this helpful, remember to give it a thumbs up and don't forget to subscribe to my channel! I've made it easy peasy for you; just click on the handy dandy subscribe button at the end of the video! ;) Enjoy!

Love It or Leave It: Empties and Regrets

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the major downside to using drugstore products is not being able to "try before you buy". Over the years I have tried numerous failed products that I really disliked but I've also tried a lot that I have loved. So to help you a little more in your drugstore product search, I'm sharing my empties and regrets. All of my empties are empty because they worked well enough to finish them off so they're all products I love. And my regrets...well, those speak for themselves. Hopefully, I can help save you from those same product fails and maybe even help you find a new favorite! Enjoy!