Southern Air.

It has been quite a while since I have last posted on my blog. Half of me feels as though I have abandoned an old friend, but the larger, stronger half of me recalls the day I started this blog. On that day, I promised myself this:

Now as I paged through this ancient diary with terrible handwriting, I noticed something else. There were large gaps where I would stop (for one reason or another, or maybe no reason) writing and then pick up a month or a several months, or at points, a year or more later. This is also life. And also beautiful. At times, it sucks you in and you haven’t any time for recording. I suspect this will happen as well on this blog. And I am excited for that too.

So, I the past few months have absolutely sucked me in and left me with very little time for recording. Without further ado…

In June, Ryley and I took a beautiful 5 day trip to Charleston, SC. We were there for my cousin’s wedding (which was amazing!), but decided to extend the trip by a few days to enjoy the historic downtown, the beautiful beaches, and lovely southern air. These pics are from our first day exploring downtown- I was looking for a comfy yet chic look that could go from morning shopping, to oceanside brunch, to crab/seafood extravaganza dinner!

Summer Stripes and Wedges.

Summer is almost here, my loves!! 🙂 I can smell it in the air when I wake up each morning, I can see it when the stars shine brightly each night, and I can feel it in school with the kids! With summer comes GREAT outfits! Fashion is in it’s prime as far as I’m concerned! This outfit is a summer go-to for me- it consists of basic, essential pieces! In fact, you probably have most of these items in some form in your closet right now! Basic black shorts. A striped crop top (mine has some really pretty flowery detailing on the bottom). A pair of summer wedges. It doesn’t get much simpler than that!

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    Striped Crop Top (only $7) Similar Crop Top in florals -Black Shorts (only $11)– Similar Wedges (closed toe) in black Peep-Toe Wedges

T.Shirt Dress and Sneakers.

This MIGHT be the cutest outfit I have seen in a long time! And did I mention COMFY!! So I never would have thought this look would suit me, being the girly girl that I am, but it turns out it is so flowy and fun that I can’t resist! Even a girly girl loves a cute pair of bright yellow sperry sneakers! And you could pair it with so many different scarves that it quickly becomes an all seasons look! I am SO OBSESSED with this one! And did I mention the dress was under $10! A total steal!

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Affiliate Links: If you make a purchase from clicking on any of the links below, I will make a small commission. Thank you for supporting me and this blog! Happy shopping! 🙂

-Sperry Sneakers in teal–

-Sperry Sneakers in pink–

-Sperry Sneakers in navy–

Knit Shirt Dress (shorter- nicer quality)

T-Shirt Dress- Heather Grey (slightly longer) 

T-Shirt Dress- Heather Grey (thinner)–

Yellow Lightweight Scarf Wrap With Colorful Floral Print

Floral Infinity Scarf in neutrals

The Jeans Every Girl Needs.

Saturday was absolutely lovely! What a great way to go into Memorial Day weekend! We spent the day relaxing at home on the deck and playing with our puppy! After a nice walk, we came home and went straight back to the deck… which reminded me that I needed to make a post to tell all of you about THESE jeans! They are so comfortable, light weight, and cutesy! They are a light wash with destroyed knees and a nice loose fit! Perfect for summer lounging- which I intend to do A LOT of this year! I just paired with a simple powder blue tank and a belt for a really laid back look! You MUST get a pair of these to have a complete wardrobe for those summer nights that are just around the corner!

Affiliate Links- if you use one of the links below to make a purchase, I will receive a small commission! Thank you for supporting me and this blog! 🙂

Jeans Destroyed– similar
Shredded Boyfriend – slightly lighter pair
Lace Trim Tank-similar powder blue tank (with lace embellishments)
Buckle Belt-similar belt

 

 

Tulips and a Flowy Dress.

This might be one of my favorite posts I’ve ever done!!! Tulips + This Dress + Gorgeous Sun = What More Is There? Today was an absolutely beautiful day filled with sunshine and a light breeze! Nothing feels better on a day like this than a dress that you can twirl in! This beautiful green dress was under $30 and is an absolute stunner! It would be gorgeous for almost any occasion! It looks beautiful with neutral and blush accessories! Lately, I have been mildly obsessed with gold accessories and this post is chock full of my precious gold, gold, gold! You HAVE to see this one!

This post was shared at Peeled Wellness today!

We had SOOO much fun shooting this one! Photos are by my loving husband!

Affiliate Links: If you click on the image it will take you to the store webpage where you can purchase the item. I make a small commission on each item sold! Thank you for supporting me and this blog! 🙂

Similar Necklace

Similar Sandal (Gold!!)

Similar Dress in Off White

Similar Dress in Black

Similar Dress in Neutral Peach/Pink

Similar Bracelet

Similar Bracelet (clear stones)

Similar Beach Hat

Similar Beach Hat (in black)

Paint Brush Inspired Dress.

A new trend seems to have emerged as of late- a popular female (or male) bonding night consists of painting and wine! I personally love the concept! In fact, my loving sister planned such an event for me and the other lovely ladies in my wedding party about a year ago! It was an absolutely FANTASTIC experience! I mean, wine, paint, friends, laughs… what more is there?! So this dress totally brought back some nostalgic feelings from that experience because I think the pattern looks like brush strokes! So what did I do? I paired this gorgeous black and white classic with a pop of fuchsia color for spring! Don’t mind the wind! It was a crazzzzy wind shoot!!!

Similar Dress // Michael Kors Sandals // Gold Watch // Similar Bright Handbag 

One Blouse, Two Looks.

So I found this great blouse at H&M and just couldn’t pass it up! As soon as I saw it, my mind began to race with different stylings! I could see it with boyfriend jeans and the perfect pump. Or I could see it as a swimsuit cover up with beach waves and a bright pop of finger nail polish. Or I could see it with some grunge black jeans and cheetah print accessories! As soon as I visualized the cheetah print, I could not put this one back on the rack! Then I saw the headband and I was DONE FOR! It was going home! And the best part- this versatile piece was under $30! It has a loose, cozy fit for an effortless look on a windy weekend! Look #1: Girls look Oh-So-SWEET in Headbands! For both looks, I kept all the same basics (shirt, pants, shoes, handbag). But I switched out the accessories! For this one, I chose a flirty headband and some sweet feminine pearl earrings. I rolled the sleeves loosely, and tucked in one side of the blouse in the front! The handbag is my favorite “everyday” Michael Kors bag. Paired with a pair of my favorite Toms wedges (these might be the most comfy shoes I own BTW)! And they support a great cause!   Look #2: ALWAYS say YES to Cheetah Print! For this second casual, cozy look I picked out a rich, deep cheetah print scarf with gold embellishments, a Michael Kors handbag (because who doesn’t need a little more Michael Kors in their life?!) and of course a cheery cherry lip gloss! Roll the sleeves casually for a slouchy relaxed look!  H&M Blouse // Michael Kors Handbag // Toms Wedges // Similar Scarf // Similar Black Pants // H & M Headband

Shared at peeledwellness.com! Check it out! They have a great link it up program every tuesday where you can find new blogs to follow and support! 🙂

The Spring Trench Coat.

I live in Wi, so I have to knock on something wooden in order to actually say this without bringing on another snow blizzard, but I think spring just might be here, for real! After a long winter, most wisconsinites are relieved to finally feel the warmth of the sun on our faces again. But weather is still quite inconsistent. This means that to head out for a long walk, we may have to endure some strong winds, or a damp experience. Ryley and I love to take advantage of this time of year for dinner and walk dates. Our fav is to head over for some mexican cuisine at Fiesta Cancun (downtown Oconomowoc), and then since we are right there, we will bring our walking shoes and walk around the lake as the sun sets. This is how we spend many a friday night. And this week was no different!

While the spring sun felt great, there was a brisk wind, so I find a spring trench coat to be the perfect layer! It will keep you guarded from the winds, but still looking stylish so you can head to dinner and still be outside afterward. I am absolutely CONVINCED that the trench coat is a closet staple. It looks great with a light weight scarf and some slightly distressed jeans for an effortless natural look. I wouldn’t be caught in any other spring jacket!

The Simple Things. Peonies and Ranunculus.

When I started this blog, several months ago, I committed myself to writing about the things I love. However simple or seemingly insignificant. It is easy to get sucked into the drawl of life at times. This post is inspired by one of those moments that happened recently that really snapped me out of it. I had just gotten home from work and it was a longggg week. I was rambling on about some story about something that felt important at the time. Ryley had dinner on the stove and I was rambling and getting things ready for dinner; multi-tasking per usual. Picking up odds and ends off our island, getting plates out, etc. I had my hands full of plates, cups, silverware and I continued to ramble as I turned around to head for the table when I saw them. Delicate, natural, and beautiful. My loving husband had purchased flowers for me. And not just any flowers from the pick n save florist- these were the most special flowers. These are my favorite flowers; the ones that I had hand selected for our wedding day. I was so taken aback by this kind gesture that for days I touched them, smelled them, and photographed them. So today I leave you with this; sometimes it’s the simple things.

 

The photos are taken by my loving husband (and some by me too), who is also the one that got me these lovely flowers! The sweet pink shirt is from Anthropology. The necklace is from Forever 21. Jeans are from The Loft. The pink loafers are Steve Maddens.

Oh Happy Valentine! Pink and Polka Dots.

It’s usually about a 50-50 shot when you ask someone whether they enjoy Valentine’s day. But if more people looked at it as a chance to celebrate all things “sweet” such as love, chocolate, the tender curiosity of a child, an hour of quality time with your sister in pj’s watching chick flicks, etc., more people might join the movement. Or maybe it is just a good excuse for a chic outfit! Whether you hate or love the Hallmark holiday that is before us, embrace your feminine side with this sweetie polka-dot blouse! Date or No Date- this girly polka dot outfit is for everyone! Can be dressed down to wear doing errands with a simple pair of slacks, or dress it up with these girly peep-toe pink heels!

The photos you see here are taken by the lovely man with whom I plan to spend my Valentine’s day this year and every year after!

This feminine polka dot blouse is from The Loft (watch for a 40% off sale and it will be a steal!). The blush handbag is from The Limited. The pink peep-toe heels are from Macy’s (they are old- not sure what brand). Belt is from Forever 21. Skirt is from H&M. Watch is from The Buckle. The calligraphy in the sunburst frame is done by me and the frame is from Ben Franklin Crafts.