Navy and Wavy

navy and wavy 4navy and wavywavyness3naked lady necklace closeupnavy and wavy 3Outfit Notes: Cardigan-old // Dress-thrifted for $4 // Tights-Target // boots-old // naked vintage  lady necklace-old, found in a craft shop

Ever since I had Simon, my hair has changed. It is thicker, and naturally a bit wavy if I allow it to air dry. Because I spent the first 28 years of my life with stick-straight fine hair, I have had no idea how to deal with this, and usually just round brush or flat-iron it out. Recently though, after letting my hair air-dry, I decided to leave it alone and see how it felt for a day to have waves in my hair. I ended up liking it and getting a lot of compliments. So when I went in for a much-needed bang-trim the other day, I asked my stylist if she could teach me how to style my waves, and cut some layers back in to encourage them more.

She showed me how to scrunch my hair up after washing it, and use my diffuser to really make the waves come out. She showed me a couple of products that would help the hairs curl and hold them, and then she told me to avoid drying my hair all the way, so that the air drying could help my hair do its thing.

I absolutely loved the result, and the waves lasted even the next day after I ran a brush through them in the morning. I will definitely be “wavin’ it up” on the days when i have more time to get ready in the morning.

Thrifted Finds

thrifted findsI have been cooped up in the house for the last several days, taking care of my sick little one. Yesterday, I needed a break so I went thrift shopping while Daddy and Simon stayed home, and I found a few new items:

~The tank top was only two dollars plus change, and is a silky fabric with a pretty print and a very flattering fit. It will be great, paired with a pencil skirt for summer days that call for something a little bit dressier, or with a cardigan over it the rest of the year.

The skirt is something I have actually been looking to find for a while now, and I found this one for five dollars. I have been trying to find a casual skirt that will be great to toss over a swimsuit at the beach, or to wear to picnics, barbecues, and other casual summer activities. This one is made of a cotton blend that stretches, and it feels as comfortable as wearing sweatpants.

Finally, I have wanted a leopard print belt for a long time, but belts are very expensive, and as you might have figured out by now, I very rarely pay full price for anything. So when I spotted this one for two dollars, I did a little mental happy dance.

I am looking forward to mixing and matching these new finds with my wardrobe.

Have you done any thrifting lately?

Casual Green

casual green 3
casual green 1
casual green 2
beaver park 10
Outfit Notes: Earrings-too old to remember // Sweater-JC Penney // Tank-TJ Maxx last year // Jeans-Old Navy // Sandals-Target

I think I have mentioned many times on this blog before that green is my favorite color. I arrange the clothes in my closet to hang by color, and the section of green is by far the largest section. Green just makes me happy.

This weekend, Jeramy, Simon and I went to a little beach at a local pond to spend some time. It was a perfect Spring day of sunshine with a cool breeze. Warm enough for sandals, but still windy enough for a light cardigan. With my sand colored tank top, sky blue jeans, and green sweater and accessories, I definitely dressed to match our surroundings.

How is the weather where you are?

Peachy Keen

peachy keen 3peachy keenpeachy keen 2
Outfit Notes:
Necklace-Gift
T-shirt-Thrifted
Cords-Kohls, old
Shoes-TJ Maxx, old

Here I am, on a casual Wednesday. The weather cannot decide what it wants to do. It is sunny one minute, dark, cloudy, and wanting to rain the next. I spent the morning and afternoon tidying up after my toddler, getting an adjustment at the chiropractor, and reading parenting articles.

I almost didn’t bother to post today, fearing this outfit to be too boring and plain. But, I prefer the style blogs that show everyday outfits–stuff I can imagine myself wearing, and that seem doable for every budget. Real-life style. Clothes you can play with play-dough in. 🙂

When I wear simple, casual clothes like this, I always feel like I need at least one little pop of personality. A chunky necklace, some crazy earrings, fun shoes. Just something to spice it up a bit. Today I added my orange stone necklace to this peachy colored shirt. This creates a focal point to the outfit because the two colors are similar, and makes it more fun. I am also wearing an orangey-colored lip gloss that matches the shirt almost perfectly.

I suppose if the weather won’t stay bright, at least my outfit can. 🙂

Pops Of Coral

purple dress as a skirtcoral necklace closeup
(Outfit Notes: Necklace-a gift // Shirt-Kohl’s, old // Dress-Kohl’s, last year // Tights-Target // Shoes-Target, a couple years old)

I posted the other day, three ways to wear this dress. One way was under a top, as a skirt. That is what I decided to do again today for Easter dinner with family. I knew I wanted to wear floral print, as an homage to the return of Spring. The dress has some orange in it, so I thought adding the orange tights would be fun and unexpected. That led me to adding this coral colored necklace, which was a recent gift from an aunt who shares my love of chunky, bold jewelry.

If you love the color coral, check out this post over at Juggling Chic and see her awesome outfit incorporating the color.

(I didn’t get around to taking pictures until late, so the lighting here kind of stinks.)

Technical Difficulties

jeans and green cardiembellished cardigan closeupearring closeup(Outift Notes: Earrings-a gift // Embellished tank-Target clearance // Green Cardigan-Kohls clearance // Jeans-Old Navy // Boots-Target clearance)

I took a bunch more photos of this outfit today, including a few with a blazer, but my camera and tripod were not cooperating with me. I suppose that is bound to happen once in a while when you take your own pics.

Here I am again in my “Mumma Uniform“. My standard weekday wear when I am home with my little guy.  Very casual, but (I hope) still stylish.

Cozy in Green

green sweater belted 1green leafy earring closeupgreen sweater belted 2green sweater belted with scarf(Outfit Notes: Earrings-too old to remember //Sweater-Thrifted // Tank-Sears clearance years ago // Belt-Target last year // Leggings-Kohls // Boots, Target clearance last year //  Scarf-too old to remember)

Today I spent most of my day cleaning up messes around the house that my toddler made. I didn’t even get dressed until he went down for his nap at 1 o’clock in the afternoon. By then, I was cranky and already exhausted, but I had to get ready for work. I wanted to wear something comfy and cozy, but still work appropriate, so I grabbed this big, snuggly sweater that was a recent thrift find. It is 100% alpaca wool, from Eileen Fisher, and probably would have originally cost 200 bucks (or more). I got it for a mere 7 dollars! I usually stay away from things that I have to hand wash, but since it was so affordable, I felt it was worth it. Plus, green is my favorite color.

(Linked at The Pleated Poppy)

Turquoise and Marigold

turquoise and marigold 1turquoise and marigold 2turquoise and marigold closeupturquoise and orange earring closeupturquoise and marigold 3tapestry clutcht-straps closeup
(Outfit Notes: Earrings-made by me // Sweater-JC Penney clearance rack // T-shirt-too old to remember // Skirt-Target clearance rack // Tights- too old to remember // Belt-Target, last year // T-Strap Heels-JC Penney clearance last year)

Three things about today’s outfit:

1-My husband, Jeramy, and I are going out on a date night tonight to a late 1950’s/early 1960’s-themed drag show, after dinner. I wanted to dress somewhat suitable for the occasion, and so, this marigold and turquoise combo was born. I felt the colors of the ensemble, and the t-strap heels fit right in to the time periods being represented. (Though, with it being March in Maine there will most likely be a cardigan thrown over the top when we go out later, but I haven’t decided yet.)

2-This outfit was cheap. Very, very, cheap. The sweater was a recent 2 dollar find at my local JC Penney. (I bought two fun shirts for just 2 bucks each that day.) Score! The skirt is listed at full-price on the website, but someone ordered it online and then returned it to my local Target store. So, I got it for only 5 dollars instead of full price. Another score! The clutch bag was also marked way down, which I wrote about here. Triple score! The heels were also in the clearance section, last winter, for only 5 bucks too. Quadruple score! Add to all of that the t-shirt being only a few dollars on clearance, the fact that I made the earrings myself, and the tights being marked down…the most expensive item in the whole outfit was the belt, but I paid less than ten bucks for that. The whole ensemble for less than 40 bucks!

3-Lastly, this outfit is my offering for this week’s Style Imitating Art challenge. The lovely Jess, of the blog Animated Cardigan, chose this piece:
8565989468_9b766a961d_h(Roses jaunes dans en vase), by Gustave Caillebotte
The title of the painting translates to: “Yellow Roses in a Vase”.

When I first saw this painting I thought: “How am I going to work with that when I don’t own any pale yellow?“. But Jess encouraged everyone to click on the image and look at it as large as possible to appreciate all of the flecks and strokes of color in the paint. Once I did this, I appreciated fully just how many rich colors really were in this seemingly pastel work.

If you look closely, you will find many shades of yellow in there, including the same marigold shade as my sweater. There are also ticks of orange, which I brought in with the beads on the earrings and the flowers on my tapestry print clutch. I also thought it fitting that the orange earring beads and the clutch print were roses, the subject matter of the painting. Finally, the dark background swirls with different browns, which show up in my tights and shoes.

(Be sure to check Jess’ blog on Monday when she posts all of the outfits that people submitted for the challenge!)

Spring Green

 

green and plaid outfit 1green and plaid with earring closeupgreen and plaid outfit 2(Outfit Notes: Earrings-have had for years // Cardigan-JC Penny //  Plaid Tunic-Thrifted //  Leggings-Kohls // Boots-Target Clearance)

Green is my very favorite color, so when I saw this bright, happy-colored, cardigan for only 16 dollars at JC Penney, I knew it would be an addition to my wardrobe that I would want to wear all the time. Technically, this is a Winter outfit; but today I went out with no coat on for the first time all year, and the sun was shining warmly. Considering that, and how bright and fresh this particular shade is, I call it “spring green”.

Pink Pant-ther

pink pants outfit 2black necklace grey sweater closeuppink pants brown bootspink pants outfit 1(Outfit Notes: Necklace-Target // Grey Sweater-Target last year // Pink Jeans-Thrifted // Boots-Target Clearance)

Today I dressed for a day at home with my little guy. We ended up outside, having a snowball fight, and then I stood keeping warm in the sun, sipping coffee while he climbed “mountains” of snow. (Really though, they were piles that only went up to my waist, but mountains to him.)

These pink pants are cropped, so I haven’t figured out a way to wear them in cold weather without boots. Otherwise, it looks like I have a length problem. Hopefully soon, this snow mess will melt and I can pair them with cute flats or sandals again!

(Linked up with What I Wore Wednesday at The Pleated Poppy)