Valentine's Day Ideas for Tired Parents + JORD Giveaway!

 Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by JORD Wood Watches. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own!

My pre-baby self used to look forward to going out to dinner on Valentine's Day. It was one of the few days a year my husband made the plans, so it didn't matter where we went. I was just happy to get out of picking a place to go. My husband will attest to my indecisiveness!

Fast forward a few years and Valentine's Day changed forever with Rowan's entrance into the world just a few days before. I still remember my husband made me take a three-hour nap that day, which was probably the best gift ever at that point. Bless him!

This year though, Valentine's Day has been synonymous with "your baby is getting older, cue the ugly tears" for me so there will be no heels or makeup for me! Just sweatpants, lots of cuddles from my littlest Valentine, and an at home date night with my husband. Perfection right there folks!

Reece Walnut and Navy wood watch c/o JORD

Rowan is usually out by 7:30 which gives my husband and I at least 2 hours before we're ready to crash too, so we've learned to set aside the to-do list and just focus on us. There are so many things you can do but here are a few of our favorites!

Make dinner together. It doesn't have to be fancy, our easiest dinners usually involve quesadillas or breakfast foods and eating on the couch.

Play 'Heads Up' or a board game. We use the Heads Up app and always have so much fun with it, even with just the two of us. Plus it video tapes each round which you can save and watch later for a good laugh. 

Go through old photo albums. Pull out the wedding album, baby book, or reminisce on that Europe trip you took in your younger days before the dark eye circles made an appearance.

Make a bucket list of places you want to visit, with and without kids. Speaking of traveling, we always get the itch to plan another trip after looking through vacation albums so we end up with a huge list of places we want to see next!

Toast marshmallows on an outdoor fire pit. Of course this only works if you aren't dealing with snow or freezing rain in February, but we love using our fire pit here in the South!

Exchange gifts. We usually keep Valentine's Day gifts pretty low key, but when JORD reached out to me about their wood watches I thought it would be a unique way to spoil my husband for doing so much for us!

I picked the Reece Walnut and Navy watch because the colors match everything in my husband's closet and I loved the modern rectangular shape. I also love the subtle plaid print on the watch face. It is light weight and very smooth to the touch, which my husband tells me makes it so comfortable he almost forgets he is wearing it! 



And as a bonus for you guys, I'm excited to team with JORD to offer you a chance to win a $100 credit toward the wood watch of your choice! All you need to enter if your name, email, and favorite watch... super easy! You will receive a $25 credit just for entering!

P.S. They have some gorgeous options for women too!

Enter here!

Contest ends February 12th at 11:59 PM. Both the $100 and $25 credits will expire on April 30th.

Luxury Wooden Watch


Do any of you have at home date nights?! I'd love to hear some of your ideas too!

1

Nordstrom Sale Budget Friendly Picks

I know none of you have heard this yet, so I thought I'd be the first to break the news that the Nordstrom Anniversary sale starts today!

I secretly get a little jealous seeing #Nsale picks all over the place because I don't have early access, but its actually a good thing because I let other bloggers who are much more fashionable narrow it down to the best stuff for me!

I did do a little of my own sleuthing today though, dreaming of the day I can splurge for these AG jeans. My husband keeps me on a tight budget (well, he tries but all bets are off when I step into Target on a solo mission) and we're no where near a store so I usually limit myself to one or two purchases.

Here are some of my favorites that I've narrowed it down to... Definitely more budget friendly picks with a splurge or two!

I was pretty disappointed there were no original Hunter boots or Reva flats on sale, but I wouldn't hate it if those Tory Burch sunnies and Hinge Block heels accidentally fell into on my online cart and landed on my doorstep.

So what are some of your favorites from the sale? Anything else I need to lust over and hope are still available next week?!

1

Top 5 One-Piece Swimsuits (Tested + Approved!)

I hope you all had a fun long weekend! I've been working hard on this post for a few weeks but seeing as we're past the unofficial start of summer, I thought it was time to share my research.

You all know I've been on the hunt for a black one-piece swimsuit this year, but what you didn't know is I've been ordering them online and returning the ones that don't pass my rigorous testing.

Honestly I'm not trying to impress anyone in a swimsuit. I very clearly have "mom" stamped all over me and I'm okay with that. But I do want to feel comfortable.

As in... whats left of my post-baby boobs aren't flopping all about as I wrestle my fussy toddler in swim class.

I had a lot of requests to share some of my faves so I've broken it down into why I loved or didn't love a one-piece black swimsuit.

Clockwise: J. Crew Femme One-Piece Swimsuit, J. Crew Deep V Ruched One-Piece, Anthropologie Seaside High Neck One Piece, Target Flounce One-Piece, VS Halter Shaping One-Piece

After my extensive testing, I found a trend. Swimsuits with padding, slight ruching (but not too much), and thick straps were my favorite. Those that didn't even include cups were tossed immediately (ahem... Old Navy scallop one-piece. So cute but so not practical unless you haven't hit puberty yet).

Anthropologie Seaside High Neck One Piece (Similar, on sale!)
Pros: Good coverage, halter neckline, pretty patterns or solids
Cons: No ruching and may be better for smaller cup size.. I'm not sure it would have wrangled my nursing boobs from last summer

Target Flounce One-Piece
Pros: Side boning, padded cups, doesn't pull down when moving around, slight ruching, flutter material distracts from my post-baby pouch that is apparently here to stay, price
Cons: Strap isn't super secure, may be better for smaller cup sizes

J. Crew Deep V Ruched One-Piece
Pros: Slight ruching, strong straps, padding, lower back which makes you feel less mom-like but still covered
Cons: Price unless you get a good sale and potential back fat if straps are too tight

J. Crew Femme One-Piece Swimsuit
Pros: Wide straps, ruching, padded cups and lots of support
Cons: Ruching is a little more obvious

Victoria's Secret Halter Shaping One-Piece
Pros: Strong halter strap, ruching, lots of support
Cons: Price

Honorable mention to this Loft Seashell Cutout Swimsuit. I loved the cutout but the pattern didn't do anything for me. Clearly I love the basics!

My biggest challenge was finding budget options that fit the bill, but sales and Ebates helped!

So what's my final verdict? I'm keeping the flounce swimsuit because I already had it and the deep V ruched swimsuit, its my number one for sure!

Hope this helps if you're on the hunt for a flattering one piece, especially for my fellow black one-piece swimsuit lovers!

11

5 Things

You guys, I'm alive. I know you were all waiting on pins and needles for me to grace myself with my presence again on this 'ol site.

Work has been kicking my butt and compound that with a toddler whose perfect sleep habits just went bat shit crazy, I'm running on fumes and sadly the blog is the first place to take a hit. That said, I've got a lot of things going on behind the scenes that I've been itching to share with you!

One. I've had so so many requests for my favorite recommendations in Charleston, so I'm working on a travel guide with all of my favorite restaurants, places to go that are off the beaten tourist path, and where to stay. Stay tuned!

Two. 15 months after the birth of my child I'm finally working on his baby book! (Tell me I'm not the only one this far behind!?) I filled out a previous baby book the first month or so but I think I was high on the newborn smell because none of what I wrote makes sense and I wasn't in love with the baby book itself. Enter this gorgeous Mushybooks baby book and now I'm super inspired! I can't wait to show more of this to you guys, its so perfect!

Three. With the lack of sleep I'm all about comfort lately and Thug Life Shirts hooked it up with this fun Good Vibes Only tee. I'm obsessed with how soft it is! It's been on repeat with my ripped denim shorts and converse at daycare drop off. I'm partial to these Wine Tasting on the Couch and Coffee & Mascara tees but I could probably spend an hour reading all of the fun options. Make sure to use code HOMESWEETRUBY for 15% off!

For reference, I usually swear a women's medium or large and I got the unisex tee in size small. It's got just the right amount of stretch to it that it shoes some of my shape but not the muffin top.

Four. I just need to add a few finishing touches to Rowan's toddler table and I'm excited to share the end result! Despite the fact its a little crooked underneath its somehow level and cute so I'm going to count that as a win? Don't worry, I'll teach you how not to build a crooked table.

Five. I'm also teaming up with the sweetest and super creative mama, Emily, of Emily Johnson Art. I'm obsessed with her watercolor art (hello perfect nursery prints!) and can't wait to see what she does with the family photo I sent her!

Hope your week has been less bananas than ours! xo

7

Mom-Bod Approved Shorts

I hope you all had a fun weekend! I know some of y'all up North had some cold temps but it was beautiful here so we ditched the to-do list to hit up a local festival and wander around downtown Charleston.

We over-indulged in sweets... including a red velvet oreo brownie (!!) and a funnel cake at the festival. We also thought it was high time Rowan tasted his first gelato so we couldn't pass that up before letting him run around the waterfront.

As a result of my serious lack of self control within 20 yards of sweets, I'm dreading shorts weather this year.
Last year I used the excuse of recently birthing a child for my unsightly legs. But that isn't going to fly this year. Even if I wasn't a mom, nearing my 30s and the date of my last gym appearance call for something other than a teeny tiny inseam. 

Also I'm currently on stage 3 of the Mom Bod process, just in case you're wondering.

In an effort to hide as much of my pale mom legs as possible without sweating it out in the Charleston humidity, behold... my favorite mom-bod approved shorts.

 Loft Scallop Shorts. J. Crew Factory Scallop Shorts (white is a tad see-through, so I went with navy)

Loft Chambray Sailor Shorts (also love these but haven't tried them on yet).

Loft Denim Shorts. J. Crew Factory White Denim.

 J. Crew Factory Distressed Denim Shorts. (Love this splurge pair... maybe someday!)

J. Crew Factory Pull On Shorts.  

Old Navy Linen Shorts (these will wrinkle because they are linen but for the $ and comfort, they work for me. I also love this version in red).

So what qualifies as mom-bod approved shorts, you may ask?

One. I aim for a 4 inch inseam because no one wants to see this mama chasing a toddler around in anything shorter.And before you think I'm crazy, longer inseams do not equal bermuda shorts! I'm tall so a 5 inch inseam works for me, especially with these pull-on shorts.

Two. Anything that needs ironed is a joke. 

Three. Stretchy waistbands get major bonus points.

I either own every one of these shorts or I've tried them on in store and I'm currently waiting for a sale to bring them home with me. My faves that have lasted several summers are the pull-on shorts (the best ever), dark denim shorts, and the white denim shorts. In general, Loft and J. Crew Factory always work for me because they offer so many different inseams.

Anyone else a fan?! Share some of your faves if I'm missing them!

9

Spring Wishlist

Now that I'm done nursing and most of my blouses just hang on me (due the boob shrinkage detailed here), I've been going back and forth about doing my first ever capsule wardrobe. I'm not totally sold but I think the idea behind it - weeding out the items in your closet that don't fit right, you rarely wear, or just bought because it was on super sale but aren't totally in love with - might be just what I need to refresh my closet this Spring.

Clearly I'm not a fashion blogger and since I work from home, comfort is key. I've been loving basic, versatile and quality pieces with a wildcard like this embroidered dress mixed in, for the rare date night or brunch with the girls. Also you know I can't pass up navy and white stripes, so this is currently my go-to dress.

Rag & Bone Jeans (40% off!). (Also love this color, which are also 40% off). So I admit I was really skeptical of any jeans that cost more than the usual $40 I'll shell out for a good sale at J. Crew or even less at Old Navy. I've learned that when it comes to skinny jeans especially, the quality and cost-to-wear ratio is so worth it! No more washing after every wear because they stretch out and give me a saggy mom butt.

ASOS Embroidered Dress. Love the embroidered detail and sleeves.

Converse. Typically I'm a boat shoes kind of girl but I love these with jeans and a tee for errands or travel days.

Kendra Scott Pendant. I'm in need of a new pendant and love the look of this without the tassel on the classic Rayne pendant.

Pineapple Dish. Catch all for jewelry or all of the 5000 bobby pins I have laying around the house.

GiGi New York Crossbody. Basically Spring perfection and the quality is always on point with GiGi. This would be perfect to wear wine tasting in Napa!

J. Crew Garment-Dyed Tee. The most comfy basic tee ever. I can't have enough of them!

I'm also officially in countdown mode for Napa and I'm really trying to outfit plan to avoid overpacking. Currently on the hunt for a maxi dress or some kind of floral to wear while I'm there. If you have any recs send them my way!

Okay tell me, what's on your Spring wishlist? Anything else I should have my eye on?! 

16

Mama + Mini Cold Weather Style

Okay I admit that 90% of the time the outfit selections for Rowan and I do not coordinate whatsoever. Ain't nobody got time for that.

But Rowan is looking more and more like his Daddy lately so I do what I can to make sure people know he belongs to this curly-haired mama.

And when it comes to family photos or any type of outing where I know we'll be taking a lot of photos I usually make an attempt to coordinate. I start by picking his outfit and then I blend in somewhere in the background with a solid blouse or something I've settled on because I hate everything in my closet. #firstworldprobs

One of my favorite outfits to date? This cute little ensemble Rowan wore for our family photos this past weekend. I cannot even wait to see the photos, he was such a little stud!

Vest. Button Down. Jeans. Moccs.

In case you missed it on Snapchat (follow me at HomeSweetRuby), I wore an emerald green blouse (similar here) with skinny jeans and my favorite booties. My husband sported a navy and white check button down underneath a grey half zip sweater. All the heart eyes for my boys.

Another combo that is easy to coordinate with is buffalo plaid. It's everywhere in the stores this Fall, I'm basically counting down the days until I can put this trapper hat on R.

Button Down (old from J. Crew Factory, similar here and here). Trapper Hat (Similar).

Also love this buffalo plaid scarf for mama!

And finally, my most favorite Fall and Winter color ever. Merlot.

Tunic. Sweater Dress. Jeans. Leggings. Hat.

Loft is killing it in the merlot clothing department, FYI. I'm just waiting for all of these to come in the mail because... online shopping problems. I had way too much fun shopping Zara's baby selection... Lord help me if I ever find myself in the actual store! Also, obsessed with this Slouch Headwear beanie for Rowan!

P.S. Girl mamas- if you're still reading this make sure to check out the new collection from Willow Crowns when it drops on November 3rd! Megan posted a sneak peek and I spy some pretty merlot pieces!!

Anyone else coordinate with your mini? I know its tougher for boy mamas but can be super cute for photo ops!

12

Modern Baby Boy Style

I confess: Rowan's collection of clothing is getting a little out of hand. My husband warned me that he does not approve of smocked clothing after the age of 2 (and that's pushing it) so I've tried to branch out.

You all know I also love to shop small as much as possible. I've confessed my love for Sweet N Swag mocs and bow ties, but I've recently found a few more shops that I love! Alley+Rae Apparel is one that I found while scrolling through Instagram.

Bussin' Tee c/o Alley+Rae Apparel

Most of the time Rowan rocks a plain white onesie because its just easy. But when I received his Alley+Rae Apparel tees I decided their little tees might just be the cutest thing ever!

Don't Be Mean Tee. Lulu and Roo Surf Shorts. Sweet N Swag Honeysuckle Mocs. Lulu and Roo Beanie.

These tees are so soft and they wash up really well. There are tons of different options with cute graphics like the VW bus Rowan is wearing or others with fun, positive messages for your babes.

I mean how could I not put Rowan's cute Bussin' Tee on with his pineapple shorts? So perfect for our Charleston summer!

 

You can find more of Alley and Rae Apparel on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Make sure to use the code  SWEETRUBY for 15% off your Alley and Rae Apparel purchase!! Coupon expires 9/15/15.

Disclosure: I received complimentary tees from Alley and Rae Apparel for the purposes of this collaboration. 
As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own! Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

7

What I'm Loving Wednesday: Summer Staples

For most of the next week here in Charleston the temps are in the 100s. That's right... triple digits folks.

At that point, why bother showering?

If I do have to venture out, you can probably expect to see me in the outfit below with a frizzy, (almost) top knot and sans baby. Not sure if you knew this but hatred of heat and humidity is genetic and Rowan clearly got his Northerner mama's genes versus his Floridian dad's in this case.

Tee. Shorts. Sandals. Necklace. Bag.

I'm still trying to dress this post-baby bod and I'll be honest, I'm not happy with it despite being only a couple pounds from my pre-baby weight. I lost 40 pounds and still ate my fair share of donuts. (thank you breastfeeding!) But I will tell you that the fat to muscle ratio is much different these days. With an emphasis on the fat part.

I mentioned my love for this Loft tee last week and as soon as it went on sale I scooped it up in multiple colors. I love the way it drapes, its light weight, can be dressed up or down, and I don't have to suck in the whole time.

I'm also obsessed with this swim cover-up (I have it in white) and I picked up the same swim suit (this top and this bottom) that Stephanie recommended. Old Navy for the win! I'm still on the fence about the high waist bottom but it hides my stretch marks so I'll take it. (Side note for the girl mamas: you can get a matching coverup for your mini. I'm jealous.)

Hopefully Rowan will be sporting his swim gear this weekend since we're heading North to where the temperatures are manageable. I'm aiming to pack at least one full outfit for myself among the many, many... many baby things.

What are some of your summer staples? Anything I need to get my hands on?

14

Currently Craving :: Signs of Spring

I've been so focused on finishing the nursery and prepping for baby that I've barely noticed all of the new clothes and accessories coming out lately! It wasn't until Charleston gave us a few 70 degree January days that I have been able to get out of the winter funk, its dark colors, and my sweatpants.

I'm so looking forward to updating my wardrobe this Spring, but until I figure out how to make that work while nursing, I'm sticking to accessories.

Bag. Ring. Phone Case. PJs (On sale!) Tech Wallet. Flats. Lipstick.

I'm seriously craving a little more color in my wardrobe, even if its just a few small details like this gorgeous druzy ring that I've had my eye on or some new bright flats. 

I'm not normally one for lipstick but I'm thinking I may branch out a bit this Spring and try MAC's Saint Germain lip color. I've seen it on a lot of fashion bloggers with a similar my skin tone and hair color to mine so I'm thinking I may be able to pull it off. Stay tuned.

It hit me that other day that my go-to crossbody bag will be replaced very soon by a diaper bag. I'm loving this tech wallet which would make it so easy to grab all of mama's essentials and go!

And if you're an Eberjay pajama fan, you have to check out these lookalike pjs from Target. They are super soft and you can't beat the price tag. I think I may need to go get another pair since they are nursing friendly and on sale!

What's on your wish list for Spring? Anything I need to add to mine?

Linking up with Annie and Natalie!

22

Bundling Up

With temps set to hit the 30's this weekend (yay!) I'm officially ready to cuddle by the fireplace, sans my usual glass of wine this year, and bundle up. I'm having such a hard time passing up cozy gloves, scarves, and chunky, over-sized sweaters this year. They are easy to wear with a belly and without... win!

So today I thought I'd round up my favorite winter accessories, aside from the ever popular Target plaid scarf that practically every blogger (including me) owns and loves. While I'm at it, I'm linking up with Annie, Stephanie, and Laura!

 1.2.3 (Also love these, both are super soft and cozy!). 4. 5. 6. 7.

I know the pants don't really fit in here, but they have been my go-to lounge wear for the past few weeks and I had to share. I wish they came in more colors, but I'm pretty sure I'll be buying a second (or third) pair very soon. They are so soft! And I wasn't even looking for gloves but couldn't pass those fair isle ones up when I tried them on in the store.

And of course we can't forget the mini. I doubt we'll take Rowan out much this winter since he will be brand new and all, but I'm totally planning to snatch up some of these baby winter accessories after the holidays. Look out Baby Gap, I'm coming for your after Christmas sales!

1. 2. 3. 4. 5 (Also love these). 6. 7. 8. 9.

If you can't tell, I have a thing for pom poms, baby bear ears, and red and black accessories this year. I also can't get enough of the Fair Isle pattern this year. What are some of your favorites this winter?

13

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday! It's completely blowing my mind that we're nearing the end of July. I'm not sure where this month went but we've got some fun things coming up so I'm excited!

Today I'm linking up with Amanda, Karli, and Amy and for my weekly dose of Friday faves!

Favorite Furry Paws

Is it me or do Ruby's paws look like little furry boots? This is what happens when the vet trims your pup for surgery, it looks ridiculous and cute at the same time. Her staples are getting removed today and it seems like her recovery is doing better this time around, thank goodness!

Favorite Clearance Find

I don't normally find much at the Gap Outlet normally but I picked up these shorts there last weekend for $9! Stylish shorts for under ten bucks? Sign me up. Don't forget to flash your super cool AAA card if you have one for 10 percent off.

Favorite First Glimpse of Fall

Quilted Puffer Vest

So I'm not trying to rush Fall (that's a lie) but I'm loving the vests at J. Crew Factory and can't wait to snatch one up! I'm thinking of adding a monogram to it. They also have the black and white herringbone vest again, which luckily I got my hands on before they sold out last year, but make sure you get it early!

Favorite Snack for on the Go

Fruit Strips

Because I'm too old to buy Fruit Roll Ups, I'm really enjoying these fruit strips as an easy, sweet treat!

Favorite New Tunes

Loving the Sam Smith album lately, his voice is so good! You can listen to the whole album here. Anyone else a fan?

I hope you all have a fab weekend! We've got some plans with friends tonight and a beach trip on Sunday (finally!) so I'm ready to get this weekend started!

20

Wedding Season is here! Help!

I hope you are all having a great week so far! During our almost hundred degree weather yesterday our A/C decided to bail, so its approximately 87 degrees in our house as I'm writing this (92 degrees upstairs). It's just... ew. I feel bad for the poor soul who is coming to fix it today because I look and smell like a hot mess.

Speaking of Summer... As I'm sure other twenty-somethings can relate, wedding season is here again. We've got a wedding next month at the fanciest hotel in Pittsburgh (but it's not black tie) so I'm really stoked about dressing up. I'm not the most fashionable person, but I know I can't wear my go-to J.Crew dress to this shindig.

Unless I find a really gorgeous patterned dress, I'm definitely going with a solid, classy look. Hopefully I can wear the same jewelry and strappy nude heels with each option so my bank account doesn't suffer for the sake of one day. 

Top Shop Crepe Shift Dress (Similar). Zara Open Back Dress. Topshop Fit and Flare Dress.
Lucite Fan Necklace. Zara Wide Heel Sandal. Uber Clutch.

My main qualification for any wedding guest attire is that I be able to bust my moves in it. Heels are questionable since I rarely wear them these days, but I figure once everyone is a few drinks down they won't notice I switched to sandals!

I love these bright colors and I think they will look nice next to my husband, who is wearing a grey suit. That is... assuming they can take out his pants so his big booty will fit. (At least our kids will have the good butt gene thanks to him) 

So what do y'all think? Should I look for a maxi dress or are these good options? I'm only slightly considering renting something from Rent the Runway. To be honest I get majorly overwhelmed by all of the options there.

18

On the Hunt: Summer Sandals

I hope you all had a fab Cinco de Mayo! I'll be honest, Monday crept up on me and all of my weekend productivity didn't do much for yesterday's ever-expanding To Do list. I may or may not have eaten my weight in chicken tacos and topped it off with a big ole margarita last night.

We've had quite the heat wave the past few days so I guess our Spring is over already. I managed to get my first sunburn of the year by making sure to not fix the spray lotion nozzle or use my hands to rub it in on Saturday. Nailed it.

The hot weather also prompted me to dig out all of my summer clothes and part ways with some old pieces. I went through a phase this weekend where I was angry at myself for keeping all of my business attire... I mean, it's been 2 years since I started working from home, why am I holding onto very wide leg dress pants that barely fit after breakfast?! 

I also determined that I need new summer sandals. No more wearing rainbows everywhere I go! My problem is, we're trying to save money so I get one pick. Do I go with wedges? Strappy flats? Or do I stop eating for a month to save for the classic Tory Burch flats I've been lusting over?

Here are some of my favorites, what do y'all think?!

Lucky Wedge. J Crew Wedge. Jack Roger Flats. Tory Flats. Zara Flats. Sam Edelman Gladiators. J. Crew Ankle Wrap Flats.

Has anyone else unpacked your summer clothes yet? What are some staples you are going to add to the closet this year?

14

Guest Posting!

Today I'm guest posting for Ally over at Life as I Know It on my favorite Spring fashion trends. Make sure to stop by and take a look around!

I hope y'all are having a great week, we're halfway there!

4

Craving: Spring Accessories

So I gave up buying new clothes for Lent.  To be honest I'm really just trying to stick with it because my husband doesn't think I can do it. I'm generally terrible at following through with this sort of thing, so I'm determined to prove him (and myself) wrong. Especially considering I had about 4 stacks of clothes fall on me as I was packing for our trip...  oops.

I keep trying to tell him that accessories don't count as clothes... right?!

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

There are so many pretty pastels coming out with the Spring and Summer lines, I can't help but want all of them! And even though the Raybans aren't new for Spring, who doesn't love need a new pair of sunnies for the warmer months?! I'm also obsessed with those earrings, especially paired with this sweater in lavender!

I've been on the hunt for a while for a new cell phone case, and this one is absolutely perfect! So feminine, and I can easily kick it up a notch by adding a gold monogram decal to the back! 

What are you craving for your wardrobe this Spring or Summer? And don't you even bring up a swimsuit. There will be no swimsuit talk around here until I lose the 5 pounds of carbs and gelato I plan on gaining while across the pond!

9

St. Patrick's Day Attire by Ally from Life As I Know It

Today my good friend and fellow blogger, Ally, agreed to help me out and guest post while I'm out of town! I love that she is a big SPD fan like I am and she is probably the most fashionable friend I have, so I hope you enjoy her post as much as I do!

Hey guys! I'm Ally from Life as I know it. Cait asked me to do a guest post for her while she's gallivanting through gorgeous Italy and Paris. She told me I could post about anything I wanted to. If you read my blog you know I have an insane passion for fashion. I'm a Registered Nurse by trade so fashion to me is my escape from the medical world. As soon as I know of an event I'm going to be going to, I mentally start going through my closet to find the perfect outfit. St. Patrick's Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. 

My husband and I usually head to a St. Patrick's Day block party here in Charleston, SC, and devour way through too much green beer and fish and chips. I put together this casual outfit that doesn't scream green but still enough so you don't get pinched!

I love this Joie top in this gorgeous mint green color. Perfect for spring. The white rag & bone skinnies are my absolute favorite white jeans. My goal for the New Years was to buy better but buy less so although these weren't cheap they're the only pair I need.

The Stella and Dot 'On The Mark' necklace is dainty and perfect for daily wear or layering with other necklaces.

These Dolce Vitas sandals are super cute to wear with jeans, shorts, dresses, really you could wear them with anything. And they're currently on sale!

The Cuyana tote is the perfect tote for any season. It's the best tote to throw everything in and head out the door in a flash. It's a big tote but still looks chic stuffed to the brim.

A pair of gold hoops are always simple and classy. I added in the mint chocolate macaroons in honor of Cait's Parisian trip. Hopefully she'll think of me while she's gazing up at the Eiffel Tower, eating a delicious macaroon. Lastly, if you feel like you aren't "green" enough, add on a green clover long necklace that you know are thrown around at St. Patrick's Day events and you're good to go!

Thanks for having me Cait! Hope you're having an awesome time (of course you are!) and bring me back a Diptyque candle!! ;)

6

Spring Fashion Cravings

Having some blogger issues this morning.. sorry for the delayed post! First I want to thank you all for the kind words and well wishes for my Grandfather-in-Law on Friday. You are all too sweet! He is doing better than expected with his chemo treatments and it was nice seeing him up to his usual, goofy self this past weekend!

I mentioned that I'm not one for long drives, but one thing that kept me entertained was perusing online at all of the pretty Spring fashion coming out in stores lately. I'm a sucker for pastels, neons, and nautical stripes. Easy to wear tees and basically any Spring dress are in my online shopping bag, waiting to be purchased when the price is right. Does anyone else save items in shopping bags for weeks before finally committing?

Anyway, while I try to get myself caught up and unpacked, here are some of my favorites that are sitting in my shopping bag waiting for me to commit (or hinting to my husband that I like!) Of course, they're mostly from J. Crew, since that's most of my closet anyway!

Short Sleeve Necklace Sweater. Bar Stripe Tee. Striped Dress. Chambray Popover. Stripe Flats. Tortoise Link Bracelet. Weekend Bag. Acrylic Monogram Necklace. Nautical Chino Shorts.

What are you loving for Spring?

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Autumn Favorites

Happy Tuesday all! I was feeling a bit under the weather yesterday but today I'm back at it and hoping you all had a great weekend! I took full advantage of the Columbus Day sales this weekend... what can I say,  I'm a sucker for a good deal! I can now blame J. Crew Factory, Pottery Barn, and World Market for our cheap dinners this week...

This weekend we made another visit to the beach with the pup and picked up some pumpkins at the lamest pumpkin patch ever, at least compared to a Northerner's standards. It was 82 degrees so the hubs and I were sweating while carrying our overpriced pumpkins back to the car. Andddd my hair got a bit out of control. Ugh! Thinking of cutting it... I'll get back to that later this week for opinions!
 

Fall in the South is different. I'm enjoying the weather here more than I did in Florida, but I miss the crisp air, cold nights, and breezy days I grew up with in the North. I suppose that means I'll always be a Northerner at heart... even if my body doesn't think it and I freeze my pants off when visiting family in the next few months.

Between the pumpkins and the A/C running because my husband is five hundred degrees warmer than me at all times, I'm starting to get used to this "new" fall and finding ways to make it feel more like my favorite season. Here are some of my favorites so far!

1. "Pumpkin Pie" Yankee Candle: This candle is money well spent, let me tell you. I love Yankee Candles during the fall (and winter).  The whole house smells fantastic! I also like the Autumn Wreath scent for fall.

2. Essie "Carry On" Nail Color: I've been too intimidated by dark nail colors to branch off from my typical light pink or red (only during the holidays) but I'm actually really liking this color! It's got a nice burgundy, purple-ish hue and seems way more appropriate for the fall than pink!

3. West Elm Ombre Throw: I had my eye on this for a while before finally buying and adding it to my collection of like... 20 throws. I might have a problem. It's super soft and the perfect amount of warmth for chilly fall nights and times when my husband cranks up the A/C! Plus they come in a bunch of fun ombre colors.

4. Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte: I thought I'd switch it up and try the salted caramel mocha this year but I can't, I need as much PSL as I can get before they switch to the icky peppermint drinks!

5. Hunger Games "Catching Fire": The second movie comes out next month so I'm re-reading the book... so excited!

6. J. Crew Boy Shirt: I've been pretty much living in these cotton button downs (that is, when I'm not wearing my yoga pants to work... which I mentioned here) because I can just roll up the sleeves if I get warm. I'm loving the plaid flannel version at the Factory store now... might be a Thanksgiving weekend purchase!

7. J. Crew Factory Ankle Jeans: Perfect for our warmish fall weather, I love these jeans! I can throw sandals on with them and a short sleeve shirt on warm days, or throw boots and a sweater with them when it gets cooler.

I forgot to include my pearl earrings, I never go anywhere without them! What are your favorite items for fall so far? Anyone else make some fun purchases during the Columbus Day sales?!

P.S. Do you comment on posts and think I'm a total jerk for not responding? You're probably a "no-reply blogger" and its an easy fix! See these instructions from Jenni at Story of My Life. If I can't email you, I post a reply to you in the comments section! Oh and keep them coming... I love hearing from you all! XO!

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Loungewear Faves

First off, its almost Friday, which is awesome.

As much as I like to shop for new things and share my favorite fashion pieces with you all, this is my typical outfit of the day, or OOTD, if you will....

I've mentioned this before, but in case some of you don't know, I work from home. I have a Masters degree but I wear yoga pants to work. Sounds kind of sweet, right? Without getting into the nerdy details of what I do, and no its not anything IT-related nor am I a telemarketer, I will say that it has been an adjustment. While I love the flexibility working from home offers, it's not all that glamorous and I actually miss being in the office.

When we lived in DC, I wore suits and cute pencil skirts every day... clearly things have changed! Besides my size and ability to walk in heels... I also have a closet full of these clothes and nothing to do with them... sigh

When people ask if its hard to stay focused working from home or if I shower and get ready in the morning even though no one sees me, my response is yes and no, respectively. No seriously, I assume its similar to what a stay at home mom goes through in that there are a million things that need done but you train yourself to focus on the task at hand. There are a few things I could not do without, and in case you were wondering where this post was heading, there it is. 

Oh and I do shower and put makeup on, but not usually until my lunch break and hopefully before I scare the bejesus out of the poor delivery guy who drops off my late night shopping finds. 

Clothing

I don't usually shop at Old Navy because some things don't fit me well, but I loooove their loungewear. It's super soft, washes well, and its cheap. You can pretty much always find a 20-40% off coupon code, and who doesn't love coupon codes?! I try to go for items that are comfortable, obviously, but can also be worn while running errands without looking like a bum!

Women's Jersey Tee Hoodies, $20

Women's Terry-Fleece Raglan Top, On sale for $10!!

Vintage Style V-Neck Tee, on sale for $8!

Zella 'Live In' Reversible Capris, on sale for $36!

Victoria's Secret Most Loved Yoga Pants, $34.50 or 2/$55

I also think I might need to pick this up soon....

Rubbish Wide Neck Sweatshirt, $39

Randoms 

Keurig K-Cup Coffee Maker: The first thing I do in the morning is turn this baby on and make myself some vanilla coffee (lately with a few sprinkles of pumpkin pie spice). The hubs got me this for either a birthday or Christmas gift, and that might sound weird, but its the best. I love buying the sample packs of k-cups and trying new coffees, plus you can use it just for hot water, make iced tea or coffee, or hot chocolate.

Emerald Cinnamon Roast Almonds: Working 20 feet from the kitchen and not eating all day is tough, so I try to make myself some sort of protein every morning. If I get hungry throughout the day, I grab these almonds. They taste like Thanksgiving in the form of an almond. Go get some, now.

I also like to eat granola for a snack, so I've had the pumpkin granola around a lot lately!

What are your favorite loungewear pieces? If any of you work from home (that includes being a stay at home momma!), is there anything that helps get you through the day? Also, has anyone sold clothing on Poshmark? I have really nice quality work clothes and I'm thinking of trying to sell them!

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