How Do You Holiday?

We are finally off on our epic Disney vacation!  It was over a year ago in snowy Kansas that I began messaging with my family to plan this adventure.  It seems hard to believe that it's actually happening  as it seemed like little more than a distant dream for so long.

At the risk of sounding shallow (but, I mean really, you're here to read about my outfits... It's kinda the whole point of the blog) one of the funneat parts of my prep this time was planning what clothes to bring.  This hasn't always been the case.  It's hard to find a balance between comfort and style that doesn't either have you looking like a slob or Gloria at Disneyland on that hilarious episode of Modern Family!
http://abc.go.com/shows/modern-family/video/VDKA0_iwe69sr

This trip is a perfect example of why I love my "sporty mom on the go" wardrobe so much (note for future blogs- talk about that term that my neighbor Cym coined - which now defines my whole clothing outlook.

In the thread of "a picture of worth a thousand words" I'm just going to put up a couple shots of what I'm wearing and then explain.

These pants are one of my very favorite Athleta purchases ever.  And that is saying a lot because I have (and love) a whole lotta Athleta lovin'.
La Viva pants are here.
The price is pretty reasonable to begin with but on a price per wear scale these babies are a steal.

The tank is one of my few lululemon buys.  But dangitall if every piece I have from there isn't well made, comfy and flattering.  dang them for being such overpriced snobs! But I digress.  This tank is one of their Cool Racerbacks... It's nice and long, slim fit and I wear it for both casual and working out. I did get it on sale for $29.  Here is a link to their current line of CRB's.
Cool racerback.

To top it off I have on my most beloved Athleta zip up.  I bought it on a whim last year on sale and now I have a hard time imagining my life without it.  I wish I was exaggerating.  Sadly Athleta didn't make it again this year - but in their fall/winter lines they usually come out with something similar.

The piece de resistance is my sweet new Rebel Cluster Necklace.  Love this thing.  It's versatile so you can wear either chain on its own or put them together.  The length is also adjustable based on your neckline!

Now, don't get my wrong.  I'm not trying to say that I was all high-fashion at Disney.  I was decidedly in the casual and comfortable crowd.  I just like to think you can still look like you gave a little effort while doing it.

Last but not least I have to say I LOVE these flip flops I bought last year.  I found them at Dick's sporting goods but have also seen them other places.  I'm a huge fan of flops but a bit of a snob about them too.  They have to be just right to be cute.
The Reef Stargazer flip flops fit the bill.

All right y'all, time to get back to the magic of Disney.  Peace out.

The Saturday Outfit

If your life is anything like mine (and for the majority of you I think it is) than Saturday's can be very random.  This past Saturday consisted of making a big breakfast for everyone, going to Ainsley's basketball game, cleaning out my car, dropping/picking up Jake from his social skills group and scrubbing my shower.

Its kinda hard to dress for such a varied schedule.  So most Saturday's I end up in some version of workout gear (and believe me, I am not saying that's wrong because if its wrong I don't want to be right).  This week, though, I decided to demonstrate to the fine folks who would also be crowded into the Pinehurst Elementary School gym that I owned more than running tights and fleece jackets.

Enter: The Saturday Outift.

I wish I had taken a full body shot but, alas, I did not.

Here's what you are seeing (and not seeing).  I have on a comfy red flannel shirt that I bought a few seasons ago at Banana Republic.  My favorite pair of BR jeans (so soft, Special Edition straight leg jeans that I can only find at the outlet making me wonder just how "special" they are).  Its a solid standby outfit.  But at the last minute I thought how cute my Sutton necklace would look if I took off the sparkle chain and made it longer (remember, this is the necklace you can wear five ways).  I threw that baby on and I felt like I was actually dressed up!   I was on the fence about this necklace, because of cost, for a long time but I have to say it is becoming one of my favorite pieces!

What do you think?

Find it here:  http://www.stelladot.com/shop/en_us/jewelry/necklaces/necklaces-all

Perfect In A Pinch

This weekend has been a wild one.  Wonderful but wild.  I have spent most of it celebrating one of my dearest friend's 40th birthday but with a 19 mile "Idiot Run" and an elementary school fundraising ball thrown in for good measure.  I had far less sleep but far more to eat (and drink!!!) than my usual weekend.

All this to say morning was not my friend today.  I woke up late to kids clamoring for homemade waffles and very little time to pull myself together. An excellent Sunday to call an audible on attending church...with exception that I was the scheduled scripture reader during our more formal traditional service.

What's a girl to do?

Thanks to my new arrival's to my Stella and Dot collection I have to say that I knew exactly what to do.  I threw last night's leftover party hair into a ponytail, pulled on a black sweater, pinstripe pants and heels, swiped on some makeup and finished the look with the Sutton Necklace.

I started getting ready at 8:39 and by 8:50 we were walking out the door.  The outfit would have been ok ... passable, I suppose, on its own.  But with the addition of the Sutton I actually looked good.  Like I had put some time and thought into my appearance for church.

If you want to learn more about this awesome necklace that is actually 5 necklaces in one follow this link! 

The Debut Blog

I'll be honest.  For a very long time the world of fashion seemed like an egg that I was just not meant to crack.  I was overwhelmed trying to keep up with trends and look like one of the cool girls.

Sometime in my late 20's/early 30's I finally got to the place where I was more comfortable in my own skin.  Along with that came a sense of how I wanted to look and feel.  The pieces slowly began to fall into place.

Comfort has always been important to me.  I can do a few hours in something uncomfortable for the sake of fashion but that's pretty much my limit.  That heavily influences the fashion choices that I make.  As does my lifestyle.  I mean, let's be honest.  There are days that my main activity is scrubbing the floor, making dinner, giving baths and then falling on the couch in exhaustion.  I need my clothes to be functional.  But just because I'm running around like crazy doing the parenting gig doesn't mean I have to look bad while I'm doing it.

One thing that I have found to be totally key is being willing to spend a little bit more on a few key pieces.  There are some things out there that the "fakes" just cannot replicate.  A good pair of jeans, a great pair of boots and you and you can throw on a top from TJ Maxx and look like a million bucks.

Or a white t-shirt and black yoga pants with a really WOW necklace and some black flats - makes you look so put together.

My plan is to try and snap pictures and share on this blog the different aspects of what I'm wearing.   And, of course, to factor in my fun new pieces from Stella and Dot along with the pieces that I've had that I wear every. single. day.

Let me close out my first blog by saying that I approach this whole thing with a good amount of trepidation.  I by NO means consider myself a fashion expert.  I don't want to sound snobby or conceited.  I think what appeals to others about my style is that its approachable.  It looks easy but semi-polished.  Its certainly not high fashion.  I think of it as mom-fashion.

Thanks for reading :)