One belt, many outfits!

Shirt/necklace: Sexy Modest

skirt: Marshall's

Bracelet:  ??

Shoes: Dillard's

After you buy something do you end up wearing it the next day or "saving" it for a day you need want to look cute?  I can't lie...I do both!  I used to be a saver of sorts but now I believe in looking fabulous every day, so I've been known to wear it the very next day.  This shirt was both.  I bought it in Utah and I wore it the next day, but when I wore it for the first time at home I saved it for a special occasion (aka church).   BTW, I love this shirt!  Not just how cute it is but how great the belt is.  I have worn the belt so many times I lost count.

(oh and for those interested...you just got another peek at my living room.  Don't you just love the color?)

I'm linking up:
No Model Lady
Momma Go Round
Pleated Poppy

Living Room Sneak Peek!

Here is a sneak peak into the new look that my living room has.  I bought this pillow, after lost sleep and much drama.  But it is safely in my home and it is as fabulous as I imagined.  I just love EVERYTHING about it.  The walls are painted, mirror up, furniture redone, and now I just have to buy a rug and curtains (and a few minor assesories).  Then I will show pics!  As for now, enjoy this pillow.  I bought it at Anthropologie but, unfortunately, you can't get it anymore because I bought the last one.  Sorry!  See, I told you....drama!

"Give Wardrobe a Brand-New Start"

A few weekends ago I read an article** by Jill Martin in USA Weekend about how to make everything in your closet a perfect 10!  Don't we all want that?  I've mentioned before how I hate saying I have nothing to wear.  This article made perfect sense to me, even though I sometimes don't do everything it says too.  But I NEED to!  I also need to read her book, "I Have Nothing to Wear: A Painless 12-Step Program to Declutter Your Life So You Never Have to Say This Again!"

The highlights from the article for me:

-Weed out wardrobe (be ruthless!)  Oh and banish last season's white t-shirts.  I have a difficult time giving them up.

-Three components that help determine your style: personality, body type, and lifestyle.  I can't wear tall shoes every day because I do have to chase my little guy around the house sometimes.

-Jill also gives advice to your closet: things to add for this fall, items to banish (dang you white T's), and basics everyone must have.

**after you go to link click on where it says 3 lifestyles and their looks.  It will lead you to the article.

"$50 to Look Like Million!"

dress: Sexy Modest

shoes: Target

Jewelry:???? (they are that old)

My friend from growing up owns a store called Sexy Modest.  It is full of fabulous and fashionable clothes at reasonable prices.  For the past two summers while on my trip to Utah, Sexy Modest is always on my list to visit for a new item to wear.  I already had a shirt in hand but my friend kept bringing me new things to try on. 

I fell in love with this dress but didn't think my husband would enjoy me spending so much on clothes this trip.  I had already gone shopping a few times so maybe I just felt guilty for spending money.  Do you ever feel that way?  Anyway, as I was hanging the dress up to put back, my friend said, "Why are you putting the dress back?"

I said, "I'm going to think about it and come back."

"It will be gone if you do that."  You see, Sexy Modest only carries 6 of each item and they are constantly adding new things to the store.  And if you don't act fast, you will miss out.

"But I think my husband will get upset that I'm spending a lot."

"$50 to look like a million?"

I must report-no complaints from the husband.

Maternity say what?

 dress: Taiwan, shoes: Ross, belt: Sexy Modest, bracelet: thrifted

Would you believe it if I told you this was a pregnancy dress?  Why, yes, yes it is!  I was perusing my mom's costume closet and she kind of "left this dress out" so, naturally, I thought she was wanting to get rid of it.  I loved it....and thought it was very cute and vintage.  Isn't vintage "in" these days anyway? So, I took the dress and added a belt.  I was in love.

Well, a few days later when I actually was wearing the dress, my mom said, "I think that is the dress your sister bought on her mission (for our church)."  Say what?  Finder's keepers.  Too bad that didn't work since she saw me in it a few minutes later.  Oopsie.  I was just getting her back for all the times she stole wore my clothes in junior high.

linking up:

No Model Lady

The Pleated Poppy

Pinterest Creations

I know I have shared with you my love for Pinterest before.  But I'm not joking around.  It is THE BEST!  I have already done some organizing, DIYing, and made new additions to my cleaning schedule.  Here is the latest of what I've been up to this week from my slight obsession.

kalynskitchen.com

I made this yesterday for a potluck.  I only used squash because that is what I had from our garden.  It was pretty good but I'm going to use butter next time.

I also made lettuce tacos.  Tacos but without the tortillas and instead wrapped in green leaf lettuce leaves.  So yummy!

I'm redoing the look in my living room.  Okay, it never had a "look" before so it is safe to say that I'm actually taking time to decorate it.  One piece that needed to go was our bookcase.  So, instead of buying a new one, I just used this picture for some inspiration and went to work.

bhg.com

I know it looks nothing like the picture but it looks a lot better than before.  I also folded all of the sheets inside one of the pillowcases to store (another Pinterest find).  I like to keep gifts on hand in case I am invited to a last minute birthday party (or my son) so that is what is inside the bins.  I have another toiletry closet in another bathroom where those items are stored.  I have yet to organize that one so sorry, no pic!

I plan to make these this week.

eating-for-england.com

Stuffed Pizza Balls by penniesonaplatter.com (couldn't get picture to work)

What have you been pinning and recreating in your home?

"Decisions are the worst"



Natalie from Girls Just Wanna Have Fun thinks getting dressed in the morning is so difficult due to the obscene many choices she has in her closet. Sometimes I can't decide either.  It's not that I have that many clothes it's just that I'm trying to look stylish and not wear the same old stuff day after day.  So, I try to put together outfits but some days are better than others.

Enter Pinterest.

I won't lie.  If I am stumped some mornings and need inspiration for an outfit, I pull out my phone and look on my Pinterest fashion board.  And whalah!  Inspiration at my fingertips.

Dress: Dillards

Hat: Orange County Swap Meet

shoes: Target clearance

I just had too.  I forgot to hold my shoes.

I'm linking up with:

Momma Go Round

Birds of a Feather

Shirt: Nordstrom Rack

Pants: Forever 21 (way back)

necklace: JCPenney

bracelet: New Orleans French Quarter

shoes: Ross

Sometimes we have to take risks to move up.  Like if I want to become more fashionable, I need to stay up with the trends (and actually wear them too).  So, this summer I have gotten a few new items that are "risk" pieces.  I'm so glad that I took a risk because I loved wearing this shirt.  It was so comfortable and fun to wear.  I got a few compliments as well so I guess it is a keeper.  It also looks great with a cardigan.  Trust me, I tried one on but just couldn't seem to wear it in this 110 degree heat. Oh Fall, where are you?  The only thing missing with this outfit is a feather extension.:)

What I Wore Wednesday

I seriously hate when I wear a fabulous outfit and have nowhere to go.  So, sometimes I just head over to Target or make up someplace to go just so someone besides my son sees my outfit.  But there are also times where I am trying something new or put together a crazy outfit when I know I'll just be home doing laundry or something fun like that so I won't be embarrassed if my outfit is a disaster.

Well, this week I was resurrecting a shirt.  You know....the shirt that you think that you really should get rid of but decide to wear it one last time.  I didn't think I would see anyone so I put together an outfit with said shirt.  Some friends invited me to lunch and, of course, I just had to go.  Yeah for me, but sad for my "won't see anyone outfit."  It turns out that the shirt will still be making an appearance in my closet.  To make matters worse-I didn't get a picture with the said outfit.  Next time!

Here are some outfits for your viewing pleasure from this past week.

Shirt: Kohl's, Skirt: Nordstroms, Belt: Forever 21

(sorry about the hair...outfit=cute, hair=travesty)

Shirt: Kohl's or Ross???, Cardigan/capris: Marshall's, Shoes: Ross

Dress: Jolly's Drug Store (should be a post of it's own...I know)

Shoes: Ross

I'm linking up with:
Momma Go Round
The Pleated Poppy

Rejuvinated and Renewed by going RAW!

Ah, peeps!  How I have missed you and the blogging world.  I have been away on vacation for three weeks and had to enter the world of reality this past week.  It is good to be back but I sure didn't miss this muggy weather we are having.  Oh, and my runs are harder due to the extreme heat.  But, alas, still good to be back and in the normal routine of life.

This past week I discovered a new thing to add to my daily routine.  Since I was vacationing a lot of the summer I ate like CRAP!  Seriously, you know how it is: road trip after road trip, you take the week off and enjoy dessert every night, maybe enjoying a Creamie every day because they are only sold in Utah, etc.  The list goes on and on.  Well, when I eat like crap, I feel like crap.  Plain and simple.  You are what you eat, right?  So, I knew I had to do something when I got back into town. 

My cousin was doing a juice cleanse and I knew I needed to do something like that.  To cleanse my body of all the Creamies   junk I'd been eating.  She gave me a few websites to look at and RAW DIVAS caught my eye.  I signed up to do the 7-day Detox Challenge.  And the very next day I started. I can't even tell you how great I feel.  My skin, my hair, my insides.  Fabulous!  I lost those summer pounds that I tend to pack on every year and more.  But I don't care about that (ok, I really do but babysteps, babysteps my friends).  I just feel stronger and, if you will, "cleansed."

It was nothing new.  Just fruit and veggies.  And a lot of them.

I am used to eating somewhat healthy but this detox was amazing! I made Green Smoothies every day.  I was already in the habit of making those for breakfast so no problem there.  I also tried different greens and fruit.  My family even joined me in the fun.  Dinner was simple yet filling.  I was surprised at how full I felt all day long.

Was I perfect the whole week?  No
Do I think I could keep doing this my whole life? No. 
But I do think I'll try to eat mostly raw during the day and then a sensible dinner and maybe Chickfila here and there.:)

But when I wanted to eat all I wanted was fruits and veggies.  Seriously!  Other things didn't tempt me as much anymore.  My motivation = I love the way I feel. 

If you try it, let me know how it goes.  I'd love to hear about it.

Keepin It Fresh!

About a month ago my SIL and I were texting back and forth.  All of a sudden I received a text from her saying, "Kisses before work, make out session after work."  Yeah, don't think that was supposed to go to me.  Being the nice SIL I am, I let her know about "the text."  Later my brother at dinner was telling me about how he and his wife were texting back and forth on their anniversary (because they were apart) ways that they could make their marriage better.

They each came up with several different things that they could do daily to keep things fresh between them.  One of my brother's requests was to receive a picture text from his wife of her, not the kids, every single day.  It's like Facebook but just between you and your spouse (or significant other) so the whole world doesn't have to see it.  You all know what I'm talking about. 

Since I am cheesy like that, I thought it was a great idea.  My hubby wasn't so keen on the idea.

Until after a few days of me texting him pictures of me, wouldn't you know what he did.  He starting sending me pics of him.  Ha! 

These are a few of my favorites:

At the car wash..don't mind the mascara smudge.  It was blazing hot!

Getting cozy with the oxen at Heritage Park

So there you have it.  A fun, new way to keep it fresh with the spouse or significant other.

Creamies...UT original

Every year when I make my Mecca to Utah, I always look forward to my daily Creamie.  Did you know they can only be found here?  It's probably a good thing or else my waistline might explode.  All I know is that I will need a good cleanse when I stop vacationing for the summer.