Cooler Weather Fashion + Favorites

If I had to choose my favorite time of the year to dress it would be Fall. Not the "it's not cold but not hot" phase but the "it's cold but not freezing" phase.

If I had to describe my style in one word it'd be: simple. My ideal outfit and one I would wear if I had to choose one for the rest of my life would be a white tee and dark skinny jeans. I've always been a girly/preppy dresser. For a short stint of time I tried to be somewhat "hipster" because that was the trend but it just wasn't me. I never felt confident. I think the most important thing when it comes to your style is to find what you feel the most confident in and go with that. It also makes getting ready in the mornings SO much easier.

I'm a layer nut. Which is why I love Fall. It's hard to layer in the Summer without becoming a sweaty mess. That white tee and jean combo I love? Still works when it's cold. Add a vest, jacket, scarf, boots, and go. Basics are your friend. Invest in them and wear them different ways.

Here are some staples I'm loving for Fall and my favorite ways to wear them with the basics that are already in your closet.

Plaid & Gingham

Plaid isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Plaid has become a neutral. It goes with anything and can be worn however you like- whether it's around your waste or around your neck.

cyndispivey.com

theodysseyonline.com

stylishwife.com

brandedgirls.com

Vests

I really hate wearing jackets. Especially when you're just going to be running around. No one wants to lug a jacket around. Enter vests.

thesweetestthingblog.com

southerncurlsandpearls.com

uoionline.com 

foiclothing.com

thissillygirlslife.com

Cardigans

Again with the alternative to a jacket. Cuter and still warm.

lizmarieblog.com

buzzfeed.com

lolajefeed.com

fashionqe.com

Boots

You can't have a Fall outfit without boots. I wait all year long to break these babies out. If you're going to get one pair of boots, I'd grab a pair of camel color boots. The color goes with black or brown, they're clean, and pull any outfit together. I have to say I turned my nose up to those "duck boots" that started appearing last year. After all this rain, they're next on my list!

glamradar.com

ae.com

pinkpeonies.com

Leather

Okay. I know I said I don't like jackets. When I do wear a jacket, it's normally leather (unless it's 20 degrees or I'm skiing then I'll bring out the puffer jacket). I know leather can be scary, especially the pants BUT if done right, I think they look great!

stylishwife.com

fashiongum.com

blog.styleestate.com

stephaniesterjovski.com

So when you're out shopping, grab a few things that can be paired with many other things. I try not to buy a lot of "trendy" items because next season they'll be out so invest in a few of these things that are classic and will stick around for a while. P.S. I don't think plaid is going anywhere so all you hipster kiddos and student pastors are good.to.go. ;-)

Simple Fall Decor + Tips

I love Spring and Summer decor; bright, airy, and colorful. But my favorite is when the holidays roll around; warm, comfy, and cozy. I don't go crazy when it comes to decorating for Fall like I do when I decorate for Christmas but a few things here and there can make a home feel more warm when the weather gets cooler. I've had some people Facebook message me about decorating for Fall and wanting some tips and tricks so I thought I'd share some here.

I love our house and I think the best part about this house is the fire place & mantle. However, if you don't have a fireplace and a mantle, hang an expensive floating shelf on a focal wall and decorate around it. You could also add some bookshelves to an empty space and decorate those as you would a mantle.

For our mantle, we have these signs from this etsy shop that stay there year round.

• Add some inexpensive seasonal flowers. We get ours from Hobby Lobby when they're 50% off. 
• Pictures that match the season. You could use beach pictures in the Summer or Christmas pictures during the holidays 
• A seasonal banner. Chalkboard ones are my favorite because you can just change the wording with the seasons. I find a lot of my banners in the Target dollar spot section.
• Candles; they're good all the time :)

Chalkboards are the greatest form of decoration because they're universal and you can change them up as often as you'd like. I make all of mine from thrift store frames and some chalkboard paint.

If you have a computer on display anywhere in your house, change up the screensaver!

 Have a serving tray? Throw some season decor in them and set them out somewhere! Baskets and bowls work, too! I have so many salad bowls and punch bowls from our wedding that hardly ever get used so I fill them with things: pumpkins, pinecones, sticks, seasonal fillers, etc.

The buffet in our dining room normally keeps the same decor on it but again, changing up the chalkboard sayings and adding some flowers gives a simple, easy, and cheap touch that can change with the seasons.

Another banner from the Target dollar spot for the win. For the wreath it's only a styrofoam wreath wrapped with burlap and fake flowers hot glued to it. Cheap and simple.

 I don't hate spending money on decor but I hate spending A LOT of money on decor that will only be displayed for a few months or so. I try to DIY what I can and use what I have in my house already. I also try to buy things that I can tweak for any season - like mason jars for example or lanterns. You can fill them with things depending on what you are decorating for.

Seriously though, the Target dollar spot is your BEST FRIEND when seasons come around. You can spruce up your entire house for a few bucks and then you don't feel bad when you have to pack it away.

I hope this was helpful and gave you some ideas for sprucing up your house just a little bit for Fall! Happy decorating!

Favorite Posts of the Week

Finally, right? Summer has been my excuse not to keep up with my blog...though I've tried real hard! Here's to getting back to normalcy around here!

"THREE KIDS IS LIKE" by Little Baby Garvin

I love Jessica's blog. She's really the only blog that I stalk everyday. There are many reasons why I stalk but one is because she's authentic. I get sweaty hands thinking about caring for more than one child at a time but she adds such comic relief to having three very little ones to care for. She doesn't sugarcoat the fact that raising more than one child is hard and I can appreciate that!

Maternity Style // Summer Fringe and a Giveaway by Lauren McBride

Like I said above, thinking about having more than one child right now terrifies me, so NO there's no baby in there but I love posts like this because one of my rules when I was pregnant was to not dress like it. I refused to let being pregnant be my excuse to dress frumpy. Plus, it made me feel better!

A beyond stunning wedding by Mr. and Mrs. Powell

Everyone loves a good wedding, right? In the spirit of my family planning another wedding, I thought a wedding post would be appropriate! This wedding was so beautiful. A little bit of glam & vintage all in one!

Fall Home Tour by Life On Virginia Street

Okay, so, I would be lying if I said that my house wasn't almost ready for Fall. This is an old post but I came across it recently and it's a great "transitional" home tour - when you're ready for Fall but society is not.

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend!

A Look Inside My Pool Bag!

It's no secret if you read this blog or follow me on Instagram that we've been living at the pool lately. The warmer the water gets, the more Brooklynn loves it! At the beginning of the Summer, Brooklynn wouldn't go near the water and now we're chasing her down before she dives in.

It can be quite the workout to get myself and Brooklynn both to the pool so I like to keep a bag (it's normally one of those cooler bags) always packed and ready to go in the laundry room so I can just worry about grabbing it and go. I also like to try and keep my bag light and simple. 

The most important thing you can have in your pool bag if you have a toddler is *everyone say it at once*... suunnsccree ...diapers. I keep just a cosmetic bag (that can double as a wet bag) of her swim diapers, a changing pad, and wipes. Easy enough.

I never actually found a pair of water shoes that fit her feet when the summer started so she wears these jelly shoes to the pool. The concrete around our pool is HOT & there's a tile entrance to the pool that's super slippery so she keeps these on her feet while she swims and she's good to go.

Then, yes, sunscreen. I sunscreen Brooklynn before leaving the house. We either use the Banana Boat Natural Reflect Baby sunscreen or the Aveeno Baby on her body, Banana Boat Kids stick sunscreen on her face, and the Yes To Pomegranate chapstick on her lips. And as much time as we have spent at the pool this summer, we have had ZERO sunburns!

We take towels and a change of clothes for Brooklynn for the ride home. *parents of carseat children -- Be careful strapping your child into their carseat when your car is super hot. The straps get hot and can burn their legs & shoulders. Thankfully, the harnesses are plastic now and not metal but it can still get hot. This is why I put some shorts and a tee on her when we leave the pool :)

Brooklynn associates the pool with food. Actually, she associates everything and everywhere with food. You'd think she was a 15 year old boy! So, I have to be stocked with snacks. Her favorites for the pool are pretzels, oranges, "pouches", grapes, and anything that you're eating yourself. I keep a juice bag or water on me, too for her.

I'll pack her sunglasses, maybe a ball or pale for her to play with and then that's really it. Now, when we go to the beach I take Baby Powder to dust the sand off of her and yes, it works miracles at getting sand off...especially when she face plants.

Hope you've enjoyed your Summer...can you believe it's almost over? I have to say, once our vacations are up for the year, I'm ready for a little more of a routine to start, football to start, and a break from the humidity! 

Uses for Coconut Oil

 

I gave into the hype of Coconut Oil several months ago and can attest that the hype.is.real. This little jar aids in improving brain health (Alzheimers), infections, disease, & heart problems. It also ncreases digestion, metabolism, burns fat, increases energy, helps in the function of your thyroid, and on and on and on. According to research, populations (in the South Pacific) that eat the most Coconut are said to be the healthiest...just food for thought, literally. 

There are numerous uses for Coconut Oil - some that I use and some that I don't. I keep a jar in my bathroom and a jar in the kitchen. Should probably keep a jar in my car and a jar in my purse, too. Okay, my love is great but not that intense. Here's some of the ways that I use coconut oil.

Makeup Remover

When I have a lot of makeup on my face ... which really is hardly ever, I'll use it to remove my makeup. I always use it to remove my eye makeup because it melts everything off and moisturizes your lashes. We moisturize our hair, face, and body but often neglect our lashes -- enter CO.

Hair Mask
I have very dry hair. I get highlights in my hair about four times during the year but because my hair is naturally on the dry side, I need a little help from CO. Since I'm impatient and time between a beauty routine and a toddler is not evenly split, I can't afford to leave a mask on my hair for hours on end SO I'll jump in the shower, shampoo my hair, put the CO through the ends of my hair, place it in a bun, and let sit for 5 or so minutes. Soft, shiny, and DETANGLED. Have I mentioned I have knots in my hair that Navy Seals couldn't get out? *Because CO is a solid, let the jar sit in the shower with you, it'll melt while you shampoo :)

Skin
We're gonna get a little personal here so hold on. Just kidding...kinda. I get little bumps on the upper part of my arms. No big deal, really, but once I exfoliate them and use CO as a moisturizer, all is well in the world. Okay, that's a little dramatic. You essentially could just slather yourself in CO if you want to go big and it would do nothing but benefit you :) If you're into essential oils, mix up some CO, sugar, and an oil of your choice for that scrub I mentioned earlier!

Digestion/Fat Burner
Let's be honest, CO is not tasty by itself, at least not in my opinion. So, I put it in my coffee. It requires a tad bit more time in the morning. What I'm saying is: I don't do it every day. I'll put a spoonful of CO, my creamer, and coffee into our Ninja and blend it all up. I've tried not blending it and the CO sits on top of the coffee. No bueno. Try it, it's a thumbs up!

Oil Pulling
Okay, this isn't something that I do everyday either, but when I have done it, I can tell a difference. However, if you're in a situation where you need an excuse not to talk for 20 minutes, here it is. You can do this morning & night or like me, just at night. Before going to bed, I'll place a tablespoon amount of CO in my mouth and "slosh" it around for 20 minutes. **DO NOT swallow this! This will remove bacteria from your mouth as well as being a natural teeth-whitener. After 20 minutes, spit it out (in a trashcan because it was harden and clog your sink pipes) and then brush your teeth. Tell me you don't see a difference ;)

**Brooklynn has never had a bad case of diaper rash, but I've read that a lot of mommies will use CO as a natural diaper rash remedy and have had great luck with it!

**I buy my CO from Aldi. But you can really find it anywhere. Be sure to buy the ORGANIC COLD-PRESSED, UNREFINED Coconut Oil!