polka dots&patterns

same shirt, different outfit! i found this shirt at a thrift store and it's my favorite. i can wear it so many different ways. i've had those shoes for... over five years now! i wear them alll the time, have gotten many more pairs of black heels, but they are still my favorites and i can't let them go even though they are all scuffed up and the color is coming off of them!

and a special thanks to the man behind the camera... who isn't looking too shabby himself ;)

belt matches hair

spring is so close. we had a sneak peak teaser for a while, but now it's raining and thundering again! so i get to wear my sweaters and blazers for a little while longer. i love this outfit. the shirt is {my favorite} from a thrift store in bessemer, AL along with the blazer (schwing!!) belt- thrifted in high school. legging- clearance at target. shoes- ross/marshalls (i forget) in roseville, CA. i love mixing neutrals. grey, white, and cream-ish.

thank you danny for photoshooting with meee!

L&L: sweater power & pie love.

don't mind that i have three nostrils in this picture. i feel like i have to be the dorkiest person ever to tuck in my SWEATER. but i just felt too plain jane to wear a sweater with jeans and be done with it. so i put on my favorite high waisted jeans, tucked it in, and put on a belt... voila! i feel better. it would only be better if i had some smart glasses on :]

on another note, i am loving every minute being home with my sweet parents and good old uncle garry. i so appreciate their love and hope i can always make them proud. i have been thankful for the chance i had to come out a little before grandpa's funeral to just be together. we went to the temple tonight and it was wonderful. :] me & mama made a cherry pie last night for dad. it turned out great!

side note... tubby loves to carry around this golf ball that is twice the size of her mouth. we thought it was stuck and she had lock jaw. nope, she just loves to play with it... funniest lil pup!

what i'm wearing...

nothing spectacular here, but it might spark an idea or two! i wanted to be bright that day. this is my favorite way to wear scarfs... fold it in half diagonally then put the bulk of it on your front and wrap the ends around! i'm sure you already knew how to do that.... i got that scarf in jordan, oh how i adore it! 

kristal... this is for you! more to come!

L&L: what are you wearing right now?

this post is dedicated to kristal mulder, my super sassy and GORGEOUS cousin... [like, when i first joined the family and dan would try to help me remember who was who... he's say kristal, and i'd say who? and he's say "the pretty one"... i knew who he was talking about:) and might have gotten a little jealous, ridiculous i know] anywho.... does she have the most darling and beautiful little model children? yes. does she put us all to shame with her hardcore working out and dieting [although i'm not condoning it kristal.. you must eat!] does she look AMAZING after having four children? [one less than a year old... i think...] yes, she does! does she have the most fabulous new home that she paints the most fabulous colors? yes, she does. is she an incredible photographer that i aspire to be like? YES.... basically, i love her and she is way to hard on herself and doesn't realize how gorgeous she is. if we lived by eachother we would be at a thrift store shopping right now... woot woot!

GORGEOUS....

and she inspired me to start a new segment of my blog called "what i'm wearing" so here's post #1... :}

principles of sassiness:

1. mix similar colors, like my orange and magenta. it is so much more interesting than the usual color combos. go ahead, wear pink with red [kristal], blue with green, &anything with gray is divine... there are really no rules in my book.

2. be bold & surprising and wear casual with fancy. don't wear your favorite skirt only on sunday! like my simple cotton tee with a sassy tight pencil skirt. just for a normal day [i know not quite possible for chasing children]. consider replacing the pencil skirt with a flowy skirt, still paired with a tee. liven in up with some cute accessories &everyone will wonder who is that sassy lady?!

3. do you have an article of clothing that is your favorite and you wear it only on special occassions? [like twice a year] i am officially telling you to WEAR IT! don't wait for that christmas party that might never come, you deserve to wear it today... right now... to the grocery store... and be FABULOUS!!

:}

GO GIRL!!!

lovely&lively: FALLing.

fitted jackets

layering

patterns

sweaters

blazers

scarfs

opaque tights

boots

gloves

mixing

matching

...

delighted!

...

pics from j.crew

lovely&lively: THRIFTING.

i love thrift stores.

when i walk through those dirty rickety doors, the air blows back my hair and i am filled with a sense of all the possibilities that lie before me. who knows what treasures i may find?! i take a purse full of patience, grab my buggy, and 45 minutes later i've got an entire cart full, then i head to the dressing room and sort through everything. i end up with just a few finds. i only keep the things i LOVEEEE. [it took me a few years to get to this point, i used to keep every random thing, and then it ended up back at the thrift store before too long..]

{i had to cut my face off because i was looking a little perturbed, oops!}

so this shirt was found at a thrift store in vegas [salvation army?] in my high school days. i bought it so ashley&i could match. i love it, i wear it all the time, with my most casual jeans to my fanciest skirt or dress.

the skirt, found at the "LARGEST THRIFT STORE" in bessemer, alabama [seriously our favorite], compliments of my sweet parents who let me go on a little shopping spree. i don't love the angle in this picture, but it will do. it certainly is a pencil skirt, &it is sooo tight on my waist! i have to suck in literally every moment it's on my body [but i actually do that all the time anyways, shh.. don't tell].

the sassy gold belt, DI in rexburg, idaho. [i MISS that store!] it came with a silver version with a heart clasp, which is my all time favorite.

the shoes my mom bought me for my graduation from nursing school, GUESS by marciano on sale. they hurt, but i love them.

good example of an almost 100% thrifted outfit!

lovely&lively: FINDING YOURSELF.

i have always had this desire to be different. i have always liked being the first person to wear something, or to wear a usual piece in an unusual way. if it starts to get popular and misused, i loose my taste for it. & i'll be the first to say this has not always been a good thing! i haven't always known how to channel it, i used to just wear, as my mom would say, "interesting" outfits, just for the sake of being "interesting."

i feel that i have found my niche, and i know it is constantly changing as i mature and grow and my roles in life change, but i am excited for every stage and every change. i think about the kinds of outfits i will wear when i am pregnant. i have images in my head of the style i will have as a mother of growing children. and the thought of having grey hair and endless stories in my eyes is so appealing to me.

through all of that, it is important to me that i will always have my own style. i find fulfillment and satisfaction in having my own style that i am happy with and proud of. i want to always feel good about myself and the way i look. i am trying now to develop habits that will allow to be this way. everything for healthy eating to being active to caring about my hygiene and my appearance to never letting go of my love for fashion.

something to think about i guess. how has your style evolved into who are you today? are you feeding it with water&sunshine or stifling it with grey walls& sweatpants?

the sartorialist

cup of jo

greedy girl

[a couple of {fashion} blogs i like]

lovely&lively: TROUSERS.

every woman should own a pair of jeans like this. they lengthen and flatter. these pants are golden because they flatter every body type. they are classy &they'll make your tush look good with a pair with wedge heels. i would pair with a fitted top to balance out the straight leg.

[j.crew]

try with:

your favorite top, brightly colored belt,& a lightweight sweater that falls loosely just above the belt.

or wear those same peices, just wrap a thin belt around your waist, &wear it over the unbuttoned sweater.

delicate belt around your hips&a dressier, fitted top [try tucked in!]

or wear to work with a simple, pretty top like this &some of your favorite jewelry to add some love:
[bananarepublic]

endless options...

all classy&flattering.

everyone will wonder where that sassy lady is headed.

lovely&lively: FADS.

my fad is not your fad.

fads can be quite deceiving... so please be cautious. a fad begins, usually, when a little designing man or woman somewhere thinks something up &puts it on the runway, it then makes it's sneaky little way into magazines, billboards, stores, and before too long- onto your legs, body, face, hair, or where ever else it decides to go.

many times, by the time it makes it all the way to you it has been diluted &adulterated, not what it was intended to be &not being worn the way it was intended to be worn.

also, that previously mentioned designer designed that piece for a 105 pound, 5'10'' woman. which i, and most women, are not and nowhere near.

what i'm getting at- just because it is a "fad," or popular, does not mean it should be worn by you, or your friend, or that lady you saw at crosswalk. we must use our better judgement &ask ourselves if what we are about to purchase is flattering to our own body. do not wear something just because it is popular!

ex: skinny jeans/leggings. tempting on her:

not so flattering on her:

also, these leggings are improperly worn by the woman below.

this is probably the most common downfall of leggings. they should not be worn under every skirt you have, mini to knee-length. your outfit will look better without them 90% of the time. do not wear a skirt with leggings that you wouldn't wear withOUT leggings. they do not make your outfit "modest" if it wouldn't be without them. and please, do NOT wear them to church. they are far too casual.

you do not have to have a body like miss model above to wear leggings, she was simply used as an example. &yes, i do own, wear, &love leggings! but please evaluate your use of them. and remember, they should be worn with caution &fit to flatter!

lovely&lively: FOUNDATIONS.

okay, let's start out with the basics here. the undergarments we chose to wear can make all the difference in how our clothes fit &how we look in them. everything from bra to undies to cami to undershirt to whatever else you may wear under your clothes... important! if we don't start out with a good foundation, out entire outfit could be doomed to failure before it even begins. we are better than that! we must do all we can to flatter ourselves and help ourselves look our best!

1. bras.

always wear a good, supportive bra. always. the polka-dot 2/$10 bras from charlotte rouse are not the way to go. how many times have you seen a woman who's bra is too tight &her "skin" is bulging out from both sides? not good. we can avoiding that by being sure we buy a bra that fits! both around &the cup size. a good fitting bra plus the right cami &a shirt that fits are all great steps to preventing "back bulge."

i have recently seen a woman who has purchased a bra with too big of a cup size in an attempt to look bigger &perkier... when in fact all she has done is look like a middle school girl trying to look older. the bra looks empty... &just quite unnatural. if you do feel the need to enhance... there are bras specifically made for that, that usually work well!

2. undies.

no one should ever be able to tell what kind of undies you have on by looking at you. in no circumstance is it ever okay for them to show... especially a thong. it is trashy &sends the wrong message to the wrong people, just wrong. if you do feel the need to wear a thong- be sure to wear pants that come high enough to cover them, even when you bend over. and a shirt that covers as well. check yourself in the mirror! even the outline should not be visible- again, trashy. if you struggle with this- try boy shorts. they go far enough down that you should not have to worry about a panty line. there are lots of underwear designed to resolve this problem... many seamless.

try these.

&yuck! [below]. we are WOMEN, let's dress like it:].

3. camis.

camis are our friends! we should use them frequently for the purpose of shaping and keeping things inside snug. try to find cami's with a feminine fit that adjust to the natural curves of our bodies. our cami's should not be the first thing someone sees when they look at our outfit. for example: you are wearing a green dress with a low cute front &back and you have a bright white cami on up to your neck... this completely detracts from the dress. and the upper chest/collarbones are beautiful, you don't need to unnecessarily cover them up by wearing a cami or shade top that goes up to your neck!

and do not fall victim to the shade top under EVERYTHING fad. shade tops should not be worn under halter tops or dresses. try a cute, free-flowing sweater. if necessary, button one button midway up.

[photofrom]gap

gurglegurglepausechirp.

with my birthday coming up &all.. i figured i would spend some of time creating wishlists from a couple of my favorite stores so all my dedicated fans/readers would have some direction in their frenzied search for the perfect gift. i know, i know... you were alreADY planning on buying me that cute little $200 coat from anthropologie &those cute pillows from urban outfitters, i'll be SO surprised, i promise. so go ahead, check it out &see how i will dress after i win the lottery!

anthro.

urban.

these are the kinds of things i do when my #1 task is to... not sleep [since i have work tomorrow night &must sleep tomorrow day]. i have learned... the garbage man comes &empties the dumpster at 4:00 am- who knew? also, i have watched 1.7 episodes of gilmore girls, in what should have taken apprx one hour has taken three, due to the quality of my stolen internet. it's so much fun watching shows in 2,000 0.5 second segments. it's kind of not fair that my soul mate is sound asleep resting blissfully in the next room over &i am forbidden from cuddling with him due to the immediate risk of REM.

i get very hungry around 3:00... almost to the point of my stomach hurting... so i go in the kitchen &find nothing. here i am at 5:00... hungry. maybe a little less, just because.

ps-likeyou.

pss-ijustheardabirdchirp.thatmeansi'mdoinggood&it'salmosttimetogotosleep!

lovely&lively: INSPIRED.

music [hear playlist].


the style/creativity/expressiveness of others [whether it be a designer, your timeless grandmother, a girl at the grocery store, blogger, etc].

culture [i've never felt as consistently inspired as when i lived in jerusalem, surrounded by so much beauty &culture].

past decades [why can't we still dress like they did in the 40's &50's? the women were soo beautiful, &they dressed like... women &they were proud of their curves].

movies [seven pounds, dan in real life, the notebook, life is beautiful, yes man].

we are blessed to live in a beautiful world, where we have the opportunity to literally learn or find anything we could imagine in seconds [depending on your internet connection]. if we let ourselves, the smallest flower or cutest little pair of mismatched socks can inspire us.

above are a few of the myriad of things that inspire me. it was fun for me to try to pinpoint what inspires me- to dress, to care about my appearance, etc... also interesting to think about the many factors that have helped my fashion sense evolve over the years [thankfully, ask my mother].

finding our own personal inspiration is of utmost importance, whether we are trying to find our style, define it, alter it, simply enhance it, revamp it altogether, or any other angle. we need inspiration; it is where everything noteworthy begins.

we will be judged by our appearance. it is an unavoidable fact of our society. so why not use that to our advantage? as women, we have power we do not even realize we have. so find your inspiration, get inspired, and get out there &get it girrrl.

&tell me, what inspires you? it may just inspire me!:]

lovely&lively.

i have been trying to think of the perfect name for my new blog segment on fashion... i was inspired while working on a card for someone i love very much [who is both]... and i came up with lovely&lively. i like it because it address traits on the inside &out! and i want to focus on both in my blog, as they undeniably go hand in hand.

so i will officially be posting a new "lovely&lively" post every thursday. that means... first real one tomorrow!

weekly fashion plug.

i want to start a segment of my blog focusing on practical fashion, worn to empower. and by fashion i mean looking your best, dressing to fit your body type &body shape, feeling fabulous in your clothes, and working with what we have & learning how to put together outfits when you can't always shop at anthropologie. not to mention doing so in a classy way, without revealing an unnecessary amount of skin. we don't all look like this, or have the ability or desire to dress like this on a daily basis:



nor would we like to. we are different, unique, and every one beautiful. we need to embrace who we are &learn how to look our best so we, most importantly, FEEL our best!

i am intrigued by fashion, style, &fit. how the exact same woman can simply change the way she dresses &she can literally be transformed into a more confident, empowered, strong, &beautiful woman. so many girls &women do not realize their potential &they become complacent with the way they look, whether they be an squirmy 14-year old, a multi-tasking mother of 4, or a beautifully-aging empty nester.

every woman, regardless of age, size, financial situation, or even desire, should grant herself the right to look HER best. to not judge herself against others, but to look her best &by doing so, feel confident and inspired.

i am going to post an entry once a week with something along these lines. i'm not exactly sure what it will be or what this may transform into, but i do know this is something that is important to me& i hope that in some way i can inspire.

please comment &let me know what you think! i would love to hear your ideas:].