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Denim and Plaid: Trending Casual Look

by | Dec 30, 2016 | Fashion

I’ve never been much of a plaid wearer. Most plaids are a bit too loud for my personal preference. Despite living in a region know for it’s plaid flannel (ever heard of L.L. Bean?), I’ve owned very little of it over the years. My own style leans towards softer, more subtle tones and patterns. However, the lack of plaid has changed for me this season.

Plaid is really trending lately, which means the variety of colors and patterns in plaid has grown in the past couple of seasons. I’ve recently found some really pretty plaids that fit in with my personal style. And it’s been so much fun!

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The outfit I’m featuring here is so comfy and cozy. It’s casual and fun and definitely on trend. Perfect for a lazy day at home or a busy day running errands or chauffeuring kids around.

The skirt is one I up-cycled from a pair of denim trousers I got from ThredUp. I made them into a maxi skirt. I absolutely love this skirt and wear it all the time.

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I’ve featured this bag before. It’s the perfect shade of navy. The leather of the bag gets softer the more I use it. And it’s just the right size for my needs. Definitely a favorite for me. Plus, using Ebates, clearance pricing, and coupon codes, I got a super great deal on it, which makes me love it even more!

Plaid perfection abounds in this shirt. The color combination is gorgeous and is just subdued enough for my taste without loosing impact. Flannel fabric makes this shirt so soft and cozy to wear. Yet, it’s lightweight enough to span seasons from fall, right through winter and even into early spring (at least up here in the frozen north where spring doesn’t come till late April).

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Overall, I’m loving the look of this plaid shirt and denim skirt combo. It’s made regular appearances in recent weeks. I think I’ll be continuing to bring out this outfit often throughout the rest of the winter.

How do you feel about plaid? Are you a lover? A hater? A new convert like me?

What I Wore

Denim maxi skirt: up-cycled via ThredUp
Plaid flannel shirt: Coco and Main via Zulily or Shabby Apple
Navy Bag: east 5th via J.C. Penney
Boots: Jessica Simpson via Zulily
Earrings: Divine

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase something using one of my links.  Note that I only recommend products I believe in. Your support is appreciated!

Linking up with: Modest Mondays| Hello Monday| Classy Monday | Start the Week Stylish | Watch What I am Wearing | Style Sessions | Style Swap Tuesdays | On Trend Tuesdays | Turning Heads Tuesday | What I Wore | What I Wore Wednesday | Style Me Wednesday | Color and Grace | Who’s Wearing What Wednesday |  Style Spotlight | What Wives Wear | No Rules Weekend Blog Party | Friday’s Fab Favorites | Fun Fashion  | Fancy Friday | Fabulous Friday | Fashion Friday | Weekend Wear Linkup

Erin Condren Life Planner: Start Your Year Organized

by | Dec 28, 2016 | Lifestyle, Organization

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I am what might be considered a planner addict. I have been using a daily planner consistently since I was around 14 years old (back then I used it to keep track of school assignments and activities—yes, I will proudly admit that I was a huge nerd). That means I have over 25 years of experience with using a daily planner. Honestly, I have a hard time functioning without one.

See, told you I was a planner addict

I have used a lot of different planners over the years. Cheap Dollar Store versions, Day Timers, Filofax, free printable planners—I’ve used them all. It seemed that no matter what planner I tried, I had to compromise on what I really needed in some particular area. One planner would have a few things I liked, but inevitably there was something about the design or what the planner offered that didn’t fit perfectly with how I use my planners. So, I would make do.

That is, until I discovered the Erin Condren Life Planner. Finally, after all these years I’ve found a planner designed perfectly for me. It’s like the lovely folks at Erin Condren went inside my head to discover exactly what I’ve always been looking for in a planner. For the past three years, I have very happily used a Life Planner and I must say, I’m in planner heaven.

Why I love the Erin Condren Life Planner

I love the layout of the Life Planner. It’s clean and simple. I like that there are options to choose from on the weekly spread pages—you can choose between a vertical, horizontal, or time blocked layout. Personally, I’m a vertical layout gal.

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There’s lots of white space throughout the planner, which I love. I like plenty of space to write my notes and lists. The boxes on the monthly spread are large and the design is simple.

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Inspirational quotes are sprinkled throughout the planner. They are well chosen and I find each one to be encouraging. These uplifting quotes are one of the hallmarks of the Erin Condren brand.

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Those interchangeable covers, though!

One of the best and most unique features of the Life Planner is the interchangeable covers. The covers of the planner are designed to be able to be removed and replaced with a new or different cover. Additional covers can be ordered separately. And you can completely personalize any cover, which I love! Each season, new cover designs are released, making it so much fun to change out the cover depending on the time of year.

I can’t say enough good things about the Erin Condren Life Planner. I’m completely smitten. Can’t wait to start using my new Life Planner for 2017! Hooray for new years and fresh starts!

I simply love the Erin Condren Life Planner and wanted to share my experience with using it. If you use this referral link to the Erin Condren website, you will receive $10 off your first order from ErinCondren.com.

How about you? Are you a fellow planner addict? Have you found a daily planner you absolutely love? Tell me about it in the comments.

Winter Fab Fit Fun Unboxing

by | Dec 26, 2016 | Beauty, Lifestyle

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Fab Fit Fun is a quarterly subscription box I’ve been receiving for about a year now. Each box I’ve received has had a nice variety of products included. I’ve really enjoyed learning about new brands through the boxes as well.

I received my winter Fab Fit Fun box last week and I wanted to give you a little peek into what’s inside.

D.L & Co. Candle

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This candle is so pretty. It’s a good size and seems really well made. And the scent is yummy! It’s listed as being Blackberry Nectar. Can’t wait to use this one!

Gorjana Necklace

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What a pretty design on this necklace! It is a lariat style in gold. Very nice. Gorjana jewelry designs are so unique. They’re also very much on trend. I have a couple of their pieces and really like them.

Marie Mae Company Thank You Card set

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You can never have too many note cards. These thank you note cards are cute and cheerful.

Moleskine 2017 Weekly Planner

I already ordered my day planner (an Erin Condren Life Planner—the best planner I’ve ever used!) for 2017, but my daughter wanted a weekly planner, so this will go to her. It’s even in her favorite color—purple!

Butter London Iconoclast Mega Volume Lacquer Mascara

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I’ve only tried a couple of items from Butter London—their products tend to be on the pricier side. What I’ve tried, though, I really liked. I’m looking forward to trying this mascara.

O.R.G Skincare Mineral Face Peel

I’m not really sure what this product is or what it’s supposed to do. It should be interesting to try. That’s one of the things I like most about getting these subscription boxes; there are plenty of opportunities to try things I might not otherwise.

Anderson Lilley Beach Butter Body Cream

This body cream smells so good! The formula seems thick and creamy and moisturizing. Can’t wait to see what kind of results I get with this cream.

The booklet that is included in each box always highlights and explains a bit about each product. This box’s booklet also includes recipes, diy wrapping paper ideas, and photography tips. In addition to all that, in the booklet, there is information on Starlight Children’s Foundation, an organization that offers entertainment programs to chronically or terminally ill children.

The total retail value of this box is $252.95. The actual price of the box is significantly less than that ($49.99). Every box always turns out to be a great value. If you’re interested in subscribing to Fab Fit Fun to receive a box of your own each season, you can follow this link.

Hair Tutorial: Relaxed Chignon

by | Dec 21, 2016 | Beauty

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Looking for a soft, feminine hair style for medium to long length hair? This relaxed chignon has a romantic feel and is extremely easy to do. It is a simple up do that requires very little hair styling skill to get really great results.

For this style, you will need: bobby pins, a hair tie or elastic (optional), and a Lila Rose flexiclip (also optional, but really adds to the overall look).

Step 1:

If you have straight hair with little to no texture, tease the hair at the crown of your head before gathering it and pulling it back. If you’re like me and have curly hair with plenty of texture, skip this step.

Step 2:

Gather the hair above your ears. Pull back loosely and pin with bobby pins. Keep it very loose and voluminous. I like to give it a little twist before pinning.

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Step 3:

Gather the rest of your hair in a loose pony tail at the base of the neck. You can secure it in an elastic or hair tie, but I find if you use a flexiclip, an elastic is unnecessary.

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Step 4:

Loosely twist the length of your hair, then coil it around the base of the pony tail you just made. Secure with bobby pins or a flexiclip. To use a flexiclip, open the clip, slide the pin under one side of the coiled hair and through to the other side, and latch the clip front over the end of the pin.

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Step 5:

Adjust the hair to get the overall effect you want. Pull a few strands loose in the front to frame your face and give a romantic look. Finish off with a bit of hairspray if you like (I never use hairspray on this style. I find the flexiclip works great to hold my hair in place all day.)

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Seems easy enough, right? This quick, simple hairstyle looks elegant and pretty. Have fun trying out this style!

Holiday Decor House Tour

by | Dec 19, 2016 | Home & Family

Decorating for the holidays is always such a delight. I love having my children help put up the holiday decor. We play Christmas music and dance around, making fun and happy memories.

Even though I love to decorate for Christmas with my children, I don’t love taking all the decorations down at the end of the season. With that in mind, we usually keep things pretty simple as far as holiday decor goes.

christmas-tree

We used to have an artificial tree, but in recent years, the children have asked for a real one. They usually go out on the back of our property and choose one from the woods. Chopping it down and bringing it home is an activity they all enjoy immensely. The excited anticipation as my older children put up the newly cut tree in the house is such fun to watch. Most of the ornaments are handmade by the children or have some sentimental connection.

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Our fireplace is the focal point of our living room. We have a fire burning in it most days during the winter. Decorating the mantel and hearth brings such a festive spirit to the room. It’s amazing the beautiful effect this one area of decoration can have on the rest of the room. The decorations are simple but sentimental. My grandmother gave me the carolers. Each family member has a stocking handmade by my mother.

We love receiving cards from all our friends and family each year. As we received them, we place each one in an honored spot around the archway to our living room. They are displayed there throughout the season, and I love the reminder they bring of the loved ones who sent them.

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The table centerpiece has the most prominent place in our dining area. I like to spend time planning it out displaying it in just the right way.  It stays on the table throughout the season, which keeps things simple for me.

This year, I decided to utilize my cake stand (which honestly does not get much use other than sitting on the hutch in my dining room most of the time) to create a simple but pretty centerpiece—all with objects I already had.

The sparkly garland is leftover from a holiday season decoration used many years ago. The ribbon was salvaged off a gift someone in the family received at one point. An arrangement of pinecones fills out the display.

The pine cones where my mother-in-law’s. She had a large pine tree in her back yard and collected pine cones from under its branches every year. She loved displaying those pine cones. It feels like a special little part of her is there in our midst as we gather around the table.

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Our manger scene is my favorite Christmas decor item. I inherited this set from my mom, who got it from my grandmother. I have fond memories of setting it up each year as a child, and now I love to watch my own children set it up. It has been well loved for many years and has sustained quite a few chips and scratches, but I think it just adds to it’s charm. It’s sentimental value far exceeds any monetary value it might have.

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A simple but beautiful wreath hangs on the front door. My oldest daughter made our wreaths this  year. She did an amazing job at it, too!

The bushes in front of our house have been decked with lights. They bring such a bright, festive look to our home.

I hope you enjoyed this little peek into our home’s holiday decor for this Christmas season! May your own Christmas be joyful and blessed!

Modest Fashion Friday: Maroon Sweater and Plaid Skirt

by | Dec 16, 2016 | Fashion

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There is just something timeless about an a-line skirt and sweater set. It’s a universally flattering silhouette. Add to that a subtle plaid pattern, and you’ve got a classic look you can wear anytime and look put together and appropriate.

I’ve had all the pieces in this particular outfit for many years. That’s the great thing about classic wardrobe staples—they never go out of style. Developing a personal style rather than following every trend that comes along has the wonderful benefit of being able to wear the same clothing items for season after season and never look dated.

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Although this outfit doesn’t look casual, it’s incredibly comfortable. The sweater set is soft and cozy and the skirt has some stretch to it.

I love the scarf I added to this outfit. It has a gorgeous paisley pattern and the color matches the sweater perfectly. (If you’ve seen any of my other outfit posts, you may have noticed I really like scarves. I’ll find any excuse to add a scarf to any outfit!)maroon-plaid-oufit4

The shoes I wore to complete this look are my old standby nude heels. These shoes are so versatile. They bring the perfect level of dressiness to almost any outfit. They truly go with anything. Plus, they’re so comfortable. Every girl should have a nice pair of nude heels in her wardrobe.

What I Wore

Sweater set (aka “twinset”): I’ve had this so long, I don’t remember where it came from (here’s a similar one)
Skirt: Chadwicks of Boston(here’s one similar)
Shoes: Journee Collection via Kohl’s
Scarf: This one’s old, too, so I don’t remember where I got it (a similar one here)

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase something using one of my links.  Note that I only recommend products I believe in. Your support is appreciated!

 

 

Linking up with: Modest Mondays| Hello Monday| Classy Monday | Start the Week Stylish | Watch What I am Wearing | Style Sessions | Style Swap Tuesdays | On Trend Tuesdays | Turning Heads Tuesday | What I Wore | What I Wore Wednesday | Style Me Wednesday | Color and Grace | Who’s Wearing What Wednesday |  Style Spotlight | What Wives Wear | No Rules Weekend Blog Party | Friday’s Fab Favorites | Fun Fashion  | Fancy Friday | Fabulous Friday | Fashion Friday | Weekend Wear Linkup

Makeup Tips for Girls Who Wear Glasses

by | Dec 14, 2016 | Beauty

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I’ve worn glasses since I was 10 years old. Back then (you know, in the old days….), it wasn’t as trendy to wear glasses as it has become in recent years. Glasses wearing girls like me have been cheering the fashionable styles available today. It makes wearing specs so much more enjoyable.

Though I usually wear contact lenses, I do occasionally need or want to wear my glasses. When I do, I like to apply my makeup accordingly.

It’s always a good idea to adjust your makeup wearing techniques to accommodate the affect glasses have on your face.

If you wear glasses and you’re not sure the best way to apply your makeup with them, I think I can help. Here are a few makeup tips I’ve learned that may help my fellow glasses-wearing gals out there.

Tip #1—Brighten up the under eye area

Glasses tend to cast a shadow on the under eye area. Make sure you lighten this area with a concealer or corrector (or both) first. Don’t forget to set the concealer, and be sure to use one that won’t crease.

Tip #2—Groom your brows

Be sure to groom your eyebrows well. Glasses bring attention to the brows. Impeccably groomed brows are important for keeping your overall look polished and tidy. Brush your brows up so they sit above your frames and fill in any sparse areas so they’re nice and neat. Frame those frames with perfect brows!

Tip #3—Keep your eyeshadow shades neutral

Neutral shades of eyeshadow highlight the lids without bringing heaviness or darkness to an already shaded area. Darker eyeshadow drags the lid down and makes the eye seem smaller. Neutral or lighter shades open up the eyes.

Tip #4—Perfect your eyeliner

Apply eyeliner very carefully. Glasses will act as a magnifier on your eyeliner, so make sure you do as precise a job as possible. Any spaces between the liner and your lashes will really show up, so be very careful to line nice and close to your lashes.

Tip #5—Volumize your lashes

Definitely wear mascara with your glasses. However, it’s important to choose the right kind. Lengthening mascaras can cause your lashes to be too long; they may end up brushing against your lenses, which can pretty annoying. A good volumizing mascara can plump your lashes and open up your eyes. Just avoid any formulas that might clump, as any clumping with really show up behind your lenses.

Tip #6—Blush should be natural

A lot of heavy contouring could be distracting from your beautiful eyes. Keep your blush natural and let your eyes (and those fashionable frames) shine.

Tip #7—Wear a bold lip…or not

Try wearing a bolder lip color with your glasses to bring balance to your look. However, a neutral lip works just as well. Just be sure to wear some sort of lip color. It’s important to complete your overall makeup look with a flattering lip color, something that compliments the color of your frames.

Wearing glasses can be fashionable and beautiful. Enhance those specs with the right makeup techniques and you’ll look absolutely gorgeous!

5 Authors Who Write the Best Christmas Novels

by | Dec 12, 2016 | Lifestyle

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There’s something especially cozy about reading a Christmas centered story while curled up under a warm blanket, a fire burning brightly in the fireplace. It’s a perfect way to spend a quiet December afternoon. Personally, I love the addition of a nice cup of tea or hot chocolate to round out the experience.

Christmas books (novellas in particular) are a genre uniquely suited the the few stolen moments in an otherwise very busy season. A quick, festive or sentimental read is just the thing when you have a little time and want to celebrate the holidays in a quieter and more personal way.

Books centered around the theme of Christmas also make wonderful gifts for any book lovers in your life.

There’s really only one problem here, though. There are a huge number of Christmas novels out there; it’s hard to know which are worth the time to read. Many well known authors have written several Christmas related books. Knowing which authors have the best books can help narrow down the choices.

Here’s a list of authors who have written several books I highly recommend reading this Christmas (or anytime, really). I have read and enjoyed at least one book by each of the authors on this list.

  1. Max Lucado (author of The Christmas Candle, Because of Bethlehem, The Christmas Child, An Angel’s Story, and more)
  2. Richard Paul Evans (The Christmas Box, The Timepiece, The Mistletoe Secret, and more)
  3. Donna VanLiere (The Christmas Shoes, The Christmas Town, The Christmas Light, The Christmas Journey, and many more)
  4. Karen Kingsbury (The Bridge, A Baxter Family Christmas, The Red Gloves Collection, A Treasury of Christmas Miracles)
  5. Melody Carlson (The Christmas Angel Project, Christmas at Harrington’s, The Christmas Joy Ride, The Christmas Shoppe, and many, many more)

If you’re in the mood for nostalgic Christmas cheer, you’ll definitely want to check out some of these authors’ books.

Happy reading!

Modest Fashion Friday: Classic Trench With a Denim Dress

by | Dec 9, 2016 | Fashion

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A classic trench is a wardrobe staple. Every girl should own one. A trench coat is such a versatile piece of clothing. It can be worn with so many different outfits and in so many kinds of weather. I love the simplicity of a trench coat. They can be found in different colors and a myriad of fabrics, but I prefer a tan coat in the classic double-breasted style.

For this outfit, I wore my own tan trench with a cute mid-length denim dress, leggings, and knee-high boots. The shirtdress is a soft, simple piece that’s very comfortable. I pulled it in at the waist with a brown braided belt and added a long necklace with a heart pendant for interest. The detailing on the necklace is lovely, with a beautiful scroll pattern design.

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The dress is by J. Jill–some of my absolute favorite clothing pieces come from that brand. I paired it with grey leggings for warmth and modesty, since the dress is shorter than I normally wear.

The grey cardigan added a bit of extra warmth. I have had this cardigan for several years and have worn it countless times with a huge variety of outfits. It goes with almost everything in my closet. I love that it can be dressed up or worn very casually. Plus, it’s super comfy. And if you haven’t figured it out by now, I like comfy.

These boots are by far the most comfortable ones I own. I actually walked the Great Wall of China in these things. They’ve held up really well, especially for the price I paid for them.

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The bag is in a very dark navy leather. I’ve had it for a couple of months now and I’m finding that it is wearing beautifully. The more I use it, the more nice and soft and supple it gets. The thing I love most about this bag is the amazing deal I got on it. Using a combination of sales, coupons, Ebates, and clearance pricing, I got this bag for about 90% off the original price. How’s that for bargain shopping?

What I Wore

Trench coat: Old Navy
Shirtdress: J. Jill (similar)
Cardigan: ThredUp
Boots: Top Moda
Necklace: similar
Belt: similar
Bag: Relic leather tote

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase something using one of my links.  Note that I only recommend products I believe in. Your support is appreciated!

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