Instagram lately...

Need some FALL outfit inspiration? I've got plenty for you today with a round up of my recent Instagram posts lately...  If you aren't already following me there - go ahead and do it! I'd love to have you there!

(above) How about all these rusty jewel tones for fall? I just LOVE these cozy hues that literally look like apple pie, crunchy leaves and apple cider! Mix and match them with jeans and flats or booties for tons of fall outfit options! Shop the pieces: Stripe Pocket Pullover Sweater, V-Neck Cashmere Sweater, Faux Wrap Pullover Sweater, High Waist Side Slit Crop Jeans (left), Straight Jeans (middle), Flare Ankle Jeans (right), similar Bootie, Flat, Pointed-toe slide

(above) Here is a great way to bring your summer tops into fall... pair them with brown and/or leopard accessories! These two tops were favorites this past spring and summer and now I love wearing them for early fall with fall accents. Shop the pieces: Croc Embossed Leather Circle Crossbody Bag, High Waist Side Slit Crop Jeans, Classic Stripe Popover Shirt, Oversized striped T-shirt, Pointed-toe slide

(above) This fun vintage inspired rock band tee adds a little edge to any outfit. And believe me, I am the least edgy person... so I feel super rebellious and cool wearing it. Paired with sneakers and denim shorts its an easy mom on the go look. Also, I don't know if I have properly raved about this sweatshirt. It's so soft and I find myself throwing it on over everything from outfits like this to my pjs! Shop the pieces: High Waist Cutoff Denim Shorts, Cotton Tee, Sneaker, High/Low Sweatshirt

(above) I love a mix between two seasons in one outfit. A little summer and a little fall here. This sweater is chunky and cozy and also somehow quite lightweight too - or just not as heavy as you would think.  Shop the pieces: Cotton Crew, High Waist Cutoff Denim Shorts, Birkenstock

(above) I have been wearing more black than usual lately and REALLY enjoying it. I feel like it's my power color... is that a thing? I always feel so confident in black! This simple henley is so soft and comfy and I love it with distressed jeans and mules. Shop the pieces: Mule, Slim-Fit Rib-Knit Henley, High-Waisted Distressed Jeans, Crossbody Bag

(above) I mean, who isn't just living for the weekends this time of year!?!? I LOVE this WEEKEND sweatshirt and will probably be wearing it every weekend from now until eternity! Shop the pieces: Weekend Sweatshirt, Distressed Jeans, Birkenstock Sandals

(above) The basics always call my name. I've worn these jeans endlessly lately and love them just as much as I did last year. They make me feel so pulled together. And this linen/cotton sweater is perfect for these late summer days. Shop the pieces: Crossbody Bag, High Waist Ankle Skinny Jeans, Cotton-Linen Crew, Pointed-toe slide in leopard calf hair

(above) Sneakers are life for me lately... but so is leopard. I mean when is leopard not life? But I've really enjoyed it lately and I can't wait to wear it more this fall and winter. Plus, how fun is it with sneakers? Shop the pieces: High Rise Straight Jeans, Sneaker, Quilted Leather Shoulder Bag, Sunglasses

my everyday style: fall stripes!

If this sweater doesn't scream pumpkin pie, apple cider, crispy leaves, cozy fireplace snuggles and football season... I don't know what does! It's FALL Y'ALL! haha!

I purchased this sweater over my birthday weekend which was the end of July... and I have been (not so) patiently waiting and waiting to wear it! It's fabulous. And it was well worth the wait. You know me, I don't often go for bold colors or patterns so this piece is a little out of my comfort zone. But also not, somehow. The colors make a bold statement together but on their own they are still quite neutral. I've already worn this sweater twice on cool-ish days and I can't wait to wear it more as the weather continues to cool!

Here I paired it with distressed jeans, sneakers and a belt bag for a super easy mom-on-the-go look. This is the perfect everyday fall look or weekend look for heading out for fall activities. I love the casual and cozy vibes of fall. How could you not?!?

But here is the most pressing fall issue right now: how do you feel about candy corn?!?! I know it's a hot topic and I am kind of team "both" - I can have a few pieces and then I get grossed out. SO I love it and hate it both. What about you? This image of candy corn that floated around last fall gave me a new appreciation for it. I have to admit.

Outfit Details:

Sweater - shop it here or here (this runs a little big, size down if you want it more fitted, I am in my usual size small)

Jeans

Sneakers (or similar, similar or similar)

Belt Bag

Sunglasses

new arrivals I love!

New fall arrivals at my favorite retailers are just as exciting as seeing those leaves turn! There are some GORGEOUS new arrivals that I am completely swooning over lately... I'm really wishing I could snap my fingers and make all of these gorgeous pieces instantly arrive in my closet right about now!

I'm not one for patterns or lots of color but this fall I am finding myself drawn to subtle patterns like this plaid blazer, this floral blouse and this subdued camo jacket.  They still look and feel very "neutral" while adding lots of interest to a look.  And I can picture so many ways to wear them this fall - which is always how I judge if a piece is "worth it" or not! I'm still loving the straight leg "mom jean" styles for fall... I just purchased this faded black pair (and love them!) and I've got my eye on this distressed blue pair too! I have these brown loafers in black and I'm seriously considering them in brown - aren't they just so classic? Plus they are super comfortable. I wear my black pair all the time! Simple tees like this vintage rock band tee and this puff sleeve striped tee are great for transitioning to fall because they layer easily with lightweight jackets or cardigans. Two items that I am really dying over are these fur lined P448 sneakers (OMG!) and this gorgeous leather/suede shoulder bag which would be so fun to wear for fall.

fur lined P448 sneakers, distressed jeans, plaid blazer, floral blouse, delicate ring set, leather/suede shoulder bag, cable knit sweater, dark red ruffle sleeve blouse, faded black jeans, stripe puff sleeve tee, camo jacket, brown loafers, Def Leppard tee, green hoop earrings

my everyday style: easy fall layering!

It's that time of year! Layering season is underway here in Michigan and I'm HERE for it. The cool mornings and evenings and warm afternoons have me depending on simple layering pieces for staying comfortable all day. I'm all about incorporating jackets and cardigans into my everyday outfits and I'm so excited that it's finally time! Fall is one of my favorite seasons to dress for

This Everlane bodysuit (I also have it in stripes, worn here) is so insanely comfortable! I've said it before but it feels like leggings for your body - haha. Plus, it's perfect for layering because it's nice and form fitting and eliminates any bulkiness with layering - which can be annoying.  Here I paired it with blue jeans, sneakers and a Moto jacket for a casual but hip everyday mom look. And I paired it with washed black jeans, a cardigan and loafers for a busy day of errands or meetings. It doesn't feel like you are wearing a body suit at all (no pulling, tugging or wedgies - promise!) and it really sucks you in in all the right places.

Outfit Details:

Outfit 1

Bodysuit (I'm in a small, size up if between sizes)

Jeans (runs true to size)

Sneakers (runs true to size)

Moto Jacket (runs a little big, I went down to an XS)

Cross Body Bag

Heart Necklace

Aviator Sunglasses

Outfit 2 

Bodysuit (I'm in a small, size up if between sizes)

Cardigan (true to size, I'm in small)

Button Front Jeans

Loafers (runs true to size)

Bag

Heart Necklace

Sunglasses

J.Crew Factory Try-On Session!

I recently popped by J.Crew Factory (online, of course, in my pajamas!) and found SO many cute fall finds! I kind of wanted one of everything of their new arrivals - there are so many cute pieces! But alas, I showed some restraint and settled on a few pieces. Today I am sharing them with you! I always try to remember to remind you guys that these are 'try on sessions' - I don't always keep everything I try on. It's just like the fitting room. But from home. I always try to decide if I 'like' or 'love' a piece and make sure it fits in my current wardrobe or isn't a duplicate. So that's how I usually decide whether to keep or not.

Let's take a look at the pieces!

'LE WEEKEND' sweatshirt (above)

I have this same print in a t-shirt and I loved it so much I couldn't resist the sweatshirt form for fall/winter. I just LOVE this piece. It's soft and relaxed and perfect for weekends! I love it paired with joggers for super casual weekends, but it also works with jeans too! I see this getting worn in the future A LOT. I went up a size to a medium for a slouchier fit. (shop the pieces: sweatshirt, joggers, jeans, sneakers)

Vanessa Sweater Jacket (above)

This is very similar to the J.Crew version for a much better price! I would say it's right between the Juliette blazer (which appears longer) and the Sophie blazer which is shorter. I think this is a great in between option for a great price if you have your eye on either of those blazers. I love that this can be dressed up for an office or worn more casual. I went DOWN a size to an XS on this one - just like I did with the Sophie blazer. It definitely runs big. I also snagged these leopard loafers that I LOVE. I am such a sucker for leopard loafers and these are so classic! I am usually a 6.5 or 7 and I went with a 7 on these and they fit great! (shop the pieces: blazer, white tee, white jeans, blue jeans, leopard loafers, black loafers)

Plaid Flannel (above)

This is a J.Crew piece I bought last fall and now it's back at Factory this year (I love when J.Crew recycles styles like that! It's a great opp to snag something you missed out on in previous years).  It looks like the only difference they made is sizing. Mine is a size 2 (runs big) and the sizing for the Factory version is XS, S, M, etc - I would suggest going down a size since J.Crew Factory tends to run big for me. (shop the pieces: flannel shirt, blue jeans, white jeans, sneakers, black mules)

Leopard Dress (above)

I purchased this for a fall trip to London which has since been cancelled (sad face!) but I'm glad I ordered it because it's AMAZING. I had planned on wearing it during the day for museums and then for evening for a nice dinner. As you can see it would def work for both. It's just GORGEOUS.  I went with a size 2 - I would say true to size or go down a size if you are in between sizes.  I may end up keeping this for the holidays - but I'm not sure. Leopard dresses are so popular right now and this one is a great cut and a great price! (shop the pieces: dress, similar heels, denim jacket, sneakers)

sneaker review! (Golden Goose, P448, Veja, Adidas Stan Smith)

Questions about sneakers are probably the number one question I have been getting lately! Are the Golden Goose worth it? How does the P448 compare to Golden Goose? I'm on a budget but I want a fun new sneaker? Do the Veja sneakers break in easily? And on!

I'm always happy to answer questions and I have a lot of thoughts on sneakers lately - mostly that I LOVE THEM. I mean, what a time to be alive?!? The most comfortable shoe is also the most trendy? As a busy mom, I am here for it! I'll take it! But I thought I would compile all my thoughts into one place and this will hopefully be helpful for you!

Golden Goose Low Top (similar style) Sneakers Review (above):

Size I purchased: 37, Size I usually wear: 6 1/2 or 7 in women's

Pros: They look great on your foot, slim toe which is flattering, no breaking in period, the interior wedge is a nice lift, so many fun styles to reflect your personal style, they instantly make any outfit look hip without going overboard, slip on easily.

Cons: The price. They are quite expensive.

Thoughts: I wrote a full post about my GG sneakers HERE. But I will sum up those thoughts again here. I really, really love my Golden Goose sneakers. I probably wear them 4-5 times a week. They are my "slip on and run out the door" shoes.  I also exclusively wear these for travel because they are just so comfortable and look stylish while flying. If there is an indicator if a shoe is comfortable or not, I have to believe flying would score big points. It's not a comfortable process - so I always go for the most comfortable look and the GGs always make the cut. If you calculate COST PER WEAR (what you paid for them divided by the times you wore them) my CPW would be about $3.60 (assuming I wear them an average of 5x a week for the past 8 months). At the one year point (this coming December) the CPW would be $2.40.

P448 Low Top John Sneaker Review (above): 

Size I purchased: 37, Size I usually wear: 6 1/2 or 7 in women's

Pros: Instantly broken in, more cushioning than the GG so they are instantly comfortable, interior wedge is a nice lift, lots of cute styles to choose from, no "distressing" like the GG.

Cons: Still expensive (while being half the price of GG), a bit chunkier on the foot than GG, don't slip on easily 

Thoughts: I love these shoes, but my honest thought is they don't get worn near as much as my GG. Which is disappointing, especially for the price. I think I just love the GG SO much that they are getting eclipsed, because they really are a great shoe. I hope to get more wears out of them this fall and if I don't I may sell them, because mine are in near perfect condition. So much about this shoe is VERY SIMILAR to the GG though - the interior wedge, the stitching and the general shape of the shoe. A big con for me is that they don't slip on easily. If I am running to get the kids that is why these tend to get passed over for the GG - it takes a second to put them on. But literally, like one second. So it's not that major. I don't even want to calculate the Cost Per Wear for these because I've worn them about 10 times making that number exorbitantly high - like $25 CPW. Yikes!

Veja V-12 Sneaker Review (above):

Size I purchased: 37, Size I usually wear: 6 1/2 or 7 in women's

Pros: Super chic classic style, great price, very cushiony, look flattering on the foot.

Cons: Difficult to break in.

Thoughts: I've wanted these shoes for a while and I was nervous about breaking them in so I kept passing on them. Finally I broke down and thought I am going to break them in no matter what! I'm SO glad I got these. I really, really love them. They are so classic and like the GG seem to go with everything. The breaking in part is a little annoying. The main issues with this shoes is the stiff leather tongue and the heel is quite stiff too. I've been wearing them in 2-3 hour time periods to work on breaking them in and it's going well. Also when I wear them I push the tongue to the outside OR fold it over and tuck it under the laces to help break in the tongue. The heel is just going to take wearing them to break in - but I did buy these suede liners to try too. I bought these about 3 weeks ago and I've worn them about once a week (they are definitely creeping into the GG wear time) - so it's a little to early to calculate Cost Per Wear. If I wore them 1-2x a week for a year that would be $1.95 CPW for one year.

Adidas Stan Smith Sneaker Review:

Size I purchased: 5 1/2, Size I usually wear: 6 1/2 or 7 in women's

Pros: Inexpensive, super classic, simple and minimal.

Cons: They kind of make my foot sweaty so I definitely have to wear no-show socks (which I don't do with the other three pairs). 

Thoughts: Like my P448 this is another pair that I don't wear near enough - but I don't know why! Like I mentioned above I don't wear no-show socks a lot but with this pair I kind of feel like they need them. For some reason my foot doesn't breathe as well (I like these no-show socks!). I love that this pair is such a great price while still being really on trend. They are understated but stylish at the same time, which can be a difficult balance.  The Cost Per Wear on this pair is high as well since I don't wear them a lot - maybe 1-2x a month and I've owned them since May. At 1.5 times a month the CPW is $4.40 for one year. I definitely need to start wearing these more!

my everyday style: two ways to wear cashmere in September!

Black or blue? I can never decide if I like black jeans or blue jeans better. Can anyone else relate!?! I mean these are important decisions. Kidding. But you all know I love denim to my core. Jeans are definitely my love language.  Blue jeans are so classic and easy to throw on and perfectly match my casual lifestyle. Black jeans are always super slimming and feel a little dressier.  It's impossible to choose a favorite.  So today I went with both.

Cashmere in September may sound a bit overboard but this sweater is like the unicorn of all sweaters. We've had a few crisp mornings and evenings making it perfect (since I'm usually home working during the day in the AC) and it will work in the dead of winter too. It's like silk, it totally breathes with your body.

This oatmeal color is super versatile, so versatile I styled it up two ways for you today! First with black jeans and loafers. This look is simple and classic and would work for a casual office environment as well as a day of running errands or working from home (how I usually spend my day!).  It works equally well with blue jeans and brown accents like this bag and these mules. I love pops of brown this time of year because it just screams fall!

Outfit Details:

Sweater - I went up a size for a slouchier fit!

Black Jeans/Blue Jeans

Cream Bag/Brown Bag

Black Loafers/Leopard Loafers

Sunglasses

Bracelets (this one and this one)

amazon try on session!

Today I've got a little Amazon try on session for you gals! I LOVE finding deals and steals and those diamonds in the rough at Amazon and it's fun to share them with you guys because they also aren't always so easy to find!

Today I have some fun pieces that are great for summer to fall along with a few totally random finds lately!

First, some recent random Amazon finds:
- These bath salts. I love an epsom salt bath, especially when the weather is cold or after a particularly challenging workout. These are inexpensive and smell great.
- These blue blocking glasses. I've been meaning to snag some of these for months and these are inexpensive and cute. Now I just need to remember to wear them!
- These simple undies. I don't know HOW I came across these, but they get great reviews and I don't care for fussy undies so I bought a 20 pack and I am obsessed.  They are comfortable (go up a size if you are between sizes) and you can not beat that price!
- This protein powder. I have been using Vega for a while but this Warrior brand has almost NO taste which is unbelievable. Plus it's low in carbs (some protein powders are so high in carbs!).
- This hat. I ordered it and it got lost in the mail. (thankfully Amazon refunded me!) But no worries! I'm going to order it again. I originally ordered in black but now I am thinking maybe 'dark camel'. How to decide!?!?

You can see more Amazon try ons and finds HERE. Let's take a look at some items I ordered recently!

color blocked cardigan (above)

The photo of this cardigan had me believing it was a thicker knit than it actually is - so this is probably a "no" for me. BUT I wanted to show it to you all anyway because 1) it's cute! and 2) because if you live somewhere that is warm for fall you can get the fall "look" with this sweater without it being too hot to wear. So this isn't a win for me - but I think it's still a great piece! This runs true to size, I am in a small. (shown with: tee, similar jeans, flats)

zip up fleece pullover (above)
I am addicted to these fleece pullovers. They are just SO cozy and warm and perfect for throwing on for errands, outdoor sports and all the things once the weather cools. I love this green color - but it's available in quite a few other colors and runs true to size. I am in a small. If you can't get enough pullover fleeces - THIS one is cute too! (shown with: similar jeans, similar shoes or less expensive shoes)

leopard cardigan (above)

Gah! I love this cardigan SO much... the print is one of the best leopard prints I've found in a while. Unfortunately this one is HUGE on me! I am wearing a size small and there is no size XS - so this one is getting returned.  But if you are in the market for more leopard this fall I highly recommend this one! The pattern is so perfect and the fabric isn't itchy at all. I'm going to try THIS ONE or THIS ONE instead and see if either fits better. (shown with: tee, similar jeans, flats)

beige cardigan (above)

Leave it to me to fall in love with the most simple option there is... I've already worn this one a few times and I LOVE it. It's soft, fits great and there are lots of color options. This is a perfect summer to fall piece with tees and tanks. I am in a size small. (shown with: tee, similar jeans, flats)

vintage rock tee (above)

I've been wanting to try the 'rock band' tee trend for a while and just couldn't work up the nerve. But one I tried this one I ended up really liking it! It's really soft and has some fun details like distressing and paint splatters. I went up a size to a medium to leave some room to tie it in front. Otherwise it's true to size. (shown with: similar jeans, similar shoes or less expensive shoes)

my everyday style: cardigan weather!

What the actual heck guys!!?? It's September! This is one of my favorite months of the year with all the back to school vibes and fall feels, it's definitely an extra special month. Now that the kids are in their school routine I've been able to take a deep breath, focus on work and feeling more caught up around the house - it feels amazing.

I've been super emotional about my son starting high school this year. I didn't share it much but it definitely made for some tough days this past summer. Being a mom is tough stuff and each new phase has it's challenges. There were so many days this summer where I just hoped and prayed that I had done enough or was a good enough mom over the past 14 years to reassure myself he is ready to leave the nest as a high schooler this year. To be honest, I felt like I didn't do enough over the past 14 years, that I could've done SO MUCH BETTER. Some of those days were dark.  But when I look at him it's easy to see he's SO READY and he's becoming an amazing young man. Even though I know there were moments I could've done better, I am giving myself some grace and reminding myself I did my best and there is no such thing as a perfect mom.  I still have days where I am a little sad at how quickly this has all happened, but I am also embracing the FUN of being a mom to a high schooler! There are so many fun and exciting moments... and still a few more terrifying ones (like how do I decorate a float for the Homecoming parade? I'm hoping Google and Pinterest can help with that one)!

September is definitely the sweet spot between humid summer days and cold winter days so I am trying to soak it up as much as I can. Layering a simple white tee with a cardigan is the perfect EASY look that I love and it works so well with the weather too. I'm taking my love for a white on white look right into fall with creamy whites like this tee and cardigan combo. I don't know what it is that makes me so obsessed with this combo lately... but I just love it. Add some distressed denim (always a favorite!) and leopard flats and I could wear this simple look everyday!

Outfit details:

Cardigan

Tee

Jeans

Bag

Flats

Bracelets (this one and this one)

Sunglasses