my everyday style: my happy place!

This post is sponsored by Walmart and ShopStyle. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for supporting the brands that support my blog.

When I think about the place in the world that makes me the most happy... it's not hard to think of where that place is - it's the beach. Sand in the toes, waves crashing and a good book and suddenly all my cares melt away. It's the one place in the world where I truly feel the most relaxed. My husband says he can literally SEE the stress melt off of me when I step on the beach. And he's not wrong, I can feel it too.  Plus, I love dressing for the beach too.  Clothes are a big part of my life and they often mirror my mood on any given day.  This outfit perfectly reflects my mood at the beach - relaxed and laid back. An easy ruffle dress you can throw on and go with, a fun straw bag, classic sandals and a big floppy hat are as carefree as my mood at the beach.

This spring I am partnering with Walmart to feature the best of the spring trends at the most amazing prices with their We Dress America campaign.  They believe that wherever you live, wherever you travel, whatever your style, whatever your budget... your style can come alive with Walmart. My beach style is all about versatility and ease.  Walmart has me covered head to toe with the beach vacation outfit essentials... so that once I get to the beach all I have to think about is what good book I am going to read next.  You can shop all of the spring trends with for the entire family with Walmart to keep you looking and feeling YOUR best this season too - and all on a budget!

Outfit Details:

Dress - I'm wearing a size small & it's under $20!

Sunglasses

Straw Tote - under $20! I also love this striped one and this one with tassels!

Sandals

Straw Hat - only $15 for a set of three!

my everyday style: linen pants for spring & summer!

You know when you pack a bunch of clothes for vacation... and then you only wear like the same 4 things the entire vacation!?!? Am I the only one that does that? You know you've landed on a real closet MVP at that point. That is what happened with these linen pants when we were in Florida last weekend. I knew I was into them and that they would get lots of wear this upcoming season, but once we got down there they were the ONLY thing I wanted to wear.  I am already wanting to go back and snag a pair in white and this blue color too! I found these pants run a bit big... I am in a size xs here and I usually wear a size 4/26 for reference.  So I suggest sizing down.

These pants were perfect for pulling over a swimsuit, walking on the beach or even heading out to dinner. I seriously wore them SO much this trip and since they are black they are super travel friendly. Here I paired them with a simple white tank and a fun chunky necklace with a basket bag for a dinner out with my husband. This look was incredibly comfortable while still being super cute for vacation.  I will for sure be packing these for spring break and I already can't wait to wear them this summer too.  Plus everything here is super affordable too - it's all under $100!

Outfit Details:

Linen Pants

White Tank - my favorite t-shirt style is now my favorite tank style! Under $20 and so soft!

Necklace 

Basket Bag

Sandals

Sunglasses

spring shoes under $100!

I am sure I am not alone when I say I am SO ready to shed the winter boots, rain boots and ankle boots and finally slip into some spring shoes on a regular basis. I've been able to sneak in a few wears of sandals and wedges with a weekend to Florida recently but otherwise I am just ITCHING to wear spring shoes. Wedges, espadrilles, slides, canvas sneakers... all of it! I'm ready!

Today I rounded up TONS of spring options... from wedges to slides to comfy sneakers. I've got it all here! A few of these pairs I bought for myself already this spring - so I know they are just as great in person as they are online. I will dente those below.

Flat sandals are probably the style I wear most often in warmer weather. They are easy to slide on and go and I find them to be the most comfortable for day to day activities. 

flat sandals top row, from left: braided slide sandal, black cross slide sandal (I just bought these for myself in pink and wore them almost the entire time in Florida, they are a great price and there are lots of colors option), pale pink slide sandal (I bought these two seasons ago and loved them, I just bought them in black for this season), natural leather ankle strap sandal, black and white striped fabric sandal (I just bough these in "fog" I am loving this striped pair too!)

Wedges are perfect for dressing up or down. You can easily pair them with shorts, jeans or casual dresses for everyday wear. Or dress them up for spring and summer events like weddings or baby showers.

wedges second row, from left: cross strap espadrille wedge, pale pink suede espadrille slide, black espadrille wedge, ankle lace up wedge (I just bought these for spring/summer and I LOVE them)

Flatforms are super trendy right now and they are also very comfortable to wear for day to day with the added bonus of a little height. These are also great for casual or dressing up!

flatforms third row, from left: scalloped edge natural leather flatform, pale pink cross strap flatform espadrilles, black leather/wooden flatform, white espadrille flatform (these are on my wishlist right now!), natural tall espadrille flatform

Sneakers are definitely the IT shoe right now. Any shape, any size... they are ALL on trend right now. I am loving this trend, it doesn't get easier or more comfortable than sneakers! I love sneakers paired with shorts and tees or jeans and tanks for spring. Or pair them with easy t-shirt dresses for a fun sporty look.

sneakers bottom row, from left: rainbow embroidered sneakers (obsessed!), grey slip on sneakers, classic nike with pink swoosh (I think I need these!), canvas tretorn sneaker, leopard flatform sneakers

my everyday style: stripes at the beach + my 30A recommendations!

My husband and I were lucky enough to get away for the weekend to 30A... I never tire of that place. It's so beautiful and relaxing, I am instantly at ease there. It was a little cloudier and cooler than we had hoped it would be but the luxury of getting away from the hustle and bustle of life just the two of us made the weekend a fun one despite the weather. I brought along this gorgeous striped sweater (it's on sale today!) and ended up wearing it quite a bit. Not only is it the perfect beachy color but it also is the perfect lightweight spring sweater for those days when it kind of feels like spring... but kind of not. I love it paired with these white denim shorts (you can see my full review of these shorts HERE) and simple sandals.

I've gotten A LOT of questions about 30A recommendations for lodging and dining.  We've been down three times and all three we have enjoyed staying in Watersound. There are so many great neighborhoods down here - you really can't go wrong! We've always booked through 360Blue and have had great experiences with them.   We don't eat out much down here - we always book a house and make meals there since that means more time at the beach and less at restaurants. But in our time down here we have found a few favorites... we like casual, family friendly places where we can pop in looking like beach bums and no one cares. ;)

Near Grayton Beach

Chiringo has delicious bowl style meals - I ordered the Grain Bowl with chicken and coconut sauce, which was amazing. I also ordered their infamous Frose (frozen rose drink) and really enjoyed that too. The kids love the upbeat vibe here and outdoor games (corn hole, etc)

Grayton Beer Brewpub is a local brewery and this restaurant serves all their beer (which is amazing!) and really great brewpub food. I ordered the Rose Gose beer (which I loved) and the Shrimp Dinner. Their hushpuppies were drool worthy and the coleslaw was good too. The seafood is amazing here in 30A so it goes without saying that the shrimp was delicious and oh so fresh.

Near Seaside

Shrimp Shack is great for super fresh seafood right on the beach. You can order and then sit in their outdoor covered pavilion overlooking the ocean. It's the best view! We like to order the peel and eat shrimp, some bags of chips and Coronas and dig in. Their lobster roll was delicious too - but the shrimp is my favorite

Food trucks... there are tons of great food trucks in Seaside. We've tried the shaved ice and crepes and both were really, really delicious. Especially those crepes!

Near Santa Rosa Beach

Old Florida Fish House has great sushi even though when you walk in it feels more like a steakhouse. I think they have outdoor dining - we ate inside and it was kind of dark and subdued. Definitely try to eat outside!

The Perfect Pig supposedly has amazing brunch and breakfast, but we missed it by an hour. Instead we had lunch and it was AMAZING. I had the salmon salad and my husband had the tomato avocado salad and both were very, very delicious. (there is another NEW Perfect Pig location in Watercolor too)

Outfit Details:

Sweater - 30% off today!

Shorts (shop them here or here)

Sandals - tons of color options!

Sunglasses

beauty review: the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer

Today I am SUPER excited to review the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer. I LOVE this little gadget and I can't wait to tell you all about it!

I recently had a 15+ year old hair dryer finally quit on me (well, it was throwing sparks... so technically I quit it) so I did the same thing I had done 15 years ago and basically showed up at Target ready to buy the cheapest blowdryer they had. I purchased the cheapest one and took it home and about a month later noticed that my hair was SUPER knotty all the time, like really big and painful knots in my hair. It was especially knotty while I was blowdrying it. I started to suspect it was my blowdryer... since that was the only thing that had changed in my hair routine. When I took to Instagram Stories to get you all's opinion on it a lot of you told me I was crazy - but quite a few of you said you had the SAME hair dryer and the SAME knotty mess while trying to dry your hair with it. I knew I wasn't crazy! Ready to plunk down some cash and finally get a grown up, REAL blow dryer I asked for you gals' opinions.  Right off the bat the T3 blowdryer was a clear favorite. The T3 gets tons of good reviews, both from you gals and from reviews on Sephora and thankfully it was on sale at the time. But a lot of you were ALSO talking about this crazy looking contraption, the Revlon One-Step. 

The Revlon One-Step isn't nearly as sexy looking as that expensive T3 but it ALSO gets rave reviews and it's a mere fraction of the price - so I couldn't resist buying this one too.  I'm not going to review the T3, it's a GREAT blowdryer that does exactly what it says it does.  But the reason why I want to review the Revlon One-Step is because it's unlike anything I have tried before and really works SO SO well for the price that I excited to share it with you.

If you want to see the product in action I've got a video on IGTV today! 

The Revlon One-Step "What I Love"

1) This crazy contraption is SO easy to use. I am not great at doing my own hair and I can't believe how easy and quick I get a salon quality blow out with this device.

2) Did I mention a salon quality blow out? I've paid for expensive blow outs and I always love the way my hair feels after my stylist does my hair and I'm am not lying when I say that my hair feels JUST as good when I do it at home with the Revlon One-Step.  It's THAT good.

3) The price is amazing. At under $60 this is a STEAL compared to the over $200 price tag that many  higher end blow dryers have these days.

4) It gets REALLY hot. One of the hallmarks of a good blowout is a lot of heat and this device REALLY heats up. Both giving you a quick blow out and a long lasting blow out.

5) It's a blow out that lasts. I find that my hair looks JUST as good the next day and rarely gets kinks in it from sleeping on it or from hair ties. Again, the sign of a great blow out!

6) It's great for a novice hair styler. I am NOT great at doing my own hair. Holding a round brush AND a blow dryer is completely out of the question for me. I love that this device gives me the LIFT and VOLUME of using a round brush without the hassle.

7) If you love volume, it's really easy to get it with the Revlon One-Step. After I am done drying my hair I do one more quick circle around the roots on the crown of my head to give some zhush and it works great!

The Revlon One-Step "What I Would Change"

1) The biggest thing I would change about the Revlon One-Step is the heat settings.  It has "HIGH" "LOW" and "COOL" settings.  I've found the high to be very high and the low very low. I could use a medium. But this is just me being very particular!

2) The Revlon One-Step does begin to feel heavy in my arm after a while. Maybe I'm a wimp!??!

Have you tried the Revlon One-Step!?!? I would love to know your experience with it... and don't forget to watch the full video at IGTV.

p.s. I always disclose when posts are sponsored - but today I wanted to note specifically that this post is NOT sponsored. I just genuinely love this product!

instagram lately!

How is March nearly half over already? My, my my! Time flies! Once a month I enjoy rounding up the highlights of what has been happening over on Instagram... if you aren't following me there yet, please do! There is lots of outfit inspiration that doesn't always hit the blog, I've started uploading videos weekly on IGTV and I do lots of try on sessions that don't always make it to the blog in Stories.  There is LOTS of good stuff going on over there!

Today's Instagram round up is loaded full of outfit ideas as we transition to spring and some fun peeks into my home. I haven't shown a lot of our new home in the 6+ months we have lived here - but it's been fun sharing a few spaces here and there and I think you guys have enjoyed it as well!

Here are some of the highlights from Instagram lately...

above: This outfit is PERFECT for transitioning to spring. The cardigan is still warm enough for cool days, but not too hot or wooly. I love it paired with these high waisted jeans (SUCH a good price!) and mules and a tote for an easy winter to spring look. (Shop the pieces: cardigan, jeans, similar tote, similar mules)

above: It's all about spring sweaters right now... those magical sweaters that are lightweight enough to not make you die of heat if the afternoon warms up and that are still warmer than just a simple t-shirt. I love this one - it's light and airy and perfect for layering. (shop the pieces: jeans, sweater, sunglasses, espadrilles)

above: I recently snagged these fabric bins with leather pulls for an AMAZING price for our master bath. I am so obsessed with them - they make me smile every time I walk into the bathroom.

above: Spring means LOTS of stripes for me. I can't get enough stripes ever and for some reason I am especially drawn to them this time of year.  Fun details like distressing on the striped top or the heart patch on these jeans take basics to the next level. (Shop the pieces: striped top, jeans, flats)

above: I absolutely can't wait for sleeveless weather - so I've been squirreling away fun tops like this! This ruffle top is an amazing price and oh so cute... paired with high waisted jeans and pointy flats is a fun and trendy way to wear ruffles this spring. (Shop the pieces: top, jeans - on sale!, flats, similar clutch)

above: The sunshine has finally made a return to Michigan on an *almost* regular basis.  I love when it streams in my windows. This is a simple IKEA console with pulls from Anthropologie for some added flair. (lamp, basket and geode are from Home Goods)

above: I'm constantly thinking about warmer weather but since it will be a while I like to brainstorm about how I will wear pieces in the future in addition to wearing them now. This striped top works great with a jacket, black jeans and flats now and will be just as cute with shorts, sandals and a woven tote once warmer weather arrives! (Shop the pieces: striped top, quilted jacket, jeans, flats, shorts, similar sandals, woven tote, hat)

above: This combo has been the foundation for lots of outfits lately. Jeans and a tee and sneakers. It would be great on it's own next month (fingers crossed) but for now I love it with a cardigan for extra layers. (Shop the pieces: tee, jeans, sneakers)

above: These baskets I have hanging on the wall in my living room got a TON of comments and questions when they recently showed up in the background of an Instagram Story. The original place I bought them no longer stocks them - but I found a great source for them.  They are lightweight and hang easily and give a ton of texture and character to a room. (shop the pieces: baskets, similar chair)

above: I can't WAIT for dress season! It's so easy to pull on a dress and go and I know already that this striped t-shirt dress is going to get tons of wear this summer.  Here I paired it with a utility jacket, espadrilles and a cute basket clutch in anticipation of warmer days. (Shop the pieces: t-shirt dress, similar jacket, espadrilles, basket tote or less expensive option)

above: Spring shoe roll call! All my favorites are here... now we just need all this snow to melt!

(Shop the pieces: black flat forms, silver twist slides - on sale!, Jack Rogers, gold Birkenstocks - back in stock!, similar leather slides, two tone espadrilles)

my everyday style: pink for spring!

Pink is about as groundbreaking for spring as florals are (name that movie!) but I can't resist a little pastel when the days finally get longer and the sun brighter. A simple pink cardigan can take a look from winter right into spring. Take this look for instance... I've probably worn a variation of it a hundred times over winter and winters past. But swapping out an olive, black or grey cardigan for a PINK one instead instantly makes the look feel more like spring.

This pink cardigan is a wardrobe classic for sure - I have it in olive and wore it all fall and winter and I was excited to snag the pink for spring now. I've likely mentioned before that I am obsessed with these V-neck tees, but it bears mentioning again. They are so soft, they wash well and they are perfect for layering or on their own. I have one each of grey, black and white.  They are also available in fun seasonal colors too if you want something brighter.

Lastly let's talk about these jeans - I love them and they are super sale right now making them only $40! What a steal... it looks like most sizes are available. I found these to be true to size - I'm wearing my usual size.  I love the gentle distressing and raw hem and of course this high waist and straight leg jean is right on trend for spring. So why not snag it for a great price?

Outfit Details:

Cardigan (I'm wearing an XS)

V-neck Tee - under $20!

Jeans - on sale for $40!

Shoes (similar less expensive or see my review of Golden Goose sneakers HERE)

Similar Bag

Similar Necklace

new arrivals I love!

With spring finally (sort of, almost, kind of...) arriving there are SO many new arrivals out that I just LOVE! Today I rounded up a few pieces that have been grabbing my eye lately... from a simple tie front tee or a classic denim skirt - these pieces are perfect for putting together simple and classic spring looks. I've had my eye on these wedge espadrilles and these black woven mules for spring - they are perfect for spring days that aren't quite warm enough for open toes yet. This black jumpsuit and this woven clutch are perfect for slipping in your spring break suitcase! Or if you just need a refresh on the basics this pair of distressed jeans and classic white Adidas sneakers will be perfect staples to invest in this spring season. I love this white button front tunic as a swim cover up for warm weather vacations and this black lace inset sleeveless top would be perfect for a spring date night!

Whatever you have your eye on for spring - there is something here for everyone!

oatmeal oversized slouchy henley, distressed jeans, black lace inset sleeveless top, woven clutch, black woven mules (these are so gorgeous in person!), two tone hobo bag (under $50!), black jumpsuit (I love the gathered waist!), cream ribbed wide leg pants (perfect for poolside or lounging around the house!), wedge espadrilles, leather woven slide sandal, tie front tee (under $25!), white button front tunic (I love this as a swim cover up!), denim skirt, classic white Adidas sneakers

spring capsule wardrobe 2019!

Ever since I put together the holiday capsule collection last year you gals have been asking when another capsule will appear on the blog!  The holiday capsule took a ton of time to pull together, I purchased quite a few new things for that post and my husband and I spent hours shooting it. So when it came time to pull together another capsule I was instantly dragging my feet knowing the time and energy and money that went into pulling it together. I brainstormed for a few weeks on what the spring capsule would/could look like, I spent hours combing my favorite online stores coming up with a list of the pieces it would include and then got extremely discouraged.  I was in over my head and the creative juices just were NOT flowing.  Then I suddenly had a lightbulb moment.

In thinking about my goals for a capsule collection for spring - or what you gals would want to see in a capsule - I realized I was overthinking the whole thing WAY too much.

To me a capsule wardrobe should be a few things:
1) Seasonally appropriate. What pieces do I want to wear this season, what pieces work for this season?
2) EASY. I realized I was way overthinking the process.  A capsule collection should be the EASY pieces in our wardrobe. The ones we can mix and match over and over.
3) Speak to my personal style. These pieces should be the pieces that instantly come to mind when I think of my spring wardrobe. They should reflect my own personal style - not just what's "new" at the stores.
4) Classic. A capsule collection should embody the classic wardrobe staples in your closet. These pieces are the foundation of your/my closet for the current season.
5) Inclusive. A capsule collection should be able to work as a whole, but also leave room for other pieces as well. If you want to add a fun or bold or trendy piece - the capsule should work together AND work with other pieces well too.

With these things I mind I went to MY OWN CLOSET and stepped away from buying anything NEW or MORE.  I chose twelve pieces that I LOVE from my closet and that I know I will be wearing a ton for spring and used that as my capsule.  I will note that while some pieces here are new or new-ish... I didn't buy them specifically to create a capsule.  And I even worked to make sure that most of the items are pieces that you may already own. They are such classic basics that it's likely you already have them in your closet.  Or if you don't have them in your closet or these items need a refresh for you - you can 100% justify making the purchase because you will instantly see here that the pieces are extremely versatile.

Let's talk about the pieces I chose... first I went with three classic bottoms: white jeans (or more sizes of this similar option) which I wear a lot of in the spring and summer, high waisted jeans which are the current trend - but feel free to swap for skinny jeans if you aren't feeling this trend, black denim shorts are easy and mom friendly to wear - but feel free to swap for a denim skirt or maxi skirt if that is more your style. Then I went with one easy daytime-friendly striped dress. For tops I chose a graphic tee which every usually has in their closet, a simple white blouse which I bought last fall and have worn through the fall, winter and spring now it's so classic, a striped top because I wear a lot of stripes in the spring and summer and a chambray top because after taking a little break from chambray I seem to be obsessed with it again. Then spring is all about lightweight layers too, so I chose four light layers including a denim jacket which is always a favorite of mine, a utility jacket which never seems to go out of style and matches everything, this pink cardigan because it's the perfect spring layer and a sweater blazer for when I want to feel more pulled together.

Voila! These pieces are easy to wear, classic and while I put together 12 outfits here - I think you could easily pull together SO many more! I really truly hope you love this spring capsule and that it gives you tons of outfit inspiration for the season to come. I know I had a lot of fun pulling it together and I already can't wait to recreate some of these looks when the weather warms!

Now let's take a look at the individual outfits... 

Outfit 1 (above): I love a white on white look and the loafers and blazer pull this look together so beautifully. This is perfect for Sunday brunch, shopping with friends or even a casual Friday at the office. (Shop the pieces: graphic tee, white jeans, sweater blazer, loafers, cross body bag)

Outfit 2 (above): Chambray on denim on denim is a CLASSIC spring look. I can't even describe how much I love this look. This is a perfect mom-on-the-go look while still being really pulled together. (Shop the pieces: denim jacket, chambray top, white jeans, similar bucket bag, flats)

Outfit 3 (above): Again with the white one white - this is such an easy combo to pull together I couldn't resist. This time I paired it with a pink cardigan, pale blush sandals and a fun basket bag. This outfit is making me SO excited for spring. It's perfect for a casual Easter brunch, Mother's Day or a day date. (Shop the pieces: cardigan, white blouse, white jeans, sandals, basket bag)

Outfit 4 (above): If you've got ALL the mom duties on the schedule for the day, this layered look is perfect. I love these black jeans with chambray - it's a classic combo that's easy enough for everyday wear too. (Shop the pieces: black shorts, chambray top, striped top, similar circle bag, black slide sandals)

Outfit 5 (above): These black shorts are going to get so much wear this spring and summer, I can tel already! With a graphic tee and a utility jacket they are perfect for hanging at the park with kids, running errands or even tourist activities on spring break. (Shop the pieces: utility jacket, graphic tee, black shorts, sneakers, tote)

Outfit 6 (above): I love how this white blouse instantly pulls together any look without being fussy. With black shorts it's perfect for patio dining, running errands or grabbing coffee with friends. (Shop the pieces: denim jacket, white blouse, black shorts, silver sandals, basket clutch)

Outfit 7 (above): How classic and easy is this look? I can not wait to recreate this when the weather warms up. This look is ideal for mom duties this spring - it's so comfortable and cute. (Shop the look: striped top, high waisted jeans, blush sandals, similar round bag) 

Outfit 8 (above): When the day calls for ALL THE THINGS. This outfit is just that. Pulled together enough for a casual day in the office or for meetings but also casual enough to stay comfortable all day. (Shop the pieces: utility jacket, white blouse, high waisted jeans, loafers, similar blush handbag)

Outfit 9 (above): A graphic tee and jeans is the EASIEST combo ever. If you are like a lot of moms you spend a lot of time sitting at kids sports once the weather turns nice. This look is perfect for warm-ish Saturdays sitting outside. (Shop the pieces: graphic tee, high waisted jeans, sneakers, black tote)

Outfit 10 (above): A striped dress is my go-to outfit for spring and summer. Paired with a pink cardigan and blush sandals it's perfect for a spring brunch, shopping or spring break activities. (Shop the pieces: pink cardigan, striped dress, sandals, basket bag)

Outfit 11 (above): A striped dress is great for any day time activities... but I also love pulling it on over a swimsuit for the beach or pool.  It doubles as a quick outfit AND a quick swim cover up. (Shop the pieces: striped dress, woven tote, silver sandals)

Outfit 12 (above): If you are heading out for spring break or need a summer date night look this dress with a denim jacket and slide sandals is perfect for dinner out with the family or with your husband. It's easy and comfortable! (Shop the pieces: striped dress, denim jacket, slide sandals, cross body bag)