When Life Gives You Lemons

 Pink Lemon Dress,   Iphone Case,   Sweater,   Keds, Oven Mitt,   Slice Lemon Purse,  Paper Napkins,    Straw Bag,    Art Frame,    Bathing Suit,   Placemat,    Necklace,    Strapless Dress

Honestly, I'm not the one to jump on the trend bandwagon as soon as it arrives. I usually take a while to warm up to certain ideas and maybe the last blogger on the planet earth that doesn't owe anything camo. Yep, still not very fond of that trend. But when I saw lemons on everything from paper napkins to handbags, it was love at first sight. It's such a fun and summery trend, which made me feel refreshed even without lemonade in my hand. So if life gives you lemons, make a trend out of it. I wonder who's life was going sour that they decided to put it on their designs. In any case, it's such a fun and quirky print that, even though I probably will not be getting a lemon bag, I will at least grab some table napkins. 

What do you think of this summer print? Yay or nay?

Thank you for stopping by! 

Simply Chic

dress: Old Navy
sandals: Gap (similar)
bag: Dorothy Perkins

A lot of times when I take pictures of my outfit for the blog, I think, is it enough? Is my outfit trendy enough? Do I have enough accessories? Is it Pinterest worthy? And quit frankly, it gets so exhausting at times. There is a pressure for a style and beauty blogger to be on trend. Otherwise, your pictures will not be pinned and the Insta account will loose followers.

I feel like, I have been trying to be someone else for a very long time. Looking at some of the more accomplished and expensive bloggers, I fee inadequate. But this is just me, having a nice day with my son at the zoo. You know, there are days when I have simple and non-trendy outfits on. That's OK nd it needs to blogged too.

It's really not about the clothes or how much we have, or what kind of bag we could scrape up on. Life is about so much bigger things. Stop worrying about fitting in and being something you are not. Just stay true to yourself and everything else will fall into place.

Thank you for reading and have a great weekend! 

My Apparent Obsession

shirt: Loft
sweater: Target (similar)
pants: Gap
shoes: J.Crew (similar)
bag: Kate Spade (similar)
necklace: Forever 21 (similar)

In the last few outfit posts I've been wearing something yellow - sweater or skirt, or the neon glasses. It has become apparent to me that I love yellow, although I never have. Then I received compliments on it being 'my color' and now it's all over my closet. So today's post is brought to you by a little obsession with yellow, that I wasn't aware of. I don't have much to say today other than I can't wait for the weekend and so happy the warm weather is back. I did some yard work yesterday and I'm a little sore today. Grandma status over here.
Have a great weekend celebrating your moms! I am so glad I have my mama near by to share life's experiences with! Motherhood has taught me so much about mother's love and gave me new appreciation for my own. Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by! 

We have two winners for the giveaway and thank you to all who have entered! Please email me to claim your prize girls... :)

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Shopping [Spring Bags Under $50] + $100 GIVEAWAY

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If now isn't a time to shop for a new spring bag, I don't know when it is. I've been looking for a perfect winged tote that wouldn't break my bank. Every time I search for something specific, I head to Polyvore. It is such a great tool for shopping-crazy bloggers, who are looking for a great deal. I have yet to find a better search engine for shopaholics.

I love different kinds of bags and if I had the money, I would buy all of these. (I did get one of these bags in my recent online shopping adventure) Everything from totes to clutches is here and most of these are on sale too! So don't waste your time looking elsewhere - I got you the perfect selection of bags on a budget. And that's just the way we roll.

GIVEAWAY

Today I'm hosting my very first giveaway with two lovely ladies! Kathleen (Kat's Fashion Fix), Amy (The Real Arnolds) and I have teamed up for this cool giveaway. I'm so very excited about this and can't wait to share it with you all. I know that for Mother's Day we are all looking for something special to give our mothers. So if you found that something but lacking in funds, this is for you. We are giving away two $50 gift cards to the store of your choice (OR) PayPal cash. You choose! Talk about a win/win, huh? Enter with the rafflecopter below! 

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Get Over It

sweater: TJMaxx, coat: J.Crew, booties: Ann Taylor, bag: Kate Spade, hat & scarf: Gap

It's easy to fall into winter blues, especially in January. Nothing is happening (except getting my credit card statements and realizing I spend too much over holidays) and it's absolutely frigid outside. But you already know that. Everyone (and I mean, everyone) is complaining about how cold it is and how we cannot wait until summer. Then summer comes and we can't stand the heat and the humidity. So which one is it? I have nothing to complain about. I'm sitting in a nice, warm house with peacefully asleep baby and a wonderful husband who's nodding off as I type this. Millions of people around the world don't have even half of what I have and that's something to be thankful for. Yes, winters are cold and how is that a news? I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm tired of complaining. I'm tired of hearing people complain and I'm tired of myself getting caught up in it. It's January. Temperatures are below zero. Get over it.
So what's new with you?

One Outfit :: Two Ways

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shirt: thrifted, skirt: Loft, vest: Land's End, booties: Old Navy
watch: Target, blazer: Banana Republic, hat: Gap

Who said you can't wear your favorite outfit more then once? Or twice? If I find a color combination or just put together an outfit that's perfect, I want to wear it over and over again. I've had this skirt and shirt in my closet for a while now but one day I put them together and whala! Wearing the same outfit by remixing it and making it look like a totally new one is a winner in my book! Plus changing up the hair adds that something special to each look. Thank you for stopping by and have a great weekend!

Cheap 'n Good

dress: Target
sweater: Gap
shoes: Payless
bag: Target

Why is it when you shop at different stores, you judge the price point differently? If I'm in J.Crew and they have a dress on sale for $50 I will think it's a steal but then when I'm in Target and dress for $35 seems like a highway robbery.

The quality, for one, is definitely an issue and, although I do love boutique stores and designer apparel, nothing makes you feel better then knowing you scored a great buy for a low price.  

I've said it before and I will say it again - Target is my domain. I can rarely walk out of there without a sweater or pair of jeans. No, really, it's that bad.

Honestly, unless you are loaded (and I'm not) buying designer clothes for everyday wear seems ridiculous. Of course, every girl needs wants a designer handbag and a pair of statement shoes or jewelry, but for day to day wear, it's simply not practical. Geeesh, look who's talking about practical.

To sum it up, cheap 'n good is the stuff my closet is made off (with a few exceptions) but I still want a pair of booties and a handbag.

It's definitely a girl thing. And there is no stopping it.

Hope you have a great day!

Statement

sweater: Gap
vest: Land's End
skirt: thrifted
boots: from Belarus
necklace: ILY Couture

Every outfit is just an outfit until you add accessories. A statement necklace and few bangles, a scarf and a designer handbag can really spice up a boring get up. 

There were times when I went overboard and piled on everything I could find; and then there were times when an outfit was just blah. But really knowing when to add and when not to add the right kind of  accessories is a skill.

Sometimes it's easy getting dressed and look stylish but others, not so much.

There is a reason why some bloggers are very successful and others are not; why some women look stylish and others look trashy. It takes some common sense and an eye for balance. Also it takes planning of the outfits and maybe tiny bit of pinning. 

In all seriousness, nobody has so much imagination and creative stride to put together a 'blog-worthy' outfit every time, but with planning and correct amount of accessories it really can happen. Probably not every time but often enough to make you feel like a fashionista. 

Hope you have a great day!

[Not] Copycat

top: H&M
cardi; Gap
skirt: J.Crew
shoes: Guess
bag: Nine West

First thing first, I did not copy color combo of this outfit. The above was my Sunday outfit and I was not anywhere close Kendi to even remotely think of stealing her idea. But I do love the mustard and plum-ish wine color together. It was not even that cold on Sunday but I pulled out all of my winter wool stuff (skirt and cardigan are pure wool). It's hard to to imagine what I'm going to be dressed like in winter now that I don't have the extra baby weight to keep me warm. 

Yesterday I started a link up party over here and haven't received many (well like none) submissions for the Inspiration Monday. Talk about discouraging. 

Ladies, link up your inspiration outfits, thoughts, pictures, DIYs and any other ideas you have so we all can be inspired by the creativity and words of wisdom. 

On the other hand, I've been working on so many different 'words of wisdom' posts lately that I'm running out of ideas. For a person who's not good horrible at creative writing and majored in mathematics in college, I sure picked a weird hobby. Ha!

 A fresh-off-the-boat immigrant is writing life advice and words of wisdom in a foreign language while taking outfit photos of church outfits. Are you still following?

Hope you are having a great week making leaf angels 

(like the snow angels but in the beautiful foliage. get it?)

Everybody Gets The Sniffles

sweater, belt: Gap
skirt: Talbots
flats, watch: Target

It is the season for vicks and humidifiers. 

We got the sniffles in this house and I guess there is just no way of getting around it. We tried to look like it's not happening, stayed away from all the sickly people but, alas, we are here.

Runny noses and teary eyes. Mommy and baby are both sitting in the living room and planing on doing absolutely nothing today. 

There were plans and there were aspirations.

We even thought to venture out to the farmer's market today. 

Nope.

All that's happening today is lots of hugs, chest rubs, hot tea and watching chick flicks... 

Hope you have a great day! 

P.S. Stay away from sickly people. 

The Next Best Thing

tee, flats: Target
pants: Gap
clutch: TJMaxx

This fall, camo print is the new 'it' pattern. I personally don't like the print (ex. here and here) and think it doesn't really belong with regular clothes. But who am to dictate fashion trends? 

Well, the next best thing would be olive green and that, my friends, is the next best thing to the ever-so-popular craze over camo. I love how it easily pairs with anything and goes really well with fall colors. 

Also, how about the bell bottoms? I'm loving these pants and I don't care if I look like I'm from the 90s.

 At least my hair is fancy (even if I'm just going grocery shopping).

Tomorrow, Jonathan is turning seven months and I'm the point where I honestly want the time to stop. I love this stage and his curious little mind. I wish my sweet little boy would stay this small a little longer and can't even write his seven months post without tearing up. 

I'm a big gushy mama mess.

I'm going to go and kiss those cute little cheeks and squeeze him a little extra hard tonight.

Hope you have yourself a great day!

Funk

tee, flats: Target
jacket: Gap
skirt: J.Crew
glasses: DKNY

I feel like I'm so behind with the fashion this summer. It's already August and I'm just getting to wear my summer whites. How lame is that? Pretty lame for a fashion blogger, I must say.

Well, better late than never right? Right. 

It's not that I don't have enough clothes, I just don't have the inspiration to put new combos together. I find a shirt that works and stick with it instead of trying new things.

 So you could say that I'm kind of in a closet funk and feel like I don't have very versatile pieces. That's what happens when you spend one  month's budget on two dresses that can only worn for special occasions. Don't get me wrong, I love the dresses but need more special occasions to wear them to. Date night it is.(hoping hubby is reading this;-)

Have a great weekend and thank you for reading!

New Do

top: Target
pants: Gap
shoes: Kate Spade
bag: Target
glasses: DKNY

Ever since I had baby Jonathan, my hair started showing signs of a nursing mother. It has been falling out at a crazy rate, and, frankly, I'm surprised I still have some of it. Seriously! 

Giving birth to another human being takes a toll on your body in so many ways, but I did not expect shedding to start. My hair grew to be very long and heavy, so there would be long brown packs in every corner of the house. It was even in Jonathan's diaper. Poor little guy.

I liked the ombre very much and was sad to let it go but I needed a change. 

To make sure that all the ends are evenly colored, I decided to chop them off and now feel so much better. A gorgeous day, new haircut, fresh pedicure and a stroll in a park marked it to be one of the better days.

How are you gals liking the new do?