Sweater Weather

dress: LOFT
jacket, watch: Target
bag: Tommy Hilfiger
loafers: TJMaxx

We are having a golden autumn this year and I'm loving it. It's the perfect combination of cool air and warm sunshine, and it's time to get those sweaters out. I hope ya'll are enjoying this time of the year because I'm definitely a fan of the apple cider and the look of pumpkins on my porch (I don't like the taste of them). Also it's the perfect time for some family photos - the foliage provides gorgeous backdrop for some good shots, as well as memories. Enjoy your selves friends because life is just too short not too.

Thank you for stopping by! 

Statement Maker

top: Express (similar)
skirt: Tibi
heels: Zara (similar)
bag: (similar)

I'm usually not the one to buy exactly the same items I see on other bloggers. I do like the designer bags and shoes but usually I can't afford them. So I looks for similar but cheaper options and come out on top. But when I saw this skirt wore last winter, I totally fell in love. I mean, can it be more perfect? So when I found the sames skirt (for a fraction of the price), I had to have it. To be honest, I loved how it looked on the hanger but when it came time to actually wear it, I was a little intimidated by how full it was and how much of a statement it made. Well, I threw caution to the wind and wore it  to a friend's wedding, and you wouldn't believe how many compliments I received. So, here's to wearing to what you like!
Thank you for stopping by! 

Fall Must-Haves 2014

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14

For me, Fall always started with school year, whether I'm studying or not. It's always been the time for apples, hot cider and layers. We can definitely feel chill of autumn air every morning in these parts, and to be honest, I love it. Unlike summer, we have been having some golden fall days, filled with cool, crisp mornings followed by warm, sunshine-filled afternoons. 

I love it.

Also, on my radar, cooler tones and some layers. I always like styling my summer pieces for fall, layering cardigans and jackets. It's so much fun! This season I'm pretty much on board with all the trends like black and white, sneaker-shoes, leather, leopard print and floppy hats. And I may actually give camo print a try. Maybe.

I hope you see something you like, and get  some shopping done because the season is upon us. 

BUDGET TIP: for the trends that you aren't sure of (like leather) try your local consignment, or thrift store. You can buy the item and not feel bad about it if you end up wearing it only once. 

#happybudgetshopping

Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend! 

Bathroom Inspiration {House Make Over}

As some of you know, we bought a house about a year ago and thank God it was in good enough condition to move in right away. We did a few paint jobs in bedrooms and closets but nothing major. Now, more than year later, I'm so sick and tired of my ugly bathroom that I can't even go in there without loathing everything about it. I hate the color of the walls (ugly sand brown) and the blue built in plastic tub (yup, it's blue!). It's time to change things up but my budget is very limited as we need to change heating in half the house. Husband says it's more important than bathroom looking pretty (blah blah blah). So, I'm taking on myself the monumental task of remodeling our bathroom with lots and lots of DIY projects. It's going to take time, patience and new-skill learning.
My bathroom is tiny (I mean, it's really small) so I want to use the visual tricks of designers with lighter paint, and low contrast. Grey, white and more grey is what I'm gravitated towards with some of these as inspiration. Thank God for Pinterest because I don't know how people did anything back in the day without this handy tool.
Have any of you done anything like this before? Re-doing a room on the cheap? Please share some of your ideas, tips and tricks. Thanks for stopping by! 

Almost Fall

top: Forever21
jeans, watch: Target
bag: Ali Express
shoes: Franco Sarto (DSW)

Happy Friday ladies! This post is brought to you by the best time of the year - the perfect combination of sun and cool air. I love early fall, when you can still wear light summer pieces and layer them with other things. Hope you enjoy your weekend and thank you for stopping by! 

Bacon and Corn Chowder

 

This recipe came to be as a combination of a few different recipes I found in my Soup Bible Cookbook. I loved the end result, and what's more important, my toddler loved it too. He ate the soup for breakfast lunch and dinner for three days and still wanted more. It's a very easy and delicious recipe but make sure to use fresh corn which is in abundance this time of year. You know when you put bacon on it, everything becomes instantly better.

 

 INGREDIENTS:

2 corn ears 

1/2 lb bacon

2 potatoes

1 large green bell pepper

1 yellow onion

1 garlic clove

2 small celery sticks

4 cups of chicken stock

3 bay leaves

2 tbsp corn starch 

1/2 cup heavy cream

2 tbsp water

salt and pepper

 

PROCESS:
Chop bacon into small pieces and fry in a large pan. Remove from the heat when crispy and drain, setting bacon aside.Take the fat from the bacon and pour it into a Dutch oven pot.

Chop onion, celery, pepper and potato into small bite size chunks and sauté with the bacon fat for about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, cut the corn kernels off the ears and throw in with the rest of veggies along with garlic. Let it sweat for another 5 minutes, then pour the stock. Add bay leaf, salt and pepper to taste, and simmer the soup for about 30-40 minutes. Once the potatoes are cooked through, take a potato masher and mash the soup a little bit, creating a thicker consistency. Leave some potato chunks in the soup.

Combine two tablespoons of water with cornstarch until it dissolves and add the heavy cream, then pour the mixture into the soup. Increase the soup to high heat and bring it to boil (turn it off as soon as you see bubbles form). Let the soup rest for about hour before serving, if you can. You can freeze it easily and it's even better the next day.
Serve soup of bacon on top and a piece of black bread on a side. Delicious!

Leaving a Child

As we were planning our vacation, I had no doubt in my mind that I wanted it to be just the two of us. We haven't been away from Jonathan for more than a day in the last two years and it was something we needed as a couple, as parents, as adults. 

So we booked our vacation and arranged babysitters for Jonathan but as the day to leave him behind approached, my heart dropped. I was worried and besides myself. Honestly, I could hardly sleep the night before thinking about the worst possible scenarios happening while we are gone.

How could I do this? How could I leave my baby behind (with family, mind you) and just enjoy a week without him? How will he be without my constant care and attention? How am going to survive without his flamboyant personality and happy giggles? 

And to be honest, I don't know how.

Just to paint you a fuller picture of how much of control freak I am, here is exactly what I did before leaving. I scrubbed my house from top to bottom and washed all the laundry, changed all the bed sheets and stocked fridge with milk. Then I packed Jonathan's bag which included pretty much everything from ten spare shirts to fever medication and bibs. I wrote out a detailed list of his every day routine and gave to family members (yes, I know). 

Let's just say that packing for this vacation was heck of a lot more work than it would have been staying home. But I had to make sure that people who were able to raise a few children of their own would be well equipped looking after mine (oh the irony). 

In the end, I know he's in safe hands and that this time away from every day life is so good for our marriage and relationship. I know it in my mind and I know it in my heart. So I'm putting my dear baby in The Father's care and praying for him to be safe and content while we are gone. 

No matter how much we love out children, relationship with our spouse should always come first. I know sometimes it's hard to get away but it's absolutely needed to renew, refresh and rekindle the love. After all, children thrive in a loving and caring atmosphere and  benefit from a happy marriage.

The Reality of Instagram

Life as a fashion/beauty blogger may seem perfect according to social media. I certainly don't make it my goal to make my accounts look like a magazine spread, neither do I have resources to do so. I don't have a gorgeous walk-in close (it's shelves and some hangers), my house isn't going to be featured in a magazine, and nobody wants to know where I got my rug. I have a normal life. I'm flawed and this is just how un-perfect my life is. For real.

Caption: Look at me grabbing some caramel frappuccino while out and about. Of course, I have a floral top on and my hair is naturally this pretty. I'm having fun and loving it. 

Reality: I was running super late and snapped this picture while waiting for traffic light to turn green. I was in such a hurry that didn't even read the caption after I wrote it. Talk about embarrassing!? And the frap? Forget it! It was absolutely nasty and way too sweet - we don't have fancy Starbucks for miles around here. I was starving the rest of the day because I didn't eat anything in the morning trying to get myself and Jonathan ready. Oh and the pretty blazer? It's covering the fact that my top isn't ironed and has baby drool on it. Oh the life of a momma (through Instagram filters)!

Caption: Just running errands, looking polished and pretty. Oh you know, kids are being kids but I totally got this. 

Reality: I had to run errands with both kids (babysitting for my sister) right before nap time, and they were getting cranky.  As we pulled up to the grocery store it started raining, I mean it was the worst torrential downpour. We were waiting on the rain and kids didn't like it. I jumped out of the car as soon as it stopped pouring and stepped into a huge puddle. As I was getting my niece out, Jonathan got all excited about the puddles and jumped right in. I had to carry both of them into the store because there was so much water. As we were about to leave, I realized my niece was walking barefoot. After a few minutes, we located the shoes and safely proceeded toward the parking lot. Phew, that was exciting!

Caption: Look at our kids playing together and smiling at each other. They play so well with each other and always share, being the cutest little toddlers. They have so much fun in the sandbox!

Reality: It was Jonathan and Zoe's very first time playing in the sand box. They kept fighting the entire time and pouring sand all over each other's heads. The sand was everywhere - even in the diapers and mouth. While one of us wasn't looking, they found water and got back into the box. It was a mud box! Jonathan was snatching what Zoe had and vice versa, so there was a lot of screaming and hitting going on. The worst part was when we went inside and the sand was everywhere! Bath time.

Caption: I'm enjoying lunch by myself, while kids nap, while reading the Bible. I'm such a spiritual person.

Reality: Kids woke up as soon as I set down. So much for me, myself and I. I had to hurry up and eat lunch while folding laundry because let's face it, no one has time to sit and eat. Bible reading? It was a great idea but it didn't happen at all that day. Up and at it with million things to do, mainly mopping the floors, doing laundry and cooking dinner. So the lunch got cold before I could actually finish it, and reheating grilled cheese is just nasty. My life is glam!

Caption: Just doing a little shopping in my cute little outfit. My kid is just standing next to me and behaving like all other angel children. I bought half the store because you know, fashion blogger and all.

Reality: I didn't even buy anything because I already spend too much shopping that month. Sure my outfit looked cute but my feet were burning from walking all over in those stupid boots. Jonathan was throwing a fit and wouldn't sit in the stroller, so I took him out. He layed on the floor, looking outside the dressing room through the space between the door and floor, saying hi to all the strangers. He wanted to drink, then snack, then nap and who know what else. While in the dressing room, he kept pushing the stroller to run me over, laughing every time. It was fun for him, but hectic and stressful for me.

Printed

top: Forever21
pants: Loft
shoes: BCBG
bag: Ali Express

I have one pair of printed pants and to be honest, I wear them more than any other pants. I'm lacking in good quality jeans and very much dreading the day when I will have to go shopping. Jean shopping is my least favorite because I know how hard it is to find a good pair for my shape. I hate low rise jeans that expose unnecessary elements every time I sit down, or bend over to pick up my child. At the same time, I don't want mommy jeans. It's a very delicate balance right in the middle of not to high and not too low on the hips. Also I do not want to spend half an hour getting into those jeans so they cannot be very skinny, but I'm not a fan of boot cut either. 

So, I as you can imagine, jeans are quite  the commodity in my closet and I only have two well fitting pairs. Come fall, you will find me in every single department store, grunting and sighing at the impossibility of finding well-fitting jeans. But for now, it's printed pants all the way!

Have a great weekend ladies! 

xo, Anna 

Judge Not

Summer is our favorite time of the year. Jonathan loves all the outdoor activities and spends most of his time running. The shoes take a beating every time he's outside and don't last very long. So, long story short, I found myself at the mall the other day walking from store to store, searching for toddler sandals. Notice that Jonathan hates flip flops. Every time I would try to put them on his feet he would say that they hurt. Apparently retailers forgot how to make regular boy sandals because I could not find even one pair.

Jonathan was completely tired after about an hour of walking around. I was getting frustrated because I couldn't find what I was looking for, he didn't want to sit in the stroller but I couldn't let him walk as he would run away. So after another attempt to calm him with a toy and some snacks, I did what I have judged others for - I searched the YouTube for cartoons. The connection in the mall wasn't so great and it was taking a while to load one 15 minute video but it kept him occupied. He was watching a cute Russian cartoon that I have watched as a little girl and being somewhat cooperative. Target came to the rescue with only the very last pair of sandals in his size, and we were on our way home.

It's taking me a while to realize that there are many ways to parent. Some parents let their kids go to bed late and then sleep in the morning, other parents have a bed time and stick with it. Some parents don't have food guidelines and others have strict instructions what their child can and cannot eat. No matter what your parenting style is and no matter how paranoid or laid back you are, I don't judge you. I'm doing the best I can and you are doing the best you can, so we are in the same boat. People come from all sorts of economical and societal backgrounds, having gained the knowledge of what's normal from their parents. If someone has been less fortunate or simply disadvantaged in some areas, it's not my job to criticize their skills and abilities. We, as parents, need to encourage and help each other along because this job is hard enough without someone criticizing me for doing my best.

xo, Anna

Navy Blue

 

 dress: H&M
blouse: Loft

bag: Ali Express

necklace: Target

Whenever I go shopping, I'm instantly drawn to dresses. In almost every store, I look through the dress section first, then consider everything else. I love dresses. I love them formal, casual, floral, solid and denim. There is just something feminine and classy about a girl in a nice dress. It instantly gives you a whole outfit and you can play around with it in so many ways. 

My body shape is sort of disproportionate. I have small bust and womanly (haha) hips; so whenever I want to buy a dress, it's a struggle. If I get a size that fits my bottom, it's way to big on top and vice versa.  This dress didn't look like much on the hanger but after trying it on, I fell in love.

Lesson of the day: always try things on. Sometimes it feels like a waste of time but in the long run it will save you a trip back to the store to return something unwanted. I have done it way too many times, so take it from me. Thank you for reading!

xo, Anna

Are Meaningful Posts Worth The Trouble?

 

Why do people blog about clothes and what not? Because it's safe. You don't have to put yourself out there (well, just your best looking self) and there isn't much effort that goes into it. Let's face it - fashion blogging is not that hard. You go shopping, buy the best clothes you can (or cannot) possibly afford, wear them (while doing other life activities) and then post pictures of yourself looking fabulous and pretty. Done.

Blogging about meaningful issues and personal feelings is hard. That means a) you have to be honest b) you have open up c) you will probably get hurt. That is why very few people do it. You have to have guts to stand up for what you believe in and don't let other discourage you. On the other hand, why open yourself up for that much hurt? Because there is more to life than clothes, and because life is too short not to do something worthwhile with it.

So for a few minutes I decided to write about insightful, important and even controversial things. Then I was too worried about what other people will say, but then again, I wanted to change the world.

I'm not here to change the world. I'm not here to even change your world, I'm here to do my part and live my life the best I can.

If I  would have told you that I have been going through challenging part of my life personally, it would be an understatement. But you wouldn't know by all those pretty clothes I hide behind. And to me, that just seems fake and hypocritical. But how do we change that without preserving privacy and not leading you on to believe that I'm better than everyone else? Achieving balance in life is the hardest part.

Social media let's us portray only certain parts of lives, making perfection the standard for living. The perfectly staged Instagram pictures and happy-go-lucky Facebook updates lead us to believe that other people have it all together. 

Life is difficult and trying but I want to go through it all and come out on the other side - stronger, better and have gained a lot of wisdom. 

Thank you for stopping by!