I Love My 2014 Holiday Card

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I know I did! I think I officially need to detox because I had my fair share of goodies, but I am okay with that. I not only got to meet my sweet niece, Penelope, and visit with my brother, sister-in-law, and nephews, but I also enjoyed time with the Barriger side and had a blast just talking and laughing with family. It was much needed!

 

Today, my weekend got even better when I received my 2014 Christmas cards in the mail! I love them! They go with my black, gold and white décor/theme that I blogged about a few days back, and literally as I write this, I am enjoying a chai tea latte and am going to start addressing away. I honestly love writing out Christmas cards. My inner nerd is filled with so much happiness in doing so; I even have a Christmas movie playing in the background. I purchased my cards from Shutterfly this year and received 40% off and had a $10 coupon on top of the sale they were already running, so needless to say they were quite the deal! I hope you all are enjoying your Saturday night. I know I am.

 

Happy addressing!

XOXO

-Andrea

Holiday Decor Love: Christmas 2014

 

 

 

I am so excited to decorate for Christmas this year! Like I said in my previous post, we just installed new floors in our living room and kitchen and I absolutely LOVE them! We definitely need to do some painting in our living room and touch up some baseboards, but otherwise, our living room is well on its way to being done (sigh of relief).

I typically stick with the same look from year-to-year when it comes to decorating for the holidays. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday to decorate for, and I tend to add to my collection of decorations each year. Have you been to Target after the holidays? It’s kind of the best thing ever! Target always offers 75% off after the season is over, and I take full advantage of the sale every year. With that said, I feel like I want to change things up a bit this year. I was all about the bright green bulbs a few years back, and I have been pretty content with those paired with silver, red and gold bulbs. However, I am totally digging the black and white and gold look that I ran across on Pinterest while searching for some holiday décor inspiration. I just love the simplicity of it, and I also love to create different things that I can use from year-to-year, so with that said, I will be doing some creating this weekend, starting with that DIY glitter deer head!

Changes to My Current Décor:

-Swapping out my current ribbon with the black and white ribbon pictured above

-Adding the rustic crate filled with white candles and garland to my kitchen table (or possibly to my entertainment hutch that houses our TV, etc. –I haven’t decided yet)

-Creating that awesome DIY glitter deer head to add to my floating shelf in my living room that typically just houses our stockings

-Spray painting some branches gold to add to my Christmas tree (I may even add some white branches, too, since my tree does not have that snow covered look like the one pictured above)

-Printing off those adorable holiday tags and adding them to all of my gifts

 

Decorating for Christmas is so fun for me! I hope that you enjoy is as much as I do and feel inspired to possible change up your décor or at least add to what you already have. Links to all ideas pictured above can be found on my Pinterest page under my holiday board. Happy decorating!

XOXO

-Andrea



It's Beginning to Feel A Lot Like...the Holidays!

Dress & Leggings from Carter's
Moccasins from Minnetonka



Sweater (similar) from Simple Addiction
Jeans (similar) from The Limited
Booties from Sole Society

I cannot believe it is almost Thanksgiving! I also cannot believe I haven’t blogged since May…Well, that’s not entirely true; my family had quite a busy summer. Our summer this year was jammed packed with home improvement projects. We painted our kitchen cabinets and laid new floors in our living room and kitchen. Because my husband and I are both in education, we have to get these fun little projects done over the summer while we’re off, so that leaves little time for me to blog. Side note-I fully plan on blogging about our home improvement projects as soon as I finish some tweaking, or should I say, as soon as my hubby finishes some much overdue tweaking!

Moving on to what’s really important-fashion! My mind works in a very interesting way, as I am always thinking about upcoming occasions, and more importantly, what I, as well as my sweet daughter,  we will be wearing to said occasions. With that in mind, I am happy to say I shopped early this year for our Thanksgiving looks. The vibe of our looks is dreamy to me! I love the sort of Aztec chic look that we both will be rocking to our Thanksgiving feasts this year.

Lola’s Look: Both items are from Carter’s and were super inexpensive. I feel like I want my daughter to have more of a style (yes, I know she is only two)- meaning, more than just a simple Thanksgiving tee with her name and a turkey on it- not that that look is bad, I am just sort of over it at this point, and here’s why. When my daughter was younger and not walking I wasn’t as concerned with shoes and what an entire outfit would sort of look like on her because someone was always holding her, so you could barely see the whole outfit that I had on her anyway. Now, she's running all over the place and is such a little person that I want to enjoy seeing different looks on her, if that makes sense (I’m weird, I get it). The dress definitely has a sort of Aztec look with the embroidery detail at the collar, and I just like the idea of adding stripes for fun to sort of break up the blandness of the navy and add to the fun embroidery detail. Also, the moccasins are my fave! I bought her a pair last year and she has since outgrown them, so this year I had to buy her another pair.

My Look: Keeping with the same vibe, I just recently bought an Aztec cardigan that I have gotten a million compliments on. I knew when they sort of blew up and became this huge fashion trend (I have pinned quite a few), that I wanted one, but knew it was not a sweater I would wear weekly, so I didn’t want to spend a small fortune on one. I purchased mine from an online boutique called Simple Addiction and I love it! It’s long and can be dressed up with a belt if you want to keep it closed. Any pair of dark denim looks great with these cardigans and I have even thought about pairing mine with neutral colored denim, like these, from The Limited. Last, I think the bootie is everything! I am truly obsessed with them! They look amazing with skinny jeans and I think they make my legs look skinnier (win!), so there’s that, too. As far as jewelry goes, these cardigans are super busy, so I normally wear gold studs and a few bracelets and call it a day. I think a simple necklace could work, too, as well as maybe some turquoise jewelry that sort of fits the Aztec vibe.

Hopefully, this helps you plan your Thanksgiving look, or maybe it’s just a fun post that gives you some insight into some pretty fabulous trends that are relevant right now. Either way, have a blessed and fun Thanksgiving!

Happy styling!

XOXO

-Andrea

Floral Love

Dress by Calvin Klein, Shoes by Tahari

The "Wives Club"

Me and my husband

Necklace by Forever 21; Similar (and what I now have but didn't get on time via UPS!)

This past weekend a good friend of my husband and mine got hitched and it was such a great day with friends (and fashion) that I wanted to share with you what I wore! After returning two dresses (geez!), I finally ordered this floral, multi-colored sheath dress from Dillard’s. I loved all the colors and wanted something really bright and fun for this wedding, as it was during the day and the weather was screaming SPRING! Not only do I love the colors, but the black piping was another thing that drew me to this dress. It’s comfortable, flattering and super fun!

As far as accessories go, I had to resort to wearing an old bib/chain necklace of mine, as the bib that I ordered did not arrive on time for the nuptials. I do, however, now have The Courtney Bib, and let me tell you, it is every bit as amazing as the pictures depict it to be! I am in LOVE! But, my old chain necklace did the job for the day. The shoes I wore I bought a few days before the wedding from DSW and are by Tahari. I linked a similar pair, as I can’t find the exact ones I have on anywhere on the website; however, I am pretty confident that you could find them in a store, as I just bought them last week. They are my new fave! Not only are they a lace-up sandal (which I am currently obsessed with), but they are so comfortable and will go with so many pieces that I have in my summer wardrobe. I honestly cannot wait to wear this whole look again and again!

I hope your weekend was as fun as mine! I danced, enjoyed some good wine, had a whole day/night away with my husband, and was surrounded by all my favorite people! I didn’t want the day to end!

Happy styling!

XOXO

-Andrea

Spring Style

Mint Pants, Bird Print Blouse & Yellow Blazer: The Limited

                                  

                                                Yellow Floral Jacquard Print Dress: The Limited; Mint Collar Necklace: Baublebar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



TGIF! I am so ready for the weekend! This week has been a little crazy here in the Midwest (storms, storms, storms!), but today the sunshine was beaming through my classroom windows and my kiddos and I were in much better spirits!

I have been thinking about Easter, as it is fast approaching, and what I want to wear this year. The weather is so unpredictable here that it’s hard to plan an outfit because you never know if it will be 65 and sunny, or 40 degrees and raining. I put together a dressier spring look that I think would be an awesome Easter option for those who need one for a more formal day. I also think that the casual look can be dressed up more with the right shoes and jewelry, but works for those who are not attending more formal events on the holiday. Both options have a touch of color with the yellow and mint, and both could easily transition into your work wardrobe or be worn with other items in your closet. Also, I can’t lie, I need to spend my virtual dollars from The Limited, and today is the last day to do so…so, after dinner with my family tonight, this girl is going to spend the rest of her Friday evening at the mall (a.k.a.-my happy place!). I hope everyone enjoys the weekend, and more importantly, has a better idea about what they plan to wear to Easter this year!

Happy styling!

XOXO

-Andrea

Jumpsuit Obsessed

Jumpsuit with Lace Back $84.66

Racer Detail Jumpsuit $84.66





Jumpsuit with Sheer Sleeves $84.66

Lavish Alice Vintage Floral Jumpsuit $79.02

Mesh Lace Jumpsuit $127.94



Recently, I was perusing through one of my favorite blogs, What Courtney Wore (I heart her!), and saw this amaze red jumpsuit that she wore to a show during fashion week. Sadly, it is no longer available, and I have to let the idea of owning that specific one go; however, I have fallen in love with jumpsuits since seeing her in hers, and can’t wait to purchase one!

All of the jumpsuits I am loving are from ASOS, but department stores are carrying them as well, so don’t hesitate to look around on your favorite department store sites (Macy’s, Dillard’s, Nordstrom’s) for jumpsuits equally as cute.

As far what occasions I would wear a jumpsuit to, I really think the shorter ones (rompers) are a must have for summer-night outings. I might even wear one to a rehearsal dinner that I have in May. I think paired with super cute heeled sandals, like these faves of mine from Sole Society, and some great accessories (a statement necklace paired with a fun cocktail ring/a longer chain necklace with a romper that has a plunging neckline), a jumpsuit could be a great option for a semi-dressy occasion.

I hope you all are loving this trend as much as I am. I just need a tan at this point for all those cute rompers I want to purchase for the summer… J

Happy styling!
XOXO
-Andrea

Sunday Prepping

There is definitely a method to my madness. Every Sunday I prepare for my work week in terms of lesson plans, lunches, workouts, and of course, fashion! I could never stand in front of my closet and decide on an outfit at the last minute because as is, I am typically late to everything, and because I have to be to work at 7:20am, I already get up at 5:15am every morning, so this girl is not getting up an earlier!

I always do laundry on Sunday. I clean my house every Saturday morning, so I hardly feel like doing laundry on top of cleaning, and besides, doing laundry on Sunday reminds me of the outfits I have already worn the week before. Listen, I have a handful of staple items that I wear weekly; however, I like to switch things up and come up with new looks each week. I definitely wear the same pieces from week-to-week, but I love coming up with fresh new ways to sport those staple items. You may be thinking, when does she get all of this done? I can assure you that it is never easy, as I have a 21 month old daughter, but I am definitely a mom who capitalizes on nap time! And if it all doesn’t get done then, I do some things after she goes to bed. (Disclaimer: I am very ‘type A,’ so I will find time wherever I can!)

Here are the details for each look!

 

Monday:

I like to think that this an easy look that could be duplicated with any color blouse and coordinating blazer. I try to consider patterns, and I added this particular blouse to the polka dot blazer so it wouldn’t be so black and white. I love neutrals, but the pop of color really makes this outfit.

Blouse & Pencil Skinny Pants: The Limited (blouse old-similar)

Blazer: Target (clearance-similar)

Booties: DSW

Gold Leaf Bracelet & Bib Necklace: Forever 21 (old)

 

Tuesday:

I wear this sweater a lot! I have worn several different blouses under it, including a red gingham flannel button-down on Valentine’s Day, and it always looks so cute! I don’t care about matching the somewhat coral colored text to things; I like pairing it with other colors that' go.' I am not a fan of things being matchy-matchy.

Love Sweater: Old Navy (old-similar)

Polka Dot Blouse: The Limited (old-similar)

Black Pencil Skirt: Target

Boots: Dillard’s (old)

Gold Chain Bib Necklace: Forever 21 (old-similar)

Earrings: The Limited (old-similar)

 

Wednesday:

I actually have an interview this Wednesday (it’s my second-fingers crossed!), but with that said, I try to step –up my dressiness, if you will, at least one day a week. I will probably throw on my black blazer from The Limited, as temps have been all over the place-hello, Midwest, and because my classroom tends to be cold. I am obsessed with this particular statement necklace and bracelet and wear them both all the time!

Dress: The Limited

Black Suede Pumps: DSW (old-similar)

Statement Necklace & matching Bracelet: Express (similar)

 

Thursday:

This is really my idea of an easy way to dress up for work but still feel casual. This dress is more comfortable than most pants I have, and the booties are a new fave of mine (I bought them a week ago on clearance at Target)! They are SO comfortable! You could also throw a jean jacket on over this and I think it would look just as cute. I like the extra bit of orange, however, to bring out those cute seahorses on the dress!

Dress: Target (old-similar)

Cardigan: The Limited (old-similar)

Bubble Necklace: (old-but you can find them anywhere!)

Earrings: Francesca’s (old)

Booties: Target (similar)

 

Friday:

Okay, just so you know I’m not crazy; I do not wear heels to work every day! Us teachers do way too much standing, so flats are always cute and really still dress up this outfit because the pants are an ankle pant. I love the length of the blouse and since it’s black, white, and grey, I added the magenta pant to create a pop of color and spice things up once again, and to avoid the matchy-matchy look a black pant would give this outfit. BUT, if you had a cute colored flat or heel, then black pants would be amaze!

Blouse: Target (oldish-similar)

Magenta Pencil Pants: The Limited (old-similar)

Black Kenneth Cole Flats: DSW (old-similar)

Cuff Bracelet (it says Lola-my daughter’s name-& is my FAVE accessory!): Rustic Cuff

 Hopefully, I have given you some outfit inspiration for this upcoming work week! Comment with questions! Happy styling!

 

XOXO,

Andrea