Stud Love

 

I have to say I have found a new love for stud earrings. I used to think that stud earrings were kind of juvenile, as that seems to be all I wore as a young girl, but they have definitely taken on a new life and style. I love wearing them with statement necklaces, and I often find I would rather wear a great pair of studs over my chandelier or hoop earrings. When shopping for a great stud earring, I like to go with a little bit bigger of a stud so it can be seen even when my hair is down. I really think the stud should pretty much cover your entire ear lobe. Here are three pairs I wear all the time

 

 

The floral studs are really just fun to me. They are a great neutral earring (I know, I have a sickness…) and look good with really anything. I wear them a lot to work, but find they look cute with some of the outfits I go out in too.

 

The turquoise earrings are in my ears probably a little too often. I bought them and the floral studs at Francesca’s. They look awesome with other colors, and I wear them often with my turquoise bubble necklace. I really have not found an outfit that they don’t go with. They are just big enough to be seen, but aren’t obnoxious. I am currently sporting a shorter hair cut (swing bob) and I love being able to see a peek of them even when my hair is down.

 

 

 

 

The yellow jeweled dot studs are from The Limited (where else?-LOL) and like the turquoise studs, they really add a pop of color to a lot of my outfits (and you all know I love a neutral, so this gives me that pop of color I need).  They were on clearance when I bought them and I wear them with outfits that need a little something extra.

 

I hope you fall in love with stud earring all over again, as they have come a long way from your typical diamond stud. Or birthstone stud…remember those?! LOL

 

Happy styling!

XOXO-Andrea

Gone Apple Pickin'

Today, we took advantage of the fall-like weather here in the Midwest and decided to go apple picking with our daughter, Lola, at Eckert’s. She loved it! We had a great family day and I thought she was too stinking cute to not share some pictures from our outing. Hope you had an equally fun Saturday!

XOXO-Andrea

Lola’s jumper is made by Carter’s and is from Macy’s, and her footless stockings are by Genuine Kids from Target.

The Statement Necklace

In preparation for a wedding I have next weekend, I was going through my closet wondering if I should splurge on a new dress, or just wear something I have. I have a great black dress that I bought at Loft a few years back during their after Christmas sale, and have only worn it once. In thinking about how I would accessorize this dress, I came to the conclusion that I need a new statement necklace. There are so many styles of statement necklaces in numerous colors, etc., and I really want to purchase something that I can wear again, and that isn’t so neutral (To know me is to know I love a neutral! Gold, silver…well, that’s about it-LOL). While surfing the web, I found a few that I love and that I could definitely wear with other outfits. I also wanted to branch out and get one with some color, as most of my necklaces, again, are pretty neutral and tend to be gold or silver, with some embellishments. In addition to the necklace, you always want to go pretty simple with your earring choice. The statement necklace is called that for a reason: It’s the star of your jewelry show, so-to-speak, so I often wear stud earrings when I have a statement necklace on. I love stud earrings. Something about their simplicity has me wanting to buy a pair every time I shop. (I will share some of my favorite stud earrings in another post…coming soon!”) Here are a few statement necklaces I found in different color combinations. Visit Simple Addiction and Francesca’s to find these statement necklaces and many more!

Top Right: Cottonwood Statement Necklace from Francesca's
Middle: Sunburst Statement Necklace from Simple Addiction
Bottom Right: Kiss Me Mint Statement Necklace from Simple Addiction

 

Happy Shopping!

XOXO-Andrea

Fall Must Haves Exclusively From The Limited

 

The Limited is one of my favorite stores. The Limited also loves teachers, so it’s a win-win situation for me. Recently, while taking advantage of the BOGO pants sale (this sale has since ended) I received $50 in virtual dollars, and then was emailed the coupons pictured above the next day-BONUS! I always check The Limited’s website before I head into the store when I have such amazing coupons. I decided to plan out what I might purchase with the coupons, and decided to put together a list of my top picks for fall.

50% off a Jacket: The quilted faux leather jacket is my new obsession! I have pinned a lot in the way of mixing in leather with pattern button-downs and jeans, and I am in love with the look and style of this jacket. I am definitely going to purchase this with my coupon.

BOGO off Accessories: I recently got rid of most purses that I own, with the exception of some timeless, classic handbags I have, and really need a new purse that isn’t black. The camel colored tote is perfect! I think as far as style goes, it looks very high-end, and I love that it’s big enough for me to take and use as a diaper bag, too!

The leopard scarf would have to be my pick for my FREE accessory. To know me is to know I love a good scarf, and I do not have a leopard one at the moment, and see so many cute pins that feature one, so I have to have this one. And the best part is it will be FREE! J 

50% off a Top: The camel wrap shirt is something I feel would be a great top for me to pair with skinny jeans in a dark wash and riding boots: my favorite fall look. I always read reviews and this top has great reviews that promise that it is both beautiful and flattering, flattering being a word I often look for when reading a review on any piece of clothing. There are other colors available, but I am a neutral girl at heart. Greys, blacks, and browns are what my eye is often drawn to. I need to branch out, but I like what I like. J Besides, add a bright accessory like a statement necklace in a bold color, and there’s your pop of color. See, I can branch out. J

50% off a Sweater: Do you see a pattern? The camel and grey sweater is a new arrival and also comes in other color combinations (I might branch out and get the purple) but again, I love the camel and grey combo. Two neutrals in one garment? I might die! LOL I will definitely be picking up this piece as well.

If you aren’t an avid Limited shopper, I hope this has you wanting to go in the store and browse around. You cannot beat their coupons! I am forever talking to co-workers and friends about pieces that I own and where I got them, and most of us agree that The Limited is one of our go-to stores. I hope it becomes one of yours, too!

Happy shopping! XOXO

-Andrea

Bachelorette Saturday

The day has finally come! Happy bachelorette party day to the future Mrs. Bruce! I cannot wait to celebrate with her! And how adorable are the shirts one of her bridesmaid made for all of us ladies? If there is one thing I love, it's a custom t-shirt! I hope tonight is wild and fun and everything you hoped for, Angela!


Me & my sister with the bride-to-be at her shower

 







Lets Call it a Day...

After many changes, I think I am almost done designing my blog. Almost...The header is still just, well, blah, but I am hoping to take care of that soon enough. Additionally, I am cleaning things up as far as what I plan to blog about. I think at first I had too many ideas and I wanted to incorporate every aspect of my life, but what it really boils down to is styling. I love clothes. I love buying clothes, I love helping others put together outfits, and I just love changing up my look and keeping with the trends. I am also very obsessed with dressing my daughter, so I left my Little Ones tab up and will blog about children's fashion as well. With that said, my blog is going to focus mainly on fashion, along with products (mostly beauty products) that I love and want others to know about. Also, as I get better at this blogging stuff, I am hoping to post some tutorials (I'm no expert) about hair and make-up, and even styling. So, if any of these topics interest you, please follow me! I get excited if even one person looks at my blog-LOL And just one more note...I plan to give shout outs, post pics of my daughter and my husband and I, and incorporate different events as they happen in our lives, so look for us under the home tab. I hope you enjoy my blog!

XOXO-

Andrea

Happy Birthday, Erika Lauren!

If you're lucky enough in life to have a sister, then you know how incredible that bond can be. My sister, Erika, and I have the most amazing relationship, and I'm so blessed to have her in my life. She is my best friend, hands down, and someone who I have always looked up to. Love you, sissy! Happy 32nd birthday! XOXO

 

What to Wear Postpartum

Polka Dot Tie Top: The Limited $49.90

Navy Peasant Top: The Limited $49.95

Teal Blouse: Old Navy $29.94

Faux Leather Shoulder Blouse: The Limited $49.90

White Peasant Top: Old Navy $29.94



Dark Stretch Denim: The Limited $74.90

By request, I am offering up some ideas as to what a woman can wear after she's just had a baby, or is a few weeks, months, and even years out. My sister (who looks fabulous, by the way) asked me to blog about postpartum fashion, so here are some items I felt were good to have for those mama's who have just given birth and are not quite back to their old selves yet. And just as a side note, it takes time to get back to what you once were. I am not ashamed to say it took me an entire year and some change to get back to where I feel comfortable. Don't stress! There are ways to dress your new body (or body for the time being) that are still cute, fun and classy, allowing you to focus on what's really important: your new baby! So here's what I wore out and to work for at least 3-4 months while I got back to feeling a bit more comfortable in my skin. (In case you're wondering, I went back to work 8 weeks after giving birth and was up one size in both tops and pants. I feel like the items listed below were very flatterning early on, and even now, 14 months postpartum.)

 

The Tops: I tried on several tops while shopping for some back-to-work clothes. I found the looser the better, but really, I was loving tops that had an elastic bottom and sort of bloused out a bit to hide that postpartum pooch. They are also avaliable in just about every store imaginable, so it's easy to find a few in any price range. I bought a few from The Limited on clearance, and some from Old Navy and Target. You may have to go up a size, but that won't matter because the style will be flattering-I promise! What I love about the elastic waist, and even those waist bands that don't stretch, it that the extra band creates a waist that takes the eye away from the belly; most women's most dreaded body part postpartum. I lived in shirts like this when I went out and even wore them to work on a regular basis. Additionally, any kind of lose peasant top that you can put a cami under (such as the white or teal one from Old Navy) is a great way to mask a postpartum pooch as well. Add a chunky neclace or a scarf to accesorize and you will be good to go.

The Pants: As far as work pants/slacks go, I really just went up a size and purchased three new pairs in brown, black and grey. I just stuck to the staple colors that I knew would work with most tops, new or old, that I had in my closet. Jean-wise, I tended to lean more towards a skinny jean with lots of stretch! I am taller (5'8) and my legs didn't look so bad in a skinny jean, so I purchased a new pair from The Limited and wore them ALL THE TIME. I still love them, but at this point they're a little too big. They have so much give though, so I highly recommed finding a pair of strech jeans, skinny or just a regular fit, that you splurge a little on (price-wise) to get that quality and comfort. And the darker, the better! A dark wash and even a black pair of skinnys or jeggings are a great postpartum investment.

(Work pants mentioned above were purchased at The Limited in the Drew fit and Exact Stretch.)

Getting A Tad More Organized

Accordion Hot Pink Organizer $1.00

If you are anything like me, then your purse is always full of receipts! I have more and more now that I am a mom, and I always leave them hanging around in my wallet, which can become a major pain once I open my wallet at the store and they all come falling out. I always browse the dollar bin at Target, and a few weeks back I talked my sister into getting one of these cute and nifty little organizers from the dollar bin at Target. Needless to say, I was at Target on Saturday and bought one for myself. I am not as good as my sister at couponing, but I will definitely try a little harder now that I am a bit more organized. If you hate coupons, you could always just use it for receipts, recipes, grocery lists, or whatever you like. I am going to try and use more coupons because every time I check-out at Target, a million seem to print out! LOL Maybe that's a sign...:) If you're finding my tabs hard to read in the picture, here's what they are:

-Food

-Baby

-Home

-Beauty

-Target (Yes, I have a Target tab:))

-Receipts

 

 Happy organizing!!

XOXO,

Andrea