SOCIAL MEDIA

2.28.2018

Tulle Skirt Replay







Shop My Look: 
Skirt: similar | Heels: Asos (similar here) | Top: similar | Bag: Kate Spade | Hair bow: handmade by me, similar here 

I wore this tulle skirt for a pre-Valentine's post featuring Ross, about a month ago. (You can view that post here.) But those photos were shot with my phone, plus I'm embracing Ross in most of the pictures, so I felt like you needed a second chance to really see this skirt. It's way more full and fantastic than I think it came across in those photos. This time, I chose to pair it with my new pink bow pumps, and a classic black turtleneck. I added a black velvet ribbon to my low-ponytail to really play up the ballerina vibes. I'm loving this look even more than the first! And, here I thought a tulle skirt might not be versatile. haha 

You guys... The tree behind me in some of these photos is blooming the most beautiful white flowers, already. It's Spring, regardless of the date on the calendar. I can't believe the trees and flowers are already in bloom, but I'm soaking it all in. It reminds me of my days in college, studying and walking to classes near tons of beautifully blooming cherry blossom trees. I know that in just a few short weeks, those pretty flowers will have wilted away, and we'll be wishing for them again. But that's okay. I'm busy planning Easter outfits, and dreaming of pool-days, and bar-b-ques, and the sun glistening on my skin. Swimsuit and swimsuit cover reviews are surely in order, soon, am I right?! 
Thanks so much for visiting my blog, and for reading! 
Jessica

2.26.2018

Take A Bow






Shop My Look:
 Top: River Island (also here) | Skirt: similar | Heels: Steve Madden (very similar) | Earrings: here

 When I saw this top, I knew I was buying it. Even though it's over-the-top extravagant for my every-day life, I had to have this in my closet. haha When Ross saw it, he said, "That's the biggest bow I've ever seen." Just a sign it was meant to be! And, when it arrived, and matched this skirt that I already had, and these red earrings perfectly, it was just another sign of a perfect purchase. This was such a fun statement piece to style, and I'm becoming more and more obsessed with statement pieces like this. It's become a bit of a problem, actually, because normal stores can't quite satisfy my need to be extra. I'm so glad I'm able to shop online and basically browse the whole internet for the perfect pieces to add to my collection. Speaking of online shopping, I've ordered a few new things for Spring that I absolutely cannot wait to receive so I can style them and share with you! That'll likely be next week. 

I hope you had a lovely weekend! We had the most beautiful weather Saturday, and had so much fun playing with the kids, and then grilling out with friends. Our kids are at the best ages right now, and have started to interact with each other, and play together more. It's seriously the cutest, and I'm thinking Ross and I are living the best years of our lives, right now. These sweet babies fill our home with so much love and laughter, and even though it's challenging and stressful, sometimes, the good far outweighs the bad, and I'm so grateful for these two sweet children.
Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope your Monday is wonderful! 
Jessica




2.23.2018

Spring Dreams







Shop My Look: 
Skirt: similar | Top: very similar here (in three different prints!) | Bag: Kate Spade | Trench Coat: Express (similar here) | Earrings: New York and Co. | Heels: Steve Madden

 This look is going to be so great this Spring! This top is the most fun! As you know, I'm always down for a giant bow, pretty much anywhere on my clothes, so I knew I had to have this top. (I also got a very similar one in a peachy-pink color recently, I'm sure you'll see that soon!) I was inspired to pull out my trench coat for this look, but I also wanted to show off the pretty sleeves on this top, so I thought I'd show both with and without the coat. I got this trench coat a few years ago, when I first got pregnant with my son, and have only worn it a handful of times, due to being pregnant. I'm so excited to be able to wear it this Spring (and that I got such a classic coat for myself, way back then. I'm going to be able to wear it well beyond any trendy item I might have purchased.). Glad I was thinking ahead and purchased this! If you don't have a trench coat, I totally suggest getting yourself one that's well-made, and well-fitted. You really can't go wrong.

Happy Friday, everyone! We made it to the weekend! I'm so excited, because my sister and I are shooting new content today, and it's supposed to be a really nice day, out. So, after we shoot, I plan to play outside with the kids all day! So, the title of this post being, "Spring Dreams" kind of goes right along with my plans for the day! We've had unseasonably warm weather, lately (as you can tell from my recent outfit posts), and I'm absolutely loving it! Not sure if I'll have to pull out the coats and boots a few more times, before Spring actually arrives, but for the moment, I'm enjoying pretending it's already here. 
Thanks for stopping by, and have a fantastic weekend! 
Jessica

2.21.2018

Yellow Lace





Shop My Look: 
Top: similar | Jeans: Lucky Brand | Heels: very similar | Sunglasses: Sonix | Earrings: New York and Co. | Bag: Kate Spade

For some reason, these earrings photographed a lot more red than they look in person. They're actually closer to the color of my shoes, in real life. (You can see them here, in different lighting against a black top, to see what I mean.) But, either way, they're totally fun and enormous! But still pretty lightweight for how large they are. Definitely a fun piece to have in your wardrobe, that can transform the look of basically any outfit with just one accessory. I like to pair my statement pieces with other statement pieces. haha! Just kidding... Kind of. I don't always do that, but it seems every time I wear these earrings, that's how I'm pairing them. 

I found this top at Marshall's last Fall for such a steal! I love that place, but the only downfall is that there's usually just one or two of anything they may carry, and I can't link back to it for you. 
You can shop similar lace and organza tops here. I'm so obsessed with this one. I wish I had managed to snag this one in blue, for the price I paid for the one I'm wearing here. If you have a Marshall's, TJ Maxx (sometimes called TK Maxx), or Ross store near you, I recommend browsing around sometime. Honestly, the chances are high you might not find anything great, but I've been lucky lately, and gotten some really amazing, high-end pieces for incredible prices. 
Wow, I didn't mean to go off on such a long a tangent about where I shop. haha! But, I guess that's kind of why we're here, actually! 
Thanks for stopping by today, and I hope you found a little inspiration, for either shopping or re-wearing your current pieces. 
I hope the rest of your day is wonderful! Thanks for reading!
Jessica

2.19.2018

Bowed Over









Shop My Look: 
Top: CeCe by Cynthia Steffe | Jeans: Denizen | Earrings: Sugarfix by Baublebar | Bag: Kate Spade | Heels: Asos

The love I have for this top is kind of on a ridiculous level. This whole outfit, really... but just look at the flat-out adorableness of this top! I love the color, the one shoulder detail, the slit in the sleeve, and the sweet and not-so-subtle bow on the shoulder.  It was made for me! And, honestly, so were these heels. Sometimes, I find things on sale at Asos, and the price is unbelievable. That's definitely the case for these cute bow pumps. But they're very low in stock, and they don't have many sizes left, so I'm terribly sorry if, by the time you click, they're all sold out! 

I hope you're having a lovely Monday! Ross has the day off work, so we're spending time together, as a family. So fun! I love when Ross has time off from work, because he gets to relax, but also because he gets to help me out with the kids! haha It's double the fun. 
Thanks so much for stopping by, and for reading! 
Jessica









2.17.2018

Happy First Birthday, Luke!














I like to tell Luke that he's the surprise of my life! haha We didn't know he was coming, but we couldn't be more grateful that he's here! I don't know why both my kids had to be born within the same week in February (two years apart, but they almost shared a birthday!) It made for a very emotional week for this Momma... one turning three, and the other turning one!
Happy Birthday to my son! We love you baby boy!

2.14.2018

Pink Lace Dress + Finding Your Personal Style






Shop My Look: 
Dress: Boohoo | Bag: Kate Spade | Heels: Madden Girl | Earrings: New York and Co

There's a term used to describe your instagram "look", called your "aesthetic", that the young, cool people use, these days. So, naturally, as I've started blogging and caring more about my instagram, I care more about my instagram aesthetic. I want my feed to look pretty, pleasing to the eye, well thought out, and just give off the vibe and look that I want to portray through my outfit photos. So, I asked my husband what my aesthetic was (to be clear, I know what my aesthetic is, but I wanted to see what someone who doesn't care so much about fashion thought). When he responded with, "Blush, lace, nude, and bows.", I knew I had struck the right balance. haha

My aesthetic hasn't always been so clear. When I was younger, I tried my hand at blogging, but my outfits were kind of all over the place, and didn't really feel cohesive. This isn't to say that you have to wear only one color for the rest of your life, for the sake of your instagram feed and blog posts. That's definitely not true. But I've honed in on the things that make my look uniquely mine. And I do really like pink! So you'll see a lot of blush and light pink in my feed. But when I bring in other colors, you'll notice the outfit still feels feminine and well put-togehter, and the picture is clear and clean.

So, how do you find your personal style so that you can then create a cohesive "aesthetic"?

1. Find out what you're naturally drawn to. 
I looked at my pinterest boards and favorite instagram accounts, and I saw a lot of lace, embellishments, tulle, and organza. Then, I realized that aside from the lace part, I didn't really have a lot of those other things in my wardrobe. So, I started to collect pieces like that. I didn't have to suddenly start spending tons of money for my style to evolve into something I found more pretty.. it just naturally changed once I started to make purchases based on those ideas. This leads me to my next point:

2. Keep a "list" of purchases you'd like to make. 
You don't have to actually write out a list (though, I do keep a typed list on my phone. It helps me to remain focused). But keep some type of list, either in your head, or on your phone, of the types of items you'd like to use in your wardrobe. If you keep being stumped by an outfit because you'd really like a good quality nude handbag in your photos, well, a nice, neutral handbag might need to go on the list! Then, when you're out shopping, you'll be less tempted to purchase a trendy necklace, because you'll have the focus of purchasing the handbag. 

3. Remain true to your style and what you enjoy wearing.
There are trends that I LOVE. The statement earrings and tassel earrings trend is one, that I can think of right now, that I'm just thoroughly enjoying. I cannot get enough of that trend! But, there are trends that I definitely don't love, and they also don't fit my feminine aesthetic. So, I don't do those trends. And, I think that's a really important piece of the puzzle that creates an overall cohesive aesthetic. You don't have to try every trend. Just try the ones you love, and then choose classic wardrobe staples that fit your style, to wear along with those trends you love. 

I hope some of these are helpful, if you're currently in the process of more clearly defining your personal style. I think having a unique and personal style is such a beautiful and important thing. 
I also hope you're having a wonderful Wednesday! 
Happy Valentine's Day! Thanks so much for reading! 
Jessica