How Having My Kids Helped Push Me To Start Blogging Again

I used to blog. I used to have a completely different blog web address and I blogged there throughout parts of my 20's. For a time, I was really into it, and I had an active following and engagement, and posted frequently. I was a fashion blogger back then too, but we were on a much tighter budget then, having just graduated from school, and paying back enormous student loans. My outfits weren't very trendy, and I rarely bought anything new. I honestly just posted what I wore on the daily (often times, what I wore to church on Sunday), and talked a bit about my life. And I LOVED it! I felt like I actually had a niche, and people really enjoyed seeing an authentic wardrobe and a relatable 20-something who didn't have it all together.

 As time went on, though, and social media became more and more popular (as well as influencers alike), I felt almost paralyzed to blog. How could I be good enough or what did I have to offer, now that there were influencers out there who seemed to offer everything under the sun. I thought, "they're way more beautiful than me, way more tan, have much tighter abs, and obviously all the money to buy every expensive handbag and pair of shoes they want! Plus, they're traveling to beautiful and scenic locations and every shot seems like it's in the most beautiful spot in Dubai or straight under the Eiffel Tower. What can I offer anyone, here? What am I doing?" So I didn't blog for a while. Shortly after I stopped blogging, we decided to start a family, and I had my daughter. I blogged a few times here and there, infrequently after having Lorelai, because I did still really enjoy it, but I was definitely sporadic, and I felt I really didn't have the time or energy to commit to blogging anymore, now that I had a child. Fast forward a few more years, and we had another baby, a boy this time. I now had two toddlers to care for, and vastly less time on my hands to blog. I found myself in Mom jeans and a hoodie most days, and I felt like I'd lost who I was. Being a Mother is amazingly rewarding and wonderful, but it's also exhausting and completely draining. You can lose yourself in it, especially if you're one of those people who values getting to get dolled up now and then and being dressed well. Those newborn and toddler years are not for the faint of heart. (You're basically covered in poop and spit-up and definitely not wearing your cute new suede heels! haha)

When my son was about 6 months old, and I felt like I could basically fit back into most of my clothes again, I was scrolling through instagram one night and I looked at these beautiful Fashion Blogger accounts, and I thought, "I really miss this! I want to do this again!". A few days later, I asked my husband what he thought about just going into the front yard and snapping some photos of me in a cute outfit, so I could blog again. He thought it was a great idea, and that's where this all began again. We're usually just in front of my house, or in front of my parents' house, and we don't travel to scenic spots in Dubai. I don't have the best photos in the world, and I don't edit them quite like the rest of instagram. Sometimes a blurry photo sneaks in, and sometimes, my clothes could have been ironed a little better. And that's okay with me now. What having my kids did for me was to give me a new perspective. I realized that I'm not trying to compete with the best of the best on instagram, I'm just trying to find a place to feel happy and to express my creativity in my favorite way - through fashion and the outfits I put together. I realized that if I wait for everything to be perfect, that time will never come. You just do it... use what you have and put it out there and have fun! It's hard not to feel the push of the instagram hustle, some days, but I really do try to just keep doing this for me. Because I know what it feels like to know you have to take a step back from something you love, and I really did not enjoy that. I'm here because it's honestly something I love and look forward to. I know that success may never find someone like that, and that's truly okay. All I ever wanted was to start putting outfit posts back on the internet, to feel like I was a part of something again, and I've successfully done that (and consistently) for a little over a year now. I'm proud and happy with where I am, and I know the girl I was a little over a year ago would be super excited about my blog right now! I do this for her. I do this for me.

 And that's how having my kids helped me to overcome the doubts I had about myself and start blogging again. I've just been thinking about this a lot lately, and how grateful I am to be able to do this... and I wanted to share this story with you guys. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to share my outfits with you guys and for this little space on the internet, where a few of you care to comment and share your experiences and thoughts with me as well. I'm so excited and happy to be here, and I'm so thankful to have you here! Thank you so so much for visiting my site and for reading, especially if you made it this far!! Have a wonderful week, you guys! 

Jessica

Shop My Look:

Read More

Classic Trench Coat

I just love wearing my trench coat in every season, and I truly believe they are a timeless and season-less piece to have in your wardrobe, but something about Fall always makes me want to wear it even more! Plus, I just love pairing it with pretty pink shades, as the color of a classic trench coat just goes so well with the pinks I love so much. I can't wait to style this trench with my OTK boots, as the temperatures have gotten even cooler since we shot this look. Bare legs might not work as well now. I paired this trench coat with my OTK boots and pink tones in this blog post and it's still one of my favorite looks of all time. Definitely going to do a variation of that look again this winter!

Shop Trench Coats:

You guys! I'm so excited about Halloween! The kids have a little thing to attend this weekend, and of course they'll be trick-or-treating next week. It's going to be the first Halloween that Lorelai actually knows what's going on (haha!) and Luke is just going to be adorable, even though he still doesn't understand what we're doing out in the cold dressed up like crazy people. Lorelai has been practicing saying "Trick-or-Treat!" and it's the cutest! Plus, she points out every single pumpkin she sees on a front porch, which is also the most adorable thing ever. She's really loving this Halloween thing, and I have this suspicion that dressing up and going and getting free candy from people might be her new favorite thing. haha. Well, I'm off to do some last minute touch-ups to their costumes! Wish me luck, and I hope you have a wonderful Thursday!

Jessica

Read More

Raven (Last-Minute) Halloween Costume

I mentioned last week that I was attending a Halloween party on Friday, and still hadn't chosen a costume for myself. Well, Jodie from Jodie's Touch of Style commented that I should use this skirt (which I was wearing in that post) as part of my costume. So, I have her, partly, to thank for this costume idea! I went to the store to look around, and when I saw these black wings, her comment popped into my head, and I thought, a raven would be perfect for Halloween, and also could be a pretty cute costume! Plus, I got to wear my OTK boots again! The best part! haha The costume was a hit (my husband was Jon Snow again, because he looks a lot like him, so we're gonna ride that train until GOT is not a thing anymore! So, technically, I was the three-eyed Raven from the show, but honestly, who looks cute with a third eye? We'll just say that part was implied.) But, it was a lot of fun, and I was glad to be something a little bit different this year. I can only be Khalessi so many times! You can create your own sexy raven costume with these adorable black angel wings, and I also found this black feather choker that is way cuter than mine, and totally giving me Victoria Secret Angel Vibes! I'm sure you already have a cute pair of OTK boots, but in case you don't, I've shared some fun options below.

Shop Over-The-Knee Boots:

I hope you had a fantastic weekend! We had our Halloween Costume Party, I took my sister's best friend's engagement pictures, my sister-in-law celebrated her 29th birthday, and we went to the pumpkin patch with the kids and our friends! It was a full and fun Fall weekend! I'm so so happy it's Fall, and I love packing the weekends with all the fun Fall things! Thank you so much for reading, and enjoy your day!

Jessica

Read More

Ruffles and Plaid

 I've had this top in my wardrobe for so long, but I was waiting for cooler weather to pair it with some over the knee boots like this! I'm so excited to finally be able to legitimately wear long sleeves and boots, now! It's really cool, especially in the mornings here. I wondered if these boots would be a frivolous purchase when I got them last year, but they're my most-worn shoes in the Fall and Winter, hands-down. I don't know how over-the-knee boots became a boot staple, but I'm super glad they did, and I'm obsessed with them. (As I'm sure you already know!) haha

 Shop My Look:

 

Today's post is going up on a Saturday, which is a first over here! We've been so incredibly busy, but I didn't want the week to close without a second post, so I thought, "why not post on a Saturday!?" I finally have a moment to spare, so here we are! Last night we attended our first Halloween event of the season, and I came up with my last-minute costume the day before! That is SO unlike me. I usually plan out my costumes months in advance, but I thought I was going to be the same thing I was last year, until it got closer, and I kind of wanted to do something different. I can't wait to share it with you guys in the next post or two... it's definitely different for me! But it was fun, and we had a blast getting out for a bit without the kids. And, I always, always love an excuse to get all dolled up! 

Thank you guys so so much for reading, and I hope you have a fantastic rest of your weekend!!

Jessica

Read More

Statement Sleeves and Feather Skirt

I love all the fun textures of this outfit, and I'm such a huge fan of statement sleeves! I decided to go with no jewelry for this outfit, because, honestly, I thought it had enough going on. It's definitely a statement, altogether. I'm also still having a feather moment, and I don't know when the obsession will end. When I style an outfit like this, I feel like it's one of those "favorites in the archives" for a long time (for me, anyway, not necessarily for everyone). I've had so much fun lately, styling exactly what I want to wear, and not just what everyone else is doing. I feel like I scroll through my instagram feed and see a million things that all look the same, and it can be hard not to start thinking that you need to do the same thing as everyone else. But, I'm not going to be doing that anytime soon. I really like MY unique style, and not copying everyone else. If my outfits looked the same as everyone else's, what would I bring to the table as a fashion blogger? I'm just trying to remind myself of these things, while I talk to you. haha But, that's what I've always loved about fashion blogging.... Seeing people with different body types and different perspectives and totally different tastes be uniquely themselves and have this incredible style. It's why we're here. 

Shop My Look:

 

You guys, we have a Halloween party this Friday, and I still have no idea what we're going to be!! Ugh. I'm so behind on everything right now. Life feels like it's just non-stop, lately. I wake up and fly right into something and don't stop until I go to bed at night. Anyone else feeling that, lately? So, now, I'll just add costume-planning right on into the madness... because, you know I'm not just a "take the costume off the rack" person... I'll have to add in my own spin, and it will be extra work. haha. But that's okay! It's definitely work I want to do! I hope you're having a fantastic week so far! Thank you so much for reading!!

Jessica

Read More

Red || Red

This dress would be so great to wear around the Holidays! I thought I'd share this post now, so you have plenty of time to sift through the numbers of options you might have... There are only so many holiday parties, and we have to plan these things perfectly. haha! I just love the way this dress fits, and the asymmetrical neckline. My husband actually picked up one of the ruffles on my shoulder and said "What is this?", as if I had an answer. I just looked back at him for a moment, and said "Do we even need to question these things anymore?" He was like, "Oh, you're right. My bad." haha.

Shop Holiday Dresses:

 

Speaking of the Holidays, I'm getting so excited for them all right now. It's just gotten a lot cooler here, and that has me really in the spirit for all things Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas! I'm seriously such a big fan of this time of year. I was joking with my friends about already getting my Christmas tree out, last night. (I really haven't gotten it out, but I was just thinking about Christmas, with the cool front we've had come through!) I'm one of those people who just views the holidays as one big long celebration. I'm not a "wait until after Thanksgiving to put out the Christmas decorations" person... I think they can all just kind of get along well. And, I know you guys have seen those articles on Facebook and Pinterest saying that people who decorate early for Christmas are happier. I'm certain that's true, so it's a good reason to get started early! Plus, it's a LOT of work to decorate for Christmas, so I want it up longer than just a few weeks! Okay, that was a long rant about holiday decorating that I didn't really intend to go into. But, yes, short story is: I'm excited! We're upon my favorite few months, and I'm ready! Thank you guys so so much for reading, and I hope you're having a fantastic day!

Jessica

Read More

Pink Cape Coat and Bow Pumps

I don't know what it was about this pink cape coat, but it made me think of my sweet bow pumps, and I just knew I had the wear them together. This is such a cute outfit, and such an affordable coat! I love that it ties around the waist, to accentuate your figure a little bit more than the traditional cape coat or poncho, because I definitely prefer a defined waist. I'm having so much fun transitioning my wardrobe for Fall, and incorporating my signature pink and pastel shades, but also adding some traditional Fall colors to my wardrobe. I'll always pull in these pretty, feminine hues at times, but I can't fully embrace Fall without some burgundy, dark greens, and mustard yellows (more of those are coming very soon - stay tuned!).

Shop My Look:

I hope you guys had a lovely weekend! We're honestly still getting over this cold I that complained about in my last post, but we're starting to feel better (and sleep better! Thank goodness!) Here's hoping we can feel well for a little while! I have big plans for a super healthy week, so we're going to try, anyway! I'm also starting to think about Halloween, and preparing our costumes. Do you like to dress up for Halloween? It's so fun, especially now that we have kids who are at the ages to kind of participate in the festivities! I'm excited to give it some thought and come up with some clever costumes for us. I hope you have a wonderful and productive Monday! Thanks for reading!
Jessica

Read More