the daily be

see: style challenge, epilogue

2012-02-13T20:34:00.001-06:00

remember when i did that blogger style challenge series for abc family's television show, jane by design? well, i'm pretty sure i didn't win (though i'm not sure they've actually announced the winner yet...) but everyone who participated had the chance to ask one of the cast members a question. i was paired up with erica dasher who plays the title role of jane quimby. i had read that erica served as a producer on a documentary so i asked her about her interest there. specifically, whether she planned to focus more on the production side of the industry or if her passion was for acting.

here is her response...

it's pretty cool to hear directly from her! we've been watching the show since it premiered and have enjoyed the fun fashions and light-hearted story lines.

in case you missed the style challenges, here they are again!

no animals were harmed in the making of this outfit.

2012-02-08T14:24:00.000-06:00

this is what i was wearing during our awkward target trip. (you know, the one where piper got all peta on my ass?)

when we ~~escaped~~ got back into the car we had a little discussion about the word "faux".

"you know how your stuffed animals are soft & furry like real animals?"

"yes."

"but they're not real animals?"

"yes."

"well that's like momma's vest. it's soft and fuzzy and feels like a real animal, but it's just pretend."

"oh."

good. glad we had this conversation.

vest: bcbg, thrifted

shirt: old navy, $16

top necklace: etsy, christmas gift from my momma

bottom necklace: patina, gift from e.e.

cords: younkers, $17

shoes: vintage, $35

do: surviving awkward target moments.

2012-02-07T22:12:00.004-06:00

today we made a target run and it was exceptionally awkward.
as follows...

1. getting distracted by a 70% off clearance sign and literally running my cart into someone. like, an actual person. sadly, no amount of smiling, rambling, or cuteness from my kids could appease the victim.

(a lawsuit may be in the works. let me know if you'd like to donate to my plight.

2. feeling like hot stuff (cause, duh, i showered today) only to discover that i looked a lot more like a hot mess. bummer.

3. trying on clothes in the fitting room and the person in the room next to me is listening to music on their phone. out loud. for everyone in the fitting room to hear. i have nothing against nicki minaj, but can you seriously not try on clothes without a freaking soundtrack?

(okay, i may or may not have danced a little bit, but i was mostly annoyed.)

4. having a britney spears "imnotagirlnotyetawoman" moment in the fitting room when i realized i'm too big to fit into juniors' pants but not big enough to wear ladies' pants. not really sure where to go from here. maybe the gap...

5. thinking i'd spend about $50 and spending 3 times that. (TARGET!WHYMUSTYOUTORTUREME?!)

6. overhearing piper tell the person behind us in the checkout line,

"my mommy killed an animal so she could make that vest."

talking about the faux fur vest i was wearing. #mortified.

7. having my first target man (opposed to target lady) at check-out. after discussing 13 out of 17 products i was purchasing, he proceeded to tell me that he knew my driver's license was an old one "because pretty smiles like that aren't allowed on the new ones." seriously?! unless you're my grandpa's age that's not ok. (however, in his defense: apparently now in iowa, you're not allowed to smile when you get your driver's license picture taken. for real.)

8. realizing, as i finally left the store, that my fly had been down the entire time. cherry on top.

any good target moments for me?

wear:

2012-02-06T14:55:00.000-06:00

on a dreary day i occasionally try to counteract the grey skies and bland surroundings with ridiculously bright clothing.*

friday was one of those days.

i recently used some store credit to buy these brilliant oxfords and it seemed like a good day to break them in.

i was hoping that staring down at these bright pink beauties might make everything a little bit better and a little bit brighter.

not sure that actually worked but they're still pretty cute.

sweater vest: j.crew, $15

shirt: gap, $6

jeans: joe's, thrifted $25

belt: forever21, $3

oxfords: gap, store credit

watch: target, $20

bracelet: forever 21, $4

*i'm having blog de ja vu, remember this post?

wear: muted.

2012-02-03T10:02:00.001-06:00

i've been in a bit of a daze this week. my mind is preoccupied with the grief of our friends. i don't mean to bring it up all the time, but it's very fresh and i can't help but constantly think about what this family is experiencing.

last night i dreamt about the visitation (which is tonight). it was emotional and awful, but also good for some reason. there were lots of peonies, which was nice; but also a boy dressed in head-to-toe neon green, which was odd.

anyway, i've been distracted. red lights and frozen pizza beware, you will likely be run and burned, respectively. also, if you and i are having a conversation, it's possible that i'm not really listening. sorry.

sweater: gap

scarf: target

gray henley (under sweater): forever 21

pants: heritage

flats: steve madden (super old)

*i just want to be clear that i am not comparing my experience to what the family is going through. i hope that can go without saying, but i don't want anyone to misinterpret my reasons for writing about this. my sadness is nothing to the immeasurable grief they are experiencing. it's compassion and empathy for my friends that are the main source of my distraction. also, trying to make light of this dark time is just...coping. it's either laughter or tears. and sometimes both.

wear: copying bee.

2012-02-02T07:59:00.001-06:00

hey! do you guys read atlantic pacific?

or...rather, look at atlantic pacific? she's short on words but not on style.

(was that cheesy? that was cheesy. i'm sorry.)

anyway, i love checking out her blog and, though it's unlikely i'll ever afford the type of clothes she wears, i can still draw inspiration from her and try to incorporate some of her style in my own way.

when i saw this outfit i immediately pinned it to my "wear that" board. (are you guys on pinterest, yet?) i knew i had the basic components of this outfit, but i had to make mine iowa-friendly. we have had unseasonably warm weather, but i think bare legs (though cuter) might have been pushing it a bit.

also, converse that aren't ten years old might be cuter, too.

but hey, these babies have stood the test of time & i'm not giving up on them yet!

jacket: heritage

dress: french connection / von maur

shirt: banana republic

tights: target ?

shoes: converse

do: lately...

2012-02-01T11:54:00.001-06:00

the girls spent the weekend with their grandparents which was so nice & much-appreciated. we took full advantage of it, spending lots of time together and with friends.

and sleeping in late, obvs.

as i mentioned before, we had dinner together & drinks with friends on friday...

saturday morning mr.a asked me one of my favorite questions in the world:
"want to go to brunch?"
(second only to: "want to go on a shopping spree?")

we met miss k and mr.t at americana and a little later, our friends boo boo and sully joined us as well. (i guess we're nickname type of people?) anyway, none of us had any plans for the day, so we stayed there laughing and talking and eating for hours. literally. i think we were there from 11-3. i guess we got our money's worth!

after we had eaten enough to count for breakfast and lunch, katie and i went to the hill vintage trunk show and the boys went home to drink fancy beer and take naps.

on sunday, we went to church, made a brief appearance on the local news (where i discovered how manly my voice is) and had lunch at tartine.

later on i went to visit my friend joseph and his family. it was heart-breaking and awful to be in their home under those circumstances, but it was also very therapeutic to be together with our closest friends. we talked, we laughed, and we cried... a lot. we drank wine, we read from the limerick book and we took a ride through the neighborhood on jerry's vintage fire truck, blaring the siren and cheering the whole way.

monday was gorgeous here and we spent some time reading books at mars cafe with my sister.

and we had a little try-on session with some warby parker glasses...

which one is your favorite?

after that, the girls and i went on a little walk and got to visit my friend tony at his recording studio, sonic factory studios. there was a guy in there recording so it was fun to see all the behind-the-scenes stuff!

anyway, that's what we've been up to lately!

wear: avril?

2012-01-30T21:11:00.000-06:00

the other night we went to dinner at tally's (still one of our local favorites) and afterward, met up with some friends for moscow mules at the alpine. i was wearing a skirt that was a liiiiiittle bit tight for my taste so i tried to tone it down by pairing it with my chuck taylors. i have to admit, it wasn't the type of outfit i normally wear, but my girlfriends (and gayfriends) said they liked it so i didn't feel too self conscious. until...

"heeeeey, avril!"

"avril?"

"yeah! you look like avril lavigne!"

"oh. thanksalot."

"no! it's a good thing!"

"ha, rrrriiiiiight."

it didn't really bother me, but you can be sure i won't be wearing this outfit again.

jacket: b.b. dakota / von maur

hoodie: j.crew factory

t-shirt: j.crew / thrifted

skirt: forever 21

tights: target

sneaks: converse

love: a loss.

2012-01-25T20:12:00.004-06:00

this morning, one of my dearest friends lost his father.
we are all heart-broken and shocked. his dad was young and had recently made the decision to retire by mid-summer. over the past few months he had taken a few vacations with his wife to their favorite places including st. barth's, where he ultimately passed away.

jerry wanek was one of the hardest workers i have known and did it all out of love for his family. he had a successful career as a lawyer and generally worked eighty hours a week because he was in constant demand. he was the best.

jerry welcomed anyone into his home and was a truly generous host. but, if you were in his home, drinking his wine, you better be prepared to listen to him talk! jerry was intelligent and opinionated. i'll never forget the very first time i met him: he told me he hated tattoos and would pay for me to get mine removed. ha, ha, clearly we never reached an agreement on that one.

jerry loved my girls and they loved him. his wife, carolyn, affectionately called him "daddy" so my girls dubbed him "big daddy" to avoid confusion with their own daddy. you should have seen what a softie he became whenever they were around. (somewhere there is a picture of jerry wearing minnie mouse ears with one of the girls on his lap...) he tried to teach them french, but i think the only word they mastered was "quelquefois," a favorite of jerry's. many nights, when we'd go out for an evening swim, we'd come back in to find the girls curled up in jerry's lap watching cartoons.

jerry and quinn, halloween '09

when seth was in basic training and then deployed, we spent a lot of nights in their spare bedroom. we would be invited for dinner or an afternoon at the pool and end up staying all evening. i can picture him sitting at the head of the table in the morning, reading the newspaper and drinking his coffee while carolyn made him breakfast. (usually an omelet, in my memory.) in fact, we spent the night before seth left for six months of training at the wanek's house. we toasted with templeton rye and jerry promised to have a bottle waiting for him when he returned. in the morning, after seth had left, i can picture myself crying in their kitchen while jerry and carolyn assured me that everything would be fine. jerry wasn't a mushy guy by any means, but he had his softer moments. he used to joke that anytime i'd had a bad day, he'd get a bill in the mail; evidence of carolyn having taken me out for lunch and a good cry.

i remember one night jerry reading from this ridiculous book of old limericks; all of us sitting around in tears from laughing so hard. i remember him shhhhushing us as we sat through video after video of sophie's musical performances. he was so proud of his family. i remember the night (or many nights) when he made us watch his favorite movie (whose name escapes me); continuing to turn up the volume until we finally stopped talking and actually watched along with him. i can picture long discussions on wine and food and scuba-diving--just a few of his passions. and i remember when our local cable provider switched the number for the food network channel, jerry made sure i knew what the new one was.

these little things about jerry, they're just a few silly memories that make me smile when i think of him. his wife and children; carolyn, joseph, topher and sophie, have years of stories with more impact and greater depth. my heart aches for them as i try to imagine what today is like, what tomorrow will be like, and every day after that. i know terrible tragedies occur every day, all over the world. but, today in des moines, iowa, a 16 year-old girl found out she will live the rest of her life without her daddy.

will you pray for her tonight?

topher, sophie, joseph, carolyn and jerry wanek

love: free smiles.

2012-01-24T15:03:00.000-06:00

i'm having a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day.

it involves some extremely naughty children, a gas leak in my home, an iPhone & computer update gone wrong, and a sore throat that refuses to leave.

i was trying to write a post about how quinn got her first hair-cut last week and transitioned to a "big girl" bed (i know!); but my brain is fried and the best i can do is post some really sweet pictures of her and hope they make you smile as much as they make me smile.

look at that little girl.
how can you not smile when you see her? as "trying" as she has been lately, she brings me so much joy every day. makes all those frustrating things in life (like technology and gas leaks) seem pretty insignificant.

wear: this one's for jessica.

2012-01-20T19:25:00.000-06:00

i've been a little under the weather for the past day or so. i felt it coming and tried to chase it away with extra cups of tea and unabashed afternoon naps. unfortunately today i woke up and felt it: officially sick.

i lounged around most of the day, catching up on e-mails and other time-sucking endeavors. (coughfacebookcough!) anyway, my friend jessica hinted that i should probably use my sick day to do a little b-log.

so here's an outfit post. short & sweet. for jess.

you may have noticed these pants get a lot of wear. you're right. they do.

and no, i don't wash them as often as i wear them.

i have slightly better hygiene than a hippie.

vest: gap

henley: alternative apparel (men's)

scarf: target

pants*: heritage

flats: gap

*someone asked on the last wear post if these pants are brown or more red. my ingenious answer? "they're reddish-brown." yes i did graduate from high school, thankyouverymuch.

do: birthday bowl.

2012-01-18T17:14:00.000-06:00

i mentioned that last week we celebrated mr.a's birthday.

he is now officially closer to 30 than i am. ha!

we went out for pizza and bowling! it was really fun. i hadn't been bowling in years (and it showed), but we all had a blast.

joey was on a bender that night. haha, just kidding. he had to work while we all bowled.

instead of a birthday cake we classy'ed it up with powdered donuts.

it was a pretty fun party. piper loved it so much i'm sure we'll be going back for her next* birthday.

*next meaning fifth birthday! FIFTH! tears, sobs, weeps.

wear.

2012-01-17T17:16:00.000-06:00

i wore this basic outfit two days in a row.

howeeeeeever, the first day i only wore it for like, an hour or two. so that doesn't really count.

on the second day i thought, if i like this outfit enough to wear it twice, i should probably take a picture of it. but, my battery was about to die, the lighting was bad, and when i went outside for better lighting, my dog jumped up on me getting mud all over me. (which resulted in a four-letter word or two. none of which included, "good.")

so...this is the only picture i snagged on day two of this outfit...

vest: gap // shirt: banana republic // belt: j.crew // necklace: gift // pants: heritage / booties: dsw

think.

2012-01-16T11:34:00.001-06:00

if i am ever quiet online,

you'll know i'm being loud somewhere else.

-rachel thurston

i took an unexpected but necessary blogging break last week.

when i think about last monday i can't believe it was only seven days ago. in those seven days we had a birthday party for mr.a, hosted my brother for a couple days, went to the science center, had our first house-showing, went to a friends' show at the social club, went to a comedy show at the funny bone, and went to my sister's show at the stoner theater. we had lunch with friends, dinner with friends and a bunkin' party with friends.*

clearly there is no shortage of things to blog about. last week i started a new year's, goal-oriented post (in case you didn't read enough resolutions from every other blogger) when i realized i had never even blogged about christmas! (it was wonderful, by the way.) it can be hard to capture something that happened weeks ago when your mind is flooded with the thoughts, emotions and activities of today.

all of this to say:

i'm still here.

i hope you are, too.

*okay, the bunkin' party didn't really happen. in fact, i had never even heard of a "bunkin''' party until thursday, but apparently they're all the rage in arkansas. i'm guessing you could probably look it up on wikipedia. or the southern dictionary.

love.

2012-01-11T18:44:00.002-06:00

my brother is here from california.

today we took the girls to mars cafe and the science center. we had a lot of fun.

by the time we got home, the girls were wild and cranky and we were all sleepy.

i was trying to keep them entertained and behaved while switching loads of laundry and whipping up a quick dinner before mr.a came home from work. in other words--it was chaotic.

i got the girls fed and scurried them downstairs for a little "play away" time.

after they were out of sight (obviously not out of mind) i took a deep breath.

or maybe seven.

all the while, my brother was in the room, doing some work on his laptop and i was aware of the fact that we were likely a huge distraction.

i went into the other room to put the laundry away when my brother called in,

"hey beth...?

(he's the only one who calls me beth. you're not allowed to.)

you're a good mom."

and that was the best thing that happened to me today.

wear: hot messy-ish.

2012-01-07T17:49:00.001-06:00

today the girls and i went down to east village to have a quick lunch with joey and walk around a little bit. it was another beautiful, january day (saywhaaa?!) and it was so nice to be outside.

we ate at lucca, did some browsing at domestica and got coffee at the village bean. joey had to be back at work so we brought him some juice and when we walked into the salon, the place was packed! i was maneuvering the stroller and saying hi to all our friends in there when a sweet reader named tonya, came up and said hello! we had actually met before (i can't remember where! refresh my memory, tonya?) and i knew she was familiar to me but it took me by surprise and i'm pretty sure i rambled her ear off like an idiot.
(and this is why i'm a better blogger than talker--editing!)
after we left the salon and walked back to the car, i about died when i caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror--hair all wild, mascara all over my eyes, i was a mess. i'm just thankful i was actually wearing clothes. i had honestly considered breaking all my own rules and going down there in a sweatshirt and yoga pants. some style blogger i am! anyway, if you know tonya, she'll probably tell you she saw me lookin' all disheveled and that my blog is a total sham. ha. it really was so nice to see you again, tonya; you let me know when you want to plan outfits for that conference!

flannel: j.crew/crewcuts

t-shirt: f21

jeans: paige

boots: steve madden

socks: stolen from my dad
necklace: stella & dot

think:

2012-01-06T10:26:00.000-06:00

hey y'all. sorry posts have been a little sporadic* this week. i feel like life has been a rat-race for about three months now! i assumed once the holidays were over, things would slow down a little, but so far that has not been the case. plus, i fee like i never know what day it is! clearly evidenced by this conversation below with my friend, emily...

(her son is in piper's class at school.)

FAIL.

i feel like i need three days with nothing to do so i can just get my life back in order! it feels like our house has been a mess since christmas and the lack of schedule from christmas break just threw everything off. well, let's be honest: this is coming from the girl who also complains about our lack of schedule when school is in session--obviously i just need some organization in my life.

it's interesting to recognize the need for something that is just completely separate from your personality. the desire to have a strictly scheduled life does not come natural to me. i don't want to be attached to my datebook or to constantly be ticking off a list of "things to do." it even makes my blood pressure rise to assign meals to a certain day. (if i make a meal plan it always includes lots of "maybes," question marks, and options...just in case.) i guess i just don't want to live my life according to what a list tells me i have to get done.

but when something is broke, you fix it. and i think a little organization and list-making just might be the fix-it for me this year.

i'd love to write more on this subject, but for now, i have to rush off. i have about 18 billion things to do today and i need to start my list. item #1? buy a datebook.

*anyone else think of Clueless when you use the word "sporadic"? haha, just me?!

wear: style challenge no.7

2012-01-04T20:36:00.004-06:00

this is my final style challenge for jane by design and it was a fun one! we were asked to view the premiere of the show last night (which i was obviously planning on anyway) and select our favorite, fashion-forward style from one of the characters.

while there were so many fantastic outfits, i was most excited to see jane wearing something that i actually own! if you've read the daily be for a while, you may remember last spring when i was honored to be a bridesmaid in my friend amanda's wedding. our outfits were so cute and unique; we each wore a floral bustier from anthropologie with a navy skirt and yellow heels.

here i am in mine...

and here is jane rocking hers...

photo borrowed from the JBD website.

the next step in the challenge was to re-create a similar look for you guys! i loved how jane wore that flouncy, layered skirt and i think i put together a really cute (and affordable) option for you! (if you click on each item it should take you right to wear you can purchase them, if you're interested...)

Mini Skirts by Topshop

Sandals by MICHAEL Michael Kors

i think the combination of black, pale pink and winter white are more suitable for this season but they would look great into spring and even summer if you switched out the cardigan for a light denim jacket and paired it with some cute ballet flats. plus, i love how girly the little details are in this look!

do you ever draw inspiration directly from something you see on tv or the movies? share your tips on the jane by design facebook page and mention the daily be, please!

it's been an honor and a lot of fun being a part of these challenges. they have forced me to think creatively and be more inspired every day. i really hope you've enjoyed it, too!

do: style challenge no.6

2012-01-03T16:23:00.001-06:00

this next challenge for abc family's jane by design stemmed from the idea that inspiration can truly be found anywhere. part of our instructions stated,

"the ability to be inspired by everyday life is an essential skill."

and with that we were given our everyday inspiration: pretzels.

you read that right: pretzels.

the brown, salty snack that i prefer dipped in chocolate.

it took me a few days of staring at these pretzels before i finally felt inspired.

though we had our choice of pretzel sticks, pretzel squares and classic pretzels, i really liked the swirly knot on the classic pretzel and thought i would try to recreate it in a necklace or other type of accessory. i had this soft, rope-like material and, in the end, i used it to create a cute, nautical belt that will be perfect this spring.

cute, right?! you could also add some fun beads on the ties that hang down--gold would look great!

have you ever done anything like this before? taken inspiration from everyday life and used it in fashion? when i was 15 or so i was in a bit of a punk-rock phase and wore safety pins as earrings. i'm pretty sure i thought that was really b.a. at the time! ha! share your "everyday-inspired" fashion tips over on the jane by design facebook page and be sure to mention the daily be!

this contest is almost over and i'd love your support! (even if you don't have any tips--just go say hi and do a little name-dropping! wink!)

to tide you over until the premier, here's another sneak peek of jane by design...

do: ringing it in.

2012-01-03T10:11:00.003-06:00

i'm usually a little skeptical when it comes to new year's celebrations (over-hyped, under-delivered), but this year i was just as excited about getting all dolled up as i was for the night ahead, so i was having a blast before we even left the house!
we started the evening with hors d'oeuvres and prosecco at joseph and joey's place and eventually took a trolley downtown to the des moines social club. they throw a party every year and each time the vibe is a little bit different. this year (because of the caucus craze) they had an all-american theme.

thanks for helping me decide what to wear! B was the overwhelming winner and i felt great in it. plus, we had amazing weather that night--bare legs on new year's! bare legs!!! and don't worry, A-supporters, hopefully there will be a good excuse to wear that soon!

doesn't mr.a look dapper? i wish i could dress him every day.

(just kidding, he totally picked that out himself. if i'd dressed him there would have been a bow-tie involved. wink!)

lately ivanka has been showing up unannounced, but no one speaks russian so we can't ask her to leave.

i left my "real" camera at home so grainy iPhone pictures are the only evidence we have of the rest of the night.

we danced, hit up the photo booth and shared smooches as the clock struck 12 and hundreds of balloons fell from the ceiling. we had so much fun celebrating the new year. then again, when our friends are all together, we always have fun!

happy new year to you!

wear: new year's decisions.

2011-12-31T14:29:00.001-06:00

i'm taking a little poll over on my instagram and i thought i should include you guys in on the vote!
no, we're not talking caucuses (ronpaul2012!!!), just clothes.

i'm debating between these two outfits for tonight...

old navy dress/f21 necklace/j.crew belt

old navy dress/bcbg skirt/gifted necklace

i love option A because i just love that bright blue color. plus the necklace is kind of amazing. but, i don't have shoes that go really well with it and i'm not really in the mood to shop today. i love outfit B because, well, it's not every day you get to wear a gold skirt! plus, no shopping required.

what's your vote?

have a safe & happy new year!

wear: style challenge no.5

2011-12-30T15:04:00.001-06:00

the fifth style challenge for abc family's new tv show, jane by design was actually my favorite so far. mostly because it was the first challenge i received that i didn't think, "oh $#*%! what am i going to do?"

our challenge was to take a basic white button-down (a staple in any woman's wardrobe. in fact, if you're reading this and don't own a white button down, stop reading immediately and get yourself to the store.) and style it two ways: for work and for play. (work=office, play=cocktails.)

though my current "job" does not enforce a dress code and i've never actually worked in an office, i did work at j.crew, where many people shop for officey-like clothing. (the word "officey-like" explains why i've never worked in an office.) anyway, i feel like i have an idea of how i would dress if i were to sit in a cubicle every day. (likely browsing fashion blogs and facebook instead of doing whatever people are supposed to do in cubicles.)

i love the menswear trend for the office and, while we're talking about my past jobs, i once had a waitressing job where i actually had to wear a tie. i also had to wear a denim shirt and khakis. it was bad. but i would have the cute waiters to tie my tie for me, so that wasn't so bad...
anyway, here's my take on menswear-inspired office attire:

white button-down: c/o abc family

tie: stolen from mr.a

sweater vest: j.crew

belt: j.crew

skirt: j.crew

driving mocs: payless

for evening, i opted for a flashy skirt, a little mannequin cleavage and sexy shoes to balance the conservative white dress shirt. a statement necklace and wide belt highlight those curves!

white button-down: c/o abc family

necklace: gift

belt: banana republic

skirt: bcbg

booties: aldo (via plato's closet)

what do you think? is this something you'd wear from day to night? share your day-to-night tips on jane by design's facebook page and let them know the daily be sent you!

here's another fun clip from the show!

see: new year, new look.

2011-12-29T12:56:00.001-06:00

notice anything different? no, it's not my hair, and i certainly haven't lost weight.

that starts next week. blerg.

the daily be got a little makeover! or rather, a big makeover thanks to my amazing and talented friend, katie renshaw.
she spent her precious time off of work this week helping me* with this and i love how it turned out!

i still have some work to do, updating the pages and such (pages! i have pages now!), but hopefully all the little details will be completed soon.

thank-you, thank-you, thank-you, katie!

*by "helping me" i mean, "doing it entirely on her own."

wear: style challenge no.4

2011-12-27T16:21:00.001-06:00

over the holiday weekend we squeezed in another project for the jane by design style challenge.
from the very beginning, this was the challenge i was dreading. we each received a "festive" sweater and asked to fashion it into something "fresh and exciting."

at first glance i didn't know how this ~~monstrosity~~ thing could become something i would ever wear; but after looking it over, i thought it may have some potential (buried deep beneath the gold stitching, cheesy appliqués, and ample beading).

the back panel of the sweater was a blank slate and i immediately pictured using it for a cowl-neck scarf. i cut the front panels off of the vest, and set them aside. i also cut off the button placket, thinking it may be useful later on.

with the help of my favorite domestic-goddess (errr, my mom), i sewed the placket onto the back panel and then into a circle, making it a sort-of button-up cowl. i cut off the beads from the front of the vest and we added them to the front for a personalized touch.

i think it turned out pretty well, don't you?!

have you ever brought new life to something old (or ugly) in your closet?
if so, share your photos here!

only 7 more days 'til jane by design premiers on abc family!

wear: christmas-y.

2011-12-27T11:28:00.000-06:00

there are certain color combinations that i just don't wear.

black and orange? too halloween-y.

purple and gold? my old high school colors.

red and green? too christmas-y.

but yesterday, as we got ready for our third consecutive day of christmas celebration, i broke my own rule.

red flannel shirt + green wool skirt = super christmas-y.

but, you know what they say about rules...

down vest: gap

flannel: crewcuts

skirt: fossil

belt: my mom's, circa 1987

tights: target

booties: dsw

sunglasses: ray ban

love.

2011-12-25T09:00:00.002-06:00

thank-you all for being a part of our little world. i'm so thankful and humbled that you care to read my words and i hope i can continue to make you laugh or smile or even just inspire you to get dressed in the coming year!

love,

see: style challenge no.3

2011-12-22T19:21:00.001-06:00

for the third installment of the abc family jane by design style challenge, we were asked to choose a purse from our own closets that represents our personalities. my mind immediately went to this vibrant clutch that i bought a few years ago from forever 21. starting with the very circumstances under which it was purchased--this purse represents me on several levels.

1. impulsive: i purchased this purse without really thinking much about it. i remember it caught my eye and i hesitated for a moment before throwing it on my pile at check-out. in my "younger years" i wasted a lot of time being insecure and second-guessing myself, but as i'm getting a little older, i'm finally learning to trust my gut and it's starting to pay off. this little purse is a tangible reminder of that.

2. thrifty: i only own one "designer" purse and it was a christmas gift from my mom and sister. (they got it for a mega steal from an outlet mall.) anyway, designer clothes, shoes and accessories aren't in my budget, but i've found a little creativity and a good eye can go a long way in putting together outfits that are stylish and still budget-friendly. (p.s. i paid less than $15 for this purse.)

3. colorful: whether referring to my personality or occasional choice in language, "colorful" is a word i would likely use to describe myself. i love to laugh, have fun and see people smile. i'm an extrovert through and through, and meeting new people is one of my favorite things. i love all the colors in this purse and i always enjoy pairing it with other bright spots in my wardrobe.

4. compact: i used to be a "big purse" carrier (olsen twin style), but now that my purses aren't doubling as diaper bags, i love carrying a compact clutch or little wristlet that just holds the bare necessities. this has carried over into other areas as i've recognized my distaste for clutter at home and in my daily life. i'm by no means a neat-freak, but i definitely feel a sense of peace when "everything has a place, and everything is in its place." that has lead to some major purges in my closet, my home and even my schedule.
(next i'm going to tackle my facebook page!)

5. unexpected: though i don't love clutter, i do love pattern! i like mixing prints and finding unexpected pairs that just... work. i love wearing this purse with other bright colors and complementary patterns. in a way, this is also true to my life. i don't always have a plan, but when i'm open to the unexpected, it seems like things often just... work!

in this clip from jane by design, jane's boss says that a handbag tells the world who you are. do you have a bag that represents more than just your personal style? upload a picture of it here and mention the daily be!

check out my first & second style challenges!

wear: lacy sunday.

2011-12-22T09:00:00.001-06:00

i got this great lbd from old navy and envisioned wearing it in endless combinations. so far there have been two.
"endless" doesn't have a time limit...right?

i was worried that lace might be a little too sassy for church, but luckily it was the day of the christmas pageant so no one was looking at me anyway.

lace top: forever 21

black dress: old navy

belt: j.crew

tights: target

flats: banana republic

cowl scarf: back country

messy hair: wind

see: christmas pageant.

2011-12-21T14:57:00.001-06:00

last sunday was piper and quinn's christmas pageant. piper had spent weeks practicing her songs and lines, but i was still nervous that she would back out at the last minute. when we first arrived and she put her costume on she was acting very nervous, but it didn't take long for her to get excited about her big stage debut.

or it may have been the excitement of seeing her one true love that helped her perk up. (the little boy with his hand raised is colin--piper's one & only. she has a mega-crush on him but sadly, he loves another. let the heartbreak begin...)

quinn, on the other hand, didn't have any lines to learn and was quite excited about her dove costume. (she has a mouthful of apple, as all doves should.)

in the end, piper didn't run off the stage and she said her lines perfectly!
"L is for LOVE that He brought to earth; that night in the stable in lowly birth."

quinn spent most of the pageant with either sucking her thumb or picking her nose.

(luckily she she doesn't pick with her thumb...)
they were all so cute and i was totally that dorky mom in the front row simultaneously video-taping, picture-snapping, facebooking and instagramming all the action.

wear: style challenge no.2

2011-12-20T13:49:00.002-06:00

for the second jane by design style challenge, we were given a white t-shirt, some fabric markers and the instructions to take the shirt and style it in a way that reflects one of our style icons. simple enough, right? well, as i began to think about who my "style icons" are, my mind was flooded with women whose style i admire. they ranged from designers (stella mccartney, dvf, the mulleavy gals) to actors (diane kruger, michelle williams, kirsten dunst), from bloggers (kendi, laura, jules) to fictional characters (carrie bradshaw, penny lane, serena van der woodsen) and even some who don't fall into any one category (the olsens, nicole richie, alexa chung). i didn't know how to narrow it down, or how i would begin to style a humble t-shirt after someone whose style i admire so much.

when i started thinking about people whom i admire, not only for their style, but also as individuals; i started thinking about gwen stefani. now, i may not dress like gwen (i don't have the abs to wear half the things she does!), but i'm so inspired by her. i had my first girl-crush on gwen in junior high in the height of the no doubt days (when she and gavin rossdale were just a young couple in love!), but i have continued to admire her as she has taken on new endeavours (a solo career in music, fashion design and even acting), all the while getting married and raising a family.

if you have read more than a couple of entries on this blog, you know one thing i feel passionately about is women maintaining their sense of self (and style) after childbirth. it's certainly an everyday challenge and it may not be the same as before you had kids; but i think it is so important for women to take care of themselves in order to better care for their loved ones. i think gwen stefani is a fantastic example of that. she has always had her own style and i feel like that has only become more defined since having kids.

as a mom of two, she is an inspiration to me.

now, as for the t-shirt. i saw this picture of gwen rocking these wild tie-dyed jeansand i thought, here is a perfect example of gwen rocking her signature style even in the midst of motherhood. she looks amazing and she still looks herself: chic, cool and comfortable.

i decided to style my t-shirt after those jeans. i happened to have some leftover black rit dye after re-dying a pair of faded black pants so i tried a tie-dye technique that was new to me. i accordion-folded the t-shirt, wrapped some elastics around it and let it soak in the black dye mix for a couple of hours. tie-dying is a bit tedious because you really never know what you're going to get. but, i was actually pleasantly surprised with how this turned out! even though we're heading into winter, i feel like the dark color can work as easily in this season as it will in the spring and summer.

after the t-shirt dried, i decided to cut it into a racerback tank-top to make it a little more versatile for layering.

i listed a bunch of mine, but who are your style icons? go to the jane by design facebook page and tell us whose style you admire! and, if you would,
*tell them the daily be sent you!*

if you're excited about the premiere of abc family's new show--here's another sneek peak!

*

to keep up with all the other jane by design style challenge contestants, you can follow the twitter hash: #JBDstylechallenge.

wear: copycat.

2011-12-19T07:00:00.002-06:00

the top half of this outfit was directly ~~copied~~ inspired by this look from kendi. kendi's outfits often cause me to talk out loud to the computer screen. on this particular day i said,
"oh, kendigirl! {that's what i call her, kendigirl.} that looks goooood."

after i was done being jealous that i didn't have j.brand wide-leg jeans (or the legs to wear them), i realized i have a graphic-print tank top, a similar cardigan and recently acquired the greatest cowl-neck scarf in the world. so, i stopped pouting and got dressed.
cowl neck scarf: back country
tank: forever 21
cardigan: target

pants: gap
wedges: old navy

belt: j.crew

wear: filmed.

2011-12-16T13:00:00.003-06:00

for yesterday's style challenge i wanted to wear something relatively "easy" since i knew i'd be moving around a lot. black seemed like an ideal choice for being on camera. those added ten pounds can be brutal! ha. kidding. the bright pink scarf helped bring in some color and (obviously) keep me warm! i had planned to wear a necklace, but since i had the scarf on, i ended up just wrapping it around my wrist as a bracelet.

leather jacket: bb dakota

scarf: target

dress: french connection

tights: target

flats: banana republic

necklace as bracelet: charlotte russe

*excuse the iPhone pictures--my camera battery died mid-way through our video shoot.
of course.

see: that's it!

2011-12-16T07:00:00.001-06:00

sadly, this is the last IT list of the year. but, it's been fun sharing the link-love with all these lovely ladies! thank-you to jill for putting this together each week!

The IT list is signing off for 2011... But we'll be back in 2012!Enjoy these links in the meantime!

good clean fun whips up a batch of apple banana pancakes - these have Christmas Break breakfast written all over them! Yum! (find good clean fun on twitter!)
the posh blog whips up what looks to be the easiest and tastiest cocktail ever - perfect for Christmas brunch or New Years Eve. (find the posh blog on twitter!)
the capital barbie has a round up of Christmas gifts that you can give that give back. I love this idea, check out her picks! (find the capital barbie on twitter!)
life told by leslie is sporting an adorable leopard print cardigan. I've got to get one of these - see how she styled it!
free to be stacia lee is looking adorable in this casual chic outfit - check out her cute boots! (find free to be stacia lee on twitter!)
suze wears clothes has fallen in love... with her scarf. I don't blame her! Check it out. (find suze wears clothes on twitter!)
gs lillian is looking rainy-day-chic, which isn't easy to do! Check out her adorable outfit and red (!!!) shoes. (find gs lillian on twitter!)
a spot of whimsy is our resident ballet-enthusiast (love it!)... she's headed to the Nutcracker performance but left some eye candy for us. Swoon! (find a spot of whimsy on twitter!)
second street east has a really easy and fun Christmas ornament diy. I love this idea and that you can personalize it to suit your decor and taste! (find second street east on twitter!)
the daily be is going "western" in this adorable outfit... check it out and you've got to see her sweet boots! (find the daily be on twitter!)
the tiemann girls have a really fun way to give the gift of cash this holiday season. See how they do it!
so much to smile about is your go-to source for holiday beauty. Check out her tips and tricks! (find so much to smile about on twitter!)
sweetie pie style rounds up her favorite Christmas decor inspiration and includes this really fun idea for a tasty appetizer that I totally want to try! (find sweetie pie style on twitter!)
rachael, really is looking absolutely gorgeous in winter white and red for the holidays. Go check out her outfit and steal it for Christmas - I might! (find rachael, really on twitter!)

the IT list is produced weekly by Jill of good life, for information on how you can be involved, click here!

do: style challenge no.1

2011-12-15T13:24:00.002-06:00

i was really excited (and frankly, shocked!) when i received an e-mail from abc family inviting me to be a part of their jane by design style challenge. abc family's new show jane by design is set to premier in the beginning of january and to help spread the word, they're putting several bloggers to the test over the next few weeks!

click here for a fun sneak peek of the show!

our first challenge was to take a $50 gift card and spend it. tough gig, huh?
check out my shopping spoils...

if you want to join in the fun, make a quick video of some of your latest shopping finds and post it on the jane by design facebook page! (there are so many good sales right now... it's dangerous to leave the house.) it doesn't have to be a fancy video--there's nothin' wrong with a little webcam! just make sure you mention the daily be!
i'd love your support throughout these challenges so even "liking" my video on fb would be great! you can also follow all the style challenge action on twitter! (#jbdstylechallenge)

i can't wait to find out what the next challenge is!

*
if you're local, head to the east village to check out vitae, ephemera and eden!
if you're not local--check them out online!

wear: glitter girl.

2011-12-14T18:03:00.003-06:00

i was excited about dressing up for the glitter party, until i started shopping. it was actually really hard to find something that didn't look too cheap, wasn't too expensive, and was also wearable. plus, i was hesitant to spend money on something i potentially wouldn't wear ever again.
like these crazy-amazing shoes i found and fell instantly in lust with...
(no, it wasn't love. it was unhealthy.)

the night before the party (after our visit to santa), piper and i went to track down some sparkle while mr. a and quinny went to buy some bullets. (yep.) piper is at the age where she can actually be really fun to shop with and we had so much fun. we went to forever21 (duh) and they had so much sparkle to choose from! i tried on sparkly dresses, sparkly pants, sparkly shirts, sparkly jackets, and even sparkly gym shorts! (<---truth.)

i was super-tempted to take home this fringed skirt...

it was so swingy and fun! the best dancing skirt ever. unfortunately it was a wee bit snug and, as much as i loved it, it's not fun to dance when you're trying to suck in your muffin top.

i ended up finding a black & gold top that i will totally wear again. it was sparkly and pretty and fun for dancing because it was loose and flowy with an assymetrical hem.
i also found this cool, wrapped-chain necklace.
(f21 had tons of cool inexpensive necklaces, by the way.)

i spent $4 on glittery gold eyeliner that proved to be the best purchase of all. i mmmiiiiight have even told mr.a, "i want to wear glitter every day!!!"

it was really fun.

cardigan: j.crew

necklace & top: forever 21

black pants: gap

booties: aldo via plato's closet

glitter eyeliner: hot topic (ha!)

oh, and since sweet kelsey asked: "glitter is the herpes of the craft world!"

(as in: once you get it, you can't get rid of it. ;)

do: sparkle on.

2011-12-14T11:56:00.000-06:00

on saturday night my friend, sarah, threw a party to celebrate her birthday. she always throws the best parties--great music, decor, and there's always a theme. this year it was glitter!!!

hours were spent sparkling up the place and i'm pretty sure they'll be finding glitter there for years to come.

it was a little more challenging for the boys to dress for the theme, but some of them got pretty creative. our friend reese actually made a necklace out of the soundtrack to mariah carey's cinematic debut, glitter. hilarious.

the girls, on the other hand, all looked fabulous and sparkly!

glitter eyes & glitter beard:

the birthday girl (aka: glitter queen):

despite a little drama with the building manager, it was a fantastic party. everyone had a blast and we danced our glittery butts off. four days later and i'm still finding glitter in my eyelashes, but that's to be expected.
you know what they say about glitter....*

*and if you don't, just ask.

wear: when it's 11 degrees...

2011-12-13T11:55:00.000-06:00

though we've been blessed with amazing weather this fall/winter, a few days ago the temperatures dropped into the "normal" range and it was freeeeezing.*
i had plans to go to this opening with some friends and was dreading the thought of possibly standing outside in the 11-degree weather while we waited to get in. rather than back out completely, i just layered up and was actually able to stay fairly warm. (luckily we did not have to wait in line after all...)

i snagged this little hobo clutch on super-sale the other day and it's perfect for nights when you just need the necessities: phone, id, chapstick, debit card.

this wool sweater dress may look a little bulky with a long-sleeved shirt underneath, but fingers-crossed it was dark enough that nobody noticed the extra padding.

dress: j.crew (old)

belt: old navy

tights: target (?)

booties: mia via dsw

clutch: hobo via von maur

watch: timex via target

bracelet: f21

*midwesterners loooove talking about the weather. it's the one thing you always have in common with anyone you meet!

do: ol' saint nick.

2011-12-12T19:57:00.000-06:00

on friday night we took the girls to see santa claus and i have to say, our santa is officially the cutest santa in the whole world. (errr, the only santa...right? #gladmykidscantread.) he has a real beard and the sweetest eyes. he really does look like a jolly old elf! and did you know santa has a southern drawl?! well, he does. i think he winters in alabama once the christmas season is over.

somewhere i missed the memo that children are supposed to wear red velvet dresses and black patent shoes to meet santa, so our kids were a little under-dressed.
(okay, they looked like total ragamuffins. whatevs.)
piper told santa she wanted a play-doh cookie maker and quinn didn't tell santa anything so he told her he'd bring her a surprise toy.

if you don't want to pay for prints, they make you stand really far away to take your own pictures. i actually considered buying one until i found out the cheapest package was $23!
so... i stood really far away and took my own pictures.

the next day, while we were driving to school, piper said, "i just can't wait til santa brings my play-doh cookie maker." and quinn chimed in with her sweet little voice, "i just can't wait til santa brings my surprise present!"

there's just so much to smile about during this season.

wear: western.

2011-12-12T11:30:00.001-06:00

it's monday.
i'm currently wearing head to toe fleece.

what more can i say?

sweater: j.crew factory

shirtdress: old navy

belt: j.crew

tights: gap

boots: steve madden (circa 2004)

think: words of wisdom.

2011-12-10T13:40:00.029-06:00

a couple days ago i was grumbling to myself while doing the dishes when i was suddenly lost in a memory from about 8 years ago...

the summer after my first year of college i went to work at a summer camp in colorado. the opportunity arose and, though it meant i'd be spending the summer away from my boyfriend (now known as mr.a), i felt like it was what i was supposed to do. i was excited to get to work with kids, be outdoors every day and get to spend time in the mountains. after a week or two of training, all the college-aged staff were assigned their jobs. i was put on the ropes course, which i was really excited about. unfortunately, there were more than enough of us to cover the positions needed, so who ever was off the schedule for the week would do housekeeping duty. this was in addition to the daily housekeeping tasks we were already responsible for.

after a month of being there, i had only spent 4 days outside on the ropes course. the rest of the time (besides the occasional day off) i was inside. i cleaned more toilets, dusted more shelves and washed more dishes that summer than i ever had in my life. and i was miserable. it wasn't at all what i had imagined i would be doing. i rarely got to spend any time with the campers, i rarely got to be outside, and i was terribly homesick. one day i was eating breakfast and the camp maintenance man happened to sit down next to me. his name was dave sharman. he was australian and had moved to colorado with his family to serve at the camp. he asked me how things were going and i carefully vented some of my frustrations about the experience.
dave listened as i spoke and i can still picture his warm eyes and bushy moustache. he told me about his choice to move his family across the world for what he thought was his dream job and he explained how different it had turned out to be when he first got here. he was always so jovial, it was hard to imagine him ever being dissatisfied. he gave me a lot of great advice but one thing in particular stood out to me. i don't remember exactly how he phrased it, but he basically said, "it's a dangerous thing to assume you're working harder than anyone else." it was exactly what i needed to hear that day and so many days since.

particularly in marriage, it can be so easy to feel like you're the only one who _________ (fill in the blank). lately i've found myself in that place. mr.a has been working long hours and usually works one day (if not both days) of the weekend. while i'm grateful that he has work to do and appreciate the fact that he's always willing to help someone else, sometimes i feel like a single parent again.* of course he is working equally as hard (if not harder) at his job, but it can be easy to lose sight of that when you're changing poopy diapers and picking up toys for the 18th time.

that night, as i put the final dish in the dishwasher and walked out to check on the girls, i had a new perspective on all this "work." i felt blessed and thankful for the ways i get to serve my family. unfortunately, i'm forgetful and flawed and will likely relapse into resentment. but i think God knows this about me. i think he's always known this about me. and, even if dave sharman didn't always feel like he was making a difference by working as a maintenance man, one day he spent ten minutes talking to a frustrated teenager and his words continue to make a difference in my life today.

*if you're new around here, mr.a recently returned from a year-long deployment.

see: check it.

2011-12-09T16:46:00.000-06:00

this week's it list is a little tardy for the party! ha. sorry 'bout that. i'm not sure where this week went--all of a sudden it's friday night! sheesh. what are you doing this weekend? we're going to hang out with santa clause tonight and try to finally finish all our christmas shopping and tomorrow we're going to a glitter-themed birthday party! it's going to be so fun and sparkly! although i still don't know what to wear....

anyway, here are some great links to tide you over through the weekend!

happy friday!

Happy Friday! Take some time to check out these great links!

i love that features the best beauty trends for the holidays... including the bold red lip (a la Taylor Swift). Check out her tips!
the capital barbie rounds up sweaters for men - which happens to be my favorite gift to give this time of year! See what her top picks are. (find the capital barbie on twitter!)
the posh blog has her gift picks for teens - aren't they so hard to buy for? I love her ideas and this little camera is too fun! (find the posh blog on twitter!)
suze wears clothes puts together three fun looks around this gorgeous floral scarf. See how she styles it up! (find suze wears clothes on twitter!)
second street east DIY's a holiday wreath - the finished product is gorgeous and it looks so simple! Don't miss this tutorial! (find second street east on twitter!)
sweetie pie style rounds up her inspiration each week in a not-to-be-missed post. I'm drooling over this statement wallpaper for a powder room! (find sweetie pie style on twitter!)
free to be stacia lee pulls together a really gorgeous casual holiday look. I am now completely drooling over this lace top! (find free to be stacia lee on twitter!)
a spot of whimsy hits the nail on the head with another thought provoking post in her "she" series. Check out the simple but thoughtful post! Don't you want to be this gal? (find a spot of whimsy on twitter!)
gs lillian manages to convince me I need an orange coat and matching shoes this winter with just one post. Doesn't she look amazing? (find gs lillian on twitter!)
the tiemann girls give a quick diy on how to make the perfect bow from tulle. I am in love with this idea... time to get wrapping!
the daily be (formerly 'things i do think wear see love dream') wears one pair of khakis in two different outfits. Check out her looks and be inspired for khakis beyond business casual! (find the daily be on twitter!)
so much to smile about rounds up a fun gift guide for the homebody that I am loving. Candles, blankets and cozy clothes, yes please! (find so much to smile about on twitter!)
rachael, really says 'merry december' with this gorgeous fall/winter outfit. If you are in a warmer climate... you know fall just arrived! (find rachael, really on twitter!)

the IT list is produced weekly by Jill of good life for less, for info on how you can be involved - click here!

wear: maternity style.

2011-12-07T17:37:00.000-06:00

i've had some requests over the years to do a post on maternity style and i don't know why it has taken me this long to do it, but here are a few things i learned over the course of my pregnancies. (and hopefully some of you that asked are still pregnant!)

it can be so challenging (and annoying) to get dressed every day while you're pregnant. your body is constantly changing and it can seem like you need a new wardrobe every couple of months. i didn't have a lot to spend on maternity clothes so i learned to just "make it work" on a daily basis.

when i was pregnant with piper, we lived in a mountain town in colorado so my "style" was pretty basic; lots of leggings and long sweaters, jeans and stretchy shirts. i didn't buy very much maternity, instead relying on "regular" clothes with plenty of room to grow. when i was pregnant with quinn, i was working at j.crew, so i had to look presentable and get more creative with my clothes.

1. invest in the basics.

there are certain things during your pregnancy that are worth spending a little extra money on. if you're a "jeans" gal, it is totally worth investing in a good pair of maternity jeans. the gap has come along way in its' maternity offerings and there are some really cute skinny jeans in the stores now.* however, don't spend a lot of money on jeans if you have to wear dress pants to work every day. i think it's also worth investing in a couple of maternity tanks. i wore these from the gap under everything. i had one in white, gray and black. and you'll still be able to wear them after you deliver! i also found a light denim jacket that i wore all. the. time. it actually became a running joke on the blog because i wore it almost every day. over dresses, tees, tanks, etc. (mostly because my arms were pudgy and yours probably will be too, haha.)
*one reason i really like skinny jeans during pregnancy is because so many of the tops are long and flowy, the skinny leg helps balance that out.

2. belt it.

another trick is to belt loose tops and dresses. even though you'll basically have no waist at the end of your pregnancy, if you wear a belt between your boobs & belly, it'll accentuate those hot-mama curves that you've earned! i wore belts all the time.

3. skip the maternity section.

i understand there are some things you'll just need (or get desperate enough to pay full price for), but maternity clothes are so expensive and often pretty boring. i totally recommend browsing the sale section of maternity stores and i'm not saying i never purchased "real" maternity clothes, but if you're a momma-to-be on a budget, you don't have to buy everything from the maternity section. stores like forever21 have all kinds of tunics and babydoll dresses that are perfect for pregnancy. buy bigger sizes of normal clothes or even check out the plus-size sections. i know this doesn't work for every body type, but no matter what your size, it is possible to dress affordably and stylishly when you're pregnant.

4. accesorize!
the one thing that will always fit when you're pregnant is your accessories! add scarves, necklaces, belts, bangles, and fun shoes to spruce up a very basic outfit. (this is true whether you're pregnant or not!)

5. beg, borrow, steal.

if you have other friends who have been (or are) pregnant, they can be a great resource for you! if you have a dressy event to go to, consider borrowing a nice dress or skirt from someone else rather than purchasing something new that you may only wear once. my sister and i were pregnant at the same time with both of our kids (and she's expecting again!) so occasionally we would trade clothes, just to give ourselves some variety. towards the end of your pregnancy you'll get so sick of wearing the same things over & over again--try to avoid desperate trips to the mall! (though they may be inevitable.) also, don't count out your partner's closet! i loved stealing mr.a's button-downs.

6. dress in dresses.

dresses were my go-to when i was pregnant. there are so many stretchy options out there and you don't have to mess with yanking them up every 5 minutes the way you do with pants!

7. the extras.

i totally recommend buying a belly band of some sort. they sell them at target, the gap and i'm sure most maternity stores. it's just a stretchy band that you wear under your shirts, but you will totally get your money's worth out of it. you can wear it in the beginning of your pregnancy, when your pants are starting to get snug. just leave that top button undone and the belly band will cover it and keep your pants up! also, if/when you transition to maternity pants, they'll likely be a little too big and the belly band will help them stay put. and, after you deliver the baby, it will help you make the transition back to your normal clothes as well! i just bought a white one and it looked like a tank peeking out from under my shirt.

at some point i also bought some maternity spanx. as i mentioned, i wore a lot of dresses and the spanx help keep everything smooth and comfortable. they also provide a lot of support for your belly as you get really big. plus, you don't have to worry about all that extra junk in your trunk!

these photos aren't great, but here are some of the ways i incorporated these tips...

wearing my infamous denim jacket.

this was a non-maternity tube dress--super-stretchy.

one of my favorite outfits included one of mr.a's shirts and of course, a belt.

not much of a bump, but wearing a flowy, j.crew blouse.

you can see my bella band poking out under that t-shirt.

regular top with maternity pants.

no "maternity" but lots of accessories.

i hope these tips are helpful for you mommas-to-be!
if you're blogging your own belly style, include your link in the comments.

i'd love to see how you rock the bump!

wear: one outfit, two ways.

2011-12-06T11:04:00.001-06:00

i haven't worn khaki pants in over 6 years. after being forced to wear them five days a week for four years (high school uniform), and then a short gig at starbucks--i could hardly bear the sight of them. lately i've seen some stylish gals rocking khakis, so i thought i'd give them another chance.

i found a pair for only $12 online, and bit the bullet. when they arrived i actually cringed when i first put them on. i was thisclose to returning them ($12 is $12) but on sunday morning i was rushing around, trying to figure out something to wear to church and couldn't find any clean pants that didn't have holes in them. (geez, i sound like a frat boy!) so, i put on the khaki pants and, when they didn't make me gag, i decided to make 'em work.

top: target
scarf: old navy

pants: old navy

shoes: target

ew, avert your eyes from the dirty frat house floor.

after church i was freezing and changed into an outfit that felt much more "me": slouchy, comfy and slightly-disheveled.

(ugh. i really am a frat boy! totally explains my taste for beer and dirty jokes.)
sweater: old navy

patent loafers: payless

i'm not sure these khakis will be seeing a lot of outfit action, but i guess i'm glad i gave them a second chance! what's something you refuse to wear?

do.

2011-12-04T08:00:00.002-06:00

last week i joined several friends for badowers' holiday party. badowers is a local gentlemen's clothing store. they have been a des moines staple for over fifty years. they have a very cool, careful selection of men's casual and dress clothing. in my opinion, the badowers vibe is a combination of scott schuman and nick wooster*; stylish yet masculine. i love the stiff denim, rugged boots and soft flannel shirts that somehow don't come off as sloppy. the badowers price point certainly places these pieces into the "investment" category, however, i overheard a sharply-dressed guy at the party saying, "i know it's expensive, but it forces me to save up for things i really love and keeps me from buying cheap crap." certainly a wise way to shop for anything.**

back to the party...

they had a great dj, free food/drinks and were hosting some really good giveaways, any one of which would have been reason enough for me to be there. but what i really love about events like this, is seeing what everyone is wearing! as a certain writer once noted (and was then lambasted for), iowa isn't always known for its fashion sense. but the crowd at badowers looked great. there were lots of well-dressed women, but that evening it was all about the men and they didn't disappoint.

(except for a certain sweater that garnered a bit of attention [see below]. but, its owner had just returned from a cross-country adventure which seems to justify unruly hair and ugly thrift-store sweaters. no worries, he's a friend and i made sure to tell him that he was wearing the ugliest sweater i'd ever seen. honesty is the best policy... right?)

i wore a not-ugly thrift store sweater, dressed it down with slouchy boyfriend jeans and topped it off with my favorite tweed blazer in hopes of fitting in with the menswear experts at the store.

jacket: j.crew

cardigan: j.crew, thrifted***

slouchy tee: forever 21

belt: j.crew

jeans: joe's, thrifted

flats: target

we all had a great time and no one seemed to mind when the party moved across the street to a slightly less-fashionable des moines staple: the alpine.

*two of my favorite male bloggers, the sartorialist.com and nickwooster.com, respectively.

**dually-noting he said, "...save up for things" versus "...throw it on my credit card."

***samantha recently asked about my favorite thrifting spots in des moines. my number one is definitely worn on 42nd street. they have a nice selection of higher-end brands. i also consign a lot of my clothes there. it's a well-organized place both in merchandising and policies. (if you've ever consigned clothes, you know it can be a frustrating process if the store doesn't have their act together.)

do: the change-up.

2011-12-02T17:30:00.000-06:00

did you know i've been writing on this blogspot for almost four years now?! when i first started this blog, it was just a place for the occasional rant, anecdote or random thought. i didn't tell anyone that i was starting a blog (except maybe mr.a) and i didn't have any expectation that anyone would ever read it. seriously.

eventually, a couple people discovered it (i think meredith was my first follower!) but even after months of writing, i hadn't even told my own sister! she found out from someone else! i was actually kind of embarassed to talk about it and felt really awkward anytime someone asked me about it. i've finally gotten to the place where i don't immediately stutter and stare at my feet when someone asks me about it, and it's really cool to me that all you guys actually care to read what i have to say.
unfortunately, my blog title has always annoyed me and the url is way too long to repeat to anyone. (can any of you actually remember all those words in the correct order? problynot.) i feel like the cumbersome title is a bit of a hindrance to the blog and i've been itching to change it. (case in point, last night i was introduced to someone and my blog was mentioned. he asked what the name was and i didn't even bother telling him. i just wrote it down.)

anyway, after four years i think this little lady deserves a bit of a nip/tuck. i'll still be posting about the things i do/think/wear/see/love/and dream, but they will be under the big-girl-panty name of...

the daily be.

my family and close friends have always called me Bee, and my twitter/pinterest/instagram username is BeArganbright, so i felt like it was fitting. i decided to just go all out and purchase a domain, so it may screw everybody up, but you'll have to find me at thedailybe.com from now on.

i hope i don't lose any of you. i know it's a pain to change your bookmark or reader or whatever you do to find me, but in the long run--i think this is a good thing! forgive me for any glitchy things that occur over the next week or so. i'm sooo bad with anything tech-related so i hope you'll hang in there with me!

and if you don't, i'll just post pictures of ryan gosling every day to win back your love and devotion!

see: that's it!

2011-12-02T08:49:00.001-06:00

i''m excited to be a part of the good life's "it" list this month!
the it list is a weekly round-up of posts from a bunch of really cool ladies.
(that's why i'm on it, duh.)
check out this week's list!

Now that it's December the holiday season is in full swing and this week's IT list has a decidedly holiday feel to it! Check out these great links!

free to be stacia lee shows off a fun look for a holiday girls night out! I'm loving the dressy shorts and tights combo here!
the posh blog pulled together a super fun Twelve POSH Days of Christmas! You have to check this out... my favorite? Three french macaroons... (find the posh blog on twitter!)
gs lillian is hosting a fabulous giveaway for 6 (yes, six!) of her gorgeous cuff bracelets! All you have to do is link up with your holiday wish list! Easy, huh? (find gs lillian on twitter!)
sweetie pie style rounds up my new favorite winter layering piece - the vest! Check out her picks and inspirations! (find sweetie pie style on twitter!)
suze wears clothes puts together three looks based on one gorgeous camel colored blazer. Check out these looks that are perfect for the holiday season! (find size wears clothes on twitter!)
sweet life a la carte was innocently getting holiday pictures taken when the photoshoot suddenly turned into engagement photos! He proposed! Check out these sweet photos! (find sweet life a la carte on twitter!)
second street east is giving away a copy of Design*Sponge's new book! Stop by her blog to enter to win one for yourself or for a friend! (find second street east on twitter!)
i love that is swooning over Gwenyth Paltrow's hair... but who doesn't really? Check out this eye candy and potential inspiration for holiday hair dos!
things i do think wear see love dream is sporting a trend-trifecta! I love this look... see how she pulls together three hot trends in one super hot look! (find things i... on twitter!)
the tiemann girls show off their holiday paper stash (jealous!) plus, the one thing they do to remind themselves of the reason for the season. I love this inspiration!
so much to smile about has the ultimate gift guide for a blogger. This list is SO fabulous, but my favorite is the Inslee fashion illustrations. Yes, please! (find so much to smile about on twitter!)
good clean fun whips up a batch of roasted butternut squash risotto! I love risotto for winter - it's great comfort food! Check out her recipe... (find good clean fun on twitter!)
the capital barbie has a full round up of 'smoking' loafers. These are the hottest shoes this season and I love that the look so comfortable! Check out her picks! (find the capital barbie on twitter!)
life told my leslie features yet another shorts and tights look for winter! I am loving this trend - check out how she pulls it together!
a spot of whimsy pulls out tons of inspiration for advent calendars this holiday season. You have to check out all of this inspiration! (find a spot of whimsy on twitter!)

the IT list is produced weekly by jill of good life for less - for info on how you can be involved, click here!

wear: plaid, checks, polka-dots, stripes.

2011-11-30T14:42:00.000-06:00

i'm assuming that only people with kids under the age of five will have any idea where that title comes from. and if you do, my apologies for getting that song stuck in your head. if you're observant you might notice that this outfit is over a week old. (can you figure out why?) it was a morning that the girls and i treated ourselves to a little breakfast date while mr.a was working. on the weekend. again.
i didn't really intend to overdose on pattern, but once i got started i just couldn't stop! i suppose there are worse vices than pattern, and i have at least two.

okay three.

sweater: j.crew

scarf: old navy

flats: dsw

jacket: gap

pants: gap

wear: trend trifecta.

2011-11-28T08:17:00.001-06:00

this weekend we gathered at our friend shannon's place for some cocktails and hors d'oeuvres before going out for a little dancing.

my erika was in town for the weekend.

we always have so much fun together and she fits right in with all of our friends.

don't worry, they didn't really wear their shirts like that.

i was feeling a bit of a hippie vibe and tripled up on trends,
wearing a (faux) fur vest, lace top, and rust-colored pants...

i felt like it was a fun outfit and perfect for a chilly night out.

vest: bcbg, thrifted
top: forever 21

nude tank: j.crew

pants: heritage

boots: sundance

do: thanksgiving in a...pumpkin shell.

2011-11-27T13:00:00.000-06:00

on thanksgiving day we woke up to a beautiful, quiet morning at home. the girls had spent the night with their nana & poppa so we were able to slowly get ready for the day. mr.a did some work around the house and i did a little bit of cooking. we gathered at my in-laws to eat and enjoy a nice, relaxing afternoon.

maisy joined us for her first thanksgiving!

oh hey! i got bangs!

the feast!

the oldest member of the family relaxed...

while the newest member of the family charmed us all...

quinn skipped pumpkin pie in favor of skittles...

eventually we all made it outside.

the weather was gorgeous. 64 degrees is unheard of in late november!

in true redneck fashion, we spent an hour or so shooting guns.

i wished my dad had been there, i think he would've been proud of me.

i shot a .22 rifle, a .22 pistol, and a .45 pistol and i have to admit, it felt pretty good!

quinn was not a fan of the loud noises.
(check the identical mouths on these two...)

how's this for a family picture? ha!

after we got our redneck on, we set up the christmas tree!

i did miss being with my parents* and siblings this year, but we'll all be together for christmas and i can't wait!!!
hope you had a relaxing weekend with your friends and family!

*if you're new 'round here, my parents moved to tennessee this summer after living in iowa for 13 years.

think: thankful thursday.

2011-11-24T08:00:00.003-06:00

it's hard to believe that last year, we were doing this alone. a huge chunk of our hearts on the other side of the world. last year i avoided the "norm" and went to chicago to spend thanksgiving. i remember we had fun and laughed a lot, but despite being surrounded by family, i remember feeling very alone. this year, mr.a is home. he isn't eating instant mashed potatoes or drinking egg nog from a can. he isn't sitting in a tent in the middle of an afghan mountain range. he's here and he's safe. he's home.

while you're enjoying your family, and your meal and the comfort of your home today, please remember the thousands of soldiers who are away from their families, serving our country.

today i'm thankful that our family is together.

but i'm even more thankful for those that are not.

happy thanksgiving.

wear: gap it out.

2011-11-23T14:13:00.002-06:00

yesterday quinny and i went tramping* through the mall. we had a little time to kill before picking up piper from school and gap was doing up to 60% off of everything (plus another 10% for cardholders!). sadly, there was not much in women's, but the kids stuff is super-cute these days and i was able to check a couple things off of piper's wish list (including a hello kitty t-shirt and a super-fuzzy sweat-shirt). anyway, while we were in the women's fitting room (finding nothing worth buying), we took a quick outfit pic.

vest: bcbg, thrift

shirt: banana republic

jeans: gap

boots: sundance

necklace: von maur, gift

earrings: vintage

and this is how i keep quinn happy in fitting rooms...

*i happen to really like the word "tramp".
lady & the tramp? yes.

super tramp? love.
trampolines? duh.
so, don't you be thinkin' quinny and i were just being hussies as we walked through v-dub (valley west mall), we were wandering about aimlessly with a firm, heavy step!

tramp (trmp)

v. tramped, tramp·ing, tramps

v.intr.

1. To walk with a firm, heavy step; trudge.

2. a. To travel on foot; hike.

b. To wander about aimlessly.

v.tr.

1. To traverse on foot: tramp the fields.

2. To tread down; trample: tramp down snow.

1. a. A heavy footfall.

b. The sound produced by heavy walking or marching.

2. A walking trip; a hike.

3. One who travels aimlessly about on foot, doing odd jobs or begging for a living; a vagrant.

4. a. A prostitute.

b. A person regarded as promiscuous.

do: (eating + dancing) > (eating - dancing).

2011-11-22T08:00:00.017-06:00

on saturday night i got to do two of my favorite things: eating and dancing. it's no secret that i love to eat, and dancing after a big meal seems like the best way to start burning a few of those calories. i'm lucky that all our friends are foodies and most can hold their own in the kitchen. joey planned a pasta dinner party and made a couple of amazing sauces from scratch while everyone else chipped in with the all the extras. (the shameful hit of the night being crazy bread from little ceasar's. ha! so much for being "foodies.") we all talked, laughed, ate and then went out for a little dancing. sadly i don't have anything but a few really bad iPhone pics, so those will have to do...

pretend to ignore the red solo cups, the party was held at a bachelor pad.

mr.a was able to get away from camp dodge for a few hours so he joined us for dinner. if you've ever met seth (yes, first name is seth), you know he has a knack for ~~useless~~ knowledge. he loves to read and retains information like no one i've ever met...except zach (above left). it was hilarious to witness mr.a meet his match. they talked about so many random subjects (helicopters, military stuff, beer, red bull, colorado, etc.), i quietly slipped out of the conversation to avoid being put to sleep. (ha, kidding.) but seriously, these two are quite a pair. as mr.a put it, "when you're talking to zach, you feel like he literally just read the wikipedia article on the subject."
welcome to my world, seth.

above: zach is either scared to go dancing or scared of the ghost on his girlfriend's head.

since i completely forgot to take any outfit pictures, here's a gratuitous, myspace-esque bathroom picture of what i wore (complete with toothbrush):

dress: old navy
belt: old navy
black tights: ?
black booties: old navy
necklace: stella & dot
i wish i'd loaded up with a bunch of bangles or something, but i sort of rushed to get ready so accessories were kept to a minimum.

. . .

other highlights of the weekend included a brunch date at panera with my little ladies...

and a trip out to nana & papa's house where we saw a beautiful sunset...

and had a nice relaxing evening...

with a bit of entertainment...

do: the prom.

2011-11-21T11:26:00.001-06:00

did you ever watch that show 7th heaven? my family would watch it (and make fun of the terrible acting) because our dad was also a pastor and we had almost as many kids in our family. remember they used to always go to "the prom" (promenade)? they'd walk around, meet up with boys, get ice cream and usually end up in some sort of trouble ("oh no! lucy's best friend is secretly homeless and bulimic and got caught stealing from the t-shirt shop! we better call mom & dad.")

anyway, on friday night we went to our own prom; the holiday promenade in east village. they host this event every year to kick off the christmas season. all the shops have yummy snacks and drinks, great sales, and fun entertainment. (a seniors tap-dancing troupe? ohyestheydid.) mr.a had to be at camp dodge all weekend, so he didn't join us, but we met up with friends and my sister and nephews even joined us for the fireworks display. an unexpected benefit to daylight savings time is being able to watch fireworks at 6:15!

we walked around, sampled, shopped and took in the beautiful window displays. our favorite was at the dance studio...

but a close-second was the bridal boutique...

we looove eden!

and quinn loves pickin' that nose...

despite a few brief moments of wildness, the girls did awesome and had a lot of fun in each of the stores. (not to mention being bribed by endless sweets...)

again, quinn with the nose...

kiehl's heaven...

the boys give the traditional no-shave-november greeting...

we ended the night with sushi at miyabi 9. again, i was impressed that the girls were well-behaved past their bed time. erin even got quinn to sample a little sushi roll!

if you live in the des moines area, consider doing your christmas shopping among the local business community, especially in east village! there is an awesome variety of shops that have a great selection of unique gifts for anyone on your list!

via

wear: land of the lost.

2011-11-18T10:56:00.003-06:00

sometimes it's tough to get good (or any) pictures of the outfits i wear. since i take about 80% of my own pictures, whether it's the weather, timing, lighting or location--there are all kinds of challenges to getting a decent picture. and, let's be honest, my standards for a "decent picture" are pretty low to begin with.
here are some recent outfits that never saw the light of day for one reason or another...

rainy day.

on this day it was pouring outside so i tried to snap a few pictures in our janky garage. maybe not terrible, but the outfit itself wasn't very exciting to begin with. fail.
top: anthropologie
necklace: j.crew
bracelets: gift, patina, j.crew, j.crew
jeans: ag
sandals (not pictured): dv via dsw

bad shoes.

i wore this outfit last week and i have no idea why i chose to wear those shoes. blech. it's not that the shoes are so bad (metallic keds? why not!) but, for some reason i hate them with this. they're much more suited for summer and maybe a little too matchy with all that grey on top. i wish i'd worn my brown boots or something. fail.

sweater: j.crew

button-down: target
pants: heritage

shoes: keds via gap

dead battery.

now that the sun sets by 5, it's really hard to squeeze in an outdoor picture. on this afternoon i was trying to find a spot in the yard that wasn't so bright and then...my battery died. by the time it was charged it was pitch black outside. fail.

hat: forever21
tunic: target
belt: old navy
pants: walmart
booties: old navy
bracelet: j.crew

repetitive.

you may recognize this outfit if you read last week's work-it wednesday. the reason it didn't get its own post is because i realized this sweater has been in like, every other wear post since i bought it. though the sweater purchase is clearly a win, repetitive posts are not. fail.

vest: j.crew
sweater: j.crew factory

tank: target

jeans: forever21

boots: steve madden

necklace: super-old

sunglasses: fossil

well, i'm glad i got those out in the open. otherwise they'd be sitting in a folder, collecting dust and taking up space on my hard drive for the rest of their days.
(did i seriously just use the word hard drive? i don't even know what that means. better stop while i'm ahead...)

happy friday!

see: if you don't have instagram...

2011-11-17T11:01:00.000-06:00

if you don't have instagram* i feel like you're missing out on a really great way to add more creep to your life. (in case facebook, twitter and blogs just weren't doing it for you...) it's sort of like seeing mini blog posts all throughout the day. instead of just reading what someone is eating for lunch through a tweet, knowing when someone is at the dmv through a check-in, or learning that someone's toddler just dumped out an entire box of cereal through a facebook status--you get to actually see a picture of it!

here are some moments from our lives that you might have missed...if you don't have instagram.

as much as i miss summer produce, i do love squash.

piper decided to write her first letter to santa! she requested a bike, a hello kitty t-shirt, and a clock.

this little lady has certainly increased the level of chaos in our lives, but she's just so dang cute.

last week quinn woke up with cutest bed-head ever.

i totally scored at the consignment shop this week. j.crew cashmere sweater and citron pashmina.

seems like a spend a lot of time behind this wheel, waiting in the carpool lane.

the girls and i have been having weekly coffee dates at our favorite cafe.
we all love it there and sort of wish we lived next door.

sometimes it's nice to ignore the to-do list and just take a much-needed sunday nap.

like kids, i think dogs are sweetest when they're sleeping.

sometimes we visit mr.a on the job. we trade him lunch for snuggles.

these two are like calvin & hobbes.

last weekend i read a great article on several men & women, over 70, who have made a big impact in making des moines the city it is today. it was inspiring to me. building your legacy starts yesterday. below is one of my favorite quotes from michael gartner (pictured above):

watch this video to add a little more inspiration to your day!

*i think you have to have an iphone. maybe? yes? i don't really know.

wear: the day after.

2011-11-16T16:56:00.001-06:00

thank-you all for your encouraging comments on yesterday's rambler. i hope i wasn't whining. between the two year old and the four year old, i hear a lot of whining throughout the day, and sometimes i just need to whine back a little bit. getting that post out of my head really helped, and i went on to have a positive and productive day that even included (as piper would say) a
"teensy-weensy-beensy" bit of retail therapy.

a few days ago i pinned* this great dress from old navy that seemed like the perfect lbd, so i went to see if our local store had it. they did, and it is indeed the perfect lbd. (at least for me.) it's very basic and i've already pictured wearing it ten different ways. (<---that's a lie i just told for the sake of the sentence. i only pictured wearing it 3 different ways, but i know there are at least 7 more ways to wear it.) while i was there i just happened to see this sweater in my favorite shade of blue. and it just happened to be $5 off plus another 10% off. and the checkout guy told me i could come back during black friday and they would price-adjust it for me in case it gets marked down further. score.

besides my old navy stop i also paid my utility bill, went grocery shopping, totally re-organized my closet (including transferring out summer clothes), made a legit dinner, made thanksgiving plans, put away a ton of laundry, checked off one e-mail response and watched the new girl. (i'm loving that show. and i love justin long.)

above: quinn taking a moment to whine at me. yeah that's a fake smile.

sweater: old navy

scarf: old navy

tank: liz lange
(ha! i swear i'm not pregnant.)
black jeans: gap
moccasins: minnetonka

sunglasses: ray ban

*i finally figured out pinterest! and i love it! i'm not out-of-control addicted (yet), but it's really fun and such a good way to bookmark all that internet-y goodness out there. if i was savvy enough, i'd add a button on the sidebar of my blog. but since i don't know how to do that, here's where you can find me outside of dtwsld:

twitter: @BeArganbright
pinterest: bethany arganbright

instagram: @bearganbright

think: to-do or to-don't.

2011-11-15T10:46:00.000-06:00

warning: this is going to be one of those ramshackle posts that is poorly-written but will hopefully make me feel better after i'm done.

i've never been good at focusing on one task at a time. my mind is constantly flooded with the ten other things that need to be accomplished before the end of the day and i find it difficult to start a project and see it to completion. my mom thinks the women in our family have ADD--she might be right.

this morning i'm thinking about the rest of the laundry that needs to be put away (though, i'm proud to say i made great strides in this area yesterday), the laundry room that needs to be painted (it's currently the brightest yellow you've ever seen, but somehow still looks dingy and gross), the groceries that need to be purchased, the workouts that have been on the back-burner, the shower curtain liner that needs to be replaced, the e-mails i need to answer (that's you jill, alison, christi, mandi, olivia and dad!), the walk that maisy needs, the lunch with manda i need to reschedule (soon!), the blog post i need to write, the midamerican bill i need to pay, the cable bill i need to question (up $16 since last month? um, no.), the snacks that need to be brought to piper's classroom, the haircut that needs to be scheduled (just a trim), the bathroom drawers that need to be organized, the plans for thanksgiving that need to be made, and the for sale sign i really want to stick in the front yard by the end of the week. not to mention the fact that christmas is around the corner. (is it really?!)

i know this isn't unique to the female experience. i know that every mother (every woman? every person?) has errands to run and things to do and people to please and bills to pay and endless other stressors... how do we silence all those demanding voices to just focus on one thing at a time? how do we know what to put on the backburner and when to take it off? or is it actually possible to balance it all at once?

i read blogs. so i know there are women out there who (appear to) make everything from scratch and sew their own clothes and wash their hair everyday and make crafts with their children and, on top of that, take gorgeous pictures of it all and blog about it. i understand that will never be me. i can't sew, i don't bake and i only wash my hair 3 times a week. i don't strive to be perfect and i honestly don't beat myself up for not being one of "those" women (whether they're a figment of the blog world or not...). but i do want to continue to grow and learn and be the best version of me. i don't want to always be so scattered. i don't want piper to be 4 minutes late to school every day. i don't want to always feel rushed which leads to irritation which leads to another lost temper.

i want to live a healthy, balanced, peaceful life. a life where i feel close to god and close to the people i love. i want my children to feel safe, secure, and loved. i want my husband to feel respected, loved, and confident that i would choose him all over again, every day of my life.

when i think about my family and what i want for them, all the other demands seem a little less... demanding. of course i still need to pay my bills and it'd be good if i made it to the grocery store today, but those things aren't worth my stress or my distraction.

so i guess there's my answer.

wear: black & blue.

2011-11-11T08:56:00.000-06:00

as much as i love this super-soft, somewhat sweatshirt, sort-of sweater; i've found it hard to pair with jeans. what? jeans go with everything! yes, i know. however, the shade of blue just doesn't look quite right with most of the denim in my closet. not all shades of denim are created equal, mind you, and i've often thought this odd shade of navy would look best with a really light-washed, vintage-looking denim. but i think i've finally found another alternative. (yes, these are the dilemmas that plague me at night.)

yesterday morning i needed an outfit that leaned more towards function than fashion. i threw on this top, but was then faced with what pants to wear. i grabbed the almost-black jeans i'd worn the night before and discovered the perfect partner for the elusive, blue sweatshirt-sweater.

black & navy.
the perfect rule-breaking combo.

navy sweater: splendid

grey tank: target

black jeans: forever 21

rubber boots: marshall's

beanie: super-old, no idea

watch: timex/target

wear: work it wednesday.

2011-11-09T17:08:00.000-06:00

i haven't joined in on work it wednesday for a while, so today i thought i'd highlight one of my favorite things in my closet: The Vest.
i mentioned in another post that it's very rare for me to pay full-price for clothing unless i'm at forever21 or some other cheap spot. but this vest was not only a gift (that i picked out for myself with a gift card), i consider it an investment. (jon, if you're reading this, don't laugh. i know how you feel about "investing" money into clothing. ha! )
i knew i'd be able to wear this year round with countless outfits.
so far, i feel like it has lived up to my expectations.

this summer i wore it to an outdoor music festival...

and a night of dancing...

this fall i wore it casually...

and a little bit dressy...

and lately i've worn it cozy...

and layered...

i can't wait to wear it with a long-sleeved, striped dress hanging in my closet and i think it'd look really cute with wedge booties and a maxi skirt, too! (<---inspired by jill's work it wednesday post today!)