Momma Fashion 101 {What 2 Wear 4}

 

I am loving that fall is here full swing! Fall means scarves, sweaters, jeans and occasionally flip flops. Yes I am one of those people. I wear flip flops until my little toes are going to fall off because it's so cold.  Anywho...this is what I wore last week!

1. Jeans: ANA from JCP, Top: Arizona from JCP the picture doesn't show it real well, it ties in the front and has lots of ruffles on the chest. Its a very feminine top. Sweater: Arizona from JCP, Scarf: Australian Angora my step mom got it for me while traveling to Australia, it is the softest and warmest scarf I have ever worn and by far on of my favs!

2. Pants: Ann Taylor wide leg brown pants, Long sleeve T: Target $7 special, Cardigan: Kohls brand Take Out, Scarf: Aeropostale last season and still in love

3. Jeans: Ann Taylor wide leg jean, Top: ANA from JCP with cream tank underneath, Cardigan: ANA from JCP 3/4 sleeve length 

4. Jeans: Anna Taylor wide leg jean, Top: White House Black Market black top with off to the side neckline I think this top is a few years old, but they always have great basic black tops at WHBM, Cardigan: White House Black Market black and sequin cardigan 3/4 sleeve length. I love this cardigan you can dress it up for and evening out our dress it down for and use it for some flash.

5. Jeans: Cruel Girl boot cut  from Cavenders, Frock: Dallas Sample Sale sorry girls there were only a few, although you see this type of frock all over the place, Sweater: Decree from JCP by far my fav this season, can you tell?

If you have questions, I am open, shoot me an email or comment right here!

Momma Fashion 101 {What to Wear 2}

Momma Fashion 101 {What 2 Wear} continues with on with week 2! I have had some great feedback on this series so that is always really exciting!

This W2W is actually from last week, I just did not have time to post it. I have been working a part time job to bring in some extra cash for the holidays and man oh man is it kicking my butt! But (haha) I am enjoying being in the working world for just a bit and making money is always nice! So with out further adue here we go!

1. ANA jeans, ANA sweater, plain white tshirt from Ross with white cami under. (we don't want to show our unmentionables!)

2. ANA jeans, black tank layered with white tank, sweater/top thing from Marshalls, necklace from Kohls last year. Every girl needs pearls (or fake ones at least).

3. Black leggings, Calvin Klein sun dress with pink tank under, Decree sweater, Justin boots.

4. ANA jeans, ANA 3/4 sleeve button up layered with Express short sleeve sweater.

Not on jeans: I really like the ANA jeans from JCPenny, I own several pairs of the same style and several in different styles. If you find a pant or jean you love wear it and buy many! Jeans will make or break an outfit so make sure you find a pair that is flattering to your body type and style. 

momma fashion 101 {what i wear week 1}

I am so excited to begin the next stage of momma fashion 101! Not pretending that I know every thing or always go by the "rules" here I go to show you how as a mom I dress on a daily basis. Unfortunately some of the pictures are kinda fuzzy, so next week I will try to be better at that, and also I hate the scrunchy face I seem to be making in all of them...really what is that! Any tips of the one handed pictures taking please I need them!

  

1. Jeans: JCPenny brand ANA, top: JCPenny brand ANA, cardigan: JCPenny brand ANA

2.  Jeans: JCPenny brand ANA, top: JCPenny brand ANA, cardigan: JCPenny brand Decree
3. Jeans: JCPenny brand ANA, top: JCPenny brand ANA, cardigan:

Kohls brand Take Out
4. Jeans: Kohls brand Candies, top: JCPenny brand St.John's Bay, cardigan: Ross

5. This was my job hunting outfit, and it won me a part time job!

Skirt: Harold's, top: JCPenny brand Arizona

I think I shop at JCPenny alot more than I realized...Come back next week for 5 all new outfits!

{momma fashion 101} renewing your makeup routine

 

School marks the beginning of Fall for most of us, especially us out in blogland, and with Fall comes a sense of needing to renew and restart. A lot of us begin a new workout schedule, do a Fall cleaning (equally as important as the Spring cleaning), renew our home with Fall decorations and various other tasks. However, how often do we look at our makeup routine and renew that? Not often I venture to say. Just like we renew our home to make it look better, we need to renew our makeup to make ourselves look better! Makeup should be invisible when applied correctly, otherwise major aging goes on.

Beauty Rule #1: Concealer!

We all love it and we probably all need it. Applying concealer lightly and only to the places you need it will do more for you than any other product out there. Dab it on and blend it in, rubbing is counterproductive.

Beauty Rule #2: Get rid of the lines.

There should be no distinct lines (not visible, distinct...there is a difference) on your lips, lids, or anywhere else on your face. A great product to help hold your shadow in place is Stay Don't Stray by Benefit. You can get it a Sephora for $26.

Beauty Rule #3: Powder and eyes don't mix.

If you never ever ever read another thing I write, read this! Never put power under your eyes, it will highlight the wrinkles that were otherwise invisible to the naked eye.  It cakes up and just looks funky. This is mainly due to the fact that the skin under your eye is thin and has no oil production.

Foundation. If you don't need it skip it. If you do need to wear it like I have to most days match it not to your arm or wrist but to the skin on your face. I know that goes against everything you have been taught. But logically...why match something your face is wearing to your arm? Also, this is new to me and works wonders, apply it before your concealer. This way you know where you need the extra TLC. Remember that the job of foundation is to prep the surface, not cover the dark spots and acne marks, to much is just..too much.

Concealer. Who doesn't love concealer?! It can change your look and boost your confidence. Make sure you are dabbing it on not rubbing it on and always use a concealer brush. I have one from Sephora, love it!

Powder. I venture to say most of us wear it and benefit from it. But when done wrong, boy is it wrong. Powder only the areas that need it and if you apply too much, giving your face a matte finish, go over your face with a large blush brush to wipe up the extra. Resist the urge to reapply through out the day. Multiple layers of powder will give your face a cakey look. If you are shiny, blot with oil control papers. Biore carries some that are small and compact and work great!

Blush. Blush should be applied in a way that it gives natural color to your cheeks and that is it. If your unsure of what color/colors to use spend an afternoon with your blush colors and makeup remover. Hair color, skin color, eye color, they all play a part in what color is best. For example, during the summer I brighten my hair up and am very tan, I tend to look best in a pink color, and in the winter when I darken my hair a bit a more peachy color does the trick. When applying your blush smile! This will expose the natural apples of your cheeks and give you a fail safe place to apply your blush. Apply your blush first. I learned this from my Mary Kay lady, blush darkens after a few minutes, so often we apply it last and we tend to apply more and then go out looking like a clown. Applying it first gives it time to do it's thing and allows you to tone it down it you need to.

Bronzer. Can I just say I love bronzer. When I am in a hurry bronzer is my best friend. However, like blush if it is done wrong it is wrong. Apply your bronzer with a big brush and apply only to the parts of your face that stick out, cheekbones, forehead, chin and nose. Overdoing bronzer is a dead give away.

Lipstick, gloss and stains. I am a gloss kinda girl. But here are some tips anyway. Matte anything is ageing even on the lips. Add a shine! On the other side too much gloss can teeny bopper you. Sheer stains are good but can actually stain your lips. A good natural color lip gloss finishes any look.

Eyes: liners, shadows and mascara. Because there are so many options for eyes, they are often the most easy to over do. Focus on enhancing your eyes not makeing a dramatic statement. To flatter your eye, stick with a sheer and neutral color. Bold colors can be fun just make sure you are applying them as a wash of color, kind of like a water color and not a marker. Liquid eyeliner...hate it. Use the good ole pencil, make sure it is not to sharp and make dots across the area your are applying. I only apply to the outer corners of my eyes then blend in with a Qtip. Apply your liner before your shadow. This will help it to last longer. If you wear both liner and mascara, by apply your liner first you will use less mascara. However, I only use one or the other, usually just liner then I curl my lashes. If your wearing mascara only use black or brown! Any other color indicates you are about to run off to the circus. Mascara was created to make your lashes look great not like they have mascara on them. One or two coats max is all you need.

Like food, makeup also has a shelf life. Go through your makeup bag, perge the old stuff, get some new stuff and voila a renewed, beatiful you!

linked up to:

{momma fashion 101} Style Don'ts

The original plan when starting this series was to give some basics then go through each of the "styles" around. However, the more I think about it and my knowledge of all styles I think I am sticking with what I know best and that is not divulging into tips on how to be the euber trendy mom or how to be a fashionista. Because frankly I am not either. I have expressed several times my comfort level and how I dress, I dress to please me and make myself feel good while being considerate of my husband and kids. I am instead shifting this series to a more perfecting your style direction. I think that there are some generic tips, do's and don'ts that if we all follow no matter what our style preference is we can do it with grace and elegance.

That being said, I want to share with you some of the don'ts of style that I try to follow. Some of these are spins off research I have done and some are educated thoughts based off what I see of the celebrities doing. I tend to follow Jennifer Aniston and Beth Moore the most when I look to styling myself.

Ultimately as busy wives and moms what we all want is less, the way to get that modern, fresh and uncontrived style is quite simple: less. Clean shiny hair, clear skin, not too much makeup, little jewelry, those should be the basics we stick with, now how do we achieve it?

1. Don't assume there is something wrong with you.

If you have your hairdresser or close friend telling you your hair is too thin, thick or flat, get a new hairdresser! God made us the way we are, perfect in everything he created, he was not wrong. Work with what you have.

2. Don't be afraid to be classic.

Classic does not equal boring. Classic can be very fashionable. If the look works on you why change it? Who cares what the magazines say is cool, if it looks flawless on you it is cool and so are you!

3. Don't try to look like everyone else.

As a blogger we are HORRIBLE at this. We see someones craft and boom we recreate it, we see someones house and boom are house is no longer good enough unless we have the same white cabinets, chevron rug and teal pillows that everyone else has. And ladies it is the same with fashion. We see how another mom dresses and boom we run out and imitate that look. Be you! Changing your look to follow every trend out there shows how insecure we really are.

4. Don't go too blond.

There is nothing pretty about over processed hair. Hair that is bleached too much becomes porous and looses its natural shine. Tone down those over the top highlights, make your hair darker and richer. If you love blond by all means go for it, I have highlighted hair too, just keep it Carmel and not so...white...

5. Don't adopt a regional look.

Our houses are decorated regionally that just the way it is, but your style does not have to follow suite. Style yourself according to your personality not your zip code. Just because your whole neighborhood walks around in swim suits and cover ups does not mean you have to!

6. Don't be too serious.

Accessories are a perfect way to express yourself. Find a pair of great shoes and purse to bring out your personality. Have fun with your style!

7. Don't try to look picture perfect.

I had a hard time with this for years. Every hair had to be in place, lipstick on, always ready. That is exhausting! It's OK if your hair is in a messed up pony. Chances are people will think you did it on purpose anyway.

8. Be creative and confident.

A closet with only ten items in it can be better that one with hundreds. If you have a jacket, scarf, necklace whatever it may be, that looks great on you and you feel great in why change it? Who cares really! If you love it and it suites you what is the point of having a hundred. There is not point and that right there is what reflects real style.

9. Stop adding and start subtracting.

This goes along with #9. Eliminate to bring out the best. I saw alot of bloggers come to this conclusion with their houses this past year. Homes that were filled to the brim with knickknacks and furniture got pared down to the necessities. Apply the same thought process to your makeup, your hair, your clothing. Think about the 5 second face instead of the 5 minute face. When it comes to jewelry, less is absolutely more. We should only wear enough jewelry to balance out look. Too much jewelry looks cheap. When I look at Jennifer Aniston I never see her in a ton of bangles, 3 strands of necklaces and earrings. I see her in a simple watch, small dainty bracelet, toe ring and simple necklace. Too me Jennifer Aniston is the epitome of classic.

10. Take off the logo.

For awhile I thought this was just a quirk of mine, but I actually read it recently when researcring for this series. Tshirts are great and welcomed into any wardrobe, however, gone is the age where logos are cool. We are not cool in American Eagle or Aeropostale. I am not saying don't shop at those places, by all means if you can fit, go but I am saying buy something other than the $10 logo tshirt. They are really for a much young generation....our kids.

There you go girlies, have fun, be you, be confident, be classic and be happy! 

linked up to:

{momma fashion 101} trendy for the not so trendy

As I look around at the various people in my life, in my church, in the stores, my friends, my acquaintances, I notice that we all have our own styles. Some of us love flip flops and cargo pants, some of us love skirts and tank tops and yet others of us love to be the fashionista of the group. So far I have had a serious post, a helpful post and a fun post and now I want to begin breaking down our styles and hitting some basics that can make any outfit trendy without over doing the trend.

I want to start with the group that I think most of us fall into...trendy for the not so trendy. This is no jab so please don't take it as one. I am not saying "hey here is how to be trendy"! Because if I am being honest the "trendy ship" sailed a few years back and now I am just a mom finding my style. What trendy for the not so trendy IS saying, is we want to be a bit more trendy but not keep up with all the latest fashions, like when the peasant look came around a few years back, we all jumped on the peasant shirt band wagon. Lets not do that, lets find what suits us and stick a few trends in there.

Not to Trendy Trend #1: The Saddlebag

I absolutely love this because lets face it, we are probably all moms and have to carry a bazillion things including our kids, and a falling purse needs to be the least of our worries. The saddlebag is perfect for us! And when I say perfect for us, I am referring to the classic leather saddlebag, not the plaid or stripped saddlebag we see the teenage girls wearing. Key thing to remember when being trendy, is the big ticket items like purses and shoes should be kept classic in color and pattern, this way we can use these items over and over no matter what changes.

Not to Trendy Trend #2: Pleats

On us, not on our spouses. Pleated pants on men are still a NO! If we want to look well put together and trendy the best way to do that is with pleats. Let me explain...nothing says "I am trying to be my 16 year old daughter" more than to tight cloths (and lets face it at 30 we got the muffin top that NO ONE wants to see) and on the other side nothing is saying "Gramma here" more than a really baggy shirt. To help solve the dilemma, pleats please! A pleated top prevents the fabric from sticking to our midsection with out being to baggy and loose fitting. A dress with a crinkly pleated top and midsection hides the imperfections we all have. And a pleated skirt I LOVE! Dress it up or down either way it is fun!

Not to Trendy Trend #3: Mary Janes

Who else wore these adorable shoes when you were a kid? They were by far not my favorite but now?! I love them. Mary Janes wedges, Mary Jane stilettos, Mary Jane flats...not matter how they are done they scream timeless trend. I am not a big fan of shoes that I can not slip on my feet but I adore this style! Worn with a slack or jean, skirt or dress, the options are endless what this chic shoe can bring to your style.

Not to Trendy Trend #4: Sheer

Light weight, easy to layer, girly, flirty and fun are all words I would use to describe sheer. I have held off the sheer top for quite some time, however I found myself trying one on a few weeks back and I fell in love with it. Let me be clear in the sheer top I am referring to, this is NOT the white sheer top covered in blinged out crosses or other designs paired with a black or teal bra NO NO! This sheer top can be either a tank top or button up that you pair with a matching tank.

Example #1:

I purchased this top in cream from JCPenny and paired it with a cream cami.  The top is a sheer cream fabric, very light and easy to move in and easy to layer to dress up or down.

Example #2:

I also purchased this tank top from JCPenny, it comes with a sewn in tank under it, again lightweight and flirty. When I wear this tank I feel girly and pretty, and with the recent cold front that hit Texas I was able to layer it with a cardigan.

Not to Trendy Trend #5: Find that love it outfit

We all have those days, you know those days I am talking about...the I am bloated, crampy, grumpy, feeling blah, bad hair, acne, nothing looks right on me kinda day. I just had one Sunday actually. I stood in my closet and even though I love everything I own I didn't like any of it that day. So I put on my black wrap dress, my tallest heels, and put my hair in a loose messy pony tail. This is my love it outfit. No matter what, I love myself in this outfit, I can pair the dress with several different shoes all the way from dressy to my pink top cowgirl boots and still feel good about myself. FIND THAT OUTFIT FOR YOU! Have a never fails outfit that you can put on, look yourself in the mirror and say..."Yes I am bloated but I look GREAT!"

No matter the trend if you are having that kind of day feeling good about yourself and the way you look makes all the difference in the world.

{momma fashion 101} cleaning in heels

Yes you read the title right!

During a rant about my ever expanding tush (what the heck happens when we turn 30 anyway??!) to my cousin who is more like a sister than a cousin, she mentioned cleaning in heels. I laughed because while I have a closet full of beautiful high heels that I only wear on Sundays now, I couldn't seriously imagine cleaning in them. Sure I have mastered the art of graceful walking in 6" heels, ran across a football field to my hurt child during practice in heels, I can successfully walk up and down stairs holding my sons hand while carrying my bible, my purse and a full cup of coffee lid not included and not spill a drop or fall over, BUT CLEAN IN THEM...now that is another story! However, after rolling the thought around in my head a bit I did some research and while they say the excessive wearing of heels may cause calluses and even symptoms of schizophrenia (scary and who knew), the benefits far outweighed those measly little cons.

High Heels Make Perfect Posture...say what?!

Just look at your self in the mirror! Your back is straight, and shoulder square and back. When accustomed to wearing high heels, we are actually improving our posture and creating a perfect body.

High Heels help Reduce Back Pain

Not literally, but this is a case of mind over matter. When we stand in perfect body posture and top it off with a great attitude we tend to avoid all the grumpiness. When we look good we feel good, same concept.  

High Heels Look More Attractive

You may or may not agree with me on this, but in my opinion and from what I have read the overall consensus is high heels make us look more attractive. They make us taller, elongate our legs, immediately tightens our calf muscle, firms our tush and boosts our confidence, who doesn't need a little of that then doing the oh so mundane task of cleaning?!

High Heels Improve Pelvic Strength

In a study conducted on 66 women aged under 50 years it showed the wearing of high heels 2" to 5cm forms a 15 degree angle toward the ground, thus creating electrical activity in the pelvic floor muscles. This posture means the pelvic floor muscles are at the optimum position, which can improve the strength and ability when contracted. Hello help during labor!

There we have it, definite pros and cons. But do they really scream "wear me while your cleaning!" really it's up to you. For me, I am a 30 year old stay at home mom, I have always had a high metabolism, although when I turned 30 things changed, my flat stomach has a bit of a muffin top and my tush is turning a bit bubbly. We have no local gym here and I cant bear to drive 30 minutes to sweat, so I use what I have. Since we live in a two story house I run when I go up the stairs and yes I have began wearing my heels while I clean. I don't wear them every day (since I have OCD and boys I clean daily) but 3 times a week when I do my light house cleaning I wear them. Monday and Friday are my "CLEANING" days where all the nasty gets swept away and the other 3 days I just give a quick wipe down of all surfaces. So on those quick days I take advantage of the hour and wear my heels, not my jimmy choos though! 

{momma fashion 101} develop your style

{Do you know what your style is?}

 

I think as we get older, instead of being really trendy and following all the latest fashions - we need to develop our own style, one that suits us and our life.

 Develop a style that is you from the inside out – if you’re feminine, look for fabrics that drape and have softness. If you have a casual life, look for tops and skirts that move easily, and that are comfortable but good quality so they don’t stretch out and look baggy.

We need to remember that dressing like a 20 year old won’t keep us looking 20. In fact just the opposite, dressing in clothes that fit and flatter and that show an understanding of the latest fashions will keep you ageless. Focus on developing a look that has more sophistication as you age, but make sure you retain some fun elements that show your personality! 

Just because we are moms and in our 30's doesn't mean we have to dress boring!

I have developed a casual style. I want to be comfortable all the time whatever I am doing. In my closet you will find alot of black, white and tan, with the occasional pop of color, flip flops and jeans...lots of jeans.

My favorite brand of jeans are A.N.A from JCPenny. They have a cute detail on the back pockets and their boot cut fit is great, I also love the length even after they have been washed multiple times.

When I first started trying to develop my style I realized that I was always drawn to Jennifer Aniston. I adore the down to earth, chic way she dresses and styles her hair. I guess you could say she is my fashion icon.

Once you have developed your style, then you can trim down your closet (if you need to that is). I have found that it helps me to have in my closet only things that I LOVE to wear and that I know look good on my body type. I know that when I get dressed I am going to be happy which helps my overall day because I love everything I own.

What do you fill your closet with after you have determined and developed your style?

Following these simple guidelines will help you be the best dressed you possible.

Know your body shape! Get in front of a full-length mirror and try on all the clothes in your closet. Get rid of anything that is too tight and too revealing or too loose and frumpy. Keeping cloths forever may seem like it's saving you money but nothing will age you faster than an out of date 7 year old pair of jeans.

Show skin appropriately! Tops that show off your shoulders and neckline are timeless and can be worn at any age, however it is safe to say at our age and stage of life we need to stay away from mini-skirts and midriff-baring tops. 

Stick with the classic looks! A well-tailored jacket paired with classic-cut pants, a wrap dress, plain t's and boot cut jeans are all elements that show sophistication. Look for dark wash jeans with a plain wash (rather than ripped, torn, distressed or whiskered), these are dressier and more classic and won’t date too quickly. If you are worried they aren't trendy enough, find jeans with details on the pockets. It adds a hint of trend with out saying "Hey I am imitating my 16 year old daughter"! Make sure you hem your pants for the different shoes you own. Having a pair hemmed for flats and one for heels will help you with that classic look also. Stepping on our jeans needs to end! Keeping with these classic styles will help you look good at any age.

Follow trends in small doses! It is OK to be trendy, even fun! But, instead of spending tons of money every few months to stick with the new trends do it with accessories such as jewelry and scarves. Wearing a few accessories shows that you are still a fashionista not a slave to clothing trends.

With those basics we should all be able to put together a classic, but fashion forward wardrobe good for any occasion. Have fun with what you own, but do it with your lifestyle and age in mind! I really believe if we can fill our closets with things we love and are comfortable on us we will be able to get out of the pj/sweat pant mode and into well dressed momma mode. I will never forget a few years ago my son who was in 3rd grade at the time told me I could not go into his school the way I was dressed. I was dropping him off in the morning and had on a pair of sweatpants with a ratty t-shirt, my hair was up and I had on no makeup. Really whats the big deal??? I didn't go in, instead took a cue from him and got "dressed" when I need to go inside his school. Our kids are watching us, looking at who we are and how we treat ourselves. Be good to yourself and start with what you put on!

 

new series intro: {momma fashion 101}

I am so excited to announce the new series

 {momma fashion 101}

 coming September 5th!

As moms, myself particularly, we struggle with being young, wanting to feel young, maybe unsure what is age appropriate because we still fit into the junior section, chores or even being inside for days on end. I am writing this series for you as much as I am writing it for me.

I want to share with you a few of my struggles and through this series hopefully help us all break free and be able to be well dressed, chic mommas.

I have always prided myself in my cloths and the labels on them. When I worked I could afford to shop at the super snazzy stores, you know the ones I'm talking about...White House Black Market, Ann Taylor, Francesca's Collections...and now that I am a stay at home mom, I daydream about the days I could go in there and shop. I have found myself over the last 4 years going through a series of changes in the way I dress. At first I was so excited to be at home I worked out all the time so I was always in tennis skirts and workout cloths, then after awhile that got old, so I wore the flowy loose fitting skirts and tanks, then we moved out to the country where the biggest store is Wal Mart and it is likely you will see some one bare foot and in their pj's. I was in culture shock! I vowed to NEVER EVER do that, I found myself getting way to dressed up to run errands just to show the people of this small town I was not like them. Then that too got old. I bought a pair of boots and some great fitting jeans and now I find myself in jeans and boots during the winter and flip flops and shorts during the summer. I even realized I took and posted a picture of my on this blog with out makeup, that is how seldom I wear it these days.

I am tired of it. Tired of feeling blah, tired of dressing blah. I am only 30! I am young, I want to be comfortable but well dressed, I have a closet full of stuff, but more often then not I find myself in shorts, tanks and flip flops! Instead of shopping at the ritzy stores I shop at Marshalls, Ross and JCPenny. My heels have been traded for boots and flip flops.

So my quest is this: to regain ME but a different and fun ME and to help you regain you! I want to show y'all that cleaning can be done in jeans not sweatpants, that makeup can be fast and fun, hair is simple and accessorizes take an outfit SO much further. But with all that said I also want to keep it age appropriate! Lets remember our age ladies, the days of booty shorts and bra straps ended when we turned 24 or had kids (which ever happened first) There is nothing that takes away from our beauty like our unmentionables hanging out. I was shocked when I walked into my 5th graders parent/teacher orientation and saw how some of the moms dressed. I can only imagine as horrified as I was to see it, the kids (especially boys) were even more horrified to be with their moms, the girls are growing up learning that their body is what matters most.

Let's change that!

Welcome to {momma fashion 101} a fun series that will rejuvenate and teach us all how to be chic mommas (who don't embarrass our kids)!