August 31, 2016

Remix: Cowl-Neck, Stripe Turtleneck




I picked up this cowl-neck turtleneck during the after Christmas sales at Loft, back in early January 2013. Since then, I have styled it year after year by itself and as a layering piece. A stripe turtleneck is a wardrobe staple that can be dressed up or down and worn for years. It doesn't have to be an investment piece either, I think this one was under $30 & again, it has lasted almost 4 years (so far!). Here is how I have style my cowl-neck beauty here on the blog (because obvi, I have worn it about 100 more times then this!). ;) 

August 29, 2016

Classic Transitional Style

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Is there anything more classic transitional style then a button-up shirt paired with skinny jeans and a denim jacket? I think not. Year in and year out this pairing can be styled while being considered on trend, and as an added bonus, can also be quite chic when done correctly. 

August 26, 2016

Home Decor: Building in Built-Ins

My family moved into a new home about 8 weeks ago, and we decided we wanted to make a few changes right away. This was new construction, but we did not pick out the details since we bought a speck home.  To be clear, this is our dream home! There is not much we would change, but we really wanted a finished mudroom (post coming soon) and we needed to come up with an idea for our entryway front room (or flex room if you will). Here is what the front room looked like right when you enter the house:

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We decided a floor-to-ceiling built-in against the far wall would not only make the space look bigger, but it would also give us a great library/media room. We all love reading and have a giant collection of books, movies, records, CDs, cassettes, and video games, so this built-in would really be the hub of all thing media in our home. I drew out what I wanted it to look like and met with a few handy men to see prices and likelihood of bringing my design to life. 

We ended up working with a great carpenter named Phil, and he surpassed my expectations for this room. We also hired someone to paint it for us. If you live in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and are looking for a handyman or painter email me and I will send you their info. I would highly recommend both! 

Here is the evolution of our built-ins: 
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My hubby gave me full control over the design and color so I went with my first choice of gray. I didn't realize how many shades of gray there actually are, but in the end I went with a shade named chromed. 

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Now we need to load it up, hang some wall art, add a couple chairs and a table, and find a spot for our record, cassette, and CD player. I will do another post when the room is finished, I was just too excited to not share my progress so far! 

What do you think? What would you have done with the flex room? 

August 24, 2016

Stripes & Polka dots & Red Slippers (Oh My!)

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I love everything about this outfit! Or I should say, I love each piece of this outfit so much. I kid you not, these shoes have become a fast favorite. I have only worn them once, but I can tell they will be my daily go-tos to add a great pop of color for many months to come. I also am obsessing over this great sweater. "Paris please", yes please! I found this beauty highly discounted at a Banana Republic outlet store and I didn't even try it on. I mean, when you know, you know! That brings me to the skirt. This is Kaitlyn's skirt (and I have worn it before too) and even though it's a few years old, it is still a major go-to for both of us. What's not to love about a navy polka dot bottom? 

August 18, 2016

Blast from the Past

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Do you ever loose or forget about clothing items and then find them years later? Well, that's exactly what happened to me with this tank. I purchased it back in 2012 and wore it a handful of times prior to "loosing" it. Fast forward four years when I was packing up to move and I came across a bin in my laundry of summer clothing. This bin had apparently been there for a few years and to my delight I found a few oldies but goodies. Since the move, I have worn it twice and I am so glad I still own this beauty. You can really wear it with anything and even though it's a bold print, it really hasn't gone out of style! SOLID! 

August 15, 2016

Recipe: Tuna-Stuffed Avocados

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Today I wanted to share with you one of my favorite lunch recipes. You can change this recipe up to fit your tastes (and/or dietary needs), but this is the way I make it most often. I usually eyeball it, so I tried to get measurements this past time I made it. I give you tuna-stuffed avocados. 

August 10, 2016

You Can Keep Your Boyfriend's Shirt, I Found a Better One!

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 I have always been a fan of stealing my husband's collar shirts. OK, I like borrowing all of them and have ever since he was my boyfriend over a decade ago! Lately, I have been on the hunt for a shirt of my own in this style, and this one from J.Jill really checks all of the boxes for me. 

August 4, 2016

Palm Print Obsession





Anyone else obsessed with palm print? OK, I know there are a lot of us out there as this print has kicked into high gear the past few years. Whether it is your favorite romper or accent pillow, palm print is here to stay in a major way (it's even got me rhyming!). 

August 2, 2016

Dressing to Music: Silversun Pickups- Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)



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You know those songs you just can't get out of your head? This is totally one of them for me. I literally turn it way up whenever I hear it on the radio or play it on our Sonos system at home. You know you love a song when your kids start knowing the words and requesting it throughout the day as well.