Holiday Dressing

 I have heard in the past people saying that you can never be too overdressed.  I have to say, I beg to differ, I DO NOT like to be over dressed for things.  I think part of the fun and the challenge of fashion is to be perfectly dressed for whatever occasion you are dressing for. Just my opinion, but there ya go.  One of the things that I love about this time of year, is that over dressing is part of the magic of Christmas :)  Holiday parties just beg for glitz and glamour.

 My husband has a fun work party coming up and I have been trying to think what I would like to wear to it. It isn't one that is too formal, but still one I should dress nice for.  This is one of the outfits that I thought of for such an occasion.  This jacket is probably my current favorite piece of clothing in my wardrobe.  It is SO well made and I love the subtle sparkle it has.

Have you heard of eShakti?  Let me tell you, their clothes are GORGEOUS and so reasonably priced.  My favorite thing about he site however is that you can customize the pieces of clothing that you purchase from them.  I don't know about you, but so many times I see a piece in the stores that I like, but don't love.  You can change hem lines and sleeves which are always the two main things that I feel need to be fixed.  I am SUPER excited about this lovely shop!


Please excuse my feet being cut off, I had my 8 year old photographer with me today :)

 Blazer: c/o eShakti | Shirt: Loft | Trousers: Banana Republic | Shoes: Aldo | Jewelry: Jcrew | Sunglasses: Ross

Caramel Mint

 I really like to take my outfit pics on bright, sunny days.  When it is dark or cloudy outside they just aren't that great.  Well...today was a dark gloomy day, and I just decided to go with it and these pictures that the light was pretty dark.  But I guess you get the idea.

 I am still in the process of teaching myself that some of the old fashion rules no longer apply.  Like wearing pastels in the winter.  It is something in the past I never would do, and even today when reaching for a pair of jeans, I noticed these WAY at the bottom of the drawer because they haven't been used for a while and I thought, why not.  I am so glad I did, I felt like by adding the camel colored cardi and boots, it was a pretty good fall outfit as well.

 My cute friend and photographer Brittany dared me to show you her socks and flip flopped feet and tell you they are all the rage...isn't that obvious!?  Definitely a cute look :)  She is such a good sport to take pictures when I come and grab her from her toasty house into the cold air of the outside.

Sweater: Buckle | Shirt: Modbe | Cardigan: Jcrew | Jeans: Target | Booties: Target | Bag: Aldo | Bracelets: F21 and Jcrew

One WARM Day in November

 Today I wore this outfit as I was running errands and volunteering at my boys' school and I was DYING of heat.  It is so crazy this is the end of November because the weather is so warm (until the sun goes down...)

 Today I did a little baptism photo shoot with my cute Lincoln.  I really am liking how they turned out...and I will be up late editing them as his baptism is Saturday and I need to print them asap.

I sure love this sweet boy of mine.

Jacket and top: Layers | Jeans: American Eagle | Booties: Target | Sunglasses: Ross | Bag: Aldo | Belt: Bohme Boutique |
Bracelets: F21 and Jcrew

Shopping with Boys

 My little Lincoln just turned 8 on Saturday.  In my religion 8 is a big birthday as it is when we are baptized.  We went to a menswear shop and bought him a suit for the special occasion.  We had to have it altered  (to fit his skinny body) and the sight of him up there with the tailor taking measurements was just so cute and grown up to me (sniff sniff...)  I love that he is growing up, but I hate it at the same time (I know...what mom hasn't said this a million times, but it is so true so I am saying it too!)

Tonight I headed with him to finish up the shopping and we first went to get shoes.  After that he was ready to go home.  I told him we just needed a few more things and we then headed to Target to get some dress socks (okay and I got some adorable little booties...stay tuned ladies, I am in love.) and he was then ready to go home again.  I told him we were now going to pick out a tie, like he would think it was so awesome...and he nearly started crying from the hatred of shopping...what?  I was baffled.  I was having a ball getting all of his stuff (and mine), and he was in total and absolute misery.

After bribing him with a treat (oh ya, I am a briber...sometimes) we headed to go and get the tie (It needed to be done tonight because I am taking his baptism pictures tomorrow).  We walked into the tie shop and he grabbed the closest one to him, put it in my hands and started to walk out the door.  I made him come back and I showed him all of the great styles of ties they had and he proceeded to pick a different one that he barley looked at and give it to me.  Normally I would have been okay that he decided so quickly on a tie, but these were both hideous not my style (control freak much?)  So finally we picked one that we could both agree on and were both relieved it was over.  Wow, that was definitely not how I thought our shopping date would turn out.  Next time, I am going to pick it all out for him (which I am sure he would be thrilled about) and take him to a movie instead.

 Jacket: Target | Shirt: Jcrew | Jeans: Old Navy | Booties: Famous Footwear | Sunglasses: Ross | Belt: Dillards

Yellow and Blue

 Hello Lovlies!  I hope that you all had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving weekend.  Ours was awesome.  I have to be honest, I didn't do the Black Friday intense shopping thing, but I did get a couple deals to give to Santa Claus...to give to me :)

 I have to be honest as much as I love shopping, clothes and deals (especially when all combined in one), I hate crowds, conflict and claustrophobia (see what I did there?)   All three of those Cs seemed to be connected to Black Friday, so as of yet I haven't ventured out into the fray.  I always think I will do it one year, but that hasn't happened yet.  My style of Black Friday shopping is more to go later after most of the crowds are home taking a nap.  I know...I am a disappointment...

 Sweater: Jcrew | Shirt: Loft | Skirt: Banana Republic | Tights: Target | Belt; F21 | Heels: Aldo | Bag: Kate Spade | Sunglasses: Ross | Necklace: F21

Mix N' Match

 At then end of each season in the past I have taken my clothes from the previous season and put them in bins to be used the next year.  This year I decided that I didn't want to bin them all up and I kept a few around to be used in layering.  I can get in the rut of always wearing a piece of clothing in the same way, it is always so fun for me to discover a new way to wear something.

 One of my favorite things about cold weather dressing is layering.  To be honest, this brown shirt was on my radar for giving to the DI (thrift store in Utah).  I haven't worn it too much for a while and that means trouble for any piece of clothing in my closet (my rule is usually a year and a half.  If I haven't worn it, or haven't liked it when I did wear it...it goes).   This was something I threw together pretty quickly last week for our Park City trip and I have to say I really liked it and I am going to keep it!  I am loving how versatile it is in layering.  I have more plans for the future for this little number.

Shirt: Ann Taylor | Brown shirt: Layers | Jeans: Zara (similar) | Boots: Famous Footwear | Belt: Banana Republic Factory (similar) | Bag: Kate Spade | Sunglasses: Ross

Black and Pink

 Every year my friend Kristen and I go to the ballet "The Nutcracker" together.  I LOVE that ballet, I have such good memories of it from growing up.  We went this past Saturday and had a lovely time.  This was the ensemble I wore (um, ya...not too Christmasy).  Every year I think it might be time to take my boys to "The Nutcracker"...but then I wimp out and think I will try next year.  This year was no exception, I am going to try next year :)

 Tonight we did do something fun that our boys loved, we took them to a Jazz game.  They had a great time and saw a lot of their friends there.  I have to tell you though, if you ever see our family at any event that you are sitting in front of us...move as quickly as you can.  The poor family that sat in front of us had Kettle Corn AND lemonade spilled on them and one of them was kicked as McKay fell down.  Seriously if you see us...head for the hills!

Black shirt: Banana Republic (similar) | Stripe shirt: H&M | Pants: Jcrew | Bracelet: Jcrew | Shoes: Dillards | Sunglasses: Ross

Peekaboo Polka Dots

 This past weekend I broke out the Christmas music...I really do love Thanksgiving week, but so much of Christmas music talks about things I am thankful for (Christ, family, love, home...lots of things), so I thought it apropos.  I have been dying to break out the Christmas movies too, but I am being strong (we've only watch two...)

Last week our family spent a few days in Park City.  It was so much fun! Josh was in meetings for a lot of it, but the boys and I had a great time hanging out in the hotel.

A couple of Instagrams from the weekend.
1. Josh and I had a fun date night to the corporate dinner and then we saw the movie "Lincoln".  It was SUCH  great movie!
2. The boys and I got room service and watched "Brave," while Josh was in meetings. The boys thought room service was pretty magical.
3. Fun open fire...the boys thought it was great and we had to do our best to keep our boys away from it!
4. The hotel that Josh's conference was held in had had s'mores every night at 8:00.  It was so fun!
5. Swimming at the hotel outside in a heated pool.  The boys loved that there was snow everywhere, but we were nice and warm in the pool.

I am so looking forward to this week.  All about being thankful, family, eating :) It is one of my favorite weeks of the year (and I can't wait to put up the Christmas decorations and not feel guilty about pre-Thanksgiving Christmas-ing).

 I created these little dittys this past weekend for my boys teachers for Thanksgiving...kinda proud of them, thought I'd brag share:)

Turtleneck: GAP (similar) | Dress: Jcrew | Tights: Zara (similar here, here and here) | Boots: Aldo | 

Bracelet: Jcrew 

Cobalt

I have been loving so many different combinations of cobalt lately.  This is probably one of my favorite ones though, I have worn many different variations of it during the past two weeks.

Tonight the boys and I went to Park City to be with Josh.  He has been gone all week and had a conference up there.  It was at a lovely hotel and the boys and I swam in the heated outdoor pool (I don't know that I have ever been swimming when there is snow all around me!), at room service while we watched "Brave" (room service is pretty magical to kids 6, 7 and 9...), played air hockey and roasted s'mores at a huge fire pit on the back patio of the the hotel.  It was SUCH a fun night!

I hope everyone has a lovely Pre-Thanksgiving weekend!

 Cardigan: Target (on sale!) | Shirt: Loft | Skirt: Old Navy | Boots: Famous Footwear | Bag: Kate Spade | Necklace: F21 | Sunglasses: Ross

Thanksgiving-ish

Wow, I think my pictures have hit an all time low with our neighbor's garbage can in the background...

                        
This time of year I really just want to wear tons of oranges and browns.  You know fallish, thanksgiving-y, earthy colors.  Our snow is melting here, which I am okay with.  As much as I love a beautiful snowfall, I don't love yucky, mucky snow.  I would be fine if it fell and melted over and over again :)

I really am getting excited for Thanksgiving next week.  We are having some friends over on Monday night for a little pre-Thanksgiving pie party.  Pie is my absolutely favorite dessert ever, and the more of it the better this time of year in my opinion!

Shirt: Loft | Tank: Banana Republic | Cardigan: Layers | Jeans: Zara | Boots: Famous Footwear | Sunglasses: Banana Republic Factory

A Little Parent Teacher Conferencing

 The weather has turned back to being sunny, but the temperatures are still COLD!  I am still refusing to call it winter, I prefer for it to be just a cold autumn...with snow, and ice...but it is still autumn :)

 Today was a major parent pay off day for me.  We got to go to S.E.P. Conferences with our boys.  No idea what the acronym is for, but it is basically parent/teacher conferences where kids come too.  It was so fun to hear all of the good things my boys teachers have to say about them.  We have some seriously awesome teachers and each one is PERFECT for the boy in their class.  I feel so lucky.

In each class our boys were in charge of leading the conference.  First they took Josh and me into their classrooms and showed us different things.  They had all practiced what they were going to say and took us through their projects and what they are currently working on.  I have to say I got a little teary a few times seeing them act so grown up and I left so grateful for teachers that are empowering my boys.  It was definitely a thankful day.  As a parent these are my favorite times!

Shirt: F21 | Cardigan: Jcrew Factory | Jeans: Bohme Boutique | Booties: Steve Madden via Ebay | Sunglasses: Ross | 

Belt: Dillards | Necklace: F21

Bright

 In November, when we have early snow here in Utah, it is pretty typical to have some dreary grey days.  I really don't mind them as right now they are a novelty.  It is a chance for us to stay inside and snuggle.  My boys are usually running all different directions with friends, sports and activities, and to be honest, sometimes I just want them to myself.  So a dreary, snowy day I don't mind too much.

 Dreary however can quickly become the norm for the next 4-5 months and it gets pretty old fast. I however, like to keep my clothes bright and happy through the winter months.  It definitely helps fight the winter blues.

 Today wasn't super dreamy, but it was definitely FREEZING!  Even looking at these photos makes me cold!

 Sweater: F21 | Shirt: Juicy Couture | Jeans: Joe Fresh | Boots: Nordstrom | Bag: Kate Spade | Bracelets: F21 |
Sunglasses: Banana Republic Factory