Red & Green

How was your weekend??  Mine was fabulous!  It started off with a bang with a ladies night ornament exchange at my friend Courtney's house.  I stuffed myself with delicious food and stayed up way too late!

Then Saturday morning we ventured out to our local Festival of Trees, where the kids made some fun crafts and searched for their favorite decorated tree.

Then in the evening, we donned our full snow gear and braved the single digit temps to attend the lighted Christmas parade and fireworks over the frozen lake.  It sure was cold, but worth it.  We're making memories, no matter what the weather may be!

It started snowing over night, and continued all day Sunday, so I volunteered Daddy for playing in the snow with the kids after church.  The first time this season!  We had a nice, low-key day, and then I snuck out in the evening for a much needed haircut! 

Now, on the the "fashion" portion of this post...

Is it possible to wear red and green together and not look like a Christmas tree?  I say, YES! 

Scarf: GroopDealz / Vest & Chambray: JCPenney / Jeans: H&M / Boots: Old Navy

Red and green are complimentary colors, so they definitely look good together.  But I'm guessing most of us avoid wearing them together, because we don't want to resemble a decorated evergreen.  Or an elf.  Which is easy for me to do anyways, since I'm only 5 foot 2...  on a good day.  So yeah, how?  I think it just depends on the shades of each color, and how you wear them.  Olive is a great shade of green to wear with red.  You could also do mint!  Or darken both colors and do burgundy and olive...  Also, using an accessory of some sort for one of the colors is a good way to add that pop of color without being too overwhelming.  And pairing red and green with neutrals will definitely tone down the Christmas vibe.  Of course, I could be giving you crazy advice, I'm just making this up as I go!  Haha!

How would you wear red and green?? 

Linking up:  Greater Than Rubies - Remix Rewear Restyle

7x7 Remix (Take TWO!)

I had so much fun participating in the 7x7 Remix challenge last time, that I decided to do another one this month!  This time, I'm linking up over at Ma Nouvelle Mode!

I actually only ended up selecting and using 6 pieces, plus all of my shoes and accessories.  I just couldn't decide on a 7th piece that I really wanted to use, and I didn't really need it!  So here are my six pieces!

Navy Tee:  JCPenney

Striped Tee:  Old Navy

Purple Tank: Old Navy

White Shorts: Old Navy

Palm Print Shorts: Old Navy

Skinnies:  Old Navy

Oh My!  I didn't realize until now that all but one of my pieces is from Old Navy.  I swear I shop at other stores!

And now, my outfits, in no particular order!

Outfit #1:

Flip Flops: Old Navy

Super casual outfit.  You'll see these flip flops in a bunch of pictures...  I really wish I had a pair of navy TOMS!  I think this challenge helped me figure out what to buy next!  ;-)

Outfit #2:

Necklace: GroopDealz

Sandals: Old Navy

A little dressier...  :-)  (Sorry about the blurry photo...)

Outfit #3:

Flip Flops: Old Navy

Perfect for the ninety degree weather we've had all week!

Outfit #4:

Shoes: TOMS

Still absolutely in LOVE with my new TOMS!!

Outfit #5:

Scarf: Very Jane

It may be hot outside, but it sure can be cold inside!  A scarf is a nice addition to a summer outfit for those times when you step inside and someone's gone a little overboard with the air conditioning!

Outfit #6:

Flip Flops:  Old Navy

Trying out some pattern mixing again!  I like it!  Really wish I had those navy TOMS, though!  OMG, look at what I just found!!!  I think I might need these!

Outfit #7:

Scarf:  GroopDealz

Flats: Target

This outfit makes me ready for fall!

And a couple extra outfits, for good measure!

Outfit #8:

 

Shoes: TOMS 

I never would have put this outfit together without this challenge, but I think I like it!  (And again, sorry for the blurry photo...  Grr.)

Outfit #9:

Shoes: TOMS

Okay, this outfit is the same as #5, but without the scarf, and I changed my shoes.  Just had to include another picture of my awesome TOMS!

*If you want to read more about how much I love TOMS, check out this post.  And click here to save $20 off a pair for yourself!*

 This was so much fun!  I love seeing how buying the right pieces can give you so many choices for outfits!  And accessories give you even more variety!

Also linking up for WIWW! (Even though I'm a day late!)  And What We Wore.

7x7 Remix

So a couple weeks ago, Audrey at Putting Me Together challenged bloggers to do a 7x7 remix.  Create 7 outfits using only 7 articles of clothing, including shoes!  l;uju,hn <--That's from Koen. :)  I thought it sounded like a ton of fun, and definitely a challenge that would stretch me!  I picked out my pieces, put together my outfits, and even got photos taken!  But I didn't end up having time to blog it all in time to participate in the link-up.  Boo!  But I did have fun, and since I did all the work, I'm going to post it anyways!  Soooo, here are my 7 pieces.

Navy Tank: Old Navy

Striped Maxi Dress: Wal-Mart

Striped Tee: Old Navy

Chambray Top: JCPenney

Mint Skinnies: Kohl's

Coral Shorts: Old Navy

Sandals: Target

Outfit #1:

Necklace: GroopDealz

My first ever maxi dress!  I love it!   Throw on a statement necklace and this is about as dressed up as I get!

Outfit #2:

Maxi dress as maxi skirt!  Added my chambray top to make it more casual and a bit warmer.  (Sorry about the blurry photo!)

Outfit #3:

 

 Same great chambray top, just switched to shorts.  Perfect for taking the kids to the park!

Outfit #4:

Necklace: Gift

This tank and shorts are both brand new from Old Navy.  I NEVER would have put these colors together before starting my style discovery journey!  I've learned that I love navy and it works as a great neutral!

Outfit #5: 

Scarf: Very Jane

Of course I have to include an outfit with a scarf!  :-D  I think this is a successful attempt at pattern mixing!

Outfit #6:

Necklace: GroopDealz

Here's my striped tee again.  This time with my mint skinnies and a statement necklace.  To be perfectly honest, I think necklaces really add some *oomph* to an outfit, but in my daily life, I don't usually wear them.  When I'm hanging out at home with the kids, or out playing at the park, a large necklace is just in the way!  But if I ever get out without the kids, I do love to add that extra something special.

Outfit #7:

Necklace: GroopDealz

Umm...  changed my shirt.  Haha!  I like this combo better!

And because I can...

Outfit #8:

Took off the necklace for a more casual vibe.  And I love my chambray top as a layering piece!

And...

Outfit #9:

I swear, chambray goes with everything!  It took me a long time to jump on the train, and then find just the right top, but now I'm pretty sure I'm in for the long haul with this trend!

Looking back over these photos again, I'm realizing that I really had no idea what my style was 6-8 months ago, and it's so fun to try new things, and get dressed *mostly* every day and like what I'm wearing!

I hope you enjoyed my tardy entry into the 7x7 remix challenge!  It's so great to be able to make so many different outfits from so few pieces!

Linking up for What I Wore Wednesday at The Pleated Poppy!

Pop of Spring

This outfit basically represents the weather around here lately... mostly dark and gray, with an occasional pop of spring. We have had SO MUCH rain, so when the sun finally peeks out, we try our best to take advantage of it.  I am so thankful for our big back yard.  What a blessing it is to have room for the kids to run off some energy!

I wasn't able to get a single picture without my little sidekick.  But that's okay, he's one of my favorite accessories.  ;-)

Tee: Old Navy; Scarf: Very Jane; Skinnies: Old Navy; Shoes: TOMS

When I got done with my photos, Koen wanted to do his own photo shoot.  It. Was. Hilarious.  I use a timer to take my photos and run back and forth over and over, so he did the same thing, even though I was taking his picture.  So funny the things kids pick up on!

Here is his "deer in the headlights" pose...

And his "happy as a clam" pose...

And of course, his "too cute for words" pose!

I ABSOLUTELY ADORE HIM!!!

Lookin' Good

I didn't put this outfit together for this purpose, but today I am participating in the We Love Target link-up over at Literate & Stylish.  Today's item to style is... shoes!  These red flats are fairly new, so I'm looking forward to finding lots of fun ways to style them.  

The day I wore this outfit, I walked past our neighbor's house and he yelled, "For having three kids, you look pretty d*%# good!"  First of all, AWKWARD!  Second, I decided I would take that to mean that he liked my outfit!  Later that day, my Dad wondered why I was so dressed up...  Well, we left that house that day!  That's reason enough to "dress up" around here.  :-D

 

Oops, cut off my feet!  Try again...

Scarf: Very Jane;  Tunic: Old Navy;  Leggings: Kohl's;  Shoes: Target

I think a scarf is a great accessory for a mom to wear to complete her outfit.  It's nice and soft for when baby wants to snuggle up on your chest, and won't break when pulled on or have small pieces that could become choking hazards, like a necklace.  Don't get me wrong, I like necklaces, too, but scarves are just so practical!  I love the pop of color that my scarf and shoes add to a pretty plain outfit.  And I can throw on a different scarf and pair of flats to change up the look next time! BTW, this scarf is just a regular scarf that I tied the ends together to make into an infinity scarf.  I like to do that so that I don't have to keep adjusting my scarf all day!

Let me tell you, trying to take outfit pics with three kids running around is quite interesting!  They want to push the buttons, see the pictures, be IN the pictures...  Or they just want Mommy to hold them.  It took thirty-two shots to get these two halfway decent ones.  We did manage to get a pretty great outtake.  (Is that the right word?!)

Edited to add:
 

P.S.  I also linked up over at The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday!