Rocked it & Swapped it

I think it’s safe to say we both wear our heart on our sleeves…anyone else have two speeds and nothing in the middle? However, in this case, we’re wearing them all over because this printed blouse is just perfect for swapping...Blouses are one of our favorite items to remix because they typically fit us both very well, unlike dresses which can be like shirts on me and curtains on Lisa…if only we were the same height ;)

I love the creative ways Lisa has styled this top including pattern mixing with a gingham coat and fringe purse followed by a more casual look with light wash jeans and braids. I took more of a date-night approach and went for flared denim and my favorite leather jacket...shocker, I know. I've only worn it a million other times on the blog recently (here, here and here).

Which look is your favorite? Do you swap with a friend or sister? 

Florals Dressed Up & Down

One true sign of a great dress is that it looks just as good dressed down as it does up. When you can pair with sneakers or heels and still pull off an effortlessly put together look, that is considered a big win because it becomes that much more versatile. 

Like Kelly alluded to here, us ladies have SO many dresses that we love but because they are full of prints, colors and embellishments, they often get hung back in the closet to collect dust after one or two wears (so as not to repeat too often...the horror!) But when you make a dress look completely different just by switching out your jacket, accessories and/or shoes, it names on a whole level of new.

 I have been loving all the floral and pattern prints at OldNavy for the Spring season and this dress popped out right away (I like the pixie pant version too!) It’s a great fit so of course I bought the striped version too – I say, when you find something you like, always buy 2... (Pretty sure my husband would like to argue otherwise…)

Swap out a jean jacket for a trench and wedges for sneakers and voilà!

Dress: Old Navy (similar) | Jean Jacket: J.Crew | Sneakers: Converse | Bucket purse: Old Navy (similar)

Trench: H&M (similar) | Wedges: Sole Society (similar) | Clutch: Just Fab | Necklace: LOFT | Sunnies: Target

Stocking up on the Basics

 

I may be 36 years old, but I still love to stock up on the basics each season at Forever 21. I ended up spending under $100 and got 10 items, SCORE! 

This simple black midi dress was $15 and is perfect for everyday wear this spring and summer. By adding gold jewelry and a gold chain belt, it took the simple look up a notch. In the end, I threw my hair in a fat dutch braid, added a crop boot, plus a nude bag and I was out the door. This look was perfect for my day of errands and at helping out at the kids school. 

Dress: Forever 21 // Boots: JustFab // Bag: Sole Society // Belt: ASOS // Sunglasses & Midi Ring: Shop Lately // Rings: Urban Outfitters // Jacket: Pepe Jeans London 

Do you ever shop for basics at a store you know you're too old to be shopping at? 

When is the last time you went to Forever 21?

Blog of the Month: Pretty Little Fawn

Our April blogger of the month is Courtney from Pretty Little Fawn. Not only does she have a style aesthetic all her own but she also exudes cool on multiple levels, as she grew up working as an actress in Los Angeles (See her in Unfriended which hit theaters last week).

Here's a little bit about Courtney:

"I started this blog in 2011 as a way for me to not only share my outfits, but for me to share my finds. I'm an avid thrifter, vintage shopper, estate-saler and online shopper. I use as many means at my disposal to not only find unique pieces, but pieces well within my small budget.

This blog is a way for me to express, explore, and evolve my style. I really have never been able to specifically pin-down exactly what my style is, but I'd say it's somewhere between a vintage cowgirl and the clothes your grandma keeps in the attic. If that doesn't make sense to you - don't worry. Doesn't make sense to me either, but it's the best I can do."

Get inspired by Courtney's style:

Which style bloggers do you follow daily?

A Weeknight Dinner in Less Than 5 Minutes

Sometimes you just don't want to cook -- Either we have a crazy busy weekend, leaving no time or desire to grocery shop (Enter, Peapod!) or if we have all ingredients, but we get home at 6:30 or 7, we just don't want to spend time at the oven.

One day last week, my husband had an evening staff meeting so we only had about a half hour for dinner and he suggested picking something up. Instead, I whipped up sweet potatoes, pasta salad and turkey with gravy in less than 7 minutes, literally. I am slightly obsessed with these entrees that can be refrigerated and heated up in minutes. It's certainly easier (and healthier) than paying for a burger and fries, plus it leaves more time for going to the gym or catching up on House of Cards...priorities ;)

For leftovers the next day, you can make an open-faced sandwich with the turkey and gravy fixings. Just serve warmed chicken breast and gravy over toasted bread and sprinkle with pepper.

What is your go-to simple dinner? 

Rocked it & Swapped it

This is probably one of my favorite swaps to date. Kaitlyn has this amazing berry colored midi skirt she found at Target (well played Target, well played!). Sadly, it is sold out or I would have bought it the day I saw it on her. ;)  

When she styled it, it was one of my favorite outfits on her. The floral blouse, the denim jacket, the crop boot, swoon. Truly styling perfection in my mind, mostly because it was not "in the box" styling for her. In my opinion, some of the best outfits happen when you go outside of your usual style zone, if you will. 

To say I was excited to find this skirt in my swap bag is an understatement. When pairing this midi, I also went out of my box a bit by pairing two colors I don't generally wear. Who knew orange and berry would look so good together?

Here is how we both styled the skirt:

What do you think of how we styled this midi?

Add some midi's to your closet for less than $100. Here's a few of our favorites for Spring:

The Return of White Denim

The first day you wear your favorite white jeans after a long winter of hibernation in leggings is like breathing fresh air for the first time. It's an official sign that warm weather is (hopefully) here to stay and the best days are yet to come. I have 2 pairs of white denim and one pair of white cropped pants, all 3 which have now become part of my regular rotation. They feel so fresh compared to the dark denim I lived in this winter and will (eventually) look great against a tan. 

This gorgeous weekend day, we surprised my Mom with a family photo shoot in the park. We told her that we were doing a post about how to work navy into your wardrobe so she was excited and dressed for the part...However, she was shocked to find the whole family standing there upon our arrival, dressed and ready for pictures...I'd say that's even better than a blog post ;)

Top: Old Navy | Jeans: H&M (similar) | Shoes: Just Fab | Bag & Sunnies (similar): Target

Earrings & Necklace: Rocksbox | Bracelet: Shoplately

Pants that put a Little Spring in my Step

See what I did there with the title? Honestly, how perfect are these pants for Spring though? I love me a great print pant this time of year (well, year round really!). 

On this beautiful sunny day I decided to pair the bottoms with a solid white tank blouse and crop boots. This was perfect for a Sunday afternoon with the family. I was dressed-up enough for the occasion but was still able to run around in the back yard with the kids. 

I kept the styling simple by adding delicate silver jewelry, my hair curled but down, and my go-to sunnies and neutral bag. 

Top: Express // Pants: c/o Vineyard Vines // Boots: BCBG // Bag: c/o Sole Society // Sunglasses: Prada // XOXO Necklace: T+J Designs // Bangle: c/o It's a Bling Thing // Black Band: Fitbit // Bracelet: Lokia // Watch: Movado

What do you think of print pants?

Do you love them as much as I do or do you stick to solids when it comes to your bottoms?

Ireland Top 5

Our trip to Ireland is comprised of so many wonderful memories including #1, our stay at Ballyfin, long drives in the country and the folklore story telling night at the Brazen Head. I had imagined what it would be like before we left, but it far exceeded my expectations...The people were more than welcoming, the pace is MUCH more relaxed and the scenery is unmatched.

While it's hard to narrow down, I wanted to share my top 5 things to do/see while in Ireland:

The Long Room at Trinity College

This was not only my favorite sight from our Ireland trip but probably one of the greatest things I have ever seen. I've always dreamt of seeing a real life library that resembled the one that the Beast gives to Belle and this was even better.

Built in the 1700's, it is approx. 200 feet in length and filled with 200,000 of the library’s oldest books. When we walked in and saw it all for the first time, I had tears roll down my face...it was a slightly unexpected reaction, but I truly felt overwhelmed by the beauty and history that was surrounding me.

The Cliffs of Moher

This is a destination I had on my bucket list before we ever seriously considered going to Ireland in the first place. I remember seeing it in the Princess Bride and Harry Potter, reading about it in books and deciding it was a place I had to see. Standing 702 feet at their highest point, they stretch for 5 miles along the Atlantic coast of County Clare in the west of Ireland. 

The human story and history of the Cliffs of Moher dates back at least two thousand years as the name derives from a 1st Century BC fort that stood where Moher Tower now stands. The old Irish word “Mothar” means ruined fort and it is this that gives the cliffs their name.

Killarney National Park

Killarney National Park is located beside the town of Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland. It was the first national park established in Ireland, created when Muckross Estate was donated to the Irish state in 1932. We visited Muckross House & Muckross Abbey, a 19th century Victorian Mansion and a Franciscan friary from approx. 1448, respectively. 

The attractions are gorgeous but so are the walking paths in between - we chose the "adventure path" which led us through a forest along the lake where the trees looked like a set out of Into the Woods. 

Quay Street in Galway

Galway is overflowing with charm, even if we couldn't escape the heavy mist/rain showers that loomed over us all day long. While I do wish the weather would have been nicer, we will never forget roaming Quay street and taking in all of its quaint details. We ate at the Pie Maker, the tiniest restaurant you will ever see, owned by an equally tiny blonde who creates Sheppard's pie from scratch on the spot. We wandered in and out of stores (most with gorgeous colored doors), visited some gorgeous churches and stopped by Galway Bay.

Gap of Dunloe

THIS place is what you think of when someone says Ireland. The Gap of Dunloe is a narrow mountain pass in County Kerry and within it are five lakes. We took a horse and buggy along the gorgeous 7 mile path which led to the winding road which makes the gap at the end. The landscape is absolutely unbelievable and it is so serene, almost hard to believe it's real. As you pass by the grazing sheep and the running waterfalls, it's so easy to forget the honking cars and ringing cell phones back home in Chicago...

 

Have you been to Ireland? What were your favorite sights and destinations? 

Share with us in the comments!