Rocked it & Swapped it (Gettin' Shifty with it!)

This #rockandswap is dedicated to the shift dress, one of our favorite summer staples. It's plain and simple...we love this style for its minimalist appeal because it's so easy to look chic in a shift, especially in black or white which provides a great canvas for delicate jewels. Not to mention, they are super comfortable which is key when it's 90 degrees out...nobody wants to be dealing with spankx life when we're sweating (Amen?)

Lastly and most importantly, they are flattering on all body types. The trick is to get a good fit on top let the dress skim your body, not double as a potato sack...that's when our men start to really question our style choices ;)

I love the way Lisa styled this shift dress because I probably would have never thought to pair it with suede knee-high boots but with the coordinating bag, it works perfectly. When I wore it, I styled it down for an alfresco lunch by the pier at the lake. 

And in honor of  #ThrowbackThursday, a little r&s from 2012 featuring this shift dress from Threadsence. This is one of those pieces that earns a permanent place in the closet because it never goes out of style and can be styled so many different ways to keep it fresh and interesting. 

Lisa's casual summer style is still spot on in current trends thanks to a mint bag and her sunnies of choice. As for my styling of the dress, well, it makes me slightly sad because I lost that jean jacket and it was absolute favorite. I wore it with everything...not that that's changed with my replacement but still...some things fit just right. You know what I mean? It's been years since I lost it and I STILL miss it, wondering where it is and who is wearing it now..anyone else ever get attached to a piece of clothing? 

See even more ways Lisa styled this shift mini and let us know...do you have a go-to shift style?

Four Five Seconds to Summer

Memorial Day Weekend always feels like the unofficial start to Summer, as if the endless days of grilling, shandy's and street festivals are so close we can taste them. The season doesn't officially begin for three weeks but with no free weekend in sight on the calendar, I am taking this opportunity to start early and soak up every second beneath the sun (covered in SPF, of course!)

Whenever I'm at the lake with the family, I hope time will suddenly stand still - When we head down to our pier, I stare out at the beautiful lake that I'm so lucky to experience year after year and wish that the moment would last just a little longer or the sun would set just a second slower. It's when I realize time is the most valuable thing I have to spend because nothing is better than time spent with my favorite people at our favorite place. I must continually remind myself though, not to focus on how fast time is going but to be present and enjoy life as it's happening...

Speaking of time, I've been keeping track of it lately with a new wrist addition. I have generated quite the collection of watches over the years but this wooden watch is the first of its kind and I absolutely LOVE it's unique presence. JORD is Swedish for "earth, soil and land," three elements that are embodied in the modern wood design. 

The different tones in the wood are beautiful but it is the turquoise color that truly makes it pop so I am looking forward to styling this with bright whites and a tan this summer :) 

Jacket: Urban Outfitters (similar) | Dress: MNG by Mango (love this one too!) | Sandals: LOFT (similar)

Bag: Old Navy | Watch: JORD | Necklace: E Street Denim (similar) 

P.S. I'm slightly in love with this fauxhawk braid. Shoutout to Lisa for making me feel like a bad ass...now I am one step closer to the braid magic that is Daenerys Targaryen.

Would you guys be interested in seeing a braid tutorial of this? Let us know! 

Side note: I felt slightly guilty opening the packaging because it was put together so beautifully. This brand does great job of staying consistent with their vision by delivering the product in a gorgeous wood box carved with the company logo. 

This is one of those designs worth keeping for years to come as the package is just as quality as the product, not to mention, it makes you feel like you are opening something really special...#winning.

Does anyone else sometimes wish they could pull an "Age of Adaline" and pause time during the best moments?

Wood Watches by JORD

Tut Tut, It Looks Like Rain

We are not having a very white winter here in the midwest. Sure, we've seen flurries but not anything to shovel or salt (as of yet). Now rain on the other hand, we've had lots of rain this winter. As far as I'm concerned, that just ends up being a great excuse to break out my orange Hunter boots!

I know I just recently wore this top, but why not get use out of it, right?  It was fun to style it differently then I did the first time by adding my mid-rise zipper pocket jeans and a statement necklace. To finish my outfit off, I added a bright lip color because I sure needed a bit of bright on this otherwise gray day. 

Top: MNG by Mango // Jeans: c/o Just Fab // Boots: Hunter Boots // Bag: Piperlime // Necklace & Ring: T+J Designs  

How long do you wait before you re-wear a sweater (Yes, I wore mine twice in 8 days!)?

What's your go-to rainy day style?

Rocked it & Swapped it

Kaitlyn owns this beautiful dress with a sheer top and wore it to an outdoor party this summer...I love everything about this look, so I decided to change it up for fall.

Dress:Forever21, Shoes: Forever21, Bracelet: LOFT, Earrings: Francesca's, Sunnies: Target

When I wore the dress in late September, I layered a tee over the dress to give it a completely different look:

Dress: Forever21, Top: C/O chicnova, Shoes: Dolce Vita (similar), Bag: C/O Just Fab (similar), Necklace: oh, Poppy!, Chain Bracelet: T plus J designs, Bracelet and ring: Baublebar, Sunnies: MNG by mango

This is a perfect dress for wearing year round...It would look great with gray tights (currently for sale in my closet!), brown booties, and a colorful cardigan, right? 

#Lisa

Because We Rode the Polar Express!

The Polar Express has been one of my favorite Christmas stories since I was little, so I was excited to experience our own version with the family. Our family took Lisa’s children aboard the train which included chocolate milk & cookies, a reading of the story, a bell (that we could all hear ring) and of course, a visit from Mr. C himself. 

Here is what we wore:

Sweater: LOFT, Leggings: Express, Boots: Just Fab(similar), Sunnies and Hat: Target, Bracelets: Swap with Lisa (Baublebar)

 Top: Banana Republic, Vest: MNG by Mango, Jeans: Stylemint(similar), Shoes: Shoemint(similar), Sunnies: Loft,  Necklace: Threadsence

What are your favorite childhood holiday stories?

P.S. Happy Birthday Kaitlyn!! Here's to many more ;-)

#SistersMarie

Because Kaitlyn went to Vegas

I have been to Las Vegas 4 times within the past 2 years for a mix of business and pleasure and though I'm not the biggest fan of the city, it always provides great opportunities to go all out when it comes to style. I surprised my fiance with a dinner at the Bellagio to celebrate our 5 year anniversary and I was excited to wear my new MNG by Mango dress from JC Penney (Note: who else loves their new campaign and in turn, has noticed a dramatic change in their selection? There are some great deals!) I'm glad I picked it up in coral as well because it fits like a glove and can be dressed up or down. I paired it my nude peep-toe pumps (sadly, not every passerby in Vegas understands how necessary it is to capture a good full length photo). 

Fiance also treated us to a ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower which was beautiful at night, and gave us a whole different view of the Bellagio Fountains (my favorite Vegas attraction). 

On our previous trip to Las Vegas, my hair was longer and I was tanner, but still went for the blue dress. I suppose the Vegas is a perfect place for a devil in a blue dress, right? ;) 

Do you feel more confident in wearing bold looks in Vegas? (No clear heels, please!)

#Kaitlyn