Matchy Matchy Workout Wear

I am a sucker for cute workout clothes...but aren't we all? I can be sitting on the couch, Netflix bingeing (binging? Is there really an appropriate way to spell that, because all I keep thinking about is Chandler) and thinking of ways to get out of going for a run but then remember I have new leggings to wear and suddenly, my interest is peaked. We work out for many reasons, one of them being to look and feel better about ourselves, but it's also important to have that state of mind WHILE exercising - It's motivational and confidence building to keep us going through our exercise routine... Hence why I was SUPER stoked when I found out J.Jill launched an athletic/leisure line, Pure Jill Fit. 

The online shop (and a few select stores) has everything from leggings and tank tops to cozy cardi's (perfect for post-yoga) and a cowl neck dress (which I want to LIVE IN) that you can wear with or without leggings depending on how much you want to dress it up. Thanks to the J.Jill team, I have tested out quite a few pieces and I can honestly say, it is some of the most comfortable athletic wear I've ever owned. With an infant at home, I find myself also wearing it around the house which I know is the stereotypical "Mom uniform" but when the apparel is this cute, it feels like I put in a little more effort than I actually did ;) 

By the way, my husband snapped these photos for me and you should have seen his face when I walked out in this hat. "Is that velvet?" followed by "aren't you photographing exercise clothes?". I love the man dearly but let's not pretend a fashion is his sixth sense. I am kind of loving the return of velvet...I feel like it's a little Clarissa Explains it All, a little Alex Mack and the 90's in me is giddy with excitement, even if it is short lived.

What J.Jill workout pieces are your favorite? 

Run, don't walk to add a few to your closet!

Wearing:

Top & Pants: c/o J. Jill

Jacket: c/o J. Jill

Velvet hat: Target

Water Bottle: Swell 

Shoes: Nike 

Rocked it & Swapped it

It's sweater weather friends! Which, honestly is both of our favorite time of the year. We are giant fans of all things layers, so we were over the moon to be gifted this beautiful topper from J.Jill. As in, we both got one. I mean, when you both love the same item and know you will be wearing it non-stop all season, it just makes sense to each get your own. ;) 

When I styled mine, I wore over a classic turtleneck, denim cut-offs, tights, and my to-to boots of the season. The outfit felt unexpected but still put together and I was ever so cozy in my topper. A few weeks later, Kaitlyn styled hers over a great lace-up detail top, high-waist denim, and the same go-to boots. This look is classic and perfect for everyday wear all season long. In un-related news we may be morphing into one style personality without our knowledge. lol 

Are you a fan of this sweater cardigan/coat we styled? Do you have a favorite topper you wear during these transitional weather months? Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today, I hope you make it a great day! xo

Having a Moment with Uneven Hem Denim

Focus on the fit, not the size...easier said than done, right?

Seriously though -- When it comes to denim, not all sizes are created equal and as women, this can be extremely frustrating. I've talked about it before and I'm telling you guys again because this is IMPORTANT STUFF in the world of women's clothing - If you're looking for a new pair of jeans that feels like they were custom made for you, there's no more need to cry in the dressing room or go on Kanye's workout plan because the pair is out there already. 

It DOES exist -- (Santa? M&M's? Anyone?) 👀

Fitcode is awesome because it helps you find jeans that will look and feel great based on fit instead of size. How many times does a size 4 fit you in one store but you're a size 8 in another? It's whacked out but luckily, there's an easy way to solve this problem -- A short quiz will reveal your personal "Fitcode," followed by a custom "denim boutique" which features a variety of brands, styles and price points, all matching your "fit number." 

This is the second pair of jeans I've gotten through Fitcode and both times, I have been more than pleasantly surprised with the outcome. Let's be honest, I need more jeans like a hole in the head (think I have 18ish pairs...it's a problem), but I'm having a big time moment with the uneven hem so I've had a little trouble holding back from this pair from Silver Jeans. This brand has been around for so long, blending modern and vintage details and most recently, they have made some beautiful updates to the brand which has led to some majorly cool denim looks. This I've always loved distressed denim because of its laid back, casual vibes so when I started seeing raw, frayed edges on the bottom of jeans, it was love at first sight. Even more so, I like that so many of them are cropped, ankle styles which is perfect for bootie season -- My favorite of all! I dread the day when we have to start wearing socks because there's snow on the ground...

Needless to say, I'm going to be living in this pair for quite some time (or until that first flakes fall, at least). This mid-rise style is equal parts supportive and stylish -- Just the right combo for a new Mom! They're super soft, have an above-ankle inseam and oh yes, are completely ripped in the back near the ankle. It adds just the right amount of edge to my Fall weekend style.

SHOP MY STYLE:

And side note -- One of the reasons I love this season so much is because we get the chance to play around with cozy layers because we're not (yet) required to stuff ourselves into thick, uncomfortable heavy jackets. To expand on that, I am definitely living my best coat life this year...I have a growing collection of lightweight coats, sweater jackets and dusters, all which offer an extra element of effortless style to a basic jeans and tee look. This textured sweater topper was a fast favorite of mine! It's a great alternative to a bulky coat, pairs with almost anything and best of all, I can file it under

"Grandpa chic," a section of my wardrobe which (I'm not joking, nor sad about), continues to grow. Both my Mom AND Lisa own it as well and we are all different heights, shapes, etc., so it may be safe to say it looks good on everyone!

How do you guys shop for jeans?  Let me know if you have any questions about finding your "Fitcode!"
Wearing:
Top: Old Navy Jacket: c/o J. Jill Jeans: Silver Jeans c/o Fitcode  Booties: c/o Cabi Clothing Hat: Sole Society, sold out (similar) Purse: Express, sold out (Love this style too!)

The Coziest Cardigan for Fall

No, your eyes are not deceiving you...I AM standing here in a thick, cozy cardigan while it's most likely 80 something degrees outside right now. For a brief moment, it was cool enough outside for starting the fireplace inside (hence this outfit) but now, we are being blessed with a second chance at Summer. While most of us had already moved on to the excitement of Fall, let's just remember how thankful we'll be for this in a few months when we're cursing our frost bitten car windows for making us late for work in the morning. 

It's certainly hard to dress for this "in between" weather because the mornings are still a little nippy but then you're sweating by happy hour so layers are key and this is a great time to style your favorite Summer dresses with a few Fall-like pieces such as a cozy cardigan, a blazer or neutral booties. That way you're playing to both seasons and enjoying the best of both worlds...especially if you're drinking a Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin cold brew while doing so. Guys, I went to the drive-thru almost immediately after seeing a commercial for the new drink and it's REALLY good. It's certainly the way to a Fall-loving, iced coffee year round kind of gal's heart. Pair that with the chocolate chip pumpkin loaf I picked up at our Farmers Market last weekend and we've got the perfect recipe for my husband to start hating me extra early... once a pumpkin hater, always a pumpkin hater.

Even though we're in sundresses and shorts right now, I still want to pay homage to this amazing cardigan which made multiple appearances the first week I had it and we're just getting started. This maroon shade is typically my go-to for Fall pieces and I am sucker for the marled texture. Not to mention, it's long in length (so important to me!) and has POCKETS. Do you guys agree that pockets automatically increase the cool points of any clothing item? Seriously, I had them in a bridesmaid dress I wore recently and I thought it was genius 💓

But back to cardigan chat, it's just another J. Jill piece that has become a part of my everyday style. I have to say, it's not one of those brands that I would normally gravitate to just by walking past a store window but after working with them for a few years now, I can officially say some of my all-time favorite pieces are from them and not to mention, the ones I get the most compliments on. Their brand isn't meant to be flashy -- The pieces are classic and extremely well-made, giving them staying power to be a part of your closet for many years to come. Sometimes it just takes a bit of your own personal style to see something in a new light.

Wearing:
Cardigan: c/o J. Jill Jeans: c/o Blank NYC via Fitcode Bag: Target (similar) Booties: Toms Necklace: c/o Park Lane Jewelry Hat: Target (similar)

When Overalls Come Full Circle

As I pulled these overalls on, I thought about the last time I styled them on the blog...I was about 2 months pregnant, having just shared the news with our Family and feeling pretty excited about everything. Though it really wasn't that long ago, so much in my life has changed and that's one of great parts of blogging my outfits - Getting to look back not only on what I was wearing but what was going on in my life and how my style was representative of that time. I look at those first overall photos and think, how crazy that I hadn't even started writing about my maternity adventure here yet and now, here I am...wearing the same denim but this time as a Mom to the most wonderful boy who has completely turned my world upside down. Sure, clothes are just clothes but they also accompany us on some of our biggest journeys, providing comfort and nostalgia along the way. 

Speaking of comfort, I am not ashamed to say I have been LIVING in these overalls recently...like, multiple days a week. Not only was I so excited they fit again (though a little differently time around, I might add), but they are also super convenient for breastfeeding thanks to the straps. Not to mention, they pair well with tanks, t's and long sleeves which accommodates our recent Summer/Fall weather patterns so they're a great transitional item. Like I said in the first post, when I wear them, it makes me feel like all my regular jeans just aren't as exciting...there's a little bit of quirkiness to these and I plan on keeping them in my weekly rotation this season. As I type this, I'm also searching for a few more pairs because when you love something, you don't set it free...you get as much of it as you can ;)

SHOP THE STYLE:

Wearing:
Top: c/o J. Jill Overalls: H&M (similar) Jacket: J. Crew Booties: Toms Bag: Sole Society - sold out but similar here Choker: c/o Park Lane Jewelry Lip Color: Demure by Glo Skin Beauty

The Perfect Summer Top | J. Jill Linen Button Down

31 weeks down down, 9 weeks to go. Isn't that crazy?! Part of me wonders where all the time has gone and part of me feels like the third trimester may quickly wear out its welcome. I tried on four different outfits before work this morning before I found something that was both comfortable (a main goal of mine) and presentable...AKA my morning routine takes a lot more time than it used to. For most of my pregnancy, I was able to wear some of my regular, looser fitting shirts with maternity jeans. These days, many of them no longer work so I have been spending a lot of time in dresses (this is one of my favorites) but with our recent string of chillier rainy days, I opted for white jeans to keep the Summer vibes alive and this amazing linen button down. You guys, my new favorite shirt!

I was so excited when I put it on because it's a long length, non-maternity (which means it will be perfect post-baby) and since it's linen, it's super lightweight. It has side vents too so I think this will be one of my go-to tops to beat the heat when I'm feeling super preggo towards the end of June ;) Things are getting very real lately, friends...my body has changed a lot and so has our second bedroom, which is now almost fully transformed into the little man's nursery...stay tuned for photos of the progress next week!

SHOP THE LOOK:

Wearing:
Top: c/o J. Jill Jeans: Jessica Simpson (similar) Shoes: c/o Sole Society (similar) Purse: Express Jean Jacket: Forever 21 (similar) Lemon Cup: Kate Spade via Shopbop Sunnies: LOFT Flowers: Mariano's

A Different Spring Break Staycation

Fact: Every now and then, life throws you a curveball that just can't be avoided. Sometimes, no matter how you try to work around it, plans are broken and we just have to go with the flow. For example, a certain pregnant gal and her husband were looking forward to a long weekend in Charleston, SC beneath the Spanish moss and among pastel colored homes...The last Spring Break just the two of us, exploring with no strings attached. But then life started to play ball and threw husband a torn ACL, making for a disappointed couple and possibly a a long road to recovery ahead, amidst all of the other changes already taking place. Not only was I sad to be missing our next adventure together but I felt so bad to hear his news...so much of what he does is to make me happy and when he finally started playing in a regular basketball league again with his friends, he was tossed a bad hand. But like I said, there will be many instances like this in life where we must adapt and make the best of the new situation. 

 I'd have been more content with staying home for Spring Break, working on the house, continuing to prepare for the addition to the Family and enjoying some of the things in our own city... that's actually a pretty accurate description of what we ended up doing last week but please note a few things: It has been gloomy and/or rainy almost every. single. day. and it's killing me slowly. These photos were taken on a rare sunny Sunday afternoon, so do not be fooled. My mood has always depended on the weather, but this end of Winter/beginning of Spring has truly had me feeling out of sorts and wishing for a few days on the beach or another place entirely, a little more than usual. Not to mention, I cannot catch a break in the world of flu's, colds and fevers - I have been hit with one illness after another which has been very tiring so even our staycation plans were a little more couch related than planned. It's really hard when the baby takes such a toll on your immune system!

All of this combined plus the realization of how many things are shifting in our lives has made for quite the roller coaster of emotions lately. As ecstatic as I am for our new adventure (tiny little man!!), our chapter as the two of us is soon coming to a bittersweet end. So, I guess that's made me a little more starry eyed and filled with wanderlust than normal. But I digress...this is all slightly selfish, as I think about all the amazing things we've done together already (our Ireland trip being at the very top) and all the memories yet to be made. So, here's to going with the flow, stocking up on green smoothies and welcoming the sunshine back, whenever it's ready.

In other news, this whole outfit not only seemed super Spring Break appropriate but also made me feel the most like myself that I have in a while. No belly bands, no long shirts to COVER the belly band...just a comfy pair of striped linen pants, with enough stretch for me to even TUCK IN my lace top. YES PLEASE! I miss tucking in, guys! Pair it all with the chambray straw hat and I'm ready for a day in the Sun...should it ever choose to return ;) 

Thanks for listening to my rant session today - sometimes it just feels better to let it out! Xo

Wearing:

Top: c/o J. Jill

Pants: c/o J. Jill

Sun Hat: c/o J. Jill

Purse: Jessica Simpson (similar)

Sandals: c/o Shopbop

Sunnies: LOFT