The Buff - Part 2

One more deal for you over at Brickyard Buffalo today. As Spring nips at the heels of Winter, we're all ready to shed some layers. The infinity scarf is the perfect accessory for your littles. Throw one on with a long sleeve tee to keep the last gusts of winter at bay during their afternoon play. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy! xo

How I Wore It: Overalls

I'm pretty sure that a 40 year old wearing overalls is a major faux-pas, but I gots me a thang for this summer trend. One piece. Comfy. No thought required. Insta-cool. Easy peasy. So when I found a pair at the thrift store for $7.00 that were uber comfy... I couldn't resist.

Next I gotta work on finding a pair of broken in boots that provide just the right slouchy chic like this fabulous girl below.

Is there a trend going on right now that is so awesome-sauce you can't avoid it no matter how impractical? Please tell me I'm not alone! xo

top overalls found here

slouchy overall perfection here

How I Wore It: Oversized Dress

Seriously. Amazeballs right? I love the color, the chucks, the tan.. all of it. While I don't have this super cute knitted number of rainbow goodness, I do have an oversized dress that I scored in the PJ section of Thrift Town. It's silk and like five sizes too big, but I love it. In the past I've always worn it with heels, but the above image inspired me to simplify with chucks.

It must be said... chucks are both a classic and a staple. And mine stink to high heaven. They need a go in the washing machine. Too much information?

Side note - after looking at these images, I'm not so sure this dress works with sneakers. See how it cuts right at the knee? I think the heels might be what this dress needs to elongate?! Oh, and as evidenced in this next photo of me and my little at our Muffins with Moms shindig, I need to be taking picks for the blog in the morning when hair and make-up are fresh! Sheesh!

Do you have a favorite pair of kicks? xo

Insta Style

Hellooooo! I've got this new addiction with Instagram... Coast to Coast Challenge. Do you play along? At first I thought it was a little shallow - posting selfies and showing others what I was wearing. But then I saw the beauty of the challenges - it forces you to reinvent your wardrobe. The Coast to Coast gals give you challenges on Mondays and Wednesdays for the following days and you get to create a new look using what's already in your closet. A few of my favorites have been geek chic, graphics, dots and fur.

It''s so fun. And it has forced me to think of new combinations that I would have never put together beforehand, but I really love. If you'd like to see how I answer the challenges, you can follow me via Instagram @pureandnoble. Will you consider joining me in the reinvention of your own wardrobe? xo

Summer Accessories

I've been doing some Estate Sale shopping lately. More on that next week. Anyway, I came across this stellar clutch for $1.00 - can't pass that up. It's the perfect addition to my summer accessory line-up...

*neutral heels that go with everything
*black clutch
*straw hat for pool time and bad hair days
*vintage beaded necklaces
*80's beaded belt - the perfect accessory for jeans and a tee

Gosh, looking at these images I can't help but think of Fall - minus the hat. I love a multi-faceted wardrobe. xo

Reduce, Reuse, Recycling: T-shirts

scarves

I'm a Mom... I live in t-shirts. Recently, blogland has me thinking of a few makeovers for my cast-offs.

produce bag

genius tutorial

love, love, love.

For more insanely fun ideas, go here. And to think, before the world wide web we were all just using our old tees as dust clothes! Happy crafting. xo

Around the House: A Peek Inside My Closet

Back in the day, also known as before children, I loved getting ready/dressed. I would take an hour to do my hair and make-up and choose just the right ensemble for the day. Ponytails were rare, I never went out in public without make-up and work-out clothes were saved for the gym. Fast forward six years, add two kiddos into the mix and you have a Momma who gets dressed in 10 minutes for my daily routine and 30 minutes or less for "going out" - see also date night.

Hoping to look slightly more pulled together on a daily basis and not just date nights... I gussied up my closet a bit putting everything in plain view and within reach. Remember those cakeplates I showed you? Well I promised I would show you why I was making so many - here you go!

Using a vintage plate and hurricane vase, I also made a picture holder for my favorite pic of me and my sis in our new maryjanes and pjs. (Mine were on the wrong feet. So cute.) I originally made this as a hat stand, but you couldn't see the picture; so I tossed a little flower pin on top and voila! Still in desperate need of a hat stand, I picked up a large wineglass from the dollar tree and hot glued it onto a vintage plate. It works great!

 (yes, I have an inspiration board in my closet...I'm a dork.)

I was also in need a more hooks for my many necklaces and scarves. Luckily my husband had this really cool piece of old wood lying around. I trimmed it down to size and added some hooks and knobs I had lying around. I'm so happy with how it turned out.

Now when I walk into my closet it's like a mini-boutique that inspires me like crazy and makes my type-A neat freak side sing for joy! Maybe I can get ready for date night in 25 minutes now! Happy Monday friends... xo

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Thrifted Goodness

Thrift stores...they're my favorite kind of department store - next to estate sales. I love finding old pieces that have a history and are one of a kind. But when I find items on sale at the thrift store, be still my heart. Last week I promised that I would show you some lovelies that others had donated and I joyfully recycled. Here's my booty for all of $40.00. What did I score? Oh my, a treasure trove of endless possibilities for my Spring/Summer wardrobe and a flawless diamond for Fall/Winter 2011.

The shirts that will be worn with skinny jeans and sandals...

The bottoms - a black maxi-skirt with pockets, a little lace number, a grey floppy mini and a tweed for Fall.

The Spring Jacket - that longs for deep v-tees and tanks.

And the flawless diamond...Vintage Dior for $3.93. My heart was beating so fast when I saw this baby I felt like I was in Edgar Allen Poe's The Tell Tale Heart.

This was by far the most successful shopping spree I've ever had at my local thrift store. And to think I just went in for some shorts. I am so grateful that people donate their clothes for others to enjoy. xo

PS - I found a pair of shorts too. JCrew Bermuda for $1.97.

Mommy Style... Say What?

There's something about being a work at home Mommy when it comes to fashion that prevents me from rockin' some of my favorite looks.  I just can't see myself at the park, library, Arbo, grocery store or zoo wearing any of the following.

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almost there - but, short shorts and high heels? nope

this I could rock - but hello cellulite legs (no thanks)

this I'm feelin' fo' sho!

oh, yeah! c'est chic!

I'm officially convinced that the easiest way to tell if a lovely lady is a work at home Mommy is by her bracelets, shoes and skirt/short length. Done. There. I've said it. Uggghhh, that felt good. (Yes, I am a little jealous at times.) I long for opportunities to wear all of this fun stuff - date nights, girls' night out and church. Since church is my most frequent "event" (I'm there all the time.), I really do wish our dress code wasn't so laid back. Hmmm, wait a minute...no I don't. It's refreshing. And I honestly don't feel out of place if I'm the only one wearing heels and loads of bracelets with my dressy dress at the 5:30 service. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do - right? xo

Colder Temps = Happiness

Let's talk cold weather and skip the part about runny noses, the flu and coughs. Deal? Instead, let's talk hot drinks, coats, scarves and boots. All of which make Fall and Winter so much fun for me.

After looking at these two images I think I have an addiction to scarves and neutrals! How about you? What do you look forward to wearing most in the colder months? Have a fabulously chilly day! xo

Ten Dollars and a Big Smile

My In-laws were in town over the holidays. It's always so much fun to have them here. My sister-in-law didn't get to come this time, but we still got out to do a bit of shopping. We stopped at my new favorite thrift store and I scored. Big Time!

Two skirts ($1.71 each) and a stellar green leather coat ($6.50) that fits like a glove! It's the makings for a very happy Fall/Winter wardrobe. My Mother-in-law questioned the blue skirt (with pockets, sigh), until we popped into Anthropologie and I showed her one there that was very similar. 

Let's get a close up of that leather goodness...

Trust me, the detailing in the back is just as lovely. When I saw the price I almost fainted. It even has a wool vest lining that zips out. Oh happiest of days. I can't wait to rock this baby with a tee some jeans and boots.

What's your best/most favorite thrift score? xo

A Weekly Challenge

Hello Friends.

I'm back! Can you tell? It was kind of like being gone and kind of not. I so enjoyed my time with family and friends. I am blessed. Over the weeks, God has been doing some serious work and me and my husband. We are growing in Christ a ton, growing closer to one another through our struggles and finding a deep joy in our family. It has been hard, emotional and delightful all at the same time.

During my time away, I thought about a new weekly post! I'm sharing the first of many with you today. Throughout the weeks ahead, I will be challenging myself to do various things for a week. Some will be really easy and quite silly. Others will be tough, but rewarding I'm sure.  This week I did a two-fer to get things rolling.

One - wear zero makeup (except cherry chapstick) for an entire week. Pictures of me with and without makeup coming soon. Insert butterflies and serious loads of apprehension here! (This is a pretty big area of struggle for me.)

Two - wear skirts for a week. Now I know to most this doesn't seem like much of a challenge, but when you have two boys and really prefer jeans over anything else...it's a BIG challenge. Here's a look at my challenge day by day.

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Guess what? Wearing a skirt isn't all that bad. It can actually be kind of comfy cozy. Who knew? Don't go thinking I'm a changed woman. I am totally itchin' to slip on a pair of jeans. Doing so just feels more me, like wrapping up with a yummy blanket and a good book on a rainy day. Or playing footsies with your loved one while watching a good movie. All good things.  Hey guess what? It's FRIDAY baby. I hope you enjoy every minute of it - the hard stuff and the moments of joy. xo