Fashion

Well, as you read this I am most likely en route to Chicago. Or maybe I’m already in Chicago. I guess it depends on what time you’re reading this post. Whatever the case, I’m spending the weekend in Chicago to be part of the Popcast Live and couldn’t be more excited about it.

You may also be aware that there is a football game of some importance to me that will be played on Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. central time. The Aggies play Clemson and it’s kind of a big deal. I have not yet figured out how I will simultaneously be on stage and furiously check my phone for the play-by-play, but I assure you I will find a way.

And I’ll confess that my football optimism is at an all-time high because I honestly believe we can win. The heart wants what it wants.

Now before we get to the Fashion portion of today, I wanted to tell you about the Hummingbird Farms September Special because I believe I’ve mentioned how much I love their lavender products and this is a good deal. The Rest Easy Trio is a $66 Value that’s just $33 this month. Here’s the description:

“We know how important quality sleep can be for you, and back to school is always a good time to incorporate a calming bedtime routine so you can rest easy and sleep peacefully. Lavender is known for its calming and soothing qualities, and we have put together your perfect evening regimen so you can drift off to your best sleep every night of the week. Start your evening with a relaxing bath with our Lavender Body Wash No. 152. Not only is it a fabulous bath gel, but it makes a wonderful bubble bath, too! Our foaming aloe vera is infused with 100% pure essential oil of lavender. A FREE bath puff will be included, too! Just before getting into bed, mist your pillow and linens with our Lavender Pillow Mist No. 48. Lightly dribble a drop or two of Essential Oil of Lavender onto your wrists and the bottoms of your feet. Crawl into bed and AHHHHHHH! Enjoy your sweet dreams!

BUY 2 AND GET FREE SHIPPING!”

You can read more or purchase it here.

Now for the cute things I found this week:

1. velvet front tie-top

I love this velvet tie top because it can be dressed up or down. You could wear it with jeans for a date night or girls’ night out or dress it up with some sparkly pants for the holidays. It’s $78.

2. weekender cloud fleece pullover

I was in Anthropologie the other day and fell in love with this on the spot. I’m not sure why I didn’t buy it on the spot because the length is perfect to wear with leggings and it is so soft. It’s $78 which honestly feels like a steal for this.

3. j.crew cape scarf

I love these darling cape scarfs at J.Crew. They have striped versions and this window pane version. This is basically a super easy way to dress up a simple t-shirt or sweater and a pair of jeans. Throw one of these on and it looks like you tried.

They are $49.50 but 40% off with the code FALLTIME at checkout.

4. bp v-neck long sleeve sweater

I debated buying this sweater all last year which seems kind of dumb since it’s just $39. So I finally had a talk with myself and ordered it. I chose black because I wear a lot of black, but I also love the gray. I love the v-neck and I love the length. It also comes in gray, pale pink with gray stripes and gray with white stripes.

5. gap wide leg pants in french terry

I have some wide leg cotton pants that I bought on sale at Anthropologie for $14 years ago and I have worn them out. I’ve been looking for a replacement and these look promising. They are $39.95 but Gap currently has 40% off with the code FALL at checkout.

6. j.jill luxe supima tunic

The shirttail detail of this tunic is a winner for me. Plus, I have no problem with anything using the words “supima” and “luxe”. This is $59 and also comes in black, rose and ivory.

7. old navy floral print swing dress

This darling dress is just $28 plus an extra 25% taken at checkout which makes it just $21 plus free shipping. It also comes in tall and petite sizes and comes in a green option as well. I think it is just the cutest. The only problem is deciding between the black and the green. I love them both.

8. old navy twill field jacket

I have a camo jacket almost just like this that I bought on sale at Old Navy about ten years ago. I paid $6.00 for it. True story. And I’ve worn it 6,345 times at least. (That may be an exaggeration.)

This one isn’t $6.00 but it is just $30 plus an extra 25% taken at checkout and free shipping. It also comes in several other solid colors if camo isn’t your thing. It’s just a great lightweight jacket.

9. old navy plush knit long-line open-front sweater

I think a long open-front sweater is just a great basic. You can wear it to Saturday morning soccer game over jeans and a t-shirt or dress it up for the office and wear it over all black. It’s a great piece to have and it’s $39.99 plus an extra 25% taken at checkout and free shipping. It also comes in several different colors.

10. chelsea28 skyler faux leather foldover clutch

This is such a cute clutch if you happen to be in the market for a clutch. It’s $59 and also comes in a crimson red which happens to be darling.

That’s it for today.

Have a good Friday.

And Gig’em Aggies. BTHOClemson!

In other words, let’s give today a handclap of praise and all the hallelujahs.

I realize it’s still going to be hot for at least another month, but we are one day shy of it being September and that, much like the love story of Kate and Leo in The Titanic, means my heart will go on.

First order of business today, in honor of football season and Friday Night Lights firing up all over the nation, I have to start by sharing one of my favorite Milk and Honey tees of all time.

You know why Tami Taylor should be President? Because she knows how to handle any situation and, most importantly, her hair always held up beautifully at every single game the Dillon Panthers and/or the East Dillon Lions played. If you can have hair that looks good at a football game on a Friday night in Texas, then you can run the world.

And if you’ve never watched the show Friday Night Lights, then I need you to head to Amazon Prime toot suite and fix that immediately.

Anyway, you can find the Tami Taylor for President t-shirt here. Best of all, Mandy at Milk and Honey Tees is offering my readers 15% off on it when you use the code BIGMAMA at checkout.

Secondly, next weekend is the Popcast Live with Knox and Jamie at the Patio Theater in Chicago. I’ll be there along with Sophie and we are so excited about it.

There are still some tickets available You can find those here.

And, last but not least, we are starting our 100 Day Fearless Faith and Everyday Holy Reading Challege on Tuesday, September 4th and I’d love for you to join us. Young girls can read Fearless Faith and “older” women can read Everyday Holy.

I believe just five minutes a day could change your life and the life of a young girl or girls in your life. My prayer will be that we will look back on this fall as a time when God grew us and challenged us and made us more than we were before.

Here’s what it looks like:

Day 1: September 4 (This is the Tuesday after Labor Day and everyone will be back in school by then.)

Day 25: September 28th

Day 50: October 23rd

Day 75: November 17th

Day 100: December 12th

There will be no official group or anything that fancy, but just a lot of us reading either Everyday Holy or Fearless Faith over those 100 days. And we can all share what we are learning and what God is teaching us by posting and using the hashtags on Instagram #100DaysEverydayHoly or #100DaysOfFearlessFaith to help us all stay accountable and on track

And then we’ll celebrate on December 12th with a fun giveaway for two people that will be chosen at random from everyone who participates with the hashtags on social media.

What do you need to join?

-A copy of Everyday Holy and/or Fearless Faith or both!

-Five to ten minutes a day

-A journal might be good for writing thoughts down, but not necessary

-It might be fun to have some real life friends join in as well but, again, not necessary

-If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them or find people who know the answers.

So if you’ve wanted to do something like this but needed the push or if you’ve wanted to do it but didn’t want to do it alone or if you want to invite friends to all do it together as part of a small group, this is the time. I so hope you’ll join in with us starting September 4th. And in the meantime, you can purchase either book at your local bookstore or find Fearless Faith on Amazon here and Everyday Holy on Amazon here.

Now here are some cute things I found this week:

1. basseterre ruffle sleeve tank

I saw this in the sale room at Anthropologie this week and wanted to buy it but I had an intervention with myself because I don’t need another plain shirt right now. But it has ruffle sleeves! And it’s a tank! And it comes in so many colors!

It’s on sale for $29.95 plus is an extra 40% off. I am already regretting my intervention with myself.

2. tunic laced dress

This is not on sale. It’s $168. I wish I had seen it when dresses were 20% off last week. It also comes in white and a pink, but this gold color made me swoon in person. It’s a great fall dress that could be worn with boots or heels depending on your preference.

3. halogen wrap dress

They had this dress on a mannequin in Nordstrom and I just think it’s so cute. It’s $99 and would be a great dress for the office or a luncheon or really anywhere you’d wear a dress.

4. everleigh roll-tab sleeve tunic

I love these simple tunics because they can be dressed up or down. You can wear them with black pants or jeans or even shorts. This one is on sale for $34.90 and comes in a ton of color options.

5. sole society nuddo faux leather tote

I adore the Madewell Transport tote, but this is a more affordable version at $64.95 and I think it’s really pretty. It also comes in black and olive.

6. lonnie striped skirt

This is a great maxi skirt and super versatile. It’s on sale for $39.95 plus an extra 40% off.

7. antonella peasant top

The colors in this top are so pretty. The reviews say it’s sheer so just know you have to wear a tank or cami under it. But so cute with jeans for the fall. It’s $69.95 plus an extra 40% off.

8. j.crew bold stripe tunic

This reminds me of the shirt that Meghan Markle wore to Wimbledon and therefore I love it. It’s $69.50 but everything at J.Crew is 40% off with the code BIGSALE at checkout.

9. women’s calf hair belt

I’ve been looking for a leopard print belt and I think this one is perfect. It’s normally $65 but currently 40% off with code BIGSALE at checkout.

And speaking of leopard, this sheath dress in leopard print is really cute and would look great with a black blazer or leather jacket over it.

It’s normally $138 but 40% off with code BIGSALE at checkout

10. your girl tunic

I bought this in black last fall and it’s been one of my favorites. It’s so comfortable and I wear it with leggings or skinny jeans. It’s $78 and comes in black, white or burnt coral> (I know. What is burnt coral? Quit trying to make fetch happen.)

I also like this riverside tunic because it looks soft and drapey and just easy to throw on.

It’s $68 and comes in a ton of color options.

That’s it for today.

Have a good Friday.

And have a good weekend with all the college football and the extra day off.

So we made it through the first week and all is well. Except I’m a little tired. My body clock hasn’t gotten the memo that maybe I need to go to sleep earlier now that I’m getting up early again. It still thinks I’m living a frat house existence and need to be up until 1:30 or 2 a.m. lest I miss a keg party or something.

Here are some cute things I found this week as I dream of fall and a day when I will no longer melt as soon as I step aside.

Quick side note: A few of you emailed and asked if I’d found a good strapless bra since I mentioned wearing one last week with my new favorite jumpsuit from Amazon. YES. I have found the mythical unicorn that is a comfortable strapless bra that stays put. I was a total skeptic and only tried it on at the salesgirl’s insistence, but I’m so glad I did. It’s the sexy illusions strapless bra from Victoria’s Secret and it also comes with removable straps. You can find it here.

1. avalon shift dress

Every fall Anthropologie has a dress that I love and this year this is that dress. It’s currently $148 but it will be mine as soon as it goes on sale. Or maybe before that. I am only human.

2. daily ritual supersoft terry long-sleeve hooded top

So after my Amazon maxi dress find this summer, I realized maybe I should look for more clothing options on Amazon. That led me to this top which will be perfection when the weather cools off. It’s just $28 and it also comes in black and white with black stripes.

3. timeson cuffed sleeve athleisure hoodie

This is another Amazon find that I think is really cute and would be great with leggings and tennis shoes. It’s $28.95 and it also comes in blue and something called orage that looks like it’s in the pink family and makes me wonder if they meant “orange” and it was a typo.

4. madewell full bloom central shirt

I think this top is darling and the perfect transition top to fall. It’s $72.

5. holly hooded maxi sweater

This cute maxi sweater is what my winter dreams are made of. It’s $48 and Francesca’s currently has buy one, get one 40% off and you can get free shipping for purchases over $60 or if you have it shipped to your local store.

6. jody rounded hem cardigan

This is another Francesca’s item so it could be one of your BOGO options. It’s perfect for throwing on with athleisure or jeans and a t-shirt. It’s $38.

7. j.crew new york sweatshirt

I adore a good sweatshirt and this one is perfect. I am resisting the urge to order it because I have a Nike sweatshirt that is very similar, but I love this. It’s $49.50.

8. raw edge side slit tee

These t-shirts are on sale for just $15.90 and perfect to layer or wear all by themselves. They also come in black, pale gray, or light rose.

9. kelli embroidered maxi skirt

This popped up on my Facebook feed in that weird way that things do and confirm that we are all living in a George Orwell novel. But I clicked on it so I guess Big Brother knows me well. It’s $48 and I think it would look so cute with a black tank and a denim jacket. Or just a denim shirt knotted at the waist.

10. express v-neck essential tank

I posted these a few weeks ago, but I got mine in and I love it so much. It’s the perfect tank because it’s not cotton and so it looks a little dressier than a normal tank. And the v-neck isn’t as low as it appears in the photo. They come in a ton of colors and are $24.90.

That’s it for today.

Have a good Friday.

That’s right.

We are down to our last week of summer over here. And the truth is that’s probably a good thing. I’ve enjoyed my late nights and living the schedule of a college frat boy, but it doesn’t necessarily do wonders for my productivity.

Before we get to the fashion portion of the day, I wanted to remind you that my brand new devotional for girls ages 8-16 came out on Tuesday. It’s called Fearless Faith and I couldn’t be more excited about it. And it especially warms my heart to hear from so many women about how much their daughters are already loving it because that’s really the whole point.

You can find it here on Barnes & Noble or here on Amazon. It’s also available just about anywhere books are sold.

It would make a great gift for the girls in your life and I’ve heard from several women who are going to use it for the small groups they lead or even Sunday school classes. We’re also going to do a read-a-long for 100 days this fall starting Tuesday, September 4th and you can read more about that here if you’re interested.

Now for some cute things I found this week that are a random mix of fall things and summer things because August is a weird fashion time.

1. enesta embroidered top

This top is even prettier in person. It’s on sale for $49.95.

2. zella post-studio dress

There isn’t much I like more than a comfortable cotton dress to wear when the weather is hot. I also love that you could throw a denim jacket over this later on. However, I don’t see it as something I wear post-studio because my life isn’t that fancy. I’d just wear it. Most likely to soccer games.

It’s $59 and also comes in black.

3. linen yarn-dyed sleeveless buttondown

The colors in this are so pretty and it just looks airy and cool which are my fashion goals right now. It’s on sale for $49.95.

4. starstruck hooded pullover

I can tell I’m getting ready for fall because I can’t quit looking at hooded pullovers. They are my comfort garment of choice. This one is on sale for $49.95.

5. gap raglan pullover sweatshirt tunic

See what I’m saying? A sweatshirt. But a cute sweatshirt. This is $49.95 plus 30% off everything with the code DOUBLE at checkout. This comes in several color options but the bottom line is that this is the kind of thing I’d wear all winter long.

6. mid rise camo print stretch ankle leggings

I nearly bought these all year last year and then I finally decided to and they were sold out in my size. But they’re back and on sale for $39.90 along with all other jeans at Express right now. I have worn my other pair of camo jeans out and I know these will be the same.

7. old navy open front cardi

This is the perfect fall layer over a tank or tee. It’s on sale for $29.99 with an extra 30% off taken at checkout. It also comes in black, camel, and olive green.

8. express v-neck essential tank

These tanks from Express are a great basic. They’re just a little bit drapey, have a great v-neck which looks on everyone, and come in a ton of color options. They are $24.90.

9. h&m patterned dress

This dressed popped up in my sidebar in that creepy way that the internet has of letting you know that it knows you better than you know yourself. I really like this floral print and it would be a great dress for work. Even better? It’s $24.90.

10. jayant genuine calf hair pump

Leopard print is a big trend for fall and I love these shoes. However, my life doesn’t need these shoes. They would probably look weird with all my hooded pullovers. But if I were in the market for a great pair of heels, these would be the ones. I love that chunky heel and I love that they are calf-hair. These are $119.95.

That’s it for today.

Have a good Friday.

So Fashion Friday is today since Friday is Caroline’s birthday and I always write a birthday letter on that day. But it just means you can shop that much sooner.

You may also want to keep in mind that the Nordstrom Anniversary sale ends on Sunday so if there’s something you want, you need to go ahead and get it. Plus, some things that were out of stock are back in stock. Personally, I’d been stalking a North Face coat and finally got it at 2 a.m. the other morning when a medium popped back up for sale. If I used this kind of dedication for other things in my life, there’s no telling what I could accomplish.

Also, I only needed a new coat because I left my other winter coat on a flight home from Las Vegas last February. The airline couldn’t find it and it was sad times because I loved that coat. But hopefully this new coat will work out and we’ll develop a meaningful relationship this coming winter.

Here are some cute things I found this week.

1. all things new gameday earrings

You know what’s exciting? It’s August. Which means we are now in a month where there will be college football. It’s the best time of the year. I love this time in college football because the hype is huge and the possibilities are endless.

Even better? My sister has a whole collection of college gameday earrings that are perfect to wear during a football game because they are leather and not too heavy when you’re doing all the jumping up and down and stress yelling. Or maybe that’s just me.

They are $12 each or you can buy 3 or more for $10 each plus shipping. And she’ll also take custom orders for specific colors, shapes and sizes if you don’t see exactly what will fulfill all your gameday hopes and dreams. You can shop here at her Etsy shop or find her on Instagram or Facebook.

2. Adidas swift run athletic shoes

I love these Adidas because they are perfect for both working out and athleisure wear. They are $84.99 and come in that pretty pink up above and this olive green that I’m now obsessing over.

They also come in some other colors but I cannot look away from the pink and the olive green.

3. gibson convertible cozy wrap fleece cardigan

This is the same cardigan worn two different ways. And it’s made by Gibson and their fleece things are always the coziest. This comes in several color options and is normally $68 but on sale for $45.90 until the Anniversary sale is over.

4. madewell whisper cotton v-neck tank

These Madewell tanks are so soft, a great length and I love that they are v-neck because I think a v-neck is universally flattering. And they are just $18.50. They are great all alone but perfect for layering under things like the Gibson cardigan up above or various other jackets and such.

5. v-neck blouse with tie sleeves

This cute top is just $24.99 which is why I love H&M. It also comes in a pink stripe, green stripe or solid black which would be a great transition top for fall.

6. loft meadow cap sleeve swing dress

This is a great dress for the office or the classroom, but could easily be dressed down as well. It’s currently $59.50 but there’s a good chance Loft will have some sort of sale soon. Also, they have all their sale stuff an additional 60% off right now so you may want to check that out.

7. monogram pendant necklace

I’ve been wanting one of these forever and I’m not sure why I haven’t bought myself one yet. And then I saw that Alexis had one on Schitt’s Creek and that made me want one even more. They are $38 and would make great Christmas gifts if you’re the type of person who thinks about Christmas shopping in August.

8. loft striped drapey tie top

This is a cute top from Loft that could work for the office or just with jeans. It’s $39.50.

9. talese wide leg pants

I’ve had my eye on these pants and have been waiting for them to go on sale. They are $69.95 plus there’s an extra 25% off all sale at Anthropologie. They come in other colors and patterns but this blue is my favorite.

10. wayf blouson midi dress

I was looking at dresses this week and came across this one. It has great reviews, comes in a bunch of different color options and is $69.

And I feel like I also need to share this band of gypsies floral print wrap dress that I think is so pretty.

It’s $98.

That’s it for today.

Have a good Thursday.