Fashion

Earlier this week I put up a picture of the inside of my closet after I cleaned it out. And a couple of you commented that I needed to put bottles in my boots to help them keep their shape.

I’ve kind of known that but it’s fallen in the category of things I’m too lazy to do. But then P told me I absolutely needed to do it or my boots would eventually crack around the ankles. And that would be more than my heart could bear.

I happened to have a couple of two-liter bottles of sparkling water in the kitchen so I grabbed them and put one in each boot. And I felt better about life. I felt organized and efficient.

When Caroline got home from school I told her that Gulley and I had plans to go out to dinner later that night. And so after homework, soccer, and dinner, I said she needed to go ahead and get ready for bed before I left. She went in our bathroom to take a shower and came out a few minutes later, still dressed, and said, “Mama, I need to ask you a question.”

“What is it, baby?”

“I noticed you’re hiding bottles of champagne in your boots. Are you trying to sneak champagne out of the house tonight?”

It was like a flashback to 1988.

Except I’m forty-one. I don’t need to sneak champagne out of the house. And, frankly, I don’t even care for champagne.

I went in and showed her (not that it was any of her nosy business) that they were bottles of sparkling water and explained it was too keep my boots in good shape. She shrugged her little shoulders and skeptically said, “Okay. If you really think that’ll work.”

Like the whole thing was the stupidest thing she’d ever heard of. It made much more sense that I was trying to sneak alcohol out of the house.

Anyway, here are a few cute things this week.

1. Marc New York medal down jacket

I desperately need a new coat this winter. I realize it only gets really cold about five or six days total, but on those days I need a coat. Plus, we have a little trip to New York planned for December and that’s going to require something more than a fleece from Old Navy.

Anyway, I’m worried this one would be perfect for South Texas, but not for New York in December. Can anyone who lives up north tell me what kind of coat I need?

2. betsey johnson ruffle trim anorak

Now this is a cute coat. Or anorak. Whatever.

I actually saw this in Nordstrom. It has gorgeous faux fur lining and is water-repellant. What more could you want?

3. peter pan collar wool-blend coat

Do you remember the movie St. Elmo’s Fire? Remember how Ally Sheedy was Judd Nelson’s girlfriend and she wore a great long wool coat?

It influenced my coat style for many a year. I just thought it was so sophisticated. Even though I’m sure it had enormous shoulder pads because it was the 80s.

I guess that’s why I’m still drawn to this style. I adore it in hot pink.

4. glam split-sleeve dress

I like this. The color is good. It would look great with skinny jeans or leggings or maybe even tights and boots.

5. zig & zag scarf

This scarf is cute, cute, cute. In fact, they have a bunch of great scarfs right now. It’s hard to choose just one.

6. sabi sand dress

I really like this leopard print dress. You could wear it with a denim jacket and tall boots. Or you could wear it with a black blazer and heels. It’s very versatile. And I appreciate that in a garment.

7. sailor button sleeveless dress

This dress is so pretty. And it’s a little more interesting than just a basic black dress.

8. john wind madison ave infinity hoop earrings

I’m a big fan of the tortoiseshell jewelry right now. Love these earrings.

9. rayne necklace

Oh this necklace. I need it in my life. If I can ever decide on a color, then I’m totally buying one.

10. isabella top with lace

I don’t do well with tops with an empire waist. It’s just not the best look on me. But if I could wear them I’d absolutely buy this top. It would be great with jeans and cowboy boots. Or dressed up with black pants.

And I’d wear it with turquoise earrings because, OF COURSE.

That’s it for today.

Y’all have a great Friday.

So I am sad because I totally thought of some story I wanted to tell y’all that I’m pretty sure was related to fashion. But then I drove Caroline to soccer practice and I didn’t put my thought down in the notes section of my phone like I do when I need to remember something.

And now I can’t remember it. I have racked my brain.

I guess it wasn’t that good of a story. Or maybe I’ve finally lost too many brain cells from repeatedly blacking out while trying to help Caroline with her spelling words.

The moral of the story is I can’t expect to remember anything if I don’t write it down somewhere.

Anyway, I’m excited because I have a fun giveaway for you today. My friend Francesca Watson makes jewelry and she has made a pair of beautiful custom-made earrings with a gorgeous lapis stone for me to give to one of you.

All you have to do for a chance to win is leave a comment. I’ll keep comments open until Monday at noon and then draw a winner using Random.org. Maybe you can tell me what you’re doing this weekend. Maybe a trip to Home Depot or Bed, Bath and Beyond if there’s time.

And, in other news, here are a few cute things I’ve found this week.

1. chambray boyfriend pocket shirt

I bought this the other day because it’s just long enough that I can wear it with leggings. And I figured wearing a shirt with leggings and boots it’s almost like an acceptable form of pajamas.

2. leopardlily coat

I realize this coat has a lot going on. But I kind of like that it has a lot happening. It’s not afraid to be itself.

I have no idea what that means. But it’s on sale and I’m a fan.

3. essential a-line coat

Forever 21 is a great place to find a variety of inexpensive coats and jackets. This is exhibit A.

4. pleated hem moto jacket

This is exhibit B. I really like that ruffle detail on the bottom, but let’s not even pretend that it feels remotely like real leather.

Maybe that’s why Fonzie never let anyone touch his leather jacket.

5. the brigid blazer

I enjoy a blazer. It’s an easy way to dress up a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Add a scarf and some necklaces and it’s the perfect outfit.

This one comes in several colors and is on sale.

6. timberland lexiss boot

A lot of people have asked me about boots lately and that’s why I’m sharing these. I bought these boots four years ago and I adore them. They still look great. And they’re as comfortable as tennis shoes.

Plus they’re waterproof and warm. I highly recommend them. They are worth every penny.

7. striped organic cotton t-shirt

A striped shirt is pretty much an essential basic this year.

8. staring at stars sherpa hooded parka coat

I’ve been looking for a casual coat. I’m not sure why since it’s only slightly cooler than the surface of the sun right now, but I’ll be ready when a cold front hits.

Or maybe not since I haven’t actually ordered a coat so much as just looked at different ones online and in stores.

9. ava collared coat

And this is why. Because I love this coat too. And how do you make a decision?

10. willow gold necklace

This necklace is great. That’s all. Just great.

That’s all for today.

Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win the pair of earrings from Francesca Watson Designs.

Y’all have a great Friday.

Yes. Today I am grateful for Christopher Columbus because he set sail with the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria in 1492 and we are still reaping the benefits all these years later because not only do we live on a nice continent, but we also get a long weekend. Which I’m sure is a comfort to all those people who died of scurvy and dysentery during the voyage.

Of course I didn’t realize it was a long weekend until yesterday. But in full disclosure I also thought Caroline had early dismissal at school yesterday and today and I was wrong because it’s next week.

What I’m trying to convey is that I’m unreliable at best and my calendar is a mess.

Anyway, at least I can share a few fashion finds with y’all. But I’ll be honest, it was slim pickings. I’m not sure what is going on but I met my friend Steph for a little shopping yesterday afternoon and we both agreed that we haven’t found anything we really love yet this fall. We even discussed that we may resort to wearing all black and just accessorizing from here on out.

Desperate times and all that.

So with that disclosure, here’s what I found.

1. old navy active compression pants

I just bought my third pair of these yoga pants. None of those pairs have actually been to yoga.

But they are really comfortable and are made out of some type of material that doesn’t fade and get all stretched out.

2. living easy tunic

There is no world in which I will ever wear mesh pants. I just want you to know.

But do you remember that I showed y’all this tunic this summer? And I think we all agreed it was really pretty but a little pricey?

Well, it’s on sale for $49.95. And it also comes in white or navy.

3. leopard print skinny jeans

I nearly bought a pair of these the other day. Except the ones I found were more expensive and I really think this is just a fun thing to have and not something I want to invest any substantial amount of money in.

Do you like how I just made that sound like I’m some sort of investment banker looking for a hedge fund or something?

Anyway, these are only $19 and I think they’re cute. I’d wear them with boots.

4. chambray shirtdress

I can’t remember if I’ve already shown this, but I think it might be cute with the aforementioned leopard print skinny jeans. And boots.

5. hamilton bag in green

I’m going to tell you something. I have looked at every available purse in the free world over the last week or so. Because I really need a new purse for fall.

However, I have commitment issues. I also have budget issues.

But this is kind of fun in the green.

6. towne and reese lila gray necklace

I really like this gray necklace. I’ve never really thought about owning a gray necklace because, well, it’s a gray necklace. But now that I’ve seen this one I have reconsidered my stance.

Not that it was really a firm stance to begin with. It was more of a murky ideology.

7. smoky quartz and teal necklace

I really like this. It kind of has a whole Rachel Zoe kind of look to it.

8. daisy turquoise ring

Are you noticing that I’m a little focused on jewelry? This turquoise ring is perfection.

9. corded dobby striped trench

This trench coat is adorable. And, best of all, it’s 60% off right now when you use the code take60 at checkout.

10. 3/4 sleeve peplum blouse

The same goes for this darling top. It’s 60% right now at the Loft.

That’s it for this week.

I wish you all a Merry Columbus Day.

It’s true. There’s another giveaway today.

I’m starting to feel like Crazy Larry at Furniture Mart. TODAY ONLY! EVERYTHING MUST GO! THE BOSS IS AWAY AND WE’RE GIVING AWAY EVERYTHING!

Except I’m not giving away furniture. And my name isn’t Larry. And I’m not really crazy.

I’m just a girl, standing in front of a blog audience, wanting to give them a $100 gift certificate to DeJaVu.

They recently sent me two darling items. First, this crazy chevron dress.

(Please forgive the poor self-photography. P wasn’t around and I just did the best I could. Also, my closet is a mess. I desperately need to clean it out but I’m waiting for the cool weather.)

And this no vacancy top that has this cool snakeskin collar thing going on that doesn’t show up in pictures.

But they have so many other cute things, like this navy chevron dress or this simply put top or this on the boulevard necklace.

In other words, it will not be hard to find an abundance of ways to use a $100 gift card. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post for a chance to enter. I’ll keep comments open until Monday morning and then email the winner.

Here are a few other cute things I’ve found this week:

1. long sleeve cowl neck tunic

I like stuff like this. Just kind of loose and easy to throw on but could possibly look like you put some effort into it if you added cute earrings and boots.

2. city splendor tweed coat

I’m a sucker for a coat with a faux fur collar. I can’t explain it. I just am.

3. dreamy destiny curvy plus cardigan

This is a really pretty cardigan and it’s plus size. Perfect thing to throw on over a shell.

And I just channeled the spirit of Ann Taylor by using the word “shell”.

4. shirt tail striped tee

The collegiate striped sweater I had on a few weeks ago is still sold out, but I really like this striped tee. It’s long and looks really comfortable.

5. kendra scott danielle earrings

Gulley and Jen surprised me this week with a gorgeous pair of green Kendra Scott earrings like these. I adore them and felt like you should know about Kendra Scott jewelry if you don’t already.

6. striped color block dress

Please overlook the fact that they’re showing this dress with booties. I know it’s a thing, but I don’t understand it.

I was talking to my sister this week and she asked me what I thought about booties and I just told her I’m on the fence. I’m fine when they’re with jeans but it’s rare that you see someone wearing them with a dress and think it looks good. Frankly, they can look like hooves.

I guess what I’m saying is I’m not ready for the bootie. Not to be confused with the booty.

7. mossimo ultra soft cocoon cardigan

I was in Target yesterday getting razors and dog food and decided it was my duty to peruse the clothing section to see if there was anything noteworthy. And that’s how I stumbled across this sweater.

It looks a little more grandma-ish online than it does in person. In person, it’s really soft, comes in a ton of colors and is the perfect thing to throw on over sleeveless tops to transition to fall. Plus it’s long enough to cover the booty. Not to be confused with the bootie.

8. towne & reese chelsea gold bracelet

This is a great gold bracelet.

9. trench coat with detailing on sleeve

I don’t always agree with Tim Gunn, but I think he was spot on about a trench coat. It immediately elevates the look of an outfit and is the perfect weight for a lot of “winter” days here in Texas.

10. frisco boot in cognac

Y’all. These boots are so great. And they’re only available online. But I think they look a lot like Frye boots for less than half the price.

Okay. That’s it for today.

Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win $100 from DeJaVu.

Y’all have a great Friday.

Well I made it home from the DotMom Conference in Birmingham and it was so much fun and my voice held out and I don’t think I scared too many people with my delicate cough that sounds like a cat hacking up a bone. And I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.

But today is about fashion because apparently the Sheraton Birmingham isn’t a big believer in wireless internet with a decent signal.

There are a couple of quick things I want to share:

First, the nice people at Ruche are offering a $50 gift card to one lucky reader. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post for a chance to enter.

If I were to win I’d be tempted to get the gentle tides shawl cardigan or this silver sparks metallic blouse, but I’m not the boss of you so you can get whatever you like.

They even have baby clothes. You will die at the precious.

Secondly, I’ve recently discovered two new style blogs that I love. The first is called C. Style. I’ve already discovered a few helpful tips and I love her style.

The other one is called Pinterest Told Me To. She looks for outfit ideas on Pinterest and then shows how she’s created her own version of them mostly using things she already has in her closet. And it’s given me about seven new ideas of how to use a few things I have.

And here are just five things I’ve found this week. Apparently it was a slow week. Or maybe being sick impeded my ability to find cute clothes. Dang you, bronchitis.

1. shawl collar tunic

I have a version of this shirt and I can assure you it is one of my favorite things ever. I wear it an embarrassing amount of time because it’s like an acceptable form of wearing pajamas in public.

2. roll cuff blouse

I love these roll cuff blouses at Old Navy. They come in some great colors and this style is everywhere right now. I tried on a shirt just like this in a trendy little store the other day and it was $80.

You know how much I’m not paying for a shirt that looks like this? $80.

But Old Navy pricing is my friend.

3. green skinny jeans

I know I’ve talked about these before but did you miss that part where I said it was a slow week for fashion?

Old Navy skinny jeans in an array of colors. They’re only $19 right now. And don’t be discouraged if you have to get a size that’s bigger than you normally wear. It’s totally how they’re made.

Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself.

4. we are running dress

I really like the colors in this. It’s so fall-ish. And would be perfect by itself with leggings or skinny jeans with boots. Then you can throw on a cute sweater or jacket with it when the weather cools off.

5. wideneck sweatshirt

Yes. This is just a sweatshirt. But it looks really comfortable and I’m looking forward to cool days that involve sweatshirts and yoga pants.

That’s it for today.

Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win $50 from Ruche.

Y’all have a good Monday.

So I’m always on the lookout for great places to buy cute clothes. Which is why I was so excited to discover A Thread a few weeks ago. They have really cute stuff at really good prices.

And they emailed me and offered to send me something that I could style for Fashion Friday. I didn’t know how I’d ever make up my mind, but then I saw this collegiate pullover sweater and I knew it was the perfect thing.

When it arrived in the mail, I wasn’t disappointed. It is so unbelievably soft and totally lightweight which is exactly what a Texas fall calls for. And so yesterday I tried it on with my jeans and boots and some turquoise jewelry.

And I realized that I could never be one of those bloggers that takes pictures of what they wear everyday because my anxiety level is way too high. Not to mention that this was the best place I could come up with to take a photo.

Seriously.

Amateur.

But the collegiate pullover can’t be blamed for my shortcomings because it’s perfect. And I’ve already thought of all the different ways I can wear it. It would look great with maroon accents for Aggie gamedays. Or I could just throw it on with leggings for a day when I’m just hanging out which is pretty much everyday.

Anyway, A Thread is giving away a $50 gift certificate today. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post. AND if you want to increase your odds of winning then you can like them on Facebook and leave an additional comment for a total of TWO entries.

That’s it. Super easy and a chance for $50 worth of cute clothes and/or accessories.

And here are a few other things I’ve found here and there this week.

1. vintage love scarf in navy

Love the colors in this scarf.

2. gameday boot socks

Last week I showed a pair of boots socks and then someone mentioned Grace and Lace on Etsy. And then I went there and saw these collegiate boot socks and fell in love.

3. soft wash denim shirt

Have I mentioned that I love a denim shirt? Because I do. And this one looks great.

4. light as air tiered dress

This would be really cute over leggings with a denim jacket thrown over it. Or you could put on your jacket one arm at a time. Throwing is optional.

5. grey whispers cowl

This gray cowl scarf is so pretty. And I love how they’ve styled it.

6. maddox faux leather jacket

I told a friend the other day that I really want a leather jacket this year. But I said that due to budget constraints, it may have to be a pleather jacket.

And if I’m going to go for pleather then I might as well add a little faux fur to go with it.

7. big buddha pearl

I desperately need a purse for fall because I’m still carrying the orange purse I bought this summer that looked so cute with summer clothes but kind of looks like an out of place party guest right now.

I don’t even know what that means. I just know I need a purse that’s not orange.

8. biscotti maxi skirt

This skirt. Love. I’d wear it with the denim shirt featured above.

9. lavvaa boots

These are really cute boots at a really reasonable price.

10. love encounter top

This is such a pretty top. I’d say more about it but it’s about to start thundering here which means my minutes are limited before Caroline comes out and announces she can’t sleep.

Don’t forget to leave a comment to enter the giveaway for a $50 gift certificate to A Thread. And if you like them on Facebook you can leave an additional comment for a total of two entries.

Y’all have a great Friday.