Spring Wardrobe Wish List

I am on the hunt to add some new pieces to my wardrobe this Spring.

Here is my wish list: 

Dressy, flowy pants.

Printed pants - polka-dots, stripes or floral, please.

Comfy, cute teacher shoes.

A new swimsuit cover up.

Sleeveless collared shirts to layer with year round.

Spring cardigans.

Wish me luck!  What are you on the hunt for as the temps are warming up?

I stopped in Marshalls over the weekend and this is what my dressing room looked like:

Which items do you think came home with me??

1, 2, 3 or 4?  Or all of them?

ALL OF THEM!  They looked so cute and will be perfect for teaching.

Viral Quilted Jacket

My sister and her girls have the cutest shop - Happy to See Ya Co - filled with the cutest quilted items.  They repurpose beautiful quilts and give them a new life as something new.  They make everything from zippered pouches, vests, jackets, purses and bags.

You can follow them on Facebook to see when they'll be at local markets or reach out to them to make you a treasured item out of a special quilt.

Look at my darling quilt jacket!  I'm wearing a large and it's so pretty.  I wore it out to run errands last weekend and got SO many compliments on it.  I think I got 9 compliments after our morning out.  I joked with my kids that my coat went viral :)  Everyone loved it.

You know I love smiley faces so their logo makes me smile.  I have a zipper pouch to match - they don't let any quilt pieces go to waste.  And a cute clutch to use in my purse or take out on date nights.

Even the insides of the bags are cute.

It's fun to see all the pretty things they are making!

5 Spring Outfit Must Haves

Let's talk about Spring outfit ideas today!  You asked for more outfits this year and I'm delivering.  I have gotten into a better routine of taking outfit pictures thanks to Olive!  She's a great photographer and is usually happy to snap an outfit picture for me.  Yay!  I share a lot of outfits on instagram @polkadottyplace so follow me over there if you love this kind of content!

I have 5 Spring Outfit Must Haves to talk to you about today.  

I'll share the item and how I've been styling it.

1. Black or white skinny jeans

In my current season of life with little ones and messy hands around 24/7, white jeans just aren't appealing.  I love the look and have worn them before, but just not right now.  However, black skinnies are perfect for me.  Obviously, you can do black jeans in any fit, but black super skinny Rockstar jeans from Old Navy will always and forever be my favorite.  Along with black pointy toe flats.

I love black jeans with a belt, chambray top, and leopard cardigan.  Olive told me it was A LOT of leopard for one outfit, but I love the look.

This is a classic combo - black jeans, black t-shirt, leopard belt and a fun jacket with big gold hoops.

2. Pretty Dresses

I love these two dresses so much.  They are the easiest things to wear, work for multiple seasons and I always feel good in them.  Find dresses you LOVE to wear and you'll be so happy you did.  I've had good luck finding dresses on Amazon, Target, Wal-Mart and vintage Matilda Jane since they are no longer around.

3. Chambray Shirts

Find a chambray shirt that you love.  My favorite ones are soft, relaxed and work with everything from shorts, to black pants, over dresses and with skirts.  This one is from Old Navy a few years ago.  I added it over a favorite green dress for St. Patrick's Day.  It was a great way to stretch my closet and combine clothing to make a brand new outfit for free.

Take a moment to think through your accessories.  They really make the outfit!

Chambray shirts also look great with scarves!

4. Patterned Tops

I love a good floral top and it's hard to resist stripes.  Find tops that fit you well and that you love and it'll be so easy to get dressed.  I know anytime I wear these two tops that I'll feel good about my outfit.  I pair them with dark wash denim and various shoes depending on the occasion.  Easy, peasy autopilot outfits for me.  I have good luck finding tops at Old Navy, TJ Maxx, Marshalls & Walmart's Time and Tru line.

5. Jean jackets + a pop of FUN

I love this GAP jean jacket so much.  The puff sleeve is so unique and cute.  It make everyoutfit better.

This skirt is wild and crazy and it's my favorite.  It's a big circle skirt that is very twirly.  I bought it at Belk many years ago when we lived in Arkansas.  It's bold and fun to wear.  I love pairing it with my favorite puff sleeve jean jacket from GAP, clogs, accessories and a neutral tshirt.  If you are going BOLD with one item, tone down the rest of the outfit so that the fun item can shine.

Did you see any outfits that would work for you? I hope you feel inspired to put together some new looks for Spring!  Shop your closet first to see if you could pair some new items together.  Let me know if you have any outfit questions or struggles in the comments below.

Early Fall Outfit Inspiration

It's just barely starting to cool down in the Midwest.  I'm loving all the Fall colors, but we are not ready for flannels and layers just yet.  I wanted to share some of my favorite outfits from the past few weeks to give you some early fall outfit inspiration!

I hope you feel inspired to 

A. check out the cute Fall clothes options at Wal-Mart and 

B. Put together cute outfits for yourself every day.  

I feel so much better and get so much more done if I have a cute outfit on. 

Outfit #1 Head to Toe Jean

I don't think I've ever worn head to toe jean and I loved this look!  I think it works best when your two shades of denim are very different.  My chambray top is super light denim and my jeans are a fairly dark wash.  I love this outfit and am on the hunt for similar tops in black or olive green.

I had heard that the Sofia Vergara jeans were wonderful, but had never gotten around to trying any of them on.  I changed that this season and I AM SO IMPRESSED!  They're $30/pair and the quality is outstanding.  They do not stretch out even after wearing them for multiple days and there are tons of styles to choose from.  I would highly recommend checking out these jeans if you're in the market for some new denim this season.

Top - Meijer

Rosa Super Hi-Rise Curvy Skinny Ankle Jeans - new Sofia Vergara jeans at Walmart.  I like the distressed cuff and that they have enough stretch to be comfy with a button fly.

Backpack purse - Amazon - I am still using and loving this bag so much! 

It's cute enough to carry even when I'm out and about solo and it holds plenty of toddler necessities when I'm in mom mode.  I tend to carry a lot with me so it's great for this stage of my mom life.  There are tons of pockets inside and out, a shoulder strap and backpack straps and the quality is great.  I'd 10/10 recommend it for any lady on the go.  It would even be a great travel bag.  I added a pom pom tassel that I already owned for a fun bit of flair.

It's hard to argue with 16k+ reviews!  I got the "two toned vintage leather brown" and have my eye on a couple other colors: Here are my Amazon links: 

   

 

Outfit #2 Fall Colors

This Time and Tru dress from Walmart is a dream.  Look at that pom pom detail along the bottom hem.  I own it in three colors.  Mustard yellow, orange and navy.  I get so many compliments on it every time I wear it.  I've never had my colors done to see what season I am, but I was shocked to get so many compliments when I wore this shade of orange. 

Dress - new Time and Tru Walmart

 

Outfit #3 Black and White

I love this color combo so much that I dressed Leo to match me for church this week.  We both had fresh haircuts and he loves when we match.

Dress - Time and Tru Walmart dress this summer

Belt - Matilda Jane

Shoes - Macys

Leo - Old navy!

Outfit #4 Cute tee & jeans

Find a top that you love and pair it with your favorite jeans.

Old Navy has some really great fitted t-shirts this time of year.  I grabbed this floral one and a few more for $10 each last week and I love them!  They feel fresh and great to transition to Fall.  I love to add a cute headband or a stack of bracelets and my Birks.

 

What are you favorite outfits to wear this time of year?

Summer Outfit Ideas for Moms

Hey Friends!  I'm kicking off the week with a round up of Summer outfit ideas for you.  I am trying to get better at snapping outfit pictures on our way out the door and it helps that my kids are getting older and can be my photographers.

1 // A pretty sleeve

I love these GAP tops that I purchased last year at Sams.  They have the prettiest sleeves and they are t-shirt material.  They are a favorite option to wear with cute shorts or skirts.

PS Happy Anniversary to this handsome guy!  We've been married for 19 years today.  He'd tell you any shirt with a Notre Dame logo on it is a solid wardrobe option.

 2 // Time and Tru Dresses from Walmart

I picked up this striped t-shirt dress in  two colors this season.  I love it so much!  I added a belt big hoops and dressy braided sandals.  It's casual and cute.  I wore it to church and it works perfectly for date night, lunch with the girls and anything in between.

I found this striped dress at Walmart this season.  It also came in a dark jean and I love it so much - cute buttons, drawstring waist and pockets.  Time and Tru dresses are some of my favorite.  Scope out their end of the season clearance for some really cute dresses on major markdown.

3 // Printed tee + Drawstring shorts

If you see me out and about with my crew, I'll probably be wearing a version of this outfit.  It's comfy, cute and works for errands, playgrounds, Bible study and splash pads.  

I picked up this belt bag on Amazon this year to try out the trend.  I love it and am definitely considering ordering another color or two to wear this Fall and Winter.  Can you believe they're only $8.98!?!  I love trying out trends with inexpensive Amazon finds.  I adore the black and have my eye on the hot pink, camel and black, black and white checkered and the orange  This bet bag has been around town and on all of our trips this Summer.  It has two pouches, 2 pockets and easily holds keys, a mini wallet, cell phone, lipstick and a small snack.  You can't beat the Amazon price! 

4 // Floral Dress

I love wearing dresses to church when it's get this hot.  This dress is a Knox Rose dress from Target last year.  I adore that line and their dresses.  I think I scooped up every one I could find last year.  Can't go wrong with added a coordinating headband, dressier sandals from TJ Maxx and Kate Spade studs.

5// Matching top & bottom

I picked up this outfit in purple and black last year.  It's so easy and so comfy.  I wear it often with bracelets, studs and birks.

These jelly bracelets are still such a hit!  I love them so much and so do everyone I've shared them with!  They'd be such a fun back to school gift for teachers the first week of school, friend gifts or party favors.  The price is amazing and the quality is, too! 

6 // Printed top & drawstring shorts Part 2

I love this combo.  GAP has great options for both.

7 // Short Sleeve Chambray

I don't think I've ever owned a short sleeved chambray shirt until now.  I found this while I was grocery shopping at Meijer (that seems to be my fashion theme lately for my stage of life) and I love it!  I wore it on our recent trip with black shorts and my black belt bag.

8 // Knotted headbands always and forever

I tried on this outfit before going out to dinner with friends and I asked Olive for fashion advice.  With or without the headband.  She said with so I didn't argue :)  This one is from Vineyard Vines.

BONUS:

If your pajama drawer could use a refresh, I have the perfect pajamas for you!!  They're $16.97 from Walmart and they are so nice.  The brand is Joyspun and they've got really affordable nightgowns with pockets and these button down pjs with pockets.  I own them in 3 prints.  I got these fruit pjs and was so impressed with the quality, the way they washed and the patterns that I ordered two more to update my pajama stash.  Here's the Walmart link: Joyspun PJs

I went to bed with wet hair and woke up to big hair and cute pjs :)

I hope this gives you some outfit ideas for yourself for the rest of Summer!

Do you have any go to outfit combinations like me?