Favorite Wears: $30 Amazon Pleated Skirt

  I'm a long-time lover of pleated skirts! I have several in all different colors - and until finding THIS ONE, my go-to place was J.Crew for much more expensive versions.  Now, don't get me wrong, they serve a purpose and I still love those (I'll do a separate post soon to showcase my newest J.Crew pleated skirt), but this one is under $30, comes in tons of colors, is lined and totally comfortable. 
I really could see myself owning this in every color... but I'm going to try to refrain for that (not enough closet space!). I got this brownish-copper color because it was very different then any other skirt I had and envision wearing it with black. But this particular day, I was working for a bit at a coffee shop that is literally within a tree and plant nursery and just felt I need to soften the look up a bit.
For those in Kansas City area, you must check out Cafe Equinox within the Family Tree Nursery in Shawnee, KS. They serve Thou Mayest coffee, baked goods from local bakeries and have tons of work space and collaboration tables throughout the nursery to work amongst the chlorophyll. 
It was such a calming way to work, and I swear I felt lighter and more alert. I will make it habit to work out of this space whenever possible. And of course, coming home with a few new plants is never bad, right?!
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Favorite Wears: Favorite Gold Earrings

 

  Sometimes the best part of an outfit is the smallest part. I've struggled with wearing jewelry that irritates my skin or turns my skin green too many times to count, so as I've gotten older (and wiser?), I've invested in prices that will last and make me feel good. 
This brings me to my current obsession of affordable gold earrings that feel great on my sensitive ears. I also love all the other jewelry by AU-Rate because they make jewelry guaranteed for life with ethically sourced materials. They cut out the middle man to get you gold jewelry at affordable prices with options (of gold plated, 14K or 18K) so you can find something that fits your budget.
You can see my first pair of earrings from AU-Rate here. I like to get something that I'll always love, but, like that last pair (hoops made with little hearts), I want something with a little extra personality, too. I love these huggable hoops with the added bar dangling.
 

And what looks better with gold than pink and leopard?  I've been wearing pops of leopard for years, but have recently really fallen for pink, especially in unexpected ways.  My favorite unexpected way to wear pink? A pink blazer. My go-to blazer is no longer avail, but you can find the exact one on eBay.
A blazer, and having at least one in a fun color, can be worn dressed up or down - and is the perfect layering piece. I wear my pink one often, and love it over a simple white and black graphic tee (this one of a women's face is always a fun addition and definitely not boring).
So, mixing my pink blazer with gold earrings not only matches the packaging, but a classic go-to of mine (top the look off with a leopard headband for an extra wow!) - or skip the headband and blazer and go for a cozy leopard sweater (it all goes with gold, you can't go wrong!).  
You can shop my look here:

 Because this post is full of favorites - these are my favorite booties. But they're a couple years old. Here are this year's version by the same brand.

Alt outfit with a cozy leopard sweater (cute sidekick can't be replicated):

Find yourself a good pair of earrings and let the rest fall into place. What would you get from AU-Rate? This post is in collaboration with Nakturnal, but all opinions are my own.

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Favorite Wears: The Turtleneck is Back

 
I feel like turtlenecks are making a comeback. While they haven't been totally gone... I've been more weary to wear them over the last few years - but am fully embracing it this year. They're practical from the cold, yes, but add a chic and classic layer to an outfit. Classic black is good - at staple you totally need, but I am loving a pop of color for this look. Bold colors plus turtleneck seems a like a more modern take on the style.
P.S. This favorite white bag of mine (shown) is on sale!

Shop the full look, and some of my favorite pieces:

Photos by the talented Elizabeth of Elizabeth Ladean Photography.  

She shoots portraits, engagements/weddings and lifestyle sessions all around Kansas City.  
You can follow here on Facebook here and on Instagram here to see more of her work!

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Favorite Wears: Rainbow Stripes

 
  This sweater makes me so happy.  How can you not feel cheerful in rainbow stripes?! And I especially love it paired with the vertical navy/white stripes in my skirt.  This outfit really shows off my love for all kinds of stripes! See below for more stripe tops!
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Shop more rainbow stripes and all the stripe sweaters you need to make your fall and winter happy here:

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Favorite Wears: Spring Pants

 

  Spring is all about layers, loose fits for breezy feels and fun colors. I had to give these wide leg, easy breezy pants a try - and they are indeed fun. I especially like them dressed down with my new favorite sneakers and casual jacket, but they can easily be dressed up, too!
One thing I've been working on more: I try not to avoid wearing certain colors or things just because I'm not a size 4.  And what I find that makes bolder pieces work on me most is having fun with them and confidence. But also balancing a more adventurous item with neutral or tried and true piece helps! 
What helps you be more adventurous or try new trends/items?

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 Photos by the talented Elizabeth of Elizabeth Ladean Photography.  

She shoots portraits, engagements/weddings and lifestyle sessions all around Kansas City.  You can follow here on Facebook here and on Instagram here to see more of her work!

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Favorite Wears: Velvet Softness

 

  The trend of the winter: velvet everything. Next up, softness anything. Today's outfit contains both, plus color mixing that I kind of threw together and ended up loving the result.  This velvet skirt can be dressed up or down, is super comfortable and comes in two colors if light pink isn't your thing - oh, and it's under $25! I've been wearing it non-stop for this holiday season.
On the softness side, Chenille is all the rage right now. You have to be a bit careful on snagging it, but if you do (and I have a lot), you can easily pull the thread back through the other side.  The softness makes it all worth it. Mine is no longer available, but I've linked a few similar ones below!
And two last things you need in your life (besides velvet & softness): these boots and a yellow coat.  I literally wear these boats several times a week - they go with everything and are so comfortable. I love the way they look.  And I got this yellow coat last year from my favorite place to buy coats, and love the bright yellow options currently on sale (linked below).
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Photos by the talented Elizabeth of Elizabeth Ladean Photography.   She shoots portraits, engagements/weddings and lifestyle sessions all around Kansas City.  You can follow here on Facebook here and on Instagram here to see more of her work!

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Mamas & Minis Collective: 6 Mother's Day Activities! (+ GIVEAWAY)

This Mother's Day will be my very first one without my babies!!!  It's been an annual tradition to go to brunch with my own mama and my babies (the dudes, too), and then spend the day outside in some way or another. But this year, I'll be at the end of my Iceland/Paris vacation.  I'm super excited about the trip, of course, but will be looking to make up this special day the next weekend.  Here are a few ideas of things you can do on Mother's Day with your kiddos: 1. Go on a walk. This is the perfect time of year to adventure around your neighborhood or favorite park/walking trail to look for pretty flowers (or sticks, if you are my kids). I love finding pretty floral trees in our neighborhood right now, and enjoying this weather.
2. Host a family-friendly Mother's Day brunch (and if your lucky, your man friends will do most of the heavy lifting, or you could even cater!).  I love getting together with my best friends and their littles to spend time all together. Kids can play, moms and catch up, dads can hang. (or go out to brunch - and if you are in Kansas City, this is our favorite place & way to get there!)
3. Get away with some of your other mama-friends for a girls only lunch or happy hour.  Those moments are all to rare, and as much as I love being with my kids, it's nice to have one on one time with the girls!  If you are in Kansas City, check out Stock Hill Grill!  I had a wonderful time recently with friends there, as seen here! 
4. Go for a workout - maybe even try something new! I tried pilates on a reformer not too long ago, and have loved it since! I love trying new things, because you never know what you'll fall in love with! Plus, getting a good workout feels good and is good for ya!
5. Go to the spa (or at least ask for a gift card/service as a gift for later)!  Taking time to take care of yourself (including your skin!) is SO important. Facials and massages are my favorite - but with warmer temps and sandals season creeping in, I probably need a major pedi!
6.  Go strawberry picking! My kids can't wait to go back this year already. This is a great way to get outside, learn about food and then come home and make something (or just eat!) sweet. :)
Shop These Looks:

{Outfit Details: MAMA - Sweater, Skirt, Flats - old (similar), Sunnies; NORA - Dress - J.Crew last year (this one is so cute), Sparkle Shoes c/o; LIAM - Shirt}

What ever your adventure is or your plans for Mother's Day is, we want to make sure it's special!  So we're teamed up to giveaway a $100 Target gift card!  I love Target for anything/everything - so whether you need to outfit your family in new clothes for Mother's Day or pick up brunch materials, we got you covered!  Enter via the Rafflecopter below - and GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Make sure to check out Carly, Sandy and Laura for other ways to spend Mother's Day!

Lipgloss & Crayons | Sandy a la Mode | Chasing Davies | Walking in Memphis in High Heels

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