New Year, New Fashion

I feel like it seems to be every year that I make some sort of fashion post (upon review- this was much more frequent…should it come back???). Every year I have at least one, which is funny because I would not consider myself a…fashion chatter. I like what I like and I’m comfortable in what I’m comfortable in and that’s that. I don’t expect anyone to come to me for fashion advice, nor do I dole it out. I’m a big believer in the idea that if you love what you wear, you can typically wear whatever you want. It’s all about confidence.

 

With all that said, I have seemingly honed in a bit more on my style, on what I move towards and what I feel the most comfortable in. I think I’m starting to find a bit more of myself in fashion and a bit less of myself in the “trends” of the moment. So, I figured I’d talk about it because why not. It’s fun to see how we evolve over time and grow more and more into ourselves. 

If you want a quick moment to look over some of my previous fashion related posts I did one where I switched out of constantly wearing the same “momiform” of sorts (this is what kicked this off) HERE, where I shared some of  what I wore HERE and HERE (I actually have several more of these- more than I thought!), where I first talked dresses HERE, then when my style shifted a little bit more to “me” with some of my favorite dresses HERE, and then a funny one on my “winter” wardrobe HERE. Quite a few posts to see the evolution- which is fun (though I cringe at some of those-oy). 

I think my style really started to shift when we lived in Europe. It’s a whole different ballgame there on so many levels and I really was able to draw inspiration from a wide variety of options. Oddly it was as overwhelming as it was exhilarating at times. I was able to figure out what I liked/didn’t like simply by observing those around me. This is also when I started to really look at fashion accounts, find what I actually liked, and then find places that fit my budget. 

Two things I found helpful when I started trying to figure out what my style actually was, mostly so I could stop spending money on things I would either wear once or liked the idea of but didn’t realistically fit “me”. The first was a concept I stumbled on on TikTok, which is the three-word method.  Using three adjectives to describe your style, or what you want your style to convey. The first two are typically constant and describe what your current most constant style is, but the third can change from time to time, or season to season in my case, to reflect what you want in your style. I found that the three-word method really helped me with the second helpful thing- being more aware when buying clothes. I think we can all name a time where we succumbed to a purchase, or a trend and it didn’t…work out in the way we hoped for. I found that the three-word method helps narrow down not only what I liked, but what I was looking for in my own clothes/closet. 

My first two words have seemingly fit right into everything I love. I want my style to reflect effortless and classic. I don’t know if those words really fit together, but I like to think that they do. And this is my personal style so I can do whatever I like haha. I find myself avoiding most trends- they never seem to look just right on me and I don’t really want to go buy new wardrobes every single time a trend goes in or out of fashion. I’d rather have classic staples that work through trends, then if I feel drawn to something specific that is trending, I can see if it fits with what I’ve already got going on. The third word is probably the one that changes the most- I find that my needs tend to shift when one season changes into another. I tend to fall into the same line of thinking- in summer it’s “soft” or “floral”; in winter it’s “oversized” or “layered”. We’ll get into it a little bit more in a minute. 

So, when I purchase something new, I try to remind myself of a couple of things…

!) Do I have more than one thing to wear this with? You would be shocked to find out how many times any of us purchase something that only goes with…one other thing in our closet. I’ve done it countless times. So, when I purchase something, really anything, it has to be with versatility in mind. I have to be able to make at least 3-5 outfits with the new item and what I already have. 

2) Will I actually where this/Does this fit with my lifestyle? Again, you would be shocked at how many times this happens. We find that cute top or dress or heck an entire outfit, buy it and then either never find an occasion to wear it or realize that it just doesn’t fit with our day-to-day lifestyle. For me, this means that when I am buying something new it has to fit with a variety of activities. 

3)Do I already have this or something similar in my wardrobe? I’m probably the worst at this one- if I find something I like I buy it in many similar variations. While I want my wardrobe to fit my style, I want it to subtlety be different. It needs to be dynamic. If we feel like we are wearing the same thing ALL, the time- it gets stagnant. So, while I might want 5 gray sweaters, maybe I should by that pop of color sweater instead. 

4) Am I buying this because it feels “of the moment” or because I feel like it actually fits in my wardrobe? This is something I try to stick to, but probably give myself a bit more grace on this because sometimes those “of the moment” options can fit right into my existing wardrobe and become a long-standing piece. But honestly, most impulse purchases tend to be in the store going “oh this is so cute” and then I take them home, realize it’s either too trendy for me or just doesn’t look how I want it when incorporated into other outfits and it goes to the wayside. 

I’ve found that honing in on my style, then incorporating it into my buying habits, and trying to stay a bit more…strict about it has really cut down on my buying of a bunch of random clothes. I don’t stick with these hard and fast, there are times where I’ll grab something completely off the wall, but most of what I buy tends to fit very well into what I already have. 

So, what is my actual style incorporating this whole method?

Well, I found that in the warmer weather I have an affinity for dresses. I love to wear a dress the minute the weather warms enough, and I typically wear them all summer long- I’ve got enough to last (and I’m always adding more). I like to think that my summer style lends itself to that…European Countryside/Cottage Core look. I still keep the effortless and classic but add in that “soft” touch with the style of dresses- most that I lean toward tend to be longer, flowy (I love a good midi dress) and softer colors that, mostly, give hints of floral elements. Now, I do still have my jean shorts and some shorter skirts that cycle through during the summer (we do hike quite a bit when the weather turns nice) so it’s not sure fire this, but even the shorts and skirts tend to be paired with tops that fit these words. 

My Autumn/Winter style tends to be a bit more…well more. Most of the time it’s full of sweaters and pants- usually oversized sweaters with some skinny or straight leg pants. I still keep the effortless and classic, but I add in “oversized” or “layered” to my Autumn/Winter style.  Where we currently live (and honestly, it’ll probably be the same wherever we settle down to) it is simply to cold to be able to wear anything other than the chunky sweater/jeans look. And honestly, I think even if it wasn’t as cold, this would still be a bulk of my Autumn/Winter wardrobe. I do love a good sweater- I just would probably pair it with a skirt/longer dress or wear a good sweater dress. I’ve actually picked up a couple of the longer sweater/ribbed dresses for Autumn/Winter to try out. If a random warmer day pops up through the winter (or if we’re traveling to somewhere that is a bit warmer) I’ll throw those on instead.  

Two final thoughts…as you can tell from the pictures, I don’t typically go towards specific colors- though I do tend to find myself reaching for certain colors depending on my mood or just general vibe. If I had to say though (even if it’s not well represented in these photos) I tend to own a lot of blues/whites and then browns, grays, and recently some more greens. I do have a few pops of color- though they tend to be bright pops rather than softer muted tones.

Throughout the season I typically add a couple of pieces that refresh and fall into my wardrobe quite nicely and I’ve already got my eye on a couple spring/summer pieces that I’m very much looking forward to adding in.

And that’s really it! Who would have thought I would have had 1500+ words in me to share about fashion, but here we are! A little chatty clothing post to break things up a bit. 

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On Spring/Summer Style

You know, I wouldn’t call myself “stylish”. Or maybe I would (on a good day I would probably say that I have a sense of classic style, on a bad day…well who knows). Really though I wouldn’t say that I am a person that people look to for style advice, tips, or what is “trendy”. HOWEVER, what I will say is that I know what I’m comfortable in and I know what tends to look good on me- which, in my opinion is what style/personal style is actually about.  I never really thought I would right a post on style, but I seem to do just that every year (sometimes twice a year!). 

My style has evolved over the years, as I think everybody’s does over time. On the whole things have stayed the same- I love a good pair of jeans with a tee or sweater and that will never change. I love a dress in the spring/summer or when the occasion calls for it. I go on and off with screen print anything though- has to be the biggest thing that changes haha. However, I think I’ve settled into what I think works for me, between what looks good, what looks comfortable, and what fits my overall…personality/aesthetic for life. 

So…all that to say…I’m living my best cottage core/European Countryside dress life and I’ll never go back. 

It all started maybe a year or two ago when I purchased the above black and white polka dot dress from Old Navy (fun fact- most of these dresses are from Old Navy). It was so comfortable, I felt so good in it, and it flatters any shape, even my petite one. I’ve always loved the flowy dresses, but it’s hard to find ones that flatter, without adding. That dress was quickly followed by a black floral dress, and then a blue and white striped dress (which is a die hard favorite- will wear every chance I can). I still would purchase the short, cute dresses too, there was/is/always will be a variety to the dress game in my closet, but the main theme over all of it is English countryside/European Summer/Cottage Core. 

This year I’ve well and truly fleshed out my spring/summer wardrobe. It’s 80% dresses, 10% shorts/teas and 10% skirts. I wear the shorts the least (though mostly just because the shorts that look good on me personally tend to be the daisy duke style and as I get older/my kids get older I tend to feel less and less comfortable in that). The thing that I love the most about the dresses is that you can be flowy and soft, or short sweet (and sexy). I really can dress for my mood and all of them will work with the weather (aka all options for hot and sweaty days). 

This all shifts (obviously) come Autumn/Winter when I gravitate back to jeans, with scarves, sweaters, and other oversized long sleeved tops (you could say it’s an academia/dark academia style aesthetic), but we’ll talk about that come Autumn. 

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To Thaw or Not To Thaw

Winter is veeerrrrrryyyyyyyy slowly coming to an end here in the Northeastern part of the country and I may finally be seeing the light at the end of this tunnel. This year we experienced our first proper winter in Upstate New York, and it changed us. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a winter quite like this one. 

To start with- the snow. There was a lot of it. Not as much as they’ve had in the past I’m told, but it was still a lot for us. And at times it seemed never ending. The weatherman didn’t quite get it right- it would stop and start of its own accord, and of course throw in the lake effect part and we had quite the time with it. We got a lot of use out of the snowblower (which I highly recommend) and the boys got to have a lot of fun. 

The snow was one thing, something I could prepare for, but what I couldn’t really prepare for was just how COLD it got. Let me tell you, I don’t know that I’ve ever experienced below zero temperatures, but I sure did this year. I think that was one of the hardest things about winter here, most days it was either snowing OR it was sunny and below zero. In fact, at one point I used the words “warm” and “not so bad” in reference to a 20-degree sunny day. Previous Mia would never. 

I quickly learned that those cute little winter outfits we see splashed around are just not…practical in any sense. And I’m not even referring to like the little sweater dress and boots. I’m talking about the jeans with the cute sweater, oversized but thin trench, and boots. No, no, no, that would not cut it here in the heart of winter (even though I tried- I tried so hard). 

Enter…the coveralls. The things that I would previously really only wear to go play in the snow with the boys have become an everyday staple in my winter wardrobe. Seriously, every day. I have found that these coveralls, with a long-sleeved layer underneath, pants (and sometimes thermal leggings under those), with snow boots, a thick winter jacket, hat and gloves have been my saving grace. 

The epitome of fashion over here. 

Because, to be honest, at this point I’ve really come to understand the whole function over fashion. 

When it’s -20 with a real feel of -32 and they are delaying school due to temps no one (you included) is going to care about that cute little sweater you’ve got on, or the perfect calf boots you’ve found. The only thing you’re going to care about is staying warm at that comes at the expense of “looking fashionable”. Note- I said looking fashionable, you can still be cute and cuddly in these clothes…it’s just not high fashion. Maybe fashion designers should take note ha-ha. 

In fact, if I do say so myself, there is nothing quite as cute as looking like the kid from A Christmas Story and staying warm. 

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A Tale of Summer Dresses – What I Wore June 2020

Summer has fully and most definitely arrived with her heat, her sunshine, and her longer days. When the weather starts to turn to the unbearable heat, I’ve found that rather than shorts I lean towards summer dresses and skirts. They are just more breathable, and I find myself cooler and less…constricted. So, I figured today I would share the summer dresses that I’ve recently purchased or have been wearing. I’m super excited to start cycling through these more and more. I will also include a couple of skirt options since I do have those as well. 

Dress #1 This is an Old Navy dress and is top of the line because it has pockets! Got to love a dress with pockets and the fun polka dot print just adds to that. It is breezy and cool, hitting right below the knees. Shoes are old, so I don’t remember where I bought them. 

Dress #2 Another Old Navy dress, although no pockets (bummer!), this one is the most comfortable thing. It hits at the right spot, and is super easy to dress up or down (you’ll see a theme with the dress up/dress down options). Obsessed with the floral prints right now (and most of my dresses reflect that) and blue is one of my favorites. Shoes are Sperry’s (and the memory foam one’s so incredibly comfortable). 

Dress #3 The final Old Navy dress in this post, this is the one that I am probably the most…unsure of. I love the black and white cheetah print, the tie close, but I’m unsure of the length. Still, it’s breezy and comfy and, once again, easy to dress up or down. Shoes are the same as paired with Dress #1. 

Dress #4 A new Target dress that I am, once again, obsessed with. The black floral is becoming something of a staple in my wardrobe and the high low at the bottom is a fun addition. Another dress that is super easy to dress up or down, I am looking forward to getting quite a bit of use out of this one. Shoes are Rainbow Flip Flops (which I do love, but love the Birkenstock options a little more for travel walking). 

Dress #5 An option that I purchased last year; I don’t think I’ve worn a single dress more than I have worn this one. I absolutely love this Review dress and it was well worth the money. It has the comfortableness of light breathable fabric, pockets, and a cinched waist. Shoes are the Birkenstock Gizeh, another item that has already proven well worth the money. 

Dress #6 Another absolute favorite, this dress was a gift and is just a simple straight-line dress. The brand is S. Oliver, which I do like and have a couple other pieces from. I love the way it falls, that option to dress up or down, and the color scheme of blue’s and tans. Another dress that is going to get a lot of wear this summer and summers to come. Shoes are, once again, Birkenstock Gizeh. 

Dress #7: This was an Amazon purchase a few years back now and still, the best Amazon Clothing purchase I’ve made. Pockets, blue and white floral, and an easy flowy/breathable fabric, you cannot go wrong with this option. I’ve paired it with my favorite pair of summer wedges (which are old, not quite sure where from), but I’ve also worn this with the Birkenstock Gizeh flip flops.

Skirt Outfit #1 I purchased this skirt from Old Navy on a whim and I’m very excited about it. Once again, like the tan dress, a very breathable fabric and solid staple to have. I feel like the fit is incredibly versatile, there are pockets (which believe it or not can be hard to find in a skirt) and options to dress up or down. It’s a nice summer option, but can be transitioned into fall. Shoes are old from Amazon; Top is from Chico’s. 

Skirt Outfit #2 A Skirt I picked up from last year and is getting a lot of use. I love the scalloped detailing at the bottom and the embroidered pattern. This skirt is one that I typically will pair with a tucked in white tee and white Sperry’s or sandals. It is just the easiest, comfiest outfit, that works whenever. 

And that’s it for my Summer Dresses (and outfits) for 2020! What was your favorite? Are you a Summer Dress wearer? 

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What I Wore – May 2019

Good morning! The weather is changing, kind of and I figured I would do a little wrap up of some of the outfits I’ve worn recently. This What I Wore is going to be a little bit different than my previous one’s as there will be some outfits that I’ve worn in the past week, but I am also going to include some of the other outfits that I’ve started to put together for the warmer weather. The past week it has gone back to the chilly/rainy weather, so I’ll be alternating between current outfits and a couple of the new spring outfits that I have put together the past couple weeks.

I’ve definitely had to purchase a couple of things due to the amount of time we’ve been in a hotel, but I’m so pleased with what I’ve found and the shopping here in Europe is incredible.

So, without further ado, let’s break down some of my recent outfits…

I’ll start with the three outfits I have from last week. We’ve had a cool blast come through so all the cute spring things that I’ve picked out have fallen to the wayside and my sweaters have come back into play. Don’t worry, I’ll still show you those cute pretty things as well. I’m hoping that this cold spell will pass quickly and I’ll be back in dresses, skirts, and shorts soon.

-6908760636432529806_IMG_2317.jpg Outfit 1: Right back to what my standard winter outfit is haha. I will say, I’ve been loving the skinny jeans this past week…which is odd for me.

Top: Calia by Carrie Underwood

Bottoms: Wallflower Jeans

Shoes: Madden Girl

 

 

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Outfit #2: Another pair of skinny jeans and my favorite sweater. I purchased this sweater here in Germany and have gotten A LOT of use out of it. It just suits me, if I do say so myself.

Top: Street One

Bottoms: Wallflower Jeans

Shoes: CL by Laundry

 

 

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Outfit #3: The final outfit from this past week. The weather was a little bit warmer, so I tried to put a little “spring” in my step with a pair of Sperry’s and a much lighter 3/4 sleeve sweater.

Top: Vero Moda

Bottoms: Wallflower Jeans

Shoes: Sperry

 

 

Now, onto some of the spring outfits that I’ve been wearing when the weather allows it. I’ve picked up a couple other things as well and I just can’t wait to start pairing some new outfits together!

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Spring Outfit #1: This dress was a spur of the moment buy. It definitely needs a slip underneath, but I love that it can be a good transition piece with a long cardigan and the deeper colors.

Dress: Wallflower

Cardigan: Wallflower

Shoes: Madden Girl

 

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Spring Outfit #2: You’ll be seeing a lot of this skirt come warmer weather. It is a tie wrap skirt, with a stripe pattern and I am just in love. I haven’t had a denim skirt in ages and I am glad that I found one that just works for me! I felt so Easter/Spring on this day 🙂

Top: Local Store

Skirt: Review

Shoes: Sperry

 

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Spring Outfit #3: You are going to see this dress at the very least once a week on me. I am in LOVE. It falls just so perfectly and I quite honestly think it could work on almost any body shape. It is THAT good.

Dress: Review

Shoes: Local Store

Sunglasses: Ray Ban

 

 

So that wraps up this month’s What I Wore. What did you think? Are you seeing spring weather yet, with the dresses and shorts that come along with it? Let me know!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What I Wore – March 2019

Good morning and welcome to another outfits I wore this past week! Now, we have been living in a hotel apartment and I’ve been limited to the clothes that I packed in my suitcase. I plan on picking up a couple of clothing items here and there as the weather starts to warm up (as I did not pack for the warmer weather that is sure to come…one day), but for the most part I’m sticking with some of my trusty favorites.

I will note, when packing I tried to go for a combination of comfy and nice. Items that I could wear out and about to dinners out (I do also have a couple of business casual items), but also items that I could lounge in our hotel in.

So, without further ado, here are the outfits I wore this past week:

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Monday: I tried something kind of new and paired my new favorite slouchy jeans with a crew neck top and some White Sperry’s. We were headed out for a walk and it felt quite…sporty haha.

Top: Sams

Pants: Wallflower Jeans

Shoes: Sperry

 

 

IMG_9674.jpegTuesday: This morning we got our first dose of spring weather and playgroup so comfy and easy was what was needed. I was able to pull out one of my favorite tees (also in honor of Karl Lagerfeld’s death the past week).

Top: Karl Lagerfeld

Pants: Wallflower

Shoes: Sperry

 

 

IMG_9685.jpeg Wednesday was a smidge cooler, so I picked up a light sweater (the back is semi sheer) and boots. Any excuse to wear boots.

Top: Not sure? Target I think.

Bottoms: Wallflower

Shoes: Madden Girl

 

 

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Thursday was all about comfort between my loose sweater (which is still a favorite) and my comfiest flats. Running up and down the shelves of the library required this 🙂

Top: Calia by Carrie Underwood

Pants: Wallflower

Shoes: Falls Creek

 

 

IMG_9744.jpegFriday has quickly become our sweats day. It is the only day of the week that we just stay in the hotel and relax.

Top: Target

Pants: Canadian Walmart

Shoes: Steve Madden Slippers

 

 

I don’t have a shot from Saturday as we were rushing out the door (in a fashion), but I wore just a graphic long sleeve top, with my winter jacket (it was definitely cold), jeans and sneakers.

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And finally, Sunday. Sunday was a combination of at home and out and about. Picked out this trusty favorite and the comfiest flats for walking.

Top: Dress Barn

Pants: Wallflower

Shoes: Falls Creek

 

 

So, that was my week in outfits! On a different note, I think we have finally found a week routine that really works for us and I’m looking forward to seeing how it shapes and changes over the next few weeks. I hope you enjoyed!

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What I Wore January 2019

Good morning! It is time once again for a What I Wore, this time featuring a mish mosh of all different things. Between the New Years Holiday, prepping the House for the movers, and navigating some other fun things it’s been back and forth between full on winter clothes and t-shirts/jeans. Enjoy!

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Sunday: Sunday was all about comfy and warm, but not hot as we were out and about running a variety of errands and then back to packing when we got home.

Top: Etsy online seller

Jeans: Wallflower Jeans

Shoes: Converse All Stars

 

 

 

I didn’t grab a picture on Monday as we had two sick kids, it was New Years Eve (which we normally spend in sweats anyways) and we didn’t plan on going anywhere.

IMG_8859.jpg Tuesday: Back into actually clothing after Monday, but still wanted to feel comfy (you’ll see a running theme here…mostly due to the amount of packing and moving we are doing right now).

Top: Amazon (yes, Amazon!)

Bottom: Wallflower Jeans

Shoes: Ugg Slippers

 

 

 

IMG_8889.jpg Wednesday: I tried to step my game back up a little bit on Wednesday, this was the first day we weren’t actively packing or running around. Still comfy- this sweater is one of my favorites!

Top: Calia by Carrie Underwood

Bottom: Wallflower Jeans

Shoes: Target

 

 

 

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Thursday: Another one of my favorite sweaters (and a favorite mug) as well as a favorite pair of wedge heels. We actually had to leave the house today and go to an area where my husbands works near, so I wanted to make sure I looked a little more presentable/professional.

Top: DressBarn

Bottoms: Wallflower Jeans

Shoes: Chinese Laundry

 

 

 

IMG_8942.jpg Friday: I think this might be one of my favorite outfits for the whole week. This shirt was a birthday gift and I’m absolutely obsessed (its a cat riding a bike- but seems very “Parisian”) and I paired it with a pair of heels from the same designer that I’m also obsessed with.

Top: Karl Lagerfeld

Bottom: Wallflower Jeans

Shoes: Karl Lagerfeld

 

 

IMG_8948.jpg Saturday: Out and running errands again- this time in the rain. I found this soft sweater in a surprising place, but it is so perfect for me for right now that I had to get it.

Top: Sams Club (it says Faith Hope Love)

Bottoms: Wallflower Jeans

Shoes: Target

 

 

 

I will share a couple of my accessories of late as well, as they have changed. For necklaces I’ve been wearing a little charm necklace that combines a couple of my favorite pendants, including a teardrop from Mermaids and Dinosaurs. I’ve also been loving and obsessing over my Maya Brenner Necklace (Christmas Gift pictured below). I’ve been sticking with a Mantra Band bangle bracelet that says “What if you fly”, something I need to be reminded of as well as another bracelet.

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What I Wore: November 2018

I figured I would share another What I Wore post! I tracked my outfits for the past week and I’ve compiled them here for you. With the weather cooling down quite a bit, we are quickly moving past the “cute, cosy sweater look” and into the “layers, layers, and more layers”. Still loving this whole time of year though and I’m quickly starting to work through some of my newer sweaters to pull outfits together (I’ve added a couple new sweaters and a jacket this year).

So…let’s get into the outfits!

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Monday: You’ll see a theme for this week with a lot of sweaters, layered with Jeans and a pair of heels or “fancier” flats to dress it up.

Sweater: Amazon

Jeans: Wallflower Jeans

Shoes: Not sure, Ross from many many years ago!

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Tuesday: I think this might have been my favorite from the week. This sweater was a gift from last year and I’ve certainly gotten a lot of use out of it!

Sweater: The Loft

Jeans: Wallflower Jeans

Shoes: Target

IMG_7903Wednesday: Another sweater that I received as a gift last year, so I’m not sure if you can get it. This one is both a fun winter sweater, but is also a nice nod to a sport that was such a big part of my life for a while.

Sweater: The Loft

Jeans: Wallflower Jeans

Shoes: Target

IMG_7984Thursday: We went down the Casual Thursday route, instead of Casual Friday (although everything I wore this week is fairly casual) trying to stay comfy and costed up as the weather really started to get colder and grayer.

Top: Calia by Carrie

Jeans: Wallflower Jeans

Shoes: Ugg Slippers

IMG_7990Friday: Plain and simple with a black long sleeve, jeans, and a pair of nicer black mules.

Top: Target

Jeans: Wallflower Jeans

Shoes: MIA

I do not have a picture from Saturday as we had a jammy and pillow fort day.

IMG_8018Sunday: Back at it with the sweater, skinny jeans, and a pair of ankle booties to head out and run errands in the morning!

Top: Target

Jeans: Wallflower Jeans

Shoes: DSW

I also figured I would include my accessories for the week. My necklace is my newest piece from Mermaids and Dinosaurs and my watch is Skagen. I paired that with my Pandora Bracelet and Whipping Post Tote.

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So that was my week in clothing! I hope that you enjoyed!

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Round the Kettle Ep 1: An Introduction

IMG_2491Ah something new. I’ve been thinking long hard about this. Do I want to do it. Can I do it. How do I do it. All thoughts that have been swirling around in my head for the last couple months. I’ve come to a decision that rather than just continue to wonder about it, that I would just take a chance. Give it a shot. If it works out and goes the way I am planning, then perfection! If not, then maybe timing just wasn’t right. Either way, I’d rather at least try then continue to sit and ponder and wonder what if. That’s not something I’m good at (although sometimes I am, and in those case I almost mull it over for too long and then the spark passes).

So, where to begin?

I’ve always said that my blog is intended to feel like a chat with a friend over coffee (or tea, tea for me please). My goal is to uplift, inspire, maybe impart a little wisdom (as to what I know-most times I know nothing) and just share things I’ve learned and experienced. I want it to feel like a warm inviting space that you stay and chat for a while in. I feel like I’ve been succeeding in my goal over the past 9-10 months (already been blogging regularly that long?!) and I’ve generally enjoyed the direction and shape my blog has taken on. Right now I’ve been posting twice a week (Monday/Wednesday) with an optional third post from my Social Media that I want to highlight (Friday). I feel like this is really working. I’ve really hit a good groove. I LOVE the posts I’m writing and I feel like I’ve got a good handle.

So why change a good thing?

Because I’m nuts. I’ll just start with that. I’m nuts. Why not add a third (or really fifth when you count in my business writing) thing to my list? As much as I LOVE how things are going (and I cant stress enough about how I really do), I feel like something has been missing lately.

I feel like I’m missing sharing the little tidbits of everyday. I missing the relaxed fun that comes when you’re just {almost} rambling on with friends. Everything goes off in a million different directions, but circles back around in the end.

I used to share a “recap” type post way back in the day. It started on my business blog, then transferred to this blog. It was like catching up with a friend over coffee. You sit and chat about what you’re loving, how things have been, how the kids are, etc. maybe you broach into world news (eek…maybe not?!), but it’s just a chance to free roll and chat. No bigger message, no lesson, no nothing. Just a bunch of chatter. I realized that in my posting of late, that’s kind of been missing.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m all over Social Media. Sharing thoughts as they come, sharing bits of my kids, of day to day, and you can always catch the latest and greatest there. I just haven’t seen it up on my blog in a while. I kind of miss that personal side banter of little mundane things. Not to say that you don’t still get that every once in a while, but all the same. (I’m really probably mucking this all up, sorry if you’re totally lost with my thoughts!)

So…all that rambling to introduce “Round the Kettle”. I think I’ll get into the name next time, as this is already scary long, but the gist of it is to be a catch up. A catch up “round the kettle” about whatever is happening. Whether that be family, me, conversations with my almost 3 yr old, new things my almost 1.5 yr old has discovered, news (eek…maybe not?!), whatever is floating my boat at that time. It may feature someone else sometimes, it may feature a funny story, it’s just going to be…well whatever it is. It will hopefully be fun, maybe a bit ramble-y, and just a feeling of catching up with a friend.

If this isn’t really your thing, or something you like reading, have no fear! Regular blog posts will still be around and the style, consistency and message of those will remain the same. This is a special just post that I’ve been kind of missing.

Side banter-my long term goal is to have this be a podcast one day…a girl can have some dreams, right?

This will be a twice a month posting, formatted much like this one…where I’ve managed to ramble on for 777 saying something I could have just as easily said I’m probably a quarter of that. I hope you enjoy ☺️

 

 

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Changing Season and a Changing Wardrobe

With the changing season, the (finally) cooler temps and rainier (or just generally wetter) weather, wardrobe changes are an absolute must. I know I’m not alone in saying that I absolutely LOVE sweater weather. There is something just so perfect to me about cosying up in a comfy sweater while the crisp cool breeze tickles my cheeks. Now that the temps are dropping, the days are getting shorter, and we are getting cozier it is the perfect time to change out our wardrobes!

The transitional seasons are great times to take stock of your closet space. As we shift from tees, tank tops, and shorts to sweaters and long pants, it’s a good opportunity to clear out some of the items you haven’t really worn. I find that Autumn and Spring tend to be the perfect times as we are in an in between state. We just start pulling out the different clothing.

I don’t necessarily do a full capsule wardrobe (although I am slowly working my way over to that), but I do follow the same basic principles. Solid basic colors, with little pops here and there, a semi low amount of clothes, with the ability to mix and match everything I own.

Today, I figured I would share a little bit of my process of shifting my wardrobe from Summer and into Fall/Winter. A part of this change is due to moving, so I am getting rid of a little bit more than I normally would, but this is my standard process that I follow.

The first step to any wardrobe clear out is to…drumroll please…clear out your wardrobe. Take everything out and put it on your bed/a chair/wherever you can. I would include shoes, jackets, scarfs, handbags, anything like that. Once it is all out, there is no hiding anything; you can quite clearly see everything you have.

The second step is to start with the clothes for the season that is coming to an end. Depending on how you store those (back of the closet or in bins) you will want to go through each piece of clothing, each shoe, jacket, etc, and determine if you actually wore them, if they fit well, made you feel good, and if they would hold up for another season. If the answer to all of those questions is yes, then into storage they go. You have to determine what to do if any of those answers are No. You have to determine where the line is at. If I answer No to any of the questions, I will typically just get rid of it.

The third step is to go through the clothes for the upcoming season. Follow the same steps for the outgoing season and make a list of any items that you may need to get. I usually have to stock up on little tanks or items to wear under cardigans or sweaters. Occassionally I will need to purchase a new sweater or new jacket as I wear through some items.

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I don’t immediately run to the shops once I have sorted my wardrobe either. I try to give it a couple weeks after sorting just to make sure of what I need and then, the shops have also put out a good amount of their Autumnal clothes, so if anything else sparks my attention I can see it then. Depending on the item will depend on where I head to shop.

So, that is how I prepare my wardrobe for the Autumn and Winter months! I like to be able to see all of my options, right in front of me, for that season. I don’t like having all of my clothes in the closet as it gets too packed and muddled.  Do you do anything? What do you do?

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