Diaper Bag Backpack

Kate Spade New York Nylon Backpack // Ju-Ju-Be Legacy Be Right Back  // Herschel Supply Co. Dawson Backpack // Skip Hop Forma Backpack

Being a mom has made come to terms with the fact that I will most likely be sporting a backpack at one point or another, and I think I'm okay with it. I will do almost anything to free up both of my arms / save them from any extra weight, since I will have 2 little boys under 2. 

I'm even more okay with the idea of a backpack diaper bag when they are all as cute as these ones above, but I'm having such a hard time deciding which I like best! 

Here's the options (help a sister out!): 

Also, my plan is to get a fun kids backpack to keep most of Camden's things (diapers, change of clothes, etc.) that will stay in my car at all times. That way I won't need room for ALL of his stuff (maybe just his sippy cup/snacks?) along with baby brothers in this one bag alone. Has anyone done this and actually succeeded? I have high hopes! ha. 

1. Kate Spade New York Nylon Backpack: How cute is this one?! I absolutely love the colors and cute pockets on the front. It's also nylon which I'm a fan of because you can wipe it clean very easily. Oh, and it's currently 40% off. Do I need this one? or... 

2. Ju-Ju-Be Legacy Be Right Back: This is the bag I've heard the most rave reviews about. Everyone  seems to love their Ju-Ju-Be! Is it worth the price? Yes? No? I'm undecided, but I really, really like the fun (and neutral) pattern, the overall features it has, and since there is so much hype about it that makes me believe it is a great option. 

3. Herschel Supply Co. Dawson Backpack: Navy and stripes. I repeat, navy and stripes! Right up my alley with this one based on looks alone, and it seems to be a really great size. The downside to this one is obvious - it's canvas. Sooo hard to keep clean! Good price, though.

4. Skip Hop Forma Backpack: This diaper bag is another favorite so I hear! And at only $70 it's definitely the least expensive option. I love that it's all black so I can easily make Billy hold it/carry it if need be, but I worry about the quality. Will it hold up well? Hmm...

Alright girls, give me your vote! 1, 2, 3, or 4? 

PS: This has absolutely nothing to do with diaper bag but look at Cam's new shirt. I can't even handle the cutenes and cannot wait to see him in this come July! (and of course, his little brother in a matching one! you can find this big bro shirt/and sibling matching sets here) 

MIXING PATTERNS: DAY TO NIGHT OUTFITS

It took pretty much all the willpower I have to not buy each and every item from this list when I made this.

Lately, I'm all about mixing patterns in a subtle way and now is the perfect time to do this since there are so many cute patterns/options out there for spring! I thought I would switch things up a bit and show a comfortable yet cute day look, that can easily be transitioned to a night look. There are so many times in the spring and summer where our lives get so busy with events that sometimes you have to plan your outfits ahead and the less you have to think about the day of, the better.

The main pieces in these two outfits (the shoes, jacket, and bag) stay the same but by just ditching the skinny jeans and throwing on this adorable lightweight dress can make all the difference (for the record-I would totally rock this day look at night, too.)

Floral Moto Jacket (25% off with code TREAT) / Jeans, also love this pair (both on major sale)/ Striped Tee / Wedges, other pairs I love here, here, here/ Dress / Belt / Necklace / Striped Clutch (only $34!) / Leather Clutch

Can it get any cuter than mixing this floral jacket with stripes? I think not...

It's always around this time of year where blazers and light jackets are the things I tend to grab for the most because they can be worn with so many things (this jacket would be cute with shorts, like these, and maxi dresses as well!) and just look so cute when paired with other items. I feel like they always take an outfit up a notch, know what I'm sayin'? That is exactly what a spring/summer wardrobe is all about after all...comfort + looks effortless!

What do you reach for the most in your closet in the spring?

PS: If you didn't see already, most of these items are on major sale...#success.

Spoil Yourself For Under $100

It goes without saying...we all deserve a little something special from time to time.

Especially if your gifts are all purchased and under the tree (this might be me rationalizing things...) A pretty dress or a sweater you've been wanting are perfect ways to treat yourself for the holidays without putting a major dent in the wallet. Besides, you've got to look cute for these holiday parties coming up, right? Someone's got to do it! ;)

DETAILS: Black and White Dress, Dorothy Perkins $44

'Happy' Gold Text Necklace, Bauble Bar $40

Crystal Drop Earrings, Bauble Bar $28

Drape Collar Jacket (love-comes in black too), Nordstrom $68

Leopard Print Gloves, Dorothy Perkins $9

Lace Dress (classy & cute), ASOS $72

Fingerless Gloves, Dorothy Perkins $14

Geometric Cardigan, Nordstrom $44 

Canvas with Leather Cosmetic Bag, Mark and Graham $28

Cable Knit Pullover, GAP $44 (on sale)

Here are some of my other favorites that are all under $100...happy shopping!

Style Icon: Meet Maureen

 

 

 

{my personal favorite-how cute is this? well, all of it...}

It's time you meet this gorgeous gal, Maureen. If you haven't been reading her blog yet, I will be SO excited to introduce you two! She blogs over at The Northeast Girl and as you can see for yourself she has some killer style. We first started following each other via instagram and learned how many similarities we have together (in both style and personal-don't you love when that happens?) and shortly after that I came to realize that I covet her entire closet. :)

I absolutely love to showcase my favorite fashion finds here, but the true "fashion outfit pictures" aren't my kinda thing. This is where Maureen comes in and why I thought you all need to follow her, too. There is not an outfit on her blog that I wouldn't wear myself...seriously.

Maureen is also a momma to the most precious little girl, Ava, a teacher, and her husband is a thunderbird (for real!) which has given them some pretty cool travel stories and adventures the past few years. So basically, she does it all.

You might see her every so often on here so leave her some love, would ya?

Which outfit is your favorite of hers that I featured? Most of these outfits are NEW to her blog this week and you can find all the outfit details on her posts.

Keep up with Maureen and add her to your blog roll (you'll want to-trust me) here:

BLOG / INSTAGRAM / FACEBOOK

PS: Find my two recent gift guides: Gym Essentials and Holiday Gifts from Target. Last but not least, J.Crew Factory is having a 50% off everything sale right now, here are my picks: this skirt, this striped sweater, these awesome jeans!

The Cutest Swimsuits You Ever Did See

 

Today, I bring to you the end of your search for the perfect bathing suit!

I know I said I'd have a trip recap today, but first I wanted to highlight a couple of the new bathing suits I've found because I know how difficult it can be (well, IS!) to find ones you love and that fit right. I brought all three of these on vacation with us and they will be getting so much use at the pool and boating this summer! 

Bathing suits are one of those that I truly believe you get what you pay for. Sure, I love the trendy $30.00 Target swim suits, but they typically don't last me longer than a season or two. All of these suits I'm about to recommend are high quality and are so soft!

#1. Mikonos Bandeau Bikini {from Swimwear360}

 

The pattern on this suit is so pretty, I'm kind of obsessed with it. What can be better than a mix of pink, turquoise, and orange with an aztec pattern?! I also love the cut on the bottoms-they are really flattering.

 

Swimwear 360 has such an amazing selection of cute swimsuits...seriously. I was in awe! Definitely go check them out-I know you will find something that fits your style and that you will love!

#2. Maaji Bloomy Cabana {from The Orchid Boutique}

this is the one I posted on instagram on our trip and received many questions about.

Haven't heard of The Orchid Boutique? Well, you're about to fall in love. They have the hottest designer swimwear out there for great prices. I know the Tone It Up girls love the Maaji bathing suits! Yep, Karena and Katrina often wear this brand. I have always wondered and loved the suits they wear and now I know (and so do you!) Now if we can all just look like them in the suits, right?

This is the Bloomy Cabana suit I got...

 

This is honestly the most comfortable and soft bathing suit I have EVER owned. Plus, the suit is fully reversible for another look! How awesome is that? I love the strap on the one shoulder and the fold over part on the bottoms.

Couldn't say better things about Maaji swimsuits and The Orchid Boutique! They have so many other designer brands/styles of swimwear besides Maaji if you are looking for a different look, too.

 {via Tone It Up Beach Babe video in Maaji Swimwear! :)}

#3. Sandoratto Nice Bandeau Bikini {from Swimwear360}

Again, the print on this is what caught my attention. I love the mixing of the patterns and the top and bottoms are so flattering for many body types!

Don't be surprised if you see me wearing these suits over and over again all summer long. Alright, I'm done with the talking - go get your shop on.

I'll be back Monday to recap our trip with a bunch of pictures! Have a great weekend :)

SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISH to my best friend, Lindsay! Lindsay-I'm so thankful to have your friendship and cherish all the times we have spent together! You're the BEST and I can't wait to celebrate more with you this weekend! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOVE!

PS: If you haven't entered the $100 Visa gift card giveaway yet-there's still time, go enter here!

 

STYLE THAT POPS {$100 VISA GIVEAWAY}

Before we get to the good stuff (a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card is considered good--am I right?), I wanted to thank everyone for linking up with us yesterday! I danced a little bit yesterday every time I saw someone else link-up! I get so excited! Also, thank you to those who link to Steph and I's blogs and use our button...much appreciated! 

So, I have a confession. I cannot stand doing laundry. This counts as a confession because I do know some people that actually enjoy doing laundry (what gene did I not inherit with this? #confused). Anyway, not only do I hate it but I suck at it, too. I will go as long as possible until I have to do it, and that usually results in 3 or 4 (or 10) massive loads where the first 1, maybe 2, will get folded right away. The others? The next couple of days if I'm lucky. Just ask my husband! He would know how bad I am at it because he is equally as bad at it. We're a couple of winners right here.

Moving on-- I will try anything that will help the laundry process go quicker or that makes it easier. Recently, I had the opportunity to try Tide Pods, a powerful 3-in-1 detergent that cleans, brightens, and fights stains. It is the only 3-chamber unit dose on the market and it really works!

All it is is this little pac that you pop into your washing machine. No measuring-- no messy caps to deal with-- super simple. Just the way I like it. One of the Tide Pods removes more stains than 6 caps of the liquid bargain brand.*

Being that I'm a frequent shopper (more like shopping obsessed), I still want my clothes and accessories (like the gloves in the top picture) to keep their color bright and fresh. Tide Pods make it much easier to keep clothes for a longer period of time, keep their color from fading, and you looking fabulous. Win-win.

Have you tried Tide Pods before? If not, next time you are at your local grocery store, pick some up and give them a try!

* Based on stain removal performance of 1 pac of Tide Pods vs. 6 doses of the leading liquid bargain brand base variant in a standard top loading machine.

Now for the sweepstakes: Answer the question below to be entered to win a $100 VISA GiftCard.

What is your favorite outfit to stand out in?

Hope everyone has a great weekend and cheers on my Buckeyes, who are the only team in the country right now to be 9-0. I'm just saying. Also-guess who is getting a striped wall this weekend? Yup. It's goin' down. We started it last night and it's almost done! This is me jumping for joy.

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post.

b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion, including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry" and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post.

c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post.

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to respond; otherwise, a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 11/1 - 11/25.

Be sure to visit the Tide Pods brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

WHAT I WORE: LACE DRESS {DAY TO NIGHT}

Happy happy hump day!

First and foremost-thank you all for your comments on my post yesterday {that was a fun post-I think I'll have to do it again soon!}, and to those who stepped up and "introduced" yourself to me. It was so nice to hear from everyone and I was loving every minute of it. If you decide to do a similar post, drop me a line in the comments so I can go and read yours.

Also, I just started using threaded comments yesterday. This means that I can actually reply back to your comments in the post, vs. email, which is especially helpful if you don't have an email address attached to your account. I hope this will help me connect with each of you better and if you ask me a question-please make sure to check back as I've probably answered it below your comment/question. I'm pretty sure I responded to everyone's comments yesterday this way, but I'm still working on the comments that came through last night this morning.

Today I'm sharing different ways to wear the classic lace dress and how to style it from day to night. Some of you asked for specifics in regards to my outfit post on Shannon's blog last Friday, so I'm sharing a couple of the pictures again with details. 

A lace dress is a must-have, right girls?

*The dress featured in this set: Lola in Lace Dress- Shop here!

For the day look: Pair with some gray or fun colored tights and casual booties. I die for those boots, by the way. To transition to your night look: Let the dress be the eye catcher (see the back of this Kiki La Rue dress? lovin' it) and throw on some bold heels. A pearl necklace would be a cute addition as well.

a different night look: you could even wear the dress with a fun blazer like so...

Dress: Lola in Lace c/o Kiki La Rue/ Blazer: Forever21(similar)/ Heels: old (similar-love these). 

and as I shared last week, you can dress it down with a military vest, skinny belt, and boots...

{Outfit details: Dress: H&M (old-this is similar), Vest: Old Navy (similar), Belt: F21, Sunnies: Ray Bans, Boots: DSW (similar)}

There are so many options!

What is your favorite way to wear a lace dress?

PS: WHO ALL IS LINKING UP WITH US TOMORROW? Make sure to have your craft, recipe, outfit, etc. ready!! I'm so excited to see what you've done :)

{if you have no idea what I'm talking about-join in on the fun here}

xo.

J.Crew Replica Bubble Necklace

First things first--

1. Happy hump day!

2. Today I'm being drilled interviewed over at my lovah

 Jess's blog, The Kentucky Priss,

answering questions about my dream job, my most embarassing moment, and other fancy things.
Click HERE to go find out more about yours truly.

...and go leave Jess some love, too!

When I find really awesome, afforable things

it's obviously my duty to share them with you as well. 

We all have seen and lusted J. Crew's Bubble necklace

but that $150.00 pricetag for a necklace was just not cutting it for me.

Do you know how many cute tops/colored skinnies I could buy from F21 for that price?

I digress.

Insert eBay.

I will be the first to say that I don't trust ebay hardly at all

for quality and to look like the original.

However, when it comes to this gorgeous necklace - I was wrong.

I found a close replica of this J. Crew necklace and it was only $15.00.

For $15.00, if it looked remotely similar, I'd be super happy.

But when I got it in the mail, it looks way more than remotely similar

...it looks almost identical and it's durable!

and here's a picture of me wearing it

(not the best but Rocky looks too cute to pass up...)

Click HERE to get yo'self one.

:)

 

Update: you CAN buy this necklace from sellers in the U.S!

It does NOT have to be shipped from China.

 

Tomorrow I will be back to share the DIY heart first dance frame tutorial.

I'm already antsy to get home tonight and watch the lovely (and pretty much my role model) Kelle Hampton on the Today Show!

Who else TiVO'd it?!

ps-if you don't have her book, Bloom, yet--GO BUY IT. Seriouslyyy.

I'm loving it.

Xo.

Tied Together By a Knot..

the bow

Lately I've been finding myself gravitating towards anything and everything with a bow attached. Not only is it perfect for the holiday season, but it can be found in so many different places. From jewelry..to purses...to fine china...I love it all. I'd have to say this is one trend that I'm ok with being around for awhile.

all images via my Pinterest boards

*and guess what? Those ah-mazing gold glitter shoes at the top?

On sale for $26.98 on Amazon.

go ahead..tell me you love me. ;)

Here I am wearing 2 of my favorite bow trends:

bows on the shoes

&

the bow blouse

{at one of my bridal showers}

{this bow blouse can be found at Forever21}

What do you think of the bow trend?

Love it or hate it?!

*After much debating, I've finally decided what I'm giving away for #12BG - 12 days of Blogger Christmas!  I say finally because I have been seriously racking my brain (like a crazy person) to bring you something special that also represents me. I think you guys are going to love it. I know I do!

so the moral of the story?

don't forget to come enter here on my blog on Monday.

I'm pretty excited friends.

*Go enter Chelsea's awesome beauty giveaway now!

**KC&CO now has a facebook page...pretty legit, ay?

Go do me a favor and "like" it?

My Fashion Icons {Olivia & Rachel}

Lately I can't help but notice how much easier it's gotten to empty my wallet shop til' you drop online. Years ago, websites like Polyvore, Google's Boutique, and Pinterest where you can virtually put together your outfits, never existed. The other day I was browsing my favorite online shops when I noticed two of my favorite fashion icons are now guest editors on Piperlime: Olivia Palermo and Rachel Bilson. We all know about Rachel Zoe who has been on there for a while, and I may be behind on this, but I was thrilled to see the additions of Olivia & Rachel {we are on a first name basis-besties I tell ya.}

I immediately clicked through to see all of their "picks" and found myself wanting almost every item. The best part, in my opinion, is that they show you a picture of a popular outfit Olivia has worn, with pieces next to it that you can buy to recreate that same look. Granted, not all of the items are budget friendly for me, but some are. What I like to do is try and find items in less expensive shops to complete the outfit. Having these 2 fashion icons as editors on this website is going to make me silently chant in my head my favorite line from the movie Confessions of a Shopaholic, "your wallet is closed, your wallet is closed."

I narrowed down some favorites of mine from Olivia and Rachel's picks...I picked ones that are all under $100.00. Let's take a look at them, shall we?

All of these scream Olivia, don't you think? These are all pieces I would love to own. My favorite though? The tie neck printed dress.

What I enjoy most about Rachel's fashion is that she always looks effortless and chic at the same time. Do you love the blouse and those ankle boots? I have found almost identical items as those for less - both at Old Navy.

Overall, I'd say I like Olivia's picks on Piperlime more, but they both select such great pieces to have in your wardrobe. If you are looking to dress like a star for less, I'd definitely recommend taking a look!

....and now my husband is even more scared that I'm going to spend all of our money on clothes. Don't worry hubs, only some... I've limited myself! ;)

Tell me, do you find guest editors helpful when shopping?

Who are YOUR fashion icons?

By the way....Aruba, Jamaica, oooh I wanna take you to....

Carolyn's blog.

where I am GUEST POSTING today about something pretty awesome

our honeymoon in the Dominican Republic.

I don't think I've shared too many pictures on here before and who doesn't love beach pictures?! go take a look.

Last thing: there is an amazing groupon today. I had a giveaway before for Sweet Clove Sunshine Cafe located in Columbus and today the groupon is for there...$20 worth of food for $10. Go snatch one up before they are all gone!

xo.