What I Wore Wednesday {Christmas Party Edition}

This time of year calls for lots of Christmas Parties & Events for us. 

I always love a reason to get gussied up, but I don't like to spend a lot on my outfits.

So, I shop my own closet & use accessories to jazz them up.

Here are some outfits I have worn the past few weeks!

Women's Christmas Dinner at my friend's church:

Lace Shirt - Old Navy

Black Skinnies - Target (2010)

Boots - Cathy Jean

Necklace, Earring & Bracelet - Old Navy

Kevin's Work Party:

Green Ruffle Dress- Old Navy (I got this last month for only $20)

Black Patent Heels - Payless Shoes (circa 2008)

Necklace, Earring & Bracelet - Old Navy

My Work Christmas Party:

Black Sequin Shirt - Old Navy, $12!!

Black Skinnies - Target (2010)

Black Patent Heels - Payless Shoes (circa 2008)  

Bracelet - NY & Co (circa 2006)

Necklace - Ann Taylor Loft (circa 2009)

Neighborhood Christmas Party

Our court has an annual Christmas Party, so fun to get all dressed up & only have to walk next door :)

*This was not what I was originally going to wear. The dress I wanted to wear didn't fit. Couldn't zip it up...gotta love the post partum body....*

Black Ruffly Dress - Lauren Conrad for Kohls (circa 2010)

Heels - Target (circa 2009)

Bracelet, Earrings & Necklace - NY & Co (circa 2010)

And, last...but certianly not least...this Friday our School has Tacky Sweater Dress up Day.

Here is a sneak peek of my Tacky Sweater.  Gotta love a sequined Nativity Scene Sweater!

 Sweater - JcPenney (circa 2007 that I bought for our annual Tacky Sweater Party)

Skinny Jeans - Target

Black Boots - Target (circa 2010)

So, there you have it. Some of my Holiday wear for 2012!

Now, I just need to shop my closet & figure out what fits for Christmas Eve.

Pinterest Told me To

 A few weeks ago, I found the cutest blog called

Pinterest Told Me To

It is the greatest concept! 

Sheaffer started her blog because she was pinning tons of fun & funky outfits on Pinterest. She then realized she could piece together those outfits with clothes she already had in her closet!

I found her blog at just the right time.

It was right as I was going back to work after my Maternity Leave was ending.

I saw tons of cute outfits on Pinterest and was in need of some serious Retail Therapy.

Then I saw her blog and realized that I should "shop" my own closet and put together outfits that are Pinterest inspired and that are more outside the box that I would normally wear.

I could do this without buying anything new!

I was in the Frumpy Post-Partum stage where nothing fit quite right, but re-creating outfits with my own clothes (that I hadn't worn since I became pregnant) was a challenge I was ready for.

Sheaffer asked me to guest blog today and share some of my Pinterest Inspired Outfits.

Here is a sneak peek of some of my outfits....

Pinterest on the Left, Mel on the Right

 Mustard , Gray & Brown

I was being brave....instead of pairing this outfit with my gray boots or my gray ballet flats, I listened to Pinterest and wore brown boots with it. I would have never thought of pairing gray with brown, but it worked! I had all the items in my closet!
Gray Cardigan - Ann Taylor Loft
White Tank - NY & Co
Mustard Ruffle Scarf - The Pleated Poppy (Linking up with Lindsey!)
Skinny Jeans - Target
Brown Boots - Target

Next Outfit... Black Pants with Brown Boots

 I said I would NEVER do it. Mix Brown & Black. I saw this outfit & realized I had similar pieces in my closet and BAM! Black pants with Brown Boots. I'm a fan.
Cream Cardigan - Nordstrom
Tank Top - Target
Black Skinnies- Target
Brown Boots - Db Shoes

More Black & Brown

 Oh yes, I did. Black Dress (H&M 2 years ago) with a brown belt (Nordstrom, Brass Plum) & Brown Boots (Target)

In LOVE with this combo. Can't believe it took me so long to branch out.
My preconceived notions of Black & Brown are out the door!

Thank you, Pinterest!

I posted  a total of 10 Pinterest Inspired Outfits on her blog.
Check out my guest post HERE!
 
I know you will love Sheaffer & her blog.
You will be inspired to mix up your wardrobe, shop your own closet and put together combos you never thought you could pull off!

Christmas Card 2011

One of my very favorite things about the Christmas Season is all the happiness that arrives in my mailbox during the month of December.
I love, love, love Christmas cards...making them & receiving them!
For our card this year, I picked my favorite family photo from our November photo shoot.
I knew I wanted to highlight that picture & then have more pictures on the back.
And, I was feeling sassy and decided that I didn't want boring rectangle cards, so I made them into curvy boutique cards.
I may or may not have let out a squeal when they arrived!
The official 2011 Christmas Card:
And, a close up of the back:

{Linking up here & here}

I have gotten a few emails about our outfits, so I thought I would throw in a "What I Wore" into this post.
Me:
Dress- Target
Necklace- Brass Plum
Belt - Brass Plum
Boots - Kohls

Kate:
Sweater & Shirt - Target
Skirt - Old Navy
Tights - Children's Place
Boots - Target

Claire:
Dress - Old Navy
Headband - Target
Tights - Children's Place
Boots - Target

And, of course Kevin's outfit (I know you were dying to know that one!)
Shirt - Target
Jeans - Levi's

This was the first time I didn't have Kate & Claire totally matchy-matchy. I've come a long way, people! I like how their outfits complimented each other.

Now, back to Christmas cards.....Each day the girls and I eagerly await the arrival of our mailman (who is the sweetest man, ever...I will be making him some of my Christmas Cookies, he is just so nice)

I love getting the mail & finding out who sent us cards.
And, I love displaying the cards in our home for us to admire all season long.
This year, I decided to string some red pom-pom yarn in front of the window in our kitchen & hang our cards with glitter clothespins that I made:

This hangs by our kitchen table & I love looking at the faces of my smiling friends while we sit down for meals.

The whole view...I just love it!

Anyone else love Christmas Cards like I do?
It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

Know what else is wonderful? Clean Water!
If you haven't already, check out my post & enter to win my bundle that includes a $50 Target card and other goodies from my Etsy Shop! A new prize was added to the bundle today!
And, check the Project 320 blog for other giveaways & freebies that are being offered!

WIWW - Vacation Edition

Here is a snapshot of what I wore on our Disney Cruise last week.
The fun thing about cruises is that you get to "dress up" for dinner each night.
I don't know about you, but I love any excuse to get dressed up!
The Disney Cruise was casual dressy, with one more "formal" night.

First Night:

Blue Dress - Target
Black Tank Top - Nordstrom
Necklace - Target
Flip Flops - Old Navy

Second Night:

Striped Dress - Target
Belt - Brass Plum
Necklace - Brass Plum
Flip Flops (that you can't see) - Target

Formal Night:

Dress - H&M
Necklace - Ann Taylor Loft
Black Heels (that you can't see) - Target

Pirate Night:
(There was a Pirates of the Caribbean Night. So fun!!)

Dress - Old Navy
Flip Flops - Old Navy
Pirate Hat & Eye Patch - Local Party Store :)

Final Night:

Dress - Ann Taylor Loft
(I got this dress last year on clearance & it was only $3.99!!!!! Deal of the century!)
Black Heels - Target
Necklace - Allora Handmade

Now, most days on the cruise, you would see me like this, in my bathing suit, swim suit cover up & flip flops.

All my suits & cover ups come from......Target!

For the 4 days we spent at Walt Disney World, here is what I wore:

Magic Kingdom:

Tank Top - Old Navy
Shorts - NY & Co
Flip Flops - Rainbows


Dinner at Downtown Disney:

Dress - Target
Necklace - Brass Plum
Flip Flops - Rainbows

Animal Kingdom & Epcot Center:
(we did both those the same day)

Tank Top - Old Navy
Shorts - Target
Flip Flops - Rainbows

Final Day at Magic Kingdom:

Tank Top - Old Navy
Shorts - Target
Sunglasses - NY & Co
I am really, really, really sad about my sunglasses.
I got them on clearance at NY & Co a few years ago for $5.
I love them. But sadly, after this Dumbo ride, I went on Space Mountain and I put my sunglasses in my pocket so I wouldn't loose them. But, the ride was so twisty that my sunglasses got crunched while in my pocket & the frames cracked. I am so sad.
I have such a hard time finding sunglasses that I like (and that are cheap!)
RIP, sunglasses. You will be missed.

What I Wore Wednesday #3

The last time I linked up to "What I Wore Wednesday" was in October!
I love WWIW, it is fun to see what other people wear!

Here is what I wore this past week:
(Totally cut off my head. Oops!)

Sweater - Old Navy, circa 2007
Scarf - Simply Vera Wang at Kohls
Jeans - Target
Boots - db shoes

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Ruffle Shirt - CAbi
Brown Tweed Pants - NY & Co
Boots - Nine West

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Sweater - Target
Shirt - Gap
Skinny Jeans - Target
Brown Boots - Kohls
Necklace - NY & Co

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{We were in San Fran pouring wine for my brother in law's winery at the ZAP wine festival}

Ruffle Shirt - NY & Co
Ruffle Sweater - Anthropologie
Skinny Jeans - Target
Boots - Target
Necklace - Target

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{We skipped church on Sunday because we didn't get home from San Fran until after midnight & we were so tired. It was a cold rainy day on Sunday....perfect for comfy clothes}

Tank Top - Target
Hoodie - Old Navy
Jeans - Target
Uggs - Nordstrom, circa 2006

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Tank Top - Gap
Sweater - Target
Pants - Target
Necklace - NY & Co
Boots - db Shoes

Kate's new favorite outfit (she wore this 2 days in a row...dress is Osk Kosh, tights are Carters)

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Shirt - NY & Co
Pants - NY & Co
Boots - Nine West
Necklace - Premier Designs

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Things I realized with this WIWW:
1. Most of my winter clothes are from Target
2. I wear a lot of blacks/greys/browns in winter
3. I love skinny jeans with boots even though last winter I swore I would never like that trend!

What I Wore Wednesday #2

I had so much fun linking up to "What I Wore Wednesday" that I decided to participate again.
I forgot to link up last week, so here are 2 weeks worth of outfits!Dress - H&M
Shoes - Target

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Shirt - Ann Taylor Loft
Capri's - Kohls
Shoes - Walmart

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Shirt - Banana Republic
Tank Top - Nordstrom
Capri's - NY & Co
Shoes - Target

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T-shirt - University of Colorado Bookstore circa 1997
Shorts - Nike (practice shorts from college)
Flip Flops - Old Navy
(We finished our entry way tile this day, so that is why I am wearing scrubby clothes)

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Shirt - Target
Capri's - Target
Flip Flops - Old Navy
(Skipped church today & got stuff done around the house)

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Shirt - Target
Pants - Gap
Shoes - Target
Necklace - Target

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Tank Top - Ann Taylor Loft
Cardigan - NY & Co
Capri's - NY & Co
Necklace - Ann Taylor Loft
Shoes - Target

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Tank Top - Nordstrom
Shirt - Ann Taylor Loft
Pants - Banana Republic
Shoes - Kohls
Necklace - NY & Co

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Shirt - Ann Taylor Loft
Pants - NY & Co
Shoes - Kohls
Necklace - Ann Taylor Loft

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Shirt - Banana Republic
Cardigan - Target
Jeans - Hudson
Shoes - Target
Necklace - Target

(This was the day I went to Bakerella's Book Signing!)

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Tank Top - Target
Cardigan - Ann Taylor Loft
Jean Capri's - Target
Flip Flops - Old Navy

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Shirt - Ann Taylor Loft
Capri's - NY & Co
Necklace - Premier Designs
Flip Flops - Target

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Shirt - Target
Cardigan - Target
Capri's - NY & Co
Shoes - Walmart
Necklace - Ann Taylor Loft

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Dress - Target
Shoes - Target

We are still waiting for Fall weather to arrive here in Northern California.
As you can tell from my outfits, the weather has been warm....in the 90's.
I am ready to bust out my boots, jackets & jeans!

What I Wore Wednesday

Lindsey over at the Pleated Poppy has been doing a blog series called

"What I Wore Wednesday".
I have wanted to participate for a while, but I never got my act together until this past week!
So, here is what I wore this past week.
When you are a teacher, it is all about comfort & layers (my classroom is freezing!)

Cardigan - Ann Taylor Loft
Ruffled Shirt - NY & Co
Capri's - Gap
Shoes - DB Shoes

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Cardigan - Target
Tank Top - Ann Taylor Loft
Necklace - Target
Jeans - Hudson
Flats - Old Navy

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Cardigan - Brass Plum
Tank Top - Target
Jeans - 7 for All Mankind
Shoes - Target


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What I wore to church (after church, it was back into my bathing suit!)

Dress - Target

Shoes - Target

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Shirt - NY & Co
Capri's - NY & Co
Necklace - NY & Co
Shoes - Db Shoes

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Blue Shirt - Ann Taylor Loft
Capris - Target
Shoes - Walmart
Necklace - I made using beads from a bracelet I got at H&M
Close up:
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I had fun documenting what I wore this past week & this is what I discovered:
1. I buy most of my clothes at Target, NY & Co and Ann Taylor Loft
2. I wear a lot of black, gray & blue.
3. I own a lot of cardigans.
4. Taking pictures of myself is awkward.
5. Our bathroom has terrible lighting! yikes.
This was fun, I will definitely participate in this again!