Year in Review: Spring and Summer Favorites

I thought it would be fun to show some of my favorite looks from this last year.  Today I'll be sharing some of my favorites from spring and summer! I hope you all have a wonderful New Year's Eve, have fun and be safe!

I loved how this unexpected combination came together, the pop of green from the necklace is my favorite part.

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Chelsea and Ginny Take On: Winter

Today Chelsea and I are going to take on Winter. It's definitely here and this combo today is my favorite for winter this year. A couple weeks ago I showed you a Herringbone Vest Remix and I wore an outfit similar to this one, but the indoor light just didn't do this herringbone and pink sweater combo justice. I love the bright color combo! I swear it is colder this year than it was last winter and these layers are definitely a necessity. I'm not going to lie, after taking these pictures I decided to switch to my booties, it as just to cold for bare ankles. Yep, Winter is definitely here.

On another note, Chelsea and I are going to take a little break from our Take On series. Now that the holidays are over there is really nothing for us to "take on" in January. We plan to resume closer to Valentine's Day.

Born Pretty sent this necklace over and I really like it. I think I'll be able to wear it a lot. It is crazy inexpensive and good quality, they also have free shipping. The one pitfall is it takes about a month to get.

 

Year in Review: Greatest Hits

I thought it would be fun to show some of my most successful and most viewed posts today.  As much as I like showing my OOTDs, my most viewed posts were generally more focused on "How-to." As much work as these posts are to create, I also love doing them.  As I'm starting a new year, I'd love to hear some ideas you for have for other "how-to" posts you'd like to see, questions you'd like answered, or styles you'd like covered. Hit me with your best ideas!

Also, I want to thank you for your continued support.  This has been such a fun hobby and it's crazy for me to think about how many of you stop by here daily. It's so flattering to think that some of you find inspiration from me.  Thanks so much! Here's to another new year, and I'll do my best to make my posts worth your while :) 

Most Viewed and Pinned: "What's Your Style" Post

I really do love this look but am totally surprised at the number of re-pinnings and page view I've gotten.  I didn't blog it but this year I wore it with booties to switch it up a bit. : )



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Plaid and Polka Dots

Today Grant is at daycare and my mom and I are going to go to lunch and to see The Book Thief. I loved the book, so I'm super excited. Grant and I saw Frozen on Tuesday and it as super good. Two movies in a week doesn't usually happen, so this should be fn!

I recently found this scarf  at JC Penny, it's Joe Fresh and although it looks like it's wool, it's actually not. It's lighter and easier to wear all day without getting hot, which I love. I decided to pair it with my polka for sweater, black jeans, and boots. I seriously want to wear these jeans everyday. I tried on these recently and wanted to love them, but without pockets I didn't feel they'd be appropriate for me to wear at school. What do you girls think? Am I crazy? 

Fur and Plaid

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, I know we did, although I feel like I'm in a food coma.  Grant and I are off to go to the indoor exhibits at the zoo today and it would be a great time!

I wore this outfit on Monday while I did some last minute Christmas shopping.  I ran around all day, thinking this vest and scarf would be enough.....well it was like 5 degrees here Monday.  My arms were freezing although the vest and scarf definitely did the trick.  I'm all about combos like this now, it's like I've found my casual groove and with the weather this cold skirts are definitely out of the question, even one as cute as this. Oh, who am I kidding, I think I need this skirt.

This scarf was sent over by Born Pretty, I really like it, although based on the picture online I thought it was gray.  Whomp, whomp.  It's crazy inexpensive though and I'm happy with the quality. Shipping is free, the one downfall is it's takes about a month for items to arrive.  

Pink, Gingham, and Christmas Eve

I'm really enjoying getting to be home with Grant. Some recent conversations have me rolling.

Me: "Grant, should we get Grandma another Christmas present?"

Grant: "How about a cape and mask?"

Me: Dying.

Me: "When you were a baby you were in my tummy."

Grant: "when Gracie was a baby was she in Daddy's tummy?"

Gracie is our beagle....

I've got to do a better job of keeping track of this stuff.

Now to my outfit: I picked up this sweater and shirt last week when J.Crew factory was running a 50% off sale. How could I not go, right? I love this bright pink color, and this gingham is perfection! Last year I picked up a different gingham shirt at Plato's closet, but I felt it was a little big every time I wore it and it had a texture I just wasn't crazy about, so back to Plato's it will go. This outfit is perfect for spending Christmas Eve with the family.  We always go out to my parent's house for a dinner of appetizers.  Growing up I always begged to open a present early on Christmas Eve, you think as an adult I'd be over that, but I'm totally not. :)

Chelsea and Ginny Take On: New Year's Eve

Christmas is right around the corner, and I'm so excited for that! However, I bet some of you are already finalizing your New Year's Eve plans.  Today Chelsea and I are going to take on New Year's Eve.  Now, I have to be honest with you, Brian and I are not party goers.  We enjoy the occasional BBQ and we did host a Christmas party at our house, but it was nothing fancy and with kids involved everyone cleared out my 8:00.  Yep,  we're living on the edge.... So, I'd be lying if I said I was going to wear this outfit on New Year's Eve, even though I do think the outfit would be perfect if you're going to a party.  The patterned tights (I really want this polka dot option too!) and fancy necklace make this look perfect for a New Year's party where you want to look nice, but age appropriate.  Face it, we're not all 20 anymore.  : )  Instead I am wearing this to celebrate Brian and my wedding anniversary this following Saturday.   It'll be six years, crazy how time flies.  On New Year's Eve Brian and I typically stay and home and don't even make it until midnight, so I sure am not going to waste this cute outfit on that. 

Have you entered my giveaway for $200 in Amazon cash yet?

Black and Neon

I wore a version of this outfit last winter and truly couldn't wait to wear it again. This year I added tights,  booties and my new black vest. I also decided to try my neon necklace and I love the bright pop of color and how it contrasts with the black. 

Today marks the beginning of my Christmas break and I am totally ready.....so are the kids.  We have an end of the semester "fun" day today and then we're out of here!  Two weeks off will do us all some good! Grant is still going to go to daycare on Monday so I can get some last minute Christmas stuff done and that'll be a nice little break for me too.

Have you entered my giveaway for $200 in Amazon cash yet?

Fancy

This sweater. It's fancy, right? It's actually Mossimo brand and I snapped it at Plato's Closet for $5. I actually wore it the first time with this skirt to church and I thought I'd try it with jeans and heels this time. I love how it turned out. How do you think I should style it next?

Have you entered my giveaway for $200 in Amazon cash yet?

Twelve Ways to Wear: The Herringbone Vest

You all know how crazy I am about my herringbone vest,  Meghan suggested I do a re-mix with this vest and I thought it was an amazing idea. Now the J.Crew, my Coldwater Creek, and the Shopko versions are all sold out but Kohl's has a similar one out that is sill available.

 Today I'll show you 12 ways to wear my favorite vest! To do this I used 20 pieces to create 12 looks.   Many of these pieces I used today were interchangeable, so it made creating outfits pretty easy.  Now a few of them are Pinspired, but really I think this vest might go with everything! Also, I think bloggers like Audrey have the right idea, taking blog pictures inside is so much easier!!! Here are my twelve looks and I've added details about each one down below.

Chelsea and Ginny Take On: Christmas (and my herringbone vest)

This week Chelsea and I are taking on Christmas!  It's almost here and today we're going to share with you a delicious breakfast recipe and a comfy outfit idea. I'm loving my herringbone vest and think it's perfect for Christmas day! This time I tried it with red, my chambray, and flats.  I love this look and am so glad I ended up getting this vest! When it comes to Christmas day I definitely want to be comfy so I think this look will be perfect!

Also, I really wish it was socially acceptable to wear vests and black jeans everyday, because it's gotten really cold here!

*Make sure to come back tomorrow, I've got a fun post planned that has to do with this vest!

Have you entered my giveaway for $200 in Amazon cash yet?

Gift Giving Guide with Coupons.com: Sponsored Post and Huge Giveaway

Christmas is almost here and I'm so excited!  Today I'm collaborating with Coupons.com to share my family's wish list as well as a giveaway for you all too!  Coupons.com has a ton of great coupon codes for different retailers and that really helps to stretch your dollar! Here's what on our wish list this year:

• This year Grant is all about superheros!  He would like a superhero mask for every superhero out there.  Luckily Target has a Spider-man one on sale.  He also asked Santa for a Green Goblin Toy??? This surprised me a bit, because "the Green Goblin is not nice..." however, if that's what he wants, Santa can deliver.  I also found some great new slippers for Grant and an Iron Man action figure too.  He will be in Heaven!
•  Brian has an iPad mini on his list, I had an iPad and love it and it's perfect for surfing the web.  He also lives in Express' jeans and button-down shirts, so they are on his list too.  Lastly is a coffee mug, he had two of the exact same one's he loved, however some how lost them both......really.  I've been trying to find a replacement that is similar enough to the old one's to make him happy.  
• For myself, I'd like a white vest to round out my vest collection....that's not weird at all, right???? I also am all about sweaters this winter and love  this J.Crew option.  I'm also on the hunt for the perfect plaid scarf and a new watch.  I'm loving this Michael Kors option!
• We always fill a stocking for our beagle, Gracie, too.  She loves to chew so Nyla bones are great and she loves her treats too. 

Me:sweater / vest / watch / scarf  Brian:shirt /  iPad mini / jeans / mug /  Grant: slippers /  mask /action figures / Iron Man figure  Gracie: Nylabone DuraChew Dino  

Coupons.com Holiday Sweepstakes is going on right now and they are generously giving away some awesome gift baskets full of $500 worth of gift cards!  Check out the links below and enter to win!

Bows and Dots

Today I decided to pair my bow cardigan with my polka dot blouse and my purple pencil skirt. I was feeling pretty optimistic about the weather when I took these pictures about a week ago, but reality: I'll be wearing tights with this outfit today, and probably with every skirt I wear until spring.  Sigh....

Stripes and Elbow Patches

Today I'm happily wearing my elbow patch sweater again. I love how this outfit came together, it was by accident, really. I had another skirt in mind, and when I tried it on, I looked horrific. Whomp, whomp. I'd originally thought this skirt was more summery (it's linen) but when you pair it with tights and a sweater, it suddenly looks wintery. Sweet! 

Also, I picked out a Chi flat iron for a Christmas present and "may" have opened it early to see if it was all it's cracked up to be.  It. Is.  I'm pretty sure it's only going to be good hair days from this day on. : )

Floral and Stripes

This combo has been in the back of my head for awhile, but I just hadn't tried it out until today, and I have to say I love it! I found this blazer at Goodwill a month or so ago and have worn it a few times with jeans, but love it with is dress today. I added the bright scarf for something different and finished it off with my boots.  I think I'll mix it up and wearing it with a scarf like this and my black boots next time.

Chelsea and Ginny Take On: Family Game Night

This week Chelsea and I are taking on Family Game Night. Now, I thought I'd spare you the pictures of me in lounge pants and a tee shirt, because that's really what I wear at home in the evenings. Instead, I thought I'd share some great games with you.  Grant is just getting to the age where he can understand how games work. He loves Go Fish, Candyland, and we've also borrowed some great learning games frm the library too.

Now that it's getting close to Christmas we're in the market for some new games.  I found a great Jake and the Neverland Pirates board game, and a great Superhero one too. I also saw a fun Disney matching game and Apples to Apples Disney version. Lastly, I found some fun interactive games I know Grant would love too. Any of these games would make for a great game night. What recommendations do you have?

The Wonder Forge Disney Classic Charecters Matching Game / TOMY Mr. Mouth / Goliath Sonny the Seal : Target / Disney Apples To Apples The Game Of Goofy Compar... : Target / The Joker Fun House Game : Target / Jake and the Never Land Pirates Never Land Chal... : Target / Hungry Hungry Hippos Game : Target / UNO MOO Preschool Game

Herringbone Vest

If you follow me on Instagram, you already got a sneak peek at this vest (which is now sold out).....I've worn it three times since getting it and could probably devote a whole Pinterest board to pinned looks I have for inspiration. Today I decided to pair it with this in a solid chambray and my black jeans with boots.  It was a super cozy and easy look, but I totally felt put-together.  This outfit combo has quickly become a favorite, I hope you all don't tire of it too soon, because I think you'll see a lot of variations this winter. : )

*Important note to all who missed the J.Crew version and the Coldwater Creek version: Shopko is selling the perfect dup for under $20 here. I'm not going to lie, I'm a little jealous of all of you who can score this at such a crazy cheap price!

Bow-tastic

I'm not sure what happened, probably the 20 degree temperatures, but I'm all about casual looks right now. I ended up wearing this on Thanksgiving and was cozy all day long. Last winter I was crazy about this J.Crew cardigan, but didn't have the chance to get it in stores. Now that the factory store is so close I'm able to nab the pieces I love easily! I was able to pick this up for a steal and have quite a few looks in mind for it.  What would you wear with it?

Pattern Mixing

Are you all ready for Christmas? I so enjoyed my small Thanksgiving break and had a chance to do a little Christmas shopping, as well as get the decorations out. I love how the house looks at Christmas, and although Brian needs to finish the trim in the basement, it's done otherwise.  We're really enjoying the extra space and I'm loving having the majority of Grant's toys down in his playroom. Yay!

I'm loving this combo today, I was inspired by this pin, then put my own spin on it. I picked up this sweater at J.Crew Factory and this button-down at Gap factory and love how it came together. I don't know what it is about plaid this year, but I love it! I wondered about these with it, what do you think?

Chelsea and Ginny Take On: A Christmas Party

This week Chelsea and I are taking on a Christmas party.  Now, I must confess, Brian and I don't really go to Christmas parties that call for dress like this, as fun as it would be.  We're just really not that fancy.  However, we do go to more casual get-togethers, and today's outfit is definitely one I'd wear to one of those.  When I saw this top at Gap, I knew I wanted it, and my first thought for styling it was with a simple pencil skirt and heels, which I think I'll try, but then I got this idea. I pretty much love it. Last time I wore this vest to school, a student petted it, and Grant told me I was fancy, so that's pretty much a win. I figure it's definitely Christmas Party worthy. : )

Casual Perfection

Happy Black Friday! I hope you are all enjoyed your Thanksgiving, We sure did.  Today Brian has to work, whomp, whomp, but Grant, my mom, sister and I plan to do some shopping.  Nothing big, but if there's a deal to be had, I'm in : )

I was able to do a little Black Friday shopping early at J.Crew Factory and Gap Outlet.  They has 50% off on Wednesday day and I picked up this in a solid chambray, this in red, and this beauty.  Having the outlet mall so close could be dangerous.... I also found the perfect dup for the J.Crew herringbone vest I missed out on here.  I seriously think I have a dozen outfits already planned for it.

As for today I need to do some decor shopping for the basement.  Luckily we already have a nice couch set, end table, and coffee tables to put down there, but it's looking pretty naked in the accessorizing department. I love this pillow and this lamp.  We'll see how I make out at Target.  I'm lovin' that new Cartwheel app, I can also get an extra discount. : )

The inspiration for this look came a few weeks ago Whitley wore the cutest casual outfit, and I knew I wanted to put together something similar.  I wore it to go to a craft show with my mom and the Grantster. The puffer vest for perfect for being inside, but it didn't leave me too hot, which is a total plus because I hate lugging a coat around.  I ended up getting a cute leopard scarf, my mom found a super cute window with Santa painted on it, and Grant hit the mother load and got this awesome hand-carved train set and this felt superhero play set.  He's having the time of his life playing with it!

Tights Weather

 It's officially tights weather here and as much as I love tights, it's the general coldness I strongly dislike.  However, this year I stumbled onto the sweetest pair of tights I've even owned Esprit fleece lined tights similar to these.  They are amazing and they go perfectly with my new booties, which happen to have fringe on the back of them.  If you follow me on Instagram you already know that my 4th grade self would be pretty jealous.  Esprit and Fringe?  The awesomeness is endless. : )  I decided to pair these two with a gray dress, my favorite cardigan, and a chunky belt.  To finish this up I added my new infinity scarf I snatched up for $10 from an old lady at a craft fair.  Last year I tried to knit one for myself and I think I did about three inches in six hours, before I ultimately gave up. I'm telling you, craft fairs are the best!

What I Am and What I'm Not.

I don't know about you, but I can let my weaknesses be things I focus on instead of my strengths. Today I thought I'd lay out some of the weaknesses that are bugging me right now, and probably more for myself a list of things I can do well. Let's start with the weaknesses:

1. I stink at tweeting.  Seriously.  I think I might just be too old to keep up with the young "hipster" who tweaks with ease about their delicious breakfast muffins....
2. I am not good at saying no to chocolate, as is I have a serious case of "Eat all the Chocolate."  We rarely keep it in the house because if we did, I would need new pants.
3. I am not very patient with Grant at bedtime and it kind of makes me feel like a bad mom.  Let's face it, I'm tired at 8:00 and I don't have the patience for shenanigans like, "I want another kiss, drink of water, story, song, etc."  I wish I was better at this.
4. Sometimes I just want to be a person, not Grant's mom, Brian's wife, Jesse's teacher, but I totally stink at ever taking time for myself.  My one outlet is this little blog, which I totally appreciate.
5. Once I get an idea on the brain I have to go, go, go until it's done.  This is rarely healthy.  Take a chill pill, Ginny.

So, can any of you relate? Please tell me I'm not alone. : ) Now, to my strengths:

1. I am good at staying caught up on laundry, I used to wait until the weekends, now I do a load every time a hamper happens to be full.  It's the little successes, people.
2. I am good at waiting to buy until there's a deal, rarely do I buy anything at full price and I always end up being happier in the end.
3. I work with some great people and therefore it helps me to become a better teacher each day and my kids are successful because of it.
4. I (usually) have a pretty good sense of self worth and don't often dwell on things I can't control. For whatever reason I have a good "bounce back" gene.
5. I'm good at forgiving and getting over situations. I'm usually not one to hold a grudge. To me, no good comes from that.

Whelp, the strengths were more difficult to write! I think no one wants to feel like eyre bragging, but it's important to celebrate our strengths. Your turn, what are you good at????

Now to today's outfit: I'm styling my new black vest again.  I seriously love this thing and decided to pair it with this hounds-tooth sweater I snagged at Forever 21 for a mere $8! I love how it came together and think I might try it like this next time.  So cute, right? What did I do before blogs and Pinterest.....

Chelsea and Ginny Take On: The Work Day

This week Chelsea and I are taking on the Work Day.  Today's look to me is effortless-professional.  Expresses' portfolio shirt paired with Loft's polka dot skirt instantly gives the illusion that I put a lot of thought into my outfit, when I actually didn't have to, which is perfect for a Monday morning....or any morning where I push snooze an extra time. :)  The addition of my Stella and Dot jewels helps to finish off this look and make it feel a little special too.  I think having pieces like this in your closet that are comfortable and mixable are definitely essential in your wardrobe.  What are some pieces you feel are key in your own closet?

Guest Posting Today!

Today I'm guest posting for the lovely Jenn at The Brandied Pair while she's off having the time of her life in Europe. Lucky! Stop by and say hi! I'll be talking about tips for best utilizing your closet and showing off some of my favorite outfits too.

Fur-iffic

So, this outfit.  I'm pretty much in love. I found this vest at the end of winter last year for a steal, but only got to wear it once before it warmed up. I kind struggled with how to wear it then, but when I saw this blouse at Target I knew it would be perfect with the vest and my favorite navy skirt.  Yep, I pretty want to wear this every day :)  When I started this little blog about a year ago I was really trying to land on a style I loved, and I feel like that's what I've been able to do. Thanks you little blog, for your help :)

Linking up with Spotlight Link Up

Stripes and Dots

Life is pretty busy right now. We've been working on finishing our basement and are finally at the painting stage, which is where I come in.  Fun. The light is at the end of the tunnel and we are having the carpet laid next week.  Everything is set to be done by Thanksgiving and I couldn't be more excited!  I'm sure I'll post some pictures once it's all done. : )

I'm loving this professional look today.  This blazer, top, and skirt were definitely smart purchases this fall, the outfit possibilities are seeming to be endless.  I rarely thrift anymore, but the one time I went this month I found this new Loft skirt for $3 and I couldn't believe it, I have a bunch of pinned looks with red skirts, but actually came up with this one on my own.  I feel like I've come a long way since last year and now see possibilities in my closet that I never saw before, and that's pretty awesome.

Pinspiration

 I've really been trying to work on some more casual looks (that I can also get away with wearing to school).  A few weeks ago Tara wore black and red together with boots and I absolutely loved it. Then I pinned this.  I was sold! Around that time I was at J.Crew Factory and picked up this sweater, along with a number of other great J.Crew Factory options.  Great wool basics like this were definitely missing from my wardrobe! I was also on the hunt for a great black vest and Whitley posted on Instragram that Sears had this vest on super sale.  I love how this look came together and have some many outfit ideas for this vest in the future it's ridiculous.

Linking up with Glossy Blonde today.

Chelsea and Ginny Take On: Black Friday

This week Chelsea and I are taking on Black Friday!  I'm definitely not a "get up at 3:00 and shop all day" kind of girl, but I do like to go out for a couple of hours to try to snag up a few deals.  When it comes to Black Friday I think it's important to think about what you wear.  Here are some of my thoughts:

• To me, there's nothing worse than being too hot inside with a coat, but freezing outside, because you don't have a coat, so wearing a puffer vest is perfect.  
• I also think it's important to consider what you're shopping for. If you're looking for boots, you should  wear skinny jeans so you can make sure they work with the jeans.  Trying to find tall boots while wearing bootleg or flare jeans just doesn't work well. 
• Same thing goes for shirts, if you're on the look out, don't wear multiple layers, it will make changing in the dressing room no fun.  Keep it simple with a sweater and camisole. 
• Comfy shoes are important too, these boots are Borns, so they are super comfy for being on my feet all day. 

I'm super excited about today's outfit.  Recently I made made the (ten minute) trek to our brand new outlet mall, and if you follow me on Instagram you saw the loot I happily found at Gap and J.Crew Factory. I've been working to create some more put together casual looks and pinning quite a few too, so when we went to the outlet I had casual looks on he brain.  I was excited to find this sweater at J.Crew Factory, the back is green and it has ELBOW PATCHES!  I'm only slightly excited about this.....  I also knew I wanted a vest like this.  I wasn't crazy about Target's option when I saw it in person, and and the J.Crew Factory version (not online) was still $108. Luckily, Gap had an option I really liked (sold out online) and it was 50% off due to the grand opening.  

 

Skirts and Booties?

I feel like I haven't updated you all on my life lately with my recent series, so here's some random updates for you:

1. I'm pretty sure I've eaten my weight in candy since Halloween. It's ridiculous, people.
2. I've determined I'm the worst coffee maker of all time, I swear I get a mouthful of coffee grounds on a daily basis.  It can't be rocket science, why do I have such a hard time with that darn filter?!?
3. Fall TV!  Can I just tell you how excited that I am that Ted's finally going to get to How He Met Your Mother.  Love that show!
4. When you get to leave work at 3:40 but end up having to stay until 5:00 to work with kids who think homework is optional it gets old pretty fast. As in, holy smokes this is going to be a long year!
5. I'm still on the hunt for new brown riding boots, anyone see any real leather ones they love that are under $150? I tried these one's on, but they bunched at the ankle.  I really want these, but I'm pretty sure my husband is going to tell me to keep dreaming....
6. I have a bunch of pinned outfits I'm chomping at the bit to try next week, stay tuned!

Now to my outfit: Recently my blogging friend Inge asked what I thought about booties with skirts, I honestly wasn't sure, because it hadn't tried it. I decided to give it a try today and love the result. I feel like the booties give the outfit a more casual edge then a traditional heel does. I think the casualness of the cardigan helps make the combo work too, and I'm not going to lie, this might give me a slight case of Buy All The Booties!

Also, have you entered my sponsor's giveaway for an Old Navy gift card yet?

 

Sponsor Spotlight: Charming Lucy

I'm excited to have the wonderful Susan of Charming Lucy guest posting today wearing her gorgeous blanket scarf with the beautiful green sweater.  Green is totally her color!  Anyway, without further ado, here's Susan. : )

Hi and happy Wednesday! I am Susan of the Charming Lucy blog. I am blessed to be guest posting for my friend Ginny, the mastermind and super shopper behind the blog My New Favorite Outfit. I am sharing how to style one of my favorite fall/winter accessories today! Enjoy and thanks for having me over today Ginny! 

On November 1, I participated in National Blanket Scarf Day on Instagram with my cyber buddies. I think we should consider making this a national holiday, perhaps even giving us a four day weekend to allow for the proper selection and styling of this important accessory;) Even if I had to work on National Blanket Scarf Day, I had fun coming up with an outfit idea. I purchased a J Crew factory sweater this fall, and I think I need one in every color! This sweater can be worn with layers during colder weather, or on its own during the warmer months. It is soft, affordable, and versatile. If you don't have one, go buy one or four! You won't be disappointed! Seriously! I paired my new kelly green sweater with my Zara blanket scarf. I was warm and cozy all day! Let's celebrate National Blanket Scarf Day every year. Or maybe every month! MMMK?! Happy hump Day my friends!
 

I was inspired by my sweet friend Whitley to style this scarf and share it with you. Whit offers a blog tutorial on how to tie a blanket scarf! You can find it here! My scarf was purchased at Zara! It will become a winter staple for me!

Make sure to stop by Charming Lucy to say hi to the sweet Susan, and good luck with the giveaway.  What wouldn't I use this on at Old Navy????

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Utilizing Your Closet: Use It or Lose It

Finishing my Wardrobe Essentials series made me think utilizing what I have, as well as about doing a little bit of closet cleaning. This can be a daunting, but necessary task.  Once you begin to add some essential pieces to your wardrobe, it probably means you'll need to eliminate some other pieces. Today I thought I'd share some tips on for how to best utilize your closest, as well as how to determine if it's time to let a piece of clothing go.

Chelsea and Ginny Take On: Thanksgiving

Since Thanksgiving is almost here, Chelsea and I decided to take it on.  You know what that means? No, I'm not talking about Black Friday shopping, though that is fun. I'm talking about Thanksgiving Dinner and the need for comfy clothes. Enter my maxi dress, it feels like pajamas, but looks like actual clothes. Nice! I decided to try it as a skirt and love the result.It was pretty easy to throw a fitted tee over my dress, then I added a denim jacket and fun infinity scarf. I'm now official convinced that maxi skirts aren't only for warm weather, and I'm now on the hunt for one like this. To me, this will be the perfect Thanksgiving look, with plenty of room for turkey and all the other goodness my mom, sister, and husband will bring to the table....I don't so much cook....

Putting All the Pieces Together: Building A Wardrobe

I've spend the last week and a half sharing wardrobe essentials as part of my Build A Wardrobe Series, so now it's time for you to get started!

Here's a reminder of all the topics I covered:

• Essential Blazers and Jackets
• Essential Cardigans
• Essential Skirts
• Essential Jeans and Dress Pants
• Essential Shoes and Accessories
• Essential Shirts
• Essential Dresses

Here's a visual of all the pieces I recommend having as part of versatile wardrobe:

Building A Wardrobe: Dresses and Belts

I'm excited to be continuing my Building A Wardrobe Series again today. One the first day of the series I shared Essential Blazers and Jackets, one day two I shared Essential Cardigans, on day three I shared Essential Skirts, on day four I shared Essential Jeans and Dress Pants, on day five I shared Essential Shoes and Accessories, and on day six I shared Essential Shirts. Today I'm going to continue my Building A Wardrobe series by sharing essential dresses with you.  I love dresses and I definitely think it's important to invest in some great versatile pieces.  Here are my thoughts on essential dresses to include in your wardrobe:

• I recommend purchasing a great black and navy sheath dress.  These classic pieces will be well worth the investment and because of their classic nature can be worn for years to come.
• I also recommend getting a sold dress with great texture, such as the coral lace dress below. Texture will make this dress special, but due to the solid color, it will still be a versatile piece in your closet.
• Lastly I recommend getting a striped dress.  I'm showing a cute fit and flare option, but get a shape that fits your style, such as a sheath, jersey, or a-line.  A great black and white stripe dress will be very versatile and mixable in your wardrobe.
• I also picked some additional options for you, such as a plaid t-shirt dress, leopard, great print, and bold stipes.  I love all these options and they definitely will add value to your closet, however, I wouldn't start hear, as these pieces could be great outfit "show stoppers" but they probably won't be nearly as versatile.  I'd shop the sale rack for these types of pieces after you have a few more essential in your closet.

 black sheath dress / lace dress / navy sheath dress / stripe dress /  plaid shirt dress /leopard dress / print dress / 

 bold stripes /

I'm also going to discuss essential belts today.  A reader asked for my thoughts and I realized I hadn't planned to share any, whoops!  I think the number of belts you can have is endless but here are my thoughts on essential belts:

• I think skinny belts are most popular right now, but I recommend have a wider black and brown one, as these still look great when you want to belt a dress
• I also recommend having a metallic one, I have a brown metallic and I wear it all the time!
• Look at the bright colors you wear most, consider buying a bright belt in that color or in a complementary color.
• I also recommend getting a leopard belt, well, because it's leopard : )
• Lastly, I recommend having a skinny black and brown belt, these are the ones you'll probably wear most often.
• Shop the clearance racks, especially at Kohl's.  I've gotten most of my belts there for between $1-$2 bucks.  
• Belts can be key to defining a waist and I highly recommend wearing them with most outfits, you'd be surprised how much they can add to your final look!

Here's a visual for my thoughts on essential belts:

wide black / wide brown / leopard / fun color / skinny black / skinny brown / metallic

Today I'm wearing a great floral print dress and I've belted it to help define my shape. I can dress it up with a cardigan or blazer with heels or dress it down like I did today with a denim jacket and booties.

I'm working to start the spring transition in my closet. That means no more tights, if I have anything to say about it. I bought this dress last fall from Target for like $6 and it's one of my favorite pieces to wear. Today I thought it would be fun to style it casually with my denim jacket from thredUP  (use this thredUP link to get $10 off your first order) and my black booties. I'm thinking I'll be wearing booties for a few more weeks, then sayonara until next fall.   I'm also wearing this adorable  neckalce from Chelsea Row. I got it at a fashion swap brand new! I love a good statement necklace, but am really loving more delicate pieces like this lately.