Nanny Style {4.10.15}

Old Navy Tee; Modcloth Cardigan; Gap Jeans; TOMS Flats

If you've seen me in real life over the last 6 months, you've probably seen this outfit. I wear it, or some version of it, at least a few times a month. The shoes, however, are new. I've been wanting to try a pair of TOMS ballet flats since they came out a few years ago, but $84 a pair is a tough pill to swallow. I found these on clearance and decided to give them a try. They're AMAZING. Ridiculously comfortable, and they look great. Definitely my new favorite shoe.

Bloglovin' - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

Here and There

Oh hiiiii internet. I've been working a lot of long days at my new job, and it's been insanely cold out lately, so outfit photos just haven't been happening. Here's a few things I've worn recently though, courtesy of my bathroom mirror.

Gap Top (here) and Jeans (here); Famous Footwear Boots (similar) Glasses c/o Firmoo

I wore this out for girls lunch and grocery shopping with my sister last week!

Old Navy Tee (here); Thrifted Cardigan (similar); Gap Jeans (here); Famout Footwear Boots (similar)

Worn to work. I just love this tee, it reminds me of the Mighty Mac.

How has February been treating you?

Bloglovin' - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

New Specs

Thrifted Dress (similar from H&M) and Cardigan (similar); Connie Boots (similar); Glasses c/o Firmoo

It's 2 degrees outside, so I welcome you to the inside of my house. If you've been reading the blog for a while, you may remember that this wall used to look like this. Yeah, paint fixes everything.

I mentioned last week that I had my annual eye appointment recently. As luck would have it, Firmoo contacted me around that time and asked if I'd like to review a pair of their glasses. Umm, yeah.

These frames took a while to get here, but they were well worth the wait. I love the white sides on them, and the classic shape. The sides are also kind of bendy, which makes them not only super comfortable, but fairly childproof. A must when you work with kids (why 1 year olds think it's great to rip glasses off of faces, I will never know).

Firmoo also has a great "try on" feature where you can upload a picture of yourself and virtually try on the glasses, so you know you're getting something perfect for you. On top of all that, the frames are insanely cheap. Like, starting around $16 cheap. Next time you need new glasses, be sure to check them out!

Bloglovin' - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

Sweet Style {2.11.15}

Old Navy Dress (similar from ON); Stitch Fix Cardigan (similar); Famous Footwear Boots (similar)

This is always the time of year where I start to get cranky. You know the feeling - when it's been winter for 3.5 months already, you've hardly seen the sun since October, and you're just plain tired of being cold. The only redeeming thing about February is that you're one month closer to spring.

 

A few things I've really been enjoying this month are strawberry and pomegranate tea, walks with the dog on sunny days, and keeping with a routine. It helps the days go by quicker and spring come a little bit faster.

 

How do you fight the winter blues?

Bloglovin' - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

Sweet Style {2.6.15}

Stitch Fix Cardi; Old Navy Tee; Gap Jeans; Famous Footwear Boots

When you're diabetic, you end up going through all kinds of tests on a regular basis. I see my doctor every few months, get a pile of blood tests done, and have my eyes checked annually.

This past week I paid a visit to the eye doctor. It was a little nerve wracking, since last year they found a micro-aneurysm in my right eye. This is one of those things where it could be a blip on the radar, or it could mean things are starting to get bad. Thankfully, this year the aneurysm was gone and my eyes have been declared healthy once again. Which lead to a huge sign of relief, and prayer of thanks, and the knowledge that I'm doing something right.

Sometimes you put in a lot of work for what feels like nothing. And sometimes it pays off. I love when it pays off.

Now excuse me while I go pick out some new frames. :-)

Shop it:

Bloglovin' - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

Sweet Style: January 18

Thrifted Dress (similar)

Modcloth Cardigan (here)

Target Leggings (here)

Thrifted Booties (similar)

Oh hey, an outfit. Getting dressed hasn't been a top priority lately. I still don't have a job, and we've been spending a lot of time working on the house lately, which means wearing junky clothes that I don't mind getting wallpaper paste, paint, and sawdust on.

I threw this on to go out to lunch and run some errands with J yesterday. When I do get dressed, I've been really digging my neutrals lately. 

Bloglovin' - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

The Wait is Over

Modcloth Cardigan (here); Target Jeggings; Modcloth Boots (similar)

J bought this cardigan for me for my birthday almost a month ago. Unfortunately it was the wrong size so we had to send it back. A few days ago the new size came and I'm so happy with it! This top is insanely comfortable and looks great either zipped or unzipped. I can't wait to wear it to death this winter.

Bloglovin' - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

Lazy Days

Tunic via thredUP; Target Cardigan (here); State Necklace via Cents of Style; Hue Leggings (here); Modcloth Boots (similar)

You guys, I've been so lazy this week. Do you ever get in that mode where the less you do, the less you feel like doing? Yep, totally this week. I'm still jobless, and have very little to do beyond housework. I've found the key to times like this is just to get dressed and leave the house, if only for a little while. Today I went to the post office and city hall to pay a bill. Neither of those things needed to be done until next week, but hey...I needed to get out.

How do you beat laziness?

Bloglovin' - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

Kind of Like Call the Midwife

Thrifted Cardigan (similar); Cents of Style Necklace; Thrifted and Refashioned Vintage  Dress (similar); Payless Flats (similar)

I didn't realize how much this outfit resembled one from Call the Midwife until I was editing photos. Have you guys ever seen that show? It's a BBC drama and it's one of my favorites. See:

source

I'm basically a British nurse from the 50s. I can live with that though.

*This is day 4 of Me Made May.

Bloglovin' - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

Saturday Tuesday

Thrifted Target Tee (here) and Cardi (similar); Gap Jeans (here); Kohl's Flats (similar) and Earrings (similar)

Back at it today after suffering a terrible 24 hours without my computer. The case as been breaking apart by the hinge and every time I open it it gets a little worse. So Jeremy took it all apart and hopefully it's better now. Provided I stop dropping it, I suppose.

How has your week been? Jeremy's work schedule changed this week so he's now off Mondays and Tuesdays. Which feels so weird. I thought it was Saturday all day. We got to go out and take advantage of $5 movie Tuesday at our local theater and I got some goods at Sally Beauty to try my own gel manicure at home. Which I'm going to do as soon as I hit publish on this post.

Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday.

Bloglovin' - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

Typical

Thrifted Top, Sweater (similar) and Booties (exactly); JCPenney Jeans (exactly); Handmade Necklace via this Etsy shop

Here's an example of a typical nanny outfit. Although I love my statement necklaces, babies love them too, so I don't always wear them to work in order to avoid breakage or excessive drool. I have a handful of dainty necklaces that I wear almost everyday that are just enough to polish off an outfit but don't attract the little hands quite as much. I got this one as part of a set as a gift for Jeremy for Valentine's day this year. It's definitely one of my new favorites.

Bloglovin' - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

Jeans Fail

Thrifted Top (similar); Gap Scarf (similar from Gap); Target Cardi; JCPenney Jeans; Thrifted Booties (exactly)

Guys...these are kind of the worst jeans ever. I`ve been super happy with JCP jeans in the past so a few months ago when I needed a replacement pair, I just sort of grabbed these. NOT GOOD. They`re probably the worst fitting jeans I`ve had in a while. Plus, the seam on one leg is crooked. Lame. They`re getting donated like tomorrow.

Bottom line: always try before you buy. The company you love may have just gone and changed the fit of your favorite pair of jeans. And that`s never fun.

Bloglovin' - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

Above Freezing

Kohl`s Scarf (similar); DIY Monogrammed Cardigan (tutorial here); F21 Dress (almost exact); Charlotte Russe Boots (love these over the knee ones)

Guys...it is supposed to be 36 degrees today. I can`t even remember the last time it was above freezing and I'm insanely excited.

I've spent the bulk of my week so far reading Divergent. I checked it out of the library on Sunday and am already almost done. What can I say? It is ridiculously good. I thought it would be way too similar to The Hunger Games, but I was wrong. There are a lot of little nuances to the story that make it really interesting, and way more in depth than THG was.

Have you gotten on the Divergent series boat yet?

Bloglovin' - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

Wide

Target Cardigan (on sale under $12!); Fair Trade Necklace (similar); Thrifted Lace Top (similar) and Pants (similar); Payless Wedges (similar at Target)

I`ve been a skinny pants devotee for the past few years, so I`ve totally forgotten how flattering a good wide legged pant can be with a pair of heels. My legs felt so long in these!

In completely unrelated news...are you guys as excited for the Olympics as I am? Seriously cannot wait. I`m not much of a sports fan, but something about the Olympics has always made me happy. My favorites are hockey, curling, speed skating and bobsledding.

Bloglovin' - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

Flapper

Gap Dress; Thrifted H&M Cardigan; Vintage Necklace; Payless Heels

So who else has been loving the 1920s outfits on Downton Abbey? The colors, the shapes, the long pearls...I die, you guys.

I felt a little like a 20s flapper girl in this outfit. The straight cut of this dress, the long necklace and heels are all giving me that vibe. A refreshing change of pace from sweaters and boots.

Bloglovin' - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

Why I Dress Up for Work

Thrifted Cardigan (similar), $5; JCPenney Chambray Top (similar), $10; Gap Jeans via thredUP, $10; Connie Boots (similar), $40

Hello new favorite cardigan. Welcome to the blog.

Here I am in another typical nanny outfit. Sometimes I feel like a bit of a weirdo looking put together for work - most nannies I know spend their work days in yoga pants and hoodies. While I can't argue with the comfort of yoga pants while chasing kiddos, I also strive to look professional and put together on the job. I've had more than one employer comment on my clothes, always saying how nice it is that I look clean and polished, yet still ready to get on their floor and play with their kids. I feel like this is important, no matter what field you're in. Even if you can get away with yoga pants everyday doesn't mean you should. 

Bloglovin' - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

Thankful

Thrifted Cardi, Plaid, and Pants; Kohl's Flats

Did you know one of the reasons Kendi created the 30x30 was to remind herself to be thankful for what she has? I love this so much about the challenge. It can be so easy to get sucked into the culture of stuff.  The latest trends, the designer bag, the thing all the bloggers are wearing this season. Sometimes it just gets to be too much and we need to step back.

I was grocery shopping this morning and this song started to play. And I cried. Right there in the grocery store. I have been grieving the loss of my childhood home for months now and some days it still gets to me. But you know what? It is just a house. What really matters is the people that lived there. The memories that were made there. I am so, so thankful for the fact that I grew up in a place wonderful enough to miss it this much.

I am thankful for our next big adventure. For the house we are moving into next week, for the child we are hoping to adopt. For my husband to go back to school. For growing my relationship with my sister and nephews. Life is good right now and I need to embrace it!

So I choose to be thankful. And I got all that from a pile of clothes.

Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Bloglovin' - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

I Told You to be Patient

Thrifted Dress, Cardi, and Belt; Swapped Boots; Loft Necklace via Stacia's instagram sale

I used to unconsciously subscribe to the "no white after Labor Day" rule. Like a robot, I'd box up all my whites as soon at the temperatures dropped, and there they'd stay until after Memorial Day. And then this fall I realized what a great fall texture lace would be. I love this dress with a cardigan and boots!

Have you guys ever read the Young House Love blog? I discovered it this summer and have been digging through their archives looking for ideas for our new house. It's definitely a fixer upper. At first this felt a little overwhelming (it needs a lot of work), but I'm really starting to get excited about it. Yesterday they posted about stenciling their floor and I thought, dude...that would be perfect for our house. The flooring is one of the most immediate needs in our new space, and how cheap and easy would stenciling be?!

Like I said...excited.

What are your favorite cheap and easy house DIYs?

Bloglovin' - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

Remixed: Maroon Cardigan

It's been raining like crazy most of the week and outfit photos haven't been happening. So..here's a remix post for you. :-)

I thrifted this cardigan about a year ago and it's gotten tons of wear. Here are a few of my favorite looks:

How would you wear this cardigan?

Bloglovin' - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Instagram

Nanny Style: Classic

JCPenney Chambray, $10

Thrifted Cardi

Rider's Pants, Refashioned into Skinnies, $20

Gap Flats, $5

Stud Earrings c/o Daily Charms

Some days just call for a simple, classy look like this. It was easy to wear on a day of rainy thrifting, working, and a pile of phone calls.

Speaking of thrifting, have you guys ever checked out the sleepwear section of your local thrift store? There are some seriously gorgeous vintage nighties there! Beautiful lace, silky fabrics, lush colors. Nothing makes me feel quite so feminine as a lovely nightie. I got a few things for myself, a few things for the shop, and a new appreciation for that section of the thrift store.

Hope you're having a great Thursday!

Shop the look:

Old Navy Petite Tops · J.Crew Factory Cardigans · Work Custom Jeans Skinny Pants