Camel Cape, Burgundy Hat and a Cookie

 "I'm going to leave this cookie out for Santa in case he comes early,"

Princess Sparkles let us know as she put her cookie next to a drawing.

Earlier she had taped a hand written note on our fireplace that read,

"I want pixie dust and long hair" for Christmas.

I guess I should be happy she didn't ask for an iPad.

CAMEL CAPE - Jolt via Nordstrom, $35
JEGGINGS - JC Penney, $5
BURGUNDY HAT - Forever 21
BRACELETS - iSanctuary, Forever 21, Shop With a Mission
BROWN WEDGE BOOTS - Steve Madden
PIGTAILS' PINK PILLOW - Shop With a Mission

BROWN CARDIGAN - Forever 21
TYE DYE LEGGINGS - TJ Maxx
BLACK T-SHIRT - Alternative Apparel
MUSTARD BEANIE - Krochet Kids
MOTORCYCLE BOOTS - Frye

Here are two outfits I've worn recently.  The brown and black jeggings are my new fave.  I love those two colors together.  The mustard Krochet Kids beanie is from [Share] and Do Good.  Krochet Kids helps people out of poverty with their beautiful crochet pieces.  The cape I picked up online from Nordstrom last year when it mysteriously went on sale for a day.  I wore it to a "Shop With A Mission" (aka Heavenly Treasures) Tea Party on Sunday.

Sparkles poses with her "Christmas Display"

Sparkle's picture and cookie note for Santa.  I put the cookie in a bag so the ants didn't get it.

I love the idea of shopping with a mission.  Gives me a chance to do good things while buying stuff.   It's a win-win situation.  Much better than receiving a well-aged cookie after buying creative gifts for my kids and having to give credit to a robust bearded guy in a red suit.

 

Neons, Florals and a Know It All

"When you get older, Pigtails, you can know everything like me,"

Princess Sparkles told her little sister.

"Babies don't know anything.  Just how to cry and spit up.

Bucket spits up a lot."

It's true, he does.  Maybe she does know everything.

NEON SWEATER AND WEDGES - Old Navy, $6 and $13
ORANGE CUT-OFFS - See Through Soul (Nordstrom Rack), $30
FLORAL TANK - Marshalls, $13
HAT - Eugenia Kim for Target, $17
BRACLETS - Heavenly Treasures

This week I'm participating in "Fashion Challenge: This or That Trends" from Megan Mae Daily and Casual Chic Kiki.  I decided to combine the last half of the trends in this one outfit - florals, neon and colored bottoms!  I was excited because this also allows me to link up with Everybody Everywear's neon challenge! 

Princess Sparkles teaches Pigtails and Bucket "everything."

I love wearing neon colors.  They're so bold and fun!  Though I have to admit I'm not always sure exactly what to pair them with.  Maybe I should ask Princess Sparkles!

A Maternity Outfit, Burgundy Hat and a Santa Visit

This past weekend Princess Sparkles met Santa.  She was excited and waited in line to talk to him.  She sat on his lap and asked him for a "bouncy ball."  I told her she had to wait until Christmas for her gift (***note to self, get bouncy ball!). 

Then we asked Pigtails if she wanted to sit with Santa.  She took one look at the strange guy, said "no," then quickly ran away.  Don't really blame her.

FLORAL MATERNITY TOP - Gap
BLACK JEGGINGS - Hue
CARDIGAN - Loft
FLOPPY HAT - Forever 21
LEATHER CUFF - Made by my mom
NUDE FLATS - Me Too (thrifted)

Monday's Inspiration - Hillary and Haley Duff

"Inspiration Monday" from the sisters at Two Birds are Hillary and Haley Duff.  I decided to try and combine the two girls' looks and wore a cardigan, black jeggings, a hat and nude flats.  The top was a maternity hand-me-down from a friend and the flats were a recent Goodwill purchase.  They're real leather, never worn, Me Too flats that I saw at Nordstrom for $80 and I got them for $7!!!

Princess Sparkles:  "I want a bouncy ball for Christmas...
and my mom wants some over the knee boots.  Thank you."

These flats are perfect "pregnant lady" shoes.  I usually lean towards heels or wedges, but now that I'm bigger I'm appreciating comfortable shoes more (just like I love my leggings!).  I really want some flat heeled over the knee boots I can rock with leggings but I can't find the right pair.  Maybe I should have Princess Sparkles ask Santa for me, though I'm not sure I can wait until Christmas.

Thrifted Treasures - Yee-haw!

PURPLE CARDIGAN - Cynthia Rowley (thrifted) - via my mom
BLUE MATERNITY JEANS - Paige Premium Denim (thrifted) - $25
POLKA DOT BOW TIE SHIRT - I Heart Ronson (thrifted) - $2
FUR VEST - Sanctuary via Nordstrom - $50
HAT - Albertus Swanepoel for Target - $20
BLACK MARY JANES - Dr. Scholl's

Monday's Inspiration - Jessica Alba

"Yee-haw!"  Pigtails loves to shout this as she rides her stuffed animals around the house.  The other day I laughed when I found her riding Nemo, wearing a straw hat and waving it around.  She's created her own amusement park to entertain herself!

"Yee-haw!"

This is the outfit I wore to a baby shower at my house last week.  It was cold and rainy that day so I wore lots of layers.  The outfit also works for "Inspiration Monday," hosted by Two Birds, which is Jessica Alba wearing a fur vest and jeans.  The polka dot top, maternity jeans and the purple sweater are all thrifted, and the fur vest is my "go to" from Nordstrom.

Lately I've been scoring at the thrift store, especially with shoes and handbags.  I think it helps I go every week with my mom, Fair Isle.  I love finding a good deal, it makes me want to wave my Albertus Swanepoel for Target hat in the air and yell "Yee-haw!" 

Cashmere Maternity Sweater, Fur Vest and Albertus Swanepoel for Target Hat

GRAY CASHMERE SWEATER - Walter (Pea in the Pod)
BROWN FUR ZIP VEST - Sanctuary (Nordstrom)
BLACK LEGGINGS - Old Navy
PURPLE/BROWN HAT - Albertus Swanepoel for Target
BROWN WEDGE BOOTS - Steve Madden

The other night I asked Princess Sparkles why she's so cute (yes, I'm totally biased) and she told me, "because I have a cute hair style."  I smiled.  She does have naturally curly hair that people always think I curled!  Then today I saw her taking her rocket launcher and putting it in her face sans rocket.  I asked her what she was doing and she said, "I'm blow drying my hair."

Princess Sparkles blow dries her hair with a rocket launcher

Here's what I wore to church on Sunday.  It was really "wayning" hard, as Pigtails says, so I wanted to wear something warm.  This is one of my only nice maternity purchases I made while pregnant with Sparkles.  It's a Walter cashmere sweater from Pea in the Pod I found on sale.  I also wore my Albertus Swanepoel for Target hat and my favorite Sanctuary furry vest I got a deal on at Nordstrom.

It's always hard to get myself out of the house on a rainy day, I just want to snuggle up in bed with hot chocolate and my family.  I also was having a bad hair day, hence the hat.  Because unlike Princess Sparkles, I don't like "blow drying" my hair.

Albertus Swanpoel for Target Hat and a Halloween Parade

WHITE TANK - Zoe Clothing Co.
GREEN PANTS - GAP Maternity
GRAY JACKET - Old Navy
CUFF - Heavenly Treasures
PURPLE/BROWN FEDORA - Albertus Swanpoel for Target

Monday's Inspiration - Jaime King

Saturday I took Princess Sparkles and Pigtails to a costume parade at a local senior home.  It started out with Sparkles putting on some dress, wings and heels.  She told me, "I don't want to be a mermaid, I want to be a Princess Fairy."  Basically she was wearing her everyday clothes.  I tried to get her to put the mermaid costume she had for Halloween on but it was a battle I wasn't going to win.

Another battle I wasn't going to win was Pigtails wearing the cute goldfish costume my mom, Fair Isle, made for her.  She wasn't having it and I tried really hard but she just lied down and screamed. 


Princess Fairy Sparkles

An unhappy goldfish

  Today's "Inspiration Monday" from Two Birds is Jaime King.  I really want a pair of red maternity jeans though I feel like I shouldn't.  So the only "colorful" maternity jeans I have are these green ones.  I decided to pair it with my adorable "Green Flower" tank from Zoe Clothing Co who also happens to be hosting a generous $50 Giveaway on my blog (so go here and enter now!).  This jacket I got on the Old Navy clearance rack for $11 and I went to Target early on Sunday morning to pick up the Albertus Swanpoel for Target hats.  I got 4!!!  This purple and brown one is my favorite one!
  
Anyway, I'm really excited about Halloween!  It's so much fun seeing all the kids in their costumes and watching them trick or treat.  Although, not really sure which costume Princess Sparkles will choose for the day and if Pigtails will even wear a costume at all!  Either way it'll still be a fun one!

***Don't forget to enter the $50 Giveaway from Zoe Clothing Co!  Only 2 days left!!!

also linking up to Silverstyle's "Trending Through the Decades: Halloween Costumes"

 

Zoe Clothing Co and a Burgundy Floppy Hat

GRAPHIC TOP - Zoe Clothing Co (exact)
DENIM LEGGINGS - Macys
FLORAL CUFF - GS Lillian
EARRINGS - Jewelry Party
FLOPPY HAT - Forever 21
WEDGE BOOTS - Steve Madden

It's funny how kids ignore you when you ask them to do something (i.e. "pick up your toys,""go to bed") until you talk about something they want (i.e. chocolate chip cookies or watching TV).  Although many times I think Princess Sparkles is not paying attention to my conversation with Camouflage in the car until later when she asks me details about it.  I realize I really have to watch what I say around my kids because they hear EVERYTHING (at least what they're not supposed to)!!!

Minnie Mouse ears  help
Sparkles hear everything!

I recently received this awesome new shirt courtesy of Zoe Clothing Co.  Zoe makes super stylish, comfy Christian attire that anyone can wear.  I love this shirt because it's NOT maternity but works well with the belly.  It'll also be great after I give birth!  I decided to keep it simple (since it's just such a fab shirt) and pair it with my denim leggings (I know, so 2009, but they're extremely comfy for my pregnant self!), knee high boots and my burgundy floppy hat from Forever 21 (I'm obsessed with their hats!!!)

Anyway, the thing I love about Zoe's shirts is even though they have an encouraging message, they aren't in your face.  Like this shirt, the graphic is a subtle reminder to be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves."  Isn't that cool?!  It's the kind of message even Princess Sparkles might pay attention to!

An Outfit for the Park - Aqua Fedora, Red Tank, Animal Print Flats

RED TANK TOP - Target
BLACK JERSEY CARDIGAN - Old Navy
KHAKI MATERNITY SHORTS - Motherhood Maternity
AQUA STRAW FEDORA - Eugenia Kim for Target
ANIMAL PRINT FLATS - H&M

Today at the park Princess Sparkles informed me she was now Pigtails' mommy as she pushed her little sister in the stroller.  She also let Fancy's son, who liked to be called Elvis (I did not make this nickname up), know that he was the daddy.  Together their "family" strolled through the playground, under the play structure (tilting the stroller waaaay back and making me cringe), while Pigtails just enjoyed her ride.

Sparkles and her "family"

Here is the outfit I wore to the park.  I always find it difficult to dress up shorts and a tank top, so I threw on a bright colored fedora and left it at that.  I also traded in my usual heels/wedges (people tend to stare when they see me in my pregnant state and sky high shoes, especially at the park) for some animal print flats! 

Although I love wearing high heels (they always make everything look longer and leaner!), there are some days, especially as a mom, that call for other kinds of footwear.  I have to admit, comfortable shoes are kind of like a joyride in the park for my feet!

Thrifted Pink Abstract Dress, Lela Rose for Payless Wedges and a Cloche

PINK AND BLACK ABSTRACT DRESS - Thrifted
BLACK BELT - NY and Co
EARRINGS - Heavenly Treasures
CLOCHE - Eugenia Kim for Target
GREEN WEDGES - Lela Rose for Payless

Monday's Inspiration:
Diane Krueger

Princess Sparkles is obsessed with a set of Mr. Potato Head lips.  She calls them her "gummies" and pretends that they are actually bubble gum that she can chew.  Sadly, she has to pretend to have gum because we set a rule that she can't have any until she no longer needs diapers at night time.  Sometimes though I wish I could just give her gum, like when I'm shopping and want to distract her and I've run out of snacks!

Today's outfit is actually one that I will be linking up with Spunky Chateau and Two Birds' "Inspiration Monday."  I know this seems to look nothing like Diane Krueger's inspiration outfit, but really, it was my source of inspiration.  I decided that I would try this green and pink color combo, hence the shoes and the earrings, which I normally wouldn't have paired together.  I also decided to wear a cloche instead of a fedora, mainly because I just wore a fedora last week. 

I love this dress because it reminds me of the 80's and I found it at the thrift store for 50% off.  I also got these shoes from Payless.  I had been eyeing them online for a long time and I happened upon them in the store only because someone had returned them (they were only avail online!).  They weren't my size but somehow they fit pretty well anyway.  They were part of a BOGO 50% off and the salesman even gave me an 10% off because they had a little wear on them.  I was so excited!

Here are some beautiful pieces from my lovely sponsor, Jaclyn1423, that would look great with my outfit:

Vintage Pearlescent Studs - $12

Vintage Amethyst Pendant - $18

Anyway, as you can see I stopped the remix and I have to say I feel okay about it.  I'm feeling inspired by my clothes again and it's nice to have the freedom to wear whatever.  I think I just wasn't in the mood to be so limited right now.  I'll try to keep up with the shopping ban part though, that way I won't have to worry about feeding Princess Sparkles gum!

Skinny Cargo Pants, Sequin Tank and Striped Cardigan - Inspiration Monday

OLIVE SKINNY CARGO PANTS - Old Navy
STRIPED CARDIGAN - Pretty Good
SEQUIN TANK TOP - Old Navy
FEDORA - Eugenia Kim for Target
DAISY STUD HEELED CLOGS - Forever 21

Yesterday at Fedora's house, I found Princess Sparkles and her friends applying make-up on each other.  It was funny to hear them tell each other, "close your eyes" as they smeared lipstick all over each other's faces.  They looked like they belonged in the movie, "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane" or clones of Robert Smith from the Cure.

Today's "Inspiration Monday" comes from Drew Barrymore.  Thanks to Two Birds for the link!  At first I was trying too hard to copy Drew's look, then I finally let go and did my own thing.  I decided to make my military piece be the skinny pants and did the stripes in the sweater.  And I went with a sequin tank (because everything needs a little bling!). 

Anyway, today I'm a little tired...as is Princess Sparkles and Pigtails.  Maybe too many activities over the weekend.  I better do as Princess Sparkles and her buddies do and apply some make-up (though not quite as heavy handed) so at least I look awake in Pigtail's baby class!