Oh, Bébé ! (Girl or Boy?!)

Since the moment we found out we were expecting, I had a gut feeling about the gender of our little bébé. Call it mother's intuition, or in my case, a semi-scientific guesstimate of the likelihood of male versus female sperm making it through, given that I knew almost the exact date of the act and conception (is my nerdiness showing yet?). 

But you don't really know until it's confirmed, right? Keep scrolling to find out if my guess was correct. 

I seemed to have guessed correctly because Bébé Back is a...



BOY!

And he's already got his Spartan gear ready to go. ;)

Sweet baby, we can't wait until you're here!

OUTFIT DETAILS >>

NECKLACE [Hello Gorgeous Boutique] // Exact here

BELT [Forever 21]  // Similar here & here // Super cute sparkly version 

DRESS [JCPenney] // Similar blue pleated maxi dresses here, here & here

BALLET FLATS [Target] // Exact here // The real Chloe pair // Great textured silver ones here

BÉBÉ BACK'S SNEAKERS [BuyBuy Baby] // Exact here

MY FAVE FLATS + 20% OFF COUPON CODE

If you've ever caught a sneak peak of my closet on my Instagram or other social media accounts you know that I LOVE shoes- especially stylish, unique flats. (Hence having an entire shoe shelf dedicated to ballet flats. I won't judge if you don't. ;) Now don't get me wrong, I still love a great pair of pumps, but flat shoes have become much more practical for my lifestyle. And if there's something that makes this blog different, it's that I post outfits that I actually wear every day. There's no pretending here... give me a pretty pair of functional flats and I'm yours.

That's where Ann Blanche flats come in. I've talked about my love for these gorgeous (and SUPER comfortable) flats many times before. But what I love even more is that they continue to come out with more unique styles, textures, and color combinations for me to add to my ever-growing collection. Well, please keep 'em coming, because this girl can't get enough. 

The black and white style that I'm wearing in the outfit below is their "YASI" style. (Thank you for the name love, AB!) They are so comfortable that the first time I put them on, I felt like I was walking in tennis shoes. The entire bottom is cushioned, as is the heel and the part that wraps around your ankles (A.K.A. no more blisters!). Your feet feel like they are enveloped in a snug cushioned hug. And the other great thing about these flats is that they are treaded for traction, without looking like they are meant for hiking. They look delicate and classy and come in two additional colors, The Lorrayne (pewter), and The Rachel (burgundy). As far as sizing, I usually wear a size 7 and I ordered a 7. So if you are in between sizes, I would recommend sizing up to be extra comfy.

At only $34.99 they are already a steal, but you can also GET AN ADDITIONAL 20% OFF by using coupon code YASI20 at checkout. Happy shopping, friends!

OUTFIT DETAILS below //

BALLET FLATS [c/o ANN BLANCHE] // Exact here

BLOUSE // Love these versions here, here, & here

RED ANKLE PANTS [The Limited] // Similar here, here, & here

BRACELETS/CUFFS [Hello Gorgeous Boutique] // Exact here & here

EARRINGS [Hello Gorgeous Boutique] // Exact here

ESSENTIAL STRIPED BLAZER

Confession: I've been living in sweats at home and easy-to-style dresses at work since we got back from our trip last week.  I'm sure it's just a mixture of exhaustion, weather change, and some viral bug that I picked up somewhere along the way. But I'm ready to feel better already.

Since my outfits lately haven't been too blog-worthy, I thought I would share one from last month. I absolutely love this striped blazer that I bought from H&M a couple of years ago. It's turned out to be a staple in my work wardrobe. I can throw it on over any solid top and it instantly jazzes up the outfit. So if you don't have a striped blazer already, I highly recommend adding one to your closet.

I've linked a few of my favorites below! :)

TOP - Forever21 // Almost exact here , Love these styles: peplum, bow neck, ruffled, cowl neck
BLAZER - H&M // Great versions here, here, & here, Love these in petites and plus 
SKIRT - Forever21 // Similar here, here, and here 
PUMPS - Target // Similar here, here, here, & here
PEARLS // c/o Blossom Jewelry Design

SHOP STRIPED BLAZERS //

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THE MODERN PANTSUIT

You know you're a true child of the 80s when you love a good pantsuit. But we've come a long way since then. Pantsuits now come in all shapes and sizes and most of them don't have huge shoulder pads. Although, who am I kidding, I love a good shoulder pad, too. ;)

The best part is that today's pantsuits don't have to be purchased as a set. Just mix and match blazers and pants that you already have on hand and voila! Pantsuit. The trick is to make sure that the fabrics and colors go together. And, as always, the most important thing of all is proper fit. If you're wearing wide-leg pants, make sure your blazer is fitted and hits right below your hips. Conversely, a longer and less structured blazer is the way to go if you're wearing skinny pants. 

Floral shell- The Limited | Similar from Vince Camuto,  NYDJ, another cute NYDJ, Macy's, Dillard's
White blazer- H&M | Similar from Target, Kohl's, JCrew, ASOS
Navy pants- NY&Co | Similar wide leg versions: The Limited (flare), The Limited (bootcut), Banana Republic | Also love these ankle pants: My Fave Limited Ones, Another Great Pair
Skinny gold belt- Forever21 | Similar from Macy's, JCrew, Talbots
Navy pumps- Target | Almost Exact | Similar | Love these Mary Janes
Necklace- Exact here

Khaki + Blue.

We spend every Labor Day weekend at our friend's cottage on Lake Michigan-- hanging out with a group of our close friends, playing in the sun, and eating as much grilled food as we can handle. Needless to say, going back to work the Tuesday after Labor Day weekend is always a challenge, fashionably speaking.

I woke up this morning in a tizzy (having overslept my alarm by an hour) with horrible face bloat from all the salty chips and s'mores. You know what I'm talking about, the bloat where even your eyelids are puffy? Yup. That's the one. Sexy. So I threw on an easy dress and a cardigan and booked it out the door. No time for outfit pics. (Although I do have plans for a post on dressing well, even when you don't feel like it.)

I originally wore the light blue blouse and khaki skirt below two weeks ago. The blouse is from a Forever 21 shopping trip in February- I loved it so much that I bought it in a couple of different colors. They don't have the same one available anymore, but I linked to a few of my favorite look-a-like items below.

Blue Blouse- Forever21 | Similar with adorable neckline | Great V-Neck version | Love this high neck one
Khaki pencil skirt- H&M | Very similar from The Limited | In love with this midi pencil skirt
Silver and black bow flats- Nine West | Amazing black pair with rhinestone bow | Pretty silver/grey versions here and here
Watch- Tissot (Exact)
Necklace- Charlotte Russe | Love these black & white statement necklaces here & here

...
Just for funsies, here's a pic of the whole fam this weekend. The pups are totally smiling, right?!

So how was your Labor Day weekend?
Did you have to go back to work today? Did you have kiddos to get off to school?

Scalloped Shorts.

I know it's cliché, but I honestly can't believe we're at the tail end of August already.

July and August are always busy months for John and I. With both of our birthdays, our anniversary, and lots of other little events thrown in, summer's end always comes much sooner than we think it will. So when people start posting about the number of days left until pumpkin spice lattes, I'm looking around like "What? What month is it even?!" 

But I have done my research, and it is in fact August 23rd. And we still have one whole month of summer left. The weather is warm, but a slightly cooler breeze rolls around at night--perfect for a pair of cute scalloped shorts and a light sweater!

Bonus: the adorable high-waist shorts I have on below are on SALE for $9.99. Say what?! YES, $9.99.

They fit perfectly and I love the gold button detail as a simple, but classy finishing touch. 
(For size reference, I'm wearing a small.)  

Check the scalloped shorts out here and the rest of the outfit details below.

Hope your summer's been lovely, friends! :)

Scalloped "Claire" shorts c/o Catch Bliss (exact)
Grey open-stitch sweater- Banana Republic (exact) | Love this other one from BR | More budget-friendly versions: cute boat neck, LOVE this off-the shoulder
Nude ballet flats- Target | Similar NY&Co pair and Sam Edelman pair | Obsessed with these sparkly bow flats here
Necklace c/o Sira & Mara | Similar version here



Stripes + Florals.

Why do I keep adding more stripes to my closet when I have more than enough to go around?

Because there is no such thing as 'too many' stripes; especially when they come in the shape of a versatile cardi!

Stripes are great for adding pizzazz to a plain outfit, but they're also perfect for pattern-mixing. Just make sure that:

1. The colors in your other pattern 'go' with the colors of your stripes.

2. The sizes of your two patterns play well together. Thinner stripes look better with larger florals and vice versa. 

The striped cardi I'm wearing below is from the ever-fab Catch Bliss Boutique-- and you'll probably want to get your hands on it ASAP because the last lightweight cardi that I posted sold out immediately.

So if you're considering buying it, hurry! :)

Striped cardi c/o Catch Bliss Boutique (Exact here)
Floral top- The Limited | Green/blue versions here, here, here | Pink versions here, here, here, & here
White pencil skirt- The Limited (exact) | Similar here, here, here, & here
Black flats with gold chain- Target | Almost exact | Super chic pair with a bold knot and with gold hardware
Skinny black belt with gold accents | Love this unique knotted one here and this simple one here

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Orange, White, & Layers.

I don't know what the weather is like where you live, but we have been baking here in Michigan the last couple of weeks.
I know, I know... "Michigan hot" is NOT the same as "LA hot"; but throw me a bone here. ;)
Given our heat-wave, dressing in layers has been a top priority. Because even though it's hot outside, it always seems to be freezing cold inside, especially on the days when I forget to bring a jacket!

Orange top- Forever 21 | Similar here, here, here | Love this one here (but it's almost sold out!)
White jeans- Marshalls | Similar here, here, and here | Great plus version here | Obsessed with this flared pair here
Striped blazer- H&M | LOVE these here and here | Another cute one here
Flats- Target | Almost exact | Other faves here and here 
Cuff c/o Erika Lehman for Stella & Dot | Similar here
Watch c/o Wristology (exact) | Use code GORGEOUS20 for 20% off
Necklace c/o Blossom Jewelry Design

Shop The Look:



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The BEST Button-Up Shirt.

I mentioned a few posts ago that one of my favorite things about this blog is the excitement that comes with finding something really great and getting to share that with you guys. Well let me tell you, I am REALLY EXCITED about this one.

Just ask the cute sales associate who rang me up at The Limited counter this past weekend. I think I repeatedly said "I am SO happy that I found these shirts! I can't believe I didn't know about them before!!"

Meet my new favorite button-up shirt: The Essential Shirt from The Limited.

It's everything that I've always wanted in a shirt: great quality, structure, and fit. It's not too thick and it's not flimsy; the collar stays upright and it just feels great on. Like Goldilocks would say, this one is juuust right. I can't exaggerate the perfection that is shirt. And if you've ever hunted for the perfect basic button-up, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Anyway, less talking, more showing: the exact Essential Shirt that I'm wearing below is in seersucker (here), but they have them in white and black too. I ended up buying the white one also, but skipped the black because I didn't need it. 

As always, the full outfit details are below.

Happy shopping, friends!

Seersucker button-up-The Limited (exact) | Other options here, here, & here
Navy A-Line dress | Similar here, here, here, & here
Red flats- Target | LOVE these bow ones | Great color block pair | Almost exact versions here and here
Necklace c/o Blossom Jewelry Design 

Shop The Look:

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