Friday Favorites!

T.G.I.F!!
We’re looking forward to a low key weekend around the house, after a busy, but fun holiday weekend last week. What are y’all up to this weekend?

Here’s another edition of “Friday Favorites” for you! Enjoy!

ONE
Soap, I know, it’s not that exciting, but this soap is amazing enough to talk about. I’m constantly washing my hands (who isn’t?), but every soap that I’ve tried in the past, tends to dry my hands out. This one doesn’t. And, it smells heavenly (even my best friend commented about how good it smelled last time she was visiting)! It’s that good! I’m getting ready to order more on amazon for every bathroom in our house!
CHERRY BLOSSOM SOAP
TWO

This book is really good. I have to thank Natalie for recommending it in one of her posts. I read one page every morning before I get out of bed, and it really helps reset your mind for the day. I tend to let the silliest things bother me (things that are completely out of my control), so it helps stop it. If this sounds like you, grab a copy today!
100 days to happier

THREE
This top is so darn cute.
ruffled tank

FOUR

I need a new iPhone case, and this one might be the winner!! All of Evelyn Henson art is stunning, so pretty & happy! I want to fill my entire house with her work.
iphone case

FIVE
I love coffee table books. Do you? I have a few that I’m eyeing right now, but I just ordered this one with some birthday gift card money! Thanks, Jay! (my brother!)
classic style coffee table book

Have a great weekend, Friends!
~KSSBelle

Statement Earrings

I can’t believe it has almost been a full week in July. However, I’m really excited that it’s a short work week, and the weekend will be here before we know it. This Summer is seriously flying by for us. How about you?

While I’m a creature of habit, and mostly wear my pearl studs every day. Today, I wanted to share with you some pretty statement earrings that I’m loving lately for Summer (& that you can wear later). Earrings, just like shoes & a great handbag can really brighten up the classics in your closet, especially the timeless white shirt. I always like to add something fun & trendier to my outfits each season. Even if I do tend to invest in classic clothing (that’s just my style), in my opinion, you’ve still gotta have fun with your accessories!

Kate Spade drop earrings
Kate Spade Earrings
I really like the floral coral & orange pop of color. So chic, yet so simple.

Tory Burch Geo Statement Drop Earrings
Tory Burch Pearl Drop

I fell in love with the mix of classic & geo design here. Amazing. A bit of a splurge, but you’ll wear these for years.

Honeymoon tassel earrings
Jcrew tassel earrings
I have a pair of longer tassel earrings, and wear them on a lot of date nights (#momlife) &  special occasions, but this shorter tassel style is just as pretty, and may be a tad bit more Mom-friendly? Ha!  They also come in white. Both colors are on sale right now. I prefer the navy, because you can wear them year round that way.

Beaded tassel chandelier earrings
j.crew chandelier earrings
These are so fun! Black & gold together are classic, and oh so chic!

Beaded Ball Earrings
jcrew beaded earrings
Love this color. I also like the more tailored beaded look. They come in several colors, but the calm lagoon is my favorite.

Do you love statement earrings? If so, what ones are you loving lately?

one year
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Have a happy day!
~KSSBelle

Friday Favorites

Oh, Friday, you make us so happy! I hope y’all had a great week! It’s been raining here all.week.long. I know that I’m not alone when I say that we need some sunnier days ahead! At least I don’t have to water the plants and grass right now, so that’s one plus!

Below are some “Friday Favorites” for you this week!

ONE
thank you notes
image via
I finally finished writing my oldest’s “thank you” notes from his birthday. I’m still a firm believer in writing a handwritten thank you note, that’s just how I was raised. I just love the feeling when I put them in the mailbox though, it’s such a relief for me! I know, I’m such a dork, but I’m not unhappy about it one bit! I do love finding cute stationary, it definitely makes writing them more fun.

TWO
yall
image via

Y’all, please tell me I’m not the only one out there addicted to watching “Southern Charm!” It’s my guilty pleasure when my husband’s out of town, because he can’t stand watching it. It’s so nice to “zone out” with this show after a long day. I’m a G.R.I.T. (Girl Raised in the South), and I love Charleston, too. And, yes, I do say “y’all” all of the time. Guilty, and happy about it.

THREE
french press
French Press coffee is the best. We bought this French Press from Amazon about a year ago, and we usually make it on the weekends. If you’ve never tried it before, you should. The coffee is so strong, and so much better than K-Cups. We love the illy ground coffee. I just discovered they make it in expresso. We’re going to try that one next. It’s definitely a treat to have a few cups in the morning before the whole house wakes up.

FOUR
Fiesta Off The Shoulder Top
fiesta ots top
So, my sweet husband let me sneak out after dinner & bath time to do a little shopping. I found this top last night at Loft (you may have seen it on my instagram!). It’s a great date night top, and would also be perfect to wear on July 4th, too.

FIVE
INSPIRATION
Image via

 As you’ve probably noticed already, I love quotes. I love anything that’s inspiring or motivating in life. I believe in going for your goals, whatever they may be. I also believe in being positive, and always looking for the good in every situation, no matter how hard it may be at the time. I get it from my parents, but my Dad especially loves quotes, too. (If you’re reading this, thanks Dad!). Growing up he would always remind me of the good in life, with a quote to take away with me. Side note: I’m a worrier, and now, looking back on all of the silly stuff I worried about, I wasted a lot of time. I still do, but I’m working on it. I especially don’t want my kids to worry, or to see me worry.

Do you love quotes? If so, what are some of your favorites? I swear I could do an entire post on them!

I hope y’all have a great weekend!
~KSSBelle

Friday Favorites!

T.G.I.F! How was your week?
This week flew by, and I’m not complaining one bit. We’ve had a bit of a cool front come through, which also has been nice for playing outside!

Below are some “Friday Favorites” for you!

one
Plus – Plus 300 Piece Neon Assortment

Plus Plus toy
I discovered these from Natalie’s blog (love her blog!) and you can get them from Amazon (linked above). Our oldest LOVES “building” every day with these, and it’s really neat to watch what he creates with them. It’s such a great activity for kids, especially for rainy days.

two

golf keep calmImage via
I’m working on some gift ideas for Father’s Day for my husband & Dad this weekend! We’ll have a brunch/dinner next weekend to celebrate. I also know my husband wants to play a round of golf, which he’ll probably do as well! This image above from Etsy would be cute to print & frame for my husband’s office!

three
Ballard Designs Nala Stool

stools

I’m thinking about adding these stools (two) to our living room/foyer. I love the custom fabrics Ballard Designs offers, and these would give us a few extra seats when we’re entertaining. I could keep them in the foyer on either side of a buffet that was passed down to me.

four
BP. Tie Sleeve Blouse
tie sleeve top
How cute is this top?

five
fish n chips
Image via
I’m quite excited, as I get to have lunch with my parents and my brother. My brother lives out of town, and he’s coming here for a business meeting today. I used to meet my Dad all of the time while I was still working for lunches. I don’t get to sneak out as often due to nap times, feeding times, etc., so when I do it’s a real treat. I’m also looking forward to the Fish & Chips that I plan on ordering with a glass of sweat tea! Calories don’t count on the weekends for me!

inspiration
Image via

Have a wonderful weekend!
~KSSBelle

Friday Favorites!

Happy Friday!! We have a fun, little birthday party to head to tomorrow afternoon, and we’re planning on doing a few fun things around the house this weekend. What are your plans for the weekend?

One
My Mom is a “Master Gardner,” no really, she took a test to become one, and her knowledge is amazing! She can even recite the latin names of every plant. I want her to write a blog! She loves gardening, and helps us with all of our plant choices.  And, I think I’m starting to become a gardener like her, but I’ve got a long way to go. She gave us these “Wedding Gown Hydrangeas” a few years ago, and I have kept them alive, and finally planted them a month ago. They make me so happy. I love going in the backyard and looking at them daily, and the best part is, she told me yesterday that they’ll bloom until September!

IMG_0312

Two
It’s time to dust off the old tennis shoes, and get back to walking. I’ve changed what I eat drastically; however, I still want to tone up. I’ve been eyeing these new tennis shoes at J.Crew as a potential motivator!;)
New Balance for J.Crew
jcrew tennis shoes

Three
These shorts are perfect for the Summer time. I used to never wear shorts, but with two kiddos in the heat, jeans get pretty hot while playing. I really like the fact that they’re 4-inches in length, as I’m 5’10, and almost 35 years old, so no short shorts allowed here. Who’s with me?
J.Crew Factory Shorts (on sale!)
scalloped shorts

Four
I fell in love with these topiaries at Kirkland’s this past weekend! If you add a coupon (and you earn rewards every time you shop there) it’s not that bad of a price. I have one on my kitchen counter, and one in our dining room. It adds just enough “green” to our rooms, and it makes me happy when I’m doing the dreaded dishes! Ha!  Kirkland’s is one of my favorite go-to places for decorating. I also love shopping consignments, and of course HomeGoods!
topiary

Five
This is our favorite Summer wine! It’s the best Chardonnay in our opinion, and it’s an incredibly reasonable price. It’s a very light and buttery Chardonnay. You should definitely try it! Cheers!
WINE REC

 Have a happy weekend!
~KSSBelle

Lately – A Few Favorites

Happy Tuesday, Friends! It’s raining here today, so we’re getting a lot of stuff done around the house. It’s kind of a nice break, and a good excuse to get things done that we tend to put off when it’s nice outside.

I wanted to share with y’all a few of my favorites lately. It’s always fun to find out about products others like, so here’s the scoop on a few of mine.

Shampoo & Conditioner
shampoo_conditioner
Since I don’t wash my hair that often, I don’t mind spending a little bit more on this shampoo & conditioner. It leaves my hair feeling soft and shiny, without feeling heavy at all. I wash my hair like twice a week these days, and use this dry shampoo on the days I don’t for a refresh.

Sumatra Keurig Coffee K-Cupssumatra_coffee

My husband and I love our coffee in the morning, who doesn’t, right? Well, lately, we’ve been loving this coffee. We added it to our monthly subscription of diapers, etc. It’s that good, and strong.

Bell Sleeve Top
Bell Sleeve top_Gibson

This top has been on repeat a lot lately. I bought it months ago, but I love putting it on when I’m in a rush in the morning. It’s so lightweight, so it’s a great option for Summer.

Pixie Eyeliner
eyeliner_pixie
I’ve tried a lot of eyeliners in my day, and this one just keeps winning in my book.

f49729a176ff3ed5d549e9f0d2024dfd
via
This quote. Perfection, and a great reminder!

Have a happy one!
~KSSBelle

Hello 2017!

Hello 2017! Wow, it’s been awhile, hasn’t it? I’m happy to report that I’m B.A.C.K. my friends! I sure have missed this little space. I hope you’re new year is off to a fabulous start! Ours is definitely is going well. Being a Mama of two little ones is the absolute best, even if I’m living on lots, & I mean lots of caffeine these days.

I have tons of ideas for blog posts, but since this is the first one for this year, I thought I would keep it simple.

Below are a few things I’m loving lately, some of which can easily take you into Spring.
Happy Shopping!

Loft Blouse
Blue Blouse_LoftThis blouse is even prettier in person. I wore it with my favorite distressed jeans the other day, and plan to wear it with white jeans, skirts and more. Bonus? It’s machine washable, so those little spit up stains come right out, Mamas!

Ruffle Blouse
Ruffle Blouse_Loft
This ruffle blouse is now 40% off! Grab it while you can, because is so flattering on, and who doesn’t love another great white blouse? They go with so many items in your wardrobe.

Puffer Jacket

Ellen Tracy Puffer
If you’re looking for a more casual coat, snag this one on major sale right now! I needed something more casual for preschool drop off’s, and this fit the bill. It covers your backside, if wearing leggings, and keeps you warm. It’s one of the more tailored puffers in my opinion. And, it’s machine washable (minus the collar). It also comes in black.

Gemma Pom-Pom Flats

Gemma flats
Pointy toe flats? Check. Pom-Poms? Check. In Kelly green? Check, check. I just ordered these cuties on sale (Code: HEARTYOU). As a busy Mom, I live in flats most days, so these had my name written all over them! I’m thinking about ordering them in the yellow…

Bow Sweater

Bow sweater_jcrew

I also ordered this sweater, and it’s also on sale at J.Crew. I get weak in the knees for anything with a bow. It’s lightweight enough that you could wear it with crop jeans/shorts in the Spring as well. It comes in cherry red and navy as well.

If not now, then when?

via

 

Have a great day!
~KSSBelle

 

Pregnancy: What I’m buying & why it’s not maternity

This might not sound totally normal to most, but I still haven’t brought down my maternity clothing from our attic from my first pregnancy, and I have 3 months left. I’m really happy about it, too. And, I hope I don’t have to, either. Sounds weird, I know, but at 6 months pregnant, I’ve gained 11 pounds, and I hope to only gain 10-12 lbs more. Now, I will admit, I did buy 3 pairs of maternity jeans (I’ll do a post on those as well) when I first found out I was pregnant. Most of my maternity pants were work attire related with my first pregnancy.  So, as of a few weeks ago, I’ve been strictly wearing those, but, I’m still in my normal size tops. Thank goodness. I know that won’t last forever, but I plan to make it last as long as possible.

In case you’re new to my blog, I gained WAY more weight than I’d like to admit with my first pregnancy. I know exactly why, too. I was working then (slammed every day, but on a side note: I LOVED my job), and the hubs and I ate takeout pretty much every single night with little to no exercise, because by the time I got home from work, the last thing I wanted to do was cook a gourmet meal. This pregnancy has been totally different & just as busy albiet in a different way. I’m still just as busy chasing a toddler/running a household, but I’ve completely changed my eating habits for the better.

After having our first baby,  my goal was to get down to my wedding weight again, and when I found out we were expecting our second baby, I actually had reached my goal! Yay!  So, ever since then I’ve been petrified of gaining anything more than the medical recommended weight gain during pregnancy which is between 20-25 pounds.

So, since I’m right on track to only gain the recommended amount, I’ve decided that I’m not going to buy maternity clothing, I’m going to buy clothing I’ll love, post baby. Not only does it keep me in check when I want to go grab a handful of candy corns, it also gives me something to look forward to after our little bundle of joy is here.

Below are a few things I’ve added to my closet for later, and a few things I’ve got my eye on that I’d love to buy as well.

Happy Shopping!

Edie Stripe Top
ruffle_stripe-top_jcrew
This top is darling. I love the classic blue & white stripe with the twist of a ruffle. I know I’ll wear this top on repeat after the baby is here for many years!

Ruffle Sleeve Top
ruffle-sweater_shopbop
I clearly have a weakness for ruffles (and peplum). This sweater is going to look so chic with white jeans post baby! I can’t wait to wear it this winter!

Bell Sleeve Blouse
bell-sleeve-blouse
Hands down, this top is a real winner if you’re expecting. I’m actually wearing this exact top right now, and it’s still has plenty of growing room, too. I also bought it in the navy. The peplum & the bell sleeve mix feels fresh for Fall. I wore this with my j.crew white maternity jeans to our preschool parent’s night, and felt like I was wearing a normal outfit! Snag it on sale, and it’s an even better buy for now and later, trust me.

Now, here’s what I’ve got my eye on as well…

Sailor Pants
sailor-pants
You can’t go wrong with these pants. I think the gold buttons add a classic finish to an otherwise ordinary looking pant. I know I’d wear these for many years.

Danny Turtleneck Dress
699632f874d437624265c6144ccb7f1b
This dress is timeless. I adore the feminine ruffle finish, and you can never go wrong with a turtleneck when it’s freezing outside. I’m just dreaming of days when it’s freezing outside again, clearly.

Wildcat Clutch 
wildcat-clutch
Hello Gorgeous! I’d love to add this to my date night clutch collection!

What are you loving lately? Are you dreaming of cooler, crisp mornings like I am? I had my first nonfat pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks on September 1st. And anyone who really knows me, knows that I don’t stop talking about Fall and all its’ glory until it’s here…

pumpkin-spice
via

I also may or may not have already bought my winter coat for this year…oops! I blame it on the fact that if you don’t buy something when you see it, it’ll be gone before you know it. Trust me. And while I love blogging, and reading my favorite blogs, that’s the only downside to these blogs these days, things sell out so quickly. It’s great for the vendors though!

Have a happy Monday!
~KSSBelle

Hello Again!

Happy Weekend, Friends & “Hello!” again!

I know it seems as though I’ve taken a bit of a break from my blog, and you’d be correct, I have. Please know I’ve missed it terribly, but all for good reason, as we’re expecting our second twinkle toes in early January! We couldn’t be more excited and grateful for this little blessing! The first trimester was pretty tough, as in extreme exhaustion, so when my little one would nap, I would to…a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.

Good news for you guys, is that this time around I’m really not focusing on buying any maternity clothing, if I can’t help it. I have a lot leftover from my last pregnancy, as well as some hand me downs (thanks, Sis!). I’m still fitting in my non-maternity pants/shorts, tops and dresses at 4 months…thank goodness! We’ll see how long that lasts. ha!

So, I thought I would round up a few things that I’ve been loving lately for you!

Off the Shoulder Top – Tuckernuck
tnuck off the shoulder topI have this top in pink (you may have seen it on my Instagram), and LOVE IT. It’s so classic, and it’s a longer top. It might be too long to wear with shorts, but it’s perfect paired with white denim (what I wore on a date night recently!) and skinny pants of any kind! Such a fun & flirty top. It’s also got a lot of growing room for the belly!;)

Linen Drawstring Trousers
loft linen pantsThese pants are so comfortable and chic. I typically wouldn’t buy anything orange; however, they go great with a lot of my tops, and the relaxed look is really nice for Summer.

Factory Graphic floral one-piece swimsuit
J.crew Factory Floral Suit
This was my first swimsuit from j.crew factory, and it didn’t disappoint. In the years past, I’ve always bought my suits from J.Crew. I keep them forever because they’re that good. This suit is perfect for a growing belly. It’s my first one-piece in a LONG time, and I love it, especially while chasing a toddler!:) The bright colors/print just makes me happy as well!

Off-the-shoulder dress – J.Crew
j.crew floral dress
I’ve had my eye on this dress for awhile now, and may have to get it. I love the off-the-shoulder dress look, as well as the print, but I worry I won’t be able to wear it that much longer this Summer.

Voluspa ‘Maison Blanc – Gardenia Candle
Gardenia candle
This candle has made my kitchen smell amazing. The scent reminds me of my childhood. My parents have a screened in porch, and I can remember endless conversations with my parents while smelling the gardenias in bloom right outside off of the porch. It really is the little things in life that matter the most.

What are you loving this Summer?

don't overthink
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Have a great weekend!
~KSSBelle

Loving Lately – A Few Fun Things

Happy Saturday, Friends!

It’s been a whirlwind of a week here, hence the lack of blog posts, and please know that I’ve missed it terribly. My computer was acting up, and now that we’ve got that working again, I’m back! So, I thought I’d pop in and say “hello!” as well as share some things that I’m loving lately.

Joules Field Welly Rain Boots
joules rain boots pink
As you know, I’ve been searching for a good pair of rain boots, and I found these on Amazon. I absolutely LOVE them. They are so cute and comfortable. I really like the pink, because it adds a little bit of happiness to an otherwise gloomy, rainy day. The best part is that they’re on amazon prime, and we were able to use our cash back bonus to pay for them! Gotta love it when that happens! Guilt-free shopping  – sold!

all in good taste

Who doesn’t love a good coffee table book? Especially one from Kate Spade? My sweet husband surprised me with pre-ordering this one for me. I cannot wait to flip through it while sipping a good cup of coffee (during my little one’s nap, of course!).

Threshold Brown Faux Fur Throw
fur throw
This is an incredibly soft & chic throw I recently added to our family room. My little one loves it just as much as I do. It’s machine washable, thank goodness. And, right now, it’s 15% off!

And, this is always a good reminder…
do your own thingvia

Enjoy today, it’s a gift!
~KSSBelle