Month: March 2015

Outfit Inspiration – Spring/Summer 2015

Posted on by KSSBelle

I cannot tell you how excited I am about wearing Spring/Summer clothing this year. When I was working in a freezing office 5 days a week, it was hard to get excited about cute dresses, shorts and lightweight tops (except for on the weekends). I worked in retail, so I could get away with a little bit more casual dressing, if I wanted to, but I just didn’t feel like it was professional.

Now that I’m a SAHM, I feel like a whole new world of Spring/Summer dressing is waiting for me. I cannot tell you how giddy I am that I can finally wear pretty dresses and summer tops with shorts/jeans & flip flops daily, if I want to.

My closet definitely has a lot more career pieces in it right now, but that’s all about to change my friends!

Here are just a few Spring/Summer outfits that are inspiring me right now. A few of them are Olivia Palmero’s style (who doesn’t love her style, right?). She’s always put together, and her outfits are effortlessly chic.

What style(s) inspires you? Who’s style inspires you? What are you looking forward to wearing most this Spring/Summer?

 

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op in summer

 nautical stripe dress

 

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Five on Friday

Posted on by KSSBelle

Happy Friday Everyone! Today is the first Friday I’ve ever joined the “Five on Friday!”

I couldn’t be more excited to join all of the other great bloggers on here!

It’s time for Five on Friday and I do hope you’ll join me, Darci, Christina, and Natasha!

All you have to do is post about five things on your mind, add the logo (found at the bottom of this post), and join the party using the linky tools below. Easy, and a great way to find new blogs and be found.

ONE

Spring makes me so happy with everything in full bloom right now. I went for a walk with my little twinkle toes last night after dinner ( it’s becoming part of our normal routine in the early evenings), and fell in love with this cherry tree. I definitely want to add one to our yard now. I am obsessed!

cherry tree

TWO

My husband and I just discovered these macarons from Trader Joe’s. Such a great Spring/Summer dessert. So light and refreshing. You should buy a few boxes next time you go. It will save you another trip, trust me.

macaroons

 THREE

This weekend we are doing lots of yard work, and I couldn’t be more happy about it. We recently had a truck load (literally) of mulch dumped at the end of our driveway. If you see someone in your neighborhood getting tree work done, you can ask them to dump the wood chips at your house for free. You save a ton of money this way, and they don’t have to pay a fee to dump the mulch. A win win for all. My parents are big gardeners and have been doing this for years. Such a nice way to make your yard look great at low cost. You will have your work cut out for you, but so worth it. So, we are weeding and spreading mulch to get our backyard ready for our soon to be walking baby!

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FOUR

Coffee. We recently found a new favorite coffee from Target. We have tried so many kinds, and just haven’t been happy until now. Next time you’re at Target pick up this: Archer Farms Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee (it’s a light roast, but is perfection in your morning mug).

coffee

FIVE

We are searching for a good show to watch at night once our little one goes to sleep. Now that Downton Abbey and Homeland are both done for the season, we are needing a few new replacements. Any suggestions?

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

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Dress Up Time – Easter Edition

Posted on by KSSBelle

Easter is literally right around the corner! I just love this holiday, just as much as Christmas, it’s so special. As a kid we always had a special outfit for each holiday. Now, that I have a family of my own, I want to instill the same tradition for my family each year. There are SO many styles out there to choose from, too. I am not a “everyone has to match” kind of person, but for some that is fun, so each to their own. I think the matchy-matchy looks are darn cute, but I typically like the traditional/classic route when it comes to holiday outfits. I like for each outfit to reflect everyone’s personal style.

I’ve rounded some of my favorite Easter looks for the entire family. Some of the items are “in my dreams only,” but “a girl can dream, right?” I’m pretty sure you’ll know which ones those are right away. Either way, Happy Shopping!

For the Beau:

Brooks Brothers Non-Iron Regular Fit Gingham Dress Shirt

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I love anything “gingham” for my husband. He loves blue, so this is the perfect Easter shirt.

IZOD Straight-Fit Travel Flat Front Wrinkle Free Dress Pants

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My husband actually owns these pants, and loves them. They are lightweight, dressy and classic.

Brooks Brothers Bow Tie

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Funny story, my husband refuses to wear a bow tie. I LOVE them. If your guy wears them, this is my pick for Easter.

Nunn Bush Westby Slip-On

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These shoes are classic and I really like the saddle tan for the Spring/Summer months.

For the Belle:

JCrew Scalloped Trim Dress (Now 40% off)

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I actually got this dress as a gift recently. I am really loving anything navy lately. I’ve gone the seersucker route before, so this is a nice change.

Kate Spade New York Celeste Heels

Kate Spade Celeste Heels

Kate does it again. I do not own these, but a girl can dream. I am dreaming of adding these to my closet one day! (ha)

Handpicked Large Cream Pearl Earrings

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LOVE, love, love pearls. A classic. Need I say more?

Kate Spade New York Spring Forward Wicker Frog

Frog wicker

Again, dreaming. But, I do love the frog.  My Mom actually told me a few years ago that Frog stands for “First Rely On God.” Perfect.

For the Mini Belle:

Jayne Copeland Stripe Organza Dress

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This dress is darling. Who doesn’t love the combination of pink, stripes and a bow?

Nina Danica Flat

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Pink shoes topped with a bow. Done.

White Hair Bow

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Every little girl needs a pretty hair bow.

For the Mini Beau:

 IZOD Seersucker Suit

Belk

Seersucker. Another one I cannot get my husband to wear, but as a Momma, I can dress my kids in whatever I want, until they reach a certain age. I am living this one up.

IZOD Clover Plaid Bowtie

Belk (1)

So cute, and a bright finishing touch to his seersucker suit.

Natural Steps Clay Oxford Shoes

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These oxfords are classic. They come in all sorts of different colors. I prefer the navy.

So, how do you like to dress your family up for the holidays?

Running vs. Walking

Posted on by KSSBelle

Running

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I love running, except running doesn’t love me. I speed walk almost faster than I run. No joke. To explain what I mean, I’ll give you a little bit more of my background.

From ages 9-18 I was a year round swimmer. Anyone who knows this sport well, knows it’s an intense sport of long hours in the pool, and a lot of hard work, but it’s so worth it. I love swimming to this day. It literally relaxes me, when nothing else will. I was in the best shape of my life during those years, and looking back, I didn’t appreciate it until I was much older.

During swim practice we would also do some cross training and run. I loved the running or “dryland” as our coach would call it, even if I wasn’t as good at it as I was at swimming. I loved the fact that I was outdoors. I love being out in nature. I spent my childhood playing outside. If it wasn’t raining, I was outside, so the love of nature started really early for me. Running takes me back to my childhood, and I have so many happy years/memories of my childhood. So, now, as an adult, if it is pretty outside and below 85 degrees I want to go for a run.

Funny story, I married a runner, a really good runner in fact. He has helped me a lot with my technique, and I do feel like I am better at running now than I was back then, but I find myself speed walking instead. My Dad taught me how to properly speed walk years ago. I lose weight faster that way. Losing the baby weight hasn’t been easy. It’s been hard, and when I want to truly lose weight, walking is best. It’s a more efficient workout when I walk. It just takes so much more time than running, but for me, it’s way more effective than running, and I am still out in nature, which is truly important to me.

Occasionally, I still run, because I love the “intensity” of running like I did with swimming (and it takes me back to my childhood), but when it comes to losing real weight, I have found that speed walking is a better fit for me. So, while you still may see me out there “giving it the old college try” with running, I know in my heart of hearts, I am a walker, I just haven’t fully accepted that one yet. Maybe one day I will.

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What helps you lose weight? Does a sport take you back to your childhood days? Either way, keep exercising! It’s good for the soul, no matter what sport you play. Do what you do, and do it well!

 

Beauty Dish

Posted on by KSSBelle

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I love makeup. I have since I was a teenager when my Mom let me finally start wearing it. I remember all of the girls in middle school were wearing it already, and I begged her to let me start wearing it early. I have never been the type to wear a lot of makeup, because I still like to look as “natural” as you can while still wearing makeup, which to me is the entire point of the stuff in the first place. I think out of anything in the makeup category, mascara has to be the one thing I could not live without, if I were in a desert stranded. I would still somehow find a wand of mascara to put on my eyelashes. I cannot live without my mascara. Some call it vain, some say “it’s just that necessary girls.”

Let me tell you a quick & true story that shows just how serious I am about my mascara. I was running late on my way into work one morning, (which happened a lot of mornings, but that’s a story for later, or never), and I realized my makeup bag was missing my mascara. I typically would put my eye makeup on once I got to the parking lot at work. So, I called one of my managers to see if she had any in her makeup bag at the office. (Please note: I would never recommend sharing mascara, ever, but desperate times call for desperate measures, I was running late to work mind you).  She said “no, I don’t have any here, and who cares, your eyes will look fine without it today, no one will even notice.” I thought “No one will notice? Are you kidding me?”. I then proceeded to tell her I was going to be even later to work because I had to make a pit stop at a drugstore. (which was not on my way, in fact it was way out of the way to work). She said “OK, friend, whatever.” Once I arrived at work, I walked into work without wearing any mascara, proceeded to her cube and said “No one will notice…really?” We laughed, but then I ran to my office and put my new mascara wand to work. So, when I say I cannot live without it, I mean it. My manager and my husband thought I was acting completely ridiculous that morning, but I feel totally “off” without mascara.

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My first “real” makeup came from the Clinique counter at Belk, and a wand of drugstore mascara. While, I have moved on from Clinique, I still have some favorite drugstore finds to share, as well as my favorite line of makeup that I swear by, Laura Mercier. I have incredibly sensitive skin, so I cannot skimp on the moisturizers, primers, foundation & bronzers; however, I have found a few drugstore beauty buys that I will probably use for years to come.

What’s in your makeup bag? Is there something that you just cannot live without?

Below are my beauty favorites:

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Laura Mercier Foundation Mineral Primer

Laura Mercier Mineral Powder

Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder Compact (bronzer)

Bobbi Brown Blush

Loreal Voluminous Mascara

COVERGIRL Eyeshadow

Pixie Correction Concentrate

Essie Nail Polish

Butter London Nail Polish

Pixie Shea Butter Lip Balm (not pictured)

And as my Auntie Ersel used to say “I’m going to put my face on!” Love her. My Mom and I have adopted that phrase now. However, now that I am not working, I may not “put my face on” everyday, but I don’t leave home without mascara (duh), eye concealer (for those sleepless nights) and of course, lip gloss.

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Have a great weekend!

Stripe Curtains

Posted on by KSSBelle

We don’t have any curtains in the living room or dining room right now. Thankfully, our house has plantation shutters throughout most of the house, so there hasn’t been an immediate need to hang curtains. This has given me plenty of time to ponder exactly what I want for these two rooms. I like the simplicity of just the shutters; however, I grew up in a house with curtains in every room, and to me, it just makes a house feel more cozy and inviting. My childhood room has green & white gingham curtains with pink pom-poms where they tie back to open the windows. Still love those curtains to this day. My Mom has good taste, what can I say. Curtains aren’t for everyone, but I am looking forward to hanging some in our house someday in the future. I wanted to take my time with decorating this house…it’s our “forever home,” so there is no rush. Well, after 3 years, I finally found the style I want (none of these photos capture the colors I want), but the style is definitely decided thanks to these inspirational pinterest photos!

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living room curtains

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Do you love a particular style of curtain? Or, do you prefer just blinds/shutters?

Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

Posted on by KSSBelle

These peanut butter cookies are so good they are almost unbelievable because of how incredible easy they are to make. Thanks April at A Liz Adventures for another great recipe to add to my cookbook! They are gluten-free as well. The best part is they only require 3 ingredients: 1 egg, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup peanut butter. Mix together, press with a fork to create a cross hatch design and bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes! I think it also took me a grand total of 5 minutes to put together. A must bake now recipe next time you have a craving for peanut butter cookies. Enjoy!

peanut butter cookies

Have a happy day!

Tassel Talk

Posted on by KSSBelle

Tassels are the topic of the day for me. I am not one to jump on the trend bandwagon, but this one might be an exception. I think the “tassel trend” is just plain fun, almost as fun as pom poms, but to me, pom poms are my favorite, always will be. Tassels can be colorful or classic in color, and they can range from jewelry, to keychains to the closure on a clutch (I love a good clutch with a winning, tassel finish). Tassels are feminine and flirty, and are a happy addition to any outfit or accessory. Here’s to tassels this Spring/Summer!

And below are just a few I have my eye on…

Bauble Bar Gold Tassel Necklace

Tassel Necklace

I really like this necklace because of the multiple tassels, yet the gold is classic. You can pair this necklace with anything casual or dressy. The price is fantastic, too!

 Tassel Fold Over Clutch (in 3 colors)

tassel clutch

This clutch is simply chic. Again, it’s a great go-to for a date night, or for throwing in a diaper bag for a quick way to find your essentials. The price is right, too.

 Steve Madden Blagoon Tote (Coral)

Belk tassel tote

I love the design of this tote. I am extremely (!) picky about the shape of my handbags. This one is structured just the way I like it, and it looks like it can hold everything I need for my twinkle toes!

 Tassel Bracelets (Gold & Wood Beads)

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These bracelets can take any outfit from OK to happy in an instant! I love the fact that your supporting Etsy businesses, too. These would make a super, cute gift idea as well.

Kate Spade Leather Tassel Keychain

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And leave it to Kate…this tassel key is the perfect color, and it’s a super cute way to always find your keys. Do I need another excuse? I think not.  Does she ever disappoint? Never. (p.s.- kate spade diaper bags are a must if you’re expecting or already have a little one(s)!)

 You can always bet I will save the “best” for “last!”

Happy Shopping!

Old Navy Favorites for Spring

Posted on by KSSBelle

I am not going to lie, I wasn’t always a fan of Old Navy until lately. I really feel like they have stepped up their game in both style and quality (even if it is only one stitch). A LONG time ago (aka in high school) I used to work for GAP during the Christmas season. During orientation, they educated us on the quality of each of their brands. Old Navy has one stitch, GAP has two stitches, and Banana Republic has three stitches. There is no way I would have known this otherwise.

However, Old Navy has been my go-to lately for both style and price, especially as I am transitioning my wardrobe to a more casual look that’s also toddler friendly. They come in “Tall” which is a life savor for me, as well and most everything is machine washable. I also feel like they are mimicking j.crew/j.crew factory a lot lately, too, which just makes my heart happy. I can find everything for my family at Old Navy. For anyone who is expecting, their maternity section is great. I wore almost all of my maternity clothes from Old Navy.

Here is a round up of my favorites from Old Navy for this Spring!

 

Women’s Gauze Eyelet Top

Black Eyelet Top

I just love the simplicity of this shirt. It would look great with shorts, denim and skinny pants this Spring/Summer. You cannot beat the price, either.

 

Twill Shorts 5″

 twill shorts

I don’t typically wear shorts, but now that I am a SAHM, I feel like I will. Since I am tall, I need a bit longer length in my shorts. I love the colors these shorts come in, too.

 

The Pixie Ankle Pants

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I bought these a few years ago in several colors, and still love them. They wash well (I hang dry all of my pants), and they are a universally flattering fit. I would buy these in several colors this year again.

 

Cropped Trench Coats

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These are so chic for a quick, light layer in those earlier Spring months. It makes a simple outfit look very put together in an instant.

 

Floral Shift Dress

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I never thought I would like an all floral dress, but this navy/pink shift dress is really cute. It would look great with booties, sandals or even boots and a lightweight sweater in the fall. A definite buy for me. I love the 3/4 sleeves, too. Air conditioning can get too cold sometimes!

Convertible Maxi Tube Dress

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Love, love this maxi dress. I wore a lot of maxi dresses while pregnant, and they are the MOST comfortable dress in the world. I would wear a cardigan during the day, and bare shoulders for the evenings (except, I always take a pashmina/wrap with me at night during the Spring/Summer…just in case it is too cold inside!)

Faux Leather Capri Sandals

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I wear flip flops all of time, and since they get worn out pretty much by the end of each Summer, I don’t mind spending $12.94 on these sandals. They come in several colors, and are simple. Can you tell I like the “classics?”

Hope you checkout Old Navy this Spring/Summer. They really have some good deals on some cute clothes.

Have a happy day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buffalo Chicken Chili

Posted on by KSSBelle

This Buffalo Chicken Chili recipe was amazing, and when I say amazing, I mean you need to make this tonight (before the weather gets too warm). A big thank you to April at A Liz Adventures for her post. This chili is a good change from beef chili, and it has a definite kick you cannot ignore (which my husband loves), but there is cream in it, so it evens out the kick if you’re not a big fan of too much heat. It was incredibly easy to make, which makes this busy Mom happy.  I probably won’t add as much Frank’s Red Hot Sauce next time I make it, but it was the perfect winter meal for us. I added a sliced avocado to ours (great suggestion, April!) as well, and I  served it with Jiffy Corn Muffins (my favorite). I highly recommend making it for any supper clubs or if you’re hosting a big group of people, too. You can always double the recipe, and/or freeze some for later! Enjoy!

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Buffalo Chicken Chili
Adapted from A Liz Adventures
4 cups shredded chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken from our grocery store)
1/2 red onion, diced
Frank’s mild Buffalo sauce – I used about 1/4 bottle total
2 pkgs Ranch mix
1 can chicken broth
1/2 cup water
1 cup chunky salsa
 3 cans Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
1 small container heavy cream
shredded cheese (optional)
sour cream (optional)
Start off by shredding the chicken from your rotisserie chicken. If you’d rather cook and shred your own, go for it, but our grocery store sells rotisserie chickens for $4.99 on Sundays, and I just don’t think you can beat that (you can’t, and it saves you so much time)! So convenient.
Saute the diced onion with a little oil until translucent. Add chicken, 1 package of ranch seasoning, and buffalo sauce to cover (eyeball it) and saute a few more minutes.
 In a soup pot, combine the chicken/onion mixture, beans, remaining package of ranch seasoning, salsa, chicken broth, water, and more buffalo sauce to taste. Simmer on low until heated through. Before serving, stir in heavy cream to reach your desired consistency.
 Serve with shredded cheese and sour cream if desired.  I served ours with sliced avocado, too.