Chic Classics

It’s finally “sweater weather” here, and I couldn’t be happier about it! Does it get any more chic than a classic dress, coat & pumps? I don’t think so.
I tend to invest in the “classics” that I’ll wear season after season, and this entire look represents what is old, is new again in my book!

Have a happy Monday!
~Kelly

SHOP THE POST:
Banana Republic Dress (similar, similar & similar) / J.Crew Navy Lady Day Coat (similar & similar) / Barrington Gifts St. Anne Tote / Nine West Pumps (similar & similar) / Kate Spade Gold Watch (similar) / Kate Spade “Heart of Gold” Bracelet

 

The Perfect Tote – Barrington Gifts

Hello, Everyone! We’ve been having amazing weather here this week so far, and that makes me one happy girl! I can take the heat, just leave the humidity out of it.

So, I love a great leather handbag like any fashion, loving girl; however, I have two little boys, and I need a tote that works for me, literally. I have two baby bags, and loved them, but for me, it’s nice to just carry a normal tote. My three requirements are the following: 1. It has to be able to carry everything, 2. I have to be able to wipe it down, if something gets spilled on it, and 3. It has to be super cute. I save the pretty leather ones for date nights, girls nights, or for outfit posts right now. I discovered Barrington Gifts totes a few years ago, and fell in love with the St. Anne Tote, mostly because you can design & monogram them. Who doesn’t love that? I get so many compliments on these totes, and I wear them season after season! It’s a win, win! These would also make a great gift for a new Mom as well. It comes in a baby bag design, but looks like a pretty, little tote.

Below are the designs that I’m trying to decide between. Which one do you think I should get?

monogram it
Image via

 The St. Anne Tote (Design #1)
Barrington_Tote_Design
I love the blue and white pattern with a pop of green in the monogram! This one is a front runner right now. Plus, this year you can change the leather trim color as well, and I really like the lighter leather trim for something different.

The St. Anne Tote (Design #2)
gingham tote

This is just a happy, Summer design. Apparently, since having boys, I have snuck more gingham in throughout our house/life, according to my husband. I guess I’ve never really noticed that’s it’s everywhere, until he called it out. I do love gingham, it’s classic, and I really like the royal blue. I am a Mom of boys, and they do wear a lot of gingham. I’m thinking I should match them too, now. Ha!

The St. Anne Tote (Design #3)
seafoam stripe
I really love this pattern, and already own this tote with a hot pink/green stripe. The mint green/white stripe with this pattern is really pretty too. This pattern can be worn year round, so that’s an added bonus in my book.

The St. Anne Tote – Axis

the-st-anne-tote-axis_2016_1
I have this print, and LOVE it. You will not regret this pattern for Fall!

St. Anne Tote Leopard
The-St-Anne-Tote-Leopard_3
Oh my goodness, I’m in love. Leopard is a neutral. And, this one just may be added to my closet for Fall!

I could play around with the designs of these totes all day long, but I do have two little ones waking up as we speak. I’m off to go get my second cup of coffee, and think about which one to get! Help wanted…I’d love your opinion, too!

Enjoy your day!
~KSSBelle

My “Momiform” for Summer

Happy Wednesday, Friends!

I hope you’re all doing well, and are trying to stay cool during this heat wave. It’s come WAY to early for my liking, but I guess Mother Nature didn’t ask me. So, cheers to surviving it in style, right?!

Below are a few of my “momiform” favorites/staples for this time of year. I may have traded my high heels (except for date nights) in for flat sandals or sneakers, and every day showers for dry shampoo, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look good while raising our little ones. Everything here is machine washable for anything that may spill on you, etc.
Who’s with me?

Happy Shopping!

 Linen Blouse
Lace Linen Top_jcrew
This top is really pretty, and it’s lightweight. I love a good blouse year round, but especially in the Summer. I like the 3/4 sleeve length too. It would be perfect with a pair of bright shorts and flats. It would also look great with a pair of crisp, white jeans.

Loft IKat Riviera Shorts 
ikat shorts
I love this ikat print. It’s classic and goes with pretty much any Summer blouse in my closet. I really like the Riviera shorts because of the 4″ inch length. Plus, I’m 5/10 and refuse to wear anything shorter with kids. This style comes in so many fun prints and patterns every year. I would be embarrassed to tell you the number of pairs I already own. They’re that good.

Modern Kick Crop Jeans 
kick crop jeans
These jeans are so chic. I love the crop look for Summer. They pair really well with flats or even a kitten heel. These are a “must have” in my closet.

Gingham Split Neck Shell
gingham top
This top is much cuter in person. I tried it on last weekend, and took it home with me. It is slightly longer in the back which is nice. No crop tops with kids. This is perfect with shorts, white jeans, and the list goes on.

Bow Flats
bow flats_target
These have adorable and affordable written all over them. I always invest in at least 2 new pairs of flat sandals from Target every Summer. They look cute, but if they get worn out by the end of the season, I don’t feel badly about tossing them out. These would be easy to run after a toddler on the playground in, if needed. They also just so happen to look like a Kate Spade pair. Well done, Target, well done.

Jack Rogers Jelly Sandals
jack rogers jelly
These are so fun, affordable and flat. They come in a million different colors, and you can’t ruin them in the backyard, on the playground or running errands.

St. Anne Tote
Barrington Tote_StAnne
The St. Anne tote is perfect year round. I have two now. One is a baby bag, and one standard St. Anne tote. They’re perfect with kids, as I recently had a Chick fil a milkshake split on mine by accident, and it was completely wiped off in minutes, and good as new again. They are completely chic, hold everything you need, clean off easily, and you can monogram it. What gets better than that? My designer handbags/totes are in the closet unless it’s a date night/girls night out for now.

Loft Studs
loft_studs
I love a great pair of statement earrings; however when you’re toting the kiddos around with a random tantrum of tugging, you want to have a great pair of classic studs in your ears, trust me. Again, the statement earrings are still around, but are reserved for date nights or outings if Daddy is around to help. My go-to is a perfect pair of pearl earrings, but it’s nice to switch it up with a pretty gemstone pair every now and then.

So, these are some of my staples in my closet for surviving the heat, raising kiddos and still looking chic. What is your “momiform?”

Have a great day, friends!
~KSSBelle

Spring! Spring! Spring!

Happy Spring, Everyone!

Our wedding anniversary is the first day of Spring, so that makes this time of year extra, extra special for us!!

Easter is this weekend, and I can’t wait to see our little one see the Easter basket, and hunt for eggs after church! So excited!

spring flowers
via

I took a bit of a break from blogging in the last month, but I’m back! And, I’m oh so happy to be back!

There are so many great Spring finds for your closet and home out there right now, so I thought I would do a quick round up of some of my favorites!

Happy Shopping!

Swing Pintuck Dress
ON swing crepe dress
You can’t go wrong with an easy, breezy dress like this for Spring. I just added this to my closet, and I can’t wait to wear it on warmer, sunny days.

Sleeveless Flounce Top
jcrew flounce top
Polka dots are one of my favorite prints, so this one was definitely added to my closet. This is perfect worn with a blazer or alone. It’s on major sale right now, too!

English Factory Dress
English Factory Dress
This dress is even more gorgeous in person! It’s so soft, and the fit is true to size. I think I’m going to have this one on repeat this Spring/Summer!

Loft Off the shoulder blouse
loft eyelet offs
This is so so cute. It think it would be a great date night top. Right now, it’s 30% off. Better order it fast!

 Diamond Lace Swing Top
Loft lace top
This top is even more beautiful in person. I actually wore it on our 6 year anniversary date night last weekend. I styled it with my navy skinny dress pants from jcrew and nude suede pumps (kicking myself for not taking a photo of us for instagram!) I might have to get it in white as well. It’s that good!

St. Anne Spring Monogram Tote
Barrington totes
I’m so in love with the new St. Anne Tote Spring styles from Barrington Gifts. I love the baby bag I’ve had for a few years now, but this is the design (above) I’m leaning towards now! So many fun color options to choose from. I’m pretty sure I’ll be redesigning it again and again, but I’m definitely making it my new Spring bag!

 Pillow Flamingo Sheet Set
flamingo sheets
These are A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E!!! I would put them in our guest room where we have 2 twin beds. Such a happy print. Don’t you think?

Blue and White
blue and white
I’ve also had a lot of luck lately in finding more blue and white for our house at HomeGoods! I stocked up this past weekend for our dining room sideboard (found 4 ginger jars/vases in various sizes, all under $30!). I have them in our kitchen, den, dining room & master bedroom. To say I’m obsessed is a bit of an understatement!

What are you loving for Spring so far?

Have a happy Tuesday, Friends!
~KSSBelle

Be Squared – Gingham

Gingham is quite possibly the most popular pattern in fashion, well, that and stripes. It’s timeless which is probably one of the reasons why I love it so much. You can wear it year round, you can decorate your home with this pattern, and you can even eat off of adorable gingham plates, monogrammed if you so desire.  I simply love gingham. I love the fact that it’s also so simple, too.  It’s an incredibly wearable pattern for women and men of all ages. You can literally wear it from the time you’re a baby to the time your 92. You’ll find this pattern in so many rich colors, which is what makes it fun. Besides the gingham clothing my family and I wear, we recovered some bamboo chairs in a cranberry, yellow, green and gold gingham pattern 4 years ago. These chairs are just happy, preppy chairs in our living room. To this day, I never tire of them. So, whether or not you want to wear gingham, decorate with it or even tote the pattern around town, know it will never go out of style.

3e597cd98704486e08b0397c38db6997

75a8900847df7ab71bd89489382cd735

76533ccd0923e26bc964447f56a7bab3

0dbd3e7443ce6c6d651e8029c29b2384

ac5bb8d75b8497388f7297906d36a7ce
All above images via

 Here are just a few things in gingham that I’m loving right now. Do you love this pattern? What are your favorite gingham pieces these days?

 Giselle Gingham Top

_10009335

This top is amazing. It’s a little bit dressier than a classic button up, which is a nice change. I love the 3/4 sleeve length. This top would look great with white jeans in the summer or a cute pair of shorts, too.

The St. Anne Tote

8ef336c3658b29ba1daeb29dac4f13a0

Barrington Gift totes are my favorite. This gingham print is new for Summer. I have the St. Anne Axis diaper bag tote, and it holds everything we need very well. This new navy, gingham tote just might have to be added to my collection.

 Melamine Monogram Salad Plates

il_570xN_746744334_6htm

Have you seen the “Preppy Paper Girl” shop on Etsy? Everything in her shop is incredibly chic. If you need a gift for someone preppy, this is the only place you need to shop. These salad plates come in so many beautiful colors, and would look great for everyday or if you’re hosting a party. These plates would make a great hostess gift too.

Staffordshire Folded Notecards

 il_570xN_636021758_7p0h

 Another great pick from the Preppy Paper Girl shop. Call me old fashioned, but I am a big fan of snail mail. I was raised to write handwritten thank you notes. I will be instilling this same tradition in my children, too. These gingham notecards make writing your thank you notes so much more fun in my opinion.