Tag Archives: style

[CLOSET STAPLES] 12 Ways to Wear Riding Boots

If you’ve been a reader of this blog for any length of time, you know that this girl right here LOVEEEES her a good pair of boots.

Cowboy boots, rain boots, booties, and riding boots. Truth is, I’ve never met a pair of boots that I didn’t like.

However, the truth is, over the years, as my love of boots has grown, I’ve come to realize that there is one pair of boots in my closet that I have gotten the absolute MOST mileage out of… and that would be my brown riding boots.

I bought these babies when I was on spring break in Rome, Italy my senior year of college and I have worn them so much that the soles have actually fallen off and have needed to be replaced TWICE. I love them so much.

I wear them in the spring, summer, fall, and winter. I wear them with jeans, shorts, skirts, dresses, and leggings. Does not matter what the case may be, I tend to reach for these brown babies whenever I’m in doubt.

And that, by my definition, certainly makes my brown riding boots a CLOSET STAPLE. So, I thought I’d cover 12 ways to wear riding boots in the next installment of my little closet staple series.

OH, and in case you were wondering, NOW is the time of year to buy riding boots. No, but for real. Seriously. Everyone puts their boots on sale in the spring and summer because it’s not top “buying” season - I even found some MEGA sweet deals on boots (all for less than $50!) and have linked to some options at the bottom of this post, in case you’re curious.

Without further adieu…

Wear your riding boots with sequin shorts!

Closet Staples: 12 Ways to Wear Riding Boots

Or with a lace dress and layered collared shirts…

Closet Staples: 12 Ways to Wear Riding Boots

Or how about a jean jacket?

Closet Staples: 12 Ways to Wear Riding Boots

Or with skirts… or leggings…

Closet Staples: 12 Ways to Wear Riding Boots

Do you own riding boots? What’s the most versatile piece(s) you have in YOUR closet?

Now, check out some awesome boot options (all for less than $50!)!

What You CAN Do + #YOLOmondays Link-Up!

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maternity style: mint tee, jean jacket, sequin skirt {{Top: Target
{{Jacket: LOFT
{{Purse: Target
{{Skirt: Express (love this one!)
{{Necklace: Stella & Dot

Has anyone ever told you that you CAN’T do something?

I’m serious. Think about it. How many times in your life have you been told that you can’t do something? Maybe it wasn’t in those exact words, but somewhere along the lines, we’ve been told no. Or we’ve been told that’s not possible. Or we’ve been told that “it” is out of reach. Or we’ve been told “it’s just not in the cards.”

I know I’ve been told too many times that I can’t do something, or what I’m striving to do is out of reach, or that my goals are too big, or my vision is too wide, or my ideas are too lofty and that I’m just setting myself up for failure or to be disappointed.

Now, this isn’t me trying to be some great motivational speaker or anything, but I’m here to tell you that it’s about time we shut those people up. The naysayers, the negative Nancys, Debbie downers, and the ones who are always trying to tell you “NO.”

This also isn’t to say that you shouldn’t be REALISTIC.

I just think it’s about time we started ENCOURAGING each other and supporting each other and building each other up rather than breaking each other down. Help someone figure out what they CAN do, rather than telling them what they CAN’T do.

And personally, I know I need to do a better job of letting the negative stuff roll off my back. I’m a happy, joyful person and I’m pretty good at not sweating the small stuff, but every now and then I really let the little stuff bother me. I let the little stuff ruin my day. I let the negativity or the joy-stealers suck the life out of me… and then they win.

Whether it’s the negative commenter on my blog, the stranger who tells me I look “huge,” the news story telling me what I’m doing is “wrong,” or even the person who asks me if “wearing sequins while pregnant is okay?” And for the record, yes. Wearing a sequin skirt while pregnant is not only okay, it is encouraged.

All of this rambling to say, it’s time we all just got a little more awesome. It’s time we all set big, lofty, crazy, goals for ourselves. It’s time we looked at ourselves in the mirror and said, “Heck to the YES this sequin skirt looks awesome and so do I.”

And then I say it’s time we say to our friends, our family, our colleagues, “Hey you. Yeah, you. You’re awesome. You can do it.”

What do you think? Am I nuts? Am I just on some fluffy rampage? How do you deal with the joy-stealers and focus on what you CAN do?

+++

Happy YOLO Monday! Each week, Carly & I select a few of our favorite posts from the Monday before to feature. It’s a great way to put the spotlight on a few of y’all each week! Please be sure to link up an ACTUAL post, not just a link to your main page.

Our favs from last week?

Zucchini Bread Recipe

Neon Pink and Polka Dots

Coffee Cake Recipe

Glitter Nails

The Rules for #YOLOMONDAYS Link-Ups:

Follow your hosts Molly @ still being [molly] ,Carly @ Lipgloss & Crayons , and your guest host for the week Melissa @ The Bee’s Knees
Grab a button and / or post a link back here in your BLOG POST (NOT your blog’s main page) so your readers know what all the #YOLOMONDAY-ness is about. We love you guys linking up and we do go through and read all your posts… so if you do not give credit, we will have to remove your link. That’s no fun, right? Right. So be nice and share a link! Pretty please?
Link your blog post up using the linky tool below! It can be ANYTHING! An outfit post, a giveaway, a story, a recipe, whatever. Why? Cause it’s #YOLOMONDAYS!
Visit a blog or four that you’ve never been to before and leave a #YOLOMONDAYS comment – you never know, you might “meet” someone new that you will lurve!
Have fun! Cause #YOLO!

Want to cohost #YOLOMONDAYS? We are accepting co-hosts! Please email us at carlybrydon@gmail.com for more info!

Trend of the Month: YELLOW!

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maternity style: lace blouse, white cardigan, yellow and purple accessories yellow bow shoes {{Blouse + Jeans: Motherhood Maternity
{{Cardigan: Target
{{Necklace + Earrings: Kazuri Beads Kenya (similar)
{{Shoes: Old (similar)
{{Purse: Target

I always get SO excited when Marion from Marionberry Style announces her monthly “trend of the month” challenge. Why? Well, for a couple reasons:

It gives me an excuse to plan ahead for an outfit
It gives me an excuse to do a little research (i.e. reading fashion blogs and fashion magazines) to see how others are rocking the latest “trend”
It gives me a personal challenge to figure out how I can make the trend my own / fit my personal style (or maybe even step outside of my style comfort zone)

Now, when Marion said this month’s trend was YELLOW I was excited because it’s such a happy color, but also a little nervous because yellow typically is not a great color on me (fair skinned folk like myself have to be careful when trying to rock yellow). I was also a little nervous because the only yellow blouse I have no longer fits me at this stage in my pregnancy.

So, I had to get creative. That’s the fun part about trends – it’s all about incorporating it in a way that works for YOU rather than feeling confined to how others are wearing it / rocking it / whathaveyou.

So, I opted for POPS of YELLOW throughout my outfit via my accessories. So, I stuck to totally neutral tones in my outfit (a la cream blouse, white cardigan, and dark jeans), and went BOLD with bright yellow bow flats, matching yellow earrings and necklace, and a bright purple bag. Sure, not a yellow bag, but I love this purple bag so much I threw it in there anyway.

That’s the key, folks.

If you’re nervous about incorporating a BOLD trend like YELLOW or STRIPES or ANIMAL PRINT, don’t feel like you need to venture into wearing it as an entire outfit (you know, like the yellow suit guy over there–>).

Just incorporate it via your accessories: shoes, a bag, jewelry, a belt!

So, what do you think? How do YOU incorporate “trends” into your daily wardrobe?

Linked up today with Marionberry Style, Because Shanna Said So, and The Pleated Poppy.

#RealTalk, a Giveaway, and #YOLOmondays Link-Up!

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maternity style: navy and white ikat maxi dress, white bubble necklace, red toms {{Dress: Ross
{{Belt: Target
{{Shoes: TOMS
{{Necklace: Caroline G. Shop
{{Bracelet: ILYCouture c/o

Okay, it’s time for some Real Talk (or #RealTalk in hashtag speak).

#RealTalk: The dress I’m wearing in this post isn’t even a maternity dress, but it fits like one. And I love it. Boom.

#RealTalk: Golden Double Stuf Oreos are my new favorite cookie. They are so much better than regular Double Stuf oreos.

#RealTalk: I’ve gained too much weight in this pregnancy and I’ve genuinely tried to do what I can to keep it down and not gain too much, but it’s so hard. (This is totally unrelated to my new love of Golden Double Stuf Oreos. I promise.) I’m really trying to eat everything in moderation, but I fight this weird fight of being STARVING one minute and then four bites in to my meal I’m full. I hardly finish what I eat anymore, but I’m still gaining weight. Also, exercise is tough. Those pregnant women you see running races and being all active and stuff? Those women are heroes and I want to be like them, but sadly, I’m not. I’m trying, though!

#RealTalk: While I love my belly right now, I hate my body. I feel like in the last month everything has just grown OUT. My hips, my feet, my arms, my chest, my legs… it’s all growing OUTWARDS. Everything is getting wider. And as someone who has struggled with body image issues her whole life, it’s not helping that people keep asking me if I’m sure I’m not having twins. YES, I AM SURE I AM NOT HAVING TWINS. There is one baby in there. ONE. Like, I know it’s lighthearted but, come on. How am I supposed to take that? Asking a pregnant woman if she is sure she isn’t having twins is basically telling her you think she’s huge.

#RealTalk: Sometimes I want to vent about stuff like this just to vent about it. I’m not really looking for a solution or advice… sometimes I just want to vent.

#RealTalk: The Wendy’s by my house has caffeine free Diet Coke on tap… and it makes me happy. So yes, I go to Wendy’s JUST to get a fountain drink. Sue me.

#RealTalk: My husband got me this purse as a Mother’s Day gift (the one on my wish list!) and I am obsessed with it. Yes, I know it’s kinda weird that a purple purse would make me so happy, but it does.

#RealTalk: I am rewatching the entire series of Arrested Development in preparation for season FOUR coming to Netflix on May 26th. I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am. Most hilarious show ever.

still being molly maternity style: belted floral cardigan, striped shirt, Litva's Jewelry earrings

#RealTalk: I’m super excited to bring you a FABULOUS giveaway from the adorable and oh-so-gorgeous Sandra of Litva’s Jewelry. You’ve seen her on here before as she’s been one of my amazing sponsors for a few months. Well, today’s she’s giving one lucky reader a $40 gift card to her shop! YES! $40!

And considering most of her jewelry is in the $10-$20 range, that’s preeeetty awesome. That’s like two pairs of earrings! Or something.

I have a couple pairs of her chandelier earrings and I absolutely LOVE them (pictured to up and to the right).

So, without further adieu, use the Rafflecopter tool below to enter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

White Jeans Day to Night

BBQ Chicken Salad

Mini Quiches

All About Accessories

The Rules for #YOLOMONDAYS Link-Ups:

Follow your hosts Molly @ still being [molly] ,Carly @ Lipgloss & Crayons , and your guest host for the week Susannah @ Simple Moments Stick
Grab a button and / or post a link back here in your BLOG POST (NOT your blog’s main page) so your readers know what all the #YOLOMONDAY-ness is about. We love you guys linking up and we do go through and read all your posts… so if you do not give credit, we will have to remove your link. That’s no fun, right? Right. So be nice and share a link! Pretty please?
Link your blog post up using the linky tool below! It can be ANYTHING! An outfit post, a giveaway, a story, a recipe, whatever. Why? Cause it’s #YOLOMONDAYS!
Visit a blog or four that you’ve never been to before and leave a #YOLOMONDAYS comment – you never know, you might “meet” someone new that you will lurve!
Have fun! Cause #YOLO!