What's In My Bag - Beach Bag

The end of summer may be fast approching but I am clinging on to hot days in the for dear life!  In the south we get to enjoy this warm weather so I am leaving my beach bag packed for a day trip to the beach or pool.  Here is what I have packed in my bag this season: 

2. Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration SPF 30: This is now on my “must have for summer list”.  Along with my blue eyes and freckles, I also inherited my dad’s Irish skin.  Spray lotion has been my arch nemesis and has left me with some awkward splotches.  I discovered this amazingness this summer and spent four  days in the Outer Banks without the need for aloe!  I put this stuff on right after the shower on a day I know I will be outside. It goes on like regular body lotion.  I throw it in my bag to reapply while I am in the sun.

3. Rainbow Flip Flops: Growing up in Virginia Beach flip flops are the main staple to your wardrobe.  Falls in Blacksburg didn’t stop me from wearing flip flops with my sweatshirt around campus. And to this day, they are my favorite go-to shoes.  Of all the brands around, I can’t say enough great things about Rainbows!

4. Cup: Because hydration is key!

5. Xhilaration Bathing Suit: Grabbed this great piece up from Target this season.  The top fits great, and be sure to shop the link because the back of this one is a must-see!

6. Stripe Throw Blanket: Found this great piece at Target and not only is it perfect to spread out on the beach or pool deck, but come fall it will be perfect blanket to wrap up in around a bonfire.  Shop smarter, not harder, right?!

Hope you ladies are enjoying these last days of summer while you dream of Pumpkin Spice and scarves!

Jump - Jump

Jumpsuits are everywhere these days and the more I see them the more I am convinced they are a must-have for spring.  I am mentally hanging them in my closet, setting aside neutral wedges and picking the perfect clutch with a pop of color to complete the look.

  

While I know they are the perfect look this spring, I am not one to spend a lot on such a trendy piece so I have rounded up some great jumpsuit picks that won’t break the bank this season.

1  ||  2  ||  3  ||  4  ||  5  ||  6  ||  7  ||  8

Though # 3 may fall more overalls than jumpsuit, I had to share that piece too.  That one definitely will be finding a home with me soon!  Whoever thought overalls could look so good. 

What are your thoughts on the jumpsuit trend, love it or leave it?

Finding the Fit

As I stand in my closet and say the 5 word sentence that every girl knows too well, I feel they are so true… I have nothing to wear!

I may be acting a bit overdramatic, but I feel this new closet of ours needs some new fresh outfits!  And while I could spend hours drooling over pinterest pairings, I feel it is better to keep it sensible and revamp the wardrobe where the revamping is needed most, work clothes.  And first up in the work clothes line-up are pants!

How fun, I know, but I treated myself to a few nice pair of work slacks when I got my first big girl job and those trusty trousers are starting to deteriorate.  They are the greatest fit of pants, and of course they no longer make them, so it is time to hit the racks and add a few new dress pants to the work day wear. 

Que the internet search finds –

Banana Republic

  Banana Republic

 J.Crew

  Loft

The Limited

 

 (is the subtle obsession with ankle pants obvious?!)

The last dreaded part is to hit the shops and see the actual fit of these bad boys to see if they make the cut.  Fingers crossed for success.

Anyone have any recommendations on a great pair of dress pants?  Any trusty fits fill your closet?

That time I felt old

Sitting at my friend’s house the other day we were talking about getting old.  As we sat watching her two year old little guy run circles around the living room we discussed how some moment’s made us feel grown up, like having a baby or being married, and how other moment’s left us feeling like 12 year olds, being at work presenting to a board of directors hoping that no one can see how terrified and immature you feel.

That got me to think about the first time I really felt like I was getting old.  It wasn’t when I spotted a gray hair (which our now everywhere… I am in desperate need of some hair dye), or even when I signed the paperwork for building our own house, no, It was 4 years ago, the moment the eye doctor told me “you need eyeglasses, it’s just what happens when you get old”. 

I was 23 and had gone my whole life with perfect vision, but now, apparently, I was getting old and this was my reality check!

Thankfully glasses are not the same old coke bottle crazies that poor kid in 1st grade had to wear with an elastic band wrapped around his head!  They can be stylish, even completing an outfit in some cases.  Look at Zooey Deschanel, she rocks those frames just to be cool! 

And here is where glassesusa.com steps in, not only can you get a pair of fantastically perfect eyeglasses at a perfect price, but they are delivered right to your door.  I am a huge fan of online shopping (so much so I created my own boutique) and having the ability to buy glasses from the comfort of the couch... heaven!

Glassesusa.com takes the whole eyeglasses online process a step further by creating the new Virtual Mirror Feature.  It let's you try on all those new wayfarers to get the perfect look.  It's a simple feature to use, just upload your photo, use the controls to line-up your pic and start shopping!





So simple!



I am thinking "Yes"

 

 Now let's see your look -

 

 

Glassesusa.com is currently offering 15% off your order and free shipping on orders over $50 with code FS15.   AND use code Blog10 to get 10% off all prescription glasses! 

 

Shop away my friends and tell me, when did you feel old?!



Simply Style Boutique - Retail Therapy Thursday

We are adding something new to Simply Style Boutique today and introducing Retail Therapy Thursdays!!

Every Thursday, we will choose a different shop item to drastically discount for all of you.

The idea came to me after a crazy long day, after a crazy busy week and as I sat on the couch with my wine and computer, all I wanted to do was reward myself for not giving up with a something fun to add to my closet.  I am pretty sure that treating yourself to something nice may be one of the greatest feelings. 

So we want to make that great feeling for you a little nicer on your wallet!!

 

Now the trick to Therapy Thursday's is that you have to be quick.  Once the item of choice is sold out, the sale is done!  Be sure that you are following Simply Style Boutique on Facebook and have registered on the site so you get you first view of the item for the day!

 

Without further ado, today's Retail Therapy Thursday item is our Charcoal Cut-out Dress!

 

This dress in the perfect shade of grey has the very popular cut-out design.  The comfortable fabric makes this dress so versatile for day or night!

and at $18.00... it's too good to pass up!!

 

Get yours at www.simplystyleboutique.com and Happy Therapy Thursday!

High Fives!

And we are already back at Friday... {and I am not complaining!!}

In honor of the exciting day of the week, I am linking up with Lauren @ Lauren Elizabeth for High Five for Friday!  Join along and share what you are loving this week.

{one}

I was on my computer at 11:55 pm on Tuesday night putting in a big order at the LOFT!  I can't wait to share my new goodies... whenever they get here (the wait is the worst part of online shopping)!

{two}

maxi - simply style boutique

Our sneak peek of Spring on Wednesday.  But apparently we only got a peek.  Fingers crossed that the weather man is right and we are in for some not freezing weather this weekend!

{three}

chain and braclet - simply style boutique

Loving the arm party. 

{four}

This little man melts my heart!  And I have to admit that my nephews can work my iPhone better than I can.



my brother-in-law hates the duck face... so this is for him! :)



{five}

fingers crossed we can pick out our house plan this weekend with the builder!!  EEKK  this is such a fun, exciting, gut-wrenching, and anxious process... Oh the joys of being an adult!

Happy Friday!!

The time I looked nothing like the Victoria Secret Model

aka - my epic online shopping fail!

So I am sure some of you have seen the Victoria Secret catalog picture of the girl with the awesome beach cover wrap, kind of looks like a towel with arm hooks?  Well I have had that little beauty pinned to my pinterest board forever and when my sister told me it was on NoMoreRack.com I hopped on over to pick myself up one.  Oh how impatient I was to get this amazing summer staple in the mail (granted it was January...)  Well when it came I ripped that bag open like a kid on Christmas, whipped it out, put it on and then laughed so hard I am surprised I didn't pee myself. 

It was the epitome of an epic fail.  Words can not do it justice, so please follow my photo-montage of me attempting to recreate the V.S. ad...



from: Victoria's Secret



Me rocking the look {i did not rock out the bikini for this little photo-op}

right off the bat the material was a tad bit stretchier than I expected

I looked just as thrilled as the model, right?!

Hot stuff's boobs aren't showing in the ad... this is where we go downhill!

Throwing my hair back as I easily slide this little number over my shoulder... just making sure I am following directions

Yep... something is very wrong!

I will leave you with the final reason why this may end up tucked away in the dark depths of my closet forever

It was a sad day...  I may have to see if I can recreate my own with some less stretchy material (and perhaps a yard less of it!)

Have you ever had a online shopping fail?