Outfit Formulas & The Spring Style Challenge ~ Week 3

The Spring Style Challenge is still in full swing, but I can't believe it ends this Saturday! Arghhh!! Stayed tuned for news about the Summer Challenge coming soon! If you missed this one (Spring), you definitely need to get in on the action for Summer!

Here's my recap of Days 9-14. If you missed Weeks 1 and 2 you can find them here: Week 1 & Week 2. Each week, I have been giving the "outfit formula" for the day, along with my interpretation of it.

ALSO! I'm co-hosting a link up today with the beautiful Liz from Shopping My Closet. See all the details below and link up your post!

Week 3--here it is....

Day 11: Thursday ~ Striped Dress + Bright Flats

I wore this same dress in Week 1, but it's surprising that the jean jacket and the bright flats give it a totally different look and feel than my cardigan and sandals from Week 1. That's when you know you have a versatile piece of clothing.

Striped Dress: Old Navy (exact)
Denim Jacket: Kut from the Kloth (exact)
Coral Flats: Payless (exact)
Red/Navy Bag: Stella & Dot (exact)
Necklace: J. Crew (similar)

Day 12: Friday ~ Camo/Patterned Pants + Bright Tee + Wedges

I confessed my love for these Express tees last week, but let me reiterate: I.LOVE.THESE.TEES!! This cobalt color is so bold and vibrant and so are all the other colors. You guys definitely need a few in your life :) For size reference I am typically between a XS and S, and I'm wearing a Small for the more "slouchy" look. They shrink the TINIEST bit, but not much at all! I loved the wedges, but changed to flats because it was a heavy errands-running day :)

Cobalt Tee: Express (exact)
Camo Pants: Loft (similar)
Wedge Sandals: Target (similar)
Cognac Flats: Payless (exact)
Flower Necklace: Similar

Day 13: Saturday ~ White Jeans + Neutral Tee + Cardi/Vest  + Wedges

I just LOVE this neutral color combo of black, white, cognac and military green. If you've been following this blog for any amount of time, you know I am ALWAYS reaching for this cargo vest. It's definitely a closet staple. I purchased it in the fall at TJ Maxx/Marshall's but I recently saw them there again! The brand is Max Studio. :)

White Jeans: Loft (exact)
Tee: Express (exact)
Cargo Vest: Similar, Similar
Necklace: Similar, Similar
Wedge Sandals: Target (similar)

Day 14: Sunday ~ Striped Dress + Floral Scarf + Sandals

It's the striped dress...again! You might be tired of it, but repeating a piece of clothing in different ways just shows how versatile the piece is! This is actually the exact outfit I wore for Easter :)

Striped Dress: Old Navy (exact)
Floral Scarf: Target (exact)
Sandals: Similar, Similar
Hoop Earrings: Stella and Dot (exact)

Day 15: Monday ~ Printed Top + Colored Pants + Sandals

This outfit is ME in every way, shape and form. More about these pants in another blog post, but I have fallen in love with chinos...and I've fallen HARD!

Olive Chinos: J. Crew Factory (exact, in Vintage Surplus)
Striped Tank: Loft (similar, similar)
Cognac Belt: Similar
Sandals: Similar, Similar
Hoop Earrings: Stella and Dot (exact)

Day 16: Tuesday ~ Printed Skirt + Black Tank + Cardigan + Wedges

I followed this one pretty much to the T except I subbed in flats instead of wedges since it was a work day. :)

Striped Skirt: J. Crew Factory (exact)
Cardi: Old Navy (exact, in Mini Mint)
Black Tank: similar
Ladder Necklace: Jane.com (similar, similar)
Cognac Flats: Payless (exact)

Day 17: Wednesday ~ Striped Dress + Chambray Shirt + Bright Flats

I had my doubts about this one...I KNOW! It's the striped dress AGAIN! But now, with the chambray on top, it's more of a skirt! I'd say I got a whole lotta bang for my $15 bucks with this striped dress!!

Striped Dress: Old Navy (exact)

Chambray Shirt: Forever 21 (similar)

Necklace: J. Crew (similar)

Coral Flats: Payless (exact)

I definitely felt the most comfortable on Day 15, but Day 17 was also an unexpected favorite! Do you have a fave? Would you try any of these outfit formulas?

Next Wednesday, I'll be wrapping up the last 4 outfits from the Style Challenge. I can't believe it's nearly over! Again, if you missed any of the Style Challenge posts you can find them here: Week 1 & Week 2.

See what the other Style Me Bloggers came up with this week, too!

Shoes to Shiraz | R Squared | Two Teens and Their Mama |
Confessions of a Frumpy Mommy | A Lovely Little Wardrobe |
Mishaps and Mayhem of Solitary Life | Puppies and Pretties | Daily Style Finds |
Making the Most of Everyday | She Thought She Could | Foxy's Domestic Side |
Quilty Joy Joy | Curls and Cardigans | Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After |
My Running Stitches | From Plaid to Pearls | Stashed Blog | X-tremely V |
 A Little Bit of Cheer | Nick and Nik

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As I said above, I'm excited to be co-hosting a link up with Liz from Shopping My Closet!!! A little about Liz:

Meet Liz, the blogger behind Shopping My Closet.  Her style approach mixes high and low, dresses up closet essentials, and pairs the timeless with the current. Follow her as she illustrates how you can have an on-trend and timeless look by incorporating the items already in your closet into a stylish everyday look (Liz is my kinda gal!!)

Ways to follow Liz ~

Bloglovin': http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/11718217

Instagram: http://instagram.com/shoppingmycloset

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shoppingmyclosetblog

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/shoppingmycloset

The LINK UP ~

Welcome to the weekly Style Me Wednesday fashion link-up! The Style Me Wednesday fashion blog link-up goes live every Wednesday and is meant to be a venue for you to showcase what you're wearing or a favorite look. It's the perfect opportunity to discover new bloggers (and friends!) and styles. Simply follow the steps below to join Style Me Wednesday fashion link up!

 STYLE ME WEDNESDAY LINK-UP GUIDELINES

1. Follow your host, Shopping My Closet, on Bloglovin', Instagram, and Facebook  & follow your co-host, A Little Bit of Cheer, on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
2. Link up using the widget below to your specific blog post (i.e today’s post), not your blog’s homepage
3. Grab a button to share on your blog post about Shopping My Closet's blog link up

<!-- START SHOPPING MY CLOSET'S "Style Me Wednesday" LINK-UP BADGE -->

<p class="center">
<a href="http://www.shoppingmycloset.com">

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/8SDfJVS.jpg" alt="Shopping My Closet" title="Shopping My Closet" style="max-width:100%;" />

</a>

</p>
<!-- END SHOPPING MY CLOSET'S "Style Me Wednesday" LINK-UP BADGE -->

An InLinkz Link-up

SEVEN ON SUNDAY ~ WEEK 17

Day 1: Sunday ~ This place. Our church. I needed it so much on Sunday! Sarah was still sick, so I took Brooke and Will and it was awesome just to be there without worrying about Sarah screaming or picking her nose and wiping it on someone. It was truly peaceful. Then a good friend posted the quote below on Facebook and after that, my week went a lot more smoothly :)

Day 2: Monday ~ This is how we do Monday dinner at the ballpark.

Day 3: Tuesday ~ Sarah still wasn't feeling well, so Mommy had to take a sick day. We did lots of cuddles, Dora and the Shopkins game. :)

Day 4: Wednesday ~ I went to the library to check out a book my friend recommended, but they didn't have it, so I picked up this one instead. It's awesome!!! I so needed a lot of what was in this book! See my quote below? You can tell I needed a whole lotta Jesus this week!!!

Day 5: Thursday ~ Well, he survived freezing temps (and Mommy forgot his jacket!) and gale force winds and still got the team ball! The girls and I had awesome seats from the car--we couldn't hack it.

Our view from the car--we didn't miss a thing!

Day 6: Friday ~ As you guys know, Friday night is Pizza Night at the Rooneys. Tonight it was Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza....enough said.

Day 7: Saturday ~ Will requested "homemade chicken strips" for dinner tonight...and when this kid requests food, I make it because he has NO interest in food and doesn't eat JACK :) Mama got the thumbs up all around on the chicken--soooo yummy!!!!

Have a wonderful week!!! See you back here tomorrow for this month's edition of Mom Style Files :)

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FOODIE FRIDAY ~ Healthy Fish Tacos with Chipotle Cream

I spent Spring Break in San Diego and my vacation would just not have been complete had I not sunk my teeth into a delicious, crunchy, greasy San Diego fish taco!!  Those things are take-out staples down there..along with burritos. Side note--I had the BEST BURRITO of my entire LIFE in La Jolla!! The Taco Stand--check it out. It's life changing.

Clearly the way fish tacos are "supposed" to be (deep fried, slathered in a yummy cream sauce concoction), isn't exactly figure-friendly. Being that it is almost summer and shorts and tank tops will be in the rotation soon, I'm sharing my "healthy" take on this delicious meal!!! Again, this is super easy and the fish cooks in no time! You can make the chipotle cream a day in advance if you're a planner like that :) You can find chipotles in adobo in the Mexican aisle at any grocery store.

Healthly Fish Tacos with Chipotle Cream
Makes 4-6 good-sized tacos

For the Fish~

1 lb. wild-caught white fish (cod is good, halibut is better but any white fish works)
Lemon pepper
Salt

For the Chipotle Cream ~

1/2 cup low fat sour cream
1-2 tablespoons of the sauce from canned chipotles (see above)
3 scallions, minced
Dash of cumin
Juice from 1/2 lime
Pinch of sugar
Salt to taste

Other/Garnishes ~
4-6 small corn tortillas
Lime
Cilanto
Shredded lettuce or cabbage
Avocado
Tomato (optional)

1. Make the Chipotle Cream: Whisk together all ingredients and refrigerate until needed.

2. Heat a skillet to medium high heat. Season fish well with lemon pepper and salt. Drizzle a little olive oil in the pan and add fish.

3. Depending on the thickness of your cut of fish, cook 2-3 minutes (or longer for thicker cuts) on each side or until the fish in opaque and cooked through. If you are unsure or have never cooked fish, just cut it and see if it's cooked through--you'll be cutting up the fish anyway for the tacos!

4. Remove fish from pan. With a fork or a knife, cut fish into large chunks so they will fit nicely into a small tortilla.

5. Warm tortillas in the microwave for a few seconds.

6. Assemble tacos: Place a few pieces of fish on your tortilla. Top with the Chipotle Cream, cilantro, lettuce, avocado and finish it off with a nice squeeze of lime.

SO. DARN. GOOD. It's like the beach on a plate. You can picture the San Diego sunset as you eat.....

Don't forget to follow A Little Bit of Cheer on Facebook HERE

I'm on Instagram now! Yippeee! Follow me HERE

Follow any of my boards on Pinterest HERE 

Follow me on Bloglovin' HERE  

Easy Bracelet Stack How-To & Link Up!

Today I'm so excited to be Co-Hosting a link up with the beautiful Laura from A Touch of Tartan. I love her down-to-earth style and she's from across the pond in Scotland--how awesome is that! Go  and check her out and then link up your fashion/beauty posts below!

How beautiful is Laura?!

Now that the weather is warmer and the short sleeves are coming out, I love to start wearing my bracelets. If you know me, you know I like things pretty simple and uncomplicated. As much as I LOVE the arm candy in this picture:

I just can't do it. No way. Not even to go out. It's just too much. So I'll just sit back and admire everyone who can actually pull this off. But I do love my bracelets and they add a nice little touch to a simple spring outfit. You know, one of those "touches" that says, "I didn't just roll out of bed, I made an effort-DARN IT!" I love those touches :)

Here's my simple, uncomplicated formula for a cute, yet pretty darn practical bracelet stack ~

Let's discuss ~

1 ~ A Watch: Girls, before a year or so ago, I hadn't worn a watch since 4th grade. It seems like watches went completely out of style for awhile but now they're definitely coming back around and I LOVE IT!!! I was skeptical at first (why would anyone wear a watch when you can just check the time on your phone??), but now I feel completely naked with my watch. Don't forget I AM OLD SCHOOL, people!! I just got on Instagram, remember??!

Not only are watches a GORGEOUS accessory, they apparently tell time too (that's the practical angle I'm always looking for!) I have a 38mm Fossil watch very similar to the one in the collage above that I purchased at Nordstrom Rack for $50. It's a beautiful watch and will last forever.

2 ~ A Bangle: After you have on your practical watch, it's time to add some fun stuff. Again, without being too complicated. I love a simple bangle like the "love" one in the collage above. It can be any width, it's just a little something extra to add to your "stack."

3 ~ Color or Texture: Here's where the fun comes in! For the last bracelet, add one with color or texture. I LOOOVE my knock-off Renegade bracelet from Stella and Dot (in the collage) or as my friends lovingly refer to it as, "Mr. Spikey." It might look odd by itself, but it adds so much texture to your little stack. You can also add a colored wrap bracelet, a blingy crystal bracelet...a charm bracelet...sky's the limit!

Here are some ways I wear mine ~

I switch between wearing Mr. Spikey, a colored wrap, a blingy crystal bracelet and an Alex and Ani charm bangle. Simple! I'll link a few options below for the pieces I featured in this post, but online stores like Jane, Edith Marie and Accessory Concierge are great places to get inexpensive jewelry. Of course, if you live near a Charming Charlie's, that place is a goldmine for bracelets, too!

Have fun with your arm candy! Don't forget to link up below!! :)

Product Links ~
1. Fossil Watch: Nordstrom (I got mine at Nordstrom Rack)
2. Love Bangle: Stella and Dot
3. Mr. Spikey Bracelet: Accessory Concierge
4. Gold Bangle: Similar 
5. Chunky Crystal Bracelet: Stella & Dot
6. Alex and Ani Bangle: Nordstrom
7. Colored Wrap: Similar (I couldn't find a inexpensive option! I got mine off Jane.com)

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Linking up with some great blogs--check them out!

Monday ~ On the Daily Express  ~  Fizz and Frosting  ~  Fashionably Employed  ~  Rhea, etc.  ~  A Touch of Tartan

Tuesday ~ I do DeClare  ~  Style Elixir  ~  Induffietely Me  ~  Elegantly Dressed and Sylish

An InLinkz Link-up

SEVEN ON SUNDAY ~ WEEK 16

This week was pretty boring, until the end when another one of my troops when down....

Day 1: Sunday ~ Back from Spring Break, my first stop Sunday morning--TARGET! Sarah and I had to load up on supplies. :) Since she can't drink regular milk, I always have to buy her Lactaid which is about $2.99 for a half gallon. Well, this morning a Target, I found Lactaid on closeout (June expiration date!!), three 1/2 gallons for $2.99!! SCORE!! Seriously made my week--it's the little things :) We cleaned them out and bought 6 giant jugs! LOL!

Day 2: Monday ~ Brookey still wasn't feeling good Sunday night and her fever still hadn't broken, so I made an appointment to take her in to the Dr. first thing Monday. She improved overnight and by her Dr. appointment, her fever and oxygen levels were normal and her lungs were almost clear! Woo hoo!!! She felt a lot better without the fever but was still tired and weak. She stayed home from school until Thursday. They made her wear this mask at the Dr. and she was mortified! LOL!

Day 3: Tuesday ~ First baseball game since we came back from vaca. Buddy played catcher (which he HATES!). This was his old coach from last year...it looks like Buddy is having some words with him!!!

Day 4: Wednesday ~You know this boy is tired when you find him wrapped up in his sister's pink blanket in the morning!! Doesn't help that Brookey's flower pillow is also next to him! He immediately "cleaned" and made his bed after I showed him this pic! Life with sisters!

Day 5: Thursday ~ Sooooo at daycare (my friend's house where Sarah goes with a few other kids), Sarah dumped mud all over this poor little boy's head!!! Her babysitter asked why she did it, and this is the face she gave her. My friend thought it was so amusing so she took a pic of her naughty face!!! Terrible 2's for sure with this one.

Day 6: Friday ~ Grandparents Day at school! My mom came up to visit with the kiddos and my Dad came up to catch Buddy's baseball game the next day. Love having my parents in town!

Day 7: Saturday ~ Sarah started getting sick on Thursday and Friday I took her to the Dr. when her temp spiked to nearly 105!!! They checked her out, and wanted a urine sample to rule out a UTI. That was SUPER fun....crouched in the doctor's office bathroom over the toilet holding a cup. She wouldn't go, so I had to take the cups and do it home, then run the samples back to the office on Saturday morning.  #momlife.

As of Saturday, she still has a fever but they ruled out pneumonia and a UTI, so he thinks it's probably just a nasty virus. She's on some meds and we're praying she feels better soon. (BTW, I spared you the pic with pee actually IN the cup! You're welcome.)

Cheers to a happy, healthy week!!! XO
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Don't forget to follow A Little Bit of Cheer on Facebook HERE

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FOODIE FRIDAY ~ Perfectly Easy Gourmet Pizza

At our house, Friday is pizza night. It's a ritual around here! Typically, we get take out from a few favorite spots, but for Lent this year, we gave up takeout! This forced us to get really creative for pizza night! We tried all sorts of variations--different doughs, toppings, etc. Of course the kids always just wanted cheese and pepperoni!! Ha!

I needed a little more creativity though, and this little "recipe" below was by far my favorite version that we made throughout the 40 days and 40 nights of take-out pizza fasting! It's hardly a recipe--it's so darn easy!  Who knew you could buy balsamic glaze in the regular grocery store??? I found mine near the vinegar and where the regular balsamic is. You can use it for Caprese salad and a bunch of other things too! Just Google "recipes with balsamic glaze." Mine looks very similar to this one, except it's the store brand:

The combination of the sweet glaze, together with the fresh tomatoes is just heaven! Tastes gourmet, even though it uses very basic ingredients. I mean, Boboli pizza crust??! Really??! Trust me. It's awesome.

Perfectly Easy Gourmet Pizza

1 Boboli Thin Pizza Crust (I had my doubts, but after trying different crusts I REALLY like the Boboli Thin for this pizza!!)
1/2 to 1 cup (approx) of Marinara Sauce
2 Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced
8 oz FRESH mozzarella, sliced into 1/4 inch rounds (you can find fresh mozzarella in the specialty cheese case in the regular grocery store)
Big drizzle of balsamic glaze
Fresh basil leaves, torn

1. Preheat oven to 450.

2. Spread pizza crust with sauce. Top with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes.

3. Bake at 450 for 9-11 minutes or according to package directions. I like my pizza crispy, so I typically leave it in a bit longer.

4. When the pizza comes out of the oven, let it cool for a few minutes. Then, drizzle with balsamic glaze and top fresh basil. Cut into wedges and voila! Gourmet pizza!!!

Today is Friday. And guess what I'm having for dinner....??

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Seven on Sunday ~ Spring Break Edition! (WEEK 15)

We're back. Going through some serious vaca withdrawls but I think I've mustered up the energy to post :) I originally tried doing an original "Seven on Sunday" but then I realized I have no clue what day we did what because I was in total vacation mode! So I'm doing a "vacation highlights" post and calling it a day...with a glass of wine as I do my 47 loads of laundry.

We spent 5 nights in San Diego really just relaxing and doing a few fun tourist things. We went with my brother in law, his wife and 2 cute kiddos. I'll tell you, it was the PERFECT family vacation! None of us wanted to leave!! It did end on a sour note, but everything is fine now....here's the recap ~

Easter Mass at the University of San Diego. One of the most beautiful churches I've been to! It was packed of course, but we were able to sit and the kids were pretty good. The priest was awesome too. All around great experience! 

These 3, after Mass :)

I tried to get a pic of all the little cousins--it was a challenge. All they wanted to do was go home and play on the beach!!!! Who can blame them!

On Sunday, one of my besties from grade school came over for sun and Easter Brunch! We've been friends for more years than I care to count.

Grace and I sat on the patio and watched the boys and the kiddos play in the "backyard."

Rooney/Jessen kid picnic!

At some point in the week, I decided matching my wine to my flip flops was definitely a good idea!!

We played tourist one day and headed downtown to to a boat tour around the bay.

I love all the military history! Next time we will have to spend more time and do the USS Midway tour!

Sarah and Brookey couldn't get enough of Baby Emily!

On one of our last days, we went to Carlsbad to see the flower fields. SO GORGEOUS! I have been wanting to see this sight forever! You can see the flower and the Pacific Ocean in the background. Stunning! Unfortunately, Brookey came down with a fever the night before and wasn't feeling herself on this day, so we didn't stay long...

Selfie in the flower fields :)

On Thursday, since Brooke was sick, we canceled our plans to spend the night at my friend Grace's house....we didn't want to infect their kiddos! So we checked into a hotel in La Jolla (terrible! ha! not!) so we could let Brookey rest. She wasn't getting any better and we debated whether to take her to Urgent Care. Poor kid, she missed out on cousin fun, sunsets and S'mores at the hotel :(

The next day, we said goodbye to the cousins and my brother/sister in law and made our way back to Fresno. Brookey was still feeling terrible so we let her sit in the front seat so she could have more room to rest. Talk about a CRAZY BUS!!!

Well, the last part of the story is, we got near Fresno and Brookey was worse so we immediately took her to Urgent Care. After a chest x-ray, nose swabs and a shot in the uh..rear end...it was determined she had pneumonia in her right lung. They sent us home with an inhaler and a cocktail of antibiotics and 24 hours later I'm happy to report she's feeling MUCH, MUCH better. All's well that ends well.

But I miss the San Diego sunset.....

But at least I have this to look forward to....ugh. Good Lord, vaca is truly over. :(

If I survive the 47 loads of laundry, I'll be back tomorrow with a fun Pin-Spired post!!!

Don't forget to follow A Little Bit of Cheer on Facebook HERE

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