Mom Style Files ~ Volume 4

Hey pretties! I haven't done a Mom Style Files post on awhile, so it's about time! . If you are new to this blog, I try to do a Mom Style Files once a month. The goal of my "wardrobe" posts are always to give approachable, wearable outfits/styling ideas for busy gals (moms in particular, but anyone else too!!) As I've mentioned before, I don't show any outfits the blog that I haven't worn (or would wear) "in real life."

Below are some of the outfits I wore "in real life" this month--running around doing errands, chasing after kids, days at the park and my twice a week teaching job. You can read past Mom Style Files posts here:

Mom Style Files ~ Volume 1
Mom Style Files ~ Volume 2
Mom Style Files ~ Volume 3

I want to get back to doing both full body and top-down outfit photos for Mom Style Files, but this month, all I have is top down--sorry! If you follow me on Instagram, you have seen many of thee outfits already!! Follow me on Instagram HERE.

This month it was warm so it was all about shorts, top, sandals, repeat :)

Outfit 1: This is my favorite Barcelona cami!! It's sold out, but I linked another adorable one below!

Top: Express (cute option., cute option)
Shorts: Loft (similar)
Sandals: Target (exact)
Necklace: Similar, Similar

Outfit 2: I wasn't sure about red Converse (i love my gray ones!), so I saw this cheaper version on sale for about $12 at Target, so I bought them to give them a test run to see if it's worth the Converse investment. So far, so good! :)

Top: Target (similar, similar)
Shorts: J. Crew Factory (exact)
Shoes: Target (exact)

Outfit 3: I love cobalt blue and pink together!

Top: Express (exact)
Shorts: Express- sold out (similar, similar)
Sandals: Target (exact)
Necklace: Charming Charlie (similar)

Outfit 4: I was feeling very summery today!

Top: Express (exact in True White)
Shorts: J Crew Factory -sold out (option, option)
Sandals: Target (exact)
Necklace:Charming Charlie - sold out (cute option)

Outfit 5: This Target chambray top is one of my favorites! It's sooo soft! And of course, my floral shorts on repeat!

Top: Target - sold out :(option, very similar)
Shorts: Old Navy- sold out (option, option)
Sandals: Similar, Similar
Purse:Charming Charlie (similar)

Outfit 6: I LOVE this new necklace from Stella and Dot! You can take off the blue beads and just wear it with the gold layers. It's so cute, casual and versatile! It definitely spiced up my denim shorts and white tee!

Top: Target - LOVE the Mossimo Boyfriend Tees (exact)
Shorts: J. Crew Factory (exact)
Sandals: Similar, Similar
Necklace: Stella & Dot (exact)

Outfit 7: And here's the necklace again! I wore this outfit to a school meeting, so slightly more dressed up than usual :)

Top: Stem/Nordstrom (exact)
Skirt:J Crew Factory (solid option, cute option)
Sandals: Target (exact)
Necklace: Stella & Dot (exact)

Outfit 8: For some reason, I am loving black and white right now! It's just simple and classic.

Top: Target - Mossimo Boyfriend Tee, can't find it online (in solid colors)
Shorts: Expres- sold out (similar, similar)
Sandals: Target (exact)
Necklace: via Jane  (similar, similar)

Outfit 9:  Like I said, shorts, sandals, repeat :)

Top: Express (exact in True White)
Shorts: J. Crew-sold out (similar)
Sandals: Similar, Similar
Necklace: Target (option)

Outfit 10: I picked up this floral top at Target last fall and I am finding I can wear it spring, summer and fall! Last fall I wore it with burgundy jeans and black jeans. I've also worn it with short and this gray skirt. Super versatile!

Top: Target-sold out (cute option, LOVE this)
Skirt: Loft (option, option)
Sandals: Similar, Similar
Necklace: Target (option)

That's a wrap, girls!!!


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

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Follow any of my boards on Pinterest HERE 

Follow me on Bloglovin' HERE  

See where I link up HERE

Tips for Wearing Flare Jeans + LINK UP

One of my first posts when I started posting "Wardrobe" topics back in the spring was about my 15 year old flare jeans and how I had pulled them out, dusted them off and felt right on trend! Read the original post HERE. 

Since I find it's just not practical to wear the super-flared bell bottom type jeans that are popping up, I use the term "flares" and "boot cut" pretty interchangeably.

CASEY'S DEFINITION OF FLARE JEANS ~ jeans that are bigger at the bottom, and not-skinny or straight leg. Synonym: Boot cut.

Aside from this pair, here are another pair of my favorite "flares" ~

Jeans: Rock Revival (similar, similar)
Tee: Mossimo/Target (exact)
Necklace: Stella and Dot (exact, can be worn a few different ways!)
Gold Feather Bracelet: c/o Pura Vida (exact in pack, similar)
** Pura Vida is offering free shipping for all U.S. orders and 20% off through August with code BACKTOSCHOOL20!
Bangle: Alex and Ani (similar)
Watch: Nordstrom Rack (similar, similar)

Flares also work well when paired with a structured blazer, jacket or cardigan.

Jeans: Rock Revival (similar, similar)
Tank: Express (in blue, cute pattern!)
Jacket: Express--really, really old (similar, similar)

Flare/bootcut jeans are universally flattering, but you have to be careful. Here are some tips when wearing those flares ~

1. LENGTH: Make sure your flares aren't too long. Flares look best when they hit around the middle to 3/4 of the way up your foot. Show your shoes and a little skin!! :)

YES ~

Super cute, but NO (who wants to be footless?) ~

2. SHOES: On short gals, wearing flares with a little heel always looks best. The flared leg can make us look stumpy with flats. Taller gals can get away flats, but flares always look better with a heel of some sort. Pointy-toed heels and flares are a match made in heaven. For shorter gals, a kitten heel with a pointy toe can work too, if you can't wear higher heels.

 Credit: Brooklyn Blonde

3. TOPS:  I prefer wearing flares with a more structured top or jacket. If you get too baggy on top it clashes with the bagginess of the flared leg.

 Credit: Style Estate

4. CHANGING LENGTHS: Want to wear your flares with flats and heels? You can change of length with this Hollywood Tape! I hate the idea of only being able to wear certain jeans with certain shoes. This solves the problem! Have you guys tried this?? It's AWESOME!

5. WASH: Dark wash flares are ALWAYS the most flattering. If you are new to flares, I'd start with a darker pair.

6. LEG OPENING: Tall gals can get away with a larger leg opening, while us short gals need to proceed with caution. The width of my leg opening on the jeans I am wearing above is 8 inches. That is as flared as I will go, otherwise I risk overwhelming my 5'4" frame and looking sloppy.

If you aren't ready to make the plunge to full-on FLARE jeans, try searching for ones that are boot cut, trouser-style or "skinny flares."

HERE ARE SOME GREAT OPTIONS (click on any image for details) ~

Do you own a pair of flare jeans? Would you ever consider it?

Time to link up!

Hosted by ~

Carrie/A Lovely Little Wardrobe ~ Bloglovin/Facebook/Instagram

Whitney/Whitney à La Mode ~ Bloglovin/Instagram

Casey/A Little Bit of Cheer ~ Bloglovin/Facebook/Instagram

Each week we choose a favorite...check out Carrie and Whitney's blogs to see if it's you! Here was my favorite this week ~ Shauna from Lip Gloss and Lace. Can this girl rock a pair of flares or WHAT??!!! So awesome! See her original post HERE.

Now let's get linking! We like to keep things simple around here. Just link up your favorite posts--fashion, beauty, food, DIY, anything goes! Follow your hosts on social media, have fun and be inspired! Thanks for linking up!

<a href="http://www.alittlebitofcheer.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc454/pianoprincessdesigns/button%20small_zpsujefyz2q.png~original" alt="A Lovely Little À La Mode Link Up" width="125" height="125" /></a>

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

Follow me on Instagram HERE

Follow any of my boards on Pinterest HERE 

Follow me on Bloglovin' HERE  

See where I link up HERE

An InLinkz Link-up

Simple Changes ~ Awkward to Awesome + LINK UP

Don't you love when making simple changes in your life can make such a huge impact? I remember when I made the decision to start waking up an hour earlier each morning to work out, drink my coffee and have some quiet time with God. What a difference that hour made! My mornings ran SO much more smoothly, I actually got to ENJOY my coffee as opposed to gulping it down and my mind just felt fresher.

Simple changes can make a big impact on your wardrobe, too! When an outfit isn't quite working or feels "off," I always try a couple of things before I rule it out ~ Tie (or) Tuck (and/or) Add an Accessory. It can really take an Awkward outfit to Awesome :)

Exhibit A ~ So the first pic, my shirt looks a bit sloppy and ill-fitting. It's also thin, so the black and white stripes from my shorts show through my shirt....can't stand it when that happens!! In the "Awesome" pic (HA!), all I did was tie my shirt, which automatically made it more fitted and elongated my body...I'm 5'4" so I'll really take WHATEVER I can get! I also added a simple necklace to just give the outfit a bit more polish. That's it. Simple.

Pink Gingham: J. Crew (similar, similar)
Striped Shorts: Similar, Similar

Exhibit B ~ These floral shorts you've seen before, and my Barcelona camis are probably the most worn items in my closet right now! However, the untucked cami looks awkward with these shorts. Do you see how the cami hits right at the WIDEST part of my body? Helllloooo....don't ever let an item of clothing hit you at the Wide Parts, ladies! #justsayin.

This fix was SO simple! All I did was take a tiny bit of the front of my cami, and loosely tucked it into the front of my shorts. I kinda bloused the rest of the cami out and didn't even have to bother to tuck it. To me, this makes a BIG difference! My waist is more defined and nothing is awkwardly hitting my WP's (Wide Parts).  I added a necklace just to make it a little more polished.

Barcelona Cami: Express-they are sold out of pink (similar, similar--super cute print!)
Floral Shorts: Old Navy (option, option)

Have you all made any simple changes in your life (or in your outfits!) that you felt made a big impact??


Time to link up!

Hosted by ~

Carrie/A Lovely Little Wardrobe ~ Bloglovin/Facebook/Instagram

Whitney/Whitney à La Mode ~ Bloglovin/Instagram

Casey/A Little Bit of Cheer ~ Bloglovin/Facebook/Instagram

Each week we choose a favorite...check out Carrie and  Whitney's blogs to see if it's you! Here was my favorite this week ~ Adri from Adri Lately! She is wearing one of my all time fave summer combos ~ denim shorts, tee and a cargo vest. I've had this outfit on repeat all summer myself! See her original post HERE.

Now let's get linking! We like to keep things simple around here. Just link up your favorite posts--fashion, beauty, food, DIY, anything goes! Follow your hosts on social media, have fun and be inspired! Thanks for linking up!

<a href="http://www.alittlebitofcheer.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc454/pianoprincessdesigns/button%20small_zpsujefyz2q.png~original" alt="A Lovely Little À La Mode Link Up" width="125" height="125" /></a>

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

Follow me in Instgram HERE

Follow any of my boards on Pinterest HERE 

Follow me on Bloglovin' HERE  

See where I link up HERE

An InLinkz Link-up

Create28 Summer Looks ~ Casey's Recap

Well, my beautiful friends, July has just flown by and Create28 ~ Lovely Summer Looks is coming to a close. I have to tell you all that I had SUCH a blast teaming up with Carrie and Whitney for this little challenge! We had such a great time and we were so inspired by all of your looks on your blogs and #Create28SummerLooks!

Here are the looks I created during the month of July ~