Thank you to all my loyal and faithful readers- you have been very supportive and have made this journey a lot of fun for me.

(added later)

Because of all your lovely comments, I feel like I owe a small explanation for why I am quitting. This blog post from another blogger really sums it all up. I posted this earlier in the month, but for those who missed it- it bears repeating.

I feel really badly, knowing that some of you are new readers- and were just getting used to my plain and simple style- but to be totally honest, my heart just hasn’t been in it lately- and rather than put the time and effort into writing a post I’m really proud of, I’d rather spend the time cherishing my children. I know you understand- because we are all mothers and we all are doing the best we can.

Again, thank you for all your support- and please continue to spend a few extra minutes each day getting dressed in something special!

In my ‘after’ look, I replaced the tan t shirt with a cable knit sweater. The cable knit adds a subtle pattern, and the denim shirt underneath is a nice contrast. I especially like the tails hanging out below the sweater (breaks up the solid cream) and the sleeves rolled up (another place to add a bit of color).  As for my feet- I chose my loafers.

Now I have a comfy, warm and cute outfit- too bad I’m just heading back to lay on my couch! LOL!

Pants: Nordstrom, Shirt: J Crew, Sweater: Madewell, Shoes: Target, Necklace: Gift

I’m not up for running errands, but I did decide that I’d actually take a shower, get dressed, take a quick photo and share it with you- then I’ll return to the couch to rest my back and watch another episode of Friday Night Lights (which has become my all time favorite show…)

To me, a typical ‘running errands’ outfit consists of jeans, a top, a cardigan and flat shoes. That being said it would be really easy to just go with the outfit on the right.

However, it’s also really easy to make a few minor changes- and yet have a much cuter, more polished look- as seen on the left. Remember, I’m not claiming to be a fashion plate- or style expert- I’m just a mom who likes to put a tiny bit of effort into my outfit!

All I’ve done here is roll the hem of my jeans- replace the tennis shoes with ballet flats, and add a bright (neon) yellow silk blouse under my cardigan instead of the plain white tank. The old me would have thought a silk blouse it too dressy for a stay at home mom. But let me tell you, it’s not too dressy!  It adds a nice texture under the cardigan, is very forgiving (doesn’t cling to my mommy belly) and the bright yellow is very eye catching.

So simple- and yet much cuter.

Blouse: Loft, Cardigan: Banana Republic, Jeans: CABi, Shoes: Tory Burch, Necklace: Anthropologie

Hi friends, and happy Friday! For today’s post I decided today to focus on outwear.

Since so many of us are running errands all day- dashing in and out of the car from one shop to the next we might actually never even take our coats off!

That being said, it’s easy to look dated and frumpy in a coat- and it’s also easy to look pulled together, so basically it’s your choice!

How much do you really care? For me- I care, only because I feel better when I feel pulled together. I feel more energized, more spunky (I know, stupid word- but I couldn’t think of anything else to say!) and I just feel polished.

When I’m out running errands dressed in frumpy clothes- I honestly feel like I don’t get as good of service as when I have put a little effort into my look. Call it superficial, but in my opinion, it’s true.

Let’s look at my photos. In my ‘before’ look I am wearing this enormous shapeless coat (which actually is my hubby’s) but I wanted to show you a before picture of a coat that is so large it literally is overwhelming me- making me look far larger than I am.  The baggy jeans and Uggs (while incredibly comfortable) are also adding to the frumpy look.

In my ‘after’ shot you’ll notice I replaced the baggy, frumpy jeans for my skinnies. I know, I know, you want to be comfortable. I hear ya! But let me tell you, these skinny jeans are truly the most comfortable pair of jeans I have EVER owned. The brand is Madewell- and I don’t know how they do it- but the cotton is so incredibly soft and stretchy, these jeans feel like yoga pants! I promise.

I’ve also replaced the ugly Uggs with my Frye boots. Again, I hear ya, you’re running errands and on your feet all day and you want to be comfortable. I feel your pain! It is so important for me to be comfortable too! By investing in these more expensive boots, I have made an investment into my foot comfort. These Frye boots are so comfy that I could wear them all day and my feet will not hurt. Plus, they look so much more stylish than the Uggs, don’t you think?

Lastly- my coat. This coat is such an improvement over the one on the right- simply because rather than swallow me up- it emphasizes my shape- while keeping me nice and toasty. The best part? I bought this coat at Target! It’s perfect for me because it covers my butt (which is essential both for keeping warm and for when wearing skinny jeans) and because of the cute belt. A belt on a coat is a must- it helps define your waist and makes you look more polished.

Finally, since this outfit is so devoid of personality (and color) I added this gorgeous bright scarf. It completes the look- and adds a nice focal point for the outfit.

Coat: Target, scarf: J Crew

Here are some good examples I pulled from Zappos. All of these coats are cute, but in my opinion, the belted ones are more flattering.

This is the same model as above, but doesn’t she look a lot thinner in this belted coat?

Again, same model as above- the belted coat just makes her look thinner.

Photo credit, Pinterest.

It’s funny, whenever I do a post on shoes I get more comments than usual. I think it’s because so many of us suffer from foot (or back) issues- and we know how incredibly important it is to wear comfortable shoes.

To be honest, I get so tired of seeing other mom blogs with pictures of moms in stilettos. To me, that just doesn’t seem practical or reasonable. There is NO WAY I would (or could) wear those!

Yes, on days when I work I sometimes wear heels- but I am uncomfortable most of the day and rip those babies off as soon as I walk in the door of my house (and immediately put on my beloved Birkenstocks! LOL)

So anyway, after that rant I thought  you all might like to see more options for cute shoes that are also comfortable and realistic for moms!

These are made by Clark and can be found here! They can be worn with socks (which is nice in the winter), or tights and would look great with jeans (as long as they are NOT wide leg). Opt for straight leg, or better yet- skinny or boyfriend style!

Here is another style option, the Oxford.

These can be found here. Oxfords can also be worn with socks (as long as they are very low profile and can’t be seen), but are cuter with bare feet. Pair these with jeans (rolled at the ankle to look cute), or skirts.

Another cute style of shoe, the driver (or loafer as some people call them), which can be found here. These don’t work with socks- but are a cute substitute to ballet flats. They can be worn with anything as seen below in this great collage by The Glitter Guide.

Photo credit: The Glitter Guide

A great alternative to my Puma’s are Chuck Taylors- these are super sporty and also really cute with jeans rolled at the ankle. They can be worn with socks but make sure they are very low profile.

Another cute, option- (also similar to the Pumas) are made by Clark and can be found here.

These are Teva, and can be found here!

This is a brand I’ve never heard of before, Ahnu. They can be found here:

I could do this all day- there are a lot of options out there! My point is, don’t be fooled by pictures of Hollywood stars (or other mom style blogs) strutting around in their crazy high heels, believe me- they are wishing they could wear comfy shoes like us sensible moms!

By the way, if I missed a shoe that you want to share, please let me know!

Well, about a few months ago I was down at the school bus stop waiting for my daughter to get home from school. One of my good friends was standing there in jeans, a cute shirt and flip flops. It was 45 degrees out. I exclaimed, ‘oh my gosh, aren’t your feet frozen?’ to which she answered, ‘yes but I didn’t know what shoes to wear. You (meaning me) are always writing about how you can’t wear tennis shoes with jeans, so my only other option is flip flops.’

Sigh… I realized that she didn’t quite understand what I meant when I said no tennis shoes with jeans. She thought I mean NONE. EVER. PERIOD.

The thing is, there are some versions of tennis shoes that are actually quite cute- and will look adorable with skinny jeans, or whatever you are wearing. Puma in particular has come out with an incredible line of ‘tennis shoes’ that are actually styled to look like ballet flats (which happens to be my favorite shoe of all time).

So readers- when I say don’t wear tennis shoes with jeans I mean the old clunky tennis shoes that you wear to work out in (as seen above right). Instead, invest in some cute, streamlined ballet flat style ‘tennis shoes’ and your feet will be comfy, and toasty (although you CAN NOT wear socks with these. EVER) and stylish!

Obviously my favorite are the Puma ones, which you can see here but there are some other cute ones as well, as seen here or here.

Here are some more examples of outfit for you!

Mom jeans and tennis shoes- a HUGE ‘no no’ in my book!

By switching out the mom jeans for dark skinnys, my legs look leaner and the ballet flats (my Pumas would have looked cute here as well) complete the look.

Even if all you are wearing is a tank and a zipped up hoodie, these streamlined tennis shoes are so much cuter!

Very simple and casual ‘everyday mom’ look!

*These are all old pictures that you might recognize from older posts, sorry! I’m still flat on my back wearing my sweats.

I bought these white cropped skinny jeans at J Crew a while ago. Lots of people are afraid to wear white after Labor Day- but personally, I love it! From everything I have read, that is an old, outdated rule that you do not have to follow!

White jeans are easy to wear because they go with anything- but I really love pairing them with neutrals.

In this picture I chose a brown tank and this cute cropped trench coat. To tie it all together I wore a Tiger’s eye necklace (from Forever 21- great place for cheap trendy jewelry) and my favorite leopard belt (from Target). 

Unfortunately, my back pain continues to bother me- so I am now on bedrest for the next month (or so). That being said, I will try to get dressed and show you a cute outfit each day- even if all I do is take it off, put back on my sweats and get back in bed.

Anyhow- enough about me- let’s talk about this outfit!

This is a dress I bought a LONG time ago at Anthropologie. I actually think it is a nightgown, but I wear it as a dress. It is super soft and super comfy! All alone it isn’t anything special, but it is a great base for layering!

Today I have turned it into a skirt by adding a long sleeve black t shirt over the top, then layering a cute sweater over the top. To keep my legs warm, I have on black tights (one reader from Minnesota suggested that she wears fur lined tights. I haven’t ever seen those, but boy do they sound warm!), and black boots.

This would be a cute outfit for lunch with friends, work, volunteering at school… really anything!

The long necklace finishes off the look. A long necklace like this makes you look thinner- it draws the eye down, creating a longer- leaner look (or so I’ve read!).

Let’s start with the look on the right- these baggy rolled jeans paired with my UGGs looks frumpy. The plain white t shirt (part of the problem is the ultra high neckline) under the boyfriend style cardigan also contribute to the frumpy look.

In the look on the left I have replaced the frumpy (and baggy) mom jeans with some cute skinny jeans (please know that you DO NOT have to be a size 0 to wear skinny jeans- I am somewhere between a size 4 and 6). I’ve got on brown boots instead of the UGGs. I then switched out the plain white shirt for a cute tank- it’s a very small detail, but notice the cute ruffle around the neckline. Small details like that add so much interest to a look. Lastly, I added a cute necklace to tie the whole look together.

Tank- NY and CO, Cardigan: Nordstrom, Jeans: Madewell, Boots: DSW, Necklace: gift