2.29.2016

my capsule wardrobe || a modern boho spring

the other day i was eating sushi while the kids were watching the last bit of nanny mcphee. they just got home from school & i was still trying to figure out where the week went. i haven't known what day it is the whole week (common problem with me). i got a reminder phone call from the dentist saying the kids all have appointments for the next day. grrrr. all. of. them. at the same time. i mean, the convenience of getting us all in & out is great, but like, calming each one & bopping from one chair to another to another. i will also be carrying a baby around who will, in all likelihood, be tired or hungry...or both. i normally try to beg another adult to come with us; but do you ever just get tired of asking people for help. like, i should be able to handle my business, right? hi, i'm stubborn.

i've been thinking about my spring capsule & pinning away for a few weeks now & wasn't sure if i was going to do an official blog post about my final capsule decisions; but i, personally, love these types of things & decided, "what the hey, post away!"

linen tunic above by the lovely ladies @underatinroof.
click HERE to visit their etsy shop or HERE to visit their website
& learn more about this amazing mom & daughter team.
shop small, you guys! 

ON TO THE CAPSULE WARDROBE BUSINESS. this is the last (new) season left for me to capsule, then it will officially be one year & four seasons of pairing down & carefully choosing my wardrobe. {click on the "what i'm wearing" feature on the blog OR click here to see all my capsule posts or here for my HOW TO DO IT YOURSELF rhetoric.} i cannot imagine living sans-capsule ever again. spring, however, really isn't my jam. i mean, i get excited (like every other human) for the birds to return & the warm air to float into open windows, but other than that...meh. i also really hate the return of bugs & bees. jus sayin. it's also spring in ohio we're talking about here soooo the spring capsule (march, april & may) must work for those few warm days but mostly cool moorings & evenings.

how i will combat tricky transitional spring:

most of march can still be labeled sweater-weather if you ask me. but i've already packed up most of my sweaters & will be relying on layering. i'm keeping a few cozy cardigans in the mix & a knitted pullover for layering. i also have one linen short trench that i will reach for most mornings as an added layer outside. that reminds me, i need to swap out my winter scarves for my spring/summer ones. i'm also not ready to give up my ankle boots. i wear them year-round & have anxiety about the day they need replaced. i love you booties! muah.

something i find interesting:

since i have started making specific decisions regarding what i wear & purchase, a very distinctive style & color scheme have emerged. or more like, smacked my closet in the face. i drift from warm whites & stripes to merlots & mustard to olive & indigo. throughout this process i have so obviously found my niche of stores that i like to purchase from. you can see them show up over & over below. for me, they need to be a mix of affordable yet quality pieces. balance is good. i also find it incredibly interesting that i'm down to 3 or 4 pairs of shoes on rotate. this coming from the girl who was once known for her large collection of shoes (sorry, i don't miss you, heels.)  

my spring capsule: THE DEETS

you may start to recognize some pieces that continually make the capsule cut. obviously my go-to's. and per the norm, stripes fo life. i believe i ended up with about 5 new purchased pieces to add to spring (how exciting!). i've been holding on to them until march (which is some of the most fun you will have with all of this). i've designated those new-for-spring purchases below with an " * ". i think i made it to 36 pieces for spring! you guys! who knew it would/could come to this. i am amazed.

there are a few pieces below that were/are on the chopping block. in the "don't-want-to-let-go-of-but-don't-really-love" pile. but considering the low number i was at after "my favorites pieces" selections, i brought a couple of pieces back in. i tried them on & i still liked them. they've just been around for a while & leave me a little uninspired. so if i don't grab for them this season, they will be gone for the next. final decision. last chance, girls! i have also included a couple dresses (mostly for church & easter) but i seriously doubt i will be in them much. alas. (do i HAVE to start shaving again??)



so here it is,

my modern boho spring capsule wardrobe



tops/tunics


top left: free people
top center: old navy
top right: my diy!
bottom left: kmart (chopping block)
bottom center: lucky brand
bottom right: free people


top left: target*
top center: old navy
top right: old navy
bottom left: madewell
bottom center: under a tin roof*
bottom right: target


top left: madewell
top center: forever 21
top right: free people
bottom left: free people*
bottom center: target (chopping block)
bottom right: madewell


top left: madewell
top center: madewell
top right: madewell*
bottom left: cato
bottom center: flax linen
bottom right: madewell


top left: forever 21
top right: old navy
bottom left: elizabeth suzann*
bottom right: aritzia


dress: old navy

bottoms


top left: old navy (chopping block)
top right: forever 21
bottom left: target
bottom right: forever 21

(i also want to note there is another pair of blue denim pants floating around in the laundry that will be worn, as well.)

shoes



first: minnetonka moccasins
second: birkenstocks
third: cato booties



happy leap day & happy easter & happy closet planning, friends!!



xo

2.08.2016

above the clouds || lincoln turns 7


this little angel of ours has made it 7 whole years topside. if you knew him during the terrible 3's, you'd grasp how amazing that statement truly is. actually if you know him now, you'd think it was quite the accomplishment. let me expand on that. 

day of party:
he refused to wear his birthday boy badge. he refused to wear his suspenders. he took his balloons outside & let them go. he left his own party to ride his bike. while riding his bike, he invited some neighbors to his party. they came. with gifts. found out he also invited some kids from church after parents started asking what time the party was. he refused to eat his food. got mad when we threw it away. called his sister a buttface in front of everyone. generally talked about farting for entirely too long. 
it was a fun party. 

at some point i remember informing our guests that we will no longer be having parties at all. and i'm fairly serious about that. 

so, a few years ago, we gave up on the huge birthday parties. for one, our families are huge = huge parties (i.e. lots of food & crazy amounts of gifts). two, our house is small = always having to book a different venue & transport food, decorations, gifts...twice. it was getting out of hand. so the past few years, we've just had the grandparents over for a small in-house party. 

if you've been following long here or here, you've maybe caught some of my posts of birthdays past. often times last minute. always very homemade. once the kids decide on a theme, i like to go through our house & find items that may work as decorations instead of buying stuff. this year, lincoln decided on a plane theme birthday. my thoughts: yay! that sounds fairly simple & quite doable. reality: apparently we have -0- airplane toys or airplane-related items in this house. (how is that possible?!) so aside from picking up one small airplane toy at wally world, we were "winging" it (harhar). also, that chalkboard wall comes in pretty handy. 
 

yes, he may cause me to have a nervous breakdown one day, but he really is the best. our little caretaker. always cleaning. knows where everything is. we joke that he'll probably grow up to be a janitor. and he'd love it. the neighbors here call him sheriff. always up in everybody's business. asking a thousand questions. keeping tabs on everyone. i'm sure it's endearing. but truly, if i don't feel well, he's the first to "feel" it. the first to come over & rub my back & ask if i need something. God's given him such a nurturing nature & i hope that never leaves. 


happy birthday linc.

you'll always be the one i turn to when i'm 90 & need assisted living.





xo