fashion according to Eden: School Clothes!

In our district, the kiddos wear uniforms from kindergarten until 5th grade.  Preschool is pretty much our chance to let the kiddos wear regular clothes.  Eden and I have been having so much fun getting her dressed for her school days.  Something about asking her, "SO what do you want to wear to school today?" and her having an answer and opinion has made her seem so grown up!

I can't stand how old she is seeming these days... 

Oh goodness, I love this girl of ours!

only 20%

DISCLAIMER:  I am not a fashion or organizational expert.  I just had so much fun with this closet challenge that I wanted to document it.  Also, I have been very inspired with the fact that we will be moving in less than a month.  
Don't worry, I won't quit my day job♥!

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My dad saves articles for me from the Wall Street Journal (from their lifestyle/fashion section).  (Yah, not so much from current events or the financial pages... my Dad is a realist that knows his daughter.)  Last April, they did a story on how the average person wears only 20% of their entire wardrobe. (For those that LOVE math as much as I do, that means 80% is just sitting there, not being worn or used.)  That just seems crazy!  After reading the article, I did another go with the hanger method that I had seen from the organizer Peter Walsh.  It had been about 9 months of wearing what was in my closet, so a few weeks ago, I pulled out all the clothes that had not been worn and made two piles:  one to share/donate, and one that was questionable.

I had a few items that were in an unsure pile and so I committed to wearing them over the next few weeks.  I decided if I didn't wear them, they would be donated.

(I had a few dates with friends where I was able to shed the packing and grungie clothes and actually put some thought into what I was wearing.  With how crazy I have been feeling with the move and the sick kids and Kit traveling, it really did feel good to put some effort into it.  Each time I would get "dressed up", Ryder asked if we were going to church, and Eden would say, "CUTE, mama!" Giving effort is apparently few and far between around here.)
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Here are the ones that made a comeback:

I hadn't worn the grey sweater in so long, but I really liked it layered.

 these shoes and the scarf hadn't been pulled out in over a year, so they made a comeback together.

 Ok, minus the dorky pose, I was going to give away this button down shirt because the collar was a little funny, but it's long and I liked how it went with the scarf.

 This brown sweater was CRAZY comfortable.  I don't know why I didn't wear it this last fall.

(Oh wait, probably because it was almost always 90 degrees!)  

 This button up white shirt and cardigan are other ones that were saved by layering.

I was going to give this grey blazer away but I liked it with rolled sleeves, so it stayed, and went out to dinner for a co-workers retirement party:

I got rid of over 20 pieces of clothing, and I have to say, that my wardrobe feels so much bigger because I am actually wearing what's in it.  I'm thankful that the stuff that was just sitting there is going to get used by someone who needs it! 
Ok, now back to wearing my errands/packing/grungie clothes...
I have some packing to do!

making some effort: thrift store addition

In an effort to keep up with the challenge of picking a few days in the week where I get out of my work out and yard work clothes, I have been having some fun putting outfits together and feeling a little more dressed up! Recently I have been having some fun finding little items at thrift stores.  (I was really inspired by Jen Hatmaker in her book Seven to shop at thrift stores and I have been having some fun getting some good stuff!)

I noticed that some of my recent favorites have been from the Good Will and so I wanted to post them.

Did I mention that this is NOT a fashion blog, as evidenced by the photos and ensembles.♥

All the tops are thrifted:

(All together they came to less than $25! Yep, that's 5 tops and one pair of shoes!)

White top from the Loft:

 My baby girl helped me get ready. An adorable baby goes with everything I wear...Literally... 

(Truthfully, I pretty much haven't had privacy to get dressed since April of 2010♥.)

Another top from the Loft:

 This chambray top was American Eagle:

My first Mother's Day gift.  I love this necklace!

Thrifted Old Navy shirt:

 I love stripes, so this one just had to come home with me, and it was only three dollars!

 I got these Mossimo shoes at Good Will, never worn with tags still on for six dollars, IN MY SIZE!!! It was meant to be...

It's been really fun finding these little steals and getting to make a few fun outfits together with them.

haircut

We watch Downton Abbey and I started noticing a similarity to one of the characters:

 Do you see it?  Yep, Daisy and I were looking way too similar...

I really needed a haircut so that I didn't have to deal with all the length.  (My way of dealing with my hair was to put it in a bun EVERY SINGLE DAY.  It was time for a change.  Seriously, PBS was calling me to be Daisy's stand in...)

Before:

So almost six inches are off and I am so happy for a new look!

I can not tell you how good this haircut feels!

boots, fall fashion, and pinterest

A couple of christmas' ago, Kit got me these boots.

 I love them!  So now that the weather is finally cooling down, I have been wearing them as much as I can.  I have been pinning outfits that heave been giving me ideas for how to wear them.  I am so excited that it is FINALLY feeling like fall!  I thought that I would share some of my favorites:

(Ok, Im not into all of the accessories but I need any help that I can get when it comes to fashion...)

I hope that you enjoy some beautiful fall weather in your neck of the woods.