Outfit // Watercolor Peplum

Outfit_5_16_14

Jeans Jacket: Thrifted

Shoes: Target (from forever ago)

Pants: Target

Top: TJ Maxx

Outfit2 5_16_14

One of my 500,000 (mild exaggeration) god children graduated from Kindergarten. For some reason, this morning, Jason and I were on serious Jamaican people time. Fortunately, we got there while he was still sitting with his classmates so I could get a photo of him. He was so proud of himself, sitting up there with his piercing blue eyes that was intensified by his blue shirt, holding his diploma. It wouldn’t have been E if he wasn’t wearing a tie with skulls and cross bones.

Seeing E at his graduation made me reminisce a bit. I remembered the age of simple delights like cookies, playing on the playground, loving all of your teachers (I mean, what kindergartener didn’t?), and falling asleep in the car and having your mom carry you in the house. Ah, those were simpler times.

OOTD3 5_16_14

The first time I saw this top, it was actually from a distance.  I thought it was a floral print, but when I got up close, I realized it was more like watercolor. I also really love the pleating on the bottom portion of the top because it adds a bit more structure to it.

Outfit1 5_16_14

 

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Getting Organized: Entryway

I have always been an ‘everything in its place or it will be on the floor’ type of person. I’ve also been pretty cheap in the past. If I found something I loved, I would typically purchase the next best thing because I didn’t want to spend the money. I am NOT this person anymore. After years of doing this, I realized that it doesn’t work to get the next best thing if you have the option of getting the best thing.

When it comes down to organizing, you have to ask yourself, “Self, is this efficient? Is this working for me?” Be prepared to be brutally honest. Disregard whether the methods or tools you use to organize is cheap or good enough or even expensive. The only way to measure if your money was well spent on whatever methods you used to organize is if you are now organized. Did it work? If you’ve set up a system for organizing and it still isn’t organized, it didn’t work.

Sooooo, I’ve been having to take stock of where my organization is failing and what is actually working for me. This is when I realized that I need more stuff. I need stuff to put more of my stuff in…hahaha…ridiculous.

One issue in many households is the entryway. A lot of things get lost in translation here. Before you know it, you have a pile of shoes, a pile of mail, and a pile of other crap you’ve unloaded either on your way in or out.

Here are a couple of pictures of my entry way prior to reorganizing it.

Old Foyer Edit1

Old Foyer Edit2

 

This was not working for us. The shoes were piling and looking crazy, and so was the tower of mail on the table. Thanks to our local Ikea (and by local, I mean 2 hours away), we were able to find a great solution to make our entryway transition more seamless by organizing that area with the Hemnes shoe cabinet.

Here are the progress pics. I had a long day so there is a cup of coffee on it. So what? Sue me. Seriously, don’t sue me.

Entryway_Progress1

Entryway_Progress2

It isn’t perfect as yet, but I know that this system is working because this area doesn’t really get messy anymore. The drawers on this unit is perfect for storing keys, dog leashes, or other small items that you typically carry in and out of your home. The other 2 larger sections beneath the top drawer holds 6 pairs of shoes per section, on average. If you have smaller feet or if you’re storing flip-flops, flats, or sandals, you can get away with a lot more.

The next task for this area is adding some color, more of our personality, and a section to hang things (we don’t have a coat closet of anything). I can’t wait to see what it will look like when it’s finished. Then again, I like changing things around so much, so is it every really finished? It will be a surprise to us all.

xoxo

Our Ampersand Photography Workshop

Our_Ampersand_Workshop2

Yesterday, I went to a photography workshop by Jaime of Our Ampersand Photography held by The Chattery at an amazing clothing boutique called Fredonia Provision for Women.

Jaime is not only a photographer, but she is a fun and unapologetic style blogger. You can find her sassy self over at her blog ‘She Wore It Anyways.’

The workshop was such an amazing experience. I thought I was going there to simply learn about photography, but I gained so much more. Jaime gave a lot of insight in terms of using the camera as a tool, but what she really instilled in me was taking confidence as I learn to develop a discerning eye with taking my own shots.

Now that I’m armed with my camera and amazing info from the workshop, I’m excited about improving my photography quality for both my blog and other endeavors.

Follow Jaime on Instagram @ Our_Ampersand_Photo.

Hello, Friends!

1. I’m back! Boy, it’s been crazy ’round here. But I’ve missed blogging, so, hello!

Photo Credit: Blue Cow Creative

2. I’ve finally made some headway with my decor. Hopefully I will hurry and finish some things before I change my mind again. What I do need in my life is this light fixture. I NEED THIS. Yes. Need.

Photo Credit: Shades of Light

3. I dyed my hair blue black. But a new fun color is coming very soon!

Blue Black Hair

4. I finally went to my local aquarium. Jellyfish are beautiful. Butterflies scare me. I ran through the butterfly room…hahaha…sigh.

Jellyfish

5. I had a chance to meet a beautiful friend in person…finally. It was like we always knew each other.

Natalie and Satoya

6. Milo learned karate.

Milo doing karate

I’m so excited to be back with you all. There’s so much to talk about! ‘Till next time.

xoxo