When we think of Fall, two things usually come to mind; pumpkin spice and the best outfits of the entire year. Fall or Autumn fashion and trends are cozy, chic & so much fun. If you’re like me, the time to shop for our fall outfits is now, because we didn’t have time while we were getting the kids ready for school. I’ve got you, Momma! Here are the top Fall Fashion Trends for 2018 and how you can actually incorporate them into an easy, but chic wardrobe that is actually wearable.
Western Elements
This year on the runway we saw a lot of nods to western wear, which is totally fun to add to your wardrobe. Whether you pull out those leather pieces that you’ve tucked away or shop for a new leather skirt, it’s the perfect touch to fall 2018. I paired this skirt from White House Black Market with a sheer black top, dark BCBG heels, and a felt hat from Nordstroms. Dress the look down with a pair of simple flats for a daytime look that you can chase the kids in, this outfit is actually super comfortable!
Blazers & Sparkles
Next, on the runway this year were suits and sparkles! Think Blazers and shiny accessories as a simple way to update what you already have. Remember, you can and SHOULD wear white after Labor Day. I love this blazer from the Eleven Oaks Boutique, they always have a fantastic assortment available and stay up to date on wearable trends. Check them out here, or find them on Facebook where they host plenty of fun giveaways. I paired this look with comfy ripped jeans and my favorite Vince Camuto booties. Vince Camuto heels are the most comfortable in the world and you can actually chase a toddler in them, trust me.
Animal Prints
Fall is always about deep gem tones and leather boots, but spice it up this year with trending animal prints. I tend to lean away from actual prints and keep it more subtle and neutral. Add a faux fur vest to any solid top or dress for depth and style to your outfits this year. I paired this look with my favorite Frye leather boots and my Louis Vuitton clutch. The two are timeless pieces that will reappear on me for years to come.
Mid-Length Skirts
Mid-length skirts are here to stay, along with oversized bags. Thank goodness we are seeing larger bags again because my purse is a hub for my family’s survival. Tulle skirts have also been floating around on Pinterest for a while and are a super affordable chic way to dress up an ordinary blouse. I paired this skirt with my Tory Burch sandals because, well, winter is almost here and I want to make the most of the mild weather before it’s too late. This season we are channeling a lot of Carrie Bradshaw too, so if tulle is a little out of your comfort zone, try it for a fun date night outfit.
Subtle Plaids
Plaid makes a comeback this year, but in softer tones. From full on plaid suits, to subtle accessories, find room for it in your fall wardrobe. I paired my fall basics with this Burberry belt I’ve had for ages. This look not only screams autumn classic, but is great to wear anywhere including the pumpkin patch. For affordable sweaters, check out Nordstrom’s BP line. This sweater is my toddler’s favorite to cuddle on my lap because it is just so soft.
80’s Bright Colors
80’s are making a huge comeback with bright colors and geometric color blocking everywhere. This flowy dress from Renee Collection added a perfect nod to the trend without looking like a teen in neon colors. I love flowy A line tie dresses because they flatter my mom-tummy and are super comfortable. I get the casual dressy look, without having to pair a top and a bottom.
Florals & Gem Tones
Booties are always Fall, especially with an easy throw on floral dress. Free People make lovely florals like this one, which I love to pair with this purple scarf! When it gets a little chilly, toss on some opaque leggings. These booties from Target are a super affordable addition to any closet as well. Plus, they can be worn all year long!
Red, Red, Red!
Red, red, everywhere! You will need this bright tone to wear this season. Red was seen across the runways, but I love to wear it in a wrap dress. It can be quite a bright color to wear, if you need confidence with it, try pairing it with neutrals like beiges and blacks here. Wrap dresses are always a perfect pair with your fall boots and flatter literally every body type in the world.
Oversized Roll Neck Sweaters
Chunky sweaters are still a fall basic and must have, but look for ones with textures and oversized roll necks. We saw a ton of roll necks in this season’s fashion line up, and they are super cozy. Pair it with your favorite blue jeans, or opt to mix up textures like below!
Mix Textures
Push your boundaries with mixed textures and separates you might not have tried in the past. Also, it’s time for wool again! One of my fashion rules is to wear only one form-fitting piece, letting the rest be flowy or oversized. This is how I keep my outfits pretty and trendy, but not sexy because I’m a mom. Try this outfit with booties for a cozier daytime look.
Simple Yet Chic
See a pattern? One of my biggest fashion secrets is to buy pieces that can be worn as multiple outfits. When investing in your wardrobe this year, stick to pieces that can be worn through many seasons and many outfits. I tend to stock up on silky express tops and camis that I can layer or tuck, they are so flattering on any woman! I love a good highwaisted jean that elongates our torso, if you haven’t gotten a pair yet, the style is not going anywhere. Nude or beige booties go with virtually anything, so splurge on a pair that really feels comfortable so you can look chic while with the kids. Also, they make us look taller and leaner because they’re so neutral yet to die for cute.
Try Multiple Trend Elements
Here we have that important blazer this year, the casual blazer is something you really need to try. Notice that red again? I paired mine with an Anne Taylor tank and simple black jeans. When stepping out of your comfort zone with new pieces and colors like this season’s red, tone down the rest and let the piece speak. Black jeggings are my favorite slimming weapon in my closet for when I overindulge in that pumpkin spice.
Go Full Trend
That western and 70’s vibe really is everything, and you’ll get compliments left and right. Knots, tucks, and tied up tops are the perfect detail to basics as well, so whether you’re rocking a button up or a classic T, give it a little something extra to hit trending notes. No leather? Grab a clutch or boot with fringe to add this style.
Overview
We have Reds, Westerns, Chunky sweaters with oversized rollnecks and details. We have our basics, our 80’s neons, animal prints, plaid, and sparkle. This Fall 2018 lineup really does push the style boundaries in such a fun and wearable way. With so many ways to reuse the pieces we have, and fun new looks to try, which is your favorite outfit? What items do you need in your wardrobe this Autumn? Let me know! Comment below & follow me on Instagram!
Happy Shopping,
Chelsey
P.S.
My toddler helped style this special look and told me, “You’re welcome Mommy.” That’s true Mom life for you right there.
Hey lady, listen, grocery shopping can really take a toll out of our day. Between making our lists, driving, endlessly searching aisles, and having to go back because we forgot that one thing we went there for… you get it. So I was super excited when Amazon and Whole Foods introduced Prime Now aka Whole Foods Delivery Aka Amazon Fresh. Basically, they’re delivering groceries. This isn’t a new concept, many other stores have done this for the small cost of… just kidding most of them add up to ridiculously expensive. Amazon, however, is doing it for FREE. You heard me, free, if you’re an Amazon Prime member that is. So my brain was swirling, how easy would it be to shop for the groceries online? How well would it go? Would it be expensive? It was Whole Foods after all, but they promised to lower their prices. A lot of you were curious too, so I played the guinea pig and gave it a try for you. Guess what? I did not expect what I found, at all.
Here’s How It Works
You can order your groceries and personal items two ways, on the computer or through their new app Prime Now. To my surprise, their app was ridiculously easy to use and navigate. They also make suggestions for items such as milk and bread that you may forget. Thank goodness because I literally almost forgot the milk. Compared to other services, this app was a dream come true. Literally, I sat in the salon chair for my semi-annual hair appointment while I browsed their site for banana chips. I’ve tried so many other online grocery shopping apps and sites that were way too complicated and overwhelming. Overall, the Prime Now was a very neat and easy app to navigate. I’m already impressed.
Is It Really Free?
If you opt for their two-hour delivery window, your delivery is free. However, I am a professional procrastinator and couldn’t wait so I paid an additional $4.99 for the one-hour delivery. Not bad. The app also calculated a $10 tip into my bill, which is to be expected when paying for a service.
Substitutions
One thing you should know if you order groceries is that they almost always make substitutions. For instance, if you order cherry fruit snacks but they are sold out, they may choose another flavor in the same brand, etc.
In this case, the herb roasted potatoes I ordered were substituted with rosemary roasted potatoes. I couldn’t taste a difference.
Bonus, they notified me through the entire process with updates by text. Every substitution was sent to my phone with a link to review the changes. If you don’t like the substitution, deny it with the click of a button. Do note, if you do not accept or deny the changes,
Wait, You Can Talk To Them?
Here is where I am way too excited about Prime Now. My daughter invited another guest for dinner and I hadn’t ordered enough ground beef. There is an option to message your grocery assistant right through the app! I sent a quick message asking to double the amount of ground beef, and received a quaint response within minutes, “Sure thing!” You won’t find that communication field with other services, it was life-saving, or at least dinner saving.
How Was Delivery?
By this point, my friends, I am smiling ear to ear. I can’t describe how much I love this service. When they are finished with your shopping you receive a notification that they are on the way to deliver. You also have a map showing where they are. Instead of waiting at home for the two hours, you can gauge when you’ll need to be home.
Packaging
The Whole Foods bags were lined up nicely on my doorstep, and the ones containing refrigeration items were marked on the top of the bag. I grabbed those first and touted them to the kitchen. My toddler carried the rest to the pantry, he puts away the dry goods so he can find the fruit snacks.
Inside the bags for refrigeration was another insulated bag to keep items cool. However, unlike meal delivery services like Home Chef, they do not contain ice packs. Be sure to schedule delivery for when you are home. Especially because they drop and fly.
Drop & Dash
No need to change out of your lazy clothes or pajamas either. The delivery driver simply dropped the groceries at my door and went on his way. Nothing to sign, no awkward interactions with strangers.
The one downside, they don’t ring the bell when the food arrives, or send a text alert. My groceries could have sat for hours if I wasn’t keeping an eye out for them. Hopefully, this is improved on in the future, but I have heard the same from others as well. Be sure to check the app or your doorstep for the food.
Tipping
Do note, they are not allowed to accept cash tips, probably to assure their safety. My order automatically added a 10% tip to the bill, that you can change in the app.
Cost & Quality
I’ll be the first to tell you, Whole Foods isn’t as expensive anymore. I would even say that they are quite affordable now! It is honestly so reassuring to know that I am able to feed the kids and my husband healthier food and snacks and not break the bank doing so.
All of the products and items were delivered perfectly. One onion had a little bit that needed cut off, but not enough to bother me.
I received 23 items, nothing missing, for $106.37 including tax, tip, and the $4.99 fee for the one-hour delivery.
Overall
I’m gonna preach about Amazon Fresh Whole Foods Delivery like I’m their missionary because it’s that good.
I love being able to order prepared foods for dinners, a bonus time saver.
I don’t have to lug all of the kids to the store, search the aisles for ingredients I need, or yell at the kids to stop twirling near the glass.
The app was so simple to use, free delivery is a huge perk, and the items I received were spot on.
Great prices Whole Foods I am impressed and happier that better ingredients are made so convenient and available to more families.
Be sure to check the app so you don’t miss the groceries on your doorstep. Nice that we don’t need to open the door for a stranger, or tip them in cash, safer for everyone all around.
So, what are you waiting for chica, go and download the Prime Now app & save yourself some time. Then, I want you to let me know how it goes, comment below, or message me directly on Instagram, Facebook, or here on my website. See that contact button up top ^. Let me know what you would like to see on the blog, or simply introduce yourself.
That’s enough for today, I’m off to order more groceries for next week!
Hey Lady, I want to have a real honest chat with you. Let’s talk about loving ourselves, feeling confident and beautiful in our own skin, and how to do it. Before we talk about anything beauty related, we have to go over this.
When I created this blog, I had this in the root of my heart. I wanted to talk from an honest perspective and to teach women (that’s you!) to truly love themselves. As a makeup artist, and someone who has struggled with self love in the past, I learned that many of us women are too hard on ourselves. It can be really difficult to just love the bodies we are in! To put on that swimsuit, to look in the mirror, to feel our very best. I am here, with you, telling you that you can love yourself just the way you are! You are perfect! You deserve to feel beautiful!
I Bet You Didn’t Even Know
I’d bet you didn’t know how damaging it can be to be so hard on ourselves. Whether you treck to the mirror and look at yourself negatively, whether you say you don’t like the way those jeans fit, or what you feel you need to change.
It’s self-bullying! I want you to picture a child you love, whether it be your son or daughter, a niece or nephew, saying the things you say to yourself. You would immediately halt what you’re doing, get down to their eye level, and preach preach preach for them to love and embrace themselves! So why are we so mean to ourselves?
Why You Didn’t Notice
With any bad habit, it begins small. Maybe with aging, or our bodies changing, we start to criticizes ourselves and the way we look. Little by little, we criticize ourselves more, and it becomes easier to do. Then, we’re literally unhappy, our moods revolve around sometime so simple as how that waistband feels, and we don’t realize how often we are legit mean to our own self.
Give Yourself Permission
I want you to give yourself permission to feel beautiful, to feel perfect, to live life and stop dwelling on the negatives. Keep that in your mind, and stop yourself the next time you’re literally bullying yourself in your mind.
How To Feel Beautiful
This is how I went from hating my body, being downright miserable and insecure, to loving all of my “flaws”.
Go right now, and start every morning, right to the mirror. Pick three things that you love about yourself and say them out loud. When I began, I could barely muster that I liked my back. My back! That may sound worse than how you talk to yourself now, it may not, but wherever you are on your self love journey, start now.
By starting the day with positive intent, we can break those horrible self-bullying habits and I promise you, you begin to love yourself. You’ll begin to feel comfortable with your traits and body that make you so beautifully you.
Next week, choose new things you love. You could add more, but you cannot stop. Remember to give yourself permission to feel beautiful. Remember that there is no perfect, perfect is you. Remeber, keep at it, find three things you love about you every single day.
Share With Your Friends
Whether you share this article with a best friend or family member, send them the video, post to social, make it your intent to share self love! Show your friends how to practice it, sometimes the best way we learn is through teaching. Have your friend join you in practicing positivity with you.
Then, the next time a friend voices frustration with her appearance, don’t just tell her she looks fabulous; stop her in her tracks and tell her that she deserves to feel beautiful and how to practice the three things. Confidence comes from within, external flattery only goes so far. Show her how you beat the horrible cycle of bullying yourself in the mirror and make a difference in her life too.
Take Away
So you’ve probably recognized some of these self-bullying habits while reading or watching, something you’re realizing is worse than you thought. Give yourself that permission, tell yourself you are allowed to love yourself. Pick those three things to love in the mirror and keep practicing. Let yourself feel beautiful today, and share it with your friends. Don’t give up, and if you need someone to talk to or cheer you on, I’m here for you! Message me directly, send an email, find me on social. We have a wonderful group on Facebook, CBC Ladies Talk, where talk about life, what matters to us and support each other. As women, we are stronger together. Join the group and have a tribe of women to support you.
You’ve got this Miss, you are perfect, keep loving on yourself & you’ll get there,
You find dirty dishes piling up next to an empty dishwasher, and toys are littered across the floor like a minefield. Sound familiar? Our children have a talent for crafting messes like no other, that’s what kids do right? What if I told you that my kids clean up after themselves and help keep the house clean too? It’s true, and they only have one job each. So how is it done? It’s a lot easier than you would think.
Don’t Make Cleaning Their Chore
I don’t really like the word chore, I envision children slaving about the home for hours with cleaning rags and mops. In fact, my kids only have one “job” each. So when do they clean? A little here and there.
When we give our children large and daunting tasks to start, they’re less likely to want to complete them or do them well at all. When they fail, those tasks become negative ones to them and they are going to let you know it’s their new enemy. Set them up to succeed with smaller tasks and praise, praise, praise them for those little tasks! A little here and a little there adds up to a lot of help from your little ones. Then, one day, they’ll be ready for bigger jobs and more responsibilities.
Team Work Hardly Seems Like Work
You wash, I’ll dry! Let’s pick up these toys, I’ll get the legos, you get the playdoh! I’ll get the living room done before we go, can you pick up your room or would you rather do the hallway? Heck, split up lunch and dinner cleanup.
Get the gist?
Of course, we already have to clean, but it’s more enjoyable to our kids when they’re included and spending time with us. The same goes for us, we don’t want to be alone in this cleaning thing. Children go with the flow when you make it a positive experience, say it with a smile! The next time the house needs to be cleaned, delegate the tasks and work together to get them done.
Nice Mess Kid, Have Fun Cleaning It
It sounds awful, and it is to them, but sometimes we have to learn from our experiences. We could hoot and holler all day long when they graffiti the walls or paint the counters with who knows what, but do they really understand what they just did? Some messes are REALLY hard to clean! Let them try. When I was sick of cleaning my daughter’s constant soapy mirror art, I handed her a wet cloth and said, “Have at it chica, clean it up!” She shed some tears but quickly learned that the soap just kept on sudsing. That it was hard to clean. Guess what happened? Yep, she never did it again.
If Only They Cleaned Up As They Went
Oh yay, dried cereal on the bowls. It would have been easier if they just rinsed the dish off… what do we do? Build better habits, that’s all. Strap in because those take us a little time. 66 times to build a habit to be exact. Remember potty training? We had to stop and rush to the task at hand, again and again, to help them learn. The same goes for building better cleaning habits. Give gentle reminders, but don’t nag or they’ll dread helping.
Try, “I would love if you could rinse off your dish, please and thank you!” Avoid, “You’d better wash that off!”
Think of working with them, not against them. It sounds silly, and sometimes frustration gets the better of us when we want to just scream, “Oh my gosh please just wash the friggin dish, for the last time!” Bite that lip and remember, 66 Momma, 66 times giving them gentle reminders or working together to build better cleaning habits. You’ve got this!
Throw It All Away
Do your children really need that many stuffed animals? Do they have too many toys for them to possibly keep their rooms clean on their own? Now is a great time to teach them the rewarding feeling that donating brings us. Do yourself a favor and shed the excess items so that tidying up is actually easy for them. If they really don’t play with it or use it, take it to Goodwill and be done with it.
Then go through their rooms together, make sure every item or toy has a place. Teach them how to organize so they can successfully do it on their own.
Make it a habit to go through their rooms together every time the seasons change, as they get older, they’ll do it on their own.
Get It Done Before We Go
One of the best ways to keep the house clean with our children is to tidy up before we leave the house. As parents, we are always on the go, to the grocery store, to their sports and activities, make it a priority to leave the house clean. The best motivation is when the kids want to go somewhere, but their messes stand between them and their fun.
Yes, this means that sometimes we don’t get to go.
One day my children were begging to go to the local library, but the house was a wreck. Cleanliness is important to us. My children watched me clean and scrub and scour the house while they watched television, the clock ticked by, then the library closed. That’s life, important things have to come before fun. If we make our priorities theirs as well, they will join in to complete them. We don’t have to make it a miserable task, because like I said before, teamwork hardly seems like work.
Let your children know which tasks have to be done before leaving for fun. This also sets the example for them that messes cannot wait, if you leave it then they will too. Remember; they learn from watching.
Take Away
Teaching our children to help clean up, and keep the home clean, is a very doable task. Start with small tasks and make them positive experiences! Giving them praise for their hard work, then build up to bigger jobs. Team up or split tasks to get work done while spending a little time together. Stay consistent and positive, and before you know it, they’ll be helping out on their own without even asking them to.
What do you think about chores for kids, and keeping the home clean? What are some tasks you ask of your kids? Which of these tips are your favorites? I love to hear from you! Comment below or message me directly!
It’s that time again, school shopping! This year’s supplies are so cool that I’m ordering some for myself too. Who knew supplies could be so fun to shop for? These will have you totally organized for a super successful start to the year. Here are the must-have school & office supplies that we need right now.
Stay Organized with Chic Planners
I have been on the hunt for the perfect planner, and have finally found it! These agendas have plenty of room for notes, and space for creativity! They fit perfectly into handbags and backpacks too. Love them!
Sometimes we splurge, sometimes we save; there are planners to die for in every budget. We love these more affordable planners at Target! They give you plenty of room to plan, and they save the bank! There are so many beautiful designs this year, it makes us wish we needed more than just one.
Does your pencil motivate you? If not, you’re doing it all wrong. These quoted pencils from Ban.Do are so adorable, they might not get lost this time. We can hope!
This year is all about holographic supplies, and we are just crushing over these pencil pouches! They’re super chic, and you can see what you’re looking for. What more can we ask?
There are sticky notes, and there are these AMAZING sticky notes. We died over the cute ball they come in, both an accessory and a functional way to take notes! Plus, you’ll never have to dig for that little post-it pad again, you won’t want to put it away!
We are just in love with this year’s totally adorable & must have supplies. Have you ordered any of these yet? Which are your favorites? Do you love something that needs to be on here? Let me know! I love to hear from you all and hope supply shopping is a blast this!
