favorite outfits of 2014

hot n cold |snow-bo | my favorite casual outfit | smitten pinspired style: mustard scarf | that's so 70's | my new favorite outfit | wind blown one year | a good week ahead | green + leopard | a neglected favorite a whim | the perfect LBD | trick or treat all new favorites | coral blazer | blanket scarf tips | refreshed
When I was scrolling through my archives to pick my favorites, it wasn't hard at all. All of these outfits stuck out to me because I remember feeling completely confident in them, like I could take on the world (ok maybe not the world, but for sure the day). If I had to pick my favorite outfit of the year it would be a close tie with 'all new favorites,' 'trick or treat,' and 'my new favorite outfit.' Which is your favorite? 

refreshed

Shirt: Goodwill $4

Sweater: Old Navy (on sale) $12 [here]

Pants: The Limited (50% off + $20 off coupon) $20 [here]

Boots: JCP $45 [here]

Scarf: Ebay $4

Total Outfit Cost: $85

Wednesday before last, I told y'all how I had been in a funk lately.  I let a weeks worth of bad sleep and some medicine affect my mood and ultimately my days.  Well Wednesday night, I went to bed early, and I told myself I wasn't going to let myself be affected like that.  I needed to have control over my mood, nothing else. 

In the last year, I must have forgotten that I'm a morning person.  I always have been, and apparently that has yet to change.  I know, I'm rare haha.  For the month of December I'm on the dredded Tuesday-Saturday 9-6 shift that no one in the office likes.  Even though I was getting up an hour later for work, I was still tired around the same time every night.  Thursday morning I decided to wake up 45 minutes early.  I took a long bath and listened to worship music (Kari Jobe station on Pandora), I washed and blow dried my hair, look a little extra time on my makeup, and overall, just got ready slowly and peacefully.  Then I ate my breakfast and read God's word.  It was just what I needed.  I felt so refreshed to start my day. 

I want to be able to start all my days like that.  It may not be for everyone to wake up early, but for me, it obviously works!  Sure, I may have to fight myself to get out of bed early in the morning, but if it's going to make me in a better mood in the long run, I'm all for it.  This will also help me with being more intentional in seeking God.  I will admit, I don't read the bible like I should.  I'm going to make it a priority to wake up early to spend time for myself and for my God.

What do you do for yourself when you're feeling in a funk? Do you take time for some self care?

    

the most wonderful

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Scarf: Ebay $12 [similar]

Blouse: Target (30% off) $16 [similar in long sleeve]

Cardigan: Old Navy (sale + super cash) $13 [here]

Jeans: Old Navy, gift carded [here]

Boot Socks: Payless $4

Boots: JC Penney (on sale + 15% off) $45 [here]

Total Outfit Cost: $90

I hope you all had a great Christmas! I sure did! Christmas morning I was the first one up (always), so I had my coffee and waited on everyone else to get up. My sister, her boyfriend, and my husband took forever to wake up! I unsuccessfully tried to wake them multiple times haha. When they finally got up, we first opened presents. I thought I was going to be smart and let the dogs into their stockings first so that they'd chew on their bones and leave us alone. Well, Charlie grabbed her entire stocking when we gave it to her and brought it to our bedroom! It was hilarious. I guess she didn't want to share with my parents' dogs. My parents' dogs had no interest in the bones we got them. After presents, we ate my mom's traditional breakfast casserole! Mmmm. It gets better every year. Then, we had to take pictures in our matching PJs (another tradition of ours). Then, Larry and I went to his Granny's to spend some time with his family. We ate lunch with everyone, and then we played white elephant. I ended up with my own gift so I was happy. ;) Later on, we headed back to our house and we put Larry's present from me to use! I got him an electric smoker, so we smoked a turkey. I'm usually not big on baked turkey, but smoked? It was GOOD. Mom also made my mawmaw's cornbread dressing recipe and I made my aunt's green bean casserole recipe. So we ate good for supper! My sister and her boyfriend left the next day, but my parents stayed with me until Sunday night (Larry went hunting this weekend). So the Wallace household is empty now after a week full of guests! So bittersweet!

making our house a home | christmas 2014

 

Is Christmas really here?? ALREADY?? As excited as I am, I'm not ready for Christmas to be over! I love all of the time spent with family, good food, good laughs, and beautiful decor! Christmas may be over after this week, but I promise you that my house is staying decorated like this throughout January!

Tonight we are having Christmas with my dad's family, tomorrow with my in-laws, and then Christmas morning with my mom's family. My heart will be so full in the next few days! As we open presents with our families, we need to remember that we have already been given the greatest gift of all- our savoir, Jesus Christ! We can't forget that HE is the REASON for SEASON! Merry Christmas All!! 

ugly christmas sweater

Sweater: Garage Sale $0.25

Legging/Pants things: Walmart $12

Boots: JCP $45 [here]

Total Outfit Cost: $57.25

 

It's that time of the year... ugly Christmas sweater time!  Is it just me, or is it kinda annoying that the whole ugly Christmas sweater thing is super in right now, so when I (whom frequents the Goodwill) go thrifting specifically for an ugly Christmas sweater, I can't find one! Grrrr.  I actually found this one last summer at a garage sale.  I had no ugly sweater parties planned at the time, but I thought it would be a good idea to go ahead and buy it anyways.  Last year for our work Christmas party we decided to make it an ugly Christmas sweater party, but instead of wearing my garage sale find, I decided to be a little crafty, and I made my own. This year, I wasn't feeling so crafty.  So a year and a half later I got to finally wear my ugly sweater!  I think that I'm going to start collecting ugly Christmas sweaters in the summer so that I can actually find them! (and don't you take my idea! ;) haha 

all black on + a lil cobalt and mustard

Top: Le Tote (first month free) [similar] Legging Pants: The Limited (sale + $20 coupon) $20 [here] Heels: Target $22 [here] Cardigan: Zara $10 Necklace: Le Tote (first month free) [similar] Total Outfit Cost: $52   When I originally thought up this outfit I thought I would pair it with my striped skirt, but once I put it all together, it just wasn't working. Luckily, my favorite pants weren't far (ya know, on the ground in my closet... oops) so I grabbed them for a quick fix.  Some days the outfits in my head win, some days they loose. I'd say I won this time though because I actually like this outfit much better than with the skirt!   I hate to write such a Debbie downer post today, but man, I have just been in a funk this week. I was sick with a sinus infection last week, so I called into work Friday and went to the doc. They gave me antibiotics, a steroid pack, nose spray, cough syrup, AND a shot. I feel much better (other than this itchy cough that the cough meds don't help), but the antibiotics and steroids are just seriously messing with my sleep! I hate that even though I'm better that I have to finish them off. Last week I couldn't sleep because of the sickness, this week I can't sleep because of the medicine! So annoying! Especially coming from someone who thoroughly enjoys her sleep at night. I hope that this funk ends soon because Christmas is almost here, and I don't want to be the Grinch!

trimmed in leather

Cardigan: LeTote (got my first month free) [here] J. Crew Tee: Bargain World Thrift Store $2 Pants: The Limited (50% off + $20 off coupon) $20 [here] Boots: old Scarf: Ebay $15 Total Outfit Cost: $37   This cardigan is another fabulous item Le Tote sent me! I fell in love with it the moment I put it on. I considered keeping it, but then I looked at the price online and I could never ever ever justify almost $70 for a cardigan. So sadly back to Le Tote it went. :(   I've had so much fun styling all of the gorgeous things Le Tote has sent me. And it helps with not having to think much about what you're wearing for 3 out of the 5 work days. They send you 3 clothing items and 2 pieces of jewelry, so I'll style each clothing item 1 way, making 3 outfits for the week, then I just wear stuff out of my own closet for the other 2 days! I've gotten 3 totes from them and so far I am 9 for 9 (clothing only) with liking what they send me and 8 for 9 with fit (one dress was too short).