Mamma Monday: HOPE

Today I attended a luncheon hosted by the Junior League of Charlotte, of which I am a proud member. We serve our community and also develop the potential of women through leadership and other forms of trainings. The JLC has had a HUGE impact on my life professional and personally.

The speaker of the 'Working Lunch' was Elizabeth Smart.  A kidnapping survivor.  Her message was truly encouraging! I wanted to share with you some of the key points I took home with me today.

- Don't let the past or experiences define you.  Move forward, learn and grow.

- Never give up, Always have Hope.

- The love of a parent is unconditional.

Towards the end of her talk she shared that her Mother had told her that no matter what that she would always love her and knowing that gave her hope and strength to live.  Knowing that no matter what she did or what happened to her that her Mother would forever love her and be there for her gave her the drive and endurance to stay hopefully that she would one day return home to her.

Gals, I have to be honest, I teared up a bit.  Now that I'm a Mamma I couldn't imagine anything like that happening to baby Vivian Louise.  I get anxious when she's on concrete! BUT I do love her unconditionally and will do my very best to make sure she knows that every day.

What an honor to be a mother! #amen

More importantly I want to raise her to know that God loves her and to put her trust and faith in Him. Because of Him we have hope!

We all have past experiences and struggles.  I encourage each and every one of you to see the blessings that come from them.
Motherhood most certainly has it's own set of challenges.  But you can rest in God, knowing that He has a perfect plan with a purpose for you! He has blessed you with everything you need every day.
Enjoy even the hard days, because they're only this little once.

I wore this LWD (little white dress) and felt so sophisticated! While I get dressed every. single. day. Sundays are the most often the only day where I'm truly gussied up. And more than the dressing up, it was nice to network and connect with my friends.

Confession: I REALLY miss the corporate world. and I REALLY love being with my baby every day.  #thestruggleisreal #sacrifice

Dress Beautifully with Hope

XOXO Sarah Louise

Trending: Hair Accessories, Smocking & Clear Bags

TGIF! Gals, what a wonderful week! I celebrated my 36th birthday yesterday, actually I celebrated last weekend too with a double date with my best friend Saturday night and birthday cake with my family on Easter Sunday. I met up with my sister at the park yesterday so that our girls could play.  Vivian's cousin is only 9 weeks younger so they're bffs. She took me out to lunch and then some Target time because that's what Mammas do #truth.  Naturally we bought stuff for the kids.
Then my other sister came over in the afternoon with more lemon cake #yolo and babysat Vivian so that Mr could take me out on a date.  He actually left the hospital on time!!!
Birthdays are one of those times for extra gratitude. Life is a precious gift, one that I cherish every day. Cheers to 36 years!

She did NOT want us to leave but date nights are a MUST and they don't include her!

AND Taylor Swift released a new song at midnight!!!!! I'm a HUGE fan and have been anxiously awaiting this big news for weeks. I consider it my birthday gift :) Vivian and I had a dance party this morning and I've been jamming out to it all day. It's one of my favorites.

"I'm the only one of me ... that's the fun of me" Mr confirmed there are no truer words haha

Let's chat fashion shall we.  There are 3 things trending big right now that I wanted to share.
Hair accessories, smocking and clear bags.

Hair Accessories:
I've been wearing barrettes, clips, pins, headbands, etc. in my large mane for years! My Mamma does too.  It's like jewelry for you hair and with as much as I have it needs to be contained with something strong and be pretty.

I also don't like wearing my hair plain and in the same way everyday.  Give me accessories, braids, and twists. Hair styles shouldn't be boring.

So here are some popular and pretty hair accessories sure to make any outfit complete from head to toe!

Pearl Clips -they add bold & classy touch. I ordered these and they hold great.

Headbands - I'm ALL about this brand out of India for headbands.  It was hard to pick just one. They are intricate and beautiful.  And not too big.  I ordered this one because it's neutral and it's named 'Vivian' #meanttobe
You must check all of the unique styles out!

Tortoise Clips - I've been wearing these for over 10 years. They blend with your hair and are perfect for ALL occasions.

You can also use silk scarves tie around your ponytails.  I have a large vintage collection that I need to wear more of.

Smocking:

I'm obsessed with smocking clothes for baby Vivian but it's everywhere in women's fashion too.  Keep in mind it is super stretchy making it very fitted where it's placed on the garment. Meaning it will accentuate curves! In my opinion it's either cute or it's not. So try it on and regardless of how pretty the piece is if it's not flattering don't wear it!

Here's some that I think are pretty...

Cherry Blossom Peplum Top
I ordered this and it should arrive any day now.  My only hesitation is having to wear a strapless bra UGH more options HERE

I love the puff sleeves on this one! It may be a bit on the shorter side but not a problem with a higher waisted pant or skirt.

This peplum top is classic and would be perfect with a pair of white jeans.


Clear Bags:

Now this trend is a challenge for me. Plastic handbags ekkkk But designers are putting them out there in mass quantities and styles. So if you like them my suggestion is to limit your investment.  I don't believe this trend will last and you'll find yourself putting it in the donate pile in a couple of seasons.
I do think they are practical for public events where they check your bag or if you work in retail where your bags are checked when leaving or even at the beach.

Personally, I like my pile concealed!

I did see some at Marshalls & TJ Maxx for around $30. Similar to this one.

I love the handle on this one.

This tote has nice trim.

And this clutch is chic.

Sooooo many options HERE!

Have a FUN weekend!

Dress Beautifully in Hair Accessories, Smocking & Maybe a Clear Bag 

XOXO Sarah Louise

Capsule Wardrobe Essentials: Chambray & White

I know you've heard and seen the term 'capsule wardrobe' but what is it? Basically it's a 'mini wardrobe made up of really versatile pieces that you totally love to wear.'  I'm 100% guilty of NOT having a capsule wardrobe.  But, I'm not the hoarder of clothes I used to be either. #balance

I adore the principles of a capsule wardrobe.  Having very few pieces, most recommend around 40, that can be paired in many ways and repeated to eliminate excess in your closet.  While I believe a minimal approach is amazing in almost all aspects of your life, I just can't (don't want) to purge down to that level when it comes to my clothes.

What you will find is that about 75% of my wardrobe is made up of classic, timeless pieces so that I do achieve versatility and longevity.

For example: I wore my wedding rehearsal dress from 9 years ago this past Sunday for Easter. 

If I were to create a capsule wardrobe there would be white jeans and a chambray top.  I can NOT live without lots and lots of white and chambray is so clean, fresh and comfortable matching pretty much everything! 

For a current approach, these wide leg crop jeans and puff sleeve top check all the trend boxes.  Personally I'm obsessed with a puff sleeve.  I have narrow shoulders and it adds a feminine detail that balances my figure.  And the wide leg crops are super relaxed and really show off your shoes. 

My style is polished so I had to tuck and add a belt. It's those touches that define your personal style. 

Chambray Top & Here & Here | Crop Wide Leg Jeans | Wedges | Belt |

Dress Beautifully in Chambray & White

XOXO Sarah Louise

Mamma Monday: Play Outside

Happy Monday! I don't dread Mondays.  In fact it's a new start to a new week full of goals.  Now that it's Spring and the weather is warm one of my goals is to play outside every day.
Except for this weekend UGH I couldn't wear my new birthday dress because it was 50F and raining Saturday night - I even had to pull a sweater out of my stored away winter clothes to wear Easter afternoon.  Hoping Mr can get out of the hospital on time Thursday and take me out for a drink so I can wear my dress! (not holding my breath though #marriedtomedicine)

Baby Vivian LOVES to be outside and I share in her joy of fresh air and sunshine!

Her first Easter egg hunt at Grandma's was so much fun! 

She was good at picking up the eggs and placing them in her basket. 

We just made a huge investment into our landscaping so that she can play in our backyard, we can enjoy meals outside and even host our friends over for barbecues and maybe even some wine by a fire pit!

Now, just like the inside of our home I don't want the outside to be cluttered with baby toys.

So, here's how we plan to enjoy the outside ...

1.  Go to a friend's house and enjoy their outside play toys

My gal pal has an awesome sandbox and thank goodness Vivian loved it! We're taking her to the beach for the first time in June and I was nervous she wouldn't like the sand.  The great thing about this sandbox is that when her kiddos are done with it she can turn it into a garden.
It's good to have time with other Mammas and it gives variety to the children.

Or to a park

Sundays Vivian gets one long nap so we can stay after church and play on the playground.

It's also good for socialization and learning to share with other children.

2. Get a few outdoor toys that are easy to store and have years of use.

We gifted Vivian this car for Easter and she is obsessed with it! It has a floorboard in it until she's big enough to use her feet to move it.  It should last us at least 3 years and it was only $40. She even pushes the cat around in it! We stroll her through the neighbor hood and she's all smiles.

This wagon is great too because she can push a load of toys out while I work in our garden.

She also adores her swing we hung on our front magnolia tree.

I also want to get her an inflatable pool like this one so we can easily store it away when we aren't using it.

3. Art - Sidewalk chalk, paints and crayons are perfect for creating masterpieces and keeping the mess outside of your home.  Color right on the concrete or tape paper down.  You could even get cheap sheets as a drop cloth or to even paint on.

4. Picnic - I'd eat all my meals outside if I could!  When Mr and I lived on the water when we were in the Navy we at outside as much as possible.  I plan to do the same here on our patio and on a blanket with baby Vivian for lunch.

5. Nature Hunts - explore different types of leaves and flowers around. Children find entertainment and learning in the simple things around them.  Sticks and rocks spark creativity! They can also help you take care of plants and a garden if you have one.

Don't forget shade!  We have lots of trees but need to add a big umbrella for the patio.  For times when you don't have any ALWAYS sunscreen and wear a hat!

When in doubt play some music for an outdoor dance party and bubbles! Lots and lots of bubbles make the biggest smiles :) 

Tip: Playing outside = dirty! So get play clothes at a children's consignment store, from a gal pal who's children have out grown them or somewhere inexpensively like Walmart. 

Dress Beautifully When Playing Outside

XOXO Sarah Louise

G O O D Friday

The most special of Fridays is today.  Good Friday.  It's SO GOOD because today, today we remember the day Jesus gave His life for every single one of us. Chills gals, chills!

I'll get to the fashion portion of this post in just a min, but first ...

A student in my Sunday school class painted this for me not knowing how much I loved Easter.

He died so that we may live forever. He died for our sin filled lives.
I can not even fathom.

Here are some verses to pray over .....
I posted them in the form of a picture so that you could Pin or save it for easy reference

While this is the reason for celebration I believe it is great to embrace the less important yet fun elements of the holiday as well. Like the Easter Bunny, egg hunts, and of course dressing up.

I've also found that retailers get into just about every holiday spirit in the form of promotions and sales.  I'm game! So I've rounded up some Easter sales for you in case you're in the mood to fill your own basket with a few treats :)

Anthropologie - 20% off all tops! and extra 50% off sale.  Gals, I must say I'm so glad Antho is having more sales - they're super pricey and until lately the only price break was your birthday month discount (I just used mine on this dress) or end of season sales which is often picked through pieces but I have been lucky.

Loft - 40% off Everything! Great place to stock up on basics and casual wear.  If you receive their emails you should have an extra 10% you can combine!

J Crew - up to 50% Summer styles and an Extra 15% off with code HEYSUMMER.

Ann Taylor - 50% off your purchase! Code HOPTOIT

Banana Republic - 40% off everything

Kate Spade - extra 30% off of Sale items code: JOYSOFSPRING

Lisi Lerch - Free shipping all weekend - She makes some of my favorite earrings

For your Littles:

Smocked Auctions - 20% with code: EASTER20

Smocked South - 15% off site wide code: Easter15

Beaufort Bonnet Company: $1 monogram ends today code: dollardaisy - free shipping all weekend

Dress Beautifully this Good Friday & Easter

XOXO Sarah Louise

The 3 P's of Pretty

Gals, it's time! Time for all the whites. Easter is Sunday and that means it's officially the season of light and bright styles.  Personally, I'd wear white all day every day if I could - if you've been reading this blog for any length of time or know me in real life you know that's true.

I also believe in classic styles but you need to mix in some statement details so that you're wardrobe isn't too simple. This top is the ticket!
It has the 3 P's of Pretty: Pink, Polka Dot, & Peplum.  And as a bonus Puff Sleeves! They are a trending detail that I'm so happy about.  I have a very petite upper body so they give me balance and draw the eye upwards.
Puff sleeves were all the rage in the 80's & 90's - let's not go to that extreme, but a little pleating and volume will most definitely elevate your style.

The polka dots are in a precious shade of blush and the peplum adds a crisp flare.  I swapped out the fabric sash for a belt of my own because the colors matched and I tend to always add my own belts.  Belts are one of my favorite accessories and I have some fantastic vintage pieces.  They add texture and accessorize in a way like jewelry.

I feel that most gals tend to style tops and bottoms with contrast. Meaning if one is light the other must be dark. That's not a rule to be followed.  I find it very pretty to pair lights with lights and darks with darks.

I also feel that just because a piece is a statement that it shouldn't be kept for special occasions. Style this top with a pair of shorts for a day with your gal pals, a skirt for church, trousers for the office and jeans for date night.

These pants are a comfortable staple.  Easy breeze and great for weekdays and weekends. In a cropped length they can also highlight any shoe.

These Shoes!!! They were my Valentine's Day gift.  They are so shiny in a pretty rose gold and oh so comfortable in a mid heel.  They come in a higher heel (and more colors) but I prefer moderate height. You'll see these on my feet a lot!

Reminder: Laughter is Always Pretty :)

Polka Dot, Peplum, Puff Sleeve Top | Wide leg Crop Pants | Rose Gold Sandals |

Dress Beautifully in a Statement Summer Top

XOXO Sarah Louise

Mamma Monday: Jewelry

Happy Monday Mammas! It's one of my favorite weeks of the year.  It's Holy Week.  Yesterday was so special celebrating Palm Sunday.  It was our church's 29th anniversary and our annual potluck.  I absolutely adore that our church has several potluck suppers in our fellowship hall every year.  This year Vivian joined all the other children and played on the playground.  So much joy!
It was also special because our pastor retired and we installed our new pastor.  I must admit it was bittersweet as we've been members for 10 years this year and our pastor married us and dedicated our baby. But I'm not afraid of change and am welcoming our new one with excited open arms!

I'm also excited because I've finished Vivian's Easter basket!  We also found an amazing children's shoe store on Saturday and she now has several pairs of pretty shoes to fit her itty bitty piggies.

Next up is my birthday - 10 days! I don't get too enthusiastic about it because I'm not a kid and time with my family and friends is really all I ever want.

And then it's Mothers Day! Now that I'm totally jazzed for.  I'm blessed to be alive another year and blessed to be a Mamma!

I've rounded up some 'Mamma' jewelry that just may be the perfect gift ...

Initial Necklace
I've been eyeing one of these for about a year.  I like delicate jewelry and love the scattered placement of the initials.
Since I'm a double name and Vivian (as well as 3 generations before me) all carry the middle name Louise, I was thinking of doing SL & V.
I also love this because for growing families you can always add more initials.

'Mama' scattered initials
This is similar to the necklace above.

'Mama' ring - I'm a ring gal! Last year Mr gave me a big amethyst cocktail ring that I wear all the time.

'Mama' necklace
I actually saw this one at Nordstrom yesterday. It's delicate also.

'Mom' necklace - I never really called my mother 'mom' it was always 'Mamma' but I think this would be a super sweet gift and the discs are unique.

'Mom' bracelet - I like this better than a bangle. Better fit!

Dress Beautifully in Nice Mamma Jewelry

XOXO Sarah Louise