Soooo, it snowed this weekend. As much as I love the snow and wintertime, I am very ready for spring. I love the weather in Colorado but I do wish that the seasons were a little shorter, winter and summer are long and we hardly get spring and fall. Oh well, It’s sunny about 360 days out of the year here so the last thing I should be doing is complaining. The snow is beautiful and at least I get to keep wearing sweaters and wellies. Also, I’m a kid at heart and this last snow has been perfect for packing snowballs and making snowmen.
I love the colors in this outfit. The jeans, black sweater and cream and gray polka dot blythe blouse are text book me. I tend to gravitate toward dull colored basics so I added a fun necklace, bag and lips to tie the outfit together and make it pop. This bag is great by the way, its from Target and comes in multiple colors. It isn’t very roomy but it is divided so its great for finding what you’re looking for. Crossbody bags in this same colors are selling at J. Crew for over $100 so be sure to check out this target option. The amazingly fun and beautiful gold and enamel spring blossom necklace is Stella & Dot and a personal favorite of mine. Shop it at http://www.stelladot.com/talyahshooster The jeans are AG in “seven year shred”. A great ripped denim option if you’re on the hunt. The black sweater is the Tippi sweater that I got at the J. Crew outfit for about %65 off of the original price. If you don’t have a J. Crew outlet near you then be sure to check out J. Crew factory online. The great thing about visiting a physical store is that if you show a student or teacher I.D. you receive an additional %15 off your purchase (this is also true for their sister company Madewell). Moving on…the cream and gray polka dot blythe blouse, which I am obsessed with, I found on eBay. I love eBay. You can find brand new clothes for much cheaper than the retail prices. This particular top is sold out in stores so when I found it on eBay I was just a little excited. eBay is also a GREAT place to get J. Crew jewelry at a much more reasonable price. The adorable J. Crew bow ring is one such purchase. This ring is also on sale at J. Crew stores for $19.99. The pave’ link bracelet is a J. Crew lookalike from Gigglosophy for less than half the price. You can also search “J. Crew bracelets” on Etsy and find a number of great options. The watch is my Michael Kors and the boots are my Hunter wellies. Last but not least, the lipstick. It is from Chanel’s spring collection, #94 EXTATIQUE…in my opinion a spring must have. MAC also has similar colors if you prefer their products.
That about covers it. Hope you enjoy the pictures of me being a complete idiot in the snow. Be sure to visit back as I have a great “Spring Giveaway” planned.
Enjoy your week loves!
Ahhhh Spring is almost here! I love spring styling. As always, pastels and neons are back! Pastels are some of my favorite. I especially love the current trend of mixing them with black and with neons. Its a great trend for mixing up some items you already have in your closet. Here i’ve pulled a few of my favorites. Most of them are from J. Crew…no surprise there. I love that place. These mint brocade pants are amazing. I must have them. If I only make one purchase this spring it will be these pants. The tee, like the pants, are also from J. Crew. I love that it has both light and neon going and is very versatile. Would be great for dressing down lots of outfits. The bag, oh the bag. Its Tory Burch and I love it. It’s also about $500 so a look for less is going to be a better option but it sure is pretty! The necklace (J. Crew) is pastel and bows…what’s not to love? Bows are in people, in case you hadn’t noticed. The Essie polishes I love. I have both of them, the pastel purple is called “Play Date” and the pink is “ballet slippers”. They are both perfect spring colors. The phone case, also from J. Crew is just precious (see the pastel and black thing I’m talking about). The last thing I need is a new phone case but this one is just too cute not to share.
Have any questions about what’s hot for spring? Just ask!
See…..I’m still alive! One of my resolutions was to post at least weekly…probably should make that one a bit more of a priority. The good news is (drum roll) I have hired a photographer! That’s right. You may have to put up with a few more cruddy pics before I’m able to put up the beautiful ones but be patient, it will be well worth the wait!
Ironically, it was the day that I wore this outfit that I met the photographer. Speaking of this outfit, I am SO excited to call this sequined, polka dot, JCrew top mine. I looked for it in my size on the clearance racks over and over with no luck. Then, miraculously, one day as I was looking yet again in a JCrew that I’d already checked multiple times…there it was! Yay!!! I am in love. I love it with the chambray button up underneath. I think it dressed down the top and offers some much needed contrast to the outfit. The leggings are fleece lined. If you don’t currently own fleece lined leggings and if you live anywhere that the temperature ever is below 65 degrees…you need to get some. Probably tomorrow. This particular pair is from TJMaxx but they aren’t hard to find, Walgreens carries them too. The cap toes I got on clearance at Nordstrom and are a great all purpose heel. They totally tie this outfit together. I’m wearing classic pearl earrings in a trendy size (huge) and decided on my oversize Louie to keep the outfit dressed down. I was styling a photo shoot the evening I wore it and it was perfect for the occasion.
Chambray button up – JCrew $60
Polka dot top – JCrew $30
Leggings – TJMaxx $6
Heels – Nordstrom (old-ish) $60
Earrings – Overstock.com $40
Vintage bracelet – Antique store $12
I LOVE THESE SHOES. I love Target even more for making them for me. They come in a variety of colors and are on sale right now so hurry…go and buy them. They are actually pretty comfy for Target heels (I’m super picky, I can admit it). These pictures are actually a little disappointing when it comes to the lip color. I don’t know if it’s the light or what but my lips look pretty red when in actuality they are almost the exact same color as the shoes…I guess you’ll just have to use your imagination. I’ve had these heels for a while but needed a fun outfit to wear them with. They’ve just been sitting in my closet waiting for me to be inspired. Then I got this headband, which I think is super fun, and the same thing happened with it. It sat in my closet while I racked my brain for something to wear it with. The answer came when I made a trip to my local JCrew outlet (heaven) to use a gift card I was given for the holidays (hallelujah). That’s when I spotted this amazing, colorful, paisley, retro, button up shirt. Bingo, I found something to wear with the headband. (Can I please just take this moment to say that I didn’t spend more than the amount I had on the gift card, in fact, JCrew gave me $8 back…EIGHT DOLLARS!!! I was pretty proud, not gonna lie) moving on…
As I was assembling this ensemble I realized I needed a contrasting color and BOOM, pink shoes. Threw on some fuschia lipstick (remember, you’re imagining that color) some gold jewels and a matching pink bracelet. My navy peacoat was a great blending piece not to mention it would have been a little nippy without it.
I thought it was a pretty kick butt outfit that made me feel like a million bucks (I’m sure it helped that I got like ten compliments on the headband). Can’t wait to style each of these pieces again. To be honest it was a little out of my comfort zone but I think taking the risk really payed off. What are you a bit intimidated to try? I challenge you to think outside the box and just go for it! What’s the worst that can happen?
Shirt – JCrew Outlet
Jeans – Citizens of Humanity
Peacoat – Tory Burch
Shoes – Target
Headband – JCrew Factory
Clutch – Forever 21
Link bracelet – ily couture
Pink bangle – Stella & Dot (shop at http://www.stelladot.com/talyahshooster )
Watch – Michael Kors
Lipstick – YSL
I wore this right before Thanksgiving and I’m guessing that is what inspired this outfit. It is very appropriate for the fall weather we’ve been having here in Denver. Its been so mild and sunny, it kills to have to stay inside and do anything other than being in nature. As gorgeous as its been, I am hoping for a snow soon…it doesn’t quite feel like the holidays without snow.
I love the way this burnt orange tee pairs with the army green jacket. I added some pattern with belt and sunnies. I kept the rest of the outfit neutral with brown and gold to keep the outfit warm. I’m wearing my favorite watch and two of my favorite Stella & dot pieces, the “love” bracelet and “renegade” bracelet shop them at http://www.stelladot.com/talyahshooster
This army jacket from JCrew factory has been one of my favorite purchases this season. I wear it all the time and it goes with SO MUCH. I would definitely recommend adding a jacket like this to your wardrobe. Well, that’s all for now!
One more thing…a winner of the giveaway has been chosen! Thank you all for entering and keep checking the blog for more giveaways!
Tee – JCrew Factory
Jacket – JCrew Factory
Jeans – AG
Boots – DSW (old)
Belt – JCrew Factory
Watch – Michael Kors
Bracelets – Stella & Dot
I actually wore heels! For those of you who have children, you will understand how incredibly exciting this is. It’s Sunday and the timing of Sam’s hockey game lined up perfectly to allow us to go to church today (YAY). The teaching was excellent, a wonderful perspective on time, eternity, and the power of God. I cried my eyes out so be impressed at how well my makeup held up. It was a great day for a great outfit. The sweater and skirt are from the Gap outlet and were both great deals. The sweater was less than $30 and a great basic to have in your closet as this oatmeal color goes with EVERYTHING. This skirt is great for fall. A perfect weight that looks great with or without tights or leggings. I love the fun green, blue, turquoise-y (new word) colors and of the course the polka dots are fabulous. It was also around $30 which is a great price for a cold weather skirt. The snakeskin heels were from Nordstrom Rack, one of my favorite places to buy shoes. I hate cheap heels, they are uncomfortable and don’t breathe, making your feet smell really awful. I would rather have half the amount heels and have ones that are actually comfortable. These heels were originally $130 at Nordstrom but were marked down to $70 at the Rack. I had a $20 Nordstrom Note from their reward program so I got them for $50 (excellent deal for really nice, really comfy snakeskin heels). As you can see in this outfit, snakeskin often works as a neutral evidenced by how well it works with the polka dot skirt. A good rule when mixing prints/colors/textures is the rule of three’s. This rule also works with home decor. Use more than three different prints and things will look too busy. I have snakeskin, polka dots in a contrasting but complimentary color, and a solid top that picks up tones in the heels therefore creating a cohesive look. Add some “bordeaux” nails and accessories for added interest and you’re good to go. The Jaguar bracelet is last season Forever 21 and works well with the outfit because it matches the colors in the skirt. The watch is Michael Kors and I chose gold to warm up the outfit. The gold spike bracelet I wear almost every day and gives just a bit of edge to this more classic look. The aquamarine ring is a vintage find and I love the interest that the bright blue adds. The bubble necklace is from ILY Couture and if you would like one too be sure to check out the giveaway below. I wore my current favorite lip color to tie in the necklace and nails (Chanel’s No. 307 L’impatiente) {find this below too 
}. I didn’t want to overcomplicate the outfit so chose a basic leather, neutral clutch.
Sweater – Gap outlet
Skirt – Gap outlet
Shoes – Nordstrom Rack
Clutch – hobo
Watch – Michael Kors
Spike bracelet – Stella & Dot
Jaguar bracelet – Forever 21 (old)
Necklace – ILY Couture
Giveaway Time!
I like to reward my readers for their time and commitment so here’s a giveaway to brighten your day. Create your own look with some of my favorite things in the season’s hottest color. To get this ILY Couture bubble necklace, Chanel’s new holiday lip color No. 307 l’impatiente and Essie’s Berry Naughty polish, all you have to do is subscribe to my blog and comment on this post telling me you’ve done so. Please do not just comment on the post without subscribing (I will know, people). Your other option is to find me on Instagram (talshooster) and find entering instructions with this pic. Don’t forget to check back here to see other ways I’ve styled these pieces (a little inspiration is never a bad thing).
Good Luck and Enjoy!
xoxo
First off, I apologize for the ridiculous amount of pictures in this post. They’re all just too cute, how was I supposed to choose? As you may have guessed, these are from our trip to the pumpkin patch. Not only did Judah have a great time because of all the brightly colored orange balls he could climb all over, but because he heard everyone saying his nickname “Punkin” over and over. He thought everyone at the pumpkin patch was speaking to him and as attention is one of his all-time favorite things, he was on cloud nine. I love seeing him discover new things, especially when he likes what he has discovered. All of the sales from the pumpkins went to non-profit organizations which I thought was pretty awesome and in the spirit of Thanksgiving. Can I just take a minute to speak to that a bit, the spirit of Thanksgiving? It is my favorite American holiday by far. It was the one time of year that (almost) all of my family got together without some major drama breaking out. It really is much more than that though. I find that just about all of the holidays, despite what they are supposed to mean, have become all about “getting”. Halloween is about getting candy (I refuse to ever allow Judah to use the phrase “Trick-or-Treat”…the exact opposite of what we should be teaching our children) Christmas is about getting presents (for most), Easter is about getting candy, Valentine’s Day is about getting candy and presents…it goes on and on. I feel like Thanksgiving is the one holiday that is simply about something else. It’s about being thankful. About recognizing the things that you have been blessed with. About giving back those blessings to someone else. It’s about taking care of people. I also can’t help but notice how commercially Thanksgiving is all but skipped. It isn’t a “consumer holiday” therefore it doesn’t matter. I challenge you this season (and all the ones to come) to not “skip over” Thanksgiving. It’s easy to get excited about Christmas or Chanukah or whatever you celebrate and move right into putting up a tree and lights, but please remember to stop and take the time to be thankful. Thanksgiving needs to become a bigger part of our lives. Think about where your priorities are this holiday season and don’t forget to use your time and blessings to be a blessing to others. Okay, rant over, haha moving on to my outfit…
I obviously kept it pretty casual for squatting and picking out pumpkins. The jeans are a go-to pair of mine, just basic blue jean skinnies that are a good length for “cuffing”. My navy gingham button up is a great top to have in your closet. It is a great pattern to pair with almost anything, patterns and solids alike. I also really like pink gingham, it is surprisingly versatile as well, especially in Spring. The sweater is old from American Eagle but you can usually find sweaters or cardis in this salmony, red color at Gap or Banana Republic. The color goes great with Navy (hence the button up that I chose.) My white Chuck’s were the perfect casual comfy shoe to wear with the outfit.
Button-up – JCrew Factory
Sweater – American Eagle (old)
Jeans – AG (old)
Shoes – Converse (Nordstrom Rack)
Watch – Michael Kors
Various Bracelets – Stella & Dot
Pearl Earrings – Overstock.com
About two weekends ago the hubby and I took a two day trip to Chicago. A friend of ours was getting married (it was a beautiful wedding by the way) so what better excuse to have a little couples weekend? We left the little guy with the mother-in-law and took off! I had only been to Chicago one other time (a miserable trip that I don’t really want to think about) so I was way too excited to explore the city. We had all day Sunday to do as we pleased so we started our day with a cupcake. I had never had an honest to goodness Sprinkles cupcake before (except for when I’ve made them from the Sprinkles mix you can get at Williams Sonoma). I have to say, as good as they were, they weren’t better than my beloved Happy Cakes right here at home. However, I would kill to have a cupcake ATM anywhere within an hour of my house. We walked around the shopping district (I got a few goodies at Tory Burch that I can’t wait to show you) and Sam found a great coat at Jack Spade. He’s a jacket/coat guy (and a watch guy, and shoe guy, and sock guy, and cufflink guy…the list goes on). He loves style and I couldn’t be happier He just looked too handsome in his new coated jacket to not feature here so I made him pose while I snapped his picture. Which reminds me, sorry about the poor photo quality, we forgot the camera so had to resort to the iPhone. As far as my outfit goes, I was thrilled to get to wear the leather look-alikes that a friend found for me at Zara. Denver has been pretty warm but Chi-town was chilly (imagine that) so it was the perfect opportunity to bust ‘em out. I paired them with a pair of Via Spiga black leather boots that I found two years ago at Nordstrom Rack, a cream button up tunic and my go-to black blazer. It was a simple outfit but I really liked it. It was fun to dress it up with some of my favorite Stella & Dot pieces and my gold Michael Kors watch. I only had my Louis Vuitton cross body bag which was nice for walking around but it wasn’t the best for the outfit. At least I didn’t have to worry about keeping up with a handbag. After walking around a little bit and drooling at some gorgeous pieces (I discovered a jewelry designer at Barney’s that I’m in love with -Olivia Collings Antiques-) we finished the trip with some iconic, deep dish, Chicago style pizza from Lou Malnati’s. We had a wonderful time and felt so blessed to have some time together. Definitely looking forward to someday exploring more of this amazing city!
My outfit:
Black blazer – JCrew
Cream tunic – JCrew (last season)
Leather effect leggings – Zara
Black leather boots – Via Spiga (old)
Patterned black and white leather gloves – Target
Gold watch – Michael Kors
Assorted bracelets – Stella & Dot
Ring – Stella & Dot
Cross body bag – Louis Vuitton
Sam’s outfit:
Blue gingham button up shirt – JCrew
Marbled gray shawl collar sweater – JCrew (last season)
Jeans – AG (Adriano Goldschmeid)
Dessert boots – Clark’s (last season)
Coat – Jack Spade
Watch – Mougin Pickard (only available at JCrew)
One last thing I wanted to leave you with…as we were driving through the suburbs of Chicago, Sam and I were wondering where the name “Chicago” came from. I did some research and come to find out, it is a Native American and French Canadian hybrid word that means something like “urinating animal” or “place of the urinating animal”. Just thought you should know.
Just wanted to explain my absence and infrequency. See that sweet little face? It has been keeping me very busy. Not to mention a billion other things that have been occupying my time the past couple of months. Between baby being sick, the hubby being sick, me being sick, redoing one of the downstairs bedrooms and moving my younger sister in things have been a bit hectic. The good news is i’m here now and have a ton to share! I finally have the time to do video blogs now (which i’m super excited about) so you’ll see on of those soon. I appreciate your patience and thank you all for being such loyal readers.
Camo is making a comeback. There are a few great ways to incorporate it into a look but the simplest and cheapest way for me to do it was by getting thislong sleeve tee from Target (you’ll find it in the youth boys section). It cost about $10 and has a ton of outfit potential. Another great way to wear this trend is a pair of skinny cargoes. I have my eye out for an affordable pair and you’ll see them as soon as I find them. I kept the rest of the outfit simple with a pair of dark wash skinnies (a pair of Joe’s Jeans that I desperately need to get hemmed), my basic black JCrew blazer (a staple for everyone’s closet), some great black and gold Stella & Dot jewels (you can find the link below), my gold Michael Kors watch and the best part…my Christian Louboutin black stilettos…the pride and joy of my closet. Can I just talk about the necklace for a second…it’s the Lillith Fringe Necklace and I am in love. It is so versatile and gives a great amount of edge to an outfit. Definitely a great piece to have as it can take an outfit from day to night and works with a variety of colors, prints and patterns. This outfit was simple and fun and great for a fall day that can’t make up its mind what temperature it wants to be. I’m definitely looking forward to playing around with this top.
