Thursday, January 14, 2016

Day 14: Sewing, Ironing, Momming

That just about sums up my day...as does this picture.  The lighting is horrible, the angle leaves much to be desired, and it's LOUD in SO many ways!  But, isn't that life somedays!  Today's outfit was perfect for one of those kind of days!

Picture courtesy:  Caitlin Thomas

So things I love!  This sweatshirt, however, I now know how badly it photographs!  It's super cute it back and is completely open...which normally I would think is so strange, but somehow it just works (just not for pictures, thus, the crazy wing on my left side:)!  But let's be honest who gets their picture taken on the reg in a "comfy day" sweatshirt?

It's freezing here in the PNW!  Everyone thinks that on days that it doesn't rain it must just be wonderful, but no rain equals FREEZING cold days!  So, my boot wearing flip flops between Uggs and Hunters!
Sweatshirt:  GAP
Jeans:  AE Skinny Jeans
Boots:  UGG Grey Bailey Button Triplet

Another week almost done!  If you're counting down with me...I'm one pay period down!  Or is that up?

**ErinRuby**

Monday, January 4, 2016

Day 4: Productivity Monday

That's right...we are spending our last day of holiday vacation as a family being...PRODUCTIVE.  While I would much rather sit, snuggle and do NOTHING, we took down all of the Christmas decor because Adam knew that if he didn't help (read put all the totes back in storage and dispose of the Christmas tree) that it might still be here after he returns from ARMY training...he might be right:)

Since it was a get busy day, I had to dress accordingly...so that meant jeans, a comfy top and a top knot (I promise I do my hair most days, but you've seen me on vacation for the last few days:))

Tackling those decorations!
Photo cred:  Little Man...thus, the lower vantage point
I definitely stole this from my Mama's house...it's probably 
time to retire it...read my rules about faded gray from Day 1:)
Let's just call my tee...vintage, but I do love the VS PINK Collegiate collection
Basically you can count on seeing these until I get too skinny for them:)

Accessories:
One thing you should know about me...I think that a pair of big, sparkly earrings can pull together any outfit...I NEVER leave the house without earrings in...basically I live by the rule:


**ErinRuby**

Sunday, January 3, 2016

Day 3: Sentimental Sunday

So, I knew I was in to learn something this year, but I never expected to learn something on day 3.  But, it happened!  Needless to say, I never realized how much I could tell someone about the pieces in my closet.  And, not just the brand, size, price, etc.  But, I can tell you about the times I've worn it and the life it's seen.  Some people have memories when they smell certain scents or hear a specific tune, maybe some of my memories are tied up in the clothes I've worn.

Even more than just this outfit, these rocks remind
me of the wild child son that plays in the rocks
every time we walk out to the car!
This dress for example, was the dress I wore on the first New Year's Eve Adam and I spent together.  While there might have been a lot more bling, much higher heel and a great deal more exposed skin.  It was the first thing I thought of when I pulled this classic black dress out of my closet this morning!


And, then, there is the scarf...my first day of Kindergarten.  Well, sort of, the first day that I taught in my very own Kindergarten class.  I knew I had to add something to this outfit, especially when Adam asked if I would be attending a funeral today, so my go to was a scarf.  When I ran my fingers over my choices for scarves this morning, I was drawn to the silver strands and bright colors in this scarf.  As I looped and tied it on, I remembered the very first day that parents trusted me with their children's little minds to mold them and teach them!

So, it might seem like such a simple black dress and a throw on scarf, but when I tell the story, it's such a sentimental outfit!

Mine has a much better low back, but this was the closest I could find
Obviously, my exact one can't be found, but there are some very cute ones here!

The baubles:
Mine was another fabulous T.J. Max find---I promise not all of my watches are from T.J. Max
I have no idea where mine came from, but I love this one from ETSY
Again, mine is from this super cute street fair in Arizona...
you picked the color leather you wanted and they fit it 
to your wrist right there!!  But, I loved this one on ETSY

Do you have something special in your closet that holds special memories?  I'd love to hear about it!

**ErinRuby**


Saturday, January 2, 2016

Day 1 and 2: It's just the beginning...

I'm so excited about this year's closet challenge, but even with all that excitement, my first two outfits aren't much to write home about...but, they fit the bill for the day's activities perfectly!  I'll be posting links to each item I post or something similar, you know, in case you "need" something you see!

Day 1:  Needless to say, I was traveling all day on January 1st!  We spent the holidays in the Midwest, so it was a LONG day of traveling back to the PNW!  Since I travel with 2 kiddos and all of the luggage that comes with them, gone are my days of travel chic.  I now travel practically as far as my outfit goes for travel days!  I was a hot mess by the time I got home, so you don't get to see my bright smiling face, but just a quick picture of the OOTD!

These jeans are getting washed immediately and put in the consignment pile!  I spent the day rushing between gates (SPOILER ALERT:  I don't get to the airport early) and having to constantly pull up my jeans...bonus, I dropped another pants size!  With those ill fitting jeans, this sweatshirt to the rescue...I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!  I got it two years ago right have Christmas and it had to live in my closet during my pregnancy, so I've been showing it some love recently!  The layering tee is one that has been in my closet for some time now, the nice thing about this specific shirt is that it's a seamless style, so the material doesn't fade...I hate a faded black tee!


Puma Extended Neck Zip-up (available here in blue)

Day 2:  After a day of travel, I hardly got a chance to relax...this family got right back in the groove today!  Ice skating lessons for little man, grocery shopping to fill the EMPTY fridge and organizing the 9 suitcases that returned home!

I love a good vest!  This GAP vest is no exception, it's easily been in my closet for 5 years!  But, it's perfect in so many ways.  It's not too puffy, it has a central elastic pull cord to cinch in order to maintain a girlish curve and the buttons give it something different than a standard zipper!

These are the replacement jeans that will fit the bill since I threw yesterday's jeans in the consignment pile!  I got these a few days before Christmas and since I decided to do this challenge...thank goodness I got them when I did!  These were definitely needed!

After detailing my accessories, I realized that my husband has delivered with quite a few little blue boxes!  He's the best!

Please excuse my husband's inability to
remove himself from a picture!  I make no promises
regarding photog skills over the course of this year!

(nothing super close, but these would fit the bill for a staple black vest)

Accessories: 
Mine was a steal from T.J. Maxx that watched and watched 
until it finally got marked down and I snagged it!
My push present from AFack after having our little man!
Shameless plug---this was from a set of custom wish 
bracelets made a sweet Mama's baby shower

**ErinRuby**

Friday, January 1, 2016

So...I'm new here!

Hi, I'm Erin!  My sweet friend Christin, inspired this year's personal challenge!  I've watched her mix, match and utilize the closet she has to create a daily wardrobe that fit her busy life as a Mama!  I decided it was time for me to try my hand at just that in 2016!

My why's
*Shopping can easily become my crutch on a bad day or my reward on a great day...this year, I'm hoping to lean on God a little more in those moments, good and bad!!
*Get back to me---like all Mama's I've had an ebb and flow of weight and wardrobe with the 2 beautiful babies that have joined our families in the last 3.5 years, so I know there is stuff in this closet that doesn't need to be!  Likewise, I know there are a few pieces that I've been dying to get back into, so this'll be my motivation!!
*Purge---Like Christin, I'm a military spouse and I know a PCS (military code for MOVE) is coming down the pipe for us, thus, a little purge will do me good and keep our family under weight!!
*Challenge---In junior high and high school, I'd make it my goal to not wear the same thing to school for the entire yearπŸ™ˆ I achieved this most times, now that I'm older, I have a quality over quantity policy, but the challenge aspect is still a motivator for me😜

I was just reading Christin's first post before she started her first challenge, I'm experiencing much of the same reaction!  The only people I've told so far are my husband (who laughed), my sisters (one who died laughing and the other had one word, "Why?!?") and my Ma (the ever supportive one:))!  It will be hard and I don't expect it to be fun...there will be days when shopping would have made me feel better and would have been super fun, but I'm sure I'll fill that time and void just fine!

Basically the rule is:
*No new clothes, jewelry, accessories or shoes will be purchased out of our family income/budget and added to my wardrobe in the year 2016!

Christin suggested some exceptions so these are mine, hopefully they cover everything I need them too!
**Gifts---if someone purchases me a gift, it can be added to the closet...my brother in law kindly reminded me it's not fair to ask for said gifts at times that don't normally warrant gifts (party pooper:))...
**Donations---if someone has an item that they no longer want, need or use, it can be added to my closet
**Consignment---I've been losing weight for the last few months and don't anticipate that coming to an end, so if I sell/consign something because it doesn't fit, I can use that money towards something similar in an appropriate size--/this clause is primarily regarding jeans/pants

So, to you...Happy Shopping!  Or, maybe no shopping...maybe I'll be your inspiration this year to dig a little deeper in that closet!

**ErinRuby**