small style * photo shoot

      My girls were being super cute Sunday morning. So I tried to capture the good mood...

 ...Anyone with kids should totally get this! It started out pretty mellow.

      Then big sis got in on the action!

     Taco Willie (the dog) was not going to sit back and let those two hog the spot light!

      Ava never goes for being photographed unless Clementine is going first.

     Things started dissolving into shrieks and giggles after about 2 minutes.

ON AVA: Tablecloth dress made by me (bought table cloth for 6.00, made 2 dresses out if it!), leggings 1.50 garage sale find, Shoes 9 from Target.

ON CLEMENTINE: One piece Paris suit, Janie and Jack, used from a friend, 3.

Outfit for the library and Grammy's house

     I'm totally loving the topknot bun this summer, if you haven't noticed!
Tee, 5, Old Navy. Necklace, 38, and earrings, 30, Anthropologie (gift $$$). Jeans, 90, Mavi (gift $$$). Sandals, 25, Target (gift $$$).
     By the way, come back tomorrow for my first link-up to Small Style. Yep, Abra totally inspired me to do that!

Outfir for errands

     (using my real camera versus my iPhone camera: pro-better focus. Con-wonky angles because I don't ave to hold it a certain way...)

      I wore my art museum outfit again today because 1: I loooove it. And 2: I'm lazy. Then I noticed Ava's self styled outfit, and of course I had to get her in the shot-we match!
     On her: Dress, Gymboree via yard sale, 3. Sleeping Beauty jeans, gift from grandma. Shoes, Target, 9 on sale. Earrings, birthday gift to me from my friend Abra. Which put us at a whopping 12 bucks for her outfit. And it's not as if people doubt that we think just alike any more, but CASE IN POINT! Down to our coral colored jewelry!

face it, nobody's perfect.

      This post is for all those people who say, "You're so pretty! You have great skin-wish mine was as clear as yours!" Good news-you can fake it, just like me. To tide us over till I can book my beauty junkie sis, here are my secrets to "clear skin" And yes I realize my complexion is not terrible, but I never had acne till a few years ago, and it's really frustrating! At least I have the self confidence at this age (as opposed to being a teen ager) to get over myself. To some degree...
     So this is me with moisturizer and Smashbox Photo Finish Primer. LOVE! that stuff!

      First of all, finding the perfect concealer is  key. I got this (Boiing by Benefit) at Sephora in Chicago. It was a little pricey, but WORTH IT...can you see the difference?

 

 Next I use a kabuki brush to apply Bare Minerals powder and blend over the entire face. Because I like to let my freckles show as much as possible, I only use a smidge.

     Maybelline cheapo blond eyebrow pencil, Nars blush, Maybelline H.I.P. lipgloss and Bare Escentuals mascara.

     I have switched almost all my make up purchases from drugstore brands to buying at Sephora over the last few years. Dealing with adult-onset acne, little kids who don't allow much making-up time and early signs of aging, along with being able to rely on the product and not having to try ten different things and deal with returning what doesn't work has made this splurge totaly worth it!
     I know it's pricey, but fortunately my mom usually buys me gifts after ASKING what I want. So I have been getting make up for Christmas and my birthday...and only occasionally filling in what I need between the two. Which actually SAVES the money I was spending on drugstore make up...

     Do you splurge or save on your make up? Anything great you just love? Do tell!

Sunday morning church style

      I'm using a real camera today...so the pictures are waaay better!
Skist, vintage, 4. Clutch, Old Navy(clearance years ago) 5. Tank, Old Navy, (pre-kids!) 5. Sandals, American Eagle, 25. Necklace, Anthropologie, 38.

      I totally hated my hair this morning (tried a new style of ponytail) but in my amazing photos, I think I look like Reese Witherspoon. Who by the way I adore and who has fantastic, down to earth mom style.

      And that is the power of good photography!!!

      After my afternoon nap, I put on jeans. Something about going to church all dressed up and going home to get comfy, even if I'm comfy at church, must have stuck with me from childhood. I do it every Sunday. Hat, Eugenia Kim for Target, 16. Shoes, Miss Trish for Target, 25. Jeans, Express clearance, 20.

     After Clem FINALLY went to sleep, I took a bath with some of my Lush booty from Chicago. And Allure. These bath bombs are great, my sister got me hooked. You can quarter them and they're still pretty potent...Also I had to get my shark knife in the picture. It's just cute, okay?

outfits for the park, garage sale, errands

      For the park and a huge garage sale (I totally scored, by the way!)
Gap Jeans from the outlet 3 years ago, 40. Old Navy tank, 5. Anthropologie earrings, 30 (half price) and necklace, 38. Sandals, Target, 25. These jeans are really dated looking and a little huge, but I needed to do laundry.

     For the farmer's market, Target and hardware store:
Tee, 10 and shorts, 12 from American Eagle. Sandals, Target, 25. Earrings, Anthropologie, 30.

If you can't tell, I wear all the same things over and over...I get a lot of mileage out of my purchases!

Chicago style

 For walking downtown, American Eagle top,  30, and shorts, 12. Clementine's baby picture locket, 30. Birkenstock Madrid sandals, eBay, 60.

 

      For Shedd Aquarium and Chicago Art Institute, Old Navy tee, 10. Gap jeans, 30.00 on sale. Belt, Target, 12. Earrings 30 and necklace 38 from Anthropology. Birks again.

     Another stylish mom, Kim, who took me to Chicago as a birthday gift. She will be featured soon as well! I will show you what I bought tomorrow.