Old Navy Review



 

Happy Friday!  This has been an amzing week with my family in town and I will share with you all soon. 

 

I purchased a few pieces from Old Navy and finally am getting around to reviewing them all for your right here, which is great because they are all on SALE right now so you can stock up.  I know everyone is gearing up for fall but not this girl.  I love summer too much to cut it short so there is lot of time to wear your favorite pieces.  I love ordering online and having everything delivered to my door, especially since with Old Navy, I am never sure if I am going to need an XS or S, so I order one of each.  Here we go!

 

 

1.  Tiered Maxi Dress

Beautiful.  Boho vibe.  Beach.  Stroll by the water.  Coffee with friends.  Brunch.  Casual patio drinks.  All of it is possible in this dress.  I shouldn't but I will KEEP!!!!

 

2.  Embroidered Preplum Top

Who doesn't love the cute little embroidered flowers?  I love how this top sits and I don't have any preplum tops so it's a keeper (plus it's on sale for  $14!).  Also another bonus, is that I can see myself styling this underneath a blazer come September and I am back at work.

 

 

3.  Relaxed High-Neck Tank (similar)

The color I purchased is all sold out for the alternative is just as pretty.  This is a flowy top and I really like how lightweight it is.  I think it works well with white jeans/shorts, as well as I think with denim.  I am on the fence about whether to keep it, mostly because I really don't need another top regardless of how good the price is.  Thoughts?

4.  Chambray Dress
I wanted to love this dress but it looks like an oversized bag on me.  Even before I put it on, I knew I wasn't going to keep it becase I purchased this chambray dress that I love 150% and wear all the time.  I don't need two so I guess it worked out the way is was supposed to.

We are off to a wedding this weekend and spending a bit more time with my nephew.  Have a great last weekend of July peeps!

Me Time? Say, WHAT?!?

Ah, the elusive "me time"?  As a full time working mom, of two beautiful vibrant girls, a wife, daughter, granddaughter, friend, etc., I've often wondered what I was doing wrong with my time and how I wasn't getting all of this "me time" people seem to talk about.  It was during the time that  I began taking my masters classes, on top of working full time and being a mom of two really little people, that I realized that my definition of  "me time" needed to change.  I was getting "me time" it just didn't look like other peoples, which is totally fine.  My "me time" was taking my masters (because I choose to do that, therefore I gave up the extra time I might have had for other pursuits) and running was also "me time".  Once I came to understand these activities were what I CHOOSE to spend my time on, therefore they were FOR me, not others, I was able to let go of the notion of not having "me time".

Two weeks ago I did get some different, extra, kind of "me time" and I am not going to lie, I LOVED every minute of it.  I forced myself to do "other" kinds of things that I love and connect with, as opposed to only the things I already carve out time for.  On the agenda:

-Reading (I read 2 books, read my reviews of The Lynching of Louie Sam by Elizabeth Stewart and Vinyl Café Stories by Stuart McClean )

-Blogging

-Doing yoga

-Paddle boarding

-Having coffee without kids with a friend

-Running

The kids were in a three day, 5 hours/day, camp at the lake and I felt like I was the mom I always wanted to be.  It was enough time for me to feel like I had all the pampering in the world, so that when I picked them up I had no desire to be or do anything other than spend time with them.  I felt like I had adequate time to reconnect with the things I love to do and I felt full-filled. 

Here is the million dollar question, how do I do that during the school year?  It just doesn't seem like a realistic expectations?  How do you view "me time"?  How do you carve it out?  Is it a mindset for you, like it is for me? 

Fashion Friday: Coloful Tassels and OTS Shirt

 

OMG, I am in love with this little number that I stumbled upon at Winners.  I can't believe my luck on that day.  Seriously I saw it, picked it up and didn't even bother trying it on at the store, that's how much I loved it.  Winners and Marshalls are full of hits & misses for me, but when I find a winner, I am always 100% satisfied with my purchase.  Since my shirt can't be linked, I have found you a sweet alternative that's on sale right here.

 

 

Apart from loving it for all the obvious reasons, like the colorful and playful little tassels hanging off of the neckline, the cut is extremely flattering and flowing.  I had every intention of wearing it with jean cut-offs to the beach but it was too chilly so I opted to wear it with jeans while Logan and I were doing some errands back in the city.  ANOTHER reason to LOVE this top I that I can wear it to work.  Above I am showing off my shoulders, a little too sexy for the office, but I think it looks pretty darn cute with the neckline up as well.



 

Now lets talk my adorable accessories that I scored at the lake during their Christmas in July Craft Sale!  I found tons of stuff but I want to feature these adorable little pieces from Violet & Viva.  Make sure to check out their homemade jewelry.  They are 100% perfect for the summer, or in the depths of the dark, cold winter, to pull out and remind yourself that summer is back on it's way. 

I am wishing you all a beautiful weekend soaking up the sunshine and enjoying whatever you have planned!

Bo's Beach Must Haves & Embracing My Body

 

Oh the beach and my love and hate relationship with it. 

I love the water. 

The sun. 

Boating. 

 Feeling the weight of "adulting" seep out of my body and evaporate into thin air. 

 

 

 

BUT I don't especially like finding the right bathing suit for the occasion.  I've never had a six pack, unless you are talking about the beer kind in which case I've had a few in my day.  I work hard to stay in shape by running and watching what I put into my mouth, but my body is what it is and I've worked hard to embrace it as it is.

 

 

A couple of years ago as I sat with my three mommy friends, I realized that I was the only one sporting a bright, pink bikini.  I became super self-conscious, not because they made me feel this way but because that's just the way I am.  I went out a bought a very expensive, one piece, black bathing suit shortly after.  I really like how it looks on me but truth be told I don't wear it a lot.  The real point of this is that I doubted myself and what I was wearing.  Why do we do that to ourselves?  Is there an acceptable/unacceptable age for wearing a bikini?  Who decides?

 

I have two little girls and I want them to grow up to be confident.  Strong.  Healthy.  To lead an active lifestyle.  To be aware of their own judgments and to work on them.   To elevate others and themselves.  To be proud. 

 

 

So today, and most days, I put on my bikini and I show them that even though I may not always be happy with my body, that I don't have to hide it.  I can choose to wear a bikini, a tankini, a one piece, a cover-up, a rash guard, to put on make-up or to show the scars on my face from acne.  So here I am laying it all out there. 

 

 

I will say that I find La Vie En Rose to be a great place to find a bathing suit that fits my body at a great price.  What I love most about them is that the bottoms, have a soft fabric that comes over my middle and doesn't cut and squish everything out to the side.  Haha.  I also love my rash guard for water sports and for playing around on the beach.  Give me a cover-up or a summer dress, pair of sunnies,  sandals and I am a happy beach goer. 

 

What are your beach wear staples?  Tell me where you find your bathing suits.  Enjoy your summer and wear whatever makes you feel fabulous!

 

 

 

Life Lately (The Storm Before the Calm)

I  feel like end of May was a lifetime ago and June was a blur.  July arrived and I felt like the race was finally over yet I wasn’t  allowed to stop just yet.  Work ended on Friday, 30th and our little family was on the road to Candle Lake on July 1st.  I will say just walking through the cabin doors, I finally felt the weight of the month of June lift and release me.  I am happy to report, one week late I feel like a human.  A relaxed, sun kissed, re-energized and re-invigorated woman, mother and wife.  HELLO SUMMER!!!!

 

Let’s take a look at our family in May/June.

Dance recitals.  The girls were absolutely beautiful, I may be slightly biased, and they danced so well.  This mom survived another season of dance, hair and make-up.  Though we all feel like Halie shines on the stage, she has decided to trade her dancing shoes in for cowboy boots come next school year and we have finally caved and agreed to pay for riding lessons, with the understanding that owning a horse is probably never going to be in the cards.

 

 

Fairy Gardens.  Halie and I managed to recreate our own version of the fairy gardens from last year, SEE HERE, and though my pots had a hard time getting started they are in full bloom now.

 

Babies.  We met two beautiful babies in June.  Our friends Karli & Shaun welcomed  baby Elizabeth into their family on April 15, 2017 and we got to meet her when they visited in June.  Karli and I were also gifted Tim Mgraw & Faith Hill tickets for Christmas, so we enjoyed a night out without the kids. 

 

Anya and baby Libby.

Halie thought she was pretty precious.

 

 

Logan and I also were able to meet Rebecca Wardell when she made her appearance on June 19, 2017.  She is welcomed into the world by her parents, 3 siblings, extended family and numerous friends.  There is just something about holding babies that makes the world feel balanced (well until they start crying).

 

End of School Shenanigans.  Yes in the midst of all the June craziness, I decided to give each girl their own end of the school year party with a few of their friends.  Halie had a sleepover and Anya had a slip-n-slide/chocolate fondue party.  Even though it’s one more thing, I am so happy to take the time to have their friends over and to watch them interact with their peers.  The years are short with them and I do want them to try to look back on their childhood with fond memories.  End of the school year is always a little hard for me, knowing that another year is behind me.  I always look at it with a bit of regret and I wish I had…. I love these girls and as much as sometime I just need some breathing room, I don’t want to wish these years away.

 

 

 

 

On the last day of school I surprised the girls with our very first mother-daughter pedicures. 

 



 

Tell me, what are your summer plans/highlights thus far. Or, share a favorite summertime activity that we need to try out as a family.