me likes: open shoulder peasant tops

alternative titles: 
"don't hate me because I might-kinda-really like open shoulder peasant tops"
"is it the wine or do I actually have a thing for open shoulder peasant tops?"
"i'm pretty sure I dance better when wearing an open shoulder peasant top"
"i went to Forever21 and all I got was this open shoulder peasant top. no regrets"

i'm quite confident that I'd buy one of these tops...wear it once...feel good about that...hang it back in the closet for a full year and thennnnn put it in my "I Promise You're Gonna Thank Me For Saving This Shit Someday" bin for Theo and hope that it makes a comeback again in 20 years!!!!

1 . 2 . 3

4 . 5 . 6

my top picks would be 2 - great price and flattering/comfy looking . 3 - priceyyyyy but they're selling me on the entire braid/long necklace/black detailed situation... and 5 - out of stock:/ But the white and square lines feel so clean and fresh:) 

am I wrong in my crush? Do I need to be talked down off this open shoulder peasant top ledge????;)

me likes: muscle tanks

long gone are the days of spaghetti straps for this girl. And don't even get me started on strapless...let's just put all those in a pile and then me and my kid boobs will stand at a safe distance while they all burn up and stop existing. forever. buuuuubye;)

muscle tanks, as they call them, are a new favorite of mine. I picked up a few last year and I've been able to wear them year round...summer or fall/winter/spring with a cardigan:) Super flattering and I just feel like they're great for ALL occasions. Dress um' up with skinnies and some adorable wedges OR dress um' down with some cut off jean shorts and leather sandals. 

below are some affordable options that I found recently. American Eagle actually had some great options and right now I'm being offered 15% off - normally I roll my eyes at anything less than 40% buttttt it's my birthday;).

one . two . three . four

one of my favorite bloggers - Hello Hue - actually just did a blog post and she's wearing option ONE, in the top options. So cute and I always like having a more realistic visual:) And her blog post currently includes a teeth whitening system giveaway - more incentive to check her out and enter!!!:)

one . two . three

i'm 127% ready for sleeveless weather!!!! I'm still on a pretty strict budget but I'm saving my pennies for my upcoming birthday, which will include a bit of shopping for myself:) Cause for whatever reason..."Sleeves Are Bullshit" just makes sense to me and seems like something a mother of 2 should leave the house wearing at some point;)

happy shopping, friends:)

me likes: high neck halter bikini

i put the kids to bed at 7PM cause they were being hellions...I realize that might actually be a normal bed time for most children but mine teeter on 8PM...and by 8PM...I mean 10PM:/

I then worked out to a 'Elle Glam Fitness' DVD - I didn't just make that up:/ - for 15 minutes...

followed that up with a plate of mash-potatoes that weighed more than my 10 month old...

and now I'm high on mash-potatoes and gravy, it's 1130PM and I'm surfing the web for bikinis. I wish this wasn't my life. But tonight, my friend, it is:)

1 . 2 . 3 . 4

also, it seems that my breasts ate all of their breasts. So I'm not getting a clear picture from these photos as to whether they could handle the amount of mash-potatoe/breast-eating breasts, I bring to the table;)

oh and I like HIGH-NECK-HALTER-BIKINI-TOPS. I think I forgot to mention that;)

shopfairhaven

@shopfairhaven #shopfairhaven

just recently my sister and I went and spent an obscene amount of money...on ourselves...within 24 hours...on our Annual MOA Trip. We definitely went into it feeling untouchable and came out of it...with some heavy feelings of guilt. 

as my 2 year old now says..."dith.gussss.ting" - disgusting. 

upon returning home to our, already over flowing, closets...with MORE new and shiny things...we schemed up the idea of Shop Fairhaven over a glass of wine...guilt...and our love for shopping:)

and a little of the back story on how we settled on the name...it's a little mixture of one of our addresses (a street name) and being forced to choose something that someone else hasn't already claimed on Facebook and Instagram. But we really love the feel of Shop Fairhaven. Seems classy and fun. I envision little birdies. Drinking wine. Dressed well. Very care free. One likes to say 'dick' a lot but is very down to earth.

not that I've given it much thought;)

my sister, Megan, and I have a huge love for all things clothes. Shoes. Purses and Accessories. Are there wayyyyy more important things in life?! Hells yes.

just wanted you to know that we're aware of how annoying we are with all this shopping;)

but we have nice things and we don't want to have a million nice things. A couple thousand would do just fine;) But all those nice things are almost too nice to just box up and give-away. SO we're gonna give this little shop a shot and try to share all the amazing things that no longer fit in our closets - or on our thighs...hi 30;/ - and for amazing prices!

soooooo humor us. And spread the word. And take a look. And don't order if you don't need something. Order if you love something. Or if you're local and you'd like to just come dig through our racks and bins and bags...Pleaseeeeee do!!!!:) - wine will be served:)

below are just a few items that I've taken photos of recently. Much, much more to come. And if you do make a purchase and wear it out on the town or to eat Cheetos's on the couch or on a hot day fishing....please post it to our FACEBOOK Page or tag us on INSTAGRAM. We'd love to see ya!:)

@shopfairhaven #shopfairhaven

i included this shirt so that you don't think I'm perfect. Cause I know you were wondering;) 

PS. ironing...never heard of it;)

also. Our favorite colors are black, gray and white. Let's be friends:)

@shopfairhaven #shopfairhaven

want it sunday.

ah, my online baskets are filled with soooooo much pretty right now but all that pretty is gonna have to stay locked up in those baskets for a tad longer:/

booooo. Hisssss.

i was actually thinking recently that I hardly get the chance to go out anymore. Which is totally A-Okay. But when I DO get the opportunity to leave the homestead...I never take FULL advantage. I'm in jeans and a t.shirt and converses. Or cutoff jean shorts and...a t.shirt and flip flops. OR yoga pants and a...freaking t.shirt and sneakers. Or head-to-toe black. Which is cool...cause that's cool;)

point: I gots to mix it up a bit and I feel like purchasing all the items below would be a great motivation to do just that;)

TOTAL for all the pretties below: $305.94

1 lace-up sandals
can I just say that I love them? That is all.

2 black beauties:)
see above. About the love. And that being all;)

3 watch
i think I've been waiting all my life for this watch. 
I would be willing to give you my dog. The little white ugly fluffy one, that requires a $35 hair cut every 3 months (more than I spend on cutting my own hair). I will actually just GIVE you the dog.
Oh...and then after that...I'll buy this watch.

4 dress
this looks like the comfiest thing. Ever. And after seeing this lady pull it off pregnant...I want to try to pull it off as well...pregnant or not pregnant!:)


besides the watch (which would TOTALLY be an amazing investment!!!!! JACOBBBBB. It WOULD!!!!;)...everything on this list - in my cheap-ass opinion - is seriously affordable!

i could A: buy the watch for $200 - $170 with a 15% OFF promo code I have. B: buy everything except for the watch for only $100. 
People with self-control would include an option C: Buy nothing and save for your children's college or that big anniversary trip to Paris or our retirement. I am not the type to have an option C:)

good day.

me likes: one-piece jeans.

i'm bringing the jean overall back. Hard;)

and within 30 minutes of leaving the house I received these 2 comments:

. "where is she going....like thattttt!??!" - Peyton (14yrs old)

. "mom...you do NOT want to see your sister right now!!" - Tayt (7yrs old)

so far the opinions are from those who think it's okay to eat your buggers and who still shart in their shorts on the regular;) SO yeah...I'm hurt;)

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5

above are a few semi-affordable options and below are the ones I chose!

i went with option ONE. The were super affordable. I think I ended up getting them for about $30, on sale!

i doubt my small town (or husband;) is ready for this party but I'm not gonna lie...I kinda love them...uh lot:)

give me all the things.

in 45 minutes it's my birthday month. In 21 days my Maternity Leave begins. In 23 daysssss I turn 31 - my mind still hasn't grasped that I'm 30...In 26 days this baby is due to join us! 

if you haven't heard...my birthday is kindaaaaa a big deal;) I make it a big deal. It IS a BIG.DEAL. Because of the baby's due date landing so close to my birthday (birthday March 23. Baby due date March 26)...I decided to bump my birthday up a little - if you weren't already aware...you can do that;). You're probably making the same face my husband made when I broke the news to him about that;)

tomorrow starts the first of a few birthday festivities. My good friend, Friend, turns 31 in March also. We usually have a little date morning and bum around together and that's happening tomorrow! 

because Jacob and I are having a little date day next week...and with my leave coming up quickly...we've been trying to be pretty strict on our spending. We've actually done relatively well over the last few weeks. It hasn't been easy:) But that doesn't mean a girl can't dream and I'm dreamin' about all the things below falling into my closet over the next 3 months:)

TOTAL for all the pretties below: $769 (life is so unfair;)

1 bra and undies
i can't think of too many things more sad than being done having babies. Being done being pregnant. And that's not to say we are after baby #2...we haven't made any decisions on that. BUT when I am forced to think of some positives that will come along with not having babies anymore...buying matching, pretty, correctly sized delicates is definitely one of the positives:)

2 overalls
i'm gonna go out on a limb here and assume that overalls aren't every one's cup of tea. BUT I've been crushing on these puppies for quite some time...I need overalls in my life. I just do. It feels right!:)

3 the-most-perfect-tote-in-all-the-world
i'm pretty sure I would agree to say 'yes' to my husband in regards to ANYTHING for 1 full year in order to add this tote to my life. I'm not afraid;)

4 sunnies
i just like um'. Uhhhhh lot:)

5 sneaks
i'm a huge, huge fan of sneakers. I've got a few pair of converses that I love and these are on my short list currently. But I'm willing to give another brand a shot. Maybe even something with some color/pattern. And really...these would just work with the rolled up overalls:)

6 mom-suit
i was never a fan of the one-piece swim suit. I have become a huge fan of the one-piece swim suit. Especially after having a baby. Luckily, things have stayed in tact...so far. BUT, as I've mentioned before, I may not get away with no stretch marks on the belly this time around. SUPER SAD FACEEEEEEE:( 
But again...finding the positive in a not-so-amazing-situation...I'll be investing in a beautiful one-piece for this summer:)


and just like that...I've added a Madewell Gift Certificate to the growing number of birthday ideas I have for my family and friends:)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONTH TO MEEEEEEEE!!!!:) xoxo

is June too soon?!:)

on rare occasions I get things in the mail that are WAY more fun than bills and creditors trying to get us to apply to their amazingly affordable credit cards;) A few days ago we received a Save The Date for a wedding in June of 2014! A mere 8 months away...never too soon to start day dreamin' about what I'll be wearing...or ordering things to try on...wait...I'm pregnant and have a legitimate belly already. So yeah. Maybe it is a tadddd too early.

regardless. 

here are a few that I've found that I'm liking...at the moment. I may peek back at this in 7 months and wonder if it was the giant ice cream sandwich that was making decisions for me while I was doing this post;) Or the fact that my computer is at 13% and I don't have the energy to walk to the other room for the charger...so let's do this...fast;)

up and down were found via Shop Sosie. Super cute. Super affordable. 

up is a beauty from ModCloth and it was the pretty green that attracted me...and now to find that color in paint for a wall in my home:)

now my ice cream sandwich thought process is: something long for chasing Homer...he'll be 2 by June 2014 - I can feel the sandwich coming back up...that's sick:'/ And more importantly...my legs will probably not be wedding ready within 2 months after having a baby. They'll be white and very soft...veryyyy soft;). 

And something nursing-friendly...because with any luck we'll have a healthy, spunky 2-1/2 month old that will be hungry at all the wrong times during this wedding/reception and we'll need 'easy access':)

oh man. Is it wrong that I'm SUPER pumped to be nursing again!?!?!? And June will be fabulous. Fantastic weather and just enough time after the baby to maybe be feeling myself again...almost...kinda;)

yayyyyy for weddings and love and rowdy 2 year olds and beautiful newborns and online dress shopping that is specific to my future breast-feeding needs. 

and on that note. Night Night:)

florida: i wore something free!!:)

we just returned home from an amazinggggg trip to Florida on Tuesday afternoon. It was soooo relaxing that I'm considering quitting my new job...that I start on Monday;) But apparently, if I want to continue taking amazing trips like that...I'll need to keep a job...for a while;)

before I bombard you with an insane amount of Florida photos...I'll do a teeny post (which ended up getting wordy...soooo sorry;) on my outfit for the wedding we attended while there! Because I wanted to avoid Target and spending (who am I?!?!;) I dug through the closet and was able to put together something I already owned. Not shocking because my closet looks like:

i probably should have prepared you mentally for that;) MORE to come on our 'closet situation' in the coming weeks:)

POINT: i think I succeeded in putting together a pretty cute outfit for ZERO dolla'z. Thank you. Thank you;)

TOP: old old old - similar

BOTTOM: purchase from a few months back - P.S. i Adore You (nothing similar currently on the site:/ - I think most things are a one-time deal and a lot of the proceeds to go a worthy cause..totally worth it:) - similar

FEET: Goodwill find for $2 - similar (and if you're looking to get rid of that silver...yes?!...check out Sunnylit Style for a 'how to' on painting that yourself!!:)

also. While on that amazing vacation to Florida...my son made me cry for the first time. I mean...he's made my cry before but it involved his head hitting my nose...VERY hard;). Arg. But this was a bit different. Only took him 14-1/2 months to break.me.down. I think it was a combination of a lot of things: being on vacation without my husband. not having that other person to give you a break...FOR 6 DAYS. a child that hated all of these things at least twice every day: heat, walking, being held, crawling, milk, sippy cups, life;)

it wasn't the kind of thing that makes me reconsider the number of kids I want. Nope. Still want more kids. ASAP. But it was defeating. I think sometimes you get this idea/vision in your head. We'll get all packed up. Get in a van and he'll go to sleep for the 18 hour road trip. When he meets family and friends for the first time he'll be adorable and cute. And he'll just love every minute of every day. And I'll be holding him and we'll be giving kisses and hugs. Just skipping all around Florida in our perfect little beach outfits and looking refreshed...and not sweaty and overwhelmed...at.all;) And then shit doesn't go down like that and you just feel like you're failing. Am I doing this right? Why is he throwing so many fits? Am I allowing this? Have I created a monster? Can I not handle him? Does me crying mean I'm weak...out of control...a shitty mom?!?! But I don't think it does. I mostly think it just means that he needs a sibling;)

but he definitely didn't 'ruin' the trip. He had his moments...and all those moments added together, ended in me shedding a few tears on the phone to Jacob and Jacob apologizing for making him that way (sweet of him to take full credit for our son's attitude;). 
But we really did have a great time and there were so many things that Homer did love while in Florida: road tripping with his cousins!! the beach and the ocean. sleeping in a hotel room. dancing. junk foodddddd. being carried everywhere:)

and he managed not to poop, pee or vomit on my cute outfit. And for that...I'll let him live to see another day;)

your feets needs love:)

if you need a break from the daily budgets you do - or is that just me?!?!? Head over to the Free People Shoe Sale Section!!!!

oh, wait. Never mind. Their sale section is more expensive than the normal shoes I buy. But they sure are easy on the eyes and a lady can dream...right!?:) Maybe I should email them and ask them to email me when they have a SALE on the Shoe Sale Section?!;)

i'm loving all the sandals and have NO reason to buy them. Not one. Damn it to hell.

the Oxfords are still on my radar but something I'm waiting for a more special occasion to purchase...Special as in: when we have money;)

the boots. Well. I love um. And we live in WI. So I don't think you ever need a good reason to buy boots when you live in WI. You buy and you get more use out of them than you'll ever hope to;)

happy shopping:)

pretty things make me buy them.

today, while having Courts help me with some budgeting, I was mostlyyyy day dreaming about getting home to try on a new-to-me vintage dress that I just recently (prior to all this budget-smudget talk;) ordered from Friendly Fox Vintage:)

this dress may have been made for me...in the 1970's:) It fits perfectly. Only a few things that I'm hoping to have my seamstress adjust:

1/ get some cups for the 'after baby' ladies

2/ possibly shorten the length but from the top - as pointed out in the photo below - that way we can preserve some of the detail at the bottom of the dress

SIDE NOTE: i can't waitttttt for my hair to get longerrrrrr. Grow babyyyyyy. GROW!

forgive the awful selfies...I was too excited to wait until Jacob got home from work. So this is the best you'll get for now.

now the pickle I'm in. I've mentioned before about this wedding I have coming up at the end of July. In Florida. I think I already know the answer to this....but is this Florida Wedding in July appropriate?? Maybeeeeee tooooo casual??

SO I need from you:

1/ should I shorten?

2/ does this work for a (semi-formal-ish) July wedding in Florida?

i think I'm already leaning towards No's on both those questions but waiting on you to give me your 2 cents. Send it!:)

put a horse on it.

because I'm annoyed...you get Horses:)

enjoy.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4

anyone that knows me...knows that at leasttttt once a year I add an animal print top to my wardrobe. I like to think of it as a "festive shirt". They're pretty special...as am I;)

inspired by a total cutie on Instagram - katie_did_what - who recently posted a photo of herself wearing an adorable horse print shirt!

*I did contact her about where she got it but it was from F21 a few years back and you knowwww they ain't gonna still have that;)

If you have a moment..check out her adorable blog HERE:)

me likes: one out of 100 oxfords

this is a trend that could have easily passed by without a tear from me. BUT then I ran into this pair and something inside me stirred;) Mayyyyybeeee. JUST maybeeee I need an Oxford???;)

these 2 photos are of the same shoe. The above: from the Piperlime website. Below: is a photo I took with my iPhone while at MOA 2 weeks ago. They are the same shoe. For real. I don't fully believe it myself because the difference is insanity! I LOVE them in person. Online...nottttt so much:/

at this point...the price ($110) is keeping me from doing anything about this little crush. But I'm still pondering the idea of what I'd do with these shoes in my closet...besides love them and kiss them and pet them;)

below are a few adorable ideas, via Polyvore, to give you an idea of ways these shoes can work:)

winter:)

Outfit by lansmom1 featuring flat oxford shoes

Vintage Shoe Company flat oxford shoes
dsw.com

fall:)

Heart beating faster by winterdelight featuring vintage shoes

Steve Madden vintage shoes
stevemadden.com

summer:)

Gardening with Niall by phenomeniall-style featuring miss selfridge

spring:)

Untitled #984 by kezziedsp featuring leather brogues

Indigo by Clarks leather brogue
piperlime.gap.com

i think my favorites are actually the winter and fall looks. I like them paired with skinny jeans! I'm definitely a flip flop girl in the summer time...so I really do think Spring and Fall/Winter are going to get these the most amount of wear!

*sigh* the ever growing list of Fashion Wants continues...:)

homer wear:)

even though I haven't posted a Homer Wear post in a few weeks...Homer's been looking supa' cool behind your backs anyways;) I've got some older ones to catch-up on and it's crazy how different our boy looks already...in a mere 2 months!!!! In these photos his hair is pretty short...it hasn't grown in one bit on the sides yet;/ but it's gotten curly and long in the back.

party in the back;)

1 tshirt

2 pants similar

some additional goodies:

1 tshirt I just got Homer while at Target yesterday:) On SALE for $3!!

2 tank top that I want to get cause Homer and his little Buddha belly would be A.DORABLE in it!!:)

3 shorts that must come home with us. Yep.

i think it's safe to say that all Homer Wear posts for a few weeks are going to include him throwing a fit or crying. We just haven't been having the best of luck finding this child in a good mood to pose for clothing photos! What 11 month old wouldn't be dying to be dressed cutely in the morning and then forced to sit still and smile like a robot for 10 minutes while I pose and take photos of them!??!?;)