fur.

urban outfitters

i feel like I should have called each of you individually this morning with a:

i'm going to be doing a post on fur. Yes, you heard me correctly. Yep. I know. I knowwwwww. And don't hate me...but I'm not hating a fur hat. At all.

SO today...a post on fur. Lots of fur in your face. FUR.

aldo accessories

our newest MOA member, Mickey and my cousin, Neen:)

ultimately, I just wanted you to know that fur is making a come back. And there are ENDLESS options out there. And while on our Annual MOA Trip...if it was fur...it was gettin' put on our heads. Boom.

happy hump day!!:)

2014 MOA *fall* Wish List

it's that time of year again...soon it'll be dark by 6PM - EW - and so I've decided to distract myself from the impending cold and start dreaming up what I'd like to add to my closet come November!

we've started making plans for our Fall Mall of America Trip! YAY! It's quite the sickness and I won't be made to feel bad about it. *MIDDLE FINGER* ;) Man...I just love fashion. I love shopping. I love shopping even when I'm not getting anything. I love to look. I love to walk around with my sisters and my mom and my girlfriends...coffee in hand...baby in the sling...and the money in my pocket that I saved all year:)

our trip is 47 days away. So it's very likely that I'll be adding things to or removing things from...this list. But here's my thoughts as of now:

1 . 2 . 3 don't ask me why...but I have a serious thing for High Tops. I'll be looking to my 11 year old niece for advice/opinions on this topic;) 

and I'm already preparing myself for the girls to give me that 'face' and saying "welllllll....they look like something you'd wear" when I ask them to come watch me try on High Tops at DSW;)

4 

these are adorable and very inexpensive - $3.50. I think it'd be fun to wear out on a Date Night with Jacob, especially because I know he'd notice and appreciate the sentiment:) - that smiley face has blushed cheeks;)

5 

i've been lusting over turquoise rings. Yep. Need one in my life:)

6

this ring just speaks to me. I loveeee you toooo ringggggg!!!!:)

7 

my BFF recently got a new ring/bands from her husband for their 10 year anniversary (romannnnticcccc:) and it just got me to thinking about adding to my band some day and this one is right up my alley - NOT that there's anything wrong with the $7 one, from Etsy, that I've been sporting for the last 3 years:) 

SIDE NOTE: I bought 4 of those bands...one for myself and one for each of my sisters...I'd have to check but I THINK we all still wear ours?

8

i have 2 super cheap 'pleather' jackets in my closet. I'd love to replace those with one REAL leather jacket. But crap...I'd have to save a hell of a lot longer to get myself one of those...so in the mean time?!?!....

9 

there are so many alternatives to leather but that are still super dressy. These would be some of those options. I really love the classic black and you could definitely dress an outfit UP with this jacket...or throw a fitted hoodie on underneath it to dress it down.

10

my favorite colors: black/grey/white. Shocking that I'd be drawn to this:)

11
this hat. THIS.HAT. Tell me I'm not crazy?!?!?!?!?! Need. Must.Haveeeeeee. The end.
If this hat is wrong...I don't want to be right!!!;)

12
my hat obsession continues. I've definitely made some mistakes with hats in the past but I'd like to right those wrongs;)

13
"us against them" reminds me of Jacob and I. And the flat brim reminds me of Homer. Is 31 - O.M.G....I seriously forget I'm 31 until I have to remember that I'M THIRTY-ONE?!?!!...point. Is 31 too old to wear a trucker hat?! Lie to me if you must;)


the reality is that the less money I have in the bank...the more expensive my taste gets;) Sooooo this year I'm going to try and "shop smart"!!! Wish me luck:)

*see my Spring Wish List HERE and a trip we took in 2012 HERE.
It's actually quite fun to look back on my lists because I like to think I never stray too far from what I've always loved. I hope that when people look at my list or something I love, they think: yep...that looks like Casey:)

2014 MOA wish list:)

5 days until our Annual MOA Shopping Trip. We've gone a fewwwww times - it's a sickness really;) But there's no shame in our MOA game. We love it and we're not afraid to shop from 9AM to 9PM - that's real life.!!!!!:):)

below are a few things on my list this year. I'm KINDA in super love with this year's list (check out last year's list HERE). It's pretty. Simple. Lady-like. And comfy:) I'm deeming this year: Hot-YOUNG-Mom-of-2-Year;)

As I've matured...I've found that I actually stick prettyyyyyy close to The List. This is much better on the checkbook than past years. Going with a plan...that's the best plan:)

total for all 7 items (hoping there will be some sales): $264.63

1 boyfriend capris - i have a pair in my closet, that have made their way to the Maternity Bin because I can wear them up until 40wks of pregnancy:/ I got a few sizes TOO big. Time for the correct size!

2 birkenstocks - don't ask me why...but I think these would make my feet SO very happy this summer!:)

3 flowy tanks - i just love this entire look. Black is my business but then pair it with a long gold necklace...yep:)

4 levi's - i'm not normally one to get 'transition jeans' (no clue what Transition Jeans are?!?! - jeans that fit me now...but will hopefully be wayyyyy too big in 6 weeks when I'm back to my pre-baby weight:) but these are relatively inexpensive and I'm very curious to see how the fit works on me. They're more of a maybe/we'll see. But I can't wait to try them on!

5 comfy dress - envision this dress with my Birkenstocks. Or some flats. Or gladiators. I like the idea of this dress toned down for casual wear.

6 jump suit - oh shit yeah. This is a JUMP SUIT! You wouldn't have known, right?!?! I have a wedding in June and thought this was adorable. The top looks pretty accessible for nursing and I just love the look! Classy. Totally encompasses the Hip Mom look I'd love to pull off;)

7 sneakers - i have a row of converses that I LOVE but I'm ready to add something a tad different and with a splash of color for my summer wardrobe. These are it:)

i'm also super excited to be bringing Theo along on this trip! She's nursing, so bringing her was a no brainer. But I'm giving our new stroller (we got ours on Craig's List for $275...which is still INSANE-ish but it's amazing and we love it!!!) a go and bringing along the Ergo (we got our Ergo on Ebay for a fraction of the price and I'm actually hoping to get a Solly Wrap soon...I've heard they're glorious!!) which we've had out for a few walks already and it's been a dream!

lets hope baby girl likes shopping more than her big brother:) 

moa 2013 wish list:)

our annual Mall of America (MOA) trip is a mere 4 days away!!!!:):)

i'm leaving Homer and Jacob behind to spend too much money on myself for 11.5 hours straight.

it shall be glorious;)

here's a quick list of things that I'm hoping to grab while there and you can check out my fellow MOA Junkie's list HERE:)

1
some colorful summer sandals to spice things up:)

2
another past want that I'm hoping to finally purchase are these kitten heels! Great for work:)

3
i can't remember the last time I purchased a bra...maybe a nursing one? But it's definitely time:/ These are adorable and super affordable:)

4
i currently have what you call a 'mom purse' but I need something a bit easier for lugging around. Here's the one I have - it's hard to hold Homer AND this purse. So I need to upgrade to something that I can hold in my arm or cross body AND still fit a diaper, snack and wipes in:)

5
the skinny belts in my closet are down for the count...literally falling apart:/

6
tank tops are on the list. Something that's just a step above completely plain:)

7
this perfume has been on my list for quite some time. I have a hard time spending TOO much money on things. Tis why Target is so doable...not SO expensive. BUT this year I saved my Gift Certificates from the last 2 Christmas' and have $50 to put towards this purchase:)

8
starbucks is always a necessity...normally in hand within minutes of walking through those doors! This year I have a $15GC. Boom.

9
i want a gold pinky ring:)


this year is going to be pretty fantastic. Extra fantastic because I have about $150 worth of Gift Certificates and coupons to use! Follow me on Instagram, April 18th, for the play by play of my day at MOA:)

my crack.

it seems forever ago...but at the end of July me, mom, dad, Pigg and Homer went for a little day trip to MOA and IKEA. Ah, music to my ears:):) I LOVE those 2 places and it's not only about the spending...but the complete package of it all! 

the smell of Cinnabons. packed elevators. and just standing and looking up at those 3 glorious floors of STUFF!!!!!:):)

it wasn't all that amazing this time around cause we just went over and back. Made good time. We were in and out for the most part. Pigg had some things to get for her new house. I had some in-store credit to burn and Homer, mom and pa, were just along for the ride!

homer did so well! I think it was me that was a tad impatient. I just wanted to be out there digging through sale racks. Finding Homer a cute outfit...finding myself a cute outfit for that matter (we have a few weddings coming up:). Because I was being impatient...when Homer would get hungry, I'd run to a family restroom - which happened to work out perfectly cause they were always RIGHT around the corner from me the moment he turned into a rangly beast;) BUT then sitting there. Staring at him eating...4 minutes later I was like. OKAY. You're full. And off we'd go again! And so yeah. Had I just sat there and took it for 20 minutes...that probably would have saved me more time in the end. Oops. BUT otherwise he was a saint:)

mom and dad...super excited:)

for the life of me, I can't remember WHY he didn't have clothes on at IKEA. But as soon as we walked in...I regretted not putting clothes on him. We looked...unfortunate;)

i love all these mirrors. I was thinking it'd be cool to have a few different round ones in an entry. Maybe alternate between a round one and then an oval one...

round - oval - round - oval - round?!

we do not live in a house with lamps. Our house could be lit up with only one central light fixture - it's THAT small;) But someday we'll need pretty lamps:)

with my in-store credit I got a few things I had been needing and kinda forgot to take photos of it all. BUT I did snap some pics of the baskets I got for Homer's room. He's got a growing supply of stuffed animals. All of which are ridiculously cute. 

SO we needed to get some storage:)

I'm only wishing I would have gotten one or two more. But maybe next time:)

dad and Homer hanging out at the food court:)

trying on some bras at Aerie. 

If you're pregnant, expecting to get pregnant, having a baby soon, just had a baby, breast feeding...don't even bother trying on bras. It was sucky. I need some bras. I want some bras. But it's completely pointless. My bra size changes hourly these days;)

BUT I did score some super cute undies.

isn't MOA so dreamy:)?!?!?!

forever21 is always a hot mess but I was able to find a dress for my cousin's wedding this coming weekend:)

PS. it fits much different on me than that model. I think it's too small for me...which actually improves the look. 

I hope;)

and some super soft, perfect fitting tank tops.

homer was a trooper and let me try some hats on him! Obviously, he rocked them all. SO we went home with the newspaper boy hat (in 2 sizes...so that he can wear one when he gets a bit older:) and the ball cap:). Both from H&M. Unfortunately, they didn't have a lot of little boy clothes at the H&M we were at. Total bummer.

but we did find a cute outfit at Old Navy for him. All on sale and he'll probably be sporting this to both weddings we have this summer:)

and then I got myself some fitted/long T's (similar) and a little cardy that I've had my eye on since Spring. Both H&M.

i'd also like to remind you that we made this shopping trip on July 27th. This was just a few days before we started our STRICT Monthly Budget. I definitely didn't go with the intention to over spend because of the restrictions I would have to follow in August. And I actually made it out of MOA without spending TOO much:)

but now it's August. The Monthly Budget has started. It's.Hard. 
SUPER SAD FACE  :(
I think it's actually easier to just spend and not have to 'think' about where it's going. But now...seeing it. Keeping track. Down to the penny. EVERY cent spent is accounted for. That shouldn't be harder. But for some reason...it is. It comes with a certain amount of guilt. When you just spend money and figure it out later...you just get by. BUT when you make yourself responsible/ACCOUNTABLE for where your money is going. That bares a heavier weight.

we're doing well though and I'll report back on how our first month has gone...soon:):)

moa 2012:)

every year we take a trip to MOA!!!!! AND IKEA!!!! And as ridiculous as it may be to think we get SO excited to go spend any amount of money here...EVERY year...we do it. We can't get enough of it. We LOVEEEEEE IT!!!!!!:)

we figure there will surely come a day when we are all old and gray and hardly any of the stores IN MOA will be appropriate for us to be shopping at...but we will still go. And we will have matching tshirts;)

cause to be honest...it's all about the time spent together!:)

UP pigg and Drew Baby:)

UP drew baby hanging out and being adorable.

and just like that...they're out:) Amazing the places/spaces/positions they can fall asleep!

UP drew baby and Nasher getting some shut eye:)

UP drew baby asleep...again...at IKEA:)

moa always has a lot to look at. Potential pretty photo opportunities and inspiration:) Loving the subway tile in the bathroom below and that bench!

about 15 minutes into our MOA trip, I realized that my feet sucked. They have pretty much sucked since:( Walking was trying...I pushed through and frozen yogurt and fresh strawberries are my new favorite cure all:)

the baby gets it's love for shopping from me:) And below I found a new festive hat and scarf for this coming winter! A 'mom' can still be festive:)

UP i got tons of stuff. TONS. More than I had expected seeing as I figured that because I was pregnant, I wouldn't feel quite as motivated to buy things. That was not the case. I found motivation;)

the middle photo is a pile of what I DID buy (not including some things from IKEA for the baby:). The surrounding photos are of things I WISH I could have afforded to buy:)

1/ Steve Madden - $138

SO SOOOO pretty. Have been wanting a fringed purse for quite some time. Jacob thanked me for not spending $138 on it;)

2/ Club Monaco - $229

I don't even really want a trench...just taking pics of the pretty things and this happened to be in the photo:)

3/ Club Monaco - $69.50

I considered LONG and hard about buying these and am still a bit sad that they're not mine:(. They're the exact style I LOVE and I know I could wear them with anything!!! But, alas, I choose to save my pennies. Again, more thanking from Jacob;)

4/ Club Monaco - $198.50

This store is killinggggg me:(

5/ Nordstrom - $40

Courts got a pair and they're apparently AMAZING

PS. I did get THESE and I'm dying to wear them. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.

6/ IKEA - $159

Not the exact one but as close as I could find...Jacob and I love this idea for the living room, to serve as footstool AND coffee table.

7/ IKEA - $50

They were all sold out and I have no clue what I would do with it...possibly storage in the baby room!? But I like. A lot.

8/ IKEA - $199

Also a great coffee table option...but we like the idea of something 'soft' with a baby...we already have hard wood floors...lets give the baby a break;)

 UP nasher and I hanging out...on the floor...on our butts. The only place that didn't make my feet hurt:)

 UP austyn got new kicks! And they're high tops. And DC's. Nuff said!!!!!:)

taking photos with the Birthday BOY:):)

UP i absolutely. do not. like this photo. Ew. BUT Mal looks very Top Model in it...so it must be posted;) 

UP i went for comfort on Day2 - see sneakers + dress;). And being that I'm very pregnant...I didn't give a shit:)

because P would be celebrating his GOLDEN - 12th - Birthday while at MOA...I picked up some decorations. Courts and Dave got a cake and we surprised him with a little party at our hotel:)

 

i think he was surprised:)

 

the pool is fantasticccccc. Got some time to tread water and then dip my poor, fat, sore feet in the hot tub:)

moa always seems to take forever to get here and then, like anything you love and look forward too...is over far too quickly!
Until next year!!!:)