when the UPS truck makes your heart skip a beat:)

source

i live in an area of town with a mass amount of online shoppers...I know this because of how often I see the UPS/FedEx trucks flying by...or even worse...approaching my home slowly and then realizing they have the wrong address and speeding off to deliver goodies to some other lucky bastard;) It's heartbreaking;(

because I'm choosing to be unemployed and the only thing that stands between me being home full-time and having to go back to work is ME and my wee shopping habit, this time of year especially - see DEALS/SALES/40% OFF/FREE SHIPPING/FESTIVE STORE DECOR (I'm a sucker for the festiveness that is the Mall around this time of year...I just want to BE THERE!!!;) - I've had to implement a few simple rules:

avoid in-store trips...I try not to 'run to Target' or head to the Mall or encourage Jacob to take a day off work for a Date Day. All things that end with us saying: Had we not left the house we'd still have $XXX...arg:/

SO I've done a bit of online shopping but I have a list. A specific list and I stick to it when making purchases.

thrift...buying used/2nd hand/thrifting has always been in my blood so this is nothing new. We always check Goodwill first.

be useful...if Homer needs a pair of sneakers, we aim to make that happen as a Christmas gift. Or socks and undies as stocking stuffers. - no worries...they get a few 'fun' things as well:)

all this being saiddddd...I still slip up from time to time;)

most recently: a trip to St. Vincent's ended with these 2 gems:)

$15 lamp

thinking of painting the wood portion, white...thoughts??

$4 shoes

i kinda love these with all my heart! Those laces...those chunky heels???:):)

happy shopping, my friends!!!!

spoil me.

i'm still getting used to the idea that I'm part of Mother's Day now! I, honestly, wake up with these kids and I'm still not sure how they got here or if they're ours or why someone would give us the HUGE responsibility of making them awesome!?!?!!??

one thing I am pretty sure about...my husband being unaware that Mother's Day is coming:/ It IS important to both of us that we show the kids, by example, how important mom and dad both are. SO seeing as he gets that done daily...I'm willing to overlook the fact that I'll be reminding him it's Mother's Day...on Mother's Day and then I'll get my card the day after that;)

i'm not one to shy away from spoiling myself...so here are a few things on my current Mother's Day Wish List...aside from a nap and shower;)

cherry red tote this is something I'd be willing to spend $150 on, only use twice a year and feel super okay with that:)
*image from: See Jane Carry

kid rings i'd love to get something personalized with the kids' names at some point...seeing as we're not quite finished having them, I'd want to find something that would be easy enough to add to as we add the babies:)

skin care i've been thinking a lot more about taking care of my skin and finding a routine that works for me now, is within my current (LOW) budget and that I can continue with for the rest of forever. This is high on my list!!

pencil skirt this skirt just seems super versatile. I could wear before/during/after pregnancy...with sneakers/flip flops/heels. I like all things flexible at the moment:)

trench coat i'm in love with this deep blue color and would love something a bit dressier to throw on during those never ending, chilly, Spring and Fall Wisconsin seasons.

sandals i'm in need of something a step up from the $4 black flip flop and these would be perfect!

*the above 3 items are all via LOFT and they are currently running a 40% OFF! Such a great deal if you've had your eye on anything!!:)


Happy Mother's Day to ya:)

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:)

all i want for christmas...

unless you're ordering by midnight tonight...or last night:/...online ordering for a Christmas Arrival is gonna be a pretty huge NO NO from here on out. This is super unfortunate for those of you still wanting to buy me ALL.THE.THINGS;)

seeing as I like to pretend I can buy myself ALL.THE.THINGS...I did a bit of imaginary online shopping. Fillin' baskets all over the web that will never be ordered! SO SORRY Anthropologie. Ain't nobody in this house ordering that moon ring for $278.40 - that's on sale. What the?!?!

besides fillin' online baskets with things I can't afford to purchase...I like to pick this time of year to set-up a pretty intense budget for our household. Awwww yeah:) The week before Christmas is suchhhhh a good time to take a look at your spending...and then cry. And then eat all the cookie dough. 

but as Dave would say - Ramsey...we're homies;):

“If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else.”

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5

6 . 7 . 8 . 9 . 10 . 11

the holidays are a fantastic reminder that we are so, so truly happy and lucky and we've got all we need under this (leaking;) roof:) But it's also a gentle reminder that we want to be free of some of the burdens we carry. And sadly, those are mostly financial. First and fore most, I care about my family. NOT a ring or record or new pair of sneaks. But next year...I'd love to tuck my amazing family into bed and count my blessings and THEN...tip toe downstairs and do some, guilt-free, online shopping;)

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:)

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.

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...:)