Tara Colleen

shades of chic

happy monday love bugs!! i hope you're enjoying this day off and relaxing in your pjs!! quick post today all about these classic staples. sooo easy to recreate and ohh soo chic!! all you need is a great pair of skinnies (these 7's are giving me life!), a boyfriend button down (feel free to actually borrow your boyfriend's dress shirt), your trusty denim jacket and pointed toe pumps. top of the look with a bold lip and beachy bed head waves, done and done!!

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Old Navy stripe dress shirt

7 for all Mankind hi-rise jeans c/o StyleDwell

American Eagle denim jacket

scrollin'

true story, i am not as cool as this sweatshirt would lead you to believe. if you know me or read this blog on the regular, you know i am an avid fan of band tees, but i rarely (never) actually listen to said bands. sinatra is more my jam, or the biebs if i'm feeling extra spicy. on a crazy day you might catch me jammin out to some coldplay. so, it is by total coincidence that i even wore this bowie sweatshirt, and only because i live for the comfort of a vintage style tee that you see me wearing these guys over and over again. honestly, a graphic tee is pretty much a basic as far as i'm concerned, so i have a pretty fat stack sitting in my closet. sadly, the rock world lost a legend this week, and even though i probably couldn't name a single song if i tried, i can appreciate a man with that much dedication to his art. his style was ever-changing, always evolving and most definitely inspiring. as he said (and i'm sure you've seen a million times on social media this week) "i don't know where i'm going from here, but i promise it won't be boring" well boring he was not, and that's a quote i can get behind. i paired this sweatshirt; that is insanely comfortable, by the way; with these (even more comfortable) pair of leggings. i wish you could feel these guys, they're so soft! between the 2, i might as well be wearing pajamas, that's how cozy they are. i contemplated heels, but in keeping with the laid back vibes (and because i'm always looking for an excuse to wear them) i decided to lace up my python chucks and for an extra fun accessory, this matching cell phone case! so cool, right?? in case you haven't noticed, i'm pretty obsessed with everything Taxidermy. she's pretty MAJ!

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trunk ltd "David Bowie" tour tee c/o Tres Carmen <call to order 843.974.4383>
minkpink motto leggings c/o Tres Carmen <call to order>
Taxidermy python high top chucks c/o
Taxidermy python iphone case c/o
Moon and Lola "westbury" studs c/o

on the lo

monday monday!! so, last week was cold, but today, was legit freezing. like 20 something frigid! all i can say, is thank goodness for my emu's!! i have been LIVING in these guys since the day they arrived in the mail. around the house, to the grocery store, wherever, i don't care, it's like slipping your feet into a cozy fur blanket and the only real problem is that my other shoes are feeling a tad neglected. so, as you can tell, my hair is a wreck and the rain has washed off my makeup, but i truly love these pictures so much, because this is exactly how i look most days of the week. behind the sunglasses and the big bold lip is just a messy bed-headed mama, coffee in hand, comfy and cozy, stuck in the house all day with my boys.

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EMU Australia Northerly Lo in Chestnut c/o

Impeccable Pig ivory sweater dress c/o

grown

finally getting this poncho up on the blog and literally just in time for the freezing (i say freezing, its like 50) temps in charleston! so, i actually had this guy all edited and linked and ready to go yesterday at like 6 am (yes i get up early . . . sometimes ;)) but then i got sidetracked and started online shopping and then the boys woke up and it was school and appointments and hashtag mom life stuff and i totally forgot to get back to it. so here we go. this is my "i have to look like an adult who has children but still has crap to do and appointments to keep and want to look cute while dragging 3 kids through target" look. most days, my basic uniform is some variation of denim, leather, sneakers and a band tee, but then there are those days where i actually have to come in contact with people who don't find that junior high/band-aid look appropriate or maybe that's just my insecurity that they might be passing judgement, so i put on an elevated version of the mommy uniform. still perfectly comfortable and kid tested but more "i showered today and kind of have my life together" mommy approved. mixing shades of denim (or chambray if you will) is always an easy go-to for me and totally the most perfect base outfit when it comes to layering. instead of blue jeans, i opted for this pair of gray just to break up all the shades of navy that were happening and threw this chunky sweater poncho overtop. i love that it has a mock turtleneck so i can leave my hair tucked to create that "faux bob" that i'm so obsessed with. come summer, i'm probably just going to have to cut my hair, but for now, this is really doing the trick for me. i'm more of a "leave your heels at home" girl when i have the rugrats in tow, but the stacked heel on these booties is super manageable and the olive or "khaki" as they're apparently calling it, is perhaps my favorite new neutral. i hope you guys have an amazing weekend!! stay warm (and dry)!!

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poncho sweater c/o Blue Poppy Boutique

Roberta Roller Rabbit suede fringe tote c/o

Charlotte Russe split booties

grey felt hat c/o Blue Poppy Boutique

the best things in life are free

Happy 2016 Babes!! am i the only one still dragging from the holidays? i'm having a hard time getting back into the daily groove of things. like waking up early for instance, it's been a struggle to say the least. mornings have never really been my thing. i thrive from like 2pm-10ish. hence my obsession with coffee. i need it for survival. ok, so we're on to the next, yea? resolutions . . . . blahhhh, i'm not a huge fan, how about you guys? i think every day is a resolution. i wake up and i think; i'm going to be more productive, i'm going to eat better, i'm going to spread happiness in the world, and then, i go to bed thinking, did i even do the laundry today? because life gets in the way and things come up and it's all busy busy busy. one day i will be more productive, but that day is not today, and it's probably not going to be this year either, because i have 3 under 4, so survival is more the mantra of the moment. call it a resolution if you wish, but this year i want to be a better human being. i want to be an example to my children and someone my husband is proud to call his wife. i want to be that small beam of light in someone's day. even if it's just smiling at a stranger or holding the elevator, practicing decency is so much easier than the alternative. and honestly, who has time for the negativity? at my church in charlotte, our pastor would end each service with this verse "let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer" -Psalm 19:14 and at this past sunday's service, my pastor quoted the same verse and it resonated with me. remember the WWJD? (what would Jesus do) bracelets? what if we actually applied that mindset to our lives? what if we actually spread that kindness and compassion around? its free you know. exactly like my sweatshirt says, "it costs nothing to be a decent person". so this year i am going to practice what i preach and try to spread a little decency around. but if you see me yelling at the bag boy for smooshing my fruit and breaking my eggs, don't judge, my resolution doesn't start until tomorrow.