in the grey


Happy HallowsEve!!  sorry for the last post today, i've been chasing children around a parking lot for "trunk or treat" all morning, and it has taken me until now to get them calmed down enough so i can sit down and have a clear train of thought.  honestly, my children are already nuts, but candy is like crack to a toddler!!  i wish i could bottle up all that energy and drink it for breakfast.  3 lattes later, i'm still draggin' my way through the day, how about y'all??  tgif is all i have to say!  i am excited to sleep in and hopefully catch up on laundry and maybe tackle some work that i've been pushing off all week.  so, ya know, crazy Saturday up in here!!  my sister and i always joke about how "thrilling" our lives are.  but, really, its so nice.  ill take boring any day!  ok ok, fashion fashion, let's talk about this look.  i am really going through a "no color" phase and gray hues seem to be my go to.  these jeans have been on serious repeat since i got them, because, who knew high rise could be so comfortable??  i layered on a band tee and this amazing buffalo check jacket.  is anyone else as obsessed with plaid as i am??  i kindof feel like its a neutral and so easy to layer up for fall.  obvi, im not print mixing with this look, but i'm just saying, you totally could!  especially with a combo like black and white.  leopard, stripes, herringbone, all of it!  i went for more of a monochromatic look this time around, sticking with shades of grey and black.  back to the buffalo, this guy comes from my newest tique obsession, Apricot Lane North Charleston.  i shopped a bit too hard in there a few weeks back (remember this look?) and fell in love. so much so, that i am going to be hosting a fun night out so you can fall in love too!!  join me and my bloggin bestie Chloe of TopKnots and Polka Dots next week for a little retail therapy, styling, and a storewide sale!  you can find full deets below and if you can't wait until then, Apricot Lane is giving my readers 30% off this jacket (now thru Friday) when you mention my blog, and be sure to follow my instagram for a special giveaway this sunday ;).  I hope to see some familiar faces next week and i wish you all a happy halloween!
"i enjoyed my life when i had nothing . . . and kinda like the idea of just being happy with me" - Joey Ramone


Apricot Lane North Charleston buffalo check jacket c/o



belle on a budget: the tres carmen poncho

good morning babes!!!!  eeeeeekkkkk!!  i can hardly contain my excitement, i'm so thrilled to be starting a new series with you guys annnnnnnd how cool is it that you can totally hear all about it on the radio??  i for one am pretty stoked.  not so much that you get to listen to my valley-girl meets yankee twang voice, but definitely that you can finally hear the amount of sarcastic dry banter that goes on in my head as i'm writing these posts to you week after week.  so, listen (hehe) we all love a good trend, right?  but trends come and go and no one wants to break the bank on fleeting fashion.  this is where "belle on a budget" comes to the rescue!!  every week i am going to be partnering with a local boutique to style one of the season's hottest trends, at a very pocket friendly price!  (side note; yes, i overuse the exclamation point, but it's just so much prettier than the period, don't you think?)  today's look is all about the poncho.  i knew this had to be my first trend to tackle because it has had a huge presence this season.  from the runway to the street, it seems like everyone is rocking the poncho.  this burberry look-a-like comes from a store that is very near and dear to my heart (and my closet) Tres Carmen!!  this store has literally been with me through thick and thin.  the thick being the massive bump i sported during fashion week covered in some seriously fresh TCB duds.  you know i'm all about mixing high-low fashion and TC gets it right everytime.  case and point; this poncho $44!!  i styled it over what i consider my classic fall uniform; a chambray and leather skinnies.  ladies, let me just tell you, leather and chambray goes with everything!!!!!  honestly, you can't go wrong.  if ever i'm at a loss for how to style something, these are my go to and definitely worth the investment.  to capture that southwestern meets bohemian vibe, i slipped on these fringe booties, floppy hat an arm of bangles and this beaded necklace.  my one major splurge is this stunning tote, but i mean, she's gorgeous, no?  tune in to Mix 96 (95.9 to all the locals) at 8:50 am or click here to listen live and hear why you NEED the poncho and how you can wear it to fit your style!  and, as if that wasn't incentive enought, Tres Carmen is offering my readers 25% off 1 item for today only, so be sure to pop in or give them a call at 843-974-4383 to shop my look!
"never let a trend get in the way of creating a great outfit for yourself"

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all featured items c/o Tres Carmen

poncho $44
Mink Pink chambray shirt $61
DL1961 coated skinny $158
fringe bootie $39
Twine & Twig horse hair necklace $119
floppy hat $36
Bourbon & Boweties bangles - $28-$38
Gigi New York satchel $525

like a boy

back to school, back to school, to prove to dad that i'm not a fool ;) c'mon sandler fans, does this song not play itself out every time you drive through the carpool lane?  maybe its just for us toddler bearing parents who have to come up with songs about everything because literally peeing needs an anthem in the mind of a 2 year old.  regardless, much like last weeks post, this look has me feeling all pre-pubescent toddler chic.  these adult oshkosh dungarees are actually a major score for old navy, who, by the way, is seriously killing it right now!   i have been wanting overalls for like ever, but being pregnant for the last 5 years (give or take) they're hardly practical.  so since im thinking im officially off the baby train, i went ahead and bit the bullet and now im kinda hooked.  i went for a menswear/school-boy vibe and paired them over this striped tunic (also an ON score) and metallic oxfords.  unfortunately these guys are from last year, but i linked up a great look-a-like below.  my ever present denim jacket and bandana made for the perfect toppers and to finish it off i grabbed my Vera backpack.  i mean, if you're going to carry a backpack, it might as well make a big giant red statement, right?
"be happy, be bright, be you"


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the wheels on the bus

good afternoon babes!  the day is halfway over which means it's almost Friday, which means, it's basically the weekend, right?  I promise my logic makes sense.  I'm excited for today's look because im showing you a more realistic approach to fashion.  well, a more real look at how I do fashion.   I feel like people always ask me, how are you wearing heels and juggling kids and making it work, and honestly you guys, I DONT!!!  I really can't stress enough about how Instagram is filtered.  You are seeing such a small glimpse (literally a 4x4 square) into my everyday life.  I'm certainly not the mom in yoga pants and a sweatshirt, but I'm also not dressed to the nines for the carpool line.  I have my kids in tow 95% of the time and the other 5 I'm still not totally alone because Mav is still my constant companion so I have to factor in a few needs when I get dressed.  Is this comfortable, can I bend over, will I mind if I get one of life's wonderful bodily fluids smeared all over it, etc etc.  I like to make my outfits versatile.  Usually I'm in sneakers all day, and if I'm actually going somewhere, heels for night.  So, this dress has already served me quite well and because of its shift style and array of colors, it's been surprisingly versatile.  The short sleeves and tweed fabric are very "ladies who lunch" which is exactly the kind of event I wore it to a couple of weeks back.  And for a little dose of pattern play, I slung on this leopard cross body.  It's easy, and appropriate, and let's the dress shine in all its splendor.  For a fresh everyday approach, I styled it up a little more, back to school cool.  Personally, I think it's so fun to take a dressy look and funk it up with more casual pieces.  Just because we're not in kindergarden anymore, doesn't mean we can't still take not from a toddlers approach to style, right?  Right you guys!  The answer is Right!  Fashion is suppose to be fun, so have fun with it!!!  I tied on my newest denim jacket, because, yes, I plan on continuing this style through fall and yes I NEEDed a new denim jacket #priorities. It is a darker more fall appropriate wash which is how I justified it to the hubs.  I laced up my classic cons and grabbed my red backpack.  I really just love a backpack and hi-top combo, they totally change the vibe of any look to a more playful/approachable feel, and you can't beat their comfort.  Plus, the backpack is pretty much all the rave right now, soooo, you know I had to jump on board that train ;). and no joke, both my bags are Vera Bradley!!  yes ladies, get your jaws off the floor, Vera has stepped up her handbag game to a whole new level and I for one am impressed.  I couldn't really tell you which I love more, but both have definitely been on heavy rotation, because much like the perfect black tote, you can never go wrong with a little leopard and a pop of red.
"for every dark night, there's a brighter day"

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