summer swim roundup (so far)

since we are officially in the thick of summer, aka swimsuit season; i wanted to share a quick round up of the suits i've been wearing!!  granted, i'm sure to buy at least 10 more (i have a problem, we know this) below are the ones i've accumulated so far.  please feel free to comment with any questions you may have on fit.  happy sunning babes!!

Albion High Seas Set (wearing small in both, could've sized down to xs)

shop the Off the Hook Top
shop the High Waist bottoms
use code: TARABELLE15 and recieve 15% off sitewide at AlbionFit

Banana Moon Colorsun Set (wearing sz 36/s)

Shop the Set (available in 3 colors)

Rue 21 Gingham Set (wearing size small)

shop the Ruffle Top (on sale for $10)
shop the High Rise Bottoms (also only $10)

Banana Moon Maggiore set (wearing sz 36/s)

shop the Bikini Set

Banana Moon #BEACHBABE bikini (wearing sz 36/s)

shop the BeachBabe set

Forever 21 Leopard One Piece (wearing sz small)

 shop Similar Fits below

euro

ahhh, only took me 6 days into the new year to finally get a post live!  we have basically been hibernating since Christmas, which is fun and all, but I’m kind of ready to get back to reality.  Like, a trip to target sounds AMAZING about now!  omg, and a Starbucks latte!!!!!!!!  yum, I could so go for a venti about now!  why does someone else making it just taste so much better than what you brew at home?  I have the syrup, the espresso, the almond milk....still, nothing tastes as good as that first sip from a barista.  Ok, so luckily, we’re escaping Charleston and heading north this afternoon which means we will no doubt pass my fave little coffee shop and you best believe I’m gonna make the hubs whip through that drive thru line!!  And I’m sure I can find some reason that Ill be needing to do a lap around target.  I probably forgot to pack wipes or snacks or toothbrushes...surely something slipped my mind ;) 

So since the WiFi is still down, I downloaded the blogger app and decided to dedicate this little road trip to “working”.  Fingers crossed it shows up as good as it would from my laptop.  I’m not super app savvy.  Good thing I don’t do social media for a living, right?!!  

I wore this look a few weeks back when I was desperately wishing I could be somewhere a little more French.  Like, with baguettes and cafe music and that ever so enticing accent. I would undoubtedly stick out like a sore thumb, but whatever, at least I’d have my beret.  Ugh, I need to travel more.  What locations are on your bucket list?  Let me know in the comments!   And happy Saturday love bugs 😘

Xx-

UK Glamorous pink suede jacket

UK Glamorous stripe jumper

Levi’s vintage fit 

Kelsi Dagger brogues

Forever 21 beret

Henri Bendel hat box

panther

we made it to hump day friends!!!  i am so in love with today's look i can't stand it and i only wish i hadn't already worn it in front of everyone i know, because i really want to wear it again and again!!!

steel

wow, ok yea, so it's been a minute . . . and not the new york kind.  how mom's work full time jobs i'll never know.  i can barely manage to get the kids to school on time, much less tidy the house, cook a meal, type a blog post . . . i'm exhausted honestly

rock fest

back in black FTW, and in some serious need of caffeine.  ok yea, i've only been back on it for like a week, but i'm pretty sure i'm more dependent than ever and you can't make me feel bad about it.  

rain

it only took me a month, but i am FINALLY breaking down my looks from Charleston Fashion Week!  idk what it is about that week, but it takes me forever to recover.  i think i quite literally changed 3 plus times a day, so we have a lot of looks to work our way through, but first up is one of my absolute favorites from the week!!!  if i could live in everything Taxidermy i totally would.

lite

hey guys!!!!  tonight's look is probably the most minimal outfit i have ever worn, but i can honestly say, i ain't mad at it.  i've been in a serious black mood lately, so it was nice to lighten things up and go for a little tonal tan look for once.  it's probably not going to become a thing, but, for a day, it was nice.  and, this onesie really deserved a moment.  hope you guys have a wonderful week!!  

edge

happy weekend guys!!!!  today, i wanted to break down some not so basic basics that every girl should have in her arsenal (in my humble opinion).  sometimes keeping up with the trends can become exhausting and most days i don't have the brain capacity, much less the inspiration to come up with a totally amazing head to toe look.  this is where basics can be a lifesaver!!!

sliver

happy sunday babes!!  i hope y'all had a relaxing weekend!!!  this look is actually what i wore for nye (i know, i'm a little late on the posting, my bad) but, even still, the pleated midi/maxi is one of my favorite trends right now!!!!  and i definitely don't think it has to be reserved for anything all that fancy.  i have worn mine with a graphic tee and sneakers, a button up and a bomber, or, fully layered and chic like today's little ensemble!!

mustard

happy saturday lovebugs!!!  how was everyone's week??  school started back this week, but it still feels like summer, so i'm feeling caught in that, i wanna wear fall but it's freaking a zillion degrees outside fashion dilemma.  the easiest fix i've found is swapping my sandals for booties and popping in some fallish tones like this mustard, which i think you know by now is going to be my "it" color of the season!!

santorini

i barely made it, but i'm here!!!  today felt like the longest day and i finally got 2 of my 3 to sleep, so i'm bribing the last one with popcorn and cartoons until mommy finishes her work.  it's amazing how little it takes to entertain a 3 year old.  everyone has been sick all weekend and i'm not exactly up to par just yet, so bare with me if i stop making sense.

slap on a bib and call me a pilgrim

Good Evening!!  How was everyone's weekend?  Did y'all stay warm?  We woke up to snow on the cars Saturday morning which was pretty freaking exciting if you ask me.  It would have been more awesome if it actually stuck, but, hey, beggars can't be choosers, right??  so, to say our carolina weather has been fickle would be the understatement of the year, but i have been enjoying these brisker days, if only for the excuse to pile on some layers.  today's look is all about that too hot for the colony, pilgrim chic.  this was one of those outfits that fell together so gloriously that i had to make a moment of it.  breaking it down in order of compilation; i finally bit the bullet and ordered these otk boots (such a steal, bee tee dubs) and was dying to style them with a little mini, and then the perfect one came in the mail from Tres Carmen!!  fashion happenstance numero uno!!  then, i was thinking, how do i play in to the preppiness of the plaid?  in comes happenstance numero dos!  i have been on the hunt for the perfect white shirt for like ever.  seriously though, forever!  who knew it was so hard to find a crisp button down?  well, truthfully, i've found plenty, but the price was never quite right, but this one finally hit the bill and i sized up so i can style it both tucked and un.  my jacket was another happy coincidence, because it was already sitting happily in my closet which means i didn't have to spend a dime, and it took me from hit me baby to its britney (you know who) .  i topped it off with this hat (also already perched smiling down on me from the shelves of my walk-in) and i thought, this is a pretty solid outfit.  the only thing that was missing, was some sort of necklace to tie it all together.  i have been loving the long scarf trend, have you seen this??  i thought it was a potential possibility, but then i remembered seeing this glorious bow bib at M&L and it was like the fashion epiphone of the century!!  ok, not really, but if i was a cartoon character (and who's to say i'm not) big flashing fashion light bulbs were lighting up the top of my head like the vegas strip.  the final piece de resistance was this giant, double chain, drool-worthy python tote that really steals the show of any outfit and puts the Karl Lagerfeld stamp of approval on my whole look.  i mean, i didn't actually go anywhere, except for to meet my photographer and make sure this outfit went down in fashion blogger photo history, but i kind of think its pretty major, don't you?? thanks for stopping by babes, hope you have a fab week!!

"if you knew how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought"  -Peace Pilgrim

ALL IMAGES CURRENT VISUALS

Forever 21 stripe faux fur
Uniqlo white dress shirt
BCBGeneration plaid skirt c/o Tres Carmen
Simmi Shoes "carmen" otk boots
Taxidermy "jw" black python bag c/o
Moon & Lola "madeline bib" c/o
Forever 21 floppy hat

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.

ALL IMAGES CURRENT VISUALS

Le Motto french terry sweatshirt c/o