monday basics

phew, this momma here is exhausted!!  you know when you just have one of those days when nothing seems to go right??  today was that day!!  on top of us just arriving home after a week long trip the burgh, today is also hubbies bday and I had a list as long as my arm of errands to run.  unfortunately I barely checked 1 thing on my list and my house is still a wreck and nothing has been unpacked, so after the day that I had, the last thing I wanted was a phone reminder letting me know there's only 10 days until Christmas!!  how the heck did that happen??  they say the older we get, the faster time flies, and boy ain't that the truth!  so Monday held up to her end of the bargain and reiterated why I dislike her so much.  but tomorrow's another day, and I've got 3 of the sweetest boys making every bad day better, plus the blessing of the bun cooking in the oven, so its really hard to complain. 

todays look is all about flowy stripes and stretch jeans!  pregnant or not, this is always the perfect Monday outfit.  after eating my weekends into oblivion and squeezing into my Sundays best, Mondays are more of a casually chic kinda day.  this dolman tee is easy breezy and camouflages my food/baby belly with ease.  I paired it with these dark skinnies that literally fit like leggings, they're that comfortable!!  these lace ups add a bit of intrigue and keep the look from feeling to loungey, plus gold accessories to pack a punch.  so here's to Monday!  im ending this day with a smile and a laugh, because what else is there to do?

 "life always offers you a second chance.  its called tomorrow"

 

 ALL IMAGES MARIE RODRIGUEZ

 

top Synergy Style // jeans Vestique // sandals Lulus // clutch BCBGeneration //

bar necklace IAdornU via 9th & Elm // whistle II Brunettes

these booties were made for . . .

wandering through the woods on the most perfect fall day, am I right??

I love love love a bootie, it is perhaps my favorite style of footwear and most definitely the most versatile.  you can wear them year round with jeans, shorts, dresses, Everything!!  or at least I do!

from flats to stilettos, i've accumulated quite a collection, but nothing beats the medium stacked heel.  whether I'm dressed up with the hubs or running around with the kids, I know ill be comfy and chic and most importantly, on trend!  so how does one choose this closet staple?  personal taste really plays into this decision, but for me, its all about the leather.  I know this boot will get alot of wear, so it needs to be durable and a versatile color.  brown is always a good choice, and black is a given, but I find something in the tan/cognac family to be the most neutral, and as far as leather is concerned, nobody does it better than the frye company.  from their timeless staples to their fashion styles, you will never regret a carefully handcrafted pair of these bad boys. 
be sure to head over to Belk and explore their fall/winter collection
I have been wearing these booties almost everyday since I got them, and this look has become my fall uniform.  it only takes a few key pieces: a kimono, or on a cooler day, the equally boho aztec shawl; a basic tank or graphic tee; and super skinnies (always roll the hem!)  to top it off, layer on a few necklaces, throw on a floppy hat, and of course step into some booties!!

"at the end of the day, your feet should be dirty, your hair messy, and your eyes sparkling"

 

ALL IMAGES MARIE RODRIGUEZ

 

sweater BB Dakota via Its Retail Therapy // tank Old Navy // jeans Chip & Pepper via Belk //

booties Frye c/o Belk // hat Vestique

women, shoes, and a lil retail therapy

country clubs and ladies lunches aren't normally my cup o' tea, but with a title like Wine, Women and Shoes, I could hardly resist!!  not only were some of those most stunning shoes on display, but the event also raised money for the Florence Crittenton Program which helps pregnant young ladies get the care and services they need to not only birth and care for their child, but to obtain and education and become independent women.  charity events and fundraisers always tug at my heart, but there is something extra special about women helping women.

the attire was cocktail, and luckily for me, I found the most adorable dress at the cutest boutique here in town.  who knew the boro had such fab fashions??  I have since snatched up quite a many items from It's Retail Therapy that I can't wait to share with you guys!!  but onto this dress, I fell in love with the back and the double layer separates effect, I just knew it would be perfect!  I paired it with this gorg necklace from LoveObsessed, another fun boutique I discovered via instagram  oh how I love insta-tiquing!!  I always discover the cutest things and don't have to run the worry of someone else showing up in the same thing!  the pairing felt prissy enough, so I opted for black single straps, this fun clutch and a lil leopard to add a bit of edge.  i wish i could say this faux fur was a recent find, but its been in my closet for quite a many years now, i did however, find y'all some equally fab alternatives, check the links below!!

have a wonderful weekend!!



"no one has ever become poor from giving"

 

ALL IMAGES MARIE RODRIGUEZ

special thanks to Florence Crittenton Programs and Wine Women and Shoes for having me!!

 

dress Ark & Co. via Its Retail Therapy // necklace Love Obsessed // heels ShoeMint //

faux fur Target (old) love this, this and this // bag TJMaxx

layers and lattes

I absolutely love trotting around this beautiful city of mine and taking in all its splendor.  I feel like I discover new alleys and corners all the time, but I always make it back to the waterfront.  it may be a bit touristy, but having grown up in dreary pa, the sunshine and salty air call my name and I give in every chance I can get.  the yank in me is also where i get my need for layers.  i feel naked in just a top, or just a dress, i feel that top layer (or 2) really completes the look.  if you could glimpse into my closet, you would find the majority of my racks are filled with blazers and faux fur.  there's a very small section dedicated to blouses and an even smaller department of dresses.  it's just an automatic response for me, when i enter a store, i head straight for the outerwear and its where my outfits tend to begin as well.  this is the second time this slouchy trench is hitting the blog; check out how i dressed it up HERE; and its pretty much the perfect fall jacket for this southern weather.  it felt like a basics kinda day, so i paired it over this heathered tank and my favorite skinnies.  my floppy hat and bowler bag are fall favorites of mine from last year (remember when oxblood was all the rave?) but i still love how they add intrigue to the bland palate and i pretty much wear a pair of these rockstud wannabes every day now.  i told you i got them in black too, right?  i couldn't help myself.  but im quite proud of how well i refrained from all these cyber sales, it was super tempting to blow the bank, but i stuck it out and only bought a few necessary items and checked a thing or 2 off my Christmas list and thank goodness, because buyers remorse was not in my humpday plans!

be sure to head over to Peaches in a Pod (love these girls!!) and check out their tour through blogland!  im so honored to have been nominated alongside of one of my fave blogs UpBeat Soles!



"sometimes you need to walk alone, just to show you can"

ALL IMAGES MARIE RODRIGUEZ

 

trench // tank // skinnies AG Jeans all via styleXchange

heels Lulus // hat H&M // sunnies American Eagle // tassel House of Sage // bag Marshalls