a lovely living

Hey guys! It’s quite a hectic week around here. Mostly good (get togethers, dinner with long-distance friends, projects in the works, volunteer time) mixed with the unexpected (a broken arm and cast for my eldest paired with a fever which will lead to who knows what). Life is a constant roller coaster isn’t it? My goal being to remain in the seat, buckled in, with an array of expressions on my face ;)

This past Monday on Instagram, I shared four ways to style my new Everlane wide-leg cropped pants. I know they can seem like an intimidating piece or maybe one that you think would only get worn occasionally, but I’m here to say that those are surely misconceptions. I could have gone on and on with various ways to style them, but today we’ll start with four.

Let me first say a few things about these pants, the first being that they come in a range of colors to choose from. I had a hard time narrowing down which color to start with, but I’m so happy I went with Ochre (which I’d call camel). I didn’t own any bottoms in this color so it was a perfect void to fill. They are high-waisted, made of cotton with the perfect amount of stretch (3% elastane). The pockets are very flattering paired with the high-waist and the wide leg. You really need to see them on to understand! I’ve paired them below with everything from an everyday tee and sneaks to a business causal look with a tucked in blouse. I tried to cover a range of looks/styles in an effort to show you their versatility, so hopefully they will serve as some inspiration for you.

Here’s an everyday look for me. I love this soft color combo and adore the casual chic look that comes off by pairing my Converse with the outfit. (t-shirt / cardigan).

I’ve already shared this leopard top on here, and I’ll say again, I think you all need it in your closet! It’s basically a thin sweatshirt that will add interest to any outfit. And remember, leopard makes the best neutral. With the high-waisted bottoms I paired my slightly cropped denim jacket with them. If you’ve followed for a while, you know I’ve had this one for years and can’t recommend it enough. It’s more of a splurge item, but totally worth it for the quality and the amount of years you’ll get use out of it!

This look is great for heading out to meetings or for a business casual office look. This button up is a warm weather staple at a steal of a price and this sweater blazer is such a great spring layer!

There are a whole range of blouses you could pair with these pants, but tucking them in will be key to pulling the look together. You’ve also seen me style this top before here (it came from the Ralph Lauren outlet if you’re lucky enough to live near one), but here’s another one that’s similar.

If you’d like to see me discuss each outfit a bit more, I’ve saved my try-on to my highlights over on Instagram and I promise this won’t be the last time you see these pants! If you have any questions about anything here, feel free to ask!

Happy Monday! It’s a little difficult coming off of a week of Spring Break (for the kids….it was ‘game on’ for the parents!), as well as the time change and springing forward. It was pitch black when we woke up to get the kids off to school today! But it’s also nice to get back into the swing of things. There’s a major renovation project I’ve been a part of that will be wrapping up within the next two weeks and I can’t wait to share more of it with you! For those that follow along on Instagram (stories), you’ll likely get some glimpses :)

I received these Everlane pants last week (along with two other pairs) and I adore them all! These are their straight leg crop pants in surplus. Not only are they comfortable, cute and come in a bunch of colors, but they are also ethically made and priced exceptionally for their quality. I can see many more Everlane pieces in my future.

I’m also loving all of the cropped cardigans that are popping up. They make for such a great spring layer and I particularly love this one in peachy/pink.

Details: Cardigan / Pants / T-shirt (similar) / Booties / Earrings

Hey guys! Today I’ve got a little Target try-on session to share with you. I honestly wasn’t even venturing into the store with this purpose, but it organically happened and sometimes those end up being the best try-on sessions anyway! I was curious to try on some pieces from their new pj line as well as a few other things and decided I’d give some swimsuits a go despite being in desperate need of some vitamin D! Let’s dive into what I found…

These bottoms fall into the ultra-cozy category. They’re awesome and come in a few colors. I’m wearing an XS here and a S in the top.

They also had this adorable robe with a ruffled sleeve. Perfect for wearing over your pj’s or any cozy outfit around the home.

They also had this cute night gown. I adore the pink/white combo and how soft and comfortable it was. I’m wearing a S here but I did have plenty of room and could have also sized down to an XS.

I’m always cold in the winter, so it was nice that they had an option to pair some pants with it. They are very soft, but also very lightweight.

This was the only dress I took in with me and it was a beauty! I love the unexpected combination of colors and the tie sleeves. This would make a great Easter or shower dress.

I loved this light-weight sweatshirt. It had a boatneck and buttons on the shoulders which dressed it up just enough to allow you to wear this with almost any pair of pants (sweats included!). I’m wearing the S.

This top was a clear winner before I even tried it on. I was in need of a white button up for the warmer months and this fit the bill perfectly, especially coming in under $20.

Here’s another shot to give you an idea on the length. It looks just as cute untucked. I’m wearing a S.

I couldn’t pass up this adorable cardigan. I’ve been seeing a bunch of cropped/fitted cardigans coming out this spring and I adore the look. They obviously pair well with high-waisted pants/jeans/skirts. I didn’t have the right shirt to layer under it, but I actually liked the look of it buttoned up too.

Ok, let’s talk swim. I’m typically a one piece kind of gal. After three baby’s my belly isn’t as flattering as it once was but I also actually love the look and fit of one-pieces on me anyway. Additionally, they are less worrisome as I chase my little ones around! I’m wearing a S in all of the following and would say they all run true to size.

I really liked this suit. I think the colors and classic fit are what I was most drawn to. I could have used a bit more length in the torso, but overall it was a pretty good fit.

This style isn’t one I’m typically drawn to, but I loved the color and the thicker material. I was pleasantly surprised with the fit and how everything was held in place and lifted where lifting is needed!

This was another one where I was initially drawn to the print/colors. The fit was also great and it had good coverage while also keeping everything in place.

This was the last suit I tried on and probably my least favorite. Although I love the style and the pattern, it just felt a little off on my body. The cups didn’t quite fit right and in person I felt like the extra material around the midsection was unnecessary. A bunch of followers commented on Instagram that this was their favorite out of all that I tried on though, so it’s worth checking out at least. Every body shape is different and it’ll likely fit you different than it will I.

It’s a new week with more freshly fallen snow that we woke to! I love that we get to experience all four seasons, but come March, mother nature really likes to test me ;) This week is actually Spring Break for the kids and we are heading up to Niagara Falls with friends of ours since the kids have never been later this week. It’ll be chilly but beautiful nonetheless!

Now, let’s talk about some pieces that I’m going to throw at you highly recommended. The most obvious is going to be this leopard top. This is such a great piece to add to your closet! It may seem bold, but I promise it will act as a neutral in terms of how many ways you can wear it. The material (which feels like a heavy t-shirt or a light-weight sweatshirt) can be paired with black joggers just as easily as it could be worn with trousers and a blazer. The puff sleeves basically make the top for me, but they aren’t overly dramatic if that’s not your thing.

Next are these jeans. Oh my gosh guys. If any of you saw my latest Everlane try-on on Instragram (it’s saved on my highlights if you missed it) you know that I fell hard for a few pairs of their bottoms. These being one of them. Not only are they ethically made and extremely well priced, but their fit is absolutely amazing. I had been on the hunt for a grayed-out black denim and was thrilled when these arrived. If you’re in the market for new denim, I’d recommend you give them a try!

Also, this white button-up. It’s from Target but compares to a top you’d find at Madewell (for a fraction of the price). It’s a great piece for the warmer months because a crisp white blouse can pair with practically anything for an easy look! It looks just as cute tucked in as it does un-tucked and works well for layering too.

And finally, these booties. They just may be my favorite pair (I have them in two colors) because of their comfortable fit, low heel and flattering shape. Plus, depending on the color/size you select there’s a good chance you can get them for a steal.

Details: Top / Jeans / Shirt / Booties / Sunglasses (similar here and here) / Coat (similar)

Hey guys! I wasn’t sure whether or not I had it in me to get a post pulled together today, but as I’ve been browsing all the sales happening, I knew I had to share some of them with you!

There are four retailers offering some really great deals, so I’ve gathered some of my top picks from each.

American Eagle/ Aerie: 30% off AE purchase and 30-50% off Aerie

Anthropologie: Extra 40% off sale

J.Crew: 30% off full priced styles and an extra 50% off sale items with code FRIDAY

LOFT: $50 off full priced purchases of $100 with code GETREADY

Hi guys! As I’m working on putting this post together, I almost have myself fooled into thinking that the weather is warming up. It’s most definitely not, haha. But I’m tiring of wearing my heavy layers for every blog post, so I braved the cold and styled a fresh everyday look for the warmer days ahead…and then I put my wool coat back on!

I’ve had this jacket since last year, but it’s still available for a great price. I’m picky about my denim and this one surprisingly impressed me. I say surprisingly because I tend to have to spend a little more to get the quality in a jacket that I’m looking for. But this one has an amazing fit, perfect amount of distressing and the quality surpassed my expectations. Definitely one to look into! This top is a newer purchase that I did find on sale for you. I love how I can wear it around with my joggers but just as easily take it up a notch as I did here. And let me also mention this new pair of Nickel & Suede earrings that came last week. My cork pair have been go-to’s of mine, so when they added this cheetah print, I couldn’t wait to get them. I wear their size medium and can’t recommend them enough!

Details: Top (more colors here) / Jacket / Denim / Booties / Earrings