Freckled Latte – Page 22

05/31

Five Things Friday…

On my mind this week….

Getting my gym legs (gym equivalent of sea legs ;)) back. The gym was full of boys (blech!) on Tuesday. They hog all the free weight benches and when I do scoot in to get a bench, I sorta feel like they’re judging me for taking up one of their precious benches to use my measly baby weights. It didn’t help that it’s been a couple of months since I was in last and I was sort of floundering in my workout anyway. Oh well, I managed to get a good workout in regardless and was pretty happy that I could still do 3 sets of push-ups even though my pectorals and lats are STILL super sore three days later!

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I have to admit something…I’m becoming a bit of a mango addict. I love them! The past two summers I maybe had 2-3 the whole summer. Now, I’m eating 2-3 a week! I’m slightly obsessed with them lately.

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I got these adorable jog pants at Forever 21 last week and I cannot find a shirt that goes with them to save my life. I keep buying shirts that I think will work, bring them home and try them on with the pants and then get annoyed b/c they don’t look good. I’m starting to wonder if I made a mistake buying the pants in the first place. They were only $22 so it’s not a huge deal if they go unworn, but I really loved them when I tried them on in the dressing room. :o/

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Sperrys! I’ve been a shoe buying maniac lately so I’m trying to reign it in, but I have been lusting over these Sperry boat shoes since I tried them on the other day. I’m trying very hard to talk myself out of buying them!

I love the leopard print, but look at how cute this anchor pair is! OMG. I think I might need these instead.

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I have been looking everywhere for a chambray shirt that I like. I found this one at H&M and I was telling my hubs about it, who then asked what chambray was and I had to admit that I didn’t know the difference between chambray & denim. *hangs head* So, what’s a girl to do? Turn to my friend Google, of course. She’s always there for me.

Come to find out, there IS a difference between the two. I kinda thought the terms were interchangeable.

ME <——— fashion noob

But, I’m in the know now so I now know that the shirt I found was “denim”, not chambray. For a second I thought about taking it back, but after doing a little digging I found out that people use them interchangeably in outfits so I’m keeping it. I’ll still be on the hunt for a good chambray one though!

*btw, yellow pants over there…$15 at H&M right now. They had a mint color too, but they didn’t have my size. :'(

posted by katiehigg 3 Comments
Filed Under: Five things Tagged: forever 21 polka dot joggers, gym, H&M denim shirt, mango, sperry laguna leopard

05/28

Getting my groove back…

I’ve been in a bit of a funk…

slacking in exercise

slacking in eating healthy

slacking in day to day duties

Gotta.get.my.groove.back!

So, it’s 10am as I’m writing this. I have a sick kiddo home, but hubs can stay with her so it’s pretty much going to be a normal day for me. I was feeling good around 9:30 b/c I’d taken a kid to school, sent a load of clothes through the washer, showered and was half dressed for the gym. Then, I sat down to write this blog post and got lost in the interwebs for a half hour…story of my life.

I feel kinda all over the place lately. I don’t know if it’s turning 35 or the kids getting older or what, but it’s time to figure out what makes Katie tick. I’ve spent a long time being a mom and a wife and while I am still both of those things…it’s no longer enough. I’m longing for more.

Soooo…I’m working with a life coach/counselor to figure out what I want out of life. And starting this week, I’m going to work harder at exercising and eating better. I feel better when I’m working out a few times a week and not eating so much junk so I’m going to the gym today and going to try to keep my food/exercise log up at myfitnesspal.com. The food log will come and go b/c I try not to worry as much about calories as I do about eating the right foods. Not to mention that counting calories just plain sucks. 😛

In other news…#whatiwore this past Memorial Day weekend…

hanging with the hubs

hanging with all my siblings at the mostly non-existent Silver Springs

Sorry for the not so great photos. I’m trying to get better at it, but I loathe asking people to take my picture and I rarely have time to try to take a self timer photo of myself.

posted by katiehigg Leave a Comment
Filed Under: #whatiwore, My life, Personal

05/24

I’m gonna need a bigger closet

I don’t know if you’ve been able to tell or not, but I’ve recently become just slightly obsessed with fashion. The most I’ve been since having kids actually. I tried to remember back before husband and babies and while it was 15yrs ago, I do remember taking a portion of my tips (I was a Bennigan’s waitress back in the day) and going to the mall every week. I also remember having a $500 JCP card & a $300 Victoria’s Secret credit card that were always pretty close to limit. Although it’s apparent I was once in to shopping, this is the first time I’ve really been interested in fashion. Like, putting whole outfits together with accessories & such.

As you can imagine, after 15 yrs, two babies, a myriad of sizes from 0-10…my wardrobe was kinda sad. Toss in the fact that when I did buy things, I bought things that would get me by, but not necessarily classic staples. Which means, half of the stuff I bought that still fits, ends up getting tossed because I don’t like it anymore.

So…for the last few months I’ve been buying some much needed additions to my wardrobe.

black blazer (H&M) :: jean jacket (H&M) :: seersucker blazer (the Limited) :: black sheath dress (the Limited)
nude wedges (Gianni Bini) :: brown flats (Gianni Bini) :: black pumps (Christian Louboutin)
striped tee (H&M) :: white tee (the Limited) :: white sleeveless blouse (H&M) :: black pencil skirt (Express)

And, because shopping for staples is boring without some ‘just because’ pieces thrown in…here are some of the fun purchases I’ve made

1) I am in L.O.V.E with my new DVF wedges (anniversary present from my hubs!)

2) You know when you try something on, and the instant you put it on, you know that you have to have it? That was this Cremieux striped maxi. I was not leaving the store without it!

3) white peplum & pink sequin pencil skirt (black version)

4) neon distressed chinos (clearance rack at AE)

5) boyfriend jeans (Target) – not the most awesome boyfriend jeans ever, but at $30 and the only ones I’ve found thus far that I even liked on me, I was sold!

6) Vince Camuto low heeled sandal

posted by katiehigg Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Fashion Tagged: basics, black blazer, closet staples, cremieux maxi, dvf olive, H&M, H&M black blazer, jean jacket, neon distressed chinos, seersucker blazer, sequin pencil skirt, the Limited, wardrobe staples, white peplum

05/22

Mint+Seersucker :: #whatiwore

When I bought my seersucker blazer I combed the internet for ideas on how to style it. I found this adorable outfit inspiration over at Capitol Hill Style. Seersucker and mint…a genius combo! I promptly tucked this photo away for use on a later date.

a later date…I loooved this combo on. For accessories, I went with gold and a pop of coral.

posted by katiehigg Leave a Comment
Filed Under: #whatiwore, Fashion Tagged: basic white tee, casual lunch outfit, gianni bini baja, gianni bini sandal, lunch with friends outfit, mint, mint + seersucker, mint coral seersucker, seersucker blazer, shorts, the Limited

05/20

Trend :: Jumpsuits

I’m not a big fan of change, so it takes me a year or two to warm up to new fashion trends. Of course the downside of taking a while to warm up to something, usually means I jump on the band wagon while the rest of the world is slowly moving on to a new trend. I’m usually one step behind, but that’s ok with me. 😉

Like always, I’m a little late to the party with the jumpsuit trend. I thought it was new this year, but when I googled it, apparently it is definitely not new. *sigh*

Anywho, I didn’t think I would like this trend at all. I don’t have a good track record with one piece items (I guess I have a longer torso so the size I need for the torso, doesn’t usually match the size I need for my clothing size) so when I picked up a jumpsuit the other day to try on, I really didn’t expect to like it. I thought it was pretty though so I grabbed it to try it on.

Imagine my surprise when I put it on and kinda didn’t want to take it off. It was loose and comfy, but I felt stylish. I could see it with some barely there sandal heels, but also cute with flats & a jean jacket. I ended up leaving without it because honestly, I’m still not confident in what looks good on me and what doesn’t, so I wasn’t convinced that I would wear it past this summer. It was also $130, which would have been okay if I wore the heck out of it for a year or two, but IMO a little steep for a one hit wonder outfit. I have been thinking about it ever since though so I think I’m going to be on the hunt for a more affordable version.

Here‘s the one I tried on. In hindsight, I probably should have tried on the next size down, but I was accounting for my long(ish) torso and yes, the leg length is a little LONG (I’m only 5’4″ :))

And here are a few from around the web that I’m lovin’…

Wendy’s Lookbook

Rachel Zoe Utilitarian Turquoise Jumpsuit – Spring 2013

Workday.Weekend

What do you think…will you get in on this trend? Check out some I found for sale right now…
Forever 21-1, Forever 21-2, Forever 21-3 :: H&M shorts romper :: ASOS-1, ASOS-2
dressy jumpsuit (splurge)

posted by katiehigg Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Fashion, Inspiration Tagged: jumpsuits, trends

05/19

One Piece, Three Ways :: #whatiwore

MK over at Outfit Posts decided to do a fun little Spring remix post about how to wear one piece, two ways. She featured all the reader submissions on her blog today and I wanted to share mine here. For your viewing pleasure, I also included a third (basic) option. 😉

My one piece is the Striped Convertible Neckline Slub dress from Express. It’s a cotton material, so it’s pretty comfy and you can wear it with a high neckline or turn it around and wear it with a lower neckline. I decided to do a day to night inspired look. Day (on the left) would be say, at your 9-5’er. Then, for your Night look…you slip off the pencil skirt, turn the dress around (lower neckline), change your shoes, throw on some leather and you’re ready for the club (or date). The third look (in the middle) could be considered “weekend” wear. Here in FL, you can’t have too many layers during the 90+ degree days or you might heat to death. 🙂

I feel like it’s important to add that, with almost all of my Express purchases, I use a coupon. They put a coupon out often that’s along the lines of $15 off $30, $30 off $90 and $50 off $150. I hardly ever pay full price unless I really need something and there isn’t a coupon out.

*disclaimer – Hubs does not approve of my “night” shoes. He said I should have kept the heels on. lol. Honestly, IRL if I were going from day to night and going for drinks, I would have probably kept the heels on, but I wanted to make the night outfit a little funkier. So, if you hate the booties,
<——– here it is with the heels.

Inadvertently, this post could be titled Express clothing remix (with the exclusion of the shoes) since all of my clothing pieces are Express brand.

Dress
Pencil Skirt
Jacket (old, but similar here)
Pumps
Booties (Target, but pretty much sold out
similar here, here & here)
Sandals (Target)

posted by katiehigg 4 Comments
Filed Under: #whatiwore, Fashion Tagged: booties, christian louboutin 120mm new simple, express, high waist pencil skirt, how to wear dress two ways, one piece two ways, striped convertible neckline slub dress

05/17

Five Things…

TGIF! Only 3 weeks until my kiddos get out of school and I think I’m more excited than they are. It’s so close I can taste it…shorts & flip flops, fresh fruit on a hot summer day, the smell of coconut lotion, spur of the moment bowling excursions, and best of all, no homework & no schedule!

Sum..sum..summertime here we come!

I’m so pumped about Sara Bareilles new album coming out this summer (July 16th)! I love her songs and I’ve already been playing her single “Brave” over and over again. If you haven’t heard it, you need to go buy it now.

Seriously…I’ll wait…

“Show me how big your brave is…say what you wanna say and let it all fall out…honestly…I wanna see you be brave”

She has this cool download on her website where you can post how you’re going to be brave. That’s mine above. Now show me yours!

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Sequins & Glitter? Yes please. I’m attending my daughters vocal banquet on Sunday and I can’t wait to wear my new pink sequin pencil skirt that I got from the Limited on an insane sale ($12.50..oh yeah!). Today I bought pink glitter polish to complete my outfit. I’m going to paint it over the polish that’s currently on my toes to make them sparkle a little and it’s going to be the polish on my ring finger with Essie Mint Candy Apple on the rest of my fingers. Woot!

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I am in love with Shannon Botakis’ work. I have no idea where I would put one, but eventually she will have the perfect one for sale and I WILL have it for my house. My favorites are “Sailing Away” and several of her new pieces seen here, specifically the first four and “How I Wish You Were Here”.

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I have been on a huge shoe bender lately and just when I think I’ve got all my bases covered, I find another shoe I NEED. No, really, I NEED it. I have this amazeballs maxi dress that is just a smidge too long so it needs to be paired with a low wedge sandal, which of course, I don’t own. I like this one and I adore this Chinese Laundry one, but I want more of a 2 in heel so they won’t work. I ordered these from Target today. The heel is the right height and they weren’t too expensive…Score!

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Ugh…the VS annual swim sale catalog came today. Please tell me I’m not the only one that isn’t ready for the swimsuit part of the summer?! Nuff said.

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Filed Under: Fashion, Five things Tagged: Essie luxeffects, five things, Sara bareilles the blessed unrest, strappy low wedge, summer shoe, summertime, Target Sam & Libby

05/15

today…

Day 15, Wednesday: A Day in the life

Wake-up around 6:45
Make a cup of coffee and catch up on blog reading while trying to wake up
7:20am – Play cabbie driving the middle schooler to school & rewarding myself with a latte while I’m doing it

9:30am – Take dog to the groomers

10am – 12pm More computer time with laundry & dishes mixed in
Thoughts of needing to get dressed and go exercise
Phone calls that lead to someone coming to our house at noon (guess the gym is out now!)
1pm – lunch

2pm – back in the car to pick up the dog from the groomers (^^aww, she’s so purty)
3:30pm – Afternoon school pick up. More driving…yay! :o/
5:30pm – Head to yoga for some much needed stretching and relaxation
8pm – pick up dinner on my way home from yoga