Tag: Shopping

Matilda Jane June 2017 Release

4 Comments

 Looks I love: Summer Style Edition

Today I’m going to talk about something I don’t often do, and that is one of my side hustles of selling boutique women and children’s clothing.

I’m never sure how much to talk about my Etsy shop, clothing sales, or other side gigs here, but I decided since this blog is all about living life colorfully, with vibrant lifestyle photography, that it’s indeed *quite* up my alley to share beautiful things I love and want to share with others.

Today, I’m sharing my own product review and  images of the latest June 2017 launch of The Adventure Begins,  because it is so stinkin’ adorable.

Before we start, please keep in mind you can get everything you see here, and much, much more, on my website here, and be the first to know about sales and get in on my 50% sample sales by joining my private group, here. 

First up: the big girls’ line. It’s so pretty in my daughter’s favorite pastels: pink and purple. You might have noticed one of our sweetest new additions in yesterday’s DIY Ice Cream Stand post.

Matilda Jane June 2017 Release | Trunk Keeper #340253

Bean Bag Toss Tank and Tart and Sweet Shorties

Continue reading →

The Awkward Mom Guide to Holiday Gifting

12 Comments

 The Art of the Gift Closet + Wrapping Like a Pro

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BigLotsHoliday #CollectiveBias 

‘Tis the season for awkward social encounters…lots of them. In my world, a casual meet up with a friend or acquaintance can turn into a days-long internal debate about whether to bring a gift.  What if they bring one? What if I bring one, but they don’t?  In the past, you could just write me off as a hot mess, socially impaired mom during the whole month of December. However, this year I’m prepared. I got this.

My secret? The gift closet.

Continue reading →

Fall Fashion Finds

Leave a comment

The temperature is dropping here in the Midwest and it’s time to begin thinking of adding to the fall wardrobe. I’m absolutely loving what I’m seeing this season: glam accents like faux fur and leather, studs and spikes, sleek silhouettes and soft textures. I especially love the affordable finds I’m seeing at Forever 21 this season. Check out a few of my favorites here:


*Please read the affiliate disclaimer on the right sidebar. Thank you for your support!

Last Minute (Free) Halloween Costume: Liz Lemon

1 Comment

Looking for a last-minute Halloween costume, on a budget? Shop your closet and go as Liz Lemon of 30 Rock! Who cares that the show ended two years ago? Tina Fey is always in style. Plus, there are cheese puffs involved.

This one came a little naturally to me – I often get comments that I remind people of Tina Fey when I wear my glasses. Having spent half my life in corporate, I pretty much already have all the makings of a Liz Lemon wardrobe (for better or worse), but you can shop the look below.

Shop your Closet for Free Halloween Costumes- Liz Lemon 30 Rock | Five Marigolds

Shop the look:

Looking for more last minute and free Halloween Costumes? Check out my round-ups, here and here.

Shop your Closet for Hallween Tina Fey as Liz Lemon in 30 Rock Costume | Five Marigolds

Confession: I had a bag of Cheese Puffs for this costume…but I ate them before I could take the picture. I am Liz Lemon.


 

Back to School Wardrobe for Boys – On a Budget

3 Comments

For many, it feels like school just got out for the summer. But in our neck of the woods, summer is already more than half over! Every year I scour summer sales to help build our back to school wardrobe on a budget. I try to find a variety of mix and match pieces to maximize our budget in style. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:

Back to School Wardrobe for Boys On a Budget | Five Marigolds #BTS

Shopping information:

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12

What do you think? Do you shop sales early for back to school season, or do you wait for the fall sales?

Thanks for stopping by!

* In addition to being featured in the fabulous blogs buttoned up in the right sidebar, this post was also linked up at The Scoop and The Turquoise Home.

*This post contains some affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure in the sidebar.

 

 


Loving Lately

1 Comment

I’ve been getting lots of questions on items I’ve shared on Instagram, so I thought this week I’d share a few of my favorite things.

I adore this Sleepy Lamb Eye Mask. Price = $8. Eve sleeping in later = priceless!

Favorite Things- Sleepy Lamb Eye Mask | Five Marigolds

Our Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker gets used all. summer. long. We’ve tried and love nearly all the recipes that come with it, and also use it to whip up a few of our own exclusive homemade recipes, as well. Buy it along with the extra freezer bowl at Williams-Sonoma now for just $56 with the 20% discount!

Favorite things- Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker | Five Marigolds

 

While you’re at it, pick up one of these adorable functional Tovolo Ice Cream containers (that is, if you ever plan on having leftovers!).

Favorite Things: Tovolo Ice Cream Container | Five Marigolds

Here’s mine in action with my favorite cookie dough frozen yogurt recipe.

Favorite Things: Tovolo Ice Cream Container | Five Marigolds

Shown: Tovolo Ice Cream Container with Five Marigolds Cookie Dough Frozen Yogurt Recipe

I’m also tempted to get these Tovolo Mini Sweet Treats Tubs for serving individual portions.

Favorite Things: Tovolo Mini Sweet Treats Tubs | Five Marigolds

Tovolo Mini Sweet Treats Tubs

On the topic of frozen treats, we’re big fans of these Sunsella Mighty Pops silicone popsicle molds. I like that I can make a healthy frozen smoothie that the kids can have in the car on the way to school or to pack in their lunch box. In the summers, we love to make popsicles and other frozen treats. One of our recent favorites is a refreshing Strawberries and Cream Lemonade Pops recipe that can be found here.

Favorite Things: Sunsella Mighty Pops | Five Marigolds

RMS Living Luminizer. This is the holy grail of fresh dewy luminizing makeup – perfect for your summer makeup routine.My skin is dry, and I find that when I stay hydrated and moisturized and use this product my skin looks its best. Just apply a small amount on your cheekbones, brow bones and temples.

Favorite things- RMS Living Luminzer

It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream with SPF 50+ You’ll see rave reviews everywhere you look for this CC cream. It has a great medium coverage and I’m a fan of the 50+ SPF during the summer. While you’re at it, pick up the It Cosmetics Airbrush OMG! Foundation Brush. I love this brush so much, I tossed my Beauty Blenders in the waste bin after using it the very first time.

Favorite Things: It Cosmetics Your Skin but Better CC Cream + SPF | Five Marigolds

Old Navy distressed RockStar denim. These are part of my summer uniform lately. They are the perfect blend of lightweight, stretchy denim that look great with a casual tee or dressed up for GNO – and the price can’t be beat. Remember to size up 1-2 sizes with these!

Favorite things- Old Navy RockStar distressed denim

Here I am wearing a similar pair them while modeling my copycat Anthro tank.

Copycat Chic: Anthropologie Striped Heart Tank for less than $5 | Five Marigolds

Last but not least is the Rosy Outlook Planner. No matter how advanced technology is, I still need a paper planner to map out my lists, meetings and reminders. Once I saw this planner I was smitten. It’s only July, but I’ve already pulled the trigger on this 2016 planner laced with inspirational  messages, cute stickers and the week by week layout I prefer.

Favorite Things: Rosey Outlook Planner | Five Marigolds

Favorite Things: Rosey Outlook Planner | Five Marigolds

Thanks for stopping by to see what I’m loving lately!

Copycat Chic: Anthropologie Striped Heart Tank for less than $5

6 Comments

I was browsing Anthropologie recently and fell in love with this Striped Heart Tank by Sundry:

Copycat Chic: Anthropologie Striped Heart Tank for less than $5 | Five Marigolds

So. cute. But the price tag is not so cute. $70 for a cotton tank? No thanks! But it kept popping up in my Facebook feed, willing me to buy it.

That’s when I decided to try to make it myself, but finding a plain white tank was a lot harder than I expected. I ended up just getting a Faded Glory tank from Wal-Mart on a recent grocery trip.  It was the first white tank I found without a pocket, and at $3.96, the price was right!

I whipped up an 8″ x8″ template in Photoshop:

Copycat Chic: Anthropologie Striped Heart Tank for less than $5 | Five Marigolds

I then loaded the pattern into my Silhouette software. My usual method is to use clear contact paper in my Silhouette to make a template because you can get a giant roll for less than $5. Then I use a Tulip soft fabric paint, making sure to insert cardboard into the shirt first to prevent bleeding to the other side. The best part of this application method is that it’s incredibly inexpensive and long lasting.

This time, however, I happened to have some leftover heat transfer vinyl  from a project last year. I ran my design through the Silhouette, removed the excess vinyl, and ironed it on.

Copycat Chic: Anthropologie Striped Heart Tank for less than $5 | Five Marigolds

Next, I added a bit of contrast stitching along the bottom hemline  to give it a more expensive, custom look.

Copycat Chic: Anthropologie Striped Heart Tank for less than $5 | Five Marigolds

I adore this tank and have gotten so many compliments on it. When Eve first saw it, she insisted on a matching tank (I found two great , inexpensive options here and here). I just shrunk the template slightly ( to about 5.25″ x 5.25″) and applied it using the same method. Again, in retrospect I probably would have gone bigger for this one, as well. For this top, I did more stitching to more closely replicate the inspiration top. Instead of using the sewing machine, I hand stitched the hemlines using flossing thread to get that perfectly imperfect look.  think it’s even cuter in this mini size!

Copycat Chic: Anthropologie Striped Heart Tank for less than $5 | Five Marigolds

I hope you’re a fan of my copycat chic Striped Heart Tank. Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

*This post contains affiliate links. Please read my affiliate disclaimer in the sidebar.


Christmas Card Family pictures – what to wear

Leave a comment

Our annual family photos are coming up quickly in just a few weeks – and I have been putting off the decision of what to wear.  I normally have a vision and this time…I just don’t.  Which is your favorite wardrobe theme?

coral fam photos famphotos

famiy Christmas photo
Update – Shop similar look here:
pastel family of 5 photos

Back to school for boys – on a budget

Leave a comment
UPDATE: Find my updated Back to school wardrobe for boys here and here.  Since this is an older post and continues to get a lot of Pinterest traffic,  I do my best to link to similar items from this set, below. Thanks for stopping by!
Little Dub is going to be in kindergarten this year.  He’ll be going full days, every day.  I have to admit I’m a little nervous for him – it will be a huge change, but one that I think will be good for him.  He will be wearing a uniform this year which is pretty uninspiring fashion-wise, but I was pretty happy when I scored his full wardrobe during the Old Navy uniform sale for only around $110!
Even though Dub will be in uniform, I had fun laying out a back to school wardrobe for boys.  My goal was to put together a minimum of 10 outfits for $150.  I failed –  mostly because the pants alone accounted for around $60 of the budget.  However, if you chose a less expensive brand for the pants and denim this set would be much closer to $150.
Where are you finding the best wardrobe staples for boys this fall?
Back to school wardrobe for boys - $170 / 10 looks

Back to school - boys wardrobe - $170 / 10 looks

Back to school - boys wardrobe - $170 / 10 looks

Back to school - boys wardrobe - $170 / 10 looks

Back to school - boys wardrobe - $170 / 10 looks

Back to school wardrobe for boys - $170 / 10 looks

Back to school wardrobe for boys - $170 / 10 looks

Back to school wardrobe for boys - $170 / 10 looks

Back to school wardrobe for boys - $170 / 10 looks

Back to school wardrobe for boys - $170 / 10 looks