Floral & Stripes

Trying not to wear pants is becoming more difficult every day & these cold temps don't help much.  I know it's not "Colorado cold" here in Houston but 40+degrees is pretty cold for us!  So in trying to get creative with my wardrobe I've been wearing a lot of maxi dresses lately.  If you think that maxi dresses are only for the summer, I'm happy to report that you're wrong.  Tying a sweater over them at your waist or even just a long sleeved T makes them perfect winter wear!  And while it seems like spring will never come, I'm at least going to make it look like it with this gorgeous floral maxi.  I'm suddenly obsessed with print mixing and this floral & stripe combo is one of my new favorite ways to style the pair.  Oh and you can find the tutorial for my hairstyle here!

dress: Forever21 || top: BB Dakota || scarf: Target || flats: Target || headband: Charming Charlie 

Fishtail Braid Bun Tutorial

My go-to hairstyle is a bun.  Truth be told, many times I pull it up and leave it in one for a couple days in a row... I call it "mom hair".  Anyways, before I had a baby, I would style my hair differently almost every day.  Now that it's pretty much always in a bun I like to try and change it up a bit every now and then.  Enter, the fishtail braided bun.  This hairstyle is easy & super cute! 

P.S. please excuse my no-makeup face & not too great photo quality

Supplies:

-Hair brush 

-Hair spray 

-Smoothing conditioner (optional) 

-2 hair bands

-Bobby pins

-Head band (optional)

Brush smoothing conditioner through hair, or just brush hair till soft & smooth

Pull hair into high ponytail 

I like to use a boars hair bristle brush to smooth my hair when pulling it into the ponytail but however smooth you want it is totally up to you! 

Separate into two sections & begin braiding by taking a small piece from the left side and cross it over to the right side, pull tight.

Then take a small piece from the right side and cross over to the left, pull tight.  Continue alternating sides all the way down the ponytail then secure with a hair band. 

Starting at the bottom, "Fatten" the braid by pulling on each side gently, continue till you reach the top of the ponytail 

This is the only tricky part: Wrap the braid up & around the top of the ponytail creating a bun shape, make sure to tuck the end of the ponytail under the bun.  You may have to adjust a few times before you find the shape you like.  You can also "fatten" the braid more once it's in the bun shape to give it more volume.  Secure with bobby pins & spray with hairspray.  

This part is totally optional but I prefer to wear a headband when wearing this hairstyle because I have so many thin awkward hairs at my hairline and the headband helps to smooth and cover them, at least that's what I tell myself.

Applaud yourself for taking the time to actually style your hair & you're done!  

Forcing spring inside

Ah this weather, I don't know about anyone else but it sure is throwing me off.  One week it's 70+ degrees outside, I think it's finally time to put the sweaters away & start being able to go for walks to the park everyday, and then next thing you know, bam!  it's in the low 30's again.  So I decided to teach the weather a lesson by buying a bunch of flowers to put in various spots around my house, at least it will feel, I mean look, like spring inside.  There.  Take that, winter.  

sweater: Kohls, dress: YA, (bought at a boutique), tights: Kohls, boots: Target, necklace: Francesca's 

Skirts for life, I mean, lent

You know it's gonna be a good day when you discover clothes in your closet that you totally forgot you owned.  Like this striped tank I found while looking for a print to mix with this leopard print skirt.  And I confess, I may have gotten a little too excited when I realized I owned this shirt.  It's the little things in life.  

And in other news, all three sisters have decided to try giving up pants for lent so we apologize in advance for all of the skirt/dress posts that you will see.  Happy sacrificing all!  But not too happy, cause that would be opposite the point of Lent...  Haha, kidding.  

cardigan: Newyork&Company, tank top: Forever21, skirt: NewYork&Company, boots: Target, necklace & bracelet: Francesca's