Date Dress Obsession

| OUTFIT DETAILS |

UMGEE USA DRESS (thrifted)

MONTEGO BAY CLUB WEDGES | similar (thrifted)

FRINGE BAG | similar

EARRINGS (old)

When you're going on a date day with your man, kid free minus the littlest babe, it's fun to get a little dolled up and enjoy the extra freedom. We took a little day trip last week to get the hubby a new bow before his big Alaska excursion and this was my outfit of choice. It was nice not having to count heads and worry about snagging my clothes or getting something on me. Because, mom life. But, this dress was just the ticket for a stress free day with two of my five guys. It's flowy, very forgiving, such a pretty color and has the most feminine detail around the sleeves and bottom hem. I love how cheery and, most importantly, comfortable it is. It has a little slip dress under it so it's not at all see through but it isn't fitted around the neck so it's easy to pull down for nursing. Basically, it's my new favorite. But, I also just thrifted a pretty light blue dress that's similar so that could change. lol

Lucas jumped in a photo because his favorite thing to do lately is kiss me (especially at bedtime..) and it was too cute not to share. The boys were on their way to fish in our neighbors pond, hence the fishing pole. When you're a mom of four and a style blogger, that means grabbing outfit photos when you can amidst your crazy life and in this case that meant on the way to the fishing hole. Haha. This life though, I absolutely love it.

More thankful thoughts + a little patriotic style

| OUTFIT DETAILS |

Almost Famous jeans

Faded Glory top

Fringe bag

Nine West sandals

Neck scarf | made by me

I always feel so nostalgic around the holidays. Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Birthdays. They all bring back memories of the past years. Growing up, dating my hubby, our first year being married, our first Halloween with JD and the years following as we were blessed with more kiddos and watched them grow. It all goes by so fast. One thing Independence Day always makes me more thankful for is my family. Being able to live in this country and be free presently to raise our family and teach them about the Lord. I really fear that one day we'll no longer enjoy many of the freedoms we do today. I get online and scroll through facebook or instagram and articles pop up (you know those sponsored ones that people often share) and all they talk about are what's going wrong in the world and how our future looks pretty bleak. It makes me sad. And my heart aches for my children. I love them so deeply and even the thought of something happening where we couldn't be together anymore effects me so much I could almost swear it was already true.

I think about all those families. Fathers, mothers and children who have endured countless trials in the history of this earth and my heart rate quickens and I just want to hold my boys close and pray and pray. This world can be a scary place. The people in it even more so. But, I am so glad that I have a hope in the one who controls it all. My God is always looking out for me and only he knows what he has planned for my life. For my kids' lives. And all I can do is trust in him and that he will give us a future with him. In a place where there will be no suffering or pain or sadness or fear. I love this life of mine and I absolutely adore my family but, I am devoted to my God. And I pray each night that he will always and forever watch over and protect the ones I love. And he does. So, that I am thankful for. A God who doesn't disappoint and the freedom to believe in Him. 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper 

you and not to harm you. Plans for a future and a hope. 

        

Jeremiah 29:11

Patriotic Fourth of July

| OUTFIT DETAILS |

Chambray dress | smiliar here + here

Bass & Co sandals | similar here + here

Fringe bag | similar

Neck scarf | made by me

Happy Independence Day!! I love being able to celebrate this day with those that I love. Living in a country where we have so many freedoms and knowing there are so many people in the world that have no idea what it feels like to be free is a concept not at all lost on me. I try to enjoy and cherish what I have every day of my life. I may not be fabulously wealthy, have a million pairs of shoes or live in the grandest home in my little town but, I have a life that I wouldn't trade for the world. And living in the United States of America is a major part of that. 

Someone said in our church service yesterday that, "With everything being tried and tested these days, we may not always be free. But, we are free today and that is something to celebrate". I completely, 100 percent, whole heartedly agree with that. I love the USA and I love being able to raise my family here where we can, at least for now, attend the church of our choice, school our children at home, read our Bibles without fearing for our lives and feel safe when we lay down in our beds at night. We have those freedoms and those choices and, although I may not agree with all of the things that our government condones, I can still be grateful to live in this amazing country under this democratic government and the life it has allowed me to live. 

I may not know what the future holds but, one thing's for sure, I am blessed. I couldn't resist trying the neck scarf trend when I found this little piece of fabric and, though I'm not sure I'll be wearing it often, I like the little festive feel it gave to my outfit (along with my pretty flag bracelet my mom made me a few years ago). Anyway, have a safe, fun holiday with your loved ones and I pray you'll always choose to be thankful, even when the world makes it so unbelievably hard.

More patriotic shoe ideas here :

Sunday Style | thrifting Nordstrom Rack

| OUTFIT DETAILS |

Doe & Rae dress | thrifted

Pink Blush heels | sold out

Whiting & Davis clutch | thrifted

Bangle | Noonday

Thrifting is one of my very favorite things to do and this outfit is one of the many reasons why. This Doe & Rae dress and Whiting & Davis clutch are both from Nordstrom Rack and would have been who knows how much originally but, I was able to thrift them for about $5 each. Major savings. In fact, I only spent a total of $10 on this entire outfit because I scored the bangle and heels through giveaways. Yea. 

I love this dress though. It's a size large so I took in the side seams a bit but, since the skirt isn't fitted it worked perfectly and only made it a little fuller. Which is awesome. It's such a pretty, classic dress and one that I see myself wearing a ton after Tyler is done nursing. The fabric is so soft and the lace detail adds the perfect feminine touch. And, since it's a size large, it has a little added length at the hem, perfection.

Since it's an all white dress, I decided to put a little color with it and I ended up really loving this outfit. The bangle has many colors so it made it easy to pair the heels and clutch with it. I kept my earrings simple to match the dress and it just worked really well. 

I've been feeling so much freedom to experiment with my closet lately and I love it. My style has grown and definitely changed over the past year and I can promise you I'll never go back to where I was before. There's so much more to getting dressed than just grabbing the first top and pants you see. I look forward to trying things I've never paired together and have found a lot of outfits I never knew I could pull off. Mix it up a little and you may be surprised by how much you like it.