Styling maurices: Ditsy

A while back I wrote about meeting with a Brand Marketing Lead, Kristie, from maurices. This blog series is long overdue, mostly because I was trying to do the experience justices. maurices provided me with a $100 gift card and the evening I met with Kristie, she also introduced me to the brand, the different lines within it, and spent a few hours styling me at our new Greenville store. It was so much fun! I'm usually the one styling people, so it was really cool to be on the other end for once. This week, I will post an outfit including one or more of the items I bought from maurices, either with the gift card or with my own money. It was about halfsies including tax, just to give you an idea. Every day except tomorrow (Trendy Tots Tuesday!), I'll show you these pieces, talk about why I chose them, and on Sunday, I'll review the brand and my entire experience!

Today, I'm featuring the Belted Floral Chiffon Dress in "Earth Red Combo." It has a beautiful ditsy flower print in perfect fall colors, a smocked natural waistline, and comes with a skinny brown belt. I've worn it to church already and had plenty of compliments, but I'm most excited to style it with chunky sweaters and boots when the weather cools off a bit! I paired this flowy piece with taupe Harem Wedge Slingbacks, also from maurices. These babies are SO comfortable and so on cue with the wedge trend. I also love how they sort of change depending on what you're wearing. Sometimes they look more tan and sometimes they look more green.

Ahem, please excuse my chipped toenail polish. Rest assured, Little S. has gorgeous toes, painted with Ulta's "mint condition." I'm following suit very soon.

Kristie chose this dress for me because I was drooling over it on the display. I pretty much love everything floral and everything dress. The shoes were a pick I wouldn't have chosen for myself, but I'm so glad Kristie grabbed them for me because I'm in love! I'd love to hear your ideas for styling this dress in the coming season! I plan to wear it all.the.time because of its insane comfort and perfect colors!

Please pray for my mommy. She went into surgery early this morning, hopefully to get rid of the VERY LAST BIT of thyroid cancer!

Bridal Shower Flowers

Just in case you didn't know, I'm kind of a master bridesmaid. Let's see... I've been a bridesmaid 6 or 7 times and a maid of honor (okay, matron...) one of those times. I think I've mastered some of the skills you need to become a master bridesmaid and one of them is creating a tail kicking bow bouquet. At the bridal shower, one of the bridesmaids uses a paper plate and all of the gift bows to create a bouquet that the bride will use as her stand-in on the night of the wedding rehearsal. Have you seen a better one?

Hey, Jen, please don't kill me for putting you on the blog. I love you! You're the most beautiful bride and I'm sooooo excited to watch you become a Mrs. in less than 2 months!

Jen has been one of my best friends since we were 13! Or maybe it was 14, but I'm pretty sure it was 13. Okay, 8th grade. That makes it a hell of a lot easier. She was a bridesmaid in my wedding (almost five years ago!) and I'm so happy she asked me to stand beside her while she marries the man of her dreams in September! Most of you know that I traveled up to Virginia to visit my parents last week. The main reason of the trip was to get to Jen's shower! I elongated the vacay, of course, to spend time with family! Bridal showers are tricky business when you don't know the crowd, so I had to choose pretty safe attire. I kept it classic and comfortable, but tossed in some color so I could express myself a bit!

dress: Simply Vera*Vera Wang via Kohl's

belt: New York & Company

shoes: Bandolino via Ross, gifted by Rochelle

This little photo shoot was courtesy of my little brother and took place on my parents' deck. I asked him to take interesting pictures and look around for good background opportunities. His idea? Blow Little S' bubbles. Done.

To keep everyone safe and private, I won't name names! But here's Jen (oops, hey name dropper) and some of her bridesmaids (and that amazing bow bouquet).

What are some wedding traditions you love?

She Decorates Herself in Flowers

Beautiful spring blooms make any day better than it already is. And I was so happy to be dressed, already, when I realized it's Everybody, Everywear Floral day! Go check out everyone's gorgeous ladylike flower power!

The thing about my top is... well, several of you have submitted it in a polyvore set for my Nanny Style Contest! And when I stopped by Kohl's for an emergency dress stake-out on Friday, I fell in love with this sweet little Lauren Conrad piece and couldn't bare to leave it. To all of you who suggested this top to make a debut in my new(er) wardrobe, A+ job! I pretty much can't live without it, already.

 top: Lauren Conrad for Kohl's

jeans: Charlotte Russe

flip-flops: (same as yesterday) Mossimo for Target

You know there's a true love between you and me when I show you my arm fat just for a pattern close-up. Mmhmm. Kindred soulmates, I tell you.

Go. See. More. Flowers.

Only a few more days to enter my Nanny Style Contest!

Pretty sure you don't want to miss out on helping me build up a wardrobe for my new job AND entering for a chance to win a $25 gift card! Click the button, below, to play along!

Accidental Perfect Purple

So, remember that skirt I was talking about, this morning? 

Oops. I hemmed it too short for a work event.

So I had to get something professional, purple, and STAT.

Kohl's never disappoints!

The rain, however, ruined my outdoor photo plans.

 dress: APT 9 for Kohl's

belt: New York & Company

shoes: Bandolino via Ross, gifted by Rochelle

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the Mommas out there!

I'm headed to graduation, then to the BEACH!