Date Night Style | Jewels and Gold

When I was younger I used to look forward to the days that I could forgo makeup, forget my hair, and stay in my pajamas all day. Working full-time, going to school full-time, dating, and juggling the demands of family, friends, and church left me with little time to be undone. I always had to be made up. Now, as a mom of a toddler, the tables have turned. I look forward to any excuse to get ready. Applying eye shadow (something I rarely have time for), curling my hair, donning heels--the occasions that demand these tasks are so few and far between that I've learned to relish them.

Our weekly date night is one such occasion that I can rely on for some relief from my typical mom attire (jeggings/yoga pants/t-shirts). Although I'm well aware that my appearance does not define my worth and is only a small part of my identity, I love feeling done up and polished.

This outfit was particularly fun for me.The neutral tones are jazzed up a bit with the jeweled shoulder, subtle printed jeans, and a pop of gold on the stilettos. The blouse seemed to me to have a vintage vibe, so I paired it with retro side-swept hair, red lips, and a clutch to complete the effect.

Do you get excited for any excuse to dress up? Or are you in a place in life where a casual day is a nice reprieve?

Blouse (similar here & here) | Jeans (similar here) | Pumps | Earrings | Clutch 

Plaid, Pearls, and Polka Dots | Mom and Daughter Style

My Outfit Deatails (similar items): 

Blouse | Skirt | Necklace | Booties 

Baby Girl's Outfit Details (similar items): 

Dress | Headband | Tights | Shoes 

Mixing prints is a popular trend right now, thus Klair and I proudly present a plaid and polka dot combo... with some pearls for good measure. The necklace also doubles as a toy/baby distraction (as do the bracelets seen in the photo above) which is kind of awesome. Because, when you're a mom trying to get your toddler through a church meeting (or any other social function for that matter) you have to think of these things. Fashion AND function... the two don't have to be mutually exclusive. For instance, take this eShakti skirt I scored for $5 at a fashion blogger consignment sale. It has pockets! These days, having pockets is not only nice, it's necessary. And, with the fullness of the skirt, the possibility of mom goods I can stash away makes for one happy mama.

This photo shoot was actually done a few Sundays back on a cool, rainy day. And, although our outfit colors aren't exactly "springy" in the traditional sense, I do think that Klair's little red dress really pops against the just after rain greenness of our yard, don't you? I love that little dress. In fact, I think red might be my very favorite color on Klair... something I  believe has rubbed off on her. She is obsessed with her little red Mary Jane shoes, and wants to wear them all the time, every time. They're actually the first shoes she successfully put on by herself--and on the correct feet too! Since that accomplishment she has found a new passion for putting shoes on, taking them off, and putting them on again. Her footwear obsession is both exciting and a little scary. Have I created a shoe lover/monster already? Kids really are impressionable, aren't they?

I hope you have a happy Thursday! I for one am excited for the rest of the week. Sam has been out of town since Friday and is finally home. So yes, he missed out on Mother's Day. Luckily I had the cutest girl in the world to keep me company, but I definitely missed him (he did spoil me with presents though, so I can't complain). Sam got in late last night, but was pretty tired. I can't wait to have him home and hang out with him tonight after work. Although Klair keeps me very busy while he is away, I always miss him terribly. That's the problem with fiercely loving your husband. Being apart sucks. Although, I suppose it's a good problem to have...

Date Night Style

Sam and I have been so busy lately, between Klair, work,  blogging, and a to-do list that seems to grow exponentially. We definitely love each other. There's no question about that. Yet, as time goes on, it gets harder to set aside the time to really stay connected. What once was easy when we were young, penniless, and kid-free with, you know, work that stayed at work... is now a bit more complicated by the demands of a growing family and responsibilities.We have to put forth more of an effort to focus on us. 

As this roller coaster of life keeps speeding up at every turn, it's easy to simply go along for the ride without really noticing much about the journey. It takes a conscious effort to slow things down, to admire my blessings, and to appreciate the man who holds my heart. 

We've made pledges in the past to go out once a week, but this falls to the wayside too easily. We've decided to recommit ourselves because we both want it, and need it. Our time together is a precious commodity. Last weekend we were feeling a bit overwhelmed by the day-to-day, so I called Sam's parents on a whim and asked if they could watch Klair. They kindly obliged, and we jumped at the opportunity to spend some time alone.  

Since it was my idea to go out, I did all the planning. I wanted to do something he loves, and also mix things up a little from our usual "dinner and a movie" routine. (Don't get me wrong I love movies, but it's fun to try something new.) Sam loves a good burger so went to Red Robin (they have awesome gluten-free buns) and did a little shopping afterward for a few wardrobe pieces he has been needing. He also took some time to practice his budding photography talents, and captured a few photos of me in this casual date night attire. (I'm so fortunate to have a husband who will not only take photos for my blog, but actually enjoys doing it!) Then, we went down by a local lake that's paved with surrounding trails for some longboarding and scootering. 

We only have one of each, so we took turns on them. 

And, for the night, we felt like kids again. 

After the fun was over we hurried back to his parents house and fought over who got to hold Klair first. I guess a little freedom is nice, but Klair is better. 

I mean, who wouldn't start to miss this face after just a few hours? 

For this outfit I wanted to find a balance between comfort and style. Afterall, longboarding was on the agenda so a pencil skirt was out of the question. I went with my favorite stretchy black denim and chambray. Also, I love the look of layered necklaces and have wanted to try it for awhile now. I'm usually quite reserved with my jewelry, only wearing a little at a time, but I went all out and had fun mixing things up a bit.  Also, as far as hairstyles go, this messy top knot was great for our adventurous night. 

I'm looking forward to our next weekly date. This time Sam said he will be doing all the planning. We're both rather competitive, so I'm excited to see how he outdoes me...

What are some fun/creative date night activities you've done? What are some methods you've implemented to focus on each other? 

Similar Items: 

Chambray | Tribal Print Shirt | Belt | Black Denim | Leaf Necklace | Disc Necklace | Amber Necklace | Earrings | Turquoise Bracelet | Turquoise Ring | Boots | Sunglasses (here & here)

A Sneak Peek from Our Red, White, and Black Family Photo Shoot

This past weekend we had some family photos taken by our talented photographer friend, Jesse Wride. If you live in Utah and need some photos done for any occasion, he is your man. He is the best at what he does, and so wonderful to work with. He is currently adding to his portfolio, so we threw on some of our fancy clothes and posed for some pictures to show what he's capable of. These are a few of the gems that he snapped. I'm kind of seriously in love with how the very first photo turned out... I don't think Klair could possibly be cuter. That might sound prideful (since, you know... I'm her mom and all) but saying anything less just wouldn't be truthful. I'm in love with that baby girl, and I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the photos. Furthermore, my husband is a hottie.

My Outfit Details: 

Dress (similar here) | Black Button Up | Red Statement Necklace (similar here) | Earrings | Belt 

Sam's Handsome Attire: 

Button Up | Tie | Suit Coat | Pants | Belt 

Klair's Outfit: 

Dress (similar here) | Necklace: It was my Grandma's (similar here) | Bow: homemade (similar here) | Tights | Shoes (similar here)

Fancy Work Holiday Party

I'm aware that the holidays are over, but Sam's company decided to throw their annual party last Friday. I suppose they were trying to avoid all of the hype and jam-packed calendars in the weeks preceding Christmas. And honestly, I don't mind. It's nice to have something to look forward to in January, and I won't complain about any occasion that gives me the opportunity to dress up!

My best friend offered to babysit, and after going through my neurotic-mom list of everything I could think of that she might need, we were off on our little adventure. But, not before taking a few photos of course. How could I resist getting a few pictures of this guy in a bow-tie? Handsome, handsome husband.

The party was held downtown in a nice hotel. The theme was Casino Night and they gave us all chips to play that we could later exchange for raffle tickets. I've never gambled before so I was pretty clueless. After wandering around for a bit Sam and I found ourselves at a blackjack table, and we ended up spending the majority of our time there. It was easy to learn, and even though Sam didn't do too well I cleaned up quite nicely to even us out. We also found ourselves on the dancing, which was a very pleasant surprise. My husband isn't usually too keen on dancing, but he was such a good sport. And, I must say, he really worked that dance floor. It was hilarious and so much fun!

Ahh a much needed night out with the husband! I love being able to get out and go on dates. Any opportunity to feel less mom-like, pretty, relaxed, and maybe even a little silly is very appreciated.