Dressing Alexis for Spring

Spring likes to show up early in south Alabama, and with the exception of a rogue week or two of winter making a last-minute appearance in March, we can pretty much ditch the sweaters and sweatshirts after February. Last year's Shopping for Alexis post about my favorite cute, budget-friendly brands was one of my most-read posts, so I thought it would be a good idea to share some of our favorite Spring finds so far now that we're in that weird transition from toddler sizes to little girl sizes.

JCPenney

JCPenney has always been my go-to for cute affordable clothes. We've mostly started shopping in the little girls section now. Alexis wears the smallest size, XXS or 4/5. The rainbow shirt in the first picture is a favorite and getting lots of wear. Unfortunately, I can't find it online. She also has this magical unicorn potion shirt which is the same style. My mom picked up the cherry outfit (shirt, leggings) as a Valentine's Day option.

Target

It's hard to believe, but we actually haven't bought a lot from Target this season, but we're in love with these A-line dresses. They come in so many different fun patterns. So far we've just got the unicorn and flower versions, but I'm sure we'll add a couple more to the collection. Both are from the little girls' section. Alexis is wearing a size 4.

Garanimals

Garanimals are such good basics. They're perfect to send to daycare or school because they're so low-priced you don't have to worry about wasting your money. We just picked up quite a few things from our local Walmart, including the adorable peplum top in the picture above, a couple of graphic tees (pineapple and rainbow), some denim shorts, and a black and pink pair of soft shorts. Word of warning for anyone who's new to Garanimals - their shirts tend to shrink so I suggest sizing up one. Alexis wears a 5T in tops and 4T in bottoms. (Sorry for all the links to double products. Walmart doesn't have any of this stuff listed separately on their site.)

Old Navy

I have absolutely no pictures of Alexis wearing any of her Old Navy clothes (other than the jelly shoes in the last picture), but I wanted to link to them anyway. We've found Old Navy's jelly shoes are better quality than other places, plus they smell like fruit. We got all of these from the little girls' section, but I could only find the yellow flower tunic in the toddler section of the website. Alexis is either a 5T or XS/5 in clothes and size 10 shoe at ON. (Click the pictures below to shop)

Why Poshmark Wasn't Right for Me

When it comes to selling your clothes, there are a lot of options out there - you can sell on Poshmark, sell or donate on ThredUp, or try your hand with second-hand places like Plato's Closet. Ever since I changed jobs, my closet has been undergoing a transformation. Since I wasn't working in an office setting anymore, a clean out was in order. I started in November, focusing only on my strictly-for-work clothes. I decided to post some of them on Poshmark in an effort to make a little holiday cash. Three months later, I had only sold two items and deleted my entire closet. In this post I'll share why I joined Poshmark in the first place, the pros and cons of the site, and why it ultimately wasn't right for me.

Why I Joined
Many of the items I had purged from my closet were basically new, only 1-2 years old. Some had only been worn one or two times. All were still in style, and I thought I'd be able to make a little more through Poshmark than by taking the items to our local Plato's Closet or Uptown Cheapskate. I've used Plato's Closet before and was pretty disappointed in the experience so I knew I didn't want to go that route. No one I know has ever used ThredUp, but I do have several friends who use Poshmark both to sell and buy. They've all been successful and recommended the service.

Pros
Poshmark is free to join and easy to use. You just take a picture of what you're trying to sell, fill in some details about the item, and hit post. If you do sell something, Poshmark provides a you with a shipping label and only keeps a minimal fee from your profit.

Cons
You have to share your listings repeatedly. It's recommended that you share your closet every day, and while that doesn't take a long time, I wasn't really aware of that aspect of the site when I joined. I was looking more for a place to list my items and basically forget about them. It's also recommended that you participate in what they call "parties." I'm not sure what those are exactly because I never did one.

Another con for me was that shoppers could make counter offers on your items. I was already listing my items at half or even 75-percent off the original ticket price and only pulling an average of $10 per item. I'm sorry, but when someone offers $5 for something that was originally $60 and I'm asking for $20, that's going to be a no from me.

I'm including this next one because for me it was an issue, but I recognize that for most people it won't be. When you sell an item, you have a few days to get it in the mail or the buyer can cancel. With the way I plan my weeks, I only go to the post office once, so my timing and Poshmark's timing didn't mesh well. It is important to note that I did not lose any sales because of this, but my last sale was made while I was out of town so I missed their mail-by date by several days. I did notify my buyer of the delay and they were gracious about it, so there's that.

Why It Didn't Work for Me
Basically it boils down to this - I didn't want to spend time every day, no matter how minimal, resharing items I had already posted. I also didn't want to spend time joining parties to sell my stuff. And I didn't want to haggle with people over prices.

This is not a knock against Poshmark. I think the concept is brilliant, but it does take effort. Obviously it works for other people, but out of about 25 items listed I was only able to sell two in three months, and I only made $25.

One of the biggest deciding factors for me in the end was that I was tired of having clothes I no longer wanted taking up space in my closet. So after I spent the better part of 20 minutes deleting each individual item out of my Poshmark closet (there is no 'delete all' option), I contacted an old work friend to see if she wanted to go through it all and then donated what was left to a local organization that helps women. I still can't figure out how to deactivate my account.

Instagram Roundup: Winter-to-Spring Outfit Ideas

Is it just me or was this week really long and slow? And I worked all five days! I guess some of the blame can be placed on the weird weather we've had - gray rainy days, temperatures in the upper 70s, and pollen covering everything. But I'm not getting lulled into a false sense of spring just yet. It may be 80 this weekend but there's probably at least one more freeze before spring is really here.

Here's a roundup of outfits posted to my Instagram over the last few weeks. My spring wardrobe is in desperate need of some freshening up so many of these pieces are older but I linked to similar items in the captions (for all except the hot pink leather jacket).

Sweater (old): similar | Shirt (old): similar | Jeans (old): similar | Boots (old): similar

Dress (old): similar | Leggings: Kohl's| Boots (old): similar

Sweater (old): similar | Skirt (old): similar | Boots: ShoeDazzle

Shirt (old): similar | Jeans: Old Navy | Boots (old): similar

Shirt: Kohl's | Jeans: Aeropostale | Boots: Target

Shirt: Kohl's | Jeans: Old Navy | Boots (old): similar

Shirt: Old Navy | Joggers: Amazon | Socks: Old Navy

Jacket: JCPenney | Sweater (old): similar | Jeans: Aeropostale | Boots: Target

Jacket (old) | Shirt: Old Navy | Jeans: Old Navy | Boots: Target

Sweater (old): similar | Shirt (old): similar | Jeans: Kohl's | Shoes: Old Navy

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of those links, I may earn a small commission at no extra charge to you. Thanks for supporting Mommy the Journalist, and have a great weekend!

Working from Home: How I Plan & Stay Organized

When I worked in TV news, my days were regimented and driven by deadlines. I was at work by 9:00 every morning, had my first show produced by 11:30, was in the control booth from noon until 12:30 every day followed by a short lunch break and an afternoon filled with editing other people's work and a mad dash to daycare.

Now, my deadlines are monthly and time is, well, fluid. In the first few months, I struggled with this new-found freedom. It was easy to let an hour-long break turn into an entire afternoon off. And then I changed the way I thought about each day. Instead of measuring my progress in the number of hours worked, I measured it by actual productivity and the things I got accomplished. It's been eight months since I made the switch from tv to work-from-home magazine publisher, and I think I've finally got a pretty good system going. So today I'm sharing the things I've been doing to plan and stay organized.

Planning
I use one planner for everything. I tried keeping two at one time, but that ended up just being confusing. There are a lot of different planners out there. I'm a fan of weekly and monthly planners, those that show the month at a glance followed by the weeks. For me, it is a must that each day has more than five lines for me to write on. I am not a fan of planners that break the days down by time.

I start by writing down all my important deadlines and appointments at the beginning of the month. At the start of each week I make what's essentially a to-do list for each day, writing down tasks to focus on so my days are productive. I also mark days that daycare is closed and when we have family engagements, birthday parties, etc., and keep up with my blog schedule.

I keep things color coded, but I don't have a real system. The colors change from month to month and even  week to week. When I accomplish a task, I check it off. I used to draw a line through it but sometimes I have to check my progress and a simple check mark keeps things legible.

I also try to stay flexible. Sometimes I'm a little overzealous and schedule too many things for one day. If I don't accomplish everything, I move it to the next day. Other times I finish everything on my list in record time and start on the next day's goals.

Staying Organized
When I first started working from home, I was so overwhelmed by all the things I had to keep up with on my own. The first few months were frustrating trying to find a system of keeping up with who I had contacted about anything from advertising to requesting information. Planning for the monthly guides is another beast entirely. Not to mention keeping up with current advertisers and billing.

Now I know what you're thinking. Don't you have computer programs for all that stuff? You're right.  I use Google Sheets to build my monthly guides and calendars; we have an online database for potential and current advertisers, as well as a separate program for billing; and of course we have our own email server.

All of that works great, but  swapping between multiple internet tabs and your email window can get confusing. And I'm old-fashioned: I like writing stuff down.

I have a spiral notebook where I keep up with current advertisers. It's divided into months with columns for the business name, ad size,  monthly price, billing date, and payment  confirmation. I make all entries in pencil for easy adjustments. It's an easy reference that combines two separate digital systems.

My email is divided into folders and organized by month. Because our server isn't huge, this helps keep important messages from being archived and easily accessible. I also clean it up every month so I can start fresh and save space.

Even with my email system, keeping up with who I've been talking to can be difficult, so every month I have a written list of potential clients. Every time I send a follow-up email, I record the date. When they commit or decline, I make them off the list. In the last few months, this has drastically cut down on the amount of time I've spent on follow ups.

Summary
-Keep a planner
-Write down monthly, weekly and daily goals
-Stay flexible
-Use notebooks and lists to stay organized

I hope you were able to get some ideas about how to plan your own day and stay organized. No matter if you adapt my method or come up with something of your own, finding a system that works for you and sticking to it is key. If you've got a tried-and-true approach, let me know in the comments! I'm always looking for ways to improve.

Purple Dress

I think everyone has a color they tend to avoid wearing. For me, it's always been purple. I don't really know why, but I have a vague memory of someone telling me a long time ago that purple made me look like I was sick. So for most of my life, I've side-stepped all shades of this royal color. Over the past few years I've been allowing purple to trickle into my closet in small doses -- as in, I only have one sweater and two shirts. But this beauty from Lulu's spoke to me, and I had to have it.

On Me: Dress | Boots | Jacket (unavailable)
On Alexis: Shirt | Pants

I thought it was a nice alternative to pink or red for Valentine's Day and is a good option for Easter, although I think lighter shoes and a cardigan would be more seasonally appropriate. Darker boots and a dark denim jacket help make a spring dress winter-appropriate.

A note about the dress - it's faux wrap, fully lined, with adjustable shoulder straps. The waist is pretty fitted and has no give so if you're between sizes consider sizing up. I'm usually a size 6/8 and wearing this in medium.

Valentine's Outfit Inspiration for Day & Night

If you've got red, pink, purple or floral print in your closet, you can create an outfit worthy of Valentine's Day, whether you'll be spending it at the office, on a date, or attending a party of one on the couch. I hope these pairings help inspire you to create new looks with stuff you already own!

Shirt: Old Navy | Pants: JCpenney | Shoes: Dillard's (similar)

1. Red Pants + Pink/Red Print Top + Conservative Pumps

This first look is perfect for the office and can be customized pretty easily. Swap out the pants for a skirt; instead of red on bottom, try pink. If your workplace has a strict dress code, add a coordinating blazer.

Shirt: JCPenney (similar) | Skirt: The Limited (similar) | Shoes: Target

2. Feminine Skirt + Printed Too + Nude Sandals

This is another office-appropriate look but also work for date night. I chose a pleated midi skirt and blouse with a ruffle collar for added feminine touches. If it's cooler where you are pick a long sleeve blouse and pumps.

Shirt: JCPenney (similar, similar) | Pants: JCPenney | Shoes: Dillard's (similar)

3. Lace Blouse + White Pants + Matching Sandals

Nothing says romance quite like lace. Keep things chic by pairing it with white pants (or a skirt) and statement sandals. This works for a casual office, girl's date, or date night.

Shirt: Forever 21 (similar) | Cardigan: Charlotte Russe (similar) | Skirt: Target (similar) | Shoes: Target

4. Rainbow Skirt + Light-Colored Tee + Bright Cardigan + Nude Sandals

I still love this skirt and am continuously looking for new ways to wear it. If you don't have a rainbow skirt in your closet, you can  pull off a similar look by using a bright multi-colored skirt and matching the colors.

Shirt: Forever 21 (similar) | Skirt: Kohls (similar) | Shoes: Target (similar)

5. Black Skirt + Feminine Blouse + Black Sandals

The secret to making this outfit less basic is in the details of the individual pieces. My skirt is subtly patterned and my shirt has lace details. A leather skirt would work as well, and you can always swap out the sandals for booties.

Shirt: JCPenney | Jeans: JCPenney (similar) | Booties: Shoe Dazzle (similar)

6. Fun Jeans + Tied-Up Thermal + Booties

This is my "working from home on Valentine's Day" outfit. Comfy and casual. I'm not sure if bedazzled jeans are still a thing but the sparkle in this pair sure give an otherwise plain outfit a little boost.

Sweatshirt: ModCloth (great options) | Leggings: Kohl's | Shoes: Shoe Dazzle (similar)

7. Feminine Sweatshirt + Leggings + Sneakers

If your plans are not to leave your couch, this outfit is for you! An oversized floral print sweatshirt and comfy leggings.  You can even swap the sneaks for slippers.

What are your plans for Valentine's Day?

One Shirt Six Ways

When the velvet trend first came back I thought to myself, not again. I lived through the terrible velvet clothes of the '90s and wasn't in any hurry to repeat it. Eventually, I caved. First, I bought a cute little blue velvet dress, not this winter but last. A couple of months ago I bought a velvet tee and loved it more than I expected. It's super soft and adds an effortless luxe feel to any outfit. I've been challenging myself to find more ways to wear things I already have, so today I'm sharing Six Ways to Wear a Velvet Tee from winter to spring, fancy to casual. My exact shirt is sold out (except for a pretty champagne color in plus size) but I have some pretty options for you at the bottom of this post.

Note:This post contains affiliate links.

Shirt: Old Navy (similar) | Leggings: Old Navy (similar) | Shoes: ShoeDazzle (similar)

1. Velvet Tee + Leggings + Fancy Flats
I wore this to a family Christmas party (original post here). I wanted to be comfortable but feel festive at the same time. It's hard to tell in the picture but my leggings are sparkly, with a slight silver shine.

Shirt: Old Navy (similar) | Skirt: Cato (similar) | Boots: Shoe Dazzle (similar)

2. Velvet Tee + Fancy Skirt + Tights + Ankle Boots
I wore this on a regular day (original post here) but there's no doubt this outfit could be worn to a party or on a date. The mesh skirt, tights, and sleek black boots make this ensemble polished all over.

Shirt: Old Navy (similar) | Jeans: Old Navy | Boots: Target (similar) | Jacket: JCPenney (similar)

3. Velvet Tee + Dark Denim + Leather Jacket + Boots
I wore this on a magazine delivery day. The velvet made this outfit feel more put together than a simple jeans and tee while still being comfortable for a day of driving and walking.

Shirt: Old Navy (similar) | Vest: Old Navy (similar) | Jeans: ShoeDazzle (similar) | Boots: Target (similar)

4. Velvet Tee + Quilted Vest + Distressed Jeans + Flat Booties
This outfit is much like the previous one but the vest, distressed jeans and flat booties make it even more casual.

Shirt: Old Navy (similar) | Skirt: The Limited (similar) | Heels: Nine West (similar)

5. Velvet Tee + Feminine Skirt + Heels
I like when an outfit bookends. Lucky for me I have a pair of heels that are the exact same shade as my shirt. Whether you choose a solid colored skirt with feminine details like pleats or a printed skirt, the velvet will add just the right amount of fancy. Perfect for the office or date night.

Shirt: Old Navy (similar) | Jeans: The Limited | Boots: ShoeDazzle

6. Velvet Tee + White Pants + Nude Booties
How do you wear a velvet tee in warmer weather? By pairing it with light-colored jeans and booties, or pants and flats/heels for the office.

One // Two

Three // Four 

I want to know what you think! Would you wear a velvet shirt?

Forgotten Dishwasher & Other Wisdom

The last two weeks have been...weird. Yeah, that's a good word to describe it. Two weekends ago I traveled to coastal Alabama to see a friend I haven't seen in person in over two years (she lives in the Northeast, making frequent visits difficult and costly). I felt great when I got home that Monday, but the next day woke up with an irritating cough that only got worse as the week wore on. It peaked (hopefully) last weekend and this week seems to have been on the down swing, but it's been magazine delivery week so I've been literally running all over the Wiregrass. So, like I said - a weird couple of weeks.

Wednesday I took a break from delivering magazines so I would have one full day to respond to emails and stay on top of my deadlines for the March issue. I also used the time to get caught up on undone housework and picked Alexis up from school early so we could have a few daylight hours to play outside.

Later, while I was cooking dinner, I unloaded the dishwasher and put away the dishes that had been in the drying rack for a few days. After dinner, I loaded all our dishes from that night and those that had accumulated in the sink into the dishwasher and closed it. I didn't put the detergent pod in or turn it on. Just closed it and proceeded to forget about it...for the next two days.

Life, especially married and parenting life, is like that sometimes. Ok, so it's like that most of the time. Some weeks everything goes smoothly, and the next you're doing good to make it to bedtime without losing your mind. But all those little moments happening in between the insanity make it worth it.

Have a great weekend!