Easy 4th of July Outfit

When I think of the 4th of July, I can't help but remember all the ones my family spent at the lake growing up. It was always a pretty big group of us - lots of aunts and uncles and cousins. We always had BBQ and Brunswick stew and a watermelon, swam and road tubes and kneeboards, and ended the day with a fireworks show. Back then I had an Independence Day uniform - an Old Navy flag shirt and shorts over a bathing suit and flip flops (wasn't this every 90s and early 2000s kid's July 4th look?). These days, I have a lot more options, including a few red, white and blue star-printed items, but today I'm going to share an easy, low-key way to dress for the holiday.

First, start with a solid-colored (red, white, or blue) light-weight dress. I went with this favorite white midi-dress from last year. I love the stretchy waistband, crochet detail on the sleeves, and the ruffle hemline. It's also lined which is much appreciated on hot and humid days in the south when your whites can start looking, well, not white.

Step two, add red, white, or blue accessories. They're hard to see in these pictures thanks to my unruly hair (thanks humidity), but I'm wearing these really cute gold hoops with little red dangly beads. I decided to bookend them with my red bow slides, also from last year.

You can easily pull off this same look with a red or blue dress using white accessories, a red or white dress using blue accessories, or a blue dress using red accessories. Or you could go full-on patriotic with a red, white or blue dress paired with accessories in the other two colors.

Shop This Outfit

Dress: Old Navy (last year) - similar, similar, similar

Shoes: Old Navy (last year) - similar, similar, similar

Earrings: Old Navy (last year) - similar

Our New Favorite Snack That's Also Healthy

This post will be short and sweet, as it's pretty self-explanatory and requires very little of my wordsmithing skills... Since Alexis has been home for the summer, afternoon snack time has become a regular occurrence. We always have some little something in the pantry, usually gummies or Little Debbie snack cakes, maybe some chips, but those aren't things I want her to get used to having every day and unintentionally start a bad snacking habit. Thankfully, she discovered the yogurt parfait at Cracker Barrel and an idea was born.

The next time we went to the grocery store, plain/vanilla yogurt, granola, and fruit was on our list. We started with strawberries and blueberries, but have since mixed it up with bananas and apples. I like buying most of the fruit frozen so it keeps longer but we stick with apples and bananas from the produce section.

Here's how we make ours: granola on the bottom, a good amount of yogurt, fruit pieces on top with a little honey drizzled over everything. (Sometimes I just do granola and yogurt, especially for breakfast.) We typically use oat and honey granola, although I also like almond + dark chocolate. The first time we made them at home, I put everything into these cute mason jar goblets we have for some added fun, but mostly we just use regular bowls. Even my husband is on board with this healthier snack option.

Now if I could only get them both on board with hummus...

Monday Motivation + Summer Update

Happy Monday, friends! How's your summer going so far? We've been experiencing triple-digit heat for the past week or so, making outside activities pretty much unbearable, but we are getting outside early and/or late in the day for bike riding, chalk drawing, bubble blowing, sprinkler fun and swinging. We've also been doing at least one out-of-the-house activity a week. We go to the library every Tuesday for story and craft time and to check out new books, of course. We've also been to a puppet show at the library and two Animal Adventures at Landmark Park. We have not been to the water as much as I'd like, but we've still got a month and a half until school starts.

This past month has been a challenge. I knew that taking Alexis out of daycare and still having to work would be an adjustment. I don't think I realized just how much of an adjustment it would be or how little time to myself I would have this summer. I'm not complaining by any means. I've loved having her home and getting to do all these fun summer activities with her. I just wasn't mentally prepared for the reality that is working from home with a four-year-old. So shoutout to all the parents who do this every day. You're the real MVPs.

I hope your summer is going great so far! Enjoy these (very few) pictures from some of our adventures so far.

Animal Adventures with Big Bend Wildlife Sanctuary - Owls

Gene Cordova's puppet show at the library.

Animal Adventures - Reptiles (With grandma and grandpa. Mama doesn't do snakes!)

Storytime at the library featuring dragons.

After the stories we made our own dragons.

Celebrating the first official day of Summer with an ice cream cone.

The Trick to Non-Boring 'Shorts & a T-shirt' Outfits

It's so easy to fall into the shorts and t-shirt rut when it's 100 degrees outside. Trust me, I know. I've been living in this very basic combination for the past month. It's just too hot and humid for anything else in south Alabama these days. But that doesn't have to mean a summer full of boring outfits. Achieving an interesting shorts-and-a-tee outfit is actually pretty simple: make sure your shirt has interesting details. I'll demonstrate using my two new favorite pairs of shorts (from Walmart!)

Shirt (similar below) / Shorts / Sandals

This tank is a triple threat of interesting details. It's got stripes, a tie waist, and buttons. I picked it up from my local T.J.Maxx last week, but of course can't find it on their website (shop similar here, here, here). I like the wider shoulders, v-neck, and not-cotton material of this shirt. It makes it feel a little more dressed up, like I actually made an effort.

I paired it with these raw-hem white denim shorts from Walmart. They are so soft, I almost don't believe their denim. They're made from recycled materials and are under $20. I'm wearing size 8.

I finished the look with my casual white sandals. I feel like they made the outfit a little too light on the bottom, but I didn't like my brown or gold sandals and I didn't feel like wearing anything with a heel. These slides have become my go-to casual shoe. They've got a slightly cushioned footbed so they're comfortable to walk in. The buckles are silver so they're easy to match with jewelry. The only thing I'm regretting about them is the white bottoms. I cannot keep it from looking dingy! Otherwise, I recommend these if you're looking for a cheap alternative.

Shirt / Shorts / Sandals

This is an example of a not-so-basic t-shirt. It may be a solid color, but the buttons and tie waist give it just enough detail to make it interesting on its own. This shirt is really soft, but I felt it ran a tad small so I sized up to a medium. I've been wearing it with patterned bottoms, but for this rainy day I paired it with my new favorite denim shorts (also from Walmart). These feel like I've been wearing them all my life. I like the lighter wash, slight distressing, and rolled cuffs. I'm wearing size 8. I added a white belt to break up the blue tones and my white sandals to match.

Below are four other ways I've been wearing shorts and a tee/tank, with links to their original posts embedded in the pictures.

 

 

 

Solid Tank Dress 3 Ways

When it comes to solid-colored clothing, especially dresses, I tend to steer clear. But this summer I've fully embraced the solid-colored tank dress as an easy way to feel put together without overheating. So far I have two, a royal blue one from Target and this black one from Walmart. Both are similar quality, jersey material, and fit kind of loose. The Walmart dress has pockets, which I love, but depending on where they hit on you could cause lumpiness. I'm so short they're far enough down not to be a problem, other than when I put my phone in one side it can pull the arm hole down to expose my bra a little (thanks, Alexis, for pointing that out, ha!). The great thing about solid colored dresses is how easy it is to make small changes and completely change the feel of the outfit. So here are three ways to wear a solid tank dress.

Dress / Shoes

1. Keep it Neutral

This is the easiest of the three outfit formulas I'm sharing. Neutrals can be black, tan, brown, even gold. Think along the lines of earth tones and you've got it. You can see that I'm wearing tortoise-shell jewelry and tan/brown sandals for a dressy-casual vibe. You can easily swap out heeled sandals for flats and tone down the jewelry for a more casual outfit.

These heeled sandals are my most recent shoe purchase. They're replacing a similar, very uncomfortable pair I got on sale last summer but only wore twice because they rubbed my feet so badly. This pair is super soft and did not rub my feet when I wore them running errands. I'm usually a size 7 in shoes but this brand consistently runs about a half size too small for me, so I got these in 7.5. My necklace and earrings are from Walmart, but I can't find them on their website. After wearing them all day, they did not turn my sensitive skin green. We'll see how well they hold up over time.

Dress / Shoes

2. Add Pops of Color

Pops of color instantly create a fun vibe. With black especially, you can do just about any color in the rainbow. I chose a yellow statement necklace and wedges for a more summery feel, but could just as easily accomplish the same goal with red or pink. The trick is to find a color that pops or stands out against the color of your dress.

Dress / Similar Kimono / Sandals

3. Add a Layer

If it feels like your outfit is missing something, add another piece. In this case, add another layer like my kimono, a utility or denim vest, or a lightweight jacket or sweater. A printed kimono adds a focal point to the dress while a vest or jacket will help add definition. To keep things feeling more casual, I ditched the heels for flat sandals.

Which look is your favorite: 1, 2, or 3?

Instant Pot Tuna Noodle Casserole

When I asked for an Instant Pot for Christmas last year, I couldn't have guessed how much I'd actually use it. Truth be told, it doesn't save a ton of time on most recipes, but it is convenient in that you can cook everything all at once in one pot instead of dirtying up multiple pots and pans. Plus, anytime I can get by with not turning on my stove or oven, especially in the summer time, is a big win. So when I came across this recipe for tuna casserole, I knew I had to try it. Of course, I modified it for my family's specific tastebuds, meaning no onions or chopped celery. I also bought canned mushrooms instead of ones I would have to chop myself. Those changes made my version simpler but no less delicious.

What You Need
-2 tbsp. Olive Oil
-Small Can Mushrooms
-1 tsp. Sea Salt
-10 oz. Canned Tuna (2 regular sized cans)
-10.5 oz. Cream of Mushroom Soup
-10.5 oz. Cream of Celery Soup
-1/2 tsp. Black Pepper
-4 Cups Chicken Broth
-12 oz. Egg Noodles
-4 oz. Cream Cheese

What You Do
1. Add undrained cans of tuna, cream of mushroom and celery soups, mushrooms, salt and pepper to pot. Mix well. I used a rubber spatula.

2. Add chicken broth and mix.

3. Gently add egg noodles. Push them into the mixture more so than stir to keep them intact.

4. Chunk up your cream cheese and add it in.

5. Secure lid and set manual cook time for 2 minutes. Quick release the pressure once cook time is done. Gently stir to mix in the cream cheese.

6. Eat!

Instagram Roundup: Summer Outfit Ideas

I didn't post as much on Instagram, or any social media really, last month. We were a little bit busier, work required a little more effort, and I wanted to scale back and be a little more in the moment. It's also been hot. Triple digit heat isn't exactly new in this part of the country, but we've had weeks of 95 and above temps with little to no rain. So while most of the other blogs I follow are still sharing outfits with cardigans and long sleeves, we're moving into tank top weather over here. Each of these seven outfits has at least one new item in it, as I've been trying to find more middle-of-the-road summer clothes now that I'm not expected to wear office-appropriate outfits every day.

Striped Tank / Striped T-shirt / Shorts / Sandals

I'm starting with the last outfit post I shared, which was of these two ensembles side-by-side. I picked up both shirts during JCPenney's Memorial Day weekend sale for under $10 each. I sized up to a medium in both so they would hang a little looser. The tank top is thin but not see-through, perfect for a 100-plus degree day. The rainbow-striped tee isn't fitted but also not loose. It's a good length to half or fully tuck. Buyer beware, though - the dark navy stripes on the sleeves bled when I sweated and dyed my upper arms blue for a good three days.

Now let's talk about these shorts. They're my new favorites, and not because they were only $15. They are seriously the softest denim shorts I've ever owned. They don't squeeze my thighs, which is refreshing, and are made of recycled material. My husband says they look and feel like someone wore them for a year and then decided to return them. But I can't get enough of them! Wearing size 8.

I went back and forth on these white sandals for several days before buying. I wasn't sure I would wear them, because I seriously do not like the brown versions. But I wore these almost every day last week. They're the perfect casual sandal. Wearing size 7.

Dress / Sandals

I still love this dress, which is still available in a few sizes, but I shared this photo because of the shoes. I'd been looking for a pair of yellow wedges. I wanted something to help neutral summer outfits pop a little but wanted a color other than red. I was a little worried about the heel height, but I wore these while running errands one day and had no issues. Wearing size 7.

Shirt / Jeans

I needed a few dressy casual shirts for the summer that I could wear with jeans, skirts and shorts. This puff-sleeve button-up shirt hits the mark. It's cut really slim, which helps accentuate your waist. I got it in a medium but will not be drying it because I don't want it to get any tighter or shorter. It can be tucked into high-waisted bottoms but not really anything lower. You can, however, do a front-tuck.

These jeans are called the power slim straight. They're high waisted and have what's called secret slim pockets. When I first got them and tried them on, I thought there's no way I'm going to be able to wear these. They're cut much slimmer than my other jeans. When I got them up over my hips and buttoned and looked in the mirror, I was amazed. They were very stiff at first but loosened up after a few hours of wearing. I ran them through my washing machine with some extra fabric softener and that seemed to help as well. I did not dry them. Wearing size 6.

Shirt / Jeans / Similar Mules

This is another dressy-casual shirt I added to my summer rotation. It's cut similarly to the one above but has ruffle sleeves and button loops instead of holes. It also has a flap that runs the length of the buttons to prevent any skin peeking through. I'm wearing my usual medium, but like with the pink one I won't dry this one.

These jeans were almost a no-go. They were not what I expected when they came in. The material was really stiff, and they were cut much slimmer than my other boyfriend jeans. I didn't give up on them though and kept trying them until they loosened up. I ran them through the same wash as the other pair of jeans in this post and they feel much more comfortable now. I like the placement of the distressing and the slightly worn look. They have a more casual feel than my other jeans, which was something I've largely avoided in jeans so I could wear them to work.

Shirt / Similar Skirt / Sneakers

This is the epitome of a summer momiform. It's comfortable and cool but still put together. I got this shirt at the same time as the two previous ones. It's hard to tell in this picture, but the shirt is red with white flowers that have blue centers. It's also a medium but fits much looser. The back is a tad bit longer compared to the front than I like, but I folded it under a little to adjust. My sneakers are still available and so worth it. My skirt is a few years old.

T-shirt / Shorts 

I'm still not 100 percent sure I like the way this outfit turned out. Graphic tees with printed bottoms is a combination I like on other people but never quite feel like I'm pulling it off. That said, I really like these shorts and have worn them with several other tops. I like the dressier vibe they lend to what would otherwise be a standard summer shorts outfit. I sized up to a 10 for more room in the thigh. Wearing a medium in the T-shirt.

Sadly, my favorite gold sandals are no longer available, which is why they're not linked in any of the photos, but I did find some cute options here, here and here.

What I Read May 2019

It was another slow month for reading as I had to make myself pick up something new to read. I blame it on the heat sapping all my energy during the day so that by bedtime I want nothing more than to just go to sleep. I actually read five books this month, but I'm only including three because two are part of an incomplete series that's scheduled to publish the final book in a couple of months. At the moment, my opinion on those particular books is incomplete so I'll save my review of them until after I've completed the series. Now on to the good stuff!

Poseidon's Arrow
Author: Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler

Summary: The U.S. Navy has developed an attack submarine capable of incredible underwater speeds, but a key component of the prototype is missing and the man who developed it is dead. Meanwhile, ships have been disappearing around the world. When some reappear, bodies are found aboard burned from the inside out. NUMA director, Dirk Pitt, and his children set out to find the truth, which is even greater than they'd imagined, and along the way unearth an unsolved naval mystery.

My thoughts: All the heart eyes for Dirk Pitt. I had almost forgotten how good these books are. The Cusslers have mastered the art of writing a book that requires savoring. I'm the queen of reading a book in one gulp, but never with Dirk Pitt. I read this book over three evenings, and just like when I first started reading the series in middle school, I was drawn into this world. The pacing is fabulous, and I like you can close the book at the end of most chapters without feeling like you're on the edge of a cliff. If you've never tried a Dirk Pitt book, I suggest you start at the beginning of the series and be prepared to be besotted with this green-eyed master diver.

The Moonlit Garden
Author: Corina Bomann

Summary: Lily Kaiser has an uncomplicated life, until one day a mysterious man brings an old violin to her antiques shop and tells her that it belongs to her. The unusual gift sets Lily and her best friend, Ellen, on a journey to discover the instrument's past and how it's inextricably linked to her.

My Thoughts: This book was wonderful. I never felt lost in all the back-and-forth between time periods, which is saying something considering the story was told from three different ones. I thought all the characters were well written and the story flowed nicely. I loved watching the main character, Lilly, blossom. It's so rare to see characters develop in books these days, and to be able to watch Lilly grow into this independent woman was great.

Scarlet Nights
Author: Jude Deveraux

Summary: Sara Shaw is getting married in three weeks, but her fiance, Greg, mysteriously left town and hasn't been responding to her calls, texts or emails. Then, a strange man claiming to be her best friend's brother climbs through a secret trapdoor in her apartment and says he's moving in. Mike Newland is a detective, and his mission is to find one of the country's most notorious criminals - Sara's fiance's mother.

My Thoughts: This was definitely my guilty pleasure read of the month. A little crime and mystery mixed with romance. This was one of those books I read in one gulp. The developing relationship between Sara and Mike was light and humorous despite the seriousness of the situation. Note: There are sex scenes in this book so steer clear if that's not your thing.

I'm always looking for book recommendations. Tell me your most un-put-downable book in the comments!