Monday Motivation + 3 Movies Alexis Loves

Last week was another busy one. I didn't work late as many days as the week before, but my daily to-do lists were still pretty full. I got to have some me time over the weekend. I watched what I wanted on TV, had a solo Target trip, and got caught up on some stuff I'd been wanting to do.

My schedule doesn't look as full this week. We sent the September magazine to press on Friday so now I'm in that relaxed period between press and delivery. I use this week to really map out my next month and get a head start on my editorial stuff. I also learned a new email trick that will make sending my pitches so much faster and free up time for other things.

This is our final week of summer before school starts back. Do you guys do anything special before the first day of school? I don't remember any back-to-school traditions from my childhood, but I think it would be kind of cool to start one. Alexis's teacher did give us some 'magic glitter' to sprinkle on her bed the night before, and we're going to read The Night Before Kindergarten, but I'd like to do something special. Maybe an ice cream date?

As much as I hate to admit it, TV has played a pretty prominent role in our summer. Seriously, I think we've seen every single episode of all the current Disney Junior shows, not to mention Ladybug and Cat Noir, all the Scooby Doos, and the original Magic School Buses. We've also had a lot more movie nights than we used to, so I thought I'd share three movies currently on Netflix that Alexis loves and don't make my ears bleed.

Gnome Alone
Rated PG

In this Netflix original movie, Chloe and her mom move into what looks like a haunted house. It's actually built over a portal to an alien planet and a group of garden gnomes keeps the aliens from invading and destroying Earth. When Chloe takes the crystal holding the aliens at bay, turns it into a necklace and loans it to a girl at school she wants to be friends with, she must team up with the gnomes and her neighbor to get it back and save the world.

Leap
Rated PG

Felicie and her best friend Victor escape the orphanage and run away to Paris. Felicie dreams of becoming a dancer, and Victor wants to be an inventor. Felicie intercepts a ballet academy acceptance letter intended for the girl who lives in the house she's cleaning and takes her place at the school, while Victor gets an apprenticeship with a local inventor. Although she is found out, Felicie is given the opportunity to earn a role in an upcoming ballet.

Mune

Rated PG

When an evil magma demon and his minions steal the sun, it's up to the new guardians of the moon and the sun to get it back, and save the world from destruction. There's just one problem. Mune wasn't supposed to be chosen as the guardian of the moon.

Real Outfit Roundup: What I Wore in August

It's time for another Real Outfit Roundup. It's a collection of most of the outfits I wore over the last few weeks. I try to do these every other week, but I was swamped last week with work and put the blog on the back burner. I also didn't take pictures of all my shorts-and-a-tshirt outfits, which is why there's almost a week-long gap between the first and second picture. I made sure to take pictures whenever I wore something new, so most of this stuff is still available.

Sizing Info: I'm 5'2" and usually wear size 6/8 or medium in tops and dresses, size 6 in bottoms, and size 7 in shoes.

*This post contains affiliate links.

I wore this for a regular work-at-home, sit at my desk most of the day, work day. I may have been dressing to impress my magazine delivery guy who I hadn't seen since March. He did all of the unloading by himself this time since I'm still building back up to my old activity level and moving that many stacks of magazines was taxing when I was in shape. Anyway, I absolutely love these dresses. They're like the perfect day dress - loose and flowy - but can be easily dressed dressed up for date night.

Outfit Details

Dress: Amazon (exact - wearing size M in navy cherry print)

Shoes: ShoeDazzle (exact - wearing size 7)

I've tended to avoid linen pants in the past, finding them to be uncomfortable, too easily wrinkled, see-through, and poor quality. I decided to try this pair on the recommendation of another blogger and was pleasantly surprised. While they did crease around where my hips and thighs meet, these linen pants proved to be comfortable, not see through, and pretty good quality for the price.

Outfit Details

Shirt: Walmart (similar)

Pants: Old Navy (exact - wearing size M in feather)

Shoes: Old Navy (exact - wearing size 7)

You've already seen this outfit in an outfit remix post a couple weeks ago, but I wanted to share it again because the tank and skirt are just that good. Here's the original post.

Shop the Outfit

Top: Amazon (exact - wearing M in champagne cream)

Skirt: Amazon (exact - wearing M in blue daisy)

Shoes: ShoeDazzle (similar)

I'm going to be honest. I really only took this picture because of the cat, but this really was a good addition to my closet, and it's a great dress for fall. It's sold out a few times already this summer and is currently on clearance, but there are a few sizes left. It also comes in black, which is available in all but one size.

Outfit Details

Dress: Old Navy (exact - wearing size M)

Shoes: ShoeDazzle (similar)

I picked up both these pieces on a recent trip to our local JCP. It was my first trip to the mall since March, and we only visited the one store. Anyway, I fell in love with these striped linen pants as soon as I saw them (and ended up buying a matching pair of striped shorts) and this top caught my eye and ended up being a great match. The pants originally came with a tie belt but I didn't like the way it looked with this top so I swapped it for a wide braided belt that tied in nicely with my brown wedges instead. These pants are cropped so they may be shorter for you tall gals.

Outfit Details

Shirt: JCPenney (exact - wearing size M)

Pants: JCPenney (exact - wearing size M)

Shoes: ShoeDazzle (similar)

This maxi dress is a familiar sight around the blog. I most recently talked about how to style it multiple ways for cooler weather in this post.

Outfit Details

Dress: Amazon (exact - wearing size M in teal green)

Shoes: Old Navy (exact - wearing size 7)

I bought these bicycle shorts to wear on my daily walks, since it's way too hot in Alabama for leggings right now. I'll be honest. My favorite leggings are from Fabletics, but their bicycle shorts were above my price point, so I decided to try these ones recommended by Amazon and am not disappointed. They're a nice thick, stretchy material and are not see-through when you bend or squat down. They also have good-sized pockets on both legs. This pic is from a lazy day around the house last weekend.

Outfit Details

Shirt: Target (exact - wearing size M)

Shorts: Amazon (exact - wearing size M)

Slippers: Amazon (exact - wearing size 7-8)

I added these cargo joggers to my collection last winter. I wanted something that felt a little more put together than my other pairs. I hate to say that I really haven't worn these all that much. I think it's more to do with the color than anything else. They're still available in select sizes, but I'm linking to a similar style as well. Can we just talk about my top for a minute? This is like the perfect dressed-up t-shirt. Unfortunately, this yellow print is almost sold out, but it's still available in a polka dot (have and love) and three solid colors. If you're looking for some dressy casual tops to add to your closet, these are it.

Outfit Details

Shirt: Old Navy (exact - wearing size M)

Joggers: Old Navy (exact - wearing size M in Lost at Sea Navy, similar style)

I wore this to meet Alexis's kindergarten teacher earlier this week. It's been awhile since I've been out of the house for more than a doctor's appointment, trip through the bank drive-thru, or to check my post office box, so I went through all the motions of getting ready, i.e. full makeup and hair routine. This shirt is a nice twist (pun intended) on a basic tee. It's a little longer than I expected but I don't think I would have liked the smaller size. However, if you're between sizes, consider going with the smaller. I ordered these boyfriend jeans recently because I'm kind of over the super skinny trend. I'm wearing the 6 but probably could have ordered the 4. I'm not sure if that's because I've been shrinking down in the wake of my surgery or if they run a little bigger. My wedge sneakers were ordered on major sale after being inundated with ads for months. I didn't really like this trend when it first came around but it seems like it's here to stay for awhile so I decided to give it a low-cost try. That said, these 'bobos' (as my husband calls them) are surprisingly comfortable. They're advertised as having a memory foam sole, but if it's there it's only like a millimetre thick. The double zippers are both functional and add a little personality. I, grudgingly, think they're a good middle ground between sneakers and ankle boots.

Outfit Details

Shirt: Amazon (exact - wearing size M in #2 black)

Jeans: Old Navy (exact - wearing size 6)

Shoes: Walmart (exact - wearing size 7 in blush)

I actually don't remember when I bought this dress. I grabbed it off the rack on a Walmart trip sometime before COVID happened. It's been one of my most-worn summer dresses this year. It's not available for order but you should be able to see if your local store has it in stock through the link below. It comes in a few other colors, too.

Outfit Details

Dress: Walmart (exact - wearing size M in green amber)

Shoes: Old Navy (exact - wearing size 7)

3 Subscription Services I've Tried

I'm not going to lie. As much as I love to shop, I don't always enjoy the process, and locally there aren't a lot of options, especially for special sizing like tall or petite. When it comes to online shopping, I tend to stick to a handful of retailers that I'm familiar with and can get overwhelmed scrolling through page after page trying to discover new brands or styles. If this sounds familiar, a subscription service may be worth considering.

I have no active memberships at the moment, but I have used three services for extended periods of time within the past three years: StitchFix for clothes, Mint Mongoose for jewelry, and ipsy for beauty products. I've talked about all three separately and several of my StitchFix purchases make regular blog appearances. So although I'm not actively using any of them, I would recommend them.

Disclaimer: I was not asked to write this post. The following are unpaid reviews of StitchFix, Mint Mongoose, and ipsy. All opinions expressed are strictly my own and based on my own personal experiences.

StitchFix

I signed up for my first StitchFix box in 2017. At the time, I was looking to expand my professional wardrobe with more quality pieces that couldn't be found in my local stores. I took a style quiz, set my size and price preferences, and decided how often I wanted to receive boxes. Each box contains five items, as well as a styling guide. You get five days to decide if you want to buy anything, but you can request an extension. You do have to pay a $20 styling fee for each box, which is taken out of your final total, but is not refunded if you decide not to keep anything. You can request specific items, which is cool. For instance, I wanted a pair of boyfriend jeans that actually fit my body shape, and my stylist for the month delivered. They were, admittedly, the most expensive pair of jeans I've ever bought but I do not regret them.

So why did I suspend my subscription? I got several boxes in a row that I didn't keep anything from for various reasons, so I felt like I had wasted $20. In retrospect it was probably partly my fault because I didn't stick with one stylist every time. Overall, I felt like the stylists listened to me and matched my style pretty closely.

Mint Mongoose

Jewelry is not something I wear a lot of and quite honestly struggle with. So when I found my jewelry box severely lacking, I decided I needed help and signed up for Mint Mongoose. Out of the three subscriptions I'm talking about in this post, this one was my favorite. There are several options with this program. You can get three pieces of jewelry for $15.00 or four pieces for $22.99, and you get to choose your metal preference. All of the pieces I received, like the necklace in the picture above, were good quality with the exception of one bracelet that the clasp broke on.

So why did I stop using this service? Pure coincidence, actually. My credit card information was stolen and it took awhile to get things straightened out. When I finally had a new card, I never updated my profile. That being said, I really don't wear a lot of jewelry and getting three new pieces every month was a little excessive for me. However, now they offer a quarterly option, so I'm seriously considering renewing.

ipsy

There are a ton of beauty subscriptions out there, and I honestly can't tell you how I decided on ipsy, but I stuck with it for more than a year. Here's how it works: for $12 a month you get five products and a cute little makeup bag. Some of the products are sample size while others are full size. You can customize to a certain extent, but you don't get to request specific things. I did discover a couple of new brands and still use a few of the makeup bags (I gave a bunch to my daughter to play with).

I ended up ending this subscription because I honestly didn't need another makeup bag. Plus, I have really sensitive skin so it was always a risk trying stuff from brands I'd never used before. That said, if you like to experiment with makeup and want to be introduced to new brands, this is an inexpensive way to go about it.

What subscription services do you currently use or have tried in the past? Tell me in the comments!

Monday Motivation

Last week was really busy. We're launching a new digital version of the magazine so my work load was legitimately doubled as I helped upload our first interactive guide, got our family calendar up and running, and reposted several original posts that were lost when the site updated, in addition to all the other things I do in the last full week before we send an issue to press. Let's just put it this way, I was so busy that by the time bedtime rolled around I didn't even read, and that's saying something. This week should be a little more laid back. I've got two more things to write and at least two more ads to go through the design process.

We've got open house for Alexis's school this week where we'll get to meet her teacher and drop off school supplies. I talked to her teacher on the phone last week and got a clearer picture of what to expect. There will only be about a dozen kids in her class, which is even less than were in her Pre-K class last year, and a majority of the school supplies we bought will stay with her instead of going into a community bin, which I'm happy about. I'm still nervous about sending Alexis to school with so many people still getting sick, but she's really excited, and I think our district's plans are pretty solid. Of course, we've still got two weeks before our postponed first day, so there's still time for everything to be changed again.

There's still so much up in the air as we move closer to the fall. Our biggest area festival has been canceled, which isn't surprising considering the circumstances but still a pretty sobering blow. It's only been canceled in its entirety one other time, back during World War II. It'll be interesting to see how many other fall events follow suit, although most of the others are much smaller-scale. The end of the year has been my toughest sales season for the past two years, so I'm a little worried about what this year will look like, especially if there are no events to fall back on. Things have been looking better since June, the worst month we've had since launching two years ago, and I keep reminding myself that any progress is good. So I've been celebrating all my victories, even the little ones.

This week, I hope you can focus on the progress you've made -- at work, in a relationship, or toward a personal goal. It doesn't have to be something huge to be worth celebrating. It's amazing how much good you can find in life when you start looking for it.

Crockpot Chicken & Gravy Recipe

You can never have too many comfort meals in your recipe book, and I guarantee this easy crockpot meal will make it into your favorites. Not only is it easy to throw together, but Alexis said this is the best chicken she's ever had. It takes all of five minutes to get the ingredients into the crockpot, then you let it cook all day. Bonus: your house will smell amazing.

I use frozen chicken breasts, you know the ones that come in a big bag in the freezer section. Those tend to be larger pieces so two is plenty for our family. If you're using smaller cuts, I'd probably use three. Note: your chicken will probably not be completely covered by the gravy mix, but it will still cook just fine. I also don't pre-season my chicken. Instead, I add my seasonings directly to the gravy mix once it's cooked all day.

We like to eat it with white rice, but you could serve it over potatoes or by itself. I'm still trying to decide if I can somehow add the rice into the crockpot without it getting too mushy or burning. I like having a veggie side to keep things balanced, and I feel like next time I should make some biscuits.

Ingredients

• 2 large chicken breasts
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 2 packets chicken gravy
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• garlic powder & pepper (to taste)

Directions

1. Stir together soup, gravy mix, and water until mostly smooth.
2. Add chicken breasts, making sure they're covered.
3. Cook on low 6-8 hours.
4. Shred chicken.
5. Mix in sour cream.

Find the original recipe here.

How to Style a Maxi Dress

For a long time, I avoided maxi dresses. For one thing, I had a hard time finding any that didn't drag the floor, and I'm not about spending money on alterations. But mostly, I had no idea how to style them for multiple seasons. I finally embraced the maxi dress a few years ago but didn't get much wear out of the few I owned.

Don't get me wrong. One of the best things about a maxi dress is the ability to throw it on with a pair of cute sandals and walk out the door, but I'm a firm believer in my three outfit rule: I don't buy something unless I can wear it three different ways (unless it's for a special occasion

I bought this gorgeous floral maxi dress from Amazon last summer. It's super soft and stretchy, has an elastic waist and pockets. I've talked about it on the blog several times - it's just that good! I wear it all the time, but I haven't gotten too creative with it, mostly because we've been staying home for the past six months. A maxi dress isn't something you'll see me in often during the fall and winter months, so I wanted to challenge myself to find ways to wear this dress in cooler weather. So without further ado, here are five ways to wear a maxi dress.

Maxi Dress + Flat Sandals + Statement Necklace

This is the way I typically wear my maxi dresses. Because this one does skim the floor, I knot the bottom to keep it from getting under my feet when I wear flats. Knotting it also means people will see your shoes.

Outfit Details

Dress: Amazon (exact - wearing size M in teal green)

Shoes: Old Navy (exact - wearing size 7)

Maxi Dress + Blazer + Heeled Sandals

Want to dress up your maxi dress for the office, a date, or dinner at a nice restaurant? Add a blazer and heeled sandals. I bookended my outfit with a white blazer and white sandals. The white in the jacket helps pull out the white in the pattern, while the low heel on my sandals keeps the dress from brushing the floor.

Outfit Details

Dress: Amazon (exact - wearing size M in teal green)

Blazer: JCPenney (similar)

Shoes: ShoeDazzle (exact - wearing size 7)

Maxi Dress + Belted Cardigan + Neutral Ankle Boots

This is a good business casual combo for cooler days. There's not much yellow in the pattern of my dress, but it's enough that the yellow cardigan works. I added a belt at my waist to help keep my shape. Cardigans tend to make my shorter frame look frumpy. You can't really see them in the picture, but I finished the look with taupe booties.

Outfit Details

Dress: Amazon (exact - wearing size M in teal green)

Cardigan: Old Navy (similar)

Belt: Target (similar)

Boots: Old Navy (similar)

Maxi Dress + Sweater + Neutral Ankle Boots

I love cozy outfits, and nothing says cozy better than a soft sweater. This is my favorite dress layering trick for cold days. Take a loose-fitting sweater, gather the hem into a 'ponytail,' secure it with a rubber band or hair tie, and then tuck it up under. Be sure to tuck all the way around so you don't have a weird tail in the back. Then add a pair of casual, lace-up boots in a neutral color. I tied up the bottom of the dress so my boots can be seen.

Outfit Details

Dress: Amazon (exact - wearing size M in teal green)

Sweater: Walmart (similar)

Boots: Target (exact - wearing size 7)

Maxi Dress + Jean Jacket + Chunky Scarf + Ankle Boots w/ Warm Socks

This is the warmest outfit of all. Grab your favorite denim jacket and top it off with a chunky scarf in a color found in your dress's print. Add some warm socks and casual ankle boots. Knotted hem optional.

Outfit Details

Dress: Amazon (exact - wearing size M in teal green)

Jacket: Old Navy (similar)

Scarf: gifted (similar)

Boots: Target (exact - wearing size 7)

Got a style question? Something you'd like to see on the blog? Let me know in the comments!

Monday Motivation + 3 Recent Amazon Buys I'm Loving

I need this reminder this week. Struggle does not equal failure. I feel like at this point in the pandemic, pretty much everyone has struggled or is currently struggling with something. It's kind of like riding a roller coaster. April was the boring flat part. May and June were the longest uphill climb ever. I finally made it to the top of the hill in July. The first half of August was the fun downhill part, and now I'm back to climbing the next hill.

Last week was a good week overall, but I did suffer a pretty big set-back in terms of work so I'm working to make up what I lost this week in addition to finishing up all the editorial aspects of the next issue. I also did not keep up with my exercise routine (it rained a lot so I wasn't able to get out to walk). So, yeah, I'm struggling a little bit right now, but I am not failing. The only way I'll fail is if I give up.

Anyway, I wanted to share three random Amazon purchases that are making my life better these days.

Bathtub Overflow Drain Cover - I know I'm not the only person who gets annoyed that they can't get their bubble bath deep enough to cover my chest without scrunching down into the tub. With this little gem, I get about three more inches of water without having to hear that awful gulping drain sound.

Acne Patches - Anyone else experiencing mask acne? My already sensitive skin is suffering underneath my mask in the Alabama heat. A friend had recommended these earlier in the year, so now that the bottom half of my face looks like I'm going through second puberty, I decided to give them a try. These things are amazing. I used three overnight on some painful bumps that popped up after a shopping trip. Those little nasties were gone this morning. Totally worth the $12.

2-in-1 Styler - I'm pretty sure I've already mentioned this styling tool, but it's really saving my bad hair days.

From Summer to Fall: 6 Ways to Wear a Printed Skirt

We're halfway through August, right smack dab in the middle of the dog days of summer, but I find myself already looking forward to fall, not just for the cooler weather but also for the cozy fashion. To be honest, we don't get a lot of cold weather down here in the southeastern portion of the country, so that portion of my closet is by far the smallest section. I tend to wear a lot of the same items year-round. Since we're about a month away from the 'official' start of Fall, I wanted to share how I transition my summer pieces into the cooler months. I won't say winter, because let's be real, we rarely get one of those.

Before we get started, let me tell you about the skirt I chose. I love it so much, I actually have it in two colors, this blue daisy and rust red daisy. You can see the red version in my last Real Outfit Roundup. It has a stretchy waistband and hits just above my knees. The tie at the waist is just for decoration. I did find that the blue version is slightly looser than the red version. I'm wearing my usual size medium.

Skirt + Neutral Camisole + Wedges

This is just a basic outfit, perfect for a super hot day. This skirt pairs well a flowy camisole like this one. Because of the tie at the waist, I wanted something I could tuck in and then blouse out loosely to keep everything nice and casual. By keeping my shirt and shoes neutral, the skirt becomes the star of the show.

Shop the Outfit

Top: Amazon (exact - wearing M in champagne cream)

Skirt: Amazon (exact - wearing M in blue daisy)

Shoes: ShoeDazzle (similar)

Skirt + Neutral Camisole + Utility Vest + Wedges

The easiest way to turn a summer outfit into a fall outfit is by adding layers. Let's start with something simple. A utility vest is the perfect layering tool for when it's technically fall but still pretty warm out. In addition giving your outfit that fall feeling, it also adds structure.

Shop the Outfit

Top: Amazon (exact - wearing M in champagne cream)

Vest: Target (similar)

Skirt: Amazon (exact - wearing M in blue daisy)

Shoes: ShoeDazzle (similar)

Skirt + Neutral Camisole + Moto Jacket + Wedges

The next level of layering is a light jacket. This suede moto jacket gives the outfit structure and has the added bonus of bookending with my shoes. The darker shade of brown also makes it feel warmer than it actually is.

Shop the Outfit

Top: Amazon (exact - wearing M in champagne cream)

Jacket: ShoeDazzle (similar)

Skirt: Amazon (exact - wearing M in blue daisy)

Shoes: ShoeDazzle (similar)

Skirt + Neutral Camisole + Chunky Cardigan + Neutral Booties

This may be my favorite combination. I love a good chunky cardigan. It keeps you warm while adding a bit of texture. These are also my favorite casual booties. I love how they keep everything grounded without drawing too much attention. Not to mention, they're ridiculously comfortable.

Shop the Outfit

Top: Amazon (exact - wearing M in champagne cream)

Cardigan: Old Navy (similar)

Skirt: Amazon (exact - wearing M in blue daisy)

Shoes: Target (exact - wearing size 7)

Skirt + Thin Sweater + Booties

The next logical progression of this outfit transition is a thin sweater in a neutral color. As with our first outfit, the neutral colors keep the skirt as the focal point. A New Day at Target has the best thin sweaters. They come in crew or v-neck, are lightweight, and easy to tuck in.

Shop the Outfit

Top: Target (exact - wearing size M)

Skirt: Amazon (exact - wearing M in blue daisy)

Boots: Old Navy (similar)

Skirt + Chunky Sweater + Booties

From a thin sweater to a chunky sweater, this outfit is for - you guessed it - cold days. I like to front tuck my bulky sweaters to keep them from completely hiding my body's shape. In the case of this skirt, it also keeps the tie at the waist from creating an ugly lump under the sweater.

Shop the Outfit

Top: Old Navy (exact -wearing M in sea salt)

Skirt: Amazon (exact - wearing M in blue daisy)

Boots: Old Navy (similar)

Monday Motivation + 5 Things I've Learned About Working at Home During a Pandemic

Welp, we're at the start of another week, and I'm not feeling particularly rested, despite essentially taking the weekend off specifically for that purpose. Remember how I told you that I had started back exercising? Well, last Thursday I walked without my husband and daughter so I picked up the pace to a not-quite jog. I wanted to get my heart rate up, break a sweat, and actually feel like I had accomplished something when I made it back home. Turns out, my body wasn't ready for that level of exertion and movement just yet. I jumped the gun and paid the price pretty much all weekend.

This week is kind of exciting, though. For the first time since April, we're doing physical distribution spots. We're not back to a full-out list with nearly 300 spots, but we did identify 100 places. I hope this is a sign that things are really starting to turn around for my community. The past two months have seen an uptick in terms of my success, but this feels like a big step in the right direction.

It's been almost five months on the dot since Alexis's school closed early for Spring Break and then never reopened. Five months of working around an energetic almost-kindergartner and off more than usual husband. Twenty weeks of trying to keep a community service going in the midst of a pandemic that closed pretty much all of my clients down for months.

After nearly two years of working at home instead of in an office, I thought I had a pretty good handle on it, but that was before coronavirus. Going from having the house to myself two to three days a week to zero days a week has been challenging. Working with a small co-dependent human has changed the way my normal work day looks. So I thought it would be interesting to share five things I've learned about working at home over the last five months.

1. Having a flexible schedule is key, especially if you have young children. Unless it's my press deadline, nearly everything on my daily schedule can be rearranged to fit around my current situation.

2. Sometimes you have to shut the door, or work outside in 100 degree temperatures, to get stuff done.

3. Having a full house 24/7 while you're trying to work means things will fall through the cracks. Don't stress the not-yet-folded laundry on your love seat, the dirty dishes stacked in and around your sink, or the floors that you can't actually remember the last time were swept. I know it's hard to overlook that stuff, but when faced with spending time with your kids and husband or doing chores, the choice is simple. The other stuff will keep another day or two.

4. Fresh air and sunshine works wonders on stress. I recommend spending at least an hour a day outside.

5. Do at least one thing for yourself, by yourself, every day. Trust me.

Real Outfit Roundup: The Dog Days of Summer

We are officially in the dog days of summer. What that means in the South is endless days of potentially dangerous heat mixed with humidity and the odd afternoon thunderstorm. Although, the past few weeks have been unbearably dry in terms of rain in my neck of the woods. Our poor lawn is crackly.

Needless to say, I've been dressing as cool as possible and, unfortunately, limiting my time outdoors. Even though most of the outfits I'm about to share were only seen in person by my husband and daughter, I would have worn them out, as well. This batch of real life outfits is a good mix of old and new items. You'll have to excuse my lack of shoes, ha!

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" and usually wear size 6/8 or medium in shirts and dresses, size 6 in skirts, shorts, and pants, and size 7 in shoes.

Dress / Shoes

I love this dress so much, it got its own post a couple weeks ago (read it here).

Shirt / Skirt

I really like how this outfit turned out. This skirt is so cute and perfect for summer. I'll be wearing it into the fall and winter, too. It comes in 24 patterns. Mine is the A-rust Red Daisy, and I like the beige and A-blue daisy as well. It has a stretchy waistband. The tie at the waist is purely decoration, and you should be aware that the rest of the skirt doesn't have any stretch at all so that first ruffle could be a little tight depending on where it hits on you. This shirt is one of my best Amazon purchases of all time. It goes with pretty much everything in my closet, isn't see-through, and comes in 16 colors. I'm wearing my usual size medium in both.

Dress

I'm not sure a comfier dress than this one exists. It is so soft and stretchy. You can wear it on or off the shoulder. It has pockets! It's got a split on both sides, making it really easy to knot like you can see in the picture, but it's pretty hanging straight as well. I'm wearing it in a medium and had no issue with length, even in bare feet. It comes in more than a dozen patterns.

Shirt / Shorts / Shoes

This shirt is another recent Amazon purchase. It comes in four color choices. The fabric is really soft and flowy. You can easily do a half-tuck or knot the bottom. I did find that it shows sweat really easily, but in all fairness I was outside pretty much all day the day I wore it.

Shirt / Shorts / Shoes

This is the only "sweater" you'll ever see me post about in the summer. Okay, so technically this is a knit tank, but it feels like a really thin sweater material. The lack of sleeves make it bearable to wear in our current 90-plus degree heat. This comes in a several more patterns and colors. This is the dye-sky blue.

Tank / Bralette / Shorts / Shoes

I told y'all earlier this week that I've started easing back into exercising, mainly by walking through our neighborhood. These workout tanks are really loose and cool. I like that they tie in the front. I'm not wearing workout shorts in this photo because I had to run a couple of errands. I recommend sizing up in these shorts, especially if you're between sizes.

similar Shirt / similar Skirt

This was just a fun outfit I wore around the house on a Friday. I talked about it in this post.

similar Dress

This dress is no stranger to the blog. I shared it way back in February (read it here) with boots and a leather jacket. This go 'round I took full advantage of the off-the-shoulder sleeves, and I'm not sure if I put on shoes at all. Anyway, this dress has long since sold out but I linked to what's essentially the same dress in a different color.

Shirt / similar Skirt

Last but certainly not least, we have this psychedelic pineapple graphic tee that I've been looking at since the beginning of summer. When it got marked down to under $10, I finally gave in to my obsession and ordered it. Old Navy has really got something going with these EveryWear tees. They're so comfortable, and I really like the curved hem. I paired it with my pink frayed-hem denim skirt for the perfect summer outfit. My skirt is a couple years old, but I did find a really similar option that's only $30 right now!

Kid-Approved Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

When it comes to baking, I'm definitely not a made-from-scratch kind of girl. But one weekend not too long ago, Alexis wanted to make cookies, and I wasn't going to make a grocery order just for that. For some reason, we have about four jars of peanut butter in our pantry (I didn't buy them all, I swear!), so we decided to make peanut butter cookies. They're super easy, and Alexis loved helping mix up the ingredients, roll out the little dough balls, and make the criss-cross pattern on top.

Some notes: I accidentally melted my butter, but it didn't seem to make a difference in the outcome. Also, I didn't have parchment paper like the recipe I was following called for, so I used wax paper instead.

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 stick butter (softened)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup peanut butter, crunchy or smooth
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt. Sit aside.
3. Using the paddle attachment on your mixer, beat together the butter and both sugars until fluffy. Mix in the peanut butter until smooth. Then add in vanilla and egg until smooth.
4. Roll your dough into small balls and place two inches apart on lined cookie sheet. Using a fork, press down lightly to flatten and make a criss-cross pattern.
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

This recipe makes about two dozen cookies. I followed this recipe but halved it because we really didn't need 48 cookies.

Maxi Skirt and Crop Top

I'm not going to lie. This outfit wasn't meant to be shared. It wasn't even my planned outfit for that day. I had intended to wear the skirt with a graphic t-shirt but couldn't get the proportions right. On a whim, I pulled this crop top from my drawer and threw it on. To my surprise, I didn't hate it, even though two of my new scars were on display.

Obviously I didn't go anywhere since we've been quarantining the past two weeks, but it still took a good bit of courage for me to wear this outfit all day. I've been struggling with body positivity for the past year or so, pretty much ever since I first started struggling with all the issues associated with why I had a hysterectomy. It's hard to feel good about your body when your weight starts going up for seemingly no reason and no matter what you do you stay bloated. Needless to say, I stopped wearing a lot of my favorite clothes and stayed far away from anything even resembling form-fitting.

My body is returning to its old shape, slowly. Like I said in my Monday Motivation post for this week, I'm working on building my stamina and muscle tone back up, but already I can comfortably wear most of my pre-adenomyosis clothes. Am I where I'd like to be size-wise? Not yet, but I am celebrating this return to a happier me. And even though I'm still self-conscious about these photos, I had fun taking them, and that is a victory in itself.

Outfit Details: Both my skirt and shirt are several years old so no longer available. This top is pretty similar to mine and this skirt is pretty close.