4 Outfits with Sneakers

If you had told me two years ago that my #ootd posts on Instagram would one day feature sneakers just as often as, if not more than, any other shoe, I would have laughed you out of the room. But then 2020 happened and I didn't have any reason to wear my other shoes...and slowly but surely I built up my sneaker collection. These are my most recent additions to my closet, and they just so happen to be all I wore this past week.

Let's dive into another Real Outfit Roundup, shall we?

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" tall and weigh about 150 pounds. Unless otherwise noted, I wear size 6/8 or medium in tops and dresses, size 6 in pants and skirts, and size 7 in shoes.

Before we really get started, I feel like I should tell you that my schedule for the past week was insane. It was so all over the place and stressful. It was a lot of desk work, and I ended up working through lunch pretty much every day.

Moving on... These are the infamous white sneakers that I used modge podge and glitter to make wearable. So I'm not linking to the exact pair but I will send you to some similar ones. I got this t-shirt on major sale, like $5. I'll get a lot of wear out of it this summer, I'm sure. Monday was really warm, even for us, so that's how I got away with wearing it in January. Sadly, this exact pattern is no longer available but I'm linking to one that has a similar vibe)

I feel like I need to take a moment to show this pair of jeans a little respect. They are probably the pair I've owned the longest. They're the Sonoma Goods for Life brand at Kohl's. They are really good quality and the fit of their skinny jeans is perfect for me. So if you're looking for a good quality pair of jeans without spending a whole lot, give these a shot (not an ad).

Outfit Details

Shirt: Old Navy (similar)

Jeans: Kohl's (exact)

Sneakers: Amazon (similar)

Tuesday was a rainy, gross day that was still on the warmer side, which gave me the perfect reason to pull out the maxi dress that I got on major sale. It's definitely more of a summer dress, but when have I ever let that stop me? In all honesty, though, if it were a true winter day this dress would have been a bad idea. It's thin and not lined at all.

None of my boots worked so I decided to try for a sporty-ish look with my white-and-silver sneakers. Then I added my taupe moto jacket, because the dress is spaghetti strap and very open at the top. The jacket also added structure to an otherwise shapeless dress and the cropped length helped highlight my nearly nonexistent waist.

Outfit Details

Dress: Old Navy (exact)

Jacket: Lulu's (similar)

Sneakers: Amazon (similar)

We're skipping Wednesday because I barely got dressed that day and did not have time to take a picture.

Thursday was a little less hectic but still pretty scattered. The two pair of non-distressed boyfriend jeans I ordered were delivered Wednesday, so of course I had to try them out immediately. They fit like my favorite ripped pair, but will be so much easier to dress up. Be aware that they are not stretchy, so if you're between sizes I would consider sizing up.

I wanted to be comfortable for another day stuck at my desk for hours, so this super cozy lavender sweater was a no brainer. It comes in a few other colors; I also have the green. I highly recommend it. My pink Chucks aren't a perfect match but they're close enough to work, overall creating a girly yet sporty outfit perfect for a work-at-home mom.

Outfit Details

Sweater: Old Navy (exact)

Jeans: Old Navy (exact)

Sneakers: Amazon (exact)

And it's finally Friday! I decided to create an outfit around these leopard sneakers that I showed on my Instagram the week before. I kept everything simple with my new light-wash non-distressed boyfriend jeans and a solid black sweater. Perfect for another day in the office followed by a quick roadtrip to see my parents.

Outfit Details

Sweater: Target (similar)

Jeans: Old Navy (exact)

Sneakers: Amazon (exact)

The Best Blueberry Pancake Recipe

Your kids will beg you to make these pancakes again and again!

I don't know about your family, but in this house weekends are for big sit-down breakfasts. Pancakes are a favorite around here, and I'm not talking about the just add water box mixes (although there is absolutely nothing wrong with using them!). I love making my pancakes from scratch, and it's something Alexis can help with.

This recipe makes about medium-sized eight pancakes. You can make these sans blueberries or sub in some other type of fruit if you don't like blueberries. You can also use fresh blueberries. I just happen to think the frozen ones taste better. Also, we use Lactaid instead of regular milk but that shouldn't make a difference.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3 teaspoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1 1/4 cup milk
• Frozen blueberries

Directions

1. Heat your griddle to 200 degrees.

2. Measure your dry ingredients into a medium-large size mixing bowl.

3. Add the egg and milk. Stir until lump free. Note: if your batter comes out too thick, add a little more milk.

4. Mix a handful or two blueberries into the batter. This will create a pretty marbled look.

5. Using a small soup ladle, spoon your batter onto the griddle. Cook on first side about five minutes, then flip and cook on other side.

6. Serve with butter and syrup (or whipped cream and more blueberries if you're feeling fancy).

Real Outfit Roundup: What I Wore Last Week

I don't know about y'all, but my week is already off to a crazy start. Yesterday's to-do list was insane, and while today's isn't so bad, we've got some stormy weather moving through with the possibility of tornadoes. So forgive me if this outfit recap is short and sweet.

If you're new to the blog, I try to do Real Outfit Roundups every week. It's a breakdown of the outfits I wore in real life with links to shop exact or similar pieces. I also share sales that I think you'd all like. I'd started sharing them on Sundays but this past weekend got away from me, so that's why you're getting it today.

Sale Alerts

• Up to 50% off Storewide at Old Navy thru 1/28
• Up to 50% off Activewear, Sweatshirts, Jeans & Pants at Old Navy 1/29-2/8
• 50% off All Jeans at Old Navy 1/30 Only

Let's dive in!

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" and weigh about 150 pounds. Unless otherwise noted, I wear size 6/8 or medium in tops and dresses, size 6 in bottoms, and size 7 in shoes.

We'll start with Monday, which was MLK Day so no school for Alexis. Thankfully, Chris was off as well so I was able to work. By the looks of my planner, I had a busy day in the office. This sweater is a one-size-fits-all deal. It's supposed to be an oversized fit for XS-M and regular fit for L. It's not super oversized on me, mostly because it's longer and gets hung up around my hips.

Outfit Details

Sweater: Amazon (exact)

Leggings: Old Navy (exact)

Boots: Shoe Carnival (exact)

Tuesday was another busy work day, but I wanted to finally wear this off-the-shoulder shirt I've had since October! It does not fit me like the model, obviously, but I do like the shirt. It's a nice stretchy material, not super thick but also not see-through. It's not really over-the-top and for most of the day both of my shoulders were covered. The bottom is banded, which I usually don't like, but it didn't bother me so much with this one.

Outfit Details

Shirt: Amazon (exact)

Jeans: Kut from the Kloth via Stitchfix (similar)

Boots: Shoe Carnival (exact)

Wednesday was a lighter work day, but our afternoon was fairly busy after school. We decided to have a fire in the firepit and grill hamburgers. Of course, a fire meant s'mores. It was a pretty mild day, but once the sun started to set, the fire was nice, and my sweatshirt was just enough to keep me from getting too chilly.

Outfit Details

Sweatshirt: Old Navy (similar styles)

Jeans: Old Navy (similar)

Shoes: Walmart (exact)

Thursday was an editing day for me, although I did build a new bookcase for my office. Honestly this outfit was all about the shoes. I've been wanting a pair of pink Chucks forever and finally found a pair in my size. I'm linking to the exact ones I ordered, but the sizing comes and goes so good luck if you want a pair! I picked my princess shirt because the pinks in it were a perfect match for my shoes. I don't typically do black/gray on black, but truthfully I just didn't want to change. The cardigan doesn't really match but my office was chilly and it was already in there so...

Outfit Details

Tshirt: Target (similar)

Cardigan: Amazon (exact)

Jeans: Old Navy (exact)

Shoes: Amazon (exact)

Finally Friday! I spent most of this day writing one of my monthly columns. It was particularly difficult. The day itself was fairly mild so I grabbed this super soft tunic. I usually stay away from tunics because they tend to accentuate my shortness, but this one isn't so long that I can't front-tuck it and has a decent drape when I do. Also, I'm aware that my sneakers don't really match but I only wore them to pick Alexis up from school.

Outfit Details

Shirt: Amazon (exact)

Jeans: Kut from the Kloth (similar)

Shoes: Amazon (exact)

Well, that's all for me. I hope this short, sweet, and to the point post helps you make the most of your outfit choices this week!

Monday Motivation

 

How is it Monday again already? This past weekend, while laid back overall, was not long enough.

The good news? Other than daily routine kitchen cleanup, I didn't have any chores leftover from the week before. Leaving laundry and general cleanup for the weekend was a college habit that never quite phased out. Initially, it was because my first apartment didn't have a washer/dryer hookup, so a laundry day was necessary, and living alone meant it took pretty much all week to fill up the dishwasher. Then it was just easier to leave it all for one day rather than stay up half the night after work. But recently, that habit had me kind of dreading the weekends because I knew I'd have a bunch of chores to do. So I tweaked my daily schedule to take some of that burden off.

And, yes, I'm well aware that I missed my weekly outfit roundup post for Sunday. Honestly, I needed a break from the computer, so I'll try to get it put together for tomorrow. I haven't really planned out content for the rest of the week, but I think you can expect another recipe post and maybe a post about my current VIP memberships. I'm thinking about putting together a Valentine's Day Gift Guide, an updated romantic movie list, and maybe even a What to Read in February post with my all-time favorite love stories. What do you guys want to see?

As for everything else this week, we'll be finishing up the February magazine. I've got one last thing to write, and I'm making one last push to try to meet a personal goal for the month. I've also got to get the website squared away by the end of the week, but that's just mostly copy and pasting and twiddling with formatting so everything lines up nicely.

Oh, one last thing. I'm opening myself back up for freelance work. It's been several years since I last took any, but I could definitely use the boost and wouldn't mind sharpening those skills back up.

That's pretty much it for what's going on in my life at the moment. Now I need to log out of here and get to work. I hope you all have a great week! We've almost made it through the first month of the year!

12 Casual Outfits with Boyfriend Jeans

It's not really a secret that I love boyfriend jeans. The past year, I've actually worn them more than my skinny jeans. I think they're more flattering on my curves and more forgiving. They're also easier to move around in than most of my skinnies and are a better fit for where I'm currently at in my life.

This is my favorite pair that I currently own. They're currently on sale but only available in a few sizes. My other favorite pair is several years old, but pretty similar to my current fave. This is the closest to both those styles. I also have a less torn up pair made by Kut from the Kloth that I got in a StitchFix box several years ago. The exact style is no longer available, but this is pretty similar.

If you like your jeans to be more clean-cut, check out these two options below.

 

Now for the fun part. How to style them. Like I said earlier, I tend to wear mine more casually, due to the fact that my favorite pair to wear is toeing the line between distressed and destructed.

With their looser silhouette, boyfriend jeans can look sloppy when paired with the wrong tops and shoes. So how do I keep my outfits looking intentional and not frumpy?

• Make sure they fit properly. They're supposed to be loose, but not so loose you're swimming in them.
• Balance the looseness of the jeans' fit with a more structured top.
• Fake a structured top by knotting it at the bottom or front tucking it.
• When in doubt, tuck your shirt in completely and wear a belt.
• If you add a third layer (jacket, cardigan, etc), keep it waist-length.
• Your jeans should always rest above your shoes. Roll them if you have to. Do not tuck them into boots.
• Shoes shouldn't come up past your ankles.

Now, here are 12 ways I've worn my boyfriend jeans over the last year. I hope they inspire you to add a pair or two of these type jeans to your closet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life as a Work-at-Home Mom: My Daily Routine

If there's anything 2020 taught me, it was to work smarter, not harder.

After years of working in a deadline-driven environment managing 20 or more people, I've learned a thing or two about establishing a good routine.

How many of you are still working from home? It's been nearly a full year and the world is not back to normal. Working from home isn't a new thing for me. I've been doing it since 2018, but even so the swift change in everyday life also affected me, especially during the six-plus months that Alexis was out of school. Now that she's back in the classroom during the week, many of the people I work with are still juggling working from home or chose not to send their kids to school in person, so there are still some differences in my routine from when I first started my work at home journey.

I've talked about my daily routine on the blog before, most recently here, but in the months since I've refined it even more. The biggest change? I've added more intentional blocks of time. Specifically, I've tailored my first work hour and added space to tackle small chores (so that they don't all pile up on the weekend).

Pre-Work

6:45 a.m. - My alarm goes off.

6:55 a.m. - I wake up Alexis. She gets dressed, and I do her hair.

7:00-7:20 a.m. - Alexis eats breakfast while I fix her lunch and pack her bookbag. I also drink a cup of juice.

7:20-7:30 a.m. - Alexis brushes her teeth while I change into jogging pants and a hoodie.

7:30 a.m. - We leave for school.

7:35-7:40 a.m. - Return home. Seriously, our neighborhood is right next to the school.

7:40-8:00 a.m. - If the weather is nice, I walk or jog. If it's not, I do light exercise inside.

8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. - I shower, do makeup and hair, and get dressed. Tidy up the kitchen if it needs it. Maybe throw a load of laundry in the wash.

Work

9:00-10:00 a.m. 

The first hour of my work day is the most important. This is where I set the tone for how the rest of my day is going to go. What I actually do in that hour varies slightly from day to day, but here's a general idea for you.

1. Make a cup of coffee. I'm attempting to cut back on my Mountain Dew consumption during the day, and this is the first step.

2. Spend a few minutes on social media to get a feel for the tone of the day. It impacts how I interact with my clients and readers.
3. Go over the previous day's to-do list. Check off all that have been finished (if I haven't already) and shift any that I didn't get to down.
4. Schedule out my daily tasks. (I typically plan a week in advance but I tweak my to-do lists every day.)
5. Check my email and reply to anything that came in overnight.
6. Read a few of my favorite blogs and reply to any new comments or messages.

10:00 a.m.-1:45 p.m. - This is where I get the majority of my work done. It's the part of the day where I'm typically alone in the house, or at the very least am not getting interrupted every few minutes, and can really concentrate on what I need to get accomplished.

1:45-2:45 p.m. - After school pickup. Yes, it really does take this long. No, it doesn't matter that we live two minutes from the school. Yes, I take a book.

2:45-3:00 p.m. - I get Alexis situated for the next couple of hours. Throw laundry in the dryer if needed.

3:00-4:30 p.m. - What I do during this time truly depends on the day. If I haven't made it through my to-do list for the day, I finish that. If not, I relax in the living room with a book.

After Work

4:30-6:00 p.m. - This time frame is generally devoted to dinner and includes cooking, eating, and clean-up. It's really important to me that we eat together as a family at least once a day, and this is it.

6:30-7:30 p.m. - It's all about Alexis from this point on. Bath time, story time, bedtime.

8:00-10:00 p.m. - Once Alexis is in bed, I tidy up the living room, fold any clothes that were washed that day, maybe take a bubble bath, read some more, possibly watch a movie, and eventually go to sleep.

How do you stay on track during the day? Are you a planner and schedule everything out? Or do you go with the flow and do things as they come? I'd love to know!

Crockpot Tater Tot Chicken Casserole

I love a good casserole. I am Southern, after all. Even better if I don't have to turn on my oven to make it!

There's not much to say about this recipe. It's really easy to make and really yummy to eat. Plus, no one likes scrolling reading through a really long post just to finally get to the recipe at the bottom.

Some notes: You don't have to thaw your chicken, unless you want to cut it up before you put it in the pot. I didn't but probably will next time so it's easier to serve.

Don't like cheddar? Substitute any type of cheese you like.

Cooked bacon that you crumble up or the crunchy bacon bits you put on salad will work in place of the bagged bacon pieces.

If you're into meal prepping, you can prepackage everything in your freezer (here's how).

Ingredients

• 1 pound Boneless Chicken Breasts
• 32 oz. Bag of frozen Tater Tots
• Small Bag Bacon Bits
• 2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 12 oz. Can Evaporated Milk

Directions

1. Layer chicken, bacon bits, cheese and tots in crock pot.

2. Pour in the evaporated milk.

3. Cook on low 4 hours.

Monday Motivation

I'm getting kind of a late start this morning, and not because I slept in for the holiday. Everything was on track for me to get into the office at my normal time until the cat managed to turn over the table in the foyer, breaking a really big candle arrangement in the process. So we're literally crashing into this week in my house.

I don't really have a lot to talk about today. Last week was pretty low key, other than my oven deciding to die. That's thrown a kink in my meal planning. No casseroles are on the menu for the forseeable future, sad.

I'm still planning out my week, to be honest. I feel like I'm drifting at the moment, and I can't really pinpoint a reason behind that feeling. It could be because I'm trying to cut back on the amount of caffeine I drink during the day...again.

Anywho, I really do need to get to work. I hope you all have a fabulous week!

5 Things I Wore Last Week

Happy Sunday, friends! I've decided that I'm going to start trying to schedule my Real Outfit Roundups to post every Sunday. This way if I have anything new, you won't be waiting two weeks for the link. It also gives me a good excuse to share any sales I've got my eyes on, as well, though I won't promise to always include those as I'm not always on top of them.

Last week was decently busy for me, with a majority of my days being spent at my desk, so most of my #ootd's go for comfort more than anything else, and there are two definite misses in this week's roundup. I also have a mini outfit evolution for you.

Let's get started!

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" and weigh around 150 lbs. Unless otherwise noted, I wear a size 6/8 or medium in tops and dresses, size 6 in pants and skirts, and size 7 shoe.

We'll start with last Saturday. There wasn't much on the agenda other than a trip to the store to pick up a few things. I'm still struggling with what shoes to wear with these jeans. I wish they were an inch shorter, but I don't trust myself to trim them evenly.  Because of the raw edge rolling them up doesn't really work and I don't like the way they look rolled under. So far, tucking them into my combat boots or moto boots has been the winner.

Outfit Details

Sweater: Target (similar)

Jeans: Old Navy (exact)

Boots: ShoeDazzle (similar)

Monday was a gross day, for sure. It was rainy and cold, so I was stuck inside for the most part. I feel like I went to the post office or something but really can't remember, and all my planner has listed are in-office tasks. Anyway, this sweater is a really good one. Super cozy and soft and surprisingly good quality.

Outfit Details

Sweater: Amazon (exact)

Jeans: Old Navy (exact)

Boots: Shoe Carnival (exact)

I was ridiculously busy this day, finishing up magazine distribution, having a video call with one of my web people, and other things. Overall, I don't really like this outfit. I needed a belt, the rolls on the jeans were too sloppy compared to the sweater, and the sneakers don't mesh well at all. You win some, you lose some.

Outfit Details

Sweater: Target (similar)

Jeans: Old Navy (exact)

Shoes: Walmart (exact)

Here's that tiny outfit evolution I hinted at earlier. We'll start with how I actually wore it, and I'll admit that I'm still not 100% thrilled with how it turned out. The day of, I couldn't figure out what was wrong, but now that I'm staring at the photo, I see that it's the jeans. They're too beat up and take away from the shirt. I should have used clean denim. See below for two other ways I tried to fix it without success (tied hem and bright jacket).

The shirt is a really nice blouse, though. It's oversized but too baggy. The sleeves have elastic wrists, but they weren't deathly tight around my arms. The collar is banded, but again, not tight. It's a cotton/rayon blend and is on the thin side, so if you live somewhere super cold you'll definitely want to layer up.

Outfit Details

Shirt: Old Navy (exact)

Jeans: JCPenney (similar)

Shoes: Old Navy (exact)

 

My to-do list for Thursday wasn't super long but it was very involved, so I wanted to be comfortable, which of course meant my favorite boyfriend jeans. This loose thermal button-up was great for a day in the office. When we ran out to get some lunch, I did a quick front tuck, neatened up the cuffs on my jeans, and grabbed my wedge sneakers.

Outfit Details

Shirt: JCPenney (similar)

Jeans: Old Navy (exact)

Shoes: Walmart (similar)

Which brings us back around to Saturday. It's been cold and windy, and unfortunately I had to go out in it to run an errand first thing. Then I rearranged my office so I can fit another bookcase. The rest of the day was spent relaxing. I can't tell you what inspired this decidedly grunge outfit, but I felt so at home in it, if that makes sense. I would have enjoyed dressing like this in high school, but the grunge period most definitely skipped my home town.

Outfit Details

Plaid Shirt: Aeropostale (similar)

Camisole: Amazon (exact)

Leggings: The Limited (similar)

Boots: Shoe Carnival (exact)

Well, that's all I've got for you this week. But before we say goodbye, here are two sales happening right now that you should check out:

• Up to 50% off storewide at Old Navy through January 28
• 50% off Boots & Booties at ShoeDazzle (VIP Members Only)

Have a great rest of your weekend!

Our School District Canceled Uniforms and I Am For It!

Last month, our school board voted to end uniforms and implement a dress code instead.

While the middle-of-the-year decision meant another round of school shopping, I couldn't have been more excited to say goodbye to boring school clothes.

When I told Alexis that she would get to wear her regular clothes to school after Christmas break, she was thrilled. Her response was, "Now I won't have to wear the same thing a million times over and over."

Amen, kid.

I've never been a fan of school uniforms. Granted, I was never subjected to the horror of having to dress like everyone else, but my younger brother got caught in the net in middle school so I do have prior experience by proxy.

There is a lot of reasoning behind the implementation of uniforms in schools, including but not limited to: safer learning environment, fewer instances of bullying, and more focused students.

On the flip side, school uniforms promote conformity over individuality, do not improve academic success, and often times emphasize socioeconomic differences between students. In fact, the study most often cited in promotion of implementing a school uniform policy is flawed. Additionally, there is no evidence to back up the claim that uniforms reduce bullying incidents. The opposite, in fact, has been found to be true in many schools. (You can read more about the findings here.)

Perhaps the most overstated and overexaggerated claim in defense of school uniforms is that it saves parents money. That is complete and total bullshit...unless you are the type of parent who expects their child(ren) to wear their uniforms even on non-school days. Hint: I'm not. So that means two separate wardrobes for my child and more strain on my wallet.

Fun fact: Americans spend about $1 billion on school uniforms every year.

Aside from the fact that I'm spending money that could be better spent on other things, Alexis absolutely hated her uniforms. Her personality is so much bigger than a solid-colored shirt worn over blue or khaki bottoms. She has strong opinions on what she wears, and for the last year and a half she's only been able to explore her burgeoning personal style on days she isn't in school. And because I can't justify spending money on clothes that she'll only wear once or twice before hitting a growth spurt, she hasn't had access to much more than play clothes.

I had the luxury of developing my personal fashion sense as a pre-teen through young adulthood. Being forced to wear a uniform five out of seven days a week for a majority of all those years would have severely hampered that process. And that's not just my personal opinion. According to research, denying children and teens the chance to make their own choices about their appearance could delay their transition into adulthood.

When you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. Consider young adults just entering the work force. If they've only ever worn a uniform, they may struggle to dress appropriately. Because a uniform doesn't give them any leeway to experiment. There's a fine line when it comes to incorporating personal style into appropriate dressing. A school dress code does a much better job of helping kids find that line by setting boundaries and expectations without squashing their individuality.

So now I have the chance to teach Alexis how to dress not only for herself but also in a way that's appropriate. So hopefully when she leaves the nest, she'll be rooted in a sense of self and have minimal fashion mishaps.

I want to hear from you! Does your child wear a uniform to school? What are your thoughts on uniforms versus dress code?

Tuesday Reviews: My Best Buys of 2020

These are my favorite and most-used products of 2020.

All of these products were purchased sometime in 2020. They range from beauty products to household items and clothing.

Last year was weird. It was unquestionably one of the hardest years I've lived through in my 34 years of life, but it wasn't all bad. There were definitely some bright spots, though they're few and far between. In my quest to focus on the good, I decided to do a review of all the things I bought over the course of those twelve months and share with you my best buys of the year.

This post contains affiliate links.

Bathtub Overflow Drain Cover - Other than my slipper boots, this is the product that saw the most use this year. It took my bubble baths to the next level, literally.

Slipper Boots - And the award for most-worn shoe goes to my slipper boots. These things are so good, and despite getting worn way more than I typically wear slippers, they're outlasting every other pair of slippers I've ever had.

Perfect Hair Care Towel - To be honest, I'm about to buy another one of these so I have a spare. It's been such a game changer for my curls.

Roomba - This has been totally worth the price. While it doesn't do away with the need for a broom and dustpan completely, it does keep my floors much cleaner and saves me from having to sweep every day, which is a big win in my book.

Stool - Such a random thing to include, right? We got this to use for pictures but it has since become a staple in our bathroom. I use it every day when I'm getting ready, plus it's perfect for when I cut Chris's hair.

Boyfriend Jeans - Are you guys tired of hearing me talk about these yet? LOL Seriously, though, these have been my most-worn jeans. Unfortunately, they're nearly completely out of stock and who knows if Old Navy will bring them back.

Leather Jacket - Living in the South, I don't find myself in need of a jacket very often, but I find myself finding reasons to wear this one.

Moto Boots - I had no idea how much I would love these when I bought them, but they quickly became my go-to boots. Super comfy with just the right amount of edginess.

Black Sneakers - You gotta love when a $12 pair of sneakers goes the distance. I love this style of shoe so much, I'll probably break down and shell out the money for a brand-name pair that will last longer.

Prescription Sunglasses - Working on a computer all day long has done a number on my eyes over the last few years in terms of my astygmatism getting much worse, especially when I drive. Spending the extra money on a pair of prescription sunglasses was one of the smartest things I did last year.

Monday Motivation + My Goals for 2021

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you all had a refreshing weekend. Other than running a couple of errands on Saturday, I didn't do anything worth mentioning. Alexis spent the weekend with her grandparents so I slept in, which was nice, and read a couple of books.

Today is going to be rainy and cold. We've had a lot of that recently. It's completely thrown off my distribution schedule for this month, so I'll be finishing that up this week unfortunately. Otherwise, it'll be business as usual, including here on the blog. I had a few things planned for last week, but life just did not work out the way I had planned for it to, as is often the case. I'm shifting a good bit of that content to this week so stay tuned.

Remember when I admitted that I didn't accomplish any of the goals I set for 2020? I've been struggling with that, honestly, because I've never not accomplished what I set out to do. Of course, I was being way too hard on myself considering all that 2020 brought. It just took me a little while to get there. Then, I sat down and wrote out some goals for this year.

-Rebuild. 2020 took a lot from my magazine, namely all the momentum it had picked up in 2019. So this year will be focused on getting that back.

-Be more intentional with social media. It's often on the backburner of my mind, and that's something that needs to change.

-Share more parenting resources. This one just seems like a no brainer. I'm the publisher of a parenting magazine, after all.

-Write more for the magazine's website. We have a blog section that is woefully neglected.

-Have a better household chore routine. Namely, don't let dirty dishes pile up and don't leave laundry for the weekend (a habit from college that I need to break).

-Write a little every day. Preferably a solid hour.

-Spend time outside daily. That's something I started last summer, and it was so good for my mental health.

-Take a damn vacation, even if it's just a weekend.

-Schedule more time with friends.

What are your goals for 2021?

Real Outfit Roundup: 7 Casual Winter Outfits

Whew, the last two weeks have flown by! From finishing up the January magazine to celebrating New Year's to starting the February issue and distribution, I've been pretty busy. Then, of course, there was everything that happened on Wednesday, which honestly sent me into a tailspin of sorts, but we won't talk about that here.

Before we dive into these seven outfits, there are a few promotions happening at Old Navy right now that I thought you should know about considering a good chunk of what I'm wearing came from there anyway.

• Up to 50% off activewear sweatshirts and sweatpants (through 1/11)
• Today Only (1/10) $15 Rockstar Jeans for Women & $12 for Girls
• Today Only (1/10) 25% Off Your Purchase including Clearance
• Monday (1/11) 60% Off Winter Faves
• Monday (1/11) 30% Off Your Purchase including Clearance

Back to our regularly scheduled post. I had every intention of taking a photo of every outfit I wore, but then life happened and I legit spent last weekend in pajamas, so I ended up with only a week's worth of photos. Let's get to it.

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" and about 150 lbs. Unless otherwise noted, I wear size 6/8 or medium in tops and dresses, size 6 in bottoms, and size 7 in shoes.

I don't know the reason, but I've found myself reaching less and less for my skinny jeans these days. I really like the silhouette of a good pair of bootcut jeans, and this pair from Cato is really nice. They're high-rise but they don't go above my belly button. I like the double button feature, but they do still have a zipper. They are at least two inches too long on me, as is the case with most bootcut styles, but that's not a big deal since I would never wear them with flat shoes anyway.

My sweater is by A New Day at Target. It's from last year but they always have this same style, as well as a v-neck version. I can't find the crewneck on the website so I linked to the v-neck, which is nearly completely sold out, unfortunately. I really like this brand of sweaters because they're the perfect thickness for our typically mild winters. My boots are also old, so I linked to the closest style I could find.

Outfit Details

Sweater: Target (similar)

Jeans: Cato (exact)

Boots: Old Navy (similar)

This outfit screams "mom" doesn't it? I think it's the white sneakers. The silver glitter on the heels makes them more fashionable, but you obviously can't see that from this angle. Oh well. This sweatshirt is still one of my favorites. The grey leopard print makes it interesting while the sweatshirt material ensures that it's comfy. And we all know how much I love these boyfriend jeans. They've been marked down to under $30 but sizes are going quickly!

Outfit Details

Sweatshirt: Old Navy (exact)

Jeans: Old Navy (exact)

Shoes: Amazon

I wore this to have lunch with a friend. I wanted to feel dressed up without making a huge effort, so I topped this dressy-casual maxi dress with my grey suede moto jacket. This jacket is vegan so it's a little pricier than I normally consider for a jacket that is literally just for looks. It's on the thin side but has a liner. It comes with a belt around the bottom, but it was way too long so I just took it off.

My ballet flats aren't an exact match to the colors in the dress's pattern, but they're close enough. I almost didn't keep these because they were so tight when I first tried them on, but they stretched out after a few hours of wear. If you've got wider feet, I would definitely size up. If these had been available in a 7.5 I would have exchanged them.

Outfit Details

Dress: Old Navy (exact)

Jacket: Lulu's (exact)

Shoes: Old Navy (exact)

This is what I wore on New Year's Eve. I honestly can't remember what I did that day other than prep my food for the next day's lunch. I keep referring to these pants as leggings but they're technically ponte-knit pants. I wear them like leggings though because that's how they fit. They are much thicker than leggings, however, and hold their shape better. They are a little long on me, but I just roll them under or tuck them into boots. They make my ass look fantastic.

These moto boots have become my go-to in the last month. My mom hates them, LOL, but I love them. They are so comfortable, and the buckles add just the right amount of visual interest. They also feel very on-trend right now, and I like how they add a little bit of edge to my outfits.

Outfit Details

Sweater: Amazon (exact)

Leggings: Old Navy (exact)

Boots: Shoe Carnival (exact)

I'm honestly not even sure if I would call this an outfit, honestly. I hadn't slept much the night before and had a mile-long to-do list. I can say with certainty that I did not leave the house. I honestly don't think I even put on shoes.

Outfit Details

Sweater: Old Navy (similar)

Leggings: Old Navy (exact)

Socks: Amazon (exact)

This was a really hard day, to be honest. After another night of practically no sleep, I had decided to take a nap after dropping Alexis at school and just starting work a couple hours late, but my magazines were delivered that day so I had to get ready for that. I just wanted to be comfortable since I felt like I was going to pass out at any moment. Note: I cannot find my sweater, and I haven't seen anything that's remotely close to it.

Outfit Details

Sweater: Old Navy (sold out)

Jeans: Old Navy (exact)

Shoes: Old Navy (exact)

This was hands-down the most head-turning outfit I wore last week. You should have seen the looks I got at the post office, ha! I think the fishnets and combat boots might have been the determining factor there... But I was comfortable and shorts are so much more practical than a skirt when you're moving around a lot.

Outfit Details

Sweatshirt: Walmart (exact)

Shorts: Target (similar)

Boots: ShoeDazzle (similar)

That's all for this edition of Real Outfit Roundup. We'll be back to our regularly scheduled content next week. Until then, enjoy your weekend!