Happy last Monday of February, friends! Whew, last week was a busy one, even with yoga being canceled. Other than Wednesday, I feel like I spent the week running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

All jokes aside, it was a good week. Probably the best week of the month. On Friday, I participated in a career prep event at one of our area high schools and conducted mock job interviews with freshmen students. It was actually more fun than I thought it would be, and I hope the input and advice I shared will be helpful for them one day.

On Saturday, we went to a birthday party for Alexis's first best friend, who's parents I happened to hang out with pretty frequently in college (small world, right?). Then she got to spend the afternoon with Penny and a few of the other little girls, some of which are the kids of another couple I know from my college days. We went to our town's Mardi Gras parade with them.

I think this picture sums that up. It was a lot of fun! I truly wasn't expecting much, but this was probably the most fun I've had at a parade ever. Alexis caught a tutu, a ton of beads, a football, some bubbles, and even a pair of socks. She caught a moonpie, too, but it was chocolate so she gave it away.

On Sunday, we had another birthday party, this time for a cousin. After two days of birthday parties at trampoline parks and a parade, this mama is undoubtedly tired...and honestly, a little sore, too. My left hip and ankle have been aching, I guess from standing for so long on pavement.

This week won't be quite as busy. Alexis's afterschool art class is wrapping up, but they're offering a new series for March that we'll most likely be signing her up for. I've signed up to volunteer for the book fair this week, and I'll be doing distribution at some point, as well as getting the website updated for March.

Well, that pretty much catches you up with what's been happening in my world. I hope you all have a great week!

The start of a new season is also the perfect time to check out what trends you can expect to see and adjust accordingly. I, personally, don't do a whole lot with trends, but if I do it's always in small doses unless I absolutely love something. Then, all bets are off and it's a safe assumption that said 'trend' will become part of my style. Take my love for statement sleeves. They technically went out of style ages ago, but I still wear them all. the. time.

So I've actually been reading up on what we can expect to see trend-wise this Spring. Honestly, I'm not that impressed, and I feel like a lot of my local stores have missed the memo entirely (what is up with all the Brady Bunch prints?!). 

1. Floral Maxi Dress - You got to see this already in my last Real Outfit Roundup, but I wanted to include it here because it is one of the dresses I ordered for Spring. It's very thin but not see-through and comes in 28 colors/patterns. I'm wearing a medium but could have sized down to a small. The chest area is really long.

2. Pink Jacket - This particular outfit actually got its own post last week. The jacket is one of my favorite things right now, even though our current temps are too warm to wear it (yesterday we almost hit 90!). It's super soft and snuggly. It comes in several other colors. I'm wearing medium.

3. Tiger Graphic Tee - I bought this t-shirt specifically to create this particular outfit, but I'll definitely find other ways to wear it. It says Long Live Rock N Roll. Wearing medium.

4. Floral Mini Skirt - This is the skirt I now own in at least five patterns. It's unlined with a stretchy waistband with a tie that's mostly for looks. It's got a couple of subtle ruffled tiers. I'm wearing a medium.

5. Gingham Dress - I am a sucker for blue gingham, so I honestly could not pass this dress up. I got it on a small sale but was prepared to pay full price. It's not lined but it's not a thin material. It has pockets and a cute bow on the back. It's seersucker material so it's a little bit tighter, but I still got my usual size small.

6. Color Block Dress - First, let's start with the fact that I did not pay $100 for this dress. I must have gotten it on a daily deal or something. Anyway, it's super cute and gives me all the Easter vibes. It has a zipper back, and other than a small area on the back of the top is not stretchy. I got the medium and it fits like a small.

7. Dark Floral Dress - I love this style of dress and am excited that Old Navy hasn't done away with it yet. It has a defined waist, tiered bottom, and the neckline is so flattering. I'm in the small.

1. Red Blouse - This seersucker babydoll blouse is so much fun I ordered it in two colors without realizing it! I love the puffed sleeves. It's a bit oversized and the neck is stretchy so it could potentially be worn off shoulder. I got a small.

2. White Blouse - I actually wore this yesterday but didn't take a picture. I love this simple blouse. It has a bit of an oversized fit, as well. It's not super thin but in the right light you can kind of see through it, but not enough that I minded. Wearing a small.

3. Blue Embroidered Blouse - This is the shirt I was the most skeptical about because it's got a lot going on, but I wore it earlier this week (again, I didn't take a picture) and loved it. I ordered this as a semi-replacement for the gorgeous blue blouse I got last year that my cat ruined. Wearing size small.

4. Purple Blouse - This is the blouse I told you about in my last outfit roundup but didn't have a picture of. It has a beautiful swiss dot print and fun lantern sleeves. While it is meant to be worn off the shoulder, it can easily be worn on as well.

5. Pink Blouse - Yep, this is the pink version of the red blouse. I truly didn't realize I had added two of the same style to my cart. I just loved the bright of the pink and don't have anything like it. Again, size small.

Earlier this month, I included Monat's Air Dry Cream in my January Favorites post, but I didn't go into much detail about this styling product that's become a pretty big part of my styling routine these last several weeks.

This vegan leave-in cream helps to tame my frizz and fly-aways without weighing my hair down. The only time it dries even semi-crunchy is if I apply it too liberally to the hair that frames my face (which happens with pretty much any product I use at least once a week).

Last month, I shared a recipe for the easiest Instant Pot spaghetti on my Instagram. I know what you're thinking, spaghetti is already pretty easy to make. I agree! But I love making it in my Instant Pot, and here's why: Not only do I only have one pot to wash, but also the noodles seem to taste better this way. I don't know if it's because they're essentially cooking in the spaghetti sauce and so have a nice tomatoey  (is that a word?) flavor or what, but now that I've discovered Instant Pot Spaghetti, I may never cook it the normal way again. And upgrading from ground beef to meatballs is a breeze!

1. Layer meatballs on bottom of Instant Pot. (Note: If using uncooked meatballs, add a little olive oil and pan sear the meatballs using the sauté function.)

2. Cover meatballs with 1/2 cup of water.

3. Add the jar of spaghetti sauce. Set jar aside, DO NOT THROW AWAY YET. Using a spatula or spoon, spread the sauce, mixing with the water, until meatballs are completely covered.

4. Break spaghetti in half and layer over the sauce. Gently press spaghetti into the sauce.

5. Add 1 1/2 cup of water to your spaghetti sauce jar. Close the lid and shake to get get the remaining sauce. Pour over noodles. Do not mix.

6. Cook on manual for 8 minutes, vent set to sealed.

7. Fast release pressure. Gently mix it all together. Your noodles should be al dente, but if not you can cook them for another minute or two.

8. Serve with grated parmesan (optional).

Happy Monday, friends! This month is flying by, but I guess I should have expected that considering February is a short month. It's amazing how much of a difference two to three days can make when you're talking about deadlines!

I saw my dermatologist last week, and she confirmed that I've been having a reaction to something. Most likely the apple cider vinegar gummies I'd been trying since that's the only thing that was different. She gave me a prescription that has been helping with the itchiness, which in turn means the sporadic rash outbreaks aren't as bad because I'm not scratching them. The only downside is that it makes me sleepy.

In other news, I got rear-ended after leaving that appointment. And yes, it hasn't been that long since the last time. Unlike the last time, which was honestly a scarier situation, my car was damaged and the person who hit me was extremely unpleasant to deal with.

It happened at a red light. I had been stopped for a couple of minutes when an SUV hit me. The driver claims she took her foot off the brake, but this wasn't a little tap on my bumper. There is a perfect imprint of the tag that was on the front of the SUV and a lovely gash that stretches from underneath the right side of my hatch to about halfway across. So obviously I needed to get an official report for my insurance, right? Well, this driver was not happy that I called the police. Long story short, she let me snap pics of all her info and then left. Well, her SUV was new and she hadn't gotten her permanent tag so the officer had to go find her to get all the info correct.

I'm okay, thankfully, but my nerves were certainly frazzled. And I'm annoyed that I'll have to wait until the car is repaired before I can really start my search for a new one. My lease ends in a couple of months, and I'd like something different.

Our weekend was nice. We didn't do much, but we did finally break out the craft paint kit we got Alexis for Valentine's Day.

This week is going to be decently busy. We've got dentist appointments, art class, gymnastics, yoga, and  I volunteered to do some mock job interviews for a local high school. Then this weekend we've got two birthday parties. Not to mention it's the last week for the magazine. Wish me luck!

I hope you all have a great week!

I have been dying to wear this outfit ever since I saw it on an Amazon influencer ad. I've just been waiting for the last piece to be delivered to recreate it, and it's finally time!

I mean, there's really nothing I don't love about this outfit. From the cozy jacket to the leopard tee to the floral skirt to the over-the-knee boots and even the thigh high socks underneath.

I don't particularly need a reason to bust an outfit like this out, but we've had some decidedly spring-like temperatures so it felt doubly appropriate to go a little overboard with the pastels. I almost did taupe OTK boots but ultimately went with this darker brown pair because I liked the slimmer silhouette. Plus, I felt like they pulled out the leopard's coloring a little more.

Enough about the boots. Let's talk about this jacket! It deserves all the heart eyes. I absolutely love it. It is, hands down, the softest thing I own. It is not lined, though, so if you live somewhere really cold it may not be enough to keep you warm. But here in the southernmost part of the country it's perfect.

If you think this skirt looks familiar, you are correct. I have it in four other patterns, I think. It's such a good skirt, though, that I can't help myself with buying as many patterns and colors as I can!

My t-shirt, while still being a nice feminine pink and white, helps give the outfit a little bit of edge with its 'Long Live Rock N Roll' message.

Now, let's talk about what's under my boots. You've got a little peek of them in the picture above. Time for a closer look.

How cute are these color thigh high socks by Chrissy's Socks? They have a ton of cute patterns, but I've always been a sucker for stripes. These pink-and-white striped pair were the perfect compliment to my nearly all-pink outfit, and the fact that they're high enough to provide a layer between my boots and skin makes them even more amazing.

These socks are made in the U.S. and are fur free. They're not as soft as I expected them to be but they're not uncomfortable. They've got a decent amount of stretch, but I do feel like I need to point out that if your thighs are bigger like mine (thanks cheerleading and softball), you may have to work to get them up all the way. Once they're in place, though, they stay there.

 

It's time for another Real Outfit Roundup, in which I share outfits from the last two weeks that I wore in real life, along with links to shop the same or similar items.

It's been kind of a hectic two weeks in my world, with several 'events' thrown in the mix, so this particular roundup feels a little all over the place style-wise. February tends to be a colder month here, and my winter style leans more toward comfy casual, but I've been working in some brighter colors where I can. Let's get started!

And last but not least, we had some early Spring temperatures so I wanted to dress to match. Plus, I just got this maxi dress not too long ago and haven't had a reason to wear it. It's really thin so definitely not a cold weather dress, but a denim jacket made it appropriate for our mid-70s temps. Even thinking about sandals felt weird, though, so I decided on flats instead. Quick note: I tend to size up with Amazon so I got this dress in a medium, but I most definitely would have been able to wear a small no problem.

 

Would you believe me if I told you that I've been limiting myself on the number of book samples I add to my Kindle library? Probably not given my history, but it's true! I've decided that I need to work through at least some of the couple hundred titles I've been stockpiling...starting with the books that have been patiently waiting on my Kindle Unlimited shelf.

So instead of doing an updating TBR list or Currently Reading post, I decided to show you the books that are currently sitting unread in my KU downloads. Yes, I am aware that you can download more than the standard 10 these days, but I've also got a few finished titles that I'm not quite ready to return yet.

Here we go. In no particular order, these are the 8 books currently giving me the side-eye every time I add another title to my samples pile.

Medusa (Court of the Underworld)

Author: Alessa Thorn

I know, I know. This was on my post from last month, but Covid pretty much killed my reading plans. In case you missed that post, Medusa is the beautiful Gorgon of legend. She rules a media empire from behind the safety of thousands of screens. When a reformed thief is forced back into the game to save his sister, his task is to break into Medusa's tower and steal a magical necklace.

Riggs Brothers boxset

Author: Julie Kriss

This popped up as a recommendation in the Kindle store because of my love for Emilia Finn, specifically the Checkmate series. Here's the blurb: Four brothers from the wrong side of the tracks meet the women who tame them.

Author: Adrienne Young

I've had my eye on this one for awhile, so when it popped up on KU I had to add it. Fable is left to fend for herself on an island full of thieves after her mother drowns and her father abandons her. Her goal? To get off the island, find her father, and demand a place beside him.

Author: Elise M. Stone

Lawyer Titus Strong has moved to Shipwreck Point to escape a guilty conscience and publicity from his most recent case. When a lighthouse keeper turns up dead, all eyes turn to the owner of the Honey House, who publicly threatened the man after he tried to rape one of her girls. Now it's up to Titus and his new secretary to prove her innocence.

Author: J.R.R. Tolkien

This collection of tales and legends sets the stage for Tolkien's other works, especially The Lord of the Rings. I've never read it, but when I saw it featured on KU for a short time knew I had to download it.

Author: Nicole Snow

This is actually the second book in what I didn't realize was a series, but I've already read the first - The Romeo Arrangement - and really enjoyed it, so I've got high hopes for this one. Tory has moved back to her hometown to help out her grandfather and escape her problems. While there, she reconnects with her best friend, Quinn. Tory vows not to let him affect her this time around, but then he kisses her and all bets are out the window.

The One and Only Crystal Druid (The Guild Codex: Unveiled book 1)

Author: Annette Marie

Yes, I realize this has been here for awhile. I don't know why I'm so scared to start it. Zach, a.k.a. the Crystal Druid, is one of my favorite characters from the other Guild Codex books, but the reviews say this series is nothing like the others in this world, and I'm afraid I'll be disappointed.

Author: Amalia Carosella

This is another one that's been in my Kindle loans for awhile. It's the dual stories of Freydis, daughter of Erik the Red, and Icelandic history professor, Emma, both of whom are struggling against communities trying to silence them but neither of whom will give up without a fight.

Happy Valentine's Day, friends. Have you guys had a romantic weekend? My weekend consisted of a whole lot of much-needed me time. This past week was pretty overwhelming in a lot of ways, and I needed a break from pretty much all obligations. It did end on a high note, though. Some of my former coworkers who weren't able to attend the retirement party a couple of weeks ago planned a surprise party for Reg. It was so much fun, y'all! It was honestly like a big family reunion with all the people who played big parts in my first years of working. And I still didn't get a picture with Reg. LOL

Anyway, in honor of Valentine's Day, I thought I'd do something a little differently for this Monday Motivation post and share some of the biggest lessons I've learned from my own relationships over the years.

Don't go out with someone just because someone else wants you to. 

I actually have two different personal experiences I could share, but for the purposes of this post I'm going to stick with my first date. I worked with the guy at the grocery store in town, and he was pretty persistent. I finally accepted the invite at the behest of my mother. We went to a movie, which for us was a 45-minute drive away. I was uncomfortable pretty much the entire time, so much so that I pretended not to have filled up on movie theater snacks and we didn't go to dinner.

My husband and I are celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary later this year, but we've actually been together for a little more than 12 years. To say that I am lucky to have found him and made a life together is a pretty big understatement. I thought it would be fun to share a little bit about our relationship over the last dozen years with this 14 question survey one of my friends shared on Facebook.

In the last few years, women have been trading their skinny jeans for other more straighter styles. I, for one, never fully embraced skinny jeans to begin with because I honestly don't think the style works as well for my body type. In fact, I've been wearing boyfriend jeans almost exclusively for the last three years.

What I love about my boyfriend jeans is that they give me room to comfortably move. They're still structured around my waist to hold the parts that need holding, but they don't strangle my legs. The looser fit around my ankles also gives me more options for styling. I can wear them straight or cuffed. While my usual style tends to be more casual, they're also not difficult to dress up for a business casual look.

Over the last several months, I've seen many posts about how to pair straighter-legged jeans with different shoes, and the consensus seems to be that you're limited in your shoe choices. I humbly disagree. With the exception of athletic sneakers, which I wouldn't pair with jeans anyway, and tall boots, which I tend to only wear with dresses and skirts, I wear my straight-leg jeans with all my favorite shoes.

From ankle boots to Chelsea and combat boots, low-top sneakers, wedges, and sandals, I've rounded up 30 outfits from the last year or so to prove to you that this style of jean is just as versatile as your favorite skinny pair.