Real Outfit Roundup: Spring Has Sprung

It feels a little bit like fate that this Real Outfit Roundup fell on the last day of the month, and what a month it has been! Between volunteering at Alexis's school for multiple events, Spring Break, searching for a new cover photographer, and a tougher-than-normal month for the magazine, I'm not too sad to see March end, even if just to hopefully have a less busy April.

Where I live, Spring is the busiest time of the year. The weather is just right, if only for a few weeks before summer starts throwing out the triple digits and if you're not counting the pollen. I like to call this time of year 'festival season' because there is always some event or another to keep you busy, and this outfit roundup reflects that.

Spring in the South is more warm weather than cold, but March typically throws us a few curve balls, so you'll see a couple of spring-appropriate sweaters in this post. Of course, I probably won't get to wear them again until fall/winter, but for parts of the country that experience a true Spring, you'll definitely want to add these to your carts.

Okay, let's get to it.

Sizing: I'm 5'2" and weigh 145-150 lbs. I typically wear size small or 6 in clothing and size 7 in shoes.

Dress / Shoes (similar)

In hindsight, this was a really poor outfit choice for the activities of this day. I volunteered to help out with a color run at Alexis's school. If you're not familiar, that's where runners have colored powder thrown at them while they're running. So, it was definitely outside...in what is essentially a field. My 'job' was to help the 'throwers' with their powder. I really should have worn shorts/jeans and a t-shirt and most definitely not heeled sandals.

That said, I absolutely adore this dress. I first shared it with you last fall with ankle boots, but I think it works year-round. I'm wearing this in a medium, and think the small would be too tight across my shoulders. My sandals are old, but I found a similar pair that I'll link to.

Shirt (discontinued) / Skirt / Shoes

Every year, our local botanical gardens has an Easter exhibit where people decorate these giant egg cutouts with truly wonderful artwork. We've been going since they first started having it, and it's probably my favorite Easter tradition that we have. This is what I wore to walk through the outdoor exhibit. It was warm, as you can tell.

This is one of my favorite skirts (I talked all about it in this post last week), and I love it paired with this Elvis t-shirt, which sadly is no longer available. If I had to go back and do this again, I would probably wear my black Converse, but I really wanted to wear these new slides to get a good feel for them. I did a more in-depth review of them earlier this week. You can check that out here.

Dress (similar) / Vest (similar) / Shoes

This was the second day of Spring Break. Looking at my calendar, the only thing I see outside of work stuff is that I took Alexis to her art camp. I feel like I must have done more than that, though, to have put this much effort into my outfit, but I really can't remember.

If you haven't noticed by now, throwing a denim vest over a dress is my favorite thing to do in the summer, and I really like this blue-on-blue here. I decided to keep my shoes neutral with these taupe wedge sandals. My dress is from last year and my vest is several years old, but I'll link to similar products. You can read more about my sandals here.

Shirt (similar) / Jeans / Converse

This is not an outfit I shared, but I apparently wanted to snap a picture to document it. This was another Spring Break day, and it rained pretty much all day. I threw this on because it was comfortable, and then once we were out of the house that afternoon realized I didn't particularly like the pairing. Oh well, can't win 'em all, I suppose.

Sweater / Jeans (similar) / Shoes

All I truly remember about this day is how cold it was, and how much my hair didn't cooperate with me, LOL. But I was happy to get to give this sweater a spin. I was worried when I ordered it that I had waited too late in the season, but Mother Nature was looking out for me.

So, the sweater. It's a henley style with a button neck and balloon-ish sleeves. They're not oversized and are cuffed. This sweater was a little bit shorter-waisted, I think, even for me. I was able to front-tuck it but it would have worked just as easily out. This is a size small.

My jeans aren't available anymore, which is sad because they're really good.

Dress / Sweater (similar) / Shoes

This was last Friday. Looking at my planner, I didn't have anything scheduled during the day, but that evening we went to a local children's theater production of Dear Edwina Jr. It was a lot of fun, and I knew I wanted to be dressed casually but still feel pretty. It was also still a little cool, so I wanted sleeves.

I've showed this maxi dress a couple of times on the blog already, but I've focused mostly on the brown tones in the pattern. This time I wanted to focus on the blue, mostly because my new flats were a perfect match. Then I remembered this grandpa-style blue sweater and decided it made a nice bookend. I added the neutral belt to give my waist a more defined silhouette under the cardigan.

Sweater / Blouse

I realize you can't see my entire outfit here, but I wanted to share my short-sleeved sweater with you. It's so perfect for Spring it almost hurts. Plus, I wanted to share my mom's super cute blouse!

This was last weekend. We went to a live ultrasound for my brother and sister-in-law then ended up at an ice cream parlor. We also explored the downtown shops, spending a really good chunk of time in an antique store. My sweater was perfect for the slightly cool day. You can't see here, but I started the day with a light bomber jacket. I'm also wearing jeans and sneakers.

Shirt (similar) / Skirt / Shoes

This was a nice mother-daughter day and the perfect end to Spring Break. We started the day with breakfast at Panera, then took a Target trip, went to the grocery store, and made a yummy Easter treat.

This outfit is easily one of my favorites from the week. This skirt, stubborn stretchy waistband notwithstanding, is one of my favorites. It's so feminine and fun. I paired it with this eyelet top and my taupe wedge sandals for an outfit that feels effortlessly springtime.

Shirt / Skirt / Shoes / Purse

I picked up this entire outfit from Target on Sunday, and naturally I had to wear it on Monday. I love this skirt so dang much. As soon as I saw it on the rack, I had to have it. Alexis actually helped me pick out the t-shirt to match (although I have others already at home that will pair nicely as well). And these shoes, I've been waiting to find a pair in my size since last year (you can read all about that here).

Shirt / Skirt (similar) / Shoes

This outfit looked much better in person than it photographed for some reason. It could have something to do with the fact that it was later in the day than I usually take outside pictures and the fact that I did a good bit of sitting so everything is a little bit rumpled looking.

Anyway, I was really excited to find a casual way to style this skirt. You may remember me styling it kind of dressy back around Christmas, and since then I haven't been able to get past that particular outfit. Something about that red, man. Then I got the idea to pull out the more subtle color from the skirt, and this outfit was born. Literally the only thing new here is the shirt, but I'll do my best to find similar items to link.

Shirt / Shorts / Shoes (similar)

This was yesterday. The first day since I got these shorts that it was warm enough all day to wear them. These aren't a style I'm usually drawn to, but I saw them on a blogger I follow and decided to give them a shot. Man, they're so comfortable. Since I knew I'd be at my desk pretty much all day yesterday, I didn't put a lot of effort into my outfit. I did end up running in the grocery store, but that's about it.

Easy Peeps Easter Treat

I'll be the first to admit that I am not a fan of Peeps. Or marshmallows in general, really. I do like homemade rice krispy treats, s'mores, and an almost-burnt roasted marshmallow. But Peeps? I might actually hate them.

Then, I cam across a video on Facebook for how to use Peeps to make rice krispy treats, and it looked like something Alexis would like. So we decided to try it...except we couldn't find Rice Krispies anywhere. I guess there's a shortage in my area? I'm not sure, but we'd already bought way too many packs of Peeps for one house so we improvised, and I think these turned out better than regular rice krispy treats.

Here's what you'll need:

• 2-4 packs of Peeps. We used all blue bunnies, but you can do multiple colors for rainbow treats or get the duck ones (there were only bunnies in the store we went to).
• 1 large/family size box cereal of your choice. We used Cap'n Crunch Oops! All Berries, but pretty much any cereal will work.
• 1 stick of butter.

This is seriously the easiest recipe ever. Here's what you do.

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

2. Spray your baking dish liberally with non-stick spray. I always use Pam. Then layer your Peeps across the bottom of the pan.

 

3. Cover the Peeps with your cereal. Then layer thinly sliced slats of butter in rows over the top of the cereal (see picture above for reference).

Note: If your pan is deep enough, you can do a second layer. Mine was shallow, so we just did one.

4. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the Peeps have started to bubble.

5. Remove from the oven and then use a spatula to mix your now-melted Peeps throughout the cereal.

6. After your pan has cooled off, place in the fridge to cool for an hour or so.

7. Once they've set, cut up into bars and serve. Warning, they will be super sticky!

5 Spring Shoes I'm Loving Right Now

It's finally Spring! The pecan trees have finally signaled the end of our winter weather, the pollen is free falling, and I've put all my boots away for the next several months.

Last month, I talked about Spring trends in general and which ones I'm most excited about for this year. In that post, I shared all of the tops and dresses I've bought to freshen up my Spring wardrobe. Today, I'd like to focus on my first love - shoes.

According to pretty much everyone, these are the top shoe trends for this Spring.

• Retro-Inspired Sneakers - I am actually in the market for a new pair of athletic sneakers, so we'll see.
• Clogs - Just no. I wasn't a fan of these back when they were popular during my teenage years, and that hasn't changed.
• Bright & Bold Colors - Clearly, I have no issues with this one. Hello, yellow & pink Converse!
• Crossover Sandals - This isn't really my thing. I prefer a double strap or h-band.
• Platforms - Be still my 90s heart.
• Clean White Sneakers - To be honest, I've always thought these were considered a basic that everyone needed, so I'm not sure what makes it a trend this year.
• Architectural Heels - This one is honestly fun but not worth investing in, in my opinion.

Now that we've briefly discussed what you'll be seeing on the streets, let's talk about the styles I'll actually be wearing this Spring.

White Tennis Shoes

I've always loved the idea of a sleek white tennis shoe, but just couldn't get past the fact that I knew I wouldn't be able to keep them clean, like, ever.

Then I saw this pair included in one of those Spring product roundup posts. The thing about these sneakers is that they're not cloth. Instead, they're faux leather, which makes my worries about them not staying clean not quite so big. Unless I do something just terrible, I should be able to simply wipe them off.

 

I really love how you can pair a clean white sneaker with pretty much anything, from dresses and skirts to your favorite jeans. I really like them with white jeans and a statement top (first picture). They're casual enough that I don't feel like I'm trying too hard, but the leather and bright white definitely give them a step up.

I'm wearing size 7 and say they fit true to size (TTS).

Black Platform Sandals

I've only gotten to wear these gorgeous platform heels once so far this season, but I love them oh so much. They give me a That 70s Show vibe, and I'm really excited to create even more looks with them.

The heel on these is about 3.5 inches but it doesn't feel that way. That's the great thing about platforms, especially in heels. I wore these for a full day of meetings and magazine drop-offs, so lots of walking and standing. They're incredibly comfortable. They also come in tan and white. I'm wearing size 7.

Taupe Wedge Sandals

These taupe wedge sandals were recommended by someone I follow on Like to Know It. The color is a really good neutral, so they'll go with pretty much any color outfit I wear.

These wedges are pretty low, and the platform at the front makes them super comfortable. They don't have as steep of an arch due to the lower heel height, which makes them easy to walk in and wear pretty much all day long.

So far, I've only worn these wedges with a dress and skirt, but I feel like I'll get a lot of good wear out of them with shorts, as well. To me, these are a good middle-of-the-road shoe, not really fancy but just enough extra to not be too casual either.

The one thing I feel like I need to point out, because I didn't know until they came in and it definitely would have impacted my buying decision, is that the ankle strap is velcro. If I had known that, I probably would have skipped out on these. I'm not sure how long the velcro is going to hold up, especially with heavy wear, but these weren't expensive so maybe it'll balance out? I'm wearing size 7.

Clear Strap Wedges

When I first bought my clear strap wedges, I doubted I would get much wear out of them. They just didn't feel like my style, but then I actually got them and realized how easy they are to style with literally any dress in my closet, and I was sold.

Unlike other clear shoe styles, these wedges feel more understated and like they won't be as quick to go out of style. I think it's the woven wedge base. What I really love about them, though, is the fact that they don't take away from whatever outfit I've chosen to pair them with while still giving me the height boost I'm looking for.

My exact wedges are no longer available, but ShoeDazzle did bring back an almost identical version for this year, which is what I'm linking to. I wear size 7 and find their shoes to be true to size, unless it's boots in which then I have to do a wide calf.

Neutral Braided Slide Sandals/Heels

I'm counting these as the same thing because they're essentially the same shoe, just different heights, and therefore will be pretty interchangeable.

Let's start with the slides. I came across these in my local Walmart in the lavender color, which are gorgeous by the way, and tried them on to see if the straps would work for me (other pairs I've tried on have been really hit or miss). Ultimately, I decided I wouldn't get very much use out of the lavender and wanted the more neutral pair.

These have a slightly padded footbed and the braided straps have a little bit of give. Sadly, these are only available in this bone color and the lavender now, and only in limited sizes for both. I'm wearing size 7.

I have been wanting a pair of these heels since last year, but have only just found a pair in my size that the straps weren't too tight across my toes. These ones are the A New Day brand at Target and they're perfect.

These have a 3.25 inch heel, which is my preferred height boost. The square toe keeps them trendy. The braided straps have a bit of give in them so they're not stiff and uncomfortable across my toes. Surprisingly, these are pretty comfortable for all day wear. Granted, I didn't do a ton of walking around or standing in one place, but at the end of the day my feet weren't screaming at me.

These come in a bunch of other colors, including black and a really pretty multi-colored metallic. I'm wearing size 7.

Monday Motivation

Happy Monday, friends! It has been a really good weekend, but I have to confess that I am not excited about today. It's the last day of putting the April magazine together, and I'm not where I thought I would be for this particular month, nor do I have any other ideas for how to fill the gap. I just keep reminding myself that just because life is slowly returning to normal doesn't mean all of the businesses I rely on to keep me in business aren't still struggling. It's a process, and I definitely need the reminder that a setback is not a failure.

As for the rest of this week, it's looking pretty standard. The only extras added in are a hair appointment on Friday for me and Alexis's birthday party this weekend. She's having a gnome art party (yes, it's a thing LOL) and so far we've got six children who will definitely be there (counting Alexis) with one very strong maybe.

This past weekend, as I mentioned, was such a good one to end Spring Break. On Friday night we saw our local youth theater group's production of Dear Edwina Jr. My parents came over to go with us, and it was so much fun. It was Alexis's second time seeing a play (the first was a school field trip), and I'm excited to be able to start including her in one of my favorite activities.

 

Then on Saturday, we went to a live HD ultrasound for my brother and sister-in-law. It was a really cool experience, and then we all went to eat lunch together and spent a few hours exploring the downtown area of the town we were in, including a pit stop at a local ice cream/candy shop.

 

Sunday, Alexis and I had a mother-daughter day. We started with breakfast at Panera, then did some shopping at Target. After that, we ran to the grocery store where we picked up some ingredients for a fun little Easter treat. We were going to make rice krispie treats using peeps instead of marshmallows, but everywhere here is out of Rice Krispy cereal. So we got Cap'n Crunch's Oops All Berries instead, and I think they turned out even better.

All in all, we had a good Spring Break, even though I worked the entirety of it. Alexis participated in an art camp each afternoon, so you know she had a blast. Her artistic talent seriously blows me away. Check out these canvases she painted!

 

I think that gets you caught up on all the important things that have been happening in my world. This week we're going back to your regularly-scheduled programming plus the final stages of planning a 7th birthday party.

Have a wonderful week!

The Amazon Skirt I Can’t Stop Buying

Are you the type of person who finds a piece of clothing you love and then keeps buying it in all the colors? I am! And this skirt from Amazon is absolutely worthy of all of our love.

You've seen a version of this skirt in so many Real Outfit Roundups you could be tempted into thinking you're seeing double...or in this case, quintuple? You see, I love this skirt so much, I own it in five colors/prints.

So why, exactly do I love it so much? Let me count the ways.

1. It's the perfect length. It hits above my knees but isn't short enough to be considered a mini.

2. It's tiered, which helps to hide any unflattering bumps and bulges you might have.

3. The waist is elastic.

4. The material is lightweight but not see through.

5. It comes in a ton of colors and patterns.

6. You can dress it up or down, although I tend to wear it mostly casual.

7. It's easy to layer for cooler days.

And the list could go on and on! Now let's take a quick look at how I've styled them.

We're going to start with the version of this skirt I bought first - the A-rust Red Daisy.

Because I've had this one the longest, I've worn it the most often. This photo is from last weekend when we went out to an Easter egg art exhibit at our local botanical gardens. The color of this skirt is almost brown, which makes sense for the rust red description.

This skirt is surprisingly easy to pair with a variety of tops in my wardrobe.

There are subtle hints of blue, green, yellow, and even pink in the pattern. My favorite way to wear it is with a graphic t-shirt, but as you can see it's easy to dress up a little with a not-basic button-front camisole and adding a sweater and tall boots makes it winter appropriate.

Now let's move on to the one that is probably my favorite - green flower. This one is by far the brightest, making it the most fun to style. I love pairing other bright colors with it, especially yellow.

One note on the green. For whatever reason, the tie on this particular skirt was ridiculously long, so I cut it off. Because it's for looks only, it worked.

The blue daisy skirt is my second oldest. In my closet, it's basically a neutral and goes with nearly everything. Here's the last time I wore it.

When I first got the skirt, I did a little outfit remix post showing six ways to style a printed skirt in all seasons. I still love all of those outfits, although I'd probably update the ankle boots.

This post is not sponsored or paid for in any way. However, it does contain affiliate links.

Thank you for supporting Mommy the Journalist.

This pink floral skirt is the newest addition to my collection. I bought it specifically because I wanted to recreate an outfit I saw in a Facebook ad (I talked about it here), but I've got big plans for this skirt, y'all.

The pink floral is the only skirt that was sold by a different Amazon retailer, but trust me when I say it's the same skirt. It fits exactly the same way and is priced almost exactly the same. I do think this particular seller has some more spring-specific prints right now versus the original skirt.

Anyway, on to our final contestant...I mean, skirt. This one is simply called beige, which I find very misleading. This is a neutral colored spotted print. It's not quite leopard, but they're not uniform enough to be considered a polka dot.

I haven't gotten as much wear out of this one, yet, but it's still fairly new. It's a great base, though, so I have no doubt you'll be seeing more of it throughout the summer.

Some sizing notes for you. I am 5'2" and weigh between 145-150 lbs. I'm wearing size medium in each of the skirts I've shown today. While they do have an elastic waist, the rest of the material is not stretchy at all and the part around your hips is a little more fitted, so definitely take that into account, especially if you are between sizes.

So, have I convinced you to jump on this skirt's band wagon yet? I'll confess, I've got another one (or two) currently sitting in my Amazon cart waiting for me to click buy. That's how obsessed I am with this skirt!

Tips for Finding Your Perfect Maxi Dress + Outfit Ideas

Maxi dresses are the perfect Spring transition dress, but they can be tricky. In this post, I'm going to share some tips for how to find the perfect maxi dress for your body type and some ideas for how to wear them as we start moving into warmer weather.

I love a good maxi dress. They make me feel feminine and flirty and usually don't take much effort to turn into an outfit that feels purposeful and complete. Plus, most of them are good to wear as is on their own. But not every maxi dress works for every body.

Here are a few things to consider about your body type:

• A strapless column maxi dress will play up an hourglass figure.
• Spaghetti-strap maxis in a column or slight A-line cut will highlight your curves.
• If you have a bigger bust, try one with cap sleeves and/or a cinched waist to tone it down.
• Alternatively, for those of us who are less blessed up top, diving necklines, open backs, and details like ruching can help boost your bust.

Color and print will also affect the way a maxi dress looks on your body type. Here are some suggestions for picking the right color and fabric:

• Choose simple, small prints if you're smaller.
• Bolder prints or larger floral prints work for those of us who are curvier.
• Solid colors work for everyone.

Now let's talk about length. Maxi dresses come in a range of lengths, from foot skimming to floor skimming, and it can be difficult to find one that doesn't trip you up...especially if you're petite. The general rule of thumb I follow is that my maxi dresses need to at least be ankle length and no longer than touching the top of my toes (although I do have a few that fall an inch or two above my ankles - too long to be a midi length but not quite maxi length).

Keep in mind that all of these are guidelines, not rules. And when it comes to fashion, pretty much anything goes. Bottom line: If you like something, wear it. But, if you do need some more advice, this article was surprisingly helpful for me.

Now for the fun part of this post - outfit ideas! I rounded up daily outfit pics from the last couple of years to show you ways that I regularly wear my maxi dresses. There are 27 in all, so plenty of inspiration for you to make the most out of your maxi dress collection this Spring.

Before we dive in, I will let you know that these dresses range in size from a small to a large, depending on when I purchased them, and many of them are old enough to not be available anymore. If you've got questions about any of them, you can leave a comment below or email me, and I'll do my best to help!

Sizing info: I'm 5'2" and weigh between 145-150 lbs. I typically wear size small or 6 in clothing and size 7 in shoes.

 

 

I'm starting with these four because they are the style of maxi dress that I tend to gravitate to the most. I like a defined waist with a drapey skirt. Bonus points if the skirt is tiered. I also mostly stay away from solid-colored maxi dresses, as they tend to accentuate my shortness more than I like.

Each of these four dresses can stand on their own. In addition to their pretty prints, defined waists, and tiered skirts, they each also have feminine details up top from flutter sleeves to a sweet little tie detail and puffed sleeves. So I kept everything else about these outfits simple by choosing shoes that wouldn't take away from the dresses themselves.

 

These two dresses are quite literally two of my favorite purchases ever. They have a vintage vibe and I always feel so pretty when I wear them. The buttons on the front are functional and they have a clever little gap prevention system on the top half that I wish all button-up dresses/tops had.

 

This dress, sadly, is sold out, but I wanted to show you that a strapless dress can work for just about any body type, especially if you pay attention to the details. This one not only has a cinched waist but also a ruffled top, leg slit, and tiered skirt. I wanted to show this two ways to demonstrate how much difference your shoe choice can make, plus what adding a belt can do for a dress.

 

There's not much to say about these three, other than that I wanted to show you how different types of straps can make a difference. The first dress is not fitted at all, but the adjustable spaghetti straps and the mixed print 'striping' gives it a more structured feel than just a hanging sack.

The dalmatian spotted dress has a smocked top and tie shoulder straps. You can't really tell from the picture, but the skirt is also tiered.

The last dress is a halter neck with a cinched waist and straight skirt, but the different pattern at the bottom gives it almost a Grecian feel.

 

Now let's talk about adding pieces to your maxi dresses. A denim jacket is always my go-to for colder days. They literally go with just about any dress, regardless of the way it's cut. For example, the first dress is strapless while the second dress has a halter neck.

The real trick is to find one that hits at your natural waist so that it doesn't weigh down the dress.

 

To me, a dark-wash denim jacket always feels more intentional than a light-wash one, and it's easier to wear with a variety of shoes.

A blazer is a great way to add an office-appropriate layer. You can keep it simple with black or pick one in a color that matches one that's found in the print of the dress.

 

I love how unexpected a white denim jacket feels when paired with a darker print. And a faux suede moto jacket adds a bit of edge. For a nice in-between layer, reach for a short-sleeve chambray button-up and tie it at your waist.

As a side note, sneakers are a quick way to dress down a maxi dress. And if your dress feels too long for them, add a knot on one side.

I saved my favorite completer piece for last: the denim vest.

These two are actually the same dress, just in different prints. As you can see in the first picture, they are a loose, column style dress. What you can't see is that they have adjustable spaghetti straps. While I wear these dresses on their own plenty enough, most often I add my denim vest. It just gives a little something extra to the outfit, I think.

First, it draws attention to my waist. Second, it keeps attention away from my wide-set shoulders. It also keeps my shoulders from burning.

To add some extra appeal to an outfit like this, try knotting the bottom of your dress or adding a wide belt at your waist. Wearing wedges instead of flat sandals helps keep everything looking long and lean.

 

I swear this yellow-orange floral-print dress is so versatile. You saw it earlier with both a denim jacket and a blazer, and I couldn't resist throwing in this version with a denim vest.

I also am in love with the blue-on-blue look of the second picture. That dress is a halter style with a high-cinched waist.

 

These last two are to show you that, like a denim jacket, a denim vest also works with pretty much every style of maxi dress. Just think of it like a jean jacket, just minus the sleeves!

I hope this post helps you to give maxi dresses a try and/or to be creative with the maxi dresses you already own.