better than your pj's

boots: Jessica Simpson via 6pm.com | leggings: Joes via eBay | top: F21 | jacket: Soel Boutique

I dare you to find an outfit more comfortable than this. That's right. DARE. The gauntlet has been tossed. That is how comfortable I am in proclaiming that this outfit can transition from the playground to your bed with very little effort (or the other way around if you are more like me).

Because we all like to feel like we are wearing pajamas sometime. :)

a fox says "yip"

Jeans: Ideeli | Blouse: AE | Sweater: eBay | Bag: Carla Mancini via eBay |
Boots: Jessica Simpson via 6pm.com

so maybe we can put that discussion to rest?

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. Ours was amazing. We caught up on our favorite shows & some much needed cleaning, did a photo shoot with an adorable little family, spent time with my in-laws & found an amazing new Thai restaurant!

Its almost sad to see it over, but we have some really exciting shoots scheduled for this week, so it kind of makes up for it. :)

to brighten up your monday...

Cardigan: H&M | Shirt: Zara | Pants: Target | Shoes: eBay

Cause he sure brightens up mine. Every day.
I mean, just look at that face!!!

in the blink of an eye.

Skirt: Soel Boutique | Top: Ideeli.com | Shoes: Cole Haan via eBay

Things have been out of control crazy around here. I usually put in about 30-35 hours a week at my company, but the the last couple of weeks, we've been rolling out a new internal CRM design, which has left me dipping into overtime.

A lot has been happening though. My family came up for a visit from Texas, Jasper turned 1 (trying not to think about how fast this year has gone), and school starts for Justin in a couple of weeks (also trying not to think about it).

I blinked, and suddenly summer is over, and I have a one year old.

How did this happen?

it's WEDDING weekend!

Top: American Eagle | Pants: JCrew | Sandals: Frye via eBay

We're heading out early tomorrow morning to go to my brother & soon to be sister-in-law's wedding!
It's pretty much a match made in heaven. Big B's a body builder & little b's a power lifter. They both love hunting, big dogs, and even bigger trucks.

So pretty much perfect. We can't wait for little b to be an official part of the family!

I remember a few months ago, we were going for a ride with them in big B's truck, and he started to lay on the gas a bit. Whenever Justin does that, I usually start to get angry and tell him to slow down, but little b totally laughed and egged him on all supportive and co-conspirator like. I remember thinking how I wanted to be more like that for Justin.

Anyways, I'm excited. I love a good wedding, and I love these two, so should be a good time.

Hope you all have something lovely planned for the weekend!

the last few weeks & a paleness that never dies.

Shoes:  Cole Haan via eBay (similar here) | Earrings: Target | Lipstick: ELF $3 Matte
Lipstick in Blood Red (Sold at Target) | Nail Polish: Essie | Dress: $40 via Ideeli (Probably my
favorite sample site out there. I find their prices to be more competitive than the others).

The last few weeks. Oh the last few weeks. Haven't exactly been my favorite. I herniated a disk in my lower back shortly after having little J (when they say wait 6 weeks to exercise, it usually is for a reason), and it decided to flare up right at the same time we decided to do a huge content redesign at work.

I am very lucky to have a number of extremely talented people on my team, but where we are a relatively young team, and where they are all still within their first 4 months on the job, a significant amount of the content build was up to me.

Not the best of times to be unable to walk (literally, the first 4 days, I was bent over in half and hobbling like an old lady). AND we had the biggest new hire training group we've ever had. They were so sweet though, and were all concerned about my back, and recommending treatment.

Anyways, we've made it through. I got an epidural steroid shot yesterday (oh the good times we have), and now can start to tackle the next presentation, and the long list of tweaks I want to make to the new program.

And can we talk about how pale I am here? Seriously, you probably had to break out the sunglasses just to read this post.

I've embraced it though. I never really get tan. Not naturally anyways (my family would be more than happy to tell you about the summer I fake-baked and they all called me their "chicana" baby. I was seventeen okay?). Naturally though, I basically go from pale, to bright red, then back to pale.

Pale is the new black though isn't it? ISN'T IT?!?

Hope you are all having a lovely hump day! (who decided to call it that anyways? Kind gross truth be told).

Customize a dress with eshakti!

Dress: c/o eshakti.com, here | Shoes: eBay

Remember this little number from a few months back? Well I wanted to take a minute to talk a bit more about the site I got it from.

The concept behind eshakti.com is really unique and exciting. Basically, you choose a dress/skirt/top, and for $7 more, you can completely customize the length, neckline, sleeves AND the measurements; bust, arms, waist, chest etc.The cool thing is, it is only $7 to add as many customizations as you like. I know first hand how hard it can be to find cute dresses with sleeves, so I really love this idea. I've also been very impressed with the overall quality of the work I've received.

Eshakti also provides a $25 credit, and free customization for your first order! Add that to the discount they are offering all LOP readers, and you can get yourself a pretty sweet deal. Just type LOPBLOG into the 'Privilege Discount' box to get 20% off all eshakti orders through April 20th.

Here are a few of my favorite picks, along with the dress I posted last month! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

i wear your granddad's clothes...

Top: Thrifted / Pants: UO.com / Necklace: Brickyard Buffalo
On Jasper- Top: Target / Pants: Ebay / Shoes: Toms

Does anyone else kind of love that song? I might now know exactly what it is about, but any song that talks about thirfting is ok by me.

I can't think of much to say about this week other than Justin and I have both been a feeling a bit off, and Jasper is teething. And that is pretty much that.

Between sickness, work and mommying, I've pretty much failed as a housewife the last few months. A couple weeks ago Justin and I finally admitted defeat and paid my siblings to come help us clean. Even with the help, there is still a sink full of dishes, two baskets of unfolded clean laundry, a full basket of dirty laundry, and a load out in the washer that I've probably ran at least 4 times, because I keep forgetting about it.

But spring is on its way, and who wants to stay in and do laundry anyways?

sleep deprivation.

I somehow woke up yesterday with a sleeping Jasper on my chest and absolutely no recollection of how he got there. I didn't remember waking up, or hearing him cry, or feeding or changing him. Honestly, I sometimes think it is a miracle that we have made it this long without a major catastrophe. Maybe there should be baby parent licencing. But then everyone would fail, because we'd all be so tired. :)

Dress: Vintage, Necklace: Soel Boutique, Shoes: Seychelles via eBay

compound problems...

Dress: Soel Boutique / Earrings: F21 / Watch: Lucien Picard via eBay $75 / Shoes: Frye via eBay

the view from up here.

Pregnancy =
lower immune system =
higher prevalence for sickness and infection =
infections =
unpleasant doctor visit =
antibiotics =
weird reaction to antibiotics & lower immune systems =
yeast infection =
yet to be solved problems=

words cannot adequately express.

silk & chiffon.

Top: Thrifted / Skirt: asos.com / Shoes: Steve Madden via eBay

There seems to have been a bit of a belly explosion in these last few weeks of pregnancy, especially obvious when wearing fluffy tutus. Justin loved this skirt because it made me look suuuper preggers. And he loves that.

I on the other hand love grandma-esque clothing. When thrifting, I often find myself warring over finds with 70 year old women. This shirt: exhibit A - the long lace collar, and silky fabric make this top A+ grandma thrift material. And, after removing the two inch thick shoulder pads and unpicking an awkward tuck, it was perfect Heather material.

we have ants

Skirt: Asos / Top: H&M / Jacket: VS / Shoes Zara via eBay / Earrings: F21

That is really all that can be said about today.

We have ants.
We bought some Raid. 
With any luck,
tomorrow we won't have ants.

The end.