Dressing for Work - Mid-Life Mom Style | What I Wore #ootd

Getting dressed in the morning can be hard, no matter how great your sense of style is or how extensive your closet. But keeping things simple can help. Choosing great classic pieces paired in an updated way, can keep you office-ready, but still stylish.

Dressing for work can be a real challenge. What they show in the magazines may not be appropriate for your office. Think short skirts, open-toes shoes and sleeveless tops. Unless you work in the most casual of businesses (or from home) those are generally not office approved. And even if some people wear them, what do the "bosses" think - the people that make the promotion decisions. As unfair as it seems, we don't always get ahead based on our skills alone.

I've done my share of hiring and interviewing in my former life. Your first-impression is important, so why not look your best? I remember in college, when everyone wore a dark blue suit to interviews. Not wanting to look like everyone else, I chose a lighter, dusty blue conservative dress (these were interviews with financial people). The dress was not too tight, nor was it too short. I paired it with some simple silver jewelry and basic pumps and I pulled my long hair back into a chignon. My accounting professor had a fit that I did not wear the "uniform" - she was sure I would never get hired. I did in fact get hired, but it wasn't with one of the more conservative accounting firms. Was it the dress? We may never know.

I recently attended a conference with a client of mine. We were both working, the conference attire was casual, but for us, that meant business casual. I always love the opportunity to dress up a little, since I work from home in jeans and yoga pants most days.

I took a few business casual liberties after researching the conference audience, and decided that leopard shoes and a shirt that hung below my jacket would be okay for this event. I could also wear my bracelet stacks,

None of those things would be appropriate for a job interview or a work environment was that business attire only. Perhaps the shoes, in a creative field with a black suit. PERHAPS. Here's how it ended up (sorry about the blurry picture - my 8 year old took it for me):

Jacket - Ann Taylor - Fall steal from the sale rack

Top - Ann Taylor - Early Fall Collection

Pants - Ann Taylor - Early Fall Collection

Shoes - Target - a few seasons ago

Bag - Vintage Kate Spade

Bracelets - Tiffany, Alex and Ani

I even added a string of classic pearls after seeing a picture on Instagram. They added just the right touch.

Keep in mind, when dressing for work, unless you're a fashion model, there are expectations about how you "should" look. Right or wrong, it's the way the world and people work, so use that to your advantage. Keep the short skirts, strappy sandals and sleevless blouse for date night! It may seem old fashion, but many fashion "rules" are.

What's your work uniform?

catch you soon - 
This post is linked up at The Pleated Poppy and at Get Your Pretty On - check them out for outfit ideas and inspiration.

Menu Plan Monday - 2014 Week 44

It's been a busy Fall around here so far, and we're just getting started. This week's menu plan includes some easy recipes, some traditional recipes and even one new recipe to try.

Here's what we have on our meal plan this week:

Monday - Homemade Pizzas
Tuesday - Ravioli with Sausage and Spinach in a Light White Sauce
Wednesday - Citrus-Herb Marinated Chicken, Harvest Salad, Rice Pilaf
Thursday - Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Root Vegetables
Friday - Traditional Mummy Dogs and Big Batch Chili with Cornbread
Saturday and Sunday - TBD

Do you have a tradtional Halloween Night meal?

catch you soon -
This post is linked up to I'm An Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday - check it out for even more ideas and inspiration.

Spooky, No-Carve Pumpkin Idea

Sometimes carving pumpkins for Halloween can seem a bit over-whelming. For years now, besides our one carved pumpkin, The kids and I make a rat-infested pumpkin to display Halloween Night as well.

All you need is a great shaped pumpkin - you can make it big, small, oblong, round . . .whatever. You could even nest 2-3 together.

You'll need a tool to punch or drill holes into the pumpkin. A Drill with a wide bit will work,  my carving kit came with a circle puncher, so I use that to punch out circle plugs of pumpkin (it works almost like a corer). I have to widen the holes a little bit so my rubber rats fit. I found rubber rats at the Party store. I wanted ones that looked realistic.

Then you just arrange it. Have some of the rats digging in, some coming out, leaning against it, on top - whatever suits your fancy. Our trick-or-treaters always comment on these no-carve pumpkins, no matter how fancy my carved pumpkin is!

Once Halloween is over, I pull out the rats for next year and leave the pumpkin for the squirrels to enjoy.

catch you soon -

We're All Scrapbookers at Heart

Ever wonder how a Blogger gets started in Blogging? I read a great post from Elsie Larson yesterday - I've been a fan of Elsie and A Beautiful Mess for YEARS. After reading it, I started thinking about how my scrapbooking hobby was really the driver for me switching from an auditing career to an online content creation and social media consulting career.

In fact, almost all of us here in the Blog World and on Social Media . . .are scrapbookers at heart. We are all trying to tell our story. Every day we share our lives and experiences in words and pictures with the rest of the world. Memory keeping. Scrpbooking.

Even if you have a Deal Blog, or a Company Blog . . .it's the stories that capture your audience. Stories evoke emotion from your readers, and when that happens, it's Blog Magic.

Also, these women in the Scrapbook industry? They are REAL entrepreneurs. They have developed products and systems and companies from what seems like some paper and scissors, but is really a lot of hard work and self-teaching. They have inspired me in many ways to preserve my family history, tell my own story, and grow as a business-woman as well.

Next week, I am embarking on Ali Edward's Week in the Life. I love this project, and just like so many things, I tend to Type-A it and perfectionist it to death. I am vowing here - before all you lovely readers, that I will TRY not to do that.

catch you soon -

Fall Fashion - MidLife Mom Style | What I Wore #ootd

Welcome to another MidLife Mom What I Wore post. Getting dressed is hard, even on the best day, and when a fashionable woman (like you and me) turn a "certain age," great clothes can be a real challenge. We don't want to dress too young and we certainly don't want to dress too old.

So that's where this post series comes in. I share with you, my outfit choices and how you can adapt them for yourself, based on your own body, style and budget. I strongly suggest shopping your own closet to create fun new outfits.

This week I'm sharing two versions of my fall "uniform." Basically my favorite jeans and t-shirts, styled with cardis, jackets and scarves. Unless I'm heading to a work meeting or event, that's pretty much what I put on (if I take off my yoga pants).

In this first outfit, I'm wearing 2 of my favorite pieces: a cashmere swinging cardigan and my black booties. I have this same style cardigan in a dark grey and I wear it all the time. It's warm, fashionable and comfortable. Total win - right? And the black booties are perfect, so last year I had to get them resoled. I'm not one for the current buckles and "junk" on boots. I prefer classics.

Cardigan - Lord and Taylor (my favorite place to splurge on cashmere!)

T-shirt - Lord and Taylor

Jeans - Ann Taylor Modern Skinny Jeans

Scarf - Talbot's

 Boots -  Old - black booties

This second outfit, I picked out to be a little fallish for Pumpkin Math in second grade. I also didn't want to worry about getting pumpkin all over myself =). Again, simple pieces from my closet, thrown together for a cohesive look. The t-shirt has 3/4 length sleeves, which can be difficult to wear sometimes, but under a cardigan, it doesn't matter.

Cardigan - Lord and Taylor Cashmere (look for sales and coupons for the best deal!)

T-Shirt - Ralph Lauren

Jeans - Lee Jeans

Boots - very old brown booties

Necklace - Tiffany

So there you have it - a couple of basic fall outfits that will take you just about anywhere (no black tie or fancy dinner please!). Easy pieces that you probably have in your closet right now!

So, what are you wearing this week?

catch you soon -
This post is linked up at The Pleated Poppy and at Get Your Pretty On - both great sites for outfit ideas.

Menu Plan Monday - 2014 Week 43

Frost? Already? This weekend was a beautiful Fall weekend in PA - crisp and bright, full of fall colors and fun. There was a chilly breeze, and the meteorologist says there's a chance of frost tonight. This all has me thinking fall food in a big way!

I'm really cheating and only planning out three meals, with leftovers one night. That may change depending on what I see at Trader Joe's tomorrow. But for now, this is my meal plan for the upcoming week:

Monday - Baked Potato Soup, (Click through, the picture is Beef Stew =) ) Salad
Tuesday - Ham Slice, Mashed Potatoes
Wednesday - Pasta with Butternut Squash, Chilies and Parmesan
Thursday - Leftover Buffet
Friday - Boys' Night Out (The Breastfeeding Resource Center's Fall Bash for mom)
Saturday and Sunday - TBD

What's on your Meal Plan this week?

catch you soon -
This post is linked up to I'm An Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday. Be sure to check it out for ideas and inspiration!

Fall Dresses | What I Wore #ootd

Confession time: I'm not a huge dress person - not a fan of my upper arms, nor bare legs. But Fall Dresses are the BEST dresses (they generally cover my upper arms AND can be worn with tights!) And it seems like the last few seasons, I've been adding some great dress options to my wardrobe.

We all know that we need to have a LBD in our closets. But it doesn't hurt to have an OGD (One Great Dress) either. A OGD is a dress that can be styled a few different ways and fits you to a T. A dress that makes you feel great AND look great.

I wore two such dresses last week. The first one is casual and comfortable. I wore it with a pair of footless tights from SPANX. This cute grey dress is from Aventura. I recently discovered this brand through some friends, and am loving their casual and comfortable approach to style.

Dress - Aventura - Current Season

Tights - SPANX

Shoes - Aerosoles (old)

Necklace - Ann Taylor

Earrings - Kate Spade

The second one, I wore to my friend's Book Launch. I found it on the sale rack at White House| Black Market in early spring, and I needed to have it. The simple cut hangs just right because of the weight of the fabric. That can be an important part of finding a well-fitting dress. If the material is too flimsy, it can get "caught" on your curves, making it look not so nice. It's a simple dress that can be dressed up or down. I went middle of the road with boots and chunky silver jewelry. (Please excuse the older picture - but I promise it's the same outfit)

Dress - White House|Black Market (last spring)

Boots - Ann Klien (old and need replacing)

Bag - Kate Spade

Necklace - Ann Taylor

Both dresses are easy to wear and comfortable, making them both winners in my fashion book.

Are you wearing any great dresses this fall?

catch you soon -
This post is linked up at The Pleated Poppy, Jo-LynneShane and at Get Your Pretty On - check them out for more style ideas!

A Look Back at Nineteen Years of Marriage

 I was not one of those little girls that dreamed about getting married. I didn't play "bride" and I'm not even sure my Barbie had a wedding dress (she MUST have - right?). But despite all that, I am lucky enough to be celebrating 19 years of marriage today - to the same man. That's a long time, and I am a lucky girl.

I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by friends and family that have had both successful and happy marriages, and some not-so-great marriages. I have friends going through really terrible divorces, and my heart aches for them. Not because my situation is so storybook (because it isn't - marriage is hard yo), but because the process of ending something and beginning new can be hard and scary. There is something for me to learn form all of them, and I'm grateful.

John and I met, in the parking lot of The Philadelphia Art Museum, on a January night in 1991. We were both attendees of a very memorable ski trip, organized by a mutual friend - we had never met before. He wasn't my typical "type" at the time, which is probably why it all worked out so well. Four years later, he proposed at the top of the Empire State Building and I said YES. That was before Twitter or Instagram - so there are no "selfies" from the event. But I remember it, as if it was yesterday. Down to the gigantic issue of Modern Bride I bought at the newsstand on the street the very same day.

We planned a fall wedding, and in front of family and friends exchanged our vows. We are both children of divorce, so whether that has impacted the way we approach marriage or not, I don't know. Marriage isn't easy, and we have had our share of issues. We work them out - together.

We have two wonderful boys and we work together to give our kids all the love and protection we can, with a supportive and nurturing extended family. I remember the first day we brought Ryan home from the hospital, set him on the coffee table and looked at each other, "What do we do now?" I asked him. We are very lucky, and I know that, even on days when I take it all for granted.

I am not the perfect wife - I probably never will be. But I work hard for the life and family that we have together. The love I feel is deeper than I can find the words to describe and to me, that is really what marriage is all about.

So dear reader, are you married? How long have you been married?

catch you soon -

Menu Plan Monday - 2014 Week 42

Hi Menu Planners! I hope you find this weekly post useful in planning meals for your own family each week. I am always on the search for something that will make my life just a little more simple. Juggling work, kids, the house and life in general is tough enough most days - right? So when we can find a way to get something done, just a little bit easier, we have to grab it!

Where am I going with this meal planning essay this morning? I'm looking for your insight. This is a post I do for myself, as much as I do for you. Without a weekly meal plan, we will have to eat cereal and pizza every night. But since I'm here, sharing it with you - what would make it better?

Would you like more links? Pictures? Recipes? Leave me a comment and let me know how I can make this weekly post more beneficial and useful to you and I will try my best!

In the meantime, here's what we are having for dinner this week:

Monday - Chicken and Dumplings
Tuesday - Honey-Dijon Salmon, Sweet Potatoes and Broccoli
Wednesday - Breaded Chicken Cutlets, Mashed Potatoes and Peas
Thursday - Leftover Buffet
Friday - Pizza Night
Saturday and Sunday - TBD

What's for dinner at your house this week?

catch you soon -
This post is linked up at I'm An Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday.

How-To Organize an Emergency Supply Kit

I love organization. I take great pride in figuring out great organizational strategies, implementing them, and then sharing them with you! While this is a sponsored post in collaboration with Milkman, I hope to arm you with some simple ideas that help make your life run a little more smoothly.

One area that is not currently organized in my home, is my Emergency Kit. I have all the basic pieces, but they are spread throughout my house, rather than organized in one specific place. Winter is coming. You may remember last year, when I had to flee PA with my kids for power and heat in NJ with my parents. Well this year, I want to be ready.

In an ideal world, you should get a large plastic container with a lid to keep your Emergency Kit in. This will protect it from critters and moisture. Plus, if you need to move location, it travels more easily. Once you have your container, what should you put in it?

According to FEMA, your Basic Emergency Supply Kit should contain the following items:

• Water - FEMA recommends one gallon per person per day, for at least three days. For us, that would be 12 gallon water jugs. Obviously these do not fit in our container.
• Non-perishable Food - Tuna, soups, Milkman Instant Lowfat Dry Milk, protein bars, jerky and fruit leather are all good choices.

• Battery-Powered or hand-crank radio -You may also want to consider a NOAA Weather Radio and don't forget extra batteries.
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle - You may need to signal for help.
• Dust mask, plastic sheeting and Duct Tape - Depending on the type of emergency, you may need to shelter in place.
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties - These can come in handy for personal sanitation.
• Wrench or pliers - Handy of you need to turn off your utilities.
• Can opener - Select a manual can opener to keep in your kit if you've put canned foods in there as well.
• Local Maps - in case you need to leave the area.

Once you have all your supplies together, keep them in a handy place - like your basement or garage, clearly labeled. I have a few blankets in mine as well. Don't forget to add any baby items or medications if necessary. With a little luck, we won't need any of these things this winter, but it never hurts to be prepared, and being organized makes it that much simpler.

Do you have an Emergency Supply Kit? If so, what's in yours?

catch you soon -
I received compensation for the time I spent preparing this post. As always, all opinions are my very own. 

When Style Meets Comfort | What I Wore #ootd

I love fashion and I think I have a decent sense of style. But I also love comfort. Over the years, I have taken my love of fashion and style and tried to combine it with my yearning for comfort. The result is a casual and simple wardrobe that both looks good and feels great. It takes time to find stylish pieces that fit you well AND feel good to wear (let's not even mention age-appropriate).

It's been a while since I've shopped at J Jill, so when The Motherhood asked if I was interested in working on a J Jill campaign with them, I said of course! J Jill is known for clothing that is both stylish and comfortable, as well as having great choices for a Mid-Life Mom to look on-trend without trying "too hard".  J. Jill is easy, relaxed and inspired style - and that is perfect for your fall wardrobe! (Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the post for savings on your own piece from the Pure Jill collection!)

Are you a J Jill shopper? Have you heard of the Pure Jill line? The Pure Jill line is clean, simple and timeless, all qualities that I look for in adding pieces to my wardrobe. The Pure Jill Collection provides an uncomplicated way of dressing - because, really, who needs complicated? I pulled out several great pieces from the collection to try on:

This season, straight off the runways, the Pure Jill Plush Collection is featuring an ultra soft new boucle texture. You can wear this texture in a fabulous infinity scarf, comfy pullover or even a cardigan or coat! There's a piece for every sense of style.

I loved the relaxed Cascading Hoodie with an open front knit style. This piece would look great with jeans or cords for running errands, school events or lunch with friends! It looked great on too, you can see the great drape, despite the not so lovely dressing room picture!

I spied these V-Neck Crinkle Tunics and scarves too. I love the combination of Navy and Grey. These tunics would work great with leggings and flats or boots. Add a scarf and you're all set! Did I mention J Jill has a great selection of jewelry and scarves?

There were so many great pieces and so many outfit ideas swirling in my head. In the end, I settled on three great pieces from all that I tried on: The Pure Jill Plush Pullover, Pure Jill Plush Infinity Scarf and the Pure Jill Crinkle V-Neck Tunic.

I fell in love with the pullover and the scarf. They just screamed "fall" to me, and I pictured them with skinnies and boots for a fall outing with my boys, and that's exactly what I did on Saturday! This outfit was perfect for a crisp fall day at an outdoor neighborhood market.

Jeans - Ann Taylor Black Skinnies

T-shirt - Lord and Taylor

Sweater - Pure Jill from J Jill

Scarf - Pure Jill from J Jill

Boots - Aerosoles (old and re-soled)

The three pieces that I bought from J Jill, fit perfectly in with the Fall staples I already have in my closet. The ladies working at my local J Jill were a big help in pulling sizes and putting outfits together. We had a lot of fun talking clothes and comfort.

You can get 30% off any full-priced item from the pure jill collection through November 30, 2014, with the code MOPJ30

What are you wearing this fall?

catch you soon -
This post is linked up at The Pleated Poppy and at Get Your Pretty On. 

This was a sponsored post in cooperation with The Motherhood and J Jill. I was provided a clothing gift card and was also compensated for my time. As always, all opinions are my very own and I will never share something I don't believe.

Menu Plan Monday - 2014 Week 41

We had a blast of cool fall air this weekend, making me think of casseroles and chili and other cool weather favorites. But for this week, temperatures are back in the 70s, and I'm sticking to basics.

Here's what we have planned for dinner this week:

Monday - Taco Monday (Tuesday is a busy night), Guacamole and Corn
Tuesday - Chicken Nuggets and Fruit (Mom's out)
Wednesday - Sausage and Pasta with butternut squash
Thursday - Salmon, Buttered Noodles and Spinach
Friday - Pizza Night
Saturday and Sunday - TBD

What's for dinner at your house this week?

catch you soon -
This post is linked up at I'm An Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday

Fall Home Tour 2014

Better late than never - right? I love to decorate my house for fall. Fall is my favorite season and I like to go "all out" in my home decor, but still keep is simple and casual. I actually do three layers of fall decorating.

The basic pieces are going to be up from October 1st (or earlier) until Thanksgiving Day. Then I add in "Halloween" pieces, like ghosts, jack-o-lanterns and my Trick or Treat Banner the week before Halloween. Those things come down the day after Halloween, and I put up some Turkeys and Corn that I have.

One of my favorite ways to decorate is with real pumpkins and gourds. These are pretty inexpensive and easy to find. As soon as they come out, I start buying a few each trip. I like white and traditional orange pumpkins the most, and they all need to have a nice stem. Owen collected a bunch of acorns on a recent outing to a local state park. I put them all in a Dollar Store glass vase, and wrapped some twine around the neck.  Another example of inexpensive and easy fall decorating.

My parents have a flock of turkeys that live in the field behind their house, so the kids find a lot of turkey feathers in their yard. We collect them, and display them in my grandmother's iron stone pitchers.

Last year, we took a family trip to the Corning Glass Museum, and Ryan made a blown glass pumpkin. I bought one from one of their glass blowers as well, and these are a great addition to my pumpkins - they can really catch the light on a sunny day. Those are lentils in my votive candle holders. Coffee beans add a nice rich brown color also.

You can find some great free holiday printables on the web. One of my favorites is subway art. Each season, I find one to put in this frame. I've also collected small ceramic pumpkins from the Dollar Store over the years, and I spread these around on the mantle, tables and book shelves.

Outside, I use a combination of real and fake pumpkins and mums around my front porch and walkway.  As much as I dislike using fake pumpkins, the real ones sometimes rot before the season is over OR the squirrels eat them. On Halloween night, I add luminaries and jack-o-lanterns for a spooky touch.

So there's a quick Fall Home Decor Tour of my home. I like to keep it simple with traditional colors and objects.  I'm planning to add some touches of burlap, so I'll keep you posted on any updates! I may even try covering my own pillows!

What are your favorite ways to decorate for Fall?

catch you soon -

Get Ready for Monster Jam Philadelphia 2014

Grave Digger and all his friends will be rolling into The Wells Fargo Center tomorrow, Friday, October 3, 2014 for three shows. You can catch all the action on Friday Night at 7:30pm (Gates open at 6:30p) or Saturday at 1pm and again at 7pm. 

If you've never been, here are some things to know:

• It's loud. No, really - it's LOUD. I bring ear protection for the kids.
• It's dusty. Those big tires kick up a lot of dirt.
• It's exciting. There's a lot of racing and showmanship.
• It's fun.  There's breathtaking stunts and amazing power.
• The drivers are kid-friendly. Kids make signs and ask for autographs.

For decades, Monster Jam has been one of the biggest and most successful touring family shows in the world. That's pretty amazing right?  You can get Kid Tickets for only $15 (based on availability).

It's a fun family night out that your kids won't soon forget!

Hope to see you there!

catch you soon -

Rainy Day Style | What I Wore #ootd

It's raining, it's pouring . . . such a great day to stay inside in a comfy pair of yoga pants and a hoodie, right? But sometimes we have to leave the house on a rainy day, and even get out of the car - and that may require some fashionable Mid-Life Mom options.

You can't go wrong with classics like a basic trench, wellies and a hook handled umbrella. No matter what your budget, there are options in every price range. For basics like these, I always try to get the best quality I can afford, knowing they will last the longest.

Toss these on over a pair of dark skinnies and top, and you're ready for just about anything. Wellies won't cut it for all day? toss a pair of work-appropriate shoes into your tote bag for the day to change into.

I broke out my wellies the other day for errands and running kids around. There was a crispness in the air, but I didn't really need a jacket, so I threw on a dressed-up sweatshirt. A rain hat would have been a nice option (I lost my favorite Burberry one).

Jeans - Ann Taylor Skinny Jeans (this season!)

T-Shirt - Lord and Taylor

Sweatshirt - Coldwater Creek

Boots - Hunter

I grabbed a bag and threw a scarf in it, just in case I needed extra warmth or additional cover. Also, rainy days are not the time to fuss with your hair. A sleek ponytail, casual braid or headband can work wonders.

What do you wear when it rains?

catch you soon -
This post is linked up at The Pleated Poppy.