Welcome to another edition of SAHMonday – outfit inspiration just for the stay at home and work from home moms of the world (like me!) who aren’t heading out of the house on Monday morning. You can check out the other outfits in this series here.
These outfits are perfect for when you want to feel comfortable, yet put together, so that you can face the day and any errands you may need to run. Plus, most of these outfit formulas can be pulled straight from your closet!
Chambray, Stripes, Burgundy and Leopard
Winter feels like it’s holding on FOR. EVER. In Texas we rarely get the opportunity to complain though. It’s here one day and gone the next. I feel guilty for even having the nerve to say anything because you girls in cold climates have it a lot worse. Still, it’s felt like we’ve had a long stretch of cooler weather and I’m ready for it to stop!
While we wait for spring, I’m getting creative with my closet staples. I could go on for days about the virtues of having a closet full of wardrobe staples (and I’m planning to dedicate a full post to this topic soon). But let me explain what they are first.
Closet staples are the pieces that every woman should have in her wardrobe to create countless outfit combos and they never go out of style.
Remember – you can try out this outfit formula using pieces from your closet. Be creative and substitute where you need to! Because I shop my closet a lot, sometimes my pieces are no longer available but I link up similar items.
I upgraded my leopard flats to these mules to be on trend for spring.
by Ami Hanson
When was the last time you looked in your closet and loved every single piece in there? If it’s ever happened before, it’s probably been a while since you’ve felt that way. About twice a year I get the overwhelming feeling of boredom with every piece of clothing in my closet. Nothing is safe: tank tops, sandals, scarves, basic shirts – they all receive an eye roll while I’m picking out the lucky outfit of the day. To solve this dilemma of disdain, I go on a “spending spree” to spruce up my wardrobe. And by “spending spree,” I mean I purchase as much as I can for as little cash as possible. Here’s how I maintain a pretty style on a budget!
1. Shop Thrift and Second-Hand
When I get bored with everything in my closet, I get an itch to go shopping. However, I’m not a shopaholic. I can only handle shopping like this a few times a year. Usually, around fall and spring, I like to get new clothes for the upcoming seasons. While my haul is pretty large, I’m still a cheapskate when it comes to purchasing clothes. I like to visit the “cheap-o” stores that others might not think to go to, or only go to on occasion. Goodwill, Plato’s Closet, and Uptown Cheapskate (see if there’s one in your area) are some of my favorites. Do a little research and see what local thrift stores are in your area. Also, at places like Uptown Cheapskate, you can take in the clothes you don’t want anymore, get cash and use that to help fund your new clothing purchases!
2. Wait and Shop the Clearance
When I venture into the “pricier” stores, I always make a beeline for the clearance sections. Let me stop right here. If you’re not shopping the clearance section of retail stores, you’re missing out! I love going straight to those racks in Target to see what kind of treasures I can find. I try not to get anything over $12 or $13, but there’s always plenty of goodies! One purchase that I was particularly excited about was a dress I needed for a bridal shower this past fall. It’s a deep, fall purple color, it matches with several style outfits, and it’s perfect for most seasons. It’s easy math: a versatile dress + clearance prices = Ami’s buying!
My husband and I both rocking some of our clearance finds! I absolutely love this dress!
I don’t mean to change your whole way of thinking (okay, maybe I do…), but what if we shopped toward the end of a season instead of the beginning of a season?? Notice how I said toward the end… Y’all know all these retail stores start putting away their sweaters in January to make room for those bikinis! Well, there’s a whole other month or two of good winter time (at least where I am) that I could be wearing sweaters! What I’m getting at here is if you shop toward the end of any given season, you will probably find clothes that are still in style and that you’d still be able to wear with the month or two that you have left in that season.
It’s about to be spring in a couple months, so I might go grab a couple of sweaters for me and my husband, like the one below, that I know will be in style this year and next.
Tip: Many of these clearance racks have the previous season’s styles; just put them away for next season, and it’ll be a fun surprise to see your “new clothes” when you open those bins the following year! Also, I don’t have kids yet, but I hear they grow. A lot. Each year. So that means one year’s winter coat or tennis shoes might not fit the following year. Try shopping the end-of-the-year clothes sales to snag the sizes that your kids will probably fit in next year!
3. Mix and Match From Your Closet
One REALLY easy way to save money while staying stylish is, well – not spending money at all. “But wait, Ami, how is that possible if I want a new wardrobe…” Well, let’s start with Alison Lumbatis, a stylist and blogger who has taught me (and thousands of others) lots of ways to own, wear and shop for a capsule wardrobe. One of my favorite tips she gives is to “shop your own closet.” Spend some time really getting to know what’s actually in your closet. Pull out some of your favorite items, then mix and match them in a new way! Even try to get them out of their comfort zone and pull a few pieces out to your bed or a couch or something. Physically move them around to see what new and exciting combinations you can come up with! It’s fun. 😉
Well, there you have it. A couple of fun, simple, and affordable ways you can shop for clothes, keep them out of sight and mind for a few seasons, and look in your own closet for a few new and exciting possibilities! Until next time!
Where are some of your favorite places to score some amazing deals and finds?
About Ami
I’m Ami Hanson, and I’m an outgoing and twirly – yet organized and particular – Texan gal. I’m interested in way too many things, like (in no particular order) food, fashion, home improvement, my husband, my dog, Jesus, grammar/English language, philosophical ponderings, world events – all of it. So I decided to write about it all in my new blog called Being Amiable! I love my amazing husband and silly dog more than most things, and I quote Friends and Gilmore Girls way too much. Welcome to my crazy – but structured – corner of the world!
Don’t be fooled by the title, I’m actually NOT anti Valentines Day. Craig and I find a way to celebrate it every year. We’re just older and wiser about it and usually go out on a night that’s less busy and there are not fixed menus (I HATE fixed menus!).
We’re pretty serious when it comes to food and have been known to plan what we want to eat weeks in advance. (We even plan all of our vacations around eating opportunities). Our local hometown Italian place has the BEST lobster ravioli on the planet. So last year when I had my heart set on it for weeks only to be presented with their prix fixe menu (with no lobster ravioli), I was not a happy camper. Lesson learned, go before or go after.
What I am anti is wearing red. I own exactly ZERO pieces of red clothing. So for this year’s Valentine date night – I’m going with my softer side of muted tones of gray, blue and blush – with a dash of leopard, of course.
The pretty floral statement necklace adds just the right amount of romance. It’s a pricier piece but an outfit maker for sure. The subtle ruffle details on this blouse are perfect for me, not too fussy or over the top.
My blush heels are a few years old and no longer available, but this pair is a good substitute with a lower heel.
…and it makes getting dressed the easiest thing you’ll do all day!
If you’re ready to rebuild your wardrobe with classic closet staples but need guidance on what pieces to buy and how to create outfits from them, this is the book for you! It has over 300 of my favorite mix and match classic outfit formulas plus shopping lists for every season of the year and bonus work wear looks.
You’ll be able to create timeless, classic outfit formulas season by season and always have the perfect outfit ready to wear. If you are in the process of rebuilding your wardrobe after a life change like a new baby, weight loss, or even just a personal style refresh, this will work for you.
The best part? It’s a digital download so you get access immediately.
You’ll never say you have nothing to wear again! Learn more and download it immediately HERE.
It’s the day of the week at GYPO where we celebrate what makes us feel pretty. Whether it’s a new outfit, hairstyle, or makeup, the I Feel Pretty link up is about anything and everything that makes your life prettier. Even if you’re not a blogger, you can still play along. Just tell me what made you feel pretty this week in the comments.
Welcome to another edition of SAHMonday – outfit inspiration just for the stay at home and work from home moms of the world (like me!) who aren’t heading out of the house on Monday morning. You can check out the other outfits in this series here.
These outfits are perfect for when you want to feel comfortable, yet put together, so that you can face the day and any errands you may need to run. Plus, most of these outfit formulas can be pulled straight from your closet!
Blush Top, Embroidered Jeans and Loafer Mules
Is it too early to start talking about spring transition outfits? I hope not because today I’ve got one for you. We’ve been lucky enough to have a couple of days that saw high 60’s and even mid 70’s this past week. Although I’m not quite ready to pack up my cozy sweaters and boots yet, it was nice to slip into something a little more spring-like!
If you saw my Spring 2018 Denim Trends post a few weeks ago, you already know that embroidered jeans are back again. Thank goodness because I bought a pair last fall and was hoping to get some more wear out of them. If you’ve been wanting to add a pair to your wardrobe, spring is the perfect time.
Mules are THE shoe trend of spring 2018. I got these loafer mules last fall too, so am thrilled to get more opportunities to style them. They seriously go with everything.
Remember – you can try out this outfit formula using pieces from your closet. Be creative and substitute where you need to! Because I shop my closet a lot, sometimes my pieces are no longer available but I’ve linked up similar items.
Although the new year brings hope and resolution, for me it also brought exhaustion. Lately, I’ve been finding myself in an unmotivated rut. I said I was going to stress less this holiday season, but I’m still exhausted. And don’t even get me started on all the sickness that has been going around. Between the stomach bug, flu, strep, back to the stomach bug again and ending with an ear infection, my three kids have been through the wringer. My nights were sleepless and my days were filled with medication schedules and Lysol. I am happy to report that as of now, they are all healthy and at school, so now here I am, playing catch up.
I’m overwhelmed, and often when that happens, I tend to shut down. After doing a lot of thinking, and then some overthinking, I’ve determined that I jumped into the new year without taking any time to get myself right again after the holidays. My focus is always my family, but from Halloween through New Year’s, that focus is magnified and multiplied. Once it’s over I’m exhausted, happy and full of gratitude, but still exhausted. Then it’s straight back to school, activities, sports and homework. Before I know it, life is as crazy as its ever been. I’m trying to get motivated but I’m tired and I stay tired because I’m still not taking the time to care for myself. I had so many goals for the new year and now I feel as if all those goals are just taunting me because I am no closer to accomplishing any of those.
Not taking the time to care for myself can not only be toxic to me, but to my family as well. It can lead down a self-destructive path of not caring and feeling depressed. When did this happen? How did it happen so fast? So now that I recognize what’s going on, it’s time to take some small steps to break the cycle and get out of this rut. It’s like the domino effect, I just have to get the first one knocked down and hopefully it leads to a chain reaction of good choices and habits. Below are some of my “dominos” to help me get out of my rut.
1. Sleep
Such a basic idea, get enough sleep. When I do I am a totally different woman. I remember things, I eat better and I’m more patient with my three little blessings. So why is it so hard for me to go to bed on time? The kids are in bed between 7:30 pm – 8:00 pm because I know how important sleep is, yet I can not listen to my own advice. The evening is my chance to clean, prepare for the next day, catch up with my husband or relax for even a minute. My husband is good, he goes to bed around 10 pm every work night, but I always stay up just a little longer. I sacrifice sleep for some quiet time or a chance to watch something I DVRed months ago. I know that going to bed late having three kids is a risk. Odds are that someone will come into my room while I’m busy dreaming of either my to-do list, my calendar or Channing Tatum cleaning my house. They will then put their sweet little face next to mine….and proceed to scare the crap out of me. Earlier this week it was my youngest – she had a bad dream. Last night it was my middle child – he was in tears because of growing pains in his knees. So if nothing else, I believe sleep will be a great place to start, my shows will still be there tomorrow or even another month from now.
2. Eat Better/Drink Water
When we eat crappy food, we tend to feel crappy. Eating better will not only help to cleanse my system from the overdose of holiday treats, but it will make me feel better and possibly help me to drop those unwanted holiday pounds. Drinking enough water will also aid in cleaning out my system and keep me from feeling sluggish. This concept also ties back to sleep. When I’m tired I tend to eat constantly to stay awake and drink large amounts of caffeine which I know will make me twitchy.
Need help getting your eating habits back on track? Check out Alison’s blog for getting back on track after the holidays. She offers some great ideas on realigning one’s eating habits. Who else will be cleaning their pantry out with me this weekend?
3. Get Dressed
Yes, I do realize I write for a blog that is all about getting dressed every morning and feeling confident, but sometimes we don’t and we quickly forget how just that one simple act can impact our day. It’s cold, it’s easy to be lazy, I put on some holiday weight and I don’t want to wear real clothes. These are all reasons to not care, but I need to remember that getting dressed is a small, yet very powerful way to feel better. It’s time to break the cycle, put in some effort, find clothes that fit and get my butt out the door feeling great again!
4. Revisit My Goals and Get Organized
It is only February. We are roughly 33 days into a 365 day year. I need to remember that a clean slate is not just a once a year concept. Every month, every week, every day is an opportunity for a fresh start. Every year I say “this is going to be my year!” I was prepared to make some big changes and to help with this I signed up for the Rediscover Me Challenge offered by our very own Alison. Confession, I didn’t even start. I printed everything out, I became part of the Facebook page, but time got away from me. I vowed to catch up but I kept falling behind and I became so frustrated that I wasted this opportunity. It wasn’t until I started reading other women’s comments that I realized that I wasn’t the only one who was having trouble putting themselves first. The supportive group on the Rediscover Me page will still be there whether I start tomorrow or Monday or even a week from now. Now part of my reorganization includes carving out the time I need to rediscover myself!
5. Quit Being So Hard on Myself
As mothers, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be perfect and to remember everything. Somedays we are on it, while other days we may fall short. Asking for help can be hard to do. I want to be supermom and do it all! But I can’t. I’ve spent the weeks since January 1st trying to maintain and survive. I’m hard-pressed to admit, but I’d fallen behind in the cleaning, piles of stuff were accumulating and my to-do list was so long I quit writing things down. As a stay at home mom the house is my domain, if it’s not clean I feel it’s my fault. The reality is though, I am only one of five people who live here and I did not make this mess on my own. That is why last Saturday I enlisted the help of my husband and kids to work together to get the house to a point where I didn’t feel like I was constantly playing catchup. I felt guilty at first, spending a free Saturday morning having everyone clean but I got over that when at last I felt like I could breathe again in my own home. John Heywood said it best “many hands make light work.” I can stress over trying to do everything myself, or once in a while, get help to get caught up. My kids are now policing each other when they leave something out because of all the time they spent helping clean. Will it last? Probably not, but for now, I will totally take it!
Bonus: Music
There are a few other ways I plan to motivate myself and break free from this rut. One being music! As any motivational movie has taught us – a lot can be accomplished during a musical montage! But seriously, do not underestimate the powerful, uplifting effect that music can have on your mood. My motivational music of choice is a mix of punk rock, pop and alternative with a little reggae thrown in for fun! Whatever genre gets you moving, there are so many apps available so you’re never without your tunes. A few of my favorites are Amazon Music,iheartradio, Pandora and Spotify.
Bottom line, if you feel like this, remember you are not alone. Also, remember that it is temporary, a moment in time that can be a result of exhaustion, feeling overwhelmed and stress. My goal is to get out of my rut as quickly as I got in it. I recognized it and I know I don’t like feeling this way. Now it’s time for those dominos to start falling!
When you’re in a rut or feeling down, what do you do to pull yourself out?
About Jessica
Jessica is a military wife, married to her husband Nate of 14 years, and stay at home mother to three energetic and fearless children, Sophia, Brandon and Rachel. Originally from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, the military life has given her a chance to live all over the United States and meet many amazing people along the way.
Do you struggle to put outfits together? Are you stuck in a yoga pants rut? Not sure if you can make the latest trends work for you? You’re in the right place!
I’m Alison, a mom of three and recovering yoga pants addict on a mission to make getting dressed and feeling pretty the easiest thing you do all day! Learn more about my story HERE.
I am so glad I was part of the Fall 2019 Style Challenge. It gave me confidence and so many great outfitt ideas. The ladies in the group were very supportive and I will defintetly be doing another challenge in the future.
Betty Weyandt December 20, 2019
I’ve been participating in the GYPO Style Challenges for three years now and I’ve loved it. I’ve always loved clothes, but I didn’t know how to put outfits together. My closet is now full of mix-and-match outfits, I have learned how to dress myself, and there is no more stress in figuring out to wear. The private FB group is full of wonderful ladies that build each other up. It’s so fun and is seriously the best group on FB.
Kirstin Rasmussen November 20, 2019
Get Your Pretty On has changed my life, seriously. I have always chased what is trendy but found from season to season, that things go out of style and I was wasting money on items that I would only end up wearing a few times. GYPO has enabled me to simplify my closet, helps me make smarter purchasing decisions, and I feel so put together and confident using the outfit formulas that are provided. This program is a GAME CHANGER. I've been following GYPO for a few years now and my only regret is not jumping on board sooner.
Michelle Kline November 20, 2019
Great community of ladies, helping each other look stylish, without breaking the bank, and using much of what you already own.
Chosen Faith November 19, 2019
GYPO challenges have been one of the best things I have done! It had taught me so much more than just creating a closet of clothes that I love but also to have confidence in myself, how to pick and choose colors that work for me instead of against, and had given a wonderful community of Pretties who are so special.
Maraline Freeman October 16, 2019
I love GYPO!!! I finally feel put together and stylish! The shopping lists and outfit combinations make shopping and getting dressed effortless.
Krista Probst October 16, 2019
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I’m Ami Hanson, and I’m an outgoing and twirly – yet organized and particular – Texan gal. I’m interested in way too many things, like (in no particular order) food, fashion, home improvement, my husband, my dog, Jesus, grammar/English language, philosophical ponderings, world events – all of it. So I decided to write about it all in my new blog called 
