You know how obsessed I am with creating packing lists so it’s high time for a new one – this time it’s for our trip to Chicago. It’s the perfect packing list for cold weather.
If you follow me on Instagram, you already know that my husband Craig, our daughter Aubrey and I took a post-holiday trip to Chicago last week with one goal in mind…eating! Therefore, we didn’t really think about the fact that we were scheduling our trip during one of the coldest times of the year to visit.
Boy were our Texas acclimated bodies in store for a shock!
You ladies in cold climates already know this but let’s just say that what to wear in Chicago in winter can be summed up in one word: LAYERS!
On the day of our arrival, the high was 9 degrees with a wind chill of -15. Heatwave! After checking our forecast for the week, I packed up a few of the pieces from the Winter 2017 GYPO Style Challenge to create a mini capsule wardrobe for our four day weekend in Chicago.
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Although this post isn’t about what to do in Chicago, let me recommend the following: The Art Institute of Chicago, Portillo’s for Italian Roast Beef and Chicago dogs, Sky Deck (go out on the platform, I dare you!), the Lincoln Park Zoo (it’s empty on a cold day!), Second City (world class improv, one of our favorite things we did), Museum of Science and Industry (fun and interactive) and of course shopping on the Magnificent Mile.
That smile is actually a look of terror! I HATE heights, hate, hate, hate, loathe entirely. One of my 2018 goals is to feel the fear and do it anyway, so, thanks Sky Deck, mission accomplished!
The frozen tundra a.k.a. Lake Michigan.
A fun night of improv at Second City.
20 Piece Chicago Packing List – Winter Weekend
This 20 piece packing list for cold weather will give you plenty of dress up/dress down options that will work for everything from a walking tour of the city to dinner and drinks out. In addition to these 20 pieces, I also brought a work out outfit (wishful thinking – that didn’t happen!), two pairs of pajamas and of course, bras and undies.
Tip: Pin this post for future reference. It’s a great packing list for any cold weather destination!
Each sweater is styled two different ways for a total of six outfits – one version for comfortably (and warmly) touring the city, the other version is dressier and appropriate for going out to dinner.
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!
A Cozy Sweater, Leggings and Sneakers
Apparently sneakers are a serious fashion statement right now – at least according to the fashion magazines that I subscribe to. And I’m not talking about just slip on sneakers but full on athletic shoes. I’ve seen them paired up with skirts, dresses, even pant suits…what?!? I’m just not that daring. But for this week’s SAHM outfit, instead of my typical flats, riding boots or UGG’s, I decided to swap in my sneakers. You know what? I kind of love it! They’re so comfy and I still feel put together because of the other pieces in the outfit. This is a great one to start off the week, especially if you have some errands to run.
This cozy sweater is one I picked up on our trip to Chicago last week – it’s now ON SALE for just $12.99. I love it so much I’m ordering a few more colors.
Sizing Tip: I’m wearing a size small in this sweater, it runs big. If in doubt, size down.
Hey pretties! We’re several days into the new year and I’m sure that many of you good resolution-ers are already well on your way to being back on track.
I, for one, am not. 🙂
Our trip to Chicago ensured that I’d be getting a late start this year because, well, deep dish pizza and hot dogs! But no more excuses for me, it’s time to start my annual post-holiday kick in the pants to get refocused on healthier eating and working out.
Today I’m sharing my five-step plan that helps me get back on track. I actually don’t recommend tackling all of these steps in the same day. Ease into it – start with a goal to drink more water on day one, then layer in the other steps as you accomplish each.
Step One: Drink More Water
My first step to getting back on track is an easy one – drink up! Drinking more water makes me instantly feel healthier even if I don’t change anything else. The general recommendation is still eight 8 oz. cups of water daily though that varies depending on the individual and your activity. I try to make it easy on myself and refill my 16 oz. water bottle 4-5 times a day. If you need help keeping track of your water intake the My Fitness Pal app makes it easy. I also highly recommend this app if you’re working on a weight loss goal.
One of the things that I struggle with after the holidays is staying away from sweets and junk food. The more I eat them, the more I want them. Since my willpower is pretty much non-existent, I do a pantry and fridge purge and get rid of ALL of it. Go through your cupboards, pantry, fridge and freezer (yes, ice cream counts!) and do the same.
Step Three: Stock Up on Good Stuff
Now that you got rid of the junk, it’s time to stock up on good stuff. Make your grocery list, then shop the perimeter of the store for fresh foods and produce. The aisles are full of the processed stuff so the less time you spend in there, the better!
Step Four: Meal Plan and Prep
It’s so much easier to stick to eating healthy when the prep work is already done. Take an afternoon to prepare meals and snacks for the week ahead. This can be anything from chopping vegetables to be ready for salads and your morning egg scramble to full-on meal preparation. The more you do in advance, the more convenient it will be to stay on track.
Well, this one goes without saying but find an activity you love and then just do it! It can be anything that gets your heart rate up and that you don’t dread. My personal favorite workout is OrangeTheory, which I’ve sung praises about time and time again. I started two years ago and it’s been life changing for me. You can learn more at www.orangetheoryfitness.com.
Because this is a style blog, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my favorite workout gear. This is one of the most frequently asked questions I get at this time of the year.
As a recovering yoga pants addict, trust me when I say that I’ve tried them all! Lululemon is still up there in the ranks but I keep coming back to one brand due to a few factors – value, durability and style.
That brand is Fabletics. I know, I know, it’s a membership program and yes, that was one of the things that initially dissuaded me from signing up. But in all honesty, I skip most months and only pay when I want a new outfit. It takes two seconds to skip and they send you a few e-mail reminders so you don’t forget.
The thing I love most about them is their workout clothes are actually “outfits” which appeals to the style blogger in me – and many of them are only $49.95. My daughter Aubrey and I both love them! Here we are in a few recent outfit purchases.
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!
Denim Shirt, Black Pants and a Beige Sweater
With the exception of the long cardigan, all of the pieces in today’s outfits have been in my closet for several years. Closet staples are awesome because you can always find new ways to play around and pair them up! I’m willing to bet you have many if not all of these pieces already in your closet. Today, I’m pairing up some of my favorite basics – a denim shirt, long cardigan and black pants – to create three classic casual outfits.
At the start of 2017, I knew I wanted to make some changes. Signing up for a GYPO Style Challenge Annual Membership was a great first step, but I wanted more. I hadn’t figured out precisely what the changes were going to be and that was both exciting and overwhelming. I was excited because I was finally making myself a priority, and overwhelmed because where on earth did I begin?
Thankfully, as a lovely bonus to my GYPO Annual Membership, I was able to access Alison’s online course called Rediscover Me. It is a 28-day challenge outlined beautifully with Alison’s guidance through videos, print-outs and easily manageable assignments. It is aptly subtitled ‘A four-week journey in self-discovery’. This course was the perfect kick-start to help me realign my life and my priorities.
If you are anything like me, you may have on occasion, read a self-help book or two (or twenty!), taken an online course for being your best self or maybe even attended a workshop to organize your life. Or, more likely, you’ve wanted to do all these things, but find that you do not have the space in your life to make them happen. Either way, if you’ve hung with me this far, I’m betting you are a motivated yet complex (i.e.-awesome) woman that has an inkling in her heart that there is more to her story than the responsibilities she has been assigned. There is more to you than being a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend or whatever other roles you have chosen or life has chosen for you. You are a sum of all these things but you are also so much more. Rediscover Me is about the more. Please know you are worth the effort to uncover ‘the more’ of your own life waiting patiently to be found.
Do not be intimidated by the 28-day length of the Rediscover Me challenge. It sounds like a lot, but in the grand scheme of life, 28 days is a drop in the bucket. Rediscover Me is time-saving in that Alison has curated the best of the best when it comes to making positive personal change. The video lead-ins for each lesson are short and sweet. She shares her wisdom in a way that is down-to-earth and relatable. I never felt like she was pushing me to be something or someone I’m not, but rather highlighting what has worked for her. She shares it in a way that I could either implement it or let it go if it didn’t feel right for me. I appreciated that immensely. It helped me stay open to each lesson and I ended up trying more than I initially thought I would.
The most constructive lesson I learned was how to manage the time in my day more efficiently. Once I got the hang of it, I started to have more time in my life to pursue my expanding interests. While I have always been a writer at heart, I not only created more time in my life for writing, I now have found a way to practice yoga on a daily basis! Through the encouragement I found in Rediscover Me, I plan out my days carefully. I start my day off getting up earlier than my boys which gives me time to organize, plan and accomplish some daily tasks before they come downstairs for breakfast. This helps open up my schedule and as I plan out the structure for my day, I make sure yoga is a part of it. I also plot out the week, noting the days that I will make time to write. These two simple changes have had a tremendously positive effect on my life overall. Yoga brings me calm in a way I hadn’t connected to in ages, and writing more brings me joy. I write simply because I love it. As I have allowed for more writing time, it has led me to some incredible opportunities like being a featured blogger on GYPO. That’s the wonder of life! Sometimes where you start takes you far beyond where you think you can go. The only missing ingredient to a great life adventure is YOU.
I believe whole-heartedly your next great adventure is near, all you have to do is make a small commitment to yourself. I promise you, if you can sit down with Alison for 28 days, you are going to be amazed. The side-effect of doing so is that you are subconsciously signaling to yourself that you matter. If you are sitting down each day to focus on figuring out what makes you happy, you are creating a habit of self-worth. No matter what you choose to do to help you find your path, by making a choice to find it, you already are halfway there.
It’s Your Turn: Rediscover Me is now enrolling and on sale for 60% off through January 31st, 2018. Learn more HERE.
About Diana
Diana is a stay at home mom to two remarkable boys, J.R and Keaton. She is immensely grateful to the Cubs baseball organization for finally winning a World Series in her lifetime, and for hosting her very first date with her husband, John (married 14 years). She is also a freelance blogger who writes intentionally that others may find hope in her words. You can learn more about her life and family on her personal blog Writes For All Mommies.
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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Diana is a stay at home mom to two remarkable boys, J.R and Keaton. She is immensely grateful to the Cubs baseball organization for finally winning a World Series in her lifetime, and for hosting her very first date with her husband, John (married 14 years). She is also a freelance blogger who writes intentionally that others may find hope in her words. You can learn more about her life and family on her personal blog 
