Style Icon: Ellen Degeneres

Hey Happy Readers! Thank you so much for all the kind comments on yesterday's post and on my facebook page. You are all so sweet :)

I want to start a new series on Friday, called "Style Icon." I'll feature either a celebrity or an everyday, stylish person that I know! If you or your blog are interested in being a part of this series, email me! I'd love to feature you!


Today's Style Icon is Ellen Degeneres.

While I don't really keep up with her show (it comes on before I get home from work!), I love seeing pictures of Ellen on the weekends. She always looks effortlessly chic! Ellen's clothes are always rocking, but the real reason I think she is an icon is because she's not afraid to be herself. Ellen seems like such an authentically fun person!

Ellen's boyfriend jeans and button up shirts are perfect for a Saturday running errands. Here's my take on Ellen's laid back style!

Style Icon: Ellen Degeneres by lifetoldbyles featuring a double chain necklace

What do you think of Ellen's style? Have a great weekend everyone!

Fashion Friday: The Dorky Wedges.

You may or may not remember my very Fashion Friday post about a pair of granny booties that I absolutely loved and wore the heck out of last Spring. I bought those shoes because I couldn't find a pair of oxford wedges in my price range. Well, the fashion world has heard my cries and thus Old Navy came out with a pair in their Fall line....only $35!! I saw them, I bought them, and I can't stop wearing them. They are just too darn a-dork-able.



Of course my favorite thing to wear with them is jeans. Rolled up and showing a bit of ankle.





Half country girl, half work girl. I love the color of this simple checked shirt, and the khaki's make it work appropriate.




I am in love with this denim dress. It will look equally as cute with leggings this fall.

 Do you have a new fall addition to your wardrobe that you love? Who else is excited about this weather and busting out your favorite pair of fall shoes??

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Fashion Friday: Warby Parker.

Let me just start off by saying that I'm so excited about today's post that I can barely contain myself! I might just have to let out a little dance move here in a second........I just did a back flip. For real.

Ok, I'm kidding. But seriously I'm ecstatic over what I'm about to share with you!

Could it be possible to have a pair of designer prescription glasses, shipped to my door, with free returns, all for UNDER $100? Also, if that's not already revolutionary enough, for every pair of glasses bought, this company GIVES a pair to a person in need? Are you freaking kidding me?

Before I get too far ahead of myself here, let me start off by saying that I'm a contact lens girl through and through. I do have glasses, but I NEVER wear them out of the house. Mostly because I've had the same pair of glasses since 9th grade and the prescription isn't up to date, but also because they are slightly bent out of shape from sleeping in them, stepping on them, sitting on them, etc. Basically my glasses are just plain messed up. I think after 11 years of use, I'm due for a new pair.

So, like any experienced bargain shopper, I started researching. My eye doctor is seriously THE best eye doctor in town (if you want to know his name, email me and I'll tell ya) but he's known for being just that...the best doctor. His glasses prices on the other hand are not exactly competitive. So I branched out. I found a place here in Cape that had a few pairs of glasses for around $70 that I liked (sorta), but to put my prescription in them (I'm blind, folks. For real.) it would cost an additional $50. That's putting me at $120 for a pair of glasses that aren't really that cute and that I'm only going to be wearing at night when I watch movies in bed. That's not ok with me, people!!

So, I happened to stumble upon Warby Parker when doing my research and checked into it a bit further.

I know what you're thinking....buying glasses online? Without trying them on? No dice.

But wait! Could it be true? Warby Parker has a Virtual Try-On feature....that freakin' rocks. It takes two seconds to upload a picture of yourself and then you're on your way to finding that perfect pair. I tried on literally every single pair of glasses they had to offer....in pretty much every color. Here's my choice:



"The Huxley" in Hazelwood.


And yes, I do think that it's just adorable that the color of the frames is called "Hazelwood." That's what I like to call fate, my friends.


Did you know that "15% of the world's population is unable to effectively learn or work because they can't see clearly?"** Warby Parker is here to remedy this serious issue. Seriously, go to their website and check out their mission statement. For every pair of $95 frames you buy (remember, that includes prescription, shipping, and returns.) Warby Parker gives a pair away. Also, check out their adorable founders. One of them also is a huge Hall and Oates fan....which just goes to show how truly legit these guys are.

Did I mention they sell monocles? How rad. Someone needs to tell Daniel to get one ASAP.

I can't wait until my frames get it! I'll share when they do.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

** Statement from Warby Parker website.

Fashion Friday: That 70's Girl.

I've always been inspired by the 1960's-1970's. My parents were around my age during that time and I especially love reading about the war and political changes that were going on then.....I know not everyone likes to read about war but that's kind of a closet obsession of mine haha. So shhh don't tell anyone.

I'm also inspired by the fashion trends of that era. One of my favorite fashion icon's ever is Donna from That 70's Show. Her outfits always rocked.

Photo from here.

Donna's high waisted flares and Jackie's Floral dress are amazing. I mean, who wouldn't love to dress like that all the time? That free spirited, feminine yet "take charge" type of style. Love love love it.

We're going to the Arts Council tonight for the First Friday of the month show. I'm going to channel my inner Donna and Jackie and wear this:

High-waisted flares, tall wedge sandals, and a floral hippie shirt. I could wear this outfit everyday!
Do you find yourself "flashing back" to a certain era when you get dressed? Or do you prefer to stay in the present?

Happy Friday, Everyone. Enjoy your weekend.

Fashion Friday: Taking a Risk

Hey Everyone! I'm excited about today's post for a couple of different reasons.

1. It's Fashion Friday, and that = FUN!

2. Today's post reveals a little something about me that most people might not know.

The reason I do Fashion Friday is because I secretly love taking risks. There. I said it. Now, you know.

And while I don't always take risks in my day to day life, (example: I never try anything new at Starbucks, I'm a Soy Latte kinda girl!) I do like taking risks when it comes to fashion because, frankly, I don't care what people think. Now I do care about PEOPLE in general, but I don't care whether or not they think I look like a crazy person or a fashion icon.

Here are two outfits that I LOVE, but some people might think they're a little strange. One thing that I absolutely love is taking a vintage piece and making it my own, and that's what I did with this dress here.

Dress from Annie Laurie's Antiques

The dress is straight out of the 80's, but I love that it looks bit more modern with the wide belt and the tall platform shoes. I also removed the shoulder pads myself, and tied the bow loosely and off to the side a bit.

I've noticed that sometimes women (especially around here in Southeast MO) can be a bit hesitant to wear vintage pieces. They may feel that it's not "stylish" or that they might get a few too many stares. You may be getting stares, but it won't be because you look bad, trust me! Wearing vintage is not only good for the environment, it's also a way that you can truly wear something unique.

If you're not comfortable with wearing vintage clothes just yet, start small and try a handbag or scarf. Accessories are great ways to re-purpose and incorporate vintage into your life.

This bag is also from Annie Laurie's Antiques. It's a vintage Dooney and Bourke over-the-shoulder bag. OTSB's are seen everywhere recently, and they're perfect for date night when you don't want to carry your huge "mommy purse" :)


This next outfit is also a re-purposed find. The dress I bought new from Target last summer, but I made it unique and tied a denim shirt over the top to make it a completely different look! If I get too hot today I can just untie the shirt and wear the dress the old way. I re-purposed by taking an old dress and changing the look to something completely unique.

You might think this look is a bit strange, but I love it. One of my co-workers said "Howdy Cowgirl" when he saw me in this, but I didn't mind :) I think this look is unique and I'm loving it!

Think about your own wardrobe. Do you have old dresses that need an update? Do you have a vintage piece that you've been hesitant to wear before? It's time to bust out of your shell and try something new!

Have a great weekend, everyone! xo

Fashion Friday: Fluorescent Orange

Happy Friday Everyone! Tonight we're going out to celebrate my best friend Christine's birthday. It's so fun having b-days right next to each other :)

Fluorescent orange is a really interesting color. It's a little bold for my usual taste, but when I saw this top at Target I was drawn to it. I paired it with a neutral over the shoulder bag and some gold flats. The necklace I'm wearing was my mother's in high school...it had broken a few years back and I had it re-strung by a jeweler...looks like new!

Here are a couple celebrities wearing the color too! Guess it's not just for caution cones anymore haha!

Gwenyth Paltrow looks great in this form fitting dress.

Kirsten Dunst paired her dress with neutral accessories too!

Do you dare to wear fluorescent colors? Have a great weekend everyone!

Fashion Friday: The Button Front Skirt

Hey! Glad it's Friday? Meeee tooooo.

We're looking at some properties today and going to a Bank Opening Luncheon that will be outside, so I need to keep as cool as possible, while still looking a bit put together. I don't think I've shown you this skirt yet, but it has become one of my favorite summer pieces. Still professional enough to wear to my office, but casual enough for date night too. Here are a few celebrities wearing button front skirts. What do you think? Is this something you would wear?

Angelina Jolie, Claudia Schiffer, and Ginnifer Goodwin wearing button front shirts. My favorite out of the three is Claudia's look. Photo from People Mag.

I paired my skirt with a white ribbed tank, skinny brown belt, and turquoise sandals. Click on the photo if you want to see the skirt close up.

John was styling this morning too, and wanted to show you his little button front shirt, not skirt :)

At the last second, he got a little camera shy and decided to hide in his toy basket.

What are your plans for the weekend? Anything fun planned?

Just a heads up, our church has VBS next week and I will be there every morning, so my posts will be up in the afternoons. Have a happy Friday!

Fashion Friday: Date Night.

Tonight for our date I'm wearing my two favorite colors: Aqua Blue and Mustard Yellow.

I got this leather clutch from Teen Challenge Thrift Store years ago. It goes perfectly with everything if you ask me.

These shoes are a new purchase from Target, Clearance $4.99.

Jessica Quirk from What I Wore has the same pair!! Isn't she adorable?

Maybe I'll see you out and about tonight at the Art Museums??

Fashion Friday: I love a good sale.

Hi friends. I haven't really been shopping much lately, but there are some pretty good retail sales going on right now that you might be interested in. I did buy a tank top from AE yesterday that only cost me $8.00! If you're thinking of doing some shopping this weekend, here are my top three places to check out:

1. New York and Company.
They are having their Semi-Annual Sale right now, and apparently everything in the entire store is marked down! Here are a few Promo Codes that I had emailed to me. Keep in mind, you don't have to present a coupon to the cashier, just give them the four-digit number at the register for discount!
Today is the LAST DAY for these offers, so if you're interested you better head over there!
* TAKE $30.00 OFF YOUR PURCHASE OF $100.00 OR MORE: CODE 1719
*TAKE $10.00 OFF YOUR PURCHASE OF $50.00 OR MORE: CODE 1720
*and, if you're shopping online, use CODE 6514 for FREE SHIPPING!

If I was going to shop there today, here's what I'd pick up:

Cute Linen Pants in an unexpected lavender color, 50% off original price!



2. American Eagle.

Another Semi-Annual Sale! I sometimes think that AE is a little pricey for what they sell (you know, thin tanks and tees, ripped up jeans, etc) but when they're having a sale I jump on it. I love their lightweight, flowy tanks for summer and they actually have some pretty cute cargo capris too right now! Use PROMO CODE 92465601 for 20% OFF EVERYTHING TODAY ONLY. Good in-stores and online.

Here's the tank I picked up yesterday.

<a href="http://www.ae.com/web/browse/product.jsp?productId=2361_9127_532&cid=web_OMA_091019_3">Check out what I found at ae.com.</a>

For some reason it wouldn't let me upload the pic. Also, online the price is $14.99 but I used a coupon yesterday in-store and got it for $8.00!

3. Land's End Canvas

This is not your grandma's favorite brand. Land's End Canvas is a newer, hipper version of the classic Land's End styles Sears has been selling for years. The prices are amazing, the pieces are adorable (think JCrew meets Gap) and I'm absolutely in love. Plus, right now they're having a MEGA SUMMER SALE!! :):) Unfortunately, our Sears doesn't offer the Land's End Canvas styles, but you can still shop online! Now through July 3rd use PROMO CODE UNMATCHED and PIN NUMBER 1245 for FREE SHIPPING!

Here are some of my favorite pieces from the sale!

Women's Ballerina Dress in Jade $39.99 (originally $69.99!)

Ruffle Racer back Tank in Pale Grey $19.99 (originally $29.50)

Cut Off Jean Shorts $24.50 (originally $39.50) and isn't this entire outfit adorable??

Hope you guys find some great deals this weekend! I'm going to skip the mall in favor of the swimming pool :) Have a great weekend!

Fashion Friday: Accessorizing for Dummies.

I used to hate jewelry. No, really. The extent of my accessorizing abilities was handmade friendship bracelets and simple silver studs just to keep my ears pierced. I was, and still am, an accessorizing dummy.

Then, I got engaged. When Daniel gave me that beautiful, crystal clear carat it was love at first sight.

Since then I've TRIED to start being a little more.....how can I put this........ feminine? Maybe? Yes, I've tried to be a bit more feminine with my accessorizing. I come from a family of all women (I was raised by my mom, grandma, and aunt) who absolutely adore anything shiny and expensive and for some reason I never really jumped on board. My sister has an extensive jewelry collection thanks in part to QVC and she and my mother are trying to force-feed me into loving jewelry. When we go out together, half the time they bring a couple extra necklaces with them to, as they say, "brighten me up." I do appreciate their efforts, but I've always been rebellious and have been trying to learn to accessorize on my own.

When it comes to jewelry, I think less is more. Ever seen a woman with a ring on every finger? They may be beautiful, but do you really notice the beauty and intricacy of each piece? Of course not, you don't have time to sit and stare at all 10 rings. I wear my wedding rings, and OCCASIONALLY one simple ring that I bought at American Eagle in highschool. It's the only other ring I own.

I wouldn't be opposed to wearing another ring, I just don't own anything else right now. AND I'm not saying that women who wear several rings are in any way not "doing it right", I'm just saying that I personally prefer the less is more approach. How do you feel about this?

My friend Michelle will appreciate this picture of my new watch and bracelets that I'm wearing today. Michelle has tried many times to help me with my accessorizing disability :) My favorite fashion blogger J's Everyday Fashion gave me this inspiration, Thanks J!

Check out her cute watch and bracelet set on the right. I love it, but for me it's a bit too sparkly for everyday. Here's my take on the look:

Just a simple watch that was (HOLLER) $5.99 at AE recently. Also I absolutely love the bangle with the hemp detail.....a little nod to my old friendship bracelet days :)



Finally, here are the earrings I've been wearing recently. I still don't do hoops or dangly earrings, just because I feel like they're a bit too fancy for me. I love pearls and studs like these though.

So, what are some of your go-to accessories? Do you feel that less is more or do you think "the more the better?"

Have a great weekend everyone! xoxo

Fashion Friday: Top 3 Beauty Tips

Are any of you addicting to reading about beauty tips and secrets? Do you regularly scan through websites and blog posts looking for ways to become skinner and more beautiful?

If you are, don’t worry, I use to be just like you. I have always wanted to be skinnier. Every time I saw an article about weight loss, dieting, etc I poured through it trying to figure out the new tips and suggestions. Most of the workout routines I found, I tried. It was a terrible feeling to discover the newest fad, tip, or secret wasn’t working.

After doing this for years I realized a few things. I realized that most programs were more about making money than actually helping people meet their goals.

The rest of what I discovered I made into my top 3 beauty tips.

3. Our bodies are the Temple of Christ

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says:

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

Our bodies are temples of Christ. We need to respect this by respecting ourselves and our bodies. This means we need to take care of our bodies. We need to learn self-control so we can control our eating and exercise habits. We also need to respect ourselves so we are able to not abuse our bodies in anyway. Take care of the body Christ knit together for you. (“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.” Psalm 139:13)

2.      Inner beauty v.s. outward beauty

Your inner beauty has more importance than you may realize. Scripture has this to say about inner beauty:

1 Peter 3:3-4:

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.”

I suggest that you live each day trying to make the inner you more beautiful! Start by making sure you live each day showing the Fruits of the Spirit! 

Galatians 5:22-23:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” 

Use these to guide your ways and your inner beauty will shine the light of Jesus in the darkest of places.

This leads me to the most important beauty tip: 

1.      God looks at the heart 

The most important thing to remember comes from 1 Samuel 16:7-

“The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

When God is looking down on us he does not see us the way the people of the world sees people. He sees each one of His creations as beautiful! 

Psalm 139:14:

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

I pray that each of you realizes how special and beautiful you are. I pray that you live each day discovering and living the way God views you. I pray that you share your joy with others as you discover all the wonderful works of Jesus!

Thank you so much to all of you who have been reading my blogs! I have had a wonderful time guest blogging for my amazing friend Leslie! If in the future I decide to start my own blog I will let Leslie know so she can share with you!

Love Kathleen :)

Fashion Friday: Around-The-Waist-Belt

You might have noticed that I'm still around...haha. We had to postpone our vacation a bit because of the hub's work but we plan to leave soon. Didn't Kathleen do a great job yesterday?! She's a sweetheart and a talented writer. I told her I'd do Fashion Friday today and let her take back over next week. Sound good to you? So here ya go: Fashion Friday, Around-The-Waist-Belt.

Up until recently, I thought belts were made solely for belt-loops in pants. Worn right below the belly button, the purpose of belts originally was to hold up your pants, am I right? Well, frankly, that old way of thinking really just applies to men now-a-days. I guess it could apply to a woman who has lost some weight and has britches that are too big for her. But even when using a belt, pants that don't fit don't really flatter. I say to that woman, time to get some pants that fit your new, skinnier body!

Ok, my point is this: Belts are an accessory. Sure, you can still wear them in the belt loops with a cute tucked in top, but what about to show off your waist? A belt around the waist highlights the skinniest part of a woman's body. This look is literally everywhere now. Here's some inspiration photos of J, my favorite fashion blogger:

A slouchy tee with a belt takes this casual look to a whole new level!

The belt brings in the cardigan and balances out the boyish plaid shirt with some feminism.

A skinny, printed belt like J's leopard one makes this simple jacket and skirt combo unique!

Basically, you can belt anything! A cardigan, a dress, a loose fitting top, whatever looks best on your body type and makes you feel comfortable!

Mrs. Obama's style rocks! The neutral belt really pops against her neon top. Makes the whole outfit seem more exciting! Photo from People Style Watch

Now that you've seen proof that other people actually wear their belts around their waists, here is my take on the look. You can click on the photos to see me up close :p

Ok, here I am with an adorable loose-fitting top, BEFORE I added the belt. The top still looks good this way, but doesn't do much to accent my waist.

Here is the same top AFTER I added a skinny brown belt to my waist. See how it makes the top a bit more flattering? What do you think?

This is one of my favorite cotton dresses. It's a khaki color that can sometimes look a little drab, but add the right accessory......

....and it looks instantly updated! Great for work or summer BBQ's :)

Here's my final look, a belted cardigan. I am always FREEZING in the summertime indoors because people go crazy with their A/C. I have a sweater in my car at all times, and a belt like this one to pull it all together.

So what do you think? Would you wear belts around your waist? Or are you going to skip this trend and stick to belt loops?

Have a great weekend everyone!

Fashion Friday: My favorite shirt.

I think everyone has a go-to-when-you-don't-know-what-to-wear-and-you're-starting-to-panic shirt. You know, THE shirt that makes you feel pretty and polished, not too dressed-up but not too casual. A shirt that goes with every pair of pants you own and even every skirt. It's season less. Perfect in the summer with shorts and just as cute in the winter with a cardigan.

My favorite shirt I bought at Macy's 3 years ago. I remember that I had a gift card and was just looking for something to spend it on, and I saw this shirt on a mannequin and HAD to have it. I don't even think I tried it on. I just grabbed my size and got it. I do remember it costing $30, which is a lot for me to spend on just one shirt. It was definitely worth the splurge though! I get more compliments on this shirt than any other shirt I own.

I love how it's floral and sweet without being too busy. I can wear a belt around the waist to cinch it in as well. Today I'm wearing it with skinny jeans and gladiator sandals. Cute enough for casual Friday at the office and appropriate for Tunes at Twilight tonight downtown.

Do you have a favorite shirt? Post a pic below! If you want to see the detail of my shirt close-up just click on my picture.

Have a great weekend everyone! xoxo

Neato Deal, Gap.

I'm still sticking to my shopping fast, but I had to share with everyone this email deal I received from The Gap!

Pretty neat, huh? Bring a bag of unwanted clothes to any Gap store and they'll give you 30% off your purchase! I've honestly NEVER heard of any clothing store that has done this before. Way to go, Gap! Unfortunately we don't have a Gap here in Cape, but there is one in Paducah, KY which is about an hour and a half southeast of here and there are four in St. Louis which is two hours north.

STL shopping trip, anyone?

Fashion Friday (err Tuesday): The Denim Shirt is Back.

Blogger was down Friday so I wasn't able to post Fashion Friday, then I didn't want to skip Sanity Saving Monday thus Fashion Friday is coming out on Tuesday. So there :)


Have you seen anyone wearing denim on top lately? Denim shirts are "in" again, and chances are your Mom has one stashed in her closet from the early 90's. Check your Dad's closet too! Oversized denim shirts are just as cute as fitted!

Here's some Stars sporting the trend.

Alexa Chung, Christina Hendricks, and Reese Witherspoon in their denim shirts. So cute huh?

I think the key in making this trend work is pairing denim tops with feminine accessories, like heels or sparkly jewelry. Here's my take on the look, 3 ways! Please ignore my wet hair, I have to catch my hubby in just the right mood for him to help take pics and I had just taken a shower hehe :)

JD likes to pose just like Mommy :) Denim shirt paired with rolled khakis and grey heels for a casual work look.

Denim shirt tucked into skinny black pants and black summery wedges. This look is great for the office or for church! Casual, but dressy with the black pants. I think this is my favorite look!

Denim on Denim. The trick to this is making sure the shades of denim are different. I paired my light-washed denim shirt with darker, rolled jeans. I also am wearing bright yellow wedges for a splash of color.

What do you think of wearing denim on top? Too "early 90's" for your taste?