My 5 Casual Fall Must-Haves.

Many thanks to Banana Republic for sponsoring this post. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Outfit Details:
Banana Republic Ruffle-Cuff Flannel Shirt (c/o), Springwood High-Waisted Jeans (sold out, similar here and here), Banana Republic Demi Slides (c/o), Stella & Dot Covet Letter Necklace

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It's that time of year. The autumn clothes come out of storage and we dance around the bedroom together as I imagine the adventures we shall have in the coming season. Wait, you don't do that? Welllllllll let's be honest - my day-to-day wardrobe requires very little style and very big comfort & flexibility. But in my heart I am still stylish, even when I'm rocking the seasoned topknot (some days, very seasoned) and gym sweats (many times, never actually making it to the gym.) Truthfully, the art of oscillating between wrangling kids, creating content for this blog and erranding around town, all while lifting my big boys in and out of the car (okay, for those of you who know me, it's mostly the golf cart) - it doesn't require style. Or beauty. Or even teeth brushing.

But we all know that we feel so much better about ourselves if we take a little time to re-fashion the dirty hair from a topknot into say, a twisty Disney-princess situation (see above for my effort.) And we feel better when we have a few go-to items in the wardrobe that are casual but can still be on point for the season. You feel me?

My Casual Fall Must-Haves:
1. Wear-with-everything Flannel Shirt.
We all need one of these go-to tops. It literally goes with everything in my closet and is never a bad idea. Paired with high-waisted jeans? Yes! Tucked into a mini or midi skirt? Yes! Worn over leggings with sneakers? YES. That last one is my particular favorite Saturday morning brunch uniform. I love this version by Banana this season because it is crazy soft and hello - those sleeve ruffles! It's like a sweet little upgrade to the traditional flannel and this one has already been on heavy rotation over here. Banana also has one in this color that I am putting in the shopping cart now...

2. High-waisted (okay, mom-waisted) Skinny Jeans.
These are my new go-to jeans. I love the multiple buttons and the frayed hem at the ankles. So fun and a nice change from my regular skinny jeans. These look great with tops tucked in at the front but they will also look great with a bodysuit underneath and cropped sweaters this fall. Hey, early 90's, I'm fully embracing your return. Gimme dat chunky choker while you're at it.

3. Roaring flats.
How fun are these? I have been on the hunt for a leopard print flat for a while now because I think it can add an unexpected twist to any outfit. When I saw these Banana flat mules I was instantly in love. These are casual enough to wear with any denim, but can also be dressed up with almost any neutral shade or even, gasp, RED.

4. Simple Jewels.
Seeing that I have kids that find my jewelry as appetizing as I find birthday cake, I can't actually wear most of my dangly, chunky or trendy stuff around them. So for my day-to-day I keep it simple with the earrings that Stevie got me for our 10-year anniversary and this Stella & Dot Covet necklace he gave me in the hospital when Daxton was born. Both of these items are so dear to my heart and make me feel super loved, so I love wearing them daily. Plus they go with everything so BONUS.

5. A Magical Multistick.
I've talked about this a lot in my recent Green Beauty Trials posts, but I am loving this ILIA Multistick in the shade "At Last"! You seriously have to get one. This shade works on anyone's skin tone and you can swipe it on your eyes, lips and cheeks in less than 30 seconds and feel completely put together. It's a must have for those casual days when you are throwing yourself together in a few minutes but still want to look and feel fresh for the day ahead.

There you have it! As we transition into Fall, these are the items that I won't be without. What are your autumn must-haves?

P.S. - I've been toying around with working on a fall capsule wardrobe and I'm curious if that's something you're interested in hearing about. Let me know in the comments!

Through These Rose-Colored Glasses.

This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

I have a choice every morning. To thank my God above for another opportunity to live and breathe and laugh. Or to get overwhelmed by the weighty troubles of the world.

It seems like every time I turn on the news, there's another reason to want to lock my doors and hold my babies close, my prayers infused with anxiety and my heart trampled with the ache of another trauma. But I know that is just my fear masquerading as "logic", when in fact, the best thing I can do is raise my little people up to be strong and unafraid. Each morning is teeming with an opportunity to accept grace for the day. I am reminded each morning when I'm driving my son to school and I'm suddenly blinded by the sunflare piercing through the mighty maple trees in my neighborhood. "This isn't a day to fear," it seems to remind to me. "This is a day to celebrate the beauty of your life."

My Dad used to tell me that I live in "Kristen land". Apparently I often had my head up in the clouds, believing and dreaming for things to always go in my favor. He used to tease slash roll his eyes at me about it, thinking that I was sometimes a naive about reality. But I would just shrug my shoulders at him and say, "It's not bad in Kristen land. Come on over."

When I saw these rosy glasses at Warby Parker, I was immediately reminded of my Dad's jest in poking fun at me. But these glasses made me think of that "Kristen land", a place of hope and silliness and fun and perhaps a slight lack of reality. But still. In this day and age, is it so bad to see the world through rose-colored glasses? "I'll take them," I told the saleswoman. I smile every time I wear them.

Friends, we have a choice today. Is life beautiful, or awful? Perhaps it's a bit of both, depending on what you pay attention to. But there is grace today to put on a new set of glasses and see things a bit rosier. Thank your maker for the opportunity to breathe deep and see things how he sees them. I like to think it's a litttttttle bit rosy, like over here in Kristen land ;)

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Featured Piece:

Warby Parker Louise Glasses (small) in Rosewater

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Outfit Details:
Warby Parker Louise glasses in small Rosewater, Anthropologie skirt (sold out, similar here), Urban Outfitters cami (past season, similar here), Halogen lace-up flats, Banana Republic clutch (past season, similar here), Fab'rik Keyhole bralette (similar below), ILIA multistick on my lips and cheeks in shade "A Fine Romance"
 

Milk Friendly - the Button Down.

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Outfit Details:
Target Chambray Button Down Shirt (similar here and less expensive version here), Gap Eyelet Midi Skirt, Anthropologie Sandals (similar here), Mama & Little Alexa Teething Necklace

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Happy September, friends! I want to finish up this milk friendly series by sharing this super cute chambray button down top. I could go on and on about the versatility about this particular top, but I probably don't need to. It's obvious how useful a shirt like this is, right? You can wear it with quite literally anything - skirts, jeans, over dresses, under a tunic or sweater. I actually really love the denim on denim look. And it's suuuuuper milk friendly because you can unbutton and nurse so easily. I love this top and it was so worth the investment. Actually, I got mine from Target and I'm pretty sure it was under $30 but unfortunately it's no longer available - I've linked to a few similar styles below. Also, I've found that it's nice to have a button down like this one in one size larger than your normal size, just so that during those first few months with a newborn a top like this can still button up, if ya know what I mean ;) Also, this is the kind of top that transitions so beautifully into fall.

Happy Labor Day weekend, friends! Wear all the white you can!

Featured Piece:

Other Picks:

P.S. - If you're interested in other nursing-friendly essentials that you can shop in non-maternity stores, check out my posts on the tunic tee, the kimono and the cami dress.

Milk Friendly - the Cami Dress.

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Outfit Details:
Pink Blush Cami Dress, Anthropologie sandals (last season, similar here and here), Stella & Dot earrings (sold out, similar here and here), Covet Letter Necklace

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Nursing a baby is a job. It's such an incredible privilege, one that I don't take for granted. I love that I am able to nourish my baby and care for his needs, but I would be lying if I said it was always so easy. Nothing about having a baby is easy. It's hard work, and breastfeeding certainly takes it's toll on my body. It often feels inconvenient. But in moments where I feel the frustration of being tethered to him, I remind myself that not everyone is able to fulfill their desire to breastfeed their children. I am so blessed to share this season of being so connected to my son, but I want everyone to know that no matter how they are able to feed their babies, fed is best. It's such an honor to nurture these precious little people however we are able to, whether it's with our bodies or with formula or with a combination. Everything that we as mothers pour into them physically and emotionally will produce who they become and that is such a sobering, humbling realization. And however we are able to nourish them is absolutely, completely wonderful and a life-changing investment for them.

That being said, I'm continuing with my Milk Friendly series and sharing another simple little trick up my sleeve when it comes to getting dressed to go out of the house with a nursing baby. When I'm online shopping, I often scan the "dresses" category of a website to look for dresses exactly like this Pink Blush dress shown in the pictures - something cami-style, with a v-neck and spaghetti straps. The reason why this kind of dress is so perfect for breastfeeding is because you can easily wear a strapless bra or bralette and easily pull down the straps when you need to feed your little one. But I also love how versatile this dress is and how it can be styled a bunch of different ways - with a long skirt over it so the top looks like a tank, with an oversized sweater over it so the dress looks like a skirt, with a threaded kimono worn over it or with cropped jeans under it - the possibilities are endless! You will seeing me wear this dress a lot this fall, because the rust color is perfect for the changing season and there is so much that can be worn with it. I've said it before and I'll say it again - Pink Blush has previously been known for its maternity clothes, but they carry so many other cute style that are for everyday life (and also nursing-specific) and I love that they are always including fresh trends for the season, so that this journey of motherhood doesn't have to be a frumpy one. Hurray for cute styles and clothes that make us feel relevant!

P.S. - You can see my other nursing-friendly essentials like the tunic tee and the kimono.

Featured Piece:

Pink Blush Rust Floral Button Front Dress

Thanks to my friends at PinkBlush for sponsoring this post and sending me the product. All opinions expressed are my own.

Milk Friendly - the Kimono.

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Outfit Details:
PinkBlush Purple Lace Mesh Kimono c/o, Target Mossimo Supply Racerback Tank, Free People Bralette (similar here and here), Free People Roll Crop Jeans, Blowfish Wedges (similar here and here)

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We continue the conversation about nursing-friendly clothes! I have boiled down my wardrobe to a set of staple breastfeeding-friendly essentials that I rotate through and mix with my non-nursing clothing. Last week I chatted about my love for the basic tunic tee. Which brings me this week to kimonos - I love them! My sisters gifted me a few last year for my birthday which was the BEST gift, because you can easily transition these from maternity wear into nursing wear and regular everyday wear! You don't have to change sizes from maternity to non, so it really is such a versatile accessory that can make any outfit all the better. I love this particular kimono from PinkBlush because it's a twist on the traditional cardigan and made with a thinner, gauzy, lightweight fabric- which really helps when you're dealing with hormonal hot flashes and a sweaty baby nestled up against your body.

I like to pair a kimono like this one over practically everything in my wardrobe - it adds an extra layer that gives your nursing tees, nursing tanks or simple dresses that extra pop of fun. Plus, it provides extra coverage, especially over those dorky clip-down straps on nursing tanks. This one really caught my attention on the website because of all the fancy lacy detail, and also, it's purple, so it's like duh. So so pretty. Almost makes you forget about milk stains and baby spit up. Almost. I also really like this one, this one, this one and this one for the coming fall months. These would look so good with practically anything!

A quick note about PinkBlush - I have featured them here and here before and it's because they have trendy pieces that work for any stage of a woman's life. PinkBlush is known for maternity wear, but they also have great women's clothing, plus-sized clothing and nursing clothing. And so many of the pieces are transitional through different stages, which is obviously what we are all trying to do - making our clothes work for us!

Featured Piece:

Purple Lace Mesh Long Maternity Kimono - Pinkblush

Talk to me mamas! What is your biggest struggle with making your clothes work for nursing? I'd love to hear from you!

Many thanks to my friends at PinkBlush for sponsoring this post and sending me the product. All opinions expressed are, as always, completely my own.