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!

Green Beauty Trials: Blush & Highlighter.

I'm continuing the non-toxic beauty trials! I have been so surprised at how many wonderful products I've discovered since deciding to go green with my beauty routine. I assumed this would be an expensive and unsatisfying process, but surprisingly, it's been the opposite! So many online natural beauty retailers offer affordable sample packs which makes it easier to try out products and shades before committing. And the industry has come such a long way because there are so many high-performing products that truly rival all the conventional ones from my old makeup bag. In fact, I think it's time to toss out my old stuff - this green beauty thing isn't just a fad for me.

I am still in the process of trying out a few other blush options, but I'm not in any rush because I love what I'm sharing here today!

Blush:
ILIA Multistick
in "A Fine Romance" and "At Last"
If I could pick my favorite green makeup discovery since embarking upon this journey, this would be the one. I LOVE THIS PRODUCT. I have used it every single day since I got it (especially in the "At Last" shade) and I will keep doing so! I've always thought multisticks couldn't possibly work really well for more than one thing, but this one proved me wrong - it actually performs so well! The cheek tint goes on really creamy and has buildable color, so if you want just a hint of color or more of a pop, you can use this stick to achieve both! And I love the color on my lips - "At Last" looks like a naturally pretty everyday color while "A Fine Romance" has that rosy, french-girl-just-rolled-out-of-bed look to it. I love both shades and have been wearing them everyday for over two months now. Using this stick on my cheeks and lips makes me look and feel put-together in under 60 seconds, which is all I get for beauty on some days (#momlife).

Highlighter:
Galaxy Milk Illuminate Beauty Oil
I haven't ventured much into the world of illuminators (I have a healthy fear of the whole contouring practice), so this one was a step outside of my normal zone. My sister was wearing it and it looked so so pretty on her, so I had to give it a try. First of all, it smells like a heaven of vanilla. SO good. And second, you don't need a lot to achieve a shimmery, kissed-by-starlight effect. This is really fun if you're going out at night or want to look extra dewy, but it's not a daily must-have (for me). Also, I purchased the sample size of this and it was plenty! If you decide to purchase, definitely purchase this size! This would also look really pretty if you were wearing a tank top and applied some to your shoulders and decolletage. 

RMS Beauty Living Luminizer
This product has so much hype about it so I thought I should give this one a try, too. I applied it to the tops of my cheekbones and it gives an even, pearly sheen. It really brightens my face and has more of a foundation texture, so it glides on in a creamy way. I like how it brightens the area beneath my eyes just enough to make me look awake but not so much that I look like a teenybopper going to a Backstreet Boys concert (although man, those were THE DAYS.)

I still want to try out a few Kjaer Weis lip and cheek tints, because this brand is known for the vibrant pigments (and fancy packaging!) I also want to try a few more multisticks, like this one from RMS, this one from W3LL PEOPLE and this one from Vapour, because they are all highly rated. Multisticks offer such a value - and they free up a lot of space in my makeup bag :)

Any other natural, non-toxic cosmetics or brands that you think I should look into? I'd love to hear your recommendations!

P.S. - My picks for the best non-toxic mascara and foundation + concealer :)