Mid-Rise Shorts Comparison

I have found that I'm not a fan of the high-rise shorts trend that is taking over these days.  Although it's a nice idea to cover up the less than firm stomach area, it's not all that practical because the shorts seems to sacrifice length for the tummy coverage.  Back in April, I needed shorts so I grabbed two pairs at Target online.  

One pair was completely ludicrous in its appearance once I put them on.  I felt like I was an extra in a music video wearing hot pants.  So, I did not intend to keep them.  I even began the return process for Target and was told "Oh, you can just keep them and we'll refund your money anyway."  If that's not a raving review by the company, I don't know what is. (insert eye roll here) I kept all the tags on the shorts and have put them in my "donate" pile because I just simply cannot bring myself to find a scenario in which I could comfortably wear the shorts.  

The other pair is okay.  I bought them after reading several other blogs about how they were the "unicorn" of shorts.  I'm not as big of a fan of them as others seem to be.  I like the frayed hem enough, but I'm uncomfortable with how high they come and therefore how short they appear.  I am long-waisted, so it takes a while to get from my pants inseam to my belly button where these shorts need to be in order to zip and button.  My torso is long, but my legs are short, so while the shorts rise very high and cover my midriff, they settle too high up my leg for me to be completely comfortable wearing them.  In all honesty, these shorts probably are great for some.  If someone was short-waisted and long-legged, then the shorts wouldn't have to rise so high to sit at the natural waist and would therefore be longer on the leg.  Since my body type is long-waisted and short-legged, I am not as comfortable with the high-rise trend. 

I was given two pairs of mid-rise shorts several years ago and completely wore one pair to shreds and am quickly approaching that level with the remaining pair.  I knew I needed to find similar mid-rise shorts, so I browsed around Old Navy and found three great options!  They arrived on Tuesday of this week and I am very happy with all three pairs.  Two of the pairs are actually the same short in different washes, and the third pair is a bit nicer and can be worn to events where you want to look a bit more pulled together.  

The two denim pairs can be found here.  I ordered the Medium Wash and the Dark Wash.  The have a 3 inch inseam which is just the right length for my legs.  They don't feel like bermuda shorts and also don't feel like hot pants-- so win, win.  :)

The hem is cuffed, but not sewn all the way around.  

Since it's not sewn all the way around, it can look unkempt in the back.  

 This can be an easy fix though by rolling the hem back into place and sewing a few anchor stitches.  I plan to sew the hem of both pairs of the denim shorts this weekend. 

They have a bit of stretch to them, so they show wrinkles easily, but also this means they wear well during the day and maintain comfortability. 

They are long enough to show from underneath a tunic-length shirt (my high-rise shorts are not long enough to peek out from underneath this same shirt).  These are the dark wash shown below. 

I pulled the shirt hem up to show the wrinkling that can occur from a full day of wearing.  This isn't bothersome to me, but I know it is to some. 

Here are the medium wash shorts.  

I'm really happy with the overall length of the shorts. 

I tried to show the unrolling of the hem that can occur from the lack of full sewing.  I'll update next week once I fix the hem this weekend. I do choose to wash the shorts inside out to help with the unrolling. 

The gray shorts can be found here.  I chose the color Blank Slate.  It's the perfect shade of neutral gray and can be worn with so many color combos.  It's a 3.5 inch inseam and the shorts are smooth and feel very comfortable when wearing.  

I feel like the length is appropriate for functions and doesn't cut into the midriff, but rises high enough to accommodate various shirt lengths. 

I took a couple photos of the dark wash mid-rise shorts next to my high-rise shorts to show how the shorts are slightly varied enough to cause different lengths. 

The high-rise are on the left and the mid-rise are on the right.  The high-rise shorts are from Target and can be found here. 

Side-by-side, they don't look that different in overall length.  It's the up close comparisons that will show the differences. 

Right next to each other, the high-rise shorts have a longer zipper because it needs to reach higher up on the midriff to get to the natural waist. 

The top of the high-rise shorts is about half an inch higher than the mid-rise shorts when the zippers are placed side-by-side. This rise of the zipper means that the length of the high-rise shorts comes up higher on the leg offering less protection around the rear area than the mid-rise shorts which offer complete coverage because they sit lower on the waist and therefore reach lower on the leg. 

It's always a nice feeling to find a style that truly fits the way my body is designed.  Knowing that I can be comfortable in these clothes is a huge plus, and in these days where we never really know what's coming next, every little joy we can find along the way is a blessing!

Until Next Time, 

Much Love, Reba

Beach Trip Outfits

In preparation of our beach trip, I put together a few outfits that I am packing. I'm using our packing cubes again because it keeps everything so organized. I actually forget that I have these until it's time to pack and then I'm super excited when I remember how easy it'll be to pack everything!

I ordered this suit for 50% off from J.Crew when they were having a flash sale.  I've been eyeing it for about 3 years but knew that I'd need a serious sale in order to purchase it.  I'd also been wanting to order the caftan for about 2 years and finally got around to it this past week.

The shorts with the frayed hem are from Target.  I'm not a super huge fan of the high-waist, but they're comfortable enough to keep wearing.  The jeans are Wit & Wisdom with ab-solution technology.  They're my all time favorite brand of jeans, but I wait til they go on sale before buying a pair.  These are technically ankle-length, but I purposely bought them in the Regular length rather than Petite length so that they could be a longer jean on me.  They have a raw hem, which is a style I really wanted to try!  They fit so very well and are majorly comfortable.  The Old Navy mid-rise shorts were a hand-me-down and they're my favorite shorts.  I wish I could find other mid-rise styles these days, but apparently the high-waist is what's in for this summer and it's really difficult to find anything else! (similar shorts, but with a rolled hem)

I chose between these two shirts since they're both the same A-line style.  I ended up choosing the shirt on the left since the fabric is softer and I'm all about comfort when I go on a trip.  It's from Wal-Mart last summer.  The shirt on the right is a true favorite.  I cut the tassles off of it when it arrived because they weren't the same length and didn't add to the overall effect of the shirt.  I ordered up two sizes to make sure it was actually big enough since it comes from China.  I also learned my lesson not to put it in the dryer because the length will certainly shrink.  Now after I wash it, I lay it flat to dry and I tug on the hemline just to make sure it keeps it's length.  

This shirt is another Amazon find and it's so super soft!  I bought it in the fall to wear for a pep rally at school (Hawaiian themed, as it were) but I have worn it several times since then just because it's so comfortable. 

The dress is several years old from LOFT Beach line, but I loved the summery colors. Anything red, white, and blue says "Summer!" to me.  A few months ago, I bought the slip shorts from Target.  Wearing slips is a hassle to me, but slip shorts offer the same coverage and makes me feel like I'm actually more covered up. 

The PJs were a February find from TJMaxx and whatever material they're made from stays soft throughout washing and drying.  They're really comfortable which is how they made my vacation outfit approved list. :)

Here's everything laid out in the packing cube that I use for myself.  I use the other cubes for my kids' clothes.  I made sure to leave my pajamas on top since we'll be arriving late and this will be the first thing that I'll need to wear while I'm there.  

Once it's zipped shut, it's nice and compact and makes fitting everything in my duffel bag so easy. 

I'll update later on with what I'm bringing for the kids-- including games!

Until Next Time,
Much Love, Reba

Another Day, Another online shopping cart tour

Here's another mindless online shopping cart tour featuring a few different stores than the ones shown on Monday's post.


Nordstrom:

Nordstrom is one of my favorite stores to buy things from online since shipping is always free and so are returns!

Kennebunk Bliss Plush Throw:

This is my favorite store-bought blanket of all time!  I bought my first one during the Anniversary Sale in 2018.  I bought four at that time (one for me to try out immediately, and three more to give as Christmas gifts to my kiddos).  The plan worked tremendously.  All three kids LOVED my blanket from August through December, then were thrilled to get their very own blankets on Christmas Day!  Their blankets are on their beds with the understanding that they can get them at any time to cuddle with in the living room, etc., but my blanket stays in the living room and is the one that everyone grabs first in the early morning!  This past August, I grabbed 5 more blankets when they were on sale so that I could have a different and very nice Christmas gift to give to my sons' teachers, teacher aide, and school nurses.  Everyone loved them!  I'm toying with getting another blanket since they come out with new colors now and then.  The other day, they were 25% off and the sale price really is great!  Today, they don't seem to be on sale, so I think I'll hold off for a bit. I really love the Teal Foam and Navy Blue shades that they have out right now.


Kopari Coconut Gardenia Deodorant:

A while ago, I switched from using regular deodorant to trying to find just natural deodorants that didn't have aluminum in them.  It's of course easier if I can find these things in store, so I've gravitated towards Schmidt's Rose + Vanilla scent (I've also tried their Charcoal and Magnesium scent).  However, I've wanted to try the Kopari brand since reading so many good reviews about it.  Nordstrom has a wide selection including a trial set of three different scents.


Kendra Scott Elisa pendant necklace:

I bought a JDRF version of this necklace a couple years ago.  (It's very similar to the September sapphire shown here).  This necklace is dainty enough to complement outfits without overpowering them.  It's fun that Kendra Scott has come out with the birthstone set, and also has another set with a variety of different stones and finishes.



Anthropologie:

I will admit that I have never bought anything from Anthropologie for full price.  I always always always wait til things go on sale before I seriously consider getting anything.  The sale items that I have gotten over the years have held up well and been worth their sale price for sure.


 Spatula

This cute little spatula could add a pop of color to the kitchen which is always fun!

 Monogram Hook

These would be so cute hung upon Avery's room!


Printed Journals:

These little journals would make such a cute addition to an end-of-the-year teacher gift!  A notebook that someone could stick in her purse and have ready access to paper if needed is very practical and these are pretty without being overly trendy.  They also come in a slightly different color pattern and shape, but in a three pack, here .


Juice Glasses:

These are sweet little glasses for juice.  They remind me of patterned glassware that used to be at our family beach cottage.

 Gallery Dish Towel

This is such a cute museum-esque hand towel!

Mint Serving Bowl

I'm loving the shade of mint these days. This serving bowl is simple & classic enough to carry through for years without losing its effect by being overly trendy.


Printed Oven Mitt

I think a colorful happy kitchen is the best kind!  Sometimes this can be created from regular items that come in pretty colors and patterns like this oven mitt!


Homebody Mug:

I LOVE fun mugs!  This one is so perfect right now.



There's so many more things on their sale pages (which is where all of these Anthropologie items can be found), but I think I'll stop here for now.


Amazon:

I LOVE LOVE LOVE shopping on Amazon and have tons of things in my "Save for Later" section of my cart.  If something sells out, oh well, I just find something else to look at and ponder over. :)


Fun Doormat:

I don't really put doormats out since we don't have gutters and the rain water totally destroys these type of doormats, but I love looking at them online anyway.  Here's a sweet springtime mat.  I thought this one about the kids, wife, and husband was funny.


Retro Cassette Pencil Holder:

I'm always looking for fun desk items for my school desk.  Students tend to remember I'm actually human when they see fun or pretty items on my desk.  This cassette pencil holder is multi-functional but also funny since most of my students will have no idea what a cassette even is!


Kinectic Sand:

Noah got some kinetic sand for his birthday and although I was majorly dreading having my kids play with it inside, it's actually quite easy to keep contained and easy to clean up.  I'm contemplating getting them each a bag of colored kinetic sand for Easter.


Flush Mount Light

I've taken on a personal mission of replacing light fixtures in my house to ones that I like more than the ones that either were originally here or ones that matched the previous owner's taste.  My next project is either my foyer light or my laundry room light.  This flush mount light has the vibe that I'm looking for to make my laundry room more my style.


Jelly Bangle Bracelets

There's a much more expensive version of these bracelets out there, but under $10 is my preferred price point.  Since these are plastic, they can easily go in water (pool/ocean) and also means that they won't jingle jangle incessantly (which is a pet peeve of mine when I teach).  They come in a variety of colors, but I prefer the look of the light rose gold the best.


Cross Body Purse

Although Avery is old enough to freely walk and run on her own in familiar places, she's certainly not well versed enough to understand parking lots even while holding hands, so I carry her to and from every store.  That means that a trip to the store by myself with my kiddos (pre-social distancing of course) is quite difficult when I have to think about carrying a purse, a toddler (with a baby doll), and a bag of diabetes supplies.  We use a sling backpack for our diabetes supplies, but I'm still weighed down with a purse and a nearly 30 pound child, so I've been on the lookout for a cross-body bag.  This one is cute with the added tassels and comes in lots of color choices, although I prefer the beige option.


Well, I think that's enough mindless online shopping cart touring for today.  I'll post more this week with updates on each kid and how we've managed our time at home. :)

Until Next Time,
Much Love, Reba

Mindless Shopping Post

In the midst of all the weird times around us, I find some solace in mindless shopping.  I don't buy these things, I just make constant shopping cart additions and wish lists, then wait til the items sell out and start all over. :)  It's not the buying that makes me happy (it actually makes it worse, which is why I don't buy), it's the actual shopping and imagining part that brings me a bit of happiness, so that's what I'm choosing to focus on.

Zulily:

Year-long subscription to HGTV and Food Network magazines. 

This is a really fantastic deal because you get both magazines for a whole year for $20.  Usually, each magazine is about $5 each if you get it at the newsstand or in the grocery store check-out line.  I did buy this subscription last year from Zulily and it was so much fun to get these magazines throughout the year!  I'm not sure I'll get the subscription again since I saved all of the magazines from last year and therefore have enough decoration projects and recipes to keep me busy for quite some time. :)


Year-long subscription to Good Housekeeping and Better Homes and Gardens magazines. 

Obviously, I have a thing for putting magazine subscriptions into my online shopping carts.  This set is a really good deal too, though, because you get a year's subscription to both of these magazines for just $9.  I've had this subscription a few years ago and it was fun to see different fashion options and fitness routines and various home cleaning methods-- you know, things women are interested in learning about.


Sign-Language Necklace

This necklace is delicate and sweet and showcases the American Sign Language symbol for "I love you."  This particular phrase is super important to me since we used it in my family a lot while growing up because my little brother is hearing-impaired.  My kiddos know the phrase and hand signal now which is extra sweet.


Elsa Nightgown (toddler)

For a little girl who just discovered Frozen (as of a few months ago) and Frozen 2 (as of last week), this little nightgown would provide some good dress-up time as well as hopefully an easier bedtime routine ("Time to put on the Elsa dress!"). 


Window Markers

I thought this looked equally interesting and terrifying.  Maybe it's something fun to keep kiddos occupied while we have to stay inside for much of the day.  On the other hand, are we potentially teaching our kiddos that drawing on windows is okay?  I, for one, know of a little girl who wouldn't fully understand that only certain markers could be used for this activity....



Old Navy:

Right now, Old Navy is having a 50% off sale, so I browsed around and found some things that might be helpful this summer.


Faux-Leather Pool-Side Sandals

Both of my boys have asked for sandals that they can easily slide on their feet so we can go outside quickly without having to pause to put on actual shoes.  I saw these and thought that they would be perfect for quickly getting on, and they'd also do well around the pool this summer!


Perforated Pop-color sneakers for girls

I've admired the more expensive "Native" brand of these type of shoes but can never justify spending so much on a pair of shoes for feet that will rapidly grow.  When Old Navy came out with their own version (in my absolute FAVORITE shade of pink!) I quickly added these to my cart for Avery.


Pop-Color Flip Flops for women

At $2.51, these might be making their way to me as a simple beach/pool flip flop.  Again, I chose the blush color but am also smitten with the turquoise and the coral.


LOFT:

LOFT is one of my favorite stores to find sale items for work-appropriate wear.  I usually buy things when they're on sale and when LOFT is offering an extra percentage off on sale items.  This also means that I'm buying things out of season.  So I'll buy winter items in the summer and summer items in the winter, etc.  Sometimes this is a bummer because I don't get to wear the items immediately when they arrive, but it's worth it when the appropriate season rolls around and I've got new clothes that I paid less than $10 for. :)

Knit Jogger Skirt:

This skirt, based on the pictures and reviews, seems like it would be the perfect easy-to-wear spring and summer skirt!


Petite Flecked Peplum Vintage Top

Peplum is an interesting trend.  It can either look flattering or it can make someone look pregnant who's not. I'm careful with the types of peplum I wear, which means I don't wear it a lot.  This shirt from LOFT looks like it might have possibilities.  And the shirt fabric looks like funfetti cake batter so that's extra fun!


Heart Necklace 

This necklace is so sweet and dainty and could work with outfits all year long!


Hopefully this offers a little fun distraction to what's happening around us.  I'll try to do another post from other stores this week like Nordstrom, Anthropologie, and Amazon.

Until Next Time,
Much Love, Reba

LOFT Dress Review

For my birthday this year, my mother-in-law gave me a LOFT gift card!  LOFT is one of my all-time favorite stores to shop in.  I usually wait for a sale and really rack up on some good quality items!  This means that most of my clothes are "last season" but that doesn't really bother me.  I choose outfits that are timeless so that they can transition from season to season year after year.  With the gift card, I thought about spending it two ways: either keep my frugal mindset and get a lot of things on sale, or spend it on some items I wouldn't normally buy for myself.  I chose the latter. 

I have been seeking some good quality dresses to wear to school once I have a job, and I knew LOFT would not disappoint.  I searched "dresses" in the search bar and came across an unadvertised dress sale on the site!  I was able to get three dresses and a mixed media top with my gift card!  Here is what I picked out:

The mixed media top:

Mixed media tops are so fun!  From the front, it looks like a normal sweater or shirt, and from the back it's a surprising pattern!  I have another similar top from LOFT, but it wasn't long enough in the torso for me to render it usable after too many washings.  This top, though, is a much longer style and will be so perfect for this fall and winter!

This eyelet dress:

I had to find a dark dress to "harmonize" with the graduation regalia of my Master's graduation ceremony, and this one was the right color scheme and had a little something extra with the eyelet pattern to make it different from the average little black dress.  It's a ponte material, which is kind of like thick cotton/ neoprene feeling.  It's sturdy, which helps it keep it's A-line shape in the skirt.  For all of these dresses, I chose to get them in the regular length rather than the petite length, which guaranteed they'd be long enough for me to wear to teach in.  This dress washes and dries well (I lay it flat to dry) and has been wrinkle-resistant thus far!  It was a fantastic graduation dress.

This puff sleeve dress:

I love floral patterns, but hesitate to buy too many floral things for fear of looking matronly.  This pattern was small enough to complement my frame, and it was different from the typical colors that comprise the popular floral patterns of today.  The colors used in this dress include a citron and a teal which were just a little bit outside of the box for me and made me want to try this dress all the more.  The neckline is similar to a T-shirt style, so I knew it would be modest enough for school.  The sleeve boasts a slight twist and a puff which again makes it stand out a bit from common swing dresses.  The swing dress style is a favorite of mine because I can belt it if I want a bit of shape, or I can leave it plain which is a good disguise of a midsection that isn't so rock hard. 

This navy floral dress:

I wasn't sure how I would like the bright pop of yellow embroidered flowers on this dress, but I decided to give it a try anyway.  I liked the idea of a jersey-material for the swing dress.  When this dress arrived, it was pretty low-cut, so I paired it with a black tank, which is how I'll continue to wear it.  The V-neck also is reflected in the back of the dress, so the tank helps add in some layering there too. Overall, this dress is very lightweight and a good addition to my work wardrobe!

Until Next Time, 

Much love, Reba

Pony Tail Style

Avery's hair has really grown since her birthday in August.  She still refuses to wear hairbands, but sometimes she'll wear hair clips or the occasional ponytail holder to create a Pebbles hairdo. This usually lasts for a couple hours until she pulls out the ponytail holder.

Her hair is not very thick, but it's getting pretty long, so I've tried pulling it into a regular ponytail. She'll leave it alone for about 30 minutes, but it's so cute while it lasts!

This doesn't keep her hair out of her eyes though. But I know eventually, her hair will either get long enough to tuck behind her ears or she'll get to where she leaves hairbows alone or she'll figure out how to brush it out of her eyes.

Here's some photos of her ponytails!

Until Next Time,
Much love, Reba

Denim Jacket

I'm probably the last to jump aboard the denim jacket campaign, but better late than never!  This spring, I am completing my internship at a high school and wear business or business casual clothes everyday. The classroom I'm in can fluctuate in temperature several times during a class period and I learned early on to always wear a sweater. However, my only sweaters are a deep pink color and a printed blue sweater. These color combos only go so far.

Since the weather down here in the South is flirting with summer temperatures, I have shopped my closet to find dresses to wear to school.  To be school appropriate, the dress cannot rise more than 6 inches above my knee-- with short legs, this is fairly simple to abide by.  So most of my dresses are long enough for the dress code, but they are sleeveless.  These dresses also don't go very well with a pink or blue sweater. I searched for a while for a denim jacket to help out with this.  I have a very tight budget right now since the internship is unpaid, so I couldn't shell out $70 for a jacket.

I turned to my budget friendly places like Target and Walmart. Although I found options at both, I ended up ordering this jacket online from Walmart. It was the color scheme I wanted (normal denim blue as opposed to light or dark wash), it wasn't cropped or distressed, it didn't have weird silhouettes on the buttons, and it was under $20!

I chose the "ship to store" option, and it arrived to the store in 2 days with no shipping charge. I downloaded the Walmart app so I could alert them when I was en route, and they had the jacket ready for me when I arrived.

If I just hold up the jacket, it feels heavy, but it doesn't feel heavy when I'm actually wearing it. It has a bit of stretch in it which I appreciate in a jacket.  It's not stiff, which is also a major plus.  I roll the sleeves once to create a 3/4 sleeve and it's perfect for keeping me warm in class and also providing a great neutral cover up for my sleeveless dresses!

Today, I even wore it with a blue blouse and printed maxi skirt. It serves the purpose of adding an extra later to my outfits while bringing in a slightly casual element to my clothes. I'm really glad I finally jumped on the denim jacket trend!

Until Next Time,
Much love, Reba

Work Appropriate Outfits

I started keeping track of my work outfits around the second week of February as a way to remind myself of outfit combinations.  Early in February, I ordered two pairs of pants from Aeropostale because I previously owned a pair of their "uniform" pants and remembered how soft they were.

I ordered a pair of their classic fit uniform pants in navy. These have a slight flare and are so soft! I also ordered a pair of the skinny leg uniform pants in black. These offer a nice alternative to my black linen pants which are more wide-leg style.

I also have had some shoe adjustments this month. My older black flats started to really wear out and once I came to terms with the fact that I had owned them for 7 years (I got them when I was pregnant with Michael), I could give myself permission to buy new black flats. The ones I had previously were Dr. Scholls and were so comfy. I wanted to find something similar, but for a way less price tag since we're on a strict budget here. I found a pair at Wal-Mart of all places. Now, I don't typically shop at Wal-Mart, but I do when my kids meed shoes. Here's a mom tip: always check Wal-Mart for kids shoes since they almost always have pairs for under $10, which is paramount to me since kids' feet grow so fast and I can't justify a higher price tag on kid shoes. So I went searching for shoes for myself and walked away with two pairs- one pair of nice black flats with comfy insoles for $12, and one impulse $5 buy of neutral colored laser-cut pattern suede flats. I'm so happy with these purchases!

Yesterday, my mom went shopping at Kohls and found a pair of flats in my size for $5 so she grabbed them and gave them to me as an early birthday gift. They're pointy toed navy suede with military-influenced gold buttons. I am wearing them today with a pair of dark khaki pants and a blue & green blouse.

Here's my collection of teacher-appropriate outfits. Enjoy!

Until next time,
Love, Reba