What to Wear Where: Family Photo Sesh

Happy Tuesday! I Pick Pretty is having a What to Wear Where party again this week...this time, the theme is Family Photo Session. Now, I don't see a family photo sesh in my future any time soon, but I still feel like I can contribute to hopefully ensure no poor family ends up like this...

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Just say no to joutfits...

After reading a really helpful family photo session tip article here, here's what I came up with...

Vanga Vintage Kantha Dress, $298

This dress is ah-mazing. Since fall is coming, I like a little heavier looking fabric that matches the season. Also, one of the main things the article I linked above says is to pick one multicolored pattern for one person and to build mostly solid outfits around it using the colors in the pattern. There are beautiful navy blues, pinks, golds, even a kelly green that would be really great to pull from for the rest of the family's outfits.

Acne Racer Zip Cardigan, $118

This cardigan toughens up the sweet dress a little with it's patched shoulders and zipper (though I wish the zipper was gold...). It also could be zipped all the way up to make the dress look like a skirt to change things up for a few pictures. Add a cardigan, get an extra outfit!

Kate Spade Kiki Wedges, $298

These wedges give you height, but don't force you to tiptoe around if you're taking pictures on grass. For some reason, I picture a mom wearing this outfit while getting photographed pushing a child on a swing set, so these shoes would be perfect for a playground shoot...no aerating the grass with stiletto heels!

Hammered Irregular Hoops

These gold hoops finish off the outfit in a classic way. That dress is way too fabulous to need too much more zhushing, so they won't compete too much. I found these hoops on opensky.com, but I'm not a member, so I couldn't access the price. 

So there you go! Like I said, since it's just me and Gatsby right now, I don't see any family photo sessions in my future right now, but I hope this may inspire one of your future photo shoots!

xoxo,

E

Tailgate Favorites

College football started this past weekend (with an awesome Clemson win!), which means that tailgating started this past weekend! In college, I definitely developed my love of tailgating long before I developed my love of football. Hey, that's where the party is! When football season starts, I love planning out tailgating food and drinks...tasty things make sitting in the South Carolina heat a little easier on a Saturday afternoon.

Here are some of my favorite recipes for tailgates...washed down with a cold mimosa, of course--you gotta have that vitamin C!

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I made these s'more brownies last football season, and they were a HUGE hit. I used Ghiradelli brownie mix for added richness...like they need it.

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I love pimento cheese! It's a little embarrassing how much I am capable of eating in one sitting. This recipe takes it to the next level by adding bacon crumbles and using chipotle peppers instead of pimentos.

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I made about 40 of these for every home game last year, and, almost always, they disappeared by the end of the day. Let's be honest, it's pretty hard to go wrong when your recipe calls for sausage, cheddar cheese, and Bisquick. So easy and so addicting.

This year, I'll definitely be standing by these tried and true recipes, but I'm also thinking of throwing in these, these, or maybe even a few of these babies with a little vodka thrown in. What are your favorite tailgating recipes??

Go (Clemson) Tigers,

E

Happy Friday!

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Sorry for the day off yesterday...this first week of school has me coming home exhausted every day! I may or may not have taken a two-hour nap AND gone to bed around 9:30 last night. I'm going to have to pull it together this weekend, though, because I'm so excited that the bf, some friends, and I are heading the Atlanta to watch our (Clemson) Tigers play! So excited football season is finally here!! Happy weekend!

xoxo,

E

Buying Happiness

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Can I get an amen? After being at school for 13 hours yesterday for school/Back to School night, ice cream was the only thing that could make me and my exhausted self feel like I could take on today. Hey, whatever works, right?

Back to School Night Outfit

I Pick Pretty is having a What to Wear link-up party today with a "Back to School" theme. As a teacher, I have seen some awesome and some truly unfortunate back to school outfits. Since my own back to school night is fast approaching, I thought it'd be fun to participate and come up with what I would love to wear as a teacher...

Cardigan, $32

Tank Top, $7

Skirt, $60 

Flats, $150

Bangle, $58

Locket, $360

Sorry for the not-so-awesome Polyvore template; I'm a Polyvore newbie, so I'm still discovering how to make all those way cool templates. Anyways, for a back to school outfit, I don't think it's really a time to make a fashion statement, but you shouldn't be afraid to inject a little personality into what you wear. Because of this, I chose to keep things pretty simple and classic. I think the coral skirt is the main statement piece, but the cables on the cardigan, chain on the flats, and engravings on the bangle also keep classic pieces from being boring.

These pieces are just understated enough to not detract from what you need to say to the parents--you want them to hear you, not stare at your outfit all night! I think these are also all pieces that could be mixed and matched with other things to make lots of other outfits.

Happy back-to-school everyone! I know I'm excited to meet all my incoming scholars :)

(note on the skirt: After seeing it on a model, I think the skirt is a little short for back to school night, so I maybe wouldn't choose this exact one, but you get the idea)

xoxo,

E

Greek Yogurt Pops

Containers of ice cream are not safe in my freezer. I often buy ice cream and end up eating it way too quickly so that it is out of the house (and yes, I realize this makes no sense). I need pre-portioned frozen treats that I don't have to feel bad about eating.

Enter Greek yogurt pops! These things are SO easy and SO good! I may or may not eat a few for breakfast on non-school days. The recipe is way easy, and I don't really measure any of my ingredients, per se. Just a bunch of berries, plain greek yogurt, and honey mixed together and spooned into a popsicle mold. I would just recommend adding more honey than you normally would...it is a dessert, after all.

Yum! A frozen treat you don't have to feel guilty about afterward!!

Happy eating!

xoxo,

E

Friday Happies

Happy Friday! I hope you all have fabulous weekends planned! I'm excited to go to the farmer's market to stock up on yummy produce and to one of my best friend's wedding shower, but will otherwise probably be pretty laid back, as school is starting FOR REAL on Monday. Here are some things that are making me smile...

The new 652-page InStyle fall issue. O EM GEE. I'm not the biggest JLo fan, but something tells me with over 650 pages of lovelies, I won't really mind...reading this will be my reward for when I actually get my first unit planned...

Gatsby's precious face when I told him I would be going back to school next week. Just kidding, but I imagine he's thinking, "wait, so we can't play all day anymore?"

This pretty freebie that will definitely find a place in my classroom this year. As a classroom teacher, I support all of these statements!

Happy Friday! See you next week!

xoxo,

E