Middle of Somewhere

February 1, 2018

Casual Winter Layers

This week has felt a little bit like spring here, so of course I lived in casual winter layers! I’m talking almost 60 degrees. It was heavenly. I’ve always said that I could never live anywhere that is colder than Albuquerque, and the older I get, the more true that becomes. In my perfect world, I’d live somewhere that was 70 degrees all year long. If that was the case, I could basically live in a casual layered outfit! A comfortable pair of jeans, a striped tee, and a cardigan makes for the perfect winter layered outfit.

I recently received this super cute lace up cardigan from My Sister’s Closet Boutique and have been wearing it non-stop ever since. I think it’s the perfect layering piece to help me transition into spring with. The light taupe color is really versatile and can be worn with almost any outfit! You also know I’m a Rockstar jean fanatic, and this pair is no exception. I am actually in the market for a new pair of black distressed Rockstar jeans, since these ones have seen better days. I do have to say that for owning them for at least 4 years now, they still look pretty decent. This is why Old Navy jeans are closet essentials for me!

Wearing:

Side Tie Cardigan c/o My Sister’s Closet Boutique

Old Navy Striped Tee

Old Navy Rockstar Jeans

Urban Expressions Bag c/o

Sugarfix by Baublebar Tassel Earrings c/o (only $12.99!)

Quay Sunglasses

Sam Edelman Booties

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January 24, 2018

Easy & Healthy DIY Valentine + Free Printable

This post is sponsored by Cuties for Collectively. All thoughts and opinions are my own.It’s hard to believe that it’s already time to start thinking about Valentine’s Day! Valentine’s has always been a holiday that I have loved. Now that Harper is getting to be old enough to participate in holiday themed activities, I knew I had to come up with something exciting this year! Since she doesn’t attend any type of pre-school or daycare, I thought it would be fun to put together an easy and healthy DIY Valentine to give to family and friends. One of her favorite snacks are Cuties clementines, and what better way to share the love on Valentine’s day than with a random act of Cuties kindness!

Healthy DIY Valentine:

Since my daughter is still under 3, I wanted to keep our healthy DIY Valentine easy enough to where she could assist with most of the steps. The steps and required amount of assistance for this Valentine can definitely be adjusted depending on your child’s age. At almost 3, Harper was able to help me put the Cuties into the bags and zip them up. She was able to color the gift tags as well. I created two different printables to use as gift tags. Be sure to head to the bottom of the post to download them! I wanted to keep one version of the tags in grayscale, so she could add her own personal touch by coloring them herself.

We had so much fun putting these easy and healthy DIY Valentine’s together! The best part about them is they can be completely customized to fit your budget. They can also be customized to fit your child’s needs, and are allergy friendly if your child is in school! Harper and I can’t wait to spread love, kindness, and sunshine with our Cuties craft this Valentine’s Day.

Free Valentine’s Printables:

Cuties Valentine’s Printable – Black & White

Cuties Valentine’s Printable – Color

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January 19, 2018

The Best Faux Leather Jacket Under $50

Happy Friday! I hope you guys had a good week. Things finally felt back to normal around here. Nothing like the craziness I dealt with last week with my toddler! This week was probably the coldest week we have had so far this winter though. While I love the look of a winter coat, I personally prefer to wear a bunch of layers if I can get away with it to stay warm. I recently re-introduced this faux leather jacket into a regular rotation in my wardrobe to help me do just that. It is surprisingly warm, a great layering piece, and under $50!

Now that the temperatures are finally dropping, I am gravitating more toward boots to keep me warm. I don’t think I’ve ever worn these OTK boots as much as I have in the last few weeks! You probably remember me wearing these OTK boots with a pair of black leggings about a month ago. I honestly don’t own a lot of tall boots (two pairs to be exact), and this is definitely the pair I can’t quit. Being almost 5’10” you can imagine that it would be hard to find over the knee boots that actually hit over the knee. If you are a fellow tall girl, this is the perfect pair!

Wearing:

Old Navy Long Sleeve Tee

Faux Leather Jacket

Gap Skinny Jeans

Over the Knee Boots (under $70!)

Sole Society Bag (old, similar version here)

Sugarfix by Baublebar Tassel Earrings c/o

Karen Walker Sunglasses

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January 16, 2018

My Top 5 Must Have Winter Accessories

You know I love accessories, and today it’s all about my must have winter accessories! When it comes to winter, it’s important to not only stay warm, but to remain stylish while doing so. Accessories for winter can be so much fun since there seems to be a lot more options than any other season. Hello hats, boots, and scarves! In Albuquerque, the weather can feel like it’s all over the place in the winter. Some days it’s close to 60, and others it never makes it out of the 40s. With that in mind, I love having accessories on hand that can be mixed and matched with a variety of outfits.

You can never go wrong with a great pair of boots in the winter. Whether you prefer short or tall boots, flat or heeled boots, there are so many great options for everyone. Ankle boots are the easiest to style for a casual look, and look great with your favorite pair of jeans. Over the knee boots have become very trendy in the last couple of years, and make wearing dresses and skirts even easier to style in the colder months.

When it comes to purses, I think it’s best to stick to something neutral in the cooler months. As a mom, I’m all about my crossbody bags! A neutral clutch or crossbody is a great winter option, as it won’t add bulk to a layered look. Winter usually means heavy coats and layered tops, so you’ll want to include a bag that won’t draw attention away from your outfit. Top the look with your favorite blanket scarf or pom pom beanie, and you’re all set!

Must Have Winter Accessories // Shop

Ankle Booties:

Blanket Scarves:

Over the Knee Boots:

Beanies:

Neutral Clutches & Crossbody Bags:

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January 12, 2018

Bell Sleeve Sweater & Leopard Flats

A major TGIF is in order today guys! Before I talk about this cute and cozy bell sleeve sweater, let’s chat about this week. It started off with a child with a cold, who refused to nap a few days, and ended with one tired mama. I explain a little more in my Instagram stories, but let’s just say being 2.5 years old must be hard. Pretty sure being the mom of a 2.5 year old is even harder though. To say I am tired is an understatement. Plus, just like the rest of the world, my husband and I are trying to get back on the healthy eating train, which is never easy.

Thanks for letting me rant! Now let’s switch gears to today’s outfit. I received this sweater right before Christmas from Pink Blush, which you know is one of my favorite places to shop. It wound up being the perfect sweater for the holidays, and I have continued to wear it non-stop since. I have been loving the bell sleeve trend, but don’t wear it often myself because long sleeves tend to be too short on me (hello, tall girl problems). The bell sleeves on this sweater are the ideal length, and how cute is the little tie detail? It’s definitely nice and cozy for the cold and windy weather we have had lately!

I also finally shared my new leopard loafers on Instagram yesterday. Do you love them as much as I do? I desperately wanted to jump on the leopard mule bandwagon, and after much discussion with the hubs, he convinced me that they are not cute. Although I never even tried a pair on, I’m pretty sure he’s right and they would not be flattering on me. So rather than make fetch aka the mules happen, I opted for these loafers. Let me tell you, they’re totally worth the price! Go snag a pair now before they sell out and thank me later.

Wearing:

Pink Blush Bell Sleeve Sweater c/o

Sole Society Flats

Old Navy Rockstar Jeans

Old Navy Crossbody Bag

Sugarfix by Baublebar Earrings c/o

Karen Walker Sunglasses (old, similar pair here)

Everly Rings c/o

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January 9, 2018

How I’m Making Life Easier & Saving Money in 2018

When the new year hits, everyone seems to go crazy over making resolutions and drastic changes. Trust me, I’ve tried them in the past. They just don’t seem to work for me, and honestly tend to wind up being a set up. More recently, I’ve attempted to make small, but significant changes to help make life easier. I’d say I’m a fairly organized person, but life often gets the best of me. When that happens, the organization goes out the window. In thinking about what I want 2018 to look like, I decided I needed to pick a few attainable goals that would be realistic to stick to. Let’s set ourselves up for success, shall we?

How I’m Making Life Easier in 2018:

Make my coffee at home

This may seem insignificant to some, but this was #1 for me for a reason. I have really gotten into the terrible habit of not taking the time to make coffee at home in the mornings. Rather than brewing myself a cup, I would often stop to grab coffee on my way to my first appointment. As you can imagine, this habit adds up! I was spending way too much money on buying coffee, and knew that needed to change. I recently received this amazing Ninja Coffee Bar and let’s just say it was love at first cup. Nothing beats the taste of freshly brewed coffee! Sometimes all it takes is a new gadget to liven things up and make it easier to want to drink coffee at home.

Actually utilize my planner to its full potential

Another one that probably seems like a no-brainer, but one that is so hard for me to stick with. My husband makes fun of me because I still use a paper planner for work to schedule appointments. While I am great at using a planner for my day job, I’m not great at using it for everything else in life. When I received my 2018 Start Planner, I got so excited by all of the different ways it can help me stay organized. A big goal for our household this year is to budget better and save for things we need to do, like renovate our bathroom. The planner has different sections for budgeting, tracking projects, and more. I feel like this is exactly what I need to entice me to stick with using it! Anyone else struggle with buying planners and never actually using them to their full potential?

Re-assess my closet

As a blogger, it is SO easy to get sucked into feeling like I constantly need to buy more and more clothes. You guys probably already know by now that I have a tendency to re-wear the same piece (like these fun Madewell jeans) multiple times on here. I know for a lot of bloggers that is a big no-no, but for me it’s the only thing that makes sense. My other biggest issue is that I don’t go through my closet enough to get rid of things I don’t wear. I always think I will re-wear something, but never do. My goal for 2018 is to get rid of and sell/donate a TON of my old clothes. I’m even thinking of creating a capsule wardrobe to really narrow it down to the basics.

So here’s to a less cluttered, more planful, and appropriately caffeinated 2018! Want to win your own Hustle planner and Start Balancing book? HEAD TO THIS LINK TO ENTER!

A huge thank you to Ninja and Start Planner for contributing to today’s post. I was given a Ninja coffee bar and Hustle 2018 planner for review. Blue striped top is c/o Pink Blush. All opinions and thoughts are my own.