Chambray Top + Denim Flares

Yesterday I had a daytime date with me, myself, and I. While I love the company of my husband, sometimes it's good to just go out solo, enjoy some me time, and treat yourself. I went to see Free State of Jones. It was an interesting movie. I'd recommend it. Once I left the movies I went to Stevie B's for a late afternoon meal. I haven't been to Stevie B's in a long time...it's literally been at least 7 years. This outfit has the ultimate cool factor. It's easy breezy without trying too hard and the perfect daytime ensemble whether you're solo or accompanied by your partner or a group of your favorite girls. 

Outfit Details: Chambray Top (Charlotte Russe), Denim Flares (New York & Co.), Vince Camuto Leopard Booties (Belk), Fedora (Forever 21), Broach (Hobby Lobby), Louis Vuitton (Gift), Max Mara Frames (Primary Eyecare)

Denim on denim is always a good idea. While this is a bit covered up for the summer, it was perfect for the blasting AC in the movie theatre. I even got a compliment about my outfit from a guy in the grocery store how put together I looked. This is an outfit most of us probably have in our closets. Sometimes fashion is best served when you go back to basics. 

Happy hump day!
-Ali

Polo Hat + Fringe Shoes to Match

This weekend was very chill for me. Saturday, I went to a (middle school) basketball championship tournament with my hubby to see some of our good friends refereeing! They both did a great job and the games were exciting enough (as far as middle school athletics go). After attending the tournament we came home and took naps (a Saturday/Sunday ritual) before heading out to dinner. After dinner I came home and got a lot of research done for my Senior Project that I'm working on (did I mention I graduate in 3 more months ;) ) while watching the most exciting NBA game ever (Warriors vs. Thunder). Side Note: Steph Curry is unbelievable!

Since Saturday was a day full of running errands, I knew I wanted to be comfy. I didn't want to be too dressy as I knew we were going to be in some pretty casual settings so I opted for my red Polo Hat, red fringe suede booties (that were gifted to me from a friend), Chambray button up, denim jeans, navy faux leather blazer, and my new favorite items in my closet...my shaggy vest. I added gold accessories (gold bullet earrings, Juicy Couture Charm Bracelet, and gold watch) to finish pulling the look together. 

Outfit Details: Polo Hat (Polo Outlet), Chambray Button Down (Charlotte Russe), Denim Jeans (Forever 21+), Shaggy Vest (Forever 21), Navy Blazer (Gift), Red Fringe Booties (Gift), Bullet Earrings (Pink Elephant), Juicy Couture Charm Bracelet (Juicy Couture), Gold Watch (Charming Charlie's), Sunglasses (Forever 21)

Overall, I think this outfit was the perfect weekend ensemble. It's checks off the 2C's: cute and comfy, plus it incorporates the art of layering. The pops of red also add a little unexpected twist to a simple color palette of denim + navy + and tan! What did you get into last weekend? I'd love to hear! 

P.S. Since it's a leap year, here's a cool way to commemorate it: Try creating a leap year time capsule that you can open on February 29, 2020. I received this clever idea from Chatbooks.com. I'm going to do one and have my hubby do one too that we can open it in four years.  Get your free time capsule printables here to complete with your family.

Happy Monday & Leap Year,
-Ali

Chambray Shirt + Denim Overalls

Can I be totally honest with you? We're family right? Almost one month postpartum and I still can't fit into a lot of my jeans :( While I mostly revert to stretchy pants (and dare I say leggings...but I always make sure my bum is covered) my overalls are one pair of denim that I can actually get into. They aren't at the ideal fit at my current weight however, I think they still get the job done. I've said countless times here on Ali's Fashion Sense that pairing denim on denim is an instant way to look fabulous. So I grabbed my denim overalls and paired them with my chambray shirt. Since camel looks amazing alongside chocolate brown and denim I decided to pair my camel cape, camel fedora, and chocolate booties (with gold chains) and gold statement necklace with my denim duo. To up the studious factor I added a pair of animal print frames that I scored from Forever 21 for $5. I love how the look came together seamlessly! Check out the full look below.

  

Outfit Details: Overalls (Macy's), Chambray Shirt (Charlotte Russe), Cape (TJ Maxx), Fedora (Forever 21), Chocolate Booties (Forever 21), Animal Print Frames (Forever 21), Statement Necklace (Birthday Gift from AshleyMonique! from Charming Charlie's)

If you stand in your closet and have absolutely nothing to wear grab two denim pieces and I promise you, you will look polished in no time! You'll thank me later (I hope lol). Happy Hump Day luvs.

-Ali

P.S. Since I won't be blogging tomorrow happy pre one - month to my little angel in heaven, Derrek Jerrell Anderson Jr. Mommy loves you and I think about you everyday!

Tan Poncho + Denim Jeans

Sometimes when I get dressed I just want to be comfortable (especially when I wake up with a sore back or tense shoulders...typical side effects from being preggo). But, my fashionista side will not just let me go to the closet and throw on a pair of sweats... even having pregnancy as an excuse. 

With today's look I was able to tap into both worlds to create a look that is comfy enough yet chic enough to carry me through a typical weekend day (i.e. running errands, going out to lunch with friends, playdates with other mommies and babies etc.). I grabbed my tan poncho and layered it on top of my denim skinny's and my chambray shirt. Ali's Fashion Sense Tip: If ever in doubt pair denim on denim...it's the perfect way to look pulled together in a matter of seconds. Chambray top + denim shorts, pants, skirt, culottes etc. To add a little fierceness to my look I paired my simplistic palette with my animal print Vince Camuto booties. 

Outfit Details: Poncho (H&M), Skinny's (Forever 21 +), Chambray Shirt (Charlotte Russe), Vince Camuto Animal Print Booties (Belk),  Aviator Sunnies (Forever 21), Statement Necklace (Charlotte Russe). Tan Fedora (Forever 21)

This look is very casual yet I still feel very well put together. I imagine this poncho is something that can come in handy if I'm wearing a shirt and Baby Anderson decides to release some of his milk on me...I could always throw on the poncho to cover up the evidence. I'm told as a new mom you should always have a backup plan for clothes because babies LOVE to mess up your clothes when you least expect it. But nevertheless, this look is perfect to carry me into my busy day. I hope you all have an amazing day and a relaxing, productive weekend!

Tootles,

-Ali

Blanket Poncho + Fringe Booties

Is there that one item in your closet that every time you put it on you just instantly love your outfit? That is how I feel about my blanket poncho. It's something about the poncho that offers a nonchalant cool factor all while keeping you warm, and offering an intriguing pattern to look at. It's bold colors pop out amongst the simplest backdrop. 

I was able to pair it with my Lauren Conrad skinny jeans (don't shoot me they are my most comfortable pants at the moment...blame it on the bump lol), my chambray button up, fringe booties, tan fedora, and gold statement necklace. For an added effect I pulled out my nude framed sunnies. I really love how the look came together. This is the perfect outfit for a nice daytime date with the boo or brunch with the girls. I wouldn't suggest wearing the shoes for a long period of time. But they are cute at least for shoe - cam purposes. Don't judge me ladies...we know sometimes beauty is pain.

Outfit Details: Blanket Poncho (Forever 21), Chambray Shirt (Charlotte Russe), Black Lauren Conrad Skinny Jeans (Kohl's), Tan Fringe Booties (Charlotte Russe), Tan Fedora (Forever 21), Sunnies (Forever 21), Statement Necklace (DSW)

Ali's Fashion Sense Styling Tip: Ponchos are a great way to add a dash of style immediately without thinking too hard. You can pair them with a button up, pencil skirt, and pumps for a more office appropriate look or a pair of jeans, riding boots, and a turtle neck for an airport chic look! The possibilities are endless. This poncho allows me to push the boundaries of potential within my own closet. If you don't have a poncho...I suggest you put that on your 2016 shopping list ASAP.

Happy Hump Day Luvs,

-Ali

Baby Anderson's Gender Reveal Party

HI!!!! As I type this blog post, I know what you're probably thinking..."WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALI?" Well, now that I finished my Fall 2015 semester, have gotten through the Christmas holiday, and my baby's reveal party...I can FINALLY start blogging again. The last time you saw me was in October. A lot has changed since then...mostly the size of my [preggo] belly. I am now 25 weeks (more than half way there). On December 19, 2015 my husband, close family, and friends celebrated my babies "Gender Reveal!" As a new - age "mom - to - be" I have seen over the past few years gender reveal parties become the new rave. After hours of perusing through Pinterest and YouTube for creative ways to reveal the sex of my baby, I finally was able to come up with a cool way. 

THE PREP
My good friend, whom I call my fashion twin, Ashley was my co - planner for the party. She helped me plan, prep, and execute the party from start to finish. I told her my ideas and she helped me bring them to life.

My awesome party planner Ashley :)

THE INVITES

I created a list of about 42 people to invite to my reveal party. Out of those 42 I had about 35+ show up. Not to bad Baby Anderson :) I used a evite.com a free invitation based website to send out my Reveal Party invites. All you need is the email address and names of your potential attendees and you're all set. It lets them RSVP, comment on a wall, and even add a guest (if you so choose to enable that feature). 

THE DECORATIONS

We used pink, blue, and gold as our color scheme. I purchased pink and blue plates, cutlery, napkins, cups, straws, tablecloths, and tulle to push home the theme for "Team Boy" or "Team Girl." We created centerpieces using mason jars, tulle, sticks, gold confetti, and a glitter cut outs of boy and girl props (mustaches, question marks, pacifiers, bows, lips etc.). We also made props for a photo booth that guests could hold up and take pictures with. I ordered 2 balloon bouquets, and even had mason jars filled with gold confetti where people could place their votes for the party.

The room layout

The voting station

Photo booth props

THE MENU
I wanted my menu to be fun, festive for the occasion, and simplistic so I chose to do a Taco Bar and a Dessert Bar. My taco bar consisted of ground turkey with a bevy of toppings: shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, sour cream, salsa, diced tomatoes, hard and soft taco shells. For the Dessert Bar Ashley and I dipped pretzels and Oreo's into Ghirardelli white and milk chocolate and covered them with pink, blue, and gold sprinkles. We even served cotton candy in cute martini-esque glasses.

The Taco Bar setup

The desserts: Cotton Candy, Pretzels and Oreos dipped in chocolate

THE ITINERARY

A lot of people were wondering...what do you do during a gender reveal party? Honestly, I had no clue. So I searched my friend handy, dandy Google and came up with an itinerary to cover the 2 hour party span to keep my guest entertained and guessing. We had a slideshow playing music and showing pictures of my hubby and I when we were growing up. When guests arrived we had them place their names into a jar with a blue or pink ribbon to indicate which team they were on as far as gender was concerned ("Team Boy" or "Team Girl"). After they voted, we had each of the guest take a picture at my "make - shift" photo booth using props that me and my party planner created to show their team spirit. Once the majority of the guests arrived we went around the room and had all the guests introduce themselves and how they knew us...the "parents - to - be." Once that was complete we served lunch and then played a couple games. After the games were complete we took a final count of "Team Boy" and "Team Girl." Our final count was 13 for Team Girl and 17 for Team Boy. We then passed out the cupcakes and revealed our baby's gender. That moment was so priceless and made the entire day worth it, just to see all the smiles and love in the room! I had the teams take team photos and even did a raffle (a $10 Outback Gift Card) for a member of the winning team...pulled from the mason jar with the winning colors ribbon. I took pictures with guests and then we cleaned up and went home.

Team Boy

Team Girl

The excited parents to be and my baby bump ;)

The hubby and I with the happy grandparents (my parents)

THE REVEAL

We used cupcakes as our medium for the reveal. I saw so many different ideas scrolling through Pinterest from the balloon pop reveal, to the cake reveal. We ended up landing on cupcakes. We had the cupcakes made by Ashleigh Harper from the Candy Bartender (if you're in GA check her out, she was amazing to work with and the cupcakes were great). She made the cupcakes (upon my request) with pink and blue frosting in chocolate and vanilla with a small touch of cotton candy on the top. All the cupcakes were one color EXCEPT 1 which was the actual color of the gender. The actual reveal didn't quite go as planned because I didn't give out the right cupcake for my mom to do the honors. But none the less everyone was excited about our little bundle of joy.

The Gender Reveal cupcakes...they were delicious!

WE'RE HAVING A...

Me and my hubby at the photo booth...with our "Team Boy" crown!

Inspiration for the Centerpieces from Pinterest...Along with the announcement!

MY OUTFIT

Since this is a fashion blog, I have to discuss what I decided to wear. I wanted to wear something that would incorporate pink and blue so not to give away the sex of the baby. Since being pregnant my growing belly has been a little harder to dress (especially wearing pants that aren't stretchy). Being that it is Winter season there isn't as much pink in stores so I searched long and hard until I ran across a pink tulle skirt, chambray button up, and pink and blue statement necklace (all from Charolette Russe). I paired the foundation of my outfit with a shaggy nude vest and tan nude booties. I also got a pedi and mani and chose a very nude pink with gold details on one finger. All in all I think the outfit like the rest of the reveal came together harmoniously. 

Mi Madre and I posting with the bump

Outfit Details: Chambray Button Up (Charolette Russe), Tulle Skirt (Charolette Russe), Shaggy Vest (Forever 21), Statement Necklace (Charolette Russe), Hoop Earrings (Charolette Russe), Watch (Charming Charlie's); Not Shown Fringe Booties (Charolette Russe)

Have you ever attended a Gender Reveal Party? What types of activities did they do at the party? How did they ultimately reveal the sex? I'd love to hear from you in the comment section below. I hope you had an awesome Christmas Holiday. We will be back to our regularly scheduled outfit posts on Wednesday.

See ya soon,
-Ali