Perfecting the Selfie

I can't believe how there are certain things that kids just seem drawn to. For instance, Isla and her love of makeup. And also her love of selfies. Neither one of those things came from me...uh, Ian??? But it really does make me laugh how much personalities play into things. I don't find Connor wanting to take pictures of himself all day long, or really at all for that matter. But Isla, well she is a whole another story. 

The mirror just doesn't always suffice for this girl. And honestly, it's not like I hate it because I have tons of photographic evidence that captures Isla's personality perfectly, right now at six years old. 

At six years old, Isla comes home from school and puts makeup on almost every single day. She often brings her makeup bag with her when we go get Connor from school and puts more makeup on without even a mirror, but with a whole audience watching. I would say she isn't a shy one, but there are times she still becomes quite shy. She just likes things on her own terms. 

At six years old, Isla doesn't like her hair brushed, but wants to keep it long and wants to keep it down. She has started playing around with clips in her hair, but for the most part, she prefers wearing her hair down. I've asked her about cutting it several times, given how little she likes it being brushed, but she says she loves it long and wants to keep it that way. 

Also, Isla really wants to get her ears pierced. Every girl in her dance class has their ears pierced, except for her. But every time I ask her if she is interested in getting it done, she says she is afraid of it hurting. I tried showing her videos of girls getting their ears pierced off the internet, but that didn't seem to help at all, which I was surprised because the girls weren't crying, just smooshing up their faces when it happened. Even with the absence of actual holes in her ears, Isla always wants to buy earrings. She's a funny girl. 

So I started out just wanting to share these cute pictures of Isla and this morphed into a bit about Isla right now and I'm not sad about that. She is a fun one to have around. Life is never boring with Isla near.

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Girly Girl

I remember when I had Isla, being afraid that I wouldn't be enough for her. You see, I am not a girly girl. I don't know how to really apply make up...a little mascara and tint on my lips is about all I can swing. And before I cut all my hair off, I wasn't high maintenance in that area either. I was (and still am a bit) afraid that when Isla gets older and turns to me for advice, I won't be able to help.

I like to think of Isla as a girly girl with flair. She loves her some skirts, but also loves pokemon and star wars. She loves makeup and hair product, but loves to play in the dirt like no other. Perhaps, well balanced would be a better way to put it.

A week ago, we went away for a couple nights with Ian's family. Ian's parents took all the grandkids into a toy store and let them pick out a toy or two. What did Isla end up with? A nail kit. The other day, she put on some nails, then went into my bathroom and "did" her hair. AKA: put a bunch of my hair product in her hair, threw in a few hair clips and called it a day! She also found some makeup and put it on. Then, she went and admired herself in the mirror. No matter how insecure I feel about not being able to help her with these things as she gets older, I couldn't help but love watching her looking so proudly at herself in the mirror.

Of course, all the pampering at five years old also has me a bit worried for the teen years!!!

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A Preschooler or a Teenager?

Connor has never really battled me with the whole clothing thing. Sure he would prefer a minion shirt, but for the most part does well. If he gets mad, it lasts all of 17 seconds. But, to be honest, he is the kid that doesn't really throw fits and I can generally talk "off the cliff". Isla is the total and complete opposite of Connor. She had a 45 minute meltdown the other day over a hair bow. A HAIR BOW!!! And it wasn't even that I wouldn't let her wear the bow she wanted. It was that it wouldn't stay in her hair the way she wanted and she didn't want to listen to me on how to make it work. It was drama. Like serious drama. I would like to say that this was a one time thing, but stuff like this happens all the time with her. And it is always related to clothes/shoes/hair. She even has an opinion about her pajamas! Her teacher complained to me about the shoes Isla wore to school the other day. I just smiled and said I wouldn't send her to school in those shoes again. But, I really wanted to tell the teacher how Isla stripped down naked as I was rounding up the kids to leave for school. How she insisted on wearing a princess dress and princess shoes and I wouldn't let her. How I let her pick anything in her wardrobe that she wanted to wear just so we could get to school. So the shoes she picked are a size too big and kept falling off. I was picking and choosing my battles that morning and had already been through a big one. But I didn't say any of that. I just smiled.

So, any moms out there have any advice on getting through this phase? Picking clothes out the night before doesn't work because she changes her mind constantly. She is like a teenager already! And all my relatives just laugh and say I am getting what I dished out as a kid. Thanks…and not helpful at all. Any advice? Or at least an understanding hug?

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Fashion on the Fifteenth

While I keep hearing of people outside of California talking about it cooling off, I can't even fake that it is cool outside. The temps have been hitting triple digits. Thankfully, we will be getting some "cooler" (though still summer temps) weather by the end of the week. But, I guess it is still technically the end of summer, so sporting shorts still is allowed. I have to admit though, I am looking forward to wearing something besides shorts every day!

Shirt: Topshop

Shorts: Old Navy

Necklace: PacSun

Shoes: Target

Two things about this outfit are staples to how I dress. I like flowy tops. Especially with shorts. I feel like I am less uncovered or something. Also, I prefer long necklaces to short ones. I just think long ones look better on me and can dress up practically any outfit a bit. 

Isla wanted to have her picture taken as well, so I obliged. Her go-to fashion look is the layered look. Often times, she leaves the house with shorts topped with a skirt and a tutu or two on top of that. She also is very daring about the colors she mixes. For jewelry and shoes, she tends to go by the philosophy "the bigger, the better". Even with warm temps, she has been sporting boots a lot lately. 

Shirt: Carters

Dress: Target

Jewelry: 99 cent store...we are high class around here!

Shoes: Saltwater

Don't forget to head over to Two Cent Sparrow to check out Anna's cute outfit. I am always jealous of her Patagonia gear and her new vest does not disappoint! Even better yet, why not play along and post your own outfit post?!

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Isla in Sunglasses (need I say more?!)

You know when you get something new, you just want to wear it immediately? Well, Isla got these awesome shades the other day and felt inspired to frolic through the neighbors weeds flowers while enjoying the warm spring day we were having.

I have been having Isla rock the top knot a lot lately. I just love it so much on her. And apparently I loved it on me at one time too, because I rocked it all through high school. But it looks way cuter on her. 

Good thing I didn't pay much for these shades because Isla broke one of the sides off them the day after getting them. Or, perhaps was this a case of me getting what I paid for? After all, I only paid 59 cents for them. Of course, she has done this to sunglasses before. After she broke them, I told my mom, at least I will always have these adorable pictures of her wearing them. Because, seriously, isn't she freaking adorable?!

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The {Christmas} Dress Isla Wore

On Christmas day, I dressed Isla in a dress that I wore as a toddler. My mom literally kept every single dress I had as a baby and toddler. And what amazes me is the condition of these dresses. They all are in pristine condition. My kids can ruin clothes in one go! Either I wasn't as messy, or my mom is way better at scrubbing out stains than I am! I digress. 

I was actually nervous about mixing old and new styles together, but it totally ended up working. It is funny to me how much shorter dresses were "back in the day" than they are now. But, it just allows Isla to show off her adorable stripped tights all that much more! 

As for the bracelets, Isla styled those all on her own. As soon as she saw them in her stocking she put them on. Girl loves her some jewelry. 

The dress is actually long sleeved, but Isla kept pushing up the sleeves and since there is elastic at the wrist, the sleeves would stay up when she pushed them up. After pulling them down a couple times, I just decided to go with it. 

^^ Someone didn't want his picture taken

I wish I could find a picture of me in this dress. It just seems so cool that both Isla and I wore the same dress...and I totally love how she looked in it. It is making me think that I need to go back through the other dresses that my mom kept of mine and put Isla in more of them.  

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What Isla Wore {five}

I know this may sound weird, but I feel like it has taken me a while to find my footing in the crazy world of dressing a girl. There is just so much over the top froo-froo stuff and that is totally not me. I, in a sense, have had to find what I am comfortable with for Isla.

Besides the generous helping of hand-me-downs we get, I buy almost all of Isla's clothes second hand. You blink and kids have grown out of their clothes. It isn't worth it to me to throw tons of money at those clothes. Not to mention, one good butt scoot across the driveway and a pair of leggings are ruined.

Shirt: Gymboree (thrifted)

Shorts: Old navy (thrifted)

Sandals: Rainbow

As for my go-to items for Isla, I definitely prefer trapeze/flowy tops for her paired with shorts or leggings. She says it works for her ;) I also like throwing in a dress here or there, but it has to be one she can easily play in...and can easily be washed. I am so not a more than one outfit a day mom! 

I also would like to point out these amazingly adorable shoes we just got for Isla, baby Rainbows. If you grew up or went to college anywhere in any sort of beachy place in California, chances are you have or currently own a pair of Rainbows. They are comfortable and last practically forever. Generally I am cheap and don't buy my kids more than one pair of shoes a season (hey, at least that one pair of shoes is good quality!) but when I saw these I couldn't resist. Now Isla is all ready to hit the beach...or just be one of the cool kids in the central valley.

What Isla Wore {four}

Isla told me she isn't super comfortable being a model, so we came to a compromise and I allowed her to sit for the photos.

Shirt: Baby Gap - hand-me-down

Leggings: Baby Gap 

Shoes: Toms - an amazing craigslist find

I bought those leggings Isla is wearing on clearance the week after I had her. Please hold while I wipe my tears and remember a tiny Isla...and that shirt was a hand-me-down. I like texting my friend pictures of Isla wearing her daughters clothes and make her remember when they were little. Me and babies, I am such a sap. 

The older Isla gets, the more fun I have dressing her. I think because it is less cumbersome to put things on a bigger human. Tiny babies are just hard to layer clothes on. Then a blow out happens and you have to change all those layers. It just doesn't seem worth it. Plus, when they can stand, they just look cuter in clothes. 

Oh, and even though Isla didn't cooperate with her little photo shoot, I did get a cute picture of her playing in the yard. She was wearing Connor's sunglasses. Every time they came off, she brought them to me to put back on. I hope this means she will actually wear sunglasses. Connor has never been a fan and I think little kids in sunglasses look adorable. 

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a Nuby tickle toes! 

What Isla Wore {three}

The more I dress this little munchkin, the more I get used to my role of dressing a girl. A few months ago I wasn't too fond of putting her in dresses. Maybe it is the change of season or maybe a change in me, but seeing this little girl in a dress (or skirt) and some crazy tights is about too much for me. I love it! It also helps that I feel it is more acceptable to dress a girl in an acceptable level of mismatched items. Eclectic and fun. 

Vest: thrifted

Shirt: Gap

Skirt: The Children's Place - hand-me-down

Tights: Old Navy

Shoes: Stride Right 

Never mind the fact that my adorable little munchkin will no longer stay still for a picture. And her bangs are so long, they hang down to her mouth...and she pretty much refuses to allow a clip to be on her head for longer than 3 seconds. I love this adorable little gal and the girly little person she is becoming. She has a serious love of bracelets and purses. Too freaking cute, if you ask me! 

Fall

The other day I had pretty much given up on fall. After all, it was 98 degrees out. 98 degrees. In October. Then this morning I opened my door to grab the paper. I felt something I hadn't felt in a while. Could it actually be cold?! I checked the weather report. 70's. Oh how things can change in two short days.

I excitedly dressed both Isla and I in jeans today. Jeans. Something I haven't had to wear in a while, but love with all my heart. Jeans and a tank top. I think Isla rocks the look.

Tank: Gymboree

Jeans: Cherokee

Shoes: Saltwaters

This whole outfit is hand-me-downs. Score!

And just like that, I am feeling in the fall sort of way. I got a hot drink at Starbucks tonight that made my belly oh-so-happy. I started thinking about how I need to take my kids to the pumpkin patch, as we all know how much I like that! And I started thinking how in a matter of weeks my front lawn will be covered in leaves. And the streets will be filled with piles of leaves that me and the kids can run through. So excited. Thanks for finally making an appearance fall!

What I Wore {twelve}

My brother in law is getting married this weekend and tonight was the rehearsal. I figured I should probably wear something besides the spit up and food covered clothes I was wearing all day. So I changed. 

On me:

Tank: Topshop

Necklace: PacSun

Skirt: Urban Outfitters

Shoes: H&M

Last week at my parents, I came across a box of summer clothes I left behind when I moved to Scotland. This skirt was in the box. It is a little short for my taste. In fact, I wore shorts under it just in case. I mean, come on, I am constantly bending around and running after two little people. You can never be too careful!

On Isla:

Dress: Janie and Jack - thrifted

And Isla, she is rocking this dress! I may be biased, but she is too freaking cute!

What Isla Wore {two}

This really is just an excuse to post pictures of my oh-so-adorable baby girl. I really do like her outfit though. Its cute and not too babyish.

Headband & Clip: made by me

Dress: H&M, thrifted

Leggings: pants from another outfit

Shoes: Saltwater, hand-me-down

What Isla Wore {one}

Shirt: Cherokee - hand me down

Shorts: Gap

Shoes: Saltwater - hand me down

Its probably time for someone to do an intervention on me. I did a photoshoot with Isla just because I liked her outfit so much. It was a really great outfit though. One of my friends said last night that it was her favorite outfit she had seen Isla in. See, it really was great!

Isla has so many clothes sources (grandmas, friends, hand me downs) that I never need to buy her clothes. Her wardrobe is a little out of control. I guess we start 'em young! Anyway, these shorts are actually something I bought for her...right after she was born. I love them and was so excited for her to wear them. They are just that freaking cute.

As I've said before, even though I utilize them, dresses and hair bows scare me. This outfit is is true representation of how I would style my adorable little girl.