Vacation Style ~ OTS Top and Cutoffs

Fall is just around the corner.  The kids are heading back to school, the September fall fashion magazines are arriving daily and our latest shipments at Entourage have been full of flannel, suede and cozy knits but summer is still here ~ at least for a few more weeks.  There are still vacations to be had and beaches to visit before the temps turn cold so... this week on the blog I'm sharing the last two looks from our recent beach vacation before I start the fall transition outfits! (Fall transition can be tricky in Georgia since it stays freaking hot here until about October!! More on that later.)

I was a little late to the OTS (off the shoulder) trend party.  It seemed like every blogger out there was daily wearing OTS tops or dresses but not this girl until this pretty pink top hit my styling room!  The color of the top is the same as my favorite lippie of the summer so match made in heaven, right?  The top looks great with distressed white jeans, a flowy summer skirt or cutoffs, like I'm wearing here.

~ What I'm Wearing ~

Floral Off The Shoulder Top: Entourage Clothing (sold out) | Similar

Denim Cutoff Shorts: Entourage Clothing

Straw Fedora: (old) | Identical

Lippie: Bella by Stila

Leather Wrap Bracelet: Stella & Dot (It's been my daily go-to this summer!)

Statement Earrings: Stella & Dot (They can be worn two ways!)

I'm glad I finally joined the OTS trend party!  I'll be sharing another OTS look on the blog soon as well as looks from The Blog Societies Conference (best.weekend.ever) and some summer to fall looks, so stay tuned! ;-)

XO

Elizabeth

Photographer ~ Gi Gi Hall at St. George Island Plantation

Vacation Style ~ Floral Romper

It's August, y'all!  This summer has flown by!!  It's still technically summer, even though with the start of August comes the fall fashion rush, so I'll be posting summer looks here as well as some pre-fall outfits until summer is really over!  I wear a lot more florals in the spring and summer than I do in the fall and winter and my vacation style this year was very floral heavy.  The bold pattern and colors of this romper got me right away!  Plus The Hubs loves this coral color on me so I knew it was a vacation/summer must have!

~ What I'm Wearing ~

Floral Romper: Entourage Clothing

Straw Bag: "Vintage" Michael Kors | Current version here

Heels: Colin Stuart (Old) | Similar

Aviators: Stella & Dot

Chandelier Earrings: Stella & Dot

Stone Bracelet: Stella & Dot

Lippie: NYX Full Throttle in Jolt

This Thursday I head to Charleston for The Blog Societies annual conference.  It's my first time going and I'm excited, nervous and scrambling on what to bring and wear.  The new business cards didn't happen (I have business cards, I just wanted to freshen them up), I'm currently working on my media kit and I have yet to pack or even decide what to wear.  A few super cute outfits came in at work this past week, one is a floral jumpsuit and another is floral dress, both of which I'm obsessed with so they will most likely be making the cut but I need at least three more outfits.  Here are a few options I'm considering...

1 ~ White Off the Shoulder Dress

2 ~ White Lace Romper

3 ~ Green Romper

4 ~ White Layered Dress

5 ~ Orange Dress

6 ~ Black Maxi Dress

7 ~ Black Lace Dress

Which are your favorites?  Tweet me, snap me, Insta me or comment below!  I've got to pack by Wednesday night!!

XO

Elizabeth

Photos taken at St. George Island Plantation by Virginia Hall

Vacation Style ~ The Cold Shoulder

This past week my family and I spent the week at St. George Island, Florida, for our annual beach vacation.  Is there anything better than a week at the beach with the people you love most?  It was a much needed week of R&R and family time.  Last year I planned about ten blog worthy outfits to shoot while on vacation but this year... only four.  The few weeks leading up to vacation were crazy at work and I only had one night, the night before we left, to outfit plan and pack, so...

We only went out for dinner one night this vacation and this flowey little cold shoulder tunic dress was perfect for the occasion.  I thought the pretty pastel colors were perfect for the beach and the cold shoulder trend is one of my favorites of the season.

~ What I'm Wearing ~

Cold Shoulder Tunic Dress: Entourage Clothing (sold out) | This one is really pretty and a great price!

Wood Heel Sandals: Colin Stuart (old) | Similar

Silver Layered Necklace: Stella & Dot

Sunnies: Stella & Dot

White Leather Wrap Bracelet: Stella & Dot (I wear it almost daily!)

The sun was setting when we ran out to shoot these pictures after dinner so they are a little dark (and I'm the worst at editing!!) but is there any better backdrop for pictures than the beach?!

XO

Elizabeth

Pictures taken at St. George Island Plantation by my favorite beach photographer, Virginia Hall!

Rompin

Rompers and jumpsuits are the best thing since Betty White if you ask me!  Honestly, I'm slightly obsessed.  Once piece dressing is just so easy!  Toss it on, add some accessories and you're done.  The only drawback is getting (almost) completely undressed when you have to use the restroom, but to me the benefits of comfort and ease balance out the inconvenience of a bathroom break.

Savvy Style Tip: Rompers can look too "little girl" if they have ruffles, lace and cut in hems on the shorts.  To make a romper age appropriate keep the style and detail simple and classic.

~ What I'm Wearing ~

Romper: Entourage Boutique | The one I'm wearing is sold out but they have the same style in taupe with navy embroidery Here.
Straw Fedora: Target
Sunnies: Similar
Chandeliers: Stella & Dot
Necklace: Stella & Dot | I'm wearing the top piece to the Rebel Cluster.
Bangle: Stella & Dot

How do you feel about the romper/jumpsuit trend?

XO
Elizabeth



Photos by Virginia Hall



I'm linking up with some of my favorite blogs/bloggers this week. Links in sidebar.

Flashback Friday ~ Family Beach Vacation 2015

We've been back from our annual family beach vacation for almost two weeks now and I'm already wishing we could go back!  Having an entire week on quality family time is precious and something I don't take for granted.  Here are a few moments from this years' trip to St. George Island...

My family makes me smile!

There are a ton of dolphin at St. George and one of my favorite things to do while we are there is take the kayak out and get as close to them as possible!  We've had some very close encounters over the years!

Girl's Shopping day!
(What I'm Wearing ~ Dress: Forever 21, Bag: Versona Accessories, Jewelry: Stella & Dot)

While the girls go shopping the guys go deep sea fishing.  It's one the highlights of my son's year!

Dinner at Up The Creek.
(What I'm Wearing ~ Tank: Entourage, Shorts: Loft, Shoes: T.J.Maxx (old) Similar, All of our Jewelry: Stella & Dot)

Early morning kayaking with The Hubs.

While on vacation I trade in my usual workout routine of running and the gym for biking and walking on the beach!

Pre-shopping car selfie

My family, my heart!
Colton, Megan, Madison, Chad, Me and The Hubs

The Herrin's, Hall's and Cape's at St. George Island.  We were missing four Herrin's this year.  My brother-in-law and his family couldn't make it out from California due to some other commitments.  It's the first time in the (very) long history of our family vacation that people were missing.  We are looking forward to Christmas when we are all together.

We are blessed to be able to have this time together, away from it all, each summer.  It's one of my favorite weeks of the year.  Did you and yours get to get away this summer?

XO
Elizabeth

My Swimsuit Story

Here's a little tidbit about me, I've always been an avid exerciser but I've also always struggled with my weight.  I've been every size from a 00 to a 12.  Seriously.  Many summers I've been in good enough shape to wear bikini while at the beach or pool.  But there have been some years, like after babies and after my daughter's long hospital stay where I lived on cafeteria food and cupcakes, that I've had to switch to a one-piece or tankini to spare everyone from the sight of my, um, not-so-toned midsection.  Last summer I reaped the rewards of a year of really hard work and a strict diet and was able to bring a wardrobe of bikini's with me to the beach.  Well, this summer rolled around and after a long year of a lot of stress, I've gained fifteen pounds and the bikini's were staying home.  It used to be that stress caused me to loose weight but once I reached 40 it has done the opposite.  The over 40 weight struggle is real, friends!  One of my dear friends described trying to keep your weight down after 45 like trying to keep a beach ball under the water.  The minute you force it down it pops right back up again!  Ugh! So I had to go dreaded swimsuit shopping before our family beach vacation.  Fortunately there are a lot of really cute tankini's and one piece swimsuits out there.  There are also cute cover-ups for the beach/pool days you're wanting to just sit under the umbrella and read a good book.

I love mixing patterns, even with my swimsuits!
Striped Halter Tankini Top: Target
Polka-dot Bikini Bottoms: Target
Kimono With Fringe: The Loft Boutique (sold out) Similar
Beach Read: Judy Blume
Sunnies: Quay Australia
Fedora: Target

Scarves make great cover-ups!  I'll do a tutorial soon.
Tankini Top: Victoria's Secret
Bikini Bottoms: Victoria's Secret
Large Scarf: Stella & Dot
Floppy Hat: Natural Paper Company
Sunnies: T.J.Maxx (These are similar and at the top of my wish list!)

I love a white swimsuit, especially after spending a few days in the sun.  I decided the tie-dyed bottoms, instead of white, added some interest.
Tankini Top: Victoria's Secret
Bottoms: T.J.Maxx ~ These were from one of last year's bikini's and still fit so I decided to get a tankini top to go with them.  Here's a similar option.
Flip Flops: Michael Kors
Hat: The Natural Paper Company
Sunnies: Similar
Beach Read: Judy Blume c/o PopSugar Must Have Box

I opted for a new all red tankini because I was hoping for the BayWatch effect ala Pamela Anderson.  It didn't work... ;-)
Tankini Top: Target
Tankini Bottoms: Target
Flip Flops: Michael Kors
Tie-dyed Tunic Top Used as a Cover-up: Entourage
Beach Read: Sophie Kinsella
Sunnies: Quay Australia

What's your swimsuit story?  

XO
Elizabeth

This week I'm linking up with some of my favorite blogs/bloggers.  Links in sidebar.