Outfit: Valentine's Date Night

 Whether you are going out with friends or having a date night with your honey, Valentines day is the night to wear pink or red! This Valentines day, my girl friends and I decided it would be fun to get together regardless of our relationship status'. To dress for the occasion I found an adorable pink satin dress to wear out! Paired with some black heels and a simple necklace I have the perfect outfit for a fun night. 

 

Maddies Outfit:

Dress: Nordstroms

Shoes: Nordstroms

Okay, I had a little Nordstroms shopping trip ;) Can't wait to wear it out.

 

Whats your favorite Valentines day outfit?

 

 

Maddie

Outfit: Workday Wednesday

It has been oddly warm in Portland  this week! Flower bulbs are sprouting, birds are chirping, and I even left the house today without a coat on. For my Workday Wednesday outfit this week I chose an outfit that could be worn in this warm weather or paired with a blazer when the weather is forty degrees and rainy! 

I can't seem to get away from my black pencil skirt! It is so versatile and practical. Now I just need to work on my tan and I will be all set for spring.  Do you have an item in your wardrobe that is your go to piece?

Ellie's Outfit:
Shirt:  Target
Skirt: Banana Republic
Belt: Target (Similar)
Shoes: Target

Ellie

Craft: Valentine's Day Cards

One of my favorite childhood memories is making homemade Valentine's Day cards. I loved making individual cards for all my classmates and the creativity involved in doing something special for a friend. To this day, I still love making cards and as a teacher get to make cards for all of my students. Here are the cards I made this year! 

 I used a stamping technique where you stamp the stamp multiple times per inking. It gives the card a faded look and adds variety in color.

After stamping the hearts and letting them dry, I added a Happy Valentine's Day stamp and embossed it with metallic embossing powder. The embossing powder makes the words pop off the card and gives it texture.

On the inside of each card I stamped this adorable penguin stamp.

The craziness of the craft table!

Finished project!

I am excited for Valentine's Day. It is such a festive day in the first grade and always makes the kiddos feel so appreciated and special.

Ellie

Outfit: Sweaters and Jeans

When the sun comes out in Portland it is amazing to see the abundance of people emerge from the warm comfort of their homes. The streets fill with young families pushing strollers hoping to catch a couple rays before returning  to hibernation. This weekend, before the Superbowl  we took a stroll through downtown Sellwood. It was fun to walk around, chat, and look at the different antique shops. We both wore casual and comfy outfits that started with basic jeans and a t-shirt and then added more festive pieces. 

Ellie's Outfit:

Sweater: Thrifted (Originally Ann Taylor Loft)

Jeans: Gap

Shoes: Nordstroms (Similar)

Maddie's Outfit:

Sweater: Thrifted (Originally J Crew)

Jeans: Anthropologie

Necklace: Tiffany & Co.

Boots: Nordstroms

 



What is your comfy go to outfit for the weekends?

Ellie & Maddie

Outfit: Workday Wednesday

This week I challenged myself to move away from skirts and dresses and find an outfit that I usually wouldn't gravitate towards. In the past I have had a hard time finding outfits that were both flattering on my body and incorporated pants.  I chose to wear a cropped pair of black slacks from Banana Republic that I feel work well with my figure when paired with the right items. To lengthen my legs and draw attention away from my hips I added some fun pumps and a long blouse. Sparkly earrings also add to the glamour of the outfit. 

Finding these pants took a lot of effort and time. Choosing pieces that fit and flatter is essential to an items longevity in your wardrobe. I am always reminded of this fact when I look at my mother's closet. She has many items that are older than Maddie and me but, because of the quality and fit of the items they continue to look great and in style. 

Ellie's Outfit:
Pants: Banana Republic
Shoes: Target (similar)
Shirt: Target
Coat: J Crew (out of stock)

Ellie

Fitness: Running in Washington Park

One of the many benefits of living in Portland, Oregon is the beautiful parks and running trails just minutes away. There is something about running through the woods on a cold winter morning that can be both magical and therapeutic. My mother, Nancy, and I are training for the San Francisco Marathon this June. For the sake of a goofy blog post and because it was a Saturday, we decided to take our phone with us and take a couple of pictures mid run. Sadly, we learned that taking action shots is not as easy as advertised and we also looked like total tourists :)

One time we saw the T.V. show Grimm filming in this clearing!

Our usual 8 mile loop that we run Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings begins with a 2 mile hill which brings us up to the Rose Garden and Japanese Garden. We then continue on a combination of hilly trails that run throughout Washington Park.

              

If you have any questions or need any specific running advice feel free to contact Ellie and me for tips and tricks!

Maddie

Outfit: Thrifing

With the abundance of stylish people living in Portland, it is easy to find some lightly worn items at the multiple thrift shops around town. Finding a bargain and a great piece can be challenging though. Here are some of our tips:

1. GOODWILL: This is where expensive thrift shops often get their items. If you have the patience and time you can find numerous pieces to add to your wardrobe which usually won't cost more than ten dollars. Our favorite Goodwill is the SuperStore, located in SE Portland. It is massive and we have found tons of deals. 

2. GO NOW:  After the holidays many people have restocked with new clothes, thrift stores therefore get a surplus of items that people have donated to make room in their closets.  We found this to be especially true on our most recent trip to Goodwill, where we each found more quality items than usual. 

3. BRANDS: It may sound obvious but look at labels! A five dollar tank top originally from Fovever 21, may not be as much of a bargain as a cashmere sweater from J Crew. Quality brands tend to hold up better and maintain their fit. Always check for stains, pilling of sweaters, and rips. Some of our favorite brands to look for when thrifting are: Pendleton, J Crew, LL Bean, and Ann Taylor Loft. Finding a vintage Coach bag is the pinnacle of a thrifting experience.  

4. TRY ON: Brave the florescent lights and long lines, it is worth it! Many items at thrift stores made it to the donation pile because of an odd fit or flow. Trying on your finds is essential to knowing if they will work at home, and not end up back at the donation center. Our strategy is to grab a large shopping cart, scan each rack, throw in any possibles, and then try on. We often have twenty items in our cart when we go to the dressing room and walk out with two or three great steals.  

Here are a couple of our latest finds: 

J Crew Sweater

Ellie's Outfit: 

Sweater: Thrifted - Originally J Crew

Dress: J Crew (Similar)

Belt: J Crew (Similar)

Boots: Frye

Bracelet: Gift from Dad :) 

Aztec Skirt

Maddie's Outfit: 

Skirt: Thrifted - We are not sure where it originally came from, but it is awesome! 

Jacket: Levi (Similar - color no longer available) 

Boots: Nordstroms

Happy Thrifting! 

Ellie & Maddie