Stripes + Nikes

Short & Chunky

So. I've said this 8937 times before, but I love me a good mini skirt. I'm not talking hoochified, sneaky peek type mini, but you know, the I'll show my leg and not have to deal with shorts bunching up type mini. Ya feel me? Any who. I bought this skirt at Gap Outlet like a week after I had my baby last year. It's a little big now, seeing as I no longer have that extra baby weight, but I kinda like it better this way. Little more relaxed & easy. Though this skirt is definite a summer piece, I love the color it brings, and even more so, I love incorporating bright color into a season when everyone wants to gravitate towards black. (Myself included). 

The trick to rockin' a mini this time of year, is to pair it with a heavy, chunky knit and those tall boots. You can add leggings, too, if you want, but Dallas is still rollin through mild temps right now, so I didn't need the extra layer. I always tell people that the key to showing skin is to do it here or there but not everywhere. A short skirt with a heavy, conservative top. A fitted crop top with wide leg jeans or a full skirt. Low cut with high waisted. You get it.

Happy fall, y'all!

#goto

I am LOVING the fact that ponchos have made their oversized way back into our little lives this season. They give any gal an excuse to wear a glorified blanket out on the town!

This black window pane print one is from Old Navy, and it's a favorite of mine for so many reasons. It's comfy, cute & versatile! I bought mine in a size up because I liked the ultra oversized feel! My husband, not so much, butttttttttt #sorrynotsorry, honey buns. 

This outfit is quickly becoming my go-to look each week. OK, by each week I mean each day. Can you blame me!? You can wear it over a cotton tank like this look today, or you can dress it up by layering it over a chambray button-up with a tan wool skirt and some over the knee boots!

Versatility...comfort...style...ability to hide the 15 lbs I'm going to gain around my midsection in the holiday weeks ahead....check, check, check.

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That LBD for day or night

So. I've been doing some closet cleaning and simplifying lately. I'm really wanting to hone in on pieces that I can wear a zillion ways and get rid of the rest. This presented a bit of a challenge, which excited me because I suddenly started playing dress up trying to figure out all the ways I could wear all of my favorites. Have you ever done this? I challenge you to do so. 

Anyway, I bought this darling little lace dress for a steal at Nordstrom Rack a few weeks ago. It's Free People, so you know it's flowy, bohemian and flirty. The back is see-through black lace so it's a bit sassy, BUT that didn't stop me from seeing all the potential in this bad boy. A little lace dress goes a long way any time of year. You can dress it up for a special occasion when you want to be sassy or you can layer it up and give your casual outfit an unexpected pop of lace detail. Maybe you're not a lace person. In that case, you can take this tip for any of your little dresses that you love so much.

Here are two ways I wore the same dress, giving it two very different looks. 

I belted it with a studded belt the first time around. I love the juxtaposition of the feminine lace + edgy metal studs. Any look that combines feminine + edgy is my jam.

I threw on my favorite chunky heels, but you could always go more classic with a simple black pump. I wore my hair up to show off the lace detail around the top and back!

As you can see, I'm ready to dance the night away!

To dress this thing down for a casual fall night, I focused on layers. You know, all those layers we all talk about during fall! Plaid adds an unexpected print & some color, and the denim jacket makes it super casual. Together it's a laid back, relaxed look I can wear out around town during the day or for a date night with my man! Of course, I couldn't resist my favorite felt hat & ankle booties. Don't be afraid to mix your casual pieces like these with your dressier pieces!

Voila! Would you have ever guessed this was the same little dress? That's the beauty!

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram for more daily outfit inspiration: @blaineashley

A Week of Summer Staples

So for anyone who follows me on Instagram recently, knows I love sharing a good piece of clothing or outfit. This last month has been blistering hot, so I've been all about the comfy, lightweight, functional go-tos.  

ABOUT MY LOOKS:

This first blue dress is a must-have from Target. It's something that wasn't overly appealing online or even on the rack, but something spoke to me and I had to try it on. It was a definite YES, as it's so comfy and has the off-the-shoulder style that's so in right now. This is something that's great for a patio date night or a beachy vacation. You can pair it with strappy gladiator sandals or dress it up with a chunky heel! 

The striped mid skirt was a sale find at Gap. It's a stretchy cotton (almost sweater-like) fabric and it IS SO COMFY! It's something that can be worn high waisted or down on the hips. I love the midi-length and high slit because it adds a fun detail! (Side note: midi skirts can shorten the legs a bit, so if you're wanting to really look taller, this may not be the style for you!) I tied up a simple white tank and loved every bit of this look. I wore it for a backyard BBQ my husband and I attended recently!

The black t-shirt dress is another win from Target. I'm all about the shirt dress these days, y'all. Literally the most versatile, comfy thing you can own! I love the shirt tied around the waist because it adds a laid-back cool detail that's effortless and easy! This is a look you might wear to the mall, or out for errands, and then switch out your comfy sandals for a pair of heels and a bold statement necklace and your look is now nighttime ready! I think I wore this dress 4 days in a row recently. I'm not kidding. And in the Fall, I'll be layering it over some leggings and tall boots! Can't wait!! Don't walk, run to get this bad boy before it's off the shelves! 

Can't wait to share more looks with you next week!

Jackson Hole Dreamin'

Disclaimer: This post has way too many pictures. 

So there's this place waaaaaay up in the mountains of Wyoming not far from the Idaho border, and I think it may very well be Heaven's existence on Earth. Jackson Hole sits at the base of the Grand Tetons and is surrounded by everything we do not have here in North Texas. (Read: Mountains, wildlife, clean air, authenticity) We had the opportunity to visit this little dream of a town and let me tell you, there's nothing quite like it. It was our first family vacation in quite sometime, as we grew up going to Vail, CO, every year, but haven't been in a while. It's hard to get all of us together these days. Especially now that we have husbands in the picture, too. We thought we were going to have everyone this time around for once, but my sister's husband had a last minute work obligation come up, so we were minus 'ole Dustin. But it was a great time with the fam!

We spent our days on hikes, bikes, strolling around town or just lounging around the immaculate house we were so lucky to spend the week in. It's nice to have family friends who own sweet vacation homes, y'all. It's even better when said friends give you the keys to their home for a week!

The house was beautiful - several old cabins that they combined into one gigantic 6 bedroom, 7 bathroom mountain home on like, 70 acres of beautifulness. The evening we arrived there were two moose in the yard. Just chilling.  Obvi we had major STOP THE CAR RIGHT NOW SO I CAN TAKE A PICTURE tourist moment. No shame. Apparently moose and bears roam around this place like the $40,000 millionaires around Dallas. They're everywhere. There's even signs on sidewalks around town warning you not to be strolling around the outskirts before sunset because that's bear feeding time. I mean..not tryin' to be anyone's dinner tonight, y'all. 

Anyway, clearly we obeyed and did not get eaten by a mountain creature. As I said, we did all the cliche mountainy things and loved every minute. Our child actually cooperated and sat tight in the baby hiking backpack carrier seat everyday, too. Miracles do exist.

We hiked a few hours up each time, getting high enough in altitude to be surrounded by snow patches in mid-June! I decided to put on my big girl panties (one might call them stupid panties, too) and dip into Ski Lake, a small lake we reached about 2 miles up the mountain one day. There was snow on the shore so I should have known better. But you know, when in Rome. Or Jackson. Do as the locals do, right? I don't really know if they swim in this lake. They probably do not. It is COLD. I got a mild bout of frost bite at the base of my big toe and it was good and purple for two days as a result. But hey, I made a memory. And got a natural ice bath to give my muscles the boost they needed after three days of uphill hikes. One of the days we piled in the 'burban and drove down the road to Yellowstone National Park. We didn't hike there, but we did spend two hours browsing around the geysers and hot springs bubbling up everywhere. Yellowstone is MASSIVE, you guys. Who knew? Well, maybe you did, but I certainly did not. We're talking like you need 4 days just to see it all kind of massive. It's a good reminder of just how small and minuscule we really are. (Deep, I know.)

The last day we took a two-hour raft trip down the Snake River and that was neat. There was potential for all sorts of cool wildlife sightings, but of course no one came out to play for us. We did see some serious Eagle nests, but no sign of the bird itself. (We also found Sandra Bullock's house, but no sign of Sandy, either) The Osprey were flying about, but you know, they were kind of the JV version of the Eagles. No offense to any Osprey reading this. 

Anyway, Jackson Hole is the place for any outdoorsy adventurous peeps looking for a getaway. It's beautiful, the weather is perfect (high 70s/low 50s) this time of year and it is a soul-cleansing breath of fresh mountain air.

Here are a few of my favorite shots from our trip:

Scars

So...I'm going to take it back a bit. Almost a year, actually. I've gone back and forth on sharing my thoughts on this issue, and contemplating on just how I wanted to go about doing it. If I'm going to tell you that I'm using this space as a platform to speak freely and honestly, then I'm going to tell you what has inspired me to do so.

I had our first child last June. I was 40 wks + 1 day pregnant on the day I had her. She came via a scheduled c-section at 3:16 pm, after a quick 15 min procedure that was painless and effortless on my part. At least physically. A procedure that I had never in a million years even thought twice about experiencing. A procedure that very literally broke my heart and my spirits.

I contemplated going into detail on the circumstances and reasons that led up to our decision, but it doesn't matter at this point. On my due date, sonograms were predicting her to be nearly 11 lbs, and if we waited longer, she would just continue to get bigger than that. That's BIG, y'all. My body wasn't showing any signs of giving way and my narrow hips weren't adjusting enough to make space for her to drop. Our doctors looked at every scenario and gave us candid, professional, wise advice. We had to be smart. There. That's the gist of it.

I shed countless tears when we scheduled the procedure and more came in the weeks to follow. I never planned on having a c-section. The thought never once crossed my mind. I had a perfectly healthy pregnancy, so why would I have anything but a perfect delivery, too? Right? But, here I was. At 27, my first child was coming via cesarean, ruining all chances I had to experience child birth in my lifetime. The right given to me as a woman. Call me crazy, but it was something I truly longed to experience.

She was born healthy and happily. About as big as they predicted she would be! We were over the moon with our new addition and so thrilled to meet her, but my recovery was hard. The immense physical pain just fueled the fragile mental state that I was in. I truly felt broken. My body felt like it was quite literally torn apart and my spirit was totally shattered. I was exhausted as we transitioned into our new life as parents and the responsibility of tending to a baby 24/7 overwhelmed me. I had a flood of new worries and concerns that had never phased me before. I was responsible to keep her alive. How could I pretend to be so joyful when I felt so bitter inside?

I can't really explain my feelings in a way that makes a lot of sense. I can tell you that I was sad and angry, but from an outsider's prospective it can seem silly. Selfish, even. I was having a perfectly healthy baby. Why does it matter so much as to HOW I was having her? So many people struggle with infertility, how could I possibly be angry? I have a child that I was able to carry! But I couldn't shake my bitterness. I couldn't shake my anger at my body for not cooperating. I couldn't shake the sadness knowing that I was never going to get to experience childbirth in the way that a woman was created for. Oh, and the people that want to comment and say things like, "You got the easy way out!"  or, "At least you didn't have to go through labor and all the pain!"......Don't get me started. Clearly those statements are untrue.

It was a long first couple of months for me. It took a toll on my body in numerous ways. I lost a LOT of weight. One month post-baby, I was already 10 lbs lighter than I was BEFORE I was pregnant. I was unhealthy and drained to a pulp. Gracen was big and hungry and uninterested in being patient and nursing. So breastfeeding presented its own exhausting, disappointing battle. For eight weeks, I was confined to a pump and pumping all day everyday to get her the milk she needed since she wouldn't nurse. I also came to a point where I avoided even looking at my scar because it just made me angry. It was a reminder of what I couldn't do. It made me feel like a failure. My struggles with nursing made me feel like a failure. I felt like damaged goods.

As time passed and prayers were lifted (my mom had them coming from everyone she knew...I know she did) I slowly was able to find some peace as the newness of motherhood settled in. My body healed, and that lifted my spirits some. I found a way to get in the swing of my new life. Gracen meeting milestones each day brought me joy and gave me glimmers of hope and understanding that this bright young baby was worth my decision that brought me so much inner turmoil.

I've realized now that the decision on June 11, 2014, to schedule a c-section was the first of many selfless acts I will do in the name of love and safety for my sweet girl. I put my desires as a woman, my plan & my wants aside to ensure that our baby could come into this world safely. It was a decision that was made solely to protect her. And it won't be the last one of its kind.

The funny thing about making plans of our own is that ultimately, it's not up to us. We can try to control our situation and try to make sense of our circumstances, but it undoubtedly ends up in disappointment. As soon as I quit focusing on the fact that my story didn't pan out the way I wanted it to, I was able to find joy in the sheer fact that I even had a story to tell. I had a healthy baby. A new family. A true miracle and the ultimate blessing.

I no longer look at that six-inch scar that sits low across my pelvis with disappointment or embarassment. I look at it with an appreciation for modern medicine and the wisdom of the doctor that put it there. I look at it with thankfulness that it provided a safe avenue for my baby to come into this world. I look at it as a symbol of selfless love. It's a reminder that I am strong. It's a reminder that I am a mother. It's a reminder that when it comes to protecting our children, we put ourselves aside. It's an incision that is nearly invisible at this point, but the blessing that it brought me is visible everyday. I'm listening to that blessing talk and giggle with her toys in the living room right now.

I'm sharing my story because I've found that sometimes it's nice to know that there are people who maybe sharing the shame struggles as you. I'm so tired of seeing women shaming other women. I'm tired of seeing recent trends of know-it-all "I saw this article on the Internet" graduates of Google University tell the world that certain ways of parenting are better than another. That however you had your baby is better than how I had mine. That your breastfed child will succeed over my formula-fed baby. That you are somehow righteous because your story unfolded differently. You don't know my story. You don't know my reasons. And you don't have to. We are all mothers. We all love our children. We all want to be our best and do our best for them. I made my decision in an effort to protect my child. It doesn't make me less of a mother, it just makes me a brave one. I have nothing to be ashamed of.

Our next baby will come into the world the same way that our first one did. Via the same scar that I'm marked with today. Except I will have a different attitude and appreciation for my situation the second time around, if we are so lucky. It will be another reminder that I have been given a body that is strong enough to house a human being. It'll be another reminder that there is nothing like the blessing of a child. It'll be another reminder that there is beauty in surrendering control and finding joy in whatever the story is that our God has written for us.