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Mom travel made easy

This weekend I left for a few days to attend a work conference.

I am going to get the doting mother quote aside right now. I adore my children, and I miss them so much when I am away from them!

Now that I have assured you that I am a loving mother and I and I adore my children, I will now say: I was SO excited to have a little time to myself. Time where I did not have to get someone a cup of milk, or walk around with my hair in a towel for over an hour after my shower because the kindle battery died, and someone MUST watch Cinderella or else she will DIE! Time where every conversation revolved around what I do for a living, and how I can grow and become more efficient and knowledgeable.

Time away also requires preparation. My husband took on the role of mom while I was gone. It's not that I was worried ... but there was the year he locked one of our kids in the car, while I was gone, and could not get into the house to get a spare set of keys. (This story is GREAT and one for another day ... just another reason you should click the 'follow button' so you don't miss it!!! I prefer Bloglovin' for my blog reading preferences, if you would like a tutorial, let me know in the comments)

The preparation is key ... meal prep, outfit decisions for the girls, setting our house up for minimal destruction while I am gone ... all must happen before I can even THINK about preparing myself. I try to help my husband with the girls outfits, without him knowing it (he likes to be self-sufficient with the girls and I like to let him think he is). The girls looked AMAZING each day I was gone. Their sitter was very impressed with Jared. Little did she know, I know my husbands methods ... grab the first thing on the top of the pile and pair with the first thing on top of the other pile - BAM - OOTD! To ensure the best outcome ... I stacked the girls drawers so the first 4 or 5 shirt/pant combo would match. Worked like a charm!

For me ... I really had to think about what I was wearing and how it would transfer to the different scenarios my conference offered. The first day included travel and then going directly into training's. I am a representative of my employer, so I like to ensure I put as much 'effort' into looking nice, while staying comfortable during travel. This also means choosing items which do not wrinkle or stretch.

Jeggings for the win!! These jeggings were great, they are thicker than denim and totally mimic a dress pant fabric, but with a form fitting silhouette. Wrinkles were non-existent, and they did not stretch. Yes, you read that correctly ... they ... did ... not ... stretch ... out!

These can be found here!

If you followed the link ... I know what you are probably thinking, "Uh, pretty sure your 'About Me' states, "Champagne tastes on a beer budget ..." and this is the second pair of pants you have suggested over $100."  Well ... I got really stinking lucky ... I found these babies at a local boutique ON SALE for $35. I WISH they had an online store ... it would be incredible!! However, after seeing how these babies performed this weekend ... I would pay full price for them! I would buy them in EVERY color if they came in more of a variety!!

The next day I decided on a nice pull over dress. It packed well, and gave me a good balance of business casual and comfortable. While I cannot find the specific one I wore in stores anymore, here are a few similar ones and the same price point I found mine!

Dress 1 / Dress 2 /  Dress 3

Each of these dresses is under $50, and all would be great for a day where you are navigating to areas of different temperatures. My conference had training's, which required you to travel from one room to another. The temperature was always changing, one room was so cold I would shiver, while another would be so warm I thought I might fall asleep. Having a lightweight dress with long or 3/4 length sleeves proved to be the perfect choice. I was comfortable in almost every room, and I looked effortless and professional at the same time. Win - Win - Win!

My final day was part training, part travel, so again I needed something comfortable and professional, which traveled well. I was able to put together a great outfit of leggings, boots and a flowy top. (I told you in my previous post, I like my flowy tops and leggings!).

My favorite leggings of ALL TIME are the Zella Black Live Leggings ... HANDS down amazing!! 

Leggings (on sale in pink)!

These leggings are by far the best for the price. Biggest factor - they /do not turn see-through when you bend over! They keep their color, even YEARS after washing and drying, they DO NOT STRETCH OUT and finally ... they suck your thighs in so tight you have a thigh gap! Okay - that is not a guarantee, but on a skinny day, if you haven't had breakfast yet ... it can happen!

Once I returned home ... floors needed mopped, counters needed to be wiped down ... and laundry needed to be completed. Why is it when you return home, after somewhat of a 'break', life seems to just HIT you, and suddenly you think, "Jeez life ... can't I have just a little bit of a transition?"!

What are your working travel staples? I would love to add a few more key items to my packing list for my next work trip.You never know when you might have a 'fat-day' and need that back-up outfit!

Mom Style Staples

I never thought of my wardrobe, as my mom uniform ... but that is exactly what it is. I have the SAME things in my closet, different colors, different cuts - but it all is the same.

- Boots
- Leggings
- Flowy tops to hide the mom pooch
- Skinny Jeans / Jeggings
- Ballet Flats
- T-Shirts ... a LOT of t-shirts

I try to follow trends when they are not too crazy ... I never quite got into the silk MC Hammer pants or point toed boots ... but I LOVE me some jeggings ... I hope that trend stays for a LONG LONG time!!

I recently purchased a SECOND pair of Frye boots ... in two colors ... because they are THAT amazing!!! They have been discontinued, so they are hard to find - but that means they are almost ALWAYS on sale when I do find them!!!



The Frye Jane Boot - found here or here (for those who need a little more calf room). 65% off!!! Seriously?? On FRYES!!! Strike while the iron is hot!!

These boots have been my GO TO boot for years!!! I LOVED them when I was pregnant. It gave me a little more of a put-together look, rather than flats would have. It looked like I put in more effort than I really had.

Same goes for now ... when I run to Costco or Target on the weekends, adding these boots to leggings and a flowy top, takes me from frumpy to classy, all in a pair of boots!!

For t-shirts, you cannot go wrong with your standard white v-neck. It is just a classic staple that goes with everything, jeans, leggings, even a pencil skirt for the relaxed, business casual look.


LOVE this tee in EVERY color. Being UNDER $20, it's a great option for any wardrobe. You can find it here and here if you want it in color and on SALE!!!

Finally - JEANS ... my favorite jean style is a long leg with a wide flare. I am on the shorter side, and something about this leg elongates me ... I am pretty sure you if you were to look back into my high school days, you would see me in these jeans as well!!


I LOVE these jeans (wash on cold with a little vinegar and the fading will be minimal), you can find them here or here (if you don't mind a bargain!!!)


I'm willing to spend a little more on my jeans - just because I wear them CONSTANTLY!! To me, its worth it. If I wear them all the time, and LOVE they way I look in them, I am willing to spend a little more. What about you? Are you willing to spend a little more on jeans, if you love the way you look in them and will wear them all the time?


What are your go-to items to pull your outfits together? A statement necklace or earrings? Where do you find them, I would LOVE some new resources!

I am making the jump!

Wow ... so this is how you do it, huh? This is how you start a blog ... you just sit down and write. Mind dump, in a sense.

To the public.

Letting everyone know what is going on in life. Do you hate those bloggers - who seem to make it look like everything is perfect, ALL THE TIME?

News Flash: THAT IS NOT ME.

For those of you who know me ... a quick recap ... for those of you new here, WELCOME to CRAZY TOWN! I live in Gig Harbor, WA with my husband ... two girls ... dog ... cat ... and home which is about to be remodeled ... I will be covering that later.

These girls and their tutu's

I was born and raised in Washington State and can think of no finer location to call home. I love where I live - and simultaneously wish I lived somewhere else. Somewhere grander perhaps? No ... somewhere that was self-cleaning. I would pretty much live ANYWHERE if it was self-cleaning.

I work full time, which means I wake up at the crack of dawn, get myself and the kids ready - head out the door, come home, and continue to work until my brain and body give way and I fall into bed - UTTERLY exhausted.

I have an amazing husband, who is an awesome dad (he will change a diaper, or dance with our tutu'd toddler at the drop of a hat) and a great sport. He will soon be a topic of a post, or two ... or three ... and he is aways great to smile his way through it. I married up with that man.

That pretty much sums our little family ... and my life ... like I said ... if you keep reading, you will definitely determine just how nuts I am!! And maybe how nuts my husband was to marry me.