Love is in the Air! What to Wear to Weddings this season!

It's wedding season! Late afternoon, sunset weddings are now happening. We just attended a gorgeous one for our friends Ali and Kevin! Congrats to the happy couple!

I for one never know what to wear. In California, we often read "black tie optional" on the invitation. That opens up a wide range of options. If you received an invite with that description, would you think long or tea length? Is short ok? Regardless of the level of dressiness, there are a few questions I ask myself....read on!  

1) Am I appropriate? Age-appropriate, length, color, seasonally-appropriate, coverage-wise...For instance, if I expect I might be dancing quite a bit, I don't want to have any wardrobe malfunctions! So, for this last wedding, I opted for this versatile, affordable dress (below, check out how cute it is with a t-shirt and converse underneath!).

2) Am I comfortable? Weddings are usually long. You start on the early side and go into the evening. Your shoes should be able to withstand the night (I brought these stretchy ballet flats to change into when my heels were too much), but I also heard these foldable shoes are wonderful, too. I wore my favorite (investment) closed-toed shoes because my toenails weren't painted (ha!), but if I had made the time, I would have worn open-toed strappy sandals. 

3) Do I think I'm gonna wanna enjoy the music? This is definitely something to consider when picking out your dress (and shoes).

4) For HIM? Do you want to coordinate on some level? I don't usually worry about this, but occasionally, it's fun to compliment or have a color scheme.

5) Will it get cold at night or will it be cold inside the venue? I brought a wrap for the evening. We're in such transitional weather here... warm during the day and pretty chilly at night. I like an option like this (and love all the color choices). 

6) Bag for essentials? I carried this clutch that turns into a cross body purse. (I also used it HERE for a casual look).

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This post and other ideas:

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Thanks for checking in today... chime in below with any thoughts! Stay tuned because I have some fun posts planned for the weekend. Happy Pre-St.Patty's Day!! Wear your green tomorrow. xoxo

TWINSIES in different colors ($37 PEACOAT?!) YES, PLEASE.

I met up with Ali Fedotowsky for coffee to help plan a little Bachelor get-together for tonight. (I know, how lucky am I to get to watch with a former bachelorette?!) Lo and behold, we were wearing the same jacket, just in different colors. I take this as a pretty big compliment because Ali has a fabulously approachable style. I've blogged about this jacket here  before (and the jacket sold out), but now that it's back in stock, it's worth mentioning again. I seriously get stopped about this jacket on the street. It's warm and cozy, but still looks sleek with it's clean lines and buttons. I like wearing it buttoned up, or open like Ali is wearing it (and don't you love her coat color? It also comes in black and hunter green). 

We both kept our looks simple, but funny enough, both had on our namesake jewelry. My nameplate necklace says HAYDEN on it, and Ali's says MOLLY. Ali usually has a statement piece of jewelry on as well. Today, she is wearing a pretty fabulous necklace -- I might need to borrow this or just get my own here or here. And I wouldn't be a decent blogger if I didn't admit I've asked her several times about her leggings. Every single time, she's wearing these compression leggings. I have my own go-to leggings (that some of you now love, too!), but I might add these compression leggings to my wardrobe, also.

We both tied our looks together with comfy, easy boots. Ali is wearing over-the-knee boots that I know she enjoys wearing often. And in case we might have forgotten, my coffee mug reminds us that we are not regular moms, but totally cool moms;). Yeah, right. Maybe she is!

1. MY JACKET  2. MY BOOTS  3. COFFEE CUP

4. ALI'S JACKET 5. ALI'S LEGGINGS

6. ALI'S BOOTS 7. ALI'S NECKLACE

I didn't get a good photo of the fun, stackable bracelets I'm wearing today, so I pulled a photo from a previous post. My sister wears her "she believed she could, so she did" bracelet all the time. I love the reminder on my wrist to simply believe! And if you have a friend expecting, a great shower gift for a mom-to-be or a new mom (or a new bride!) is this custom "all because two people fell in love" bracelet from The Silver Loft. 

So, HAPPY NEW YEAR... and to those of you tuning in for The Bachelor, have fun. Check back tomorrow with some thoughts from our viewing party tonight. #momsnightout! Thanks, hubby! xoxo

When you find a good (affordable!) thing...stick with it!

Earlier this week I wore this exact outfit, except the sweater was white- click here to see. When you find a good thing, I say stick with it. Especially when it is so affordable. At only $39, so I got it in white and green, too (it comes in 5 colors)! I love all how the black adds a touch of sophistication. The necklace adds interest and a bit more flair. It's comfy and layered so I can easily take the sweater off if I get too hot today. This is a perfect outfit for Thanksgiving dinner at home with the family, specially if you're traveling! You could always pair the sweater with some shorts on a warmer day, or add a peacoat (I love THIS ONE on sale right now) on a colder day! And, of course the necklace can go from day to night. Happy Friday! 

I feel the need to add that Hayden was just sitting up in the 4moms bassinet stroller for the picture-- not while we were moving. Safety always first;)

ANOTHER FAVORITE SWEATER IDEA! READ HERE! 

Finding the best deals for you today! $39! Happy Monday!

Hi everyone! Busy day today. Learning lines, running to a meeting and audition, running back home to nurse, errands, etc. But, had to share the deal I discovered and received in the mail this weekend. A cozy sweater for only $39? Yes, please. I love being able to put together looks without spending a ton. I'm wearing a size small. When I find something that works for me and my lifestyle, I also get it in other colors, so you'll see me wearing this sweater in black-shown below- and green. Ha! I actually got this plaid, soft flannel to go under it, adding a bit of a collegiate feel. And LOVE adding interest and a modern flare with THIS NECKLACE. (The necklace I'll be wearing with a variety of outfits. Such a fun piece for the holidays. The soft pastel color palette balances the sparkle, so it's not too blingy). The black faux leather and suede clutch is $25! Love these deals.

It's finally raining a bit in LA, so I'm wearing rainboots! This is an exciting experience for us in Southern California because it's rare. Carrying around Hayden so much, I'm all bout the flats, too! I'm just about to wear out my flat boots! Speaking of rainboots--- how adorable are the ones below? The dogs!? It might be a purchase I need to make!

PS- use the "search" box up in the top right to search "nursing" or "breastfeeding" to find better options for NURSING MOMS. ps- check back in later tonight. I'll be here blogging about the past week, Hayden's 5 month birthday (!!), appearance on Dr. Oz, answering questions, etc. THANKS for all of you that commented and watched and supported! 

xo Ashley