Inspiration Monday - Spring has sprung

I haven't done an Inspiration Monday with two birds in awhile, but liked this look they picked from Cara Delevigne (and who is she? #oldlady) this week.

I've been looking for an excuse to finally wear this boho style fringe vest I bought way back this fall, so I think this finally gave me the excuse to do it!  And ankle pants because Spring has come to Minnesota and I sure hope it's here to stay!  And I'd love to wear my hat all day, but sadly I will have to take it off for work.  The hair growing is going all right, but it's nice to just hide under a hat too!

Shirt - Gap (thrifted on Instagram), Vest - thrifted (b. resale)

Pants - Old Navy, Shoes - from friend

Hat - Target 

I'd love to say more, but it's been a hectic day already with a checkup for Oliver (he's healthy) and catching up at work, so this is all I've got today.  Friday was hectic too with a water heater inspection at our house and a half day of work that day too!  So I'm a little behind on my blogging groove, but should be back to regular programming tomorrow!  In the meantime, be sure to check out two birds for other Inspiration Monday looks!

Thrift Style Thursday - Hats

Ok so first off - thank you from the bottom of my heart on the love and support on yesterday's post. You all are just the best!  As my favorite fish from Finding Nemo says "just keep swimming" am I right?  Anyway, now on to one of the best days of the week - Thrift Style Thursday!

So the theme this week is Fall Hats - I kind of cheated a little, this hat I'm featuring today was not thrifted, but it was made for me as a gift, so I feel that still makes it relatively thrifty!  My sister-in-law is an extremely talented crocheter (is that the right word for someone who crochets?) and knitter. A couple of years ago she decided to do a mystery pattern - you signed up, received the yarn and instructions but you didn't know what you were making until it was finished.  It ended up being this hat and when it was done she realized it would be perfect for me - it's a color I love and the style is something I like as well, so it became my birthday gift that year!

It's definitely warm and I like wearing it when I go walking outside in the Fall and Winter - especially if it's darker out, you'll definitely see me coming in this hat!  She's made me a couple of other hats before too, but this one is definitely my favorite!  She has also made me scarves too and I'm kind of excited about my birthday present for this year - I already know what it is because I commissioned her for it, it's kind of a snood, I can't wait to show it off when I get it, I understand it's already done too!

It's definitely cold enough outside for hats and scarves and mittens all of a sudden.  After our snowstorm this week we were plunged into winter.  And it's not going to get warmer anytime soon.  I think I was right when I said earlier this week that last weekend was possibly the last time we'll get to go disc golf!

 Hat - handmade by sister-in-law, Dress - H&M

Vest - swap, Tights and boots - Old Navy

Tired child - courtesy of teething

 (he is wearing a thrifted Gymboree shirt and pants)

I don't always keep my hats on after coming inside in the winter, sometimes they are more for the function of keeping me warm than for the fashion, but I got into wearing them more last winter after Oliver was born.  Some days it was easier than dealing with my hair!  How about you - are your hats more functional or fashionable or both? Be sure to check out some of the other Thrift Style Thursday gals at their blogs below! Alligator Toe Little Did You Know Lipstick and Yarn Thrift Style Thursday Facebook group

Thrift Style Thursday/Throwback Thursday - Hats

I don't actually have any awesome hats that I've thrifted - but I decided to do this post in Throwback Thursday style instead - I was on a girls weekend many years ago now and we stopped at an antique store and tried on some really awesome hats - so I thought I'd share those pictures today.

My sister-in-law and I 

(yes back when I had glasses - not even my cool hipster ones either!)

 

My friend Gina and her sister Deborah and I

(I don't think I'd wear that hat I'm rocking here - maybe Gina's though, love peach!)

Sometimes it's fun to play pretend and dress up even when you're an adult!   

Be sure to check out these other Thrift Style Thursday posts at these fine blogs below!

Spoolish//Sandpaper Kisses//Sincerely Miss J//Confessions of a Refashonista//

Alligator Toe//Buttons&Birdcage//Snippets With Alex//Eclecticity//Being Zhenya//

Erika's Style Diary//Sistas from Cali//Rachel's Lookbook//

The Two Cent Chick//Lipstick And Yarn//Nuttier Than Nutella

Snow, snow, go away

Well.  Just got dug out from 8-10 inches of fresh snow.  I swear you guys.  I said it yesterday, I choose to live in a cold, snowy state, but seriously.  Adding insult to injury - it had rained before it snowed, so my car was not only full of snow this morning but it also had a nice sheen of ice on it too.  And the locks were frozen.  Sweet.  I had been sent home from work early yesterday, but knew my boss would be gone today and hadn't approved us coming in late or working from home, so I really needed to get out.  Pants Monkey to the rescue - he helped bust open my car and shoveled me out of the driveway.  He's my hero.

I saw so many stupid people this morning.  Yep.  I am not mincing words here - they seriously were just being stupid.  I was cut off by a guy in a big F150 style truck who DID NOT CLEAN OFF HIS WINDSHIELD.  Big pet peeve - it's so dangerous to do that.  I honked at him of course.  He proceeded to drive like an idiot and I thankfully lost him about a block from my parents house.  I also avoided a near miss with TWO trucks with plows that were doing people's driveways and backing up without looking behind them.  Sigh.  You stay classy Minnesota.

Sweater - Mossimo, Target

Jeans - Gap, thrifted

Hat and scarf - Target

Bag - Coach via Poshmark 

So anyway, I made it to my parents house in one piece, fed my child, got back out the door and was only about ten minutes late to work.  It could be worse.  And now it's cold again - but it's Friday, so a good excuse to wear a hat and cover up my shaggy horrible hair.  It most definitely will be getting chopped later today so it's all clean for Oliver's baptism this weekend.  I'm also relieved the storm hit yesterday and not Saturday into Sunday - that would have been worse!  I hope you all have great weekends - and maybe better weather than me if you don't live in Minnesota!

Inspiration Monday - Country Diva

I was super excited about this week's Inspiration Monday choice, because while I'm not really a country music fan, I adore Carrie Underwood. I love singing along to her music and I think she's a positive female role model for younger girls too. And, I had a couple of pieces to copy her sparkly and sassy outfit here, so that made it even better.

It was a rainy and yucky day on Saturday, but the Pants Monkey and I did get our golf lesson in before it started.  Then we decided to go out and have a little date night and in spite of the weather, I dressed up a little for him.  He bought me this shirt at the same time as the dress I've been wearing that he gave me for Valentine's Day but I had to wait until it got nice out to wear it.  And even though it was far from nice yesterday I just decided I wanted to pull it out.  It's a little more risque than normal Bethie wear, but I like it.

Mr. Monkey was also kind enough to snap these pictures before we went to dinner, during a brief rain hiatus.  I added the hat to the outfit both to protect my pretty head from the wet weather, but also as an ode to Carrie Underwood and the spirit of country music.

I'm also super impressed with how these pictures came out - he took them all on my iPhone!  I have to say, it has a decent little camera in it!

I added my sparkly LOFT sweater because I thought I'd freeze a bit in a halter top at the restaurant.  So, not as risque this way I guess.  You'll see this shirt again this summer I'm pretty sure, it's a great date night top and I know I'll love it when it's 90 degrees outside.

Sunday was more of the same weather wise, but the Pants Monkey set himself up a canopy and smoked us some meats.  And I'm sorry again, I have many vegetarian friends whom I respect and love, but I love me some meat and this was some outstanding meat.  I'm such a carnivore.  Mmm, meat. 

And now into the work week the weather of course has improved!  That's the way it always goes!!  Spring in Minnesota, you have to love it.

For more fun with Inspiration Monday, visit the two birds blog here.

Outfit rundown:

Halter top - VS (gift from Pants Monkey)

Sweater - LOFT (thrifted)

Jeans - Maurices

Shoes - DSW

Hat - Target

Necklace - Stella and Dot (create your own charm necklace)