Create28: Patterned Shorts Look

Patterned shorts have really become a fave of mine this summer! They can be dressed up or down and I have seen some of the CUTEST patterns lately!!

My favorite pair are these floral ones I snagged at Old Navy this past spring. I get compliments on them wherever I go! They were about $15 and I have definitely gotten great use out of them this summer!

I think what makes these shorts so versatile is the fact that they have a lot of different colors, so it's easy to pair them with a variety of tops. I've worn them with aqua, pink, white, coral...and now a little pattern mixing!!

I absolutely LOVE stripes and floral! Don't know when this obsession started, but I just can't get enough! I saw this dress at Nordstrom the other day and about passed out!

Not sure it would look great on me, but I just LOVE the floral colors paired with the bold black and white stripes! Click HERE for the dress.

Here are some other cute ways to wear patterned shorts ~

1. Paired with a bright top ~ Pairing patterned shorts with just a simple bright tee or tank is a classic summer look!

Source: J's Everyday Fashion

2. Paired with a graphic tee ~ How ADORABLE is this look?? Simple shorts and a tee, but no shortage of style here!

Source: Merrick's Art

3. Belted ~Not something you might immediately think of, but I have actually done a cognac belt with my floral shorts several times and I really like it!

Source: The Daily Mail

4. Dressed Up ~ Patterned shorts can be dressed down with a simple tee, but they also look awesome dressed up with a flowy blouse and wedges or heels--holy hotness!!!

 (couldn't find the original source!)

My floral Old Navy shorts have been sold out for awhile, but here are some super cute patterned shorts options (you can click on any image for more info)

What is your favorite way to wear patterned shorts? Let's see your cute patterns at #Create28SummerLooks!

Don't forget to enter the raffle to win $75 from Gap Brands, Loft, Nordstrom or Target! The last day to enter is next Thursday, July 30th!

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As always, here's lots more patterned shorts inspiration!

Follow A Little Bit of Cheer's board Patterned Shorts on Pinterest.

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Create28: My Summer Date Night Look

Happy Friday, ladies!  Do you have any fun plans this evening to celebrate the start of the weekend?  Perhaps you have a date tonight with a special someone!  What are you going to wear??  It's a good thing that's what we're discussing on day 24 of Create28: Lovely Summer Looks...summer date night looks!

My favorite date night look will always consist of that perfect little dress.  You know, that one that fits in all the right places, feels a bit flirty and makes you feel like a million bucks!  Add some cute wedges and I am ready for a night on the town!

I wore this Milly for Kohl's dress for my birthday dinner in May and just knew that I had to pull it out again before the end of the summer.  Sometimes with such bold pieces, I struggle to think of remixing options.  But ladies, it's all about the accessories.  You may remember that I wore this dress before with pink pumps but navy espadrilles give it a different vibe.  I also added a bold Kendra Scott necklace for a bit more glamour.  And don't forget that cute little clutch!

What is your go-to date night look.  Perhaps some short shorts or a sexy romper?  Carrie, Casey and I want to see you all gussied-up on Instagram (#create28summerlooks) and for our link-up on Monday!

Looking for some more ideas...

Follow Whitney R.'s board Summer Date Night on Pinterest.

And don't forget to enter our giveaway!  At the end of the month we will mail the lucky winner a $75 gift card to her choice of Gap Brand Stores, LOFT, Nordstrom or Target!  Check-out how to enter below.

What I'm Wearing:
Dress: Kohl's (similar, similar)
Necklace: Kendra Scott (exact)
Clutch: South Moon Under (exact in black)
Wedges: DSW (exact)

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Create28: Summer Layering

Do you layer your pieces in the summer? Does that seem odd? When it's hot it seems a little strange to add extra clothing. But when indoor venues crank the A/C down it can get a little cold if you're sleeveless. There are definitely reasons for layering in summer: Reason #1 ~ It adds a little warmth. Reason #2 ~ It adds variety and interest to your look. Reason #3 ~ It allows for better remixing options. Maybe you don't actually add that extra piece when you walk out the door but you can't go wrong with taking it with you. My go-to item that I grab is a light sweater. This look is one I would wear if we went out to see a movie. For me, it's seems to be a little too cool in most theaters.
 



I'm keeping it casual but adding interest with the pattern mixing. I kept the look within the same color scheme for easy mixing. You can do this, ladies! I promise!
 

Although I added a lightweight sweater, it would be just as easy to add a denim vest {medium wash or even white}. Sandals could replace the sneakers too and you have created an even different look while keeping the base {tee and shorts} pieces the same.

shorts/ON {exact} tee/ON {similar} sweater/target {similar} sneakers/payless {similar}

For some great inspiration and fun summer layering looks, click on the Pinterest board.

Follow Carrie Carson's board Create28 Summer Layering on Pinterest.

Be sure to stop back tomorrow when Whitney will be showing us a Date Night Look. We all need one of those don't we?

Don't forget to enter our giveaway for a chance to win a $75.00 Gift Card. Your choice of Gap Brands, Loft, Nordstrom or Target. Closes at 5:00 pm CST on July 30th and we'll announce the winner the next day!

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Don't forget to add your look to Instagram #Create28SummerLooks.

  Where I'm linking up.    

Create28: A Summer Skirt Look

I LOVE skirts. But for some reason, skirts don't typically end up in my closet. I confessed in this post that I had never owned a pencil skirt before!!! Because my lifestyle is so casual (3 young kids), I think I tend to shy away from skirts because I feel like they are "too dressy." However, last year I purchased this cargo-type skirt at Loft and I really love it! It totally fits my casual lifestyle and is a great alternative to shorts in the spring and summer.

I can just throw on this skirt with a  casual tee and sandals and I am just as comfortable in it as I would be in shorts or jeans. Plus, it has pockets so that's always a HUGE plus!! If you're looking for a casual skirt, here are some great options:

Once in awhile though, I am glad I have my pencil skirt for more dressy occasions. But you know me, I can never go toooooo dressy! In this post, I dressed down my pencil skirt with a denim vest  and casual wedges ~

Here I dressed down the same skirt with a simple graphic tee....but I did add heels and bling, though...FANCY, right??!!!

Skirt: c/o Shabby Apple (exact)

Get Your Pretty On Tee - proceeds from the sale of this shirt go to the Pretty Strong foundation to help women undergoing cancer treatment. Click HERE for the shirt (TONS of options!)

I absolutely love this skirt from Shabby Apple! Their quality is top notch and they have the most ADORABLE skirts and dresses! You can see all of my Shabby Apple faves in this post.

Click here and use the code BLUES for 15% off all Shabby Apple skirts and dresses!

The more I try skirts, the more I warm up to them. Are you a "skirt person??" What are your favorite types of skirts? Here is more summer skirt inspiration!

Follow A Little Bit of Cheer's board Summer Skirts on Pinterest.
 
Join Carrie here tomorrow when she talks about summer layering. I can't wait to see her look! Don't forget to enter the raffle for a $75 Gift card!!

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Create28: My Favorite Jewelry

I don't know about you, but summer seems to be the season when I find motivation to get into better shape!  Perhaps it's because I can exercise outside in the sunshine.  Or maybe it's because I'm a teacher and when the school year gets hectic, exercise takes the back burner in life.

You may be wondering why I started a post about jewelry by talking about fitness.  Well, it's because I have a new jewelry item in my collection that's helping with my activity goals: a Fitbit.  These things have been on the market for sometime now but if you've never heard of one, a Fitbit is a glorified pedometer that tracks your steps and sleep patterns.  You can also use the corresponding app to log your water and calorie consumption for the day.

I've been wearing a Fitbit for about a month now and I love it!  Not only does it keep track of everything for me, but it motivates me to get extra physical activity each day.  There have been a few evenings that I've done laps around my apartment so that I can achieve my step goal for the day!

The only complaint I have about my Fitbit is that it isn't very pretty.  So here is where we combine jewelry and fitness!  I want to share with you a few things that I've done to make my Fitbit a little bit more à la mode (and I don't mean ice cream, see my sidebar if you are confused).

The simplest way to jazz-up your Fitbit is to purchase it in a color that you like.  You can also purchase extra wristbands (for less than the cost of the whole Fitbit) so that you can change-up the look.

photo courtesy of Fitbit

The easiest way that I've found to dress-up my Fitbit is to wear the band that best matches my outfit and then stack-on a few neutral bracelets.

Druzy Bangle: c/o Rocks Box

Wrap Bracelet: Gift

Another way to add a little interest to the pedometer is to wear the band that is in the same color family as the outfit you are wearing, then add other bracelets in the same family.  For example, I worked with blue and green hues here.

Bangles: Alex and Ani

A really fun way to wear a Fitbit is to choose a band that really pops against what you are wearing (like this hot pink against a navy dress).  With the band, wear a big colorful bracelet that pulls-out the colors of the Fitbit and your outfit!

Bracelet: Gift

My final tip for styling a Fitbit is to pair a band with a bracelet in the same color for a cohesive look!

Michigan Map Bracelet: Gift

Do you have any other ideas about how to style a Fitbit?  I would love to hear about them in the comments since I plan to keep wearing mine!  And what's your favorite jewelry item this summer?  Show Carrie, Casey and me on Instagram (#create28summerlooks) and don't forget to link-up on Monday.  We are also still hosting our giveaway of a $75 gift card to your choice of Gap brand stores, LOFT, Nordstrom or Target.  See below for details!

Casey is back tomorrow showing us some skirt looks!

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Create28: Remixing a Summer Piece

Remixing is one style trick that allows you to extend pieces throughout seasons and create new looks easily. Although I like to remix my pieces, I can sometimes have a creative block and get into a rut where it is way too easy to grab the same few items over and over again. If I take a few moments and plan ahead I am more likely to remix my looks. My example of remixing is my little striped dress. I do believe that a black and white striped dress can be a great staple in your wardrobe, I have yet to find one that I like. It's one of those elusive pieces for me. Since blue has become a go-to color in my wardrobe I'm using a white and blue striped dress as a basis for my remix.

After starting with the basic dress, I simply looked in my closet for a piece that would allow me to remix the dress and create a different look. The blouse I chose has the same basic colors but an opposite print. Since I'm remixing, I thought I would add a little pattern mixing too. Creating visual interest and variety continues to keep your wardrobe fresh.

By adding an untucked blouse and belt, the dress takes on a whole new look. It appears to have a look of a jacket and gives a professional flair to the ensemble.

Next, I simply removed the belt and tied the shirt tales to create a put together look with a more casual vibe.

dress/ON {similar, similar} blouse/the limited {similar, similar} shoes/dsw {similar, similar}

I kept the accessories minimal for this look because there is a lot going on with patterns, belting and tying. I actually tried to add a necklace but it just looked out-of-place.

This is a three-fer type of look. Using two pieces and a few accessories, three outfits were created. Did you notice the shoes remained the same? This was actually a really simple look and I'm sure you can do the same by just perusing your own closet a little bit.

One of my blogger friends, Alex {Undergraduate Style} created a board for remixing. Hope you'll check it out for more inspiration.

Follow Alex Welch's board Remixaholics on Pinterest. 

 Tomorrow Whitney's here with her favorite jewelry. She's a Rockbox girl and should have some lovely pieces to share. Please keep reading to see our favorites and most clicked from last week...and be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of the post! Last week our link-up grew! We were excited to see it grow. Feel free to spread the word to your friends, too. We loved seeing your looks on Instagram too. #Create28Summer Looks. We each chose a favorite look from the link-up last week. Here's our reveal our favorites and the most clicked. 

Sandy, at Sandy a la Mode, you stole our hearts with a picture perfect look and that baby...we were just gushing! Morgan, at Pampers & Pearls rocked the crop top and culottes with confidence. Jess, at Elegantly Dressed and Stylish pulled off all white with perfection. Good job, ladies! Hope to see you back again this week. The most clicked was Katie at The Mishaps and Mayhem of a Solitary Life. She also rocked the all white with a little pop of color in just the right way. 

 

It's time to share your looks from last week. Link 'em up ladies! We can't wait to see your lovely looks! Be sure to scroll all the way down to enter the giveaway, friends!

An InLinkz Link-up

   

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Where I'm linking up.

Create28: Summer Footwear

I can't believe we are already on Day 19 of Create28!  Today I'll be talking about my favorite shoes for summer!

Listen, I am a recovering flip-flops addict, so while I don't get super fancy with my summer shoes, I have found some fun, new shoes that are GREAT alternatives to flip flops.

First, here is why I was a flip flops addict for so many years:

~ They are comfy
~ They are easy to just slide on
~ They go with everything
~ They **can** be cute if you get the right pair!

I still LOVE my Havaianas flip flops, don't get me wrong. I will never abandon my first love :) But they don't exactly scream "style!" Here are some of my new faves that are comfy, easy and go with virtually everything!

Options 1 & 2 are just as easy to put on as flip flops, but gives an outfit WAY more style.

Option 1: Slide-On Sandals ~ These slides are probably the most worn shoes in my closet right now!! I never dreamed I'd wear them so much. They are just like flip flops in that they slide right on, but the embellishment and style make them so much more put-together-looking :)

Slide-On Sandal Options ~

Option 2: Slide-on Sneakers ~ You probably know my Converse love by now and I especially love these that don't tie. Yes, my Chucks have seen better days and I need a new pair, but just looking at them, you know I wear them...like, A LOT!!!!

Slide-On Sneaker Options ~

Options 3 & 4 are not slide ons and for this reason I thought I'd HATE them, but they're really not that much trouble at all! I'm glad I tried something new :)

Option 3: Low Wedge Sandals ~ Although I love tall wedges like THESE, I just don't wear tall wedges on a daily basis. These low wedges, though, I DO!! They are tall enough to elongate my short legs,but not too tall where I can't run around and chase my kids in them! I wear these with shorts, skirts, jeans, whatever!!!

Low Wedge Options ~

Option 4: Glitter or Embellished Sandals ~ Something about glitter or embellishment on shoes can really "make" a plain outfit feel special. I snagged these at Target for about $12 on sale and I love wearing them. They're flat and comfy and I just can't argue with glitter :) Click HERE for my exact sandals.

Glitter/Embellished Sandal Options ~

These four pairs of shoes (AND my flip flops!!) are what I live in...all the way until October! I'm really glad I finally have some "new" options besides just always reaching for my Havaianas just because I think they're easy....but they're just too good to abandon completely!

What are your "go to" shoes in the summer?? Don't forget to show us your faves by linking up tomorrow OR at #Create28SummerLooks! AND!!! Tomorrow the raffle opens for a $75 gift card to Gap Brands, Nordstrom, Loft or Tarjay....I think that's enough to make everyone happy!! :)

 I'll leave you with more Summer Footwear inspiration!

Follow A Little Bit of Cheer's board Summer Footwear on Pinterest.

 See where I link up HERE.

Don't forget to follow A Little Bit of Cheer on Facebook HERE

I'm on Instagram now! Yippeee! Follow me HERE

Follow any of my boards on Pinterest HERE 

Follow me on Bloglovin' HERE