Spring Style Challenge Week 2

Has it really been a week? Holy cow where did this week go? 

Okay so on to the topic....

So I really wanted to do a top or cardigan this week instead of another pair of bottoms but when I saw these pants I knew I needed to. I seriously never wear these pants because I literally have no clue what to wear them with. 

HELLO!!!!!

I should be able to easily find a top to wear with some pants. I mean I'm good with clothes. Right?

So....here they are....

I know....they are ORANGE and WHITE. I am a VOLS fan. This makes no sense. Hence why I knew I had to choose these. 

So since I feel like I have NOTHING to wear with them I am also going to include two tops I think would work with them but I don't own because clearly I need to inspire myself on this one. So I found two tops that are in my closet (and one is from last week so that means that I am kinda having a mini post about that top as well right?) that I could definitely see myself wearing. 

So first up is what should be obvious: a white top. I mean hello, GBO, I will never let myself live down I never wear white with this. I have also never worn them to a Tennessee game. Like what? So here is this top that is easily my favorite purchase of the year so far! Paired with this necklace (because I need to wear it more as well) and my gold leopard watch, gold bangle, and cat eye sunnies!

This one I loooove and don't know why I have never put the two together! Its so fresh and summery! Cuff the jeans and throw on some sandals and this would be perfect for errands or just hanging out with friends.  I love this floral necklace I got from Target. I get so many compliments on it all the time. 

I think this tunic from Old Navy is absolutely adorable! I think the navy is a great compliment on the orange in the pants. All you Auburn fans I know love this idea combo! This would be great for Spring Night dinners when its slightly too cool to wear shorts and short sleeves. I might just have to grab this one up!

I mean hello, I should totally do a chambray look! Its too perfect not to! The slouchy boyfriend look is perfect with the slender skinny jeans. Pair it with a cute statement necklace and some ballet flats. OOOO I really like this one yall! (I also have those shorts and LOVE them! )

I hope you have enjoyed week 2! What are some ideas you have for these pants?

xoxo, Erica Anne

Spring Style Challenge

In the Fall I had decided to do a blog series that followed different pieces of clothes that we all have hanging in our closet yet always find ourselves wearing it with the same outfit. However, I took a break and only managed to do one. My Jcrew herringbone one found here. My challenge is to start digging through and finding ideas you may not have thought of before.

So over the next few weeks I'm going to find a few pieces in my closet that I tend to only wear with the same outfit and bring you 4-5 new outfits! So as I do this I encourage you all to do the same thing! Maybe if you have a pair of colored shorts you always wear with that white t then maybe you can try a top with some texture or print! 

Today I'm doing my blue shorts from Old Navy! I always wear the same black t shirt with them. It's a loose baggy one also from old navy but I totally need to spice it up a little!! So then began the digging! 

This plaid shirt (similar) is a staple in my closet but for some reason I never thought to pair it with these shorts. I was honestly probably scared of too much color (work with me here! I'm still getting used to not wearing all black) I love this though for bright summery days! This plaid shirt is one from old navy that is a gauze material so it is super lightweight and sheer. I am honestly excited to wear this outfit now!

I have had this anchor shirt for so long (I'm talking like 2 years) and I think I have worn it twice. I always fight with myself when I purge my closet on whether I should hold on to it or not. Clearly I haven't given it up yet. I just love anchors, y'all! This necklace is also a favorite that I try to find reasons to wear it but since I always wear black it just doesn't get the wear it should!

Okay, so we all know I adore this top (similar). I am always finding a reason to wear it! I can't help it, I just absolutely love something about a classic black and white stripe. Its just so classic! Just like the monogram necklace! (similar)

Hmmmm. Its like I have a polka dot obsession, too! Oh wait I totally do! I just love fun prints and I cannot hide it! Through it with a candy colored necklace and I'm ready for a fun lunch with the girls! (shirt, polka dot cardigan)

Okay so this might be my favorite and not just because I have my Kate (similar). Its something about the crisp white with the blue and black contrast. This is going to be perfect for a summer day! I can't wait to throw this on!

Do you have some colored shorts that you just have no idea what to do with them? Do you have more ideas for me? Send me some! What will you try new this week?

xoxo, Erica Anne

Silver White Winters That Melt Into Spring...

(Now all together...These are a few of my favorite thiiiiings!)

Well hello there gorgeous! It's been a couple months and I am ready to get back into the swing of things! The past couple months have been crazy with babies, weddings, and honestly spending some time on me. 

You may have noticed by my last few Instagram posts that I have "freshened" up my look a little bit! As I head into 25 in a little over a month I felt I needed a little change! So here I am! 

So for my first blog post back I am going to do a favorites. Rather than do a monthly favorites I'm doing a quarter favorites! Maybe I will do better and have a monthly favorites from now on!! 

Ya I have a TON to talk about! 

First and foremost is the tray! I die! I got this at target just this week for around $15. I wanted one to put on my bed for decoration/days I just wanna lay in bed and eat there and binge watch Netflix. Wait what? 

Next is the floral arrangement! I scored this cute little thing at TJ for around $10! I thought this would be adorable on the tray! 

Those earrings. I'm in absolute love and I got them on clearance at target for close to nothing! If only everything we loved came that easily!! 

My spirit animal is Mindy Kaling according to people who know my sarcastic nature. So obviously I had to pick up her book. I'm about 50 pages in and I love! It's so so cute! 

Next are subscriptions. I seriously will eat starkist tuna for lunch so I can keep getting these. I always cancel thinking "I could use that $20 on so so much!" And 3 weeks later I'm back to subscribing! Birchbox was actually about to get the boot because my last several have been blah! However, this month has completely resurrected my faith in them. I have never had a bag or box that I loved so much!! I'll do a post on both of this months subscriptions because they were THAT GOOD! 

Lastly I'm touching on makeup. I should probably do a whole post on this alone. These are the products I can't leave the house without them on or in my bag! These are the gems I'm completely obsessing over! 

     -Younique Lashes! ZOMG!! I was so skeptical over these. A few people I trust had tried them and weren't crazy about them. I finally bit the bullet and haven't looked back! I always coat one coat with my fav mascara and then put 2-3 coats of Younique on! I get compliments on my lashes every time I wear this stuff! It's phenom! 

     -ELF baked eyeshadow in California. These are super pigmented, so shiny, and absolutely perfect! I loved this one so much I went and bought the other 3 palettes today! I'm hoping to love them just as much! 

     -Lipsticks-Avon in Hot Pink and Maybelline in Peach Poppy! These are my go-tos right now! The Hot Pink is, well, hot pink! What better way to welcome the warm weather. The peach poppy is one that is perfect for just perking up your lips. It's so close to my natural lip color but with just a springy pop! 

     -The Balm Read my Lips in "BAM!" I love this because it layers perfectly on top of any lipstick I have tried AND it's even perfect by itself! Let's be real some days I'm good to get some BB cream and lip gloss on! 

     -Sonia Kashuk lip liner in Nude 01-I love this and call this my lazy girl liner because I never have to worry about which lipstick I am going to need to match a liner to. I can just keep this in my bag and it works with whatever lip I want to rock that day! 

     -Chloe parfum, so this isn't makeup but it was in the pic so just go with it! Ha! I wasn't so crazy about this when I first got it. Everyone was obsessing over it but I just couldn't. That is until I put it on. When it had been on for about 5 minutes I swear it smelled completely different. I am in love with this. Now I will say Nirvana Black is still my favorite but I like this more than Nirvana White now! I didn't know that was possible! 

Last of all, this past weekend was so very special as one of my very first friends (our moms were pregnant and worked out together!) got married!! It was the first time in a few years we had all been together! Such a special time!! So here are a couple pics from that! 

(Wearing my Younique lashes, Stila eyeliner, and The Balm lipgloss here!)

That's all for now beauties! 

XOXO, 

American Sweetie! 

Sephora Purchases!

I don't know about yall but I had been DYING to get my hands on the 2014 Sephora Favorites: Superstars! I have a rule though that I cannot buy anything before Christmas. Now while I usually break it to buy a dress or something fun I'm very good about staying away from Sephora. Luckily it's a 30 minute drive that turns into 45 around Christmas. Also I know my default is always to ask for gift cards for Sephora so I always know I have a little something coming my way! 

This year was definitely the hardest! I mean have you seen the Superstar Kit?!?! It's literally the superstars! Just look at the beauty! 

As expected I walked away with quite a few gift cards to my guilty pleasure and couldn't wait to spend them! So casually I started online shopping immediately! I added that kit to my cart so fast you could hardly blink. I looked around to make sure there weren't any other kits available I was interested as well. Nothing I just had to have so I skipped over to the gift sets. I just love this time of year because there are so many "gift sizes" so you can try new things you wouldn't want to buy full size! 

So then I saw it! The Elizabeth and James Nirvana rollerball set. Both the Black and White for $20. I had gotten the White as a gift for rewards several months back and fell in love and had been dying to try the black! So I obviously snatched that as well. Then came the hard part: picking out samples and promos. 

I had spent $100 so I picked out something for the 100 points spend. Normally I save these up but I was feeling crazy so I spent it at the 100! I got bumble and bumble thickening spray because I'M OBSESSED! I love this stuff so why not get a travel size? 

Then I got Laura Mercier smooth finish flawless fluide as my promo. I'm loving what I see so far! Then for samples I wasn't crazy about any of them so I just selected a few random things. I got two perfume samples: one being Chloe which I also got in the Superstars then I got one called "Alien" by Thierry Mugler. Lastly I got some foundation which I thought said medium tone but was actually formulated for dark skin tones....so I gave that to a coworker. (I pay very close attention clearly!) 

How did you spend your Christmas money and gift cards? Let me know in the comments below! Also do you love or not love ant products mentioned in the blog! Let me know and your favorite ways to use the products! 

                  Xoxo,

                  American Sweetie

Fri-YAY!

Today was my first day at work after the New Year after having the past two days off. I knew it would be a VERY busy day at work so I wanted something comfy but business appropriate. 

I love the button ups from Old Navy simply because they are so soft and easy to throw on. So I grabbed that and this mint cardigan also from ON. I paired it with my jeggings from TJ Maxx and my loafers from Target. Jazzed it up with my leopard watch and floral necklace also from Target and my initial bracelet which was a gift. 

This outfit was super easy to throw together and just goes to show that with some prints and jewelry any outfit can be fun and different! 

New Year, New You?...

Every year we all make plans to be better, do better, eat better, but how many times do we feel like we completely failed? This year I have decided not to make a "New YearsResolution" per say. This year I am vowing to be me. 

That's it. 

I want to do things that make me happy. I want to end this year more in love with who I am becoming than I love myself today. 

So this year I am going to "dot my i's and cross my t's" and do everything to the best of my ability.

A few things I want to better myself at? Of course! I think they are all things we could do better at. A few are:

-Live a healthier lifestyle (i.e. Get active, eat better, stop watching a whole season on Netflix in a day....)

-Read my bible more often. (As a Christian woman who wants to become more and more like Christ it is so very important for me to grow in my relationship with Him and learn more about Him.)

-Be a better friend. (This year I want my friends to know how much I truly value them. Whether it be leaving little encouraging gifts for them or sending letters, or just grabbing lunch or dinner. I want each person in my life to know how special they are to me!)

What are some things you hope to change in the New Year? How are you planning to keep on track?