Fall

Blue and Grey Tones

~ leightonmichele ~ Leave a comment

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Dress: Copper Key-same  Sandals: Gianni Bini-same  Purse: Kate Spade-same  Necklace: Ana and Ava-similar Earrings:  The Limited-same

Hey everyone!  I am so excited to finally be back and blogging with all of you!  For the first time I decided to try to link all of my items, and when I couldn’t find the exact same one I tried to link a similar one.  The best news is that several of these items are on sale!!!! If you were to come shopping with me at any given time, you’d quickly discover that I rarely will pay full price for an item, rather, I like to sit back and keep an eye on something I really love waiting for it to go on sale.  Part of what makes this plan successful is I have a select few stores that I truly love and keep an eye on and as a result have learned their sale patterns over time.  Having only a few rather than many make it manageable to truly learn the sale patterns, as well as keep a more coherent look to my style from outfit to outfit.  (If you’d like to know more about which stores I like to shop at and how I decide when to pay full price or wait for an item go on sale, leave a comment or email me and I’ll put together a post!)

Now, for some fun details about this outfit!  This whole summer I have been loving dresses and rompers for their simplicity.  They take the work out of getting dressed in the morning and I am looking forward to transitioning them into the fall with jean jackets and cute tights with booties.  I have made it a goal to have a couple cute, casual dresses like this that are fun and easy to throw on for a coffee date with a friend or just running errands.  I wore this one this past week for an impromptu coffee date with one of my best friends!

What are some of your favorite items that are your go-to when you need a fast and cute outfit for the day?  Do you have any fun outfits that you’re looking forward to transitioning to fall?

Until next time!

Blessings,

Leighton Michele

Bridal Shower Celebrations

~ leightonmichele ~ 7 Comments

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Chiffon Blouse: Lush  Leather Jacket: J2  Skirt: LC by Lauren Conrad 

Lace Heels: LC by Lauren Conrad  Earrings: Juicy Couture 

Bracelet: Juicy Couture

After church on Sunday I went to a bridal shower for a friend I work with.  If you’re anything like me, dressing up for events is harder in the fall/winter than the spring/summer.  I think the reason for this, at least for me, is because in the summer you can throw on a cute summer dress or maxi dress and head out the door, but due to the cooler weather, it takes more thought because of the necessary layers to stay warm.  This outfit however did just the trick, the skirt has such a fun sweet feel to it and the leather adds just the right amount of edge to keep the outfit interesting.  Then with these cute LC heels, a person literally cannot loose. It was the perfect outfit for celebrating a friends upcoming wedding.

What is your go to outfit for winter events?  Do you have any bridal showers coming up?  If so, what do you plan on wearing?

Leighton Michele

Barn Party

~ leightonmichele ~ 9 Comments

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Poncho: Forever 21   Shirt: Others Follow Jeans: Mossimo  Boots: Mossimo   Scarf: unknown   Sunglasses: Daisy Fuentes

A few weeks ago I was privileged to be a leader at a middle school girls ministry.  I don’t have any pictures from the event, and even if I did, for the sake of the girls’s privacy probably wouldn’t be able to share them, but I thought I would share the outfit that I wore with you.  At the event I wore the ministries tshirt over this shirt with the poncho and it worked quite well.  Layers were essential since the event was held in an old barn outside of town and there was no heat.  We all met up in the loft which was strung with christmas lights and decorated with pompoms and balloons.  The girls all ate pizza when they first arrived and then we played some group games before they watched a skit and listened to the incredible guest speaker.  Then we broke up into small groups and I got to talk with several of the girls in my group about what the guest speaker had spoken on and some practical ways for them to implement it into their lives.  We then all ate smores around a bonfire and sang songs before the parents picked them up.  It was such a wonderful event, I wish I could have gone to something like it when I was in middle school.

Leighton Michele

Painted Pumpkins

~ leightonmichele ~ 5 Comments

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Plaid Shirt: Living Doll   Jeans: Mossimo   Boots: Mossimo

Bun Scarf: Claire’s   Necklace: Etsy

Last weekend after church I decided to head out to one of my local favorite parks to paint my pumpkin from the pumpkin patch.  My sister was kind enough to come along and take pictures of my outfit and me painting the pumpkin for all of you.  I painted my first pumpkin last year with a group of friends and one of my sisters and had so much fun doing it!  The process is less messy than the traditional carving of pumpkins and the results (at least for me) are more along the lines of what I envision in my head.  Being an artist I enjoy having the control of using sharpies and a paint brush.  I didn’t have any special game plan when I started painting my pumpkin, I decided to just have fun coming up with inspirational words and tribal patterns to put on it.  It’s not the best pumpkin in the world, but I enjoyed painting it and spending some time relaxing in my favorite park.  Have you ever tried painting a pumpkin?  How did it turn out?  Did you prefer carving them or painting them?

Leighton Michele

Haunted Houses

~ leightonmichele ~ 5 Comments

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Plaid Shirt: Mossimo  Puffer Vest: LA Coalition  Under Shirt: Free Loaders  Jeans: Mossimo  Boots: Nautica

Last weekend my sister and I drove about an hour out of town with some good friends of ours to visit the Haunted Cannery, a local spook house.  I wish I could have taken pictures there for all of you, but due to the fact that we went after dark I decided to recreate the look I wore for all of you and tell you about it instead.  When we arrived at the spook house it was already well past dark and a semi cloudy night, so the moon kept slipping behind clouds adding to the creepy feel of the night.   After buying our tickets to go through, we sat outside waiting for the hayrack ride and ambulance  to come pick everyone up to head out to where the haunted cannery awaited for us.  Even from where we were though you could occasionally hear the distant screams of others that were already there that definitely made me second guess whether I was brave enough to go through with it.  I’d done one other spook house before, but everyone said that this one was way creepier, and I didn’t have the nickname of Scooby-Doo as a child for no reason!  Finally the hayrack ride came and there was no turning back now, on the way out the thirteen year old girl next to me even started crying.  I leaned over and talked with her and despite my own fears comforted her and even prayed with her.  She ended up going through with our group, which was such a blessing, because having someone I was worried about being scared actually kept me from totally freaking out and I actually ended up having a blast!  Call me crazy, but I am a dancer, and one of my favorite things to do is to try to get the cast members to do the Whip and Nae-Nae, hey, it’s my coping mechanism.  😉  Afterwards we even got to meet several of the cast members, which added to the fun to actually be able to put the personalities behind each of the characters to a face.  It was definitely scarier than the one I went to earlier this season, but definitely a lot of fun too.  Have any of you had a chance to go to a local spook house this fall before Halloween?  If so, how did you react?

Leighton Michele

Pumpkin Patch Adventures

~ leightonmichele ~ 2 Comments

20151019_090459 IMG_2699 IMG_2702 20151019_105927 IMG_2703 IMG_2706 20151019_102736 IMG_2711 20151019_100313 IMG_2723 IMG_2720IMG_2701Sweater: Lush  Shirt: Free Loaders  Jeans: Mossimo  Boots: Gianni Bini 

Hat: Merona   Scarf: Merona

Last Monday I got to take my little preschool class to the pumpkin patch!  Due to privacy of my students families I cannot post pictures of them at the pumpkin patch, but the pictures without me in them are from the beautiful Applejack Pumpkin Patch we visited.  I had so much fun that I decided to recreate the experience at a nearby pumpkin patch that a local church hosts to share it with you!  Our kids loved the pumpkin patch so much and we were blessed to have many of the parents come along and go with their kids.  We had fun riding a hayrack ride out to the pumpkin patch where the kids and teachers got to pick our pumpkins out of a field full of them.  From there we had fun taking our students over to ride down a big slide as well as play on the playground.  We also have several kids that are obsessed with the minions, so when we found some pumpkins and haybales painted like minions we had to take a class picture next to them.  It was such a fun experience taking our class to the pumpkin patch and I am already looking forward to taking my class again next year.

Leighton Michele

Peplum and Tulle

~ leightonmichele ~ 2 Comments

IMG_2644 IMG_2632 IMG_2641 IMG_2649 IMG_2638 IMG_2652 IMG_2658 IMG_2671 IMG_2675 IMG_2688 IMG_2693Jacket: Stoosh   Shirt: Belle Badgley Mischka    Skirt: Charlotte Russe

Shoes: Gianni Bini    Purse: Rosetti    Necklace: Versona

As a dancer I have been in love with the tulle skirt trend ever since I saw them start appearing on pinterest about one to two years ago, the problem was finding one that actually lived up to my pinterest expectations.  I was so excited when this year I finally found one at Charlotte Russe that not only lived up to my expectations, but actually was a versatile color that I could put with just about anything!  Here I decided to go with more of a dark toned neutral look and pair it with a white lace crop top with a military inspired peplum jacket to balance out the softness of the skirt and shirt.  The shoes were the perfect choice to make it through a long day on my feet and the necklace gave the perfect finishing touch.  Like the outfit in the post before I love the versatility of the jacket for fluctuating temperatures with these midwest fall days.

I hope you enjoyed this post, I’m really excited to next week share some fun, casual fall themed outfits for outings to the pumpkin patch and corn mazes, some of my most favorite fall activities!

Leighton Michele

Lace and Starbucks

~ leightonmichele ~ Leave a comment

IMG_2595 IMG_2598 IMG_2599 IMG_2601 IMG_2604 IMG_2606 IMG_2607 IMG_2611 IMG_2618 IMG_2624 IMG_2629Jacket: Stoosh   Shirt: Pearl  Pants: Refuge    Shoes: Gianni Bini  

Purse: LaTique   Double Wall Traveler Cup: Starbucks

With fall now upon us, at least for those of us in the midwest, comes the challenge of figuring out how to dress for the weather each day.  At least in my little corner, the temperatures within one day can range from the low 50’s to the upper 80’s by the middle of the day then back down into the 60’s come evening.  That is quite the range of temperatures all within one day to figure out how to dress for.  Since  I am often on the go and don’t always have time to change outfits partway through the day, layering pieces has become my lifesaver.  This jacket takes me through the cool mornings and evenings, yet the outfit still looks put together without it when the warmer afternoons come along.  What are some of your secrets for surviving the crazy range in temperatures during this fall season?

Leighton Michele

Stripes for Days

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Shirt: Tresics  Skirt: MM Shoes: Dolce Vita  Belt: IZ Byer

Necklace: Versona   Sunglasses: Daisy Fuentes

This season I have been obsessed with natural waist midi skirts, especially this one!  I love how it has a slightly vintage vibe and really accentuates the waist.  I love to dress this one up and down for work or church.  It has swiftly become a staple in my wardrobe.  I enjoyed pairing it with this Versona necklace to add a touch of fall colors to the outfit to celebrate this autumn season even though the weather does not always feel like fall.  What is your favorite skirt or dress style this fall season?

Leighton Michele

Glittering Heels

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IMG_2566 IMG_2577 IMG_2563 IMG_2560 IMG_2575 IMG_2569 IMG_2564 IMG_2576 Boots IMG_2589 IMG_2587 IMG_2591Sweater: Elan     Tan Tank: Free Loaders     Tank Top: Rue 21   

  Jeans: Maurices     Boots: Gianni Bini

I wore this outfit last week when the midwest was actually experiencing fall-like temperatures, unlike this week.  I have to say, what made this outfit for me was the boots, I am obsessed with anything gold and glittering, so when I put these on they definitely put me in the mood for anything fall and pumpkin spice!  I love how versatile they are, they are the perfect finishing touch for any outfit!

The cooler weather has definitely had me craving more pumpkin flavored drinks at my favorite coffee shop, you guessed it…. Starbucks!  Here I was drinking a white chocolate mocha with a shot of pumpkin in it and I definitely recommend it!  It’s not on their menu, but should totally be added, I think it is my new favorite fall drink!

Leighton Michele