Gifts: Valentine's Day for under $25

Valentine's Day doesn't have to involve candy or roses that die three days later.  For the same price you can treat your loved one to something they will keep around for a long time (well I guess you can count the pounds you pack on from all that candy as something you keep around for a long time, but let's not go there).  Even the dog can be treated this Valentine's Day! Here's my picks for Valentine's Day gifts under $25.

Valentines gifts by polkadotfluff featuring wood signs

Source List:

1. A super cute heart shirt for her.  Hellomerch.com $22

2. Something for the dog to destroy love. Wayfair.com $8

3. For him.  Because guys are hard to shop for.  Papersource.com $11

4. Something for that Little Lady in your life.  Etsy.com $11

5. What Little Man doesn't look dapper in a bowtie? Etsy.com $16

6. And don't forget to splurge on your woman.  She deserves more than just a t-shirt.  Etsy.com $15

I hope this Valentine's Day you get everything you want and more.  (Secretly I want chocolate.  But that t-shirt also looks very comfy.) Enjoy your weekend!

xo Stacie

What I'm loving Wednesdays

I'm rolling out a new feature for Wednesdays, mostly because my camera is still being fixed and that limits the amount of projects I can share.  So without further ado.... What I'm Loving Wednesdays!

I will showcase a few things that I am currently head over heels for (which is a lot actually).

Toys I'm Loving by polkadotfluff on Polyvore

Janod Alphabet Puzzle / Wooden Balance Bike / Plastic Cruiser Skateboard Complete 22" DIY Banana Board Blue/Pink

This weeks post follows along with what I shared on Monday.  I'm trying to eliminate the excess of toys in our house and only keep/purchase ones that allow the kids to use their brains or keep them active (or both. That would be nice).  If you follow me on Pinterest, you may of noticed my Gifts from the heart board. It's filled with gift ideas that follow my new family guidelines or are things that I personally can make myself for the kids. I feel that handmade gifts are the same as organic foods. You know what's in them. These toys I choose are educational, active and fun.

What are you loving today?

Xo Stacie

Travel Toddler room

We recently moved Little Man from his crib to his big boy bed.  He's done great, as long as you don't count the fact that now I have to rock him to sleep for naptime (he doesn't care for bedtime though, explain that one to me), not that I mind, he is my last after all.  The hubs wanted Little Man to have a cool car bed, something he always wanted as a little kid but never got (you know how we parents like to live vicariously through our children).

 I agreed to a toddler sized car bed, because I just don't like them.  Decorations for a room with a car bed in it are very limited.  You could go with the ever classic Cars theme, or a racing theme.  Both options have limitless possibilities, but I really wanted something that once he outgrows that toddler sized bed, he can still grow with the room without me repainting or redecorating a ton.

I decided to go with a Travel/Explorer theme.  I love the look of vintage maps, and wood planked walls (never gonna happen) and wanted to translate that into Little Man's room.  Plus, maybe he will get a travel bug and explore the world one day (I can have high hopes for him, I'm a mom, it's my job).

I pulled together a little Polyvore inspiration board to help keep me focused and in the right direction when finding pieces that work for his room.

travel room inspiration by polkadotfluff featuring vintage home decor

ELK Lighting ceiling mount lighting / Rustic home decor / Metal wall art / FOSSIL vintage home decor / OKA small item storage, $550 / Little Tikes Sports Car Twin Bed (Your Choice in Color) w/BONUS $25... / Brownstone bookcase / White furniture / Vintage Chinese-style Round Kid's Stool / Decorative Wooden Letters & Numbers Brown E One Size / It Won't Be Longitude Print Set

I'm a thrifter (my computer tells me thats not a word, but I use it all the time so my computer is just wrong), so it takes time to find things to complete a room (and what room is ever complete?).  I can't justify going out and spending $100 on wall art.  I'd rather make it myself.  And it does take a while, this can't be a weekend project (unless you get super lucky at a thrift store, in that case, lucky you!!), I've actually been working on his room for a month now.

Thanks for reading!

xo Stacie

What to Wear: Fall Wedding

My wonderfully awesome cousin is getting married in Michigan in October.  Which means I'll either have to wear pants or shave my legs.....the jury's still out on that one.

As soon as I got the invitation, I immediately checked to see what the weather is like up north, because in my mind it is just always snowing in the north (yes, I know I was just up there in June and it was beautiful, hush).  Fall in Michigan is just about perfect, highs in the upper 60s but lows in low 40s.  So what to wear to a wedding is kinda tough to sort out.

If you are anything like me, most of your dresses are for the summer (because you are forced by society to shave your legs so wearing a dress is like a consolation prize for doing so).  I very rarely wear dresses in the fall/winter time, and so I don't own any.  *cue Pinterest!!

I love checking Pinterest for everything, and what to wear to a wedding is no exception.  Except, I usually can't afford the gorgeous outfits that people post on there (can you??).  And I'll admit it, ever since having kids, my clothes budget goes to them (I mean, it's hard to justify spending $50 on one dress for yourself when you can buy 12 dresses for a little girl with $50, it's crazy).  So I spent some time playing on Polyvore and came up with a couple of cute outfits for a fall wedding.

These first two are my "inspiration" outfits, meaning, I can't, won't, never will be able to afford the dress let alone the purse unless I don't feed my family for a month (or two).  BUT, I love to look at outfits and make them my own (with cheaper pieces or things from my own closet).

Dress / Boyfriend jacket / Charlotte Russe pumps / Rebecca Minkoff mint handbag / Wet Seal necklace

J Crew dress / C. Wonder leopard calf hair pumps / Flat / Dorothy Perkins metal cap toe pumps, $27 / Style & Co. style co handbag / Stella & Dot bezel set necklace

Those dresses.....swoon you guys! I would LOVE to own a dress that actually fits me well and looks that great.  BUT..... since I don't, and I'm forced to shop in the juniors section most of the time because I'm short enough to belong in Munchinland, here are a few more outfit choices that your wallet will also enjoy:

Forever 21 cocktail dress / Ponte blazer / Charlotte Russe leopard platform pumps / Forever 21 silver jewelry

*I realized afterwards that there is no purse for the above outfit, but if you have a date, just cram your stuff in his pockets like I do, or if the kids are invited then your diaper bag is purse enough for ya.

Purple lace dress / Charlotte Russe black mary jane pumps / Poppie Jones purse

Apparently I have a thing for lace and navy blue....might have to be what I wear.  You can't beat how cheap these dresses are.  The last one is $19!! Say whaaaaaa??? 

I'll post pictures after the wedding of what I choose to wear, hopefully it will be as awesome as these above.  

Enjoy and don't forget to PIN these outfits to use as references!

xo Stacie

Fall Fashion Inspiration

The weather dropped ten degrees and is finally in the low 80's around here, and I don't know about you but I'm ready to don my fall boots and a chunky sweater.  No? Well maybe you just haven't been to Starbucks for a pumpkin latte yet.  But September screams fall to me, the fall festivals start around here, the pumpkin everything has been unveiled, and school has started.

Normally, the fashionista in my family is my daughter, but ever since she tore my heart out and stomped on it got a mind of her own and wants to dress herself, I've decided to step up my game and work on myself for once.

Our nicer mall in the area is finally (thank the heavens) opening an H&M this fall and to say I'm excited is an understatement.  So I choose a few items under $50 to get my fall wardrobe inspiration in check.

Merona long dress / H&M short dress, $23 / H&M sheer blouse, $23 / H&M long sleeve shirt, $31 / H&M vest, $39 / H&M motorcycle jacket, $47 / H&M skinny pants, $23 / H&M black boots, $47 / H&M ballet flat, $23 / H&M bracelet, $6.20

Now, I have limited funds (that darn being poor thing again, I know I know), so to go shopping for myself is blasphemy in this house.  So what I do it buy it all and deny deny deny. I'm kidding, sort of.  I will fingers crossed buy at least one piece and if I play my cards right, a pair of shoes (good thing my birthday is in the fall, right?).

I use Pinterest and Polyvore to get inspiration for what to wear.  Then I will take a day and scour my closet and try to put together outfits while the kids destroy the house unsupervised (we have a small house remember, nothing I can't hear) and then take pics to remember said outfits.  You'd be surprised how many outfits you can put together that are stylish with what you already have (unless you are my husband and wear the same thing everyday).  So I don't know about you, but I'm ready for some 70 degree weather around here so I can break out the scarfs and mittens!

Enjoy~
xo Stacie