I wore this outfit this past Sunday and I thought we may as well make it a blog post. What isn’t pictured is the SCREAMING toddler in the car because she wanted to get out (insert eye roll). Friends, these pics may look put together and perfect, but behind all of my pics is a very cranky family lol! Most of you may not know, but my 6 year old daughter takes a lot of my pictures and that alone is so much drama (my hubby took these ↑). Not only does she negotiate payment like crazy when I ask her to do it (she takes after me lol), but I usually have to bring my 2 year old, who literally despises pictures. So her even seeing my camera sets her off. I used to look at bloggers and think they have the most perfect life, and has a photographer follow them around all day to get that perfect shot, and maybe some do lol, but not in my case. I was thinking the other day what a crazy time in my life to start a blog. I have 2 young kids, we live out of state without family, and my hubby works crazy hours. I literally have no time to get pics done, and that is my whole blog, pictures! So, I have to get creative and find time. The good thing is, I absolutely love this space of mine and so it makes it all worth it. Basically, I want you to know as my reader, that I am not perfect, my family is not perfect, my life is nowhere near perfect, but most days I get dressed and look put together because putting together outfits is a passion of mine. Cleaning however, is not 😉 So don’t ever show up at my house unannounced and expect to come inside haha! Ok, wow, this turned into a different direction than I planned! I guess as I am sitting here uploading these pics, I am remembering my baby screaming and how stressful it was, but you would never know that by looking at these. They look pretty and cute, so I wanted to let you know the story behind it so you know I am normal and looks are very deceiving.
So there ya have it! You now have a mental picture of what is really going on in the background of all my pics lol! If you’re a blogger and are reading this, can anyone relate? Who takes your pics and does it ever resemble what I go through?! Sometimes I use a photographer, but even that is stressful. You typically shoot 6-8 looks at once and have to change in your car, and it’s nowhere near glamorous. Especially is it’s in the 100 degree Texas weather, YIKES!
Back to clothes! Let me preface this by saying, I am a newbie to belts. Like a month ago was the first time I wore a belt in ages. However, now that I’ve tried it, I belt everything!! One of my favorite things to belt, is a midi dress. The dress looks cute without it too, but adding the belt makes it look more chic and put together.
This dress is a favorite of mine and I bought it at H&M a few years ago. It is sadly not available anymore but there are lots of similar options and I will link some that I think would look great with a belt. I typically wear a skinny belt with a dress like this but really any belt would be great. It’s also a fun way to add a pop of color or pattern to a plain dress. My shoes are THE BEST and I highly recommend them. They are 30 dollars and literally look great with everything. Jeans, skirts, dresses, rompers… everything!!
See below for everything but my dress and I will link some other dresses I equally love and would wear with a belt. I hope you all have a fab Tuesday!
XO,
Mary ♥
BAG HERE
NECKLACE HERE
Currently residing in St. Louis.
Wife to JW + Mama to Sophia Rose and Jade Monroe. Denim + Sweets addict and lover of Jesus + All things pretty ♥
Getting blog pictures is never as glamours as it looks… I can totally relate! I’m usually changing in the car or public bathrooms where people give you the strangest looks! haha and after several changes my hair is a hot mess and I’m sweating! But all for the sake of getting the shot, right!? Love this post Mary, you’re always so genuine!
xo Bryn
http://www.waketonroad.com
Haha exactly!! By the last outfit, we are a hot mess 😂
You have some cute Sunday style here babe! I would totally wear this! Pinning for later.
xo,
Lauryncakes
Thanks Lauryn! Glad you like it ❤️
I feel your pain girl! Taking blog photos is a pain and sometimes not as fun as it may seem! However, I do love blogging, so it makes it all worth it! You look amazing in this dress and I love how you paired it with the belt! Hope you have a great Tuesday! xo, Nataly
It’s definitely a passion project! Someday my babes will be bigger and it will be so much easier 🙂 have a great day, friend!
Such a pretty dress! I love that you belted it and paired it with this adorable little bag!
Thanks son much, Laura!
This is the cutest dress! I love wearing flowy fun dresses on the weekends because they are so easy and comfy!
Maggie
http://www.polishedclosets.com
Hahah you are so right about how blogging is not always as glamorous as everyone makes it out to be. I’m grateful to not have screaming children (or any children) trying to get my attention during shoots, but I definitely have a boyfriend who sometimes gets cranky in the heat and with all the changing and running around to different locations – so I gotta feed him as often as I would a child to keep him happy 😉 But you certainly play it off cool as a cucumber and look super cute! I love the belt addition!
Stephanie // SheSawStyle.com
This made me laugh 😆 yes, very important to keep the men fed. They are almost worse than the kiddos 😉
The added belt to that dress was the perfect touch!
-Morgan
How 2 Wear It [] http://how2wearit.com
Totally can relate! My two girls will go with me and I usually am chasing after one so my heels get all muddy or bribing them with fruit snacks and extra tv time! LOL. I take my own photos so on top of two kiddos I’m lugging around my tripod and camera. I’m sure people look at me like I am a crazy self absorbed person when I’m out taking pics. Haha! Blogger life.
http://www.mylittlenest.org
Omg I’m so glad I’m not the only one with craziness when we shoot!! Yes, I’m sure people think we are NUTS to be taking pics of ourselves 😜
Love this post! And also love how you styled your dress, very beautiful.
Rita | http://www.styleroundtheclock.com
Agreed that taking blog pictures is never has beautiful as they end up looking in the end. In my last year of blogging, I’ve had plenty of moments when we were shooting, and I was miserable, freezing out in the cold, sweating my balls off changing in the car, and trying to dodge people as they stare at you taking photos. Lolz but we still do it! Because even with all the crazy, it’s so fun! Love you girl! And loved this post! Thanks for keeping it real, always xoxo
Brooke
Charmedjerseybelle.com
Omg yes the people staring always get me! Like they’ve never seen someone taking pictures lol. Loveeee you, friend!! ❤️❤️
This blog post made me so happy and inspired me! I started a blog shortly after having my 2nd daughter and have sadly let it go to the back burner bc well life, motherhood, etc. Thank you so much for your honesty and being totally genuine! We can do whatever we put our minds too. 👏
Aw Denise I’m so happy to hear that!! Honestly, some days it’s too much, but yes, we do what we put our minds to for sure! It’s the only thing I have that’s “mine” right now in this phase of life, so that keeps me going. Plus, connecting with so many amazing women is a huge bonus as well! I hope you keep with yours. You truly never know where it will lead you!
It is definitely not always glamorous, that’s for sure! But I love this laid back look!
I totally feel you on the screaming toddlers in the background of photos! It’s so not as easy as it looks!
xx Nina
What a cute little bag. It’s perfect for spring!
Hahaha! Love this post, girl!! My husband takes about half my photos, & the other half I get together with another blogger & we take each other’s photos. Jeff loves it when I meet up with Katie, the more outfits I take the better, he says (bc it means less for him to photograph!) 😂😂 but seriously your pics are the cutest & despite sometimes using a 6 year old photographer, you & those photos have brought your blog a long way!!! 🙌🏼🙌🏼
I love that your 6 year old takes your photos! I totally get the timing thing, it’s packing my car in the morning before work and running to meet Nataly after redoing my hair and make up in the car! It’s not as glamorous as it looks haha
You look adorable! And how amazing that your daughter takes a ton of your pictures!! I always feel like I am a slight fraud when I post photos on my blog because I always look so dolled up when I take these photos, but most days, I’m lucky if I decided to put on “real people clothes” aka. not workout gear. Thank you for sharing your BTS and real life with us!