Fashion Friday: Back-to-school cool

So far this week, we’ve talked about the first day of school, awkward school photos, childhood friends and the love of my first computer. But there’s one back-to-school must-have that we haven’t checked off the list: The perfect outfit.

For me, it was all about comfort when it came to choosing that first-day frock, which is why I’m sure it’s no surprise that I preferred polo shirts. Even when I was a newspaper adviser, polos were still my go-to on the first day; they helped me walk into the classroom with confidence and helped set the tone for the rest of the year. But! I’ve been daydreaming about other fun pieces today. Check out my six favorites…

*Polka dot button-down sweater, $59.50.
*Green print skirt, $69.50.
*Classic watch, $33.74.
*“Hello Sunshine” iPhone case, $40.
*Deborah dot journal, $28.
*Pink stripe backpack, $55.

Your turn, friends: What did you usually wear on the first day of school? Any go-to picks? A favorite shirt? A lucky pair of socks? I’d love to hear all about it… xoxo

P.S. Friday links are coming up soon! :)

[Top photo via Pinterest]

Linkel Designs Gift Card Giveaway!

Today’s giveaway is from Kelly of Linkel Designs, an Etsy shop full of colorful handmade jewelry and whimsical accessories. She loves providing women with unique, colorful jewelry that is affordable and fun to wear, including earrings, necklaces, rings and statement jewelry. “It’s awesome to think about my designs being worn by women around the world,” she says. “Our life is crazy and colorful and creative right now…and for that I am so grateful.”

Kelly is giving one lucky reader a dose of her color and creativity with a $25 gift card to her shop. It’s the perfect chance to add some pizzazz to your fall wardrobe or buy some fun pieces that will put a smile on your face. I’d go for the ship wheel necklace, cornflower blue cameo ring, silver elephant necklace, bicycle locket, brown-eyed girl ring and crystal necklace.

For your chance to win, simply visit Linkel Designs, and leave a comment below telling us what you’d choose if you won. You can also LIKE Linkel Designs on Facebook and FOLLOW on Twitter for extra entries — just make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow! Have fun, friends! xoxo

Update: Congrats to winner Naama! Thanks so much! :)

NYC Diaries: How To Make The Dullest Days of Autumn Awesome

Happy Fall! Labor Day is officially over, marking the end of Summer 2013 and all the fun activities and events associated with the season. Schools are now opening up their doors, malls are stocking up on pretty boots and sweaters and Starbucks is selling their iconic pumpkin spice latte again. Life is good, right? As much as I enjoy the autumn weather and the gorgeous colors as the leaves start to change, I’ve always felt that this season brings some bad moments too. There are three types of awful days I find particularly stressful. And I’m almost certain I’m not the only one who struggles with these things. Luckily, I’m prepared for them this year and can take precautionary measures to avoid any issues. So without further ado, I present to you my autumn problems and their (hopefully successful) solutions…

Fat days
After watching my weight all summer so as to look decent in bathing suits and cutoffs, I welcome the more covered-up clothing options of fall. But that doesn’t mean I want to gorge myself on a ton of high-calorie meals and lose the muscles I’ve been working on for the past three months. And autumn brings with it the no-holds-barred candy binge that is Halloween, closely followed by the eating marathon we call Thanksgiving. Holidays like these often add some VERY unwelcome pounds.


The solution: Make workouts and healthy eating a higher priority. I’m upping the number of reps I do of each exercise at the gym, and I’m working in more cardio on weekday-morning runs. I’ve also started keeping a food diary so that I know exactly how many calories and nutrients I’m putting into my body. My Fitness Pal is the website I use to keep track of everything.

Shorter days
You’re not imagining it — the hours of sunlight per day are already starting to dwindle. Once we’re forced to turn our clocks forward an hour, it’ll be even more noticeable. There’s less sunshine all around, and I’m really sensitive to the weather so that tends to make me a bit depressed.

The solution: Get up at dawn to enjoy as much daylight as possible. That also means you’ll need to adjust to an earlier bedtime, but how great is it to wake up with the sun and relish those extra moments of sunlight? I think it’s worth it.

Busier days
Some of us are going back to school and others are just getting back to a new work week. In either case, I find autumn to be one of the busiest seasons of the year. As the year slowly begins to end, new projects arise and new responsibilities come with them. Stress is usually the result, and we all know that is no fun at all.

The solution: Take time to meditate and/or try a new hobby. I just downloaded a few new mindfulness apps on my iPhone so that I can learn to relax and keep calm. I’ve also taken to baking recently. I find it keeps my mind focused on something fun and creative. Plus, there’s a reward at the end — who doesn’t love cupcakes?

Let me know what you think of these not-so-fun types of autumn days and if any of the solutions I suggested work for you too.

Read my blog, LIKE me on Facebook and FOLLOW me on Twitter for more!

–By Caitlin from Stream of Caitlinness


[Photos via Pinterest]

Guest Post: 5 Fall Fashion Trends for Kids

The first thing I would like to do is thank Melissa for inviting me to write a guest post for her blog. I can’t express how excited I am about this opportunity! When she first asked me to write a guest post for her, I had a small panic attack. I mean, what could I possibly have to say that you would find interesting? Well, after a little bit of useless brainstorming, I decided to just write about what’s going on at my house right now. If you are a parent, then you are well aware of the fact that school will be starting back up in less than a month. This has me in a bit of a tizzy as I have done zero — and I mean zero back-to-school shopping — for my son. Now, I can get the school supply shopping knocked out in an hour or so, but the clothes shopping is what will take me a while. My son is going to be in kindergarten, and he can be pretty picky when it comes to the clothes he wears. Therefore, I have no choice but to take him with me when I shop for new clothes. This also means that I need to be in-the-know about what the fall fashion trends for boys are going to be this year. After all, my little guy needs to be in style, right? Although I only have boys in my house, I know that some of you have a little fashionista or two running around in your house. Therefore, you are probably wondering what the girl fashion trends are for this fall as you also prepare for your back-to-school shopping, right? So, here’s the skinny on what the latest fall fashion trends are for girls and boys this year…

Layering
Yes, layering is still very much in style and probably will be for a while for boys and girls alike. This year, experts are recommending a brave new type of layering by mixing prints and various types of textures with skirts, pants and tops. Just make sure the kiddos don’t get too carried away as they begin layering — it is possible to wear too many clothes.

Hats
Hats are very much in this year, and they serve a dual purpose as they can make an excellent fashion statement while keeping our head cozy in the brisk fall air. It doesn’t matter whether your child prefers a beanie, floppy knit or a ball cap — they all work when paired with the right outfits.

Military/Camo
The military and camo style clothing are making a big “splash” in the world of fashion right now. Whether it’s an olive green military-cut jacket for your daughter or a pair of camo pants for your son or vice versa, it looks like this is going to be a popular fall fashion trend for boys and girls.

Leather
Everyone needs at least one piece of leather in their wardrobe, especially kids looking to be in style this fall. Choosing a fashionable leather piece isn’t difficult for girls. Fashion designers have started incorporating leather pieces here and there when dressing their runway models. Leather jackets, pants, skirts, shirts with leather accents and even colored leather pieces will all make a statement this fall. The trick is to choose only one leather piece and dress around it — keep it simple. For boys, leather jackets are back in, regardless of age. Based on what I’ve seen, we will start to see little toddler boys sporting leather jackets this fall.

Bold Colors and Textures
This is another one of the fall fashion trends that both boys and girls can enjoy. Designers are beginning to have fun with textures and bold colors on everything from shirts to shoes to pants. Some of the popular colors you may see children (and adults) sporting this fall include orange, emerald green, turquoise, yellow, red and more. The textures include velvet, leather, peplum, etc. Therefore, encourage your kiddos to experiment with new colors and textures this fall!

Overall, what I love about the new fall fashion trends the most is that designers are giving girls and boys both the ability to add variety and have fun with their wardrobes as they get ready to go back to school. What are you most excited about this year as you help your kiddos pick out their fall clothing?

–By Andrea K. Clark from Kids Formal. Read her blog, FOLLOW on Twitter and LIKE on Facebook.

(This post was sponsored by Kids Formal, the family-owned, Chicago-based children’s clothing boutique specializing in formal attire. Thanks so much for continuing to support So About What I Said’s wonderful sponsors!)

[Photos via We Heart It]