No nonsense Style Made Easy

When it comes to style, complicated is not for me.  In fact, I would describe my style as simple and comfortable mixed with accents of trendy and chic pieces.  As a mom of two young kids, I have to be practical in the clothing I wear.  However, I'm also a brand owner and need to make sure that I'm not in a mom uniform when I step out.  This is why No nonsense tights and leggings are perfect for me.

I recently received a pair of the cotton leggings in Espresso and a pair of their opaque tights in Deep Burgundy. Right off the bat I loved the colors because if anybody who's seen my wardrobe can tell you that I own quite a few pieces in the brown and purple tones.  Secondly, I'm obsessed with tights and leggings.  Lastly, I'm no stranger to the No nonsense brand and have been a fan of their products for a while now.  Let me tell you, the leggings and tights did not disappoint. Check out how I styled them below.

 

The opague tights were perfect with this denim skirt because it has a high split in the front and since we are in the thick of winter, I was not interested in feeling that winter chill creeping up my legs.  Also, since my sweater and top are neutral colors the deep burgandy of the tights added nice little pop of color. 

 

Here I paired the espresso colored leggings with a long peasant style button up top and my trusty black knee boots.  I have to say that the powder blue and espresso were a nice color combination.  Also, the top fits much better in person than it photographed.  I loved the way the legging fit. They clung just right without being too tight and were very breathable.

If you haven't tried any of the No nonsense products, I would definitely suggest that you start off with the tights and leggings.  They're affordably priced and you can find them in food and drug stores as well as mass retailers like Belk or Walmart.  Also, if you haven't heard, No nonsense has recently partnered with Jill Martin.  Yes, I'm talking about Emmy Award-winning, NY Times bestselling co-author of "I Have Nothing To Wear!"  and Access Hollywood NY correspondent Jill Martin.

She's come on board as a brand ambassador and style expert to educate and share tips on how we can get the most out of these new, colorful and trendy tights and leggings from No nonsense in a series of online videos.  I for one am looking forward to getting a few more outfit inspiration to try out in the New Year.  You can also catch her sharing tips on Twitter and enter to win a chance to win shopping spree for you and friend with Jill on Facebook.  So be sure to 'Like' No nonsense on Facebook and follow them on Twitter to stay in the loop.

Are tights and leggings staples in your wardrobe?

 This post brought to you by No nonsense. All opinions are 100% mine.

Motherhood & Fashion: Not Mutually Exclusive

I am very fashion-conscious, and when I discovered I was expecting, I envisioned nine months of tent dresses and frumpy maternity jeans.  I remember when I ripped the belt loop on my favorite pair of jeans and realized that I would have to bite the proverbial bullet and buy maternity clothes.  Surveying my wardrobe, I felt as if I were parting with dear friends.

When I first started looking through the maternity sections of my usual fashion stores, I was disappointed with almost everything I found.  I grudgingly bought a pair of jeans that were completely out of style and a couple of blouses, but was unhappy with these purchases before they were even made.  Then I lucked out at a couple of stores and found some really cute maternity fashions!  I purchased jeans that were comfortable for my expanding belly while still being stylish, and tops that accentuated my femininity, rather than making me look like a walking beach ball in a shirt.

I am a teacher, so professional clothing is a must, but I was able to find slacks and dresses that were not only suitable for my professional environment, but also for going to church on the weekends, where I teach Sunday school.  Maxi dresses are versatile enough to be appropriate for these settings and comfortable for weekend lounging.  I am on my feet all day, resulting in swollen ankles and feet, but I wear flip-flops and sandals most of the time.  Of course, heels are a thing of the past (for now), but I don’t even miss them.

The real challenge is going to come after my babies are born.  I am expecting twins and plan to return to work as soon as I am able, so I need to find fashions that are easy and versatile, and that will accommodate my plans to pump every opportunity I can, which may include at church before or after Sunday school.  Thankfully, wrap dresses are back in vogue, and there are all sorts of post-maternity tops that are designed to facilitate the lives of new mothers.

It used to be that women had three styles from which to choose: before baby, during pregnancy, and after baby.  “Mom jeans” terrify me, and while these are still apparently fashionable in some circles, I am relieved that I no longer have to pretend that I’m still eighteen in order to be stylish. Nor do I have to pretend to be pushing retirement to show up at church. It's fairly widely accepted that women be fashionably dressed for church services. Modesty no longer has to mean a high collar and ankle-length hemlines. Women’s fashion is constantly evolving, and fashions seem to stay in vogue for a lot longer than they used to be. 

Because of this, I am confident that most of my pre-baby clothing will still be in style when I am able to fit into them again.  In the event that I am not able to get back down to my old size, there are cute fashions and respectable professional and conservative styles to choose from in all of my favorite stores.
Becoming a mother is a life-altering event.  My life will never return to its former carefree status, but I am okay with this.  In fact, I am ecstatic at the changes I foresee in my future!  However, my sense of style is not something I am willing to let go of, now or ever, and thanks to a fashion world that is finally taking the needs of mothers into account, I won’t have to.

Tiffany Monaco is an elementary school teacher and mommy-to-be of twins who lives and loves in the deep South. When not teaching, she spends her time blogging, cooking Cajun foods, and doing home improvement projects. Find out more on her blog at: http;//www.instructionsoptional.com or follow her on Twitter: @tiffmonaco

Fashion Find: Dress Your Boo for Under $100

So, I am going to hereby dub April the Month of Excellent Steals & Deals!  Yes, good people I have again stumbled across a great sale going on .  And guess what ladies, you can dress your boo for under $100!!  That's a shirt, shoes and pants without breaking the bank.  


I know that I'm not the only one who has taken a look at her man and wondered 'Don't you have something else in your closet that you can wear?' And I've asked my husband many times, 'Is that the only pair of pants you own honey?'  Yes, when guys find a comfy shirt or pair jeans they will wear it out to the max.  Sure, they will get fly and fresh to death when going to hang out with the boys, but otherwise it's business as usual.


I've learned that the way to fix this is to add a few new pieces to their wardrobe every so often.  And as I've stated several times, I don't pay full price for anything fashion related even if it is designer!  This not only applies to when I'm shopping for myself but for my boo as well!  Check out the outfit I put together for the hubby from Rocawear below.

Freedom Shirt
$18.98

Dermit Jean
$34.98

Leather & Suede Sheik Roc
$34.98

My grand total came to $88.94!  And from now until April 7th, you can get $20 off all orders over $75!  So, that took my total down to $68.94!  Now that is a steal for a complete outfit plus shoes!  Click on the links below to get to saving.  They even great prices on kids and womens clothing as well.

Take $20 off all orders over $75

Take $30 off all orders over $100

Take $50 off all orders over $150

Oh don't forget to check out the accessories too because I'm getting this cute little number for myself

Mod Sensation Dome Satchel
$36.98

Happy Shopping!!!

Fashion Find: Huge Wonder

Are you a fan of The Godfather movies, John Travolta or The Twilight Zone?  Do you breastfeed, recycle or support World Peace?  Well, guess what?  Huge Wonder has created a line of 'whimsical pop culture clothing for babies and kids.'  My favorite designs are:

The Breastfed Club (love for obvious reasons)

Saturday Night Teether (Saturday Night Fever.  Classic Movie)

The Godchild (Need to get one to give this cute shirt to)

Recycle (Huge supporter of being GREEN!!)

About Huge Wonder

"Huge Wonder is Austin-based and family-run. The idea for the business came about when we realized that the market for children's clothes is saturated with stale designs and pale colors. We wanted a new baby wardrobe with interesting graphic designs and lots of hip choices that came in the color black. Something that made people smile even more at our baby, and which reflected the whimsical aspect of childhood while being rooted in popular culture. What better way to do that than to parody our favorite music, movies, tv shows, and art into children's versions? We've also added the iconographic Signs and Symbols sections just for fun. Now, with the addition of Gnome Hats and Karate Pants in all sizes to match any shirt, we are excited to present our first collection of witty pop culture clothing for kids everywhere."

I hope that you guys will shoot on over Huge Wonder and scoop up some of their amazing designs.  Also, I would like to mention that they silk screen all their shirts by hand and that all of their shirts are made of 100% Cotton from American Apparel and Rabbit Skins.  As parents we know that 100%  Cotton is the best fabric for out little ones' skin.  So let's support this US made and based business!!!