Affordable Summer Style: 10 Miles From YOUR House!

 

The Summer weather has finally arrived in sunny Southern California! I’ve been shopping for sandals, shorts, dresses, tees & all the Summer accessories. & I hit the jackpot recently with none other than WALMART! If you’re anything like me, you probably rolled your eyes if your mom took you clothes shopping at Walmart as a teenager. But lucky for us, [ now that we pay for our own clothes 😉 ] they have totally changed their game plan! They have SUPER cute clothes, shoes & accessories at their same, really low prices. I seriously can’t get over how much I love some of these affordable summer style finds! And fun fact: 90% of Americans live within 10 MILES of a Walmart! That means it’s super accessible for everyone! BUT! If you would rather shop online, they now offer FREE 2 day shipping on orders of $35+.

 

I’ve been raving about a few of my absolute favorites on Instagram for the past few weeks but thought I would share my favorite outfits in one place! The 2 things I have worn the most? These white sandals [less than $11!!] and these rose gold sandals that are $15! They are so comfortable and I’ve worn them ALL day with no issues. Several of these outfits cost a TOTAL of around $50- for everything. So if you’re looking to update your Summer wardrobe, check out Walmart. You may be surprised at what you find! 🙂

 

PS: I purchased these items with my own money & this blog post is NOT sponsored. I am truly just a big fan & wanted to share with y’all!

Stripe Tee: $8  |  Overalls: $14  |  Round Crossbody: $15  |  Rose Gold Sandals: $15

Shop all outfit details here

Striped Tie Front Tee: $6  |  Cut-Off Denim Shorts: $17  |  White Sandals: $11  |  Sun Hat: $15  |  Colorblock Tassel Crossbody: $17

Shop all outfit details here

Pink Round Crossbody: $15  |  White Sandals: $11

Shop all outfit details here

White Eyelet Dress: $48  |  Rose Gold Sandals: $15  |  Round Woven Crossbody: $15

Shop all outfit details here

Rose Gold Sandals: $15

Shop all outfit details here

Pink Round Crossbody: $15

Shop all outfit details here

And because I have been so impressed by Walmart’s affordable summer style options, I decided to thoroughly explore the rest of their website. I found SO many amazing things!

Here are my favorite [non-fashion] finds:

Best Selling Items Under $60! [Still in Stock!!]

1. This romper is AMAZING!! One of the best selling items from my Instagram EVER! Not only is it cute- it’s also UNDER $25!

2. This blue & white tassel kimono is another super cute & super affordable find. It’s a steal at $15! Perfect with Summer outfits or over a swimsuit!

3. This striped twist hem tank is a closet staple! Great on its own or print mix with a floral kimono. It’s only $22 and comes in 3 other colors too. These $23 leopard sandals have been super popular too!

4. Loft has been killing the game with their shorts this season! After a recent try-on session of new arrivals, these shorts were all super popular! This ruffled hem pair, this colorful pair, & these white lace ones are all on sale too!

5. This tiered ruffle tank is so cute! It comes in several other colors and prints- including gingham! I love the cute tassel detail too. Shop it here!

6. This jumpsuit is absolutely the best!! I shared it on Instastories and y’all loved it! It’s on SALE right now for $32 too. Be sure to grab this ruffled cutie while sizes are all available!

7. This striped tank goes out of stock almost every time! The good news is, they re-stock it frequently! It’s only $22.50 and the navy stripes go with everything. It also comes in a t-shirt version here too!

8. These distressed white shortalls are seriously so good! I know the whole overall trend is a bit polarizing but I’m totally into it! These are on sale + come in 3 denim washes as well.

9. This hot pink tank is Summer perfection! Pink + turquoise jewelry is my favorite combo so this $45 tank is right at home in my closet. If this pink is a little aggressive for you, it also comes in polka dots, stripes and several other solid color options!

10. Y’all this striped dress is SO good and perfect for work –or– date night! It has the cutest button detail that can be worn in the front or back. It comes in grey stripe, navy stripe and black stripe!

You can shop the entire outfit for each of these looks on the SHOP MY INSTAGRAM tab at the top of my blog! If you have sizing questions- let me know. Keep up to date with my most recent outfits on my Instagram- @kelsslayt. Hope you have a great week, friends! xox

10 Closet Staples for a Fashionable AND Functional Mom

Today’s post is brought to you from a new mom who sometimes struggles to feel cute & trendy while still wearing things that are functional to chase after a baby all day… ME! With a 10 month old who is constantly on the move, making messes & requires my total attention, it can be really hard to get dressed every day. I always want to feel cute but not wear something super impractical for playing mom all day! If you have every found yourself in the same boat, are a mom-to-be or maybe you work in a field that presents some of these same challenges- I have made a list of the Top 10 closet staples you need! I think these are the things that make it easy to get dressed every morning in an outfit that you can feel good in & won’t have to fuss with through the day.

1. Flats 

Okay, this might be the number one closet staple for a mom! There are so many cute options out there for flats. If you need a dressier flat, the Tory Burch Minnie Travel Flat is my favorite. If you are going more casual, the Adidas Superstar sneakers are making a come back & I love it! These gold ones are super cute and super functional. These flats are another great, everyday option that won’t break the bank. And you definitely need a pair of leopard flats! They go with so much, in any season. And obviously I am a BIG fan of these glitter Keds. Obsessed actually. Flats are the shoe closet hero. They can take you through the grocery store or even out on a date!

2. Lipstick or Lipgloss 
I love a good, bright lip. It’s such a simple thing that takes about 30 seconds to apply in the morning. And it’s something Beckam can’t pull off during the day! ha! Some lipsticks might prevent you from smooching your baby all day [I admit, Beckam has had a few lipstick marks in his day! ha!] but I love this one that won’t wear off! This is also my go-to chapstick that also has color! I just feel a little more put together with a lippie on! It’s a simple way to boost that basic t-shirt & skinny jeans outfit up a fashion level!
Love the lip color in this post!
3. The Perfect Pair of Denim
Okay, I know I’m not the only one guilty of having jeans that I have to pull up all day. Or having to make sure that I wear a long shirt so when I bend over to pick up Beckam I don’t have to worry about the world seeing too much! ha! This might be one of the bigger ‘investments‘ I’ve made into my mom wardrobe but so. worth. it. I love the Paige denim brand. They carry them at Nordstrom but you can also score them even cheaper at Nordstrom Rack! Not only do they hold their shape so they actually FIT all day, but they keep their color and last a long time too! A good dark skinny jean works well with flats and a tee for your typical mom routine but can also be easily dressed up for that rare date night out!

4. Crossbody Bag
I am a bag girl. I have a small collection hoarders stash and they are always the first thing I still want to shop for! However, I have found that my larger totes haven’t gotten much use over the past 10 months. I am always reaching for a crossbody bag because it allows me to be hands free while we are out and about. And Lord knows Beckam requires both hands to keep him out of trouble! Get a classic color like cognac, black or white & it will go with almost every outfit you have! Cute? Yes! Functional? Yes!

5. Casual Tees
I am a big fan of layering. And having a few cute casual tees on hand makes it easy and quick! I love these because they come in SO many colors. I also love Piko’s from Lush Fashion Lounge. They wash well [who has time for dry cleaning??] and hold up great! I like to make my simple tees ‘cuter’ by adding a statement necklace, knotting it at the side, wearing with colored denim or something extra to make it a more put-together outfit! Also, stripe tees like this one are easy to print mix with a patterned cardigan or kimono! 
6. Basic / Dainty Necklace
If y’all know me well at all you know I am a sucker for a big statement necklace! But, as Beckam gets older he starts to pull on my necklaces and earrings more & more! While I still wear my big statement necklaces every chance I get, a dainty necklace is much more practical with baby hands around! I have this latitude and longitude one [hello, geography teacher here! ha!] and this initial one. There are seriously so many cute options out there! And they pair super cute with a v-neck tee for a simple, classic outfit.

7. Joggers
This is a new-to-me trend. I know I am a little late to the party on this one but I just picked up my first pair from H&M! I’m now shooting myself in the foot for not hoping on this 10 months ago! Joggers are perfect for the mom on the go who wants to still look cute! They feel like pajamas on [that’s a BIG win] yet make for a classic outfit! Think: these joggers with a front tucked tee shirt & lace up flats! Perfect for the grocery store, a play date or even a real date! 
8. T-Shirt Dress
This is what I lived in last summer! T-shirt dresses – especially the loose, non-fitted kind – are a momma’s best friend! They hide any bumps you don’t want to show the world, are usually super soft, and is a 1-piece outfit! Seriously though- add a cute pair of sandals, layer with a jean jacket and top off with a crossbody & it’s an outfit you can wear anywhere! I am especially fond of t-shirt dresses with stripes because they are more ‘camouflage‘ and less likely to be see-through. Take it from my experience! ha!

9. Painted Nails
Ok so this is an easy one! As a mom we use our hands all. the. time. Making bottles, changing diapers, cooking, folding laundry, etc. Well I can tell you I always feel better if I have a cute polish on. You will rarely catch me with no polish at all actually! Obviously the cheapest option here is to pick up your favorite color polish at Target. BUT, I have the hardest time getting polish to stay looking fresh for more than a few days. [Chipped nails drive me nuts!] And I hate having to re-paint all the time because #drytimesucks! So every 2-3 weeks I sneak away for an hour when Jake is home and get a gel polish! I have been doing this for a few years actually and LOVE it. Mine always stay perfect, with no chips. I loving having that extra pop of color and it really does help pull together whatever outfit I am wearing! PS- red is my go-to color!


         
original blog posts here & here

10. Jacket or Cardigan
So other than the obvious reason for warmth, a good jacket or cardigan is a mom’s lifesaver! I am usually cold so I always have one with me! But lately, it’s also been used to cover up mashed sweet potato stains on my shirt and a few spit up marks while at the mall. So that the functional side of it. But the fashionable side is just as important! A casual tee can look super basic. But add a blush cardigan or a utility jacket over it and it’s instantly a cute outfit you can go anywhere in! I love wearing layers and this is definitely a functional AND fashionable closet staple for moms!

Well let me know what you think about these top 10 closet staples for a fashionable & functional mom! I hope this was helpful to all of you hard working mom’s who are struggling [like I was] to find a way to meet both ends! Have a happy Wednesday! xo