Laura W. Godfrey

 

 

 

 

 

With Mother’s Day fast approaching, I wanted to share a few ideas I had for what to get THE most special lady in your life. I always put a lot of pressure on myself to get my mom something great, mostly because her love language is gifts. The pressure is on and gone are the days when a hug coupon would suffice. If you find yourself as clueless as I have been in the past, this gift guide will hopefully get your wheels turning!

I’ve tried to hit a few different price points so depending on your budget, there should be something for everyone. Normally if there’s a gift that ends up being on the more expensive side, I will ask a few of my siblings to go in on it with me. So don’t forget that as an option!

 

Apple Watch: Ok, truth be told this is actually what I’m hoping to get for Mother’s Day. HA! Thinking it’s probably going to be a bit out of Reese and Rowe’s budget so I’m going to enjoy my hand picked flowers and homemade cards. But everything I’ve read about the watch is that it’s easy to operate and kind of keeps everything in one place, which is something my mom in particular loves! I am kind of obsessed with this rose gold option but there are a few different colors to choose from. You can also find some refurbished options from Amazon that are a little more inexpensive.

Makeup Brushes: I spent the night at my mom’s house a few weeks ago and when I was doing my makeup in her bathroom I noticed that her brushes were probably nearly as old as I am! She had kind of a conglomerate of new(er) and old but I’ve been thinking this would be a good time to update the whole set. I absolutely love a few of these options from Ulta. It’s high quality without breaking the bank.

Makeup Bag: Mom might want to have a new place to store all those beautiful brushes so maybe think about a new makeup bag for her. Here are a few that I am loving.

Summer Accessories: I am loving these sweet beach bags from ASOS. Super affordable and fun! Add a cute pair of sandals like these Tory Burch classics and even throw in a gift certificate for a pedicure. If you live close, you could even offer to take her. Hello, quality time!

Hunter Rain Boots: Another thing I wear all the time that my mom loves is my Hunter Boots. They are such a classic closet staple and get so much wear. To spice things up a bit, you could go for the light pink Hunters. They are total show stoppers and also super functional.

 

Thanks for reading, sweet friends! Would love to hear your Mother’s Day gift ideas if you have any you want to share!

 

 

 

 

Hi, friends!

If y’all have ever heard me preach about basics in the past, just hunker down cuz I’m going at it again!

I just can’t stress enough how important it is to have the right building blocks in your closet so when you go to get dressed you don’t end up standing there with a blank stare wondering what to wear. The rhyming. I amaze myself (insert laughing emoji!).

At this risk of sounding like a broken record, I’m just going to share my top ten must haves, or as I like to call it, “My Not So Basic Guide To Basics”. Rest assured when you get the right goods in your closet, you will be anything but basic!

Now in this case I’m going to be talking about transitional Spring basics BUT these are also things you need for a capsule wardrobe (Blog coming soon about this!).

Alright here it is:

1. Dark wash skinny jeans: My absolute favorite of all time are the Modern Skinny jeans from The Loft (currently 40% off!). They are a mid rise fit, meaning they sit right at the hips. They don’t hug the hips (or the love handles). The length is just right for a cute cuff. They fit true to size and they are an absolute dream!
2. Distressed skinny jeans: These jeans are a little more of an investment but I promise they’re worth it. Yes, the fit is great, but when you put these suckers on, you will immediately feel like a boss. They’re distressed without being destroyed. The distressing adds a bit of edge to any outfit, which I love.
3. V Neck Tee: I have a v neck in grey, white, and black. I’m actually a huge fan of brown sandals, skinny jeans, and a white v neck. Sounds soooo boring but it is one of those go-to outfits that I always feel comfortable in. These tees from Nordstrom are fantastic because they aren’t super thin or see thru. You can also easily wear your v necks with denim shorts when it gets warmer outside.
4. Blouse Cami: I know, I know. I talk about this cami all the time but it really IS amazing! I love wearing it under light weight cardigans or all by itself. It just dresses up an outfit and makes me feel so polished. I’m not a huge fan of tight clothes so I love how the fit flows away from the body without appearing frumpy.
5. Chambray Button Down: Also known as denim shirt, this is a must for your closet! You can find these just about anywhere. I prefer a little more of a tailored fit so that’s why I recommend this one from J Crew Factory Store. Size down because it does run a little big.
6. Comfy Neutral Wedges: Ok so once a bargain shopper, always a bargain shopper… except when it comes to shoes. I am for sure willing to invest in great shoes. If that means spending over $100, then I’ll do it. I wear the same shoes all the time and it’s absolutely necessary that they are comfortable. These wedges that everyone and their mom has are totally worth the investment. Promise!
7. Faux suede Hat: I had a total SOS moment this morning when I ran out of dry shampoo. Not. Good! Thanks goodness for this blush pink faux suede hat that I wear the heck out of. Your doesn’t have to look like mine, but I do recommend having a cute hat on hand for those days that the world just cant handle your hair situation. I also love my blue LA Dodgers hat!
8. Denim shorts: I just bought this sweet pair of shorts from Old Navy and I’ve been wearing them a ton. I think it’s important to have a pair that you really love because you can just as easily throw a tee shirt on with it or a cute top and wedges. Super versatile. That’s what I’m talking about!
9. Athleisure Shoes: These are running shoes that you have no intention of running in. I have “workout” shoes and then I have errand shoes. Get a nice pair that you don’t plan to get dirty and they’ll be a cute and comfy addition to your every day style.
10. White jeans: Ok back to the Modern Skinny fit because they come in white! I LOVE wearing white jeans all year long. No seasonal rules apply here, y’all. White denim gives such a crisp and bright look and YES I wear them even tho I have kids. I always have a tide to go pen and if they get anything on them, I just spot treat and I’m good to go!

 

Everything is listed below in clickable and shopable format! As always, if you have any questions about anything I talked about, please let me know!

hi, friends!

First of all, for those of you who are new around here, could I just say a HUGE thank you for your love and support?! Thank you for reading my blog. Thank you for engaging in my instagram. I read every single comment and I’m just so grateful for you guys every single day.

When I started this Style Blogging journey this time last year, I had no idea it would become such an incredible source of support and encouragement. But it came at just the right time. God is just sweet like that.

Before we dive into pictures, I wanted to share a quick health update on Matt!

When we were in high school, Matt was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, which is an auto immune disease (also called IBS). This disease is actually pretty common and for a lot of people can be managed with medication and some changes in diet. Unfortunately for Matt, he found out pretty quickly that his disease was not going to be easy to manage.

As an 18 year old, he pretty much saw his health (and what felt like his whole life) fade into doctors visits, medicine bottles, and unmanageable pain. The next twelve years held seasons of remission and seasons of severe struggle but you’d never know any of that if you met Matt. He’s the most positive and uplifting person I’ve ever known. He’s gone through more struggle in the past 12 years than most people face in their entire lives, yet he continues to press on and look on the bright side. He’s an inspiration to everyone who knows him.

When you have a chronic illness, you just never know when it’s going to rear it’s ugly head. In January of 2016, Matt was experiencing such sever pain that he couldn’t walk or sit. He felt like everything was falling apart so by a total miracle, he was able to get in right away to see a specialist. It turns out, he had a laundry list of issues that had been wreaking havoc and had to be addressed right away. Some of the doctors suggested taking out MULTIPLE organs, others said we could try a few medications. All of them agreed that a few surgeries were necessary to at least try to begin the healing process.

After being in the hospital for over three weeks, he was finally released. They gave him a few temporary fixes but even now (over a year later) we are still just having to wait to see what our next steps are.

Matt is getting an infusion treatment every six weeks but he has to be admitted to the hospital for observation each time. He has other procedures to check his progress and a multitude of at home care he has to do every day. He’s such a trooper!

We are hoping and praying that his body will continue to heal with the help of treatments plus all the homeopathic measures we take. But it’s just such a process so we are also just praying for patience as we ride this out.

The reason we want to be open about our journey is because it’s so easy to assume when you look at pretty pictures on instagram that no one else is struggling. But the truth is that in one way or another, we are ALL struggling. If being honest and authentic about what we are struggling thru helps just one other person to know they are not alone, then it’s worth sharing.

We also share because we want people to learn (as we are) that just because life is hard doesn’t mean it can’t be good. Our circumstances CAN steal our joy IF we give them permission. It’s our goal to focus on the sweet side of our life and even in the midst of the struggle to still find the bright spots.

When I look at our family, I don’t see a brokenness. I see us as we are in these pictures. Laughing. Glowing. Playing. Enjoying every second we have to be together.

I refuse to believe that our best days are behind us.

We can’t say enough how much we appreciate your prayers and your sweet words of encouragement. You are all such a light to us during some dark days. Thank you for loving us well!

Now here are some fun family pictures taken by my AMAZING friend Megan Wallach!

Side notes: Our outfit info is at the bottom of the post. I made the flower crowns. Y’all lemme know if you want a tutorial.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My dress is fully stocked, under $50, and linked here!

The girls dresses are under $18 and are linked here. Their shoes (that they wear non-stop!) are linked here.

Hi!

I am loving this kimono from Filly Flair! As soon as I got it in the mail, I immediately thought it would be perfect as a swim cover. It’s less than $35 and the quality is amazing! You need to check out some of the other Spring styles like this precious black midi dress and this floral cold shoulder top. Beware! They sell out quickly! If you’re planning a wedding, they also have some CUTE bridesmaid dress options!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My swim suit sold out super fast and is only available in limited sizes but I’ll be sure to let y’all know when there’s a restock!

Hi Y’all! I’m super excited to share with you guys that one of my very favorite retailers (literally buy almost all my clothes from there) is having a great sale! It’s kind of a buy more, save more situation. I’ve rounded up a bunch of my picks for you to browse so see below!!

Let me know if you have any questions about sizing or anything! Happy shopping!

Hey Friends! Let’s get down to business.

As some of you may know, I have a little side gig called closet editing. It’s basically where I come over to your house ad help you clean out your closet. Some of you are like “Wow, that sounds horrible. Why would I let you into my closet?” I’ll tell you why! THE best way to make clothing decisions is to have an unbiased second opinion. Enter: me!

During the closet edit, we make piles, I have you try things on, I ask prodding questions… all in the name of LOVE. As in I want you to love your closet.

Because so many people prefer to fly solo on this task, I’m here with a few tips on how to have a successful and efficient closet clean out sesh, just in time for Spring and Summer clothes to make their grand appearance. Speaking of Spring and Summer… can we talk about these elastic waistband crop pants? They are perfection paired with this cami blouse. Also, this laser cut detail tote has quickly become my go-to bag for Spring. Oh, did I mention the inside of the bag is blush? You’re welcome.

Ok here we go!

 

Step One: The Piles

Go thru all your hanging clothes and make a pile of anything faded, picked over, missing buttons, or just down right nasty. This will be your donate pile. Some of the things might also need to be in the trash pile. You be the judge. If it’s not in good condition anymore, you don’t need to put it on your bod.

Now pull out anything you haven’t worn in the past few months. We all know the items that stare us in the face and beg to be worn. Chances are, if you haven’t worn it up until now, you’re not gonna wear it again. These kinds of items can go in the SELL pile. This includes things that don’t fit well. They might fit someone else! I use the app Poshmark to sell all my clothes when I’m done with them. It’s very simple and you can make a whole lot more than online garage sales or consignment stores.

Step Two: The Styles

Ok now that we’ve got our donate/trash and sell piles, what should be left is your KEEP pile. Here’s the part where if I were doing the closet edit, I would go through and help you put together outfits with what you already have. But if you don’t have me, you still have Pinterest. Bless it. You can put together outfits by doing a search for items you own! For instance, let’s say you want to know how to style a white button down. Just do a quick search for that on Pinterest and you should come up with a bunch of ideas. I like taking pictures after I’ve put together a look so I can remember it later. #mombrain

I also recommend going thru tee shirts, underwear, socks, workout clothes, and shoes. The same rules apply to these things. Make your piles and stick to your guns.

I hope this helps and as always if you’ve got any questions, please feel free to let me know!

Thanks for reading!

My outfit details are linked below!