Spring Wardrobe Transitions

by Katie @ Cup of Tea // April 8, 2015 // 12 Comments

When I heard about the Your Spring Style link up over at In Residence and Shea Lennon, I knew it was the perfect excuse to launch back into my favorite type of post – outfit inspiration! All of these outfits are just using pieces I already owned, mixing from my Fall/Winter wardrobe and my Spring/Summer wardrobe.

The changing seasons always get you to stop, rethink your wardrobe, and how you can get the most from it. Transitioning into Spring is one of my favorites! I get tired of wearing dark, heavy clothes from the winter, and getting a chance to bust out my lightweight, brighter pieces is so refreshing.

Ever since I got a new camera for Christmas, I’ve avoided taking outfit photos because it is a new process for me… these pictures aren’t my finest work, but you get the idea.

Anyway, here are some of the ways I transition my Winter Wardrobe into a Spring Wardrobe, without actually buying anything new!

1. Light Jackets

I’ve always been a jackets girl. I think the right jacket can elevate an outfit so easily. So when Spring arrives, and I want to wear light, flowey tops, a jacket can either be practical (keep me warm) or add some structure.

My navy blazer and my denim jacket are always on heavy rotation once Spring arrives!

2. Fun Footwear

I’m not a huge shoes girl, but I know my feet appreciate the warmer weather. I hate wearing closed toe shoes and socks, so when it gets nice outside, I’m so excited to wear lighter shoes. One of my favorite Spring shoes from last year are these striped wedges (similar here). They are a little more dressy than a pair of flats, but still really comfortable! I also love open-toed wedges, like this one in a fun floral or these in a cool lazer cut out pattern.

3. Light Layers

Even though Spring means temperatures warming up, it doesn’t always happen every day. I still have to layer up! Jackets are one easy way to layer, but also a bright, lightweight sweater does the trick. This one is SUCH a pretty color! (PS – taking a purposeful photo of a sweater is hard! The natural placement of it, hanging loose at your sides, doesn’t really show the sweater… so I opted for an awkward “place sweater over the front” look)

I also love lightweight cotton dresses. In the South, it does warm up pretty quick, so you can get away with having bare legs sooner. My favorite places to get light dresses are Target and Loft.

What about you? What are your go-to transition pieces when moving from Winter to Spring? Any tips? I’d love to hear them!

Go check out the Your Spring Style link up for other blogger outfit inspiration! Next week is all about Spring Essentials! Can’t wait!

View Link Up Here!

Also linking up at Tuesday Talk, What I Wore Wednesday, Style Sessions, Thursday Fashion Files

Happy Easter!

by Katie @ Cup of Tea // April 5, 2015 // 6 Comments

Source

On this day, I am remembering the great gift of Grace, showered upon us all, by Jesus’ sacrifice. He is risen indeed!

Hope you are all enjoying celebrating this blessed Easter with family and friends.

High Five for Friday + The Missing Diamond

by Katie @ Cup of Tea // April 3, 2015 // 34 Comments

Welcome to High Five for Friday – hosted by Katie, Caitlin, Tif and Della! If you want to know more, read about it here!

This week’s featured blogger is Sarah at Coffee & Glitter! She is just a hoot! Sarah recently blogged about vacationing in your own hometown, which is such a cool idea. Swing over and say hi!

We pick a new blogger each week to feature, so be sure to stop by and check them out!

FELLOW BLOGGERS: We are switching things up a little bit for the link up! Be sure to read down below! It’s a good thing, don’t worry.

Here’s what we were up to this week! I was really quiet this week on the blog (sorry!) but that doesn’t mean we had nothing going on at home!

1. Our weather was so beautiful this week! We spent a lot of time outside, enjoying the sunshine! But we have a new way to walk in the neighborhood. Elizabeth walks, while I push the stroller with her BFFs (Peppa Pig and Dolly). We stop every few feet to pick flowers (aka weeds). It’s slow, but sweet!

2. My first Stitch Fix has in fact arrived! I meant to take outfit shots this week for a post next week, but that just didn’t happen (so did a lot of things!). I’m still planning on sharing what I got next week!

3. I spent a lot of time on the computer this week, catching up with obligations and projects (that just weren’t blog related!). I usually just sit at my kitchen table. This week I picked up a few bundles of hyacinths, and they smelled so lovely! Too bad we discovered that both hubby and Elizabeth got allergies from them! I had to toss them!!

PS – I bought a few new Moleskine notebooks. I love that light purple color – so pretty!

4. My skin is naturally thin and translucent, and when I get cold, my finger joints and feet get a slight blue tint to it. But this week I’ve glanced down several times where my fingers are legit blue!! The pic may be hard to see it, but I was changing a diaper, and looked down and saw blue fingers! I hollered for the Hubby Doctor, and he snapped a pic. Does anyone else get this? It’s just downright weird and freaky! And this week, I wasn’t cold… so weird!

5. So last night, as I was messaging back and forth with my fellow H54F co-hosts Tif, Caitlin, & Della, and was ~~complaining~~ sharing that I had a really busy week this week but I really didn’t have much to talk about. Well, the good Lord heard my cry and decided last night was the night to drop my engagement ring down my bathroom sink. I may have swore, and then ran to get the hubby. Panic City!! After a trip to Lowes at 9:30PM to buy a bigger wrench, he was able to rescue my poor ring. I felt so bad, but grateful it was a fairly simple rescue!!

And for a 6th, how about this funny, captured at the Durham VA Hospital:

Sage words of wisdom!

Have a gloriously happy, wonderful Easter weekend! (And a good Final Four! Go Duke!!)

Fellow bloggers – ready to join in the link up? Just write a blog post about 5 things that made this week awesome! Add your link to your blog post down below (make sure it’s your blog post, not your blog home page!!). And then grab the H54F button to add to your post! And go visit at least 3 fellow link uppers AND this week’s featured blogger! It’s just the nice thing to do.

And the small switch up – We LOVE visiting every single one of your blogs each Friday! But, in addition to commenting on your blogs, we’d love to connect via social media too! If you’d like a follow, leave a comment below with your user name or whatever works, and I’d love to come follow you! I really love this link up community. I’ve noticed that you all take the time to visit one another!

I’m also linking up with Oh Hey, Friday, Meet @ the Barre, 5 on Friday & Diary of a Real Housewife

Menu Monday #42 + Simple Easter Dinner Menu

by Katie @ Cup of Tea // March 30, 2015 // 11 Comments

Happy Monday! Did you have a nice weekend? Catch some basketball? We’ve got some basketball fever in our house! Go Duke!

So this week’s menu has quite a few spring/summer dishes. I’ve been craving things that are lighter, salads over baked dishes, etc. Maybe its because we were on vacation and we ate out a lot. Or maybe I’m just hoping for warmer weather… either way, Spring is starting to pop up on our menu!

We are still up in the air about what we’re doing for Easter! I’ve planned out a simple Easter menu if we stay here and its just us. What do you usually have on Easter?

Here’s what we’re eating this week!

Monday:
Tacos

Tuesday:
Black Bean and Butternut Squash Enchiladas

Wednesday:
Taglierini with Roasted Tomatoes, Zucchini & Basil
(From Fields of Greens cookbook, but recipe here!)

Thursday:
Summer Vegetables with Red Curry
(From Fields of Greens cookbook)

Friday:
Southwest Chopped Salad with Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing

Saturday:
Leftovers!

Sunday (Easter):
Casserole (still deciding which one!)
Mashed Potatoes and gravy
Roasted Asparagus
Simple Salad
Cake with Lemon Curd and Berries

Need more ideas for dinner?
Follow my Pinterest board – it’s where I save all of my dinner ideas!

Follow Katie | Cup of Tea Blog's board Good Eats | Dinner on Pinterest.

Linking up at Menu Monday with Org Junkie

High Five for Friday

by Katie @ Cup of Tea // March 27, 2015 // 18 Comments

Welcome to High Five for Friday – hosted by Katie, Caitlin, Tif and Della! If you want to know more, read about it here!

This week’s featured blogger is Nancy at NY Foodie Family! She blogs on every topic related to food, which is awesome, including some delicious recipes. I pinned this Olive Potato Pizza! It’s sure to be a hit in our house! Be sure to swing by and say hi!

We pick a new blogger each week to feature! If you’d like to be featured, be sure to link up (see instructions below) and then link back to one of us four hosts to let your blog readers know you linked up at H54F!

Here’s what we were up to this week!

1. Earlier this week we were vacationing in the Outer Banks, NC! It was such a fun vacation, full of relaxation and exploration. It was pretty cold, so it made exploring outside a bit of a challenge. But we made the most of it nonetheless. We went hiking, visited an aquarium, saw where the Wright Brothers (Ohio natives – woot woot!) flew their plane, and even collected some seashells. I’m planning on a full review of the vacation next week, so stay tuned!

2. I get my first Stitch Fix next week! I’m kind of excited (duh). Can’t wait to see what comes! I left it slightly open for picks. I figure lets just see what happens with box 1, and then tweak as I go. I plan on a blog post reviewing the first box once it arrives and I snap enough pics.

3. Despite vacation, I managed to squeak out a few blog posts this week. If you haven’t seen my Meal Planning Printables round up or the latest What’s in My Diaper bag video, check it out! And here’s hoping to getting back to more posts next week!

4. Can we talk TV again this week? I feel like every other H54F deserves a TV round up. We finished House of Cards on Netflix while on vacation. And I’m sad it’s done… I knew this would happen. We would start the season, finish it in just a few days, and now I have to wait a whole year before the next season. Have you watched it? What did you think of this season, compared to past ones? What should we watch next on Netflix?

5. The sweetest thing happened last night. I remembered a book I bought for Elizabeth last year about the meaning of Easter, and grabbed it before bed time. As we were reading it, the last page had a picture of a church congregation, all praying, with heads bowed and eyes closed. And Elizabeth? She immediately followed along! Head bowed and everything, complete with an “aaaaaamah” amen. I may have cried. Go ahead, Elizabeth, make your momma proud.

So what were you up to this week??? I want to know!

Don’t forget to visit your fellow linkers and say hi! I’m looking forward to visiting as many of you as I can!!

I’m also linking up with Oh Hey, Friday, Meet @ the Barre, 5 on Friday & Diary of a Real Housewife