The Blue Closet

how i wear a baseball hat…

Apr

April 14, 2013 By Cassaundra 4 Comments

military vest / distressed jeans / mlb hat / chambray shirt / arrow necklace / converse / gold sandals

as i said in my this post dodger hats are mandatory in this house.

it has literally become my favorite accessory.

especially when worn with unexpected twists like this winter when i wore this to a clippers game.

chambray shirt / leather jacket and another good one here/ fur vest (have to wait until fall again for a good one) / leggings / hat / bag / boots

okay now bare with me. you have to wear the layers accordingly or you are seriously encroaching on biker chick territory. be careful. this chambray shirt hangs longer in the back, making it appropriate for lady like myself to wear with “liquid leggings”. yep, i said it, “liquid leggings”. completely doable peeps. then when you add the leather jacket you have the peekaboo of the denim shirt dividing the leggings from the leather and you are gold. the effect of the leather sleeves through the vest is rad. just plain R-A-D.

and i also mixed this same outfit up like this, adding a black blazer in exchange for the leather jacket.

shirt, similar here and here/ jacket similar here/ vest hand me down / jeans/ another pair of great boots here

many of you have been asking me for my own outfits and as i work up the courage to do real nice selfies i will leave you with these iphone photos for now. forgive me.

4 Comments Filed Under: Mama Style Tagged With: baseball hat, booties, chambray shirt, dodgers, fur vest, leather jacket

boy style… ello h&m pocket tee, a dodger hat and a lion.

Apr

April 13, 2013 By Cassaundra 1 Comment

toddler boy style…

new era hat / h&m shirt / target button up (old but similar here and here)

if you follow me on insta, you know we are BIG dodgers fan.

a new era dodger hat is a must in this house. you can’t spit without hitting one here. i have this one and i am pretty sure it goes with everything.

you must also love lions. mandatory. double points if your name means “lion”, which his does.

1 Comment Filed Under: Uncategorized

spring break at carpentaria

Apr

April 12, 2013 By Cassaundra 1 Comment

we spent our spring break in Carpentaria.

it is my favorite place to camp in the whole world. i have been doing it since i was a wee little thing. remember this post about a place I DON’T love to camp but in the name of family unity and love do it anyways?

carpentaria is not that. it is close enough to home that it became a revolving door of visiting friends and families that pitched a tent and bunked up…or just visited for the day.

our site is situated backing up against huge field where we had baseball games everyday and kite flying and an easter egg hunt.

the park is amazing there and right across the parking lot is the beach.

plus a heavenly old fashion candy store and hamburger stand within walking/biking distance.

should we talk about Rudy’s tacos? i ate too many. then went back the next day and ate too many more.

on the last day there was a farmer’s market right on the main street that i picked up some great arugula while the kids danced next to the street musicians.

we spent a week in this little slice of heaven, in a rented RV. i want to go back.

one of my favorite moments was watching these two loves realize they had missed the truck that was taking everyone to the surf spot, jumping on their bikes in their wetsuits and riding off to surf with all their cousins and dads.

the waves were perfect for pushing beginners into the white wash. myes has built so much confidence doing this and learning the basics about paddling out turning your board around and taking it slow. can you see his proud daddy in the background?

we love you Carp. until next year. get ready for us.

1 Comment Filed Under: life Tagged With: camping, carpentaria, surfing

beauty review…eye shadow primer

Apr

April 10, 2013 By Cassaundra 2 Comments

this week i am doing a beauty review for eye shadow primer. it is a lesser revered product but an instant must have for eye make up lovers. at first i thought, really one more step in my make up routine? but i think this one is well worth it. no more smudging or fading.

too faced eye shadow primer ”Shadow Insurance: Anti- Crease Eye Shadow Primer”

i am BIG on eyeliner. my eyes are two different shapes and i like to use eyeliner to modify the shape of my eyes… or eye. i like the shape of one and the other just looks like a lazy eye. i am constantly looking for an eyeliner that will last all day.

This is the eyeliner i find lasts the longest and is the easiest to blend (warning, it can stick to contacts for contact lens users).

instead of relying merely on a good long lasting eyeliner i decided to try an eye shadow primer this week to see if it would increase the longevity of my eye make up. i was happily surprised by the difference and shocked i hadn’t tried one sooner.

this one is a keeper.

2 Comments Filed Under: Beauty, Uncategorized

boy style…fancy pants

Apr

April 8, 2013 By Cassaundra 3 Comments

my guys got their fancy pants on for easter. this year i knew i wanted a very traditional look for the boys. they wear so much rough and tough looking clothing that i wanted to just see the sweet, soft side of them.

the suits are perfect for spring and summer. weddings. father’s day. mother’s day.

my guys, they are best friends.

myes takes care of ello.

he tells him stories that melt my heart about adventures they go on and how they always come out the heroes.

if i was playing God seven years ago i would have created a different birth order for me. two boys and then a girl at the end. that seemed very perfect then. but i didn’t play God and instead my little guys were interrupted by the sweetness and craziness of their sister. maybe that disruption makes it easier for the boys to get along…

there is no competition, yet.

there is no fighting between them, yet.

instead ello thinks myes is the coolest and in return myes thinks ello is the sweetest.

several times a day ello will look up at me and say, “mom, where’s my myes?” sigh.

you can read more about myes here.

this little stinker wouldn’t crack those lips for anything. behind that little smirk is the cutest gap where his front teeth once lived. apparently it is not as endearing to him as it is to me.

myes’ suit coat / suit pants / checked shirt / ello’s sport coat / ello’s pants / belt /

3 Comments Filed Under: Boy Style, Photo Shoot Inspiration Tagged With: easter, spring trends, suits

ruby tuesdays…the $10 target tank top

Apr

April 3, 2013 By Cassaundra Leave a Comment

ruby tuesdays went to the farm this week in her $10 target tank top.

it was the most beautiful charming farm in Ojai CA.

it was gorgeous and i wanted to stay all day.

these two loves held chicks and bunnies.

the chicks proved to scare us all.

the bunnies were even fluffier then i imagined.

i saw this tank at target and knew the possibilities were endless. it has the sweetest little lace and ribbon detail on the neck and the flower print is flecked with neon. i can’t wait for all the print on print options to pair this with.

oh yes and then my little traveling buddy snagged this pic of me…this is how i do the farm

jcrew flannel (old)/ ac dc zara shirt (old) / krista hudson jeans / report boots (old)

target tank / striped cotton on jeans / yellow shorts / minnetonka boots / sandals

Leave a Comment Filed Under: Girl Style, Mama Style, ruby tuesdays Tagged With: farm, tank tops, target

mama style… spring break shoes

Mar

March 29, 2013 By Cassaundra 1 Comment

wether you are braving the amusement parks, setting up camp or hitting the museums i am breaking down what shoes to wear for this spring break. keep them stylish and comfy… and please leave those running shoes in your gym bag. you know what i am talking about. pointing at you. you can do better.

1. stud sneaker by Ash 2. green moccasins 3. yellow and tan tory burch 4. stud smoking slipper ( super comfy)5. nike with red swoosh 6. black and white sneaker 7. teal nike

part of me is still not ready to put my booties away. they are so comfortable and the perfect transition to spring. i am LOVING this boot.

i have been a tried and true fan of the chuck taylors. my red pair are my fave. when you feel like keeping it classic, simple and affordable. they are a go to. high top, low top, whatever they will never fail you.

this is how i do disneyland…

these babies with the gold hardware just might be perfection.

1 Comment Filed Under: Mama Style Tagged With: mama style, nike, shoes, slippers, sneakers

twisted crown / ballerina bun tutorial for little girls

Mar

March 26, 2013 By Cassaundra 6 Comments

this ruby tuesdays is an easter/ holiday / wedding hair tutorial: twisted crown / ballerina bun for little girls.

this year i wanted to do something special for ruby’s hair for easter. generally the little missy girl is the focal point of any family outfitting concept i may have. this easter she is taking a back seat to her brothers that got matching easter suits (more to come on those gems this week). since my entire “easter dress budget” was spent on the boys i had little left for my little love.

her easter outfit consists of this h&m lace top $17.99, she already owned and this target pleated skirt $14.99 and her old zara ankle cowboy boots, featured here.

as you know from this hair tutorial, i am lacking in hair doing skills. again i called my dear friend brittney over for support and she came up with this simple, pretty, feminine style.

i love that this will look cuter and cuter as the day goes on. i love the idea of whispy pieces hanging out and the looseness of the twist.

we felt inspired by the popular period pieces (insert downton abbey and game of thrones) we have been watching on tv and are thinking sticking flowers in this look would just be amazing.

okay lets get started…

this is britney’s girl H. she has fine hair about to her shoulders. britney had just taken it out of two tight buns on top of her head so it happens to be wavy here. note, waviness is not needed for this look.

1. Part hair at desired part. Take a section that is about 1 inch by 3 inches.

2. Split into 2 even sections and then cross the piece closest to her face over back piece. No twisting needed.

3. Grab about a half inch section of hair from the hair line and add it to the current front piece (used to be back peice) and cross over back peice.

4. Continue adding hair to whichever section is closest to hair line and crossing over back piece past the ear.

5. Continue around the back of head, allowing more space from hair line and keeping the hair tight. Across the back of head the twist should sit just below the occipital bone.

6. When you reach the mid point in the back, twist the two sections aroud each other. (noting that you still do not need to twist before twisting.. sounds confusing but basically just keep it very simple)

7. Then secure with a rubber band close to the scalp temporarily.

8. Repeat the process starting on the other side.

9. When you get to the mid point in back twist the section as you did on the other side (#6).Then cross with the other side while twisting to keep it tight.

10. Secure with rubber band. (clear is preferable) this is a cute stopping point for a less formal day.

11. use traditional twist technique. Two sections of hair, twist both the same direction, then wrap them around one another in the opposite direction.

12. Then wrap this into a bun and secure with bobby pins.

here is ruby. her hair is pretty thick and hangs down to her waist. notice how we finish this differently then the bun. the hair wraps all the way around like a crown.

The technique for this one is very similar. You still start with two sections the same size, beginning at the part and adding hair in the same manner.

Because Ruby has so much hair and it is so long, she is a great candidate to continue the twist all the way around the head and back across the top to create a halo or crown effect. In order to have the twist look right when you get to the end where you are not adding hair, you must use the technique described in #11 the whole time.

from the beginning, twist both sections to the right and then cross them to the left. Add hair and twist to the right, and cross to the left and repeat all the way around head, through the end of the twist and secure with rubber band.

Wrap the end across top of head and hide ends using bobby pins.

If sections across the back seem loose or heavy, you can secure them by lifting them a bit and securing them with bobby pin.

If the tail of your twist isn’t as thick as this one pictured and it looks too thin, you can pull at it, lossening the hair after it has been secured so that the width of it looks even across the top of the head.

left dress here / center top here/ j crew necklace (old), similar here / right dress here

THANKS BRIT!

in a pinch for a cute hair accessory? run to your local mall, you might be surprised!

lace hair bows

6 Comments Filed Under: Beauty, Girl Style, ruby tuesdays, Uncategorized Tagged With: easter, girl style, hair, hair tutorial, kids hairstyles, tutorial

drugstore spring beauty…

Mar

March 25, 2013 By Cassaundra Leave a Comment

everyone is getting ready for spring break.

for me that means light, fresh make – up, painted toes and a glowing face.

the drugstores have been offering some great products lately so i decided to peek around to see if they live up to their hype. here are two drugstore makeup and beauty finds that i found for this spring season.

i have fallen madly in love with this product. it is marketed as a primer although that is not what I feel is this product’s strong point. it is light, seamless and dewy and unlike many highlighters it doesn’t get caught in your creases. instead i love this stuff paired with a light bronzer on the cheekbones. i think its kind of dreamy and perfect for spring break.

i don’t stray far from essie or OPI so i was real happy to find the essie display at my local CVS. this peachy color is right on trend for this spring and will go with anything. i mean ANYTHING.

i had such a fun time with my oxblood lips in the fall i wanted to find my spring counterpart and have scouring the shelves for the perfect neon pink. i tried the two pictures, but they are just not good enough yet to recommend….but i am still looking. i will keep you posted on my finds.

next week’s beauty review… primers