Weekday Wardrobe

Can you believe it is almost September!? This was the first week of school at Boise State - which is where I work - and it is bumpin' up in here. Students everywhere. I spent a few hours at information desks to help lost students with questions and directions. It is so nice to have a full campus again. I also started teaching U-Jam Fitness at the Boise State Rec Center. I love it - and I also realized just how little stamina I have... haha. Whoops! But more on all of that later. Right now I am taking you to last week's outfits, and you will notice some blue and orange still hanging out from the last orientations before school started!



Monday | Top: ModBod | Pants: Old Navy | Shoes: Scarpetta
Tuesday | Top: NoVae | Sweater: Pink Blush | Skirt: My Sister's Closet | Flats: Forever Young
Wednesday | Dress: Agnes & Dora | Flats: Target
Thursday | Top: Downeast Basics | Skirt: Shabby Apple | Heels: Macy's
Friday | Top: NoVae | Cardigan: Old Navy | Leggings: Target | Flats: Payless

Without a doubt my favorite outfit from last week is Wednesday! This dress, you guys! Long, flowly, lightweight, pockets, pattern. ALL GOOD THINGS! If you are looking for an awesome maxi dress head to Agnes and Dora's site like yesterday. I cannot say enough good things about this dress. It is super flattering and comfortable. And I feel like I need more. My second fave is Friday - because I am a sucker for a good black outfit with a print top. Which outfit is your favorite? Which would you love to add to your closet?

Jord Watches

If you have been seeing my fashion posts for awhile, you have probably noticed I don't accessories a lot. Lots of fashion bloggers will make sure every outfit is decked out with watches, earrings, purses, jewelry, rings... so on and so forth. But when I decided to fashion blog I decided not to pretend to be something other than what I am on a daily basis. I don't wear a lot of different jewelry. I don't swap out my earrings every day based on what color my top is. And there are lots of days that I just put on my wedding band and my watch. So when I find an accessory I love, I want to share it with EVERYONE! And so for the next few weeks I am going to introduce you to a few of my favorite accessories that one I got them, I couldn't stop wearing them... which is saying a lot.

I used to be an iPhone time girl for sure. But as I have made an effort in my life to be more present and less attached to my phone, I have found the need to for a new way to tell time. And looking for clocks isn't always ideal. Actually, looking for clocks is never ideal. So I went on a hunt for my favorite watch. Enter Jord Wood Watches... about four watches in I found the perfect watch for me an I am sold.



My favorite thing about Jord watches is that they are completely modeled for the modern lifestyle I live. The company values sustainability, efficiency, and experiential living. When I was looking through their site they sold me with on sentence, "We make our watches for people who don't just have somewhere to be, they have somewhere to go." That is me. That is me to a tee. My life lately is go, go, go. And I don't live my life to be in one place, I live my life to be going every place.

The best thing about the watch itself is the uniqueness that it offers. It isn't your typical medal and leather watch. It is a completely wood watch - offering details and uniqueness for your own style. The watches themselves are a conversation piece. I cannot tell you how many times I have been asked about my watch because of the unique style it offers. And I absolutely love that about the product itself. In fact, Jord Wood watched were hand-crafted with that exact idea in mind. They are wood timepieces that tell a story so no matter where you are you can start the conversation.





Let me tell you why I selected the watch I wear. I was originally attracted by the face of the watch. I have always selected smaller watch faces, and this time I decided to go big and bold. And then I realized the name matched the feel I wanted - the Sully. It is made from a sandalwood - which can be found around the world and is prized for its fragrance which it can retain for decades after cutting, the oil in sandalwood has been used for centuries in cosmetics, eastern medicine and religious ceremonies. And to make my watch even more unique I went with the red sandalwood which comes from East Africa in Mozambique. The origin of the wood was enough to be unique, but the color is something that ties into my life. If you remember, Adam is in the Arizona Diamondbacks Organization. I always want to sport Diamondbacks colors at events, but I don't always want to wear gear - so I was happy there was a watch that matched his team colors. I picked the watch design to match the bold style of my life and I picked the color to match something that means a lot in my life right now.



At the end of the day, I love Jord for their values, for their design, and for their unique approach at not only watch making but for the way they market life and company. "The value of a watch is not in being able to tell how much time has passed, but in being aware of the need to make that time count. Moments are bigger than minutes and your watch should tell more than time. Start the conversation." And that is why I cannot take my Jord watch off. Their company has officially converted me to a watch wearer and a watch reader. I can wear it when I travel. When I am out running errands. When I am going to a meeting. When I am playing with the pup. I can always wear my Jord watch. They get my always moving lifestyle, and they have built a watch that moves with me.

#WAGSinRealLife

Let's talk about reality TV for one second - because let's be honest, I love and live for reality TV. Bachelor, Real Housewives, Survivor, so on and so forth... there is a reason these shows get ratings. And there is a reason I cannot turn away. The drama. The thrill. The life that I will probably never totally understand. It is so intriguing to me. But recently E aired a show that really hit a tender spot. You might have seen it floating around a bit. It is called WAGS. Let me give you a little preview....

After watching the previews I realized my friend Hannah put it best, "On one hand, it's definitely funny how stupid and unrealistic the show is. On the other, it's really frustrating to be so inaccurately portrayed. An anonymous NFL wife wrote a post for Thought Catalog that talks about the discrepancies between reality and Reality TV's portraying of football culture. Baseball fiancee and owner of Home Run Sitters Ashlee Rowe wrote a post chronicling where the E show went wrong. Women across sports got upset about the stereotype that this show is reinforcing."


So let me let you in on a little secret.... this isn't really the life of WAGS. Yeah, of course. There are some - the high rollers, the partiers, the "who's hot now"s... they exist. But being a wife of a professional athlete is so much more. SO much more. And it really hit a spot with not only myself but a ton of other wives and girlfriends in the professional athlete world. Because we didn't marry and we didn't date the men in our lives because they were athletes. In fact, we are with them because of the men they are outside of being an athlete.

I married Adam because he is an incredibly caring individual. I married Adam because he works hard no matter what is going on in his life. I married Adam because he can make any human feel like a million dollars. And I married Adam because of the example he sets on a daily basis to be a better human, to give to others, and to be kind. If baseball ended today I would still be married to Adam. In fact, if baseball ended the first day of our engagement, I still would have married him. Because baseball is such a tiny part of our lives in the grand scheme of things. Right now it takes up a large part of what we do and who we are, but I sacrifice and support him because I love him as a human. Not as a professional baseball player.

So last night, we banded together. All of us WAGS decided to share what the experience is really like. Not black cards, not parties every night, not cat fights and drama, not the sheer entertainment and ratings the world would hope for. But the REAL experience and thoughts. And we shared them on Twitter with #WAGSinRealLife.

#WAGSinreallife Tweets

It is so incredible to me the love and support these women have become in my life. Some that I have met here or there on a series trip - and some that I have never met in real life. I literally only know them by their profile photos. But I look to these women on a regular basis for strength, support, advice, and love. We were all able to come together to share and laugh about how being part of this WAGS community really is. And to be honest, I would not change one single bit of what I have experienced since we were drafted in 2013. There is so much support with these women. And last night proved it.

So go ahead, watch the show. Laugh, be entertained, and enjoy it all... but just make sure you remember it isn't all full of the privileged partiers. The world of professional athletes of full of women who work hard, keep multiple jobs so their man can live his dreams, parent on their own, live apart from their spouses more than half the year, and are educated beyond most. It is full of women who support, serve, and love. They are looking for ways to give back. They are looking for ways to grow. And they are always looking for the best way to support their professional athlete through the highs and the lows because they love him for him. Not for this athlete status.

Three Years Married

Yesterday we celebrated our third year of marriage. Crazy to think that we are three years in - and even crazier when you think about we have only lived together for about half of that. I think that is one reason why it doesn't feel like we have been married that long... That reason combined with I really am so much happier with Adam makes these last three years seem like three minutes. I am SO lucky to have Adam as my best friend and my husband. And I will spare you the mushy post for now... but know that I couldn't have found a more perfect man for me. And now keeping up with traditions I am going to share our third year by the numbers.

 

During our third year of marriage...

1 brand new home purchase
0 children
1 puppy
132 days apart
2 new jobs for Deidre
1 baseball card for Adam
45 innings pitched
1 allstar team for Adam
4 trips to see Adam - one in AZ, three in AL
1 move to Idaho
155 baseball games
4 trips and vacations
44 strikeouts for Adam
2,228 miles between us during baseball season
dozens of date nights
hundreds of selfies
thousands of minutes texting, FaceTiming, and talking
millions of memories and laughs

You can catch our first year in number and our second year in numbers too. Can't wait to see what year four brings us. I have a gut feeling it is going to be a big one in the Miller home.

Styled by 5: Shabby Apple Nutcracker Dress

I am really excited to announce this new collaboration I have joined to all of you! I have talked about my issues with fashion blogging before and I have talked about my insecurities in myself. I am not the typical size two fashion blogger. I am not always skinny and perfect. I don't really fit the mold... but that is why I love fashion blogging. Because no one feels tiny, skinny, perfect, and all of that all of the time. That is why I started doing my weekday wardrobe - to show you the every day. And that is why I keep fashion blogging. To show you a different body type. And that is also why I started Styled by 5. I have teamed up with four other ladies to bring you one piece of clothing styled by 5 different women. Women that look & think differently from one another - hair, religion, location, skin, size, height, style, all of the above. This month we are featuring the Shabby Apple Nutcracker Dress.



So lets get right to it! I was lucky to have received my package from Shabby Apple right before I head to Orlando for Miss America's Outstanding Teen - aka a really great excuse to wear a pretty dress. So I open the box and put it right into my suitcase so I could wear it to finals night of the pageant. Before we headed out I got my mom to snag a few photos of the outfit for me. I decided to go a little more nuetral with makeup and accessories so the simplicity of the dress could really be the focal point. A glitzy necklace and (my favorite) nude strappy heels were perfect accents to make the dress stand out.










Dress: Shabby Apple (similar)
Shoes: Cousin Couture
Necklace: Bluebird Bride
Hair Extensions: Laced Hair Extensions
Lip Color: Stila in Amore

I was really happy with how it all turned out. And I got a few compliments on my styling that evening so I was happy with that too! I guess I should let you all know sizing since this post is all about one piece on different body types. I am 5'9" and I generally wear a 10/12 - 10 on a good day, 12 on a not good day... you understand, right? So I ordered this dress in a 12. It was a little looser fitting that I would have liked, but that also contributed to a comfy night of sitting, standing, moving, and dancing. I love sharing my style with you, but I also want you to see clothing I style in other body types so you can find what is best for you. So feel free to check out how Kaylynn, Bethany, Jacque, and Sarah styled this outfit as well! And watch for a new piece of clothing styled by 5 every month.

Modesty Extends Beyond Clothing

Dress: NoVae Clothing

A while ago I wrote about my choice to be modesty - and since then the concept of modesty has been on my mind. For years and years the Mormon culture has been linked to modesty – long shorts, one piece swimsuits, sleeves, and so on. Sometimes we are asked to explain why modesty is important and sometimes we must defend our clothing choices in a constantly changing world. But the principle of modesty still stands because it is timeless and it applies to all stages of life. It is a principle given by God that applies to men and women, sons and daughters – for all times. But being modest extends beyond the clothing you wear. It is also in your attitude and in your reverence to the Lord.

Modesty shows humility. The willingness of a modest man or woman shows that they are willing to set aside the worldly fashion trends, styles, and pride to become fully dedicated to something that the Lord has said is important. In Doctrine and Covenants 42:40 the idea of humility and modesty is continued, “Thou shalt not be proud in thy heart; let all thy garments be plain.” Does the phrase “plain garments” mean we cannot have stylish and trendy clothing? No. It means that that we dress properly for the occasion and we do not become consumed with brand names or the hottest fashion.

Modesty shows dedication and preparation. Modesty in dress and appearance and in thought and behavior will help prepare us to make and keep sacred temple covenants. Our modesty shows our dedication to the gospel by making the right choices to help us prepare for the temple. Modesty in dress and appearance and in thought and behavior will help prepare us to make and keep sacred temple covenants.

Modesty shows strength and courage. It can be difficult to remain modest as shorts are getting shorter, tops are getting tighter, and sleeves are being removed left and right. By being modest we are showing are strength to the Lord and to those that are curious about the Church. Remaining modest through the constant fashion trend changes shows our ability to stand up for what we believe is important. Strong and courageous children of God all working towards the same goal.

Modesty shows reverence to the Lord. The way we dress whether at church meetings or with our friends will show God how we value the body he gave us. Our bodies are often referred to as temples – which are the most sacred of buildings. How do we treat our temple? How do we protect our temple? Show respect for the Lord and for yourself by dressing appropriately for Church meetings and activities, whether they are on Sunday or during the week.

Modesty also offers the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, a foundation to teach our own children on the importance of appearance, and the ability to “stand as witnesses of God at all times”.

There are many blessings that come from being modest in your dress and in your attitude, and one of those blessings is an increase in confidence. When I dress modestly, I don’t think about pulling and tugging clothing to make sure I am covered properly. I am more confident in what I wear. When I dress modestly, I can focus on the people I meet, what they are saying, and the conversations we are having. I am more confident in my communication. When I dress modestly, I know I am sharing an outward appearance of drive and determination and that my clothes do not define me, but my words and my accomplishments become the focal point. I am more confident in the woman I am.

So while people will often ask why we choose to dress modestly – the principle of modesty will extend beyond clothing and appearance. Modesty becomes part of your attitude, your reverence to the lord, and your confidence. And those things are more important than any piece of clothing.

Weekday Wardrobe

Well... this one was supposed to go live last week. Whoops! But it is a good thing it didn't because this week has been fail city as far as taking my early morning outfit pictures. Partially because I was on vacation and partially because I had just gotten back from vacation. Does anyone else have the hardest time getting up the two or three days following a trip? Morning are already hard enough... but this whole not having to wake up early for 5 days and then going back to work thing is not working very well for me. I am getting back on track though. I promise.



Monday | Dress: Agnes & Dora | Heels: Dillards
Tuesday | Top: Agnes & Dora | Pants: Target | Heels: Cousin Couture
Wednesday | Dress: Agnes & Dora | Flats: Target
Thursday | Top: Agnes & Dora | Pants: SexyModest | Sandals: Zappos
Friday | Top: Cotton On | Leggings: Gap | Sandals: Target

As you can see the whole week was full of Agnes and Dora. My newest clothing OBSESSION! Like... beyond obsession actually. Next week you will be seeing the most beautiful maxi dress from them too. There is a tie for my favorite outfits from last week - Monday and Tuesday. Both of them got a ton of love at work too. The dress is so perfect and has pockets. The top and jeans was comfy and trendy. Which outfit would you want in your closet?

How We Wore It: Summer Cool

Another month, another how we wore it post! One of my favorite monthly collaborations - which now comes in two varieties... this one and the Styled by 5. Let me give you a little refresher on how this specific series works. All of us were given the same “inspiration outfit” and we were asked to create our own take on it once we let our creative juices flow. Any outfit can be inspired by the colors, the patterns, the pieces, or the textures is fine. So our how we wore it is coming from the inspiration side – with things we already have! Because not many people have the luxury to just go buy a new outfit based on what they see on Pinterest, so you have to work with what you have. First up is the look we used for our inspiration.

via Gal Meets Glam

When Brooke sent out this month's photo I was instantly inspired by the neutrals. A little something about my closet - everything is neutrals for the most part. Lots of tans, creams, blacks, and so on... it even extends to my bags. I think every purse I have purchased in the last five years has been a camel color. I am living on the edge, I know... ha! I am slowly introducing neons and brights into my wardrobe now though. But this Gal Meets Glam photo made me so happy because I love a good neutral toned outfit. And I had the perfect had to set it all off. So here it my Gal Meets Glam inspired outfit.

Hat: Downeast Basics
Top: The Sewing Post
Undershirt: Downeast Basics
Skirt: SexyModest
Watch: Arvo
Shoes: Ross
Purse: Lily Jade - More to come on this bag! I am obsessed with it.

Okay, so I took it to the neutral extremes. Browns, tans, and creams only. I started with the hat and sunglasses. I went the tan route with my hat because I felt like it pulled up the color of the skirt I had in mind, to make it look more cohesive. Basically my goal was to get every item - other than my top - to match closely in color so that the eye would be drawn to the details in my lace top + the big sunglasses. So the skirt, hat, undershirt are all a simple tan and the shoes, purse, and watch are all a camel color. I wanted the lace detailing to stand out on the tans and I tied it up to give myself an accent waist. I don;t have a petite body like lots of fashion bloggers and models, so I create my own shape with how I style my clothing. The sunglasses are definitely a detail point because they are the darkest coloring of the whole outfit. It was a way to draw your eyes up to my face, rather than at my outfit. Do these outfits inspire you? How would you style a how we wore it outfit for this photo?

Now that you have taken my take on the look make sure you see what my friends came up with! A bunch of babes with styles all their own. And that is what makes this whole project awesome, and why I keep coming back! You can check them out here – Brooke at Silver Lining - make sure to visit Brooke's blog if you want to be a part of this series in a coming month / Jana at Bouvardian / Alexa at He and I / Aubrey at Aubrey Zaruba / Brooklyn at A Little Too Jolley / Ashley at Absolutely Ashley / Danica at Danakin Skywalker / Rachel at Rachel Sayumi / Sharlee at My New Lines / Emma at Ever Emma / Stephanie at The Artist + The Architect / Kyla at FordOlogy / Kalyn at Geez Louise / Kallie at Life Through a Lens / Tayler at The Morrell Tale / Jessica at My Peanut Butter Problem / Bonnie at Life of Bon.