Meagan Rigney

Finding yourself again after having kids

c/o Lulu’s dress, old (similar HERE, HERE and at Target HERE); Target sandals and bag; Rayban sunglasses.
Nobody who has had a kid ever INTENDS to lose themselves, it just becomes inevitable. (I think? Is this just me? HA.) Not only does you body change as you grow a child, but your entire life shifts to this little tiny human person who depends on YOU for everything. 
Your first one, especially, is a game changer. 
All of a sudden, life as you know it is over (not in a bad way, just different), and the YOU you used to be is kind of gone? Eight and a half years later I’m not sure I remember who I used to be, because now I’m “mom” and everything is changed. I used to be more selfish and spontaneous, more free but less focused. I had yet to see the resilience I would build, the patience and the courage and the all around consuming love that I would add in each day of their lives, like drops of water in a glass. A lot of this can be contributed to just getting older and (hopefully) wiser, but I’d like to think that most of who I am now is shaped by the two little people I get to raise each day.
Still, I did lose myself for a bit. I let what makes me happy slide, and it happened so gradually I didn’t even notice. I stopped caring about what I wore, I read less and worked out never and focused only on my kids. Which isn’t bad, because they needed me and two kids in seventeen months doesn’t leave much time for anything else, it just simply WAS. I was in survival mode, and honestly that lasted for a good several years.  It wasn’t until my youngest turned one that I started to gain a little piece back by working out. I would go to the Y three days a week and gain an hour each time while they played in the daycare there. I learned that I had control over how I felt inside and out by how I cared for my body. I gained strength and the mindset that I could handle a lot more physically and mentally than I ever thought possible. 
Then a year or so later I started this blog, because what I wear and how I present myself is another huge factor of what makes me tick. I simply LIKE putting together outfits and expressing myself through my personal style. This blog forced me to get dressed each day and document it, so I tried harder and gained another small piece of myself yet again. If I take five minutes to throw a dress and some cute accessories on, even when I’m heading to the grocery store or the chiropractor, I feel better. It is part of what makes me, ME, and doing so helps me find myself more and more each day. 
Lastly, reading is a huge part of what makes me happy. I am a reader, which I’ve mentioned many times here. I read about a book a day and I fit in some sort of reading in my day, no matter how busy, whenever I can. I read a whole lot less when my babies were actual babies, but I DID still read a couple of pages when I could. Now I have a lot more time to enjoy a book, the beach is a favorite spot of mine and I read a ton at night while my husband watches his shows. 
Something I remember clearly after my kids were born is that I had also let all my fashion magazines go and only got parenting ones. I never even noticed the change. That’s the funny thing about losing yourself, it’s often so gradual you don’t notice the change until it is too late. For me this gradual loss of myself  took about 2-3 years, until I noticed it and had the time and energy to get it back. 
My kids are 8 and 7 now and looking back I shake my head a bit about who I was then. She wasn’t bad, she was just coasting. She lived day by day, often hour by hour, and devoted her whole self to her new mom identity. 
Now she knows better.
I know that for my kids to be happy with themselves, I have to happy with myself. And that if I take the time to do what means the most to me, that they will do the same. They see me taking care of myself, body and soul, which in turn makes me a better mom for them. I guess I had to lose myself to get to who I am now, and maybe in ten years I’ll look back and feel the same way about my (almost) 36 year old self. I’ve noticed that each year I find I know myself better and better, I do more of what makes me happy and less of what I don’t, and being true to myself is the first step in all of that. 
Tell me, what do YOU do to stay true to yourself? (Kids or no kids!)

I tried to say no, but I couldn’t

Old Navy dress; Target cardigan; Adidas sneakers; Rayban sunglasses; Kate Spade watch; Stella and Dot pendant necklace.
I like to follow trends. There, I said it. It makes me feel good to have something that is current and new and trendy in my closet (with reservations, of course!) Some things I can say yes to easily…a certain color, perhaps, or fit. It’s easy to get a pair of flared jeans, or grab an inexpensive choker at Forever 21. Sometimes the trends take more thought, if they are more expensive, or if I’m not sure they’ll fit into my lifestyle. 
These sneakers were something I had to think about for awhile.
I mean, I pinned a zillion pictures of cute gals wearing them, I could SEE they were popular, especially when they show up on every blog. I even had a pair back in the 90’s (though they were pink-ish/red-ish suede, and I LOVED them.) Yet, I’m not really a sneaker girl. I wear them to workout, and that is it. I wasn’t sure  that I would really wear them, you know? Would I grab my no fail fringe boots, instead of these? Would these be a purchase I regretted?
Needless to say, I stalked them for two months online, moving them in and out of carts multiple times. 
(This is super important stuff to discuss, no?) 
I FINALLY stopped waffling around and bought them for myself for Mother’s Day (we do that a lot, my husband and I. I order something and tell him and we are happy with the ease of gift giving around here!) I sized down as recommended (bought a size 7, I typically wear an 8 or 8.5 in shoes.) I love them! I will probably wear them more with dresses and skirts, as I like the mix of casual and dressy. I did wear them to work last week with a pair of grey skinny jeans, a white V-neck tee, and a grey cardigan. (Casual Friday, #holla!) I can see myself getting a lot of use out of them (perhaps with this black bodycon dress for a date night?!) 
Tell me, do you like to follow trends? How do you decide what to invest in and what not to?

5 weird things you may not know about me

Free People off the shoulder top; Matisse fringe boots; Rebecca Minkoff bag (similar); Rayban mirrored sunglasses. 
1) I’m 35 and a half years old, but I still have to do a running leap onto my bed at night so that whatever is hiding under there won’t grab my feet. Every. Single. Time. 
2) I’ve said this before, but I realize how weird it is so I keep saying it. I CANNOT watch people put on socks. Especially dress socks. It puts a shiver right down my spine and I have to look away.

3) I’ve had a down pillow and super soft pillowcase since I was ten, I think? Over time the pillow actually disinegrated, and I was left with the pillowcase, which I just put on another pillow. Now the pillowcase has shredded and can’t go over a pillow, and it’s just one long piece of fabric and I CANNOT sleep without it. So I guess I sleep with a blankie of sorts? I’m attached to it, you could say. I’m mildly embarrassed to admit to this, ha.

4) I eat food one item at a time during meals, usually eating the thing I want the least first, until I get to what I want the most. I don’t mix bites and I don’t like it to touch or overlap.

5) I am a neat freak. I enjoy neatening things and organizing stuff. If you asked me to sit and clean out a closet where I could toss things and make things pretty at my own discretion I would be THRILLED. I think it’s the control factor I like. I can make things look neat and orderly, making my life feel more neat and orderly.

Tell me, what do YOU do that makes you a little weird? 

My 1000th blog post

Faux leather leggings; Nike sneakers; Free People tunic; Rebecca Minkoff bag; Rayban sunglasses.

I had some pretty grand plans for this post right here, I swear! I wanted some amazing (maybe even professional?) photos, with some fancy outfit that stood out against the snow. And maybe some balloons? Confetti? Fireworks? Ha. Reality intruded, in the form of the flu, and some sick kids, and another photo shoot that it ended up being too cold to do anything in. But you know what? None of that has really anything to do with the fact that this is the 1000th post I’ve written here for this blog. THE. ONE. THOUSANDTH. POST. Doesn’t that sound insane? I feel like I’ve lost track of how long I’ve been actually blogging, but for the 1000 times I’ve hit publish in this space, it has been a learning experience.
I never thought that much ahead when I published my first post, I just remember being scared to do it. It was so hard to put myself out there! To have other people read my words and to judge me and to open myself up to that? It was frightening. Yet I did it. I continued to press publish 999 more times after that,  and each time it got easier and easier. I don’t worry about being judged for what I write here anymore. It’s not scary like it was. I post to share my love of style and shopping with you, but I also share my deepest self sometimes. I’ve learned that I can sort my feelings and empty my soul in a post and feel better for it. 
The real deal here that makes it all worth the editing and writing and hopping through the snow for photos shoots, and all the endless behind the scenes work that isn’t always the most fun, is having YOU here to read it. Over the years I’ve built up a core set of readers who I adore. A lot of you have become friends in real life, and I treasure that. I really do! I’ve faltered and wondered sometimes if I really wanted to continue writing here, yet each time I say “just quit already!”, I can’t. 
This blog, this tiny space on the internet, is a piece of me. It’s something I built from the ground up and has made me learn so much about myself over the years, I can’t even count the lessons. I’m so grateful to have my readers and this blog, it brightens my days immeasurably to have both. Thank you for being here and supporting me and coming back day after day, year after year. I heart you!

You need this vest

Target vest and hat; Free People sweater; Old Navy jeans; Hunter boots; Rayban sunglasses. 

I wish I could describe to you the deliciousness of this vest. Is it the incredibly soft faux shearling texture? Is it the fact that it is reversible? Is it because it has pockets and anything that has pockets is automatically AWESOME in my book? I’ll answer all of this questions for you. YES!
I found this vest at Target month or so ago and instantly fell in love. They have a bunch of clothes there right now in this fabric (though encasing my rear end in faux shearling is NOT at the top of my list), and this item was my favorite. It was under $30, as all things from Target tend to be, and looks great with just about anything. We’ve had a really mild Fall so far and I have been able to get away with this as outerwear for a longer period than usual, but can see this under my heavier jackets as well for added warmth. PLUS, when I wear it to work all the kids come up and give me long hugs because I feel so soft. 
Love that;)

Instagram outfit roundup!

I’ve seen these types of post around the blog world and I happen to adore them! They give quick outfit details about certain looks, and often include outfits not shown on their blog. The same holds true for me! I only “officially” (ha) blog about 10% of what I wear on a daily basis. A lot of the time I either don’t have time to photograph it, or it is too similar to something I’ve already blogged about (#bloggerproblems, am I right?), or I’m just being lazy. Here are some of the looks I’ve worn lately (and loved), and where it’s all from.
Forever 21 tunic (option, option); Topshop flats; Rebecca Minkoff bag.

I blogged a look similar to this once and really liked it, so when I found this top hidden in the back of my closet I decided to recreate it! This Forever 21 top/dress is a favorite of mine. It is silky and loose and makes me feel really cute. Who doesn’t want that? I am eyeing a similar one from Free People that has really caught my eye, too! Also, these flats from Nordstrom are so fun and on trend, and work for me equally in my personal life as well as for work!

Finally, this Rocksbox (Kendra Scott) turquoise necklace above is something I’m debating on keeping. It’s $64, is that worth it? Help me!

Ily Couture cape, Old Navy jeans; Sam Edelman boots.
I wore this cape to soccer last weekend with a hat and super warm eternity scarf and it was so warm! It is also blanket soft and so, SO cozy. It also comes in a bunch of colors and is reversible. 

Target sweater (option, option); Ramones tee (option.)
Apple picking day! This sweater is from Target last year and I wear it constantly. I found some similar options, as well as some options for this Ramones band tee that I also wear constantly (here is a similar baseball tee option.) Also, it’s hat weather! Yay! 

Blank NYC faux leather jacket, sold out (option); Rayban sunnies; ℅ Ted and Muffy boots (and option.)
Gah, this burgundy faux leather jacket is one of my faves. I sized down so it would be more fitted (wearing a small), and I’m glad I did. I can still wear a sweater underneath (this Gentle Fawn one is amazing!), and the color lets me get away with wearing a mostly all black look on a daily basis. 

Lauren Conrad lace sleeved sweater; Target fringe boots.
I talked about these extensions in this post HERE, but I wanted to show what they look like on and in real life. I have had a lot of questions about this brand, and all I can say is that they are amazing. I am wearing the Chocolate Brown, 18 inch, 200 gram option, but if you have thinner hair (like me) I would go with a smaller gram weight extension (these are pretty heavy.)

Old Navy jeans, boots (option); ℅ Gentle Fawn sweater.
These ripped Rockstar jeans from Old Navy are on a constant rotation in my closet. They have a lived in, edgy feel to them that I really love, and they fit so well! I wore my typically size (size 6), and find that they have a good amount of stretch. Old Navy recently refit their pants line, and they fit better than ever in my opinion. I used to have to size up a size or two, but now I can buy my regular size and they work. 

Alex and Ani feather bracelet; Lauren Conrad lace sleeved sweater.
Jewelry is an obsession for me, especially since I started subscribing to Rocksbox. The necklace above is one I debated on buying (but didn’t), and it was so cute! Ultimately I had one really similar to it and sent it back. Now I’m currently debating on another necklace in my current box, a beautiful Kendra Scott. 
This Alex and Ani feather bracelet was a birthday gift from my dad and one I wear almost every day. I have an obsession with feathers, and have a secret something to show you in a couple of days regarding them. Ha!

Free People top; Topshop flats; Forever 21 lace kimono.
I wore this look to book club last month and will probably re-wear it a lot this fall. I spoke of my love for these flats above, and this Free People tunic has been a constant love of mine for the past year or so. I am eyeing it in black AND blue as well. Also wearing my favorite Old Navy jeans and an old Forever 21 lace fringe kimono!
Hope you have a great weekend friends! I sure do appreciate you;)

Are the days of blog comments over?

Old Navy tee and jeans; Nordstom reversible tote; Nike Internationalist sneakers; Rayban Wayfarer sunnies; Baublebar Constellation pendant and bracelet.

I’ve been noticing a trend with blog comments lately, and that is that they are turning non existent. I’m not sure if it is because it’s summer and everyone is busy, but all across the board on most of the blogs I read they seem to be waning. I’ve read a couple of articles lately about this, about how blogging is dead and comments are dead and I sort of agree. You see, I used to comment a lot on a ton of different blogs. It took a lot of time and often enough it was simply a business move. If you comment on them they comment back and it is a circular type of thing. I’d get a lot of comments that you could tell were done for commenting sake (which is fine), but weren’t that in depth or meaningful. It was something that everyone did though, and it became a way to meet new people and interact. 
While my blog comments have gone downhill pretty drastically over the past couple of months, my page views have stayed pretty consistent. This shows that while folks aren’t engaging through comments, they ARE still reading. Which obviously makes me happy;) BUT, it make me think that blogging has changed in a big way since I began about four years ago. The days of multiple sponsorships and tons of comments seem to be over, with Instagram taking over as the new blogging platform. I think Instagram is popular because it has the same visual appeal as a blog, yet it can be digested in smaller bits. Reading a blog and taking the time to comment is more than a lot of people are willing to do nowadays (myself included), and it is showing in comments and other forms of engagement. 
While I’m not commenting much on any platform much right now, I AM reading and enjoying my favorite blogs as much as I ever was. I truly enjoy keeping up with what my fellow bloggers are doing and can’t imaging not reading on a daily basis. I comment when I can, when I am feeling a need to say something because I want to and not because I have to. I hope when people comment here it is for the same reason. I love writing posts that drive people to interact and think, yet I know that some posts are just more visual and don’t require an answer back, and that is OKAY.
Tell me, how do you comment on blogs these days? 

The secret under my dress

Target swing dress (similar); Old Navy sandals and bag, old; Rayban sunglasses; Baublebar bracelets; Jockey Skimmies.
Have you ever had one of those moments where you fall so hard for something that you had NO IDEA existed before, but you’re so thankful they do? That happened to me last week when my newfound obsession for short swing dresses met the super practicality of Jockey’s Skimmies. In case you didn’t know (I mean, I didn’t!), Skimmies are super lightweight slip shorts that can be worn under anything really, but I see them as extra insurance under dresses (and an occasional suck it in moment under super tight pencil skirts.) 
I wore this cute (and short!) dress the other day running errands with my kids, and then out on the ball field while by son played T ball. And let me just say, I’m grateful for the extra insurance of these slip shorts while wearing a dress and sitting on the bleachers. I’m the type that likes to wear what I want despite the (often) major impracticality of it, and now I can. You guys! I love that;) They also feel like you are wearing nothing, and they don’t have the weird nylon feel that give me the shivers up my spine when I think of it. I have a weird tactile thing when it comes to my clothes, and these slip shorts passed the test. 
Tell me, have you ever worn Jockey’s Skimmies? And if not, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Ha;)

3 things I learned from NOT shopping for three months

Target tank; Madewell shorts; Converse sneakers; Rayban sunglasses; Cambridge Satchel.
In my head the other day when I wore this I classified it as my “sporty Meagan look.” (You can read why my name is NOT Jackie, here!  I was on my way to a nature walk for my son’s playgroup, I had a T-ball game to go to that night, and I just wanted to be casual and comfortable. It’s simple and unassuming and not that special, but it’s real and not contrived. Some days I work hard to style myself and others I do not, but I like showing you both versions. Here’s to being real, right?
I feel like I have multiple style personalities sometimes, which I then label in my mind. There is “casual” me, “boho” me, “sporty” me, and “at home” me (which means old sweats and an oversized hoodie, always.) It’s like different version of myself that I dress for, and it works. Though talking to myself and labeling it all may be a little crazy;)
Moving on!
A couple of months back I declared a mission to not shop as a way of join in that whole “capsule collection” craze going on. I had been in a flow of shopping because I could, or buying because I had an urge, and I was tired of it. There’s a sad cycle of this for me that just wasn’t working, which style blogging (and reading style blogs!) tends to instigate. I decided to stop all shopping for myself for two and half months and just see how that worked. I didn’t have a set number of clothes to wear, but wanted to wear what I actually had, and see how it went. Here it what I learned:
1) I’m sure this isn’t a newsflash to anyone that knows me, but not buying anything new and wearing what I had in my closet taught me this: I have enough clothes already. Ha! I could still find new things to wear daily, and never seemed to run out of options. I mean sure, I love having something new to wear, but I also have a lot of great clothes that I already own. 
2) The urge to shop never went away, but I found that if I wrote down a list of the things I wanted to buy that I saw online or in stores, I promised myself I could buy those things when my shopping break was over. Yet I just looked over the list the other day and found I didn’t even want these things anymore. The urge to buy things is strong, but after about four days or so I forget about them, or find I don’t really need it. This was huge for me! Sometimes promising yourself that you can have things after a waiting period is better than giving in right away, because it means you really want it after all. And often enough I found I never really wanted it after all. 
3) I’m typically a “shop often, buy cheap” kind of girl. I buy several (or more) new things per week, and this adds up. While I don’t buy things I can’t afford, all this shopping adds up over time, something I have seen firsthand. How, you ask? Our bank account loves me right now! (As does my husband, ha!) I’ve noticed that when I am shopping, even if I am careful and always monitor what I can spend and how much, we have a lot less money. We are not broke by any means, but by holding off on shopping for myself I find there is an abundance of extra cash hanging around in our bank account. Cash we can use for extra dinners out, summer travel, home improvements, etc. I think I’ve been selfish with our money in the past, and I like that by curbing my shopping during certain points in the year it opens up a cash flow for other (more worthwhile) things. 
So where do I go from here? I intend to have  a two week period of time to shop for myself and buy those things I have found lacking in my closet (some fun band tees, some fun statement jewelry, maybe some splurge worthy heels?), and then take another month and a half off of shopping. I’ll reevaluate again in August and see if this plan still works for me, but I’m pretty sure it will. I already feel lighter, with the pressure of shopping and the NEED to buy new things mostly gone. It feels healthier for myself and my family to do this, and for that I am grateful for this plan I have set for myself.
Tell me, could you only shop during set periods of time in the year? 

5 things I need RIGHT NOW from Gentle Fawn

℅ Gentle Fawn sweatshirt; Target skirt, old (option) and sandals; Old Navy bag, old (option); Rayban sunglasses; ℅ Lulu*s necklace.

You know that moment when you visit a new website and all of a sudden you see exactly how you want to dress right now? This happens to me every so often, a single store or website will grab my attention and I will find a bunch of pieces that speak to how I want to look at any given moment. I tend to grab onto a theme or color story for a particular season or so, before moving on. This spring and summer I am all about washed out denim, shades of white and blue, and anything that screams easy living. Nothing tight or form fitting, please! I don’t want to fuss or have anything complicated going on, either. I just want to grab things and go, but look good, too! The summer season for me involves lots of beach days with my kids, visits to the park, bike rides and long walks. Believe me when I say, I have zero time for putting things together;)
Which  brings me to Gentle Fawn and their wonderfully curated pieces. The color palette they have going on is EXACTLY what I want to wear right now, and their pieces are effortless and cool looking. Who doesn’t want that? While I love everything they have going on on their site, I thought I’d narrow down my top five! 
I adore a washed out chambray (see above), and this chambray  tunic dress would look awesome with ankle boots OR sandals. I feel like I could accessorize it many different ways, and also wear it as a bathing suit cover up. Pure perfection.
This crocheted white peasant skirt is another piece I can see styled many different ways! My favorite way would be with a slouchy tank and a cute hat and simple sandals. Love!
These white lace shorts scream boho chic to me (which you KNOW is right up my alley!), and would be great with a bikini top on the beach, a chambray shirt half tucked in, or a simple tee. 
I love a white maxi dress in the summer, and the lacing detail on the side, paired with the blue embroidery on the front, is so fun. I would wear this all season long!
This slouchy cardigan would be perfect for wearing when the nights get a little chilly, and would work with just about any outfit. 

Tell me, which one is your favorite from this list? 

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