The Best of The Remodeled Life in 2015

Each year I love looking back and remembering what the past 365 days have held.  Its fun to remember the exciting times, brings perspective to the trying times and always seems to motivate me forward for the next year.  I decided to round up the best posts from this little blog from 2015 (based on post views) and its fun to see all the little projects and milestones along the way.  Thanks so much for hanging in there with me this year and showing your support.  I am so thankful for everyone who reads, comments, shares and encourages me on this little journey.  I have some bigger blog goals in mind this year (some of which I'll share more of as I go) and I'm excited to see what this next year has in store for The Remodeled Life.  I already have in place some design changes (things are a little messy right now) and there will be more updating to come!  So before I start getting all ahead of myself lets take a quick look back on the top posts from last year....

This simple dollar store craft was such an easy and fun project!

This post one of my biggest - 10 Fall Wardrobe Favorites.  I have a Winter Favorites to share soon so stay tuned!

This Christmas was so simple and enjoyable for us and I loved spending some time making it meaningful.

Last year I started focusing on simplifying things in my life and getting rid of "stuff" was a top priority for me. I'm still working on little corners of the house but our closet clean out and wardrobe slim down was one of my favorite things I did this year.  

A simple and quick tassel necklace tutorial.

I have had a ton of questions about how I like our Chalkboard door - and the answer is I absolutely love it!  It was a simple way to transform and bring new life to an old and beat up door.

I thought is was super cool that one of my best posts this year had to do with scripture.  If you are setting goals and desire a closer relationship with God, then spending time in God's word is so important.  It really is life changing.

Silas' favorite thing, his simple pallet board shelf.

Our Living Room took a major turn this year and it keeps changing - more updates coming soon!

This is probably the most simple hairstyle ever and I always get tons of people asking me how I do it.  It just takes a headband and some time tucking and rolling your hair under - easy!

This was my first post of 2015 and its still a favorite.  A simple ceiling fan change will do wonders to your space!

And last, this was my number one viewed post of the year - how to wear a maxi dress in the winter.  I love the idea of finding different ways to wear and use all of your closet items all year long! 

Thanks so much for reading and following along!  Looking forward to what the next year brings.

10 Fall Wardrobe Favorites

We are officially in fall, yay!  Depending on where you live in the US it may still feel like the dead of summer or you might be enjoying crisper/cooler temps.  In NC we can have both on any given day.  I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a little change in my wardrobe so adding in some fall pieces to my closet is fun, even if we are still in the 80s.  Below are my 10 favorites for that early fall weather.  They are pretty versatile and can layer well for those days when the weather is all over.  I love that from the 10 pieces you can create numerous outfits and then so many more with a few other things you already have.  Its all about creating a simplified wardrobe that can easily be mixed and matched.

Here's my List (sources linked):

1. Black Blouse

2. Chambray Shirt (similar)

3. Neutral Relaxed Fit Tee

4. Plaid Button Up

5. Olive Utility Vest (similar), (similar)

6. Black Leggings

7. Distressed Jeans

8. Striped Tunic

9. Leopard Scarf (similar), (similar)

10. Ankle Boots (similar), (similar)

So this is just a few ideas for transitioning your wardrobe from summer to fall...even if the weather is not cooperating.  One of the things I've been trying to do is to create more out of my closet.  I know I seem to get into a habit of wearing the same pieces together all of the time but having a more streamlined and simplified wardrobe allows you to be more creative and get lots of uses out of less things.  Just with these ten items I can think of at least 20 different outfit combinations!  

A good way to look at an outfit is in 3's (not including your shoes).  Adding a scarf, a vest, a button up or even a statement necklace helps to create a more put together look.  I think that is why fall is so fun because you can add more layers and more combinations.  

So this week try and see which 10 favorite fall items you can choose to create multiple combinations from and get more out of your closet!

One Item, Many Ways - Bright Top

Its been over a month now that I have been living with a simplified closet.  Everything was slimmed way down and my wardrobe is much more versatile now.  When you have fewer things it kind of forces you to become more creative in your outfit choices and rethinking what you can put together.  So today I chose a simple blue t-shirt and mixed it up in a variety of ways to show you just how many different looks you can get out of one item.  This blue top is not necessarily a neutral color but I was really surprised how well it went with so many things... You can wear color and have a versatile closet!  You don't have to have a closet full of black and gray to go with a more minimalistic lifestyle.  

Here's a little breakdown:

1. Paired with a Patterned Skirt - Just because a top is a bright color doesn't mean you can't pair it with a bold pattern.  The brighter blue and black come together really well and it is a little more interesting than wearing just a black top.  I think any colored top would work well with a black patterned skirt! 

2. Paired with Solid Neutral Bottoms - I could have left it at the blue top plus the black short but that was a little boring.  Adding a lightweight cardigan, a bold statement necklace and patterned sandals gave this look the interest it needed.  A gray cardigan, patterned cardigan, a denim jacket would all be great completer pieces here.

3. Paired with a Utility Vest - I'm always trying to find new ways to wear my utility vest because I love it so much.  I have a tendency to get into a rut and wear it with the same gray top or striped shirt over and over.  At first I was a little hesitant about putting the two pieces together, but I really liked it.         Just by adding a vest to a normal t-shirt and shorts really changes thing up.

4. Paired with Patterned Pants - These pants are my new favorite thing.  They are sooooo comfortable, light and fun.  At first all I could wear with them was a white top - so I'm branching out, I know I need to settle down. I love the bright color together with them.  If you are wanting to try patterned pants but feel like its outside of your comfort zone, start with a smaller subtle print like these.  They're great, I promise.

5. Paired with Patterned Shorts - I think I have a thing for patterned bottoms, at least that is the theme of the day.  This is one of those things I would have never put together before I simplified my closet.  It never dawned on me how great the blue in the top brings out the blue in the shorts.  Once again like the patterned pants, I would only do a white top with these shorts.  Now I can think of several more options to wear.

Take away from today - Take a look in your closet and try to rethink some of the items you have, you never know what new combinations you can come up with!

A Maxi Dress in Winter

One of my favorite bloggers Audrey from Putting Me Together has begun a new weekly style challenge to help us get out of our style ruts and put to use some of those things in our closets we aren't using. I'm all for it.  This week's challenge was simple - wear a dress. 

 If it was warm and lovely I would have no problem wearing a dress but in this colder weather I usually steer clear.  I mean its under 40 in NC, we are freezing here.  So after some thought I decided to put together a couple of ways of wearing a maxi dress in the winter that used some items I was much neglecting.

Honestly, this is an outfit I would have never thought of otherwise so I loved finding new ways to wear things I already own.  And yes, I am not even trying to hide the camera remote.  I had limited time and things needed to be snapped quickly.

Its funny how just adding a couple of simple things can really bring it all together.  A belt is something I have neglected for years but it will do wonders for almost any outfit.  I don't think I even owned a belt a year ago...I blame having a baby on that and then I got over it and realized how great a belt actually is.  Lesson, find a belt you like and try it out.  I have actually found some great ones at almost nothing prices at Target so you don't have to invest much at all.

 Try something new this week, use something out of your closet you haven't in a while and have fun!

Join in here!:

Conquering Closet Clutter

One of my favorite blogs around to read is a blog by Jen called I Heart Organizing.  There is so much awesome inspiration and organizing tips and ideas - I can literally spend hours reading her blog sometimes.  So this week she is hosting a link up party all about conquering clothing clutter.  A few months back we conquered our crazy closet and organized and simplified it to make it way more functional.  I know I've shared the closet redo before so here are a few things we did to help cut the closet clutter.

Sometimes the first step is always the hardest when conquering your clutter - especially when it comes to cutting back your clothing.  There is always the thing in the back of your mind wondering, what if I will need that one day?  I think the best rule when purging your clothing is - if you haven't worn in the last year - you aren't going to wear it again, so get rid of it.  Purging, cutting back and minimizing your clothing is a life changer.  For one, you will wear more of what you own - because you can see it easier and two, it makes it easier to choose what to wear when you have less to choose from.

Something I really realized when we moved was how ridiculous it was to have so much clothing.  There is no need for a ton of shirts, cardigans, shoes or jeans.   When we simplified our clothing it felt really good knowing that I wasn't over doing it and wasting money.  I think part of conquering your clutter is also conquering your spending.  You don't need seven black shirts - really you just need one.  Seriously, I could be sponsoring a kid through compassion (probably many) with the money I was wasting on clothing.  It was a perspective change for me.

By the way, I love these space saving clothing hangers (they are probably my most favorite thing in our closet).  I found mine at Homegoods - the best price I could find.  Also, it limits the number of items I can have in my closet at a time.  I won't add a cheapy clothing rack so if I don't have an extra hanger, then I don't need it.  Just a way for me to keep things in check.

These itso storage bins were perfect for this little space and it required no building for us.

More itso bins for Justin, which also doubles as a shoe shelf.

We really don't have a lot of storage space so this closet is just about it for us, adding these bins with doors made a huge difference when it came to organizing Justin's things and keeping them neat and tidy.

I love our closet space and the fact that it allows us to live a more simplified life.  Conquering your clothing clutter is absolutely doable, sometimes it's just taking that first step.

Make sure you check out Jen's blog - I heart Organizing and all of the awesome closet link-ups!