(Yes, short post today, but check back later this evening for an update on wedding dress shopping this weekend, if you're interested in that sort of thing. There will be pictures.)
blouse: thrifted
blazer: Express via Discount Fashion Warehouse
skirt: The Limited
flats: Target
necklace: Jane.com
So I was inspired to re-create this outfit, originally worn by Ashley of The Cream To My Coffee, the second I saw it on her blog. Part of it was the fact that I knew I had all the pieces to do so, but mostly it was just a cool-looking combination that I was excited to try. In retrospect, I'm wishing I had added my thin black belt to the skirt, or untucked a little of the shirt to spill over the waistband. Oh, well.
Unfortunately, the zipper on this skirt broke shortly after I wore this. Well, it didn't so much "break" as "get caught in the material next to the zipper, tear it to shreds and basically become inseparable from it." I'm debating whether I want to remove the zipper and try to sew in a new one. Has anyone tried this? Is it hard?
blouse: The Limited via Discount Fashion Warehouse
lace cami: Marshall's
skinnies: H&M
boots: gifted (but they're from Old Navy)
necklace: Express via DFWh
Not woof woof like a dog's bark, but wooooooof like the slightly frustrated/exhausted sound one makes when simply no other sound will suffice. I had yesterday off for Presidents Day, and the three-day weekend felt like a five-day business extravaganza. Which was kind of rough, considering the fact that I have yet to have a real "off" weekend this year.
Usually I like to spend long weekends in one of two ways: Manically cleaning my house/tackling my to-do list, then relaxing and doing nothing for two and a half days; or going on a mini-trip of some sort. This weekend, I did all the things. (I wore the above outfit to none of them; it was just in my backlog of outfits to post, haha. Still, it's a cute outfit that would have done nicely for many of the following activities.)
Friday night, I took my friend Emily out on the town for a little Galentine's action. She was visiting from West Virginia, so we hit up a wine tasting and caught a later showing of Her. (If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen the Valentine's feast Matt and I enjoyed a day early to accommodate Em's being in town. Oh. Boy.) A really irresponsible driver nearly plowed into us on the way home, but luckily we missed a collision. After that excitement, we came back to my house for an impromptu outfit photo shoot — Emily's a really talented photographer, and I can't wait to show you the results! Anyway, she met up with another friend for breakfast Saturday morning, and I headed up to my parents' house to wish my dad and little sister happy birthdays. The adults of the family went to a fun little fundraiser for my old high school's band that night.
On the way back to Columbus Sunday morning, I nearly wrecked again — this time because I took a sharp curve too fast on a slick road. Again, I managed to avoid disaster and made it home safely, just in time to rush off to rehearsal for a dance performance I'm in...and on the way, yet ANOTHER driver nearly plowed into me when she merged into my lane without signaling or (presumably) checking her mirrors. I was forced into the oncoming traffic lane, but I was lucky that no one was occupying it at that moment. Emily took me out to dinner after rehearsal, and Monday morning we did a little shopping at our favorite store, Discount Fashion Warehouse. Oh yeah, I have another haul to show you guys at the end of the month ;)
I got to relax with Matt a little Monday afternoon while we caught up on Walking Dead, but then it was off to the gym for a swim lesson and some climbing. Needless to say, I passed out nearly the second my head hit the pillow last night...and of course, I overslept this morning.
TL;DR: I think I need a weekend from my weekend.
sweater: thrifted (American Eagle, I think?)
blouse: Express via Discount Fashion Warehouse
slacks: thrifted
flats: Target
necklace: gifted
Perhaps you've noticed a relative decline in outfit post frequency. Well my friend, it's only because Ohio is still JUST LIKE THE FREAKING NORTH POLE and I can't handle all the cold. Seriously. When it's -4 outside and I have to get dressed, I just throw on a pair (or two) of tights, some slacks, socks, a sweater (and usually a few other layers), then pack my dress shoes in my bag and clomp out the door in my snow boots, down jacket, giant scarf, hat and gloves. AND I'M OVER IT. This outfit is literally the most creative business-casual combo I've come up with in weeks. I'm dying of boredom. And hypothermia.
And since I'm not shooting outfit photos as often, I am constantly forgetting to straighten these dang curtains before shooting. Until I go to edit the photos in my backlog, and then I get all annoyed at how crooked they're hanging...until the next day, when I again forget to straighten them.
It's times like this — when the crooked curtains and frigid temps have me at my most annoyed/frustrated — that I turn to a little tune I recently heard for the first time. That's right, I'm wayyyy late on the Frozen bandwagon, but fortunately when my sisters and I all got together at OU last weekend, they didn't need much convincing to see it again. (For Ellen, it was actually her fifth viewing. I'm not kidding.) So without further ado, this is what I'm belting in the shower...and the car...and in my head pretty much every second of every day.
shirt: The Limited via Discount Fashion Warehouse
necklace: Express via DFWh
slacks: thrifted
cami, shoes: Target
...when I have entirely too much to do and not enough time to do it in. Yay! Between my regular freelance work, a new side gig I picked up doing some marketing for Everything But Hair (the salon I did a giveaway for last month) and of course Christmas shopping and trying to narrow down venue options for the wedding, I have been one busy gal. In fact, I had to deliberately force myself to take a couple of hours yesterday to just hang out with Matt and not actually do anything. It was really nice.
I'm hoping to use this week to catch up. I planned ahead and used vacation time so that today's the only day I actually go to work. Then it's driving all across Ohio the next two days (though we blessedly get to sleep in our own bed each night, hooray!) to visit families. Thursday and Friday (and I guess Saturday and Sunday) are my big get-things-done days. Writing, fixing a few blog things, taking the cat to the vet for her shots, fiiiiiinally cleaning the house...it's going to be glorious. I might even get my Christmas thank-you cards sent out before New Year's this year! (What?!)
In other news, can I say how much I'm digging this shirt? I got it on a recent trip to Discount Fashion Warehouse, during which I managed to stay UNDER my clothes budget for the month (instead of blowing double the amount like last time). Anyway, I've been searching for a cute open-back blouse for a while. Three cheers for finding one at a crazy discount!
So anyway, are you traveling for the holidays this year? Or are you one of those lucky ducks who will stay at home and enjoy a nice, quiet holiday?
...is pretty much what I need to do with my life.
shirt: thrifted
skirt, tights, necklace: The Limited
heels: Target
belt: came w/ a skirt from JCPenney
I often feel like there's not enough time in the evenings to do all the stuff I want to do. Work out, shower, blog, make a delicious (read: not frozen/takeout) dinner, occasional freelance work, relax...actually, when I list it all out, it really doesn't sound like that much. But it sure feels like it.
The obvious solution would be to do some of those things (work out and/or blog) in the mornings. But I'll be honest: Mornings are NOT my strong suit. I am so anti-mornings that I've turned Matt, who used to be a huge morning person. Now we both just hit the snooze over and over, curling up under the blankets and trying to avoid the inevitable moment when we actually have to (gag) get out of bed.
I would love to get up an hour earlier to head to the gym or even half an hour earlier to write a blog post. But honestly, dragging my sorry butt out of bed at 7 (okay, let's be honest, 7:15) is hard enough as it is. I know. I'm the worst.
button-down: New York and Company
skirt, necklace: The Limited
flats: Target
earrings, belt: H&M
One of the reasons I started blogging (almost two years ago, wow) was to kind of push myself out of my style comfort zone. To explore new trends and really expand the range of outfits I wear to work and outside of work. To develop my own personal sense of style.
If you had told me then that I'd be wearing a Crayola-purple skirt and a leopard print shoes/belt combo, I would have laughed right in your face. That wasn't "me" back then. But this is hands-down one of my favorite outfits featuring this skirt. And it definitely is "me" now.
Also, I'd like to take a moment to honor these poor ol' shoes. They finally bit the dust after being worn two to five times a week for more than a year. I've since replaced them with pointy-toe leopard print flats (with studs, another "I never would have guessed I'd be wearing this" accessory)...so stay tuned, I guess, if you're interested in that kind of minutiae. If you really like gold studs, or leopard print, or Target flats, you might want to get excited. I know I was when I got them!
sweater: thrifted
short-sleeve Oxford: New York & Company
skirt: The Limited
necklace: InPink
tights, shoes: Target
Well, yet again, it's hard to believe that a new year has arrived. 2012 held so many changes for me and those close to me. New jobs, weddings, relocations, breakups, graduations...it's been such a whirlwind, no wonder I'm having a hard time believing it's already over.
And while I'm a little sad to think about some of the changes — particularly those that took my sister and new brother-in-law, and swept them away to a new home — I'm also very, very excited to see what 2013 has in store for me and my loved ones. I already know of a few who will change their marital and/or parental status this year, and there are some who I really hope find new jobs and new homes. What more will the year bring?
I'm not a fan of winter. I hate the cold and I'm terrified of (and terrible at) driving in snow/ice. But there's always something about the first week or so in January that has so much hope, so much promise, I can't help but enjoy it. Anyone else like that, or am I just a weird one? (Well, I am a weird one in many other ways...don't hold that against me.)
dress, necklace: The Limited
blazer, wedges, belt, tights: Target
This outfit features several of the items I bought during my previously mentioned shopping spree. The dress, the tights and the shoes are all new, and let me tell how much I am loving these shoes: A LOT. Seriously, they're my new favorites. They're closed, so I can wear socks and keep my feet warm. They add height, so they give me the appearance of being classy. And they're wedges, so I can actually walk in them without wobbling. Ladies and gentlemen, it's the trifecta.
The dress is pretty great, too. This photo is of an outfit I wore to work; I wore almost the exact same thing to Thanksgiving festivities. (The Thanksgiving version featured black tights and no blazer or belt...gotta love Indian summer days!) Anyway, I got a lot of compliments on this dress from my family. And the best part? I bought it on clearance, when The Limited was having a 40% off storewide sale, so it only cost me $20. Ultimate win.
sweater, slacks: thrifted
short-sleeve oxford: New York & Company
shoes: Target
necklace: Forever 21
This weekend, I did a little shopping. Mostly because I was bored and felt like I needed to get out of the house, but also because I hadn't spend any of the money I'd budgeted for clothing on my last two paychecks, so I had a pretty sizable amount just kind of sitting there, asking me to turn it into new clothes.
I also have a pretty sizable list of "winter wants," which is the name I just now made up for my fall/winter wardrobe shopping list. At the top of that list was cute booties, sweater dresses, more tights (you can never have enough colored/patterned tights!) and big, comfy sweaters. I got almost all of the above, though I'm still on the hunt for the perfect cozy sweater. I hit up Forever 21, H&M, the Limited and Target, though I spent more time in Target's shoe and hosiery department than its clothing section. I want to try to search JCPenney with my next paycheck's clothing budget before I turn to the wide world of online shopping. Any other suggestions?
(By the way...these pics aren't of the new clothes. I have a few older shoots to post before I get to the ones I wore today, haha.)
shirt: old, don't remember, maybe New York & Company?
skirt: The Limited
heels: Target
necklace: InPink
cocktail ring: giveaway win, maybe from Modcloth? don't remember
Sometimes, I really appreciate a low-key evening, even if it's on the weekend. Maybe especially on the weekend, because lately I feel like we've spent so many Fridays out and about. Tonight it's just me, the cat, a bottle of wine and my iTunes getting some much-needed cleanup and updating. Does it make me a complete nerd that I'm completely content to weed through nearly 4,000 songs, deleting stuff I don't listen to anymore and fixing the album title/genre categories for my library? It does? Well, I guess I'm okay with that.
What about you guys? Do you have anything more exciting planned for you this weekend? For your sakes, I kind of hope you do :)
dress: c/o eShakti
heels: Franco Sarto via Marshall's
bracelets: handmade in Uganda (fundraiser purchase)
ring: TaDa.com
First, I know that this dress looks gray, but it's definitely purple, I promise. Someday, I'll photograph it proper light, I swear. It's frustrating when outfits don't show up on camera the way they do in real life, isn't it? (Where are my fellow bloggers? You know what I'm talking about.)
Anyway, I wore this last Friday to Matt's sister's wedding rehearsal dinner. Even though this dress is wool, it's surprisingly light and comfortable, which is great because dinner was a several-hour-long gathering filled with wine, good company and great conversation. (Come to think of it, I feel like those three tend to go hand in hand, don't they?)
Saturday was, of course, the wedding. It was so unbelievably gorgeous; Matt's sister, Beth, looked like she came straight from 1940s Hollywood. I didn't get a chance to get a photo with her (she and her new husband were busy socializing with the other 150 guests, of course), but after the ceremony I pulled Matt aside for a quick snap of my outfit with my phone.
dress: Lily Boutique
scarf-as-shawl, necklace, clutch: Target
shoes: DSW
bracelet: Forever 21
ring: TaDa.com
This dress is actually kind of the reason why I don't shop online very often. When I first saw this dress on Pinterest, I immediately fell completely in love. I waited literally four weeks for it to come back in stock, then pounced on it the second it was available. On the mannequin, the dress looks great. Classy. Elegant. On me, it looks so short as to be almost a little...wel...inappropriate. Almost.
But when I wrapped this scarf around my shoulders, shawl-like, it added some modesty to the outfit and kept it from showing too much skin. Low(er) heels helped with that, too. Maybe next time I'll try it with a pair of opaque tights, to balance out the shortness, and leave my arms bare. Hm...
Every once in a while, the folks at eShakti contact me to offer an item sample for me or a discount code for my readers. This month, they went all out and did both! Free swag for me and a bonus perk for you guys? Love it.
If you're not familiar with this online shop, let me give you the quick rundown. (Otherwise, skip to the next paragraph? Or read this one. Hey, who am I to boss you around?) It's this awesome online store that features a great array of skirts, dresses, tops, etc etc. My favorite thing about it, though, is that you can custom-order any item they sell with your exact measurements. For someone like me, who has really broad shoulders, really slim hips and really long legs (I'm like a weird isosceles triangle), this is a major blessing. And the custom-sizing options are FREE, and include the ability to adjust sleeve and skirt length, when applicable. So really, the store is about quality clothes that are custom-made to your measurements...and what more can a girl ask for?
For my sample, I was allowed to pick anything from the store's new fall line. It was NOT an easy decision, let me assure you, but I decided on this dress, with my own custom measurements of course. And I lurrrrve it! It's a little big in the bust, I think, but let's be honest: Matt helped me get all my measurements using a scrap of measuring tape that didn't go all the way around my chest. It's highly possible that one (or both) of us used just a little too much wishful thinking when measuring that part, haha!
cardi, tights: Target
dress: c/o eShakti
booties: Burlington Coat Factory
And, as promised, here's that coupon code. Unfortunately, it's only good for those who have never made a purchase from this store before, but if you've been looking for an excuse to try the place out, well, here it is! Just use the code below to get $25 off your first purchase between now and the end of the year. Cha-ching!
And hey, since you were cool enough to read all the way down here, you should probably make sure you enter my giveaway, too!
Disclaimer: eShakti sent me this dress, free of charge, in exchange for my fair and honest review. All opinions stated here are, in fact, my fair and honest opinions. As for the coupon code, I get a little shopping bonus (basically, an eShakti gift certificate) each time someone uses it. But don't let that stop you ;) In fact, feel free to share it with your friends, too!
