Bright and Sunshiny!

More outdoor photos!  This is what I wore to church on Sunday.  I pretty much always wear bright colors, so this day of the challenge was NO PROBLEM!  I felt a little too springy in just the sweater, so I threw the scarf on to add some extra color and feel a tad more appropriate for January  (even though January is feeling more like March or April--AMAZING)  

 Cardigan:  NY&Co
Scarf:  Gap
White Tshirt:  Loft
Black Cami:  Gap
Skirt:  Calvin Klein
Tights:  Target
Boots:  Bare Traps via DSW

Go check out some other Bright Colors HERE. 
I will also be linking up to The ABCs of Style later this week for Neon and Neutral day.

I love the 80s

 Remember how I said I was going to get ahead of the game this week, and actually post my outfits early each day.  Yeah, that didn't happen at all.  Today, the challenge was to get inspiration from a decade or region.  This shouldn't have been difficult!  I was just not feeling it.  I had to turn to Pinterest and Google for inspiration.  One of the first pictures that I found as 80s inspiration was the movie poster from Heathers, which I've never seen, but the plot summary on Wikipedia sounds pretty crazy.  Anyway, I decided to bring the blazer and skirt look into 2012.  I really like it.

Apparently, I've decided leaning against the wall is a pretty good way to pose. 

 Of course, I had to twirl in my flowy skirt:

Go check out the other looks here!

Skirt and Top:  Gap
Blazer:  Limited
Tights:  Target
Heels:  BCBGeneration

Big Hair

This is what I wore on Saturday evening for dinner at my in-laws' house.  For some reason, my hair was about double it's usual size.  I felt kind of like the before pictures in commercials for anti-frizz products.  The only difference - I kind of love it. 

Also, I got to take some pictures outside!  They look so much better than my indoor pictures, so I hope I can make this a more frequent occurrence.

I'm still doing the Winter Challenge, but did not succeed at getting ahead of the game this week, so I'm wearing my Decade inspired outfit today and will post this evening.  I'm also joining up with the ABCs of style, so I'm going to try to incorporate both, when possible.  Today is K for Knits, so this outfit works!

Shirt and Sweater:  Gap
Jeans:  Old Navy
Boots:  Wanted via Piperlime

Mix those prints!

Today, we mix prints! I'm not sure how I will decide what to wear when this challenge is over.  It's so convenient to be given directions!

I've had this outfit in mind for awhile, but just hadn't worn it yet.  In the past, I've mostly worn this skirt with blue, black, or white sweaters, so it was time to branch out a bit.  My obnoxiously neon striped sweater was the obvious choice.  Just ignore the fact that my hair is slowly attacking my face in the picture below. 

Next week, I'm going to try to be a day ahead of the prompts, so I can post earlier each day.  We will see if that actually happens!

Sweater:  Gap
Black Tshirt (under see-through sweater):  Target
Skirt:  Ann Taylor
Boots:  Bare Traps via DSW

Modern-day Minnie Mouse

 Today's challenge is to Channel someone.  One of the examples Kayla gave was the Disney Bound website.  I spent way too long looking through the archives of adorable outfits based on various Disney characters.  Here's one of the Minnie Mouse outfits that I loved!

I knew I had some pieces in my closet that would work, AND I just made these bows for my red shoes which were so perfect. 

I really love this outfit.  It's very me, and very fun.  Today was a kind of hectic day at work, but I mean, you can't get too stressed out when you are dressed like Minnie Mouse!  Seriously.

Close-up of the shoes:

 

 Here's a crazy pose at no extra charge:

After choosing Minnie Mouse, I dug through my old photo albums to find evidence of 4 year old me channeling Minnie Mouse for Halloween.  

Go check out the other fun looks here. Tomorrow, we will be Mixing Prints!  Get excited.  

T-shirt:  H&M
Cardigan:  Old Navy
Skirt:  Express
Tights: Target
Shoes:  Rampage
Shoe Bows:  Made by me
Necklace: from China (gift)
Bracelet:  from Kenya (gift)

DIY Shoe Clips

I found these shoes on the most recent Everybody Everywhere link up and wanted to have them RIGHT NOW.  I thought I could just add a bow to my red satin shoes, so I did some Google searching for DIY bow clip-ons for shoes.  I found great step by step instructions here.

My friends and I had a craft night last Friday (I know, we are pretty cool), so I tackled this project with some ribbon, a hot glue gun, and clip on earring backs.  

It was so easy!  I just followed the instructions, and then clipped the bows on my red shoes!   Super cute, right?!

Throwback Thursday - Minnie Mouse

This picture is from my preschool Halloween party.  My family had gone to Disneyland that previous summer, so my mouse ears were the inspiration for my costume.  I think this was just a dress I had, so all we had to do was paint my nose black.  Super easy costume. I'm pretty sure the blue bow on the front is actually a pen mark, so we would know which kid I was in the picture. 

Why am I posting this today, you may ask?  Well, I'm doing the Winter Challenge with Freckles in April, and today's prompt is to Channel Someone.  Why not Minnie Mouse?

I'll post my current Minnie Inspired outfit later today.  I'm sure the suspense is killing you.  

Trendy Tangerine

Another day, another challenge!  Today the idea is to Embrace a Trend.  I pretty seriously considered a backwards cardigan, but then I remembered that I have a few meetings today, where I would actually have to see people, and I didn't want to be laughed out of the conference room.  So, I took the easy way out, and went with the Pantone Color of the Year! 

I bought this shirt and cardigan last spring on the same day, but have never worn them together.  I think I like it!

Aren't you proud of me for wearing different shoes?  Although, these are probably even more frequently worn than the gray boots.  Maybe tomorrow I'll branch out into a different color of shoes.  It's just tricky during the winter!

And just for fun, I turned my cardigan around to try the backwards look.   

I don't know.  It's okay, but probably not something I will do very often.  I think a longer cardigan might look better.  Maybe with a dress.  What do you all think?

I'm also linking this up to the ABC challenge, for W is for Wide Leg Jeans day. 

Shirt:  Loft
Cardigan:  NY&Co
Jeans:  Loft
Shoes:  Gap

Monochromatic Blues

Day 2 of the Winter Challenge is Monochromatic.  I had an idea to wear all purple, but when I pulled it all out of my closet, I wasn't really impressed.  Then I was going to be lazy and wear my trouser jeans with a blue gingham button down and sweater, but that felt pretty uninspired.  Staring at my closet, I saw this summery skirt peeking out and thought it was worth a try.  I ended up taking the gingham shirt off and adding turquoise tights.  I feel a little ridiculous, but this look is growing on me.

When I went to grab my normal jewelry, I remembered this necklace that my sister got me for Christmas.  I think it adds a little something extra to my monochrome look!

Is anyone tired of these boots yet?  I warned you I wear them all the time in the winter! 

Go check out the other monochrome looks here. 

Tomorrow's challenge is Embrace a Trend.  My added personal challenge:  wear different shoes! 

Necklace:  Charming Charlie (Christmas gift)
Sweater: Gap
Tank:  Target
Skirt:  George
Tights: Express from Marshall's
Boots:  Wanted via Piperlime

Layer it on

I'm so excited to be linking up with Freckles in April for the Winter Challenge.  Today's prompt is LAYERS.  It's winter, so I am pretty much layering every day.  I decided to try something new for today:

Button up shirt under a faux wrap dress!

I realize this isn't as crazy as I think it is.  I got this dress several years ago on clearance at Target for I think $6, and I rarely wear it, because it seems kind of boring.  I guess I just need to layer it with bright colors and then I like it.

I'm even trying the tights/socks/boots combo that is everywhere.  I almost always wear socks with my tights and boots, but today I pulled them up so they can peak out and say hello.  I think I like it.  I should probably get some chunkier knit socks or leg warmers.  I think that would be cuter.  

Go check out what other bloggers did here!

Tomorrow's theme is Monochrome.  I'm still not sure what I'm wearing! 

Dress:  Target
Button-up shirt:  Gap
Tank:  Gap
Cardigan:  Loft
Tights:  Steve Madden via DSW
Socks:  Target
Boots:  Wanted via Piperlime

Stripes + Scarf

Happy Saturday!  Believe it or not, this is not what I am wearing today.  This is from Monday, when I actually looked presentable.  So far today, I haven't been very stylish.  Saturdays tend to fill up with all the chores I successfully avoided throughout the week.  I should really hire a housekeeper and a personal chef.  Then I'd have more time for important stuff, like taking pictures of myself in cute outfits and post them on the internet.  

Dress:  Old Navy
Scarf:  Charming Charlie
Boots;  Bare Traps via DSW

Patriotic

 Red, Gray, and Blue is close enough, right?

This outfit is from Tuesday.  I don't have as many stories as I did on Wednesday.  Mostly, it was really cold, but I didn't want to wear jeans, so I grabbed my cozy fleece lined leggings. 

Isn't it cool how my network cord matches my shirt.  Totally didn't plan that.  I just took pictures at work, because I was going straight to Zumba class, and wanted to blog this outfit.  Zumba is fun.  You should try it.  If you think that is a Wizard of Oz poster behind me, you are right.  It's because I'm from Kansas.  Get it? 

Sweater, Shirt, Skirt:  Gap

Leggings:  don't remember

Boots:  Wanted via DSW

Throwback Thursday - Platform Sneakers

Someone should buy this for me

I think I've mentioned before that I had to wear uniforms to school from 2nd grade through high school.  I may have also mentioned that I really hated being the same as anyone else.  Probably some side effect of being the youngest child.   Anyway, shoes and jewelry were the main ways I could express my style.

My first Throwback post was about my first pair of heels.  Those weren't exactly normal for 6th grade.  When it was time to buy new school shoes for 7th grade, I knew exactly what I wanted.  I actually had torn an advertisement for these shoes out of some magazine (probably a seventeen or something equally terrible) and had it taped to my closet door, next to other fashion inspiration.  And, if I'm being honest, way too many pictures of Leonardo Dicaprio.  Embarrassing, but at least I didn't have a crush on any of the Hanson brothers.  I am way off topic here - back to my shoes!

I absolutely loved these shoes, and they were SO comfortable.  I mean, they were tennis shoes!  And the platform made them mostly flat.  GENIUS!

The last day of 7th grade, I had a party for everyone to celebrate the beginning of summer.  Here's my awesome outfit from the party, platform sneakers included:



If you are thinking I don't look that much different, it is because I haven't gotten any taller since middle school.  Good thing I was a giant back then.

This was one of my favorite shirts, too.  It was from Vanity - polyester with snap buttons.

These jean shorts are actually Guess, from the local Country/Western store.  It was very difficult to find shorts that were "fingertip length" for non-uniform days, especially since I was a giant.

Ankle socks hadn't been invented yet, either.

I don't currently have any high heeled sneakers, but I'd probably buy some if I saw them.  My freshman year of college, I was out shopping with 2 of my new friends, and my friend picked up some high heeled converse tennis shoes as a joke, but then it was awkward when I really liked them and didn't know she was joking.  They still give me a hard time about it, and will sometimes send me links of stiletto hiking boots.

I'm blue da ba dee da ba da

Tonight, I went to see Blue Man Group with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law.  In honor of the occasion, I wore blue.  I'm so clever!

Most days, I sit here with nothing to say, but today was an eventful day, I guess.  

1. This is a dress I usually wear for weddings, or similar occasions, but I decided to rock it as a skirt today.  This is a trick I'm going to have to do more often.  
2. It's also the first time I've worn these sweater tights.  I got them for free, with a $10 off your purchase coupon at Younkers.  I'm sure they expect you to spend more than $10, but I just picked up some socks and tights and I think I paid about a dollar total.  Awesome.  They look like cable knit confetti cake, with little colorful spots all over. 
3.  I had a crazy static cling problem all day, too.  My dress just got shorter and shorter as I walked.  I felt like I was in an early 90s Bounce Commercial.  I'm going to put a dryer sheet in my purse to prevent future static attack. 
4. Blue Man Group was crazy.  I've never tried mind altering drugs, but I imagine the experience is similar to the crazy Blue Man shenanigans.  I had to close my eyes a few times to prevent a strobe light-induced migraine.  Overall, it was a pretty cool show, but just very strange! 
5. I accidentally went to Iowa tonight, too.  When I see a sign for the interstate, and it doesn't specify direction, I assume I will get to choose a direction at some point.  That is not always the case.  I ended up driving around Council Bluffs with no idea how to get back to Nebraska.  Don't worry, I finally made it home. 

Dress as a skirt:  Limited
Cardigan: Gap
Belt:  from another dress
Tights:  Steve Madden
Boots: Bare Traps via DSW

Wedding Wednesday - Blue dress

This is from May 2010, when one of my friends from elementary, middle, and high school got hitched.  It was so much fun to be there for her happy day, and catch up with all my other friends who I only get to see once a year, if I'm lucky. 

It is so much easier to get dressed in the summer.  Just throw on a dress and some strappy sandals an you are good to go.  Winter is probably more interesting, but I like the simplicity of warm weather.  I'm actually wearing this dress today, but it requires several other layers to make it winter-appropriate.  Just a few months of winter left, and then spring will be back! 

Dress:  Limited
Shoes: Unlisted

Default Dress

This dress is probably one of my most worn items.  I got it in 2007, for my one-month anniversary.  I was wary of eating year old cake (per the tradition), so we just celebrated at 1 month, and the cake was still delicious.  Then for our 1-year, I just ordered a decoy cake top.  See what I did there?  More cake!  Everyone wins.

Anyway, this is my go-to dress on days when I need to look like I am trying, but don't actually feel like trying.  I was going to use this for my EBEW Black and White, but then decided I should wear something more interesting for that.  The picture doesn't really capture the pattern very well, but it is kind of a floral/animal print combo. 


Dress:  BCBG
Cami:  Gap
Cardigan:  Gap
Shoes:  Seychelles via DSW

The Green Coat Fiasco

In early November, I saw this green coat at Old Navy, and almost bought it.  Then I thought it was a great idea to give people for Christmas, and I told John about it.  That weekend, Old Navy had 75% off all their outerwear.  He went to get the coat for me, but all they had left was XL.  He went ahead and bought it, thinking it would be easy to exchange for the correct size before Christmas.  A few attempts at exchanging later, it was Christmas Eve and he still had the wrong size for me.  He went ahead and gave it to me, and I was determined to find the correct size. 

After calling around to all the Old Navy stores in the area, I was getting discouraged.  My sister told me to just keep it for a maternity coat.  I was thinking I could just eat a lot of Christmas cookies until it fit.  Last weekend, I went into Old Navy for one last try.  I had to be a little bit demanding of the teenager who swore she couldn't do a National check.  Finally, a manager came over and within about 3 minutes, I was on the phone with an Old Navy in Illinois, giving them my address to ship my coat to me.  I just had to pay $5 extra for shipping.  My coat arrived on Friday afternoon, and I love it!  I'm so excited I finally found the correct size! 

Coat: Old Navy

Sweater, Camisole, Jeans, Shoes:  Gap

Socks:  Betsey Johnson

Confessions of a Gap-oholic

They say the first step is admitting you have a problem, so here it goes:

I think I have a slight addiction to Gap Sales. 

I've shopped at Gap pretty regularly ever since I was in high school, and they just have really good sales sometimes!  Now that my sister works there, it's even worse.  On Christmas Eve, we went to the mall to say hi, and my other sister wanted to do some shopping at other stores.  Well, of course we just looked around at Gap a little bit.  I bought 2 things that day:

Purple Skirt - $20 (originally $50)
Printed Pocket Tee - $6 (originally $23)

Then on the day after Christmas, we went back to the Gap so my sister could return a shirt (which she forgot to bring), and so I could get my purchases from the previous trip price adjusted to the better sale prices (I think I got about $5 back).  Well, they were having an additional 50% off all sale items, and I just had to take a look around.  I ended up spending about $63 on 1 pair of shoes, 1 pair of jeans, and 5 tops. 

Black Ankle Strap Peep Toes - $12.50 (originally $60)

Gray Jeans -  $14 (originally $70)

Gray Floral Sweater - $9 (originally $60)

Yellow henley - $5 (originally $20)

Pocket Tee(Rosamunde) - $6 (originally $23)

Printed Top (seen here)- $8 ((originally $50)

Striped tank (not online, or on this blog yet)- $4 (originally $40)

If you figure tax, that means I got $424 worth of stuff for  $84.  Pretty good deal, right!  I mean, 80% off the original prices.  But it also means I spent $84 at the Gap on stuff I really didn't need. 

Anyway, it got me thinking that I might have a bit of a shopping problem.  I'd been thinking about taking a break from shopping, but hadn't made any real decision on it.  So, I think I'm going to do it.  It's going to be one of the weakest shopping bans ever, but I think I'll try to go 3 months without traditional shopping.  I'm giving myself some cheats:

1. I can use gift cards.  I have one to Dillards and one to Loft.  If anyone wants to send me gift cards to anywhere else, I'll accept donations!  (Just kidding, unless you really want to)
2. I'm allowed to shop at Goodwill and other thrift stores.  I'm not much of a thrifter, but I would like to be, so this will hopefully make me branch out a bit.  I'm also hoping to find really cheap items that I can refashion somehow.  
3. I'm allowed to buy fabric to make things.  Not sure how much of this I will do, but I wanted to put it on the list. 
4. There are a few things on my shopping list that I've been looking for forever.  If I happen upon a great deal on any of these items, I'm going to cheat.  (black flats and a watch are 2 I can think of right now).

So, there it is!  My super lame 3 month no shopping rule.  Is it April yet??

Feels like ZERO

Remember last week, when I talked about fake spring?  It was 68 degrees that day.  Just 2 days ago, the high was 60, and a light cardigan was sufficient outerwear.  Well, fake spring is officially over.  According to weather.com, it feels like ZERO degrees right now.  I was decked out in winter accessories today.  The hat and gloves were Christmas presents from John.  See, now I can use my phone without freezing my hands!   

I knew the sun wasn't supposed to come out today, so I thought I'd rock some sunshine in my outfit.  This henley is pretty lightweight, so I threw the sweater on for extra warmth.  Honestly, I wore my coat all day at work, too.  It was freezing in my office.  Well, not literally freezing, but you know, kind of chilly.

This entire outfit is brought to you by GAP.  Except the socks.  They are from NY&co.

Orange Crush

I'm wearing an orange cardigan today, and it makes me think of Orange Crush.

/

I'll be honest.  I love Orange Crush.  Other orange sodas don't even compare!  I remember loving it as a kid, and then it wasn't really around for awhile.  Then in high school, Walmart started carrying the 6-pack of glass bottles.  I would go to Walmart specifically to stock up on Crush.  Then I left for college, and stores in Nebraska did not have Crush.  This was a big problem.  So, whenever I went home, I would pack my car with as much Orange Crush as possible, and hoard it in my dorm room.  I was worried about running out, so I rarely drank it.  Then at the end of the semester, I was giving it away to anyone who stopped by.  I'm not saying it was logical.

Now, most grocery stores around here sell crush in 2-liters and cans, but it just doesn't taste as good as the glass bottled kind.  I'm not as crazy as I used to be about it, but my family usually has some glass bottles of Orange Crush on hand when I come to visit.

Isn't it normal to have a vintage looking sign of your favorite soda on display in your office?  No.  Oh, well, this is awkward now. 



Cardigan:  NY&Co
T-shirt:  Gap
Tank:  Gap
Jeans:  Loft
Shoes: Gap

EBEW: Black & White

One of my favorite things about blogging is the link ups and challenges that come around.  Everybody Everywhere is just one of these, and I love it!  This month's theme is Black and White.  The announcement post was titled "It's Black, It's White", and I have had the Michael Jackson song stuck in my head ever since.  I was in 1st grade when that music video premiered, and it was the biggest deal ever.  I don't know why all the 7-year-olds cared, but anyone who was anyone watched that premier and was talking about it on the playground the next day.  We even had a Michael Jackson Impersonation contest with moon-walking and all.  That was my last year in public school, although switching was unrelated to the MJ contest.  

Yesterday, I dug through my closet and laid all of my black and white options out on the bed.  This dress caught my eye, because I love the print and haven't worn it yet.  It was $14 at Ann Taylor (on the same day I bought this dress).  It is a halter, and very body-con, so I either need to tone up or invest in some more effective Spanx before I can wear it alone.  Maybe this summer!  Anyway, it works as a pretty cute skirt for now.   


Sweater:  Gap
Jacket: Relativity
Skirt (really a dress):  Ann Taylor
Belt:  Old Navy
Tights:  Target
Boots:  Target

Marian the Librarian

This outfit is from last Wednesday.  The dress code at my office is pretty casual, but I usually try to dress up a few times a week.  On this particular day, we were interviewing some applicants, so I wanted to be a little more "business" and a little less "casual".  I kind of felt like a stylish librarian, which reminded me of Marian the Librarian. 

 I got this sweater at Macy's a few years ago.  A girl can never have too much argyle.  The skirt was a birthday present from my in-laws, the first year John and I were married.  At that point, I had almost no brown items in my wardrobe, and was trying to branch out.

These shoes are a relatively new addition to my wardrobe.  I had been wanting some nude heels for awhile, but hadn't found any that I liked enough.  I found these at Marshall's in early October, but wasn't sure I should spend the money.  My birthday was coming up, so I didn't need to buy myself presents.  I was good and didn't get them, but I kept thinking about them.  I finally caved in a couple weeks later and went to get them.  I'm amazed they were still there, and had my size.  I guess it was meant to be!  


Sweater:  Style& Co (from Macy's)
Buttondown:  Gap
Skirt:  Loft
Tights:  Target
Shoes:  BCBGeneration