April Shopping

So, I went on a bit of a shopping spree in April.  I expected to find several things at H&M in Minnesota, but I mostly struck out there.  Then I stopped at an outlet mall on the drive home with my sister & nieces, and then we went shopping more in Omaha.  And I just. bought. everything.  Well, not everything, but you know - a lot of things.  There are several items I couldn't find online, because they are from the outlets, so the visual only shows about half of the purchased items.  Anyway, most of these were impulse buys due to low prices (which I'm supposed to be cutting back on), but I really love everything that I got, and I think I'll wear it quite a bit.  At least I hope so!  

Here's the breakdown:        

H&M Leopard Cardigan: $15 (originally $15)
Gibson & Latimer black pencil skirt: $20 (originally $60) (worn here)
Gap Outlet
Mint Polka Dot Popover: $11 (originally $40) (worn here)
Green BF cardigan: $10 (originally $40)
Gray/White layering tank: $3 (originally $20)
Gray rhinestone flats:  $5 (originally $35) (worn here)
Black ankle strap wedges: $9 (originally $55) (worn here)
Pink striped dress: $12 (originally 60)
Navy/white stripe sweater: $6 (originally $45) (worn here)
Purple blouse : $3 (originally $40) (worn here)

J.Crew factory
Plaid Popover: $15 (originally $65)
Floral flats: $25 (originally $98) (worn here)
Navy/White stripe tee:  $8 (originally $33)

Old Navy
Gray shorts: $15 (originally $23) (worn here)
Green striped blouse: $11 (originally $33)
Blue/white floral shirt: $5 (originally $25)

Gap:
Blue/Navy striped skirt: $5 (originally $45)
Floral top: $6 (originally $55)

Loft Outlet:
White sweater: $9 (originally $45)  (worn here)
Navy lace sweater: $9 (originally $45) (worn here)
Gray cami: $3 (originally $23)
Purple cami: $3 (originally $23)

Lucky Outlet:
Plaid blouse tank: $4 (originally $50)

Total spent= $177 (originally $892)

Giftcards = $45

Total out of budget = $132

So, I mean, I'm averaging about 80% off the original prices, at least!  As always, I'm linking up with Franish for the Budgeting Bloggers support group!

Safety First

 

So, one weird thing about being married is that you end up with all these inside jokes, and no one else has any idea what you are talking about.  BUT, since I spend the majority of my free time with John (who is in on the joke), I forget that other people don't know what is so funny.  And it probably isn't funny, but we think it is, so that's all that matters.  Maybe this isn't a weird thing about being married.  It might just be a weird thing about being married to me.

Anyway, "Safety first!" is one of these things.  Last summer, John bought a few of those fancy workout t-shirts off the clearance racks and they are obnoxiously bright neon, which is probably why they were on sale! Like, I need sunglasses to look at him.  Since I'm the best wife ever, I was teasing him about his ridiculously bright shirts, and now every time he wears one, I say "Safety first!" in an obnoxiously nerdy way.  It's hilarious, trust me (it probably isn't).  This has evolved into us saying this and discussing the level of safety of any person we see wearing neon items.  And these people are everywhere!  Especially on a Caribbean Cruise - there was a lot of neon swimwear.  Needless to say, we felt very safe on our vacation.

All that to say, neon is the last theme I needed to tackle for Sarah's April Looking Lucky Style Challenge.  I don't have a whole lot of neon options, so I knew I needed to plan an outfit around this belt.  Then I remembered my confetti t-shirt is kind of neon-friendly, and then I added my bright yellow cardigan to be extra safe.  It was nice to be dressed so cheerfully on the dreaded first day back at work after vacation.

Tee & Shoes: Gap
Cardigan: Old Navy (dyed by me)
Skirt: Target
Belt: Chinese Laundry     

Cropped - er... Folded

Well, if everything went according to plan, I'm back from vacation.  I'm sure I had a lovely time, but probably got home too late on Sunday evening to worry about blogging, so this post was scheduled before I left.  The internet is so fancy!

Anyway, one of the final themes for Sarah's April Looking Lucky Style Challenge is "cropped."  Which, I mean, I don't have anything cropped.  I thought about buying a crop-top at Forever 21, but then I remembered that I am not a 17-year-old stick-thin hipster.  (No offense to anyone who actually wears crop tops, but they aren't for me).  

So, I decided to roll my skinny jeans into a cropped length.  Because you won't catch me showing off my tummy, but I have no shame when it comes to ankle exposure.  Scandalous! 

Top: Tinley Road
Cardigan & Jeans: Gap
Shoes: Old Navy

Book Review - What Alice Forgot

via Goodreads

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty was the April pick for my online book club.  It's a book about amnesia, but way better than Remember Me!  Alice thinks she is 29, happily married, close with her sister, slightly out of shape, and just kind of normal but happy.  Then she learns that she's actually 39, but has completely forgotten the last 10 years, and a lot has changed.

Despite the kind of goofy premise, I really enjoyed this book.  The chapters rotate between Alice's perspective (including memories of the past, and what's happening in the present), journal entries from Alice's sister, and letters that their adoptive grandmother has written to a mystery man.  At first, I was kind of confused about the different pieces, but once I got used to it, I thought it was a great way to see the different perspectives.

I related quite a bit to the 29-year-old Alice.  Because I am 29, happily married, close with my sisters, slightly out of shape...  So I kept thinking about what my life might be like in 10 years.  Like, if I hit my head at the gym, and woke up in the hospital thinking it was 2014, but it's really 2024.  Well, I don't know what the future holds, but I bet my life will change significantly less than Alice's.  But if I forgot the last 10 years of my life, 19-year-old Andi would be pretty freaked out!  Because like, who is this guy I'm married to and why do I live in Nebraska!?     

Anyway, it's a pretty easy read, but it made me get just a bit existential!  Have you read this book?  What did you think?         

Book Review - If I Stay & Where She Went

If I Stay has been on my To-Read list since September.  I think it was on some list of YA books that grown-ups might like.  When I was planning on driving by myself to Minnesota earlier this month, I wanted to get an audiobook, but most of them are too long, so I sorted by number of pages, and searched the library website until I found something that would work out.  At 4 hours, this seemed perfect for the 6-ish hour drive.

The story is basically about a teenage girl who ends up in a coma, but her spirit is somehow separate from her body, and she is aware of everything going on in the hospital, with her family/friends/boyfriend, and ultimately gets to decide whether to stay or die.  Suspending any theological and philosophical concerns, it's an interesting idea.  I liked it, but I think it would have been better if I was just reading.  The reader was a bit obnoxious at times.  I mean, I just want them to read the book to me, but they find it necessary to do silly voices, and actually make sobbing sounds when the people are crying.  Not necessary!  I know the character is sad and crying, because it says she was sobbing!  I just find it distracting when the reader acts out the story.  I think I would have cried reading it, but listening to the reader crying was just awkward.

Where She Went is the sequel, and focuses on the boyfriend and how he has dealt with the aftermath of the whole situation.  I liked it much better (maybe because I read it like normal?).  I was happy to get more closure after the end of If I Stay.  I do have to complain about the cover art - I don't like when the cover has real person on it.  Mia was supposed to be kind of geeky - that girl looks like a model (which, of course, she is).  So just don't put a face on the cover if it's going to be completely different than the description of the character. 

I just learned that the If I Stay movie is coming out this fall, so I'll have to check that out!  

Fringe

The only fringe in my wardrobe exists on the ends of scarves.  So for Sarah's April Looking Lucky Style Challenge, it was pretty easy to narrow down my options.  Of course, I wanted to wear more of my newly purchased items, and thought this lace-overlay sweater would look quite nice with the pink scarf.  I really liked the simplicity of this outfit, but there were enough extras to keep it interesting.   

By the way, today is my half-birthday!  Whoo!  I'm officially 29.5 today!  So, 30 is looming and I'm not sure how I feel about that.  You get extra presents on milestone birthdays, right?  

Scarf: Charming Charlie
Sweater: Loft Outlet
Jacket: J.Crew Factory
Jeans: Limited
Shoes: Gap outlet

Book Review - Someday, Someday, Maybe

via Goodreads

Lauren Graham is just terribly likeable.  When I heard about her book, Someday, Someday, Maybe, I had to read it.  It's exactly what I expected:  witty, funny, sweet.

It is apparently loosely based on Graham's own experiences as a struggling actress in New York City in the 90s.  I thought it was fun and charming - the perfect rom-com type novel.  I'd definitely recommend it if you want to read something light and happy! 

And now I have to confess that I've never watched Gilmore Girls.  I was in high school when it started, and most of my friends were obsessed.  I have a tendency to avoid things that are popular, just for the sake of being different.  I'm getting better as I get older, but as a 15-year old, it was pretty bad.  I finally realized that rejecting something because it is popular is just as stupid (if not more) than liking something just because it's popular.  At some point, people started telling me that I talk like a Gilmore Girl.  I don't really know what that means, but I'm taking it as a compliment.  Anyway, I want to watch this show at some point, but it's not on Netflix instant or Amazon Prime, so I haven't gotten around to it.  Maybe, maybe, someday.  (see what I did there?)

But I do watch Parenthood!  And I'm totally weirded out that Graham is dating her on-screen brother, Peter Krause.  And I'm not completely caught up, so no spoilers!  I'm about to just stop watching, because I sense impending doom and I don't want it to happen.  If I stop watching, it won't happen, right?  That's how TV works?       

Book Review - MaddAddam Trilogy

After hearing about The Handmaid's Tale from several people, I finally read it last year.  It was okay, not my favorite, but it made me want to read something else by Margaret Atwood.  John heard about the Maddaddam trilogy, and it sounded interesting, so I read all three books earlier this year.  Then I heard that Margaret Atwood was coming to Omaha, so I figured we would go hear her talk, and then I'd write up a whole post about that, including my thoughts on these books.  But then life got in the way and I had another commitment at the same time, so we didn't end up going.  Oh well, I can still write up a little review of the books, without too much detail, because I don't want to spoil anything.

The short summary is that these books are about a dystopian, not-too-distant, and not-too-unrealistic future.  Unlike some other dystopian novels, this future seemed somewhat likely, which was unsettling, but also made me care more about what would happen.   

Oryx and Crake follows Jimmy in the post-apocolyptic times, and flashes back to his childhood, and the explanation of what happened, as far as he knows.  There were times where I really had no idea what was going on, but I liked it.  I think Atwood did a good job of letting me know just enough to keep me hooked, and then filling in the blanks as we went along.  And the ending made me NEED to read the next book AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

The Year of the Flood picks up with completely different characters alternating chapters.  Ren and Toby - who are women, but I thought they were men, because of their names (Like I have room to talk).  Cue freakout!  I need to know what happens to my friends from the previous book!  But it's okay, because it fills in more of the blanks of what happened, and I was pretty sure it would link up with the first book at some point. 

MaddAddam was my favorite of the 3 books, probably because I was so invested at this point, and it gave me the closure that I needed!  I can't say much about it without ruining the plots of the previous two books, so I'll just leave it.

Overall, if you are into post-apocalyptic, dystopian, sci-fi novels, you should probably check these out.  In the meantime, I'm going to pick up The Blind Assassin and see if Atwood can impress me again.      

Have you read these books?  What did you think?

Tricksy

So, I might have gone on vacation this week.  Basically, I'll be soaking up the sun all week (with plenty of sunscreen to protect my skin!).  I was going to ask for guest posters while I'm away, but then I forgot.  So, I have a couple outfit posts scheduled, and am getting caught up on book review posts.  And then I'll have those obnoxious vacation recap posts, and then back to normal.  So, you've been warned.  I won't be replying to comments or commenting on your posts this week, but I still like you guys.  I promise.     

I'm using this outfit for the metallic entry in Sarah's April Looking Lucky Style Challenge, because the toes of my shoes are very shiny!  I wanted to wear my gold skirt, but the weather didn't cooperate.  

Jacket: J.Crew Factory
Sweater: Gap
Jeans & Shoes: Old Navy

Spring Break Recap

Well, I don't get a spring break, but that doesn't stop me from taking the week off when my nieces come to visit me on their spring break.  Starting off with my cousin's wedding in Minnesota on Friday, the 4th, we had a whirlwind week of WAY TOO MUCH FUN!  If you follow me on Instagram, some of these will be repeats, but I just had to post a few highlights from the week!

On Saturday after the wedding, we decided to be crazy and go to the Mall of America.  It's basically the worst idea ever: Take a mall multiplied by 4, put an amusement park in the middle, and then fill it with ALL the most obnoxious tourists.  But hey, it was an adventure!  My 2 favorite parts were as follows:

    
Dessert date at the American Girl Bistro.  I made a reservation and surprised the girls.  They were pretty excited.  I expected it to be overpriced, but was willing to fork over a little cash for a fun experience.  I would absolutely recommend it!  The desserts were fairly reasonably priced and SO DELICIOUS!  I would eat that brownie sundae every day!  Plus the girls got a little teacup and saucer for their dolls, and the napkins had fun bow hairties that we got to keep.  After our dessert, the girls took their dolls to the salon, which was really cute/fun, and got shiny hairdos.   

 

Lunch date with one of my favorites, Brynn!  You guys, I can't even tell you how fun it was to meet Brynn and get to chat in person!  She's just as sweet and funny as she is on her blog!  We had lunch at this yummy Italian place at the mall and then shopped a bit at H&M.  Did I mention it was SO FUN??  Seriously, if you have the opportunity to meet up with a blog friend, you should do it!  Now I want to plan trips to meet all my other favorites.  If only I had an unlimited travel budget and time off work...  

For dinner, the girls wanted to go to Bubba Gump Shrimp, and I pretty much do whatever they want, so we went there.  None of us ordered shrimp.  But we did pose for a picture with one.  So creepy!    

On Sunday, we drove back to Nebraska, and then spent the week doing fun stuff around here.  We went to the park several times, played Barbies quite a bit, pretended to run a bakery (and then ate all the cookies, because we didn't have any customers), and shopped.  A lot.  Like, I don't even want to think about my April budget post.  

 

We also did a few bigger things.  On Tuesday, we went to the zoo.  We always go to the zoo when they visit, and we always have a new favorite thing.  My favorite thing was the Andi Bear.  It might actually be an "Andean bear", but when you have little hands to change the sign, it works out.  Also, this guy:

The other surprise that I had planned was a trip to the pottery painting place.  I got a groupon a few weeks ago, and thought it would be a fun activity.  Honestly, I wasn't that impressed, but the girls mentioned it on the highlights of the week, so I'll call it a victory!  I haven't been able to pick up our items yet, so hopefully they are cute!    

  

Anyway, it was a really fun week!  Nieces and sisters are the best!  Well, tied for best with other family.  I don't want to get in trouble!  

Tribal & Freesia

 

Back in my day, the Freesia scent at Bath and Body Works was my favorite.  It was light purple, so this is really throwing me that Freesia is yellow.  But Pantone says it, so it must be true.  And it's a good reason to wear my newish yellow cardigan again to link up with Heidi and Marissa

I'm also getting down to the tricky themes in Sarah's April Looking Lucky Style Challenge.  I was stumped on Tribal print, and then I remembered this dress.  I'm not sure if it's quite tribal print, but I think it should count.  It's a little on the short side for work, and especially when it's windy/somewhat chilly.  I decided to get creative and tuck it into my new pencil skirt, but the elastic waist of the dress was too high and looked awkward, so I went with a little make-shift peplum look.  It's a little weird, but I liked taking a risk!  Taking photos, however, was a whole different mess.  So windy and cold!  I wasn't brave enough to keep trying for a non-wind-blown picture, so you get what you get!      

Happy Weekend!  I hope you all have a lovely Easter!    

Top (really a dress): Target
Cardigan: J.Crew Factory
Belt: Limited
Skirt: Gibson & Latimer
Shoes: Gap outlet

Hemlock & Local Love & Third Thursday

There's a lot going on today!  For starters, this is my 700th post.  I don't even know what to say about that.  When I started this blog, I wasn't sure how long I'd stick with it, but apparently the answer is "a long time." 

It's day 4 of the Pantone challenge with Heidi and Marissa, which means HEMLOCK.  Which means POISON!  I mean, mint colored.  It was a good excuse to debut my mint polka dot popover from my shopping spree last week.  Gap Outlet knows my weaknesses!

It's also the Third Thursday of the month, so I'm linking up with Bri for the Pinspired theme.  I knew I wanted to wear this top, so I perused my Pinterest board for mint and polka dot inspiration.  and I found the perfect thing:  Laura's mint & polka dot & cobalt outfit! 

And finally, I'm still working my way through Sarah's April Looking Lucky Style Challenge, so I added this necklace from a local boutique (that I can't remember the name of - terrible!) for the LOCAL LOVE entry.  I was admiring it several years ago, and then my sneaky mother-in-law bought it without me noticing and surprised me on my birthday that year.  So tricky. 

Necklace: Gift
Cardigan: Old Navy
Top & Jeans: Gap
Shoes: Payless

Dazzling Blue Geometric

Meet my new geometric print blouse!  It's from the Gap Outlet, and I love it!  Plus, it works perfectly for the Geometric entry in Sarah's April Looking Lucky Style Challenge and the Dazzling Blue day of the Pantone Challenge with Heidi and Marissa.  

I'm really hoping this is my last outfit featuring boots for awhile.  My sandals want to come out and play!     

Cardigan: J.Crew Factory
Top & Jeans: Gap
Boots: Madden

Paloma Gray (and Books!)

Two link ups in one day!  I'm continuing the Pantone challenge with Heidi and Marissa, AND it's Literary Junkies day.

First, the outfit.  It's pretty much all new.  I bought these shorts in Minnesota last Sunday.  I wanted a pair of gray (I mean, PALOMA gray) shorts last summer, but never found a pair that I liked, so I figured I should grab these.  The top is from Loft outlet, and the shoes are from J.Crew factory.  I wanted to wear the shoes on Friday, and then I realized the weather was perfect for shorts and a light sweater, and my new purchases were visible (in their bags, on the floor, in front of my closet), so this outfit happened.  It's a little plain for me, but the shoes helped!

Now for the book nerd stuff...  

1. What are you reading right now? Tell us about it!

I'm currently between books.  I just finished The Alchemist.  It's about a shepherd boy who goes on a journey looking for treasure and ends up on a different type of journey than he expected. 
 

2. Divergent, Hunger Games, or Twilight. Which do you prefer and why? (If you've never read them which do you think you'd prefer?)

I haven't read the Twilight books (and don't think I ever will), so I'm just picking between the 2 others.  I like the Hunger Games books better.  It's possible that is just because I read them first, and then Divergent was so similar in some ways.  I couldn't stop picturing Katniss!  But I think as a trilogy, the Hunger Games was much better. 

3. TV Series Based on Books they start out very close to the book to draw in the fans but then will start to separate themselves by changing things and adding characters. What are you thoughts on this?

I'm not sure I've watched many TV shows based on books.  I can see why this happens, because the TV folks want to keep the stories going longer than the book.  

4. You've just been recruited to help a movie studio bring your favorite book to the big screen. What's the movie and who are you choosing to play the main characters?

It's impossible to pick a favorite book, so I'm limiting it to my favorite book of 2014 - Ready Player One.  Since I listened to the audio book, I was totally imagining Wade Watts as Wil Wheaton, but Wade is supposed to be a teenager, so I have no idea who would be good!  Probably some unknown actor!  Aech would be Amber Riley, if she can still pass for a teenager.  Art#mis would be somebody like Alia Shawkat or Chloe Moretz.  Sorrento would be Timothy Olyphant.  For Halliday and Ogden Morrow, I can't decide, but I think it would be fun to have actors that are kind of "nerd favorites."       

5. Going back to the above question, do you keep it word for word the same or do you use this chance to change little things you thought would make the book better?

I would keep things as true to the book as possible.  For this particular book, I think the movie will have some difficulty, because it's 80% virtual reality.  I suspect they'll end up doing CGI, but I'd rather have it be like the Matrix, where it is real people on both sides.  It will also be tricky to figure out all the pop culture references and how to deal with the royalties from other movies/tv shows/video games.  

6. After you finish a physical copy of a book do you keep it for a reread, put it on a shelf to collect dust, donate it to Goodwill, or do you just not purchase physical copies of books?

I love the library, so I don't buy many books anymore.  If I buy a book and like it, I'll probably keep it to loan it to friends that might like it.  I very rarely re-read anything.  The last few books I've purchased have been at book signings!    

Fun questions this month!  Let me know what you are reading, and how you'd answer some of these questions. 

Sweater: Loft
Tank: Gap
Shorts: Old Navy
Shoes: J.Crew Factory

Radiant Orchid

 

So, um... what day is it anyway?  The last 9 days have been a whirlwind and I haven't had any of my normally scheduled activities to act as day markers.  Rumor has it that today is Monday and I have to go back to work (boo!).  Anyway, I had a blast with my sister and nieces and already miss them like crazy.

Floral Week was fun, right?!  I still haven't had time to visit all the links, but I'll try to do that soon!  Thanks to everyone who joined in, and you still have until midnight to link up if you want!  

Speaking of link up challenges - Heidi and Marissa are back with another Pantone inspired challenge this week.  I thought I'd have to skip Monday, because my only "radiant orchid" item is a workout tank top, but then I found this blouse at Gap Outlet for (wait for it) $2.97.  It's a little bit too big, but I had to get it.  I think I can take it in to make it more reasonably sized.

And finally, a quick weather update.  Saturday was SUMMERTIME!  We went to the park and were quite warm.  Sunday was cold, windy, and rainy-turned-snowy.  Ridiculous!  I'm just glad it was nice last week, because we spent a fair amount of time outside.

Cardigan: Old Navy
Top: Gap
Necklace: InPink
Skirt: Express
Boots: Madden

Floral Week - Ruffle Tank Top

Well, I started the week with a top and I'm ending the week with a top.  I know quite a few of my favorite bloggers have this print in the skirt version, but I never found it.  I do love the ruffly tank top, so it's all good!

It has been a wild and crazy week with my sister and nieces in town.  Yesterday, we went on a bit of a shopping spree at the outlet mall.  I may have purchased some floral flats at J.Crew Factory.  I may have been slightly under the influence of Floral Theme week, but they are super cute and I think I'll wear them quite a bit this spring/summer! 

Thanks to everyone who linked up this week.  The linky stays live until Monday, so you still have time if you want to jump in!  

Cardigan, Jeans: Gap
Top: Target
Shoes, Necklace: Old Navy

Floral Week - Dresses (and a guest star)

So remember how I went to Minnesota over the weekend for my cousin's wedding?  I should be fired from blogging, because I took exactly 2 pictures at the wedding/reception.  Not of the bride and groom, or anything wedding-related, but of my dad and his brothers, posing by a tractor license plate.  They are so silly.

We got back to the hotel and I remembered that I was supposed to take pictures of this outfit for floral week.  So, we are stuck with grainy indoor pics and a hotel room background.  But there are some bonus items today to distract you from the picture quality!

First up - Who Wore It Best, featuring my niece in a dress that my mom made 23 years ago!  Delia has worn it quite a bit over the last few years and doesn't seem to mind that it is SO early 90s!  The turquoise tights really help modernize it!  

Me in 1991 and D in 2014

 Second bonus - a silly picture of us!

You still have a few days to link up your florals (after the jump below)!  It seems like spring has arrived in Nebraska, so I hope that is true wherever you all live!

Scarf & Shoes: J.Crew Factory
Cardigan: Old Navy
Dress: Gibson & Latimer
Tights: Target

Floral Week - Skirt

Floral Week continues with this pencil skirt!  I'm still on the lookout for a floral pencil skirt with more colors in it, but I really like this one for now.  I don't have much to say today.  If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I'm keeping busy with my nieces this week.  We had way too much fun at the zoo yesterday, and today I'm going to surprise them with a trip to the pottery painting store.  I think they are going to love it!  Anyway, there's still time to link up your floral looks!  Info after the jump...

Also, I'm using this outfit for the pastel entry in Sarah's April Looking Lucky Style Challenge. 

Top & Cardigan:Gap
Belt: Chinese Laundry
Skirt: Bass
Necklace & Shoes: Old Navy

Floral Week - Scarf

 

Floral Week is an excellent excuse to re-introduce some of my items that have been neglected over the summer - like this pretty scarf.  I should confess that I actually bought this scarf intending it to be a gift, and then I realized that the recipient probably wouldn't like it.  She never wears scarves, and I had no idea if she liked orange and/or purple.  Since it's from F21, I couldn't just return it, so I kept it.  And I think it's gorgeous, so I think that's okay.  And I bought my friend a way better present that I think she appreciated much more. 

Linkup info after the jump!  Remember, you can link up every day if you want! This is also my floral entry for Sarah's April Looking Lucky Style Challenge. 

Scarf: F21
Cardigan: J.Crew factory
Dress & Shoes: Old Navy

Floral Week - Black & White

Let's kick off Floral Week with this outfit from the gloomiest day ever!  It was cold, sleeting and super windy, but I really loved this outfit and wanted to get pictures, so I braved the elements.  I might have to wear this again on a nicer day in the future.

Anyway, I'm back home after a fun and busy weekend, of which I'm sure I'll be posting about later and you can get a sneak preview on Instagram).  My sister and nieces are in town this week, so we will be having as much fun as possible over the next few days.

Link up information is after the jump!  Share your floral looks!    

Cardigan, Tights: Old Navy
Top: Alfani
Belt: Chinese Laundry
Skirt: Limited
Shoes: J.Crew Factory