Wedding Baby

You guys don't mind if outfit photos occasionally include a baby, right?  What if he is dressed better than me? 

Last Saturday, some of our friends got married.  We very nervously took the baby, hoping he wouldn't cry or scream at any awkward moments (like "if you oppose this union, speak now").  So we got all dressed up and ventured to the church.  He was pretty content during the prelude and processional, but once the music stopped, he started squirming and grunting.  So I quickly escaped out the back doors before he started crying.  And then he was pretty popular at the reception.  People tend to think he's kind of cute.  I agree.

Since we were all dressed up, we took a little family photo!  

And this might be my new favorite picture.  He doesn't really know how to smile yet, but it sure looks like he is grinning here.   

Cardigan: Gap factory

Dress: Gap

Shoes: Target

Repeat Repeat

Someday, I assume I will run out of different ways to wear this dress.  Today is not that day.  This is basically the summer version of this outfit.

I should probably say something more interesting.  Here's a fun piece of info - I'm meeting Ginny for lunch today!  We met up last summer a couple times and then fall/winter/spring was just crazy.  I'm excited to catch up in person again.  And we may just be planning an upcoming theme for next week.  I'll share the theme on Thursday!       

Necklace: F21 (similar, similar)
Dress: Gap (similar, similar, similar)
Belt: Steve Madden (similar)
Sandals: Target (similar)

Dress Week - Three in One

Get excited!  It's time for another theme week.  This time, we're featuring dresses.  My lovely co-host is Heidi from Literate & Stylish.  I'm starting off the week with a three-fer of iPhone mirror photos.  Because I do what I want!

These three outfits are from my work conference last week.  My hotel room didn't have any good location to build a makeshift tripod tower, so I just ended up doing iphone mirror selfies.  And I forgot to take a picture of my Tuesday daytime dress. (it was this one)

JCF jacket, Old Navy Dress, Chinese Laundry Belt, Sperry Shoes

First up, this is what I wore for traveling on Sunday.   It was comfortable but not too casual.  When I got to the conference, I traded my jacket and Sperrys for a navy cardigan and navy flats for the opening happy hour.  Then I switched back into this outfit for dinner with my team. 

JCF cardigan, Gap Dress, NY&Co Belt, Old Navy Shoes

This was my Monday outfit.  I was in meetings all day and then took clients out to dinner, so I needed to have comfortable shoes, but still look polished.  Also the meeting rooms were like 60 degrees, so I was very happy to have a cardigan. 

Gibson&Latimer Dress, NY&Co Belt, Old Navy Shoes

Tuesday evening was the finale dinner.  I kept it simple in this floral dress, which has been one of my favorites in the past year or so.  I did not have a cardigan to go with it, so I just froze. 

Over 4 days in St. Louis, I barely went outside at all.  We were right by the arch, but I never had the time even walk over and see it properly.  I'm glad I have been there quite a few times, so I wasn't missing out on my only chance to see it! 

Now it's your turn - link up your dresses below (after the jump).  I'll be sharing 4 more this week.  And make sure you check out Heidi's blog to see what she's wearing.   If you want to join in on Instagram or Twitter, you can just use #dressweek.

Also, go check out my guest post all about Summer Must-Haves on Work Clothes, I Suppose.  Spoiler alert - dresses are on the list! 

Navy Leopard Dress Remix

I've had this dress for just over 2 years.  It's one of those random impulse buys that ended up being a super versatile and frequently-worn item.  The navy/white color means it plays well with everything else in my closet.  The leopard pattern means it is fun enough that I like to wear it.  It almost feels like cheating to make a remix collage, because I feel like I just wear it with different colored cardigans! 

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8
9/10/11/12/13/14/15

In completely unrelated news, it's time for another theme week!  Join me and Laura next week (May 12th-16th) as we share nautical outfits!  We're talking anchors, sailboats, starfish!  Or just Breton stripes will work, too!  You can link up any time during the week (or multiple days, if you want).  If you need some inspiration, check out this timely post from Whitney!

Dress & Cardigan: Gap
Necklace: F21
Shoes: Old Navy   

Back to normal (almost)

Hey there!  I guess I kind of disappeared last week.  John and I went to Indianapolis for Christmas, and I decided to neglect the cyber-world and spend as much time as possible with my family.  We got back late Friday, and then had a pretty busy weekend (but more about that later).  I'll be sorting through photos and doing a Christmas recap post in the next few days. And then I'll probably try to put together some 2013-in-review (at least a final goals post - I kind of skipped that in November - OOPS!)

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas!

Dress & Belt: Gap
Cardigan: J.Crew Factory
Tights: Old Navy
Boots: Steve Madden

Literary Link-Up Day

Where my nerds at?  Oh, probably judging me for the atrocious grammar of that sentence!  Anyway, it's Literary Junkies time yet again.  Here are the questions and my answers for November:

What are you currently reading? Tell us about it!


I'm almost finished with Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore.  It's a difficult book to describe, but so far, I love it.  It's just bizarre and fun and it glows in the dark - which really confused me the first night that it was on my bedside table.  

How many books have you read this year? Do you set reading goals for yourself?


I've read 43 books this year.  I try to read 50 each year, so I'm right on track.  I love to read, but I tend to forget if I don't make it a priority.  I found that setting a goal helps me make time for reading.  

What do you think are the best and worst book-to-movie/TV show adaptations?

Hmm, there are so many bad ones!  I'd have to say Silver Linings Playbook was the worst.  They just changed so many of the critical elements of the book.  I don't know what the best is, but I thought the Harry Potter movies were a pretty good adaptation of the books.  There were some things that I would have done differently, but I felt the movies stayed true to the intention of the books.  

What is the first line of your favorite book?

I have no idea.  First, I would have to pick a favorite book, and that's pretty tricky.  I have 29 books on my "favorites" shelf on Goodreads, so I couldn't narrow it down to one favorite.   

What's your favorite quote from a book?

Again, I don't know.  So many books.  So many great quotes.  It's impossible to choose!

The Literary Junkies are chatting tonight about The Storyteller.  Next month, we are reading Safe Haven.  I have it checked out from the library, but haven't picked it up to read yet.  This will be my first Nicholas Sparks and I'm just not sure about it.  Romance is weird!  Give me books that glow in the dark instead!

I'm still passing things along.  Today it's my grandpa cardigan.

AND finally, since I don't have much flexibility to join in on Thursday, I'll be linking this navy leopard print dress up for Third Thursday Threads!    

Cardigan: Urban Outfitters
Dress: Gap
Belt: Chinese Laundry
Necklace: Limited
Boots: Wanted

Monday Again

Happy Monday!  The weekends just never last long enough.  If you are on Instagram, you may have noticed that I was in St. Louis all weekend.  We drove out Friday after work and then drove back yesterday after the Cardinals game.  It was a really fun weekend (recap post coming soon), but we got home really late last night and now I am exhausted!  I think this was the last crazy weekend of the summer, so hopefully I can get back into a somewhat normal routine! 

Did you do anything fun this weekend?

Dress: Gap
Cardigan: Old Navy
Belt: Chinese Laundry
Sandals: Anne Klein

Neon Accents and Mixing Prints

Third Thursday Threads is here and the theme of the month is NEON!

This blazer - I want to wear it every day!  The neon lining is my favorite, but it does make styling a little bit tricky.  After playing around in my closet, I put this together.  I really love this outfit.  The mixed prints are a little bit crazy, but since the colors are the same (and fairly neutral), I think/hope it stays on the classy side of the line.  The neon pink belt and neon coral-ish lining add some fun to the look.

I do think that this blazer will be more versatile if/when I unroll the sleeves, but right now I am trying to think of all the options with the lining showing!  How would you style this blazer?  I really want to wear it with white pants, but haven't found any that I love yet.

I'm also linking up with What I Wore to Work and Tres Chic Fashion Thursday and Favorite Fashion Friday! 

Dress & Blazer: Gap
Belt: Chinese Laundry via TJ Maxx
Shoes: BCBGeneration

Cruisin'

Monday was another boat day, but it was starting to get warmer!  I still didn't get in the pool, but I at least put my swimsuit on!  It was another lazy day of reading and watching the ocean go by.  In the evening, there was a pretty epic sunset.  I resisted the temptation to add 15+ sunset pictures here!

Our favorite spot at the back of the boat

 

We did dress up for dinner, but forgot to take proper photos.  Sometimes, you just have to enjoy life and not try to document everything, right?  A good reminder for all of us bloggers!

Ruzzle Addict

Take One, Pass It On Item: pearl necklace from last Tuesday's post.

So, have you all jumped on the Ruzzle fad yet?  My brother and sister got me hooked on this game.  It's basically Boggle for smartphones, with a little bit of Scrabble thrown in.

I'm going to brag a little bit and say that I am ridiculously good at Boggle.  I mean, no one will play with me, because it just isn't fun.  For some reason, my brain is really great at seeing words in a random assortment of letters.  Surprisingly, this is of no use to me in my every day life and career.

My biggest problem with Ruzzle is that it tells you how many words you found, and then it tells you how many words exist to be found.  In Boggle, I just know that I found 50 words and my opponent found 25, so I get to feel really awesome.  Ruzzle tells me that there were 297 total words, and then I feel bad about myself, even when I win!  Why can't this game just let me be happy that I found more words than the other player?  Seriously, Ruzzle, stop ruining my life!   (at least I'm not being dramatic.)  

I don't believe there are 275 words to be found!

Dress and Cardigan: Gap
Necklace: gift (from China)
Tights: Old Navy
Shoes: BCBGeneration

Losing It

 

Well, I'm finally going crazy in my old age.  I have never been a forgetful person, but in the last few days, I am really starting to wonder what is wrong with me!  I am so scatterbrained!  Here's some evidence:

• On Sunday, I went to Beauty and the Beast with my MIL and SIL.  We met for dinner before the show.  When I got to the restaurant, I noticed my wedding and engagement rings were not on my finger.  Cue panic attack.  I was sure I hadn't taken them off for any reason that day, and was terrified that they had fallen off somewhere as I was walking around downtown.  Turns out, they were on the dresser.  I had taken them off when I put on hand lotion. 
• On Monday morning, I got to work and my computer was not on my desk.  Apparently I took it home for the weekend, and completely forgot to bring it back.  I had to drive back home to get it, thus starting my day about 45 minutes later than originally planned.
• Monday evening, I was getting ready to ship all the presents out to my family, so I was sorting everything into piles.  There are 4 presents under the tree to John from me.  I remember buying and wrapping 3 presents.  I have no idea what the 4th present is, and since I put everything in different sized boxes to be sneaky, I don't even know which present is the mystery one.  The next day, I realized that the mystery present isn't "to John". It is "to Jason", my uncle-in-law.  Apparently, I am illiterate.  

I am hoping this is just short-term memory loss due to holiday stress and I will be back to my usual brilliant self in January. 

Dress: Gap
Cardigan: Urban Outfitters
Necklace: H&M
Tights: Steve Madden
Boots: Wanted via Piperlime
Coat: Old Navy

Falling Back

I was so excited to get a tripod for my birthday, in hopes that I could take more outside pictures, even if John isn't around to play photographer.  Then we had to "fall back" and it is dark before I get home, so we are sticking with indoor pictures.  At least I can change up the background some!

Daylight Savings Time is such a goofy thing.  I mean, I understand why we do it, but I think it is funny how people react to it.  I was living in Indiana back in 2006 when they started observing Daylight Savings Time.  It was really interesting to see how everyone handled it.  People were asking crazy questions, like "Do I have to change the clock at exactly 2am?"  or "What happens?"  Well...nothing happens.  You just change your clocks and then you feel kind of weird for a couple days about what time it is.  Or you forget to change your clocks and you show up early or late to church on Sunday!

Dress and Belt: Gap
Sweater: Old Navy
Boots: Guess

In Your Dreams

Don't worry - I'm not going to start blogging about all the dreams I have.  I was just talking with some friends recently about dreams and I realized that I might be kind of a weirdo.  Here's a few reasons:

1. Almost all of them said they have recurring dreams about being back in school, where they show up for a final and don't know any of the answers, or they don't know their locker combination.  I have never had a dream like this.
2. They also all said they dream in the 1st person, where they are actually experiencing whatever is happening in the dream.  I am always in the 3rd person in my dreams, watching myself experience whatever is happening.  
3. I'm not always even in my dreams, either.  Sometimes it is just like I am watching a movie and it is all people I don't know.  I don't think that's normal.

So, am I alone here?  Do you all have crazy dreams?

Dress: Gap
Cardigan: NY&Co
Belt: Francesca's
Shoes: BCBGeneration

Trifecta Tuesday - Navy Dress

Fall is making an appearance and I am pretty excited to layer again!  Just don't quote me on that in January when I am so tired of the cold weather.

I didn't intend to have my collar popped in these pictures.  It got warm enough in the afternoon that I didn't need the jacket anymore, but I threw it back on for pictures.  I guess I should look in the mirror before I pull out my camera.    

Here are 2 other ways I have worn this dress recently:

  

Dress: Gap
Scarf: Charming Charlie
Jacket: Izod
Belt: Francesca's
Shoes: BCBGeneration