Weekend Update

Well, it's been about a year since I last wore this skirt!  I tried it on yesterday morning expecting it to not fit, but it did!  Hooray!  So I wore this outfit to church!  Mr. Baby thought the necklace was super fun to grab.

Speaking of fun, my mom is visiting at the moment!  She got in Friday evening.  Then we took an impromptu road trip to Grand Island on Saturday to see one of her best friends.  That was really fun, but kind of ridiculous.  Babies aren't the best road trip companions, but he really did quite well.  It was his first time being on the road for more than an hour or so.   We learned pretty quickly that he was lonely in the backseat, so my mom kept him company while I played chauffeur.

We are having pretty amazing weather right now, so we've gone on a few walks, and otherwise just getting as much grandma/baby time in as possible.

Necklace: Lucky B Boutique (similar)
Cardigan: JCF (similar, similar)
Tee: Gap (similar)
Skirt: JCF (similar, similar)
Flats: Target (exact without captoe)

Skirt Week - Leopard

Happy Skirt Week!  I'll be honest, after sharing some feelings last week, I'm excited to have an excuse to talk mostly about clothes this week.  And skirts are one of my favorite categories!  

I have apparently been neglecting this skirt all summer long. I have no idea how that happened, because it's one of my favorites.  But it does work year-round, so I was probably giving my summer-specific skirts more attention.

As you can tell by my tank top, I'm desperately holding on to summer for as long as possible.  We had a bit of a cold front in early September, but this weekend was back up into the 70's, so I'm hoping winter won't show up for another month at least!

Link up with your skirt looks after the jump!


Top: Loft (similar)
Necklace: F21 (similar, similar)
Belt: Old Navy (similar)
Skirt: J.Crew Factory (similar, similar)
Sandals: Target (similar)

Looking Lucky in Lace

I love a good style challenge, so when I saw Sarah's April Looking Lucky Style Challenge, I had to jump in!  I'm going to try to do all 10, but some will be a stretch.  I mean, I don't think I have anything with fringe on it.  We might have to get creative!  

But lace!  Lace is easy!  I've had this top for just over a year and worn it more times than I can count.  I just love how the lace turns a white t-shirt into something fun and interesting.  I really need a replacement, because this one is starting to look a little rough without a layer.

Come back tomorrow for an announcement about next week.  Hint - it might be a theme week.

Jacket & Skirt: J.Crew factory
Top: H&M
Necklace: F21
Shoes: Target

Leopard Week - Skirt

Monday already?  The weekends always go by too quickly.  This particular weekend was spent mostly watching season 2 of Downton Abbey.  I finally caught the cold that has been going around, so figured it was best to rest up!  I think/hope that I am on the mend!

Now for the fun stuff - it's officially Leopard Print Week!  By officially, I mean that I just made it up, but Brynn is in on it too, so it's pretty legit.  We'll be hosting a linkup on Friday for everyone to share their own looks.

And I'm still doing the Take One, Pass It On challenge.  Today's "passed on" item is my boots.  You'll be seeing a lot of them this winter. 


Top: Gibson&Latimer
Cardigan: Limited
Skirt: J.Crew Factory
Boots: Steve Madden via DSW

J.Crew Inspiration

Here's the Inspiration for my outfit of stripes and leopard print.  It was also a good excuse to debut my new $3 shoes.  I don't know when TJ Maxx got a "final sale" clearance section, but I am a fan!

I don't really know what else to say today.  Just have to get through the rest of the week and then my mom gets here on Friday!  By my calculations, I haven't seen her since last Thanksgiving, so I'm pretty excited.  Plus we are going to see a performance of Les Mis on Saturday, which should be amazing, as always.         

I'm linking up with Pinned It & Did It, What I Wore to Work, Look What I Got, and Tres-Chic.


Cardigan: Target
Top: Old Navy
Skirt: J.Crew Factory
Belt: Chinese Laundry
Shoes: Restricted via TJ Maxx

Leopard Skirt Remix

 

It's Friday!  It's been a busy week, with something going on almost every evening.  Mostly just catching up with friends that I've been neglecting while I had family in town and then was gone on vacation.  It's all good, I just don't really know when I am supposed to go to the grocery store.  Maybe next week sometime.

This outfit was inspired by a guest post I did for Work Clothes, I Suppose last week.  As I was putting together my remix collage for this skirt, I realized I had never worn it with pink, and isn't that the most obvious pairing ever?  I actually started the day with my shirt tucked in, and then got tired of fighting with it.  I'm just not meant to tuck my shirt in most of the time.

Anyway, here are 8 other ways I have worn this skirt.  

Go check out the other remixers at AJ Wears Clothes!

Cardigan: Marisa Kristina
Top: Gap
Belt: Old Navy
Skirt: J.Crew
Shoes: Born

Stop, Collaborate and Listen

 

On my list of fears and things that make me uncomfortable, I probably should have added "asking for help from others," but I'm trying to get over that one, so here goes nothing! 

It's been a few months since I posted about the whole idea of swapping buttons, and how I really don't think it does a whole lot for building community or even getting new followers.  Since then, I've been thinking about collaboration ideas (does anyone else think of Vanilla Ice whenever someone says Collaborate?), and just haven't gotten around to posting about it.  Looking at my calendar, I realized it's almost June, and I will be at a work conference that first week, so I should really line up some guest bloggers!  It seemed like an appropriate time to run with this idea.

Instead of just swapping buttons that no one will ever click on, I'd like to start swapping guest posts!  We could either trade blogs for the day, or pick different days to guest post on each others' blogs. Here are some topics that I think could be fun/interesting for our readers: 

• Pick a similar item to style - I know there are quite a few of you that have the exact same piece as I do, so that could be fun.  
• Pick a trend to post about - either share a remix, or just show one way to wear a current trend
• Inspiration trade - each pick a favorite outfit of other blogger to interpret.  I did this for Bri back on October and thought it was fun! 
• Inspiration Piece - pick an outfit from Pinterest or another blog and each do our own version of it. 
• Guest swap - just post on each other's blogs one day, about whatever.  It doesn't have to be style-related, but that's my most common topic, so probably what my readers enjoy.   

Would any of you be interested in doing a guest post swap with me?  I'd love to have a few lined up for the first week of June, and then maybe every so often going forward. 

**And if you would be willing to guest post for me and don't want to do a post swap, that's fine, too.  I just want to communicate that I'm willing to reciprocate, since it is work to create an extra post for another blogger!

Comment here or send me an email if you are interested, and we can iron out the details!     

Top: Old Navy
Blazer: H&M
Skirt: J.Crew
Shoes: Seychelles

My Boot Broke

 

Take One, Pass It On Item:  orange cardigan from last Thursday's post

Remember how I recently found a hole in my brand new dress?  Well, I've had another wardrobe malfunction.  This time my boot broke!  I was talking with a co-worker, and I have a habit of rocking back on my heels (kind of like a little kid).  Anyway, I did this, and heard a crack, and sort of fell.  Broken heel.  Way to go, Andi.

I swallowed my pride and emailed my co-workers hoping someone had some superglue so I could fix it.  One guy was at home for lunch, and was able to bring some back.  As my nieces used to say (every day), he was the "hero of the day."  I glued my shoe back together, and it definitely helped, but I'll still need to take it in to the shoe repair place, and I hope they fully fix my boot!  These are relatively new, and I haven't worn them a whole lot.

2 other quick things:

1. This outfit was really awesome in my mind, and I actually felt pretty fancy all day (sort of like the quirky librarian from a movie, or maybe Emma Pillsbury).  Now that I am looking at pictures, I'm not sure I like it very much.  Does this happen to anyone else?
2. I don't usually tuck in my shirts, and I think it is because it adds extra fabric/bulk to my middle.  Is there a trick I don't know to avoid this?

Shirt: Gap

Cardigan & Skirt: J.Crew Factory
Boots: Guess via TJ Maxx

Fitness Failure

Last night, I met a friend for Pilates class.  When we arrived, the instructor informed us that the class schedule was changed, but they just haven't updated their website.  So... no Pilates class tonight.  We still wanted to hang out, so we ended up eating dinner.  At Culver's.  My intention was to exercise and what I actually did was eat a super unhealthy fast food meal.  I'm so good at fitness.

I also realized that this has been an unofficial theme week on the blog as I have worn a pencil skirt every day.

Shirt: Loft
Scarf: Calvin Klein
Skirt: J.Crew Factory
Boots: Guess via TJ Maxx
  

Weekend Wrap-Up

Happy Monday!  This weekend was busy but good.  Saturday was a very productive day at the Smith house.  John cleaned out the laundry room - which I have been too scared to do for several months.  I mean, there could be spiders  hiding everywhere.  We also made 2 trips to Lowe's to get new light fixtures for our entry way and dining room.  The dining room light is up and I think it looks awesome!   It snowed a little bit on Sunday, so we hung out by the fireplace and drank hot chocolate!  Sunday evening, I went to Beauty and the Beast with my MIL and SIL, but I'll be posting more about that later! 

Make sure you go enter Taylor's giveaway!  I'm sending a Starbucks giftcard to one lucky winner! 

Shirt and Skirt: J.Crew Factory
Belt: Gap
Boots: Guess

Birthdays are Awesome

It is possible that I am more excited about my birthday than someone in her late 20s ought to be, but I just can't help myself.  I love an excuse to celebrate anything, and my birthday is extra exciting because I get texts and phone calls from friends and family.  I'm sure the presents don't hurt, either!

Anyway, on Wednesday, I just worked like normal, but one of my co-workers brought in a stash of delicious baked goods for me.  Then in the afternoon, we had a little birthday get-together.  Another co-worker was also celebrating his birthday, so we had even more treats!

After work, I got to open my presents from John!  He got me a tripod for my camera, which you all should be excited about, because it means you might get some more interesting backgrounds than the wall in my entryway!  It also means John and I can take better pictures together!  Can you tell I am excited about it??

John also got me a new watch!  Let's be honest - he did an awesome job at picking this out.  I like how it is classy and will go with everything, but it's also kind of different.  I just need to find a place to get a few links removed.  Or I need to gain some weight in my wrists, which might be tricky.

After presents, we went to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants!  After a delicious steak, baked potato and beer bread, I got the most amazing dessert for FREE!

We got home and I talked to various relatives who called to say Happy Birthday.  Then at the very end of the day, I got a call from my friend Anne, who I haven't talked to in way too long.

All in all, I would say it was a pretty fabulous birthday!

Cardigan and tank: Gap
Skirt: J.Crew
Shoes: Seychelles
 

Rebellious

I was inspired to pair my animal print skirt with my animal face tee by this picture.  The main difference is that she looks chic and fabulous, and I just felt like a rebellious teenager from an 80's sitcom who went to a concert without her parents' permission.

Honestly, I was a pretty obedient teenager.  I was trying to think of rebellious things I did in high school and I couldn't come up with much.  I remember one week when I had been sick, but I was feeling better enough to go to school.  My mom told me to come straight home after school, but I swung by Best Buy to get the new Matchbox Twenty album that had come out that day.  Of course, I opened it immediately and was listening to it in the car on my drive home.  When I got home, my mom surprised me with the cd - which she saw at Sam's Club when she was grocery shopping.  She knew I wanted it, so she just picked it up for me.  Needless to say, I felt terrible and confessed right away!  This is probably why I didn't disobey very often - way too stressful!  

T-shirt: Target
Jacket: Izod
Skirt: J.Crew
Boots: BareTraps via DSW

Zombie Bait

If a zombie situation ever occurs, I'm fairly resigned to the fact that I will be one of the first to die (or you know, un-die, or whatever).  I mean, I'm not too worried about a zombie apocalypse actually happening, but if it does, I'm toast - I can't run very fast, and I totally fall apart in high pressure situations.  Even if I did manage to evade the zombies, I wouldn't do very well with scrounging for food and survival out in the woods or wherever we would be hiding out.

I recently started a one-month free trial at Curves, and when I went in to sign all the forms, the lady asked me what reasons I had for wanting to get in shape, other than being healthy and looking better. I completely drew a blank at the time, but when I got home and we started watching season 2 of The Walking Dead, I realized my goal for getting into shape should be to survive if zombies ever show up. That's a good fitness goal, right?   I really wish I would have thought of that and said it with a straight face when she asked.

Anyway, I also like my new skirt!  J.Crew outlet might be my new favorite store.

Blazer: Limited
Sweater: Gap
Skirt: J.Crew
Shoes: BCBGeneratio