Lady Who Lunches

One problem I have with LeTote  is that I want to wear cute things on days I really don't need to wear cute things.  So I end up wearing an outfit to meet John for lunch and he asks me why I'm all dressed up. Granted, this is just jeans and a top, but it feels fancy.  I love this lace tee from LeTote, and was excited to wear it.  I don't have much in this darker green color, so it was fun to wear for a day.  I paired it with white jeans because (a) my good blue jeans were both in the laundry pile (#momproblems) and (b) I thought a light bottom would be a nice contrast to the dark top.  The leopard flats were an obvious choice.  And if we are being completely honest, I just wore the jewelry for pictures, because it was pretty, but I knew Mr. Baby would try to destroy it.  My hair also went into a ponytail immediately.  And then I didn't feel quite so fancy.  And then I changed into workout clothes and went for a walk.  So I will never wear an outfit just to take blog pictures, but I will wear an outfit just to go to lunch for an hour.  Keeping it real.    

Top: LeTote (similar)
Necklace and Bracelet: LeTote
Jeans: Limited (similar)
Shoes: Target (similar, pointy toe)

Weekend Update

Well, it's Monday again already!  Happens every week...  But the weekend was pretty great, so I can't complain too much.  Since John's birthday is tomorrow, it was officially birthday weekend, so we celebrated on Saturday evening with his family.  So tricky - he got to open his presents 3 days early!  Other than birthday festivities, I mostly spent the weekend catching up on chores and reading.

The most amazing fall weather has finally arrived.  I would be happy if it stayed like this until December 24th.  And then Spring can arrive on January 10th.  Give or take a few days.  I'm not picky.

Necklace: InPink (exact)
Blazer: H&M (similar)
Top: Old Navy (exact)
Jeans: Limited (exact)
Shoes: J.Crew Factory (exact)

Throwback Thursday - Blue Camouflage

When I first started blogging, I had visions of alliterative awesomeness and thought I'd do Throwback Thursday* posts every week.  I pretty quickly ran out of old pictures that I thought were interesting enough to share.

Anyway, I'm bringing Throwback Thursday back to the blog with a little twist.  Instead of just sharing an old picture, I'm going to share an old picture with a current outfit that is similar or inspired by the old picture.  Kind of like this or this.  And I have no idea how frequently I'll do it, but I'm hoping to do at least one every month.  I'm going to raid my parents' photo albums this weekend to get some good pics.      

So without any further ado....

2004 vs 2014

Apparently blue camouflage is just one of those timeless prints!  The old picture is from the summer of 2004 when I went to visit my brother's family in Kentucky.  Because I didn't used to take pictures of myself every day, my throwback pictures will usually be from a trip or event of some kind. 

When looking at this old picture, I mostly realize that I was super skinny back then.  I didn't think I was skinny, but I mean, look how flat my stomach is!  So, I want to look like that again!  Oh, to be 19 again!  Wait, no - that sounds terrible.  Oh, to look 19 again!  That's better.     

Also, if you are wondering about the little person cropped out, it's my nephew.  He's becoming a teenager in a few weeks, which is completely not allowed.  But look how cute he was! 

Anyway, when I saw the camo/stripe shirt at the Gap, I had a wave of nostalgia and had to buy it.  Plus my sister has the green camo version (seen here), so we can be twinsies!

2014 info: 
Top: Gap (vaguely similar)
Jeans: Limited (exact)
Shoes: Old Navy (similar without captoe)

2004 info: 
Top: Karen Kane
Belt: Express
Jeans: Probably Gap

* Just a note - this was before I had even heard of Instagram, so #tbt wasn't really a thing in my social circles.  I'm not deluded enough to think I came up with the idea on my own.  I mean, I'm sure I heard it somewhere and my subconscious saved it for a rainy day, but at the time, I thought I was being pretty creative.

Sunshine On a Cloudy Day (and Book Talk)

The day I wore this was just plain gloomy.  So I did what any ridiculous blogger would do - wear bright yellow.  I will bring the sunshine myself, thanks very much (and have My Girl stuck in my head all day). 

Anyway, it's the Third Tuesday of the month, which means it is time to talk about books with the Literary Junkies! Here are the May questions and my answers:

1. What are you currently reading? Tell us about it!  I just finished Where'd You Go, Bernadette, which is our book club pick for May.  It's a crazy book, but I really liked it.  If you've read it, you should join the twitter chat tonight!

2. Do you judge a book by its cover? What cover elements make you not want to pick up a book?  Yes, I definitely judge books based on their covers. Like, if there are people kissing or almost kissing on the cover, it's probably not going to be my favorite.  I'm looking at you, Nicholas Sparks. 

3. Do you participate in any other bookish link-ups? Tell us about them so we can join next time!  Nope, other than the Summer Book Challenge!

4. Have you ever watched a movie that was better than its book version? Explain yourself!  Hmm, this is tough, but Emma comes to mind.  I loved the Gwyneth Paltrow movie when I was younger, and then I tried to read the book and wasn't interested at all.  Maybe because I already knew the plot?  I don't know.  Maybe I should try reading it again sometime.  Who knows if that movie is even good?  I don't trust my 12-year-old self to have great taste in films!
  

5. Summer is here! Do you read more often during any particular season?  I think I read a little bit less in the summer, because life seems busier, but I do have a few trips coming up so I'll have plane time to read.  I think I read the most during the winter, when it's too cold to do anything else.

6. What is the worst book you've read this year? Why?  I have to say Breakfast at Tiffany's.  I didn't hate it, but I just didn't really like it either.  I don't know what I thought it was about, but it was way different than my expectations.  I'm planning to watch the movie and then do a movie vs. book post.  So, stay tuned for my thoughts on both!   

How would you answer these questions?  

Tee & Blazer: Gap
Jeans: Limited
Shoes: Old Navy

Nautical Week - Anchors Away!

Get excited!  It's NAUTICAL WEEK!  Make sure you are following along with Laura to see how she is rocking the boat theme this week.  First up, a sweater with an anchor on it!  (said in my best Brian Fellow voice).  

It's been almost a year since I painted this sweater, and I've worn it exactly one time.  Oops!  But it's perfect for Nautical Week!  I wore this outfit on the last day of April, when it was quite chilly and dreary out.  And then a friend (jokingly) called me out for wearing white pants before Memorial Day.  Shh, don't tell that I bought these in October and have been wearing them all winter long.  We don't really believe in that rule anymore, anyway.  Right?

Anyway, Nautical Week is here, so get ready to see lots of red/white/navy in the next few days.  I do have at least one outfit that isn't unintentionally patriotic. Link up is after the jump!  

Sweater: Gap (but then painted) (Similar)
Shirt: Old Navy
Jeans: Limited
Shoes: Target

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

Boot Camp

Each Wednesday evening at AWANA, there's a theme of some kind.  I usually forget to wear anything theme-specific, because I have enough trouble remembering to bring my leader uniform shirt to change into.  But this week, the theme was Boot Camp, and I had the perfect item to wear!  I really love this jacket, but I hardly ever wear it.  Olive green is normally my color nemesis, but if you put it in a camo print, I am sold.

Jacket: Old Navy
Tee, Belt: Gap
Necklace: F21
Jeans: Limited
Shoes: Target

Grayscale

John thought this was a fancy outfit.  I think maybe because there are no colors.  Because fancy people don't have time to wear crazy colors, so they just stick to neutrals?  Or maybe the white jeans seem fashiony, because you don't see many people wearing white pants in Nebraska in the winter.  I don't know.  All I can say is that I liked it better in real life than in pictures.  

When wearing white jeans, I really should have found a better place to stand.  The dirty snow piled up behind me isn't doing this outfit any favors.  But it was really cold and windy out, and I didn't feel like finding another spot to set up, so this is as good as it gets for today.  

Oh, and it was inspired by this pin.  So I'm linking up with Pinned It & Did It and Style Swap with Ginny and Jenn.  

Blazer: H&M

Sweater: Gap

Necklace: InPink

Jeans: Limited

Shoes: J.Crew Factory

Literary Junkies

It's the Third Tuesday of the month, and that means LITERARY JUNKIES DAY!!  I'm very excited to be co-hosting the linkup this month.  See all the details below!  

Here are this month's questions and my answers:

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

I'm almost finished with The Girl You Left Behind.  It starts out in France during WWI, and then moves to modern day London.  So far, I like it!  

2. What books are on your bedside table at the moment? 

Right now, I don't have any books on my bedside table!  I usually have a stack of library books, but I don't have any checked out at the moment.  I'm reading The Girl You Left Behind on my Kindle app, so I don't even have that sitting there!  

3. Amazon recently released the 100 books to read in a lifetime. What did they miss that you would add? 

I would add East of Eden and A Tale of Two Cities.  Oh, and The Chronicles of Narnia (at least #1). 

4. Are there any books being published in 2014 that you are anxiously awaiting? If so, what are they? 

 There are 2 that I am very excited about - Edge of Eternity and Landline.  I keep checking the library website to see if they have pre-ordered copies yet.  I want to get on the waiting list ASAP!  

5. Name the next 3 books in your To Be Read List (the ones you will be reading next on your list.) 

This will mostly be based on when my holds are available from the library.  So, my next book will be The Good Luck of Right Now, because it is ready to pick up.  After that, I don't know.  I'm hoping I will get Serena and What Alice Forgot soon, so I can read them for our next 2 book club chats!

Sweater: Gap
Scarf: Target
Jeans: Limited
Boots: Wanted

<a href="http://pinkheelspinktruck.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Pink Heels Pink Truck" src="http://pinkheelspinktruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Literary-Junkies-Button.png" width="250" height="250" /></a>

Hello Fellow Book Lovers! It's the 3rd Tuesday of the month...Literary Junkies Link Party Day!! And Literary Junkies Book Club Twitter party (tonight at 7pm CST). A time where all our fellow book lovers get together and share our love and joy of books! Grab our button, grab the questions below, write your post and link up with us!! LITERARY JUNKIES HOSTED BY LIFE WITH A SIDE OF COFFEE AND PINK HEELS PINK TRUCK YOUR JANUARY CO-HOST: ANDI JUST ANOTHER SMITH  
Now it's your turn! Grab the questions, grab our button, mingle with your fellow #LiteraryJunkies and link up your post below.

Mrs. Candy

On Wednesday evening, on of my 5th grade girls decided that she would call me "Mrs. Candy" instead of "Andi."  I've never given her candy, so I think she's just excited about rhyming stuff.  Kids are so weird.

Another random/funny story from Wednesday.  One of the girls is pretty tall, and she was talking about how people think she's in high school instead of 6th grade.  I told her I could relate, because I was a really tall kid, too.  I explained that I was pretty much my current height by 6th grade.  Another girl was like "WHOA, YOU WERE A GIANT 6th GRADER!" and then the first girl said "Don't make her feel bad about it!" 

Don't worry - I'm over any insecurities I had about being a giant kid. 

Cardigan: Old Navy
Chambray: J.Crew Factory
Jeans: Limited
Shoes: Gap

Foreshadowing

I may have hinted on Friday that I'd be wearing these white jeans again.  The Take One, Pass It On challenge is an excellent excuse to repeat my favorites without feeling guilty!

The weekend was nice, but always too short.  On Saturday, I finished season 3 of Downton Abbey.  I had heard that the ending was heartbreaking, but wow.  The Brits sure know how to destroy hopes and dreams!  Now I need to figure out how to watch season 4! 

On a happier note, I'm venturing to the new outlet mall after work today, hoping that the crazy weekend crowds will be gone.  My friend Brooke (you may remember her from Halloween) and I made plans to check it out (which is good, because I probably would have gone on Saturday and never found a parking spot!).  I've been scoping out the J.Crew Factory website in preparation. I'm hoping to try on these shoes and buy them if they are as wonderful as they seem.  Expectations are high, so I will probably be disappointed!  (see what I did there?  Lowering my own expectations with pessimism is one of my top skills!)

Cardigan:Urban Outfitters
Shirt: J.Crew factory
Jeans: Limited
Shoes: Old navy

Leopard plus Sequins and a Link-up!

It's Leopard Link-Up Day, y'all!  I'm so excited that I'm typing in a southern accent!  Link up info is at the bottom of the post.

I saved my leopard print sequined tank top for the grand finale, because OBVIOUSLY!  The white jeans are a recent purchase from The Limited.  They've been on my wishlist for at least a year, but I'm happy that I waited, because these are perfect, and they were on end of summer clearance.  Limited is my new default jeans store.  I've been searching Pinterest for "white jeans in winter", so I can make sure to wear them as much as possible.

Week Two of Take One, Pass It On is complete!  I'm kind of excited that all 5 of my outfits have different locations.  

Cardigan: Old Navy
Top: Chaus
Jeans: Limited