Due Dates and Squirrels

Well, today is my due date.  Not that that means anything to my baby.  He's just chilling and doesn't seem to pay any attention to the schedule.  Babies are notoriously inconsiderate of timelines.  There are a bunch of old wives' tales about how to get labor started.  I'm just making up my own, like eat a giant bowl of ice cream every day.  I'm 100% sure it will work eventually, and I will be like "See, I ate a giant bowl of ice cream, and within 24 hours, I went into labor!"  (unless I have to get induced, and then the my theory will be unproven)

Other than being roughly the size of a whale (baby is the size of a watermelon or pumpkin, allegedly), I had a pretty good weekend.  John and I mostly just tried to make the most of our time as a family of 2.  So, we went out to eat, watched a movie, took a long (sloooow) walk around the neighborhood, had dinner and played cards with his parents.  And I tried to sleep a lot.  The goal is to be well rested at all times.  

On Sunday after church, we took these pictures.  So this is what I actually look like at 40 weeks pregnant.  We saw a squirrel in the tree, and of course, my photographer was distracted by it.  I was doing my normal poses, and noticed that the camera was pointed much higher than usual, and I was like "Are you taking pictures of the squirrel??" and John was like "what?!" but the evidence doesn't lie:  

Anyway, here's hoping I have a baby this week!   

Necklace: F21

Cardigan: Old Navy

Dress: Loft Maternity

Belt: Madden

Sandals: Target

Busy Week

Friday is here, which means we have survived another week.  It seemed really busy, but as I look back, I can't really tell you why.  Probably because I get all stressed out about getting a flu shot.  And my arm still hurts.  Ridiculous

This outfit is from a few weeks ago when John and I went on an impromptu Saturday evening dinner date.  It's gotten chilly enough in the evenings that I'm happy to wear my jeans again.  And this top really has stars on it, but they just look like polka dots from far away.  I probably say that every time I wear it. 

Cardigan: Old Navy (similar)
Top: Alfani
Jeans: Old Navy (similar)
Shoes: Target (same without patent captoe)

Long Weekend Recap

Happy Tuesday!  I'm going to pretend that I purposely skipped posting on Monday for Memorial Day, but really, I just forgot to schedule something.  This outfit would have been perfect, because it's all red, white, and blue.  Anyway, enough about my outfit.  How about a weekend recap??

On Friday, I left work early and had a late/long lunch with a friend.  Then I had the rest of the evening to myself and decided it was time to really do a full closet inventory.  I got about halfway done before I had to take a break for dinner.  Then I binge-watched Netflix while ironing for a few hours.  And I'm at a point in my life where I'm content with spending my Friday night ironing.  (Sometimes I still feel like I'm 19, but there are moments where I can believe I'm almost 30.)

Saturday involved more closet sorting, more ironing and folding laundry, AND a lunch/movie date with John.  We went to the new X-Men movie.  It was pretty good, but I have a lot of questions now.  I mean, time travel is always pretty sketchy, so it will be interesting to see where they go from here.  And how long Hugh Jackman can play Wolverine.  He's just getting a little old.

After church on Sunday, I spent the afternoon helping to make wedding mints for my friend's wedding.  It was fun to hang out with her, and the mints are delicious!  Then John and I went over to some friends' house for a good old-fashioned cookout.  Good food, fun people, and my team won at Catch Phrase!

On Monday, I finished my closet inventory (post coming soon), and did a few other things around the house.  Then we went to dinner at my favorite restaurant.

I'd say it was a pretty nice weekend!  Did you do anything fun with the extra day?  (my apologies if you had to work!)  

Top: Michael Kors via TJ Maxx
Cardigan & Shoes: Old Navy
Skirt: Target
Belt: NY&Co

Polka Dot Week - Jeans

Welcome to POLKA DOT WEEK!  After unintentionally wearing polka dots almost every day last week, it just made sense to make a little theme week on the blog.  Polka dots are awesome.  If you disagree, just leave now.  (I'm kidding.  You can stay, but you might not want to.)       

Polka dots have really taken off in the last few years, and this is one trend I am totally on board with.  Kim recently posted about being boring or being trendy and it got me thinking.  After writing a really long comment on her post, I realized polka dots are an example of a trend that isn't really trendy as much as it is a classic pattern that comes and goes in popularity.  I've always loved polka dots, but rarely found polka dotted items in stores.  I bought this skirt about 15 years ago, even though no one else I knew was wearing polka dots at the time.  I just liked it.  Now polka dots are everywhere, and my closet reflects that availability.

These jeans were a Labor Day sale purchase from Limited.  Printed denim is definitely a current trend.  I don't think I will still be wearing these jeans in 15 years, but you never know! 

Stay tuned this week for more outfits made up of polka dots, and get ready for Friday, where you can link up your favorite polka dot styles!

Top: Target
Cardigan: Old Navy
Necklace: Dillard's
Jeans: Limited
Sandals: Love Culture

August Goal Confessions

Well, August has come and gone and I'm still just slacking on my goals.  I'm not even going to make excuses for myself.  Here's the damage:   

• Do a project, mostly sewing - nope 
• Work out 3x a week - I probably worked out 3 times total.  Fail. 

• Tackle a project around the house -Operation Closet Clean-out is in progress and I hope to get a lot done this weekend. 
• Cook a "real" meal at least 3 days each week - not even close
• Stick to a clothing budget -  success!
• Read 50 books in 2013 - I'm falling behind, partly because I abandoned a book that I had started.  I've read 30 books this year, but I should be at 32, to be on track for 50.  I'm not too worried, because I tend to read more in the fall and winter.  I'm sure I can catch back up.  

 I don't even know what to say about this.  I've got a million excuses and none of them are worth whining about here, so I'll just say I hope I can get my act together in September!  

How are you doing on your goals?  Any advice on how I can do better?

Outfit note:  I must give credit to Kate for the idea of putting a navy tee with coral/pink floral shorts.  The cardigan was necessary, because my office gets cold sometimes.  

Top: Gap
Cardigan: Old Navy
Shorts: Loft
Necklace: Dillard's
Sandals: Love Culture

Sandal Problems

Sometimes, certain clothing items are just not meant to be in my wardrobe.  Like these sandals.  I bought them last August in New Mexico, because they were $4, and they were super cute.  Since it was the end of summer, I didn't wear them very many times.  This year, I've tried to wear them on a few occasions and changed my mind before I left the house.  Something was off, and they weren't very uncomfortable.  My mother-in-law has the same sandals, and she just cut off the back strap, so I thought I'd try it, too.  I like the look of them, but the strap removal just made them more uncomfortable.  Honestly, I think the arches in my feet are just too high for this type of sandal.  Before I even went into work, I change into these wedges that were in my car from the previous day. Good thing they matched my outfit!  I'm sad to say that I am breaking up with the Target sandals for good.

I'm jumping in on Sarah's "Pin to Real Life" challenge today.  When I saw Chelsea's outfit, I was excited because I have the same dress!  I thought I'd try the monochromatic look, so I added my blue shoes, belt, and purse.

You can also find me over at My New Favorite Outfit, where I'm answering Ginny's "Style Spotlight" questions and showing some of my favorite looks.    Go check it out!

Dress, Sandals & Purse: Target
Cardigan: Old Navy
Belt: NY&Co
Necklace and ring: F21

On Broadway

There is still time to enter the giveaway! 

This t-shirt is very obviously a souvenir that I got a few  years ago when Wicked came to Omaha.  I had been wanting to see it for years, and it definitely lived up to my high expectations.  I would go see it again and again.  One thing I really love about living in Omaha is that we get decent Broadway Across America shows each year, but the prices aren't too high.  The last few years, I've gotten season tickets with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law and it's so much fun to have an excuse for a girls' night, plus we get to go to fun shows.  The 2012-2013 season starts in a few weeks and I am pumped!
I think I am most excited about seeing "The Lion King", because I have heard it is pretty amazing.

I'd highly recommend checking out the season ticket prices.  You get a discount, and get first dibs on the special performances each year.  Our discount has gotten bigger each year we renew, so that helps too.  Here's a little secret:  if you buy the cheapest tickets, but go on a weekday, the venue usually isn't full, and the ushers will let you move up right before the show starts.      

Do any of you go to your city's Broadway shows?  What have been your favorites?

Top: Wicked souvenir
Cardigan: Old Navy
Skirt: Express
Sandals: Carlos Santana

The "Would Of" Epidemic

I have noticed a trend lately, but it's not a fashion trend.  It's an improper English trend.  People seem to think that saying "would of" is a legitimate word pairing.  I've seen it in Facebook statuses, blog posts, even in a book I was reading.  This is not a thing!  It's "would have" not "would of."

I also learned how to be popular with my Facebook friends: just make a status ranting about grammar!

Skirt & Cardigan: Old Navy
Top: I.N. Studio
Shoes: Target

Identity Crisis

This top is a skirt.  You might remember it from a lot of my other outfits.  I figured, if I can make dresses pretend to be skirts, why not make a skirt into a shirt.  I promise not to wear shirts as dresses - that would just be awkward. 

Top: Express shirt
Cardigan & Jeans: Old Navy
Shoes: Seychelles
Necklace: made by me

Linking up various places again today.

Sporting a Mullet

No, I didn't get a new haircut.  I just got a new skirt!

After months of admiring other bloggers, and searching high and low (get it? high-low!), I've finally found the perfect mullet skirt for me.  I've tried on quite a few options over the past few months, but none were quite right.  Mostly, they were WAY too short in the front.  I mean, scandalously short.  So, I was pretty happy when I happened upon this skirt on the clearance rack at the Limited, and the length was actually reasonable for a taller-than-average classy lady in her mid- late-20s.

Now I just need to think of interesting ways to style this skirt.  What would you wear with it??

Shirt: Gap
Cardigan: Old Navy
Skirt: The Limited
Shoes: Steve Madden via Von Maur

Transformers

I have a confession to make:  this skirt isn't really a skirt.  It's a dress.  I just have the top folded over to make it a skirt.  In fact, I liked it so much as a skirt that I decided to take the plunge and officially chop it into a skirt.   So, without any further ado, here's my step-by-step instructions: 

Before - the dress

Step 1:  measure and chop.  Since this dress was more of a midi than a maxi on my giant self, I didn't have to chop very much off the top of the dress.  I also made sure to allow for folding over the waistband.

Step 2:  Turn inside out to fold over the waistband.  I just made sure it would be wide enough for the elastic to fit.  Then I pinned it. 

Step 3:  Sew around the waistband.  Leave a couple inches open to feed the elastic through. 

Step 4:  Feed the elastic through the waistband.  Then sew the ends together and sew up the opening in the waistband.

Step 5:  DONE!  Hang your new skirt up in the closet, and start pinning inspiration for how you will wear it!

Skirt (dress): Gap Outlet
Top: Preston&York via Dillard's
Cardigan: Old Navy
Shoes: Carlos Santana via DSW

Conference Time

After 3 days of fun with Anne, it was time to head to Scottsdale for my work conference.  This was 3 days whirlwind of working, networking with clients, and having fun with co-workers.  It was a great conference, and I was pretty much exhausted the whole time.  Here's a quick run-through of my various outfits for the various events

Opening Reception -

Ann Taylor Dress, H&M Scarf, Francesca's Belt

 First day of meetings -

Gap Dress and Cardigan, BCBGeneration Shoes

Monday night - out for dinner, shopping, and dessert with some friends:

Gap shirt, American Eagle shorts, Sak purse, Fossil sunglasses

Molten Chocolate Cake from Grand Lux Cafe - so good!

Old Navy Skirt and Cardigan, Handmade Shirt, BCBGeneration Shoes

I got back on Wednesday afternoon, and then my sister and nieces arrived a few hours later.  We're having a bunch of fun and you will probably be seeing some pictures of cute 7-year-olds in the coming days.  

Sailor Skirt

I totally missed the EveryBody, EveryWear Nautical challenge this month.  If I had realized it was going on, I would have used this outfit.  But then, I already wore this skirt for the March challenge, so maybe it's better that I skipped it this month.  I'll be traveling at the beginning of June, too, so I will have to pay closer attention to the challenge! 

I also think I'm going to feel guilty every time I post an outfit where I am rocking flip-flops.  I have been on the lookout for some cute flat sandals for summer, but just haven't found any that I like.  I probably just need to get over it and embrace my flip flop wearing ways.  Otherwise, it's going to be a long, shame-filled summer for me.

Shirt: Gap
Skirt: Tommy Hilfiger
Cardi and Flip-flops: Old Navy

Royalty

With being gone for a week, and then all those vacation posts, I'm over a week behind on outfit posts.  This is what I wore last Sunday, for Mother's Day.  With the royal purple top and gold skirt, I felt kind of regal. But then I was working in the nursery during church and just did my best to avoid the little hands with goldfish and Cheerios crumbs.

Then we hung out with John's parents for the afternoon, to celebrate the day.  Of course, I had to pose by their "Smith" sign!

I meant to post this actually on Mother's Day, but we got home late and I was tired.  So, a belated Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there, especially my own!

Shirt and Skirt: Gap
Cardigan: Old Navy
Shoes: BCBGeneration
Sunglasses:  Fossil