Bok Choy Baby

Enough people have asked.  I figured I should finally turn to the side and prove that I am indeed looking quite pregnant these days.  This is actually my outfit from yesterday.  28 weeks pregnant, for those of you who care about that type of thing.  According to my super helpful "what type of produce is your baby" app, this kid is roughly the size of a Bok Choy.  Right.  Super helpful.  I had to look it up, because I didn't know what it was.  Answer: fancy Chinese cabbage.  

In honor of Valentine's week, I decided to try this skirt with the belly band, and it sort of worked.  Warning to anyone who wants to try this trick in the future - satiny fabrics do not cling properly to the band, so you have to be careful any time you sit down or stand up to make sure your clothes are still properly aligned.  Since I mostly sit at my desk all day, this wasn't a huge issue. 

Cardigan: JCF

Tee: Liz Lange

Necklace: Old Navy

Skirt: Dillard's

Tights: Target

Boots: Madden

Wear a Bright Color

This week's style challenge prompt is Wear a Bright Color.  Again, easy as can be!  It's hard to find a day where I'm not wearing a bright color.  I just really love this skirt and wanted to sneak it in for one last hurrah.  Full disclosure - I'm doing the belly band trick!  Thank goodness for pencil skirts with side zippers!

Necklace: Charming Charlie
Sweater: Old Navy
Skirt: Limited
Tights: Target
Boots: Madden

Some Random Thoughts

Confession: this is a maternity dress.  I've quickly learned that you can be tall, or you can be pregnant, but if you happen to be both, retailers are not interested in creating clothes for you to wear.  This dress seemed fine the first time I wore it.  And then this time, it felt waaaay too short.  So I think it will have to fall into tunic status and only work with jeans or leggings from now on.

Can we also talk about chocolate brown?  Is this no longer an acceptable color in fashion?  I bought these brown tights, and then got them home and realized that I don't know if I have anything to wear with them.  I added a brown cardigan to my wishlist a while ago, and haven't seen any options around.  It seems like camel/cognac/oatmeal are taking over right now.

Dress: Younker's (similar)
Cardigan: Limited (similar)
Belt: Urban Outfitters (similar)
Tights: Target (similar)
Boots: Rampage (similar)

5 Days, 5 Ways - Bubble Necklace

You can't tell, but it was snowing and about 17 degrees and very windy as I was taking these pictures.  I had my tripod nestled in the garage so it wouldn't get wet or blown over, and I didn't have the patience to make sure my pictures were framed properly, so I'm kind of far away! 

Day 3 of the 5 Days, 5 Ways challenge is all about accessories.  It was tough to pick just one item to feature, but the bubble necklace was the obvious choice.  It's such a statement, and becomes the focal point of the outfit.  When I first saw these appear on fashion blogs, I thought they were cute, but I wasn't about to pay the $100+ for the J.Crew version.  Around Christmas, I noticed the cheaper option at Charming Charlie, and was happy to snag one!  I'd like another color, but I just can't decide what would be best (pink or black are in the lead right now).  Anyway, this is a great necklace and adds interest to any outfit! 

Today, I'm showing 6 ways! 

1/2/3/4/5/6

Outfit Details:
Dress (as a skirt): Target
Sweater: Old Navy
Necklace: Charming Charlie
Belt: Urban Outfitters
Boots: Rampage

Budgeting Blogger, Take 2

Take One, Pass It On Item:  tan scarf from last Tuesday's post

I'm linking up with Franish again this month for Budgeting Bloggers.  As I said at the end of January, I am trying to save up my shopping money so I have extra to spend when I go to Phoenix in April.  February was pretty successful in this regard.  I did get a couple dresses, but they were both very reasonably priced, and I am getting rid of several old dresses, so I have some room in my wardrobe.

1. Limited Striped Dress:  $18 (originally $98)
2. Kohl's dress (not online, but I found it here):  $6.40 (originally $64) - plus I had a gift card, so it was free.  

Grand Total = $18

Pretty good, I guess!  I'm going to avoid shopping in March, too, and then I will probably go a little overboard in April, but the clothing budget rolls over from month to month, so it is OK!   I am also hoping to clear out quite a bit of my closet in March.  If I haven't worn it all winter, I will probably try to sell it or donate it! 

Did you stick to your budget in February?

Sweater: Old Navy
Scarf: Calvin Klein
Skirt: Gap
Boots: Rampage

Feeling Better

Happy Friday!  I think I am officially recovering from the flu.  I actually worked a full day in the office yesterday, complete with dressing up and putting on make up!  After about 9 days of feeling terrible, it was nice to be back in the swing of things.  It was not so nice that the temperature outside was "feels like -7," but I just wore lots of winter accessories to stay warm.  I would love it if the temps went up, but I am trying to remember that the cold weather helps reduce the creepy bug population in the spring.  So yay for freezing temperatures!      

Sweater: Old Navy
Shirt: Gap
Skirt: Target
Boots: Rampage

Winter White, Part 2

These pictures are from a few weeks ago, before this happened.  This was one of my winter white options for linking up with Bri, but I liked the other one better.   

I don't have much else to say.  I hope the snow melts off our deck enough that I can take pictures out there again soon!  I don't know if I am brave enough to set up the tripod in the front yard!

Dress and Sweater: Gap
Belt: Urban Outfitters
Boots: Rampage

Trifecta Tuesday - White Belt

Last week, I started my new "Trifecta Tuesday" theme, and then I started my Closet Ultimatum Challenge the next day, so I am doing 2 posts today to get them both in!  I'm also going to piggy back on my outfit post from today, where I am wearing my white belt from Francesca's.  Belts are a great way to add interest to an outfit.  Here's 3 ways I have worn this one:

Dress and Cardigan

Belt a cardigan over a dress to cinch your waist and add break up the continuous color. 

Skinny jeans and blouse

With a blouse-y top and skinny jeans - again to define the waist and add some interest. 

Dress as a Skirt

And finally, one of my favorite new tricks!  Wear a dress as a skirt with one belt on the inside and one belt on the outside.

So there you go - white belt trifecta! 

Geometry

 

I felt like a walking geometry lesson in this outfit.  So many shapes!   I think I like it, though.  I don't have much to say about it, and nothing particularly exciting happened yesterday.  I did go to the coffee shop on the way to work and got a chocolate muffin for breakfast.  So delicious!  The teenager who works there called me "Hon."  I don't think anyone should call me "Hon" unless they are:

A) Married to me

 or 

B) at least 30 years older than me

Although, I wouldn't want her to call me "Ma'am" either, so I guess I'm just difficult. 

 In other news, my husband can't really be trusted to take outfit pictures.  I'm incapable of making a normal face.  Out of 14 pictures, the top one is the best, and I look pretty nervous!  I finally gave up and just did what he told me, which mostly consisted of acting out different emotions.  Who says engineers don't have interpersonal skills??

Surprised

Angry

Sad

Skirt and shirt: Loft
Sweater:  Style& Co (from Macy's)
Boots:  Wanted

Keep it Simple

Today's ABC challenge topic is "Q for Quick and Simple."  This is the outfit I threw together last week when I overslept and had about 10 minutes to get ready for work.  When I'm in a hurry and need to look put-together, I usually grab a dress.  It's a whole outfit already!  Then I add a cardigan, maybe a belt and I'm good to go.

Go check out the other looks here.

Dress:  Target
Belt:  Francescas
Cardigan: Gap
Tights:  Target
Shoes:  BCBGeneration

Marian the Librarian

This outfit is from last Wednesday.  The dress code at my office is pretty casual, but I usually try to dress up a few times a week.  On this particular day, we were interviewing some applicants, so I wanted to be a little more "business" and a little less "casual".  I kind of felt like a stylish librarian, which reminded me of Marian the Librarian. 

 I got this sweater at Macy's a few years ago.  A girl can never have too much argyle.  The skirt was a birthday present from my in-laws, the first year John and I were married.  At that point, I had almost no brown items in my wardrobe, and was trying to branch out.

These shoes are a relatively new addition to my wardrobe.  I had been wanting some nude heels for awhile, but hadn't found any that I liked enough.  I found these at Marshall's in early October, but wasn't sure I should spend the money.  My birthday was coming up, so I didn't need to buy myself presents.  I was good and didn't get them, but I kept thinking about them.  I finally caved in a couple weeks later and went to get them.  I'm amazed they were still there, and had my size.  I guess it was meant to be!  


Sweater:  Style& Co (from Macy's)
Buttondown:  Gap
Skirt:  Loft
Tights:  Target
Shoes:  BCBGeneration

Just Cinch It!

I've worn this dress quite a few times with a cardigan over it, and wanted to be a little more creative.  I know belts aren't particularly new and cutting edge in the fashion blog world, but I haven't done it a whole lot, especially over cardigans.  I've been trying it a bit more, and I like it!

Every time I throw a belt on over a looser item, I think of that old SNL skit with Adam Sandler, Chris Farley and David Spade, where they are Gap Girls, and they just tell everyone to buy these huge shirts and dresses and "Just cinch it!"  "Yeah, just belt it!"  I tried to find a clip on YouTube, but couldn't find it.

Dress:  Target

Cardigan:  Gap

Belt: Francesca's

Tights:  Target

Boots:  Rampage

Optometrist and Old Guy Approved

This afternoon, I went to the eye doctor.  I've been looking for a good eye doctor in town for a few years, and I think I finally found her!  She was wearing super cute metallic snakeskin flats, and she complimented my skirt and boots.  We then discussed the popularity of skinny jeans, and how it is sometimes hard to make the jump when you've always worn boot-cut.  What a great eye doctor!  Oh, she also did a good job at checking my eyes, and stuff.

After my eyes were dilated and I pretty much couldn't see anything up close, I picked out some new glasses, and then wore my very old glasses for the rest of the day (pictured above).  It was pretty tricky to make a choice, since I couldn't see unless I was about an inch away from the mirror.  I ended up with some blue Kate Spade frames, so hopefully they are cute.  Anyway, here's a true story from glasses shopping:

I'm picking out a few frames, and trying them on in the mirror, and I hear a wolf whistle behind me.  In situations like this, my first response is always to ignore it.  Maybe it will go away.  So, I try on the next pair, and hear a very old man's voice saying "Those look good!"  and I catch his reflection in the mirror.  He's really really old, so I figure I can be nice and say thanks.  Then he pulls out this gem of a line:

Hey, are you from Tennessee?  Because you're the only TEN I SEE!  

Get it??  80 year old men are so creative!  I immediately sent my husband a text letting him know what a catch I am!

Cardigan: Gap
T-shirt:  Loft
Skirt: Gap
Tights: Target
Boots:  Rampage
Glasses:  Donna Karen (probably from about 1998 or so).

Manic Monday

OK, it's not really a Manic Monday.  I just thought that would be a fun title.  I did get a little crazy this morning with my picture.  I realized that I wouldn't have a chance to capture this outfit after work, since I'd be going straight to Zumba.  I tried using the mirror trick inside, but the lighting was just terrible.  The next logical step was taking my mirror outside.  I hope none of my neighbors saw me!  Don't mind my angry eyebrows - that's just my thinking face. 

Shirt:  NY&Co
Sweater:  Old Navy (birthday present)
Skirt:  Loft
Tights:  Not sure, maybe Target
Boots:  Rampage from Piperlime
Necklace:  gift from China