Denim and Lace

I kind of felt like a poser in this outfit.  I really liked it, but it didn't feel like me for some reason.  Like I was pretending to be a cowgirl or something.  But I have wanted a lace dress forever, and navy seemed like a good color for it, so I am glad I got the dress.  I'll try a more "Andi" outfit next time I wear it.

DISCLAIMER: This was worn in mid-November, before the arctic temps arrived.  I'm getting closer to caught up, I promise!  Soon it will all be brown grass or snow in my pictures!

Dress: Younkers (similar)
Pearls: Gift (similar, similar)
Jacket: JCF (exact)
Belt: Gap (similar)
Boots: Steve Madden (exact)

Snakeskin-ish

If I happened to meet an actual snake, I'd probably try to flee the premises as quickly as possible.  But snakeskin print on clothing, I'm good with that.  I've worn this skirt twice without taking pictures.  I tend to grab it when I'm in a hurry, because it's comfortable and looks like I tried a bit.  I'd highly recommend getting a stretchy pencil skirt in a fun black and white pattern.  Or three.  I happen to love my striped and polka dot options, as well as this new snakey print.

In other news, I'm hopping on a plane after work today and heading to Indiana to see my family.  My dad's side is having a big family reunion starting Sunday, so I'm going early to hang out with my more immediate family before everyone else arrives.  I'm sure I'll be instagramming obnoxious selfies with my nieces over the next few days.  You're welcome.

Cardigan: Gap outlet (similar)
Top: Gap (similar, similar)
Skirt: H&M (exact)
Flats: Target (same without patent captoe)
Pearls: China (similar, similar)

That's a Green Coat!

If I had a nickel for every time someone said "That's a green coat!"  I would have about 25 cents.  Maybe 30.  I never know if they mean "wow, it's so cool that your coat is green!" or "You are a weirdo for wearing such a bright green coat!"  I just say "THANKS!"  and pretend they mean it is cool.

This outfit is inspired by this pin, but I don't have a gorgeous pink coat, so I went with another brightly colored coat.  Kate also put a spin on it by wearing her pink blazer.  It's a good reminder that when I see something I don't have, I probably have something pretty similar to make it work.

I actually really like the simplicity of the outfit without the coat, and then the coat adds a fun touch.  I just wish I had found my perfect gingham shirt!  J.Crew Factory is having 50% off in stores this weekend, so I might have to head to the outlet mall and see if they have this one.  I also have my eye on this one from Gap.  It's Friends and Family weekend, so it would be an extra 40% off.  The saga continues...

Anyway, back to my original point:  This is a green coat.  Next week is GREEN WEEK.  So gather up your grassy-hued items and put together an outfit to share!  Then be sure to check out my partners-in-crime:  Heather and Ashley.

 
Happy Weekend!  I hope it is spring wherever you live (unless you hate spring, in which case, I don't know if we can still be friends)!

Coat: Old Navy
Shirt, Sweater, Jeans:  Gap
Boots: Madden
Pearls: gift

Trendy Tuesday - Gingham

I think it is so fun that Danielle and her co-workers do Trendy Tuesday each week.  One of my co-workers tried to institute "Flannel Friday" every week, but I didn't have any flannel.  I think mostly 3 of the guys participated.  Anyway...  today's theme is Gingham and/or cords.  I don't have any corduroy items at the moment, so I went with my one gingham shirt.  And I got my inspiration from this pin.  

I really want a blue/white gingham shirt.  This one is dark blue and light blue, and I just don't like it as much as I want to.  Plus it is a really flimsy fabric and doesn't look as sharp as others I have seen.  So this is an item on my wish list.  I think this popover from Target would be perfect, but it is not available in my size online or in stores.  On Friday, I went to Old Navy looking for this option, but it was really boxy on me, so I ended up getting a random polka dot blouse instead.  I keep hoping to catch a 40% off sale at JCF and snag this one, because I'm not willing to pay $50.  So the search for the perfect gingham button-up continues.  

Also linking up with Pinned It & Did It and Style Swap with Ginny and Jenn

Sweater & Top: Gap
Skirt: Target
Boots: Madden

#27 - Football!

Apparently, there's some big football game going on today!  I used to care about college football a little too much, but in the past 10 years, my level of interest in football has pretty much gone to zero.  The Super Bowl just seems kind of ridiculous.  I haven't been impressed with the commercials or the halftime show in recent years.  So, chances are good I won't watch at all.  I mean, it's possible, but not likely.

That said, I hope Peyton wins.  I got to see him play a couple times in Indy, and it would be fun to see him win with his new team.

Cardigan: Gap
Shirt & Skirt: Old Navy
Pearls: gift
Boots: Steve Madden

Deep Thoughts on Internet Envy

Over the last couple of years, I've seen quite a few articles that warn against Facebook because it will cause depression.  The argument is that everyone posts about the happy things in their lives, and none of the sad things, so we all have a skewed perception of others, and then get sad about ourselves.  Like "All my FB friends have awesome jobs/cars/relationships/vacations, and my life is terrible!!"  This may be true, but it always bothers me for a couple of reasons:

First, if you aren't happy with your life, will it really help to know your friends/acquaintances/strangers on the internet are also miserable?  I think that would just make me more depressed.  Also, it's never wise to base your contentment on what other people appear to have, whether being envious of them, or thinking at least you are better off than them.  

Second, you SHOULD NOT BE INTERNET FRIENDS WITH PEOPLE IF YOU CAN'T BE HAPPY FOR THEM WHEN GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO THEM!  Sorry to get shouty, but seriously.  If I'm scrolling through Facebook and see that someone I'm "friends" with went on an awesome vacation, and my first thought is "ugh, why do they get to spend 3 weeks in Europe?!"  then it probably means I don't actually like this person.  Un-friend immediately!  Or at the very least, hide them from your news-feed.

Also, how is this different than in real life?  If I ask one of my co-workers how they are doing, they always say "good!" and unless we are pretty close, that's all I know.  Isn't it just common sense to know that you are getting a tiny glimpse of anyone's life by your interactions with them, whether online or IRL? 

And finally, I don't know about you, but I have plenty of friends on my various social media sites that are pretty open about the good and the bad things in life.  Is this just because I have un-friended all the annoyingly braggy folks?  Maybe. 

I'm not sure what my point is here, but I just wanted to throw those thoughts out there.  And look, I may have a cute dalmatian-print* belt, but look how wrinkly my skirt is.  Just keeping it real!  

*No Dalmatians were harmed in the making of this belt.  I actually don't know that, but I assume/hope.  I really don't want to be Cruella De Vil!  

Top: H&M
Skirt: J.Crew Factory
Belt: Limited
Shoes: BCBGeneration

Book Club Time

 

It's Literary Junkies day again!  Here are the questions for this month:

1. What are you currently reading? Tell us about it.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman.  It's typical Gaiman - bizarre and fascinating and wonderful.  I've been so busy that I haven't had as much time to read as I want, and I'm struggling to stay awake to read a couple chapters each evening.  I was the weird girl at the gym yesterday reading while I rode the stationary bike.  I'm really hoping to finish it tonight.   I suspect it might be a 5-star rating! 

2. What book first made you fall in love with reading?

I have no idea!  I've loved reading as long as I can remember.  I remember my dad reading Little House on the Prairie to me and my brother when I was pretty young.  Once I learned how to read, it was ridiculous.  I read pretty much anything I could get my hands on.  High school and college kind of ruined "reading for fun" for me, but near the end of college, I read East of Eden and  The Chronicles of Narnia.  I really remember loving those and thinking I should start reading more! 

3. Summer is a great time for series. What are your series recommendations?

If you haven't read the Hunger Games trilogy, you really should!  Also, the Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings are must-reads.  This year, I'm working my way through Harry Potter for the first time.  Pretty standard recommendations, really! 

4. Does a song come to mind with the book you are currently reading? If so what it is?

No, not with this current book. 

5. Are you participating in any summer reading challenges?

Nope, I'm not a big fan of challenges.  I tend to rebel against requirements, even when I voluntarily participate.  I don't want to make reading a chore, so I just read what I want.  I usually end up reading less in the summer, because there is so much going on during the weekends and evenings, so adding a reading challenge just isn't the best idea for me. I just have my annual goal to make sure I remember to read, so I don't waste all my time watching TV and playing on my phone!

Have you read anything good lately? 

Top: Chaus
Pearls: China
Cardigan: Gap
Skirt: Limited
Shoes: Target

En La Playa

Our last stop was in Cozumel, Mexico.  We went to a local beach and had another lovely day soaking in the sunshine and playing in the ocean and forgetting to take very many pictures.  

That evening was another formal night, so we got all fancy for dinner.  I bought this dress specifically for the cruise and I really love it.  I think it will be a frequently worn item in the next few months.

That's the last of the vacation recap posts!  I have been back at work this week, and wishing I was at the beach.  Good thing I have a weekend trip to Phoenix planned in a few weeks!  And Nebraska should be done with snow any day now, right?  One can only hope!   

Dress: Limited

Shoes: Gap

Pearls: China

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

I Heart Chambray

This is another total copycat outfit.  Whenever I get a new item of clothing, I go on Pinterest and search for it to get inspiration.  I pinned this shortly after buying my green pencil skirt.  I just love bright green and mint together!  Due to the weather, I had to add tights and boots, instead of nude pumps, so I guess it's not a total rip-off.  I do think it would be cuter with the nude heels.  Maybe I'll do that when it gets warmer!

This is my first outfit in the modified "Take One, Pass It On" challenge.  I picked my chambray shirt from Friday's post.

I am also guest posting today for Laura over at Calm Delight.  I'm showing several ways you can style a chambray shirt!  Here's a sneak peak:

Outfit details:
Shirt: J.Crew Factory
Cardigan: Gap
Skirt & Tights: Target
Boots: Wanted via Piperlime
Pearls:  gift (from China)

Cognac - the Color, not the Brandy

I'm pretty excited about my new cognac boots.  I'll be honest.  I know almost nothing about Cognac.  Wikipedia just informed me that it's a type of brandy, which I also know nothing about, unless we are talking about the singer.  In that case, I can probably sing "The Boy is Mine" from memory.  That's a song I never really understood.  I mean, if I had a boyfriend who had another girlfriend, I don't think I would want to keep him.  But I digress...

Also, it is 10/11/12.  Pretty cool.  I should probably set this post to go live at 7:89am, but that would just be 8:29, and not very cool.  I'm going with 8:09am.  So, 08:09am 10/11/12 will have to be good enough for a post about brandy and Brandy and boots.

Sweater, Belt, Dress: Gap
Boots: Guess
Pearls: gift

Paint it Blue

There's still time to enter the giveaway!  

We moved into our house in July of 2011.  One of my "top priorities" was to paint the front door.  It was a forest green color that I was just not excited about.  You can kind of see the original color in this post.  Well, approximately 14 months later, I finally painted the door.  I really love this bright blue color, and have been wearing it a lot lately.  I thought it would be a perfect color for the front door, too!

I also tried a new hairstyle.  I call this one "didn't have time to wash my hair and was bored of ponytails."  And then I wore pearls so I would feel fancy with my lazy up-do.

Top: Von Maur
Tank: Target
Cardigan: Loft
Skirt: Bass
Pearls: gift
Shoes: BCBGeneration

I'm linking up again today.  Go check out these fabulous blogs and the other ladies who link up!

Closet Ultimatum #6 - Plum Sweater

This outfit, featuring Item #6 in the Closet Ultimatum Challenge, has been declared one of John's most favorite outfits.  With that in mind, I think I should keep the sweater!

I bought it at Gap Outlet in Tempe, AZ in February of 2011 when I was visiting a friend.  There's nothing really wrong with it, but it ended up in the back of my closet and I haven't worn it at all this summer, so I added it to the maybe pile.  I guess I should add it to the regular rotation!

You can't really tell from the pictures, but the top is really a dark purple shade.  For some reason, it looks brown in the photos.

I also need to watch some tutorials about putting hair in a bun.  Since my hair is basically velcro unto itself, I just tie it in a knot when I want a bun.  I need something a little more classy looking!  

Top and Skirt: Gap
Shoes: BCBGeneration
Pearls: gift from a friend (from China)

How to Confuse a Barista

If you ever want to confuse the baristas at Starbucks, just go in and order a venti skim milk.  They will look at you like you are completely crazy and then ask you approximately 7 questions clarifying what you want:  Coffee with milk?  Oh, just milk?  Steamed?  Iced?  Just milk?  Seriously?  How much do we charge for this?

Yes, some people just want a glass of milk in the morning!  I've decided I need to come up with a complicated way of ordering it, like "Venti Decaf Skinny Calcium Juice!"

In other news, I'm trying to be better about taking pictures outside.  It was just a tad sunny when we took these, so I had to shield my eyes and then look away.     


Cardigan: Gap
Dress: Old Navy
Belt: Urban Outfitters
Shoes: Target
Sunglasses: Fossil
Pearls: gift

Registry Madness

The 2012 wedding season is in full swing.  Last Saturday, I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond to purchase all the gifts.  When I went to the Customer Service station and said I needed 4 registries printed, the worker looked at me like I was crazy.  It took awhile, and I had to order some things that weren't in stock, but I got gifts for all 4 weddings.  Now I just hope I don't mix up who gets what item.  

I wore my new dress, but traded my pink cardigan for pearls, which made me feel fancier.  

Dress: Gap

Belt: Francesca's

Shoes: BCBGeneration

Necklace:  from China

Sunshine Day

It's seriously so nice outside.  As I sit in my office looking out the windows, I just want to take a walk outside.  Like the sun is calling my name.  I just can't stay inside all day.  Someone should write a song about this.  Oh wait, they did.

And now you can have the song stuck in your head all day, just like I do.  You're welcome.

Cardigan and Dress: Gap
Belt:  Urban Outfitters
Shoes: Target
Pearls:  Gift from China (every time I write this, it's like the country of China sends me presents.  I wish I was that cool.  Countries don't send me presents.  Just to be clear, the gift was from my friend Kim, which she purchased in China).