Floral Week - Skirt

Floral Week continues with this pencil skirt!  I'm still on the lookout for a floral pencil skirt with more colors in it, but I really like this one for now.  I don't have much to say today.  If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I'm keeping busy with my nieces this week.  We had way too much fun at the zoo yesterday, and today I'm going to surprise them with a trip to the pottery painting store.  I think they are going to love it!  Anyway, there's still time to link up your floral looks!  Info after the jump...

Also, I'm using this outfit for the pastel entry in Sarah's April Looking Lucky Style Challenge. 

Top & Cardigan:Gap
Belt: Chinese Laundry
Skirt: Bass
Necklace & Shoes: Old Navy

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

All the Birthdays!

October is birthday month!  John's birthday was last week, and mine is next week, so I usually try to make as many excuses for celebrating as possible.  We should really just take the whole month off work and go on an epic vacation or something.  Maybe next year...

Anyway, I wore this to work on John's birthday and then we went out to dinner.  I took advantage of the brick wall of the restaurant, because that's what fashion bloggers do.

This also marks the first time I've worn this blazer with the sleeves unrolled, but I didn't count on the neon lining still showing.  Oh well, it kind of goes with the skirt, right?

Blazer & Tee: Gap
Necklace: Bass Outlet
Skirt: Loft
Shoes: BCBGeneration

Polka Dot Week - Skirt

Polka Dot Week continues with my Barbie skirt!  As I mentioned the last time I wore it, I'm having trouble knowing what to wear with this skirt.  I don't know why, but I just have "outfit block" or something.  What do fashion bloggers call it?

Anyway, I looked at Pinterest, but it wasn't very helpful.  Then I was reading blogs the other day and saw Laura rocking her pink and white patterned shorts!  I love how she paired the navy/mint with the pink/white shorts and thought it would be a perfect copycat with my skirt. 

I really loved this outfit!  It was comfortable and cool for the crazy hot weather, but I still felt pretty fancy.  And I got to wear my new Limited necklace!  I've been looking for a mint necklace for several months, and this one was on clearance for $6, so I snagged it.  It's not exactly what I had in mind, so I may keep looking, but it is pretty cute.

Don't forget to link up with me tomorrow and show off how you have been wearing polka dots!  I'm excited to see more inspiration! 

I'm linking up for Pinned it & Did it, What I Wore to Work, Look What I Got, and Tres-Chic!

Top: Gap
Necklace: Limited
Skirt: Chaus via Dillard's
Belt: Chinese Laundry
Shoes: BCBGeneration

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

One Piece Many Ways - Navy T-shirt

As you may have noticed, I love a good remix post, so I had to jump in with Audrey's One Piece Many Ways linkup.  This time, I'm going with a very basic item - my navy t-shirt.  Navy is one of those colors that I used to think was for old ladies, until a few years ago.  Now I think it is a fantastic neutral that goes with everything!  Maybe I'm just becoming an old lady?  Hard to say for sure.  

Anyway, here are 5 ways I've worn this top:

1/2/3/4/5

I'm also linking up with AJ for Friday Favorites! 

Top and Cardigan: Gap
Shorts: J.Crew Factory
Shoes: Anne Klein

Five Things

I've seen this "5 things" chain floating around, and at first I was like "Phew, I hope I don't get tagged!" because of fact #1, but then I started to feel left out, so I was pretty excited when Kate tagged me.  Without any further ado, here's my 5 facts:  

1. I totally choke whenever there is any pressure.  I mean, I think I am a fairly interesting person, but whenever I'm in a group and we are supposed to share a "fun fact", I completely panic, and end up saying something like "I'm really bad at coming up with fun facts, but I am fun, I promise!" and then everyone thinks I'm kind of strange.  The same panic applies to any competition.  I'm not a great bowler, but I can usually get about 100 if I am not paying attention to the score.  However, if someone points out to me that I have 98, and my previous turn was a spare, so I really only need to get 1 pin in the 10th frame, I will almost always roll 2 gutter-balls.  This is super frustrating!
2. I have broken my front right tooth so many times that I have lost count.  The first time was when I was 7, and I did a flip on a bike rack that was much shorter than I thought, and I smashed my face on the concrete.  The next time I was 9 (and super graceful), and a mean boy tripped me when I was running.  I pretty much skidded face first across the sidewalk.  Over the next 5 or so years, I broke it several other times, on a random candy cane, or biting too hard on a fork.  I stopped counting around the 10th time.  I am very thankful that my dentist was able to fix it and you can't tell unless you get very close (and unless you are my husband, you shouldn't be that close).   
3. I collect elephants as travel souvenirs.  My dad traveled a fair amount when I was a kid, and brought back souvenirs for us kids.  When I was pretty young, I ended up with a set of elephants from Zaire (which no longer exists), and a set of elephants from India.  In 2002, I bought some from a flea market in Istanbul.  In 2003, one of my friends got me one from her trip to Guatemala.  In 2005, I bought one in Rome.  In 2006, I hit the jackpot in Kenya and got the little ivory elephant, plus elephant bookends!  My recent travels have been trickier, because there aren't as many elephant figurines in the tourist shops around the Caribbean, but I found one in Puerto Rico, and another one in Honduras.    
4. I'm sort of tall.  I have been 5'9'' since I was about 13 years old.  This was not great in those awkward middle school years when I towered over all my friends (and all the boys).  For some reason, I have embraced the tall, and always wore high heels anyway.  I don't feel super tall anymore, probably because I have quite a few tall friends and co-workers.  People still give me a hard time when I am wearing heels, like "aren't you tall enough?" and I sort of wonder if they go around teasing short people who wear flats.  I think probably not.
5. I have a complicated relationship with Nebraska Cornhusker football.  I was born in Nebraska, but then moved to Kansas when I was a baby.  For some reason, I decided as a very young child that I would be a huge Husker fan.  It probably helped that they were awesome in the mid-90s, too.  I continued my superfandom throughout middle and high school, and decided I was going to the University of Nebraska.  I remember my dad saying something like "You can't pick a college just because you like their football team!" and I was kind of like "well, yeah, I can..."  Once I got to Nebraska, my love of the Huskers started to fade.  It probably didn't help that they were awful when I had my student season tickets.  (Bill Callahan, anyone?)  Anyway, I don't really pay attention to the Husker games at all anymore, and have found that game days are the best time to go grocery shopping, because there are no lines!         

I am too lazy to figure out who has already done this, so I'm tagging anyone who is reading this!  What are 5 random facts about you?

Tee and Cardigan: Gap
Skirt: Target
Boots: Wanted

January Check-In

 

I love how you can see John reflected in my sunglasses!  

2013 got off to a decent start, but then I was knocked out by the flu for about 2 weeks.  Not awesome, you guys.  With that in mind, I don't think I did very well on my goals for the month.  

1. Do a project, mostly sewing -  I haven't done any sewing, but I did have craft night with my friends at the beginning of the month.  I made some art for the bathroom.  Now I just need to paint and put up my new decor (that I bought last summer).  
2. Work out - I met my goal of 3x a week for the first 2 weeks, and then I got the flu.  You aren't supposed to exercise when you have the flu, so I took off exercise for 2 weeks.  I'm back on track this week.  I won't call it a success, but I don't feel too bad about failing, since I have a good reason/excuse.    
3. Tackle a project around the house - good thing this says "tackle" and not "finish!  I have started preparing to paint the bathroom.  So far, I have picked out a color of paint, and started taping around the trim/doors/counter.  I'm hoping to start actually painting this weekend.  
4. Cook a "real" meal at least 3 days each week.  Same story as #2 - I was on track with this until I got sick and then I was in no shape to make dinner.  I'm getting back on track this week.  
5. Stick to a clothing budget - I did pretty good this month.  Just $10 over my budget.
6. Read 50 books in the year - I finished 3 books in January, and I am about halfway through another one.  I'd say I am on track for the year.    

All in all, it's not as bad as I thought it might be.  I just need to get back on track and stay motivated.  I'm going to keep the same goals for February, and hopefully stay healthy enough to be successful this time!

Tank, Tee, and Jeans: Gap
Cardigan: J.Crew Factory
Shoes: Converse

Squirrelly

My photographer is easily distracted by the wildlife in our backyard.  This is one of many friendly neighborhood squirrels.  They are pretty cute, I guess.  They also destroyed our bird feeder last summer, but I definitely prefer them to the rabbits who destroyed our garden.  I'm glad we don't have too many crazy animals in our backyard.  My neighbor recently told me there has been a possum around, which totally freaks me out!  I haven't seen it, so I just pretend she was wrong.

When I was in high school, (actually the day of my junior prom), there was a wild turkey in our backyard.  We lived in the middle of a city, so it didn't really make sense.  Of course, I was the only person home, so I called my dad and told him about it.  I don't think anyone believed me, but I had taken a picture as evidence.  This was back in the olden days where we actually had to get film developed, so about a week later, when I got my prom pictures back, I had a very blurry picture of a turkey to prove I wasn't imagining it!

Shirt and Cardigan: Gap
Skirt: Bass
Shoes: BCBGeneration

Super Casual

You might remember from this outfit that I can wear pretty much whatever I want to work.  I think our dress code says something like "if you can wear it to the gym, you shouldn't wear it to the office", but I'm pretty sure some of the guys wear gym shorts. Long story short, we have a very casual work environment.  I really like it, because on days when I am feeling lazy or under the weather, it's completely acceptable for me to throw on jeans, a hoodie, and chucks and call it good.

T-shirt, tank, jeans: Gap
Hoodie: Target
Shoes: Converse via Target  

Insert Clever Title

I'll be honest - it's the end of the week and I don't have much to say.  It's been a pretty good week.  I wrapped up my very first blog giveaway, had dinner with a friend, organized my shoe collection, watched season 1 of Downton Abbey on Netflix, and had a pretty decent week at work (if you don't count a somewhat stressful altercation with a cricket in my office yesterday afternoon).

Now I am ready for a fun-filled weekend!  I'm not exactly sure how I feel about Monday being October - how did that even happen?

Any exciting weekend plans?

Top and Skirt: Gap
Shoes: BCBGeneration

The Return of the Bootcut Jean

With the hotter than usual summer we have had, I don't think I've worn my regular jeans in 3 months!  When I threw on these jeans and the plain navy t-shirt the other day, John quickly declared this was another of his favorite outfits.

I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say John really hates skinny jeans.  I didn't think it was possible, but he actually likes boyfriend jeans even less.  He would be happy if the only type of jeans in the world were good old-fashioned boot-cut.  Needless to say, he was not impressed when I mentioned I was in the market for some hot pink skinnies.

Tee, Jeans, Shoes: Gap
Cardigan: Marisa Kristina      

Shoe Crazy?

Some co-workers accused me recently of having too many pairs of shoes.  This has been a common accusation throughout my life.  My current defense is that I don't have nearly as many pairs of shoes as I did when I was in High School.  I think I've mentioned this before, but when you have to wear a uniform to school, shoes are the only piece of self-expression you get.  Full-disclosure:  My AOL screen name may have been "shoecrazy7".     

Anyway, these shoes are relatively new.  I bought them when my sister was visiting.  My nieces did not like them.  I think their exact words were "Aunt Andi, NOOOO!  You look like a giant!"  But looking like a giant is a small price to pay for some fun new wedges - and they were on sale! 

I should probably count my shoes to see how many I really have!  So, what do you think?  How many pairs of shoes is too many? 

Shirt and tank: Gap
Skirt: George
Necklace: Charming Charlie (gift)
Cardigan (Old Navy, dyed by me)
Shoes: Old Navy

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

Fingertip Length??

When I was in school, we usually had at least 1 non-uniform day each month.   I don't remember anyone wearing skirts on non-uniform days, but I know shorts had to be fingertip length.  I can only imagine skirts would have had to be even longer.  I always thought the finger tip length rule was unfair to those of us with monkey arms.  This was before bermuda shorts and capri pants made a comeback, so it was fairly impossible to follow this rule.  I mostly just tried to never let my arms hang down at my sides, so no one would notice my rebellion. 

Anyway, I wore this outfit to work the other day.  I found the skirt a couple months ago at Goodwill.  A super cute pink J.Crew skirt for $3.50!  I couldn't resist.  So when the weather turned warm, I was excited to wear my new skirt!  About 30 minutes after I got to work, I realized how short this skirt truly is.  I'm 100% sure I would have been sent home from high school if I had shown up in this.  Don't worry, my office has a pretty laid back dress code.

My new skirt?  I think I can let the hem out.  Then I will have to decide if an extra inch of length makes it okay to wear.  I might have to save it for tights weather again.  Or it might have to go back to Goodwill.  $3.50 per wear isn't too bad, right??

Shirt, Tank, Shoes: Gap
Skirt:  J.Crew (Thrifted)

FBFF - Spring is in the air

Spring is officially here!  And with that, FBFF's theme this week is Spring!  Here are a few things I am excited about for this spring:

• Sandals and NO tights!  I'm just a little tired of wearing boots every day.  See that outfit above - it's basically the same as this one, but it feels completely different!
• Spending time outside!  Whether it is at a baseball game, or just sitting on the deck to eat dinner, I am loving the fresh air and sunshine.  When you live in Nebraska, you have to take advantage of these days, because before too long, it will be uncomfortably hot and humid outside. 
• Flowers and gardening!  Since we moved into our house last summer, we have been looking forward to the spring when we can do some landscaping and plant flowers in our yard.  I think we are going to try a little garden, too.  I don't really know the first thing about gardening, but I'm excited to give it a try.
• My parents are coming to visit!  Rumor has it, the folks are making their way to Nebraska in April.  I'm so excited to spend a couple of days with them, and show off our house. 

And last but not least (although it probably should be least)...

• I am counting down the days until I am allowed to shop again!  April 12th will be here before I know it.  I'm making mental lists of the new items I want to pick up, and hopefully will be a more discerning shopper.  Remember, an $8 shirt that I never wear is a BAD INVESTMENT!

What are you looking forward to this spring?  Go check out the other bloggers at FBFF!