Dress Shorts

I realized I never said what I was wearing on Saturday so here it is:

Top: Target
Shorts: H&M
Shoes: Payless
Necklace: Vintage

By the time you read this, it might already be Wednesday!

You have been neglected

I have really been neglecting my blog (well all blogs).  I had over 300 unread posts the other day... 

I am having major balance issues in my life right now, but it isn't anything I feel overwhelmed by, ya know.  Juggling a job, a blog, working out, house-work, social-life is a tad bit exhausting.  I am also really trying to savor the last little bits of summer.  I love summer.

This is another one of the fabulous dresses sent over to me by BeBop Clothing.  It has pockets!  I also tried to capture the exposed zipper in the back, but it really just looks like I am trying to show off my butt.   This dress accessorizes itself with the exposed back zip, draping, tie belt, and neckline.  I can't wait to pair it with a black blazer once it cools off.

Dress: c/o BeBop Clothing (follow them on facebook)
Necklace: Jess LC
Shoes: hand me down from a friend

My Favorite Shirt

I can remember buying this shirt.  It was May of 2008 in Chicago.  The last day Lisa and I were there, it had turned unseasonably cold.  I remember ducking into Urban and going upstairs and scouring the sale racks.  This shirt reminded me of a shirt my mom used to wear.  Because of so many wears and washes, this shirt has turned so soft.  I love how I can throw it on with a pair of cut offs and head out for a beer, or tuck it into a pencil skirt for work.

Does anyone else think about the costs per wear of an item?  I do this a lot.  I love for my clothes to have a pretty low cost per wear and despite the fact that I have a closet full of clothes, I love wearing them all.

Shirt: Cheap Monday
Skirt: thrifted
Belt: Gap (probably 9 years ago though)
Bracelets: Mexico, Claire's, Friendship
Shoes: Wanted Ritzy Loafer

Been a Hard Day's Night

Day

Evening

Another week begins!  Did everyone have a great weekend?  I did.  I spent lots of time with friends, drinking lots of beer, finishing it up with lots of mimosas, a nap, and curling up on the couch to watch some movies.

A few weeks ago I was contacted by BeBop Clothing to try out some of their stuff.  I basically just talked to them about the things that I liked, what holes I had in my wardrobe to fill... a week later, a box shows up at my door with loads of goodies.

One thing I was desperately wanting was a white dress that could go from the office to evening.  Because the heat is just oppressive, I paired my white dress with a seersucker blazer, belt, pendant necklace and flats.  I just cannot wear heavy accessories in the summer.  Neck, chest, wrist sweat is not cute.

To transition this look, I ditched the glasses and the blazer, and threw on my favorite cheap-o sandals from Urban Outfitters.  I got so many compliments on this dress.  And it was such an easy piece of clothing to wear!

Dress: c/o Bebop Clothing (like them on facebook)
Blazer: Old Navy (sorry guys, its from 6-7 years ago)
Belt: Target
Gold flats: Banana Republic
Sandals: Urban Outfitters

Dear Wednesday, It is hot. An ode to summer.

This summer has been brought to you by, new hair cuts...

Seersucker shorts

 Billowy cotton tops

 Shiner, Ruby Redbird beer (sooo good!)

And old leather flip flops.

Typically when I get home from work, I just want to sit out in my front yard with a beer in a pair of shorts until I get tired of swatting mosquitos.

Shirt: thrifted, J. Crew
Shorts: a gift from Tori
Shoes: my six year old rainbows that could not fit more perfectly to my feetsies!

Guess what I see... a weekend on the horizon!

Field of Dreams Dresses

 

Surely I am not the only one who has discovered that you can put items in your shopping cart at Urban Outfitters and they stay in there?  Those items will stay in there until you remove them from your shopping cart.  This is fantastic because you can keep an eye on something until it goes on sale.  It is like a wishlist but less complicated, and less emails to your friends and family.  Basically, "If you stick-it-in-your-shopping-cart, they will put-it-on-sale-eventually."

I know, its a stretch for the Kevin Costner film reference.

When I first saw this dress on Urban Outfitters, it was instant love.  But... the price was not right.  I put it in my shopping cart and waited.  Several weeks later, it went on sale.  Thankfully, it was still at my local brick and mortar store where they were also offering an additional 30% off sale.  Unexpected bonus, its by Cooperative and Made in the USA.  

Dress: Cooperative, Urban Outfitters

Blazer: Gap

Necklace: local boutique

Belt: J. Crew

Shoes: Target

Shake, Rattle and Roll

This might be my new favorite dress.  I love a good "wiggle" silouette.  For bizarre reasons, I have always struggled with being less that satisfied with certain parts of my body.  This is ridiculous because it is dresses like this that make me realize what a fantastic figure I have.  This dress just skims my body in all the right places, providing structure where it is needed. 

This week has seemed unrelenting!  I am ready for the weekend to get here.  I'm ready to sip my coffee without haste.  Although, I will say I got a pleasant surprise at the gym yesterday.  I was changing into my yoga clothes and I turned around my yoga instructor was back from her hiatus.  I was so thrilled, I hugged her twice.  Hi, yeah, I'm awkward!  Thankfully, I was just picking up my work pants from off the ground... so its not like I was half dressed or anything.

It is hug the people you love day... so just do it.  Hugs are good, and people probably need them.

Dress: vintage, purchased from Tiny Boot
Belt: purchased from Muse boutique
Shoes: Nine West, DSW

You Were Always Fine

Sam and I went camping this past weekend, and among the multitude of bug bites, I also skinned my knee.  Major bummer.  But it was fun and we had a blast.  I definitely want to do more camping when the weather cools off, or even going somewhere that is a little cooler this summer?

Last night, Sam and I had a dinner-in night.  He picked out this pasta recipe.  I had a bottle of wine on storage.  Watched some netflix and just had a relaxing night in.  The best part, well besides getting to spend time with Sam...  okay so the best part of the food, LEFTOVERS!  I'll be the envy of the lunch table with my creamy shrimpy pasta.

Like anyone else, I'm obsessed with Groupon.  However, I only buy groupon's that I know I will use.  I bought tickets to the Nashville Rollergirls double header for Sam's birthday and because of a mistake with how much the tickets were, I had a $20 credit.  When the Jewel Mint groupon came up, of course, I knew exactly where my groupon credit was going.  This necklace is one of the pieces I purchased.  I rarely buy new jewelery and most of the stuff I have is from when my Mamaw passed away and the cousins all got some of her costume jewelery.  It was so exciting to pick out things that are eclectic and beautiful.

Dress: Gap. $19
Shoes: Old Navy, $10
Necklace: Jewel Mint, Groupon

I'll Gladly Stand Up

About a year ago, during the flood, when I didn't have a home, I was actually staying with Sam.  One night, both him and his roommate were working.  I had the entire house to myself, but chose to lock myself up in Sam's room (he lives in the converted attic space of the house),  I was most likely watching an Alias DVD or something when I thought I heard singing coming from downstairs.  I could feel the blood drain from my body, but decided to check it out.  As I opened the door from Sam's room I heard "God Bless the USA" blaring from his roommate room.  I called out his name, and of course nothing.  I crept into Ben's room slowly.  However, something out of the corner of my eye made me freeze.  It was a man! I turned around preparing to scream before I got a good look.  It wasn't a man.  It was Woody from Toy Story.  A giant doll of Woody from Toy Story.  Easily a four foot doll.  Yes, let's all say it because we are thinking it, I got scared by a giant Woody.  Suddenly, the music didn't matter as I let out a sigh of relief.  The music was actually coming from an alarm clock that had been set to go off at the wrong time.

I wore this outfit sometime last week to go to work.  As much as I love these shoes, I have to remember to bring flats with me.  These shoes kill my feet, lovely, but they kill.  For some reason the editing in these photos always makes my hair look super red.  It has actually faded quite a bit, or maybe it just looks like this.. I have no idea. 

Shirt: seriously old, I bought it from Gadzooks (a store that carried Forever 21 crap) easily six years old.
Belt: Forever 21 (I really don't shop there anymore so its weird so much of this outfit consists of that.
Skirt: thrifted
Shoes: thrifted, Michael by Michael Kors (Beacon's Closet Park Slope)

Congratulations!

Congratulations!  If you are reading this, you have made it to Wednesday.  Wednesday, friends, is the crest of the hill that is a work week.  Hopefully, after today, everything will just roll right into the weekend.

I wore this on Tuesday to, of course, go to work, but I also ran a few errands after work.  I rarely have meetings with higher-ups.  If I do have meetings they are strictly within my department, and definitely within my team.  This explains why I can get away without a blazer or a suit jacket on most days.  Anyways, after work I hit up a few bookstores to look for a good old self-help book and pick up some lawn chairs that were on sale at Target.  I almost picked up a pair of work out bike shorts to buy, but I ended up changing my mind on them half-way through the store.

Even though this is a very typical going to work outfit, I think it is an incredibly unique blend of vintage, thrift, and new but on sale.  I try to only wear black wants once a week, but I do have four pairs of them.  They are all different styles, these being the most traditional.  They have a fantastic flap pocket that makes my booty pop.

Top: vintage, $18
Belt: J.Crew, $6
Pants: Michael by Michael Kors, thrifted, $2 (yes, I just dropped that bomb)
Shoes: Target, $5

I Hear the Call of a Lifetime Ring

Thank you for the comments on my last post.  I am glad to hear that y'all wouldn't mind if I posted about excel functions.  I could get really crazy and post about pivot tables....  but really that might be a little too crazy.

I wore this outfit yesterday.  I decided to kick my Monday off feeling good and nothing makes me feel good like stripes and the color green.  Basically my striped shirt and any skirt that I own make me feel like a million bucks.  I wore this to go to work, hit up a doctor's appointment, and that's it.  I came home, made myself some dinner, and watched The Bachelorette.  Sam is working every night this week but, I have some prep to do for this weekend.  I had a really full weekend (bowling, went out, did all my laundry, vintage shopping, changed my oil, and watched the Mavs game), so I will be glad to lay low a little during the week.

This weekend, I checked out the yard sale at Fanny's House of Music.  I came armed with $20 as my budget and walked away with some amazing items from Tiny Boot, such as these shoes!  I have been looking for more flats especially with this shape.  And you really cannot go wrong with that color.  I will definitely be getting a lot of wear out of them.

Striped shirt: Lands' End Canvas
Wrap skirt: Kayce Hughes
Shoes: vintage, Tiny Boot

Turn My Sorrow into Treasured Gold

So what does one wear on her first day back into the world after being stuck in bed for almost four days.  Well this.  I've actually worn this outfit before.  Last time I put this combo together, it wasn't 90 degrees out.  To be honest, I liked the first one better.  Looking back, I should have belted under the cardigan.

Oh, and sorry, I'm not ready for my close up yet.  Being sick wreaks havoc on my skin, and trust me, you don't want to see that yet. 

Cardigan: Target
Belt: vintage
Dress: thrifted
Shoes: Banana Republic, via TJ Maxx

PS- Did anyone see Glee last night?  That first number, gave me chills!  Amazing... it inspired the title of this post! 

Hot Pink Pants

At around 4 PM today, I finally crawled out of the fifth circle of hell (also known as a sinus infection).  I am finally feeling better after spending my entire weekend (Friday night + Saturday + Sunday) in bed and until 1:00 on Monday when I had to put on patchouli oil to cover up the fact that I didn't even want to shower.  It really is amazing when you stop coughing and are able to breathe... how much more sleep you get.

So pink pants.  YEAH!  After my failed search of finding pink pants, in which even my grandma was trying to help, I decided to take matters into my own hands.  DIY has never really failed me except for when it comes to spray painting anything with laminate (ugh).  So, I ordered the same pants I have in black, but in white, from Lands' End Canvas and dyed them.

Dying is an easy process and there are far too many how-tos on how to do it.  I used the Jacquard iDye (even though I am totally a RIT girl, JoAnns didn't have the color I wanted).  Dying something is 10% dye, 20% knowing exactly the type of fabric you are dying 3% salt or vinegar if its a manmade fabric (oh, dyer joke right there haha oh I crack myself up) and 67% just having the balls to do it.


I normally do my dying in the washing machine, and I've never had the problem of left over dye staining my clothes.  But, I wanted to put together a few tips when it comes to dying.

1.  Know your fabric!  Cottons, add salt.  Manmade fabric? (polyester) add vinegar and use special dye.  Also, think about topstitching too, most likely the thread won't take the dye
2.  Read the directions on the dye.  Read the directions on the dye.  Read the directions on the dye.
3.  If you use the washing machine, time your agitation cycle prior to dying.  Yes, sit in your laundry room with a stop watch and see how long it takes.  This is very important as you will most likely have to run your agitation cycle a lot.
4.  Once you are done dying, run one empty washer cycle with hot water and detergent.  Then run one empty washer cycle with cold water, detergent, and bleach.  This should get your machine ready to wash your clothes again.

Shirt: jcrew, hand me down
Necklace: made by me, inspired by ...love Meagan's awesome tutorial
Belt: Gap (and oh so old)
Pants: Lands' End Canvas 100% cotton white pants, dyed pink
Shoes: Target (and only $6... hello summery black flats I've been wanting for two years)

Marmalade Skies

Good thing that I have these lying around because this week has proved impossible to get pictures in.

Short and sweet.

To the point.

It is Wednesday.

Sweater: Gap

Skirt: Vintage

Shoes: Antonio Melani

Color Blocking

Other possible titles for this blog post include:

Mustard and Grapes, not a snack


My hair did not work this morning


Ya know, just hangin' out on the roof of a parking garage


Ronald McDonald and the Purple thing had a baby on my clothes

I know color blocking is like all the rage.  I decided to give it a try, especially after picking up this fantastic purple skirt for a dollar.  Unfortunately, this skirt wrinkles like crazy and after sitting at my desk for a few hours, this is what happened.  I really love this skirt though!  The hour-glass silhouette when I look in the mirror makes me feel so confident.  When I walk, I actually wiggle. 

Shirt: Target
Necklace: gift
Belt: Muse boutique
Skirt: thrift store
Shoes: Antonio Melani
Bag: Volcom