Lunch Lady Chic?

This top - what do we think? I bought it (thrifted) last summer with high expectations - "It'll go so well with shorts or skinnies, as a light flowy blouse." Yet, whenever I wear it, I can't decide if it's cute, or makes me look like a lunch lady. Nothing wrong with being a lunch lady, but I work in an office. And I pack my own lunch (most of the time - unless there's Asian or Mexican on the horizon, then all bets are off), so there's no need for a lunch lady, really. 

The fate of this top rests with you: if it's cute/flowy/looks nice/is worth hanging on to, let me know and I'll keep it. If you think it makes me look older & more boxy than my 20-something years, let me know and out it goes. No pressure.

Also, today I'm linking up with Coffee Beans and Bobby Pins and FACE IT Catalog for their Friday's Five Linkup, which is pretty neat.

Hope you have a great weekend! My Mr. and I will be celebrating our first wedding anniversary - I can't believe our big day was (almost) 1 year ago! Also, interested in seeing some pictures from our wedding and and/or some throwbacks from our dating days, beginning in 2005?

Shirt: thrifted

Pants: Old Navy via Plato's Closet

Sandals: Born Concept

Earrings: Claire's (crowns for ZTA!)

Necklace: from our cruisin' honeymoon

Twirling

I'm convinced that skirts & dresses were made for twirling

I wore this outfit to start off our Memorial Day Weekend. We laid low, saw some friends, lounged, and caught up on some sleep (and laundry, too). It was just what I needed - starting this coming weekend our summer is pretty full with weddings, parties, trips, and all the other elements of a fun summer. 

I found this skirt at Goodwill. I'm sure it wasn't intended to be a maxi skirt, but when you're short like me, you can pull this off. For example, my mom was hesitant to order my first dress from Lilly Pulitzer a few birthdays back, because the dresses looked to short to her online. But then I reminded her that the models were all probably much taller than 5'8", and I'm only 5'4", so really, what hit them above the knee would probably be below my knees - maybe even to my ankles. Ankles was a bit of an exaggeration, but the length was perfect for my short legs!

On another note, I need to remember to not pair these sandals with this skirt - the hem of the skirt kept catching on my sandals every time I took a step. Grrr.

Top: Nordstrom
Tank: Wal-Mart
Skirt: Goodwill
Sandals: Sears
Earrings: Target
Bracelets: Aeropostale, thrifted, Target

Busy Body

The print of this skirt is pretty busy - don't you agree? But maybe that's why I like it - I don't have too many items in my closet that SCREAM. Many of them POP!, or "look nice," or flow. So this skirt is a bit out of my comfort zone. Which is perfect for starting off the summer with a renewed effort to unearth/discover/find/develop/locate/say-hello-to&meet my personal style, don't you think?

Sweater: American Eagle

Skirt: Target via Goodwill

Shoes: GUESS via DSW

PS - Sorry! No Mr. Picks Monday for you today - we didn't take any pictures!

Daddy-O

Just got a phone call that my Dad follows my little newbie blog. And he thinks I'm funny! That's what I've been trying to tell him since I could talk...

He also told me he didn't realize I'm such a little fashionista. I'm not sure how this is "news," since we would spend HOURS (seriously, HOURS) picking out my clothes for elementary school in the morning. For example:

A: "Daaaaad, I have nothing to wear. Will you help me pick something out?"

Dad: "What about this dress with these shoes?"

A: "Mmm, I can't stand that."

Dad: "What about these pants and this blouse?"

A: "Eh. They don't match."

Dad: "Sure they do! They're the same color!"

Repeat.

At least 4 times. Occasionally more.

And also, my closet first grew exponentially in HIS house - there never seemed to be enough room for all my finds. Once my brother went away to college, I started using HIS closet across the hall to store some clothes...the truth comes out...

And for Easter one year when I was little, my Dad was in charge of taking me dress shopping. Easy, right? We came home with a new dress, matching hat, gloves, socks, shoes, and an Easter basket. We got home and my Mom asked "Why did you buy all of this?" and my Dad replied "She said she needed it." Proof I've been a fashionista/diva since my youth ;)

Thanks for your patience, love, and understanding, Dad! 

Like I keep telling you, you're a shoo-in for the Dad Of The Year Award ;)

lovelovelove

running our half - we made sure to smile big for every photographer we saw

Optical Illusions

 

My Mr. wasn't available to take my pictures, so, mirror pics are what I've got for ya today.

I had no intention of looking cute today (simply because I hit the snooze button 878 times), but I saw my mint jeans in the closet and thought "I like those. They're cute. They make me happy. I will wear them." Then the gray shirt. And I needed another layer for the sub-arctic climate of my office. I was skeptical about this polka dot chambray on top, but I think it worked! Tell me for real, did it?

I got the polka dot top at a thrift store - I spotted the dotted denim from across the store and made a beeline for it (I avoided eye contact, and might have hopped over a rack of shirts, ninja-style). I love the print and the color, the only issue is that the shirt is a little boxy on me. It's cute tucked in, under something, or over something, but buttoned up by itself I think it adds a few unwanted pounds to my frame. Occasionally, I battle this by

flailingmyarmsreallyfastsoyoucantseethatmyshirtisaweebitboxy.

I also use this technique with shoes, other articles of clothing & accessories that might look better under the guise of an optical illusion. Maybe I'll show you a video of it. Someday. Maybe. Don't hold me to that.

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend, and remember to remember the men and women who have served our great country. I'll be thanking my two favorite veterans: Mom & Dad.

Shirt: Target

Chambray: thrifted

Mint Jeans: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

Sandals: Born Concept

Linking up HERE today - my first one!

[Typical] Saturday Night

you thought I was joking about my weird poses, didn't you?

I was twirling & jumping in this parking lot...

it was windy - my hair was EVERYWHERE

and this is my Mr. - isn't he handsome? also, our eyes look green in this picture. I'd like to state, for the record, that we both have blue eyes #blondehairandblueeyesforever

This is what I wore on Saturday evening. We went out for sushi, then to Wal-Mart for a few exciting things, like cotton balls, clear nail polish & Lysol wipes, then to TCBY for some fro-yo that, like, doesn't have any calories ;)

As we were driving home, our conversation went something like this:

A: "Thanks for the date night, honey."

D: "You're welcome. I had fun."

A: "Me too. Wait, was this a date night, or a typical Saturday night?"

D: "You know, I don't know. Either way, there's no one else I'd rather have sushi with, go to Wal-Mart with, get TCBY with, watch Netflix with, or fall asleep on the couch with."

A: "Samesies. I love you. Can I have some of your fro-yo?"

Our weekend evenings are all pretty similar lately, with the occasional variance if we have company, or are celebrating a friend's birthday or wedding. But, to tell you the truth, I love it. I used to want to go out and DO SOMETHING every night, and now I really look forward to a night in with my Mr. I enjoy time by myself, and time with my girlfriends, of course, but ultimately, he's my #1, and my favorite, and my best-est friend in the whole wide world. So, of course I want to spend time with him. Even if it's falling asleep on the couch before 11 watching Arrested Development, after telling each other over and over how cute our dogs are...

here's proof of their cuteness, JUST in case you didn't believe me

Shirt: Old Navy
Sweater: Sonoma via ARC
Shorts: Maurice's via Plato's Closet
Shoes: Keds via TJ Maxx (they have strawberries on them)
Bag: Coach via ARC

Mr. Picks Mondays: Pink & Navy [again]

this bracelet is from an old friend, it reads "We can do no great things, only small things with great love." - Mother  Teresa

"Oh Turbo, I love you. Yes I do. You're so handsome."

My Mr. chose the pink shirt, and I chose the pants and sandals. I'm wearing corduroys. In May. With sandals. Only in Colorado, amirite? Anyway, it worked! And despite juxtaposing seasons, I was pretty comfortable, temperature-wise.

And I realize I'm wearing pink & navy again, buuuuuut, this works (right? right??). And I LOVE pink. And I have a lot of navy pieces. So, you might be seeing this color combination again sometime. If you REALLY take issue with it, lemme know! And maybe suggest some other ideas for me.

I don't have a lot of words for you tonight - we just got home from our softball game and I'm due for a  hot shower and bed. I know, I know, I go to bed early, but if I don't, how am I supposed to get all my beauty sleep? And, if you're wondering, we lost our game, by ONE RUN. *sigh* BUT we did go for fro-yo after, so that helps.

we're frequent customers of our local TCBY...FREQUENT
from my Instagram: SweetBananie

Shirt: Gap

Pants: Joe Fresh via ARC

Sandals: Maurice's

Hanging on

I'm thinking of everyone impacted by the events of yesterday in Oklahoma. There was a tornado in northern Colorado in 2008 that tore through the town of Windsor - the city is still recovering, 5 years later. It's terrifying what Mother Nature can do, isn't it?

Unrelated, I'll be back with a Mr. Picks Mondays post late tonight or tomorrow. My Mr. monopolized my computer last night and I took a yoga class, then all of a sudden it was time to curl up in bed with "Dark Places" by Gillian Flynn. Until then...

[Mother's Day] Brunching

pockets! pockets!

my Mr. snaps away with the camera, while I throw out as many goofy things as I can. aaaaand they all get captured. 

see what I mean? I think I was twirling here, and he just snaps away. and laughs.

This skirt combination is what I wore to celebrate Mother's Day with my in-laws. We had a delicious brunch, then everyone headed home to take naps. 

Sunday afternoons are made for naps, don't you think? There's a window from about 1-5 where they're most acceptable, and I'm always on the look out for such an opportunity. In my bed, on the couch, by the pool, with the pups - I don't discriminate. 

I threw this jacket in the car since I'm always freezing, and my Mr. is always roasting. He'll crank up the AC cause he's hot and my teeth are chattering. This past February, we drove up to the mountains to do some skiing and I made sure I was prepared for his freezing cold car temperatures. Or so I thought...I wore at least 3 layers on top, a scarf, leggings, wool socks, and boots, along with a North Face jacket in my lap. He closed his car vents so I could have all the warm air, and I was still freezing! He opened his window to get some air, and I just couldn't get warm! *sigh* The next car we buy WILL have separate climate controls for driver & passenger! Until then, I'm becoming an expert at layering, and will have to keep extra blankets, jackets, socks, gloves, snowpants, and parkas in the car...

Top: Wal-Mart

Skirt: via clothes swap with a friend (the one who came to visit recently!)

Sandals: CLASSIFIED via Shoe Carnival

Jacket: Miley Cyrus via Plato's Closet

Necklace & earrings: Target

Bracelets: ???

Dressing Down a Sequined Skirt

this is the skirt I was telling you about from Kohl's

So, what do we think of my new sequined skirt??? I'm a BIG fan and I have BIG plans for this fancy skirt - trust me!

Above is what I wore to a friend's graduation party. I couldn't wait to wear my new skirt, so I dressed it down with a t-shirt and flat (but fancy!) sandals. The jacket was in flux all day - I was too hot, then I was too cold, so it was off and on the entire time.

My t-shirt is from Tour de Fat, a bike parade sponsored by New Belgium Brewing. Everyone dresses up in goofy costumes and rides their bikes along a marked route, then celebrates with a festival and lots of beer. I volunteered at last year's Tour de Fat pouring beer with some folks from work and got this t-shirt. Love the color, and love the design. New Belgium Brewing is a pretty cool place that brews Belgian-style beer, is employee owned, runs on alternative energy, and encourages alternative forms of transportation, hence, the bike parade. If you ever get the chance, you should check out a Tour de Fat near you and celebrate bikes - it's quite the experience!

***ERRRR - switching gears***

Let's talk about my hair. It's really not doing me any favors in these pictures, is it? It's pretty long, but it's also very fine, so I lose a lot of volume and thickness towards the ends. I've got a hair appointment this weekend and I'm debating switching it up majorly. I'm hesitant to lose any length - my hair grows SO. SLOWLY. and it's taken what feels like forever to get it to this length (6+ years). I've had bangs several times, and as you can see, have grown them out. I did get highlights at my last appointment, and while I like how they broke up my hair color and added some light, I think I'd like something more drastic so I'm not such a "dishwater blonde." Any suggestions/thoughts/ideas for my locks?

Jacket: Old Navy

Shirt: Tour de Fat

Skirt: Kohl's

Sandals: Sears

Mr. Picks Mondays: Pink & Navy

pockets, my friends, pockets

I'm working on my posing #help

I'm really obsessed with these two - they're just so lovable & squeezable!

 My Mr. picked out this navy dress for me to wear today. It's a little funny - I have FOUR (count: 1, 2, 3, 4) navy dresses in my closet, but they're all VERY different! Trust me! 

Anyway, this is my first time wearing this cute printed number. I picked it up at ARC back in January or February with the plan to wear it when the temperature heats up. And today, it did just that! Still had to wear a sweater in my office, but overall, a dress keeps me so much cooler than pants. And if I get really hot, I can just flap my dress a bit to get a breeze ;)

I went on my first run since my half marathon today on my lunch break. The sun was out, there was a bit of a breeze, or I just run SO fast there's always a breeze...bahaha, I kid! I was really glad to be running again, but then my right knee started hurting. It hurt during my race, and a few days after, so I iced it and took plenty of ibuprofen. I thought I was good to go, but it hurt a bit today. Not unbearably so, but I definitely don't want to injure myself. So, I'll be taking it nice and slow for the next few days - run when I can, and walk when it hurts. With some ice and ice cream thrown in, too :) It's not surprising that my knee hurts - I didn't really train for my half, so, that was dumb on my part. Never again will I do something like that without preparing - I'm so lucky I didn't get seriously hurt. #thatwasdumb

Dress: Old Navy

Sweater: Old Navy

Sandals: Born

Earrings & matching bracelets: Claire's

All other jewelry: gifts from my Godmother