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Monday, June 30, 2014

Mr. Picks Mondays - Maxi Dress (on a short girl)







Here’s that black maxi dress again – are you sick of seeing it yet? I’m not - I really like wearing it. And I plan to wear it.
All.
Summer.
Long.

It’s a wee bit long on my 5’4” self, however. The straps are a bit long on my shoulders (common for me), so it makes deciding on a bra a bit more tricky. Not impossible -  just requires a bit more forethought.

I went with a larger size when I purchased this maxi dress – the smaller size fit perfectly in the 
Old Navy dressing room, but I was concerned that:

1) The dress would shrink when I washed it, and I didn’t want to be wearing the maxi dress equivalent of high-waters. However, the opposite has happened – I think the skirt of the dress gets longer every time I wear it…

and

2) The larger size allows me to eat a few more donuts (and burritos. and ice cream. and guacamole. and peanut butter. and popcorn. and wine. and New Belgium Snapshots.) than a dress that fits and drapes just so.


maxi dress: Old Navy
striped cardigan: rue21
sandals: Shoe Carnival

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Dressing for America's Birthday, Part II





Since this Friday is the 4th of July / America’s Birthday / Independence Day / one of the best days of the year, here is my second patriotic / festive outfit idea that I’m sharing: a tank top with stars all over it, and a simple chambray skirt that allows for lots of frolicking and cruiser-riding, which are two things I’m very into.

So, as you think about what to wear when you celebrate the 4th of July, be sure to wear something you can frolick and be ultra-American in. I suggest it be red, white, AND blue, and covered with stars & stripes, but that’s just me - I like to obnoxiously celebrate America (proof: here and here).




tank: WalMart
skirt: thrifted
sandals: Born via DSW

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Dressing for America's Birthday, Part I






Since this Friday is the 4th of July / America’s Birthday / Independence Day / one of the best days of the year, I thought I’d share at least TWO patriotic / festive outfit ideas with y’all (one today, and anothertomorrow). And I thought I’d share them early for two reasons:

1) So you have time to go shopping for your festive gear if you are lacking in that department.

2) I plan to be on a boat or on the beach (or both!) for the 4th in a festive bikini with one of my best friends and family, so, there won’t really be much of an outfit to share…Of course, I’ll be Instagramming & Tweeting pics of boating, day drinking, floating, beaching, frolicking, celebrating, and general debauchery.

Up first, a layered look. White pants, a festive burnout tank with stars (so. much. glitter. everywhere), and a chambray thrown over the top. I went with metallic sandals to tie in the stars in my shirt, but I was this close to wearing red wedges. Obviously, comfort won out – as it typically does for me...

Check out last year’s festive 4th of July get-ups: here and here


star tank: WalMart
chambray: thrifted
pants: Old Navy
Cleopatra sandals: Target

Friday, June 27, 2014

Cheese & Wine







Waaay back at the end of May/beginning of June, we went on a fancy date night to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary. We went to a local wine and cheese place (The Welsh Rabbit)  - I was in wino heaven. D isn’t much for wine (he prefers beer), but I think he even enjoyed himself a teeny bit. He ordered a glass of a sweet white before moving on to a cider, and I had a flight of Austrian wines (Vienna, here I come!). And we also tried a variety of cheeses. Really, I think we tried at least 6. If not closer to 8. And all sorts of meats and salamis and crackers and other good eats.

After we were full of cheese and wine and meat and bread, we wandered around downtown and I picked up another Pioneer Woman cookbook (her first one – the only one I was missing). We then went to a new-ish whiskey bar and met a friend there for a drink. This girl steered clear of the whiskey (shots of Fireball are the only whiskey I’ll partake in) and had a refreshing Moscow Mule instead ;)

the far left was D's sweet white - the remaining 3 my Austrian flight
cheese. bread. meat.

peplum top: Ann Taylor Factory
faux leather jacket: Miley Cyrus & Max Azria via Plato's Closet
sandals: Shoe Carnival

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Navy Stripes






Here's a simple look for this Friday eve. I got this shirt from a friend, and while I love the stripes and the lace, I'm not sure I'm such a fan of the elastic waist on the bottom of the top. 

The jury is still out...


shirt: from a friend
Cleopatra sandals: Target

Monday, June 23, 2014

Mr. Picks Mondays: Oldies



the sash in the back


The Mr. chose this tiered almost-but-not-quite-maxi skirt that I’ve had since...my senior year of high school...

Its triple-print-mixing and pretty color has helped it survive many closet clean-outs. The bow on the back helps, too ;)

I wore this to work (for part of the day - I went on a jobsite tour, and had to wear pants AND close-toed shoes AND a hard hat AND a neon vest for that part) and then to dinner with the Mr. to celebrate our second wedding anniversary. We went to Jax Fish House and Oyster Bar - we’ve been trying to get there for agesOh. My. Word. Delicious. 

I’m a huge fan of seafood - crab, shrimp, mussels, clams, oysters, calamari, you name it. I love it. Turns out they have all-evening happy hour on Mondays. So, we indulged and tried a bit of everything on the menu. And it was all divine. I would eat seafood all day, every day if I could. But I’m sure my checking account wouldn’t appreciate that...


shirt: WalMart
skirt: Nordstrom
Cleopatra sandals: WalMart

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Oh Hey. Chambray.






I’ve worn this dress several times before (check them out here), and every time I do, I’m again reminded of the sheer brilliance of it. 

Chambray. 
Shirt dress. 

It’s perfect in it’s simplicity. It’s lightweight, easy to dress up or down (obviously, I leaned towards casual), and the best part of wearing a dress: it’s a WHOLE entire outfit in 1 piece of clothing. 
Is there anything better? 
Raise your hand if you’re into keeping getting dressed simple.

*raises hand*


dress: Kohl’s
Cleopatra sandals: WalMart

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

1 Black Maxi. 2 Ways.

 

 

 

  

 

Here are two different ways to style a basic black maxi dress. Yes, they both include denim, but trust me, they’re different! 

One incorporates a denim jacket AND a scarf (a wild, leopard print scarf), and the other a chambray shirt. The chambray can be worn similarly to a jacket (open, unbuttoned), OR buttoned up like a shirt, letting the maxi shine as more of a skirt than a dress. Whatever you prefer! Great for when you need options...or when the weather’s being weird and you may or may not need layers...


maxi dress: Old Navy

on the left:
denim jacket: from a friend (Old Navy Outlet)
scarf: WalMart
Cleopatra sandals: Shoe Carnival

on the right:
chambray: Lauren Conrad via Kohl’s

Cleopatra sandals: WalMart

Monday, June 16, 2014

Mr. Picks Mondays: Peppy in Peplum






The Mr. selected this striped blue peplum dress for me to wear (apparently he prefers that I wear blue striped dresses). This dress came with a skinny yellow belt, but in an effort to be more creative and not wear it EXACTLY as prescribed, I went with a brown belt and sandals, and mint jewelry. 

Peplum is great for many things - it’s sweet, a wee bit flirty, and expertly hides the evidence of a few too many breakfast burritos that one may or may not consume...


dress: Target
belt: thrifted

Cleopatra sandals: consignment shop (Candie’s via Kohl’s)