Lill-ay rompa'

This bright printed romper is the result of attending the Lilly Pulitzer for Target release and discovering that even though you were eighth in line, everything was gone by the time you could reach the racks at the store closest to you (and then you drive twenty minutes to another Target where there is still somewhat of a selection).

And then you remember that you're short and can most likely wear items from the little girls' section. And you go to the little girls' section and find a romper in an XL-XXL or something with several extras in front of it. And you try it on, and it covers your body. And you buy it, because, Lilly.

And then you put it on in the summer (several months later) and realize it's not quite cut for hips and a (small chest).

But, you go forth, wearing neon sandals and a bejeweled headband, because you can. And it's summer, and it's hot, and this romper is clutch for that kind of weather.

I mean, pockets.

Helloooo.

romper: Lilly Pulitzer for Target

sandals: Target

headband: Lilly Pulitzer for Target

turquoise clutch: c/o Aéropostale

linking up:

Rhea's Musings // Walking in Memphis in High Heels

The Fashion Canvas // Fashionably Ashleigh

I do deClaire

lace chambray

This chambray is a new favorite of mine. The lace detail is really what sold me on adding yet another chambray to my closet. It's subtle, yet makes a huge impact - those details can make or break any outfit.

I realize in these pictures that it's tough to distinguish between the light wash chambray and my white shorts, but there is a significant difference in color - trust. I wore my nude thin strap flip flops for two reasons: 1) I wore this to get a pedicure before our recent vacation, and 2: they're nude and simple, and this outfit lightly plays with monochrome and simplicity, so loud shoes weren't my best option.

Sometimes I'm really into wearing louder and more striking ensembles, but sometimes, something simple like shorts and a chambray are where it's at.

chambray: Aéropostale

shorts: Old Navy

sandals: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

adding interest through details

 

At first glance (the first few pictures), this looks like a basic black A-line dress. Nothing special, nothing fancy, just an average black dress that could lean "LBD", or could lean "plain black sundress."

But, on closer inspection, I've added a few details to make this dress a little more than a plain black dress. This dress has a basket-weave-esque texture, and contouring seams on the front.

And what else did I add to create a little more interest to this black dress? A fancy statement necklace, borrowed from Rocksbox, a black beaded cuff bracelet, black fringe-y sandals, and a rose-gold ring, also borrowed from Rocksbox.

Just a few additions and changes, and you can easily alter the look of a dress, or any outfit. Exhibit A: the last time I wore this dress on the blog - it was to a wedding. And this time, to work. 

Had any recent successes wearing and/or styling a piece in several different ways?

dress: Target

necklace & ring: Rocksbox

bracelet: Target

sandals: Kohl's

stripes & neon

I feel like I might have used this title before, non?

Regardless, it applies here, even if I've used it before. Today we have a striped dress, picked for me by my husband, for my birthday two years ago. It's striped, but "Lilly Pulitzer" is sprinkled throughout the stripes in cursive, making this dress anything BUT a basic, striped, A-line dress.

The neon sandals were a BIG hit. Surprisingly. Even a few men commented on my shoes - and not along the lines "WOW. Can see you coming from a mile away." more along the lines of "Oh, cute shoes." And I've worn these several times before to my office...odd?

I digress.

In other news, I'm (still) having a hard time switching back to my "regular" life after a lovely vacation - isn't that always the case?

*sigh*

take me back to the ocean!

or, at least back to my friends!

dress: Lilly Pulitzer

sandals: Target

necklace: Old Navy

linking up:

Sydney Fashion Hunter // Cappuccino & Fashion

summer swag from Aéropostale

What feels like ages ago (but was really only a few weeks ago), I stopped by my closest Aéropostale store and picked up some new items for this summer. I found a new denim jacket to replace the one currently in my closet, a new sports bra (!!!), a chambray with lace detail, a fringe-y vest, and a lightweight open-knit hoodie.

All fun (new!) things that you'll see on the blog in the next few days, so keep your eyes open ;)

chambray: Long Sleeve Battenburg Lace Woven Shirt (exact) // similar chambray 

blue sports bra: Sports Bra (similar)

denim jacket: Medium Wash Denim Jacket (similar)

long fringe vest: Tokyo Darling Fringed Slub-Knit Vest

hoodie: Sheer V-Neck Popover Hoodie

Be sure to check out some of the fun summer items Aéropostale has before fall hits.

summertime monochrome

All black might seem a little too dark for the summer, but, done correctly, it can be very chic, methinks. A lightweight black sun dress, a light black/dark gray chambray (to make it work appropriate), and black fringe-y sandals are all it took to create this layered summer look. I'll probably recreate it again, and soon - maybe in a slightly different color scheme?

What is it about monochrome that I just luuuurvvvvve?

black dress: thrifted (Target)

dark chambray: Old Navy

black sandals: Kohl's

necklace: borrowed from Rocksbox

linking up:

Work Clothes, I Suppose // The Red Closet Diary

a bulldog to match my pants

Hi hi! I'm back! Back again after a lovely vacation with great friends. I'm happy to be home, but not looking forward to re-entering the real world. But, blogging and watching NetFlix is a good first step, right?

Anyways - that handsome pup up there matches my white pants. No, I didn't wear them to play in the grass with him, but I did throw his tennis ball quite a few times.

And also, I'm on the look out for new white pants. These work for now, but just know that I'm hoping to replace them sometime in the near future.

purple button-up: from a friend, who got it from American Eagle

white pants: Old Navy

black sandals: Kohl's

necklace: borrowed from Rocksbox

linking up:

DC in Style // Sydney Fashion Hunter

Shopping My Closet // The Red Closet Diary

unavailable

Hi!

Still here, just unavailable to post this week, and probably part of next. Busy, busy girl around these parts.

And currently, I'm letting some other important things take precedence. Important being subjective, and open to interpretation, i.e. a pedicure, taking my pup to the vet again, seeing friends, and taking time for me.

talk to you soon :)

rompin' with the peonies

I'll keep it short and bulleted today, since my last post was quite the behemoth (sorry, and thanks if you made it all the way to the end!)

1) this romper was a gift for my birthday (in March), and this was my first opportunity to wear it. Thanks, Ed & KB. #corpvsmgmt

2) above is the pink peony bush that lives in my backyard. love it.

and to think, I almost let D pull it up when we moved in...

2.5) I know, I know - peonies are SUCH a blogger cliche. In my defense, they're purdy, they smell nice, these ones lives at my house, and they were in my wedding bouquet before I even knew what Instagram was.

3) Happy 4th of July! Happy Birthday, America! Happy Independence Day! We're off to celebrate with dear friends - hope you get to celebrate the many freedoms that we enjoy in our great nation, because of the brave men and women who fight for it. 

3.5) no, this outfit is not very patriotic, nor "themed", but if you need some ideas for what to wear on this festive day, look no further than here, here, and oh, here, too.

Ta ta!

romper: gift

sandals: Kohl's

the third time I ran 13.1 miles

Third time is NOT the charm. For me, at least. I'll blame it on running solo...

Let's back track a bit. About two months. To the beginning of this past May, for the Colorado Marathon Half Marathon. Normally my Dad and I run these races together, but the poor man had shoulder surgery a month before, so I had to go it alone. And it was not pretty. Although my cheering section was bigger by one person, so that was nice :)

I won't tell you my (terrible) time, or my average pace, or all the nuances of the race, but I will say I felt great, until my right knee (an IT band issue) started hurting at mile 3, then was very painful by mile 6 (other than my knee, the rest of me felt great! no blisters! I was fueled and hydrated and rested and raring to go!). Up until then, I was maintaining a pretty good pace (for me). From mile 6 and on, I alternated walking and running. I stopped at every aid station to use the restroom and rehydrate, and take some (more) ibuprofen.

The race starts in the Poudre Canyon and ends in Old Town, Fort Collins, with a beer garden at the end (hallelujah!!!). The course is beautiful, and mostly downhill - it's a race that a lot of people PR (personal record) in. But not I.

It's ok, though - I finished, and had a nice cheering section with posters (that I requested ). One read "Run Annie Run" and the other "Worst Parade Ever."

I added my own little hashtag: #yougoglencoco

So, not my best race, but it's given me motivation to figure out this IT band/knee issue (now my other one is starting to hurt when I run - perhaps I'm overcompensating?) for my next half in September.

And don't you worry, my running buddy is all signed up and has gotten the OK from his PT. Good thing, cause I need his motivation for those thirteen miles. And by motivation, I mean singing, and dancing, and "Anne, how ya doing?" and his grape-vining, and his running circles around me, and his running backwards, and then up and back, and making sure I don't fall over dead.

If I haven't said this before, my Dad is my favorite running buddy.

He's also usually down to buy me breakfast and a Bloody Maria after, too.

#willrunforfood

at the race expo with my Pop

that is me. a (very) slow runner.

and my cute Mama

with my friend, Ryan, at the start.
his first half, and he did it in under 2 hours!

professional race pictures - I try to smile when I see the photographers.
this was mile 4? 5?
and of course I wore my Colorado flag shorts - it was the Colorado Marathon!

almost to the end.
my mantra at this point: "beer, bacon, breakfast. beer, bacon, breakfast."

after I finished, before the beer

at the finish, nice and sweaty

black floral dress: c/o Aéropostale

black cardigan: Ann Taylor

black flats: Target

green shirt: Target

Colorado flag running shorts: SOARK

running shoes: Mizuno

sunglasses: Smith Optics

visor: Margaritaville (it's more of a state of mind)

medal: at the finish line