working formula

This layered navy look was perfect for a recent snowy day in Colorado. The only caveat - I wore my big SOREL snow boots to work, and slipped on these less cumbersome booties when I got to my desk (I'm definitely not going to wear these booties on ice).

You might think this looks eerily similar to another look I shared recently (check it out here), and you'd be right. When you've got a formula that works, you don't waiver too much. Especially when your closet is shrinking by the day as your belly grows.

Have a great Sunday - we're spending it around the house getting some things done, but also enjoying some much needed down time. Anyone else feel like they're going going going all the time lately? We sure do. Oof. Do adults get Spring Break?

red & navy striped shirt: thrifted

navy blue dress: thrifted

navy fleece-lined tights: GG Boutique

gold belt: thrifted

ankle booties: Old Navy

floral scarf: Target

old faithful

I've worn this dress at a variety of sizes - even at my thinnest, I toyed (for 1 silly second) with the idea of getting rid of it, but decided to keep it. And I'm glad I did. This dress always looks good, and if it's a teeny bit too big, I just belt it and call it a day.

Currently, it's part of my small collection of dresses that fit my growing bump (I've officially "popped" in the last week and a half). The waistband is just high enough to comfortably (for now, anyways) fit over my belly. I've been layering shirts and tights under for this winter weather (I had a snow day today! most likely my first and last grown up snow day), because there are little ties/bows on the shoulders that don't slide easily under sweaters. This dress has pockets, is a flattering length, and wouldn't you know, I found it at the thrift store, in the wrong section, inside out. I took an inexpensive chance and it's one of my favorite thrift store finds EVER. I'm not sure I'll ever part with it.

Today's lesson in maternity dressing: try layers under your dress - up top and on bottom.

Breton striped top: Target (not maternity)

dress: thrifted (not maternity)

fleece lined tights: GG Boutique (not maternity)

ankle booties: Old Navy

scarf: Pendleton

Americana

I had high hopes to be able to wear this dress for a bit longer, but after today, it was retired to a box labeled something along the lines of "after baby." I might pick up a maternity chambray dress, in the meantime, but I'm not sure yet.

However, before this dress was temporarily retired, I paired it with  maroon fleece-lined tights, a leopard-print infinity scarf, and cowboy boots. I don't wear these boots that often, but on this particular day, we were in the midst of our closet renovation (more on that later) and they were the first boots I could easily get my hands on. And I figured I couldn't go wrong with denim & cowboy boots, right? Americana, at its finest.

Happy Saturday - we're supposed to get tons of snow tonight/tomorrow/tomorrow night, so maybe we'll get cozily snowed in?

chambray dress: Kohl's

fleece-lined tights: GG Boutique

cowboy boots: Steve Madden via DSW

leopard-print infinity scarf: WalMart

checkered & versatile

This is my last look featuring bare legs & sunshine, as well as clothes that don't have some room for an expanding midsection. That being said, I've worn this dress with booties (above), with sandals, as a tunic over leggings, and as a button-up shirt with jeans. How's that for versatile?

red & white checkered dress: The Screamin' Peach

booties: Old Navy

belt: thrifted

vested chambray

Oh look! All the pretty fall colors! Fitting, since these pictures are from this fall...and just now making an appearance...I digress...

Beautiful aspen trees in the mountains are the perfect backdrop for just about anything. Truly. They add an element of "nature" to everything, and somehow, magically, seem to complement anything they're paired with.

Enough with my love song to aspens - let's talk about my outfit. That's why you're here, yes? This is a simple, layered, fall look. Chambray dress, white vest + booties (not easily seen: aspen leaf earrings - they're a real thing, trust). When you need a little more warmth than just a thin dress, a vest is the perfect option - it adds dimension without overwhelming the entire look. And of course, booties - perfect for bare legs with skirts or dresses. However, this look could be easily adapted for the colder weather we're experiencing right now - add tights and a scarf, and voila! Colorado winter chic!

chambray dress: Kohl's

white denim vest: thrifted

ankle booties: Old Navy

very delayed

You thought my post a few weeks ago was a flash-in-the-pan for me and that I'd disappear again, huh? Not the case! I'll spare you the details, but I've made the switch from my beloved MacBook (*tear*) back to a PC, and switching everything over has taken some...finesse (and help from a computer engineer friend), aaaaand, every evening at about 7 pm, our internet goes bad (we're told it's a volume thing and the equipment/infrastructure needs updating. I know, #firstworldproblem, but, when you pay for uber-fast internet, you'd like to be able to use it when you're at your home...) BUT! technological issues aside, we're back in business!

If you're at all observant, you'll notice that these pictures don't appear to have been taken recently, since it's still winter and the bottom of our driveway is still a sheet of solid ice and I'm not wearing 18 layers and tights. And, you would be right. These pictures (and this pink & navy outfit) happened this fall...in September...ages ago! The Mr. and I headed to the mountains for a quick weekend to celebrate our dating anniversary (5 internet gold stars if you can guess what milestone we were celebrating) and he suggested I bring some backlogged outfits to take photos of, because, you know, FALL IN COLORADO. ALL OF THE LEAVES AND ALL OF THE BOO-TIFUL COLORS. 

And, he was right. So smart, that one. Lots of beautiful colors, still some green grass, and you know, some blonde girl wearing a lacy dress & heeled booties out in nature. And also, this is before I knew I was pregnant, as are the next few looks I'll share with you. However, this dress is something I did wear a few times in my first trimester before it got too snug (and subsequently, short); it's currently boxed up until we can be reunited.

So, again, apologies for the delay and my absence, but I'm back! And I've got some maternity-esque looks to share with you (I'm not in FULL maternity gear yet, just lots of stretchy pants) - stay tuned!

navy lace overlay dress: Banana Republic outfit

pink ombre scarf: gift

taupe ankle booties: Old Navy

gold clutch: thrifted

Horsetoothin' around

A few weeks ago, some of my husband's family came up to visit us for an evening. My mother-in-law packed a lovely picnic lunch, and we all took a drive up to Horsetooth Reservoir, just west of Fort Collins.

Confession: I've lived in the area for several years, and this was the fifth time I've been to the reservoir...once was at night, twice on hikes that overlooked the water (no time to look, only concerned about breathing and getting back to the air-conditioning), and the other was a boating expedition, where I was more focused on tubing and drinks.

So, we went to Horsetooth, picnic-ed (is that a word?), and I was gently reminded how beautiful the view is. The view, the water, the mountains, and all of the green trees and bushes. It was warm, but not hot, and of course there was a breeze to keep everything moving.

In essence, a lovely summer evening.

I threw on these anchor print shorts after work, going for a monochromatic look with my navy blue shirt. The anchors also seemed a bit fitting because of the marina and boats at the res (in retrospect, of course I dressed for a nautical theme ;] ) At times, these shorts can look pajama-esque, but a navy button-up helps to elevate them a bit, and keep them looking more sharp & smart than lounge-y.

I'm trying to enjoy all of the summer things before fall gets here and we are inundated with Pumpkin Spice lattes and pictures of leaves and sweaters and boots (can you tell how I feel about fall taking over everything?).

On that note, I've got plans today to celebrate a new friend's wedding at a poolside reception, and then enjoy a free music festival with more friends (and great beer).

Here's to a few more weeks of gorgeous summer, Colorado!

button up: thrifted (J Crew)

shorts: J Crew Factory

sandals: Target

beautiful nature: c/o of Colorful Colorado

linking up:

DC in Style // Shopping My Closet // Sydney Fashion Hunter

The Red Closet Diary // A Pocketful of Polka Dots // Classy Yet Trendy

Tucker Up

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

B to C

More ideas for ways to go from place to place, or you might say since we already covered A to B, this is B to C.

Exhibit B: frolicking in the mountains, and then driving back through the mountains and a few mountain passes to a lower elevation to run errands and get settled at home after a weekend of play. Exhibit B is comprised of: a bulldog sweater, leggings, a scarf, a down vest, and snow boots.

And lots and lots of snow.

Exhibit C: perfect for running errands and enjoying the winter sunshine in Colorado (the temperature this day reached 70! in the middle of winter! I rolled down my car windows and turned up the tunes. Y'all, it was great). Exhibit C was comprised of: the same (wonderfully awesome) bulldog sweater, skinny jeans cuffed a few times, fancy pointy-toed flats, a faux leather jacket, a pearl explosion necklace, and shades. Shades for the above mentioned sunshine.

This was an easy transitional look - I kept the sweater the same and changed my bottoms and outer layers. And accessories, too. And the entire vibe of my ensemble.

But, you gotta do what you gotta do when you swing from one weather extreme to another, and you need to look good and feel good while you're doing it.

sweater: Target

scarf: c/o Aéropostale

vest: Old Navy

leggings: c/o Aéropostale

boots: SOREL via JAX

sweater: Target

jeans: c/o Aéropostale

jacket: c/o Aéropostale

flats: Target