Simple Favorites

layering my necklaces isn't something I've done a lot of in the past, however, I think it's something I'll start doing more of. the little clover is for my sweetie - he's a wee bit Irish ;)

my Mr.'s cousin got me these black bow earrings for Christmas, and I can honestly say I love them! some of my new favorite earrings. they're sweet because they're bows, but they're also the teensiest bit edgy because they're black. and if you know me, you know I have a hard time doing edgy, so these are perfect!

This outfit includes so many simple favorite pieces. It's a new favorite outfit, simply because it's comprised of so many favorite separates:

- chambray: do I even have to explain this one? If you don't have a chambray, I suggest you get one (or 4), and you'll quickly see they're it's so great.

- striped sweatshirt: it's a sweatshirt, it has stripes, and it's fabulously comfortable.

- down vest: it's warm. and it's navy. need I say more?

- olive skinnies: I just love these pants. they're comfy, they're green, and amazingly, they seem to go with just about everything. however, I've lost a little bit of weight since I got them this fall, so by the end of the day, they're a bit baggy on my behind. however, pulling up my britches is a small price to pay for really great looking pants, that are also a closet staple!

I'm glad this outfit came together so easily - sometimes I put together favorite separates and they don't make a great outfit. The outfit seems to scream: "STAAAAAHHHPPPP it! You can like all of us, just stop trying to make us play nice together." To which I slowly peel off all the pieces and start from scratch. Sometimes, you just have to go back to the drawing board :)

chambray: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's [[similar below]]

sweatshirt: Old Navy [[exact and similar below]]

pants: Aéropostale

vest: Old Navy [[similar below]]

shoes: Target [[similar below]]

SHOP THE LOOK...OR SOMETHING SIMILAR

Mr. Picks Mondays: Shades of Blue

I found this gem (haha, get it?) of a pair of kicks at ARC last week.
they're navy blue.
they are bedazzled.
and I'm obsessed.

I've done some shopping in the past few weeks - I've been pretty very successful at Old Navy, ARC, and Aéropostale (don't worry - those goodies are coming your way!). This shirt was a thrifted find at ARC, as are the shoes. The Mister picked out the button-up for me to wear, and I added the rest. 

Navy blue is my new obsession, so any time I can wear navy, or add it to an outfit, I have been. Probably more than I should (is every day too often?). I even scored a navy blue peacoat at Old Navy that I just loooove. I've been hearing that "navy is the new black," and I like to think that I'm ahead of the curve, having always liked it - both parents proudly wore Air Force Blue (growing up it wasn't called navy blue, it was AIR FORCE BLUE). Hey, I even have a navy blue car now ;)

shirt: thrifted (Hollister) sort of similar below

blazer: Aéropostale

scarf: Aéropostale

pants: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's sort of similar below

flats: thrifted (Adrienne Vittadini) sort of similar below

SHOP THE LOOK - OR SOMETHING SIMILAR...

Layered Schweater

If you want the truth, I wore this outfit several weeks ago, during the cold snap I already told you about. And since it was cold, you guessed it - I layered up! I put a chambray under the sweater, and am wearing AT LEAST two pairs of socks beneath those (worn) UGG boots you see. And then, when we were running errands that day (and "exposed" to the elements), I added a heavy black scarf, down vest, down coat (with the fux fur-trimmed hood UP OVER my head), and my earmuffs and gloves on. Fashionable? More like marshmallow-ey. But quite warm & cocooned!

I really like this sweater, especially with my faux leather-stripe leggings. I'm wearing them above, but didn't get any detail shots, so you'll just have to take my word for it, my friends. The sweater is just slouchy enough for the weekend, but chic enough to look put together, dontcha think? I've worn it once or twice since (without a collared shirt underneath), but with the same leggings...! I need to come up with a new way to wear it...any suggestions?? I got some great ideas the last time I asked for help - so, haaaaaalp!

sweater: Aéropostale

chambray: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

leggings: Aéropostale

boots: UGG (gift from my sweetie, SEVERAL years ago)

Pants Decisions

I wore this combination on a particularly gray & rainy day. Sometimes I like to wear brights when the weather is cold & gray, but sometimes I like to blend right in - it really depends on my mood. 

And what items are not in the laundry...

Lately, I'm loving purple in all shades. Sometimes I just want to put on every purple item I own and dance around and pretend to be a grape. Or an eggplant (it's always food...). Anyone care to join me? 

I got this pair of coated denim on major clearance this past May at Kohl's, from the Lauren Conrad line. It was between these and a pair of (vegan) black leather pants (vegan leather is a fancy way of saying faux leather, because as you know, it is trendy to be a vegan/paleo/gluten free in this day & age). I agonized over this life-altering (hardly) decision for a good 20+ minutes. As you can see, I ultimately went with these pants. I'm just not sure that my blonde hair, blue eyed, sometimes-gets-confused-for-a-high-schooler-self could really rock (vegan) leather pants. However, as my bestie pointed out, this pair of coated denim fills that hole of "badass-ness" in my closet. 

AND, they're purple, instead of typical black. 

AND, purple was my favorite color in the 6th grade.

linking up here, here and here today - check it out!

gray lace shirt: Victoria's Secret

sweater: Maurice's

pants: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

flats: Jessica Simpson