Mr. Picks Mondays: Navy & Plum

The Mr. chose the blue sweater dress, and I chose the purple plaid for underneath and the plum patterned tights. Looks like for the past two MPM he's got me in a dress or a skirt...I'm sure my mom is loving that! Side story: when I was really little, I would only wear dresses or skirts. Every day. 

Then, from fifth grade through high school, I hated wearing them. I think it has something to do with the fact that I have a love/hate relationship with tights/stockings/pantyhose/whatever you want to call them - yes, I have many pairs, but no, I don't find them very comfortable.

I'm coming around to them though. I'm seeing lots of value (and excitement!) in being able to wear skirts & dresses in the winter (I'm late to this game, I know!). And seems like whenever I wear them to work with boots lately, I tend to stay a bit warmer than I do in pants. Odd? Yes. Or maybe it has something to do with the outside temperature...and consequently the temperature in my drafty, exterior-walls-only, drafty office?

Either way, a sweater dress is one way to make sure you're adding variety to your winter outfits. In winters past I've just done pants & sweaters, with the occasional vest or blazer. But THIS year, I feel like I'm really mixing it up, and staying warm AND fashionable AT THE SAME TIME!

linking up:

Still Being Molly for Funday Monday

Fizz & Frosting for Mix it Monday

Style Elixir for Style Sessions Fashion Link Up

Vodka Infused Lemonade for Tres-Chic Fashion Thursday Link Up

sweater dress: from a clothes swap (Target) sort of similar below

shirt: from a clothes swap (American Eagle) sort of similar below

tights: WalMart sort of similar below

boots: Rack Room Shoes sort of similar below

SHOP MY LOOK (or something sort of similar)

Mr. Picks Mondays: Covering up (Some Overindulging)

the sweater-y knit of my maxi skirt

I don't know why, but I have a hard time with this skirt (and it's charcoal gray twin). They're both a heavy, sweater knit and have slits on one side. Easy to pair with boots, or even flats. Perfect for chilly weather, except for when there is moisture on the ground, as they kinda-sorta skim the earth, and I simply can't have the bottom 2 inches of my skirt soaked through. 

Maybe it's the fit? They've got an elastic waistband that can easily produce some muffin-top, especially in a too-snug top. Enter a chambray button up. Not too snug, still on trend, and perfect for after the holidays, when I've overindulged in treats & fancy beverages.

I realize the last time I wore this skirt, I paired it with this same chambray. So much for my remixing skills...

*shakes head*

Buttttt, totally different look this time! This time is more of a "wintery-fresh-with-boots" look, and last time was a "purple-y-scarf-and-blustery-bun" look...too much? ;)

chambray: thrifted

skirt: thrifted

boots: Rack Room Shoes

scarf: gift

linking up:

DC in Style for Monday Bloom

The Style Record for Monday Must Haves

Still Being Molly for Funday Monday

Fizz and Frosting for Mix it Mondays

Mr. Picks Mondays: Obnoxiously Festive

The handsome Mr. picked out the sweatshirt dress, and I chose the RED tights. Because, if you can't be obnoxiously festive this time of year, when can you? Besiiiiides the 4th of July, obviouslyyyy.

I kind of love MPM because my Mr. tends to pick out stuff I don't wear too often, and it forces me to get creative. He also reminds me of some goodies hidden in the recesses of the pretty little room I call my closet

P.S. Get ready for some good ole' American pride this February - the 2014 Winter Olympics start in 6 weeks!
USA!
USA!

sweatshirt dress: WalMart

tights: Target

shoes: Kohl's

linking up:
Still Being Molly for Funday Monday
The Style Record for Monday Must Haves

Mr. Picks Mondays: Belated Black & White

I realize this latest installment of Mr. Picks Mondays is a few days late, but, as Wednesday was Christmas, my schedule has been all sorts of catawumpus. I've been thrown out of wack - having time off from work has allowed me to take a nap (almost) every day, lounge, have long lunches with old friends, and snuggle with my pups in the middle of the day. 

Let me just say, I'm loving having a few extra days off.

My Mr. pulled this out of the closet for me to wear. I'm really trying to "winter-ize" my white pants and wear them into winter, but they are such a mental hurdle for me! I just want to wear them with loose & flowy summer tops and sandals. I KNOW it's possible (and even chic!) to wear them in the winter, I'm just having a hard time making myself comfortable with it. Any tips?? And also, I tend to spill anything&everything on white pants, so, there's that...

Actually, let me clarify what I said above ^ My Mr. chose the polka dot top and white pants. I added the blazer, shoes, and the striped top underneath for some black & white print mixing - adds a bit of dimension, dontcha think? ;) 

polka dot top: thrifted

striped top: Express

blazer: thrifted (Target)

pants: Old Navy 

flats: Kohl's

linking up with...
Simply Lulu Style for What I'm Loving Fridays
Two Thirty Five Designs for Casual Friday Link Up
Style Elixir for Friday's Fab Favorites
Simple Sequins for Fashion Item Friday

Mr. Picks Mondays: Bbbbblue Sweater

I like blue fair-isle so much,  I have two of these sweaters - this one, and
the same print & style in dark navy & light pink

When my Mr. picked this out for me, he really had it easy. When I come up with an outfit that looks good and I want to wear, I hang it up in my closet and loop a little brightly-colored foam 

door-hanger over it. 

This was one of those outfits - he hollered to me: 

"What if it has a thing on the hanger?"

"That means it goes with what it's hanging with."

"Sweet. You're wearing this."

He's all about keeping it simple. That's one thing I love about him.

Two more things before we call it a day (I'm wiped, and my comfy bed is calling my name).

1) I have a hard time styling this sweater and its navy & pink cousin - it's a short cardigan, so I don't want to wear anything too form-fitting, but it's a snug fit, so I can't wear anything very thick/heavy under. Any more suggestions besides a button up?

2) Just want to share that I haven't been able to wear these jeans in about a year, as they were too snug. However, with clean eating & lots of self control, I'm able to fit into them again. Ta Da! :D

sweater: American Eagle - Aerie

button up: J CREW (thrifted)

jeans: Old Navy

boots: UGG

linking up:
The Style Record - Monday Must Haves
Still Being Molly - funday MONDAY
lowercase letters - miscellany monday
Watch out for the Woestmans - Watch What I'm Wearing
Not Dead Yet Style
Claire Justine
Join the Gossip

Mr. Picks Mondays: Black Friday Swag

Late on Thanksgiving night, I left the comfort of my warm house to pick up my friend, Amanda, to do some Black Friday shopping. We had BIG plans: we were going to hit up our local outlets, stop at a HUGE outdoor mall, check out Kohl's, maybe go to Target, and see what other places were open for the day that has now become  than Thanksgiving: Black Friday.

However, for all of our plans, bottled water, and coffee in travel mugs, we didn't make it past the outlet mall. After waiting in lines at several stores, and power-shopping & power-trying-on through several others, we made our final purchases and called it a night. I was home, snuggled in bed by 2:30.

This lacey sweater/sweatshirt was one of those final purchases. I picked it up at rue21 - don't think I've been in to one of those stores in a very long time, but good thing we went in that night morning. I found this lacey sweater/sweatshirt and another striped cardigan. I modeled my purchases for my Mr. later that day (after much-needed sleep), and when it came time for him to pick this week's Mr. Picks Mondays, he picked out this lacey sweater/sweatshirt & my mint jeans. He knows me too well - he knows that new clothes burn a hole in my closet and I just can't wait to wear them! 

I've got some more Black Friday swag lined up for you this week - find any great Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals you couldn't wait to wear?

lacey sweater/sweatshirt: rue21

mint jeans: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

boots: Rackroom Shoes

scarf: made by me!

linking up over here & here (for the first time!) today

Mr. Picks Mondays: Lady. In Boots. (like Puss. In Boots.)

This double-sweater action was from October, but I didn't have a chance to share it before I started my 30 for 30 challenge. Better late than never, right? Right! As I remember, the 2 sweaters my Mr. picked out were perfect for this chilly day. My parents got me this sleeveless sweater from Eddie Bauer a few years ago for Christmas, and I love to pull it out when it gets cold. It's nice and toasty, without being TOO warm, and it's something a bit different than the chunky sweaters I see on everyone else. 

I've had this raspberry colored v-neck sweater from Hollister for ages. I even wore it in my senior pictures - I'll have to ask my mom if she can send me one. Man, I looked goooood. 

Ever double up on sweaters for extra warmth? It's best to do it with one that is really light/thin under a heavier one, to avoid looking like a marshmallow. 

Unless, of course, that's the look you're going for, then just keep piling on heavy layers! ;)

raspberry v-neck sweater: Hollister

sleeveless sweater: Eddie Bauer

pants: thrifted (Lauren Conrad)

boots: Rack Room shoes

Mr. Picks Mondays: More Monochromatic-ness & Mint

what? you don't make weird faces and post them on the internet for all the world to see?

always wearing a pink ribbon - it's Zeta Tau Alpha's national philanthropy

What is the deal with me being so behind on my outfit posts?! I wish I could explain, or at least have a better excuse than 

"I got busy."

But really though, I got busy!

My Mr. picked out this get-up, and was really excited for me to go monochromatic again. Maybe this will be a trend every week? We'll have to wait and see!

It's time for me to get to bed, so that's all the regularly scheduled programming for tonight :)

linking up this over here today, check it out!

jacket: Old Navy (from a friend's closet)

shirt: Target

pants: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

shoes: KMart

Mr. Picks Mondays: Not Dressed for Fall

My Mr. picked this out for today. I love this dress - it's bright, & cheery it's comfortable, and it's conservative enough to wear to work. I was set. I went to work, did my thing, then sometime this afternoon the clouds rolled in. The RAIN clouds rolled in. And with them, cooler temperatures. Extremely cooler temps - we're talking in the 60s, whereas over the weekend we were in the 90s. So, I was a wee bit chilly and dressed for the wrong season by this afternoon.

*sigh* 

I guess I should start thinking about dressing for fall... 

Moral of the story: Colorado weather will always keep you guessing, and you WILL dress for the wrong season. 

No matter what your weather app tells you.

my new sandals from Target - they're the best of mix of metallic sandals: gold, silver, AND copper

In other news, Sons of Anarchy is back on tomorrow night - weeeeeeeeee! Anyone else a fan? I was never into motorcycles (or riding) until D introduced me to the show last summer. A few episodes in, I was hooked. Maybe it's because my life is NOTHING like the show? I mean, they're a motorcycle club (MC) that runs guns and drugs, and they operate an auto shop as the legal side of their business. 

Anyways, it's really good, and you should get into it. And then we can talk about it. Tweet me.

PS - Charlie Hunnam (Jax from Sons) was just announced as Christian Grey for the 50 Shades of Grey movie. 

#truestory #mc

#morecharliehunnamisagoodthing

#samcro #sonsofanarchy

dress: Kohl's

sandals: Target