30 for 30: day 11 + day 12

Happy Thursday - we're slowly heading towards the weekend. It's sure been a doozy.

I've got big plans to check out the Lilly for Target Line with some girlfriends first thing on Sunday morning, so the weekend can't get here quickly enough.

day 11

striped sweatshirt: Old Navy

leopard print scarf: WalMart

dark skinnies: c/o Aéropostale

metallic sandals: Target

day 12

dress: Lilly Pulitzer

ombre scarf: gift

faux leather jacket: c/o Aéropostale

tassel flats: Target

linking up this dress for the Trend Spin Linkup

and over at High Latitude Style

and at The Red Closet Diary

no fooling here

No April Fools' jokes or tricks here. I can never seem to get my act together in time to do something very creative or impactful. Maybe next year?

BUT

Check out my extreme print-mixing in this outfit. Stripes, leopard, and dots (the shoes).

It works for a few reasons:

1) the prints don't compete with each other

2) leopard is a neutral and goes with everything

3) the stripes are so teeny that from a distance, this shirt looks solid, again, keeping the prints from competing with each other

4) the print on the shoes is so far away from the prints up top, and also so small, that it looks cohesive

5) because I said it works ;)

Are you a print-mixer? I find that the more and more I do it, the more confident and comfortable I become with it. Sometimes it's even my default when picking out my outfits and accessories, and I have to remember to tone it down occasionally...

Aaaaand, I'm doing another 30 for 30 style challenge for the month of April, so look for those outfits and 30 items to start showing up in the next few days ;)

Here's to getting creative and having a capsule wardrobe for the next month!

shirt: GAP

pants: c/o Aéropostale

scarf: WalMart

flats: Target

for the love of scarves

When it's warm outside, but your office/where you work/where you spend most of your day is freezing, what do you wear?

*not a trick question*

LAYERS.

Additionally, scarves, boots, and jackets. Extra points if you print mix, mix color palettes, try something monochromatic, and/or do something interesting.

Aaaand, that's what I did here. I've been getting some, *ahem* "feedback" on my wearing of scarves (how often, how many, how big they are, etc., etc.), and to that, I say:

"They help to keep me warm, transition my outfit for different events, and transition my outfit for different temperature extremes (from warm to freezing to hot and back again).

And, I like how they look and help to make my look 'complete'. For the love of scarves, people!"

;)

striped dress: WalMart

floral scarf: Target

navy cardigan: Banana Republic Outlet

teal faux leather jacket: local boutique

boots: The Frye Company via Nordstrom

monday the 30th

Good morning! How was your weekend? As far as weekends go, mine was pretty good. Lots of friends, eating, and running - some of my favorite things. I'm looking forward to this next one, too - quality time with my Dad is the big thing on the agenda. And by quality time, I mean ice cream eating, war-movie watching, Reese's consuming, and general cracking of silly jokes.

We're a pretty funny duo (at least we think so).

*carriage return*

This outfit. These booties. Not sure how I feel about this whole thing together. Black on black on black with polka dots, topped off with a purple scarf? Let's consider it a questionable marriage of winter and spring. I think I've got the elements of something great, but my execution is not so great. *sigh* I could wear this without the scarf, BUT the cut of this dress is QUITE low, so not quite appropriate for work. However, low-cut tops only showcase my sternum and a freckle or two ;)

And these booties. I LOVE my taupe ankle booties from Old Navy and wear them all the time. I have high hopes for the black ones (hence how they came to be a part of my closet), but I think they might hit in just the wrong spot to make my legs look extra beefy.

Anyone else struggle with ankle booties?

What kind of socks do you wear?!

The struggle is real.

dress: thrifted (Target)

polka dot cardigan: J. Crew Factory

ankle booties: Kohl's

purple scarf: gift

tough to spring

You guys, I'm finding it tough to transition into spring outfits. I'm hanging onto the dark colors and layers and sweaters.

What is the deal?! I LOVE sunshine and warmth and sandals. 

I think it's that I'm more comfortable creating outfits with layers - the layers allow for more visual interest. In the summer, when it's hot, it's a top and a bottom. And typically sandals. That's about it. Most of the time it even feels too hot to wear jewelry, let alone a light jacket or cardigan or scarf. It's not that I don't like summer clothes - please don't misunderstand me.

What I like about layering is that it allows me the opportunity to remix my closet and the items in it - I can create LOTS of outfits using the same piece. In the summer, it feels like I've got a lot more limited options, since I can't really put anything over it, or wear it with tights, or add a scarf, or a vest or jacket on top. It's less pieces to remix and put together. But maybe I should just use this as an opportunity to flex my styling muscles?

Is this making any sense? I'm looking forward to warmer weather, I just always have a tricky time with the transition of the seasons - it takes me a few weeks to wrap my clothing & styling brain around the changing temperatures. Anyone else experience the same thing? Or am I the only goon hanging onto sweaters and scarves?

sweater: thrifted (J. Crew)

pants: Target

scarf: Pendleton

flats: thrifted

sidewalkin'

Double denim, and a sweatshirt from high school. Who am I? Just throwing out old style rules, left and right. This sweatshirt was a gift from my Grandpa, I believe my senior year of high school. Y'all, that was...many many moons ago.

What do ya think? How'd it turn out? Pulling out an oldie and pairing it with 2 types of denim, stripes, and boots. Oh, and a pub in the background. Pair that with sunshine, and I gotta say, I don't hate it.

We're almost to Friday - hang in there, everybody.

chambray: thrifted

striped tank: Target

sweatshirt: gift (American Eagle)

skinny jeans: c/o Aéropostale

boots: The Frye Company via Nordstrom

brown bag: COACH

twice Lieb-ed

Just a few days ago, Natasha, of Polished Avenue (Colorado blogger, hey girl heyyyyyy) nominated me for the Liebster Award. I was last nominated back in January of 2014 (read it here - that feels so long ago).

The purpose of the Liebster award is to recognize the hard work of new(ish) upcoming bloggers and to introduce you, the reader, to new blogs you might be interested in adding to your reading rotation. After someone is nominated, they are asked to answer eleven questions that reveal information about them that you may not find out in their daily posts. They are then asked to nominate 11 new bloggers, and you know, carry the whole thing forward ;)

1. How did you get into blogging?

I stumbled upon (literally. via StumbleUpon) A Pretty Penny in the fall of 2011 and was immediately intrigued. After discovering more and more fashion and style blogs, I kept thinking to myself "I could do that," and so, I published my first post just over two years ago (more about that here).

2. If you could have anyone’s closet, who’s would you have?

Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge. So classy.

3. Who is your celebrity crush?

Just one? Ryan Gosling. Channing Tatum. and Ryan Reynolds. 

4. First thing you would do if you won the lottery?

Try to figure out how much tax would come out of my earnings...

5. One song on your playlist you’re embarrassed by, but would never delete?

The version of "Beauty and the Beast" from the Disneymania album.

6. You’re going to a dinner party tonight. What are you cooking?

Wine.

7. All time favorite tv show?

Friends.

8. What is one beauty product you can’t live without?

For my hair, my hot rollers. For my face, mascara. Bare lashes are not my best look.

9. You’re at Starbucks. What do you order?

A soy latte, or an Americano - depends on if I'm feeling the need to indulge my sweet tooth or not.

10. What is your cure for a bad day?

Snuggling with my pups, Netflix, and ice cream

11. What’s a fashion trend from your childhood that you want to bring back?

White Keds. I got a new pair every year for school and I would try SO hard to keep them white and unscuffed as long as possible.

And now, here are some bloggers you might enjoy - some have been doing this for a while, so they're not quite new anymore, but I think you'll enjoy them just the same ;)

A Pretty Penny

The Caffeinated Closet

Classically Carissa

The Middle Closet

Galvanized Glamour

Jamie's Rabbits

Style Assisted

My Boring Closet

The Adored Life

The Denver Darling

Country Girl in Stilettos

lime green sweater: Old Navy // black leather skirt: thrifted

fleece-lined tights: Target // booties: Kohl's

scarf: Pendleton // red coat: Old Navy

what not to wear when shopping

So many layers. It's so weird to think of snow and cold when we've had beautiful weather the past few days. But, it won't last. Spring in the Rockies is a fickle little beast - 70 degrees one day, gross snow the next. And everything else in between the few days after. 

I wore this heavily-layered ensemble to do some shopping with my Mama, and it took me so long to try anything on - layers on, layers off, static-y hair, boots, snow, slush. You know how it is - shopping in the winter. It's quite the ordeal. Where do I put my coat? Is it worth trying on? It's going to take 20 minutes to de-robe before I can even try on this top...

Good news is, my Mama and I did make a few small purchases.

So we didn't totally let the retail gods down ;)

tank dress: American Apparel

buffalo plaid button up: Kohl's

fleece-lined tights: Target

sleeveless sweater: Eddie Bauer

boots: c/o Aéropostale