late night

I mentioned a few weeks back that one of my best friends was moving closer to me. Well this is what I wore when we were able to catch up for the first time since this past April/May. She and her mom had spent the majority of the day unloading, unpacking, and cleaning. I showed up after work, and the 3 of us were enjoying some chilled white wine not long after. Her mom headed back home, so my friend and I went out for dinner. 

Cut to me not leaving her place til well after midnight. And having to work at 7 the next morning. That was rough…

maxi dress: Old Navy

vest: thrifted (Levi’s)

sandals: Target

the jury is out

The verdict is still out on this shirt - I've had it for over a year, because sometimes I really like the fit, and sometimes I think it's WAAAAY too clingy. However, it does fill a nice little black-and-white-striped-short-sleeve-shirt hole in my closet...

And also, isn't that brown and white bully up there so dang cute?

shirt: The Limited

skirt: Nordstrom (recently here)

wedges: Target

Mr. Picks Mondays - Maxi Dress (on a short girl)

Here’s that black maxi dress again – are you sick of seeing it yet? I’m not - I really like wearing it. And I plan to wear it.

All.

Summer.

Long.

It’s a wee bit long on my 5’4” self, however. The straps are a bit long on my shoulders (common for me), so it makes deciding on a bra a bit more tricky. Not impossible -  just requires a bit more forethought.

I went with a larger size when I purchased this maxi dress – the smaller size fit perfectly in the 

Old Navy dressing room, but I was concerned that:

1) The dress would shrink when I washed it, and I didn’t want to be wearing the maxi dress equivalent of high-waters. However, the opposite has happened – I think the skirt of the dress gets longer every time I wear it…

and

2) The larger size allows me to eat a few more donuts (and burritos. and ice cream. and guacamole. and peanut butter. and popcorn. and wine. and New Belgium Snapshots.) than a dress that fits and drapes just so.

maxi dress: Old Navy

striped cardigan: rue21

sandals: Shoe Carnival

Mr. Picks Mondays: Black and White

The Mr. chose the black and white flannel shirt. and I added the sweater (we're still experiencing some less-than-warm weather here in Colorado). Not a groundbreaking look, but something solid for a springtime-in-the-Rockies Monday.

found this necklace at Target with my pregnant bestie. and we both fell in love
I didn't take much convincing to bring it home with me

tank: WalMart

plaid shirt: Old Navy

cardigan: Hollister via Plato's Closet

jeans: Aéropostale

shoes: Payless

necklace: target

Edgy...with a side of Warm & Fuzzy

 

 

  

 

This is me trying out "edgy." I know it doesn't look like it, but I assure you, it is. 

If you look REALLY closely at the outfit on the left, my red shirt under the chambray has little bitty gold studs. They're in a polka dot pattern, but that is besides the point!

And, for my outfit on the right, I'm wearing coated denim, which is #2 on the edgy pants scale (#1 being leather pants, obvi). And nothing says grunge like black and white flannel, except for ripped acid wash jeans... 

However, I am obviously more interested in unicorns and rainbows, than in being edgy, as evidenced by my heart print scarf, and bulldog tee (below)...

Better luck next time!

SHOP THE LOOKS, OR SOMETHING SIMILAR

on the left:

tank: Old Navy

chambray: thrifted similar below

scarf: Aéropostale exact

jeans: Aéropostale exact

shoes: KMart similar below

on the right:

bulldog T: J CREW Factory similar below

flannel: Old Navy similar below

coated denim: Kohl's similar below

shoes: Target similar below

Black & White - Casual vs. Fancier

 

 

 

 

I didn't realize until I was looking at outfit pictures and putting posts together how much black I've been wearing lately. It's not the "color of my soul," or anything, it's easy to grab when I'm foggy in the mornings, and it goes with just about everything. So, since I've worn it pretty often lately. and some white to go with it, here are two different black and white looks for your viewing pleasure...and maybe some black & white outfit inspiration, to boot ;)

On the left: more casual - stripes, flannel & warm boots

On the right: fancier - peplum, blazer & bright flats

SHOP THE LOOK...OR SOMETHING SIMILAR

on the left:

striped top: Old Navy similar below

flannel: Old Navy similar & exact below

jeans: Aéropostale exact

boots: UGG similar & exact below

on the right:

 striped peplum: Ann Taylor Factory sort of similar below

blazer: thrifted (Target) similar below

jeans: Aéropostale exact

neonflats: Kohl's similar below

An Evening Out

if you look closely, there's a little bitty Cali-pup photo bomber...

Several weeks ago, the Mr. and I went "out" on a Friday evening. We met up with friends for drinks and a light dinner, then wandered the streets of downtown and made stops at several old favorite watering holes. 

As we left the house, I said to D: 

"Who AM I? 

Going out on a Friday? 

We haven't done this in ages! 

At LEAST since I was in college!" 

But, it was nice to spice things up and get out, although we were back at home,

enjoying Netflix the following evening :)

linking up with:

Vodka Infused Lemonade for Tres-Chic Fashion Thursday

Everyday Fashion and Finance and Perfectly Coutured for Three-fer Thursday

The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday

SHOP THE LOOK...OR SOMETHING SIMILAR:

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

jacket: thrifted (Plato's Closet - Miley Cyrus + Max Azria) [[similar below]]

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

clutch: thrifted [[similar below]]

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

Some Football, and a WiLd sweata'

I'm writing this post during the last quarter of Super Bowl 48. 

*shakes head & sighs*

I do not profess to really "follow" football, but this season I HAVE been watching the Broncos with my husband. I provide a really funny commentary peppered with comments like:

"That was dumb."

"Why did he do that?"

"What does THAT mean?"

"Wait, what?! I thought the rules were THIS way...do they keep changing them??"

"Why are their pants so tight?"

Confession: even being married to my husband-who-was-previously-my-high-school-boyfriend who was a tight end and a defensive end, and having a brother who was All-State Football, played the O-Line & D-Line, and attending almost every game since he started playing tackle football at the tender age of 10, I'm not TOO sure on all of the rules. I mean, I get the premise of the game (you have 4 tries to move 10 yards, touchdowns are worth 6 points, yadda yadda yadda), but some things trip me up: the names of ALL of the positions; when and why you can't tackle someone (you mean tackling is not the name of the game?), etc. etc. 

Anyways, given my limited knowledge & understanding of the game of football, I DID watch (almost all of) it. And I was really disappointed in the Denver Broncos. I did just jump on the bandwagon, but hey, they're a Colorado team, and I'm obligated to cheer for a team from the Mile High City. And I'm a big fan of Peyton Manning. He seems like such a genuinely nice guy (like you could backyard BBQ with him & his family and have such a great time - I have many dreams in life: 1) hang out with Peyton Manning; 2) get to be Dinger [the Rockies mascot] for a day (or 5. or forever. whatever); and 3) be BFFs with Tina Fey & Amy Poehler).

That being said, I'm shaking my head over here at how the Broncos played. I'm wondering why it took us 3/4 of the game to show up and put some points on the board?! I'm also wondering why we played the way we did. Was it really the "12th Man"?

Anyways, I'm sure you don't want to hear more about our terrible loss, and Seattle's win...

Oh, did you want to read about my outfit? I'm sure that's why you're here. That, and my dazzling smile & fabulous sense of humor, no? ;) 

This outfit is nothing super special, but I've come to realize that every outfit simply can't be a home run (or, ahem, Super Bowl win *sigh*). They can't all be knockouts. And that's ok. Some days I just can't get the creative juices flowing while I'm picking out my outfit. Especially when it's early in the morning and I haven't had my coffee IV hooked up just yet (I wish someone would hurry up and get those on the market). Not to say that this outfit is bad (far from it!) but it's not my most creative. 

Wait. What am I saying?

Back up.

This sweater is pretty wild (let's hear it for leopard print, the new neutral!), and I knew that, so I let it steal the show while keeping everything else pretty simple, with dark wash skinnies & black and white ;) 

Quick recovery, huh? See what I did there? Very unlike Denver today...oy.

P.S. I know it looks like I'm wearing the same vest from yesterday, but you'll have to trust me that there were a few days in between these 2 favorites.

sweater: Target similar below

vest: Aéropostale similar below

jeans: Gap very similar below

boots: UGG similar below

SHOP SOMETHING SIMILAR BELOW

when traveling home from Minnesota

Here is what I wore home from Minnesota. Layers, layers, layers.

I had never before thought to pair my black skinnies with my long dark chambray, but paired them together by chance this fall while I was cleaning out my closet (yet again), and was really excited about this simple look. I put the gray tee underneath simply for comfort and to wear more layers. In the future I'll probably wear the chambray buttoned up, and maybe topped off with a colorful scarf.

brrrrr! are you cold yet?

These boots are getting a lot of wear this winter. As I'm writing this, it's snowing outside. And we've got skiing on our agenda this weekend. Snow, snow, snow! The worst part of having really great & fashionable furry snow boots? Having to actually shovel the snow. Blegh.

linking up:

Run Style Run for What She Wears

ColorBlind for Thrifters Anonymous

t-shirt: from a clothes swap with friends similar below

chambray: thrifted similar below

pants: Aéropostale

scarf: thrifted similar below

vest: thrifted (Aéropostale) similar below

boots: SOREL exact below

SHOP SOMETHING SIMILAR BELOW