just some (really nice) pics

We chose to take some maternity photos (by we, I mean that I did. The Mr. agreed and played along) to document this exciting time in our lives.

Our dear, dear friend who did our engagement photos in 2011 and took some wedding photos is busy with her OWN pregnancy and job and life a few hours away, so we chose a local photographer, who also happens to be a friend from high school. Ain't it grand when your friends are talented and creative people?

Jill Simonds, of Simonds Photographic, took our photos and we love (luuuuurve) them (we also had them within a week!). The hardest part has been deciding which ones to print and frame in the baby's room...

If you are looking for a photographer in Northern Colorado, I can't recommend Jill enough. She does weddings, engagement sessions, maternity & newborn photos, senior portraits, family portraits, and lifestyle shoots. Not only is she a great photographer, she's also a really nice person.

True story - she used to drive me home from high school sometimes ;)

black & olive

This black/dark gray chambray hasn't buttoned properly for quite some time, but that doesn't mean I can't still wear it open over my bump. And that's precisely what I did here. Just because something doesn't fit the way it's designed to, doesn't mean you can't wear it, especially while growing a human - that's when you should feel your best!

Take a look at some pieces you love but aren't wearing at the moment - is there a different way to style them? Voila! An outfit is born! ;)

*all items are part of my Maternity Capsule Wardrobe

show stealer

The cute, white, furry nugget (also known as "The Handsome") makes an appearance in today's look and steals the show. So much for my brightly-colored poncho, huh?

*all items are part of my Maternity Capsule Wardrobe

PS - these pants aren't sticking around in my maternity capsule wardrobe - there is no zipping them all the way up...

2016

Hello? Anyone there? *crickets*

Sorry (again) for my extended absence this fall/winter/holiday season (said sheepishly). Disappearing from the internets was never my intent, but at the risk of sounding like a cliche, time keeps running away from me, or maybe I should say "Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin', into the future..." However, in my defense, I've been in a bit of a stylish/blogging funk, and here's why:

I'm pregnant. 

Yes, it's true. I'm gestating a tiny human (as a friend of mine said), and to be frank with you, I feel like nothing fits my body, nor suits my evolving style at the moment (evolving in that I'm in my 20s - youth! but I'm on my way to becoming a mother - I can't look like I'm 12 anymore!). I'm not in maternity clothes yet (17 weeks), but my regular clothes are a wee bit snug. Thankfully, my sweet mama came to the rescue and gifted me several of her cozier sweaters and some new ones to wear in this awkward "Is she pregnant? Or has she just eaten A LOT of burritos lately?" phase I'm currently residing in.

Anyways, growing a tiny human can be is exhausting. Couple that with not feeling so great for weeks on end, and feeling bloated and your skin breaking out (not sure if that's Bebe, or the terrible acne I've had since middle school rearing its ugly head...), and you have a recipe for this girl not feeling motivated or inspired to blog.

Womp womp.

Oh, and add lots of social, family, work, house, and life commitments and engagements, throw in a dash of Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year's, people visiting, and lots & lots of cold weather and snow, and this blonde/redhead/"what color is THAT?" has been crawling into bed earlier and earlier every day, with nary a concern for her wardrobe.

However, it's a new year (heyyyyy, 2016!), and I picked an easy resolution: have a baby. I mean, I'm almost halfway there, so, this one should be pretty simple to stick to. And along that vein, maybe I can inspire another newly-pregnant young mom-to-be to drop the leggings, and put together something that makes her feel great. Because, really, if we don't feel great when we're growing the next generation of humans (maybe your child will be the Next Great Fashion Blogger), when should we? This will sound sappy, but growing a tiny human is pretty neat, especially when you think of all of the amazing things your body (and theirs) are doing, to shield and grow this little Bebe (just don't think of all of the other uncomfortable and less glamorous things).

I'm off my soapbox now, and am done with my apology. Don't you worry - this isn't going to turn into a strictly "mommy" blog, or pregnancy/nursing/newborn blog - I'm still me, and I'll still be me after Bebe arrives (albeit most likely very sleep deprived, and perhaps a bit dazed & confused). However, you'll see more "bump style," and maybe some other tidbits about babies. But, my excellent sense of humor is still the same ;)

In preparing for our new arrival, we've done some projects around our house that I'm excited to share with you. *disclaimer: these are all DIY, budget-friendly, mostly use-what-we-have types of projects, and neither of us have a background in design - you've been warned...

Here's a picture of my dog - isn't he sweet? He's been battling aspiration pneumonia for the past few days, but appears to be on the mend, as evidenced by a lower temperature, and the ability to scarf down wet dog food (so gross) this morning.

bully leopard

You guys. This might be one of my favorite outfits ever (EVER). Why have I never paired a favorite tee with a leopard print pencil skirt before??

This outfit struck the right balance of dressy and casual, fun and serious (like that line from Talladega Nights "I like to think of Jesus in a tuxedo t-shirt. It says I'm serious, but I like to party."), comfortable and not-so-comfortable. I'm already devising other graphic tees and pencil skirts to pair up together. Sadly, I think my sandals are goners until next summer. *sigh*

bulldog tee: J CREW Factory

leopard print pencil skirt: thrifted (Target)

beaded sandals: Kohl's

and again

Here it is again - another chambray over another dress (see the last time I did that here). I'm softly kicking myself for not having tried this sooner. But, better late than never, right? RIGHT??

This dress is a hand-me-down from my bestie, and I'm trying to come up with an occasion to wear it on its own, but so far, I got nothin'. And I had nothing on the books when she first gave it to me. So, I put on my thinking cap and decided to pair it with a chambray so I could wear it THAT much sooner and not have to wait (and wait. and wait. and wait) to wear my pretty new dress.

That's crinoline sticking out of the bottom, so the skirt is pretty full - meaning, I could fluff it out quite a bit, if I so chose. Obviously, I did not on this day ('twould be silly to wear a very poofy skirt to work), but the option is there, ready to be utilized.

Now that you've seen me try it a few times, have you knotted a chambray over a dress?? Or, any shirt for that matter? Oh, do tell.

dress: from a friend

chambray: thrifted

sandals: DSW

linking up:

I do DeClaire // Style Elixir

 Bless Her Heart, Y'all // Two Peas in a Blog

tricky technique

Oh oh, I just love how this outfit turned out. I'd been playing with the idea of trying to wear more of my dresses in a more casual way, and happened upon a chambray knotted over a dress somewhere on the internets. I've since worn several fancier dresses this way and am loving the result (the Mr. is not a fan, but he also doesn't like skinny jeans AND ankle booties. so, please discuss fashion and style with myself).

The only thing I don't love about this layering technique is that tying up my chambray causes it to sit just above my natural waist, and sometimes a dress can be a little shapeless right at that point (not always); and instead of looking like a skirt, it looks like I wore a chambray over a dress. Which is a truth fact, BUT the idea is to make something I already own look like something else. That's called "mileage," or decreasing your "cost per wear," or something.

But, in conclusion (so that you may go about continuing to enjoy your weekend), I like this little trick. And I intend to keep repeating it. And I hope you like seeing it on my blog.

And isn't my Olaf handsome?

dress (er, I mean skirt): Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

chambray: thrifted

metallic wedges: thrifted

linking up:

Garay Treasures // High Altitude Style // Claire Justine

The Red Closet Diary // Charming Lucy // A Pocketful of Polka Dots

a bulldog to match my pants

Hi hi! I'm back! Back again after a lovely vacation with great friends. I'm happy to be home, but not looking forward to re-entering the real world. But, blogging and watching NetFlix is a good first step, right?

Anyways - that handsome pup up there matches my white pants. No, I didn't wear them to play in the grass with him, but I did throw his tennis ball quite a few times.

And also, I'm on the look out for new white pants. These work for now, but just know that I'm hoping to replace them sometime in the near future.

purple button-up: from a friend, who got it from American Eagle

white pants: Old Navy

black sandals: Kohl's

necklace: borrowed from Rocksbox

linking up:

DC in Style // Sydney Fashion Hunter

Shopping My Closet // The Red Closet Diary

not a bruise

the moody teenager

Although this outfit is comprised of the colors that make up a bruise (black, purple, and mint counts as blue, right?), I did not intend to actually dress AS a bruise. So, sorry to disappoint if you thought that's where this was headed.

I can't say enough how much I love this black chambray, and these black pants, and, oh, those python print flats. What will I ever do when they've had their last wear and must retire? T'will be a sad day, indeed.

Anyways, I like this outfit. I like all the black, all the purple, all the stripes, the good hair day (few and far between, lately - chronic oversleeping syndrome, ya know), and the handsome (although moody & easily annoyed) bully pictured above.

I know this seems a bit dark for June and almost-but-not-quite-summer, but, the high today was only in the 60s-ish, and it was rainy and gloomy, so totally appropriate.

Me says yes.

purple striped v-neck: Target

black chambray: Old Navy

black skinnies: Target

python print flats: WalMart

linking up:

Fizz & Frosting // Fashionably Employed // Cha Cha // Rhea et Cetera

Style Nudge // Garay Treasures // The Pleated Poppy // Because Shanna Said So

Pumps & Pushups // The Mummy Chronicles // Sydney Fashion Hunter // Shopping My Closet

I do Declaire // Sincerely Jennie // Middle of Somewhere // Cappuccino and Fashion

Cassidy Lou