Pretty Little Liars and Teens for Jeans

If you've been around here for a while, you'll know that I'm an Aéropostale VIP, and as such, I get early access to their newest lines & products (previously: August, Live Love Dream, and November). They're really pulling out all the stops lately - have you heard of their new Pretty Little Liars collection?

No?

Let me tell you!

Aéro paired up with Mandi Line, the costume designer from the show, Pretty Little Liars, to create looks like you'll see on the show, but to be sold in the store, so, pretty easily obtainable! Each character has at least 1, if not 2, different looks devoted to their style. The girls on the show have some pretty great looks, and I know I tend to think "That looks great on her. Wonder if I could pull off XYZ?" 

Below is the first part of the line that landed in stores earlier this month. 

 

Unfortunately, I couldn't pull the trigger on anything from the PLL collection - nothing was left in my size! Although I did come home with a blue dress similar to the one in the bottom left, perfect for some weddings this summer.

Below is a preview of the styles that are going to be in stores on March 16th - which is your fave?

Are you more of an Aria, Hanna, Emily or a Spencer?

I love these hi-low hems!

I'm thinking a dress or skirt with a hi-low hem has my name all over it. Or maybe a denim jacket - the one I currently have has seen MUCH better days...

So, not only does Aéro have some really cute stuff in stores now, but they're also into giving. They've launched their 7th annual Teens For Jeans campaign in partnership with DoSomething.org. The campaign encourages folks to donate their gently used jeans in the store so they can be given to someone that is in need. One of the most requested items by teens in need are jeans. So, in exchange for donating your gently used jeans in your local store, Aéro will give you 25% off a new pair of jeans. What better way to replace a pair (or 2! or 8!) of jeans that don't fit quite right, or have been hiding in the back of your closet for the last 6 months to a year, than by giving them to someone in need and replacing them with a newer style and/or wash that will get a lot more wear?

Confession: I donated 4 pairs of jeans that I liked (but hadn't worn in ages) and got 25% off 4 different pairs of new jeans. I've been rotating these 4 new pairs nonstop - it's love. For whatever reason, I like to hang on to clothes from high school and college that don't reflect me and the person I've become. So, after hearing about this great deal, I told myself I could get some new jeans, but ONLY if I was willing to part with several pairs. It's a lot easier to part with old favorites knowing that (1) they're going to someone who will wear them a lot more than I will, and (2) I'm filling my closet with some new pairs that are more "me." It's a win-win for everyone, really. 

So, do a quick inventory of your jeans and donate some oldies (but goodies) so you can save 25% on a new pair (or several new pairs)!

For more information, check out this PSA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbVhfuM4Rgs.

as well as: www.teensforjeans.org

and: DoSomething.org

Below are some really great things that are now (happily) living in my closet.

L to R:
Lola Grey Wash Jegging; Bayla Skinny Core Dark Wash Jean;
similar: Bayla Skinny Dark Wash Jean; Lola Core Dark Wash Jegging

These are the 4 (!!!) pairs of pants I came home with after I donated 4 (!!!) pairs

similar: PLL Hanna Lace Dress; solid full-zip cardigan

This dress is not from the PLL line (the one from the line is linked above), but looks pretty similar, don't ya think? And this sweater - worn it twice already. You know I like to fill holes in my closet, and I didn't even know how big the hole of a cream cardigan was, but now that it's filled, I can sleep at night am pretty excited about it.

capris: similar - LLD inset capris; sports bra: similar - LLD Contrast Racerback Sports Bra

Another pair of workout capris in bright teal (remember, brights/neon make you run faster!) and a new sports bra (essentials, my friends).

similar: earring 3-pack

New earrings. I love fun little studs. You can never have enough pairs of bow earrings.

or wishbones.

or rose gold hearts.

Any favorites??

Hope you had a great weekend!

when traveling to Minnesota

wearing at least 6 layers. plus a scarf. and snow boots.

If you follow me on Instagram, you saw that I went to Minnesota a few weeks ago during the really really cold weather that covered most of the US over/right after New Years. 

And it was cold. 

Bone chilling, make your nose hurt to breathe cold. 

So, what does a Colorado girl who's used to snow one day, and 50 degree temps the next do? 

Pack as many warm articles of clothing into her suitcase, and wear the rest on the airplane. 

I've got 3 more outfits from this trip (plus pics from my cousin's wedding!) to share with you 

over the next few days.

I wore my warmest pants: corduroys. And a Christmas present from my sweetie: SOREL snow boots. Get this, the name of this style is "Joan of Arctic."

Bahaha. 

Too clever. 

Anyways, they'll keep my tootsies warm up to -25 degree temps, and they've got fur on the top. 

Plus, they're black AND brown, so my black vs. brown dilemma won't be an issue.

*whew*

So, I wore the boots on the plane. Plus the outfit you see above. And carried my down coat and vest in the airport. The boots are crazy warm, but after wearing them all around the frigid Twin Cites for several days in a row, my feet were a wee bit tired. 

Having all that warm & fuzziness makes for heavy footwear (and tired feet & legs - guess I should start working out more).

My extended family got a kick out of teasing me for wearing so many layers. One uncle called me "Anne-ook of the North." Hey, when it's cold, I don't mess around. #layersplease

So, look for a few more extremely-cold weather outfits. Although I was thoroughly chilled in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, I'm glad that I got to practice my layering "technique" and look of "snow bunny chic." And of course see my cousin marry his lovely bride, and the rest of my sweet fam, too!

t-shirt: WalMart sort of similar below

button-up shirt: thrifted (Old Navy) sort of similar below

cardigan: from a friend (Banana Republic) sort of similar below

corduroys: thrifted (Joe Fresh) sort of similar below

scarf: Aéropostale

down coat: Coldwater Creek sort of similar below

snow boots: SOREL

CHECK OUT SOME SIMILAR ITEMS BELOW

Festive

This outfit is several weeks behind - it's what I wore Christmas Eve. I had to work (bummer, huh?), but we did get to go home early, so I was able to take outfit pictures outside during daylight! Woot woot! I figured if I had to work on Christmas Eve, I might as well wear something with a bow, something sparkly, and something red - it doesn't hurt that the item with the bow was in the form of my new bulldog tee. 

Christmas Eve started my 5 days in a row off. I'm going to be completely honest with you - it was aaaaamazing. I slept in, wore sweatpants, drank lots of coffee with Irish Cream, and spent lots of time with my favorite men & woman (husband, bulldog & bulldog). I had a huge list of things I wanted to get accomplished, but I hardly did any of them. Instead, I lounged, relaxed, soaked in the time with my sweetheart, and truly enjoyed my down time. We had no plans to go anywhere for Christmas, so the two of us stayed at home and laid low. Going back to work was TOUGH. OY. SO. TOUGH.

Now that Christmas is about three weeks behind us, do you think I'm the worst blogger ever? 

Or, are you thankful that I keep reminding you of the holidays & celebrating well into January?

We're having (belated) Christmas with both sets of parents this weekend - I'm a fan of drawing out the celebrating :)

linking up with:
Two Thirty Five Designs for Casual Friday
Simply Lulu Style for What I'm Loving Friday

shirt: J CREW Factory similar below

sweater: from a friend - Banana Republic similar below

pants: Aéropostale similar below

shoes: KMart similar below

Better in my Mind

Well, this outfit sounded a lot better in my head than it looks on the internet. It has all the components of a great outfit: chambray, skinnies, booties & a cardigan. But, the execution is a bit disappointing. Better luck next time? Every get let down by your favorite wardrobe staples?

chambray: thrifted [similar below]

cardigan: from a clothes swap with friends (Daisy Fuentes)

pants: thrifted (Lauren Conrad)  [similar fits below]

booties: Old Navy [similar below]

Stripes on Dots

I don't know that I would have ever done such "large scale" print mixing before I started this blog in March - I mean, my top AND bottom in different prints?! This is the girl who used to match EVERYTHING (by match, I mean shoes to belt to bag to earrings - and the. exact. color.). But, here it is!

Too much? Too risky? Or just right?

linking up with:

Two Thirty-Five Designs for Casual Friday

Still Being Molly for Funday Monday

sweater: Express

pants: Old Navy via Plato's Closet

boots: Rack Room Shoes

Layering

I wore this during the cold snap I mentioned yesterday. I had a long sleeve shirt under my chambray, which was under my heavy (and very warm) sleeveless cardigan, and topped off with a big scarf. 

Oh, and warm socks - those boots, although cute, are really not conducive to keeping my toes warm.

linking up with:

Simply Lulu Style for What I'm Loving Fridays

DC in Style for Monday Bloom

chambray: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

sleeveless cardigan: gift from my mama (Eddie Bauer)

olive skinnies: Aéropostale

scarf: Aéropostale <-- one of my new finds!

boots: Rack Room Shoes

Polka Dots

I don't know why my hair is so messy. It's nice for a few minutes, then POOF! #unruly&messykindofcurls

I scored these Old Navy polka dots pants at Plato's Closet this week, and I'm in love. 

I have another pair of maroon-ish pink polka dot pants, so now I have two pairs of polka dot pants.

I know what you're thinking - I broke my shopping fast. Well, yes and no. I also bought a jacket from Express at Trends this week. BUT, both items were purchased with store credit, so they didn't cost me anything up front. Now you decide: did I really break it? Or was I just "exchanging" items?

This was the start of our date night: Sports Authority (for a gift), Lowe's, dinner, then Kohl's to shop for my Mr. Pretty exciting, eh? Today on the agenda: Petsmart, exchanging at Kohl's, and picking up my mom's Mother's Day gift. Don't worry though - last night we DID go to an Avs game in Denver with some friends, and I wore these pants. Again. Sadly, no outfit pictures were taken.

Shirt: Target

Sweater: Eddie Bauer

Pants: Old Navy via Plato's Closet

Flats: Kmart

Fedora: Kmart

Bag: Coach via ARC

A Teeny Bit of Print Mixing

You might not be able to see it, but my shirt was striped. And my scarf was a pretty paisley print. Aaaaand, I put them together for a wee bit of print mixing. Baby steps. I really admire other people who can put together prints so easily, but I have a harder time with it.

Sorry for the terrible pictures - I wasn't feeling well this afternoon, so I snapped these as soon as I got home before crawling into sweatpants and curling up with one of the pups.

Shirt: Gap

Sweater: via clothes swap

Jeans: via Trends

Boots: Rack Room Shoes

Scarf: from my sweet sis-in-law (bridesmaids' gift), with my (maiden) monogram