you do not

I know yesterday I talked about being cold and wearing a beanie for warmth + several other layers + furry boots + a down vest. But today, it's all about a chambray dress, light scarf, bare legs, and boots.

When the temperature reaches the 60s in the middle of winter, and the sun is shining,

you do not question.

You do not wear 18 layers.

You do not pass GO.

You do not stop to collect $200.

You wear a dress, ditch the tights, and ditch the heavy jackets.

At least for a few days.

dress: Kohl's

henley: Express

cardigan: Banana Republic

scarf: WalMart

boots: Nordstrom

can’t stop. won’t stop.

And look-y here, more dark colors.

Can't stop.

Won't stop.

More black. More chambray. More boots. Oh, and my strawberry blonde hair that I’m obsessed with (I have a girl, and she’s aaaaaaAAAmAAAAzingggg!).

Again – can’t stop. Won’t stop.

chambray: thrifted

skinnies: c/o Aéropostale

boots: c/o Aéropostale

scarf: WalMart (more of my DIY blanket scarves here)

layered up

this is my "I'm cold out here" face

faux leather stripe on my leggings. fancy, huh?

What do you wear when the highest expected temperature is 9 degrees?

Answer: at least 4 layers up top, warm fuzzy boots, fancy pants, and a blanket scarf.

I hadn't originally planned on wearing the chambray, but added it at the last minute, and these pants are ponte knit leggings with a faux leather stripe up each side from Aéropostale (from last year). 

Let me tell ya about this scarf. I was inspired by the blanket scarf trend of last winter and this year. It sold out quickly everywhere, and I can't really justify spending more money on more scarves. So, I went to WalMart and checked out the fabric section. I found this houndstooth print, and a gray and red buffalo plaid (worn here), and purchased a yard of each. They're nice and big and square and warm and bulky - I fold them in half to a triangle shape, and loop them around. Sometimes they look more structured, and sometimes bulky or a bit lopsided. I have yet to master the art of tying/looping/wearing a blanket scarf, but just winging it seems to work for me.

teal shirt: Target

chambray: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

sweater: Eddie Bauer

scarf: WalMart

leggings: Aéropostale

boots: SOREL via Jax

brrrrr

I wore white pants in winter. Call it "winter whites" or whatever you'd like. I like how it looks, but my legs were definitely cold. White (summery) jeans leave a lot to be desired in the warmth department. However, this sweater is plenty warm, especially with a chambray underneath. So, my top half was plenty toasty, and the bottom half a wee bit chilly. 

chambray: thrifted

sweater: thrifted (GAP)

white pants: Old Navy

boots: The Frye Company via Nordstrom

necklace: Ann Taylor

fedora: thrifted (Target)

30 for 30: day 12 & day 13

day 12

Day 12, I barely made it out of my pajamas, let alone make it out of my running gear...

"EW"

a la Jimmy Fallon and will.i.am (video HERE).

New favorite saying at our house.

day 13

  

Not my favorite outfit from this challenge. I think both the chambray and the pants are a bit big, and don't flatter my figure very well - I look a bit shapeless I think. However, they say wide-legged trousers are coming back, soooo, good thing I hung on to mine from high school, right?! Right.

Also, thanks to my bestie for taking these sunset-time pictures for me :) I tried to do a creative writing post, I kept coming up short. Womp womp.

See my list of 30 items here.

30 for 30: day 8

Handsome just loves to be outside.
he loves to sit in the sunshine and roll in the grass.

I just love this wrinkley face and funky tongue.
SO.
MUCH.

We've been having some really lovely weather this fall (no snow yet!). I'm starting to see why everyone just loooooves fall. I'm not quite there. Yet...

But you know what I do love? That handsome white bulldog up there :)

See my list of 30 items here.

fall two-fer, number 1

A two-fer outfit post for ya today, and another one tomorrow. Need to get these bad boys posted so I can start sharing my 30 for 30 outfits - we ARE halfway through October already...

Outfit #1

This ensemble went to work, and lunch at a yummy Mexican place for something smothered in creamy habanero sauce...

chambray: Kohl's

green jeans: from a friend

bag: thrifted

sandals: Walmart

Outfit #2

This outfit is what I wore to spend time with one of my best friend's new babies. My husband met him for the first time that day and the man is obsessed. This little guy has cheeks for days and he wants nothing more than to be bounced or rocked while he's held. Such a cutie.

dress: Aéropostale

vest: thrifted

shoes: Target

game day: part 1

A few weeks ago, my friend, Chelsea (her blog here) gave me an idea for a blog post. She told me she struggles to look cute at sporting events, without looking like a hot mess express student wearing a t-shirt turned strapless dress. Not that a t-shirt turned strapless dress is a bad look, but if you're trying to look a bit more mature and classy while watching your favorite team, you're probably looking for some other ideas. 

Here are five warmer-weather looks you could wear to your favorite team's football game this fall.

Look for game day: part 2 later this fall, as the temperatures drop (it will include A LOT more layers).

A graphic tee of your favorite team and white pants. Or try white shorts. I'd wear this to watch the game at a friend's house - I'd probably stay away from tailgates and bleachers in these pants...

A graphic tee, a skirt and some boots. Boots of any kind would do well for tailgating, especially if the parking around the stadium is in fields, rather than on blacktop.

Another skirt, but this one a solid. It also has pockets. 

 

Don't be afraid to layer over your shirt - sometimes it gets cold watching games, and your chambray can act as a light jacket. I probably wouldn't wear flats to tailgate or attend the game in person, but definitely to watch the game with friends at someone's house, or a restaurant.

And if you don't have a graphic tee for your team, fear not! Just wear something that incorporates your team's colors (the Denver Broncos are orange and blue) - that way you're still showing team spirit.

I found my "Broncos Pride" tee at Victoria's Secret - they've got a whole line of apparel for NFL & college teams, as well as stuff for your favorite MLB team (I've got Colorado Rockies yoga pants). 

However, there are plenty of other places to find an outfit for your favorite team. WalMart, Target, the thrift store (sometimes they have the best stuff - I got a t-shirt from the Rockies inaugural season there, 1994, baby!), JCPenney, the team's official website, or make something yourself. In high school, we used to take tees & tanks and paint on names and numbers of the guys on the football and basketball teams.

I'd love to see how you show your team spirit - do you go all out? When my brother played high school football and baseball, I wore lots of too-big sweatshirts and windbreakers in navy blue and forest green (our school colors) with our school logo & mascot emblazoned on them. I'm sure I still have a few of them around...

that being said, I like to think I've matured a bit when it comes to what I wear to sporting events.

Broncos Pride tee: Victoria's Secret 

orange striped tank top: Target

chambray: WalMart

white pants: Old Navy

striped skirt: J. Crew Factory

black skirt: from a friend

gray skirt: from a friend

tassel flats: Target

boots: Steve Madden via DSW

python flats: WalMart

plaid tennis shoes: Coach via DSW

blue scarf: WalMart