A Thrifted Gem

When I found this jacket at ARC recently, I squealed. In the middle of the aisle. On a Wednesday evening. 

I've been looking for a green cargo/utility jacket for ages, and couldn't believe my luck when I found one in my size, and for under $10! The jacket is originally from Land's End, lived with someone else for a while, got donated, and now has a very happy new home in my closet. Cheers!

SHOP THE LOOK...OR SOMETHING SIMILAR

sweatshirt: Old Navy [exact & similar below]

scarf: gift [similar below]

jacket: Land's End via ARC [similar below]

jeans: Aéropostale [exact]

boots: Rack Room Shoes [similar below]

Mr. Picks Mondays: Pink over Blue

this necklace has such pretty shades of blue & turquoise - found it at Old Navy

The Mr. chose the pink sweater, and I layered with the pink & blue striped button up underneath (the sweater is a bit itchy on bare skin). I wore my new gray pants from Aéropostale, and sadly, the snow boots were a necessity. Again. Blegh.

I'd be really ok if it were summer tomorrow. Or yesterday. Whenever, really.

sweater: Eddie Bauer similar below

shirt: boys' section of Target sort of similar below

gray pants: Aéropostale <-- exact

snow boots: SOREL exact below

necklace: Old Navy similar below

SHOP THE LOOK...OR SOMETHING SIMILAR

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

Mr. Picks Mondays: Shades of Blue

I found this gem (haha, get it?) of a pair of kicks at ARC last week.
they're navy blue.
they are bedazzled.
and I'm obsessed.

I've done some shopping in the past few weeks - I've been pretty very successful at Old Navy, ARC, and Aéropostale (don't worry - those goodies are coming your way!). This shirt was a thrifted find at ARC, as are the shoes. The Mister picked out the button-up for me to wear, and I added the rest. 

Navy blue is my new obsession, so any time I can wear navy, or add it to an outfit, I have been. Probably more than I should (is every day too often?). I even scored a navy blue peacoat at Old Navy that I just loooove. I've been hearing that "navy is the new black," and I like to think that I'm ahead of the curve, having always liked it - both parents proudly wore Air Force Blue (growing up it wasn't called navy blue, it was AIR FORCE BLUE). Hey, I even have a navy blue car now ;)

shirt: thrifted (Hollister) sort of similar below

blazer: Aéropostale

scarf: Aéropostale

pants: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's sort of similar below

flats: thrifted (Adrienne Vittadini) sort of similar below

SHOP THE LOOK - OR SOMETHING SIMILAR...

"Why Would You Wear Shoes that Make You Not Know How to Wear Your Pants?"

I really like the color of this sweater, and it's perfect to pair with this flannel button up. However, the sweater is very lightweight & not-quite-almost sheer, and would look funny with a dark button up shirt underneath it. So, I pulled the ole' switch-a-roo and wore the sweater UNDER my flannel shirt (kind of like a regular long sleeve shirt), and VOILA! I packed a punch with neon while keeping the rest of my outfit pretty simple (and warm).

I didn't get the chance to take pictures of this outfit when I was in Minnesota, but I did recreate it for  blog pictures just for you! 

As I was putting my booties on, I asked my Mr.

"How should I wear my pants? Tucked in? Rolled up? Or just however they end up?"

He replied with:

"Why would you wear shoes that make you not know how to wear your pants?"

I cracked up at this and could hardly get out my answer to him:

"Because. I like them. And, and, *giggle* they. are. fashionable."

So then, a few minutes later, I put on my snow boots (since they are what I wore when I wore this outfit in Minnesota) and asked him:

"Do these pants look ok? Do they look ok with these boots?"

I got the same response.

But what I really meant was "Do these pants fit me funny?"

The point is, sometimes you have to question how to wear your pants when you wear some funky little booties. Because getting things right and feeling comfortable in your own skin when it comes to fashion & trends takes time. and lots of experimenting. 

 

shirt: Old Navy similar below

sweater: Old Navy similar below

pants: thrifted (Joe Fresh) similar below

booties: Old Navy exact & similar below

snow boots: SOREL exact below

scarf: Aéropostale

SHOP SOMETHING SIMILAR

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

Mr. Picks Mondays: Blue Under Gray

When you wear a dress, tights and a blazer, what do you add so that you don't appear TOO dressed up for your pretty casual office?

A big chunky scarf that serves two purposes: 

1) to keep you warm; and 

2) dress down your tights, dress, and blazer combination.

Oh, and to pair with the cute outfit your husband picked out :)

dress & belt: Target sort of similar below

blazer: Aéropostale sort of similar below

boots: Rack Room Shoes sort of similar below

CHECK OUT SOMETHING SIMILAR

Mr. Picks Mondays: Obnoxiously Festive

The handsome Mr. picked out the sweatshirt dress, and I chose the RED tights. Because, if you can't be obnoxiously festive this time of year, when can you? Besiiiiides the 4th of July, obviouslyyyy.

I kind of love MPM because my Mr. tends to pick out stuff I don't wear too often, and it forces me to get creative. He also reminds me of some goodies hidden in the recesses of the pretty little room I call my closet

P.S. Get ready for some good ole' American pride this February - the 2014 Winter Olympics start in 6 weeks!
USA!
USA!

sweatshirt dress: WalMart

tights: Target

shoes: Kohl's

linking up:
Still Being Molly for Funday Monday
The Style Record for Monday Must Haves

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

Mr. Picks Mondays: Black Friday Swag

Late on Thanksgiving night, I left the comfort of my warm house to pick up my friend, Amanda, to do some Black Friday shopping. We had BIG plans: we were going to hit up our local outlets, stop at a HUGE outdoor mall, check out Kohl's, maybe go to Target, and see what other places were open for the day that has now become  than Thanksgiving: Black Friday.

However, for all of our plans, bottled water, and coffee in travel mugs, we didn't make it past the outlet mall. After waiting in lines at several stores, and power-shopping & power-trying-on through several others, we made our final purchases and called it a night. I was home, snuggled in bed by 2:30.

This lacey sweater/sweatshirt was one of those final purchases. I picked it up at rue21 - don't think I've been in to one of those stores in a very long time, but good thing we went in that night morning. I found this lacey sweater/sweatshirt and another striped cardigan. I modeled my purchases for my Mr. later that day (after much-needed sleep), and when it came time for him to pick this week's Mr. Picks Mondays, he picked out this lacey sweater/sweatshirt & my mint jeans. He knows me too well - he knows that new clothes burn a hole in my closet and I just can't wait to wear them! 

I've got some more Black Friday swag lined up for you this week - find any great Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals you couldn't wait to wear?

lacey sweater/sweatshirt: rue21

mint jeans: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

boots: Rackroom Shoes

scarf: made by me!

linking up over here & here (for the first time!) today