seasonally

Apparently this season is not my best, in terms of blogging. I seem to get a nice rhythm going with a few posts written and scheduled, then BAM – something shakes it up and I stop writing. Things like packed weekends with friends and family, packed weeks with fun stuff after work and/or baby classes (or both, sometimes). Busy times at work. Appointments. And trying to get so many things done before the baby actually arrives (we’re less than 1 month out!) and we become a family of three humans + a naughty, yet handsome, and ever-so-endearing, bulldog.

So, here is what I wore a few weeks ago – but the weather is pretty much the same around here, so it's still pretty appropriate for spring time in Colorado. I'm still hoping I can get away without purchasing TOO many maternity items for winter because I’m due in early summer, but the way this weather is hanging around makes me wonder. Can't it just be warm and I can wear my sandals and dresses and flowy skirts in peace??

*all items are part of my Maternity Capsule Wardrobe

blues & greens

Unintentionally, I paired together ALL OF THE SHADES OF BLUE with some olive green skinnies. And since blue and green are both such nice, cool colors (I mean color-temperature wise, but they're also pretty cool/kool/kewl), they played well together. I love it when that happens!

ombre chambray: Target (maternity)

olive skinnies: thrifted (maternity)

teal scarf: Lilly Pulitzer for Target

cobalt flats: Calvin Klein via TJ Maxx

texturize

All of these neutral items are part of my "Maternity Capsule Wardrobe" (more on that soon!). My regular olive skinnies (RIP) were donated to Goodwill after heavy use over the past two and a half years. So I was thrilled to find these maternity olive skinnies at the thrift store - I think I even did a little jig in the dressing room when they fit. I won't sing the praises of olive-colored skinnies, but if you need some idea of how versatile they really are, check out these posts from the past. That's just the tip of the iceberg, trust me.

This oatmeal-colored sweater from my Mama has provided a nice backdrop for some different color combinations, while also extending the wearability of my wardrobe. It's a keeper, until it doesn't meet my pants anymore, then it will get boxed up with the rest of my pre & post-bebe wardrobe. But, for now, it's a nice & neutral color that plays well with others and provides any look with an interesting texture (and we know how I luuuuurve texture).

oatmeal sweater: Coldwater Creek from my Mama

scarf: gift from a friend

olive skinnies: thrifted

nude flats: Jessica Simpson via Nordstrom Rack

bridging the gap

Hello! Good morning! Did all you mountain people survive the blizzard of the past few days? ;)

Onto the clothes (and shoes and accessories). My sweet mama got me this black plaid tunic in my 1st trimester, to help me bridge the gap between regular clothes and maternity clothes. It was originally long enough to be a short dress, but has since reached a more realistic length as a tunic. I paired it with black leggings (1 of 4 pairs of pants that fit me at the moment, 2 more being leggings), and my ever faithful snakeskin flats (they're slowly coming to their demise :/ ). I originally had a lilac scarf paired with the ensemble, but my friend stopped by my work and I liked her green ombre one so much that we switched for the day. And I like how the green makes the gray in my sweater lean a bit green. 

Have any tricks of the trade to share regarding making those "gap" clothes work a little harder? I'm all ears!

tunic: Base Exchange

leggings: Old Navy maternity leggings

flats: WalMart

scarf: borrowed from a friend

just one more fold and tuck

I have had this white button-up shirt for ages (we're talking high school). When it comes to closet clean-outs, it almost always makes its way to the "get rid of" pile - visions of choir and band concerts, and DECA presentations invade my memories...

But, before I officially bid the pile "adieu," I snatch the shirt back, sigh, and hang it back up in my closet. This shirt gets saved because of necessity. A white button-up shirt is essential, no matter what your dress code, style, or thoughts on uniforms. Really. It's a classic. And it's an easy default for a cleaned up look.

So, why does it teeter on the brink of existence in my closet and the donation pile? The fit. I've had it since my youth (so long, youth), and the sleeves are a tricky 3/4 sleeve length. The hemline is tricky - longer in the back, shorter in the front, is it even the right length?

HOWEVER...

DID YOU KNOW??

That rolling your sleeves just one more time than normal can give an old classic a new look?

A more refined, grown up, professional, "I know what I'm doing" look?

And that tucking your shirt in (or at least a half tuck), says

"I know how to wear my clothes? Looky here, I'm even wearing a belt, check out my waist."?

Because, those two small tricks have the power to transform an old classic into a new and refreshed basic. Trust - I'm so excited to wear this shirt after discovering those two tiny improvements, that it's already been washed, ironed, and paired with another outfit for this coming week.

All after this shirt has seen little-to-no wear in the past several years.

How's that for starting the week off with a bang?

white button-up shirt: GAP

green pants: from a friend via Urban Outfitters

brown wedges: Rocketdog via DSW

brown belt: American Eagle

brown necklace: Target

linking up:

Sequins & Strawberries and Garay Treasures // DC in Style

Style Elixir // Elegantly Dressed & Stylish // Sydney Fashion Blogger

Shopping My Closet // Curly Crafty Mom // The Closet by Christie

Forage Fashion // Mix and Match Fashion // Living in Color Style

Happiness at Mid Life // The Red Closet Diary // High Latitude Style

A Pocketful of Polka Dots

replacement sandals

You guys, a rare day of sunshine. No joke - it's been raining for the past three weeks or so. Flood warnings all over the place, and everything is SO GREEN (except for my hydrangea plant, which died just a few days after it came home, so, that stinks).

And I got some new sandals. I got asked if I really needed them, and my answer is decidedly "YES." I got rid of my brown sandals at the end of last summer, and have been on the outlook for replacements (same with my black sandals - I'd had those bad boys since 2008). I found these tan t-straps with jangly beads on a recent shopping trip with a friend (I also found some black tassel sandals - I'll show you soon!). So, to all you haters who questioned my big girl decision to buy some sandals, I DID need them. And they look goooood.

And that pretty necklace? From Rocksbox. Use the code sweetbananiexoxo for a free month of jewelry rental.

white v-neck: WalMart

mint jeans: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

white cardigan: thrifted (Hollister)

tan sandals: Kohl's

brown belt: American Eagle (a decade ago...)

greening up

Things are really greening up around here...

Exhibit A: this wall of greenery behind me

And Exhibit B: my grassy green purse

And things SHOULD be greening up – it rained here in Colorado for the past week or so. Talk about lots of flooding, standing water, and even hail and snow. In May. And a lack of Vitamin D, which is a bit disheartening, and hurts our “300 days of sunshine per year” average. The sun came out for a bit yesterday, and it took me a minute to remember what that’s like… ;)

and now, it appears that wonky weather is back for good.

Or, at least today, anyway.

navy blue dress: from a friend

sweater: c/o Aéropostale

scarf: thrifted (Lucky Brand)

boots: The Frye Company via Nordstrom

purse: gift

30 for 30: day 17 + day 18

Aaaaah, Sunday. And also the day the Lilly for Target line is released...!!

So, please enjoy these two looks I've put together, and excuse me while I try to snag some Lilly goodies at my local Target store (or the one in the next town over. or the next one).

day 17

I tried to tie in some metallic elements with this all black and white ensemble for a little visual interest - my headband, scarf, jewelry, and the zippers on my booties. Sometime's it's nice to throw in a little metal with a simple outfit to spice it up.

black shirt: Eddie Bauer

black cardigan: Maurice;s

striped skirt: Target

scarf: WalMart

black ankle booties: Kohl's

day 18

lime green top: Old Navy

black skinnies: Target

black flats: Target

monogrammed green clutch: gift

jewelry (except for the pave style bracelet on my right hand): c/o Rocksbox

(use the code "sweetbananiexoxo" for a free month of jewelry rental at Rocksbox)

sunny sunday blues

You guys, I've had a great Sunday. I slept in, went on a great run with my best friend (so many endorphins! I didn't want to die! we only walked for about half a minute! the sun was out! there was a breeze!), caught up with my bestie, had bacon and eggs and coffee, played with my pups outside. We might have a long-boarder among our canine companions - the verdict is still out. He drags it backwards, and also tries to bite it. Maybe he thinks it's alive? Either way, it's very entertaining. And he is now pooped. So, that's a win.

In other news, this outfit. This top is actually two tank tops. The top is a sheer blue button-up chiffon deal, and the bottom is a navy blue star print ribbed tank. I thought it might be a fun way to subtley (quietly? demurely?) add some print to this blue, green and gray ensemble. And it's since made me look for a few more sheer/chiffon items to style in the same way. So far I've got a green floral top... Aaaand, I think that's it. So, stay tuned and maybe I'll come up with something. If not, you'll see this combination again. And would that be so terrible?

Hope your Sunday is pretty great, just like mine has been :)

linking up these fancy shoes over here

star tank: WalMart

chiffon tank: from a friend

gray cardigan: c/o Aéropostale

dark skinnies: c/o Aéropostale

bejeweled flats: thrifted

purse: COACH Outlet

scarf: Pendleton (2 days in a row!!)

all of the layers

If you've ever wanted to wear ALL OF THE LAYERS, you would look something similar to the above pictures. A striped tee, zip up sweatshirt, utility jacket, and a scarf up top, skinnies and flats on the bottom.

Not my best look, but certainly not my worst. I like to think the multitude of layers keeps you guessing:

"Does she look good? Does she look like a green, gray & black marshmallow? Why is she wearing so many layers? Maybe they layers are to distract me? Maybe the layers hide her true, funny, clever self? I think maybe the layers all look cohesive - wow, she must really have her life in order."

Or, ya know, whatever other thoughts popped into your head when this outfit filled with prints, dark colors, and neutrals appeared on your computer screen/phone screen/email inbox. Who knew a neutral & layered outfit could spark SO much discussion?

shirt: WalMart

sweatshirt: Target

jacket: thrifted (Land's End)

scarf: c/o Aéropostale

skinnies: Target

flats: Target