all my favorite neutrals

At first I had the idea to wear this blush blouse under my navy cardigan. I knew I wanted to wear something other than jeans or a skirt, so I decided on olive skinnies. And I really LOVE how these colors look together. I chose boots on this day, but also considered brown dotted flats.

I actually wore the brown pashmina scarf, but I also like how the blue plaid scarf looks. This look can be easily adapted for different seasons by changing the shoes, subtracting or changing the scarf, and changing up the jewelry (a statement necklace in place of a scarf, or statement earrings).

Would you ever pair these colors together? I hadn't before, but I sure do LOVE how it turned out.

blouse: H&M

cardigan: Banana Republic

brown pashmina: from my sis-in-law

blue scarf: thrifted (Target)

olive skinnies: c/o Aéropostale

boots: The Frye Company via Nordstrom

coral & olive

This was a Casual Friday outfit worn on the job site (with different shoes, obvi). Nothing crazy - solids, no print mixing, no crazy cuts or styles. But I will say I would have never paired this coral/orange top with olive green pants before I started blogging, so, that's a win. Right?

Hope you've had a nice weekend ;)

shirt: WalMart

olive pants: Aéropostale

sandals: Target

1 Pink Blouse. 2 Ways.

  

  

 

  

 

Here are two ways I’ve recently worn this floral sleeveless button-up. I really like how the olive pants worked with this top and denim jacket - never would have thought to pair them together before I started taking pictures of my outfit and posting them on the internet...

Next time you can’t think of what bottoms to pair with a floral top, why not give your olive green skinnies/shorts/capris/skirt a go? I like the white skinnies, as well, but the green bottoms are a little less expected ;)

I picked up this top back in March while shopping with my cousins. Funny enough, I have a phone case with the same print on it (got that back on Black Friday). Didn’t think to swap out my phone case when I wore this top, and received some teasing about how I matched my phone to my shirt. 

Not true, buttttt, it DID look like I’d done it on purpose...

sleeveless button up: J. CREW Factory

on the left:

denim jacket: from a friend (Old Navy Outlet)

olive pants: Aéropostale

sandals: (one of my friends has started calling them "Cleopatra sandals") Target

on the right:

white pants: Old Navy

Cleopatra sandals: Target

Double the Animal Print, Double the Fun

Double the animal print, double the fun, amiright?? Leopard AND python - it works because they're both accessories, rather than a whole piece of clothing, so they don't compete.

In other news, this shirt (and it's navy blue twin) didn't wash so well. The sleeves have this cute little cuff, and my washing machine kinda tore that up/out/to pieces. So, any tips to make the cuff stay flat without having to iron or sew would be greatly appreciated!

Happy Memorial Day Eve! I'm at home, waiting for the rain to quit so I can go on a long run - training for my next half-marathon in September!

shirt: Eddie Bauer

sweater: Macy's

pants: Aéropostale

scarf: WalMart

flats: WalMart

Safari...?

Let's call this a safari outfit, shall we?

Animal (print)? Check.

Olive green pants, perfect for traipsing around the jungle? Check.

And vegetation (in the form of a bush, and coming-back-to-life grass? Check.

Bet you didn't know appearing to be on a safari was so easy ;)

shirt: WalMart

pants: Aeropostale

sandals: Target

How To: Get Dressed in the Dark

 

 

 

 

 

Ok, I didn't REALLY get dressed in the dark when I wore the two above outfits. However, I've come up with a formula for getting dressed quickly in the morning. It's so easy, you COULD do it in the dark, if you knew your closet by location and feel (an important piece of knowledge to have!).

Ready?

step 1: Grab pants. Feel, or squint through the early-morning light, for some that are pretty simply, are a neutral, are comfortable, OR, if you've enjoyed delicious food all week/weekend, ones that are stretchy and you know will fit. Or better yet, ones that fit all four of the above criteria.

step 2: Reach for a button up shirt. I like them because they say "I'm here! I'm present! I put effort into my outfit!", but maintain the ability to be dressed up OR down, and of course, can help hide some overindulging (are you sensing a theme here?).

step 3: Put on a neutral sweater. I do like pull-overs layered over a button up, but sometimes a cardigan can add more "depth" to your ensemble by showing off the layer underneath your sweater layer. They're also easier to take off/put back on/take off again/and put on one last time than a pullover.

step 4: Add some jewelry, but not TOO much - you're not fully awake & aware just yet, remember?

step 5: Step into some fancy-ish shoes that you can stand to wear all day.

steps 6 & 7: If you're feeling productive, do your hair and makeup.

step 8: Grab coffee, breakfast, your purse, and head out the door, knowing you look fabulous (and did it all without being fully awake, natch)!

SHOP THE LOOKS...OR FIND SOMETHING SIMILAR

on the left:

polka dot button up: Kohl's similar below

cardigan: Maurice's similar below

pants: Aéropostale

flats: Kohl's similar below

earrings: Kohl's

on the right:

chambray: WalMart similar below

cardigan: thrifted (Kohl's) similar below

pants: Aéropostale

flats: Target similar below

scarf: WalMart similar below

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]

Simple Favorites

layering my necklaces isn't something I've done a lot of in the past, however, I think it's something I'll start doing more of. the little clover is for my sweetie - he's a wee bit Irish ;)

my Mr.'s cousin got me these black bow earrings for Christmas, and I can honestly say I love them! some of my new favorite earrings. they're sweet because they're bows, but they're also the teensiest bit edgy because they're black. and if you know me, you know I have a hard time doing edgy, so these are perfect!

This outfit includes so many simple favorite pieces. It's a new favorite outfit, simply because it's comprised of so many favorite separates:

- chambray: do I even have to explain this one? If you don't have a chambray, I suggest you get one (or 4), and you'll quickly see they're it's so great.

- striped sweatshirt: it's a sweatshirt, it has stripes, and it's fabulously comfortable.

- down vest: it's warm. and it's navy. need I say more?

- olive skinnies: I just love these pants. they're comfy, they're green, and amazingly, they seem to go with just about everything. however, I've lost a little bit of weight since I got them this fall, so by the end of the day, they're a bit baggy on my behind. however, pulling up my britches is a small price to pay for really great looking pants, that are also a closet staple!

I'm glad this outfit came together so easily - sometimes I put together favorite separates and they don't make a great outfit. The outfit seems to scream: "STAAAAAHHHPPPP it! You can like all of us, just stop trying to make us play nice together." To which I slowly peel off all the pieces and start from scratch. Sometimes, you just have to go back to the drawing board :)

chambray: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's [[similar below]]

sweatshirt: Old Navy [[exact and similar below]]

pants: Aéropostale

vest: Old Navy [[similar below]]

shoes: Target [[similar below]]

SHOP THE LOOK...OR SOMETHING SIMILAR