Florals Made Cold Weather Appropriate by...(you guessed it!) Navy!!!

This sweater is something I found at Old Navy a few weeks ago, when I found a lot of other things I didn't "need" didn't know my closet was missing! Two of them being this navy blue sweater & peacoat. And a navy blue down vest.

I feel like you're judging me for buying so much navy.

*crickets*

Haven't you heard navy is the new black??

Affirming my love of the dark hue of blue is my sweet godmother. She texted me a few days after this post and told me that we must be related, since she's always loved navy! She's got great style and we love to talk fashion and shopping, especially our fave, Lilly Pulitzer. She's also who I have to thank for introducing me to the magical land that is Nordstrom.

*sighs & dreams*

So, thanks for always talking clothes with me, Auntie!

the newest addition to my modest coat collection - it's love

On a different note, I REALLY liked this outfit. I really want to repeat it, or recreate something similar with some of these pieces (and soon!), and then wear the heck out of this skirt in the spring and summer. I mean, are florals better suited for any other season(s)? 

Except for when you pair them with a warm sweater in a darker shade, tights and boots, that is ;)

sweater: Old Navy sort of similar below

skirt: J CREW Factory similar below

boots: Rack Room Shoes similar below

scarf: gift similar below

coat: Old Navy similar below

SHOP SOMETHING SIMILAR

The Liebster

You saw this outfit in a picture on Boxing Day - a lunch date with one of my best friends. We stopped on our way home to take these pictures just before the sun went down. It's easy for me to get annoyed at our crazy, ever-changing weather in Colorado, but beautiful 60 degree days in December (and January. and February.) and really pretty sunsets & drives remind me that this is a beautiful place to live.

************************

Last week, I was nominated by Paige over at Life's a Party - Dress Like it for The Liebster Award, which is given by bloggers to new blogs with smaller followings but lots of potential. Thanks so much, Paige!

The rules of The Liebster Award:

- Mention the person who nominated you with a link to their blog (check!)

- Answer the 11 questions they asked (below)

- Nominate 11 other bloggers with a smaller following, but a lot of potential (I would, but to be completely honest, I don't know know 11 other bloggers with a smaller following than myself - I follow plenty of other bloggers, but I don't know 5, let alone 11, that are smaller than myself. We all have to start somewhere!)

- Create 11 of your own questions for them to answer (see above)

- Notify your nominees (and again, see above)

Here are Paige's questions for me to answer:

1. What is your biggest pet peeve?

Hmm, definitely spelling & grammatical errors

2. Where is your dream vacation?

Somewhere on a beach

3. Statement necklace or arm candy?

Statement necklace - I just got several more this past week at Old Navy!

4. Where's your favorite place to shop?

Hmm, anywhere with pieces I love [that I can afford!]

5. What is one thing in your closet you could not live without?

Any of my skinnies

6. Why did you start blogging?

Several reasons: 

1) to help to develop my personal style

2) I love reading other blogs, so I thought "Why not?"

3) to make me dress up a bit every day, rather than jeans and a plan t-shirt

4) I have a lot of clothes, so what better way to wear them and then share them? 

7. What's your favorite phone and/or tablet app?

Instagram - lovelovelove

8. What's something your readers probably don't know about you?

I'm driving a new (to me) car, and I just love that it's a sports-meets-luxury car...it goes fast...and it's awesome

9. Favorite fashion trend?

Print mixing

10. What's your biggest blog goal for 2014?

To grow. growgrowgrow.

11. Favorite TV Show?

We don't have cable right now, so I'm watching re-watching all of Ugly Betty on Netflix

sweater: Aéropostale

leggings: Target

boots: Rack Room Shoes (sort of similar below)

SHOP THE BOOTS (sort of)

Layered Schweater

If you want the truth, I wore this outfit several weeks ago, during the cold snap I already told you about. And since it was cold, you guessed it - I layered up! I put a chambray under the sweater, and am wearing AT LEAST two pairs of socks beneath those (worn) UGG boots you see. And then, when we were running errands that day (and "exposed" to the elements), I added a heavy black scarf, down vest, down coat (with the fux fur-trimmed hood UP OVER my head), and my earmuffs and gloves on. Fashionable? More like marshmallow-ey. But quite warm & cocooned!

I really like this sweater, especially with my faux leather-stripe leggings. I'm wearing them above, but didn't get any detail shots, so you'll just have to take my word for it, my friends. The sweater is just slouchy enough for the weekend, but chic enough to look put together, dontcha think? I've worn it once or twice since (without a collared shirt underneath), but with the same leggings...! I need to come up with a new way to wear it...any suggestions?? I got some great ideas the last time I asked for help - so, haaaaaalp!

sweater: Aéropostale

chambray: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

leggings: Aéropostale

boots: UGG (gift from my sweetie, SEVERAL years ago)

30 for 30: Day 18 & Day 19

Day 18

this two-toned coat is from Aéropostale, I wore it earlier here

snapped this at work

Chambray and a pencil skirt. Not two items I would normally pair together, but on a wild hair, I did. And I'm thinking it turned it pretty darn well. From a distance, I look like I'm wearing a nice dress shirt with my skirt. But, as you get closer, I appear more casual and, possibly (hopefully!), fashion-savvy? ;)

Sorry for my extended (and completely unintended!) absence. If you follow me on Instagram, you'll see that I've been pretty busy the past few weeks (we bought a house! and moved! and are settling in!). 

So, I'm back! Just in time for the holidays :)

Day 19

tough to tell in these pictures, but those pants are navy corduroys

my Mr. told me to "act cold!" so, I did.
normally, when I'm cold, I'm frowning and grump-ing and generally unpleasant.
#truestory
anything for fashion, right? ;)

It was at this point in this challenge I started having a tougher time putting together outfits with my 30 items. I originally felt like I was reaching a bit with this outfit, but looking at the pictures, 

it doesn't appear that way (at least to MY eyes). 

Ever feel uneasy about the outfit you put together? But then think about it later and realize you looked FABULOUS?!?!

linking up here, here and here today

Pink & Orange Stripes

 

This outfit came out to play in October, so I'm doing a bit of blogging catch up (that, and I'm CRAZY busy for the next few days! more to come later...)

The shoulders of the shirt are bright pink, and the rest of the stripes are orange. My vest (remember this?) is cream-ish, my scarf is ombre, going from dark pink to tan. 

And you can probably figure out the pants and jeans :)

shirt: Old Navy

vest: thrifted (Levi's)

scarf: gift

jeans: GAP Outlet

boots: Rack Room Shoes

30 for 30: Day 17

I know what you're thinking.

"WHAT WAS SHE thinking with this outfit? Tweed blazer, black, black, scarf? WHAT???"

However, I can explain. I typed

"pink tweed blazer"

into Pinterest (my Pinterest boards leave a lot to be desired, I know - I try to limit my time on there, as it's SO. ADDICTING.) And saw several images, specifically this pin that led me to theglamandglitter.com. Instead of dressing up the tweed blazer (like I had thought about), she dressed it down with distressed denim. I always saw other images that paired blacks & grays with the blazer, allowing the pink tweed to take center stage. So, that was my inspiration.

My execution might have been a little off, but the thought was there! I did need a scarf though, because 1) it was cold outside

2) I was wearing just a plain white tank under the blazer, so I needed to cover up a bit (did I mention that I'm wearing basic tanks under items that are need a little extra during this challenge? cause I am) 

So, fashion forward? Or fashion fail?

And for reference, here is the last time I wore this blazer on the blog...in May...when it snowed...grrr

So Sweet

I call these my "ballerina shoes," simply because they're pink, have a bow, and a slightly boxy toe-shoe shape. However, I do not have to tear them apart, lace them up, and they do not make my toes hurt and bleed.

I made these bracelets a few months ago. By made them, I mean I bought the beads and the stretchy string, then strung them together, then threw them on my wrist.

Before Halloween I attended a Dessert Party hosted by the collegiate members of my sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha. This event is an annual fundraiser, and the proceeds go to benefit Breast Cancer Education & Awareness, Zeta's national philanthropy.

I sported my event t-shirt from 2009, when I was one of the girls hosting the party, but subtly covered up with a cardigan and a scarf, but still showing my Think Pink! support :)

shirt: Zeta
sweater: thrifted (Kohl's)
scarf: gift from my sis-in-law
pants: Ann Taylor LOFT
shoes: Coldwater Creek

linking up here

30 for 30: Day 12 (and some new schtuff)

yes, that is Turbo's tongue in the lower right - it's a very long dog tongue

Here is the new coat I mentioned the other day. Fancy, huh? I'm a HUGE fan. I was really drawn to it initially, then "hem-ed" and "haw-ed"over it while I perused the rest of the store. 

"Is it ME?"

"Is it too trendy?"

"White? In the winter?" 

(It comes in navy, too. So that added another 30 minutes to the decision making process)

But as you can see, I overcame all of those objections and got the coat. I've been on the hunt for a new, shorter coat. I've got a red peacoat, which I love, but it's very dressy and comes to my knees; a knee-length purple down coat, and several fleece jackets from The North Face/Columbia. I was looking for something nicer than my fleece jackets, but shorter, more casual, and not quite as heavy as my other coats (that's a lot of criteria!).

I love this coat for many reasons:

1) it fits my above criteria

2) it's got (faux) leather sleeves, which is SO on trend for this year. AND, who doesn't love (faux) leather?

3) it's two-toned - do YOU know anyone with a two-toned coat? I don't.

4) it dresses up jeans, but not TOO much

5) it was provided to me courtesy of Aéropostale, as one of their VIPs for this season

Needless to say, I'll be wearing it a lot this winter, until we hit below freezing temps for weeks at a time.

YUCK.

this pink peplum top really doesn't photograph well, does it?

I matched the pink polka dots in my pants to my top

 

Yes, that is a bulldog. On a pair of socks. They are my (2nd pair of) bulldog socks. I love them.

I can't find this sweater online (boo), but it's much prettier in person - the pink is not as blinding, I promise. I'm envisioning it with leggings (most likely these, also from Aéropostale), boots over my new bulldog socks, a large cup of coffee, and a good book (currently I'm in the middle of 2 books, and 1 audiobook)...

For something similar to this sweater, imagine:

this Sheer Striped Knit Sweater, mixed with this Marled Slub-Knit Sweater, topped off with this Sheer Ribbon Yarn Sweater.

A scarf with hearts, that masquerade as black polka dots. Could this scarf be any more darling? I think not. Can't wait to wrap myself up in it - it's nice, and big, and square-ish-ly shaped, without being too heavy, although it does have a nice weight & bulk to it. Good job, heart/polka dot scarf.

And the gray infinity scarf I wore the other day, that my husband said I didn't "NEED", is here.

Aéropostale keeps hitting it out of the park - keep it up! Can't wait to see what else they've got in store!

Hooray for the weekend! Any fun plans in store?

linking up this BRIGHT top [that looks neon in these pictures] over here