May showers

About three weeks ago, three of my sweet sweet girlfriends hosted a baby shower for me and our new Bebe. It was a truly lovely afternoon - lots of delicious food, lots of fun books for Bebe to read (or, us to read to Bebe, let's be real), and lots of lovely gifts (thank you cards are being worked on, pinky promise).

My parents came to visit for the occasion, and while Mom and I attended the shower, the Mr., my Dad and some boyfriends/husbands of the girls attending my shower played lawn games and enjoyed beer at our house. My bestie with a new baby came and even brought her little one to my house before the shower so I could love on the wee one. Friends came from all over Colorado to celebrate and I only wish I could had more time to see everyone.

Mama (soon-to-be- Gramma) & I

friends from high school - thanks for making the trip!

ZTA friends - thanks for making the trip!

Above is the dress I wore for the shower - not included in my Maternity Capsule Wardrobe, as this was a birthday gift from my parents that arrived after I'd taken pictures and posted my capsule on this here blog.

It's from a Pea in the Pod Maternity, and while I do like it a lot (built-in print mixing, huzzah!), I had planned to wear an apricot midi skirt with a lace top for my shower, but this Colorado spring weather had other ideas (gray. cold. rain. mud.). So, a warm dress with tights and booties was the next best option. Luckily these fleece-lined tights matched the red/maroon in the dress perfectly - phew!

Thank you to my hostesses for a lovely party, and thank you to everyone who made the trip or sent lovely gifts - you guys are the best. We can't wait for you to meet our new addition!

plaid & more leopard

The first time I wore this outfit, the shirt fully and comfortably closed – that was many weeks ago. Now, it’s a bit snug. Might be time to retire it, or plan to wear it open and unbuttoned, with something underneath it, of course. I used my trick from a few weeks ago, which is double leopard. That’s right – my shoes and my tiny belt are different prints of leopard. As long as it looks intentional and not like you got dressed in the dark, it’s ok - I promise!

Additionally, adding a belt helps to define your waist (see how I wore this last time here) by showing off the smallest part of your torso – for me right now, that is between my bust and belly. Helps me to look and feel more put together lately, when all I want to wear is maternity leggings and the Mr.'s t-shirts

red & white checkered tunic: The Screamin' Peach

red sweater: from a friend (Banana Republic)

leopard belt: thrifted

leggings: maternity - Old Navy

leopard flats: Aéropostale

working formula

This layered navy look was perfect for a recent snowy day in Colorado. The only caveat - I wore my big SOREL snow boots to work, and slipped on these less cumbersome booties when I got to my desk (I'm definitely not going to wear these booties on ice).

You might think this looks eerily similar to another look I shared recently (check it out here), and you'd be right. When you've got a formula that works, you don't waiver too much. Especially when your closet is shrinking by the day as your belly grows.

Have a great Sunday - we're spending it around the house getting some things done, but also enjoying some much needed down time. Anyone else feel like they're going going going all the time lately? We sure do. Oof. Do adults get Spring Break?

red & navy striped shirt: thrifted

navy blue dress: thrifted

navy fleece-lined tights: GG Boutique

gold belt: thrifted

ankle booties: Old Navy

floral scarf: Target

stripes on stripes

Hi. Long time no blog, huh? Sorry, friends. But I've got good news - you can wear different sizes of black and white stripes for some "stripe mixing" (instead of the usual print mixing), like I did here. Call it geometric, or artsy, or something you'd do to make it appear as if you're wearing a dress instead of two pieces. I just call it "my friends were coming over for a wine night and I didn't know what to wear, so I went for stripes all over."

Do you ever double up on stripes? It's a fun and bit different take on print mixing. I'm a fan.

peplum top: Ann Taylor LOFT

pencil skirt: Target

black wedges: Target

trouser two-fer

I've got a two-fer for ya before this long weekend (don't worry - I've got posts coming 'atcha through the long weekend, though). This two-fer features the same pair of pants, but with different shirts each time. One shirt has polka dots, the other is a lace-detail chambray, but they're both button-ups. Points for me anyways?

Up first, polka dots on top, and light & subtle pinstripes on the bottom (tough to see in these pictures, I know). These pants are oldies, but they're the prettiest shade of light olive green with the most perfect little pinstripes. I'm so glad I've hung on to them since high school - aren't trousers making a comeback? Or something?

Secondly is something really similar to the first, but the shirt is different! It's chambray! *swoon* And no polka dots! And it has pretty lace detailing on the shoulders and back. Totally different look, right? RIGHT?

What's your favorite way to wear some trousers? Button ups? Blouses? Casual tees?

Spill.

polka dot button up: Old Navy

metallic sandals: Target

green trousers: GAP

lace detail chambray: c/o Aéropostale

beaded sandals: Kohl's

funk-ay

In retrospect, this wasn't my best outfit everrrrr. BUT, it's far from my worst. There's not quite enough blue in the skirt to really pull off the stripes. And maybe the neon sandals were a bit much. I've ended up with an almost funky vibe, don't ya think?

But enough about me. Aren't those trees and grass so nice and green?? Thanks to Colorado State University for providing an opportune place to have a lunch date and take some blog pictures. Just in time for the students to return to campus, and to town.

shirt: Old Navy

skirt: J. Crew Factory

sandals: Target

visual trickery

Here's those pants again.

Sorry?

Can't stop, won't stop.

This time I went for a black and white look, with some print mixing. I really dig it, except the v-neck on this tee under the rounded collar on this cardigan doesn't really thrill me. It's one of those things that just looks a bit odd when you really scrutinize it.

Never mind - I just employed one of my visual tricks: move really fast so if something looks funny, it isn't noticed. I call it an "optical illusion." I have a glitzy watch from my brother that's missing a few rhinestones; solution: wear it and just move my hands quickly when I'm talking to someone. They never even notice. Feel free to use that one ;)

shirt: Target

cardigan: J. Crew Factory

pants: WalMart

heels: Target

"camouflage"

Stripes and leopard. A classic case of print mixing. I guess the only thing a bit different about this version than previous leopard and stripe adventures is that the leopard and stripes are navy blue and gold-ish, instead of black and gold-ish. Navy colored leopards exist in the wild, right? Of course they do.

And since this skirt is pretty loud, I paired it with nude flats, and jewelry in the same color family. Didn't want to distract from my navy colored leopard. I mean, "camouflage."

shirt: Target

skirt: thrifted (Target)

necklace: Target

flats: Old Navy

linking up:

A Touch of Tartan //  DC in Style

Why I Do DeClaire // Tasteful Style // The Mrs. and Co.

most favorite

This is one of my favorite outfits of ALL TIME *Kanye at the 2009 VMAs*

Let’s examine the elements that make it MOST FAVORITE, shall we?

1) the dress

It's feminine, fun, bright, and pink + navy = love

I got it last fall, and have only worn it once. I tend to not wear Lilly dresses for every day activities (work), because they are too fancy. But adding a shirt underneath disguised the dress as more of a jumper, instead of a fun party dress (which it is, in its real life).

And also, this dress is a heavier fabric, making it perfect to wear each and every season – the lack of sleeves make it ideal for summer, but the weight is heavier than a cotton sundress, so it won’t look out of place with tights, sweaters, and boots when the cold comes around again.

2) the layering of a classic button-up shirt underneath the dress

By now, I hope you know that I LOVE button-ups. However, this navy blue one always stumps me on how to wear it, because it’s so basic. And depending on the day, it feels too big and, yet, too small, sometimes. Weird, I know.

3) the shoes (the shoes are two-fold)

a) adding leopard print in the form of my shoes = print mixing (that, and they were more comfortable to walk to my lunch date in)

b) the bedazzled blue flats create a more cohesive look with the dress and button-up (I switched to these after work to run an errand to look more like a grown up)

4) good hair day

I have since gotten a trim and *dun dun dun* gone to the dark side (proof on Instagram), but sometimes my hair is long and flowy enough that I feel like a mermaid (you know what I mean).

5) the handsome pup in the last picture

O has been such a great addition to our little family, first as a companion to Turbo, and now as an only dog. He is full of personality, love, and silly little antics. #obsessed

dress: Lilly Pulitzer

button up: thrifted (J. Crew)

blue flats: thrifted

leopard flats: c/o Aero

linking up:

Classy Yet Trendy // The Red Closet Diary

Rachel the Hat