AERO NOW & Arrows

look at that handsome face

I’ve never really been one to wear  motifs or symbols, like arrows, birds, owls, or peace signs. I do have the occasional piece with something on it, and I do have three pairs of bow earrings, but these types of clothes/accessories aren’t usually something I seek out or have  a lot of in my wardrobe.

Enter this lightweight tank from Aéropostale with an arrow print. I saw it in the store, and decided on a whim to try it on. And what do you know? I liked it so much it came home with me! Obviously I went with a casual pairing today, but I’m thinking maybe with a skirt? Or under a cardigan or blazer when we’re thrown back into Arctic temps this winter? Or possible next weekend to see Kacey Musgraves in concert? A subtle nod to "Follow Your Arrow," perhaps...

Be sure to check out Aéro's new collection, AERO NOW, launching in stores tomorrow, the 28th of July. 

Stores are closing tonight to put out their new line and hosting an event tomorrow starting at 4 pm. Be sure to bring the below invitation to your local store!

tank: Arrow Racerback Tank

shorts: Cuffed Dark Wash Denim Bermuda Shorts

similar: Curvy Dark Wash Denim Bermuda Shorts

sandals: Shoe Carnival

Painting Pups

If you've ever wanted to know what my dogs would look like as a painting, here they are:

We went to a local painting place, Pinot's Palette, and painted pictures of our sweetymcsweeties. We sent in pictures of the pups beforehand, and the studio converted them to a black & white gradient, then glued them to the canvas. With some beer and wine and lots of instruction, we slowly but surely painted our pets. I really enjoy doing this type of thing, but lack any artistic skill, so about twenty minutes in, when I've botched up my painting more than a few times, and lost all patience, I'm donnnnnne. And start creeping on everyone else's projects. And drinking more wine. 

And questioning my purpose on this earth if I can't paint a decent picture of my really sweet and handsome Turbo...

But anyways, here are our finished projects. We hung them up in our living room. While they DO resemble our sweeties, I prefer the real live ones to love on :)

Oh, and here's what I wore to paint. Of course I wore an apron over this ensemble. I also wore this to have breakfast with a friend that morning, which was splendid.

And then I ran a 10k that evening

and

LIVED TO TELL THE TALE!!!

We'll call that a success. Who cares about time or pace? I didn't stop and I didn't die, and I didn't feel like dying right after, or the day after. #winning

chambray: Kohl's

shorts: Old Navy

sandals: Target

Minted

I don’t know what it is about my mint jeans, but every time I wear them, without fail, I spill something on them.

Coffee.

Lunch.

Bug guts.

Margarita.

They’re almost as much of a magnet for spills and stains as white pants.

Or maybe I just notice stains more on these pastel pants than, say, dark wash jeans.

Whatever the case may be, I wore this outfit.

I wore it to work. I wore it to a jobsite.

I wore it to see a friend. Wore it all day long.

Have I mentioned before that I really like this top from Eddie Bauer? I have the same one in purple, and I can’t help but wish the store had had 18 more colors to choose from…probably would have bought them all…

shirt: Eddie Bauer

pants: Lauren Conrad via Kohl’s

sandals: WalMart

Summer LBDs: Dress #4

Here's the last of my 4 LBDs for this summer - the shift/t-shirt dress I mentioned earlier. This one might not be as fun as the other three (one, two, and three), but it fills a very important LBD role - the simple one you can dress up or down. Really - throw on a statement necklace and some fun shoes, and you've got yourself a snazzy little outfit for a special occasion (I went the opposite direction with this look, but you get the idea, amiright??).

dress: Old Navy

sandals: Shoe Carnival

Mr. Picks Mondays: Chambray Away

The chambray shirtdress makes another appearance. This was the day after we drove* back from a wedding in Missouri (most of the day was spent crossing Kansas - I cheered when my beautiful mountains came into view), so a one-stop-shop to get dressed was pretty great.

Dress and bright shoes – done.

Count it.

And I just got back from another trip yesterday, so a short post it is (I spent the 4th in Florida with my family and good friends - got the sunburn to prove it).

dress: Kohl’s

sandals: Target

*btw, I finished 3 books on the way to and from the wedding – thank you, Dramamine II!

Proportionally Speaking...

This dress makes me think of Neapolitan ice cream.

Or sorbet.

Or sherbet.

Something sweet and cold.

I really like wearing this dress (and all the other ones currently residing in my closet) in the summer - they're really the only way to stay somewhat cool. I dread having to wear pants (and close-toed shoes! the horror!) to work when I have to.

Switching gears, maybe it's just these pictures, but the top of this dress seems to be just a wee bit big on me. I'm experiencing a weird fit with some most of my clothes lately. I've been training for my half marathon and trying to eat really good schtuff and I think it shows, but some of my pants will be SO snug in my legs, then gaping in my hips and rear (and a good 4 inches too long, but that's neither here nor there)! Or, sometimes, the opposite. Or my shirts will be snug in my arms and over my hips, but HUGE from my shoulders down to my ribs. Maybe I've just got weird short-girl proportions that look better in dresses and sandals?

I'm gonna go with that.

Guess I need to move somewhere where I can wear dresses and sandals all year long...

dress: Kohl's

sandals: WalMart

Dressing for America's Birthday, Part II

Since this Friday is the 4^th of July / America’s Birthday / Independence Day / one of the best days of the year, here is my second patriotic / festive outfit idea that I’m sharing: a tank top with stars all over it, and a simple chambray skirt that allows for lots of frolicking and cruiser-riding, which are two things I’m very into.

So, as you think about what to wear when you celebrate the 4^th of July, be sure to wear something you can frolick and be ultra-American in. I suggest it be red, white, AND blue, and covered with stars & stripes, but that’s just me - I like to obnoxiously celebrate America (proof: here and here).

tank: WalMart

skirt: thrifted

sandals: Born via DSW

Cheese & Wine

Waaay back at the end of May/beginning of June, we went on a fancy date night to celebrate our 2^nd wedding anniversary. We went to a local wine and cheese place (The Welsh Rabbit)  - I was in wino heaven. D isn’t much for wine (he prefers beer), but I think he even enjoyed himself a teeny bit. He ordered a glass of a sweet white before moving on to a cider, and I had a flight of Austrian wines (Vienna, here I come!). And we also tried a variety of cheeses. Really, I think we tried at least 6. If not closer to 8. And all sorts of meats and salamis and crackers and other good eats.

After we were full of cheese and wine and meat and bread, we wandered around downtown and I picked up another Pioneer Woman cookbook (her first one – the only one I was missing). We then went to a new-ish whiskey bar and met a friend there for a drink. This girl steered clear of the whiskey (shots of Fireball are the only whiskey I’ll partake in) and had a refreshing Moscow Mule instead ;)

the far left was D's sweet white - the remaining 3 my Austrian flight

cheese. bread. meat.

peplum top: Ann Taylor Factory

faux leather jacket: Miley Cyrus & Max Azria via Plato's Closet

skirt: Aéropostale

sandals: Shoe Carnival