bragging rights

I don't mean to brag, but I think my legs look pretty good in this skirt and these wedges. I've been training for my half marathon and I like to think it shows. But maybe that's all in my head...

This skirt is shorter than what I'd wear to work, so don't worry, Mom - this skirt didn't go to work. I wore pants on the job site, but changed into this when I got home. Something about pants in the summer heat makes me so uncomfortable. Blegh.

shirt: Aéropostale

skirt: from a friend

wedges: Target

black and blue

Looks like I've worn this exact same look before (here - this past winter). But with different shoes.

Guess I liked it so much I had to repeat it...

or I can't figure out what else to wear this top with. The fit is boxy, so just any bottoms won't do.

*sigh*

Any ideas?

shirt: Ann Taylor

pants: Aéropostale

wedges: Target

Mr. Picks Mondays: Blushed

This blush-colored blouse is a recent addition to my closet - I found it at H&M on my recent (and quick!) trip to Florida for the 4th of July. No, it's nothing crazy (neon or sequins), or groundbreaking, or especially special, but it's a nice, solid, steady, understated classy piece that can be dressed up or down, and since it's so neutral, goes with just about anything and e'er'thang in my closet. 

Exhibit A: this navy and white striped skirt.

Next up: Olive skinnies? Shorts? Another skirt?

shirt:H&M

skirt: J. CREW Factory

wedges: DSW

Summer LBDs: Dress #3

And here is the dress I wore for the wedding itself (rehearsal here). I found it at Target, on the sale rack, just a week before we left for the wedding. I’d felt blue all day, and wandered into Target, as one often does when one is sad. Or happy. Or hungry. Or bored. Or just wants to go shopping. I’d decided some retail therapy would cheer me up, and even after finding these black wedges in my size, I still needed another filler-upper, so I checked out the clearance racks. And found this dress. In my size. On sale (I think it was under $12?). So, that helped. As did the peanut butter M&M’s that also found their way into my  basket…

This dress has a bit of a scuba/sports-inspired feel. The fabric is light and ALMOST of a sports/technical quality (but not quite!), and the piping on the front really adds interesting detail, as well as outlines the shape of the dress, while mimicking the seams on a wetsuit…

Having been to Missouri before, I was expecting TONS of HEAT and HUMIDITY and BUGS, but luckily, all three of those unpleasant elements were not very present! Sure, it was warm, but not unbearable – we spent most of the reception outside, instead of inside in the air-conditioning. It WAS humid, but not as oppressive as I’d experienced before (I’m a humidity wimp after living in Colorado)…and the bugs seemed to be staying away! At least from me, which never happens (I got eaten alive last week in Florida…)!

And of course, the wedding was lovely and beautiful and it was good to see family and friends we hadn’t seen in ages, as well as make some new friends that mentioned they’d love to come out and visit us in Colorado...!

dress: Target

wedges: Target

Summer LBDs: Dress #2

This floral LBD from Aéropostale made an appearance at a rehearsal dinner for D’s cousin’s wedding in Missouri - we took a few days off and made the drive.

The rehearsal at the church was quick, and then we headed to the party at the groom’s parents’ house. The dinner was a fish fry, but the fare was not just limited to fish – there was chicken, shrimp, green beans, asparagus, not to mention countless casseroles and side dishes. I also had my first fried Oreo. And by first, I mean I had several. Divine. Really. #getyouone #rightmeow

I ended up getting pretty cold as the evening wore on, even when a HUGE Great Dane sweetie named Magness decided to sit on my lap and keep me warm (probably my favorite part of the evening - not kidding), so I grabbed my father-in-law’s drywall sweatshirt and wore it over my dress. Unfortunately I don’t have a picture of that to share, but just know that I looked pretty great with my cute floral dress sticking out the bottom of a big black sweatshirt covered with paint and drywall mud :)

dress: Aéropostale

shoes: Target

Summer LBDs: Dress #1

I realized recently that I'd worn 4 black dresses, almost right in a row. For different occasions, of course (work, a rehearsal dinner, and a wedding), but different little black dresses, all right in a row, all in the span of a few days. So, I decided to post them all here, right in a row, and give you some ideas for different ways to wear LBDs in the summer.

You've heard that LBDs are versatile - and they are. But the truth is, you can never have enough. The day I came home with this dress, I came home with 2 other black dresses. All different. This one obviously is more of a looser fitting shift with a ruffle, the other is a cross between a shift dress and a t-shirt dress, and the other is this black maxi you've seen several times already. So, of course I needed them all. And I've worn them each several times already. So, when your shopping partner asks if you "REALLY NEED" all the black dresses, your response should always be "Of course I do!" ;)

dress: Old Navy

necklace: WalMart

shoes: Target

My Chartreuse Summer Sweater

I wore this outfit to take two cute pups to the vet for a checkup, and then on to work. I got this chartreuse-ish sweater several weeks ago at Old Navy and have been itching to wear it. It's very light, and the sleeves roll up and stay put with a nice little button deal-thingey - perfect for the summer heat when you work in a really chilly office. I added plain shorts and some wedges, since the color of the sweater is so bright, and, TA DA!!! Summer sweater chic ;)

sweater: Old Navy

shorts: Old Navy

sandals: DSW

thought you might appreciate this picture of me smiling like a doofus...
I was actually probably talking (surprise!) ;]

Housewife in Purple

these are the shoes I wore for our wedding, with a shiny 2012 penny glued to the bottom

I found this dress at a thrift store and it reminded me of something an old-fashioned housewife might wear. So, I brought it home and then cut several inches off the bottom to bring it into this century. I added a bright belt and punchy shoes to finish the transition into this decade. What do you think? The top is a bit boxy, but I think it helps to balance out the short & flowy skirt.

On another note, ya know how sometimes the days just get away from you and you can't seem to catch up all week? And then the weekend seems like the perfect time to recharge, but all of a sudden your weekend is filled up? And the next one, too, and the one after that? Yeah? That's me lately. Color me exhausted! But in a good way - lots of time spent with friends & family and big changes at work for my Mr. & I.

I'm so looking forward to putting my feet up this evening and doing nothing. Some people go out every Friday night and are amped up for the weekend. I'm the opposite - there's nothing I look forward to more on a Friday evening than laying low and having a movie night with the Mr. and the pups. Am I the only 20-something who feels that way? Weekends are the perfect time for me to regroup and get myself mentally, emotionally & physically ready to tackle the week ahead.

On that note, have a great weekend! I've got some blogging catching up to do, sooooo, yeah ;)

Dress: thrifted
Shoes: ALDO
Belt: Target

Linking up over here and here today ;)

...and the rocket's red glare

I wore this the day before Independence Day. I tied my polka dot chambray over my dress for work, and took it off as soon as I left - it was so hot! I know it's busy with two competing patterns, but when else can I obnoxiously wear red, white & blue because I love America?! Oo oo, and the shoes! I can't quite say comfortable, but as far as heels (ok, wedges) go, top 5 most comfortable I've ever worn. Good chat.

Hope you enjoyed your holiday and celebrated our great nation's day of independence from Great Britain :)

polka dot chambray: Liz Claiborne - thrifted

dress: Target via Plato's Closet

wedges: thrifted

linking up today: