Festive

This outfit is several weeks behind - it's what I wore Christmas Eve. I had to work (bummer, huh?), but we did get to go home early, so I was able to take outfit pictures outside during daylight! Woot woot! I figured if I had to work on Christmas Eve, I might as well wear something with a bow, something sparkly, and something red - it doesn't hurt that the item with the bow was in the form of my new bulldog tee. 

Christmas Eve started my 5 days in a row off. I'm going to be completely honest with you - it was aaaaamazing. I slept in, wore sweatpants, drank lots of coffee with Irish Cream, and spent lots of time with my favorite men & woman (husband, bulldog & bulldog). I had a huge list of things I wanted to get accomplished, but I hardly did any of them. Instead, I lounged, relaxed, soaked in the time with my sweetheart, and truly enjoyed my down time. We had no plans to go anywhere for Christmas, so the two of us stayed at home and laid low. Going back to work was TOUGH. OY. SO. TOUGH.

Now that Christmas is about three weeks behind us, do you think I'm the worst blogger ever? 

Or, are you thankful that I keep reminding you of the holidays & celebrating well into January?

We're having (belated) Christmas with both sets of parents this weekend - I'm a fan of drawing out the celebrating :)

linking up with:
Two Thirty Five Designs for Casual Friday
Simply Lulu Style for What I'm Loving Friday

shirt: J CREW Factory similar below

sweater: from a friend - Banana Republic similar below

pants: Aéropostale similar below

shoes: KMart similar below

Hemingway-ed

I don't know if you know this, but I really love my local library. They've saved me tons of money when it comes to reading - I can just check a book out, read it, and turn it back in, rather than purchasing a book I might not really like or want to keep. I also check out audiobooks on the regular, and listen to them on my drive to & from work. I'm finishing up Jane Eyre, and this time last year listened to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, among several others. The Mr. listened to all 5 books of A Song of Ice & Fire, sparking our interest in the TV show "Game of Thrones," and subsequent Halloween costumes. 

So, anyways, I love the library. A few weeks ago I finished The Paris Wife. It's a novel about Ernest Hemingway's first wife, Hadley Richardson, and their life in Paris as he was working on some of his first works.

Finishing The Paris Wife piqued my interest in Hemingway, so, on this fine (read: not freezing) day, I went to the library and headed to the H section of the fiction area. I checked out two books by Hemingway, and am halfway through the first one, To Have and Have Not.

Now, my knowledge of this great American author is limited to The Paris Wife, the novel I'm currently reading, and what I read on Wikipedia (I never read The Old Man and The Sea in high school). Based on this small bit of information, I don't think Ernest Hemingway is someone I would have gotten along with. Seems to me he was a bit of a womanizer (he left his first wife for her best friend), and kind of selfish. That being said, I AM enjoying reading To Have and Have Not, although I wish it provided more background & detail for each character.

So, since I knew I was headed for a literary center, I wore a hat. I don't know why a hat makes me feel more cultured and traveled, but it does a little bit. Maybe it's the fact I don't normally wear them? Or that a fedora seems a wee bit old school? Either way, I wore a hat. And checked out some books by Hemingway. And took some pictures of my outfit.

linking up with:

Vodka Infused Lemonade for Tres-Chic Fashion Thursday

Color Blind for Thrifters Anonymous

shirt: GAP similar below

sweater: thrifted

jeans: thrifted (True Religion) similar below

shoes: thrifted similar below

hat: thrifted (Target) similar below

Better in my Mind

Well, this outfit sounded a lot better in my head than it looks on the internet. It has all the components of a great outfit: chambray, skinnies, booties & a cardigan. But, the execution is a bit disappointing. Better luck next time? Every get let down by your favorite wardrobe staples?

chambray: thrifted [similar below]

cardigan: from a clothes swap with friends (Daisy Fuentes)

pants: thrifted (Lauren Conrad)  [similar fits below]

booties: Old Navy [similar below]

Neon & Stripes

I saw these NEON shoes at Kohl's several weeks ago. They were the only pair left, and they were in my size. Aaaand, they were marked down to $8. So, they came home with me, along with the dress shoes for the Mr. that were my original reason to venture to Kohl's. Imagine my surprise when my shoes rang up at not $8, but $4! 

Oh, and I had a coupon. 

So, for less than the price of a Peppermint Mocha, I got a new pair of shoes. I know this doesn't necessarily jive with my resolutions from last week, but in my defense, the shoes were purchased well before the New Year. And let's be real - who doesn't want neon shoes?

shirt: Old Navy

sweater: rue21

jeans: Trends

shoes: Kohl's

scarf: gift

linking up:

Run Style Run for What She Wears

Because Shanna Said So for Random Wednesday
The Fashion Canvas & Walking in Memphis in High Heels  for Trend Spin Link Up

Photo Bombed

Sometimes I can wear kids clothes. Like this vest. It's blue, it has glitter, and it's from GAP Kids. A friend of mine purchased this several years ago, and once upon a time, this friend gave me several bags of clothes she was getting rid of. In one of those bags was this sparkly blue vest. From GAP Kids. 

And now, you see it here, on sweetbananie.blogspot.com

:)

I realize that everything (except my tanktop) in this post was thrifted, bought secondhand, or a hand-me-down. Would anyone be interested in hearing my thrifting tips? I just love a good thrift store - I've found some really great things! Let me know in the comments!

photobombing. she can't stand to not be included. even in blog pictures!

linking up: 

Style Elixir for Style Sessions Fashion Link Up

Colorblind for Thrifters Anonymous

shirt: thrifted (Ann Taylor LOFT)

jeans: Trends (consignment shop)

shoes: thrifted

vest: hand-me-down from a friend

Mr. Picks Mondays: Covering up (Some Overindulging)

the sweater-y knit of my maxi skirt

I don't know why, but I have a hard time with this skirt (and it's charcoal gray twin). They're both a heavy, sweater knit and have slits on one side. Easy to pair with boots, or even flats. Perfect for chilly weather, except for when there is moisture on the ground, as they kinda-sorta skim the earth, and I simply can't have the bottom 2 inches of my skirt soaked through. 

Maybe it's the fit? They've got an elastic waistband that can easily produce some muffin-top, especially in a too-snug top. Enter a chambray button up. Not too snug, still on trend, and perfect for after the holidays, when I've overindulged in treats & fancy beverages.

I realize the last time I wore this skirt, I paired it with this same chambray. So much for my remixing skills...

*shakes head*

Buttttt, totally different look this time! This time is more of a "wintery-fresh-with-boots" look, and last time was a "purple-y-scarf-and-blustery-bun" look...too much? ;)

chambray: thrifted

skirt: thrifted

boots: Rack Room Shoes

scarf: gift

linking up:

DC in Style for Monday Bloom

The Style Record for Monday Must Haves

Still Being Molly for Funday Monday

Fizz and Frosting for Mix it Mondays

A Dress as a Skirt

This skirt is not really a skirt...

it's a dress! 

Didn't fool you, did I? When I did my November 30 for 30, I wore a dress as a shirt. This time, I wore a dress as a skirt. That's all my creativity in those two outfits, so I'm calling it good and ending this year (2014) on a high note. See ya.

I kid - again!

I'm just wondering why I haven't worn this dress as a skirt before - what have I been doing?! Living under a style rock, obvi. You're going to be seeing this look A LOT. Oh, and I have another black dress that looks perfect as a skirt, so, seriously, get ready to see this look doubly often. 

the herringbone pattern on my tights - lovelovelove

sweater: gift (Coldwater Creek)

dress as a skirt: thrifted (Target)

tights: ??? - had them since high school...

boots: Rack Room Shoes

linking up with:

Two Thirty-Five Designs for Casual Friday Link Up

Simply Lulu Style for What I'm Loving Fridays

Style Elixir for Friday's Fab Favorites