Edgy...with a side of Warm & Fuzzy

 

 

  

 

This is me trying out "edgy." I know it doesn't look like it, but I assure you, it is. 

If you look REALLY closely at the outfit on the left, my red shirt under the chambray has little bitty gold studs. They're in a polka dot pattern, but that is besides the point!

And, for my outfit on the right, I'm wearing coated denim, which is #2 on the edgy pants scale (#1 being leather pants, obvi). And nothing says grunge like black and white flannel, except for ripped acid wash jeans... 

However, I am obviously more interested in unicorns and rainbows, than in being edgy, as evidenced by my heart print scarf, and bulldog tee (below)...

Better luck next time!

SHOP THE LOOKS, OR SOMETHING SIMILAR

on the left:

tank: Old Navy

chambray: thrifted similar below

scarf: Aéropostale exact

jeans: Aéropostale exact

shoes: KMart similar below

on the right:

bulldog T: J CREW Factory similar below

flannel: Old Navy similar below

coated denim: Kohl's similar below

shoes: Target similar below

Celebrations

Last week, I turned the big TWO FIVE. I'm 25. Solidly in my mid-twenties. Inching closer and closer to 30 (!!!). When I was in college, my friends and I would groan about getting older, and the younger girls in my sorority would tease us for "being old" and staying in for an evening, instead of heading "out."

While that used to be my view, I've recently adopted a more mature outlook on my yearly anniversary of being born - I'm going to enjoy it.

And relish it.

And look forward to everything this 25th year of life offers. 

I recently came across this quote:

"Do not regret growing old. It is a privilege denied to many."

- Unknown

And it struck a chord with me. How powerful.

So, I plan to be thankful for being 25. After all, good things came out of my 24th year - we bought a home, I started a new job that I enjoy, we bought a new-to-us (fast!) car, I got better at skiing, I ran a half-marathon, the Mr. did the Tough Mudder, we made new friends, and strengthened old friendships, celebrated our marriage, loved on our pups, and, oh, I started this little blog exactly 1 year ago today :)

a new Lilly Pulitzer dress - this has become a birthday tradition. My Mr. picks one out for me, (all on his own!) and surprises me with it on my birthday. He's got good taste, no?

I love Lilly dresses because they're typically so bright and colorful (except the 2 white ones from my Mr.), and they're classy dresses - I love to wear mine to showers, parties, and I wore one to our wedding rehearsal dinner. I know they're all over at the Carolina Cup, the Kentucky Derby, and tea parties :)

As I mentioned above, I started this blog one year ago today, with this little post right here. I like to think I've grown leaps and bounds in terms of blogging and style. S

o, if you've stuck around since Day 1, or just got here, thanks for sticking with me, and here's to another year!

I got fancy schmancy cupcakes at a local cupcake place in celebration of Sweet Bananie's "blogiversary", Buttercream Cupcakery - check them out if you're in Northern Colorado!

SIMILAR LILLY DRESSES
(without the sleeves)

Mr. Picks Mondays: Dressed for Spring (oh, and Ireland)

I last wore this orange skirt over the summer (oh, summer! how I can't wait for your arrival!) for a Bachelorette Party in Las Vegas (here). It's been hanging in my closet screaming (literally screaming, because it's so bright) "WEAR ME! I'M FUN! WEAR ME! I can go with tights and boots or wedges or sandals!"

I've come close a few times but haven't been able to pull the trigger and actually do it. 

Enter my Mr. and Monday.

He chose this bright, lacy, funky skirt and pronounced "This."

So. Boom. I had to wear it! And wear it I did! I tried to tone down the neon-ness of the skirt by keeping the rest of the ensemble pretty neutral and covered up. It's a spring outfit if I ever saw one - bright skirt, jacket, scarf, tights & booties. But, when it's ALMOST spring in Colorado, you can only roll with it and mix & match your sweaters with shorts and sandals snow boots the best you can.

Oh, and, I'm not even Irish (the Mr. is, though), and look at me - wearing orange & green like the Irish flag! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

SHOP THE LOOK...OR SOMETHING SIMILAR

shirt: from a friend similar below

skirt: WalMart sort of similar below, they're along the same vein - bright! orange!

jacket: thrifted (Land's End) similar below

scarf: thrifted (Lucky Brand) sort of similar below

booties: Old Navy similar below

Black & White - Casual vs. Fancier

 

 

 

 

I didn't realize until I was looking at outfit pictures and putting posts together how much black I've been wearing lately. It's not the "color of my soul," or anything, it's easy to grab when I'm foggy in the mornings, and it goes with just about everything. So, since I've worn it pretty often lately. and some white to go with it, here are two different black and white looks for your viewing pleasure...and maybe some black & white outfit inspiration, to boot ;)

On the left: more casual - stripes, flannel & warm boots

On the right: fancier - peplum, blazer & bright flats

SHOP THE LOOK...OR SOMETHING SIMILAR

on the left:

striped top: Old Navy similar below

flannel: Old Navy similar & exact below

jeans: Aéropostale exact

boots: UGG similar & exact below

on the right:

 striped peplum: Ann Taylor Factory sort of similar below

blazer: thrifted (Target) similar below

jeans: Aéropostale exact

neonflats: Kohl's similar below

Another Two-fer

Another two outfits for you in today's post. They both include a button up under a sweater, colored skinnies and ankle boots. Not a new combination at all, but a tried and true favorite, especially this past winter. 

I've been so obsessed with wearing my button-ups this fall & winter that I gave them their own little section in my closet. That way, I don't have to dig through the rest of my tops to find the one I want. I just let my eyes run over all the button-ups (sorted by color, of course) in one little area and choose the one I want to wear that day. 

SHOP THE LOOKS...OR SOMETHING SIMILAR

1st outfit

shirt: GUCCI (from a friend) similar below

sweater: GAP (thrifted) similar below

corduroys: Joe Fresh (thrifted) similar below

booties: Old Navy exact & similar below

2nd outfit

chambray: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's similar below

sweater: local consignment shop

pants: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's (thrifted)

booties: Old Navy exact & similar below

Mr. Picks Mondays: Black & Tan

This week the Mr. chose the top and the pants (hooray for him finally choosing skinnies!) and I added the sweater, and of course, the brown boots. So, here it is - neutral meets neutral meets neutral, all in a classy black and brown combination. Dig it?

SHOP THE LOOK...OR SOMETHING SIMILAR

shirt: Ann Taylor LOFT (thrifted) similar below

sweater: DayTrip (thrifted) similar below

pants: Aéropostale

boots: Rack Room Shoes similar below

Early [Weekend] Mornings

oh y'know, just shivering & trying to stay warm while trying to take cute outfit pictures ;)

This cold weather look is something I wore when we had to take one bulldog (the handsome one, Turbo) to the vet for an appointment on an early, snowy, cold Sunday morning. We dropped him off at 7:30 (7:30! on a Sunday!) to get his (sparse & very crooked) teeth cleaned. After we dropped him off, we headed to a favorite breakfast place that usually has a crazy long wait on the weekends. But since we were there before 8, we had no wait and were seated right away! 

And then, since we were up, and in town, and full on pancakes, bacon, and coffee by 9 am, we decided to run some errands. We were done with our errand running, shopping, productive-ness, and on our way home with the freshly-cleaned teeth of Turbo by NOON! This is unheard of for us, people! We like to sleep in on the weekends and take our time getting things done. We had so much done on this day before we're normally even out of pajamas, it made me start thinking about starting every weekend day early.

But then, I remembered that I and my Mr. enjoy sleeping in. Especially when it snows. And is cold outside. And there's fresh coffee to be drunk. And unwatched House of Cards episodes on NetFlix to be watched. And snoring bulldogs to be snuggled.

SHOP THE LOOK...OR SOMETHING SIMILAR

sweatshirt: Old Navy [similar below]

vest: Old Navy [similar below]

scarf: GAP (gift) [similar below]

jeans: Aéropostale

boots: SOREL [exact below]