30 for 30: day 5

In retrospect, I should have chosen a bit more color for this springtime 30 for 30 (those 30 items are going live tomorrow morning!). I seem to have chosen a lot of gray, black, and navy. I’ve become even more accustomed (and dare I say attached?) to darker colors this winter, and the fact that they always go together. I don’t have to question whether black looks good on black, because it JUST DOES. Without even trying. Or gray and navy.

You guys, this is the opposite of how I’ve approached spring in the past. Normally it’s

“BRIGHTS! FLORALS! SPRING! SANDALS! SHORTS!” 

and now I find myself hanging onto my winter clothes. Maybe it’s because I know that winter isn’t quite done with us yet, or that I’m more comfortable with layering and scarves than I am with sandals and shorts (a symptom of my slacking on my half marathon training), or that it always takes me a few weeks to figure out how to dress for a new season, or that I’m maturing, just a wee bit?

Whatever it is, I tried to pick 30 items that would lend themselves to adequate warmth during the inevitable heavy spring snows, and allow for a bit of spring merry-making (i.e. ButterBeer & patio drinking with friends). Even if I don't look spring-y, I'm almost always a decent temperature ;)

and this is my friend, Chelsea, who participated in the aforementioned ButterBeer & patio drinking)

30 for 30: day 4

All day in this outfit I felt unprepared and a wee bit confused. At one point, I was afraid I’d underdressed and kept thinking that I should have worn pants and a sweater (and another scarf and a jacket and a parka...) because it was so chilly out. Cut to a few hours later, and I was questioning WHY I’d worn tights – the sun was out, and the wind had died down. This cycle then proceeded to repeat itself for the entire day.

However, by the end of it (hot, cold, hot, and then cold again), I think I hit the nail on the head, making me sure of a few things:

1) I'm dressing appropriately for my climate

2) I'm dressing appropriately for my lifestyle

(mine happens to be a casual office environment, with a lunch date thrown in for good measure)

3) I'm a true Colorado fashionista – layers, boots, sandals, shorts, snow, dresses, sweaters, scarves, and 90 degree temps, all in the span of a day.

Welcome to spring in the Rockies!

30 for 30: day 2 + day 3

Hope you all had a great Easter weekend - mine was very low key. I didn't get out of my pajamas until after 3 yesterday. My Dad had surgery last week, so I kept him company and doled out pain meds while my Mom worked (kept company/hung out, NOT babysit or took care of). We watched a lot of Prison Break (a favorite from high school/college) on NetFlix, ate lots of ice cream, and nerded out. It was great. And he is on the mend - I think my company over the weekend helped to speed up his recovery. That, and my jokes ;)

That being said, here are 2 looks for this post-Easter-candy hangover Monday - days 2 and 3 of my 30 for 30 style challenge.

After my wordy posts this weekend, I'm going to keep it short today.

Unintentionally, both looks feature a bright top/light sweater, printed scarf, dark skinnies and flats.

Wasn't even planned, just seemed to work out so well the first time that I though I'd try it again for the next day.

day 2

green top: Old Navy

floral scarf: thrifted

statement necklace: local consignment shop

skinny jeans: c/o Aéropostale

tassled flats: Target

day 3

blue sweater: GAP Outlet

ikat scarf: WalMart

faux leather jacket: Target

black skinnies: Target

black flats: Target

30 for 30: day 1

I mentioned the other day that I was going to complete another 30 for 30 style challenge for the month of April. If you're new around here, I pick 30 items and have to style 30 outfits with only those items. It usually lasts about a month, give or take a few days (I mean, I AM posting my first outfit on the 5th day of April...).

So, sit back, relax, and watch me create 30 outfits (hopefully 30 different outfits) with 30 items that I picked from my closet.

You’ve seen this chambray dress and sandals several times before (here, here, and here). So, instead of boring you with the same old thing (and on the first day of my style challenge!), I spiced it up with some leopard.

I wore a leopard print button up UNDER the dress, and also added a leopard print belt. Yes, they're two (slightly) different leopard prints, but since leopard is a neutral (truth fact. look it up.), it works. Or, if it's too busy and you think it doesn't work, then let's call it creative print mixing.

Sometimes I worry that too much leopard is just too much, but this strikes just the right balance, by allowing the collar and sleeves to peek out from under my dress.

And this is my favorite part. The shirt has a tab and button thingey-deal to hold up a folded sleeve. And so does my dress. So, being the fancy sleeve folder that I am, I used the tab on my shirt, and the button on my dress to keep my sleeves up.

And I dig it.

So much. 

First time I've tried it, and I love how it turned out.

chambray dress: Kohl's

leopard print button up: WalMart

leopard print belt: thrifted

metallic sandals: Target

GARTH BROOKS

warning: lots of pictures and talking ahead...

Two weeks ago, something magical happened.

Garth Brooks came to Denver. He hasn't been here since 1999. As soon as we heard he was coming to town, we made plans to buy tickets and go with a group of friends.

And we did - it was great. Such a great show, great company, and I think we all had a terrific time. As did the thousands of other people in the arena, and the thousands of other people who saw him perform that week.

We ended up going on a Tuesday (a school night! what?!), to one of his last shows. And then we stayed in Denver for the night, got breakfast, and took our time getting back to work the next day. If I could go to a great show every Tuesday evening and work a half day on Wednesdays after a leisurely breakfast, I'd be a very happy girl. 

from my Instagram, before the show

my friend and her husband, before the show

the girls

my friend Lyndsie - she's a wonderful photographer

obligatory mirrored elevator ceiling selfie

boots boots boots
from my Instagram

and another obligatory selfie: the bathroom mirror shot

the man himself

The Mr. is not a huge country fan like myself, but he does love Garth, and he's slowly but surely coming around to my way of thinking, almost a decade later...

And, here is what I wore to the concert. I know that's the main reason you're here.

Don't lie. Let's be real. We're all friends around these parts ;)

You might have already gathered that I like to NOT dress like everyone else. And my girlfriend, Chelsea, mentioned that almost every female at the show would be wearing some variation of either a floral print dress, white dress, jean skirt and cowgirl boots.

And she was right.

That was proven to be true before we ever entered the Pepsi Center.

So, I took a different route and opted for chambray, sequins(!!!), and my trusty Frye boots. And I didn't even see anyone wearing anything similar. I even got complimented on my ensemble a few times by complete strangers. 

Now, you might think that my boots look a lot like cowgirl boots. And you might be right. But, I was at a country concert. And, they're my favorite. And I wouldn't actually wear them to wrangle cattle or ride horses or anything.

And don't they look good?

I think this will be my country concert outfit formula in the future: sassy, fancy, shiny, sparkly, denim, boots, leather, and big hair.

chambray: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

sequin skirt: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

boots: The Frye Company via Nordstrom

bag: thrifted

in the 3rd person

A few weeks ago, some friends gathered, drank some beer, ate some food, and played some Cards Against Humanity to celebrate someone's birthday. And a great time was had by all.

The above is what one party-goer wore. She was concerned about being cold as the evening wore on, but didn't want to be too warm whilst patio drinking. And somehow, she was able to strike juuuust the right balance. A white v-neck tee, black skirt, boots to keep her feetsies warm, and a chambray to take on and off according to the temperature and her activities.

And those fancy, pretty jewels she's sporting?

From Rocksbox - read more about that here.

white v-neck: c/o Aéropostale

chambray: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's

black skirt: from a friend

boots: The Frye Company via Nordstrom

jewelry: rented from Rocksbox

no fooling here

No April Fools' jokes or tricks here. I can never seem to get my act together in time to do something very creative or impactful. Maybe next year?

BUT

Check out my extreme print-mixing in this outfit. Stripes, leopard, and dots (the shoes).

It works for a few reasons:

1) the prints don't compete with each other

2) leopard is a neutral and goes with everything

3) the stripes are so teeny that from a distance, this shirt looks solid, again, keeping the prints from competing with each other

4) the print on the shoes is so far away from the prints up top, and also so small, that it looks cohesive

5) because I said it works ;)

Are you a print-mixer? I find that the more and more I do it, the more confident and comfortable I become with it. Sometimes it's even my default when picking out my outfits and accessories, and I have to remember to tone it down occasionally...

Aaaaand, I'm doing another 30 for 30 style challenge for the month of April, so look for those outfits and 30 items to start showing up in the next few days ;)

Here's to getting creative and having a capsule wardrobe for the next month!

shirt: GAP

pants: c/o Aéropostale

scarf: WalMart

flats: Target