Zeta Day

me & Cat. love love love.

Chelsea. you know her!

I'm a bit behind on a few outfit posts, especially this one. My Zeta Tau Alpha alumni group recently hosted Zeta Day/State Day/ Colorado & Wyoming Zeta State Day (whatever you want to call it - I call it Zeta Day). All of the Zetas in the great state of Colorado + Wyoming get together for brunch/lunch and celebrate being zisters.

This year's theme was "Zeta Carnival." Unfortunately, I was a bit too busy manning corn hole to take pictures of the rest of the decor, but trust me when I say that my fellow alum did a bang-up job with the decor. We had a photo booth, carnival games, raffle tickets, popcorn buckets, oversized lollipops, and lots of Zeta, everywhere (no clowns, though).

This year's event was held where I live, so my commute was about 10 minutes, which is a nice change from driving to Denver and beyond. I know a few current collegiate members, so got to catch up with them, and reminisce about living in the house (triple room. 2 years in a row).

The attire for these types of events is always "pin attire" - business casual to professional to brunch to what you'd wear to see your classy grandmother. I chose a Lilly (after much discussion and trying on of outfits) and some shoes that don't get out much. They're a fun t-strap with tweed & faux-croc on the toes (I never know what to wear them with!).

My bestie helped me come up with the idea to wear my pretty white Lilly (that can lean a little Stepford, depending on the accessories and styling) with some darker shoes and a distressed fish tail braid. I'm often guilty of taking a look a little too far (tweed + pearls + kitten heels + nylons + Stepford wife/Martha Stewart extraordinarie/Suzy Homemaker). Not that that look is bad, but I tend to take it a little bit too far, so I am really trying to tone it down and go with more "mixed" looks: classy Lilly meet dark shoes and casual hair + accessories (or another look you'll see in a few weeks for another Zeta brunch - scholarly meets a young, fun, maybe a little funky, professional).  Or sometimes it's preppy meets studs, or casual meets business professional. Follow?

All of that to say, I think I hit the nail on the head with this look - appropriate, age-appropiate (I'm not 21 anymore *sigh*), comfortable, pretty, and the receiver of lots of compliments :) 

What's your best trick to styling, or juxtaposing looks in one outfit?

And, I'm still alive after yesterday's race. Look for an update in a hot minute...

white dress: Lilly Pulitzer

shoes: Mudd via DSW

linking up with A Touch of Tartan

30 for 30: day 6

A few weeks ago, some girlfriends got together and brunched. Then they shopped. Then the out-of-towners headed home, and the local girls barbecued and created funny commentaries.

Before, during, and after dinner, I loved on my friend's sweet sweet dogs. One was even lucky enough to be featured in my blog pictures. His name is Marley. He is the biggest softy who just can't get enough loving and attention, much like my own pups. We are best friends.

And the above outfit is what I wore to brunch, shop, eat, love on sweeties, and crack myself up - it was a pretty great Saturday.

pink sleeveless blouse: H&M

black skirt: from a friend

black flats: Target

ikat print scarf: WalMart

statement necklace: WalMart

me & my local friend, Chelsea
if she looks familiar, it's because you saw her the other day


linking up for the Spotlight Weekly Link Up

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)

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

brunch + sweater #26

This tan cardigan makes sweater 26. Sorry for my absence this past week - this girl has been pretty busy. But, in other news...

I had brunch with several girlfriends a few weekends ago. One of them is recently engaged, so this was a celebratory brunch.

We were within walking distance of  her wedding venue, so she took us there and showed us around. We all ooh-ed and aah-ed over the venue.

The staircase.

The ceiling.

It's a beautiful place, for a beautiful girl.

me and the bride to be

doing what we do best - cracking each other up

*squish squish*

the brunch crew

So great to see my friends - I wish we could do brunch a lot more often.

Is every day too much?

dress: Target

sweater: Dillard's

scarf: WalMart

boots: Nordstrom

casual + sweater #5

 A casual look today. This tee is from volunteering at a bike event, Tour de Fat, a few years ago (worn a few times previously: here and over here). I really love the color and the bike logo, so it has yet to be relegated to my old t-shirt drawer. Instead, it hangs in my closet, with the rest of my “more than t-shirts” tops. And of course, some of my favorite go-to items: skinnies and my new Frye boots I just can’t get enough of. And this cardigan makes sweater number 5.

One of my friends (below) was in town recently, so we got together with one of my besties and went to dinner.

Andy & I

Lara & Andy 

Lara & I

Lara and I, without planning, managed to look pretty similar before we even left the house: dark colored down coats, dark skinnies, the SAME style of boots (she's had hers several years longer than I), and bags carried the same exact way (not planned).
So of course we documented our best friend-i-ness & matchiness.


shirt: Tour de Fat
cardigan: local consignment shop
scarf: WalMart
jeans: c/o Aéropostale
boots: The Frye Company via Nordstrom
coat: Coldwater Creek
bag: TJ Maxx