...And We're Back

{target sweater (similar) | gap shorts | ON hat | payless shoes (similar) | UO necklace (so similar) | f21 rings (cute option)}

As you may have noticed, I took a blogging break over the last couple weeks.  It was completely unplanned.  Taking a spontaneous road trip sort of threw off my groove, and when I got home, I had a hard time getting back into it.  I realized that I needed to step away for just a bit.  I felt a little guilty not announcing, well, anything, but sometimes in life an unintentional intermission just needs to happen.  It's good for the soul.  Totally true; Google says so.

Despite fears that I may have jinxed the summer away by going on vacation, I am happy to report that we're still having some pretty warm days (interspersed with chilly ones that require a striped sweater and a hat) here in NJ.  Don't let the long sleeves fool you; it's supposed to be 90 degrees tomorrow.  I'm mentally willing summer to stick around until October.  Hey, it can happen.

Linking up today.

Speckled Kaleidoscope

{delias dress | f21 jacket | kamik rainboots | fossil watch | stella & dot bracelet | claire's earrings}

Here's another case of the mysteriously shrinking dress.  This time in a colorful, speckled, kaleidoscope pattern.  I don't know what's happening here; either I'm still growing or there is something seriously funky happening in my closet.  Whatever it is, my hemlines seem to be creeping higher lately.  Which is fine as long as I remain standing; it's when I sit that things start to get a little iffy.

Linking here today.

A Belated Birthday

**psst!  Totally fun bareMinerals giveaway happening right here!**

^ surprise camera flash ^

{ON top & hat (similar) | UO skirt (cute option) | qupid sandals (similar) | fossil watch | oasap ring, c/o}

Since it's a few days past the 4th of July, I guess this is as good a time as any to post my outfit from then.  Just a little belated.  Good thing I don't exchange bday cards with this holiday.  I just hate buying those "sorry I'm late, but..." birthday cards; they only seem to accentuate my tardiness and remind the recipient that I'm a forgetful failure.

The weather here has been -I'm just going to say it- unbearable.  I'm talking in the 90s with, like, 65% humidity.  It's swampy.  The night before, we went to a bbq at a friend's, and after sitting outside for many hot, sticky hours, we just couldn't bring ourselves to do it again the next day.  Since the AC unit in our apartment was struggling to do its job, we headed out to the mall for a little holiday shopping, some cool air, and a lovely dinner.  We topped the evening off by walking to see our town's fireworks where the mosquito to human ratio, was again, wildly unfair.  My skirt was top notch at providing ventilation in the mugginess, but my poor legs never had a chance.

In case you can't tell, this is my very loose interpretation of a flag.  Horizontal stripes and a repeating white pattern against a blue background is about as patriotically as I'm willing to dress.  God bless America.

Linking here!

Walking Advertisement

{target skirt (so similar!), sweater (similar), blazer, & scarf | ON tights | aldo boots (on sale!)}

I just realized that about 70% of my outfit is from Target.  I'm so branded up, I almost feel as conspicuous as a Nascar driver with sponsor logos emblazoned all over his uniform...but at least this is a little more subtle than walking around with a giant bullseye on my back....or chest and forearms, as the case may be.


Join the party.

Labor Day Rules

{target top (cute option)  |  ON shorts (similar)  |  f21 scarf (old)  |  shoes  |  harmon sunnies (similar)}

People say that you shouldn't wear white after Labor Day (I don't know anyone who actually says that, but rumor has it there are people who do).  But how about wearing white on Labor Day?  No one ever remembers to make a rule about that.  Well, I made my own rule yesterday, and it not only included wearing white, but it mandated print mixing, silver worn simultaneously with gold, and donning a crazy scarf, too.  Just you watch, this new rule will catch on in no time.

I'm linking up here today.

Nearly Naked

{top: target  |  shorts: jcp (similar)  |  shoes: payless (similar)  |  necklace: gift}

I think I've just discovered my new favorite top.  It's lacy, it's flowy, it's versatile, and quite possibly the best part - wearing only a black bra underneath actually looks chic and not like I was just too hot to put something opaque beneath it. 

I swear I'm not an exhibitionist, but as I've made clear before (as evidenced here), when temperatures are at 100 degrees, it's nice to get as close to naked as legally possible.

This look was also featured at the Frugalista Diaries, where 4 other bloggers & myself posted 5 different ways to wear summer shorts.  Go on over to see everyone's beautiful interpretations, why don'tcha!  And while you're there, check out the rest of Megan's site.  She's quite the stylish broad, and a complete sweetheart to boot.

Also, linking up here today.

Lather, Rinse, Repeat

{top: target  //  skirt: diy from thrifted, cute option 1, 2  //  sandals: pacsun, similar  //  belt  //  earrings: gift, similar  //  watch  //  bracelets: diy, f21}

I can't seem to get enough of stripes & florals lately.  This is the second time in two weeks.
Sure, it may be the white bread of pattern mixing; sort of an effortless no-brainer, but its appeal is undeniable nonetheless.
At least to me it is.  And it seemed to work for the dogs of some friends I visited while wearing this, too, because they were all over me.  Excited to see me?
Nah, they just live for florals and stripes. 

Check out where I'm linking up today here.

Mumus, Scrunchies, & Oversized Comfort

 

{target jacket: similar  //  sweater: old navy  //  tulle skirt: similar  //  boots  //  tights  // watch  //  f21 bracelets, belt: similar bracelet, similar belt}

As I sit here typing in my pajamas and scrunchy-bedecked hair, waiting to switch my third load of laundry from the washer to the dryer, I can't help but feel a little bit frumpy and whole a lot house frau (minus the mumus and Oprah viewings, thank goodness).  It's nice to think back to this past weekend and feel much more glamorous when I look at myself in the above photos.  Oh, to be that girl again...so confident, so colorful, so carefree...

But then I remind myself that sometimes wearing soft, roomy drawstring pants and a big, oversized hoodie can be better than any pretty outfit.  Because let's face it, on Saturday after drinking a few beers and scarfing down a veggie burger, onion rings, and a salad while wearing the clothes above, all I really wanted was to be wearing exactly what I'm wearing right now.

Sir Mix a Lot

{dress, leggings, socks: target  //  sweater: old navy  //  boots: steve madden  //  belt: payless  //  necklace, earrings: gift  //  watch: sprout via pure citizen}

Today is my 5 year anniversary with hunny bunny.

How do I celebrate you ask?  By mixing patterns of course.

It's how all of the happiest couples celebrate their milestones, don't you know?

In all seriousness, though, I just want to look pretty for him.

Stripes, random crosshatch lines, and a leopard print belt thrown in for extra credit should do the trick.

Well, that and a home-baked loaf of his favorite Swiss bread and an apple crisp straight out of the oven.  

I always appear prettier when accompanied by baked goods.

Today I'm linking up to:

Fashion Friday at Blonde Episodes
Free For All Friday  at Sassy Sites

Double Trouble

{top & scarf: target  //  skirt & jacket: i heart ronson, via jcp  //  belt & bracelet: forever21  //  boots: zappos  //  knee high socks: asos  //  tights: old navy  //  mittens: 5below}

This week I decided to participate in Rule Breaking Monday on clothedmuch.com.  Yes, I know it's Wednesday - better late than never, am I right?

So when I first chose the title "Double Trouble," I was referring to the fact that I was wearing double florals, as the challenge goes.  It was only when I started the photo shoot that I realized how much trouble I was really getting myself into.  So much so, that I wonder if I shouldn't have named this post triple, or even quadruple trouble.

Obstacle number one was trying to shoot photos while racing against a rapidly setting sun.  So....my apologies for the blurry photos.

I didn't even notice the next trouble until I was reviewing the photos.  My belt had ridden up a bit, so some of my top is showing from underneath the belt.  Let's just pretend that didn't happen, shall we?

The third frustration was that by the time we happened upon some decent lighting (behind the movie theater...creepy), it had gotten so chilly that I had added tights and legwarmers, and I just couldn't bear to remove my jacket & mittens.  So, the last (and completely clear) photos are a slightly altered version of my original outfit.

But I did rock the double floral thing, so...take that trouble.