Mind-spiration

{Click here to enter the Craftsy giveaway}

That title, by the way, is supposed to read mind like Mindy, not mind like Do you mind?. So when I tell you that my outfit was inspired by an episode of The Mindy Project, it make a little more sense.
Anyway.
Thanks to getting rid of cable and being a slacker watching shows on Hulu, I didn't even realize how long ago this episode aired until I saw that my buddy, Sharon, recreated this outfit, too.  (Funnily enough, I came across her post while Googling this photo of Mindy). But I just watched it, so it's new to me.

{source}

As soon as I saw this, I fell in love.  And as I filed the idea away (literally - I keep an excel file of outfit ideas because I'm super cool like that), I began to realize that I actually have all of the pieces I need to recreate this look.  So I grabbed an old black & blue striped shirt that I came thisclose to getting rid of when cleaning out my closet last week (see?  Hoarding is a good thing), then grabbed an even older grey hoodie and topped it with a vest.   I wanted to add my one and only sparkly statement necklace as seen here, but just could not find it anywhere.  Incidentally, my favorite lipstick - a 69¢ tube of Wet n Wild - has also gone missing.  I searched for both for a good half hour, and came up empty handed, then had to find acceptable substitutes.  And this is why I am perpetually late showing up to my friends' houses. (Sorry Mike & Tunde!)

Mine:

denim vest: DIY from old jacket | similar 1, 2
hoodie: similar
jeans: exact
shoes: c/o Chicwish | similar (on sale)
necklace: c/o Sheinside | similar 1, 2

Mindy's:
jacket: exact | similar
top: exact (via ebay) | similar

Linking here today.

Burritos, Bowling, & Beer

{thrifted gap sweater | ON dress c/o (similar) | f21 necklace (similar) | fossil watch | steve madden boots}

So, believe it or not, this was my bowling outfit yesterday.  Some friends invited us for a couple games beginning at 9am.  Not one to pass up the opportunity to pay a measly $1.50 per game (a bargain!) for something as silly as getting to luxuriate in my soft, cushy bed until 10 on a Sunday morning and wake up feeling completely and utterly rested, I agreed to go.  Blame it on the early wake up time, but in my sleep-deprived mind this was a completely appropriate ensemble to be worn while wielding heavy balls, borrowing orthopedic-esque shoes, and bending over a bunch.  When I walked in and saw everyone else in jeans or sweatpants, I felt pretty out of place.  And to drive the matter home, I also ran into a friend who was wearing her workout gear under a tee shirt and sweats (in her defense, she was going kickboxing after her league game).  But when we went out for brunch after (well deserved I think, after bowling a personal best of 74 whole points), I felt right at home in this little getup.  There is no such thing as being too dressed up to eat a breakfast burrito while sucking down a Michelob Ultra Dragon Fruit Peach beer.


Come party here with me.

Love & Taxes

{borrowed dress (cute option) & necklace (similar) | target cardi (similar) | payless boots (so similar!)}

This is what I wore on Valentine's Day.  Since we planned on having a low key night at home, I actually hadn't planned on getting out of my pjs at all (I really spoil my boyfriend). But then I remembered that I had a library book due.  So I tossed this dress on, topped it with something red because, you know, Valentine's Day, and off we strolled to return my book.  And just to make the evening really romantic, we picked up some 1040 forms on our way home.  Because nothing says love like getting an early start on your taxes.

Linking here today.

Bare Naked Ankles

{h&m sweater (similar) | limited jeans | aldo booties (back in stock & on sale!) | f21 necklace}

Wednesday's sunny, ankle-baring weather very much felt like a gift.  Like the kind of gift that if you got it in summer you'd ask for the receipt so you can run and return it because your day would be an insufferable, freezing 40 degrees, but if you got it yesterday you'd rejoice because your whole day got to be a sunny, toasty 40 degrees.  It's all about perception, really.  That and the ability to trade out legwarmers & knee highs for short ankle socks at least once during winter.

Find me here, too.

guest posting @ Penniless Socialite

Today I'm guest posting for the lovely, stylish, and downright funny Tara at Penniless Socialite.  I'm talking about how to take one dress from summer to fall.  Come check it out here and learn how you can wear your entire wardrobe all year round, too.

Also linking up with these pretties.

Meet Joyce

Hi everyone! I'm Joyce from Joyful Outfits and I am so excited to be guest blogging here today while Kym is on a road trip :) So this is what I would wear on a road trip. When I am traveling, I always like wearing comfy clothes and shoes.  ALWAYS.  Thus, the loose top, loose sweater vest, and the flat shoes.  And just to make this outfit a bit more fun, I decided to also wear the necklace.

I'm Cool

{kohls sweater (similar)  |  shorts  |  payless shoes (super cute option)  |  dogeared & gifted necklaces}

Please excuse the abundance of photos featuring my giddy yet smugly triumphant expression.  It was actually cool enough (for one day) to wear a sweater (!!!).  I love summer with a passion that's usually only paralleled by the likes of school children, but being able to put on my first sweater of the season just made me....supremely happy.  ...And apparently also gave me temporary delusions that I am somehow vaguely responsible for mother nature's amazing achievements.  The first glimmering of fall will do that to a girl.

I'm linking up with these lovlies today.

Lessons

{tee, dress: target (similar)  |  sandals: blowfish (similar)  |  necklace: f21  |  rings: c/o oasap, f21 (similar 1, 2)  |  sunnies: harmon (similar) }

Over the weekend I learned some important life lessons:

1. A huge downpour in the morning does not necessarily preclude a huge downpour in the afternoon.  Don't go for a hike even if the weather site only predicts a 20% chance of rain.  Because it will rain - hard.  And you'll still be 2 miles from your car.

2. When the temperature says 75 degrees, be sure to check the humidity level, too.  Because that can make it feel like 95 degrees, and you'll be so hot it'll even turn the rings on your fingers into small, suffocating circles of oppression.  We won't even get started on the whopping three pieces of clothing you decided to wear.

And yet, somehow, this is still my favorite time of year.  I think I might be suffering from some sort of seasonal masochism syndrome.

Click here to see where I'm linking up today.

An Ode to Humidity: Haiku

{top, shorts, necklace: f21  |  sandals: blowfish  |  rings: inpink, c/o oasap, (crazy similar 1, 2) }

An Ode to Humidity

Backyard barbeque

Too sticky, sweaty, and hot

I'd rather be nude

These photos were taken by my wonderful friend, Jayvik, when he and some friends came by for a bbq yesterday.  He and his awesome wife are pretty hilarious, by the way.  These were the only ones I wasn't completely cracking up in.

Psst...I'm linking up over 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.

I Got it Covered

{chambray: old navy  |  dress: target (similar)  |  boots: steve madden  |  necklace: vintage}

It's around that time of year again when the mosquitoes of Lincoln Park come out in full force and seem particularly hungry for my blood.  (Or maybe everyone's blood equally.  I don't know; the large amounts of deet I've been inadvertently inhaling while arming myself with a protective coating of bug spray could be causing slight paranoia). 

That being said, sometimes the only way to outsmart those suckers is to just cover up.  Luckily it was cool enough yesterday to shield myself with knee high boots, a long dress, and a 3/4 sleeve top.  Oh, and a necklace.  Because if Wu-Tang Clan taught us anything, it's to protect ya neck.

I'm pretty sure this is exactly what Method Man had in mind.

Want to join the party?