Sting 'Em!

orange sweater: Target, black and white skirt: Cato, pink orange and black scarf: NY&Co., black mary janes: Payless

In high school, my school colors were orange and black, and we were the Yellowjackets.  It never made much sense, but all my life I've associated orange and black with our school colors.

Today when I decided to wear this sweater with this skirt, I couldn't help but look for any other accessory to make my outfit not scream HIGH SCHOOL!  Even though no one else would have known, I couldn't do it!

Feeling Schlumpy

yellow and white oxford: Express, denim jeans: Express, brown loafers: Cato, pearls: gift

Okay, so my confession today is that I kind of fell off the face of the blog world for the past week. I did keep putting my daily posts up—albeit quickly and with little storyline, but never had a chance to look at my other favorite bloggers. By the time I was home in the evenings, I had television I had to catch up on (when did t.v. shows become such a chore?) and/or I didn’t have the energy to log on and check on everyone.

Because of my laziness, my creativity suffered! Even today, I didn’t feel like being adventurous and trying anything new…so I’m relying on the cuteness of my shirt to create a pulled together look. I’m a firm believer that you can look stylish and dressy in a pair of jeans, but I admit that I put no effort whatsoever into today’s outfit. I even forgot my camera at home and had to use the old reliable camera phone. My mind is in vacation mode right now…counting down until Thursday evening…but I’ve got to pull my fashion sense together before I pack on Wednesday night; otherwise, I’ll be quite disappointed when I open my suitcase this weekend!

I did have a chance to catch up on most of my bloggers finally and am feeling a renewed sense of creativity and style. I’ll try a little harder tomorrow, thanks to ya’ll! :)

Rocking the Topsiders

yellow sweater: NY&Co., white v-neck: Hanes, jeans: Victoria's Secret, snakeskin belt: NY&Co., Sperry's: DSW

My family is visiting me this weekend!  They haven't been to see me since we moved to this town, so I'm anxious for them to check it out.  My mom, dad, grandmother, and two cousins should be here by 8 tonight.

Still trying to plan a menu for the weekend.  Grocery store run for the husband and me after work...followed by a tornado clean up of the house!

P.S.  My neck isn't really that red, I promise!!

Double Shot

THURSDAY:
turquoise button-up: Worthington (JCPenney), houndstooth skirt: Cato, pink heels: Bandolino, tie: French Toast

I like to think that I'm channeling Blair Waldorf whenever I wear my French Toast tie.  I haven't worn it in FOREVER, and I really like it with this outfit!

Sorry I didn't get to post yesterday, but here it is.  See, you weren't missing too much.  I just can't resist pairing mustard yellow and red together these days!

WEDNESDAY:

yellow v-neck: Express, white silk tank: Target, purple velvet pants: Victoria's Secret, red heels: Walmart

The view from the top:

Bright Fuschia

gray sweater: Gift, fuschia sweater vest: Express, white v-neck tee: Hanes, gray pencil skirt: NY&Co., fuschia tights: HUE, black gold-buckle wedges: Merona

I'm going to a wine and cheese party tonight for the North Midland Rotary Club.  Looking forward to meeting some new people.  I hope I don't hurt their eyes too much today!!

Sweaters and Lace

burgandy lace oxford: New York & Co., pinkish sweater: Merona (Target), black pants: New York & Co., maroon and black t-backs: Target

Well, if nothing else, this posting certainly makes me appreciate my Picasa editor more.  I just went with the quick Windows editor that came up on my laptop today since I forgot to take my USB cord to work where I generally upload my pics at lunchtime.  Plus, these pictures were taken in a hurry, so this whole posting is not quite up to par...makes me remember those self-portrait with the Iphone days not too long ago!

I generally wear this burgandy button-up over a shirt, which is the way it was styled on the mannican at NY&Co when I fell in love with it last year and basically bought the entire outfit.  BUT, one day a few weeks ago I thought...Why have I never worn that UNDER a shirt of some kind?  So, voila, here is that put to life.

My shoes match.  I love matching.  It makes me happy inside!

Feeling Safari with my Neckerchief!

light blue oxford: Banana Republic (thrifted), khaki pants: Victoria's Secret, scarf: Dillards, navy loafers: Rangoni

I feel a little Safari today, which I saw in a magazine is a trend to keep for 2010.  I'm not really a huge fan of the Safari look because I really only like to wear khaki on my bottom half, but I guess today's outfit is a good way to incorporate a little color into the trend.

The pants are a cross between "pants" and "jeans".  Victoria's Secret even markets them under their London Jeans brand, but they are much softer than typical denim.  In any case, I don't think they are particularly "dressy," so they are a great Friday option.

In high school I had three of these tiny neckerchief's that I wore pretty often.  It is impossible to find them these days.  Scarves are the big hit right now, and though I do enjoy them, there is just something fun and fancy about a jaunty little neckerchief.  I ruined the last one from my high school days on the day I had my car wreck last year and have been searching for a replacement ever since.  I could never find one, so finally last week I walked into the men's section of Dillards with the husband and bought a men's pocket square.  IT'S THE PERFECT SIZE!

I'm also loving my eye makeup today :)

Old Favorites

Black and red striped silk oxford: Ann Taylor, black corset pencil skirt: Express, black mary janes: Payless

I've felt a little sloppy the last few days, so I thought I'd dress it up a little today.  Also, I noticed I hadn't worn this shirt in almost a year.  The problem with it is that I absolutely ADORE it: I paid a pretty penny for it (by my standards) and I love that it's Texas Tech red and black, and its so soft and pretty feeling...and so I find myself "saving" it and thus never wearing it!  Enough! 

I also adore this skirt.  Often times at Express and New York & Co., I refuse to pay full price for anything.  I know that within two to three weeks it will be on sale, so why buy it straight off the rack.  I did, however, pay the full $70 for this skirt the second I saw it at the Las Vegas Express last year.  (The fact that I was up $100 in black jack may have played into that decision.)  I'm disappointed in Express now though, because over the last year they've produced a cheaper looking skirt that is the same concept--a corset tie up in the back, but its in bright bold colors like red...and it just looks tacky to me compared to my beloved skirt.  So here's a "butt shot" so you can see how cute it is! (The skirt, not the butt. wink)

Crazy hair today!

Back from a Snow Day in yellows and blues

blue sweater: Old Navy, yellow cowlneck tunic: Express, jeans: Express, moccassins: Target

Back from a Snow Day yesterday!  Yesterday we were covered in Snow, and it was beautiful!  I think a lot of the town was off (T and I both were) and around 2:00 most people were venturing out into the white wonderland.  I've never seen so many snowmen! 

The only bad part of an unexpected break from your work week?  Coming back the next day to an inbox full of email and voicemails!  But it is WORTH IT!

This is the outfit I had planned on wearing yesterday, when I knew it would be cold and snowy, so I decided to just go with it again today.  It was still snowy and icey when I got up this morning, but has pretty much melted off the city by now.

The Introduction of the Best Friend, OR My Weekend in the City

SATURDAY:  Off for a big day of Showers, Shopping and Bachelorette Dinner for Kimberly's Mom.

Camel Jacket: Cato, Yellow Scarf: Walmart, Black and White Printed Skirt: TJ Maxx, Black Turtleneck: Old Navy, Pink Tights: Walmart, Black Gold-Buckle Flats: Merona/Target, Gold Bow Necklace: Aldo

And it's about time you met KIMBERLY:

Barefoot and Pregnant (She'll kill me for putting this picture up):

But WHY when we have such cute shoes:

Vicki "lei'd" the whole restaurant (I don't know where Kim gets her silliness from):

SUNDAY:  Pink and gray pin-striped oxford: The Limited, Denim skirt: NY&Co., brown equestrian boots: Old Navy, Snakeskin belt: NY&Co.

Two hot mammas.  Well, ONE hot mamma, for sure:

Loving this look:

And back to boring and tired today, MONDAY: yellow striped sweater: Old Navy, white bow shirt: Old Navy, charcoal pants: Victoria's Secret, purple and black heels: Target

Successfully tied BOW!

And the shoes are STILL cute.  Cost Per Wear as of today: $2.48.  Nice.  (And I've only worn them twice!)

Off to Dallas!

Turquoise sleeveless turtleneck: Old Navy
Denim skinny jeans: Express
Brown equestrian boots: Old Navy
Camel jacket: Cato

Off to Dallas to see my very bestest friend, Kimberly, for her baby shower!  Trying to wear something for warm weather here, chilly weather there, and comfort on the plane.  It's only an hour flight, thank goodness.

Capris and Denim

denim jacket: Gap, but thrifted
fuschia sweater vest: Express
white polo: Target
black capris: Cato
black oxford heels: Payless

My husband was watching television in the bedroom last night and watched me try on outfits for an hour, no joke.  Usually when I feel that way, I'll just pick a picture out of my very own lookbook that I have, or else now that I have the outfit inspiration calendar, I can look to that for help.  But I knew that wouldn't help last night.  I didn't want to wear a skirt for some reason, and I just wasn't feeling pants.

And then I thought...

Wait, check the weather.  Yep!

Capris!!

So I busted out some "dressier" capris, made it (my) work appropriate with a sweater vest and collar, and then threw on a denim jacket because I didn't want to look too make it just a little cooler.

Look at these super cute earrings I bought from The Closet of Kim's Etsy store ShopKim.  They are so cute!   Yep, I'm modeling them on a Post-It :)

P.S.  The hair is looking so amazing this morning as a result of my staying up late to try on clothes...and snoozing to try and catch up on some sleep :)

Spring Dreaming

Today I'm wishing for Spring, can you tell?  I love this bright green t-shirt!  It's very tight and in a bold color, but it has such a modest neckline!  I have been loving the playful look of knee high socks peeping out over boots, and am thankful I work in an office where I can be a little more casual and pull this look off.

My new bird necklace.  So cute!

Gray skirt: Merona (but thrifted with tags for $3!)

Lime green tee: Target
black jacket: Cato
black boots: Walmart
bird necklace: Charlotte Russe