Purple and Pink

pink tee: Old Navy, purple pencil skirt: Express, pink and black heels: Liz Claiborne (Steinmart), scarf: made from headband materials

The Outfit Inspiration Calendar wanted me to dress like Carrie in honor of Sex and the City 2 opening and wear bright pink, purple and yellow.  In all honesty though, I wanted to dress a little more subdued and professional today (got a professional happy hour after work and didn't want to shock anyone) and it seems like I wear that color combination pretty often as it is, so I just stuck with purple and light pink today.

3 Today!

WEDNESDAY:  blank tank: Merona (Target), skirt: TJ Maxx, bow heels: TJ Maxx

TUESDAY:  White button up: NY&Co., necklace: NY&Co., khaki pants: Banana Republic, black loafers: Etienne Aigner

MONDAY:  cardigan: Old Navy, bow shirt: Old Navy, gray pants: NY&Co., black flats: Walmart, bow earrings: NY&Co.

Quite possibly the cutest earrings I've ever owned!!

Summer Dress and Scarf

WEDNESDAY--Dress:Academy, black jacket: TJ Maxx, coral belt: NY&Co, white shoes: Payless

THURSDAY--Denim layered skirt: Ross, black and white shirt: Express, pink scarf: NY&Co., black loafers: Etienne Aigner (DSW)

The Outfit Inspiration Calendar called for a jacket/maxi dress combination.  Believe it or not, I don't own a maxi dress.  But this is the closest thing I've got, which I have never worn in any other way than over a swimsuit.  The little belted jacket dressed it up just enough. And, its not Memorial Day yet, but I don't care.  I broke out the white shoes a few weeks ago.

 

The Calendar said 2 out of three--denim, florals or polka dots, but I combined them all!

Monday and Tuesday

MONDAY:  printed skirt: Burlington Coat Factory ($16!), black tee: ?, black flats: Walmart
TUESDAY:  pink silky shirt: The Limited, brown pants: Old Navy (they're long enough!!), white cardigan: NY&Co., yellow heels: Anne Klein (DSW)

I loved everything about this outfit today!  We got invited to go eat dinner with some friends with this...much time before I was about to strip out of everything and begin the "relaxing" hour--I'm so glad I was still looking up to par when they called!  I felt so summery and fun all day!  And I liked my hair, too!

I like the combination of these colors today.  I feel like the white cardigan really grounds the matchiness of the belt and shoes (which I freaking love!), and I am really feeling the pink and brown combination!  I tried a new "twist" pony I found in my InStyle Hair magazine I bought.  I'm really trying new things with bobby pins...I'm pretty inept at hairstyles, so I'm trying!

Two Posts

Black Dress: Cato (Gift from Mom & Dad), beige heels: Bandolino (DSW)

I was a little self-conscious of the length of this dress all day, but I loved it so much!  The outfit calendar called for Earthy Neutrals, and that's exactly what the pretty neckline on this dress reminded me of.  And it was so comfortable for morning meetings!

Khaki pants: Victoria's Secret, blue button-up shirt: Old Navy, scarf: Dilliards, white tank: Old Navy, white flats: Merona (Target)

My pants look so wrinkled in this outfit, but I promise they aren't.  In fact, my gift for my birthday from my Grandma was a Rowenta iron, the greatest iron on earth.  The outfit inspiration calendar wanted a scarf with necklaces, and I usually don't wear necklaces when I wear these little neckerchief thingies, so I thought I'd try it out.  I like it! 

Flower Brooch

black shirt: ?, black and white skirt: Express, red flower: thrifted (on ON jacket), black heels: Payless

I had to dress it up a little today since the "big boss" was coming in.  Thankfully, Kimberly's suggestion today was easy to incorporate into a dressier outfit.  I paired a red flowered brooch with a simple black shirt and classic black and white pencil skirt...made special by a special flounce!

I'm Back and Other Miscellany

I'm currently going through a little time management struggle with my blog.  I lose a lot of motivation to get up and dressed decent in the mornings without it, however.  Here are some past outfits that I've been snapping...but not posting...starting with today.

Florals and Denim:  Dress--Ann Taylor (super sale), denim jacket--Ross, black wedges--Target, black necklace--Express

Black White and Magenta:  shawl: Express, white shirt: Express, black skirt: Cato

White tank: Target, khaki jacket: Cato, black pants: NY&Co., flowered flats: Old Navy

Green and blue shirt: NY&Co., navy skirt: NY&Co., brown rope shoes: DSW

tan tank: George (Walmart), black cardigan: TJMaxx, turquoise skirt: Cato, black sandles: Dustees

Dress: Black, Red and White

gray dress: Target, white cardigan: NY&Co., socks: NY&Co., red ribbon, black oxford heels: Payless

According to Kimberly's Outfit Calendar today, I'm technically supposed to be wearing a black dress.  I actually had this outfit in mind last Thursday, until I glanced at Today and realized that it fit almost perfectly.  I wanted to chance to try knee-high socks again, and I like it a lot better than the last attempt.

Thursday & Friday

FRIDAY:

yellow striped sweater: Old Navy, white tee: Hanes, jeans: Express, brown belt: Old Navy (circa 1996), boat shoes: Speery

THURSDAY:

black turtleneck: Old Navy, khaki pants: NY&Co., pink necklace: NY&Co., pink heels: Bandolino (DSW)

Seminar Clothes

pink striped oxford: The Limited, brownishy skirt: NY&Co., black maryjanes: Payless, bird necklace: Charlotte Russe

Quick post today.  Busy, busy bee = Me.  Had a training seminar this morning on some new software, and tomorrow I have a continuing education class in land and leasing.  Should be interesting.

Didn't get to follow the Outfit Inspiration Calendar today because I just couldn't find a patterned dress appropriately length for a business seminar.  I really need to invest in some new dresses apparently.  Decided on just a tried and true combination of an oxford and pencil skirt.  Can never mess that up!

Lots of blue and green!

jacket: The Limited, green tee: Target, black capris: Cato, black sandles: CL, blue scarf: Burlington
Coat Factory (man's pocket square)

Today I'm wearing a cropped suit per the Outfit Inspiration Calendar.  I've felt the perfect mix of business casual today in cropped capris, black blazer and fun silk scarf around my neck.  I love the cobalt blue silk in this scarf!

I was inspired by my outfit and did something very no-no...I matched my make up to my outfit!

And my toe nails!!

I made this necklace a bracelet today, and its working out fabulously!!

Jobs, Babies, and Monopods

red knot shirt: Express, black lacey vest: Old Navy, black and white circle skirt: George (Walmart), maryjanes: Payless

Lots of highlights to hit on today! 

1.  I'm LOVING the Outfit Inspiration Calendar the longer I do it!  I thought I'd get bored with it by now, but it is actually the opposite of boring--it really forces me to take a good hard look in my closet and come up with new ways to wear pieces, or at least rework pieces in my closet to make new outfit!  Thanks again, Kimberly, for all your efforts with the calendar!

2.  Congratulations to Leila for her wonderful news last week!  She is going to be the newest (and possibly best) speech pathologist at MD Anderson in Houston.  I'm sure a few of you have heard of MD Anderson.  Its a wonderful hospital, and will be even better once Leila is on board.  Leila = Smarty Pants!

3.  Welcome to my newest family member (we'll just call her a cousin), Taylor Clarice!  Congratulations, Joyce, Nathan and Dylan for that bright new little girl in your lives!  We can't wait to meet her! :)

4.  So, I've known I needed to order a tripod for a while.  I want to take quality pictures like most of you do without having to ask people to take them for me.  I want to be able to go to the park to take pictures like Andie or outdoorsy pictures like Danielle, and of course, the ultimate dream is gorgeous pics like The Pioneer Woman (ha), but I think my first step is acquiring a tripod.  That being said, I can't really go out and blow $100 on the kind I want (you know, the kind that is 6 feet tall and will capture my equally tall body), and I just don't know if I should spend like $30 on a shorter one without knowing if it will work.  So I have been debating this for a while, but the main problem is just that I won't GO BUY ONE.  So, last Friday, I'm searching for them online to check them out again (for the eleventy-thousandth time) and see a...monopod.

I tell myself that there is no way this will work...I am a smart girl, I graduated from college, I realize that something with one tiny leg can not stand on its own.  Then I read the reviews, and I SWEAR, they tell me how some centrivical force of balance and nature and sci-fi lets this monopod balance a camera (as long as its under 5 pounds).  Best part?  Its only $16.

So, against my better judgement, I order it.  It amazingly came in today.  One-half of me is thrilled to open it, but the other half knows that I have misunderstood the reviews and that this one...stick...cannot possibly stand on its own to take a picture.

And it doesn't.  Turns out, its used to help improve your camera and video shots from shaking and swaying due to our natural inability to stand perfectly still.  I'm forced to supply the other two legs...namely, my own, in order for this to balance the camera.  So, needless to say (unless, you know, you're thinking of ordering one), its not made for self-portraits.

So, the lesson is, Dear Readers, I really did try to improve my pictures for you and for me.  But even I can't compete with gravity.

So, the way I see it now, I have two options:  Suck it up and buy the tripod, or invest in a part time photographer.  Hmm.

Being Preppy: Crisp White Shirt, Scarf & Loafers

white oxford: NY&Co., high-waisted jeans: NY&Co., loafers: Etienne Aigner, scarf: used to be attached to a headband

I had a little fashion meltdown last night, which I haven't had in a while.  All my jeans felt too short, or too tight, or too big...I'm unhappy with my bras right now...I didn't think I had any clothes. 

Finally, I took a deep breath, referred back to the Outfit Inspiration Calendar, and decided yes, I do have clothes.

So, I'm wearing the outfit to a "t"...because the creativity in this closet was a bit limited last night!

Dress w/ Denim Jacket

dress: NY&Co., denim jacket: Gap, boots: Old Navy

Today's outfit is simple (a cotton stretch dress with a denim jacket), comfortable (a cotton stretch dress with a denim jacket), and warm enough to keep this rainy weather at bay (hello denim jacket).  I have usually retired my winter boots by now, but the heels I was going to wear were not appropriate for stomping in mud puddles.  Luckily, I think equestrian boots can get me through the Spring a little longer.

Totally justified for not doing your hair in the rain! :)

A La Chanel...with a little Glee

white tee: Hanes (Ross), gray wide-leg trousers: NY&Co., black and white cropped jacket: Cato, mary janes: Payless, sweater clip: homemade

The Outfit Inspiration Calendar told me to wear Chanel inspired pieces today in blacks, whites and grays.  It took everything I had not to add some color to this, but I wanted to keep in Coco. 

Last night's episode of Glee made me want a sweater clip all over again (Thanks, Emma/Jayma Mays.)  She was wearing a gold sweater clip with a gold bow on one side...that reminded me of this necklace of mine.  And I thought....I can do that!

Here's my attempt, and I have to admit, I'm really loving it!

This is the necklace normally.