my outfit: 101 ways to wear chambray.

I'm going to re-name this blog "101 ways to wear chambray."  Not really, but maybe.  I mean, how many times can one wear one shirt before it becomes criminal?  Fashion crimes in the name of chambray.

Much like yesterday's outfit I came up with a little color scheme (I think I saw it in a J.Crew catalog) and then just ran with it.  This color scheme was black, blue and orange - an unexpected combo, no?  The black and orange can be a harsh combo (uh, Halloween anyone?) but the blue chambray eases the spook factor and makes the look less severe.  And also like yesterday outfit: lots of layers.  I'm enjoying this new creative freedom as I work to layer, layer, layer - it's super fun!  Next up... two pairs of pants!  (I kid, I kid)

Details:
Black Sweater, H&M (similar)
Chambray Top, Old Navy (similar)
Orange T-shirt, J.Crew
Black Pants, courtesy of Tulle (last year)
Wedges, Target (similar)
Bracelet & Necklace, courtesy of Towne & Reese
Watch, Fossil via Nordstrom Rack courtesy of gift card from Nordstrom

my outfit: June cool...

It's kinda cold for June around here.  Lately I'm rockin' my summer tan in long sleeves and jeans. Wha!?!? I think it's on the up and ups for next week.  But man, I must have brought the Seattle weather home with me.  

I have lived in this shirt from H&M since I got it... you've seen it here and here and here.  And I didn't photograph it... but I wore it twice in Seattle as well. It's got some super good wear!  I wish I would have bought one of each color that was available, I think it only cost $15!

Any way... continuing on with the small talk here (where has my creativity gone?)... it's the freakin' weekin' (that would be according to my husband).  This felt like the longest week in forever... I'm still recouping from vacation - could that be?

Nah... I must just be lazy.

Happy Weekend!

Details:
Jacket, courtesy of Tulle (last season)
Top, H&M (similar)
Jeans, Gap (similar)
Shoes, TOMS
Nail Polish, Silken Cord by Essie


psst... check out what's happening on my other blogs today!

• while I'm not always a huge fan of Kristen Stewart's personal style, I just LOVE this look!
• quite possibly the cutest little lunch boxes for kids!

my outfit: put it in neutral!

Hello kittens... and happy Tuesday to you.  I'm short on words today... likely because I just discovered GREEK on Netflix and my brain is *probably* melting as a result.  I've watched something like 15 episodes in four days... let's not judge, k?

We didn't have a greek system at my college, so I'm totally out of the loop.  Well, ahem, I was.  Now I am referring to my kids as "pledges" and just waiting around for my husband to finally pin me. I me, come on, we've been married for almost 9 years - what is he waiting for?

Is any one up for a mixer this weekend?

I kid, I kid.  (maybe)

For this outfit... I pretty much put together some neutrals and called it good.  I would have loved to pair it with some white jeans or sandals... but Michigan didn't get the memo that it's spring.  Brrrr baby! It's cold out - still!  So boots it is... but, like, they are so last month... but, like, whatever, right!?!? (wow, I am even blogging like a sorority girl... scary!)

Details:

Jacket, courtesy of Tulle

Scarf, Vintage (similar)

Top, Gap (similar)

Jeans, Gap (similar)

Ring, Forever 21 (similar)

Boots, MICHAEL Michael Kors (similar)

my outfit: caring is creepy.

Caring actually isn't creepy.  It's just that when I went to write this post, I was going to talk about 'caring' about what you wear and bam - that song title just popped into my head. And if there is one thing a blogger knows, it is that when inspiration strikes, one best go with it - it could be a while until it happens again.

I've mentioned before how I usually take some time once a week to lay out a bunch of outfits in my closet to keep me stocked up in case of a bad morning (or four).  But to be honest, those outfits usually don't see the light of day. I've also mentioned before that I am an emotional dresser. I have to "feel" good in what I am wearing.  Sometimes an outfit that I laid out in advance is suddenly boring and old-news just because it's been in my closet for a few days.  Sad, but true.

So I usually just go with a bit of inspiration with the pieces I laid out and a bit of what do I feeeeeeel like wearing today.  This outfit was a bit of both of those and a bit of "I don't care..." - but in the best possible way.  It was like the perfect trifecta of pre-planning, spur of the moment inspiration and unbridled carelessness.  Because, really, we shouldn't take our clothes SO seriously, you know?!?

On this particular day I had to pick my husband up from work... he works out by the airport, so it's all industrial and whatnot out that way... he even has these train tracks right behind his building.  So it was a perfect spot for some quick pictures.  Someone commented that they liked my pictures at home because it made me relatable as a mom. I get that. But I have a life and sometimes I bring my camera along on my life.  That is usually how we get a setting like this.  Not because I think let's 'create' a shot - not that there is anything wrong with that either.  But this is my life. Nothing but.

Which reminds me of this quote that I love so much... very true for a blogger (or writer or any type of creative!)

(via pinterest)

I'm hooked on stacked bracelets lately... aren't they so fun!?!? I am hoping to hit up F21 soon to see what else I can find that is stackable as well.

Details:

Bracelets, (as pictured above from top to bottom) Forever 21, courtesy of Stella & Dot, Forever 21

Clutch, courtesy of Coquese

Jacket, courtesy of Tulle (it's on sale!)

Red Cardigan, Old Navy (similar)

Ruffle Top, JCrew (similar)

Jeans, Gap (similar)

Wedges, Cynthia Vincent for Target (similar)

my outfit: duh!

All black, duh!

I love this look, it's loosely inspired by the second look HERE.  But when I look at the pictures I do realize it's a little severe looking.  And I don't think my personality so 'severe' - but what I do love is the simplicity of this outfit.  All day long it's easy and chic even if I just rolled out of bed, errr out of a nap with my three year old (bliss!) - I was ready to go.

And even if this outfit doesn't look very spring-y - the weather was absolutely GORGEOUS this day... gorgeous!  A perfect little teaser to get me through the rest of March!

Even though it was almost 60 and sunny, we still have A LOT of snow on the ground (as you can see).  We have a shady yard and still cold nights - but we are getting so close to spring!

I experimented a bit with a new scarf tying technique... always trying to keep it fresh!  I'll put it in the queue for another video tutorial, if I can come up with some other new ways to make it an even three.

Details:
Scarf, Limited (similar)
Sunglasses, Forever 21 (similar)
Jacket, courtesy of Tulle
Top, Gap (similar)
Jeans, Gap (similar)
Flats, Sam Edelman (similar)

my outfit: WWPD?

What Would a Princess Do?

I went with my daughter to Disney's Princesses on Ice last week. It was a blast, the performance was really great (I tend to be skeptical about these types of things) - but it was super fun and I couldn't decide what was more fun to watch - the show or my daughter's face lighting up as her favorite princesses took the spotlight.

So what does one wear to see the princesses? Well... the Snow White costume, of course!  At least if you are three.

For me, I went with a dash of pink.  Can't go wrong there!

And stripes.  Two of the most simple items ever. 

How was your weekend? Did you get some good relaxing and fun in!?!? I'm still slaying the lion that is March, but we are getting there.  The weekend always refreshes me - my husband is such a great dad and doesn't mind playing catch up with the kids over the weekend.  That also lends me a great amount of relief and resolve to get up and do it again on Monday.

Details:
Scarf, Target
Jacket, courtesy of Tulle - it's on sale!
Striped Sweater, Forever 21 (similar)
Jeans, Gap (similar)
Flats, Sam Edelman (similar)

everybody, everywear: polka dots!

Well good Tuesday morning to you pretty polka-dotters.  Wait, what?!? You aren't wearing polka dots? tsk tsk.  Every body every where (or everybody, everywear) is wearing them today!

I have worn this top about (*about*) a bajillionity times on this here blog. And since it's my one and only polka dotted top, I decided to go for the bajillionity and one'th time (those are two words back to back that I just made up).  What would it hurt, right? 

I had grand schemes of layering this top with this that and the other thing, but when it came to stepping out in it, it only felt right for the top to fly solo. And thus, it did.  I also completely broke the rules and wore open toed shoes (my husband laughed straight in my face).  But honest, the sun FELT a lot warmer than 35 degrees and the platform on the shoe kept my toes out of any possible snow the shoe may have encountered.  Ahem, I rest my case.  If you are going to be crazy, at least wear platforms. K?

Are you digging polka dots? If so... head on over to everybody, everywear to see what the other polka-dotted gals are up to today!  I know I can't wait!

Details:

Top, courtesy of Tulle

Jeans, Seven for all Mankind (similar)

Belt, Gap (similar)

Gold Bracelet, courtesy of Towne & Reese

Rhinestone Bracelets, Forever 21 (similar)

Wedges, Cynthia Vincent for Target (similar)

my outfit: grey days!

I almost didn't post these pictures because for the life of me I couldn't find a decent full length shot... even after trying my hand at editing them.  But the fact is that I loved this outfit... and for the most part, all you have to do to see the full length picture is insert these boots and these jeans that you have already seen a ba-jillion times.

And for every time you have seen those shoes and jeans on the blog, I have worn them about 4x more in real life.  They have become my winter uniform.  Last winter it was skinny jeans + Ugg boots.  So there, maybe it's a step up? Maybe not.

This top is proving to be infinitely versatile.  See here and here for previous styling combos.  And I think I am just getting rolling... expect to see LOTS of this top.  I only wish I would have snagged it in some other colors.

How was your weekend?  It's President's Day today... maybe you even are still weekending! My husband has the day off work for the holiday, but my son still has school. Go figure.

Details:
Jacket, courtesy of Tulle - it's on sale!
Top, JCrew (similar)
Chevron Bracelet, Forever 21 (similar)
Watch, Michael Kors
Jeans, Gap (similar)

my outfit: minor confessions.

Confession time...

Confession One: I just finished reading The Hunger Games.

I don't know if I am confessing that I actually read this teeny-bopper book OR if I am confessing that I just NOW got around to reading it now.  Anyway, it's good. Not Twilight good, but good. So good I stayed up until 2am finishing it.  Hello, sleeeeeeepy momma.

I just picked up the second book in the series.  Here we go...

Have you read it?

Second confession... it was super windy for these pictures. Ummm, can you tell? And it kind of threw me a bit.  Out of the 50 or so pictures my husband took about half of them were me doing very weird things.  Or with my hair doing very weird things.

Third confession... I have the best husband EVER. (ever, ever, ever) See this new bling on my wrist? Yep, it's from him.  It was my Valentine's-slash-book-congrats gift. What book? Oh... this book!  Speaking of the book, I just got my galley copy (that's fancy publisher talk for my pre-release copy) and it's pretty darn exciting to hold that thing in my hands!

My husband and I haven't really exchanged gifts for birthdays or holidays in quite a while.  All that superfluous stuff went out the window with kids and when I decided to quit my job to stay home.  So I must say, it was a HUGE surprise and it made me down right giddy.

Pretty race-y confessions, huh? I really live on the wild, errr windy, side... I know.

Details:

White Coat, courtesy of Tulle

Cardigan, Pure & Simple from local boutique (similar)

Tank, Forever 21

Necklace, Banana Republic (similar)

Bangles, Forever 21

Watch!, Michael Kors from my sweet husband

Jeans, Gap (similar)

Boots, MICHAEL Michael Kors (similar)

my outfit: next stop, simple.

This past weekend the sun was shining and we were all in good moods so we headed downtown for some fun.  The kids and my husband ice skated at the outdoor rink while I worked across the street in a fun and quirky coffee shop that I have never been to before.  It was a perfect Saturday (yes, my perfect Saturday includes my husband entertaining the kids, not me - what can I say).

Then we went scoping out fun places to take pictures.  We found this old bummed out and graffitied bus stop and called it good. I pretty much sure it is "out of service" as it hadn't been plowed, and by 'bummed out' I mean that I'm pretty sure it's being repurposed by the local homeless population.  My husband liked that it had "free tibet" scrawled on the side.  It was quirky like that.

Any way... I was going to talk about this outfit. Shall we? It's simple and I've decided, simple is pretty much my thing lately.  As a blogger and a clothes owner I often look inside my closet and have a deep longing for my clothes to pair themselves in brilliant and mind bending combos.  Like this WAS just a pink shirt, but when I wear it with x, y and z is the MOST AMAZING PINK SHIRT EVERRRRRRR! I expect that out of each and every piece in my closet - for them all to be stunning and amazing and to make my life complete.

But duh, clothes are just clothes and they will not complete me, they will just make me less naked.  Plus, look at this outfit. It's nothing too special, but it works and I feel comfortable and fabulous in it.  So there.

I needed the reminder that this outfit gave me that clothes don't have to be complex, new or mind-bendingly cool to make you (specifically, me) feel fabulous.  Look at this, I am learning lessons on my own blog.

p.s. next stop, simple.

Details:
Jacket, courtesy of Tulle
Scarf, TJ Maxx (similar)
White Top, JCrew (similar)
Necklace, Forever 21 (similar)
Sunglasses, Forever 21 (similar)
Jeans, Gap (similar)
Boots, Nine West (similar)