Currently Coveting...

I have done a really, really, really terrible job of taking outfit pictures recently. Part of it is because I haven't been sleeping as well as I should be, so the creativity needed to put a decent outfit together has been sorely lacking in my morning routine. The other part of it is because I haven't been sleeping as well as I should be, so I haven't been getting up as early as I need to, and there just isn't enough time in the morning for me to take pictures before I leave for work (and trust me, NOBODY wants to see me at the end of the day!).

But...um...at least I've pinpointed the cause of my problems?

Anyway, I did a little online shopping last night, while I was trying not to think about the BTI and tornado couplets and straightline winds that the weatherman was describing about an hour north of my house (I am not good in storms...it was either anxiety eating or anxiety shopping to get me through the evening, and anxiety shopping won out...), and after picking out a couple of new bathing suits from Land's End, I decided to update my wishlist.

Because window shopping is always a nice distraction!

From Banana Republic {photo credit: bananarepublic.com}: pretty jewelry and a versatile skirt!

From Ann Taylor Loft {photo credit: anntaylorloft.com}: gorgeous blouses!

From Gap {photo credit: gap.com}: the perfect casual jacket!

From Kate Spade {photo credit: katespade.com}: no explanation necessary.

Land's End Canvas {photo credit: landsendcanvas.com}: blouses and dresses and skirts, oh my!

What have you had your eye on lately?

Post-Easter Shopping Trip

I realized over my Lenten shopping fast that there were a few things I actually needed (yes, needed, relatively speaking) in my closet. A more fitted pencil skirt, a new pair of jeans in a shorter length, a couple of smaller belts, another pair of shorts, among other things. And, yeah...

Let's just say it didn't take me long to acquire a few of those things. I work fast, my friends.

Also? Thank goodness for spring sales racks!

 

Blouse: H&M

Skirt: Calvin Klein (from Macy's)

Shoes: Nine West

Also, thank you all for your help on my bachelorette party outfit dilemma...I'll keep you posted on my decision (and I know you're all waiting anxiously for the results!). If you care to weigh-in on another outfit issue I'm having, head over to Style Lush and check out my wedding attire question. Who knew wedding attire was such a hot button topic?!?!?

Help me make a decision!

So, I have a bachelorette party to attend this weekend, and I am completely at a loss on what to wear.

See, I kind of feel like I don't get to go out for a night on the town all that often, and I want to put a little extra effort into my outfit. But I'm not really sure what route to take. And much like Cher Horowitz (who I have been thinking about nonstop since Kimmie mentioned her 90s themed outfit this weekend...I really, really, really loved that movie...), I don't trust a mirror. But I do trust you guys! And my amazingly terrible iPhone pictures!

So, what do you think?

 

Do any of these outfits work for a bachelorette party? Do I need to just start all over again, and come up with something else? Do I need to just give up and go shopping?

Happy Easter!

So, it turns out that waking your child up about an hour before she'd prefer to be awake, taking her to church an hour before Mass is even scheduled to start to make sure you actually get a seat, and trying to keep her quiet for the next 2 1/2 hours is kind of a recipe for disaster, if you consider it a disaster that said child tosses cheerios into the pew in front of her, tries to steal the Bible from the lady behind her, and attempts to run wild in the aisles the minute her father sets her down.

This is just a long way of saying that I swear, my skirt wasn't actually this wrinkled when I left the house on Easter morning...

Blouse: Style & Co. (from Macy's)

Skirt: Alfani (from Macy's)

Shoes: Target

Guest Model

Since it's Friday and all, I called in a little extra help for today's outfit photos...

I think she's a natural!

 

 T-shirt: Gap

Sweater: Target

Shorts: Ann Taylor

Shoes: Chuck Taylor (from Gap)

On B: Faded Glory from Wal-Mart

Any advice?

I love this dress so much.

We were in Cincinnati a couple of years ago visiting family, and my mother-in-law and I decided to make a trip to the Kenwood Mall while we were up there. At Banana Republic, on the clearance rack, this poor dress was all by itself, looking sad and lonely and seriously marked down.

And, even though this never, ever, EVER happens...the dress was in my size. Score!

The only problem is, even though I've had this dress forever, I've never really tried to remix it, because I'm not really sure where I'd start. The top is a little blousy, the sash is attached at the sides, the collar is slightly floppy. I've thrown the odd cardigan over the dress, but that's about as far as my creativity has taken me.

So, that's where I'm at...any advice on how I can get more use out of this item?

Dress: Banana Republic

Shoes: Jessica Simpson

Back on the wagon...

Guys? Yesterday was big.

Crazy big!

Because yesterday morning, I actually pulled my lazy little butt out of bed at the crack of dawn (ok, 5:30am, which is actually before the crack of dawn, I think...), and put it on the elliptical machine! And it may have only been for thirty minutes or so, but that's thirty minutes more of activity than I've done in several months now, so...

Yay me!

Sweater: Old Navy

Skirt: The Limited

Bracelets: Vintage Cuff, Alex & Ani, James Avery

Shoes: Nine West 

I posted about coveted spring purses over at Style Lush yesterday, so feel free to drop by and add your favorites to the mix (because I need even more pretty purses to drool over, of course...)!

Beach Fashion

There was a mini-waterpark kind of thing at the building we stayed in last weekend, and the park had this enormous bucket at the top of the slide that filled up every thirty seconds or so, before dumping itself all over anybody who happened to be standing within the waterfall radius.

I must have heard that thing dropping a thousand times over the course of the weekend. And it still scared the crap out of me, every time.

Also? That water was freezing. And Brigid could have cared less...

What is wrong with kids?!?!?

Cover-Up: J Crew

Hat: Target 

Sunglasses: Ron Jon (bought only because they matched the Speedo water shoes above...)

No outfit for you...

I have not taken a single outfit picture in the last five days, because I've barely gotten dressed in the last five days. It was a slightly disturbing look at what my life would be like if my job didn't force me to put on my big-girl pants on a daily basis, actually.

I spent the weekend with my husband and daughter here...


...and I'm not going to lie, it was a much needed trip.

I think I was a beach bum born to the Midwest by mistake, and at the very least, at this point in my life, I've managed to move close enough to the ocean that a long weekend on the water is a legitimate possibility. I need to hear the waves and sit in the sand every so often, just to keep my sanity in tact.

Someday, I will live on a coast. Until then?

I can make do with what I've got, because what I've got is a husband who loves me enough to plan an impromptu mini vacation when I start to stress out and an 18-month old who is just so. much. fun. to hang out with that I want to take her on vacation all over again just to hear her crazy giggles when she's swimming.






And I wouldn't trade either one for the nicest beach house on the nicest coast in the nicest location.

Anywhere.

(Except maybe Italy...

Totally kidding!

Mostly...)

Time for a new skirt...

I absolutely love this skirt, but I've had it for probably seven years now, and it's starting to look a little worn. Plus, when I bought it back in the day, I think I bought it a little big because I liked my skirts to ride a little lower then, and now I think it's starting to look a little messy.

So, come Easter, one of the first items on my shopping list? A new pencil skirt.

And I'm open to suggestions, if you have the perfect one that I just have to get!

Cardigan: J Crew

Skirt: Banana Republic

Shoes: Nine West

Saturday Brunch

I guess it's not really brunch when you don't eat until 1pm, huh?

We met my husband's family for lunch on Saturday, so that his aunt and uncle who were visiting from Cincinnati could spend some time with Brigid, and the weather was absolutely perfect for eating outside. So we did. It was a little breezy, not too hot, not too cold, low humidity.

It was the perfect spring day!

And it's about time, too, because I am tired of being cold all of the time.

Next week, it will be 90, and I'll be complaining about how hot Atlanta summers are.

I mean, some people are just never satisfied...

Dress: Old Navy

Cardigan: Gap

Sandals: Steve Madden

Night Out

On Friday night, one of my favorite local bands was playing at a bar at (we thought) at around 10pm. So, I headed over to my sister-in-law's house around 7:30, we called for a cab around 8:30, and we got to the bar around 9.

And then some random group that I'd never heard of before started playing. And they were ok, but it was nothing super exciting.

And then when they were done, some other guy I'd never heard of got on stage. And he played the slowest music known to man for about an hour. Seriously. I don't think that poor guy has ever heard an upbeat song in his life. And while that isn't always a bad thing, it's also not really what I was looking for that night.

By the time the guy I'd actually come to see made it to the stage, it was after midnight, and everybody that I had gone out with was ready for bed (because that is really how slow the middle band was). So, a few songs into his set, we left.

Not the most successful event in my time, that's for sure. Ah well...what can you do?

T-Shirt: J Crew

Skirt: The Limited

Boots: DSW

Hey, I posted over at Style Lush yesterday, if you're interested in my take on the perfect summer make-up routine. And you know you are...

Spring is in the air...

...and I couldn't be happier!

I took Brigid to Target last Friday, when I was on a mission to find a hat for the weekend, and that kid is so much fun to hang out with, I wasn't ready to take her home when we were done shopping. So, we headed out for lunch at a Chick-Fil-A that was apparently celebrating a reopening. There were balloons and face painting and free milkshakes everywhere, plus a big cow wandering around.

Brigid was obsessed with the big cow.

Also? The big cow and I matched, so I'm pretty sure I scored major brownie points with her when all was said and done. Score!

 

T-Shirt: Gap

Sweater: Target

Shorts: Esprit (from years ago)

Shoes: Jessica Simpson