Cop-out

I have several things I'm working on right now, and no real desire to do an outfit post today. So instead, I have a question and a link, instead. First, the question...

Lately (which I'm sure has been super obvious, with the buy! buy! buy! theme my posts have been running the last few days...), my shopping has gotten a little (or a lot?) out of control. I set myself a budget at the start of the year, and I've pretty much lost all track of that. I swore I'd do a better job of 'shopping my closet' instead of shopping the mall, and that hasn't happened. I just really, really love to shop. And I'm ok with that.

But I need to dial it back a little.

So my question is, of the various blogger-run 'challenges' (for lack of a better word) that you've participated in during your internet life, what are your favorites? I need something that will help me to focus on what I already own, but will also keep me interested enough that I don't miss shopping. Not that I'm giving up shopping, by any means, because giving up shopping has the same effect on me that giving up sugar does, and I always end up over-doing it in the end. So, lay it on me friends...how do I change things up?

And, as a reward for helping me out, I'll leave you with this...



Did you know that while at the University of Michigan, Darren Criss (from Glee) co-wrote a stage musical based on Harry Potter? And not only did Criss and his group do one Harry Potter musical, they apparently came back for a second? And you can watch it all (in eight-ish minute increments, that is) on You Tube?

You're welcome.

Just over a month...

...until the start of the college football season!

I know that may seem like kind of a strange thing to be focused on in the middle of the summer, but when I decided to add the orange sweater to this outfit in an attempt to jazz up my slightly boring navy blue jersey dress, I immediately felt like an Auburn Tiger. Or a Clemson Tiger. Or any of those other southern Tigers whose school colors are orange and blue. And then I had to convince myself not to change, because my football loyalties run deep, and I am most definitely not a tiger.

Oh, the things I do for style...

(And if this made no sense to you, I apologize. I am a bit of a sports fan (or a HUGE sports fan, as it may be), and it kind of takes over some times. Expect A LOT of green to show up in my pictures this fall...because I may not be a tiger, but I am Irish through and through!)

Dress: Ann Taylor (outlet)

Sweater: Gap (outlet)

Shoes: Nine West (outlet)

Necklace: Tiffany

Bracelet: vintage

Outlet Love

I've started tracking how much of my wardrobe (shoes, clothing, and accessories) comes from the outlets by my in-laws' house, and I've realized that if it wasn't for them, I'd either have a much smaller wardrobe (which wouldn't be the worst thing in the world), or I wouldn't be able to get my shopping fix in at discounted prices, and my husband would be hiding all of our money from me in the freezer or something, to prevent me from spending it.

Thank goodness I don't have to worry about that, you know?

(This is kind of a long way of saying that we're heading up to the lake this weekend, because Steve's aunt and uncle are in town from Cincinnati, and I'd kind of like to swing by the J Crew outlet while we're there, to see if they're having a sale at all. Is there such a thing as too many pencil skirts?)
 

Top: The Limited

Skirt: Target

Shoes: Kenneth Cole (outlet)

Belt: H&M

Bracelet: Kate Spade/James Avery

Necklace: Banana Republic (outlet)

Too Big

I'd been on the hunt for a new pair of white shoes for months, when I finally came across this pair at the Nine West outlet a couple of years ago. And even though they were a size too big, and therefore RIDICULOUSLY IMPOSSIBLE TO WALK IN, I bought them anyway.

Because they were the only pair that the store had, and I lose all sense when faced with pretty shoes.

Lucky for me, they make shoe inserts that sort of cover for that kind of impulse shopping, so the shoes are still wearable.

Now, if they'd just make something to remind me not to buy shoes in the wrong size, I'd be all set...

(worn to work last Thursday)

Dress: Banana Republic (outfit)

Sweater: Target

Shoes: Nine West (outlet)

Bracelets: Mango Tree

Stripes

After a couple of weeks off, I'm back for Two Birds' Inspiration Monday posting! I've kind of missed playing along, because I like to be pushed in a direction that I wouldn't normally take, and finding inspiration in another person's outfit can be harder than it looks.

This week's inspiration? The Project Runway hostess herself, Heidi Klum:

 

(Speaking of PR, is everyone else as excited as I am that the new season is starting soon? I need me some Tim Gunn in my life, you know?)

Now, if this isn't the most mom-friendly outfit, ever, I don't know what is. It would have been perfect for our weekly trip to story-time at the library...if I hadn't decided to keep my recovering fever baby home for the day, instead of risking spreading the disease to a roomful of unsuspecting toddlers. But I wore the outfit around the house, which totally counts for this, right? And I really liked it, so it will make a showing out of the house at some point, I promise.

Top: Banana Republic (outlet)

Jeans: Gap

Necklace: Banana Republic (outlet)

Bracelets: Mango Tree

Shoes: Cole Haan

Free food always makes the day better...

Yesterday was free queso day at Moe's Southwest Grill, which is kind of a big day in my world. I am slightly (deeply) in love with this cheese (and the burritos, for that matter), but even though I pass approximately fifteen of these places on my way home from work every day, I'm usually pretty good at controlling my cravings.

Until free queso day rolls around...

Then all bets are off.

So, so good.

(However, after I waited in line for fifteen minutes because the crowd was a little larger than normal, I was starting to question my loyalty to the cheese...and then Steve reminded me that I could, in fact, just go on a normal day and pay for it, but that kind of defeats the purpose of waiting for free cheese day, now doesn't it? Also, he may claim that I threatened him with bodily harm if he touched my queso, but he'd be lying.

Sort of...

Because I totally shared with him, once I started getting full.

I'm a giver, you know?)

Sweater: Gap

Skirt: Gap

Shoes: Kenneth Cole (outlet)

Necklace: Banana Republic (outlet)

Is it time for another vacation, yet?

I'm not entirely sure it's worth it to go on vacation anymore, because it's just so darn hard to get back into the swing of things when you get home. I'm still trying to recover my rhythm, trying to remind myself that going to bed at midnight doesn't work when your alarm goes off at 5:30am, and trying to uncover myself from the mess that is my email inbox.

Oh, who am I kidding. Vacations are awesome, even with the clean-up that ensues. But yeah...I'm totally ready for another one already.

(worn to story-time with Brigid on Monday)
Top: Forever 21

Shorts: Ann Taylor (outlet)

Belt: Target

Shoes: Old Navy

Tangent

So, this outfit was kind of boring, because I wore it to work during my pre-vacation week o' frenzied disaster, and I was kind of feeling less than inspired.

Dress + sweater + necklace = meh

So, can we talk about Harry Potter instead? Have you seen the last movie, yet? Because you really should see it. Like, maybe, yesterday. So good. So very, very good. But if you are invested in the series at all, I'd recommend taking along a couple of tissues, instead of trying to turn your over-cooled-theater-AC-fighting-cardigan into a hankie, because cardigans do very little to fight the effects of an ugly cry, you know?

Also, I'd kind of like to be a wizard. And I'd like to be friends with the Weasleys, because they seem like good people. Also, Luna.

I am really, really going to miss that series...

Dress: Banana Republic (outlet)

Sweater: Banana Republic

Shoes: Nine West

Necklace: Old Navy

Bracelet: thrifted (if you count begging my mom to give it to me from her antique shop thrifting...)

What I would have worn...

Well, so that was a vacation, huh?

I didn't really mean to disappear for all of last week, but internet service at my parents' house was less than ideal, and Brigid was just too much fun to hang out with, and when she was sleeping, my family was around to keep me busy, and, well...that's how it goes, I guess.

Sometimes, real life just comes first.

(And, also, I'm assuming that I maybe, might have been missed at all last week. So, if I wasn't, humor me, ok? Thanks...)

 Anyway, I did have an outfit all ready to post for the Everybody Everywear June event, but I never did get around to doing the actual posting part of this blogging thing. Oh well.

It's not like I actually need an excuse to wear yellow, you know?

(worn to work two Thursdays ago...)

Blouse: Gap (outlet)

Skirt: J Crew (outlet)

Jewelry: Banana Republic (outlet)

Shoes: Nine West

The nearest exit may be behind you...

Does this outfit remind anyone else of a flight attendant? I really do like this combination, but I can't get past that little hang-up. I don't know if it's the fact that the bow looks like an awkward scarf, or if it's the neutral skirt paired with the navy blue sweater, but I felt like I should be passing out peanuts and soda in this one...

(Full disclosure: I ended up wearing the cardigan unbuttoned all day, and it seemed a little less uniform-ish that way. Also, I'm currently posting this from my iPhone while driving to my parents' place in Indiana. Technology, huh?)

Blouse: Banana Republic (outlet)

Skirt: Banana Republic

Sweater: Gap

Shoes: Nine West

Bracelets: Mango Tree

Pretty, pretty colors...

I am not going to lie...this whole casual Friday thing is something I could really, really get used to.

Just in time for them to move me back to the main office, otherwise known as the land free of jeans, I'm sure.

I'm off to Cincinnati (and Indiana, of course) this afternoon. And I can't wait!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Sweater: Old Navy

Jeans: Gap

Necklace: Charlotte Russe

Bracelets: Alex&Ani/James Avery

Watch: Gilt.com

Shoes: Steve Madden

Out of Order

So, obviously, this isn't something I wore to work this week. I may be posting from a stored bank of outfits right now, because this week has been a little crazy, and I may not be extending myself much beyond already worn combinations of cardigans and pencil skirts.

Maybe.

I think I am just a touch stressed out right now. I definitely know that I am feeling much more crabby than I am comfortable feeling. I also know that I spent twenty minutes trying to figure out why my laptop wasn't starting up at work this morning, only to realize that my computer was fine, someone had just turned the monitor off on my docking station.

I am a technological genius, obviously.

Two more days, kids. Two more days...

(worn for the 4th of July barbecue at my in-laws' place)
Tank Top: Old Navy

Sweater: Target

Shorts: Ann Taylor

Shoes: Target

Earrings: H&M

PS: I didn't get a chance to mention this yesterday, but I have a guest post up for Kimmie at Blue Paper Lanterns while she's on vacation this week...so stop by and satisfy your burning desire to know just what I carry in my oversized purse every day. And why everyone always grunts with effort if they happen to pick up my bag by mistake...

World's Smallest Violin

Hey, you know what's not fun?

Packing a week's worth of stuff for a toddler.

And to think, I get to do this all over again when we take her to the beach in August.

Can't wait...

(No, seriously...I can't wait! It's never too much work to go to the beach, you know?)

(Worn to work last week)
Dress: BCBG

Sweater: Banana Republic (outlet)

Shoes: Nine West

Earrings: Charlotte Russe

Long Weekend

So, I took this long weekend, and I used it to it's fullest extent. Meaning, I went to the lake and did absolutely nothing productive for two and a half days...unless you count hitting up the outlet mall 4th of July sale as something productive (which, I totally do, of course...).

Then, I came home on Monday and spent the afternoon unpacking, doing laundry, and repacking, because we're all leaving for Cincinnati on Friday afternoon, and this is a busy week for me at work, so I needed to get as much done today as I could. After the weekend in Cincinnati, B and I are continuing on to Indiana to spend a few days with my parents, so my suitcase is...large, to say the least.


Anyway, the upshot of all of this traveling/family time may be that I'm going to be scarce around the internets for the next week or two. I plan to pop in here and there (and I'll probably pre-schedule some posts along the way), but try not to miss me too much, ok?

(Worn to church last weekend)
Dress: Ann Taylor (Outlet)

Sweater: Gap

Shoes: Target

Watch: Gilt.com

Here's Hoping...

The worst part about the Friday before a holiday weekend is wondering whether or not your boss is going to give you the go-ahead for early dismissal. Since Steve, B, and I are heading up to my in-laws' place on the lake for the weekend, and traffic heading north of Atlanta starts to get a little intense around 3pm on a normal Friday, I either need to be out of the office by 2pm, or Steve may just leave without me, and I'll be making my way up there on my own after traffic dies down later tonight.

First world problems, huh?

Have a great holiday weekend, all!!

Sweater: Ann Taylor Loft

Jeans: Michael Kors

Shoes: Nine West

Bracelets: Alex&Ani/James Avery

Necklace: Tiffany

Watch: Gilt.com