My Happy Place

When I was a kid...

Wait, no. Scratch that.

Basically, up through my first few years of college, I was not a 'dress-up' kind of girl. I hated dresses. I hated skirts. I hated anything that wasn't a pair of jeans worn with tennis shoes.

Then, one of my college roommates introduced me to the concept of shopping for fun. And I took to that a little too well, as you can probably see from this here blog. And then I went to work for a bank after college, and the dress code required a suit.

Every. Single. Day.

And while that was a little boring for me and my budding shopping obsession, I realized that I actually did like the professional look. Skirts? Good. Heels? Good.

Maybe there was life outside of denim, after all?

And now my happy place is a pencil skirt and a cardigan.

Go figure.

Cardigan: Lands End Canvas

Skirt: Alfani

Shoes: Steve Madden

Bracelet: Banana Republic (outlet)

Blergh

I think I might be in a bit of a style rut this week, as evidenced by the return of my 'nightgown in dress form' dress to the rotation. That's never a good sign...

Don't get me wrong, I love this dress because it's super comfortable, but I'm never really happy when I try to dress it up for work. I'm not entirely sure it's really something that is meant to be dressed up, actually. And then I walk around feeling under-dressed for work all day, because I'm basically wearing a belted nightgown. And nobody likes that feeling, right?

Assuming, of course, that other people have walked around in a belted nightgown, I guess...

Although, now that I think about it, that's probably just me, isn't it?

I am totally falling back on my pencil skirt tomorrow...

Dress: Gap

Belt: H&M

Shoes: Nine West

Bracelets: Mango Tree

Earrings: Charlotte Russe

PS: I posted about my favorite summer lip balm over at Style Lush yesterday, if you want to check it out. And even if you don't care about my favorite summer lip balm? You should stop by anyway...there's always tons of good things going on over there!

Repeat...maybe?

There's a really, really good chance that I've worn this exact same outfit, this exact same way, at some other point in my blog history, but I was too busy watching The Bachelorette (and wanting to throw things at my t.v. because bachelorette Ashley needs a swift kick in the rear and a serious shot of self confidence...) to check my archives. So if you've seen this before? Let's just forget that ever happened.

Thanks!

And I hope your Monday night was much more productive than mine was...

 

Dress: White House Black Market

Shoes: Jessica Simpson (from DSW)

Bracelet: Banana Republic Outlet

Earrings: don't remember

Inspiration: Diane Kruger

Today's inspiration from Two Birds is the easy-peasy style of Diane Kruger (who has been dating my make believe boyfriend Pacey Witter for several years now, a fact that I won't hold against her, because she's ridiculously adorable...):

One thing I've learned from this week's inspiration? I really need to get a skirt like the one Ms. Kruger is wearing in this picture, because I absolutely love it. Anyway, I decided to reverse the color palette, because I like to play fast and loose with these things.

(Also, because the closest thing I have to the skirt above is the pink one I'm wearing below, but whatever...)

(Also #2, I've included the heels I wanted to wear with this outfit, as well as the flats that I ended up wearing with this outfit, because the heels weren't conducive to my big plans of hitting up Target with my daughter and running around in the backyard for awhile...)

(Also #3, happy Monday!!)

T-shirt: J Crew

Skirt: J Crew (outlet)

Flats: Cole Haan

Heels: Steve Madden

Necklace: Calvin Klein

Casual Friday

Ok, so I've used this post title before, but now it actually applies to me in an office setting, instead of a stay-at-home kind of setting, so it's totally being recycled today.

Due to my previously mentioned schedule change, I am now off on Mondays and in the office on Fridays. And Fridays in our 'new' office (where I spend most of my time these days) is a casual day, a lesson I learned the hard way the one other time I had to go in on a Friday, and I was the only person in the complex not wearing jeans, with the exception of the investment banker types we share the office building with.

I've done the banking thing, thank you very much. I don't want to be confused with those types...

So, jeans it is!

Tank Top: Gap

Cardigan: NY & Co

Jeans: Michael Kors (from Macys)

Shoes: Steve Madden

The Skirt That Won't Go Away!

I feel like I've been wearing this skirt way too much lately, but I guess when you have a piece you love, you might as well wear it until it falls apart, right?

And on a completely different tangent, let's talk about Target for a minute, shall we? See, I had such high hopes for the Calypso St. Barth collection, because the pieces just seemed so perfect for summer. Then I went and tried some things on, and absolutely nothing fit well, at all. But I loved it so much, that every time I went into Target, I'd see the collection, and I'd want to try again. So I'd pick up a few pieces I hadn't tried on yet, or I'd grab something that had been too sack-like in a smaller size, hoping for the best. But I was always disappointed.

Then the pieces started hitting the sales rack. And of course, I couldn't pass that up. So I grabbed a top that I had really, really wanted to love, in the absolutely smallest size that I could find. And wouldn't you know it? It finally worked! And at a discounted price, at that.

The sales gods were watching out for me on this one, I think.

Blouse: Target

Belt: Target

Skirt: Gap

Shoes: Nine West

Casual Monday

I've been remarkably lucky with my work schedule since Brigid has come along, as my company allows me to manage my full-time schedule over four days instead of five. I was using Friday as my flex day, but due to a scheduling change on Steve's part, I've shifted my off day from Friday to Monday. And I am kind of looking forward to it, actually, because Monday's are terrible, terrible days. And now I get to spend them at home.

WIN!

On a completely unrelated note, do you ever get dressed and think, 'I don't think my mom wore something like this when she was my age...'?

Sometimes, I think I am younger in my mind than I am in reality. I have a hard time reconciling the two, you know?

T-shirt: INC (from Macy's)

Skirt: J Crew

Shoes: Cole Haan

Dressing for the weather...

Our temperatures have been hitting the mid-90s in Atlanta recently, and the response from the maintenance group in my office has been to drop the building temperatures to something close to 60 degrees, meaning that I have to dress for both summer and a somewhat mild winter these days. And in my case, that generally means a sweater, a skirt, a second sweater, and a blanket to cover my lap when the air conditioner draft is running especially strong.

I generally look awesome at my desk, I think.

At least I've been able to resist the urge to top my outfit with a ski cap and a pair of gloves, so far, no matter how tempting it's seemed...

Sweater: H&M

Skirt: J Crew

Shoes: Kenneth Cole

Watch: D&G

Necklace: Charlotte Russe

This is as maxi as I go...

This whole Inspiration Monday thing at Two Birds is really starting to grow on me, you know?

I like having an excuse to pull out items of clothing that I haven't worn in a very long time (if ever...because, yes, I am one of those people who hoards clothing items, then forgets to wear them...but I'm getting better about that, I promise!!) and put them to good use in a combination I might not have considered in the past.

Case in point, this week's inspiration:

I loved the simplicity of the outfit, with the black and white color scheme and lack of accessories...it managed to seem dressy and laid-back, all at the same time. And when I saw the skirt, I immediately thought about a black skirt I've had in my closet for years, one that doesn't get much use these days, but one that I still can't bring myself to throw in the donation bin. I bought this skirt when Steve and I went to Europe in 2005, because we were attending Easter Mass at the Vatican, but we were also traveling light (we're talking backpacks, and that's about it...), and I needed to be able to wad it up into a very small ball without worrying about wrinkles. And while it served its purpose, and there are too many lovely memories in it to send it on its way, all I've seen the last couple of times I've looked at it is too much poofiness and an awkward length.

But, I think it's growing on me again!

Tank Top: Max Studio (from TJ Maxx)

Skirt: Anthropologie

Shoes: Nine West 

The Reverse Tree

That was absolutely all I could think about when I put this outfit together...I look like an upside down tree.

And do you know what? I am really ok with that, because I built this outfit around the shoes, which are rapidly becoming my favorite shoes, ever. They are so comfortable, and so adorable, and if the outfit I pair them with makes me look like a tree, then so be it.

(And also, since I built the outfit around the shoes, you'd think I'd have included a close up of them, but you'd be wrong. There is one here, though, if you're interested...)

(And finally...Cee? The white dress totally survived the day! Even though a roughed up can of Coke Zero almost took it out, it seems that I have catlike reflexes when my clothes are at risk...)

Top: The Limited

Skirt: Max Studio (from TJ Maxx)

Shoes: Kenneth Cole

Taking Chances

Most people would consider color blocking taking a chance. Or maybe mixing patterns. Or wearing nothing but neon.

Plunging necklines, dresses made of feathers, looking like a human disco ball.

Those would be risky, right?

Well, when you're me, and you can't make it through the day without falling down, running into something, or spilling something on yourself?

Then this is as risky as it gets...

Dress: Calvin Klein

Shoes: Enzo Angiolini (from the Nine West Outlet)

Lovely Lace

Lace is the theme for June's Everybody, Everywhere posting, so if you're looking for inspiration on how to wear that pretty piece of clothing that's been gathering dust in the back of your closet (what? just me then?), definitely stop by and check out all of the amazing bloggers who have linked up today!

I don't have much lace in my closet, so I had to get creative this month. Let's chalk this outfit up to another blog-driven first...the old dress-as-a-top trick!

I pulled this off of the Target clearance rack a couple of months ago, and while I think it's a cute dress, it's really too short for me to try to style for work or toddler-wrangling. But the top is pretty adorable, anyway...

 

 

Dress: Target

Skirt: The Limited

Cardigan: Target

Shoes: Steve Madden

 Jewelry: Charlotte Russe

Out on the Town

I love going out with friends for a few drinks on a Friday night. I do not love staying out much later than I should and having to get up the next morning to tend to a toddler. One of these days, I will remember that I am over 30, and late nights are not my friend anymore.

Luckily, my toddler is the most awesome toddler ever, and she understands the joys of sleeping in on the weekends, so it really wasn't so bad. I actually had a harder time dealing with my dear husband, who is apparently not on board with the sleeping in trend we're trying to start around here, because he got up at the crack of dawn to do yard work, before waking Brigid and I both up so we could go to the Farmer's Market on Saturday morning.

I'm pretty sure he's trying to teach me a lesson or something...

Dress: Thakoon for Target

Cardigan: Express

Shoes: DV for Target

Daytime Shine

Sequins and  heels with shorts? Why, it's pure chaos around here these days!

I can't say that this is a combination that I would have considered in the past, even if it's something that so many people wouldn't think twice about wearing. In case you haven't picked this up about me already, I'm just a touch risk averse. But I'm working on it! I'm trying new things! I'm mixing colors! And obviously, I'm mixing sequins and shorts!

And I totally blame blogging for it!

(So...thanks for the inspiration, ladies!!)

Worn running errands with Steve and Brigid on Saturday

Tank Top: J Crew

Shorts: Ann Taylor (outlet)

Shoes: Kenneth Cole (outlet, of course) 

By the way, I forgot to mention I posted at Style Lush on Tuesday, if you'd like to stop by and say hi! 

Summer Swimming

I found this dress on my last little outlet mall shopping spree, and I knew I had to have it for the summer, because it just screams 'POOL LINING!!', and obviously, that's the look I'm going for this year.

Really, though, there were two salespeople in the store wearing this dress, one in navy and one in tan, and they both looked so adorable that I couldn't pass it up. I am shockingly open to the power of suggestion, obviously. Plus, it was on sale, and who am I to argue with a sale?

I'd be lying if I said that the pool lining look wasn't an added bonus, though...

Worn to dinner with the family a couple of weeks ago

Dress: Michael Kors (on sale at the outlet)

Shoes: Target 

Casual Friday

I don't really do ruffles.

I'm not a  huge fan of  plaid.

And yet, when a ruffled and plaid shirt shows up on the clearance rack for a couple of dollars, I jump all over it. What is it about a good deal that makes an item of clothing that much more attractive?

Although, now that I think about it, the color may have had something to do with it, too...

Worn running errands with B last Friday

Shirt: Old Navy

Shorts: Ann Taylor (outlet)

Shoes: Express 

Inspiration Monday

Hey, look! I'm actually playing along today! I've been looking at the Inspiration Monday pictures posted by Two Birds for a couple of weeks now, but I never can remember that I'm supposed to post my inspired outfit on Monday. I really love the concept, though, so I'm pretty proud of myself for finally linking up this week.

This week's inspiration?

 

Of course, I used this to inspire my outfit for church on Sunday, so I had to go with a hemline that was just a touch longer than what Brooklyn Decker is wearing here (plus, I don't have Mrs. Andy Roddick's legs, either, so that kind of factored into my decision just a bit...), but I kind of like how it all turned out.

 

Worn to church and running errands on Sunday

Top: Old Navy

Skirt: Gap

Shoes: Target 

Rainy Day

The lovely and HILARIOUS Taylor from It's My Cardi tagged me earlier this week to answer a couple of questions, and since I've been thinking about the answer to one of these questions since practically kindergarten, I had to give it a go...

 

If you did another blog, what would it be about?
This already is my 'other' blog, actually. I started my family blog a year and a half ago, after my daughter was born, both as an enormous mass email to friends and family (someplace they could come and check for baby updates when it suited them, without me having to worry that I was filling everyone's in-box with unwanted, inane stories), as well as an online baby book of sorts for Steve and I (and Brigid, when she's older...). Then I participated in one of Kendi's remixes at the end of 2010, and I realized that I really loved the fashion/style blogging community, and I wanted to play along.

 

Plus, I wanted a place where I could talk about myself, without having to worry that I was annoying people who just wanted to come and look at cute baby pictures, and Steve was getting tired of listening to me all of the time...

If you could change your name, what would it be?
You know, I've never really had a problem with my name, and I don't remember ever wanting to be called something else. Plus, if you knew the names that my sisters ended up with, you'd be fine with Tara, too.

 

(My sisters don't have bad names, per se, they just have interesting combinations of names. My dad, too, actually. Guys, I got off lucky with Tara.

 

Plus, what kind of mean grade school nickname can you come up with for Tara? Tara-piece-of-paper? Tara-dactyl? Not so hurtful, you know?)

 

If you could be born again, would you like to be a man or a woman?
Definitely a woman. A short man is just a short man. A short woman can wear really, really high heels.

 

(Well, a tall woman can wear really, really high heels, too, if they want. But a tall man is still kind of out of luck.)

If you could realize one wish, what would it be?
I'd really love for the hole in my daughter's heart to close up so that everytime she makes anything remotely resembling a wheezing noise, we don't immediately jump to the conclusion that things have taken a turn for the worse and it's starting to affect her lungs. Because she is ridiculously healthy, despite the hole, and we are over-protective nightmares..

If you had a power, which one would you like to have?
Did you ever see the show Out of This World that was on back in the 80s? Apparently, it was on for 4 seasons, but I can only recall seeing two or three episodes, tops.

 

Anyway, it was sitcom about a girl who finds out she's half alien, half human, and she has the ability to freeze time. I think I probably saw the show when I was six or seven, and yet, I've probably thought about it at least once a month since then. I mean, think about it...having the ability to freeze time so you can sleep in as late as you want and still get to work early? Or being able to pick out just the right outfit without worrying that you'll be late for dinner? Or having an extra hour to finish that stupid calculus homework you didn't get to before class?

 

I have always wanted that power.

 

(I can still remember half human/half alien Evie freezing time to swith her uncle's pancake with a slice of pizza covered in syrup. Oh, the hijinks!)

 

If you had to buy a lot of perfumes from one specific brand, which one would it be?
My absolute favorite, ever, is Stella by Stella McCartney, but for a whole line of fragrances? I'd have to go with DKNY, I think...I've generally found myself liking all of their scents.

 

If you had won a holiday, which place would you like to go to?
Someplace with a beach. And beautiful blue water. And maybe a stand with fruity drinks. And lots of seafood. I don't want to have to leave the water's edge from about 10am until the sun sets.

 

But other than that, I wouldn't be picky...

 

I am also supposed to tag three bloggers to answer these questions, but I'd really like to hear what you all have to say about it...answer whichever questions you want, but definitely fill me in on what your power would be, in case I should put aside my silly childhood dreams for something new!

 

Worn Thursday, 5/26 (when I went to get my hair cut in the middle of a monsoon...)

T-shirt: J Crew

Jeans: Levi's (from TJ Maxx)

Boots: Hunter