Orange & Blue

Dress (Mercer & Madison find:TJMaxx); Scarf (JCPenney); Shoes (BCBG find: TJMaxx)
Earrings (Nordstrom); Simple Impressions Photography

I typically avoid combining orange and blue, since it's the team colors of the Chicago Bears.  However, I'm trying to rise above my fanatic dedication to the Green Bay Packers and think with my fashion brain instead of my football brain.... and so far so good (no hives or disfiguring side effects as of yet).  These bold shades really are great together - plus this look showcases my maturity in that I'm so easily able to wear my rival's colors...
PS. Packers rule and Bears drool ;)

Back to Business

Blouse (H&M); Skirt (New York & Company); Shoes (Naturalizer); Karma Bracelet (LuckyVitamin.com); Jennifer Hoffman Photography

It's amazing how having a simple Monday off can put you completely into vacation mode...  So with an alarm much too early, extra caffeine, and a little reluctance - it's back to work today.  And what better way to kick start productivity than a pencil skirt and blouse.... and when the hair's up - you know I mean business ;)

In Memory

Today is officially about remembering and honoring the men and women who died while serving our country.  And as a more general expression of memory, this one's for Whitey/Max/Grandpa Boschke and Howard/Grandpa Pirsig - two great men that I wish I could have known more... miss and love you both!

Friday Find

Rohto Ice Eye Drops (Walgreens, Walmart)

Rohto Ice Eye Drops have been my go to since I first tried them a few months ago.  Rohto gets rid of tired and red eyes with an instant cooling effect- and are life savers if you have itchy eyes or suffer from allergies. Disclaimer: if you wear contacts like me - apply them (a small drop is all you need) before putting your contacts in and wait about 15 minutes. As the window to your soul - it's important to keep your eyes clear and bright :)

Casual Sparkle

   

Jacket & Necklace (H&M); T-shirt (Ann Taylor); Shorts (Gap);  Shoes (Nine West);
Bag (Nine West find at Marshalls); Jennifer Hoffman Photography

There are few things that are more fun to wear than sequins...  And adding some sparkle transforms cutoffs and a T-shirt into something much more fun and special.  And it's okay to dust off those sparkly pieces for everyday wear.  It's basically the grown up version of playing princess... so while I don't have a tiara (not yet at least) - I have a sequin jacket :)

Red Hot

Sweater (Nine West find at Marshalls); Pants (Limited); Shoes (Nine West)
Sunglasses (Charming Charlie); Watch (Fossil)

I know I'm not the only one who struggles with dressing for the weather vs. the office temperature.  If I dressed for the office where it's winter all year round, I'd be bundled up every day.  Most days at work you can catch me with a blanket on my lap or wearing an oversized fleece that I keep at my desk.  But this outfit does the seemingly impossible, and is appropriate for the weather while also preventing the dreaded fleece from making an appearance ;)

Nautical Neon

Shirt & Scarf (Target); Skirt (eShakti); Shoes (Nine West); Earrings (Nordstrom)

Nautical fashion is one of my favorites - it's clean, classic, and never goes out of style. I'm also a big fan of the neon trend.  When I  stumbled upon this scarf at Target a few weeks ago, I fell in love with the bright yellow and stripes.   And I didn't realize it at first, but the scarf strongly resembles a life preserver ring...  which is probably what kept me from going overboard on accessories ;)

Friday Find

Bud Light Lime-a-Rita (Liquor Stores)

Enter a fabulous summer drink: Bud Light Lime-a-Rita.  It's basically a margarita in a can, and it's wonderful.  It's light, tangy, and refreshing - and definitely has more of a lime flavor than a typical margarita, which I really like.  These Lime-a-Ritas hit the spot and really are a must try for summer. I'd recommend drinking them over ice... then close your eyes... and you can almost feel the sun and hear the waves of the ocean...  Almost :)

Blocks of Color

Top (Green Envelope find at TJMaxx); Leggings (Old Navy); Hat (Marshalls);
Shoes (Nine West); Jennifer Hoffman Photography

Color blocking is such a fun way of playing with color and creating vibrant looks - and this top makes it so mindless that I couldn't resist. Although color blocking really is easy - simply add one colored bottom to another colored top (choose colors that are either next to or opposite each other on the color wheel while keeping accessories neutral). Or you can take the lazy gal's way out and get a piece that does all of the work for you :)

Texturized

Blouse (Target); Dress (JCPenney); Shoes (Naturalizer); Earrings (Erwin Pearl)
Sunglasses (Charming Charlie); Jen Wilson Photography

I'm not even sure if "texturized" is a word... but it's the perfect fake term to define my outfit.  The smooth texture of the top compliments the rougher looking details in the lace. Since both the dress and top have subtle patterns, this dual mixing works well. So I guess I've not only texturized but I've patternized as well :) 

Peppermint

Sweater (Loft); Tank (H&M); Jeans (Target); Shoes (Naturalizer);
Earrings (Limited); Photography by Raj

Originally this post was titled "Candy Striper" because of the red/white color combo, but the more I looked at the words, all I saw was Candy Stripper... So I changed it to the much more family friendly Candy Stripes - but since this outfit doesn't include stripes, that didn't make much sense.  Hence Peppermint.  I really hope deciding this post title is the hardest thing I do today :) 

Friday Find

Love Ring (Etsy.com)

I have fallen in love (pun intended) with these love rings... And with Mother's Day this weekend, what better Friday to feature such a sweet find. I've seen them in department stores, but for the best deal check out Etsy.com - they range anywhere from $15 to $30. Whether the love is for your friends, children, husband, parents, pets, yourself, or you are schmoopy in a relationship - these rings are a cute reminder to let love in :)

Mardi Gras

 

Shirt & Necklace (Limited): Skirt (JCPenney); Shoes (Franco Sarto find at Marshalls);
Earrings (Nordstrom): Photography (Simple Impressions)

After looking at these pictures, I've realized I'm a golden yellow away from a complete Mardi Gras color scheme.  Not to mention I'm wearing some heavy duty "beads".  My knowledge of Mardi Gras is limited to New Orleans, Fat Tuesday, and cake babies (I'm comfortable with two of those things).  However I did find out that Rex is the King of the Carnival!  It's good to know he's king of something other than my household :)

Boho Chic

Sweater (Limited); Dress (JCPenney); Belt (H&M); Shoes (Kohls)
Photography by Sara Kirk

Today I’m inspired by the effortless, romantic, and free-spirited look of boho fashion.  An important aspect of bohemian style is individuality... which in this case means pigtails.  Am I the only one with the strong and frequent urge to spend the day in pigtails? And have dessert before dinner?  And eat only the candy Lik-a-Stix in Fun Dip?   And now you know the truth – I’m basically a 10 year old.  A 10 year on the hunt for Fun Dip...

Pearls & Flannel

Sweater Dress (Limited); Shirt (Target); Necklace (Nordstrom);
Shoes (Kohls); Photography (Simple Impressions)

Pearls and flannel are basically antonyms - sort of like Rex and listening.  Does anyone else have a dog that literally runs in the opposite direction when you tell him/her to come?  Not only does he run away, but he makes a sound that I’m pretty sure is the doggy equilviant of the middle finger.  I’m hoping the power of the flannel (yes this exists) will get him to listen... any bets? 

Friday Find

Moroccan Argan Oil (Walgreens, Target, Walmart)

I'm not very nice to my hair.... I'm constantly blasting it with heat from a blowdryer, straightener, or curling iron.  I heard about Moroccan Argan Oil through a few beauty magazines and it got positive reviews on protecting hair from heat and UV damage while creating softness and strength.  After trying it for over a week now, I can definitely tell the difference in how soft my hair feels - not to mention this stuff smells great and is extremely lightweight.  It's about $6 - $8 at any drugstore, and my hair feels healthier and is hopefully happier ;)

Doggy Date

Dress (Target); Shirt (Gap); Scarf (Limited); Leggings (Victoria's Secret);
Shoes (Kohls); Bag (Naturalizer): Photography by Raj

It's not often that I'm dressed in something other than sweats when out with Rex...  and we were falling into a pattern of nights on the couch and predictable behavior (he barks, then I yell).  I feared our relationship was falling into a rut -  so I got dressed up, and we went out!  I know he appreciates the effort, and my layered look for our afternoon stroll ;)