Behind the Curtain

Sweater (Loft); Skirt (Limited); Tights (Target); Necklace (Etsy); Shoes (Naturalizer)
Ryan Seidel Photography

Do you ever feel that if anyone got a chance to look behind curtain, you'd be exposed just like the "great and powerful" Wizard of Oz? Let me explain... my tights are basically 4 inches above my belly button (which is in no way right or comfortable), my necklace is being held together with a safety pin, and the soles of my heels are starting to separate at the toe - which causes me to literally trip over my feet when I walk. And so days like this I need a little extra time and effort in the morning to piece myself together... So pay no attention to the woman behind the curtain -  it may surprise you :)

Business Meets Party

Sweater (Gap); Skirt & Necklace (Limited); Blazer (Kiss/NY);
Shoes (Franco Sarto find at Marshalls)
Ryan Seidel Photography

This skirt just looks like it belongs at a party... it's short, fun, and filled with shimmery gold.  Instead of going to a party, it went to work.  And so I balanced out my party skirt with my serious black blazer.  I sort of feel like those people who do video conferences from home and wear suits on top and pajamas on bottom.  Even though I am split between work and party... my heart always belongs to the party :)

Classic

Jacket (Gap Outlet); Jeans (Target); Sweater (Gap); Shoes (Nine West);
Bracelets (JCPenney); Hat (DSW)
Ryan Seidel Photography

There are few items more perfect and classic than the trench coat.  It's always in style, it goes with everything, and putting it on instantly makes you look pulled together.  A black turtleneck, pearl bracelet, and black pumps are also must own classics... adding the colored denim and hat make this look classic with a twist ;)

Motor Maxi

Jacket (Kohls); Dress (Calvin Klein find at Marshalls);
Shoes (Jessica Simpson find at Marshalls); Earrings (Nordstrom); Necklace (Gift)
Ryan Seidel Photography

Adding a tough jacket to this summer maxi dress gives it a new and edgy look for fall. And I'm wearing my new favorite necklace... a gift from my boyfriend who knows I love turtles :)   And so a Motor Maxi is what happens when you combine a motorcycle jacket with a maxi dress.  And carrying Rex like a baby is what happens when he doesn't listen (it's a very common look for us).

Office Leather

Top (Old Navy); Skirt (mom's closet); Necklace (Limited); Shoes (Nine West)
Ryan Seidel Photography

Do you sit in a big cushy leather chair at work in your corner office where you call the shots because you are the boss?  Yeah.. me neither.  So until that day comes, I'll be sitting on my fabulous leather skirt... staring at my cubicle walls... and hoping that one day Rex will let me call the shots ;)

"That Girl"

Jacket (Old Navy); Top (Robin-K find at Marshalls); Dress (JCPenney);
Shoes (Payless); Umbrella (H&M)
Ryan Seidel Photography

Of course I would wear my faux suede shoes on rainy day.  I always seem to be "that girl".  That girl who trips on a perfectly flat sidewalk and who more than once has used hotel body lotion instead of conditioner on her hair.  Just this weekend I left my classroom to go to the bathroom, only to realize I locked myself out (luckily it was before class and no students witnessed this). I went downstairs to tell the front desk gal that I needed to be let into my classroom, and she said "no problem, what room are you in?".  I said "thanks and 3200".  Which would have been fantastic if my classroom was 3200... it's 2300.  So about twenty five minutes later she found me on the second floor, shaking her head.  Oops :)

Forced Pants Situation

Top (Loft); Tank (H&M); Pants (Limited); Shoes (Nine West)
Ryan Seidel Photography

So I thought Mother Nature and I were becoming friends... I'd gone camping recently despite my aversion to the outdoors, and spent an entire weekend at my boyfriend's family cabin... which means I've had more fresh air and nature time in the past few weeks than I usually get in a few years.  While at the cabin, we decided to take Rex swimming for the first time...and the poor thing was absolutely pathetic - truly the picture below says it all. A few days later my legs started to itch like crazy, and it looked like a mosquito was at an all you can eat buffet from my ankle to my knees.  Turns out I had lake itch (also known as swimmer's itch or gross). Between traumatizing Rex with the swimming episode and my lake itch, I've learned we're better off as indoor people :)

Rex "swimming"

Pleats & Stripes

Top & Skirt (Limited); Belt (Target); Shoes (Nine West)
Ryan Seidel Photography

Last week I was so jealous of all the cute back to school pictures I saw on facebook... it almost made me want a mini person of my own to dress up!  And while I'm no longer in school, that did no stop me from doing my own version of back to school shopping :)  And what better way to celebrate a new school year than a pleated skirt?  They were a staple of my grade school years... as were brown bag lunches that included a Little Debbie treat. The holiday themed ones were the best... and nothing beat the Christmas Trees Cakes.

PS. I am currently on the hunt for a mini backpack and doggy polo shirt so that Rex can join the fun next year :)

Looks Familiar

Top (Robin-K find at Marshalls); Skirt (JCPenney); Shoes (Nine West); Watch (Fossil)
Ryan Seidel Photography

As I was looking at these pictures.. they reminded me of another outfit.  This look is very similar to my  "work uniform" post from May.  I suppose if something isn't broke, don't fix it! My burgundy skirt loves to hang out with stripes...  And who am I to separate them?  I wore this to meet a friend for happy hour, which is something I certainly don't like being separated from.  I don't know what I would do without happy hour some days...  And Monday is a perfect day to start :)

Faux Flower

Dress (Dockers find, Marshalls); Shoes (Jessica Simpson find, Marshalls); 
Belt (Target); Faux Flower (H&M); Earrings (Limited)
Ryan Seidel Photography

Do you ever wake up in the morning with a strong urge to put a fake flower in your hair?  That is how this day started :)  I thought the flower was the perfect accent to my 50's silhouette school teacher inspired look.  This dress always makes me feel like I should be addressing a classroom of young kids...  I think everyone at some point thinks about becoming a school teacher. The selling points for me included summers off and getting to write on the chalkboard all the time.  But then I got older, and now I see kids running around like wild animals and think... God bless teachers - I could never do it!

On another note, a few of you have asked how I get my bun so full (the secret is a comb and hairspray).  Just put your hair in a ponytail... then tease the heck of out it, next smooth the top layer and wrap it into a bun securing it with bobby pins.  No sock necessary :)

Reviving a Classic

Dress (Loft); Shirt (Target); Shoes (Tahari find at Marshalls) ; Watch (Fossil);
Earrings (Nordstrom)
Ryan Seidel Photography

I love this dress. It's flowy, romantic, and satin... the perfect little red dress.  However it's also sleeveless with a deep V-neck, which instantly eliminates it's office appropriateness.  Typically this dress gets worn maybe once a year.  Adding a button down and tying it was the perfect solution to getting this dress some much needed fresh air.  After tying it - the look was still a bit undone, so I tucked the loose ends.  And now my little red dress has a new lease on life, and we're taking full advantage :)

Birdie

Shirt (Urban Outfitters); Skirt (Limited); Shoes (Naturalizer);
Bracelet (bought at festival); Earrings (Macy's); Love ring (Etsy);
Ryan Seidel Photography

Before there was Rex, there was Birdie... (yeah my family is super creative... a bird named Birdie).   Birdie was our pet cockatiel for most of my adolescence... and he was the best.  He walked on the ground like a dog (which resulted in him being stepped on often), he had a strange obsession with shoes (maybe that's why we bonded so well), and he loved eating spaghetti.  He is the reason I am in love with all things birds :)  So a shirt filled with a bird pattern?  I'll take two!

Team USA

Dress worn as shirt (Jason Wu for Target); Skirt (gifted by eShakti);
Shoes (Nine West); Earrings (Nordstrom); Necklace (Gift);
Ryan Seidel Photography

My all-time favorite Summer Olympic memory is from the 1996 games in Atlanta with Kerri Strug's infamous gold medal clinching vault.  After a fall on her first attempt and a taped up ankle, Kerri nailed her second vault and landed on one foot... It was the type of magic that can only happen at the Olympics. To me, the image of coach Bella Karolyi carrying Kerri with her gold medal is the ultimate demonstration of the Olympic spirit.  This moment still gives me chills... Do you have a favorite Olympic memory?