Military

Dress (Max Studio find at Marshalls); Jacket & Belt (Gap); Shoes (Nine West);
Earrings (Nordstrom); Necklace ( Helen Ficalora "S"); Bracelet (festival purchase)

Between the army green colored jacket and bullet holed looking belt, I'm classifying this look as military.  Although I don't feel especially authoritative or more in charge (I need a LBD for that type of empowerment).  This is probably since I can pull rank on literally no one.  Not even Rex.  Most of the time at the dog park I'm both throwing and retrieving the ball (he's got me trained well).  Unless I have treat... then he lets me be in charge :)  

"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 :)

Not in Kansas Anymore

Shirt (Old Navy); Jeans & Earrings (Nordstrom); Necklace (H&M);
Shoes (Target); Bracelet (bought a festival)
Dave Haas Photography

What little girl didn't dream of owning her own pair of ruby slippers one day?  Well it only took about 30 years, and I opted for gold instead of ruby - but I finally got my magic shoes! And I have my Toto :) Besides learning that there's no place like home (unfortunately clicking together the heels of my golden slippers only results in glitter loss) the Wizard of Oz has some important lessons we should all keep in mind: 

Despite the obstacles, always follow your own yellow brick road.  

Quite often, the things we wish for most in life are things we already have.

Never trust a flying monkey or a witch who wants to steal your shoes ;)

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 :)

The One That Almost Got Away

 

Top (Loft); Pants (Target); Bag (Nine West find at Marshalls); Shoes (Jessica Simpson
find at Marshalls); Sunglasses (Old Navy); Watch (Fossil); Earrings (Nordstrom)
David Haas Photography

When I missed the floral pant boat earlier this year, I was crushed... The H&M pair I had my heart set on sold out in a flash.  So I told myself I'd pick up some cute floral shorts for summer and call it a day.  And when that didn't happen, I buried my floral dreams and mourned with a bottle of wine.... all the while telling myself I was much better off without them, that I could do better, and that I didn't need them in my life.  And only after I had completely gotten over them did they show up. And as those old feelings came back, I knew I had been lying to myself.  I needed floral pants just as much as I needed the other 15 unplanned items that left with me in my Target bag that day :)  

No Thinking Required

Dress (Taylor find at Marshalls); Shoes (Ellen Tracy find at Marshalls); Bag (Naturalizer);
Earrings (Gift); Watch (Fossil);
Dave Haas Photography

When I was in high school, I used to lay out my clothes the day before (did anyone else do this?)... And while I don't technically still lay out my outfits, I usually have an idea of what I want to wear the next day.  I really try to avoid the dreaded morning routine of staring at my closet with glazed eyes and the clock tick tocking away.  On the inevitable mornings when I'm outfit clueless and need to be at work in the next 20 minutes - there is one go-to look that requires literally no thinking. Put on a dress and simply add shoes and an accessory, and you are guaranteed to look pulled together.  A dress really is a girl's best friend (please don't tell Rex I said that)!

Giving In

Tank & Hat (Target); Shorts (Loft); Shoes (Kohls)

We are nearly to Labor Day, and I can almost feel the scarves, tights, and sweaters... But summer isn't letting go without a sweaty fight. Here we go with another week in 90's,  and I'm almost out of oil absorbing blotting sheets!  And I know that fall doesn't actually start until late September - but kids are going back to school, outdoor concert series are winding down, and starting next week outdoor pools are closing for the season.  But fine.. I give in. But I swear starting next week I'm officially celebrating the unofficial start of fall (unless it's 85+ degrees again).

Easy

Scarf (Banana Republic Outlet); Jeans (Target); Shoes (Kohls); Belt (H&M)

And by easy I mean lazy...  So lazy that I couldn't put a normal top on... So lazy that I couldn't put my contact lenses in.  I usually reserve my glasses for my bedtime attire, but my eyes were too tired to care. And in all actuality you are one step closer to seeing the real me. The real me who goes to bed at 9PM... who wears mismatched pajamas (and not the cute kind)... who wears glasses and pimple cream... and a mouth guard. I may as well also confess that I'm a huge Michael Bolton fan, and still get excited when I walk past a Disney store. Despite all this, I hope you will still be my friend :)

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 :)

Killer Combo

Tank, Jeans & Shoes (Target); Scarf (Old Navy); Bag (Bueno find at Marshalls);
Bracelet (Bought at festival); Earrings (Limited)

Have you been to Old Navy lately?  They have been killing it lately with super cute sweaters, fun patterned shirts,  and adorable dresses. Not to mention one fabulous bird print scarf! Who knew leopard and birds would compliment each other so well?  I wore this on a dinner & movie date night over the weekend... Other killer combos included beer and pizza... and Christian Bale and Batman :)

Plus One

Top (Loft); Skirt (Limited); Shoes (Nine West); Earrings (Nordstrom)

With so many weddings crammed into the summer months, I quickly got sick of my go to "wedding" dresses and thought I'd try a skirt and top combo.  Even though the skirt is black, the length and tiered details make it work for a special occasion, and there is an unwritten rule that states you can never go wrong with sequins, right?   It was nice to break the dress mold for wedding attire and mix it up. And how cute is my little "plus one" with his freshly cut doggy hair?  He's now acceptable for public appearances... 
weddings included ;)