A Little Catch-Up

Hi All! Apologies for the absence as of late I have loads of excuses. First off, I basically got the plague that laid me up for a week in bed. They still don't know what I had but I went to the hospital twice and ended up having to take multiple medications to subdue the mystery disease. I think I'm on the mend now but it's hard to tell because if I go without antibiotics the symptoms start coming back. It hasn't been awesome.

After I got over my illness I spent all of last week in the mountains golfing with my mother and her friends. It was such a great time away and fall in the mountains cannot be beat!

Next week I am visiting Arizona to surprise my grandparents for the week. I am super excited about the trip and also the golfing with my grandpa. 

I got a six-month nannying position! (While I was sick!) That I'm starting later this month and I'm pumped about the family, position and everything. I'm going to be moving when I get back from Arizona. 

I have decided to do a Fall edition of the skirt challenge.  I had the best intentions of doing a dress challenge this summer/winter but life happened and outfit pictures did not. I'm excited to see how I will restyle/remix the old skirts from the spring as well as the skirts I acquired through the summer. I'm going to start this soon but please forgive the intermittent and different posting schedule since I'll be traveling, adapting to a new job and unable to wear skirts when nannying a baby everyday. 

PHEW! That's a lot to catch up on! Now it's your turn, what have you been up to!?

Lucky Charms

Skirt and Shirt: Anthropologie//Necklace: Jess LC//Shoes: Kohls//Sunglasses: Juicy Couture

Disclaimer: I do not love this outfit. I might mid-march around a special little holiday I call saint patties, but for mid-may, it's not great. 

But I love this skirt and so I couldn't avoid not wearing it and risk having to give it away. 

Curse you self imposed skirt challenge rules!

Also, these glasses make me look like a bug.

Cute bug or buggy bug? Only time will tell, but I couldn't not let them be on the blog. 

That sounds sacrilegious to even put into words. But don't worry, I took them off to write this post. 

Heartsy

Skirt: J.Crew//Shoes: Kohls//Tights: DKNY//Jacket: Billabong//Shirt: Urban Outfitters//Necklace: Bellehibou

Has anybody heard of Heartsy?

Other than it being the bane of my financial exsitence, it is also like Groupon for Etsy. 

The best part? 

The jewelry they put on sale on this little groupon-money-stealing-fun-n-crafty website

is to die for....or at least swoon over

I got the necklace (plus another one) I'm wearing today for a mere $12! 

You can't beat prices for that (trust me, I've tried)

Isn't this necklace to die for?
(I know it doesn't match my outfit above but I forgot to take a close up when I wore it this morning, now I'm in my grungy clothes).

So pop on over to Heartsy, if you have some money you're looking to spend, otherwise, steer clear. 
Don't say I didn't warn you.

Cats and Dogs

Skirt: Fancy Tiger Boutique//Shirt: Levi//Jacket: Loft//Boots: Steve Madden//Necklace : Jess LC

 The rain just. won't, stop. I would say it's like cats and dogs but let's face it, at this point I would kill for something different. And there is nothing more appealing to me than more cats around me. 

(weather God, if you're listening, this does not mean snow, it means cats and dogs literally, or nothing at all). 

I bought the "be thankful" necklace from Jess LC and I love it, it's the perfect length and I feel like it's a constant reminder to be appreciative of what I have. 

Also I went to the most amazing restaurant for dinner: Root Down. 

I'm fairly certain I ate a food baby but it was so delicious (we had sweet potato fries, risotto, beet gnocchi, and a smatter of dessert (including one with bourbon butter sauce)). It was gluttony at it's finest and I'm saying this with no pride, I crumbled at the deliciousness. 

Mixing Patterns

Skirt: Anthropologie//Shirt: American Eagle//Shoes: Steve Madden

It would have been beneficial to me to know that half my shirt was hanging out of my skirt.

It kind of looks like I have a saggy boob. 

Whoops, I forgot to tuck my shirt in and now I'm saying saggy boobs on the internet.

(fact: I just googled my name after that statement to see if this blog came up in the search) 

I just got this skirt for my birthday and LOVE it! 

I have images of riding bikes in this skirt all summer long. 

It feels good to be back! What have you all been up to?

Monochrome

Shirt: J.Crew//Skirt: Thrifted//Coat: Loft//Shoes: Nordstrom//Necklace: Urban Outfitters

This outfit's monochromatic-ness may or may not be a little bit boring. 

I had no idea how to wear this skirt, what to pair it with and plus, 

it feels like my grandmother's drapes

(okay not my grandmother's because one lives in Arizona and the other on a ranch in Texas, neither of which would be caught dead with window treatments like an upstate New Yorker). 

It has been unreasonably rainy the past few days and while I am guilty of sitting inside for most of it, I can't help appreciate how beautiful the weather is. 

So like a devout blogger I threw on my raincoat to capture these pictures.

(what this really means is: I didn't know it was cold, it was too late to put on a different outfit. The boyfriend said I needed to "toughen up" and bring an umbrella. Then I made him take pictures undercover) 

That's right, just a "devout blogger". 

On a more serious note: I am so happy to see all the bloggers posting about their graduations, unfortunately I have three more credits left before I can graduate so I am not allowed to walk with my college today. While it's very sad, my family and friends are trying to convince me it's okay things like "You know, it's kind of rockstar to do college and then not walk". 

Thanks dad. 

Confidence is Key

Wellies; Hunter//Trench and Skirt: Banana Republic//Scarf: Kohls//
Umbrella: Thrifted/Vintage//Sweater: Loft//Belt: J.Crew

For most of the week it has been super rainy around these parts. Admittedly I curled up into my hole and didn't want to come out because of the overcast. 

I am a little disappointed in myself for this reaction: I adore the rain, and it gives me a logical reason to own Wellies. 

Also, last summer I went to an estate sale and found this incredible umbrella. It was like a dollar, and while it can protect me from the rain, it can, more importantly, protect me. Look at the size of the tip of the umbrella!

Otherwise, I'm trying out a new lipstick, it's bright bright pink! And I realized, it takes a confident woman to wear lipstick, I want that to be me. 

Like a proud momma I am ecstatic to announce that Brittany over at No Two Fish are Alike has instated her own challenge for the summer!

Pop on over there to see the awesomeness that she has going on!

Lost in the Abyss of the Internet

I have an issue here, I already posted this post. And it was witty. It was perfect. But low and behold, it didn't upload, so now you'll just have to look at the pictures, no wit, no perfection. Just pictures.

Skirt Eighteen, Thirteen to go.

I wore this outfit to a Rockies game.... The irony is that I don't really have a loyalty to a team, I usually cheer for whoever is getting booed, out of sheer sadness for them. 

Skirt and Striped Tank: J.Crew//Black Tank: Urban Outfitters//Jacket: Loft//Shoes: Zumiez//Purse: Thirfted

I'm sorry for the absenteeism this week, my internet has been down, and finals were happening, but I'm making a comeback. 

Copy Cat's and Compliments

Please excuse the shotty editing of this picture/the oompa-loompa orangeness,
I'm still trying to figure out the best way to edit my pictures. 

Shirt: Nordstrom//Skirt, Shoes and Necklace: Thrifted//Coat: Target

 When I woke up this morning I knew I wanted to wear this skirt. 

So I paired it with a chambray top and felt all sorts of country bumpkin. 

And that was fine by me. 

Then I popped over to Jen Loves Kev and realized that I could, once again, copy her. 

I think I might have an obsession. In the least creepy way possible. 

But really it's kind of creepy.  

To add to my confidence with this outfit a girl at school today said, 

"you've inspired me to wear all of my skirts". 

Why thank you, that's so sweet. 

Then I went to go get dinner and this girl stopped me and said, 

"I love your outfit".

Oh my word, you're making me blush. 

Aren't random compliments like that the best? I go days where I feel bangin' and nobody says anything. 

Which is so okay, because it isn't what people think of me that's important, 

it's what I think of me that should matter most. 

But random compliments are like icing on the cake. 

So whoever you are reading out there, I love your outfit today! (And I want to see it, leave me a link to your blog, everybody deserves an authentic compliment to make them feel bangin')

Mums the Word

Shirt: Urban Outfitters// Skirt: J.Crew//Belt: From another dress//Shoes: Nordstrom//Necklace: Seattle Market

I have goals (other than the obvious of finishing this challenge) while doing this challenge. Things like wear two skirts at once and monochrome are on this list. Luckily I had no idea how to wear this skirt so monochrome it was. 

A little short for me but otherwise this skirt could be a fast favorite. 

In other news, I think our ac is broken: the cat and I are sitting on the bed naked with those little personal misters as we speak. (Okay we're really not, but I do think that our ac is broken). 

Skirt detailing. 

In other other news, the new neighbors still haven't moved the mattress from in front of their/our door. Instead they've added trash. And to add assault to injury I introduced myself to them, and didn't say a word. 

This is the necklace I wore with the outfit, everything seemed oh-so-garden party. 

Winning

Shirt: American Eagle//Skirt: Thrifted (Urban Outfitters)//Shoes: Nordstrom//Jacket:Loft//Glasses: Versace

The lovely Kimi nominated me for an award. I always like winning things and this is no different, so it came as a pleasant surprise to my inbox when I saw this babe waiting for me in my inbox:

The fine print to winning: Link back to the person who nominated you. Share seven random things about yourself. Award 15 blogs. Drop them a note letting them know. 

1. My parents were high school sweethearts and were married at 19. 

My boytoy and I are high school sweethearts and have been dating for four years.

2. I am a senior in college and still don't know if I'll be graduating next week. 

Stress Central. 

3. I'm left handed. 

4. I was woken up this morning because the bf wanted me to turn to channel 16. It was a documentary on Navy SEALS. I have a sick obsession with them. 

5. I have two older brothers; their 9 and 10 years older than me. 

6. When I read pleasure novels I like to pick an author and read their entire collection.

7.I justified buying the new ipad because I was moving to London and wanted something small to keep with me. Now I'm not moving to London and still got the ipad. 

Yikes! That was harder than I thought it would be! But I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't nominate some other lovely ladies to carry this award along:

My Greatest Hits//Bows and Brownies //My Visa Hates Me//

No Two Fish Are Alike.//Scrapbook de la Emma//Steffy's Pros and Cons//

Tea and Biscuits//The Joy of Living//Undeniable Style

Okay this is only 9 and I need 15 but I just looked at the clock and realized I'm running late! Thanks Kimi for the award, this was super fun!

Birds of a Feather

Skirt: J.Crew//Shirt: Urban Outfitters//Shoes: Steve Madden//
Jacket: Loft//Necklace: Modcloth

I have been saving myself to wear this skirt until I was really burnt out of my challenge. 

I love this skirt, it can do no wrong. 

And when Jen posted this outfit today I felt it was time to take a stab at wearing my skirt and creating a new look. 

I can't lie, it was hard not to wear a scarf belt and converse with my outfit but I tried my darndest. 

Do you ever see your clothes remixed by different bloggers? 

Now please excuse me but while it might look warm out, but alas 

it's freezing and I want to wear my sweatpants now. 

Failures

Blazer: J.Crew/Skirt: Modcloth/Tank: American Eagle
/Bandeau: Free People/Shoes: Thrifted/Sunglasses: Ran Ban/Headband: Nordstrom

I kind of live in a weird area of town. It's a mix of college students, professionals and gentrification.

 I adore it. 

What I do not adore is my new neighbors. Whoever thought leaving their box springs in the hallway was acceptable, was sorely mistaken. 

My roommate and I have been plotting how to address this new issue in our building. So far all we've come up with is tacking a post-it to it saying "this isn't going to fly" and pacifism.